Library News

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Cale Fry hired as Public Works employee

POLO – Polo City Council members approved hiring a new employee for the Public Works Department.

On March 22, Cale Fry was hired at a pay rate of $21 per hour, Mayor Doug Knapp said.

“He was with the water department for like 10 years and then he went [elsewhere],” Knapp said. “We hired him back. He’s got five years toward his wastewater treatment certificate.”

Fry replaces Justin Grobe, who in July stepped down as a Ward 1 alderperson in order to work for the city.

Grobe left because he accepted a job elsewhere, Knapp said.

OFFICE 113-115 Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021

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CLASSIFIED SALES 815-220-6942 apicco@shawmedia.com

OBITUARIES 815-632-2534 phartman@shawmedia.com Deadline for obituaries is 2 p.m. Tuesday for Friday’s edition

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Publisher Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com

POLO SENIOR CENTER

Exercise Classes - Tuesdays from 9-10 a.m. and 10:15-11:15 a.m. Thursdays 11 a.m. 12 p.m. and 12:15-1 p.m.

Walkabout Wednesdays - At 2 p.m. walkers will walk around Polo for about 45 minutes, weather permitting.

Mexican Train - Thursday at 1 p.m.

Cooking Demo - April 6, 11 a.m. Learn to make spinach salad with homemade poppyseed dressing, lunch will follow.

Hand Massages - April 7, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with Kari Ann Gracen

POLO LIBRARY

Special Procedures - Masks are optional for staff and visitors to the library. If you require an access service to fully participate in a program or have any questions about accessibility, please contact Ellen Finfrock at 815-946-2713.

Library Services - With VHS and other videotape formats disappearing fast now is the perfect time to preserve your videos and other important memories. This new service will allow us to convert your videotapes to DVD for you. For $5 per tape library staff will convert your memories to a more manageable format. Tapes may be dropped off during regular library hours.

Tax Forms - Tax season is upon us and forms and instructions have arrived. If you need a form other than 1040 library staff will be happy to print it for you at no cost. If we print multiple forms for you a donation is appreciated. Public computers are available for doing your own taxes but keep in mind you will need a current email address to file online.

Adult Programs - Monday Afternoon Book Club is reading Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow and will meet on March 28. Programs are open to anyone who is interested, no registration required.

Genealogy Assistance - Are you interested in researching your ancestors but don’t know where to start? Stop by the third Saturday 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and let Donna help with your project. Polo Library is now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library which allows access to more digital records when you’re researching at the library.

Birthday Bingo - April 8, 10 a.m. Cake and ice cream served

Book Club - April 8, 1 p.m.

Breakfast Club - April 11, 9:30 a.m. Meet at Bennies in Sterling on Rt 40

Movie Day - April 13, 11 a.m. Nobody’s Fool starring Paul Newman

Game Day - April 15, 11 a.m. Pizza Served

PASS Meal - April 22, Pasta Bake with salad and bread. Program to be announced.

Sunday Funday - April 24, 12 p.m. Live music and meal . Band Mountain Grass and friends.

General Manager Earleen Hinton 815-632-2591 ehinton@shawmedia.com

News Alexa Zoellner 815-632-2590 azoellner@shawmedia.com

Advertising Sales Patty Bridgeman 815-632-2555 pbridgeman@ shawmedia.com

The Tri-County Press, Ogle County News and oglecountynews.com are a division of Shaw Media. Ogle County Newspapers also prints the Mt. MorrisTimes , Forreston Journal, and OregonRepublicanReporter.

The TRI-COUNTY PRESS (USPS No. 638-530) is published weekly by B.F. Shaw Printing Co., Shaw Media. Periodical postage paid at Polo, Illinois.

POSTMASTER Send address changes to TRI-COUNTY PRESS, 113 N. Franklin, Polo, IL 61064. Phone 815-732-6166, ext. 2516.

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PINE CREEK NEWS

BY KAREN MERLAK

Spring has arrived and it is wonderful to have the warm sunshine for the afternoon. The ground and trees that have been silent for months will soon be alive with life. New life is all around us. Soon, we will celebrate our new life with Jesus. This is His day and we are grateful.

T h i s m o r n i n g i n c h u r c h , w e w e r e greeted by Sheryl Hopkins. Pastor Suzanne Hall Stout shared her message for this third Sunday in Lent. For the children’s message, Suzanne shared a story with Harper. We continue to have Bible Study prior to the church service.

We hope you will join us for Holy Week and Easter services. We will have a Palm Sunday service on April 10 at our regular time. We will host a Maundy Thursday service on April 14 in the evening. On Easter Sunday, we will gather for a special Resurrection Celebration.

After a long wait, I finally heard from Clint. We had a nice long conversation and I feel like I am finally caught up on his activity. He is doing well and may be coming home for a visit as soon as this summer.

Matt and I shared an evening of text messages. He updated me on his progress as he prepares to leave Hawaii in a few months. Matt is expecting to make a trip home, too. Maybe we will be lucky and their visits will overlap.

This past Monday, Stephanie and João celebrated his birthday. Knowing that they were busy throughout the evening, I communicated my celebratory message by text. The couple is making the most of their time in Salt Lake City.

On Saturday morning, I left early to meet a former coworker for breakfast in Rock Falls. We had a wonderful time getting caught up. I am so grateful for our bonds of friendship that stand the test of time.

We have one more week of school before our district takes a short break. I am looking forward to a bit of rest but I have also made a very long to-do list. I am hoping to work on projects that I have put off while attending school over the past couple of years.

Last week was a bit rough. I can tell the excitement for spring break is building among my students. Some days, it is difficult to keep all of my students motivated and moving in the right direction without any disruptions.

Adding insult to injury, we had to have an inside recess because of the rain. A few of my students asked for the big paper to draw on. At the end of the recess, they brought me three huge signs filled with all my favorites like rainbows and giraffes.

Even after a bad day, they still call me their favorite teacher. That kind of love comes from a special place. It’s the kind of love that sees past our mistakes. God loves us like that. He knows that we are going to make mistakes along the way and He shows us mercy and grace.

Sometimes, I am not a very good friend. I have made mistakes as a mother, daughter, sister, and as a Christian. God’s love reaches us no matter how far we fall. His love is here for each of us. We only need to receive it.

I hope to see you next week in our little church in the country. We are meeting in person and online. We look forward to sharing with each of you in a time of worship and praise. Everyone is welcome to join our church family.

Brain Wits Class - April 25, 12:30 p.m. Sandwiches served.

Craft Day - April 27, 10 a.m. Petal Pushers crafters, proceeds benefit Serenity house

Sale Extravaganza - April 29, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; April 30, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Held during Polo Town Wide garage sales. Renting 8’ tables and or space inside the senior center for selling your goods, $10 per both. Community groups and not for profits no charge. Out smart mother nature, have your sale indoors. Call to reserve a spot 815-9463818

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media ABOVE: Oregon High School teacher Kimberly Radostits poses with some of her students after receiving the award for being chosen 2022 Illinois Teacher of the Year. Officials surprised Radostits with the announcement in her classroom on Tuesday morning. BELOW LEFT: Radostits holds the award she received from State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala (right). BELOW RIGHT: Radostits reacts by covering her face with her hands as she unexpectedly meets Ayala before learning she had been chosen 2022 Illinois Teacher of the Year.

• TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Continued from Page 3

e x p l a i n A y a l a ’ s p r e s e n c e – w a s rev ea led, and the real bomb she ll dropped:

Radostits is the 2022 Illinois Teacher of the Year.

“I’m honored,” Radostits said. “I guess I did not see this happening, but I’m excited about it. Like I had told my friends, I was in a really unique posit i o n – t h a t i f I w o n o v e r a l l s t a t e Teacher of the Year, it’s going to push me out of my comfort zone, and I am going to grow in ways that I couldn’t have ever imagined.

“And if I didn’t win, I win, because I get to hang out with these people every single day,” she added, motioning to her students. “That’s how I feel. I mean, talking about the perfect situation, it was a win-win. … I love this. So yeah, let’s do it. I look forward to the future.”

The Illinois State Board of Education has sponsored the Teacher of the Year program since 1970, according to the ISBE website. It recognizes “the best of the teaching profession” in the state, with all public and nonpublic pre-K-12 educators who have more than five years of experience eligible to win.

Radostits works with students who “need a little extra support and who really resonate and have a relationship with her,” Ayala said of Radostits’ nomination. She helps students study and get ready to pass classes.

“All those things, and that’s one of the most important reasons – her work with students,” Ayala said. “But also, her work during the pandemic and su ppo rt ing t e ac h e r s. So t ha t wa s something that was very important as well.”

Radostits is the best teacher he’s ever had, said Andru Holland-Jones, 14.

“She’s honestly the best teacher I’ve ever had,” Langley said. “Like, she’s a total sweetheart. She’s really helped me out, like really got me on a good path. I wasn’t doing too well my freshman year. She’s the reason that I’m doing better this year.”

Her entire career, she’s felt like a w i n n e r , s a i d R a d o s t i t s , w h o h a s worked at Oregon High School for 15 years.

“I felt like a winner all year. I felt like a winner my entire career,” she said. “I can see myself no place other than Oregon. And I truly believe that we’re doing some awesome things in this district that I’m excited to share.”

Michael Glenn chosen as director for Oregon’s new CMA A A facilit y

A former executive director at The Next Picture Show in Dixon has been hired as the executive director of the new Coliseum Museum of Art, A n t i q u e s & A m e r i c a n a (CMAAA).

Michel T. Glenn will lead the recently formed not-forprofit that is focused on renovating and repurposing the historic Coliseum building in downtown Oregon to create a new cultural center for the area.

Glenn’s background includes roles as executive director of Hopegivers International in Columbus, Georgia and Executive Vice President of the National Religious Broadcasters Association in Washington, DC.

Most recently, he served as executive director of the Next Picture Show, a community fine arts center in downtown Dixon.

“Mike is an exciting addition to our team. His background and skillset are what we need to guide the building renovation, develop partnerships with businesses and organizations, and create the programs and events in order to foster a creative environment for Oregon and the surrounding area,” said Ron Bry, CMAAA Board Vice President.

The Oregon Coliseum opened in 1922. The art deco facility at 124 N. 4th Street was once a center of activity for the community.

Sitting on the edge of the Oregon Commercial Historic District renovation has already started with plans for a south entrance ramp, new lighting, construction of permanent display cases, and the addition of a Digital Media Studio on the second floor.

CMAAA’s mission is the acquisition and display of art, antiques, Americana and history, including both permanent and rotating exhibits, and provide a venue for artists representing all facets of art an opportunity to host exhibitions and offer their Michael Glenn creations for sale through museum store. a “Oregon and the county offer tremendous cultural resources. The Coliseum will be an integral part of the community and reflect the values and quality of life. In conjunction with some of the other area attractions, we expect to help draw local and long distance visitors. In addition, when you look to relocate it can be more than a good job and quality of schools that can make the difference,” said Glenn. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e s s r e l e a se issued announcing Glenn’s hiring, the CMAAA will collaborate with the City of Oregon, Oregon School District, Park District, Library, Serenity Hospice & Home, Village of Progress, Ogle C o u n t y H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y , D e p o t Museum, Chana School Museum and others to help create a gathering place for the community, as a showcase for the rich historic and artistic heritage of the region, and a place for schoolchildren and future generations, to learn about roots in Midwestern values. Progress reports will be posted on the CMAAA website and soon to be launched Facebook page with plans for an official opening in late 2022 or early 2023. For more information, visit to www. cmaaa.org or contact info@cmaaa.org.

SPECIAL FUNDRAISER

Serenity Home and Hospice fundraiser is April 6

Serenity Home and Hospice will host its first Art Dash Fundraiser at Cork and Tap, 305 W. Washington St., Oregon, on Wednesday, April 6 from 6 to 7 p.m.

Tickets are divided into two categories, “Dasher” which cost $100 and “Spectator” which cost $50.

The fundraiser will feature 50 local artists from throughout the nine counties that are serviced by Serenity, all of whom have donated original artwork worth at least $100.

After the “Art Preview”, three attendees who have purchased “Dasher” tickets will be randomly selected to dash for an art piece of their choosing. Every “Dasher” will have the opportunity to go home with an art piece.

“Spectators” will not have the opportunity to “Dash” for art. Both “Dashers” and “Spectators” will be able to enjoy live music, light bites, view the art, and mingle with many of the artists.

For more information, call 815-973-2050.