Polo_Tri-County_Press-11-17-2023

POLO TRI-COUNTY PRESS VOLUME 165 NO. 36 • SERVING THE POLO AREA SINCE 1857

Friday, November 17, 2023 • $1.00

NEWS

IN THEIR HONOR ‘Furever’ Homes A cat and her six kittens find new homes thanks to a Polo group / 10

SPORTS

Marcos Fall Polo falls to unbeaten Amboy in 8-Man Playoff action / 12

Motion Denied

Earleen HInton

A motion to release a woman charged with killing her son is denied / 3

Veterans Max Snook (left) and John Foxley, members of the Polo VFW Color Guard, listen as children sing at the Centennial Elementary School’s Veterans Day program on Friday, Nov. 10, in Polo. The program included a speech by a Polo veteran and a slideshow highlighting veterans who are related to school students. Story on page 6.

One section • 20 pages

INDEX Betty’s Column......... 4 Classifieds..........16-20 Colbert Column....... 11

Milestones................. 5 Otto’s Column........... 4 Pine Creek News...... 2

Property Transfers...14 Sheriff Activity.........14 Sports...................12-13

DEATHS Published every Friday

by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media

Sonia ‘Toni’ J. Cross, Ronald E. Duffy, Leland D. Hazlip, Norman R. Kilker, Mary Catherine Bridget McGinniss, Christine West, Pages 7-8

POLO LIBRARY POLO TRI-COUNTY PRESS Youth Programs OLO TRI-COUNTY PRESS Tot Time Tuesdays – Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m., for ages 1 to 3, COUNTY PRESS social time for the littles and grown

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

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ups, many hands-on activities, arts and music, and of course, storytime and snack.

3rd Mondays Monthly, Maker Baker Monday, Nov. 20, 1 to 2:30 p.m. (no school), in our library downstairs kitchen area, learn how to make simple side dishes for turkey day, open to ages 10 and older, registration is required and space is limited.

Every Thursday (except Thanksgiving) – 5:30 to 7 p.m., for ages 12 and older (grades 6th & up) join Dungeons & Dragons on the library main floor, social center area.

Adult Monthly Programs 4th Monday, Nov. 27 at 1 p.m. at the Polo Library, book discussion of “44 Scotland Street #1” by Alexander McCall Smith. December’s book will be “Wake Up With Purpose!” by Sister

BRIEFS Jean Dolores Schmidt.

Yoga with Becka is back! Wednesday, Nov. 29 , 6 to 7 p.m., downstairs children’s library area. Encouraged to bring your own yoga mat. Registration is required, space is limited. Yoga will be held on the last Wednesdays, monthly.

Sewing Club, Saturday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m., for ages 16 and older, for beginners, intermediates and advanced who enjoy sewing and sharing their craft, techniques and tips with each other. Sewing machines are available here or bring your own if you like.

November Programs for All Ages Rock River Valley Blood Center – Blood Drive – Monday, Nov. 27 – 2 to 5 p.m. Reminder – Visit pololibrary. org to access the online catalog, to see what programs and services we offer, and for the latest public events held here at the library. Call us at 815-946-2713 for more information.

Reindeer Fun Run The Polo Public Library is hosting a 1-mile Reindeer Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 8 a.m. Cost is $25 and includes T-shirt, reindeer antler/nose, and treat, if you register before Nov. 18. Day-of registration is also available.

Chirstmas Festival The Polo Christmas Festival is Dec. 2. A full list of events and locations is available at www.polochamber.org. The Polo Christmas Festival Craft & Vendor Show is Dec. 2 from noon to 3 p.m. at Centennial Elementary School. Lots of local handmade items, home and Christmas decor, baked goods, pet accessories, and more.

Churches sponsor Christmas basket program The Polo Council of Churches’ Christmas basket program provides food for Polo residents in need.

Sign-up sheets have been posted at the Polo Lifeline Pantry, 113 N. Green Ave. Residents can sign up through November. Recipients can have the basket delivered or can arrange to pick up the basket at Faith Discovery Church, 801 W. Oregon St., between 10 and 11 a.m. Dec. 15.

Monetary donations may be made to the Polo Council of Churches at First State Bank of Polo.

PINE CREEK NEWS

By KAREN MERLAK The fields are nearly cleared and we can see how God watches over us. We are in His care each and every day. God knows and fulfills our needs. For His constant care, we give our thanks.

God is good.

This morning in church, we were greeted by James and Nancy Hopkins.

This morning, we celebrated our farming community with a Harvest Celebration. Pastor Suzanne Hall Stout led the service with help from Martha Johannsen and Elizabeth Eliott.

I had the honor of giving the children’s message to our children, Amelia and Fiona. Mary Mead-Cantrell provided our beautiful music for our service. Our message for the morning was given in the form of song and storytelling by the acappella group Spontaneous Combustion.

After the service, everyone gathered for a delicious meal made by my Aunt Bobbi Deen of Bobbi’s Country Catering.

With over 60 in attendance, we had a wonderful time visiting with our friends and celebrating the harvest.

On Saturday morning, I joined the ladies for breakfast at the church.

Hosted by Sheryl Hopkins, we shared a wonderful meal before starting on the day’s tasks. Enjoying the fellowship were Martha Johannsen, Marge

Hammes, Elizabeth Eliott, Sandra Ford, and Pastor Suzanne.

Our church held an evening of creativity at the Serenity House in Oregon.

The participants created beautiful vases by pouring paint and adding glitter for an extra sparkle.

Joining in the fun were Elizabeth Eliott and her friend, Vicki Hay, Martha Johannsen, Sheryl Hopkins, Deb Ohlwine, and her granddaughter, Amelia Pfundstein.

This past Tuesday evening, our PEO Chapter DW met at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for our regular monthly meeting. Julie Hoak stepped in as our hostess for the evening. Our president Robin Jefford shared the program and told of her experience at the International Convention that took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Joining us from the Pine Creek area were Vicki Hay, Maggie Henning, Lisa Coffman and Beverly Coffman. Our annual pecan sale has been completed, however, we have extras available. Feel free to contact a PEO member for more information.

The Polo Council of Churches is offering their Christmas Basket program this year. Residents of Polo can sign up for a basket at the Polo Lifeline Pantry. If you would like to donate, please contact your local church or make a monetary donation to the Council of Churches account at First State Bank in Polo.

As I thought about the children’s message for this morning, my mind always went back to the many ways God is with our farmers. In the beginning of the season, our farmers plant their fields filled with hope for a good season.

Over the summer, they work the fields and trust that they will have enough sun and rain to have a good harvest. When the harvest is completed, we share our joy in celebration. At every part of farming, God is with our farmers.

He is with us whenever we face a challenge. As we move forward, we are filled with hope. While we are working toward the solution, we trust that God will see us through. In the end, we celebrate with God. How good it is to know that we are never alone. No matter what comes our way, we have God with us. Even when the outcome is not what we were hoping for, we can see that God is still there with us. Many times, we find a better way than we could have imagined.

I hope to see you next Sunday in our church in the country. Come and worship with us. Come and sing with us.

Come and pray with us. We gladly welcome you as we hope, trust and share the joys we find with God.

• Karen Merlak lives in Polo and is a member of the Pine Creek Christian Church.

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By EARLEEN HINTON

ehinton@shawmedia.com OREGON – An Oregon mother accused of killing her 7-year-old son in 2021 will remain in jail on $2 millon bail as the case against her continues.

Sarah Safranek, 36, is charged with five counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery in the suffocation death of her 7-year-old son, Nathaniel Burton, in February 2021.

An autopsy showed the boy also had a ruptured liver.

Safranek, held in the Ogle County Correctional Center since her arrest in April 2021, appeared in court Wednesday, Nov. 8, with her attorney, Ogle County Public Defender Michael O’Brien, for a hearing to determine if she should be released under the SAFE-T Act. In October, O’Brien filed a motion for a pretrial release that said Safranek should be freed from jail as her case continues because of her “inability” to post the required 10%, or $200,000, of the $2 million bail.

The motion follows passage of the SAFE-T Act, which was upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court and took effect Sept. 18. The Act eliminates cash bail and requires a defendant be released unless the judge rules the defendant is a highly likely flight risk or poses too much of a threat to one person or the community to allow release.

The SAFE-T Act was met with opposition from law enforcement and state’s attorneys across the state, including in Ogle County.

On Wednesday, Assistant Ogle County State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten said Safranek was a threat to the community, as well as her other children and should not be released.

“She is a danger to the Ogle County community and she still has two daughters,” Lesiten said. “She has a history of substance abuse and psychiatric issues.”

He also cited “homicidal” and “suicidal” tendencies that he said were evident in police reports made during the investigation of Nathaniel’s death.

Leisten said Safranek had searched online for “16 ways to kill someone and not get caught” and “how to quickly kill someone” as well as “parents who kill.” He said she also searched for dangerous household chemicals.

He said Safranek solicited feedback by asking, online, if others had thought about killing their kids.

He also said the state would introduce testimony from Nathaniel’s sisters and other relatives that he was afraid of his mother and said she had tried to suffocate and drown him in two separate incidents.

Earleen Hinton

Sarah Safranek is escorted into an Ogle County courtroom in Oregon by deputy Dan Daub on Wednesday, Nov. 8. She is accused of killing her son Nathaniel in 2021.

Leisten also said indigent after she filed Safranek has a history affidavits regarding her of substance and alcohol finances. abuse.

“Detention is not O’Brien asked Judge warranted here. She John Redington to careshould be released,” fully review the intent O’Brien said. behind the SAFE-T Act. Redington said he “I understand it is a had considered all faccontroversial change,” tors in the case and O’Brien argued. “But denied the defense’s prethe state must provide trial release motion. clear and convincing File photo “This is a first-degree murder charge. A preevidence. We respectNathaniel Burton trial release would be a fully ask that you carereal and present threat to fully review the statute.”

O’Brien said that while the charges the community,” he said.

He told Safranek that she could levied against his client were “certainly a terrible allegation” the court appeal his decision if she chose to, but has the ability to monitor a defendant had to file the appeal within 14 days of as they await trial rather than incar- Wednesday’s hearing.

Redington set Safranek’s next court ceration.

Other bond conditions such as elec- date for 1 p.m. Nov. 22.

O’Brien said he should have a sectronic monitoring, home confinement and prohibitions from contacting “cer- ond written medical review of his clitain parties” were available if she were ent’s mental health in time for the next hearing. to be released, he said.

Court-appointed expert Jayne Bra“There is not proof that there are threats to harm anyone else,” O’Brien den, a forensic and clinical psycholosaid. “She has a suitable place to live. gist in Sycamore, recently reviewed By pretrial procedures, a person is Safranek’s history of “mental health innocent until proven guilty by a court issues” and is in the process of compiling a written report. of law.”

Safranek has also claimed that she He also said Safranek could be free if she had enough money to post the has mental and physical issues that are not being treated properly at the $200,000 bond.

The court found Safranek to be jail, including daily headaches and fre-

quent facial numbness; frequent muscle spasms in her arms and legs; excessive fatigue and weakness; frequent chest pains; frequent pain between her shoulder blades; worsening vision problems, including worsening blurred vision and floaters; worsening balance issues; and worsening numbness in one or more fingers.

“Defendant asserts that the above issues have continued to worsen and there is a valid concern the combined issues are related to serious heart or brain ailments as well as past diagnosis for ulnar nerve problems,” according to the defense’s motion. “As such, the defendant asserts the basic review of conditions by the jail nurse are inadequate and has led to significant worsening of her symptoms.”

Nathaniel, a first grade student at Oregon Elementary School, was found unresponsive and not breathing about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 17, 2021, in his bed at his home in the 400 block of South 10th Street. He was pronounced dead later that day at KSB Hospital in Dixon.

Safranek was arrested April 21, 2021, and indicted May 4, 2021. She pleaded not guilty May 6, 2021.

Earlier this year, Redington denied O’Brien’s request to hire additional medical experts for Safranek, despite his argument that she has “a long history as to past mental health care” and that those health issues are “directly connected to her defense.”

The defense filed a motion in March saying Safranek’s right to due process required the appointment of and/or use of one or more experts to review certain discovery materials and/or provide testimony.

Her attorneys asked the court to approve an additional expert to “review and evaluate mental health records” of Safranek, including her condition at the time of the alleged crime.

They argued extensive mental health records were provided by the state and revealed a “substantial history of mental health issues, mental illness and related services.”

On Nov. 3, 2022, Redington ruled Safranek fit to stand trial after reviewing a mental health evaluation requested by the defense.

According to records obtained by Shaw Local News Network in a Freedom of Information Act request, the Department of Children and Family Services visited the Safranek/Burton household about a dozen times over two years, following up on five reports of suspected abuse and neglect.

Each time, DCFS closed the case after finding no indications of parental wrongdoing.

Nathaniel was 4 when the allegations first surfaced.

3 OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

Judge: Mom accused of killing son must remain in jail

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

4 LOCAL HISTORY

School demo a surprise to historical society

It is happening. The day has come that we really thought would never happen. Congress School is being torn down and people are asking questions.

They are asking questions of Polo Historical Society members thinking we have the answers and we do not.

We are simply telling them to “call Polo City Hall.”

Several years ago someone said to me, “I would really like those columns.” I thought to myself, where on earth would she put them in her yard.

I laughed and said, “I will not see those columns gone in my lifetime.”

Boy was I wrong since the columns are now history.

Several have asked me to write about the history of Congress School and I would have to go back through the newspapers and our files to dig all that out. I cannot do that in a weekend.

Some of it would not be pleasant since our town did not make good decisions when it came to the school.

But then we did not make good decisions about some of our other buildings that we have lost so why did we expect anything different with Congress School.

I have a book at the museum on the town of Galena, Illinois, and it is very interesting reading. Years ago a particular mayor prevented the tearing down of any of its older structures.

People disliked the man intensely but in time they began to realize this mayor literally ended up making Galena what it is today. He had a vision and it worked out. Polo needed

POLO HISTORY ​Betty Obendorf someone with a vision a long time ago.

Linda and I will start to pull out information on Congress School and the history of it but right now we are busy. We are busy with Christmas and the decoration of the museum since Polo’s Christmas Celebration is close at hand and we are part of that.

The white Christmas tree my brother Ed sent us a number of years ago has been brought from the back of the museum and we have to get out the California decorations. We found the rest of them this summer when we cleaned out the basement of Aplington House.

We also have this aluminum tree found tucked way back in the corner of the basement at Aplington House.

I am far more anxious to see what the tree looks like than writing about Congress School at the moment. We are organizing our decorating team.

We are getting ready to start work at Aplington House with two porches that need to be replaced and we are going to put a handicapped ramp on the back porch.

There have never been steps there so it is time to add a ramp when the porch is replaced. The fence needs work done on it and Linda had to find the information on the special fence

Earleen Hinton

The columns on the main entrance of the Congress School in Polo were taken down Friday, Nov. 10. The Polo City Council has discussed demolishing the building which once served as Polo’s high school. The building has sat empty for several years. that Paul Graehling had made.

It was Paul Graehling’s design and built out of cypress wood to resist rot.

All the joints are perfectly square with no gaps that would trap water. It is a one-of-a-kind fence and now needs work.

I loved seeing all the flags along

Mason Street for Veterans Day. It reminds us of all the people who have served our country. We must always keep them in mind.

• Betty Obendorf is a retired teacher and volunteer for the Polo Historical Society.

Illinois was once part of France’s colonial empire

By OTTO DICK From the early 1600s to 1783, Illinois was a part of France’s colonial empire in North America. With the conclusion of the French and Indian War in 1763, the British acquired about half of France’s territories on the North American mainland which included what is now the State of Illinois.

For 15 years this land acquired by the British was governed as a part of the British province of Quebec, Canada.

British rule brought major changes to the Illinois country. They issued a royal proclamation on Oct. 7, 1776, that forbade any colonial settlement west

of the Appalachian Mountains.

The territory between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River was declared an Indian Reserve.

Any European settlers already living in the Indian Reserve were required to obtain special licenses if they wished to remain there.

In addition, grants of land west of the Appalachians that previously were given to the English colonists as rewards for their service in the French and Indian War were invalidated, causing the first of several grievances that led to the revolt of the 13 colonies in 1775-1776.

In 1765, the British took possession of Fort de Chartres and renamed it

Fort Cavendish. The Catholic French settlers were ordered to leave the area now a part of the Indian Reserve. Most of the Catholic French settlers in Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Prairie du Rocher elected to cross the Mississippi and form new settlements in St. Louis and St. Genevieve in the Spanish territory of Louisiana.

Later, the British rescinded the expulsion order, offering the French colonists the same rights they had under the French rule, but most remained in their new homes west of the Mississippi.

In 1772, the Mississippi flooded so the British abandoned Fort de Chartres and built a new outpost at Kas-

kaskia. In 1818, Kaskaskia became the first capitol of the State of Illinois.

Shortly after the British claimed this area, a conflict began usually known as the Pontiac War. Chief Pontiac was an Ottawa Tribe chief. The American Indians after one year of conflicts moved across the Mississippi River.

Pontiac’s name remains with the Pontiac car and the city named Pontiac. Near us is a city named Ottawa: however, I could not determine if it was named after the Ottawa Indian Tribe.

• Otto Dick is a retired teacher and has researched Ogle County history for several years.

MILESTONES

LOCAL NEWS

Bonnie Elliott to mark 100 years Nov. 22

Polo in finals to win $50K toward new dog park

Bonnie Elliott of Oregon will mark her 100th birthday on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Bonnie was the former receptionist for Woods.

She would love to receive a card sent to her at P.O. Box 13, Oregon, IL or you can call her at 815-7322200 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Photo provided by Linda Petry

Bonnie Elliott of Oregon will mark her 100th birthday on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

POLO – Polo is one of 25 finalists in the 2023 PetSafe Unleashed contest, where it could win $50,000 toward a new dog park.

“PetSafe Unleashed is a national contest where one lucky community will win a dream park, a PetSafe Unleashed Dog Park,” according to PetSafeUnleashed.PetSafe.com. “[It’s] a place where pets and people can come together to spread the joy and share the love with wagging tails, smiling faces and new friends every day!”

Many of Polo’s residents have been asking for a dog park for several years, City Clerk Sydney Bartelt said.

“We would like to provide our community with a dog park that they have been asking for,” Bartelt wrote in the city’s entry. “This will even be something that will draw more people to our small rural city.”

The proposed location for Polo’s dog park is 602 N. Adams Ave. It is two empty lots, which the city does not yet own and would have to buy if Polo wins the grand prize, Bartelt said.

PetSafe has worked for more than a decade to create dog-friendly spaces across the country through its Bark for Your Park program, according to the website. PetSafe has supported more than 80 dog parks in 40 states since 2011, contributing more than $1.65 million, the website states.

Polo officials’ original idea for a dog park was to have one near the water tower if the city bought the CedarStone Banquet Hall to serve as a new city hall, Bartelt said. That purchase never occurred, and so where to put a dog park returned to the drawing board.

Bartelt said she came across 602 N. Adams Ave. as a possible location while confirming an address on Beacon, which is a geographic information system used by Ogle County.

“I told [Mayor Doug Knapp], ‘When that dog park grant comes available, I’d like to apply,’” she said.

Anyone 18 or older can vote once per day at PetSafeUnleashed.PetSafe. com/locations/polo-il. Voting runs through Nov. 30.

The grand prize winner will be announced Dec. 5, according to the website.

Karl Jr. and Shirley Hagemann

Karl and Shirley Hagemann to celebrate 60th anniversary Karl Jr. and Shirley Hagemann of Mt. Morris, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Nov. 16.

Karl and the former Shirley Rowland were married on Nov. 16, 1963, at Nazarene Church in Oregon.

The couple have two children, Karl

III (Tara) of Leaf River and Brad (Jean) of Mt. Morris. They have six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Cards and memories may be sent to their home at 6289 Adeline Road, Mt. Morris, IL 61054.

Do you have a milestone to share?

Send your submissions to: ehinton@shawmedia.com

Oregon High School Madrigals to perform twice in December The theme of Oregon High School’s 2023 Madrigal Dinner is Time Travel.

Dinners will be served at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9, at Stronghold’s Brubaker Center.

Food and wassail will be served during the event. The cost is $25 per ticket.

For tickets, email zhall@ocusd.net

and provide the following information: which day you’re coming; the number of people in your group; and the names of everyone in your party.

Contact Choir Director Zach Hall for more information at zhall@ocusd. net or 815-677-5493.

Reservations close on Monday, Dec. 4.

OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

By ALEXA ZOELLNER

azoellner@shawmedia.com

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Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

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Centennial students give veterans a loud and clear thanks with songs during Polo program

By EARLEEN HINTON

ehinton@shawmedia.com POLO – Centennial Elementary School students made sure all the veterans in the audience knew loud and clear how much they were appreciated at their school’s Veterans Day program Friday.

Students from preschool to fifth grade burst into song during the event as veterans from all branches of service, and members of the public, filled the school’s gymnasium for the afternoon event.

Under the direction of Jordann Fishman, preschoolers started the singing portion of the program with a spirited “Yankee Doodle” followed by kindergarteners singing “You’re a Grand Old Flag”.

That set the stage for the event’s guest speaker – Polo native and Navy veteran Marddi Rahn.

“Thank you for opportunity of being here today to honor veterans,” said Rahn who then asked all veterans and active duty military members in attendance to stand and be recognized.

“Just take a look around at all the veterans we have here in this small community. Thank you for your service.”

Rahn, 49, joined the Navy in 1992, after graduating from Polo High School. She attended bootcamp in Orlando, Florida, and then went on to Great Lakes for Corps School. After graduation, she was stationed at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia where she received a Naval ROTC Scholarship and attended Catholic University of America, obtaining her nursing degree in 2001.

“If we all think very hard, each of you here today know someone who is a veteran,” said Rahn. “We are all touched by veterans.

“What does it mean to serve? Some serve in the military a few years and some for 20 to 30 years, but they spend their whole lifetime serving,” Rahn said. “Veterans sacrifice. Some were told to serve, while others volunteered to serve. They left the comforts of their hometown where they know everyone and everyone knows them. They left the familiar for the very unknown. No one knows what the service is going to bring. I’m from Polo and I left. I came back.”

During her career, Rahn served at multiple health facilities, including the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and the Naval Hospital in Rota, Spain. She received a scholarship to attend Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and obtained her master’s degree as a nurse practi-

Photos by Earleen Hinton

Centennial Elementary School fifth graders sing a patriotic song during the school’s Veterans Day program on Friday, Nov. 10, in Polo. The event also included a speech by a Polo veteran and a slideshow highlighting veterans who are related to school students.

Navy veteran Marddi Rahn was the guest speaker at Centennial Elementary School’s Veterans Day program. Rahn, 49, is a 1992 graduate of Polo High School and returned home to Polo after retiring. tioner in 2014. She then served at the Navy hospital at 29 Palms, California.

She was deployed on the USNS Comfort in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and also on the USNS Mercy in 2015 for a humanitarian mission to Fiji, New Guinea, Vietnam, and the Philippines. She also

Marine Logan Hudson, 18, (left) poses for a photo with his mom Kris Bardell and stepdad Steve Bardell after Centennial Elementary School’s Veterans Day program.

The event included singing by students, a speech by a Polo veteran and a slideshow highlighting veterans who are related to school students.

served again in 2017 on the ship to Bahrain in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

She retired on Oct. 1, 2020, and moved back to Polo.

Service members are put in harm’s way to protect our freedoms “here in Polo and around the world,” she said.

“They put their life on the line for ours. Even though they may be afraid they still do it, because that is what they said they would do for their country and every one of us,” Rahn said.

See VETERANS, page 7

Birkey’s Apprenticeship Program secures more than $200,000 grant contact@shawmedia.com

CHAMPAIGN – Birkey’s Farm Store announced a grant awarded to Birkey’s CNH Service Technician Apprenticeship Program at Parkland College.

The grant, supported by East Central Illinois Workforce Board with Champaign County Regional Planning Commission funding, will cover tuition and other additional costs for freshmen.

Apprenticeship students, representatives of Birkey’s, the ECI Workforce Board, RPC and Parkland College gathered Oct. 30 for a celebratory luncheon at Parkland College.

“This grant is key to providing continued education to future service technicians in our surrounding communities. It is remarkable for these students to be able to attend college without the financial burden of tuition,” said Travis McClure, Birkey’s education and recruitment specialist.

The grant funding for the apprenticeship program totals more than $200,000 and will be dispersed over the next three semesters. The grant was a one-time, competitive grant awarded to the East Central Illinois Workforce

Photo provided by Rachel Hartman, Birkey’s Farm Store

Apprenticeship students, representatives of Birkey’s, the ECI Workforce Board, RPC and Parkland College gather Oct. 30 for a celebratory luncheon at Parkland College.

Board by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The grant is managed by the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission.

“This was a great opportunity for us to expand our support for apprentices in the agriculture industry. We are excited to help these students focus more on their education and less on taking out loans or accruing debt,”

OBITUARY

said Cassandra Dunham, talent development specialist at the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, a partner organization at East Central Illinois workNet. Birkey’s CNH Service Technician Apprenticeship Program provides more than $6,000 in tools for students to achieve an associate in applied science degree while completing a hands-on, paid apprenticeship along-

side skilled Birkey’s technicians,” officials said in a news release.

“It’s encouraging to see so many people partner together to invest in my future. This grant and the assistance from Birkey’s are making my career goals possible,” said Dane Shrimplin, a freshman in the apprenticeship program.

“Birkey’s is excited for this partnership with East Central Illinois Workforce Board and Champaign County Regional Planning Commission and Parkland College to open more opportunities to those pursuing a career as a service technician,” the release said.

East Central Illinois workNet is the local consortium of public workforce development programs. To learn more about local workforce development, visit www.ECIWork.net.

Headquartered in Champaign, Birkey’s Farm Store has served Illinois, Indiana and Missouri since 1954. It has grown to a network of 20 locations, including Polo, and 520+ employees in the 100% employee-owned organization. Birkey’s is a leading dealer for Case IH Agriculture and Case Construction Equipment.

For more information, visit www. birkeys.com

• VETERANS

SONJA “TONI” J. CROSS

Survived by Bill; daughter Tami (Jerry) Hornbogen of Polo; her fur baby Buddy who Born: January 19, 1945 in Dixon, IL never left her side; sisters Karen (Larry) Reap Died: November 9, 2023 in Oregon, IL of Kansas, Lynn Johnson of Georgia, Vicki (Butch) Woods of Mt Carroll, IL, sister-in-law Sonja “Toni” Cross 78 of Polo passed away Karen (Jim) Bingle of Polo; many nieces & Thursday November 9th 2023 at Serenity nephews; several cousins.

Hospice Home in Oregon.

Our heartfelt thank you to everyone at Toni was born January 19th, 1945, in Dixon IL. The daughter of Paul “Gene” and Beatrice Serenity for their exceptional home care – Chloe, Courtney, Rachel, April, & Jodi. You (Pontnak) Weigle. On February 2, 1964, at loved mom so much and that will never be St. Marks Lutheran church in Polo, she was forgotten. You know you have special people united in marriage to William “Bill” Cross.

She worked at PNC & Kable News. She was when your face lights up and brings you to also a full-time farmer. Her greatest joy was tears when she sees you. Even though her stay was short, many thanks to the care and working side by side with Bill. From milking cows, to helping deliver lambs and working in serene environment Serenity Hospice and the fields. She often would come home from Home provided mom during her short time there. Special thanks to Lisa & Diane. Much work and jump on “her” tractor. She loved appreciation to Karen Bingle her stand-by it all! caretaker for all her extra help.

In retirement, she enjoyed sewing projects Honoring Toni’s wishes cremation rites will and baking. Toni spent many hours helping be accorded.

Tami bake cookies and enjoying their time Memorials to Serenity Hospice & Home. together. She always loved aggravating her Polo Family Funeral Home is handling “favorite” son-in-law as much as she could arrangements. To send condolences please but Jerry giving it right back was what she visit www.polofamilyfuneralhome.com enjoyed most.

More OBITUARIES, page 8

Visit us online everyday! www.oglecountynews.com

Continued from page 6 “And why do we do this? We do this to serve our country. To keep it safe from those who want to harm us. We believe America is the greatest country in the world.”

Rahn said serving is also more than sacrifice.

“Serving in the military is not only about sacrifice. There are many benefits. We get to go to new and exciting places. We get to meet new people and learn new things. We earn money to put us through college and most of us would not change our time in the military for the world.

“We believe the freedoms we have here in the U.S. are worth fighting for and some dying for,” she said. “We serve to protect those freedoms here. We do this for each and every one of you. You are all very special to us. We do this for you so you have a warm bed to sleep in.

We do this so each and every one of you have the freedom to go to school. We do this so you have a choice to do what you want, when you want, when you grow up and to live where you want.

“We want to ensure each and every one of you have the opportunities that many do not have around the world,” she said.

Rahn said veterans continue to serve their families and community

once they leave active duty.

“They continue to serve so others may benefit,” she said adding ways to honor veterans include standing for the flag, singing the National Anthem and saying the Pledge of Allegiance with pride.

“When you get to junior high and high school remember the things you are taught at grade school because it means a lot to us veterans who are in the stands watching,” she said. “For us adults who have children, teach the children the importance of these actions and how that honors the veterans who have served. And, above all, don’t take for granted the freedoms we have in this country.”

The musical portion of the program included patriotic songs by first, second, third, fourth and fifth graders and ended with taps by Fishman.

The program concluded with a slide show projected on a big screen that featured active and retired veterans with short biographies about their service and how they were related to Centennial students and staff.

OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK

7

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

8 OBITUARIES NORMAN R. KILKER

graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice.

Norman worked at the Belleville County Jail Born: April 28, 1957 in Freeport, IL as a corrections officer for 20 years. In his Died: November 10, 2023 in Freeport, IL later years, Norman did roofing. He enjoyed Norman Roger Kilker, listening and watching the Chicago Cubs and Bulls. He is survived by his two sons 66, of Freeport, IL Adam and Andrew; parents Roger and Audrey passed away Friday Kilker of Forreston, IL; sister Debra (Garry) November 10, 2023 Gromley of Normal, IL; brother Keith (Kinga) in his home. He was Kilker of Lemont, IL; and one granddaughter. born April 28, 1957 in Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Monday Freeport, IL to Roger November 20, 2023 at Burke-Tubbs Funeral and Audrey (Foat) Home in Forreston, IL with Pastor Eddie Eddy Kilker. Norman graduated in 1975 from Forreston High School. In high school Norman officiating. A visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. until the time of service. Burial will be in participated in cross country, basketball White Oak Cemetery. A memorial has been and baseball. After graduating high school, established in Norman’s memory.

Norman attended MacMurray College and

CHRISTINE WEST

Galiher) of Galesburg, Illinois, and her brothers Donald Warner (Paula) of Oregon, Illinois, Born: July 18, 1959 in Dixon, IL James Warner (Stacey) of Troy, South CarDied: November 12, 2023 in Dixon, IL olina, and David Warner (Kristy) of Oregon, Christine Mary West Illinois. She is also survived by her longtime companion, Edward Young, numerous aunts, (nee Warner), 64, of Oregon, Illinois, passed uncles, nieces, and nephews.

Christine was preceded in death by her away on November 12, 2023, in Dixon, Illinois. father, Donald Russell Warner, as well as both her maternal and fraternal grandparents.

She was born on July She attended Oregon schools and furthered 18, 1959, in Dixon, Illinois, to the late Donald her education at Sauk Valley Community College.

Russell Warner and Patricia Warner.

The family will hold a memorial service at a Christine was a compassionate individual later time to honor Christine’s life. The funeral who had a servant heart. She dedicated her home assisting with the arrangements is life to helping those in need and had a deep Chapel Hill located in Dixon, Illinois. love for gardening and feeding wildlife.

Christine Mary West will be deeply missed Christine is survived by her beloved son, by all who knew and loved her. May her kind Adam L. West, her mother Patricia Warner of Oregon, Illinois, her sister Diane Grover (John and compassionate spirit continue to inspire us all.

MARY CATHERINE BRIDGET MCGINNISS

children. Mary enjoyed learning how to make authentic Mexican food from the neighbor and also loved having pool parties with the Born: August 6, 1943 in Brooklyn, NY other neighbors. Fun fact, Mary learned how Died: October 22, 2023 in Oregon, IL to drive at the age of 33 in Florida. Every year they would make the trip back to Janesville Mary Catherine for a couple weeks in the summer and again Bridget McGinniss, during Christmas. age 80, of Oregon, In 1979, they decided to move the family IL was called home back north to be closer to “home”. They setpeacefully on October tled in Mt Morris, IL. Mary worked for Kable 22, 2023. Born to proud parents Thomas News Company and was a very active parent & Elnora (Waters) Mc- in the Booster Club. Never missed a sporting activity of her children’s. Always cheering Ginniss on August 6, 1943, in Brooklyn, New them on from the sidelines or bleachers.

York. Her parents moved to the Janesville, Wisconsin area. She attended St Pat’s school Mary had and continues to have many deep friendships from the Mt Morris area. A great and graduated from Janesville High School. listener and one to always offer advice to Mary married Charles Walikonis in Janesthose closest friends. ville, Wisconsin and they soon moved to She left the Mt Morris area to return to Sarasota, Florida, with her daughter in late Janesville Wisconsin in 1987. While in Janes1969, early 1970. Mary enjoyed the weather ville, she worked for Borg Warner and then and all the activities the sunshine state had moved to Beloit, Wisconsin and worked for to offer. Her and her husband welcomed a Taylor Freezer. While there she again made beautiful baby boy while living in Sarasota, life long friends. While working and living in Florida. Mary loved hosting her parents as Beloit she went back to school and received well as welcoming any of her 8 siblings on a degree in Business at the age of 55. When their vacations into their home. She worked she retired from Taylor Freezer in 2010, she and held down the house with two active decided to move closer to her grandchil-

RONALD E DUFFY Born: October 21, 1939 in Dixon, IL Died: November 10, 2023 in Dixon, IL Ronald E Duffy of Dixon passed away peacefully on November 10, 2023, with his family by his side. He was born on October 21, 1939, in Dixon, Illinois to his parents, Ray and Helen Duffy. Ronald married Fay (Long) on July 19, 1961, in Mount Morris, Illinois. While raising his family in Dixon, he worked at Quebecor Printing Company in Mount Morris for 43 years. He enjoyed Al Morrison softball, weekend camping, and attending all his children and grandchildren’s activities, whether it be sporting or school events. He took cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean with his wife Fay and vacationed many years with his brothers throughout the United States.

Ron is survived by his wife, Fay, and their three sons, Monte (Linda), and Mike (Dee) of Dixon, and Matt (Ronnie) of Roach, Missouri;

LELAND D. HAZLIP Born: May 27, 1936 Died: October 23, 2023 Leland D. Hazlip, 87 of Oregon, IL. passed away on October 17, 2023, at his home surrounded by family. He was born on May 27, 1936, in Woodlawn, IL. to Walter and Cleona (Boatright) Hazlip. Leland married Virginia Lucy Irvin, the love of his life, on September 29, 1957 in Centralia IL. He took a shine to breeding Appaloosa

dren who she was so very proud of. Always showing up for their events just like she did with her own children. While living in Oregon, IL she reunited with her friends and enjoyed their once a month lunches. She lived in Oregon, IL from 2010 until her passing.

Mary never missed a birthday or anniversary. Always mailing cards to those friends and family. She was an avid reader and a master at crocheting blankets. She made sure over the years that not only her children were provided with the loving warmth of her blankets, her grandchildren each received one as well. Along with providing blankets to all the nieces and nephews who were starting their own families for their babies. She was a lover of music and loved to dance. There was always music in the background to be heard in her homes over the years. She loved to cook and host Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to her adult children and grandchildren. Christmas was by far her favorite holiday. More importantly, she learned from her mother the gift of baking and made sure family, friends and neighbors over the years got a loaf of her famous Pumpkin Bread. Mary made an impact on so many people with her kindness, sharp quick wit and a lover of hearing a dirty joke as well as telling them. So

four grandchildren, Chris Duffy of Chicago, Sarah (Marcus) Cox of Dixon, Erin Duffy of St. Louis, Missouri, and Jamie Duffy of Chicago.

Ron was blessed with one great-granddaughter, Willow Cox of Dixon. Also surviving are two brothers, Richard (Lucy) of Tupelo, Mississippi, and Charles (Jerre) of Mount Morris, one sister, Charlotte, and many nieces and nephews.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents and one brother Donald Wernick, and sister-n-law Lois Wernick of Virginia Beach.

As per his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be held at the Northside Baptist Church in Dixon, IL on Saturday, November 18, 2023, from 10:0011:00am with a celebration of life service to follow with Pastor Dan Bentz officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ron’s name to the Northside Baptist Church, 506 River Lane, Dixon, Illinois 61021 and/or to Serenity Hospice and Home, 1658 S IL Rt. 2, Oregon, Illinois 61061. horses, coon hunting and enjoyed his time by his pond and the rock river fishing. He was a member of Ogle County Mounted Patrol, and he was a heavy equipment operator( excavating) with Steve Benesh & sons, Local 150 for many years.

Leland is survived by his loving wife, Virgina (Irvin) Hazlip, daughter Kim Rowe of Polo IL, 2 grandsons James Weems and Mark Roy Rowe, and 12 great grandchildren.

He was proceeded in death by his parent, sons David Hazlip, grandson Justin Weems, brothers Kenneth Hazlip, Eugene Hazlip, Clifford Hazlip and Charles Hazlip and sisters Joyce Clint, Patricia Wikoff and Wilma Logon.

The family will have a celebration of life at a later date. much laughter!!!

She will be missed deeply and dearly by her daughter, Trinette ( Oregon, IL ) her son Ty and daughter in law Jennifer (Elgin, IL) grandchildren Sydney (Salt Lake City, UT), Christian, Soraya and Dane ( Elgin, IL) She also leaves behind her sisters Cathleen (Bob) Nichols, Michele (Bob) McGrain, and Regina (Mike) Cylcewski; her brothers John (Sue) McGinniss, Tom (Deb) McGinniss II and Dan McGinniss.

She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister Ann Marie, her sister Ethel Simonson and her sister Theresa McGinniss.

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation for her care while at Sherman Hospital and Avondale Estates, both in Elgin, IL. Her Journey Care hospice team went above and beyond providing her excellent care.

Funeral service will be Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the APFEL WOLFE FUNERAL HOME, 21 S. Austin Rd, Janesville, WI. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your choice of cancer research. Online condolences may be made at www.apfelwolfe.com

2023 IHSA playoffs: Class 3A analysis Byron advanced to the Class 3A semifinals with a 63-15 rout of Durand-Pecatonica on Nov. 11. The Tigers will play Lombard-Montini on Saturday, Nov. 18, in Lombard.

Byron has one of the most high-powered offensive attacks in state history. The Tigers have already scored more than 700 points, one of just 10 teams in state history to do so and are trying to run down the state record of 815 points scored by Peoria in 2016.

Montini is a six-time state champion that has recently had trouble maintaining the success levels of the past, while Mt. Carmel has been a regular deep run postseason team, but hasn’t reached a final since 2011.

Roxana is a whole other story as it has emerged from relative obscurity with a chance to advance to its first title game since 1987.

Semifinal-round matchups Byron vs. Montini: Byron hasn’t

been pressed by a single opponent on its schedule this season, allowing an opening kickoff for a touchdown in the quarterfinal round against Durand-Pecatonica only to score 42 unanswered points for another runaway win. Montini has certainly been more battle-tested in its schedule than Byron in a rigorous CCL/ESCC schedule, but the question still remains if Montini can figure out a way to stop a Byron offensive attack that certainly hasn’t been stopped all year and its rarely even been slowed down.

Pick: Byron Mount Carmel vs. Roxana: Mount Carmel has become a Class 3A/4A postseason fixture reaching at least the second round in nine of the last 10 playoff contested seasons. The same can’t be said for Roxana, who prior to this season, had only qualified for the playoffs six times in the past 20 years and hadn’t moved past the second round of the playoffs since 1987.

Pick: Mount Carmel

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Byron’s Caden Considine (37) runs to the end zone en route to a touchdown during the Tigers’ 3A playoff game against Durand-Pecatonica on Saturday, Nov. 11.

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OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

By STEVE SOUCIE

ssoucie@shawmedia.com

9

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

10

Calliope and her six kittens enjoying ‘furever homes’

By ALEXA ZOELLNER

azoellner@shawmedia.com POLO – Calliope and her six Little Os all have found their “furever homes.”

Calliope, a roughly 2-year-old tuxedo cat, was adopted by a Polo man in late October, after she and her six kittens spent about seven months as the main focus of Project Humane Polo.

“The whole thing, it just turned out so great for her,” said Cheryl Galor, a co-founder of Project Humane Polo. “The guy that adopted her is private, so we respect that, but oh, she is in love with him.”

Founded in August 2020 by Galor, Ashley Rinehart and Pam Shore, Project Humane Polo utilizes a process known as trap-neuter-return, or trap-neuter-vaccinate-return – TNR or TNVR for short. It involves trapping, sterilizing and vaccinating community cats before returning them to the area where they were picked up.

The trio has ventured into fostering and homing some of the cats they pick up, although that wasn’t part of the original plan, Rinehart said in an August interview.

Calliope was picked up by Project Humane Polo in April and, after determining her former owner no longer wanted her, the plan became to get her spayed and rehomed, Rinehart said. That plan changed when it was discovered Calliope was pregnant.

On June 6, she gave birth to six healthy kittens: Ollie (formerly Opie), Onyx, Otis, Dixie (formerly Octavia), Goosie (formerly Odette) and Sophie (formerly Olivia).

The kittens’ owners brought them to the Milledgeville Vet Clinic to be fixed, microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and get a booster to their kitten shots on Tuesday, Nov. 7. All the procedures went well, Galor said.

“This is the first time Project Humane Polo has done something like this, because normally, no kitten, no kitty, no full-grown cat gets adopted until they are spayed or neutered,” she said. “In this situation, just because they were so special, I wanted to wait until they were 5 months and over 4 pounds.

The adopters, they’re so wonderful and all agreed to bring them.”

The kittens had to be taken from Calliope when they were just 28 days old because Calliope had fallen ill. She eventually recovered, but by then her milk had dried up and she was unable to feed her Little Os. “It’s a big deal because all six kittens survived,” Galor said. “We’ve had litters before where one or all of them don’t make it.”

She added that the Little Os also are the largest litter with which Project Humane Polo has dealt.

“This was just one of those stories, and all six kittens survived,” Galor said. “All are beautiful disasters and they’re just the sweetest.”

Project Humane Polo can be contacted by phone at 815-627-6508, by email at projecthumanepolo@gmail.com or on their Facebook page.

Photos provided by Cheryl Galor

Here are Calliope’s Little Os at only a few weeks old. The kittens have now found homes thanks to Project Humane Polo.

Odis and Ollie, formerly named Opie, (left) and Dixie (right) sit in their carriers while awaiting medical procedures to be fixed, microchipped, get a rabies vaccine and other booster shots at the Milledgeville Vet Clinic on Nov. 7.

The ridiculousness that Byron and Lena-Winslow have dominated its opponents in football will finally be put to a test in the IHSA semifinals, with both teams facing intriguing Chicagoland private schools.

One of the beauties of post-season competition in a large, diverse state like Illinois is eventually meeting a team foreign to you.

How will these two behemoths stack up against Lombard Montini and Hope Academy? If past history is any indication, Byron and Le-Win will do just fine.

Physically, Le-Win will have its way with Hope Academy, much the same way a smaller Forreston did last year against Hope and its big, slow linemen.

But, how will the Panthers do against all the offensive weapons of Hope, who have a win over a 4A semifinalist?

Lombard Montini has name recognition for football and wrestling, but that won’t faze Byron, whose execution on the field surpasses anything Montini is capable of. The bigger question is determining how good Montini is.

They have beaten 5A semifinalist and defending state champ Nazareth and 4A semifinalist St. Laurence.

Byron has yet to see quality opponents of that nature, though Dixon gave St. Laurence a tough second-round game.

GUEST VIEW Andy Colbert Comparing results and attempting to gauge how they translate on the playing field can be a dangerous proposition. Look at Montini struggling for much of the game against a Princeton squad riddled by injuries and one that was beaten by 1A Morrison.

So, who knows how Byron and Montini will shake out, though it seems Byron has the upper hand. I look forward to the trip into Lombard for my first Tiger game of the year.

Fair warning to Tiger fans – like many private suburban football fields, the stadium environs are a tight fit.

Since 2017, Byron and Le-Win have played as much in the post season as any program in Illinois. The Tigers have accumulated 23 extra weeks past the regular season and the Panthers 24 weeks.

Compared to teams that miss the post season or those that bow out early in the playoffs, just think how much extra practice time that relates to for Byron and Le-Win. It’s a case of the rich getting richer.

I wonder also, if parents of football-playing youngsters are more inclined to relocate to places like Byron and Le-Win? They both have it rolling and the prospects for the future show no sign of slowing down.

Did you know that both schools have key members of the University of Iowa offensive line in Gennings Dunker and Tyler Elsbury.

Speaking of college football, many of you have heard of the University of Michigan football sign-stealing scandal.

There has much debate as the seriousness of this alleged offense. What was really done and is it cheating or not?

The jury is still out.

I had forgotten all about something similar that I was involved in over 40 years ago. But, the Michigan incident prompted some guilt I felt at the time.

Rochelle was scheduled to open the season against Hononegah in either 1980 or ’81. My father, the Hubs coach at the time, asked me to attend Hononegah’s intra-squad scrimmage and garner information on them.

So as not to draw attention, dad probably figured it was better to send a random individual rather than a member of his coaching staff. That’s why I sensed it was more of a spymode situation, than an actual scout-

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ing assignment.

As the scrimmage ended, I grabbed my notebook and was leaving the bleachers when Hononegah coach Donn VanSchelven approached me.

When he began to question my reasons for being there, I mumbled something about being a college student taking in a little football. James Bond, I was not.

Technically, there wasn’t anything he could do to me, as the scrimmage was open to the public; but I could tell by the tone of his voice he wasn’t happy about an outsider sitting in the stands taking notes.

No doubt, dad was trying to get an edge on his opponent.

Finally, the IHSA awards a pork chop-grilling champion and Sanford Olympia claimed this year’s crown over 48 other schools. Since the early 1980s, the FFA kids have been doing the cooking at Olympia and average about 400500 a game on a homemade grill.

To determine a winner, over 100,000 votes were cast to break the 48 into 16 finalists. From there, the IHSA sends out tasting experts to determine the best-tasting product. Spring Valley Hall was last year’s champ.

• Andy Colbert, an avid runner, has covered high school sports in Ogle County for more than 30 years.

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OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

Byron, Le-Win teams to face Chicago-area opponents 11

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

12

Amboy rolls past Polo, into I8FA state title game

By TY REYNOLDS

Special to Shaw Media POLO – Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio and Polo looked to set the tone early in the afternoon Illinois 8-Man Football Association state semifinal in Polo on Nov. 11.

It was the Clippers that got the upper hand, scoring on its first four possessions in a 40-6 victory that earned them a berth in the state title game for the second straight season.

“We’ve been practicing for state since June, all year basically, looking for another shot at it,” senior tailback Landon Whelchel said. “To go back to state and be able to get a redo after what happened last year [in the title game loss], it just feels amazing.”

Amboy (12-0) recovered a Polo fumble on the first play of the game and cashed it in for a touchdown. Then, taking over at their 10 and 1-yard lines the next two times they touched the ball, the Clippers used big plays to get out of the shadow of their end zone on both series and ended up with 90- and 99-yard touchdown drives for a 22-0 lead less than 20 minutes into the game.

“We knew we didn’t want to have a

slow start like we did last week, and we knew that obviously they’ve got one of the best players in 8-man football in Brock Soltow, so we knew the keys were stopping him, starting off fast, and just never looking back,” senior tight end Brennan Blaine said.

“We were really nervous coming into this game, but once we got on the field, that all went away. We just played our game and let our game do the talking.”

The Marcos (10-3) drove into the red zone on two of their first four possessions, but stalled out both times.

And every time they couldn’t find the end zone, the Clippers did the next time they touched the ball.

“We would get some good plays, and then they’d stuff us and put us behind the chains again,” Polo coach Ted Alston said. “The turnovers hurt us, some mental mistakes hurt us. ...

And once they get going, they feed off of that momentum.”

Landen Brooks boomed a 65-yard punt after a Marcos three-and-out, pinning the Clippers at their 1-yard line. But Whelchel’s 51-yard run on the second play put the ball just past midfield, and Leffelman capped the

See POLO PLAYOFFS, page 13

Alex T. Paschal

Polo’s Delo Fernandez is tackled by Landon Montavon (left) and Cody Winn on Nov. 11 during an 8-man state semifinal game in Polo.

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13

• POLO PLAYOFFS

Continued from page 12 nine-play drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge for a 22-0 lead with 8:34 left before halftime.

“Those long drives are so big. It takes away the momentum that they have, it takes away their will when you punch them in the mouth like that,” Leffelman said. “We have such a good team, and whoever’s hands we put the ball in, we feel confident in their ability and what they’re going to do with it.”

The Clippers marched 50 yards in 11 plays on the opening series of the second half, with Leffelman again crashing in from 1 yard out for a 34-0 lead.

Klein recovered a fumble on a confusing play to end Polo’s next drive; one official seemingly called Delo Fernandez down, but he was overruled and an inadvertent whistle was called after Klein had come up with the ball.

The fired-up Marcos forced a threeand-out, then drove to the Amboy 28-yard line in 13 plays before stalling out; the Clippers answered with a 52-yard scoring strike from Jones to Blaine to make it 40-0 with 8:10 remaining.

“Those big plays were huge. It’s all about the play call, and Eddie made some beautiful throws; he was on fire all day, and all I had to do was catch it,” Blaine said.

Polo avoided the shutout when Fernandez got loose for a 59-yard touchdown sprint on third down of the Mar-

cos’ final series.

“I’m just glad the season didn’t end in a shutout. I’m glad we all stayed and fought as hard as we could to the very last second,” Fernandez said. “It started off rough, and I feel like that kind of set the tone for the game. We had to fight back from that.”

Fernandez finished with 129 yards on 17 carries, and Soltow capped his stellar career with 115 yards on 17 rushes to go with 33 yards passing. Soltow amassed more than 6,600 yards (5,423 rushing, 703 receiving, 542 passing) and 104 total touchdowns.

“It’s a pride thing, and for Delo to be able to score that touchdown is great.

He’s such a great kid and he’s been such a great teammate, and Brock gives you everything he’s got all the time,” Alston said. “Our seniors are

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just great kids, and we’re going to miss them. ... They were freshmen when I came back to coach, and it’s kind of a special group.”

Whelchel rushed 25 times for 224 yards and a touchdown, while Blaine caught all four of Jones’ completions for 175 yards and two scores. Leffelman added 10 carries for 28 yards and three TDs as the Clippers will look to avenge last year’s title-game loss Friday night at Monmouth College.

“It means a lot to get the chance again,” Leffelman said. “I think we know what we’ve got to do this week in practice, and we know what we’ve got to do on Friday night. It’s what we’ve been working toward, and all the sweat and hard work we put in, this is the week that it’s for. We’re coming.”

OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

Photos by Alex T. Paschal

ABOVE LEFT: Amboy’s Landon Whelchel fights for yards against Polo’s Billy Lowry (12) on Nov. 11, during an 8-man state semifinal game in Polo. ABOVE RIGHT: Polo’s Brock Soltow picks up big yards during the game. The Marcos lost the game to the unbeaten Clippers who will play for the state title on Friday in Monmouth.

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

14 OGLE COUNTY SHERIFF ACTIVITY Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following activity:

Nov. 6

Steven J. Crawford, 51, of Rock Falls, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop on Interstate 88 mile marker 78 at around 12:44 p.m. Crawford also was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and issued a written warning for improper traffic lane usage. Crawford was taken into custody without incident, released on a notice-to-appear and given a future court date.

Angel A Guerrero, 23, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop for an equipment violation in the 1000 block of north Illinois Route 251 at 7:54 p.m.

Guerrero also was cited for no muffler. Guerrero was released on a notice-to-appear and given a future court date.

Camryn Busche, 24, of Byron, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in the 9000 block of North Meridian Road at around 10:34 p.m. Busche also was cited for an inoperable registration light, operating an uninsured vehicle and illegal transportation of alcohol. Busche was taken to the Ogle County jail and later released on a notice-to-appear.

Juwuane Parchman, 26, of Rock-

ford, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop near the intersection of Kishwaukee and Meridian roads at around 11:34 p.m. Parchman also was given a written warning for illegal window tint.

Parchman was released from the scene on a notice-to-appear and given a future court date.

Nov. 7

Rafael Valencia, 23, of Rochelle, was arrested for driving while license revoked after a traffic stop in the 17500 block of east Illinois Route 38 at around noon. Valencia also was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and issued a written warning for no mud flaps. Valencia was taken into custody without incident, taken to the Ogle County jail, booked and released on a notice-to-appear with a future court date.

Parker Eccles, 22, of Byron, was arrested for no valid license after a traffic stop for expired registration in the 500 block of North Fourth Street in Oregon at around 6 p.m. Eccles was released on a notice-to-appear and given a future court date.

Nov. 8

Teagan Andrews, 46, of Sycamore, was arrested for driving while license suspended and a DeKalb County warrant after a traffic stop near the intersection of Illinois Route 64 and Chana

Road at around 10:21 p.m. She also was cited for speeding. Andrews was taken to the Ogle County jail where she posted bond and was released on a notice-to-appear.

Nov. 11

Benjamin F. Espinoza, 18, of Rockford was arrested for unlawful use of a firearm with no FOID and possession of ammunition with no FOID after a traffic stop on Illinois Route 64 at Mulford Road at 12:59 a.m. Espinoza also was charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the speed limit, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and possession of cannabis 1-10 grams. Espinoza was taken to the Ogle County jail and released on a notice-to-appear with a future court date.

Rasheeda N. Waters, 40, of Rockford, was arrested for driving on a sus-

pended license after a traffic stop on Illinois Route 251 at East Lindenwood Road at 7:47 p.m. Waters also was cited for operating a vehicle with expired registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Waters was released on a notice-to-appear with a future court date.

Roberto Diaz, 34, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop at North Maple and West Chicago avenues in Davis Junction at 11:03 p.m. Diaz also was cited for registration expired, suspended registration, improper lane usage and operating uninsured motor vehicle. Diaz was released on a noticeto-appear and given a future court date.

Nov. 12

Ryan Schumacher, 32, of Forreston, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol after deputies responded to the 15000 block of West Grove Road at around 4:07 p.m. in reference to a driving complaint. Schumacher also was cited for illegal parking in a roadway, illegal transportation of alcohol and uninsured motor vehicle. Schumacher was taken to the Ogle County jail and released on a notice-to-appear.

These charges are accusations and all subjects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

PROPERTY TRANSFERS FOR OGLE COUNTY Nov. 3-9 Warranty deeds Daniel E. and Stephanie M. Olson to Cynthia P. Galambos, 6779 N. Summit Drive, Stillman Valley, $230,000.

Daniel P. and Alison Collins to Maryellen and Ray F. McCracken IV, 736 N. Belair Drive, Byron, $260,000.

Zachary and Samantha Zenzen to Robert R. Bollon, 1107 Frosty Morning Drive, Davis Junction, $285,000.

Krista and Benjamin A. Walter to Melissa Clucas, 129 Windward Lane, Rochelle, $285,000.

Jared Wright and Jorie Dreier to Christy Linder, 301 W. Chicago St., Davis Junction, $79,000.

Andrew and Jaimi Kitchen to Jordan H. and Tabatha R. Thomas, 302 S. Frederick Ave., Mt. Morris, $213,500.

Justin and Angela Holder to Tyler S. Hankins, 814 N. Old Hunter Run, Byron, $217,000.

Ernestine D. Axelson to James and Kimberly Grennan, 3225 E. Ridgewood Court, Oregon, $39,500.

Kurt L. Male to Ruben S. and Ana Laura Herrera, 301 N. Woolf Court, Rochelle, $80,000.

Edna J. Smith to Robert L. Wendt, 965 W. Lafayette St. Oregon and one parcel in Oregon-Nashua Township, $164,000.

Courtney G. and Josie L.R. Withers to Matthew Green, 207 E. Main St., Mt. Morris, $132,000.

MCGP Farms LLC to Fresh Furrow LLC, one parcel in Flagg Township, , $420,918.

Elmer Eugene and Jeanette Joyce Brake to Benjamin J. and Katherine Kaniecki, 202 Linder Lane, Rochelle, $235,000.

Patricia A. McGhee to Donnis Maxine Brown, 1342 Northlake Court, Rochelle, $239,900.

Sheriff’s deeds Ogle County Sheriff and Pedro A. and Gloria C. Pasqua to City of Rochelle, 300 Cherry Ave., Rochelle, $0.

Ogle County Sheriff and Kerry and Keith Beckingham, 1823 S McKendrie St., Mt. Morris, $28,000.

Deeds Ogle County Trust No. 2011463001, Ogle County, trustee, to Marco Sawires, 802 S. Central St., Woosung, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 1219476014, Ogle County, trustee, to Cheap Lands, Inc., one parcel on Wendorf Road, Davis Junction, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 0436483006, Ogle County, trustee, to Philip Zaffer, one parcel in Byron Township, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 2208427017, Ogle County, trustee, to Jennifer Rodriguez, 205 Miami Drive, Dixon, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. Tr2208427016, Ogle County, trustee, to Dale H. and Laura J. Pitzer, 207 Miami Drive, Dixon, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 2208427001, Ogle County, trustee, to Sara Jacobson, 216 Portage Lane, Dixon, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 2208427003, Ogle County, trustee, to Sara Jacobson, 306 Portage Lane, Dixon, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 2208427002, Ogle County, trustee, to Sara Jacobson, 308 Portage Lane, Dixon, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 1416176007, Ogle County, trustee, to Ronald and Nicolle Daisy, 404 W. Buffalo St., Polo, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 2208105020, Ogle County, trustee, to James Boult, one parcel in Taylor Township, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 0226100002, Ogle County, trustee, to James Boult, 8950 N. Columbine Road, Forreston, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 2523286004, Ogle County, trustee, to Marco Sawires, 224 E. Depot St., Creston, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 242528013, Ogle County, trustee, to Marco Sawires, 212 Avenue H, Rochelle, $0.

Ogle County Trust No. 2428102012, Ogle County, trustee, to Marco Sawires, 11052 E. Lincoln Lane, Rochelle, $0.

Source: Ogle County Recorder’s Office

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OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

Photo provided by Mark Herman Kelly Popper, a seasonal staff member for the Nature Conservancy’s Nachusa Grasslands, watches the fire during a prescribed burn at the Grasslands on Monday. Portions of the prairie are purposely burned to encourage native plant life.

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

16

CLASSIFIED To place an ad

EMPLOYMENT

833-584-NEWS (6397)

EMPLOYMENT

CHEMIST American Nickeloid Company, Peru, Illinois, is a manufacturer with a long history in the Illinois Valley.

We currently have an immediate opening for a Chemist.

We offer a rewarding work environment and excellent benefit package including 401(k), health insurance, dental coverage, drug plan, life insurance, paid vacations and holidays. Applicants should have a degree in a related field. Experience preferred but not required.

EOE Please e-mail or send cover letter and resume to:

susanj@an-co.com American Nickeloid Company Human Resources 2900 West Main Street Peru, IL 61354

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

classified@shawlocal.com

EMPLOYMENT

PUBLIC WORKS The Village of Mt. Morris is seeking a candidate for full-time employment for Public Works. Qualified candidates must have a high school diploma or GED and should possess working knowledge of operating and maintaining equipment and good public relations. The candidate must be 18 years or older and reside within the Mt. Morris Fire Protection District. A valid driver's license is required upon hire, a class B/CDL must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time. This position includes a competitive salary and benefits. You will be required to clear a background check prior to employment.

Applications are available in the Village Clerk's Office located at 105 W Lincoln Street, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, or on our website www.mtmorrisil.net through November 17th, 2023.

Mt. Morris is an equal opportunity employer

EMPLOYMENT

AUCTIONS

BUSINESS PROPERTY Building for lease: apx., 4200 sq. ft., laydown area apx 2 acres, (2) 12'x 14' OHD shop area & office.

815-535-3282

ROCK FALLS EFFICIENCY -FurnishedUtilities incl. $175/wk.

815-626-8790

AUCTIONS

AUCTIONS

AUCTIONS

AUCTIONS

LAND AUCTION & REAL ESTATE

Located at: 52 Van Petten Rd, Rock Falls, IL Tract I - Approx. 127.47 Acres (98.75 Acres More or Less Tillable) Tract II - Approx. 2.53 Acres w/ Two Story Home & Outbuildings

This will be offered at Public Auction at the Deer Valley Country Club, located at 3298 Hoover Rd. in Deer Grove, IL

with LIVE IN PERSON BIDDING ONLY (NO Internet Bidding) on:

AUCTIONS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023 TIME: 11:00 AM View Listing and Farm Packet:

www.tumblesonauction.com

LAND

AUCTION

Sensient Flavors, Amboy is looking for qualified individuals to join our team!

Positions now available:

Controller Sanitation Manager Plant Superintendent Production Supervisors Maintenance Scheduler/Planner Maintenance/Automation Technician Material Handler Production Operators Full time salary & benefits package including: Medical - Dental - Vision Life Insurance - Short-term Disability 401k - ESOP Paid Vacation - Sick - Holidays Equal Opportunity Employer View openings & apply online at:

https://careers.sensient.com/

83 AC± | 1 TRACT OGLE CO, IL AUCTION:

LIVE AND ONLINE AT RANCHANDFARMAUCTIONS.COM

AUCTION DATE: 12/12/23 AUCTION TIME: 11:00 AM AUCTION LOCATION: PLUM CREEK CLUB 641 PALMYRA RD, DIXON, IL 61021 IN COOPERATION WITH WHITETAIL PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE, LLC TODD HENRY, AGENT: 815.997.2256 RANCHANDFARMAUCTIONS.COM WHITETAIL PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE LLC DBA RANCH & FARM AUCTIONS 115 W Washington, Ste 900, Pittsfield, IL 62363 Debbie S. Laux, Designated Managing Broker, License # 471.018541 Joe Gizdic, Director, Ranch & Farm Auctions, 217.299.0332 Todd Henry, IL Land Specialist, Whitetail Properties Real Estate, LLC, 815.997.2256 Cody Lowderman, IL Auctioneer, 441.001255

Homestead is a Two-Story Home w/ Newer Metal Roof, 24 X 24 Addition. Property has Metal Machine Shed, Metal Pole Building w/ Concrete Floor, Barn w/ Newer Metal Roof & Older Galvanized Grain Bins; Taxes for Homestead & Buildings $2972.42

TERMS OF FARMLAND & REAL ESTATE This will be Sold by the Surveyed Acre. Survey will be Provided by Seller.

FARMLAND TERMS: 10% Down the Day of the Sale and the Balance due on or Before March 1, 2024. Farm Land Lease for 2023 has Been Terminated. Tract I & II to be Sold Separately - No Combination. Farmland Taxes $3018.24 HOMESTEAD TERMS: 10% Down the Day of the Sale and the Balance due on or Before 60 Days when Merchantable Title will be Furnished.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Section 19 TWP 20N Range 8 E (Full Legal Description Available Day of Auction) Taxes to be prorated at Closing & Possession at Closing for Farmland & Homestead.

All Announcements made Day of Sale will Take Precedence over all Previous Printed Matter. Seller Reserves the Right to Reject or Accept any or all Bids. This Sale is Not Contingent on Financing & being Sold “AS IS”. All Financing Needs to be PreApproved for Closing. For Farm Packet or to View Homestead, Please Contact Rob Young 815-632-8000 or Tom Tumbleson 815-872-1852. E-mail: ttauction@yahoo.com Please Note: This is a LIVE Auction with NO Internet Bidding!

Absentee & Phone Bidding Available!

SELLER: Van Petten LTD Trust Attorney For Estate: Mark Kent, Redding, CA

Auctioneers: Rob Young, Rock Falls 815-632-8000 & Tom Tumbleson, Princeton 815-872-1852

CALL TODAY TO PLACE YOUR AD

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

17

REAL ESTATE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, OREGON, ILLINOIS MIDFIRST BANK PLAINTIFF, -vsThomas Lampe a/k/a Thomas J Lampe; DEFENDANTS NO. 22 FC 33 NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE Public Notice is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment entered in the above entitled matter on August 18, 2023; Brian R VanVickle, Sheriff, Ogle County Public Safety Complex, 202 South 1st Street, Oregon, IL 61061, will on December 15, 2023 at 10:00 AM, at Sheriff's Office, 202 South First Street, Oregon IL 61061, sell to the highest bidder for ten percent (10%) at the time of sale and the balance within twenty-four (24) hours, the following described premises situated in Ogle County, Illinois.

Said sale shall be subject to general taxes, special assessments or special taxes levied against said real estate and any prior liens or 1st Mortgages. The subject property is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title or recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition.

Upon the sale being held and the purchaser tendering said bid in certified funds, a receipt of Sale will be issued and/or a Certificate of Sale as required, which will entitle the purchaser to a deed upon confirmation of said sale by the Court.

Commonly known as 102 West Olive Street, Baileyville, IL 61007 Permanent Index No.: 0205230004 Improvements: Single Family Residential The property will NOT be open for inspection prior to the sale and Plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property.

The judgment amount was $106,531.93. Prospective purchasers are admonished to check the court file and title records to verify this information.

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701 (C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For Bid Amount contact: Sale Clerk LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 Waukegan Road, Suite 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 ILNOTICES@logs.com (847) 291-1717 MidFirst Bank One of Plaintiff's Attorneys LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney for Plaintiff 2121 Waukegan Road, Suite 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 (847) 291-1717 ILNOTICES@logs.com Randal S. Berg (6277119) Michael N. Burke (6291435) Christopher A. Cieniawa (6187452) Laura J. Anderson (6224385) Mallory Snyderman (6306039) Thomas Belczak (6193705) Debra Miller (6205477) Amy Aronson (6206512) THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IF YOUR PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR THIS DEBT HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED BY A DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY OR BY AN ORDER GRANTING IN REM RELIEF FROM STAY, THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED SOLELY TO FORECLOSE THE MORTGAGE REMAINING ON YOUR PROPERTY AND IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT THE DISCHARGED PERSONAL OBLIGATION.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, OREGON, ILLINOIS EVERETT FINANCIAL DBA SUPREME LENDING PLAINTIFF, -vsUnknown Heirs and/or Legatees of Udell A. Foss, Deceased; Brenda Sahlstrom; Brian Foss; Brent Foss; Julie Fox, as Special Representative of Udell A. Foss, Deceased; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS DEFENDANTS NO. 22 FC 67 NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE Public Notice is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment entered in the above entitled matter on August 18, 2023; Brian R VanVickle, Sheriff, Ogle County Public Safety Complex, 202 South 1st Street, Oregon, IL 61061, will on December 15, 2023 at 10:00 AM, at Sheriff's Office, 202 South First Street, Oregon IL 61061, sell to the highest bidder for ten percent (10%) at the time of sale and the balance within twenty-four (24) hours, the following described premises situated in Ogle County, Illinois.

Said sale shall be subject to general taxes, special assessments or special taxes levied against said real estate and any prior liens or 1st Mortgages. The subject property is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title or recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition.

Upon the sale being held and the purchaser tendering said bid in certified funds, a receipt of Sale will be issued and/or a Certificate of Sale as required, which will entitle the purchaser to a deed upon confirmation of said sale by the Court.

Commonly known as 5946 East Scott Drive, Byron, IL 61010 Permanent Index No.: 10-04-228-004 Improvements: Single Family Residential The property will NOT be open for inspection prior to the sale and Plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property.

The judgment amount was $154,171.05. Prospective purchasers are admonished to check the court file and title records to verify this information. IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701 (C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For Bid Amount contact: Sale Clerk LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 Waukegan Road, Suite 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 ILNOTICES@logs.com (847) 291-1717 Everett Financial DBA Supreme Lending One of Plaintiff's Attorneys LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney for Plaintiff 2121 Waukegan Road, Suite 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 (847) 291-1717 ILNOTICES@logs.com Randal S. Berg (6277119) Michael N. Burke (6291435) Christopher A. Cieniawa (6187452) Laura J. Anderson (6224385) Mallory Snyderman (6306039) Thomas Belczak (6193705) Debra Miller (6205477) Amy Aronson (6206512) THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IF YOUR PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR THIS DEBT HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED BY A DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY OR BY AN ORDER GRANTING IN REM RELIEF FROM STAY, THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED SOLELY TO FORECLOSE THE MORTGAGE REMAINING ON YOUR PROPERTY AND IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT THE DISCHARGED PERSONAL OBLIGATION.

November 10, 17, 24, 2023 937238

November 10, 17, 24, 2023 937239

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OGLE COUNTY NEWS

18

LEGAL NOTICES STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF OGLE In the Matter of: JOAN L. JANSSEN, Deceased.

No. 2023-PR-64 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of JOAN L. JANSSEN of Illinois.

Oregon, Letters of Office were issued on November 1, 2023 to STEPHEN R. JANSSEN, as Independent Executor whose attorneys are WILLIAMS McCARTHY LLP, 120 W. State St., P.O. Box 219, Rockford, IL 61105.

The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under Section 28-4 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/28-4) any interested person indeterminates pendent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Clerk.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court, Ogle County Courthouse, Ogle County Circuit Clerk, 105 S. 5th Street, Suite 104, Oregon, IL 61061or with the representative, or both, on or before MAY 10, 2024, or within 3 months from the date of mailing or delivery of notice if creditors, to mailing or delivery is required by Section 18-3 of the Probate Act, whichever date is later. Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above is barred.

Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

STEPHEN R. JANSSEN Independent Executor Nov. 10, 17, 24, 2023

Section 18-3 of the Probate Act, whichever date is later. Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above is barred.

LEGAL NOTICES Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

STEPHEN R. JANSSEN Independent Executor Nov. 10, 17, 24, 2023 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY OREGON, ILLINOIS Citibank, N.A. as Owner Trustee of Residential New Mortgage Loan Trust 2018-1 PLAINTIFF Vs. Timothy J. Danner; Unknown Owners Nonrecord and Claimants DEFENDANTS No. 2023FC20 NOTICE BY PUBLICATION NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU: Timothy J. Danner Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants That this case has been commenced in this Court against you and other defendants, praying for the foreclosure of a certain Mortgage the conveying premises described as follows, to-wit: COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 3569 West Egan Road Egan AKA Leaf River, IL 61047 and which said was Mortgage made by: Timothy J. Danner the Mortgagor(s), to Homegold, Inc., as Mortgagee, and recorded in the of the Office Recorder of Deeds of Ogle County, Illinois, as Document No. 0003546; and for other relief; that summons was duly issued out of said Court against you as provided by law and that the said suit is now pending.

NOW, THEREFORE, UNLESS YOU file your answer or otherwise file your appearance in this case in the Office of the Clerk of this Court, Kimberly A. Stahl Clerk of the Circuit Court 106 S. 5th Street, #300 Oregon, IL 61061-1634

to Homegold, Inc., as Mortgagee, and recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Ogle County, Illinois, as Document LEGAL0003546; NOTICES and No. for other relief; that summons was duly issued out of said Court against you as provided by law and that the said suit is now pending.

NOW, THEREFORE, UNLESS YOU file your answer or otherwise file your appearance in this case in the Office of the Clerk of this Court, Kimberly A. Stahl Clerk of the Circuit Court 106 S. 5th Street, #300 Oregon, IL 61061-1634 on or before December 4, 2023, A DEFAULT MAY ENTERED BE AGAINST YOU AT ANY TIME AFTER THAT DAY AND A JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRAYER OF SAID COMPLAINT. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Attorneys for Plaintiff 15W030 North Frontage Road, Suite 100 Burr Ridge, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 DuPage # 15170 Winnebago # 531 Our File No. 14-23-00010 NOTE: This law firm is a debt collector.

I3231772 November 3, 10, 17, 2023

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HAROLD J. GARBER, Deceased.

IN PROBATE NO. 2023PR65 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of Harold J. Garber. Letters of office were issued on November 2, 2023, to Lisa A. Clayton of 11276 West Judson Road, Polo, IL 61064, as Independent Executor, whose attorney is Plager, Krug, Bauer, Rudolph & Stodden, Ltd., 10 N. Galena Avenue, P.O. Box 839, Freeport, IL 61032.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the clerk of the court, or with the representative, or both, on or before May 10, 2024, or within 3 months from date of mailing or delivery of notice to creditors, if required by Section 18-3 of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, as amended, whichever date is later. Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within ten days after it has been filed.

E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinoiscourts. gov/service-providers.htm to learn more and to select a service provider.

If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://illinoiscourts. gov/FAQ/gethelp.asp.

Kimberly A. Stahl, Circuit Clerk Charles B. Rudolph, #6300731 PLAGER, KRUG, BAUER, RUDOLPH & STODDEN, LTD. Attorneys for Petitioner 10 North Galena Avenue Post Office Box 839 Freeport, IL 61032-0839 Telephone: 815/235-1212 Facsimile: 815/235-1244 E-mail: crudolph@plager-law.com November 10, 17, 24, 2023

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, OREGON, ILLINOIS MIDFIRST BANK PLAINTIFF, -vsThomas Lampe a/k/a Thomas J Lampe; DEFENDANTS NO. 22 FC 33 NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE Public Notice is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment entered in the above entitled matter on August 18, 2023; Brian R VanVickle, Sheriff, Ogle County Public Safety Complex, 202 South 1st Street, Oregon, IL 61061, will on December 15, 2023 at 10:00 AM, at Sheriff's Office, 202 South First Street, Oregon IL 61061, sell to the highest bidder for ten percent (10%) at the time of sale and the balance within twenty-four (24) hours, the following described premises situated in Ogle County, Illinois.

Said sale shall be subject to general taxes, special assessments or special taxes levied against said real estate and any prior liens or 1st Mortgages. The subject property is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title or recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition.

Upon the sale being held and the purchaser tendering said bid in certified funds, a receipt of Sale will be issued and/or a Certificate of Sale as required, which will entitle the purchaser to a deed upon confirmation of said sale by the Court.

Said property is legally described as follows: LOTS 7 AND 8 IN BLOCK 8 OF THE ORIGINAL TOWN OF BAILEYVILLE, ACCORDING TO THE RECORDED PLAT THEREOF, SITUATED IN THE TOWN OF BAILEYVILLE; IN OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS Commonly known as 102 West Olive Street, Baileyville, IL 61007 Permanent Index No.: 0205230004 Improvements: Single Family Residential The property will NOT be open for inspection prior to the sale and Plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property.

The judgment amount was $106,531.93. Prospective purchasers are admonished to check the court file and title records to verify this information.

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701 (C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For Bid Amount contact: Sale Clerk LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 Waukegan Road, Suite 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 ILNOTICES@logs.com (847) 291-1717 MidFirst Bank One of Plaintiff's Attorneys LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney for Plaintiff 2121 Waukegan Road, Suite 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 (847) 291-1717 ILNOTICES@logs.com Randal S. Berg (6277119) Michael N. Burke (6291435) Christopher A. Cieniawa (6187452) Laura J. Anderson (6224385) Mallory Snyderman (6306039) Thomas Belczak (6193705) Debra Miller (6205477) Amy Aronson (6206512) THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IF YOUR PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR THIS DEBT HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED BY A DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY OR BY AN ORDER GRANTING IN REM RELIEF FROM STAY, THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED SOLELY TO FORECLOSE THE MORTGAGE REMAINING ON YOUR PROPERTY AND IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT THE DISCHARGED PERSONAL OBLIGATION. 8190-937238 November 10, 17, 24, 2023 937238

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OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, OREGON, ILLINOIS EVERETT FINANCIAL DBA SUPREME LENDING PLAINTIFF, -vsUnknown Heirs and/or Legatees of Udell A. Foss, Deceased; Brenda Sahlstrom; Brian Foss; Brent Foss; Julie Fox, as Special Representative of Udell A. Foss, Deceased; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS DEFENDANTS NO. 22 FC 67 NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE Public Notice is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment entered in the above entitled matter on August 18, 2023; Brian R VanVickle, Sheriff, Ogle County Public Safety Complex, 202 South 1st Street, Oregon, IL 61061, will on December 15, 2023 at 10:00 AM, at Sheriff's Office, 202 South First Street, Oregon IL 61061, sell to the highest bidder for ten percent (10%) at the time of sale and the balance within twenty-four (24) hours, the following described premises situated in Ogle County, Illinois.

Said sale shall be subject to general taxes, special assessments or special taxes levied against said real estate and any prior liens or 1st Mortgages. The subject property is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title or recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition.

Upon the sale being held and the purchaser tendering said bid in certified funds, a receipt of Sale will be issued and/or a Certificate of Sale as required, which will entitle the purchaser to a deed upon confirmation of said sale by the Court.

Said property is legally described as follows: LOT 21 OF VON-GLEN ACRES NO. 2 BEING A SUBDIVISION OF PART OF SECTIONS 3 AND 4, TOWNSHIP 24 NORTH, AND SECTIONS 33 AND 34, TOWNSHIP 25 NORTH, ALL IN RANGE 11 EAST OF THE 4TH P.M., ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN BOOK J OF PLATS PAGE 52 AS DOCUMENT #395967, IN OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Commonly known as 5946 East Scott Drive, Byron, IL 61010 Permanent Index No.: 10-04-228-004 Improvements: Single Family Residential The property will NOT be open for inspection prior to the sale and Plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property.

The judgment amount was $154,171.05. Prospective purchasers are admonished to check the court file and title records to verify this information. IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701 (C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For Bid Amount contact: Sale Clerk LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 Waukegan Road, Suite 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 ILNOTICES@logs.com (847) 291-1717 Everett Financial DBA Supreme Lending One of Plaintiff's Attorneys LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney for Plaintiff 2121 Waukegan Road, Suite 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 (847) 291-1717 ILNOTICES@logs.com Randal S. Berg (6277119) Michael N. Burke (6291435) Christopher A. Cieniawa (6187452) Laura J. Anderson (6224385) Mallory Snyderman (6306039) Thomas Belczak (6193705) Debra Miller (6205477) Amy Aronson (6206512) THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IF YOUR PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR THIS DEBT HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED BY A DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY OR BY AN ORDER GRANTING IN REM RELIEF FROM STAY, THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED SOLELY TO FORECLOSE THE MORTGAGE REMAINING ON YOUR PROPERTY AND IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT THE DISCHARGED PERSONAL OBLIGATION. 8190-937239 November 10, 17, 24, 2023 937239

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Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, November 17, 2023

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

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