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By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

The fourth annual Polo Christmas Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3, with many community favorites returning.

“It’s just a nice community event, said Megan White, Christmas Festival Committee secretary. “Every year, we have a better and better turnout. It’s fun to see everyone in the community supporting these businesses. Seeing downtown busy again, it takes me back to when I was a kid and there were the Christmas walks.”

The breakfast with Santa and the historical trolley tours are returning this year, she said.

“The historical trolley tours are something we started last year and it was a great turnout,” White said. “We heard a lot of feedback about that and are working with the Polo Historical Society to bring that back again. … It’s a really cool experience to see some of the neat houses and downtown area.”

Oak Lane, of Oregon, provides the trolley; rides will run from 1 to 4 p.m.

This year, they coordinated the Holiday Home Decorating Contest to start in conjunction with the trolley rides, White said. Contest voting, which can be done at PoloChamber.org, will run Dec. 3-17.

“We had good participation last year, and lots of really cool homes,” she said. “I’m excited to see what everybody has in mind this year.”

The Winter Carnival at Crossroads Community Church will run from 3 to 5 p.m., and “is always a big hit with the kids,” White said.

Santa Claus will arrive and light the community Christmas tree at 5 p.m. – a change in time from previous years. The tree is in Paul’s Park at the corner of West Mason Street and Division Avenue.

“The Lions Club is doing their Christmas dinner fundraiser and before it [the tree lighting] was in the middle of that,” White explained. “Now, people can come light the tree with us and then head over to the fire station.”

The Polo Lions Club dinner runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Polo Fire Station. Both dine-in and carryout meals are available.

Polo Area Senior Center’s offerings have returned to the lineup, with a Festival of Trees and Christmas Village, live music, face painting and more. Those run 3 to 8 p.m.

“We’re really excited to have that space and all those events back this year,” White said.

The craft and vendor show has m o v e d t o P o l o C o m m u n i t y H i g h School to accommodate more participants, she said.

“Shout-out to the committee who put this together because everyone works really hard,” White said of the festival planners. “It’s a little easier now in our fourth year, but it’s definitely a group effort to make this happen.”

Home Decorating Contest

Any business or home within the Polo School District can enter the Holiday Home Decorating Contest. There is no cost to enter, but registration is required; the deadline to register is Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Registration forms and more information can be found at the Polo Chamber of Commerce website, PoloChamber.org, or at the Polo Public Library. Voting also will be on the Chamber of Commerce website and at the library.

“There’s some very creative people and it’s a nice, fun family activity,” White said. “If you’re not able to see them all during the trolley tour, it’s a fun little trip around town to take a look.”

Decorations must be visible from the roadway and be lit up from 6-9 p.m. every day from Dec. 3-17 for community voting. Contest winners will be announced on Dec. 21 on the Polo Christmas Festival Facebook page.

Categories are: Peoples’ Choice/ Best in Show; Best Use of Lights; Most Creative; and Best Business. 60/40 Raffle

Tickets for the 60/40 raffle are available at Country Companies, First State Bank and Polo Public Library, as well as the day of the festival. The cost is $5 for one ticket, or $20 for five tickets.

Last year’s winner took home more than $1,160.

Dec. 3 Events Schedule 8 : 3 0 - 1 0 : 3 0 a . m . : B r e a k f a s t w i t h S a n t a ( F a i t h U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t Church); 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Shop Local 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Country Floral –50% off Christmas silks 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: The Christmas Cupboard – Christmas decor, gifts and antiques 1 0 a . m .: B oy S c o u t s C h r i s t m a s wreath and swag fundraiser (Craft and vendor show at Polo Community High School) 1 0 a . m . t o 5 p . m . : O u r H o u s e Antiques – antiques, refreshments and door prizes

Alexa Zoellner/Shaw Media Passengers of Cargill Carriage Rides travel down North Congress Avenue in Polo in 2021 during the third annual Polo Christmas Festival. The horse and wagon rides, sponsored by the Polo Fire Protection District, will be back again this year.

See POLO FESTIVAL, Page 15

Ogle health depar tment warns of GI v ir us increase

The Ogle County Health Department is warning area residents of an increase in gastrointestinal (GI) illness outbreaks and encourages people to take action to prevent the spread of the virus.

“GI illnesses can be highly contagious, spreads quickly from person to person and cannot be treated with antibiotics. Symptoms of GI illnesses include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain that usually last between 24 hours and 48 hours. Anyone with GI illness should stay home when sick and for 24 hours after experiencing vomiting or diarrhea,” the health department posted on social media Monday afternoon.

Health officials said “good hygiene practices are important for everyone to prevent the spread of illness” and recommended people requently wash their hands, especially after using the toilet or changing diapers, before eating and preparing food or before taking or giving someone medicine; use hand sanitizers; routinely clean and sanitize kitchen utensils, counters and surfaces before preparing food; rinse fruits and vegetables before eating; cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating them; avoid preparing food for others when sick and for at least two days after symptoms stop.

“If you are caring for someone with a GI illness, always thoroughly clean and disinfect an area immediately after an episode of vomiting or diarr h e a . W e ar r u b b er o r d i s p o s a b le gloves and wipe the entire area with paper towels. Use a bleach -based household cleaner to disinfect the area,” health officials said.

On Monday, the Oregon School District posted this statement on social media: “Parents/families of students at Oregon Junior/Senior High School; Please be advised that we have a full day of school tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov 22). Students will be participating in classes as usual.

“We did have some students sent home due to illness today, but we are not experiencing the level of student or staff illness that is happening at OES. We look forward to seeing all (healthy) students tomorrow. Then, we wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving break (Wed.-Sun).”

That information followed an earlier post by Oregon Superintendent Tom Mahoney:

“We wanted to touch base with you regarding the illness that is going on through our buildings. On Friday we had 35 students who were sent home with what seems to be a stomach flu from the elementary. We did reach out to the health department on Friday, and they shared that schools across the county were facing similar issues. It appears that the illness is a norovirus (stomach flu) which is highly contagious. This bug has hit our staff as well which has led to staffing shortages.

“While we regularly sanitize our b u i l d i n g s u s i n g o u r C l o r o x 3 6 0 machines, our custodial staff came in this weekend and disinfected the building. I apologize for not communicating with you earlier, please know we are doing everything we can to keep your students healthy. If you have any questions, please contact me at tmahoney@ocusd.net.

For additional information, contact the Ogle County Health Department at 815-562-6976.

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

Forreston’s annual Christmas in the Country celebration is set to take place Friday-Saturday, Dec. 2-3, with events held throughout the community.

“It’s a great community event that i s r e a l l y f o r a l l a g e s , ” s a i d J a n e Koeller, a Christmas in the Country committee member. “We have Santa for the kids, a lighted parade that anyone can take part in, the Holiday Lights Contest where you can win $50. We try really hard to make something for everyone.”

There are several new offerings this year, including a poinsettia sale by the Forreston Lions Club and a children’s coloring contest, Koeller said. There also is a Holiday Lights Contest for house decorations, she said.

The poinsettia sale will be at R&S Builders from 4 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 2, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Dec. 3.

The children’s coloring contest is for ages 3 to 11 and is open to all students in the Forrestville Valley School District, Koeller said. Packets were sent home with students, but also can be picked up at the Forreston Public Library or Koeller Forreston Hardware. The winners will be announced on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m.

“The Holiday Lights Contest, that’s open to anybody within the village limits,” Koeller said. “There is no cost to participate. However, they do need to register.”

C o n t e s t r e g i s t r a t i o n f o r m s a r e available at the library and Koeller Forreston Hardware, she said.

The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 28.

“The lights will be voted on by Peoples’ Choice, [so] whatever people deem most beautiful or most fun,” K o e l l e r n o t e d . “ W e ’ l l p r o v i d e addresses and then they can drive around and vote for the lights.”

A hay wagon tour on Friday night also will give people a chance to see the decorated houses and vote, she said. Tours will run from 6 to 8 p.m., starting at Memorial Park and ending at the Forreston Fire Station.

Voting will remain open until Dec. 8, Koeller said. Ballots will be available during the hay rides, at the library and hardware store and can be printed off from online; if printed at home, ballots can be dropped off at the library or hardware store.

Holiday Lights Contest winners will be announced on Dec. 10. First place wins $50, second place gets $30 and third place gets $20.

The annual lighted parade will be 5:30-6 p.m. on Dec. 2, going around Memorial Park. The tree lighting with Santa Claus will take place at 6 p.m.

From 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, there will be a s’mores bar at Memorial Park to go along with Santa Claus’ visit, Koeller said.

“We’ll have a fire people can make their own s’mores at,” she said.

On Saturday at 7 a.m., there will be a men’s prayer breakfast at Forreston Reformed Church, Koeller said.

“Then we’ve brought back our Community Christmas Concert,” she said. “That’s followed by a soup supper. Those are at the Reformed Church also.”

The concert is scheduled for 3:304:30 p.m., and the soup supper from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

“We always bring back the familiar things, but we always try to add a few new things,” Koeller said.

Dec. 2 schedule 9-11 a.m.: Rolls and Coffee (First United Methodist Church) 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Christmas Corner (First United Methodist Church) 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Soup, sandwich and salad luncheon (First United Methodist Church) 4 p.m. until sold out: Taste Treats Cookie Sale (Township building, sponsored by Faith Lutheran)

Alexa Zoellner/Shaw Media A child gets a big hug from Santa Claus during Forreston’s Christmas in the Country in 2021.

See COUNTRY CHRISTMAS, Page 24

• POLO FESTIVAL

Continued from Page 14

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Craft and vendor show (Polo Community High School) 1-4 p.m.: Historical Trolley Tours of Polo (Polo Historic Society; trolley provided by Oak Lane) 1-4 p.m.: Lillian Noah Salon, hair tinsel and mulled wine 3-5 p.m.: Winter Carnival (Crossroads Community Church) 3-8 p.m.: Fun, games and treats

Country Financial – Make-and-take reindeer food; Polo Christmas ornaments for sale

First State Bank – s’mores, games and holiday candy

Gateway Big Box Resale – hot chocolate, coffee cookies and storewide sale

Kim’s Gateway Antiques – hot chocolate, coffee and cookies

Marco Nutrition – holiday coloring poster; letters to Santa

M e g s E x p r e s s i v e G r a p h i c s –refreshments and storewide sale

Northwestern Mutual – holiday photo booth

Polo Fresh Food Market – refreshments

Polo Public Library – Christmas crafts, stories, cider and popcorn

Polo Area Senior Center – Festival of Trees, Christmas Village, face painting, refreshments, music and more

Second Hand Rose – free gifts for children and fill-a-bag for $5

Studio 112, LLC – 10% off all retail products, Pampered Chef items for sale, cutting boards handmade by Chad Karrow

Subway – free 6-inch sub with purchase of footlong meal 5 p.m.: Christmas Wish Tree, Santa’s Arrival and tree lighting (Paul’s Park, West Mason Street and Division Avenue) 5-7 p.m.: Lions Club Christmas dinner (Polo Fire Station) 5-8 p.m.: Cargill Horse and Wagon Rides (Polo Library Pavilion; sponsored by the Polo Fire Department) 5-8 p.m.: Polo 4-H Club booth with games, goodie bags and club information (Polo Library Pavilion) 7 p.m.: Spontaneous Combustion Barbershop Quartet (Polo Area Senior Center)

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