Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press March 8, 2018 Volume 159, Number 45 - $1.00
All Conference
Spring Ahead
Primary Profiles
Forreston and Polo basketball players are named to All-Conference Team. B1
Set your clocks one hour ahead at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 11.
Learn about the candidates for county offices in the March 20 Primary Election. B2
History, collectibles, and fun at Farm Toy Show By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com The public was treated yet again to a die-cast, one-thirtysixth-scale walk through farming history In Polo last weekend. Where else can you find a vintage Mickey Mouse gum ball machine, an M18 Hellcat Tank, a Caterpillar D11 bulldozer, and an Alf plush all within inches of each other? Nearly 400 people descended on Polo Community High School March 3 for the Polo Lions Club’s 33rd Polo Farm Toy Show. “That’s about the average we expect - maybe a little less, but not bad,” said Irene Short, overseeing the toy show and representing the Polo Lions. From 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., vendors displayed their best, brightest, and at times, most curious pieces of history. Anything from Hot Wheels cars, to die-cast John Deere tractors, toy horses, quilts, motorcycle pins, dream catchers, and wall art adorned the 91 vendor tables, making a wide selection for collectors. The show always seems to draw new attendees. Mike
Thompson, of Rock Falls, came to the show for the first time, and didn’t leave emptyhanded. “I got something I didn’t think I needed until I saw it,” he said laughing, with replica tractor in hand. His friend, Russ Lourtizen, of Tampico, has been coming to the show for at least 10 years, though he said it could be more. The same can be said of the vendors. Rick and Linda Kessler, of Mt. Carrol, have attended the show a few times as shoppers, but decided to set up a table this year for the first time, selling John Deere toys. Others, like Marge Immel, of Polo, have lost count of how many appearances they’ve made at the show. “Too many to remember,” said Immel, selling a variety of miniature toy horses. The show doesn’t simply offer a chance to buy and sell, though. It’s also a chance for local students to serve the community. “The students volunteer for service hours, and of course the Lions Club helps,” said browser and Polo Police Sgt. Dennis Christen. “It’s really a great event for all.”
Above, Polo’s Farm Toy Show was enjoyed by nearly 400 visitors, a combination of both single shoppers waxing nostalgic and entire groups of young kids browsing history. Pictured left to right are: Breanna Cisketti, 13, of Polo; Faith Ukena, 14, of Polo; Sidney Aude, 18, of Milledgeville; Grant Conkrite, 15, of Milledgeville; and Conner Ukena, 14, of Polo. Below left, Polo Police Sgt. Dennis Christen talks to Rick and Linda Kessler, of Mt. Carroll, at their booth during Polo’s Farm Toy Show on Saturday. The Kesslers attended the show as shoppers for years, but decided to become vendors this year. Photos by Zach
Blackhawk Center to go to school district By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Council votes to replace diving boards at city pool By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com The Polo City Pool may see a diving board yet in time for the impending swim season. The Polo City Council voted unanimously March 5 to proceed with plans to get a single diving board in place of the two 52-year-old boards, which the park board voted to take down on Oct. 25 due to safety concerns. Park Board Chairman Larry Loomis said that the board met the previous week to decide if they could realistically replace the boards. “The most we can replace them with is one small board, only about 18 inches high,
but it is a diving board,” said Loomis. “If we’re to do that, we need to get on that, with the hope that we could still get this work done before the season opens.” Loomis said they’re looking at a project that could cost anywhere from $12,000 to $15,000. Halogen Supply Company, a pool and spa supplies company based in Chicago, recently took measurements of the pool’s deep end. Those measurements were then sent to Remaker & Associates, a Sauk City, Wisconsin-based engineering firm. Both Halogen and Remaker were recommended by Mike Vanderheide of Clearview Pools, South Beloit, who has
In This Week’s Edition...
helped with Polo’s pool for years. Remaker’s engineering contract came to $3,800, and Halogen quoted $6,900 for the board, stand, and railings. That does not include installation. Removal of the old boards can be handled by the city. “[Remaker] was very fast, and indicated that if we get going on it now, he thinks we can have the board installed this season,” said Bergstrom. Pool manager Kayla Bergstrom provided City Attorney Tom Suits with a copy of the proposed contract. “They’re only providing consulting services for the $3,800,” Suits said. “It also says, if we don’t involve them
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B8 Entertainment, A6 Library News. A3
Turn to A2
The Blackhawk Center in Oregon will change hands later this year under the terms of an agreement between the Oregon School District and Oregon Park District. The boards of both districts are expected to approve an intergovernmental agreement this month which will transfer ownership of the facility from the park district to the school district as of Sept. 1. The park board meets on Tuesday, March 13 and the school board meets on Monday, March 19.
The decision will be made based not only on the facility’s proximity to Oregon High School, but also on the fact that most of the building’s current use is school-related. “It just seems to made sense that we should own the facility that we use 90 percent of the time,” School Superintendent Tom Mahoney said. “The school district is pleased to work hand in hand with the park district to provide our students the best possible facilities. We believe Blackhawk Center is a tremendous asset for our students and schools.” Park district Executive Director Erin Folk agreed. “The school and park district both feel they
are in a good position financially for the transfer to take place,” she said. “Besides that it just makes sense.” Both said the change will not affect real estate tax bills. The park board approved the construction of the Blackhawk Center to address overcrowding at the high school in 1996, Folk said. The building is on school grounds and is connected to the high school by a corridor called the “link”. “This building serves as a premier facility in our area for athletic events, recreation, and academic programs,” Folk said. Turn to A3
The Blackhawk Center is located just west of the Oregon High School and is connected with a fully-enclosed walkway called the link. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Polo Police, A2 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B3 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, B1 State’s Attorney, B4
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Deaths, B4 Richard R. Voss Lyle D. Wright