Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO Lady Cards Fall Stillman Valley’s Lady Cardinals fall 9-8 to Rockridge in supersectional action. B3
Tri-County Press June 2, 2016 Volume 158, Number 37 - $1.00
State Track
Tough Run
The Polo-Forreston track team finishes the season. B1
The fifth annual KB Tough Run will be held at the White Pines Ranch June 25. A6
Unique graduates walk the PCHS stage Sunday By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com The 42 graduates of the Polo Community High School Class of 2016 are a unique group of individuals. They was evident as soon as the processional began Sunday afternoon. After only a few students were in the gymnasium, Seth Phillips jumped on the back of Juan Domniquez for a piggy-back ride down the aisle. Valedictorian Brix Clayton told the audience that the class of 2016 was unique despite wearing the same cap and gown during graduation. Clayton said the class knows how to express themselves. “We make meaningful conversation,” he said. “The average teenager does not use their people skills. I can engage in a conversation about future plans, favorite vacation plans, or Donald Trump. They all express themselves.” The only time Clayton might not know what to say is during a graduation speech. “If I was not required to write a speech I would be speechless,” he said. “Although our time at PCHS is over, we have made enough memories to last a lifetime. While this speech might Juan Dominguez carries Seth Phillips during the processional of the Polo High School be deemed as forgettable, graduation Sunday afternoon. Photo by Chris Johnson never forget the rest of
today. Remember what you have worked for. Consider it a graduation from the first chapter of your life. It is time to move on. We are a great group of young adults.” Students may remember a teacher or a member of the staff, but for these graduates, they will always remember principal Andy Faivre. “We have been with the principal the longest,” said
Clayton. “He started as principal in Aplington in 2009.” The class of 2016 was just entering sixth grade. Just when the students thought they moved on from Faive, he appeared before the class. “We met him at the high school for four more years. Turn to A2
Valedictorian Brix Clayton addresses the Polo High School Class of 2016 Sunday afternoon.
Teen driver sentenced to probation in fatal crash By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The Stillman Valley teenager charged in a crash that killed two people last September pleaded guilty last week to two counts of reckless homicide. Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow said Alison Seiler, now 18, was sentenced May 26 to probation with numerous conditions until her 21st
birthday in October of 2018. The investigation showed that Seiler, then 17, was speeding last Sept. 4 when she failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Big Mound Road and Ill. 251 near Davis Junction. Andy Conderman, 64, Amboy, and Emily Fleming, 17, Stillman Valley, died in the ensuing crash. Seiler was charged as a juvenile in February with two counts of reckless homicide and two counts of
aggravated reckless driving. Two counts were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Morrow said the conditions of the probation sentence include counseling; 200 hours of community service work,at least 40 of which must be related to education against reckless or impaired driving; not operating a motor vehicle; attending college or seeking and maintaining employment, and apologies
to the victims’ families. “I think it’s a fair resolution to the case,” Morrow said. “She has already apologized to the families. We consulted with them prior to reaching the agreement.” Fleming was the back seat passenger in Seiler’s car, which was westbound on Big Mound Road. The car struck Conderman’s southbound pick-up. Traffic on Ill. 251 is not required to stop at the
intersection. The vehicles came to rest in a soybean field at the southwest corner of the intersection, where Conderman’s truck burst into flames. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Fleming was pronounced dead at the Rockford hospital where she was airlifted. A front seat passenger is Seiler’s car, Carly Koenig, 17, Stillman Valley, was airlifted to OSF St. Anthony
Medical Center, Rockford, for serious injuries. Seiler was transported by ambulance to a Rockford hospital. All three girls were seniors at Stillman Valley High School. They were varsity cheerleaders and were headed to Stillman Valley’s football game versus Richmond Burton when the crash took place. The game was cancelled when school officials learned of the crash.
Townships consider merger By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Come November, Ogle County could have one less township. Officials from Lafayette and Taylor Townships, in the south central portion of the county, have requested permission to put a referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot to merge the two. The county board will consider the request at its July 19 meeting following a public hearing on the matter earlier in the evening. If approved by the county Military veterans ride down Mason Street at the beginning of the Memorial Day parade board and then passed by the voters in both townships, the Monday. Photo by Vinde Wells
Memorial Day
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county will have 23 rather than 24 townships. Lafayette Township Supervisor Clifford Jones said the reason for a merger is mainly financial. “We’re not broke but we’re not getting anywhere. We have no tax base — it’s all farmland,” he said Tuesday. “We decided to take it to the people and let them decide.” Taylor Township Supervisor JoAnn Reynolds could not be reached for comment. The two townships touch each other with Hoosier Road as the north-south boundary between them. Taylor lies directly south of Oregon-Nashua Township
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1-B3
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with the Rock River forming most of its western boundary. Lafayette lies just to the east of Taylor. Lee County borders both on the south. Both are in rural areas of the county and are sometimes referred to as “half-townships” because they are about half the size of most others. Lafayette is 18 square miles and has a population of 170 people. Taylor is 15.5 square miles and boasts a population of 963, largely due to the Lost Lake Subdivision. They already share an assessor with neighboring Pine Rock Township.
Deaths, B5 Graham A. Lints, Gloria R. Miller