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Serving the Polo Area Since 1857

POLO

Tri-County Press October 10, 2013 Volume 156, Number 3 - $1.00

Regional Action

Assessments

Memorial Wall

The Polo Marcos competed Oct. 8 at the Rockford Golf Regional. B1

Ogle County’s 2013 property assessments are set. A11-12

A Memorial Wall honoring fallen soldiers was on display during Autumn on Parade. A3

Bars will be allowed to stay open late on Nov. 10 By Vinde Wells Editor Bars in Polo will get to stay open an extra hour one Sunday night next month to celebrate the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. The city council agreed Monday to allow bars to close at midnight instead of 11 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10 for the event. Joe Wilson, owner of Chesty P’s and a Marine Corps veteran, had requested

the extra hour at the Sept. 3 council meeting. In another matter, the council agreed to enter into an intergovernmental agency agreement with Buffalo Township and the Buffalo Township Road Commissioner for repairs to South Galena Trail Road. Under the terms of the agreement, the city will reimburse the township up to $13,500 for damage done to the road during construction of the new wastewater

treatment plant. City engineer Matt Hanson, of Willett and Hofmann & Associates, Dixon, said most of the damage is to the shoulders of the road between the entrances to the new and old plants. He said the damage was unavoidable and was caused by heavy trucks turning in and out of the entrances. Township officials have also asked the city to pay for 75 percent of seal-coating the road from Milledgeville Road

to the railroad underpass. The cost of the sealcoating is not included in the $13,500. City clerk Susie Corbitt said that because the sealcoating will not be done until next summer, the cost of it will come from next year’s budget. In other matters, the council waived the bidding process for three bids. Mayor Doug Knapp said the projects need to be done as soon as possible and are

important to the city. The bidding process was waived for bids for plumbing and concrete work for the new filter and wet pit room at the swimming pool and for the purchase of an end loader. The council approved a bid from Ebert Engineers for $18,900 for the concrete work, and a bid from Saunders Plumbing & Heating for $22,000 for plumbing at the pool. It also approved a bid from

Birkey’s for $73,000 for a 2008 Case end loader. In other business, the council: s APPROVED THE RESIGNATION of street department employee Craig Telschaw, effective Sept. 26. s FOLLOWING A CLOSED session, hired Timothy Merrell to replace Telschaw. He will start on Oct. 21 and will be paid $15 per hour. s SET TRICK OR TREAT HOURS FOR Thursday, Oct. 31 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Annual fall festival draws a crowd despite some rain By Vinde Wells Editor Gloomy skies and a couple of rain showers just weren’t enough Saturday to put a damper on Oregon’s annual fall festival. Although the final numbers weren’t available Monday, Autumn on Parade Committee President Marseyne Snow said attendance was high for both days of the festival. “The Farmer’s Market was very busy, even on Saturday with the rain,� she said. “People didn’t leave when it rained. They took cover until it stopped.� Sunday morning’s bright fall weather more than made up for what Saturday may have lacked. By midmorning festival-goers filled the Farmers Market and Food Court around the Ogle County Courthouse. “It was packed on Sunday,� Snow said. “�I think the vendors did very well.�

Festval-goer Penny Gentzel, Byron, said she comes to AOP every year. “I like to look at all the vendors,� she said Sunday. “And I can’t wait for the parade.� Vendor Kathy Benson, Elk Grove Village, was doing a brisk business Sunday at her booth selling fall-themed sweatshirts. She said AOP is one of her favorite events. “Everybody is so nice and friendly at this festival,� she said. “The weather is beautiful and the crowd is bigger today.� Sean Hall browsed a booth selling knitted afghans. He said he came up from the Quad Cities for AOP for the second time. “It’s a good festival,� he said with a grin. “I’m enjoying the weather.� Overall, Snow said, the festival went off without a hitch. “It went very well,� she said. “We had more than 500

runners for the 5K Sunday morning, which is more than we’ve ever had before. The kids’ Fun Zone was busy, the parade brought out a huge crowd, and the post-parade show was a highlight.� The South Shore Drill Team thrilled the audience with their precision and dexterity Sunday afternoon during the post parade show as well as at the Harvest Time Parade. A new feature, the zipline, made a hit with youngsters at the Fun Zone in the N. Fifth Street parking lot. “Awesome� was the comment most made as they emerged from the attraction wearing wide grins. Snow praised the efforts of the AOP Committee and everyone else who helped with the festival. “Once again, we couldn’t have done it without all the volunteers and the help from the City of Oregon, Oregon Park District, and Ogle County,� she said.

AOP Parade The Polo Area Community Theatre participated in the Harvest Time Parade Sunday in Oregon. Photo by Earleen Hinton

Restaurant set to close By Vinde Wells Editor An Oregon icon will close its doors at the end of this month after more than 60 years in business. Maxson’s Riverside Restaurant and the Pride of Oregon Riverboat will serve meals for the last time on Oct. 31, owner Rich Wiesner said Tuesday. “The decision to close has been tremendously difficult,

but we’ve come to realize that now is the best time for this to happen,� Wiesner said in a press release issued Monday afternoon. In a phone interview on Tuesday, Wiesner said he wants to retire, but hasn’t been able to find a buyer for the landmark restaurant. “I’ve had it for sale for a year now, and I haven’t had one person [buyer] come through here,� he said. “I’m 66 years old; I’m ready to

retire.� Wiesner said he still hopes to sell the restaurant. “It’s a good location. It’s a good banquet facility,� he said. Wiesner, who is the restaurant’s fourth owner, has owned and operated it since mid-September of 1992 when he purchased it from the heirs of Rose Jones. John Maxson and his family opened the restaurant

The detectives, who had been working together to solve the thefts, found multiple rolls of barbed wire, fence posts, and other items stolen from a farm on the Winneabgo-Ogle County line shortly before the truck was stopped near 6900 Kilburn Rd. in Winnebago County. Police executed a search warrant Sept. 23 at Garkey’s residence at 6949 Kilburn Ave., and recovered several

stolen items from all three counties. In addition, the press release said, another residence in Rockford was searched, as well as several storage sheds in the Village of Winnebago. Garkey and Sexton are each charged with two counts of burglary and three counts of felony theft in Ogle County. Turn to A3

Andrew A. Garkey

Cecil C. Sexton

Turn to A3

Two arrested for theft Two Rockford men were arrested last month in connection with theft of wire and equipment from quarries in three counties. Andrew A. Garkey, 27, and Cecil C. Sexton, 26, have been charged with burglary and theft in connection with items taken from quarries near Polo, Adeline, Leaf River, and Oregon, as well as in Winnebago and Boone Counties. The two are being held in the Winnebago County Jail under $75,000 bonds. Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn issued a press release Oct. 3 that said the two were taken into custody Sept. 22 after detectives from the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department, Boone County Sheriff’s Department, and the Belvidere Police Department stopped a truck occupied by Garkey and Sexton.

Homecoming Parade Above, Polo High School Homecoming Queen Allie Reeder and King A.J. Dollmeyer rode in the Homecoming Parade Oct. 4 along with Prince Callum Lust and Princess Brianna Porter. At right, a colorful class float urged the Marcos to victory. Photos by Vinde Wells

In This Week’s Edition...

Business Briefs, B5 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4

Marriage Licenses, A4 Pine Creek News, A3 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B4

Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3

Deaths, B3 Nancy L. Bell Kenneth C. Dummer Emilie P. Keller

0UBLISHED EVERY 4HURSDAY BY /GLE #OUNTY .EWSPAPERS A DIVISION OF 3HAW -EDIA s WWW OGLECOUNTYNEWS COM


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