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Tri-County Press January 16, 2014 Volume 156, Number 17 - $1.00
Sixth Place
Tax Time
Spending Studied
Marco wrestlers place third Jan. 11 at the 20 team annual Polo Invitational. B1
Get help with income tax prep at the Rock River Center. B2
Four Ogle County Department heads talk about their credit card practices. A7
Third grader wins spelling bee By Chris Johnson Reporter By a strange twist of fate, the words that ended the Centennial Elementary School Spelling Bee Tuesday morning fit the ending of the bee. Fourth-grader William Foster and third-grader Rebekah Zeigler were the only two students left after eight rounds. Foster correctly spelled pontiff and Zeigler spelled betrothal to advance to the final showdown after their classmates missed a pair of tricky words. By the luck of the draw Foster had the first word in round 9. Announcer Larry Loomis gave him the word grouse. Foster confidently began to spell the word. “Grouse. G, r, o, u, c, e,� he said. “Grouse.� With a ring of the bell it was known to everyone in Rebekah Zeigler smiles after winning the Centennial the gym that the word was Elementary School Spelling Bee Tuesday morning. misspelled. Photo by Chris Johnson
Third grader Lindee Poper chews her name card while waiting her turn to spell Tuesday morning. Sitting next to her is Rebekah Zeigler who won the bee. Photo by Chris Johnson
Foster started to tear up but She confidently and there was a chance his chance quickly spelled the word. at claiming the spelling bee To win the bee however title was not over. she would need to spell one Zeigler came up and was more word. asked to spell divvy. “Stridency,� said Loomis.
Zeigler listened to the example sentence for the word and leaned into the microphone and carefully said each letter. Turn to A2
Icy conditions force road closures By Vinde Wells Editor Portions of three state highways were closed for several hours in Ogle County Jan. 10 while emergency crews dealt with the dozens of accidents caused by freezing rain. Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn said Monday morning that he did not yet have a count on how many accidents occurred from midafternoon Friday until late into the evening. “It was probably well over 50,� he said. “There were no serious injuries that I know of but at least of couple of people went to the hospital.�
Although the temperature Friday was several degrees above freezing, the rain turned to ice as soon as it hit the pavement, which remained much colder after several days below zero earlier in the week. Deputies had their hands full as vehicles collided or slipped off the road in rapid succession. Harn said deputies working that day extended their shifts by several hours and those on the night shift came in several hours early. The sheriff’s department was assisted by the Illinois State Police, Oregon Police Department, and Illinois Conservation Police.
Crashes throughout the afternoon and evening led to portions of Ill. 72, Ill. 2, and Ill. 64 being closed, with traffic backing up for extended periods. With local wreckers all at crash scenes, Harn told telecommunicators to call Dixon-based tow services for help. The biggest back-up closed Ill. 2 near Castle Rock State Park for about four hours when a semi jack-knifed and struck a snow plow in the “cut� around 5:30 p.m., Harn said. Cars were backed up for a mile and a half on each side of the accident, Harn said. “There were 40 cars on this
(north) side of the accident,� he said. “There were probably at least that many on the other side.� One of the vehicles caught in the traffic stoppage was a Rock Falls High School bus bringing players to a basketball game in Oregon. The game was canceled and rescheduled. Harn said the road was reopened around 9:30 p.m. Reports of cars sliding off the icy roads began around 2:30 p.m. when two cars went into the ditch on Ill. 64 approximately four miles east of Oregon. That was soon followed by
First grader Myah Ackeberg smiles as she spells her
Turn to A3 opening round word correctly Tuesday morning. Photo by Chris Johnson
Mitchell not guilty due to insanity By Chris Johnson Reporter A man accused of stabbing a Leaf River couple more than two years ago showed no emotion while answering questions during a Jan. 8 bench trial in Ogle County Court. Judge John Redington found Michael Mitchell, 29, Leaf River, not guilty by reason of insanity on 10 counts. Mitchell was charged with four counts of attempted murder, all Class X felonies, two counts of home invasion, both Class X felonies, and four counts of aggravated battery, all Class 4 felonies. Mitchell, 29, was accused of breaking into the home of David and Denise Zellers on July 3, 2011 and repeatedly stabbing them with two knives he brought with him. The Polo High School was filled with wrestlers and their Both suffered serious families during the annual Polo Wrestling Tournament injuries and were taken to Jan. 11. Photo by Chris Johnson the hospital. They have since
Busy Day
In This Week’s Edition...
Business Briefs, B3 Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
recovered. After fleeing on foot from the scene, Mitchell was taken into custody a short distance from the Zellers home after a five-hour manhunt. After more than twoyears the case was set for a stipulated bench trial before Redington. Redington said the state and defense would present the evidence they would use if the case went to a full trial. Before proceeding with the trial, Redington asked Mitchell if he agreed to waive his rights to a jury trial. “Yes,� said Mitchell. Mitchell was then asked if it was his desire to give up a jury trial. “Yes,� he said. Redington asked Mitchell if he had any questions for the court before the bench trial. “No,� said Mitchell. Redington then asked Mitchell if he had signed the document waiving his right
Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B2
to a jury trial. “Yes,� said Mitchell. In each of these questions the tone of Mitchell’s responses was in the same flat voice that did not waver or show any signs of emotion. After the questions were answered, Redington proceeded with the bench trial. “The facts will be presented stipulated,� said Redington. He said all parties were willing to proceed. Assistant States Attorney Aaron Wiles had written reports from the officers who responded to the scene in July of 2011. He said Ogle County Deputy Robert Gemmell was the first on the scene. Wiles read the reports from Gemmell which included a description of where the two victims were in the home and what the victims said occurred at the home. These reports stated David Zellers received a phone call
Social News, A4 Sports, B1 State’s Attorney, B3 Zoning, B3
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Michael Mitchell
from Mitchell earlier that day in which he, Mitchell, complained about the quality of the village water supply. A report from Sergeant Brian Ketter was also read. Ketter talked with Mitchell’s mother Patricia and obtained some text messages Mitchell had sent her. The report also stated that Mitchell was located in Leaf Turn to A3
Deaths, B2 William S. Giles John R. Long Lois M. Scheffler