Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press January 21, 2016 Volume 158, Number 18 - $1.00
Marco Victory
New Book
February Finds
Polo boys cruise to 70-33 basketball win over Cardinals Jan. 15. B1
99-year-old publishes her memoirs of growing up in China. A4
Antiques, collectibles, and more will be featured Feb. 6 at the Mt. Morris Moose Lodge. A8
Ogle County Board rejects gun range request By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com In a twist of irony, a tie vote derailed a special use permit requested by the Byron Sportsmans & Conservation Club. The Ogle County Board’s decision on a special use permit for a handgun caliber range at the club, located on Town Line Road, ended in a 11-11 deadlock Tuesday evening. The tie vote means the measure failed. The controversial request
has been plagued by tie votes. Just last month, it was delayed when the Supervisor of Assessments and Planning & Zoning Committee, which met Dec. 8, ended up in a 4-4 tie twice after two motions, first to approve and then to deny. That meant the committee had no recommendation to take to the county board in December. In an effort to get the request back on track committee member Rick Fritz, Monroe Center, changed his no to a yes, allowing it to move on to the
county board. Citing safety and noise concerns, most neighbors of the sportsman’s club have vehemently opposed the expanded range ever since club president O.K. Welty filed it earlier this year. Before Tuesday’s vote, Fritz, who is also a county board member, said he would vote no. He said he had researched the issue, talked to people on both sides, and visited other gun ranges. “I guess it comes down to would I want it next door to me? The answer is no,” he
said. County board member Lee Meyers, Byron, also said he would vote against it. He said the neighbors were told they would have to prove that the gun range would hurt their property. “They did prove it. It fell on deaf ears so far,” Meyers said. “Their property values will decrease, their peace will decrease, but mostly their safety will be jeopardized.” However, board member Ashley Simms, Rochelle, felt different. “I think the gun range is
a huge asset to the county,” she said. Simms said she believes more citizens should be qualified for concealed carry and the gun range would be a good place to do that. Board member Pat Saunders, Polo, said she supports concealed carry, but not the gun range. “I agree we need a gun range in this county,” she said. “But I don’t think this is the right place for it. It’s too populated.” Fourteen conditions were added to the special use permit by the Zoning Board of Appeals, which approved it 3-2. Another seven were added by the Supervisor of Assessments and Planning & Zoning Committee. Board chairman Kim
Gouker, Byron, said he believes the conditions adequately addressed the neighbors’ concerns. “I don’t remember ever having 21 conditions placed on a zoning issue,” he said. “That’s the definition of a compromise.” After the vote, Welty thanked the county board for the time and effort members had devoted to his request. “I’m sorely disappointed obviously,” he said. His uncle Bill Welty, Chana, is a county board member but did not attend the meeting. Bill Welty is also the chairman of the Supervisor of Assessments and Planning & Zoning Committee, and has abstained from voting on the request there.
Teens arrested following traffic stop in Forreston Three teenagers are facing drug charges after a traffic stop in Forreston last week. Joshua V.A. Maronde, 18, Forreston, Keegan R. Sanders, 18, Leaf River, and a 15-year-old were arrested in the early evening hours Jan. 14 after Forreston police checked a suspicious vehicle on the north edge of town. Forreston Police Chief Mike Boomgarden said Maronde was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and Sanders The thermometer at First State Bank in Polo registered a frigid -7 on Monday morning. Brisk winds reduced that to was charged with possession an even colder -25. Photo by Vinde Wells of cannabis, more than 2.5
Cold Morning
grams and less than 10 grams, and possession of drug paraphernalia. They were transported to the Ogle County Jail. The 15-year-old was detained for possession of drug paraphernalia and was released to his parents. The Forreston Police Department initiated the investigation and was assisted by the Ogle County K-9 unit. Boomgarden said the investigation is continuing,and more arrests are possible.
Sixth grader collects 939 coats and $5K for HOPE By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com HOPE of Ogle County Director Ruth Carter was in for two big surprises Jan. 16 when she went to Byron Middle School for the culmination of a coat drive and fundraiser. Byron sixth grader Victoria Kuzlik, who organized the drive and named HOPE the recipient, had much more than met the goals she had set. Waiting for Carter in the main lobby of the school were 17 large boxes filled to overflowing with winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. “We collected 939 coats — some of them are brand new,” 11-year-old Victoria told Carter. “Our original goal was 300.” But that wasn’t all. Carter looked stunned and a little bit tearful when Victoria also presented her with a check for $5,070. “I can’t believe you raised this much,” Carter said. “Thank you very much.”
Victoria had hoped to raise $4,500 in addition to the coats. HOPE, a domestic violence shelter with offices in Oregon and Rochelle, has suffered a loss of funding because of the state budget crisis. Carter said the agency serves 538 clients. “For our clients there’s enough winter coats here to get them through this winter and next winter,” she said. In fact, it’s more than enough, and Carter said the bounty will be shared with the YWCA in Sterling, Remedies in Rockford, and the homeless shelter in Rochelle. She said the coats would be distributed this week. Victoria began collecting coats in early December after her father Bob Kuzlik bought her a new one for the winter. “We needed to decide what to do with the one I outgrew,” Victoria said. “Ordinarily we give them to Good Will, but I said ‘let’s have a coat drive.’” She decided on HOPE as the recipient because she and Turn to A3
In This Week’s Edition...
Surprise shows on the face of HOPE of Ogle County Director Ruth Carter Saturday when Byron sixth grader Victoria Kuzlik presented her with a check for $5,070 raised during a recent coat and fund drive. Also pictured is Byron Middle School Principal Zach Ettelbrick. Photo by Vinde Wells
Chamber Chatter, A9 Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
Library News, A9 Marriage Licenses, A4 Polo Police, A9 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3 Zoning B6
Deaths, B5
Edwin C. Bettner, Harlan E. Blake, Jean A. Blakeslee, Robert L. Campshure, Bradley W. Jewell, Robert E. Luy, Karshan A.L. Peterson, Larry L. Travis, Alexis M. Walker
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com