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POLO
Tri-County Press March 13, 2014 Volume 156, Number 25 - $1.00
Coach Resigns
Farm Focus
Performance
The varsity boys basketball coach in Forreston announced his resignation from the post. B1
Learn about what’s going on down on the farm. Special Section
The PCHS Drama Club will take to the stage as they go to Oz on March 15-16. A6
Polo child reports he was sexually molested Boy was walking home after school By Vinde Wells Editor
Polo police remain on the lookout for a man who is accused of sexually molesting an 11-year-old boy last month. “We haven’t received anymore reports or sightings or leads,� Police Chief Dennis Christen said Monday. “We’re keeping our eyes open.� Christen issued a news
release March 6 that said early last month a man stopped the boy, who was walking home from school, and groped the child’s genitals. The press release was issued a day after the boy reported the incident, which is believed to have happened about 3:30 p.m. around Feb. 5 in the 100 block of South Pleasant Avenue, just two blocks from Centennial Elementary School. Authorities are looking for the man based on the boy’s detailed description. The man physically stopped
the boy and groped him, but did not speak to the youth, according to the release. The boy told police he hit the man in the face, causing him to release the child, who ran home. “The juvenile decided not to tell anyone about the incident until now,� the release said. Before the incident, the boy had seen the man five different times in the area of South Prairie Avenue and East Mason Street, but hadn’t spotted him since. According to the police description, the man is white,
between 50 and 60 years old, five feet, 11 inches tall, thin build with bright blue or baby blue eyes and white hair. He was not wearing glasses or gloves. He had white facial hair that looked like he hadn’t shaved in several days, according to the police. The man’s upper lip was normal but his lower one had a triangular hump in the middle. His fingers were crooked, possibly arthritic. He was wearing a blue jumpsuit, believed to be coveralls, and a black stocking
hat. Under the coveralls was some type of coat with a blue hood that was also pulled up over his stocking hat. He wore black, lace-up winter boots. Christen, who has been with the department for 24 years, said he has seen “nothing quite like this.� “It’s odd how it happened,� he said. “The typical thing is they try to lure them away from the street. I have discussed this with my officers. We’re keeping an eye out.� Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call
the Polo Police Department at 815-946-3412. Christen said parents should be sure their children have safe methods of travel to school. “Hopefully, parents are keeping an eye on their kids to make sure they get safely to and from school,� he said. If they must walk, be sure they walk with a friend and make them aware to avoid strangers and to report any suspicious activity immediately, he advised. Sauk Valley Media CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ARTICLE
Marcos’ crafts were spotted at show By Chris Johnson Reporter
Penny Carnival Ty Newcomer tries his hand at the Polo Pioneers “hurling� game March 8 at the 4-H Penny Carnival in Oregon. The game is a cross between hockey and curling. Photo by Chris Johnson
Primary election will be March 18 By Vinde Wells Editor Voters will have a choice of candidates for only two Ogle County posts in the March 18 primary election. The only contested races are for sheriff and state’s attorney. Three Republican candidates are seeking for their party’s nomination for Ogle County Sheriff. Sheriff Michael Harn, Forreston, is being challenged by Brian E. Van Vickle and Joe Drought, both of Rochelle. All three are currently law enforcement officers. State’s attorney Michael Rock, Byron, faces opposition from Oregon attorney Eric Morrow, for the Republican Party nomination for state’s attorney. County clerk Rebecca Huntley, Chana, and treasurer John Coffman, Polo, also both Republicans, are running unopposed for reelection to their current posts. Also seeking the Republican nomination for the Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Regional Superintendent of Schools is Robert Sondgeroth. On the Ogle County Board, all races are uncontested and
all but one of the candidates are Republicans. Current board member Kimberly Kirkolis, Davis Junction, who was elected to her first term in 2012, is not seeking another term in District 1, which includes Dement, Lynnville, Monroe, and Scott Townships. Instead J. Nick Bolin, Holcomb, is seeking the party nomination. Incumbent Patricia Nordman, Oregon, is the sole candidate in District 2, which includes White Rock, Pine Rock, Lafayette, and OregonNashua Townships. Veteran board member Bobbie Colbert, Rochelle, the only Democrat running for a county post, is seeking reelection in District 3, which includes Flagg Township, Precincts 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7. Incumbent Bruce W. McKinney, Rochelle, is running in District 4, which includes Flagg Township, Precincts 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Richard Daniel Janes, Stillman Valley, is seeking another term on the board in District 5, which includes Marion, Rockvale, and Leaf River Townships. In District 6, which
Hundreds of farm toy enthusiasts and craft show hunters descended on Forreston Junior and Senior High School March 8 for the annual FFA Farm Toy Show and Craft Fair. Shoppers were browsing a wide variety of home-made items in the craft fair and new and used toys at the toy show. Vendor Robert Heath, Janesville, Wis., told customers about the quality of antique toys. He joked with one customer that these were toys that could be played with and still look new. Some of his toys were from the early 1900s and were all metal. He said that if an axel or part of the toy was bent or broke, it could easily be fixed with a hammer or a pair of pliers. Other vendors were selling farm related items including Dave Ball from Clinton, Iowa, who had a large collection of signs. Some of the signs were vintage while others were
At the craft fair in Forreston were small figures supporting both Forreston and Polo. Photo by Chris Johnson
and FFA programs at Forreston High School. “We have a great alumni chapter that benefits all the agriculture students here,� said Nelson. “They provide funding for classroom resources, various FFA activities, student FFA
jackets, FFA judging trips, scholarships, tractor restoration expenses, and maintenance of the school greenhouse.� Organizers are still calculating the exact turnout and money raised from the event.
Maxson’s Riverside Restaurant will open By Vinde Wells Editor Area residents can celebrate the arrival of spring with a meal at one of Oregon’s bestknown eateries. After being closed for almost five months and sold, Maxson’s Riverside Restaurant, 1469 Ill. 2, will reopen under new management on the first weekend of spring. New owner Nancy Semmerling said Monday that a “soft opening� for Oregon residents only will be held on Saturday, March 22 from 3 to 6 p.m. Invitations
will be going out in the mail. The ever-popular Sunday morning brunch will resume the following day, and the general public is invited then. “Everyone is invited to come for Sunday brunch on March 23,� Semmerling said. “We’ll be open for business.� Semmerling and her husband Frank, Riverwoods, purchased the restaurant and its riverboat, the Pride of Oregon, last month from owner Rich Wiesner, Oregon. Wiesner, who had owned and operated the restaurant since 1992, retired Oct. 31 and closed the local landmark, which had been
in business for more than 60 years. Since then, the Semmerlings and their daughter and son-in-law, both chefs, have been remodeling and updating the restaurant to get ready for the reopening. Although the restaurant will be open, Semmerling said it is anybody’s guess when the Pride of Oregon will sail again. “That all depends on how soon the ice goes out of the river,� she said. The paddle-wheeler was built in Palatka, Fla., in the late 1980s.
The restaurant’s original owner John Maxson and his family opened the restaurant in 1952 and operated it until they sold it to John and Peter Tsioles in 1978. Rose Jones purchased the restaurant from the Tsioles brothers in 1985. She added the riverboat, originally called the Rose of the Rock, four years later. Wiesner bought it from Jones’ heirs. A fire destroyed the original restaurant building on March 27, 1993, but it was rebuilt and reopened in the summer of 1994.
Body found in Kyte River Monday By Vinde Wells Editor
Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn is seeking the public’s help in identifying the body of a white or Hispanic male who was found Monday evening in a stream near Rochelle. A jogger spotted the Turn to A2
In This Week’s Edition...
reproductions. What they all had in common was classic artwork that some collectors use to decorate the walls of a barn. “The show was extremely well-attended,� said Forreston FFA Advisor Robert Nelson. “Both parking lots were full and I don’t think the weather hurt our attendance at all. I think with the harsh winter, people wanted to get out of the house for awhile.� In the morning the roads had slick spots due to melting snow from the day before. The weather was hovering around the freezing mark. There was also a light snowsleet mix in the morning. The show featured another toy tractor in the line of Forrreston Toy Show exclusives. This year was a toy Oliver tractor. “This year’s show tractor was very popular. We sold out in a very short time,� said Nelson. “Oliver tractors always sell well in this area as we had an Oliver dealer here.� The toy show proceeds support the Ag Department
Agriculture, A7 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6
body shortly before 7 p.m. floating in the Kyte River near Flannigan Park in Hillcrest, which is just north of Rochelle. An autopsy was performed Tuesday afternoon. In a press release issued Tuesday morning, Harn said no missing adults have been reported within the county.
Fines, B4 Marriage Licenses, A4 Polo Police, A2 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B4
Anyone with information that would assist in identifying the body is asked to contact sheriff’s detectives at 815-732-6666. The press release said the male is believed to be between 35 and 50 years old, approximately 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighs approximately 200
Sheriff’s Arrests, B2 Social News, A4 Sports, B1 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather, A9
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pounds. The male had medium length black hair and a short growth of facial hair. He was wearing a dark sweatshirt, dark T-shirt, and blue jeans with a woven leather belt, and blue athletic shoes, according to the press release.
Deaths, B3 Charles J. Knie, Mariella Zettle