Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press March 20, 2014 Volume 156, Number 26 - $1.00
Track Previews
Science Fair
Body Identified
The Polo-Forreston boys track team is gearing up for the spring track season. B1
A record number of students took part in the OES Science Fair. A4
Police have identified the man found in the Kyte River last week. A9
VanVickle edges Harn Margin was a slim 136 votes By Vinde Wells Editor
A Rochelle police officer was the successful candidate in a three-way race for Ogle County Sheriff in Tuesday’s Republican primary election. Challenger Brian VanVickle, 37, a Rochelle K-9 officer, defeated current sheriff Michael Harn, 52, Forreston, by 136 votes. VanVickle garnered 3,470 votes to defeat Harn, who received 3,334 votes, and Joe Drought, 50, Rochelle, who received 2,821 votes. “I’m so appreciative of all the people who stepped up and took part in this vision,� VanVickle said after the votes were tallied. “It’s all come to fruition.� Drought wished VanVickle well as he conceded defeat. “It was a very close race obviously. We gave it our best shot and thought we could do some good things in the county,� he said. “The voters have spoken. Congratulations
Brian VanVickle
to Brian VanVickle.� Harn did not answer his phone or return a phone call by 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. As the early returns came in, Harn led the race by a strong margin — sometimes as much as 400 votes. However, the tide turned as the votes were counted from the Rochelle area. VanVickle has served as a Rochelle police officer since 2009. Prior to that he had 13 years of management experience in the private sector. He and his family reside in Rochelle, where he serves on
the Rochelle Township High School Board. He will likely be elected sheriff in the Nov. 4 general election since no other candidates have filed from other parties to run. Harn was elected sheriff in 2010 after he defeated incumbent Greg Beitel in the primary. According to state statute, Harn received enough votes to challenge the election results and ask for a recount. He has until mid-April to file a challenge. Voter turnout was 30.87 percent, high for an offyear primary, County Clerk Rebecca Huntley said. “I’m very, very thrilled with the turnout,� she said. “It’s nice the voters of Ogle County decided to have a voice in who serves as our elected officials.� Huntley, who was running unopposed for the Republican Kenneth Sheely signs in to vote Tuesday morning at the Maryland Township precinct nomination for her current in Adeline. Election judges reported that the turnout was light for the primary election. post, received 8,373 votes Photo by Vinde Wells Tuesday. County Treasurer John Coffman, who was also running unopposed, received 8,011 votes.
Morrow wins primary by 477 By Chris Johnson Reporter Ogle County will have a new state’s attorney this fall. Challenger Eric Morrow defeated current state’s attorney Michael Rock Tuesday in the Republican Primary 4,925 votes to 4,448. “If these numbers ring true I am excited and I look forward to serving the people in Ogle County,� said Morrow minutes after the last precinct reported. Rock was planning on calling Morrow. “I am going to call Eric tonight to congratulate him,� said Rock Tuesday evening. Rock will continue serving as state’s attorney through Dec. 1. “When we get closer to the fall we will work together to ensure a smooth transition,�
Eric Morrow
Rock said. Rock, 47, Byron, was appointed state’s attorney in January 2013 after then state’s attorney Ben Roe was appointed as a judge. Tuesday’s primary election was the first time voters weighed in on who they wanted as the county’s
prosecutor to replace Roe. Morrow, 38, Oregon, graduated law school in 2000 and was an assistant state’s attorney before joining the law firm of Smith, Hanson, Morrow, and Floski in 2002. Morrow also serves as an Ogle County public defender. Morrow is cautiously optimistic with his chances in the November general election. Currently no independents or Democrats are on the ballot leaving Morrow running unopposed for the general election. “If elected (in November) I would like to work with Mike Rock and the staff to ensure a smooth transition,� said Morrow. The term as state’s attorney will be for two years, which is the remaining half of Roe’s post.
Residents must now sign up to have landscape waste picked up By Vinde Wells Editor Polo residents will have to get on a list to have their landscape waste picked up from now on. The city council approved an agreement with Moring Disposal, Forreston, on Monday for landscape waste pick-up to continue at no additional charge, but only for residents who want to use the service. Dennis Pratt, general manager of Moring Disposal, told the council March 3 that the firm was considering discontinuing the landscape waste pick-up because it was not cost-effective to drive up and down each street each week for the relatively few residents who use the service. However, Mayor Doug Knapp said the free landscape waste pick-up is part of the contract the city has with
Moring, and Pratt agreed. Knapp said Monday that at a meeting with Pratt and Steve Moring, a compromise was reached to continue the service, but only for those who sign up for it. City Clerk Susie Corbitt said Moring Disposal will send a letter to residents explaining the change and how to get on the pick-up list. Regular garbage pick-up will not be affected. In another matter, the council voted to change electric supply companies for residential and small business use. The council agreed enter a three-year contract to buy electricity from Constellation instead of current supplier First Energy Solutions because of the price. Constellation is offering a price over the three years of 6.79 cents per kilowatt hour, while First Energy Solutions’
price is 7.04 cents. The two were the least expensive of four bidders. Marni Henert from Rock River Energy, Oregon, told the council that the difference will amount to about $2 per month per customer. Henert told the council that their three-year contract with First Energy Solutions will end July 1. She said the cost of electricity is increasing significantly. She said the city’s present contract sets the price at 5.83 cents per kilowatt hour. At that price, city residents and small businesses have saved a total of $225,000 in the last three years over what they would have spent if they would have continued with ComEd as their supplier. However, suppliers are no longer offering prices that Turn to A3
Accidental fire started in basement of closed restaurant By Vinde Wells Editor A fire that destroyed a local restaurant Sunday night in Oregon has been determined to be accidental in origin. Oregon fire officials and investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) determined that the fire that destroyed Whiskey’s River Smokehouse and the apartment above it, located at 123 N. Second St. was an accident. “We know it was accidental and started in the basement area, but we don’t know the cause yet,� Oregon Fire Chief Don Heller said Tuesday afternoon. Two representatives from the OSFM and a dog went through the inside of the burned-out
building on Monday morning. The restaurant, which has been closed for some time, is located just north of the Oregon Fire Station. Heller said a jogger saw smoke coming from the structure and flagged down an on-duty Oregon Policeman who alerted the fire department at 8:20 p.m. The building’s owner Kevin Wedel, who lived in the upstairs apartment, was not at home when the fire occurred, Heller said. Firefighters found heavy smoke when they arrived on the scene. “The building was still intact and showing a lot of smoke,� Heller said. Oregon firefighters were assisted at the scene by the Mt. Morris, Polo, Byron, Stillman
In This Week’s Edition...
Valley, Franklin Grove, Dixon City, and Dixon Rural Fire Departments and the Oregon Ambulance. Temperatures in the teens and a brisk wind made fighting the fire difficult, Heller said. “The cold was the reason we had so many crews there,� he said. “That allowed us to change them out often and let them warm up.� Best Beginnings Child Care across the street from the fire was forced to close on Monday due to the smoke inside the building. Owner Jeff Croegaert said he anticipated the facility would be open as usual on Tuesday. “The smell of smoke is really strong inside,� he said. “We’re just airing it out today Firefiighters from eight departments battled a fire at Whiskey’s River Smokehouse on to be on the safe side.� the evening of March 16. Photo courtesy of the Mt. Morris Fire Department
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B3
Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B5 Weather, A8
Deaths, B3 Walter P. Howald, Waynes L. Schumacher
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