Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press April 10, 2014 Volume 156, Number 29 - $1.00
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Building Plans
Tow Fund
The Forreston-Polo Cardinals split a pair of games against Winnebago. B1
The county board will discuss a new sheriff’s building. A11
An internal memo from the sheriff says fees will not be collected for the Tow Fund.A9
Sale of tractor nets donation for Polo Lions Club By Earleen Hinton General Manager The 1966 tractor was hard to miss when visitors walked into the 2014 Hazelhurst Spring Consignment Sale on Saturday. Yes, John Deere tractors always draw the interest of the green and gold faithful, but this one was starting to catch the eyes of others. Maybe it was the way the sun sparkled off the bright green and gold while a burst of red, white and blue in a smartly designed American flag, seemed to unfurl across the 4020’s hood. Or was it the buzz that 75 percent of the sale price would be donated to the Polo Lions Club? Either way, the interest level was high when auctioneer Lenny Bryson started to sell the “parade ready� tractor. “This John Deere 1040 has been donated by the Bocker family. Seventy-five percent of the sale price will go to the Polo Lions Club and the other 25 percent will go to a charity
“Seventy-five percent of the sale price will go to the Polo Lions Club,� — Lenny Bryson that the buyer wants it to go to,� said Byrson. “In other words, the Bocker family is donating this tractor. What a great, great donation.� The bidding quickly reached $21,000. “This is all for a great cause folks,� said Bryson in between bids. “What a great tractor. Now $21,500 do I hear $22,000...yesss...now Auctioneer Lenny Bryson auctions off the 1966 John Deere tractor at the Hazelhurst Sale on Aprll 5. The tractor was donated by the Bocker family. Seventy-five percent of the $22,000 sale price was donated to the Polo Lions how about $22,500?� After a another minute or Club with the remaining 25 percent yo be donated to a charity of the purchaser’s choice. Photo by Earleen Hinton so, Bryson closed the deal. “Going once, twice, sold! You all know the story, we want to thank you all very, very much,� he said. By Earleen Hinton is that?� lucked out,� said Hopkins. snowmobiles, snowblowers, Chuck McCormick, General Manager “We had a real good The sale has been held lumber, tires, and other Geneva, was the successful turnout,� said Lyle Hopkins, west of Polo near the tiny miscellaneous “finds.� A perfect spring day who owns and operates hamlet of Hazelhurst ever Vehicles, primarily pickTurn to A3 greeted winter-weary Public Auction Service, Polo, since Sheryl’s mother and up trucks hauling trailers of bidders last Saturday at the with his wife, Sheryl. “No father, Ruth and Ellery all sizes, were parked sideannual Hazelhurst Spring one was able to get out and Shank, hosted the first sale by-side on last year’s corn Consignment Sale, west of work in the fields yet so we on their 30-acre farm site in stalk stubble in farm fields Polo. could not have asked for a the 1940s. that had been transformed An estimated crowd more beautiful day.� It started as a venue where into parking lots for the day. of between 5,000-6,000 Temperatures in the high local farmers could buy and descended on the 30-acre site 50s, sunny skies, and a 60- sell farm machinery. Now, in The first sale ring started with each visitor taking his or plus year tradition helped addition to farm machinery, at 8:30 a.m. and by midday, her time to walk by rows of bring the crowd to the sale the sale also includes a three more rings were going farm machinery, cars, and a site on Saturday. wide variety of other items strong. miscellaneous mix of this and “With all the weather including cars, trucks, lawn Turn to A10 the occasional “what the heck we’ve had this year, we really tractors, all-terrain vehicles,
Perfect weather for annual sale
Two face felony charges after shooting By Vinde Wells Editor Two people are facing felony charges in connection with a shooting last month in rural Byron. Ogle County State’s Attorney Michael Rock said Tuesday that Brandon McMahon, 20, has been charged with attempted first degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, possession of a A 1925 Nash automobile with a front license plate from weapon by a gang member, 1934 was one of the “project cars� at the Hazelhurst and possession of a weapon Consignment Sale on April 5. Photo by Earleen Hinton by a felon.
Rachel Deiter, 18, Machesney Park, has been charged with concealing or aiding a fugitive. Assistant State’s Attorney Joshua Versluys said Deiter is accused of attempting to prevent McMahon’s arrest after the shooting by fleeing with him from the county. McMahon was arrested in Rockford. As of Tuesday, it was unclear as to where Deiter was arrested. McMahon is accused of shooting Wyatt Ackerson, 19, Byron, during a confrontation at a party in the early morning
hours of March 22 at a residence on North Hoisington Road, northwest of Byron. Ackerson remains in the hospital. Deiter is being held in the Ogle County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond, Versluys said. She was arraigned March 28, and a public defender was appointed then to represent her. Although Deiter was taken into custody March 24, the report of her arrest has not appeared on the Ogle County Sheriff’s website that lists arrests.
Rock said last week that he knew of no arrests in the case other than McMahon. A juvenile may also be involved in the incident, Rock said Tuesday, but he would not give further details. McMahon, a parolee, is currently being held in the Winnebago County Jail. He has also been charged with a shooting in Winnebago County. According to Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) records, McMahon was paroled from state prison in July of 2013.
Council asks attorney for 6-month bee ordinance By Chris Johnson Reporter
the Polo City Council. “We need to settle this,� said alderman Randy Schoon. The continuing discussion “How do we proceed. We of bees has stung a nerve in can listen to stories all night,�
said David Ackeberg. “I am ready to be done talking about bees.� “I am there,� said Mayor Doug Knapp.
After another lengthy discussion between the city council, beekeeper Mike Scholl, and neighbors, the board appears to be heading
Water advisory lifted for Polo residents Polo residents and business owners can turn off their water faucets as of this Friday. The City of Polo Water Department is lifting the frozen water pipe advisory on Friday, April 11. Citizens are asked to turn off their trickling water faucets then. The unusually cold winter led to frozen water pipes at
several homes. Residents and business owners were advised Feb. 17 to turn on their cold water and let it run. Water Superintendent Mike Gauthier said the taking that action would help prevent more water pipes from freezing. Gauthier said then that at least a dozen homes in the city were without water due
In This Week’s Edition...
to frozen pipes. According to a press release issued by the city at the time, the reason for the frozen water lines is that the frost line is so deep the mains are freezing under the streets where there is no snow cover to provide insulation. The press release advised residents and business owners to turn on one cold water faucet immediately and
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B6-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6 Marriage Licenses, A4
let it run until further notice. As of Tuesday morning, only one water service in the city was still frozen. Gauthier thanked the citizens of Polo for their cooperation in limiting the cases of frozen water pipes. Any questions or concerns can be directed to him through the city hall at 815946-3514.
Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B2 Service News, A4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
to a final decision on whether Scholl will be allowed to keep bee nucs year round or only for six months per year at his home in Polo. The board expressed their opinions on the matter in order for city attorney Tom Suits to draw up an ordinance. “I have an issue with all year round,� said Ackeberg. Alderman Louise Hall said if enough of the alderman do not support year-round then no ordinance should be drawn up for it. “I am against year round,� said alderman Cheryl Galor. Suits said no official vote could be taken during the meeting. Alderman Troy Boothe and
Social News, A4 Sports, A12, B1 State’s Attorney, B4 Zoning Permits, B6
Matt Mekeel said they might be in favor of a year-round bee ordinance. Galor, Schoon, Ackeberg, and Hall said they were against a year-round bee ordinance. Suits will draft a bee ordinance for Sept. 1 through March 31. This ordinance will have a first reading at the next board meeting. The board has been discussing bees for the past year. A temporary honey bee nuc ordinance was adopted on Sept. 17, 2013. This ordinance allowed Scholl to keep bees through the winter. Turn to A3
Deaths, B3 Phyllis A. Brashaw, Neil D. Johnson. James M. Schoonhoven, Darrell O. Wagner
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