Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO Extra Inning
Long Hike
The Lady Cardinals fell to Pearl City 4-3 in the eighth inning Monday afternoon. B1
Tri-County Press April 21, 2016 Volume 158, Number 31 - $1.00
Plant Sale
A retired teacher will step off on a challenging 100 mile hike. A9
The Polo FFA will hold its annual plant sale starting May 7. A2
Resident proposes solution to contested request By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com Although no decision was reached on a controversial street closing request, a possible solution was discussed at Monday night’s Polo City Council meeting. Shannon Haenitsch suggested the city council vacate East North Street and split it three ways instead of the two requested. Kenneth Linton, 301 N. Prairie Ave., and Jim Ports, who owns
Bill’s Excavating at 404 N. Prairie Ave., asked the council last month to vacate the 60 x 167 foot section of North Street that lies between their properties. The street is platted on the city map but has never been improved. The request asked that it be split equally between Linton and Ports, who agreed to assume responsibility for it. Ports said he and his family have been maintaining it for the last 50 years.
Linton said the street’s rightof-way comes within 14 feet of his house, and Ports wanted more land to allow him space to put up a building. However, neighboring property owners Haenitsch and Charlie Schmidt objected because that would make their parcels to the east land-locked. The council discussed the request March 21 and tabled it to April 4, when it was again discussed and tabled to Monday night.
Haenitsch said his solution might satisfy everyone concerned. He suggested a three-way split, giving Linton, Ports, and himself each 20 feet of the unimproved street. His 20-feet would allow him to put in a driveway to his property, making it accessible from North Prairie Avenue; Ports would have room for his new building; and Linton’s house wouldn’t be so close to the right-of-way. An added bonus, Haenitsch said,
Questions about new county jail
Child abuse event held Blue pinwheels spun in the warm spring breeze April 15 after members of the Polo Evening Women’s Club placed them at Paul’s Park to bring awareness to child abuse prevention. Club member and former Polo alderman Louise Hall told the city council April 4 that the annual ceremony is aimed at celebrating childhood and bringing awareness to the problem of child abuse. Mayor Doug Knapp declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and read a proclamation to that effect. Knapp was also on hand for the annual
is that the city would not have to spend the money to improve the street. He said he would be willing to allow Schmidt the use of his proposed driveway, and grant an easement across his property to give Schmidt access to his own parcels that are farther east. Most aldermen liked the idea, but said they need time to consider it, and talk with all the affected landowners. Turn to A3
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Polo Evening Women’s Club member Karen Digby places blue pinwheels in the planter at Paul’s Park April 15 to celebrate childhood and bring awareness to Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. At right are club members Jan Bates and Ginny Snodgrass. Photo by Vinde Wells
ceremony at Paul’s Park on the southwest corner of Division Avenue (Ill. 26) and Mason Street.
He commended the club’s efforts and again read the proclamation while club members
quietly listened. The club also placed pinwheels at the high school.
Congressional Medal awarded Saturday By Jermaine Pigee jpigee@saukvalley.com A Polo man never got the chance to have a medal pinned on his chest for his war service – but that doesn’t mean he didn’t earn it. It just took Congress more than seven decades to salute Melvin Haak. Unfortunately, they were four years too late. Haak died from bone cancer in October 2012 when he was 89. Now, 71 years after he climbed out of the cockpit, Civil Air Patrol Tech. Sgt. Haak was recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony April 16. The medal is the highest civilian award given by Congress. According to the U.S. Senate website, since the days of the American Revolution, Congress has “commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.” Haak’s wife, Elaine, 89, and his three children were on hand Saturday to accept the award on his behalf. A small gathering of friends and family joined them at the ceremony at East Jordan United Methodist Church, just outside Sterling – the same church where he married Elaine on Aug. 12, 1945. “Thank you so much for your husband’s service,” Civil Air Patrol Region Commander Col. Jerry Scherer
The Congressional Gold Medal for the Civil Air Patrol.
said as he gave the award to Elaine. “I wish we would have been able to award this to him in person.” He wasn’t the only one. Melanie Rude, one of Haak’s two daughters, wished he would have received the award years ago. “This was overdue,” she said. “The war ended in 1945.” Still, though, the family was grateful for the belated honor. “This is awesome and very meaningful to get the award now,” said his other daughter, Melissa Haak. Melvin Haak served as a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol for four years during World War II, from 1941 to 1945. The patrol was formed in 1941 as a way for volunteers to put their planes and flying skills to use in defense of their country. It was originally under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Corps, until 1948 when
In This Week’s Edition...
Birth, A4 Business Briefs, B5 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10
Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, said Tuesday that the first decision about building a new county jail could come as early as next month. Gouker and Long Range Planning Committee Chairman Don Griffin fielded questions from board members about the cost of the project and when more information will be available. The questions came on the heels of a presentation by Jeff Goodale, Director of Justice at HOK, a Chicago architectural and planning firm, hired last fall to do a jail needs assessment at a cost not to exceed $10,000. Goodale recommended a jail with 200 beds for adults and 32 beds for juveniles to meet current and future needs. After the meeting, he estimated the cost of the project at roughly $28 million. Goodale also recommended building the jail on one level for maximum efficiency and said five to 10 acres of land would be needed. Board member Bill Welty, Chana, asked for a schedule for making decisions about the proposed new facility. “I haven’t seen steps being brought out saying we’re going to do A, B, C, or D,” he said. Griffin said the next step is to decide where the jail will be built. However, Gouker
disagreed. “First we need to decide if we are going ahead with it and how many beds,” he said. He said the board may be asked to decide that next month. Welty asked if board members will be given an outline of the proposed plan for the facility in time to study it before being expected to vote on it. “How are we going to finance it?” he asked. Board member Rich Gronewold, Forreston, asked how much the new jail will cost. Gouker said the board will first be asked to decide whether or not to build the new jail. Then the capacity and location will be determined. After that, he said, the cost can be determined. In December, Goodale told the board that the county needs to provide more space for female prisoners and prisoners with mental health needs. A modern design, he said, will be safer for inmates and jailers, and will require less maintenance. When determining where the jail should be located, Goodale said he will take several factors into consideration including transportation to and from court, the convenience to operate the facility, and staff and visitor parking. Two locations that have been discussed are the block where the public safety complex is located and the county’s property on Sixth
Congress established the group as the auxiliary of the then-new Air Force. Thousands of volunteers like Hawk stepped up and performed critical wartime missions. During the war, every county in Illinois had a Civil Air Patrol group. Sterling and Rock Falls were in Group 4, in which Haak served. “Here is a 22-year-old giving himself to his country at a time when the country was not as friendly toward Civil Air Patrol,” Scherer said. “The members had to perform missions and they had to perform them in a very professional manner because they were under the scrutiny of the U.S. Army at that time.” Even though it has taken several Turn to A2 decades for Haak to be recognized, Scherer said his service has not been forgotten. “His efforts at a young age have not gone unrecognized,” Scherer said. “It may have taken some time, but we believe our members that did serve need to be recognized. This was an effort from the Civil Air Patrol and Congress to get the medal instituted.” Because a lot of the work the Civil Air Patrol did was taken for granted, Scherer said, it took a while for the patrolmen to be recognized. “Congress has recognized the sacrifice for the personnel involved,” Scherer said. “Congress finally came around after a lot of nudging from the Civil Air Patrol and from the Air Force The Polo Park Board recognized Tom Suits, right, April saying ‘Here are these individuals who 13 for his 37 years of service on the board. At left is park Turn to A3 board chairman Larry Loomis. Photo by Cheryl Galor.
Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4 Marriage Licenses, A4 Property Transfers, B4
Stepping Down
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
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Death, B4 John A. Harris