Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press May 1, 2014 Volume 156, Number 32 - $1.00
Doubleheader
Stolen Tipi
Recycling Event
The Forreston-Polo Lady Cardinals swept a doubleheader against Pecatonica. B1
A tipi promoting Oregon Trail Days has come up missing. B2
Ogle County residents can take advantage of a free electronics recycling event May 3. A6
Woman claims sheriff has too many duties By Vinde Wells Editor
A Rochelle woman told the Ogle County Board recently that the sheriff has too many duties. Diane McNeilly said the Ogle County League of Women Voters recently did a study of several Illinois county sheriffs and discovered that the Ogle County Sheriff is responsible for more departments, employees, and money than his counterparts. “It doesn’t allow him enough time to do statemandated duties,� she told the county board April 15. Besides overseeing the Sheriff’s and Corrections Departments, Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn is also in charge of the Ogle County Emergency Management Agency, the county’s Buildings & Grounds, Information Technology, telecommunications, and security for the courts as well as all county properties.
In all, he oversees more than 80 county employees and a large share of the county’s budget. “The Ogle County Sheriff is responsible for more departments and funds than other counties surveyed. Checks and balances and supervision can be an issue in delivering services,� according to the report McNeilly presented to the board. McNeilly said the recommendation of the League of Women Voters is that the county board remove Buildings & Grounds and Information Technology from the sheriff’s duties and instead appoint a department head for each. The recommendation calls for two new department heads who should “report through the regular county committee structure.� McNeilly said only seven of the 11 counties contacted responded to the organization’s request for information.
Ogle County officials did not respond, she said, and officials in three other counties told her Harn had requested they not participate. McNeilly said the three other counties that did not respond were Boone, LaSalle, and Whiteside. The counties that participated were Carroll, DeKalb, Lee, Kendall, McHenry, Stephenson, and Winnebago. In none of the responding counties does the sheriff serve as computer services director, maintain the Information Technology System or maintain county buildings. Winnebago County was the only one where, like Ogle, the sheriff also serves as the Emergency Management Agency director and provides security for all the county’s buildings and grounds. Harn did not respond to a phone call from Ogle County Newspapers seeking his comments for this story.
The City of Polo is currently undergoing an update to its 2003 Comprehensive Plan. Residents, businesses, and other stakeholders in and/or connected to Polo are asked and encouraged to participate in a community-wide survey, which seeks information about community satisfaction and local development priorities. The survey is available online and in print. To participate online, local
residents, business owners, and other Polo stakeholders are asked to visit planpolo. wordpress.com and complete the digital survey. Paper surveys are available at any of the following locations: CGH-Polo, Polo City Hall, KSB-Polo, Polo Public Library, Polo Public Schools, Polo Senior Center, On the Move, First State Bank Shannon-Polo, and various churches in Polo.
Completed paper surveys may be returned to Polo City Hall, Polo Public Library, and the Polo Senior Center. Surveys are due by Wednesday, May 14. For more information or issues related to the Kevin Deets puts insulation in place in the newly-built filter house at the Polo City Pool community survey, or April 25. The filter house is one of two projects planned at the pool this year. A new for questions about the bathhouse is also in the works. Photo by Vinde Wells comprehensive plan update, contact City Clerk Susie Corbitt at polo@essex1.com or call 815-946-3514.
Surveys can help out Polo Under Construction
Fire dept. has new facility
Dog bite victim is recovering By Vinde Wells Editor Eight days after she was viciously attacked by three dogs, a rural Ashton woman was recuperating at home. Aneda Ebert, 63, 3413 Dugdale Rd., said Tuesday that she is very grateful for the concern people have expressed for her and the help that’s been offered. “The support has been overwhelming. People have been wonderful,� she said. Ebert suffered severe injuries to her neck, shoulder, arms, and leg, and spent four days at KSB Hospital, Dixon, before being released April 25. “I’m healing — my nurse (husband Larry) says I look better every day,� said Ebert, who appeared in good spirits despite the ordeal. “I’m mauled. I’m just a mess. I have stitches everywhere.� She was almost home from her morning jog April 21 when two pit bulls and a smaller brown dog ran out of a neighbor’s yard and attacked her. Larry, who was out riding his bike, was some distance
done the road and saw the dogs shaking something. He soon realized they were attacking his wife and sped to her rescue, scaring the dogs off. “They started biting at my elbows and I knew I was in trouble,� Ebert said. “Then they got more vicious and they were growling. They got me down, and they had me by the neck. I protected my face. Larry saw them drag me at least 15 feet. I can’t believe the grip they had. There was nothing I could do. And then I saw Larry’s face.� Dr. Tom Champley, Ogle County Animal Control Administrator, said last week that Larry’s quick action likely save her life. “It’s a good thing her husband was right there or it might have been a fatality,� Champley said. Ebert said she was shocked by the viciousness of the attack. “The brutality is what bothers me,� she said. “It was so savage.� Initially, Champley had reported the attack came from the two put bulls, a male and a female.
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However, he said Tuesday that further investigation showed that the third dog, owned by the same person, also took part in the attack. He said he did not know the breed of the smaller dog. All three dogs were impounded by Animal Control and have been euthanized with the consent of the owner, Champley said. Ebert said the dogs had never posed a problem for her before, although they have for some of her neighbors. “The dogs have been there a long time,� she said. Another neighbor had reported the dogs more than once for running at large, she said. Champley said Tuesday that he is unaware of any previous complaints being made to Animal Control. A spokesman for Ogle County State’s Attorney Michael Rock said Tuesday morning that prosecutors are working with law enforcement officers to determine if charges will be filed against the dogs’ owner. The Ogle County Sheriff’s Department investigated at the scene.
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6
Two buildings were connected By Vinde Wells Editor
Polo firefighters and emergency medical service (EMS) personnel are moving into a long-awaited and much-needed addition to their facilities.
Fire Chief Tony Karrow said Monday that the finishing touches are being made to an addition that connects the fire station and ambulance building and provides a training room and storage area. “This was room we really needed,� Karrow said as he looked around the 20 foot by 48 foot addition.
The project also included some redecorating and new appliances for the fire station’s existing kitchen. “We got to use our new kitchen at our breakfast,� Karrow said, referring to the pancake breakfast held April 13. The training room will be used for classes for both Turn to A3
Polo Fire Protection District Treasurer Charlie Clothier, left and Fire Chief Tony Karrow stand near a new flat screen TV not yet installed in the fire department’s new training room. Photo by Vinde Wells
Marriage Licenses, A4 Polo Police, A2 Property Transfers, B6 Public Voice, A9
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B6
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Deaths, B5 Sarah E. Buschek, James T. Welty