Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO Fourth Place
Tri-County Press May 7, 2015 Volume 157, Number 33 - $1.00
Graduations
The Marcos placed fourth during a tough 19team track meet in Oregon May 1. B1
Fundraiser
Area schools have scheduled commencement exercises in May. A8
Armed Forces Day and a Memorial Fundraiser will be held at Barnacopia May 16. A6
“Sad day” as Terry Jenkins resigns as pool manager By Vinde Wells Editor Polo Mayor Doug Knapp was obviously saddened Monday night to see Terry Jenkins’ tenure as city pool manager come to a close. Knapp’s voice broke and he wiped his eyes as he asked the city council to vote to accept Jenkins’ resignation. “This is a sad day,” he said before reading Jenkins resignation letter aloud. The council approved it unanimously. In his letter, Jenkins detailed how much he enjoyed working at the pool since he was first hired as a lifeguard in 1971 when he Polo Mayor Doug Knapp gives retiring alderman Louise Hall a certificate of was a sophomore in high commendation for her six years of service at Monday night’s city council meeting. school. Seated is alderman Dave Ackeberg. Photo by Vinde Wells “That summer I was hired to be a lifeguard at the Polo pool,” the letter read. “I was so excited. At that time I never would have guessed A Polo man was killed Union Road when he failed to a rest. that I wold work for 37 more May 2 when the motorcycle to negotiate a curve in the Police said speed was a summers as a lifeguard or he was driving failed to road. factor in the accident. negotiate a curve. The motorcycle skidded The Ogle County Sheriff ’s Douglas A. Weidman, on the roadway for Office was assisted at the 44, Polo, was pronounced approximately 60 feet before scene by the Polo Police dead at the scene following it left the roadway on the department, Ogle County the 9:05 p.m. accident that west side of Union Road. Coroner’s Office, and the occurred at the intersection The motorcycle continued Polo Fire and ambulance of North Union and West off the roadway for services. By Vinde Wells Canada roads, north of Polo. approximately 190 feet The accident remains Editor Ogle County Sheriff ’s before striking and snapping under investigation, pending Deputies determined that a utility pole on the west the results of laboratory tests. Ogle County’s emergency Weidman was driving his side of union road where the An autopsy was conducted crews drew praise from 1994 Yamaha south on motorcycle and driver came at the Ogle County Morgue. a state official for their response last month when an EF4 tornado destroyed an estimated 40 homes A Kentucky man died was employed by R.J. Corman R.J. Corman Company, which and damaged nearly 180 last week in a work-related Company, a private contractor was parked nearby. The boom structures. incident on the Canadian working on the tracks. arm pushed the ATV over on “Ogle County first Pacific railroad tracks on The press release said a its side. responders are very North Baileyville Road piece of equipment owned Campbell was the driver professional and dedicated approximately a mile north of by the company was being and only occupant of the ATV. to public safety,” said Brian Forreston. used to pick up metal railroad He was ejected from the ATV Brackemyer, coordinator James C. Campbell, 20, spikes with a large magnetic and suffered an injury to his for Illinois Emergency Prestonburg, Kentucky, was boom arm. head. Management Agency pronounced dead April 30 While the boom arm was Forreston Fire Department (IEMA) Region 2, which at the scene approximately in operation it spun out of and Ambulance responded to includes 17 counties in a quarter mile west of the control. the scene along with React northwest Illinois. railroad crossing. The large magnetic portion Helicopter and the Ogle According to a press release of the boom arm struck the County Coroner. from Ogle County Sheriff top of a four seat all-terrain The accident remains under Brian VanVickle, Campbell vehicle, also owned by the investigation.
Commendation
Polo man killed in accident
manager.” In his letter Jenkins said he plans to step down as soon as the pool is operational for the summer on June 1. Jenkins has spearheaded the extensive repairs made to the pool over the last three years, which included a new bath house and numerous mechanical components. “I believe that with all the new mechanical parts at the pool, the human element should also be new….” the letter read. “With a deep sadness in my heart and tears in my eyes, I know my time has come to a conclusion.” The board also approved a pool manual compiled by a subcommittee of the Park Board. The manual includes job descriptions for a pool manager and assistant pool manager, pool regulations, and a host of procedures. Knapp said the Park Board will advertise for applicants for the pool manager and assistant manager.
Park Board Chairman Larry Loomis said adding the assistant manager post will not increase the hours. Instead, he said the manager and assistant manager will split the hours the manager has been working. Jenkins was paid $15,050 annually. Citizens voiced concern at the April 20 meeting over a regulation in the new manual that required female lifeguards to wear one-piece swimsuits and prohibited two-piece suits and bikinis. The manual adopted was modified to allow twopiece suits with sports tops or tankinis, at the board’s discretion. Bikinis remain prohibited, and one-piece suits are “encouraged.” Male and female lifeguards will be required to wear red swimsuits. The board also approved a list of lifeguards to work for the summer.
Officials discuss pros and cons of tornado response
Railroad worker dies on job site
Region 2 is headquartered in Dixon, and Brackemyer was on the scene April 9 after the tornado swept through two subdivisions west of Rochelle, where most of the destroyed homes were located. “Everyone was very professional and concerned about the general public,” he said. The tornado, a half-mile wide at times, stayed on the ground for an estimated 39 miles, according to the National Weather Service. It first touched down in a field just west of Franklin Grove and moved in a northeasterly direction,
City accepts demolition contract Polo Hotel will be razed soon By Vinde Wells Editor
Another deteriorating building in Polo’s downtown will soon be history. The city council voted Monday night to accept a quote from Northern Illinois Service Company, Rockford, to demolish old Polo Hotel at 208 E. Mason St. at a cost of $73,749. The company was the
least expensive three firms that submitted quotes for the project. Other quotes received were from Civil Construction Inc., Freeport, for $131,851, and from Fischer Excavating Inc., Freeport, for $88,555. To speed up the project, the council also voted to waive the bidding process and first reading of the ordinance for it. Mayor Doug Knapp said the structure poses a hazard to neighbors and passersby. “We need to get it taken
City will flush hydrants
The Polo Water Department will be flushing water mains throughout the city on Tuesday, May 12, and on Wednesday, May 13. All areas of the city may be affected by rusty water and low pressure on both days.
In This Week’s Edition...
care of as soon as possible,” he said. The building has broken windows and doors and structural deterioration. An inspection found it to be in violation of the International Property Maintenance Code and deemed it, under the code, to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary, and unfit for human occupancy. A title search done in February revealed that B&L Partnership, comprised of Leo Hathaway and Brad Bartnick, is the owner of record. City attorney Tom Suits said the search also revealed that the owners have not paid Ogle County Emergency Management Agency (OCEMA) the property taxes for several Director Tom Richter makes a point Monday during
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5 Marriage Licenses, A4
an evaluation of the county’s response to the April 9
Turn to A2 tornado. Photo by Chris Johnson
Oregon Police, A7 Polo Police, A3 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B5 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather A2 Zoning Certificates, B4
damaging Crest Foods outside of Ashton before moving into Ogle County just after 6:30 p.m. Grubsteakers Restaurant at the intersection of Ill. 64 and 251 and nearby farms and homes were destroyed by the twister as it continued on its path to Fairdale, a tiny village on Ill. 72 just over the DeKalb County line. Two women died there in their homes, and many of the 50 homes and structures in the village were flattened. The tornado also damaged structures in Boone and McHenry Counties. Brackemyer and other Region 2 officials held an evaluation Monday to determine how well the Ogle County Emergency Management Agency (OCEMA) and other agencies handled the rescue and recovery operations after the storm. Representatives of Ogle County police and fire departments, as well as county officials were invited to the evaluation, held at Rochelle Township High School. The response was evaluated on 10 points, each of which included several target items. Those attending were encouraged to weigh in with their assessments of what was done well and what needs to be improved. Each target item was graded P for performance without challenges, the highest rating; S for performance with some challenges; M for performance with major challenges; and U for unable Turn to A7
Deaths, B6 Nolan Deets Jr., Lea A. Spengler, Robert J.M. Tudor
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