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Tri-County Press May 15, 2014 Volume 156, Number 34 - $1.00
Postseason
Graduation
Forensic Audit
Spring sports teams are ready to head to the postseason. View the schedules. A10, B1
Photos of the graduating classes of 2014 are in a special section.
The Ogle County Board is expected to hire a firm to complete a forensic audit. A9
Polo farmer loses hundreds of piglets to virus By Vinde Wells Editor A fast-moving virus that attacks pigs dealt a Polo farmer significant losses earlier this year. Brian Duncan, who raises hogs northwest of Polo, estimates he lost 1,000 to 1,200 baby pigs in March after they contracted porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). “We went about a month without weaning any little pigs,� he said. “Usually we wean about 300 a week.� While any hog can catch the virus, it’s especially deadly for very young piglets. “It kills all of them under 14 days old,� Duncan said. “It’s a very aggressive virus. Once it hits, it moves very quickly.� Older pigs fare better if
they contract the virus. “When it hits anything over 14 days old, it’s more like a mild flu,� he said. “It’s absolutely devastating to a little pig.� The sows on the farm also contracted the virus. They were “off feed� for a couple of days, Duncan said, and then returned to normal. It takes a little time to ride out the effects of the virus, he said, but currently even his youngest pigs are thriving. “It takes some time for the sows to build up immunity to pass on to the pigs,� Duncan said. “We know it’s still present on the farm, but the sows have enough immunity now to protect the pigs.� He is, however, taking extra precautions to keep PEDV at bay. “We do a lot of cleaning anyway, but now we’re doing
extra steam-cleaning and disinfecting,� he said. Across the county, Kim Huntley, Chana, who finishes 27,000 hogs annually for market is also taking precautions against PEDV. His hogs have not contracted the virus and are past the age when it’s the most dangerous. “I don’t have baby pigs. They come in here at 50 pounds. They aren’t as susceptible. They can get it but they don’t die from it,� he said. None the less, Huntley is being careful. Clothing and boots are removed before leaving either of the two sites where he raises pigs. “Our clothes and boots are site specific,� he said. “They don’t go from one place to the other. And we wear plastic gloves.�
The tires on trucks delivering feed are sprayed with disinfectant, and truck drivers wear plastic, disposable boots. “It is a serious deal, no question about it,� Huntley said. PEDV is a coronavirus that infects the cells that line the small intestine of a pig, causing severe diarrhea and dehydration. The virus usually kills young piglets within five days of contracting it. PEDV was first discovered in Europe, but soon traveled to Asian countries. It was discovered in the U.S. in the spring of 2013 and in Canada earlier this year. Duncan said he has not determined how it got to his operation. The virus is not a danger to humans. It is not passed
from pigs to humans or other animals. The meat of affected hogs is safe to eat. “It poses no danger whatsoever to humans,� Duncan said. In fact, the only effect is likely a hike in pork prices. Duncan said the recent episode reminded him of a similar virus that affected hogs when he was a youngster. “It’s similar to TGE (transmissible gastroenteritis). They’re both coronaviruses. Our pigs got TGE when I was a kid,� he said. “But this is like TGE on steroids.� No vaccines are currently available to combat PEDV, he said, although animal pharmaceutical companies are working on developing one.
Baby pigs are once again thriving on Brian Duncan’s hog operation near Polo. Earlier this spring, Duncan lost more than 1,000 piglets to porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. Photo supplied
“Most vaccines don’t work very well on viruses,� Duncan said.
ChromeBooks help students By Chris Johnson Reporter Assigning group projects at one time required a trip to the library or computer lab, but students in Polo can now work on projects in the classroom. Students in William Anderson’s agriculture class Monday morning were working on group projects on one of two ChromeBook laptop computer carts. Each cart has 25 computers and teachers can schedule the cart to be in their classroom instead of having to reserve the computer lab. “We can work at our own pace,� said student Colton Griffen. “It helps with our projects being able to research in the classroom.� Anderson said the students were using the ChromeBooks for a wildlife study presentation. “These computers allow multiple students to work together on the same project,� he said. “Everything is saved in the cloud.� The cloud is a computer term for files stored on a server not the individual computer. Anyone can access the files stored on the cloud server with a password. In the past some students may have done the entire project, but with the ChromeBooks Anderson can see which student is working on each part of the project. “The presentations are shared and I can see what they are working on instantly,� Anderson said. “These ChromeBooks allow for guided learning and the students can incorporate images and videos into the presentations.� So far the computers have allowed for new opportunities for learning. “Next year I plan on
incorporating the computers even more,� said Anderson. The computers were purchased through the Polo Community School Foundation. This group helps to raise money to provide opportunities to the students in the district. “The ChromeBooks started as a way to honor Sarah Kamp,� said principal Andy Faivre. Kamp was a teacher at the Polo High School who passed away last year as a result of a traffic crash. To ensure the ChromeBooks were compatible with the school network, Faivre said upgrades were made. “The computers were ordered in January and were ready for the classroom in March,� he said. Faivre said every student has an account and access to shared files. “Two students can work together on projects using these ChromeBooks,� said Faivre. “We are helping prepare our students for college.� Currently the two carts of 25 computers are being used every day and Faivre would like to see more mobile labs in the future. “The foundation has been supportive in our schools,� he said. “VIPS also helped with this project. The cost of the computers and carts was a little more than $16,000, said Faivre. In the science lab, teacher Ryan Deets knows how valuable computers can be to his lesson plans. “The Chromebooks are a great resource for every department and it is awesome to have them,� he said. “Our students are able to do research in the classroom
Nate LeFevre and Colton Griffin work on a project Monday morning on a pair of ChromeBooks. The Polo High School has two 25-computer mobile labs that can be brought to classrooms. Photo by Chris Johnson
Lifeguards will receive a raise By Vinde Wells Editor Lifeguards at the Polo City Pool got a raise May 5 despite the objections of one alderman. The city council approved, by a vote of 5 to 1, a 25-cent pay hike, from $8.25 to $8.50 per hour, for the approximately 15 teens who serve as lifeguards over the summer. Alderman Louise Hall cast the lone dissenting vote. “I don’t think we need to raise teenagers’ rate above minimum wage,� she said. “We just gave everyone else a
teenagers to teach kids how to swim,� said Polo resident Ted Boddiger. “I think they’re worth every penny you give them.� Kurt Cavanaugh, whose son works as a lifeguard at the pool, said it costs each teen $100 to $200 of his or her own money to become certified as a lifeguard and swim lesson instructor. In a related matter, the council approved a 50-cent increase in swimming pool admission for anyone who lives outside the Polo School District. The new fees will be $2 for
children, $2.50 for high school students, and $3 for adults. The admission for children 2 years old and younger will remain at 50 cents, and senior citizens will remain at $1.50. In other business, the council agreed by consensus to a 1.5 percent increase in garbage collection rates. The hike will be voted on at an upcoming meeting. Mayor Doug Knapp said the increase came from negotiations meetings with officials from Moring Disposal Inc., Forreston. “Originally Moring wanted five percent,� he said.
Property owners receive tax bills By Vinde Wells Editor
By now most property owners in Ogle County have already received their real estate tax bill. Turn to A3 Ogle County Treasurer &
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raise and I think we need to be careful.� The city council approved an increase for other city employees in April, effective May 1. Alderman Randy Schoon pointed out that the total amount for raising the lifeguards’ pay would amount to only a few hundred dollars. Alderman Matt Mekeel agreed, saying it would be less than $500. Members of the audience also voiced their opinions on the pay hike. “I think that’s an awesome responsibility for those
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Collector John Coffman said the more than 29,300 tax bills were mailed from Oregon on May 6. Taxes collected this year will total $119,336,000, approximately $900,000 more than last year, he said.
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The total reflects the amount due to all the governing bodies that draw real estate tax revenue from property in the county. The increase is likely due to several factors, Coffman said.
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“I haven’t fully analyzed it yet,� he said Monday. “Farmland is up 10 percent, and some levies are up.� Part of the overall increase is due to industrial growth at
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Rosalie K. Anderson, Mary J. Galloway, Brett D. Holaday, Shirley L. Powell, Duane H. Rubendall, Howard L. Stouffer
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