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POLO
Tri-County Press May 21, 2015 Volume 157, Number 35 - $1.00
Season Finale
Ranger
Recognition
The Lady Cardinals defeated West Carroll but lost a close 2-0 game to Stillman Valley. B1
Read about tourism activities throughout Ogle County. Inside
Ogle County Telecommunicators were recognized for their tornado response. A10
Manager hired for the city pool
Rare and unique tractors displayed
By Vinde Wells Editor
By Chris Johnson Reporter A blend of passionate owners and unique tractors were not deterred by some rain Saturday. Hundreds of garden tractors were on display at the annual AJ’s Garden Tractor Jamboree. Rick Beem, Monticello, Iowa, was taking the rain in stride. He was wiping down his 1987 Cub Cadet Diesel to make it look good for the show. “This is my first time here,” said Beem. “It is a gathering of like minded people today.” A small tent over the garden tractor kept most of the rain off. When asked why he chose a Cub Cadet, he had a simple response. “I like them all,” said Beem. “But, I started with Cub Cadets.” Just down the row from the Cub Cadet was a pair of interesting tractors. A 1962 Farm Hand and a 1975 JC Penny. These two unique tractors were owned by Marvin Stinebaker,
Marvin Stinebacker, Riverton, discusses the features of this rare 1962 Farm Hand garden tractor that he recently finished restoring. Photo by Chris Johnson
Riverton. “Jacobson built the Farm Hand,” said Stinebaker. “I only know of six in the country and I am trying to find more of them.” The tractor was just restored and Saturday was one of the first shows
that it has been displayed at. Decals were remade to match the originals. “This tractor needed to be restored,” said Stinebaker. Turn to A2
The Polo City Pool has a new manager and assistant manager in time for its estimated opening June 5. The city council hired two Polo residents Monday night for the posts. Kayla Bergstrom was hired as manager with Alan McFalls as assistant manager, a newly created position. Bergstrom will be paid $14 per hour, and McFalls’ wages will be $12 per hour. City clerk Susie Corbitt said three people applied for the two positions. Longtime pool manager Terry Jenkins tendered his resignation at the May 4 meeting. In his letter of resignation, Jenkins said he plans to step down as soon as the pool is operational for the summer. Alderman Cheryl Galor, who is also the Parks & Recreation Committee chairman, said Monday that the pool is expected to open June 5. The assistant manager position was recently created by the Park Board. Larry Loomis, chairman of
that board, told the city council earlier this month that 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 $15.50 per hour. In a related matter, the council approved Mayor Doug Knapp’s appointment of former mayor Mark Scholl to the Park Board to replace Larry Bittinger who recently resigned. In other business, the council accepted a purchase offer from Mike Scholl to buy the 2.59acre site where a landfill was formerly located from the city. Scholl’s offer of $1,250 was one of two the city received for the property. The other was from Marvin Bushman for $1,200. The land was appraised at $800, and state statutes require the city to accept no less than 80 percent of the appraisal — in this case $640. Knapp said the city would consider offers of no less than $940, which included the 80 percent plus the $300 for the appraisal.
Independent police dept. review drew no comments By Vinde Wells Editor An independent review of the Polo Police Department drew no comments or action at Monday night’s city council meeting. Alderman Troy Boothe,
who is also Police Committee chairman, had asked the council two weeks ago to thoroughly read the review compiled by Kurt Cavanaugh, Polo, a retired Illinois State Police Lieutenant. Monday night, Boothe told
council members he wants their input. However, no one commented. Cavanaugh did the department review at Boothe’s request and did not charge the city for his services. The review found that
while the department is running smoothly overall, some changes are needed. Cavanaugh recommended that the police station should be renovated for security reasons. He suggested the addition of security cameras both
inside and outside of the building. The half walls that separate the public area from offices should be extended to full walls, the report said, with a safety glass window to view and communicate with anyone who comes in.
The interview room should also be made more secure and private, the report said. The evidence storage area needs to be tightened, the report suggested, to limit access to it. Turn to A2
Bison Boom Herd is already helping prairie at the Grasslands By Earleen Hinton General Manager Yes, yes, all the buzz may be about the baby bison boom at Nachusa Grasslands, but the real excitement is what the grown ups are already doing to help restore the prairie. “It’s been super exciting ever since the bison arrived and we are already starting to see success from bison grazing,” said restoration ecologist Cody Considine. “It looks like the bison are eating the grasses around the spring flowers and that’s pretty cool.” While the recent inclusion of the big prairie mammals may be what’s driving new people to the Nature Conservancy’s 3,500-acre Grasslands, located east of Dixon and south of Oregon,
Bison calves are surrounded by cows at the Nachusa Grasslands. As of last week, 11 calves had been birthed by the Nature Conservancy’s bison herd at the Grasslands. Photo by Earleen Hinton
it is the delight in the details that inspires Considine and other Grasslands volunteers who have spent years and hundreds of hours pulling invasive plants, collecting prairie plants seeds, burning, and replanting. “Already we can see where the prairie plants are doing better based on where and what the bison are eating, but from a science research point of view, this study will take several years. Right now,
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it is very evident they are avoiding the forbs (flowers) and eating the grass,” he said. Bison were reintroduced to the Grasslands in October 2014 when Considine and Bill Kleiman, preserve manager, and Grassland volunteers, made three trips totaling nearly 3,500 miles to transport cows and bulls from established herds in Iowa and South Dakota to the Grasslands.
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The Grasslands’ herd is the first to live at a TNC preserve east of the Mississippi and also the first conservation herd in Illinois—with a primary purpose of helping the prairie thrive. And so far, the bison seem be fitting well into their new home. The first calf was born in early April, followed by 10 soon after. “As of last Saturday, we now have 11 new calves,” said Considine. “We now
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have 41 in the herd.” The bison, and their calves, have also meant an increase in visitors driving by the bison enclosure, to catch a glimpse of the new additions. The Grasslands kiosk, located on Lowden Road, offers maps of the Grasslands including where the bison are located. “People are excited about the bison. Now people can come here and learn more
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about what we do and how they can contribute. They may or may not be able to see the herd, depending on where they are at. This isn’t a zoo. These are wild animals,” said Considine. Sometimes the herd can be seen grazing on the west side of Lowden Road or from the north side of Stone Barn Road or south from Flagg Road.
Deaths, B3 Frances L. Shadewaldt
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
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