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POLO
Tri-County Press May 26, 2016 Volume 158, Number 36 - $1.00
Marcos Statebound
Tourism Tab
Forreston-Polo Falls
The Marcos track team has high hopes headed into the state meet in Charleston. B1
The Ranger will help guide you to local events, attractions. Insert
Miscues hurt the softball and baseball teams as they loose in the regional final. B1
Forreston board dissolves co-op By Andy Colbert acolbert@oglecounty news.com Because of limited opportunities for playing time, the baseball and softball coops between Forreston and Polo will cease to exist. At the May 18 Forreston school board meeting, co-ops for track and wrestling were renewed, but not for baseball and softball. “Lack of participation is the number factor in our decision,” said Dennis Osterloo, Forreston school board president. “What we are seeing is a decline in Forreston kids going out because of lack of playing time.” According to Osterloo, Forreston athletes were canvassed on this issue. “It’s disheartening to hear that they grew up playing baseball or softball, but aren’t going out because of this,” he said. “Or, maybe they played for a year and didn’t return because of lack of playing time.” The two schools have cooped baseball and softball for since 2011. In that time, the baseball team has gone 9861, winning a 2A regional last year. In softball, the girls reached the 1A super-sectional the year before the co-op went into effect. They did win a 2A regional as a co-op the
following year, but have been 5-5 in regional play since then. Forreston’s enrollment of 273 puts them 10 students below the baseball/softball cut-off between 1A and 2A. “This isn’t about being in 1A or winning,” Osterloo said. “It’s about allowing our students the chance to participate. In baseball, the number of Polo kids is not that significant, but in softball it is more like 50-50.” Besides several Polo residents in attendance at the meeting, there were a handful of Forreston track athletes, concerned about the future of their sport. “When the co-op began, Polo needed help to field a baseball and softball team and Forreston needed help to field a competitive track team,” P-F track coach Ryan Deets said “We entered into the co-op with that intention. Six years later the numbers still reflect the same situation. Together we have a very It was a doggie reunion May 21 for Zoie, middle, and her two daughters, Jordie, left, and Rizzo. The rottweilers and strong track team. Separately, their owners, Charity Irvin, Andy Swift, and Tom Wilkinson wait for the first ever Polo Pet Parade to line up at Polo there will be great individuals Community Park. Photo by Vinde Wells but neither town will field a complete team with the ability to compete for a state trophy, which is what we have now.” Though Forreston opted to renew agreements in track and wrestling, Polo has the option By Vinde Wells Rizzo took a short break of dropping them. vwells@oglecounty from the family scene to “We want to continue news.com get acquainted with Carol wrestling and track, but it is up Behrendt’s two rescue Turn to A2 From rottweilers to yorkie- miniature schnauzers, Holly poos, dogs of all colors, and Georgie. shapes, and sizes turned out Otis, Judy Oleson’s bassett May 21 for the first ever Polo hound, came wearing a giant Pet Parade. stuffed cheeseburger on his Organizer Kathy Wragg back. said around two dozen dogs Oleson joked that the and their humans participated costume was appropriate in the walk that went from given Otis’ penchant for Polo Community Park to the food. Pinecricker Restaurant in Once at the Pinecricker, Polo’s downtown. Wragg handed out prizes to Ogle County that offer video “We raised $600 for the children who participated, gaming terminals. Noah’s Ark in Rockford,” she and served a picnic lunch. She tried them and lost said. “I was pleased.” She already has plans for hundreds of dollars. The dogs got acquainted next year’s pet parade, which “I hope these places go out with tail wags and sniffs, she said she hopes will be of business,” her husband while the people greeted even bigger and better. said ruefully. “There are six Wragg said she chose of them within four blocks each other and lined up for the walk uptown. Noah’s Ark as the recipient of of where we live. They don’t Two rottweilers, Jordie and the event’s proceeds because Otis, Judy Oleson’s bassett hound, wears his stuffed belong here.” cheeseburger at the Polo Pet Parade May 21. Hanging Rizzo, waited patiently with it is a no-kill shelter. Though video gaming is “It’s a great place. I foster out with them are Charlotte Frank and her yorkie-poo a temptation for problem their mother, Zoie, for the animals for them,” she said. Madison. Photo by Vinde Wells gamblers, they are probably parade to begin.
Pet parade raises $600 for shelter
Self-exclusion is hard to enforce with local slots Editor’s note: This is part 3 of a 4-part series on the impact of local video gaming terminals. By Andy Colbert acolbert@oglecounty news.com The sole purpose of a slot machine is to redistribute wealth from the poor and stupid to the rich. At least that’s the definition from the Urban Dictionary. Not all people that play slots are poor and stupid. Many are highly educated and have plenty of disposable income. But, a percentage of those will continue to play slots despite harmful and negative consequences. “As far as I’m concerned, the only places that should have gambling are Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City,” said a husband of a problem gambler. His wife also realizes she has a gambling addiction and has gone as far as having herself banned from casinos in Illinois and the surrounding states. That does not prevent her from entering any of the 40-plus establishments in
here to stay. But, is there is anything that can be done to include video gaming establishments on the self-exclusion list that the Illinois Gaming Board offers for casinos? “It’s something we are working on,” said Gene O’Shea, Director of the Statewide Voluntary SelfExclusion Program for Problem Gamblers. “Our chairman and board are very interested in it.” The Gaming Board began its first self-exclusion program in 2002; about 10 years after casinos were licensed in Illinois. Currently, there are 11,958 people who have voluntarily signed up.
Opponents of new rail line address board By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Several opponents of the proposed Great Lakes Basin Railroad again urged the Ogle County Board last week to pass a resolution against the $8 million project. “We’ve got to nip this in the bud,” said Cindy Brown, Lindenwood, who also spoke at the April 19 meeting along with several others. Teresa Petry, Rochelle, asked the board to officially oppose the plan. “The railroad will change Ogle County in many ways,” Turn to A7 she said.
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Although the plans now call for the railroad to go through the east side of the county, Petry said that could change as much as 30 miles in either direction. “It could run through your backyard,” she said. Robert Walsh, Lindenwood, echoed her concerns.
“Please protect our farmland and our way of life,” he said. Opponents have cited potential danger to the watershed, farmland, the environment, and wildlife. The rail system would be entirely funded by private investors led by Frank Patton, Crete, a former software
developer. The Surface Transportation Board, an agency that works independently within the U.S. Department of Transportation, organized 10 public meetings last month, including one in Rochelle, to gather input on a proposed Turn to A2
Memorial Day Parade planned All veterans, young and old, as well as active duty servicemen and women, are invited to take part in the Polo Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30. For participants who cannot
Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B7 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
march, a low-boy trailer with chairs will be provided to ride on in the parade. The parade will assemble at Mason and Green streets, across from Dad’s Bar & Grill, at 9 a.m. with step-off at
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Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
9:30 a.m. The parade will march to Fairmount Cemetery where a ceremony, including a 21gun salute and the playing of “Taps,” will be held. The public is invited.
Death, B3 Lowell L. Beggs