TCP_06052014

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Serving the Polo Area Since 1857

POLO Race Delay

Tri-County Press June 5, 2014 Volume 156, Number 37 - $1.00

Special Feature

Oregon’s CityWide Garage Sales are June 13-14. A2

Lightning delays relay at state track meet for four and one-half hours. B1

React helicopter will be on hand June 12 to help kick-off Town & Country Days. A2

City council okays new yield and stop signs By Vinde Wells Editor The Polo City Council took steps Monday night to make certain streets safer for both vehicles and pedestrians. After reviewing a list of locations for yield and stop signs recommended by Police Chief Dennis Christen, the council agreed to have city attorney Tom Suits draw up an ordinance to implement the changes. Christen told the council May 19 that several concerned citizens had requested a yield or stop sign at the intersection of Maple Avenue and North Street, the entrance to West Side Park. “The concerned citizens have seen near accidents there when traffic is heavy during

Downtown Demo

softball and baseball games,� Christen said in a letter to the council. “Lots of pedestrians and bicyclists travel that way to the park as well.� In a discussion about that intersection three weeks ago, the council decided other intersections in the city need signs as well and asked Christen to make a list of them. Christen said he consulted with street superintendent Kendall Kyker in making the list. Mayor Doug Knapp said Monday night that several of the intersections on the recommended list currently have no signs at all to control traffic. “Let’s err on the side of caution,� said alderman Troy Turn to A3

Pool may open June 9

A demolition crew from Fischer Excavating, Freeport finishes clean-up Tuesday morning of the Kerwin Building at 120 E. Mason St. in Polo’s downtown. The crew began demolishing the dilapidated building, owned by Midwest Tulsa Properties Inc., Wauconda, on Monday. Photos by Vinde Wells

By Vinde Wells Editor Polo officials are planning to open the Polo City Pool sometime next week. “The new filter room is still being put together. Some of the parts haven’t arrived yet,� pool supervisor Terry Jenkins said Monday, “Once we get the pool up and running we then have to wait for the state health inspector to give the okay for the pool to be used.� Mayor Doug Knapp said the pool could open as soon as Monday, June 9.

The city received a state grant for $38,000 to help cover the estimated $93,000 cost of the new filter room at the pool. Knapp said at Monday night’s city council meeting that the state permit has been issued for the new bath house. He said demolition of the current bath house will begin after Labor Day when the pool closes for the season. Summer pool hours are Monday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Polo woman to take over as county health administrator By Chris Johnson Reporter For the past 16 years the Ogle County Health Department has been under the direction of one woman. At the end of this month, a new woman will step in to run the department. Health Department Administrator Doreen O’Brien, Oregon, is retiring from the post after 16 years. “I originally thought I would only be here 10 years,� she said. “I am a massage therapist so I will pursue that and grow a business.� In her final month on the job O’Brien is helping Lucinda “Cindy� Bauling, Polo, with the transition. Bauling will become the administrator on June 30. “I have huge shoes to fill,� said Bauling. O’Brien laughed and said Bauling is qualified for the position. “We come from the same background,� said O’Brien. Both woman were nurses before joining the health department. “I was with OSF Healthcare

and was a vice president of home health,� said Bauling. “I was in charge of six agencies. I am local to Polo and this is a terrific opportunity.� Her previous job required extensive travel which kept Bauling away from her family. Bauling would like to continue building on the hard work O’Brien has put into the department. “To Doreen’s credit she has established a good department,� said Bauling. “We will have a smooth transition.� O’Brien has enjoyed the public support her department has received in her tenure in the department. “I think when I started the reputation of the department was not as high as it currently is,� said O’Brien. “I think this is because the public has an understanding about the services we provide and recognizes us.� One aspect the department oversees are well and septic systems in the county and O’Brien and her staff have worked hard to ensure safe drinking water throughout the

In This Week’s Edition...

county. “The community of Kings is getting well and septic upgrades,� said O’Brien. Unincorporated Kings is located east of Oregon on Ill. 64. She said the upgrades will make sure the water quality continues to be safe for future generations. Other improvements under O’Brien’s tenure include making a computer database of all the well and septic systems in the county. “In my interview for the administrator’s position I gave a speech on sealed wells,� said Bauling. “Now I think about that when driving around the county.� Before, files were not organized which made finding documentation about permitted wells and septics difficult. “This is one example of raising the professionalism of this department,� said O’Brien. When Bauling takes over, she has a simple goal for the department. “I would like to continue improving the health

Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, A7

of our citizens and the environment,� she said. “The challenge will be the budget.� The department continues to serve the community while having more healthcare issues to address. Over the past year the department has been working with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “Obamacare.� “Prevention is part of this law,� said O’Brien. “That is important to everyone. The prevention of diseases is valuable.� She said the value of this law may not be known, but it allows public healthcare agencies to continue their mission to keep everyone healthy. In Ogle County, the majority of people who signed up for the ACA were in transition years. “We enrolled many 55 to 65 year olds that were not part of Medicare,� said O’Brien. The health department is able to assist anyone who would like more information about the ACA, O’Brien said. Food safety is another major duty of the heath

Marriage Licenses, A4 Polo Police, A2 Property Transfers, B5 Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4

Retiring Ogle County Health Department Administrator Doreen O’Brien, Oregon, left, poses with Lucinda Bauling, Polo, who will take over the position at the end of June. Photo by Chris Johnson

Car show is June 6 Cars from hot rods to classics will be featured at the third annual Chandler’s Classic Car Cruise on Friday, June 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. in Polo. The annual show is held in memory of Jim Chandler, a local legend in hot-rodding and pin-striping, at Haldane

Custom Paint & Body, 602 S. Division Ave. (Ill. 26). Hot rods, rat rods, classic and antique cars, trucks, and motorcycles are welcome. No entry fee is charged and a food and drink stand will be available. For more information call 815-946-3272.

Turn to A3 Senior Center, A9 Sports, B1, B2, B3 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A3 Zoning, B6

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Deaths, B5 John B. Capps Calliope Nickolas


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