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POLO
Tri-County Press July 2, 2015 Volume 157, Number 41 - $1.00
Tough Run
7 Vehicle Crash
Farmers Market
More than 100 runners brave the mud in the 4th annual KB Tough Run. A3
Three are hurt in a crash in a construction zone on I39. B3
The Polo Farmers Market will open for the season on Thursday, July 9. A3
Volunteer can offer vital help By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com Ogle County officials took the first step Tuesday toward building an Ogle County Volunteer Corps that could be called upon to help during emergencies. “After the April 9 tornado we decided to get going on the volunteer corps,” said Ogle County Director of Health Education and Emergency Preparedness Joanie Padilla during an informational meeting Tuesday night about volunteer opportunities. “We watched the storm on radar and knew it would not be good.” Following the storm, thousands of volunteers descended on the county and Rochelle to offer help. Seeing the jobs these volunteers were able to assist affected families with was the spark to create a local group of volunteers to respond to emergencies. The first meeting to form such a group was held Tuesday at the Ogle County Courthouse. “The physical part (of recovery) is easy,” said Ogle County Emergency Management Director Thomas Richter. “The
Swimming Fun Swimming instructor Brian Cavanaugh helps Jonny Rowland, age 3, Polo, splash down into the safety net of fellow instructor Lana Scholl and Hayden Harvey, age 6, Forreston, during free play time at the Polo Pool on Tuesday. At left, Lana Scholl, left, helps Jonny Rowland, age 3, Polo, and Hayden Harvey, age 6, Forreston, during swim lessons. The second session of swimming lessons are July 6-10. Call 815-946-3406 for more information. Photos by Earleen Hinton
Whiskey-nine-golf-delta. Whiskeynine-golf-delta. With these simple words, Gene Duncan, Oregon, made radio contact half way around the world Saturday night. “W-nine-golf-delta, you are 59638,” came a voice back on the radio. “You are 5918 Illinois,” relied Duncan. With this quick exchange, Duncan had a confirmed contact with Slovenia, a country east of Italy in Europe. “His name is Jenneis,” said Duncan. “I have talked to him before.” The signal was logged by Jerry Shirer, Oregon, to document the contact. Duncan and Shirer were taking part in an amateur radio field day being held in the Rock River Center’s parking lot on S. 10th Street. This was one of 346 confirmed international contacts Duncan has made in his 58 years of having an amateur radio license. “My favorite is talking to foreign countries,” said Duncan. “I have talked to Japan quite a bit and other stations in Asia. It is a fun activity.” Duncan has been broadcasting since he received an amateur radio license in 1957. “I lived north of Stratford and had a table Crosley radio and heard
Turn to A2
Annual Fourth of July at LFR
Slovenia contacted during field day By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecountynews.com
emotional trauma is still there.” Following the initial response, there is always work that will need to be done, he said. Some homes destroyed by the tornado are being rebuilt and will be completed this year. However, Richter said during thunderstorms, the affected families still have fears about another tornado. Paperwork for the storm will continue for more than a year, and volunteers could help with some of the work, he said. “There is a need on a daily basis for volunteers,” said Padilla. The Ogle County Health Department and the Ogle County Emergency Management Agency held Tuesday’s meeting to inform residents about volunteering with those agencies and possibly helping when the next emergency occurs. Members of the Ogle County Volunteer Corps will be trained in how and where to access those resources and will help in many different capacities in times of need. The 11 attendees at the meeting were offered the chance to fill out a volunteer
broadcasts,” said Duncan. “It was something I got interested in with a couple other guys and we all got our licenses at the same time.” Duncan has been broadcasting ever since. When he went to the nursing home, he received permission to have a radio tower installed so he could continue his passion every day. During the field day Duncan and Shirer were teaming up to make contacts. “You need to move the dial back and forth trying to get a good signal,” said Duncan. With every contact made, Shirer was making a log in a computer program. “We are keeping track of where we have talked to tonight,” he said. “We log all contacts.” In the first hour of the field day there were confirmed contacts in Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, South Carolina, Kansas, New Jersey, Mississippi, Ohio, and Pennsylvania in the United States and the one contact in Slovenia. Duncan has his amateur extra class license which grants him access to all the amateur high frequency bands. Some of the radio enthusiasts at the field day had a general class license which grants access to a restricted number of bandwidths. “You have three levels of licenses,” said Charlie Anderson, Oregon. “You need to know theory for the extra license. I have not received my extra
In This Week’s Edition...
Chamber Chatter, A10 Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
license yet.” A beginner in amateur radio can earn a technician class license with has limited access to high frequency bands. Licenses are good for 10 years. Duncan said he needed to know Morse code to earn a license but that requirement has been removed from current testing. Each person with a license receives a call sign. Duncan’s call sign is W9GD, which is why he began his contacts by saying whiskey-nine-golf-delta. “Each letter has a name,” said Anderson. The words used in amateur radio are the NATO Phonetic Alphabet with some slight variations. “Zulu, zed or zanzibar are not often used,” said Anderson. “When you hear Q-R-zed it is someone asking to repeat what you said. The Q-codes were used Gene Duncan says his id W9GD into the radio when trying to make contact with other radio enthusiasts Saturday afternoon. Photo by Chris Johnson
in Morse code.” Amateur radio enthusiasts gather every June for a nationwide field day. “We get together the last weekend in June each year,” said Anderson. “You gather all the contacts and we receive a certificate. It is pretty cool.” This year a field day was held at the Turn to A2
Marriage Licenses, A4 Library News, A10 Oregon Police,A7 Pine Creek News, A3 Public Voice, A9
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Celebrate the Fourth of July with food, fireworks, music, and family activities at Mt. Morris’ 52nd annual Let Freedom Ring Festival. Freedom Reborn is the theme for the this year’s celebration. The festival began Wednesday evening with the crowning of the 2015 LFR Queen. Two Oregon High School seniors, Paige Carlock and Cheyanne Terry, were vying for the honor. Festival chairman Mark Lewis said the beer garden will be at a new location this year on the campus uptown rather than in the street. The beer garden will be open on Friday from 5 to 12 p.m. and again on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. Also new this year is magician and ventriloquist Gene Cordova, sponsored by the Evangelical Free Church of Mt. Morris on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the band shell. “This is a new familyoriented event,” Lewis said. Music will be a big part of the festival. Radio station 97ZOK will do a live broadcast and house party Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to midnight from the band shell.
Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
“That’s a new event for us, too,” Lewis said. The Jimmys will perform on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the band shell, compliments of the Mt. Morris Jamboree. Other Friday events include a bags tournament at 4 p.m. on Wesley Avenue, food court from 4 to 8 p.m. and Farmers Market from 4 to 7 p.m. on the south end of the campus, a silent auction from 5 to 9 p.m. in Felker building, and a craft fair from 5 to 8 p.m. on the north end of the campus. The celebration begins early in the morning on the Fourth with the Firefighter’s Breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the firehouse, the Lois Nelson Walk at 8:30 a.m. at Dillehay Park, the Patriotic Program at noon followed at 1 p.m. by the 52nd annual ringing of the Official Illinois State Freedom Bell. The Grand Parade steps off at 2 p.m. with a wide array of local organization floats, bands, classic cars, antique vehicles, novelty units, and other entries. The 4th of July is the optimal time for Mounder Class Reunions – several classes will have special vehicles in the parade this year. Grand Parade Marshal will be long time Kable Band Turn to A2
Deaths, B5 Douglas E. Fitzsimmons, Robert L. Jenkins, Luanne Kalas, Carl D. Weber, Philip J. Zaffer
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com