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Serving the Polo Area Since 1857

POLO

Tri-County Press July 31, 2014 Volume 156, Number 45 - $1.00

Tournament

Live Music

Meat Auction

A Little League Tournament was held in Forreston July 17. B1

There are two options to hear live music on Friday night. A6

The annual 4-H meat auction will be held Saturday, Aug. 2. A10

Head on over to the Ogle County Fair By Chris Johnson Reporter

Ten-year-old Tayla Sheely, Blackhawk Crossing 4-H, explains to fair judge Randy Stukenberg how this mailbox post was made. Photo by Chris Johnson

Creative projects are on display By Chris Johnson Reporter Robots, photographs, sculptures, paper crafts and more will be on display throughout the Ogle County 4-H Fair. The 4-H fair is held with the Ogle County Fair Wednesday, July 30 through Sunday, Aug. 3. Creative 4-H members were checking projects in July 26 to be judged before

having the projects put on display. Seventeen-year-old Courtney Lima, a member of the Leaf River Soaring Eagles, was entering a photograph in the photography department. She talked to fair judge Doug Wean, Mt. Morris, about the yellow flower she took a photo of. “He was awesome, he taught me a lot,� said Lima. “He taught me about

compositions and the rule of thirds.� Lima said having a good judge makes her want to pursue her projects every year. “I enjoy coming here and learning about the things I enjoy,� she said. “I can’t draw so this is a way I can express myself artistically.� The flower photograph was well received by Wean and while listening to his critique of the project, he was

giving suggestions of things to try in future photographs. He told her about how changing the settings on the camera can change how the overall photograph appears. This was the fifth year Lima has entered photos in the 4-H fair. Another creative project was entered by 15-yearold Natalie Carlson, By-Y Badgers. Turn to A9

Groundbreaking set for new office By Vinde Wells Editor

A groundbreaking ceremony has been set for Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 4:30 p.m. at 103 Jefferson St., Oregon. The work actually began this spring with site excavation for the $4.1 million project. Located on the same

construction is progressing smoothly. “It’s going well,� he said. Although construction “It’s ahead of schedule. We is already well-underway, haven’t had any major issues the official groundbreaking to slow it down or cost us for the new Ogle County money.� Sheriff’s administration The foundation was building will be held in midpoured several weeks ago, August. and workers have spent the last two weeks installing the conduit for electrical wiring and plumbing, Gouker said. He said he expects construction will be completed late this fall or early next spring. The building was designed by Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects, Rockford, and Rockford Structures is the general contractor. The new one-story building will be situated to the east of the present 100-year-old three-story building. The old morgue was torn down to make way for the new building, and the present sheriff’s office will be demolished once construction is complete. The area where the current With the foundation poured on the new Ogle County Sheriff’s Administration building, building is will be used for workers from P&H Electric have been making sure the conduit pipes are where they parking. are needed before the floor of the building is poured. Photo by Chris Johnson

In This Week’s Edition...

property where the present sheriff’s office is, the new building will house the sheriff’s department, 911 communications center, and the coroner’s office and morgue. Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, said Tuesday that

Byron Police, B6 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 Entertainment, A6

Fines, B5 Marriage Licenses, A4 Polo Police, A3 Property Transfers, B5

The parking lots have been mowed, fences have been constructed, and projects are filling the barns and exhibit space. What this means is the 161st Ogle County Fair is underway. The fair will be held Wednesday, July 30 through Sunday, Aug. 3 at the fairgrounds on Limekiln Road west of Oregon. Volunteers were hard at work with final preparations for the fair to get everything ready for the public. The acrobatics pole for Galaxy Girl was raised Monday afternoon, said Ogle County Fair President Harlan Holm. “Galaxy Girl will be doing aerial acrobatics on top of this 120 foot tall pole,� he said. This is just one of the activities planned at the fair. “The fair starts with livestock being checked into the fair,� said Holm. “Visitors can see the animals and then go view the antique tractors.� Animal check-in is during the afternoon and early evening July 30. The annual antique tractor show and parade is at 5 p.m. on July 30 followed by the antique tractor pulls at 6 p.m. at the grandstand. These Wednesday events are free with paid fair admission. Grandstand events continue on Thursday with a pair of tractor pulls. There is a 1 p.m. afternoon tractor pull for $5 and an evening show at 7 p.m. for $10. A pit pass good for both shows is available for $20. The Big Hat Rodeo returns to the grandstand on Friday evening. Admission to the rodeo is

$10. Bone crunching twisted metal will be heard and seen during the annual demolition derby on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 or a pit pass is available for $20. “Our new event this year is the Barnyard Olympics on Sunday,� said Holm. “This is an event that all ages can be a part of.� The deadline to register for the Barnyard Olympics is Friday, Aug. 1, but Holm encourages interested teams to contact the fair office early. The event is limited to the first 20 teams. The Barnyard Olympics will be held at 11 a.m. and is free to watch. All these events require paid fair admission. Daily admission to the fair is $8 per person. “Families have loved our all-you-can-ride admission to the fair,� said Holm. “For just $8 your ticket includes unlimited rides.� Having the unlimited rides allows families to experience everything the fair has to offer. Holm said the fair board made the decision a few years ago to include fair rides in the admission fee to simplify the cost structure of the fair. For families looking for additional savings, Holm said discount tickets are available before the fair. “Casey’s in Oregon, Stillman Valley, and Byron, have discounted tickets for sale,� said Holm. Pre-sold tickets at Casey’s are $3 off gate admission and $2 off grandstand events. There are several free shows available with paid gate admission. Live music shows are Turn to A3

New signs in town approved July 21 By Vinde Wells Editor Polo residents will see some changes in traffic signs and parking regulations in the near future. The city council approved an ordinance July 21 that amends where signs are located and where parking is allowed. New stop signs will be put in place at northbound Marco Avenue at Dixon Street, southbound Lincoln Avenue at Wilson Street, westbound Wilson Street at Galena Trail Road, and the water plant drive at the north end of the Ill. 26 bridge. New yield signs will go up

Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, A11, B1 State’s Attorney, B5

on westbound Elkhorn Street at Congress Avenue (replaces a stop sign), southbound Maple Avenue at North Street, northbound Thomas Avenue at Sunset Drive, northbound Walnut Avenue at Hillside Drive, southbound Thomas Avenue at Buffalo Street, westbound Meadows Street at Barber Avenue, northbound Barber Avenue at Oriole Drive, westbound Dement Street at Congress Avenue, westbound Provost Street at Congress Avenue, westbound Webster Street at Barber Avenue, eastbound Wayne Street at Green Avenue, and northbound Turn to A2

Deaths, B2 Roger L. Ackerman, Alice J. Baker, Linda M. Burke, Neva H. Grady, Lance E. Reed, James J. Semon

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