Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO Regional Schedule Regional volleyball action will begin for area teams on Monday, October. 26 B2
Tri-County Press October 22, 2015 Volume 158, Number 5 - $1.00
Armed Robbery
Halloween Several safety tips will keep kids safe while trick-or-treating. A6
Two men and a juvenile are arrested for robbing a Davis Junction liquor store. A9
Alderman wants tougher maintenance ordinances By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A Polo alderman wants new or tighter regulations on how residents maintain their properties. Alderman Troy Boothe told the city council Monday night that he has received several complaints from residents in his ward about the issue. “It’s frustrating because there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said. Boothe said the complaints aren’t merely about grass not being cut, but are about trash piling up and inoperable cars sitting around. Alderman Randy Schoon agreed. He said that residents have to pay fees for permits to improve their properties, only to sometimes have a next door neighbor who lets things go. “I think we need a way to force the issue,” he said. Alderman Jim Busser
said he has also received complaints about garbage piling up, as well as a house that burned on Fulton Street and hasn’t been torn down or repaired. Boothe asked if city attorney Tom Suits could go through the ordinances and see where they could be improved. Suits agreed that he could, but said, “I’m not sure that’s the best use of the city’s dollar.” Mayor Doug Knapp asked Boothe to meet with Suits to review the ordinances. In another matter, City Clerk Susie Corbitt told the council that increases in employee costs likely mean property taxes will increase in the city next year. Corbitt said the estimated levy for 2015, which affects taxes due in 2016, shows a total increase of $12,000. The 2014 levy was $312,602, and the estimated levy for this year is $324,602. The increases are $4,000
for Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, $6,000 for Social Security, and $2,000 for insurance. Corbitt said the increase could be affected by a decrease in the city’s equalized assessed value. She cautioned the city council that a property tax freeze ordered by Gov. Bruce Rauner will be in effect for 2016 and 2017. The council will further discuss the levy at its Nov. 2 meeting. Following a closed session, the council granted a $2 per hour raise to Water & Sewer Department Supervisor Mike Mumford and ended his one-year probationary status as of Nov. 8. Mumford took over the Shane Imel, Polo, is surrounded in a cloud of color at the start of the 5K color run and post on Nov. 8, 2014 when one mile walk Oct. 17 at Pinecrest. Photo by Chris Johnson former supervisor Mike Gauthier retired. The increase brings Mumford’s salary to $26.02 By Vinde Wells Polo, and Lee Meyers, move into the building, he per hour. He did not receive vwells@oglecounty Byron, cast the no votes. said. a raise on May 1 when other news.com Nic Bolin, Holcomb, did not The moves hinge on employees did. attend the meeting. whether or not hospital The Ogle County Board Board chairman Kim officials accept the county’s voted to spend more than Gouker, Byron, said the offer. $600,000 Tuesday on real county currently rents the Gouker said the health documents, between $300 and estate, maintenance projects, basement of the building at department currently pays Brashaw, who $10,000, for her and a jail study. 510 Lincoln Highway to use $43,000 annually to rent was providing own benefit. The money will come from as its Emergency Operations space in Rochelle, and the in-home care The first two the Long Range Planning Center (EOC). probation department pays service for offenses occurred Fund, the revenues of which Rochelle Clinic is in the $7,500 in annual rent. a woman between Jan. 12 come from the host fees upstairs but will likely move The board also approved a older than 60, and July 16 of this paid by garbage collection out in the spring when a new bid of $97,115 from N-Trak deceptively year, and the last firms to dump refuse in the building is completed. Group LLC, Loves Park, to obtained occurred between landfills within the county. Gouker said the hospital demolish the old sheriff’s control of May 9 and July The fees currently amount put the building up for sale building at 103 Jefferson St., the woman’s Leslie M. Brashaw 9 of this year, to approximately $3 million because of the facilities that Oregon. checking account that had according to the documents. per year. are under construction. Architect Guy Gelhausen a value between $5,000 and Ogle County Sheriff Following a 20-minute “They can stay as long said he expects the project $50,000, and then wrote Brian VanVickle said closed session, the board as they like,” he said. “But to be completed early next checks for her own benefit his department began its voted 20-3 to offer $190,000 once they move out we are year after asbestos and on the account. investigation on July 23. to purchase a building in looking at moving the health an underground tank are The documents also Brashaw was arrested in Rochelle from Rochelle department clinic that’s in removed. accuse Brashaw of using September. Community Hospital. Rochelle to that location.” A bid for $339,848 from the woman’s credit card to She is scheduled to appear Board members Lyle Probation offices already Stenstrom Excavation & Turn to A2 obtain goods, having a value in court Oct. 28. Hopkins, Polo, Pat Saunders, located in Rochelle may also
Colorful Run
Board approves $600,000
Woman faces three charges By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A Forreston woman was charged last week with financially taking advantage of a Polo woman she was caring for. Leslie M. Brashaw, 38, was charged in Ogle County Court with financial exploitation of an elderly person, theft, and aggravated identity theft, all Class 2 felonies. State’s Attorney Eric Morrow filed the charges on Oct. 16. According to court
Sculptor pays tribute to dogs Service dogs used in Vietnam By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@ oglecountynews.com
A Vietnam veteran’s dog will be remembered forever through a bronze sculpture that was cast in Oregon. While the sculpture War Dogs by Renee Bemis, Saint Charles, did not use a specific soldier’s or dog’s likeness, many elements link the sculpture to Johnny Mayo, Columbia, South Carolina, and his dog Kelly. “I supplied the canteens, the ruck, the harness, the uniform, and the weapon so the artist could use them,” said Mayo. “The artist put my dog’s id number in the ear. He was 819-Alpha.” These items were used by
Mayo from 1969-1971 when he was in Vietnam as an Army scout dog handler. “I kept my original harness and leash for the dog. No one else had possession of this until I shipped them to Renee. It was scary to let them go,” he said. Once Renee finished the sculpture, the items were safely returned to Mayo. Seeing the completed sculpture Tuesday morning at Art Casting of Illinois, Inc., Oregon, brought back memories of Vietnam for Mayo. “My first dog was killed fourth day out,” he said. “Kelly I had the rest of my time.” When Mayo left Vietnam in 1971 he never saw Kelly again. Harry Spell, Art Casting of Illinois, Oregon, and Sculptor Renee Bemis, St. Charles, examines her finished bronze “Tragically the dog teams War Dogs Tuesday morning before the sculpture was shipped to Memorial Park in Columbia South Carolina. Photo Turn to A12 by Chris Johnson
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6 Marriage Licenses, A4
Oregon Police, B6 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B6 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather Forecast, A10
Deaths, B5 Delores M. Barnhart, Patricia M. Fay, William R. Fay, Veva L. Manthei, Beverly J. Shuman
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com