Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press November 13, 2014 Volume 157, Number 8 - $1.00
Teams Advance
Recycle Lights
Spring Election
Oregon and Polo’s football teams lost,but Byron and Forreston advance in playoffs. B1
Don’t toss those old Christmas lights, recycle them instead. A6
One election may be completed but it is not to early to prepare for the spring election. A11
Election results are completed By Vinde Wells Editor
Retired veteran Rick Knutson has breakfast Tuesday with his grandmother Norma Stuff at Centennial Elementary School. Photo by Vinde Wells
Veterans receive warm reception By Vinde Wells Editor Lockers decorated with drawings of servicemen and women welcomed guests to the annual breakfast with veterans Tuesday at Centennial Elementary School. Down in the cafeteria a crowd of veterans, family members, students, and school staff got a hearty meal while spending time together. Ted Ryan, Downers Grove, came to Polo for a visit and to attend the breakfast with his son Mike and grandson Ben. Ted Ryan served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1953-57. “Initially when I went in
my parents were really upset with me,” he said. “Everyone was going to Korea.” After boot camp and combat training, like many others Ryan found himself on a ship headed across the Pacific Ocean. After reaching the coastal waters of Korea, the ship turned around without making a landing, he said, because a truce had been signed while they were enroute. Instead, the ship headed for Japan. However, Ryan and his fellow Marines had no idea where they were going until flyers were handed out a couple of days before Lockers at Centennial Elementary School are decorated reaching port. for Veterans Day with drawings colored by the students. Turn to A3 Photo by Vinde Wells
Ogle 9-1-1 receives accreditation By Chris Johnson Reporter
residents in Ogle County safe. The Ogle County Sheriff’s A group of individuals Office Communications works hard every day to keep department was recognized
Monday morning with a national Accreditation for Quality Assurance from Powerphone after a two-year process.
Several Ogle County offices were filled Nov. 4 by candidates who were elected without competition in the general election. Brian VanVickle, Rochelle, garnered 14,432 votes to be elected to his first term as sheriff. He defeated current sheriff Michael Harn, Forreston, for the Republican Party nomination in the March primary. Similarly, Eric Morrow, Oregon, received 14,419 votes to win a two-year term as state’s attorney. He defeated present state’s attorney Mike Rock, Byron, for the Republican Party nomination in the primary. Rock was appointed to the post in January of 2013 to fill the first two years of a fouryear term vacated by John B. Roe IV, who announced his resignation in November of 2012 right after he was elected to a third term. Roe resigned because he was appointed to fill an unexpired circuit judge seat. With 14,440 votes, Roe was elected to the judgeship he has been holding for the last two years. County clerk Rebecca Huntley, Chana, the top votegetter, received 14,897 votes to be elected for her fifth term in the office, and treasurer John Coffman, Polo, got 14,559 votes to win a fifth term as well. Both ran unopposed in the primary, and both were elected to four year terms. Robert Sondgeroth received 14,178 votes in Ogle County to be elected Regional Superintendent of the Lee, Ogle and Whiteside Education Service Region. He is currently the Regional Superintendent for Whiteside
County Regional Office of Education (ROE), which will merge with the Lee-Ogle ROE next July. Ogle County Board candidates all ran unopposed, and all but one are Republicans. In District 1, which includes Dement, Lynnville, Monroe, and Scott Townships, J. Nick Bolin, Holcomb, was elected to his first term with 1,863 votes. Incumbent Patricia Nordman, Oregon, received 1,961 votes in District 2, which includes White Rock, Pine Rock, Lafayette, and Oregon-Nashua Townships. Veteran board member Bobbie Colbert, Rochelle, the only Democrat running for a county post, got 954 votes in District 3, which includes Flagg Township, Precincts 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7. Incumbent Bruce W. McKinney, Rochelle, garnered 1,726 votes in District 4, which includes Flagg Township, Precincts 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Richard Daniel Janes, Stillman Valley, received 2,382 votes for another term in District 5, which includes Marion, Rockvale, and Leaf River Townships. In District 6, which includes Byron Township, incumbent Leroy Meyers, Byron, earned 1,674 votes. Incumbent Rich Gronewold, Forreston, got 1,601 votes for another term in District 7, which includes Maryland, Mt. Morris, and Forreston Townships. Longtime board member Lyle Hopkins received 2,088 votes for another term in District 8, which includes Brookville, Lincoln, Eagle Point, Buffalo, Pine Creek, Woosung, Grand Detour, and Taylor Townships. The newly elected officials will begin their terms on Dec. 1.
“These are the guidelines and training that we provide to dispatchers for pre arrival instructions,” said Ogle County E9-1-1 Coordinator Sandy Beitel. Powerphone creates the protocols followed whenever 9-1-1 is dialed. “Ogle County has met our standards and is the second department in Illinois to receive accreditation,” said Powerphone Professional Standards Manager, Heather Pierce. “Only five to seven percent of our customers achieve accreditation.” Ogle County has been designated as a Total Response Accredited Center that is committed to maintaining the highest standards in emergency call handling. Powerphone is a global company and created the standards used for emergency calls. What makes this The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office received accreditation for quality assurance from accomplishment even more PowerPhone. The Total Response system is what tellecommunicators use when impressive is that Ogle answering calls placed to 9-1-1. Pictured are 9-1-1 Board member Marty Typer, County is the first in Illinois Amy Merdian, Polo, holds up an apron she planned to
Craft Fair
Ogle County E9-1-1 Coordinator Sandy Beitel, and telecommunicator Heather Butler. Photo by Chris Johnson
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B7
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B6 Polo Police, A2 Property Transfers, B5
Turn to A9
buy as a Christmas gift Nov. 8 at the Christmas Craft Fair at the Polo Senior Center. Photo by Vinde Wells
Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1-B2, B3 State’s Attorney, B7
Deaths, B6 Betty M. Berger Roberta F. Ingraham
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com