Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO Tenth Place
Tri-County Press November 27, 2014 Volume 157, Number 10 - $1.00
Thanksgiving
The Polo Lady Marcos finished in 10th out of 12 teams at an Oregon Tournament. A14
Tow Fund Plans
Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the holiday and spend time with friends and family.
Ogle County Sheriff Elect Brian VanVickle has plans to clean up the tow fund. A7
Officials take office Monday Oaths of office will be held on December 1 By Vinde Wells Editor
Ready for Christmas City of Polo employee Tim Rockwood of the street department along with Kendall Kyker were going around downtown Polo Nov. 18 and putting up the Christmas Holiday decorations. Photo by Cheryl Galor
Snowstorm delayed statue’s wrap By Vinde Wells Editor A early snowstorm Monday put a halt to plans to get the Black Hawk Statue under wraps and protected from the winter weather. After months of waiting for state approval of a contract for restoration work to begin on the 103-year-old statue, a crew finally began erecting a scaffold at the site on Friday, Dec. 21 with plans to finish on Monday. However, a persistent rain turned quickly to sleet and then snow by 9 a.m. Monday, delaying the rest of the
work to protect the 50-foot concrete statue that stands on a high bluff overlooking the Rock River at Lowden State Park, near Oregon. Dr. Andrzej Dajnowski, the conservator for the project, said Friday that he had received a contract for the work from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and planned to sign it and return it for final approval. Created by sculptor Lorado Taft in 1910 as a tribute to all Native Americans, the statue draws thousands of visitors each year. It was unveiled and dedicated in 1911.
The effects of time and weather have caused parts of the statue to crumble and fall off. Dajnowski said Friday that the plan was to first put up the scaffolding around the statue, then put a roof over it to keep off snow and ice, and then to wrap the scaffolding in protective mesh. He said the scaffolding will be anchored to large concrete weights to give it stability. “This is a very windy site,” he said. Dajnowski and his crew got the scaffolding up before leaving on Friday. He said they planned to
assess what else was needed before coming back on Monday. Dajnowski has worked for a decade as a sculpture conservator for the Chicago Park District and the Art Institute of Chicago. He said he is eager to begin the restoration project. “I have worked on Taft sculptures before, including the Fountain of Time,” he said. The Friends of the Black Hawk Statue, headed up by Frank and Cherron Rausa, Sterling, began working more Turn to A2
Newly-elected Ogle County officials will take the oath of office and begin their new terms on Monday, Dec. 1. Sheriff Brian VanVickle, State’s Attorney Eric Morrow, Clerk Rebecca Huntley, and Treasurer John Coffman, who were elected Nov. 4, will be sworn in by Judges Robert Hanson and John B. Roe in the morning. Hanson will administer the oath of office to eight county board members that evening at a special county board meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the courthouse. Newly elected board members are J. Nick Bolin, Holcomb, for District 1,
Plan to allow for golf carts on city streets discussed By Chris Johnson Reporter
My feeling is to try it. Safety is an issue, A request to allow golf but not a hindrance carts and utility vehicles to try. Send it to the on city streets was sent to a ordinance committee committee Nov. 17. Alderman Troy The Polo City Council Boothe discussed the request that
would allow the vehicles on all streets except the state highway and county road. “I had a change of heart,” said mayor Doug Knapp. Knapp said he met with the police department which cleared up some concerns. “My feeling is to try it,” said alderman Troy Boothe. “Safety is an issue, but not a hindrance to try. Send it to the ordinance committee.” He said the committee can discuss fees to register the vehicles in the city and whether to have an annual renewal fee. “They can bring a recommendation to the city,” he said. Knapp agreed that a committee would be the best place to work on the ordinance. Alderman David Ackeberg said he had phone calls from residents about the plan. “The state law requires a valid drivers license,” said Ackeberg. “I think we want an age restriction. High School kids could open up issues for those that are sincere.” He recommended an age of 18 or 21 to be allowed to use the vehicles on city streets. “No ATVs,” suggested Diversified Construction Services, Melrose Park, was putting scaffolding up around Black Hawk Statue Friday alderman Randy Schoon. “It is opening a can of worms.” morning. Photo by Chris Johnson
In This Week’s Edition...
Agriculture, A7 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B10-B16 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B9
Marriage Licenses, A4 Polo Police, A2 Public Voice, A10 Property Transfers, B7 Sheriff’s Arrests, B6
Patricia Nordman, Oregon, for District 2, Bobbie Colbert, Rochelle, for District 3, Bruce W. McKinney, Rochelle, for District 4, Daniel Janes, Stillman Valley, for District 5, Lee Meyers, Byron, for District 6, Rich Gronewold, Forreston, for District 7, and Lyle Hopkins, Polo, in District 8. Once the new board members are in office, the county board will elect a county board chairman and vice chairman. County board chairman Kim Gouker gave a certificate of appreciation for service Nov. 18 to retiring county board member Kim Kirkolis, Davis Junction, who did not run for re-election. Gouker also had certificates for retiring Sheriff Michael Harn and State’s Attorney Mike Rock, neither of whom attended the meeting. Both were defeated in the March primary election.
Service News, A4 Social News, A4 Sports, A14, B1, B2, B3 State’s Attorney, B9 Weather A3
Schoon said he did not want to see someone ruin a possible ordinance for everyone. Police Chief Dennis Christen said he would look into the state laws to verify if the city can restrict vehicle types. “We can work this out in committee,” Christen said. Golf carts and UTVs are not registered by the Secretary of State. Snowmobiles are a registered vehicle. Alderman Cheryl Galor was concerned about liability of having the vehicles on the streets. “What about insurance?” she asked. “You can carry liability but it would require a liability policy,” Ackeberg said. Knapp said the committee will consider an insurance requirement. After recommending the committee look into an ordinance Alderman Louise Hall questioned adding more ordinances. “We had people here about ordinances for bees and the costs,” said Hall. “Will those people complain?” “They had a reason to complain,” said Schoon. Schoon said the bee ordinance cost $800.
Deaths, B5, B6 Norma Buchanon, Lillian M. McCanse, Darlene A Snyder
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com