Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO Wrestlers Ready The wrestlers are ready for the 2015-2016 season and are aiming for state. B1
4-H Awards
Tri-County Press December 3, 2015 Volume 158, Number 11 - $1.00
Christmas Concert
4-H clubs and individuals were recognized Nov. 16. A7
A community Christmas concert will be performed in Mt. Morris Dec. 6. A6
Part-time police officer arrested Charged with domestic battery By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
A part-time police officer, who is also an area school superintendent, was arrested Nov. 27 on a charge of domestic battery. Wade Winekauf, 56, Dixon, was arrested by Ogle County Sheriff’s Police after they investigated a physical domestic disturbance at 4:36 p.m. at a home in rural Grand Detour. Winekauf is a part-time Polo police officer and the superintendent at the Earlville School District in northern LaSalle County. Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow said Monday that as soon as the police reports are completed, he will review them to determine if further charges will be filed. Winekauf was transported
Santa’s Arrival Santa and Mrs. Claus made a stop in Polo to light the city Christmas Tree Nov. 28. Above, A crowd patiently waits to visit with Santa in downtown Polo. At right, Brianna Kuhn talks with Santa. Photos by Chris Johnson
Candlelight walk draws a crowd By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Shoppers in a holiday mood thronged Oregon’s downtown Saturday evening for the 29th annual Candlelight Walk. Long lines of people filled the Coliseum and Conover Square for the bargains, entertainment, and food offered throughout the evening. The winter nip in the air only added to the holiday atmosphere. Debbie Dickson, executive director of the Oregon Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event, said it may have been a record crowd. She estimated the turn-out at 3,500 to 4,000 people. “We’re very please with the crowd,” she said. “I feel this year is the biggest we’ve ever seen. There was lots of energy and excitement.” Much of that energy and excitement was in the basement of the Coliseum where a long winding line of youngsters and their parents waited to have a word with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Four-year-old Kylie Morrow was on her way to tell Santa about the Rainbow Hair Barbie she’s hoping to find in her stocking on Christmas morning. She and her father Eric has also been to see the live
reindeer at First National Bank, just a block away. “I got a picture by them,” Kylie said. “I think one of them is Dasher.” Youngsters also queued up in the Coliseum’s basement for the Winter Quarter Carnival that offered games and prizes, while adults enjoyed the food from the Gingerbread Kitchen. Sylvia Norman, Oregon, was taking a break from
shopping with a snack. She said the evening was enjoyable. “We love it,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun, and we meet a lot of people we know.” Aaron Wells, Mt. Morris, grinned as he ate a hamburger. “The food,” he said between bites, was the best part of the event. Upstairs, the Holiday Gift Fair offered dozens of booths and tables featuring home-
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
based specialties and local entrepreneurs. On stage, Dance with Angie performers from tots to teens drew appreciation from the crowd. On a stroll down Candy Cane Lane, the transformation of Franklin Street between Third and Fourth Streets, shoppers stopped for donuts, pork
In This Week’s Edition...
Marriage Licenses, A4 Polo Police, A2 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A2
Turn to A2
Nuclear plant assessment has been appealed
In what has become an almost annual procedure, officials from both Exelon Generation officials and Byron School District have appealed the assessment of the Byron Generating Station. The two entities are on opposite sides of the issue — Exelon officials believe the $482.4 million assessment Turn to A2 set by Ogle County Supervisor of Assessments Jim Harrison is too high, while school officials argue that it’s too low. The Ogle County Board of Review (BOR) is expected to hear the appeals in mid to late January. A hearing date has not yet been set. Exelon Generation’s appeal sets the plants value at $238.3 million, less than half of Harrison’s number, which is identical to the amount set by the BOR at the appeal hearing last January. The school district’s appeal did not specify a value for the plant. The appeals are for the generating station’s 2015 assessment, which affects taxes payable in 2016. Harrison said both sides have indicated they plan to submit appraisals, but he has not yet received either one. The BOR upheld both Mary and Lora Bacon, both of Mt. Morris, play Christmas carols on the autoharp and the 2012 assessment of violin Nov. 28 to entertain shoppers at Conover Square during Oregon’s Candlelight $499 million and the 2013 Walk. Photo by Vinde Wells assessment of $509 million, but reduced Harrison’s 2014
Agriculture, A7 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
Wade Winekauf
to the Ogle County Jail, where an Ogle County judge set his bond at $20,000. He posted $2,000 and was released with conditions of no contact with the victim or her residence. A bond return date was set for Friday, Dec. 18. Earlville School District officials are in the process of scheduling a special board meeting to determine how the arrest will affect Winekauf’s duties as superintendent, a spokesman said Tuesday. Winekauf is one of 11
assessment of $509.4 million by $27 million. Exelon has appeals for all three years pending before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. Exelon paid more than $32 million in real estate taxes this year to 11 taxing bodies, which include Ogle County, Rockvale Township, Byron School District, Oregon School District, Oregon Park District, Byron Fire District, Rock Valley College, Byron Public Library District, Byron Museum District, Byron Forest Preserve District, and Kishwaukee Community College. The Byron School District received the largest share of that money — $18.2 million. The value of the Byron Generating Station has frequently been disputed throughout the 30-year history of the facility. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced Nov. 19 that the license for Byron station’s two reactors has been renewed for an additional 20 years. The plant’s original 40year operating license was set to expire in 2024 for Unit 1 and 2026 for Unit 2. The license renewal allows the plant to operate until 2044 for Unit 1 and 2046 for Unit 2. Byron Station began generating electricity in 1985 when Unit 1 came online, followed two years later by Unit 2.
Deaths, B5 June E. Arians, Michelle J. Huskins, Maurice C. Scholl
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com