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Tri-County Press December 12, 2013 Volume 156, Number 12 - $1.00
4-H Awards
The Polo Girls Tournament and Forreston Boys Tournament schedules are announced. B1-B2
Tax Appeal
Ogle County 4-H members were recognized Nov. 17. A7
Exelon Nuclear officials have appealed their 2013 property tax assessment. A13
School wins $25,000 Contest was sponsored by US Cellular By Chris Johnson Reporter With company representatives from US Cellular hiding in the principal’s office, Sue Hillison nervously awaited the results of a contest Tuesday morning. Centennial Elementary was one of 4,000 schools competing for $25,000 in the US Cellular Calling All Communities Contest. The top 20 would receive $25,000. “I am pretty nervous,� Hillison told the students as Sue Hillison, center, along with students, faculty, and community members, react after seeing Centennial Elementary School’s name appear on Turn to A2 a list of the US Cellular’s Calling all Community Contest winners. Photo by Chris Johnson
Bond reduced for man charged with hate crimes By Vinde Wells Editor A Mt. Morris man accused of hate crimes and battery is out of jail after an Ogle County judge reduced his bond last week. Matthew Steder, 22, posted bond and was released after Judge Robert Hanson reduced his bond from $250,000 to $25,000 at a hearing Dec. 6.
Steder is charged with three counts of hate crimes, Class 4 felonies, one count of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, and three counts of battery in connection with an underage drinking party last August that resulted in the death of an Oregon teen. He has been held in the Whiteside County Jail since he turned himself in to Ogle County Sheriff’s Police on
Nov. 28. The motion for a bond reduction was filed by Steder’s attorney David Tess, Rochelle. Hanson said he agreed that the original bond was set too high, but voiced concerns over Steder’s criminal past. “I’m concerned over his history at such a young age,� Hanson said. “I believe the bond at $250,000 is too high,
but I believe it should be sufficiently high to ensure he will appear in court.� Hanson reduced the bond and set several conditions Steder must adhere to, including no consumption of alcohol or any drugs other than prescribed by a doctor, no violations of the law, and he must continue to reside with his mother and stepfather in Mt. Morris.
Bench trial set in stabbing case By Chris Johnson Reporter An end may be in sight for a case against a man accused of stabbing a Leaf River couple more than two years ago. -ICHAEL -ITCHELL Leaf River, appeared before Ogle County Judge John Redington Monday afternoon with his public defender Eric Morrow, who filed a motion for an affirmative defense. Morrow said the motion
says Mitchell is not responsible for his conduct due to his mental disease. Assistant State’s Attorney Aaron Wiles did not object to the motion. Redington set a stipulated bench trial for Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. Mitchell will remain in the Ogle County Jail while awaiting the bench trial. At a bench trial, a judge decides whether a defendant is guilty or innocent. In this case Redington will
decide if Mitchell, who has been examined by mental health experts, is not guilty by reason of insanity. If he is determined to be insane, Mitchell could be committed to a secure mental health facility for an extended period of time. Mitchell is accused of breaking into the home of David and Denise Zellers on July 3, 2011 and repeatedly stabbing them with two knives he brought with him. Both suffered serious
injuries and were taken to the hospital. They have since recovered. After fleeing on foot from the scene, Mitchell was taken into custody a short distance from the Zellers home after a five-hour manhunt. Mitchell is charged with four counts of attempted murder, all Class X felonies, two counts of home invasion, both Class X felonies, and four counts of aggravated battery, all Class 4 felonies.
Tess said Steder has a good job that is being held for him. He said his client wants to return to work. Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Versluys objected to the bond reduction. He said Steder is accused of three crimes of violence against three different victims in the current case, and has a history of violent behavior and alcohol abuse. Steder is one of two men charged with hate crimes stemming from a drinking party in Oregon on Aug. 10 where a fight broke out that resulted in the death of 18-year-old Jonathan Williams. Justin Coltrain, 33, Mt. Morris, also appeared before Hanson on Dec. 6. He is charged with one count each of hate crime and battery. Ogle County State’s Attorney Michael Rock said the two made the racial slurs against African Americans who were also at the party and struck them. Hanson appointed Oregon attorney Dennis Riley, a
public defender, to represent Coltrain in court. Coltrain requested Riley because he is already representing him in another case. Coltrain is currently being held in the Whiteside County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond. Coltrain and Steder, who are scheduled to appear again in court Dec. 18, are two of the seven adults charged Nov. 27 in connection with the party that took place Aug. 10 at the Heck residence at 804 Monroe St., Oregon. Williams died Aug. 11 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, after being injured in the fight which occurred in the wee hours of Aug. 10. Rock announced the following charges on Nov. 27: s "RIAN 'ALOR Rockford, delivery of alcohol to a minor; s -ARIA #OLEMAN Oregon, reckless conduct; s #ODY -UNROE reckless conduct; Turn to A3
Help “Keep the Wreath Red� Once again the “Keep the Wreath Red� campaign is under way in Polo. From Dec. 1 through Jan. 1 the wreath is hung on the front of the Polo Fire Station, 206 S. Franklin Ave., and lit with red lights. For each fire incident that is holiday related, a red bulb will be removed and replaced with a white bulb. The wreath was once Members of the Polo Fire Department and Open Bible Church pose with this year’s wreath for the “Keep the Wreath again donated to the Polo Fire Department by the Open Red� campaign. Photo by Mark Ellis
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B7-B14 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6 Marriage Licenses, A4
Library News, A11 Oregon Police,B6 Pine Creek News, A3 Polo Senior Center, A8 Public Voice, A8
Property Transfers, B5 Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
Bible Church. The wreath was made by Kitson’s Family Tree Farm, Dixon, and the bow that is on the wreath was designed and made by Andrea Green, Polo. “The members of the Polo Open Bible Church and Polo Fire and EMS Department wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season and please ‘Keep the Wreath Red.’� said Fire Chief Tony Karrow.
Deaths, B3 Richard A. DeKoning, Alicia M. Gillick, Erling H. Johnson, Oscar O. Ohlsson Jr., Deloris A. Schroers, Delores A. Schroeder
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