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POLO
Tri-County Press December 5, 2013 Volume 156, Number 11 - $1.00
Marcos Win
Theater Show
Christmas Star
The Polo Marcos defeated AFC to claim a tournament championship. B1
The Polo Area Community Theater will perform Dec. 6-8. A11
An annual program to purchase gifts for children is underway in Polo. A2
Polo officials work on dilemma of too many cats By David Giuliani Sauk Valley Media In dealing with stray cats, Polo officials are getting some cooperation from residents who are feeding them. The city has received complaints about four residents with too many cats, which
wander and defecate and urinate on neighbors’ lawns, officials say. In recent weeks, Police Chief Dennis Christen has presented letters to the residents asking them to take care of the problem. So far, he has had a good reception, Mayor Doug Knapp said.
“It has never been or will be our intention to be inhumane,� Knapp said. “We’re trying to find a way to correct the situation.� One of the residents promised to find a place in the country to take the cats, while another planned to build a kennel on her property. Still another indicated
he wanted to help out. The remaining resident “hasn’t really� responded, Knapp said. In a letter to Christen last month, the city’s attorney, Tom Suits, said the mayor wanted to give the property owners a chance to resolve the issue by Dec. 15.
“If there are ongoing complaints after that date, Mayor Knapp will ask the City Council to take appropriate action via enactment of an ordinance, which could lead to the issuance of citations,� Suits wrote. Some of the city council members weren’t informed the
letter was going out, Knapp said. “This was our means to deal with this diplomatically before we involved the council,� he said. “This was a decision I made because I thought it should be done swiftly. There was no intention to leave out the council members.�
Defendant tells judge he is “not a trouble-maker� By Vinde Wells Editor
Santa’s Visit Santa Claus visited downtown Polo Nov. 30 to do two important things. Below, Santa lights the Christmas Tree at Louis Quick Park. Above, Santa listens to Hayden Sorenson as she tells him what she would like for Christmas this year and her dog Andy was also allowed to visit Santa. Photos by Chris Johnson
A Mt. Morris man charged with a hate crime and battery told an Ogle County judge Monday that he is not a trouble-maker. Justin W. Coltrain, 33, is charged with a hate crime, a Class 4 felony, and battery, a Class A misdemeanor, in connection with an underage drinking party in Oregon on Aug. 10 where a fight broke out that resulted in the death of 18-year-old Jonathan Williams, Oregon. “I’m not a trouble-maker,� said Coltrain after his lengthy criminal history was recounted by Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Versluys in a hearing before Judge Robert Hanson. Coltrain is accused of making racial slurs to another party-goer and striking him. Ogle County State’s Attorney Michael Rock said the racial slurs were directed at an African American. Coltrain’s adult criminal history dates back to 2000 and includes aggravated battery and burglary charges. He told Hanson that he did not commit all the crimes he has been accused of, but pleaded guilty just to get out of jail. Hanson left Coltrain’s bond at $100,000, saying he is concerned over Coltrain’s history of “significant batteries.� “You went to the
“I’m not a trouble-maker,� — Justin Coltrain Department of Corrections for some of them,� Hanson said. Coltrain replied that he has put that all behind him. “They’re charging the wrong people,� he said. Hanson advised him to get an attorney and to not discuss what happened at the party with anyone other than his attorney. A woman who identified herself as the mother of Coltrain’s ex-girlfriend urged Hanson to lower the bond. “He’s not a flight risk,� said the woman who would not give her name after the hearing. “He lived at my house for two and onehalf years, and we had no problems.� She said she is trying to hire an attorney for Coltrain but is struggling to come up with the $10,000 bail plus a retainer for an attorney of $2,000 to $3,000. Coltrain, who had bruises under both eyes, told Hanson he was attacked by another inmate in the Ogle County Jail after his arrest Nov. 27 and wants to press charges against the person who hit him. Hanson told him to discuss that with his attorney. Coltrain and Matthew Steder, 22, Mt. Morris,
who is also charged with three counts of hate crimes stemming from the same party, are being held in the Whiteside County Jail. Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn declined to comment on the alleged incident at the jail. Rock said Tuesday that he has not yet received a report on the incident. However, Coltrain told Sauk Valley Media that he was attacked Nov. 27 by African American inmates sharing his cell after they heard a TV news report that said he was charged with a hate crime. Steder also appeared before Hanson on Monday. He is also charged with one count of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, as well as three counts of battery, in additional to hate crimes. Both Coltrain and Steder, who are scheduled to appear in court Dec. 6, are two of the seven adults charged last week 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 Turn to A3
Candidates file for March primary By Vinde Wells Editor Voters will have a choice of candidates for only two Ogle County posts in the March 18 primary election. Three Republican candidates have filed for their party’s nomination for Ogle County Sheriff. Sheriff Michael Harn, Forreston, is being challenged by Brian E. Van Vickle and Joe Drought, both of Rochelle. State’s attorney Michael Rock, Byron, faces opposition from Oregon attorney Eric Morrow. Both are Republicans. County clerk Rebecca Huntley, Chana, and treasurer John Coffman, Polo, also both Republicans, are running unopposed. On the Ogle County Board,
all races are uncontested and all but one candidate are Republicans. Current board member Kimberly Kirkolis, Davis Junction, who was elected to her first term in 2012, is not seeking another term in District 1, which includes Dement, Lynnville, Monroe, and Scott Townships. Instead J. Nick Bolin, Holcomb, is seeking the party nomination. Incumbent Patricia Nordman, Oregon, is the sole candidate in District 2, which includes White Rock, Pine Rock, Lafayette, and OregonNashua Townships. Veteran board member Bobbie Colbert, Rochelle, the only Democrat running for a county post, is seeking selection in District 3, which includes Flagg Township, Precincts 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7.
In This Week’s Edition...
Incumbent Bruce W. McKinney, Rochelle, is running in District 4, which includes Flagg Township, Precincts 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Richard Daniel Janes, Stillman Valley, is seeking another term on the board in District 5, which includes Marion, Rockvale, and Leaf River Townships. In District 6, which includes Byron Township, incumbent Leroy Meyers, Byron, is on the ballot. Incumbent Rich Gronewold, Forreston, is seeking another term in District 7, which includes Maryland, Mt. Morris, and Forreston Townships. Longtime board member Lyle Hopkins is running in District 8, which includes Brookville, Lincoln, Eagle Point, Buffalo, Pine Creek,
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5 Marriage Licenses, A4
Woosung, Grand Detour, and Taylor Townships. All terms are four years in length. The configuration of the county board changed in 2012 after board districts were reapportioned following the 2010 census. The county board candidates running in 2014 drew two-year terms. The population shifts indicated by the census meant increasing county board districts from four to eight. Consequently, some board members elected in 2012 drew two-year terms, while others drew four-year terms. Each district is represented by three county board members. Candidates successful in the March primary will be on Polo Street Department employees Kendall Kyker and the ballot for the November Tim Merrell braved the cold last week to put up Christmas general election. decorations in the downtown. Photo by Vinde Wells
Police Report, A3 Public Voice, A10 Property Transfers, B5 Sheriff’s Arrests, B4
Festive Decorations
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A3
Deaths, B3 Warren E. Bastian, Anna R. Bowman, Craig D. Brinkman, Nellis E. Cherry, James M. Corcoran, Paul W. Graehling
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