Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press February 9, 2017 Volume 159, Number 21 - $1.00
Sectional Bound
What’s Cookin’
Art Show
Polo wrestler Connor Eubanks earned a trip to compete in Byron Saturday. B1
Make plans now to attend an annual fundraising cooking event. A4
Several local artists will have works on display in Byron on Saturday, Feb. 11. A6
Plan for sewer project goes to
USDA for review By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker, right, listens to a question as he stands with Oregon City Commissioner Jim Barnes during a Feb. 2 meeting about the proposed Ogle County Jail. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Oregon residents don’t want new jail located on Sixth St. By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com The need wasn’t the sticking point, but the location was Feb. 2 when more than 60 people attended a meeting at the Oregon VFW to discuss a new Ogle County jail. Several Oregon residents voiced their opposition to building the facility on county-owned property on South Sixth Street. Oregon City Commissioner Jim Barnes, who moderated the meeting, summed up what seemed to be the opinion of several who spoke. “I know the jail is needed badly. When I was county board chairman it [the current jail] was nickel and diming us to death,” Barnes said. “It’s just that we think that’s not the right location.” Barnes served on the county board
“You’ve heard the old saying ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease.’ Let’s make this wheel squeak.” – Jim Barnes Oregon City Commissioner from 2006 to 2012, and was its chairman for the final two years of that time. He urged residents to sign a petition opposing to the location and to contact county board members, several of whom attended the meeting. “You’ve heard the old saying ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease,’” Barnes said. “Let’s make this wheel squeak.” The Ogle County Board voted in
November to approve a concept design for the new jail located in the 100 block of South Sixth Street across from the judicial center. The plan calls for the new jail to connect to the judicial center by a sally port for transporting prisoners to both buildings and back and forth to court appearances. The sally port would go across South Sixth Street, making it necessary to close the street. The county board has filed a formal request asking the city council to close the street, but no decision has been made, pending the outcome of traffic and engineering studies. Several neighbors said they do not favor having the jail in their backyards. Gerald Virgil, who lives at 606 Turn to A3
Polo is another step closer to getting the go-ahead for replacing and upgrading sewer mains. Alderman Randy Schoon told the city council Monday evening that the revised plan for the project has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Last month the council okayed changes to the original project which included new sludge drying beds, replacing sanitary sewer mains on Oregon Street and Maple Avenue, and relining others. They decided to remove the sludge-drying beds from the project, which freed up $563,420 of the $1.9 million project to inspect, clean, and reline more mains throughout
the city. Schoon, who is the chairman of the Water & Sewer Committee, said with the diverted money, the city can reline sewer mains in the downtown, the length of Ill. 26, as well as in other areas. Other sewer system upgrades are also included in the revised plan. City officials and engineer Matt Hansen, from Willett, Hofmann & Associates, have been working with USDA Rural Development for several months. The cost of the project is scheduled to be paid for from a $1.6 million low-interest loan and a $297,000 grant from Rural Development. The council opted to scrap the new sludge beds in light of a presentation in December by Don McFarland of Green Vision International, LLC. Turn to A3
Arson deaths ruled homicides By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com More than one person is suspected in an arson Oct. 19 that took the lives of a Byron woman and her three-yearold son. The deaths of Margaret Meyer, 31, and her son Amos have been ruled homicides, and the fire is an arson, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said in a news release on Feb. 3.
During a phone interview Feb. 3 VanVickle declined to say if two or more people are considered suspects. “More than one person is all I can say at this point,” he said. The fire at 2020 N. Silverthorn Ave. was reported around 6:40 a.m. by Meyer’s ex-husband, Duane C. Meyer, 34, Stillman Valley, who told officials he was there to pick up his son. Turn to A2
February Finds antique show draws more than 600 By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A combination of mild weather and an array of treasures brought a record crowd last Saturday to the sixth annual February Finds. Organizer Edie White said more than 600 people — the biggest crowd ever — turned out to buy antiques and collectibles at the Mt. Morris Moose Family Center on Feb. 5. “I think everybody likes to get out because of the time of year it is,” she said. “People like to come out to shop and just get out of the house.” Those who attended seemed pleased with the variety of merchandise offered by the more than 20 vendors, who went home happy as well, White said. “Everybody did really well,” she said. Ron and Jan Clemens, Oregon, came to browse.
“We enjoy looking at antiques,” Ron said. “It’s a good time to see people and visit with them.” Diane Rasmussen, Polo, said it was her first time at the event and she was pleased with what she was finding. “I like it,” she said with a smile. “I’ve bought two things already.” She was discussing a shadow box with vendor Laurie Friemuth, Oregon. “My grandparents had something like this,” Rasmussen said. Friemuth said business at her booth was brisk. “It’s been good. We’ve been busy,” she said, adding that it was the fifth year she and her mother Anne Thompson, also of Oregon, have set up at the event. Vendor Tom Buskohl, Polo, was also pleased with the crowd. “It’s been steady all day,”
Carolyn Gigous, Oregon, and Lucille Woodin, Polo, consult with vendor Angie Burke, Mt. Morris, Feb. 5 at February
Turn to A2 Finds at the Mt. Morris Moose Family Center. Photo by Vinde Wells
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B8 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B3 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, B1-B3 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A3 Zoning, B4
Deaths, B4 G. Maynard Hammer, Martin R. Whetsel, William Whitmore
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com