Tcp 2017 04 27

Page 1

Serving the Polo Area Since 1857

POLO Marcos Clipped The Polo softball team played Amboy April 22 and lost during a no-hitter. B1

A former employee of the Polo Shell Express Lane is accused of putting bleach into food ingredients at the store. Brent A. Gross, 23, Sterling, was charged April 7 with attempted tampering with food, drugs or cosmetics, a Class 2 felony. According to court documents, he poured bleach into the barbecue sauce intended for sloppy joe sandwiches to be sold to customers. Gross is also charged with four misdemeanors, three counts of criminal damage to property and one count of theft less that $500 in connection with the same incident, which occurred last Dec. 12.

Polo Police Chief Kurt Cavanaugh said police were called by an employee at Shell after she noticed the smell of bleach in her hand lotion. Subsequently, the same odor was detected in the barbecue sauce about to be added to the food sold at the store. The investigating officer also smelled bleach in the same items, which were then sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, for testing, Cavanaugh said. Gross was initially charged with criminal damage to property in January, but the additional charges were filed April 7. The court documents indicate that Gross damaged a computer mouse at the store by striking it against a file cabinet. Cavanaugh said he is also

April 27, 2017 Volume 159, Number 20 - $1.00

Harp Concert

Home & Garden

An angelic harp concert will be performed on Sunday. A10

Man accused of adding bleach to Shell’s food By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com

Tri-County Press

Master Gardeners are needed and students learn about where food comes from. A8-A9

Shrouded in mystery

Brent Gross

accused of taking business related files from the store, leading to the theft charge. At an April 11 court appearance, Ogle County Judge John B. Roe appointed Public Defender Mike O’Brien to represent Gross, who is free on $10,000 bond. During a hearing on Friday, Roe set a preliminary hearing for May 24.

Mongan case in court Tuesday Victim’s family wants a special prosecutor to replace state’s attorney By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A Rockford attorney is asking that a special prosecutor be appointed in a case involving a fatal boating crash last summer on the Rock River near Oregon. Cynthia Koroll, an attorney hired by David and Robin Swaziek, Rockford, filed a motion in Ogle County Court Tuesday asking Judge John Redington to replace Ogle County State’s Attorney

Approximately 30 people held signs in front of the Ogle County Judicial Center on Tuesday afternoon prior to a hearing concerning the death of Megan Wells who was killed in a boating accident on the Rock River last June. Photo by Earleen Hinton

Eric Morrow as prosecutor in the case against Oregon resident Marc Mongan. Mongan is charged with two misdemeanors, operating a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol, and reckless operation of a watercraft. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges. The Swazieks’ daughter Megan Wells, 31, Rockford, died June 24, 2016 when a johnboat operated by Mongan went over the back of the pontoon boat she was riding in and struck her,

throwing her overboard. An Ogle County Grand Jury that met in December failed to indict Mongan on more serious felony charges. Koroll also presented a motion to name the Swazieks as crime victims in the case. Redington continued the case until June 13 when he will rule on the motions. David Swaziek was pleased with the outcome of the hearing because he has been critical all along Turn to A2

New bakery opening soon By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The Village Bakery, operated by the Village of Progress in Oregon, is slated to open in May. The bakery will offer cakes, pies, doughnuts and other sweet treats in addition to a full line of coffees, and custom-ordered ice cream. Customers can dine in, or pick up their orders at a drive-through. The building at 101 N. Third St. is located on the

northeast corner of North Third Street and Washington Street (Illinois 64) in downtown Oregon. Previously, it housed Max Media and before that Basler’s Ace Hardware and has been undergoing an extensive remodeling since the VOP bought it last fall. The Village Bakery will provide jobs for developmentally disabled youth and adults in the community. Jackie Fransen is the bakery’s manager. She’s hired a full-time baker, a

In This Week’s Edition...

full-time assistant manager, a part-time cake decorator and a part-time baker, and is figuring out which clients will work well in the bakery, and where. “It will be an integrated environment,” Village of Progress Director Brion Brooks said. “We’ll have people without disabilities working side-by-side with people who may have disabilities.” Village of Progress is a private not-for-profit

Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4

The Black Hawk Statue at Lowden State Park remains shrouded in black protective plastic, awaiting badly needed repairs to its rapidly deteriorating surface. Photo by Vinde Wells

Lawmaker pledges support to try and get updates on the Black Hawk Statue repairs By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The Black Hawk Statue remains shrouded in black while the state budget is in the red, but a state representative promises to do what he can to help both. “I will strongly advocate for including the Black Hawk restoration project in any capital bill discussions, and will continue to stay in communication with DNR [Illinois Department of Natural Resources] for updates and news regarding the project,” State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) wrote

“I will strongly advocate for including the Black Hawk restoration project in any capital bill discussions, and will continue to stay in communication with DNR,” — State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) in an email last Friday. The much-needed repairs to the surface of the 106-year-old Black Hawk Statue at Lowden State Park near Oregon have been side-tracked by the state legislature’s failure to pass a budget and red tape.

Meanwhile, the local landmark has been wrapped in black plastic since late last November to protect it from further damage. Demmer said he has been in frequent contact with IDNR officials and has Turn to A2

Garage sales are April 28-29 Polo will welcome residents and visitors this weekend for bargains and perennials. The Polo Chamber of Commerce Spring All Town Rummage Sales will be held on Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29.

Garage sales will be held throughout the community. Watch for the signs. The Polo Woman’s Garden Club Annual Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, April 29 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The location has changed

and the sale will be held behind 409 E. Mason St. in the large white garage that faces Pleasant Avenue. You can only get to this garage from the Pleasant Avenue side. Signs will be posted.

City mains will be flushed

The Polo Water Department will flush water mains on Tuesday, May 9 and Wednesday, Turn to A2 May 10. All areas of the city may be affected by rusty water and low pressure on both days.

Marriage Licenses, A4 Polo Police, B2 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4

Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4

Deaths, B4 John D. Baker, Ronald R. LeVar

Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.