Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press August 10, 2017 Volume 159, Number 35 - $1.00
Right Notes
Art Shows
Teachers Contract
The Petunia City Brass contest hit the right notes at OHS. B3
A pair of art shows will open Friday night in Mt. Morris. A10
The Byron School Board and its teachers approve a new contract. A2
O’Connor proposes building renovation By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A steak house and geothermal wells are in the works for Polo’s downtown if one property owner has his way. Jim O’Connor outlined
a plan for the city council Monday evening to revitalized his property at 112 E. Mason St. Initially, O’Connor said he plans to renovate the two-story century-old brick building into a coffee house or tavern with a balcony and covered terrace to the east.
East of that, in a nowvacant lot, he envisions a skate park. He also plans to renovate the four upstairs apartments in the building. “We’re designing this for a steak house. We want to make this a destination,” said Al (Skip) McCloud, an
architect hired by O’Connor. McCloud presented drawings of the proposed project to the council. Alderman Phil Peterson asked how long the project will take. O’Connor estimated it could take as long as five years to complete.
The crowning feature of the project is to develop a geothermal field to heat and cool it. O’Connor said he has applied for a building permit to drill 15 geothermal wells on the former Olsen’s Elevator property, which he now owns.
The vertical wells will be 300 feet deep and will be connected underground to his Mason Street property. Since the geothermal field will be large enough to heat and cool much more than his building, O’Connor said his Turn to A3
Annual car show will be Saturday
Cayden Engelkes, age 8, of Polo, and Lax Tran, age 8, of Oregon, spray water on a make-believe fire as Chief Neal Snyder directs during the Firefighter Show that was geared towards kids and fire safety, at the Ogle County Fair on Aug. 4. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Cool weather may be a first at fair By Vinde Wells & Zach Arbogast The 164th Ogle County Fair may have set a record for the coolest temperatures ever. At an event usually noted for the very steamy 90s, this year early mornings and late nights in the low 50s called for long sleeves and maybe even a jacket. Daytime temperatures reached just to the upper 70s with low humidity. Fair board president Harlan Holm said he couldn’t remember a fair that was overall as cool. “Thursday night when that cool front came through, it was darn cold. I put a sweatshirt on,” he said with a chuckle. It was still sweatshirt weather Friday morning when a stiff breeze added another dimension to the chilly temperatures. “It warmed up fast every day though,” Holm said. “And I’d rather have it in the 70s than the 90s.” An estimated 17,000 turned out for fair, which was held Turn to B2
Cars, trucks, and motorcycles of all makes, models, and years will be on display at the 28th annual Polo Car Show sponsored by the Polo Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, Aug. 12 in the downtown area. The show runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Awards for the Top 50 will be will be presented at 3 p.m. No classes are designated. Registration on the day of the show is from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. The cost is $12. The day will include a swap meet put on by the Sauk Valley Shifters. For information call Dan Covell at 815-499-9127. Other events include food vendors, a 50-50 drawing, and prizes for playing Trivia Questions by Professor Trivia. Last year’s 50-50 winner received $1,879. Deejay music will be provided by 3D Sound Company. Car enthusiasts can off the day by attending the Freeport Cruise Night from 4 to 10 p.m. For more information call 815-233-1357. For more information about the car show call the chamber office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 815-946-3131.
Help VOP on Aug. 21
Ogle County Fair Queen Kaitlyn Mernack guides Steve a goat belonging to Amber Henson, of Polo, over the teeter-totter ramp at the obstacle course on Aug. 4. Photo by Earleen Hinton
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4
Sports, B2 State’s Attorney, B5 Weather, A3 Zoning Permits, B5
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
The White Pines Resort is offering a unique event to help the Village of Progress recover from a devastating July flash flood. On Monday, Aug. 21, Denny Diamond, will begin performing at 6 p.m. followed by a cocktail hour, at 9 p.m.. The cost of this fundraiser is $28 per person and includes White Pines’ homemade potato chips and one free beverage (beer, wine or soft drink). White Pines is also offering a special cabin rate of $98 for those who would like to spend the night out at the Pines. White Pines Resort will be donating 50 percent of all ticket, food, beverage and cabin sales, to Village of Progress Inc. to help offset costs of flood damage to its facility. Additional information appears on page A4.
Death, B5 Darrel N. Hepp