Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press December 7, 2017 Volume 159, Number 32 - $1.00
Marcos Host Hawks
Holiday Event
Blue Christmas
The Marcos hosted the Oregon Hawks Tuesday night in non-conference basketball. B2
Celebrate Christmas in German Valley on Dec. 9. A2
St. Mark’s will host a Blue Christmas worship service on Dec. 13 A2
Bicentennial celebrations begin around county By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Two local communities joined in the yearlong celebration of Illinois’s statehood Monday by raising the official bicentennial flag. Mt. Morris officials raised the white flag with blue lettering at noon at the Memorial Fountain in the downtown and Polo officials did the same outside the city hall. Ogle County is also flying the bicentennial flag at the courthouse in Oregon. Gov. Bruce Rauner and leaders of the Illinois Bicentennial Commission kicked off the official state celebration on Sunday at Navy Pier in Chicago. Illinois became the 21st state in the Union on Dec. 3, 1818. Its first constitution had been signed a few months earlier on Aug. 26. The Illinois Territory was
created on Feb. 3, 1809, with its capital at Kaskaskia, an early French settlement in the southwestern part of the state. After Illinois became a state, the capital remained at Kaskaskia, in a small rental building. The capital was moved a little north and east to Vandalia in 1819 and remained there for 18 years, during which three separate structures were built to serve as the capitol building. State legislators representing Sangamon County, under the leadership of State Rep. Abraham Lincoln, succeeded in having the capital moved to Springfield in 1837, where a fifth capitol building was constructed. The sixth and current capitol building was built in 1867. Illinois has the fifth largest population in the U.S. and ranks 25th in geographical size.
Above, Polo City Clerk Sydney Bartelt stands with Polo Mayor Doug Knapp Monday afternoon as he reads a proclamation recognizing Illinois’ Bicentennial celebration, shortly before raising a flag commemorating the state becoming the 21st in the Union on Dec. 3, 1818. Below, Polo Mayor Doug Knapp raises the celebratory Illinois bicentennial flag Monday afternoon below the American flag outside of Polo City Hall. Photos by Zach Arbogast
City employees get pats on back By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Two city employees were recognized Monday evening at the Polo City Council meeting for their assistance in emergency situations. Police Chief Kurt Cavanaugh said Sgt. Dennis Christen recently performed CPR on a man who had suffered a heart attack. “The patient had coded, but Dennis kept at it,” Cavanaugh said. “He did save a life. Dennis did a tremendous job.” He also praised the efforts of Street Superintendent Kendall Kyker who pitched in recently and helped emergency workers lift a man who had fallen. In other business, Alderman Randy Schoon
brought up concerns over a skate park opening in the downtown. City resident Jim O’Connor has nearly completed a skate park on the formerly vacant lot he owns at 112 E. Mason St. O’Connor outlined his plans for that and a steak house in the building beside it for the council last August. The skate park is expected to open in the spring. Schoon said he has heard concerns about the location of the park from residents and downtown business owners. He also voiced concern about the city’s liability if someone is hurt at the park. City Attorney Tom Suits assured the council that the city has no liability for what happens on private property. “It’s properly zoned,” he
said. “It [the skate park] is a permitted use.” Alderman Jim Busser said that although he has heard some of the same concerns, the skate park will offer an additional activity for youth. “It might turn out to be a great thing,” he said. Alderman Justin Grobe said his children are looking forward to the skate park opening. In another matter, the council voted to pay some of the bills for the work done on Oregon Street over the summer, even though some of it is not satisfactory. Schoon, who chairs the Water & Sewer Committee, said the paving and landscaping is under par. The street was excavated by Fischer Excavating, of Freeport, over the summer to install new water and sewer
mains. That work was excellent, he said, but the street is now very rough, the landscaping in the parkway is badly done, the Internet cable to his house was cut, dirt was left in the gutters, and the barricades and JULIE flags are still in place. “I’m not a happy guy. It looks terrible,” he said. He agreed to look into what can be done to correct the deficiencies. On the plus side, the city has enough grant money left to reline more sewer mains. Michaels Pipeline Service, Brownsville, Wisconsin, has been relining some of the mains for several weeks. Originally the city planned to reline more than 11,000 feet of sewer mains, but have enough money left to do an additional 4,600 feet.
Candidates file for March Primary By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Two Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination for Ogle County Treasurer in the March 20 Primary election. Chief Deputy Treasurer Linda L. Beck and Patrick Weisner, both of Oregon, have thrown their hats into the ring. Monday was the last day candidates could file for the primary. The General election will take place on Nov. 6. Running unopposed for reelection to their current posts are County Clerk Laura J. Cook, of Oregon, and Sheriff Brian E. VanVickle, of Rochelle. Twenty candidates,
including two Democrats, are seeking nominations in the primary for seats on the Ogle County Board. Two seats are open in each of the county’s eight districts, and all are four-year terms. In District 1, which includes Dement, Lynnville, Monroe, and Scott Townships, two Republicans, incumbent Rick Fritz, of Monroe Center, and newcomer Benjamin Pihl Youman, of Davis Junction, are running. In District 2, which includes White Rock, Pine Rock, Lafayette, and Oregon-Nashua Townships, Republican incumbents Wayne Reising and Pat Nordman, both of Oregon, and Democrat Jerry Shirar, also of Oregon, have thrown their hats into the ring. In District 3, which includes
In This Week’s Edition...
Flagg Township Precincts 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7, Republican incumbent Greg Sparrow and two newcomers Lloyd Droege, a Democrat, and Jamey Sulser, a Republican, are the candidates. All three are from Rochelle. In District 4, which includes Flagg Township Precincts 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11, incumbents John (Skip) Kenney and Bruce W. McKinney, are challenged by newcomer Anthony Rowley. All three are Rochelle Republicans. In District 5, which includes Marion, Rockvale, and Leaf River Townships, Republican incumbents Martin Typer and Richard Daniel Janes, both of Stillman Valley, are running unopposed. In District 6, which includes Byron Township,
Chamber Chatter, A8 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B8 Entertainment, A6 Library News, A8
incumbent Dorothy R. Bowers and newcomer Todd M. McLester, both Byron Republicans, are running. In District 7, which includes Maryland, Mt. Morris, and Forreston Townships, Republican incumbent Ron Colson, of Mt. Morris, is seeking the nomination along with newcomers Dean Fox, of German Valley, and Stanley G. Asp, of Mt. Morris, both also Republicans. In District 8, which includes Brookville, Lincoln, Eagle Point, Buffalo, Pine Creek, Woosung, Grand Detour, and Taylor Townships, incumbent Lyle Hopkins, of Polo, and Susie Corbitt, also of Polo, are the candidates. Both are Republicans. Each district is represented by three county board members.
Marriage Licenses, A4 Pine Creek News, A3 Polo Police, A2 Public Voice, A4 Property Transfers, B3
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Deaths, B4 Carolyn Armour