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POLO
Tri-County Press February 22, 2018 Volume 159, Number 43 - $1.00
Marcos Win
Turtle Talk
Ballot Issues
Polo wins a resounding victory against the AldenHebron Giants to kick off the Regional. B1
NIU’s Callie Klatt Golba will give a talk about Blanding’s turtles. A7
Democratic ballots are still not available for early voting. A8
After-school programs enrich Polo’s youth By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com Mentally stimulating and fun after-school activities help Polo kids beat the downtime of the cold winter season. When winter break ends and students return to school, the stretch of time between January and March is when the students at Centennial Elementary are looking for ways to get over the hump of dreary cold. That’s where the Centennial Parent Organization comes in, offering a series of afterschool enrichment programs for students of all ages. CPO creates a working relationship between parents and the teachers and administrators at Centennial, and is responsible for helping with class parties, Donuts 4 Dad and Muffins 4 Mom, family dinner nights out, Spring Fun Fair, book fairs, and a variety of other programs – including the enrichment program. The program, which has been operating for more than 20 years, starts near the end of January and runs until the beginning of March. Run entirely by parent and teacher volunteers, the
time and drive dedicated to offering students an outlet for skills they already love, or windows into ones they didn’t realize they enjoyed. Katie Chestnut, Centennial Preschool Teaching Aid and CPO Vice President, took the reigns of the program this year. She said it’s a great way for students to beat the cold and prepare for spring. “It really helps the kids get through that period just after winter break, where the weather isn’t usually great, and there’s a lull in sports and activities,” said Chesnut. Programs like Lego Club, Arts and Crafts, Kindness Club, Cheer Club, Manicures, Self Defense, STEM Class, Painting, Dance, and WallArt are held on alternating days throughout the week, usually with two or three running on any given day. “My favorite part is getting to hang our paintings up on the wall,” said 10-year-old Nikolas Mummert, as he puts the finishing touches on his wall-art painting Feb. 15. Classes come with a $10 sign-up fee and a limit to one class per student. Each class also has a limited amount of spots. Whether it’s a 20-seat class like Lego Club, or a 10-seater like Wall Art, vacancies fill
Second grader Jilian Gorzny, 7, gets some color advice on her wall art painting from Centennial Elementary Principal Melydi Huyett, while in the background Polo School Superintendent Chris Rademacher compliments fourth grader Nikolas Mummert’s piece. The school staff tries to stay involved in the enrichment programs after school, especially to acknowledge the good work of the students. Photo by Zach Arbogast
quickly, so kids and parents need to act fast to make sure they have a spot. “We want to make sure every kid has a chance to do something they would enjoy, so we didn’t let people
presentation, which includes hands-on demonstrations with snakes, lizards, and an alligator. I’m really thankful to have such a supportive community, and teachers who are willing
double-up,” said Chesnut. To cap the program off, a special class with seats available for the entire school will be held on March 6, featuring Jim Nesci giving his live Cold Blooded Creatures
to do this for our students,” said Principal Melydi Huyett. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about: helping out the kids, and providing them opportunities to do some really neat things.”
Ogle County dispatcher recognized with award By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com
Ogle County Telecommunicator Jennifer Hoffman is pictured with her Telecommunicator of the Year award with the White County Sheriff Doug Meier, left, who is also president of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association and Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle. Photo supplied
Board greenlights interfund loans By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Ogle County will keep its bills paid by making interfund loans if needed in the next few months. The county board approved a cash flow agreement Tuesday evening that authorizes county treasurer John Coffman to make loans up to $3 million to the General Fund from the Solid Waste Fund or the Long Range Capital Improvement Fund. Finance Committee Chairman Greg Sparrow, of Rochelle, said the loans will be made only if necessary and must be paid back before the fiscal year ends on Nov. 30.
The money may be needed, he said, to tide over the General Fund until real estate tax payments are received in June and September. Coffman said that last year the board approved $3 million in same inter fund loans, and only $1 million was actually borrowed. Because of budget tightening, including a hiring freeze, Sparrow said he hopes this will be the last time the loans are needed. “We hope to work out of this,” he said. “It’s still better than borrowing from the bank.” The current budget has General Fund appropriations of $14.2 million. Revenues in the Solid Waste Fund or the Long Range Capital
In This Week’s Edition...
Improvement Fund include the host fees paid by garbage collection companies to dump refuse in landfills in the county. In another matter, the board approved spending $2,360 to repair damaged plaster on an exterior wall of one of the offices on the third floor of the courthouse. The work will be done by Aspen Construction Systems, Rockford. Long Range Planning Committee Chairman Don Griffin said the plaster was damaged when water leaked in from the outside. He said the leak was resolved by tuck-pointing the brick exterior of the building.
Chamber Chatter, A3 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Library News, A3
An Ogle County dispatcher was recently recognized as the Illinois Telecommunicator of the Year, thanks to her calm approach and quick thinking to helping a young girl Jennifer Hoffman,of Mt. Morris, a telecommunicator for the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department, was recognized by the Illinois Sheriff’s Association as Telecommunicator of the Year during the winter training conference Feb. 3-6, specifically nominated for her efforts in assisting 5-year-old Jaylee Armstrong, of Adeline. Armstrong’s mother, Christina O’Brien, fell unconscious last June 28, and it was young Armstrong who made the 911 call to Hoffman, who was on duty. Hoffman talked Armstrong through the situation, asking her the color of her house and helping her find the home’s address on a piece of mail. Responders arrived to O’Brien conscious again, and Armstrong feeding her baby brother, Brantley. Hoffman and Armstrong were both honored as 911 Heroes on Aug. 1 during
Marriage Licenses, A4 Pine Creek News, A3 Polo Police, A2 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B6
Oregon’s National Night Out. “The greatest thing about that entire event, in my opinion, was how many people immediately started training their kids on what specifically to do if they ever needed to call 911,” said Hoffman. For Hoffman, though, the recognition clearly hasn’t ended. “I was shocked when the sheriff told me,” said Hoffman. “I was honored he would think enough of me to nominate me.” Hoffman doesn’t soak up the recognition and accolades, though. She remains humble, and gives credit to her coworkers. “I’ve been recognized twice for the situation with Jaylee, but honestly, it’s everybody in my room and our center that does a fantastic job every single day,” said Hoffman. “They save lives every day. I’m really proud to work here, and proud of our team.” Sheriff Brian VanVickle doubled down on the respect for the team, and said he’s proud of any chance for recognition of the staff. “All of our employees do an outstanding job for the citizens in the community, and when you’re able to take an event like what [Hoffman] responded to, and put that on paper, and show
Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B6
recognition, that’s important,” said VanVickle. “It’s what they do day in and day out, and we’re lucky to be able to recognize [Hoffman].” Hoffman, who has been a dispatcher for the past five years, spent the 16 years prior as a paramedic, starting in Mt. Morris and ending at OSF St. Anthony, Rockford. “I started thinking longterm about my body; how much wear and tear we see as paramedics, and how badly I still wanted to be healthy and active for my family and grandkids in the future,” she said. “I started helping with dispatch, and eventually could make the full move to this job.” Her husband, Nikolas, is a paramedic in Rockford, so her 8-year-old daughter Madeleine and 5-year-old son, Henry, will grow up with a family precedent of saving lives. Saving lives isn’t always as rosy as the situation was with Armstrong, though. Hoffman took the call from Ethen Shaw, 17, from the basement of the Shaw family’s home in Lost Nation, just after midnight on Nov. 21. The Shaw family home had caught fire, and Ethen said he was trapped in the basement Turn to A3
Deaths, B4 Margaret B. Foster, Kelly L. Graham, Gene Hoak, Thomas E. Joworski
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com