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POLO TRI-COUNTY PRESS VOLUME 162 NO. 8 • SERVING THE POLO AREA SINCE 1857

FRIDAY, May 1, 2020 • $1.00

COUNTY NEWS

No One Found

FOOD HELP

First responders respond to a call of a possible body in the river. / 7

COUNTY NEWS

Cases Increase As of Tuesday, Ogle County had 116 reported cases. / 3

Reopening Lowden State Park is one of 20 parks that the IDNR is reopening on May. 1. / 3 One Section - 16 Pages

Alex T. Paschal/Shaw Media Kathy Wragg, director of the Polo Lifeline Food Pantry, loads up a box of vegetables for a user of the program Monday morning in Polo.

The facility distributed food for over 75 families in the first hour the mobile food pantry was open.

District Delivery Oregon High School students design a new program to get groceries to at-risk individuals. / 4

INDEX Betty’s Column......... 5 Church News............12 City Council............... 2 Published every Friday

by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media

Classifieds.......... 15-16 Library News......... 8-9 Oregon Police...........14 No Obituaries Submitted

Otto’s Column........... 6 Polo Police................14 Property Transfers...14

Tri-County Press / oglecountynews.com • Friday, May 1, 2020

| POLO BEAT

2

POLO

VOLUNTEER EFFORT

Tri-County Press

Polo food pantry teams up with NIFB to serve 121 households

oglecountynews.com OFFICE 113-115 Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 732-6166 ext. 2592 Fax: (815) 284-2078 SUBSCRIPTIONS $39 in Ogle County, and $52 outside Ogle County.

Single-copy price is $1 To subscribe, make a payment or discuss your delivery, call 815-732-6166, ext. 2518 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

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You also can subscribe online by going to oglecountynews.com and clicking on Subscribe.

CLASSIFIED SALES 815-284-2222 OBITUARIES 815-732-6166, ext. 2591 ehinton@oglecountynews.com Deadline for obituaries is 2 p.m. Tuesday for Friday’s edition SEND NEWS news@oglecountynews.com General Manager Earleen Hinton 815-732-6166, ext. 2591 ehinton@oglecountynews.com Editor Jeff Helfrich 815-732-6166, ext. 2590 jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com Advertising Sales Lori Walker 815-625-3600, Ext. 2555 lwalker@oglecountynews.com The Tri-County Press, Ogle County News and oglecountynews.com are a division of Shaw Media.

Ogle County Newspapers also prints the Mt. Morris Times, Forreston Journal, and

Oregon Republican Reporter.

The TRI-COUNTY PRESS (USPS No. 638-530) is published weekly by B.F. Shaw Printing Co., Shaw Media.

Periodical postage paid at Polo, Illinois.

POSTMASTER Send address changes to TRI-COUNTY PRESS, 113 N. Franklin, Polo, IL 61064.

Phone 815-732-6166, ext. 2516.

All rights reserved.

Copyright 2020

Alex T. Paschal/Shaw Media

Melanie Konecny, representing Polo American Legion Post 83, was one of the volunteers who distributed food at the mobile food pantry on Monday.

The Polo Lifeline Food Pantry, in collaboration with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, served 121 households, when the Northern Illinois Food Bank Mobile Pantry came to town on Monday, April 27.

Kathy Wragg and members of the Faith United Methodist Church secured volunteers for the outreach event.

This food distribution was open to everyone in the Polo community who feel they had a need, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about the Polo Lifeline Food Pantry call 815-946-2552.

CHAMBER CHATTER Cancellations and Closures Polo Public Library is closed, Coffee with a Cop is cancelled, The Polo Council of Churches “Our Table Community Meal” is cancelled, Polo Rehabilitation & Health Care has temporarily cancelled the Thursday Morning Community Coffee, and the Polo Senior Center is temporarily closed.

Business After Hours If you are interested and would like to host

Pine Creek News By Karen Merlak

It seems we have finally said good-bye to the cold of winter. The beautiful warm sun was welcomed by everyone. It was good to feel the warmth on my face. Even when we feel completely alone, we can return to nature, where we will always find God. This morning for our online church, Pastor Charlotte Hoppe led a service inviting everyone to bring bread, drink, and candles to their own table to make a place for worship. You can find our church on Facebook and join us each Sunday morning for worship.

This past Saturday morning, our breakfast group tried a Zoom meeting online. We were safely in our homes sharing conversation and breakfast through video and phone chat. It was good to see and hear everyone after such a long time apart.

Charlotte led our group in thoughtful conversation. We laughed at our strug-

a Business after Hours or Breakfast before Business call the Chamber at 815-946-3131.

business celebration during our Annual Dinner.

Certificates of Recognition The Polo Chamber of Commerce would like to issue Certificates of Recognition to any Polo Chamber of Commerce business members who are celebrating five years of being in business, or those with five-year increments of being in business in Polo. Contact us so that we can announce your special

Get the Word Out Contact The Polo Chamber of Commerce at 815-946-3131, polochamber@gmail.com, mail to P.O. Box 116, Polo, IL 61064 if you would like to post your event on the Chamber Sign, Chamber Website, polochamber. org, Chamber Facebook Page and-or the Chamber Chatter.

gles with the new technology and spoke with hope about the future. Joining in the fun were Charlotte, Vicki Hay, Sheryl Hopkins, Martha Johannsen, Judy Riffle, Melissa Rockwood, Sandra Ford, and myself.

On Friday night, I stopped by the church parking lot to rearrange some items in my car. I looked across to the parsonage and thought I saw Charlotte in the window.

I sent her a text and a minute later she was on her sidewalk and we shared a physically distant chat.

This afternoon, I picked up my good friend Teresa, for a physically distant car ride. We toured the area as I showed her all the places I used to work, live, and places that were significant to my family.

It was a needed break for someone who is not used to being alone most of the time.

I am in the last couple of weeks of my spring semester. While it was heartbreaking for us not to see each other in class, our friendships are cemented because of the experiences we share. We, like so many others, are in this together.

One of my ongoing projects for science was to observe nature. The assignment was cut short since we were no longer meeting face to face. Even with the few weeks that we wrote about our observations, it made an impact on me.

During our drive this afternoon, we could see there were several shades of green leaves on the trees. Each tree was in a different stage.

Some were colored brightly, filled with light green leaves while others were still bare from the winter season.

Every tree is freely given the same sunshine and the rain, and yet, they bloom in their own time. Their leaves fill in the branches and in the end, they all provide shade for us. They do nothing to earn this nourishment. God provides it.

For each of us, God provides the things we need. Love and hope are as freely given as the sun and the rain. There is nothing we can do to earn it.

We can only accept it. Once we receive it, we will bloom in our own time.

This is not an easy time to be away from family and friends. Worry for ourselves and others can take over our thoughts. No matter where we are, God is still with us. For those times when we feel really alone, please know that His love is falling all around you.

My hope is that you will join our church or another area service online and from the comfort of your own home.

Our church family is ready to welcome you on Facebook live.

Now, more than ever, we are together even while we are apart.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Second death announced; Rochelle Foods testing done

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com The Ogle County Health Department announced three new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, totaling 116.

The OCHD confirmed its second death due to COVID-19 in the county on Monday, a man in his 70s.

Some of the 116 confirmed cases can be attributed to a COVID-19 outbreak at Hormel’s Rochelle Foods plant which was forced to close in recent weeks. Health officials said last week that all of the nearly 900 tests done on employees would be

back by Tuesday.

The testing took place at the Rochelle Foods parking lot and tests were administered by Rochelle Community Hospital and KSB employees in conjunction with the OCHD. 608 employees were tested just on April 23.

The OCHD recently started reporting the number of recoveries from the virus. It stood at 22 on Tuesday and was at 20 on Monday, the first day it was reported.

Ogle County is not reporting which towns individuals live in. It used to report the ages of individuals, but has since stopped due to each age range being covered and limited staff.

The Illinois Department of Public Health site said Tuesday that 89 cases are within the 61068 area code that contains Rochelle, Creston and White Rock.

At Tuesday’s Oregon City Council meeting, Police Chief Shawn Melville said that there have been two positive cases in the city. The first was a small child who has since recovered. The second person is isolated from the public.

“Our officers know that person’s location and if we see that person out we notify the OCHD,” Melville said.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Lowden State Park one of 20 state parks to reopen

STAFF REPORT Shaw Media Area residents itching for a closeup look at the Black Hawk Statue can scratch that itch come Friday, as long as they continue to practice social distancing.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s extension of stay-at-home through May came with a loosening of some restrictions, including the opening of 20 state parks.

Locally, Lowden State Park, north of Oregon, and Morrison-Rockwood State Park, near Morrison, will open. As of Tuesday, Ogle County’s other two state parks, White Pines and Castle Rock, will remain shuttered as will Lowden-Miller State Forest.

A planned celebration of the restoration of the Black Hawk statue is still postponed, Oregon Mayor Ken Williams said.

“Lowden State Park, with the Black Hawk statue being there, is very important to our community and is an iconic representation of the whole Sauk Valley,” Williams said. “As large as the park is, I think [reopening] can be done safely and can be done with social distancing.”

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Lowden State Park is slated to reopen on May 1. Illinois Governor JB Prtizker announced last week that a handful of state parks would reopen for hiking as long as visitors continue to maintain social distancing procedures. Campgrounds, concessions, and shelters will remained closed.

To allow Illinois residents to engage in some outdoor activities, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) agreed to reopen select state parks, recreation areas fish and wildlife areas and trails May 1.

Visitors to the reopened sites will be required to comply with social distancing guidelines and other COVID-19 best practices, the IDNR said in a press release.

Visitors to reopened IDNR sites should bring alcohol-based hand

sanitizer (containing at least 60 percent alcohol) and face coverings.

Additional health and safety guidelines include: • Practice social distancing by keeping at least six feet of distance between yourself and others; • Stay home if you are sick or feeling any symptoms, such as fever, coughing, troubled breathing, and/ or other flu-like symptoms; • Visit alone or with members of your household; • Stay local and visit parks that

are closest to where you live; • If you arrive at a park and crowds are forming, move to another area or return another time/day to visit; • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper arm/elbow.

IDNR sites reopening May 1 in Region 1 (Northwest Illinois) are: Argyle Lake State Park, Jubilee College State Park, Lowden State Park, Morrison-Rockwood State Park, Rock Island Trail, and Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area.

The reopened sites will be open daily from sunrise until sunset. Visitors will be allowed to engage in activities such as wildlife observation, hiking, biking, equestrian use, fishing (both from the bank and boats) and mushroom collecting.

Site visitor centers, campgrounds, playgrounds, beaches and concessions will remain closed.

There will be no shelter reservations, interpretive educational programs, or special events until further notice.

To ensure the safety of all visitors, hunting including spring turkey hunting remains suspended at all IDNR sites.

IDNR sites are monitored by site staff and IDNR Conservation Police.

For assistance or to report violations, visitors can call the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement at 217785-0075 or contact Conservation Police in the region.

• Friday, May 1, 2020

Campgrounds and other amenities will remain closed

OGLE COUNTY NEWS | Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com

COVID-19: Cases now up to 116 as of Tuesday

3

Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, May 1, 2020

| OGLE COUNTY NEWS

4

COVID-19 & COMMUNITY

Students design delivery service for those in need District Delivery is now serving Oregon area residents

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com The ability to quickly pivot services to meet market demands is an indicator of what it takes to become a successful business leader.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given students of Oregon High School’s social entrepreneurship classes some real-life experience in honing that skill.

Students were busy working on their businesses this semester when they had to scrap those plans due to the pandemic.

The students’ instructor, Aaron Sitze, found a way for them to finish their coursework, and help the high-risk members of the community.

District Delivery is a free grocery service for Oregon’s high-risk population. It has been organized by OHS students and carried out by community volunteers. Oregon didn’t have a delivery service previously.

“The Ogle County Emergency Center of Operations called me and asked about that,” Sitze said.

“I pitched the idea to the students.

They chose to develop it using entrepreneurial skills.”

Sitze said students are using skills like phone calls, logistics, customer service, payments, social media, marketing, media relations and finances with District Delivery. For example, a student will be assigned to balance the books. Volunteers will be reimbursed for gas.

“It’s actually more of a nonprofit than a normal business, but they learn the same things,” Sitze said.

Residents can call 815-214-9711 to place grocery orders on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-6 p.m. A student operator will take orders and give a time frame for delivery.

Volunteers then shop and deliver groceries curbside on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Online payment is preferred using PayPal, which is free to set up an account. Those with questions can email Sitze at asitze@ocusd.net.

One of those volunteer shoppers, Debbie Dickson of Oregon, donned

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

ABOVE: Community volunteer Debbie Dickson shops for an Oregon resident at the Oregon SuperValu grocery store as part of the Oregon High School’s new District Delivery program. BELOW: Dickson delivers bags of groceries to the Oregon resident’s home.

her mask and gloves and hit the grocery store with her lists in hand.

Some of the items on her lists included produce, boxed pasta, crackers, and meat products.

“I just wanted to do something to help,” said Dickson. “I have the lists, but sometimes its hard shopping for someone else and get exactly what they want.”

After the groceries were collected

and paid for, Dickson loaded them in her car and promptly delivered them to the residences, after calling the recipients to make sure they knew she was coming.

“I just follow their instructions on where to put the bags of groceries,” Dickson said.

More volunteers are needed.

Those interested can call or text 815687-8296.

Those that aren’t high risk, but still want grocery delivery, can contact area delivery service ChowDown Otown at 815-979-1037 and on Facebook. That service is for Oregon area residents only.

Sullivans in Mt. Morris offers this service for those residents by taking call-in orders at 815-734-6868 on Wednesdays for Thursday delivery.

LOCAL HISTORY

BY BETTY OBENDORF Curator, Polo Historical Society Earlier this week the phone rang and it was Robert Aplington from London. We talked for over an hour and he wanted to know how things were in Polo.

I assured him that Kenneth and I were fine but tired of staying in our house or just sitting on our patio.

I also told him the day was coming when we would need to wear a mask if we left our property.

I asked him if he was wearing a mask in London and he replied, “No, I am not.”

He told me he mainly stayed in his apartment and sometimes he walked a couple of blocks to the open air market where he purchased what

nati to take us. I had research to do at the library and turned on the TV so Kenneth could watch the basketball tournaments.

Suddenly the tournaments had been called off due to the virus and that was the beginning.

Soon our granddaughter who is a physician called and she did not want us to go to Zion, Illinois in Lake County where cases were mounting.

Cousins from Champaign and Olney were not leaving their homes and by evening we decided to stay home.

Robert filled me in on his first awareness of something different.

Robert’s daughter and family live in Milan, Italy and in February they always get together somewhere in Italy.

This year in February when Robert crossed the border into Italy, they took his temperature and he thought, how strange. No one seemed to know why. They did not take it when he left Italy.

He also wanted to know if anyone in our family was connected to the Spanish Flu of 1918. I told him no.

My grandparents in 1923 had Typhoid Fever and that was traumatic for our family.

Robert’s early family had the Spanish Flu when they were living in New York. All of them in the house got it except the grandmother of the family and she nursed them all back to health.

It was 1918 or 1919 and the family never forgot that experience.

In January, the newly formed organization of 100 Women Who Care – Ogle County held an informational meeting at Hickory Grove in Rochelle.

Several attendees asked questions

of the three founders as well as of the president of the Stephenson County Chapter who was a guest that evening.

The organization brings together women who are passionate about

helping non-profit organizations in Ogle County by meeting quarterly at various locations around the county and donating $100 each.

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• Friday, May 1, 2020

he needed.

“What was open in Polo?,” he wondered. I filled him in on the places where you could go inside and told him of the places where one could get food carried out to you.

I informed him of how our school system was still providing food for our children on reduced lunches.

That totally amazed him and I said we were not the only school in the area doing this. We were taking care of our children.

He then wondered when Kenneth and I had learned about the virus and I remembered exactly the date.

It was March 12 and we were getting ready to go the next day to the funeral of my cousin.

I had put out our clothes and Bruce was on his way from Cincin-

OGLE COUNTY NEWS | Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com

London calling: Aplington asks how Polo’s doing

5

Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, May 1, 2020

| OGLE COUNTY NEWS

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LOCAL HISTORY

Seyster moved to Oregon from Maryland in 1838 Editor’s note: Otto Dick, Oregon has researched the people, places and events important in the Oregon area’s history for the Ogle County Historical Society. The following is one of a series of the articles he has written.

BY OTTO DICK At the south end of the front burial row of the Riverside Cemetery located on North Third Street in Oregon are buried the Wolfkiel and Seyster families.

Michael Seyster and Mary Wolfkiel were both natives of Maryland and of German heritage.

Michael married Mary before moving to Oregon in 1838. They had eight sons and two daughters.

This is another example of a pioneer family that moved from Maryland in covered wagons.

They claimed 400 acres, established a farm, built a log cabin and raised a large family. His claim was located in Section 5, Oregon Township a short distance west of Oregon.

This was before the government was selling property in Ogle County.

Three generations later we have 30 recorded descendants that remained in the Oregon area.

Buried at the Seyster gravesite are Michael Sr., Mary, their son David and three grandchildren.

Of course there was a Michael Jr. who arrived in Oregon with his father when he was 13 years of age.

Michael Jr. was married in 1851 to Miss Margaret Ridenour. She was also born in Maryland in 1830. They had four sons and two daughters.

Michael Jr. at the age of 85 was buried with his wife and 12 family members at the Oregon Riverview Cemetery. (I was Otto Jr. and I was happy when I was old enough to be called Otto.)

This is from the December 1909 Oregon newspaper: “He had been a resident of Ogle County 71 and a half years. At 16 years of age, when the

• DONATION Continued from Page 5 Non-profit organizations are nominated to receive the funds and by a vote of the members, one organization receives 100% of the money.

This quarter there were three non-profits nominated.

On April 23, the original 11 members of 100 Women Who Care voted to give the $1,100 to the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry.

TOP LEFT: This clipping from an old newspaper says Michael Seyster Jr. was the “Last Witness to the Driscoll Execution”. TOP RIGHT: The Seysters first lived in this home at 300 S. Third Street in Oregon. BELOW: Pinehill was their next home. Images provided by Otto Dick Driscolls were shot to death by the Regulators, he was plowing in the field when the Regulators stopped with John Driscoll in the big lumber wagon.

“They took one of the Seyster horses from the plow and harnessed it with the other horses to the wagon.

They started east to cross the river, when young Seyster jumped into the wagon, to keep track of his horse.

“Michael Jr. said he did not wish to see John Driscoll killed so he made for a ravine nearby. After the volley had been fired and John was dead he returned just in time to see his son William Driscoll fall face forward pierced with a number of bullets from the guns of the Regulators.

“He saw the men dig the graves where the criminals fell and their bodies were tumbled into the graves and then covered with dirt.”

Michael Jr’s son John C. was a prominent Attorney in Oregon and also was elected to the 33rd Illinois

General Assembly. Believe it or not a Democrat elected from Ogle County.

After graduating from Oregon High School he attended the Rock River Seminary in Mt. Morris and then studied law at the College of Law in Chicago.

He served as the City Attorney

“We were unable to meet at Maxson’s Riverboat Restaurant as planned, so we voted via the internet. We are very happy to be able to help the food pantry especially in this time of crisis,” said Deanna Forrest, one of the club’s founders.

The next meeting is scheduled for July 23 at the Holiday Inn Express in Rochelle.

“If the “shelter in place” order is still in effect, we will again vote via the internet,” Forrest said. “We are looking to increase our membership

in order to donate a larger amount to our next recipient.

“We especially want to extend the invitation to women from each of the towns in Ogle County so that all areas are represented and all non-profits in the county have the same chance of winning.”

Forrest said towns include: Baileyville, Byron, Chana, Creston, Davis Junction, Forreston, Holcomb, Leaf River, Lindenwood, Monroe Center, Oregon, Polo, Rochelle, Stillman Valley, and Woosung.

and built a home at 300 S. Third Street. Later he then moved to Pine Hill.

This is quite an accomplishment, plowed on his father’s farm, received a law degree and then served in the Illinois General Assembly.

The time line I have for the Seyster family covers four generations in Oregon.

Michael arrived here in 1836 during the 10th General Assembly and his grandson served in the 33rd General assembly 47 years later.

Also Michael first lived in a log cabin and his grandson lived at Pine Hill.

When your drive by Riverside Cemetery, the Seyster stone is located in the front row. The stone marks Michael Sr.’s age as 49 years, 4 months and 21 days.

When his death occurred the City of Oregon had officially existed 12 years. This burial occurred 184 years ago.

“There are over 400 non-profits listed from these 16 towns,” Forrest said. “Please consider joining us and nominating a non-profit organization in Ogle County by contacting one of the three founders.”

For more information about 100 Women Who Care, contact one of these Founders: Deanna Forrest, forrestdeanna@hotmail.com; Linda Graber, lingraber204@comcast.net; and Debby Katzman kaytiebo@ yahoo.com.

DROWNING UPDATE

Search still ongoing for missing Polo man

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Two Ogle County Sheriff deputies watch from the bank of the Rock River south of Oregon as firefighters investigate the area around a fallen tree after someone reported a possible body inthe river. four weeks, VanVickle said. Cold and windy weather has prevented searches from being done recently.

“It’s always been our goal to find him and it will be a continued effort to bring closure to the family,” VanVickle said. “As far as the future, it’s a lot of real estate to cover. Scanning takes quite a bit of time and it’s better with a known location, which we don’t have.”

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

An Oregon diver searches under a fallen tree as officers on the Ogle County Sheriff Department’s boat watch during a search on the Rock River Thursday night.

• Friday, May 1, 2020

Ogle County Sheriff and Oregon Fire officials were in and on the Rock River north of Castle Rock State Park last week responding to a report of a possible body in the water.

The April 23 effort came up empty, Sheriff Brian VanVickle said. The search for Kent Dearborn Jr., 33, of Polo is still ongoing. Dearborn and James Swift, 64, of Forreston, went missing when their boat capsized below the Oregon dam on Nov. 20.

Swift’s body was found near the Dixon dam on Jan. 3.

“We did not come up with anything today,” VanVickle said. “The caller said he may have seen a body in the brush along the river south of Brook Isle. Nothing was there. The caller said he saw it earlier in the day and waited to call. Time went by and we did some extra searching in the area to see if it had moved.”

The response with divers and a boat is part of a new working agreement for water response within the county due to the sheriff’s office acquiring a new boat. Calls with sightings are not uncommon, and VanVickle said the response will be the same going forward.

April 23 was the first time a boat was out searching for Dearborn in

OGLE COUNTY NEWS | Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com

Possible body sighting in river comes up empty

7

OREGON LIBRARY “When I got my library card, that’s when my life began.” —Rita Mae Brown, American writer.

Did You Know?

When the Oregon Public Library opened in December 1908, all the materials had to be organized in an orderly fashion.

Miss Emily Cartwright, Librarian and Miss Elizabeth Burnside engaged in classifying, cataloging and organizing supplies and new books.

By May 1909, there were 586 registered borrowers of books.

On Dec. 12, 1908, books were circulated from the new building for the first time.

(Information compiled from historical documents found in cupboards in the Library office) Library Closure Due to the shelter in place order the Oregon Public Library will be closed until further notice. All programs have also been cancelled. We hope to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and contribute to the health of the community.

Since we are a fine free library you will not be accruing fines for overdue materials, so don’t worry about returning your items.

Use our WiFi outside of our building by connecting to the Oregon Library Guest Access WiFi network that doesn’t need a password.

We Now Have Overdrive for E Books!

Readers may browse OPL’s digital collection, instantly borrow titles and start reading or listening for free with a valid library card. This service is compatible with all major computers and devices, iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phones and tablets and Chromebook™ without wait

lists or holds.

Through Libby, readers can also “send to Kindle®”. All titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period and there are no late fees. Readers can also download titles onto Libby for offline use. To get started enjoying ebooks, audiobooks and more, visit https://omnilibraries.overdrive. com/ or download Libby today.

Library Cards Do you have a library card?! Oregon Public Library is issuing library cards remotely to residents during the current closure to access our digital collection.

A library card is available to anyone who lives within the Oregon Public Library District. Please share with someone that may not have a library card! Click here for more information! http://oregonpubliclibrary.com/services/library-cards/.

Big News!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mt. Morris and Oregon Public Libraries are temporarily waiving non resident fees and offering that anyone living within the boundaries of the Oregon Unit School District can sign up for a temporary library card.

This special digital card will allow access to the library’s electronic resources for a limited time period which will be helpful in supporting students’ e-learning as well as meet other informational and recreational needs.

This temporary card is valid until Sept. 1.

To apply for a free temporary card, please visit http:// oregonpubliclibrary. com/services/ library-cards/ to complete the online form or email Mt. Morris library at mmlib@mtmorris-il. org.

Facebook Page Follow our Facebook for resources during this closure and updates.The Library staff will be posting updates and new virtual resources as they become available. You do not have to have a Facebook account to view the Oregon Public Library Facebook page.

Senior Chats! - NEW Are you home alone, would you like a call from your favorite library staff member? Call the Oregon Public Library 815-732-2724 and leave a message with two days of the week that work, what time of day and who you would like to speak with from the library.

We don’t want anyone feeling isolated during this unusual time and we miss our patrons!

Nailed It! Competition Visit our Facebook page to see the staff compete in their first every Nailed It competition. Puppy cupcakes were decided for their challenge. All submissions were revealed on Facebook on Friday, April 24. Let us know which ones you like!

Talented Tuesdays - starting April 28, every Tuesday Visit our Facebook page every Tues-

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day and look for the Talented Tuesday post. Each week will feature a staff member and their talent or hobby. If you have a talent or hobby you’d like to share through our Facebook page, email cbergoply@gmail.com and we’d be happy to share your talent!

What Ya Watchin’ Wednesdays - starting April 29 and every other Wednesday Join the Library Director, Hilaree Lombardo and Adult Programming’s, Cari Berg to discuss what you are watching during shelter-in-place. We will share our thoughts on various television shows, Netflix series, Movies, Podcasts, and more. Visit our Facebook page for the Zoom link to our first discussion on April 29 at 7 p.m. Of course, we will cover The Tiger King!

Video Story Time We are continuing to post a Video Story Time to our Facebook page every Thursday while the Library is closed.

It might be just stories and suggested activities or maybe some off- site guests. So check out the Oregon Public Library Facebook page.

Goodreads “Anybody else miss having the libraries open? Are you looking for a place to talk about all the books you have been reading while we are stuck in quarantine or maybe even get some new recommendations?

Do you want to know what the next book club picks are so you can get a head start?

Like most libraries COVID-19 had forced us to shut our doors for a while and we really miss our patrons.

We miss seeing all of your smiling

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Thank you for going the extra mile to help your customers during this difficult time.

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See OREGON LIBRARY, Page 9

Snyder Pharmacy Employees:

(including bifocal & specialty lenses)

SM-ST1741625

Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, May 1, 2020

| OGLE COUNTY NEWS

8

SM-ST29266-0501

PUBLIC VOICE Dear Editor,

Repeal Oregon’s marijuana law.

Please call the City Council Members who voted for this ordinance on Nov. 26, 2019 to allow marijuana to be sold in Oregon.

Tell them to repeal this law. Because of this law, the city will allow Tree

Pharm to grow marijuana at the old Basler’s Ace Hardware Store, but they will only be a wholesale operation for the time being.

If the City Council repeals this ordinance, it could not be sold here.

The City Council did not listen to the advice of the sheriff’s department, the police department, or the planning commission. I hope they listen to you.

Commissioners voting in favor of the

law were: Terry Shuster, 815-988-3202; Kurt Wilson, 815-988-5167, and Melanie Cozzi, 913-522-1379.

Thank you, Rick Ryland

Oregon

Thank your local businesses In early April, the village of Oregon was reeling from our “shelter in place” order. And ironically, even though busi-

ness about the village slowed down, one business remained busy and active: SuperValu.

Jim Kauffman and his whole crew helped the citizens in keeping their homes stocked with groceries, and necessary paper products. Working tirelessly, they have been an asset to our community.

See PUBLIC VOICE, Page 11

POLO LIBRARY Temporary Library Building Closure In cooperation with the Governor’s Stay-at-Home orders, and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Polo Public Library is closed until further notice and all programs scheduled during this time have been cancelled or rescheduled.

Online Resources You are still be able to use Axis 360, OMNI/Overdrive, Libby, and Biblioboard for e-resources (books, audio books) and we will continue to share resources on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/pololibrary) to help fill the gap while you can’t use the library.

2020 Summer Reading Program June 1-July 31, “Dig Deeper: Read, Investigate, Discover!”

More details coming soon about our virtual 2020 Summer Reading Program. Check Facebook.com/pololibrary for more information.

Polo Library History 150 Years Ago - From the “History of Ogle County” A powerful influence for good among the young people of Polo has been the Literary Society, the first mention of which was made publicly in the press of April

1, 1870, when it was declared that a membership of twenty-nine had been secured, and suggested that the society discuss the matter of securing a library. A committee was appointed, a public meeting was held and $845 pledged towards a library.

Materials Renewed All currently checked out materials have been renewed until May 29.

Wi-Fi Access Wi-Fi is still available outside of the library building by joining the Polo Public Library Guest Access network, you do not need a password.

Call 815-946-2713 or email library@pololibrary.org for more information.

BYRON LIBRARY Byron Public Library Closed Due to the shelter in place order issued by the state of Illinois, the Byron Public Library is completely closed until further notice.

Due dates have been extended by our library system so there is no need to worry about late fees! If you need to contact the library you can send us a message through email, Facebook, or our website, or you can leave us a message at 815-234-5107. Practice social distancing and stay safe, everyone!

Parking Lot WiFi Don’t have reliable internet at home? The Byron Library may be closed, but there is still WiFi available!

Park along our south wall and look for the WiFi network names and passwords in the window. Available 24/7.

• OREGON LIBRARY Continued from Page 8 faces and chatting about books and life in general. In an effort to stay connected with all of you we thought Goodreads might be a great place to check in with each other and learn what books everyone has been reading lately.

We can use this discussion to talk about current

Check out our eBooks!

The library may be closed, but you can still get library books without leaving home! Visit the Byron Library’s webpage to access our three eBook resources – OMNI, eRead Illinois, and Biblioboard. All you need is your smart device and your library card. Available 24/7.

Introducing Creativebug!

We now offer Creativebug to our library patrons! It is a go-to resource for high-quality, on-trend arts and crafts instructional videos. With your membership, you’ll enjoy award-winning instructional videos on drawing, painting, sewing, knitting, crochet, quilting, baking and more. All classes are taught by experts, with new classes added daily. All you need is your library card to gain free access: https://www.creativebug.com/lib/byronlib.

reads and/or recommend books to each other. We are all in this together and hopefully everyone has enough books to keep them busy until we reopen.

Stay healthy and happy reading! Check out Oregon Public Library on Goodreads!”

Available Resources for Your Stay at Home Online Resources: Audiobooks & eBooks are available on Axis 360 and Biblioboard.Links are available on our website: oregonpubliclibrary.com/online-resourc-

Library Cards Don’t have a library card to access our digital services? No problem! Just send us a selfie, a picture of your driver’s license, a picture of your utility bill, and your cellphone number, and we will email you your new library card number and PIN number. Your actual card will be mailed out to you.

Local History Are you interested in local history? The library has several resources to get you started in your search.

Check out the library’s local history page at http:// byron.lib.il.us/services/local-history/. Available 24/7!

Visit the Byron Library Facebook page to keep up to date on library news and virtual programs. Be sure to also check out the Byron Library and Byron Library Teen Instagram pages.

es/TumbleBooklibrary (www.tumblebooklibrary.com) is a collection of animated talking picture books, read-alongs, ebooks, quizzes, lesson plans, and educational games which is used by thousands of schools and public libraries in over 100 countries across the world.

TumbleBooks can be accessed by our patrons from the comfort and safety of their homes! Go to the Library website, free educational resources for log-in procedures.

• Friday, May 1, 2020

Need a Library Card?

If you are new to Polo and haven’t had a chance to get a library card, or maybe you aren’t normally a

reader but would like to try ebooks during this time, we will be issuing temporary library cards for people in Buffalo Township. Email library@pololibrary.org for more information.

9 OGLE COUNTY NEWS | Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com

Ryland wants Oregon’s marijuana law repealed

Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, May 1, 2020

| OGLE COUNTY NEWS

10

COVID-19 & BUSINESS

Ogle farmers dealing with COVID-19 impact Pandemic has interrupted the agricultural supply chain as plants close due to outbreaks

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com After a tumultuous 2019, bad weather is now the least of area farmers’ concerns.

The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the agricultural supply chain. The prices of livestock and grain have dropped. Slaughter plants are closing due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Ethanol plants aren’t taking grain due to low oil prices. Meat demand has changed with restaurants closed and most people now buying for home.

“Last year was a nightmare with spring planting and unplanted acres and an unending harvest,” Ogle County Farm Bureau Manager Ron Kern said. “Hog guys were looking for a rebound this year and it decimated their market. The cow market is torpedoed. Grain is bad due to ethanol.”

Ogle County is in the top 10 in the state in livestock production. Farmers, like Keith Poole of Polo, are having to hold on to their animals because people aren’t buying them.

Poole is a hog and grain farmer. He says trade and tariff issues over the past few years have hurt his income from hogs and that farmers had no cushion to work with before the pandemic.

Before the virus hit, a record number of hogs were being produced in the industry, Poole said.

Now, he knows of people that are putting three times as many pigs in a barn than they’re supposed to. Poole’s are backing up, but he still has options.

“I can hold them longer or double stock in our other barn,” Poole said. “I could move them outside. The worst case scenario is euthanasia, but no farmer wants to start that. I think it might become necessary. There’s been a major supply chain disruption and it’s frustrating for all the farmers in the county.”

Hormel’s Rochelle Foods plant is an example of a disruption in the supply chain. Meat is packaged at that plant. It had to be closed last week due to a COVID-19 outbreak. All of its nearly 900 employees had to be tested.

Poole said the industry also wasn’t prepared for the shift in demand that occurred when restaurants closed. People are buying differently. Bacon used to be a top commodity and it is now one of the lowest.

A third of the grain Poole produces each year gets sold to be turned into ethanol. Ogle County and the area is big for grain due to plants being in Rochelle, Lena and Monroe. Those plants are either closed or don’t want corn due to not being able to make money on it.

Due to weather last year, Poole said his corn crop was bad and he was already operating at half capacity before the pandemic. To offset some of his losses, he plans to work with a USDA program that is working to buy up crops and make direct payments to farmers.

Kern said that farmers were made eligible late for payroll protection through the federal

Alex T. Paschal/Shaw Media

Poole is hopeful that local farmers can stem the tide for the time being until the state allows workers to return to work. Baseball stadiums make up for a large portion of hot dog sales, that alone is affecting the hog producer.

C.A.R.E.S. Act and that there wasn’t much money left in the fund by the time they applied. He thinks that some banks might not even know some of the rules for the programs. The $19 billion in USDA funds will help, but won’t come close to offsetting losses, he said.

“Nobody knows where the end of the tunnel is,” Kern said. “You keep looking for a light. But we can’t see one right now.”

As far as planting season, the weather has been cooperative. Farmers have been able to get the resources they need to do it. Farmers will keep plugging away despite the pandemic. Poole believes like past difficulties, this too shall pass.

“This industry has weathered a lot of stuff and I’m sure we’ll weather this one,” Poole said. “The sooner we can get everything back up and running is when this will start to be remedied.”

SPORTS COLUMN

Spring sports are kaput, but pales in comparison when compared to society’s turmoil

B

COMMENTARY Andy Colbert

• PUBLIC VOICE Continued from Page 9 The Village Bakery has been a wonderful establishment in Oregon. Employing people who work with the Village, Oregon has been treated to wonderful

If I had to pinpoint my biggest disappointment of the quarantine it would be the same thing.

Over the years, I come to cherish the relationships I have established with track coaches, parents, official and athletes from all over the state.

This Friday would have been the Art Carlson Hawk Classic with about 25 teams coming together at Oregon for the top small-school track meet in northern Illinois.

So much fun over the years at the meet and now it is taken away.

Not only that, but May brought so much excitement with baseball, softball, soccer and track post-season tourneys.

How do you think Morrison’s boys track team feels? Last year, they took fourth at the state meet, one spot out of a trophy.

At the time, minor disappointment, but no big deal with all of their great 400 and 800-meter runners returning. Like Coffey in the discus, they were poised to win state.

Additionally, they were on target to break the state meet record (7:53) in the 3,200 relay.

Morrison may never have that chance again, perhaps like Oregon winning its only title in 2009.

Rarely do all the stars align at once.

Lost opportunities in sports are small potatoes compared to what is going on in the rest of soci-

pastries, savory meals, and a coffee house vibe that suits both the young and old.

We have been blessed to have them in Oregon.

St Paul Lutheran Church, here in Oregon extended their thanks to SuperValu for their work ethic during our “shelter

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in place.” We purchased enough gift cards to the Bakery to be handed out to all the employees of SuperValu. Both places were thankful.

There are times we take grocery stores and restaurants for granted. We may have grown up with availability at our fingertips, and have never thought

otherwise.

I pray that you take a moment to extend your thanks to our community.

A word goes a long way.

Pastor Richard Tomilson

St. Paul Lutheran Church Oregon

An eye exam is a good idea, especially if things are starting to look a little fuzzy around the edges.

Dr. Kurt K. Nelson Optometrist

629 N. Galena Avenue, Dixon, Illinois • 815-284-6866 Member of the American Optometric Association.

Therapeutic Licensed.

• Friday, May 1, 2020

efore we get started, a correction from last week’s column. It was mentioned that Amboy would go to 8-man football.

They are researching this possibility, but have yet to make a decision. As of right now in the NUIC, it is AFC and Milledgeville joining Polo and River Ridge in fall of 2021.

That is, if we have sports by then. I’m being facetious, but with extended stay-at-home measures and predictions of pro/college sports playing to empty arenas, one has to wonder what the future holds.

With spring sports officially kaput, one of the big losers is Jace Coffey of Polo.

After throwing the discus 177 feet and placing second in the state meet, Coffey was poised for the most elusive of dreams for a high-school athlete and that is an individual state title.

That carries more weight than a team title, as you don’t have the benefit of a bunch of other players supporting the cause. You are on you own to get it done and with the progression he had shown in his prep career, Coffey was the odds-on favorite to be 1A champ.

Even if he fell a bit short, at least he would have had the experience of competition. Jace is a social animal and besides the element of competition, he certainly misses that interaction with fellow competitors.

ety.

With the stay-at-home order, there is an emotional and mental toll being exacted on the public.

I recently spoke with an individual who had suicidal thoughts over confinement and he’s probably not the only one that feels that way.

Another person used the word suffocation to explain what it meant to her.

Reports of increased domestic violence have surfaced.

And of course there is the matter is economic collapse for both individuals and businesses.

What about freedoms and civil liberties taken away?

That being said, I am conflicted on how the whole matter is being handled. Though I disagree with the extreme measures being taken, would I feel different if a close friend or family member died from the coronavirus?

Especially, if their death could have been prevented through “draconian” governmental measures.

None of us were ever promised a life without pain or suffering. There will be death. However, only a small percentage from those that contract the virus die and evidence indicates co-morbidity factors in most of these deaths.

When will it all end and what happens if another virus crops up? Will we be forced to climb back into our cocoons? Long range, are we making our immune systems more vulnerable by hiding from it?

Bottom line – at what cost does public safety come before emotional, mental and spiritual well being?

Tough question, isn’t it.

OGLE COUNTY NEWS | Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com

Lost opportunities in sports are small potatoes

11

Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, May 1, 2020

| CHURCH NEWS

12

ADELINE ZION EVANGELICAL CHURCH 9106 Cedar St. in Adeline Phone 815-541-4863

BAILEYVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH

303 W. Franklin St., Baileyville Pastor Gary Branam www.baileyvillebaptistchurch.org

BAILEYVILLE REFORMED CHURCH

400 W. Center St., Baileyville Pastor Bruce Otto 815-235-1201

BROOKVILLE & ELKHORN UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES

Brookville: 17725 W. Chamber St. in Brookville Elkorn: Corner of Wilson Mill & Brick Church Roads

CHANA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 606 Main St., Chana Pastor Matt Smith 815-732-7683 chanaumc@gmail.com

CHRIST OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH

2035 Ill. Rt. 26, Dixon 815-284-4554 Pastor David Andermann 815-632-6767

OPEN BIBLE

302 S. Franklin St., Polo Luke Schier, Pastor 815-946-2848 PoloOpenBible.org

CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CHURCH Polo Campus

EAST OREGON CHAPEL CHURCH OF GOD

107 N. Daysville Rd., Oregon Pastor John Guthrie 815-732-2960 or 815-732-6569

EBENEZER REFORMED CHURCH

FORRESTON REFORMED CHURCH

EMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

FREEDOM LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA

2997 N. German Church Rd. Rev. Josiah Youngquist.

815-732-6313 www.ebenezerreformed.com

764 N. Stillman Road, Oregon (Payne’s Point) Pastor Andrew Kayes 815-732-2424

EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF MT. MORRIS 102 S. Seminary St., Mt. Morris Senior Pastor Bruce McKanna Associate Pastor Logan Murphy 815-734-4942 www.efcmm.org office@efcmm.org

FAITH DISCOVERY CHURCH 801 W. Oregon St., Polo Pastor Jeremy Heller 815-946-3588

501 Third Ave. Pastor Lyle Zumdahl 815-938-2424 lylezumdahl@gmail.com

Pastor Karyn Kost 815-661-6315 www.freedomlutheran.org.

GERMAN VALLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

FAITH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

402 Second Ave., Forreston Pastor Scott Ralston Church 815-938-3203

FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 702 E. Dixon St., Polo Pastor Brian LeBaron 815-946-3212 faithumcpolo

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

DISCIPLES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)

505 Hill St., Oregon Pastor David Snow 815-732-2642 www.fbcoregon.org

200 S. Fifth St., Oregon Rev. Karen Gerhard Conner 815-732-2894 www.fpcoregon.com

EAST JORDAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 402 First Ave., Forreston Pastor Sung-Eun Kim 815-938-2380

860 W. Oregon Trail Rd. Pastor Michael Hoffman 815-732-6847

OREGON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH

200 S. Fourth, Oregon Rev. Megan Smick 815-732-2994 oregonumc@outlook.com

PINE CREEK CHRISTIAN CHURCH 5076 S. Lowell Park Rd. Pastor Charlotte Hoppe 815-946-3949

POLO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

GRACE VALLEY CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH

PRAIRIE DELL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

8210 E. Edwardsville Rd., German Valley Pastor Eric Schlukebir 815-362-6601 6941 N. Mt. Morris Rd., Leaf River Pastor Billy Hardy 815-738-2205 leafriverbc@gmail.com

ST. WENDELIN CATHOLIC CHURCH 18 S. Linn St., Shannon Rev. Michael Bolger 815-864-2548

SAUK VALLEY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

SILVER CREEK REFORMED CHURCH

609 S. 10th St., Oregon Craig Arnold, Pastor 812-236-1213

ST. BRIDE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

LIGHTHOUSE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH

10384 W. Coffman Rd., Forreston Pastor Mark Phillips Church: 815-938-2194 Pastor’s Cell: 760-550-4563

114 S. Fifth St., Oregon 815-732-2367

RIVERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

104 E. Rt. 72, Leaf River Pastor Sung-Eun Kim 815-345-3038

NORTH GROVE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH

16032 W. Coffman Rd., Shannon 815-864-2448

LEAF RIVER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

409 W. Brayton Rd, P.O. Box 2055 Mt. Morris, IL 61054 Pastor Ginny Haney Phone: 815-734-4573

213 N. Franklin Ave., Polo Father Joseph P. Naill 815-946-2535

416 Prospect St., Dixon John Lewis, Pastor 815-677-9199

1000 Ill. 64 West Oregon Rev. Eldred George 815-732-7211 www.saintbrides.org saint.bride.church@gmail.com

4938 S. Daysville Rd., Oregon Pastor Matt Smith

ST. MARY CHURCH 301 N. Fourth St., Oregon Father Joseph P. Naill Office Phone 815-732-7383 Office FAX 815-732-4742

Congress Ave. & Webster St. Pastor Leslie Lake PoloCob@risebroadband.net

MT. MORRIS CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

102 N. Maple St., Mt. Morris Pastor Julie Bunt 815-734-4853 www.disciplesumc.org

OREGON CHURCH OF GOD

Church and Main Streets Pastor Don Plock

LEAF RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH

205 N. Jefferson Ave., Polo Pastor Chris Bradshaw 815-837-5255 polo@crossroadscn.com www.crossroadscn.com

22027 Polo Rd., Sterling Jim Miller, Pastor 815-626-0104

FORRESTON GROVE CHURCH

7246 N. Freeport Rd., Forreston Presbyterian Church in America Pastor Drew Jones 815-938-3605 www.forrestongrovechurch.com

6024 N. Columbine Rd., Forreston Rev. Karyn Kost 815-661-6315 pastorofstjames1850@gmail.com

ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

201 N. Division Ave., Polo Pastor Terrie Wilder 815-946-2919

326 S. Bunker Hill Rd. German Valley Pastor Grant Mulder 815-362-2129

TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 308 E. Brayton Mt. Morris Pastor Josh Ehrler 815-734-6354 trinitymmil@frontier.com www.trinitymmil.net

VAN BROCKLIN-FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3582 Bolton Rd.., Freeport Pastor Dawn Barr 815-291-0601

WEST BRANCH CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN 4014 West Branch Rd., Forreston 815-938-2586

How to submit church news Changes in church listings and articles about special church services and events can be emailed to news@oglecountynews.com.

For more information call 815-732-6166 ext. 2591.

SHANNON • POLO • LAKE CARROLL

708 S. Division St., Polo • 946-2714

Byron • Oregon • Rochelle • Rockford Member Roscoe/Rockton • Stillman Valley FDIC

211 S. Division Ave., Rt. 26 Polo Member 946-2777 FDIC

COVID & COMMUNITY

Masks not required for residents inside

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com Ogle County Housing Authority residents aren’t required to wear masks in or around the facility.

But Executive Director David Ditzler said he’d be happy to accept a donation for his elderly, handicapped and low-income residents. A Facebook post last week on a local page incorrectly said the masks were required. The housing complexes in Oregon, Polo and Forreston have taken measures to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“When this started, we sent out a bunch of stuff,” Ditzler said. “All of our common areas are closed.

We only have laundry facilities left open.”

Move-ins were stopped at the beginning of the pandemic, but have now restarted since the pandemic has gone on. Meetings are happening online over Zoom or over the phone. There were people that needed to be housed, Ditzler said.

Throughout all of its complexes, the OCHA has around 180 residents.

There haven’t been any cases of COVID-19 in those residences, Ditzler said.

“Normally, most of the folks are very sociable,” Ditzler said. “But now they’ve been good with staying in.”

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

The Ogle County Housing Authority’s Howard Johnston Plaza is located at the corner of S. Third Street and Jefferson Street in Oregon.

COVID-19 & BUSINESS

COVID-19 forces new Oregon gym to shut down

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com When the COVID-19 shutdown started, Matt Bouback went into a dark place.

The owner of Oregon’s Reign XT gym felt unmotivated. He felt sad for himself and his clients. Those feelings didn’t last long.

“I woke up and told myself that I had to be a leader,” Bouback said.

“I quickly got out of it and said we have to push hard until we can get back open.”

Bouback had to close his gym after being open for two months and accruing over 200 memberships. At the beginning of the pandemic, he decided to cancel group sessions and keep the 24/7 fitness center open with limited occupancy.

A few days after that decision, the Oregon Police Department came and said they’d have to shut Reign XT down. Bouback understood.

Since then, Reign XT has been making every effort to provide services remotely for its remaining members. Fitness classes are being done online and people can participate live on Zoom or watch recorded

sessions later.

“I gave members my fitness app for free,” Bouback said. “We created accountability groups for people working one-on-one trying to help with motivation. It’s been a little bit of a curve.”

Reign XT also offered members the chance to take any equipment from the gym home with them for use. The equipment was given free of charge, Members just had to sign an agreement.

Bouback believes that he has a responsibility to the community as a gym owner. He worries about the motivation and well-being of his members and those in the community during the shutdown. In the past, he’s noticed how fitness and training has helped people to deal with issues like depression and anxiety.

“We do this to help people get in shape and feel better,” Bouback said. “We came into this community to do that. People want and need to feel better. The rug has been pulled from us and it’s hard to do far apart.”

From a financial standpoint, Bouback said that it’s been a hard hit.

He invested six figures into opening Reign XT at 404 W. Washington St. He also owns a logistics company that has been impacted “pretty dramatically.”

Many other small businesses have been applying for loans and grants through the federal C.A.R.E.S. Act in an attempt to offset losses. Reign

Michael Krabbenhoeft/Shaw Media

Reign XT owner, Matt Bouback stands in his closed gym in Oregon on April 24. The gym is currently offering online fitness classes during the coronavirus pandemic.

XT does not apply for any government programs because it hasn’t been open long enough and doesn’t technically have any employees. It uses independent contractors.

“We looked into them, but with no history of profit or loss, we don’t qualify,” Bouback said. “Fortunately we have been able to pay our bills and rent.”

Bouback said that Reign XT will be able to reopen after shutdown

and that the financial losses won’t be a critical hit to his business.

However, if another shutdown were to happen or if this one somehow lasted 6-8 months, he’d need some help or would have to consider closing for good.

He does have concerns about his customer base once the shutdown is lifted.

“When we open back up, it’ll be a lot of people that are scared to go back out,” Bouback said. “And it’ll be potential future clients not wanting to sign up. I think it’ll be fall before we’re back to full the way we were.”

Being closed in a small town frustrates Bouback. He made a trip to Rockford earlier this week and saw people out and going to grocery and hardware stores. When he made his way to Oregon later, the streets were quiet.

He doesn’t believe the playing field for businesses is level right now. That plays into his answer for the question of when he’d like to open back up.

“Honestly, I think we could be in there now,” Bouback said. “It comes down to personal responsibility. It comes down to the person. We keep everything sanitized. We’ll be ready to open back up immediately.”

“I’m pretty positive that this will be resolved soon. It’s unfortunate for us, but we’re strong. We’ll get through this and come out on the other side stronger than before.”

• Friday, May 1, 2020

Reign XT works with its members to stay fit during pandemic

OGLE COUNTY NEWS | Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com

Ogle Housing Authority closes common areas

13

Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, May 1, 2020

| OGLE COUNTY NEWS

14

NEW POSITION

DeHaan transitions from chief to city administrator

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com Darin DeHaan has a masters degree in public administration, but he never planned on using it until after retirement from his position as Oregon’s chief of police.

That changed after conversations with Oregon Mayor Ken Williams and others about a slight change in the city’s structure and a lateral move for DeHaan to the new position of city administrator.

“It’s been difficult, but I’m excited,” DeHaan said. “To step away from what was my identity has been different. I rarely ever heard my first name working in this city for many years. It was always chief. It’s nice to stay in the same city. That’s what’s helped the most.”

The move was approved at the Oregon City Council meeting on March 31. In his new position, DeHaan has

moved to the city clerk’s involved with community office and all city departdevelopment and doing a ment heads will report to wide array of tasks. He’s him. At the meeting, Wilgotten a rapport started liams said the city needed with department heads. more leadership from a He’s not planning on any staff position. Department sweeping changes. heads can still report sepThe new structure helps arately to commissioners to make small changes if needed. while keeping the city’s DeHaan was police chief government moving.

Darin DeHaan since 2005 and has worked Things are still directed with the Oregon Police for by commissioners but the 25 years. structure is better equipped to make “I’ve spent 25 years proving my quick decisions. loyalty to this city and managing “As chief, I always tried to go things,” DeHaan said. “I worked above and beyond and I was involved really hard to prove my worth and with some of these things already,” I’m working with our team to see DeHaan said. “I’ve been involved what expectations of me are. I think with local businesses and citizens my role will evolve as the city needs with COVID-19. That’s been a large me to.” part of my days so far.”

DeHaan said he has been surprised DeHaan said he never applied for by how busy he’s gotten since start- a city manager position in another ing his new position. He’s getting city. He never saw himself leaving

POLO POLICE April 23 Tsonia F. Stafford, 23, of Freeport, was cited for speeding 49 mph in a 30

OGLE COUNTY SHERIFF mph speed zone and no valid driver’s license. Stafford was released on an I-Bond.

PROPERTY TRANSFERS Ogle County property transfers recorded April 17-23.

Warranty Deeds • Weston D. and Janie L. Hughes to Gina A. Holland, 604 Franklin St., Oregon, $50,000.

• Bradley and Kimberly L. Strite to Skylar Thomas Short, 7122 W. Lowell Park Road, Mt. Morris, $100,000.

• Hub Shuttle Inc. to Jacob R. Bjorneby, 8925 S. Lynn St., Rochelle, $124,900.

• Tex E. and Peggy A. Bellows to Edward J. and Kelly R. Beeter, 3050 W. Pines Road, Oregon, $28,500.

• Justin D. and Crystal Schwartz, 202 E. Morningstar Court, Stillman Valley, $170,000.

• Haywell LLC Westwood to Adam J. Cappel Declaration Trust 101, Adam J. Cappel, trustee, one parcel of land in Rochelle, $21,000.

• Timothy E. and Steven W. Reints to Colter Riley McCandless, 725 state Route 251, Chana, $113,000.

• Stacey E. and Trina Y Miller to Crystal M. and Justin D. Schwartz, 7769 N. Crestview Road, Stillman Valley, $430,000.

the police department. He said the decision to change positions was tough and he had a few sleepless nights and leaned on his wife for guidance.

One of the factors that loomed large in the move was how the change would impact the police department. New Chief Shawn Melville’s willingness to take over gave DeHaan some peace with his decision. Melville has worked with DeHaan in the department for many years.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, DeHaan said a lot of keeping the city moving forward for its residents has involved online Zoom teleconference meetings with Williams and other officials.

“My number one role is to be a liaison to citizens,” DeHaan said.

“They can always call and reach out to me at city hall. I’m available all day long.”

• Donald L. and Jamie Lee Ruth to Boyce Odell Wallin Jr., 6700 N. Alpine Drive, Stillman Valley, $185,000.

• Traci E. Bell and Stacie L. Tweeten to Christina and Jose A. Mascote, 532 W. Hall St., Creston, $174,000.

• Catherine E. and Robert W. Van Stedun to Sandra Malahy and Matthew and Heather Beninato, also Benniato, 5089 Hidden Heights Road, Oregon and one parcel in Grand Detour Township, $247,500.

Trustee’s Deeds • Stephen K. and Lori L. Page Trust 1, Stephen K. and Lori L. Page, trustees, to Gary L. and Lori A. Greenfield, 418 N. Hannah Ave., Mt. Morris, $144,000.

• Gary L. and Susan L. Voss Trust, Gary L. and Susan L. Voss trustees, to Brian Jay Barnard, 2478 E. Bourbonnais Place, Byron, $349,900.

• Eubanks Trust 98, Patricia K. Eubanks, trustee, to Will and Sharon Bailey Romano, 10699 N. State Route 2, Byron, $78,000.

Source: Ogle County Recorder’s Office

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following activity.

April 22 Keith Mullen, 37, of Oregon, was arrested on an outstanding Ogle County warrant for predatory criminal sexual

assault of a child and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Mullen posted the $100,000/10 percent bond and was released from the Ogle County Jail.

He is scheduled to appear in court on June 5 at 9 a.m.

OREGON POLICE Oregon Police Chief Shawn Melville reports the following police activity.

April 20 At 9:18 p.m., police responded to a suspicious vehicle call resulting in the arrest of Warner G. Hinrichs, 18, of Byron, for driving while under the influence of drugs. Hinrichs was also charged with improper container/driver.

Hinrichs was transported to the Ogle County Jail. These violations occurred in the 700 block of S. 7th Street.

April 23 At 6:34 p.m., police investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash in the 500 block of W. Washington Street involving a 2016 Chevrolet driven by Eva M. Bucci, 72, of Oregon, and a parked 2009 GMC belonging to Melissa A. Stacy, 36, of Byron. No citations were issued.

April 26 Larry E. Barnes, III, 30, of Oregon,

was issued a citation at 12:20 a.m. for driving while license suspended. This violation occurred in the 300 block of E. Washington Street.

Please note: Any arrests listed are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Four parking citations issued, and three verbal warnings issued April 20-26.

General calls for service through dispatch April 20-26 Checking a Subject / Vehicle......15 Citizen Complaints..........................8 Citizen Assist / Civil Problem........6 Assist EMS / Other Dept................3 Disturbance / Dom Battery...........2 911 Hang-up / Open Line................7 Ordinance Violations....................... 1 Traffic Stops.....................................3

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OGLE COUNTY NEWSPAPERS 815-625-3600 815-284-2222

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NOTICE TO BID The Oregon Community Unit School District #220 will accept sealed bids for Milk Products for the 2020-2021 school year. Bid packets will be available beginning May 4, 2020 and may be picked up at Oregon C.U.S.D. #220 District Office, 206 S. 10th St., retrieved from the district website at www.ocusd.net on the Food Service page, or by calling the School District Office at (815) 732-5300.

Bids will be accepted until 10:00 a.m. on June 1, 2020.

May 1, 2020

The Oregon Nashua Township Monthly meeting dates for the 2020-2021 years are as follows: May 13th June 10th July 8th August 12th September 9th October 14th November 11th December 9th January 13th February 10th March 10th April 13th is the Regular Monthly and Annual Town Meeting All the meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month and start at 6:30 p.m. except if a meeting falls on a holiday then the meeting will be held on the Tuesday prior to the original date, at the Oregon-Nashua Township Building, 107 North Etnyre Avenue.

April monthly meeting will be held the same day as the annual town meeting.

The 2021 Annual Oregon/Nashua Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

May, 1 2020

LEGAL NOTICES

101

VOLUNTEERS

126

STATE OF ILLINOISIN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF OGLE In re the Estate of: DANIEL E. STROHECKER, 2020 P 33 Deceased.

CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of death of the DANIEL E. STROHECKER. Letters of Office were issued on April 15, 2020, to SARA MARTIN, as Independent Executor, whose attorney is M. Thomas Suits, of the Law Offices of M. THOMAS SUITS, P.C., 114 Mason West Street, Polo, Illinois61064.Claims against the estate may be filed within six (6) months from the date of first publication,or within three (3) months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required

by Section 5/18-3 of the Illinois Probate Act, 1975, as amended, whichever date is later. Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above shall be Claims barred. against the estate may be filed in the Office of the Circuit Clerk, Ogle County Center, Judicial 106 South 5th Street, Oregon, IL 61061- or with the estate legal representative, or both.

Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

By: SARA MARTIN Independent Executor

CASA 15th Judicial Circuit (Lee/ Carroll/Ogle Counties) is seeking volunteers in the Ogle County area to advocate for children in the Ogle County court system involved in abuse and neglect cases.

Your involvement can impact a child’s future.

Contact Trisha Morrow, Executive Director (815) 288-1901 www.casaleecar roll.com

Law Offices of M. THOMAS SUITS, P.C.114 West Mason Street Polo, IL 61064 (815) 946-2276 tom@suits legal.com May 1, 8, 15 2020

Oak Knoll Memorial Park, Sterling IL Four Family Lots For Sale (Section D) $450 each contact Kim at 480-818-0562

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EMPLOYMENT 209

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NO INDIVIDUAL, unless licensed or holding a permit as a childcare facility, may cause to be published any advertisement soliciting a child care service.* A childcare facility that is licensed or operating under a permit issued by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services may publish advertisements of the services for which it is lispecifically censed or issued a permit. Sauk Valley Media strongly urges any parent or guardian to verify the validity of the license of any facility before placing a child in it's care. *Family homes that care for no more than three (3) children under the age of twelve or which receive only children from a single household, for less than 24 hours per day, are exempt from licensure as day care homes.

The three children to whom this exemption applies includes the family's natural or adopted children and any other persons under the age of 12 whether related or unrelated to the operator of the day care home. (DCFS Rule, Part 377.3 (c))

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Visit the American Kennel Club website (www.akc.org) for tips on how to avoid getting scammed and to find a responsible dog breeder.

If you have been the victim of a scam, report it to your local authorities and your local BBB (www.bbb.org)

• Friday, May 1, 2020

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LEGAL NOTICES

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625-3600 or 284-2222 Astrograph Decide what’s worth your while and what isn’t. Focus on what will bring the highest returns and the partnerships that mean the most to you. Tie up loose ends and clear your mind of the nonsense in your life that is holding you back.

Progress requires clarity, precision and patience.

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Play to win. Refuse to give in to pressure or others’ demands. If you approach situations pragmatically, you will come out on top. A physical challenge will help you blow off steam.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Take a serious look at your current situation and determine what will make you happy. Don’t be fooled by someone who paints a rosy picture.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Make decisions based on the changes going on around you. Don’t miss out because you are afraid to make a move. Do your homework and push forward.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Keep an open mind, but don’t buy into someone else’s risky venture. Look for an outlet that will help you release stress and feel healthy and fit. Engage in romance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.

22) -- Make changes that count. Do your research

and find the most efficient way to incorporate what you want into your life. A change of pace will lead to new beginnings.

will pay off emotionally and financially. Get to know the people around you a little better.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Be reluctant to offer help to someone who takes you for granted. Spend time on personal growth, doing things with loved ones and pampering yourself. Make romance a priority.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Be reluctant to make a change too quickly.

Put greater emphasis on home, family and your physical well-being. Discuss your intentions with a loved one. A romantic gesture will enhance your love life.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Don’t let anyone take charge when you should be calling the shots. A diverse approach may cause controversy, but it will also help you stand out as a leader.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Truth matters.

Don’t get involved in gossip or situations that can cause problems with a loved one.

Spend more time on fitness, health and looking your best.

Make a romantic gesture.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You’ll reach your goal if you are open to change. A partnership

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Collaborate with someone who has something to contribute. Rely on your experience and wisdom to help negotiate a life change.

Reach out to someone you lost touch with some time ago.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Take a leadership position. Be the one to stand up for the rights of others and for yourself. Personal gain is apparent, and peace and love are favored. ©2020 UFS