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POLO
Tri-County Press May 31, 2018 Volume 160, Number 5 - $1.00
Strong Start
Double Winner
Fundraising Hits Road
The Polo Girls senior division team comes out of the gate with a 14-0 victory over AFC. A10
Forreston-Polo’s AJ Christensen wins both hurdles event at state meet. B1
Oregon Together members take to Chicago for Black Hawk repair fundraising efforts. A9
Polo High School seniors say thank you and farewell By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com Polo seniors said “thank you, and farewell” Sunday afternoon as they entered the building as students, and left it as graduates. It was stuffy and sweaty inside the Polo Community High School gym, with temperatures almost hitting triple-digits around the area, but that didn’t stop proud families from packing in shoulder-to-shoulder for a good picture and a birds-eye view of the commencement ceremony. At 2 p.m. sharp, the alltoo-familiar tune of Sir Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” rang through the speakers, and graduates marched down the aisle twoby-two, with Tyler Maginnis and Dakota Meyer leading the pack with a hand shake and fanfare they would perform at the beginning of the basketball games. From there, the seniors took their seats up on the stage, and Priscilla Tennison and Megan Call gave a warm welcome to everyone in attendance. Call referenced the maturity one goes through between their first days as a freshman, and their final days in cap and gown. “If you came up to Priscilla or myself as freshmen, and asked us if we’d like to speak in front of a gymnasium full of people, I’m sure we would have run in the opposite direction,” Call said. “These changes are
for the better, though; without this time, or these experiences, a lot of us wouldn’t have the confidence we have, or the passion we have for things we now love.” Tennison, who earned a spot among the top 10 seniors, poured out appreciation for the student body, and the people who have grown up together through the school system. “I wouldn’t have a picked another group of fantastic young adults to share my high school experience with,” Tennison said. The PCHS choir then performed Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “How Far I’ll Go,” from Disney’s “Moana.” Valedictorian Lena Baumann then took the honor of addressing the room, thanking students, staff, and parents alike for memories and support through the class’ four years. “While we may have a small class, it’s clear that this group of students is very high achieving, and capable of handling each and every challenge they face,” said Baumann. “We managed to make a big impact with community involvement and service.” Baumann’s comments referenced the 56 individual local scholarships earned by Polo graduates, as well as the 1,300 hours of community service performed by the class. Illinois State Scholars Hanna Blumhoff and Jordan Drolema then welcomed physics and chemistry teacher Gina Cole to give a teacher’s address, and
After reflecting on years worth of memories, receiving their diplomas, and turning their cap tassels to finish their journey, the graduating PCHS class of 2018 celebrated with the traditional silly string blast. Photo by Zach Arbogast
Cole addressed the students with a personalized version of Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” “Seuss describes the perils and pleasures of navigating the choices you make in life, encouraging us to stay true to
ourselves,” Cole said, before reading her version. “The real genius in this story is in the message that it’s not where you go, but the journey that your lives will find.” Cole ’s final words to her students were about the
importance of living a life with passion. “A life of passionate purpose is a happy life, and a happy life is a successful life,” Cole said. “Make happiness happen, and share with others.” Then, the part parents wait
for most of all commenced, and the students received their diplomas from school board member Kellie O’Leary Call and Superintendent Chris Rademacher. Turn to A3
Teen dies after being rescued from Lake Louise By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com
Memorial Day Services The American Legion color guard leads the pack as the annual Memorial Day parade and service made its way down Mason Street Monday morning. Photo by Zach Arbogast
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5 Library News, A8
Marriage Licenses, A4 Polo Police, A2 Pine Creek News, A3 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, A10, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
A 16-year-old Rockford boy died Monday evening after being pulled from Lake Louise near Byron early in the afternoon. Winnebago County Coroner Bill Hintz said Tuesday that Luis Campos died from drowning around 9:10 p.m. at Mercyhealth, Rockford, where he was taken by ambulance after being rescued from the lake around 1 p.m. According to a press release from Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle, the teenager disappeared under the water in area of the lake designated as “no swimming” as he was attempting to retrieve a beach ball that had floated away. Witnesses reported seeing him go under water and not resurface. Several people along with on duty life guards and first responders searched the area and pulled him from the water after approximately 10 minutes, the press release said. Lake Louise is a campground and recreation area north of Byron at 8840 N. Ill. 2. Illinois Conservation Police and the Byron Police Department assisted at the scene. “The incident remains under investigation, however, no type of foul play is suspected,” the press release said.
Deaths, B5 Betty Diven, Ron Erdman, Carl A. Forney, Robert Gaul, Maryann Hackett Mason, Linda Straith
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com