Ogle County News

The Polo Historical Society will host a Holiday Home Tour on Dec. 5. Participating homes are: ■ Scott and Melanie Armstrong, new home with geothermal heating on 13260 W. Eagle Point Road.

Some view them as a drain on society, but to Ogle County these criminals are a way of pumping up the budget.

Senator to ask FBI for help in 1948 murder: Sheriff says FBI declined request 
more than 2 years ago By VINDE WELLS 
vwells@shawnews.com 
Shaw News Service Mary Jane Reed was found shot to death in June 1948; her murderer was never found.

OREGON – A federal takeover of Thomson Correctional Center wouldn't affect the number of federal prisoners boarded at Ogle County Jail, the fees from which bring about $1 million a year to county coffers, Sheriff Greg Beitel said Tuesday.

POLO – Two teenage girls suffered minor injuries Wednesday afternoon when their car slid off the road and into a cornfield.

Fred E. Berquez, 48, of Sublette; 8:22 p.m. Wednesday; driving on a suspended license; posted $100 bond; given notice to appear in court.

Honor Flight, www.honorflight.org, is a national organization dedicated to sending World War II vets to Washington, D.C., to see the memorial created in their honor.

MOUNT MORRIS – Donald B. Barnhart, 71, a lifelong Mount Morris area resident, died Sunday, Nov.

Ogle County sheriff says the department will reduce costs by not buying new equipment, and participating in only state- and federally mandated training.

Construction workers Tuesday digging along state Route 64 about 2 miles east of Oregon cut a Verizon fiber optic line, which led to land line phone service and possibly Internet problems in Ogle, Lee and Whiteside counties, according to the Ogle County Sheriff's Department.

Polo Police Chief Dennis Christen holds up the symbol of the Helping Hand program Tuesday night at a community crime prevention meeting at the Polo Senior Center.

OREGON – Forreston Village President and veteran Ogle County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Harn wants his boss' job.

Ogle County Sheriff Greg Beitel says they're facing $1 million in cuts as the county works to offset a budget short-fall. Beitel says that would mean laying off 25 sheriff employees, or about a third of his staff.

Want to read a really scary story for Halloween? Don't go to the horror department in the bookstore.

Illinois State Police Donald E. Bollman, 79, of Rochelle; 8:15 a.m. Friday on state Route 38 and Lincoln Highway, Rochelle; no seat belt, no valid driver's license; given notice to appear in court.

OREGON – The most recent round of Ogle County budget cuts will mean layoffs in the sheriff's department, where union members have refused to accept wage freezes and salary rollbacks.

The criminal justice system in Ogle County is trying a new cooperative approach to discourage juvenile offenders from committing more crimes.

A worker fills in a washed-out bridge at Lost Nation with rock after it succumbed to a torrent of water June 21.

Police from several jurisdictions worked with civilian volunteers this morning to conduct a ground and air search in the Somonauk area for a kidnapped, 7-year-old Somonauk girl.

DIXON – Ogle and Lee counties will host the 10th annual Electronics Recycling event from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to noon Oct.