Canine comforters return from tornado area
Dec. 12, 2013
By Troy A. Bruzewski
Editor
BELVIDERE – A pair of dogs from Belvidere comprise an emergency response unit of their own.
Bekah and Kye – two dogs housed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church – are back home after playing the role of “comfort dogs” in the tornado-ravaged areas of southern Illinois, including Washington. The dogs are part of Lutheran Church Charities – an organization with over 70 dogs it sends nationwide to respond to areas affected by tragedy. Libby Robertson is a dog handler for the cause and is one of the chauffeurs who bring them to their desired locations.
“The dogs fill a void,” she said. “A traumatized person finds it easier to talk to someone about their situation with a dog in the room and maybe even vent to the dog. The best thing about the dogs is that you can tell them anything and they won’t tell anyone.”
The dogs are taken to locations for the benefit of children and adults and the charity has been providing pups from coast-to-coast. Dogs from the charity have not only been to southern Illinois on multiple occasions, but they’ve also been called to: Newtown, Conn.; Oklahoma, California and Texas. Robertson said in some instances, the dogs are permanently housed in the city they visit, as with the Newtown shootings that occurred nearly one year ago today.
“The dogs sent to Newtown, spent so much time out there after the shootings,” she said. “Two dogs were placed out there permanently. They were very important for Newtown – comforting the kids and encouraging them to talk about what they’re feeling.”
Robertson said the dispatched handlers and dogs, team with the local Lutheran church in the area and setup shop.
“Quite often when we respond to a disaster, we work out of a Lutheran church and there you can see how the dogs work, first hand,” she said.
Void of an event out-of-town, the dogs are still playing their role in Belvidere.
“The dogs may be called from the church or the school to have kids read to them, to encourage reading or to help a student with discipline problems, open up to what’s going on,” she said.
Sometimes, there are personal disasters in the area that the dogs are called to.
“We recently got a phone call about a dishwasher fire and both the dogs went there,” she said. “The pastor asked if we’d go there and comfort the kids who were affected,” she said. “Just to offer comfort in a difficult time.”
Kinzinger files for re-election to 3rd term in Congress
Dec. 12, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
Reporter
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., has formally filed his nominating petition to seek a third, two-year term in Congress and he will kickoff his campaign in Poplar Grove, Saturday.
Two other legislators representing Boone County, state Reps. Bob Pritchard, R-Sycamore, and Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, previously announced they would be running again. State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, has two years remaining in his current term.
Kinzinger submitted petitions signed by 2,378 registered voters in the 16th congressional district, three times the required number.
Kinzinger first was elected in 2010. Redistricting two years later put him in the same district with longtime U.S. Rep. Donald Manzullo, also a Republican, and the two met in the 2012 primary election. While Boone County and surrounding area backed Manzullo, Kinzinger rode a wave of support from the southern portion of the district to win. He then defeated a Democratic opponent in the general election.
The primary election is in March 2014, with the general election in November.
After being elected he opened an office in Belvidere City Hall.
Kinzinger currently serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
At 35, he is one of the youngest members of Congress and has been named one of Time Magazine's 40 under 40 "rising stars in American poltiics.
He continues to serve as a pilot in the Illinois National Guard and has received the Valley Forge Cross for Heroism Air Force Airman's medal for saving a woman's life and subduing her attacker. He also was selected the Southeastern American Red Cross' Hero of the Year and has been awarded the Air Medal six times for service in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
He will begin his campaign for re-election at the Vintage Wings and Wheels’ Christmas party.
No public health problems found at animal control building
Dec. 12, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
Reporter
BELVIDERE - A Boone County Health Department official has inspected the county animal control services building off Appleton Road and found no public health problems.
Bill Hatfield, director of environmental services, said there were some issues with cleanliness but nothing serious enough to condemn the building because of being a danger to people.
He made that report Dec. 5 to the health and human services committee, a standing committee of the county board.
In that report Hatfield stated he found rodent droppings in the dogfood storage room and some puddling of water on the concrete walkway in the pen area after washing occurred.
"No public health violations were found, which would warrant action by the health department on behalf of the public," he stated.
Committee and county board member Marion Thornberry wanted such an inspection to see if the building should be condemned. Hatfield stated he and Thornberry met Nov. 5, with the inspection being conducted Nov. 7.
For a building to be condemned, it would have to be considered a "serious hazard to health," according to provisions of the county code. The building would have to be so damaged, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe or vermin infested "that it creates a serious hazard to the health or safety of the occupants or the public," the provision states.
Reasons to condemn
Condemnation also could occur if the building lacks illumination, ventilation or sanitation that are "adequate to protect the health or safety of the occupants or the public."
Finally, the building could be in such a condition that it is dangerous to the health and safety of the occupants or the public.
At the committee meeting Thornberry asked about "things crawling around in the office?" Hatfield replied they were not considered a public health issue.
"What about water quality?" Thornberry asked, referring to the fact employees drink bottled water.
Hatfield answered that water samples were taken and found to be satisfactory.
"If they choose not to drink it, that's their choice," he said.
Committee member Bill Pysson asked when the last water quality test occurred.
"2005, maybe," Hatfield said.
"I think it should be done again," Pysson said.
Animal control staff turned to the need for a new building with supervisor Roger Tresemer saying it wasn't worth doing any more improvements.
"One of my biggest issues is no isolation room," he added. "It's time to build a new building."
"We have outgrown our space," programs coordinator Jacqui Mitzelfelt chipped in.
Committee Chairman Paul Larson said the county is addressing all of that in a new building. He said he didn't see anyone putting up any roadblocks - at least none that he was aware of.
More discussion of both issues is planned for the January committee meeting.
Open house held for expansion of museum, research center
Dec. 11, 2013
By Bob Balgemann
Reporter
BELVIDERE - A dream that was 20 years in the making has become reality with the grand opening for expansion of the Boone County Historical Museum.
A large crowd turned out in chilly weather Friday to join county museum district officials and others for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
This is a 6,000-square-foot addition that connects the museum and adjacent research center, and includes new display space, offices and storage.
The museum opened in 1968. With an eye toward the future the district board purchased buildings along Pleasant Street and tore them down to create open space directly north of the museum. In 2007, the district purchased a bank building next door for use as a research center.
Now those buildings have been joined in a $1.4-million project.
There was significant community support for the expansion, with $500,000 in donations. The district then secured a $950,000 loan to pay the balance.
The museum has a vast collection of artifacts arranged in exhibits that focus on time periods and significant individuals from Boone County's past. There is a complete pioneer log cabin, a walkway down a village street of bygone days and a handful of vehicles
At the research center there are books, newspapers, videos, slides, microfilm, photographs and maps to help a person find out more about the county and its history. There are files on area businesses, industry, agriculture, arts and entertainment, prominent people, crimes, government, events, wars, organizations, military, people, architecture and more.
This larger facility is part of a historically significant area of downtown Belvidere.
A recent addition is the working letter press museum on Locust Avenue. Also last year two portions of the business district were named to the National Register of Historic Places. Five buildings in or around the business core, including one designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, also are on the National Register.
And nearby is the 23-home West Hurlbut Avenue Historic District.
Former Mayor Fred Brereton put together a committee to include the historic element as part of a plan to revitalize the downtown. That effort is continuing under the current mayor, Mike Chamberlain.
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