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rrstar.com Volume 159, Number 265 $1.00
Rockford R StaregisterNewspaper of the Rock River Valley
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Egan leaves Byron for ‘dream job’SPORTS, PAGE B1
BEARS HANG ON TO BEAT JETS, 27-19SPORTS, PAGE B1
MACHESNEYZONING NIXESDUPLEX PLANLOCAL, PAGE A4
TODAY WED THU
72°/49° 72°/50° 73°/49°Complete forecast, A2
Mother’s plan upsets daughterA widowed mother’s plan to take a Mediterranean cruise with a gentleman friend has her daughter out of sorts. Annie has some advice. Annie’s Mailbox, B5
NATION/WORLD
LOCAL
Classifi ed ..B4-5,8Comics ............ B6Deaths ............ A5Local....... A2,4,6,8
Lottery ............ A2Opinion ........... A7Sports .......... B1-4US/World ........ A3
J im Oberweis stopped by Monday to talk about his Republi-
can campaign for the U.S. Senate. He’s a state sena-tor from Sugar Grove near Aurora and a businessman who owns Oberweis Dairy and Oberweis Securities. Oberweis faces Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfi eld, an incumbent since 1997. The race is tightening.
In a wide-ranging, hour-long conversation with our Editorial Board, Oberweis discussed issues important to both Illinois and to the nation.
Oberweis told us he’s been spending a lot of timeon Chicago’s south and west sides, courting the black vote, which Republi-cans rarely, if ever, do.
“We’ve been get-ting several prominent endorsements from the African-American com-munity,” Oberweis said, “something that Mr. Durbin professes not to understand.”
Three prominent black clergymen, the Rev. Ira Acree, senior pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church, the Rev. Corey Brooks, pastor of New Beginnings Church, and Bishop Larry Trotter, senior pastor of Sweet Holy Spirit Church of Chicago, have endorsed Oberweis.
“Our community has suff ered a lot under Demo-cratic policies, and a lot of what we’re experiencing,
Oberweis touts tax reform and more
By Corina CurryRockford Register Star
ROCKFORD — Retired insur-ance agent Larry Lang and seventh-grader Ramon Thurman have been working together on Thurman’s homework, discussing
Christian scripture and sharing a meal every Monday night for the past six years.
“We barely know each other,” Lang said with a laugh as he sat next to Thurman in a dining room at Maywood Evangelical Free Church. Thurman smiled and
nodded his head in agreement.The jokesters are surrounded
by other students and volunteers, some of whom are just starting their journey together as members of the Stateline Youth For Christ
Stateline Youth For Christ seeks church partners
CHUCK SWEENY
YOUTH FOR CHRIST
Faith-based tutoring club hopes to expand
Youth For Christ tutor Renee Anderson reads to Abigail Malget, 5, on Sept. 15 at Maywood Evangelical Free Church in Rockford. Malget brought the book from school. MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM
SEE YOUTH, A5
Airstrikes against Islamic State militants beginThe Pentagon says the U.S. and partner nations have begun airstrikes in Syria against Islamic State mili-tants, using a mix of fi ghter jets, bombers and Toma-hawk missiles fi red from ships in the region. A3
Islamic State militants kill 40 Iraqi troops Islamic State militants disguised in Iraqi army uniforms and driving stolen Humvees killed at least 40 Iraqi soldiers and captured 68 others in western Anbar prov-ince, breaking through a deteriorating Iraqi military off ensive in an area where the United States recently broadened its airstrike campaign. A3
By Pete Yost and Alicia A. CaldwellThe Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Inves-tigators found more than 800 rounds of ammunition,
a machete and two hatch-ets in the car of the former soldier accused of scaling the White House fence and sprinting inside the build-ing while carrying a knife, a federal prosecutor said
Monday. President Barack Obama said he was “obvi-ously concerned” about the weekend incident.
T h e S e c r e t S e r v i c e increased security around the famous grounds on
Pennsylvania Avenue in the nation’s capital, some guards openly holding weapons, others escort-ing dogs. There was talk of expanding White House security beyond the current
area as a major investiga-tion began into the question of how the man managed to get to the building without being stopped.
WHITE HOUSE SECURITY
800 rounds found in intruder case
By Corina CurryRockford Register Star
ROCKFORD — The Rock-ford Public Library board of trustees voted 6-3 Monday night to off er Lynn Stainbrook
the job of executive director.Stainbrook was one of four
finalists. She is the current director of the Brown County Library in Green Bay, Wis-consin, where she oversees eight branch libraries, 130
staff and an annual budget of more than $7 million. Before leading the Brown County Library, Stainbrook was the executive librarian at the
VOTE
Library board makes director pick
SEE LIBRARY, A6StainbrookSEE SWEENY, A6
SEE SECURITY, A6
Tuesday, September 23, 2014 A5ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
Tutoring Club.“It’s pretty awesome,”
Thurman said. Lang is like family, he explained. He’s a friend, too — an important one. “We read together. ... He’s helped me a lot with things, school-wise and Bible-wise.”
Youth For Christ, known throughout the region in the 1960s, ‘70 and ‘80s for its popular Campus Life high school clubs, shifted its focus to tutoring at-risk youth in the ‘80 when inter-est in Campus Life waned.
Today, Youth For Christ is looking to take its tutoring clubs to the next level. To do that, it needs partners.
One-on-one focusAfter-school programs
can be a dime a dozen.Almost every commu-
nity center or Boys & Girls club has one. Some schools have them. Churches have
them. Some focus on tutor-ing. Some host basketball leagues.
Youth For Christ leaders think their program stands out and has stood the test of time because of its simple three-prong approach: social, educational and spir-itual. Each student gets his or her own tutor. They keep their tutors the entire year, sometimes multiple years in
a row. It’s a long-term rela-tionship, leaders explained, and the students know that. Consistency matters.
When Jacob Palmer arrived three years ago as a fourth-grader, tutor Donna Wernberg knew the boy needed help with read-ing. Every Monday night, the pair met and reviewed vocabulary words. They’d read together. Sometimes
they’d play hangman.“I really needed the help,”
Palmer said. “Now, I’m get-ting Bs.”
Changed livesFor the 2013-2014 school
year, Youth For Christ operated seven tutor-ing programs at churches in Winnebago, Boone and Ogle counties. The
clubs served 109 children in grades kindergarten through fi ve. The children were students at 33 schools, public and private.
Dennis Elrick, ministry director of tutoring clubs, would like to see the pro-gram double in size. He’d especially like to see more clubs on the city’s west side.
Elrick, who has been run-ning Maywood’s club the
past 12 years with his wife, Sherri, is eager to share what he’s learned.
“I can train them. I can give them the information and supplies and teach-ing materials,” Elrick said. “What we need is other churches who want to have a club, who see what we’re doing and want to see some of the same results in their neighborhood.
“Getting the volunteers is the hardest part.”
Once established, the clubs help families and churches, too, said May-wood Executive Pastor Gary Kniseley.
“We have seen changed lives,” Kniseley said. “It’s strengthening families that don’t necessarily have the means to get this kind of help for their kids if they had to pay for it. In our members, you see a sense of ownership and wanting to make change.”
Corina Curry: 815-987-1371; [email protected]; @corinacurry
YOUTHFrom Page A1
Denny Elrick laughs while talking with students, par-ents and tutors Sept. 15 at Maywood Evangelical Free Church in Rockford. PHOTOS BY MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM
Ramon Thurman, 12, and his Youth For Christ tutor, Larry Lang, laugh while talking Sept. 15 at Maywood Evangelical Free Church in Rockford. Lang has been tutoring Thurman for about six years.
; ,
nor (Richard) Marsh; sec-
ond cousins, Greg (Paula)
Marsh and Dan (Mike Hel-
strom) Marsh. Predeceased
by parents and husband.
Funeral service will be at
2 p.m. Thursday, September
25, 2014 with a visitation
from 1:30 p.m. until service
time in Honquest Family
Funeral Home with Crema-
tory, 4311 N. Mulford Road,
Loves Park. In lieu of flow-
ers, memorials to Wesley
Willows. Burial in Arlington
Memorial Park Cemetery.
To share a memory or ex-
press condolences, visit
honquestfh.com.
GERALDINE E. VAN BUSKIRK, 89 ROCKFORD — Geraldine E.
Van Buskirk, 89, passed
away on Thursday, Septem-
ber 18, 2014. Born in Rock-
ford on September 2, 1925 to
Edwin and Esther (Ber-
genson) Johnson. She was a
graduate of East High
School; married Lawrence
Van Buskirk on June 15,
1968 in Rockford; he prede-
ceased her on September 9,
1988. Member of St. Paul
Lutheran Church and did
volunteer work for the
American Cancer Society,
Crusader Thrift Shop and
Mobile Meals. Survived by
her two step-children, Hope
(Richard) Bond and Larry
Van Buskirk; cousin, Elea-
service at 10 a.m., officiated
by the Rev. Brent Dahlseng,
and a lunch afterward. Me-
morials to Grace Lutheran
Church or Wesley Willows -
Kirk’s Place. Arrangements
by Anderson-Long-Klontz
Funeral Home & Cremation
Services LTD.
JACK R. OSWALD, 92 ROCKFORD — Jack R.
Oswald, 92 passed away
Aug. 29, 2014, lovingly sur-
rounded by his family. He
was born in Rockford on
Oct. 5, 1921, to Charles and
Iva Oswald. Jack, as a mem-
ber of the Greatest Genera-
tion was a Sergeant in the
Marine Corps, serving in the
South Pacific in WW2. He
returned from the war and
married Nellie Olson in
1945. He raised three chil-
dren on the Rock River in
“the house that Jack built”.
He is survived by Nellie; his
children, Lynn (Cathy)
Oswald, Gayle (Ellwyn) En-
glof, and Julie (Richard)
Harvey; grandchildren, Ja-
son (Missy) Oswald, David
(Lindsey) Oswald, Ila
(Marco Bernasconi) Englof,
Carla Englof, Nicole Walton,
and Dustin (Lauren) Fiepke;
6 great-grandchildren; and
brother Gene (Mary)
Oswald. At Grace Lutheran
Church, Jack was a Scout-
master of Troop 17, taught
Sunday School, and was a
member of church council.
He worked at Alga Reece
Sheet Metal for many years
and in later years formed
his own sheet metal busi-
ness. Jack managed the lo-
cal Sheet Metal Apprentice
Program for 20 years and
served as an instructor;
served on the Harlem
School Board for 12 years,
president 2 years, and on the
Regional Board of School
Trustees. He loved to travel,
to help people and to build
things. Of all of his accom-
plishments, he was most
proud of the fact that all of
his children and grandchil-
dren earned college degrees.
Jack’s life will be cele-
brated at Grace Lutheran
Church, 343 Grand Ave.,
Loves Park, on Friday, Sept.
26. Visitation at 9 a.m. and
i ffi i d
King of Cranberry Twp., PA;
twin great-nieces, Mya and
Ella; and nephew, Brett
(Erin) Hoffman of Ruther
Glen, VA. He was preceded
in death by his father.
Funeral services will be
held at 1 p.m. Saturday,
Sept. 27, 2014 in the Far-
rell-Holland-Gale Funeral
Home, 136 W. Roosevelt
Rd., Stillman Valley with
pastor Rick Lindholtz offici-
ating. Burial will be in
Stillman Valley Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Fri-
day from 6 to 8 p.m. in the
funeral home. Memorials
may be directed to the
Byron Booster Club.
www.farrellhollandgale.com
.
DANIEL R. HOFFMAN, 60 STILLMAN VALLEY —
Daniel R. Hoffman, 60, of
Stillman Valley, formerly of
Byron, died Sunday Sept. 21,
2014 at his home, after bat-
tling COPD for the last sev-
eral years. He was born
January 8, 1954 in Rockford,
IL the son of Paul R. and
Ruth (Hendershott) Hoff-
man. Dan grew up on a farm
north of Byron and was a
1972 graduate of Byron
High School, where he was a
class officer, excelled in
sports, and was a member of
the National Honor society.
He attended University of
Illinois on an academic
scholarship. Dan retired
from ComEd at the Byron
Nuclear Station. He was
confirmed in 1967 at the
United Church of Byron and
attended Valley Evangelical
Covenant Church in Still-
man Valley. Dan enjoyed the
outdoors, traveling, and was
a loyal Illini, Cubs, and
Bears fan. Survivors include
his mother, Ruth of Stillman
Valley; brothers, Paul
(Janice) Hoffman of Cran-
berry Twp., PA, and John
Hoffman of Springfield, IL;
nieces, Ellena (Chad) Rick-
man of Springfield, IL,
Heather (Russ) Duncan of
Irvine CA, Kathryn (Justin)
i f C b A
Wisconsin, in 1941, and
Bayless Business College,
Dubuque, Iowa, in 1942.
Gerry married Elden E.
Cook on December 7, 1943,
in Apple River. She worked
at the Savanna Ordinance, in
Savanna during WWII. To-
gether, Gerry and Elden
owned and operated Broad-
lawn Motel in Manchester,
Iowa. Upon its sale, they
purchased and operated the
Gold Star Motel and Restau-
rant in Rockford from 1970-
1997, retiring on May 2,
1997. Gerry was a member
of First Presbyterian
Church, Winnebago. She
was an avid Chicago Cubs
fan, rarely missing a game
on TV or radio. Gerry is lov-
ingly survived by her sons,
Gary (Liz) Cook, of Monroe
City, Mo., Dennis (Jane)
Cook, of Rockton, David
(Rita) Cook of Rockford and
Greg (Ona) Cook of Rock-
ford; 12 grandchildren; 18
great-grandchildren; 4
great-great-grandchildren;
and niece, Linda (Jim) Jack-
son of Madison, Wis. She
was predeceased by her
parents; husband, Elden on
May 16, 2002; infant son;
great-grandson, Benjamin
Cook; sister, Viola (Edward)
Simison; nephew, Donald
Simison; brothers-in-law,
Donald Cook and William
Parrish.
Service at 11 a.m. Thurs-
day, September 25, 2014, in
Genandt Funeral Home, 602
N. Elida St., Winnebago,
with visitation from 10 a.m.
until service time; the Rev.
Steve Shullanberger, pastor
of First Presbyterian
Church, will officiate. Pri-
vate burial in Elmwood
Cemetery, Warren. Memori-
als to First Presbyterian
Church.
GERALDINE E. 'GERRY' COOK, 90 ROCKFORD — Geraldine E.
“Gerry” Cook, 90, of Rock-
ford, died Saturday, Sep-
tember 20, 2014, in Alden-
Park Strathmoor, Rockford.
Born March 13,
1924, in Warren,
the daughter of
Ella Hirth.
Graduated from
Hazel Green
High School,
i i i 94 d
O B I T U A R I E SDeath noticesROCKFORD: Geraldine E. Cook, 90
Raymond N. Mann, 66
Jack R. Oswald, 92
Geraldine Van Buskirk, 89
Patricia A. Wadley, 77
AMBOY: Patricia K. Welty, 63
FREEPORT: Ebil Ellis, 94
Norma Stiefel, 87
Irene B. Undieme, 98
LOVES PARK: Kimberly A. White, 57
Robert L. Wise, 88
MT. CARROLL: Erma L. Richter, 97
ROSCOE: Cami Bramlett-Fox, 52
SAVANNA: Stephen D. Brkljack, 91
SOUTH BELOIT: Frank P. North Jr.
STILLMAN VALLEY: Daniel R. Hoffman, 60
STOCKTON: Delia Townsend
CITRUS HEIGHTS, CALIF.: Steven Thaxton
AVALON, WIS.: Janet R. Knipfer, 76
BELOIT, WIS.: Charles Rudolph, 61
CAMI BRAMLETT-FOX, 52 ROSCOE — Cami Bramlett-
Fox, 52, of Roscoe, passed
away peacefully, Saturday,
Sept. 20, 2014. Born Jan. 13,
1962, in Rockford, daughter
of Arthur and Mary Ann
(White) Bramlett. Gradu-
ated from
Boylan High
School, Class of
1981. Married
David A. Fox on
April 4, 1998, in
Loves Park. Em-
ployed by Rockford Memo-
rial Hospital for over 20
years. She loved cooking.
Survivors include husband,
Dave; daughter, Melissa
(Josh) Ferry; son, Justin
Bramlett; twin sons, Devon
and Eric Fox; four grand-
children; three brothers; fa-
ther-in-law, Wade Fox; and
best friend, Sandy Thomas.
Predeceased by parents; and
mother-in-law, Mary F. Fox.
Service at 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 25, in Dele-
hanty Funeral Home, Ltd.,
401 River Lane, Loves Park,
with visitation from 10:30
a.m. to service time. Burial
in Rockton Township Ceme-
tery. For more information,
visit delehantyfh.com.
STEPHEN DANIEL BRKLJACK, 91 SAVANNA — Stephen
Daniel Brkljack, 91, of Sa-
vanna, died Sunday. Ar-
rangements are pending
with Law-Jones Funeral
Home.
EBIL ELLIS, 94 FREEPORT — Ebil Ellis,
94, of Freeport, died Friday.
Arrangements are pending
with Burke-Tubbs Funeral
Home.
JANET R. KNIPFER, 76 AVALON, Wis. — Janet R.
Knipfer, 76, of Avalon, Wis.,
died Sunday. Arrangements
are pending with Brian G.
Mark Funeral Homes.
RAYMOND N. MANN, 66 ROCKFORD — Raymond N.
Mann, 66, of Rockford, died
Monday. Arrangements are
pending with Delehanty Fu-
neral Home, Ltd.
FRANK P. NORTH JR. SOUTH BELOIT — Frank P.
North Jr., of South Beloit,
died Friday. Arrangements
are pending with Cremation
Society of Illinois, Inc.
ERMA L. RICHTER, 97 MT. CARROLL — Erma L.
Richter, 97, of Mt. Carroll,
died Sunday. Arrangements
are pending with Law Jones
Funeral Home.
CHARLES RUDOLPH, 61 BELOIT, Wis. — Charles
Rudolph, 61, of Beloit, Wis.,
died Saturday. Arrange-
ments are pending with
Daley Murphy Wisch & As-
sociates Funeral Home.
NORMA STIEFEL, 87 FREEPORT — Norma
Stiefel, 87, of Freeport, died
Saturday. Arrangements are
pending with Leamon Fu-
neral Home.
DR. STEVEN THAXTON CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. —
Dr. Steven Thaxton passed
away peacefully from this
world September 14, 2014.
He was born to Paul and
Janet Thaxton April 30,
1949. He attended Alpine
Grade School and Guilford
High School in Rockford, Il-
linois. He’s been a Califor-
nia resident for 42 years. He
is survived by his brother,
Paul Thaxton Jr.; life part-
ner, Mark Cherry; children,
Jennifer (Tyson) Fiterre,
Jayson Thaxton, Joshua
(Hannah) Savage; and his
grandchildren, Hannah, Ha-
ley and Bryson Fiterre. He
was a beloved father and
grandfather who will be
greatly missed.
Steven’s memorial is at
the following website:
www.blueoakscbs.com. Do-
nations can be made in his
honor to the American
Heart Association at
www.heart.org.
DELIA TOWNSEND STOCKTON — Delia Town-
send, of Stockton, died Sun-
day. Arrangements are
pending with Hermann Fu-
neral Home.
IRENE B. UNDIEME, 98 FREEPORT — Irene B.
Undieme, 98, of Freeport,
died Monday. Arrangements
are pending with Burke-
Tubbs Funeral Home.
PATRICIA A. WADLEY, 77 ROCKFORD — Patricia A.
Wadley, 77, of Rockford,
was called home to be with
the Lord, Sunday September
21st. Born July 1st, 1937 in
Marshalltown, Iowa to
Elmer and Margarite Wag-
ner. She married Charles E.
Wadley on February 5th,
1959. She was a local beau-
tician for 27 years. Survi-
vors include her husband of
55 years, Chuck; children,
Dan (Tracy), Ty, Bradley
Scott, Taffey (Scott) and
Shannon (Maxy); 15 grand
kids; 5 great-grand kids; sis-
ters, Darlene (Sal), Donna
(Wally), Debbie (Jake);
brother, Rick (Kathy);
brother in-laws, Don Wadley
(Kathy), and Bill Harper;
sister in-laws, Anita and
Adrian Wadley; several
nieces and nephews. She
was predeceased by her
brother, Russell; brother in-
laws, Bob, Joe and Ken
Wadley; and sister in-law,
Jackie Harper.
Memorial funeral Service
11 a.m., Thursday, Septem-
ber 25, 2014 at First Evan-
gelical Free Church. Pastor
Chuck Rife Officiating. Me-
morial visitation 9 a.m. to
time of service at the
church. Pat had a heart for
those less fortunate at the
Rockford Rescue Mission. In
lieu of flowers a memorial
contribution to the mission
in Pat’s honor would be ap-
preciated. Arrangements by
Cremation Society of Illi-
nois, 6825 Weaver Road.
PATRICIA K. WELTY, 63 AMBOY — Patricia K.
Welty, 63, of Amboy, died
Friday. Arrangements are
pending with the Jones Fu-
neral Home.
KIMBERLY A. WHITE, 57 LOVES PARK — Kimberly
A. White, 57, of Loves Park,
died Sunday. Arrangements
are pending with Fitzgerald
Funeral Home and Crema-
tory, Mulford Chapel.
ROBERT LEE WISE, 88 LOVES PARK — Robert Lee
Wise, 88, of Loves Park, de-
voted husband, loving father
and grandfather, died Sun-
day, September
21, 2014 at his
home. Born
January 17,
1926, in Durand
he was the son
of Conrad and
Clara (Petitt) Wise and was
a graduate of Durand High
School. On November 20,
1946 Bob and Neva Jean
Henze were united in mar-
riage at St. Paul Church,
Davis, after 65 years of mar-
riage she preceded him in
death on November 22, 2011.
Bob served in the United
States Marine Corps during
World War II, spending his
18th birthday in combat in
the Pacific and achieving
the rank of Corporal by
war’s end. He joined the Il-
linois State Police (ISP) and
served as a Trooper and De-
tective for nearly 30 years.
He and his wife owned
Belvidere Travel Agency
and Loves Park Travel for
20 years which upon his re-
tirement from the ISP, al-
lowed them to travel around
the world. They retired to
Tarpon Springs, FL in 1993.
Bob remained a loyal Cubs
Fan, always waiting for
“next year.” Surviving are
two sons, Russell Wise of
California, Robin (Jean
Schusler) of Loves Park;
grandson, Robert Wise of
Roscoe; two sisters Twyla
(John) Brandner, Joyce
Sykes; sisters-in-law, Reva
Wise, Laurena Wise; neph-
ews Shirl (Kathy) Wise,
Gary (Cindy) Wise, Dan
(Ginny) Wise, Lauren (Lois)
Meinert, Fred Meinert, Ste-
ven (Carol) Meinert and
Robert Wise; nieces Debra
(Wesley) Cunningham,
Shirla (Roy) Moody, Kathy
Morrow and Marilyn Wise;
numerous great nieces and
great nephews. Preceding
him in death were his par-
ents, wife Neva, four broth-
ers Carlyle, Gerald (Ruth),
Lowell, Duane, nephew
Kenneth Wise and brother-
in-law Ray Sykes.
Visitation will be 5 to 7
p.m. Wednesday, September
24, 2014 at Daughenbaugh
Funeral Home, Dakota. Fu-
neral service will be 11 a.m.
Thursday, September 25,
2014 at St Paul Church of
Epleyanna rural Davis with
the Rev. Scott Naevestad of-
ficiating. Burial will be at
the St Paul Church Ceme-
tery. In lieu of flowers a
memorial has been estab-
lished in his name. Bob’s
family invites friends to
share a story or light a can-
dle in his honor at
www.daughenbaughfh.com.
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