Spring has finally made its way to northern Illinois and with it comes the changes we haven’t seen in several months.
Our primary economic driver in this region is farming and with the warmer weather planting season begins. I want to take a moment and remind the public of the importance of sharing the roads.
Like many other industries, farming uses large equipment to increase efficiency but with the large equipment comes hidden dangers to the motoring public. It is important to remember these oversize vehicles travel at a much slower speed and because of the size it makes passing difficult.  
Remember to choose your passing location in a manner which does not endanger you, the equipment operator or the oncoming motorist. This is extremely important at night. Most equipment has flashing lights and/or a slow moving vehicle triangle, this should indicate to you the need to slow down whether approaching from behind or while passing in the opposite direction. Remember, around these vehicles we need to slow down, yield when appropriate and make sure everybody arrives back home safely, even if it takes a few extra minutes.

April and May will begin a very busy time for the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office. National Drug Take Back Day is April 29 from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. This year the sheriff’s office will have two locations to drop off unused prescription medications. The first location will be staffed by Investigators from the sheriff’s office at 115 N. Third Street in Oregon while the new second location will be staffed by Chief Deputy Danny White and myself at 212 S. Division Avenue, Polo (south of the Shell gas station). Both locations will accept prescription medicine for proper disposal.
Nationally, the month of April also begins Distracted Driving Awareness Month. An estimated 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015. That is a nine percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year. Of those, 10 percent of fatal crashes, 15 percent of injury crashes, and 14 percent of all police reported motor vehicle crashes in 2015 were reported as distraction affected crashes.  The Illinois Sheriff’s Association, along with the Illinois Chiefs of Police, have designated the week of April 23 as Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week. During this time the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office will conduct directed patrols to specifically address distracted driving violations.
During the month of May the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office will participate in the 36th annual Police Memorial Week activities. This event is hosted by the Northern Illinois Multi-Jurisdictional Honor Guard. During this time we publically remember those members of law enforcement who died protecting the communities they served, and honoring the families left behind. This time also allows many outreach opportunities. Most of these activities are held at the Cherry Vale Mall on May 19, 20 and 21.  During this time Ogle County, along with many other agencies throughout northern Illinois, will have vehicles and equipment on display, Police K9 demonstrations are planned throughout the weekend and Sunday from 1-3 p.m. sheriffs and police chiefs will be attending their specific displays.  
If you ever have any questions please do not hesitate to call the Sheriff’s Office at 815-732-1101.

Brian VanVickle is the Ogle County Sheriff