An expert hired to analyze the results of new air quality testing done at Cortland Elementary School says the school is safe for students and staff, but is also recommending that the level of hydrogen sulfide in the air there be continuously monitored.

Doctor Theodore Hogan has taught and done work assessing airborne health risks for three decades and was hired by the DeKalb School District to review a second, more elaborate set of tests for the potential harmful gas hydrogen sulfide done at the school by an independent company.

"The test that they did, not only in the school, but outside the school and around the area, were very low," says Hogan. "They were well below the minimal risk level of .02 parts-per-billion."

That minimum level for risk is set by a federal agency.

Hogan’s assessment has been reviewed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the agency has agreed with its findings. Even though hydrogen sulfide was at low levels in the testing, Hogan is recommending the district take some action.

"I recognize there’s a lot of concern among the community about the safety of their kids, with good reason," says Hogan, "and so I felt, in this situation, that the best way to assure that their kids were protected was to install a monitor in this school to monitor on a continuous basis."

The monitoring equipment will send an alarm to school personnel if the hydrogen sulfide level in the building reaches minimum risk level. The steps to lower the level that will be taken if the alarm goes off will now be developed. The School Board Thursday night did not raise any objections to buying the $20,000 to $25,000 monitoring equipment.

The hydrogen sulfide testing was prompted by the possible expansion of the landfill south of I-88. Landfill produce the gas. Hogan says while the testing showed the hydrogen sulfide in Cortland School is coming from outside the building, it could not pinpoint the landfill as the source.

After a five-year absence, a drum and bugle corps competition returns to DeKalb Saturday.

Kishwaukee Fest, a week of musical events leading up to the competition, also returned this year. Friday night is the Lincoln Highway Parade. Organizer Michael Embrey says there will be 70 entries in the parade.

"We have floats, we have antique cars, we have several drum and bugle corps, in fact we have 8 drum and bugle corps, as well as 3 other musical units," says Embrey. "Add that to some clubs and organizations, some boy scouts and some Lions clubs. There's a variety."

The parade will begin at seven Friday night at Huntley Middle School. It’ll then go through downtown on Lincoln Highway, turn on Second Street and then disperse at Locust.

The Festival of Champions Drum and Bugle Corps Show begins at seven o’clock Saturday night at Huskie Stadium. The groups are coming from as far away as California, New Jersey and Canada.

"The best way to describe it to the non-drum-corps person, it's like Broadway on grass," says Embrey. "Costume changes and choreography, dancing, patterns as well as a great musical score, and all these arrangements are custom written for these shows."

Tickets to the competition are $20 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission.

Two events to benefit the American Cancer Society will be held this Saturday at the Sycamore Community Park.

Relay For Life will have a second go round after being rained out earlier this summer. Festivities will kick at 4 p.m. and close out at 10 p.m.

Also, the first-ever DeKalb County Bark For Life will be held at the Sycamore Community Park Saturday. Walk a mile with your dog, beginning at 10 a.m. Day-of-registration is $35 and begins at nine o'clock. 

The 2010 Vet Fest Picnic will be held this Saturday at the Dekalb/Taylor Municipal Airport from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The cost is $10 per person, and children under ten are admitted for free and are served free hot dogs and chips. Music will be provided by the Jim Gibson and Green Briar Mountain Band, Dave and Rick from the Foot Stompers, and Stroker Red.

Tickets may be purchased at the Dekalb American Legion Post#66, The Dekalb VFW Post #2287, or the Dekalb AMVETS Post #90.

Closing arguments are Friday in a Hinckley teen’s attempted armed robbery trial.

19-year-old Matthew Reno is accused of holding up the First Midwest Bank in Union in 2008.

His friend, 19-year-old Justin Fasel of Big Rock, testified against Reno Thursday as part of a plea bargain and says he drove Reno to and from the area of the bank. Fasel says he also helped Reno burn his clothes.

But a teller at the bank says she can’t identify Reno as the robber since the robber’s face was covered, and a fingerprint expert says Reno’s prints weren’t found at the bank.

Another jury found Reno not guilty of robbing another bank in Huntley.

The DeKalb City Council has committed to widening projects for two heavily-traveled roads.

The council has gave final approval to hiring an engineering firm for $142,000 to design a four-lane bridge to replace the existing two-lane bridge on Bethany Road over the Kishwaukee River in 2012.

In addition to continuing the widening of Bethany from Sycamore Road to First Street, City Engineer Joel Mauer, fielding a question from First Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson, says the new bridge will be higher.

"Even in light of the highest water marks we've seen recently, are we going to be less likely to see water sloshing over the top of the bridge," asked Simpson.

"Oh, definately," responded Mauer. "We're raising this bridge about 18-inches for the reasons that you said. There's been updated flood studies and flood plain maps developed, and that's why this is being raised."

After the construction of the new bridge, widening Bethany from the bridge to First Street is expected to happen in 2013 or 14.

The council has also agreed to provide 20-percent of the $2.1-million cost to widen Peace Road to four lanes from Pleasant Street south to the railroad overpass. That project is scheduled for next construction season.

Mauer says Congressman Bill Foster is working to secure funding to continue the widening from the overpass to Route 38.

The Bethany bridge replacement and most of the Peace Road widening is being covered by federal funds. The bridge engineering costs and the city’s share for the Peace Road widening will come from motor fuel tax revenue, which need to be spent on road improvements.

The DeKalb Plan Commission has approved some rule changes designed to cut down on the amount of sign clutter seen in the city, while at the same time, allowing businesses to use temporary signs more.

The commission Wednesday night voted 4-0 to approve changes to the city’s temporary sign ordinance. They now go to the City Council for review.

If approved there, businesses and organizations would be allowed to use temporary signs for two-weeks six-times a year, up from two-times a year now. The minimum fine for breaking the rule would also increase from $25 to $250, a move to encourage compliance.

Commission members did question how well the city will be able to enforce the rules following this summer’s reductions in city staff.

On Sunday, spend a summer day like barb-wire-baron Isaac Ellwood.

The annual Ice Cream Social at the Ellwood House on North First Street is this Sunday from two to five.

In addition to the frozen custard that will be served, Avril Schreiber with the DeKalb Area Garden Club says they’ll be having their Flower Show in the house’s Visitor Center.

"The show is, basically, to help people realize what fun enjoying gardening is," says Schreiber. "We have displays, but for sale, we have posies out of flowers that are brought that day from members' gardens. We help, therefore, support funds for the Kishwaukee College Horticulture Department."

The Garden Club will be showing specimen flowers from members’ gardens and flower arrangements and will have displays on vegetables and edible flowers.

The special exhibit “Vacationing with the Ellwoods” will be open during Sunday’s open house, and beginning at 2:30, the DeKalb Municipal Band will put on a concert.

A new site has been found for the circus.

Matt Volk, with the DeKalb Knights of Columbus, which is bring in the circus as a fundraiser, says the Carson and Barnes Circus will now come to the Sycamore Speedway.

It will be held on the same days, August 9th and 10th, and at the same times, 4:30 and 7:30 each day. Tickets purchased for the previous location will be honored at the speedway.

The city of Sycamore denied the Knight of Columbus’ request to hold the circus behind the Farm and Fleet store on Sycamore Road, citing concerns about parking and having pedestrians near store traffic.

Volk believes they’ll be able to get the necessary permit from the Kane County Health Department to hold the event at the speedway. He notes three circuses have been held there before.

A fire in DeKalb Tuesday night was contained to a garage.

The fire in the 1200-block of Mason Court started in a garbage can, where rags that had been used to stain a deck had been thrown out. Firefighters say the rags grew hot and started on fire.

A painter in the attached house found the fire, and firefighters were able to contain it to the garage. No one was injured.

There was an estimated $5,000 in damage to the garage. Firefighters say there was only light smoke damage to the house.