Two DeKalb Road Widenings Move Forward

The WLBK Game of the Week is Sycamore hosting Burlington Central.

Spartans Head Coach Joe Ryan likes what he saw in his teams 57-14 win over North Lawndale in Chicago, including over 400-yards rushing across multiple running backs.

"We have great depth, and if we need breaks or if something happens, we have kids that are able to stick their foot in the ground and get that change in direction," says Ryan. "I wasn't sure we had that, but after watching Saturday, I think we do."

Ryan says special teams played aggressively. The Spartans did work on tackling this week, and Ryan says being discipline on defense will be key against Burlington Central Friday night.

Coverage from Engh Field begins around 7:05 on 1360 WLBK and here on 1360wlbk.com.

DeKalb’s home opener is against Hampshire Friday night. All of the Barbs home games, except next week’s Castle Challenge, are at the high school this year.

"I think we need to start some home field traditions; hopefully, start some home field advantages," says Head Coach Marty Sanders. "There's nothing like Friday night under the lights at your own field. The field is ready to go, the community is ready to go and we're, certainly, ready to get at it."

Sanders says they want to do a better job taking care of the ball Friday night after too many turnovers in last week’s 28-21 last-minute win at Ottawa.

Genoa Kingston is at Iroquois West this week.

They’re coming off a 19-0 win over Aurora Central Catholic. Head Coach Bill McCarty said his running backs did a nice job. The Cogs also have several of the, and McCarty says it's a good problem to have.

"They all run the ball well and can catch the ball," says McCarty. "I jokingly told them I didn't have enough footballs for them all to carry. You only got one ball. We got four or five guys who can run it."

McCarty says they’ll be concentrating on stopping Iroquois West’s running game Friday night.

Kaneland is at Huntley Friday night after last week’s 37-22 win over Burlington Central . Hiawatha is hosting Alden Hebron after falling to Hope Academy 28-13 last week.

Peters: Make NIU Most Student-Centered

Over the next decade, the president of Northern Illinois University wants NIU to become the most student-centered university in the Midwest.

That’s the goal of the Vision 2020 initiative that President John Peters announced during his State of the University address Thursday. A committee, chaired by Peters, himself, will be formed by Thanksgiving to create a plan for how NIU will develop over the next ten years, including setting benchmarks for enrollment size and number of graduates that should be reached by 2020.

Peters says becoming student-centric is necessary since the student body is changing to include more transfer students and second-career adults, who will require more academic support. He says it’s also needed to compete for students.

"Over the next decade, the number of Illinois high school graduates is projected to decline by five-percent," says Peters. "Meanwhile, there is more competition than ever for those students. It comes from other states schools, from private institutions and community colleges and from out-of-state. In fact, Illinois is one of the nation's largest exporters of college students."

Peters also wants the initiative to move the university away from a reliance on state funding for support. He says they can learn from the recently-completed True North campaign, which brought in $162-million in private donations to NIU.

"In Illinois, the economic model that supported our institution for generations has eroded dramatically," says Peters. "I'm not going to rehash Illinois' fiscal problems other than to say this: The past decade has demonstrated that we can no longer rely on the state as a stable source of funding for our basic academic mission."

Peters’ hopes to have the committee’s plan approved by Board of Trustee at the end of the school year.

Maple Park Fun Fest Runs Through Labor Day Weekend

Fun Fest will fill Maple Park over the Labor Day weekend.

It begins Friday night with the first live bands - there will be live music through Sunday - and the food booths and beer garden, which will also be open Saturday.

There’s also special events each day, especially Saturday, with the Romp in the Park run and walk in the morning, over 50 crafters and vendors and, as organizer Roger Kahl says, the Toilet Bowl Challenge down Main Street at one o’clock.

"You have to be sitting on the commode and go through the obstacle course. You have two pushing and one riding. At the end of the obstacle course, you make the turn, and then the rider gets off, another rider gets on and the other one pushes," explains Kahl, "so you have to have coordination there."

Horse-drawn wagon rides will be offered and kids can get up close to fire trucks and farm equipment Saturday afternoon, and the parade is at six Saturday night.

"This year, we have 70 entries in our parade," says Kahl. "We have four bands. We have the Kaneland Middle School band and the high school band. We have the Central High School band and the DeKalb High School band."

On Sunday, there’s a car show followed by a motorcycle show, and fireworks at 8:30. The American Legion is hosting breakfast Sunday and Monday. The men’s softball tournament runs all weekend.

Rural Shabbona Man Accused of Sexual Assault of Child Over Several Years

A rural Shabbona man is charged with repeatedly sexually assaulting a child over the past several years.

DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott says 39-year-old Jamie Negrete is related to the girl, who is younger than 13-years-old. The sexual abuse allegedly started in 2006.

Scott says the family members of the girl reported the abuse to the sheriff’s office Sunday, immediately after becoming aware of it. Negrete was arrested Wednesday after an investigation.

He’s charged with six counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. His bond has been set at $1.5-million.

NIU Loses Home Opener

Demarcus Grady was picked as Northern Illinois' starting quarterback, but he was kept scoreless in the first half of the Huskies 27-10 season-opening loss at Iowa State Thursday night.

Alexander Robinson ran for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns carried the ball 19 times for the Cyclones, while quarterback Austen Arnaud added a TD run of his own. Arnaud managed to convert 27-of-36 passing for 265 yards, but he was picked off twice to keep the game from being a blowout.

The Huskies had trouble moving the ball in the season opener, gaining 156 yards on the ground and a fmere 93 yards through the air. Demarcus Grady converted a mere 14-of-29 passing and was picked off three times.

The only points of the first quartercame on a two-yard TD run by Arnaud, giving the hosts a 7-0 advantage. In the second Robinson tacked on a 63-yard scoring run and kicker Grant Mahoney knocked through a 41-yard field goal to provide ISU with a 17-0 edge at the break.

In the second half NIU finally broke through with a 19-yard field goal by Mathew Sims, while Grady added a one-yard TD run to cap a nine-play, 40-yard drive to cut the deficit to 17-10 in the fourth quarter.

However, the Huskies would get no closer as Robinson registered his second TD of the night on a five-yard effort and Mahoney converted a 23-yard field goal in the final period to provide the hosts with the 17-point victory.

Jake Knott put forth a huge effort for the Iowa State defense, placing second on the unit with nine tackles to go along with a forced fumble and a pair of interceptions. A.J. Klein accounted for a game-high 15 stops for the Cyclones as well.

The Huskies home opener is September 11th against North Dakota. Coverage of the game will begin at 5:30 on the flagship station for the Huskies, 1360 WLBK.

State Prison Director Resigns

Governor Pat Quinn says he did not ask Illinois Department of Corrections Director Mike Randle to resign. Randle announced Thursday he plans to leave the department September 17th.

"He indicted he had this offer that he was interested in pursuing," says Quinn, "and I wasn't going to stand in his way."

Earlier this year, Quinn blamed Randle for his role in a controversial early prisoner release program.

Randle says he has decided to take a job in the corrections industry in Ohio. He will reportedly make about $70,000 a year. That's less than half of what he makes now.

Quinn says he will name Randle's replacement soon.

100's of Roadside Checks Planned for Holiday Weekend

Drivers will see hundreds of roadside safety checks across Illinois this holiday weekend.

Illinois State Police Captain James Wolf says cops will pay close attention to night-time violators.

"Statistics show that fatal crashes involving alcohol occur most often between midnight and six a.m.," says Wolf. "Data also confirms this is the time period were people are less likely to buckle-up."

Drunk driving and seatbelt enforcement are the main focus of this weekend's detail. State police say last year more than three-quarters of overnight fatal crashes involved a drunk driver. Only about a quarter of the people killed were wearing safety belts.

Huskies Open Season Tonight at Iowa State, on WLBK

Northern Illinois opens its season Thursday night at Iowa State.

Head Coach Jerry Kill says a lot of the Huskies’ success this season hinges on the early part of their schedule. Four of the first five games are on the road and three of those are against BCS-teams, including the Cyclones.

"I feel good about our football team. They've worked hard, but you still got to go play," says Kill. "We've got to keep our kids grounded and mentally focused because our schedule is difficult. If we can survive that early schedule, and keep our kids headed in the right direction and not get too far down, we'll have a shot."

Who will be leading the Huskies isn’t known yet. Kill isn’t revealing his starting quarterback until game time to keep that information from Iowa State. All he would say this week on Inside Huskie Football on WLBK is what he’s looking for in his starting QB.

"I think the big thing is capturing a team and being a leader," says Kill. "The quarterbacks that I've coached had, what I call, the 'it factor'. They just had it, and they weren't necessarily the fastest, strongest or whatever, but they knew how to win, move the chains and no matter what the score was, they were going to keep you in the game."

The starter for the past two seasons, Chandler Harnish is ready since he avoided knee surgery, but DeMarcus Grady was 5-0 last season filling in for Harnish when he was injured. There’s also red shirt freshman Jordan Lynch.

This season's starting quarterback will be known Thursday night. Coverage begins at 6:30 on the flagship station for the Huskies, 1360 WLBK.

No Final Answer from Amtrak Forum

State Senator Brad Burzynski say the state is doing a new study to determine whether tracks through Genoa or Belvidere should be used for a new Amtrak route, but State Representative Bob Pritchard suggests regional leaders make the decision instead.

The area lawmakers participated in a forum at Kishwaukee College Wednesday night on a new Amtrak route between Chicago and Dubuque.

It began with Genoa City Administrator Joe Misurelli reiterating that a 2007 study found that the Genoa route was preferable in nearly all aspects, including upfront capital and long-term operating costs. But Senator Burzynski says there has been new information and ideas since that study was done and the Illinois Department of Transportation is compiling that now.

"They've got the new study that's going to be out there with all of the new, additional information that is going to be out there," says Burzynski. "That will make the final determination as to what the best route is, if we're successful in getting it."

But instead of letting I-DOT’s new study decide, State Representative Bob Pritchard says leaders from the region should meet to come to a decision.

"How can we as family members in this region, if you will, reach some agreement on what is the best route that we will together support going forward in trying to get the state capital dollars that have been earmarked and, hopefully, will be set aside some day soon to build the rail system that we want in this region?" says Pritchard. "I think that, mayors, is where we ought to focus the discussion."

The mayors of Genoa and Belvidere are open to a regional meeting. Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton says the disagreement over the route may be giving the state an excuse not to fund any Amtrak route in northern Illinois. Genoa Mayor Todd Walker agrees.

"We all agree on the goal. The ultimate goal is to get it to the northern region, and that's important," says Walker. "We prefer to have it in the DeKalb County region. They prefer to have it in the Belvidere region. Obviously, we're both going to sell our assets that are in our best interest, but at the end of the day, we want the right thing to be done."

When a regional meeting would happen isn’t yet known. Senator Burzynski expects I-DOT’s new study will be done by December.

Property Tax Increase Proposed for New County Budget

The proposed DeKalb County budget for next year includes a property tax increase and cuts to department budgets.

The County Board’s Finance Committee approved it Wednesday night, so it will now be considered by the full County Board.

The county’s property tax rate would increase by 2.4-percent for the average homeowner. Department heads would be told to spend five-percent less than this year, which would mean cutting employees and hours. County administrators say the cuts and tax increase are needed because sales and income tax revenues are expected to be down, while health insurance costs are going up.

The County Board will hold a forum on the budget proposal at six o’clock, Wednesday, September 15th.

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Two DeKalb Road Widenings Move Forward

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.

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