Both DeKalb and Sycamore are going into Friday’s Castle Challenge at Huskies Stadium with records of 2-0.  The Spartans got their second-straight lopsided victory last week, 42-16 over Burlington Central. Head Coach Joe Ryan says that gives DeKalb an advantage.  "I think they're physical defensively up-front, they play the run very well, they can big play you, and they know how to win a close game," says Ryan. "We haven't been in one of those, so that's kind of scary. They've done some really good things, and we better be ready to go."  The Barbs beat Hampshire 20-14 last week. Head Coach Marty Sanders says they’re excited to begin conference play, and he says they’ll be doing it against a strong Sycamore program.  "That's kind of been a blueprint for where we'd like to be in the near, near future," says Sanders. "They're a very physical defense, very fast, and so we're certainly going to have to take care of our responsibilities."  Castle Challenge activities begin at 4:30 [ ... ]

The DeKalb City Council Monday night will be asked if they want to pursue expanding the police station so it fills the current city hall and building on addition for city administration.  Other options that will be presented include expanding the police station and putting administration downtown or doing neither plan.  City Manager Mark Biernacki says the $7.3-million estimated cost to expand the police station is less than the over $15-million plan to build a new station on West Lincoln Highway that has been considered over the past few years. He says the expansion would be paid for with TIF funds and money that will become available after restructuring debt.  "That new money coupled with some TIF proceeds can accomplish this space need without having to raise any new taxes or to identify new revenue sources," says Biernacki. "I can all be done within existing resources."  With the police station filling the existing space in the Municipal Building, an addition would put on th [ ... ]

Kites like you’ve never seen before will be flown at the DeKalb Kite Fest this Sunday.  It’s put on by the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Bureau Coordinator Debbie Armstrong says there will be kites 80 to 100-feet long.  "It's not like the kites that you and I remember, that we put up in the air. These are some major octopi, and sting rays, and Manta rays, and geckos," says Armstrong, "and we have stunt kites and dancing kites."   The Art Attack will be there helping attendees make their own kites. Victor E. Huskies will be leading a candy drop from a kite, the DeKalb Park District and Joseph F. Glidden Homestead will have games and Kishwaukee College will have face painting. Food will also be available.  Kite Fest is from 11 to four Sunday on the NIU North 40 at Lucinda Avenue and Kishwaukee Drive.  

The Confederate and Union armies will collide in the Battle of the Kishwaukee Bridge this weekend in Sycamore.  That’s the name being given to the battle that will be staged as part of the Sycamore History Museum’s Civil War reenactment in Sycamore Community Park. The battle is at two o’clock Saturday afternoon and one o’clock on Sunday afternoon, but the reenactment camps open to the public at ten o’clock each day.  Other activities include a Civil War-era ladies fashion show at 11 Saturday morning and ten Sunday, a "Soldiers’ Dinner" at five Saturday night, and, as museum Director Michelle Donahoe says, a firing of cannons at eight Saturday night.  "That way you can see the spark when that cannon goes off," says Donahoe. "It's a really unique photo opportunity and something you don't get to see too often when you go to other reenactments."  Admission to the reenactment is $5 a person or $20 for the whole family.  And that’s not all that’s happening in Syca [ ... ]

Saturday is the ninth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.  The DeKalb and Sycamore Fire departments will come together with Kishwaukee Community Hospital for a memorial ceremony at one o’clock Saturday afternoon in the hospital’s Healing Garden. The community is invited to the half-hour presentation, which will include speakers and music, including the playing of “Taps”.  The Sandwich American Legion and VFW posts will be holding a ceremony titled “9-11: A Day to Remember” at the Sandwich Fair. It begins at 11 o’clock Saturday morning at the Ag Land Stage.  

There are four big shows at the Sandwich Fair on Friday.  Those who have served in the Armed Forces will be honored with a USO-style show beginning at three o'clock on the Ag Land Stage. It’s also Armed Forces Day, so those currently serving in the military with ID get into the fair for free until five o’clock.  Fair Vice-President Larry Dannewitz says beginning at seven o’clock, there will two country acts at the Grandstand.  "It's two for the price of one. We had two up-and-coming stars and they just happened to come together for us," says Dannewitz, "so we're going to start off with Jason Micheal Carroll and then come back with the headliner, Jake Owen. It should be a great show."  For rock fans, the Lizzi Neal Band will be playing for free with admission at seven o’clock on the Ag Land Stage. At the same time, Colonel Boyd’s Original Dixie Band will be performing on the Home Arts Building Stage.  The Sandwich Fair continues through Sunday. There will be NTPA-sanction [ ... ]

Illinois is one of 32 states that reached an agreement with magazine marketer Publishers Clearing House, forcing them to disclose more information about their sweepstakes contests.   Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says the company will now have to let people know that buying more merchandise does not increase their chances of winning.  She says her office has received complaints from seniors, or their children, that they felt they were being taken advantage of. "The children contacted us and said my parents are unable to spend money on things they need because they're spending so much on stuff for Publishers Clearing House," says Madigan, "so we know this is a real problem."   Publisher's Clearing House also has to pay $3.5-million to cover the cost of the investigation.  The latest judgment increases terms of settlements reached in 2000 and 2001.   

Lawyers for convicted ex-governor George Ryan asked a federal judge Thursday to consider allowing their client to be released from prison early.   Ryan's wife, Lura Lynn Ryan, is battling terminal lung disease, and may only have a few years to live.  She spoke to reporters after court.   "Yes, we do have hope," said Lura Lynn Ryan. "I miss him a great deal, I really do." The request is based partly on Mrs. Ryan's failing health, as well as on the Supreme Court's decision to narrow the scope of the "honest services" law.  Prosecutors say they want Ryan to serve his entire six-and-a-half-year term.  Attorneys will argue their cases in court November first.  Ryan was convicted on corruption charges back in 2006.   

DeKalb Police are investigating a shooting Wednesday that injured a man while he was sitting in his living room.  Police say several shots were fired through a window into a home in the 400-block of North Tenth Street at around 11:15. A man who was watching TV in the home was hit in the hand and arm. Police say it appears both wounds were from a single bullet.  The man was taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital. Police says his injuries were not life-threatening.  Police say other people in the living room said they didn’t see anyone outside, but neighbors told officers they saw someone running away.  

A Sycamore man is charged with impregnating a 13-year-old girl.  41-year-old Mark Tate face one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault.  Sycamore Police say their detectives were notified by a local hospital on July 30th that they were treating a 13-year-old girl who was pregnant. Police say a warrant was issued for Tate after an investigation led them to probable cause to believe that he was the father. Police say Tate and the girl lived in the same house.  Tate was arrested on the warrant last Wednesday night. If convicted, he faces six to 30-years in prison.  

Sycamore hasn’t decided how traffic will flow on Exchange Street once the DeKalb County Courthouse expansion is complete, but some parking restrictions near the courthouse are being made now.  The Sycamore City Council has approved restricting parking on the north side of the 100-block of West Exchange Street to residents and their guests from eight to five, Monday through Friday. The same restriction will go into place for North Maple Street from Exchange to the last home before Page Street.  Nearby residents will be given parking passes so they can park there, but those using and working at the courthouse cannot. City Manager Bill Nicklas says the restrictions were the suggestion of the nearby residents.  "This is a promise kept. In the course of, first, a neighborhood meeting and then a couple of council meetings, there was very little descent whether there should be parking permits issued to residents for resident-only parking," says Nicklas, "and so we brought it back tonight [ ... ]

There are less students attending Northern Illinois University this year.  10th-day enrollment numbers show a total of 23,850 undergraduate and graduate students attending NIU, down 574 students from last fall. However, NIU official note the 5,488 new students is nearly 300 students over their goal.  The number of new students transferring from other higher education institutions, like community colleges, increased by over nine-percent. NIU Provost Ray Alden says that supports a trend seen over the past several years that many admitted students are choosing to postpone coming to NIU due to financial concerns.  The number of students that applied to NIU was up 12-percent. The average high school GPA of the students that were admitted as freshmen was 3.18 on a four-point scale.  

The DeKalb Stage Coach Players newest production opens Thursday night.  "I basically refer to the show as a spelling bee on crack."  That’s how actor Greg Anderson describes the comedy “the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”  In it, six kids are competing in a spelling bee to go the nationals in Washington DC. But the heart of story isn’t the bee, but director Bernie Schuneman, says it’s the six unique kids that are competing in it.  "You got one kid with a nasal problem, another kid who lisps, a girl with two dads, a home-schooled hippie kid, the latchkey kid who's been left adrift by her parents, and the boyscout who won last year, plus, an over achiever from out of town," says Schuneman. "On their own, they're weird, but when you get them together, they realize they're not quite as weird as they thought."  In the show, four audience members are picked to participate in the spelling bee.  It’s at eight o’clock Thursday through Saturday nights both this week  [ ... ]

A DeKalb woman was injured in a head-on accident Wednesday night.  DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputies say a car driven by 73-year-old Ina Simon and another car driven by a Lake in the Hills man collided head-on at Plank Road and Divine Way.  Simon was taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital. Deputies say the other driver refused treatment for injuries.  No tickets were issued in the accident.  

Thursday is the second day of the Sandwich Fair, and it's Senior Citizens Day, so seniors get in for four-dollars.  It’s also another double-event day at the Grandstand. The second day of harness racing, which is free, begins at 11 Thursday morning, and fair Vice-President Larry Dannewitz says the first night of NTPA-sanctioned truck pulls begins at 6:30 Thursday night.  "They come from all over the Midwest, and it's a grand national. It's one of the last big pulls of the year," says Dannewitz. "On Saturday night at the pull, they'll crown three or four of the different classes, so it's a big event."   The free entertainment on the Ag Land Stage Thursday night is Red Horse from seven to ten playing rock, blues, jazz and country.  There are three culinary competitions in the Home Arts Building - “Same Recipe Apple Cake” at 11, “Beef Bonanza” at two and “Salsa Fiesta" at four o’clock.  4-H open show livestock judging is happening all day today at the fair.  

Plenty of candidates will surely line up to become the city of Chicago's next mayor, but U.S. Senator Roland Burris won't be one of them.  Burris says he's not interested in the job, nor does he have the money to mount a campaign. The long time politician says he doesn't know exactly what his plans are for when his term in Washington expires.  "I have no idea, but I'm certainly seeking to be active," says Burris. "I am not intending to go out to pasture. I will go out of here with my boots on."  Burris was appointed to the Senate by ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich shortly before Blagojevich's impeachment.  Burris lost a bid for the Chicago Mayor's office in 1995.  

A measure to temporarily reduce impact fees to try and spur new housing failed before the Sycamore City Council Tuesday night.  With two aldermen and the mayor absent, the Council voted 3-3 on the proposal, and a tie means it fails to receive approval.  Alderman Alan Bauer, Terry Kessler and Steve Braser voted against lowering the fees, which are charged on each new home built for the impact the new residents will have on the school and park districts. Alderman Braser says the developer that requested the reduction knew what the city’s impact fees were before buying property in the city.  "I see no point in reducing impact fees because of one developer's request. I don't think we're sitting out there with seven to ten building permits that are going to happen," says Braser. "I think we're setting a poor precedence on the fact that we're moving on one developer's request.  But other aldermen, including Greg Taylor, say the Council has said in the past that it would set impact fe [ ... ]

A fixture at the Sycamore Speedway is retiring after 35-years at the track.  General Manager William Coulter says he’s retiring at the end of this season. He made the announcement after being asked by a caller on the Sycamore Speedway Race Report on WLBK Tuesday night.  "Well, I've never lied to you guys, and I have decided to retire. This will be my last year," said Coulter. "I'm fixing to move in about two years. I got a lot of things around the house I got to get done, and working at the racetrack, all of it just doesn't fit in. So, I have to sacrifice my love and joy of working at the racetrack to get my house ready to sell before I go south."  Coulter was hired to do odd jobs around the racetrack off Route 64 in 1975. He worked his way up from there to become general manager.  

The 123rd annual Sandwich Fair opens Wednesday, and it begins with a full day at the Grandstand.  Harness horsing racing is free at 11 o’clock Wednesday and Thursday morning. Fair Vice-President Larry Dannewitz says kids can see high-flying motorcycle stunts during the FMX National Championship Series at 7:30 Wednesday night.  "It's a competition, and it's going to be fun to watch. The kids are going to love it," says Dannewitz. "All seats are $8 in the Grandstand, so come on down and enjoy the show."  It’s free with admission to see the bands performing at the Ag Land Stage. Roundhouse plays at noon Wednesday, Ashley Lewis and Ashton Gap perform at 5:30 and there’s a fiddle contest at six o’clock.  There are culinary competitions each weekday in the Home Arts Building. “Bountiful Yeast Breads” in at two o’clock Wednesday afternoon, followed by “Lickety Split Breads” at four.  Wednesday is Children’s Day at the Sandwich Fair, so kids 12 and younger get in free [ ... ]

DeKalb County has escaped serious flooding this summer, but volunteers with the DeKalb County Chapter of the American Red Cross were still responding to floods.   Chapter Director Mickie Emmett says four members of DeKalb County’s Disaster Action Team helped chapters in northwest Illinois this summer when those areas were hit by flooding.  "They all went to Freeport and they were assigned to shelters that needed staffing," says Emmett. "They arrived there Saturday afternoon, and they worked Sunday as well and they worked overnight to help staff those shelters. They didn't have enough staff up in northwest Illinois, so DeKalb County Red Cross was there to the rescue."  DeKalb County volunteers also worked in Thomson, and the next weekend, they were in the Chicago suburbs of Maywood and Bellwood to help with the flood response there. Emmett says this outreach will benefit DeKalb County in the long run. "These volunteers are learning. They're raising the levels of knowledge and exp [ ... ]

A $4.5-million Lotto jackpot from a ticket purchased in DeKalb has not yet been claimed.  A spokesperson for the Illinois Lottery says the winner had not come forward as of Tuesday afternoon.  The numbers on a ticket bought at the Road Ranger gas station on Sycamore Road matched all six numbers in Saturday’s Lotto drawing. The winner needs to go to a lottery claims department since Lotto officials do not look to find winners.  The gas station will receive one-percent of the winnings, or $45,000.  

Richard Daley is the mayor of Chicago, and his decision Tuesday not to run for re-election is far more than just a local issue for voters in Chicago. Illinois lawmakers, from the city and across the rest of state, all agree that Daley's exit from city hall will impact the entire state.   Daley, who's been mayor since 1989, said Tuesday he's decided not to seek re-election next spring, that "it's time for me, it's time for Chicago to move on."   The impact of that decision could be felt as quickly as this fall.  University of Illinois at Springfield professor Kent Redfield points out mayoral wannabe's are already making their owns plans, and Redfield said anything that hurts party loyalty in Chicago could hurt Gov. Pat Quinn and other Democrats across Illinois.   "Chicago is the core of the Democratic party, in terms of their base vote," Redfield said.  "And a strong political organization led by [Mayor Daley] is a plus for Democrats statewide."   State Rep. Greg Harris, D-C [ ... ]

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says he's not seeking re-election next year.   "Simply put, it's time," Daley said at a new conference Monday afternoon, "It's time for me, it's time for Chicago, to move."   The 68-year-old Daily didn't give many more specific on why he's not running again.   "In the last several weeks, I've been increasingly comfortable with my decision," says Daley. "It just feels right."   Daley has been mayor since 1989 after previously serving as Cook County State's Attorney.   One potential candidate for Chicago Mayor could be White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.  Emanuel said earlier this year he was interested in becoming Chicago Mayor only if Daley decided to retire.   

The DeKalb County Health Department will give its first flu shots of the season on September 16th. That’s next week on Thursday.  It’s the first of the flu vaccine clinics that will be held each Thursday at the health department on North Annie Glidden Road. They’ll be from 8:30 to four each Thursday, except when they’re open late until six o’clock on September 23rd and October 14th.  Vaccination clinics will also be held in Genoa on October First from nine to noon at Resource Bank and in Sandwich on October Fifth from nine to noon at the Fox Valley Older Adult Center. No appointments are needed to get the vaccine.  The first clinics are for those 19-years-old and older, but they’ll be open for anyone over six-months beginning with the October Seventh clinic. This is the first time the vaccine is being recommended for everyone over six-months. The CDC says evidence shows the vaccine is safe and effective for all age groups.  You don’t need to worry about getting a seco [ ... ]

DeKalb Police are asking for the public’s help in finding out who started a dozen dumpster fires late last month.  Police say firefighters were called to 12 dumpster fires from August 19th through the 29th. All of the fires were in the early morning hours. Eight of them were in the northwest part of the city, three were on West Lincoln Highway and one was in the northeast part of the city.  Anyone with information on the fires is asked to call the DeKalb Police Department at 815-748-8400 or DeKalb County Crime Stoppers at 815-895-32-72.