DDC-1-25-2013

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Drugs suspected in fatal crash By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI jduchnowski@shawmedia.com

GENOA – A 44-year-old Rockford man was charged with felony DUI in connection to the crash that killed a 34-year-old Sugar Grove man and injured five others. Howard Castleman, of the 2900 block of Sunnyside Road in Rockford, was charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence, driving under the influence and improper lane use, DeKalb County Chief Deputy Gary Dumdie said. He was taken to DeKalb County Jail after being treated

at Kishwaukee Community Hospital. Police suspect Castleman was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash, Dumdie said. His bail was set at $500,000 Thursday, which requires posting $50,000 for release while the case is pending. The most serious charge typically is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. More charges could be filed after police receive lab test results and consult with prosecutors, Dumdie said. Castleman’s 2007 Freightliner two-axle truck was traveling south on Route 23 south of Lloyd Road about 6:15 p.m. when he drove into

the northbound lane and struck another truck head-on, Dumdie said. Two other vehicles driving behind the northbound truck – a Chevrolet Impala and a Chrysler Town and Country minivan – each struck the vehicle in front of it. Ryan E. Martin of Howard Sugar Grove was pro- Castleman nounced dead at the scene about 6:50 p.m., DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller said. He was driving a 2002 box truck for Nick’s

Furniture in Sugar Grove. Nick Bumba, owner of Nick’s Furniture, described Martin as a reliable employee and a great father to his 3-year-old son. “Ryan was just a very good person, all the way around, in every sense of the word,” Bumba said. “He was hardworking, dependable and very reliable. “We’re heartbroken. I’m personally heartbroken. He was a good man.” Castleman and four others – a passenger in Martin’s truck, the driver and passenger in the Impala and the driver in the minivan – were taken

to Kishwaukee Community Hospital and later released. They were: Michael J. Roberson, 18, of Sugar Grove; Susan K. Springer, 43, of Genoa; a 13-year-old Genoa girl; and Wendy Harms, 48, of Genoa. Castleman was driving a truck for Straight Shot Express, which contracts with UPS to haul oversized freight. Route 23 was closed between Base Line and Whipple roads until midnight as emergency crews worked. Snow or slick roads did not appear to play a role in the accident, Dumdie said.

SYCAMORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CELEBRATING 500-MEMBER MILESTONE

Event honors those who helped shape community for years By JEFF ENGELHARDT jengelhardt@shawmedia.com

SYCAMORE – Rose Treml made it to her magic number in 2012. After years of closing in on 500 businesses, Treml, executive director of the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, celebrated surpassing the milestone with those members Thursday at the St. Mary’s Activity Center in Sycamore. The annual chamber meeting, titled Strength in Numbers, recognized outstanding local businesses and the chamber’s march toward 502 members in 2012. The large membership already has paid dividends, especially in advocacy efforts, Treml said. “When you tell your representatives or the governor that you represent over 500 businesses, your message is a little more impactful,” Treml said. “That’s why the theme is strength in numbers.” One major reason for the chamber’s membership accomplishment in 2012 was the addition of 100 new members. Entrepreneur Becki Burke decided to join the chamber after three years of running a home business. Burke, who sells handbags for California-based Gigi Hill, said joining the chamber has opened doors for potential clients. Treml said many more homebased businesses are interested in joining their local chambers of commerce because of the networking opportunities they provide. “I decided it was time for me to take that next step after running my business for three years,” Burke said. “It’s already been very beneficial in making so many new connections.” Thursday’s celebration was not only about new members but also those who have helped shape Sycamore for years. Richard and Beth Willey won the Clifford Danielson Outstanding Citizen Award for their decades of commu-

Photos by Kyle Bursaw – kbursaw@shawmedia.com

Rose Treml, executive director for the Sycamore Chamber, speaks Thursday about the young professionals who completed the chamber’s leadership academy at the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce’s 98th annual meeting. BELOW: People talk over lunch at the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce’s 98th annual meeting. nity contributions. The award honors individuals who strive for the highest levels of professional accomplishment and have devoted their time, energy and career to enhance the quality of life for Sycamore residents. Richard Willey, who as a 26-yearold co-founded a bank now known as American Midwest Bank in Sycamore, was recognized along with his wife for their work with the Kishwaukee Education Consortium, Sycamore Rotary and other community organizations. Richard Willey said he met his wife in Sycamore, sent his children

through school in Sycamore and realized his professional dream in Sycamore, so it was the city and residents that deserved the recognition. “If you look at all the common denominators here, it’s Sycamore, Sycamore, Sycamore,” he said. “So thank you. … What a great place.” Beth Willey was honored for her work with the Sycamore Rotary and parent teacher organization for Sycamore School District 427, which she attended as a student. Other organizations that received

See MILESTONE, page A4

Women in combat: Good to go if standards met By LOLITA C. BALDOR The Associated Press

AP file photo

Female soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division train on a firing range in September while testing new body armor in Fort Campbell, Ky., in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON – Women in the military must have the same opportunities as men to take on grueling and dangerous combat jobs, whether loading 50-pound artillery shells or joining commando raids to take out terrorists, defense leaders declared Thursday as they ordered a quartermillion positions open to service members regardless of gender. As Defense Secretary Leon Panetta

and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, signed an order wiping away generations of limits on women fighting for their country, the military services said they would begin a sweeping review of the physical requirements. At the same time they acknowledged that women have been fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for more than a decade. Women make up about 14 percent of the 1.4 million active U.S. military personnel. More than 280,000 women have been sent to Iraq, Afghanistan

or neighboring nations in support of the wars. Of the more than 6,600 U.S. service members who have been killed, 152 have been women. The leaders said no physical standards will be lowered just to send more women closer to the battlefront. “I fundamentally believe that our military is more effective when success is based solely on ability and qualifications and on performance,” Panetta said at a Pentagon news conference.

See COMBAT, page A4

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