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Monday, February 18, 2013
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Sycamore sees success on the mat at Assembly Hall Sports, B1
Kyle Akins
House sustains $200K in damage The Sycamore Fire Department responded to a house fire at 11:58 p.m. Saturday at 339 Chauncey St. The house sustained $200,000 in damages. No one was living at the house at the time.
Firefighters suppress threat to nearby homes in Sycamore promised. There were no injuries reported. It took firefighters about 45 minutes to get the fire under SYCAMORE – Neighbors said no one was living at a Syca- control, and the cause of the fire is under investigation, Pomore house that was badly damaged early Sunday morning. larek said. Sycamore firefighters and an investigator from The Sycamore Fire Department responded to a house the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal were at the scene fire at 339 Chauncey St. at 11:58 p.m. Saturday and found the Sunday morning. County property tax records indicate the house is owned house engulfed in flames. The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen, and the by James and Susannah Smith. James Smith declined to damage is estimated at $200,000 to the 2½ story house. Syca- comment, saying they were going through a lot already. He more Fire Chief Pete Polarek said the fire caused significant deferred to the fire department’s statement. damage to the first and second floor of the house. Based on his observations, the house appeared to be significantly comSee FIRE, page A5
By DAVID THOMAS
dthomas@shawmedia.com
From Daily Chronicle video
D-432 could cut teachers Official says tax referendum is key By DAVID THOMAS dthomas@shawmedia.com
Photos by Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Shatoya Black (right) of DeKalb is hugged by her daughter, Ja’coya Bennett, 9, after arriving Saturday at Kishwaukee Community Hospital for the third annual “This One’s for the Girls” expo. Black, a single mother and cancer survivor, was the winner of KishHealth System’s “This One’s for the Girls” limousine contest.
Obstacles give way to new path DeKalb single mother beats cancer, on track to graduate from NIU in May lieve in you, you have to believe in you,” she said. Today, Black is a cancer-free DeKALB – The odds didn’t seem senior at Northern Illinois University who lives in an apartment and to be in Shatoya Black’s favor. In 2009, Black was a single supports herself and her 9-year-old mother with cervical cancer who daughter, Ja’coya. She also was recognized Saturhad lost her job and had no place to call home. Overcoming these chal- day for sharing her inspirational lenges and turning her life around story through KishHealth System’s “This One’s for the Girls” women’s were daunting. But Black didn’t believe in odds. health expo. She believed in herself. See BLACK, page A5 “If people don’t support or be-
By STEPHANIE HICKMAN shickman@shawmedia.com
Black is all smiles before getting into a limousine for a ride to Kishwaukee Community Hospital for the “This One’s for the Girls” expo.
SOMONAUK – Three teachers could lose their jobs in Somonauk School District 432 if a referendum fails April 9. School board President Tom Nielsen said the board will announce potential cuts Ballot for the next two school question years if the property tax referendum fails. Somonauk A similar effort to inSchool District crease the property tax rate from 3.05 percent 432 is asking to 4 percent in Novem- voters’ permisber failed by a vote of sion to increase the property1,382 to 974. Nielsen declined tax rate for its to comment on which education fund teachers would be axed to 4 percent. or what subjects they teach. “It’s a sensitive subject, obviously,” Nielsen said. Voters in the school district, which spans DeKalb and LaSalle counties, will decide whether board members can raise the education fund tax rate to 4 percent; officials estimate the increase would generate $900,000. Nielsen previously said this doesn’t mean the tax rate will go up, just that the board has the permission to raise it if necessary. Property values in the district have fallen for the fourth consecutive year, which is significant to a school district that relies on property taxes for 75 percent of its revenue. The board also will identify 10 to 12 program cuts for the next two years if the referendum fails. Nielsen said cuts could include the reduction or total elimination of certain sports programs, a reduction to the driver’s education program and elimination of music, art and agriculture programs.
See D-432, page A5
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