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DeKalb County land records online By FELIX SARVER
On the Web
fsarver@shawmedia.com
To learn more about the online records system or register to view the documents online, visit the DeKalb County Land Records Search System website at http://shawurl.com/oyf.
By the numbers 3.5 million: Number of land-record images online dating back to 1837. 40,000: Estimated number of land record images gathered this year. 9,663: Number of documents collected by the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder’s Office for 2013.
DeKALB – After two years, DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder John Acardo achieved his goal of bringing online the county’s land record system, which boasts 3.5 million land-record images. Since May 6, Acardo and the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder’s Office have tested the online system with real estate professionals and property title searchers. The system recently became available for the public to use at all
hours. “For the homeowners or property owners, this is an essential tool to make sure your title record is cleared,” Acardo said. People can use the system to see if they have any liens on their property. A lien can be John Acardo issued by the local government for overdue water bill payments, for example, and can prevent a person from taking out a mortgage.
Another way people can use the tool is to fight against property fraud, one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States, Acardo said. The recorder’s office is the legal authority to hold the title record for individual property, he said. The office is used by lenders and title companies to check if a title is cleared. “You check your credit score, you check your background,” he said. “You should also check the title to your home.” One feature people can use to keep track of their land records is
the office’s property watch system. It’s a free service and people who sign up can be notified immediately if there is a lien, fraud or mortgage on their property, Acardo said. The two-year project to put the land records online cost almost $62,000, but those costs were not paid by taxpayers, Acardo said. All the costs were paid out of an Automation Fund, which collects fees from services provided by the office with the purpose of enhancing technology.
See ONLINE, page A5
U.S. launches new Mideast peace effort
DeKALB RESIDENT STARTS ONE WHEEL PROMOTIONS
Attracting
By MATTHEW LEE The Associated Press
attention
Photos by Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Brian O’Connor of DeKalb rides his unicycle Wednesday at the Frank Van Buer Plaza in downtown DeKalb.
DeKalb unicyclist tries to turn hobby into business By DAVID THOMAS
To make contact
dthomas@shawmedia.com DeKALB – It’s hard for Brian O’Connor to not notice people when he rides his unicycle. O’Connor, 22, is hoping local businesses will want to use the natural attraction of a unicycle to advertise with him. The name of his new business: One Wheel Promotions. “I can’t leave my house and go three blocks without someone staring at me or people asking questions,” O’Connor said. “There’s definite interest in it, so I figure I could channel that to actually helping some of the businesses in the community, and help myself.” O’Connor could wear a local store’s apparel, but he’s declining to wear a costume, like a giant hot dog. “Word of mouth advertising – that’s a big thing, too,” O’Connor said. “If people see me, stop me and talk to me. Once word of this gets around, people are going to want to know: ‘Hey, what are the
Interested in seeing your business logo on a unicyclist? Contact Brian O’Connor at One Wheel Promotions at btoconnor@mac.com or call 815-9014784. Or go onto Facebook and search for One Wheel Promotions.
O’Connor is starting a new business, One Wheel Promotions, which will have him riding on his unicycle and advertising for local businesses. each client, but declined to reveal his rates. O’Connor could be violating DeKalb’s sign code, which prohibit businesses from using moving signs for advertising. City officials previously have stated that sign
specials at the bar this week?’ ‘Who’s playing at Otto’s?’ ” O’Connor said he is talking with businesses in DeKalb about advertising for them, but he hasn’t finalized anything yet. He said he would tailor each promotion for
dancers and a mechanical moving mannequin violate the ordinance. O’Connor has contacted his lawyer about the ordinance in DeKalb. He said the ordinance is in place to prevent signs from distracting motorists, but his advertising will not be geared to them. “That’s really a separate issue,” O’Connor said. “If it’s a problem, it’s a problem. I’ll deal with it as it comes up.” DeKalb City Attorney Dean Frieders said each instance of a moving sign would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
See UNICYCLE, page A5
WASHINGTON – With a cast of characters that has presided over numerous failed Middle East peace efforts, the Obama administration launched a fresh bid Monday to pull Israel and the Palestinians into substantive negotiations. Despite words of encouragement, deep skepticism about the prospects for success surrounded the initial discussions, which were opening with a dinner hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry. He named a former U.S. ambassador to Israel to shepherd what all sides believe will be a protracted and difficult process. Former envoy Martin Indyk, who played key roles in the Clinton administration’s multiple, unsuccessful pushes to broker peace deals between Israel and Syria and Israel and the Palestinians, will assume the day-to-day re- John Kerry sponsibility for keeping the talks alive for the next nine months. Kerry called Indyk a “seasoned diplomat” and said he “knows what has worked and he knows what hasn’t worked.” Neither Kerry nor the State Department would say what has worked in the past, although the fact that there is no peace deal now would seem to indicate that nothing has worked in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian standoff. President Barack Obama echoed Kerry’s hopeful sentiment in a White House statement that said Indyk “brings unique experience and insight to this role, which will allow him to contribute immediately as the parties begin down the tough, but necessary, path of negotiations.” The Israeli side will be led by chief negotiator Tzipi Livni, a former foreign minister who was active in the Bush’s administration’s ill-fated Annapolis, Md., peace talks with the Palestinians. The Israeli side will also be led by Yitzhak Molcho, a veteran adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was part of the Israeli team involved in Obama’s two previous attempts to broker negotiations. Those two efforts relied heavily on Dennis Ross, a former Indyk colleague and Mideast peace envoy, and veteran negotiator George Mitchell. The Palestinian team will be led by chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and President Mahmoud Abbas’ adviser, Mohammed Shtayyeh, both of whom have been major players in failed negotiations with the Israelis since 1991.
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• View and purchase artwork created by 40 artists • Multiple food vendors • DeKalb Municipal Band Concert • DeKalb Area Garden Club exhibit • First floor mansion tours (tour tickets are $5.00; available in the Visitor Center)
• Visit ellwoodhouse.org for a full schedule of events
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Ellwood House Museum 509 North First Street, DeKalb 815-756-4609 www.ellwood house.org