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Friday, September 13, 2013
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Sycamore and DeKalb ready for big stage Inside
Ala. church still standing 50 years after bombing
NIU police lieutenant reinstated Merit board throws out firing of officer who misfiled rape case evidence By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI jduchnowski@shawmedia.com DeKALB – A Northern Illinois University police lieutenant punished for failing to give prosecutors two witness statements in a rape case could return to work next week after a merit board sided with him. The University Civil Service Merit Board voted Tuesday to throw out the disciplinary charges against Lt. Kartik Ra-
makrishnan, with a majority finding that NIU leaders couldn’t fire him because former Chief Donald Grady had already written him up in the incident, Ramakrishnan’s attorney Howard Levine said. NIU officials could appeal the decision in DeKalb County Circuit Court, but Levine did not know if they planned to do so. NIU spokesman Paul Palian said NIU officials had not received the merit board’s written deci-
sion late Thursday. “As of today, he is not in his position and is not on the university’s active payroll,” Palian said. “We await the merit board’s written order, the substance of which we are unaware at this time. This remains a personnel matter, and the university cannot comment further at this point.” Levine said Ramakrishnan wants to return to work when the merit board issues a written
order, likely next week, Levine said. Ramakrishnan, who was hired in April 2002, made $92,000 annually. If he is awarded backpay for the past five months, he could receive more than $38,000. “It’s been a significant hardship on him and his wife, but he’s looking forward to resuming a successful and productive career with NIU,” Levine said. NIU officials could appeal the decision in DeKalb County Circuit Court, but Levine did not
The world at their door DeKalb library program delivers books, movies, music to patrons
know if they planned to do so. NIU spokesman Paul Palian did not return calls for comment, and Bill Nicklas, NIU’s vice president for public safety and community relations, declined to comment. The merit board’s decision seemed to turn on Grady’s written reprimand, which was issued the same day former NIU President John Peters gave control of the university’s police
On the Web To read the motion to the merit board to dismiss charges against former NIU police Lt. Kartik Ramakrishnan, visit Daily-Chronicle. com.
See POLICE, page A6
Sycamore, DeKalb end pool plans Park districts no longer in talks on shared facility By CHRIS BURROWS cburrows@shawmedia.com
Photos by Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Resident Dan Riordan and DeKalb Public Library Outreach Coordinator Beatrice O’Connell look over the books she dropped off for Riordan at the Bethany Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center. Public libraries in the county such as DeKalb’s offer a home delivery service for people who are homebound, whether they are ill or disabled. DeKalb’s program is offered for free to all residents, no matter their age. By FELIX SARVER fsarver@shawmedia.com
D
eKALB – Rosa Ramon used to go the library, but these days the library comes to her. Bad knees and ankles make getting around difficult for Ramon, 58, of DeKalb. But thanks to Beatrice O’Connell, she doesn’t need to walk to the library to get what she wants. Ramon is among dozens of patrons who receive books, movies and music from the library through its free Outreach Services program. The program, available to registered library patrons, is one of the
few in the county and typically benefits the homebound or physically disabled. O’Connell said she always meets new people who have a story to share. Once she gets to know them, she tries to find books she thinks will suit them. “I understand what they feel, and I try my best to bring what they want,” she said. The Kirkland and Sycamore public libraries offer similar services on an informal basis upon request. “It’s just more like a public service, because some of our patrons are older and can’t get
See LIBRARY, page A6
O’Connell leaves Bethany Health Care & Rehabilitation Center after exchanging old books for new ones with the residents. The Outreach Services program at the DeKalb Public Library started in the 1970s.
DeKALB – Talks between DeKalb and Sycamore park districts to build a shared community pool facility have been shelved, according to a letter signed by both board presidents. Both cities have aging pool facilities that will require replacement or overhaul in the coming years, but the boards couldn’t agree on a location for such a joint facility, ending discussions, according to the letter. “Each board put together a list of considerations for such an effort,” the letter read. “In comparing these lists there was incompatibility with regard to possible locations for such a pool facility. Based on this a consensus was reached not to pursue a joint pool effort at this point in time.” Per Faivre, the vice president of DeKalb’s Park District board, said it had identified some possible locations along Bethany Road, but that Sycamore wouldn’t bend to the will of the larger town. “Both sides had what they thought were ideal locations, but we as a board felt that we had a larger population and that more patrons from DeKalb would be visiting the pool,” Faivre said. “We felt strongly that it needed to be in DeKalb, but Sycamore didn’t agree.” Sycamore’s pool is 31 years old, and Hopkins Pool in DeKalb was built 39 years ago. Although both remain
“We felt strongly that [a shared pool] needed to be in DeKalb, but Sycamore didn’t agree.” Per Faivre Vice president of DeKalb’s Park District board
Voice your opinion Are you disappointed that DeKalb and Sycamore have abandoned the idea of teaming up to build a pool? Vote online at Daily-Chronicle.com.
See POOL, page A6
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