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DeKalb officials approve $3.5M water main project
Project will facilitate development off Route 23, Keslinger, East Gurler roads
By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com
A $5.3 million water main project was greenlit this week to aid incoming development on DeKalb’s south side, including a 560-acre Edged data center approved in December.
The DeKalb City Council recently unanimously selected Elliott and Wood, a local contractor for residential, commercial and industrial jobs, to install a 3.8-mile extension of a 16-inch transmission water main for the portions of Illinois Route 23, Keslinger Road and East Gurler Road corridors.
“This is another piece to be able to further expand some more economic development on the south side of town, which, as we all know, generates property taxes and jobs,“ City Manager Bill Nicklas said.
Economic development on DeKalb’s south side has grown significantly over the years with the addition of major industrial users, including Meta, Amazon and Ferrara Candy Company. Once it comes online, the transmission water main also will serve the new Edged data center.
The city received six bids on the water main project, city documents show. The lowest bidder was Elliott and Wood, which submitted a $5 million project bid. The total project cost of $5.3 million includes a city contingency of $253,750,
PUZZLE ANSWERS
puzzlesonpage13
A $5.3 million water main project was greenlit this week to aid incoming development on DeKalb’s south side, including a 560-acre Edged data center approved in December.
documents show.
The city intends to pay for the installation using money available in the city’s water fund reserve. Officials said this is a move in line with how the city approached paying for the south water tower.
Nicklas said the city has ruled out the use of a low-interest loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the project.
“That low-interest loan program we were looking at was really primarily for rehabilitating existing mains and not
adding some new length as well as serving some existing properties,” Nicklas said.
“It’s going to be for new growth.”
“How will this affect our reserves?” 3rd Ward Alderman Tracy Smith asked of the city’s reserve fund.
Nicklas said in response that the water main work was planned for.
“I’m happy to say our reserve will still be around 50% of our annual expenditures as the reserve for all of the capital-related funds,” he said. “This is by planning and design.”
ON THE COVER
Prosecutor Jo Tracy, of the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office (left), speaks as State’s Attorney Riley Oncken looks on April 29 during Hands Around the Courthouse at the county courthouse in Sycamore.
See story, page 6.
CORRECTIONS
Accuracy is important to The MidWeek. Please call errors to our attention by phone at 815-526-4411 or email at readit@midweeknews.com.
Photo by Mark Busch
Mark Busch file photo
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The May Brown Bag Lunch and Local Lore series will feature a sneak preview of the DeKalb County History Center’s new “We the People of DeKalb County” exhibit.
The free preview will begin at noon May 7 at the DeKalb County History Center, 1730 N. Main St., Sycamore.
DeKalb County History Center executive director Michelle Donahoe will introduce the exhibit and its themes. The preview includes information about people featured in the exhibit, images of displayed objects and exhibit-related hands-on children and public programs discussion. Attendees also can donate to the Give DeKalb County fundraiser and learn how the history center and Ellwood House Museum use donations.
“This exhibit connects to several themes identified by the Illinois250
committee: Doing History, Power of Place and We the People. We also are using this opportunity to highlight stories that are often missing from the historical narrative.” Donahoe said in a news release.
The “We the People of DeKalb County” exhibit explores how the community engages with ideals set in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The exhibit is set to open May 30.
The “We the People of DeKalb County” exhibit sneak preview is part of Brown Bag Lunch and Local Lore, a free lecture series offered as a collaboration between the DeKalb County History Museum and Ellwood House Museum.
Brown Bag Lunch and Local Lore is funded in part by the Mary E. Stevens Concert and Lecture Fund and an Illinois Arts Council grant.
For information, visit dekalbcountyhistory.org or call 815-895-5762.
Kishwaukee Concert Band to perform season finale concert May 9
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Kishwaukee Concert Band will perform the final concert of its 24th concert season in memory of Linda K. Liston, M.D.
The free concert will begin at 3 p.m. May 9 at the Boutell Concert Hall in the Northern Illinois University Music Building, 550 Lucinda Avenue, DeKalb.
The concert will feature music including “Fiesta for Flutes,” arranged by Militarmusik Oberosterreich, a three-part for flutes with a Latin-American character band accompaniment. “Doodle in Orbit,” by Zachary Franklin, tells the story of a dog playfully navigating the cosmos. George and Ira Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me” will include a solo featuring saxophonist Beth Wilkinson.
“Pirates of the Caribbean,”
arranged by Klaus Badelt, is a high-energy washbuckling orchestra piece. “Erin Go Bragh” (“Ireland Forever”), by Brant Karrick, is a traditional Irish tunes medley. “Festival” (De la Hamage de Fuego) captures the Spanish pas-a-doble’s brilliance and flash.
George Gershwin’s “Walking the Dog” (Promenade) is an instrumental accompaniment to a shipboard pantomime sequence between two dogs and their owners in the 1937 movie “Shall We Dance.” “New Places,” arranged by D.I.D. Choi, is a piece about the excitement of going to a new place and starting a new life chapter. “Les Miserables,” by Jay Bocook, includes songs from the musical of the same name.
The Kishwaukee Concert Band is a nonprofit composed of adult volunteers who have played an instrument in the past.
For information, visit kishconcertband.com.
The Federated Church of Sycamore will hold its annual thrift and plant sale for residents to support its backpack ministry May 8 and 9
Sycamore church’s annual thrift and plant sale set for May 8-9
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Federated Church of Sycamore will hold its annual thrift and plant sale for residents to support its backpack ministry.
The sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 8 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 9 at the church, 612 W. State St. Items for sale include various gently
used toys, accessories, clothing, seasonal and holiday decorations, jewelry, housewares, linen and small appliances. Indoor and outdoor plants also will be available to buy.
The church’s backpack ministry provides new backpacks filled with essential school to children served by Safe Passage, Hope Haven and the Department of Children and Family Services foster care program.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
‘In My Shoes’ art showcase set for May 14 in Sycamore
The DeKalb County Mental Health Board will hold its third annual “In My Shoes: Art for Hope and Healing” art showcase to reduce stigma and foster mental health understanding. The free showcase will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. May 14 at Blumen Gardens, 403 Edward St., Sycamore. Participants will be able to share their mental illness journey. The event features short stories, poetry and artwork. Art submission are being accepted through May 7. To submit a piece, email BGCEvents@nm.org.
Texas Roadhouse in Sycamore to host ALS United fundraiser
Texas Roadhouse in Sycamore will host a fundraising night to support ALS United in honor of former Genoa Middle School secretary Ramona Noyes.
The fundraiser will be held from 3 to 10 p.m. May 6 at the restaurant, 1950 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore.
Texas Roadhouse will donate 10% of sales towards the organization. Diners can show a fundraising flyer when ordering.
For information, call 815-748-7427.
– Shaw Local News Network
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About 50 rally against ICE detention centers in DeKalb event
By KELSEY RETTKE krettke@shawmedia.com
About 50 people gathered in downtown DeKalb on April 25 to protest the use of warehouses as detention centers for federal immigration enforcement.
The anti-ICE rally, which organizers called “Communities Not Cages,” staged
at the corner of First Street and Lincoln Highway, sometimes known as Peace Corner.
Communities Not Cages was a national day of action organized by residents and area activist groups such as +350Kishwaukee and REACT (Responsive Engagement Activating Civic Talent).
LEFT: Two rally-goers hold signs at a “Communities Not Cages” rally in downtown DeKalb on April 25, protesting the federal government’s use of warehouses for mass detention sites by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ABOVE: Organizers hold protest signs at a “Communities Not Cages” rally in downtown DeKalb on April 25, to protest the federal government’s use of warehouses for immigration detention centers.
Photos provided by Meryl Greer Domina
DeKalb County advocates working to help children live safer lives
By KELSEY RETTKE krettke@shawmedia.com
Each year, hundreds of children enter the court system through no fault of their own.
By then, trauma has often already set in. Maybe it’s linked to the home, a parent or guardian, spaces meant to be safe that instead cause harm.
That’s why every child needs a voice, someone to look out for them. Jessica Sandlund, executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates DeKalb County, knows the importance of that intimately.
“I was 19 years old when I finally used my voice to share about the sexual abuse I had experienced as a child,” Sandlund said to a crowd gathered in front of the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore on April 29. “This began my healing process. And what I have come to believe is that using our voice to share our story is often the first and most important step in our healing journey.”
The annual Hands Around the Courthouse event, cohosted with Family Service Agency, takes place during Child Abuse Prevention Month to bring awareness to the issue and highlight local resources available to help.
Sandlund has been with CASA since 2015.
“Child abuse thrives in secrecy, and oftentimes it’s a generational cycle that keeps going and going and going until someone has the courage to speak up,” Sandlund said. “Children who experience abuse face shame, guilt, fear and lies that all drive them to stay silent. Without speaking the truth, victims of abuse are stuck in that fear and sometimes all of the unhealthy coping mechanisms we use to try to survive.”
CASA advocates act as guardians ad litem for children who suffer abuse or neglect in DeKalb County. As cases move through Associate Judge Sarah Gallagher-Chami’s courtroom, CASA workers work to ensure every child gets the safety and support they deserve.
“CASA’s role in prevention for these cases is really more about preventing any further abuse,” Sandlund said. “We advocate for the children to get all of the services they need to heal, whether that be counseling, play therapy, developmental screenings, family therapy, or whatever they need. We want to ensure they have the tools and support they need to process their trauma and move forward.”
In 2025, CASA advocates, staff and
volunteers helped 193 children, trained eight new volunteers to be court advocates, bringing the total to 60 volunteers, and successfully closed 50 cases in court.
CASA advocates are the “eyes and ears” for the judge, Sandlund said. They visit children at home. They monitor parental visits as parents or guardians work to rebuild relationships.
Prosecutor Johanna Tracy, of the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office, handles every child abuse and neglect case that comes into the county. Gallagher-Chami presides over each one.
“What that means is I see firsthand what happens when the systems around a child work,” Tracy said. “And I see what happens when they don’t, or when they’re absent. I see the cases that make the news and the ones that never do. We see children who find their voice and children who are still searching for it. We see children who are being listened to, children who are being ignored, families in crisis, families in denial and families who are trying as hard as they know how.”
Tracy said she’s been in the role for about two years. She spoke about her passion for the work, saying she believes that what happens to a child in their earliest years shapes everything that comes after.
It’s a group effort, helping children overcome abuse and end up in healthier home environments. From the Family Service Agency’s Children’s Advocacy Center and local law enforcement, to fos-
ter parents, teachers, nurses, neighbors and social workers, each advocate along the way matters, she said.
“This job for me is an honor,” Tracy said. “It is an honor to be trusted with these cases, to stand up in court on behalf of these children who could not do it for themselves, to be the person who says out loud and on the record, ‘This happened, it was wrong, and this child deserves better.’”
State’s Attorney Riley Oncken said it’s important to remember that abuse cases are happening everywhere, including in DeKalb County.
But so are the tireless efforts of institutions, lawyers, advocates and social service workers who are committed to putting children first.
“It’s exhausting, heartbreaking work done by people who care deeply about protecting kids,” Oncken said. “It’s also done by people who care about holding people accountable. I’m grateful to be in a county where those people are serious about what they do.”
A challenge to preventing and stopping child abuse is an obvious one: Children can often be too young, too afraid or without a trusted adult around, to speak up for themselves.
“What I’ve learned in this role is that the outcomes depend enormously on who is paying attention,” Oncken said. “Often, it’s the difference between a child who gets help and a child who doesn’t. So today, standing here together, that’s what we’re saying: We
are paying attention.”
Child abuse is a national epidemic, Judge Gallagher-Chami said.
According to Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois, 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. In fiscal 2023, 12,513 Illinois children were served by advocacy centers.
About 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser in some way. In 2025, 4,826 children entered foster care in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
As of March 31, 30 DeKalb County children are in foster care, according to DCFS data. And 92 total are receiving care for abuse or neglect.
“Child abuse can be open and obvious or veiled and concealed,” Gallagher-Chami said. “Child abuse is physical, mental, emotional. Child abuse is traumatic.”
Every child needs a champion, Gallagher-Chami said. She said local social service organizations serve children “in their darkest hours.”
It takes time to heal from trauma, Sandlund said. She called on community members to reduce the stigma of seeking services and to create safe places for children to go when they need help.
“How we show up for the children that we serve truly matters,” Sandlund said. “[...] As a community, we need to encourage one another to ask for help and to be honest with how we are really doing. We need to make it OK to not be OK.”
Photos by Mark Busch
LEFT: Jessica Sandlund, executive director of CASA DeKalb County, speaks April 29 during Hands Around the Courthouse at the county courthouse in Sycamore. The event was held to mark Child Abuse Prevention Month. RIGHT: DeKalb County State’s Attorney Riley Oncken speaks to onlookers April 29 during Hands Around the Courthouse.
Survivors, advocates for change Take Back the Night in DeKalb
By KELSEY RETTKE krettke@shawmedia.com
Editor’s note: This story contains topics surrounding sexual violence, assault and abuse. If you are in need of help, DeKalb-based Safe Passage Inc. offers free and confidential services for people in crisis, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, ability, religion or immigration status. For Safe Passage, call 815-756-5228 or text 815-3931995 available 24/7. For the National Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline, call 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
“We are here because we decided ‘No more’,” said a survivor of sexual assault in DeKalb on April 27 who testified she’s been helped by “goddess-level” Safe Passage staff for about a decade.
The weather held out for participants and local advocates who marched in downtown DeKalb for Take Back the Night. Safe Passage marked Sexual Assault Awareness Month, in its 25th year, with the event, which survivors said brought them hope.
“Join together, free our lives, we will not be victimized,” marchers chanted as they walked through downtown carrying signs that declared “Hands off our bodies,” “No means no,” “Coercion is not consent,” “Not just a women’s issue,” and “I believe you.”
Rebecca Versluys, executive director of Safe Passage, said Sexual Assault
Awareness Month calls communities to honor survivors “whose courage broke silence,” and advocates who helped bring lasting change.
“It is both a milestone and a moment of reflection, an opportunity to acknowledge the progress we have made while recognizing that there’s still work that needs to be done,” Versluys said to a crowd of about 30 gathered inside the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St.
Since 2022, Safe Passage’s sexual assault response program has helped 1,388 adult survivors and 482 child survivors, staff said.
In 2025, Safe Passage provided 4,417 nights of shelter for adults and 1,982 nights for children.
The event’s main speaker was Carrie Ward, CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, a statewide network of 31 crisis shelters offering 24/7 support, counseling and advocacy.
While Sexual Assault Awareness Month was first observed nationally in 2001, the beginnings of women-led Take Back the Night gatherings date back farther.
“At its origin, the Take Back the Night movement began as a direct, literal effort for women and girls to walk safely at night anywhere,” Ward said.
In the 1970s, sexual violence reported in Pennsylvania, San Francisco and Los Angeles gained wide media attention,
Kelsey Rettke
Event-goers at Safe Passage’s annual Take Back the Night chant together April 27 in downtown DeKalb. They carried signs to advocate against sexual violence and to mark Sexual Violence Awareness Month, in its 25th year.
LOOKING BACK
1926 – 100 YEARS AGO
Maurice Kennedy, auto salesman of DeKalb, suffered a painful injury to his hand yesterday while assisting in the unloading of a car of automobiles. Mr. Kennedy’s hand slipped and struck a piece of galvanized iron, infecting a bad gash across the back. He went to a surgeon to get the wound dressed, who found it necessary to take one stitch to close the gash. Kennedy says he can keep on selling automobiles, however, although he will not attempt to do much driving for a few days.
An announcement was made today that arrangements are being completed on the operation of a kindergarten school in DeKalb for 12 weeks this summer for the benefit of the youngsters of the city who wish to take a preparatory course, before starting school in the fall. The announcement comes from Superintendent of Schools F. R. Ritzman, who is of the belief that the matter will be given serious consideration by the parents of children who plan to start their school career next fall. The kindergarten will be maintained at the Normal training school beginning June 8, it is stated by Mr. Ritzman. The work will be in charge of a head critic teacher and four assistants. Only a limited number of pupils can be taken, and while there have been many reservations made up to this time, it is said that more will be given consideration by those in charge.
The fist 50 customers at a sale announced to start yesterday morning received a pair of silk hose for 10 cents. The crowd on State Street in Sycamore almost called for police regulation, and one well known resident of the city was number 51 in the crowd. The sale yesterday is said to have attracted hundreds of additional people to Sycamore on dollar day.
1951 – 75 YEARS AGO
DeKalb firemen lost a valuable fire extinguisher from one of their trucks this week which they would appreciate the finder returning. The extinguisher, a quart and one-half Pyrene gun, was jolted off the truck, but nobody can recall just when it was missing. It might have fallen off while the truck was going to the fire on the Weaver farm north of Malta, or to the grassfire at Prather Field. The finder should
return it to the fire station in DeKalb because it is a valuable piece of equipment.
The Malta Village Board has passed an ordinance that all dogs must be licensed by May 10. Any dog running at large will be picked up and held for four days. If not claimed the dog will be disposed of.
Diamond Wire and Cable Company of Sycamore spokesmen Thursday announced the purchase of a building adjoining the company’s Harvester Street property. The building and some equipment were purchased for an undisclosed sum from the estate of the late B. J. Nelson. Plans call for primary use of the newly acquired building as a warehouse.
On Saturday, May 12, all members of the school safety patrols in DeKalb County will be guests at a playday at the Northern Illinois State Teachers College. Patrol member groups will gather at the women’s athletic field at 10 a.m. The annual playday is a reward to the boys and girls who have been responsible for the protection of their fellow classmates during past school years and is sponsored by the Chicago Motor Club.
An annnouncement was made today by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company that its plants in DeKalb, North Tonawanda and
award-winning tree as one of its victims.
If Americans are left with only one thought after this year’s Bicentennial hoopla is over with, it will all have been worth the effort. That is the realization that America’s immense importance in history, at least for the greater part of the 200 years of history, has been due not to its vast size or natural resources or military might alone but also to its moral example.
Zoning for duplex housing at the corner of Sycamore Road and Hillcrest Drive was approved, 3-2 by the DeKalb Plan Commission. The site, currently zoned for single family houses, is at the northwest corner of the intersection. The site contains eight lots for duplexes and is called the Bluff View subdivision.
2001 – 25 YEARS AGO
New York are working on a number of defense contracts amounting to approximately $10,000,000, with an additional $2,000,000 worth of such contracts now in the negotiation stage. The company in normal times engages in the manufacture of pianos, accordions, electronic organs and coin-operated phonographs. The defense work is in the form of top-secret electronic equipment, guided missiles and aircraft parts.
The bridge over the Kishwaukee River on North First Street near DeKalb Township High School, was torn out today by a crew of workmen preparing to erect a new structure on the site. The new bridge, to cost $35,089.90 will be erected by the Superior Concrete Construction Company, Chicago. They were awarded the contract last October 27.
1976 – 50 YEARS AGO
Close doesn’t count. Especially when you’re trying to break a record. This maxim rings true in the ears of Mrs. Esther Fraser of DeKalb this morning as her hopes of making the record books were uprooted by high winds Wednesday afternoon. The indiscriminate tempest, which churned up topsoil of barren farm fields, forcing some motorists in Southern DeKalb County to drive with their car’s headlights on in the afternoon, chose Mrs. Fraser’s possible
As one of his first acts upon being elected to his second run as mayor, Greg Sparrow changed the lock and the sign on his office door. Instead of a sign announcing the space as belonging to both the mayor and the council, the new sign simply says “Mayor.” And, unlike the days of former Mayor Bessie Chronopoulos’ administration, aldermen no longer have access to the corner office.
They came to Annie’s Woods on Saturday ready to work with their paint brushes and shovels. The DeKalb Park got a facelift thanks to volunteers from a local retail store. Employees from the Target on Sycamore Road participated in their company-wide program, Operation Playground, by making some repairs and improvements to the play area at Annie’s Woods.
Northern Illinois University and city officials were elated, but still cautious, regarding Friday’s announcement by the Chicago Bears that NIU and DeKalb were among four finalists to become the new training camp home of the Bears.
Cinco de Mayo, celebrated today, May 5, marks the defeat of the French army by the Mexicans at the Battle of Pueblo in 1862. Students at Littlejohn Elementary School celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a program on Thursday.
–CompiledbySueBreese
Photo provided by the DeKalb County History Center Archives Looking west at the Sycamore city limits on East State Street, 1955.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Spring coasters painting program set for May 8 in DeKalb
The DeKalb Public Library will offer a program for adults to decorate premade coasters.
The free program will begin at 3 p.m. May 8 in the library’s 309 Creative makerspace, 309 Oak St.
The coasters are designed to be assembled in layers. The coaster pieces also will pre-cut with the library’s laser cutter. Due to limited space and materials, the program is first-come, first-served. No registration is required.
For information, email penn@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 6111.
DeKalb library to host scavenger hunt May 9
The DeKalb Public Library will partner with Adventure Works to offer families a scavenger hunt to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month.
The free scavenger hunt will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 9 at the library, 309 Oak St.
Attendees will be able to explore the
library grounds and outdoor spaces for clues. The clues highlight emotional wellness, self-care and connection. Registration is required. To register, visit dkpl.org.
For information, call 815-756-9568, ext. 3350, or email theresaw@dkpl.org.
Intro to web development class set for May 10 in DeKalb
Adults and teens can learn about web development basics and HTML and CSS languages during a class at the DeKalb Public Library.
The free class will begin at 2 p.m. May 10 in the library’s lower-level Zimmerman Meeting Room, 309 Oak St.
Participants can learn about how to create websites with Neocities.org.
Attendees must have an email address to create a Neocities account. Laptops will be provided. Due to limited space, the class is first-come, first-served. No registration is required.
For information, email emilyb@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2150.
– Shaw Local News Network
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
DeKalb library to hold blood drive May 6
The DeKalb Public Library will partner with the American Red Cross to hold a blood drive to strengthen its blood supply.
The free blood drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. May 6 in the library’s lower-level Yusunas Meeting Room, 309 Oak St. Donations of all blood types will be accepted. Appointments are encouraged. To schedule an appointment, visit the American Red Cross website or call 800-733-2767. For information, email chelsear@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 1700.
DeKalb library to hold 13 Colonies program May 7
The DeKalb Public Library will hold a program for adults and teens to learn about the history of the 13 Colonies.
The free program will be held at 6 p.m. May 7 in the library’s lower-level Zimmerman Meeting Room, 309 Oak St. Attendees will discuss the colonies history and examine the timeline of states admitted
• TAKE BACK THE NIGHT
Continued from page 7
prompting the first marked Take Back the Night event in Philadelphia.
A similar event, dubbed “Reclaim the Night,” was born in Rome after 16,000 rapes were reported in the city in 1976, Ward said. In Leeds, England that same year, authorities told women to stay indoors while a predator targeting, assaulting and murdering women was at large. Organizers staged a Reclaim the Night there, too, outraged, Ward said.
“And I get it. Because why is the solution for women to always stay inside?” Ward said.
Take Back the Night came after hardfought progress labored over during other movements like fights for women’s suffrage, the civil rights era and pushes for reproductive freedoms. Why is it important to know the history of these movements? To know where to go next.
“Especially at a time where we have seen setbacks to hard-fought battles for equality, where we have seen victims’ voices silenced, when we have seen accountability for offenders grind to a halt,” Ward said. “And when we have seen survivors fall through the cracks.”
According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 45.1% of women will experi-
to the Union. The program is part of the library’s America250 initiative. No registration is required.
For information, call 815-756-9568, ext. 2150, or email thomask@dkpl.org.
PS5
sports gaming tournament set for May 6 and 20 in
DeKalb
The DeKalb Public Library will host a PS5 sports gaming tournament for teens in sixth through 12th grades to test gaming skills.
The free tournament will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 6 and 20 in the library’s Teen Room, 309 Oak St.
The tournament games include “NBA 2K26,” “College Football 26,” “EAFC26” and “Madden26.” XBoxOne, PS4 and Nintendo Switch games also will be available. The winner may receive a candy prize. Pizza will be served by Vinny’s Pizza. Due to only 16 spots being available, registration is required. To register, visit the Teen Room.
For information, email yooneks@dkpl.org, or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2450. –ShawLocalNewsNetwork
ence sexual violence in their lifetime.
Data shows that 21% of women are survivors of completed or attempted rape, and 16% of men experience sexual violence. At work, 1 in 3 women experience sexual harassment, the data shows. And 1 in 4 women experience technology-facilitated sexual violence.
That’s why shelters like Safe Passage –which broke ground in December on a forthcoming new, expanded shelter at 217 Franklin St. in DeKalb – are so important, Ward said.
The agency offers shelter and temporary housing for those seeking to leave a violent situation, including for children. Those in need of help at Safe Passage will find counseling sessions, safety planning and aid in filing an order of protection in DeKalb County court if they need it.
“While we know that the circumstances that bring someone into shelter are often traumatic, your provision of a safe, welcoming environment goes a long way toward helping them heal,” Ward said of Safe Passage.
Sexual violence can, and does, happen to anyone, statistics show. Advocates said programs like crisis centers push for awareness and greater reporting, and a system that lifts up survivors.
“We want to see a society that believes and supports survivors, that holds offenders accountable for their behavior, that prevents future sexual violence,” Ward said.
Downtown ‘shop and sip’ concept pending final approval
DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes said he’s met with some business owners
By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com
Mayor Cohen Barnes said last week that he met with some downtown DeKalb business owners to discuss a proposal that would allow patrons to drink and walk around downtown.
The Entertainment District, a proposed concept aimed at encouraging patrons to sip and shop downtown DeKalb, has received early City Council support but still needs some tweaking, Barnes said.
City Council action to amend an ordinance outlining the rules of the potential program hinges on a second and final vote, which officials chose not to do this week. A first-round vote was approved in a unanimous decision, however.
Barnes said some local business own-
ers expressed support for the concept. But he said another meeting is warranted to address some of their concerns.
“We got to work through some of that and get some clarification on it,” Barnes said. “It’s all more nuances.”
Under the proposal, participating businesses of the city’s Central Business District would pilot a program in which patrons may carry a single alcoholic beverage in a city-approved, branded cup.
The concept, if approved by the council, aims to provide a fun, safe way to encourage more pedestrians to walk downtown in the late afternoon and evening, combining dining and entertainment venues, according to the city.
City staff said the district could include about a dozen participating businesses.
Any establishment with a liquor license opting in would have city-issued stickers or displays to indicate their program participation, city documents show. Adults age 21 or older also would be required to wear a wristband to show they have been carded and bought
a drink.
Alcohol in non-city-approved bottles, cans and glass containers would not be allowed and is restricted outside of the proposed Entertainment District.
Any business found not adhering to the city’s rules may face penalties under the existing liquor license regulations, city documents show.
Non-licensed businesses within the Entertainment District may choose whether to welcome these customers onto their premises with the understanding that drinks are sold and served elsewhere in the district, city documents show. Participation is not mandatory for all establishments in the downtown.
Sixth Ward Alderman Mike Verbic questioned whether the Entertainment District would need to be policed differently.
“Any ideas as to the staffing if that’s going to be the police department that will enforce the boundary of this area?” Verbic said.
“We would most likely make that a separate beat during that time, and then we’ll assign a car for that beat,” Police Chief David Byrd said in
response. “They would be responsible for that area.”
The district’s boundaries would be contained on the west by the east curbline of North First Street; on the north by the north curbline of East Locust Street; on the east by the west curbline of North Fourth Street and on the south by the Union Pacific right-of-way, city documents show.
Also included as proposed cutouts are the northeast corner of North Fourth Street to include The Grove Tavern, 204 N. Fourth St., and East Locust Street for Faranda’s, 302 Grove St.
The program is intended to run from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, city documents show. A last call for drinks may be implemented nightly at 9:30 p.m.
A vote on the program is expected at a future date.
If approved, an ordinance outlining an Entertainment District would include a Dec. 31 sunset date. In doing so, the City Council can decide whether to renew or extend the program.
Mark Busch file photo
The Entertainment District, a proposed concept aimed at encouraging patrons to sip and shop downtown DeKalb, has received early City Council support but still needs some tweaking, DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes said.
DeKalb Chamber celebrates Network of Nations new locations
