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ON THE COVER
Ferris Runnion of Woodridge, 2, doesn’t know what to make of the loud trucks in the Sandwich Fair’s tractor pull, while his brother Owen, 5, loves it Sept. 5, 2024, at the fairgrounds in Sandwich.
See story, page 6.
Shaw Local News Network file photo
DCCF launches new investing program
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The DeKalb County Community Foundation recently launched a new program meant to support area nonprofits, businesses and philanthropy donors.
The Impact Investing program goes beyond traditional philanthropy by using charitable dollars to invest in local social impact projects and grant support, according to a news release. Investments such as loans, loan guarantees or equity commitments are repaid to the DCCF and then reinvested in new projects, creating a continuous cycle of community benefit.
“Impact investing allows us to do more than grants alone can,” DCCF Executive Director Dan Templin said in the release.
“The foundation is becoming a local financial equity provider, making investments in DeKalb County that deliver social and economic benefits while generating returns for reinvestment.”
The new program is designed to address local needs in education, economic development, environmental sustainability and equity, among other
LOCAL NEWS BRIEF
Watershed steward program begins Sept. 9 in Genoa
The University of Illinois Extension DeKalb County will offer a watershed steward program for community members to act as watershed stewards.
The program will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Sept. 9 through Oct. 21, at the
fields of interest. Impact investments can help nonprofits and businesses secure the funding they need, especially those that might not qualify for traditional loans. In some cases, using a combination of grants and loans may best meet a nonprofit organization’s needs. The goal is to support strong, sustainable projects that create positive change across DeKalb County, according to the release.
The foundation also offers Emergency Bridge Loans to help eligible nonprofit organizations manage short-term cashflow gaps while awaiting committed support such as grants or reimbursements.
Eligible nonprofit or for-profit organizations are encouraged to review the Impact Investing criteria and requirements and submit an application online at dekalbccf.org/impact-investing.
Applications will be carefully evaluated by DCCF staff to ensure they are viable and align with the foundation’s mission. Approved applicants receive the funding they need to move forward, and as those dollars are repaid, they will be reinvested into future projects throughout DeKalb County. Loans may
offer below-market rates and are designed to be accessible to organizations that may be overlooked by traditional lenders.
The new approach also offers donors a meaningful way to increase the impact of their charitable giving, according to the release.
Contributions to the Invest DeKalb County Fund become part of a dedicated pool of dollars used for local investments. Unlike traditional grants that are spent once, the investments are repaid, allowing the same dollars to support project after project for years to come.
“Your gift doesn’t just make an impact today – it makes an impact again and again,” Templin said. “We invite donors to join us in using philanthropy as a tool for sustainable, long-term community development.”
For more information about applying for an impact investment, donating to the Invest DeKalb County Fund or reviewing program criteria and requirements, visit dekalbccf.org/impact-investing or contact Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@ dekalbccf.org.
Russell Woods Forest Preserve’s Natural Resource Education Center, 11750 Route 72, Genoa, and the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, 1350 W. Prairie Drive, Sycamore.
Attendees can learn how rainfall water travels to potential drinking water. The program will be led by scientists, researchers and watershed management professionals.
The program costs $84. Registration is required to attend. To register, visit go.illinois. edu/DeKalbWS.
Early accommodation requests for access needs are encouraged. To make a request, call 815-758-8194 or email cahandel@illinois. edu.
– Shaw Local News Network
Accuracy is important to The MidWeek. Please call errors to our attention by phone at 815-526-4411 or email at readit@midweeknews.com. PUZZLE ANSWERS puzzlesonpage17
from you. Email us your thoughts at feedback@
District 427 names Nick
Reineck
interim superintendent
Reineck to fill role through mid-2026 or until search concludes
By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com
The Sycamore School District 427 administrator tasked with filling in for former Superintendent Steve Wilder will retain that role through the school year, the district announced Aug. 27.
Nick Reineck, assistant superintendent for human resources and educational programs, has been the district’s acting superintendent since Aug. 1, after the school board and Wilder parted ways. Officials have said the departure was a mutual decision, although few details have been shared publicly.
Reineck was appointed by a unanimous school board vote Tuesday as part of the district’s existing succession plan.
In a statement, Reineck said he was honored to serve the Sycamore community, which he has called home for more than a decade. His children also attend
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Sycamore library to hold wellness program series Sept. 6
Residents can participate in wellness program as part of the Sycamore Public Library’s new Serenity Saturdays series. The free program will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 6 at the library, 103 E. State St.
The program includes gentle yoga with mindful movement, breathwork, and relaxation. Participants are encouraged to bring a water bottle and yoga mat. The series will be led by a certified yoga instructor
“Libraries are welcoming spaces for learning, connection, and renewal,” Sycamore Public Library director Kim Halsey said in a news release. “With Serenity Saturdays and our ongoing wellness offerings, we’re making it easier
Sycamore schools.
“That gives me both personal and professional commitment to serving our students, staff and families,” Reineck said in the statement. “We have an incredible community, and I look forward to working together to ensure stability during this transition while continuing to empower all learners to succeed in their world.”
Meanwhile, the school board has hired a national firm to guide the district’s search for a new superintendent. Reineck is expected to be the district’s interim superintendent until the position is permanently filled on or before July 1, 2026, according to the information sent to Sycamore families Wednesday.
While still the acting superintendent, Reineck said he and the assistant superintendent for business services, Nicole Stuckert, spent the first day of school checking on every building in the district.
“There’s so much excitement in the buildings,” Reineck said. “We’re fortunate enough to get in every building. Nicole had to wrangle me a little bit because I wanted to go into every classroom. So I said, ‘No, we’ve got time, we’ll go into every single classroom in the district.’ That took a long time, but it was a ton of fun.”
for neighbors to care for mind and body close to home.”
For information, visit sycamorelibrary.org or call 815-895-2500.
Sycamore Lions Club to hold cookie crawl Sept. 13
The Sycamore Lions Club will hold a cookie crawl to support Sycamore-area families fighting pediatric cancer. The cookie crawl will be held Sept. 13 in Sycamore.
Participants can buy a cookie container online. Attendees also will receive a cookie station map during container pickup. Participants can visit various Sycamore businesses to collect cookies. The cookie container pickup location will be available online.
For information, call or text 815-761-8570. – Shaw Local News Network
Nick Reineck
Rooted For Good listed September Grow Mobile food pantry dates
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Rooted For Good released a list of September locations for Grow Mobile, a mobile food pantry that offers free food and household items to all who visit, no requirements necessary.
Rooted For Good works to ensure the well-being of residents, staff and
volunteers. Organizers ask that people practice good hand hygiene and stay home if they are ill.
To receive Grow Mobile alerts, text FreeGroceries to 844-727-2012.
Grow Mobile dates in September:
• 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Clinton Township Community Building, 160 W. Lincoln Highway, Waterman.
• 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 4 at University Vil-
lage Apartments, 722 N. Annie Glidden Road, DeKalb.
• 3 to 5 p.m. Sept 9 at the Cortland Lions Club Shelter, 70 S. Llanos St., Cortland.
• 11 a.m. to noon Sept. 11 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 830 N. Annie Glidden Road, DeKalb.
• 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 16 at University Village Apartments, 722 N. Annie Glid-
den Road, DeKalb.
• 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Malta Historical and Genealogical Society, 127 N. Third St., Malta.
• 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, 340 W. Arnold Road, Sandwich.
• 11 a.m. to noon Sept. 25 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 830 N. Annie Glidden Road, DeKalb.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
DeKalb library to host produce swaps Sept. 3 and 17
The DeKalb Public Library will host two produce swaps for residents to shop for and swap produce.
The free swaps will begin at 7 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 3 and 17, in the library’s lower-level Bilder Family Meeting Room, 309 Oak St.
Participants will be able to swap and shop for produce. No registration is required to attend.
For information, email brittak@dkpl. org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2100.
DeKalb library to hold sustainability swap Sept. 4
Adults will be able to trade in lightly used clothing and swap houseplants during a monthly sustainability swap at the DeKalb Public Library.
The free swap will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 in the library’s lower-level Yusunas Meeting Room, 309 Oak St.
Participants will be able to bring freshly washed adult-sized clothing. The clothes can be dropped off at the reference desk. Attendees will receive
Merillat Cabinetry
• Custom Counter Tops
• Ceramic Tile
• Hardwood Flooring
• Luxury Vinyl Planks
• Window Treatments
up to 20 tickets for every clothing piece brought in. The tickets can be used to buy clothes.
Houseplants of all kinds will be welcomed. Participants should bring pots they are willing to part with. Tickets will not be required for houseplants. No registration is required to attend.
For information, email amyf@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2150.
Koraist Sean Gaskell to perform Sept. 5 in DeKalb
Koraist Sean Gaskell will perform an
after-hours concert for community members at the DeKalb Public Library.
The free concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 in the library’s main lobby, 309 Oak St.
Gaskell will perform West African music with the kora, a 21-string West African harp. The doors to the library open at 6 p.m. No registration is required to attend.
For information, email samanthah@ dkpl.org or at call 815-756-9568, ext. 1701.
– Shaw Local News Network
Please Join Us for the 47th annual FFA Alumni Pork Chop Dinner and Auction, at the DeKalb High School Ag Shop &
All proceeds go to support FFA members at DeKalb High School.
Groundbreaking held for Marriott-branded 120-room hotel
Investment of $23 million expected to boost local economy and tourism opportunities in DeKalb
By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com
The construction of a new 120-room hotel, branded as Towneplace Suites and Fairfield Inn by Marriott, will soon get underway in DeKalb.
DeKalb community leaders gathered Aug. 26 for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the occasion at 902 Peace Road.
The event, which featured public remarks, refreshments and photo opportunities, saw several elected officials in attendance, including DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes, DeKalb Alderwoman Barb Larson, and state Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore.
See NEW HOTEL, page 12
Megann Horstead
Project leaders join with DeKalb community leaders Aug. 26 to put shovels to dirt. The groundbreaking ceremony was staged to commemorate the start of construction of a new Marriott-branded hotel in DeKalb.
Sandwich Fair returns with food, fun and tradition
By AIMEE BARROWS abarrows@shawmedia.com
The iconic Sandwich Fair returns this week in southern DeKalb County to kick off the fall season.
As one of the oldest continuing county fairs in Illinois, this annual tradition is an end-of-summer staple for residents across the region. With its traditional blend of live entertainment, agricultural exhibits, truck pulls, carnival and plenty of food, the fair is gearing up to provide a full week of family-friendly fun.
The 137th annual Sandwich Fair opens Wednesday, Sept. 3, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Sandwich Fairgrounds in Sandwich. Hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Live Music
One of country music’s hottest new stars, Warren Zeiders, will headline the Main Stage on the track’s infield on Friday, Sept. 5. Zeiders’ first single “Pretty Little Poison,” went double-platinum and hit the top of the country music charts, even earning him a CMT Award for “Breakthrough Male Video of the Year” in 2023.
He’s appeared on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” “The Today Show” and more, and has toured with country music sensation Jelly Roll. Zeiders is touring the country in support of his newest release, “Relapse, Lies & Betrayal.” Tickets for the pit are sold out, but “festival style” tickets, which include bleachers, standing room and bring your own chair, are $55. The band Riplock will open for Zeiders. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
Enjoy performances from many more bands on the Ag Land Stage, including Beauty and the Beats, Drift Away, The Steve Sharp Band and more. Stilt walkers, clowns, jugglers and additional live entertainers will be scattered throughout the festival.
Auto Show
The auto show is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, on the race track field. This show will not have judges or prizes.
Carnival
Mid America Entertainment will have unlimited ride wristband specials each day of the fair except Saturday. Prices are $25 from 3 p.m. to close on
Wednesday, $30 from 1 p.m. to close on Thursday, $30 from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and $30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Individual ride tickets will also be available to buy.
Track Schedule
The Sandwich Fair track is where the biggest events of the weekend will be held.
Wednesday: Harness racing and Illinois State RC Car and Truck Racing Championships
Thursday: Truck Pulls
Friday: Warren Zeiders concert in infield
Saturday: Tractor Pulls
Sunday: Antique Car Show and Demolition Derby
Click here to purchase tickets to the truck or tractor pulls, concert and demolition derby.
General Admission
General admission tickets, which $10 for adults and $7 for kids 6-12, are available at the front entrance gates.
Children Free Day: Children 12 and
younger are free Wednesday, Sept. 3
Senior Day: People age 65 and older get in for $7 before 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4.
Bargain Day: Children 12 and younger are free until 5 p.m. Everyone 13 years and older admitted for $7 before 5 p.m.
Shaw Local News Network file photos
ABOVE: The Sandwich Fair midway is packed with patrons Sept. 5, 2024, at the fairgrounds in Sandwich. BELOW: Local favorite Josh Stahl, driving “Thicker ‘n’ Blood” competes Sept. 5. 2024, in the Sandwich Fair tractor pull at the fairgrounds.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
DeKalb library to hold NAMI information booth Sept. 8
The DeKalb Public Library will host a National Alliance on Mental Illness information booth for residents to learn about the organization’s resources.
The free booth will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Sept. 8 in the library’s main lobby, 309 Oak St.
Participants can meet NAMI staff and learn about upcoming Spanish and English programs and events. No registration is required to attend.
For information, email leahh@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2112.
Stage Coach Players performances of ‘Next to Normal’ begin Sept. 11
The Stage Coach Players will open its next production, the musical “Next to Normal,” Sept. 11.
The musical is scheduled to run for two weeks.
“Next to Normal” tells the story of a mother’s bipolar disorder impact on her family. The family struggles managing the effects the disorder has on the mother and family. The musical includes themes such
as mental illness, depression, modern psychiatric practice ethics, grief, suicide and drug abuse.
“Next to Normal” is based in the 2008 musical of the same name by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt. The Stage Coach production will be directed by Jan Booth. Musical direction is provided by Nika Morton.
The musical is not appropriate for children ages 13 and younger. “Next to Normal” contains offensive language and adult themes which may be intense and difficult for sensitive patrons. Parents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the musical before bringing children.
Tickets cost $22 for adults and $20 for seniors and students with a student ID. To buy tickets, visit stagecoachplayers.com or call 815-758-1940.
Performances of “Next to Normal” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 through Sept. 13 and Sept. 18 through Sept. 20 at the Stage Coach Theatre, 126 S. Fifth St., DeKalb. Matinee performances also are set for 2 p.m. Sept. 14 and 21.
For information, visit stagecoachplayers. com.
– Shaw Local News Network
NIU Homecoming Coloring Contest
Deadline to drop o at the DeKalb or Sycamore Library is Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. For details: go.niu.edu/homecoming.
— Welcome Home Huskies —
Sponsored by
Student first name and last name, grade and school, and parent/guardian phone number.
LOOKING BACK
1925 – 100 YEARS AGO
Spark Plug, the combination chemical and hose wagon of the DeKalb fire department was kept unusually busy yesterday on account of grass and auto fires. During the afternoon one of the Schulz wagons caught fire near Maple Park and Spark Plug was called on account of the wagon being close to a filling station. It is reported today that the two men in the wagon, narrowly escaped, as the machine suddenly exploded. They were required to crawl out the back end of the truck to escape being injured. The machine was destroyed.
Invitations have been received in this city from the board of directors and officers of the Exchange State Bank of Genoa to be present at the formal opening of the bank’s new rooms, vault and equipment, to be held on Saturday, September 5. The bank has just completed remodeling the banking room, and the installation of a new vault and equipment. The progress that has been made by the bank is of much interest to residents of this city, and no doubt many friends will attend the formal opening.
With the announcement that the laying of a slab at Marengo was completed on Tuesdays, the pavement north of Sycamore on Route 23 may be expected to be opened the latter part of this month. The workmen paving the stretch near Marengo started at Genoa and worked north. The work on the paving of the stretch between DeKalb and Sycamore will be completed about the middle of next week, it is stated today. At the present time the slab laying gang is working near the Fred Love farm.
Work on the part of many DeKalb Elks, was today being spoken of in the past or future tense, the Elks devoting all of today to pleasure afforded by attending the stag picnic at Hunt’s Grove, arranged by the Lincoln Highway Association of Elks lodges, of which the lodge of DeKalb is a member. A large number of members left early this morning for the picnic grounds near Ashton to be present for the afternoon entertainment.
1950– 75 YEARS AGO
Hot weather in great big quantities is badly needed for this area to mature the corn crop. The resort area climate of the
north woods which has prevailed this summer has been wonderful for humans, grass, small grains and some vegetable crops, but it hasn’t helped the corn crop. There’s an old axiom in the grain belt that in a good corn summer people simmer. This year they hunted extra blankets.
Members of the DeKalb police force donned their blues this morning and will be wearing their winter uniforms for the next several months. Early in the spring new uniforms were purchased for the department with funds raised through a benefit basketball game and the police have been wearing those snappy uniforms throughout the summer.
The Sycamore swimming pool will close one of its most successful season Monday night after taking care of the usually large Labor Day crowd, barring bad weather. Customarily closed on Labor Day each year, the pool will end its 1950 summer which has been featured by the Red Cross sponsored water instruction project and by large crowds for open swimming all year.
The third battle of the Sycamore Lions Club’s war against insects in the city will be fought Sunday night as the Custom Foggers of DeKalb spray the streets and alleys again. Previous success with earlier foggings have encouraged the club to carry out the project again, with the city and its outlying
areas scheduled for spraying. The removal of automobiles and trucks from the streets will allow for a better and faster job, since the fogging machine is turned off while passing them, club officials have announced.
An order just received from the air force re-opens for a limited time, recruiting of airmen for the 441st Troop Carrier Wing of the air reserve. So far as is known this is the last wing air reserve unit in this area to accept recruits. None are slated for the future.
At 1:55 o’clock this morning the DeKalb fire department was summoned to investigate smoke in the Kennedy building, which is located next to the fire station. Grabbing extinguishers, Captain Clayton Kennedy and the firemen investigated the source of the smoke and were forced to break the glass in the door to one of the apartments. A sofa bed in the apartment of F. Van Wie was smoldering and the apartment filled with smoke. Chemicals were used to put out the smoldering fire.
1975 – 50 YEARS AGO
Legal counsel from outside DeKalb will be employed by the DeKalb Public Hospital Board of Directors to investigate the legal rights and responsibilities of the board in connection with the city council ordinance directing the transfer of acute care services to Kishwaukee Community Hospital.
County officials still want to withhold money they say is owned by school, municipalities and other local taxing districts in tax administration fees. However, Tuesday they decided to look before they leap into action.
DeKalb AgResearch dealers are in town this week in force. More than 4,000 dealers from Colorado to Pennsylvania and from Canada to Tennessee arrived in DeKalb Monday for the first national dealers’ convention in 20 years. Smaller conventions are under way in other parts of the country. Tours of field demonstrations, including the Farm Progress Show site near Malta, will be conducted through Thursday.
The Illinois Department of Transportation and DeKalb finally reached an agreement on the maintenance of the pedestrian underpass at Hopkins Park. The pedestrian subway was built by the state between 1941 and 1942 but as agreement covering maintenance never was settled.
2000 – 25 YEARS AGO
DeKalb is full of gorgeous summer gardens of all sized and shapes, none more evident or appreciated than the one at 607 S. Fourth Street. That’s the home of Wenceslao Camano and his family, where many late afternoons and evenings the gardener himself will be seen in his front year, bent over his work.
Under a plan advanced by the City of DeKalb, the Pleasant Street area may be in for a significant rehabilitation. The program is one of the most significant achievements obtained by the City Council this year, and aldermen are to be praised for avoiding provincialism and supporting the rehab of this vital Third Ward neighborhood. Certainly, aldermen would have liked to have seen neighborhoods in their wards go first, but they agreed to wait.
Thursday marked the end of an era as John Plesa relinquished ownership of Andy’s Lounge, 317 E. Lincoln Highway. Plesa began work at the tavern in 1976 and has been in charge since 1988. The establishment has been in his family for three generations. It started at 10th and Oak streets in 1933, moving to its present location in 1948.
Photo provided by the DeKalb County History Center Archives East Lincoln Highway looking east from Third Street in DeKalb during road work, May 1949.
in October.
Mr. Willy’s Dark Art and Oddities shop coming to DeKalb
Co-owner Willy Adkins brings expertise from Dark Art and Oddities to new shop
By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com
Willy Adkins has always been into the stranger things in life. Whether it be antiques off the wall or old relics, the DeKalb resident said he’s excited to share his latest venture with the community.
Adkins is one of three brainchildren behind a new dark art and oddities shop dubbed Mr. Willy’s Dark Art and Oddities, vowing that dark art and magic await once it opens this fall. His business partners are Becky Lange and Shoobie Shirley.
“It’s been a lifelong passion of mine, the darker genre stuff,” Adkins said. “To bring this to DeKalb and have something that’s a little bit different than what they typically see is pretty exciting.”
Friday, September 5 @ 6:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 28, 2025
Beginning & Ending in Downtown DeKalb, both routes take runners with on course entertainment through historical neighborhoods, along the Kishwaukee River, through NIU's campus, ending in Van Buer Plaza. FREE BEER & Taste of DeKalb Event at the Finish Line!
Photo provided by Willy Adkins
Willy Adkins (left), poses with Canhead, a Guinness World Record holder and natural oddity, during DeKalb’s Corn Fest in front of 150 E. Lincoln Highway, downtown DeKalb. It’s the location of Adkins’ new shop, Mr. Willy’s Dark Art and Oddities, slated to open
Motorcycle club raises hundreds for Project Fire Buddies
By KELSEY RETTKE krettke@shawmedia.com
A motorcycle club recently raised hundreds of dollars for the Sycamore chapter of Project Fire Buddies, a nonprofit that helps families with children battling illness.
The Sycamore Fire Department joined the national nonprofit in early 2024, firefighter/paramedic Ian Wheeler said.
Sycamore firefighters go on special dates with participating families, including helping to celebrate birthdays, holidays and life milestones; give support on treatment days; and more, Wheeler said.
The Sycamore Fire Department also provides necessities for families to help them meet their home and medical needs.
“Our main goal is to make our fire buddies, who are going through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, feel like superheroes by showing up at their house with flashing lights and sirens, [and] showering them with gifts and special trips,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler said he recently was approached by the Fire and Iron Motorcycle Club, which wanted to hold a fund-
raiser for Project Fire Buddies. The July fundraiser was marked with a ride that started at the department’s fire station No. 2 and breakfast provided by Sycamore Firefighters Union Local No. 3046.
The group raised $575 by selling Project Fire Buddies swag.
“What has been truly amazing to see is the outpouring of community support for Project Fire Buddies,” Wheeler said. “We have been approached by many businesses and individuals who have been asking to host fundraisers for this organization.”
Project Fire Buddies has 150 chapters in 12 states and is always expanding, Wheeler said.
If you know a child who could be a part of Project Fire Buddies, visit projectfirebuddies.org and fill out the Nominate A Child form.
Photo provided by Robert Blockinger
35 bikes with a total of 42 people line up, waiting to support Project Fire Buddies in Sycamore in July 2025.
Continued from page 5
In his public remarks, Pramit Patel, who will run and operate the new hotel, said he’s excited to bring the first Marriott-branded hotel to DeKalb.
“DeKalb’s seen an unprecedented amount of growth in the last five to six years,” Patel said. “Directly four miles down on Peace Road is a new home to Meta’s Data Center, Kraft Foods, Ferrara Candy Company, Amazon, and probably more on the horizon. With this new growth, there’s been a new demand for quality rooms. I can’t think of a better brand to bring to DeKalb than Marriott.”
Construction of the hotel is expected to begin in early September.
The 2.5-acre property sits vacant and is situated between the Bumper to Bumper auto parts store and the Fast Stop Express gas station along the east side of Peace Road, north of Pleasant Street, city documents show.
Upon completion, the hotel will make for the city’s third in town.
Cortney Strohaker, executive director at the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it meant a lot to her organization to see shovels in the ground.
“We at the CVV run into [events] all
the time that we could bring here, but we can’t because we don’t have enough hotel rooms, even countywide, let alone DeKalb. The more hotels that we have, the more things that we can bring in. And to have it right here by the airport is fantastic. It’s a great location.”
In an interview, Patel said he is committed to plans for constructing the hotel in DeKalb.
Project leaders said they are investing about $23 million into the build.
“I went to school here,” Patel said.
“I’m an NIU alumni. To be able to come back to where I had the best times of my life and give back to the community, it means a lot.”
A potential tax-sharing agreement between project leaders and the city remains in the works. At Monday’s council meeting, city leaders expressed initial support for a deal. An ordinance will be brought before the City Council for consideration at a later date.
Melissa Amedeo, executive director at the DeKalb County Economic Devel-
opment Corporation, said seeing the development of the hotel move closer to reality is a big deal.
“It’s huge what they’ll bring for growth,” Amedeo said. “It also will help some of the growth that we’ve already seen.”
Patel said he has long embraced the importance of hospitality, going back to his days at Northern Illinois University.
“I strive to bring that type of hospitality to all of my hotels in DeKalb,” Patel said. “When visitors come to stay here, they come knowing that this is their home away from home. And they get to enjoy what DeKalb has to offer.”
Strohaker said the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau knows the community has been dealt a “huge economic loss” because of hotel room availability in the past.
“There’s a formula that you can actually figure it out,” Strohaker said. “It’s like $44 a person, and then every person after that. Because they’re spending money not only at the hotel but in gas and at the restaurants, and then hopefully at the shops. Maybe even catching a show. ... It’s a huge economic loss.”
Still, Strohaker expressed optimism for the community’s future.
“I know that is a big investment, but I think that they’re going to see that it was well worth it,” she said.
Megann Horstead
Pramit Patel (right) gives remarks Aug. 26 at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Marriott-branded hotel, as Cortney Strohaker (left) and Melissa Amedeo watch on.
DeKalb County Nonprofit Day conference registration open
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Nonprofit leaders, volunteers, and board members from throughout DeKalb County will gather on Sept. 24 for Nonprofit Day at Faranda’s Banquet Center in DeKalb.
Organized by the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership, the annual conference is a full day of learning, networking, and inspiration designed to strengthen local organizations.
Space is limited to 125 and early registration is encouraged before the Sept. 17 deadline.
“Nonprofit Day unites local leaders to exchange ideas, learn new approaches and grow collaboratively,” DCNP Director Ben Bingle said. “The conference provides inspiration as well as practical strategies to enhance the collective impact of nonprofits across DeKalb County.”
Nonprofit Day training topics focus on leadership, organizational values, communications, public-speaking, program prioritization, artificial intelligence and leading intergenerational teams. The Rev. Doctor G. Joseph Mitchell, Senior Pastor at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and Executive Director of Project H.O.P.E., will deliver the keynote on values-driven leadership.
DCNP is a program of the DeKalb County Community Foundation. DCNP offers year-round training and initiatives designed to strengthen nonprofit organizations, including Give DeKalb County.
Learn more, download the full agenda, and register today at dcnp.org. DCNP members attend free, and non-members are welcome for $30, payable online during registration.
Contact dcnp@dekalbccf.org or 815748-5383 with questions.
• MR. WILLY’S
Continued from page 10
Mr. Willy’s Dark Art and Oddities, 150 E. Lincoln Highway, is expected to take over a spot in the city’s downtown previously occupied by the boutique Seance at Tiffany’s, which relocated earlier this month to another location across the street.
The shop opened its doors for the first time this past weekend during Corn Fest to offer the community a special sneak peek at what it will have in store.
Inside the shop, patrons will find a variety of oddities, including uranium jewelry, various animal bone collections, older medical specimens, Funko Pops, action figures, metaphysical supplies and more.
Although Adkins had no previous experience running a shop of this type, he’s not new to the arena of dark art and oddities.
In 2018, he started running the Dark Art and Oddities Con in partnership with Northern Illinois University.
The convention usually takes place every year in November.
“Many people in the area know me because I’ve been an award-winning actor and director in film for years,” he said. “I’m at the tail end of a tour that
It’s been a lifelong passion of mine, the darker genre stuff. To bring this to DeKalb and have something that’s a little bit different than what they typically see is pretty exciting.”
Willy Adkins, Mr. Willy’s Dark Art and Oddities owner
I’m doing at conventions across the country. ... I was just in New Orleans at the New Orleans Comic Con – signing photos, building some promotion for what we’re doing here – so we have national attention beyond just DeKalb’s community alone.”
Adkins said he believes there’s a market in DeKalb for dark art and oddities that has gone unserved.
“It’s a niche community, and a lot of people will travel for the experience,” he said. “We’re happy to try and bring some of that to downtown DeKalb.”
Once it opens, Mr. Willy’s Dark Art and Oddities plans to welcome celebrity guests to meet with patrons. The shop also will sell merchandise that patrons can buy.
Mr. Willy’s Dark Art and Oddities has a tentative opening date of Oct. 18.
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Man gets 14 years for DUI crash that killed deputy
‘You must finally be forced to face the terrible truth of your addiction,’ Judge Marcy Buick says
By KELSEY RETTKE krettke@shawmedia.com
When DeKalb County Sheriff’s Deputy Christina Musil went to work the night of March 28, 2024, she didn’t realize she wouldn’t return home to her three kids.
She didn’t know that while her police SUV sat on the shoulder of a rural Waterman road, truck driver Nathan P. Sweeney, 45, who’d held a CDL license since he was 18, was behind the wheel high on fentanyl.
Sweeney, of DeKalb, had struggled with drug addiction for much of his adult life, prosecutors and his defense lawyer, John Kopp, said Aug. 26. That addiction was pivotal to many of the arguments made in Judge Marcy Buick’s courtroom as about 70 people watched. Dozens of law enforcement, including Musil’s coworkers and other area police, joined the late deputy’s loved ones as Sweeney was handed down the maximum sentence.
“You know today is the day you must finally be forced to face the terrible truth of your addiction,” Buick said to Sweeney. “The reason we are all here in this courtroom this afternoon is because you did in fact choose, deceitfully, to drive a Kenworth truck as an untreated heroin addict.”
Buick sentenced him to 14 years. He’s required to serve at least 85% with a mandatory two years of supervised release.
‘You brought me to my knees’
Musil was 35 when she was killed while on duty, and in her fifth year with the sheriff’s office. She’d worked as a corrections deputy and then in patrol after a deployment to Afghanistan with the U.S. Army National Guard. Musil was remembered by her parents Aug. 26 in emotional testimonies.
“You brought me to my knees and I didn’t think I was ever going to get back up,” said Christina’s mother, Diane Caporaso. Diane called Musil her best friend. She wept through her statement as she sat next to a framed photo of her daughter and grieved the loss for her
grandchildren, too. She showed Sweeney a piece of art created by Musil’s son.
“My daughter wanted to make a difference as a police officer and she did,” Diane Caporaso said. “She was a great mom.”
Diane wore a shirt with No. 42 on it, Christina’s sheriff’s badge number. She thanked the dozens of sheriff’s deputies who stood vigil in the courtroom for becoming part of her family. Before her death, Christina lived with her mother and they raised her children together, Diane said.
Musil’s father, Philip Caporaso, said he misses his daughter’s voice and her laughter. He said he dreamed about her after her death.
“She was in the prime of her life and you took it away,” Philip Caporaso said. “[...] Our family will never be whole again.”
Sheriff Andy Sullivan said he thinks of Christina and her family daily.
“Every one of my deputies puts on their uniform every day to serve this community,” Sullivan said. “And that goes for all of law enforcement, knowing that there’s a possibility of not returning home. This is a profession that we were called to. This should have never happened. And to say that it breaks our hearts will never be accurate enough.”
In a tense courtroom, Sweeney apologized and asked for forgiveness. He looked directly at Musil’s loved ones and coworkers, mouthing, “I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry,” as he struggled through an emotional statement for almost 7 minutes.
“I understand that many people are hurt and angry with me, and I completely understand why,” Sweeney said. “If I could have one wish it would be to turn back time. I would give anything to undo what happened. I would take her place in a heartbeat.”
Sweeney said he knows the pain of
losing loved ones in an instant: At age 2, he watched his father shoot his mother to death and then turn the gun on himself. He was later adopted, his lawyer said.
“I have spent my life trying to do what is the right thing for my own family, to work hard to support them and most importantly to love them with everything I have,” Sweeney said. “The poor decisions that I made affect them too, and that is always something I have to reconcile with myself.”
Prosecutor calls Sweeney ‘a ticking time bomb’
Prosecutors said Sweeney was going so fast at the time of the crash, 71 mph, that the force of the collision pushed the back of Musil’s vehicle to the front. Sweeney did not apply his brakes until after the crash, police have said in court filings.
See SWEENEY, page 15
Mark Busch
Nathan P. Sweeney, 45, of DeKalb, becomes emotional as his family members testify on his behalf Aug. 26 during his sentencing hearing at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore. Sweeney received 14 years for driving under the influence and causing the 2024 crash that killed sheriff’s deputy, veteran and mother Christina Musil.
• SWEENEY
Continued from page 14
Sweeney pleaded guilty on June 26, forgoing an expected jury trial. He admitted to getting behind the wheel under the influence of fentanyl. He was employed as a truck driver with Garzo Tire at the time, court records show.
The guilty plea was for a Class 2 felony DUI of drugs causing death. Three other charges he initially faced – reckless homicide and two more DUI resulting in death felonies – were dismissed as part of the agreement with the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office and Sweeney’s defense.
The day after the crash, March 29, Sweeney called his addiction treatment physician in a panic because he knew he would start withdrawal, Buick said, citing a pre-sentencing investigation report.
Prosecutors asked for 14 years, arguing the maximum sentence was needed to deter others from driving under the influence and because of Sweeney’s criminal history.
Lead prosecutor Scott Schwertley pointed to Sweeney’s 2021 DUI felony conviction out of a 2020 incident in Kane County where Sweeney also drove under the influence of drugs. Sweeney’s Kane County court history came under fire in November when Capitol News Illinois reported that his driving record was not properly reported to the state, casting doubt on whether he should have had a driver’s or CDL license at the time of the crash that killed Musil.
He’d been arrested on Feb. 27, 2020, by Illinois State Police on Interstate 88 after they saw his car veering out of the lane, Buick said. Police said he was under the influence of heroin at the time.
Kopp argued that the 2021 plea agreement included a caveat that removed the DUI felony conviction from Sweeney’s record after he successfully completed probation.
But Schwertley said Sweeney’s drug use three years later showed he did not learn his lesson on the perils of driving while impaired.
“This defendant was a ticking time bomb driving a three-axel truck while abusing drugs and that three-axel truck became a killing machine,” Schwertley said.
In a statement after the hearing, State’s Attorney Riley Oncken said he was disappointed that Illinois law allows for “only” 14 years for crimes like Sweeney’s.
“He took the life of a police officer and the law should have allowed him to be punished more severely,” Oncken said.
pack the courtroom Aug. 26.
You brought me to my knees and I didn’t think I was ever going to get
back up.”
Diane Caporaso, mother of Christina Musil
“A sentence of only 14 years for taking Christina’s life is not justice and our legislature has failed the citizens of Illinois again.”
Kopp asked Buick to impose probation only instead of prison time. Sweeney had cooperated fully with court orders throughout his proceedings. He’d undergone 90 randomized drug tests. He’d shown up to court. His addiction struggles and criminal history were the product of horrific childhood trauma that had plagued Sweeney into adulthood, Kopp argued.
Sweeney’s uncle and wife spoke on his behalf Tuesday. The family members
See SWEENEY, page 16
Mark Busch
ABOVE: Diane Caporaso, mother of Christina Musil, becomes emotional Aug. 26 as she hears the sentence read for for Nathan P. Sweeney at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore. Sweeney received the maximum 14 years for driving under the influence and causing the 2024 crash that killed DeKalb County sheriff’s deputy Musil. BELOW: Dozens of law enforcment members along with family and friends of Christina Musil
Roundabout in talks at Normal, Dresser roads
By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com
Discussions about constructing a possible roundabout at the intersection of Normal and Dresser roads in DeKalb are preliminary, DeKalb city attorney Matt Rose said.
Rose spoke to Shaw Local News Network after the topic first surfaced at a recent DeKalb School District 428 board meeting. No DeKalb City Council action has been taken to authorize the roundabout’s construction.
Rose said talks of the potential roundabout are in the early stages.
“We’re not there yet because there’s no actual design,” Rose said. “If there’s an initial design plan that we agree upon that we’re going to go forward with, that will be shared with the school district. It will be shared with the public.”
Of the land potentially in question is a FFA plot that is owned by District 428. School officials have not yet decided whether they will move forward with plans to use the property to build a new early learning development center for preschool and kindergarten students.
DeKalb school board President Chris Boyes said the district has remained active in discussions with the city over its proposed plans.
“The city is revising, working on new plans,” Boyes said. “The district has no position [on] things at this point in time because there’s nothing for us to have a position on while the city continues to work on their plan.”
Rose said the city has retained consulting engineers for the potential project.
The city is in the process of examining design options, but nothing is set in stone,
officials said.
Rose said the city could be interested in pursuing federal aid to help pay for the construction of a roundabout if the City Council moves forward with a plan.
“I don’t know what the time frame is for that except that I do know that there’s federal grant money for this, and that has a time frame on it,” Rose said.
Rose added that the city hasn’t imposed any deadlines on the district.
It remains unclear what effect, if any, the proposed roundabout would have on the district.
“These are very preliminary discussions,” Boyes said. “The city would still need to work on graphs and everything to figure out exactly what they’re going to do.”
If built, the proposed roundabout would make for the latest in what DeKalb city officials have said are ways to mitigate pedestrian harm and control traffic flow. Other roundabouts include near the DeKalb Meta Data Center. Another just opened this month at Lucinda Avenue and Normal Road on the Northern Illinois University campus.
A proposed roundabout near the intersection of Sycamore Road and North First Street also has been talked about at the city level, although no plans have been finalized for that either. Roundabout debates surfaced during campaign season for many elected officials in the spring.
Rose said the city looks forward to working collaboratively with the district.
“In the interest of full cooperation, we wanted to tell the school district at the earliest opportunity about this,” Rose said.
deputy Aug. 26 after his sentencing at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore.
received the maximum 14 years for driving under the influence and causing the 2024 crash that killed DeKalb County sheriff’s deputy Christina Musil.
• SWEENEY
Continued from page 15
offered condolences to Musil’s family. They did not excuse Sweeney’s actions. Instead, they asked Buick to consider Sweeney’s character in a lighter sentence, pointing to his addiction struggles and the violence he’d witnessed as a toddler.
His wife, Courtney Johnson, spoke of his devotion as a father, a grandfather.
“He’s the rock of our family, guided by faith,” Johnson said. “[...] This moment does not define the man I know him to be.”
Buick said Sweeney’s actions made the truck he drove while on drugs “a potential weapon of mass destruction.”
She asked if he’d considered surrendering his license or telling his employer that he’d relapsed.
“You touted your work history as evidence that you are a hard worker,” Buick said. “Unfortunately, when your work history is combined with the truth of your addiction, that tells us the opposite. You’ve been irresponsible.”
Sullivan said that he also believes more must be done at the state level to outline more punitive measures for people who drive under the influence, as Sweeney did.
“The families in our communities suffer each time an officer is killed in the line of duty,” Sullivan said. “Nothing can bring her back, but we will always continue to honor Christina, her children, her mother and father, brother and sister, and her service.”
Megann Horstead
The intersection of Normal and Dresser roads in DeKalb, where a roundabout is in preliminary talks, is shown on Friday, Aug. 22.
Mark Busch
Nathan P. Sweeney talks to his family members as he is cuffed by an Ogle County Sheriff’s
