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Serving DeKalb County since 1879 H-BR’s Lauren Paver
GIRLS BASKETBALL • SPORTS, B1
Friday, January 10, 2014
FOCUS ON FITNESS
H-BR’s late spurt not enough in home loss to Serena Sports, B1
Church reaches out with athletic facility Faith, C1
DSW store will open in DeKalb Footwear chain renovating former Old Navy location on Sycamore Road By DEBBIE BEHRENDS dbehrends@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Shoppers will have a new place to get their kicks when DSW opens a shoe store in part of the former Old Navy space in the Oakland Place Shopping Center on the city’s north
side. Roger Hopkins, economic development consultant for the city of DeKalb, said the store’s renovation plans have been in review for about two months. Located between Michael’s and T.J. Maxx, Old Navy closed in February 2012 after 10 years at 2347
Sycamore Road. “We are really looking forward to the store opening, and now some of the mystery behind the remodeling will be reduced,” Hopkins said. Officials announced last month that Five Below, a discount retailer with everything
priced from $1 to $5, would open in the other half of the former Old Navy location, but waited until DSW’s lease was finalized to make an announcement. “We were pretty confident they would carry through with remodeling and improvements, but we couldn’t make the an-
Small but growing concern
nouncement until the lease was finalized,” Hopkins said. Hopkins did not have a target opening date. DSW Inc., formerly known as Discount Shoe Warehouse, offers a wide selection of brand name
See DSW, page A5
Web poll Which of these stores should open in DeKalb next? See the answers and vote online at Daily-Chronicle.com.
Search firm conducts public forum Input gathered on desired traits for new park director By DEBBIE BEHRENDS dbehrends@shawmedia.com
Photos by Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Pharmacy technician Karen Lehan fills prescriptions Jan. 2 at Lehan Drugs in DeKalb. DeKalb police are working with other police agencies to track down leads on who broke into the independent pharmacy between 9:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 7 a.m. Dec. 4.
Police in county see more thefts, illegal sales of prescription drugs By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Whoever broke into Lehan Drugs last month to steal prescription drugs and cash might have been more interested in selling the drugs than using them. DeKalb police are working with other police agencies to track down leads on who broke into the independent pharmacy between 9:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 7 a.m. Dec. 4. They don’t yet know if they were local, what their motivation was or how many people were involved. “Something like that doesn’t happen out here very often,” said DeKalb police Sgt. Steve Lekkas. “There’s a good chance this isn’t the first time they’ve done this.” In general, suspects abusing prescription drugs or stealing them to sell on the black market make up a small portion – maybe 10 percent – of drug cases in DeKalb County, but police said such crimes have been increasing in the past two years. It’s a problem that police see all over the county, even in small towns, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Gary Dumdie said. “It’s always been somewhat of an issue,” he said. “People are getting prescription drugs, selling them, as well as unlawfully obtaining them.” Young people, such as high school and college students, are the most common culprit when it comes to selling prescription drugs, because they are more commonly prescribed medication for legitimate disorders such as anxiety and end up illegally selling their pills, Lekkas said.
DeKALB – Focus groups met Thursday with the search firm for the DeKalb Park District’s next director. The public was invited to the last meeting of the day to provide input on the park district’s strengths, challenges and what traits are needed in a new director. Although only three residents attended the meeting, Steve Persinger of the search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates said several questionnaire responses have been emailed. The meeting opened with introductions from the team representing the Rosemont-based search firm. Jane Hodgkinson said she, Persinger and Ray Morrill each have more than 40 years of experience with park districts in Geneva, Lisle and Wheaton, and the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association.
What’s next The search firm plans to conduct more focus groups today. A profile for the next director will be presented to the park board of trustees Jan. 29. Interviews will begin in March. Three to five candidates will be presented to the board by April 9. The board should pick one by May. Dates could change slightly if necessary.
See DIRECTOR, page A5
GOP candidate shifts on wages Ill. gubernatorial hopeful now supports higher minimum By SOPHIA TAREEN The Associated Press
Pharmacy technician Marshall Lubbers places drugs back on the shelves Jan. 2 at Lehan Drugs. In Illinois, illegally distributing prescription drugs is treated as an offense which authorities charge the same as drugs such as cocaine, and penalties can include significant prison time.
Tackling the problem in Illinois The state has a prescription drug monitoring program in which a statewide electronic database collects designated information on substances dispensed within the state, including where a prescription was issued and what the dosage of the prescription is.
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration
“Many people who steal these drugs aren’t using the drugs themselves. They sell them on the black market or to people who are craving them.” Don Thomas, Sycamore police chief
See DRUGS, page A5
CHICAGO – The rising issue of a minimum wage hike tripped up Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner on Thursday, as he declared his previous support for cutting Illinois’ minimum wage a “mistake” and said he would now do the opposite: support raising it. The suburban Chicago venture capitalist’s reversal on minimum wage came after a downstate candidate forum last month where he said he’d like to roll back Illinois’ $8.25 an hour to the national rate of $7.25. The comment sparked criticism from unions and his
Bruce Rauner
Gov. Pat Quinn
See WAGES, page A5
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