DDC-11-12-2013

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Breaking news at Daily-Chronicle.com

Serving DeKalb County since 1879

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

NIU FOOTBALL • SPORTS , B1

LEADER DOG FOR THE BLIND

Wenning, Lynch matchup will create battle of arms

Kirkland librarian takes on puppy’s training Local,

Jordan Lynch

Team to oversee city center project DeKalb mayor to pick members of project management group By DEBBIE BEHRENDS dbehrends@shawmedia.com DeKALB – A group of local leaders will be assigned the task of coming up with a new direction for an underutilized part of DeKalb at today’s DeKalb City Council meeting. Mayor John Rey plans to appoint himself along with 10 others to an ad hoc committee called the DeKalb City Center Project Management Team.

“This committee will oversee the components of the next phase of downtown development,” Rey said. “My goal is to see them strike public and private partnerships wherever those opportunities may exist.” Committee members will include top city officials, leaders at local banks, foundations and NIU officials. Rey and Northern Illinois University President Doug Baker announced plans at the Aug. 1

velopment on Lincoln Highway,” Rey said. Committee appointees will be Rudy Espiritu, DeKalb’s interim city manager; Rachel Xidis, Ellwood House Association board of directors; Mark Smirz, president of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce; Tim Lehan, Lehan Drugs and Medical Supplies; Michael Cullen, National Bank & Trust Company; Frank Roberts, Castle Bank; Jerry Blakemore, NIU legal counsel; Jennifer Groce, NIU

state of the city address to work together to make downtown DeKalb more engaging and attractive. Rey said it will be up to the committee to review and prioritize plans for the proposed DeKalb City Center. Initially, the focus will be on the area of Lincoln Highway between the NIU lagoon and First Street, he said. “One of the projects that I’m sure will come to the table early on is the Pearl Street Shodeen de-

Center for Governmental Studies; Bill Nicklas, NIU Community Affairs; and Sandra Polanco, NIU, Affirmative Action. Rey said he has asked Roberts to lead the committee. “Our charge from the mayor is to prioritize projects and initiatives within the updated City Center plan, and make recommendations to the council for the continued redevelopment of

See PROJECT, page A5

John Rey DeKalb mayor

Doug Baker NIU President

Push for ethanol changes Ill. game

‘WE ARE BLESSED TO BE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY’

Rendering laurels and thanks

Farmers pull out of conservation By JIM SUHR The Associated Press COBDEN – For all its scenic splendor in a mostly pancake-flat state, southern Illinois can be a hassle for farmers. The soil isn’t as fertile as up north, and the hilly terrain lends itself to erosion. That’s why so many farmers, like others across the Corn Belt, set aside much of their land years ago to a federal program that paid them to keep it idle in the spirit of conservation. At a time when corn prices were flagging, it simply made sense, giving farmers guaranteed income that helped them cover property taxes and other farm costs. But that has changed with America’s increasing demand for ethanol, the fuel additive that since 2010 has been the nation’s top use for corn. The government’s push for green energy has changed both the economics and the land of southern Illinois. Farmers are planting more corn in this area known as “Little Egypt” for its place between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and the town of Cairo on the state’s southernmost tip. In the 10 southern Illinois counties that lost the most conservation land since 2006, the disappearance amounts to more than 43,000 acres, a space bigger than St. Louis. The pullback from the Conservation Reserve Program has paid off for farmers like Bill Bass, who is unapologetic about what he calls his “unbelievable, astronomical” yields of corn and soybeans on hundreds of acres he farms. Much of it is property that Bass sharecrops with retired farmer Collin Boyd, who pulled it out of conservation in recent years and threw it back into production. Neighbors in Union County, along the Mississippi, have done the same, returning nearly 4,200 acres of conservation land to farmland since

Photos by Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com

Sycamore resident and veteran Steven Munz pauses while giving a speech Monday morning outside of Sycamore High School during an observance of Veterans Day. Munz served in the Army from 1972 until 1992. BELOW: Army Staff Sgt. Robert Martinez pauses in front of a display case honoring local veterans Monday during a Veterans Day observance at Sycamore High School. Martinez has served in the Army since 2001.

Local Veterans Day events honor those who serve

Veterans Day events DeKalb Public Library n What: Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Michael B.J. Farley will tell his story about his experiences in the Vietnam War n When: 6:30 p.m. today n Where: DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St. n Cost: Free and open to the public.

By FELIX SARVER fsarver@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Army Staff Sgt. Robert Martinez watched his daughter grow up in part through pictures sent to him while he was fighting in Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2006. Martinez told a crowd of Sycamore High School students he joined the military to protect his family and others who could not protect their own. Despite extended absences from his family and other hardships throughout his time in the military, he continued to carry out his duties. “We are blessed to be here in this country,” he said. “It allows us complete control over our lives. We can worship how we

choose, vote for our leaders and educate everyone.” Martinez was one of several veterans who shared their stories with students Monday at the school. School officials hosted several ceremonies and talks at the school to teach students why “freedom isn’t free,” and it was one of the many events planned

this week in DeKalb County honoring veterans. U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, himself an Air Force veteran, attended a Veterans Day ceremony at Northern Illinois University, where he gave the keynote speech.

See VETERANS, page A4

Northern Illinois University n What: “Counseling Veterans with Disabilities: A Special Veterans Day Presentation” n When: 4:30 p.m. Wednesday n Where: Graham Hall, Room 423, on the campus of Northern Illinois University n Cost: Free and open to all. NIU football game n What: Veterans Appreciation Night at the Huskies football game n When: At 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, local veterans organizations will carry flags into the stadium. Veterans will be recognized on the field at halftime.

See ETHANOL, page A5

Inside today’s Daily Chronicle Lottery Local news Obituaries

A2 A3-4 A4

National and world news Opinions Sports

Weather A2, A4-5 A7 B1-3

Advice Comics Classified

B4 B5 B7-10

High:

31

Low:

19


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