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Serving DeKalb County since 1879 Ulises Jacobo
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING PREVIEW
Friday, November 29, 2013
ON THE FLY • FAITH, C1
DeKalb’s Ulises Jacobo confident on his feet Sports, B1
Airport chaplains let fliers connect with the heavens
Commercial showcases county Spot will air 26 times during state football championship broadcasts By FELIX SARVER fsarver@shawmedia.com
Jeff Metzger, DeKalb County Board chairman
DeKALB – DeKalb County Board Chairman Jeff Metzger wanted to showcase the county during the state football championships with a commercial that didn’t seem like a commercial. He wanted it to feel more like a movie trailer. “Who does it better than Hollywood?” he said. The 30-second commercial
GOP hopefuls mum in wake of pension deal
will be broadcast 30 times Friday and Saturday to highlight the county’s economic development and to encourage businesses to come here. Although originally scheduled for two spots, Metzger said the commercial will air 26 times on Comcast SportsNet. IHSA Destination DeKalb host committee members offered commercials to the event’s MVP sponsors, those who donated $25,000 to the effort to hold the championships at Northern Il-
linois University. The City of DeKalb and KishHealth System also will run commercials during the games, said Brad Hoey, host committee member and NIU director communications and marketing. “It was one of those things we thought would be a tremendous benefit to those who came at that very generous level,” Hoey said. A small team of county and NIU officials developed the commercial for $710, and it debuted
Nov. 20 at a county board meeting. Just like a trailer, it begins with an MPAA-like splash screen saying the preview has been approved for all audiences by the DeKalb County Board. Next, images of the county’s agriculture, entertainment, technology and university flash across the screen. The commercial ends with the neon, buzzing catchphrase, “Come grow with us.” “It’s very fast-moving and
it succinctly gets the message across,” said Gary Hanson, county administrator. Hanson was one of the people who helped brainstorm the commercial, while Metzger provided the storyboards and script. The team also worked with HD Power Media, which provides video and photo production services. Metzger said the commercial was fun to put together, since
See COMMERCIAL, page A6
HOLIDAY SHOPPING BEGINS EARLY
By KERRY LESTER The Associated Press
Pat Quinn Ill. governor
GOP hopefuls
Bill Brady State senator
Bruce Rauner Venture capitalist
Dan Rutherford State treasurer
Kirk Dillard State senator
CHICAGO – While an agreement on a pension reform deal comes as a boost to Gov. Pat Quinn’s bid for re-election, most Republicans seeking his job are hedging their reactions to navigate politically tricky waters. Although all four GOP candidates are running on a platform of fiscal responsibility, only one has announced his support for the plan embraced by Quinn and other top Democrats. And that Republican, state Sen. Bill Brady, was one of 10 members of a committee that helped develop it. “In concept, it’s pretty much what we negotiated over this last year,” Brady told The Associated Press. “Although it’s not perfect it’s significant and as good [of an agreement] as we’re going to get.” Supporters estimate that the plan, which lawmakers are expected to vote on next week in Springfield, would save $160 billion over 30 years. So far, no candidate has come out against the plan aimed at solving what for decades has been cited as the state’s biggest financial problem. However, while opposing the deal may seem counterintuitive, it also could help Republicans emerge from the crowded March primary. “It’s always better to be against stuff like this politically than for it,” Chris Mooney, director of the University of Illinois’ Institute for Government and Public Affairs, said. “If it’s not yours, not 100 percent yours, then why give him [Quinn] the benefit?” Venture capitalist Bruce Rauner, a harsh critic of public sector unions, is expected
Photos by Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Kevin Ortiz, 11, of DeKalb is the first one inside Best Buy, which opened at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving night in DeKalb. Ortiz’s aunt, Cristina Campos (left), got in line at 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Some local residents hit stores for Thanksgiving By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com
Friends Bridget Johnson (left) and Dylan Zielinski, both of Sycamore, look through an advertisement flier before the doors opened at Best Buy in DeKalb on Thursday night. VOICE YOUR OPINION: When did you start your holiday shopping?
DeKALB – Sycamore resident Nico Juarez stood in the Best Buy checkout line Thursday with a 32-inch LED TV in hand and shouted, “Happy Thanksgiving!” Black Friday, the annual shopping holiday, seems to have moved up a day on the calendar. Dozens of shoppers stood in line braving frigid temperatures for hours on a day known for family feasting.
It’s a trend that is becoming more popular. According to the National Retail Federation, more than 35 million people shopped on Thanksgiving last year as compared to 29 million in 2011. Juarez, 16, was shopping on Thanksgiving with his family. “It’s kind of fun and a little bit hectic,” he said. “You can feel the energy through the building.” Residents said they were
See SHOPPING, page A6
See GOP, page A6
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