MONDAY
No ve mbe r 3 , 2014 • $1 .0 0
OFF TO A GOOD START
Sycamore blows out Westinghouse in playoff opener / B1 HIGH
LOW
58 47 Complete forecast on page A10
daily-chronicle.com
SERVING DEKALB COUNTY SINCE 1879
Facebook.com/dailychronicle
@dailychronicle
Referendums address electric use Two townships will ask voters Tuesday if they want to choose own supplier in other communities. Electrical aggregation allows residents to band toSANDWICH – Voters in gether to secure the best rate Sandwich and Franklin town- from energy suppliers. Cities ships will decide Tuesday if such as DeKalb, Sycamore they want to be able to use an and Genoa participate in the electrical supplier other than program, although residents ComEd, an option that has have seen less savings in reshown to have mixed results cent months than they did in
By KATIE DAHLSTROM
kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com
2012. “ T h e r a t e s f o r e v e r yone have gone up across the board,” said Jim Chilsen, the spokesman for the Citizens Utility Board. “The era of easy savings is over.” Chilsen said ComEd was locked into a contract that made its rates higher than oth-
Close Ill. governor race spurs vigilance
er suppliers until 2013, which has since brought its rates more in line with alternative suppliers. Rates have gone up for all suppliers because of a higher demand for electricity because of things such as the polar vortex, Chilsen said. The city of Sycamore suspended its electrical aggrega-
tion program in August after soliciting bids three times. City Manager Brian Gregory said at the end of June, the market rate was 7.72 cents per kilowatt hour compared to ComEd’s 7.6 cent rate. In 2012, the city locked in a
Election Central Follow the local, state and national races at Daily-Chronicle.com/ election-central.
See ELECTRIC, page A8
REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR PETS
By JOHN O’CONNOR The Associated Press SPRINGFIELD – In the runup to what could be the closest governor race in Illinois history, Republicans and Democrats are doing all they can to ensure friendly voters cast every possible ballot and their opponents not one extra. As Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and GOP businessman Bruce Rauner mounted their last get-out-the-vote rallies, the state Republican Party began raising red flags about alleged voting irregularities – lodging complaints about everything from improperly calibrated voting machines in Rock Island to a Chicago alderwoman offering raffle prizes as an incentive to vote. Whether those challenges spill into Tuesday, over individual ballots, could determine how quickly the governor’s race is decided. Add a legal opinion from Attorney General Lisa Madigan that election authorities can’t begin tabulating early votes until the polls close and it could be a recipe for a long night that pushes into Wednesday. Rupert Borgsmiller, executive director of the Illinois State Board of Elections, said he’s noticed a lot more interest in citizens observing the electoral process before Election Day, including in-person early voting and the processing of mailed-in ballots. “A lot of it’s being driven by the parties,” Borgsmiller said. “They pursue their constituency and they want to ensure that people who aren’t entitled to vote don’t vote.” Republicans see Tuesday as a chance to reclaim the governor’s office for the first time in more than a decade. Democrats are worried about a less-than-enthusiastic electorate in a midterm race, keenly aware that Quinn won in 2010
Photos by Monica Synett – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Bobbie, a 15-year-old golden retriever, uses a water treadmill Oct. 27 for just more than 18 minutes at Bethany Animal Hospital. Bobbie has osteoartheritis in her hind legs. BELOW: Bobbie comes to Bethany Animal Hospital twice a week for the therapy.
‘I swear by all of this’ Resident sees positive results in dog using Bethany Animal Hospital’s water treadmill therapy By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Now that Gracia Polarek’s 15½-year-old golden retriever Bobbie is using a water treadmill to treat the osteoarthritis in the dog’s hips, she no longer drags her right rear paw. Bobbie’s hind legs were so weak that she used to drag her paw against the sidewalk so often it would bleed. She has since had about 10 sessions of water treadmill therapy at Bethany Animal Hospital, 2400 Bethany Road, Sycamore, and is now able to walk without dragging and even steps over objects on the floor. “I swear by all of this,” Polarek said. “If anyone is questioning whether to do
it with their dog, I say try it. They deserve it. That’s for sure.” Bethany Animal Hospital has only had the water treadmill for about six weeks, but they are already seeing results for the five or so dogs that are trying it. The treadmill is only one part of Bethany Animal Hospital’s new rehabilitation services, which also includes an ultrasound, electro stimulation machine and exercise equipment. Some animal rehabilitation services in the area are being offered because of demand from customers and the recent availability of the equipment, local veterinarians said. The benefits include
Details on water treadmill therapy Water treadmills can be used for dogs that have arthritis or other medical issues that make it difficult to walk. It works by bearing some weight of the dog, putting less stress on the joints while walking and strengthening the dog’s muscles.
Source: Bethany Animal Hospital veterinarians
See THERAPY, page A8
See GOVERNOR, page A8
LOCAL
LOCAL
LOCAL
WHERE IT’S AT
Young chefs
Pumpking demo
Face Time
Cooking for Kids’ Sake aids Big Brothers Big Sisters / A3
Jonamac Orchard helps residents get rid of their pumpkins at event / A3
Get to know CourtWatch board member Bob Hadley / A2
Advice ................................ B5 Classified......................B9-12 Comics ............................... B8 Local News.................... A2-4 Lottery................................ A2 Nation&World..........A2, 4, 8
Obituaries .........................A4 Opinion...............................A9 Puzzles ............................... B5 Sports......................B1-4, 6-7 State ...................................A4 Weather ........................... A10
America’s Largest Home Improvement Company
e thos Beat eating H High ts This Cos ter! W in
Advice ................................ XX Classified........................... XX Comics ............................... XX Local News........................ XX Lottery................................ A2 Nation&World...................XX
Obituaries ......................... XX Opinion...............................XX Puzzles ............................... XX Sports.................................XX State ...................................XX Weather ............................. XX
adno=0290849