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December 15 , 2015 • $1 .0 0
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DAILY CHRONICLE
Kaneland’s Brianna Bower is the Daily Chronicle Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year / B1 HIGH
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DeKalb council OKs library’s levy By BRITTANY KEEPERMAN bkeeperman@shawmedia.com DeKALB – The DeKalb Public Library will use the extra $500,000 it levied to pay interest on a line of credit officials are seeking to take out to cover state funding shortfalls. DeKalb’s City Council heard a second reading of its tax levy Monday, which in-
cluded the library’s property On the Web tax levy of $2.3 million, which is a $500,000 raise over last Visit year’s levy. Council member’s Daily-Chronicle. approved the levy, 5-3, with 6th com to view video Ward Alderman Dave Baker, from the meeting. 1st Ward Alderman David Jacobson and 7th Ward Alderman Tony Faivre against. The council also passed DeKalb’s “The board’s belief,” litax levy of $7.9 million, which brary Board of Trustees Presincludes the library’s levy. ident Virginia Cassidy said,
“is that the greatest return on investment and least cost to residents is the option to temporarily increase the tax levy and access a closed line of credit.” The library is undergoing an expansion project that will nearly triple its size. The project was initiated after the Illinois State Library granted the library $11.6 million.
The grant was to be paid out on four installments, when construction was 40 percent complete, 60 percent complete, 90 percent complete and a final payment when the project was 100 percent complete. Because the state of Illinois doesn’t have a budget yet, the library has only received about $7 million of what it’s due, and officials fear the state
may not appropriate the funds in time or at all. City officials debated how involved DeKalb should get in the situation. Baker suggested the city fund the entire shortfall of $4.5 million in tax-increment finance district funds, but also pressed officials to try harder to
See COUNCIL, page A6
Chicago cop acquitted of putting gun in man’s mouth
WHAT TO DO ON HOLIDAY VACATION
By DON BABWIN The Associated Press
Photos by Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com
YMCA aquatics coordinator Chris Newquist helps Francesca Biundo (left), 4, float on her back during a swimming lesson while at pre-kindergarten camp Friday at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA. The “No School, No Problem” camp starts Monday and also meets Dec. 22, 23, 28, 29, 30. Pre-kindergarteners through eighth-graders can enroll.
Keeping kids busy Working DeKalb-area parents have options over break More online
By RHONDA GILLESPIE rgillespie@shawmedia.com DeKALB – When local schools dismiss children Friday, their annual two-week holiday break will begin – and with it the scramble for parents to figure out what to do with them. The smell of cookies and other baked treats will waft through the Lehnert home in DeKalb. Heather Lehnert said she and her daughter Audra, a fourth-grader at Malta Elementary School, and son, Trevor, who’s in first grade at Founders Elementary School, will enjoy whipping up goodies in the kitchen. “I plan to just hang out and just enjoy being with them,” said Heather Lehnert, who works part time. She said working parents are often so busy they don’t have time to be leisurely with their children. Jasmine Burns works overnights at her social service job in Cortland, which allows the mother of two Founders Elementary students to spend some time with them during the day before school resumes Jan. 4. “I work overnights, so I’ll get to be home when they’re home,” she
For information on holiday break activities and programs for kids – and the whole family – visit: • DeKalb Park District www.dekalbparkdistrict.com Haish Gym 815-756-8560 Sports and Recreation Center 815-756-8560
CHICAGO – A county judge on Monday acquitted a Chicago police commander accused of shoving his gun down a suspect’s throat, outlining what she said were flaws in the state’s case and stressing that it shouldn’t be conflated with other recent incidents of alleged police misconduct in the city and elsewhere. Meanwhile, a federal judge ruled in a separate civil case that an officer used excessive force by dragging a handcuffed man from his jail cell after he had been subdued with stun guns. Video of the 2012 incident was among several released in the recent weeks amid heavy criticism of the Chicago Police Department’s treatment of minorities, particularly blacks. In the criminal case, Cook County Judge Diane Cannon found Cmdr. Glenn Evans not guilty of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and official misconduct stemming from the 2013 arrest of Rickey Williams, whom Evans believed he had seen holding a gun. Both Evans and Williams are black. Cannon said she didn’t find Williams’ story believable, accusing him of changing it repeatedly. And she dismissed evidence thought to be among the most incriminating – Williams’ DNA on Evans’ gun – suggesting it was collected so sloppily that that it was of “fleeting relevance.” She opened and closed her remarks by cautioning that the case shouldn’t be grouped with other recent cases of alleged police misconduct. “My ruling does not pertain to misconduct,” the judge said. “This is just one case.” Evans showed little reaction upon hearing the verdict. He could have faced up to five years in prison. Williams’ lawyers issued a statement saying they will proceed with a lawsuit and are confident they’ll meet the burden of proof needed to show that Evans violated Williams’ rights.
See EVANS, page A6
• Genoa Township Park District www.genoaparks.com Genoa Fitness Center 815-784-3488 YMCA sports director Jessica Bacon (left) eats a pretend sandwich with Aubrey Falk (right), 3, while stretching out during pre-kindergarten camp Friday at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA. said. Burns plans to spend time doing some arts and crafts at home with daughter, Jordan, and if she can pry the video game controllers from her son, Anthony, who loves electronics. Burns said they’ll all look to enjoy some time out in the community, especially if the weather continues to be unseasonably mild. While some kids look forward
to binge-watching their favorite TV shows, overindulging in popular video games, or even bumming around in their pajamas all day, the reality for most of DeKalb’s working families is that parents won’t be on vacation the entire time. So for kids like Stevi Watie’s three, it’s off to relatives’ homes while Mom and Dad work. The family also will shuttle Watie’s 10-year-
• Kishwaukee YMCA www.kisymca.org 815-756-9577 • Sycamore Park District www.sycamoreparkdistrict.com 815-865-3365 old son, Aasiah Stewart, to basketball practice. He plays point guard and small forward for the DeKalb Bengals, a local traveling youth basketball team.
See ACTIVITIES, page A3
MARKETPLACE
SPORTS
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WHERE IT’S AT
New market
Record breaker
Next level
Area firm to install lighting system at Wrigley Field / A8
Huskies’ Shawun Lurry named AutoNation first team All-America / B1
DeKalb grad Paige Wogen starting at Rock Valley / B1
Advice ................................ B3 Classified....................... B5-6 Comics ............................... B4 Local News.................... A3-4 Lottery................................ A2 Nation&World.............. A2, 6
Chicago Sun-Times via AP
Chicago Police Cmdr. Glenn Evans leaves the Criminal Courts Building on Monday in Chicago after being acquitted on battery and misconduct charges.
Obituaries .........................A4 Opinion...............................A9 Puzzles ............................... B3 Sports..............................B1-2 State ...................................A4 Weather ........................... A10