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D e cember 4, 2015 • $ 1 .0 0
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Incumbents not seeking re-election County Board members reflect on service after not filing petitions for 2016 primary race By RHONDA GILLESPIE rgillespie@shawmedia.com
John Gudmunson
Jeffery Metzger
John Emerson
Ruth Anne Tobias
DeKALB – Several DeKalb County Board incumbents aren’t seeking re-election in the 2016 primary, saying it’s time to move on. County Board Republicans John Gudmunson (District 11), John Emerson (District 2) and Jeffery Metzger (District 12), along with Ruth Anne Tobias, a Democrat from District 6, collectively have more than four decades of service on the board. None of them filed candidacy petitions for the March 15 election with the county elections division before Monday’s filing deadline.
Since candidates still could get on the November 2016 ballot without participating in the primary, the Daily Chronicle confirmed with three of the four incumbents that they would not be seeking re-election. Tobias could not be reached for confirmation or comment. Gudmunson first was elected in 2002 and has served on the Highway Committee for most of his tenure. He said he’s stepping down feeling assured that signage and other safety measures he’s helped bring to some rural county roadways have made travel safer. One location he points to is the intersection of Annie Glidden and Rich roads in DeKalb Township.
California gunman tied to IS extremists
“There were multiple accidents there,” Gudmunson said. “I was on the committee then, and we voted to get four-way stops there.” He said he also turned the county on to the land that eventually was bought and now is the Afton Forest Preserve in DeKalb. The 57-year-old said he’s moving on so he can spend more time with his family. Emerson said he’s served long enough. “I’ve enjoyed my time with the County Board. But I’ll be 65, and I have some other interests after eight years that I’m interested in looking into,” he said. Emerson first was elected to the
board in 2008. He will have completed eight years when he leaves office next December. As a member of the Health and Human Services Committee for the past six years, Emerson said he’s satisfied with some of the work done to help senior citizens. “We do a lot of good with helping older adults get care so they don’t need to go into nursing homes,” he said. “With the tax levy, we help out Meals on Wheels, and we help out other agencies to assist older people so they can continue living in their own places.” Emerson also served on the Forest
See INCUMBENTS, page A5
DeKALB CELEBRATES WITH HOLIDAY TRADITION
Police discover social media communication By AMANDA LEE MYERS and JUSTIN PRITCHARD The Associated Press SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – California gunman Syed Rizwan Farook had been in contact with known Islamic extremists on social media, a More inside U.S. intelGrief, prayers, gun ligence official said control probed in wake of shootings Thursday, and police PAGE A2 said he and his wife had enough bullets and bombs to slaughter hundreds when they launched their deadly attack on a holiday party. The details emerged as investigators tried to determine whether the rampage that left 14 people dead was terrorism, a workplace grudge or some combination. The husband-and-wife killers were not under FBI scrutiny before the massacre, said a second U.S. official, who likewise was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Wearing black tactical gear and wielding assault rifles, Farook, a 28-year-old San Bernardino County restaurant inspector, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27, sprayed as many as 75 rounds into a room at a social service center for the disabled, where about 75 of Farook’s co-workers had gathered Wednesday morning. Farook had attended the event but slipped out and returned in battle dress. Four hours later and two miles away, the couple died in a furious gunbattle in which they fired 76 rounds, while 23 law officers unleashed about 380, police said. On Thursday, Police Chief Jarrod Burguan offered a grim inventory that suggested Wednesday’s bloodbath could have been far worse. At the social services center, the couple left three rigged-together pipe bombs with a remote-control detonating device
Photos by Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com
Santa arrives Thursday in front of the Egyptian Theatre in downtown DeKalb being driven on a snowplow by city of DeKalb employee Dan Raih with the help of his grandson, Warrick Raih, 3.
Santa’s arrival kicks off holidays
Annual event draws county residents to celebrate season By BRITTANY KEEPERMAN bkeeperman@shawmedia.com
D
Kaitlyn Quinlan, 10, catches her first glance of Santa coming down Second Street in front of the Egyptian Theatre in downtown DeKalb.
eKALB – Brea Evans was excited to meet Santa on Thursday, and she didn’t have to travel far from her DeKalb home to do so. On the Web “I’m most excited about my presents,” 6-year-old EvTo see ans said. “I’m wishing for a videos Cayla doll and a science set.” of Evans was joined by her Santa’s mom, Robin Holmes, to car- arrival in DeKalb, visit ry on the family tradition, Daily-Chronicle.com. which is entering its third year. “The guys love to see Santa,” Holmes said. “The wait, the whole impatient jumping up and down in the cold – it’s all worth it.” Santa arrived on his decorated snowplow Thursday to greet the many excited families who
See SANTA, page A5
See SHOOTING, page A5
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‘Surreal’ week
Pettengell case
BNC East win
NIU alumnus Jordan Lynch to attend MAC championship / B1
Sheriff’s deputy testifies at disciplinary hearing over fatal high-speed chase / A3
Foley, Lucca power G-K boys basketball over Marengo / B1
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