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DeKalb-Sycamore’s Daniel Hein takes 2nd in two events at state competition / B1 HIGH
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Council to vote on house plan Sycamore to discuss – possibly vote on– sober living property By ADAM POULISSE apoulisse@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Today could bring some closure on whether a plan to turn a house into an all-male sober living home will go forward. At their meeting today, the Sycamore City Council members will discuss, and could vote
on, a request from DeKalb County officials for a special-use permit for the house at 491 E. State St., an area with residential and commercial properties. “In order to take action, someone would have to vote it off the table,” City Manager Brian Gregory said. “It’s a question of special-use permits.” County officials want to use
the property as a sober living home for male drug addicts and alcoholics who are participating in the DeKalb County drug/ DUI court program. Residents would pay to live at the house as part of the program, which would provide drug and alcohol offenders an avenue to get clean and avoid jail. The county lacks a sober-liv-
ing facility for men in the drug court program. Women in the program stay at Discovery House in DeKalb, run by the Ben Gordon Center. However, some Sycamore city leaders, including Mayor Ken Mundy, have said they would prefer the county use property it already owns for the group home, rather than taking
another property off the city’s tax rolls. On Feb. 11, the county’s Executive Committee approved a plan to acquire the Sycamore property for $145,000, a week after Sycamore council members tabled a vote on the use of the house until the county provided plans detailing the proposed use of the structure.
Since that’s happened, the special permit will likely be approved, Alderman Chuck Stowe said. “They stepped up and met the criteria that was put in place,” he said. “I don’t see at this point anyone saying anything against it. Since they met all the criteria, it shouldn’t be difficult to vote against it.”
MLB’s first black Latino player dies White Sox great remembered by players, fans, organization By JAY COHEN The Associated Press CHICAGO – When Minnie Minoso broke into major league baseball, the “Cuban Comet” was part of a wave of black players who changed the game forever. By the time he played in his final game 35 years ago, he was a beloved figure with the White Sox. It was one amazing ride for the seemingly ageless slugger, who died early Sunday morning after helping clear the way for generations of minority ballplayers, including a long list of stars from his home country. “I know we’re all going to go at some time, but I had gotten to the point where I really thought Minnie was going to live forever,” Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said. “There has never been a better ambassador for the game or for the White Sox than Minnie.” Minoso, who made his major league debut just two years after Jackie Robinson and turned into the game’s first black Latino star, died of natural causes, according to the Cook County medical ex-
aminer’s office. There is some question about Minoso’s age, but the medical examiner’s office and the Sox said he was 90. Minoso’s death comes on the heels of the loss of Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks, who passed away Jan. 23 at age 83. “For Minnie, every day was a reason to smile, and he would want us all to remember him that way, smiling at a ballgame,” Minoso’s family said in a statement released by the team. “As he so often said, ‘God Bless you, my friends.’ ” Minoso played 12 of his 17 seasons in Chicago, hitting .304 with 135 homers and 808 RBIs for the Sox. The Sox retired his No. 9 in 1983 and there is a statue of Minoso at U.S. Cellular Field. For Minoso’s many admirers, his absence from the Hall of Fame remains a sore spot. President Barack Obama, a longtime White Sox fan, praised Minoso for his speed, power and “resilient optimism” while helping integrate baseball in the 1950s.
See MINOSO, page A8
AP file photo
Former Negro Leaguer and White Sox player Minnie Minoso stands during the national anthem before a 2013 game between the Sox and the Texas Rangers in Chicago. Major league baseball’s first black player in Chicago, Minnie Minoso died Sunday. There is some question about his age but the Sox say he was 90.
Photos by Monica Synett – msynett@shawmedia.com
Thomas Davila, with Banner Up Signs, applies the new KishHealth System sign to the entrance of the former DeKalb Clinic on Saturday in Sycamore. The switch is two years in the making and will triple the number of providers under KishHealth System’s Physicians Group. Officials say that the transition should be seamless for the clinic’s 32,000 patients.
Purchase now official Physician group branch triples after buying DeKalb Clinic Voice your opinion
By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com DeKALB – The size of the KishHealth System’s physician group branch tripled Sunday as the health system’s purchase of the DeKalb Clinic became official. Leaders from both healthcare facilities said the transition should be seamless for the clinic’s 180,000 patients. Joseph Dant, the vice president of business development for KishHealth System, credited the smooth changeover to the work done long before the ink dried on the sale. “There’s been a lot of hard work on both sides of the street – literally the street – to get ready for this weekend,” Dant said. “So we are excited. We know it’s the right thing for the patients and the community. We know it’s the right thing for the two organizations long-term.” The ownership transition kicked into high gear Friday afternoon as staff prepared to change signs and some computer programs. The DeKalb Clinic sign on the front of the building at 1850 Gateway Drive in Sycamore came down Saturday to make room for the KishHealth System sign.
Have you or your family been to the DeKalb Clinic? Vote now on Daily-Chronicle.com. said. That will stay the same for at least the next three months as leaders evaluate the needs that emerge after the official transition. Haab will relinquish his role as the chairman as the DeKalb Clinic Board, which Juan Cisneros (left) and Adam Lapa, with Aurora Sign Co., place the dissolved as a result of the purchase. In turn, the Kishlogo on the new KishHealth System sign. Health System Physician For Dr. Roger Haab, the Group Board will expand “We know it’s the right chairman of the DeKalb Clinfrom six to 12 members, with thing for the patients four of the board members ic, the weekend will take him from a businessman and refrom the DeKalb and the community. We coming turn him to his roots as a docbranch, Dant said. tor. They were uncertain know it’s the right thing “My responsibilities now about how the cost of services are much less,” Haab said. “I for the two organizations would change for patients, can now be a physician.” but Dant said he expected long-term.” Haab will be among 25 prices to be comparable. providers from the clinic Officials would not disJoseph Dant that will bolster KishHealth close the financial details of Vice president of business System Physician Group’s the purchase, but it did not development for KishHealth current 12-provider roster. require approval from the System Including the providers, the Illinois Health Facilities and number of employees in the Services Review Board. State physician group will go from law requires board approvabout 50 to close to 200, Dant al of health care acquisition Amanda Friedrichs, a der- deals of $12 million or more. said. All of DeKalb Clinic’s pro- mitologist, and Dr. Martin “This is the second-biggest viders and employees will Gryfinski, a neurologist, who remain employed, except Dr. both decided to leave, Haab See KISHHEALTH, page A8
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Evening of Chocolate in DeKalb benefits Safe Passage / A3
Sycamore man bases children’s book on Southeast School / A3
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