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May 18, 2 015 • $ 1. 0 0
MEMORIAL DAY
DAILY CHRONICLE
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SERVING DEKALB COUNTY SINCE 1879
GRADUATIONS 2015
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‘BLANK SLATE’
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Genoa-Kingston, Indian Creek
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Burglary suspect arrested By DAILY CHRONICLE
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Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com
Class valedictorian Trevor Simmons smiles after receiving applause from his fellow classmates after his speech Sunday during the Genoa-Kingston High School commencement in the school gym in Genoa. Genoa-Kingston had 138 seniors graduate. More photos at Daily-Chronicle.com.
DeKALB – Police have arrested a 26-year-old DeKalb man who they say is responsible for a string of burglaries, including one break-in where he sexually assaulted a woman. Andre P. Cross-Boler, of the 800 block of West Taylor Street, was arrested Friday and charged with home invasion, criminal sexual assault and burglary, according to a news release sent Saturday by DeKalb Police. On Wednesday, police received multiple complaints of burglaries at homes and businesses. Homes in the Andre P. 400 block of Kensington Court, 800 Cross-Boler block of Kensington Boulevard, 700 block of Regent, 700 block of North Sixth Street and 400 block of Bush Street were reported burglaries. Business burglaries occurred in the 1200 block of South Fourth Street and the 300 block of Oak Street. A home invasion also occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the 700 block of Haish Boulevard, with the victim telling police a man broke into her home and sexually assaulted her. Evidence from the scene of the break-in on Haish was found inside Cross-Boler’s home, police said. If convicted of the most serious charge, home invasion, Cross-Boler could face six to 30 years in prison.
Genoa-Kingston High School seniors to start anew States saying ‘no’ By ADAM POULISSE
apoulisse@shawmedia.com
G
ENOA – Before Trevor Simmons gave his valedictorian speech to the Genoa-Kingston High School Class of 2015 Sunday, he tried to avoid reading what other graduating seniors had said before him. “I was trying to have a more unique speech,” Simmons said. “I feel like it’s not the most cliché speech. I’m going to try to make it my own.” And that he did, standing before the other 137 graduates in their blue cap and gowns, delivering a three-minute address to his peers before him, and their family and friends in the bleachers that he said he spent many a late nights polishing. “We can’t predict the future – well, I can’t, at least,” Simmons
INSIDE: More coverage of local commencement ceremonies, including Sandwich, Kishwaukee College. A3-4 told the crowd. “I don’t think a magic eight ball can, either. But we can shape the future. The future is tabula rasa, a blank slate. By earning our diplomas, we are holding on our hands that very slate.” Cheering families watched from the sidelines with flashing cameras as the seniors began the next phase of their life. For some, that meant college, for others, that meant the workforce.
See SLATE, page A4
Indian Creek’s top students speak at commencement By REBECCA JACOBS news@daily-chronicle.com SHABBONA – Ben Roberts stood on a riser as his 61 fellow classmates sang “Happy Birthday” to him. They had just taken a class picture for graduation day as the Class of 2015 at Indian Creek High School on Sunday. “It’s kind of overwhelming,” Roberts said. “It’s my 18th birthday, and I graduate on the same day.” The Indian Creek seniors got ready together in the library before the graduation ceremony at 2:30 p.m. in the high school’s gym. The students know each other well, especially the one valedictorian and three saluta-
torians. “We have a small class, so we know every single one of each other,” said Bailey Martenson, class president. Martenson plans to play volleyball at Waubonsee Community College. The valedictorian and one of the salutatorians have been best friends since childhood. “It was stressful to get there, I’d definitely say,” said Gabrielle Cultra, valedictorian. “But the four of us supported each other.” Cultra aspired to be valedictorian of her senior class to help her get into the U.S. Naval Academy. Although Cultra will not be going to the naval academy,
Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com
Indian Creek High School senior class president Bailey Martenson smiles Sunday at retiring science teacher Ken Dawson after having all the alumni who had him as a teacher during his 41 years stand up during her commencement speech in the school gym in Shabbona. Indian Creek graduated 62 seniors. More photos at Daily-Chronicle.com. she said she will attend Kishwaukee College on a full-ride scholarship. Two of the salutatorians are twins. David and Rebekka Boehne said they didn’t compete
with one other, but helped each other to become salutatorian, thanking each other in their separate speeches.
to cities seeking to regulate businesses By DAVID A. LIEB The Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Alarmed about cities trying to outlaw plastic bags, the director of the Missouri Grocers Association decided to do something about it. So Dan Shaul turned to his state legislator – himself – and guided a bill to passage barring local governments from banning the bags. Shaul’s dual role in state government and business may be a bit out of the norm. Yet his actions are not. In capitols across the country, businesses increasingly are using their clout to back laws prohibiting cities and counties from doing things that might affect their ability to make money. In the past five years, about a dozen states have enacted laws barring local governments from requiring businesses to provide paid sick leave to employees. The number of states banning local minimum wages has grown to 15. And while oil-rich states such as Texas and Oklahoma are pursuing bills banning local restrictions on drilling, other states where agriculture is big business have been banning local limitations on the types of seeds sown for crops. It seems no issue is too small for businesses to take to capitol halls. Wisconsin has banned local bans on sugary drinks. Arizona and Florida have barred local governments from forbidding toys in fast-food meals. And Utah has barred cities from requiring bicyclists to be served in drive-thru lanes. In each case, states have stepped in after city officials somewhere in the nation proposed local policies that business leaders didn’t like.
See COMMENCEMENT, page A4
SPORTS
LOCAL NEWS
LOCAL NEWS
On target
Girls on the Run Practice bee
Local girls soccer teams look forward to postseason / B1
Almost 150 participate in a county acitivity Saturday in DeKalb / A5
County champ looks to sharpen skills this morning / A3
See REGULATE, page A5
WHERE IT’S AT Advice ................................ B4 Classified....................... B6-8 Comics ............................... B5 Local News.....................A2-5 Lottery................................ A2 Nation&World...................A2
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