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Serving DeKalb County since 1879
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
SEASONAL SAMPLING • FOOD, C1
SOFTBALL REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
Summer brings vegetable explosion
Kowalski dominant in Barbs’ win Sports, B1
DeKalb pitcher Katie Kowalski
No teaming up on area near NIU Documents show university, DeKalb eyed partnership with banks DeKALB – Northern Illinois University considered joining the city of DeKalb, two local banks and a developer to redevelop properties around John and Harrison streets, but university officials since have
backed away from the idea. NIU and the city had considered a public-private partnership with First State Bank, a sister company of Castle Bank, and Steve Irving of Irving Construction to purchase properties, improve infrastructure and mitigate flooding from the west side of Harrison Street to
the Kishwaukee River. However, the university is no longer pursuing the partnership, Bill Nicklas, NIU’s vice president of public safety and community relations, said Tuesday. Nicklas described plans for redevelopment in the area as “moving sideways.” “It does not represent how
redevelopment would occur,” Nicklas said. “It doesn’t represent where we’d like to go.” Part of the area, including the west side of John Street and part of the east side, is in a flood plain, which restricts what can be built there, Nicklas
“It does not represent how redevelopment would occur. It doesn’t represent where we’d like to go.” Bill Nicklas, NIU’s vice president of public safety and community relations
See PARTNERSHIP, page A8
Taxco aims to open by Friday
RECOVERING
LOST LIVES Strokes affect 795K annually, including many in county
Wendell Anderson, 54, follows water walking class instructor Janie Torma’s lead while working with weights during class earlier this month at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA pool in Sycamore. Anderson has suffered a stroke and Torma said a good number of her students have been hindered by strokes.
By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – The owner of Taxco Restaurant in Sycamore says he hopes to reopen this week after a truck driver who police say likely suffered a seizure crashed into the restaurant Sunday. Crews will remove the awning of the building this morning and will remove the building facade between today and Thursday, Taxco owner Jesus Romero said. “This was just material stuff,” Romero said. “Nobody’s life was in danger. It was an unfortunate accident that can happen to anyone.” Romero said his main concern is to ensure the building is safe. The sidewalk in front of the building remained cordoned off Tuesday because of concerns about falling debris. The goal is for Taxco to open for dinner Thursday or on Friday for lunch, Romero said. The truck driver who crashed into the restaurant likely suffered a seizure just before the accident, Sycamore police Lt. Darrell Johnson said. No charges or citations are expected to be filed against truck driver Thomas Sholes, 46, of Loves Park, Johnson said. Sholes told police that he might have had a seizure about 6 a.m. Sunday as he drove through downtown Sycamore on State Street. Sholes lost consciousness and veered across the westbound lane, authorities said. The truck hit a tree, a traffic light pole and a parking meter before it crashed into the restaurant at 223 W. State St., Sycamore. The wreck caused about $100,000 in
Photos by Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com
Howard “Jay” Hesenflow, 65, walks May 16 with assistance from his physical therapist Ashley Nagy in the halls of Pine Acres Rehabilitation & Living Center in DeKalb. Hesenflow is relearning how to walk, talk and write after suffering a stroke three months ago.
On the Web To view video about stroke therapy, visit Daily-Chronicle.com.
By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Howard “Jay” Hesenflow recently sat with his speech therapist while recuperating from his February stroke and sounded out a word he misses most: communication.
Hesenflow, 65, practices speaking words almost daily with Rachael Cully, a speech therapist from Kish Health Systems, to be able to express himself again. Cully said Hesenflow, a resident at Pine Acres Rehabilitation Center, 1212 S. Second St., DeKalb, is an inspiration.
“He wasn’t speaking at all when I first met him,” Cully said. “I asked him what’s most important in his recovery. He said talking.” Hesenflow is one of about 795,000 people who suffer strokes in the
See STROKES, page A8 See TAXCO, page A6
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By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com