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Serving DeKalb County since 1879
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
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DeKalb area police warn about car parts thefts
District’s uncertain plans
4 catalytic converters stolen, likely for scrap By JESSI HAISH jhaish@shawmedia.com
Photos by Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Kurt Thurmaier and neighbor Elizabeth Bass talk Tuesday outside of Thurmaier’s home on Thornbrook Road in the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood. “It’s one of the neighborhoods in DeKalb with great character,” Bass said.
Conversations ‘reset’ on Ellwood neighborhood redevelopment By KATIE DAHLSTROM
The players
kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com DeKALB – When Ellwood Historic Neighborhood resident Kurt Thurmaier saw Northern Illinois University’s bold ideas, he didn’t think the institution was plotting to expand east. “Unlike some of my neighbors, I definitely did not see a plan,” said Thurmaier, who is also a professor and chairman of the public administration department at NIU. “And I didn’t think the university was trying to take over my neighborhood.” While some residents of the Ellwood Historic District have raised sharp criticisms of ideas floated by NIU, the city and some private investors, others wondered when productive talks between officials and the neighbors would start. Now months later, some neighbors, city and NIU leaders are trying to restart conversations about the future of the neighborhood. Officials said they’re waiting on a couple of things to happen before talks about potential redevelopment resume.
Groups that have been discussing the future of the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood: ! The city of DeKalb ! Northern Illinois University ! The Ellwood Historic Neighborhood Association ! Preserve Our Neighborhoods ! The City Center Project Management Team
Kurt Thurmaier and neighbor Elizabeth Bass talk Tuesday outside of Thurmaier’s home on Thornbrook Road in the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood. On the city side, Mayor John Rey said development will have to be driven by a private entity, with city officials and residents contributing to the conversation. The city’s strategic plan, as well as its plan for dealing with the expiration of the tax increment finance district encompassing the Ellwood Historic District, also will be key, Rey said. “It will be very important to engage the diverse viewpoints of that neighborhood,” Rey said.
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Meanwhile, Bill Nicklas, NIU’s vice president of operations and community relations, said the university’s part in shaping the area, including Harrison and John Streets, will depend on what the community wants.
It will be very important to engage the diverse viewpoints of that neighborhood.”
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Mayor John Rey
The Ellwood Historic District, an area bordered by Lincoln Highway, the Kishwaukee River, Augusta Avenue and First Street,
See DISTRICT, page A6
DeKALB – Police are asking residents to report any suspicious activity after four catalytic converters were reported stolen from beneath vehicles parked in locations along Sycamore Road in DeKalb. During the day Monday, two converters were reported stolen from a parking lot at Kishwaukee Hospital, one from the lot at Wal-Mart and one from the Daily Chronicle. Gary Dumdie, DeKalb County Sheriff’s chief deputy, said he was unsure if the incidents were related to a spate of similar thefts in October, when nine catalytic converters were reported sto- A common scam len from the DeKalb and Sycamore area. One person parks a car with “It’s not a common a hood up to look as if he is thing, but these cata- working on his car when he lytic converters can be is really acting as a lookout. worth some money for A second person is nearby, scrap,” Dumdie said. under another car cutting out “Or they can be sold to replace one that’s bad the converter. on another vehicle. They can be pretty expensive.” Leslie Piatt, service adviser at Motor Works, 316 E. Taylor St. in DeKalb, said the cost to replace a catalytic converter can run from $400 to $2,000, depending on the type of car. She said higher-line cars can be targets, as well as bigger vehicles, like trucks, that would have larger converters that are worth more in scrap metal, which is found inside the converter. Piatt said the metals inside are expensive. She said the converter is an integral part of the engine, and the part is federally mandated, as it converts toxic pollutants from the exhaust to less toxic pollutants. Dumdie said a common practice for stealing a catalytic converter usually involves at least two people. Someone may park in a lot with their hood up to appear as if they are working on their car, while they are acting as a lookout. A second person is nearby, under a car cutting out the converter. “Look for suspicious people in the area that don’t belong,” Dumdie said. “Contact your local police agency right away. It may be legitimate, but then again it may not.” DeKalb police Lt. Jim McDougall suggested calling the police as soon as suspicious activity is spotted and collecting a license plate number when possible. People who are victims of theft should first report it to police, then the owner’s insurance agency. “Call as soon as you see it,” McDougall said. “It just takes a matter of minutes to saw it off and take it.”
Authorities contemplate techniques to end violence in Ferguson By SHARON COHEN The ASSOCIATED PRESS They’ve lined the streets with police in riot gear, brought in a new black commander with an empathetic manner, imposed a curfew, lifted it and deployed the National Guard – and still the violence erupts nightly in the town of Ferguson, Missouri. After more than a week of unrest after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, law enforcement and political leaders are left struggling for answers to a frustrating ques-
tion: What can we do to restore peace to the community? “It’s the question of the week, the month and the year: How do you bring this to a conclusion?” asked Thomas Nolan, a former Boston police officer and criminal justice professor at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. One answer, Nolan said, rests with police, who should take the initiative to meet with nonviolent protesters, pledge to scale back some of the more military-style methods of crowd control, such as sound cannons, and increase
the recruitment of black police officers – something the city said it plans to address. Only three members of Ferguson’s 53-person force are black, even though about twothirds of the residents are black. “If the police keep showing up every night in force with a military presence, these protesters are going to keep showing up,” Nolan said. “Something has got to give. ... Police are trained not to back down. I think they need to reimagine this and realize their responsibility ultimately is public safety and not to save
face. If it takes making some concessions and meeting people they’re not enthusiastic about meeting with – that’s what needs to be done. If not, who can say how long this goes on?” On Tuesday, Ferguson officials released a statement, saying they plan to “learn from this tragedy” and vowed to take steps that could increase the number of black applicants to the police department and offer incentives to encourage city residency for police officers.
See FERGUSON, page A6
AP photo
A man stands in front of police during a protest Monday for Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo.
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