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November 23 , 2015 • $1 .0 0
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SERVING DEKALB COUNTY SINCE 1879
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DeKalb area plows through first snow
Crews work to clear roads; traffic problems mostly minor RHONDA GILLESPIE rgillespie@shawmedia.com DeKALB – The record-setting weekend snowstorm dumped more than a half-foot of snow on the DeKalb area, and caused dozens of related
in the 24-hour period, before the snow stopped later Saturday. Cpl. Jeff Weese of the DeKalb Police Department said officers responded to 13 traffic incidents. Flurries began falling in traffic accidents from Friday the area late Friday afternoon, and Saturday that were reand by early Saturday morn- lated to the snowstorm. Most ing there was accumulation. of the incidents were minor, According to the National but two cars had to be towed Weather Service, the city of from a crash Saturday at SycDeKalb saw 7.5 inches of snow amore and Bethany roads. In
that accident, one person was transported to the hospital with injuries not deemed to be life-threatening. By Sunday, conditions improved. “For the most part, [roads] are clear,” Weese said. “There’s still some snow on them. There’s tracks, at least, on some of the main roads where, if you keep your tires in the tracks, you’re fine.”
He said police also enforced all of the posted parking rules along the designated snow routes, mostly main thoroughfares in the city. City Engineer John Laskowski said 17 trucks were on DeKalb streets from 10 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Saturday. A contractor cleared snow on the downtown streets, and city crews were back out plowing at 4 a.m. Sunday, he said.
“We were short-staff by two guys, so one of our superintendents was actually plowing,” Laskowski said. “Now, everybody’s waiting for the sun to come out and do a little melting on the ice.” Sycamore dispatched a fleet of 10 trucks before sunrise Saturday. Public Works Director Fred Busse said crews were
See SNOW, page A5
Why Illinois budget deal not likely before 2016
AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT FIREFIGHTER TRAINING
By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press
Photos by Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com
DeKalb firefighters help DeKalb Ward 5 Alderwoman Kate Noreiko (center) out of the flashover training trailer after training Wednesday. The DeKalb Fire Department had its crews go through the training and invite interested officials from the city to participate to see what it feels like to be inside a flashover fire.
Heat of the moment DeKalb Fire Department undergoes live flashover training On the Web
By BRITTANY KEEPERMAN bkeeperman@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Thick, curling smoke cut visibility to zero for the 12 people in the room before it caught fire. Flames flashed overhead as temperature soared to 600 degrees. Despite the help of a 25-pound air tank, taking a breath took focus. This was just a drill for firefighters from the DeKalb Fire Department, who took part in flashover training last week in Rotary Park. The specialized training was part of a professional development fire science program hosted by Sauk Valley Community College, designed to allow firefighters to observe the stages of a completely engulfed structure fire – from the inside. “We do in the neighborhood of six to 10 trainings like this a year,” said Nick Dinges, who led the course and owns the Illinois Fire Store, a specialty store that sells firefighter gear. “This is a mobile simulator, one of three in the United States. … It’s pretty exciting, but very safe as well.” The mobile unit allows firefighters to observe the signs and symptoms of a flashover from a vantage point below floor level, as well as see how things such as different airflows, ventilation and water im-
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And that’s just when a fire actually is involved. In 2014, the DeKalb Fire Department responded to 151 fires, which represents just 3 percent of overall calls. The majority of its calls – 74 percent – deal with providing rescue and emergency medical services, according to the department’s annual report. “We have to take all the opportunities we can to train as best as we Lt. Nick Dinges (right), of Sublette Fire Department and Sauk Valley Commu- can to serve the citizens,” Dinges nity College, points to the fire burning its way up the ceiling of the room as said. This was the first time the firefighters from DeKalb Fire Department study the burn and smoke patterns. DeKalb firefighters went through pact the flame ignition and trajec- the smoke condition above our a flashover training; Cortland, Shabbona and Waterman fire detory. heads. At some point, you may partments also signed on. Local The group crowded into the have fire around your head, but officials, including DeKalb Mayor burned metal trailer before the don’t panic. It will only last for a John Rey, also went through the training, which began with Dinges second or so.” exercise. igniting plywood set up on a platTrainings that incorporate live “Usually, we send firefighters form. burns are important because it’s a out to do training,” said Jeff Mc“What I want you to recognize rare opportunity to learn, Dinges Master, DeKalb deputy fire chief. is the condition around us,” he told said. “This is the first time we have acthe group of firefighters, his voice “Our job today is tactical,” he tually brought a live fire simulator muffled by a haz-mat airmask. said. “We get in there. We put the “What are we seeing up here, and fire out.” See FLASHOVER, page A5
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CHICAGO – Much attention is being focused on a Dec. 1 sit-down between Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative leaders as Illinois approaches the five-month mark without a state budget. But other dates are approaching that may be far more important to hopes for a deal on a spending plan, because getting there has as much to do with political timing as getting everyone in the same room or agreeing on what and how much to fund. For politicians, the calendar often dictates motivations. And considerations Mike such as the primary elec- Madigan tion in March and whether they will face opposition could be as big a factor as anything in getting a deal before spring. Among the tough votes lawmakers may have to cast are for a likely tax in- Bruce crease to help a close a rev- Rauner enue gap or for pieces of a pro-business agenda the Republican governor is pushing to weaken labor unions’ bargaining power. Democrats said his proposals would hurt working families and shouldn’t factor into talks over how to close a multibillion-dollar budget hole; Rauner says they’re necessary to improve Illinois’ economy. Next week’s meeting is expected to bring Rauner together with House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, both Democrats, and GOP leaders Rep. Jim Durkin and Sen. Christine Radogno for the first time since the fiscal year began. Here’s a look at other key dates in the budget battle:
NOV. 30 Nominating petition deadline
One of the biggest calculations for legislators will be determining who will vote “yes” on a deal that could include unpopular items such as a tax increase. Rauner’s roughly $20 million political fund – along with a new political action committee that said it has millions to spend against Democrats in the March primaries – have added a new level of concern for candidates this year, even for lawmakers in what are considered “safe” Democratic or Republican districts. Although all seats in the Illinois House and about two-thirds of state Senate districts will be on the 2016 ballot, only some sitting lawmakers will face challenges come March. Starting Monday, candidates may begin filing their nominating petitions with the state board of elections. The deadline to file is Nov. 30. That’s important because it will give legislators up for re-election a sense of
See BUDGET, page A5
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