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Illinois to launch mobile driver’s licenses and IDs in Apple Wallet

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office is working to bring IDs in Apple Wallet to Illinois residents with the goal of launching by the end of the year.

This will enable residents to securely add and present their driver’s licenses and state IDs in person and in apps using their iPhone or Apple Watch.

HB 4592, which enabled the Secretary of State’s Office to begin the process of developing mobile IDs in Illinois, was sponsored by state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, and state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort.

The process includes rigorous testing to ensure the most secure and private product for Illinois residents, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a news release.

“We’re excited to have kick-started

LOCAL NEWS BRIEF

Book repair workshop set for Jan. 26 in DeKalb DeKALB – The DeKalb Public Library will host an introductory workshop for patrons to learn how to repair their personal books.

The free workshop will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 26 in the library’s lower-level

ANSWERS puzzlesonpage13

Crews clean up the site at 1024 W. Hillcrest Drive in DeKalb on Jan. 16, where an apartment building was torn down. The structure was ravaged by fire on Dec. 22, 2024, and condemned.

See story, page 6.

our work with Apple – a company that shares our commitment to data security – to provide IDs in Apple Wallet that will offer convenience and privacy for Illinoisans,” Giannoulias said in the release. “This is the first component of a multifaceted approach to deliver a stateof-the-art mobile driver’s license and state ID program that leverages best-inclass technology for residents.”

Illinois joins 10 states and territories that have adopted IDs in Apple Wallet, including Arizona, Colorado, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio and Puerto Rico.

The office has set up a sign-up page for Illinoisans to receive updates about the mobile driver’s license and state ID program and when IDs in Apple Wallet will become available for users.

Anyone interested can visit ilsos. gov/mDL to sign up.

Mobile driver’s licenses and state IDs

Zimmerman Meeting Room, 309 Oak St. Attendees can learn how to assess book damage, perform repairs and photocopy missing pages to tip in.

The workshop also will cover how to archivally test and store delicate items. Repair techniques include book corner reinforcement, tightening hinges, prevent-

in Apple Wallet will be optional, serving as a companion to physical cards.

They offer enhanced security and privacy, allowing users to share only the necessary information for transactions – such as age – while keeping other personal details private. Users can review and approve requests using Face ID or Touch ID before sharing any information.

Mobile driver’s licenses and IDs eventually will be added to other wallets, including Google Wallet for Android users, Giannoulias said in the release.

The bill is part of Giannoulias’ commitment to modernizing the office while getting up to speed with other states that already have secure mobile driver’s license and state ID programs in place, according to the release.

For more information on IDs in Apple Wallet, visit learn.wallet.apple/id.

ing water damage, pencil erasing, torn pages and text alignment and tipping in loose pages. Library material will not be repaired.

No registration is required to attend. For information, email emilyk@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2150. – Shaw Local News Network

feedback@

Accuracy is important to The MidWeek. Please call errors to our attention by phone at 815-526-4411 or email at readit@midweeknews.com.

Photo by Mark Busch

• American Realty

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31

NIU CONVOCATION CENTER

• Banner Up Signs

VS. SYCAMORE SPARTANS BASKETBALL

GIRLS VARSITY / 6:00 PM BOYS VARSITY / 8:00 PM

Advance tickets can be purchased for $8 until 1/31/25 at 4:30 p.m. online at fnbochallenge.org

Tickets purchased after 4:30 p.m. on 1/31/25 online or at the Convocation Center will be $10.

High School Students must have their school I.D. to enter. All other students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

• Ecowater Systems

• Associates In Counseling

• Blackhawk Moving & Storage

• Blumen Gardens Inc.

• Bob Armstrong - Meridian Print

• Brad Manning Ford

• Brown Law Group, LLC

• Century 21 Circle

• Christ Community Church

• Chuck Rose For State's Attorney

• Crum-Halsted | ONEDIGITAL

• Curran Contracting Company

• DCTA - DeKalb Classroom Teachers Association

• DeKalb Barb Boosters

• DeKalb Chamber of Commerce

• DeKalb Firefighters Local 1236

• ENCAP, Inc.

• FNBO

• Gray Hunter Stenn LLP

• Heartland Bank and Trust Company

• Hometown Realty Group

• Hy-Vee

• Joanna Gautcher w/Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group

• Kishwaukee College

• Kishwaukee Family YMCA

• Klein, Stoddard, Buck & Lewis, LLC

• Larson & Darby Group

• Lehan's

• Liz Bishop for State Representative

• Lynn and Chuck Shepard

• Maria Pena-Graham/Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group

• Mason Properties

• Medical Outsourcing Solutions, Inc.

• NECA - IBEW 364 Power Connection

• Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists

• Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics

• OC Creative

• OLT Marketing

• Oncken Family

• Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgeons for Northern Illinois

• Pappas Development

• Pardridge Insurance, Inc.

• Pest Control Consultants

• Pizza Pro's

• Planetree Wealth Advisors of Raymond James

• Prairie View Animal Hospital

• Provident Direct Mailing & Printing Services

• Radiant Dermatology a Forefront Practice

• Ringland-Johnson Construction

• Shaw Media

• Shepard Construction, LLC

• Sisler's Ice

• Soft Water City, Inc.

• State Representative Jeff Keicher

• Steve & TJ Irving

• Stran's Garden Center & Landscaping

• Swedberg Electric, Inc.

• Sycamore Chamber of Commerce

• Sycamore Family Sports Center

• Sycamore Park District

• Sycamore Sports Booster Club

• Syco Escape Rooms

• The Armoloy Corporation

• The Carlson Family

• The Doherty Law Firm, LLC

• The Suter Company

• Toyota of DeKalb

• Visual Image Photography (VIP)

• XCEL Orthopedics

Early voting begins for mayoral primary

Sims: Candidate Nguyen needs 20 votes to secure name on April ballot

DeKALB – Voting began Jan. 16 for DeKalb residents to cast their ballot in the Democratic mayoral primary.

Although no candidates’ names will appear on the ballot, voters will have an option to fill in a blank.

There’s only one eligible write-in candidate: Linh Nguyen, a Northern Illinois University educator.

DeKalb County Clerk Tasha Sims said her office has determined that Nguyen needs a minimum of 20 valid write-ins to make it onto the ballot.

“After extensive discussions with the Illinois State Board of Elections, we have reached a consensus on the inter -

pretation of the following statutes: write-in vote requirements and signature requirements for independent candidates,”

Sims wrote in an email to Shaw Local.

Three others already have secured their names on the April consolidated election ballot: incumbent Mayor Cohen Barnes, 7th Ward Alderman John Walker and NIU IT support associated Kouame Sanan.

The last day to vote in the primary election is Feb. 25.

Should Nguyen’s campaign overcome its petition challenges to stay on the ballot, she’ll face Barnes, Walker and Sanan in the April 1 election.

The last time the city held a mayoral election was 2021, which saw 3,918 total voters, officials said. A mayoral primary is historic in DeKalb, Sims has said.

Mayoral primaries across the state are not unheard of, however.

Sims said that based on state statute, the total 2021 voter count of 3,918 is multiplied by a half-percent and rounded up to determine that only 20 write-ins are needed to win the 2025 DeKalb Democratic primary election.

“In this instance, we are using the total voter count of 3,918 as the baseline, as we do not have any historical data on Democratic primary electors in this jurisdiction due to the fact that a Democratic primary has not been held here before,” Sims wrote. “This calculation serves as the most reasonable and practical approach based on the information available.”

Jan. 16 marked the kick-off of the first primary election administered in DeKalb County since 1981.

Sims said she doesn’t know what kind of turnout to expect. Only voters within DeKalb city limits are eligible.

“We’re sending out about 750 voteby-mail ballots to those who are on our

permanent vote-by-mail list,” Sims said. “Only the individuals who request to receive a Democratic primary ballot will receive those.”

Sims said there’s nothing deterring Republicans or independents from participating in this Democratic primary election as long as they’re DeKalb residents.

“In Illinois, we don’t register under parties,” Sims said. “Every time you vote in a primary, you can pick whichever ballot at the time you want. So, really anyone within the city of DeKalb, if they wish to pull to vote on this Democratic primary, they can.”

In November, Nguyen was removed from the list of candidates expected to appear on the ballot for the April 1 election over failing to file in a timely manner and inconsistencies in name usage. Nguyen and her campaign have pushed back against the ruling and are actively appealing it in DeKalb County court,

See PRIMARY, page 5

Linh Nguyen

DeKalb author to present ‘Edenton Ladies’ Tea Party’

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – The Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center’s next Soup-er Sunday program will feature a presentation on the book “Within Our Power: The Story of the Edenton Ladies’ Tea Party” by author Sally M. Walker.

The program will be held at noon Jan. 26 at the homestead, 921 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.

The program is free for homestead members and $5 for nonmembers. It is intended for students in fifth grade and older.

The book tells the story of a group of 51 women opposing taxation without

• PRIMARY

Continued from page 4

records show. That appeal will go before a judge Jan. 30.

Nguyen’s attorney, Ed Mullen, previously said he believes there are issues with the election code and that deviations are excusable as long as it doesn’t affect the integrity of the election.

“There’s no harm in her filing her petitions earlier,” Mullen said. “If you assume that she filed on the first day that she was allowed to file, it would go into a lottery. She does not expect to automati-

representation in 1774 in Edenton, North Carolina. The women boycotted British products and shunned anonymity to help make a difference.

Walker writes scientific and historical nonfiction children and adult books.

Proceeds from the program will support the homestead. A house tour and soup will be provided.

The Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center is a nonprofit organization working to preserve the home and barn while providing educational opportunities to the public.

For information, call 815-756-7904, email jessi@gliddenhomestead.org, or visit gliddenhomestead.org or SallyMWalker.com.

cally be at the top of the pile because she filed at the nonpartisan period.”

Objector William Vodden’s attorney, Andrew Acker, previously said he believes Nguyen should be disqualified for creating what he called an uneven playing field.

Nguyen has been consistent in her response to her candidacy challenges.

“I am not asking for special treatment,” Nguyen said to Shaw Local News Network. “I’m asking for the law to be upheld. How can you put a price on a functioning democracy? We have laws to protect people’s choices at the ballot box and defend our democracy.”

THURSDAY

Photo provided by the J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center
The Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center’s next Soup-er Sunday program on Jan. 26 will feature a presentation on the book “Within Our Power: The Story of the Edenton Ladies’ Tea Party” by author Sally M. Walker.

A CLOSER LOOK

DeKalb apartment demolished after fire

DeKalb fire chief: Cause of fire deemed accidental

DeKALB – After a fire tore through DeKalb apartment buildings days before Christmas, displacing 32 families, city and local officials say about half of those impacted still are looking for new homes.

Rylie Loucks-Kues, director of community programing and outreach for Family Service Agency of DeKalb County, said as of Friday, 15 of the displaced families have found new permanent housing.

“The other just about 50% are still either staying in hotels or they are couch surfing between friends and family,” Loucks-Kues said. “We’re about 50% done at this point.”

The residents displaced by the fire that spread through 1024 W. Hillcrest Drive on Dec. 22 have dealt with a variety of hardships over the past month, including the loss of some of their most cherished items. Loucks-Kues said those families still need community support. She suggested financial donations to the Family Service Agency of DeKalb County as a way for concerned community members to continue supporting the victims.

“We are trying our best to keep them in hotels, but their insurance claims have kind of ended so we are being mindful of how much money we’re spending on their hotels versus how much we need to reserve for them to move into their new home,” LoucksKues said.

The agency and other local organizations, including The American Red Cross, DeKalb Township and City of DeKalb and area churches also had volunteers come together in December to help families in the immediate aftermath. They solicited donations from the community, helped house and provide meals.

DeKalb Fire Chief Mike Thomas said his department believes the fire started by accident, but the specific cause can’t be determined.

“Our investigation just said it was an accidental, undetermined cause,” Thomas said. “We couldn’t do a full

investigation because of the conditions of the building.”

The building most impacted by the fire, 1024 W. Hillcrest was condemned by city officials. Two adjacent buildings located at 934 and 930 Greenbrier Road, while not condemned, were deemed uninhabitable as a result of the blaze.

The fire started inside at unit at 1024 W. Hillcrest and then quickly spread to the roof and neighboring buildings in the complex, which used to be known as Hunter Trifrat.

“That was a difficult fire because it was in void spaces when our people arrived there, which makes it more dangerous for even our people,” Thomas said. “But we were very happy that everybody got out.”

Demolition of 1024 W. Hillcrest began Jan. 15. DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas said the controlled destruction was necessary for the Greenbrier Road buildings to be reopened.

“They started taking it down on Wednesday morning and they got basically the walls down, and now they’re working on the debris and pulling it out of the basement,” Nicklas said. “The pressure against that middle section,

which is 934 Greenbrier has been removed, which is good.”

Residents might eventually be able to return to 934 and 930 Greenbrier, but not yet.

Nicklas said the property owner will have to find a way to protect the water and electrical lines, which were run into those buildings through the now destroyed building at 1024 W. Hillcrest.

Like the three impacted buildings, the estimated 60 victims of the fire did not all suffer equally, Loucks-Kues said.

“We have some who were able to recover everything they had in their previous units, some that lost everything and some that are just in between that,” Loucks-Kues said.

Thomas said he wants area residents to make sound decisions when it comes to insuring their property.

“That was a lot of people that were displaced.” Thomas said. “We feel for them, and hopefully, hindsight’s 2020 right, but hopefully folks are getting the message that renters insurance is important, especially when it comes to these types of situations. It sounds like a number of these folks had renters insur-

ance, which is great.”

At the time of the fire, Loucks-Kues told Shaw Local all residents of the properties had rental insurance because it was a requirement by the landlord.

The Family Service Agency doesn’t have a list of specific needs for the impacted families. Instead Loucks-Kues said families have been given gift cards and vouchers to area businesses, like the Country Store Thrift Shop in DeKalb.

“The resiliency that these families have come to the table with is incredible, they haven’t lost hope this whole time,” Loucks-Kues said.

One of the victims of the fire, a single mother, has struggled to find new permanent housing due to rental income requirements, which often require a prospective tenant to earn three times the monthly rent in gross monthly income.

“Even though she’s been denied and denied and denied probably over five times at this point, she hasn’t lost hope this whole time,” Loucks-Kues said. “And that’s the same for all the families

DEMOLITION, page 8

Mark Busch
An excavator drives past what remains of the apartments at 1024 W. Hillcrest Drive in DeKalb on Jan. 16 after some of the building was torn down earlier in the day. The structure was ravaged by fire on Dec. 22, 2024, and condemned.

Young entrepreneurs invited to apply for free innovator workshops

Organizations team up to host sessions for middle and high school students

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – Young minds are invited to step into the world of innovation and entrepreneurship with a free program designed to spark creativity and inspire action.

Multiple area organizations have teamed up to host sessions in February for middle and high school students to learn the ins and outs of building a business.

Middle and high school students are encouraged to participate in the events, where they will gain essential skills, develop their own ideas, and compete for the opportunity to bring their visions to life, according to a news release.

“We believe that a strong community starts with giving students tools they need to succeed,” Chad Glover, executive director of Opportunity DeKalb, said in a news release. “This program is a team effort, made possible by amazing partners like the [Northern Illinois University] College of Business, NIU STEAM, Project H.O.P.E. and Youth Engaged in Philanthropy. Together, we’re helping students work on their ideas. It’s about sparking creativity, building confidence and helping show the next generation that they can make a real difference.”

A middle school workshop will take place at NIU from 4 to 5:15 p.m. Feb. 6 and 4 to 5:15 p.m. Feb. 20. The high school workshop will be held from 4 to 5:15 p.m. Feb. 17 at NIU. All students are invited to showcase their poster boards at New Hope Church from 10 a.m. to noon March 1.

Further details will be provided upon registration. To sign up, visit go.niu. edu/2025CES.

More about the programs

Ideas into action : Middle school students in grades six through eight will

have the chance to unleash their creativity and transform their ideas into actionable plans. Whether it’s a business, product or nonprofit initiative, participants will learn how to develop and pitch their concepts at a poster board showcase. The highlight? A chance to win seed funding to kick-start their vision.

Thinking like investors: High school students in grades nine through 12 will step into the role of investors, evaluating the pitches from middle school participants. Through this process, they’ll gain critical skills in analysis, decision-making and entrepreneurial strategy that they can apply to their own future endeavors.

“This program is all about inspiring local middle and high school students to think like entrepreneurs,” Becca Husar, associate director of innovation and partnership development with the NIU College of Business, said in the release. “Through hands-on workshops and a community pitch event, students learn important skills like independence, creative problem-solving and how to communicate their ideas effectively. What’s even better is that it helps build key protective factors for mental health – things like confidence, resilience and finding ways to get involved and make a difference in their community.”

By the end of the program, participants will have a clear understanding of how to identify challenges, develop feasible solutions and make a lasting impression.

The showcase was developed by the NIU College of Business and Opportunity DeKalb with partners NIU STEAM, Project H.O.P.E. and Youth Engaged in Philanthropy through the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

Genoa-Kingston School District 424 board candidate forum to be held in February

Five candidates to face off for four seats April 1

GENOA – With five candidates competing for four open seats on the Genoa-Kingston School District 424 board April, a local union has stepped up to host a candidate forum.

The forum will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 3 in the Genoa-Kingston High School auditorium. The public is welcome.

The Consolidated Election is April 1, and will see voters cast ballots for municipal leaders, township and school boards, among other races.

Genoa-Kingston Education Association President Sam Coates, an instructional coach with the district,

said the group is holding the forum to give community members a chance to hear from each of the candidates.

“We are looking for candidates who are able to carefully consider the perspectives of all stakeholders in their decision making,” Coates said. “We know that the policies set by our school board will impact generations of students in the Genoa-Kingston community, and as educators we believe that all stakeholders should work together to decide what’s best for our students.”

Coates, as well as other members of the union will moderate the candidate forum.

All five candidates – David Cleveland, Amber Eberly, Dean Gudeman, Aidan Simmons and Jake Wesner –have been invited to attend the event and so far four have accepted, Coates said. None of the candidates are currently on the district’s school board.

Board president Matthew Krueger, board vice president Gordie Leahy, board member Lisa Havener and board member Mark Bradac all have terms ending in April, and have not filed to run for another term, according to the education association.

DeKalb County reported a 14.59% voter turnout rate in the April 2021 Consolidated Election. That figure is one of the reasons Coates said union officials decided to hold the Feb. 3 candidate forum.

“One of our other goals in hosting this, other than giving community members a chance to learn about the candidates, is we know that with local elections not nearly as many people vote,” Coates said. “So by hosting this we’re encouraging all G-K residents to vote in the April 1 election because we know that each vote holds even more power in these small, in these local elections.”

• DEMOLITION

Continued from page 6

we’ve worked with.”

Loucks–Kues thinks the winter months are an especially difficult time of the year to find housing. She said she’s proud of the ways the fire victims have conducted themselves in the aftermath.

As some residents hold out hope to eventually be able to return to 930 and 934 Greenbrier, Nicklas said the building owner has already completed plumbing and electrical work. More repair is needed before tenants can return, however.

“What needs to be done now so that tenants can come back in is there’s a lot cleaning that needs to be done in that middle section,” Nicklas said.

Additionally, a sprinkler system in the basement of each building needs to be retested.

“Those are the two sections of the building that did not suffer greatly from fire, but they were knocked out,” Nicklas said. “Because of the cold and there’s no heat in the building the sprinkler lines have to be tested so they don’t become Niagara Falls.”

LOOKING BACK

1925 – 100 YEARS AGO

Efforts will be made to again organize the Boy Scout in DeKalb. At a meeting last evening of the men’s club of the Congregational church, the plan of organizing a church unit was discussed and as a result of the meeting the preliminary steps were taken. It is understood that all of the churches of the city will take similar steps, and organize troops.

As yet no clue has been found that might lead to the discovery of the Shames Ford sedan stolen Mondy night from the garage of Gus Vonderheide. The sedan was missing Tuesday morning when Robert Vonderheide, who had been driving the machine every day to Sycamore went to the garage to get it. He had left it in the garage about 9:30 o’clock in the evening before. Neighbors yesterday stated that they remember hearing an auto in the alley about three o’clock in the morning but paid little attention to the noise made by the car as they thought it was one of the neighbors coming home.

Even though the cold weather has put a stop to a great amount of the outdoor work in this city, workmen today started laying brick on the Mayo garage, which is being erected to the rear of the home that is now under construction on North First Street, north of the Elk’s home. The basement of the home has been completed and as soon as the weather permits work on the home will be resumed. The home, when completed will be one of the most beautiful in this city.

It is to be hoped that a good Samaritan finds the lady’s pocketbook lost yesterday containing the sum of $75 in bills. The pocketbook was lost by a resident of this city, an elderly woman, and to her the money means a great deal. The woman thinks that she lost the pocketbook between Sixth and Tenth Streets on the Lincoln Highway, while on her way home late yesterday afternoon from a shopping trip downtown. Should the money be found by an honest person it may be left at The Chronicle business office or at the police station where a report of the loss was also made.

Every church boasts of its efforts to save its congregation from fire, but to make the efforts more perfect than has been the

more weight should be added. So far, the big ship has disdained help from the army.

1975 – 50 YEARS AGO

The addition of the Haish Gym could allow the park district to expand its recreational programs. The DeKalb Board of Education approved a resolution authorizing the transfer of the gymnasium to the park district. The cooperative park-school agreement calls for the park district to pay $4,000 of the $24,000 demolition costs of the Haish School. Once the school is removed, the park district plans to pave the rest of the Ninth and Franklin Street site and renovate the gymnasium.

case in the past, the First Baptist church has started work on the installation of a fire escape. The work of installing the fire escape was started a few days ago. As far as can be ascertained, the First Baptist church, when completed, will be the only church in the city or surrounding community to have a visible means of aiding its congregation in escaping from a fire.

1950 – 75 YEARS AGO

Value of the central train control, installed and operating on the main line of the Chicago and North Western through DeKalb, was proved yesterday. With the south track blocked when three cars left the rails early Friday morning, traffic was routed through on the north track without delay other than a slight slowing as they cleared the spot where workmen were engaged in putting the cars back on the rails. The wreck was fortunate in several ways. A west bound freight started slowing for a routine inspection at the coal chute when a journal on a gondola car broke. The car, carrying a load of pig iron for a foundry in Sterling dropped, dis-railing a car ahead and one behind.

Fire caused damage estimated at several thousand dollars this morning at the Guy Brown turkey farm located about a mile south of Genoa on Route 23. Mr. Brown discovered the blaze about 8:20 o’clock in

the 40- by 50-foot building which houses the dressing room, cooling assembly and deep freeze units. The fire, thought to have been started by defective wiring in the building, destroyed the structure and most of the contents although the deep freeze units containing 360 turkeys and valued at $4,000 were saved.

Stage Coach Players Inc. and various committees working with them have not been idle during the winter months. Early last fall notification was received by The Players, that the Ellwood Barn occupied by them for two summers would have to be vacated by June 1, 1950. Since that time committees and individual members have been working in their spare time preparing plans for the purchasing of a site of land, which would be suitable for the purpose of presenting plays.

Norfolk, VA – A civilian offered to free the mud-locked battleship Missouri today for $200,000 and said the navy is doing the job backward. The Missouri has resisted all efforts of the army and navy to get her out of her prison in Hampton Roads for three days. Thomas H. Little of the Submarine Engineering Company here said today that the “Big Mo” may become “just a monument” if the job is not done “right.” Little said that instead of removing weight from the battlewagon as the navy has done,

Wave bye-bye to Glidden school. The old South First Street stomping grounds for school children since 1902 will be torn down sometime later this week. The students now attend “new-fangled” Roberts School at Normal and Ridge. Two other famous name schools built the same year as Glidden also will join the brick pile this year – Ellwood and Haish.

Burglars at the Ponderosa Steak House, 907 Dresser Road, took $480 in a break-in Monday morning. Police detective said the thieves entered the building through the roof above a cooking area on the west side. The burglars forced their way into the manager’s office and removed a safe. The safe was taken inside a meat cooler and opened.

Kishwaukee College is offering classes in beginning bridge, square dancing and introduction to the metric system Monday evenings. The beginning bridge class will be at the Southern Community Center at Shabbona High School. The square-dancing class will be at the Malta Grade School. The metrics class will be held on campus.

A committee of the January Grand Jury has recommended that a new jail be built in DeKalb County. Although the five-member committee said it realized that building a new facility would be “financially prohibitive,” the committee added, “it is highly doubtful that the present structure can ever be renovated to make it an adequate facility for the purpose intended.” – Compiled by Sue Breese

Photo provided by the DeKalb County History Center Archives Buildings next to Target on Sycamore Road in DeKalb are under construction in January 2000.

DeKalb City Engineer Zac Gill speaks about constructing a roundabout at the intersection of North First Street and Sycamore Road at the Jan. 8 meeting of the DeKalb City Council.

Megann Horstead

DeKALB

Improvements to North First Street, Sycamore Road in development

DeKALB – Improvements to the intersection of North First Street and Sycamore Road in DeKalb are in the works after City Council took action Jan. 13.

The council’s decision is meant to help improve safety and efficiency, officials said.

City Engineer Zac Gill said the city is looking into constructing a roundabout at the intersection of North First Street and Sycamore Road.

“We are just beginning analysis,” Gill said. “I expect this to be at least a twoyear process before we even come to any sort of final layout for this.”

The city has authorized an agreement for enlisting the consulting firm Willis, Burke, Kelsey Associates to perform design engineering services for the intersection reconstruction project for $420,000 and appropriating $42,000 in local funds, according to city documents.

The city said council action qualifies the city for a 90/10 state funding match, which it can use to allocate toward the construction of a roundabout.

Fifth Ward Alderman Andre Powell asked how constructing a roundabout would benefit the immediate area.

“What does that do for the traffic over there?” Powell said. “Like as far as the surrounding lights, the school, the buses

and everything else right there.”

Gill said he believes the traffic tool would make the roadway more efficient for motorists.

“A roundabout is going to have significantly higher capacity,” Gill said. “They’re much more efficient. It should improve it. I know that for some people there’s still a lack of comfortability that can cause some hesitation. But in large as people get ingrained to its use, the traffic should improve.”

First Ward Alderwoman Carolyn Zasada questioned how most crashes happen in this corridor.

Gill said the crashes are often people either trying to merge or being uncertain.

In a related action, the City Council accepted the Qualification Based Selection of Willis, Burke, Kelsey Associates to perform design engineering services for the intersection reconstruction project and authorized the city engineer to provide approvals on all standard Department of Transportation selection documents.

City Manager Bill Nicklas said he is excited by this project as a regular user of this corridor.

“I am concerned, and many times I have been hung out there to dry in facing oncoming traffic,” Nicklas said. “I can’t merge and no one will yield. I think this is a good thing.”

Dr. Ito was born and raised in Naperville, Illinois. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Downers Grove, IL. Master of Science and certificate in orthodontics from Marquette University School of Dentistry

Dr. Ito has presented and received numerous awards for his research projects regarding orthodontics, which minimize the length required for active orthodontic treatment. He is also highly trained in Invisalign treatment. Please call our office at 815-758-3666 to schedule a

Former NIU marching band director creates scholarship

Michael Embrey, DCCF establish NIU band student scholarship fund

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

SYCAMORE – A new scholarship has been created for Northern Illinois University students who participate in the university’s marching band program.

The Michael Embrey Band Scholarship Fund is administered through the DeKalb County Community Foundation, according to a news release.

The fund honors Embrey’s lifelong music career and pays forward the significant influence of the scholarship he received as a student.

Applications for the Embrey Band Scholarship will open each fall, beginning this year. The recipient will be recognized during the NIU homecoming football game each year.

“A single music scholarship changed my life,” Embrey said in a news release. “It allowed me to continue pursuing my music career and opened doors I never imagined. I want to provide that same opportunity for future band members.”

Embrey’s musical journey began at the age of 6 when his family moved from Texas to the Ozarks in southern Missouri, where his father opened a truck stop. One day, a trucker who couldn’t afford fuel offered a musical instrument as payment. Embrey’s father accepted the old, beat-up trumpet and gave it to Michael, who quickly learned to play.

A single music scholarship changed my life. It allowed me to continue pursuing my music career and opened doors I never imagined. I want to provide that same opportunity for future band members.”

Embrey, former NIU band director

of the marching band. Inspired by the recognition, Embrey established the Michael Embrey Band Scholarship Fund.

Embrey holds two degrees from NIU, actively serves on multiple community organization boards, and has earned national recognition for his work with military veterans and veteran organizations.

The local school band director recognized his talent and encouraged the family to seek more professional training for Michael.

The Embrey family relocated to Mount Prospect. Michael joined the school band and the Championship Drum and Bugle Corps (The Cavaliers) during high school. His skills earned him a trumpet scholarship to the University of Illinois. This scholarship was life-changing for him.

At this time in his life, the Vietnam War was escalating. Embrey auditioned to become a musician and arranger for the U.S. Air Force Band and Drum Corps. After completing his four-year military tour, he returned to college on the GI Bill, spending two years as a pro-

fessional musician. Shortly after, he was invited to apply for the NIU marching band director position. He accepted.

As the new band director, Embrey transformed the NIU Marching Show Band, introducing a dance team (The Silverettes), flag corps, rifle corps and twirling squad. His leadership revitalized the program, establishing a dynamic collegiate marching band.

After a decade of success, Embrey left NIU to launch his entertainment production and international travel companies. He remained in DeKalb, drawn by his love for the community, the university and the friendships he made.

In October, NIU honored Embrey during homecoming, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his modernization

“Michael shared with us that he chose the DeKalb County Community Foundation because of our professionalism, something he experienced firsthand when creating the DeKalb County Veterans Recognition Fund,” DCCF Executive Director Dan Templin said in the release. “This new fund will carry on his legacy with the NIU marching band program, helping dozens of future NIU Huskie Marching Band members for years to come.”

Donations to any fund at the Community Foundation, including the Michael Embrey Band Scholarship Fund, can be made online at dekalbccf.org/donate or by mail to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL 60178.

For questions or to start your charitable fund, contact Dan Templin at 815-7485383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.

Mark Busch file photo
A member of the Northern Illinois University marching band plays in downtown DeKalb Oct. 17, 2024, during the Huskie Homecoming Block Party.
Michael Embrey
Michael

OSF

Photo provided by Shelby Crackel

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