Themidweek celebrating50years

CELEBRATING OCTOBER 2017

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MIDWEEKNEWS.COM

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October 2017

| MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY | October 2017

October 2017

| MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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50 years of keeping it local The MidWeek is delivered free of charge to households throughout DeKalb County every Wednesday.

Those who do not wish to receive delivery may contact customer service at 800-589-9363, or via email at subscriptions@shawmedia.com, to request a delivery stop.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Inger Koch

A

headline on a yellowing sheet of newsprint in Kathy Siebrasse’s scrapbook reads “Local news is paper’s emphasis.”

The paper is dated April 8, 1987, and was part of a four-part series published in observance of The MidWeek’s 20th anniversary. The 80s were not so long ago in the grand scheme of things – unless you ask my teenage kids.

This year marks The MidWeek’s 50th anniversary and while plenty of things about the paper have changed over the years, including ownership, its emphasis on local news has remained constant – since news was added, that is.

The paper started out as a shopper full of ads for everything from 20-cent burgers to $12 tires and $35 dinette sets. It was published by J. Frederick Baker and was called The Citizen’s Shopper.

Jim Morel was the paper’s first advertising manager. A few years after he joined the paper, Baker decided to leave the business, so Morel became the owner. He started a second publication, The Citizen’s MidWeek, which included news and was inserted in the Shopper.

Kathy Siebrasse was hired in 1978 as the paper’s first editor and the shopper part of the publication was dropped. Later, Siebrasse and her husband, Chuck, bought the paper from Morel and they owned it for nearly 20 years before selling to Pulitzer, which owned the Daily Chronicle. Shaw Media bought both papers in 2008.

Over the years, The MidWeek has shared thousands of stories on interesting people, worthy causes, new businesses, special events, school happenings and on and on – all local news.

This special section offers a glimpse into the history of the paper and what makes it meaningful to its readers. For this assignment I enlisted the help of my predecessor, Dana Herra. She was editor of The MidWeek from 2011 to 2014 and has great insight into the inner workings of the paper and the stories we wanted to share.

We’ve included a story on the features in the paper that readers have enjoyed over the years, including “Looking Back” and “Friendly Persuasions.”

There’s a story on how The Mid-

Editor

Inger Koch ikoch@shawmedia.com

NEWSROOM 1586 Barber Greene Road DeKalb, IL 60115 815-756-4841 Fax: 815-758-5059 readit@midweeknews.com ADVERTISING Sales: 815-756-4841 x 2217 Classified: 877-264-2527 CUSTOMER SERVICE 800-589-9363 LEGAL NOTICES publicnotice@midweeknews.com 815-756-4841 Fax: 815-756-2079 All rights reserved.

Copyright 2017

• Relevant information • Marketing Solutions • Community Advocates

ON THE COVER Week has contributed to the community these past five decades and a story on how the paper has connected with the business community.

Another story takes a look at memorable stories shared by former editors and current reporter Katrina Milton.

I think my favorite piece in this section is a price comparison of items for sale in 1967 to those of today.

We’ve included images of the 1967 ads. Can you believe a chicken dinner costs 59 cents with a coupon from Dairy Isle?

I’ve enjoyed browsing the bound books of MidWeeks for this project.

Especially papers from the ’90s, when

I first came to town as a Northern Illinois University student.

Although I may be relatively new to my post at The MidWeek, I’ve been at the Chronicle for 23 years and remember many of the stories told on those pages and the advertisers that are now gone. Remember The Mandarin? And Sgt. Peppers?

But alas, as the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

While owners and employees may come and go and the way we report and deliver the news may change, local news still is our emphasis.

Thanks for reading The MidWeek and enjoy this special section.

Since its first publication in 1967, The MidWeek’s signature masthead has gone through many changes.

SUBMIT NEWS Send an email to: readit@midweeknews.com

CORRECTIONS Accuracy is important to The Midweek and it wants to correct mistakes promptly. Please call errors to our attention by phone at 815-756-4841 or email readit@ midweeknews.com.

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MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY | October 2017

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October 2017

| MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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You say you want an evolution How ‘The Citizen’s Shopper’ became ‘The MidWeek’

By DANA HERRA For The MidWeek

F

ifty years ago, J. Frederick Baker was having lunch with friends in downtown DeKalb when he had an idea.

Baker lived in an area covered by a shopper, a weekly free publication filled with retail and classified ads. Baker, who owned a specialty advertising business, was struck by the fact there was no similar publication in DeKalb.

“A week or so later, I went up and down the street [in DeKalb] asking retailers what they thought about it, and they all said, ‘Get something started and I’ll advertise in it,’” he said.

The first edition of The Citizen’s Shopper was published on April 6, 1967, with Baker’s photo on the front page. He said he took some guff from friends who worked at the Daily Chronicle, which was the area’s only local paper at the time, but Baker saw the shopper as filling a completely different niche.

“People were saying we wouldn’t make it five weeks,” Baker said. “That fifth week we had a heck of a party. It’s

kind of nice to see it has borne fruit and is still around after 50 years.”

Today’s MidWeek bears only a passing resemblance to its forebear. Much of that is due to its second owner, James Morel, who introduced a stronger news component.

Morel was a student completing his marketing degree at Northern Illinois University when Baker hired him to be The Citizen’s Shopper’s first advertising manager. Several years later, Baker decided to leave the business and Morel became its owner.

Then in the mid-1970s, he was presented with an interesting opportunity.

The DeKalb County assessor was obligated by law to publish property assessments annually in a local newspaper of record, but in order to win that business, the newspaper had to be 25 percent news content.

So Morel began a second publication, The Citizen’s MidWeek, which was included as an insert in the Shopper. It was a four-page insert, with a page devoted to news and

See EVOLUTION, page 8

RIGHT: Kathy Siebrasse, former owner and editor of The MidWeek, looks through a scrapbook of newspaper clippings at a DeKalb restaurant.

Dana Herra photo for The MidWeek

FAR RIGHT: She and her husband, Chuck, purchased the paper in 1982 and owned the publication until 2001.

The Citizen’s Shopper first published April 6, 1967.

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MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY | October 2017

• EVOLUTION

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October 2017

| MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Continued from page 6

The first news edition of The Citizen’s MidWeek was June 21, 1978.

three pages of advertising. It came with the Shopper but was numbered as its own independent volumes.

“So rather than a newspaper with advertising inserts, it was an advertising paper with a news insert,” Morel said.

In 1978, Morel hired Kathy Siebrasse, a reporter at the Daily Chronicle, to be the paper’s first full-time editor. With Siebrasse on board, Morel dropped the shopper part of the publication and devoted at least 25 percent of each edition to news.

“We had a good time,” Morel said. “There were some unique stories we did that you wouldn’t expect to see in a free publication, but most of it was good community stuff.”

About four years later, Siebrasse and her husband, Chuck, bought the paper from Morel.

Kathy stayed on as editor and Chuck was the publisher. The couple owned the paper for nearly 20 years before selling it in 2001 to Pulitzer – the company that owned the Daily Chronicle.

“That was controversial to some people,” Kathy Siebrasse said. “We had always had a friendly competition with the Chronicle, and some people preferred The MidWeek and respected it more. But I think it was the right decision. We agreed to sell it to them provided they didn’t kill it, and that has held true. It still exists and still serves its purpose in the community.”

With the local daily now a sister publication, the need for The MidWeek to cover time-sen-

“There were some unique stories we did that you wouldn’t expect to see in a free publication, ...

James Morel former MidWeek owner sitive “hard news” like crime or government meetings began to subside. When Shaw Media bought both the Daily Chronicle and MidWeek in 2008, a decision was made to shift the weekly paper’s focus to community features.

“I felt a little bad about that because some people depended on The MidWeek for that [hard] news,” said Bill Braksick, editor from 2008 until 2010. “But it just didn’t make sense; we had a sister paper that could cover that news and have the story the next day instead of a week later. And it gave us the freedom and the room to do some fun features like ‘Looking Back.’ ” In 2011, the MidWeek’s staff moved into quarters inside the Daily Chronicle building, bringing the erstwhile competitors under one roof literally as well as figuratively.

“We now have a great partnership,” said Inger Koch, editor since 2015. “The sharing of resources between the two papers allows The MidWeek to develop feature stories about interesting people and organizations, while still running short news items sent in by community members and harder news from the Chronicle.”

“The climate has changed a lot in 50 years,” Morel said. “Business is different, and you have to adapt.”

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MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY | October 2017

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October 2017

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In the spirit The MidWeek shares community’s good news

By DANA HERRA For The MidWeek

W

hen James Morel, owner of The Citizens’ MidWeek, sold the paper in 1982, he was quoted as saying he had worked to establish a “newspaper which contains only local news about local people.”

More than 30 years later, as Mary Hernandez picked up a copy of The MidWeek from a convenience store rack, she said she likes to look through the paper first for all the ads and sales fliers, but also to see if her neighbors or friends were mentioned.

“While ownership changes have transpired over the past 50 years, the commitment to providing strong local news and information to our readers has remained strong,” said Karen Pletsch, current publisher of the newspaper.

“We are also very proud to support our local nonprofits with in-kind donations of advertising space. This year alone, we have donated space in excess of $100,000 to promote local fundraising efforts,” Pletsch said.

Kathy Siebrasse, who with her husband, Chuck, owned the paper from 1982 until 2001, said the best thing about The MidWeek is its ability to share stories readers won’t find anywhere else.

“The most interesting thing about a community newspaper is its ability to share stories about regular people who succeed by doing the things they love,” Siebrasse said. “They’re the kinds of stories that wouldn’t be shared without a community paper.”

In addition to highlighting local residents, The MidWeek has offered a helping hand to many nonprofit organizations. In the May 18, 1967, edition of the paper, then-publisher J. Frederick Baker wrote, “We will continue to support community and charitable projects wholeheartedly. Just let us know when we can be of service.”

During their nearly 20-year tenure, the Siebrasses supported as many local nonprofits and community agencies as they could by sitting on boards or promoting local events and initiatives.

“We were probably overinvolved,” Siebrasse says now. “But it’s rewarding to see how many of the things we helped establish are still in place.”

Those things include efforts such as the Let’s Talk Turkey Thanksgiving food drive and the Student of the Year scholarship award. Ken Doubler, who was the general manager of the paper from 2003 until 2008, said he still receives email updates from people who were honored in the Student of the Year program.

Dawn Littlefield, executive director of the Kishwaukee United Way, said community organizations have benefited for years from The MidWeek’s interest in covering them.

“The MidWeek has always been a friend of local nonprofits. In all my time with the United Way, which is several decades, we’ve enjoyed the relationship we’ve had with the paper,” she said. “I think we are very lucky as a community to have The MidWeek support nonprofits and nonprofit events. A lot of local nonprofits benefit from that relationship, especially since resources are often limited.”

TO THE MIDWEEK ON 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE DEKALB COUNTY COMMUNITY

We are FIRST in the LAST mile FIRST to Your Doorstep - Every Day FIRST in Delivery Security FIRST in Reliability and Predictability FIRST in Consumer Delivery Satisfaction FIRST in Building Brand Loyalty

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MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY | October 2017

CONGRATUATIONS

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October 2017

| MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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Getting the scoop Staffers recall their most memorable MidWeek stories

By DANA HERRA For The MidWeek

K

athy Siebrasse began reporting on DeKalb news as a student at Northern Illinois University in the mid-1970s. All told, she spent more than 25 years covering the community for the Northern Star, the Daily Chronicle and The MidWeek.

Through it all, one story kept coming back.

“The revitalization of downtown DeKalb was a recurring story my entire career,” Siebrasse said. “It’s nice to see some progress finally being made on that front.”

Siebrasse remembers the pressure and thrill of working on the small staff of “a weekly trying to be a daily,” like when news of a late-night fire with fatalities broke after that week’s edition had gone to press.

“I called up [then-publisher James Morel] and got him out of bed, and we went to our office and worked all night,” she said. “I wrote a story and developed film, we pasted up a new paper and got the new edition to the printer. It was an exciting time.”

She spent many more sleepless nights in the office with Sharon Emanuelson, who started as a reporter and later became editor, putting together a special publication to commemorate DeKalb County’s sesquicentennial in October 2006.

“Kathy Siebrasse was a great editor. While we didn’t always agree about commas, she helped me be a better writer,” Emanuelson said.

“She had a great love of history and she got me excited about learning about DeKalb County’s history.”

Perhaps Emanuelson’s most vivid memory of The MidWeek is covering the kidnapping and murder of Melissa Ackerman, a 7-yearold Somonauk girl, in 1985. She had a young daughter of her own at the time, and said she recalls how difficult it was to attend the funeral.

Infamous serial killer Brian Dugan would later be convicted of the killing.

Emanuelson’s favorite memories, though,

See SCOOP, page 14

                                            

                  

                                                                                    

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MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY | October 2017

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October 2017

| MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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‘‘

“We called it Employ US. I did a story and column about it and I started reaching out to media contacts I had developed over the years. I was calling everyone I could think of to get it more coverage.

It was in the Chicago Tribune, it was in USA Today, Leno did a monologue about it, and Bush’s office acknowledged he was seeing the pictures. That was one of the most fun and rewarding stories.”

• SCOOP

Continued from page 12

are more pleasant. She said her “big coup” was getting a personal interview with Cindy Crawford in the early 1990s, while the supermodel was in DeKalb to visit her mother.

She didn’t allow Emanuelson to take her photo for publication, but did pose for a personal photo with Emanuelson’s 10-year-old daughter.

Josh Albrecht’s most memorable story came early in his tenure as the paper’s editor. He became The MidWeek’s editor in May of 2002.

With Sept. 11, 2001, still fresh in the nation’s mind, he knew he had to do something extraordinary to commemorate the first anniversary of the attacks.

“We ended up winning the Pulitzer Newspapers Award of Excellence for our coverage and retrospect, which was a very fulfilling way to start my professional newspaper career,” Albrecht said. “I still remember taking a photo of the local fire department in front of one of the trucks.”

Siebrasse’s favorite story also had a national angle. In 1992, she said, a local woman concerned about the soaring unemployment rate had an idea to bring the issue home to then-President George H.W. Bush.

“She had an idea to send pictures of unemployed people to President Bush and put a face on unemployment. We called it Employ US,” Siebrasse said. “I did a story and column about it and I started reaching out to media contacts I had developed over the years. I was calling everyone I could think of to get it more coverage. It was in the Chicago Tribune, it was in USA Today, [Tonight Show host Jay] Leno did a monologue about it, and Bush’s office acknowledged he was seeing the pictures. That was one of the most fun and rewarding stories.”

Reporter Katrina Milton, who’s been writing for the paper for nearly five years, said choosing one memorable story is extremely difficult.

“What has been most memorable for me is having the opportunity to tell the stories of the people of DeKalb County,” she said. “I love

See SCOOP, page 15

Kathy Siebrasse, former MidWeek editor

• SCOOP

6

SPREADING LOVE

MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY | October 2017

being able to share their experiences, passions and successes with the community.”

One story that did especially move her was about Random Acts of Kindness Day, which was started as a way for the family and friends of Lexi Weber and Tim Getzelman to keep their memories alive. The two were killed in a car crash in 2011.

“I had never heard of the event, which was celebrating its fifth anniversary when I wrote the story,” she said.

“When I first called Lexi Weber’s mom, Dawn Weber, I knew it would be a difficult phone call. My mother had recently passed away, and I knew the pain and sorrow Dawn was facing.

“What I thought would be a quick phone call turned into an hours-long conversation late into the night about loving – and losing – the ones you care about most.”

15

COVER STORY

day, February 15, 2017 The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednes

Continued from page 14

ry of Tim and Lexi

Random Acts of Kindness Day honors memo

‘‘

No act is too small,” It was part of Lexi and Tim to give to others. They were such kind people.”

By KATRINA J.E. MILTON kmilton@shawmedia.com

D

awn Weber describ es Feb. 21, 2011, as the worst day of her life.

It was the day that her daughter, Lexi Weber, and SAMANTHA STAMMET, Lexi’s boyfrie nd, Tim Getfriend of Lexi Weber in zelman, were killed in a car crash Sycamore. They were both 21. and But instead of staying home and donated to charities.

Tim’s s, crying all day, Dawn Weber and “By doing random acts of kindnes still mother, Tamara Getzelman, decided we’re not losing them, they’re g creatin to mark the anniversary by It keeps us grounded and us. with here to keep in the Random Acts of Kindness Day reminds us that there is good doing their children’s memory alive. world. We can rally together. By sary “Every year, when the anniver things, it’s a great reminder of good time ing comes up, it’s such a depress what they meant to and were they who to of year,” Weber said. “We wanted each and every one of us.” ng nice mark the date by doing somethi For RAK Day, Amand a Smith, the colfor someone. We wanted to make Lexi’s friend from high school and day a little happier.” has purchased groceries, plantlege, and On the first anniversary of Tim a turtle and seal in adopted trees, ed friends Lexi’s death, their families and donated animal food Photo provided Lexi’s name and Weber participated in a blood drive. to a local animal shelter. was 21, 2011. Random Acts of and money said that although the blood drive Weber were killed in a car crash on Feb. lives in New York. She said Lexi now and an Smith Getzelm Tim to she is a good idea, it was an event limited their memory. that although she lives far away, next Kindness Day was created in people that lived in the area. The still able to participate death, his glad that she is memory anythey ment. Two weeks after his year, they designed and sold T-shirts ac- in honoring her friend’s both represe nted, as young as been in had ss Tim kindne that of acts learned family and did random ent where she lives or goes. were,” she said. “They had a tremencepted to serve on the fire departm Lexi and Tim’s memory.

Samantha Stammet, Lexi’s friend dous amount of love for their families sin.

This year is the fifth annual RAK community, in Madison, Wiscon first grade, now lives in Chicaof Tim and were proud of their son of Burlin gton since Thomp Brian the acts of kindness in Day and sixth annive rsary wanting to serve Tim, go and does random as church same By the to deaths. and Lexi’s best way they knew went throughout the year. charge in was and him karate selling T-shirts , hood- Know more too small,” Stammet said. is act how. … It was natural taught “No attendfire academy that Tim give to ies and sweate rs in for Tim and Lexi to of the “It was part of Lexi and Tim to on was on call at the Burlpeople. advanc e, $1,326 was For information about be natura lly kind in ed. Thomps others. They were such kind Fire Department the day of the one raised for the Lost Random Acts of Kindness Day, their short time on this ington Our random acts of kindness takes scene. the at a was crash and life and makes Limbs Founda tion, earth.” visit www.facebook.com/ that of the worst days of our “I have never met a person nonprofit organization groups/235714539791458.

We’re putting smiles better.

Tim and Lexi met little a it life more than Tim,” Thomp ng love that helps familie s of while they were stu- loved on other people’s faces, spreadi “He was funny, loved to tell amputee children who joy, spreading who Lexi and Tim dents at Northe rn Il- son said. a great sense of humor. and are in need of medical The couple dated jokes and had sity. were.”

Univer nt linois s intellige able, previou the and prosthetic assistance. In ship their He was a truly remark Weber hopes that each year, to help for three years, a relation Tim were two of good years, RAK Day raised funds ” because young man. Lexi and event grows, helping and doing ” De- friends described as “perfect DeKalb the brightest stars I’ve ever known. rescue dogs, the Sycamo re Fire deeds for people not only in the were “head over heels in love.” they people acts random Soup. of les and Feed’em re Examp on partment and nity, but anywhe Lexi was an elementary educati ranLexi and Tim’s County commu Getzelman said that by doing gradua te have comple ted in the world, allowin g the - major and was on track to sing food for everyon e in dom acts of kindness, she is remind a student memory include purcha of Tim and Lexi to live on.

“Re- in December 2011. She was a restaurant, purchas- memory at else e s is someon Soup ed of something Tim used to say: “Doing random acts of kindnes tone teacher, volunteered at Feed’em police depart. Lexi ing pizza for fire and member your attitude can set the to make a sad day less painful,” and loved children and animals out gift cards. Ran- a way for someone else’s day.” She rememr’s degree ments and handing bachelo said. her d Weber awarde to was limited stand dom acts of kindness are not bers when Tim had his family “It never gets any easier. I always any day, hold posthumously by NIU. marg Feb. 21; they can be completed outside by their American flag, ask, ‘What if?’ Would they be Tim started firefigh ter trainin of 9/11.

You hands and pray on the evening school. anywhere during the year. ried, would they have babies? scholduring his junior year of high fire and side create funny helped his on ers Thomps She also rememb er at the Burlyourself crazy dwelling on the volunte a drive became year He every and and de- arships in Tim’s name, to push yourself how his impressions of Jim Carrey same have the You ent, e. negativ Departm Fire at flowers down ington once on the anniversary, he lays Jack Nicholson made tears run and never give up. I just hope partment where his grandfather He also has pur- forward her face and her stomach hurt. also was the scene of the crash. they look down on us and smile.” my served as a lieutenant. Tim gift cards and coffee for others “RAK holds a special place in Sycamore Fire Depart- chased the at intern an Lexi and heart because of what Tim

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A regular thing

October 2017

| MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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Weekly features favorite part of the paper for many

By DANA HERRA For The MidWeek

W

hen Bill Braksick became editor of The MidWeek in 2008, he was inspired to start a weekly history feature that remains a reader favorite.

Looking Back, which features snippets of local news taken directly from newspapers published the same week at different points in history, was influenced by a similar feature Braksick began when he was editor of the Chilton (Wisconsin) Times Journal.

“When I first started looking through the microfilm, I just loved the way they wrote. It was wonderful,” Braksick said. “It wasn’t always the most newsworthy things, but a variety of things important to people at the time, from tragic events to recipes. I wanted it to be a fun snapshot of history.”

One of Braksick’s favorite things about weekly newspapers, he said, is with less pressure to focus on breaking news, they have more room and flexibility

See WEEKLY FEATURES, page 17

Katrina J.E. Milton – kmilton@shawmedia.com

Sue Breeze and her team of volunteers at the Joiner History Room compile the Looking Back column for The MidWeek each week.

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• WEEKLY FEATURES

17

Continued from page 16

See WEEKLY FEATURES, page 18

  

                                    

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October 2017

Town Crier, a staple feature of The MidWeek, has existed since the paper began in 1967.

Originally titled Citizens Calendar, it first appeared in the April 20, 1967, edition with a single item, a regional high school history fair.

MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY |

for fun features like Looking Back.

The column is as popular now as it was in 2010 when it started.

“I get more comments on Looking Back than any other feature in the paper,” said current editor Inger Koch. “I think people just like the nostalgia of it. They enjoy reminiscing and learning something new about local history, too.”

These days the column is compiled by Sue Breese and volunteers at the Joiner History Room, housed in the Sycamore Public Library.

“Sue Breese has been such a help in keeping this feature going,” Koch said. “I couldn’t do it without her.”

Town Crier, another staple feature of The MidWeek, has existed since the paper began in 1967. Originally titled Citizens Calendar, it first appeared in the April 20, 1967, edition with a single item, a regional high school history fair. A month later, the calendar had expanded to feature 19 items from seven area communities. Today, the calendar takes up a two-page spread and lists as many items as will fit the space.

When Sharon Emanuelson was editor in the 1980s and ‘90s, she began a popular column titled Grapevine, a commentary on local news, politics and people. The original Citizens Shopping News also included commentary – sometimes written by a columnist, sometimes

• WEEKLY FEATURES

18

October 2017

| MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Continued from page 17

provided by readers – in the form of a column titled The Lion’s Den. Kathy Siebrasse, who was involved with the paper as owner or editor for more than 20 years, remembers the popularity of Friendly Persuasions, originally called Matrimonials. Before the days of online dating, people would place ads in the paper describing themselves and the type of person they would like to meet. Some weeks, the feature took up an entire page of the paper. Ads ranged from those looking for love (“Need someone who understands me and will accept me for who I am,” May 10, 1978,) to those who just wanted a friend (“Looking only for a companion. You pay your way. I pay mine,” May 10, 1978).

“We had a lot of marriages come out of that,” Siebrasse said. “It was always a fun highlight.”

On the Record is another modern-day feature that readers enjoy. It’s a question-and-answer format column with someone doing something interesting in the community – whether well-known or not.

“We’ve featured lots of people – from public officials, professionals and organizers to collectors, hobbyists and authors,” Koch said. “It’s always fun to learn about other people’s talents and passions.”

Friendly Persuasions, a dating feature in The MidWeek, was popular in the 1970s.

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MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY | October 2017

Some of the best of ‘Looking Back’ The Looking Back feature has been running in The MidWeek since 2010. Here are some highlights of the column’s past seven years.

120 YEARS AGO

A farmer living west of DeKalb lost a number of fine hogs by mixing carbolic acid in their feed as a preventative of cholera. This remedy was recommended to him as an invaluable treatment for the disease, but it was not until too late that he discovered the effect of the poisonous drug. – 2010 column A “girl” living not far from this city, of rather ancient appearance, was asked why she did not marry. Her reply is practical, if it is anything. She said, “I have some money of my own, have a parrot that can swear and a monkey that chews. What need have I of a husband?”

See LOOKING BACK, page 20

Photo provided

This photo from 1987 shows the press room at Castle Communications where The MidWeek was once printed.

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• LOOKING BACK

its side in the west limits of Sycamore on the Great Western road. The engineer Continued from page 19 and firemen leaped to safety and were Can anyone answer this sensible female? not seriously injured. – 2011 column – 2010 column Improvements are being made in the Pierce building, a modern structure and DeKalb seems to be long on glove and mitten shops. There are no less than four Sycamore’s largest and best office and store building. An electric passenger institutions of this kind in operations in elevator will be installed to run to the the city at present. – 2011 column third floor. – 2012 column The Gurler Bros. have begun a new creamery at Shabbona, which will make That handsome new auto fire engine, them six in this county. – 2011 column the pride of DeKalb, which cost $7,000 only a short time ago, is a mass of junk as 100 YEARS AGO Just to see how much oil a barrel really the result of a thrilling accident Tuesday contained, an employee at the Holcomb forenoon. – 2013 column Brothers yards struck a match and held Police officers responded to a report it into the head of the barrel yesterday.

There was an explosion which was heard that a crazy man was wandering about a block away, and flames were scattered the fields, jabbing some instrument into the earth and examining it. People of the around. No one was hurt and but little neighborhood had gathered at a safe damage was done. – 2010 column distance to watch. It was later revealed the state soil survey had begun. – 2014 Women have, on the average, larger column feet than their mothers and grandmothers. Size 2 ½, which was fairly The Sycamore bank received a check common 30 years ago, is not stocked against it which had gone through the now, the average size today being 5. – Federal Reserve System and which was 2011 column written on birch bark. It was a handsome A big “hog” locomotive ran the track, check, too. It was drawn by Dr. O. H. fell down the embankment and lies on Smith of Sycamore at his shack twenty

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75 YEARS AGO

Some “believe it or not” concerning Fourth Street. Suppose you were standing where Fourth Street crosses Lincoln Highway downtown and somebody asked you in which direction was due west. Would you point down the railroad tracks or down the highway?

In either case you would be wrong. You see, Fourth Street does not run due north at all, except for a few hundred yards where it enters to the town on the south side. And oddly enough just in front of the home of the chief of police is where the beautiful thoroughfare suddenly goes crooked, or by way of modification, let us say, on a bender. That’s why the map of DeKalb looks like someone laid a heavy hand on it, after it had been pieced together in a jigsaw fashion and gave the thing a violent twist that threw it out of proportion. – 2010 column Months of construction and planning climaxed as DeKalb’s new concrete swimming pool and equipment were officially opened to the public. – 2011 column The first of the model homes to be built

by the Sycamore “Own-Your-Own-Home” Corporation as a civic enterprise to give an impetus to home owning was placed on the market for sale today. The dwelling, on Archie Place just west of Center Cross Street, is a bungalow of five rooms to be sold for $3,450. – 2012 column A two-headed calf born on the Lamont farm near Kirkland, which died the same day, has been given to Northern Illinois State Teachers College for preservation.

After the taxidermist is through, the calf will be placed in the college museum. – 2014 column A Norwegian woman has come to the U.S. to study fashion so she can take the styles back to her native land. What a terrific shock Norway is in for! – 2014 column Arrangements were completed this week for the title to the land for the pedestrian underpass at Hopkins Park beneath the Sycamore-DeKalb road now under construction. The piece of land is 223 feet long and 10 feet wide and it has been deeded to the state for the sum of $600, the owner willing to overlook a large share of the damage to his See LOOKING BACK, page 21

• LOOKING BACK

Rowland Matteson will close the shop at the end of this month. – 2011 column

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property and sacrifice the cost so that the underpass would be possible. – 2016 column

The pet cemetery of Fairview Memorial Gardens in DeKalb was dedicated Saturday. Besides family pets, also buried in the summer are two police dogs and a seeing-eye dog. – 2011 column

MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY | October 2017

Continued from page 20

50 YEARS AGO

Floyd Cline of Fairdale glanced out his window Monday and was startled to see a monkey chasing several screaming girls. Cline dashed to the rescue and captured the little rascal, which bit Cline in the fingers and the hand. – 2011 column The Indian Trail tree in Lloyd’s woods north of Sycamore was destroyed by fire late last week. Evidence is clear the wilderness marker was deliberately destroyed. Fire was set in one of the openings of the old tree. – 2012 column

All of the cedar siding around Clinton Rosette Middle School is being removed and replaced with a two-tone beige cement siding resembling stucco. The 12-year-old building had never been insulated and the nails in the siding were popping off and boards were falling, posing a potential hazard. – 2012 column

Cornelia the Cow will be turned loose at this year’s Corn Fest in a pasture marked off in squares. Squares can be purchased begun to prepare for the second annual there were plenty of out-of-door enthusi- by those wishing to hit the jackpot.

Halloween Pumpkin Festival in Sycamore. asts there to take advantage of the ice on Cornelia will decide the winner dependThey are threatening a “hideous face the pond. Cold of the past few days had John “Jake the Barber” Factor, who is ing on which square she fertilizes. – 2012 provided a firm foundation of ice which acquainted with the local area by reason contest.” – 2013 column column permitted snow clearing operations on of his stay at the DeKalb County jail in 1933, and who has been in and out of var- ZIP code, the Post Office Department’s the lake and skaters were out to enjoy Officials investigating the March 21 helirevolutionary new system of improved the sport. – 2016 column ious courts over the past 30 years, may copter crash at Huber Park have verified mail dispatch and delivery, goes into be entering the final phase of his “law” that engine failure caused the accident, 25 YEARS AGO career, Uncle Sam wants to deport him to effect July 1. – 2013 column which injured two men. – 2014 column For the first time in 73 years, there his native England. – 2012 column Skating on the Northern Illinois Univer- soon will not be a Rendell Jewelers in – Compiled by the Joiner History Room, sity lagoon became legal on Sunday and downtown DeKalb. Owners Lucille and Walter Thurow reports the Lions have DeKalb County Archives.

MidWeek photo

This photo of a DeKalb sidewalk sale ran in the Citizen’s Shopper on July 27, 1967.

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Connecting businesses, community for 50 years come to the fore – businesses such as Delano’s Home Decorating, Glidden hen he first launched Campus Florist and the his free weekly pubSycamore Speedway. lication in 1967, Fred Tom Inboden, owner Baker had to convince the of Inboden’s Meat Market local business community in DeKalb, said his father there was a market for it. bought ads in the paper When he approached the back in 1967; Inboden’s local Jewel store, he said, continues to advertise in the manager told him no The MidWeek today. one would read the paper, so As a subscription-free there was no point advertispaper, The MidWeek has ing in it. always been dependent on “I said, ‘Let’s do an experits advertisers to keep it in iment. Let’s put in an ad for business. Local businesses, a bag of potato chips at half in their turn, depend on The off,’” Baker recalled. “He MidWeek to reach their said, ‘I can’t do that! I’d go customers, said Matt Duffy, broke!’ And I said, ‘If no one’s executive director of the reading the paper, what do DeKalb Chamber of Comyou have to lose?’” merce.

Baker later signed Jewel’s “Advertisers know the Some advertisers have been corporate headquarters to an stacks of MidWeeks at locathe e sinc with The MidWeek advertising contract and the tions around town go quickearly days. grocery chain became one of ly because people get used the paper’s staple advertisto going back to it every ers. Flip through the pages of those early week,” Duffy said. “The MidWeek reaches a editions and other longtime advertisers also different audience than media like radio or

By DANA HERRA For The MidWeek

W

We are one community.

the daily paper or online.”

Karen Pletsch, publisher of The MidWeek, said Shaw Media, which owns more than three dozen publications across Illinois and Iowa, continues to see The MidWeek as “an integral part of our product portfolio.”

Duffy said the paper also provides a valuable channel to connect the business community with the community at large by publishing news like ribbon cuttings and new business profiles.

“Business professionals are members of the local community, too,” he said. “They’re involved in things like scouting and sponsoring sports teams, and The MidWeek can recognize those connections.”

Congratulations to The MidWeek on

To be successful, our communities must also be successful. We believe in supporting, giving back, and improving the communities in which we live.

fnbil.com

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Here are prices of items found in ads in the 1967 MidWeek as compared with 2017.

Crisco Oil 1967: 79 cents for 38 ounces (2 cents/ounce) – ad for Tischlers Super Mart 2017: $5.99 for 48 ounces (12 cents/ounce) – ad for Jewel

Motor oil 1967: 99 cents for 5 quarts (19.8 cents/quart) – ad for MidWest Tire-Auto Stores Folgers coffee 2017: $13.99 per gallon ($3.50/quart) – ad for Farm & Fleet 1967: $1.99 for three pounds (66 cents/pound) – ad for Spot-Lite Food Mart Flat wall paint 2017: $6.99 for 30.5 ounces ($3.68/pound) – ad for 1967: $2.67 a gallon – ad for Woolco Schnucks 2017: $18.99 to $35.98 a gallon – ad for Menards Three-bedroom ranch home in DeKalb Dinner 1967: $25,000 1967: Chicken dinner for 79 cents – ad for Dairy Isle 2017: $129,900 2017: Half-slab of ribs for $11.99 – ad for Tom & Jerry’s Bacon 1967: 59 cents a pound – ad for Brown’s supermarket 2017: $5.99 a pound – ad for Hy-Vee

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MIDWEEK 50TH ANNIVERSARY | October 2017

Comparison shopping

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