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DeKalb District 428 names new administrator for elementary education
Anthony Jones next teaching and learning director for elementary
By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com
Anthony Jones is DeKalb School District 428’s pick for its next teaching and learning director for elementary, the district announced this week.
With the board’s approval on March 3, Jones will take over a role currently assumed by the district’s incoming superintendent, Billy Hueramo. Hueramo was tapped for the promotion in January following an independent search to find another top education official.
Jones’s first day on the job will be July 1, according to a Thursday news release.
Hueramo lauded the district’s selection.
“Dr. Jones is an experienced educator and instructional leader committed to academic excellence,” Hueramo said in a
news release. “We’re excited to welcome Dr. Jones and continue our commitment to ensure every student has access to high-quality learning opportunities.”
As a veteran education official of more than 15 years, district leaders said Jones will provide building and district leadership. He’s held a variety of education positions in his career, including as a director, interim principal, assistant principal and equity leader.
In his new role, Jones will be responsible for providing leadership, coordination and facilitation in the development and implementation of teaching and learning programs for Kindergarten through fifth-grade students.
Jones expressed excitement about the new opportunity.
“It’s clear that the district is committed to providing and supporting a rigorous and meaningful curriculum that meets the diverse needs of its students,” Jones said in a news release. “I’m excited
to use my experiences to continue advancing academic excellence, equity, and strong community partnerships to advance the mission of this dynamic district.”
As Director of Laboratory School for Illinois State University, Jones’ work included strategic planning efforts, support for improvements in teacher compensation, and oversight of major facility upgrades with a focus on student learning and community partnership, according to a news release.
Officials said he’s also leaned into equity throughout his career, prioritizing the review of policies and practices affecting student success by working to remove barriers to ensure that all learners feel supported and challenged.
Jones holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Iowa State University. He also earned a master’s in education from Milligan College in Tennessee and a bachelor’s in exercise and sports science from Iowa State University.
When he’s not working, Jones enjoys spending time with his family and being involved in the community, according to a news release.
ON THE COVER
Doug Roberts speaks after being recognized as the recipient of the Clifford Danielson Outstanding Citizen Award on March 5 during the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting.
See story, page 6.
CORRECTIONS
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
Anthony Jones
DeKalb plans on making improvements to bridges, street conditions
over the Union Pacific Railroad, Taylor Street over the Kishwaukee River, Annie Glidden Road over an unnamed tributary, Annie Glidden Road over Watson Creek, and Devonaire Parkway over a detention pond.
By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com
The city of DeKalb could be looking to establish a long-range plan to help guide improvements to bridges and culverts.
It all comes to a head as city staff work to index street conditions, a process meant to help better plan for what streets to prioritize in another street maintenance program, expected to be considered by officials this fall.
The city’s current street maintenance plan is in its fifth and final program year and was established in 2022, city documents show.
City Engineer John Laskowski said the city’s bridges and culverts are in a good state overall, in his view.
“They’re safe for the public to be traveling over, and that’s the main concern that I have is just making sure that we have safe bridges,” Laskowski said.
There are 10 bridges and culverts in DeKalb city limits requiring regular federal inspections. They include those at Bethany Road over the Kishwaukee River, Fairview Road over the Kishwaukee River, North First Street over the Kishwaukee River, Hillcrest Drive over the Kishwaukee River, Lucinda Avenue over the Kishwaukee River, Peace Road
Laskowski pointed to how DeKalb’s bridges and culverts differentiate themselves from the infrastructure noted in other municipalities where he’s worked in the past.
He previously had stints working for the city of Sycamore and the villages of North Aurora and Hinsdale. He was reintroduced by the city of DeKalb as a new hire in October 2025.
None of these communities had bridges big enough to be regulated by National Bridge Inspection Standards, he said.
“Having to because these requirements are in place, I think the city’s well-positioned to continue to maintain their bridges at a high standard because we do get these reports every two years,” Laskowski said.
Of the city’s bridges and culverts, there was only one structure reported in poor condition as part of its most recent inspection, a report shows. That is the culvert at Annie Glidden Road over Watson Creek.
The rest of the city’s bridges and culverts were reported in excellent, very good, good or satisfactory conditions, according to documents released by the city in a public records request.
Kelsey Rettke file photo
A car travels across the Lucinda Avenue bridge near Northern Illinois University campus in DeKalb on a rainy Sunday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2024. The traffic detour also has been lifted.
New scholarship honors late Sycamore resident Ryan ‘Vern’ Hill
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
A new scholarship fund has been set up to honor the memory of Sycamore resident Ryan Charles “Vern” Hill.
Created by the Hill family, the scholarship honors the heart, humor and community spirit of Hill, a lifelong Sycamore resident whose warmth and loyalty left a lasting impact on all who knew him.
“Ryan had a way of making everyone feel included,” Hill’s family said in a news release. “He believed in showing up for teammates, for friends, for neighbors, for his girls. If a kid reminded you of Ryan, you didn’t describe their grades or stats. You described their heart.”
The scholarship’s criteria reflect that same spirit. It will recognize a student who demonstrates kindness, inclusivity, humility, quiet grit and the ability to make others feel like they belong, whether on a field, a stage, at work or in the hallway.
The Ryan Charles Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund is administered through the DeKalb County Commu -
Faranda’s
Brunch
nity Foundation.
The scholarship will be awarded each spring to a Sycamore High School senior who “shows up, includes others, laughs easily, and makes every space feel a little more like home,” according to the release.
A 1991 graduate of Sycamore High School, Hill was the kind of person who could turn a dugout, garage or backyard fire pit into the center of the universe. He was a three-sport athlete, a loyal friend and a lifelong believer in community – the kind built by hand and heart, one joke and one favor at a time.
“Ryan was also known for his enormous hands, unwavering devotion to the White Sox, ever-changing sixmonth hobbies, and his ability to win people over simply by being himself,” according to the release. “Ryan didn’t just belong to his family; he belonged to everyone who knew him.”
Friends, family, neighbors and community members rallied around the Hill family to build the scholarship following Hill’s September 2025 death. The scholarship will be awarded in perpetuity.
The first scholarship recipient will be announced during the Sycamore High School Awards Night this spring.
“We are deeply honored to be entrusted with just one part of Ryan’s amazing legacy through this endowed Fund that will help Sycamore High School graduates achieve their career and life goals,” Foundation executive director Dan Templin said in the news release.
Donations to the scholarship fund can be made online at dekalbccf.org/ donate, by mail to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, or in person at the Foundation office.
For questions or to learn more about creating a charitable fund in memory of a loved one, contact the Foundation at 815-748-5383 or dan@ dekalbccf.org.
Photo provided by the DeKalb County Community Foundation Ryan “Vern” Hill and his family are seen.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Illinois Extension’s chronic pain management webinar series
The University of Illinois Extension will offer a six week “Take Charge of Your Pain” webinar series for community members ages 18 and older with chronic pain to better understand symptoms and build chronic pain management skills.
The free webinars will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. March 12, 19 and 26 and April 2 and 9 online.
Attendees will learn about medication management, pain relief techniques, nutrition and physical activity. Participants also can receive shared support and guidance to promote healthier daily routines and strengthen confidence.
Registration is required. To register, visit go.illinois.edu/PainManagement. Early accommodation requests for access needs are encouraged. To make a request, email rridgley@Illinois.edu. For informa-
• IMPROVEMENTS
Continued from page 3
The city has a plan in place for the culvert at Annie Glidden Road over Watson Creek to help address the issues noted in a 2024 inspection report, officials said.
Laskowski said the city is eying a project to resurface Annie Glidden Road, from Lincoln Highway north past Dresser Road to the DeKalb County health complex, in 2028.
“At that time, when they’re resurfacing that roadway, that’s going to help improve the condition of that bridge because they’re going to eliminate all those potholes and prevent the water from continuing to get in there,” he said. “And that’s also going to give us a chance to evaluate that bridge when we’re doing that project.”
That project could carry a $2.9 million price tag, officials said.
The improvements are expected to be paid out of federal funding allocated toward the metropolitan planning organization, DeKalb-Sycamore Area Transportation Study. Dollars would be matched at 80%/20% by the city of DeKalb.
Laskowski said he believes good maintenance practices will be key to any bridge or culvert, regardless of the topography and any challenges it may pose.
“I think of it as the bridge always being at the low points of the topography because usually where you have a bridge
tion, email rridgley@Illinois.edu.
Learn about immunization, health care enrollment with DeKalb County Health Department
The DeKalb Public Library will host a DeKalb County Health Department booth for community member to learn about health services available in the area.
The free booth will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 17 in the library’s main lobby, 309 Oak St.
The booth features information about immunization, WIC and healthcare enrollment for special enrollment periods. The booth also will include new program services and focus on nationally recognized observances. No registration is required.
For information, email leahh@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2112.
–Shaw Local News Network
is when you’re crossing a river,” Laskowski said. “I think topography contributes to the placement of where the bridges are located, but I’m not necessarily sure that it has a huge impact on the condition of the bridges.”
Bridges tend to let water collect on the surface of roadways, which Laskowski said is important to watch out for.
When water settles along a roadway, for example, it can lead to the creation of potholes, he said.
“It’s really important to try to drain the roads properly,” Laskowski said. “...
There’s a natural crown in the road, or a slope, so that when the rainwater hits the center of the pavement, it slopes off into the gutter. And it’s collected there on bridges. So, it’s really important that there’s some topography to the bridge to get that water to drain off the bridge, so it’s not just settling there.”
City staff said they anticipate new inspection data in December, assessing the condition of the bridges and culverts in city limits.
Typically, the city’s bridges and culverts require inspection every two or four years, depending on how they fare in their lifetime.
Laskowski said he looks forward to seeing how they test.
“We could see if there’s any severe or really big decrease in condition,” he said. “...We’ll be able to repair it immediately. But those reports are helpful because they direct us when we need to plan ahead for future replacements of bridges.”
World of Reading
NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
OLD FASHIONED DRY CURED HAMS FOR EASTER
Sycamore Chamber honors DeKalb County philanthropist
Standing ovation for Tom & Jerry’s and Catering by Diann
By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com
A man who has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to DeKalb County organizations and entities throughout the world was honored during the 109th Sycamore Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
In front of hundreds of business leaders and city officials who gave him a standing ovation inside the St. Mary’s Memorial Hall, Douglas C. Roberts was awarded the 2025 Clifford Danielson Outstanding Citizen Award.
“Sycamore has been good to me,” Roberts, whose family founded DeKalb Ag, said.
Roberts also emphasised that philanthropy doesn’t have to start from a bank account.
“Sycamore is a place that gets things done,” Roberts said. ”Charity doesn’t have to be big dollars. It can be big ideas that start small, or thoughtful ideas that need to be well communicated. And charity is not just about money, it can be about your time, your talents, your expertise.”
He was introduced by DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas, who previously served as city manager in Sycamore for years, and Tom Matya, executive director of Opportunity House. They said Roberts spent years working to bring local nonprofit organizations together.
Matya, who made sure the audience understood that it had taken years to convince Roberts to accept the award, began his introductory speech by saying, “Finally.”
Roberts has donated to charitable efforts locally, nationally and internationally.
Matya said when a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, triggering the Dec. 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami, Roberts provided support to those impacted. Around 230,000 people died because of that catastrophe, The Associated Press reported.
Eight months later, Roberts helped domestically after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. That hurri-
cane was responsible for almost 1,400 deaths and an estimated $200 billion in damage, according to The AP.
“[Roberts] personally toured multiple states, and he provided funding for multiple nonprofits to rebuild themselves,” Matya said. “He did the same thing after the tornadoes in 2011 in Joplin.”
Matya also credited Roberts with helping DeKalb County residents who were left homeless after a 2019 fire at the St. Albans Green apartment complex, 711 S. Main St. in Sycamore.
After an EF-4 Tornado decimated Fairdale in 2015 – killing two Fairdale residents, Geraldine Schultz, 67, and Jacklyn K. Klosa, 69, and injuring 22 others who were in its path – Roberts stepped in to help, Matya said.
Nicklas also spoke about what he said was “Doug’s critical support for the recovery effort for Fairdale in 2015.”
“At that time, literally hundreds of thousands of dollars was needed to construct a community-wide sewer system,” Nicklas said. “There’s a lot more to that story than I will not go into today.”
Roberts comes from a lineage of community philanthropists.
His parents, Charles and Mary Roberts, established the DeKalb County Community Foundation in 1993. That gift
to the community has grown to 475 charitable funds worth more than $75 million in assets.
“That’s kind of a hard act to follow, but I would say over the past 25 years, Doug and his wife Lynn have funded well over a hundred nonprofit organizations with their own funds, which amounted to millions of dollars,” Matya said.
Sycamore Chamber Executive Director RoseMarie Treml said Roberts “is a thoughtful, forward-moving thinker
Andrew Miller, branch manager at Old National Bank, accepts the Outstanding Business Award on behalf of the bank on March 5 during the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting in Memorial Hall at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sycamore.
whose influence can be felt across Sycamore and DeKalb County.”
“He leads with intention, he invests with purpose and he serves not for recognition, but because he believes deeply in the future of this community,” Treml said.
Roberts wasn’t the only person honored at the annual chamber event, however.
Photos by Mark Busch
Doug Roberts, recipient of the Clifford Danielson Outstanding Citizen Award, smiles as he listens to presenters tell stories about him on March 5 during the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting in Memorial Hall at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sycamore.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Children’s Community Theatre to perform ‘High School Musical’ March 14 in DeKalb
The Children’s Community Theatre will hold a performance for residents to see a preview of its upcoming production of “High School Musical” at the DeKalb Public Library.
The free performance will begin at 1 p.m. March 14 in the library’s lower-level Yusunas Meeting Room, 309 Oak St. Attendees can watch the cast perform excerpts from their upcoming “High School Musical” performance.
The performance is the finale of the library’s World of Reading celebration. No registration is required.
For information, email theresaw@dkpl. org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 3350.
World
of Reading event set for March 14 in DeKalb Community members can explore literature during the DeKalb Public Library’s World of Reading event.
The free event will be held from 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. March 14 at the library, 309 Oak St.
Attendees will be able to learn about books through various crafts and activities. The books include “The Hunger Game,” “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Phantom Tollbooth.” No registration is required.
For information, email theresaw@dkpl. org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 3350.
Teen bingo event set for March 11 in DeKalb
The DeKalb Public Library will host a bingo game for teens in sixth through 12th grades.
The free event will be held at 6:30 p.m. March 11 in the library’s Teen Room, 309 Oak St. Attendees will be able to complete to win prizes.
Due to limited space, the event is first-come, first-served.
For information, email yooneks@dkpl. org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2450.
– Shaw Local News Network
DeKalb County Mental Health Board offers 2 new grants for address addiction, recovery
Workshops March 12 to learn more about applications
The DeKalb County Mental Health Board has announced two new programs meant to distribute grant money to area organizations that address addiction and recovery, and crisis care.
The Board announced $325,000 is available for the new Opioid Remediation Settlement Fund Grant Program.
Funded through dollars from county opioid litigation settlements, the program supports local providers delivering treatment, prevention and recovery services to area residents impacted by opioid use disorders and related conditions. Eligible applications must focus on opioid remediation strategies outlined in the Illinois Allocation Agreement. Grants up to $50,000 will be prioritized.
Up to $60,000 is available through the Board’s Collaboration of Equity and Belonging in Behavioral Health (CEBiB) funding. The program provides lower-barrier, capacity-building grants for
grassroots organizations. Three grants up to $20,000 each will be awarded for a 12-month period, prioritizing small, community-based organizations with trusted relationships and innovative approaches to addressing gaps in mental health, wellness and addiction services.
On March 12, the Mental Health Board will host a grant seekers workshop at 9 a.m. at the Community Outreach Building in the Five Seasons Room, 2500 N. Annie Glidden Road, DeKalb. The workshop also offers a virtual attendance option, and will teach participants how to apply for the grants, offer application tips and more information.
At 3 p.m. March 12 in Conference Room West of the Outreach Building, the Board will host a funding workshop specifically for the CEBiB program.
For more information, visit www. dcmhb.org.
Photo provided by the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board
The DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board office
LOOKING BACK
1926 – 100 YEARS AGO
Members of the Board of Local Improvements of the city of DeKalb have not as of yet decided as to what type of pavement will be selected for the southwest side. This improvement includes the work to be done on Eleventh, Seventh, Haish Avenue, Pearl, Garden, Roosevelt, Gurler, Leonard, Newton and Bush streets. The board held a meeting last evening at the city hall, but it is understood that nothing was accomplished because of the divided opinion of the members as to the type of pavement that shall be placed on these streets.
H. B. Fargo of Sycamore, accompanied by Mrs. Fargo, were principals in an auto accident on the DeKalb Road yesterday afternoon, but fortunately, neither was injured, as far as could be ascertained today. The Fargos’ were enroute to Sycamore in the Packard, and just after crossing the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul crossing the car skidded. Before Mr. Fargo, who was driving, could bring the heavy car to a stop, it had slid into the ditch, breaking a front wheel.
Workmen of the North Western railroad today began making some necessary repairs on the crossing at Fourth Street and Lincoln Highway, removing some of the chuck holes. A mixture of asphalt and gravel is used between the rails at this crossing which has been found to be far more effective than the old plan of timbers.
An interesting sight was that at the location of the new hotel in Sycamore yesterday afternoon when Geoge Dutton, W. F. Pagel and T. J. Ronin, with their coats off, sleeves rolled, were hard at work with shovels assisting in removing the first load of dirt from the site of the new hotel. The men did not make any pretensions of doing the work other than to get the kick out of it, and at the same time, with the satisfaction that they assisted in starting one of the best things that the Chamber of Commerce has accomplished in years.
1951 – 75 YEARS AGO
The barn on the Stella Laskey premises in Kirkland has been purchased by Robert
day night or Tuesday morning.
The Wurlitzer Co. will relocate its worldwide headquarters on the 70-acre campus of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in DeKalb. A tentative agreement has been reached whereby Wurlitzer will purchase buildings and grounds of the former novitiate. The 130,000-squarefoot, five building complex, completed in 1967, is located just south of the DeKalb exit from the East-West Tollway.
The official word on who will be teaching in DeKalb schools next year will be handed down tonight by the DeKalb Board of Education. Approximately 21 certified staff positions would have to be eliminated under the “most stringent” of staffing patterns.
2001 – 25 YEARS AGO
Whitsell and is being torn down. The lumber will be used for building a garage when the Whitsell’s start a new home in the south part of town this spring.
The first scrap paper drive of the year will be conducted tomorrow by the combined Boy Scout troops of Sycamore, with collections scheduled to begin at 9 o’clock and continue through the day. Scouts of Troops Two and 16 and Explorer Troop 316 will canvass the city in trucks for scrap paper, which persons wishing to cooperate in the drive are asked to leave on the curb tied in bundles. Rural area residents with paper they wish to donate can have the scarce material picked up by calling Sycamore 4022 and leaving their name and address.
The Chicago Great Western Railroad freight depot in Sycamore, located on the future site of the new passenger freight building, has been sold to Edward Hoffman, Sycamore contractor, officials announced this week. Hoffman plans to move the building to a lot adjoining his property at the corner of May and Exchange Streets, putting it into use as a material warehouse. Work on the new depot, to be constructed at a total cost of $20,000, is expected to begin as soon as the location can be readied, probably
around the last of March.
One of the largest subdivisions in the history of DeKalb has been announced by John W. Tilton, Rochelle businessman and it is expected that construction work will be started sometime this spring. The land that will be turned into Tilton Park was recently purchased from John Ellwood and is located to the north of the DeKalb Township High School and on the north and west side of the Kishwaukee Riber.
1976 – 50 YEARS AGO
Alabama Gov. George Wallace is expected to speak in DeKalb Saturday on the campus of Northern Illinois University. Wallace, a Democratic Presidential candidate, will address a 4 p.m. rally in Sandburg Auditorium.
Authorities at the National Center for Disease Control may recommend that the federal government make a flu vaccine available to the public free of charge to protect the nation from a possible major epidemic next fall.
The burglary of Juicy John Pink’s art center and restaurant, 134 ½ E. Lincoln Hwy., was reported to DeKalb police. An employee told the police approximately $489 in cash and an antique wall clock, valued at $100, were taken either Mon-
The Salvation Army Thrift Store in DeKalb city’s downtown will close, according to a Salvation Army official. It is not known when the store’s final day of business would be or whether employees and merchandise would be transferred to the organizations second DeKalb store on Sycamore Road.
The DeKalb Public Library will install a new fire alarm system in April to replace the old system, which was damaged during an electrical storm in September.
The mood of downtown Sycamore is a combination of uncertainty and optimism as the summer’s construction work draws closer. With work beginning May 1, sidewalk will be torn down and replaced. Route 64 will be repaved and businesses will deal with a second straight year of construction through the State Street corridor.
The DeKalb School District’s Finance and Facilities Advisory Committee is considering a new $29.6 million plan that would keep Clinton Rosette as a middle school. The plan, a revision of an earlier proposal, calls for construction of a new 1,000-student middle school to house grades 7 and 8. Fifth and 6th grades would be divided between Huntley and Clinton Rosette middle schools.
– Compiled by Sue Breese
Photo provided by the DeKalb County History Center Archives Looking northwest at DeKalb Medical Center on First Street, just south of what is now Hillcrest Drive, September 1957.
America250 DeKalb committee seeks public participants for events
Local event lineup to mark country’s 250th
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The city of DeKalb is encouraging community members to participate in what officials are calling America250 DeKalb, a yearlong celebration meant to build unity and reconnect with the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.
The celebration is part of statewide and national initiatives created to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The city intends to honor the anniversary through a series of inclusive, educational and community-focused events.
“This is more than a celebration,” Mayor Cohen Barnes said in a news release.
Barnes also is chairing DeKalb’s America250 committee.
“It’s a once-in-a-generation chance to remind ourselves that we are united as Americans by the ideals first set
down in the Declaration of Independence: that we are one people, equal in dignity, and bound together by a shared commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” he said. “In a time of political division, we will remember this as we encourage unity, pride and patriotism.”
America250 DeKalb activities include:
• Fireworks: The city of DeKalb and DeKalb Park District will expand its annual Hopkins Park Fourth of July fireworks display.
• Pause for Patriotism : 2026 DeKalb City Council meetings begin with a presentation on a person or event embodying the American spirit.
• Public art : The DeKalb City Council approved two downtown projects in January. The projects include a new Lincoln Highway mural and lighting installation in the pedestrian passthrough.
• Beautification : New American flag-themed banners, litter pickups, and red, white and blue flowers will be displayed ahead of July 4.
Representatives from more than
The city of DeKalb is encouraging community members to participate in what officials are calling America250 DeKalb, a yearlong celebration meant to build unity and reconnect with the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.
two dozen DeKalb-area organizations have met monthly since September to plan semiquincentennial activities.
• The DeKalb Public Library scheduled six months of America250 programs. The program schedule’s second part will be released in the coming months.
• DeKalb Township intends to plant 250 community trees.
• The DeKalb American Legion is encouraging community members to donate 250 gallons of blood for those in need.
• The DeKalb Rotary and DeKalb Public Library will hold a bike decorating contest and patriotic story readings at 10 a.m. May 23 at Rotary Park, 1504 State St.
• The DeKalb Moose Lodge will offer military veterans a free breakfast each third Sunday of the month. The breakfast runs through 2026.
Businesses, organizations, residents, neighbors and nonprofits may organize anniversary events. Event invitations can be created through the America250 DeKalb’s website calendar form. Community members can submit party or flag photos through the website’s celebrations page.
“This is our moment to show what it means to be an American and proud member of the DeKalb community,” Barnes said. “We invite everyone, regardless of political affiliation, to join us in celebrating the values that bind us together.”
For information, visit onedekalb. org.
Mark Busch
Indian Valley Theatre accepting Mimi Bryan Memorial Scholarship applications
Deadline to apply for this scholarship is March 30
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Indian Valley Theatre is accepting applications for its annual IVT Mimi Bryan Memorial Scholarship for Sandwich-area graduating high school seniors.
The scholarship will be awarded to graduating, college-bound seniors from Sandwich or the surrounding communities in April or May.
Applicants are not required to have a fine or performance arts major or minor and do not need to have experience participating in theater activities.
Special consideration is being
given to applicants who participated in the fine arts, including Illinois Valley Theatre productions, and are interested in receiving further fine arts field education.
The applications will be reviewed by the theater’s board of directors scholarship review committee.
The application deadline is March 30.
To apply, visit a high school guidance counselor, email pressindianvalleytheatre@gmail.com or visit indianvalleytheatre.com.
The Indian Valley Theatre is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the appreciation and development of the performing arts in the Fox Valley area.
To donate to the IVT Mimi Bryan Memorial Scholarship, email pressindianvalleytheatre@gmail.com.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Somonauk church to serve annual dinner March 14
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church will hold its 87th annual corned beef and cabbage dinner for residents to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The dinner costs $20 and will be served from 4 to 6 p.m. March 14 in the church’s parish center, 130 W. LaSalle St., Somonauk. The dinner includes corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and pie. The dinner will be available for drive-thru or dine-in.
DeKalb library to hold origami program March 12
Adults and teens can learn about the world of origami and kirigami during a program the DeKalb Public Library. The free program will begin at 5 p.m. March 12 in the library’s 309 Creative makerspace, 309 Oak St. Participants can create various folded and cut five-pointed stars. For information, email annas@dkpl. org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2851.
–ShawLocalNewsNetwork
• PHILANTHROPIST
Continued from page 6
Tom & Jerry’s to reopen at new spot Saturday
Sarah Meyer, married couple Diann Beaulieu and Tom Beaulieu, and Josh Osenga – the people behind Tom & Jerry’s and Catering by Diann – received a standing ovation.
They catered the annual event five weeks after the building that housed their longtime businesses at 1670 DeKalb Ave. was destroyed by fire on Jan. 31.
Treml drew attention to their work at the end of the chamber event, prompting hundreds to stand and applaud Meyer, Diann Beaulieu and Tom Beaulieu and Josh Osenga, bringing them to tears.
Tom & Jerry’s will reopen in a temporary location at 11 a.m. on March 7 at 265 W. Peace Road.
“You are moving forward with resilience, heart, and the same commitment you have always shown us,” Treml said.
Other businesses honored
Other business owners and community leaders also were honored by the Chamber.
Nicole Patterson of Resource Bank and Country Financial’s Chris Patterson were honored as the joint winners of the Chamber Champion award. The award is given to a chamber member who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the success of the chamber and the broader community.
“I’m very rarely at a loss for words, but I was truly speechless when Rose and Ashlee called to tell me I had been selected as a Sycamore Chamber Cham-
pion this year,” Nicole Patterson said.
Sycamore Orthodontics & Pediatric Denistry was named the winner of the Sycamore Chamber’s Spirit of Small Business award. Heather Martines and Sarah Buie said they were honored to accept the award on behalf of their employer.
“As a family-owned practice, this community isn’t just where we work: it’s home,” Matines said. “We are raising our families here, supporting other local businesses here, and caring for the child and families who trust us every single day.”
Old National Bank won the Outstanding Business Award, which is given to a Sycamore Chamber business that exemplifies integrity, leadership and longterm commitment to the community.
Andrew Miller, branch manager for the downtown Sycamore’s location, accepted the award.
“Even in a large organization, we still have the heart of a community bank, and we’re proud of the inclusive culture that brings out our best,” Miller said.
Chris Mayer and Windows Distillery won the Chamber’s Community Diamond Award. That award is given to a chamber member who recently invested and improved their business in a way that reflects a meaningful commitment to the Sycamore community.
He said that Windows Distillery will open a tasting room in Sycamore in 2026, but didn’t give an opening date.
“That is going to happen, and we look forward to everyone being there,” Mayer said. “If you haven’t tried our whiskey yet, don’t worry, we’ll fix that soon. I wanted to bring it here today, but you know, liquor laws.”
NORTHERN ILLINOIS CARRY
Photos by Mark Busch
Chris Mayer (right), founder and owner of Windows Distillery, is introduced as the winner of the Community Diamond Award on March 5 during the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting in Memorial Hall at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sycamore.
Sycamore Chamber celebrates Northern Illinois Dance Center’s new location
Photo provided by Sycamore Chamber of Commerce
Activists call on residents to join ‘No Kings’ protest
Organizers plan event for March 28 to protest federal immigration policies
By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com
Groups of local activists will take to the streets this month in a display of solidarity to mark the latest “No Kings” protest featuring music, food, a march and more, according to a news release.
The demonstration, set for noon on March 28 outside Clinton Rosette Middle School, 650 N. First St., in DeKalb, comes as the nation deals with ongoing actions as the federal government carries out rampant immigration enforcement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. ICE action has been publicly scrutinized by local protesters for months in DeKalb County.
A march is expected to proceed around that time from the middle school’s parking lot and end at Hopkins Park.
Their main message, organizers said, is to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the federal actions of President Donald Trump and his administration. Organizers said they want to remind the public that in the U.S., power comes from the people.
Critics argue that Trump has the authority to make good on his immigration enforcement policies.
Meryl Domina of 350Kishwaukee said she takes issue with the federal government’s approach to immigration enforcement.
“While normally some level of customs enforcement is needed, it is currently out-of-control as ICE agents, accompanied by the National Guard, have been sent to Minnesota and other places around the nation,” Domina said in a news release.
Domina said she also believes that some leaders have lost sight of the nation’s problems.
She said she is concerned that federal cuts to social safety nets have gone too far. She lamented that working people require assistance to buy food and health care because of hourly wages that are too low.
“The United States is a rich enough nation that we should be able to support people who do not have enough money to purchase food or health care for their families,” Domina said in a news release.
Protesters chant and carry signs Jan. 20 as they march west down the sidewalk
America Walkout. Local activists are planning another “No Kings” rally for March 28.
“Often, people who are not working have had multiple problems over their lives that interfere with stable employment.”
The nation’s longest government shutdown in history last year called on the federal government to help fund subsidies needed to help keep healthcare affordable, only for both sides of the aisle to fall short of that aim, multiple reports show. Since then, critics have questioned what’s being done to address their concerns.
DeKalb Migrant Aid lead coordinator Frankie DiCiaccio encourages everyone to get involved.
He said some ideas are for people to attend a “Know Your Rights” training, follow social media pages for what organizers have called “rapid response” teams – operating in DeKalb, Kane and other suburban counties – that track potential ICE movement.
DiCiaccio also recommends joining a local vigil or protest, contacting elected officials, attending public meetings, helping fundraise and supporting immigrant neighbors in need.
“[L]isten and attune to the wishes and needs of immigrant leaders and community members; spread love, build solidarity, and practice hope,” DiCiaccio
said in a news release.
Veronica Garcia Martinez said the federal government’s push to police immigrants has been felt by many.
Garcia Martinez is a Democratic candidate vying for the seat of State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore. She argued that federal immigration action is leading to racial profiling and persecution of Latino communities.
She said that has long-term negative impacts on children.
“Children are being chased, mocked and tormented in the streets simply for standing up and making their voices heard,” Garcia Martinez said in the release. “The trauma they are living through is not abstract; it is shaping their childhoods and their sense of safety.”
DeKalb County Democratic Chairperson Anna Wilhelmi expressed a sense of urgency for people to act.
“This administration has expressed the desire to purge ‘criminals’ from this country and yet have recklessly and brutally arrested US citizens,” Wilhelmi said, “people who have never committed a crime, people who are legal with authority to be in this country, people who are indigenous to this nation, and are threatening birthright citizenship
for Americans, including Black Americans whose roots are deep in these native lands.”
A recent demonstration, interrupting a church service in Minneapolis, saw two prominent independent Black journalists, Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, among those arrested and charged with federal civil rights crimes, multiple reports show. Both have since been released.
Among those expected to participate in the March 28 protest are local activists from the League of Women Voters of DeKalb County, DeKalb County Democrats, 350Kishwaukee, DeKalb Migrant Aid, DeKalb Rapid Response Team and Emerging Issues.
The demonstration is open to the public. Organizers said they encourage anyone to join in.
REACT Chairperson Cynthia DeSiefe said holding leaders accountable is important.
“The American people recognize the abuses of this administration and the threat to our rights and freedoms it represents, and we need a place to gather peacefully to exercise our First Amendment right to express our disagreement with this administration,” DeSiefe said in a news release.
Mark Busch file photo
on Lincoln Highway in DeKalb as part of a larger national Free
Widow of NIU alum killed in Henry Pratt shooting donates food to Aurora community
Honoring shooting victim through support of free public fridges, pantries
By KELSEY RETTKE krettke@shawmedia.com
The widow of Northern Illinois University alum Clayton Parks, who was killed in a 2019 shooting at Henry Pratt Co. in Aurora, hosted a food drive recently in his honor.
Abby Parks marked what was dubbed Clayton Parks Day on Feb. 26, named in her husband’s memory.
She mobilized family members and friends to refill two Aurora-area community fridges with food, according to a news release.
Fridge project spokesman David Cannon said Abby Parks and other volunteers filled fridges that are placed outside at Fresh Start City Church, 10 S. Lancaster Ave. and at Jo-Ana’s Salon, 374 High St.
“We are deeply grateful for this beautiful act of remembrance and generosity,” Cannon said. “We invite everyone to be part of this ongoing effort, either with food or funds or labor.”
The community fridges are outdoor refrigerators and pantries, accessible 24/7, 365 days a year, that offer free food to anyone in need – no questions asked, Cannon said in the release.
Cannon said the motto is: Give what you can, take what you need.
Clayton Parks, 32, a 2014 NIU grad from Elgin, was fatally shot by a Henry Pratt employee while at work on Feb. 15, 2019. Clayton was the plant’s HR manager.
Clayton, NIU senior 21-year-old Trevor Wehner of Sheridan, and three of their coworkers – Russell Beyer of Yorkville, Vicente Juarez of Oswego and Josh Pinkard of Aurora – were
killed in the shooting.
Wehner was on his first day of an internship at the plant.
He’d expected to graduate that spring.
Five Aurora police officers also were wounded in the shooting.
Clayton Parks was remembered as a family man, an avid Chicago sports fan and someone whose smile and laugh “were contagious,” according to his obituary.
His son was a baby at the time of Clayton’s death.
Wehner’s loved ones remembered him for his love of baseball and games like Magic, League of Legends and World of Warcraft, according to his obituary.
“He never met a stranger,” and had a smile “that would light up the room,” loved ones wrote.
Pinkard was also remembered for his love of family and as a father and husband.
Loved ones mentioned his leadership skills, and “infectious laugh,” writing in his obituary that “there was no person he met whose life he didn’t touch.”
Beyer worked at Henry Pratt Co. for more than 25 years and was a union shop chairman, according to his obituary.
A father and husband, he was remembered as “a fun, love gentle giant of a guy, who was friends with everyone.”
Juarez was a forklift operator at Henry Pratt Co., had a passion for working on cars with his sons, and was married to the love of his life of 38 years, according to his obituary.
He was “a hardworking, responsible and loving husband, father and grandfather.”
Photo provided by Allan F. Benson
The widow of Northern Illinois University alum Clayton Parks, who was killed in a 2019 shooting at Henry Pratt Co. in Aurora, hosted a food drive recently in his honor. Abby Parks (shown) marked Clayton Parks Day on Feb. 26, named in her husband’s memory.
Josh Pinkard
Clayton Parks
Trevor Wehner
Opt in to school voucher-style scholarship plan?
Some voters will see question on March 17 primary ballot
By CLAIRE O’BRIEN cobrien@shawmedia.com
Voters in McHenry, Ogle, Lee, Grundy and many other counties throughout the state will see a question on their March 17 primary election ballots asking if Illinois should opt into a voucher-style federal scholarship program that would give donors a tax credit.
The ballot question is nonbinding, meaning it’s only asking voters to offer their yes or no opinion, but it won’t result in any direct change.
The effort to get the federal scholarship question on the ballot around the state has been led by Illinois Policy, the Illinois Policy Institute’s nonpartisan advocacy arm, Chalkbeat reported.
What is the federal voucher-type program in question?
The federal program is a type of federal school voucher program enacted as part of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. It will kick in next year.
The way it works is people donate to what are called scholarship-granting organizations, and donors get a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, up to $1,700 per year.
Funds from the program can be used for certain public, private and homeschool expenses for families making up to 300% of their area’s median household income.
But Gov. JB Pritzker would have to decide to opt the state into the program in order for Illinois families to get the tax credits.
A spokesperson for Pritzker did not address whether the governor would be swayed by the referendums.
What backers say
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, a Democrat, expressed support for opting into the program in a recent Chicago Tribune opinion piece. Mendoza is not seeking reelection but has endorsed Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim to succeed her. Kim is one of four Democrats seeking the party’s nomination in
the March 17 primary.
On many of the ballot questions, the tax credit side is omitted, according to Chalkbeat. Illinois Policy did not include the tax credit part in the draft ballot language because tax credit questions are more federal, the news outlet reported.
But many details surrounding the program haven’t been worked out yet. Chalkbeat reported: “It’s unclear, for example, whether the money could be used for tutoring provided by public schools or be restricted to outside tutoring groups.”
The Illinois Policy Institute has come out against legislation that would prevent Illinois from opting into the program. The institute said the program would benefit public and private school students, would not take money away from public schools, would provide additional resources to students with disabilities and would keep Illinois students competitive with other states.
McHenry County Board Chair Mike Buehler, a Republican, is a proponent of the measure and encouraged its placement on the McHenry County ballot.
He told a County Board committee in October that because the program offers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, not a deduction on federal income taxes, it “can save a substantial amount of
income taxes due.”
Buehler said the county is limited in its ability to substantially reduce tax burdens for residents, but the program offers the opportunity for a “very significant reduction in their overall tax burden.”
Although the measure is nonbinding, Buehler said, “What we’ll be doing here is letting our residents voice their opinion, one way or the other, whether they want to participate in the program as a state. And this will let Springfield know our desire to participate or not to opt into the program.”
What critics say
But those against the program are unconvinced that it won’t take funding away from public schools. Students who leave the public school system can take the money with them, NPR reported.
That report said it’s hard to calculate how much the program will cost, but cited the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation’s estimate that the vouchers could result in almost $26 billion in lost federal tax revenue over the next decade.
In McHenry County, the Democratic Party has come out against the initiative. According to the party’s website, the “tax credit of up to $1,700 is much
more generous than the tax deduction for donating to any other type of nonprofit.”
The party also argues that using a scholarship organization to distribute funds to private schools, many of which are religious, is an attempt by school voucher supporters “to cover up the use of tax dollars for religious purposes.”
“Every tax dollar diverted to private and religious schools is a dollar that can’t be used to increase public school funding,” the Democrats say.
The League of Women Voters of Illinois also urged a “no” vote.
Where will this appear on ballots?
About two dozen of the 102 counties in Illinois will have nonbinding questions on primary ballots about the federal scholarship tax credit. Those counties include McHenry, Grundy, Ogle, Lee, Winnebago, Carroll, JoDaviess, Bond, Moultrie, Cumberland, DeWitt, Shelby, Jasper, Wayne, Williamson, Christian, Randolph, Logan, Madison, McDonough, Edgar, Effingham, Coles, Clark and Clay counties, according to state records.
Orland and Palos townships in Cook County and Shields and Cuba townships in Lake County will also be asking their voters about it.
Alex T. Paschal file photo
Voters cast ballots in 2021 in Lee County, one of the Illinois counties that will include a referendum on the ballot asking if the state should adopt a school voucher scholarship plan.
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