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Friday, October 18, 2013
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Targeting distracted driving DeKalb High School participates in Celebrate My Drive initiative
Obama decries budget battles Criticizes GOP as gov’t reopens By DAVID ESPO The Associated Press
Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Junior Cheyenne Nunez scoots herself through an obstacle while texting to demonstrate distracted driving during an assembly Thursday at DeKalb High School. The school could win $100,000 and a free Kelly Clarkson concert, depending on the number of students and community members who pledge to drive safely every day from today through Oct. 26. By ARCADIA KUST
How to pledge
akust@shawmedia.com
D
eKALB – No traffic cone was safe as DeKalb High School students texting and wearing beer goggles tried to weave between them on scooter boards Thursday. To help prevent accidents and fatalities because of distracted driving, students, staff and parents held an all-school assembly to kick off Celebrate My Drive online pledges. Sponsored by State Farm, the initiative encourages anyone
To support DeKalb High School, visit celebratemydrive.com today through Oct. 26. One vote per email address is allowed each day.
age 14 or older to make online commitments from today through Oct. 26 to not drive distractedly. The two high schools that secure the most pledges are eligible to win $100,000 in grant money and an exclusive concert given by
Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of “American Idol.” Runners-up are eligible for a $25,000 grant. More than 3,500 high schools nationwide, including DeKalb, have registered to take part. Winners will be announced Dec. 9. Tricia Maxwell, mother of 16-year-old DeKalb student Avery Maxwell, helped lead the school’s involvement in the program. After receiving an email from State Farm, she contacted Principal Tamra Ropeter and Mark Sykes, the driver’s education teacher, who thought it was a great idea.
“My son turned 16 this past year, and I became really aware of how dangerous distracted driving can be,” Maxwell said. “I reached out to the community, and everyone’s been really supportive.” As a driver’s education teacher and the father of 15-year-old DeKalb student Samantha Sykes, Mark Sykes said he was eager to get involved. “We are sending a message about safe driving,” said Sykes. “You can be killed by driving and
WASHINGTON – In withering day-after criticism, President Barack Obama declared Thursday that the 16-day partial government shutdown was a Republican-provoked spectacle that “encouraged our enemies” around the world. Elsewhere in Washington, and around the country, federal employees simply streamed back to their jobs. National parks reopened. The popular panda cam at the National Zoo came back online. But there was no letup in the political fight. Fresh from a defeat, tea party groups and their allies renewed fundraising efforts with a promise of future assaults on Obama’s health care overhaul – and a threat of more election primaries against Republican incumbents who don’t stand with them. Government spending was still front and center. In the Capitol, lawmakers charged with forging a post-shutdown deficit-cutting agreement in the next 60 days met privately. “We believe there is common ground,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., Senate Budget Committee chairwoman. Privately, however, officials in both parties said the prospects for a major breakthrough were dim, given differences over taxes and spending that have proven compromise-proof throughout
See DRIVING, page A10
See BUDGET, page A10
Sycamore man denies charges in fatal February crash By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI
On the Web
jduchnowski@shawmedia.com ST. CHARLES – A 29-yearold Sycamore man accused of having opiates in his system during the crash that killed an 11-year-old and severely injured an 18-year-old formally denied the charges Thursday. Benjamin Black, of the 1500 block of Sparkhayes Drive, pleaded not guilty to six counts of aggravated driving under the influence. If convicted of the most serious count, Black could be sentenced to between three and 14 years in prison. Probation would only be an option if the judge found extraordinary
To view video and more photos from Black’s court appearance, visit Daily-Chronicle.com.
circumstances existed. Black was driving a Ford Expedition on Route 64 in Kane County about 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 when he smashed into the back of a Chevrolet Cavalier, causing a crash that involved two other vehicles, authorities said. Inside the Cavalier were Matthew Ranken of Sycamore, who died, and Teale Noble of Sycamore, who suffered a fractured skull and
Benjamin Black of Sycamore is escorted Thursday into a Kane County courtroom in Geneva. He is accused of having opiates in his system during a crash that killed a boy.
other injuries. Heroin metabolites were found in a sample of Black’s urine taken immediately after the crash, authorities said. That typically means a person recently had consumed heroin, although they might not have been high on the drug at the time. Black remains in Kane County Jail unable to post 10 percent of his $250,000 bond. His case is next due in court Oct. 31. He also was charged with theft in DeKalb County for allegedly stealing more than $4,000 of coiled copper and brass March 11 in Cortland. That case is next due in DeKalb County Court on Nov. 27.
Rob Winner – rwinner@ shawmedia.com
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