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Feds seek 2 in DeKalb drug bust Warrants outstanding as six of 15 people charged appear in court By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI
Wanted
jduchnowski@shawmedia.com
Anyone with information on their whereabouts should call Crime Stoppers at 815-895-3272, or call the sheriff’s office at 815-895-2155.
Terry M. Griffin
SYCAMORE – Federal marshals are searching for two suspected crack cocaine dealers after six of the 15 people charged in connection with the alleged drug ring appeared in DeKalb County court Wednesday. Authorities said they suspect three Chicago men of running the drug ring in DeKalb and the surrounding area: Terry M. Griffin, 31, Antonnio B. Sanders, 31, and Christopher E. Bell, 29. Griffin was the ringleader, while Bell and Sand-
Christopher E. Bell
Ill. House panel OKs Madigan’s pension fix
ers ran the drugs from Chicago to DeKalb County, DeKalb County Sheriff Chief Deputy Gary Dumdie said. DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott said he hoped the arrests and two outstanding warrants would scare dealers away from the DeKalb area. The investigation, led by the sheriff’s office with assistance from DeKalb police and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, began when authorities received a tip in January. “I think it will make the dealers slow down and look for other loca-
tions than DeKalb County, which would be our goal,” Scott said. “It also shows those from the outside, whether Chicago or Rockford or Aurora, that we’re not asleep out here and we have connections with the DEA and other agencies to make fullscale investigations and significant arrests.” Sanders was arrested Tuesday in Chicago on nine counts of criminal drug conspiracy and delivery; the most serious charge he faces is typically punishable by up to 7 years in prison. His bail was set at $500,000, which would require posting $50,000
for release while the case was pending. Griffin, whom Dumdie said has gang ties, faces a handful of charges alleging he possessed and delivered controlled substances. His bail is $1 million, and if convicted, he likely faces up to 30 years in prison. Bell is accused of delivering and conspiring to deliver controlled substances, and his bail was set at $500,000. The most serious charge he faces typically is punishable with up to 15 years in prison.
See BUST, page A4
ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES GAIN POPULARITY
Accepting the challenge
By JOHN O’CONNOR The Associated Press SPRINGFIELD – Labor leaders threatened a lawsuit Wednesday over House Speaker Michael Madigan’s pension-reform proposal to lower the retirement benefits of public employees in Illinois, but a committee advanced the plan anyway. Madigan pledged a vote today on the House floor after the Personnel and Pensions Committee approved it, 9-1. Hours later, Senate President John Cullerton announced that negotiations he’s had with union leaders has yielded a “credible and constitutional plan” he said he’d put before his Democratic caucus and Madigan. The far-reaching Madigan plan represents the Chicago Democrat’s first direct involvement on a piece of legislation to tackle a $96.7 billion pension deficit, kicking the General Assembly’s machinery into high gear. The bill addresses four of the five pension systems representing state employees, university professionals, primary-school teachMichael ers and legislators. Madigan “It will bring solIll. speaker of vency and stability to the House the four systems,” said Madigan, later explaining that the fifth account, covering judges, was left out as a “practical judgment.” Reform advocates say judges are exempted because it will be the Supreme Court that ultimately decides the plan’s constitutionality, a likelihood endorsed by half-a-dozen union leaders protesting the legislation. “It will invite and get a legal challenge,” said Mike Stout, business manager of ISEA-Laborers’ Local 2002. Unions have long contested legislators’ attempts to get the pension mess under control, holding up a provision in the state constitution prohibiting the state from diminishing promised pension benefits. They point out that employees have for decades made required pension contributions out of their paychecks while the state notoriously shorted or even skipped pension payments. Union official Henry Bayer said the plan appears to take care of the underfunding, but it shouldn’t at the expense of employees.
Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Sycamore senior Paige Phelps takes notes Tuesday during an Advanced Placement literature class. These college-level courses will begin their two weeks of nationwide testing Monday.
Students prepare for Advanced Placement tests
By the numbers Sycamore High School
By STEPHANIE HICKMAN Number of Advanced Placement courses offered at Sycamore High School in 2012-13
4 198 87 249
Number of students enrolled in AP classes
Number of students taking AP tests Number of students requesting AP classes
Source: Sycamore High School Principal Tim Carlson
shickman@shawmedia.com The students in Judy Stafstrom’s Advanced Placement comparative government and politics class always come eager to learn. The DeKalb High School seniors have spent the semester in the college-level course studying the cultures, governments and political structures of six countries. “In this class, you really get to understand what [governments] do and why they do it,” said Blake Bushue, one of Stafstrom’s students. These types of advanced classes are becoming more popular with students in DeKalb and Sycamore high schools. A
Voice your opinion Did you take Advanced Placement courses for college credit while in high school? Vote online at Daily-Chronicle.com.
national program run by The College Board, Advanced Placement classes are designed to challenge high schoolers, teach them studying skills for college and give them a chance to earn college credit if they score well on a final exam. The exams, which are scheduled and designed for each course, begin next week. Many of Stafstrom’s students, including Sasha Ebrahimi, said this Advanced Placement course
has benefits beyond the classroom. “You can talk to other people about what you’re learning,” he said. Comparative governments is one of 14 Advanced Placement classes offered at DeKalb High. But Principal Tamra Ropeter said that number will increase as the demand for Advanced Placement among students continues to grow. About 12 percent of the DeKalb High School’s 1,740 students were enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement course last school year. All of the students who took Stafstrom’s government class received a benchmark score of 3 or higher, making
See TESTS, page A6
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