WEEKEND EDITION
$1.50
Breaking eaking news at Daily-Chronicle.com
Serving DeKalb County since 1879
Saturday-Sunday, June 22-23, 2013
BLACKHAWKS • SPORTS, B4
INSERT • USA WEEKEND
Get your Hawks gameday poster
Talking with ‘World War Z’ star Brad Pitt
Capek to receive 6 months’ pay Park board president: New members did not back former director Don Irving and Mike Teboda were not present. Capek, who was hired in July 2006, had an annual salary of $116,000. The agreement lists her last day of employment as May 24, the date of a closed-door special park board meeting that Capek Cindy Capek was asked not to attend. Capek was not at Friday’s meeting, but issued a statement listing her accomplishments with the district.
By DAVID THOMAS dthomas@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Cindy Capek, the DeKalb Park District executive director, has resigned, but district leaders will continue to pay her salary and insurance for six months under a separation agreement finalized Friday. Park commissioners met for five minutes Friday morning to approve the agreement at a special meeting. Park Commissioners Phil Young, Per Fairve and Keith Nyquist voted to accept the agreement. Commissioners
“I have enjoyed the nearly seven years of service as the executive director of the DeKalb Park District and grateful for the opportunity to work with the community,” Capek said in her statement. “I am proud of the projects that I have been involved with and the positive working relationships I have had with other governmental units and a number of community groups and organizations.” Under the separation agreement, the DeKalb Park District will pay Capek her salary from May 24 through Nov. 30. With an annual salary of $116,981, that
value is estimated to be $58,500. She will also be given a lump sum for her 15 vacation days and 12 personal leave days, an estimated value of $12,150. The park district will also pay for health insurance for Capek and her family through Nov. 30, and it won’t contest Capek’s application for unemployment benefits. After Faivre, Nyquist and Irving were sworn in as park commissioners May 9, Young said it became apparent they wanted a new director.
See CAPEK, page A6
DeKalb veteran paired with Cubs
What’s next DeKalb park commissioners will review the park district’s staff structure before searching for a new executive director.
On the Web Visit Daily-Chronicle. com to read copies of the separation agreement and Cindy Capek’s statement.
Snowden charged with theft, espionage By PETE YOST The Associated Press
Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Richard Bennett, 32, of DeKalb is a finalist in the “Tribute for Heroes” contest sponsored by Major League Baseball and People magazine. Bennett, who was in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division from 2009 to 2012, was awarded a Silver Star for covering his platoon’s medic’s body and dragging him to safety during an 18 to 19 hour mission in Afghanistan. Bennett is currently attending Northern Illinois University for a degree in communication and has hopes to one day work on the Wounded Warrior Project.
Silver Star recipient a finalist in MLB’s ‘Tribute for Heroes’ By DAVID THOMAS
Vote online
dthomas@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Richard Bennett’s mind was blank when he threw himself on top of his unit’s medic. It was a search-and-destroy mission in the Korangal Valley of Afghanistan in September 2010. Bennett, an Army private first class at the time, had recently been promoted to squad leader after two of his commanding officers were severely wounded in combat. On an open terrace of a house on the side of a mountain, the unit’s medic was shot in the neck. Bennett and his soldiers didn’t know if he was alive; he was lying face down. “No one was around him,” Bennett said. “We were taking heavy contact, and I just ran over to him, and I jumped on top of him. That’s what you’re supposed to do. You’re supposed to cover him to protect him as best you can.” Bennett called for help, but a bullet ripped through the hand of the
Go to http://shawurl.com/njl to vote for Richard Bennett, 32, of DeKalb, in the “Tribute for Heroes” contest. Voting ends June 30.
More online Go to Daily-Chronicle.com to watch a video of Richard Bennett.
Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Bennett is one of 90 finalists in the “Tribute for Heroes” contest sponsored by Major League Baseball and People magazine. first soldier who responded. Bennett then began dragging the wounded medic to cover. “I still don’t know how I didn’t get shot,” Bennett said. “I mean, I am
telling you, a wall of fire. We were just getting hammered. So I dragged him over, still don’t know to this day how I didn’t get shot.” The 32-year-old DeKalb resident
initially was going to be awarded the Bronze Star with valor, but Army command upgraded it to a Silver Star. The Silver Star is the third highest medal for valor in the U.S. military. Now, Bennett is up for a more lighthearted award. He is one of 90 finalists in the “Tribute for Heroes” contest sponsored by Major League Baseball and People magazine.
See VETERAN, page A6
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has charged former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden with espionage and theft of government property in the NSA surveillance case. Snowden, believed to be holed up in Hong Kong, has admitted providing information to the news media about two highly classified NSA surveillance programs. A one-page criminal complaint unsealed Friday in federal court in Alexandria, Va., says Snowden engaged in unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of Edward classified communi- Snowden cations intelligence information. Both are charges under the Espionage Act. Snowden also is charged with theft of government property. All three crimes carry a maximum 10-year prison penalty. The federal court in the eastern district of Virginia where the complaint was filed is headquarters for Snowden’s former employer, Booz Allen Hamilton. The complaint will be an integral part of the U.S. government’s effort to have Snowden extradited from Hong Kong, a process that could become a prolonged legal battle. Snowden could contest extradition on grounds of political persecution. In general, the extradition agreement between the U.S. and Hong Kong excepts political offenses from the obligation to surrender. The complaint is dated June 14, five days after Snowden’s name first surfaced as the leaker of information about the two programs. Congressional reaction was swift. “I’ve always thought this was a treasonous act. Apparently so does the U.S. Department of Justice,” said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I hope Hong Kong’s government will take him into custody and extradite him to the U.S.” Disclosure of the criminal complaint came as President Barack Obama held his first meeting with a privacy and civil liberties board as his intelligence chief sought ways to help Americans understand more about sweeping government surveillance efforts exposed by Snowden.
Inside today’s Daily Chronicle Lottery Local news Obituaries
A2 A3-4 A4
National and world news Opinions Sports
Weather A2, A5 A7 B1-4
Advice Comics Classified
C6 C7 D1-4
High:
90
Low:
70