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Serving DeKalb County since 1879 2-year-old Lauren Peterson
EVENT GROWS • LOCAL, A3
Re:New DeKalb hosts annual breakfast with the Easter Bunny
Monday, March 25, 2013
DEKALB GIRLS BADMINTON
Nguyen, Draper work together but prefer singles play Sports, B1
Jaci Nguyen
Housing proposal faces vote today DeKalb aldermen negotiate the final details of the Irongate subdivision cil will hold on the new development, which could be the last chance to do so. DeKALB – A 1,273-home A proposed annexation Irongate subdivision proposed agreement between the city near DeKalb High School could and the developer is scheduled get the go-ahead today, as for a first reading today. Six alDeKalb aldermen negotiate the dermen must vote to approve final details of the development the agreement, which could be with ShoDeen Construction. finalized if they decide to waive The public will be able to a second reading. sound off again at a public “The developer has made hearing the DeKalb City Coun- significant changes to the land
By DAVID THOMAS
dthomas@shawmedia.com
plan in response to the council’s comments,” City Manager Mark Biernacki said. “We will ask if there’s a consensus, at least a supermajority of the council, on this project.” If approved by the council, ShoDeen plans to build 1,273 homes on about 420 acres north of DeKalb High School, west of First Street. The development will feature a mixture of houses and townhouses, with hous-
ing lots ranging between 50 and 80 feet wide. Biernacki and ShoDeen President Dave Patzelt said all of the council’s requests on the Irongate project have been met. The number of townhouses has dropped to less than 10 percent of the total housing units, and no discounts on any impact fees are offered.
See IRONGATE, page A8
Irongate housing development The Irongate development will feature 1,273 units located south of Bethany Road, west of First Street, and north of DeKalb High School. Features include: n 250 50-foot housing lots. These lots will not be built until 200 other lots have been built. n 524 60-foot housing lots n 190 70-foot housing lots
n 186 80-foot housing lots n 123 townhouses. These town-
houses will not be built until 350 single-family homes have been built. n 12.6 acres for a senior living community n 33.9 acres of parks n 21.6 acres of school property n 1.5 acres of wetlands
Gun bill possible problem for state
AREA SCHOOLS OUT FOR SPRING BREAK
Could further crowd prisons By JOHN O’CONNOR The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD – Chicago officials, stung by bloody episodes of violence, are seeking new legislation that would make it tougher on thugs packing guns. But their proposal to require more prison time for possessing illegal weapons is running into opposition based on concerns about prison overcrowding, costs and gun rights. Experts say it could push thousands more convicts into a packed and financially pressed prison system, costing $100 million more a year. A prison-policy group says it’s largely a Cook County problem that officials there are asking the rest of the state to shoulder. And gun-rights advocates fear it’s a way for Chicago to discourage lawful gun possession in the city. The measure, which won overwhelming support from a House committee days ago and awaits floor action, would stiffen penalties for several categories of unlawful use of weapons, including by felons or street-gang members. It would make probation less likely, in many cases imposing minimum prison sentences of three years behind bars, and require that offenders serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez are pushing the measure,
Spring break boredom busters Photos by Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
MacKenzie Ferguson of Southeast Elementary in Sycamore jumps into a pool Friday at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA in Sycamore. Ferguson is part of the Out of School Care program (OSCAR), a partnership between Sycamore schools and the YMCA. Sycamore schools started their spring break Friday and return to class April 1.
From Spring Fling to YMCA, cold weather not a problem school or even college,” Roseann Para said. The Paras and Sweet Earth are Rich and Roseann Para have big participating in the merchants of plans for spring break. downtown Sycamore’s fourth anWhile many local students are nual Spring Fling event to welcome enjoying their time off from school the new season and encourage resithis week, the owners of Sweet dents to explore the district. Earth Jewelry, at 341 W. State St. “We thought that doing it the in Sycamore, are working double week when the kids are out of time to help children, families and school would be a good idea,” said other customers bead away as part Marcia Elliott, a member of merof their annual Bead-a-Thon. chants of downtown Sycamore and Last weekend kicked off “Gotta owner of Made Just for You at 338 Bead,” a series of 25 classes run- W. State St. in Sycamore. ning through Saturday for customCustomers can participate in the ers of all ages and skill sets. event and take advantage of many “We always try to have enough deals the businesses offer every day classes that will appeal to kids whether they be young or [in] high See ACTIVITIES, page A8
By STEPHANIE HICKMAN shickman@shawmedia.com
Holden Austin of North Grove Elementary in Sycamore swims in a pool Friday at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA. Holden is a member of the OSCAR program.
See GUN BILL, page A7
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