NEWS BRIEF

DeKalb Police Dept. announces safe driving campaign for Memorial Day

DeKALB – The DeKalb Police Department announced it will increase enforcement for Memorial Day through the “Click It or Ticket” campaign

PUZZLE ANSWERS puzzlesonpage16

are still in use of the school,” Carson said May 15.

The modular classroom at Littlejohn is a two-unit space composed of a music room and a Science Technology Engineering and Math room, according to city documents.

The district’s special use permit, which ordinarily would allow the modular classroom at Littlejohn School, expires in June, city officials said.

At the same time, the district is in the process of designing a new school, which

The campaign will run from May 19 through May 30, according to a news release.

Law enforcement will increase its efforts to focus on stopping unbuckled and distracted driving during the campaign. The campaign encourages drivers to buckle up for the school officials said will open by August 2025. The space concerns noted in DeKalb schools are not exclusive to Littlejohn School.

“We have capacity issues throughout our entire district,” Carson said.

Carson said the district plans to undergo redistricting districtwide to better address space concerns.

The district has made it a goal to reduce classes from an average of 28 students to 25 students, school officials said.

At the time of the new school’s opening, the district intends to remove all modular classrooms except the one at Lincoln Elementary School, school officials said.

The city had received two letters of support in reference to the modular classroom, to date.

One supporter, however, did seek more information about the school district’s request.

City Planner Dan Olson urged the panel to support the district’s request.

“The classroom has not caused any negative impact to the neighborhood,” Olson said. “It’s been there since 2017. It’s in the same location.”

Commissioner Trixy O’Flaherty echoed that sentiment.

“It’s in my neighborhood,” O’Flaherty said. “It’s been fine for years. It’ll be good not to have one because that’s better for everybody in the school.”

Memorial Day weekend.

The “Click It or Ticket” and “Distracted Driving” campaigns are funded by federal traffic safety funds by the Illinois Department of Transportation. –ShawLocalNewsNetwork

WHERE IT’S AT

Cortland to open community splash pad this summer

CORTLAND – The town of Cortland will open a splash pad free for the community to use this summer, Cortland Mayor Mark Pietrowski said.

Pietrowski announced the summer plans in a recent social media post on his official Cortland Mayor Facebook page. The splash pad will be located at Suppeland Park at East Meadow Drive and Pampas Street in Cortland.

The mayor said funding was, in part, procured through a state of Illinois grant supported by state Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore.

“Special thanks goes to state Rep. Jeff Keicher for his support in getting the town of Cortland a grant to help pay for a large part of this project,” Pietrowski said. “I would also like to thank the Cortland Board of Trustees for their vision and support of this proj-

News Brief

Medicare workshop taking place May 25 at DeKalb library ect. Thanks also goes to Cortland Public Works for the work they will do this summer getting the equipment installed. So some of those hot days of summer should be a bit cooler with the splash pad. Hope it can bring some joy and fun to Cortland families.”

DeKALB – The DeKalb Public Library will host a workshop on Medicare insurance options.

The event will be held at 11 a.m. May 25 in the library’s lower-level Zimmerman Meeting Room, 309 Oak St., according to a news release.

The workshop is free and intended for adults and seniors.

In a reply to Pietrowski’s post, Keicher said he looks forward to the splash pad’s opening.

“I was glad to be able to find the grant solution you all needed to help make your community Cortland, Illinois, celebrate all that makes it special. Can’t wait for the ribbon-cutting!” he wrote.

According to town of Cortland government documents, the splash pad will be constructed through a contract with Canada-based Vortex Aquatic Structures International after unanimous support from the Cortland board April 10.

Attendees can learn about current available Medicare insurance options. Licensed sales representative Carol Cherry will discuss the different parts of Medicare, Medicare insurance options, how to make the right choice and how to find the right plan.

No registration is required to attend. For information, email samanthah@ dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 1701.

–ShawLocalNewsNetwork