Troy Dukes and Angie Finnestad-Dickmann (center) present a $7,638 donation from Monsanto Seed to benefit the KishHealth System Cancer Center, part of Northwestern Medicine.     

DeKALB COUNTY 
 
County gets money to taxing bodies 

Christine J. Johnson, DeKalb County Treasurer, reports that the final distribution of DeKalb County real estate tax money has been made. This year the Treasurer’s Office collected and distributed $205.4 million to DeKalb County taxing bodies. The final distribution also includes $18,831.79 in interest that was earned by the Treasurer’s Office for the benefit of the taxing bodies while the funds were in the treasurer’s custody.

Nearly 60 percent of the $205.4 million went to school districts in the county.  The next largest recipient of tax money was the county itself with 10.44 percent.

Taxpayers took advantage of the opportunity to pay their taxes online. More than $7 million in taxes were paid electronically, making this the most successful year for the online payment program.

DeKALB 

Businessman to oppose mayor in election 

A DeKalb business owner has announced plans to run for mayor, facing Mayor John Rey who will be seeking his second term. Michael Embrey said he will be filing a petition to run for mayor. The period for candidates to file nominating petitions to be on the April 4 ballot is Dec. 12 to Dec. 19.

Mayor John Rey has held the office since 2013 and has said he plans to run for re-election.

Embrey owns FunMe Events, a DeKalb-based special events and entertainment company, and he has lived in the city for 40 years. He is also a four-year U.S. Air Force veteran. He worked as show band director and in public relations at Northern Illinois University, where he earned bachelor of music education and master of education degrees.

Brass quintet reaches out to community with concerts 

The Kishwaukee Brass Quintet is giving performances through December as part of Just Make It Happen’s Tis the Season community outreach program.

Thanks to financial partners Wurlitzer Foundation, Kiwanis Club of DeKalb, Kishwaukee Kiwanis Club and citizen donations, musical programs are being given at six DeKalb County preschools. Programs have been collaboratively designed to enhance the natural development of children at Children at Genoa Faith Methodist, Sycamore Federated, DeKalb Kindercare, Growing Place, Children’s Learning Center and Shabbona UCC.

A program open to the public will be performed at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Barb City Manor, 680 Haish Blvd., DeKalb, and will include DeKalb Kiwanis Builder’s Clubs from Clinton Rosette and Huntley middle schools.

The group also will perform at the DeKalb County Jail thanks to funding from the Kishwaukee Kiwanis. That program is not open to the public.

Some performances will be dedicated to the memory of the late Tom Sims, Northern Illinois University biology professor and original member of the brass quintet.

To sponsor an appearance of the quintet, send email to jdmusicpros@gmail.com or call (815) 758-1093. For information, visit www.justmakeithappen-dekalb.com.

Company’s donation to help cancer center 

Northwestern Medicine received a $7,638 donation from Monsanto Seed, to benefit the KishHealth System Cancer Center in DeKalb. Employees of Monsanto raised money from selling “Give Cancer the Boot” T-shirts. For more information about KishHealth System, visit www.kishhealth.org and nm.org.

MALTA 

College courses can transfer to Olivet 

Kishwaukee College will offer students the opportunity to transition into a four-year bachelor’s degree program through a partnership with Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais.

The admissions initiative, Pursue ONU, will provide a path to a bachelor’s degree in nursing or criminal justice for Kishwaukee students currently enrolled in an associate’s degree program. Kishwaukee is one of many community colleges participating in Pursue ONU, to help students transfer to Olivet to complete their baccalaureate degree. Kishwaukee students receive support from Olivet’s Financial Solutions, Admissions, and Academic Advising departments.

Dually admitted Kishwaukee students can transfer more quickly by taking general education and prerequisite classes before beginning as full-time Olivet students. Academic advisers will ensure that students are enrolled in only the courses needed to pursue their bachelor’s degree.

To learn about Pursue ONU, visit graduate.olivet.edu/programs/pursue-onu. For information about Kishwaukee College, visit www.kishwaukeecollege.edu.

SYCAMORE 

Golf season passes, merchandise discounted 

In time for holiday shopping and gift-giving, the Sycamore Park District Golf Club is offering a 10 percent discount on 2017 season passes and 25 percent off remaining pro shop merchandise through Dec. 24. The Pro Shop is open 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

For more information call (815) 895-3884, send an email to kirkl@sycamoreparkdistrict.com or visit sycamoreparkgolf.com.

STATE 

Deer hunting down this season 

Illinois hunters harvested about 8.5 percent fewer deer during the seven-day firearm season that ended Dec. 4 compared to last year. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said that hunters this year harvested 79,429 deer. That figure is compared to the seven days of the firearms season in 2015 when hunters harvested 86,847 deer.

Adams County in western Illinois had the top number of deer harvested at 2,358. The fewest deer were harvested in Lake County in northern Illinois where five deer were taken. However, In DeKalb County, the total is up slightly to 139, from 127 in 2015.

Deer hunting opportunities remain available in Illinois this late fall/early winter:

• The Late-Winter Antlerless-Only Season and CWD Deer Season first segments (in designated counties only) will be Dec. 29, through Jan. 1.
• The second segments of the Late-Winter Antlerless-Only and CWD Deer Seasons (in designated counties only) will be Jan. 13-15.
• Archery Deer Season continues through Jan. 15.