Jessica Luo, on violin; Mary Flaherty, vocalist; Kailey Mulligan, on viola; and Emma Olson, on oboe, are this year’s Sycamore High School Concerto Competition winners.

COUNTY

Electronics recycling collections canceled

All electronics recycling collections throughout DeKalb County have been suspended. The DeKalb County Health Department made the announcement after a vendor said it would no longer be able to service the county’s monthly drop-off sites in DeKalb, Sandwich, Sycamore, Waterman and Shabbona.

County health officials said they are trying to replace the vendor, and ask the public for its patience. For information, contact Solid Waste Specialist Michelle Gibson at (815) 748-2408 or recyclemailbox@dekalbcounty.org.

Weather conditions cited in delay of Coltonville project

Deep snowfalls in November, freezing temperatures in March and heavy rain in April and May are the culprits in the continuing delay of the Coltonville Road project. Already behind schedule, the project is not expected to be completed for at least another month.

Coltonville Road between west Stonehenge Drive and north First Street will remain closed to traffic as crews work to replace the bridge over the South Branch of the Kishwaukee River. The road had been expected to open at the end of 2015. It closed Aug. 17, 2015. Besides poor weather conditions, the project fell behind because of a delay in getting steel beams for the bridge.

The road and shoulders are expected to be paved soon. Then, one week will be needed for bridge deck grooving and sealing and two weeks for guardrail installation, roadway striping, landscaping, and other details. Timely completion of these steps also depend on the weather.

WATERMAN

Lions’ donation to pay for benches in new park

A grant from the Waterman Lions Club supports the grassroots efforts that are turning the vision of a new park in the village into reality. The grant will provide four park benches with plaques honoring past Lions leaders.

The Waterman Enhancement Group, which is coordinating volunteer efforts, led a successful project June 12, to plant bushes. Volunteers were able to complete what was planned as a two-day project in one day. 

The five-acre parcel owned by the Village of Waterman is across from the new Indian Creek Middle School and the students will be invited to help name the park.

Businesses and individuals who would like to volunteer or need more information, should email Peggy Rogers at plrogers50@yahoo.com, follow the group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/waterman enhancement/ or visit www.visit30.com.

SHABBONA

Foundation funds will help to improve fish pond

A $12,000 grant will help to repair the largemouth bass rearing pond at Shabbona Lake State Park.

The DeKalb County Community Foundation gave the money to the Friends of Shabbona Lake State Park. The rearing pond is vital to maintaining the fishery at Shabbona Lake, which attracts more than 475,000 visitors annually. The pond allows small fingerling fish to grow into adulthood, safe from predator fish. 

The five-acre rearing pond was originally built in the early 1990s. Fingerling largemouth bass (1-inch long) from the State of Illinois Fish Hatchery are released into the rearing pond in early June. The bass feed during the summer on minnows, crawdads and bugs. The rearing pond is then drained in early October. By then, the bass have grown to 5 to 7 inches. As the pond drains, the bass are collected and placed into nearby Shabbona Lake. The survival rate of the 5,000 fingerlings has been increased from approximately 1 percent to more than 50 percent.

Friends of Shabbona Lake State Park is open to the public. More information about the organization and how to join or donate can be found at www.friendsofshabbonalake.com.

SYCAMORE

Museum gets support for tech interactives

The Midwest Museum of Natural History is going more high-tech thanks to a Community Needs grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation. An infusion of $15,000 will pay for new touch screens and audio stations in the main gallery of the museum.

The new touch screens and the repair of current screens will give the museum more opportunity to feature information about all specimens on display. To learn about the museum, 425 W. State St., Sycamore, and upcoming events, visit www.mmnh.org.

High school musicians perform their winning ways

Mary Flaherty, Jessica Luo, Kailey Mulligan and Emma Olson are this year’s Sycamore High School Concerto Competition winners.

Each year, high school seniors are encouraged to audition for the competition, and these talented performers were selected from numerous senior applicants. The winners performed their solo pieces accompanied by the Sycamore High School Symphony Orchestra. Each of this year’s winners have performed in music festivals and as members of various bands and orchestras and are scholarship winners.

Emma Olson, an oboist, will study at the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana, majoring in music.

Kailey Mulligan plays the viola and will attend Wheaton College as an elementary education major.

Vocalist Mary Flaherty sings opera, madrigals and jazz and in choirs.  She will attend Luther College, majoring in music.

Jessica Luo, a violinist, will attend the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana, majoring in math and computer science, and may double major or minor in music technology.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–