The 41st Corn Fest will be held from Aug. 24 to 26 in downtown DeKalb on Lincoln Highway, between First and Fourth streets. The lineup of musical acts has been released.

STATE

Rauner focusing on illegal guns coming into Illinois

While students across the county walked out of school to protest school gun violence March 14, Gov. Bruce Rauner was meeting with state police about illegal guns coming into Illinois.

Rauner and state police officials reviewed plans to create an interstate crime prevention network of cooperation across state borders to try and stem the flow of illegal guns across state borders.

Rauner next is expected to meet with the legislative leaders regarding his public safety task force, which he hopes will produce a package of proposals.

Rauner called the student walkout an appropriate way to honor the memory of the victims of the Parkland, Florida shooting.

COUNTY

Spelling prowess is in this student’s repertoire

One could get tangled up in a word with a lot of Rs in it, but not Bryanna Sonntag. The Genoa-Kingston Middle School eighth-grade student knew just how to spell repertoire, and with the correct answer, she won this year’s DeKalb County Spelling Bee and an opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Levi Thompson, a student at St. Mary School in DeKalb, was the runner-up for this year’s county competition, held March 10, at the Kishwaukee College Theater in Malta. 

Bryanna, 14, of Genoa, won an all-expenses-paid trip to the national competition. There, she will have the chance to win a $40,000 cash prize, a savings bond and several reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is scheduled for May 29-31 in Washington, D.C.

DeKALB

Corn Fest musical acts lined up

Music evoking the Beatles, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and ‘60s American rock will be the backdrop for this year’s DeKalb Corn Fest.

The 41st Corn Fest will be held from Aug. 24 to 26 in downtown DeKalb on Lincoln Highway, between First and Fourth streets. All shows are free to the public, and there is a $5 admission fee to enter the soundstage area.

On Aug. 24, American English will open from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Dark Desert Eagles will play from 7-8:30 p.m. and the band 7th Heaven will headline the soundstage from 9 to 11 p.m.

Second Hand Soul will start off Aug. 25, followed by Rosie and the Rivets from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Ides of March from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and the Tom Petty tribute band The Pettybreakers from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Hi Infidelity will headline from 9-11 p.m.

Aug. 26 will feature Pistol Pete from noon to 1:30 p.m., Howard and The White Boys from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and Journeyman: A Tribute to Eric Clapton, from 4:30-6 p.m.

DeKalb Corn Fest started out as a corn boil by Delmonte in 1957 to give away free corn to the citizens as the company began the harvest. The modern day Corn Fest, as it is now known with music and vendor booths, began in 1977.

For information, visit cornfest.com or call 815-748-2676.

Library to celebrate World of Reading day

A celebration of World of Reading comes to DeKalb March 24, when the DeKalb Public Library hosts a variety of activities focused on books from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Highlights of the day’s events include:

• Gillian King-Cargile, the author of the three Stuffed Bunny Science Adventure books, will be in the main lobby with her books.
• Costumed characters from literature will stroll around the lobby, courtesy of Stagecoach Theatre.
• “Ready Player One,” a book being made into a movie, will be celebrated with a special “hunt.” Get the first clue in the Great Hall, then search throughout the library for the rest.
• A variety of coloring pages will be available for adults, teens, and children, featuring characters and settings from a variety of great books.
• TAILS will bring adoptable kittens and puppies to get everyone in the mood for stories about cats and dogs. In addition to the animals, there will be coloring pictures featuring Pete the Cat, Hello Kitty, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Scooby-Doo and more.
• The Little Treble Makers Show Choir will perform Disney tunes.
• Dance Dimensions will perform selections from “Coppelia,” a comic ballet that premiered in 1870.
• Tolkien-inspired activities will be held for “The Lord of the Rings” fans.
• A Fancy Nancy Tea Party will be held.
• Hermione Granger, straight from Hogwarts, will visit chat with people.
• Costumes are encouraged and those attending the World of Reading are invited to dress up like a favorite book character.

SOMONAUK

Best-selling author to speak at library

New York Times best-selling author Mary Kubica will meet with the public at 7 p.m. March 22, at the Somonauk Public Library, 700 E. LaSalle St. in Somonauk.

Kubica is the author of “The Good Girl,” “Pretty Baby,” “Don’t You Cry” and her newest thriller, “Every Last Lie.” She will give a reading followed by a book-signing and question-and-answer session. Books will be available for purchase at the event from Anderson’s Bookshop. For information, call 815-498-2440.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–