The Golden Knights of the U.S. Army will parachute into Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Stadium Oct. 13 to present the football for the 2:30 p.m. homecoming game against the Ohio Bobcats.

STATE

Registered voters angry about budget woes: Poll

Illinois registered voters are mad as hell.

Data from a recent poll show that Illinois registered voters are angry about the state’s current deficits and want their governor to make long-term fiscal health a priority for Illinois now and in 2019. The results come from a poll that AARP commissioned. Pollsters, Alan Newman Research, questioned registered voters ages 25 and older in Illinois in July 2018 on behalf of the AARP state office in Illinois. Most voters, across all political parties, say they are angry about the state’s current fiscal deficits and view this as the top most important issue in the state right now.

Key findings include:

• Two-thirds (65 percent) of Illinois registered voters ages 25 and older rate their anger about Illinois’ current fiscal situation as a ‘4’ or a ‘5’ on a scale of one to five (‘5’ meaning extremely angry).
• Most (84 percent) Illinois registered voters agree that the governor and state legislature need to make the state’s fiscal problems the top priority in 2019, with 65 percent saying they strongly agree.
• Nearly six in 10 (59 percent) Illinois registered voters support a graduated income tax structure as a way to help solve the state’s fiscal problems.
• Most (70 percent) oppose taxing retirement income as a way to help solve the state’s fiscal problems.
• Most (73 percent) Illinois registered voters know someone considering leaving Illinois to live elsewhere and half (49 percent) have considered relocating themselves.​

The research firm completed 1,202 telephone interviews, 600 via landline and 602 via cell phone. Data are weighted by age and gender according to the February 2018 Illinois state voter database statistics.

Voters will choose between incumbent Bruce Rauner and challenger J.B. Pritzker Nov. 6, to be governor for the next four years.

DeKALB 

Public can way in about Annie Glidden Road project

DeKalb city officials are collecting public comment about the Annie Glidden North Revitalization Plan until Oct. 19.

The public may speak at two meetings: the AGN Revitalization Plan Community meeting 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at the University Village Apartment Complex Community Room, 722 N. Annie Glidden Road; and the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St. Public comments have already been collected at last week’s Economic Development Commission meeting.

The community meeting will be open to general questions and comments related to the plan, while the commission meeting will focus on questions and comments related to the primary functions of the three commissions.

The plan includes strategies to improve the quality of life for area residents, including improving transportation and infrastructure and adding security cameras and lighting for crime-prevention purposes. The AGN Task Force, appointed by Mayor Jerry Smith, has approved the plan, which will go the City Council for adoption after the public comment period ends.

The Draft AGN Revitalization Plan can be downloaded at cityofdekalb.com/1097/AGN-Revitalization-Plan. For information, call Management Analyst Aaron Stevens at 815-748-2096 or email aaron.stevens@cityofdekalb.com.

New park named for family farm

A park on land that had been part of a family farm now honors the family by carrying its name.

The Wright family had donated its family farm to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, which later sold it to a developer. The developer named the subdivision Devonaire Farms and its park, the Devonaire Farms Park. On Sept. 29, the DeKalb Park District held a brief ceremony to unveil the new name of the park: Wright Farm Park.

Rodney and Dorothy Wright gifted the 173-acre farm to the DeKalb County Community Foundation after Dorothy Wright’s death in 1995. The foundation sold the land to a developer in 1998, and the proceeds from the sale were used to establish the Richard A. and Dorothy Thiele Wright Endowment Fund. The fund has awarded more than $1 million in grants to community nonprofit organizations and projects since its inception 20 years ago.

The foundation worked with the park district and the Devonaire Farms’ Homeowners Association to make the new name a reality.

Look to the sky for some flash at NIU homecoming game

The football that will be used in the 112th Northern Illinois University homecoming game Oct. 13, will be delivered in dramatic fashion. The Golden Knights of the U.S. Army will parachute into Huskie Stadium to present the football for the 2:30 p.m. game against the Ohio Bobcats.

The performance was arranged in honor of the Huskie ROTC Battalion to celebrate its 50th anniversary on campus. NIU is recognizing the service of more than 610 ROTC graduates, who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during peacetime and war since 1971. 

The Golden Knights hold a number of world records, and has won national and international competitions since its inception in 1959. The unit perform at more than 100 events annually and operate a tandem unit that takes soldiers, celebrities and heads of state on jumps.

Before the sky show, the NIU Alumni Association and colleges will provide live music, children’s activities, giveaways and popcorn from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Alumni Village in The Yard, the west lawn adjacent to Huskie Stadium. NIU’s mascot Mission will be available for photos from 12-1 p.m. 

Fans can participate in a photo contest, sponsored by the NIU Alumni Association. A booth with props will be available for photos at Alumni Village. Fans can tag @niualumni on Facebook and the most likes will win Huskie swag.

Get homecoming game tickets at Ticketmaster. For information about homecoming events, visit https://niu.edu/homecoming.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–