Daddies and their daughters enjoy a past DeKalb Park District Daddy-Daughter and Heroes Dance. The park district will host its annual event from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Terrace Room of Hopkins Park, 1403 Sycamore Road, DeKalb. Tickets may be purchased at dekalbparkdistrict.maxgalaxy.net.

COUNTY

Sheriff is offering a college scholarship

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s office is participating in the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association annual college scholarship program that it will award more than $53,500 in scholarships throughout Illinois for the 2018-19 academic year.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s office will award one scholarship of $500. The scholarship is to be applied to tuition, books and fees only. The chosen student must be enrolled full time at a certified institution of higher learning within Illinois.

Applications for DeKalb County residents may be picked up at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s office, 150 N. Main St., Sycamore. Students must complete the application, answer the essay question and return all documents either by mail or in person by March 15. Applications also are available at ilsheriff.org. For more information, call (815) 895-7260.

Voters can cast primary ballots early

Early voting has begun for the March 20 primary election. Registered voters can cast ballots in the Gathertorium at the Legislative Center, 200 N. Main St., Sycamore, at these times on these days:

• 8:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 19-Feb. 23; March 2, March 5, March 7 and March 9;  
• 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 6 and March 8;
• 9 a.m. to noon March 10;
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11;
• 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 12-March 16 and March 19;
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 17; and
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 18

DeKALB

Dance is for girls, the special men in their lives

The DeKalb Park District will host its annual Daddy-Daughter and Heroes Dance Feb. 24.

The special night out for girls, 3-17 years old, and their fathers or male role models will be held 6-8 p.m. at the Terrace Room of Hopkins Park, 1403 Sycamore Road, DeKalb. It will include pictures, desserts, contests, a special memento and dancing. Tickets per couple are $25 for residents and $30 for non-residents, and $10 per additional child. Space is limited. Tickets may be purchased at dekalbparkdistrict.maxgalaxy.net.

Board to vote on band uniforms

The DeKalb District 428 School Board is expected to decide at its Feb. 20 meeting whether to replace the DeKalb High School Marching Barbs’ 14-year-old uniforms.

Two bids have come in for 165 uniforms to outfit the band with new uniforms: one for about $76,900 and the other for about $73,800.

The band program currently has about $28,000 to put toward the purchase price. With two more fundraisers scheduled this year, the band is confident it can cover half the cost. The next fundraiser will be held Feb. 17 at St. Mary’s Memorial Hall, 322 Waterman St. in Sycamore.

As for the other half of the bill, the band is requesting the board consider a one-time increase to the district’s music budget for the 2018-19 school year, in the amount of $38,000.

Worried that doing so would open the door to other extracurricular programs requesting district funds, board members instead proposed to pay a portion of the $38,000, and offer the rest as a loan.

The matter will be discussed at 7 p.m. in the District 428 Education Center, 901 S. Fourth St.

STATE

Fire marshal urges public to practice fire safety at home

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is urging residents to protect themselves and practice fire safety in their communities after an unusually high number of fire fatalities in January.

In 2017, Illinois had 131 injuries and 84 fatalities due to fire. In January of this year, Illinois had 21 injuries and 21 fatalities due to fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are more home fires in the winter months than any other season. The State Fire Marshal’s office notes that major causes for fire fatalities in Illinois this year are home heating issues and careless use of smoking materials.

The State Fire Marshal encourages residents to be prepared and offers these tips on fire safety from the NFPA:

1.Test all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month. Change the batteries at least twice a year.
2. Plan two ways out of the home during an emergency.
3. If the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out. If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.
4. Close doors to slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.
5. Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
6. Keep flammable materials away from the fireplace mantel.
7. Never use the oven to heat your home.
8. Remember to turn off portable heating devices when you leave a room or go to bed each night.
9. Never use extension cords with electric heaters.
10. Provide adequate ventilation for kerosene heaters and never refuel heater in-doors or when in use.
11. Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from flammable material.
12. Ensure that cigarettes or other smoking materials have been put out.
13. Never smoke around medical oxygen.
14. Do not smoke in bed.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–