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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

CHANCE founder honored

By Deanna Cabinian | January 26, 2004

NIU’s CHANCE program will be rededicated in honor of its founder, McKinley “Deacon” Davis, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Holmes Student Center’s Carl Sandburg Auditorium. A reception at the student center’s Regency Room will follow the ceremony....

RHA proposes increase

By Nick Swedberg | January 26, 2004

Interest in Burmese culture now has a home in a new student group at NIU. In a unanimous vote Sunday night, the Student Association Senate passed a bill approving the creation of the Burma Interest Group-Northern Illinois University. Our vision is to...

Tax amnesty benefits DeKalb

By Laura Grandt | January 26, 2004

DeKalb and other local governments recently received additional funds from the state.

The state of Illinois collected $532 million from a tax amnesty program from Oct. 1 to Nov. 17, said Mike Klemens of the Illinois Department of Revenue. Of the $532 million, $80 million has been earmarked for local governments spanning the state.

DeKalb County received $35,636 that will go into the general fund to be used for general operations, Deputy County Administrator Gary Hanson said.

The city of DeKalb received $9,819 and the money will be used in much the same way, said Doug Haywood, accounting services manager for the city of DeKalb.

Hanson said the county board can designate the money for special uses if they choose, but he thinks the money will remain in the fund.

Local governments across the state received the money in addition to the personal property replacement tax payments. Payments are made eight times a year. The two most recent payments, in December and January, contained the additional funds from the amnesty program, Klemens said.

The tax amnesty program allowed individuals and corporations to pay back taxes or taxes owed from audits from June 1, 1982, to July 1, 2002, without penalties or interest, Klemens said. The state initiated the program to try to close the budget gap, he said.

The state expected between $130 million and $230 million, Klemens said.

The state government did much better than it thought it would with the amnesty program, Klemens said, and so the local government also did much better.

Disbursement of the $80 million between local governments was determined on the basis of personal property taxes collected in 1977, Klemens said.

Both Hanson and Haywood said the money was unexpected, only finding out recently that the money was coming.

“It’s always welcome to get money,” Hanson said. “We have a $50 million budget, so it won’t change anything significantly, but certainly, every little bit helps.”

Up ’til Dawn raises more than $20K for hospital

By Casey Toner | January 26, 2004

Participants in the Up ‘til Dawn program celebrated raising more than $20,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on Friday night at the Student Recreation Center. Up ‘til Dawn, which was scheduled to run from 9:30 p.m to 4 a.m., was rescheduled...

SA considers online election process

By Greg Feltes | January 26, 2004

After only 1,279 of 24,948 students voted in last year’s Student Association executive election, NIU officials are deciding how to stop a declining voter trend and increase student interest. Rick Clark, director of University Programming & Activities...

NIU professor researches prostitution

By David Gomez | January 26, 2004

NIU history professor Nancy Wingfield is taking a new look at the world’s oldest profession. Wingfield currently is in the Czech Republic conducting research on prostitution. She won a grant from the Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship...

Wrestler pleads not guilty to charges

By Nicholas Alajakis | January 23, 2004

Editor's Note: On August 24, 2012, the Northern Star redacted the name of a student originally named in this story. The student and various legal entities provided evidence to the Northern Star that the student had the charges discussed in this article...

Checking in at the Holmes hotel

By Mike Neumann | January 23, 2004

The Holmes Student Center Hotel, established in 1967, is home to 80 guest rooms and suites. “We have twin, queen and king bedrooms, two one-room suites and a two-room suite,” hotel manager Joyce Johnsonsaid, in a tone indicating she has said the line...

TV center to upgrade

By Libby John | January 23, 2004

Northern Television Center now has the opportunity to have two one-hour blocks on the DeKalb Government Access Channel. After being approved by the DeKalb City Council, NTC will do more expanded news programming, said Allen May, a general broadcast manager...

Biernacki up for official approval

By Libby John | January 23, 2004

Mark Biernacki may receive official approval to become the new DeKalb city manager at Monday’s city council meeting.

Along with approving him for the position, the city council also will discuss his potential salary, insurance benefits, severance pay and the rest of his employment agreement.

Several council members expressed concerns about his pay and severance agreement at the last council meeting. Biernacki’s negotiated salary is $10,439 more than previous city manager Jim Connors’.

Also up for final approval is a special-use permit to convert the building on 830 Edgebrook Drive into apartments. The permit would allow for 87 parking spaces.

The former dormitory once housed 150 residents and provided 40 parking spaces.

Paul Rasmussen, a community development director for DeKalb, said the building has been a problem that they have been working to solve for some time.

The council also will look into an intergovernmental agreement with DeKalb School District No. 428.

The agreement would bring the school district into discussions whenever a developer is interested in an annexation agreement for residential development.

City Attorney Margo Ely said the school and park districts always were invited to the discussions. This would just make it a formal agreement.

The council also will look to approve a special-use permit that would allow a drive-through facility at the former Red Lobster, 2470 Sycamore Road.

Joseph Freed and Associates, the realtor trying to sell the property, has not confirmed which restaurant would move into the location at Northland Plaza.

The city council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St.

Camping fees may rise to ease budget

By Libby John | January 23, 2004

Campers now have to pack more than a tent and s’mores when going on a trip. Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his administration are considering raising camping fees to help with the state’s budget. For campers who have electricity and water hook-ups, the...

Bromley conversion proposed

By Libby John | January 23, 2004

After a history of vandalism, drug activity and unstable ownership, the old Bromley Hall soon may be called home. The building was constructed in 1966 as a dormitory for 150 people. The building, located on 830 Edgebrook Drive, may be turned into either...