He was known as "Cool Rog" to those who chuckled at his clever sayings and to younger protegés who admired his pool-shooting prowess.

Roger Cliffe, an NIU technology professor, died Aug. 31 of a heart attack. He is remembered by his younger brother Bob as more of a best friend than a sibling.

"He was like a teacher to me all my life, really," Bob said of his brother, mentioning perseverance and a strong work ethic, as well as the game of pool, as lessons Roger imparted.

Bob reminisced about how he and Roger would walk into their Catholic school as kids, across the street from their home, as their mother watched to make sure they entered the school. After walking into the church under her watchful eye, the boys would go into the church's side door and back out the other side, sneaking off to play pool. Robert was about 12, and Roger was about 15.

"It was pretty cheap fun, and we got good at it," Bob said. "Then we could make money doing it too ... a lot of gambling and stuff like that."

The two brothers preferred not to play against each other in later years, Bob said.

"I just didn't have that competitive spirit against him that I would for somebody else," he said. "He was my friend."

The times they did play pool against one another, Bob said Roger's personality came through in his game.

"You could never really relax against him," he said. "Even when I had a really good defensive situation against him, he was very imaginative and creative with his shots. There was always a danger that he could come back, and he did it to me several times."

The extroverted older brother, Roger did enough talking for both brothers, Bob said.

"Roger really had the gift to gab," he added, after a pause. "I'm telling you, he could sell anything and he had all these different sayings and little witticisms."

Rob Gooley, a 23-year-old DeKalb resident, knew Roger for several years and learned from watching him play pool. He remembered Roger as a player with character, who didn't have to stop his commentary in favor of concentration. He described the way Roger could make his shots with consistent accuracy while still spouting off some of the witty remarks he was known for.

"He had a lot of sayings," Gooley said. "A lot of them were about pool, some were about women, some were about life and wisdom."

Gooley recalled how Roger talked the pool balls into the pockets ("Run, rabbit, run!"), and how his expressions brought life to the game ("Whoa, white wonder!").

Bob said Roger would be remembered not only for his sense of humor, but also for the integrity he brought to his work, his high standards and his honesty.

"He was respected — I guess in some ways he could be up there in the clouds, but he really kept his feet on the ground ... a down-to-earth kind of person," Bob said.

"He was a reinforcing kind of person," he added. "It was always good to see him — a lot of people said that — because he always had a joke or something that would make people laugh. He could ease the tension in any kind of circumstance."

Gooley said Roger's encouraging attitude even came through against his opponents.

"When I'd lose to him, I'd be all ticked-off. He'd come up and say, ‘Hey kid, you shot a good game. Don't worry about it. You'll get me next time.'"

Beyond his skill in the pool hall, Roger was known for his woodworking skills, exemplified in videos, books and a column he wrote for "Woodshop News."

"He was a master woodworker, there's no question about that," Bob said. "He could make anything. He started making pool cues, as a matter of fact, which is a real art. It takes a lot of patience — it's a real long process."

Bob, a psychologist, benefitted from Roger's expertise with psychological tests he created, which use wooden pegs to determine memory skills. The tests are a small example of the bigger things Roger contributed to others' lives.

"Without Roger's assistance, I don't think I'd be where I am," Bob said. "He's helped a lot of people. He was a generous person."

Minus a few CD collections, there is no anthrax in DeKalb.

That fact hasn't stopped paranoid residents from reporting suspicious packages to police.

DeKalb police Lt. Jim Kayes said they have received two calls from residents who thought they received anthrax through letters.

In the first incident, police say a man found a pile of greeting cards in his car, and in the second incident, a resident became frightened after she received an advertisement from a phone company. This caused both residents to call police, fearing they might have come in contact with anthrax.

"People are scared right now," Kayes said. "They need to relax and use common sense. Most people targeted have been in the media and government ... It would be unusual to target DeKalb."

There have been no incidents reported at NIU, University Police chief Donald Grady said.

Grady added, people who have heard anything about instances at NIU have fallen victim to a rumor.

The situations reported to DeKalb police were handled properly, Kayes said, and should there have been any real threats, they would be ready for that, as well.

To ensure that officials around the county were prepared, a meeting was held Thursday bringing together officials from DeKalb Police, University Police, DeKalb County Sheriff's Department and health officials from around the county.

"We got together to make sure we're all on the same sheet of music, and we're prepared to handle anything," Grady said.

Grady wants the campus community to know they shouldn't fall into the trap of being so afraid that they immobilize themselves, and he ensures that campus leaders are doing a fine job of dealing with any fears stemming form the Sept. 11 attacks.

"We've done all we need to do to ensure people on campus will be safe as they can be," Grady said.

Debuting as one of the newest hotspots for food, drinks and dancing, Vertigo Nite Club and Bistro 145 offer people a chance to experience a piece of DeKalb's nightlife.

Unlike most of DeKalb's other evening establishments, the club allows the 18 to 21 crowd the opportunity to party with older friends.

Vertigo Nite Club and Bistro 145, 145 N. 3rd St., will allow under-age people to eat and dance while also allowing those of age the ability to drink. The club, opening its doors tonight at 8 p.m., will provide club-goers with the experience of brilliant sounds, spectacular lights and a fun-filled atmosphere.

Joe Bortz, owner of Vertigo Nite Club and Bistro 145, said when he visited DeKalb a year ago, he saw the need for a great club.

"There are so many residents and students who like to party and have fun," Bortz said. "We are creating a serious, Chicago-style, heavy investment, nightclub atmosphere," Bortz said.

Bortz believes in using local artists as well as other students to work in the club and restaurant. The club boasts original artwork by artists in Chicago as well as three NIU students.

Bortz said that a dress code and the need for proper identification will be enforced at the club. Club-goers should dress appropriately and plan on keeping their daily work clothes in the closet and bringing out their club attire.

The club will feature music such as top-40, Euro and progressive all set to intricate laser lights. The entertainment system featured in the club cost more than $100,000 deejays from all over the country can be expected at the club in the future.

Bortz is adamant about enforcing the 21-year-old drinking age even though the younger crowd will be allowed to socialize under the same roof.

"It's in our best business interest to enforce the law for people under 21 and to not let them drink in the area that is over 21," Bortz said.

Vertigo Nite Club will be open Wednesday and Thursday 8 p.m. to 1a.m., and Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m. Bistro 145 will open at 4:30 p.m. and remain open until the closing of the club. The cover charge will range from $1-4 in the liquor area and $6 in the restaurant area after 8 p.m.