Electoral Board meets Feb. 5: The DeKalb Municipal Officers Electoral Board will rule on objections filed against mayoral candidates Andrew Anderson and Keith Justice as well as 6th Ward aldermanic candidate Luke Coyne. The hearing will take place at the DeKalb Municipal Building (200 S. 4th St.), Feb. 5 at 5:30pm.
DeKalb resident Kay F. Menzel and former alderman Ken Gregory have filed objections against mayoral candidates Justice and Anderson. According to the objections, Justice did not obtain the required number of valid signatures and Anderson allegedly did not sign his petitions.
DeKalb Sixth Ward aldermanic candidate David Baker filed an objection against his opponent, Luke Coyne, an NIU student and DeKalb Liquor Commission member. Baker's objection alleges that Coyne did not live in the 6th Ward when he began seeking signatures on his petitions. According to Illinois law, candidates must reside in the ward they seek office for at least 30 days prior to the election.
If a petition is ruled to be invalid by the Electoral Board, that candidate would be removed from the election ballot (held April 3).
Kishwaukee College welcomes newest Board Member: At their regularly scheduled meeting in January, the KC Board of Trustees appointed its newest member, Richard Ohlinger, Rochelle. Ohlinger will serve the rest of Les Springmire’s term. Springmire, a long-time Board member and friend of the college, passed away in October 2000 having served on the Board for 12 years.
Ohlinger is the founder and President of Lincoln State Bank in Rochelle. A life-long resident of Rochelle, he adds his service to Kishwaukee College to a long list of past and present civic involvement including serving on the Rochelle Elementary School Board, the Rochelle Utility Board, and as Director and Treasurer of Kishwaukee Community Hospital. The KC Board of Trustees’ newest member holds a BA in Agriculture Marketing and Finance from the University of Illinois.
Of his appointment, Ohlinger says "Kishwaukee is a great college and such a vital part of the community . . . I’m looking forward to maintaining its high standards and top-notch staff."
KC Board Chair Don Huftalin said, "We’re pleased to have such an established, well-respected businessman as Ohlinger join the Board. As a Rochelle resident, Ohlinger keeps the district representation balanced, and his financial expertise and experience are very valuable—especially now that the Phase V building project has begun."
In his report to the Board, Dr. Louis stated that Reggie Pittman, the admitted caller of three of the Spring 2000 bomb threats to the college, received the maximum allowable sentence of 21 months in federal prison with three years of probation to be served afterward. Pittman was also ordered to pay the college $4120 in restitution.
KC Dean of Student Services, Larry Apperson, reported that at the time of the meeting college enrollment was up 2% in credit hours and 4% in headcount.
The next regularly scheduled Kishwaukee College Board of Trustees meeting is Tuesday, February 13, at 7 p.m.
