Rock Valley Credit Union opens new spot in DeKalb

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists will host a coat drive this month to collect items for the Sycamore United Methodist Church Coat Ministry. The coat drive runs through Oct. 17.

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed the Children’s Learning Center to its membership.

Catch up on the week’s top DeKalb County news in minutes for the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The DeKalb County History Center will partner with the Ellwood House Museum to host the second part of its “Dessert and Dialogue” discussion series.

The public is invited to celebrate centennial manufacturers and farms on Oct. 8 when the “Makers on the Move” Bus Tour rolls into DeKalb County.

Adults and teenagers who want to learn various ways to edit photos for Halloween are invited to a DeKalb Public Library workshop this month.

Rooted For Good released a list of October locations for Grow Mobile, a mobile food pantry that offers free food and household items to all who visit, no requirements necessary. To receive Grow Mobile alerts, text FreeGroceries to 844-727-2012.

The DeKalb Public Library will host a fiber arts club meeting for adults and teenagers this month to practice sewing and other activities.

Sycamore married couple Gary Schmidt and Holly Schmidt are being remembered for their love of animals, enduring community spirit and how they “gave so openly." A GoFundMe campaign is raising money to support their family.

Tails Humane Society will hold its annual Mutt Strut 5K Walk and Run fundraiser to benefit its homeless animals adoption services on Saturday.

Column: With grass growing slower and leaves starting to drop, our lawn care shifts from beautifying to cleaning up and preparing for the cold winter ahead, writes Rob Srygler of DeKalb's Citizens' Environmental Commission.

The DeKalb and Sycamore townships will hold a drive-thru shred and recycle event this week for township residents.

DeKalb man Jeremy Westbrook was sentenced by a judge Thursday to almost 100 years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting a child. The sentence came about a decade after his arrest and years of questions over his mental fitness, records show

DeKalb County Engineer Nathan Schwartz said the next phase of the Peace Road widening project, which would focus on the area from Freed Road to Main Street in Sycamore, likely won’t commence until 2028.

Join DeKalb Mutual Aid on Oct. 25 for a fundraiser supporting transgender individuals.

NIU's Homecoming Parade and Block Party is from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 in downtown DeKalb.

Downtown DeKalb has a new spot for steaks and other food, after Florentino’s Charhouse opened this month.

Looking for something fun to do in DeKalb County this season? Check out this list of family-friendly events.

KVAL’s “Things I Love About DeKalb County” juried art show’s artist reception and awards ceremony is Oct. 3. That, glass blowing demonstrations and other programming await in October at the Kishwaukee Valley Art League in Sycamore.

The DeKalb County History Center will host its annual “Etched in Stone” Cemetery Walk, touring a local cemetery next month.

Safe Passage is encouraging DeKalb County community members to use purple decorations or paint storefronts purple in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Successful golf outing benefits Kishwaukee Cancer Center, showcasing community support.

Local elected officials, developers and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital representatives met in Sycamore Wednesday to herald the beginning of a charitable housing project.

Circuit Court Judge Philip Montgomery denied the man’s release, ruling that Schmidt’s release could endanger the public and citing the man’s criminal record

An order of protection filed by a Sycamore woman against her 35-year-old son expired weeks before her death, which authorities have alleged was caused by him, court records show.

Column: On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the public is invited to join the “Makers on the Move” Bus Tour as it stops in DeKalb County to celebrate centennial manufacturers and farms, writes Melissa Amedeo.

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists is collecting donations for the Sycamore United Methodist Church Coat Ministry. Needed items include new and gently-used coats, boots, mittens, scarves, and other winter accessories.

Update: A 35-year-old Sycamore man has been charged with murder in connection to the violent deaths of his parents, authorities announced Tuesday. This is a developing story.

Skylar Weiland did everything right: Graduated with honors, completed internships and networked extensively. Yet the Northern Illinois University economics graduate spent months unemployed applying to as many as 50 jobs per day before landing a job outside his field.

With no appointment necessary, adults and children can now walk into the DeKalb County Health Department and receive a flu vaccine five days a week, the department announced Monday.

A Davis Junction woman and a Kentucky man suffered serious injuries when their overturned Harley-Davidson Trike landed on them during a Sunday crash in Shabbona Township, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

Residents are invited to swap houseplants and lightly used clothing during a monthly sustainability swap at the DeKalb Public Library in October.

The Roasted Rooster restaurant won the second annual best sandwich contest for its fried chicken and homemade waffle sandwich.

DeKalb area agencies recently got some local funding, including Oaken Acres Wildlife Center for a new racoon rehab center and Rooted for Good which is fundraising for a new community health and food facility.

The initiative provides Kishwaukee College nursing students funds for textbooks and class materials.

The DeKalb Public Library will host a Safe Passage informational booth for community members to learn about the organization’s services which include help for those suffering from domestic violence.

The DeKalb Police Department renewed a $1.2 million five-year contract this week for body cameras, police car cameras and new tasers, according to city documents.

The University of Illinois Extension will partner with Purdue Extension to host two workshops in Sycamore next month for people to learn about stormwater runoff pollution reduction.

Sycamore’s fiscal 2026 budget could be $700,000 more than 2025, the city's top official told the City Council this month. City Manager Michael Hall said the proposal would come without a property tax raise, however.

Mayor Cohen Barnes said this week that the city is considering expanding its local support for networks and groups that help those facing homelessness in DeKalb. Homelessness, including among youth, is on the rise across Illinois, data shows.

Catch up on the week’s top DeKalb County news in minutes for the week of Sept. 21-27. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Check out some of the top pictures captured by Daily Chronicle photographers for Shaw Local News Network the week of Sept. 20-26, 2025.

It’s spooky season, and the public is invited to a Universal Pictures classic horror film series at a DeKalb Public Library program featuring William Pack.

A Waterman man pleaded guilty and was sentenced this month to possessing material that depicted child sexual abuse after a year-long investigation, court records show.

This year’s Sycamore Pumpkin Fest Historic Homes Tour’s theme is “Whimsical Homes” and includes various homes with intriguing stories. Get a sneak peek at the next Brown Bag Lunch lecture on Oct. 2.

A Genoa woman was hospitalized after a rollover crash Friday involving an SUV and a truck in northern DeKalb County, authorities said.

Want to learn how to prevent yourself from falling victim to online scams or identity theft? State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, and Cortland Mayor Mark Pietrowski will cohost an informational prevention session Sept. 29 with experts from the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

St. George Greek Orthodox Church will hold a “Taste of Greece” fundraiser dinner on Saturday to support the church’s philanthropic commitments.

A DeKalb man who recently was charged with animal cruelty after police said he struck a cat in the face with a hammer was ordered by a judge this week to forfeit his dogs, Mochi the Shiba Inu and S’Mores, a Yorkshire Terrier, court records show.