The topic will be part of Monday’s DeKalb Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, set for 6 p.m. Monday at the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St.

The applicant, Park 88 Group LLC, seeks city permission to approve the final development plan for a 47-acre property at the northeast corner of Fairview and Macom drives.

The development also needs approval from the City Council. The Commission is expected to review the plan for compliance with city code.

The manufacturer wasn’t identified in city documents released ahead of Monday’s meeting, but plans show the site referred to as “Project Big Lakes.”

If approved, the facility also could include a 185,640-square-foot expansion to the building, plans show. The build is next to the Park 88 Target Distribution Center and 3M buildings, according to a site map.

The development would include truck and delivery access to the site from two areas along Macom Drive, and 140 parking spaces with five handicap accessible spots.

The Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District also reviewed the plan, according to city documents.

Before construction can begin, additional plans for building permits and a final engineering plan, including landscaping and lighting details, also require city review and approval.

The developer hopes to begin construction, starting with grading work, in July, with plans to be operational by mid-2027, documents show.

DeKalb city staff also recommends city approval.

Also at Monday’s commission meeting, a proposal to expand Hillcrest Covenant Church, 1515 N. First St., DeKalb, is expected to undergo review.

The special use permit request proposes a one-story addition to the space to accommodate a larger sanctuary, which would seat up to 350 people. The proposal also includes plans to add classrooms for religious instruction, gathering spaces and expanded bathrooms on both levels.

Severe weather began Wednesday afternoon and is expected to continue into the evening and through Thursday, forecasts show.

A flood watch also is in effect until 4 a.m. Thursday.

The severe thunderstorm warning could bring 60 mph winds to DeKalb, Sandwich, Shabbona, Cortland, Hinckley, Somonauk, Waterman, Maple Park and parts of La Salle County.

The storms bring with them the possibility for tornadoes. The tornado watch affects much of the region, including DeKalb, Bureau, Kane, La Salle, Kendall, Lee and Grundy counties.

More than 400 DeKalb County residents remain affected by power outages into the evening Wednesday, according to ComEd.

That’s from a reported 45 outages as of 7:53 p.m.

Severe weather swept across northern Illinois Wednesday afternoon, bringing high winds and rain to the area.

ComEd reports more than 253,100 Illinoisans are without power as of shortly before about 7:50 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued a brief severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the southern portions of the county. That alert expired at 3:45 p.m.

This story was updated at 7:55 p.m. June 10, 2026. Additional updates could occur.

DeKalb County sheriff’s deputies responded to the call at about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday on Illinois Route 72, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

The Kingston residents called 911 due to a large amount of smoke coming from the house.

When crews arrived, they saw smoke coming from an attached garage.

The home’s two occupants were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported, authorities said.

Investigators deemed the fire accidental and not suspicious in nature, according to the release.

Crews from Margeno, Genoa-Kingston and Sycamore fire departments assisted in the emergency response.

The following local agencies received funding through the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The state office distributed $6 million to 260 fire departments and EMS providers across Illinois, according to a news release.

“It is essential that our first responders have the funding and equipment they need to serve their communities,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news release. “I am proud to support our brave firefighters and EMS providers, and this state program helps deliver vital resources to emergency service departments across Illinois.”

This program is meant to address a problem that state officials said has long caused difficulties for fire departments and not-for-profit ambulance services in Illinois, particularly those challenged with affording equipment.

“The Small Equipment Grant Program is a vital resource that helps fire departments and EMS providers acquire essential tools and equipment they might otherwise be unable to afford,” State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow said in the release. “As we travel throughout Illinois, we consistently hear about the challenges departments face and the critical needs that exist in their communities. The OSFM remains committed to supporting our first responders by investing in programs like this that strengthen their capabilities, enhance public safety, and ensure they have the resources needed to serve and protect the people of Illinois.”

Most Illinois fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments, and stand-alone, nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply.

All applicants were required to participate in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) for a minimum of two years prior to applying.

The following local agencies received funding through the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The state office distributed $6 million to 260 fire department and EMS providers across Illinois, according to a news release.

“It is essential that our first responders have the funding and equipment they need to serve their communities,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news release. “I am proud to support our brave firefighters and EMS providers, and this state program helps deliver vital resources to emergency service departments across Illinois.”

This program is meant to address a problem that state officials said has long caused difficulties for fire departments and not-for-profit ambulance services in Illinois, particularly those challenged with affording equipment.

“The Small Equipment Grant Program is a vital resource that helps fire departments and EMS providers acquire essential tools and equipment they might otherwise be unable to afford,” State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow said in the release. “As we travel throughout Illinois, we consistently hear about the challenges departments face and the critical needs that exist in their communities. The OSFM remains committed to supporting our first responders by investing in programs like this that strengthen their capabilities, enhance public safety, and ensure they have the resources needed to serve and protect the people of Illinois.”

Most Illinois fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments, and stand-alone, nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply.

All applicants were required to participate in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) for a minimum of two years prior to applying.

Amias C. Montoya, 21, was charged on May 11 with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, two counts of possession of material depicting child sexual abuse, and three misdemeanor counts of sexual exploitation of a child, according to DeKalb County court records.

If convicted of the most serious charge – aggravated criminal sexual abuse, which is a Class 2 felony – Montoya could face up to seven years in prison.

Montoya appeared before a judge for a pretrial hearing this week, records show. He was released from jail pending trial.

DeKalb police allege that Montoya sexually abused a minor, who was 15 at the time, on March 5 and Feb. 6, according to court filings.

The minor said they engaged sexually with Montoya and had told Montoya they were 18, police wrote in court filings.

DeKalb police allegedly found messages between Montoya and the minor on Montoya’s Snapchat account. Messages exchanged between the two on Snapchat show multiple sexually explicit materials, including photographs that identify the minor and Montoya, police alleged in court filings.

The DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition on June 3 to deny release to Montoya, records show.

Associate Judge Jill Konen denied that motion, instead ruling on Wednesday that Montoya could be released with conditions. Montoya was ordered not to contact the minor. He is also prohibited from using the internet or interacting with minors unsupervised, records show.

He’s represented by defense attorney Emma Franklin of the DeKalb County Public Defender’s Office.

Montoya’s next court date is 1:30 p.m. July 9 in front of Circuit Court Judge Joseph Pedersen.

Nolan Boehmer and Grace Frederick were named King and Queen of this year’s contest. The pair were crowned on May 27. They each received a $1,500 scholarship.

Boehmer and Frederick competed in a public interview with their peers.

The annual competition, which helped kickstart the summertime festival in downtown Genoa last week, awards graduating seniors with financial aid.

The Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce plays host to the competition, which on May 27 celebrated 10 area seniors.

They included: Anthony Gum, Mason McPeek, Madelynn Swanson, Keiragan Gleissner, Derek Homan, Quincy James, Lillian Provost, Grace Frederick, Nolan Boehmer and Kaylie Martinez-Beach.

All finalists were awarded $100, according to the Chamber.

“Thank you to all the amazing contestants for the work they put into the competition and for being wonderful representatives of our community,“ Chamber officials wrote in a social media announcement. “And thank you to all who came out last night to cheer on and support them!”

Seeley Williams, 20, was charged on May 25 with unlawful possession of a machine gun or automatic weapon in a vehicle and armed violence, both Class X felonies, according to a news release from the Geneva Police Department.

If convicted of the Class X felony, Williams could face up to 30 years in prison or 60 years on a more severe sentence. He was also cited by Geneva police for speeding.

Williams also was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with an invalid FOID card; aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon in a vehicle while under 21; aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon in a vehicle with ammunition; aggravated unlawful possession of a vehicle without a FOID card; manufacturing or delivering more than 10 grams of cannabis; unlawful use of a weapon in a vehicle; possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card; illegal possession of ammunition without a FOID card; violating an order of protection; unlawful possession of cannabis by a driver; and possessing more than 10 but less than 30 grams of cannabis, according to Geneva police.

Geneva officers stopped a Honda Civic driven by Williams about 10:17 p.m. May 25 in the 1600 block of West State Street, according to the release. Authorities alleged he was speeding, driving 56 mph in a 35-mph zone.

During the stop, a Geneva police officer allegedly smelled cannabis from inside the vehicle and asked Williams to exit the Honda.

When Williams got out of the car, an officer allegedly saw a THC cartridge in plain view, which is illegal for Williams to have since he’s not yet 21, according to the release.

Police said they found additional THC cartridges in the car. They also found a plastic sandwich-sized bag containing “a green leafy substance, suspected to be cannabis,” and a digital scale in the glove box, authorities said.

In the trunk of the car, police allegedly found a Glock 22, Gen4, 0.40-caliber handgun which had been converted to a fully automatic weapon with a “switch,” police said. Next to the gun was a loaded high-capacity drum magazine with about 45 rounds of 0.40-caliber ammunition, according to the release. Police said the handgun was loaded with a bullet.

Geneva police said Williams doesn’t have a valid FOID card.

Williams was ordered detained pending trial at the request of the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, authorities said.

This story was updated at 6:40 p.m. June 3, 2026, with more information from the Geneva Police Department.

Crews were called about 7:34 p.m. Saturday to a fire on South Locust Street after the caller reported smoke in a building.

Firefighters said the occupants were out of the residence by the time crews arrived, according to a news release from the Sycamore Fire Department.

Firefighters found the fire inside a wall of the residence, but they quickly brought it under control, according to the release.

Crews remained on the scene for about two hours.

No injuries were reported. The cause remains under investigation but the fire was ruled accidental, according to the fire department.

Officials estimated the fire caused about $75,000 in damage to the residence.

Crews from DeKalb, Elburn, Hampshire, Cortland, Maple Park, Kirkland, Burlington, Pingree Grove, ComEd and Nicor assisted, along with Sycamore police and DeKalb County telecommunicators.

The DeKalb Fire Department responded to a report of smoke and fire inside the occupied industrial manufacturing facility on East Locust Street about 12:33 a.m. Wednesday, according to a news release.

When crews arrived, they found smoke showing from the outside of the building. Firefighters searched the facility for occupants.

No injuries were reported, and all building occupants were accounted for.

Crews found that the fire started on a second-floor electrical panel at the plant, according to the release. The building’s fire sprinkler system successfully activated and helped with the fire response.

Firefighters used dry chemical agents to help extinguish the high-voltage electrical fire.

Crews brought the fire under control in about one hour and remained on the scene for just over two hours.

Due to the hazards of the electrical fire, firefighters temporarily exited the building until power could be safely isolated. ComEd responded and worked with firefighters to disconnect power so that crews could return to the building and put it out, according to the release.

While DeKalb firefighters responded to Nehring Electrical Works, authorities from nearby departments helped provide mutual aid to DeKalb for other 911 calls, including a small garage fire in the early morning hours, according to the release.

Crews from Burlington, Cortland, Elburn, Malta, Maple Park, Shabbona, Sycamore, Rochelle and Genoa-Kingston assisted, along with DeKalb police.

The train is on a coast-to-coast trip to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.

Among its stops in the region Tuesday afternoon were Sterling and Rochelle, which included whistle stops to the delight of huge crowds and onlookers.

More than 2,000 people are estimated to have come to the Rochelle Railroad Park on Tuesday to see the Big Boy locomotive make a whistle stop, Rochelle Director of Community Engagement Jenny Thompson said.

Hundreds stretched along both sides of the train tracks in downtown Sterling on Tuesday to catch a glimpse as the huge steam engine rolled by.

The world’s largest operating steam locomotive was delayed for about 30 minutes before crossing from Iowa into Illinois on Tuesday afternoon, passing through Morrison about 1:45 p.m.

Big Boy headed into West Chicago Tuesday evening.

As it makes its way east, Big Boy 4014 will end up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4 before starting its westward return journey, including stops in St. Louis, Missouri. The train is expected to travel through central Illinois in mid-July.

Stops in New York, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas and Colorado await the historic locomotive in late July.

Shaw Local’s Jeff Helfrich and Jeannine Otto contributed.