Local

5 things to do in DeKalb County: Drum Corps International, Journey tribute band, Sycamore Steam Show, country music at Hopkins Park and more

Seventeen years after a fire destroyed the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John in Sycamore, the congregation gathered recently to celebrate paying off the debt of its new church with a mortgage-burning ceremony.

Though most DeKalb County long-term care facility residents appear to be vaccinated from COVID-19, new state data shows employee vaccination rates at those facilities is significantly lower. In some local facilities, half the employees are vaccinated.

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, visited the Deutsch dairy farm in Sycamore on a congressional break district tour and said that joining a committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill insurrection is “about fighting for something bigger than your own reelection.”

Though he’s raring to get back to City of DeKalb business soon, the city’s fifth ward alderman said he’s got a ways to go in his recovery after suffering a heart attack in early July.

DeKalb County residents who still need the COVID-19 vaccine may have an even easier time accessing it now, as the DeKalb County Health Department announced Tuesday its received a mobile vehicle which allows them to take the vaccine directly to residents.

Update: A house fire in the 300 block of North Fourth Street that was under control as of 5 p.m. Monday was caused by “improperly discarded smoking material,” according to DeKalb fire officials.

Local banks raise $27,280 for the Kishwaukee Family YMCA

Recipients were from Genoa-Kingston, Hiawatha and Sycamore school districts. Over the past 22 years, the event has recognized 109 educators and distributed $109,000 in awards.

The T.J. Maxx store in DeKalb is making some moves across the street from its current Oakland Place Shopping Center location and will have a bigger sign to boot after a recent DeKalb City Council vote.