Less than one month after the announcement that Northern Illinois University benefactors Dr. Kenneth and Ellen Chessick will donate $3 million to the University to name the Kenneth and Ellen Chessick Practice Center, the new indoor training facility for Huskie Athletics, NIU President Dr. John Peters and Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Jeff Compher announced the project’s official launch and campaign details Saturday prior to Northern Illinois’ 105th Homecoming football game.

There's no time like now to act to protect self, family

Autumn is the beginning of the flu season and getting a flu vaccinatation is the first and most important step in protecting yourself and your family.
And there's no time like now to act.

PRINCEVILLE —As a memorial to his wife and a tribute to the village that provided a good life for him, Dean Troutman is donating land for a 5.56-acre park on the north side of Princeville.

SPRINGFIELD —With recyclable metal theft becoming more and more of a problem, a state representative is asking Illinois legislators to approve a bill designed to deter people from stealing precious metal.

 Photo provided by Rader Family.

NORMAL — To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Illinois State University Department of Agriculture, the Rader Family Farm has carved a corn maze in the shape of the Reggie Redbird logo on over seven acres of farmland.

North Central College will host a talk by Bill Bryson Oct. 26 as part of the College’s Sesquicentennial Author Series presented by Anderson’s Bookshops.

Photo from Wikipedia.

The United Methodist Church of Batavia was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Cyclists can access the Gilman Trail at many locations, including this access point on South Broadway in Aurora on the east bank of the Fox River.  Photo by News Bulletin Staff.

-Contributed by Jeff Long

Like all regional trails, the Virgil Gilman Trail was designed as an avenue of escape for walkers, runners, cyclists and skiers. Trails are a sanctuary – protected pathways that provide a soothing alternative to the craziness of city streets and highway shoulders.

The Waubonsee Community College Foundation held its fifth annual Scholarship Fest on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the college’s Sugar Grove Campus.

 Photo by News Bulletin Staff.

Scarecrows and people were out in full force last weekend as St. Charles' annual Scarecrow Festival displayed talents of creators while also offering music and plenty of food.

A makeshift memorial marks the tragedy at a Claim St. apartment building where a fire took several lives this summer.  Photo by News Bulletin Staff.

In wake of fatal blaze, Aurora officials hit the community

Interacting with 13,000 people in 31 days seems like a tall order, but for the Aurora Fire Department, it is an essential mission to better educate local residents on fire safety – and possibly save lives in the process.

Photo by News Bulletin staff.

PEORIA — The Hillel opened a renovated, 4,200 square-foot house last month to serve as a neighborhood house for Jewish Bradley University students as well as local Jewish communities.

IDNR Director Marc Miller, Louisiana Chef Philippe Parola and Chef Tim Creehan at last week's Target Hunger Now Event in Chicago.  Over 350 meals were served to the Chicagoland Community.  Photo provided by the Illinois DNR.

SPRINGFIELD — Most people associate Asian carp with something that is pesky or annoying.
However, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are asking people to consider these large, boney fish that are destroying ecosystems in the Illinois river system as something that is edible.

NORMAL — At a board meeting last week, McLean County Unit 5 officials announced that their school district, along with neighboring District 87, were selected to represent Illinois in a five-state pilot program funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

North Ave in Naperville Historic District. (Wikipedia photo)

The Naperville Historic District is a set of 613 buildings. Of these 613 buildings, 544 contribute to the historical integrity of the area.

A twisted beam from New York City's World Trade Center was put on display as part of the opening of College of DuPage's new Homeland Security Center last month.  Photo by News Bulletin staff.

"Wow” was the universal reaction of area officials at the Sept. 27 dedication of the Homeland Security Education Center at College of DuPage.

The Fox Valley Park District invited dogs and their people to the annual Paws in the Park Festival on Sunday at Aurora's Lincoln Park (all photos by News Bulletin staff).

- Contributed by Al Benson

Ignacio "Nacho" Cervantes made history earlier this month.  In a ceremony at the East Aurora School District service center, the AU sophomore criminal justice major became the youngest member of the East Aurora School Board.

A circle of light shows the location of the underground Tevatron at Batavia's Fermilab, which covered a wide circle through Kane and DuPage counties.  Photo supplied.

Tevatron shutdown ends 26 years of history-making research

After 26 years of colliding particles and providing cutting edge scientific research, Fermilab's Tevatron officially shut down last week.

From clubhouse to fairway and everything in between, Wheaton museum has sport's local history well-covered

Jim Edgar addressing the crowd.

EUREKA - Former Governor Jim Edgar, honorary chairman of the Eureka College Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration, was the keynote speaker at the dedication of the Mark R. Shenkman Reagan Research Center at Melick Library on the campus of Eureka College