Megann Horstead

5 days ago | shawlocal.com | Megann Horstead

DeKALB – To help ensure continuity of service, the DeKalb City Council at a recent meeting gave a green light to solidify an agreement between the city and a local mental health clinic to embed social workers in police response to behavioral health concerns. It is all made possible, in part, due to $135,714 authorized by the city to the Northwestern Medicine Ben Gordon Center in DeKalb. DeKalb Patrol Cmdr.

6 days ago | shawlocal.com | Megann Horstead

DeKALB – In her exit speech this week, outgoing DeKalb School District 428 board President Deyci Ramirez touted what she called her commitment to equity, access and accountability. She spoke about her belief that every student in the district deserves a high quality education in their own neighborhood school. “Every decision I made at this table was with you in mind,” Ramirez said of students. It’s something that has not gone unnoticed by her colleagues in DeKalb School District 428.

6 days ago | shawlocal.com | Megann Horstead

DeKALB – Four new school board members took the oath of office to serve on the DeKalb School District 428 Board this week. Also, changes were made to the board’s meeting schedule Tuesday. Newcomers Nick Atwood, Jose Jaques and Kristin Bailey were elected to four-year terms, while Mark Charvat, who ran an unopposed write-in campaign, was elected to a two-year unexpired term in the April election.

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Megann Horstead

DeKALB – Knowing more than one language is a value that Joette Ball cherishes. English may be the primary language in her home, but the DeKalb resident said she’s always prized the importance of bilingualism. “It’s not a hobby, it’s a skill,” Ball said. Ball has two children who are enrolled in DeKalb School District 428‘s two-way dual-language program for the 2025-26 school year. The program first got its start in 2020 after two years of planning and school board support.

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Megann Horstead

DeKALB – JD Oliva, 45, says life as a freelance documentary filmmaker and writer means there’s never a dull moment. Such a creative life has taken the Streamwood native to countries around the world, like Russia, England, Iceland and Turkey. Even as Oliva transitioned to coaching wrestling and teaching at DeKalb High School, he said life hasn’t necessarily slowed down for him. He’s merely found a new arena to channel his creative energy.