News and sports images from the week of December 15 to 21, 2013

Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Jana Thomas a retail sales clerk at Super One Dollar Store in Sycamore helps Becki Burke of Sycamore with her purchases on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. Thomas has been working at the retail store for six weeks.
Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Treneice Nichols (left) of the Salvation Army rings a bell as a customer leaving Inboden's Meats Ltd. in DeKalb checks his pockets for a donation on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013.
Monica Maschak - mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Jackie DeCleene and her seven-year-old daughter, Anaya DeCleene, play a game called Suspend (similar to Jenga) on Wednesday, December 18, 2013. The DeCleenes like to focus at least one night a week doing activities together that do not involve smart technologies.
Monica Maschak - mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Griffin McNeal shoots for two in the first quarter against Burlington Central on Thursday, December 19, 2013. The Cogs beat the Rockets, 62-59.
Monica Maschak - mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Megan Jackson picks out some groceries with her one-year-old son, Cameron Jackson, at Schnuck's in DeKalb on Saturday, December 14, 2013. Jackson is in the WIC program.
Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Veteran Service Officer Steve Kreitzer thanks third grade students at Malta Elementary School on Tuesday morning after they made ornaments which will be hung on a Christmas tree at the DeKalb County Veterans Assistance Commission office to honor veterans this holiday season.
Monica Maschak - mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Mark Skelley takes a shot in the first quarter on Saturday, December 14, 2013. The Spartans beat the Barbs, 55-38.
Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
(From front to back) Emma Carlson, 12, Breanna Hamrick, 12, and Travis Haak 13, all of Kirkland help wrap Christmas gifts during the Marine Corps Toys for Tots distribution event at the Salvation Army in DeKalb, Ill., Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013.
Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
The Haberkamp family of Genoa, including Brian (from left to right), Kailey Lynn, 2, and Krista, spend the afternoon sledding at Russell Woods in Genoa, Ill., Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013. It had been over 20 years since Krista had last gone sledding at the hill after she crashed and received eight stitches below her chin. For Kailey Lynn it was her first sledding experience.