Local Briefs
Your first stop for briefs from around the county.
Man sentenced to six years for illegally entering United States
A man arrested recently in DeKalb County was sentenced Wednesday to more than six years in jail for illegally entering the United States.
Alvaro Avila, 26, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala to 82 months in prison for illegally entering the United States following two previous deportations to Mexico in 2006, according to a news release sent Wednesday night from the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
Avila pleaded guilty to the charges Oct. 3, according to the news release. He had been deported from the U.S. on April 22, 2006, and Dec. 8, 2006. Avila acknowledged that he did not apply for or receive permission from the Department of Homeland Security to re-enter the county after his two deportations.
Homeland Security was alerted to Avila’s presence by law enforcement officials in DeKalb County after he was placed in custody at the county jail. It was unknown late Wednesday why or when Avila had been in the DeKalb County Jail.
Avila also was ordered to surrender to immigration authorities following his release from jail, serve a period of supervised release of three years and pay a $500 fine, according to the news release.
Foster donates raise to food bank
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Batavia, said Wednesday that he plans to donate the annual Congressional cost of living raise he will receive to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Foster will donate $4,700 to the food bank, which is a nonprofit organization that provides food for those in need in a 13-county service area, which includes DeKalb County. The agency distributes food to more than 40,600 people each week through local food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and activity centers, according to the food bank.
Foster is co-sponsoring legislation to prevent the cost of living adjustment from going into effect for members of Congress in 2010, according to the news release. In 1989, Congress passed a law that provides lawmakers with an automatic pay raise every January unless they vote specifically to reject the raise.
Daffodil orders due soon
Orders are due Feb. 15 for this year’s American Cancer Society Daffodil Days.
The annual Daffodil Days is held the third week of March throughout the country, according to a news release from the group the organizes the local event. The “Gifts of Hope” bunches cost $25 and are arranged bouquets of daffodils and baby’s breath in a purple vase that are delivered anonymously to local patients in DeKalb County who have been diagnosed with cancer.
The American Cancer Society and the DeKalb County committee members organize the event, make contacts with donors and facilitate the delivery of the daffodils to those who have committed to purchasing the flowers.
People also can donate money to the American Cancer Society or send a “Bear Hugs For Hope” to a child with cancer. A minimum of $25 donation will provide a child with cancer a limited edition Boyds Bear, according to the news release.
People may also purchase flowers and bears for themselves. For information or to place an order, call Gracia Polarek at 815-758-5107 or 815-593-0147.
Sycamore dog tags available at reduced fee
Sycamore dog owners can purchase 2009 city dog tags for $5 per dog until March 15, when the fee will increase to $20, according to a news release from the city clerk’s office. Proof of current rabies vaccination is required to receive the tag.
Tags can be purchased at the city clerk’s office, 308 W. State St., between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tags can also be purchased by mailing a check or money order payable to the City of Sycamore, along with proof of vaccination and a self-addressed, stamped envelope, to the clerk’s office.
For more information, call clerk Candy Smith at 815-895-4515.
Extension office launches container gardening Web site
The University of Illinois Extension has launched a new Web site to help create gardens to fit any situation.
“Successful Container Gardens” at www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/containergardening/default.cfm contains information on how to grow plants and flowers in containers as opposed to in the ground, according to a news release from the Extension office.
The Web site discusses choosing a container, selecting soil mixes, choosing and combining plants, fertilizing, watering, grooming basics and other information.
The Web site includes several videos to demonstrate the various techniques and concepts as well as a special section that shows plans for creating specific containers.