Our View

Thumbs up: To the five members of the Choosing Life and Ending Abuse Now (CLEAN) Slate Alumni Association who last week visited DeKalb High School to share their stories with the students there. The five people, whose previous struggles with drugs and alcohol eventually led them into drug court programs, were courageous to openly share their stories. It is wonderful that they are working to change their paths, and we can only hope that students will take their real-life stories to heart and will think twice about their own choices when it comes to drugs and alcohol.

A proposal to use city funds to convert multitenant houses in DeKalb’s Ellwood Historic Neighborhood is an unwise attempt to rush a process that should occur naturally.

If your home sustained damage from the flooding last month, it’s recommended that you register to be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

As the spring legislative session nears its May 31 end, the state’s most-pressing issue is still unresolved.

Thumbs up: To the Great American Novel on the silver screen. With the premiere of the latest Hollywood remake of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” happening nationally this weekend, perhaps watching the film (which stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as his love interest, Daisy Buchanan) will spur some to read one of the great works of American fiction of the 20th century.

Being “green” is in.

A proposal to raise the speed limit by 5 mph in Illinois could put the state in the fast lane for a change.

It sounds as though Northern Illinois University officials are looking for a markedly different leader for NIU’s 63-officer police department.

As farmers become entrenched in planting season, they are hoping a crop of another kind sprouts in Washington, D.C.

Thumbs up: To the restoration of the Nature Trail. After a controversial clearing of trees and vegetation by ComEd within its easement for power lines along the DeKalb trail, representatives from ComEd, the DeKalb Park District, the DeKalb County Forest Preserve worked with area residents to develop a plan to replant along the trail. The forest preserve planted more than 100 shrubs along the trail a couple of weeks ago, and crews installed many more on Thursday. Some trees and native prairie seeding will follow. An important aspect of the plan is that it involves sustainable plants that will not grow tall enough to interfere with the power lines, so future clearing will not be necessary. There was considerable outcry when the area was clear

The plan at Northern Illinois University to require students to live in campus housing for their freshman and sophomore years will have consequences, both intended and unintended.

We applaud this week’s news that local and federal law enforcement agencies were able to disrupt an alleged crack-dealing ring.

Right on schedule, the orange and white construction signs are beginning to pop up on roads around the area.

A federal judge’s deadline fast approaches and few would be surprised to find Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly standing with an empty holster June 9, the deadline for them to pass a concealed carry law.

Thumbs up: To DeKalb County Community Gardens, which is expanding this year. The group’s projects include a new, 30-bed garden near the DeKalb County Community Service Department, 2550 N. Annie Glidden Road. Volunteers are working on the garden today after leaders received $1,500 in federal grants for it. The garden will include a winding walking path, a circular bed with herbs, and wildflowers, prairie grass and picnic tables. The vegetables that grow there will serve the Women, Infants & Children program, Veterans Assistance Commission, residents at Heritage Woods and families enrolled in Head Start. The garden likely will provide a parklike atmosphere for the community, as well as produce for local people in need.