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Community Close-Up 2013

The WNIJ audience includes a wide geographic area in diverse communities with a wide range of challenges and opportunities. This occasional series will inform our audience -- both on air and online -- of activities, opportunities and events in individual communities to build common understanding among listeners of the government, business and social climate in northern Illinois.

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Community Close-Up
6:27 am
Fri March 8, 2013

Close-up: DeKalb And Its Homeless Citizens

Credit Dan Klefstad / pixlr
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WNIJ's Community Close-up of DeKalb examines how a community supports its most vulnerable members.

About 44,000 people live in DeKalb.  Another 5,000 students live on campus at Northern Illinois University. The city is also host to a growing number of people who sleep in their cars, on their friends’ couches, or in the county’s only homeless shelter: Hope Haven.

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Community Close-Up 2013
6:36 am
Tue February 12, 2013

Oregon Adds Sculptures To Build On Art Tradition

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Credit Jenna Dooley/pixlr / WNIJ
Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
"From the Waters Come My Bounty," by Ray Kobald, 2005. Location: Kiwanis Park. It depicts the generosity of the life-giving waters to all things.
Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
"Cornball," by Howard Russo, 2007. Location: Oregon Coliseum. It represents the increased global impact of corn to the world.
Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
"Solar Reef," by Andrew Langoussis, 2009. Location: Oregon Park West. It represents the sun, the source of all energy.
Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
"Agriculture, Mother of Civilization," by David Seagraves, 2006. Location: Judicial Center. She personifies the fertility of the earth and Ogle County
Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
"Bountiful Bench," by Christina Murphy, 2008. Location: Oregon Public Library. Inspired by the Rock River, the woman of nature holds the produce and natural bounty of the area
Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
Jeff Adams shows the progress of sculpting "Soy Pod"
Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
Scraping excess clay from "Soy Pod" sculpture
Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
A calf mold as part of the "Soy Pod" sculpture in progress
Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
Coating process
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We continue our occasional series “Community Close-Up” in Oregon, Illinois.  For the past nine years: large sculptures have been popping up around town.  They are part of a decade-long effort to expand the city’s tradition of art.

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Community Close-Up 2013
7:47 am
Fri February 1, 2013

Elgin Focuses on Future Water Needs

Credit Mike Moen/pixlr
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In our latest Community Close-Up, we look at Elgin. Like most cities, this suburb is faced with a variety of infrastructure needs and challenges. City officials say even one of their points of pride, the public water system, will need attention in the years to come.

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Community Close-Up 2013
6:36 am
Thu January 24, 2013

Rochelle Finds Benefit In Its Nickname

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Credit WNIJ/pixlr
Credit Guy Stephens/pixlr
Public officials mark the grand opening of Japanese company Nippon Sharyo’s new rail car manufacturing facility
Credit Guy Stephens
Rochelle Mayor Chet Olson
Credit Guy Stephens
GREDCO Director Jason Anderson
Credit Guy Stephens
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We continue our series "Community Close-Up" in a city trying to capitalize on its prime location.  Rochelle sits along Lincoln Highway near I-39 and I-88, earning it the nickname as the "Hub City."  City leaders hope recent upgrades and business opportunities will attract people to this city at the crossroads.

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Community Close-Up 2013
6:34 am
Tue January 15, 2013

Aurora Takes Pride In Murder-Free 2012

Credit Jenna Dooley/pixlr
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We continue our series "Community Close-Up" with a look at a milestone in Aurora.  For the first time since 1946, the city ended the year without a single murder. Now some city leaders want to reward officers for the achievement.

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