Beyond the Byline: Staff writer Susan Sarkauskas
Staff writer Susan Sarkauskas - "Sue" to longtime friends, "Suzy" to relatives - has had several roles in her 33 years with the Daily Herald.
She started out as a Neighbor copy editor. There was a two-year stint as an assistant city editor, then about 10 years as a copy editor and paginator, while also writing the occasional feature, religion or roadwork column.
She became a local-news reporter in 2007. Her beat has grown. She now covers courts and crime in DuPage and Kane counties, after many years writing about Batavia, Geneva Sugar Grove, Elburn, Aurora and North Aurora.
She is one-half of the "Cops and Crime" column team.
She grew up in the suburbs (shout out, Downers Grove South alumni) and has worked in seven Daily Herald offices. Now, it's "have laptop, will travel," as she works primarily out of her home in Kane County.
The best thing about the job? That it is different every day and that she gets paid to ask questions and learn about many, many things.
Off-duty hobbies include working a part-time job in a completely unrelated field and putzing around in a vegetable garden. She has volunteered for vacation Bible school at her church.