McHenry County Blog

This morning before 11, I went over to Crystal Lake’s Main Beach to see what was happening with the Gay Games.

What made the biggest impression was the show of force by the police. I drove on South Shore Drive.

Speed boats were enjoying the lake. This one is pulling a young child on a tube.

I saw that CCAPOA (Country Club Additions Property Owners Association) beaches had signs saying,

CCAPOA Members Only

Before I even got to the Main Beach, I saw the police boat with two officers in it. I don't think I have ever seen two officers in the boat, but maybe I have just not been observant before. (Having just seen the Pirates movie, I wonder if they were planning on boarding misbehaving boats.)

Next, I saw two Lakewood police cars, one sitting at Gate 4 and the other behind me at Gate 3.

As I drove past the last house west of the main intersection, I saw Christians holding signs. They were cordoned off behind a snow fence. Their small part of the area is where only traffic and those allowed to go behind another snow fence blocking off the west end of the Main Beach park where the regatta is being staged can see them.

Christians must be really threatening to the powers-that-be.

Inside there were white shirts, blue shirts and green shirts on policemen.

There was even a policeman on a bicycle talking with other blue and white shirted colleagues south of the Main Beach House. The only place I did not see police was north of the Main Beach House on the opposite end of where the Gay Games Regatta was being staged.

Nine police cars were parked on the grass south of the main parking lot.

There are two policemen standing near a gate on Lake Avenue across the street from what a snow fenced off area that is euphemistically called

First Amendment Participation Area

It is where most participants will never see it, of course.

We couldn’t have those giving the Christian message interacting with the public.

But, it was close to the media parking area. When I left at 1, ABC and CBS had trucks parked near the 1st Amendment area. In this photo, the Channel Two reporter is interviewing the Christians.