Skip to content
McHenry County Blog

McHenry County Blog

  • About
  • Home

About

Cal Skinner

This is a journal of news and opinion designed to bring to light matters of public interest and to encourage public participation in the governmental process. Emphasis will be on McHenry County, but Illinois state news will be covered. Articles and photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without explicit written permission.

We Hate Spam!

We have recently instituted a system of spam control that helps keep the McHenry County Blog a lean, mean information machine. A side product of this process is that in certain cases you might be blocked or challenged to prove that you aren’t a robot in order to comment on articles.

If for some reason the automated processes that are in place to prove that you are a human do not work, or if you have any other technical problems with the blog, please email techguy at any time for speedy resolution.

About Cal Skinner

About Cal Skinner
Email Cal Skinner

Recent Posts

  • Mexican Arrested by Harvard Police on Child Porn Gets Three Years for Illegal Entry to U.S. October 28, 2026
  • Illinois Democrats Signing Letter of Support for Ilhan Omar, Only One from McHenry County Did Not October 28, 2026
  • Democratic Party County Board Member John Collins Bulks Up His Campaign Account October 28, 2026
  • Illinois’ Braidwood, Byron, Clinton, Dresden, LaSalle, and Quad Cities Nuclear & Other Plants Will Benefit from $5 Billion Federal Infusion October 28, 2026
  • After Endorsing Pritzker, Former GOP House Minority Leader Reactivates His PAC October 28, 2026
uncategorized

Mexican Arrested by Harvard Police on Child Porn Gets Three Years for Illegal Entry to U.S.

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From the U.S. Attorney: ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGALLY RE-ENTERING UNITED STATES AFTER MULTIPLE DEPORTATIONS An illegal alien who was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a minor and attempting to possess child pornography has been sentenced […]

uncategorized

Illinois Democrats Signing Letter of Support for Ilhan Omar, Only One from McHenry County Did Not

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

Foiund by AI The Illinois Democratic representatives who signed the Jayapal-led letter of support for Representative Ilhan Omar are: The two Democratic Party lawmakers did not sign the letter are:

uncategorized

Democratic Party County Board Member John Collins Bulks Up His Campaign Account

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From a Friend of McHenry County Blog comes this information about this fundraising, which is parallel to what ambitioius Members of Congress do: John Collins Uses PAC to Promote Democrats Democratic McHenry County Board member John Collins is not up for election […]

uncategorized

Illinois’ Braidwood, Byron, Clinton, Dresden, LaSalle, and Quad Cities Nuclear & Other Plants Will Benefit from $5 Billion Federal Infusion

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From Congressman Darin LaHood: LaHood Joins U.S. Secretary of Energy Wright and EDF Director Beard to Announce $5 Billion Investment in Nuclear Fleets and Lower Costs for Families LaHood Joins U.S. Secretary of Energy Wright and EDF Director Beard to Announce $5 […]

uncategorized

After Endorsing Pritzker, Former GOP House Minority Leader Reactivates His PAC

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From a Friend of McHenry County Blog: Jim Durkin Reactivates PAC, Takes Thousands of Dollars from Insurance and Energy Companies A political action committee called “Citizens for Durkin” chaired by former Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin quietly reactivated in August of […]

uncategorized

GOP U.S. Senate Candidate Don Tracy Reminds Voters of Opponent F#&K Tump Ad

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

The Republican candidate doesn’t have enough money to put this ad on TV, so unless you see it on social media, below is the place to find it: This is the message that led to Julila Stratton’s Drmocratic Party nomination for U.S. […]

uncategorized

Randi Freese Staff Keeps Another Creep Off the Streets

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From the State’s Attorney: CRYSTAL LAKE MAN ACCUSED OF REPEATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINOR ORDERED DETAINED PENDING TRIAL McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that Andrew Franklin, 43, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, had been ordered detained pending trial after being […]

uncategorized

County Budget Shows No Deficit

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From McHenry County: County submits balanced FY2027 budget for review WOODSTOCK, Ill. – The McHenry County Board has submitted a balanced 2027 budget for public review. The $297.06 million budget and the $70.49 million tax levy were put on 30-day review at […]

uncategorized

Cary School Board Resignation Offers Replacement Opportunity for Citizens

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

Cary Grade School Board member Stacey Saulte has left office. The remaining Board members will select her replacement. Below is information from We the People, McHenry County on how to apply: COMMUNITY ALERT DISTRICT 26 SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY The Cary Community Consolidated […]

uncategorized

Right Turns Only at Miller and Randall Road Intersection Begins Friday

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From the McHenry County Department of Transportation: Miller Road at Randall Road to Reopen with Right-In/Right-Out restrictions on Friday, October 30th WOODSTOCK, IL – The McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT) expects to reopen the intersection of Miller Road and Randall Road […]

uncategorized

Woodstock Council Candidates

Cal SkinnerOctober 27, 2026October 27, 2026

Below are the hopefuls: The only one I recogonize is Lou Ness, who served one term on the County Board and ran unsuccessfully as a write-in for council two years ago.

uncategorized

Despite Having Voted for HealthBridge, Which Will Probably Raise Taxes, Incumbents Running for Re-Election in Crystal Lake Unopposed

Cal SkinnerOctober 27, 2026October 27, 2026

The poliltical arena in Crystal Lake remains undisturbed. Mybe “inert” describes the siutation better. Unopposed for re-election are Rumors have it that pponents to the HealthBridge purchase are going to put a referendum on the ballot on the subject, but, since Crystal […]

uncategorized

Super PAC Goes After Melissa Bean

Cal SkinnerOctober 27, 2026October 27, 2026

Lincoln Legacy PAC has put this ad up: Bean is running against Jennifer Davis of Huntley.

uncategorized

The Definitive Study of the Depth of Crystal Lake, the Lake

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 27, 2026

In 2006, the year in which McHenry County Blog was begun, I noticed boats out on Crystal Lake doing something I had never seeen before. I took some photos, discovered the people in the boats worked for the Illinois Geological Survey and […]

uncategorized

UPDATE: Route 14 Closed after Nightime Crash FROM SHERIFF

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 26, 2026

From the Sheriff: Harvard Man Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash An 18-year-old Harvard man sustained life-threatening injuries following a two-vehicle crash on Saturday, October 24, 2026. At approximately 10:51 p.m., the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Harvard Fire Protection District responded to a […]

uncategorized

Democrats’ Issues in McHenry County Board Races: Trump & Abortion

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 26, 2026

Two years ago Crystal Laker John Collins successfully challenge Republican John Reinert. Part of the reason he won centered on mailings with positives for Collins and negatives for Reinert. Reinert did not reply in kind. The other side featured one issue: Trump. […]

uncategorized

Suggestions for Siting Data Centers

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 25, 2026

From Unleasch Prosperity Hotline #1627: A Bipartisan Plan to Build Data Centers Working with former Obama economic advisor Robert Wolf, UP co-founder Steve Moore has developed a five-point plan to build the data centers America needs that is pro-local control, pro-worker, and […]

uncategorized

Catholic Charities: Follow the Money

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 26, 2026

From Jeanne Ives’ Breakthrough Ideas: nfovaticana article, From Dick Durbin to Michael Sacks: Cupich will recognize an abortion-funding donor at a gala for future priests: Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, will participate on October 29 in a gala at which the […]

uncategorized

State Subsidy Supposed to Bring 3,750 Jobs to Joliet Area

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 26, 2026

From The Center Square: 3,750 new manufacturing jobs backed by tax credits announced for Hyundai (The Center Square) – Over recent months, Illinois has announced investments in manufacturing and other industries across the state and the creation of new jobs. Those new […]

uncategorized

Joe Tirio Argues in Favor of Local Zoning Referendum

Cal SkinnerOctober 25, 2026October 25, 2026

From McHenry County Clerk Joe Tirio: Think Beyond the Election: The Vote That May Affect Us for Generations I sit with Chairman Buehler at every McHenry County Board meeting. It is a great privilege to serve as your County Clerk. However, over […]

uncategorized

The Fight to Replace State Senator Don DeWitte

Cal SkinnerOctober 25, 2026October 25, 2026

Research by a Friend of McHenry County Blog from the Illinois Sunshine Project: First a look at the financial resources of Democrat Michele Clark: That’s what the Democratic Party candidate has in financial resouces. Below is what the Republican, Danielle Penman, has:

uncategorized

Comments of a Man Disciplined by the Crystal Lake Library for Pointing Out Disadvantages of Moving the Library to HealthBridge

Cal SkinnerOctober 25, 2026October 25, 2026

Comments made by Tom Miller, not as a part-time Library employee, but as a citizen: Good evening everyone. I’m Bob Miller I’m a 34-year public advocate and citizen of Crystal Lake. “My comments are my own opinions and they do not represent […]

uncategorized

The Nationalization of Local Politics

Cal SkinnerOctober 25, 2026October 25, 2026

Almost every week 10th Congressional District Republican State Central Committeeman Keith Brin writes a thoughtful piece. This week it is about the Democrats’ obsession with Trump. From the Illinois 10th Round-Up: If Donald Trump Disappeared Tomorrow, What Would Democrats Have Left? WRITTEN […]

uncategorized

Cost of Raising a Child in Illinois Average

Cal SkinnerOctober 25, 2026October 24, 2026

From Lending Tree comes the information below as displayed by Visual Capitalist: At $245,000, Illnois is less than the national average of $303,418.

uncategorized

State Senator Craig Wilcox in Electoral Fight of His Life

Cal SkinnerOctober 24, 2026October 24, 2026

A friend of the Blog analyzes the race for the 32nd state Senate district where incumbent Craig Wilcox (R) is facing challenger Karen Battaglia (D): Wilcox vs Battaglia could be a close election Background info Karen Battaglia is leaning into the fact that […]

uncategorized

Indicted Democrat Champaign County State Rep. Claims Under Illinois Law Kickback Did Not Occur

Cal SkinnerOctober 24, 2026October 24, 2026

From The Center Square: Ammons seeks to dismiss federal charges; says feds misinterpreted ethics law (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker charged in a federal alleged kickback scheme is asking a judge to dismiss the case against her. Attorneys for State […]

uncategorized

Marty McLaughlin v. Maria Peterson–The Money

Cal SkinnerOctober 24, 2026October 24, 2026

Research by a Friend of McHenry County Blog from Illnois Sunshine.org: Compare the campaign contributions of Peterson with those of McLaughlin: Two years ago the House Republicans Tony McCombie stiffed McLaughlin, who won by a mere 47 votes. The reason ;probably was […]

uncategorized

Huntley Gets Federal Money to Target Drunk Drivers

Cal SkinnerOctober 24, 2026October 28, 2026

From the Huntley Police: Huntley Police announces additional traffic enforcement. Huntley, IL — The Huntley Police Department will conduct additional traffic enforcement from October 2026 through September 2027 to help reduce crashes and save lives. The effort is supported by a federal […]

uncategorized

Crystal Lake Library Had Ransomware Attack

Cal SkinnerOctober 24, 2026October 28, 2026

From the Crystal Lake Library Board minutes for Seprember 2, 2026: Head of Technical and Automation Services Penny Ramirez provided an update on threat actors accessing CLPL servers. No data breach occurred and there was no impact on services, other than partial […]

uncategorized

Marlowe in the News Again

Cal SkinnerOctober 23, 2026October 28, 2026

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

Posts pagination

1 2 3 … 178

Recent Comments

  • Six Democrats Endorsed for McHenry Counrty Board by Personal PAC - McHenry County Blog on Pro-Abortion PAC Gives Kelli Wegener $6,000
  • Despite Having Voted for HealthBridge, Which Will Probably Raise Taxes, Incumbents Running for Re-Election in Crystal Lake Unopposed - McHenry County Blog on Does Anyone But Me Consider It Strange That the Crystal Lake City Council Is Voting on a Tax Increase to Buy HealthBridge While People Can Still File Petitions to Run Against Them?
  • Super PAC Goes After Melissa Bean - McHenry County Blog on Melissa Bean, Beaten for Congress by Joe Walsh, Incorrectly Says She Lost Because of Her Support for Obamacare
  • Democrats’ Issues in McHenry County Board Races: Trump & Abortion - McHenry County Blog on Republican County Board Candidate Dan Hickey Puts Hand over Heart During Pledge of Allegiance, Democratic Opponent Gloria Van Hof Does Not
  • Does Anyone But Me Consider It Strange That the Crystal Lake City Council Is Voting on a Tax Increase to Buy HealthBridge While People Can Still File Petitions to Run Against Them? - McHenry County Blog on What the Public Can See About Crystal Lake’s Purchase of HealthBridge on Tuesday Night
  • About
  • Home
Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.
rswpthemes.com