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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.

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About Cal Skinner

About Cal Skinner
Email Cal Skinner

Recent Posts

  • Lake in the Hills Reports July 4th Enhanced Enforcement Results July 13, 2025
  • Tribune Quotes Marengo Methodist Church Food Bank Spokesman in Article about Democratic Party Forum July 13, 2025
  • Sunday Funnies July 13, 2025
  • Route 12 Railroad Crossing Closed All Week July 13, 2025
  • One Crystal Lake Car Dealer Prepared for Tariffs on Japan July 13, 2025
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Lake in the Hills Reports July 4th Enhanced Enforcement Results

Cal SkinnerJuly 13, 2025July 13, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police: The Lake in the Hills Police Department releases Fourth of July enforcement statistics Lake in the Hills, IL – The Lake in the Hills Police Department issued a total of 75 citations, including .arrests, during […]

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Tribune Quotes Marengo Methodist Church Food Bank Spokesman in Article about Democratic Party Forum

Cal SkinnerJuly 13, 2025July 13, 2025

John Arient is quotes in a Sunday Chicago Tribune article entitled, “Leaders slam fed SNAP changes at Geneva event.” Run by the local Methodist Church, Stone Soup spokesman John Arient is quoted. I take part in the 1:30 Friday food distribution at […]

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerJuly 13, 2025July 13, 2025

From the Illinois Policy Institute cartoonist Eric Allie:

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Route 12 Railroad Crossing Closed All Week

Cal SkinnerJuly 13, 2025July 11, 2025

From the McHenry County Department of Transportation: Wisconsin and Southern to Perform a Temporary Closure of Wilmot Road for Railroad Crossing Work WOODSTOCK, Ill. – The McHenry County Division of Transportation announces that Wisconsin and Southern Railroad will be performing a temporary […]

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One Crystal Lake Car Dealer Prepared for Tariffs on Japan

Cal SkinnerJuly 13, 2025July 12, 2025

M’Lady Nissan has had scores of vehicles parked in the vast parking lot in front of Ace Hardware in Crystal Lake. I’m wondering if the dealership had to pay upfront or had a special financial arrangement with Nissan.

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Transport Van Crash on Route 31 in McHenry Sends Nine to Hospitals, One by Copter

Cal SkinnerJuly 13, 2025July 13, 2025

From the McHenry Fire Protection District: Vehicle Accident On Saturday, July 12th, at approximately 7:20 p.m., the McHenry Township Fire Protection District (MTFPD) was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with reported entrapment at the intersection of Prime Parkway and Illinois Route 31 […]

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Local Duck Hunting Blind Lottery Coming Up

Cal SkinnerJuly 13, 2025June 6, 2025

From the Department of Natural Resources: Illinois waterfowl blind drawings sites and schedule released for 2025 season SPRINGFIELD – Waterfowl hunters should mark their calendars for upcoming waterfowl blind drawings at several public hunting areas in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources […]

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An Unexpected Tee Shirt at Crystal Lake’s Independence Day Parade

Cal SkinnerJuly 13, 2025July 10, 2025

Presumably worn by a man whose ancestors were Tories. Perhaps a visitor from Canada.

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Volkswagen Settlement Finances Four Electric Buses for Huntley School District

Cal SkinnerJuly 13, 2025July 12, 2025

From the JB Pritzker Administration: Gov. Pritzker Announces Funding for 46 New All-Electric School Buses ​ CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) to announced seven grant awards totaling more than $13 million for 46 new […]

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Gun Charges Lodged against Marengo 19-Year Old

Cal SkinnerJuly 12, 2025July 11, 2025

From the Marengo Police:

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Seven More Years for Threatening Probation Officer

Cal SkinnerJuly 12, 2025July 10, 2025

From the U.S Attorney: FEDERAL INMATE SENTENCED TO ADDITIONAL SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR THREATENING U.S. PROBATION OFFICER IN CHICAGO CHICAGO — A federal inmate has been sentenced to an additional seven years in prison for threatening a U.S. Probation officer in […]

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Lakewood Announces Surplus Equipment

Cal SkinnerJuly 12, 2025July 11, 2025

From the most recent agenda of the Lakewood Village Board packet:

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“Criminal Defacement” Graffiti on Lake in the Hills Street

Cal SkinnerJuly 12, 2025July 11, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police comes this image at Lakewood Rd / S Annandale Dr:

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Woodstock Continues Crackdown on Transients

Cal SkinnerJuly 12, 2025July 7, 2025

From the Woodstock Police: Date Occurred: 6/30/2025, Location: S. EASTWOOD DR. & LAKE AVE. Name: HEADLEY, KENNETH E., Address: TRANSIENT, Sex: M Race: W Age: 46 Charges: Disposition: ARRESTED, CITED & RELEASED ON NTA

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Stories You Won’t Read in McHenry County Newspapers

Cal SkinnerJuly 12, 2025July 9, 2025

From Lee County Florida:

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Hebron Lutheran Church May Have Been Hit by Lightning

Cal SkinnerJuly 12, 2025July 12, 2025

Found ABC Channel 7: “Don Gritmacker, church council president, said lightning may have potentially hit the church. “We have a possible lightning strike on the steeple. We don’t know that for sure. It has not been confirmed. The structure is sound.”

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44 Years in Road Rage Case Started with Throwing a Water Bottle

Cal SkinnerJuly 12, 2025July 12, 2025

From the State’s Attorney:  SENTENCED TO 44 YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR THE OFFENSE OF ATTEMPT FIRST DEGREE MURDER AFTER BENCH TRIAL McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese announces that on July 9, 2025, Juan A. Colon, 29, of Waukegan, […]

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Democrats in Crystal Lake Independence Day Parade

Cal SkinnerJuly 12, 2025July 10, 2025

It was raining by the time the contingent representing the McHenry County Democratic Party made it down the hill on Dole Avenue Sunday afternoon. But before the parade began I ran into Evanston Mayor and former State Senator Dan Biss looking for […]

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Horse Falls on Man Near Harvard

Cal SkinnerJuly 11, 2025July 11, 2025

From the Harvard Fire Protection District: Traumatic Injury Incident – Busse Road On Friday, July 11, 2025, at 1:45 p.m., the Harvard Fire Protection District responded to the 500 block of Busse Road for a reported traumatic injury. While en route, crews […]

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Lightning May Have Struck McHenry Home

Cal SkinnerJuly 11, 2025July 11, 2025

From the McHenry Fire Protection District: Waterford Road Fire On Thursday, July 10th, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the McHenry Township Fire Protection District (MTFPD) was dispatched to an inside smoke investigation in the 6900 block of Waterford Drive in McHenry. Fire crews […]

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Two Years in Federal Pen for Man Who Threatened FEMA Employees & Local Police

Cal SkinnerJuly 11, 2025July 11, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: SUBURBAN CHICAGO MAN SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR THREATENING FEMA EMPLOYEES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for threatening Federal Emergency Management […]

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Son of “El Chapo” Pleads Guilty

Cal SkinnerJuly 11, 2025July 11, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: OVIDIO GUZMAN LOPEZ—SON OF “EL CHAPO” AND A HEAD OF SINALOA CARTEL—PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL DRUG CHARGES IN CHICAGO CHICAGO – OVIDIO GUZMAN LOPEZ, who succeeded his father—Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as “El Chapo”—as one of the […]

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Sex Offender Fails to Register in Cary

Cal SkinnerJuly 11, 2025July 11, 2025

From the Cary Police:

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McLaughlin Opponent Shows Little Cash on Hand

Cal SkinnerJuly 11, 2025July 11, 2025

The woman who came a couple of scores of defeating Republican State Rep. Marty McLaughlin in 2024, Maria Peterson, reports having just $24,000 in the bank. That is no reason, however, for McLaughlin to be optimistic, since statewide Democrats and unions are […]

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Lightning May Have Caused Fire Leaving Cary Home Uninhabitable

Cal SkinnerJuly 11, 2025July 11, 2025

From the Cary Fire Protection District: Fire Displaces Three Following Suspected Lightning Strike On Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 10:07 p.m., the Cary Fire Protection District was dispatched to the 500 block of Surrey Ridge Drive in Cary for a reported residential […]

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Storm Causes Downed Trees and Smoking Electric Lines in Marengo

Cal SkinnerJuly 11, 2025July 11, 2025

From the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts: Storm Causes Roadway Hazards and Power Line Damage in Marengo Area On Thursday, July 10, 2025, at approximately 6:45 p.m., a strong and fast-moving storm moved through the southwestern portion of McHenry County, including the […]

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Lake in the Hills Garage Burns

Cal SkinnerJuly 11, 2025July 11, 2025

From the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District: Structure Fire Oak Leaf Road, Lake in the Hills On Thursday, July 10th at approximately 11:30 pm the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District was dispatched for a detached garage that was […]

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Scoping Out Crystal Lake’s Independence Day Parade, Including Government Entries and the Republicans

Cal SkinnerJuly 11, 2025July 10, 2025

Before the July 6th parade began it was sunny. I found the Republicans east of City Hall. Couldn’t find the Democrats, except for 9th Congressional District hopeful Dan Biss, who wouldn’t find his parade contingent in the direction he was heading. I […]

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Homeland Security Confidential Informant Gets 13 Years

Cal SkinnerJuly 10, 2025July 10, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: FEDERAL JUDGE IN CHICAGO SENTENCES CORRUPT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT TO 13 YEARS IN PRISON HICAGO — A suburban Chicago man who cultivated a corrupt relationship with a federal law enforcement agent while trafficking cocaine has been sentenced to 13 […]

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Lake in the Hills Police Order RibFest Attendees to Leave Ground Because of Pending Severe Storm

Cal SkinnerJuly 10, 2025July 10, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police: SEVERE WEATHER ALERT – RIBFEST ATTENDEES MUST LEAVE FESTIVAL GROUNDS ,ATTENTION!! All Ribfest attendees must EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY due to severe weather conditions.  There are lightning strikes in the immediate area and severe weather detected and/or present. […]

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Recent Comments

  • Race for Democratic Party Nomination to Replace Jan Schakowsky Expanding–Up to Twelve So Far - McHenry County Blog on Phil Andrew Still Another 9th District Democratic Party Hopeful
  • New Count on Real Estate Taxes Exceeding $10,000 - McHenry County Blog on Federal Tax Legislation Will Reward Thousands of High Property Taxpayers in McHenry County
  • Pritzker’s Presidential Poll Numbers Flatlining - McHenry County Blog on Pritzker, a Two-Percenter
  • Counterpoint to John Collins’ Argument That the Crystal Lake Park District Should Buy HealthBridge - McHenry County Blog on YMCA Would Be Hurt If Park District Buys HealthBridge
  • Northwest Herald Pours Gasoline on Crystal Lake Park District’s Newly-Elected Majority as New Board President Shares His Phone Number - McHenry County Blog on DEI Supporters Keep Up Pressure on Crystal Lake Park Board, Conflict of Interest Charged for New Attorney, Pitch Made for Purchasing HealthBridge, Lake Advisory Committee Discussed
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