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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.

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About Cal Skinner

About Cal Skinner
Email Cal Skinner

Recent Posts

  • (no title) November 4, 2025
  • UPDATE: Couple Found Dead in Car on Crystal Lake’s Coventry Lane IDENTIFIED November 4, 2025
  • Richmond Seeking 8% More in Real Estate Taxes November 4, 2025
  • McHenry County Board Finance Chairman Mike Skala Not Running for Re-Election November 4, 2025
  • Algonquin GOP Chairman Calls for Taxpayers to Urge County Board Members Not to Increase Their Real Estate Tax Levy November 4, 2025
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Two Years for $1.8 Million Embezzlement, Restitution Ordered

Cal SkinnerJuly 21, 2025July 21, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: FORMER ACCOUNTANT FOR CHICAGO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY SENTENCED TO MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR $1.8 MILLION EMBEZZLEMENT CHICAGO — A former senior accountant for a Chicago construction company has been sentenced to more than two years […]

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More Thoughts from State Rep. Steve Reick on the RTA, What We Pay, What We Get

Cal SkinnerJuly 21, 2025July 21, 2025

In his last report, State Rep. Steve Reick asked if McHenry County should remain in the RTA. What We’re Paying for Public Transit On March 19, 1974, a referendum proposition “Shall a Regional Transportation Authority be created for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry […]

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Tractor Overturns and Traps Man under Water Near Harvard for Hours, Flown to Rockford Hospital

Cal SkinnerJuly 21, 2025July 21, 2025

From the Harvard Fire Protection District: Harvard Fire News Release: Tractor Overturn Traps Elderly Man in Water for Hours On Sunday, July 20, 2025, at 2:47 p.m., the Harvard Fire Protection District was dispatched to the area of Bunker Hill Road and […]

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Blago Works Lincolnshire Party

Cal SkinnerJuly 21, 2025July 20, 2025

The man who would be the Republican Party candidate for U.S. Senator was in Lincolnshire for a garden party this past weekend. My friend said he worked the party.

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerJuly 20, 2025July 20, 2025

From Illinois Policy Institute cartoonist Eric Allie:

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Tribute to Irene Napier

Cal SkinnerJuly 20, 2025July 20, 2025

From Charlene Bliss Beyer of Helenville, Wisconsin: A tribute to the Powerful and Wonderful woman, Irene Napier In the 80’s, I was a young mother of 5, was busy with homeschooling and running a household. In 1982, after reading the kindergarten curriculum, […]

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McHenry County Regional Superintendent of Schools Diane Hartmann Flies on “Fat Albert”

Cal SkinnerJuly 20, 2025July 20, 2025

From McHenry County: Regional Superintendent Honored with Blue Angels Flight WOODSTOCK, Ill. – The legendary Blue Angels precision flying team gave Regional Superintendent of Schools Diana Hartmann the flight of a lifetime on its C-130J Super Hercules support plane. Affectionately known as […]

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With Senator Don DeWitte Retiring and State Rep. Sue Ness Likely Running to Replace Him, What Republican is Interested in the Seat?

Cal SkinnerJuly 19, 2025July 19, 2025

The insider who advanced the name of Tom McIntosh sent this photo of him taken in front of the White House: Tom McIntosh

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Irene Napier Obiturary

Cal SkinnerJuly 19, 2025July 19, 2025

Undoubtedly from the family: Irene M. Napier Irene Mary Napier, a radiant soul whose century-long life was a testament to faith, courage, and boundless vitality, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025, just shy of her 100th birthday. Born on August 27, […]

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Rape of Minor Member of McHenry Household Earns Man Seven Years

Cal SkinnerJuly 18, 2025July 21, 2025

From the State’s Attorney: ELIEZER MURRIETA-GONZALEZ SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that on July 14, 2025, Eliezer Murrieta-Gonzalez, 25, of McHenry, Illinois, was sentenced to […]

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State Rep. Jeff Keicher Schedules Algonquin Library Office Hours

Cal SkinnerJuly 18, 2025June 18, 2025

From State Rep. Jff Kicher: Rep. Keicher Announces Summer Traveling Office Hours SYCAMORE – To assist 70th District residents interested in asking questions or sharing concerns about state issues or legislation, State Representative Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) invites you to attend a Traveling Office Hours event […]

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Lots of Illinois Tax Money Going to Non-Government Organizations through Legislative Pork

Cal SkinnerJuly 18, 2025July 18, 2025

From The Center Square: State rep points to lack of accountability as IL taxpayer money flows to NGOs (The Center Square) – Questions about transparency and accountability surround millions of Illinois taxpayer dollars appropriated for non-governmental organizations. The record-high $55.2 billion Illinois state […]

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Homeless and Indecent in Cary

Cal SkinnerJuly 18, 2025July 19, 2025

From the Cary Police: the indecency? Urinating outside the train station.

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Fifty Acres North of Woodstock Restored to Prairie and Wetlands, High Schoolers from Five Districts Assist

Cal SkinnerJuly 18, 2025July 30, 2025

From the Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge: Fifty Acres Restored with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Funds Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge is pleased to announce the successful restoration of a 50-acre parcel made possible by a Five Star and […]

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Huntley Alden Estates Nursing Home Fined $50,000 for Choking Death of Patient

Cal SkinnerJuly 18, 2025July 18, 2025

From the Illinois Department of Public Health: IDPH Posts Nursing Home Violations for First Quarter of 2025 [Of rhe four facilities listed below…cited with type “AA” violations of the Nursing Home Care Act during the first quarter of 2025, the most severe type of violation, [one was […]

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Lover of Life Irene Napier, R.I.P.

Cal SkinnerJuly 18, 2025July 18, 2025

If a kinder person with opposing views ever entered my life, it was Irene Napier. Irene was the Godmother of the Pro-Life movement in McHenry County. I was one of her State Representatives and certainly not on her side of the issue […]

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Rape and Other Sexual Abuse Charged in Illinois’ Juvenile Facilities

Cal SkinnerJuly 18, 2025July 17, 2025

With the knowledge I have of rape in Illinois prisons, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that it occurs in juvenile detention centers as well. Even back in the mid-to-late 1990’s when I was exposing what scores of inmates wrote me. The […]

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Hundreds Line Crystal Lake’s Route 14 from Main Street past Jewel

Cal SkinnerJuly 17, 2025July 17, 2025

Found on Route 14 right before six are local demonstrators making “Good Trouble” recommended by the last Democratic Party Civil Rights leader and Congressman Johnb Lewis:

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Bank Robber Gets over Seven Years

Cal SkinnerJuly 17, 2025July 17, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ROBBING FIVE SUBURBAN CHICAGO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CHICAGO — A man who robbed four banks and a credit union in the Chicago suburbs has been sentenced to […]

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Another Carjacker to Federal Pen

Cal SkinnerJuly 17, 2025July 17, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: FOURTH MEMBER OF CHICAGO CARJACKING AND ROBBERY CREW SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON  CHICAGO — A man who committed multiple carjackings and robberies in Chicago, including carjacking a vehicle with an infant in the back seat, has been sentenced […]

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DeWitte Declines to Run for Re-Election

Cal SkinnerJuly 17, 2025July 17, 2025

From State Senator Don DeWitte: Senator Donald DeWitte Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election West Dundee, Illinois— Illinois State Senator Donald P. DeWitte (R-St. Charles), a respected voice in the Illinois Legislature and a dedicated public servant for over three decades, announced […]

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Man Who Defrauded Gas and Electric Companies on Behalf of Others at a Fee Pleads Guilty

Cal SkinnerJuly 17, 2025July 17, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUDULENTLY ARRANGING UTILITY SERVICES FOR THOUSANDS OF CHICAGO-AREA PROPERTIES  CHICAGO — A man who fraudulently arranged for more than $5 million in utility services to be provided to 2,000 Chicago-area properties has pleaded guilty […]

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Nine-Minute Video of Crystal Lake Sheriff Deputy Fatal Shooting Released

Cal SkinnerJuly 17, 2025July 17, 2025

From the Sheriff: Deputies Involved in April 10 Incident Return to Full Duty Following the standard review process required under Illinois law, the four deputies involved in the April 10 critical incident in unincorporated Crystal Lake have been cleared to return to […]

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Richard Porter Visits McHenry County Executive Committee Meeting

Cal SkinnerJuly 17, 2025July 16, 2025

Traveling from New Trier Township to the far reaches of his 9th Congressional District, former Republican National Committeeman Richard Porter previewed a potential candidacy for the United States Senate. With Democrat Dick Durbin, elected in 1996 over State Rep. Al Salvi, retiring, […]

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Forever Chemicals Found in Five Crystal Lake Wells

Cal SkinnerJuly 17, 2025July 14, 2025

From the City of Crystal Lake in reply to a Freedom of Information Request: “The City has detected “forever chemicals” in four wells (wells 10, 11, 14, and 15). “Wells 10, 11 and 14 are located at Water Treatment Plant 4, 400 […]

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Huntley’s Kelly Eagan Off to the White House

Cal SkinnerJuly 17, 2025July 16, 2025

Today is the day when Grafton Township Republican Party Vice Chairwoman Kelly Eagan will board a plane to Washington. She was invited by Shane Bouvet, a friend of President Donald Trump. What will happen when she arrives at the White House remains […]

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Still Another Candidate Seeking to Replace Jan Schakowsky–Nick Pyati

Cal SkinnerJuly 16, 2025July 16, 2025

Here is his announcement video:

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Call for Pritzker to Allow School Choice Contained in Trump’s Tax Law

Cal SkinnerJuly 16, 2025July 15, 2025

From the Illinois Freedom Caucus: IL Freedom Caucus files resolution urging Gov. Pritzker to opt Illinois into federal school choice program Springfield, IL – The Illinois Freedom Caucus has filed two identical resolutions, HR427 and SR383, urging Governor Pritzker to opt Illinois into the new federal […]

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Check Out Some of the Professions for Which Illinois Requires Licensing

Cal SkinnerJuly 16, 2025July 15, 2025

At one point Illinois required more occupations to be licensed than any other.’ As I watched nail technicians, hair braiders, tree trimmers and other entry job possibilities, I concluded that most licensing was for the purpose of protecting those already doing those […]

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Arkansas Governor Attends Barrington Hills Fundraiser for McHenry County GOPAC

Cal SkinnerJuly 16, 2025July 16, 2025

A Barrington Hills estate owner hosted a fundraiser for McHenry County GOPAC and Joe Tirio last Thursday. Keyu draw was Arkansas Govenor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Also at the event were Congressman Darin LaHood, Illinois National Committeeman for the RNC Dean White, and […]

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Recent Comments

  • McHenry County Board Finance Chairman Mike Skala Not Running for Re-Election - McHenry County Blog on County Board Proposes 13% Tax Levy Increase
  • McHenry County Board Finance Chairman Mike Skala Not Running for Re-Election - McHenry County Blog on We The People, McHenry County, Urges Contact with County Board Members to Remind Them of the Promise to Cut Property Tax Levy in Exchange for Voting for Mental Health Sales Tax
  • McHenry County Democratic Party Precinct Committee Candidates Vastly Outnumber Republican’s, 90-67 - McHenry County Blog on Does the McHenry County Republican Party Have a Death Wish?
  • Possible Reasons the State’s Attorney Dropped the Lakemoor Hemp Case - McHenry County Blog on Hemp Criminal Case Goes Up in Smoke
  • Precinct Committeeperson Filings Show Democrats Vastly Outnumbering Republicans - McHenry County Blog on Does the McHenry County Republican Party Have a Death Wish?
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