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McHenry County Blog

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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

  • Johnsburg Fire Leaves Family Homeless November 16, 2025
  • Sunday Funnies November 16, 2025
  • Algonquin Plans Increased Tax Levy November 16, 2025
  • Netflix Christmas Movie Shot in Woodstock November 16, 2025
  • McHenry County Elected Officials Endorsing Democratic Party Congressman Brad Schneider November 16, 2025
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80 Acres in Greenwood Township To Remain Open Space

Cal SkinnerNovember 10, 2025November 10, 2025

From the Land Conservancy of McHenry County: The Land Conservancy Preserves 80 Acres for Life in Greenwood Township Libbie Aavang ensures family farm and natural fen will remain for generations Libbie Aavang (center), daughter Sarah Aavang (right) and Bob Lukes, Sarah’s husband […]

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Democrat Bruce Leon Calls on Durbin and Duckworth to Vote to Open Government

Cal SkinnerNovember 10, 2025November 10, 2025

Frmo 9th District Democratic Party congressional hopeful Bruce Leon: Leon Heralds Deal to Open Government; Calls on Durbin and Duckworth to Support It CHICAGO, IL — Bruce Leon, Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois’ Ninth District [which includes all of Algonquin Township], praised […]

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Tax Levy Info To Be Discussed by Lakewood Village Board on Veterans Day Up 3.57% to About $2 Million

Cal SkinnerNovember 10, 2025November 7, 2025

Lakewood Village Manager laid out information about next year’s Property Tax levy in a memo to Village Board members. She projects a increase in tax bill for a $516,006 home to be $43.60 or $8.45 per $100,000 in valuation. That represents a […]

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Pot + Alcohol in Vehicle Leads to Arrests

Cal SkinnerNovember 10, 2025November 10, 2025

From the Crystal Lake Police:

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McHenry County College Offering Pilot Training at Galt Airport and Sterile Processing Technician Training

Cal SkinnerNovember 9, 2025November 5, 2025

From McHenry County College: MCC Offers Two New Programs to Quickly Start In-Demand Careers McHenry County College (MCC) continues to expand the training and professional education available through its Career Spark Center, recently introducing two new programs: Sterile Processing Technician Training teaches […]

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LaHood Speaking in Park Ridge, Maybe He’d Be McHenry County’s Lincoln Day Dinner, If Invited

Cal SkinnerNovember 9, 2025November 7, 2025

From the Illinois Republican Party:

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerNovember 9, 2025November 9, 2025

From Illinois Policy Institute cartoonist Eric Allie:

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Bison Now Roam on Conservation District Land, District Could Allow Public Viewing

Cal SkinnerNovember 9, 2025November 8, 2025

One used to be able to see a couple of buffalo on the northeast corner of Route 176 and Valley View Roa They are gone now. But hidden away in the tens of thousands of acres owned by the McHenry County Conservation […]

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Suicide Attempts in Lake in the Hills

Cal SkinnerNovember 8, 2025November 7, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

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McHenry County College in the Running for $1 Million Prize

Cal SkinnerNovember 8, 2025November 5, 2025

From McHenry County College: MCC Named as a Top 200 Community College Eligible for the 2027 Aspen Prize Today, the Aspen Institute named McHenry County College (MCC) as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize […]

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Huntley Police Release Fall Enhanced Enforcement Results

Cal SkinnerNovember 8, 2025November 5, 2025

From Huntley Police: Huntley Police Announces Results of Fall Enforcement Campaign Huntley, IL – The Huntley Police Department conducted a successful Halloween enforcement safety crackdown, issuing nine citations for seatbelt violations. Additionally, officers issued 27 citations for speeding, distracted driving and other […]

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Hampshire Township Wants 15+%Tax Hike

Cal SkinnerNovember 8, 2025November 6, 2025

The Black Box ad for Hampshire Township:

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Two Rescued from Saturday Morning Bedroom Fire in Woodstock

Cal SkinnerNovember 8, 2025November 8, 2025

From the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District: Firefighters Rescue Occupants and Stop Small Bedroom Fire On Saturday, November 8, at 7:42 a.m., the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to the 100 block of E. Todd Avenue in Woodstock for a reported house fire with occupants […]

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Jeff Keicher Spotlights 60% Toll Tax Hike

Cal SkinnerNovember 8, 2025November 8, 2025

From State Rep. Jeff Keisher: It was déjà vu all over again at the Capitol last week, with Illinois Democrats passing more tax hikes in the early morning hours of the final day of the fall veto session. After months of behind-the-scenes […]

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Pritzker’s People Snag Some SNAP Benefits

Cal SkinnerNovember 8, 2025November 8, 2025

The Chicago Tribune reported that a handful of states were able to obtain SNAP money for their residents: Some states said they stood ready to distribute SNAP money as quickly as possible. Colorado and Massachusetts said SNAP participants could receive their full […]

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UPDATE: Family Car Hits 65-Year Old Man, JERRY WILLIAMS, 65, in Wonder Lake Resulting in Fatality

Cal SkinnerNovember 8, 2025November 8, 2025

The Lake County Coroner identified the man who died as Jerry Williams. From the Sheriff: Fatal Pedestrian Crash Near Wonder Lake A 65-year-old Wonder Lake man was pronounced deceased following a crash on Barnard Mill Road near Wonder Lake. On Thursday, November […]

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Worse Student Education on More Money

Cal SkinnerNovember 8, 2025November 7, 2025

From The Center Square: IL public schools show low academic proficiency, higher taxpayer funding By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square (The Center Square) – The latest education statistics indicate stagnant proficiency for public school students in Illinois, despite dramatic increases in taxpayer […]

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Haystack Burns Friday Afternoon

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025November 7, 2025

From the Huntley Fire Protection District: Huntley Fire Responds to Hay Fire in Unincorporated Union  On Friday, November 7, 2025, at 3:38 p.m., the Huntley Fire Protection District responded to the 15000 block of Marengo Road in unincorporated Union for a report […]

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Chicago Reporters Do Not Cover Themselves with Glory in False Reporting on Day Care Center Arrests, QUESTION OF WHETHER AGENTS WENT INSIDE INSIDE DOOR

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025November 7, 2025

In the Chicago Tribune story about capture of a day care worker by ICE the following is reported: “School staff told the Tribune that the agents went into the school without presenting a warrant before pulling her outside. Elected officials say video […]

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Don Tracy Hits Biden for Inflation

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025November 7, 2025

From the campaign of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy: Household Debt Hits Record High Post-Bidenomics, Don Tracy Vows Relief for Illinois Families  SPRINGFIELD –  According to data released this week by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,  Americans’ household debt levels, including mortgages, car loans, credit […]

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A Belated Halloween Cartoon about Chicago’s Mayor

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025November 6, 2025

From Illinois Institute cartoonist Eric Allie:

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McHenry Grade School District Seeks 4% Property Tax Increase

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025November 7, 2025

Black Box ad from McHenry Elementary School District 15:

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What McHenry County Makes It Difficult to Find

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025November 5, 2025

Here’s a topic you won’t read in local newspapers: Here are the choices found on the McHenry County Health Department web site: I don’t see anything about restaurants, do you? Next I looks under “R,” but didn’t find restaurants. Next I tried […]

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Ex-Crystal Lake Clerk Nick Kachirouibas Learns Prison Sentence Today

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025November 7, 2025

Talk about a fall from grace. Nick Kachirouibas was elected Student Trustee of McHenry County College, then ran successfully in an uncontested race for McHenry County College Trustee. Running for re-election, he lost (due to his last name, I believe). He served […]

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Redux of George Ryan’s CDL Scandal Looming?

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025November 6, 2025

Remember the two immigrants named Singh from India who killed people in Florida and California driving semis? And “No name” licenses from New York State? Well, Illinois is doing so well either. From “Overdrive“: “The state of Illinois has paused issuance and […]

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FOID Card Turned Over to Police

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025November 5, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

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Public Pressure Against Recapturing Property Tax Authority Supposedly Given Away after Passage of the Quarter of One Percent Sales Tax for Mental Health May Be Working

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025November 7, 2025

The goal of a two and a half hour McHenry County Board Finance Committee meeting whose main topic was next real estate taxes was stated by Vice Chairman Brian Sager: “I hope we s a committee can come together to a consensus […]

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Farmers Markets Moving Inside

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2025October 28, 2025

Bad weather will not keep customers from browsing at farmers’ markets.

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Fire in Commercial Condo on Prairie Street in Crystal Lake

Cal SkinnerNovember 6, 2025November 6, 2025

From the Crystal Lake Fire Department: Structure Fire – 370 Prairie Street Crystal Lake, IL – The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department was dispatched to a multi-unit commercial building for a smoke investigation at 6:11 am. Upon arrival on scene, fire crews […]

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8.74% Property Tax Hike Sought by Huntley Park District

Cal SkinnerNovember 6, 2025November 6, 2025

The Black Box ad from the Huntley Park District:

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Recent Comments

  • The Crystal Lake Park Board Debate on Rejoining the Intergovernmental Agreement with Crystal Lake and Lakewood - McHenry County Blog on Do Lakefront Property Owners on the Crystal Lake Park Board Have a Conflict of Interest?
  • Public Pressure Against Recapturing Property Tax Authority Supposedly Given Away after Passage of the Quarter of One Percent Sales Tax for Mental Health May Be Working - McHenry County Blog on Crystal Lake Park Board Votes to Tax to the Max
  • 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?
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