Skip to content
McHenry County Blog

McHenry County Blog

  • About
  • Home

Uncategorized

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

  • $18 Million in State Library Grants Announced July 3, 2025
  • Kane County Treasurer Chris Lauzen Awarded Honors for Investing Money July 3, 2025
  • One Hundred Officers End “Four-Hour Rein of Terror” by Jilted Ex-Con Emptying 357 Magnum July 2, 2025
  • Feds Issue Drug and Gun Charges July 2, 2025
  • Seven Years for Man Who Raped an Unconscious Woman, Multiple Videos Exist July 2, 2025
Uncategorized

Fight Near Union Leads to Arrest of 78-Year Old Homeless Man

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 5, 2025

From the McHenry County Sheriff: Aggravated Battery in Unincorporated Union A man was left seriously injured after an altercation near Union on Wednesday, June 4. At approximately 6:53 p.m., the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched for an injured person near the […]

Uncategorized

Results of Woodstock Shoplifting Enfocement

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 5, 2025

National Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Blitz Conducted in Woodstock On Thursday, May 29th and Friday, May 30th 2025, the Woodstock Police Department, along with the Spring Grove Police Department, participated in the National Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Blitz. This was a nationwide […]

Uncategorized

Darby Hills Reports

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 9, 2025

From newly-appointed State Senator Darby Hills: The Illinois General Assembly just wrapped up its spring session, and once again, taxpayers are being asked to do more.In just six years, the state budget has grown by nearly 40 percent. This year alone, lawmakers […]

Uncategorized

Joe Walsh for Congress…as a Democrat…in South Carolina?

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 5, 2025

In a gymnastic flip that would win cheers from those on a parade route of the Jesse White Tumblers, former McHenry County Republican Congressman Joe Walsh is hinting that he may run again in his newly-declared party–the Democratic Party. And where? Politico […]

Uncategorized

U.S. Attorney Announces Chicago Violent Crime Reduction Zone

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 4, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Expansion of Project Safe Neighborhoods in Chicago Newly Created PSN Zone Includes Downtown Economic Centers and All CTA Trains CHICAGO — Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today […]

Uncategorized

Senator Darby Hills in Court Tomorrow Defending Her Appointment

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 1, 2025

June 6th is the next date that a McHenry County Judge Kevin Costello will hear Brittany Colatorti’s case against State Senator Darby Hills. Brittany Colatorti filed the suit.

Uncategorized

State Budget Has Half Billion to Subsidize Developers of Surplus 530 Acres That Used to Be Institutions

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 4, 2025

From the Pritzker Administration: State of Illinois Highlights Historic $500 Million Investment in Site Readiness Following Balanced Budget Passage “Surplus to Success” Program and Expanded DCEO Initiatives Set to Unlock Billions in Private Investment, Revitalize Communities SPRINGFIELD, IL – Following the passage of […]

Uncategorized

Mail Hit Piece Verdict at $1.4 Million against Senders

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 4, 2025

From the Chicago Tribune: The losing candidate, Ebony Lucas, filed a defamation suit claiming a “coordinated smear campaign.” The jury agreed and awarded a total of $1.4 million The format of the negative mailings were similar to the hit pieces against McHenry […]

Uncategorized

2021 Crystal Lake Park District DEI Policy on Agenda Thursday at 6:30 Meeting

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 3, 2025

The call yo action from a Crystal Lake Park District DEI supporter led me to look up what the DEI policy is. The policy is below: From the Crystal Lake Park District Policy Manual: Policy Number: 9.3.2 Date Adopted: 3/18/2021Policy Name: Community […]

Uncategorized

708 Mental Health Board Finances Allow for No Reduction in Services, But No “Meaningful Increases…for at Least Five Years”

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 2, 2025

During the May McHenry County Finance and Audit Committee meeting, staff from the 708 Mental Health Board made some points I found interesting. They are quoted below: “Ms. Keisman detailed that the Board had collaborated with Ms. Wisz months earlier to develop […]

Uncategorized

DeWitte on CTA Bailout

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 6, 2025

Found in the Daily Herald: Republican Sen. Don DeWitte of St. Charles noted the transit vote came on the heels of a tough state budget vote that added millions in taxes. “I’m sure a number of (senators) who represent moderate districts saw […]

Uncategorized

Parkland Preparatory Academy in News Again

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 4, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

Uncategorized

Donald Kountz Takes on Latest Subsidy to Water’s Edge TIF District Owner

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 4, 2025

From Crystal Lake’s watchdog Donald Kountz: Critique of Water’s Edge The Business District Plan for The Water’s Edge Business District has serious errors and omissions. Correcting the errors are critical to the understanding the Business District Plan. The Public Notice published in […]

Uncategorized

Who Benefited from DEI?

Cal SkinnerJune 5, 2025June 5, 2025

From Victor Davis Hansen in the Daily Signal: ‘Diversity, equity, and inclusion did not help the inner city. ‘It didn’t stop the crime rate. ‘It didn’t increase the per capita income. ‘It did help a professional class.’

Uncategorized

Senate Democrats Outline “Accomplishments”

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

From Illinois Senate Democrats: Senate Democrats prioritize education, health care and more in FY 26 budget Building upon the responsible spending decisions the Illinois Senate Democratic caucus made and balanced budgets they’ve passed in recent years, they passed a smart spending plan […]

Uncategorized

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Alert

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

From the State Health Department: Chicago Area Air Pollution Action Day Issued for June 5th Wildfire Smoke is Expected to Continue Impacts on Particulate Levels CHICAGO, IL – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has issued an Air Pollution Action Day for the […]

Uncategorized

UPDATE: How Does One Steal a Car Roof? THE ANSWER

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police: Here is the explanation from the Police Department: “Interestingly enough, it is exactly as it reads.  “It was a car roof, as in a hard metal roof, that was reported stolen.   “The business is an […]

Uncategorized

Pritzker Acts to Force Hospitals to Do Abortions, Calling The, “Life-Saving”

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

From JB Pritzker: Illinois Reaffirms Policy to Preserve Access to Life-saving Emergency Room Treatment HHS Rescinds Federal Guidance Put in Place Following the Dobbs Decision; Access to Life-Saving Care Enshrined in Illinois Law SPRINGFIELD – In response to action by the Trump administration to […]

Uncategorized

West Nile Mosquito Found in Lake in the Hills

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

From the Health Department: Mosquitoes in McHenry County test positive for West Nile Virus, first of 2025 McHENRY COUNTY, IL – The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) has confirmed that a mosquito pool collected from Lake in the Hills, Illinois, on June 2, 2025, has […]

Uncategorized

$40 Million German Flavor Producing Factory Coming to Huntley

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

From JB Pritzker: Governor Pritzker Announces Silesia to Open Second Flavor Innovation and Production Facility in Illinois German flavor company will invest $40 million and create 41 new jobs in Huntley HUNTLEY— Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity […]

Uncategorized

DeWitte Comments on Democrats’ Budget

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

From State Senator Don DeWitte: Legislators Send Governor Record-High Budget with $1 Billion in New Taxes [Below is Senator Don DeWitte’s speech against the budget bill.] On the final day of the spring legislative session, the House and Senate passed a $55.2 […]

Uncategorized

The Only Member of Congress to Ever Live in McHenry County, Joe Walsh, Announces Switch to Democrats

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

Found on WGN-TV: Oh, well.

Uncategorized

Domestic Violence Grant Awarded to McHenry County State’s Attorney

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 3, 2025

Frm the State’s Attorney: McHENRY COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AWARDED GRANT TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTION McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office announces that it was awarded $147,986.12 under the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant for the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Response to Violent […]

Uncategorized

What Is the Relevance of “They/them” to a Chicago Tribune Story on Storks Nesting in Lincoln Park Zoo?

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

From the Chicago Tribune story “In unlikely relationship, endangered herons seek out Lincoln Park Zoo’s red wolves for protection” by Adriana Pérez ? I can’t figure it out.

Uncategorized

Taking Responsibility for Tax Money Received Is Good Government

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

If one is a local governmental official, the best revenue one’s government receives is that which another government has provided. Think most recently of all the Covid money. Local governments were able to do mainly good things without have the fear of […]

Uncategorized

Full Scholarship to Finish College at University Center in Woodstock for One MCC Graduate Funded in Memory of Former MCC Board Member Erv LeCoque

Cal SkinnerJune 4, 2025June 4, 2025

From McHenry County College: The Friends of McHenry County College (MCC) Foundation is proud to announce the Ervin J. LeCoque University Center Scholarship, a new opportunity that will annually award a full tuition scholarship—currently up to $28,000—to an MCC graduate who plans […]

Uncategorized

Crash at Country Club and Bull Valley Roads

Cal SkinnerJune 3, 2025June 3, 2025

From the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District: Crash Sends Two to Hospital in Woodstock On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 10:50 a.m., the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to the intersection of Country Club Road and Bull Valley Road in Woodstock for a reported motor […]

Uncategorized

UPDATE: Strong Winds Do Damage, WGN & WLS Pick Up Alex Vuchi’s Photos

Cal SkinnerJune 3, 2025June 4, 2025

From Alex Vuchi, PIO from the various fire departments: Brief Storm Causes Isolated Damage Across Western McHenry County A fast-moving storm system moved through western McHenry County early this afternoon, resulting in several emergency responses for downed trees and power lines. At […]

Uncategorized

GOP Seeks Volunteers at Headquarters First Saturdays

Cal SkinnerJune 3, 2025June 3, 2025

From the McHenry County Republican Party: Party headquarters is at the tip of the “V” in the Crystal Lake Plaza. Map would be helpful so I have posted them below so people can see were the precincts are located. Algonquin Township Grafton […]

Uncategorized

Call to Action Thursday Night from Crystal Lake Park District DEI Supporter

Cal SkinnerJune 3, 2025June 3, 2025

From Louise Saler-Reinier, who appears to live near Burton’s Bridge: This is on the agenda of the 6:30 PM, June 6th, Crystal Lake Park District Board meeting at its Downtown Crystal Lake headquarters. The meeting might be the most interesting one since […]

Posts pagination

1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 69

Recent Comments

  • 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
  • Pastor Corey Brooks Declines $200,000 in Legislative Pork for Project H.O.O.D. - McHenry County Blog on Florida and Illinois Black Leaders Trade Places
  • Liberals Demonstrate in Front of McHenry Library - McHenry County Blog on Dems Promote McHenry “Save Our Libraries” Demonstration
  • DEI Supporters Keep Up Pressure on Crystal Lake Park Board, Conflict of Interest Charged for New Attorney, Pitch Made for Purchasing HealthBridge - McHenry County Blog on Crystal Lake DEI Policy
  • About
  • Home
Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.
rswpthemes.com