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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
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Recent Posts

  • Fire in Commercial Condo on Prairie Street in Crystal Lake November 6, 2025
  • 8.74% Property Tax Hike Sought by Huntley Park District November 6, 2025
  • Another Incident at Chezek Elementary School November 6, 2025
  • Pritzker Beats New York City to Government-Financed Grocery Store November 6, 2025
  • Senator Sue Rezin Comments on Democrats’ Energy Bill November 6, 2025
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Paulson Road Bridge Closed

Cal SkinnerNovember 23, 2024November 23, 2024

From the McHenry County Transportation Department: Paulson Road Township Bridge Closure WOODSTOCK, Ill. – The McHenry County Division of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have closed the Paulson Road Township Bridge over the north branch of the Kishwaukee River in […]

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Three Shipments of Unapproved Gun Parts to Israel Lands Man in Prison for Almost Four Years

Cal SkinnerNovember 23, 2024November 23, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney: Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Exporting Firearm Parts to Israel CHICAGO —A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for illegally shipping firearm parts […]

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McHenry County Conviction of Former Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney for Alcohol-Fueled Motel Tryst with Woodstock Teen Leads to Nine-Month Law License Suspension

Cal SkinnerNovember 23, 2024November 23, 2024

Javaron Buckley was convicted of providing alcohol to a teenager in a Woodstock motel in 2022. Now, the has suspended his law license for nine months, starting on December 10th. .The decision is explained below: Suspension for a specified period reflects a […]

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Crystal Lake Seeks 3.4% Property Tax Hike

Cal SkinnerNovember 23, 2024November 22, 2024

the Crystal Lake Vity Black Box ad:

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Something to Consider If You Are Feeling Sorry for Chicago

Cal SkinnerNovember 23, 2024November 22, 2024

Stories like this on WBEZ have Chicago leaders complaining about not having enough money to pay for garbage collection. Looks as if there are two men on this truck. One behind and one at the wheel…compared to just a driver in McHenry […]

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Crystal Lake Apartment Robbery Results in 5+ Years in Prison

Cal SkinnerNovember 23, 2024November 23, 2024

From the State’s Attorney: JARVOISIAS J. MCCOY SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR ROBBERY Patrick D. Kenneally, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that 20-year-old, Jarvoisias McCoy, of Crystal Lake, IL, was sentenced to five […]

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Perhaps Jack Franks Biggest Legislative Accomplishment Tested in Illinois Supreme Court

Cal SkinnerNovember 22, 2024November 22, 2024

What I consider former State Rep. Jack Franks finest legislative achievement was featured in a Chicago Sun-Times article today. My memory may be faulty, but I believe the impetus to the legislation was a Richmond developer’s suing citizens trying to stop the […]

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Cook County Passes Flat Tax Levy

Cal SkinnerNovember 22, 2024November 21, 2024

From the Chicago Tribune comes this headline:

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Northwest Herald Again Features “Vote No” Signs, This Time in McHenry County Board Tax Levy Sellout

Cal SkinnerNovember 22, 2024November 21, 2024

From the Northwest Herald’s email promoting its County Fiscal Year 2025 tax levy story: The “Vote No” signs were produced by the Republican and Libertarian Parties to oppose the McHenry County Conservation District’s 33% operating tax hike referendum. But, they are obviously […]

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Democrats Run for Marengo School Boards

Cal SkinnerNovember 22, 2024November 21, 2024

It appears that Democrats have targeted school boards in Maegngo. Look at the voting backgrounds of those running for Marengo High School District 154’s Board: The man who ran for State Rep. in the last two elections, Peter Jenko, is on the […]

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Will RFK, Jr., Be Able to Convince Trump to Release the JFK Assassination Records?

Cal SkinnerNovember 22, 2024November 26, 2024

Donald Trump said he would release the John F. Kennedy assassination records when he was in office the first time. He did not follow through on that promise. It’s now been more than six decades. Who is left to protect? I wasn’t […]

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Crystal Laker with Bullhorn on January 6th Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Police Officer

Cal SkinnerNovember 21, 2024November 21, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C..: Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach WASHINGTON – An Illinois man pleaded guilty today to assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. […]

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Snow Sticking

Cal SkinnerNovember 21, 2024November 21, 2024

From Algonquin Township:

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Spring Grove Seeks 8% More from Property Owners

Cal SkinnerNovember 21, 2024November 21, 2024

The Black Box ad from Spring Grove:

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Lame Duck Democrats, Tax Loving Republicans Hit Homeowners with Double Whammy

Cal SkinnerNovember 21, 2024October 24, 2025

Besides the 33% McHenry County Conservation operating fund approval by voters, which cut the MCCD levy decrease from 60% to 45% when bonds re paid off, the County Board also voted for a levy higher that could have been lower. The three […]

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Underage Pot Arrests in Huntley

Cal SkinnerNovember 20, 2024November 21, 2024

From the Huntley Police:

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Reick on Higher Electric Costs

Cal SkinnerNovember 20, 2024November 19, 2024

From State Rep, Steve Reick: Wait, Who Is Responsible for the High Utility Bills? As temperatures dip, we are beginning to see our utility bills go up, again. Everything is becoming more expensive, and I hear from more and more constituents about […]

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Republican Caris Wipes Out Schneider in McHenry County

Cal SkinnerNovember 20, 2024November 20, 2024

The tally was 62% for Re;publican Jim Caris and 38% for incumbent Democrat Brad Schneider in McHenry County. Schneider lost every precinct.

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Evans Beats Foster in McHenry County by Five Percentage Points

Cal SkinnerNovember 19, 2024

Jerry Evans topped incumbent Bill Foster by five percentage points in McHenry County with all votes counted.

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Schakowsky Pulls Ahead of Cohen after Late Arriving Votes Counted

Cal SkinnerNovember 19, 2024November 19, 2024

On election Republican Seth Cohen was leading incumbent Democrat Jan Schakowsky in Algonquin Township, the part of McHenry County gerrymandered into a congressional district with Evanston and part of Chicago. Adding in the provisional and mailed in votes, Schakowsky won McHenry County.

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McHenry County Cinches State Rep. Victory for Marty McLaughlin

Cal SkinnerNovember 19, 2024November 20, 2024

With a five percentage point spread in McHenry County over Democrat Maria Peterson, incumbent Republican Marty McLaughlin has been reelected. He is ahead of the woman the Democrats spent millions on by 47 votes.

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Democrat John Collins Maintains His Lead, Defeating John Reinert in County Board District 2

Cal SkinnerNovember 19, 2024November 19, 2024

The only close McHenry County Board race was in District 2 (Crystal Lake, Lakewood andLake in theHills). Former appointed Democrat John Collins regained his seat over incumbent John Reinert. The result is not changed significantly from Election night although Collins did end […]

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Conservation 33% Tax Hikers Win $200,000+ to $2,500 Referendum Campaign

Cal SkinnerNovember 19, 2024November 19, 2024

When balloting was announced on Election Day, the totals were 74,761 to 74,981, with opponents ahead by 178 votes. With the mailed in and provisional votes added, tax hikers were ahead 77,614 in favor to 76,757 in opposition. So taxes for the […]

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Dorr Township Candidates

Cal SkinnerNovember 19, 2024November 19, 2024

Running for office in Dorr Township are the following: Supervisor:  Susan  Brokaw Clerk:  Brenda Stack Assessor:  Tammy Benitez Highway Commissioner:  Tom Thurman, John Fuller Trustees:  Jon Sheahan, Patrick Keefe, Jim Brink, Ernie Hagenow

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Reick Summarizes State Budget Problems

Cal SkinnerNovember 19, 2024November 19, 2024

From State Rep. Steve Reick: Budget Woes are Back Again As state legislators in the minority party have been warning for years, the gravy train of “free” taxpayer money from the federal government is over, yet the appetite for spending by the […]

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McHenry County College Still Keeps Board Candidates Secret

Cal SkinnerNovember 19, 2024November 22, 2024

The filling period for local office is over, but McHenry County College still has not revealed who is running for its governing board. {CORRECTION: i GOT THE CANDIDATES IN THEAFTERNOONOFTHEFILING DEADLINE DAY.] Priceless.

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Lakewood Plans to Tax to the Max

Cal SkinnerNovember 19, 2024November 23, 2024

In a memo to the Lakewood Village Board, Administrator Jean Heckman writes the tax levy will be 3.7% higher next year than this. 3.4% of that amount is the maximum allowed under the Tax Cap law. The additional amount is from new […]

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Should McHenry County Be Discussing Leaving Illinois to Join Wisconsin

Cal SkinnerNovember 19, 2024November 18, 2024

Thirty-some counties have voted in advisory referendums to leave Illinois and join another state. McHenry County is out-of-touch with the rest of the Chicago metropolitan area politically, While dissociating itself from Illinois is pretty much impossible, such a discussion and advisory referendum […]

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Robber of Banks Gets 20 Years

Cal SkinnerNovember 18, 2024November 18, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney: Chicago Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Robbing Three Banks at Gunpoint CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for robbing three banks at gunpoint. In 2020 and […]

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Will Biden Authorization of Ukrainian Use of US Missiles against Russian Start WW III?

Cal SkinnerNovember 18, 2024November 18, 2024

That’s the through running through y head this morning. Donald Trump, Jr., had the same thought yesterday with this message on X: “The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has […]

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Recent Comments

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