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McHenry County Blog

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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
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Recent Posts

  • Ted Dabrowski’s First and Second TV Ad During Bears Game January 18, 2026
  • Farmhouse Living Room Fire in Harvard January 18, 2026
  • 19-Year Old Arrested for Attempt to Meet 13-16-Year Old Youth for Sex January 18, 2026
  • Sunday Funnies January 18, 2026
  • Mandatory Mental Health Screening in Schools (Passed in Illinois) Found to Make No Difference January 18, 2026
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Fox River Grove Apartment Building Being Demolished Near Train Station May Be Reason for the Rat in Town

Cal SkinnerNovember 14, 2025November 13, 2025

Earlier this week, McHenry County Blog showed a picture of the Local 150 rate in front of the Fox River Grove Village Hall. So, what has the Village got going on that has to do with equipment that might interest Local 150? […]

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Looks as if Pritzker Is Losing Weight

Cal SkinnerNovember 14, 2025November 14, 2025

When Jim Thompson started losing weight, it was a sure thing he was running for reelection. In the photo below of Governor JB Pritzker taken October 30th by a Chicago Tribune reporter, Governor JB Pritzker certainly looks less fat than he did […]

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Crystal Lake Takes Hit on WLS-TV

Cal SkinnerNovember 14, 2025November 14, 2025

It was guilt by association, but negative for Crystal Lakers anyway. Although ABC got it wrong when it reported Nick Kachiroubas was still Crystal Lake City Clerk and still on the Illinois Community College Board, the implication that local voters elected a […]

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Will County GOP Board Members Support Zero Increase in Real Estate Tax Levy (Note the lack of a question mark)

Cal SkinnerNovember 14, 2025November 14, 2025

Found on WFOL radio: “In a strong bipartisan stand against unnecessary County spending, 11 Republican members of the Will County Board, joined by Democrat Destinee Ortiz (D-Bolingbrook), voted against raising the Will County tax levy. “Instead, the group supported a 0% increase, […]

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All Local Hospitals Rated by Leapfrog Earn “A”, Except Those in Rockford

Cal SkinnerNovember 14, 2025November 13, 2025

All but three hospitals serving McHenry County came out well on the safety evaluation by Leapfrog. The “A’s” include Rockford’s Javon Bea Hosptal -Riverside got a “B.” Rockford’s OSF Saint Anthoney Medical Center ended up with a “C.” Rockford’s UW Health Swedish […]

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Property Tax Sale Problems Resulting from U.S. Supreme Court Decision

Cal SkinnerNovember 14, 2025November 13, 2025

From The Center Square: Expert: Illinois’ outdated tax law leaves homeowners, taxpayers on the hook (The Center Square) – Illinois remains the only state that hasn’t reformed its property tax sale system after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Tyler v. Hennepin […]

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UPDATE: McHenry County Democratic Party Precinct Committee Candidates Vastly Outnumber Republican’s, 89-67, WITH JACQUELINE GARRETSON REBUTTAL

Cal SkinnerNovember 14, 2025November 13, 2025

From a Friend of McHenry County Blog: GOP Outreach Chair gets primary while Democrats whoop Republicans on recruitment There were 69 people who filed to be committeeperson in 67 precincts (with two contested races) on the Republican side and 90 people who […]

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Marlowe Elementary School in the Police Calls Again

Cal SkinnerNovember 13, 2025November 12, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

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Wonder Lake Man Kept in Jail after Domestic Battery Arrest

Cal SkinnerNovember 13, 2025November 13, 2025

From the State’s Attorney: COURT GRANTS STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE’S PETITION TO DETAIN MAN FOR DOMESTIC BATTERY McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese announced today that the Honorable Judge Christopher Harmon granted the State’s motion to deny pretrial release for Charles Gozzola, 51, […]

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Sport Utility Vehicle Hits Tree Near Boone County Line

Cal SkinnerNovember 13, 2025November 13, 2025

From the Marengo Fire/Rescue Districts: Rollover Vehicle Crash on Kishwaukee Valley Road On Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 9:23 a.m., the Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts responded to the area of Kishwaukee Valley Road and Oleson Road in unincorporated Marengo for a […]

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Dabrowski Calls Out Pritzker for Silence on Mexican Illegal Alien Who Shot at ICE Agents

Cal SkinnerNovember 13, 2025November 13, 2025

From gubernatorial hopeful Ted Dabrowski:: Mob rule, Pritzker’s silence Luck alone saved us from loss of life on Saturday. Gunfire during the fight between protesters and ICE sounded yet another frightening warning of the consequence of reckless incitement by Gov. J.B. Pritzker […]

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UPDATE: Harvard Couple’s Death on Route 14, Husband Shot Wife, Then Self

Cal SkinnerNovember 13, 2025November 13, 2025

From the Harvard Police: Incident: Death Investigation – Update The Harvard Police Department, in conjunction with the McHenry County Major Investigative Assistance Team (MIAT) and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office, continues to investigate the tragic incident that occurred on Monday, October 6, […]

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Pot in Vehicle, etc., etc.

Cal SkinnerNovember 13, 2025November 12, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

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UPDATE: More Free Publicity for Kat

Cal SkinnerNovember 13, 2025November 13, 2025

Found on the Chicago Tribune email feed: Wednesday night, BUT THERE’S MORE: Here is what showed up in the paper on page three:

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More State Subsidies for Electric Vehicles, McHenry County Charging Stations

Cal SkinnerNovember 13, 2025November 13, 2025

From the Illinois EPA comes this announcement below of the availability of tax money to build electric vehicle charging stations. After a search, I have pulled out the McHenry County locations already approved. They follow: Online; Under construction: $20 Million in Funding […]

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Schools Set Up Emergency Response Coordination

Cal SkinnerNovember 13, 2025November 12, 2025

From McHenry County: ROE Unites Schools and County Offices to Share Resources through the McAid Alliance WOODSTOCK, Ill. – The McHenry County Regional Office of Education is uniting the Emergency Management Agency, State’s Attorney’s Office, and all local school districts, to share […]

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GOP Senate Hopeful Don Tracy Cites Stock Markets Surges, Says Shutdown “100% manufactured by Democrats”

Cal SkinnerNovember 12, 2025November 13, 2025

From the campaign of Don Tracy, running for the Republican nomination for U.S> Senate: With Markets Rallying as Shutdown Nears End, Don Tracy Calls Out Opponents for Wanting to Prolong the Pain for Illinois Working Families SPRINGFIELD –  With the House set to pass […]

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LaHood Comments on Government’s Reopening

Cal SkinnerNovember 12, 2025November 13, 2025

From Congressman Darrin LaHood: LaHood Statement on Reopening the Government Washington, D.C. – Tonight, Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) issued the statement below following the House of Representatives’ vote to reopen the government. “In September, I voted to avoid the Schumer Shutdown. Tonight, I proudly […]

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No Get Out of Jail Card for Serial McHenry DUI Arrestee

Cal SkinnerNovember 12, 2025November 12, 2025

From the State’s Attorney: COURT GRANTS STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE’S PETITION TO DETAIN MAN FOR AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese announced today that the Honorable Judge Christopher Harmon granted the State’s motion to deny pretrial release for […]

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Visitation Problems in Lake in the Hills

Cal SkinnerNovember 12, 2025November 12, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

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Homeland Security Claims Credit for Drop in Chicago Crime Rate under Midway Blitz

Cal SkinnerNovember 12, 2025November 12, 2025

From the Department of Homeland Security: Operation Midway Blitz Brings Historic Drop in Crime to J.B. Pritzker and Brandon Johnson’s Chicago It’s common sense—when you remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country—crimes rates plummet WASHINGTON — In […]

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The Rat Is Back

Cal SkinnerNovember 12, 2025November 12, 2025

I don’t know what union is using the big rat in Fox River Grove, but it indicates that village officials must have contracted for work by workers who are not unionized. The photo was sent by a Friend of McHenry County Blog.

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WBBM-TV Features “The Bridge” Located in Crystal Lake

Cal SkinnerNovember 12, 2025November 12, 2025

Must admit that I had not heard of “The Bridge,” a free store that provides clothing and other things like toys to families. People are allowed to come four times a year. Sponsored by Kids in Need, its website reports that 4,712 […]

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County Zoning and Housing Board Members Sought

Cal SkinnerNovember 12, 2025November 12, 2025

From McHenry County: McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals and Housing Authority McHenry County is looking for community-minded and dedicated people to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Housing Authority. One Alternate Member position is available on the Zoning Board of […]

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Don Tracy on Durbin: “When Someone Gets It Right, You Have To Give Credit Where It’s Due”

Cal SkinnerNovember 12, 2025November 11, 2025

From the campaign of U.S. Senate hopeful Don Tracy: Don Tracy: Democrats’ Attack on Durbin’s Vote to End Shutdown Proves They Answer to Extremists, Not Illinoisans Springfield –  Sen. Dick Durbin’s vote to join Senate Republicans in ending the government shutdown has […]

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Northern Lights Seen in Northern Illinois

Cal SkinnerNovember 11, 2025November 11, 2025

Seen by a Friend of McHenry County Blog: Another view:

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Biss Releases Poll Showing Him Firmly in First Place

Cal SkinnerNovember 11, 2025November 11, 2025

From the Daniel Biss campaign come these poll results from Impact Research: From the accompanying report: The sampling error is +/-4.4%.

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Man’s Car Ends Up in Ditch Near Railroad Tracks and Creek

Cal SkinnerNovember 11, 2025November 11, 2025

From the Huntley Fire Protection District: Car goes though guard rail into ditch On Monday, November 10, 2025, at 8:05 a.m., the Huntley Fire Protection District and Huntley Police Department responded to Kreutzer Road near the railroad tracks for a reported water […]

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Harvard Schools Seek 6.2% More from Property Owners

Cal SkinnerNovember 11, 2025November 11, 2025

The Black Box ad from Harvard United School District 50:

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Tracy Checks GOP Primary Opponents’ Petitions, Finds Some Deficient, Declines To Challenge Them

Cal SkinnerNovember 11, 2025November 11, 2025

From the campaign of U.S. Senate hopeful Don Tracy: Don Tracy Declines to Challenge Opponents’ Petitions; Embraces Party Unity and Service SPRINGFIELD –  The Don Tracy for Illinois campaign reviewed the ballot petitions of the several Republicans who filed for US Senate. Although this review revealed […]

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Recent Comments

  • Lake County State’s Attorney Doesn’t Know It Is a State Office - McHenry County Blog on Possible Reasons the State’s Attorney Dropped the Lakemoor Hemp Case
  • The Property Tax Sale Problem That Could Cost McHenry County Taxpayers $13 Million - McHenry County Blog on McHenry County Taxpayers May Be on the Hook for $13 Million to Repay Home Equity Lost in Tax Sales
  • Cost Per Student in Crystal Lake High School District - McHenry County Blog on Test Scores, Costs for McHenry County School Districts, Link to All Illinois Districts
  • Leon Back In 9th District Democratic Party Primary - McHenry County Blog on Bruce Leon “Pauses” Campaign for 9th District Democratic Party Congressional Nomination
  • A Look at the County’s Legislative Agenda - McHenry County Blog on Taking Responsibility for Tax Money Received Is Good Government
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