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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

  • Lake in the Hills Labor Day Parade Has First Labor Union Entry August 30, 2025
  • Little Boy Run Over by Lawnmower in Cary in Critical Condition August 30, 2025
  • Enterprise Zone Accomplishments Dertailed August 30, 2025
  • McLaughlin Schedules Property Tax Appeal Workshop August 30, 2025
  • Rabid Bat Found in Cary Bedroom August 29, 2025
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Attack on SAFE-T Act Continues

Cal SkinnerMay 15, 2025May 16, 2025

From State Rep. Tom Weber: Rep. Weber, House Republicans Call for SAFE-T Act Reform, Justice for Megan Bos Springfield, IL…. State Representative Tom Weber (R-Fox Lake) was joined by House Minority Floor Leader Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), State Representative Patrick Sheehan (R-Homer Glen), […]

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April Enhanced Enforcement Results for Sheriff’s Department

Cal SkinnerMay 15, 2025May 15, 2025

From the Sheriff: McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Announces Distracted Driving Enforcement Results The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office announced it issued 42 citations for distracted driving law violations: during April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month enforcement campaign. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office joined forces with […]

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Six Years on Gun and Drug Charge

Cal SkinnerMay 15, 2025May 15, 2025

From the State’s Attorney: TYRONE D. JONES SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR POSSESSION OF A WEAPON BY A FELON AND POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office announces that on May 12, 2025, Tyrone […]

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Thirty-Four Years for Gangbanger Who Murdered to Advance Gang Status

Cal SkinnerMay 15, 2025May 15, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: Federal Judge Sentences Chicago Street Gang Member to 34 Years in Prison for Murdering a Man and Threatening a Witness CHICAGO — A member of a violent Chicago street gang has been sentenced to 34 years in federal […]

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20-Year Old Woman Arrested for Taking Money from Senior

Cal SkinnerMay 15, 2025May 15, 2025

From the Huntley Police: On May 13th, 10000 block of E. Main St. Jamie L. Rolnicki, age 20, of the 14500 block of Tawny Ln., Huntley, IL, was arrested for forgery, financial exploitation of the elderly and theft. Ms. Rolnicki was processed […]

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Democrats Take Control of Dundee Township Monday

Cal SkinnerMay 15, 2025May 15, 2025

From Dundee Township Supervisor Shefali Shah: Dundee Township Supervisor Shefali Shah to be sworn-in Monday, May 19 EAST DUNDEE – Shefali Shah (D, East Dundee) announces the Honorable Judge John G. Dalton, Circuit Judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit, has graciously confirmed […]

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Republican State Rep. Reports on Pork, Points to Ousting of Democratic Party Leader for Bucking House Speaker on Budget

Cal SkinnerMay 15, 2025May 15, 2025

From State Rep. Adam Niemerg: Rep. Adam Niemerg: Non-governmental organizations receiving millions in taxpayer dollars Dieterich, IL – State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) says the widening gap in the state budget is not the result of a lack of funds but rather a […]

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Laurie Parman Ready to Take on Sue Ness Again

Cal SkinnerMay 15, 2025May 15, 2025

Under the images of the Americans for Prosperity postcard designed to put pressure on State Rep. Sue Ness not to vote for higher taxes, I wrote, “You can’t beat somebody with nobody.” Today, Laurie Parman announces she is making her second run […]

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Twelve Years on Ghost Gun and Drug Conviction

Cal SkinnerMay 14, 2025May 14, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: TWELVE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR SUBURBAN CHICAGO MAN WHO TRAFFICKED FENTANYL AND ILLEGALLY POSSESSED HANDGUN CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man who trafficked fentanyl and cocaine and illegally possessed a loaded handgun has been sentenced to 12 […]

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Weber Questions Costly Tollway Mistake

Cal SkinnerMay 14, 2025May 14, 2025

From The Center Square: IL state rep asks tollway to explain error costing taxpayers $44.6 million (The Center Square) – The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is being asked to explain a costly mistake to taxpayers. State Rep. Tom Weber, R-Fox lake, […]

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LaHood Bill to Clean Up Coal Mines Passes House

Cal SkinnerMay 14, 2025May 13, 2025

From Congressman Darin LaHood: LaHood’s Community Reclamation Partnerships Act Passes the House Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) praised the passage of his legislation, H.R. 167, the Community Reclamation Partnerships Act.  This legislation will ensure continued investment for the cleanup of abandoned […]

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Pritzker Didn’t Succeed in Creating a Successful Electric Bus Company with $50 Million Taxpayer Subsidy, So Trying Again, $31.5 Million in State Incentives This Time

Cal SkinnerMay 14, 2025May 13, 2025

As the Republican Party wrote, The Wheels On The Bus Fell Off: JB Pritzker’s “EV flop” CHICAGO — Back in June 2023, JB Pritzker, Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, and a crowd of lawmakers flocked to Joliet, patting themselves on the back as they […]

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McLaughlin, Other Republicans Answer Pritzker Challenge to Suggest Budget Cuts

Cal SkinnerMay 14, 2025May 13, 2025

From State Rep. Marty McLaughlin: Rep. Martin McLaughlin, Republican Lawmakers Unveil Over $5 Billion in Budget Savings: Call for Responsible Spending, End to Sanctuary State Policies Barrington, IL – State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-52) joined Republican colleagues, Chris Miller, Brad Halbrook, Adam […]

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Republicans Oppose Lowering Threshold for Death Tax

Cal SkinnerMay 14, 2025May 12, 2025

From State Senator Craig Wilcox: Senate Republicans Push Back Against Estate Tax Hike, Fight to Protect Family Farms One of the elements included in the Democrats’ $6 billion in new tax proposals takes aim at generational farmers in Illinois. They want to […]

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Judge Mark Gerhardt Finds Man Guilty of Attempted Murder

Cal SkinnerMay 13, 2025May 13, 2025

From the State’s Attorney: JUAN A. COLON FOUND GUILTY OF ATTEMPT FIRST DEGREE MURDER, AGGRAVATED DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM, AND UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF WEAPON BY FELON AFTER BENCH TRIAL The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office announces that Juan A. Colon, 29, of […]

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UPDATE: Motorcyclist Dies on Harmony Road

Cal SkinnerMay 13, 2025May 13, 2025

From the Sheriff: Fatal Motorcycle Crash near Marengo A 19-year-old Marengo man died following a single motorcycle crash on County Line Road, north of Harmony Road, near Marengo in unincorporated McHenry County. On Saturday, May 10, 2025, at approximately 3:24 p.m., members […]

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Is David Axelrod Pimping for Rahm?

Cal SkinnerMay 13, 2025May 13, 2025

Stories are popping up having former Obama supporter urging JB Pritzker not to run for re-election. You can find the WBEZ one here. What do you think?

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Americans for Prosperity Send Second Postcard Seeking to Put Pressure on Sue Ness to Vote against Hiking Taxes

Cal SkinnerMay 13, 2025May 13, 2025

From a Friend of McHenry County Blog: The problem with this campaign is that you can’t beat someone with no one. So far, no opponent to Ness has surfaced.

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If I Were a State Senator, I Would Be Embarrassed to Include This in My Newsletter

Cal SkinnerMay 13, 2025May 13, 2025

I found the following in several newsletters from Republican State Senators today: Legislation to Ban Glocks Punishes the Lawful, Not the Criminals Illinois Democrats introduced legislation effectively banning the sale of certain handguns to civilians, sparking serious concerns among Second Amendment supporters. […]

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June 7th Household Waste Disposal at Prairie Ridge High School, Pre-Registration Required

Cal SkinnerMay 13, 2025May 12, 2025

From State Senator Craig Wilcox: Household Hazardous Waste Collection – Crystal Lake Mark your calendar! On June 7, 2025, Illinois residents can safely dispose of household hazardous waste at Prairie Ridge High School, 6000 Dvorak Drive, Crystal Lake, IL. This free event […]

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Breaking the Bank

Cal SkinnerMay 13, 2025February 9, 2025

From the Illinois Institute’s Eric Allie comes this cartoon about the rise of real estate taxes:

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Eighteen, But Not All Incumbent Black Members of Congress Endorse Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate

Cal SkinnerMay 13, 2025May 13, 2025

From a Friend of McHenry County Blog: Jonathan Jackson And Other Black Lawmakers Buck Pritzker 18 members of the Congressional Black Caucus have endorsed Robin Kelly (IL-2) for U.S. Senate. One of them is Jonathan Jackson (IL-1).  Jonathan Jackson is the brother […]

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UPDATE: House Near Cary Explodes

Cal SkinnerMay 12, 2025May 12, 2025

From the Cary Fire Protection District: House Explosion/Fire Follow-Up The Cary Fire Protection District is providing a follow-up to the incident that occurred on Sunday, May 11, 2025, in the 6700 block of Pheasant Trail in unincorporated Cary. At this time, the […]

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Fox River Valley State Senator Positioning Himself to Lead the Way to Higher RTA Taxes

Cal SkinnerMay 12, 2025May 12, 2025

There will be more than a little irony if Fox River Valley State Senator Don DeWitte is a leader in the effort to bail out the RTA. DeWitte of St. Charles has served on the RTA Board and was appointed to the […]

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Parkinson’s Found Higher Near Golf Courses

Cal SkinnerMay 12, 2025May 12, 2025

Found on “Liberty Unyielding”: “Living within a mile of a golf course is associated with a 126% increased risk for Parkinson’s disease (PD), possibly due to increased pesticide exposure, results of a population-based case-control study suggest. “Results also showed drinking water from […]

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Why Are County’s Proposed Zoning Signs So Small?

Cal SkinnerMay 12, 2025May 9, 2025

Take a look at the small size of this sign that notifies neighbors of proposed changes in zoning: One can figure out something is up, but must get out of the car to read the contents. Other parts of the country require […]

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Kat Gets Major Boost from Chicago Tribune

Cal SkinnerMay 12, 2025May 12, 2025

Can’t get much better than the major front page article in the Chicago Tribune. That’s what wanna be Jan Schakowsky successor Kat Abughazaleh scored today, The Tribune selected a demure photo to run. Not one of the racy pictures she has posted […]

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Restaurants Offer Financial Assistance to Salvation Army Starting Monday

Cal SkinnerMay 11, 2025May 10, 2025

Fro the Salvation army: FIVE MCHENRY COUNTY RESTAURANTS INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL SALVATION ARMY WEEK Community members who dine at one of five participating locations from May 12-18 can ask for a portion of the sales to be donated to […]

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Moraine Hills State Park Racks Up 774,000 Visitors

Cal SkinnerMay 11, 2025May 13, 2025

That’s the number for Moraine Valley State Park provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in a press release this past week. Governor Pritzker announced that more than 41 million visitors visited Illinois state parks and historic sites, the highest number […]

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Prison Rape Returns to the News

Cal SkinnerMay 11, 2025May 9, 2025

Taking back thirty years to my crusade against rape in prison was a recent article in the Chicago Tribune: When I figured out that HIV was being spread much more in Illinois prisons than in the general population from a CDC-financed study […]

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Recent Comments

  • Pritzker’s Juvenile Detention Centers Send Press Release to Deflect from Sex Abuse Suits - McHenry County Blog on Rape and Other Sexual Abuse Charged in Illinois’ Juvenile Facilities
  • The Venezuelan Solution to Illegals in the United States - McHenry County Blog on Cutting Off the Head of the Syrian Snake Is Bringing People Home; Could Trump Attack Venezuelan Illegal Alien Problem by Getting Rid of Nicolás Maduro?
  • Crystal Lake Park District’s Nondisclosure Agreement Concerning Due Diligence with Northwestern Medical Concerning HealthBridge - McHenry County Blog on Park District Emails Concerning Healthbridge
  • Northwest Herald Features Rally in Support of Crystal Lake Park District Which Had No Mention of the Push to Buy HealthBridge - McHenry County Blog on Counterpoint to John Collins’ Argument That the Crystal Lake Park District Should Buy HealthBridge
  • Northwest Herald Features Rally in Support of Crystal Lake Park District Which Had No Mention of the Push to Buy HealthBridge - McHenry County Blog on Critiquing John Collins’ Critique of Park Board President Fred Tiesenga’s Letter to Constituents about Property Taxes Shows Almost One-Third Increase in His Park District Tax Bill over the Last Ten Years
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