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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
Email Cal Skinner

Recent Posts

  • The $66.50 Ballot March 17, 2026
  • Woman Gets Seven Years for Fourth DUI, Followed by Head-On Crash in Crystal Lake March 17, 2026
  • Mohr Innovates in Campain for County Board March 17, 2026
  • Biss Gets Taken to the Woodshed after Former Student Tells of Uncomfortable Situation March 17, 2026
  • Republicans: Write-In Max Solomon for State Treasurer March 17, 2026
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UPDATE 2: Harvard Police Find Couple HEADSHOT Dead in Car with Hazard Lights Flashing Heading North on Route 14, MAN AND WOMEN IDENTIFIED

Cal SkinnerOctober 15, 2025October 15, 2025

From the Coroner 10-15-25: Preliminary findings showed that both individuals had gunshot wounds to the head as the cause of death. Toxicology is still pending. This is an ongoing investigation and the Coroner’s Office is continuing to work collaboratively with Harvard Police […]

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The Mushrooms in the Capitol

Cal SkinnerOctober 15, 2025October 15, 2025

The University of Illinois Press reminds people that today is National Mushroom Day. In Springfield the mushrooms of my day sat in the back row on the Democratic Party side of the chamber. They were Chicago Democrats incapable of independent thought or […]

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Cary Police Nab Overweight Truck

Cal SkinnerOctober 15, 2025October 15, 2025

From the Cary Police: Note that the driver also did not have a value driver’s license.

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Marengo to Outsource Zoning Function to County Government

Cal SkinnerOctober 15, 2025October 13, 2025

7,600 population Marengo has asked McHenry County government to take over its permitting and zoning function. Such an intergovernmental agreement is on the agenda of the next McHenry County Board meeting: “An Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of McHenry and the City […]

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Wilcox Discusses Illinois Corruption

Cal SkinnerOctober 14, 2025October 14, 2025

State Senator Craig Wilcox talks of the dirty dozen Democrat convicted of corruption:

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Info Updated on Couple Found Shot to Death on Route 14 in Harvard

Cal SkinnerOctober 14, 2025October 14, 2025

From the Harvard Police: Incident: Death Investigation – Update The Harvard Police Department, in conjunction with the McHenry County Major Investigative Assistance Team (MIAT), continues to diligently investigate the tragic incident that occurred on Monday, October 6, 2025, in the 700 block […]

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Man Who Started His Car on Fire Taken to Hospital for a Psychiatric Evaluation

Cal SkinnerOctober 14, 2025October 14, 2025

From the Harvard Fire Protection District: Firefighters and Deputies Respond to Vehicle Fire Incident On October 13, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., the Harvard Fire Protection District responded to the 6500 block of Oak Grove Road for a reported vehicle fire. Chemung is […]

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Hemp Criminal Case Goes Up in Smoke

Cal SkinnerOctober 14, 2025October 14, 2025

The attempt to put owners of a hemp processing facility in Lakemoor in prison for up to thirty years ended with a whimper, rather than a bang. Lakemoor Village Administrator Ryan. Todd Weihofen .during the raid of the hemp facility. One day […]

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Minor Mistake in County’s 2050 Plan

Cal SkinnerOctober 14, 2025October 13, 2025

At the bottom of the pages of the 2050 Comprehensive Plan that the County Board will be adopting, it says, “Working draft. For discussion only.” That being the case, perhaps the mistake in what appears below can be corrected: Crystal Lake, of […]

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Do Lakefront Property Owners on the Crystal Lake Park Board Have a Conflict of Interest?

Cal SkinnerOctober 14, 2025October 13, 2025

The subject was brought up by minority Commissioner Cathy Cagle and a Friend of McHenry County Blog took notes, which follow: Heated Discussion on Whether Ownership of Property on Crystal Lake’s Shore Is a Conflict of Interest in Voting on Lake Matters […]

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DeWitte Previews Veto Session

Cal SkinnerOctober 14, 2025October 13, 2025

From State Senator Don DeWitte: Legislators have been back in their home districts since the beginning of June, but this week we return to Springfield for the first three days of the 2025 Fall Veto Session. Session days are scheduled this week […]

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McHenry County College Doesn’t Follow Other Local Governments Concerning Columbus Day

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 13, 2025

I got a call from the library at McHenry County College to tell me a book I had ordered had arrived. It was Columbus Day, a national holiday. The college was open and I have a new book to read tonight, one […]

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Greenwood Township’s Plan Overlooked by 2050 Comprehensive Plan

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 13, 2025

From the 2050 Plan, a report on townships which have plans: Townships McHenry County is made up of 17 townships. In Illinois, townships have an elected governing board and are responsible for providing services such as snow removal, senior transportation, and emergency […]

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Northern Bypass Bridge Arises Like a Zombie from the Dead in County’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 13, 2025

Readers who are relative newcomers to McHenry County won’t remember the gigantic fight to build a bridge across the Fox River north of Algonquin along Haegers Bend Road through Camp Algonquin to the land owned by folks next to the Northwest Herald. […]

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McHenry County’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan for New Train Service Overtaken by Event

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 13, 2025

I’ve been perusing the proposed McHenry County 2050 Comprehensive Plan. Certainly, many people have read it over and over to find mistakes. One that could not have been envision was the Village of Huntley’s deciding it did not want a train stop […]

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Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate Celebrates Trump’s Peace Victory

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 13, 2025

From Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate Don Tracy: Don Tracy Celebrates Historic Gaza Hostage Release and Calls for Continued Peace SPRINGFIELD –  Don Tracy, a candidate for United States Senate, issued the following statement today in response to the release of the final 20 Israeli […]

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DeWitte and Wilcox Invite Seniors to Health Fair at Park District Building on Route 176

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 13, 2025

From State Senators Don DeWitte and Craig Wilcox: While I’ll be in Springfield this week for the fall Veto Session, the Senior Fair I’m co-hosting with Senator Craig Wilcox is all set to go for tomorrow (Tuesday, October 14) in Crystal Lake. […]

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DeWitte Uses Madigan Incarceration Day to Prod Democrats to Pass Anti-Corruption Bills

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 13, 2025

From State Senator Don DeWitte: Today is the day that disgraced former Speaker of the House Mike Madigan reports to prison. Madigan was convicted in February of this year on 10 counts including bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and related corruption charges tied […]

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McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese Holding Fundraiser Tuesday Night in Crystal Lake

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 13, 2025

From McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese: The event will be held at Crystal Creek Farms, 2025 Route176.

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SUV Hits Metra Train at Tragic Fox River Grove Intersection

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 13, 2025

Bringing back memories that I’d rather forget is this press release from the Fox River Grove Fire Protection District: Vehicle and Train Collision On October 13, 2025, at 10:59 p.m., the Fox River Grove Fire Protection District was dispatched for a reported […]

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Politicos at Marengo’s Settlers’ Days Parade

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 12, 2025

Sunday after noon was a beautiful day for a parade. And, exceeding my expectations were the number of bands from as far away as Evergreen Park and Evanston. Another article will tell of the bands. This one is about the politicians. First […]

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Dabrowski Celebrates Columbus Day

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 12, 2025

From Repblican gubernatorial hopeful Ted Dabrowski: Celebrate Columbus Day, reject those who try to divide us I write to you today as a staunch defender of Columbus Day and all it stands for. Columbus Day is a day to honor Italian-American heritage […]

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Mike Madigan: “To Jail, To Jail. It’s Off to Jail I Go.”

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 12, 2025

From Jeanne Ives: He’s Going to Jail Today Today, October 13th, is the deadline for Mr. Speaker – the name he coveted – to report to federal prison. He’s looking at 7.5 years behind bars. At age 83, it’s possible Mike Madigan dies in […]

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Despite Being Featured in Crystal Lake Library Newsletter, State Rep. Sue Ness Meeting Draws Few

Cal SkinnerOctober 13, 2025October 11, 2025

Found in the Crystal Lake Library newsletter: Guess people must be satisfied with her representation.

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Reflecting on How Some Who Call Trump “Hitler” React to His Ending the Israel-Hamas War

Cal SkinnerOctober 12, 2025October 12, 2025

From Richard Rostron if the Response: It appears “Hitler” has given us Peace in the Middle East The darndest thing happened last week; Pres. Donald Trump may have negotiated a peace deal to end the war in the Middle East. They said […]

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Jan Schakowsky Still Up and About, Offers Advice on Government Shutdown

Cal SkinnerOctober 12, 2025October 18, 2025

From the Member of Congress who represents Algonquin Township, Jan Schakowsky: Frequently Asked Government Shutdown Questions Will I continue to receive my Social Security? A shutdown will not impact Social Security benefit payments but be aware that new benefit verification and card […]

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A New Finding Concerning Chicago’s Depopulation

Cal SkinnerOctober 12, 2025October 12, 2025

Found this in a Sunday Op-Ed piece in the Chicago Tribune: So, it’s not just taxes that led people to move out of cities like Chicago.

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerOctober 12, 2025October 12, 2025

From Illinois Policy cartoonist Erik Allie:

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Man Critical after Falling from Garage Roof

Cal SkinnerOctober 12, 2025October 12, 2025

From the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District: Man Critically Injured in Fall from Garage Roof On Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 11:27 a.m., the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to the 10600 block of Deerpath Road in unincorporated Woodstock for a report of a fall […]

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Lakewood Plans Affordable Housing Near Intersection of Routes 47 and 176 In Woodstock School District 200

Cal SkinnerOctober 12, 2025October 11, 2025

After being slapped on the wrist for the inadequacy of its affordable housing plan by the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Village Board came up with a plan to site affordable housing across Route 47 where there is no development but a […]

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Recent Comments

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  • Jeff Thorsen Resigns as McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman, Vice Chairman Kirk Donald Succeeds Him - McHenry County Blog on Johnsburg’s Kirk Donald Running for Re-Election as Vice Chairman of the McHenry County Republican Party
  • Point, Counterpoint: Wilson Replies to Collins’ Critique of His Analysis of the High Cost of McHenry Affordable Income Housing - McHenry County Blog on High Cost “Low Cost” Housing in McHenry
  • Tribune Promotes Kat Again, This Time with Photo on Front Page - McHenry County Blog on Kat Gets Major Boost from Chicago Tribune
  • Kat Makes Front Page of Chicago Tribune - McHenry County Blog on Kat Gets More Free Publicity from the Chicago Tribune
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