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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
Email Cal Skinner

Recent Posts

  • Only 14% of Bills Passed This Year Were Sponsored by Republicans June 28, 2025
  • Greenwood Slaughterhouse West of Wonder Lake Kaput June 28, 2025
  • Dem Candidate for County Treasurer Surfaces June 28, 2025
  • Genius Attorney Sues Dead McHenry County Treasurer June 28, 2025
  • What Are People Doing Who Are Hit by Lightning June 28, 2025
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Projected 2025 McHenry County Employee Compensation: Re-Sa

Cal SkinnerJanuary 21, 2025January 2, 2025

McHenry County publishes salary and fringe benefit estimates for those over 1200 employees. Retek, Susan Mapping Technician II $73,659.69Retz, Eric Correctional Officer – Union $113,694.88Reyes, David Correctional Officer – Union $135,437.12Reynolds, Gregory Marine Patrol I $14,950.00Rhodes, Daniel Correctional Officer – Union $113,694.88Ribar, […]

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Concealed Carry for Visitors May Be Mandated by Republican Congress

Cal SkinnerJanuary 21, 2025January 21, 2025

From The Center Square: National carry reciprocity would force Illinois to recognize other states’ permits (The Center Square) – With the U.S. Congress in Republican control and the new Trump administration in power, the possibility of a national concealed carry reciprocity law […]

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Car Stolen in Oakwood Hills

Cal SkinnerJanuary 21, 2025January 21, 2025

From the Oakwood Hills Police Chief: Danny Rains: “Early Monday morning a vehicle was stolen in Oakwood Hills. Mosl likely this was a random theft. As a reminder please  “DO NOT leave valuables in your car such as keys, purses, credit cards, cash, electronics etc.”

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Man Sentenced 13 Years for Drug, Child Porn Convictions

Cal SkinnerJanuary 21, 2025January 21, 2025

Fromthe State’s Attorney: CHRISTOPHER J. MARKS SENTENCED TO A COMBINED THIRTEEN YEARS IN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR THE OFFENSES OF UNLAWFUL POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER CANNABIS AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPH The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office announces that Christopher J. […]

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Tribune Continues to Protect Biden

Cal SkinnerJanuary 21, 2025January 21, 2025

Earlier I wrote how Biden was trying to avoid press coverage of his pardoning of his family members by releasing it on a day when other news storied. Note the lack of headline that Biden pardoned his family.

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Trump Presidential Source Documents

Cal SkinnerJanuary 21, 2025January 21, 2025

Just in case you would like to see the source documents, you can find them here.

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13 Fire Departments Help Extinguish Johnsburg House Fire

Cal SkinnerJanuary 21, 2025January 21, 2025

From the McHenry Township Fire Protection District: On Tuesday, January 21st, at approximately 3:00 a.m., the McHenry Township Fire Protection District (MTFPD) was dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 3700 block of Richmond Road in the Village of Johnsburg. Fire […]

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Eagles on Fox River

Cal SkinnerJanuary 21, 2025January 20, 2025

From of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge: Celebrate Eagles along the Fox River and on Geneva Lake on Saturday, February 1 RICHMOND, IL- Celebrate the eagles of the Fox River Valley on Saturday, February 1, 2025. Winter is a perfect time to see bald […]

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How Did Democrat Kelli Wegener Spend $71,000 on Her Campaign to Head County Board after September?

Cal SkinnerJanuary 21, 2025January 18, 2025

Democrat Kellie Wegener spent $71,226 in her attempt to beat incumbent Republican Mike Buehler, who laid out $53,213 during the same period. So, what did she spent the money on? Listed as “in-kind” contributions were $2,784: $1,154.32 in additional campaign money was […]

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Resentment of “Black Boys” Expressed by Southern Illinois State Rep. Who Voted for MLK Holiday Bill for Lack of Reciprocity on Mineral Extraction Tax Bill

Cal SkinnerJanuary 21, 2025January 20, 2025

The day after the Marten Luther King Holiday bill was passed, Southern Illinois legislators put forth a proposal on the House floor to direct the one percent local sales tax from where the bills were sent to where the coal or gravel […]

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Laura Trump Speaking at McHenry County GOPAC Event

Cal SkinnerJanuary 20, 2025January 20, 2025

From McHenry County GOPAC: McHenry County GOPAC and Citizens to Elect Joe Tirio Announce “America First Leadership Dinner” Featuring Lara Trump WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS – January 20, 2025 – McHenry County GOPAC, in collaboration with the campaign committee Citizens to Elect Joe Tirio, […]

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Projected 2025 McHenry County Employee Compensation: Pa-Re

Cal SkinnerJanuary 20, 2025January 2, 2025

McHenry County publishes salary and fringe benefit estimates for those over 1200 employees. Patenaude, Travis Chief Info Security Officer $150,854.26Paterek, Kristofer Correctional Officer – Union $128,375.52Patino, Juana Public Health Nurse $47,544.78Pauley, Daniel Court Security Ofcr – Union $73,594.84Paulish, Linda Certified Nursing Assistant […]

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Firsthand Story of 1973 Joe Biden Lie

Cal SkinnerJanuary 20, 2025January 20, 2025

From Eugene Brown, formerly of Algonquin, now of Cape Coral, Florida: One of Joe Biden’s First Lies Remembered by a Resident of His Wilmington Neighborhood As you know my political exposure and interest dates back to my early years as a teenager. For […]

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Biden Pardons HIS Crime Family “Unconditional[ly]”

Cal SkinnerJanuary 20, 2025January 20, 2025

After providing pardons to Andre Fauci and the J6Committee,we should not be surprised as President Joe Biden’s final act in office: “A Full and Unconditional Pardon.”

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Fauci and Others Pardoned on Day That Action Will Be Buried by So Much Other News

Cal SkinnerJanuary 20, 2025January 20, 2025

When Governor Dan Walker was in office I was in town during the State Fair. Probably for the State Fair. I went into the press room and found a release from the Department of Local Governmental Affairs announcing that property tax multipliers […]

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1973 Martin Luther King Day Law Not Supposed to Close Schools, According to Sponsor Harold Washington

Cal SkinnerJanuary 20, 2025January 20, 2025

The vote in favor of future Chicago Mayor Harold Washington’s bills to designate a holiday to honor Martin Luther King was held on April 4, 1973, the anniversary of his assignation. Sponsored by State Rep. Washington, it passed by a vote of […]

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Buehler Beat Wegener by Ten Percentage Points To Head County Board While Spending Only 75% of Democrat’s Effort

Cal SkinnerJanuary 20, 2025January 18, 2025

Republican incumbent Mike Buehler spent $53,213 in the last month of his fall campaign. During the same period, Democratic Party opponent, County Board member Kelli Wegener laid out $71,226. Despite spending one-third more than Buehler, Wegener lost by almost 16,000 votes. The […]

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Projected 2025 McHenry County Employee Compensation: Ne-Pa

Cal SkinnerJanuary 19, 2025January 2, 2025

McHenry County publishes salary and fringe benefit estimates for those over 1200 employees. Nesbit Burnett, Taylor Supervisor, State’s Attorney $147,484.40Nett OHalleran, Nanci Administrative Specialist I $20,615.40Neubauer, Justin Senior Asst State’s Attorney 2nd Chair $127,219.24Nevitt, Lynzi County Clerk Office Supervisor $65,299.83Newbold, Bryan Correctional […]

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On Consolidation of Power in the Illinois House When the Speaker’s Rules Eliminated the Predictability of When a Bill Would Be Called for a Vote

Cal SkinnerJanuary 19, 2025January 17, 2025

Fifty-two years ago in 1973, W. Robert Blair was forced to make significant changes in the way things were done in the Illinois House of Representative in order to win re-election as House Speaker. He had been challenged by State Rep. Henry […]

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerJanuary 19, 2025January 19, 2025

From the Illinois Policy Institutes Eric Allie and Chicago Tribune Editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis:

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Algonquin Improvements Win Plaudits

Cal SkinnerJanuary 19, 2025January 17, 2025

From the Village of Algonquin: Algonquin Projects Receive Engineering Excellence Awards Old Town Revitalization and Souwanas Trail Improvements Recognized for Positive Impact ALGONQUIN, IL – The Village of Algonquin is proud to share that two projects have been honored with the American Council […]

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Tribune Story on Catholic Nuns Features Visits to McHenry County Jail ICE Detainees

Cal SkinnerJanuary 19, 2025January 19, 2025

Found on the front page of Sunday’s Chicago Tribune is the story about two Catholic Sisters dedicated to helping immigrants. Included is what they did at the McHenry County Jail. From the article: They met with the Midwest director for the U.S. […]

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51 Years Ago Promise Made Again by RTA Seekers of Still Higher Taxes

Cal SkinnerJanuary 19, 2025January 18, 2025

In the 1974 referendum that created the Regional Transportation Authority, the proponents promised “public transportation when and where yo need it. That promise was finally met in December , 2019 in McHenry County. Now comes RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard, in his most […]

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Family Take-Down of Older Relatives’ Right to Drive in New Senior Driver’s License Bill

Cal SkinnerJanuary 19, 2025January 19, 2025

“Grandpop, there’s a car coming!” I shouted as we drove on the left side of the road which was paved. He swerved back to the dirt side of the road and we didn’t have a head-on crash. When we returned to my […]

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Projected 2025 McHenry County Employee Compensation: Mi-Ne

Cal SkinnerJanuary 18, 2025January 2, 2025

McHenry County publishes salary and fringe benefit estimates for those over 1200 employees. Miller, Garrett Assistant State’s Attorney $96,984.66Miller, Susan Board of Review Alt $6,500.00Miner, James Animal Control Officer I $56,799.08Minniti, Carlo Deputy – Union $113,902.04Mishler, Brian Correctional Officer – Union $103,203.88Mitchard, […]

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Another Example of Order of Protection Not Protecting

Cal SkinnerJanuary 18, 2025January 18, 2025

Found in the Chicago Tribune is a woman being killed by the man against which she had obtained an Order of Protection:

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“ICE Man Cometh,” Chicago Targeted for Illegal Alien Removal Tuesday

Cal SkinnerJanuary 18, 2025January 18, 2025

That’s that the Wall Street Journal and the New Yok Post are reporting. That’s what Tom Homan promised in his December Chicago appearance “If your mayor doesn’t want to help, he can step aside. But if he impedes us, if he knowingly […]

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Remembering Visiting Washington Men’s Room 70-80 Years Ago

Cal SkinnerJanuary 18, 2025January 16, 2025

Block Club published a story on 1910 urinals at an old brewery at a Chicago bar. Our family visited Washington about 1950, which I can date to the time President Truman was living in Blair House while the White House was being […]

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Projected 2025 McHenry County Employee Compensation: Ma-Mi

Cal SkinnerJanuary 17, 2025January 2, 2025

McHenry County publishes salary and fringe benefit estimates for those over 1200 employees. Marchese, Anna Veterans Service Officer I $87,334.76Marek, Maria Senior Asst State’s Attorney 2nd Chair $112,908.66Marin, Anthony Assistant State’s Attorney $94,827.54Markison, Edward Maint Superintendent $150,414.68Markowski, Ryan Probation Supervisor $88,221.08Maron, Taylor […]

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Tribune Editorial Cartoonist Scott Stantis’ Idea of Balance

Cal SkinnerJanuary 17, 2025January 17, 2025

Earlier this week Scott Stantis, the Editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune drew images of Joe Biden as a doddering old man: Today, Stantis returned to his ridicule of Donald Trump, whom he cauterizes as a skunk:

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Recent Comments

  • 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
  • John Collins Replies to Tim Beck’s Column - McHenry County Blog on Tim Beck’s Response to John Collins’ Rebuttal to Terri Greeno’s Opinion Piece
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