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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

  • (no title) July 31, 2025
  • Smoke over Crystal Lake’s West Beach July 31, 2025
  • Tariff Exemption for Imports Under $800 To End July 31, 2025
  • Feds Indict Kane County Sheriff’s Office ICE Attacker July 31, 2025
  • Cary Man, Michael Porter, Shoots Self after Unsuccessful Attempt to Engage with Two Teenage Girls Wearing a Mask July 31, 2025
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New State Flag Contest’s Top Ten Finalists

Cal SkinnerDecember 11, 2024December 11, 2024

Citizens may think or state legislators didn’t do much this year, but consider the publicity the law authorizing consideration of a new state flag will received. Picked as the top ten.; along with explanations from their designers, follow: The 21 red + […]

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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?

Cal SkinnerDecember 11, 2024December 10, 2024

I had dinner with a three-decade legal resident alien from Venezuela the first art of the week. He advocated a strategy to eliminate maybe half of the illegal Venezuelan aliens at minimum cost. “Cut off the head of the snake!” he repeatedly […]

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Aggravated Battery Arrest in Woodstock

Cal SkinnerDecember 10, 2024December 10, 2024

From the Woodstock Police: Arrest – Aggravated Battery On December 9th, 2024, at approximately 11:16 a.m., Woodstock Police Officers were dispatched to 110 N. Eastwood Dr. in regard to a subject with a reported stab wound to the chest. On arrival, Woodstock […]

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Turned Over Tractor Traps Man

Cal SkinnerDecember 10, 2024December 10, 2024

From the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts: Marengo Fire Responds to Tractor Incident on Kishwaukee Valley Road On December 9, 2024, at 5:07 p.m., the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts responded to the 20400 block of Kishwaukee Valley Road for a reported […]

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Lakewood Spends $30,000 on Grant Writers and Receives $29,002

Cal SkinnerDecember 10, 2024December 9, 2024

The contract of the grant writing firm Administrative Consulting Specialists, LLC is up for renewal. During the first year of the arrangement, $29,002 in grants were received for the $30,000 price. The possibility exists to receive another $17,219 from an outstanding grant […]

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Feds Send Three Guys Who Kidnapped the Wrong Man to Prison for Over a Decade

Cal SkinnerDecember 10, 2024December 10, 2024

From th U.S. Attorney: THREE MEN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON IN CONNECTION WITH VIOLENT KIDNAPPING IN CHICAGO  CHICAGO — Three men have been sentenced to federal prison terms for their roles in abducting a man in broad daylight and holding him for […]

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Road Commissioner Contest in Nunda Township

Cal SkinnerDecember 10, 2024

There is a Republican slate of candidates on the February GOP Primary Election. They are Supervisor Road Commissioner Assessor Clerk Trustee (four to be elected) All are guaranteed of election but Road Commissioner Mike Lesperance. The reason is that he has an […]

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13 Years for Wonder Lake $500 Armed Robbery during Attempted Pot Purchase

Cal SkinnerDecember 10, 2024December 10, 2024

From the State’s Attorney: AZMI S. IBRAHIM SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR THE OFFENSE OF ARMED ROBBERY The McHenry County States Attorney’s office announces that on December 5, 2024, Azmi S. Ibrahim, 21, of Waukegan, was […]

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Illinois Employment Looks Dismal Compared to the Rest of America

Cal SkinnerDecember 10, 2024December 10, 2024

From Mark Glennon of Wirepoints: Awful and worse: Illinois jobs and employment numbers badly lag the nation A nonpartisan Illinois commission last week reported some dismal numbers on the state’s lagging job growth. Bad as they were, it’s worse if you look […]

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Strabbing at Woodstock Shell Station

Cal SkinnerDecember 10, 2024December 10, 2024

From the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District: Patient Airlifted with Critical Chest Wound On December 9, 2024, at 11:17 a.m., the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to a 911 call reporting a man with unknown injuries at the Shell gas station at 110 N. Eastwood Drive […]

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Why Would Lakewood Be Considering Buying a Tesla?

Cal SkinnerDecember 10, 2024December 9, 2024

If you want to know, listen to the Tuesday night meeting because this is on the agenda: Here is the memo from Police chief Mike Roth: On 08/24/21 the Village Board approved a lease agreement with Enterprise to lease (3) Dodge Durango […]

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As Syria Collapses, U.S. Attorney Reveals War Crime Torture Indictments against Two Syrian Air Force Leaders

Cal SkinnerDecember 9, 2024December 9, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney: CRIMINAL CHARGES UNSEALED IN CHICAGO AGAINST TWO FORMER HIGH-RANKING SYRIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FOR WAR CRIMES AGAINST AMERICANS AND OTHER CIVILIANS CHICAGO — An indictment was unsealed today in Chicago charging two high-ranking Syrian officials under former President Bashar al-Assad with […]

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Race Discrimination at the University of Illinois – Chicago

Cal SkinnerDecember 9, 2024December 9, 2024

From Legal Insurrection, republished with permission: U. Illinois-Chicago Dept. of Art History: Too Many White Scholars is “Ethically Problematic” The two main goals of the university, teaching and research, are improved first and foremost by cultivating diversity of thought. Doing so would […]

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Riley Grade School District Cutting Taxes by 46%, a One-Year Cut to Spend Down Excessive Balance, Back Up the Next Year

Cal SkinnerDecember 9, 2024December 6, 2024

The Riley Elementary School District was not required to publish a Black Box ad, but did so anyway. The Board decided to publish the ad, even though it did not need to, to be completely transparent. Superintendent Jason Grey said cutting the […]

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McHenry 32-Year Old Man Convicted of Child Endangerment, Drug Charges

Cal SkinnerDecember 9, 2024

From the State’s Attorney: KENNETH PRICE GUILTY OF ARMED HABITUAL CRIMINAL, POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITH INTENT TO DELIVER, POSSESSION OF CANNABIS WITH INTENT TO DELIVER AND ENDANGERING THE HEALTH OR LIFE OF CHILD Randi L. Freese, McHenry County State’s Attorney, […]

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8.8% Higher Taxes Sought by the Union Fire Protection District

Cal SkinnerDecember 9, 2024December 7, 2024

Black Box ad from the Union Fire Protection District;

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Joe Gottemoller’s Argument to Lower Tax Levy Only for Next Year and, Even Then Not to the Level Sought by Tax Hawks

Cal SkinnerDecember 9, 2024December 6, 2024

From the minutes of the McHenry County Board’s Committee of the Whole meeting from mid-November: Mr. [Joe] Gottemoller provided a comprehensive analysis of the county’s fiscal management over the past decade. He highlighted that the county’s property tax levy has decreased from […]

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Crystal Lake Attorney’s License Suspended for a Year

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 8, 2024

From the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission: In re Zangara, Frank John, 2024 PR00028 Disposition Suspension for a specified period. Suspension stayed in part. Effective Date of Disposition 12/10/2024 End Date of Disposition 04/10/2025 Scheduled termination date. Note that termination date […]

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Metra’s Presentation to County Board

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 6, 2024

The McHenry County Board heard the annual report from Metra at its November meeting from John Morris, Metra Chief Financial Officer. Below are the minutes: Mr. Morris presented the agency’s 2025 operating and capital budgets to the McHenry County Board. For the […]

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GOP Seeks Petition Signatures on “No More Taxes” Petition

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 8, 2024

From the Illinois Republican Party comes this email: It’s happening again It’s happening again. Springfield Democrats are gearing up to push another tax hike onto hardworking Illinois families. They want to take more of your money to fund their reckless, radical agenda. […]

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 8, 2024

From Illinois Institute cartoonist Eric Allie:

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Wonder Lake Grade School District Seeks Tax Hike of Over 12%

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 8, 2024

Black Box ad for Wonder Lake’s Harrison Grade School District 35: Let this be a lesson for anyone who says, “Growth pays its own way.:

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Marengo Park District Looking for 6%+ More in Real Estate Taxes

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 7, 2024

Black Box ad for the Marengo Park District:

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Did Chester Gould Model Pruneface after McHenry County Supervisor of Assessments Stanley Cornue?

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 8, 2024

One of the villains is the Dick Tracy cartoon strip created by Bull Valley’s Chester Gould was Pruneface. He appeared in black and white Saturday: Today’s Tribune cartoon reminded reprised the character in a costume party of the “Rogues Gallery:” And that […]

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Mainstream Media’s Tariff Fear Mongering Leading to Hoarding

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 8, 2024

Prices are going up when Don Trump takes office, the mainstream media warns. The pounding of that message is relentless. There was even a major threatening piece the day after Mexico and Canada capitulated to Trump’s threat to raise tariffs 25% if […]

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RTA Makes Pitch for Higher Taxes, Elimination of Required User Fees to County Board

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 6, 2024

Here is what Regional Transportation Executive Director Leanne Redden told the County Board at its November meeting: Leanne Redden, Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Executive Director, joined for the presentation. The RTA was presenting its 2025 budget to the McHenry County Board’s Committee […]

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Belvidere Electric Battery Plant Financing One Biden Administration Rushing to Finalize Before January 20th

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 8, 2024

From Crain’s comes this information:

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Republicans Nominate McHenry Township Candidates at Caucus

Cal SkinnerDecember 8, 2024December 8, 2024

Nominated at a Tuesday caucus of the McHenry Township Republican Party are the following: No candidate was nominated to oppose Democrat Mary Mahady. All are incumbents but Rode, who was selected to replace Clerk Danielle Aylward.

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Prescription Fraud at Lake in the Hills Walgrens

Cal SkinnerDecember 7, 2024December 6, 2024

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

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Underage Possession of Pot in Huntley for Wisconsin 19-Year Old

Cal SkinnerDecember 7, 2024December 4, 2024

From the Huntley Polilce:

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Recent Comments

  • Raising My Suspicions That the City of Crystal Lake Is the Initiator of the Move to Buy HealthBridge - McHenry County Blog on Crystal Lake Mayor Says He Has Found $1 Million Donor to Help Buy HealthBridge
  • Abortion at the McHenry County Fair - McHenry County Blog on Thomas More Society Comments on Rockford Court Victory in Which McHenry County’s 1st Way Pregnancy Center Was a Plaintiff
  • Minor Anti-Trump Demonstration on Route 14 Saturday - McHenry County Blog on Hundreds Line Crystal Lake’s Route 14 from Main Street past Jewel
  • 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 - McHenry County Blog on County Board Member John Collins Critiques Park Board President’s Letter Emphasizing Taxes, Fees & Salaries at Crystal Lake Park Board Meeting, Letter Included Below
  • Northwest Herald “Breaking News” — NOT - McHenry County Blog on With Senator Don DeWitte Retiring and State Rep. Sue Ness Likely Running to Replace Him, What Republican is Interested in the Seat?
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