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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

  • Westward Ho for Lakewood September 12, 2025
  • Flags at Half-Mast September 11, 2025
  • Feds Convict Another Carjacker/Murderer, Gets Life September 11, 2025
  • Eight Years for Cocaine Dealer from Fox River Grove Jewel Undercover Buy September 11, 2025
  • Suspicious Person Prompts Crystal Lake Coventry Probe, Found Carrying Pencil, Not Knife September 11, 2025
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Lake in the Hills Child Comes Home from School with Bruises

Cal SkinnerDecember 22, 2024December 20, 2024

From the Lake in the Hills Polilce:

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerDecember 22, 2024December 22, 2024

From the Illinois Policy Institute’s cartoonist Eric Allie:

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Woodstock Outline Use of $600,000 State Park Grant

Cal SkinnerDecember 22, 2024December 22, 2024

From the City of Woodstock: City Receives OSLAD Grant for Splash Pad The City of Woodstock is excited to announce it has been awarded $600,000 through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development(OSLAD) Grant Program. This […]

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The Plight of Illinois’ Regional Public Universities Analyzed by Governmental Expert Jim Nowlan

Cal SkinnerDecember 22, 2024December 22, 2024

Thoughts from Jim Nowlan, former State Rep., Lt Gov;rnor candidate with Richard Ogilvie, cabinet leader under Jim Thompson, college professor, author, etc:: Illinois doesn’t have enough college students to go around Illinois doesn’t have enough college students to go around, and college-going […]

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Bird Flu in Woodstock

Cal SkinnerDecember 21, 2024December 21, 2024

From the City of Woodstock: Public Notice: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Waterfowl Reports of waterfowl (geese, ducks, etc.) affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed across the region, including Woodstock, Illinois. To help reduce the risk of […]

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FOID Card Constitutionality Case at State Appellate Court Level

Cal SkinnerDecember 21, 2024December 22, 2024

From The Center Square: Illinois appeals court hears challenge to Illinois’ gun ID law (The Center Square) – Whether Illinois’ Firearm Owner’s ID card is constitutional is now up to a state appellate court. Illinois is one of only a handful of […]

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RTA Subsidies by County

Cal SkinnerDecember 21, 2024December 22, 2024

Food for thought from the Metropolitan Planning Council:

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Four-Vehicle Crash West of Marengo

Cal SkinnerDecember 21, 2024December 21, 2024

From the Marengo Fire/Rescue District: Multi-Vehicle Crash with Multiple Patients on Route 20 in Marengo On Thursday, December 19, 2024, at approximately 4:21 p.m., the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts responded to a multi-vehicle crash just west of the intersection of W. […]

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Small Business Hurting in Illinois

Cal SkinnerDecember 21, 2024December 20, 2024

From The Center Square: As economic conditions improve, survey shows Illinois small business struggles continue (The Center Square) – A new survey of small businesses shows economic conditions took a turn for the worse in Illinois in November.   The small business network Alignable reports that nearly half […]

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Alex Vucha’s Accident Photos Make Chicago Television News

Cal SkinnerDecember 21, 2024

Several fire departments have hired Alex Vucha to take photos and send out press releases. Local media, including McHenry County Blog, have published them. Last night Fox 32 featured ones from the Harvard and Cary Fire Protection Districts. The accidents were both […]

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Looks as if Illegal Aliens Boosted Illinois Population

Cal SkinnerDecember 21, 2024December 20, 2024

From the Chicago Tribune:

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Trump Wins Budget Battle in House, Christmas Tree Bill Chopped Down

Cal SkinnerDecember 20, 2024December 20, 2024

The U.S. House passed the 118 page bill devised after Prudent -Elect Trump trashed the 1500+ page Christmas tree alternative worked out to gain votes from Democrats.. . Gone was the $79,000 pay raise, too. The U.S. Senate needs to pass the […]

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Cary Squad Car and Bicyclist Have Accident

Cal SkinnerDecember 20, 2024December 20, 2024

Cary Police report on minor accident:. The crash occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. The adult male bicyclist was riding his bike southbound on the sidewalk east of Silver Lake Rd. The squad car was turning northbound onto Silver Lake […]

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Slot Machine Thieves Arrested

Cal SkinnerDecember 20, 2024December 20, 2024

From the Illinois Gaming Board: Illinois Gaming Board Agents Arrest Four Men for Video Gaming Café Burglary CHICAGO – The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office announces the arrest of 23-year-old Diego G. Lopez from Mount Prospect, 23-year-old Gamaliel […]

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Cary Head-on Crash Closes Route 14 for 45 Minutes

Cal SkinnerDecember 20, 2024

From the Cary Fire Protection District: Cary Incident: Two-Vehicle Head-On Collision At 8:27 p.m., the Cary Fire Protection District responded to a two-vehicle, head-on collision near the intersection of Route 14 and Nimco Drive. Firefighters arrived within minutes and found two vehicles […]

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Harvard Rollover

Cal SkinnerDecember 20, 2024December 20, 2024

From the Harvard Fire Protection District: Harvard Incident: Single Vehicle Rollover At 7:31 p.m., the Harvard Fire Protection District was dispatched to the 18700 block of Route 14 for a single-vehicle rollover crash. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a damaged vehicle that had […]

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Crystal Lake Mayor Haig Haleblian Suffers Two Losses to Self-Storage Owners

Cal SkinnerDecember 20, 2024December 19, 2024

McHenry County Blog wrote earlier of Crystal Lake’s intention to impose a sales tax on self-storage units. The staff memo said $150,000 would be raised. Self-storage unit owners got together and sent a detailed letter of opposition signed by James Keelan and […]

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Health Department Reports First Death of Young Child from Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Cal SkinnerDecember 20, 2024December 20, 2024

From the Health Department: McHenry County Department of Health reports first pediatric RSV death of 2024 surveillance season MCHENRY COUNTY, IL – The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is reporting the first pediatric death attributed to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) of the […]

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Report Shows Wildly Inaccurate Crystal Lake Tax Increment Financial Projections

Cal SkinnerDecember 20, 2024December 18, 2024

From Crystal Lake’s Don Kountz:: Crystal Lake held their annual Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Joint Review Board and Public Hearing recently.  I’ve made a simple spreadsheet from the mandatory reports that are filed with the Illinois State Comptroller.  Items to note are […]

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When Will an Illinois Legislator Introduce a No Tax on Tips Bill?

Cal SkinnerDecember 19, 2024December 17, 2024

Unleash Prosperity Hotline #1166 reports that Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin is the first to support passage of a state No Tax on Tips law. He writes that on all future credit card payments in restaurants he will write “No Tax on […]

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NJ Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Grooming & Soliciting Sexual Photos from Lake in the Hills and Huntley Middle School Students

Cal SkinnerDecember 19, 2024December 21, 2024

From the State’s Attorney: VICTOR MEZA VALDEZ SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND GROOMING The Office of the McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Victor Meza Valdez, formerly of Ringwood, New Jersey, was sentenced to […]

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Immigration Attorney Accused of Being Crooked

Cal SkinnerDecember 19, 2024December 19, 2024

From the U.S. Attorney: Chicago Attorney Indicted on Immigration Fraud Charges CHICAGO — A Chicago attorney has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly providing false and fraudulent information to U.S. authorities to obtain immigration benefits for his foreign national clients. […]

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Librarian Gets Two Years for Stealing $770,000

Cal SkinnerDecember 19, 2024December 19, 2024

From the U.S,, Attorney: Former Head of Suburban Chicago Public Library Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling More Than $770,000 CHICAGO — The former director of the Markham, Ill. Public Library has been sentenced to two years in federal […]

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WIND Email Reveals $70,000 Salary Increase for Members of Congress in Omnibus Spending Bill

Cal SkinnerDecember 19, 2024December 19, 2024

From WIND: Nick Sortor: What the HELL has Congress done to think they deserve a $70,000 per year pay raise? They’re calling it a “cost of living adjustment.” But THEY ARE THE REASON the cost of living is so out of control. They […]

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Crystal Lake, Huntley Woodstock Nursing Homes Fined, Statewide Link Included

Cal SkinnerDecember 19, 2024December 17, 2024

From the Illinois Department of Public health (All fines levied during the third quarter can be found here.) Huntley FACILITY NAME: Alden Estates Cts of HuntleyFACILITY ADDRESS: 12140 Regency ParkwayFACILITY CITY, STATE, ZIP: Huntley, IL 60142 DOCKET NUMBER: NH 24-S0583 LICENSEE INFO: Alden […]

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Deer Shot in McHenry County Down from a Year Ago

Cal SkinnerDecember 19, 2024December 18, 2024

From the Illinois Department of Natural Resources: More than 82,000 deer harvested during Illinois firearm deer season SPRINGFIELD – Hunters in Illinois took a preliminary total of 82,496 deer during the seven-day 2024 Illinois firearm deer season that concluded Dec. 8. Comparatively, hunters […]

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Heavy Police Activity West of Crystal Lake’s West Grade School

Cal SkinnerDecember 18, 2024December 18, 2024

From the Crystal Lake Police: Heavy police activity in Crystal Lake 7:23 PM – There is currently heavy police activity in the 100 block of Heather Drive in Crystal Lake. There is no public safety threat. Please avoid this area until further […]

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FBI Investigating ATM Robbery in Lake in the Hills While Being Serviced by Technician

Cal SkinnerDecember 18, 2024

From the Lake in the Hills Police: No one injured during the Robbery of an ATM at Bank of America Lake in the Hills, IL – No one was injured on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 during the robbery of an ATM aBank […]

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Fox River Grove Announces Use for $600,000 State Grant for Lions Park

Cal SkinnerDecember 18, 2024December 18, 2024

From the Villahe of Fox River Grove: Village of Fox River Grove Receives Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant for Developing Public Parks and Outdoor Recreational Space FOX RIVER GROVE – The Village of Fox River Grove is pleased to […]

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Antioch Man Serving as Charitable Housing Exec Indicted for Kickbacks, Bribery

Cal SkinnerDecember 18, 2024December 18, 2024

From the US. Attorney: Suburban Chicago Man Charged With Embezzling Millions from Nonprofit Organization CHICAGO — The former Executive Director of a Chicago-area nonprofit organization has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly embezzling millions of dollars in cash and real […]

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Recent Comments

  • How Block Club Chicago Downplayed ICE Arrests of Criminals SAFE-T Act Let Out of Jail - McHenry County Blog on ICE Announces Illinois “Operation Midway Blitz,” Lists Alien Criminals Not Turned Over from Cook County Jail
  • Real Estate Taxes Due Wednesday - McHenry County Blog on New Count on Real Estate Taxes Exceeding $10,000
  • Spike Lee Didn’t Name His Movie about Crime in Chicago “Chi-Raq” for Nothing - McHenry County Blog on Retired Chicago Police Chief Says Johnson and Pritzker Afraid to Ask Feds In “Because It Might Work” While Stats Show Crime Down
  • Odds of Catalina Lauf Wheatley Winning Bryan Donalds’ Congressional Seat Get Lower - McHenry County Blog on Catalina Lauf (Wheatley) Gearing Up To Run for Congress in Southwest Florida?
  • 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
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