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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

  • Chicago Reporters Do Not Cover Themselves with Glory in False Reporting on Day Care Center Arrests November 5, 2025
  • ICE at McHenry County Courthouse November 5, 2025
  • Moving to Florida November 5, 2025
  • UPDATE: Don Tracy Warns of Socialist Experiment, BEST VICTORY HEADLINE November 5, 2025
  • Dambrowski Hits Pritzker for Swearing November 5, 2025
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Maintaining Historic Streetscape of Diminishing Importance in Algonquin

Cal SkinnerJanuary 6, 2025January 2, 2025

Remembering the political capital I expended to get a right-turn lane on Route 62 onto Route 31 brought a smile to my face when I read an agenda item on the meeting agenda pf the Algonquin Village Board. It reads, Adopt a […]

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Crystal Lake Grade School’s Report Card

Cal SkinnerJanuary 6, 2025December 29, 2024

From Wirepoints: Asians rank best.

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Is This a Babylon Bee Story?

Cal SkinnerJanuary 5, 2025January 5, 2025

What do you think?

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Projected 2025 McHenry County Employee Compensation: Bu-Ci

Cal SkinnerJanuary 5, 2025January 2, 2025

County publishes salary and fringe benefit estimates for those over 1200 employees. Burke, Thomas Correctional Officer – Union $135,033.60Burman, Courtney Jury Commission Sup $62,306.19Burroughs, Gerard Director of Facilities $148,861.31Busse, Brian DOT Maint Mechanic $102,212.00Butler, Austin Deputy – Union $87,167.28Butler, Darren Correctional Officer […]

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Woodstock Police Enforce Trespass Law

Cal SkinnerJanuary 5, 2025January 31, 2025

From the Woodstock Police: The address is for WARP Corps.

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Traffic Stop of Chicago Man Results in Gun Charges

Cal SkinnerJanuary 5, 2025January 3, 2025

From the Woodstock Police:

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Defenders Score Story on NIU Public Radio

Cal SkinnerJanuary 5, 2025December 30, 2024

On the 27th of December, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County got free advertising for their used book stores in Woodstock (the Green Spot) and in Crystal Lake (the Green Read) Northern Illinois University’s Public Ratio station, WNIU-FM ran a piece about […]

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U-Haul Annual Report Shows Illinois Moves Up from 49th to 48th Most Renters

Cal SkinnerJanuary 5, 2025January 4, 2025

That’s what U-Haul reports: U-Haul Announces Top Growth States of 2023 PHOENIX, Ariz. (Jan. 2, 2024) — Texas netted the largest number of movers in one-way U-Haul® equipment in 2023, marking the third consecutive year it has finished atop the U-Haul Growth Index. Florida […]

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UPDTE: Russian Kidnapping of Ukrainian Children Echo of Communists’ Abduction of Children during the Greek Civil War after World War II, MORE DETAILS

Cal SkinnerJanuary 5, 2025June 5, 2025

A publication called “The Media Line” reminds me of an excellent book by Nicholas Gage on the Greek Civil War. In it, the former Wall Street Journal and New York Times reporter does his best to recreate his mother Eleni’s life and […]

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Prairie Grove School District Report Card

Cal SkinnerJanuary 5, 2025December 29, 2024

From Wirepoints:

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Former Public Official Predicts Tax Hike

Cal SkinnerJanuary 5, 2025December 21, 2024

From Jim Nowlan: Illinois Taxes Likely Headed Up; Don’t Stick It to the Job Creators Illinois’ population declined from 12.9 million in 2011 to 12.5 million in 2023, while our neighboring states have been seeing population growth. There is something wrong with […]

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Man Accidentally Shoots Self in Oakwood Hills

Cal SkinnerJanuary 4, 2025January 5, 2025

From the Cary Fire Protection District: On Saturday, January 4, at 3:14 p.m., the Cary Fire Protection District responded to a reported accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound at a residence in the 10-15 block of Fawn Ridge Drive in Oakwood Hills. The first […]

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Defenders’ Styrofoam Re-Cycling Teams Seeks Volunteers

Cal SkinnerJanuary 4, 2025January 2, 2025

From the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County: The Recycling Team Needs Your Help! The Recycling Team’s Styrofoam Recovery Program needs volunteers at our site at the Algonquin Township Highway Department in Crystal Lake to sort and bag Styrofoam. The site is open […]

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Projected 2025 McHenry County Employee Compensation: Av-Bo

Cal SkinnerJanuary 4, 2025January 2, 2025

McHenry County publishes salary and fringe benefit estimates for those over 1200 employees. Aviles, Eduardo Custodian – Union $61,850.10Avitia, Stephanie Certified Nursing Assistant I $73,259.94Azzano, Michael Dietary Manager $86,398.78Bachara, Alexandrea Legal Admin Specialist I $56,120.74Bachman, David Deputy – Union $138,338.76Bagby, Sharon Board […]

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Transient Problem in Woodstock

Cal SkinnerJanuary 4, 2025January 3, 2025

From the Woodstock Police comes the following interactions with those without fixed addresses: The first is at McDonald’s: At the Pour House Bar & Grill: This is out in the country south of the hospital: This appears to be at Aldi’s:

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Follow-Up on Impact of GOP Organization of the U.S. House of Representatives

Cal SkinnerJanuary 4, 2025January 4, 2025

Earlier, McHenry County Blog reprinted a comprehensive article on what Republican members of Congress have as their highest priorities in the coming session. Those goals are not explained as well in the following piece by The Center Square, so those interested in […]

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Harrison’s (Wonder Lake’s) Grade School Report Card

Cal SkinnerJanuary 4, 2025December 29, 2024

From Wirepoints: Note that Latinos are doing better than whites.

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Lake in the Hills Dog Bite

Cal SkinnerJanuary 4, 2025December 30, 2024

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

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Lake in the Hills Police Find Only One Drunk during Holiday Enhanced Enforcement

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025January 4, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police: Steering clear of tragedy Impaired driving campaign makes holidays safer Lake in the Hills, IL – This holiday season, the Lake in the Hills Police Department teamed up with the Illinois Department of Transportation and […]

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Projected 2025 McHenry County Employee Compensation: Av-Bo

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025January 2, 2025

McHenry County publishes salary and fringe benefit estimates for those over 1200 employees. Aviles, Eduardo Custodian – Union $61,850.10Avitia, Stephanie Certified Nursing Assistant I $73,259.94Azzano, Michael Dietary Manager $86,398.78Bachara, Alexandrea Legal Admin Specialist I $56,120.74Bachman, David Deputy – Union $138,338.76Bagby, Sharon Board […]

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Richmond Man Admits Role in Son’s Drug-Related Death and Witness Tampering

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025January 3, 2025

From State’s Attorney Randi Freese, who personally prosecuted the case: ERIC C. ULLRICH PLEADS GUILTY TO INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND COMMUNICATING WITH A WITNESS The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office announces that on January 3, 2025, Eric C. Ullrich, 52, of Richmond, plead […]

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What Republicans Are Doing in the U.S. House of Representatives

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025January 3, 2025

This article from The Center Square provides information on what is happening in Washington that I have not found elsewhere: House rules package includes unrelated GOP legislation (The Center Square) – Republicans have released a new House rules package for the incoming […]

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Coroner Identifies Victim

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025January 3, 2025

From the Coroner: Route 14 Motor Vehicle Accident McHenry County Coroner, Dr. Michael Rein, announced that his office was contacted on 12/23/2024 by Northwestern Hospital McHenry to investigate the death of Andrea Papapitro, age 68 of Crystal Lake. Ms. Papapitro was involved […]

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Catalina Lauf Promoted to Replace Congressman Byron Donalds Should He Run for Florida Governor

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025January 5, 2025

The Member of Congress from Southwestern Florida (the part f the state not negatively affected by the Polar Vortex) is Bryon Donalds. Donalds beat out better known locals by knocking on doors starting at least the summer before the election and huge […]

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“Bad” Things Democrats Banned

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025January 2, 2025

Illinois Democrats think small botlles of shampoo and lotion in hotels are bad. “Be gone!” a law now enforces that opinion

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Jimmy Carter’s Post-Presidential Snuffing Out of Democracy in Venezuela

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025January 2, 2025

Had a long talk with my Venezuelan friend last night and came up with a negative impression of post-presidential Jimmy Carter After Hugo Chávez was elected president in 1998, citizens became mightily disenchanted with his socialist policies. There was a general strike. […]

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Sheriff Seeking Deputies Who Start at $78,872, Plus Normal Fringes and Take-Home Squad Car

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025January 2, 2025

From the McHenry County Sheriff: Now Accepting Applications for Sheriff’s Deputy The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office is currently accepting applications for Sheriff’s Deputy. Individuals interested in a professional and rewarding career in law enforcement are encouraged to apply.  The physical agility test […]

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Cary Grade School’s Report Card

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025December 29, 2024

From Wirepoints:

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Wirepoints Takes Aim at Excessive Number of Illinois Local Governments

Cal SkinnerJanuary 3, 2025January 3, 2025

From Wirepoints comes this YouTube: The logic is good except for implying merging grade and high school districts into unit school district will save money. .Merging elementary with high school districts will not lead to a net savings. Sure, there will be […]

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Riley Grade School’s Report Card

Cal SkinnerJanuary 2, 2025December 29, 2024

From Wirepoints:

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Recent Comments

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  • Precinct Committeeperson Filings Show Democrats Vastly Outnumbering Republicans - McHenry County Blog on Does the McHenry County Republican Party Have a Death Wish?
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