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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

  • State’s Attorney Releases Indictments February 4, 2026
  • Illinois Death Tax Collection from Estates over $4 Million Soaring with Stock Market February 4, 2026
  • Don Tracy Hits Billion Dollar Federal Medical Fraud February 4, 2026
  • Keeping County Books Still at an Exemplary Level February 4, 2026
  • LaHood’s Pork Excludes McHenry County February 4, 2026
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Robotic House Building Inaugurated in Southwest Florida

Cal SkinnerFebruary 19, 2025February 17, 2025

With fears being raised that the expulsion of illegal aliens will cripple the housing industry, an Australian firm is using robots to lay concrete blocks in Southwest Florida. In the Know: Australians coming to the rescue of SWFL’s housing market SW Florida first […]

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McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin Gets 5.3% Raise

Cal SkinnerFebruary 18, 2025February 19, 2025

While the increase in Cost-of-Living was only 2.9% this past year, the McHenry County Board voted Tuesday night to increase his salary to $250,000, a 5.3% hike. Speaking against the increase were Board members Terri Greeno and Matt Kunkle. The vote was […]

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Because Secret Service Clearance Is Required Wednesday Deadline to Buy Tickets to See Lara Trump at McHenry County/Joe Tirio Fundraiser

Cal SkinnerFebruary 18, 2025February 18, 2025

Last call for tickets to the inaugural AMERICA FIRST LEADERSHIP DINNER with LARA TRUMP! This Friday FEB 21 in Addison, IL.  All tickets must be secured by noon on Wednesday as all attendees must be vetted by Secret Service by Friday, noon.  Secret […]

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Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Danijela Sandberg’s Opponent Prematurely Declares Victory

Cal SkinnerFebruary 18, 2025February 18, 2025

I’ve never seen this before. There is a Republican Primary Election next Tuesday in which folks in Algonquin and Grafton Township are facing off. (In Nuda Township, there is a similar situation, but only for the Supervisor spot.) The winners will be […]

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Illinois Policy Institute Tees Up Opposition to Progressive Income Tax Proposals by Democrats

Cal SkinnerFebruary 18, 2025February 17, 2025

From the Illinois Policy Institute: The Illinois Constitution currently requires income taxes to be imposed at a single, flat rate. A new bill [actually a Constitutional Amendment] filed in the Illinois General Assembly would allow for income to be taxed at varying […]

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Looks Like I Was Wrong on Netflix Subject for “Monsters – Season 3”

Cal SkinnerFebruary 18, 2025February 18, 2025

Had I done more research I would have found this information on Season 3 from “What’s on Netflix:” “Production is now underway on the third season of Monster, titled Monster: Ed Gein. Charlie Hunnam is starring as Ed Gein, and he is joined by […]

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Grafton Township Republican Party Issues Endorsements for Township Trustee

Cal SkinnerFebruary 18, 2025February 18, 2025

From the Grafton Township Republican Party comes these recommendations for Township Trustee: The recommended candidates are Others on the ballot are

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Netflix “Monsters – Season 3” Filming in McHenry County Featuring Serial Killer Mark Allen Smith (My BAD Guess)

Cal SkinnerFebruary 18, 2025February 18, 2025

And my guess is wrong, as you can see in this subsequent post. But, Mark Allen Smith, would be a good topic for Season 4. = = = = = Cinematically, McHenry County is best known for “Groundhog Day.” Of course, there […]

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Jim Udesen, R.I.P.

Cal SkinnerFebruary 18, 2025February 19, 2025

From Kelly Eagan on behalf of the Grafton Township Republican Party: It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Jim Udesen, a dedicated Grafton Township Precinct Committeeperson and a true champion for our Republican values. Jim’s years of service […]

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Another View of the Replacement Process for State Senator Dan McConchie

Cal SkinnerFebruary 18, 2025February 17, 2025

From J. W . McKay, who describes himself as a Lifelong Republican and Traditional Conservative: Valentines Day massacre of grassroot Republicans Candidate  The week that Mike Madigan gets convicted Republicans once again fumble the ball . As a lifelong Kane County resident […]

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The Censures of Algonquin Township Supervisor Randy Funk – Part 2

Cal SkinnerFebruary 18, 2025February 17, 2025

Algonquin Township Supervisor Randy “My Way or the Highway” Funk was censured by the Algonquin Township Board nine times. I know of no other public official that has even come close to that disapproval by his or her governing board. Running in […]

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Car Crashes into Cary Townhouse Resulting in Gas Leak and Evacuation

Cal SkinnerFebruary 17, 2025February 17, 2025

From the Cary Fire Protection District: Vehicle Strikes House; Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations On Monday, February 17, at 4:55 p.m., the Cary Fire Protection District responded to the 1200 block of West Lake Drive for a reported vehicle crash into a residence. […]

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Congressman Robert C. McClory’s Significant Law

Cal SkinnerFebruary 17, 2025February 17, 2025

Today, the Chicago Tribune has an article taken from the New York Times on holidays dedicated to Presidents. Left out is the name of its sponsor, Robert C. McClory, McHenry County’s congressman. The motivation, however, is made clear: The recreation industry wanted […]

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Crystal Lake Grade School District Has 20% Fewer Students Than in 2008, But More Staff

Cal SkinnerFebruary 17, 2025February 15, 2025

Former Cary Grade School District 26 Board President Scott Coffey, the one who led the rescue of the school system after the teachers union ran it into the ground financially, had this to say about the financial problems of Crystal Lake School […]

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The Censures of Randy Funk – Part 1

Cal SkinnerFebruary 17, 2025February 17, 2025

Algonquin Township Supervisor Randy “My Way or the Highway” Funk was censured by the Algonquin Township Board nine times. I know of no other public official that has even come close to that disapproval by his or her governing board. Running in […]

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The Contract with Peter Bensinger I Would Not Sign in the Thompson Administration

Cal SkinnerFebruary 17, 2025February 17, 2025

Brought to mind by a Chicago Sun-Times story about the death of Peter Bensinger is the following memory: My consolation prize for running unsuccessfully against Roland Burris for State Comptroller in 1982 was being named the Manager of the Bureau of Benefits […]

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Integrity Team Seeks to Defeat Algonquin Township Supervisor Randy Funk’s Slate

Cal SkinnerFebruary 17, 2025February 17, 2025

I’ve watched Algonquin Township since the last election in 2021. The swearing-in ceremony was followed by a pizza party in the Board room financed by newly-elected Supervisor Randy Funk. All were newly-elected Republican officials who ran unopposed in the GOP primary election. […]

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Monday Funny

Cal SkinnerFebruary 17, 2025February 15, 2025

Cartoon about a picket sign:

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Former Co-Chair of Republican National Committee Headlining Joe Tirio Fundraiser on February 21st

Cal SkinnerFebruary 17, 2025February 17, 2025

McHenry County GOPAC’s and Joe Tirio’s speaker at their February 21, 2025, fundraiser is not merely the daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump. Now she is also a host of a Saturday Night Show on Fox News. McHenry County GOPAC and Citizens to […]

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Resident Criticizes McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett’s Stewardship

Cal SkinnerFebruary 17, 2025February 16, 2025

A letter to the Northwest Herald by Tony Esposito, reprinted with the author’s requesr: Jett’s mayorship eight years of failure No amount of Wayne Jett signs littering McHenry since November can detract from Jett’s eight years of failure as mayor. The downtown […]

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The Censures of Algonquin Township Supervisor Randy Funk – Part 9

Cal SkinnerFebruary 17, 2025February 17, 2025

Algonquin Township Supervisor Randy “My Way or the Highway” Funk was censured by the Algonquin Township Board nine times. I know of no other public official that has even come close to that disapproval by his or her governing board. Running in […]

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One Dead in Three-Vehicle Route 14 Woodstock Wreck, Three Helicopters Deployed to Fly Injured to Hospitals

Cal SkinnerFebruary 16, 2025February 17, 2025

From the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District: Fatal Crash on Route 14 West of Dean Street On February 16, 2025, at 3:13 p.m., the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to a reported motor vehicle crash with entrapment at Route 14 and Dean Street. While en […]

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Lakewood Seeks Input, But Not on Taxes

Cal SkinnerFebruary 16, 2025February 20, 2025

The Village of Lakewood (where I live) sent out a survey. It asked about residency, then moving on to the following: What do you want to be able to say about Lakewood 10 years from now? (Select up to three) Here there […]

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Is McHenry County Administrator’s Pending 5.3% Raise a Signal That All Non-Union Employees Will Receive the Same?

Cal SkinnerFebruary 16, 2025February 17, 2025

The question of the process by which McHenry County Administrator’s four-year contract was brought up by Board member Terri Greeno at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Thursday. She brought up the subject during member comments at the beginning of the […]

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Truck v. Car on Route 23, Both Lose, Fox 32 Picks Up the Story

Cal SkinnerFebruary 16, 2025February 16, 2025

From the Harvard Fire Protection District: Two-Vehicle Crash on Route 23 On February 14, 2025, at 9:13 p.m., the Harvard Fire Protection District was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 23 and N. Olbrich Road in unincorporated Harvard. […]

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Shorten Continues His Nunda Township Anti-Nepotism Campaign Against Leda Bobera-Drain

Cal SkinnerFebruary 16, 2025February 15, 2025

From Mike Shorten, candidate for Nunda Township Supervisor: Nunda Supervisor Candidate Mike “Shorty” Shorten Signs Anti-Nepotism Pledge Crystal Lake, IL – Mike Shorten, candidate for Nunda Township Supervisor in the February 25, 2025 Republican Primary, has formally committed to upholding the highest […]

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Inside View of State Senate Appointment Process in Which Darby Hills Selected to Replace Dan McConchie

Cal SkinnerFebruary 16, 2025February 15, 2025

From Andro Lerario, Chairman of the Kane County Republican Central Committee: As many of you know, yesterday I participated in a four-county vote, which included Also present were Derek Murphy as the organizer and Attorney John Fogarty for the RNC. The candidates […]

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Mini-Grants for School Ecology Projects Includes One in McHenry

Cal SkinnerFebruary 16, 2025February 13, 2025

From the Pritzker Administration IDNR and ICF award 26 youth habitat enhancement projects through the Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Grant Program SPRINGFIELD – More than $40,000 in grants for 26 Illinois schoolyard habitat action projects have been awarded by the Illinois Department of […]

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Sunday Funny

Cal SkinnerFebruary 16, 2025February 16, 2025

From Eric Allie, cartoonist for the Illinois Policy Institute:

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Exercise Pays Off for Woodstock Author

Cal SkinnerFebruary 15, 2025February 15, 2025

From Woodstock author Richard Rostron: Local author reaches milestone – 10 years daily exercise Local author Rich Rostron, who has his two novels of historical fiction –  (available in Read Between the Lynes, MD Trains, My Little Bow Peeps Shop and online […]

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Recent Comments

  • Craig Wilcox Follows Darby Hills’ Example Offering $20 per Hour Internships - McHenry County Blog on Senator Darby Hills Offers $20 per Hour for Spring Interns
  • Steve Reick Adds More Information about Battery Farm Approval Sought in His District – Part 3 - McHenry County Blog on Reick Starts 3-Part Commentary on Proposed Battery Farm on Behan Road – Part 1
  • Senator Darby Hills Offers $20 per Hour for Spring Interns - McHenry County Blog on Newly-Appointed State Senator Darby Hills’ Summer Interns Knock on 20,000 Doors
  • Two Big Banks Announce They Will Match the $1,000 the Federal Government Will Put in Trump Accounts - McHenry County Blog on Dells Making Capitalists Out of McHenry County Kids Who Don’t Live in Cary, Ringwood or Barrington Hills
  • What Caused Steve Reick To Have No Fall Opponent - McHenry County Blog on State Rep. Steve Reick’s Democratic Party Opponent Thrown Off the Ballot
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