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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

  • Corrupt Cop Convicted January 21, 2026
  • Rick Heidner Campaign for Republican Nomination for Governor Surfaces in the Mailbox January 21, 2026
  • Head Injury of Man Who Fell Off Forklift Results in Medivac to Advocate Condell in Libertyville January 21, 2026
  • McHenry County Republican Party Has Less Than $17,000 January 21, 2026
  • Marengo Police Chief Nathan Hayes Selected to Head Cary Police Department January 20, 2026
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McHenry County Republicans Announce Darin Bailey as Lincoln Day Speaker on April 5th

Cal SkinnerFebruary 5, 2025February 6, 2025

From the McHenry County Republican Party: Ticket prices are

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Mike Shorten Continues Internet Campaign against Nunda Township Supervisor Leda Drain

Cal SkinnerFebruary 5, 2025February 5, 2025

From Mike Shorten on Facebook: Mike “Shorty” Shorten For Nunda Township Supervisor dsroopSnetu161taJMi3i4nr0574 19ca1053A97 :14u 51auah7myfc8t   ·  I’m asking for your vote so that I can clean up Nunda Township government. Incumbant Supervisor Leda Drain, since getting into office four years ago, has hired an immediate […]

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Crystal Laker Critiques Algonquin Township Supervisor Randy Funk

Cal SkinnerFebruary 5, 2025February 4, 2025

From Randy Moan of Crystal Lake, first published in the Northwest Herald and re-published here with the author’s permission: Disappointment in censures against Algonquin Township supervisor I’m writing to express my disappointment and concern regarding the eight censures issued against the Algonquin […]

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Jake Justen Running Write-In Campaign for Crystal Lake City Council

Cal SkinnerFebruary 5, 2025January 31, 2025

Found on the McHenry County Clerk;s website: City of Crystal Lake, Council Member Vote for 3

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Lou Ness Running as Write-In Candidate for Woodstock City Council

Cal SkinnerFebruary 5, 2025February 1, 2025

Former McHenry County Board member Lou Ness, beaten by Republican Paul Thomas last fall, had thrown her hat in the ring for Woodstock City Council. She apparently didn’t decide to run until after filing by petition was over, so she had to […]

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Rockford 19-Year Old Man Gets Twenty Years for Home Invasion after Guilty Plea

Cal SkinnerFebruary 4, 2025February 4, 2025

From the State’s Attorney: JAMES D. MERCER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR HOME INVASION On January 30, 2025, James D. Mercer, 19, from Rockford was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for […]

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Arrest for Fighting in Woodstock

Cal SkinnerFebruary 4, 2025January 31, 2025

From the Woodstock Police:

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Sosnowski Takes on Teeny-Tiny Township Governments

Cal SkinnerFebruary 4, 2025February 4, 2025

State Rep. Joe Sosnowski, who represents western McHenry County and points west to Rockford, has introduced a bill that will make Wonder Lake’s Bob Anderson a happy man. He has introduced HB 2515, the summary of which appears below: Amends the Township […]

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Nunda Township Road Commissioner Mike Lesperance Issues Press Release on Charges from Opponent Ron Parish

Cal SkinnerFebruary 4, 2025February 4, 2025

From Nunda Township Road Commissioner Mike Lesperance: The Parrish Brothers’ Attempted Political Smear Campaign Fails Miserably, Wasting Taxpayer Resources Nunda Township, IL – The fraudulent and illegal attempts by Rob Parrish and his allies to weaponize local government offices against Nunda Township […]

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County Administrator Peter Austin Set for Contract Extension into 2029, Salary Up $39,000 to $250,000

Cal SkinnerFebruary 4, 2025January 31, 2025

In addition to increasing County Administrator Peter Austin’s salary from $211,000 to $250,000 per year, the contract proposes the following fringe benefits are continued: The current severance section providing for four month’s salary is to be eliminated.

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Ness Proposes Legislation to Allowed Those Unrelated to Live Together, Overriding Local Zoning Ordinances

Cal SkinnerFebruary 4, 2025February 4, 2025

Rep. Suzanne Ness has introduced House Bill 1843. It would prevent municipalirties from banning roommates that are not related. Here’s the bill’s synopsis: Amends the Zoning Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Removes a provision giving the corporate authorities in each municipality […]

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McHenry Surgery Mistake Makes NBC News

Cal SkinnerFebruary 4, 2025February 4, 2025

From WMQ-TV: Doctor left surgical sponge inside patient following surgery at McHenry Hospital: Lawsuit A surgeon performing a second procedure found and removed a surgical sponge from the initial surgery, according to the court complaint. The Chicago law firm said the surgeon, […]

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County Planning to Use Mainly Federal Money to Buy Nearby Office Building

Cal SkinnerFebruary 4, 2025January 31, 2025

The appraised value of 400 Russell Court is $1.03 million. Currently, portions of the building are rented for specialty courts. $990,000 of ARPA funding will be used, along with $40,000 of local money.

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Two Write-In Candidates for Harvard Offices

Cal SkinnerFebruary 4, 2025January 31, 2025

Last Friday was the last day on which people wanting to run write-in campaigns could file statements to that effect. Below are those seeking this route to public office, plus whom they are challenging, if there is an opponent; City of Harvard, […]

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Fourteen Years on Drug, Child Endangerment, Firearm Charges for McHenry Man

Cal SkinnerFebruary 3, 2025February 3, 2025

From the State’s Attorney: KENNETH PRICE SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office announces that Kenneth Price, 32, of McHenry, was sentenced to fourteen years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by the […]

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Challenger Richard Tado Takes on Algonquin Township Supervisor Randy Funk on YouTube

Cal SkinnerFebruary 3, 2025February 3, 2025

Found on YouTube:

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Tax Foundation Ranks Illinois 7th in State and Local Tax Burden

Cal SkinnerFebruary 3, 2025February 9, 2025

From the Tax Foundation, pulled out by a Friend of McHenry County Blog:

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Taking Down Pritzker’s Bragging about School Success

Cal SkinnerFebruary 3, 2025February 3, 2025

From Wirepoints comes this takedown of Governor JB Pritzker’s bragging about how well education is doing in Illinolis: By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner We’ve been asked by many readers for the real truth about Illinois’ K-12 reading and math results.  Some […]

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Reick Reprises Animal Farm

Cal SkinnerFebruary 3, 2025February 3, 2025

From State Rep. Steve Reick: The Welch Rule, or Why We Can’t Get Good Legislation Passed You may have read about the kerfuffle that arose during Lame Duck about the demise of hemp legislation that was being run through the General Assembly. Despite being […]

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Woodstock Willie Makes Front Page of Chicago Tribune, TV, Even Pittsburgh Paper

Cal SkinnerFebruary 3, 2025February 3, 2025

The nine month old groundhog christened “Woodstock Willie” for the day made bill news in the Chicago media market. Not only did Woodstock score Page One in the Tribune, but Chicago’s television stations picked up the story. This is the kind of […]

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McHenry County College Awarded $118,788 for Mental Health Support

Cal SkinnerFebruary 3, 2025February 1, 2025

The Illinois Community College Board has announced grants to support mental health programs in colleges across the state. Locally, McHenry County College scored $118,788, a bit less than most other institutions like the College of Lake County, which were awarded $120,000. Elgin […]

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Consolidation of Marengo FPD, Rescue District, and Union Fire Protection District Being Given Serious Consideration

Cal SkinnerFebruary 3, 2025January 31, 2025

Found in the minutes of January 13th’s McHenry County Board Law and Justice Committee meeting: Chief Kimmel and President Higgins presented the Marengo Rescue Squad Updates. Chief Kimmel and Board President Scott Higgins elaborated on the efforts to consolidate the three districts. […]

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Failure to Obey Traffic Sign Seems to Have Led to a Pot Citation

Cal SkinnerFebruary 3, 2025January 31, 2025

From the Woodstock Police:

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Legislators at County Board Meeting

Cal SkinnerFebruary 2, 2025January 31, 2025

State Senator Craig Wilcox and State Representatives Steve Reick, Joe Sosnowski and Tom Weber met in person with County Board members on January 13th. State Senator Don DeWitte attended via Zoom. His Legislative Assistant Carolyn Schofield attended in person. From minutes of […]

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Does DEI -> National Idiocy?

Cal SkinnerFebruary 2, 2025February 2, 2025

From Richard Rostron of The Response: The ignorance and arrogance of DEI sets standard for historic national idiocy America can’t afford this level of stupidity Some are outraged that Pres. Donald Trump would bring up DEI as a problem while commenting on […]

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Volo Bog Gets Sidewalk Replacement Grant of $5.1 Million

Cal SkinnerFebruary 2, 2025January 31, 2025

From the JB Pritzker Administration: Capital Development Board Announces Over $60 Million in Funding for Illinois Department of Natural Resources Projects Funding provides necessary resources to improve state park and historic site facilities, increases recreational and educational opportunities for all.  Springfield – The […]

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FOID Seizures in Lake in the Hills

Cal SkinnerFebruary 1, 2025January 31, 2025

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

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Data Centers Coming Online Leading to Comeback of Fossil Fuels

Cal SkinnerFebruary 1, 2025January 31, 2025

From WBEZ comes this echo of my prediction that data centers will eat up electricity that is needed by homes and other businesses: “In Illinois and around the Midwest, coal and gas plants are extending their planned retirement dates even after a […]

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The Gift Book’s Origination

Cal SkinnerFebruary 1, 2025January 30, 2025

Taking one’s memory back fifty-two years is a bit of a stretch, but Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s hiding of gifts he has received spurred a thought Governor Dan Walker was revealed to have received some gift early on in his 1973-77 term […]

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Democrat Calls for Passage of Property Tax Circuit Breaker, Abolition of Which Governor Pat Quinn Signed after Dems Sent Him Repeal

Cal SkinnerFebruary 1, 2025January 30, 2025

Promotion of the Senior Citizens Circuit Breaker Property Tax Relief idea proposed by Govenror Richard B. Ogilvie is an idea I actively promoted in my 1972 race for State Representative. Ogilvie had a TV ad of an old couple at the back […]

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Recent Comments

  • McHenry County Republican Party Has Less Than $17,000 - McHenry County Blog on Dems Have $50,000 in the Bank
  • Democratic Party $50,000 Not the Only Available - McHenry County Blog on Dems Have $50,000 in the Bank
  • Lake County State’s Attorney Doesn’t Know It Is a State Office - McHenry County Blog on Possible Reasons the State’s Attorney Dropped the Lakemoor Hemp Case
  • The Property Tax Sale Problem That Could Cost McHenry County Taxpayers $13 Million - McHenry County Blog on McHenry County Taxpayers May Be on the Hook for $13 Million to Repay Home Equity Lost in Tax Sales
  • Cost Per Student in Crystal Lake High School District - McHenry County Blog on Test Scores, Costs for McHenry County School Districts, Link to All Illinois Districts
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