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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
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Recent Posts

  • Prairie Grove Releases August 5th National Night Out Activities August 3, 2025
  • Assistant State’s Attorney Takes “We Don’t Have to Prove Anything” Position August 3, 2025
  • Metra Ditching Four Trains To and From Chicago Starting Monday August 3, 2025
  • Reick Criticizes School Mental Health Screenings August 3, 2025
  • Comparing Illinois to Texas August 3, 2025
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Prairie Grove Releases August 5th National Night Out Activities

Cal SkinnerAugust 3, 2025August 1, 2025

From the Prairie Grove Police: National Night Out – Tuesday August 5, 2025 – 5:00pm – 7:00pm Village Hall Park!!! Dunk tank, Face Painting, Pixie Dawgs & Kona Ice!!! That’s pretty much all the information provided.

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Assistant State’s Attorney Takes “We Don’t Have to Prove Anything” Position

Cal SkinnerAugust 3, 2025August 3, 2025

McHenry County Blog previously reported on a lawsuit concerning the seizure of significant quantities of Hemp from a licensed Hemp Processor by the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group.  After filing of the federal lawsuit, Lakemoor Police and Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group […]

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Metra Ditching Four Trains To and From Chicago Starting Monday

Cal SkinnerAugust 3, 2025August 3, 2025

Frpm Metra: Four weekday trains to be cancelled on UP Northwest Line for tie work starting Aug. 4 A project to replace thousands of ties on the UP Northwest Line over a two-month period will require Metra to cancel four midday trains […]

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Reick Criticizes School Mental Health Screenings

Cal SkinnerAugust 3, 2025August 1, 2025

From The Center Square: Youth mental health screenings may have long-term impact, IL legislator warns By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a bill which requires Illinois’ public school districts to provide universal mental […]

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Comparing Illinois to Texas

Cal SkinnerAugust 3, 2025August 1, 2025

From Unleash Prosperity Hotline #1319: Laugh or Cry: Bloomberg Says Illinois Is Doing Better Than Texas! Our new Vote With Your Feet (VWYF) website documents where Americans are moving to and from.   Here are the numbers on how many people are on […]

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerAugust 3, 2025August 3, 2025

From Illinois Policy Institute cartoonist Eric Allie:

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Algonquin Set to Pass “Mother, May I?” Motor Fuel Tax Resolution at Next Meeting

Cal SkinnerAugust 3, 2025August 1, 2025

For some reason lost to history, the State of Illinois requires municipalities to ask permission to spend Motor Fuel Taxes. Algonquin will pass such a resolution at its next Village Board meeting. Their share is determined by State law. I find it […]

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At Home Store Closing in Lake in the Hills

Cal SkinnerAugust 3, 2025August 3, 2025

That is what NBC-TV is reporting. “These six stores are offering some of the best deals shoppers will see all year — but only for a short time,” said a spokesperson for Hilco Consumer – Retail. “Customers who want the best selection […]

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Last Day for a Free Chance for a Crystal Elephant at the Republican County Fair Booth

Cal SkinnerAugust 3, 2025August 3, 2025

McHenry County Blog has donated a crystal elephant to be raffled off at the McHenry County Fair. Look hard and you will be able see it on the righthand table. = = = = = Ad paid for by the Skinner Campaign […]

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“Not the Bee” Debunks Photo Used in Stories of Starving Children in Gaza, Defense Mounted

Cal SkinnerAugust 3, 2025August 2, 2025

A web site I have been reading is “Not the Bee.” Thursday I found a takedown of a New York Times and the Daily Express. The Daily Express ran the photo upon which both papers based their starving in Gaza stories. Here […]

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Crystal Lake Cites 21 for Speeding in July

Cal SkinnerAugust 2, 2025August 1, 2025

From the Crystal Lake Police: ‘Speeding Catches Up With You’: The Crystal LakePolice Department releases speed enforcement results The Crystal Lake Police Department conducted a focused traffic safety campaign July 8 – August 1 to remind motorist that “Speeding Catches Up With […]

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Unruly Hamas-Supporting Democrats Force Shutdown Sean Casten Townhall Meeting

Cal SkinnerAugust 2, 2025August 2, 2025

From an observant Friend of McHenry County Blog: Sean Casten Shuts Down Sean Casten’s Event It happened again. Congressman Sean Casten’s townhall was shut down on Wednesday night. Speaker after speaker interrupted the Democrat who used to represent Algonquin Township. He was […]

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Posters Near the North Entrance of McHenry County College

Cal SkinnerAugust 2, 2025July 31, 2025

Thought some might be interested in these posters concerning “undocumented students” next to the MCC doors:

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Chance to Win a Crystal Elephant at GOP County Fair Booth

Cal SkinnerAugust 2, 2025August 2, 2025

Stop by the Republican Party booth in the air conditioned building at the McHenry County Fair, fill out a raffle slip and you have an opportunity to win a crystal elephant. = = = = = Ad paid for by the Skinner […]

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Another Look at the Democrats’ U.S. Senate Contest

Cal SkinnerAugust 2, 2025July 31, 2025

From a Friend of McHenry County Blog: Senate hopeful Robin Kelly boosted by gun control advocates As Pritzker loses “muscle,” underdog Robin Kelly sees gains McHenry County Blog reported over two months ago that “[Representative Robin] Kelly seems well respected among gun control […]

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Feds Indict Man on Child Porn Charges

Cal SkinnerAugust 2, 2025August 1, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: CHICAGO MAN CHARGED WITH RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHICAGO — A criminal complaint unsealed today in federal court charges a Chicago man with receiving and distributing child pornography. The complaint alleges that JARON WOODSLEY, 27, shared images […]

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State Treasurer Endears Himself to Constituents with Family Tales

Cal SkinnerAugust 2, 2025July 30, 2025

In his weekly email State Treasurer Michael Frerichs often features family stories. This week he included delightful photos of his twin boys. Fresh Produce and Driving Illinois Innovation  Theo and Max are really loving the fresh fruits and vegetables we are getting […]

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U.S. Marshals Service Finds Child Missing for 7+ Years

Cal SkinnerAugust 2, 2025August 2, 2025

From the US Marshals Service: US Marshals Service, Chicago PD recover child missing for over 7 years CHICAGO – The U.S. Marshals Service Northern District of Illinois, in coordination with the USMS Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force and Chicago Police Department, […]

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Obama’S Monument Critiqued

Cal SkinnerAugust 2, 2025July 30, 2025

Found this on The American Spector, which argues Obama’s Jackson Park monument fits him perfectly. Author Scott McKay offers “credit to Ken Blackwell, the former treasurer and secretary of state in Ohio and one of the most incisive and quotable black conservatives […]

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CORRECTION: ALDI’s, NOT Cary Brewery, Robbed

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025August 1, 2025

From the Cary Police:

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A Version of “Where’s Waldo?” at the County Fairgrounds

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025August 1, 2025

State Rep. Steve Reick has a keen sense of humor. Earlier this week, I shared a sign that I found in his tent near the main entrance to the fairgrounds. Now the sign I posted in the above article is elsewhere on […]

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Two Cats Succumb to McHenry Fire

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025August 1, 2025

From the McHenry Fire Protection District: Fire – Pyndale Drive On Friday, August 1st, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the McHenry Township Fire Protection District (MTFPD) was dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 4800 block of Pyndale Drive in McHenry. Fire […]

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Still Smoky

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025August 1, 2025

A view on Route 31 looking down the hills toward Terra Cotta: Route 31 looking north.

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Eleven Years for Drug Dealer

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025August 1, 2025

From the State’s Attorney: RAUL ALVAREZ SENTENCED TO ELEVEN YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that on August 1, 2025, Raul Alvarez, 38, of […]

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Leadership Institute Course in Rockford August 23rd

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025June 6, 2025

From the Illinois State Republican Party: Register here. $25 fee.

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Exit Tax Explained by Illinois Policy

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025August 1, 2025

From the Illinois Policy Institute: The Illinois Senate attempted to pass a “rescue package” for Chicago area mass transit that would punish suburban homeowners with a new real estate transfer tax. State leaders must instead focus on reforms to boost housing and […]

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Taking Pritzker to Task over DCFS Failures

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025August 1, 2025

From The Center Square: After death of youth on DCFS radar, IL Republicans call for accountability (The Center Square) – Republicans say Gov. J.B. Pritzker has had more than enough time to address continued problems with the Illinois Department of Children and […]

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Smoothing the Bumps on Route 14

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025July 31, 2025

When my wife and I drove to Barrington for Irene Napier’s funeral Monday, our shock absorbers took a beating on Route 14. Since it is a state road, I asked local legislators to contact the Illinois Department of Transportation for corrective action. […]

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Illinois “Only” Number 4 in State Regulations

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025July 31, 2025

From Unleash Prosperity Hotline Issue #1318: California Crushing Its Citizens With Nearly Half a Million Regulations The Mercatus Center has published a report on which states impose the most regulations on their citizens.   We almost fell out of our recliners when we […]

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Crystal Elephant in Free Raffle at Republican Party County Fair Booth

Cal SkinnerAugust 1, 2025August 1, 2025

McHenry County Blog has donated a crystal elephant for which those at the County Fair may sign up for a chance to win. There are lots of giveaways, including Dennis Byrne’s biography of JB Pritzker and tee shirts. = = = = […]

Posts pagination

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Recent Comments

  • Assistant State’s Attorney Takes “We Don’t Have to Prove Anything” Position - McHenry County Blog on Lakemoor Faces FOIA Suit for Failure to Provide Federal Court Suit and Other Documents
  • Assistant State’s Attorney Takes “We Don’t Have to Prove Anything” Position - McHenry County Blog on Lakemoor, Former Mayor Ryan Todd Weihofen & State Police Sued for Over $40 Million for Botched Hemp Seizure
  • A Version of “Where’s Waldo?” at the County Fairgrounds - McHenry County Blog on Two State Reps. Have Tents Near Main Parking Lot Entrance
  • Smoothing the Bumps on Route 14 - McHenry County Blog on Lover of Life Irene Napier, R.I.P.
  • 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
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