Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 10 – Unsuccessful County Clerk Try, County Airport Fight, Wife’s Death

When Vernon Kays retired from being County Clerk, Dad ran for the office against Vernon’s Chief Deputy Rosemary Azzaro. Rosemary won, even winning at least one Crystal Lake Coventry precinct in which she knocked on doors. Dad didn’t do any … Continue reading

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 4 – Sewer Grates, Miles River Yacht Club, Slot Machines, Chesapeake Bay Bridge

This is the fourth in a serialization of my father’s biography. Previous parts can be found below on McHenry County Blog. One of Dad’s inspirations for running for office involved an unresponsive city government. Plunk, plunk, plunk. I can hear … Continue reading

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 3 – First House, Elected President of the Easton, Maryland, Town Council

Previous parts of this biography can be found below on McHenry County Blog. I am running them again because my father would have been 105 on June 8th, if he hadn’t been a smoker. (His mother lived to be 96.) … Continue reading

Algonquin Township Advised to Turn Over Township Hall Entrance Data for Clerk Karen Lukasik

In a fairly rapid–about a month–turnaround the Public Access Counselor of the Illinois Attorney General has advised Algonquin Township that it should turn over information about Township Clerk Karen Lukasik’s entrances in the Township Hall. The Freedom of Information request … Continue reading

Is Someone Stalking Algonquin Township Clerk Karen Lukasik?

Reprinted with the permission of Illinois Leaks: Algonquin Township FOIA denial – Supervisor Lutzow cites potential attacks, contamination, while Kelly invokes stalking theory? LOL! BY KIRK ALLEN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 • ( LEAVE A COMMENT ) McHenry Co. (ECWd) –Looking at a recent denial of … Continue reading

Bob Miller Attorney Tom Gooch Criticized by Illinois Leaks

The following is reprinted from Illnos Leaks with its permission: “Personally, I like large breasts”- Says Bob Miller’s attorney, Thomas Gooch III BY KIRK ALLEN ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 • ( LEAVE A COMMENT ) McHenry Co. (ECWd) –Yes, we used that title in hopes of … Continue reading

Censoring a 1952 Halloween Painting on a Barbershop Window in Easton, Maryland

I was reminded of how my 3rd grade teacher in Easton, Maryland, suggested my team of Halloween window painters change the sign on a wagon in a Halloween parade from “Vote for Ike” to “Vote” by a painting on a … Continue reading

5% Increase in Skinner Tax Bill for County Government

I got a preview of my tax bill and discovered that the amount going to McHenry County government this year is going from $795.10 to $834.49. That’s a 4.2% increase. Most of that came from the fourteen Republicans who voted … Continue reading

Attorney General Rules McHenry County Blog “News Media” for Purposes of Freedom of Information Requests

The Public Access Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office has ruled that McHenry County Blog is to be considered “media” under the Freedom of Information Act. McHenry County Blog is now the only blog in Illinois certified as a … Continue reading

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 10 – Unsuccessful County Clerk Try, County Airport Fight, Wife’s Death Copy

When Vernon Kays retired from being County Clerk, Dad ran for the office against Vernon’s Chief Deputy Rosemary Azzaro. Rosemary won, even winning at least one Crystal Lake Coventry precinct in which she knocked on doors. Dad didn’t do any … Continue reading

Biography of Cal L Skinner – Part 9 – Responsible Republicans’ Slate, County Board Reapportionment Copy

Prior to the 1972 elections, the United States Supreme Court ruled that legislative bodies like the McHenry County Board and city councils had to be apportioned on a one-man, one-vote basis. The county board divided the county into three districts, … Continue reading

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 7 – Running for County Auditor, Precinct Committeeman, Calling the Meeting that Led to McHenry County College Copy

In honor of the anniversary of my father’s 100 birth year, I continue this series about his life: In 1963, my mother and I attended the Illinois Crime Commission’s summer hearings held in the old county board room at what … Continue reading

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 4 – Sewer Grates, Miles River Yacht Club, Slot Machines, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Copy

This is the fourth in a serialization of my father’s biography. Previous parts can be found below on McHenry County Blog. One of Dad’s inspirations for running for office involved an unresponsive city government. Plunk, plunk, plunk. I can hear … Continue reading

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 3 – First House, Elected President of the Easton, Maryland, Town Council Copy

Previous parts of this biography can be found below on McHenry County Blog. I am running them again because my father would have been 100 on June 8th, if he hadn’t been a smoker. (His mother lived to be 96.) … Continue reading