McHenry County Blog

After watching one the Crystal Lake County Club foxes from twenty feet away, the night grew a bit too cool, so we moved into the bar. It felt much too much like fall.

There the closing ceremony of the Olympics was in full swing.

Although the Olympic flag waving by guys who probably were in charge was less than impressive, the London bus that acted like a Transformer did catch our attention. Unfortunately, I didn’t think to take some pictures until it had left the screen.

We saw contestants getting a last look at the flame.

The human column was impressive.

I want to see the Democratic precinct captains do that.

We wondered what Mayor Richard Daley was saying.

“Oh, ……..!” probably.

And, that was before the guys swinging on wires above the stadium.

After I got home, I read a wonderful column Elgin’s Daily Courier Managing Editor Mike Bailey. He wrote about what having the Olympics in Chicago would be like. It sounded like Mike Royko. No wonder he just won a column writing contest put on by the Association Press.

Here’s a couple of paragraphs, but I assure you the whole column is worth reading, including the part about dwarf tossing and other new events:

“All sprints will take place at midnight on the West Side. Runners will have to listen carefully to distinguish the starter’s pistol from ambient gunshots. The winner gets to live.”

And,

“Women’s soccer will be replaced by roller derby. Joanie “The Blond Amazon” Weston will come out of retirement to lead the U.S. Team.

“And finally, the games will be moved back to October so that Wrigley Field, which is always idle that time of the year, can be used for field hockey and team handball, whatever that is.“

Field hockey was my mother’s favorite game. She (Eleanor Stevens, then; she married Cal Skinner later) taught English and physical education. Her first year basketball team at Glen Burnie High School placed second in the Maryland high school state tournament.

Maybe field hockey is an east coast sport.

= = = = =
And a sad note for those of us who like newspapers. I noticed that the Elgin paper has lost whatever it called its Sunday lifestyle section. The paper is getting smaller and smaller. I shall miss Dave Gathman’s columns.

After watching one the Crystal Lake County Club foxes from twenty feet away, the night grew a bit too cool, so we moved into the bar. It felt much too much like fall.

There the closing ceremony of the Olympics was in full swing.

Although the Olympic flag waving by guys who probably were in charge was less than impressive, the London bus that acted like a Transformer did catch our attention. Unfortunately, I didn’t think to take some pictures until it had left the screen.

We saw contestants getting a last look at the flame.

The human column was impressive.

I want to see the Democratic precinct captains do that.

We wondered what Mayor Richard Daley was saying.

“Oh, ……..!” probably.

And, that was before the guys swinging on wires above the stadium.

After I got home, I read a wonderful column Elgin’s Daily Courier Managing Editor Mike Bailey. He wrote about what having the Olympics in Chicago would be like. It sounded like Mike Royko. No wonder he just won a column writing contest put on by the Association Press.

Here’s a couple of paragraphs, but I assure you the whole column is worth reading, including the part about dwarf tossing and other new events:

“All sprints will take place at midnight on the West Side. Runners will have to listen carefully to distinguish the starter’s pistol from ambient gunshots. The winner gets to live.”

And,

“Women’s soccer will be replaced by roller derby. Joanie “The Blond Amazon” Weston will come out of retirement to lead the U.S. Team.

“And finally, the games will be moved back to October so that Wrigley Field, which is always idle that time of the year, can be used for field hockey and team handball, whatever that is.“

Field hockey was my mother’s favorite game. She (Eleanor Stevens, then; she married Cal Skinner later) taught English and physical education. Her first year basketball team at Glen Burnie High School placed second in the Maryland high school state tournament.

Maybe field hockey is an east coast sport.

= = = = =
And a sad note for those of us who like newspapers. I noticed that the Elgin paper has lost whatever it called its Sunday lifestyle section. The paper is getting smaller and smaller. I shall miss Dave Gathman’s columns.

That was the headline on the main article in Elgin’s Courier News Thursday.

The answer from Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham was, essentially, “Maybe.”

I found it interesting how Democratic Party State Senator Mike Nolan approached the issue when interviewed by reporter David Gialanella:
“It’s absolutely possible, and it’s a problem. I’m not sure how to combat that. I’m open to suggestions.”

The paper tied its story into this AP story by Deborah Hastings about Indiana

That was the headline on the main article in Elgin’s Courier News Thursday.

The answer from Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham was, essentially, “Maybe.”

I found it interesting how Democratic Party State Senator Mike Nolan approached the issue when interviewed by reporter David Gialanella:
“It’s absolutely possible, and it’s a problem. I’m not sure how to combat that. I’m open to suggestions.”

The paper tied its story into this AP story by Deborah Hastings about Indiana

If newspapers catered to candidates who advertise the way they do to car dealers and home builders, then Jim Krenz ought to be getting great coverage in Elgin’s Courier News.

He is running against incumbent Tim Schmitz from the far south end of the Kane County district.

I was reading that paper at my son’s swim practice Friday and a half-page color ad below the police report.

SO, THE QUESTION IS
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEAR WEEKLY FROM YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHEN HIS ELECTION WASN’T ON THE LINE?

That was in big print under his photo, stylized name and

Below is smaller print, but at least in upper and lower case, which is easier to read than all capital letters, was the following:

Folks, here’s my bottom line; I am running for office because as a citizen of the 49th District, I feel that my voice hasn’t been heard – or cared about for that matter. I am running so that I can put into place a framework for the 49th District to talk with their representative WEEKLY. I believe the people in the district should be HEARD from and not just waved at. I live here. I work here. I had better succeed – I plan on living and working here for a long time.

Below is a signature in pale blue ink, which should have been black so it could be better read, plus his phone number, 847-844-3498, and web site address, www.VoteKrenz.com.

If a reader from Kane County wants to scan the mail in this campaign and email it to me, I’d be happy to post it. Images may be enlarged by clicking on them.

If newspapers catered to candidates who advertise the way they do to car dealers and home builders, then Jim Krenz ought to be getting great coverage in Elgin’s Courier News.

He is running against incumbent Tim Schmitz from the far south end of the Kane County district.

I was reading that paper at my son’s swim practice Friday and a half-page color ad below the police report.

SO, THE QUESTION IS
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEAR WEEKLY FROM YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHEN HIS ELECTION WASN’T ON THE LINE?

That was in big print under his photo, stylized name and

Below is smaller print, but at least in upper and lower case, which is easier to read than all capital letters, was the following:

Folks, here’s my bottom line; I am running for office because as a citizen of the 49th District, I feel that my voice hasn’t been heard – or cared about for that matter. I am running so that I can put into place a framework for the 49th District to talk with their representative WEEKLY. I believe the people in the district should be HEARD from and not just waved at. I live here. I work here. I had better succeed – I plan on living and working here for a long time.

Below is a signature in pale blue ink, which should have been black so it could be better read, plus his phone number, 847-844-3498, and web site address, www.VoteKrenz.com.

If a reader from Kane County wants to scan the mail in this campaign and email it to me, I’d be happy to post it. Images may be enlarged by clicking on them.