Citizens Ask District 155 to Reveal Teacher Contract Information

Chris Williams of  Grafton-Algonquin-Nunda-Dorr Community Advocates shares a request that Crystal Lake High School District 155 make public details of the most expensive part of the school budget–teacher salaries. It comes on the rejection of the following Freedom of Information … Continue reading

Outdoor Christian Manger Scene, Home Vandalized in Crystal Lake

Tuesday night, the home of former Crystal Lake City Councilman Fred Wickham and his wife Lynn, owner of Wickham’s Interiors in Downtown Crystal Lake was vandalized. The manger was dragged out onto Blue Mound, where it was discovered by Crystal … Continue reading

McHenry County Constituent Meetings for Manzullo Friday

16th District Congressman Don Manzullo is coming to town Friday and invites constituents and others to public meetings. Perhaps Congresswoman Melissa Bean will hold similar meetings. Perhaps not. She hasn’t held an open meeting in McHenry County since before last … Continue reading

Young Chinese Leaders Come to Crystal Lake and Woodstock – Part 6

The model homes of Kirk Homes in Woodstock were absolutely the most memorable part of the American Council of Young Political Leaders-sponsor visit by the young Chinese political leaders. A living room was up for examination next. I believe by … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Nursing Home Nurse’s Assistant Arrested for “Contact of an Insulting Nature” of a 92-Year Old

That’s what the following press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department says, “contact with the resident of an insulting nature.” That, plus “gaining unauthorized possession of her medication for his own personal use,” got Harvard’s 25-year old Jeremiah Healls … Continue reading

Driver in Huntley Road-Waterford Cut Crystal Lake Fatality Charged with Aggravated DUI’s

Crystal Lake Police were at Centegra’s Memorial Hospital in Woodstock when Kyle J. Sievert was released. They arrested him on four charges, the main one being Aggravated Driving Under the Influence resulting in a motor vehicle accident resulting in the … Continue reading

The Chicago Tribune’s Blinders

A paragraph from a Chicago Tribune article about Illinois Tea Party demonstrations: “A typical protest will draw a few dozen vocal participants, including last month’s rally at the Schaumburg office of U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean intended to persuade the Democrat … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Park District Looking Outside for New Director

Crystal Lake Park District Director Kirk Reimer has confirmed that no one currently on the park district staff is under consideration to replace him. Three “outsiders,” so to speak are under consideration and Reimer said that the selection could be … Continue reading

Gnashing of Municipal Teeth

When city leaders read this Tribune article saying that Pat Quinn expects them to “share the pain,” there will be gnashing of teeth. Apparently Quinn has decided to cut the $1 billion a year income tax revenue sharing by 30%. … Continue reading

Federal Stimulus Money Helps Bring LED Traffic Lights on Route 14

Remember the stories about the traffic lights that froze over? They had LED bulbs. The Light Emitting Diodes did not generate enough heat to melt freezing rain. But they save a lot of electricity. About 90%. And, the ones being … Continue reading

County Expands PACE Reach for Crystal Lake, McHenry and Woodstock Residents

Lack of inter-connectivity has always been the problem in delivering bus service to the suburbs.  To get from one town to the next, you had to be able to get from your home to the bus stop. During the 1974 … Continue reading

Dueling Over Crystal Lake (the Lake), Who’s Done more–Ken Koehler or Donna Kurtz?

Today District 2 candidate Ken Koehler, McHenry County Board Chairman, sent out a postcard, complete with a real stamp, bragging about “being a reasonable voice for you on the McHenry County Board…Over the last nine years.” The headline over a … Continue reading

Bianchi’s Office Continues Crack Down on Drunk Drivers

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi continued his efforts to keep drunk drivers off the road…for a long time. The press release below says Assistant Ryan Blackney requested 12-15 years for Steven St. John. The judge sentenced him to seven … Continue reading