Helmetless Motorcylist Killed Sunday on Rt. 14 East of Sands Road

A press release from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department: Sheriff’s Office Investigates Fatal Motorcycle Crash On 08/02/2015, at approximately 11:10 AM, McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 3 vehicle crash on Northwest Highway (US RT 14) east of Sands Road, … Continue reading

CL Motorcyslist Dies After Being Struck by Car on Doty Road

A press release from McHenry County Coroner Dr. Anne Majewski about the death of Crystal Lake motorist Barry T. Rataiczyk, age 44: Doty Road is the shortcut from the western side of Crystal Lake to Woodstock. Doty Road runs from … Continue reading

Legislature Votes Overwhelmingly to Legalize Gambling on Poker Runs under HB 2520

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction. There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan-area casinos) that … Continue reading

Accident on Route 47/Route 176 Kills Father on Motorcycle with 16-Year Old Daughter

From Lakewood’s Police Chief Lawrence Howell: “Last night at approximately 8:53pm a fatal accident occurred at the north intersection of Rt. 47 and Rt. 176. “The Lakewood Police Department assisted by McHenry County Sheriff  Department, Lakewood Fire Department, and the … Continue reading

Helmetless Marengo Motorcyclist Killed in Another Major Accident at Mt. Thabor Road and Route 176

A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department: “On April 12th, at approximately 3:00 pm, emergency crews from the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue and Crystal Lake Police Departments responded to the intersection of Illinois Route 176 and Mt. Thabor … Continue reading

Speeding, Helmetless 23-Year Old Alden Motorcyclist Goes Airborne, Dies at Rt. 31-14 Intesection

A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department: On October 9th, 2011 at 7:19PM police responded to the intersection of US Rt.14 and US Rt.31, the scene of a reported traffic crash involving a motorcyclist. Upon arrival, emergency responders … Continue reading

Sunday Motorcycle Run in Woodstock

A press release from the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists: 9th Annual Bikers Take AAIM Against Drunk Driving The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) will participate in Bikers Take AAIM Against Drunk Driving at Woodstock Harley-Davidson on Sunday, August 21, 2011. … Continue reading

The Motor Cycle Helmet Fight of the Mid-1970’s that Brought ABATE to Maturity

I see that the mandatory motorcycle helmet folks are back. The Chicago Sun-Times editorialized about passage last November and I saved the piece to remind me to write this article. Back in 1975, James “Bud” Washburn of Morris was Republican … Continue reading

The Lake in the Hills Sunset Festival Parade

What great timing I had. As I was arriving the parade was about ready to kick off and a helpful policeman, after figuring out that I really didn’t want to head down the street toward the front of the parade, … Continue reading

Crystal Lake High Speed Motorcyclists Arrested

The following press release was received from the Crystal Lake Police Department: On Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 at approximately 11:22 PM, Crystal Lake Police observed two motorcycles travelling west on Rakow Road at a high rate of speed. As a … Continue reading

34-Year Old Mark Schlarb Motorcycle Wipeout After Police 80+ MPH Crystal Lake Chase; Alcohol & Cocaine Found in Blood

The following press release has been received from the Crystal Lake Police Department about a serious injury to Mark A. Schlarb after a police chase of him and a friend from Randall Road down Ackman. On August 10th, 2010 at … Continue reading

Policies on Promoting Sheriff’s Name Varies

While we were in Hoboken, New Jersey, sitting in the Giant Wash Laundromat, I bought the local dead tree publication. Washington Street is a delightful Italian neighborhood and, except that the apartment buildings are five stories high, it reminded me … Continue reading

Message of the Day – A Motorcycle Rider

No signs were allowing inside McHenry County College on Sunday for 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo’s Town Hall meeting on Health Care, but that didn’t stop this motorcycle owner from getting his message across. The skeleton on back is labeled … Continue reading