Chuck Wheeler Praised for Caring for Animals by Board of Health Member

Laura Hatch, a member of the McHenry County Board of Health,  wrote the following letter to the Northwest Herald about McHenry County Board member Chuck Wheeler.  It is reprinted with permision of its author. Chuck Wheeler really cares To the … Continue reading

Parvovirus Found in Dogs at CL County Animal Shelter, Will Jack Franks Turn That into a Political Issue the Way He Did Scabies at Valley Hi?

After reading the following press release from the McHenry County Health Department, I started wondering if McHenry County Board Chairman candidate Jack Franks would try to turn it into a political issue the way he did when scabies showed up … Continue reading

Horse Neglect Gets Conviction

A press release from McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi: JAMIE KOY FOUND GUILTY OF FOUR COUNTS OF CRUEL TREATMENT OF AN ANIMAL AND EIGHT COUNTS OF NEGLECTION OF OWNER’S DUTIES Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Jamie Koy, … Continue reading

7-Day Trial Results in Animal Cruelty Convictions for Neglect of Horses

A press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office: JURY CONVICTS DES PLAINES WOMAN OF TWENTY-FOUR COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY AND NEGLECT Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that on May 24, 2011, Jamie Koy, 37, was … Continue reading

Message of the Day – An Electronic Sign

What you see above is the series of messages on the electronic sign on Route 47 in front of the McHenry County Treasurer’s Office. They promote the Crystal Lake Animal Control facility, which, apparently, can provide not only pets, but … Continue reading

Animal Control – The Privatization Option

With McHenry County animal control employees not willing to accept the county’s offer, perhaps it is time to take a page out of Chicago’s book. Its Inspector General Joe Ferguson has suggested its animal control operation be privatized. Now, I … Continue reading

Provenzano Sends Out Last Mailer

Here is the direct mail piece designed to “close the sale” with voters. 4,700 in all. It would be interesting to compare the endorsements above with the ones Provenzano listed when he announced his candidacy last July. In an email … Continue reading

The Northwest Herald’s Animal Control Shelter Story

This was not an investigatory story.  (Hurry.  It won’t be free long.) Nothing about how the county was looking for a place not near a residential neighborhood…on cheap land…without brick walls and ended up near a residential neighborhood on one … Continue reading

Remembering the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Now that County Board Members Are Up for Election

Now that the primary election is but a week away, I’m going to give you a chance to read my article on the McHenry County Board’s 2007 defeat of the Republican Cat Tax. The folks running for re-election (or, in … Continue reading

Message of the Day – Roadkill

The message today really requires Smell-a-Blog. Since that has not yet been invented, these pictures of a dead skunk about ten feet from our mailbox on Lake Avenue in Lakewood, Illinois, will have to do. Last night after nine we … Continue reading

Craig Steagall Unleashes Broadside Against McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler over Metra State Land Purchase

Calling the proposed Metra station purchase McHenry County Board Chairman “Ken Koehler’s boondoggle,” Craig Steagall took the Dave Letterman approach in a Northwest Herald ad yesterday. Steagall has property across the tracks that was under consideration by Metra for a … Continue reading