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McHenry County Blog

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About

Cal Skinner

This is a journal of news and opinion designed to bring to light matters of public interest and to encourage public participation in the governmental process. Emphasis will be on McHenry County, but Illinois state news will be covered. Articles and photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without explicit written permission.

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About Cal Skinner

About Cal Skinner
Email Cal Skinner

Recent Posts

  • Cary Teen Flown to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood after Being Hit by Vehicle November 10, 2026
  • Military-Style Rocket Replica Found in Tree West of Woodstock November 10, 2026
  • Huntley Child Porn Guy Arrested FOUR YEARS after Tip November 10, 2026
  • Local Court Admistrators Selected to Speak on SAFE-T Act at National Conference November 10, 2026
  • Springfield Like “Going to Camp” “the Closest Thing to College” November 10, 2026
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Cary Teen Flown to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood after Being Hit by Vehicle

Cal SkinnerNovember 10, 2026November 10, 2026

From the Cary Fire Protection Districct: Teenager Seriously Injured in Pedestrian Crash On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 2:29 p.m., the Cary Fire Protection District and Cary Police Department were dispatched to the intersection of Cary-Algonquin Road and Norman Drive for a […]

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Military-Style Rocket Replica Found in Tree West of Woodstock

Cal SkinnerNovember 10, 2026November 10, 2026

From the Woodstock Fire /Rescue District: Model Rocket Recovered from Tree in Unincorporated Woodstock On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to the 15300 block of Kishwaukee Valley Road in unincorporated Woodstock to assist McHenry County Sheriff’s Office deputies […]

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Huntley Child Porn Guy Arrested FOUR YEARS after Tip

Cal SkinnerNovember 10, 2026November 10, 2026

From Huntley Police: Community Update Regarding the Investigation of an Individual for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials The Huntley Police Department is providing additional information regarding the arrest of Jon M. Roth on 10 counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse […]

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Local Court Admistrators Selected to Speak on SAFE-T Act at National Conference

Cal SkinnerNovember 10, 2026November 9, 2026

From the McHenry County Circuit Court: 22nd Judicial Circuit Selected to Present at National Court Management Conference WOODSTOCK, IL – The 22nd Judicial Circuit of McHenry County has been selected to present at the National Association for Court Management (NACM) Annual Conference. […]

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Springfield Like “Going to Camp” “the Closest Thing to College”

Cal SkinnerNovember 10, 2026November 9, 2026

In an article about how Democratic Party House Speaker Chris Welch has been driven out of office for his tolerance of inappropriate sexual behavior appears the following: “Male lawmakers once commonly referred to legislative sessions in Springfield as ‘going to camp,’ away […]

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Pritzker DCFS in Trouble Again

Cal SkinnerNovember 10, 2026November 10, 2026

The State Department that is in continual trouble faces another Contempt of Court decision: DCFS Found in Contempt of Court Amid Continued Questions Over Agency Oversight The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is facing renewed scrutiny after a Sangamon […]

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DeMar Makes Leadership Move, Which He Denies

Cal SkinnerNovember 9, 2026November 9, 2026

The twice defeated Republican candidate for Lt. Governor, Aaron DelMar, has issued a press reelease calling for a shake-up of the State Grand Old Party: Aaron Del Mar Calls for a 2027 IL GOP Convention to adopt new party rules, platform and […]

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UPDATE: Look Whose Name Is Not on the List of Those Who Sought to Depose Democratic Party House Speaker WITH COMMENT ABOUT NESS

Cal SkinnerNovember 9, 2026November 9, 2026

Found on Capitol Fax ere ate the names of the State Reps. and just-elected members who pledged not to vote to re-elect Speaker Chris Welch. Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, 46thRep. Mary Beth Canty, 54thRep. Kelly Cassidy, 14thRep. Sharon Chung, 91stRep. Justin Cochran, 55thRep. […]

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Electioneering with 100 Feet of the Polls Complaint

Cal SkinnerNovember 9, 2026November 9, 2026

From Marengo Election Judge and Register Cynthia Allen Schenk: Illinois State Board of Elections, 2329 S. MacArthur Blvd.Springfield, IL 62704 I am writing as an Illinois voter concerned about the apparent inconsistency in enforcing electioneering restrictions at polling places. On November 4, […]

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What Pritzker Thinks National Democrats Should Do

Cal SkinnerNovember 9, 2026

From Governor JB Pritizker: Gov. Pritzker Releases “Fighting for Illinois: Day One Agenda” Governor outlines approximately 200 policy proposals for the newly-elected Congress to deliver for Illinoisans CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and […]

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By a 3-2 Vote Backyard Honey Bee Hives Will Be Alowed in Lake in the Hills without Licensing

Cal SkinnerNovember 9, 2026November 6, 2026

From the minutes of the last Lake in the Hills Village Board meeting: Request to Approve Ordinances Amending the Zoning and Municipal Codes to Allow for Residential/Hobby Beekeeping Summarized by Director of Community Development John Svalenka On July 21, 2026, the Village […]

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Most Tax Hike Referendums Fail

Cal SkinnerNovember 9, 2026November 7, 2026

From Illinois Policy: 35 questions authorizing new taxes or tax increases failed Property taxes At least 52 questions on whether to increase property taxes were on ballots in Illinois, either by authorizing a property tax levy increase or approving an entirely new […]

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Lake in the Hills Police Pension Funded at Over 93% versus About 50% for State Government;s

Cal SkinnerNovember 8, 2026November 6, 2026

From the minutes of the last Lake in the Hills meetng: Police Pension Board Financial Impact Compare Lake in the Hills’ pension situation with that of the State of Illinois Key Pension Metrics & Status (2025/2026 Data) From AI

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Democrats Claim a Seat at McHenry County’s Table

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2026November 7, 2026

From Chicago NBC TV: Illinois county votes for Democratic gubernatorial candidate for first time since 1852 McHenry County, the reddest of the collar counties surrounding Chicago, is riding the blue wave that swept through the political world this week. Illinois Gov. JB […]

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Lake in the Hills Use of Social Workers to Replace Police

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2026November 6, 2026

From the minutes of the last Lake in the Hills Villagee meeeting: Hisrorically when a resident called 911/dispatch center about someone in mental health crisis, a police officer was typically sent along with paramedics. Under CESSA, the dispatch center call taker will […]

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Another FOID Card Turned into Lake In The Hills Police

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2026November 6, 2026

From thme Lake in the Hills Police:

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Probation Director Wins Statewide Award

Cal SkinnerNovember 7, 2026November 6, 2026

From the Ckrcuit Couirt: IPCSA Presents Cheryl Meyers Excellence in Service and Innovation Award to Seth Krause WOODSTOCK, IL – The Illinois Probation and Court Services Association (IPCSA) has named Seth Krause, Director of the McHenry County Probation Department, as the recipient […]

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More Illegal Pot Found

Cal SkinnerNovember 6, 2026November 6, 2026

From the Crystal Lake Police:

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Sodering at Old Bugsy’ Bar & Sports, Then, Sports Lounge Resulted from Pipe Sodering

Cal SkinnerNovember 6, 2026November 6, 2026

From the McHenry Township Fire Protection DistrictRoute 120 Restaurant Fire Determined to Be Accidental Route 120 Restaurant Fire Determined To Be Accidental McHenry, IL. The McHenry Township Fire Protection District has determined that the October 21, 2026, fire at a vacant restaurant […]

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Child Sex Offender Fails to Register and Lives Too Close to Resticted Area

Cal SkinnerNovember 6, 2026November 6, 2026

From the Crystal Lake Police: This seems to be in Oakwood Estates.

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Freese Keeps 78-Year Old Sexual Deviant in Jail

Cal SkinnerNovember 6, 2026November 6, 2026

From the State’s Attorney: STATE’S ATTORNEY SECURES PRETRIAL DETENTION OF ALGONQUIN MAN ACCUSED OF DISTRIBUTING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that on November 5, 2026, Norman A. Franke Jr., 78, of Algonquin, Illinois, was ordered […]

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A New Strategy for Creating a New State Separate from the Chicago Area

Cal SkinnerNovember 6, 2026November 3, 2026

Fox TV in Chicago interviewed a woman in suppport of the movement to create a state without Chicago. There have been and were referendums in Downstate counties aasking the question. The woman interviewed said that some county officials see the referendums as […]

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Drug Take Back Idea Started in McHenry County by Democratic Party Coroner Candiate David Bachmann

Cal SkinnerNovember 6, 2026November 3, 2026

This article, pretty much an obituary of Dave Bachmann, was promoted by a press release from State Senator Criag Wilcox about the Drug Enforcement Administraiton’s Drug Take Back Day. When David Bachmann was running as a Democrat against incumbent Coroner Cynthia Lamb, […]

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Feds Help Convict McHenry Man by Providing DNA which McHenry Police Connected Him to Earlier Business Break-In

Cal SkinnerNovember 5, 2026November 5, 2026

From the State’s Attorney: DNA EVIDENCE LINKS McHENRY MAN TO BUSINESS BURGLARY; SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that on November 4, 2026, Peter A. Sova, 39, of McHenry, Illinois, was sentenced to seven […]

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Head-on Crash on Lucas Road

Cal SkinnerNovember 5, 2026November 5, 2026

From the Woodstock Fire and Rescue District: Woodstock Fire News Release: One Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash on Lucas Road On Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 9:33 a.m., the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to the area of Route 47 and Lucas Road for […]

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Lakewood’s RedTail Golf Club Financials Finally Up-to-date, But Confusing

Cal SkinnerNovember 5, 2026November 5, 2026

From a Friend of McHenry County Blog: RedTail Financials, Clear as Mud The October 13th Lakewood Village Board packet includes information on RedTail’s finances from the beginning of the fiscal year (May) through September. Compared with the prior fiscal year, the number […]

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Craig Wilcox Concession Statement

Cal SkinnerNovember 4, 2026November 4, 2026

From State Senator Craig Wilcox: Post-Election Statement from State Senator Craig Wilcox “Serving the people of the 32nd District in the Illinois State Senate for the past eight years has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. As a retired […]

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Trump Gets His Wish, But Not the Way He Wanted

Cal SkinnerNovember 4, 2026November 4, 2026

Take a look at this front page of the evening edition of the Chicago Tribune: “Trump made midterms about himself, and voters rejected him” the headline reads. See McHenry County Blog’s early Election Day article:

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Man Accused of Robbery at Harvard Market Place Meet-Up Kept in Jail

Cal SkinnerNovember 4, 2026November 4, 2026

From the State’s Attorney: STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SECURES DETENTION OF KENOSHA MAN CHARGED IN ARMED FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE ROBBERY McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that on November 3, 2026, Solomon Bankhead, 26, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was ordered detained pending trial […]

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Five Republican McHenry County Board Members Defeated, Margin Will Be 10-8

Cal SkinnerNovember 4, 2026November 4, 2026

Here are the District 1 results of the contest between Democrat Dee Darling and incumbent Republican Matt Kunkle. Darlling won 55.88% to 45.12% In District 2 incumbent Democrat Gloria Van Hof beat back the challenge of Dan Hickey, The vote was District […]

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Recent Comments

  • Most Tax Hike Referendums Fail - McHenry County Blog on District 300 Tax Hike Referendum Beaten by 924 Votes
  • Trump Gets His Wish, But Not the Way He Wanted - McHenry County Blog on Trump Agres with Democrats on Winning Election Strategy
  • Huntley School Bus Driver Accused of Possessing Child Sex Abuse Material Kept in Jail - McHenry County Blog on Another Arrested in Huntley for Child Porn, Electronic Sniffing Dog Brought from Janesville
  • Kane County Residents Join Algonquin Township Republicans in Opposing District 300 Referendum, But Sign Posted in Distict 155 - McHenry County Blog on Algonquin Township GOP Opposes Massive $355 Million District 300 Tax Hike with Signs
  • Trump Agres with Democrats on Winning Election Strategy - McHenry County Blog on Democrats’ Issues in McHenry County Board Races: Trump & Abortion
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