Knowledge is money when it comes to filing taxes

John Eppley retired from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy sheriff in 2006. For the past two years, he’s been going to My Accountant Inc., 666 Russel Court in Woodstock, for tax services.  ... Read More »

Franks: Ask voters if they want to elect chairman

State Rep. Jack Franks offered a compromise to McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler’s opposition to a bill making the chairmanship popularly elected: Put the idea to the voters. ... Read More »

Willie misses shadow; early spring predicted

WOODSTOCK – He may not be the world’s most famous groundhog, but he certainly brought better news to the throng of movie fans and residents who descended on the Woodstock Squa ... Read More »

Local News

Divers searching Pistakee Lake for person who fell through ice

NEW: 7:56 p.m.
JOHNSBURG – Divers are searching Pistakee Lake after receiving a report that a person has fallen through the ice. More than a dozen rescue vehicles are on the scene while the ... Read More »

ROE candidate background gives committee pause

WOODSTOCK – A McHenry County Board committee balked Friday at recommending the hiring of a regional school superintendent who has an arrest record along with the required qual ... Read More »

State News

Schools fear Quinn idea to shift pension costs

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Cash-strapped Illinois could save more than $1.3 billion a year if it passed off its portion of public teacher retirement benefits to schools and colleges, ... Read More »

Ill. Medicaid official sees 'crisis'

CHICAGO (AP) – Given the state's financial predicament, lawmakers will need to consider every possible strategy for cutting the state's Medicaid budget this year, Illinois Dep ... Read More »

Nation & World

Hiring surges in January

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a long-awaited surge of hiring, companies added 243,000 jobs in January — across the economy, up and down the pay scale and far more than just about anyon ... Read More »

Prep Sports

Too much pressure for Johnsburg

GRAYSLAKE – Johnsburg has proved it can play with any of the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division’s top teams, although closing the deal has been another matter. ... Read More »

Chicago Sports

Garza, Cubs agree to $9.5 million, 1-year deal

CHICAGO (AP) – Right-hander Matt Garza has agreed to a $9.5 million, one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, just before the scheduled start of a salary arbitration hearing i ... Read More »

Rose outduels fellow All-Star ’Melo

NEW YORK – Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony are both All-Star starters. Only Rose is the reigning MVP, and he was the one who owned Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. Ro ... Read More »

Pros & Colleges

Rangers' Hamilton confirms alcohol relapse

ARLINGTON, Texas. – Texas Rangers outfielder and recovering drug addict Josh Hamilton said Friday that he had a relapse that started with "three or four" drinks at a Dallas-ar ... Read More »

Business

Hiring surges in January

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a long-awaited surge of hiring, companies added 243,000 jobs in January — across the economy, up and down the pay scale and far more than just about anyon ... Read More »

Opinion

Wyss: Justice delayed, but still inevitable

The smudge-strewn, dog-eared manila folder had rested for years in the lower reaches of a wide, two-drawer file cabinet. It took a few minutes of shoving this and that aside t ... Read More »

Our view: Ground state airplanes

Anytime you can save $7 million a year in a deadbeat state such as Illinois, you should jump at the chance, right? That’s the reaction hoped for by state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R ... Read More »

Letters to the Editor

Require unions

To the Editor: In a letter of Dec.7, Andy Franzen states that unions were once necessary because employers were taking advantage of the workers, but now should be banned becau ... Read More »

Great caregivers

To the Editor: Thank you, Crystal Pines Health and Care Center and Hospice of Northeastern Illinois. My mom just spent the past year-and-a-half of her life at Crystal Pines He ... Read More »

Entertainment

Turning back the clock on ‘Groundhog Day’


If you’re connected, or just happen to be lucky, you’ve seen a movie being filmed before. Maybe you even appeared as an extra in a movie. But unless you frequented downtown Wo ... Read More »

Daily Dish

Steven Tyler defends national anthem performance

NORTH GREENFIELD, Ind. (AP) — Steven Tyler says he meant to sing the national anthem like that. The Aerosmith frontman and "American Idol" judge endured plenty of jabs after h ... Read More »

Lifestyle

Top chocolate cupcakes with whiskey frosting, bacon

These are not your girlfriend’s cupcakes. There is no frilly pastel frosting piped on top. They are not delicate. They are not pretty. They are big, bold, manly and totally do ... Read More »

McHenry Co. Mag.

Have Your (Wedding) Cake And Eat It, Too!

Meet Tiffany Wilkins, a Crystal Lake wedding planner who predicts the latest trends of 2012. ... Read More »

Planit Northwest

Planit Picks!

The Lake Geneva Snow Sculpting competition and festival is this weekend at the Riviera Dock. The whole family will love the games, activities. Visit lakegenevawi.com for detai ... Read More »

Real Estate

How to prevent your outside faucets from freezing

Most homeowners who live in cold climates know it’s important to “winterize” the outside faucets to prevent them from freezing, which can destroy the faucet or lead to a burst pipe. ... Read More »

Blogs

» Woodstock Blog
Woodstock Blog

Marian honors students for academic achievements

WOODSTOCK – On Tuesday, Jan 31, 76 Marian Central Catholic High School students, along with their parents, were honored at a special Academic Breakfast in the high school cafeteria. 
» Must See Video
Must See Video

Volkswagen strikes back

It's Super Bowl weekend, which means it's a great time for hilarious commercials to go viral. Many companies are launching neat campaigns.
» McHenry Blog
McHenry Blog

McHenry library to open at 1 p.m. Friday

The McHenry Public Library will open at 1 p.m. Friday because of a morning staff in-service session.
» The Bulletin Board
The Bulletin Board

Franks to Koehler: Let's compromise

State Rep. Jack Franks issed the following news release on Thursday:
» Make it Pop
Make it Pop

Sound Tracking: Lana Del Rey album fails to meet lofty expectations

Here is a look at new music out this week.

National Video

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