Local

CRYSTAL LAKE – A mother and child were taken to area hospitals after a man crashed a car into a building and hit several cars in a nearby parking lot Saturday night.

Shift change is at 7 a.m. at the Crystal Lake Fire Department. But to be ready in case an emergency occurred at 7:01 a.m., most firefighters arrive much earlier to prepare their equipment.

WOODSTOCK – Police said they uncovered a three-county pot-growing scheme in which two men allegedly paid others to sign leases for houses they subsequently outfitted with grow lights and other sophisticated equipment.

There were no floods or droughts during the agriculture growing season this year, but a perfect storm of cool and wet weather all season has pushed harvest back unusually late.

McCullom Lake residents who missed the deadline to get medical monitoring under a court settlement in the brain cancer lawsuits might get a second chance.

SPRING GROVE – Volunteers who want to take a guided walk through and clear the buckthorn from Horse Fair Park in Spring Grove should arrive at the park at 9 a.m. today.

The Illinois State Police, District 2, Special Enforcement Teams, along with local and county law enforcement agencies, will conduct a traffic enforcement blitz along Route 23 in McHenry and DeKalb counties today.

CRYSTAL LAKE - Two Crystal Lake businesses allegedly sold alcohol to minors, police said after a 20-business compliance check Thursday.

HUNTLEY – Today, the lease expires for Grafton Township to remain in its Vine Street office location.

JOHNSBURG – Experience life with the March sisters today and Sunday as Johnsburg High School presents the musical version of the classic novel “Little Women.”

Legendary comedian and talk-show host Joan Rivers will perform her sometimes-acerbic brand of stand-up at 8 p.m. today at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake.

INDIANAPOLIS - A Round Lake woman and her two young children were critically injured in a crash Friday night after a 72-year-old man allegedly mistook his car's accelerator for the brake.

WOODSTOCK – Two men have been charged after police said they were operating a large-scale, indoor marijuana operation across McHenry, Lake and Cook counties.

Authorities who want to investigate the McCullom Lake brain cancer cases first will take the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention up on its offer to review previous research.

WOODSTOCK – The future of the Woodstock Station property remains in limbo after a public auction Thursday at the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.

WONDER LAKE – Although Stefanija Jen­sen swears by her morning ritual, it’s not the kind of thing she tends to bring up in conversation.

CARY – Plans for an $800,000 improvement project at Hoffman Park are moving forward, but construction on the new amenities likely won’t start this year.

McCULLOM LAKE – Anthony Loporchio has been removed from his post as police chief in McCullom Lake.

HUNTLEY – Administrators presented the District 158 school board Thursday night with a revised plan to spend $1.6 million in federal stimulus dollars on special education.

WOODSTOCK – Centegra Health System has received another shipment of H1N1 vaccine.

CRYSTAL LAKE – A fundraiser will be Nov. 15 to help pay medical bills for a Crystal Lake woman who suffered a brain aneurysm.

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Citizens infected with a fictitious pneumonic plague will line up outside Lincoln Prairie Elementary School on Saturday to help test the site as a medication dispensary in case of an emergency.

CRYSTAL LAKE – The McHenry County Audubon Society will host a program about wind energy and birds Nov. 12.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Two homeless people face retail theft charges for allegedly stealing 112 lottery tickets worth more than $1,000 from a 7-11 store in a three-day spree.

WOODSTOCK – Three people accused of stealing three shotguns from a McHenry home remained in jail Thursday evening.

ELGIN – A Crystal Lake attorney plans to ask the Illinois Supreme Court to hear a libel case after an appellate court sided with the Northwest Herald.

LAKE IN THE HILLS – The Lake in the Hills Rotary Club and the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry will host a mobile food pantry today at Lake in the Hills Village Hall.

JOHNSBURG – Monday is the last day for McHenry Township residents to appeal their property assessments.

CARY – About 60 20-pound turkeys will be raffled off Nov. 15 in Cary when the Cary-Grove Amvets host their annual turkey raffle fundraiser.

MARENGO – Veterans and their families will join about 2,000 students from Marengo-area schools to celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

ELGIN – High school students interested in attending Elgin Community College and learning more about preparing for college are invited to an open house Wednesday.

WOODSTOCK – The future of the Woodstock Station property remains in limbo after a public auction Thursday at the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.

McCULLOM LAKE – Anthony Loporchio has been removed from his post as police chief in McCullom Lake.

McHenry County properties with foreclosure filings increased 56.4 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, according to a Chicago-based nonprofit organization.

WOODSTOCK – The Mc­Henry County Board soon will begin the final review process of the 2030 Land Use Plan.

Alex Levels usually looks to nature to get her through her regular workouts.

HARVARD – The city has sued Stratford Banquet Facility to enforce a 1992 agreement that the business hook up to Harvard’s water supply.

Centegra Health System will be distributing H1N1 vaccines at scheduled clinics today, and the McHenry County Department of Health also set up more of its own clinics.

WOODSTOCK – Numbered plastic balls decided the ballot order Wednesday in six Republican primary races for McHenry County.

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Chuck Ruth never has been one to brag.

CARPENTERSVILLE – A 17-year-old driver was cited in a collision that resulted in a pedestrian being struck by a second car, police said.

HUNTLEY – The village of Huntley is cautioning its residents about recent solicitation letters from a company called Home Service.

McHENRY – The Lil’ Warrior Fun Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the gym at McHenry High School West Campus, 4724 W. Crystal Lake Road, McHenry.

CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry County College will host a fire alarm inspection and testing workshop from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 12 for electrical inspectors, fire service personnel, building inspectors, city engineers, and others who perform fire alarm system inspections and acceptance testing.

MARENGO – A group of Marengo area schools will be hosting a free educational workshop Saturday for McHenry County parents.

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Each holiday season, the Lake in the Hills Village Hall is transformed into a winter wonderland.

McHENRY – A spaghetti dinner and dessert fundraiser will be this weekend for Brittani Navarre-Shoemaker.

CRYSTAL LAKE – The Kick Up Your Heels for Hospice Barn Dance is planned Saturday.

Three additional clinics for the H1N1 vaccine, available by appointment only, have been set up by the McHenry County Department of Health.

Kelly Landers helped plan her 10-year high school class reunion from hundreds of miles away.

CRYSTAL LAKE – The City Council hasn’t been sold on plans for a new Metra station in Crystal Lake.

WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Board rejected an advisory referendum on video gambling, but it will be another month until the board votes on whether to ban it.

McHENRY – The city of McHenry expects to have more power to raise taxes, enforce property standards, and allocate revenue soon.

WOODSTOCK – A 27-year-old Algonquin man accused of wielding a knife in a botched drug deal remained in jail Tuesday afternoon with $150,000 bail.

CRYSTAL LAKE – A 19-year-old Crystal Lake man was cited Tuesday after his pickup overturned in a two-vehicle crash.

WOODSTOCK – Not all jail inmates sit around watching TV all day.

ELGIN – Open registration for spring 2010 credit classes begins Monday at Elgin Community College and continues until classes start, space permitting.

WOODSTOCK – D.C. Cobb’s restaurant in Woodstock has brought a bit of the past to the present.

McHENRY – A Parkland Middle School teacher and lifelong McHenry resident has been selected as the newest member of the McHenry City Council.

HUNTLEY – Tickets are on sale for a holiday musical celebration to be performed by the Prairie Singers on Dec. 5 to 6.

JOHNSBURG – Members of the Johnsburg Educational Partnership are hoping for a full house next weekend at the second annual Casino Night.

WOODSTOCK – They raised money selling food at county fairs and stitching names into quilts for 10 cents. After several years of hard work, a post-Civil War auxiliary group finally raised the $3,000 needed to erect a statue in honor of fallen veterans.

HAMPSHIRE – The Burlington-Hampshire Area Food Pantry is in need of donations as the holiday season approaches.

A McHenry County grand jury

CRYSTAL LAKE – A bubbleologist, author, speaker and entertainer will give the keynote address at a child’s world conference Nov. 14 at McHenry County College.

HARVARD – During November, a display case at Harvard Diggins Library will hold an exhibit of photos and ephemera from the old Harvard Hospital.

CARPENTERSVILLE – A boy walking near Sunny Hill Elementary School was hit by a car Tuesday afternoon, but reportedly was in good condition.

WOODSTOCK - A 27-year-old Algonquin man accused of wielding a knife in a botched drug-deal was arrested today

The McHenry County Board rejected an advisory referendum on video gambling, but it will be another month until the county votes on whether to ban it.

The following is a list of candidates who have filed to run in the Feb. 2, 2010 primary. Each candidate's name is followed by the city they live in and the date they filed. Candidates marked with (I) are incumbents. The filing period is Oct. 26-Nov. 2.

Although they’ve been relatively quiet lately, they’re here – and they can be loud and clear.

Although a flurry of last-minute candidates promises to make the 2010 election interesting, the 8th Congressional District race might yet again be the race to watch.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Centegra Health System and the McHenry County Department of Health are continuing to administer H1N1 vaccines.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Barbara Antkowiak has heard it all.

WOODSTOCK – A 24-year-old homeless Crystal Lake man accused of hitting a pregnant woman was sentenced to six months in jail Saturday for gesturing with his middle finger in court.

CARPENTERSVILLE – A majority of students in District 300 used to spend Nov. 11 at home, sleeping in and watching TV.

CARY – District 26 voters could be asked to approve a tax hike next February.

CARPENTERSVILLE – A 44-year-old Carpentersville woman is accused of unintentionally killing an 8-month-old who died of hyperthermia after she allegedly left the infant unattended.

McHENRY – The Kiwanis Club of McHenry is gearing up for its annual Steaktacular.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Space still is available for mothers to attend a “Get Real!” conference this weekend and learn more about the relationships they have with their daughters.

McHENRY – A defense attorney who until recently served as one of McHenry County’s top prosecutors is running for an appellate judge seat.

HUNTLEY – Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church will conduct its annual holiday bazaar this weekend.

HARVARD – Two police charity groups are teaming up to help the daughter of one of their own who has cancer.

WOODSTOCK – The Challenger Learning Center for Science and Technology plans a series of Family Science Night events during the next few months.

ELGIN – “Excellence is Not Optional,” a discussion that was inspired by President Obama’s September message to elementary and high school students, will take place Wednesday.

UNION – The fourth presentation in the Illinois Association for Home and Community Education series, “Artifact Preservation,” will be Monday.

CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry County College will host a Veterans Day recognition program beginning with patriotic music by the McHenry High School band and choir at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 11.

Area fire departments soon will have a brand-new mobile home to create fake fires in.

WOODSTOCK – A former Woodstock woman repaid her former employer $44,368 Monday as she accepted a felony plea agreement for theft.

WOODSTOCK – Prosecutors plan to seek two or three years in prison for a 32-year-old Huntley man who admitted Monday to participating in a fight that destroyed a man’s right eye.

WOODSTOCK – A 32-year-old Huntley man who participated in a fight that destroyed a man’s right eye pleaded guilty to felony mob action Monday.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Centegra Health System and the McHenry County Department of Health are continuing this week to administer H1N1 vaccines.

WOODSTOCK – A 24-year-old homeless Crystal Lake man accused of hitting a pregnant woman was sentenced to six months in jail Saturday for gesturing with his middle finger in court.

RICHMOND – Richmond resident Ed Varga announced that he is no longer seeking the Republican Party nomination for U.S. Senate.

Jackie Simon had a plan for retirement.

The H1N1 virus might have found its newest victim – political campaigning.

HUNTLEY – Two free informational sessions geared toward seniors are planned in the coming months through Huntley Area Public Library.

Several road projects were projected to wrap up in November, weather permitting. They include:

MARENGO – The Marengo-Union Library District will feature a free Saturday matinee of “Marley & Me” this weekend.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Special Olympics training, wheelchair-accessible buses and day camp scholarships are among the items that will benefit from a successful NISRA Foundation Holiday Fashion Show and Christmas Tree Raffle.

RINGWOOD – Watching as butter was churned and yarn was woven, the way it was in the 1850s, 9-year-old Emily Gaus of Huntley seemed to appreciate the effort.

FOX LAKE – The upper portion of the Fox River was declared a no-wake zone Sunday, joining the lower portion of the river, which received the designation Thursday.

What's happening this week in news, sports and entertainment

Health care policy. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Abortion.

WOODSTOCK – Court records detail some of the steps that police took to find who gave a gun to the man who killed himself and his former girlfriend Feb. 24 in Huntley.

ALGONQUIN – A proposal to close the post office on Algonquin’s east side is drawing the ire of the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce, which says the move could negatively impact area businesses.

McHENRY – Brittani Navarre-Shoemaker was coping with the intractable seizure disorder. She was living with the cystic fibrosis. And the hydrocephalus, or swelling of the brain, was manageable.

CARY – District 26 officials will discuss on Monday asking taxpayers for a referendum to alleviate millions of dollars of anticipated debt.

The McHenry County Young Republicans are hosting a debate this month for Republican candidates for the 8th Congressional District.

Ernie and Donna Oberhelman moved from Kansas to Woodstock in 1960, seeking a better life for their family. At the time, their son Douglas was 7.

Before Bill Tammeus had a nationally syndicated column or visited the Middle East searching for understanding of 9/11, or wrote about Holocaust survivors, he was a high school student in Woodstock with a great teacher.

MARENGO – Dressed in costumes and masks, team Chainsaw Gang took home the top prize at Saturday‘s inaugural coffin races in downtown Marengo.

Laura Deppmeier’s fascination with Halloween began 12 years ago, right on her front porch.

A conversation between county officials and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency might have prompted a state investigation of the McCullom Lake brain cancer cases.

WOODSTOCK – A 36-year-old Bull Valley man accused of viciously beating his girlfriend over three days plans to ask a judge Tuesday to reduce his $60,000 bail.

ALGONQUIN – When Wickes Furniture closed its operations under bankruptcy last year, it left a 45,000-square-foot vacancy in Algonquin.

MARENGO – Women ages 21 and older are invited to play an after-hours Bunco game or two at the Marengo-Union Library District on Friday.

Democratic and Green candidates have filed petitions to run for two countywide offices in the 2010 election.

ELGIN – Provena St Joseph Hospital will cease its obstetrical services at 3 p.m. today.

HARVARD – An Algonquin teen is facing a handful of felony charges for allegedly spitting on personnel who responded to an apparent car accident Thursday.

CARPENTERSVILLE – Art will imitate life next weekend, when Dundee-Crown High School presents the play “You Can’t Take it With You.”

McHENRY – Pam Minero knew first-hand how important an empathetic friend was for those fighting cancer.

MARENGO – Marengo police are investigating the death of a man who was found on his garage floor Thursday, but they said that he appeared to have died of natural causes.

Algonquin – 3 to 7 p.m.

WOODSTOCK - A 36-year-old Bull Valley man accused of viciously beating his girlfriend over three days remained in McHenry County Jail this morning.

MARENGO – Marengo police are conducting a death investigation of a man who was found dead on his garage floor Thursday, but said that he appears to have died of natural causes.

McHENRY – The proposed statue for McHenry’s Riverwalk isn’t a political figure or a town benefactor – rather, it’s three unnamed men working on a boat.

HUNTLEY – You can be a scribe or a historian.

Former McHenry County College interim President Larry Tyree has taken the top job at a Florida community college less than a month after leaving for “personal and family matters.”

McHENRY – By the Fourth of July, the McHenry Library could have a sleek new entryway, new meeting rooms and enhanced lighting – but the construction will mean at least a monthlong closing.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Jessica Rodden hopped out of line twice to change dirty diapers while waiting to register for classes at McHenry County College on Thursday.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Costumed and noncostumed presenters will spin yarns to satisfy all ages at the upcoming Tellebration Celebration at the Prairieview Education Center in Crystal Lake.

WOODSTOCK – A 39-year-old Bartlett man accused of driving drunk to pick his child up from school was sentenced to six months in McHenry County Jail for violating his probation.

Law enforcement agencies plan to conduct an enforcement blitz on Route 12 today.

FOX LAKE – A no-wake zone is in effect for the Fox River between the Algonquin dam and the Stratton-Bolger Lock and Dam in McHenry, Fox Waterway Agency officials said.

WOODSTOCK – A 29-year-old Woodstock man accused of stalking his estranged wife is free after posting $2,000 bond Thursday.

WOODSTOCK – A 36-year-old McHenry woman was sentenced to 18 months in prison Thursday after admitting to trying to pass off a young boy’s urine as her own for a drug test.

McHENRY – Heritage Woods of McHenry, a supportive living community for seniors, seeks crafters and vendors for the facility’s second annual holiday craft fair, which is set for Dec. 5.

ELGIN – Elgin Community College will be the only two-year school competing in the fourth annual Crimson Classic Tournament, a prestigious collegiate mock trial competition hosted by Harvard University.

ELGIN – University of Cincinnati Professor Mark A. Lause will explore the links between radicalism, reform and racialized interactions among blacks, Indians and whites against the backdrop of the American Civil War during a lecture Tuesday at Elgin Community College.

Just as the threshold for meeting adequate yearly progress has gone up each year, so has the number of local schools that failed to meet that goal.MORE LINKS

WOODSTOCK – The 2030 Land Use Plan is off to the McHenry County Board after almost three years of work.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Jessica Rodden hopped out of line twice to change dirty diapers while waiting to register for classes at McHenry County College on Thursday.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Former McHenry County College interim president Larry Tyree has taken a similar position with a community college in Florida less than a month after leaving for "personal and family matters."

WOODSTOCK - A 36-year-old McHenry woman was sentenced to 18 months in prison today after admitting to trying to pass a young boy’s urine off as her own for a drug test.

FOX LAKE – A no-wake zone will be in effect as of noon today for the Fox River between the Algonquin dam and the Stratton-Bolger Lock and Dam in McHenry, Fox Waterway Agency officials said

CRYSTAL LAKE – Not all stalking victims know or have had a romantic relationship with their stalkers, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Wednesday at a symposium at McHenry County College.

Centegra Health System will begin administering swine flu vaccines today for the most at-risk McHenry County residents.

McHenry County, like all county and municipal governments, has a plan for how to react to natural disasters.

CRYSTAL LAKE – In 1965, Clarence “Corky” Iversen Jr. gave his girlfriend his class ring. About 44 years later, it was found buried in a cave in a Skippy peanut butter jar about 115 miles away.

HUNTLEY – Grafton Township is forming a Senior Citizens’ Service Committee and a Disabled Citizens’ Service Committee to advise the Township Board on various topics of importance to residents.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Signs will be added to help prevent accidents at a busy intersection near McHenry County College.

PRAIRIE GROVE – Like building a toy town with Legos, Jean Smith and other village residents Wednesday night mapped out their dream town center using colorful wooden blocks.

CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry County College, in conjunction with MCC’s Kids and College program, will offer ACT prep classes from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 7, 14, 21 and Dec. 5 in Room E121 at the college, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.

CRYSTAL LAKE – To guide high school juniors and seniors on their journey into college, students and their parents are invited to MCC Night 2009.

LAKE BARRINGTON – Both drivers in a Lake Barrington crash Tuesday night have been ticketed, and at least two people involved remained hospitalized Wednesday.

CRYSTAL LAKE – A 50-year-old Crystal Lake man was the first person in McHenry County whose death was attributed to the H1N1 flu.

CRYSTAL LAKE – An evening of entertainment is being planned to raise money for longtime McHenry County humanitarian Judith Irwin.

ALGONQUIN – A plaza featuring a gas station on Algonquin Road got preliminary approval from village trustees Tuesday night.

MARENGO – The Marengo-Union Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated its 39th anniversary at an annual awards ceremony.

WOODSTOCK – Police were looking for the man accused of holding a knife to another man’s throat Tuesday during a botched drug deal after arresting a 19-year-old Algonquin man in connection with the incident.

Democratic and Green Party candidates tossed their hats Wednesday into the February 2010 primary.

WOODSTOCK – The eighth annual Halloween Food Pantry Drive will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Klein family home, 1015 Clay St., Woodstock.

A Sycamore woman could make a few thousand dollars in the next week when a domain name that she bought several years ago sells in an online auction.

Centegra Health System will begin administering swine flu vaccines Thursday afternoon for the most at-risk McHenry County residents.

The following is a list of candidates who have filed to run in the Feb. 2, 2010 primary election. Each candidate's name is followed by the city they live in and the date they filed. Candidates marked with (I) are incumbents. The filing period is Oct. 26-Nov. 2.

WOODSTOCK - Police are looking for the man accused of holding a knife to another man’s throat Tuesday during a botched drug deal after arresting a 19-year-old Algonquin man in connection with the incident.

CRYSTAL LAKE – A 50-year-old Crystal Lake man has been the first person in McHenry County whose death has been attributed to the H1N1 flu.

Republicans running for McHenry County Sheriff and five of the McHenry County Board's six districts will have to participate in a lottery to determine their order on the February primary ballot.

Kanye West hijacks Taylor Swift’s speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. Tennis star Serena Williams threatens a line judge at the U.S. Open. And politics – let’s not even go there.

Rates for serious crimes fell overall by 3.1 percent in McHenry County last year, despite increases in many jurisdictions of burglary and theft.

CRYSTAL LAKE – The Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission raised questions about how a proposed Metra station in Ridgefield would affect traffic in the largely rural area.

MARENGO – The first one was 53 cents. The second, down to 48.

WOODSTOCK – Sheriff Keith Nygren has received homestead exemptions on taxes for property he owns both in McHenry County and in Florida, but on Tuesday he denied any wrongdoing and dismissed criticism related to it as political mudslinging.

WOODSTOCK – McHenry County officials expect to announce dates for H1N1 vaccine clinics in the coming days.

LAKE BARRINGTON – Route 14 was closed in both directions southeast of Fox River Grove on Monday evening after a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Route 14 and Pepper Road.

CARY – The Cary-Grove Varsity Pom Squad is planning its 14th annual dance fundraiser for November.

CRYSTAL LAKE – A workshop for water system operators will be offered Nov. 10 at the Shah Center in McHenry.

WOODSTOCK – District 200 has cancelled its Family Resource Fair that was schedule from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Dean Street Elementary School, 600 Dean St., Woodstock because of H1N1 concerns.

RICHMOND – The Members of Independent Order of Odd Fellows Ben Hur Lodge 870 will host a breakfast Sunday to benefit the McHenry County Police Charities Shop with a Cop program.

RICHMOND – A Spring Grove man arrested this month for allegedly having child porn at work now has been charged with having it on his home computer, as well.

McHENRY – Pets in Need No Kill Animal Shelter joins Jimano’s Pizza for a fundraiser Nov. 4.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Those with unpaid fines at the Crystal Lake Public Library have a chance to get them waived through the Pay it Forward program.

WOODSTOCK – The mother of a 35-year-old Woodstock man who died in May is suing the McHenry County Jail alleging that medical treatment that he received there seven months earlier caused his death.

McCULLOM LAKE – An officer once embroiled in civil lawsuits while serving at the Marengo Police Department was named interim police chief in McCullom Lake on Tuesday night.

Rates for serious crimes fell overall by 3.1 percent in McHenry County last year, despite increases in many jurisdictions of burglary and theft.

RICHMOND – A Spring Grove man arrested earlier this month for allegedly having child porn at work, now has been charged with having it on his home computer as well.

WOODSTOCK – McHenry County officials expect to announce dates for H1N1 vaccine clinics in the coming days.

When it comes to candy, Sarah Rohloff, 12, doesn’t discriminate.

WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Board Liquor and License Committee placed bets on both of its proposals regarding video gambling.

MARENGO – After two failed referendums, Marengo-Union District 165 might be seeking another.

Seven area pet shops and supply stores have taken a puppy-friendly pledge.

Some contested federal, state and local races have come out of the first day to file petitions for the Feb. 2 primary election.

CRYSTAL LAKE – The Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission is set to discuss conceptual plans for a Metra station in Ridgefield.

LAKEWOOD – Johnsburg wanted one for years. Ringwood, with fewer than 500 residents, has one all to itself. And now Lakewood is in the market for its very own ZIP code.

CARPENTERSVILLE – A divided District 300 school board on Monday approved what board President Joe Stevens called a “reluctant 2 percent” raise for certain staff not covered by a union.

CRYSTAL LAKE – To guide high school juniors and seniors on their journey into college, students and their parents are invited to MCC Night 2009.

WOODSTOCK – District 200 has been awarded $38,738 in zero waste grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

WOODSTOCK – A former Cary man accepted a misdemeanor plea bargain Monday after the teenager who accused him of forcing sex on her ran away to avoid testifying, prosecutors said.

ELGIN – Elgin Community College will host a community open house from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 4 to provide updates on construction and renovation projects being funded by the passage of a $178 million bond issue that voters approved in April.

RICHMOND – The Spring Grove-Richmond Recreation Department offers an indoor, co-ed dodgeball program starting Friday.

CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry County College hosts a Bioneers symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7.

LAKEMOOR – Police have performed preliminary interviews with occupants who were available but still are trying to determine who was behind the wheel in a fatal crash Sunday.

McHENRY – Local residents will have the chance Thursday night to see up close the renovation plans for the McHenry Public Library.

HUNTLEY – Learn tips about how to properly manage your diabetes at a free fair hosted by Centegra Health System on Nov. 6.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Maurices in Crystal Lake will host a monthlong food drive to benefit the Crystal Lake Food Pantry.

A former state’s attorney announced that he would run as a Kane County resident judge in the February Republican primary.

WOODSTOCK - A former Cary man accepted a misdemeanor plea bargain today after the teenager who accused him of forcing sex on her ran away, prosecutors said.

WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Board will make the choice as to whether to ban video gambling or put it to a referendum.

Jewel Maloney had no doubt about the reason why a chaplain visited her room during a recent stay at Centegra Hospital – McHenry.

LAKE IN THE HILLS – A proposal that would allow home­owners and businesses to build small windmills on their land or roofs will go to the public for comment next month before coming back to officials for final approval.

LAKEMOOR – Police have performed preliminary interviews with occupants who were available, but are still trying to determine who was behind the wheel in a fatal crash on Sunday.

ALDEN – Uncovering the headstones tucked away in the woods just off Route 173 was like revealing Gregg Brandow’s ancestry.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Help others live a clutter-free life by becoming a professional organizer.

ELGIN –  The Cirque de la Musique gala was a record-raising event for the Elgin Community College Foundation, netting $59,444, according to a news release.

What's happening this week in news, sports and entertainment

CARY – Take a walk on the wild side with artist Lois DiPerna of Johnsburg during an art show at The Inspired Art Studio.

LAKEMOOR – One man was left dead after the minivan in which he was riding crashed into a tree early Sunday morning.

The number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. is rising. The number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. is declining. Eight million. Ten million. Thirteen million.

CARPENTERSVILLE – District 300 Superintendent Ken Arndt would read the books that he was assigned in grade school, but he didn’t like it.

MARENGO – As the weather continues to cool, Riley District 18 residents will see something new – construction during the winter.

McHENRY – Steve Murgatroyd never gained a reputation for being flashy while serving on the McHenry City Council.

LAKEMOOR – Two out of six businesses sold alcohol last week to youth working undercover for police.

CRYSTAL LAKE – The Creative Artistry Fine Arts School plans an event for Halloween.

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Do you enjoy personalizing photo albums in creative and artistic ways?

CARY – Armed with toolboxes, ladders, paintbrushes and a desire to help, volunteers on Saturday filled the Children’s Center for Autism.

Judy Boisen loved school as a child. When she grew up and went to college, she realized that her affinity for the classroom was so deep that she wanted to make a career out of it.

PINGREE ROAD: Pingree Road is closed to through traffic between Crystal Lake Avenue and Daniel Drive. A posted detour takes drivers around on Routes 176, 31 and 14.

Ask anybody what they think is the largest source of water contamination, and industry most likely will be the culprit they name.

WOODSTOCK – Following the death of a Barrington Hills man on a Metra train Oct. 8, state Rep. Jack Franks plans to file legislation requiring automated external defibrillators on mass transit.

CRYSTAL LAKE – With the downturn in the economy contributing to job losses and dips in savings accounts, community colleges across the state saw a natural influx in enrollment figures.

For years, Kellie Krenzelok has wanted to be a star.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Lundahl Middle School is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and looking back at a half-century of educational memories.

McHENRY – A McHenry man was ticketed after police said he ran a red light and crashed into a school bus, police said.

LAKEMOOR – Police are urging residents to make sure that their car doors are locked and accessories put away after a recent spike in the number of car burglaries.

WOODSTOCK – A 64-year-old Wonder Lake man convicted of fondling two young boys who had visited his backyard pond was sentenced to probation Friday after he apologized for the pain he caused.

ALGONQUIN – The Neubert Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization is collecting items to help raise the spirits of a 7-year-old boy whose lower body was run over by a bus Monday.

HUNTLEY – The District 158 Financial Advisory Committee is looking for new members.

ALGONQUIN – An area of the village’s soil and groundwater is under investigation by state and local agencies after a test revealed possible volatile organic compounds.

LAKEMOOR – A house was left uninhabitable Friday night after a fire damaged mostly its kitchen and garage area.

LAKEMOOR – A residence was left uninhabitable Friday night after a fire damaged mostly its kitchen and garage area.

ALGONQUIN – An area of the village's soil and groundwater is under investigation by state and local agencies after a test revealed possible volatile organic compounds.

McHENRY – A McHenry man was ticketed after police said he ran a red light and crashed into a school bus, police said.

WOODSTOCK – Prosecutors plan to seek the five-year maximum prison sentence after a judge convicted a 32-year-old man of involuntary manslaughter in a one-punch death outside a Crystal Lake bar.

Don’t tell Bryon Carlson and fiancée Rosa Garcia that economists are saying the recession is over. Garcia and their oldest daughter, Alayna, will celebrate their upcoming 27th and 7th birthdays in a motel room because they were evicted Wednesday from their Woodstock rental home.

McHENRY – Saturday is the last day to submit entries to an art contest hosted by Steffan’s Jewelers.

CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry County College’s “Getting Started” seminars aim to help older students feel at east about taking college classes after being out of high school for several years or decades.

HUNTLEY – The Grafton Township Supervisor’s office is collecting winter coats for those in need.

WOODSTOCK – Members of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County will meet Saturday at the headwaters of the Kishwaukee River, on Dean Street in Woodstock, to remove invasive species and collect trash.

CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry County College will host its 25th annual craft fair Sunday.

CRYSTAL LAKE – A $50,000 repaving project might have solved parking problems at McHenry County College, allowing school officials to put the brakes on plans for another lot.

JOHNSBURG – If there’s one too many coats hanging in your closet or you’ve found another scarf to use this winter, consider donating the items to St. John the Baptist School.

WOODSTOCK – A 44-year-old Spring Grove man officially denied allegations that he broke his 1-month-old son’s leg in August.

LAKEMOOR – A former corrections officer turned city official has been named Lakemoor Village Administrator.

ALGONQUIN – The tombstones, skulls and crossbones that have decked the halls of Jacobs High School this week aren’t early Halloween decorations. They are grim reminders of the 116 lives lost to unsafe driving every day.

WOODSTOCK – An 86-year-old woman who was struck by a car Oct. 10 while crossing Tryon Street has died.

HUNTLEY – The Huntley Village Board took a first look Thursday at an outline of potential budgetary plans for next year, which includes about $543,000 in proposed spending cuts.

WOODSTOCK – The city collects bulk leaves every Monday for a four-week period beginning Monday.

CARY – Residents will have the chance to support one of their own this weekend while also enjoying a night out.

McHENRY – The Friends of the McHenry Public Library will host a $4-a-bag used book sale this weekend in the library’s warehouse, 809 N. Front St., McHenry.

FOX LAKE – More than 40 building violations have been found at the Aquarium Bar & Grill in Fox Lake, leading village officials to shut down the business for 30 days.

McHENRY – If Thursday night’s public hearing crowd is any indication, the Fox Waterway Agency hasn’t quite made its case for increasing boat sticker fees.

WOODSTOCK - Prosecutors plan to seek the five-year maximum prison sentence after a judge convicted a 32-year-old man of involuntary manslaughter in a one-punch death outside a Crystal Lake bar.

WOODSTOCK – Rachel Piquette and Kayla Luckey spend two hours a week giving manicures to fulfill college scholarship requirements.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Major changes are ahead for McHenry County College’s fledgling Promise program.

WOODSTOCK – Prosecutors said a Crystal Lake man was looking for a fight when he delivered an ultimately fatal punch outside a Crystal Lake bar, while defense attorneys said he defended himself against a bigger man.

McHENRY – Police are investigating a string of “smash-and-grab” burglaries, two of which happened Wednesday.

HARVARD – As a single mother living at home in her early 20s, it appeared that Stephanie Dziewiontka’s options were limited.

It’s not a matter of when H1N1 comes to local schools – it’s here, District 300 spokeswoman Allison Strupeck said.

FOX LAKE – Pets In Need will team up with Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue on Saturday for an adoption event.

CHICAGO (AP) – They think it’s pointless, narcissistic. Even so, more young adults and teens – normally at the cutting edge of technology – are finally coming around to Twitter, using it for class or work, monitoring the minutiae of celebrities’ lives.

HUNTLEY – The Huntley Area Jaycees are collecting items during October for men and women serving overseas in the armed forces.

HARVARD – Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church has played a large role in Bob Burton’s life.

ELGIN – Elgin Community College is hosting several events in November for prospective students.

HUNTLEY – The Huntley Area Public Library Board hired this week a new top librarian to replace outgoing Library Director Virginia Maravilla.

WOODSTOCK – A woman airlifted after a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning has been identified as 60-year-old Jennifer Freeman of Woodstock.

McHENRY – The McHenry Public Library will host a scary stories program from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at the library, 809 N. Front St.

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Each month, the Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department hosts two hours of bingo fun.

WOODSTOCK – Mc­Hen­ry County is asking a local judge for more time to create a specialized court for drug addicts.

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Do you enjoy personalizing photo albums in creative and artistic ways?

Professional illustrator Scott Beaderstadt had no intention of hogging the spotlight Wednesday night. That’s why he decided to set out a half-finished comic strip on his table at the McHenry Public Library’s ComicCon. The Bensenville resident then let a different participant draw in each square to complete the story.

ST. CHARLES – Kane County Health Department officials want to know how many St. Charles East High School students have the flu.

HARVARD – A basement fire that broke out in a single-family home Wednesday night left 10 family members temporarily displaced.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Renowned activist Kathy Kelly shared her personal experiences in conflict zones throughout the Middle East and asked people to join her in advocating for peace.

A list of seasonal flu shot locations in the area offered by the McHenry Department of Health, Centegra Health System, Mercy Health System, Visiting Nurse Association of Fox Valley, and others.

WOODSTOCK – A woman airlifted after a two-vehicle crash this morning has been identified as 60-year-old Jennifer Freeman of Woodstock.

ALDEN – Gregg Brandow never has been to Alden, but it’s still like he’s coming home.

WOODSTOCK – A former nursing home supervisor accused of allowing a nurse to play “Angel of Death” wants to call a renowned toxicologist to contradict a prosecution expert who claimed that a patient died of morphine intoxication.

A McHenry County grand jury

LAKE IN THE HILLS – A college student from Lake in the Hills is spreading birthday cheer for children who are victims of domestic violence.

A retired Illinois State Police lieutenant and former head of the Cary-based North Central Narcotics Task Force will be signing copies of his book this week.

WEST DUNDEE – The Historic Sites Committee of the Dundee Township Historical Society will conduct its annual Historic Plaque Presentation on Nov. 1.

Health officials plan to offer the H1N1 swine flu vaccine to students at schools throughout the county.

ELGIN – Author Marty Essen shares his personal tales of animal adventures, including some near-death experiences, during a special lecture today.

LAKEMOOR – Village President Todd Weihofen said he planned to appoint a village administrator at Thursday’s board meeting, in spite of resistance from other town officials.

The McHenry County Fire Chiefs would like to remind residents of a few fire safety tips for Halloween.

WOODSTOCK – Sheriff Keith Nygren plans to ask a circuit judge to overturn an arbitrator’s decision to reinstate former Deputy Zane Seipler, who is running for sheriff.

MARENGO – It might not be a reality within the next several weeks – or even the following months – but Marengo is on its way toward possibly recruiting a hotel developer.

WOODSTOCK - Prosecutors said a Crystal Lake man was looking for a fight when he delivered an ultimately fatal punch outside a Crystal Lake bar, while defense attorneys said he defended himself against a bigger man.

WOODSTOCK – The Friends of the Woodstock Public Library will conduct a shelf-reading party Friday.