Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | August 18, 2017
Distillery to Add Outdoor Service for Tour Groups
A local distillery plans to add outdoor service and tastings to its offerings. Wondertucky Distillery & Bottling Co., 315 E. South St., will be allowed to host outdoor seating and on-site consumption of its products after the City Council modified the distillery’s...
With Raney’s Passing, Local Baseball and Softball Lost a Champion
When Dwayne Raney passed away earlier this summer, Woodstock lost one of the most important figures in local youth baseball and softball. Raney, who died June 6 at age 86, helped found Woodstock Little League in 1954, and he served as league president as well. But he...
Woodstock Men Recount Child Rescue at Park
Woodstock’s Octavio Ramirez had taken Aug. 11 off work to help his wife with a garage sale. Just the day before, Ramirez and his family had seen a man at Olson Play Park, near his home, who was acting strangely. When they saw him again Friday, they kept a careful eye...
Council Members Differ on Tax Increase
Following a public hearing on the matter, city officials differ on whether or not to implement a home-rule sales tax in Woodstock — and if so, how much the city should charge. The City Council is considering increasing Woodstock’s sales tax on general merchandise....
WL Church Exempt From Sign Ordinance, Court Rules
A local pastor who went to court rather than pay a fine for an alleged ordinance violation earned a victory over the village of Wonder Lake when a judge ruled she is exempt from following a municipal sign ordinance. The Rev. Janie Long of Wonder Lake Pentecostal...
Streaks XC Meet to Include Dedication
The Woodstock High School Blue Streaks cross-country team will kick off its competitive season and honor the legacy of alumni who have excelled in the sport with the annual Blue/White/Silver run at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at Emricson Park. Alumni, former coaches,...
‘Good Samaritans’ Stop Child Kidnapping, Woodstock Police Say
An attempted child kidnapping in Woodstock was thwarted by the “heroic actions” of three men who stopped the alleged perpetrator in his tracks, police said. The men rescued a 4-year-old boy who was snatched from his bicycle at around 12:43 p.m. Aug. 11 by an alleged...
D-200, Marian, St. Mary Classes Begin Aug. 17
The end of summer for students in Woodstock is under a week away. Thursday, Aug. 17, is the first day back for all schools in Woodstock. Winter break for Woodstock School District 200 students will begin Dec. 23 and classes will resume Jan. 5. Marian Central Catholic...
Square Events Going to the Dogs
Bark-a-Paw-Looza returns Aug. 20 The dog days of summer may be coming to a close, but there is no shortage of activities benefitting animal welfare on the Square. Bark-a-Paw-Looza, a dog-friendly event featuring live music, vendors and raffles will take place Sunday,...
Residents Weigh in on Sales Tax Increase
The condition of Woodstock’s infrastructure, taxes and business climate dominated discussion at a public hearing on a possible increase to the city’s sales tax. Opinion was divided during the Aug. 1 hearing before the City Council, which stretched for about an hour...
Festival Brings Mozart to the Opera House
A 31-year-tradition of Mozart in Woodstock will continue at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, when the orchestra takes the stage for the final performance of the 2017 Midwest Mozart Festival at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St. The festival began with a performance...
Memorializing Woodstock’s Forgotten Children
In Oakland Cemetery, there is a plot, peaceful and undisturbed, wide open and unmarked. A hundred years ago, wooden crosses may have marked the spot, which sits behind the mausoleum, adjacent to rows of timeworn headstones. But today, there is nothing. It’s the...
Annexation Boundary Shifts for Woodstock, Bull Valley
Woodstock could gain acreage and Bull Valley could gain access to city water and sewer services under the terms of a deal approved by both municipalities last month. A 20-year boundary agreement between the city of Woodstock and the village of Bull Valley would allow...
Workshop Explores Science for Young Minds
A group of early childhood educators gave up a day of summer break to gain a better understanding of how to introduce science-based concepts to preschoolers. Bill Donato, a retired Woodstock High School science teacher who now serves as director of the McHenry County...
Outdoor Dining Opens on Benton Street
Benton Street Boardwalk was paid for with city TIF funds An outdoor dining project funded by the city of Woodstock has opened just off the Square. The Benton Street Boardwalk, a series of wooden platforms that allows some downtown restaurants to host al fresco dining,...
Buses Will Be Rerouted as Roundabout Construction Lags
Intersection of Charles and Raffel is expected to open around Sept. 1 A delay in construction on a roundabout at the intersection of Charles and Raffel roads will force a temporary change in bus routing when the school year begins. Installation of the $2.2 million...
Fair to Kick It Country With Sawyer Brown
There’s no better venue for live country music on a summer night in the Midwest than a county fair. Woodstock will deliver at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, when country music band and veteran recording stars Sawyer Brown perform at the McHenry County Fair, 11900 Country Club...
Woodstock Square Falls Under Spell of Harry Potter
Organizers estimated as many as 5,000 people attended the Wizarding World of Woodstock July 27.
McHenry County Fair Adds Attractions
The McHenry County Fair kicked off the evening of Aug. 1, adding an extra half day to its schedule this year. Last year, about 60,000 people attended the fair, but with this year’s extended run, organizers are hoping to draw 70,000 to 75,000, according to Katie...
Council Meetings Could Be Viewed Online
Woodstock City Council meetings could soon be accessed online if officials move forward with a plan to record them. At a workshop July 18, council members discussed different ways to broadcast the body’s twice-monthly meetings. Proposals ranged from basic — uploading...