In 1931 the population of dairy cows in McHenry County totaled about 85,000 – the second largest in the country. The most recent agriculture census from 2017 showed about 3,000. […]
Body cameras have been worn by Woodstock police officers for barely a year, but they are now an essential part of local police work, Chief John Lieb said. “Body cameras […]
They received no promises, but Woodstock officials came away from meetings in Springfield last week encouraged that state funding for improvements to Route 47 south of the city would be […]
Marley Sherwood, 2010 graduate of Marian Central Catholic High School, always had a knack for knowing which small country bands were going to make a huge splash, said her mother, […]
New ordinances will give Woodstock police new tools to address “inappropriate behavior” by the homeless this summer, Mayor Brian Sager promises. “I don’t want to say ‘aggressive,’” the mayor said […]
Homelessness will not disappear overnight. While there is no perfect solution, several local organizations have been working to make the best of a difficult situation. Currently, agencies across McHenry County […]
Van Brautigam Van Brautigam, originally from McHenry County, suffered a brain injury in a childhood accident that has left him unable to work. He is receiving federal Supplemental Security Income; […]
Part of the conundrum facing communities that want to “solve” homelessness is that the problem does not have a single cause. Moreover, a combination of two or more factors often […]
Longtime Woodstock business Peters Motors has moved operations to a new, larger facility, led by second generation owner Craig Peters and his son, Ryan, carrying the business into the third […]
ABOUT THIS SERIES Woodstock attracts people who are homeless because, as the county seat, many agencies are here to serve them. In this three-part series, The Independent will examine the problem, […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
