The Woodstock School District 200 Board of Education tabled a decision on whether to seek legal action against Lakewood regarding the village’s newly-formed tax increment finance district. The school board’s Dec. 16 agenda included a resolution that, if approved, would have authorized a District 200 lawsuit against Lakewood, ultimately seeking dissolution of the TIF district […]
A former firehouse in downtown Woodstock soon will be used to serve the area’s homeless population, and organizers are looking for volunteers to staff it. The city-owned firehouse at the corner of South Throop and West South streets will be used as a drop-in center for people experiencing homelessness, said Sue Rose, the McHenry County […]
Woodstock Fire/Rescue District might need to lay off workers or reduce some employee hours after the village of Lakewood recently declined to renew its fire/rescue contract with WFRD. The Village of Lakewood Board at its Nov. 24 meeting opted not to renew its contract with the WFRD, voting instead for a slightly cheaper agreement with […]
Woodstock School District 200 Board members will decide this week whether to take legal action against Lakewood’s recently-created tax increment financing district near Route 47 and 176. The school board will vote on a resolution authorizing a lawsuit against the village at its regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the […]
A Rockford man and woman were arrested Dec. 8 after he allegedly stole two nail guns from Menards and led Woodstock Police on a foot chase. Garry D. Bielefeldt, 30, and his alleged accomplice, Gina N. Dawsey, 30, were arrested and charged with several offenses, police said. Police were summoned to Menards, 2100 […]
Woodstock Police are investigating a weekend burglary at Coleman’s Tavern & Grill. Sometime between midnight and 6 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, unknown offenders broke through the back doors of the restaurant at 823 Lake Ave., according to Deputy Chief John Lieb. Once inside, the offenders broke into the video gambling payment machine and stole an […]
The Woodstock City Council approved an ordinance Dec. 1 setting its 2015 property tax levy at about $9.18 million, a figure which does not include an increase allowed under the terms of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, or PTELL. But some residents said that move doesn’t go far enough toward reducing property taxes. “Does […]
A 67-year-old Woodstock man tending to his broken-down car in Bull Valley was struck by an SUV Monday night and later died of his injuries. Fausto Alcocer was pronounced dead at Centegra Hospital-McHenry at 6:20 p.m. Dec. 7, according to Bull Valley Police. An autopsy performed Dec. 8 determined Alcocer died from injuries to […]
Two people armed with hammers allegedly forced themselves into a house on Walnut Drive in Woodstock, bound a man inside and took off with his firearms yesterday, Woodstock police said. Police are searching for the suspects. Officers were called to a home in the 1700 block of Walnut Drive at 5:34 p.m. Dec. 2 in response […]
A Wonder Lake man and a Marengo woman were injured Nov. 30 following a two-car crash on Route 176 in unincorporated Woodstock. McHenry County Sheriff’s police said James Caldwell, 28, Wonder Lake, was driving a blue 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix westbound on Route 176, just west of Dean Street, at about 8:50 a.m. For unknown […]
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.
