The Woodstock Police Department is investigating what they described as a gang-related incident after two gunshot rounds were fired through the front window of a residence in the 400 block of West Judd Street. Police responded to the residence, located in the same block as the Woodstock Public Library and just down the street from […]
A former Woodstock resident has received the U.S. Navy’s Human Resources Community Junior Officer of the Year Award. Lt. Cmdr. Michael Keppen, based at Naval Station Great Lakes, was announced as the winner by the chief of Navy personnel in early December. “It was a complete shock,” Keppen said. “I had kind of forgotten about […]
Veterinary medicine is a way of life for Drs. Jason and Joann Randall. The husband and wife team have operated a joint practice in Woodstock for 25 years, and raised a daughter and son along the way. Beginning their professional careers in Lake County, the couple moved from the rapidly growing suburb of Libertyville to […]
Woodstock Public Library reference librarian Martha Hansen came up with an ingenious way to use Jewel-Osco’s promotional collection stamps. Hansen, a Woodstock resident for 25 years, realized last year many shoppers never use the stamps or opt to collect them. As part of the program, shoppers receive stamps based upon the amount of their purchases, […]
The Woodstock Opera House will slip into a musical time warp during the first weekend of February when the sixth annual Opera House Tribute Series returns with two shows from the early ’70s. Rich Perez and Creedence Revived will present a tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, and Neil Donell […]
The owner of a local vineyard will start a winery in downtown Woodstock with the help of $70,000 from the city of Woodstock. Jeffrey Pankow, owner of Hebron’s Blue Star Vineyard, has plans to open Centreville Winery at 200 E. Judd St., the location of the former Richards Building Supply Company. The Woodstock City Council […]
Lakewood is nearing an official vote on creating a 609-acre tax increment financing district near the Route 47 and 176 intersection, propelling developers to move forward with their own proposal to build a $46 million multisports facility where Crystal Woods Golf Course now stands. Lakewood officials scheduled an informational meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. […]
After nearly 28 years of owning and operating local drying cleaning business Stewart’s Cleaners, 225 E. Calhoun St., Keum Jeon and Chung Nam Chai have passed the helm of ownership to two longtime employees. Thoughts of retirement had been percolating for about a year-and-a-half before any concrete decision to leave was made, Keum Jeon Chai […]
For the second time in two months, a Woodstock man has gone missing off the coast of Florida. James Bakazan, 53, disappeared in the ocean near Key West Jan. 3. The Woodstock resident was on a scuba diving trip when he presumably drowned, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Becky Herrin […]
After Harold Ramis completed filming “Groundhog Day” in Woodstock in 1992, he mailed a letter to city leaders thanking them for welcoming his production crews and cast with such enthusiasm and generosity. “It’s not often an entire community takes us both into their homes and hearts,” Ramis said in the letter printed on Columbia Pictures […]
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.
