Four rescue horses got the chance of their lifetimes when they were chosen for the Heartland Horseman’s Challenge during the Illinois Horse Fair March 7 to 9 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield. Several months ago the organizers of the Illinois Horse Fair were brainstorming ideas for the upcoming fair. Competitions pitting several horse trainers […]
People who go to the polls in Bull Valley March 18 will be asked to vote on a proposition to issue $5 million in alternate revenue bonds to fund roadwork in the village — not that it matters. Village officials say regardless of whether or not voters approve the measure, they won’t take out the […]
The Woodstock School District 200 community is mourning the loss of a retired teacher whom Superintendent Ellyn Wrzeski said was dedicated to the city’s children. Anita Kohl, who spent 16 years teaching special-needs students in Woodstock, was killed in a house fire on Kimball Avenue last week. She was 73. Kohl began her career at […]
In a letter to her grandfather, Alyssa Synes promised to shave her head in honor of him and to raise funds for cancer research. Her grandfather, Mike Eby – a longtime custodian at Woodstock High School – died of cancer in May 2013, and Alyssa is making good on her commitment at the St. Baldrick’s […]
A city of Woodstock employee accused of stealing one ton of road salt was fired from his position as streets supervisor March 5. Dale Behm, 57, was arrested Feb. 28 for allegedly stealing about 2,000 pounds of road salt and two snowplow skids belonging to the city of Woodstock, according to a statement from the […]
With a box full of materials like magnifying glasses, a flashlight, a wooden block, large Lego-like pieces, tape and paper towel cardboard tubes, Creekside Middle School seventh-graders worked together to build compound light microscopes. “It looked pretty hard at first, but it got easier because we learned about microscopes in class,” said Bryan Ayala, a […]
As a child, Christine Mahoney drew inspiration from the late ’70s TV series “Charlie’s Angels,” investigating her home and peeling fingerprints off door knobs with pieces of Scotch tape. Today, Mahoney is the owner and president of Third Vision Background Searches & Consulting in Wonder Lake, a business where she can be a detective once […]
In an effort to drum up support for a local food co-op, the McHenry County Food Cooperative steering committee is providing a free public screening of “Food For Change.” The feature-length documentary will be shown from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at the McHenry County College Luecht Conference Center, 8900 US Highway […]
The city of Woodstock will apply for a $50,000 grant to help struggling homeowners make repairs to their properties, part of a plan to address blighted houses that council members say drive down the values of neighboring homes. The City Council approved a plan Feb. 18 to apply for a Department of Housing and Urban […]
About 20 4-H horse project youth from all over McHenry County participated in the county 4-H Hippology Contest Feb. 22 at the University of Illinois Extension office in Woodstock. A mutual love of horses was responsible for driving the children to come out on a Saturday to spend more than an hour taking the combination […]
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.
