Imagine the possibilities. That thought must have driven the vision for what the project underway at the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House promises for Woodstock. And as the total expense of restoration and renovation inches toward $18 million, we must hope this confluence of historic preservation and commercial development delivers on that promise. We should […]
March 22 was Ag Day. I should have written about it last week. Instead, I’m writing this week, because a column on agriculture is always timely. For years, my mentor Don Peasley hosted lunches on Ag Day. I’m not sure when he started inviting the press to meet with farmers and other agriculture representatives over […]
Let school board know you want two sports programs Since my children were in first grade, they have been attending future Blue Streak football nights. These free tickets are passed out to all the elementary-age children. There is a palpable excitement in the air as the fall sports season kicks off at Larry Dale Field. […]
Whatever your usual excuse for not voting in a primary election, it doesn’t apply in 2022. Not familiar with the candidates? You have additional time this year to get to know them. Unsure whether to vote in person, by mail, early, or on Election Day? No rush deciding. Confused about what districts you live in […]
“Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music, and dancing. She goes Tuesdays; I go Fridays.” – Henny Youngman, comedian “More marriages might survive if the partners realized that sometimes the better comes after the worse.” […]
By Cheryl Wormley This is the anniversary of my first COVID Declarations. Yes, it was two years ago this week when I wrote: “This too shall pass. Until then …” With my inborn optimism, I took the shutting down until mid-April announcement hook, line, and sinker. In that column, I suggested we could fill our […]
Local numbers keep falling for new cases of COVID-19. Face masks are optional just about everywhere. Even the McHenry County Department of Public Health has shut down its COVID-19 call center. Most people, it seems, are ready to put this whole pandemic thing behind them. But whether the virus is ready to leave us alone […]
By Cheryl Wormley A year ago, I was enamored by Perseverance, NASA’s newest Mars rover, as it landed on the Red Planet. For a year, Percy, as the 2,260-pound rover is dubbed, has been moving about in Jezero Crater – a location that contained a lake billions of years ago. On Feb. 14, Percy traveled […]
By Jerry Nowicki When Capitol News Illinois launched in January 2019, Gov. J.B. Pritzker had just been sworn in, Michael Madigan was elected to his 18th term as House speaker, and the Senate’s president was John Cullerton. Now, as our fourth year is well underway, Pritzker is battling a wide field of Republican challengers in […]
Let’s show Woodstock Willie the respect he is due by confirming his Groundhog Day forecast of an early spring in 2022. We suggest it start at 2 a.m. this coming Sunday with the onset of daylight saving time – CDT for those of us in northeast Illinois. The official start of spring actually comes the […]
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.
