Mayor Mike Turner is in Springfield this week to lobby the Legislature for infrastructure funds that he says would drive economic development in and around Woodstock. Turner and City Manager Roscoe Stelford were scheduled to travel to the state Capitol on Wednesday and return Thursday after meeting with various state officials, including the director of […]
For the first time in 16 years, Woodstock Willie awakened on Groundhog Day to a different mayor. Mike Turner, 56, who is still often referred to as the city’s “new mayor” – even after nine months on the job – greeted Willie last week and relayed the groundhog’s weather verdict: an early spring. But it […]
By Michael A. Turner Recently, signs stating “No Tenant Tax” have appeared in the city of Woodstock. The apparent reason for their appearance is due to a few landlords attempting to create alarm for residents, and especially those who are renters. Let me be very blunt; there is NO “tenant tax” under consideration, nor […]
Winning the nationwide T-Mobile ‘Hometown Techover’ contest? $3 million Media exposure for Woodstock’s winning? Priceless Woodstock will be featured on NBC’s Today Show on Friday morning, the day after T-Mobile formally announces to the world that the city will become its 5G model for communities across the U.S. to showcase “the power of the country’s […]
Woodstock streets will get $12 million worth of work next year as the city resumes the aggressive street improvement program that was interrupted this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. And higher property taxes will pay for the work. The project cost will be $58.6 million through 2025, with the property tax increasing by $226.19 on […]
Residents of Southview Drive on Woodstock’s south side have a noise problem. “It is thump, thump, thump,” Mary Richards said in describing the sound. “It’s really hard to sleep when it’s thump, thump, thump.” She, along with Roberta Ratliff and a few other neighbors, complained to the City Council last week about noise from outdoor […]
Looking for new and different ways to promote Woodstock, Deputy Mayor Mike Turner made a couple of requests of people appearing before the City Council for approval of their projects Sept. 4. Land next to a planned solar farm along U.S. 14 – the city’s eastern “gateway” – would be “an interesting place to put […]
City officials are happy with the Promote Woodstock marketing effort as its local government-funded budget approaches a quarter of a million dollars a year. But it faces two big challenges: How do you measure results, and how do you get local businesses and organizations to help cover the costs? The City Council last week heard […]
Activities with big crowds will continue in March at Woodstock Square Event and Banquet center, 333 E. Judd St., thanks to a temporary parking-and-restrooms fix approved by the City Council. But Deputy Mayor Michael Turner said the council wanted the problem to be permanently solved. In a 6-0 vote last week, the council approved 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.
