Halloween activities start around the Square Monday Look for costumed kids around Woodstock on Halloween, Monday, Oct. 31. Halloween on the Square will include the costume contest starting at 4:15 p.m. at the bandstand, with prizes to be awarded by 4:30 p.m. for the scariest, funniest, and most original costumes in four age categories: 3 […]
“There’s a big problem” of drug addiction in McHenry County, according to Bobby Gattone, executive director of New Directions Addiction Recovery Services based in Woodstock. State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally described the problem as “so big.” By the end of this year, the graph above will probably be updated to show that overdose deaths increased again […]
No one cheers when reporting that McHenry County had 42 opioid overdose deaths (with two more pending toxicology reports) in 2021. But knowing that the number of overdose deaths in the county fell from 51 in 2020 – and is nearly half the worst toll of 79 in 2017 – provides hope that the county’s […]
Jerry. Ryan. Jessica. Frank. Names were shouted out, one after the other. Mike. Amy. Nate. Anthony. Some people would offer the names of two, three, four people they had known. Christina. Barry. Brandon. Allison. From the bandstand at the Park in the Square, Mike Schoeler of Warp Corps repeated each name on the microphone. Travis. […]
Postponed for a month because of relentless winter weather, the State of Addiction in McHenry County forum held news that was worth waiting for. For the second consecutive year, the number of deaths from opioid abuse in McHenry County has declined. McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally reported that, as of the Feb. 25 gathering […]
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.
