For the children in one local family, Woodstock Police Department Officer Lucas Schmidt might have saved their lives. Schmidt’s instincts that rescued those children earned him the McHenry County Chiefs of Police Association Officer of the Year 2022. Schmidt, who has been with the department since 2019, is in his second year as school resource […]
Columnist Paul Lockwood bought a police ride-along in a silent auction. This is the second part of his report on the experience with Officer Lucas Schmidt. With the COVID lockdown occurring only six months after officer Lucas Schmidt started at the Woodstock Police Department, the inability to do much hands-on training was a challenge. In […]
By Paul Lockwood He didn’t have an “extreme burning passion” to get into law enforcement. He’s been with the Woodstock Police Department only since September 2019. He’s the second youngest officer on the force, but still gets called “Junior” by his colleagues. He’s Lucas Schmidt, he’s the school resource officer (SRO) at Woodstock North High […]
Staff Report news@thewoodstockindependent.com Bond is set at $300,000 for a Woodstock man arrested this week on 12 counts related to sex crimes dating back to 2019. Jason L. Reinhard, 37, was arrested March 15 by the Woodstock Police Department after an investigation that begin last October into allegations of predatory criminal sexual assault. He is […]
Staff Report news@thewoodstockindependent.com Police removed a person from a house on Laurel Avenue Thursday afternoon, ending a frantic few hours that involved city and county police, a SWAT team, and – apparently – a robot. According to a news release from the Woodstock Police Department, the person was taken “to a medicalfacility for mental health assistance.” Although police had been told a firearm might be inside the house, the news release said, no injuries were reported and there was no danger to the public. City police were sent shortly after 1 p.m. to the home near Laurel and Kimball avenues “in reference to amental health well-being check.” Because of the possibility of a firearm at the home, police secured the area around the property, including Ryders Woods, and made contact with someone inside. The on-scene supervisor asked for the assistance of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team for “additional expertise and assets.” The release said a joint county-city police negotiations team made telephonecontact with the person briefly before the contact was lost. What appeared to be a robot from the sheriff’s Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT Team was used to determine theperson’s “status and location” inside the home, which led sheriff’s deputies and city officers toenter the home and find the person. The incident ended around 4 p.m. Police did notify nearby residents and the School District 200administration to warn them of the police activity. No criminal charges were being considered, the release said.
By Eileen Millard news@the woodstockindependent.com Over the course of the planning and construction of the Lake Avenue roundabout at Madison and South streets, public comment on Woodstock social media frequently included remarks that the project was dangerous, not needed, a waste of time and money, and confusing. Now that the public has had two months […]
By Staff Report news@thewoodstockindependent.com If you’re ready to leave Christmas 2022 behind, the city of Woodstock will be happy to mulch your tree and recycle unwanted holiday lights. The Department of Public Works offers several opportunities in January for residents to have their discarded Christmas trees collected and mulched. Weekdays through Friday, Jan. 27, city […]
Staff Reportnews@thewoodstockindependent.com Woodstock has designated two public warming centers as brutal winter old approaches this weekend.The Woodstock Police Department, 656 Lake Ave., will open its small lobby is open during bad weather to serve as a place to get warm.The city also has said the Woodstock Public Library, 414 W. Judd St., will be open during regular business hours, which are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It is tentatively scheduled to be closed Dec. 23 to 26.And Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) has a cold-weather assistance program for emergencies. If you are homeless, you can call 815-759-7133 andleave a voice mail. You will receive a call back to find you emergency accommodations in Woodstock – however, you will need to find a way to get there, as PADS cannot offer transport.McHenry County also has announced a number of locations will be open to serve as emergency warming centers.They include:• Huntley Municipal Complex, 10987 Main St. – The facility will be available Thursday and Friday. The lobby is open during the regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the police department can open it after hours upon request.• Lakemoor Village Hall, 28581 Route 120 – Village Hall can be opened after hours by entering through the front door and pushing the police department callbutton in the vestibule.• McHenry Municipal Center, 333 S. Green St. – The center will be open beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday, and will stay open through 8 a.m. Monday, Dec.26. People needing to access the warming center should enter through the McHenry Police Department entrance and ask for assistance.• Port Barrington Village Hall, 69 S. Circle Ave. – The Community Room can be opened by appointment only – residents needing to use it can call the village hallnumber, regardless of time, to have the room opened.• Spring Grove Village Hall, 7401 Meyer Road – Village Hall is available to keep warm during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday.It will be closed Monday, Dec. 26.
Staff Report news@the woodstockindependent.com More than a dozen people have been honored for saving a Woodstock neighbor. They were part of a team of people – from ordinary citizens to trained medical workers – who were responsible for saving Charles Peterson when he collapsed Aug. 19 after suffering a heart attack on a city sidewalk. […]
Local police holiday traffic enforcement already underway Stopping impaired driving is the goal of special traffic enforcement that is underway through Labor Day weekend. The Woodstock Police Department is partnering with the Illinois State Police and law enforcement throughout the state in the high-visibility “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign through the early-morning hours […]
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.
