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Scattered storms bring localized flooding to Chicagoland
CHICAGO - Scattered showers and storms caused localized flooding in parts of the Chicagoland area on Tuesday. A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for west central McHenry County, including the city of Marengo, until 8:45 p.m. The National Weather Service warns of rapid onset flooding in creeks, streams, ditches,...
Crystal Lake looks for private donors to fund public area projects
The city of Crystal Lake is partnering with The Community Foundation for McHenry County to fundraise for capital and public area projects. The city has multiple projects in the capital improvement plan “that could benefit from private donations,” including new downtown plazas, an upgraded Depot Park, Route 14 updates, projects at Three Oaks Recreation Area and public art installations, according to city documents.
Flash flood warning issued for parts of McHenry County following evening stormy weather
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning until 8:45 p.m. Tuesday for parts of west central McHenry County in the Marengo area, as well as parts of eastern Boone County. People in that area should move to higher ground and avoid walking or driving through floodwaters, the...
Ample sweet corn crop expected despite challenges
As consumers look to add fresh sweet corn to their summer meals, a couple of Illinois producers said conditions have been right for a good crop this season. John Bartman grows two to five acres of sweet corn near Marengo, which is marketed at a roadside stand in McHenry County and sold to local restaurants. He said it will be another week or two before the crop is ready to harvest, but conditions were good during pollination. “We’ve been very fortunate,” he told FarmWeek. “Our rains have been timely and adequate.” Bartman is looking forward to a favorable crop. “It’s looking very healthy and has very good color,” he said. Farther south in Marion County, Vernon Quandt has harvested a few batches of his 5-acre crop and reported similar results. “It’s definitely been a good crop this year,” he said. Quandt said he sells his sweet corn at a weekly farmer’s market and has repeat customers who buy directly from the farm throughout the summer. “We plant 11 or 12 different times, so it’s staggered all the way through the year, which makes it more manageable,” he said. While the planting season for field corn was delayed, Quandt said his sweet corn stayed on track, especially since it is fully irrigated. “I started in the middle of March, and the first two batches went in really good,” he said. “I like to plant it every seven or eight days and it may have been 10 or 11 days in between a couple of them because it was raining a lot, but it really didn’t hamper me bad at all.” He said there were a few times he planted into less-than-ideal soil conditions but knows the variety he chose has proven success with emergence and early growth. However, the season has not come without challenges. Both Bartman and Quandt cited raccoons as one of the biggest threats to sweet corn this year. “They’re unbelievable,” Bartman said. “They truly do live up to those masks that they have over their eyes. They certainly are bandits.” Quandt said it is additional work and expense to put electric fencing around each of his patches, but it is necessary to control the raccoons and deer. Aside from the varmints, Bartman said he is keeping a close eye on earworm pressure as harvest approaches, while Quandt expressed worry about potential wind damage as the tropical storm season unfolds.
Former Woodstock man accused of abusing child over five-year span, is detained pretrial
A former Woodstock man accused of exploiting and sexually abusing a child he knew multiple times over a five-year time span was detained in the county jail pretrial Friday. Derrick Lindsey, 35, of Elgin, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a person younger than 18, Class 2 felony, and exploitation of a child, according to the criminal complaint filed in McHenry County court.
Ample sweet corn crop expected despite challenges
As consumers look to add fresh sweet corn to their summer meals, a couple of Illinois producers say conditions have been right for a good crop this season. John Bartman grows 2 to 5 acres of sweet corn near Marengo which is marketed at a roadside stand in McHenry County and sold to local restaurants.
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County receives $135,000 grant from the Chicago Community Trust
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County has received a $135,000 grant from The Chicago Community Trust to support the growth of the local food system in McHenry County by working with local landowners and supporting farmland preservation, in alignment with the increasing access to land strategy of Food:Land:Opportunity (FLO). As...
Coroner identifies man killed in Lake in the Hills crash
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office identified a man who was killed in a two-vehicle Lake in the Hills crash at Pyott Road and East Oak Street on July 13. McHenry County Coroner Michael Rein said in a Friday news release Zdzislaw Klimentowski, 76, of Chicago, was pronounced dead at the scene. Klimentowski was a passenger in one of the cars, according to the release.
Woodstock woman hopes to show solidarity with Trump by giving away American flag ear bandages at RNC
A McHenry County woman is handing out ear bandages that look like American flags to delegates at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.Throughout the convention this week, people have been seen wearing ear bandages in solidarity with former President Donald Trump, after he was shot in the ear over the weekend.ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watchNow, a Woodstock delegate, Karen Tirio, is going an extra step.She's handing out 1,500 bandages that look like American flags.They say "Trump 2024" on them.SEE MORE: RNC 2024 live updatesShe said a lot of people have been trying to take one as a souvenir.But, she has a vision of 1,500 people wearing them Thursday night, as Trump makes his speech."Because the American spirit, the American flag says we rise up above our injuries. And getting a little emotional, but yeah, we all dodged a bullet 'cause this wasn't a mourning session. Because, you know, we are not mourning. We are celebrating President Trump's life," Tirio said.Tirio said she has a contact in the Trump campaign, who will tell the former president about the bandages, and the meaning behind them.
County News
On July 17, 2024, Calvin Jackson, a 28-year-old man from Rockford, was found guilty by a jury of Home Invasion, Armed Robbery and Attempted Armed Robbery. The trial was presided by the Honorable Judge Justin Hansen. Jackson’s sentencing is scheduled for August 29, 2024. On August 26, 2023, a...
North Dakota team set to represent 38th state in MCYSA’s Summer International Champions history
McHenry County Youth Sports Association’s Summer International Championships first caught Brandon Lemer’s attention a couple years ago over social media. Lemer, the manager of the Bismarck, North Dakota-based Missouri River Naturals 13U team, wanted to provide his team with a few unique tournament experiences each year. After watching from afar how many successful international and national teams competed in the tournament, Lemer knew he needed to get his team into this year’s tournament.
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