As it was Character Day at Crystal Lake's Lakeside Festival, characters including Skates the Gray Wolf of the Chicago Wolves hockey team, Spider-Man and Spider-Woman lead the parade two blocks from Main Beach to the festival grounds on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Janelle Walker)
Originally from North Dakota, Janelle covered the suburbs and collar counties for nearly 20 years before taking a career break to work in content marketing. She is excited to be back in the newsroom.