A look back at the biggest news stories of 2024 in McHenry County

Here’s a look at some of the stories that moved us in 2024 in the McHenry County area.

Buses of migrants from the border prompt municipal responses: The first migrant bus carrying what were believed to be undocumented migrants from Texas arrived at the Fox River Grove Metra station Dec. 23, 2023. Before the end of January, more buses of immigrants were dropped off across northern Illinois, including at Woodstock’s Metra station. Many towns responded with ordinances aimed at the bus companies. Woodstock’s ordinance required that vehicles dropping off passengers fill out an application five days in advance and coordinate with the city or face fines and impoundment.

Beloved teacher dies: Emily Schilf of Duker School in McHenry died unexpectedly on Jan. 24.

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Former sheriff’s deputy charged with official misconduct, solicitation: Allegations against former sheriff’s Detective Christopher Marvel, charges against whom were announced in February, include solicitation of a sexual act and defrauding drug and alcohol screening tests, according to court records. His case is pending and he has pleaded not guilty.

Crystal Lake man’s Ponzi scheme: Alan John Hanke was arraigned in federal court in February on charges that he defrauded investors out of millions of dollars. The Crystal Lake man would go on to plead guilty to conspiring to commit securities fraud, and then was charged in McHenry County court with stealing from the McHenry American Legion, a case that remains pending.

Wonder Lake is fastest-growing Illinois community: The Stonewater development is credited with helping to make Wonder Lake the fastest-growing community in the state. According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in February, Wonder Lake’s population as of July 1, 2023, was estimated at 4,889, up from 3,966 since 2020 – an increase of 23.27%, the largest of any municipality in Illinois.

Fun City in Algonquin shuts down just after opening: Fun City Adventure Park in Algonquin closed in late February, two weeks after opening, following an Illinois Department of Labor inspection that identified multiple violations, citing unsafe equipment and construction, according to state and village records. The indoor amusement park reopened five months later when it passed inspections and fulfilled state and local requirements, Algonquin officials said.

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Crystal Lake votes down NVA trucking expansion: Facing organized opposition from neighbors, NVA Transportation’s expansion plans were rejected by the City Council in February. But the trucking company indicated it would move forward with a smaller plan that doesn’t need city approval.

Voters approve a sales tax increase to fund mental health services: During the March primary election, McHenry County voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax increase to fund the McHenry County Mental Health Board in exchange for a decrease in the county’s property tax levy. But county officials acknowledged an error in their estimate of how much the sales tax would bring in, resulting in less revenue than expected as the funding system kicked in later in the year.

Cary home rule denied by voters: Cary residents voted in the spring primary against the village becoming a home-rule community. The village had hoped to use home rule to implement a 1% sales tax, as the state is removing the 1% grocery tax. The village still could get its wish, as the state will allow municipalities to issue their own 1% sales tax without a referendum.

Public House closes, replaced by Squire on the Square: At the end of March, Public House, the restaurant inside the city-owned Old Courthouse in Woodstock, abruptly closed. Squire on the Square, a sister restaurant of the Village Squire, eventually took over the space.

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Solar eclipse wows: McHenry County and northern Illinois were not in the path of totality for the April 8 solar eclipse, but about 90% of the sun was blocked out here, according to NASA. That was close enough for those who gathered at McHenry County College’s planetarium with professor/meteorologist Paul Hamill and elsewhere across the county to take it in.

Richmond students accused of creating AI nudes of classmates: Among the new Illinois laws that went into effect Jan. 1 is one that makes child sexual abuse materials made using AI tools a crime. The new law follows an incident in which Richmond-Burton Community High School students were accused of making nude images of their classmates. In April, two minors were charged in juvenile court, accused of using artificial intelligence tools to make fake nude images of students at Richmond-Burton, authorities said. Students and parents at the school were notified via email March 11 that “sensitive images” of female students had been created and distributed via a computer.

Woodstock approves Riverwoods development: In April, the Woodstock City Council approved the controversial Riverwoods development on the southeast side of town. Opponents cited concerns about the project, including its potential environmental impact and density.

Johnsburg coach dies: A Johnsburg High School coach who died shortly after resigning was revealed to have been the subject of a misconduct investigation.

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Lake in the Hills carnival shut down: A carnival held by the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce in April shut down after “a significant number of unchaperoned teenagers” with “intentions to disrupt and cause trouble” showed up, organizers said. Since the event, the village changed its permitting process to include insurance policies and emergency plans. The carnival did not have a security plan, and police were not at the event until after they were called in for reported fighting.

“Unprovoked” attack in McHenry park: Authorities said a Wisconsin man, Raymond Link, randomly attacked and savagely beat a woman in McHenry’s Petersen Park in early May and struck and sicced his dog on a man who tried to intervene. The case is pending.

Fox River Grove razes “Block B”: Fox River Grove demolished a block of buildings along Route 14 in May with hopes that a clean slate of a vacant lot will attract more developers. The village took years to revitalize the downtown parcel by acquiring buildings from owners and creating a tax increment financing district. Village officials hope to create a mixed-use development with retail and residential space.

Cicadas arrive: The anticipation was high this spring as northern Illinois braced for the 17-year cicada brood to emerge and assault ears with their mating song. Southern and central Illinois were expecting to also see the 13-year-brood, and it was the first time both broods were expected to emerge in the same year since 1803. But not every backyard, park or conservation district preserve was inundated with the bugs. In some areas, floodwaters since their last emergence in 2007 may have killed off the nymphs underground.

AJ Freund’s Department of Children and Family Services caseworker sentenced: Carlos Acosta, who was found criminally responsible for mishandling the case of AJ Freund before the Crystal Lake boy was killed by his mother, was sentenced in June to six months in jail.

Judge caught speeding: McHenry County Judge Jeffrey Hirsch was charged in June with going 93 mph in a 55-mph zone on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, court and police records show. He pleaded guilty to a lesser offense and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and court supervision, which records show he completed.

The Dole Farmers Market gets an updated permit: Some residents near Crystal Lake’s Dole Mansion raised concerns over the growing popularity of the nonprofit’s farmers market as the Lakeside Legacy Foundation, which runs the site, looked to update its events permit with the city. The Dole won approval in July to host community events, including the farmers market, with a plethora of conditions in an effort to mitigate traffic.

McHenry downtown development shot down: Plans from developer Shodeen Group to redevelop two sites in McHenry fell apart over the summer when many thought the proposals, which would have brought almost 900 apartments, 8,000 square feet of additional commercial space and a hotel to downtown McHenry, were too dense.

Hebron chief of police ousted: After a two-hour closed-door session, the Hebron Village Board on July 22 voted to dismiss Chief of Police Juanita Gumble, the first female police chief.

Apartment complex, housing development coming to Huntley: Huntley approved an estimated 300-apartment development in July, and in November approved a 41 single-family home subdivision. The developments are near Huntley’s Route 47 corridor, which will soon will be home to 7 Brew Coffee and a Smoothie King.

Landmark School to close at end of the 2024-25 year: The McHenry School District 15 board voted 4-1 in July to close Landmark School, the district’s pioneering year-round school, at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Built in 1894, the building on Waukegan Road has been the home of District 15’s only school-of-choice program.

Trump supporters rally: The Chicago area’s red contingent had one of its most visible displays in the region at a rally for President-elect Donald Trump in Woodstock. Hundreds from around the region gathered in August to support him and local GOP candidates and hear speakers including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.

Cary District 26’s Maplewood property sold to village: District 26 agreed in August to sell its shuttered Maplewood property to the village for $5.5 million and develop a new transportation site at another location, the culmination of a years-long dispute over the land. The school district was looking to create a new transportation center on the property, but the village was aiming to use the land for future development. Now the district is seeking a new location for its updated transportation center while the village seeks out developers for the Maplewood property.

Longmeadow bridge opens: The new span over the Fox River, which opened in late August and connects Algonquin with Carpentersville, was a huge bonus for area commuters, although not necessarily for those contending with the extra traffic in the area.

Ben Keefe, McHenry VFW commander, dies unexpectedly: Ben Keefe commander of the McHenry Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4600, who was credited with helping to start the post’s wildly popular Queen of Hearts drawings, died on Labor Day at age 50.

Water’s Edge in Crystal Lake begins leasing units: Crystal Lake’s largest development welcomed its first rental agreements in the fall. The vast redevelopment of Crystal Court into Water’s Edge was scheduled to begin moving in tenants later in 2024.

Lawsuit filed over Woodstock home explosion: One year after an explosion downtown destroyed two homes and damaged several other structures in October 2023, residents of one of the severely damaged homes sued the city and others.

Crystal Lake teacher contract talks get tense: District 47 narrowly avoided a teacher strike during a long, difficult period of contract negotiations. The union fought for increased pay, benefits and plan time as teachers began the 2024-25 school year without a contract. The sides ultimately agreed to a 19.5% salary increase over four years in the contract that was approved in October.

Crash near Woodstock kills 3: Two young men from Harvard and a Woodstock mother and school employee were killed when the car that one of the teens was driving tried to pass at a high rate of speed in a no-passing lane and struck the other car, authorities said. The woman’s child, a passenger, also was seriously injured.

Woodstock garbage debate and vote: Woodstock approved a new garbage contract this year, but it was not without controversy. While most people in town already used totes, those who didn’t had raised their issues with the change, including space and cost concerns. Ultimately, the city approved the contract Nov. 5.

GOP gains seats on county board: While other collar counties have become bluer politically, the Republican Party gained seats on the McHenry County Board in the November election, winning a 15-3 supermajority.

Fatal fire in Woodstock: A fire in November at an apartment complex in Woodstock killed one person, hospitalized two and displaced more than 30 people.

Joe Cicero’s big radio announcement: The cohost of 105.5’s morning show, Joe Cicero, announced in early December that he was leaving the show for a job with the McHenry Outdoor Theater.

McHenry owl draws fans, then is hit by car: A snowy owl made a rare appearance in late November in McHenry, to the delight of birders, photographers and others. But within weeks, the owl was hit by a car and killed, a possible victim of the attention it received.