Crystal Lake

Embrace the cold during a candlelight hike or stay warm inside for a bubble show this weekend in McHenry County.

This weekend, experience the magic of Elvis with 'The King in Concert,' featuring Jimmy Holmes, on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Charlie, the Bernese mountain dog rescued after a week on his own with a broken femur, is resting comfortably at home following surgery to repair broken leg.

Alan Hanke of Crystal Lake, who pleaded guilty to defrauding investors of millions of dollars, was allowed to have his sentencing postponed while he undergoes surgery, court records show.

Here are the properties that changed hands in McHenry County during the week of Nov. 7-15, 2024.

Charlie, a Bernese mountain dog that took off from his yard on Dec. 30 was found on Sunday with the help of a thermal drone operator.

Charlie the Bernese mountain ran off and got lost a week ago. After a search captured the attention of the community, a heat-sensing drone was used to locate the animal, who was apparently hit by a car and suffered a broken leg.

McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes furniture store Edge Designs has moved on to open a permanent location this week in Crystal Lake at the intersection of Routes 31 and 176.

Nunda Masonic Lodge #169 in Crystal Lake hosted 45 recruits from the Great Lakes Naval Station on Thanksgiving.

Watch runners or participate in the Frozen Gnome 50K and 10K races starting at Veteran Acres Park in Crystal Lake.

The Chicago regional public transportation system is facing a fiscal cliff without new funding. Where does McHenry County fit into the funding picture?

In the dwindling days of winter break, skating enthusiasts headed to Crystal Ice House in Crystal Lake on Friday, Jan. 3 to lace up and glide – or try to!

The seven-piece all-star powerhouse group will take audiences on a captivating journey through the rich sounds of southern rock blended with blues on Jan. 31.

A Crystal Lake woman died after suffering serious injuries in a car crash that closed parts of Route 14 for more than three hours last week in Crystal Lake.

McHenry County voters approved a higher sales tax last year that was supposed to provide more money for mental health services. So far that hasn't happened and the mental health board wrote that voters were "inadvertently misled."

McHenry County College recently recognized Justice Peterman with its Joseph A. Blanco Spirit Award for Fall 2024, which includes a $600 scholarship.

Looking for something to do over winter break? Visit these award-winning bowling alleys, family recreation spots for nonstop fun.

Take a look back at some of the biggest news stories of 2024 in the McHenry County area.

Gear up for winter sports including a 50K, ski jump and a softball tournament this season in McHenry County.

The past year saw a lot of changes to the McHenry County retailing and restaurant landscape. Here's a look at some of them.

A selection of some of Northwest Herald photojournalist Gregory Shaver's favorite photos of 2024.

Here’s a look at the 24 most-read stories in the Northwest Herald online in 2024.

A selection of some of the best feature photos from 2024 in the Northwest Herald.

A selection of some of the best news photos from 2024 in the Northwest Herald.

Christmas is over and the days are getting longer again, but there’s plenty of winter yet in front of us. To that end, the McHenry County Conservation District hosted a Welcome Winter Celebration on Saturday at Glacial Park’s Lost Valley Visitor Center in Ringwood. With a special emphasis on the ways various indigenous peoples have traditionally marked the winter solstice, the celebrations spotlighted music, dancing, storytelling and arts and crafts, with special guests from Trickster Culture Center in Schaumburg.

Crystal Lake South High School graduate Cole "Pillowhead" Gaffney engineered songs on Malik Yusef's Grammy-nominated album and hopes to create his own record label in the future.

The Spark'd dispensary in Crystal Lake has permanently closed, according to the business partners. What went wrong?

Jerry Monica, director of the McHenry County Habitat for Humanity, worked with Carter on a Habitat project, and Donna Vestal grew up near them in Georgia.

Enrollment for McHenry County College’s spring semester, which begins Jan. 21, is now open.

Mercyhealth is opening a new memory care and dementia clinic in Crystal Lake, with additional office hours in Woodstock.

The Crystal Lake Historic Preservation Commission wants to submit the downtown train depot to the National Register of Historic Places.

A look back at some of photojournalist Gregory Shaver's favorite pictures of the month in the Northwest Herald for December.

More of McHenry's Riverwalk Shoppes incubators are finding more permanent homes in McHenry and Crystal Lake.

Long-time Crystal Lake residents bring a new store to the downtown area, located at 57 N. Williams St., that features hundreds of spices and teas making it the only location in Illinois.

A 19-year-old Crystal Lake person faces felony charges and is accused of reckless driving and causing a head-on car crash that resulted in serious injuries over the summer in Algonquin.

One person suffered serious injuries in a car crash Monday afternoon in Crystal Lake that closed down parts of Route 14 for over three hours.

Crystal Lake-based Nunda Masonic Lodge #169 has presented its Mason of the Year Award to Thomas McNulty.

New Year’s Eve and Groundhog Day celebrations are right around the corner in McHenry County.

Despite Crystal Lake's objections, McHenry County Board approved a zoning change that paves the way for a self-storage facility near city limits.

How McHenry County has marked the holiday season in recent weeks. Merry Christmas!

An Oakwood Hills woman is accused of hitting her mother and disturbing employees at the Crystal Lake TJ Maxx, according to a criminal complain in McHenry County court.

Some McHenry County restaurants are open on Christmas

More housing is on the way in Crystal Lake as city council unanimously approved a 93-unit apartment complex and a 67-unit expansion in the age-restricted community.

The eastbound lanes of Route 14 near the intersection of Route 31 in Crystal Lake were blocked off because of a car crash Monday afternoon, officials say.

People enjoy Crystal Lake's Luminary Nights on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in downtown Crystal Lake. The snowy night featured sidewalks lite luminaries, holiday shopping and a visit to the Santa House.

The Lakewood Police Department will be the first to have a Tesla electric squad car in McHenry County.

Celebrate New Year's Eve at one of these exciting parties and events in McHenry, Kane and DuPage counties.

Almost 500 students earned associate degrees or certificates at McHenry County College’s winter graduation ceremony.

Hundreds of students earned associate degrees and certificates at MCC's 2024 winter commencement exercises.

A developer plans almost 400 rental homes at a "luxury" mixed use development off Route 31 in Cary that would also have commercial spaces.