Bob and Rosemary Blazier's impact on Crystal Lake is immeasurable and spanned many realms, from business to education to philanthropy to the arts. Blazier has died at age 98; Rosemary died in November.

Huntley faces Hampshire in a Fox Valley Conference wrestling meet on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, at Hampshire High School.

Crystal Lake Central faces Cary-Grove in a Fox Valley Conference girls basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at Crystal Lake Central High School.

Northern Illinois University President Lisa Freeman, Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier and Head Football Coach Thomas Hammock spoke during a press conference Tuesday announcing NIU football will be entering the Mountain West Conference starting with the 2026 season.

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.

Johnsburg faces McHenry in a nonconference girls basketball on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at McHenry High School in McHenry.

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!

Hampshire faces Sycamore in a girls basketball on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at Hampshire High School in Hampshire.

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

Huntley defeats Maine South in the Komaromy Holiday Classic girls basketball championship game on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville.

From trumpeter swans to cows to the snowy owl that captured, and then broke, our hearts, here are some of the animals our staff and contributors captured in photographs 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.

Richmond-Burton face Stillman Valley in a 74th Annual E.C. Nichols Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament game on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024 at Marengo High School in Marengo.