Northwest Herald - Shaw Local

A Crystal Lake has made it his personal mission to provide blankets to people who are homeless. He pitched his plan to his principal, and in the process got others at his school into giving.

New Directions Case Manager Joe Ledesma shares how he went from living in the organization's sober living facility to helping those who are in the same position he once was in.

Barb Neises learned how to volunteer from her mom and has taken on projects for the McHenry Riverwalk Foundation since.

At any hour and in any weather, two retired firefighters dedicate themselves to assisting fire departments in emergency calls across McHenry County by keeping bellies full and hearts warm.

Tim Dempsey's job is to get kids in school, but in the process he sees a lot of families struggling to keep food on the table. “Could you look in a kid’s face that is hungry and tell them no? ... It is impossible," he said.

After a Cary woman started a free food pantry on her front porch, neighbors starting taking it upon themselves to help keep it stocked.

Huntley finished first in four events and won the IHSA Class 3A Belvidere North girls track sectional title. It's the fifth straight title for the Red Raiders. Hampshire, Jacobs, Cary-Grove, Burlington Central, McHenry and Crystal Lake Central all qualified events for state.

McHenry and Huntley baseball both won to remain tied for first place in the Fox Valley Conference, while Marian Central softball clinched a share of the Chicagoland Christian Conference title. Plus, more in Wednesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Ashton Stern won a pitcher's duel against Braden Behringer, pitching a no-hitter as Johnsburg beat visiting Sandwich 2-0 in a Kishwaukee River Conference baseball game Wednesday.

Up-and-coming Prairie Ridge had two individual champs and finished runner-up to Boylan, while Richmond-Burton, Johnsburg, Woodstock, Marengo, Marian Central, Harvard and Woodstock North each advanced individuals from the Class 2A Johnsburg Girls Track and Field Sectional.

A Woodstock man has been accused of driving drunk for a sixth time – in this case with an infant in tow – and allegedly told police who stopped that him he was “wasted.”

The McHenry County Division of Transportation is naming a trio of plow trucks for next year and wants the public to help them pick the names at Sunday’s touch-a-truck event.

Closed on Thursday, May 8, 2025, the McHenry Applebee's Grill + Bar at 1700 N. Richmond Road, McHenry, is soon set to reopen as Yummy Bowl Mongolian Stir-Fry and Sushi.

New legislation aims to provide up to five years of Social Security credits to caregivers who leave the work force to care for their loved ones.

An Island Lake man is now a millionaire after winning the grand prize of an Illinois Lottery scratch-off ticket.

Klendworth hit. .508 with 25 extra-base hits and a school-record 64 hits. He was 21 of 25 in stolen base attempts, hit eight home runs and drove in an area-best 45 runs, despite hitting leadoff for the Wolves.

Ellery Shutt won three individual races, giving him nine titles in his four-year varsity career, and Woodstock's boys track and field team repeated as Kishwaukee River Conference champions.

S.J. Engmann led with five goals, Giovanni Baggio controlled the face-offs and Huntley's boys lacrosse team celebrated its senior night by sealing its sixth consecutive Fox Valley Conference title. The Red Raiders beat Burlington Central 18-3 to finish 9-0 in FVC play.

Harvard's Leona Eichholz struck out 13 in a win over Johnsburg to end a seven-game losing streak, Woodstock's Megan Kuiper had 12 strikeouts as the Blue Streaks handed Woodstock North its first KRC loss, McHenry softball put up 17 runs in an FVC win, and more in the roundup.

Which teacher was named Educator of the Year for McHenry County? Find out who won that title and the names of the other winners.

A student-athlete was taken to the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest Monday during a track meet at Huntley High School.

A home was deemed uninhabitable after a fire damaged the side of the house and the attic Monday afternoon in McHenry, officials report.

Johnsburg tennis player Tyler Batt hasn't lost a set this season. The cerebral senior and No. 1 singles star hopes to end his four-year varsity career with a deep run at state this month.

Lucas Prange threw a no-hitter in Hampshire baseball's win, Aubrina Adamik reached 100 career stolen bases in Huntley softball's win, Christine Chmiel struck out 14 in Marian Central softball's win, three Hampshire softball players homered in a win and more in Monday's roundup.

Nate Larson struck out 10 and scattered two hits in five-plus innings, and Huntley's baseball team beat McHenry 7-3 to complete a season sweep and forge a tie atop the Fox Valley Conference standings.