Claire O'Brien

1 day ago | shawlocal.com | Claire O'Brien

A man has been accused of hitting another man with a hammer during an altercation near Union, causing what authorities said were serious injuries. Wayne J. Christansen, 78, who police said was homeless, was charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery on a public way, Class 3 felonies, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and court records.

1 day ago | shawlocal.com | Claire O'Brien

A man who held police at bay in a McHenry home has been taken into custody. He was handcuffed and placed into a police vehicle at just before 4 p.m. Thursday. Numerous police vehicles, included armored cars, had surround the home along Venice Avenue near downtown businesses for about four hours, with police communicating with a man inside through a bullhorn. Police also used drones to get views of the home.

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Claire O'Brien

The McHenry Police Department urged people at just before noon Thursday to avoid the area of Venice Avenue and Court Street. Authorities said in a news alert that they were “involved in a police activity” and urged people to avoid the area for the next several hours. Police said it was an isolated incident and there’s no danger to the public. The location is a residential area just off the Fox River south of Elm Street and east of Green Street.

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Claire O'Brien

The long-awaited widening of Route 47 between Routes 14 and 120 in Woodstock is no longer scheduled to start this year. But although the project has been a source of frustration at times, the city seems optimistic about finding ways to cover its share of the cost. However, some on the Woodstock City Council also have been frustrated with the city’s efforts involving communication about the project, which state officials recently announced would not start until spring 2026 at the earliest.

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Claire O'Brien

A batch of mosquitoes from Lake in the Hills has tested positive for West Nile virus, marking McHenry County’s first positive test for mosquitoes in 2025. No human cases have been reported this year, the McHenry County Department of Health said in a news release Wednesday. The mosquito pool that tested positive was collected Monday. “Culex mosquitoes, which are the primary carriers of WNV, typically breed in stagnant water with high organic content,” according to the release.