The 121st edition of the Norge Ski Club’s annual winter tournament in Fox River Grove was a tale of fire and ice.

Competitors and fans take to the hill for the Norge Annual Winter Ski Jump Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 at Norge Ski Jump in Fox River Grove.

Fox River Grove is looking to create another downtown tax increment financing district – this time to specifically incentivize redevelopment of a vacant block that was demolished last year.

The Cary-Grove Area Chamber of Commerce now operates at a new office space off Three Oaks Road, while its previous location will be transformed into residential apartments.

Speakers at a prayer breakfast in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. in Crystal Lake Monday tied his message to contemporary times.

Local artist and All Ways gallery owner Pat Marek has big plans to make Fox River Grove an artist’s haven.

The Chicago area has been a fertile ground for Winter Olympians over the years, from champion figure skaters to fearless ski jumpers.

From the deaths of prominent citizens to the far-reaching impacts of the first year of President Trump's second term, here is a look at some of the biggest stories that happened in the McHenry County area in 2025.

A West Dundee man accused of using Facebook Messenger to solicit a 14-year-old Fox River Grove child to perform a sex act has been sentenced to prison for four years, court records show.

A developer that creates single-story apartment homes is looking into the possibility of creating a neighborhood in Prairie Grove.

With American flags lining his driveway, World War II U.S. Army Air Corps pilot Edward “Bud” Berthold arrived on his 106th birthday to his newly renovated home in McHenry County, completed by volunteers and donations.

A third Dunkin’ Donuts with drive-thru access and walk-up window, could be coming to Crystal Lake.

FaithBridge, a group that encourages interfaith communication, will host its Thanksgiving program, “Welcoming the Stranger,” at 4 p.m. Sunday in Crystal Lake.

Edward “Bud” Berthold will be 106 this month. The WWII pilot who flew a mission over France on D-Day has inspired a group of supporters to start The Bud Project to fix up his Fox River Grove home.

McHenry County food pantries are trying to stock up as much as they can and are reporting that as the need has increased, so too have donations. But uncertainty over SNAP benefits remains.

McHenry County's request for disaster relief from damaging storms in August was rejected. Officials plan to appeal.

Most McHenry County communities will have their sanctioned trick-or-treating hours on Halloween Friday.

Thirty years ago Saturday, a Metra train struck a school bus in the heart of Fox River Grove, killing seven Cary-Grove High students and injuring many more. The community and rail safety were forever changed.

A Florida man is accused of exposing himself to a child in a Fox River Grove park and urinating on the floor of the police station.

On Oct. 25, 1995, a school bus was hit by a Metra express train in the heart of Fox River Grove, killing seven Cary-Grove High School students, injuring many more and prompting big changes in rail safety across the country.

Many Illinois communities are adding back a 1% grocery tax that will otherwise expire on Jan. 1. Is your town among them?

McHenry County's GOP PAC commemorated Charlie Kirk Tuesday with a prayer service and petition drive for Republican candidates.

McHenry County's Republican Party PAC hosted a gathering Tuesday in honor of Charlie Kirk's birthday. A candidate petition drive for the 2026 election, with two GOP gubernatorial candidates speaking, followed.

A car crashed into a Metra train Monday morning at the same intersection as the deadly 1995 bus and train crash in Fox River Grove that occurred 30 years ago this month.

A McHenry County GOP group will host a gathering Tuesday in memory of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk and his religious beliefs, following by a political event.

Fox River Grove will lower its electricity surcharge and cable television taxes for its residents after passing a 1% sales tax.

A long-abandoned apartment complex in Fox River Grove is now the subject of legal action will soon be demolished after years of standing uncompleted.

One person was injured after two personal watercraft crashed into each other along the Fox River in Fox River Grove, officials report.

Algonquin residents now have access to tele-health services that aim to increase healthcare access in an optional, fee-based program. But residents have to opt out to avoid a $6 monthly feel.

Two different redevelopment proposals, both with apartments, have emerged for the former Die Cast site in downtown Woodstock.

Lynn Caccavallo got a job at the Cary-Grove chamber when she needed to support her young children. Years later she became it's president, and is one of the Northwest Herald's 2025 Women of Distinction.

A former teacher, Susan Kelly of Crystal Lake recalls how magical books were for her growing up. She hopes to pass along the same feeling in her newly opened, independent Magical Forest Bookstore in Fox River Grove.

A Cicero man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after prosecutors said he turned the Fox River Grove Jewel-Osco parking lot into an “open-air drug market.”

Officials in Cary and Fox River Grove continue recovery efforts with clean up and tree replacement after a sudden and strong thunderstorm hit the area last month.

Fox River Grove will add a 1% sales tax starting next year, with officials planning to reduce other taxes and fees for residents to offset the new tax.

McHenry County is looking to collect storm damage data while towns begin debris clean-up from the strong thunderstorms that knocked out power to thousands.

About 1/3 of Fox River Grove remained without power Sunday afternoon after storms rolled through the McHenry County region Saturday afternoon and evening.

ComEd reported more than 60,000 customers from Freeport to Joliet were without power following a Saturday storm.

A strong thunderstorm rolled through McHenry County on Saturday, Aug. 16, downing trees and interrupting power.

The village of Fox River Grove has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

Most of the McHenry County Board members whose seats are up next year are planning to run for reelection.

Property transfers with addresses and prices for the week of May 27-June 4.

A man convicted of selling drugs to an informant in Fox River Grove is seeking a new trial.

People heading into Chicago from the Woodstock Metra station soon will be able to stay in a warming center while waiting for the train.

A Fox River Grove trustee had harsh words for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker as the Village Board voted to add back a 1% grocery tax that the state took away.

An 18-year-old man accused of being intoxicated during a crash that killed two other young people in McHenry has been ordered to be held in jail pending his trial on aggravated DUI charges.

Here's where you can find fireworks displays in the McHenry County area.

Here's what's going on around McHenry County around the Fourth of July.

If Woodstock raises its sales tax, will it be the highest in McHenry County? Take a look at what shoppers pay in taxes for general merchandise in each county community.

Months after falling less than 50 votes short of beating state Rep. Martin McLaughlin, Maria Peterson announced she will again run for the 52nd District House post.