Hilary Agnello, a Crystal Lake South dean and former Prairie Ridge volleyball coach, now faces for serous charges of aggravated DUI in a crash in May that caused a serious injury, court records show.

Nicholas Laureys, the 15-year-old who was killed in a hit-and-run last week near Crystal Lake, was remembered as an outgoing and polite. His family has started a gofundme fundraiser.

The Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce has named Steve Slack grand marshal of the 2025 Independence Day Parade.

Crystal Lake resident McKenna Dunn, 24, and her father, James Dunn, have taken over the paddleboard rental business at The Board House at Three Oaks Recreation Area.

Crystal Lake-based Community High School District 155 is seeking donors to fulfill a $1 million capital campaign and sell naming rights to help fund renovations for Prairie Ridge High School’s stadium.

Members of the Class of 2025 from Cary-Grove High School receive their diplomas Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Members of the Class of 2025 from Crystal Lake South High School receive their diplomas during commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

The superintendents at Algonquin-based District 300, Crystal Lake District 155 and Huntley District 158 talked about business partnerships with schools at a chamber event.

Hilary Agnello, a volleyball coach for Prairie Ridge High and dean at Crystal Lake South High, has been charged with misdemeanor DUI and child endangerment following a crash in Crystal Lake, according to police and court records.

Teacher Appreciation Week closed out fittingly this year with recognition teachers at the McHenry County Educators of the Year ceremony, hosted by the county's Regional Office of Education.

A new tabletop role-playing board game called "Woodlander" brings to life a Crystal Lake native’s world filled with illustrations he created of woodland animals based on his favorite fantasy novels.

In honor of mothers everywhere, enjoy a gallery of our favorite Northwest Herald photos of mothers and daughters and mothers and sons - and grandmothers too! – from the past year.

Glen Pecoraro, the first baseball coach in Prairie Ridge history, is retiring from coaching at the end of the 2025 season. He plans to retire from teaching in the next 2-3 years. His Wolves have advanced to state twice, finishing second in Class 3A in 2021.

Homeschool teachers Melissa Ryan and Tammy Massey created a STEM-focused robotics team in McHenry County that has now reached international competitions twice.

Crystal Lake South teachers Dan Mitchell and Ben Stoner worked together to involve special education students in the school's recent plays and musicals.

Manuel Gonzalez started off as a custodian in Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47. Now, he’s a dual language teacher at the district’s Canterbury Elementary School.

Amber Bauman teachers middle school math in Crystal Lake has spent nearly a lifetime teaching, both in the classroom and the horse arena.

Retired Cary-Grove High School teacher Susan Schuerr has a story in one of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul" books and will make an appearance Saturday.

Voters this week in McHenry County determined who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries. See the results here.

The Crystal Lake Chamber Foundation has announced plans for the 12th anniversary of its GEM Leadership Celebration and this year’s GEM award honorees.

Walter Moist, who ran for Crystal Lake-based District 155 school board this week, was charged with violating an order of protection taken out against him, court records show.

Only one incumbent ran for school board in both Crystal Lake-based school districts 47 and 155. How did they do and who else prevailed at the ballot box.

This spring, McHenry County voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

District 155 candidate Walter A. Moist IV has been convicted of felony marijuana possession as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct and battery, McHenry County court records show. What does he say about it?

The Golden Ratio, a McHenry County-based robotics team for high schooler students, are Houston-bound after qualifying to complete in an international robotics competition in April for a second consecutive time.

Walter Moist on a top priority for the district: Legacy infrastructure that is not focused on the technologies available to enhance learning.

Four of the seven candidates running for Crystal Lake-based School District 155 Board of Education answered questions on their views including how they would handle possible federal funding cuts at a forum Thursday.

Crystal Lake has prohibited street parking during school hours on residential streets neighboring Crystal Lake Central High School after complaints of parked cars hindering traffic.

See Lake in the Hills' Trevor Frey make a putt across the Bradley University basketball court to win a new car.

Two weeks after Crystal Lake School District 47 sent out an email to staff about potential staffing and program changes, teachers and parents spoke out about concerns as little information comes to light from the district.

A Crystal Lake couple who went to Central High together in the 1950s found love well into their 80s after losing spouses following long marriages.

Road conditions were worsening and many McHenry County schools called off after-school activities Wednesday as snow began piling up on its way to a possible half a foot of accumulation.

Crystal Lake-based Community High School District 155 will use up to $14 million in bonds to renovate theaters and sports stadiums at its four schools.

Still living independently, Crystal Lake resident Bob Farris celebrated a century of life after turning 100 Friday.

Crystal Lake-based High School District 155 continues to grow partnerships with local businesses in its third year of the Career Experiences Program, which provides “micro internships” for students.

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.

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.

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

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

The Crystal Lake School District 47 school board is set to consider changes its middle school boundaries for the next school year that could mean more busing but would better group together future high school classes.

Search our table to see what designation your McHenry County school received on the 2024 school report card.

This week, the Illinois State Board of Education released school- and district-level data showing what percentage of McHenry County students were considered proficient in math and reading last year. Check out this chart to see if that's an improvement over the prior year.

McHenry County school districts said they still see long-tail effects of COVID-19 but note scores released this week in some cases are higher than pre-pandemic levels.

McHenry County judges raise awareness on cellphone issues like cyberbullying and pornography that can lead, and have led, to chargeable crimes, even against teens.

Crystal Lake native Jackson Marwitz started an internship at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Then the hurricane hit and he had to flee; he recalls those stranded with him helping each other.

For the past 10 years, Prairie Ridge High School students have sent the Northwest Herald letters to the editor about Columbus Day as part of an International Studies department course. Here are some of this year's.

Defense attorneys want argue at the civil trial of the death of a 3-year-old toddler struck and killed by a school bus in Cary that the child’s parents were “negligent” and “caused” his death, according to a filing in the McHenry County court.

Woodstock School District 200 to get 3 electric buses; grant money from the Volkswagen emissions settlement is helping to fund the vehicles.

McHenry County-based robotics team, The Golden Ratio, is looking to create a community center focused on science, technology, engineering and math at their new location in Crystal Lake.