Free! DINNER - BISTRO BAR • DESSER T New Hours:
~ formerly Antioch Report
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018 DISPLAY ADS (262) 877-2813
VOLUME 07 • NUMBER 10
CLASSIFIEDS (262) 728-3411
DELIVERY (262) 728-3411
147 E. Main Street, Twin Lakes, WI 53185 • Published By Southern Lakes Newspapers, LLC
Blarney Island rich in history By Sandra Landen Machaj
www.davidsbistro.com 883 Main Street, Antioch • 847-603-
Away from reality
CORRESPONDENT
“A mile away from reality.” That is how Rob Hartman describes Blarney Island, a small island located in Grass Lake, about a mile off shore. From the late 1800s, Grass Lake was known for its massive growth of lotus beds and at times, the thickness made boat travel a challenge. To ease travel, paths were cut to allow boats to pass. A bar known as Shorty’s place, owned by Shorty Shoeben, located on the shore of Grass Lake, was a gathering place for visitors who sought a drink and to view the flowers. With the success of Shorty’s Place, the establishment saw competition, when Jack O’Conner brought in a large houseboat and anchored it near the business. Around 1908, the Chain O’ Lakes area underwent a major change, when a dam was constructed on the Fox River in McHenry, and in turn, resulted in more lake depth. For Shorty’s Place, the deeper waters left some of its surrounding land underwater, and created a peninsula. The change in landscape gave patrons a better view of the lotus beds. Eventually, a feud developed between Shoeben and O’Connor, which escalated in the ensuing years.
Tues.-Sun. 4:00
p.m. - close “Open every day fo r private events & ca tering”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CLIFF MEYER Hi-Liter
Blarney Island still serves people food and offers entertainment near Grass Lake. Inset: The sun sets above Grass Lake near Blarney Island.
The feud ended with a high stakes poker game where both men wagered their businesses. Shoeben, who came up short, lost his establishment. After the game, there was speculation of what happened to Shoeben, who either took his own life or went into hiding. Regardless, O’Connor now owned both businesses. O’Connor, however, suffered a setback before he took control of Shorty’s Place when his boat burned under mysterious circumstances.
He then moved his business to Shorty’s Place on the peninsula. In 1939, the William Stratton Dam replaced the old dam on the Fox River, and again, caused water levels to rise on the Chain of Lakes. The increased water depth of Grass Lake turned O’Conner’s new business from a peninsula to an island. In honor of his Irish heritage, O’Conner changed
See BLARNEY ISLAND, Page 3
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SERVING THE VILLAGE OF ANTIOCH AND TREVOR
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Lake County Sheriff’s Office announces recent promotions
Sheriff Mark Curran announced the promotion of the following law enforcement personnel: • Sgt. Sara Balmes promoted to Lieutenant • Deputy Jacob Novak promoted to Sergeant • Deputy David Tomasello promoted to Sergeant Lt. Sara Balmes graduated from Marquette University with a Master of the Arts in Public Service and Illinois State University with Bachelor’s of Art in Human Resource Management. In addition, she graduated from Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command, Session 425 in 2017. Balmes joined the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in 2003 and recently served as a shift commander on highway patrol and as a public information officer, implementing both Facebook and Twitter. She is also a recognized leader in the implementation of Naloxone training and she continues to oversee the Lake County Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures of Naloxone training and supply, and state and county reporting requirements. She currently oversees the civil process unit and is a member of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies committee and an Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program Accreditation Manager and
See PROMOTIONS, Page 6
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