www.RVPNews.com
McHenry County News
VOL. 11 • NO. 43
815-633-4536 Fax 815-633-5386
Free! power road auto body
1140 Power Road Machesney Park, IL 61115 1998–2021 392790
Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
Accepted
www.powerroadautobody.com
PUBLISHED BY ROCK VALLEY PUBLISHING, LLC
DISPLAY ADVERTISING & CLASSIFIEDS:
815-877-4044 CIRCULATION:
815-877-4044 E-MAIL:
McHenry News@RV Publishing.com
THURSDAY, OCT. 14, 2021
Three McHenry High School alumni honored during homecoming As part of the annual homecoming tradition at McHenry High School, three graduates were honored Oct. 1 as Distinguished Graduates for their contributions to their profession and larger community. Dr. Michael Thornton and Robert A. Jessup are 2021 Distinguished Graduates, and Bill Hobson is the 2020 Distinguished Graduate, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All three received plaques and were honored during the Friday homecoming football game at McCracken Field in McHenry. They were also honored during a special MCHS Alumni Association event to celebrate the new alumni association. Distinguished Graduates are nominated in the spring, and a committee through the McHenry High School Educational Foundation selects recipients. Photos and plaques of all Distinguished Graduates are displayed at McHenry High School buildings. “We’re pleased to add these three Distinguished Graduates to our long list of McHenry High School graduates who have excelled in their careers and service to their communities,” said Carl Vallianatos, assistant superintendent for learning and innovation for McHenry Community High School District 156. “We are very proud of their accomplishments.” Read on to see more about why each Distinguished Graduate was selected. To see all
of the Distinguished Graduates, and learn more about the program, visit the District 156 website. Bill Hobson Bill Hobson graduated from the former West Campus in 1992 and went on to Northern Illinois University. In his professional career in McHenry, he has served as assistant city administrator and director of parks and recreation, and he helped plan and develop the McHenry Recreation Center and the McHenry Riverwalk. Hobson has spent many hours, both for his career and as a volunteer, helping with community events and service organizations. Dr. Michael Thornton Dr. Michael Thornton graduated from the former West Campus in 1974, and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in biology from Wheaton College. He earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois in 1982. As a medical doctor, Thornton worked as a family practice physician in Sycamore and served as a medical director for the DeKalb County Hospital as well as the DeKalb County Health Department, and the chief of staff of Kishwaukee Hospital in 1997. He was the 2010 recipient of the Acclaimed Physician Award from the Kishwaukee Health System. He has been on numerous mission trips to provide medical care in other parts of the world and volunteered as the sideline doctor for Sycamore High School for 29
COURTESY PHOTO McHenry County News
Dr. Michael Thornton, Bill Hobson and Robert A. Jessup were recognized during the Oct. 1 McHenry High School homecoming game as Distinguished Graduates in recognition of their professional and community service work.
years. He’s delivered more than 800 babies in the DeKalb/Sycamore area. Robert A. Jessup Robert A. Jessup graduated from the former East Campus in 1987 and studied business at
Valparaiso University. Jessup joined the family business, Jessup Manufacturing, in 1993. He bought the company in 2001 and under his leadership, the company grew from its humble beginnings with one employee
in 1956 to more than 115 employees in 195,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Once the maker of welts and bindings for leather gloves, Jessup has now become a global manufacturer, specializing in
adhesive coated films. In addition, the company stresses the importance of community service with Rob Jessup serving on a variety of professional organizations and community development groups.
Historic homecoming Drug Take Back Day Oct. 23 features outdoor dance newly formed MCHS Alumni Association and recognition for three Distinguished Graduates: Bill Hobson, Dr. Michael Thornton and Robert A. Jessup (see related story above). Leah Pelletier, biomedical science educator and advisor to the school’s student council that hosted homecoming, credits high school staff, the city of McHenry and students for the success of homecoming week. The effort was even more challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With a construction theme, the student council led preparations for the week of events. McHenry High School just wrapped up two years of busy construction with the addition of the Center for Science, Technology and Industry at Upper Campus. “I am so proud of all the hard work that our student
council members put in for this week of events,” Pelletier said. “They were flexible throughout the entire planning process and always kept a positive and optimistic attitude.” Senior Sarah Doherty, president of the student council, said students are glad to be doing things together again. “We had more participation than we had imagined which made the week even more enjoyable,” Doherty said. “The dance was so much fun and I think everyone now prefers having it outside.” Pelletier also thanked Campus Beats for the work on homecoming, particularly the dance. The last fall homecoming for McHenry High School was in 2019. The school hosted a spring homecoming in April to coincide with rescheduled football games.
drug abuse in America. The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found the majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. A Northwestern Medicine drive-up collection site in McHenry County includes Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, Medical Office Building #2, 10370 Haligus Road, Huntley. Event staff will wear masks and follow physical distancing protocols. Please wear a mask in your vehicle when interacting
See TAKE BACK, Page 5
Winnebago Community Historical Society Fundraiser Featuring “Benton Street Past and Present” 2022 Calendar (showing how the Village has changed over the years)
Sponsorship ads and memory boxes are $100 for business card size space (sponsors receive a free calendar) Limited Amount of Space! Memory boxes are space for family members Reserve Now! or past business owners on Benton Street Please contact Norma Kloster at nrmkloster@gmail.com or call 815-247-8586
405624
McHenry High School’s first fall homecoming week in nearly two years did not disappoint. Record numbers of students participated in the week of activities that included dressup days, a parade and rally, Powder Puff football games, Friday night football and the first-ever outdoor dance at Petersen Park in McHenry. “The spirit and energy I felt all week made for a truly special week in this school community,” said Dr. Jeff Prickett, MCHS principal. More than 1,500 students attended the school’s first-ever outdoor homecoming dance Saturday. On Friday, McCracken Field was filled with students, families and community members to watch a Warrior 49-13 victory over Dundee-Crown. Friday’s game also included a special event for the
Northwestern Medicine, including for the first time Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day by hosting six collection sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23. Community members can safely dispose of their unused medications at drive-up sites. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to potential accidental poisoning, misuse and overdose. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, the non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of