McHenry County News FRE
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11512 N. 2nd ST. • MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115 • (815) 654-4850 • www.McHenrycountynewspaper.com Display Advertising & Classifieds: 815-654-4850 • Circulation: 815-654-4854 • E-mail:McHenrynews@rvpublishing.com
Volume 7 Issue 22
MAY 25, 2017
Governor’s gift
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Last week, McHenry Officer Heagney attended the 2017 Illinois Police Memorial in Springfield with the rest of the McHenry County Chiefs Association Honor Guard. They are pictured here with Governor Rauner holding a guitar with the names of fallen officers that has been signed by numerous artists. This event is held annually to remember all our brothers and sisters in blue that gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting and serving their communities.
76th Annual Milk Days Festival set for June 2-4 Each year over the first weekend in June, more than 80,000 funseekers make their way to this community just south of the Wisconsin state line to revel in one of Illinois’ longest-running hometown festivals - Harvard Milk Days. This year’s 76th annual celebration pours into Harvard’s streets and its Milky Way Park, June 2 to 4, and promises gallons of fun for the whole family. This one-of-a-kind event had its start during World War II, when this McHenry County town had seven dairies processing milk from hundreds of surrounding farms. Back then, Harvard billed itself the “Dairy Capital of the World,” a title it took seriously. When local farmers revved up production to meet the increased demands of the war, the town built a music stage and held a street dance to thank them. Today’s Harvard Milk Days festival has grown from that humble beginning. Preliminary events get underway weeks in advance with the crowning of the Milk Queen, and in the week just before Milk Days with the Prince and Princess Contest, Big Wheel and bed races, capped off by
the Youth Parade on June 1 and golf outing, June 10. Featured events in Milky Way Park include a milk drinking contest, demos on the care, feeding and milking of cattle, adult and junior cattle shows, and cow chip lotto. Additionally, there are carnival rides and a food court, petting zoo, exotic animal exhibit, chain saw carving, live bands, talent show, antique tractor show, auction, Knockerball, “Granpa Cratchet’s” traveling puppet mobile and gala firework shows each evening. Fun runs and walks leave from Jefferson School Saturday morning, and a two-hour parade Saturday afternoon struts down Ayer Street, which is whitewashed and dubbed “Milky Way.” Admission to the Milk Day grounds is free, but some events require a fee and/or registration. For a full list of events, dates and times, log on to www.milkdays.com or phone (815) 943-4614. Harvard is located an easy driving SUBMITTED PHOTO McHenry County News distance from Chicago, Rockford and Milwaukee at the intersection of A cow named Harmilda memorializes the area’s dairy industry and the annual Milk Days festival in U.S. Hwy. 12 and Illinois Route 173. downtown Harvard, Ill.