Woodstock’s homeless assistance center, operating in the former city fire station at South and Throop streets for the past four years, will close this week. A news release from the city on Friday said OFAC – Old Firehouse Assistance Center – would end operations Thursday, Nov. 21. City Manager Roscoe Stelford said that decision was […]
Oct. 1, 2019, is the target date to open a facility in McHenry that will replace Woodstock’s Old Firehouse Assistance Center as host for services to the homeless, Mayor Brian Sager announced Friday during his “state of the city” presentation at Bull Valley Country Club. About 80 people attended the Sept. 14 event, sponsored by […]
By Larry Lough larry@thewoodstockindependant.com Convinced their concerns about problems with the homeless were not being heard, a group of downtown Woodstock business owners and near-southside residents have launched a neighborhood watch to look out for their own interests. “The neighborhood watch came out of necessity,” said Jay Polakoff, who told the City Council about the […]
During a 10-day period in early May, the Woodstock Police Department reported making 16 arrests. The home address for eight of them was listed as “transient.” In a word more familiar to Woodstock, they were homeless. “I would not phrase it as a crackdown,” Police Chief John Lieb said. “I would describe it as a […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
