02/04/2026
COMING IN WEDNESDAY'S EDITION
OF THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
• Former Marian Principal, Charles Rakers dies, pg. 2.
• WPD officer named ‘Officer of the Year, pg. 3.
• D-200 budget year on track, pg. 3.
• Groundhog Day: does not disappoint, pg. 4.
• Opinion: Civility always in season; opponents of gravel pit extension have many concerns, pg. 6
• Declarations: Groundhog Day coverage Betsy Iversen, pg. 7.
• Schools: Impact Grant ensures all third-graders have needed headphones, pg. 9
• A&E: WHS Theatre to stage ‘Little Women’, pg. 11.
• Business: Business Buzz, pg. 13.
• Community: GriffoNest Games hosts game nights, pg. 17.
• Senior Care Volunteer Network, pg. 18.
• 2026 Groundhog Day Art Contest Winners -- backpage.
• In Sports: Groundhog Day 5K, Marian’s track coaching duo named to Hall of Fame, WHS freshman Aiyana Fourdyce grown skills, Wrestling, Caldwell earns KRC runner-up; north bowlers come in third, Marian boys basketball, Dan Chamness’ College Report
➡️ Student of the Week: WNHS Kinsley Wheeler
➡️ Elementary/Middle School Student of the Week: Creekside Middle School 6th Grade
➡️ Athlete of the Week: WNHS AJ Cohen -- basketball
To subscribe to The Independent, visit thewoodstockindependent.com/subscriptions/
To buy a copy (or two!) of the newspaper, visit one of these retailers:
Casting Whimsy, 203 N. Madison St.
Country Cupboard, 123 E. South St.
Expressly Leslie, 100 S. Johnson St.
Isabel's Restaurant, 1110 N. Seminary Ave.
Jewel/Osco, 145 S. Eastwood Drive
Kristensen's Service, 230 Washington St.
Madison Shell, 315 N. Madison St.
Read Between the Lynes, 111 E. Van Buren St.
Village Market, 3410 Thompson Road, Wonder Lake
Walgreen's, 305 S. Eastwood Drive
Woodstock Food & Liquor, 501 Washington St.
Woodstock Food Mart, 1013 N. Seminary Ave.
Woodstock Shell, 110 N. Eastwood Drive