After the Second Round of IHSA Illinois High School Playoffs: US-12 vs. US-14 Showdown

After the first round there was a 6-6 tie between the teams on US-12 (Rand Road) and US-14 (Northwest Highway).

These are the teams remaining after two rounds:

US-14

8A

Maine South (Park Ridge)

Palatine

6A

Notre Dame (Niles)

Prairie Ridge (Crystal Lake)

*****************************************

US-12

8A

Palatine

6A 

Lake Zurich

4A

Richmond-Burton

So, US-14 leads 4-3.

--RoadDog

First Round Illinois High School Football Playoffs: US-12 vs. US-14

The results of last weekend are in.  At the beginning of the second round, US-12 and US-14 are tied at six teams apiece left. 

These are the US-14 (Northwest Highway) vs. US-12 (Rand Road) teams remaining in the playoffs.

US-14 (Northwest Highway)

8A  

Maine South (Park Ridge)  (7-2)

Palatine  (8-1)

7A

Prospect (Mt. Prospect) (8-1)

Hersey   (Arlington Heights)  (9-0)

6A

Notre Dame (Niles)  (6-3)

Prairie Ridge  (Crystal Lake)   (8-1)

************************************

US-12  Rand Road

8A

Palatine (8-1)

7A

St. Charles North   (9-0)

Hersey  (Arlington Heights)  9-0

Lake Zurich    (8-1)

6A

Wauconda  (8-1)

4A

Richmond-Burton  (Richmond and Spring Grove)  ( 9-0)

--Old B-Runner

2022 US-14 (Northwest Highway) vs. US-12 (Rand Road) IHSA Football Challenge

As we get underway tonight, these are the US-14 (Northwest Highway) high schools in the IHSA Football Playoffs.

8A  

Maine South (Park Ridge) 7-2)

Palatine (8-1)

7A

Maine West (Des Plaines)  (5-4)

Prospect (Mount Prospect)  (8-1)

Hersey  (Arlington Heights)  (9-0)

6A

Notre Dame (Niles)  (6-3)

Crystal Lake South (5-4)

Prairie Ridge (Crystal Lake)  (8-1)

5A

St. Viator  (Arlington Heights)  (5-4)

US-14 leads US-12 9 teams to 8 teams.

Go Northwest Highway.  --RoadDog

Illinois' 25 Biggest Cities Today: Des Plaines, Palatine and Normal

From Homesnacks "100 biggest  cities in Illinois  for 2022" by Chris Kolmar.

After listing the 25 biggest Illinois cities in 1870, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the list as it would stand today.  When my family moved to Palatine in the early 60s, there were only around 10,000.

25.  Normal    54,699

24.  Berwyn    54,850

23.  Oak Lawn    55, 432

22.  Tinley Park    56,082

21.  Des Plaines    58,316

20.  Orland Park    58,380

19.  Skokie    63,300

18.  Palatine    67,875

17.  Decatur    71,857

16.  Schaumburg    73,392

15.  Evanston    73,979

14.  Bolingbrook    74,319

13.  Arlington Heights  75,071

--RoadDog

Good Times in the Area: About That Good Old High School Football

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9

One of my favorite places to go this time of the year is to the local high school Friday night games on good weather days.  You get all the action  of college and pro football with a whole lot less of the hassle and costs.

Sadly, I haven't been to a game now since 2019, that's two years that I've missed.  Of course, last year, Illinois didn't have high school football until a shortened six game season in the spring.  I'm hoping to get back to the games next year.

I usually go to either the Richmond-Burton or Johnsburg High School games as they are the closest to me.  I pull for both rivals, but when they play each other, I pull for Richmond-Burton as a lot of my money goes there.  That school serves Spring Grove and Richmond, Illinois.

I also follow Palatine High School and even rival Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois.  I went to and graduated from Palatine High (and even went to Fremd for my freshman year as the frosh-soph for Palatine went there, juniors and seniors to Palatfox line High).

I also pull for Round Lake High School as that is where we lived for 17 years and we taught for 33 years in that school district.  Also, pull for Grant High School in Fox Lake as we spent much time boating.

Two other schools I back are Mt. Carmel in Chicago because NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch is head coach there.  Also Goldsboro High School in North Carolina because that is where I was born and lived for five years.  My grandparents lived just down the block from that school.

--RoadHigh

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 4: About US Highway 12

Continued from July 8, 2021.

THURSDAY, JULY 1

As I mentioned, US Highway 12 (US-12) has played a big role in my life for many years.

Back in high school, the night crew at the Palatine, Illinois, Burger King would pile into cars and drive on US-12 to Wauconda, and spend the afternoon our on the beach and in the water at Honey Hill.  Liz and I used to go to many places along the 12 while we were dating, including St. George & the Dragon at Dundee Road and the Village Inn.

We'd sometimes drive US-12 all the way to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This stretch would take us right through Spring Grove, where we have lived for the last 29 years.  We always though this place was way out in the boonies and now we live there.

We also often stopped to eat at Mr. Sitka's in Richmond (near Illinois Highway 31 and US-12 (now Dilar's Restaurant).

We also drove part of US-12 when visiting her parents in Palatine and also when her mom moved to an apartment on 12 in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Like I said. US-12 has been important in my life.

Through the Chicagoland area, US Highway 12 is called Rand Road.

--RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 1: The New 'Old' Car and U.S. Highway 12

Thursday, July 1

I finally had our '85 Firebird redone with exterior and interior work as well as engine work.  Now, I am forced to cruise down roads, with the window down, my arm out and listening to tunes on the radio.

A hard life, but somebody's got to do it.

This past Thursday, July 1, I started driving around Spring Grove, Illinois.  First I went through a subdivision and then found myself north of town on US Highway 12.  Most of my life I have been living near US-12.  

It went through Palatine, Illinois, where I lived for all of junior high, high school and part of college.  Then, we lived for 17 years in Round Lake Beach, which is about eight miles from it and now, we have been in Spring Grove for 29 years.  US 12 goes right through Spring Grove.  One of these days I'm hoping to drive it from end-to-end which would be Detroit at its eastern terminus and Aberdeen, Washington on the west.

The next town on the road heading north is Richmond.  It is a village of yesterday, with lots of old stuff and history.  It is also a major gateway to Wisconsin from Illinois and it gets so backed up on the weekends, you try to find ways to go around it.

This being Thursday, I figured the backup wouldn't be bad.

I Was So Wrong.  --RoadCruise

It's Here Again, the Annual Northwest Highway (US-14)-Rand Road (US-12) IHSA Football Showdown: US-14 (Northwest Highway) Teams

These two roads mean a lot to me because I grew up in Palatine, Illinois, where both roads have alignments and currently live just off US-12 here in Spring Grove, Illinois.  Both the Northwest Highway and Rand Road are important Chicagoland  roads.

Same rules as with my Route 66-Lincoln Highway Showdown.  essentially Last Man Standing.

I started this showdown in 2013.  US-14 leads 4-2-1.

8A

Fremd  (7-2)
Maine South  (7-2)
Barrington  (6-3)

7A

Hersey  (8-1)
Prospect  (7-2)

6A

Prairie Ridge  (8-1)
Crystal Lake Central  (6-3)
Crystal Lake South  (5-4)
Cary-Grove  (7-2)

Northwest Highway (US-14) has 9 teams.

Go US-14!!  --RoadDog

One Week-- Part 2: Communication, Radio, Bars, Wings and a Band

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14

Most days at 10 a.m., I listen to Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.  All  this month they are letting listeners give their ten songs and make comments during the show.  Today's was from a Palatine gal, Cindy Mitchell.  Liz and I both lived in Palatine during high school.  Her topic today was Communication.  She did a fine job.

THE LETTER--  Joe Cocker
COMMUNICATION  BREAKDOWN--  Led Zeppelin
OPERATOR--  Jim Croce

TAKE A LETTER MARIA--  R,B. Greaves
DIALOGUE (PART 1 AND 2)--  Chicago
HUSH--  Deep Purple
TELEPHONE LINE--  ELO

WESTERN UNION--  Five Americans
I'VE GOTTA GET A MESSAGE TO YOU--  Bee Gees
867-5309 (JENNY)--  Tommy Tutone

She did a REALLY GOOD JOB!!

Drove to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and then to Sunnyside in Johnsburg, Illinois.  A bi-state quest for liquid refreshment.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

Did some shopping in McHenry, Illinois, and some yard work. Then drove to Bootleggers on Grasslake Road and met Kevin and Kelly and enjoyed the 50 cent wings and $1 draft pints.

Then went to the It's Thursday show in Antioch, Illinois, at the bandshell.  Tonight's band was the Piano Man who performed the music of Billy Joel and Elton John.

--RoadDog

NIU Homecoming 2018-- Part 3: The Problem With Night Football

October 13,  Saturday.

Well, at least it was football during the day.  To me, that is when football should be played, even if we puppy out at cold days.  (Nor do I like to see games in the rain.)  I don't like the fact that all high school games being played on Friday nights.  When we went to Palatine High School in Palatine, Illinois, all our games were on Saturdays and I sure would like to see high school games returning to then.

Plus, even worse, all of NIU's games in November are at night.  Let's see, night football in DeKalb, Illinois?  Might there be a chance that it will be c-o-l-d!!!  You betcha.  No way I am going to sit out in the cold like that, plus, the games are generally shown on TV.  I'll sit home and watch it.

The Mid-American Conference, which Northern is in, has a contract with ESPN for these games which is the only way we can get on national TV.  It's good to be on national TV, but it hurts the football experience because of the severe cold temps here in the upper Midwest where all of the teams are located.

The TV crews are always sure to keep the shots tight so you don't see how few people are in the stands.

Of they want the MAC on TV and it has to be at night during the week, then put us on in September.  Let the Sun Belt have the November night games.  It is warmer in the South, after all.

Shivering All the Way.  --RoadBurr

Good Times in the Area for Labor Day Weekend-- Part 1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Did some yardwork and then went to McHenry and ate at the Polish Legion of American Veterans (PLAV 188).  We then went to Veterans Park for the Thursday night concert and saw the country and rock band Derringer & Rye.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Drove to Arlington Heights, Illinois, and placed flowers on the graves of Liz's parents and did some cleanup.  Then went to Palatine and had lunch at Photo's on Northwest Highway.  This is on the former site of the Burger King I worked at back in high school and where Liz and I hung out a lot at back in the day.

Then stopped at Half-Price Books, my favorite store with all the stuff I really like.  I bought two 2017 calendars, a Jan & Dean double CD set, and two navy books.

Back to Fox Lake and too the boat out for a bit.  After that, I went to Richmond-Burton-Sandwich high school football game in Richmond.  Close game, but the home team eventually pulled out the victory.

Next Friday is the great rivalry game between Johnsbirg and Richmond-Burton.

Busy Friday.  --RoadDog

Easter Trip Back to Our Past-- Part 3: Burger King

Going west on US-14, Northwest Highway, we passed the old Dairy Queen and Topps Big Boy Restaurant (with the Big Boy statue) although it is the Route 14 Cafe now.

The main building for us along this stretch is the old Burger King.  This is where I got my first job in 1967 after I turned 16.  I was paid $1 an hour at first and all the Whoppers I could eat (I invented the triple burger, triple cheese Whopper).  I worked here from summer 1967 until the summer of 1970, when my family moved to Atlanta when Dad was transferred.

The first building I worked at was the original Burger King design with dining area added.  It was torn down a year after I started working there and a more modern structure built.

Back then, a Whopper was 49 cents.  You could get a Whopper, fries and small drink for 94 cents.  With large drink it was 98 cents (tax included).

Those of us working there may not have been paid a lot, but we made up with it by having fun.  We worked hard though, during rush hours and prided ourselves on getting customers out within a minute after they placed their order.  After cleanup, it was time for fun, unless one of the bosses, Jerry, was there.  But, it was ok if Mr. G or Bobby (the other two owners) were there.

Liz and I ate there quite often when I wasn't working.  As a matter of fact, the place was so much fun, you'd usually find several off work employees there at any given time.  It was our hangout.

I Sure Enjoyed My Time There.  --RoadDog

Easter Trip Back to Our Past-- Part 2: Restaurants

We continued on past Arlington Racetrack and the first McDonald's I ever ate at across from it.  Back then you either ate in your car or on benches around the store.  Burgers were just 15 cents.

Them, we entered Palatine.  I always regard Palatine as my hometown as I spent more time living here while growing up than any other place.  We lived there from 7th grade to after freshman year in college.

We passed the former site of a Mr. Donut near the intersection of Palatine and Northwest Highway (it is still a donut place but with a different, non Dunkin Donuts name).

Also, right at the intersection of the two roads was the former site of a Jack-in-the-Box restaurant which was torn down for a Hob Nob Restaurant which was torn down for a Walgreen's (imagine that). We also passed the former Dairy Queen store and Topp's Big Boy.

There is also the great Palatine Park District and right by it, the Palatine High School we attended.  The school has since moved to another part of Palatine.

--RoadDog

A Pretty Good Weekend: Three Football Games, Three Bands, Three Bars

And, we're talking high school, college and NFL games.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH

Drove to Palatine, Illinois, and saw the Palatine Pirates barely beat the Fremd Vikings at Palatine's homecoming game.  Final score was 24-17.  Fremd was driving with 14 seconds left when Palatine intercepted on ots 14 yard line.

Watch out for the powder the Palatine students like to throw these days.

After the game, we got together with Kevin and wife Debbie.  He graduated with us from Palatine in 1969.  Always great to talk with old friends.


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER  29TH

Drove to Dekalb, Illinois, for the Northern Illinois-Central Michigan game.  Enjoyed Fatty's Oktoberfest tent before the game and with Die Musikmeisters, an eight-piece oompah band playing.

The Huskies led the whole game, but in the third, the Chippewas pulled to within 27-21, but then Northern blew them out.

Drove home and over to Captain's Quarters where we saw Red Eye Express band play.


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH

Drove to McHenry and had a drink at Twisted Moose and then went downtown by the Fox River.  I went to the Vinyl Frontier record store and bought a Kinks CD.  Joined Liz at After the Fox where the band Practice in Public was playing for the bar's 30th anniversary party.  Watched that really close Packer-Saints game and again took grief from Bear fans.  Despite many more calls going against us, the Pack won.

A Pretty Good Time.  --RoadDog

A Trip Back...Way, Way Back

Yesterday, Liz and I drove to Palatine, Illinois, about 25 miles away, for some reminiscing and a homecoming football game between our Palatine and arch rival Fremd.

Stopped along the way at Target and Half-Price Books to buy CDs and a book and then to the cemetery in Arlington Hts. to visit Liz's parents' grave.

Man, there sure is a lot of traffic!!!

Then drove by the old Palatine High School off US-14, Northwest Highway.  Glad that at least some of the place is still standing and being used as administrative offices for the park district and the police station.  Cutting hall is still used for theater.  Then drove around the back of school, past Ost Field which I feel I'm partly the reason it came to be.  I went to Fremd freshman year then the last three at Palatine when the two schools were split.  My freshman year, we and the sophomores of Palatine all went to Fremd.  Juniors and seniors went to Palatine.

We had to play our "home" games at Fremd all through high school and I hated that.  So, as sports editor of the paper my senior year, I proposed building the field behind our school and it came to pass a few years later.  Of course, now Palatine High School has moved to a site off Hicks Road.

Then, ate at Photo's on Northwest Highway, near Hicks Road.  This is where the old Burger King I worked at in high school and part of college was located.  Judging by the number of customers, it is quite popular, but overrun with Fremd students.  I don't know about that.  Great food, though, and a free ice cream cone for dessert.

A Trip Back.  --RoadDog

Our 39th Wedding Anniversary Today

In a few hours, Liz and I will be cruising down US-12, or Rand Road as they call it in Chicago's northwest suburbs.  We'll be heading back to Palatine, where we met back in 1967 and started going steady a short time later.

Plans are to stop at Half-Price Books where I can buy some more obsolete technology.  This place is like a super-sized Mom and Pop record and book store with really great prices; actually a place I should stay out of, but, oh well.

Then a drive to Memory Gardens in Arlington Heights to visit Liz's parents graves.  T

After that, a drive around favorite places in Palatine like the laundromat where I gave her my high school ring (or, at least where we think it was, now a jewelry store (coincidence?)), Photograph's (hot dogs, etc. on the site of the old Burger King on Northwest Highway where I worked in high school and part of college), Palatine High School (the original one where we went junior and senior year) and, our two houses in Winston Park.

Planning on eating at Lamplighters in downtown Palatine, across from the original Durty Nellie's Irish Bar.

Lastly to Docks in Wauconda, up on the bluff overlooking Bang's Lake, where Terry and Gregg Spizzirri will be playing out on the deck at the tiki bar from 2 to 6.

We'll be washing it all down with a cassette tape I made of 1973 music, 39 years ago, you know.

Happy 39th to Us.  --RoadDog

Took a Northwest Suburb Trip Yesterday-- Part 4: High School Days on Rand Road

Rand Road, another name for US Highway 12, has played quite a big part in my life. It goes through the village I spent my junior high, high school and early college years in. As such, I drove it many times.

In high school, I often went to Honey Hill Beach on Wauconda on summer days. Plus, back then, if you took pictures on your Instamatic, you took them over to Skrudland's Photo on Rand to be developed. Plus, two of our favorite eating spots were on Rand and Dundee roads, St. George & the Dragon and Village Inn Pizza.

Plus, this was the road we took from Palatine to Randhurst Mall, a BIG local high school hangout for all of the Northwest Suburban high school kids. You saw lettermam's jackets all over the place. More than one girl got her boyfriend's ID bracelet from jewelry shops located there.

I remember driving US-12 to lake Geneva and going through Spring Grove and thinking to myself that, "Man, this place is WAY out in the boonies." Now, we have lived in Spring Grove for 19 years. I always remember being impressed by the entrance to Sherwood Forest Subdivision with its mock castle gate and drawbridge, which is still there.

Liz and I liked to eat at Mr. Sitka's in Richmond at the intersection of 12 and Il-31. It is still there, but called Dilar's. Of course, there was a lot of things to do at Lake Geneva, including going to the Playboy Club when I was older (now Grand Geneva and with a great Christmas display).

A Lot of Memories on That Road. --RoadDog

Took a Northwest Suburb Trip Yesterday-- Part 1: 44th Anniversary

In honor of Liz and my 44th anniversary of "Going Steady" yesterday, we embarked on a short jaunt to our old stomping grounds in Palatine, Illinois. On Dec. 15, 1967, I gave Liz my ID bracelet (juniors at Palatine High School did not get class rings until spring) at the laundromat at Palatine Highway on Northwest Highway (US-14). How's that for being romantic.

She was doing laundry for her family. I figured she wouldn't suspect I was going to that there.

The laundromat is long-gone, but as near as we can figure, the former site is now occupied by a Dairy Queen.

By the way, I sure didn't have that class ring long when we finally got them.

More to Come. --RoadDog

Save Those Old Schools

For the last forty years the National Council of Facility Planners has been encouraging school districts to destroy old schools and build bigger, new ones away from the neighborhoods.

This course is changing as they have joined with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and now urging for the schools to be maintained and renovated.

They gave an example of Carl Schurz High School in Chicago. It was built in 1908 and by the mid-90s the beautiful Prairie-style structure was in such a state of disrepair that plans were made to destroy it. It is still in use.

I taught for 31 years at John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake, Il. One part of it, the fine arts wing, was the original Round Lake school and constructed in 1908. Other large additions were made in the 50s and 60s. We moved to a new, definitely bland building in 2004 and the building sat vacant ever since. They are now renovating it, but unfortunately, razed the original part. At least the main part is still there.

Some of the old school buildings are definitely beautiful and deserve to remain standing. If not used for schools, they could become a village center, or small stores.

I graduated from Palatine High School in 1969. When the new school was built, part of the old one was knocked down, but part of it is used today as village offices.

Let's Keep Those Old Schools with Significant History or Architecture. RoadDog