Central High School will honor more alumni this morning by inducting them into the school’s Wall of Success.
The ceremony, which is open to the public, starts at 9:52 a.m. at the Paddock Lake school.
Central to induct Wall of Success awardees today
Randall-Twin Lakes sharing building inspector advancing
Randall and Twin Lakes sharing a building inpsector is getting closer to reality.
Randall Supervisors Ken Mangold and Rose Nolan met with Twin Lakes Village President Howard Skinner and administrator David Cox Thursdya about the possibility of sharing building inspector dutires. The town and village now separately employ the same person, David Sturdevant, as a building inspector.
An agreement is being drafted by the village to cover the arrangement, Mangold said. Randall would have Sturdevant for about six hours a week.
An annual fee of between $10,000 to $15,000 was discussed as Randall’s contribution, Mangold said. Last year, building inspection services cost the town about $25,000.
In the recent past, the town has paid the building inspector 80 percent of inspection fees collected.
Town officials see the shared arrangement as a way for the town to save considerable money in a period where building activity is slow. Paying a flat fee also would allow the town to keep more revenue from building inspections.
If building inspection volume increases, the town might then need to share some additional revenue with Twin Lakes, Mangold said.
The town may be able to vote on a formal agreement at its next meeting.
The Sharing Center offering tax help
Photo by cohdra via morgueFile.com
United Way of Kenosha County in partnership with Carthage College, University of Wisconsin-Parkside and The Sharing Center of Paddock Lake are excited to announce an opening of a county Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) for 2010. The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $49,000 and below) individuals and families who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers have received training to help prepare basic tax returns in Kenosha County.
VITA runs every Saturday morning ending on April 10. The County VITA site is located at the Sharing Center, 7001 236th Ave, Paddock Lake, WI 53168.
This site is run by appointment only.
You must provide the following information or your return cannot be filed:
- Proof of identification.
- Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration.
- Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return.
- Current year’s tax package if you received one.
- Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers.
- Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099).
- A copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available.
- Bank routing numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit.
- Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider’s tax identifying number (the provider’s Social Security Number or the provider’s business Employer Identification Number).
- To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.
- A fully completed and signed rent certificate for the Wisconsin Homestead Credit.
For any questions or to make an appointment please contact Megan Kroes at 262-658-4104 or mkroes@kenoshaunitedway.org.
Have you seen Ripper?
Have you seen Ripper? He is missing from his home.
Ripper is a 1-year-old Jack Russell terrier. He was last seen at W. Park Drive and Lake Elizabeth in Twin Lakes on Feb. 27. He should be wearing a blue collar with tags.
If you have information about Ripper, call 877-4150.
Central HS students build cabinets for schools
Nick Able and Gary Kreuger pose with the cabinet they made for Paris School.
This past semester, two Central High School seniors, Nick Abel and Gary Kreuger, produced three cabinets for local grade schools through the Technology Education Department. The catalyst to the cabinets project was an answer submitted by a local teacher during the 2008/09 school year when asked “If you could have three wishes for your classroom, what would they be?” Instead of purchasing the cabinets from a big-box store, the opportunity to plan and build the cabinets was offered to Westosha Central High School’s Technology Education Department.
Due to the patience and open minds of Salem School teacher Frank Bellante, Salem School principal Shawn Waller, Central High School assistant principal Dan Kiel, Paris Grade School District administrator Roger Gahart, Brighton Grade School District administrator Laurie Wright and Central woods technology teacher Bert Christensen, the cabinets project was approved for the 2009/10 school year.
The cabinets were delivered to the schools last month.
At Paris, Gahart was asked where the school would use the cabinet. Admiring the workmanship, Gahart said he though they were worthy of the main office.
Patrick and Jamie Rook of Salem organized the project. NextDayStamps.com of Racine provided tags for the cabinets.
“Instead of making something for themselves, these students chose to make these cabinets for the schools,” Jamie Rook said.
Throughout the progress of the cabinets project, a need was recognized and CommunityArtisans.org evolved, Rook explained. Although in its infancy, the website’s purpose will be to offer opportunities for growth through community involvement by uniting those with a project needing artistic skill sets with those in search of an opportunity to develop their talents.
Salem takes stand against statewide sex offender residency law
The Salem Town Board will be sending a letter to the state legislature stating the town’s opposition to a bill that seeks to establish statewide standards for where released sex offenders can live and frequent.
Senate Bill 548, if passed and signed into law, would supersede the ordinances passed by local municipalities like Salem, Paddock Lake, Silver Lake, Bristol and most recently Wheatland. Twin Lakes is developing a similar law.
Those local ordinances typically establish certain areas where children congregate — such as schools or parks — and then prohibit convicted sex offenders from living within a certain distance of those places. Perimeters of 1,500 to 2,000 feet are typical.
“This bill would eliminate our ability to do that,” explained town administrator Patrick Casey. The state bill relies on GPS monitoring rather than perimeters where offenders cannot live. Where it uses perimeters, they are considerably smaller, 100 to 200 feet.
Casey explained passage of the state bill would likely benefit the state Department of Corrections.
“So many towns and villages have passed these ordinances they’re having a hard time placing these offenders,” Casey said.
Town attorney Richard Scholze was instructed to draft a letter citing the town’s objections to the state bill.
Related posts:
Twin Lakes continues to work on sex offender ordinance despite state bill
Prvidence to host four more bingo nights
Photo by macho via morgueFile.com
Providence Catholic School will host four more bingo nights: March 20, April 17, May 1 and May 15.
Bingo will be held at the Saint Francis Xavier campus on Highway X in Brighton. Doors will open at 4 p.m. with bingo beginning at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy two 10-game sessions. Every game is a money game with the last game being the Super Jackpot.
Meat raffle tickets and spring raffle tickets also will be available.
Food will be available for purchase and will include:
- Fully loaded nachos.
- BBQ sandwiches.
- Hot dogs.
- Hamburgers.
- Cheeseburgers.
- Soda, water and coffee.
All ages are welcome.
Randall approves open enrollment applications
The Randall School Board approved 58 incoming applications for open enrollment Wednesday night.
The district also approved 19 applications for Randall District students to open enroll elsewhere.
Open enrollment allows public school students who reside in one district to attend school tuition free in another district, if accepted. School districts often try to encourage incoming open enrollment to increase per student state aid.
The number of open enrollment applications was heaviest at the lower grade levels, said district administrator Steve Bloom.
Bloom pointed out that historically the district has had a 3 to 1 ratio of incoming open enrollment students to outgoing open enrollment students.
Former Salem School Board member to challenge Kerkman
Steve Brown /submitted photo
Former Salem School Board member Steve Brown of Salem has scheduled two press conferences Friday at which he is expected to announce a run at the 66th State Assembly seat now held by state Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Randall.
Brown is expected to run as a Democrat.
Brown has been making the rounds of local municipal meetings of late, but would not comment on why.
The 66th District includes most of Western Kenosha County expect for some of eastern Bristol and Wheatland. Much of Somers also is in the district as is Burlington.
Trevor School building project advancing
This image shows the planned addition for Trevor School. The white area is the existing building, the red the addition. (Click for a larger view)
The Trevor School building addition has taken some steps forward recently.
The Trevor-Wilmot School Board has selected contractors that will bid on the project from a list of 12 that submitted information. Making the cut were:
- Camosy Construction.
- J.P. Cullen & Sons.
- Riley Construction.
- Scherrer Construction.
The School Board also approved three alternate bids that could add to the project if the price is right. The three alternate bids are:
- Adding five second floor classrooms to the addition. The bids will include this option completed and in an unfinished shell form.
- Demolishing the wing where the current fifth grade classes are housed and renovating the school front.
- Renovating some bathrooms in the arts wing of the existing building.
When the time comes, the contractors will submit separate bids for the alternates apart from the main project, which will add enough school space to have all district students at the Trevor building. Currently, 4-year-old kindergarten through second grade attend classes at the Wilmot Primary Center, just north of the Kenosha County Fairgrounds. The main project was approved by voters in a referendum last November.
The district could pick up some economies of scale by bidding the alternate portions now while contractors will already by at the building working on the main project, district administrator George Steffen said at last week’s School Board meeting.
Seeking all of the alternate bids was not unanimous. Board members Lynn Jaeger and Bill Barhyte voted against including alternate bid 2 and Barhyte also voted against alternate bid 3.
Flood warning issued for Fox River
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Fox River in Western Kenosha County.
The river is expected to reach flood stage of 10 feet very early Thursday morning and stay above flood level for the forecastable future (about a week).
There’s a pretty good chance of rain in the NWS forecast through Sunday, as well.
National Weather Service graphic
St. John’s Farmer’s market gearing up
Photo by Traute Klasse via stock.xchng
The St. John the Evangelist Farmer’s Market in Twin Lakes is gearing up for its season.
The market will take place every Saturday from 8 to 11:30 a.m., May 8 through Oct. 23 at the church, 701 North Lake Ave., Twin Lakes.
The market will focus on locally grown and produced agricultural and food products such as flowers, meat, produce, baked goods and honey. In addition, locally produced non-agricultural products will also be offered.
Right now, the market is recruiting vendors. More information on the market and becoming a vendor is available at www.stjohnsmarket.org
The Lakes Area Business Expo is this Saturday
The Twin Lakes Area Chamber and Business Association is providing a fun and interesting place to ride out what is being forecast as a rain Saturday — The Lakes Area Business Expo.
The event is a showcase of regional business with booths offering a variety of information. This year the event also has a new name, a new location and new mini workshops, which attendees can attend at no additional cost.
The expo will be held on Saturday, March 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wilmot High School, 11112 308th Ave., Wilmot. Admission is $2 or $1 with a non-perishable food item.
See the TCLBA website for more information.
West of the I will have a booth. Come and visit!
Bristol may decide on starting 4K by next month
Photo by Viviane Stonoga via stock.xchng
The Bristol School District is still considering starting a 4-year-old kindergarten program, and a decision may be imminent.
District administrator Gale Ryczek said at Tuesday’s School Board meeting that a decision on starting the program should be made by next month’s meting.
“It’s caused a lot of conversation,” Ryczek said.
There is support amongst Bristol parents for the program and the opinions of administrators at districts that have 4K are also favorable, Ryczek said.
“There’s really good reasons to have it,” Ryczek said. Those reasons include better preparation for kindergarten. Another reason — not discussed Tuesday — that districts implement 4K is it increases student population which increases state aid.
Hurdles for Bristol include transportation arrangements, cost and finding space to house the program. If current open space in the building is used, then the district might lose some flexibility if it needed another classroom for some reason. Ryczek also has scouted some remote locations, but that brings further challenges.
“It’s just a matter of money,” Ryczek said. “There is the support out there for it.”
County supervisor candidate Burns to host event
Photo by Stig Andersen via stock.xchng
Enjoy coffee and conversation with candidate for County Board Supervisor Terry Burns at Brewed Beginnings, 24221 75th St. Paddock Lake, on Saturday March 20, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Coffee will be provided free of charge courtesy of the candidate.
Bristol taking fewer open enrollment students this year
Photo by guillermo ossa via stock.xchng
Bristol School will be accepting a smaller group of open enrollment students this year than in recent years.
Tuesday night, the School Board approved accepting 21 students. In recent years, the district has often accepted double that number, said district administrator Gale Ryczek said.
The reason for the lower amount is the building is nearing its optimal capacity, Ryczek said.
“The message is going to be getting out that getting into Bristol is going to be more difficult,” Ryczek said.
The district had 69 students apply for open enrollment admission to Bristol. That number also is down, Ryczek said. Last year the district received over 100 applications.
Open enrollment allows public school students who reside in one district to attend school tuition free in another district, if accepted. School districts often try to encourage incoming open enrollment to increase per student state aid.
Bristol will pick which specific students are offered slots by a lottery. The remaining students then will put on a waiting list.
The district has to notify the selected students by April and they then have until July to notify the school if they will attend.
If openings develop, student can be offered slots from the waiting list.
Wheatland passes sex offender residency ordinance
Wheatland is the latest Western Kenosha County municipality to pass an ordinance restricting where sex offenders can live.
The Town Board passed the ordinance Monday night.
The Wheatland ordinance is similar to most other laws passed by other local towns and villages. It designates prohibited locations — like schools and daycares — and restricts how close to those locations a convicted sex offender can live.
The Wheatland ordinance sets a 2,500-foot perimeter around such locations.
Other local municipalities that have such ordinances are Paddock Lake, Silver Lake and Salem (and Bristol, see comments). Twin Lakes village staff is drafting an ordinance that could be considered by that Village Board as early as next Monday.
Twin Lake FD responding to report of car fire
Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
UPDATE at 6:16 p.m. — Randall Fire Department also is being dispatched to the scene.
UPDATE at 6:20 p.m. — Dispatch says the car is behind a house in some woods.
Units responding to report of garage fire
Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
At 2:36 p.m., personnel from the Twin Lakes, Wheatland and Randall fire departments and Twin Lakes Rescue Squad are responding to the report of a fire behind a business in the 34400 block of Geneva Road (Old Highway 50), New Munster.
UPDATE 3:03 p.m. — Fire under control and traffic reopened in eastbound lanes of Geneva Road.
Salem chairman seeking contracts for department superintendents
Salem Chairman Linda Valentine is seeking to have the town enter into employment contracts with the top superintendents of town departments.
Contracts would be a matter of fairness, Valentine said, for the superintendents because many were hired before the town administrator was hired. When hired, they reported to the Town Board. Now the town administrator can hire or fire the superintendents.
“We changed the rules,” Valentine said.
Her main concern is that the superintendents have some kind of defined recourse in the case of disputes with the administrator. In the past, she said, that was served by answering to the whole board.
Current town administrator Patrick Casey said he did not think contracts for department superintendents were needed.
“If you want my opinion, I don’t think they’re necessary,” Casey said.
Supervisor Joseph Meier also said he did not see the need for the contracts.
“I’m against it because I think that should be his,” Meier said motioning to Casey. “We don’t want to micromanage.”
During discussion of the topic, it came out that the town may have a policy in place that provides some recourse to the department supervisors. Supervisor Jo Weidman suggested the board review that policy before making a decision.
Valentine moved the matter to next month’s agenda so board members could give the policy review.
Salem grants conditional use permit for Trevor-Wilmot gym
This plan shows the planned addition for Trevor School. The white area is the existing building, the red the addition. (Click for a larger view)
The Salem Town Board approved the granting of a conditional use permit for the new gymnasium planned for the Trevor School expansion.
The permit is needed because of the gym’s size, said Matthew Wolfert, Bray Architects, which is designing the school’s addition project.
The gym will be able to seat 600 people for a program, Wolfert explained. That should allow for all-school assemblies and special programs.
“There is not a 600-person event taking place every day or even every week,” Wolfert said.
The Town Board unanimously approved the permit.
In the future, the district will be back before the town with two other matters related to the expansion, a variance for the oldest part of the existing building and an overall site plan, Wolfert said.
The expansion was approved in a referendum of district voters last November.
Salem seeking dispatching services for public safety officers
Salem is seeking radio dispatch contact for its public safety officers as the town looks to step up its enforcement of town ordinances and traffic laws.
Dispatch contact is vital for the safety of the officers when situations become more urgent, such as when a person stopped for a traffic offense becomes uncooperative.
Public Safety Officer David Shortess said the Silver Lake Police Department and the Wheatland constable are able to access the Sheriff’s Department Channel 1 for such support. However, when Salem expressed a desire to do the same, it was told the channel’s current traffic is too busy to add Salem, said town administrator Patrick Casey.
Salem has had some preliminary discussions with Twin Lakes about handling dispatch, Casey said. Twin Lakes has its own police department and handles its own dispatch.
Another alternative would be to contract with the Sheriff’s Department for additional patrol, as Paddock Lake and Bristol do. Sheriff David Beth made a presentation on that option at the Salem Town Board meeting Monday. As the sheriff presented it, the extra contracted deputies likely could carry out any stepped up enforcement the town desired.
But the Town Board agreed that was too much to bite off in the middle of the budget year, though some interest was expressed in discussing contracting with the Sheriff’s Department while the next budget is being formulated.
Yet another alternative would be for the town to form its own police department, but Casey said that also is too extensive of a project for the near future.
“The town’s not ready for that,” Casey said. “That’s not even on our radar.”
No Town Board member objected to continuing negotiations with Twin Lakes on dispatching services. Chairman Linda Valentine asked to be included in future negotiations. No board member objected to that either.
Lothian chief of staff anounces bid to replace retiring chief
Tyler August /Submitted photo
Tyler August, retiring state Rep. Tom Lothain’s chief of staff, has announced his candidacy to replace his boss.
August is 1st Congressional District Republican Party chairman and a seventh-generation, lifelong resident of the district
“Tom has represented us well for the past seven years and it would be my honor to fill those shoes,” said August. “I have had the privilege to work closely with Representative Lothian fighting to reduce our tax burden and eliminate unneeded regulations on our businesses; I want to encourage businesses to come to Wisconsin, not drive them out.”
The rest of August’s campaign announcement is here.
Lothian announced last week he will not seek re-election in November.
Fox could be flooding by mid-week
Photo by Robert Linder via stock.xchng
Plenty of rain predicted for the area this week could have the Fox River rising over flood stage (10 feet) by Thursday and up to 12 feet through the weekend.
There’s a better than 50 percent chance of rain Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and a lesser, but still present, chance the balance of the week.
Looks like I better get that rain gauge I purchased last fall up.
Units responding to house fire in Brighton
Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
At 4 a.m., units from Salem Fire/Rescue are responding to a report of a garage fire in the 800 block 224th Avenue, Brighton.
UPDATE 4:07 a.m. — Bristol and Silver Lake fire departments have been called to scene. House is reportedly on fire as well, according to scanner transmissions.
UPDATE 4:15 a.m. — Fire under control. Units still going to scene advised to assume non-emergency response.
Western Kenosha County Tennis Association to host open houses
Photo by Ruth Livingstone via stock.xchng
Western Kenosha County Tennis Association will be hosting two open house this month to explain their youth programs.
The open houses will be:
- Saturday, March 20, 2 to 4 p.m., at Tremper High School, Kenosha.
- Saturday, March 27, 2 to 4 p.m., at Central High School in Paddock Lake.
At the open houses, participants will be able to get an introduction to QuickStart tennis and register for:
- The Midwest Youth Team Tennis QuickStart program for children ages 5-10.
- A Junior Open Tennis Instruction program for children ages 11-14.
There will be door prizes and participants do not need to bring equipment, though they must wear gym shoes. Participation in the open house is free.
WKCTA is a non-profit organization formed in December 2008 to promote and support tennis for all ages and abilities in Western Kenosha County.
Central loses to Verona in regional final
Central's student section made their presence known throughout the game as they backed the Falcons. /David Thoss photo
The Central Falcon boys basketball team visited Verona Saturday in the regional final Saturday.
Central got off to a slow start due to the physical defense employed by the Wildcats. Verona jumped out to a 15-4 first quarter start on precision passing and three-point shooting. The Falcons did get untracked and held the lead down to 11 with Mike Michelau and Austin Damaschke, along with Spencer McCoy scoring in the second quarter. Also, the Falcons started to get to the free throw line with Erik Richter hitting from the stripe.
Despite being down the entire game the Falcons kept scrapping and cut the lead to 6 in the third quarter. The vocal Falcon student section really helped the Falcons get some momentum. Again on Damaschke, McCoy and Michelau hitting from outside. Richter also got to the line again and hit the free throws.
The Falcons could not get any closer and the Wildcats, led by Sam Karls and Kaden Nauman getting key layups and short jumpers, closed out the Falcons 62-55.
The Wildcats enjoyed a large advantage at the free throw line going 22 of 33 against Central’s 15-18.
The Falcons closed their season at 9-15. Saturday they were led by Austin Damaschke with 17 points. Michelau and McCoy both contributed 9 with Richter chipping in 8 and Dustin Milz with 7.
The Wildcats were led by Karls 14, Nauman 14 with Brandt scoring 11.
Mike Michelau drives. /David Thoss photo
Mike Michelau dribbles against a defender. David Thoss photo
Austin Damaschke goes up for two of his game high 17 points. /David Thoss photo
Erik Richter gets ready to hit one of his free throws. /David Thoss photo
- Spencer McCoy and Dustin Milz apply pressure.
/David Thoss photo
Silver Lake firefighters to participate in stair climb fundraiser
Photo by Dora Pete via stock.xchng
A team from the Silver Lake Fire Department will be among those competing for bragging rights and to help efforts to improve lung health at an event in Milwaukee March 20.
The Village Board this week approved the trip to the 2010 Fight for Air Stair Climb on March 20 at the US Bank Center.
Teams from local fire departments compete for a traveling trophy. Teams from other organizations and individuals also participate.
In their own competition, firefighters will hurry up 42 flights of stairs wearing full turnout gear, including air packs. The current firefighter record is 11 minutes, 56 seconds.
“They’re running,” said Trustee Richard Maron, who, while a member of the fire department, said he will not be competing.
UW-Parkside invites you to The Front Porch
The staff at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Center for Community Partnerships will be be regularly contributing a new column “The Front Porch” to West of the I.
Here’s how Mark Gesner, director of Community Development UW-Parkside, explains the column’s focus:
…Our primary focus areas are nonprofit development, community-based scholarship, continuing education for teachers and other professionals, and community development and diversity issues. In this column, my colleague Debra Karp and I will not only let you know about some innovative programs and opportunities that you can explore at the university and in the community, but also about various resources that are at your fingertips.”
Central to host UW-Extension gardening seminar
Photo by Zsuzsanna Kilian via stock.xchng
A “Spring Into Gardening Seminar” will be held Saturday, March 13 from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Central High School in Paddock Lake. The daylong seminar features a choice of 15 gardening classes.
Topics include vegetable gardening, rain barrels, organic lawn care, composting, flower gardening and more.
Class size is limited. Fee is $30. Cost includes four classes and soup and salad lunch.
More information and registration brochure is available here or by calling 857-1945.
