Western Kenosha County's news source
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Salem School held its annual celebration Thursday evening.
The event serves as a showcase of some of the activities that go on at the school.
This year’s event had a western theme.
A highlight is always the staff performance that closes out the festivities.
Here’s some video of this year’s performance, which starts off with principals Ben Walshire and Eileen Bruton, who are later joined by other staffers:
video by Karen Hillock
Registration for Twin lakes-Randall Recreational Girls Softball will be Sat., Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon, at Lakewood School, Twin Lakes.
The program is for girls in grades 4th-12th.
All home games are played at Bassett Park.
More information and a registration form are available here.
Photo by Zsuzsanna Kilián via stock.xchng
Boy Scout Troop 328 from Salem is hosting a pancake breakfast and silent auction on Sunday, Feb. 5, (Super Bowl Sunday).
The breakfast will be held at the Salem Grade School located at the corner of Highways 83 and AH in Salem. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. The menu consists of “all you can eat” pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy. Tickets are sold at the door. Adults are $6, children (5-12) and seniors are $4, children 4 and under eat free.
A silent auction will be under way during the breakfast with items donated from area merchants. A few of the items will be raffled off. Please bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the local food pantry.
Interested individuals can register at the Lakeland Little League Office on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon for the upcoming baseball/softball season.
The office is located at 18015 60th. St., Bristol.
You can also still register on-line at http://www.eteamz.com/lakelandll/.
You can download the form also on our website and take it to the office.
To be able to participate in open gyms, players must be registered.
Travel team tryouts for baseball are on Sunday, Jan. 29 at Wilmot High School.
If you have any questions you can call the office at 857-2722 or e-mail Wally Zirbel at zirbel5@aol.com or Kerry Burnett at burnett914@yahoo.com
Former town Chairman Lauren Fox was appointed Thursday by the Randall Town Board to the supervisor #1 seat vacated by Rose Nolan in November.
In recommending Fox’s appointment, Chairman Bob Stoll said he was proposing a woman with substantial experience with town government.
“I think she would be very, very good,” Stoll said.
Supervisor Bob Gehring seemed to object to the abruptness of Fox’s nomination, saying he had not heard who Stoll was considering until he made the announcement. Gehring said he favored another person, not named Thursday, who Gehring said had municipal government experience in Illinois. He also said he questioned whether it was good to have four of the five board members to live in the same neighborhood.
The residence issue also was echoed by Plan Commission Chairman Charles Gitzinger: “I think (Fox) is a wonderful person but all four of our town supervisors will all come from the same small area.”
Stoll said he considered the geography issue, but could not come up with enough of a downside to deter him from recommending Fox.
Plan Commission member Bob Meyer said he questioned appointing Fox, when she lost an election for town chairman. Stoll pointed out he too lost a bid for re-election for supervisor, but was later elected chairman.
Only Gehring voted against Fox’s appointment. The yes votes included town Clerk Phyllis Kaskin, who is allowed to vote on appointments to the Town Board to fill vacancies.
Stoll said Fox, a county employee who is planning to retire soon, has agreed to take on maintenance of the town website, a task which had been assigned to Nolan.
Nolan resigned in Nov. 2011 citing health issues.
Photo submitted by John Ryan
The Mike Zukowski Memorial Ice Derby will take place on Lakes Benedict and Tombeau, Saturday, Feb. 11, from 7 a.m. to noon.
There will be prizes for Largest Fish of the Day in the categories of walleye, bass and northern pike.
Raffle tickets will be available at the event only.
Lunch will be from noon to 1 p.m. $20 per person includes entry fee and lunch. Children under 16 and seniors over 65 are free.
Headquarters on Tombeau Road, vacant lot south of old Lasconia.
For safety, no autos or trucks will be allowed on the ice.
All proceeds will be used exclusively for stocking and habitat improvement on Benedict and Tombeau Lakes.
Bristol Fire Department firefighters and sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a barn fire late Wednesday night.
The barn was located in the 12200 block of 136th Ave., Bristol. The report of the fire was received at about 10:30 p.m.
The pole barn housed a snowmobile, a motorcycle, tools and welding equipment. The welding equipment had been used earlier in the day to fix a snowmobile trailer and a wood burner also used at that time, according to a Sheriff’s Department report. Two campers parked along side the barn were “burnt completely” and another damaged.
Firefighters extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire was undetermined at the time of the report’s writing, but did not appear to be suspicious.
Power in the area was out for a time, but restored by We Energies.
Mack Schlosser, a student at Central High School, will be collecting donations of hygiene supplies for his Eagle Scout project on Sunday, Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lakeside SuperValu in Paddock Lake.
The drive will benefit The Sharing Center. The Sharing Center is always in need of soaps, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, etc
The Westosha Kiwanis Club Board of Directors has voted unanimously to approve a move from WI-UM Kiwanis Division One to WI-UM Kiwanis Division Two. WI-UM Kiwanis is the District that Westosha Kiwanis Club is part of and stands for Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Kiwanis Clubs. The move will need to be agreed upon by both Boards of Division One and Division Two and will then finalize on October of 2012.
Westosha Kiwanis voted for the move for the purpose of helping to balance out membership and clubs within Division Two. If final approval is received, Westosha Kiwanis will be in Division Two, along with the following Kiwanis Clubs: Burlington, East Troy, Mukwonago, Waterford, and Elkhorn. Currently in Division One, Westosha’s current Division One allies include Union Grove and all Racine and Kenosha County clubs east of I-94.
Westosha Kiwanis is a member of the worldwide organization, Kiwanis International, whose goal is to serve the children of the world through projects, events and fundraising efforts.
Westosha Kiwanis’ local goal is to “Serve the Children of Western Kenosha County.’” The club achieves this by fundraising and running events that benefit local children, i.e. Fourth of July festivities in Paddock Lake, assists with Old Settler’s Oktoberfest, has run the Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt since 1970, built Nick’s Cabin at Bong Recreational Area (SE Wisconsin’s only Handicapped Accessible Cabin that allows special needs families the chance to enjoy a natural setting with the whole family), ran Kiwanis Arbor Day Tree Sale for years and sold over 30,000 trees in five years, built/donated both permanent concession stands at Old Settler’s Baseball Diamond and at the baseball complex at Salem Grade School, runs a Food Building at the Kenosha County Fair, and advises/sponsors both High School Key Clubs at Wilmot and Central High School.
More info on the club can be found by following them on Facebook. Club meeting times/locations, updates and contact info to join Westosha Kiwanis can be found on the website: www.westoshakiwanis.org
The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement that says to expect areas of fog through mid morning in Western Kenosha County.
The fog is expected to begin to break up after 9 a.m., with the arrival of increased wind and warmer temps.
High today is forecast for 36.
Have you heard about our feature at West of the I called Deal of the Day? It offers you great values on goods and services from local businesses. Here’s how it works. We offer a gift certificate or gift card from a local business for half price of its face value. For example, you get a $50 gift card but only pay $25 for it. Now that’s a deal!
Our offering today is from Derek’s Custom Computers, 27638 75th St., Salem. Derek’s Custom Computers will help you quickly and conveniently resolve all your computer problems. You should not have to waste your precious time, while your computer takes up space on your desk. Their round the clock, in-home/in-office repair and support service will help you get out of a bind quick. Whether it is upgrades for faster and more efficient performance or hardware repairs, Derek’s Custom Computers will improve your PC and have it ready in no time. Derek’s offers service in-shop or on site.
The offered gift certificate is for $20 towards any service or product offered by Derek’s Custom Computers which we are selling for $10.75 (includes 75 cent processing). Full description of conditions is available here. It’s easy to purchase a Deal of the Day! Click the button below and you will be taken to PayPal’s site, where you can securely pay with a credit card or through your PayPal account. A PayPal account is not needed. We instantly receive notice of your purchase and we mail out the certificate usually the same day. Click the button below to get your Deal of the Day!
Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
At 3:52 p.m., Twin Lakes Fire Department, Randall Fire Department, Town of Wheatland Fire Department and Richmond Fire Department as well as Twin Lakes Police are responding to a report of a possible fire in a kitchen of a residence in the 200 block of Christie Court, Twin Lakes.
UPDATE 3:58 p.m. — Police officer reports that cause was overheated food. Richmond units returning to quarters.
UPDATE 3:59 p.m.– Others units continuing response on a non-emergency basis.
Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
At 2:38 p.m., Salem Fire/Rescue, Bristol Fire and Rescue and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a fire in a home in the 22300 block of 83rd Street, Salem.
Dispatch reports that caller says fire is in the basement.
UPDATE 2:43 p.m. — First personnel on scene reports no signs of fire from outside.
UPDATE 2:44 p.m. — Smoke reported inside home, personnel on scene reports.
UPDATE 2:45 p.m. — Dispatch slows response of remaining units. Cause appears to be a ruptured water heater.
UPDATE 3:02 p.m. — Deputy reports to dispatch that water heater was not source of smoke. Fire units remaining on scene and other units staging to cover Salem stations.
UPDATE 3:13 p.m. — A Bristol unit is returning to quarters. A Salem unit has been cleared by command and is returning to quarters.
UPDATE 4:04 p.m. — All fire units clearing the scene and returning to quarters.
Salem School District recently launched a streaming radio station to highlight the events within the district.
The station features music and artists ranging from the 60s to today. Nestled within the music is information related to the school. While most of the music comes from popular artists, listeners shouldn’t be surprised if they hear a few fun numbers from Salem students. DJ patter, station IDs, and program segments are created and produced by students and staff.
Numerous curriculum connections are planned between the radio station and instruction at the school. Media literacy, information technology, art, music, reading, writing, math, and social studies curricula will all support the station. In return, the radio station will provide an authentic connection to the knowledge, skills, and processes in each of these subjects.
Salem Radio is in its early stages. Currently there is about two hours of media being streamed.
The station can be launched via the school’s website at www.salem.k12.wi.us.
Kenosha County Youth In Governance, a youth empowerment program that offers area teens the chance to directly participate in local government and community service, is seeking nominations for outstanding and motivated young people for the 2012 -2013 year.
The requirements to participate in Youth in Governance are: Youth must currently be a high school student in the 10th or 11th grade Youth must have a GPA of 2.5 or greater Youth must be a Kenosha County resident Youth must be able to attend the monthly meetings and additional committee meetings that are combined with other committees. Go here to nominate a young person, or contact John de Montmollin, Youth & Family Educator, Kenosha County UW-Extension at 857-1945.
Nominations are due Feb. 10, 2012.
This week’s ad for Lakeside SuperValu, Highways 50 and 75/83, Paddock Lake, is now available at westofthei.com. Click on the ad to see the full line-up of values for this coming week.
The sale prices in this ad are effective from Thursday, Jan. 26 through Wednesday, Feb. 1.
This week’s ad also includes information on the Big Game Open House, coming on Feb. 4, that will include prizes and food samples throughout the store.
Check out this week’s Lakeside SuperValu ad for great values you can get right here in Western Kenosha County.
#34 Jordan Meyers catapults a buzzer beater the length of the court as the first half time expires. /Phil Gilbert photo
The Central High School boys basketball team hosted Burlington in a conference gameTuesday.
The Falcons won 54-48.
Here are some more photos by Phil Gilbert:
A photo of one of the site plans presented by Rohrman Auto Group Tuesday.
A rezoning and conditional use permit that is the start of a process to bring a Nissan car dealership to a location along West Frontage Road in Bristol received the approval of the village Planning Commission Tuesday.
The commission unanimously approved the request of Bob Rohrman Nissan for a rezoning from agricultural to business zoning on the 14.25 acre site that is just north of the CarMax car dealership and south of the former Original Outlet Mall property. Also approved unanimously was a required conditional use permit.
The plan for the property includes a 26,000 square foot building for new car sales and service and another smaller used car office building, said Mark Battista, director of Bob Rohrman Auto Group.
The exterior of the building will be similar to a Rohrman Nissan dealership in Arlington Heights, Battista said.
“We believe that this is something that may be acceptable to the board,” Battista said of the entire proposal. “I think this is a site that will work.”
Battista estimated about 40 people will be employed at the dealership initially.
Patrick Meehan, village planner, said the requested rezoning was appropriate to the village’s applicable plans. He also recommended granting the conditional use permit.
One important condition that Meehan recommended and was approved was that Rohrman come back at a later date to ask that a wetland — once it is definitively known — on the northeast portion of the property be rezoned for conservancy before an occupancy permit is issued.
Meehan also suggested more trees be planted along the frontage, perhaps in grouping to maintain maximum visibility from neighboring I-94.
A certified survey map for a land division related to the property also was approved unanimously by the commission.
Other provisions of the dealership will also come before the planning commission and the Village Board as plans advance.
Battista said Rohrman is the largest car dealership group in Chicagoland and is the 14th largest in the US.
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An open house for the North Mill Creek-Dutch Gap Canal Watershed Plan will be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Lake Villa Library, 1001 E Grand Ave, Lake Villa.
This will be the last informational meeting prior to close of the public review period for the watershed plan on Feb. 15.
Presentations about the plan will be held at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. with opportunities to review poster information about the watershed, discuss issues with staff and ask questions or submit comments following the presentations.
The North Mill Creek-Dutch Gap Canal watershed is a subwatershed of the larger Des Plaines River Basin and encompasses approximately 23,532 acres or 37 square miles in north central Lake County, Illinois and south central Kenosha County (parts of southern Bristol and Salem)
The official public hearing prior to adoption of the watershed plan will be held on Feb. 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Lake County Government Center in Waukegan, but written or verbal comments can be submitted at any time through Feb. 15 to Lake County Stormwater Management Commission.
Please direct questions and comments to Patty Werner pwerner@lakecountyil.gov or 847-377-7717.
An Executive Summary and the draft watershed plan are available for review or download at:http://www.lakecountyil.gov/Stormwater/LakeCountyWatersheds/Pages/NorthMill.aspx
Have you heard about our feature at West of the I called Deal of the Day? It offers you great values on goods and services from local businesses. Here’s how it works. We offer a gift certificate or gift card from a local business for half price of its face value. For example, you get a $50 gift card but only pay $25 for it. Now that’s a deal! Our offering today is from Luisa’s Restaurant, 317th Avenue and Highway 50 in Wheatland. Luisa’s is the place for a taste of Italian & American cuisine. Known for their pizzas, their classic thin crust is legendary! For the hearty appetite they can prepare pan or stuffed pizza and they dare you to try to eat more than one piece! Luisa’s menu doesn’t stop at pizza. They also feature pasta dishes, sandwiches, burgers and more. Their Friday Fish Fry is a hit with the locals and be sure to check out the daily specials. The offered gift card is for $25, which we are selling for $13.50 (includes $1 processing charge). Card must be used for eat in only.Full description of conditions is available here. It’s easy to purchase a Deal of the Day! Click the button below and you will be taken to PayPal’s site, where you can securely pay with a credit card or through your PayPal account. A PayPal account is not needed. We instantly receive notice of your purchase and we mail out the certificate usually the same day. Click the button to get your Deal of the Day!
SOLD OUT — Check back again for more Deal of the Day values.
Bristol will be creating a public trees budget fund.
But in approving the action Monday night, Village Board members wanted to stress the fund will not entail any new taxes, but rather be a reallocation of funds already being spent under other village budget line items.
For example, tree trimming now done under the public works budget will now be assigned to the trees fund, explained Randy Kerkman, village administrator.
The breaking out of tree expenditures is needed so the village can pursue Tree City USA status. That title, conferred by The Arbor Day Foundation, would be helpful in obtaining loans that could be used to develop the nature park planned for property south of Highway 50 and east of Highway 45 that will eventually all be village park land.
To become a Tree City, the village will need to show it has budgeted about $2 per person for tree functions, Kerkman said. He is confident most of that could be shown to be being spent already in functions done by village crews.
In addition to the maintenance spending, the village may also need to allocate about $2,000 for new tree purchases, which could be transferred from paving funds, Kerkman said.
The village may also have to create a tree board to qualify as a Tree City. That could be the Park Board or perhaps a separate board if there is enough interest.
Village Board members wanted to emphasize that the tree fund is new, but the money that will go into it is not.
“Times are tight, we need to explain this correctly,” said Trustee John McCabe.
Said Trustee Carolyn Owens: “This will be fully explained that we are not raising taxes.”
The motion to create the public trees fund passed unanimously.
Have you heard about our feature at West of the I called Deal of the Day? It offers you great values on goods and services from local businesses. Here’s how it works. We offer a gift certificate or gift card from a local business for half price of its face value. For example, you get a $50 gift card but only pay $25 for it. Now that’s a deal!
Our offering today is from Cabana Tan in Paddock Lake. Cabana Tan Spa is dedicated to bringing you the most amazing tanning experience in all of SE Wisconsin! Their 3400 square foot facility offers 5 levels of Tanning, Airbrush Tanning, Laser Teeth Whitening, Massage Therapy and A Unique Boutique to shop in. The employees are educated in the indoor tanning industry and eager to customize the perfect tanning package or spa package just for you. Both single sessions and package deals are offered, along with a VIP Club for those year round tanners that want the absolutely lowest price possible with some really great benefits too! Cabana Tan’s private tanning rooms are designed to relax your mind while you achieve the perfect tan. Cabana Tan is open daily to accommodate your busy schedule and their commitment to cleanliness is unsurpassed. The offer today is for a $25 gift certificate for tanning beds only for $13.50 (includes $1.00 processing charge). Certificate expires 12-30-2012.
Full description of conditions is available here. It’s easy to purchase a Deal of the Day! Click the button below and you will be taken to PayPal’s site, where you can securely pay with a credit card or through your PayPal account. A PayPal account is not needed. We instantly receive notice of your purchase and we mail out the certificate usually the same day. Click the button to get your Deal of the Day!
SOLD OUT — Check back again for more Deal of the Day values.
Photo by Paul Cioca via stock.xchng
The “biggest little ice fishing derby in the world” will be held on Lake Shangri-la on Saturday, Jan. 28 and Sunday, Jan. 29.
The Community Center is located at 22112 121st St.. The fishing is from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday Breakfast will be served. Lunch / Dinner will be catered.
Hour door and raffle prizes will be awarded. Special raffles for kids and adults will be on going both days.
Fishing winners and derby raffle ticket winners will be announced Sunday approximately 5 p.m.
The derby will go on regardless of weather conditions. Preregistration will start Friday 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the community center.
HuHot Mongolian Grill, 7214 Green Bay Road, Kenosha, is raising some cold cash with a hot fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics Wisconsin’s Southeastern Region.
On Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m., local Special Olympics athletes and volunteers will become “Helping Hands” that will cook up a little fun and funds at HuHot Mongolian Grill. Volunteers from Special Olympics Wisconsin will display their grilling skills, assist HuHot’s dining room staff and mingle with patrons, while also raising funds through raffles and souvenir sales.
You’ll also have an opportunity to talk to local Special Olympics athletes and hear heart warming stories from volunteers.
Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
At 2:38 p.m., Bristol Fire and Rescue and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash in the 14000 block of Highway C, Bristol.
Dispatch reports that a single vehicle is involved, an SUV rolled over on its side. Driver is out of vehicle.
UPDATE 2:48 p.m. — Tow truck being called to the scene.
UPDATE 2:58 p.m. — Fire department units clearing the scene.
National Weather Service graphic
The National Weather Service says we’re in for more precipiation today and tonight — but not snow.
Warmer temperatures (high of 37 today) may bring freezing drizzle and freezing fog this afternoon. That will be followed by rain (80 percent chance) — a quarter to a half inch.
The temperature should stay warm Monday, with a high of 38 and likely mixed rain/snow.
The outlook for the balance of the week looks to be mild temps in the 30s and no snow or rain.
Photo by Jason M via stock.xchng
A full day Equine Educational program organized and sponsored by Illinois and Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Services for horse owners will be offered on Saturday, Feb. 11 in Bristol.
This program will focus on horse nutrition. Examples of some of the session topics include general horse nutrition, managing manure, feeding vitamins and minerals to horses, managing hay, balancing rations, and much more. Speakers will include: Kevin Kline, Equine Specialist with Illinois Extension; Liv Sandberg, University of Wisconsin Extension Equine Specialist; Craig Sandmire, Equine Nutrition Specialist; and several other specialists.
The program begins at 8 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. Lunch will be included with the program fees, which are $30/person or $50/2 people and $15/youth on or before Feb. 3. Registration fees increase after the early bird deadline.
For general information on this program, please contact Liv Sandberg, University of Wisconsin Extension Equine Specialist at 608-263-4303 or sandberg@ansci.wisc.edu . Questions regarding registration should be directed to Rose Skora at the Kenosha County UW Extension office at 262-857-1945 or rose.skora@ces.uwex.edu.
For a copy of the brochure, check out the following website: http://kenosha.uwex.edu/category/agricultural-news/ This program is being organized and sponsored by the University of Illinois and Wisconsin Extension Systems. University of Illinois and Wisconsin Extension provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.
Wilmot Riverside topped the best tasting chili contest at the St. Alphonsus School Chili Cook-Off on Jan. 14, Greg Pahl, owner of the Wilmot Riverside reports.
All proceeds from the fundraiser benefited charity.
Note: Wilmot Riverside is a westofthei.com sponsor.
Central High School JV cheerleaders competed at the Junior Varsity and Middle School Championship at Sheboygan South High School today.
Out of 10 teams, Central placed second.
You can see them next at any home basketball game or their next competition on Feb. 4 at Brookfield.
Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
At 5:53 p.m., Bristol Fire and Rescue and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash at Highways 45 and C, Bristol.
UPDATE 5:56 p.m. — Dispatch reports two vehicles involved. Vehicles are blocking traffic.
UPDATE 5:57 p.m. — Deputy advises dispatch that every one is conscious and breathing. One person complaining of chest pain.
UPDATE 6 p.m. — One tow truck being called to scene.
UPDATE 6:02 p.m. — Highway C westbound traffic being diverted at Highway V.
UPDATE 6:05 p.m. — Salem Fire/Rescue now responding with a med unit for an evaluation.
UPDATE 6:19 p.m. — One patient being transported non emergency to a Kenosha hospital.
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Central High School Booster Club
