Western Kenosha County's news source
At about 10:21 a.m., Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue units are responding to alarms in the 6800 block of 243rd Avenue in Paddock Lake
Per dispatch: This is for fire and carbon oxide alarms at a residence.
UPDATE 10:26 a.m. — Dispatch reports property owner says this is a test. All fire units but one returning to station.
Note: Hafs Road Orchard is a westofthei.com sponsor. — DH
Fall is the time to visit Hafs Road Orchard.
2019 marks Hafs Road Orchard’s 26th year of growing the Honeycrisp variety of apples. Their first Honeycrisp were planted in 1992, 60 trees as a trial. In the next several years customer enthusiasm and a buzz in the apple grower community convinced Hafs Road Orchard owners Richard and Deborah Polansky to dive in. They went on Honeycrisp tours, talked with fellow growers and now grow over 1,000 Honeycrisp trees. In spring 2015, Hafs Road Orchard planted 400 new Honeycrisp trees.
The orchard store is bursting with fresh apples for eating, cakes, pies, apple sauce, salads and crisps. Please feel free to call (262) 279-3638 to check on quantities of your favorite varieties. Be sure to pick up some fresh apple cider and don’t forget the orchard’s handmade Honeycrisp caramel apples.
The orchard also has a fantastic selection of gourds and pumpkins.
Hafs Road Orchard is open through Thanksgiving. Check here for hours.
Honeycrisp are a delicious healthy holiday gift.
Hafs Road Orchard is conveniently located just 7 miles east of Lake Geneva at W632 Hafs Road Genoa City.
The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory for an area that includes Kenosha County.
The advisory is set to be in effect from midnight to 10 a.m. Monday.
Visibility of a quarter mile or “much less” is possible during this period.
The Fox River is receding after cresting Saturday night.
A National Weather Service flood warning remains in effect.
The river crested with a reading of 13.15 feet at 9:30 p.m., Saturday at the New Munster gauge. At 6 p.m., Sunday, the Fox was at 12.96 feet. Flood stage is 11 feet.
The current forecast for the Fox calls for the river to be below flood stage again Thursday evening.
Note: Glenda and Butch Dupons, of Bear Realty, are westofthei.com sponsors. This is a paid announcement — DH
Here are open houses being hosted today by Glenda and Butch Dupons, of Bear Realty (click the links below for more information):
The 9th annual Old Settlers Oktoberfest took place amid perfect weather at Old Settlers Park in Paddock Lake Saturday afternoon and evening.
The free admission event features a wide range of activities including German food, German music and dancing, the Dachshund Dash dog races, a car show, a stein hoisting competition and children’s activities.
Proceeds from the event go toward building a permanent band shell in the park.
Here is a welcoming message from Old Settlers Oktoberfest President Rebecca Lancour and a ceremonial tapping of a keg by county Supervisor John Poole of Paddock Lake:
Old Settlers Oktoberfest had all kinds of authentic music and dance, including performances by German Street Organs, The Ed Wagner Brass Band and D-Oberlanders Dancers. Here’s some video:
A big crowd watches the annual Dachshund Dash dog race. Two competitions are held: one for dachshunds of all types and another for any breed. Here’s video of the championship round of the dachshund division, which a dog named Chewie won for the second straight year:
Here are some more photos from the event:
Continue reading →
Work is expected to begin next week along Highway 50 on the Paddock Lake water system project.
The work along Highway 50 will be to install a main that that will connect the village’s east side water system with wells west of Highway 83 that will serve development in that area. Here’s a rundown on the project from the village:
Paddock Lake Water Utility District, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Globe Contractors will begin installing a municipal water main adjacent to State Highway 50 beginning the week of September 16, 2019. The purpose of this water main extension is to interconnect the Village’s existing East side water system to the existing West side water system and deliver safe drinking water along with fire protection hydrants to Village businesses and Westosha Central High School adjacent to State Highway 50. Only those properties adjacent to 5TH 50 and new residential development located west of STH 83 will be required to connect to the new water system. existing homes not adjacent to STH 50 will not be required to connect to municipal water. Project Scope: The project scope includes installing a 12-inch water main under existing pedestrian sidewalks along State Highway 50 from the corner of 236th Ave. west to State Highway. The project will include new fire hydrants along the route and water service lines for homes and businesses on Highway 50. The project will also include connection and activation of the West side water system providing water service to businesses in the intersection of Brass Ball Corners. All disturbed driveways, Sidewalks, streets, and lawn areas will be restored upon
completion. The public and users of State Highway 50 can expect to see lane closures along Highway 50 adjacent to the construction project. Early in the project (Mid- September) the south end of 236th Ave. at Highway 5O will be closed to all traffic for 2 to 3 days. Detours signs will be prominently displayed to route traffic to CTH K and State Highway 75. Construction Project timeline: The project is expected to begin the third week in September with completion in the spring of 2020.
At about 10:24 a.m., Randall Fire and Rescue and Twin Lakes Rescue units and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash at 125th Street and 336th Avenue in Randall.
Per dispatch: Two vehicles involved.
The latest National Weather Service forecast for the Fox River in Western Kenosha County is calling for a crest over 13 feet.
The latest crest is projected to come at 13.3 feet by early Sunday morning as measured at the New Munster gauge. Flood stage is 11 feet. At 8 a.m., Saturday, the river was at 12.89 feet.
A flood warning is in effect for the river.
Note: Glenda and Butch Dupons, of Bear Realty, are westofthei.com sponsors. This is a paid announcement — DH
Here are open houses being hosted today by Glenda and Butch Dupons, of Bear Realty (click the links below for more information):
At about 9:17 p.m., Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue units are responding to Central High School for a medical call.
Per dispatch: Patient is an injured football player .
An update on how contracted rescue service were working for Wheatland residents devolved into a heated exchange between fire Chief Lou Denko and town Chairman Bill Glembocki at Monday’s Town Board meeting.
On the meeting agenda was a report from Chief Stan Clause Jr., Twin Lakes Fire and Rescue, on how contracting for emergency medical services for the whole town from Twin Lakes Rescue was working.
Before 2019, Wheatland had been contracting for EMS from Silver Lake Rescue Squad for the eastern part of the town and from Twin Lakes Rescue for the balance of the town. After Silver Lake Rescue closed its doors as of Jan. 1. Wheatland contracted for Twin Lakes Rescue to serve the whole town.
Clause said Monday he felt the arrangement was going fine for his organization despite the added territory and call volume. His department did acquire a third ambulance to help deal with the additional call volume.
“Everything’s been going quite well,” Clause said. “We’re working well together. It hasn’t put a large burden on us.”
Besides Twin Lakes, Twin Lakes Rescue also serves Randall for emergency medical services.
Besides Twin Lakes Rescue, Wheatland based first responders also respond to medical calls in the town.
Twin Lakes EMS personnel are currently paid on call, but Clause said in the near future the plan is to move to staffing some shifts with personnel at the station in Twin Lakes.
Clause also praised the first responders system for providing vital help to his crews.
After Clause finished his report and took a few questions from the audience and board, Denko said he had something to say.
“I find it highly disappointing that since I am the fire chief of Wheatland that the board didn’t ask me how it’s going,” Denko said. He added that he felt Twin Lakes Rescue covering the whole town was going well, though he had some concerns mostly about large events.
Denko said he felt inviting Clause to the meeting was an attempt to show that a proposal for a new fire station was too large for including space for a ambulance based there.
Glembocki said he told Denko about inviting Clause to address the board and that he understood Denko to be OK with it.
“I talked to you about it and you were all fine with it,” Glembocki said.
Denko said he was not OK with it.
Glembocki defended bringing Clause to the meeting.
“I just wanted people in this community to know that we are there for them,” Glembocki said “We contract out to Twin Lakes, I wanted to know how they feel about it.”
Denko contended he could have provided that feedback as the town’s fire chief.
“There’s no one in this room more experienced with EMS than me,” Denko said.
Denko and some members of the town board have been clashing over a proposal backed by the department leadership for a new fire station. A plan put together by a committee of department leadership, town Supervisor Kelly Wilson and representatives of Scherrer Construction called for a new building with an estimated cost of $3.9 million. Glembocki and Lois have called the price tag too high. Denko contends the proposal could last the department for 50 years, including expansion of services needed with local growth.
The last of four public informational meetings on the new fire department plans is scheduled to be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at the current firehouse, 34011 Geneva Road, New Munster.
The proposed new fire station plans are available here.
This post sponsored by Westosha Floral.
The following deaths of local residents and those with local connections are being reported by funeral homes today. Click on name to see obituary/service information:
Continue reading →Paddock Lake is under a slow no wake order after heavy rains this week.
Slow no wake means any watercraft used on a lake must travel slow enough to not cause a wake.
From the Kenosha County government via its Facebook page:
Lakes Mary and Elizabeth are under a slow no wake order after heavy rains this week.
At 10:30 a.m., Friday, the lake was measuring at 794.9. The lake will have to drop below 794.5 before the order can be lifted.
Here’s a graph showing the drastic increase in lake level this week as measured by the US Geological Service:
Slow no wake means any watercraft used on the lake must travel slow enough to not cause a wake.
Slow no wake has been ordered for Powers Lake and Lake Benedict in Randall, town Chairman Bob Stoll reports Friday morning.
Slow no wake means any watercraft used on the lake must travel slow enough to not cause a wake.
Note: Old Settlers Oktoberfest is a westofthei.com sponsor. This is a paid announcment. — DH
The ninth annual Old Settlers Oktoberfest will take place Sept. 14 at Old Settlers County Park in Paddock Lake from noon to 8 p.m.
The event includes German music and dancing, food, beer, wine and games and activities for all ages.
Here is a schedule of activities:
Other attractions and activities throughout the day will include German street organs, hammerschlagen, chainsaw carving and more.
“Old Settlers Oktoberfest has become a wonderful tradition in our community,” said Rebecca Lancour, president of the Old Settlers Oktoberfest organization. “It’s a great day to simply take a
break and spend quality time with your family, friends and neighbors.”
Old Settlers Oktoberfest is sponsored by Old Settlers Oktoberfest Inc., County Executive Jim Kreuser and the Kenosha County Division of Parks. Proceeds from this event support the construction of a band shelter within Old Settlers Park.
West of the I’s garage sales page has been updated.
Be sure to check it out each week before you begin your bargain hunting.
If you’d like your sale added to the list, please drop us a line at darren@westofthei.com. Include your address, days, hours etc. We’ll even add a map to your info.
We are getting reports of weather related problems that could be causing driving challenges this morning.
At about 7:40 a.m., we have a report from a driver that traffic signals are not working at Highways 45 and C, Highway 45 and 50, Highways 83 and AH and Highways 83 and C.
Some roads also are under water in the Paddock Lake area, including the 60th Street (Highway K) intersections with 248th Avenue, 236th Avenue and 237th Avenue.
The National Weather Service has a flood warning in effect until 9:30 a.m. for Kenosha County.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Kenosha County.
The warning is in effect until 9:30 a.m.
Typically, flood warnings are issued here related to the level of the Fox RIver, but the text of this warning is more general and includes mentions of areas not affected by the Fox directly. It says:
At 323 AM CDT, local law enforcement has reported road closures around Kenosha county. Additional flooding is possible in Racine county as up to two inches of rain has fallen. * Some locations that will experience flooding include… Kenosha, Racine, Mount Pleasant, Pleasant Prairie, Sturtevant, Twin Lakes, Union Grove, Paddock Lake, Camp Lake, Wind Lake, Rochester, Silver Lake, Wind Point, Powers Lake, Browns Lake, Waterford North, Eagle Lake, Bohners Lake, Caledonia and Salem. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
The Fox does continue to rise. At 4 a.m., Friday it was measuring at 10 feet at the New Munster gauge. It appears to be be rising faster than its forecast at this point. The forecast says it will crest at 11.1 feet early Saturday evening. Flood stage is 11 feet.
The NWS is reporting 1.68 inches of rain since midnight at Kenosha Airport.
The National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Racine County in southeastern Wisconsin... Kenosha County in southeastern Wisconsin... * Until 330 AM CDT. * At 1225 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Up to one and one half inches of rain in the past hour has fallen in northwest Racine County, with more storms from northeast Illinois moving into Racine and Kenosha Counties over the next one to two hours. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly. * Some locations that will experience flooding include... Kenosha, Racine, Mount Pleasant, Pleasant Prairie, Sturtevant, Twin Lakes, Union Grove, Paddock Lake, Camp Lake, Wind Lake, Rochester, Silver Lake, Wind Point, Powers Lake, Browns Lake, Waterford North, Eagle Lake, Bohners Lake, Caledonia and Salem. Additional rainfall amounts of one to two inches in the next one to two hours are possible in the warned area.
This post sponsored by Westosha Floral.
The following deaths of local residents and those with local connections are being reported by funeral homes today. Click on name to see obituary/service information:
Continue reading →
The current forecast for the Fox River as measured at the New Munster gauge calls for the river to top flood stage this week.
No flood watch or warning for the Fox has been issued by NWS yet.
The forecast calls for the river to crest at 11.3 feet at 7 p.m., Saturday. Flood stage is 11 feet.
The river’s levels have spiked after the heavy rain and storms of the last few days. At 4 a.m., Tuesday the river was at 6.2 feet. Thursday at 2 p.m. it was more than two feet higher at 8.73.
More rain is expected this evening. NWS flash flood watch is in effect until 2:45 a.m., Friday.
NAMI Kenosha County is holding a fundraiser at Antioch Pizza Shop in Paddock Lake on Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mention and and present this certificate (click here) at the time of payment
on date above to have 15% of your order, excluding tax and tip, donated to NAMI Kenosha County.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Kenosha County, a non-profit corporation organized in 1983, works to improve the quality of life through Education, Support, and Advocacy. It promotes recovery and fights stigma associated with mental illness. All NAMI programs are free of charge. It is an all volunteer group and receives no payment for service. It relies on the generosity of others and donations to fund its programs.
Antioch Pizza Shop is located at 24730 75th St., Paddock Lake.
This is a paid announcement from Westosha Sports Complex. — DH
Westosha Sports Complex in Silver Lake is hosting a Tuesday/Wednesday Golf League.
The 12 week 9 Hole Tuesday Golf League starts week of 10/22/19; see schedule located at the bottom.
$20 per player per week, 3 installment payments of $80. First is required date of signing up, second due 10/22/19, third is due 12/3/19.
First 8 players to sign up get choice of 5:00 or 7:00 tee time.
Handicap is established after playing 45 holes. Once established we will apply handicap to the previous weeks. If a player already has an E6 handicap net scores will be tallied effective week one.
A different 9 will be played each week. Tee boxes set at “blue” tees
Putting will be set up as a gimmie within 8 feet. Putting can be done from any spot within the simulator. If you are not on the green you must putt from a point even with the tee. When in the sand you must use the #5 blue tee.
Total net score for entire league will decide winner of the league
Any missed weeks must be made up no later than 7 days before the final day of league play, and can only be made up during the week, NO WEEKENDS. If missing weeks are not made up you forfeit and cannot win any prize money.
$5 per week per player will go towards prize pool 1st (40%), 2nd (30%), 3rd (20%), and last place (10%) will be awarded prize money.
Dates of play: 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 12/3, 12/10, 12/17, 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28.
Call 262-885-6110 or click here for more information or to register.
Thursday and Thursday night should be wet again, says the latest, local National Weather Service forecast.
Some more rain is likely this morning (60 percent) and then virtually certain this evening (90 percent). That could add another inch of rain to what we have received.
The NWS also has a flash flood watch in effect until 1 a.m., Friday. “A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation,” says the NWS.
How much rain have we received? The NWS from the Kenosha Airport is reporting 4.8 inches over the last three days. West Jacobs in Trevor says his rain gauge says over 6 inches of rain over the last two days (see below).
The rain is causing the Fox River to rise rapidly, though it was low to start with and is currently well below flood stage. At 6 a.m., the river was measuring at 8.28 feet at the New Munster gauge. Flood stage is 10 feet. At 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, the river was at 6.26 feet.
Temperatures are expected to be more moderate Thursday, with a high of 70.
Central High School Booster Club Wilmot High School Booster Club
