West of the I

Some baseball players from Central and Wilmot high schools are competing in a local hitting league this fall.

“The hitting league is a way for high school aged players to get work in the offseason in a fun and competitive way,” said Karl Richter, Wilmot baseball coach.

The league is taking place at Westosha Sports Complex (a westofthei.com sponsor) in Silver Lake.

Teams of four players play seven innings, earning points depending on where the ball hits in the cage. Each player, every inning, starts by laying down two bunts followed by six swings each accumulating points each inning.

To make things more fun and interesting, the coaches also added a money round. Each team is given a single “money round” per game.  One player’s points will be doubled for that single round. 

The league has players of the rival local high schools competing.

“We had invited other area schools, but they were not able to follow through and put together teams,” Richter said. “For this season, Wilmot High School has two teams and Westosha Central has two teams. We let the kids have some fun and pick their own appropriate team names.”

The seven-week league ends on Dec. 20.  Each team will play each other twice, with the last week serving as the playoffs. 

Richter said he and assistant coach Pat Straub were familiar with hitting leagues from their high school playing days.

“Back in the day, when my assistant coach and I were in high school, hitting leagues were a thing at hitting facilities,” Richter said. “Coach Straub played in a league and I remember seeing people participate in a hitting league at Grand Slam USA in Spring Grove, Illinois.

“We felt it was time to bring them back,” Richter said.

Westosha Sports Complex has been a good venue for the league, Richter said.

“Westosha Sports Complex has been very accommodating and has been flexible working with us to set this league up,” Richter said. “The owners are great, the facility is very clean, well kept, and a great place for players to train for their upcoming baseball or softball seasons.”

Growing with Bristol will host its second annual Light Up the Town event Saturday, Dec. 4.

New this year will be a Lights Parade, starting at 4:30 p.m. The parade begins in the area of Bristol United Methodist Church and will make its way south down 99th Avenue and 198th Avenue ending at Hansen Park

The tree lighting will take place at Hansen Park following the parade.

Donations of hats, gloves, socks or a canned food items are being accepted for The Sharing Center.

Note: All numbers are cumulative since data started being reported in early 2020, unless otherwise noted. — DH

Kenosha County Public Heath is reporting 22,397 total positive COVID-19 test results in Kenosha County as of Thursday. That’s 106 more than Wednesday. There have been 386 COVID-19 deaths in Kenosha County. Wisconsin Department of Health Services is reporting 101,503 negative test results as of Thursday.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services is reporting a positive rate of 13,2861/100,000 people and a 1.7 percent case fatality rate in Kenosha County as of Thursday, .1 percent less than Wednesday

In Kenosha County, 53.28 percent of the population has had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination and 49.99 percent are fully vaccinated as of Thursday.

Kenosha County Public Health is reporting the following total positive COVID-19 test results for Western Kenosha County as of Thursday:

• Bristol — 641 cases (2 more than Wednesday)
• Paddock Lake — 405 cases (3 more than Wednesday)
• Salem Lakes — 1,728 cases (11 more than Wednesday)
• Randall — 398 cases
• Twin Lakes — 690 cases (3 more than Wednesday)
• Wheatland — 363 cases (4 more than Wednesday)
• Paris — 155 cases (1 more than Wednesday)
• Brighton — 164 cases (1 more than Wednesday)

All other county cases reported above are from Kenosha, Somers and Pleasant Prairie.

Here are Kenosha County COVID-19 daily positives and negatives over time:

Here are Kenosha County COVID-19 positives as a percentage of daily tests over time along with a 14-day moving average:

The Kenosha County Division of Health announced Kenosha County’s first case of COVID-19 coronavirus on March 16, 2020.

Wisconsin DHS is reporting 884,784 positive tests and 3,695,627 negative tests with 9,093 deaths statewide as of Thursday.

In Lake County, Ill., where many people from Kenosha County work, there have been 78,363 positives as of Thursday.

At about 6:24 p.m., Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue units are responding for a medical call at Wilmot Union High School.

Per dispatch: Patient is in the fieldhouse and having a seizure.

Note: All numbers are cumulative since data started being reported in early 2020, unless otherwise noted. — DH

Kenosha County Public Heath is reporting 22,291 total positive COVID-19 test results in Kenosha County as of Wednesday. That’s 100 more than Tuesday. There have been 386 COVID-19 deaths in Kenosha County, four more than Tuesday. Wisconsin Department of Health Services is reporting 101,326 negative test results as of Wednesday.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services is reporting a positive rate of 13,221/100,000 people and a 1.8 percent case fatality rate in Kenosha County as of Wednesday.

In Kenosha County, 53.26 percent of the population has had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination and 49.98 percent are fully vaccinated as of Wednesday.

Kenosha County Public Health is reporting the following total positive COVID-19 test results for Western Kenosha County as of Tuesday:

• Bristol — 639 cases (1 more than Tuesday)
• Paddock Lake — 402 cases (3 more than Tuesday)
• Salem Lakes — 1,717 cases (4 more than Tuesday)
• Randall — 398 cases (5 more than Tuesday)
• Twin Lakes — 687 cases (4 more than Tuesday)
• Wheatland — 359 cases (3 more than Tuesday)
• Paris — 154 cases (1 more than Tuesday)
• Brighton — 163 cases (4 more than Tuesday)

All other county cases reported above are from Kenosha, Somers and Pleasant Prairie.

Here are Kenosha County COVID-19 daily positives and negatives over time:

Here are Kenosha County COVID-19 positives as a percentage of daily tests over time along with a 14-day moving average:

The Kenosha County Division of Health announced Kenosha County’s first case of COVID-19 coronavirus on March 16, 2020.

Wisconsin DHS is reporting 879,614 positive tests and 3,688,835 negative tests with 9,052 deaths statewide as of Wednesday.

In Lake County, Ill., where many people from Kenosha County work, there have been 77,959 positives as of Wednesday.

Paddock Lake Area Lions Club’s Annual “Books & More” Rummage Sale will take place Sat., Dec. 4, from 8 am-3 pm at the Westosha Senior Community Center, at 19200 93rd St., Bristol.

This indoor rummage sale will have many, many books and gently used items* for sale. No clothing, but there will be Christmas items, toys, furniture, tableware, linens, china, jewelry, etc.

The profit from this fund-raiser will help the club to continue serving and helping our community and places beyond.

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:

At about 1:16 p.m., two Western Kenosha County fire departments are responding for mutual aid to Pleasant Prairie Fire and Rescue, which is fighting a structure fire.

Per dispatch: The following departments are requested to respond for a change of quarters:

• Bristol Fire and Rescue with a truck and a chief.

• Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue with an ambulance.

At about 7:35 a.m., Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue units are responding to an alarm in the 28700 block of Wilmot Road in Trevor.

Per dispatch: This is a general fire alarm.

At about 3:05 p.m., Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies are responding to a crash at Highways C and D in Bristol.

Per dispatch: Three vehicles involved.

At about 8:06 p.m., Town of Wheatland Fire Department and Twin Lakes Rescue units and sheriff’s deputies are responding for an investigation in a home in the 35200 block of 54th Street in Wheatland.

Per dispatch: Caller reporting smoke in a basement with a burning smell. No flames seen.

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:

At about 10:23 a.m., Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue units and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash in the 28100 block of Silver Lake Road (Highway F) in Salem Lakes.

Per dispatch: Vehicle is reportedly off the road in the ditch.

UPDATE 10:26 a.m. — Deputy on scene confirms vehicle is on its side and in the ditch.

UPDATE 10:55 a.m. — Tow truck on scene.