West of the I

The 2022 Kenosha County Fair Ag Olympics was held Wednesday evening at the fairgrounds.

This fun event has contestants competing in activities somewhat reminiscent of what might be done on a farm, but with a fun twist. Different age groups compete against each other.

Here are some more photos from one of the younger classes:

The 2022 Kenosha County Fair sheep show was held Wednesday afternoon at the fairgrounds in Wilmot.

We will be posting results of judging later; check back.

In the meantime, here are some more photos from the show:

The 2022 Kenosha County Fair dog show was held at Wednesday at the fairgrounds in Wilmot.

Here are some more photos from the event:

The 2022 Kenosha County Fair swine show took place Wednesday morning at the fairgrounds in Wilmot.

We expect to have results later. Meanwhile here are some more photos from the show:

All Western Kenosha County lakes tested by Kenosha County Public Health on Monday were within normal E.coli levels.

The State Department of Health recommends posting warnings at beaches when test results indicate a E.coli level of 235/100mL or more and closing a beach when test results exceed E.coli 1000/100mL.

Test results from Monday are:

Salem Lakes – Silver Lake County Park beach 10 E.coli/100 mL; Silver Lake DeWitt Park 70 E.coli/100mL; Lake Shangri-la 220th Ct. 93 E.coli/100 mL; Center Lake 1 E.coli/100 mL; Camp Lake 27 E.coli/100 mL; Hooker Lake Boat Launch 8 E.coli/100 mL; Rock Lake 206 E.coli/100mL.

Paddock Lake — Old Settlers County Park beach 40 E.coli/100 mL; Hoag Park 50 E.coli/100 mL; North Shore Association 28 E.coli/100 mL; PHLA beach 6 E.coli/100mL; PHLA Diving Board 13 E.coli/100 mL.

Wheatland — Lilly Lake 1 E.coli/100 mL.

Twin Lakes — Lance Park on Lake Mary less than 1 E.coli/100 mL.

The Aquanuts from Twin Lakes finished off their 50^th anniversary season by winning the 47^th Indmar Marine Ski Show National Championship in Loves Park, Ill., on Aug. 12-14. 

This was the Aquanuts first National Title since 2015 and the first time since 1984 that they won both the Wisconsin State Title and the National Title in the same year. 

The tournament featured 14 teams and more than 1,500 athletes.

In competitive show skiing, each club has one hour to present a theatrical performance on water skis. Judges score acts by awarding points based on originality, presentation, and execution. Elaborate costumes and staging intermixed with music and fast action take place on the water as an announcer leads the audience through the show.

The Aquanuts were the 2^nd team to ski on Saturday arriving at 6:30 a.m. for safety meetings, skiing around 9:30 a.m.  Results were not announced until Sunday evening around 8 p.m.

The nearly 36 hour wait for results was ‘exhausting’ said co-show directors Justin and Lisa Mushel from Burlington.

“The Aquanuts persevered against not only the 13 other teams but also the elements and conditions,” said Justin.

This was Mushel’s second National Title as he was show director back in 2015 with Ken Meyer. A fast current from the north and winds of 15, gusting to over 20 mph, from the south made the show execution not only difficult but intimidating for even the most experienced skier.  

Co-Announcer Mark Gurda referenced that the Aquanuts theme this year was Mary Poppins and featured ‘gusts of winds’ as part of their theme.

“Maybe Mary Poppins herself sent us some good luck” with the conditions,  said Gurda.

Within the team victory was the highest scoring Jump Team act as well as the Most Valuable Male Skier, Cody Coffey.  Cody a former Tommy Bartlett Show skier and multi-time Team USA member, is a crowd favorite and performed in more than half the ski acts.  The margin of victory was razor thin as the top three teams were separated by only a few points.

Team President and Boat Driver Bob Koehler said “that this is one of the rare circumstances where every member of the team, on and off the water, can take pride in knowing that what they did right made the difference in winning.”

Many of the Aquanuts did not get to celebrate Sunday Night as TEAM USA members were required to head to Janesville for practice in preparations for the World Show Ski Competition that will be held Oct. 19-23 in Winter Haven Florida.  This will be the first time the US is the host country since 2016.  The Aquanut team has six Team USA members. 

A celebration show with the community, fans and supporters is being planned Gurda said.

The Aquanuts next perform with a combo junior-senior team on Wednesday Aug 17 at 6 p.m.  The Aquanuts are part of a multi-team show at Corn Fest, held in Twin Lakes Saturday Aug. 20 , then Aug 24, 27 with the final show and celebration Sept. 3.

Check aquanutwatershows.com or call 866-SKI-SHOW (866-754-7469) for more info on trophy presentation dates. 

Youth ages 3 – 12 are invited to participate in the Kenosha County Fair Children’s Scavenger Hunt on Thursday, Aug. 18.

Starting at 10 a.m. at the ticket gates, a clue sheet will be handed out and your journey begins.  Follow the clues, get your sheet stamped at each building/barn, and at the conclusion you will receive a “goodie bag.”  The activity ends at 2:30 so you have plenty of time to enjoy the Fair.

If you have trouble figuring out a clue, just ask at one of the stops.  Some of last year’s clues were: “Ewe” will love our new pens”.  “Come see Thumper”. “Twine, old iron and loud pops”.

Don’t miss out on the fun! It is a great way to learn about all the fair has to offer!

This year’s Kenosha County Fair runs from Aug. 17-21.

The Wilmot Union High School District board is scheduled to hold a special board meeting and a working session starting at 4:15 a.m. in the school library.

Among the agenda items for the special meeting are:

• New Hire(s)
• Resignation(s)

The full special board meeting agenda is available here.

The working session is scheduled to take place at 4:30 p.m. in the same location.

• Community Outreach Report.
• Updated Student Handbook.
• Standards-Based Learning Update.
• Superintendent Entry Plan.
• Superintendent Evaluation Tool and Goals.
• COVID Return to School Plan.

The full agenda is available here.

The Salem Lakes Village Board is scheduled to hold a regular meeting Monday, starting at 6 p.m. at VIllage Hall in Salem.

The meeting also will be live streamed and archived here.

Among the agenda items are:

• Resident Michael Alagna, request to review use of UTV and ATVs on the Village of Salem Lakes roads.
• Payment Request No. 4 by Payne & Dolan, Inc., in the amount of $88,469.01, and Change Order No. 2 in the
  amount of $36,390.01 for the 2022 Street Rehabilitation Program.
• Payment Request No. 1 by Mid City Corporation, in the amount of $97,219.20, for the Well #2 and Water System
  Improvements Project.
• Lakeside International, LLC Invoice #2055268, in the amount of $6,478.10 for service and repairs on vehicle 5841.
• Lakeside International, LLC Invoice #2055317, in the amount of $6,704.63 for service and repairs on vehicle 5842.

The full agenda is available here.

The Twin Lakes Village Board and Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District Commissioners meeting (same members) is scheduled to hold a regular meeting Monday, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall.

The Village Board meeting is first. Among the agenda items are:

• Discussion and possible action regarding awarding a three-year Assessor Services contract.
• Consideration of a motion to approve a pay request from Asphalt Contractors Inc. for $110,935.30. This is in regards to the 2022 Street and Utility Improvements program.
• Consideration of a motion to approve a pay request from JJ Henderson for $806,130.64. This relates to the ongoing waste water treatment plant and lift stations project.

The full regular meeting agenda is available here.

The Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District Commissioners meeting will take place after the completion of the regular Village Board meeting.

Among the lake district agenda items are:

• Consideration of a motion to approve an annual agreement with United States Geological Survey for two lake gages in the amount of $11,300.

The full agenda is 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:

The first annual picnic was held at the Randall Fire station at 9575 336th Ave. There were lots activities for the kids, lots of displays and food to eat. Money raised from the picnic will go toward maintain equipment for the fire department.

Donations are needed for the 2022 La Salette Garage Sale to be held Labor Day Weekend Sept 3-5.

Please bring your donations to the end garage door between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. No clothes, TVs, large appliances or exercise equipment

Donations will cease Aug. 28. Donations of baked goods can be dropped off Friday, Sept. 2 at the kitchen.

La Salette is located on Highway KD, 10330 336th Ave. (Highway KD) in Twin Lakes.

8:50 am Bristol Fire and rescue are responding for an accident in the 1570 block of 93rd St.

9:05 pm Paris Fire and Rescue were toned out for a fully involved car fire in the 17900 block of Highway 142. Everyone is out of the vehicle.

DeWitt Park Beach on Silver Lake remains closed to swimming after re-sampling Thursday by Kenosha County Public Health continued to show elevated levels of E.coli there.

The State Department of Health recommends posting warnings at beaches when test results indicate a E.coli level of 235/100mL or more and closing a beach when test results exceed E.coli 1000/100mL.

The Thursday result that kept the closure in place was greater than 2,419 E.coli/100 mL.

The location will remain closed to swimming over the weekend and is scheduled to be resampled Monday.