Barca calls for work on compromise to begin; more protestors than ever today; senators still away
Here’s the latest on the situation in Madison:
- Kenosha Democratic State Rep. Peter Barca, Assembly minority leader, called on Gov. Scott Walker to end the impasse.
- There were more protesters than ever around the capital today.
- Whereabouts of the state’s 14 Democratic senators — including Bob Wirch, who represents most of Kenosha County — remains unknown.
Photos from Kenosha Expo 2011
The 2011 Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce Expo kicked off Saturday.
This year’s event continues at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20 in the Frank J. Petretti Fieldhouse.
If you go, stop by the KenoWi.com booth and say hi.
http://www.kenowi.com/2011/02/16/kenosha-expo-this-weekend-come-visit-kenowi-staff/577
Note: Thank you to everyone who stopped by the KenoWi.com booth to chat, pick-up a pen and a card. We enjoyed getting to know a little more about you.
Winter storm warning and flooding warning on for area
The Kenosha area is getting a double whammy of weather related warnings tonight.
A flood warning continues.
New is a winter storm warning. The National Weather Service says snow should start late tonight. Then it may change to freezing rain, rain or some combination of the two tomorrow during the day. One to three inches of snow accumulation is possible.
The storm warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Monday.
Units responding for woman who has been Tazed
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 9:13 p.m., a Kenosha Fire Department medical units is responding to a report of a woman who has been Tazed by police at a convenience store at 52nd Street and Green Bay Road.
UPDATE 9:21 p.m. — Patient being transported to hospital. Police officer following in squad car.
Come visit KenoWi at Kenosha Expo
Come out and visit the KenoWi staff at the 2011 Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce Expo this weekend.
This year’s event will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19 and Sunday, Feb. 20 in the Frank J. Petretti Fieldhouse.
Sen. Wirch sighting?
Sen. Bob Wirch
The location of all 14 Democratic state senators continues to be “undisclosed” Friday morning.
But if anyone was concerned that the Kenosha area’s representative Bob Wirch might be holing up somewhere along, relax. I’m pretty sure that’s the Pleasant Prairie Democrat toward the back there in this screenshot (below) of an interview aired last night on MSNBC’s The Ed Show (look just over the shoulder of Sen. Mark Miller, who is in the foreground right).
Former Chicago Bear with Kenosha area history found dead
Dave Duerson
After football, Duerson was an executive and later owner of Brooks Sausage, later known as Fair Oaks Farms, which has a plant in Pleasant Prairie. He sold his interest in Fair Oaks and founded Duerson Foods, which had a plant in Pleasant Prairie.
Sloppy conditions close dog parks for weekend
People who use Kenosha County’s dog parks are being asked to check the county’s website before venturing out, county Parks General Manager Jonathan Rudie said.
Polar Plunge for Special Olympics is Feb. 26
People tough enough to brave the icy Wisconsin waters in February – and those who aren’t but still want to support a good cause — will be participating in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge Saturday, Feb. 26 at Lake Andrea in Pleasant Prairie.
The Polar Plunge is the largest fundraising effort benefiting Special Olympics Wisconsin in the state. Participants collect pledges and Plunge into the frigid waters of Wisconsin. All proceeds collected by Plungers benefit local Special Olympics athletes.
Anyone with a little guts and a warm heart wanting to support Special Olympics athletes is welcome to participate. In past years, participants have included 7-year-olds to 70-year-olds, congressmen and mayors, police chiefs and officers, company teams, dogs, mothers, high school clubs, fraternities and everyone in between. And for the more hesitant souls, there is always plenty of room for watching and cheering.
Gateway campuses to host financial aid sessions
How a student will pay for college is one of the many important questions today’s students need to address. With this in mind, College Goal Wisconsin – to be held at all three of Gateway’s campuses – can help students and potential students navigate the financial aid process with hands-on help by providing access to free information and financial aid experts.
The Gateway events will be held in conjunction with the statewide effort to be held at 30 locations this weekend, Feb. 19-Feb. 20. Gateway sessions will be: Continue reading
Optimists Club’s Pizza Bake-Off is Feb. 27
Photo by Gustavo Bueso Padgett via stock.xchng
The Kenosha Area Noon Optimist Club’s annual Great Kenosha Pizza Bake-Off will take place Sunday, Feb. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the UAW Local 72 headquarters, 3615 Washington Road.
Attendees sample pizzas served from different vendors and vote for their favorite. The pizza vendors donate the pizzas.
Barca sporting solidarity t-shirt in Assembly
Feel free to leave a comment below.
Fog advisory issued
Photo by wallyir via morgueFile.com
The National Weather Service has issued a fog advisory for an area that includes Kenosha County.
It may not look bad right now (at 6:30 a.m.), but the fog is supposed to increase as the morning goes on. It may extend into the afternoon.
Oh yes, the high temp today should be about 52. Drizzle too.
Looking farther out, snow is back in the forecast for Sunday and Monday.
Kenoshans protesting in Madison coverage
Note: Freelance photographer and frequent KenoWi.com contributor Mike Gordon was in Madison Tuesday at the protests at the state Capital over Gov. Scott Walker’s proposals regarding his proposal to reduce the collective bargaining authority of public employees to salary only. He caught up with a few people with Kenosha connections and was granted a brief interview with state Rep. Peter Barca as well. His video is below. — Darren H.
State Rep. John Steinbrink and state Sen. Bob Wirch could not be reached for comment in Madison in Tuesday. State Rep. Samantha Kerkman, whose district includes much of Somers, declined to be interviewed on camera.
Kenosha Expo this weekend; come visit KenoWi staff!
Pick up a bag to carry your swag and head out to 2011 Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce Expo this weekend.
This year’s event will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19 and Sunday, Feb. 20 in the Frank J. Petretti Fieldhouse.
What is the Expo? Continue reading
Kenosha Parks Dept. has cash to keep pools open later on hot days
Photo by Luz Maria Espinoza via stock.xchng
Money is available to keep Kenosha public pools open longer on hot days this summer, the Board of Parks Commissioner learned Monday.
Jeff Warnock, Parks Department superintendent, said at a commissioners meeting that the pools would have basically the same schedule as last year. The city pools will be closed on Mondays for maintenance and down days.
Units responding to Carthage for overdose report
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 9:35 p.m., a Kenosha Fire Department medical units is responding to a report of a possible overdose at Carthage College.
Nuzzo, Taube, Jacobs, Coleman survive Kenosha Unified School Board primary
At 9:04 p.m., early results in the Kenosha Unified School Board primary show Robert A. Nuzzo with 815 votes, incumbent Jo Ann Taube with 725 votes, Todd Jacobs with 672 votes, Tamarra Coleman with 421 votes and Shari Kordecki-Ralph with 217 votes.
The top four vote getters will advance to the April 5 election to fill two seats.
UPDATE 9:25 p.m. — With all 81 polls reporting preliminary results: Nuzzo 1,810; Taube 1,731; Jacobs 1,537; Coleman 1,154; Kordecki-Ralph 494.
UPDATE 10:20 p.m. — New totals: Nuzzo 2,132; Taube 2,026; Jacobs 1,782; Coleman 1,328; Kordecki-Ralph 614. (Note this votes unofficial totals as of 10:54 p.m.)
Wienke first in Somers chairman primary; Harding edges Loomis by 1 vote for second
At 8:23 p.m., Vernion Wienke is holding the early lead in in the Somers town chairman primary with 143 votes.
In second is Larry Harding with 124 votes. In third is Fred Loomis with 123 votes.
This is with one of two polls reporting preliminary results.
The top two vote getters will advance to the April 5 election.
UPDATE 8:50 p.m. — New votes totals with both polls reporting preliminary results show Wienke with 182, Harding with 162 and Loomis with 142.
UPDATE 8:59 p.m. — New vote totals: Wienke 258; Harding 201; Loomis 200. (Note this votes are unofficial totals as of 10:54 p.m.)
Units responding to crashes on I-94
Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
At 6:25 a.m., sheriff’s deputies and Bristol Fire and Rescue are responding to the report of what appears to be two crashes on I-94.
Application to maintain Dairyland liquor license deferred by committee
Photo by Lukas Zeman via stock.xchng
The application for permission to maintain the beer/liquor license for the closed Dairyland Greyhound Park, 5522 104th Ave., was deferred at this morning’s Licensing & Permit Committee meeting
The application was previously deferred from the Jan. 10, meeting.
Eric Olsen, director of the Kenosha Casino Project, and William Apgar, agent for the license, appeared at this morning’s meeting.
The Hope Council receives $400 grant
The Hope Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, Inc. received a $400 grant from the Wisconsin Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, the International Honorary Organization of Women Educators.
The services of the Hope Council include helping parents access child care while furthering their recovery, educating underage drinkers, assessing impaired drivers and educating school children on a variety of topics.
Units responding to crash at 63rd Street and 14th Avenue
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At about 5:20 p.m., Kenosha Fire and Police units are responding to a crash with injuries at 63rd Street and 14th Avenue.
Native varieties of trees and shrubs available through county tree program
A wide variety of trees and shrubs are available for sale through the Kenosha County Tree Program. Kenosha County has offered these native species for more than 25 years and in that time has sold nearly one million trees.
The purpose of the program is to encourage area residents to plant native trees and shrubs for conservation and wildlife enhancement.
Council says parade route should stay traditional
Photo by Pam Roth via stock.xchng
The Independence Day Parade (or Civic Veteran’s Parade, as it’s more formally referred to) was discussed at length last week’s Kenosha Common Council meeting.
The council passed a resolution by Alderman Steve Bostrom urging the mayor to begin the parade at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and 22nd Avenue. This has been a long-standing tradition.
Units responding to crash on I-94
Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
At 7:26 p.m., sheriff’s deputies and Kenosha Fire and Rescue units are responding to a report of a crash with injuries on Interstate 94, southbound lanes, just north of Highway 50.
Dispatch reports that vehicle may be on its side and facing north in the southbound lanes.
UPDATE 7:31 p.m. — Deputy on scene reports that no one is in the vehicle
UPDATE 7:33 p.m. — Dispatch reports that witnesses report two vehicles may have been racing and the other vehicle left scene after crash.
UPDATE 7:34 p.m. — A deputy is going to check ramps for person walking who may be driver of vehicle.
UPDATE 7:36 p.m. — A deputy has located someone at the end of the ramp with a head laceration.
Units responding to UW-Parkside for fall
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 7:03 p.m., Kenosha fire and medical units are responding to University of Wisconsin-Parkside for a woman who has fallen.
UPDATE 7:05 p.m. — Patient is inside Student Union.
Aldermen propose jobs creation program
We received the following press release from Alderman Anthony Nudo regarding a program he and seven other aldermen are proposing to foster job creation:
Kenosha Jail Chaplaincy honors volunteers
Over 50 volunteers to the Jail Chaplaincy of Kenosha were recognized for their giving and service to the inmates at the Kenosha County Correctional Facility at the group’s Second Annual Volunteer Recognition Evening on Thursday night, February 10th.
Council opposes gathering of racial info mandate
A resolution to register support for repealing a state law that requires the observation and recodation of racial information obtained through traffic stops passed the Kenosha Common Council Monday night.
Alderman Ray Misner proposed the resolution. A roll call vote was taken, and it was approved 9 to 4.
Misner said he felt that this “unfunded mandate” from Madison was one of the most ridiculous pieces of legislation that was passed. “It makes no sense at all,” he said.
