Daily Buzz: Fair includes a chance for sweet bids
If bidding on beef, swine and poultry is not your thing, you still have other options at the Kenosha County Fair.
The annual pie auction takes place starting at 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, in the auction building.
Kenosha pool season closure dates announced
Photo by Luz Maria Espinoza via stock.xchng
As the summer is coming to an end and the staff of Anderson and Washington Park pools are heading off to college, the city of Kenosha is announcing the closing dates for each pool:
- Anderson Park Pool: Sunday, Aug. 14 at 5:45 p.m.
- Washington Park Pool: Sunday, Aug. 21 at 5:45 p.m.
Construction spurs rerouting of voter traffic in Pleasant Prairie Wards 4 and 5
As a result of ongoing road construction by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation at the intersection of Highway 165 and Springbrook Road, voter access to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will be rerouted.
Voters in Pleasant Prairie Wards 4 and 5 will be affected during the upcoming recall election to be held on Tuesday, Aug. 16. A notice, including a map (click here to view), has been mailed to all registered voters within Wards 4 and 5. Directions are:
Daily Buzz: Six vying for Fairest of the Fair
Judging for Kenosha County Fair Fairest of the Fair got under way tonight.
The six contestants are:
- Keisha Berry, 19, of Trevor.
- Hannah Esch, 18, of Paris.
- Lauren Vanderwerff, 20, of Salem.
- Courtney Panek, 19, of Kenosha.
- Renee Haney, 19, of Brighton.
- Heather Edmonds, 20, of Randall.
Crackfilling project put on hold for this year; street naming an issue
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At last night’s Public Works committee meeting, the crackfilling project appeared as an informational item on the agenda. Chairman G. John Ruffolo said that it’s getting kind of late in the year to start this work. Michael Lemens, Public Works acting director, said that last year’s budget hearings was not the time or the place to make an informed decision on this work. To do the job properly, Lemens said, three of each of the pieces of equipment (routers, etc.) would be needed, in addition to accessory equipment, trailers to haul the supplies, port-a-potty’s, etc. Totalling up all of this equipment will run over $148,000.
Wilmot had large field last week; will host open wheel extravaganza this Sat.
Some 102 cars signed in at Wilmot Raceway last Saturday providing Wilmot one of the highest car counts in the country.
Winners were Tommy Sexton, Scott Kuxhouse, Dan Uttech, Steve Doherty, and Karl Sturt. Here are the top five finishers in each class:
- Fearless 4′s – 1. 5 – Carl Sturt; 2. K9 – Brandon Feit; 3. 11 – Dan Knight; 4. 18 – Chris Gentry; 5. 10 – Erin Pusateri.
- Pro 4′s – 1. 49 – Steve Doherty; 2. 46 – Erik Grosch; 3. 26 – Evan Townsend; 4. 3 – Ryan Andrews; 5. O9 – Joe Summers.
- Sprints – 1. 83D – Tommy Sexton; 2. 68 – Dave Uttech; 3. 7 – Scott Uttech; 4. 1M – Phillip Mock; 5. 11K – Rick Kelsey.
- Modifieds – 1. 57 – Scott Kuxhouse; 2. C12 – Chris Carlson; 3. 88 – Jimmy Morrison; 4. 47 – Jason Hyerdall; 5. 10C – Mike Conn.
- Street Stocks – 1. 99 – Rob Maule; 2. O9 – Pat Rossman; 3. 10 – AJ Hedges; 4. 4 – Ronnie Mink; 5. OOB- Joe Brenner.
This week, the raceway will host its open wheel extravaganza featuring the Goodyear Sprints, Badger & Illini Midgets, Fec’s Place Mini-Sprints, Badger Micro Sprints, and Don’s Auto & Machine Modifieds, plus Vintage Mods, too.
Congrats to our top 5′s this past Saturday, Aug. 6.
Units responding to crash on 80th Street in Kenosha
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At around 9 p.m., Kenosha police and fire units are responding to a crash with injuries at 80th Street and 25th Avenue. Flight for Life Medical transport helicopter has been called and is responding to the scene. (Scene may be at 85th Street and 20th Ave. — DH)
UPDATE 9:23 p.m. — Traffic being blocked completely on 85th Street near Sheridan Road to facilitate helicopter landing/takeoff.
Governor comes to Pleasant Prairie to sign TIF bill into law
Officials watching Gov. Scott Walker at the bill signing ceremony are (from left ): Todd Battle, Kenosha Area Business Alliance president; Mike Pollocoff, Village of Pleasant Prairie administrator; John Steinbrink Sr., Pleasant Prairie president/state representative; Van Wanggaard, state senator; Bob Wirch, state senator; Samantha Kerkman, state representative.; and Mark Nordigan, of Norstan Inc, which hosted the ceremony. /Submitted photo
Gov. Scott Walker visited a Pleasant Prairie business on Tuesday, Aug. 9, for a ceremonial signing of legislation recently approved by the Wisconsin Legislature that will enable Pleasant Prairie to amend a current Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District to grow economic development opportunities in the area.
Through the approved legislation, Pleasant Prairie has received permission to increase the value of the TID beyond 12 percent of the village’s equalized assessed value. Pleasant Prairie sought the change in order to prepare for future economic development opportunities and to bring property previously acquired by Uline into the TIF district in order to honor commitments that will lead to additional development and job growth.
City receives a “Class 2″ rating on its fire audit
- photos3.fotosearch.com
At Monday night’s Public Safety & Welfare meeting, there was a discussion regarding a subsection in the Code of General Ordinances regarding fire inspection and re-inspection fees. Two inspections a year are required for each commercial building and multi-family unit of three units or more. What the committee would like to see are re-inspection fees passed along to the non-conforming parties after the first inspection visit. Those in compliance wouldn’t be required to pay costs.
Units responding to distressed kayaker in Lake Michigan
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 11:05 a.m., sheriff’s deputies, Somers Fire and Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard are responding to a report of a kayaker in distress on Lake Michigan around the 700 block of Sheridan Road, Somers.
Devin Kunich: “He was a character in life”
Devin Kunich
Devin Kunich of Kenosha is being remembered by his parents, Gary and Ruth Kunich of Kenosha, as a person who loved to make people laugh, loved to act, a big fan of the color pink and “a character in life.”
Devin Kunich died after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle along Highway H in Pleasant Prairie very early Sunday morning. The driver of the car, Quashae D. Taylor, 18, of Kenosha, told police that she had her eyes closed at the time of the crash and also said that she received a cell phone call at about the same time. She made an initial court appearance Monday and has been charged with homicide by negligent operation/vehicle, according to online court records.
I spoke with Gary and Ruth Kunich today. Following are some of their thoughts about their son:
Daily Buzz: Fair has daily fun
Some things only happen once a year at the Kenosha County Fair, which this year runs from Aug. 17-21.
But some of the entertainment happens every day, throughout the day.
Part of this daily entertainment line-up is Nick’s Kid Show, which has become a regular at the Fair in recent years.
Nick’s Kid Show features musical fun and entertainment for kids. Audience participation is big in Nick’s Show, which also is high energy with plenty of humor.
Also, featured daily will be:
- Hawk Hallow Chain Saw Carver.
- Barnyard Farm Fun.
- Petting Zoo.
- Ta Da the Clown
- Robinson’s Racing Pigs
- Wilmot Creek Duck Races.
Park commissioners approve events and Int’l Migratory Bird Day
At last night’s Board of Park Commissioners meeting, the following events were approved:
- The American Society of Interior Designers at Gateway Technical College was approved for use of the Southport Beach House for an auction on Friday, November 18, 2011, with half of the sponsorship fees paid by the City; and
- The Kenosha Progress Fund, Inc., was approved for the use of Sunnyside Park for “Southfest” on September 9th and 10th, 2011, with the City’s full sponsorship. Alderperson Ray Misner stated that this year’s and future profits will go toward Neighborhood Watch programs.
Daily Buzz: Two days of combine crunching at the fair
Chances are sometime on TV or in person you’ve seen the spectacle of organized cars smashing together known as demolition derby.
But, put the Fair in an area where there’s still some agriculture going on, like Kenosha County, and unique events like combine demolition derby spring up.
Combine demolition derby takes the huge machines that farmers use to harvest corn, grains and soybeans and pits them against each other in the metal bending world of demolition derby. The results are one of a kind. The last combine in running order wins.
The Kenosha County Fair, which runs from Aug. 17 to 21 this year, has two nights of combine demolition derby — Wednesday and Thursday evening, as part of the truck and tractor pull program starting at 6:30 p.m. There’s no extra admission for the combine demo derby, which takes place in the Grandstand Area of the Wilmot Raceway right on the Fairgrounds.
Police identify bicyclist killed in crash
Pleasant Prairie Police have released the identity of a bicyclist who was struck and killed in an early morning accident on Sunday, Aug. 7.
Devin J. Kunich, 21, of Kenosha, had been riding his bicycle north on CTH H in the area of Springbrook Road just before 1 a.m. when he was struck from behind by a car driven by Quashae D. Taylor, 18, of Kenosha.
Kunich was getting ready to start his third college class and loved his job at the Bristol Renaissance Faire, said Gary Kunich, Devin’s father.
From Pleasant Prairie police:
Continue reading
Kenosha bicyclist dies after apparently being struck by car
Above photos by Earlene Frederick
A Kenosha man died early Sunday morning after apparently being hit by a car while he was riding a bicycle.
According to a news release from the Pleasant Prairie Police Department:
Continue reading
Harborside Community Urban Garden Project Q&A
Last week we had a post that included info about the Harborside Community Urban Garden Project’s request for a $71,000 grant to continue its activities next year.
At the end of last school year, KenoWi went along on a tour of the project’s sites. Above are photos from that day. Below is a Q&A interview with Mary S. Bohning of Harborside Academy who leads the program.
Mary S. Bohning: The Five Acres and No Mule Farm began with the introduction of the students to the site at XTEN Industries in the fall and culminated in the spring with the establishment of the garden beds. We began with four beds in the beginning which were funded by Mr. John Zenner, a businessman from Elkhorn (faculty member Mrs. Wambold’s father). Donations continued, and we were able to build a total of 13 beds. I had successfully partnered with the Kenosha County Health Department in a “Get the Word Out” campaign for the H1N1 flu season. Students from Harborside Academy were responsible for the development of door hangers, posters, table tents, and a public service announcement that played at Tinseltown during flu season (2008-09) academic year. Diana Andrekus (DHS representative) asked if I would sit on a Healthy Youth Kenosha County Coalition, and I accepted. Then, in June of last year, she contacted me to ask if I was interested in applying for a grant that was running from the DHS – Nutrition Physical Activity and Obesity grant. Diana was aware of the garden and was supportive, and knowing Harborside, she felt we would be successful.
KenoWi.com: Can you tell me a little about its current activities and how it fits into Harborside or other schools’ curriculums?
Mary S. Bohning: Currently, we have the 13 beds at XTEN, access to Hansen’s Gardens Greenhouse (generously offered for our use), the eight beds at EBSOLA, and the four beds at KTEC. The gardens fit into KUSD – Harborside’s 11th grade ecology/environmental science curriculum, health curriculum(nutrition and physical activity), Physical Education curriculum (nutrition and physical activity), and the Foss kit elementary education science curriculum.
KenoWi.com: Can you tell me a little about its future goals?
Mary S. Bohning: Future goals are to expand during the 2011-2012 school year to Frank, Wilson and Dimensions of Learning Schools in KUSD. It is our goal to have a garden at every school within the next five years.
Daily Buzz: Fair has two days of rides wristband specials
If you can’t get enough of the up and down and round and round of the midway rides at the Kenosha County Fair, then there are two days you will want to keep in mind.
There will be two midway wrist band promotion days at the Fair, which will allow unlimited riding during the promotion hours for a special price:
- Wednesday, Aug. 17 – 4 to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 18 – 1 to 6 p.m.
The fair takes place this year from Aug. 17 to Aug. 21 at the Fairgrounds in Wilmot.
Daily Buzz: Racing is for pigs too
You don’t have to be a sprint or stock car driver to go racing at the Kenosha County Fair, Aug. 17-21.
Robinson’s Racing Pigs, pigs that race — and swim — just for the reward of an Oreo cookie, have become a fixture at the fair, which takes place at the fairgrounds in Wilmot.
Florida-based Robinson’s has several units that travel the country with speeding swine. One will be stopping and performing daily at the Kenosha County Fair throughout each day of the fair.
Some of the little porkers run around an oval track. Others run and then plunge into a pool and swim to make the finish line. All are just trying to be the first to get the Oreo — their preferred cookie choice — that lies at the finish line.
RecPlex Aqua Arena featured in showcase
Open for just over a year, the RecPlex Aqua Arena in Pleasant Priaire has been gaining attention within the aquatics world. The RecPlex Aqua Arena has been featured in Aquatics International’s 2011 Dream Design’s showcase.
The showcase highlights aquatic projects that have incorporated the “perfect mix” of teamwork, attention to community needs, foresight and attention to detail. Aquatics International noted the design flexibility, commitment to environmental sustainability, the comfortable indoor environment, and special challenges of the project, in addition to the positive reactions of pool users.
RecPlex is owned and operated by the Village of Pleasant Prairie. It is operated as an Enterprise Fund, a structure comparable to a business, and is not supported by property tax dollars
Daily Buzz: Two demo derbies for more crunching, crashing fun
The sound of the fenders of two cars crunching can be sickening — unless you’re at the Kenosha County Fair’s demolition derbies.
There will be plenty of intentional crunching at the Wilmot Raceway on the fairgrounds on Sunday with two demolition derbies — one at 1 p.m. and another at 6 p.m.
Meeting Saturday on new Pleasant Prairie roundabout
A view of the roundabout at Highway 165 and 39th Avenue./ Village of Pleasant Prairie photo
The state Department of Transportation will host a public meeting on Saturday, Aug. 6 to review with the public how to travel the new roundabout at Highway 165 and 39th Avenue. The meeting will be held at Pleasant Prairie Village Hall, 9915 – 39th Avenue, between 10 a.m. and noon.
The DOT and their project partners will be on hand to answer questions about navigating the roundabout. Anyone attending the meeting will have the opportunity to drive through the roundabout after the meeting.
Time for first Friday open house at I-94 Visitor Information Center
On Friday, Aug. 5, the Kenosha Area Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes everyone to another fun, informative, and tasty Open House at its I-94 Visitor Information Center.
Travelers taking a break from the road and local residents – tourists in their own town – are invited.
The first Friday of every month (through September), a free open house takes place from noon to 3 p.m. at this center, which serves as the gateway to Wisconsin for countless Illinois travelers.
Units responding to report of run over foot
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 5:41 p.m., Kenosha Fire and Rescue Units are responding to a report of a vehicle that ran over a woman’s foot in a parking lot in the 9000 block of 16th Ave., Kenosha.
Serious injuries from car-tow truck crash
The driver of a car that collided with a backing town truck in Somers Wednesday has been moved out of critical care.
Daily Buzz: This fair has talent (show)
Fairgoers with talent can display their skills at the Kenosha County Fair.
The fair will host a talent show at the Free Acts Stage — one night only — on Thursday, Aug. 18, starting at 6 p.m. This is a change from previous years in which two shows were held.
The talent contests are open to amateurs ages 7 to adult. There are solo and group classes in each of the following categories:
Common Council meeting report
Photo by Lukas Zeman via stock.xchng
Monday’s Common Council meeting lasted two and a half hours. Major items approved were:
- CVS Pharmacy was denied its application for a beer/liquor license located at 3710 – 57th Avenue; Nick-N-Willy’s was, however, approved for their application for a beer/wine license.
- Pete’s Place and Captain Mike’s Lighthouse Pub were both approved for a change in the closing hours to midnight of their outdoor extension and outdoor cafe area, respectively. Continue reading
Cable worker electrocuted in Somers
The scene on Highway E after the injured worker was taken away and other workers took up repairs. /Earlene Frederick photo
A cable TV company worker was electrocuted today while working in Somers.
According to a press release from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department:
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Units responding to crash in Somers
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 7:40 a.m., Somers Fire and Rescue and a sheriff’s deputy are responding to a report of a crash at Highway KR and H, Somers.
Daily Buzz: Get commercial at the fair
The Commercial Building at the Kenosha County Fair hosts a wide variety of booths from the strictly commercial to the more philosophical.
Through the years I have seen booths from law enforcement, political parties, builders, media, sellers of all types of merchandise, and even cooking demonstrations. If for no other reason, a trip or two or three through the Commercial Building is worthwhile because many of them have fun stuff to give away, too.
