Units responding to burning violation in Somers
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At about 9:30 p.m., Somers Fire and Rescue units are responding to the 300 block of Old Green Bay road for a report of a burning violation.
Somers is under a burning ban due to the dry weather.
Units responding to report of crash on Highway 50, Kenosha
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 5:39 p.m., Kenosha Fire Department units and police officers are responding to a report of a crash in the 6400 block of Highway 50, in Kenosha.
33rd Avenue resurfacing project – 52nd Street to 55th Street
A public information meeting was held on Thursday night in the Kenosha Municipal Building for residents in the 11th District. The meeting had to do with the 33rd Avenue resurfacing project. Phase I runs from 52nd Street to 55th Street. Scott Gordon, alderperson of the district, organized the meeting. Civil engineer, Clement Abongwa, civil engineer from the Department of Public Works, was also present to help answer residents’ questions. About twenty residents attended.
Information provided by Abongwa:
The plans on display during the public information meeting illustrated the sidewalk , curb, gutter, and driveway approach that will be removed and replaced in the project. The plans also show the limits of the project and the properties that will be impacted by the project.
Tentatively, work is scheduled to start on July 9, 2012, but the contractor plans to start mobilizing next week and may start doing some preliminary work as early as next week.
Property owners will be assessed for replaced damaged sidewalks, except when the sidewalk is damaged by tree roots from trees on the parkway. The homeowners on 32nd and 33rd Avenues will not be assessed for driveway approaches because the city will be changing the grades on the street. However, property owners on 60th Avenue and 27th Avenue will be assessed for replaced damaged driveway approaches.
Fun photo contest at Petrifying Springs Park
County Executive Jim Kreuser and the Kenosha County Parks Division are hosting a photo contest of unusual sightings of legendary and mythical beings at Petrifying Springs Park. This is a contest for everyone with a camera and a sense of humor.
Get your friends and family to join in and let your imagination run amuck. The county is seeking photos, such as: Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa having a picnic, Bigfoot and ET on the seesaw, or maybe a favorite superhero saving the park from space invaders.
There is no entry fee! Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. Each contestant may submit up to 3 photos. One recognizable landmark at Petrifying Springs must be in the photo.
These are for as-is photos, so no cropping, cutting, pasting or digital enhancement. This isn’t about lighting, camera quality or composition. This is about fun, and photos will be judged on originality, creativity, and hilarity by our “Expert” panel of Judges. The harder you make them laugh, the better.
Entry forms, rules, and a flyer can be found at http://www.co.kenosha.wi.us/publicworks/parks/ index.html. All photos must be submitted by July 29, 2012. Photos submitted will become the property of Kenosha County.
Units responding to report of tractor fire
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 3:40 p.m., Kenosha Fire Department units are responding to a report of a tractor on fire in the 4200 block of 47th Avenue, in Kenosha.
Units responding to report of grass fire
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
UPDATE 1:06 p.m. — Police officer on scene reports fire is about 50 feet by 20 feet and not near any residences.
Units responding to crash on 75th Street, Pleasant Prairie
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At about 12:20 p.m., Pleasant Prairie police officers are responding to a report of a crash in the 4300 block of 75th Street, in Pleasant Prairie.
Units responding to crash at Highway S and Green Bay Road
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At about 11:40 a.m., Somers Fire and Rescue and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash at Green Bay Road and Highway S. Somers.
Happening now: Cops on rooftops for Special Olympics
Deputy Ray Merlin stakes out the Dunkin Donuts roof. /Earlene Frederick photo
Kenosha Police officer and sheriff’s deputies are participating in a Cops on Rooftops fundraiser for Special Olympics today.
You can get out this morning to see the goings on and make a donation at the Dunkin Donuts at Highway 50 (75th Street), just east of I-94.
Police officers throughout the state are staking out Dunkin Donuts shops for the fundraiser, taking a good-natured jab at themselves and the time-honored humorous cops and donuts connection.
Kenosha Police Officer Austin Brechue collects a donation. /Earlene Frederick
Units responding to moped accident
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At about 9:10 a.m., a Kenosha Fire Department medical unit and police officers are responding to a report of a man who fell off a moped in the 3300 block of 30th Avenue, in Kenosha.
City plan commission ok’s medical transport ordinance change
At last night’s City Plan Commission meeting, the commission unanimously approved the proposed zoning ordinance change regarding medical transportation offices. Alderperson Jesse Downing originally proposed the change. Discussions on this ordinance change go back to meetings held on May 10. Overnight parking of the vehicles in the parking lot is the issue.
At that meeting, the commission heard from Bruno Rizzo, owner of the 6127 Green Bay Road condominium system. K-Town Transportation is the medical transport company that leases space from him. If the ordinance change were to be approved as written, it would affect all areas of the city. The commissioners voted 7 to 1 to allow it to proceed to the Common Council for its first reading on June 4. Alderperson Anthony Kennedy was the sole dissenter.
Units responding to crash in Somers
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At about 7:43 a.m., sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash at Highways S and H, in Somers.
Road closures announced for Pleasant Prairie Triathlon this weekend
Click for larger view
Pleasant Prairie village officials have announced some road closures in conjunction with this weekend’s Pleasant Prairie Triathlon.
The Pleasant Prairie Junior Triathlon will be held inside Prairie Springs Park on Saturday, June 23, with check in beginning at 7 a.m. Nearly 150 youth athletes are expected to participate. The Pleasant Prairie Triathlon will be held on Sunday, June 24, beginning at 6:30 a.m. More than 1,200 adult athletes are expected to compete.
With additional numbers of spectators and volunteers, officials anticipate up to 3,200 visitors over both days. RecPlex and Prairie Springs Park will host the event.
On Sunday, June 24, to provide for the safety of all involved, surrounding roads will be closed for the race from 6 a.m. until approximately noon. Residents and businesses in the area of the road closures are asked to please plan ahead for the closures. Roadways will be marked with the appropriate detours, and intersections throughout the course will be monitored for a safe flow of race traffic. No parking will be allowed on roads that are part of the course. All pets that are outdoors and adjacent to the race course should be leashed.
On Sunday, June 24, the following roads will be closed to through traffic:
Land adjacent to Tot Park transferred to homeowners
At tonight’s City Plan Commission meeting, four quit claim deeds to transfer city-owned property located north of 79th Street and east of 17th Place, to the four adjacent homeowners, was unanimously approved. One of the homeowners, Donald Bartoli, was present at the meeting and stated that he was in agreement and pleased that, after 26 years, this was being addressed. Another set of homeowners, Luis and Beverly Keelin, were not present at the meeting, but Jeff LaBahn, community development and inspections director, stated that he had been in contact with them, and they were in agreement with the transfer, also. “There will be a negligible adjustment in property taxes for those properties,” said LaBahn.
Kenosha Community Foundation awards $79,750 in grants
The Kenosha Community Foundation has awarded 30 grants from seven endowment funds it manages – a total of $79,750 awarded to 24 different organizations in all parts of Kenosha County.
From the Foundation’s unrestricted endowment funds, grant awards went to:
Deal of the Day: Half off 18 holes at Petrifying Springs or Brighton Dale golf course
Have you heard about our feature at West of the I called Deal of the Day? It offers you great values on goods and services from local businesses. Here’s how it works. We offer a gift certificate or gift card from a local business for half price of its face value. For example, you get a $50 gift card but only pay $25 for it. Now that’s a deal! Our offer today is from Kenosha County Golf courses — Brighton Dale Links and Petrifying Springs Golf Course. Three scorecards provide information for three separate tracts comprising the 45-hole Brighton Dale complex. White Birch and Blue Spruce are 18-hole, par 72 layouts that measure over 6,900 and 6,600 yards, respectively. Red Pine is a 9-hole, par 36 layout of over 3,500 yards. Brighton Dale is a 4-Star Award Winner, Best Places To Play, Golf Digest. The 18-hole course at the Petrifying Springs Golf Course features 5,979 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70 . The course rating is 67.8 and it has a slope rating of 119. Designed by Joseph A. Roseman, the Petrifying Springs golf course opened in 1936. Our offer today is for a pair of passes for weekday 18 holes, no motorized cart at Brighton Dale Links or Petrifying Springs. That’s a $52 value, which we will offer for $27 ($1 processing fee included). Passes expire 11-16-2012. Full description of conditions is available here. Click the button below to buy the Deal of the Day.
SOLD OUT — Check back again for more Deal of the Day values.
Second week for the Pops concert
Tonight was the second night in the series of the Kenosha Pops Concert Band weekly concerts. Tonight’s concert was called “A Summer Potpourri,” featuring a variety of music — new and old.
The Kenosha Pops Concert Band performs at 7:00 pm on Wednesdays on the band shell in Pennoyer Park, at Seventh Avenue and 35th Street, along the lakefront. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets; bench seating is also provided. Concessions are sold to help raise money for the band’s library.
Continue reading to hear and see a video of one of the songs performed:
Units responding to a report of tree fire
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 4:50 p.m., Kenosha Fire Department units are responding to a report of a tree on fire in the 1900 block of 55th Street, in Kenosha.
A word from our sponsors: USAC sprints coming to Wilmot Raceway this weekend
Note: Wilmot Raceway is a KenoWi.com sponsor. — DH
This Saturday night, June 23, features the USAC Amsoil NATIONAL Sprint Series and their 410 non-wing Sprint Cars at Wilmot Raceway.
Racing will be Jon Stanbrough, Levi Jones, Dave Darland, Damien Gardner, Tracy Hines, Bryan Clauson, Tommy Sexton, and more. Joining USAC’s Thunder & Lightning will be Wilmot’s own Fec’s Place / Outlaw Race Parts Mini Sprints, Don’s Auto & Machine / Hoosier Tire Modifieds, and the Massive Speed Pro 4′s / Hawg Heaven Bandit 4′s.
This is the first time in way over a decade that the USAC National Sprint Cars have been at Wilmot.
In action at Wilmot from last weekend:
Finance committee creates Kenosha employee health insurance advisory group
Photo by mensatic via MorgueFile.com
At last night’s Finance Committee meeting, Alderperson Tod Ohnstad proposed a resolution to create the Kenosha Employee Health Insurance Advisory Group. Alderpersons Scott Gordon, Jan Michalski, and Rocco LaMacchia signed on as co-sponsors.
Alderperson David Bogdala proposed a few amendments, two of which were approved by the committee, and two of which were not. The first friendly amendment, which was approved unanimously by the committee, was that Bogdala requested that the city administrator, Frank Pacetti, provide quarterly reports of the group’s cost initiatives, cost savings, changes to the program, etc. The reports are to be provided at the first meeting of the month in January, April, July, and October.
Units responding to report of crash at Green Bay Road and 52nd St.
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 5:23 p.m., sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash at Green Bay Road (Highway 31) and 52nd Street (Highway 158).
Two fire department personnel receive service awards
Fire Lieutenant Christopher Bigley receives congratulations from Fire Chief John Thomsen and Police Chief John Morrissey.
At this morning’s Kenosha Police and Fire Commission meeting, Lieutenant Christopher Bigley received a Fire Department service award for his work with the self-contained breating apparatus (SCBA). Fire Chief John Thomsen stated that “Bigley’s efforts and dedication have saved over $300,000 for the department. And, not only is he interested in saving money, but he wants to make sure that there is a safe environment for other personnel.”
The other award was for Apparatus Operator Paul Murphy, who was not present; he was away on his wedding/honeymoon. He will receive his award when he returns. Thomsen thanked the commission for honoring both of them for this recognition.
Rotary West’s softball monument deferred for 2 weeks
The Finance Committee approved two agenda items this evening that had to do with the Rotary Club of Kenosha West’s proposal to erect a “Softball Wall of Fame” in Lincoln Park, after having been assured that the club would recognize the city’s support over the past forty years. The Parks Commission had, at their meeting last week, approved the monument, but had required that the city’s name also be included on the monument. However, when the agenda items got to the Common Council floor, they were met with some opposition, especially after the city attorney ruled that it was public construction and, therefore, subject to the State statutes governing the public bidding process. Click here to read that article: Two Bids Rejected by Park Commissioners.
Pleasant Prairie PD announces release of sex offender
Eric J Bish /Pleasant Prairie Police Department photo
The Pleasant Prairie Police Department is making notification of the release of convicted sex offender Eric J. Bish into the village.
Bish is to be moved to a residence in the 12100 block of Sheridan Road in Pleasant Prairie after being released from prison on June 19, 2012.
One transported by helicopter in car vs. motorcycle crash in Kenosha
/Earlene Frederick photo
The driver of a motorcycle was transported by Flight for Life medical transport helicopter after a crash this morning near Kenosha Airport.
Pleasant Prairie and Somers FDs issue burning ban
The fire departments in Pleasant Prairie and Somers have instituted a burning ban due to dry conditions, Bristol fire Chief Peter Parker reports.
Today’s action by the Somers and Pleasant Prairie fire departments was done in conjunction with bans in Bristol, Paris and Salem, in Western Kenosha County.
Museum crawl to be held on July 13
Kenosha Public Museum
Museum Crawl is a progressive party at the three Kenosha Public Museums: the Dinosaur Discovery Museum (5608 Tenth Avenue), the Civil War Museum (5400 First Avenue), and the Kenosha Public Museum (5500 First Avenue). Tickets are $30 for the general public ($25 for Friends of the Museum members). Tickets include food, beer, streetcar fare, a goodie bag, and a chance to win great door prizes Tickets are now available at all three museums.
The event runs from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm and is being held on Friday, July 13. The first stop is at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum with food by Frank’s Diner, music by Roxie Beane, and a variety of beers to sample. Take a flashlight tour of the dinosaur gallery — and enjoy all this museum has to offer!
Then, hop aboard the streetcar for a leisurely ride to the Civil War Museum where more beer samples, food by Sazzy B, and music by Acoustic Soul await! Explore the Veterans’ Memorial Gallery and the Fiery Trial while enjoying a night of fun at this state-of-the-art museum!
Then last, but not least, take a short walk next door to the Kenosha Public Museum where food by Captain Mike’s and music by Matt Meyer await! More beer, plus exhibits on Reggie Jackson, Pickard China Company, and more will round out your right of crawling!
All three museums’ gift shops will be open. Participants must be age 21 or over.
Pleasant Prairie explains water testing results
Pleasant Prairie has released the following statement regarding recent drinking water system results:
Continue reading
Two bids rejected by park commissioners
The Board of Park Commissioners unanimously rejected two project bids earlier this week. At Monday night’s meeting, the project for Poerio Park’s playground and ice rink construction was rejected, and it was agreed to re-advertise the contract. There was only one bidder, Camosy Construction. The bid came in at twice the estimated cost. Jeff Warnock, park superintendent, said that another approach would be taken.
The other project, for the Anderson Pool splashpad, had two bidders. Shelley Billingsley, city engineer, said that they would be re-evaluating the work with the consultant and re-sending the proposal out for bid. She said that they are hoping for more bids. The work could also be done in house as an alternate. “A mandatory pre-bid meeting would be conducted this time,” Billingsley said. “There was much confusion in the calls the consultant took on this work. It seemed that the local suppliers did not understand the specs.”
HOME program description amended
During Thursday night’s HOME Program Commission meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to amend the program description from a focus on foreclosed homes to a homeowner priority.
Mike Maki, a planner for the city’s Department of City Development, mentioned the change proposed by Congress, which would only allow the city six months to find an eligible buyer. If no buyer is found, the home automatically reverts to a rental. “This is something the city doesn’t want to be (a landlord),” he said.
