West of the I

Note: The Kenosha County Fair is a westofthei.com sponsor. — DH.

If you’re looking for a place to get inspired about the school children of Western Kenosha County you should check out the School Exhibits Building at the Kenosha County Fair.

The building is literally decorated wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling with school work of Kenosha County students. Some are art, some are more explanatory, all are visually interesting. Public and parochial elementary schools from anywhere in the county are eligible, but generally it is Western Kenosha County schools that participate.

Students earn ribbons and premiums for their projects displayed in the building.

The school exhibits building is located just west of the Westosha Kiwanis food building and north of the Midway on the main east-west fairgrounds road.

The Kenosha County Fair runs Aug. 19-23 this year at the fairgrounds in Wilmot.

A swim closure for Old Settlers County Park beach on Paddock Lake has been lifted the beach is open for swimming after resampling Thursday by Kenosha County found E.coli levels within normal range there.

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

The result that prompted lifting the swim closure was 201 E.coli/100 mL.

A slow no wake order has been lifted for Paddock Lake, said Tim Popanda, village administrator.

As of Friday afternoon, the level at the official measuring point was below slow no wake status. Paddock Lake had been on slow no wake status since Monday.

Old Settlers County Park beach on Paddock Lake is closed to swimming after sampling on Wednesday by Kenosha County found elevated E.coli levels there.

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

The result that prompted the PHLA beach swimming closure was 1300 E.coli/100 mL. That location was set to be resampled. Typically that takes place on the next day, weather permitting.

Results from testing this week by Kenosha County (except where noted) are:

Salem Lakes – Silver Lake County Park beach 148 E.coli/100 mL; DeWitt Park on Silver Lake 185 E.coli/100mL; Lake Shangri-la 220th Ct. 31 E.coli/100 mL; Center Lake 65 E.coli/100 mL; Rock Lake 210 E.coli/100 mL; Camp Lake 112 E.coli/100 mL

Paddock Lake — Old Settlers County Park beach 1300 E.coli/100 mL; Hooker Lake launch 42 E.coli/100 mL; Hoag Park 101 E.coli/100 mL; North Shore Association 67 E.coli/100 mL; PHLA beach 179 E.coli/100mL; PHLA diving board 111 E.coli/100 mL.

Wheatland — Lilly Lake 5 E.coli/100 mL.

Twin Lakes — Lance Park on Lake Mary 28 E.coli/100mL

Bristol — Lake George-101st St 20 E.coli/100 mL

Randall (reported by the District of Powers Lake) — Powers Lake Beach 17 E.coli/100mL

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:

Youth ages 3 to 12 are invited to participate in the Kenosha County Fair Children’s Scavenger Hunt on Thursday, Aug. 20.

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 p.m., 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 recent clues were: “Ewe” will love our new pens”.  “Come see Thumper”. “Twine, old iron and loud pops”.

The hunt is a great way to get a tour of much what the fair has to offer.

This year’s Kenosha County Fair runs from Aug. 19-23.

West of the I’s garage sales page has been updated.

Be sure to check it out each week before you begin your bargain hunting.

If you’d like your sale added to the list, please drop us a line at darren@westofthei.com. Include your address, days, hours etc. We’ll even add a map to your info.

There are three candidates on the Republican side of the ticket for Kenosha County Sheriff in Tuesday’s partisan primary.

The Republican candidates are:

• James Beller
• Tony Gonzalez
• David Zoerner, the incumbent

There are no candidates on the Democratic ballot, with one designated write-in candidate. ( Note: This paragraph edited for accuracy from original version — DH)

Early results at 8:32 p.m. were:

• Zoerner: 4519 (50.92%)
• Gonzalez: 2692 (30.34%)
• Beller: 1656 (18.66%)

UPDATE 8:37 p.m. — Latest unofficial incomplete results are:

• Zoerner: 5301 (50.78%)
• Gonzalez: 3169 (30.35%)
• Beller: 1962 (18.79%)

UPDATE 8:56 p.m. — Latest unofficial incomplete results are:

•  Zoerner: 5810 (50.53%)
• Gonzalez: 3516 (30.58%)
• Beller: 2164 (18.82%)

UPDATE 9:47 p.m. — Latest unofficial incomplete results are:

• Zoerner: 6879 (49.86%)
• Gonzalez: 4282 (31.04%)
• Beller: 2628 (19.05%) 

UPDATE 10:09 p.m. — Latest unofficial incomplete results are:

•  Zoerner: 7009 (49.84%)
• Gonzalez:  4367 (31.06%)
• Beller: 2678 (19.04%) 

UPDATE 6:44 a.m., Wednesday  — Complete Election Day and central count absentee votes, which remain unofficial pending canvas:

•  Zoerner: 7045 (49.77%)
• Gonzalez:: 4409 (31.15%)
• Beller: 2692 (19.02%)

The Town of Randall Fire Department will host a summer picnic on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This community event for the whole family will take place at Station No. 2 in Bassett.

We Energies will be present with up-close demonstrations and bucket rides.

There will be a children’s firefighter course where kids can get a taste of what firefighters face. There also will be other children’s activities such as games and plenty of opportunities to have some fun with the fire department.

Lakeland Animal Shelter will be there with some fur babies. There also will be a pet food drive for Lakeland.

Food trucks will be selling their wares.

There also will be raffles and a 50/50 raffle.

Randall Fire Station No. 2 is located at 9575 336th Ave.

Note: The Kenosha County Fair is a westofthei.com sponsor. — DH

The Marketplace Building (formerly know as the commercial building) at the Kenosha County Fair hosts a wide variety of booths.

Through the years I have seen booths from law enforcement, political parties, builders, computer repair, sellers of all types of merchandise and even cooking demonstrations. If for no other reason, a trip or two or three through Marketplace is worthwhile because many of the booths have fun stuff to give away too.

There are always some mainstays that you see year after year. But there is almost always something new to see too.

This year, Marketplace will feature:

• Recycled Food Container Sculpture contest benefiting The Sharing Center
• Tallest Weed Competition display.
• Quilts of Valor

Marketplace also includes an information booth where fair directors and other friends of the fair can answer your questions.

West of the I will again have a booth in Marketplace. Please come out and share your thoughts about the site or perhaps what you’d like to see us follow in the future. We’d love to share our knowledge of the fair or connect you with one of our sponsors for the goods and services you need.

This year’s Kenosha County Fair runs from Aug. 19-23.

Tuesday is partisan primary Election Day in Wisconsin.

In this election, parties will choose their candidates for the fall general election. That includes state constitutional offices such as governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer and secretary of state. State Assembly and state Senate candidates also will be selected.

Partisan county offices also will be on the ballot, including the interesting situation here of county sheriff. There are three candidates on the Republican side for sheriff — James Beller, Tony Gonzalez and David Zoerner, the incumbent. But there are no Democrats on the ballot for sheriff, but there is one desiganted write-in candidate, Gary Roberts.

In Wisconsin, voters in partisan primaries receive both party’s ballots, but can only vote in one. So you cannot vote for a Republican in one race and then a Democrat in another for example.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can find your polling location here. Don’t forget your photo ID.

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 Twin Lakes Police Department is investigating and seeking information about a burglary of a local business.

From a TLPD news release:

Monday, August 10, 2026 – The Twin Lakes Police Department is investigating a burglary that occurred in the early morning hours of August 10 th , 2026. The burglary occurred at a local business, Goldenrod City Collectibles, located at 120 S Lake Ave in the Village of Twin Lakes. Officers were notified of the burglary around 2:00 A.M. and responded to the business. During the incident, a significant amount of merchandise was taken, with the estimated value of the stolen property being over $200,000. The Twin Lakes Police Department is actively working to identify those responsible. As part of the investigation, officers are also reviewing video footage from the surrounding area, including vehicles that were observed traveling near the location around the time of the incident. At this time, a white Chrysler Pacifica and a newer-model white four-door BMW are vehicles of interest The Twin Lakes Police Department is asking anyone who may have information regarding the burglary, observed suspicious activity, or relevant doorbell, surveillance, or dash-camera footage from the area during the early morning hours to contact officers. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Twin Lakes Police Department at 262-877-9056 and reference case number TLPD 26-009511. The investigation remains active and ongoing. No further information regarding the suspects or specific investigative details will be released at this time.

Paddock Lake is under slow no wake status as of Monday morning.

The village has received 2.7 inches of recent rain, reported village administrator Tim Popanda. That has caused the lake to rise to the level necessary to close the lake to wake.

With more rain on the way, the lake could be in the slow no wake status for most of the week. Popanda said.

The Aquanuts Water Ski Show team won a national title this weekend.

The team took first place in Division 1 in the National Show Ski Association Championships .

The Aquanuts competed against 13 other teams in Division 1 from all over the country to take home the title in the tournament held Aug. 7-9 and  hosted by the Waterhawks Ski Club at Eagle Lake in Evansdale, Iowa. This is the Aquanuts seventh National Championship in their 54-year history and fourth in the past 11 years.  

Ethan Shulda from Twin Lakes was named best male skier in the country for the second time.   Kailey Koehler took home her fourth title as best female skier.  Koehler had been the only 3 time best female skier until Sunday.

“After a disappointing performance in the Wisconsin State Tournament in July, The Aquanuts skied a nearly perfect show to win the title,” said Mark Gurda, team representative. The Aquanuts had the best jump act, best barefoot act, Dock Team, and Showmanship.

Aquanut skiers and sisters, Brooke and Lexie Gunderson from Twin Lakes, and Winter Haven, followed up on their win at the Wisconsin State Tournament, with a near perfect routine to win the swivel pairs National Championship on Friday.  

Shulda also won the Division 1, National Championship individual Freestyle Jump competition in Independence Iowa on Friday. This was Shulda’s first time winning the National Championship in Freestyle Jump.  Ethan performs most Wednesday’s and Saturdays with the Aquanut Waterski Show Team and has been a member since he was 6 years old.

Twin Lakes Fire/Rescue has announced the putting into service of a new piece of fire fighting equipment designed to increase fire suppression capability even with limited staffing.

From a news release:

Twin Lakes Fire/Rescue has placed a new Ultra High-Pressure (UHP) fire suppression pickup truck into service, enhancing the department’s ability to quickly and effectively respond to fires while operating with limited staffing.The new vehicle, funded by the Village of Twin Lakes, officially went into service on August 4, 2026. Designed as a Rapid Response Vehicle, the truck will serve as the department’s first-arriving fire apparatus when only two firefighters are staffing the station.Twin Lakes Fire/Rescue maintains around-the-clock staffing with two full-time firefighter/EMS personnel, while an additional supervisor is on duty Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The department also offers optional in-station staffing opportunities on Fridays and weekends from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., which are filled by paid-on-call and part-time personnel when available.”This is a great first-line apparatus for when we only have two people staffed in the station,” said Fire Chief Ron Redlin. “The UHP system can knock down a room-and-contents fire in approximately 30 seconds while using only about eight gallons of water.” Chief Redlin emphasized that the vehicle is intended to provide firefighters with a critical advantage during the first few minutes of an incident. “This system is designed to be operated from outside the structure until additional apparatus and personnel arrive on scene,” he said. “It allows our crews to begin suppressing the fire immediately, helping slow its growth and improving conditions before an interior attack is made.”The truck is equipped with an Ultra High-Pressure fire suppression system, an advanced technology that pumps water at pressures between 1,100 and 1,500 pounds per square inch (psi). The specialized nozzle transforms water into an extremely fine mist, dramatically increasing the water’s surface area. This allows the droplets to absorb heat more efficiently and convert rapidly into steam upon reaching the fire. As the water changes to steam, it removes significant amounts of heat while also displacing oxygen around the flames, creating a highly effective fire suppression method.One of the UHP system’s greatest advantages is its efficiency. Traditional fire attack lines often flow more than 70 gallons of water per minute, while the UHP system typically operates between 5 and 20 gallons per minute. This significantly reduces water consumption while still providing rapid fire suppression. Using less water also means less water damage to homes and businesses. Because the fine mist evaporates quickly into steam, fires can often be controlled using only a fraction In addition to structure fires, the UHP system is capable of fighting vehicle fires using foam and is well suited for grass, brush, and wildland fires, making it a versatile tool for a wide variety of emergency incidents.The response vehicle is built on a Ford F-350 Super Duty chassis equipped with a 150-gallon water tank. The truck was outfitted by 10-33 Vehicle Service in Sullivan, Wisconsin, while the UHP system was supplied by Reliant Fire Apparatus Inc. of Slinger, Wisconsin. The addition of the new UHP response vehicle represents another investment in the safety of Twin Lakes residents, providing firefighters with innovative technology that allows them to begin fire suppression faster, conserve water, and improve operational effectiveness while additional resources are responding.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for an area that includes Kenosha County.

The watch is set to be in effect until 2 p.m.

Other Wisconsin counties included in the watch are Racine, Walworth, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington and Rock.

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:

Sharon Pomaville, executive director of The Sharing Center, will be retiring, the local food pantry and resource center announced Friday.

Pomaville has lead the organization for 15 years.

The following is from a news release distributed Friday via social media and email:

The Sharing Center announces the upcoming retirement of Executive Director Sharon Pomaville, who will conclude an extraordinary career after more than 15 years of dedicated leadership and service to the organization and the community.

Since becoming Executive Director, Sharon has been the driving force behind The Sharing Center’s continued growth and impact. Her unwavering compassion, visionary leadership, and steadfast commitment to serving individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and hardship have strengthened the organization in countless ways. Under her guidance, The Sharing Center has expanded its programs, cultivated meaningful community partnerships, and helped ensure that thousands of neighbors have received the support and resources they need.

Among Sharon’s many lasting accomplishments, one stands above the rest: her leadership in securing The Sharing Center’s permanent home. Through her determination, vision, and tireless advocacy, Sharon was directly responsible for the acquisition of the building that The Sharing Center now proudly owns. This milestone transformed the organization,
providing a permanent foundation from which it can continue serving the community for generations to come. Her efforts have created a legacy that will benefit countless families well into the future.

“Serving as Executive Director of the Sharing Center for the past 15 years has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Pomaville said. “From the very beginning, my goal was simple: to leave the organization stronger than I found it. Thanks to the unwavering commitment of our board of directors, dedicated staff, generous donors, faithful volunteers,
community partners, and the countless supporters who believed in our mission, we have exceeded that goal beyond anything I ever imagined. As I prepare to retire, I do so with deep gratitude and tremendous optimism for the future
of the Sharing Center. I look forward to welcoming and supporting the next Executive Director, helping complete our $1.2 million Capital Campaign, celebrating the groundbreaking of our new building and renovations, and ensuring a smooth transition for the organization I have been privileged to serve. Founders Kathy & Rick Fors would agree: the Sharing Center has always been about people coming together to care for one another with compassion, dignity, and hope. I am deeply thankful to everyone who has walked alongside me on this remarkable journey. While this chapter comes to a close, I know the Sharing Center’s best days are still ahead, and I leave with complete confidence that its mission will continue to flourish in the capable hands of our board, staff, volunteers, donors, and all those we are honored to serve.”

Lisa Howe, president of the Board of Directors, said “Sharon’s leadership has had a profound and lasting impact on The Sharing Center and our entire community. For more than 15 years, she has led with integrity, kindness, and an unwavering dedication to our mission. Her vision and determination not only strengthened our programs but also made possible one of the most significant moments in our history—the acquisition of the building we now proudly call home. Because of Sharon’s leadership, The Sharing Center has a permanent foundation from which to serve our community for years to come. She has touched the lives of countless individuals, inspired our staff and volunteers, and helped build The Sharing Center into the trusted organization it is today. While it will be impossible to truly fill Sharon’s shoes, we are incredibly grateful for her years of service and the remarkable legacy she leaves behind. To ensure a thoughtful and seamless leadership transition, Sharon has graciously committed to remaining in her role while the Board of Directors conducts a comprehensive search for her successor. The Sharing Center has retained a professional executive to assist the Human Resources Committee in identifying the organization’s next Executive Director. Learn more about the open role here.Although Sharon’s retirement marks the close of a remarkable chapter in The SharingCenter’s history, the Board of Directors is confident in the organization’s future. Guided by adedicated staff, passionate volunteers, generous donors, and strong communitypartnerships, The Sharing Center remains committed to its mission of providing food, resources, and support to neighbors in need. The Board of Directors extends its heartfelt gratitude to Sharon Pomaville for her exceptional leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the community. Her
influence will continue to shape The Sharing Center for years to come.