West of the I

Salem Lakes adopted new regulations this week addressing some of the current hot topic development areas of concern.

The Village Board amended the village zoning ordinances to institute new regularions regarding battery energy storage systems, solar farms and data centers. The village Plan Commission also recommended adoption of the new ordinance.

Both actions took place at a joint Village Board-Plan Commission meeting Monday. Both votes were unanimous.

The ordinance (viewable here as part of the meeting agenda packet) sets rules and regulations for all three of these types of facilities that are gaining awareness among municipal officials and the general public nationwide.

Samuel Schultz of Von Briesen, a consultant hired by the village, said Salem Lakes’ ordinance is similar to ones passed recently by Kenosha County and Pleasant Prairie.

The ordinance sets out specific requirements for these three types of developments. That was necessary, Schultz said, since the village can’t just forbid they be built here. Requirements can’t be so strict as to effectively rule out such developments, with for example, very large setbacks.

“The village does not have the ability to just flat ban any legal use in Wisconsin,” Schultz said, “so setting rules and regulations limiting them puts you in a much more advantageous legal position.”

No member of the public spoke for or against the proposed ordinance at a public hearing held during the Plan Commission portion of the joint meeting despite the high profile development of these types of facilities have had nationally of late.

The village’s ability to allow or regulate large facilities of these three types can also be limited if they are judged to fall under the authority of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities, Schultz said.

At about 9:55 a.m., Twin Lakes Fire and Rescue, Town of Randall Fire Department and Wheatland Vol. Fire Department units and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a crash in the 31700 block of Highway C in Wilmot.

Per dispatch: Single vehicle crash. Vehicle is off the road on north side.

UPDATE 10:05 a.m. — Units on scene can handle incident, reports Randall command. All units enroute can cancel and return to quarters.

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 Pringle Nature Center secured its location at Bristol Woods County Park for another 10 years by signing a lease with the county this week.

From Kenosha County:

Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman this week joined leaders of the Pringle Nature Center in celebrating the signing of a long-term agreement to continue the center’s operations in Bristol Woods Park. 

The County Board recently approved a 10-year lease between the county and the nonprofit Pringle organization, which operates the nature center and its programming. 

“This is really a great partnership that started many years ago, and I want to thank our forefathers for putting this together,” Kerkman said. “This is what makes us stronger as a community and a county, when we work together with our public-private partnerships.” 

The nature center was made possible by a $50,000 donation in 1983 from the family of Robert D. Pringle, a Bristol farmer who was a longtime member of the county Parks Commission and an avid outdoorsman. That bequest grew with interest to $112,000 by the time the nature center building was constructed in 1997. 

Today, the Pringle Nature Center bills itself as a gateway to environmental learning in southeastern Wisconsin, providing environmental education to school groups, youth organizations, families, and adults. 

The center hosts a series of recurring community events, including a Fall Fun Festival — to be held this year from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 — a Groundhog Day celebration, nature story times, trail runs and hikes, and more. It is a frequent destination for school field trips. 

Bristol Woods Park, located at 9800 160^th Ave. (Highway MB), contains 197 acres of upland forest, wetland, oak savannah remnants, and prairie habitats, as well as more than four miles of trails. The park also houses another public-private partnership with the county: the Boundless Adventures aerial adventure park. 

Kenosha County Parks and Pringle also jointly host the weekly Bristol Woodstock concert series, held each Wednesday during the summer. The lease signing ceremony was held Wednesday, prior to the start of this season’s final concert. 

Pringle is led by Executive Director Elizabeth Alvey and is staffed by other employees and volunteers. 

“We just want to thank the county for the support and for giving us another 10 years to operate the nature center,” said Nick Spittlemeister, chairman of the Pringle board. “We’re looking forward to all the things that we can do here and beyond in the county.” 

More information about Pringle Nature Center is available at https://www.pringlenc.org. 

Scout Pack and Troop 328 has some fundraising events planned for coming weeks.

Scouts will be conducting a car wash and meat stick sale on Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Salem School

The Scouts also have popcorn and meat stick sales scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 5, 13, 26 and Oct. 3 at Express Market by Festival Foods in Paddock Lake

An end to the mid summer temperatures we have seen in early September is in sight.

Friday will be more of the same, a high temp around 90, heat index around 99, dew point as high as 75, says the latest, local National Weather Service forecast. There’s a 50 percent chance of rain overnight.

Saturday will be cooler, with a high of 82 and a low of 63. That trend will continue Sunday with a high of 79 and a high Monday, Labor Day, of 80.

The Salem Lakes Village Board Tuesday agreed to appoint someone to fill a vacancy on the board.

The vacancy was created by the resignation in August of Trustee Amanda Procknow, who said in her resignation letter that she would no longer be a resident of the village as of Aug. 28.

Applicants interested in filling the seat must:

• Reside within the village of Salem Lakes
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be an eligible elector

To apply, qualified individuals can submit a letter of interest and completed application to the Village Clerk either in person or by email at clerk@voslwi.gov. Application can be found online at https://voslwi.gov/jobs

Applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Sept. 30.

Procknow was elected to her first term on the board last April. Her term was to continue until April 2028.

On Tuesday, board members discussed alternatives for addressing the vacancy.

There were three alternatives, said village administrator Michael Kostiuk: Leave the seat open, hold a special election or make an appointment.

Leaving the seat open could set up a scenario where the board could dead lock with 3-3 votes.

Holding a special election could be done at no additional cost if it was done in conjunction with the April 2027 election, but that would leave the seat open until then. Having a stand alone election would cost between $10-15,000, village Clerk Sara Spencer said county officials estimate. It also would need to be precisely timed in relation to the April election.

All board members present Tuesday seemed to favor making an appointment, and the motion to follow that path was approved by unanimous vote.

Village President Rita Bucur said she felt a precedent was set when the board used a similar process to appoint Peter Poli to the board after the resignation of Kelly Sweeting in 2024.

Bucur asked each trustee to come up with a question to ask the applicants at a meeting. Applicants will not have access to the questions before the meeting.

Kostiuk suggested the village formulate a policy for filling vacancies to establish a procedure for future vacancies.

At about 5:33 p.m., Paris Fire and Rescue, Bristol Fire and Rescue and Pleasant Prairie Fire and Rescue and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a fire in the 2800 block of 168th Avenue in Paris.

Per dispatch: This is being reported as a barn fire. Barn is not near a residence.

UPDATE 5:40 p.m. — Deputy on scene confirms to dispatch that barn is on fire. Trees nearby.

UPDATE 5:42 p.m. — Paris command activates box alarm. Additional departments now responding include: Newport Fire Protection District, Winthrop Harbor Fire Department, Union Grove Fire and Rescue, Kenosha Fire Department, Twin Lakes Fire and Rescue.

UPDATE about 5:45 p.m. — Unit on scene reports no animals in barn.

UPDATE 5:59 p.m. — Paris command reports to dispatch that fire is under control. Box alarm being struck. Units not on scene can return to quarters.

UPDATE 6 p.m. — Paris command requests response from We Energies.

A swim caution for Paddock Hooker Lakes Association beach has been lifted after resampling by Kenosha County Wednesday showed E.coli levels within acceptable 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 from Wednesday that prompted lifting the caution at PHLA beach was 148 E.coli/100 mL.

At 10:03 a.m., Twin Lakes Fire and Rescue and Twin Lakes Police units are responding to a business in the 100 block of North Lake Avenue for an investigation.

Per dispatch: Caller reporting natural gas odor.

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:

DeWitt Park Beach on Silver Lake is closed to swimming and Hooker Lake boat launch and Paddock Hooker Lakes Association beach on Paddock Lake are under a swim caution after sampling by Kenosha County on Monday 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 results from Monday that prompted the above actions were:

• DeWitt Park beach — 1553 E.coli/100 mL
• PHLA beach — 260 E.coli/100 mL
• Hooker Lake launch — 517 E.coli/100 mL

The above location are scheduled for resampling. Typically that takes place the next day, weather permitting.

This will be the last week of testing for 2026.

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

Salem Lakes – Silver Lake County Park beach 22 E.coli/100 mL; DeWitt Park on Silver Lake 1553 E.coli/100mL; Lake Shangri-la 220th Ct. 28 E.coli/100 mL; Center Lake 14 E.coli/100 mL; Rock Lake 44 E.coli/100 mL; Camp Lake 60 E.coli/100 mL

Paddock Lake — Old Settlers County Park beach 20 E.coli/100 mL; Hooker Lake launch 517 E.coli/100 mL; Hoag Park 75 E.coli/100 mL; North Shore Association 160 E.coli/100 mL; PHLA beach 260 E.coli/100mL; PHLA diving board 93 E.coli/100 mL.

Wheatland — Lilly Lake 101 E.coli/100 mL.

Twin Lakes — Lance Park on Lake Mary 37 E.coli/100mL

Randall (reported by the District of Powers Lake) — Powers Lake Beach 135 E.coli/100mL

The following is a summary of the initial sampling for each week of the 2026 season shown by testing location:

At about 1:38 p.m., Paris Fire and Rescue units and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash in the 2800 block of Highway UE in Paris.

Per dispatch: Box truck has struck a tree. Injuries being reported.

UPDATE 1:44 p.m. — Paris unit arriving on scene reports significant damage to vehicle.

UPDATE 1:46 p.m. — Paris command requests response from Bristol Fire and Rescue with its heavy rescue truck.

UPDATE 1:59 p.m. — Response from Flight for Life medical transport helicopter being considered.

UPDATE 2:08 p.m. — Flight for Life response requested.

UPDATE 2:17 p.m. — Flight unable to fly due to weather.

Temperatures in the low 90s and heat values even higher will have it feeling like mid summer on the first two days of September.

In the latest, local National Weather Service forecast, Tuesday’s high is expected to reach 90 with a heat index value as high as 99. Wednesday is much the same, with a high temp of 91 and heat index as high as 97. There’s also a small chance of rain both days.

Thursday and Friday’s high temperatures are expected to reach 87 and Friday 85. The real cool-off won’t start until Sunday when the high temp will reach 82. Labor Day on Monday will reach just 78.

Thursday and Friday also have a 50 percent chance of rain.

The Salem Lakes Village Board is scheduled to meet Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. at Village Hall in Salem.

The meeting also will be livestreamed and available for later viewing here.

Agenda items include:

• Resolution 2026.09-180 – Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of a $1,023,000 General Obligation Promissory Note, Series 2026A
• Payment request #3 from Asphalt Contractors, in the amount of $410,096.56, for the Valmar & Yaws Subdivision Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation.
• Ordinance 2026.09-127, Village of Salem Lakes, 9814 Antioch Rd, Salem, WI 53168 (Owner), Brad Zautcke, 9814 Antioch Road, Salem, WI 53168-0443 (Agent), requesting a rezoning from R-4 (Urban Single-Family Residential District) to R-8 (Urban Two-Family Residential District) on Tax Parcel #70-4-120-212-1350 located in the Northwest 1/4 of
  Section 21, Township1 North, Range 20 East, Village of Salem Lakes. For informational purposes only this parcel is located on the east side of CTH ‘AH’ (Camp Lake Road) approximately 500 feet south of 95ᵗʰ Street.
• Village of Salem Lakes, 9814 Antioch Road, Kenosha, WI 53168 (Owner), Brad Zautcke 9814 Antioch Road, Kenosha, WI 53168 (Agent), – Part of the NW ¼, NE ¼, SW ¼, SE ¼, of the NW ¼ of Section 21, Township 1 North, Range 20 East, Village of Salem Lakes. Requesting approval of a Certified Survey Map (dated July 8, 2026, and prepared by John P. Casucci of RA Smith Engineering) to create one (1) approximately 0.4992-acre parcel and one (1) appx. 0.5310 parcel from Tax Parcel #70-4-120-212-1350. For informational purposes only this parcel is located on the east side of CTH ‘AH’ (Camp Lake Road) approximately 500 feet south of 95ᵗʰ Street.
• Triple H Enterprises No 5 LLC, PO Box 211, Antioch, IL 60002 (Owner), Tim & DeAnna Delimat, 34231 High Drive., East Troy, WI 53120 (Agent), – Part of the Northeast Quarter of Section 35, Township 1 North, Range 20 East, Village of Salem Lakes. Requesting approval of a Certified Survey Map (dated July 14, 2026, and prepared by Richie P. Wenzel of Lynch & Associates) to create one (1) approximately 4.0-acre parcel and one (1) approximately 5.9-acre parcel from Tax Parcel #70-4-120-351-0281. For informational purposes only this parcel is located on the west side of STH ‘83’ (Antioch Road) approximately 700 feet South of CTH ‘JF’ (119ᵗʰ Street).
• Resolution 2026.09-179 to discontinue a portion of an alley between Parcel #70-4-120-321-0931 and 70-4-120-321-0825 in Block 10 of the Valmar Third Addition Subdivision. For informational purposes only, this alley is located between CTH ‘C’ and 117ᵗʰ Street east of 286ᵗʰ Avenue (Wisconsin Style BBQ).
• Ordinance 2026-09-122, David Gilbertsen Trust, PO Box 197, Camp Lake, WI 53109 (Owner), David Gilbertsen, PO Box 197, Salem, WI 53168-0197 (Agent), requests an amendment to Map 6.5 of The Land Use Plan for the Village of Salem Lakes: 2050, from (Commercial), (Transportation – Communication – Utility) & (Primary Environmental Corridor) to (Medium-Density Residential) & (Primary Environmental Corridor) on Tax Parcel #70-4-120-212-1410, located in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 21, Township 1 North, Range 20 East, Village of Salem Lakes. For informational purposes only this parcel is located on the west side of CTH ‘AH’ (276ᵗʰ Avenue) approximately 200 feet south of CTH ‘SA’(Camp Lake Road).
• Ordinance 2026.09-123, David Gilbertsen Trust, PO Box 197, Camp Lake, WI 53109 (Owner), David Gilbertsen, PO Box 197, Camp Lake, WI 53109-0197 (Agent), requesting a rezoning from B-2 (Community Business District) & C-1 (Lowland Resource Conservancy District) to R-3 (Urban Single-Family Residential District) & C-1 (Lowland Resource
  Conservancy District) on Tax Parcel #70-4-120-212-1410 located in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 21, Township 1 North, Range 20 East, Village of Salem Lakes.
• Cooperative cost share and or “In Kind service agreement” with the Silver Lake Management District to erect new updated Chapter 330 Lakes and Waterways Ordinances signs, to replace the signs at the Villages Fire Lane Boat Launch and the DNR Boat Landing on Cogswell Drive and a new sign at the Copper Bottom, Boat Landing on HWY F
• Village Board Trustee vacancy options due to resignation of Amanda Procknow
• Library Board appointments due to amended and reorganized Joint Library Operating Agreement for the Community Library
• Closed session for: Potential purchase of Parcel # 70-4-120-303-0926; AT&T/MD7’s cell tower lease negotiations – Discussion and consideration of cell tower lease extension/options

Note: The following is a paid announcement from the Twin Lakes Area Chamber & Business Association — DH

Note: This is a paid announcement from the Twin Lakes Area Chamber and Business Association — DH

THE COURSE IS READY… ARE YOU?

This year’s Twin Lakes Area Chamber and Business Association Golf Outing has plenty of chances to earn some serious bragging rights.

Closest to the Pin — Men & Women
Longest Drive — Men & Women
TWO Hole-in-One Challenges
NEW THIS YEAR: Closest to the Line!

Whether you’re chasing the win, playing for fun, or just hoping your ball goes where you actually intended — there’s something happening all over the course.

Grab your foursome and join us September 16 at Twin Lakes Country Club for a day of golf, friendly competition, community, and a whole lot more than 18 holes.

Don’t be the team hearing about it afterward. Get yours registered here: https://twinlakeschamber.com/36th-golf-outing

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 Salem Lakes Joint Village Board and Plan Commission are scheduled to hold a joint meeting Monday starting at 5 p.m. at Village Hall in Salem.

This meeting also will be viewable here.

Agenda tems include:

• PUBLIC HEARING – PLAN COMMISSION ONLY
  Hearing is to consider Ordinance 2026.08-128: Amending Code of Ordinances Chapter 490: Zoning and Shoreland/Floodplain Zoning Regarding Battery Energy Storage Systems, Solar Energy Systems, and Establishments Used Primarily for the Storage, Management, Processing, and Transmission of Digital Data
• NEW BUSINESS – PLAN COMMISSION ONLY
  Discussion and possible action on the following items: Ordinance 2026.08-128: Amending Code of Ordinances Chapter 490: Zoning and Shoreland/Floodplain Zoning Regarding Battery Energy Storage Systems, Solar Energy
  Systems, and Establishments Used Primarily for the Storage, Management, Processing, and Transmission of Digital Data
• NEW BUSINESS – VILLAGE BOARD ONLY FOLLOWING PLAN COMMISSION ACTION
  Discussion and possible action on the following items: Ordinance 2026.08-128: Amending Code of Ordinances Chapter 490: Zoning and Shoreland/Floodplain Zoning Regarding Battery Energy Storage Systems, Solar Energy Systems, and Establishments Used Primarily for the Storage, Management, Processing, and Transmission of Digital Data. The Village Board will consider this item only after the Plan Commission has completed its public hearing and taken action on the proposed ordinance.

The full agenda is available here.

Five Wilmot Union High School students earned the opportunity to compete on the international stage at the 2026 HOSA International Leadership Conference, held June 16–21 in Indianapolis.

The WUHS students placed in the top five of their respective events at the Wisconsin HOSA State Leadership Conference.

Representing Wilmot Union High School were:
● Grace Barton – Research Poster
● Caitlyn DePasquale and Taylor Walter – Forensic Science
● Kayla Grubb – Dental Science
● Madison Strom – Respiratory Therapy

Two Wilmot students advanced to the second round of international competition, placing among the world’s top competitors in their respective events.

Barton advanced to present her research poster, Increasing Stress Levels in Adolescents, and Its Correlation with Systolic Blood Pressure, in the Research Poster event. Her work earned her a place among the top 70 competitors in the world selected to present their research.

Madison Strom advanced to the skills portion of the Respiratory Therapy competition after qualifying through the written examination. She was among the top 31 competitors worldwide to advance to the second round.

In addition to individual competition success, the Wilmot HOSA chapter received national recognition in the HOSA Happenings competition. This award recognizes chapters that excel in promoting healthcare awareness and highlighting chapter activities within their schools and communities.

Beyond competition, students and advisors participated in educational symposiums focused on emerging healthcare trends, professional development, and career exploration. At the HOSA EXPO, participants connected with representatives from healthcare organizations, colleges, universities, and employers while exploring new technologies and educational opportunities within the healthcare industry.

Advisor Lena Joch also earned a new microcredential during the conference that will provide additional learning opportunities for students enrolled in Wilmot’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical courses.

This year’s conference marked HOSA’s 50th anniversary and brought together more than 16,000 students, advisors, and chaperones from around the world at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium to celebrate leadership, competition, and career exploration in the health sciences.

Western Kenosha County high temperatures are expected to get back into a range more like July-August than early September this week.

High temperatures are expected to be in the high 80s Monday and maybe even reach 90 Tuesday and Wednesday, says the latest, local NWS forecast,

There will be some chance of rain Monday and Tuesday as well, though at this point less than 50 percent.

Temps are expected to start moderating Thursday and drop into the low 80s by next Sunday.

Wednesday and Sunday are the only days in the latest, local NWS forecast with no chance of rain.

Here are results of judging in miscellaneous open class competitions at the 2026 Kenosha County Fair::

Paris Fire and Rescue and town officials presented a look at plans for an expanded and renovated fire station at an open house Wednesday.

The changes to the fire station would address realities of the current department not met by the present facility, including dedicated living quarters and proper handling of turnout gear.

“This building was originally built to house a strictly volunteer fire department,” said town Chairman John Holloway. As the now fully paramedic department has transitioned to paid personnel living in the building during their shifts, workarounds like partitioned sleeping spaces in an open room have been used. The current facility also does not a a dedicated cooking or dining area.

“We’ve reached the point where we need to get beyond that,” Holloway said.

Adequate living quarters is expected to help retain personnel, said fire Chief Colin Hennessey.

The project has a target cost of $10 million, after revisions that brought it down from an initial $15 million. Holloway said the town would likely issue bonds to cover the costs, but would be able to service that debt through existing town revenue without the need to enact a tax levy.

Donations are also being sought from some major industries in town that it could be argued have contributed to the need for expanded capabilities and equipment for the fire department, Holloway said.

The current plan calls for building on to the east side of the current building on Highway 142 (which also houses the town offices) with a two-story structure. That new building would house trucks and equipment on the first floor with the living quarters on the second floor. The space that currently houses trucks would be reworked for training space, offices and turnout gear storage and handling.

Another benefit of the new space would be freeing up the the Town Hall meeting room. That space is now regularly used by the fire department and is not as available as it used to be for rental.

“Part of the investment is to get this space back for community use,” said town Supervisor Roger Gahart, while standing in the meeting room where the presentation was made.