West of the I

Voters in the Silver Lake-Salem Jt. 1 School District (Riverview School) will have a capital referendum on the April ballot after action by the School Board this week

From a new release issued by the district Thursday:

1At its December 17 meeting, the Silver Lake Jt 1 Board of Education approved placing a referendum question on the April 1, 2025 ballot to address critical Riverview Elementary School facility needs.

According to district officials, the proposal addresses three key areas: infrastructure, safety, and learning spaces. The ballot question seeks voter approval for projects totaling $7 million. If approved by the voters, the proposal will add an estimated $13.75 per month or $165 per year to property taxes, for $100,000 of property value. 

A recent community survey conducted by Silver Lake-Salem Jt. 1 School District revealed that 59.6% of all respondents and 90% of school families support a proposed $7 million capital referendum. 

“The District has many deferred maintenance and security needs that must be addressed to protect our students, staff, and the integrity of our school building and grounds. These are large-scale projects such as roofs, heating and ventilating, and security that simply can’t be paid out of a single year’s operating budget,” said Superintendent Kim Taylor. 

“We were very pleased that the survey revealed that the community would support a referendum. The Board and I took that as a positive signal to move forward to referendum.”

The Board unanimously approved the resolution and ballot question.

At the meeting, Taylor said that the district will begin an information campaign after the first of the year about the proposal to help all voters make an informed decision on April 1, 2025 ballot question.

At about 5 a.m., we measured 3.5 inches of snow total at westofthei.com HQ in Paddock Lake from the snowfall that started Thursday evening.

That was toward the upper end of the forecast total.

The snow on our driveway was of medium weight and ejected well from the snowblower.

The next chance for precipitation is rain Monday with a high temperature approaching 40 degrees.

At about 9 p.m., we are measuring 1.5 inches of snow on the ground at westofthei.com headquarters in Paddock Lake.

Forecast for total snow fall has been revised to up to 3 inches from this event.

The following notice was posted at about 7:20 p.m. by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department on its Facebook page:

UPDATE about 8:50 p.m. — Deputies beginning to reopen 2 lanes.

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:

Santa will have a high profile in Randall this weekend, thanks to the Town of Randall Fire Department.

On Saturday, Santa will be visiting Randall neighborhoods aboard a TRFD truck between about 9 a.m. and noon. Here’s a map with estimated times from the department’s Facebook page (click the post for a larger view):

On Sunday, the department will host its annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa from 8 to noon at Station No. 2 in Bassett.

Come give Santa your Christmas wish list; bring your own camera for photos. Enjoy a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, eggs, and milk prepared by the department’s firefighters and emergency medical responders. The event is free, however donations to the fire department are accepted. Donations of non-perishable food items also will be accepted for the local food pantry.

A winter weather advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for Kenosha County.

The advisory is set to be in effect from noon Thursday to noon Friday.

Snow is most likely from 3 p.m. to about 11 p.m. The snow may pause for a bit, but may restart by about 1 a.m., Friday and continue through 9 a.m.

Snow accumulation through that period could be 2 to 4 inches.

The advisory text says the weather could impact road conditions. “Slow down and use caution while traveling,” the advisory says.

The weekend should be snow free with the next chance of precipitation coming Monday in the form of rain/snow.

Note: The following is a paid announcement from Society’s Assets — DH

Have you heard about the program that helps people with disabilities buy specialized equipment they need in order to use basic telephone services? Society’s Assets is your local connection to the Telecommunications Equipment Purchase Program (TEPP). You are eligible if you are a Wisconsin resident, hard of hearing, severely hard of hearing or Deaf, or have a speech or mobility/motion disability. There is no limit for age or income to be eligible. For more information, call Rosary at Society’s Assets, 1-800-378-9128. You can also email info@societysassets.org.

Who is Society’s Assets? We are a Center for Independent Living (CIL) that serves southeastern Wisconsin. That means we are a local, disability consumer-controlled, cross-disability, nonresidential, private nonprofit. As a CIL, we believe in dignity, community integration, civil rights, and equal access for all people with disabilities. Services we provide include these five core services which are free.

1. Information & Referral
2. Independent Living Skills Training
3. Individual & Systems Advocacy
4. Peer Support
5. Transitions (Assistance with leaving nursing home and other institutions and returning to community-based residences; assisting individuals to avoid institutional placement; and assisting the transition of youth with significant disabilities after completion of secondary education to post-secondary life. 

Other services are offered.  

• Assistive Technology (supported by WisTech)
• Home and Vehicle Accessibility Assessments
• Benefits Counseling
• Home Care (Personal Assistance Services)
• Representative Payee Services

The Wheatland J1 School District board is scheduled to meet Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m. in Room #164-Community Room.

Agenda items include:

• Virtual Charter School
• Food Service Audit

The full agenda is available here,

The Wilmot Union High School board is scheduled to meet Wednesday, starting at 6 p.m. in the school library.

Agenda items include:

• 2023-2024 School Report Card
• Scoreboards
• 2025 Summer School Courses
• 2025-2026 School Year New and Revised Course Proposals
• Support Staff Wage Increase Shares Amount for 2025
• Closed session for individual employee compensation

The full agenda is available here.

We got a little snow here overnight Tuesday-Wednesday, but the latest, local National Weather Service forecast says we may get shovel worthy snow Thursday night.

Snow could start falling Thursday afternoon and is virtually certain by Thursday night. Overall we could see 1 to 3 inches of accumulation.

High temperatures will continue in the 30s Friday before dipping into the 20s for the weekend.

The Paddock Lake Village Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall (municipal building).

Agenda items include:

• Approve the 2025 Tax Incentive District Budget with tax levy and revenues in the amount of $996,013.
• Authorize the Village Administrator to reimburse SMMFLP Limited Partnership AKA Bear Development for tax incentive district #2 public infrastructure improvements, with a 2023 cost not to exceed $5,317.50 and 2024 cost not to exceed $71,699.65 for a two-year total of $77,017.15. Reimbursement expense to be paid from TID #2 revenue fund.

The full agenda is available here.

We could get some sticking snow this week, says the latest, local National Weather Service forecast.

The first possibility (60 percent chance) is Tuesday night. If it comes it shouldn’t be much, less than half an inch.

More likely is snow starting Thursday afternoon and continuing into Thursday night. Snow is most likely (60-70 percent chance) between noon Thursday and midnight Friday. Accumulation of between .5 to 2.5 inches possible.

High temperatures will be around freezing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and drop a little for Saturday to mid 20s.

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:

At about 5:18 p.m., Town of Randall Fire Department, Wheatland Vol Fire Department and Twin Lakes Rescue are responding for a report if burning in the 38200 block of 87th street in Randall.

Per dispatch: Large fire reported in front yard.

UPDATE about 5:21 p.m. — Randall commands calls off response from Wheatland until scene is evaluated.

At about 2:12 p.m., Wheatland Vol Fire Department, Town of Randall Fire Department and Twin Lakes Rescue units and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash in the 6900 block of Highway O in Wheatland.

Per dispatch: Vehicle has strick a utility pole. Possible injuries.

UPDATE 2:17 p.m. — Wheatland constable on the scene. Reports no wires down. Occupant out of vehicle and walking around.

At about 7:36 a.m., Bristol Fire and Rescue units are responding to a report of a fire in the 15600 blokc of 104th Street in Bristol.

Per dispatch: Fire is in back of a property. What is on fire is unknown at this time.

UPDATE 7:44 a.m. — Unit on scene updates location to 15000 block.

UPDATE 7:44 a.m — Bristol command reports this appears to be a burn pile.

The Trevor-Wilmot Consolidated Grade School District board is scheduled to meet Tuesday, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the school library.

Agenda items include:

• Strategic plan update
• School board goal progress’
• Closed session for: District administrator evaluation.

The full agenda is available here.

The Salem School District board is scheduled to meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the school’s large group instruction room.

Agenda items include:

• Election Update
• Administrative Council & Instructional Rounds

The full agenda is available here.

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 Village Board is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall.

Agenda items include:

• A resolution regarding acknowledging a palpable tax assessment error and authorizing the correction and charging back of the same. This relates to three parcels on Richmond Road.
• Discussion and possible action regarding Occupancy of Public Right of Way ordinance.
• Closed session regarding bargaining on a contract agreement for emergency medical services with Twin Lakes Volunteer Fire Department an Rescue Squad.

The full agenda is available here.

The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory for Kenosha County.

The advisory is set to continue until 9 a.m.

The NWS says visibility could be less than a quarter of a mile. Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you,” the advisory text says.

The advisory also applies to Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties.

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

Agenda items include:

• Creation of a Economic Development Committee ordiance.
• Replacement of a variable frequency drive for influent pump 1 at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Closed session for discussion of specific village personnel matters and possible options to address the same.

The full agenda is available here.

The Twin Lakes Fire Department and Rescue Squad hosted Santa Saturday.

Youngsters were able to come meet with the man from the North Pole at the fire station. They also could enjoy refreshments and get an early toy from Santa.

Here are some more photos from the event:

What was Highway 75 in Western Kenosha County now has a new name as a county highway, after a transfer with the state that also involved Highway KR east of I-94.

From the Kenosha County Department of Public Works and Development Services:

Two well-traveled highways in Kenosha County now have new names, following the completion of a jurisdictional transfer with the state.

The road formerly known as county Highway KR from Interstate 94 to Highway 32 along the Kenosha-Racine county line is now signed as state Highway 195, while the stretch west of I-94 remains Highway KR.

What was state Highway 75 in now county Highway BD, spanning its entire length from Highway 50 in Kenosha County to Highway 20 in Racine County. “BD” was selected as the road’s moniker to signify the towns through which it runs: Brighton in Kenosha County and Dover in Racine County.

This transfer was negotiated between Kenosha County, Racine County and the State of Wisconsin following recent, significant upgrades to Highway KR in preparation for current and future development along the corridor, said Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman.

“Highway KR, now Highway 195, in its current form is a major thoroughfare that really has the profile of a state highway,” Kerkman said. “At the same time, old Highway 75, now Highway BD, is a two-lane rural road with characteristics more like the rest of our county trunk highway system. As such, this change is beneficial to the taxpayers of both counties.”

The agreement transferred approximately 7.09 miles of old Highway 75 to Kenosha County and approximately 5.01 miles to Racine County. The state received approximately 7.1 miles of old Highway KR.

Under the transfer, the state is now paying the full cost of the maintenance of Highway 195, which Kenosha and Racine counties formerly shared when it was Highway KR. Kenosha and Racine counties are now responsible for the maintenance costs on Highway BD within each county.

Kenosha County Highway Director Greg Boldt said that while the length of roadway increases for Kenosha County, there is an expected cost savings in maintenance.

“Highway 195 is an urban cross-section with four lanes of traffic, concrete pavement, curb and gutter, storm sewers, six bridges, and landscaped medians with plantings and trees,” Boldt said. “These types of roadways typically take longer to maintain during snowplowing operations, and the long-term maintenance costs of maintaining this infrastructure is more costly than that of our more typical county trunk highways.”

The County Boards in both counties approved the agreement this fall, with the transfer officially becoming effective Nov. 15. Signage on both roadways was changed over the following weeks.

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: