West of the I

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

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

Agenda items are:

• Consideration of approval for Purchased Services: Sharing Center ($20,000) and Westosha Senior Center ($5,000)
• Ordinance 2026.03-117 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP FOR THE VILLAGE OF SALEM LAKES. Kenosha County Fair Association Inc., PO Box 96, Wilmot, 0096 (Owner), Village of Salem Lakes, 9814 Antioch Road, Salem WI 53168 (Sponsor), requesting a rezoning from PR-1 (Park-Recreational District) & C-1 (Lowland Resource Conservancy District) to PR-1 (Park-Recreational District) & C-1 (Lowland Resource Conservancy District) on Tax Parcel #70-4-120-303-1261 located in the West 1/2 of Section 30, Township 1North, Range 20 East, Village of Salem Lakes.
• Ordinance 2026.03-118 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP FOR THE VILLAGE OF SALEM LAKES. SMM Investments LLC, 4011 80th Street., Kenosha, WI 53142 (Owner), Daniel Szczap, 4011 80th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142 (Agent), requesting a rezoning from R-3 (Urban Single-Family Residential District) & R-4 (Urban Single-Family Residential District) to R-3 (Urban Single-Family Residential District), R-4 (Urban Single-Family Residential District) & PUD (Planned Unit Development Overlay District) on Tax Parcel 70-4-120-083-4214, 70-4-210-083-4212, 70-4-120-083-4210, 70-4-120-083-4255 & 70-4-120-083-4260 located in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 8, Township 1 North, Range 20 East, Village of Salem Lakes. For informational purposes only these Parcels are located on
  the west side of CTH ‘B’about 150 feet north of Lakeview Drive.
• Salvation Army, 9241 Camp Lake Road, Salem, WI 53168 (Owner), Scott Thomas, 9241 Camp Lake Road, Salem, WI 53168 (Agent), requesting to amend a previously approved Conditional Use Permit in the PR-1 (Park-Recreational District) on Tax Parcels #70-4-120-163-0700, 70-4-120-164-0820, 70-4-120-164-0801, 70-4-120-164-0831, 70-4-120-164-0811 & 70-4-120-163-0861, located in the South 1/2 of Section 16, Township 1 North, Range 20 East, Village of Salem Lakes. For informational purposes only this property is located primarily on the northside of 93rd Street east of Camp Lake Road (CTH ‘AH’).
• Addendum to the 2026 Law Enforcement Contract to include SRO positions
• Road Consortium Update – Administrator & Village Attorney
• Closed sessions for: Updates from legal counsel regarding the Schubat and Barhyte cases, concerning personnel issues in the Fire Department, negotiating a cellular lease agreement with Crown Castle Towers for Village property located at 123 N Northwater St., negotiating the fees and the extension or duration of the sewer service agreement, boundary agreement and water utility service agreement with the Village of Paddock Lake.

The full agenda and packet material 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 hold a committee of the whole meeting Monday, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall.

Committee of the whole meetings are for discussion only. No formal action is taken at committee of the whole meetings. One exeption to this at Twin Lakes Village Board committee of the whole meetings is approval of the minutes of the previous committee of the whole meeting.

Agenda items include:

• Presentation from CLA on the Village’s financials.
• Discussion regarding 2027 Budget Timeline and Process.
• Discussion regarding Village Board Agenda Submission and Scheduling Policy.
• Discussion regarding a new roof at Public Works.
• Discussion regarding a multi-municipality Road Consortium.
• Discussion regarding the purchase of a drone for the Police Department
• Discussion regarding amending Section 2.32.040 of the Twin Lakes Code of Ordinances regarding
  meetings of the Board of Park Commissioners.
• Discussion regarding a draft outdoor lighting Ordinance.
• Discussion regarding the 2026 Sanitary Sewer lining project.

The full agenda and packet material 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:

 Nearly 900 students graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at winter commencement, held Dec. 13, 2025, at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center.

The following students with local connections earned degrees from the UW-Whitewater at winter commencement:

• Nathan Brewer, Bristol, graduated with the following degree: Marketing – MS
• Jasmine Castillo Wagner, Twin Lakes, graduated with the following degree: Special Education – MSE
• Kyle Diedrich, Twin Lakes, graduated Summa Cum Laude with the following degree: Physical Education – BSE
• Adrianna Fico, WIlmot, graduated with the following degree: Elementary Education – BSE
• Sophia Floss, Brisotl, graduated with the following degree: Psychology – BA
• Amanda Gorsuch, Bristol, graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Accounting – BBA
• Anthony Krause, Bristol, graduated with the following degree: Liberal Arts – AA
• Karina Lesniewski, Kenosha, graduated with the following degree: Early Childhood Education – BSE
• Payton Metzger, Kenosha, graduated with the following degree: General Business – BBA
• Alex Moore, Kenosha, graduated with the following degree: Media Arts and Game Development – BA
• Sophia Parisi, Twin Lakes, graduated with the following degree: Art Education – BSE
• Graciela Quintero, Kenosha, graduated with the following degree: Criminology – BS
• Sophia Rebellato, Trevor, graduated with the following degree: Elementary Middle Education – BSE
• Payton Scoggin, Kenosha, graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Criminology – BA
• Jacob Seeger, Kenosha, graduated with the following degree: Criminology – BS
• Allie Sheline, Kenosha, graduated with the following degree: Marketing – MS
• Abby Sokoloskis, Bristol, graduated Summa Cum Laude with the following degree: English – BSE

Students crossed the stage to receive their degrees at the ceremony, held at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center.

The 888-member graduating class included nine international students, 69 military veterans and 154 nontraditional students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 77 self-identified students with disabilities received degrees.

A total of 61 students participated in the university’s Hired Before Graduation campaign, which celebrates students who landed a job, earned a job promotion, were accepted to graduate school, or started their own business before commencement.

From Wheatland Center School:

Congratulations to the talented young authors and artists at Wheatland Center School who recently
participated in the Southern Lakes Anthology writing project. The theme of this year’s anthology project
was “The Journey”. Student work was judged on clarity and message, creativity and originality, technical
skill and presentation, and overall quality. Each of the thirty-seven participating districts submitted a total
of twenty-four pieces to be judged. Wheatland had fourteen of the twenty-four pieces chosen for publication.

A special congratulations to the following students that had their work selected for publication in the 2025-26 Southern Lakes Anthology – “The Journey.”

4th grade — Celia Czaplicki for her illustrated writing titled “Best Friends Forever”; Deidra Koons for her illustrated writing titled “The Seasons of Change”; Grant VanDommelen for his poetry titled “Shooting Star”

5th grade — Aria Snarski for her poetry titled “Nocturnal Navigation”

6th grade — Jonah Dumelle for his artwork titled “Voyage to the Unknown”; Izabella Ragusca for her poetry titled “My Constant Light”

7th grade — Avalynn Elfering for her poetry titled “Locating the Light”; Kaydence Novak & Addison McCann for their illustrated writing titled “After I Landed”; Charley Popp for her artwork titled “Same Beauty, Different Ways”; Elli Schmaling for her poetry titled “Winter’s Welcome”; Sawyer VanDommelen for his poetry titled “The Foundation”

8th grade – Wren Hawkins for her illustrated writing titled “Written for the World”; Charlie McCarville-Robinson for her artwork titled “Navigating the Deep”; Kerstee Powers for her poetry titled “Confident, Beautiful Me”

In addition to having their piece published, students will be recognized for this accomplishment and receive a copy of the publication at a reception in Whitewater this coming May. Eighth grader Wren Hawkins will receive special recognition this year by having the opportunity to read her poem at the reception. Great job to all students in grades fourth through eighth that participated in this project! Go Warhawks!

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:

A meeting with the Wheatland Town Board sought by opponents of a battery energy storage system project may happen.

Board members Monday seemed open to the idea of having the meeting, suggested by one of the leaders of the opposition, Jenny Morehouse.

Morehouse said she would like to have a meeting outside of a regular Town Board meeting so that certain constraints such as time limits on citizen comments and when audience members can speak would not apply. She said the public would like to know what the board thinks on the subject and what they are doing about it.

While saying he was open to such a meeting, town Chairman Jeff Butler also said any such meeting attended by all Town Board members would have to be noticed as a public meeting.

In January, three of four land use requests related to a proposed battery energy storage system project in Wheatland received unfavorable recommendations from the town Plan Commission. The company behind the proposal, Robin Energy Storage, then withdrew the project from further consideration before the Town Board could formally weigh-in.

Robin was proposing a battery energy storage system facility located on approximately 12 acres within an approximately 19-acre tract of land east of 392nd Avenue and north of Highway 50 in Wheatland. The site is especially apt, Robin representatives said, because it is adjacent to an existing electrical substation.

Local opponents are concerned Robin will seek some other avenue to place the facility in Wheatland. Morehouse said she would like to see the town develop a local ordinance governing such projects that was stricter than a county ordinance already on the books.

“We need to have some ordinances that are going to protect our space,” Morehouse said at Monday’s meeting.

Butler said he was open to exploring an ordinance and the town will get its attorney — who was not at Monday’s meeting — working on it.

Robin had proposed to pay the town about $8 million over 20 years under a joint development agreement if the project won town approval and moved forward to completion.

Residents have been attending town meetings at much higher than typical numbers recently to voice opposition to this or similar developments. Speakers express concerns about fire and environmental hazards.

Western Kenosha County should see a big swing in temperatures over the next two days says the latest, local National Weather Service forecast.

Friday’s high temperature is expected to reach 60. Breezy conditions could take a little off the impact of that warm temp, but still, nice!

It won’t last. By Friday evening temperatures are expected to drop and only reach a high of 32 on Saturday. To add insult to injury, snow is expected Saturday as well — up to an inch of accumulation. Snow is most likely to start falling around noon and continue into the early evening.

Temperatures may recover to over 40 by Tuesday and continue through next Thursday.

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 Kenosha County Fair Association Quilts of Honor group is looking for veterans to honor at the 2026 Kenosha County Fair.

Here is a statement from the group with more information:

The Mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. A Quilt of Valor is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand quilted. The quilts say, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.”

As a Kenosha County Fair Association, we thought it would be great to start this tradition at our county fair. In 2025 our fair theme – “Let the Good Time GROW”, our community came together for our 1st Quilts of Valor ceremony, we had 14 quilters volunteer their time and talent to make 16 quilts and honor 6 veterans. We were overwhelmed with the talented quilters in our community. Our goal in Kenosha County to GROW year after year with the support of the Kenosha County Fair Association, our dedicated quilters and long armers, our community and our veterans.

We are looking for veterans that we can honor in 2026. If you know a veteran with an honorable or general discharge status – we would love to honor them with a quilt. For further information please contact Doreen Daniels – Sew to Honor of Kenosha County at sewforhonorkenosha@gmail.com (Note: This email address corrected from an earlier version of this story — DH).

At about 2:31 p.m., Town of Randall Fire Department, Wheatland Vol Fire Department and Twin Lakes Rescue are responding to an alarm in the 34300 block of Bassett Road in Bassett.

Per dispatch: This is a fire alarm.

The Sharing Center has received a $10,000 donation from Pieper Electric/Ideal Mechanical.

“Pieper Electric, Inc. and Ideal Mechanical are committed to giving back to our communities by volunteering our time and talents, as well as through monetary donations,” said a letter from Pieper Electric officials that accompanied the donation. “Therefore, we commend your efforts and the efforts of the individuals within your organization that give of themselves daily and hope you will accept this donation in support of those initiatives.”

The Sharing Center in Trevor is Western Kenosha County’s multi service crisis resource.

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 7:05 p.m., Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue units are responding for an investigation in the 28700 block of Highway AH in Salem Lakes.

Per dispatch: Caller reporting a burning smell in area with no flames seen.

UPDATE 7:24 p.m. — Fire located, It is under control, but SL command requests grass rig respond.

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.

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 Park Commission is holding its annual polka dance starting at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Salem Lakes Village Hall in Salem.

The event will include a live band and refreshments.

Salem Lakes Village Hall is located at 9814 Antioch Road, (Highway 83).

The Wheatland Town Board is scheduled to meet Monday, starting at 6 p.m. at Town Hall in Wheatland.

Agenda items include:

• Wheatland School Referendum overview
• Presentation for new logo from Westosha Central High School
• Kenosha County Ordinance 8.02 discussion
• Gravel Pit discussion for operational permitting
• Discussion of Robin Battery storage Open House
• Open Records request policy
• Kenosha County resolution Highway O & KD for ATV/UTV
• Outside lights for Town Hall discussion
• Water Patrol Audit overview and discussion

The full agenda is available here.

From Westosha Central High School:

The Westosha Central High School District Board of Education welcomes Mr. Jacob Biehn as the newest board member, filling the At-Large seat vacancy created when Bonnie Felske resigned her seat.

The board interviewed five strong candidates for the position, and following the interviews and deliberation, Mr. Biehn was appointed to the seat.

Jacob Biehn is a lifelong resident of Kenosha County with deep personal and professional ties to the Westosha community. A 1999 graduate of Westosha Central High School and a parent of one current Central student and one graduated Central student, Biehn brings a strong understanding of the district’s values and the critical role education plays in building a thriving community. His commitment to Westosha is rooted in his belief in maintaining strong, student-focused educational institutions.

He began his career in education, spending eight years as a special education teacher and an additional eight years as a special education administrator. Through these roles, he gained experience in instructional leadership, fiscal responsibility, and collaborative communication across all levels of a school system. In 2020, he transitioned into
business ownership in Bristol, Wisconsin, while remaining actively involved with Westosha Central by employing students and supporting school programs. His combined background in education, business, and community engagement offers a well-rounded perspective as he joins the Westosha Central Board of Education.

Mr. Biehn’s first board meeting will be on March 10, 2026. His appointed term will run
through April 2027, at which time the seat will appear on the spring election ballot.

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:

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:

Residents who formerly voted at Silver Lake Village Hall and the Wilmot Fire Station will have a new place to vote for at least 2026 after actions by the Salem Lakes Village Board Tuesday.

The board voted to discontinue using the old Silver Lake Village Hall building and the Wilmot Fire Station for voting. The vote was unanimous with all members present.

Those who used to vote at Silver Lake Village Hall will now vote at Salem Lakes Village Hall, 9814 Antioch Road, Salem. Those who used to vote in Wilmot will vote at Salem Lakes Fire Station No. 1/Public Works, 11252 254th Ct., in Trevor.

So far, the changes are just for the remaining elections in 2026, which include the spring election April 7, the partisan primary election In August and the fall election in November, but village Clerk Sara Spencer said the matter will be considered for ongoing implementation if it works well.

“People might like it,” Spencer said.

The change was prompted in part by the situation with the Silver Lake location. The former village hall is in disrepair and is being marketed for rental by the village.

While the original plan was to move voting to the former rescue squad building in Silver Lake near the old village hall, that building could not be made accessible enough for voting due to cold weather of late, Spencer said.

“I have nowhere in Silver Lake for a good stable polling location,” Spencer said. She pointed out schools and churches typically are no longer open to serving as polling locations.

The change will mean all voting is taking place at village properties. The village does not own the Wilmot fire station property.

Voting did sometimes change for Silver Lake and Wilmot voters under the old system. For elections with low anticipated turnout, all voters voted in Salem at Village Hall. Higher turnout elections used all three locations.

“My biggest complaint when I started was people didn’t know where to vote,” Spencer said. The new arrangement could bring stability to that situation.

No member of the public spoke for or against the proposal at a public hearing on the changes held Tuesday at the Village Board meeting.

But some board members expressed concerns.

Trustee Bill Hopkins, who lives in Silver Lake, expressed concern that Silver Lake voters might be confused at the first election coming up.

“This is not going to go well for that April election,” Hopkins said.

Other trustees were not as concerned about confusion.

“I never know where I’m going to vote, so I always call or look online and figure it out,” Trustee Angela Brooks said. “So what’s the big concern?”

Spencer said there are plans to give affected voters notice of the change through a postcard mailing and signs before the next election.

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:

Christ Lutheran Church invites the public to a free soup and sides community luncheon.

The event will take place Feb. 21 from noon to 2 p.m.

Questions? Call the church office at 262-843-2631.

Christ Lutheran Church is located at 24929 75th St., Paddock Lake.

Note: This is a paid announcement from Reliable Heating and Air Conditioning — DH

Reliable Heating & Air Conditioning has been in the Western Kenosha County neighborhood for 40 years.

Reliable was founded in 1985 by Ray Sheehan. Ray’s son Rick now runs the company and three generation of Sheehans have worked there.

Reliable Heating & Air Conditioning is fully staffed with HVAC technicians throughout SE Wisconsin to best serve you. 

It’s friendly, knowledgeable and skilled technicians keep your home comfortable and energy efficient all year-round with the best HVAC solutions to suit your home’s layout. 

Reliable can work around your schedule and service you HVAC products with the skill and care that you deserve and a price you can afford.

Besides standard heating and air conditioning services, Reliable also services and installs water heaters and boiler systems.

Whether your need is residential, commercial, installation, service or new construction Reliable brings 50 years of experience to complete your job.

Call Reliable Heating & Air Conditioning today at 262-843-2865

At about 5:25 p.m., Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue units, Kenosha County Dive Team members and sheriff’s deputies are responding for a possible water emergency in the 21900 block of 121st Street in Lake Shangri-la.

Per dispatch: Caller reports children on ice that appear to be in distress.

UPDATE 5:32 p.m. — Sheriff’s deputy on scene reports it appears all children have made their way to an island.

UPDATE 5:38 p.m. — Dive team response canceled by Salem Lakes command. All three children out of the water.

UPDATE 5:51 p.m. — Additional Salem Lakes ambulance responding.

UPDATE 5:54 p.m. — County dive team dispatched to respond to staging area.

UPDATE 6:12 p.m — Everyone out of the water , including rescuers, SL command reports.