Jul 18th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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A swim closure for Paddock Hooker Lakes Association beach and a swim caution for Center Lake have been removed after re-sampling by Kenosha County showed 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 results from Thursday that prompted lifting the closure and caution were:
Jul 18th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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At about 2:27 p.m., Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue units and a sheriff’s deputy are responding to a report of a man down at 69th Street and 248th Avenue in Paddock Lake.
Per dispatch: Man fell on roadway. Bleeding from chin.
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.
Jul 17th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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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:
Jul 17th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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Note: The Kenosha County Fair is a westofthei.com sponsor. This is a paid announcement. — DH
There is still time to enter the Kenosha County Fairest of the Fair contest.
The Fairest of the Fair winner selected this year will reign from January 2026 – January 2027 and will represent Kenosha County Fair at the State of Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair competition in January 2027. The Kenosha County Fair Fairest of the Fair will be given a $1,000 scholarship and a Lifetime Membership to the Kenosha County Fair.
The Fairest of the Fair winner will serve as an ambassador of the Kenosha County Fair and represent the Fair during a year of official duties, including appearances at local events and parades.
To be a contestant you need to meet the following requirements:
Be 18 years of age as of January 1, 2026.
Legal resident of Kenosha County, either city or rural area for at least one year.
Childless while competing for the Fairest of the Fair and if selected Fairest of the Fair will remain childless during the tenure
Jul 17th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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A swim closure remains in effect for the Paddock Hooker Lakes Association beach on Paddock Lake and Center Lake is under a swim advisory after re-sampling by Kenosha County Wednesday.
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 the closure at PHLA was 2419.0 E.coli/100 mL.
The result from Wednesday that prompted the advisory at Center Lake was 921.0 E.coli/100 mL
Both locations were scheduled to be resampled Thursday.
The fair will take place this year from Aug. 13-17 at the fairgrounds in Wilmot adjacent to Wilmot Union High School. The theme this year is “Let the Good Time Grow.” Daily admission is $12 for 12 years old and above. Ages 7 to 11 are $6 a day and children 6 and under are free. Seniors 65 and older have daily admission of $8. Active or retired military (must show ID) are $8 daily. Season tickets are: Adults (12 and over) $40 and children ages 7-11 $15.
Lifetime memberships are $325.
NTPA Tractor Pulls on Friday night require a $10 Grandstand Fee.
Racing on Saturday night requires a $15 Grandstand Fee for ages 13+; 12 and under $5, Pit Pass (all ages) $20 (with paid Fair Admission).
The fair is a truly something for everyone event with animals, art, rides, music, racing, food and more. It’s the ultimate all ages experience.
Leading up to the fair westofthei.com will publish every day a “2025 Fair Preview” highlighting some aspect of the fair. Keep coming back to learn more about what’s going to be happening at the Kenosha County Fair.
Jul 16th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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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:
Jul 16th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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Center Lake and Paddock Hooker Lakes Association beach on Paddock Lake remain closed to swimming and PHLA Diving Board, North Shore Association on Paddock Lake and Rock Lake reopened to swimming after re-sampling by Kenosha County Tuesday.
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 Tuesday that prompted the closures were:
Center Lake 2419.0 E.coli/100 mL.
PHLA beach 2419.0 E.coli/100 mL
Those two locations were scheduled to be resampled Wednesday.
The results from Tuesday that prompted lifting swimming closures and advisories from earlier this week were:
Wednesday’s high temp is expected to reach 90. The high temperature Thursday is expected to be 76. High temps are expected to continue to be in the high 70s, low 80s through Monday.
Jul 15th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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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:
Jul 15th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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Center Lake, Rock Lake and North Shore Association and Paddock Hooker Lakes Association beach on Paddock Lake are closed to swimming and the PHLA diving board area is under a swim caution after testing by Kenosha County showed elevated E.coli levels in those locations.
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 closures and caution were:
Center Lake 2419.0 E.coli/100 mL.
North Shore Association 2419.0 E.coli/100 mL
PHLA beach >2419 E.coli/100mL
Rock Lake 1300 E.coli/100 mL
PHLA diving board 387 E.coli/100 mL
Those locations were scheduled to be re-sampled Tuesday.
Results from testing by Kenosha County on Monday (except where noted) were:
Salem Lakes – Silver Lake County Park beach 3 E.coli/100 mL; Silver Lake DeWitt Park 91 E.coli/100mL; Lake Shangri-la 220th Ct. 81 E.coli/100 mL; Center Lake >2419 E.coli/100 mL; Camp Lake 20 E.coli/100 mL; Hooker Lake Boat Launch 5 E.coli/100 mL; Rock Lake 1300 E.coli/100 mL
Paddock Lake — Old Settlers County Park beach 33 E.coli/100 mL; Hoag Park 23 E.coli/100 mL; North Shore Association >2419 E.coli/100 mL; PHLA beach >2419 E.coli/100mL; PHLA diving board 387 E.coli/100 mL.
Wheatland — Lilly Lake <1 E.coli/100 mL.
Twin Lakes — Lance Park on Lake Mary 14 E.coli/100mL.
Randall (reported by District of Powers Lake) — Powers Lake beach 75 E.coli/100 mL
Jul 15th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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The Paddock Lake Village Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall (municipal building).
Agenda items include:
Authorize village staff to pay Asphalt Contractors, Inc in the amount of $87,597.26as a final pay request for the 2024 Street Improvement Project.
Authorize Village Administrator to issue purchase order #5989 to Morton Salt for the purchase of 125 tons of road deicing salt at a price per ton of $87.42, totaling $10,927.50
Discussion of yard waste collection bid results and possible action on yard waste collection bid results.
Authorize the village staff to pay Wade Landscaping, Inc for tub grinding services, at a cost not to exceed $10,687.50
Authorize Village Staff to pay Asphalt Contractors, Inc in the amount of $4,371.83 as final pay request for the 2024 village hall parking lot improvement project.
Jul 14th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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Posing in front of the Safe Haven Baby Box at Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue Station #1 in Trevor are (from left) Chief Al Carr, state Rep Amanda Nedweski, NEEMT Kenzie Gaede, Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman, Salem Lakes village administrator Cassandra Hiller and Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department Detective Tim Hackbarth.
A box that a parent looking to anonymously give up an infant can use was dedicated at Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue Station 1 Monday afternoon.
The Safe Haven Baby Box at the fire station is the 346th such structure in the US and fifth in Wisconsin, said Jessi Getrost of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. The boxes are located in 24 states.
The project to locate the box at the station was initiated by village administrator Cassandra Hiller over a year ago, she said. She asked Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue Chief Al Carr and the fire department to take it on. Shortly thereafter, Kenzie Gaede, an NREMT with the department, became a key person in driving the project, which received the appoval of the Village Board.
“The Safe Haven Baby Box is more than a structure,” Carr said in his prepared remarks. “It’s a symbol of compassion and safety … Together we have created something that will save lives.”
The box offers a secure and anonymous way a parent can give up a baby that can’t be otherwise cared for. Here Gaede explains how it works:
Carr thanked everyone in the community that contributed to the project, but held out special thanks for an anonymous donor.
“This would not have been possible without them,” Carr said.
Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department Detective Tim Hackbarth spoke on behalf of that donor, who he called a “pillar of our community.”
“To them, their personal believe is that Jesus saved us…” Hackbarth said. “They also wanted to show that love to other people. Prayerfully, it never gets used, but if it does it’s here for those people.”
Getrost said the cost of a box is about $20,000 including installation.
Carr also praised Gaede’s efforts, saying she “worked tirelessly” and was “instrumental in making this happen.”
Other people speaking at the ceremony were County Executive Samantha Kerkman, state Rep. Amanda Nedweski, and Hiller.
Here is video of the program:
Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue Station one is located at 11252 254th Ct., Trevor.
The baby box is operational as of Monday, Hiller said.
Jul 14th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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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:
Jul 14th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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The Bristol Village Board is scheduled to meet Monday, starting at 7 p.m. at Village Hall.
Agenda items include:
Discuss and consider for approval the request of Chad Olson, Mosmatic Real Estate Inc. (Applicant), 8313 196th A venue, Bristol, WI 53104 for a Site Plan Review tax parcel 4-121-083-0435, located at PT SE 1/4 SEC 8 Tl R 21, Village of Bristol, Kenosha County, State of Wisconsin. For informational purposes, this property is located at the southwest corner of 194th A venue and 84th Street in Bristol, WI 5. Mosmatic is proposing to build a cold storage facility.
Consider for approval the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Village of Bristol and Kenosha County to transfer tax parcel 37-4-121-123-0200 from Kenosha County to the Village of Bristol for the Horizon Development.
Jul 14th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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The Randall Town Board is scheduled to meet Monday, starting at 6 p.m. at Town Hall in Bassett.
Agenda items include:
DEBRA L. PARTRIDGE DECLARATION OF TRUST, 8745 406th Ave., Genoa City, WI 53128 (Owner), Jasonn Weber, 1553 South 38th St., Milwaukee WI 53215 (Agent), requesting a variance (Section 12.27.060(a)(1)(a): Solar energy systems located in a residential district on parcels less than one acre in area shall have a capacity not to exceed seven kilowatts in rated capacity) to construct a solar energy system with a 20 kW ac system capacity in the R-3 urban Single-Family Residential District on Tax Key Parcel #60-4-119-182-0390, Town of Randall. Discussion, consideration, and action if any.
Kaskin park baseball field. Discussion, consideration, and action if any.
Possible change of Town Board and Plan Commission meeting day. Discussion, consideration, and action if any.
Innovation Planning Grant study questions. Discussion, consideration, and action if any.
Crop Canon discussion, consideration and action if needed.
Jul 13th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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The Bristol Progress Days Parade took place Sunday afternoon.
The parade — known for the quantity of candy thrown by entrants — worked its way through central Bristol ending at Hansen Park, where the rest of the days activities are held.
Along the way you could hear music and see a variety of parade entries from local organizations, businesses, fire departments, the Sheriff’s Department and more.
Here is video of fire equipment portion of the parade, with horns and sirens blaring:
Here is video of the marching bands in the parade, the hometown Westosha Central High School Marching Falcons, and the Rambler Band and Band of the Black Watch from the Kenosha Unified School District:
Jul 13th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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At about 2:20 p.m., Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue units and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash at 128th Street and Antioch Road in Trevor.
Per dispatch: Vehicle rolled over. Injuries being reported.
Jul 12th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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K9 Jaxx at his swearing in in 2021. /WOTI file photo
The Twin Lakes Police Department’s K9 Jaxx will be medically retired after action by the Village Board Monday.
Jaxx joined the force in 2021.
Jaxx will be sold to his handler Officer Jeffrey Comp for $1, as the contract governing the program calls for in the case of a medical retirement.
Jaxx suffered a spinal cord injury in 2023 during training, but eventually recovered and returned to active duty after extensive therapy.
In April, the dog was to be sold for $3,000 to Comp, who at the time was planning to move to Florida. Chief Katie Hall said at that time that she did not think Jaxx would be suitable to work with another handler on the department.
But Comp’s plans changed shortly after the sale was approved by the Village Board and he — and Jaxx — did not leave the TLPD, Hall said Monday.
“The dog was never sold to him,” Hall said.
While Jaxx returned to duty after completing his lengthy rehab for the injury, he began to have difficulty again.
At some point, Jaxx also was diagnosed with chronic intervertebral disc disease. Currently, “he’s having a lot of trouble getting on the couch or walking,” Hall said.
From a letter to Hall from veterinarian Karen Turner:
Based on his current condition and the risks of further injury or paralysis, it is not sustainable to continue to work Jaxx on patrol and detection. He requires assistance with basic activities and could be considered a liability to his handler or himself being unable to perform to the full extent required of a K-9 unit. It is my professional recommendation that K-9 Jaxx be medically retired from his position.”
The vote to medically retire Jaxx and sell him to Comp for $1 was unanimous on a voice vote with village President Howard Skinner absent.
Jul 11th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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Mindy Cooling was named the 2025 Bristol Outstanding Citizen at the Bristol Progress Days banquet Friday night at the Parkway Chateau.
Naming of the outstanding citizens is a feature of the banquet, which kicks off the annual three-day community festival.
Cooling was unable to attend due to being out of town.
In her nomination, Cooling was praised for her extensive community involvement in a number of ways:
“This nominee is by far one of the most actively involved members of her community and most generous business people I have ever known, She shines brightly by her selfless service to others … This person’s compassion and caring nature is shown through her business relationships and sponsorships of both local and international organizations such as The Children’s Hear Project, the Ronald McDonald House, One HOPE, Kenosha County park music series, the Summer Reading Program, Helping Hands, veteran’s breakfast, Bristol Progress Days events including the 5K run, … and countless holiday and special events …It is impossible to document all of the good that this person has been a part of.”
Jul 11th, 2025
by Darren Hillock.
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From left: Melissa Jozwiak and Mary Gillmore
Mary Gillmore was named 2025 Miss Bristol at the Bristol Progress Days banquet Friday evening at the Parkway Chateau.
Gillmore was one of two contestants in this year’s contest, which is an annual part of the Bristol Progress Days community festival.
Second runner up and Miss Congeniality was Melissa Jozwiak.
Gillmore will be a senior at Westosha Central High School this fall. She serves as the captain of the girls wrestling team and earned honorable mention for Academic All-State. Gillmore has been on the honor roll every semester of high school and woodworking is one of her favorite courses. Outside of school, she is a member of the Bristol CHallenge 4-H Club and shows dairy, beef and hogs at the Kenosha County Fair. After school, she plans to join the operators union and become one of the very few female heavy equipment operators. She works at Elfering Dairy Farm, ValleyCroft Farms and in the custodial department of Bristol Grade School. She has volunteered for Marleigh’s Ministry and helped her family host OakVue Farm’s annual live nativity. She is part of the seventh generation of her family to live on the farm.
Mary Gillmore is the sister of 2024 Miss Bristol Margaret Gillmore. Organizers believe this is the first time a sister has succeeded her sister as Miss Bristol in consecutive years.
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