West of the I

Mason McNeill, of Bristol, who graduated from Westosha Central High School and whose major is general business, is competing for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team during the 2026 season.

Last season, the Warhawks battled through the fifth-toughest schedule in Division III to an 8-3 record. UWW earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Championship falling in the second round of the playoffs. The 2026 slate will be another battle in the toughest conference in Division III — six WIAC institutions are ranked or receiving votes in the national polls. The Warhawks come in at #12 according to both D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association.

The 2026 Warhawks return a wealth of experience to the field and sidelines. Head Coach Jace Rindahl begins his fourth year at the helm of the Warhawks this season. Caden Murphy returns as the team’s offensive coordinator along with numerous starters from a year ago including quarterback Justin Klinkner (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers), running back Brian Stanton (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield South), fullback Charlie Koeppen (Palos Heights, Ill./Andrean), wide receiver Tyler Vasey (Crystal Lake, Ill/Prairie Ridge), tight end Colin Fritts and nearly the entire offensive line: McNeill, Aaron Johnson (Brookfield, Ill./Fenwick), Colin Krzeczkowski (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) and Troy Dietzler (Ashwaubenon, Wis./Ashwaubenon)).

Ryan Cortez will head the defense once again with a pair of starters coming back on the line (Noah Moris (Union Grove, Wis./Union Grove), Ben Bielawski (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove North)), a host of returning linebackers including Karsten Libby (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) and Jayden Fowler (Morton Grove, Ill./Niles Township West), as well as a seasoned secondary that includes Efrein Ramirez (Minooka, Ill./Minooka), Deven Magli (Deforest, Wis./Deforest) and Carter Sessa (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) – all starters a season ago.

In special teams, Hunter Liszka (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) and Dylan Tackett (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) will take over the kicking duties. Vasey, the most prolific return man in program history is also back for his senior season.

Wilmot Union High School held its 2026 homecoming parade Friday.

The parade had a little different route this year due to road construction in Wilmot, but still wound its way through the Wilmot streets before heading back to the fairgrounds, adjacent to the school campus.

Here is video of the school marching bands in the parade from Wilmot UHS, Trevor-Wilmot Consolidated School, Lakewood School, Riverview School and Randall Consolidated School:

Here are more photos from the parade:

Westosha Central High School’s 2026 homecoming parade stepped off Friday afternoon on the school’s Paddock Lake campus.

Threatening weather caused the school to change the date and time of this year’s parade from Wednesday at Tuesday. Also, instead of a route through the streets of Paddock Lake, this year’s route stayed on campus.

Here is video of the Westosha Central Marching Falcons performing in the parade:

Here are some more photos of the parade:

The developer behind a controversial battery energy storage site project proposed for a site in Wheatland has filed an application with the state Public Service Commission.

Robin Energy Storage LLC is seeking a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of a new 200 megawatt battery energy storage system in Wheatland north of Highway 50 and north of New Munster on 60 acres near an existing power substation. The current application calls for 200 BESS containers, with 44 additional containers and 11 power conversion containers for future possible use.

Robin Energy’s project was rejected at the town and county levels, leaving the PSC route for approval its most viable option.

Opponents of the project have cited concerns about environmental dangers, groundwater contamination and danger of fire.

Local reaction was swift.

From Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman:

“I am disappointed that Robin Energy has decided to sidestep our countywide moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems by filing its application with the state. I stand with the people of the Town of Wheatland and other Kenosha County residents in opposition to this project. While we have not yet had the opportunity to review the application in detail, it is my understanding that the storage system is not going to supply new power to the residents of Kenosha County or otherwise impact power rates. I don’t believe day trading of power ultimately addresses the need for additional power generation, and I hear and appreciate the concerns of residents in the area.”

From County Board Chairman Mark Nordigian and county Supervisor Erin Decker (whose district includes the Robin BESS site):

“The Kenosha County Board has also made clear that this issue warrants careful consideration. On May 19, the County Board voted unanimously, 22-0, to impose a 12-month moratorium on consideration of new battery energy storage permits and zoning approvals while the county evaluates these facilities and their potential impacts. The Town of Wheatland has likewise formally called on Wisconsin lawmakers to establish stronger statewide standards for large-scale battery energy storage projects. The concerns we have heard from residents in Wheatland are serious and include questions about fire safety, emergency response, environmental impacts, agricultural land use, and the long-term effects of placing a large-scale industrial energy facility in this location. Those concerns deserve to be fully considered. While we have not yet had the opportunity to review Robin Energy’s newly submitted application in detail, we believe the Public Service Commission should give meaningful consideration to the concerns raised by the Town of Wheatland, its residents, and local officials. We stand with the people of Wheatland who have made their position clear. We will continue to listen to residents, work with the Town and our colleagues on the County Board, and advocate for a process in which the voices of the people who live closest to this proposed facility are heard and given serious consideration.”

No information on next steps — such as dates for a hearing to gather public opinion — is apparent from the case material available online.

There has been some question in the past — including expressed by Robin representatives — about whether a stand alone BESS project comes under PSC authority. However, the PSC does outline application requirements for new energy storage system projects “whether as a stand-alone project or as part of a larger electric generating facility or transmission line project application.” in a document on its website.

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

At a community forum hosted by Robin Energy Storage in May, a company representative said it would consider going through a state process instead of local government if that was to only way to move forward.

“If you cannot go through Wheatland and Kenosha County then you go through the state,” said Robin representative  Jon Porvaznik.

Robin had offered the town through a Joint Development Agreement $8.6 million across the 20-year life of the project, according to Robin documents submitted to Kenosha County planning. But that agreement was voided when the project failed to get local approval.

Some local governments within Kenosha County have passed ordinances seeking to regulate the placement of BESS projects including Bristol, Paddock Lake and Pleasant Prairie.

Paris, where a BESS facility is located in conjunction with a solar farm, adopted a resolution in July asking state lawmakers to limit BESS facilities.

At about 1 p.m., Bristol Fire and Rescue units and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash at Highways 50 and 45 on Bristol.

Per dispatch: Injuries being reported. Debris in westbound lanes.

UPDATE 1:02 p.m. — Fire unit arriving on scene reports two vehicles involved, showing moderate damage.

Note: The following is from the Kenosha County Executive Office:

The public is invited to tour the newly restored Ceremonial Courtroom in the Kenosha County Courthouse during an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, County Executive Samantha Kerkman announced.

Held in conjunction with the Kenosha Community Foundation’s week of 100th anniversary activities, the open house will include a 1:30 p.m. performance of “Lovers of Liberty,” an original musical composition created to tell the story of the Ceremonial Courtroom.

“The restored courtroom is a breathtaking space that we’re excited to share with the public,” Kerkman said. “It’s a project that would not have happened without the support of the community, and we’re pleased to showcase it at this open house.”

The courtroom renovation, which began in 2025 and was completed this summer, restored the grand, two-story-tall room to its original 1925 appearance, removing a dropped ceiling and revealing a large leaded-glass skylight and decorative ornamentation that had been covered up since the 1960s.

Supporting the project was a $675,000 matching grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation, matched by more than $1.5 million in contributions from community members, businesses and foundations. A three-and-a-half-year fundraising campaign was led by a Blue Ribbon Committee co-chaired by retired Judge Mary Kay Wagner and former County Executive John Collins.

The project also modernized the room with the installation of state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and mechanical systems. While the restored room provides the community with a grand space for weddings, adoptions, and other ceremonial proceedings, it also remains a working courtroom for Judge Chad Kerkman’s Branch 8 court. A frieze that rings the room, now back in sight after the removal of the dropped ceiling, displays a quote from Abraham Lincoln in large, gold-leafed letters:

“Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well-wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their violation by others.”

The Lincoln quote inspired the title of the musical composition to be performed at the open house by the Prairie String Quartet and the Courthouse Orchestra. Organizer Julia Nowicki said this group comprises a cross-section of the vibrant music community in Kenosha, including Kenosha Unified School District students.

“‘Lovers of Liberty’ features Ben Woods as the speaker who narrates the beauty of the courtroom and the ideals proclaimed — set in stone, engraved on walls and murals painted — by our Kenosha ancestors,” Nowicki said. “The piece is 12 minutes in duration and performed IN the courtroom, so you can view the room as the story unfolds.”

The Kenosha Community Foundation, which is celebrating its centennial, served as the fiscal sponsor for the courtroom restoration fundraising campaign. Foundation Executive Director Amy Greil said it was rewarding to see the project to fruition, and now to share the fruits of our efforts with the public.

“The Kenosha Community Foundation is more than proud to have contributed to the success of this historic project,” Greil said. “The philanthropists, organizers, and partners representing all segments of the community who came together now offer this special gift to the community, for generations to come.”

Thursday is still expected to be wet, with rain likely through late afternoon, says the latest, local National Weather Service forecast.

Rain is most likely to continue through 4 p.m. A lesser chance of rain continues 11 p.m. The heaviest rain is expected in the morning.

All told, we could see another inch of rain.

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 Wheatland Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual pancake breakfast on Oct. 4 from 7 to 11 a.m. at the fire station.

All donations will go to training and equipment.

The firehouse is located 34011 Geneva Road in New Munster.

It’s going to rain Wednesday and Thursday, says the latest, local National Weather Service forecast.

How much? We could see almost 4 inches of rain between Wednesday morning and the early hours of Friday morning, the NWS forecast says.

High temperatures both days will be in the upper 60s.

It should dry out for the weekend and early next week, with no chances of rain yet in the forecast for Friday through Tuesday.

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 forecast of steady rain has prompted Westosha Central High School to change the date and time of its homecoming parade.

The 2026 parade will now take place on Friday, Oct. 2, starting at 4 p.m. The route will be on campus, utilizing Falcon Way.

Here is a statement from the school with the details and a map of the new route:

We have made a difficult but necessary decision about the Annual Homecoming Parade, as the forecast calls for steady rain through Wednesday evening. We felt it was necessary to make this decision a day in advance because so many different community groups are involved in the parade. 

To avoid canceling the parade, we have decided to move it to Friday, October 2nd at 4:00 p.m. with an altered route due to the parade being held on a Friday. The parade will now remain on the high school campus and follow Falcon Way from the Bus Lane down to the JV Baseball Field Parking Lot (Hwy 83) and then back up to the Student Parking Lot. 

All parade float staging will now take place in the Bus Lane outside of the Commons starting at 3 p.m. We will be blocking off access to Falcon Way from Hwy 83 starting at 3:15 p.m. All floats arriving after 3:15 p.m. will need to enter from Hwy 50.

We are asking parade spectators to sit along Falcon Way and to park in the Student Parking Lot, Faculty Lot, West Lot, Varsity Softball Lot, or Tennis Lot. 

This is the first time in 15 years that we have needed to alter the parade schedule, and we are hopeful that we will not need to for many years in the future. Any additional questions should be directed to the Westosha Central Athletic Department. Thank you for your flexibility!

Both local high schools — who each have their homecoming activities this week — will use different routes than usual for their homecoming parades this year.

Here are the details:

Westosha Central High School parade, rescheduled to Friday, Oct. 2 starting at 4 p.m.

The Westosha Central High School homecoming parade has been rescheduled due to a forecast of steady rain.

More information and a map of the route are available here.

Wilmot Union High School parade, Friday Oct. 2, 5 p.m.

Wilmot is adjusting this year its route with road construction taking up part of the typical route,. The parade will start at the corner of 308th Avenue and 111th Street and go south one block to 112th Street and turn east, cross Fox River Road (Highway W) and continue east to 306th Avenue, where it will turn north. It will continue for one block to 111th Street where it will turn west and continue to Fox River Road where it will turn north, ending at the fairgrounds exit.

People who are participating in the parade are asked to park in the student lot along Highway W. Staging will be on the fairgrounds.

Here is a map from the school’s Facebook page (click for a larger view):

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 Bristol Village Board is scheduled to meet Monday, starting at 7 p.m. at Village Hall.

Agenda items include:

• Plan Amendment to include the UD-1 and UD-3 Trail Feasibility Study and Village Pedestrian Plan & Shared-Use Path Plan as appendices to the Bristol 2050 Land Use Plan.
• Consider approval of the Contractor’s Application for Payment No. 7 to A.W. Oakes & Son, Inc. for the Industrial Park Watermain Relay.
• Discuss and consider approval of a proposal for the fence around the pickle ball court and garbage containers at Hansen Park.
• Discuss and consider for approval of the contract with Kerber Rose SC for audit services.

The full agenda and some packet information is available here.

The Wilmot Union High School District annual meeting and a board meeting are scheduled for Monday in the school library.

The annual meeting is first at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include:

• Treasurer’s Report
• Vote annual salaries for School Board Members: Now as follows: President $2,800.00, Vice President $2,500.00, Clerk $2,700.00, Treasurer $2,500.00, all other members $2,500.00, Committee members $220.00.
• Budget presentation and hearing.
• Adoption of tax levy as follows: Operation Tax Levy Fund 10 $8,852,697; Referendum Approved Debt Fund 39 $2,343,365; Community Service Fund Levy Fund 80 $180,000; Total Levy $11,376,062

The full annual meeting agenda is available here,

The regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Agenda items include:

• Update on Standards Based Grading Practices
• District Profile Information

The full regular meeting agenda is available here.

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

Agenda items include:

• Innovation Grant discussion continuation
• Credit Card Processing discussion
• Continued Camera discussion
• Closed session for employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation. data of a public employee,
  including review of employee status and employment-related considerations.

The full agenda is available here.

At about 2:45 p.m., Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue units and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash at Highway 83 at Highway JF in Trevor.

Per dispatch: Two vehicles involved. Scene is blocking traffic.

Note: The following is a paid announcement from Washburn Lodge #145 — DH

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.

The Paddock Lake Area Lions Club will host a free Community Picnic on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Old Settlers Park in Paddock Lake from 5 to 7 pm.

Bratwurst , hot dogs, sides and beverages will be provided, but the club needs to know your coming with your family, or just you.  Please call Donna at 263-332-0023 with your count so the club can provide enough food and fixings for everyone.

Some fun and games and an impromptu bags tournament ae planned.  Picnic tables are  available, but you can also bring your own lawn chairs.

This event is open to all ages, from kids, younger adults, families, retirees, veterans and more.  Past Lion members come on out and share your lion experiences.

Any questions or to leave your reservation please call Lion Donna at 262-332-0023.

The Wilmot Union football program will be hosting its annual  “Kick Out Cancer” Game, an event dedicated to bringing the football family and community together to support a local family affected by cancer. 

This year, 100 percent of the proceeds from the event will go directly to Janelle Vera, who is courageously battling colon and liver cancer. Janelle is a mother of a 6th-grade Junior Panther, the wife of a Junior Panthers coach, and the mother of a former high school football player. Her family has been an active and valued part of the football community for years. They have volunteered their time and energy to support players, programs and local youth, and now the community has the opportunity to give that support back to them.

The Kick Out Cancer Game is more than just a football game. It is an opportunity for players, coaches, families, friends and community members to come together, show Janelle and her family that they are not facing this battle alone. 

The game will be held on Oct. 2 (also homecoming game).  Fans can show their support by purchasing Kick out Cancer hoodies and T-shirts.  There will also be raffle baskets, 50/50, and a Miracle Minute.

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:

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.