Kwik Trip taking applications on Monday

Kwik Trip is taking applications on Monday, June 13 at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 1975 S. 18th Avenue in West Bend. Construction on the new 7,000-square-foot gas station and convenience store got underway this week. The Kwik Trip is expected to open in October.

Pizza Ranch approved by Plan Commission

The development of a new $1.65 million Pizza Ranch will come before the West Bend Common Council for final approval on Monday, June 20. This week the Plan Commission gave unanimous approval to the project which is expected to break ground in August with a target opening near the end of the year.

Stacy and Matt Gehring are the couple behind the Pizza Ranch. Stacy grew up in Minnesota where her parents have owned/operated a Pizza Ranch for 22 years. The new Pizza Ranch will be located on W. Washington Street just to the west of Westbury Bank.

Public hearing June 20 to raise taxi fares

There’s going to be a public hearing on Monday, June 20 as the West Bend Common Council gathers input on a proposal to raise the fare 50 cents for the West Bend Taxi.

District 5 alderman Rich Kasten is chairman of the city’s Long-Range Transportation Planning Committee. He said it’s been several years since fares have gone up and it’s challenging because expenses keep going up while ridership declines.

City officials have also expressed concern about the availability of future grant funding.

There have been some ideas floated about relying more on an Uber-type services which is like an on-demand taxi where you request private drivers through iPhone and Android devices. The public hearing would get underway at 6:30 p.m.

Coffeeville to open Saturday, June 18 in Jackson

There’s been much anticipation in Jackson as neighbors and motorists have watched a simple weary log cabin home morph into a beautiful business, Coffeeville.

Owner Jack Kulwikowski provided a personal tour. The interior feels like a smooth blend of coffee history, a museum and an indoor chalet.

“The building dates to 1848 and it’s been restored to today’s standard,” he said. “I want people to learn about coffee history and this is all my years and years of collecting.”

For someone passionate about coffee, Kulwikowski has a smooth, docent-like presentation.  Standing about 5-foot-7 and dressed in a brown Coffeville apron, he points out unique features of the architecture and ambiance.

There are a total of 140 coffee grinders surrounded by other coffee collectibles including tins, bags, pour overs and signs. “We have original paper coffee bags that were never opened,” said Kulwikowski in a heavy Polish accent.

The coffee grinders are mounted on the wall and behind glass. “The oldest one dates to the late 1800s,” he said. “We have some from Europe including Italy and Germany.”

Coffeeville is located on Highway 60 on the east side of Jackson. The business will have a drive thru and offer homemade bakery and sandwiches. Coffeeville will open at 6 a.m. on June 18.

Muhammad Ali ties to West Bend

There are a couple of local ties to legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, who died last week Friday at the age of 74.

Lori Lynn-Radloff from American Metal & Paper ran into Ali in 1964 at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. “He was in the same gate as my mom’s plane,” said Lynn-Radloff. “I remember I called him Cassius Clay and he said his name was Muhammad Ali. He was very nice; signed an autograph right away.” Lynn-Radloff has that autograph framed along with a vintage boxing magazine with Ali on the cover.

George Prescott also has a framed Ali photo in his office on Highway 33.

Successful Boys & Girls Club 5K for Kids

Nearly 800 runners and walkers participated in Sunday’s Silver Lining Boys & Girls Club 5K for Kids. Mitchell Bilitz, 20, from Green Bay came in first with a time of 15 minutes 42 seconds. “Last year I did a little better at 15:27 but going east on Park Avenue the wind was at my back and I took advantage of it,” he said.

The first-place female was Leslie Ruffalo, 33, of Cedarburg finished.  “I ran this course last year and finished 15 seconds faster, but the wind was a little tough,” she said.  “My husband is on the planning committee for the race and it’s something we’re just supportive of.”

Money raised supports summer programming at the local Boys & Girls Clubs in West Bend and Jackson.

New WB Superintendent to be named this week

A new superintendent for the West Bend School District is expected to be name on Wednesday, June 15. There were three finalists for the position; however candidate Dean Gorrell, the superintendent from the Verona Area School District, withdrew from the mix.

The two remaining candidates are Brenda Lewis, assistant superintendent from the Rochester Public Schools and Erik Olson, the assistant superintendent from the Sun Prairie Area School District.

The board is conducting a thorough background check on the candidates and completing credential reviews prior to making a formal offer. It is expected the new superintendent will be announced by June 15, 2016, and will officially assume duties on July 1, 2016.

Giving thanks   

The Pastor at Calvary Assembly of God, 1110 E. Decorah Rd, showed his appreciation to students at the West Bend High Schools as he handed out $10 gift cards to students after school. He said it was because there were no incidents all year in the parking lot at the church. Students hang out in the area before and after school. Students thought the gift cards were cool.

Centuries of Architecture Tour

The History Center Washington County is hosting its 3^rd annual Centuries of Architecture Tour on June 18 and one of the properties in Richfield dates to 1886. Tim and Deanna Einwalter have spent the past three years rehabbing the home and adjacent barn. They have quite a few interesting stories including a finger in a jar that was sitting in the rafters for a number of years. Tickets for the tour are on sale now at HistoryIsFun.com or call 262-335-4678.

 New signs at Washington Co. Fair Park

New signs for West Bend Mutual Insurance Pavilion were installed at the Washington County Fair Park this week. A two-man crew from Graphic House installed the signs which go hand in hand with the new Silver Lining Amphitheater.

The Washington County Fair doesn’t kick off until July 26 but progress is being made on the new amphitheater.  The new 50 x 100-foot stage, financed in partnership with West Bend Mutual Insurance, is part of a plan to upgrade the facilities at Washington County Fairgrounds.

Absentee ballots

West Bend Clerk Amy Reuteman has ordered 13,265 total ballots for the August primary. Of those ballots, 2,015 are absentee ballots. In-person absentee voting begins in the clerk’s office on Monday, July 25 and in-person absentee voting ends Friday, August 5. The deadline to mail out absentee ballots to people who have requests on file for the Partisan Primary is June 23. The partisan primary is August 9.

Election update for November

On the political front it appears there will be no locally contested races in the state Senate or the Assembly in the Washington County area this November. Half of the senate seats are up for election as are all the seats in the Wisconsin Assembly.

Locally, Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) in the state Senate does not have an opponent.

In the Assembly, Bob Gannon (R-Slinger), Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum), Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) and Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls) do not have opponents.

Assembly Rep. Robert Brooks (R-Saukville) has a college student from Cedarburg running against him as an independent. The filing deadline was June 1.

An overview of Wisconsin elections provided by the Wheeler Report:

Senate: There are three Republican Senators (Darling, Stroebel, & Craig) and three Democratic Senators (Miller, Wirch, & Risser) who are unopposed. Assembly: There are 17 Republican Representatives (Hutton, Sanfelippo, Brandtjen, J.Ott, Knodl, Mursau, Schraa, Gannon, Kremer, Weatherston, Kulp, Skowronski, Kuglitsch, Petryk, Allen, Neylon & Duchow) and 17 Democratic Representatives (Bowen, Kessler, Goyke, Brostoff, Kolste, Spreitzer, Hebl, Sargent, Barca, Ohnstad, Shankland, Milroy, Meyers, Berceau, Genrich & Billings) who are unopposed.

Updates and tidbits

– The City/County Luncheon is June 14 at UWWC and honorees include Norbert Dettmann, Margaret Nielsen and Allan Kieckhafer.

-German Night at Regner Park is July 20.

– Kieras Kloset is now open at 622 Elm Street in West Bend, in the former O’Meara Law building across from the Post Office. Shop owner Katie Laverenz recently relocated from Kewaskum. Her shop features purses and women’s accessories.

 

– Bosley Plastering is moving its office from Hartford to downtown West Bend. Carl Bosley will open next week at 305 N. Seventh Avenue. The red brick building is owned by Todd Reiter. The space was previously leased by Amy Salberg of Salberg Law.

 

-The 5^th annual Vintage Motorcycle Poker Run is Saturday, July 16. The ride leaves Sandy Knoll Park at 12:30 a.m. It ends at Moonlighting in Barton. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County.

 

-A decision is expected Monday, June 13 at the Town of Ashford Board of Appeals meeting as town officials continue to entertain the possibility of allowing a mine in a residential area. Residents have strongly opposed this mine and they were successful in stopping the first attempt in Fond du Lac County Court.  Monday’s meeting begins 6 p.m. at the Ashford Town Hall.

-The West Bend Noon Kiwanis hosts its 39^th annual Steak in the Park at Regner Park on Tuesday, June 21 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and proceeds benefit projects in the community that assist people with special needs.

– Members of the Washington County Hi-Lite Happy Workers 4H Club including Ethan Smith, Emma Smith, Olivia Strupp and Tyler Becker completed a special-emphasis project building two benches donated to Washington County Fair Park for use on the grounds.

– About six new red bicycle racks were put in place in downtown West Bend on Monday. The bike racks carry a signature West Bend logo. They were paid for by the Business Improvement District. More bike racks are being contracted through Moraine Park Technical College.

-The 5th annual Grizz Ride is Saturday, June 18 starting at CC’s in Wayne.  Doug “Grizz” Cox, 50, died five years ago from heart failure. He loved animals and the Grizz Ride is held annually in his memory. All proceeds go to the Washington County Humane Society.

– A farewell celebration for Rev. Gerald Brittain is Sunday, June 19 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. in the Walnut Room at Holy Angels School. Light refreshments will be provided. Rev. Pat Heppe will be taking over for Rev. Brittain. He’s set to start at Holy Angels at the end of the month.

-Rep. Jesse Kremer is on the road again today for the second half of his Ride the 59th bicycle tour. This campaign event allows Kremer to stop and talk with constituents in a casual setting throughout Calumet, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Washington counties. Kremer will pass through Eden, Campbellsport, Kewaskum, Allenton and wrap up at Centennial Park Rotary Gazebo (Hwy. 83/Hwy. 60)

-It’s nesting season soon for snapping turtles on the Eisenbahn State Trail. Riveredge Nature Center in Newburg said the turtles lay a cache of about 20 to 30 eggs that are round and white like a ping pong ball. Turtles bury their eggs in the soft soil along-side the trail, often making dummy nests to mislead predators. Many times 100 percent of the eggs are lost to skunks and raccoons. Early signs of dry, white egg shells that look like warped Styrofoam half-circles are actually from nests that have been raided and eggs destroyed. Eggs of unharmed baby turtles will hatch in September.   

–Sunday, June 19 is the 32nd annual Kettle Moraine Sport Riders Hillclimb at Sunburst Ski Area in Kewaskum. More than 100 motorcyclists will participate.  Proceeds raised by the Kettle Moraine Sport Riders are distributed to area charities.

HISTORY PHOTO: Today’s history photos from 1936 are courtesy Carol Roecker. The pictures were taken as neighbors waited the arrival of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.