An official Twitter account run by the United States military posted and then deleted a video on Monday bragging about dropping massive bombs.
The tweet, which was posted as Americans get ready to ring in the New Year, noted that the ball was set to drop in Times Square when the clock strikes midnight late Monday.
The tweet by U.S. Strategic Command then goes on to brag: ‘If ever needed, we are #ready to drop something much, much bigger.’
[…]
Users on Twitter were angry for what they said was the military’s making light of the use of such a destructive weapon during a festive time.
Tim Miller wrote: ‘If you missed it since the tweet is now deleted, US Strategic command decided to tweet about war and death on NY eve with a ww3 masturbatory fantasy video.’
Robert Boyle thought it was inappropriate for the military to be tweeting ‘jokes about starting nuclear Armageddon on New Year’s Eve.’
Another Twitter user wrote: ‘Such an irresponsible tweet. Tweeting about a nuclear bomb drop.’
A women’s march rally has been cancelled over concerns the turnout would be “overwhelmingly white”.
The demonstration, in the town of Eureka in northern California, was due to take place on 19 January but the event has now been called off because it lacks representation from across the community.
Organisers said the decision, which comes amid friction in the wider women’s march movement, followed a number of conversations with leading local activists and supporters of the march.
“Up to this point, the participants have been overwhelmingly white, lacking representation from several perspectives in our community,” said a statement on Facebook. “Instead of pushing forward with crucial voices absent, the organising team will take time for more outreach.”
Because white women can only have one perspective, right? This is the not-so-subtle bigotry of the Left. One’s views, perspectives, opinions, and values must be neatly defined by one’s outward characteristics like race, gender, etc. They can’t even compute that two white women might have radically different perspectives – much less that that’s perfectly okay.
“It’s fresh, it’s pretty significant and it’s pretty toxic,” Hintz said. “The best-case scenario (going forward) is compromise and the worst case scenario is gridlock.”
Compromise for the sake of compromise only benefits the politicians. We actually elect those politicians to advance the policy objectives that we support. It is through the contest of competing interests that we try to advance those policies.
At this stage in Wisconsin’s history, we are at the tail end of a tremendous period of conservative policy advancement because the voters kept electing conservatives to office. Now the voters are taking a different path and have elected a liberal to be governor, but still elected conservatives to run the legislature.
As one of those conservatives who reelected conservatives to represent me, I expect them to continue to advance conservative policies where they can, and protect those that have already passed. Given that Governor Evers is unlikely to sign conservative legislation, gridlock sounds like the order of the day. The legislature is not obligated to pass a single liberal initiative, nor is Evers obligated to sign any conservative initiatives.
And, thankfully, the State of Wisconsin’s budget process does not allow for a shutdown. If the legislature fails to pass a budget, the current budget just continues on at current spending and taxing levels. Frozen spending and taxes sound pretty awesome to me – especially if the alternative is to compromise with the liberals by increasing spending and taxes, even if not as much as they would like.
Two candidates have now filed papers to run for two open seats on the West Bend School Board as two incumbents have filed non-candidacy papers.
According to Deb Roensch from the Education Service Center said incumbents Ken Schmidt and Tiffany Larson have both filed non-candidacy papers. The pair were elected to the West Bend School Board in April 2016.
On Friday, Dec. 21, Paul Fischer, an elder at Kettlebrook Church, filed candidacy papers. On Dec. 23, Erin Dove, posted an announcement on social media about her intentions to run. A portion of her announcement is below.
We’re losing a great, solid conservative in Ken Schmidt, who was sadly orphaned on the board in the last couple of years. He’ll be missed. As a staunch advocate for the WBEA’s agenda, Tiffany Larson won’t be missed at all. This is the chance to put two good conservatives on the board to begin to check the agenda of the liberal school board majority. The school referendum will almost certainly be on the same April ballot, so the battle lines should be clearly drawn.
I don’t know Erin Dove and I look forward to hearing her views. I did have a chance to hear from Paul Fischer at the Concerned Citizens of Washington County meeting last week. Given that he supports a referendum to build a new Jackson Elementary, thinks teachers haven’t received a raise in 5 years (don’t know where that talking point came from), couldn’t think of anything to cut in the face of declining enrollment, and generally regurgitated all of the local liberal talking points about the schools, I won’t be supporting him.
We need some good conservatives to run for school board. Here’s how to do it.
The deadline to file papers to run for School Board is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Declaration of Candidacy form and a Campaign Registration statement must be completed and can be dropped off at the Education Service Center, 735 S. Main Street, West Bend (across from Badger Middle School).
Bear in mind that they are closed until the 2nd, so you’d have to drop off the paperwork on Wednesday.
The American Civil Liberties Union came to the First Amendment defense of neo-Nazis in Skokie, Illinois. This is worth celebrating, especially today. Lawyers, many Jewish, fought for the rights of repugnant people, many of whom would like to see all Jews dead. Offended supporters of the ACLU left in droves. But the ACLU adhered to principle because … the end doesn’t justify the means.
Progressives have not just rejected that proud tradition, they have remade it into the ugly opposite — the end justifies all: Coercing speech with speech codes and forcing cake bakers to create statements against their core religious beliefs; social justice warfare and identity politics; the nanny state banning everything from plastic straws to tobacco products; and forcing private health insurance products at gun-point.
Progressives wield intolerance like the weapon it is. But are they kidding us or themselves when they smugly assert their tolerance? Do they believe their “Celebrate Diversity” bumper stickers, blind to the hypocrisy?
I find myself thinking about this as I am only days away from becoming a criminal in my tolerant hometown of Boulder. Boulder, which did so much to promote the civil rights of the LGBT community in decades past, when alternative lifestyles were misunderstood and feared, is now leading the charge against people like me whose lifestyle is misunderstood and feared.
I remember a time when, for public safety of course, some conservatives wanted AIDS patients to self-identify, to present themselves to the governmental authority, and be counted. There was an epidemic erupting after all, and “something had to be done.”
In Boulder, if your core beliefs include dressing as the opposite gender or following the teachings of the Koran our city government will bend over backwards to protect you from those who wish to separate you from your community. You’d never be forced to self-identify to government authorities, to submit to inspection, to be registered and made to pay fees to keep your core beliefs.
My strong belief in my Second Amendment rights is core to who I am. I know that is not understood by many today, however I am not asking to be understood. I’m asking to be left alone.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 11 percent of children ages four to seventeen have been diagnosed with ADHD, and that number increased 42 percent from 2003-2004 to 2011-2012, with a majority of those diagnosed placed on medication. Perhaps more troubling, one-third of these diagnoses occur in children under age six
It should be no surprise that as we place young children in artificial learning environments, separated from their family for long lengths of time, and expect them to comply with a standardized, test-driven curriculum, it will be too much for many of them.
New findings by Harvard Medical School researchers confirm that it’s not the children who are failing, it’s the schools we place them in too early. These researchers discovered that children who start school as among the youngest in their grade have a much greater likelihood of getting an ADHD diagnosis than older children in their grade. In fact, for the U.S. states studied with a September 1st enrollment cut-off date, children born in August were 30 percent more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than their older peers.
The study’s lead researcher at Harvard, Timothy Layton, concludes: “Our findings suggest the possibility that large numbers of kids are being overdiagnosed and overtreated for ADHD because they happen to be relatively immature compared to their older classmates in the early years of elementary school.”
Parents don’t need Harvard researchers to tell them that a child who just turned five is quite different developmentally from a child who is about to turn six. Instead, parents need to be empowered to challenge government schooling motives and mandates, and to opt-out.
As universal government preschool programs gain traction, delaying schooling or opting out entirely can be increasingly difficult for parents. Iowa, for example, recently lowered its compulsory schooling age to four-year-olds enrolled in a government preschool program.
Deciding when a child should enter school is one of the most far-reaching decisions of a young parent’s life. The overwhelming societal pressure is to do it as soon as possible, but that’s not always best. I like to think of age differences in terms of percentages. A 2-year-old is 100% older than a 1-year old. A 5-year-old is 25% older than a 4-year-old. The larger the percentage, the greater the difference in kids – and then one has to factor in the individual characteristics of the child. Some kids mature faster than others.
There is a big difference in 4-year-old Kindergarten, for example, between the brand new 4-year-olds born in August and the ones that were born in the October before. Those older kids are almost 25% older than their classmates and in a different part of their development. And yet schools are necessarily designed to teach to the mean. The problem is that the younger the child is, the greater the deviation from that mean.
This is why I don’t support mandatory 4-year-old Kindergarten. I don’t support mandatory 5-year-old Kindergarten for the same reason. Ideally, a loving parent at home is far better equipped to address the specific development needs of their child to get them ready for their formal education years. When that is not the case, Kindergarten might be a better choice for the child. And even then, a parent should have the choice to decide which level is most appropriate for their child.
by Owen | 0924, 29 Dec 1818 | Off-Duty | 1 Comment
Grasshopper Restaurant in West Bend has closed…. “permanently”
There’s a note on the front door of Grasshopper Restaurant in downtown West Bend announcing the business is “permanently closed.” A laminated note hung on the door at 241 N. Main Street:
Grasshopper is permanently closed. Thank you for your devoted patronage over the years. I have enjoyed creating and maintaining a place where quality of food has never wavered. My passion in both food and teaching are about to come together as I embark on a brand new adventure. I hope to bring you knowledge and the joy of making delicious and healthy eats for family and friends. My Dad always told me that if you love what you do and do what you love you will never work a day in your life. I believe this to be true and I wish the same for you. Follow your passion and embrace great changes in this brand New Year!!!
Stefanie Ulma, owner of Grasshopper Restaurant, 241 N. Main St., purchased the building with her father Al Ulma in June 2009.
An article in Comings & Goings, a publication designed to promote the Downtown West Bend Business District, read: Al Ulma and his daughter Stefanie are the new owners of the building on the southeast corner of Main and Cedar Streets. The Ulma’s are planning a facelift for the shops 237, 241 and 243 N. Main Street. The Ulma’s have also been approved for a Combination Class B liquor license however they’ve yet to disclose what business they’ll open. The license was taken out under the name Grasshopper & Café.
Grasshopper opened in March 2010. It started as a cozy place to get high-quality food for breakfast and lunch in an atmosphere that was uber trendy with an old school Audrey Hepburn/Frank Sinatra flare. Since then it’s grown and morphed to a relaxed indoor library setting with a long bar yet the excellent food remains.
“I’m excited to do something else for West Bend that’s different than just this restaurant,” said Ulma. “One thing that will stay the same will be delivering to the customer the best of the best. It’s never been about the money it’s been about giving a great product to the people.”
Historic West Bend Theatre sign removed
You could reach out the window from the projector loft overlooking N. Main Street and come eye-to-eye with the crew from Poblocki Sign Company as it worked in the rain Thursday to remove the sign from the Historic West Bend Theatre.
The crew was in town just after 7 a.m. setting up to take down the iconic sign which weighed about 2,000 pounds. Orange sparks flew as the team from Poblocki Sign used a rotary power saw to cut the braces holding the sign to the I-beam.
Four cuts later, tethered to the crane above, it sounded like a gong as the sign broke free from its metal support. A little hand wiggle from the crew and the mammoth West Bend Theatre sign was lifted off its frame.
Once airborne the mighty crane moved the sign away from the canopy and the crew below readied it for placement on the flatbed trailer.
Crew chief Karl Haase said the process “went rather well considering the sign is over 70-years old.”
While the crew in bucket lifts worked to cut the sign from its base they were careful to not damage the tree branches nearby.
“The most challenging part was laying it down on the truck,” said Haase. “We’ve worked on larger pieces but this one is odd because it’s so old and with rust there was just an element of the unknown.”
Haase said the “I-beam is not in the greatest shape and we’re going to have to address that problem.”
“It went pretty good… nothing drastic happened,” he said.
Over the next few months the sign will be refurbished and then returned to the side of the building later this summer. During the sign removal, the Historic West Bend Theatre Group received a nice $25,000 donation from the West Bend Rotary Club.
Washington County’s first human resources director has died
Washington County’s first human resources director has died. Moschea died Friday night, Dec. 21.
Former Washington County Board Chairman Herb Tennies said Moschea’s brother called him with the news. “Gary was a great guy and well liked,” said Tennies. “He dealt with most of the county employees and he had a good relationship with people. He was a good county employee and he was fair with the unions and the labor force. Though out the state he was well known and he was part of state associations.”
Tennies said Moschea was a great friend. “He always wrote me a letter after every election to congratulate me,” he said.
Moschea was the human resources director for 35 years in Washington County. He retired April 2007. Former Washington County Fair executive director Sandy Lang said Moschea is the one who originally hired her. “Back in the olden days when the personnel office was two people, Gary and Mary Heltemes, and we were in the little office in Annex II,” said Lang. “I got along with them very well over all the years.”
District 17 Washington County Supervisor Marilyn Merten worked as county clerk when Moschea was in personnel. “Gary was very thorough in what he did,” said Merten. “He knew his job. If anyone went to him with a question you got an answer. He was a valued employee.”
Merten said Moschea was a fixture at the Kiwanis Steak Fry.
Former County Board Chairman Ken Miller remembered Moschea. “I worked with him for a number of years,” said Miller. “He was always receptive to my thoughts and he did a good job in the H.R. Department. He was a very likable person. As usual there were always differences of opinion but those were always resolved.” Moschea was 77 years old.
A Liturgy of The Word Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29 at St. Frances Cabrini Church (1025 S 7th Ave. West Bend) with Rev. Nathan Reesman presiding.
Rev. Heppe blesses Rolfs Nativity
It is the third Sunday of Advent and on Saturday night Rev. Pat Heppe, dressed in purple vestments, took a moment to bless the Rolfs Nativity on Eighth Avenue.
At the end of 4 p.m. Mass Rev. Heppe talked a bit about some national attention being drawn to West Bend and the Rolfs Nativity. “Last week a reporter from the New York Times was here,” he said. “He interviewed folks at the Downtown West Bend Association and came over here to Holy Angels because he heard about the nativity that was vandalized last year.”
Rev. Heppe went through a brief retelling of how the nativity stood for years in front of the Amity building and in 2017 was in Old Settlers’ Park in downtown West Bend where the baby Jesus figure was stolen.
Parishioner Terry Vrana got a hold of the remnants of the figure and carved a new head for the baby Jesus and reattached the hands. On Saturday, in front of about two dozen parish members, Rev. Heppe gave a blessing and Vrana placed the baby Jesus in the crèche.
“The practice of erecting such mangers was a practice begun by Saint Francis of Assisi as a means to set forth the message of Christmas,” said Heppe. “When we look upon these figures, especially these historic figures, the Christmas Gospel comes alive and we are moved to rejoice in the mysteries in the incarnation of the Son of God.”
As the church bell tolled sharp in the cold, dark, night Rev. Heppe blessed the nativity with holy water.
Slinger School Board candidates file paperwork By Samantha Sali
Three seats on the Slinger School Board are up for election April 2, 2019. The three incumbents whose seats are up are Gary Feltz (Treasurer), Joe Havey (Member), and Roman Weninger (Member). Wendy Michalski, Slinger School District Secretary, said all three incumbents have filed candidacy. The new term starts April 22, 2019 and will last three years (April 2022).
A Campaign Registration Statement and Declaration of Candidacy must be filed by 5 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in the Slinger School District’s Clerk Office (207 Polk Street, Slinger.
Two seats up for election on Hartford School Board By Samantha Sali
Two seats are up for election on the Hartford Union High School’s (HUHS) Board of Education Election. The terms are up are Craig Westfall (Deputy Clerk/Treasurer) and Bill Savage (Clerk)
The new term starts April 22, 2019 and will last three years (April 2022). A Campaign Registration Statement and Declaration of Candidacy needs to be filed by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in the Superintendent’s office (805 Cedar Street, Hartford, WI)
Two candidates file to run for West Bend School Board
Two candidates have now filed papers to run for two open seats on the West Bend School Board as two incumbents have filed non-candidacy papers.
According to Deb Roensch from the Education Service Center said incumbents Ken Schmidt and Tiffany Larson have both filed non-candidacy papers. The pair were elected to the West Bend School Board in April 2016.
On Friday, Dec. 21, Paul Fischer, an elder at Kettlebrook Church, filed candidacy papers. On Dec. 23, Erin Dove, posted an announcement on social media about her intentions to run. A portion of her announcement is below.
My husband and I settled in Jackson in 2002 and are raising our three daughters here. Our oldest is a sophomore at West Bend West High School and we have twins in 8th grade at Badger Middle School. When they were younger, I spent a lot of time volunteering in different capacities at Jackson Elementary School. I’ve been an advocate for their education and am l looking to the prospect of helping shape the educational environment for other children.
Interested individuals are required to file a Declaration of Candidacy form and a Campaign Registration statement. These completed forms can be dropped off at the Education Service Center, 735 S. Main Street, West Bend (across from Badger Middle School).
The deadline to file papers to run for School Board is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Declaration of Candidacy form and a Campaign Registration statement must be completed and can be dropped off at the Education Service Center, 735 S. Main Street, West Bend (across from Badger Middle School).
To all qualified electors of West Bend Joint School District No. 1: A school board election will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 to fill two at-large seats on the West Bend School Board, each with an expiration date of April 2022.
Please note ESC offices will be closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. If you have any questions, please call 262-335-5435.
West Bend nativity featured in article in N.Y. Times
West Bend and the Rolfs nativity were featured recently in an article in the New York Times. Reporter Mitch Smith was in town Dec. 20 and met with Rev. Pat Heppe at Holy Angels, Rick Takacs at Meadowbrook Market and the Downtown West Bend Association.
The focus of the article was about vandalism and steps various communities are taking to keep their nativities safe. Below is a portion of the article.
In West Bend, Wis., north of Milwaukee, a baby Jesus figurine was stolen twice last year. After the first theft, the statue’s torso was found nearby, but the rest of it was missing. The faithful were outraged, and someone donated a new Jesus doll for the Nativity set, which had been displayed around town for decades.
A few days later, early on Christmas Eve, an alert police officer saw a woman “cradling something” on West Bend’s Main Street. It was the replacement baby Jesus. “I yelled ‘Police, stop,’” the officer wrote in his official report of the incident. Once confronted, the woman dropped the figurine and took off running.
The thefts took a toll in West Bend, a city of about 30,000 residents, where churches are central to public life and longtime residents recall admiring the old Nativity set as children.
The article goes on to talk about the security steps being taken to prevent further theft.
Revisiting the great chicken debate in West Bend
The West Bend Common Council will review the issue again of whether to allow neighbors in the community to raise chickens at its first meeting in January 2019. Early leanings against chickens include Dist. 1 alderman John Butschlick, Dist. 6 alderman Steve Hoogester, and Dist. 8 alderman Roger Kist. Dist. 5 alderman Rich Kasten said he was not in favor but open to listening to suggestions. Those in favor of chickens include Dist. 2 alderman Mike Christian, Dist. 3 Andrew Chevalier, Dist. 4 Chris Jenkins, and Dist. 7 Justice Madl.
Superintendent interviews slated in Hartford Union School District
Two candidates for the Superintendent position will visit Hartford Union High School (HUHS) January 8 and 9, 2019. Names of the two candidates will be released after school has reconvened January 2, 2019.
Community members, parent/guardians, staff and students are invited and encouraged to attend both of the community forums: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. HUHS Library Media Center and Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. HUHS Library Media Center. The new Superintendent will be named at the Jan. 28, 2019 Board of Education meeting.
Updates & Tidbits
-This winter season marks the 45th anniversary of the Nabob Prairie Riders Snowmobile Club. Please join the Nabob Prairie riders on Jan. 5, 2019 at the House of Heileman’s on Big Cedar Lake for the annual Winterfest/Fisheree. Fishing is from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., entertainment in the tent includes music, food and drink all available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
-Moonlighting Bar & Grill in Barton has reopened. Eddie Daniel is the new owner.
-Kewaskum High School junior Courtney Zarda two tickets to Super Bowl 53 and the National Fuel Up To Play 60 Program is covering the airfare and hotel and the Wisconsin Dairy Council added $500 spending money. Zarda was awarded the tickets for her leadership in the community through the Fuel Up To Play 60 Program.
– A Memorial Service will be held Monday, Dec. 31 for Howard “Howie” Knox who died Dec. 5, 2018. Knox was a World War II veteran and highly visible in the community. The service will start at 11 a.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 4860 Arthur Road, in Slinger.
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It comes after at least 221 migrants have attempted to cross the Channel to England since the start of November.
Most recently, 12 people were detained off the coast of Dover in the early hours of Friday morning.
Officials on both sides of the Channel have warned of the dangers of crossing what is the world’s busiest shipping lane in a small boat. Police have likened the journey to trying to “cross the M25 at rush-hour on foot”.
[…]
Bridget Chapman, from the charity Kent Refugee Action Network, said the situation was in part a result of UK measures to “beef up the security around Calais”.
“We’ve put a big fence up to prevent people from accessing trains and lorries and people are resorting to other methods to get here,” she told the BBC.
“It’s winter, but the weather has been quite good. And I expect people traffickers are exploiting people, saying, ‘You know, things are going to tighten up after Brexit, you need to go now.'”
[…]
British and French authorities have both said the rise in crossings is the result of “organised criminality” and “mafia networks”.
[…]
He said: “We need to make it really clear to the migrants and the gangs that if you try and do this you will be detected early, either as you’re preparing to leave or as soon as you’re in the water, and you’ll be returned to France.”
I’m having a hard time mustering sympathy for the poor, oppressed, overweight woman in Nikes trying to illegally enter our country. I fail to understand why I should have to pay more taxes to support her choice to leave her own country.
A Medicare review website, medicarehealthplans.com, published a study mapping out the most Googled medical symptoms by state.
The study — which analyzed Google Trend data on medical symptom searches for each state for a period of time from 2017 into 2018 — found that the most searched medical symptom in Wisconsin was “light-colored poop.”
Gov.-elect Tony Evers plans to appoint Carolyn Stanford Taylor as state superintendent, his Department of Public Instruction announced Thursday.
Stanford Taylor, who currently oversees DPI’s Special Education Team, will officially be appointed on Jan. 7 after Evers is sworn in as guv, per the announcement.
Evers had the option to call a special election to fill the seat. But by making the appointment, Taylor will fill out the remainder of Evers’ term, which ends in April 2021. DPI noted that option was last exercised after Superintendent Herbert Grover resigned in 1993 and then-Gov. Tommy Thompson appointed former Gov. Lee Dreyfus to lead the agency.
(Bloomberg) — The partial U.S. government shutdown entered its sixth day on Thursday as the White House and lawmakers remain at odds over President Donald Trump’s demands to fund a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
There’s little indication of any imminent agreement to resolve the standoff as the Christmas holiday in the U.S. passed and the new Congress is set to convene next week.Trump is demanding $5 billion for the wall, while Democratic leaders have proposed $1.3 billion for border security.Congressional leaders remained out of town, while Trump made an unannounced visit to U.S. troops in Iraq.The Senate is scheduled to reconvene on Thursday but no schedule has been announced. There are no votes planned in the House. Lawmakers will be given 24 hours notice if there is a breakthrough that would require a vote.
Trump said during the Iraq visit that the shutdown would last as long as it takes to get the funding he wants for the border wall and additional security.The president declined to say what level of funding he’d accept.Republicans said they were waiting for a counteroffer from Democrats to the proposal said to have been made by Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday of $2.1 billion for new border barriers, along with $400 million for other Trump immigration priorities.Even with most lawmakers out of town, some discussions were taking place, according to congressional aides.Trump is scheduled to return to Washington on Thursday.
Granted, it’s the Christmas season and a lot of people are disconnected, but I’ve not witnessed anyone much noticing that the government is shut down – much less being upset by it. It doesn’t seem that the shutdown has changed minds, swayed public opinion, or changed the political calculus in any way.
Governor-elect Tony Evers is deep into his transition to power and has begun to announce his choices to fill his cabinet. While none of the picks are surprising, they do confirm the kind of governor that Tony Evers intends to be.
To run the Department of Administration, Evers has chosen Joel Brennan, the CEO of the Milwaukee’s Discovery World Science and Technology Museum. Brennan is an old Democratic operative who previously ran Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s campaigns for governor and mayor. Brennan’s brother-in-law is also a co-chair of Evers’ transition team. Brennan’s deep roots in Wisconsin’s Democratic political structure will put a firm stamp on the Department of Administration.
Evers has chosen Preston Cole to run the Department of Natural Resources. Cole currently works as the commissioner of neighborhood services under Mayor Tom Barrett and has been a member of the DNR’s board since 2007. Garnering praise from Governor Scott Walker, Cole has a degree in forest management and a long history of involvement with environmental management.
Sara Meaney has been chosen by Evers to run Wisconsin’s Department of Tourism. Meaney currently works as the chief marketing and development officer at Milwaukee Film. Meaney has a background in Milwaukee’s arts community and is a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee.
Evers has picked Kevin Carr to serve as secretary of the Department of Corrections. Carr is a United States marshal who previously worked for the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office for 30 years.
Brad Pfaff has been selected to run the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. Pfaff is another old-time Democratic political insider who worked for Congressman Ron Kind, U.S. SenatorHerb Kohl, as a political appointee in the Obama Administration, and has run for state office as a Democrat in the past.
Evers has chosen Rebecca Valcq to chair the Public Service Commission. Valcq is a lawyer and partner at Milwaukee’s Quarles and Brady law firm. She also spent 15 years working for We Energies as a regulatory attorney.
Mark Afable is to be Wisconsin’s insurance commissioner, pending Senate confirmation. A graduate of Marquette Law, Afable is currently the chief legal officer for American Family Insurance in Madison.
Evers’ most controversial Cabinet choice to date is for Craig Thompson to run the Department of Transportation. Thompson is the executive director of the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin. In that role for the last decade, he has been a vocal and aggressive lobbyist on behalf of road builders and unions to spend more money on transportation. Thompson’s selection is the strongest signal yet that Evers will push for a massive increase in spending, and the taxes to fund that spending, in the next budget.
Each of Evers’ cabinet choices will have to meet the approval of the Wisconsin state Senate, which remains firmly in Republican control. Under the new rules signed into law a couple of weeks ago, a cabinet appointee who fails to receive confirmation by the Senate will not be allowed to continue to serve in that office or be reappointed. As such, Evers will need to work with the Senate majority to ensure that his choices will gain approval.
In looking at the list of Evers’ appointments so far, one thing really sticks out. Except for Pfaff, every appointee is from Milwaukee or Madison. This makes complete sense when one considers how Evers won the election. His narrow victory was thanks to overwhelming liberal turnout in Dane and Milwaukee counties. The Democratic power base is increasingly concentrated in these two counties, so it stands to reason that a Democratic administration would be filled with operatives from these geographies.
The political divisions in Wisconsin, like in the rest of America, are increasingly along the lines of rural vs. urban instead of left vs. right. At least for the next four years, Wisconsin’s urban interests are going to be in control of the executive branch.
On the one hand, it is not unusual in government or private industry for a potential vendor to have relationships and try to influence an upcoming RFP. It is also not necessarily unethical. It can also be valuable for the government or business requesting the products or services by providing education and direction in a complex technology sector. On the other hand, this is a good reminder that big businesses love big government because they always have a seat at the trough.
A top Amazon executive privately advised the Trump administration on the launch of a new internet portal that is expected to generate billions of dollars for the technology company and give it a dominant role in how the US government buys everything from paper clips to office chairs.
Emails seen by the Guardian show that the Amazon executive Anne Rungcommunicated with a top official at the General Services Administration (GSA) about the approach the government would take to create the new portal, even before the legislation that created it – known to its critics as the “Amazon amendment” – was signed into law late last year.
Amazon and the Trump administration appear to have an antagonistic relationship because of the president’s frequent Twitter attacks on the Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post. But the behind-the-scenes lobbying by Amazon officials underscores how the company has quietly amassed an unrivalled position of power with the federal government.
The 2017 correspondence between Rung – a former official in the Obama administration credited with transforming the federal government’s procurement policies before she joined Amazon – and Mary Davie at the GSA, offers new insights into how Amazon has used key former government officials it now employs – directly and as consultants – to gain influence and potentially shape lucrative government contracts.
My column in the Washington County Daily News this week is about Tony Evers and his cabinet choices. Here’s a little piece.
In looking at the list of Evers’ appointments so far, one thing really sticks out. Except for Pfaff, every appointee is from Milwaukee or Madison. This makes complete sense when one considers how Evers won the election. His narrow victory was thanks to overwhelming liberal turnout in Dane and Milwaukee counties. The Democratic power base is increasingly concentrated in these two counties, so it stands to reason that a Democratic administration would be filled with operatives from these geographies.
The political divisions in Wisconsin, like in the rest of America, are increasingly along the lines of rural vs. urban instead of left vs. right. At least for the next four years, Wisconsin’s urban interests are going to be in control of the executive branch.
Be thankful that we live in a nation where we are free to celebrate our faith. It is still unusual in much of the world.
China is cracking down on Christmas. Several cities, schools, and government institutions have ordered citizens not to celebrate the holiday and to instead focus on promoting traditional Chinese culture.
In the northern city of Langfang in Hebei province, city officials ordered all Christmas decorations to be cleared and forbade shops from selling Christmas-themed goods. Officials said the measure was aimed at “maintaining stability” and controlling street hawkers.
In Changsha, in central Hunan province, the education bureau last week issued a directive to schools not to celebrate “western festivals” such as Christmas, including putting up decorations, posting related messages or exchanging gifts. At least four Chinese cities and one county have issued a ban on Christmas decorations, according to Associated Press.
A teacher in Huangshan in Anhui province issued a reminder on Weibo on Christmas Eve to follow a recent notice from the propaganda department not to attend Christmas parties, post related messages on the popular messaging apps WeChat or QQ, or give teachers “peace apples”, a tradition in China. The term for Christmas Eve, pinganye, or peaceful night, is similar to that of the world “apple”.
The principal of Manchester Elementary School – located near Omaha, Nebraska – sent her staff a memo on holiday symbols that does not reflect the Elkhorn Public Schools District’s policies, according to a district statement sent to USA TODAY Friday.
[…]
The lists said winter-themed symbols such as sledding, gingerbread people and snowmen were allowed. But symbols associated with Christmas were not, as to avoid promoting a religious holiday.
The memo at times includes explanations for why certain items were disallowed:
Elf on the Shelf – that’s Christmas-related
Candy Cane – that’s Christmas-related. Historically, the shape is a “J” for Jesus. The red is for the blood of Christ, and the white is a symbol of his resurrection. This would also include different colored candy canes
Red/Green items – traditional Christmas colors
Reindeer
The memo is signed “the (Unintentional) Grinch who stole Christmas (from Manchester).”
It explains the policies: “I come from a place that Christmas and the like are not allowed in schools … over the years in my educational career, this has evolved into the expectation for all educators.”
The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded sharply lower Monday after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin shocked investors worldwide over the weekend by tweeting that he had spoken to the CEOs of the six largest U.S. banks to ensure they were liquid.
The Dow was down 1.6 percent to midway through an abbreviated trading session ahead of the Christmas holiday. The losses added to last week’s crushing performance, the index’s worst week in 10 years — since the 2008 financial crisis. The tech-heavy NASDAQ was also getting crushed, trading 3.8 percent lower.
It crossed into bear territory last week for the first time since the 2008 recession, which means it is down more than 20 percent from its record high on Aug. 29.
Everyone will circulate their own perception of causes. In my opinion… we are in the midst of a general global downturn where America’s economy is fighting an uphill climb. Meanwhile, the tariffs and Fed machinations are like loose gravel under America’s feet.
by Owen | 0625, 22 Dec 1818 | Off-Duty | 2 Comments
Can West Bend support three Kwik Trips? How about four?
There’s been a lot of talk going around West Bend this past month about another Kwik Trip… or maybe two coming to West Bend.
Customers leaving the Citgo Station, also known as Egbert & Guido’s, 1300 E. Paradise Drive, say the clerks behind the counter are saying the store is being sold to Kwik Trip.
“The employee also said they’ll have to reapply for their jobs,” said customer Greg Lofy. “Sounds like this is going to happen Jan. 3, 2019.”
Management at the store, so far, has refused comment.
Kwik Trip officials in La Crosse have not returned calls, although officials in the City of West Bend say they have been in conversations with Kwik Trip. No further details were released.
If the sale of the family-owned Citgo on Paradise Drive is true, this will be the third Kwik Trip in West Bend.
The first opened Oct. 27, 2016 on Silverbrook Drive, just north of Paradise Drive. The second Kwik Trip opened Aug. 2, 2018 at 806 S. Main Street in the former Walgreens location.
According to records at City Hall the parcel on Silverbrook Drive is 3.025 acres, the lot on Main Street and Decorah Road is 1.401 acres and the potential lot on Paradise Drive and River Road is 2.23 acres.
Egbert & Guido’s is owned by Muth Bros. LLC. That land was originally owned by Marie Muth and sold in March 19, 1997 as vacant land. It was turned over in a trust for $75,000.
The current assessed value of the Citgo property is $1,022,200.
Designs for a new store would have to go before the West Bend Plan Commission. If the sale comes to fruition the next available meeting would be February 2019 as the current Jan. 2, 2019 agenda has already been released.
Earlier in the week there were rumors about a Kwik Trip possibly opening in the Skate Country location, 1950 N. Main Street. Skate Country owner John Mangold said on record, “I have one word for you, NO!”
A 2017 article in Convenience Store News said Kwik Trip is definitely adding stores and “the family-owned company plans to open 40 to 50 new stores annually, including a significant number in Wisconsin.”
With the development of a new Fleet Farm in West Bend there is a lot of conversation about who will take over the property on the southeast corner of Highway 33 and 18th Avenue.
Kwik Trip is a hot topic for that location however no official buyer has been confirmed.
Happy 108th birthday to Clara Moll of Barton
More than a milestone this week as Clara Moll of Barton celebrated her 108th birthday on Dec. 19.
“I have no pain,” said Moll as she did laps with her walker up and down the hall and making a sweeping turn through the kitchen. ”I’m not going to be bedridden,” she said with spunk.
Moll takes enough time to catch her breath and admire the vase full of pink roses, a birthday gift, that sits on the kitchen table. Clara was born in 1910; right after the coffee filter and paper cups were invented.
“I’m going to live until 110,” said Clara confidently as she clumped with her walker into the kitchen. Daughter Mary said that declaration can change. “Most often… we’re just taking it one day at a time.”
Paul Fischer files to run for West Bend School Board
There are two seats up for election April 2, 2019 on the West Bend School Board and on Friday afternoon Paul Fischer threw his hat in the ring.
Today I proudly announce my candidacy for the West Bend School Board.
My wife Sandie and I have enjoyed raising our family in the West Bend community since 1994. We love the quality of life here, and our three daughters have received an outstanding education through the West Bend School District. Our oldest daughter is a first year graduate student in Concordia University’s Physical Therapy program, our middle daughter will complete her Culinary Arts degree from Fox Valley Technical College in May 2019, and our youngest is a junior at West Bend East who is ready to take on the world. Many thanks to all of their teachers, past school boards, and administrative personnel for making all this possible!
I’m excited to step out and offer to serve our community, helping to pay it forward for the next generation of young families. I won’t claim to know everything, and I will seek to understand the issues and concerns of our community as it pertains to providing a quality and fulfilling education for our children.
I look forward to the many conversations to come, and humbly ask for your support as we continue the positive momentum of the West Bend School District.
The deadline to file papers to run for School Board is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Declaration of Candidacy form and a Campaign Registration statement must be completed and can be dropped off at the Education Service Center, 735 S. Main Street, West Bend (across from Badger Middle School).
Board member Ken Schmidt filed non-candidacy papers on Tuesday morning, Dec. 18 which means he will not be running for another term. Schmidt and Tiffany Larson are up for re-election. Both elected to the West Bend School Board in April 2016
To all qualified electors of West Bend Joint School District No. 1: A school board election will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 to fill two at-large seats on the West Bend School Board, each with an expiration date of April 2022.
Please note ESC offices will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 28, and 31 and Jan. 1. A small number of employees will be in the office on Dec. 26 and 27. If you have any questions, please call 262-335-5435.
New shoe store coming to Hartford By Samantha Sali
A popular Midwest shoe store, Shoe Sensation, is coming to Hartford. A “Coming Soon” sign has been added to the old Hibbett Sports store on Liberty Avenue in Hartford, right next to Dollar Tree and across from Walmart. According to the website, Shoe Sensation’s mission is “to provide quality and brand name footwear for the entire family. From toddlers to seniors, our large selection of shoes has something for everyone as the typical Shoe Sensation will showcase over 10,000 pairs of the latest styles.” Store management is currently hiring an Area Director, Store Manager, Assistant Store Manager, Part-Time Back-Up Assistant, Manager-In-Training, and Sales Associates.
Revisiting the great chicken debate in West Bend
The West Bend Common Council took up the issue of whether to allow neighbors in the community to raise chickens. The discussion went on for about 40 minutes during Monday night’s meeting.
Highlights included:
-Discussions about noise, smell, feces.
-Are chickens pets or are they wild animals.
-Dist. 3 alderman Andrew Chevalier recommended a flat annual fee of $50 for chickens rather than charging a fee per bird.
-Aldermen noted chickens draw more rodents and predators to town including fox and raccoons.
-Neighbors including Joe Zaremba and Jim Tews spoke in favor of allowing chickens. Tews warned the council not to put a test window on the idea because if the city determined it a failed experiment and a chicken would have to be taken away from a child it would be like taking a dog away.
-City of West Bend Director of Development Mark Piotrowicz noted there were a number of conflicts in some of the current laws on the books including the use of chicken wire for fencing.
-Future chicken owners would be asked to notify neighbors about possibly bringing chickens to their yard.
-The council agreed to table the discussion and allow city staff to explore some of the questions brought up at the meeting before a vote would take place.
-The Common Council will review the issue again at its first meeting in January 2019.
-Early leanings against chickens include Dist. 1 alderman John Butschlick, Dist. 6 alderman Steve Hoogester, and Dist. 8 alderman Roger Kist. Dist. 5 alderman Rich Kasten said he was not in favor but open to listening to suggestions.
-Those in favor of chickens include Dist. 2 alderman Mike Christian, Dist. 3 Andrew Chevalier, Dist. 4 Chris Jenkins, and Dist. 7 Justice Madl.
Ribbon cutting at Bob’s Main Street Auto in West Bend
A ribbon cutting this week as Bob’s Main Street Auto, 115 W. Decorah Road, in West Bend.
A major addition and remodel was just completed by Keller, Inc. The plan includes approximately 3,300-square-foot building addition.
KELLER, Planners, Architects, Builders, a Design/Build General Contractor, will build an addition and remodel current facilities for Bob’s Auto Main Street – Decorah Road under the direction of Keller Project Manager, Scott Lausten and Architect, Chris Manske.
Bob’s Main Street Auto also raised $1,437 from customer donations for the Gingerbread House. Bill and Laurie donated an additional $500.
The locally-owned auto repair business also spent around $2,000 on toys and games for children of all ages.
Students from Allenton Elementary publish book By Ms. Rebecca (Becky) Schuett
Students at Allenton Elementary School, 1st and 4th grade buddies were busy authors in November working on book-publishing kits through Student Treasures. They read an animal book to gather facts, wrote clues describing their animal, and illustrated their animal in its habitat. The buddy books are entitled “What am I?”
The books include a title page, dedication page, clue and illustration pages, and photographs of the buddies. It was a wonderful cooperative learning activity.
The students looked very proud as the books were shared with them during a publishing party which included juice and popcorn. Students who ordered books were very excited to take them home to share with families over the holidays.
Our 1st and 4th graders really enjoy working together and always look forward to our next visit and activity. Thank you for your interest in this special student celebration.
Superintendent interviews slated in Hartford Union School District
Two candidates for the Superintendent position will visit Hartford Union High School (HUHS) January 8, and 9, 2019. Names of the two candidates will be released after school has reconvened January 2, 2019.
Community members, parent/guardians, staff and students are invited and encouraged to attend both of the community forums: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. HUHS Library Media Center and Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. HUHS Library Media Center. The new Superintendent will be named at the Jan. 28, 2019 Board of Education meeting.
Updates & Tidbits
– Today is the last day for Sweet Creations Village Bakery in West Bend, 825 S. Main Street, is closing. A note was posted on the window of the business thanking customers for “years of loyalty and patronage.” Owner Derek Van Alstyne said the store in Slinger, 310 E. Washington Street, will remain open and gift cards may be redeemed at that location. Sweet Creations Bakery in West Bend opened in June 2013.
– Horicon Bank recently announced the promotion of Rosemary Petitte to its Senior Management team.
– The iconic perimeter-lit “West Bend” sign on the Historic West Bend Theatre (HWBT) will come down Dec. 27 for restoration to its original luster. Poblocki Sign Company will restore both the sign and the marquee. It will be transported to the Poblocki shop for electrical, carpentry and painting. The reinstallation of both the sign and marquee is targeted for this summer. There are 235 bulbs on each face of the sign, for a total of 470. That doesn’t include the bulbs on the marquee.
-Rick Takacs at Meadowbrook Farm in West Bend has fresh balsam and Fraser fir Christmas trees for the upcoming holiday. Takacs gets his trees from the same vendor in Oconto County who once supplied the tree to the White House in Washington D.C. Tackas said he really liked the trees from the Vander Velden’s farm because they’re “tall and have super color.” Meadowbrook Farm is located at 1270 Meadowbrook Road.
-This winter season marks the 45th anniversary of the Nabob Prairie Riders Snowmobile Club. Please join the Nabob Prairie riders on Jan. 5, 2019 at the House of Heileman’s on Big Cedar Lake for the annual Winterfest/Fisheree. Fishing is from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., entertainment in the tent includes music, food and drink all available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
– A Memorial Service will be held Monday, Dec. 31 for Howard “Howie” Knox who died Dec. 5, 2018. Knox was a World War II veteran and highly visible in the community. The service will start at 11 a.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 4860 Arthur Road, in Slinger.
Slinger Historical Museum
An open letter to my fellow “Slinger-ites”;
We will celebrate 150 years of Schleisingerville starting in one week and we have the chance to show our history to the world.
Did you know 90 percent of communities in Wisconsin with a population of 1,000 or more have some form of museum or Historical Society? Bayfield, which has a population 460, has a museum.
We have a museum established – the Slinger Historical Museum Inc., a 501c3 non-profit entity.
We are officially state-affiliated with the Wisconsin Historical Society; Slinger High School is helping to document and curate our history; we have the support of the village and Washington County to establish a museum; we have displays highlighting the founders and industrial pioneers of our community and “dollars to donuts,” you are related to one of these ingenious and brave women and men.
What we don’t have is a place. I have tried for over a year to find our physical address to no avail. This initiative is a labor of love, not a profit-making venture. The Slinger Historical Museum is near and dear to my heart, I admit it. I am an eighth generation Rosenheimer and live in a “Rosey” (then Storck) house built in 1890.
But this is not about my family; this is about your heritage. I am not asking for money. I am asking you, Slinger community members, to put your mind to task to find a home for our museum. The rest is all in place; grants, docents/tour guides, excitement and an interest in volunteering, both young and old.
Please help. A small building that you are not using, a spot of property that we could move an already identified Historical Landmark building from the 1880’s that could “house history,” an abode for our artifacts. If you have something, or know of something, ring me at 262-707-2811 and let’s begin the conversation. Let’s ignite a love of history in our community of 5,400.
Sincerely, Wendy R. Olsen, Founder, the Slinger Historical Museum
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Theresa May has said the government is working with Gatwick to try to resolve the impasse at the airport, which has been closed for more than 12 hours because of drones.
The airport remains closed after what police and the airport described as a deliberate attempt to disrupt flights. Tens of thousands of travellers have been affected and the prime minister said she felt for them, but the government was doing what it could. May also defended the steps already taken to prevent misuse of drones.
[…]
Earlier, he said the drones could not be shot down because of the risk posed by stray bullets.
Don’t you love how nobody is held responsible for a multi-million dollar mistake, but the taxpayers have to pay for it anyway?
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WLUK) — Brown County officials say county engineers made a multi-million-dollar mistake and now taxpayers are going to be paying more to help keep Green Bay Packaging in the area.
Six months later, the county says its engineers were wrong in how they planned to build the storm water management system.
“In the end, piping couldn’t be run above ground,” said David Hemery, Brown County Corporation Counsel. “It had to go underground and it had to go deep underground, 18 to 20 feet.”
The extra cost of putting the pipe in ground and adding a lift station is about $6.5 million. Green Bay Packaging has agreed to pay $3.6 million for the lift station if the county covers the remaining $2.9 million.
“Complications happen,” said Patrick Evans, a Brown County Supervisor who is also running to be Green Bay’s next mayor. “It’s the county’s fault, so I mean what do you say? No, I’m not going to support this?”
Supervisor James Knieszel doesn’t blame the county’s engineers because he says they were given an unrealistic timeline to price out the work.
