County to raze Annex II and Senior Center

By this summer Washington County’s Annex II and the Senior Center will be razed. Plans have been in the works for about a year as the county started looking at capital improvement projects.

“They’re just costing us money to keep them,” County Administrator Joshua Schoemann said. “The expense is around $20,000 to $40,000 a year; most of it is for boiler heat and some staff maintenance.”

On a history note the Annex II use to be the old County House or County Home and Hospital. It was also home to Lutheran Social Services which rented out a portion for a charter school in 2014. Schoemann said, since then the site has been used for file storage.

“All the office spaces are 10 feet x 10 feet and there’s not really a good use for it unless you put a lot of money into it,” he said. “If we rent it then it will be someone who needs office space, and there’s not a big demand.”

The Annex II and the Senior Center fall smack dab in the middle of the county campus. “We don’t have any construction or expansion plans where the building would be useful,” Schoemann said.

The timetable on demolition is around July or August this summer. The county has put out a request for proposal and officials from the city of West Bend are looking to get in the mix by collaborating on a demolition project of their own. The city is looking to raze a building, 145 Forest Avenue; the parcel used to be with the Gehl Company building which was razed several years ago.

Staff is currently exploring this project to see if it is something that may make sense and offer possible cost savings if all demolition bids cover both entities.

The July timeframe to raze the buildings would coincide with the June 30 date when the Senior Center moves to its new facility by The Threshold.

The early price tag to raze the two county buildings is roughly $400,000.

Drone on the loose                           

West Bend police said nobody was injured when a drone crashed Thursday afternoon, 5:55 p.m., in the 1600 block of E. Washington Street. Authorities said a 28-year-old man from Fond du Lac, was flying his new drone when he lost control of it in the wind.

The drone fell to the ground and crashed on the pavement in the left turn traffic lane of westbound East Washington Street, in front of a westbound motor vehicle.

The 30-year-old female driver from West Bend was unable to stop her vehicle before driving on top of the drone, which had the propeller blades still rotating.

Minor damage was caused to the motor vehicle and moderate damage was caused to the drone.

West Bend to host Tour of America’s Dairyland

This summer West Bend will host the largest competitive cycling event in the U.S. as the Tour of America’s Dairyland comes to town.

“They were looking for a new venue and one of the organizers is from this area, he approached the city and we got a sponsor and it’s locked in,” Kellie Boone, events manager with the Downtown West Bend Association, said.

The tour, dubbed Downtown West Bend Criterium presented by Delta Defense, consists of a series of bicycle races that run throughout the day. “The tour reportedly brings in over 7,000 people with competitive racers and spectators,” said Boone.

The city will host the tour Monday, June 20.

“They bring the race and we build a day of activities around it,” Boone said. “We’ll have a local kids bike race, a kids obstacle course, bounce houses, vendors and a lot of family entertainment.”

The bike racing will be on the south end of downtown. The course starts at the intersection of Main Street and Walnut. It heads up to Hickory over to Sixth Avenue to Walnut to Fifth Avenue to Chestnut and onto Main and it’ll loop from there.

“It’s something different from anything we’ve ever done,” said Boone. “It’ll be huge tourism for the city, it’ll be super exciting and it’s nice to bring something unique.”

Mayor Kraig Sadownikow echoed Boone’s enthusiasm and praised city tourism and special events coordinator Jackie Maynard for helping lock in the event. Races start at 11:30 a.m. and end at 8:30 p.m.

New tenants move into former Regal Ware Museum

A couple of local lawyers are taking over the building that was once home to the Regal Ware Museum. New tenants include Amy Salberg with the Salberg Law Firm and Sara Snyder with Snyder Law, LLC.

Snyder will move in Feb. 1 and Salberg will follow in May.

The red brick building, 18 E. Washington Street, was sold in July 2015 to Iron Ridge Properties LLC for $260,000. The building had been on the market since April 2014. It was initially priced at $630,000. The Washington County Historical Society put the building up for sale two years ago. WCHS executive director Patricia Lutz said it was “a business decision” as changes in the industry saw fewer grants, lower donations and a downturn in staff.

The museum also struggled with low attendance, growing maintenance, and a loss of revenue after Glacier Hills Credit Union moved out. Signs for the new law firm location were made by Sign Works of Hartford.

Property tax payment altered because of Sunday due date 

The start of 2016 means a new two-payment plan for those paying their property taxes in installments in West Bend. The first payment is due in the coming weeks on Jan. 31. However, since that date falls on a Sunday the finance department said the payment can be made Monday, Feb. 1. There will be no interest or penalty.

he second and final installment for 2016 is due July 31, which is also a Sunday. That payment can be made Aug. 1 with no penalty or interest. Remember the second payment this year will be to the Washington County Treasurer.  The finance department at City Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

BG Decal & Apparel opens downtown WB

BG Decal & Apparel has opened in its new home in the Centrum building, 120 N. Main St., in downtown West Bend. The shop, owned by Bruce and Gena Biertzer, moved from Barton to Main Street in a space previously home to Mangold Clinic.

“I’m excited,” Gena Biertzer said. “We’ll still do our banners and signs and work with all the schools; we’ll be more of a West Bend spirit store with all our school apparel.”

BG Decal is still getting settled in its new space. “We’re looking forward to the foot traffic and the Farmers’ Market, the parade, the restaurants and all the happenings,” she said.

Tim Leitheiser and new service department

Leitheiser Auto has added a service center. Bob Lane is the head mechanic. “He’s been working in the area for about 25 years,” said owner Tim Leitheiser.  This past year Leitheiser moved his auto detailer to the Ace Canvas building on Highway 33.

The service center then set up shop in a two-bay facility behind the car dealership.  Leitheiser has been on Highway P for 25 years. “People were asking for a repair shop,” said Leitheiser. “There’s nothing on this end of town for mechanical work and I thought it was a good idea.”

In October, Leitheiser made the investment in a couple of hoists, a compressor and new tools. “This is for anybody,” he said about the service center. “We don’t handle Porches or exotic vehicles but everything else Bob can turnaround in a day; we do oil, tires, transmission and full service. There’s not much he can’t do.”

Help available for winter heating bills

Help is available to families in Washington County that need assistance with winter heating bills. Kay Lucas is program support supervisor with Washington County Human Services Department which oversees the Energy Assistance Program.

“Even though we’ve had a rather warm winter so far, we still want people to apply,” Lucas said. “Income, home heating usage and family size will determine eligibility and the amount of benefit.”

Applicants for energy assistance need to meet with Lucas, if they’re receiving assistance for the first time. Mail-in applications require copies of a photo ID, social security cards for all household members and proof of income for the previous three months for all household members. Other information required involves a copy of a lease if renting and the current utility bill. For more information contact Lucas at 262-335-4677.

New parameters for WB Farmers’ Market

There was a bit of drama during Monday’s West Bend common council meeting as alderman split 4 – 4 on approving a permit for the Downtown West Bend Association and this year’s Farmers’ Market.

The issue involved setting up vendor tables at the south end of the market on Main Street. Dist. 2 alderman Steve Hutchins argued it wasn’t the best use of space considering parking was at a premium.

Mike Husar, owner of Husar’s House of Fine Diamonds, supports the Farmers’ Market, however he has concerns with parking and how the vendor booths are laid out, specifically on the south end of the market which is in front of his store.

“We know the market helps downtown and Husar’s is not against the market,” said Husar. “We are upset when the empty slots are not filled throughout the entire market and there are four tents on the south end.”

Husar said it would help if the empty spots would be filled from the north, moving south.

“This expanded zone in front of our store, many weeks does not need to be there,” he said. “The vendors can be placed in open spots on the north end and when all those spots are filled then start to grow south.

Prior to the start of Monday’s meeting, Husar distributed a letter to the council asking for cooperation on the layout of the market with consideration to business storefronts that are blocked.

“How can anyone honestly say that closing access to a business does not affect business?  It does and it will,” wrote Husar.  “I am asking our Council to consider a restriction on the DWBA, please require them to fill up the main area of the market first and then move vendors to the south as needed.  We realize the Market is a good event for the community and we ….are asking for a balance help those that benefit from the market but also help those that it financially affects.”

Dist. 1 alderman John Butschlick, Dist. 2 alderman Steve Hutchins, and Dist. 8 alderman Roger Kist posed questions about the market layout and how empty vendor spots were handled. “I do attend all the Farmers’ Markets and I bring a notepad to mark the empty stalls,” said Kist.

Butschlick asked if was possible or if it was a hardship to arrange for vendors to fill open slots in the north end. “Can vendor No. 65 move to slot No. 45,” he said.

Boone said it was something that could be arranged.

In the high season, when the market is at peak, Husar said it’s very reasonable to have all the slots filled up and down the street. “But when vendors are sporadic and out of season, there’s no reason to have them blocking off the south end.”

When calling for the motion to approve the permit Butschlick read into the record that the Downtown West Bend Association would have to fill all empty spots to the north before moving the market to spaces to the south.

Kellie Boone, events manager for the DWBA, agreed to the motion and the permit was eventually approved. Mayor Kraig Sadownikow followed up the vote asking that “Kellie be conscientious of the ongoing saga that this continues to be and please take the comments to heart.”

Boone agreed she would work with the vendors to make sure the empty spots were adequately filled. The Downtown West Bend Farmers’ Market starts May 21.

Updates & tidbits

 – Common Sense Citizens is hosting a question-and-answer forum starting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 27 at the West Bend Moose Lodge for five candidates running for the West Bend School Board. Candidates include incumbent Randy Marquardt, Jenn Donath, Tiffany Larson, Robert Miller, and Ken Schmidt.

-Lots have been drawn for the upcoming Feb. 16 primary for the West Bend School Board.  Names will be listed on the ballot in the following order: Ken Schmidt, Jenn Donath, Randy Marquardt (inc), Robert Miller, and Tiffany Larson. Four will advance to the April 5 general election.

– Slinger High School made the AP School District Honor Roll according to the College Board.  Only 425 school districts achieved this in the United States and Canada, which is probably around 3 percent of the total. Slinger High School was posted along with 32 other Wisconsin schools; Slinger fell between the District of Hudson and the Tomahawk School District. “Outstanding job by our teachers and students! Nice way to end our week,” said SHS Principal Phil Ourada

-Reporter Judy Steffes broke the story last Saturday about the Pizza Hut, 1610 W. Washington St., closing Feb. 1. The marketing director with Wisconsin Hospitality Group said Sunday they hope to rebuild in another location in the community before the end of the year. Company development managers have not yet selected a final site. Local real estate agents believe Pizza Hut will open somewhere on the south end of town near Paradise Drive and the new Meijer.

-An interior remodel is ahead this summer for the West Bend Walmart on Paradise. There’s also another franchise business within the store that’s leaving. The last day for the business is Jan. 29. In May 2015 the Subway restaurant left Walmart. That space was converted to an expanded liquor section.

-The winner of the $100,000 Holly Jolly Raffle is Mary Beth Stoffel of West Bend. The ticket was purchased at Pick ‘n Save south in West Bend. Stoffel had a 1:100,000 chance of winning.

–Living Word Lutheran High School in Jackson will get an interior remodel this summer as the gymnasium will be gets LED lighting, more seating, a refinished floor, and air-circulation fans.

– Holy Angels School in West Bend will be holding its Kindergarten RoundUp on Sunday, Jan. 31, at 10:45 a.m., in the Walnut Room of the school.  Holy Angels offer a 3-year-old, 4-year-old, and 5-year-old program.

-The Slinger-Allenton Rotary’s Treasurer Darren Sievers recently presented a check to Ron Naab, a volunteer, with Washington County Heroin Task Force. The donation will be used by ELEVATE, a non-profit corporation, dedicated to help those with addictions along with supporting families of addicted family members. The money will help keep the Heroin Awareness Trailer in operation.  Last year the trailer was in 11 parades and parked at locations throughout the county.

Successful Fish-O-Ree

The 5th annual Randy and Janine Memorial Fish-O-Ree on Wallace Lake was a success. More than 50 fishermen braved the chilly but sunny weather last Saturday as they tested their luck.

Some of the more sizable catches included a 10-inch perch from Kevin Roman of West Bend, 11.5 crappie and a 9-inch blue gill from Jesse Arndt and an 8.5-inch blue gill from Chris H.

Money was raised for ABATE of Wisconsin, a motorcycle awareness group. The memorial fishery is dedicated to Randy Brossard and Janine Roman who were killed in May 2011 when their motorcycle struck a vehicle that pulled out in front of them on Highway 33 in West Bend.

Elevate to start program to replace D.A.R.E

Last December local school administrators received letters from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department about the suspension of the D.A.R.E. program. Sheriff Dale Schmidt notified 11 elementary school principals the program would end in the 2016 Spring semester; Schmidt said staffing D.A.R.E was difficult.

There’s was quite a push back from the community, especially as the heroin appears to be on the rise. On Monday Elevate, a community-based resource center that focuses on drug-and-alcohol prevention, stepped up with a creative solution to try and bring back D.A.R.E.

“Our community prevention educators are ready and equipped to teach Too Good For Drugs, a research-based, age-specific Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse prevention curriculum, to students in all grade schools impacted by this decision.” Elevate executive director Mary Simon said.

Too Good for Drugs is designed to, “promote social-skill development and resiliency in a fun and interactive learning environment.”

A statement on the Too Good for Drugs website reads, “Students learn and practice setting reachable goals, making responsible decisions, and refuse peer pressure and influence through independent, paired, and cooperative learning activities and games.”

Simon has created a GoFundMe page for people to make a tax deductible donation to Elevate to help sustain this effort.

The message on the page from Mary Simon is titled, Save AODA/Washington County reads:

Today, drug and alcohol prevention in our schools is more important than ever. At Elevate, we have been a community resource, providing prevention, intervention and support services for individuals and families struggling with the effects of substance abuse for more than 35 years.

With the Sheriff’s suspension of the D.A.R.E program in Washington County schools, we hope to be a resource to those schools and kids left without drug prevention and education programming.

Parents have asked for a creative solution, and we believe we can provide it– with your help!

The starting point, financially, to get the program underway is $20,000.

New general manager at Paradise Theatre 

There’s a new general manager at the Paradise Theatre in West Bend as Nick Avambato, 20, has taken over for Sanford Cohen. “I want to be involved in the community,” said Avambato.

A native of Delavan, Wisconsin Avambato grew up in the movie theatre industry as his father has owned theaters for 30 years. Avambato worked at the Showtime Cinema in Franklin and for the last two years he was with at a theatre in Indiana.

The Paradise Theatre webpage makes the ‘Under new management’ a bold statement on its front page. Avambato said that means, “We’ll listen,” he said. “I want the community to tell me what they want. I have a lot of short term goals; I want the theatre to be cleaner and we’ll be focused on getting the word out about the movie selection via social media.”

Aside from keeping $5 tickets and free popcorn on Tuesdays, Avambato said he’s going to work on the theatres answering message and improving the overall image.

“You’re coming to the theatre for the experience and we’re going to have a better offer than sitting at home – you just can’t beat a big screen experience,” he said.

Applebee’s in West Bend sold

The Applebee’s, 2510 W. Washington St., in West Bend has been sold. GE Capital Franchise Finance Corp. sold on Dec. 8, 2015 to Broadstone Net Lease which acquired a portfolio of eight Applebee’s restaurants with locations across Wisconsin.

The properties were acquired via lease assumption, and are operated by Wisconsin Hospitality Group, LLC, a multi-concept operator. BNL currently owns 22 Applebee’s restaurants in seven states. The sale price was $2,266,193.

According to city records the property had a 2015 assessed value of $1,168,400. GE Capital Franchise Finance Corp. bought the property in Aug. 1, 1998 for $1.2 million.

Sale price for Country Inn & Suites

The sale price has been recorded for the Country Inn & Suites on Gateway Court in West Bend. The three-story hotel overlooking Highway 45 sold Dec. 29, 2015 to West Bend Lodging LLC for $1,538,750.

The property had a 2015 assessed value of $2,189,900. Previous owner Jim Walker bought the property Oct. 1, 2007 for $3,350,000. Country Inn & Suites recently installed new signage.

Other interior upgrades will include updated décor, styling, and amenities. West Bend Lodging Inc. said changes are necessary to make Generation Y and Millennials feel welcome by creating communal spaces equipped with quality Wi-Fi and a variety of seating options.

Truck Outfitters expanding

A new shop will be moving into the empty storefront at 1325 S. Main St. in West Bend, formerly home to Verlo Mattress. Truck Outfitters will jump one lot to the north. Douglas Geracie owns the vehicle accessory store, 1347 S. Main St. He’s been considering the space next door ever since Verlo moved out in December 2015. “It’s a little bigger than what we have for a showroom and it’s going to put us closer to the road, because right now we’re kinda sitting back a bit,” Geracie said. “We’ll still keep our place next door for storage and installs.”

Geracie hopes to move into the space next door by Feb. 1 but said, “We’ll see how it goes.”

Truck Outfitters has been in business since 1996, it employs six people and is open six days a week. On a history note, prior to Verlo the big glass storefront was home to Juan’s Mexicali restaurant which opened in April 2008 and was owned by partners Steve and Linda Paykel and Tracy and Jeff Ketter. Juan’s was in the former showroom for Consolidated Doors, which moved to the back of the building.

Tribute to Paul Wolf at capitol in Madison

On Tuesday, Jan. 12, Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) adjourned the State Assembly’s first floor session of the year in honor of Paul C. Wolf a life-long resident of Allenton who dedicated his career to the community. As President of Sunset Farms in Allenton, Wolf lived out his lifelong passion for farming. He also devoted nearly three decades to the Allenton Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as the deputy chief of EMS for 22 years.

The following statement was read at the capitol. “Mr. Wolf’s passion for his life’s work and dedicated volunteer service is a wonderful example of what it means to serve one’s community. His memory and service will live on in the hearts of all whose lives he touched. I extend my deepest sympathy and prayers to the Wolf family during this time.”

Bridge construction underway

Crews from Janke General Contractors took advantage of the ‘warmer’ weather Thursday and started work on the new pedestrian bridge over the Milwaukee River. The truss bridge will connect Main Street and Vest Park in downtown West Bend to the east side of the river, Veterans Avenue and the Museum of Wisconsin Art. According to plans the bridge will have a concrete deck with prefabricated steel trusses that will be painted white.

On a side note, one of the crazy things contractors found while razing the old bridge was a boulder of shells. Bill, on the crane, said it was “tougher to break apart than concrete.” He showed the size of the boulder by circling his arms in front of himself. “Haven’t ever seen anything like that before,” he said.

Assembly Rep. Kremer teams with Wash. Co. Supervisor on legislation

Local Assembly Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) and District 8 Washington County Supervisor Ron Naab have successfully worked on legislation that’s moving to the governor’s desk.

The bill is designed to ban the sale of novelty lighters to minors. It was introduced by State Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and approved unanimously by the Senate this week. The measure is headed to the Assembly, where a companion bill has already been passed out of committee. A passing vote in that chamber would send the bill to the governor for his signature.

The bill would make it illegal to sell novelty lighters to minors and prohibits the display for retail sale of these lighters in an area of a retail establishment that is accessible to the general public. Naab is president of the Badger Firefighters Association and a member of the Dodge County Firefighters Association. He was very active in lobbying for this bill in Madison.

“We appreciate Assemblyman Jesse Kremer is co-sponsor of this legislation [AB-36],” said Naab.

MOWA to host McGivern –Around the Corner preview party

Around the Corner with John McGivern – the West Bend episode will air Feb. 11 on PBS.

There will be a preview party at the Museum of Wisconsin Art on Feb. 9. “We’ll have two showings including one at 4:30 p.m. and another at 6:30 p.m.,” said MOWA executive director Laurie Winters.

The show is free and open to the public. This past week, Around the Corner featured a tour of our neighbor to the north, Fond du Lac. Washington County Insider reporter Judy Steffes was on scene during much of the taping of Around the Corner when McGivern and his crew were in West Bend.

On an insider note:  While shooting the show open on Veterans Avenue next to the Eisenbahn Trail, a boy on his bike accidentally cracked his crotch on his crossbar and crumpled to the ground. Shooting came to a stop. Everybody turned. John Gurda asked the boy if he was OK. He said he was.

The preview party is free and open to the public.

Crowded house for Russ Feingold visit

About 120 people turned out on a chilly Tuesday night to welcome U.S. Senate candidate Russ Feingold to West Bend. Feingold packed them in at the Washington County Democratic Party office on S. Main Street.

Dressed in a relaxed plaid shirt and dark sport coat, the 62-year-old politician from Janesville ramped up supporters with bullet-point topics like the minimum wage, the VA, social security and student loans.

“It’s terrible what’s happening with young people with $28,000 in student loans,” said Feingold. “This isn’t just about the student, it’s about the family and you realize what terrible affect it has across the generation.”

Feingold shouted brief statements like “I believe we should have $15 an hour” and “I want to enhance social security and make sure seniors have what they deserve.”  There was rousing applause, but no details given on how he would craft those plans.

Paul and Hope Nelson had front-row seats for the speech. “We’ve supported him before he was elected in his first term,” Paul Nelson said referencing the Feingold campaign of 1982. “I’ve never seen him make a mistake. He’s probably the most prepared candidate I’ve ever seen.”

After a 20-minute speech Feingold worked the crowd, shaking hands and posing for pictures.

Former West Bend alderwoman and newly retired executive director of the Washington County Senior Center, Deb Anderson said she was impressed.

“In a time when everything is so polarized, he is a voice of reason and looking out for regular people,” she said.

Feingold is a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2016; he’s challenging Republican incumbent Ron Johnson.

Updates & tidbits

-The Albrecht Free Clinic is planning an open house for donors and the public on Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 5-8 p.m. The Albrecht Free Clinic is now located at 908 West Washington St. in West Bend. Next month the clinic will also offer dental services.

– Last Saturday, Jan. 9 one of the original owners of German’s Little Red Inn died. M. LaRae German, nee Umbs was born Sept. 26, 1930. On June 28, 1952, she was united in marriage to John “Jack” German and for many years the couple owned and operated the Little Red Inn in St. Lawrence. LaRae was 85.

-Springtime in Paris is the theme for the 21^st annual St. Frances Cabrini School Auction. The event is set for March 5 at the Washington County Fair Park Ziegler Building.

-Planet Mobile is growing as owner Ross Christifulli opens a second location at the Brookfield Place Shopping Strip, one block east of Lily Road and Capitol Drive. Christifulli opened his first cellphone repair shop in October 2014 at 1108 W. Washington St., West Bend.

– Help is available to families in Washington County that need assistance with winter heating bills. Contact Kay Lucas with the Washington County Human Services Department which oversees the Energy Assistance Program. The number is 262-335-4677.

-The nonprofit group Friends of the Slinger Library will host its seventh annual Casino Night on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 6-9 p.m. Advance tickets are $8 during and tickets at the door are $10. You must be 21 years of age to attend. Admission includes a bag of funny money for playing games including Black Jack, Craps, Roulette and Texas Hold ‘Em. Proceeds benefit the Slinger Community Library programs and materials.

– The ice skating rink at Regner Park is open for the season. Park & Rec director Craig Hoeppner said the rink will be open and the lights will be on weekdays from 5 p.m. -9 p.m.  The warming house will be open Thursday through Sunday.

-This week the West Bend School Board issued a proclamation recognizing the High School Drumline for its first-place finish at the 2015 Fresh Coast Classic at UW-Milwaukee. Band director Leah Duckert praised the drumline for its “amazing work ethic and commitment.”

-There’s a reunion Saturday, Jan. 23 as popular local rock band Jack Damage gets together for one more performance. The show is 8 p.m. at Stocky’s Fast Track Bar and Grill, 6389 Stockhausen Lane, in West Bend. Jack Damage features songs from some of classic rock’s biggest acts like Cream, SRV, Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top. An open jam session will follow.

Years ago – – Downtown West Bend

Today’s history photo is courtesy historian Terry Becker who wrote, “As you may know by now, the Hausmann Building (Candyman) was built in 1894. The Washington County Pilot ~ Echo was one of the first occupants and eventually built their own building about a block south. The Pilot was very much like the WashingtonCountyInsider.com of its day. They handed out free pre-addressed post cards and encouraged locals to share information – (early cub reporters). They also loved that location near the walkway/ footbridge to the railroad depot as they could closely monitor the coming and goings in and out of downtown. The Pilot was first published in 1892. The building was later occupied by the National Tea Store and West Bend Pharmacy.

On a trivia note – can you name the building to the north of the Hausmann Building/ Pilot ~ Echo?

Country Inn & Suites in WB is sold

New signs went up this week at Country Inn & Suites in West Bend as the 58-room hotel on Gateway Court has been sold.  “Previously we were with a management company and we were owned by Jim Walker,” Guy Fox, hotel general manager, said.  The new owner, Vithal Patel, is part of an investment group, West Bend Lodging.

Patel owns four other hotels including a couple in Illinois, one in Indiana and one in Michigan; the hotels include a Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, and a Baymont Hotel.”

While the hotel rates are “not likely to change” according to Fox, there will be some upgrades in the coming years. “Obviously we’re getting the new signage and an agreement was signed with Carlson to do some interior upgrades including new carpeting, new furniture, and the wallpaper will be replaced,” he said. Country Inn & Suites originally opened in May 1998.  Walker purchased it in December 2007. Able Signs & Lighting of Beaver Dam is installing the signs.

School Board President talks about Galileo testing system

This week the West Bend Education Association issued a statement about high school teacher Tanya Lohr who had been placed on paid administrative leave in connection with “the circulation of a petition outlining staff concerns with the Galileo testing system.”

Lohr, according to the WBEA, spoke to West Bend High School “Principal Bill Greymont about her concerns in her role as a union representative.”

School Board President Randy Marquardt said the administration contacted him about the situation.

“It sounds to me like certain employees are choosing what their job is or not,” he said. “The board sets standards and curriculum and a teacher is hired to teach that standard and curriculum for a certain class. We invested in the Galileo system because it is a way to track and help develop test questions that are aligned with a standard to teach students in the course. All of that ties together in the big picture of what they’re supposed to be learning and how they’re progressing toward their ACT scores and it’s a valuable tool for the teacher to use so they’re on task.”

Teachers in the West Bend School District have expressed concern the Galileo system does not align with the curriculum. Marquardt said if that’s the case then “they’re not using it correctly.”

The WBEA issued a statement response to Marquardt saying, “the problem with the ‘just teach to the standards’ argument is that the standards are so general, you can pick one you cover in your class, and the question selected by Galileo might not actually apply to that class. Another problem is the standards do not reflect the level of the course. Students doing poorly on a question may not be because the standard wasn’t taught, but rather because the standard was taught at a different level than the question asked. This is another reason why teachers were concerned about the use of Galileo for assigning student grades and determining staff compensations.”

“It’s my understanding there’s a world of questions out there that they can select from,” said Marquardt. “They can write their own and submit them and have them looked at by others and make sure it’s aligned and on point; this isn’t something we dreamed up, it’s a product that’s out on the marketplace.”

The WBEA said there may be a “world of questions” but they said there were not “quality questions.”

The West Bend School District adopted the Galileo testing system two years ago. “I know the system is used across the country but I can’t tell you how many districts have it,” he said.

“This system replaced a different testing system we purchased during my first term on the board. There were issues with connecting it with other tests and that’s why we made the switch but one of the big selling points was the ability to create the testing mechanisms and develop the questions from the library of previous reviewed questions.”

The WBEA said every state that used the Galieleo system was south of the Mason-Dixon Line and when teachers began voicing their concerns about the testing they felt the “implementation has not gone smoothly.  Galileo is both costly, and time consuming, and it has not delivered what teachers were promised late last spring.”

Marquardt said the Galileo system was going to be a tool that would help teachers.

“Now it sounds like certain people didn’t like it and weren’t going to participate in it and join in the training or learn how to use it and basically they’re not doing their job,” he said.

Questioned whether teacher reviews and pay increases were tied in with how well students performed using the Galileo testing system, Marquardt said, “As far as the compensation system, the testing is a very small part of it but it’s a valid part because otherwise what is their job.”

Marquardt confirmed the board will be reviewing the Galileo testing system.

He confirmed he did receive a call about Lohr but that was a “Human Resources decision.”

“If this is a case of someone not doing their job then there are only two choices, they either improve and start performing the duties they were hired to do or they can quit or be fired,” he said. “You don’t get to choose what your job is at that level.”

The WBEA said it is conducting, “an immediate investigation by the WBEA, Region 7, and WEAC legal as they raise serious questions about the legality of the employer’s actions.”

The WBEA said “Ms. Lohr was not placed on leave because she was not doing her job.  She was placed on leave because of a conversation she had with Principal Bill Greymont about staff concerns over Galileo testing. Second, the WBEA is unaware of any teacher in the district refusing to give the Galileo tests.  In fact, the request on our petition outlining teacher concerns was “In light of the quantity and severity of problems that have surfaced since the introduction of Galileo, we ask that it not be used for student grades, or as part of staff assessment.”

More information, according to Marquardt, is expected to be relayed to the School Board during an upcoming closed session with the superintendent.

Future of Fleet Farm in West Bend

Neighbors in West Bend are taking a wait-and-see attitude as word spreads that Mill Fleet Farm has been sold. An article in the Star Tribune said the Mills family sold to New York-based investment firm KKR. There’s a Fleet Farm in West Bend and several others in neighboring communities including Menomonee Falls and Fond du Lac.

In West Bend there had been promises since 2004 that Fleet Farm was going to build ‘the largest store in the state’ on a 30-acre parcel along Highway 33 and County Highway Z. The Mills brothers also acquired 40 adjacent acres and plans were on track for a 274,000-square-foot store.

When the announcement was made in fall that the Mills family was looking for a buyer, West Bend Mayor Kraig Sadownikow said, “Fleet Farm has been an asset to West Bend for as long as most of us can remember but their announcement may explain why they’ve been slow to expand in West Bend and elsewhere.”

Sadownikow praised the Mills family as “they’re recognizing to grow properly they need more cash to do so and hopefully whoever purchases them will recognize the excitement in this community if they chose to expand here.”

Last summer, after 11 years of a stalled project, city officials reached out to the Mills brothers. One of the owners and two corporate officials visited the site and the spark on development was relit. Although the anticipation grew in the community, city leaders said talks with the Mills brothers again cooled off.

As far as the current Fleet Farm on 18th Avenue and Highway 33, Sadownikow and others in real estate qualify the store as a “cash cow” and “an asset to their portfolio.” A statement from KKR executive Nate Taylor said, “KKR plans to invest significantly in the business, adding infrastructure, stores and local jobs.” Taylor added that KKR would “remain committed to Mills Fleet Farm’s founding values — and those shared by KKR — of honesty, integrity, hard work, service and loyalty to our customers and partners.”

Shane Hansen leaving

West Bend East High School Athletic Director Shane Hansen is leaving the school district June 30 to become a Christian life coach. “I feel a strong call from God to serve in a different capacity and I’m looking forward to serving,” said Hansen, a devout Christian who grew up in Ripon and last fall moved with his family back to his hometown. In the middle of last year Hansen, 32, found himself in the hot seat following a high-profile issue where long-time East girls varsity basketball coach Donny Gruber was fired, Ron Larsen was outspoken about the process to select a new coach, and Travis Graf, was brought in from outside of the community.

Hansen said his decision to move on had nothing to do with the coaching controversy, but was a personal one. “God is calling me to do this and to serve in this capacity,” he said. Hansen started as athletic director at East in July 2014; he replaced Jeff Rondorf who stepped down to become varsity football coach of the West Bend East Suns. West Bend High School principal Bill Greymont said “all you have to do is look at the kids in the East student section to know what kind of an affect Hanson’s had.”  Greymont said the district will follow regular process for filling the post.

WBHS senior’s essay heads to finals in D.C.

West Bend West High School senior Quinn Skidmore has taken first place in the Voice of Democracy essay contest at the state level and now heads to Washington D.C. next month to complete for the $30,000 national scholarship grand prize. John Kleinmaus, chairman with the local VFW Post, will be presenting Skidmore and her essay at the Jan. 25, West Bend School Board meeting.

Sketchy ice conditions hinder fisheree on Big Cedar Lake

A bit of a different format for this year’s 17th annual Nabob Snowmobile club Winterfest and Fisheree as the fishing portion of the event has been cancelled due to unsafe ice conditions. Organizers at the House of Heileman’s, 5723 W. Lake Drive, say they’ll still have plenty to come out and celebrate including the Winterfest tent which opens at 9 a.m.  There will be food, drink, raffles music and transportation along with great fellowship among friends and neighbors.

$20 an hour for shoveling job at Extra Mile Snow Specialists

A mild winter has made it challenging for several seasonal businesses including Extra Mile Snow Specialists, 2955 S. 18th Ave., West Bend. Owner Aron Rodman said a lot of the roofers and manual-laborers are still working because the weather has been so moderate.

That, however, has limited the pool of seasonal employees for Rodman especially when it comes to snow plow drivers and shovelers. There are shoveling and plow jobs available at Extra Mile Snow Specialists. Rodman will pay $20 an hour. Find out more by logging onto Extra Mile Snow Specialists or call Phone: 262-334-3011. Fax: 262-247-2586  E-mail: aron@extramilesnow.com

Downtown lights to be reviewed at BID meeting

Tuesday, Jan. 12 the Downtown West Bend Business Improvement District will meet to go over a number of items including the election of officers, an update on the bridges, the marketing collaboration with the Diva Group, downtown revitalization, Main Street and right-of-way improvements and a streetscape evaluation. There will also be an update on the building lights and review of a survey after the BID turned off the lights bordering the buildings late last year to gauge community reaction, determine the significance of the lights, and whether more cost-effective LED lights should be considered.

The cost of investigating the electric conduit and lights is estimated at $15,000. Replacement of the lights could cost more than $100,000.

There were 187 people that took the survey. Of those 167 lived in West Bend, 16 owned property downtown and 33 owned a business in downtown West Bend: 154 visited the downtown while the lights were off, 143 said they noticed a difference with the building lights turned off, and 156 said they would recommend spending up to $100,000 to keep the lights on.

The lights have been in place since 2003. The survey results strongly favor fixing the lights. Tuesday’s BID meeting gets underway at 8:15 a.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

Updates & tidbits

– Five candidates have filed to run for two seats on the West Bend School Board. Candidates include current Randy Marquardt, Tiffany Larson, Rob Miller, Ken Schmidt, and Jennifer Donath.

– Sharon (Sheri) Rennicke, RN circulator, retired from Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin St. Joseph’s Hospital, on Thursday, Jan. 7. Rennicke had been with St. Joseph’s Hospital for 44 ½ years; she was hired in July 1971. During her years at SJH Rennicke worked 17 years in Pediatric/Medical Surgical and 27 ½ years in the Operating Room.

-“No Regrets,” a live satellite-stream event from Elmbrook Church, will be hosted at Community Church, 2005 S. Main St., West Bend on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. No Regrets is a community-based outreach program to bring men closer to God and to each other. Boys ages 12-19 are also encouraged to attend. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. Featured in-house speaker is Vince D’Acchioli. The cost is $25 per person. Order tickets at westbendchurch.org

-Enjoy great music Saturday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. as Slinger High School hosts its 33rd annual jazz festival. Guest musicians include Mathew Buchman (piano-UW Stevens Point) and Nick Keelan (trombone-Lawrence University). Bands from Slinger High School, Hartford H.S., West Bend H.S., Lomira H.S, Kaukauna H.S, and Deforest H.S. will perform. Admission is $5 at the Slinger High School Auditorium.

-Russ Feingold will be in West Bend on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at the Washington County Democratic Party Office, 132 N. Main St., West Bend at 5:30 p.m.  Feingold is running against Ron Johnson for the U.S. Senate.  On Wednesday, Jan. 13, two of the three candidates for the Wisconsin Supreme Court will be at the Democratic Party headquarters at 7 p.m.

– Former West Bend High School band directors Brandon Yahn and Robert Dittmer, members of Quattro Horns, a French Horn quartet, will host a concert at the Old County Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016 at 7 p.m. The concert is free, open to the public and will be followed by a reception.

– Northbrook Church in Richfield, will begin a new series of Life Groups in late January, that offer small groups for friendship, faith, and fun. Pastor Dean Stelow said the community groups discuss various life topics “appropriate wherever you are in your faith journey.” A person does not have to be a member of Northbrook Church to attend. Register at northbrookchurch.org.

-Free reunion concert by Jack Damage on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. at Stocky’s Fast Track Bar and Grill in West Bend.

Students at Kettle Moraine Lutheran H.S. help families in need  

Students at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School donated $32,000 this week to the Dove and Olson families. The donations were collected through KML’s 12 Days of Christmas fundraiser. Erin Dove and daughters Lily and Bailey attended the presentation as did Kim Olson’s daughter Hannah. Both families are facing steep medical bills as Bailey Dove is battling leukemia and Kim Olson is struggling with a rare type of brain cancer. Each family was presented with a check on behalf of the school, by Pastor Randy Hughes. The KML Student Council also purchased Christmas gifts for the children of the families. Hat tip to KML student reporter Tyler Kemnitz.

Ice skating at Regner Park

Watch for the warming house at Regner Park in West Bend to open next week Thursday, Jan. 14. The ice rink will open, weather permitting. It’s been unseasonably warm this winter but we should step into a cold snap these next few days. Today’s history photo of ice skating at Regner is courtesy the West Bend Parks Department.

The warming house at Regner Park is the original bathhouse built in the 1930s during an era when President Franklin D. Roosevelt backed programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Work Projects Administration. The efforts were designed to create jobs to pull the country out of the Great Depression. The WPA developed projects to improve city streets, playgrounds, bridges and public buildings. Regner Park opened in 1935.

Remembering Jimmy Gish

There was a strong turnout this week as neighbors gathered to remember Jimmy Gish of West Bend. Gish had quite an influence on the local racing scene and it seemed cars were always a part of his life.

Born in West Allis in 1937, Gish was an amateur boxer who also had a strong passing for racing and when he wasn’t behind the wheel he was selling them. “Dad owned one of the most successful salvage yards in Southeastern Wisconsin,” said Dan Gish.

His father worked at Bradley Auto Salvage on 43^rd and Lincoln in Milwaukee. Later he purchased Krause Salvage on County Highway A just off Highway 144. “My dad knew a lot of racers and they said he’d give them the part for nothing,” said Dan Gish.

Some of the racers Jimmy Gish competed against included Etchie Biertzer, Willie ‘The Rabbit’ Goeden, and Miles ‘The Mouse’ Melius. “My dad sponsored Willie for years and he bought a lot of parts for his business from my dad,” said Dan Gish.

Alan Kulwicki was another family favorite. “When Alan was about 18 years old my dad helped him with his first car,” said Joe Gish. “Alan would come to the salvage yard and he wouldn’t get one fender, he’d leave with them all. He was racing hard and my dad helped him financially; he never expected to be paid back but Alan paid him back.”

In 1986 Jimmy Gish sold the salvage yard and built Jim’s Car Wash on South Main and Butternut Street in West Bend.  “It was a full-service wash with six people in back vacuuming and prepping cars,” Dan Gish said. “On a Saturday we would have cars lined up to the road and they would be double wide.”

Returning home from college on the weekends, Gish said on certain days there would be no break. “You’d have 600 – 800 cars in one day and work from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.”

Burger King, he remembers vividly, was across the street. “We’d all put our money in and one unlucky guy would have to go over and make all the orders.”

Gish said his dad also purchased the lot to the south. “He did that so he could widen the lot so we could get in more cars,” he said. “We had the police telling us we had to get the cars off the road. There would be cars parked and waiting to come in.”

Dan Gish said there was a house on the lot before his dad built the single-bay car wash. Wollner did the excavating did the work. “There was a car wash in Hales Corners and he thought it was the future,” said Dan Gish. Indy car racer Arie Luyendyk also had an interest in car washes and according to Dan Gish the racer visited his dad’s car wash in West Bend.

“My dad was an entrepreneur. He knows cars more than anything and he always thought a neat investment would be a parking structure,” said Dan Gish. “He’d say, ‘Boy if somebody could buy a parking structure that would be a real money maker.”

Following the death of his wife Bonnie, Jimmy Gish purchased the Beaver Dam Raceway in 1992. “Open wheel dirt racing was in its heyday and my dad saw the stands were packed,” said Dan Gish.

Following a serious remodel the track took off and racers included Tony Stewart, Sammy Swindell, and the World of Outlaw racers.

Lou DiBella, 80, is a lifelong friend of Gish. “I met him in 1940 on Adler Street in Milwaukee,” DiBella said. “We stuck together for 75 years.” The fellas had a common interest in racing. “I remember Jimmy won the main event at Wisconsin State Fair Park when they ran the modifieds on the quarter mile track,” said DiBella.

“The next day in the West Allis Star the headline read, “Hometown boy wins feature event at State Fair Park.”

Jimmy Gish of West Bend died unexpectedly on Thursday, Dec. 24. He was 78.

Allenton volunteer firefighter Paul Wolf has died

Longtime Allenton firefighter Paul C. Wolf, 49, has died.  Wolf passed on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. Wolf lived all his life in Allenton in his family home and attended Slinger High School. On Nov. 16, 1996 he married his best friend, Susan “Sue” Gundrum, and they spent over 19 years together.  Paul had three children and loved the farm, Sunset Farms, where he grew up and worked all his life.

Wolf served on the Allenton Volunteer Fire Department for 29 years; he was an EMT and firefighter and was Deputy Chief of EMS for 22 years.

Visitation will be at the Shimon Funeral Home (824 Union Street Hartford, WI 53027) on Sunday, January 3, 2016 from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. The Allenton and supporting fire departments will pay their respects at 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. will conclude the visitation. The Mass of Christian Burial for Wolf will be Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church in Allenton. Additional visitation will be held prior to Mass at the church from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to St. Peter’s Catholic School (206 E. Washington St., Slinger, WI 53086) or to the Allenton Volunteer Fire Department (431 Railroad St., P.O. Box 107, Allenton, WI 53002) are appreciated.

Record fundraiser at Taste of Washington County

Records were broken this year at the 17th annual Taste of Washington County. The event held Dec. 2 at the Washington County Fair Park drew 1,004 people. “More than $140,000 was raised for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington County,” Jay Fisher, club executive director, said. “$67,000 was raised on the live auction, which was an all-time record.”

Money raised will go for programming at four Boys and Girls Clubs with locations for 3,000 kids in West Bend, Jackson, Kewaskum, and Hartford.  Since the Taste of Washington County began, $1.5 million has been raised through the event.

Details on new Kwik Trip in W.B.

There will be 26 pumps and a car wash at the new Kwik Trip coming to West Bend in 2016. Design plans will be presented to the West Bend Plan Commission on Tuesday, January 5. The gas station will be constructed on a 3.5-acre parcel on the west side of Silverbrook Drive just to the south of Commerce State Bank, 1700 S. Silverbrook Dr. Designs show there will be one entrance on Silverbrook and there will be a huge sign in the back of the lot- easily visible to traffic along Highway 45.

Hans Zietlow, director of real estate for Kwik Trip, said West Bend will be one of 35 stores built in 2016. Kwik Trip already has 41 locations in the eight-county southeastern Wisconsin area including Slinger and Hartford.

New CEO to take the reins Monday at Cedar Community

For only the third time in its 62-year history, Cedar Community will embrace a new Chief Executive Officer as Steve Jaberg steps down in the coming weeks.

Jaberg joined the West Bend-based organization in 1984 as administrator under founding CEO Rev. Louis Riesch, and was named CEO in 1991 following Riesch’s retirement.

During Jaberg’s tenure, Cedar Community grew from one campus setting to its present six campuses, now serving more than 700 employees and 1,100 residents from skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation to assisted living, memory-loss care and independent homes and apartments.

Jaberg oversaw expansion into home-based health care, hospice and supportive care in six southeast Wisconsin counties, as well as home medical equipment.

He has served on state and national boards for LeadingAge, a national association of not-for-profit senior care providers, and has spoken extensively across the country, most recently on Cedar Community’s state-of-the-care memory loss assisted living, the Cottages at Cedar Run.

“What has been so interesting, in my nearly 32 years here, has been both the tremendous amount of change in our organization, and yet how little changed in our mission to meet the needs of our community,” said Jaberg. “We are facing a new wave of seniors who will come to us with great expectations.  I believe we are poised to meet the challenges ahead, and will continue to thrive.”

Following a 10-month search, Cedar Community announced Lynn Olson would be stepping in to replace Jaberg.

Olson, the former President / CEO of Hannibal Regional Hospital, Hannibal, Mo., will start at Cedar Community on Jan. 4, 2016.

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve Cedar Community,” Olson said. “Cedar Community has a rich history of providing compassionate, Christian-based, high-quality senior living and related services and I look forward to being part of tradition, and continuing their commitment to excellence”

Olson, who is in his early 50s, was one of 20 highly-qualified candidates that applied for the position.

Joan Adler, president of the Cedar Community Board of Directors, spearheaded the search. “We picked five semi-finalists for face-to-face interviews,” she said. “We were impressed with Lynn’s leadership capabilities and the fact he had experience replacing a legacy leader. He said, ‘It’s very important to honor the legacy you’re inheriting’ so we know he gets the culture of Cedar Community.”

Adler said residents can expect a smooth transition with little change. “As important as a CEO is to the community, at Cedar Community there is a strong executive team that will remain in place,” she said. “The ship will continue to sail; it has a new captain but it has the same crew that residents interact with on a daily basis.”

Olson has more than 28 years’ combined leadership experience in acute care and elder care settings. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Winona State University and a master’s of science in health care administration from the University of St. Francis, Joliet, Ill.  Jaberg’s last day will be Jan. 22, 2016.

Deb Anderson retires from W.C. Senior Center

There were hugs and dancing and plenty of good treats on Wednesday as the folks at the Washington County Senior Center said goodbye to executive director Deb Anderson as she officially retired.

“Deb welcomes anybody,” said Carolyn Volk of West Bend. “It doesn’t matter what your age is or disability, she makes it family; this is what we all need in this community, this is my family.”

Anderson started at the Senior Center Nov. 1, 2011. “When I was interviewed for the job they asked if there was one thing that stood out that I’d like to do and I said I’d like to get the Senior Center into a place that was not institutional.”

Four years ago Anderson saw the need; as baby boomers in the community age she thought the Senior Center had an ability to do more. “This is a place where senior citizens can come for recreation, education and social programs and last year our seniors donated over 4,000 volunteer hours,” Anderson said.  “My other goal was that we become part of the community. Not apart from, but a part of.”

Anderson saw the impact the facility had, especially for a majority of seniors who come following loss.  “They’ve lost their home, their health or their spouse,” said Anderson. “So they come here and they have to build up.  Seniors who have been here many years already have established friendships; they move along to their next stage in life. We are a place of support.”

During the afternoon gathering at the Senior Center members talked about gaining friends and how the Senior Center and its activities made them feel relevant.

“Deb’s brought a lot of stuff to this place,” said Senior Center volunteer Linda Marquardt. “She got us out there so people know we’re here; she always has a smile on her face and she never says no.”

“Deb came in with the idea to make a difference,” said Senior Center member Deb White. “And get us into a new place and she’s finally succeeding.”

The Senior Center will be moving to a new space next to The Threshold this spring. Anderson was an integral part of making that happen. “She was so energetic and helped in all ways,” said Sharon Tesker, manager at Senior Center. “She’s going to be missed but Mary’s going to fill in and I have confidence in her.”

Mary Russell is taking over as executive director of the Senior Center.

Theatre/bridge project moves forward in WB

There was a lot of energy at Dublin’s Tuesday evening as the West Bend Cultural Alliance gathered to craft a plan to save the bridge and breathe new life into the downtown West Bend Theatre. “I am really encouraged,” coordinator Nancy Storrs said.

“I’m hearing a lot of wonderful ideas and I’m seeing a lot of synergy between the folks at this table; that bodes well for the bridge and the theatre.”

Ten people attended the meeting and in quick order officers were elected. Storrs was voted president of the WBCA, John Sancomb was tabbed vice president, Patricia McIntyre stepped up as secretary and a treasurer will be named later. The WBCA, which started in 2011, has a goal of “bringing the arts and the community together” said Storrs and the West Bend Theatre / bridge is one of the key projects at the top of the list.

Highlights from the meeting:

-Kevin Zimmer, a key player in saving the bridge and rehabbing the theatre, gave a brief primer on the history of the effort to date citing the critical need for the bridge to stay in order to provide added parking for the theatre. Mark Pfaller from Pfaller Architectural Associates has said, “Saving the bridge is number one. There’s not enough parking to facilitate the theatre anywhere downtown. If the bridge does not stay and get renovated it could be a deal breaker.”

Pfaller, who has renovated and restored more than 40 theatres in his career, was hired along with Gene Eggert from Architectural Designs Inc in Delafield to complete a study on what is needed to resurrect the downtown West Bend Theatre.

-Zimmer noted a storm-water study is currently underway; the $7,000 for the study was donated to keep the project moving forward. Those study results and a plan by the WBCA on how it will approach the project will be rolled out during the Monday, Jan. 4 common council meeting.

-“The bridge really drives what can make the downtown theatre happen,” Storrs said.

-Some of the other interested parties involved in the Board at Large and various task forces include Bink Steinbach, Amy Zimmer, Shawn Graff, Ron Gumm, Therese Sizer, and Judy Steffes.

-The immediate goal of the WBCA is to save the bridge. “If you put stairs on and paint it that gives the bridge purpose,” Amy Zimmer said.

– Ideas on the table about the future of the theatre including seating for 400, working with the State of Wisconsin Historical Society to roll out its archive of United Artist Films, approaching private schools, theater groups and area musicians.

-Plans for a public open house at the West Bend Theatre are currently underway along with creation of a Facebook page, video projects, and fundraising.

-City leaders and taxpayers have been adamant no public taxpayer money be used on the project. Currently the Downtown West Bend Business Improvement District has covered a surety, should theatre plans go south.

-Matt Prescott, the owner of the theatre, is expected to attend Monday night’s council meeting. Prescott has said he’s encouraged by the “huge momentum” behind the project. Prescott and his company, Madison-based Ascendant Holdings, bought the theatre in May 2012.

“This is great news because the majority of the people connected to the restoration are pretty convinced the bridge is an essential part and certainly the city is in a no lose situation. This is certainly great for the theatre.”

Prescott said the next phase of the project is now starting to take shape. He said he is encouraged by a group of people coming together to officially start the restoration process. As far as the Prescott commitment is concerned, he said, “I still own the theatre. I’m holding it for now for this effort and I’m fully supportive of it.” Questioned whether he planned to sell, Prescott said that had “yet to be determined.”

“If I do it or my family donates it has yet to be determined,” said Prescott. “I’m fully supportive as is my dad, George Prescott. It would be hard to imagine the Prescotts not involved in some way, shape and form going forward.”

-The WBCA is incorporated under Chapter 181 and is awaiting confirmation from the IRS on its status as a 501c3.

Updates & tidbits

-The Albrecht Free Clinic opens Tuesday, Jan. 5 at its new location at 908 W. Washington St. in West Bend. The new clinic will now offer medical and dental services.

-The annual Nabob Snowmobile Club Winterfest and Fisheree at House of Heileman’s is Saturday, Jan. 9. The Fisheree at Gonring Launch opens 6 a.m. and Winterfest tent opens 9 a.m.

-January 2016 is the 11-year anniversary of Maricio’s Pizza, 1726 Barton Avenue in Barton.  On a history note, in September 2012 Tomaso’s changed its name to Maricio’s in Barton. “It’s a combination of our names, Rick and Mary,” said co-owner Mary Waters. “It was a business decision,” according to Waters as the family-run operation separated itself from the Tomaso’s franchise of Cedarburg.

-About 25 people jumped into Big Cedar Lake on New Year’s Day for the 3^rd annual Polar Bear Plunge at the House of Heileman’s.

–West Bend’s Steve Volkert, 48, left this week as the city of West Bend Director/Assistant City Administrator to take up his new position as City Administrator in Hartford. Volkert takes over for retiring administrator Gary Koppelberger. Volkert signed a four-year contract for $115,000. Amy Reuteman is the new HR Director/Assistant City Administrator for the city of West Bend.

-The Kohlsville Kruisers Brat fry and Fisheree is Sunday, Jan. 10 at Jug’s Hitching Post in Kohlsville from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

– American Exchanger Services, Inc. in Hartford has been nominated in the small business category for the 28th Annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year awards. Mayville Engineering in Mayville has been nominated in the mega category (800+ employees). Advanced Tooling, Inc. of Mt. Calvary in Fond du Lac County is nominated in the small category. Masters Gallery Foods, Inc. of Plymouth is nominated for the large category. Winners announced Feb. 25, 2016.

-There’s an open house Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. at Limitless, 1204 Highway 33 across from West Bend Lakes Golf Course. The facility is a non-alcohol bar and concert hall run by Larry Last. Opening day is 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016.

History photo Jimmy Gish

Today’s vintage photo is of Jimmy Gish with one of his vehicles. Courtesy the Gish family.

Remember Jimmy Gish

Jimmy Gish has died. Gish owned and operated Bradley Auto Salvage in West Bend.  He later built, owned and operated Soft Touch Car Wash in West Bend which is now Scrub A Dub. Later he purchased Beaver Dam Raceway and renovated it into the current facility that operates today. More details on funeral services for Gish will be posted shortly at washingtoncountyinsider.com

Temporary problems at Perkins

A tough morning for the Sunday after-church breakfast crowd as Perkins Family Restaurant, 2400 W. Washington St., was closed. “Temporarily closed until Tuesday” according to a sign on the front door. The closure was due to a sewer backup discovered sometime Saturday evening.  The city was called as was AAR Plumbing.  There’s a visible ice patch on the east end of the parking lot. There was also a steady parade of cars through the lot as hungry neighbors got the news and were forced to sniff out other alternatives. Perkins reopened on Tuesday, Dec. 22.

Help available for winter heating bills

Help is available to families in Washington County that need assistance with winter heating bills. Kay Lucas is program support supervisor with Washington County Human Services Department which oversees the Energy Assistance Program.

“Even though we’ve had a rather warm winter so far, we still want people to apply,” Lucas said. “Income, home heating usage and family size will determine eligibility and the amount of benefit.”

Applicants for energy assistance need to meet with Lucas, if they’re receiving assistance for the first time. Mail-in applications require copies of a photo ID, social security cards for all household members and proof of income for the previous three months for all household members. Other information required involves a copy of a lease if renting and the current utility bill. For more information contact Lucas at 262-335-4677.

West Bend firefighters sworn in

A pair of new firefighters were sworn in by West Bend City Clerk Amy Reuteman this week.

Alexander Hakes took the oath to protect and serve. Hakes is a graduate of Menomonee Falls High School, a graduate of UW-Oshkosh, completed paramedic and firefighter certificates at Waukesha County Technical College and had worked part time at the Menomonee Falls Fire Department.

James Kammueller started with the West Bend Fire Department on Dec. 14. He grew up in Wisconsin Rapids, graduated Northland Lutheran High School in Mosinee, earned a fire degree from Fox Valley and completed paramedic training at North East college. He was with the Delavan Fire Department before coming to West Bend.

A couple promotions were also announced by Chief Gerald Kudek as firefighter Kyle Demler was promoted to Motor Pump Operator, firefighter Robert Schafer was promoted to Lieutenant and Motor Pump Operator Dan McCreary was promoted to Lieutenant.

Also recognized were Lt. Dan Bruesch who served over 33 years with the department, Lt. Jeff Peterman served over 29 years and Capt. Jon Coutts served over 29 years.  Bruesch, Peterman, and Coutts were all praised for their bravery, dedication and service to community.

Firefighters volunteer to move Albrecht Clinic

Members of West Bend Fire Department Local 2025 brought the muscle on Monday as the crew volunteered their time to work the business end of a hand truck and move the Albrecht Clinic across town to its new digs at 908 W. Washington Street. In a rather odd twist the West Bend Fire Department had to call the Fire Department because of an oil spill in the parking lot of the new Albrecht Clinic.  Crews were on scene about a half hour and were unable to determine where the oil came from. The best guess was possibly another truck that made a delivery.

The clinic will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 at its new location. Hat tip to JL Business Interiors for providing the moving truck.

Husar’s Diamond Dash donates over $5,100 to Enchantment in the Park

The inaugural Husar’s Diamond Dash 5k run/walk at Regner Park raised over $5,100 for Enchantment in the Park. Santa kicked off the race at sunset Dec. 6 with 309 participants dashing through the holiday light display. Participants were asked to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Full Shelf Food Pantry, with many people bringing bags full of groceries.

Tim Zellmer, 23, from Elm Grove was the overall winner with a time of 15:37. The fastest female was Sue Miller from West Bend with a time of 19:23. Both winners took home a watch donated by Husar’s House of Fine Diamonds, valued at $500 each. Custom ornaments were given out to the top three runners in each age division.

“We’ve heard nothing but positive reviews,” race director Amanda DeRuyter said. “For a first-time event, everything went smoothly and Husar’s is excited to help our community again next year.”

Updates & tidbits

– It was like a class reunion combined with homecoming combined with Sunday Christmas Mass as retiring West Bend High School choir director Karen Wysocky led the largest alumni rendition of Hallelujah Chorus on stage at the Silver Lining Arts Center. After 30 years Wysocky is retiring at the end of the school year.

– The crew from Janke General Contractors removed the old Ziegler Bridge in downtown West Bend this week. It was a pretty stubborn bridge with lots of rebar. Apparently they built them pretty solid back in the 1970s.

– Deacon Bernard “Bernie” Joseph Wendt from St. Peter Parish in Slinger passed away on Monday, December 21, 2015. Wendt was 82.

-Forward Dental, 1006 S. Main St., has a new sign. The new clinic is set to open in the coming month. The property was formerly home to The Coachman House and later Club Ten 06.

-Couple of positions filled this week at the county level as Scott Schmidt was appointed the new Highway Commissioner. He had been serving as interim Highway Commissioner for approximately six months following the former Highway Commissioner’s resignation in June. Eric Diamond is the new Director of Human Services for Washington County. Diamond will begin the post effective January 1, 2016. Diamond has been serving as interim director since July and joined the County first as Behavioral Health Manager in April 2013.

-Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin St. Joseph’s Hospital welcomed Noelle Braun, from Casa Guadalupe, and Jeff Marble, past owner of Frabill, to its board of directors. Each will begin a three-year term in January 2016 and is eligible to be re-elected to two additional three-year terms.

 – Former West Bend High School band directors Brandon Yahn and Robert Dittmer, members of Quattro Horns (a French Horn quartet) will participate in a concert at the Old County Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016 at 7 p.m. The concert, entitled Honor the Day, will represent Quattro Horn’s commitment to performing a wide range of styles, many not typical for the horn. The concert is free, open to the public and will be followed by a reception.

– Stopped at All in Books on Saturday to visit with Santa. He was busy taking Dominic’s order and then spent some time with a 1-year-old girl whose mother was book shopping. I waived and said, “Hi Santa.” He gave a head nod and said, “Hi Judy.” I was a little stunned. I leaned over and whispered in his ear, “That’s kind of creepy Santa.”

Remembering N. Main Street

The picture, courtesy Steve Kissinger, looks north on Main Street. City Bakery remained on the corner of Highway 33 and Main Street through the 1970s.

“Gonring’s Tavern was on the corner; I was in that building,” said 96-year-old William Kirchner of West Bend.  “The men’s entrance was on the corner and the women’s entrance was on the end of the building because women didn’t go to the bar years ago.”

Kirchner, who made 18-cents an hour when he started work in 1933 at West Bend Aluminum, remembered coming to town as a kid and parking his horse and wagon by a big horse barn on Seventh Avenue. “You could put your horses in that barn, leave your wagon on the street and then go shopping. You’d put whatever you bought in the wagon and go and get a drink if you like and then hitch your horses back up and go home,” he said.

The beer of choice at Gonring’s Tavern was “West Bend Lithia of course,” said Kirchner. “The kids had West Bend soda; either root beer, green river, cream soda or orange.”

Kirchner said the building next to Gonring’s was John Baren’s Hardware, next to that was a harness maker, and then Tessman’s shoe-repair shop and Schnepf tavern.

John Gonring of West Bend also recognized his grandfather Matt Gonring’s Tavern.

“Grandpa remodeled it in 1932, moving the barroom to the street level, added a ladies’ entrance to the north, and renovating the second and third floors to very nice living quarters. To the west up the hill was a horse barn. Previous property owner was M.B. Goeden who was Matt’s father-in-law.”

Jerry Mehring also chimed in. “The corner building was Gonring’s Tavern, then Five Old Guys and now the martini place, JP Foz’s, 302 N. Main St.”

“Highway 33 turned west there at the traffic light. A door or two north of the tavern was the Monaco Cafe,” said Mehring.

Janine Matenaer, 77, of West Bend grew up behind the Monaco Café. “That’s the fifth building from the left in the photo; my mom and dad, Walter and Ella Schnepf, ran that and we lived upstairs,” she said.

“I’d crawl up on the roof and I had a crush on this guy and he’d come walking down Wilson Avenue and I’d sit up there with my binoculars – oh, he was a lifeguard at the park and I’d spend all my summers out there.”

Matenaer recalled her grandfather Adolph G. Schnepf first had a harness and buggy business, Schnepf Bros., on that block. The Monaco, a restaurant and tavern, later opened in1940s – 1960s. “You went up a couple steps and it was the tavern and you walked straight in and it was the restaurant with an old-time counter and there was a back room and old wooden booths,” recalled Matenaer.

Recognizing the red brick building in the photo, Matenaer flashed back to Baren’s Hardware. “I remember going in there and it was run by Frank Wolf and every time I went in it would smell so hardwarey,” she laughed. Later Landvatter Inc. moved in and sold and fixed radios and black-and-white TVs.

“Next to that was an apartment building with two floors and then next to the third building in the photo was City Bakery and Arnold Kannenberg ran that,” said Matenaer.

The Monaco Café was later torn down when the fire department was built on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Highway 33. Records in the Research Center at the WCHS indicate the corner building in the photo is the Farmer’s Home and M. B. Goeden Saloon. Notice the stop-and-go light and the sign advertising Gonring’s Resort on Big Cedar Lake.

MEMORY LANE – In 1940, postcards were sent to neighbors around West Bend announcing, “On Wednesday, December 11, 1940, The Famous Lithia Xmas Brew will be ready for distribution. Best ever — try it — you will like it.”

Different labels were designed for the seasonal beer. One paper label featured a green wreath with holly berries and red bow. Inside the wreath was the familiar Lithia logo, underlined by the words “Christmas Beer” in thick German script. Other designs featured the words “Holiday Brew” above a profile of Santa, who was bordered by pine branches.

There was the red label special dark Christmas beer and the well known Xmas label with six bearded elves each working to stoke the fire under the vat of beer, or pour hops, stir the mix, tap a pint and test the product.

Lithia’s Christmas beer was available nearly all year long. You could only buy Christmas beer in bottles and you needed an opener to get the cap off. The beer didn’t come in cans and it wasn’t on tap.

Lithia’s Christmas beer was sold by the case at liquor stores and at taverns within the West Bend area. Berres Liquor Mart, Triangle Beverage Mart, The Oasis bar (by Gehl Company); Pat’s Tavern (owned by Pat Pault), Kuhn’s Liquor, Palashes Liquor and Janz Liquormart in Barton were just some of the local distributors.

Clara Moll turns 105

Clara Moll of West Bend will turn 105 years old today. Moll was born Dec. 19, 1910. It was the same year William H. Taft was President of the United States. In 1910 the Boy Scouts of America were founded and the first test flight of a twin-engine plane was conducted in France. In 1910 James O. Davidson was governor of Wisconsin and William C. Bratz was mayor of West Bend.

$100,000 lottery winner at Pick ‘N Save south

A $100,000 winning ticket for the Holly Jolly Raffle was sold at Pick ’N Save south in West Bend. The winner stepped forward Friday afternoon around 5 p.m. and asked to remain anonymous. The drawing was Dec. 10 and there was 1:100,000 chance of winning the grand prize. The winning numbers were 022868. Tickets were $5.

The largest lottery winner at the local grocery was in April 1990 when Harold Zimdars of West Bend won an $8 million Megabucks Lotto America jackpot. Zimdars was 51 years old. He spent $24 a week on the lottery. After winning, Zimdars retired as a truck driver and in 1997 he and his wife Joanne purchased the Coachman House. Harold Zimdars died April 3, 2012 at 73.

The Shed Resale & Consignment Store is closing

After five years in business Terry Lyon, owner of The Shed Resale & Consignment Store is calling it quits. “Sadly, we must announce The Shed Resale is going to close at the end of our lease,” Lyon said Friday.  “We will be here selling stuff at hugely discounted prices through February.” The Shed, 411 Kettle Moraine Dr. S., has a testosterone-fueled feel with a “man-cave” decor, including tools, neon signs, bar mirrors, hunting and fishing equipment and collectibles like baseball cards and beer cans.

Lyon opened the shop in November 2010 with his daughter, Lindsay. Items at The Shed change constantly as consignments increase. Although he caters to men, Lyon said he doesn’t carry adult material, except for one time. “We had a Braille Playboy from 1979. A guy from a local HOG chapter came in and bought it for $10,” said Lyon. “There were no pictures, just words in Braille – so I guess some guys do buy it just for the articles.” Most items at The Shed are now 50 percent off or more!!! Hurry in!

Suspending the D.A.R.E. program in Wash. Co.

There are 14 schools in Washington County that received word this month that the D.A.R.E. program is being suspended.  D.A.R.E. is a Drug Abuse Resistance Education program designed to teach students to say “no” to drugs. The program is also designed to build students social skills and improve their self-esteem.

Mary Woerner had been an instructor with the D.A.R.E. program through the Washington County Sheriff’s Department for 15 years.

For 10 weeks, she said, they would reach out to students in fifth grade before most experiment with drugs and alcohol.

“Critics often say D.A.R.E. does not work but it is an important piece of the prevention puzzle,” said Woerner. “D.A.R.E. teaches students the facts and consequences of drug abuse. It opens up communication between parents and children about drug use and it builds a lasting bond between students and officers.”

Woerner had seen the program changes lives. “I measure success in having a student come up to me years later and tell me how important the program was to them,” she said. In an effort to save the program there is a grass-root effort to show him the community support. A web site, Save the Washington County Dare Program, was created Wednesday evening.

One of the posts from parent Jerilyn Kind notes “manpower” may have played a part in the decision to reportedly suspend the program. Last month, Washington County Insider ran an exclusive story about Mary Woerner leaving the Washington County Sheriff’s Department in November to take a job in the private sector.

Woerner started with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department in 1993 as a special deputy when Robert Schulteis was sheriff. In March 1997 she was hired full time and three years later she took over the D.A.R.E. program.

Updates & tidbits

–Flags will fly at half-staff Sunday in honor of firefighter Larry Millard of Endeavor who died after responding to an accident a week ago on Interstate 39. Authorities said Millard, 56,  was struck by a vehicle last Friday afternoon, flown to Divine Savior Hospital in Portage and UW Hospital in Madison, where he later died.

– Enchantment in the Park will host a “Star Wars Night at Enchantment on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Anyone in a Star Wars costume receives a free cup of hot chocolate. Food and $10 cash donation suggested. Enchantment in the Park powered by Westbury is a holiday light show with proceeds benefiting area food pantries.

– Former Hartford alderman Dale W. Maas died Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 92. Maas served in the Army Air Corp. from 1942-1945 as a radio operator gunner on a B-17 Bomber. He had 30 missions in the European Theater. He also served as a city of Hartford alderman for 12 years. Funeral services are Saturday, Dec. 19, at 1 p.m. at the Shimon Funeral Home.

Old Ziegler Bridge coming down

Work got underway this week to remove the former Ziegler Bridge, just south of Highway 33, that crosses the Milwaukee River. The pedestrian bridge between Service Drive and Veterans Avenue is being removed by Janke General Contractors. A new bridge will be built about 100 feet to the south that will connect Main Street and Vest Park to Veterans Avenue and the Museum of Wisconsin Art.

A preconstruction meeting was held Tuesday morning. “As soon as the water resides a bit we’re going to build a steel I-beam bridge under the Ziegler bridge and then start jack hammering the deck of the bridge,” Tony Niewolny, a superintendent with Janke Construction, said.

Railings of the bridge were removed on Tuesday and demolishing the old bridge is expected to take a couple days. A silt fence still needs to be installed and brick pavers need to be removed. Those pavers will be saved. Contractors will be driving pilings about 20 – 25 feet. The manhole will be reconstructed and excavation completed before work begins on the new footbridge.

Mixed reaction to improvements on 18^th Avenue

About 40 people attended an information session Tuesday evening at West Bend City Hall to look over a proposal to widen 18th Avenue from Decorah Road south to Vogt Drive. There were two proposals in the mix including a rural plan which included a 1-to-2 foot widening of the road and paving the existing shoulder for bicycles. The urban plan would expand the road from 26 feet to 52 feet and include a bike lane, parking lane and sidewalk.

“There was a survey when we moved in for a proposed widening of the road,” Jim Ciborosky said.  “We’ve lived there since 1974, there was no city around us and we’ll see how it goes if it affects us or not.” Ciborosky realized 18th Avenue was a main thoroughfare with a lot of traffic. “But we don’t want to see it widen into our living room,” he said. “This will eat up a bunch of our yard and possibly some valuable trees.”

Proposed improvements include reconstruction of 18th Avenue, new pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk, storm sewer and improved sight distance. John Pedersen has lived on Julen Circle and 18th Avenue for 27 years. “The road does need to be repaved and widening, that would be fine,” Pedersen said. “But only adding a bike lane; that would easily accommodate the few walkers but there’s no need for extra sidewalks. We’re concerned with who will shovel it. For me that’s an extra 150 feet of sidewalk.”

Amy Schmidt has lived in the area for 14 years and said that stretch of 18th Avenue may be a costly project but it’s long overdue. “The traffic has done nothing but increase, foot traffic has increased and it’s dangerous walking through there,” she said. “If the urban plan is done with the curbing and sidewalk that would give people the sense of driving in a neighborhood and it would bring the speed down a little bit.”

Quite a few members of the local Bike Friendly West Bend group attended the information meeting. Jeff Puetz said the diagrams were exactly what the Bike Friendly group has been promoting for the city.  “The rural option doesn’t have the parking lane while the urban alternative does,” he said. “The cool thing, from a biking standpoint, is if we have sidewalks and we have an ample bike lane incorporated in both plans it’s a win for cyclists and pedestrians.”

Neighbors that attended the meeting filled out brief surveys that talked about sidewalks/pedestrians, bike traffic, parking and speeds. Contractors from Alfred Benesch & Company will review the plans and come back with an update at a later date. A final proposal and possible property acquisition must still be approved by the Plan Commission and the Common Council.

Relay for Life holiday light show

The “Dulak Festival of Lights” in the Town of Erin is in full swing. For the last 18 years Danny and Wendy Dulak have decorated their house for Christmas with over 150,000 bulbs raising money to benefit the American Cancer Society via the Hartford/Slinger Relay for Life.

The display, which lines 2481 Hall Road in the Town of Erin, “dances” to the music and skits broadcast on the low-power radio station 91.5FM. Thousands of families have driven past and the Dulak’s and their three children have raised over $105,000 to for the Hartford/Slinger Relay for Life.

The Dulak Festival of Lights display is nightly until January 3. Operating hours are Sunday – Thursday from 4 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. – 1 a.m. Hours are extended on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. A secure donation box is available at the end of the Dulak driveway. The Dulak Festival of Lights features a 65-foot Christmas tree, a 20-foot NOEL, a Christmas carousel, flying reindeer and candy canes lining the street. This year’s display has been further enhanced with a life-size nativity scene as well as two new musical numbers performed by the Dulak’s and their children.

Danny Dulak, a colon and bile duct cancer survivor, looks forward to raising money for ACS each year and bringing the joy of the holidays to families all over Southeastern Wisconsin.

Washington County kids remember Santa 

A photo of December 1910 provided by the Washington County Historical Society shows a line outside a store in downtown West Bend when Santa came to visit.

The enthusiasm was evident by the long line. Records at the Washington County Historical Society show a kid’s Christmas party was held by downtown merchants nearly every year in the early 1900s.

Neighbors in West Bend also remember some of their visits to Santa. Jacci Gambucci worked at Westfair Mall on S. Main St. “I didn’t visit with Santa but I remember him sitting in the lobby area near Nobil’s Shoes and Bresler’s 33 Flavors – later The Cookie Cone Cafe,” she said.

Lee Krueger lives on Little Cedar Lake. When he was growing up he’d go to Milwaukee with his mom, dad and sister on a special Saturday before Christmas and they’d see Billie the Brownie (WTMJ Radio) in the Christmas Parade and then shop at Schuster’s Department Store on 12th and Vliet Streets.

“The parade was made up of three or four decorated streetcars (yes, on rails) and a special last car, which was a flat car, carried Santa and his sleigh and reindeer,” said Krueger.

“In the late 1970s, my wife and I went to Northridge several times and in the early 1980s we went to the Grand Avenue Mall. Our four kids were always dressed up; shirts with collars and no T-shirts and jeans with no holes. We always got a family Santa picture; usually one child was crying or mad,” said Krueger.

Barb Justman from the town of Trenton said she used to drive her husband Homer around on Christmas Eve. “He’d be dressed as Santa and we would go from house to house and I’d park the car, let him out and he’d walk to the window and scare the bahjeebese’s out of whoever was there.

“Then he’d go to the door, leave some candy canes and we’d move on to the next unexpecting soul,” said Justman. “If people ever asked who he was, Homer would say, ‘I’m Santa Claus! HO HO HO!’”

Mike Paul of Kewaskum said his family would watch a movie at the now closed Kewaskum Theater. “Killy Honeck owned it back then; now it’s Tom Kudek’s auto body shop and there’s a tattoo parlor in front,” said Paul. After the movie Santa would come riding into town on the Civil Defense fire truck. “Just like he does in all the traditional German Christmas tales,” said Paul.

The fire truck would drop him off at Rosenheimer’s General Store, currently the Antique Mall, and he would set up court on the second floor.

“The second floor was rarely open to the public, or at least kids, so it was a big deal just to stand in line and look at all the stuff,” said Paul. “After waiting in line fooorreeeevveerr, we’d sit on Santa’s lap and do some horse trading.

“Reasonably good behavior for a Hot Wheels race set with the rechargeable cars; stuff like that,” said Paul. Some years Mrs. Paul would load all four of kids into dad’s Bell Telephone work van. “There were no passenger seats or seat belts but lots of cool tools,” said Paul.

“Dad would drop us off at the Chicago Northwestern depot in West Bend and we’d take the passenger train down to Milwaukee, catch a bus to a downtown department store and do the big city routine. This was in the late 60s, early 70s,” he said.

Barney Strobel celebrates 90 years

There was a big celebration this month as folks packed CC’s Place in Wayne to wish Barney Strobel a happy 90^th birthday. Strobel has been a fixture in the tavern business since 1949. His personality is a bit of a mix of the cast of the Honeymooners meets comedian Don Rickles.

Growing up a farm boy who lived in a self-proclaimed bachelor pad with his uncle, his dad and his brother, Strobel was set to get married and needed to find a place of his own. “My dad wouldn’t spend the money to get a decent floor in the house for a lady so I went into town for a haircut, stopped at the bar and asked the bartender if there he knew of a place.”

The bartender at Karnitz’s Inn said he could rent the tavern for $75 a month. “I asked my dad for money and he said ‘no way.’ Then the owner of the tavern said I could have all his stock behind the bar for $1,500,” said Strobel.

In an effort to find some fast cash Strobel sold a couple of heifer calves to his brother for $200, then went to the bank in Campbellsport for a loan, got married Sept. 3, 1949. His first day in business behind the bar was Sept. 16, 1949.

“I was open when church let out and the bar was so full it was unbelievable,” he said. “By noon I had to hire two people to help me and I took in $200 on nickel beers.”

Strobel said back in 1949 you could get 21 mugs of beer for $1 and whisky was 20 cents.  “We had 10-ounce mugs and I only served West Bend Lithia,” he said. “The next morning I got up and had money in every pocket.”

Strobel was born Dec. 5, 1925 at his home in the Town of Ashford. He lived on a farm in St. Kilian. Went to a little farm school and completed the sixth grade before he dropped out.  “I couldn’t stand it,” he said. “My dad told me if you don’t want to go to school then work the farm.”

Strobel worked alongside his dad until June 8, 1945 when he was drafted at 19.  When he returned home he bought the bar in Wayne. “I called in Barney’s,” he said. “I stayed there for two and a half years and then Schneider’s Bar run by Al Schneider came up for sale in 1952; it was listed at $16,500 and I made the move.”

Strobel stayed in business from 1949 – 1989. “My secret was good clean livin’,” he said. “I never drank any beer and I never smoked.” Strobel’s drink of choice, “Canadian whiskey and a lot of water.”

Strobel opened at 8 a.m. and worked until 1 a.m. “All by myself; long hours but we made it,” he said. Back in the day there was a bit more life in the Town of Wayne.  There was Petri’s neighborhood grocery, a cheese factory and creamery, a blacksmith’s shop, an Oliver dealer at the top of the hill, barber shop, and a feed mill.

“We had Jimmy Gantner from the Brewers stop at the bar,” said Strobel, when questioned if he ever served anybody famous. “Rev. Groppi came in once. I think he went to the grocery across the street and then had to use the bathroom so he came here.”

The most famous person had to be the local legend Cal Bowe. “He brought three big horses in here,” Strobel said.

Cal Bowe had a long history of spoiling his horses. He rode his horse into the bank in downtown West Bend. Locals say he even took his horse swimming at the indoor pool at the Holiday Inn in West Bend, currently Pick ‘N Save north.

“Cal came up to me and said, ‘Barney it’s raining outside and I gotta bring the horses in.’ I told him no and then he said he’d buy a drink for the house so in they came.”

“Lot of beers have been poured here,” said Myron Strobel. “You have to remember he opened at 8 a.m. The old farmers would come to town for feed, have a beer and then go home.”

Former Kewaskum Police Chief Dick Knoebel worked for 7UP when he was in college in 1969. “I’d deliver to Barney here and he had a really low dirt basement; you’d almost hit your head every time,” he said.

Asked to qualify Strobel’s success and Knoebel puts it simply, “He’s friendly to everybody and treats everybody well and that’s what it’s all about.”  After 40 years behind the bar, Strobel retired. “I just made up my mind 40 years was enough.” Sharp and fit Strobel hasn’t seen the doctor in years, he claims it’s because he’s “outlived them all.”

Looking back on the decades in the bar business, Strobel admits it was tough. Married three times he said he ate all his dinners, every night at the bar. “My first wife passed away early, the second wife should of but I’ve got Joanie and she’s the love of my life,” he said.

In retirement Strobel is back to his old habits. “I’m tending bar at the Fifth Quarter in Kewaskum,” he said. “My wife just died and I work Monday, Wednesday and Friday 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.”   Eric Anderson has owned the Fifth Quarter, 1257 Fond du Lac Ave., Kewaskum, for eight years. “Barney was working at the bar when I took it over and he asked me about staying and I said every Monday, Wednesday and Friday you can work as much as you want and he’s been here ever since,” he said. “He was going to retire when he turned 90 and he said I gotta keep working.”

Strobel brings in a huge Monday night crowd. “Barney knows your name, he can remember years ago, he’s sharper than a whip and he’s got the personality that just draws people in,” said Anderson.   Today’s history photo is of Barney behind the bar – in his younger days.

Matt Prescott pleased with West Bend Theatre/bridge update

The West Bend Common Council is scheduled to vote January 4, 2016 on the latest effort to save the bridge from demolition behind the West Bend Theatre. Developers have deemed the bridge an integral part of revitalizing the theatre.

This week there was a unanimous decision by the Downtown West Bend BID Board to cover any expenses related to the removal of the bridge, up to $75,000, should an effort to save the bridge fall short.

“This is huge for the momentum of the restoration right now,” said Matt Prescott, owner of the West Bend Theatre. Prescott and his company, Madison-based Ascendant Holdings, bought the theatre in May 2012.

“This is great news because the majority of the people connected to the restoration are pretty convinced the bridge is an essential part and certainly the city is in a no lose situation. This is certainly great for the theatre.”

Three years ago when Prescott purchased the theatre his intentions were simply to “restore the theater to its historic status” by demolishing the newer additions inside, hollowing it out and getting it back to the configuration of the old theatre.

“I want to stabilize it, get the roof back in shape and clean it up – so we know what we’re sitting on and see what uses people might come up with,” he said in 2012.

“This is exactly how I saw it playing out,” said Prescott on Thursday. “I wouldn’t have minded if it happened a little sooner but we bought it (the theatre) to stop it from deteriorating so people could see the potential the building had.”

Prescott said the next phase of the project is now starting to take shape. He said he is encouraged by a group of people coming together to officially start the restoration process.

“The bridge was important for the people to take the time, put the group together and determine how much time, energy and money to put in,” he said.

As far as the Prescott commitment is concerned, he said, “I still own the theatre. I’m holding it for now for this effort and I’m fully supportive of it.”

Questioned whether he planned to sell, Prescott said that had “yet to be determined.”

“If I do it or my family donates it has yet to be determined,” said Prescott. “I’m fully supportive as is my dad, George Prescott. It would be hard to imagine the Prescotts not involved in some way, shape and form going forward.”

One more step forward to saving the theatre/bridge

The Downtown West Bend BID Board met Thursday morning and voted unanimously to cover a surety, up to a $75,000 on the theatre bridge.

That means if the project to rehab the bridge does not move forward by January 31, 2017 and the bridge has to come down the BID would be responsible for covering that cost.

The reason the surety is need is because in the coming weeks the mayor is going to go before the Common Council and try to convince them to waive a $45,000 federal grant to cover demolition of the bridge. “I have to protect the taxpayers,” said Mayor Kraig Sadownikow.

The mayor was clear he supported the bridge project but if something happens he does not want to leave taxpayers holding the bag. “It’s not reasonable to say we swung and missed,” he said.

The surety, if needed, would be paid back to the city by the BID over a 5-year period.

Members of the BID board said the bridge should be retained, not only to help the revitalize the theatre but also to provide access to parking and act as an economic conduit to downtown businesses.

This motion by the BID still needs to be approved by the Common Council and a flood plain study must also still be completed.

Property tax bills arriving this weekend

Neighbors should find an early Christmas present in the mail this weekend as property tax bills have been sent. City of West Bend finance administrator Carrie Winklbauer said the property-tax statements went out Friday. If you can’t wait, log onto the Washington County website and tap in your parcel number and you can get your statement now.

The link: http://landrecords.co.washington.wi.us/LandRecords/AccessManagement/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fLandRecords%2fPropertyListing%2fRealEstateTaxParcel#/Search

Couple things to be aware of: this will not work if you’re using Mozilla Firefox as your search engine. You have to use Google Chrome or Internet Explorer version 9.  Winklbauer said a couple people have already come in and paid their property taxes. The lottery-tax credit for this year is $92.02 which is a bit less than last year, $94.75. The first-dollar credit is $56.96 which is a smidge more than last year at $55.99.

Holy Angels sponsors Family Promise Christmas dinner  

The Walnut Room at Holy Angels School in West Bend was bursting with holiday spirit Thursday evening as teachers hosted children and their parents from Family Promise from a Christmas dinner.

“Texas Roadhouse donated the meal, Starbucks and McDonald’s donated the drinks and Pick n’ Save donated the cookie decorating material,” Renee Altendorf, teacher and event organizer, said.

The evening started around 5:30 p.m. with a sit down supper followed by cookie decorating, arts and crafts and a rather heated game of ping pong. “They loved the food, running around in the open space and the kids really love the ping pong,” said Altendorf.

About 45 people were treated to dinner including Family Promise board member Mike Bloedorn. “This program shows the families the community cares about them,” he said. “It’s a great evening of camaraderie.”

To cap off the evening Santa and Mrs. Claus made a surprise appearance. The couple came armed with baskets of candy canes and a few early Christmas gifts. Family Promise is a nonprofit organization, located in the former Restat building on Elm Street, that provides food and shelter for homeless families.

New amphitheatre unveiled by West Bend Mutual

“This isn’t Summerfest but it’s our little piece of Summerfest,” Joshua Schoemann, Washington County administrator, said. 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 Fair Park and attract new talent to the venue.

Construction of the new amphitheater stage is expected to begin in early spring 2016 and be completed in time for the June 15, 2016 Washington County Fair.

Tidbits from the press conference:

-“Our admissions are remaining the same,” said Sandy Lang, executive director of Washington Co. Fair Park and Conference Center. There will be no additional charges to see a performance from the grassy hill at the Silver Lining Amphitheater during the fair.

-“This is permanent and it will be attractive to other venues coming in,” said Lang. “It’s a win, win all around.”

-“Bids will be let in January and the existing stage will be totally removed and that work will begin soon,” said Chris Zwygart, vice president-chief risk officer at West Bend Mutual

-None of the current policy holders will see a rate increase because of this project. “We are pleased, as part of our philanthropy program, to set aside money in a charitable trust that helps us with charitable contributions and that allows us to draw from that trust without affecting insurance premiums,” said Zwygart. “Making our community a better place to live and work is beneficial for everyone including our company and our policy holders. When we’re able to attract individuals of higher talent to serve our policy holders, everybody wins including the community.”

-“And the taxes won’t go up for people in the community so they win twice,” said Schoemann.

-“I never thought this would happen for the Washington County Fair Grounds,” Lang said. “In the long run this will help draw more than the six days of the county fair.”

-“We chose a gift to Washington County because this is a place we’ve considered home,” Zwygart said. “This has been our home the last 120 years and the community has been very supportive of us and that’s why we wanted to give this gift back to this community.”

-“We wanted to hit the sweet spot with some of the design elements that Summerfest may have but we also have the at-home feel that a smaller community would have,” said Zwygart.

-“The idea of having more acts, smaller acts is definitely a possibility,” said Zwygart.

-“Thank you, thank you, thank you to West Bend Mutual Insurance Company,” County Board Chairman Herb Tennies said. “This will help make the Washington County Fair Park one of the best in Wisconsin.”

Lighthouse gone at Lighthouse Lanes

A local landmark has been razed as the lighthouse on the corner of Lighthouse Lane and Sleepy Hollow Road has been torn down.

Jim Otten from Kettle Moraine Appliance bought the building. He’s gutting it and using it for storage. On Saturday the demolition got underway which included bringing down the classic lighthouse that became a local landmark.

Records in the Research Center at the Washington County Historical Society show the building dates to the late 1930s when it was a tavern and gas station located along the old Highway 55.

Harold and Alice Laubenstein from Cedarburg purchased the Lighthouse Lanes and Bowling Alley in the mid-1940s. The couple added a dance hall and called the place Lighthouse Ballroom. Other owners were John Bertram who ran it as Lighthouse Lanes Dance Hall and Art and Edna Sepersky who owned and operated Lighthouse Lanes from 1952 until Art retired in 1982.

Details on the construction of the lighthouse are sketchy. “It was built as an attraction,” said Sepersky. He recalled there used to be 8-foot high neon bowling pins decorating the roof. Wedding dances were held until 1949 when 10 bowling lanes replaced the dance floor.

Fundraiser for the Rick Riehl family

Fundraiser basketball game for Rick Riehl: Former West Bend East English teacher and basketball coach Rick Riehl inspired many and on Dec. 18 the West Bend East girls basketball team will take on West Bend West and a fundraiser will be hosted for the family of Rick Riehl. According to East varsity basketball mom Cathy Zettler there will be a 50/50 raffle, basket raffles and a silent auction. Concessions will also be open. All the fun starts at 5:30 p.m.

Home sales up in November in Washington County

Solid gains in home sales for the month of November in Washington County according to the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors. Overall in the Metro Milwaukee market home sales were up 5.0 percent as 1,182 homes sold in November compared to 1,126 the same month in 2014. Comparing the numbers to 2013, sales were up 6.9 percent (1,106 in ’13). In Washington County the November sales grew by almost 25 percent compared to a year ago.

According to the GMAR, “November was the tenth consecutive month of positive sales this year. A good sign the market is running smoothly, but not overheating, because of factors like limited growth in household income and availability of credit.” As far as inventory is concerned, November was the fourth consecutive month and sixth month this year, new listings decreased.

Looking ahead, the GMAR said “it is almost a foregone conclusion that the Fed will begin a process of increasing interest rates as soon as this month (December). A Fed interest rate increase will probably have a mild impact on mortgage rates initially, because the mere discussion of interest rate increases (particularly inflation expectations) causes a reaction in the long-term bond market, which has been mild thus far. But, as rates tick up throughout 2016 they may force buyers to get off the fence.”

Pooch Palace on the move

Within the next few weeks Pooch Palace will be setting up shop around the corner from its current location, 827 S. Main St. The shop is opening in the former Snap Fitness, just to the south of Jeff’s Spirits in the Decorah Shopping Center. The new location will feature a couple of grooming rooms, a bathing room, kennels and tons of space for a new doggie daycare. Pooch Palace was established in 1996. Owner Dawn Dunker said customers come from all across Washington County, neighboring counties and one person even brought their dog in from Canada.

Hundreds turn out for Husar’s Diamond Dash

Fantastic family fun during the inaugural Husar’s Diamond Dash held Sunday at Enchantment in the Park. Tim Zellmer, 23, of Elm Grove finished in first place (15:37) and Sue Miller, 41, of West Bend was the first woman to cross the finish at 19:23.  En Fuego got everyone warmed up with a bit of Zumba to Mariah Carey prior to the start of the 5K which made three laps through the lights of Enchantment in the Park. Money raised during the Diamond Dash benefited the Full Shelf Food Pantry.

Mosaic event at the Museum of Wisconsin Art 

Hundreds of people turned out Friday evening at the Museum of Wisconsin Art to celebrate the Volunteer Centers Community Mosaic. There were 320 squares and West Bend Police Captain Tim Dehring was called to explain his square. “What did West Bend mean 300 years ago and what will it be 300 years from now,” he said.

Looking to present a larger picture, Dehring took his canvas and soaked it in the Milwaukee River for a week. “I buried it in the earth of West Bend for a week, I made a tea of leaves, evergreens and grass clippings and then I let it sit in the sun for a week,” Dehring said.

After West Bend became soaked into the canvas, Dehring made a wood-carving stamp of a print of the Milwaukee River which flowed in blue paint through town. “This really is about West Bend being infused; the people and the nature and really our community,” said Dehring.

The Volunteer Centers Sue Millian said, while beautiful – Dehring’s artwork did have a slight aroma…. but for a good cause. Money raised during the evening benefited the Volunteer Center of Washington County. The primary sponsor for the evening was Delta Defense.

Mary Hafeman named American Top 50

Mary Hafeman has been selected as one of the 2015 Golf Range Association of America Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professionals. “This especially exciting for me since GRAA receives an outstanding batch of applicants for this honor and I have been selected from a group of highly regarded teachers,” Hafeman said.

A professional golfer for over 30 years, Hafeman’s parents introduced her to the game when she was 10 years old. “It’s just as exciting as when I started coaching and introducing golf to my students,” she said.

Hafeman’s experience playing on the LPGA Tour has given her an advantage to coach a person to lower their score, talk about strategies, adapt to pressure, and get results they want. Hafeman is in the process of putting together 2016 plans for a LPGA Girls Golf Program for 6- 16 year olds and PGA Junior Sports Academy for both boys and girls 9-14.  More information can be found at Hafeman’s website www.maryhafemangolf.com

Local students recognized for Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy

During Monday night’s West Bend Common Council meeting students from the middle schools and high schools were recognized for their participation in the local VFW’s Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy essay contests.

The Patriot’s Pen Essay contest required students to write an essay based on the theme, “What Freedom Means to Me.” The top 10 students from the Patriot’s Pen contest were: Maya Butschlick, Sawyer Felten, and Dawson Zillmer, Grace Biermann, Reagan Dricken, Rhea Dricken, Mason Schulteis, Regann Roth, McKenzie Van Beek. First place was Sam Amerling who received a check for $100.

The Voice of Democracy contest required high schools students to write an essay and record a 3-5 minute audio rendition of that essay on the theme, “My Vision for America.” Winners included Gemma Claire Urlakis, Grace Marie Urlakis, and Christian Young, Noah Doak, Ryrie Roth, Abigail Doak, and Eve Anna Urlakis. First place went to Quinn Skidmore who received a check for $125.

Updates & Tidbits

– Santa’s coming to the West Bend Airport at 8:30 a.m. today, Saturday, Dec. 12. The event is open to the public. U.S. Senator Ron Johnson will be serving up breakfast.

– The 12 Days of Christmas at Savoring Thyme, 248 N. Main St., features a different special each day. Visit Savoringthyme.net to get each day’s special. Open Monday – Friday next week until 7 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

-Quite a few holiday concerts on tap in the next week at Hartford Union High School. Monday, Dec. 14 is the bands Jazz Holiday Concert starting at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 it’s the Orchestra Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 21 is the Choral Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m.

– An odd smell was reported at Green Tree Elementary School in West Bend around 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The Fire Department responded as did We Energies. Crews did a complete evaluation of the building as students and staff were moved to the playground and eventually dismissed at the regular end of day. “The safety of our students is our primary concern,” said Principal Katie Weyer. Emergency crews did not find any air-quality concerns. Weyer said they have “no reason to believe there are any issues in the school.” Initial findings were that the odor could be due to a back draft related to the high winds that day.

– The West Bend High School Drumline will be recognized during the Jan. 11 meeting of the West Bend School Board. A proclamation will be read in their honor.

-Michael Desmond, gas jockey at Paradise Shell in West Bend, is directing a Christmas program on behalf of St. Peter’s Parish at Slinger Elementary School on Dec. 20 at 9 a.m.

– November students of the month from Holy Angels School in West Bend were sixth grader Will Mueller, seventh grader Ellie Meurer and eighth grader McKenzie Zywicki.

Christmas past in downtown West Bend

A bunch of kids in December 1910 stand outside a storefront in downtown West Bend waiting for Santa. The picture was taken in front of the A.C. Fuge Hardware Co. located on the east side of S. Main Street. The building is currently the site of the old Stewart-Peterson. The Washington County Historical Society Research Center said obviously “the building has been extensively remodeled.”

Lighthouse Lanes is history

As neighbors fight to retain the history connected to the bridge behind the downtown West Bend Theatre another longtime landmark has been sold and gutted.

Lighthouse Lanes, 7294 Sleepy Hollow Road, in the town of Barton was sold to Jim Otten, owner of Kettle Moraine Appliance and TV. Otten is in the process of gutting the former bowling alley to turn it into storage for his store across the street.

On Friday a Kettle Moraine Appliance truck was parked in front of the bowling alley. Inside rows of bottle beer covered the bar area, bowling balls and pins were strewn in the gutters and the mechanical pin setters lay in a pile on the floor.

“We’re stripping it down to sell some of it,” said former owner Tom Zernia. Walking to the far end of the alley Zernia tapped his toe on the lane. “This is synthetic and the original wood lane is underneath; we’ll be selling at $20 a linear foot.”

Zernia said when he owned the place he spent $100,000 putting in new flooring. “I sell this stuff pretty regular for countertops and work benches.” Zernia now runs Boss Realty. He oversaw the sale of the building for about $245,000.

Records in the Research Center at the Washington County Historical Society have a rather thin timeline on the building on Sleepy Hollow Road. Archives show it dates to the late 1930s when it was a tavern and gas station located along the old Highway 55.

Harold and Alice Laubenstein from Cedarburg purchased the Lighthouse Lanes and Bowling Alley in the mid-1940s. The couple added a dance hall and called the place Lighthouse ballroom.  An advertisement, dated June 1947, reads ‘Lighthouse Ballroom serves Chicken-in-the-Basket. Fish fry every Friday night. H. Laubenstein.’

In a back room on Friday afternoon, a couple of heavy metal signs about 3-feet long were found. The signs read ‘Laubenstein.’ Zernia wasn’t quite sure what the signs were used for but he assumed they dated to the 1940s.

Other owners were John Bertram who ran it as Lighthouse Lanes Dance Hall and Art and Edna Sepersky who owned and operated Lighthouse Lanes from 1952 until Art retired in 1982. Art kept on working for his son, Mike who ran the business until the 1990s.

Art Sepersky is quoted as saying “the tower and ballroom were built in 1942, and the building became known as the Lighthouse Ballroom.” Details on the construction of the lighthouse are sketchy. “It was built as an attraction,” said Sepersky. He recalled there used to be 8-foot high neon bowling pins decorating the roof. Wedding dances were held until 1949 when 10 bowling lanes replaced the dance floor.

Another ad, dated Dec. 1960 reads, ‘Sal’s Lighthouse Dining Room Complete dinners served daily and Sundays. The address in the ad is Hy 45 N and the phone number is FE 4-5711.

An article on bowling alleys highlighted Lighthouse Lanes. “Opened for business in August of 1950 as a corporation. Art Sepersky was hired as manager in 1951 and became one of five stockholders in 1953. Automatic pinsetters were installed in the mid-50s with more modern ones replacing them in 1968. Sepersky became sole owner in 1973 after purchasing all the outstanding stock. 1978 saw Mike Sepersky become owner of Lighthouse Lanes, along with his father.

Herb Tennies to retire from Washington County Board

Spring elections are ahead with the primary set for Feb. 16, 2016 and the General Election on tap April 5, 2016. According to Clerk Brenda Jaszewski all supervisors are up for election and because of the redistricting the candidates have to file non-candidacy papers for their old district and then file to run in their new district.

“Incumbents that have changed district numbers due to redistricting after the reduction in board size, are required to submit a notification of non-candidacy for their old district number,” said Jaszewski.

With the redistricting there will now be 26 seats on the county board rather than 30.  One of the supervisors who stepping down is Dist. 7 supervisor Paul Ustruck who filed non-candidacy on Nov. 5.

Dist. 2 County Board Supervisor Herb Tennies, who has held office for 50 years, also filed non-candidacy on Nov. 23. It’s long been expected Tennies would not run again.  Tennies was first elected in 1965; in 2008 he was elected chairman following in the footsteps of county board chairman Ken Mueller.

“He has compassion and love for the position,” Chief Deputy County Clerk Linda Doro said. “He wants what’s best for people in his district but also what’s best for Washington County.”

“Herb is very easy to get along with and work for,” Doro said. “Herb very rarely raises his temper, he’s easy going and he looks outside of the box – even with his German background.”

Aside from politics Tennies has been extremely active in the community, running his own business, Tennies Ace Hardware, he founded and ran Germanfest for 30 years and he was a volunteer firefighter.

“I didn’t know him when he worked as a young man, but he really has to have a hell of a great wife,” Doro said.

Tennies sat on major committees including finance and personnel. “Nothing seems to scare him otherwise he wouldn’t have stayed on as long as he did,” said Doro. Tennies term will end in April 2016.

There are several contested seats as incumbents from two districts battle it out for one seat in the new district. Some of those races include Dist. 12 supervisor Brian Krebs will face Dist. 9 supervisor Ron Naab if newly formed District. 8.

Dist. 19 incumbent supervisor Philip Laubenheimer will face off against Dist. 15 incumbent Robert Hartwig to represent Dist. 13. Former Dist. 13 supervisor Gerald Schultz has been shifted to Dist. 9. He’s currently the only one who has declared candidacy in that district.

Dist. 27 incumbent supervisor Dennis Myers avoided a contest with incumbent Mel Ewert, who died earlier this year. However, two others have filed to run in Dist. 27 including Dale Peterson of Colgate and Rock Brander of Hubertus.

Other seats up for election in April include a pair of supervisor seats in the Town of Barton, the Town of Addison, the Town of Erin, and the Town of Jackson.

There will be a seat up for election on the Silver Lake Sanitary District in the Town of West Bend. The seat carries a 6-year term. There Village President in Germntown is up for election.

There are trustee elections in the Village of Kewaskum, Village of Newburg, Village of Richfield, and the Village of Slinger.

The city of Hartford will elect a new mayor as Joe Dautermann says he will not seek reelection. There are also three aldermanic seats up for election in Hartford including Dist. 1 alderman Joe Kohler, Dist. 2 alderman Wayne Rusniak and Dist. 3 alderwoman Rachel Mixon.

Duquaine files non-candidacy in WB

Mike Chevalier has pulled papers to run for District 3 alderman in the city of West Bend. Incumbent alderman Ed Duquaine filed non-candidacy papers; he is building a house outside the district. Duquaine’s term will end April 2016.

Chevalier is president of MCR Services LLC in Richfield. He served on the city’s Value Task Force from July 2011 – April 2013, he was a former president of Common Sense Citizens, on the facilities committee with St. Frances Cabrini Church, and Chevalier is a member of the West Bend Sunrise Rotary.

The odd numbered aldermanic districts in the city of West Bend are up for election in April. Dist. 7 alderman Adam Williquette has already turned in his papers to run for reelection. Others up for election include Dist. 1 alderman John Butschlick and Dist. 5 alderman Rich Kasten.

West Bend boy featured in Boston Globe

Aidan Abbot, 10, from Addison Elementary School was featured in the Boston Globe this week.  Abbott has a rare disease called Ectodermal Dysplasia. The Boston Globe wrote an article about an exhibit, Beyond the Diagnosis by Rare Disease United Foundation, currently on display at Harvard and later at the National Institutes of Health. The exhibit features portraits of children who have different rare diseases and are trying to raise awareness. “Aidan was chosen to represent Ectodermal Dysplasias,” said mom Becky Abbott. “He was one of a few children who had their picture in the Boston Globe and we are just amazed our son is going to be seen by many and raising awareness for all families that suffer from rare disease.”

Successful Taste of Washington County

Nobody went home hungry following this year’s Taste of Washington County at the Washington County Fair Park. The event featured 36 food and beverage vendors along with a lot of great auction items including a 2016 Brewers suite package, a Long Beach, California Grand Prix Race adventure and the ever popular “Training Day” with the city of West Bend SWAT Team.

Auctioneer Mike Paul oversaw the live and very entertaining auction. Proceeds benefited the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County.

The Taste of Washington County started in 2000 with a dozen vendors. At the time, organizers hoped to make it their signature event. How things have changed in 15 years, just take a look at raffle items which included Milwaukee County Stadium seats and a Brett Favre autographed jersey. Now 15 years later The Taste has become a ‘can’t miss event.’  “Our daughter works at the Boys and Girls Club in Washington County and she bought us tickets,” said Lisa Seeger about her daughter Emily.

The Seegers had never been to The Taste until this year. “We’ve always heard wonderful things about this and the Boys and Girls Club really makes a great difference for the kids.”

Vendors featured The Norbert which served street tacos. “It’s half turkey, half pork, cilantro, red onion and chipotle,” said Tony Koebel.

Moonlighting was a popular stop as it was serving chicken stir fry, spicy Asian chicken noodle soup and a German style brat sandwich with pretzel bun, fried onions and Dusseldorf mustard.

Chef Jodi Janisse-Kanzenbach from Cafe Soeurette served blackened shrimp with jasmine rice and sauces were either the apricot and jalapeno butter or buttermilk garlic.

Wayne Kainz from Riverside Brewery sliced thick, red prime rib alongside some festive employees whose ties and hats were lit for the season. Riverside Brewery also served jambalaya, spinach and artichoke dip, along with some ‘Be home soon honey’ ale and Black IPA.

“It continues to get better every year,” said Boys and Girls Club executive director Jay Fisher. “We normally have about 800 people and this year we have to have cleared 1,000.”

“I got hooked back in the 1980s on getting the Boys and Girls Club up and going somewhere,” said George Prescott, a board member for the Boys and Girls Club. “Now we have multiple locations and it’s just grown into something special.”

Behind the scenes: The event started at 6 p.m. and by 6:30 p.m. it was difficult to find a parking and the greeters had run out of event programs.

-Someone mistook George Prescott for actor Jack Nicholson. “I love Jack Nicholson,” said Prescott, sporting a two-day shadow of a beard.

-Along with barbecue ribs Timmer’s Restaurant also had Barbara Johnson’s book on display, “Timmer’s Resort a journey through Time.”  -McDonald’s was serving breakfast all day.

Main Street improvements discussed

Brick pavers and parking, informational kiosks and dog-watering stations were all discussed this week during the West Bend BID board meeting as a Main Street Improvements and Streetscape Evaluation was submitted by Kunkel Engineering Group.

Jackie Kohn, senior design engineer for Kunkel Engineering, spent about 20 minutes briefing the BID board on some of the items in the 31-page report. “You could add 20 parking stalls by eliminating curb extensions here,” Kohn said.

Curb, gutters, overlay, street lights, deteriorating brick pavers, and the potential of a gateway arch were some of the soft generalities presented to the board and then things got down to brass tacks when financing was brought to the table.

“How do utilities underground look,” asked Herb Tennies, a veteran on the BID board. “The sewer and water date to 1982. I don’t know what the expected life is but I suggest you find out what’s underneath before you start sticking money into the top and the ripping it all off.”

BID board president Mike Husar said it was best to assume that all conduit and piping would need to be replaced. “That can be your gift to the city when you retire,” said Husar, needling Tennies in good-natured fashion.

Funding got a bit more serious when Husar suggested it fall to the city and not so much the BID. “I don’t know that we’re going to raise the money to cover the $1.5 million in what’s my opinion a city responsibility,” he said.

In a final series of motions the BID agreed to put the Main Street improvements as a monthly item on the agenda. Steps will also be taken to bring the project before the city council, address potential funding and inform the community with a public presentation.

Former Goodyear building sold

The building at 303 Water Street, just south of the roundabout by Dublin’s, has sold. Kevin and Amy Zimmer closed on the purchase of the building this week. “This property has been overlooked and neglected over the years, which makes it attractive to us to bring it back to life,” Kevin Zimmer said. “The next few months we will be working with engineers and architects to create a plan to transform and update this mid-century (1949?) garage into newly-renovated retail space.” Records in the city assessor’s office show Robert and Mary Kuester and John and Grace Kuester sold the property to Harley and Alice Koehler on Dec. 9, 1970. Many folks in the community will remember that corner lot as a Goodyear station. At one time it was also home to a furniture and restoration shop, colorfully called ‘The Male Stripper.’

The Zimmers have been making significant property purchases in the community the past few years. The couple own the Dublin’s building, formerly known as The Binkery. The Zimmers also purchased Schwai’s / Emily’s in Cedar Creek and this summer they bought the gazebo from Old Settlers Park. “We look forward to adding another property to our portfolio that will make West Bend and the area proud,” said Kevin Zimmer.

BG Decal & Apparel moving downtown

BG Decal & Apparel will be moving to the Centrum building in downtown West Bend. The shop, owned by Bruce and Gena Biertzer, is currently in Barton, 1942 N. Main St. “We’ve been here a year and we’re going to go more into the retail end of the t-shirt business,” said Gena. The shop in Barton is spacious with 4,100 square feet; however we just don’t get any foot traffic.”

The Biertzers are currently remodeling the space previously home to Mangold Clinic. “I’m so excited. We’ll still do our banners and signs and work with all the schools; we’ll be more of a West Bend spirit store with all our school apparel.”  BG Decal should be open by Feb. 1, 2016. “We’re looking forward to the foot traffic and the Farmers’ Market, the parade, the restaurants and all the happenings,” she said.

New dental clinic opening

Neighbors in West Bend and Washington County are going to have the best teeth ever as construction of a dental office was approved during Tuesday’s Plan Commission meeting. Dr. Kunick will be building on E. Washington Street, adjacent to Wingate Street and Trenton Road, by Klotz’s Piggly Wiggly. Dr. Kunick has an established family practice in Cedarburg. West Bend’s other new dental practice, Forward Dental, is opening soon in the former location of The Coachman House and Club Ten 06, 1006 S. Main St.

Disney night at Enchantment in the Park

Elsa, Olaf, Snow White, Superman and a Disney Princess will be on hand at Enchantment in the Park tonight, Saturday Dec. 5. The special guests will be available for photos from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Enchantment in the Park opens at 5 p.m. and Sunday don’t forget the Diamond Dash – the event starts at 4:30 p.m. with packet pickup and registration at 3 p.m.

Deer kill numbers in

The DNR has released preliminary harvest totals for the 9-day gun deer season. Although hunters in Washington County got off to a better start opening weekend, (703 compared to 665 in 2014), for the season area hunters killed 282 fewer deer than in 2014. The totals were 1537 this season compared to 1,819 last year. That’s a decrease of about 15.5 percent.

In neighboring Fond du Lac County totals were down by 3.5 percent with a kill of 2,762 this season compared to 2,861 last year.  In Dodge County there was significant success with a total kill of 3,181 this season compared to 2,898 in 2014 and in Ozaukee County the numbers were down from 612 last year to 541 this year. Statewide totals were up a little over 1 percent to 201,812 deer compared to 199,583 in 2014.

Updates & tidbits

–  Jim Retzlaff, airport manager at the West Bend Airport, has retired. Retzlaff worked for the city of West Bend from April, 2004 – August, 2015. Retzlaff listed his accomplishments as having a perimeter fence put up which eliminated problems with deer. Successfully contracting a building for all of the airport equipment such as the plow truck, loader, tractor with broom, and snow blower; having the primary runway and taxiway re-paved plus started the process to have the second runway repaved in 2016; removing obstructions on the approaches to four runways to be in compliance with FAA Rules and Regulations.

– Blooming Acres is back in business in West Bend. The popular seasonal gardening business in the Westwood Shopping Center, 2374A W. Washington St., got a vote of approval during this week’s Plan Commission meeting. Owner Nathan Neumann has his holiday trees in place just to the southwest of The Threshold. “I’ve got balsams, Fraser Fir, spruce, scotch pine, white pine,” Neumann said. “The trees start at $19.99 and up.” Blooming Acres is open 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. The last day for selling trees is Dec. 23.

-This week Germantown Village Clerk Barb Goeckner swore in new police officer Matt Jones.

-Washington County’s annual Shop with a Cop is Dec. 9 at the Washington County Fair Park.

– Verlo Mattress, 1325 S. Main St., in West Bend has closed. In January 2012 the Verlo Mattress Factory store in West Bend was acquired by the Verlo parent company, which is owned and operated by the Marcus Family. Prior to Verlo the building was home to Juan’s Mexicali restaurant which opened in April 2008 and was owned by partners Steve and Linda Paykel and Tracy and Jeff Ketter. Juan’s was in the former showroom for Consolidated Doors, which moved to the back of the building.

– Public information meeting Dec. 15 regarding improvements to 18th Avenue: There’s going to be no formal presentation but neighbors, bikers, and others in the community are welcome to come to a public info meeting Tuesday, Dec. 15 to discuss reconstruction of 18^th Avenue from Vogt Drive to Decorah Road. The group Bike Friendly West Bend has had 18th Avenue on its radar for a while. That road headed south from Decorah is pretty dicey and suggestions have been floated about adding a bike lane.

– Saturday Dec. 12 will be the last day for Call of the Wild as the new owner will take over in January.

– Watch for new Charter Spectrum signs to be installed at 1515 W. Washington Street. The signs will be installed by Innovative Signs of Waukesha. Charter Communications began marketing its video, telephone and broadband service under the Charter Spectrum brand in 2014 as the company moved to an all-digital product.

–  The Kettle Moraine Lutheran Elementary School Jazz Band recently received a $275 grant from the Madison Jazz Society to purchase a variety of rehearsal tools and performance music to be featured at Family Music Fest on April 8 and at their final concert on April 26.  

–The West Bend High Schools have nominated Andrew Steiner and Jocelyn Martinez for the 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for their outstanding volunteer efforts. Winners will be announced Feb. 6, 2016.

Amity Rolfs nativity in place at Bits ‘n’ Pieces

New home for Amity Rolfs nativity: It was a labor of love this week as a group of downtown business owners and volunteers gathered to help set up the Amity Rolfs nativity.

A huge hat tip to Pat and Deb Bohn from Bits ‘n’ Pieces Floral as they will be hosting the nativity at their store, 319 S. Main Street.

“We wanted to keep it on the parade route,” said Downtown West Bend Association event manager Kellie Boone. The change in location came after Westbury Bank said it feared there were safety concerns with the manger.

A group of handymen and women, including Chris and Larry Porter, Scott Schmidt, Jim Spaeth, Kellie Boone, Carol Baranyk, and Pat and Deb Bohn worked to resurrect the nativity. All channeled their inner Tom O’Meara III to help recreate the nativity which dates to the late 1960s. For years O’Meara took charge of setting up the nativity.

Someone suggested that in order to get our “real Tom on” we needed to stop at Dublin’s first for a pint. While a popular idea, the group took advantage of the sunny, unseasonably-warm weather, and remained on task. Also a special thanks to West Bend Elevator for donating the straw for the manger.

Blooming Acres to try again

Blooming Acres is on the Dec. 8 agenda for the West Bend Plan Commission meeting.

If you remember, Blooming Acres was a popular seasonal gardening business in the Westwood Shopping Center, 2374A W. Washington Street. Owner Nathan Neumann started as a bare-bones operation in 1989 selling holiday trees and plants out of a temporary shelter across from the old Pick n’ Save north.

When he first opened Neumann ruffled a couple feathers across the driveway with Stein’s Garden’s and Gifts as it carried similar product and fought for the same customer dollar.

In 2014 the West Bend Plan Commission approved an outdoor permit for Neumann’s shop with the qualification he meet fencing requirements, standards for an outdoor greenhouse and staffing for a year-round operation.

In April 2015 the Plan Commission reviewed and unanimously revoked the site plan for Blooming Acres saying Neumann did not meet the obligations of the approvals originally granted by the commission.

Now, Neumann is back with a similar request to sell holiday trees from the same spot. City administrator T.J. Justice said the city has a responsibility to pave the way for open commerce.

“We’re doing research on whether a conditional use permit that was revoked – would preclude him from being able to obtain another approval,” Justice said.

Blooming Acres is based in Dodge County.  The number of Christmas tree outlets in West Bend has dropped over the years. In 2012 the Terlindens stopped selling trees from their front lawn at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Poplar Street. Meadowbrook Market has Christmas trees for sale as does PMF Landscaping.

Dragonfly Healing Arts Center

A new aromatherapy shop is opening in downtown West Bend. Dragonfly Healing Arts Center, 105 N. Main St., is sharing space inside Portraits Today.

“I want to teach people how to take care of themselves,” owner Kim Ward said. “I want to empower them to take care of themselves in a healthy way.”

Ward, 48, is a registered nurse with a double major in health and wellness. “I believe a majority of disease is caused by our immune system being weakened by products on our store shelves,” she said.

“I’m going to use the aromatherapy bar as a vessel to communicate and show the all-natural products people can use for medicinal purposes, stress relief, and to detoxify their home.”

Ward will incorporate aromatherapy into a person’s health and stress level. “It’s multi-tiered,” she said. “There are massage oils, room spray, non-toxic cleaning products, and eventually I’d like to start classes on how to detoxify your home and body work. It’s all about knowledge.”

Ward has created an assessment form along with a medicinal and home care product line that’s nontoxic and hormone balancing.

“I’m going to start with three phases including the aromatherapy bar,” she said. “People can come in and make their own personalized products.”

A full-time home care nurse, Ward will operate Dragonfly on Saturdays and by appointment by calling 920-883-7494 or dragonflyhealingarts04@gmail.com

Wash. Co. to kick in $85,000 for new main stage at Fair Park

West Bend Mutual Insurance Company has offered Washington County a generous donation for the construction of a permanent stage at the Washington County Fair Park.

This week the county accepted the donation and agreed to move forward with the project development. “West Bend Mutual will be providing for the project over $500,000 for the project,” said Washington County Administrator Joshua Schoemann.

There are a couple aspects the county will have to cover in a cooperative agreement including kicking in $85,000 for preliminary site work, architectural engineering and professional services for the Fair Park stage project.

The county will also have to cover the relocation of some electrical and work to relocate the tractor pull area to a more suitable location on the grounds. Renegotiation is also taking place between the county and the Agricultural and Industrial Society on the lease and operating agreement. A design for the new stage is still underway. The full county board will vote on the resolution at its Dec. 8 meeting.

Kettle Moraine Sport Riders absent from WB Christmas Parade

Don’t look for the Kettle Moraine Sport Riders in Sunday’s West Bend Christmas Parade as the group is bowing out this year. This is the second time in the past five years the Sport Riders will not participate; time and a shortage of volunteers are to blame.

In 2010 the Sport Riders took a year off – they returned the next year with gusto. The Kettle Moraine Sport Riders are a parade favorite. The group is a mix of local business owners, farmers and cycling enthusiasts. They normally create one of the most interesting entries in the parade.

In 2005, the Sport Riders were credited with saving Santa, whose sleigh float got a flat tire. Parade organizers scrambled and the Sport Riders stepped up, quickly slicing a hole into their sleigh and squeezing Santa into a spot next to the amplifier.

That year the Sport Rider’s 70-foot-long float featured a locomotive hauling a toy factory complete with a conveyor loading toys into Santa’s sleigh. The Sport Riders took first place in the adult-non-profit category. Aside from being talented mechanics, the Sport Riders are also procrastinators, typically crafting a float within 24 hours of the start of the parade.

Parade organizer Mike Husar said there will be four bands in this year’s parade including the West Bend High School Marching Band, Northern Ozaukee High School Band, Mayville High School Band, River City Christmas Brass and watch for a final appearance by the St. Mary’s cheerleaders.  The 63rd annual West Bend Christmas Parade steps off at 5 p.m. Sunday from Regner Park.

Radio communications upgrade underway in Washington County 

The Washington County Finance Committee unanimously approved a Radio Communications System Upgrade and 700 MHz Overlay Project to the tune of about $4.85 million. “This is a half-step upgrade for this 10-year system,” said County Administrator Joshua Schoemann.  The countywide radio system has been in operation since 2010 and there have been problems with the system penetrating buildings.

Schoemann said they are trying to work together with Ozaukee County, which has the same digital system. Schoemann said if the radio communication projects are done simultaneously there’s a chance for Washington County to save $150,000. Ozaukee County also contracts with Harris Corporation for a radio system replacement project.

A portion of the resolution reads: Harris Corporation has proposed adding four tower sites that transmit and receive communications on 700 MHz frequencies and all necessary equipment and upgrades including but not limited to network switches, microwave and logging updates and dispatch consoles and upgrades, portable radios for Sheriff personnel for a total cost not to exceed $4.85 million. The resolution goes before the full county board on Dec. 8.

St. John’s Guild cookbooks are in the house!

The latest shipment of St. John’s Guild cookbook, “Our Favorite Recipes” has arrived. The first printing was in 1949 when a committee of nine women, led by Esther Klein and Frieda Lange, collected the best recipes in a cookbook that would be sold at a low price. Proceeds would go to build a new kitchen at St. John’s Lutheran Church in West Bend.

“A majority of recipes were all tried and true,” said Carol Gerner, a member of the cookbook committee since the 1980s and the author of the recipe for cottage cheese rolls. “It was a good project and we got our kitchen.”

The cookbook had a unique style with hand-written recipes supported by the antics of stick-figure cartoons. Many households in the community had a copy of Our Favorite Recipes tucked in the drawer or standing on the kitchen shelf. Reliable recipes included the Mile High Strawberry torte, pumpkin bread, banana bread and peanut butter cookies.

The same lovable cookbook produced in 1949 is back – it’s a little more modern with an upgraded binding. Our Favorite Recipes sells for $15 and is available at Tennies Ace Hardware, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hankerson’s Country Oven Bakery, and All in Books.

Slinger teen receives diabetic alert dog

Moose delivered to teen in Slinger by Judy Steffes: “Moose is here!” It was a cheer heard throughout the household as an English male chocolate Labrador retriever diabetic alert dog was delivered to William Springer of Slinger.

“I just ran down the stairs when I saw him I was so excited,” said Springer. “I had been counting down the days until he’d get here.”

The 17-year-old Springer was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in summer of 2013. On April 25, 2014, he received a severe concussion from a soccer ball to the head and ever since he has not been able to recognize or feel the lows and highs in his blood sugar. The dog will help Springer keep his blood sugar within a normal range.

For several hours Saturday certified trainer Nicole Parayno with Diabetic Alert Dogs of America put Springer and Moose through their paces.

“When he places his paw on you, that means you’re out of your normal sugar target range,” Parayno said. “He’s trained to use his paw for that, but he’s not trained to alert just because. This is only when a scent is present.”

Scent samples were gathered from Springer and used to train the dog the past six months; Moose will turn 1 year old on Thanksgiving. “Just one treat,” instructed Parayno. Moose eagerly took to Springer spending a majority of time at his feet, resting his head on his owner’s leg. “I can’t really feel my sugar lows like I used to so Moose is going to be a big help,” Springer said.

Moose will sleep in the same room as Springer and he’ll accompany him to high school. “Stay,” said Springer holding his palm up as a signal.

In the last few years Diabetic Alert Dogs of America has placed over 400 dogs. “They range anywhere from $7,500 to $15,000,” Parayno said. “We’re actually the cheapest company but we’re paying the trainers and the vets and the travel.”

Moose and Parayno flew in from Las Vegas on Friday. “He enjoyed playing in the snow,” she said. The West Bend Lioness Lion’s Club, along with other area Lion’s Clubs, helped raise money to pay for Moose.

Bikes, Bars, Beer, Santas!

Grab you bicycle and join fellow Santas on Sunday, Nov. 29 for the inaugural West Bend Santa Ramp-Up. The ride starts at Dublin’s (10 a.m.) with stops at Benders (11 a.m.), Moonlighting (12 p.m.), West Bend Tap and Tavern (1 p.m.), and The Norbert (2 p.m.). Meeting at 10 a.m. at Dublin’s and then bicycling south on the Eisenbahn State Trail. Santa or Christmas attire recommended. Organized by Ashley Walker and Dave Renick.

Updates & tidbits

– The Washington County Senior Center will have cookies, hot chocolate, popcorn, soup and more at Enchantment in the Park this weekend at Regner Park.

– The WB COLUMNS Holiday Pops Concert is Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Silver Lining Arts Center. The annual scholarship concert benefits graduating seniors of West Bend East and West High Schools. Last year, WB COLUMNS awarded $612,050 in scholarships for graduates to continue their education. More information www.wbcolumns.org

-The Kewaskum Indians 2015 football season awards will be presented after the Kewaskum Christmas Parade on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Kewaskum Theatre. Awards will be presented and then transition to the cafeteria for a reception.

-Start the holiday season off with a four-course dinner Dec. 10 at the Top of the Ridge Restaurant at Cedar Ridge followed by Christmas music by Ryan and Celia Meisel. Dinner at 5 p.m. Music: 6:30 p.m. Fee: $20 adult meal $10 kid’s meal. Register at ce.uwc.edu/Washington

-National speaker and author Robyn Leigh Dykstra is coming Friday, Dec. 4 to the Women’s Christmas Gala and fundraiser for the Seed of Hope Center, a faith-based crisis pregnancy and counseling center in West Bend and Hartford.  Dykstra will offer an inspirational message through her true-life story about loss and the transforming power of a loving God. The event is 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Bend City Church, 224 Butternut St. Registration is required at eventbrite.com

– Trivia Night by the church Work Campers (St. Gabs and St. Boniface) is Dec. 5 starting around 5:45 p.m.  You don’t have to be a parishioner.  There will be food and drinks to purchase and babysitting too!  Register this weekend at rivia.stgabrielshubertus.org

– Sunday, Nov. 29 is the First Sunday of Advent. Here is the beginning of Rev. Nathan Reesman’s message in the St. Frances Cabrini/ St. Mary’s bulletin. Our entrance antiphon for this First Sunday of Advent is worth lingering over just a bit.   It is chosen from Psalm 25:  “To you, I lift up my soul, O my God, In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame.  Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in you be put to shame.” The antiphons that we have for our celebrations, especially in the high seasons like Advent, often come down to us from ancient days in the Roman liturgy, and they communicate very intentionally the key themes or ideas that the Christian community is to make our own as we move throughout the year.  This Sunday is no exception. For each of the years in our three-year Lectionary cycle, the readings for the First Sunday of Advent center on Christ’s call to vigilance for His grand coming.  Advent always opens with a glimpse of the end of the world as we know it, as the Lord promises that He will usher in an era where His power will be undisputed and His Kingdom will be established in its fullness.

Historic West Bend Theatre

Today’s history photo is courtesy Roger Strack. The movie The Collegiate was released Jan. 22, 1936.

Sorry I’m a bit late getting this up. I was in the woods for the opening of the gun deer season. I shot a full 33% of the deer I saw… so, 1. In any case, here you go:

New location for West Bend’s Amity nativity

The Amity nativity has a new home. The nativity had been displayed since 2007 on the grassy knoll outside Westbury Bank on S. Main Street. This year the display will be moved across the street and a bit further south. The Downtown West Bend Association took donation of the nativity in 2007. The DWBA board of directors had a meeting this week to hash over a new location.

“We wanted to keep it downtown and keep it on the route of the annual Christmas parade,” event manager Kellie Boone said.

A number of locations were batted about; some were nixed because of conflicts between church and state and then the perfect location became apparent. “Bits ‘n’ Pieces is on the parade route and it’s very visible,” said Boone about the location, 319 S. Main St.

Pat and Deb Bohn, owners of Bits ‘n’ Pieces, have been great community servants and work is underway to get the nativity set up in its new home before the Nov. 29 parade.

Officials at Westbury indicated the manger was unsafe. They said if it would be repaired they’d consider taking the manger back in the future.

On a history note: The nativity was special ordered in the late 1960s by Tom and Bob Rolfs. The nativity used to be displayed in front of the Amity Outlet on Highway 33 and prior to that sat in front of the Amity building at 735 S. Main St., what is now the West Bend School District office.

Could demolition of bridge jeopardize theatre project

There’s an effort underway to breathe new life into the downtown West Bend Theatre. A critical part of its success, according to investors, is the bridge over the Milwaukee River.

“Saving the bridge is number one,” said Mark Pfaller of Pfaller Architectural Associates. “There’s not enough parking to facilitate the theatre anywhere downtown. If the bridge does not stay and get renovated it could be a deal breaker.”

Pfaller has renovated and restored more than 40 theatres in his career including the Pabst Theatre in Milwaukee, the Rialto Theatre in Joliet, Illinois, and the 850 seat Grand Opera House in Oshkosh.  He’s been hired along with Gene Eggert from Architectural Designs Inc in Delafield to complete a study on what is needed to resurrect the downtown West Bend Theatre.

A brainstorming session was held this month at Dublin’s to get the ball rolling on the project. The one problematic issue is the city of West Bend has already signed a contract that involves the removal of the bridge behind the theatre.

The city of West Bend currently has a $567,946.05 bridge contract with Janke General Contractors, Inc. The Common Council approved the contract Oct. 5, 2015.

The bridge project includes construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Milwaukee River between Veterans Avenue and Service Drive, as well as removing two existing bridges in the area. City administrator T.J. Justice said “the city can negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract so the scope of the project could change.”

That change is connected to the request being made by Rep. Bob Gannon and state Senator Duey Stroebel to delay spending DOT grant money without losing the funding. There’s an effort underway to see whether the DOT can reallocate some of the money meant to demolish the bridge and have it go towards renovating the bridge instead.

A note from Justice dated Sept. 22, 2015 indicated talks were underway on whether the state DOT “can be flexible with us on the use (and timing) of a portion of the TE grant that’s been awarded to the city.”

Mike Husar, president of the downtown Business Improvement District, owns the property on the north side of the bridge. “That bridge needs to stay. They need to come up with a way to use it and keep it,” Husar said. “We have a theatre that could potentially use the bridge.”

Mayor Kraig Sadownikow said he is pleased a local group is interested in remodeling and, in some way, saving the theater. “If they’re motivated to doing something positive in downtown and they think we need to save the bridge, I’m happy and I’m sure the council is happy to explore that,” Sadownikow said.

This week contractors started removing the windows in the bridge behind the theatre in downtown West Bend.

Sadownikow said removal of asbestos and windows on the bridge will have to be done whether it comes down now or whether it’s refurbished. “I’ve been told they’re not going to take the bridge down until they get authorization from City Hall to do so,” he said.

Matt Prescott with Ascendant Holdings in Madison currently owns the building along with business partner Eric Nordeen. The pair purchased the theatre, 125 N. Main St., on May 19, 2012 for $100,000. Prescott demolished the newer additions inside and return the configuration of the old theatre. He said the next step would be left to an outside party to determine the best use of the building.

On a history note, the West Bend Theatre was built in 1927; it opened in 1929 as a single-screen theater.

Staffing changes in the works at West Bend City Hall

Some employees at West Bend city hall are moving on. Lauren Oliveri, recreation supervisor with the West Bend Parks, Recreation and Forestry department, has taken a job at Waterstone Bank. Oliveri recently received the Young Professional of the Year award presented by Wisconsin Parks & Recreation Association. Oliveri organized the extremely popular Dirty Ninja Mud Run for Kids.

Gwenn Soldner, superintendent of the city of West Bend Building Inspection, is leaving at the end of the year for a job in the public sector. Soldner has been with the city 10 years. He took over as superintendent in Building Inspection in 2012. The city has posted an opening for his position.

Sewer Utility Superintendent Scott Tutas is leaving and this time it’s for real. In 2013 Tutas turned in his resignation but was later convinced to stay.  Tutas has been with the city since February 1979 where he started in the Sanitation Department, moved to vehicle maintenance, and eventually took over as Sewer Utility Superintendent in Dec. 2010 after Jim Hron retired.

Some of Tutas’s notable accomplishments include the city’s mercury-reduction program, the infiltration-and-inflow system and the installation of four 65 kilowatt microturbines at the West Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant. “The microturbines run off methane gas and produce electricity,” said Tutas. “Part of the electricity is used to operate the plant and additional electricity generated is sold to WE Energies.”

Earlier this week the city of West Bend revamped the organizational structure of the Department of Public Works. Ruth Mueller is the new utility director and Doug Neumann is the new Department of Public Works Director.

The new organizational structure eliminates the need to fill the Public Works Director position that has been open since Aug. 31 when Larry Retayczak left for a similar position in the city of Germantown. “The new structure will save us $90,000 a year,” said Dist. 7 alderman Adam Williquette. After six months the organizational structure will be reviewed by administration.

New assistant city engineer in West Bend

Emily Roen is the new assistant city engineer in West Bend. Roen replaces Fred Schaejbe who retired in September after 24 years with the city. Roen, 27, has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

“She has a lot of municipal experience,” city engineer Max Marechal said. “She was the village engineer in Roscoe, Illinois and she was exposed to running a department and doing contract administration and she touched a lot of fields including pavement maintenance, storm water management, construction of utilities and roads.” Roen was one of two people who applied for the position. “I was just looking to relocate to a bigger city and take on more responsibility,” she said. Roen’s first responsibility will be updating the city’s five-year plan.

Election papers available

Election papers are available for pickup in West Bend and other communities across Washington County in preparation for the Spring Election.

In West Bend the odd-numbered aldermanic districts are up for election. Dist. 7 incumbent Adam Williquette already turned in his papers. Candidates have to wait until Dec. 1 to begin circulating nomination papers and collecting signatures. Aldermen need to collect between 20 – 40 signatures. Those can be filed no later than Jan. 5, 2016.

Others up for reelection in West Bend include Dist. 1 John Butschlick, Dist. 3 Ed Duquaine, and Dist. 5 Rich Kasten.  The West Bend School Board has two seats up for election in spring including President Randy Marquardt and Karen Betz.

WB COLUMNS Holiday Pops Concert

Save the date for the WB COLUMNS Holiday Pops Concert on Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Silver Lining Arts Center. The annual scholarship concert benefits graduating seniors of West Bend East and West High Schools. Last year, WB COLUMNS awarded $612,050 in scholarships for graduates to continue their education. More information www.wbcolumns.org

New signage for Albrecht Clinic

New signs going in at Albrecht Clinic: The Albrecht Free Clinic in West Bend is moving to Highway 33 to the former Verre Young Eye Clinic, 908 W. Washington Street. New signage will be added shortly. The building has been undergoing a significant interior remodel as the location will have three full medical rooms and three full dental rooms. Jim Strachota, executive director of the Albrecht Free Clinic said the location “will really be ideal” because W. Washington Street has a high-visibility factor. “It just really feels good and the size fits the community need,” he said of the 3,000-square-foot building.

Homicide update

The October Monthly Report to the Community from the West Bend Police Department ruffled a few feathers as one homicide was reported. Neighbors who pay attention to what’s going on in the community did not recall a homicide in October.

Chief of Police Ken Meuler said a 54-year-old West Bend man who lived on Deerfield Drive died Oct. 15. Police were only recently able to verify he died from an overdose of heroin. Meuler said the case remains under investigation and police have no one in custody.

Lt. Mike Hartwell retiring from WBPD

Lt. Mike Hartwell is retiring after 28 years with the West Bend Police Department. “It’s time for a change,” said Hartwell. “I had mixed emotions on retiring but it’s time for a change of pace.”

Hartwell was 24 when he started as a patrolman. Jim Skidmore was chief of police at the time. In 2004 Hartwell was promoted to detective and in May 2011 he was promoted to lieutenant.

Over the years Hartwell, 52, has been involved in a number of memorable cases including the July 1, 2005 robbery of U.S. Bank.

“Van Beek and I were going out to pick up a forgery suspect and a call came across from a citizen inside the bank that it was being robbed,” he said.  “When the guy came out of the bank he jumped on a bike and tried riding east and we were parked right there and the guy hit the curb, went head over heels, money flying all over and he dropped the gun.”

Hartwell said they eventually took him into custody.

During his years with the department Hartwell has also been an integral part of the Police Explorer program. “I’ve been an adviser for 18 years,” he said. “Over the last 14 years the West Bend P.D. has hired six Explorers to our post and over the four years Explorers from our program have been hired by McFarland Police Department, Madison Capitol Police, Town of Brookfield, UW-Oshkosh Police and Hartford Police Department.”

Hartwell will begin work for Shorewest Realty in January. His last day with WBPD will be December 18.

Updates & tidbits

– Property sale: 8.0485 acres on Corporate Center Drive. Fortune Development LLC sold to Delta Ventures LLC for $403,650. This will be the  new headquarters for Delta Defense.

–The annual West Bend Christmas Parade steps off from Regner Park at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29. The theme is ‘Christmas Dreams.’ Pease note the judges have been moved from the Husar’s building to the front of the West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce, 304 S. Main St.

-A new sign went up this week at Bits ‘n’ Pieces Floral, 319 S. Main St.

-The Kewaskum Christmas Parade is Sunday, Dec. 6 starting at 5 p.m.

–​ A generous donation by the North Washington Charter of Thrivent Financial group as it delivered 148 turkeys to food pantries in Kewaskum, West Bend, and Jackson. Folks involved include Brian Justman, the meat manager at Geidel’s Piggly Wiggly in Kewaskum, Judy Koenig, Barb Knorr and Dan Fischer.

–The Silverbrook 5th and 6th grade Robotics Club will be competing Sunday, Nov. 22 at Marquette FLL Regional 2.  Local sponsors that help promote science, technology, engineering and math include John Deere, Delta Defense, Salberg Law, Dunn Bros, Spiros and MPTC.

– An intimate celebration this week as volunteers with Interfaith Caregivers toured the organizations new home at 2374A W. Washington St. It’s in the same strip mall as the Lawrence & Vivian Stockhausen Center. Interfaith Caregivers used to be on Schoenhaar Drive, in the same building as the Red Cross. That building was sold and Interfaith moved.

-Next Saturday, Nov. 28 the West Bend High School drumline will compete in the 2015 Fresh Coast Classic at UWM’s Klotsche Center. Tickets are $8 for adults or $5 for students with ID. Bring a new toy for charitable donation and get $2 off your ticket price.

-Winter street parking rules go into effect Dec. 1 in West Bend.

 – The West Bend High School Student Council’s Blood Drive is Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the south gym at the high school. Last year 413 units of blood were donated and this year the goal is 600 units. The blood drive is open to the community.  The link for online sign-up is www.bcw.edu/WBHS.  The theme this year is ‘The holidays and giving the gift of life.’

– West Bend High School choral director Karen Wysocky is retiring at the end of the year and a huge alumni turnout is being organized for the Hallelujah Chorus at the Christmas concert Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. at the West Bend H.S. Silver Lining Arts Center.

–Moose the chocolate Labrador diabetic alert dog is being delivered today to 17-year-old William Springer of Slinger. Neighbors can meet Moose and William at the Texas Roadhouse, 800 W. Paradise Drive from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 23. The West Bend Lioness Lions Club helped raise money to pay for Moose.

–Neighbors in Washington County can support community programs by buying All-Day Breakfast during “McDonald’s Day for United Way” on Saturday, Nov. 21.  McDonald’s will donate the proceeds from all breakfast items sold between 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. at four participating locations including Hartford, Jackson and two stores in West Bend. All funds raised will be invested in community programs including education, income stability, and health.

-Shop Small Saturday is Nov. 28. It’s a nationwide attempt to drive shoppers to local businesses.

New shipment of St. John’s cookbook next week

The St. John’s Guild cookbook, “Our Favorite Recipes” returned as a conversation piece and fond memory this week following the death of one of its committee members June Spielman.

The funeral for Spielman, 98, was held Friday at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church. Spielman was an active member of St. John’s Guild for 64 years and Guild president for 20 years, choir member for 50 years, “Our Favorite Recipe’s Cookbook” chairman for 20 years.

The St. John’s cookbook was established in 1949 by a committee of nine women. Under the direction of Esther Klein and Frieda Lange, the group planned to collect the best recipes into a cookbook and sell it at a low price with proceeds going to build a new kitchen at St. John’s Lutheran Church in West Bend.

A history book on “Our Favorite Recipes” by committee member June Spielman details the “enthusiasm” behind “Esther’s amateur plan.” The ladies’ goodwill effort to share their recipes to benefit the church soon met with the reality check of printing costs, editing, deadlines and taste-testing 300 recipes.

“A majority of recipes were all tried and true,” said Carol Gerner, a member of the cookbook committee since the 1980s.  Gerner, author of the recipe for cottage cheese rolls. “It was a good project and we got our kitchen.”

Over the years the cookbook took on a life of its own as hundreds of thousands of copies have been sold worldwide. Proceeds helped purchase a pipe organ for the church, finance scholarships and support charitable institutions through the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

“Not many community cookbooks are successful, but this one is an exception,” wrote the Farm Journal Food Editor of Philadelphia and “A cookbook that refuses to die,” from the Sheboygan Press.

Lisa Achterberg-Schroeder, a sales associate at the former Fireside Books in West Bend said she received a St. John’s cookbook when she was 23 as a wedding shower gift from her mom. “That was in 1988 and she was cleaning out her cookbooks and she still had her copy of it and that was the actual paper spiral binding.

“It’s unbelievable to have such a following. It doesn’t matter what denomination you are, you know about the St. John’s cookbook,” said Achterberg-Schroeder.

The St. John’s cookbook is also on sale at Hankerson’s Bakery in West Bend and in the church office at St. John’s Lutheran. Many dedicated cooks and bakers in the community have a personal tie with their St. John’s cookbook. “I love this cookbook for its unique hand-written style,” Amy Leitheiser said, “and because my Mom used it while I grew up, so I learned to bake using the recipes. The sour cream cookies are a traditional Christmas cut-out.”

Other reliable recipes in the Leitheiser household include the Mile High Strawberry torte, pumpkin bread, banana bread and peanut butter cookies. “Granny Leitheiser was famous for using the butter horns recipe and we still make them from time to time so we can remember her,” Leitheiser said. “But otherwise, nowadays, things like butter horns are a lost art.”

Ann Marie Craig, owner of Century Farmhouse Soaps, also knows her way around the kitchen.

“The perfect recipe for any fruit kuchen comes from true Americana, the local church cookbook — ‘Our Favorite Recipes,’” Craig said. “It’s been our favorite cookbook for generations. My grandmother had the 1949 edition, my mother has the 1959 edition, and my battered copy was published in 1976; our older daughters each have a copy of a more modern edition.”

Craig touts Esther Klein’s fruit kuchen recipes on page 35 of the 1976 edition. “By the way, if you ever find a copy of this book, all of Esther Klein’s recipes are winners,” Craig said.

Peg Ziegler also gave props to Esther Klein’s German potato salad. “It’s the best,” Ziegler said.

St. John’s is expecting a shipment of the next printing of the cookbook next week.

Kennedy anniversary

November 22 is the 52nd anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy.  The 35th President of the United States was assassinated in 1963 while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas.

From a history standpoint, Kennedy campaigned in West Bend while he was seeking the democratic nomination for President of the United States. A photo provided by the Washington County Historical Society shows Kennedy walking downtown Main Street during a visit Feb. 17, 1960, when he was a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts.

Kennedy is walking north on Main Street with Thomas F. O’Meara Jr. on his right.

Former West Bend alderman Tom O’Meara III said his father was head of the Washington County Democratic Party in the 1960s and he was the one responsible for bringing Kennedy to town.  “He put out an invitation for Kennedy to come to ‘this mostly republican-bound territory,’” said O’Meara III.

Kennedy spoke at the VFW and stopped at the O’Meara’s house on 9th and Walnut St. “My mother made him lunch,” said O’Meara III. “I don’t know what they had for lunch I was in school,” he said. “But my father enjoyed Kennedy very much; he was a fellow Irishman and they spent most of their time talking about Irish heritage,” said O’Meara III.

A story printed in the West Bend News reported mayor Walter Schmidt presented the senator and his wife with gifts from the city of West Bend.

Kennedy then addressed the crowd at the VFW and spoke of the recession of 1958, noting “we must keep employment at a high level to prevent loss in tax dollars so essential for the economic welfare of the country.” The senator was scheduled to have dinner at the Mermac hotel. Enroute to the hotel on foot Kennedy stopped cars and people, shook hands and introduced himself.

The photo was taken as the Senator walked downtown and met with business owners. “I don’t think there are a lot of people in town that knew Kennedy, as a junior senator, was ever in West Bend,” said O’Meara III.

Wash. Co. Sheriff’s Deputy Mary Woerner moves on

After 23 years as a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department Mary Woerner is moving on to a job in the private sector.

“Friday was my last day with the Sheriff’s and I go to work Monday at The Manor as a clinical coach,” she said. “It’s a new luxurious drug rehab center by Big Cedar Lake. I’m still involved in drug prevention but I’ll be dealing directly with addicts and trying to get them back on their feet.”

Woerner, 44, graduated Slinger High School in 1989. She started with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department in 1993 as a special deputy when Robert Schulteis was sheriff. In March 1997 Woerner was hired full time and three years later she took over the DARE program.

She said the changes through the years have been incredible.

“We’ve gone from hand-written tickets to having laptops in the squad and we have tasers,” Woerner said. Neighbors recognize Woerner as the familiar face at the law-enforcement booth at the Washington County Fair. She was also involved in public presentations on drug/alcohol abuse, internet safety, Every 15 Minutes Program, and coordinating Shop with a Cop.

“When Brian Rahn was Sheriff he approached me about doing a Shop with a Cop program; it was something he had seen in Fond du Lac,” she said. “I think he came with the request in October and by that December we had one together.”

Shop with a Cop has grown tremendously through the years. Woerner said it helps build a bridge between the community and local law enforcement. “The Moose Lodge let us use their hall, Johnson Bus provided transportation and every time I asked the community was there to support it,” she said.

Over the years Woerner was able to raise $8,000 each year to take children shopping.

Woerner said the decision to leave law enforcement was difficult. “I’ve never looked for a job outside of law enforcement but something told me to zip a resume off to The Manor. I’ve been intrigued ever since I heard about it and it seemed like it would be a good fit and I heard from them instantly and I this is just my next calling.”

Woerner starts her new gig Monday. “I’ll get my laundry done this weekend and just knowing I won’t have to put on my brown polyester pants on Monday morning – I’ll be doing a little dance,” she said.

Aside from working with Sheriff’s Schulteis and Rahn, she also was deputy during the era of Sheriff’s Jack Theusch and current Sheriff Dale Schmidt.

“Deputy Woerner has been a great asset to the Sheriff’s Office during her 23 years of service,” Schmidt said.  “Deputy Woerner was instrumental in keeping the Sheriff’s Department connected to the Washington County community which is very important to maintain trust between the citizens and the department.  Deputy Woerner’s dedication and positive influence in will be greatly missed.”

Woerner will still be involved with Shop with a Cop which will be held Dec. 9 at the Washington County Fair Park.

Chamber awards

The West Bend Chamber of Commerce handed out its annual awards this week. Winners included: Small Business of the Year – (tie) Koehn & Koehn Jewelers and Horicon Bank, Medium Business of the Year – ComForCare Home Care in Jackson, Large Business of the Year – Cedar Community, Community Agency of the Year – Friends of Abused Family, Chamber Volunteer of the Year – Amy Schmoldt from the Kettle Moraine YMCA, New Member of the Year – Keith Novotny from Cousin’s Subs on Paradise Dr., and Directors award to Bob Fremder.

WCHS Annual Meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 17

The Washington County Historical Society hosts its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. On display will be the traveling photo exhibit from the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Working Warriors. Life beyond Combat explores non-combat roles of military service personnel, including work as military police, dentists, mechanics and photographers. After the viewing, John Spartz will speak about the Neptune, West Bend’s first fire engine.  The business meeting and election of Board of Directors and Washington County Historical Society Foundation members will follow. Board Nominees for 2016 are: Frank Carr, Mike Christian, Robert Engel, Patricia Geidel, Matt Lison and Susan Selle. The Foundation nominee is Marcia Theusch.

Book on Timmer’s Resort released

George Prescott’s office on W. Washington Street was teeming with excitement this week during the delivery of Barbara Johnson’s new book ‘Timmer’s Resort at Big Cedar Lake…A Journey Through Time.’ “Just like when you see a baby I saw it (the book) and it was beautiful,” Johnson said.

A little flustered by a delay in delivery, Johnson beamed as the hardcover book made its way around the room. “We got so many nice quotes and anecdotes from people,” she said. “There was so much love that went into writing this, not only from the Timmer family or George and Judi to all the photos that were submitted it just all stemmed from a love of this place.”

The 125-page book is rich with history, nostalgic black-and-white photos and stories that hearken to the day of kerosene lamps, chambermaids, and carefree summer afternoons spent on Big Cedar Lake.

The most exciting discovery, according to Johnson, was the actual sale/purchase of the property.

“The land that Timmer’s Resort originally bought was the first parcel of land ever sold in the Town of West Bend,” she said. “The land speculator realized the potential of that area but the fact that was the first piece of land and then it stuck in that family for 150 years is amazing.”

This is Johnson’s second book. Her first, Big Cedar Lake- A Guide to Her Past and Present, was published in 2007. “This book, with Timmer’s Bay and the outlet area, was like a coming home with the spiritual curiosity I always had about the place,” she said.

It took Johnson a year to complete the book. During her research she made contact with about 150 people. Her daughter, Katherine Paulin, helped with layout and design and the printing was completed by Briggs & Stratton Graphic Services.

Johnson ordered 1,500 in her first printing. “I really think I should have ordered more,” she said. “Just because there’s so much family connection with Big Cedar Lake and Timmers and when people get the book for themselves they want it for their children and grandchildren as well.”

‘Timmer’s Resort at Big Cedar Lake…A Journey Through Time’ can be purchased at GPMS, 2412 W. Washington St., West Bend (cash or check). Also at Timmer’s Resort or email Barbara Johnson at bigcedarlake@charter.net The book sells for $28.40 + tax for an even $30.

Doug Gonring inducted into Old Time Ballplayers’ Hall of Fame

Kewaskum’s Doug Gonring was inducted last Sunday into the Old Time Ballplayers’ Association Hall of Fame. “On behalf of the Old Time Ballplayers’ Association and the Hall of Fame committee, congratulations on being chosen to join the OTBA Hall of Fame for your long and successful baseball career,” wrote Greg Ebbert, executive director of OTBA. Gonring was honored at the Hall of Fame dinner at Serb Hall. Next year his name will be added to the OTBA HOF plaque permanently displayed down the right field concourse at Miller Park.

Teacher tribute to Rick Riehl by WBHS English teacher Eric Beltmann

I’ve thought a lot about Rick Riehl since 2003, because that’s when he retired from teaching and I moved my desk into S95, his old classroom at West Bend East High School. At that time I had been a member of the East English department for only three years, and looked at Rick as a mentor, a friend, and a legend. After all, I also attended WBHS—’92 grad here—and back then everyone knew Mr. Riehl was one of the greats. Everyone still knows it.

Right now I’m surrounded by Mr. Riehl. I’m writing this in S95, where my desk still sits, and in front of me is the chalkboard where he would list the characters from “Romeo and Juliet,” right before adding the Riehl flair to each performance. Under my feet is the orange carpeting that Rick and I used to joke about—although the ‘70s wood paneling to my right provided better laughs. To my left is a three-piece cabinet (the envy of the department), and inside are several books that Mr. Riehl once waved about the classroom. Behind me is an old, ugly cushioned chair, with the word “Riehl” permanently scratched into it, just to make sure it didn’t disappear over summer.

I’ve been in this room for 13 years, and I still think of it as “Riehl’s room.” I hope to someday match Rick’s legacy, but let me tell you—as long as I’m here, that ugly chair stays.

Eric Beltmann  English Teacher, East High

Rick Riehl is currently at the Kathy Hospice. He was diagnosed in October with Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease.

Updates & tidbits    

– This week Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki presented Holy Angels Deacon Mark Jansen and his wife Jane with the Vatican II award for service to families.‪

– Four non-profit organizations from Washington County will receive funding as part of Potawatomi Hotel & Casino’s 2015 charity program known as “Heart of Canal Street.” Recipients include the Family Center of Washington County, The Threshold Inc., Casa Guadalupe Education Center Inc., and Riveredge Nature Center.

-All in Books, 136 N. Main St. in West Bend is celebrating its 2^nd anniversary next week with bargains, sales, and cake. The store opens Monday at 10 a.m.

– Officers from North Washington County Thrivent Financial Chapter delivered 60 turkeys to the Full Shelf Food Pantry in West Bend, 50 to the Jackson Food Pantry and 38 to the food pantry in Kewaskum. The turkeys were purchased at cost from Geidel’s Piggly Wiggly.

– The West Bend High School Key Club will meet with over 30 veterans today, Saturday, Nov. 14, at The Lighthouse in West Bend. Students will deliver letters of appreciation.

-The Wings over Wisconsin bird seed sale and brat fry is today from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Geidel’s Piggly Wiggly in Kewaskum. Two 25-pound bags for $15.

–En Fuego Fitness is hosting a Shred for Socks charity event Thanksgiving morning, 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Socks will be collected for a local ministry; Mr. Bobs Under the Bridge serves the homeless in Milwaukee.

– The Kettle Moraine Symphony concert “Home for the Holidays” is Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1044 S. Silverbrook Drive, West Bend. Music Director Paul Thorgaard will conduct the 60-member orchestra in a performance of seasonal favorites, including “Sleigh Ride” and music from “Frozen.” Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $5 for students available at Horicon Bank, West Bend; White House of Music, West Bend and Germantown; West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce; and Hartford Music Center.

-Eugene Presta, 79, passed away Friday, Nov. 6. Presta shared his love of food and his Italian heritage through his restaurant Presto Italiano, 3100 W. Washington St. in West Bend.

– Clipping Campbell’s soup labels and submitting Box Tops for Education has paid off as St. John’s Lutheran School in West Bend won $10,000. St. John’s said the money will be used in educational ministries. A special thank you to Sonia Taylor who volunteers countless hours to count and submit those for the contests.  Story courtesy Heather Dunn

Former WB City Hall featured in 2015 Husar’s holiday ornament

Husar’s House of Fine Diamonds is unveiling its hand-painted ornament for the holiday season. This year’s design features the former City Hall building on Sixth Avenue and Hickory Street. Built in 1902 the building on the northwest corner also housed the public library and the fire department. After a fire, hoses were hung to dry in the tower at the rear of the building.

Back in the day Carl Kuester lived to the north of the fire department. He was a teamster and his horses were used to pull the fire engine. Kuester’s horses were so well trained that when the fire alarm sounded he would open their stalls and they would walk directly to the fire wagon and wait to be hitched up.

Today, the building is home to Time Investment Company LLC, a direct sales finance company run by the Hafeman family. Some of the Husar ornaments from the past featured the warming house at Regner Park, the old West Bend Aluminum Co., the Old Courthouse Museum and jail, the front of the Husar building with the West Bend Theatre marquee next door, and the Amity building.

“These are West Bend ornaments,” said Mike Husar. “We have a lot of families come in picking up ornaments for children who have moved out of the community.” The ornaments sell for $15.95.

Strong history to shop local in West Bend

Coming up in a couple of weeks it is Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28), a nationwide attempt to drive shoppers to local businesses.

Neighbors in West Bend are reflecting on the effort, saying they always used to shop local.

It was an era before Mayfair Mall and the Bay Shore Town Center. It was even before the Westfair Mall and the West Bend Outlet Mall which included stores like The Cookie Jar, Knit Pikker Factory Outlet, Uncle Wonderful’s Ice Cream Parlor, and Rainbow Fashions.

“We shopped downtown because there wasn’t anything on Paradise,” said Jerry Wolf during an interview in 2013. “The city ended by Badger, which was the high school at the time.”

Wolf was about 10 years old in 1945; he recalled there were three grocery stores downtown including a Red Owl, 138 N. Main St. – the current location of Ooh La La.

“Jeklin’s Shoes was on the corner of Main and Cedar Streets and just south of that was a hardware store called Gambles and I bought my first bicycle there, I think it was a Hiawatha,” said Wolf.

Cherrie Ziegler Catlin remembered the F.W. Woolworths downtown. “It was a haven for all sorts of trinkets that kept kids busy spending their allowance each week,” she said.

Bonnie Brown Rock remembered Carbon’s IGA grocery on Main Street as well as Naab’s Food & Locker Service. “My parents bought sides of beef which were kept in a freezer at Naab’s store,” said Brown. The business was at 432 S. Main St.; the current location of Lori’s Costume Shop. “Dad also went there to get ice cream cake roll on Sundays as our refrigerator didn’t have a freezer,” she said.

Former Washington County Board Chairman Ken Miller remembered Saturday nights were for shopping in West Bend. “That was in the late 1930s and early 1940s,” said Miller. “J.C. Penny’s was one of the stops for dry goods and the unique thing about the early Penny’s was the cashier was upstairs in a loft. The clerk would put money in a kind of cup, attach it to a ‘trolley’ affair and pull the handle sending the trolley, cup and money to the cashier who in turn would put the change in the apparatus and send it back.”

Parking, recalled Miller, was a problem. Main Street was originally Highway 45 and shoppers parked parallel to the curb, not at an angle as it is today. “Tight quarters meant shoppers would double park, that meant side by side,” said Miller. “This caused some problems but was later accepted. I believe there was a time limit as to how long one could double park.”

Other unique downtown shopping standards, according to Miller, were grocery stores did not have aisles and display racks, because the grocer got the items from behind the counter. Almost all transactions were in cash as credit cards were none existent and checks were few.

“On rare occasions after shopping we would pick up my grandpa and go to Sam Moser’s tavern (currently Muggles) for chili, maybe a hamburger and a small glass of beer,” said Miller. “Yes, beer was OK for kids as soda was not good for you.”

During high school, Miller said Dewey’s Drug Store was the popular hangout. “It was known for its cherry Coke and the Colonial Restaurant for hamburgers,” he said. Brown Rock also remembered Dewey’s. “They had booths and Mr. Dewey didn’t like the kids to get too loud,” she said. “I don’t remember spending much time there however I had many after school hot-fudge sundaes at the Parkette.”

Todd Tennies, of Tennies Ace Hardware, said the impact the memories people have of shopping 50 years ago in downtown West Bend is still a big part of the community today. “Locally-owned businesses employ people that live in our community and the staff is well trained in product knowledge and customer service,” said Tennies. “Shop Small Saturday is a golden opportunity to be recognized and supported.”  Small Business Saturday is Nov. 28.  History photo: Remember the ‘Talking tree’ in downtown West Bend?  Photo courtesy Todd Tennies.

West Bend veteran on Saturday’s Honor Flight

There are seven veterans from Washington County on Saturday’s Stars & Stripes Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

Gordon Sailer, 82, of West Bend is going. Sailer was 17 years old and a graduate of Medford High School when he enlisted in the Air Force. “It was Washington’s birthday, Feb. 22, 1951,” he said. “I chose the Air Force because I didn’t want to be a ground pounder.”

Sailer is an easy-going guy with a quick wit and an old-school saying for any occasion.

Following four month of basic training in Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas Sailer was transferred to Goodfellow Air Force in west Texas where he ran the aqua system. “They used that water to pump the gasoline into the planes,” said Sailer. “We had 380 T-6 single-engine trainer planes; they flew those around the clock.”

After a couple of years Sailer was transferred to Gary Air Force Base in Sam Marcos, just north of Houston, Texas. A warehouse supervisor at the time, Sailer finished his military career as a staff sergeant working in the base laundry.

Discharged on Feb. 21, 1955, Sailer came back to Wisconsin and worked at a variety of companies including Caterpillar, Sterns Electric, Perlick Brass Manufacturing in Milwaukee and eventually Weasler Engineering in West Bend. “I was there for five years,” said Sailer.

Although he was never stationed outside the country Sailer said he is looking forward to seeing all the memorials while in Washington D.C. “I’m looking to see anything they got,” he said.

Sailer’s son, Colonel Daniel Sailer from Volk Field at Camp Douglas, will be his guardian.

Other veterans on today’s flight include Robert Koeckenberg of Slinger who served as an Army engineer in the Korean War. John Pretre of West Bend who served as a B-47 mechanic in the Air Force during the Korean War. Edward Schreoter of Richfield who was an Army corporal in Korea and Donald Whisler of West Bend who was in the Army infantry during the Korean War and Leslie Howard of West Bend who served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater during WWII.

Bodybuilding title holder Drew Ziegler

There’s a body building champion in our midst. Drew Ziegler, 16, is a junior at Living Word Lutheran High School in Jackson. He recently took the title at the Wisconsin Natural Teen Bodybuilding contest in Madison. Ziegler also won the men’s middleweight class.

“I started working out when I was 9 years old,” said Ziegler. “This is the second contest I entered, the first was in April.”

During his first contest Ziegler placed third in the teen class and fifth in the men’s class. That show was in April. Over the last six months Ziegler has been training with his brother and local bodybuilding pro Tony Chemer, owner of Paradise Springs Fitness.

“I’m normally 190 pounds,” said the 5-foot-10 Ziegler. “But I competed at 175 pounds.”

Judges liked Ziegler’s legs and conditioning. “I need to work on my back and my shoulders,” he said. “But some body parts come easier because you have a genetic predisposition; once I learn how to target those muscles better then I’ll be able to get them to grow.”

Preparing for the contest, Ziegler trained throughout the day. His mornings were filled with about 30 minutes of cardio followed by posing. “After school I’d go to the gym at the Kettle Moraine YMCA. I’d be there for a couple hours and then I go home and do more cardio and posing,” he said.

Discussing the importance and technique of posing Ziegler said, “It’s an interesting way to be able to display a lot of hours of conscious thoughts of developing a good physique. You have to tense every muscle in your body. It’s not too exhausting, you prepare for it.”

While training for a contest Ziegler said his diet changes as he gradually eats less and fills up on water.

“I eat pretty clean; chicken, rice, potatoes and steak and almonds. I definitely don’t drink soda,” he said. Energy drinks aren’t part of the plan either. Ziegler said he drinks at least a gallon and a half or two gallons of water a day.

Balancing athletics with academics Ziegler carries a 3.3 Grade Point Average and finds he can get a lot of homework done while at school including college prep classes.

“If anybody wants to get into bodybuilding I’d tell them to have a plan, have a vision and a reason to do it. I love bodybuilding. It gives me purpose to wake up every morning and I want to take this as far as possible,” he said.  Photo courtesy Drew Ziegler.

WB Parks employee recognized by WPRA

Lauren Oliveri, recreation supervisor with the West Bend Parks, Recreation and Forestry department, is the recipient of the Young Professional of the Year award. It was presented this week by Wisconsin Parks & Recreation Association. Oliveri was recognized for her “unique programming ventures, strong work ethic, positive attitude and commitment to the Recreation Section.” Oliveri organized the extremely popular Dirty Ninja Mud Run for Kids.

New CEO at Cedar Community

Cedar Community has a new CEO. Following a 10-month search Cedar Community is announcing its hired Lynn Olson to replace CEO Steve Jaberg who will be retiring Jan. 22, 2016.

Olson is president / CEO of Hannibal Regional Hospital in Hannibal, Missouri. He will start at Cedar Community on January 4, 2016, ensuring a smooth transition for residents, staff, families and volunteers.

Joan Adler is president of the Cedar Community Board of Directors which spearheaded the search. “After a thorough and intensive nationwide search, we are very excited to be welcoming an executive with Lynn’s leadership capabilities, professional experience and passion for our mission,” Adler said.

Olson has more than 28 years’ combined leadership experience in acute care and elder care settings. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Winona State University and a master’s of science in health care administration from the University of St. Francis, Joliet, Ill.

Olson joined Hannibal Hospital, a 99-bed acute care provider in rural Missouri with a 100-member medical staff and 850 employees, in 2011, overseeing initiatives to revitalize its home-based services, implement computerized medical records and develop strategic alliances with rehab services and physician’s groups to improve financial performance and quality of care.

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve Cedar Community, and look forward to the privilege of working with a dedicated team of employees, volunteers and board members,” said Olson. “My wife Rene and I thoroughly enjoyed our time in West Bend during the interview process, and we look forward to becoming an active part of the community.”

Jaberg joined the West Bend-based organization in 1984 as administrator under founding CEO Rev. Louis Riesch, and was named CEO in 1991 following Riesch’s retirement. Cedar Community is a not-for-profit, United Church of Christ-affiliated leader whose mission is to model Christ’s love for humanity by creating life-enhancing relationships, services and environments.

Children’s Hospital Pediatrics opening in West Bend

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Pediatrics – West Bend is opening Nov. 16 2015. The facility, 500 Shepherds Drive, will feature two board-certified pediatricians Carol Estill, MD and David Meuler, MD. The new signs for the facility went up this week. The clinic is located just to the north of Highway 33 – across the street from the Charcoal Grill.

Amy Reuteman new WB assistant city administrator

Amy Reuteman is making a big jump as the West Bend city clerk is now the new assistant city administrator. Following a brief closed session Monday night the common council approved Reuteman for the position.

“I’m very flattered,” said Reuteman. “I live in the community, I am a taxpayer myself and I am eager to improve the operation at City Hall.”

Prior to West Bend, Reuteman graduated UW-Stevens Point with a bachelor-of-science degree in business administration. She worked as a deputy county clerk in Michigan which included human resource responsibility. Reuteman started as the deputy clerk in West Bend in 2001 and was appointed city clerk in 2008 following the retirement of Barb Barringer.

“I appreciate her experience and she commands a high level of respect,” city administrator T.J. Justice said. “Amy has a background in human resources and a financial background.”

Justice said Reuteman is familiar with the TIF Districts and she has hands-on experience calculating the tax rate.

Questioned why they didn’t post the position, Justice said they were not required to. “Normally we do post key positions but this made sense to hire Amy; it will make the transition smoother,” he said.

The job of assistance city administrator opened after Steve Volkert, 48, was hired as the new city administrator in Hartford. “Typically filling this spot would be about a two-month process,” Justice said. “The mayor and finance commissioner and I thought it would make sense to get Amy and obviously the council agreed.”

When questioned whether a better candidate could have been selected had the position been posted, Justice said Reuteman had the experience and he was confident in her ability.

District 8 alderman Roger Kist liked Reuteman’s education. “A public search wasn’t necessary,” Kist said. “The most impressive thing is, she has a good education.”

District 7 alderman Adam Williquette said the city has been setting itself up with succession plans. “Even though we weren’t expecting it this ended up being a great internal succession that is going to work better than anything that we could have come up with going out to look, especially with the weak amount of applicants we came up with the last time we went through that process,” Williquette said.

Reuteman, 52, does garner a great deal of respect at City Hall. She has a good relationship with staff, an affable sense of humor and a sound level of trust and professionalism. Reuteman has also lived through the change in staffing and the morale that came with it.

“It’s been hard,” she said. “There have been a lot of changes at City Hall and some of those people were my friends but I feel strongly that it’s been a good experience and going forward there’s more we can do.”

Reuteman said she will take the next two months to work with Volkert and bring herself up to speed on Obama care and the changes in health care. Volker’s last day will be Dec. 31.

Reuteman is already involved in the budget process and she said she will be able to keep an eye on her old job as well. “The assistant city administrator oversees elections so I’ll still be able help when needed,” she said.

The position for a new city clerk will be posted. Megan Gundrum is currently the deputy city clerk.

Reuteman will officially take over as assistant city administrator Jan. 1, 2016. Her salary will jump from $65,000 to $82,000. Reuteman and her husband Mike, a bank manager at BMO Harris in West Bend, have raised three children who went to Holy Angels School in West Bend.

Washington County to get new polling machines

Watch for new polling equipment to be unveiled in the February 2016 primary as Washington County gets a new toy.  Washington County Clerk Brenda Jaszewski said new machines will replace 35 dated units that were purchased in 1994 and 1995. “I mean, can you imagine – who has a 20-year-old computer,” Jaszewski said.

The new polling machines are manufactured by Dominion and they’re called Image Cast Evolution or ICE machines. “This is one machine that meets both the ADA requirement and you can vote a regular ballot,” said Jaszewski. “Prior to this the county needed two separate machines – one to be ADA compliant and the other normal.”

The machines are being replaced countywide because, according to Jaszewski, they were malfunctioning. “I want to be perfectly clear, they were either working or they were not working,” she said. “When they were working they were absolutely accurate but we just had a lot of breakdowns and it is just time.” The new machines will read the ballot after a voter fills in the oval. “They will also create an image of every ballot,” said Jaszewski. “On the image it actually prints out how the machine read every single race.”

Nobody else in the state of Wisconsin has these specific machines however Jaszewski said others are in the process of acquiring them. “There are other counties purchasing these and I’m working with Ozaukee because they’re getting the same equipment,” she said.  Fond du Lac County, Door County, and Winnebago County are also getting ICE.

Washington County is paying 80 percent of the cost of the new machines and the municipality is paying 20 percent. The old machines will be recycled for a fee by the vendor who is conducting the training on the new machines on Dec. 2 at West Bend’s City Hall.

Jaszewski said it will be up to the individual municipality on how it gets rid of its machine. Final negotiations on the price of the new machines is still being determined.

Updates & tidbits

-A couple of new red bike racks with a West Bend logo were installed this week on Main Street downtown near Vest Park, between Sal’s Pizzeria and the former Ziegler building.

– New signs are in place at Mother’s Day Restaurant, 501 N. Wildwood Road, in the former location of Dairy Queen. The restaurant is hiring full and part-time positions for waitress, cook, and table busser. Apply in person from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. The family-style restaurant is expected to open shortly.

– Germantown’s American Legion Post 1 is hosting a Veterans Day celebration on Sunday, Nov 8, starting at 11 a.m. to honor the men and women who served our country. A complimentary lunch with refreshments will be served following the ceremony.

– The new fishing pier is in the water at Kiwanis Family fishing pond at Regner Park. The 50-foot fishing pier is ‘T’ shaped, handicap accessible and located on the southwest corner by the parking lot. The Parks Department is also planning to stock more fish including crappie, small mouth bass and minnows.  The pier was paid for by a combination of donations and city funding.

– The Kid’s Free Fishing Clinic will be held at the Kiwanis pond on April 9, 2016. The clinic was formerly held at Sandy Knoll County Park. The clinic is open to children 15 years old and younger and it’s free.

-Registration is underway for the Diamond Dash at Regner Park on Dec. 6. The dash runs through the spectacular light display at Enchantment in the Park. Pre-registration ends Nov. 22. Sign up now at husars.com/about-us/events/ to guarantee a commemorative performance beanie.

– The Kettle Moraine Symphony will perform its “Home for the Holidays” concert Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1044 S. Silverbrook Drive, West Bend. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $5 for students. Tickets available at kmsymphony.org More information at 262-334-3469.

– Bill Coffin of Germantown is this year’s winner of the Oliver tractor held at the 22nd annual tractor raffle by Wisconsin Antique Power Reunion.

-Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in Jackson will host the WELS National Choral Festival on Nov.13-15. The fest features show choirs from all of the WELS high schools nationwide. This year there will be 460 students from 21 choirs and 20 high schools. On Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. there will be a Pops Concert, where each choir will perform its own 5-minute show. The rest of the weekend choirs will be grouped into three larger choirs. On Sunday, the choirs will present a Sacred Concert at 2 p.m.

– Volunteers are needed Friday, Nov. 13 to help put up holiday decoration in the Downtown West Bend Business District. The Department of Public Works will lead the effort from 8 a.m. – noon. This year 66 more sways will be added to the light poles along with nine extra five-foot wreathes.  If you want to volunteer in decoration set up contact Ashley Mukasa at 262-335-5171.

 Lots of meaning behind KML flag-folding ceremony

There was quite a bit more to the flag-folding than met the eye during this week’s veteran’s ceremony at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School. Following patriotic songs and speeches a pair of military soldiers from the Navy presented a flag-folding ceremony that occurs at a military funeral.

The flag used was presented in 1970 to the family of SPC 5 Stanley Hansen, U.S. Army 815th Engineer Battalion. He was killed in action 45 years ago on May 21 while serving in Vietnam.

“That was my brother,” said Jody Hansen, business manager at KML. “I was one year old at the time.” Hansen said his brother was in a convoy and they were ambushed. “He was finishing his third tour and he was 23 years old,” he said.

The flag had been at Hansen’s house, above the fireplace. He brought it in to be used at the ceremony. “This wasn’t really about my brother but it is about all the veterans and for us to respect and honor them,” said Hansen.

The flag folding made an impact on quite a few people at the ceremony especially Lois Dornacker. “They did that for me when my husband died and they gave that to me at his grave site.” she said. Ray Dornacker of Kohlsville served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He died May 19, 2012.

Stanley Hansen is buried at Washington County Memorial Park, kiddie corner from the mausoleum, fourth row in from the road and tree.

Stanley Hansen’s name will be one of 14 names of soldiers from Washington County that will appear on The Moving Wall™ when it comes to Germantown next September. The display will be at Kennedy Middle School Athletic Field from Sept. 1, 2016 through Labor Day, Sept. 5.

Washington County Insider is the primary media partner for The Moving Wall™

Adding Rick Riehl to your prayer list

West Bend’s favorite coach is in need of some prayers as Rick Riehl has been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it is “a neurodegenerative disorder. This disease is rapidly progressive and always fatal. Infection with this disease leads to death usually within one year of onset of illness.”

“We’re going day to day and we find something to be thankful for,” Donna Riehl said. “We have a huge contingency praying for us and the prayers are felt, it’s pretty amazing.”

During the past two days the Riehl household has been full of friends and family as word of Rick’s illness spreads.

“There’s been a lot of folks who have expressed support and now that the word is out that he has a terminal illness there’s surprise and shock and sadness,” said son Tyler Riehl.

The family decided to make public that Rick is believed to have CJD.

Riehl is a former long-time English teacher at the West Bend High Schools and has a tremendous basketball history that’s been recognized across the state.

A former Wisconsin High School Basketball Coach of the Year, Riehl put together a 334-169 mark with five conference crowns, 10 regional titles, and two State Championships in 27 seasons as a high school coach in multiple sports.

Riehl coached the West Bend East girls basketball team to its only state title in 1984.

Full disclosure, Riehl was my former coach at Don Gosz basketball camps. During a visit on Sunday we reminisced about players like Kathy Bennett from UW-Green Bay, Jenny Sell and Penny Gerner.

Rick was sharp and the team names and nicknames came easy.

Conversation turned to his upcoming award, Nov. 7, when Concordia University will dedicate the press box at Tomasini Field in his name.  “I love the concept,” said Rick.

Word also slipped that Rick is being nominated for the Hall of Fame at the West Bend High Schools and by the Wisconsin Basketball Hall of Fame.

“This is an honor long overdue,” said Tyler. “I don’t think there are many kids that can say they grew up with a dad who affected thousands or tens of thousands of people. I consider myself very fortunate to have a living legend as a dad.”

At the Riehl household on Monday, teacher friends and former players and coaches are calling in well wishes, dropping off meals and offering hugs and prayers to Rick and Donna and the family.

“It’s a lot easier to be here than long distance and hearing updates,” said Tyler. He and his wife and daughter flew in from Colorado last week.

Donna is gracious, if not a little tired and overwhelmed. “We need to be strong for him,” she said.

New assistant city administrator to be named Monday

A new assistant city administrator will be named during Monday’s West Bend Common Council meeting. The city is looking for a replacement for Steve Volkert, who was recently named the new city administrator in Hartford.

Kwik Trip with purchase agreement in West Bend

A purchase agreement is in place as Kwik Trip is exploring its options on building a store in West Bend. “This is a good piece of property,” said Hans Zietlow, director of real estate for Kwik Trip.

The parcel is 3.5 acres on the west side of Silverbrook Drive just to the south of Commerce State Bank, 1700 S. Silverbrook Dr.

The bank owns the property. Kevin Volm, Chief Risk Officer and Corporate Secretary at Commerce State Bank, had no comment.

“The property has been for sale since 2010 and we’ve had a bit of interest,” he said.

Questioned whether Commerce would like Kwik Trip as a neighbor, Volm said he thought that would be “a good thing.”

Kwik Trip has been exploring its options in West Bend. Overall Kwik Trip has 41 locations in the eight-county southeastern Wisconsin area including Slinger and Hartford.

“This will be one of 35 stores we’ll build in 2016,” said Zietlow.

Mayor Kraig Sadownikow said he was encouraged by the news. “The idea of Kwik Trip coming to West Bend has been hanging out there longer than I’ve been mayor and I’m glad they have the confidence in West Bend and welcome to the community.”

Sadownikow said he hoped to get them through the approval process as soon as possible. The next big step is to receive approval from the plan commission and the city council.

Several area gas station owners were less than surprised by the news about Kwik Trip, although of the local owners thought the location didn’t make a lot of sense.

“It’s one lot off Paradise Drive but that doesn’t really hurt,” said Zietlow, recognizing the corner would have been the ideal choice.

The price on the property deal wasn’t disclosed however Zietlow said “it was fair, not too high and not a deal; pretty comparable to what the market is.”

The next big step is to get plan commission approval and then city council. “Those are the only two steps we have to go through that are still unknowns,” Zietlow said acknowledging, “everything looks pretty good, we don’t see any hurdles and it should go right through.”

Support from the community, according to Zietlow, weighs in their favor. “We get more customer requests to be in West Bend than any other city in Wisconsin,” he said.

The plan commission meeting for November has been cancelled. The next meeting will be the first Tuesday in December.

Tochi prepping to open

The much-anticipated opening of Chef Gregg Des Rosier’s ramen restaurant, Tochi, is just around the corner. This week Des Rosier allowed a sneak peek at his new 44-seat restaurant at 705 Village Green Way in West Bend.

“The art work on the back wall is of the different ramens,” said Des Rosier listing off Shio, Tonkotsu, Shōyu, and Miso. “But it’s also the image for the American punk rock band Black Flag.”

At his former Tochi restaurant in Shorewood Des Rosier had a Godzilla theme. He’s left that image in the dust and switched it up to a strong punk-rock image for West Bend. “Our logo uses the same font as Husker Du and the punk-rock girl and guy up front are by artist Dan Dalenay,” he said.

The 48-year-old Des Rosier has a beatnik quality about him; gravelly voice, thick black-rimmed glasses, creative and artsy but comfortable.

His new space in the former Imagine Coffee House already feels like home, although Des Rosier admits he was a reluctant customer.

“I wasn’t even going to look at this space but Adam Williquette really talked me into it,” Des Rosier said about his leasing agent with Anderson Commercial. “I didn’t think the kitchen would be big enough but he just brow beat me into this spot and he is absolutely right, this is a perfect fit.”

The art extends from the walls to the ramen counter to the tables. “We went to Kettle Moraine Hardwood and found this piece of black walnut and then we started thinking if we could find a tree 30-inches across we could have our tables all come from one tree,” Des Rosier said.

The final product is from a 119-year-old tree that was felled in northern Wisconsin. “When all the tables are pushed together you can see the grains match up,” he said.

As far as the food is concerned, Des Rosier said some of the traditional Tochi menu items will remain, along with a couple modifications and some new additions. “We will allow carry outs which we didn’t do in Milwaukee,” he said.

Menu prices will be $8 – $15; drinks will include Saki, beer and wine.

“We won’t be open for lunch; at this point just dinners and next spring and summer there will be outdoor seating,” he said.

In the future Des Rosier is looking at offering cooking classes and he’s being courted to open another location in Milwaukee in the former Pabst bottling plant.

“They’re working on a redevelopment where they’re doing a 420 live-in dormitory and they’re doing four or five street-level restaurants and that’s next summer and we’re looking at doing that,” he said.

A guy from California recently visited Des Rosier and interviewed him for his ramen documentary. “He wanted to know about our Bratwurst ramen and our Wisconsin, grass-fed beef ramen,” said Des Rosier. “He liked our regional take on ramen and just the growing trend.”

As far as an opening date, Des Rosier said he’ll probably do it quietly. “If you see the shades are up and you can look in the restaurant, that’ll mean we’re open for business,” he said.

West Bend represented at Milwaukee Bucks drumline

A big night this week as the Milwaukee Bucks opened its season Wednesday and so did West Bend East junior Duwayne Davis who started performing as one of the members of the 2015-16 Bucks Beats. Davis, 16, was one of about 40 people who tried out for the Bucks drumline in the fall. Davis made the cut and played opening night for the Bucks vs. Knicks as well as Friday when the Bucks hosted the Wizards.

Do building lights add to ambiance in downtown West Bend?

On Monday the lights bordering the buildings in the downtown West Bend business district will be turned off as a determination is made whether to spend money to fix the lights.

The lights are sporadic and broken across some of the buildings. The downtown Business Improvement District wants to gauge community reaction to determine the significance of the lights to the downtown, future funding and whether more cost-effective LED lights should be considered.

Early estimates put the cost of investigating the electric conduit and lights is up to $15,000. It is anticipated that replacement of the lights could cost more than the original installation, which was about $100,000.

The lights have been in place since 2003. “There’s definitely a debate on whether they’re important to the downtown,” said Brian Culligan, BID Board member and owner of West Bend Tap + Tavern. “I’d like to know if people think these are important for the landscape or if there are other things we can do.”

The lights will be out Nov. 2 – 4. The city is administering a survey to gather input which will close Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015. Results will be presented at the next BID Board meeting.

Washington County Board approves $120,000 for new Senior Center

On a vote of 21-4 the Washington County Board this week approved $120,000 for a new Senior Center. “We are very thankful to Washington County for many years of support,” Senior Center executive director Deb Anderson said. “This vote will bring us closer to moving into a location where we will expand our services for the largest population of seniors this county has ever had.”

The Senior Center will be moving into space just south of The Threshold, in the former Pick n’ Save north location off W. Washington Street. The Senior Center space is a combined project that also includes Kettlebrook Church.

“We hope by promoting good health and community involvement, our seniors will continue to contribute their many years of experience and skills back to the community through increased volunteerism on a variety of levels,” Anderson said. “The County Board has generously started that ball rolling by approving up to $120,000 toward the construction costs of our new senior center. We are very excited to get this project started.”

Choral festival coming to Kettle Moraine Lutheran H.S.

Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in Jackson will host the WELS National Choral Festival on Nov.13-15. The fest is held every four years features show choirs from all of the WELS high schools nationwide. This year there will be 460 students from 21 choirs and 20 high schools. On Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. there will be a Pops Concert, where each choir will perform its own 5-minute show. The rest of the weekend choirs will be grouped into three larger choirs. On Sunday, the choirs will present a Sacred Concert at 2 p.m.

Updates & tidbits

-The Lions Clubs of West Bend and Newburg are asking bow and gun hunters to donate their deer hides to the Lions Camp of Wisconsin. Since 1956 the Wisconsin Lions Camp has provided a quality camping experience for Wisconsin youth and adults with disabilities. Money raised from the deer hides will go directly to the Lions Camp. Play ‘n For Pennies, 1240 N. Main St., in West Bend has graciously agreed to be the drop off site for the deer hides.

-The West Bend High School Marching Band held its annual scholarship concert this week. The theme was “Oldies but Goodies.” Money raised will help fund band camps and scholarships. During the concert band director Leah Duckert announced the trumpet section was named ‘section of the year.’

-The annual Taste of Washington County is Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the Washington County Fair Grounds. Tickets are $40 and money raised benefits Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington County.

-The Kettle Moraine Coin & Stamp Club is celebrating 50 years on Thursday Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at Silverbrook School Library. “We will have a program on world paper money and one member of the club has been with us almost all 50 years,” said the club’s Dave Hunsicker.

-Regner Park in West Bend is beginning to look a lot like Christmas as setup for Enchantment in the Park is well underway. Rotary groups from across the county are volunteering along with organizations from area high schools. Enchantment in the Park, powered by Westbury, is a holiday-light show that opens Nov. 27. Proceeds benefit area food pantries.

-Celebrate LiFE Dinner & Auction is Thursday, Nov. 12. All proceeds go to support LiFE OF HOPE in the reduction of suicide attempt and death. Details at www.LiFEofHOPEproject.org

Recognizing veterans

On Monday, Nov. 2 the West Bend Common Council will team with Common Sense Citizens to recognize veterans and proclaim Nov. 11, Veterans Appreciation Day.

For the past few weeks names and photos of West Bend High School graduates and teachers who have gone into the military have been collected by East high school teacher Scott Mindel. Hundreds of people with ties to the community turned in military pictures of family and friends with ties to West Bend.

Those names and pictures will be displayed during the ceremony Monday at the Silver Lining Arts Center at the West Bend High Schools. One of the pictures submitted by Barb Hafeman is of Dale Hafeman. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp after completing his junior year at West Bend High. He served three years in the occupation forces in Japan, then returned home and obtained his high school degree before enrolling in Marquette University in 1950.  Everyone is welcome to Monday’s recognition which begins at 6:30 p.m.

Roger Heberer on the Honor Flight

Saturday is the 30^th mission of the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight and Roger Heberer of Kewaskum is one of the veterans from Washington County that will be on the trip to Washington D.C.

Heberer, 82, was drafted into the Army on Aug. 17, 1953. “I had just turned 20 a few weeks before that,” he said. Working on his father’s farm at the time, Heberer traveled to Fort Riley, Kansas for basic training. “Then they shipped me to Fort Knox, Kentucky and I spent my entire time in supply at one unit,” he said.

There were about 400 – 500 men in Heberer’s outfit. “I made sure there were enough food rations for them every day; steak and lobster were their favorites,” he laughed. “I’m just kidding about the lobster but we had some nice roasts and very good meals.”

Heberer was also in the Army field forces where he tested the new equipment including tanks, jeeps, and trucks. “We tested it to see how much abuse they could stand,” he said. “Eventually we were able to disable them all.”

Heberer was married when he went into service. He said he found an apartment off post. “My wife packed up and moved down there with me,” he said. “She held a couple jobs in different restaurants and in April 1955 our oldest daughter was born in the Army hospital.”

In service for two years, Heberer came back to Kewaskum in August 1955.  “Two days after I returned home I started working at the West Bend Company,” he said. “For 11 years I was in production and ran presses and then I became a set-up man and then a foreman.”

Heberer when he was at the West Bend Company they manufactured the electrical appliances including the fry pans, Dutch ovens, and slow cookers. “I worked 23 years 10 months and then I started my own business in partnership with my two brothers, Norman and Bill.”

With that Heberer Brothers Construction was born. “We all were doing a little bit of construction here and there and we finally got the idea – if we can do it for other people on the side why can’t we make it a full-time job,” he said. “I’ve worked on just about everybody’s house in his area. We did siding and roofing and then in the early years we even built house.”

Neighbors in Kewaskum also know Heberer as the commander of the Kewaskum American Legion Post and he’s a member of the Honor Guard.

“I have not been to D.C. before and I’m looking forward to seeing all the monuments but the Korean monument in particular,” he said. Heberer’s youngest daughter Wendy Dondlinger will be his guardian.

Eugene Herman on Saturday’s Honor Flight

There are almost a dozen veterans from Washington County on this weekend’s flight including Eugene Herman, 82, of West Bend. “It was 1953, I was 20 years old, living in Milwaukee, working in a manufacturing plant and I was drafted,” Herman said.

Fit and soft-spoken, Herman talked in quick spurts about his service. Basic training was at Fort Gordon near Augusta, Georgia and then onto Fort Monmouth in New Jersey.

“I was going to be a pole climber but that didn’t work out,” he said with a short laugh. “They trained me to be a weather observer and after 10 months of school I was a U.S. Army air controller in Arizona.”

Herman, a corporal, had his sights set on helicopter training. “My eyesight didn’t warrant it, so I guess maybe that was a good decision,” he said.

Although never shipped overseas, Herman said he took advantage of his time in the service to travel. “When I was at Fort Monmouth, I jumped on the train and went to New York City a lot,” he said.

After being discharged Herman and a friend took a trip up the west coast into Canada. Gone about a month, Herman returned to the Milwaukee area where he worked at his father’s business as a printer and typesetter.

“It was called Herman’s Printing Service and it was located at 20^th and Hopkins,” he said. “Then I went to work for Altenhofen Typographers.”

Herman spent his entire career in the typesetting business until he retired in 1997.

Eager to participate in the Honor Flight, Herman said he has heard good things about the experience and he is looking forward to seeing all the memorials. “And my guardian called and offered to pick me up and take me to the airport,” he said.

Herman met his guardian this week. “I think she’s almost more excited to go than I am,” he said about Cindy Polinz of Cedarburg. This Saturday the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight will mark a special achievement as it takes its 4,000 veteran on tour.

Joseph Kuehl Jr. preparing for Saturday’s Honor Flight

The latest Stars and Stripes Honor Flight will take off Saturday from Mitchell International in Milwaukee and local veteran Joseph Kuehl, 87, of Colgate will be on board.

A 1947 graduate of Gillett High School, Kuehl was 18 years old when he and his buddy David Smith enlisted in the Air Force. “We took the train out of Green Bay and went down to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas,” said Kuehl. “I had 22 weeks of jet mechanic training.”

Kuehl was shipped around a bit, traveling from Texas to Chanute Air Force Base in Champaign, Illinois, to Berkley, California and then onto Guam.

“We were there about three weeks, right outside the jungle and then we flew to Okinawa, Japan,” he said.

Within a couple weeks Kuehl was introduced to his M-80 fighter jet. “I didn’t fly the planes, I just maintained them,” he said.

For 15 months Kuehl worked on planes. He recalled an air show in Japan where the hydraulic pump on his jet wasn’t working right. “Me and another guy had to crawl up the air duct to get at it because it was underneath the engine,” he said.

When the Korean War broke out, Kuehl’s service was extended and he was shipped to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan where he rebuilt plane engines.

“We’d put those engines in a big metal container about 15-feet long and every five inches we’d put a 1-inch bolt in,” he said.

The crews worked in a hanger, said Kuehl that was four-stories high with a cement ceiling. “The mechanics were testing the pressure build up and just about that time here comes a coffee wagon and just then the whole side blew off where I was sitting and those bolts sheered the cement off the ceiling,” he said. “That coffee wagon saved all of us.”

After four years Kuehl left the service in 1951. He returned to Sheboygan and worked at various companies including the Kohler Company, International Harvester, Coca Cola, Harnishfeger, and Briggs & Stratton. Kuehl retired after 31 years with Badger Meter.

Kuehl is looking forward to returning to Washington D.C. His guardian is being assigned by the Honor Flight.

St. Mary’s School to close in 2016 

More than 75 people, primarily senior parishioners and parents, attended the morning Town Hall meeting at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Parish.

The topic of discussion was difficult as members of the parish council from St. Frances Cabrini and St. Mary’s outlined a pattern of declining growth, deficit budgets and an eventual decision to close St. Mary’s School at the end of the 2015/2016 school year.

Shared parish pastor Rev. Nathan Reesman was charged with relaying the news along with pastoral and finance council members Chris Kroll, Al Pauli and Sue Nygaard.

The group took turns outlining various scenarios to moving forward with Catholic education in the community including creating a parochial high school, building a West Bend/Newburg cluster school, or even sharing a principal.

A demanding financial situation and declining enrollment were powerful factors that led to the decision to close St. Mary’s School in June of 2016/ 2017 and establish a tuition reciprocity arrangement with St. Frances Cabrini so the most students can stay within Catholic education.

“Prolonging the inevitable will be expensive and if we dip into our reserves too much that will place the parish in jeopardy,” Nygaard said.

“I was expecting this news,” said Mary Larsen, a parishioner for 23 years. “The writing has been on the wall unfortunately there’s a group of parents that’s very active and they work very hard and they try to keep it going and I’m sure they’re saddened.”

As folks filtered out of the parish, heads hung in disbelieve and dipping their fingers in holy water as they left there was discussion about possible school choice, rallying the troops to save the school and even some reflection on how the small school in Barton got to this point.

“I’m sure it’s a matter of priorities,” said Larsen. “I don’t think there’s a priority for Catholic education yet people will spend the money on cell phones and trips. I just don’t think the structured church or education has the importance it once did. It’s sad and there’s a cost, but you don’t see the attendance at church anymore either.”

Harriet Knoeck Martin has been a long time parishioner. She relayed the story about the priest in the 1930s asking her dad John and his brother Alex to build the grotto on the south side of the parish.  “I am extremely sad – I had a hard time keeping the tears back,” said Knoeck Martin. “Such a small amount of people pay regular church dues and you can’t support a school if you don’t have the money.”

Knoeck Martin said, although she didn’t like the news she did realize it was a difficult decision-making process. “I totally appreciate and respect the people working on these committees especially Father Nate,” she said. “I told him I really appreciate your respect for our history and we have to pray and let the spirit take us wherever we have to go.”

Former parish trustee Kevin O’Meara “It’s a long tradition at St. Mary’s and it’s kind of sad but perhaps it’ll help the whole Catholic school education in West Bend,” O’Meara said.

The news did not sit well with a group of young moms who attended the meeting. Parent Lisa Shirkey has a 9-year-old daughter in fourth grade. “This is our home, St. Frances Cabrini is a house and can all put our kids there but this is our home,” she said.

The parent group has been extremely active in the school with fundraising and many had heard talk about the school closing, some said they’ve heard the same conversation for 15 years.

The parents said they wished they knew all the options before a final decision was made.

Kris Deiss is a 1961 graduate of St. Mary’s School. “We had 15 to 20 kids in our eighth grade class,” Deiss said.

Reflecting on her days at the school on Jefferson Street, Deiss said the news was disheartening because St. Mary’s is one of the oldest schools in the state, if not the country. “To have been a part of that is very rewarding,” she said.

Reflecting on the benefits of a parochial education, Deiss said “it certainly gave me a foundation that has stayed with me my entire life.”

“When I was there we still had some nuns,” she said. “But I have  nothing but good memories despite the fact I do remember having to stay after school one day and write on the blackboard, I can’t remember how many times, that I will not chase the boys on the playground.”

“It was a difficult decision because there is a great deal of history as well as emotion wrapped up in it,” Reesman said. “People’s hearts, souls, and lives are in this school and that has been a factor all along, but at the same time, I think our process was as good as it could have been, and that helped lead us to what I would call an objective conclusion, even if hard.”

St. Mary’s School was dedicated in 1876 and celebrated its 139^th year of continuous operation in September 2015. According to archives in the Research Center at the Washington County Historical Society, this is a record unsurpassed by any private or public school in the U.S.

Updates & tidbits

–There is a dedication of Schoofs Nature Preserve, 5443 Shannon Road, Town of Erin on  Saturday, Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. –  2 p.m. It’s the official dedication as an Ozaukee Washington Land Trust preserve.

– The Downtown West Bend Association has hired Carol Baranyk as an administrative assistant. Baranyk comes to the DWBA from Alexssa Computing Solutions, a local downtown business, where she was the retail manger/lead accounting function for the past 12 years. Baranyk has been on the promotions committee of the DWBA for five years and has been an invaluable volunteer.

– Students at Badger Middle School in West Bend are gearing up for the Oct. 25 My School Color Run to raise money and have fun instilling a healthy lifestyle

City considers one-time payment to Senior Center

City officials in West Bend are considering making a one-time $50,000 payment to the Washington County Senior Center. During Monday’s Finance Committee meeting Mayor Kraig Sadownikow talked about the value of the Senior Center and its impact on the community.

“The seniors in this community donate thousands of volunteer hours and they’re also a vital economic driver in terms of housing, where they buy their vehicles and many work in the city where they shop,” he said. “West Bend is fortunate that for the 50-year life of the Senior Center their operations have been maintained without direct financial support from the city.”

The Senior Center is moving to a larger space at The Threshold. It will be a shared space with Kettlebrook Church and the Family Center. Sadownikow made clear, he did not believe it was the city’s job to fund ongoing operations but he realized the seniors in West Bend are “our fastest growing demographic.” He understood the  space challenges but recognized the plan to expand also included investing “a significant amount of financial resources into a property.”

District 8 alderman Roger Kist agreed with the financing discussion but asked that going forward the Senior Center be named the West Bend Senior Center.

Senior Center board president Mike Sterr said, “Obviously on the cuff it feels very good but we have another vote to go through and we have to name it the West Bend Senior Center.”

Sterr said he would take the update back to the board of directors. “We do not want to be reliant on the city’s funding,” he said. “With all the baby boomers coming up we’re thinking we’ll get a lot more people through the door and that means a lot more revenue so we won’t need (money from) the city or the county. We’re hoping to be in our new space by April 2016. But we know we have to be out of our current space by June 30, 2016,” Sterr said.

Anderson said, the funding will certainly make the members of the Senior Center feel they matter. “We’ve been working really hard the last four years to show the seniors are a part of not apart from West Bend,” she said. “This helps validate to our seniors they are a part of the city.”

City budgeting for police radio upgrade:

During Monday’s Finance Committee meeting Dist. 3 alderman Ed Duquaine brought up some “serious expenses” ahead for the city as the police and fire departments upgrade its portable radios. Police Chief Ken Meuler said even if the upgrade is approved in next year’s budget, the work wouldn’t be done until 2017. “The cost of the radios could be as much as $3,500 a portable and right now I have about 80 in the police department,” Meuler said. The city’s present radio system does not work inside buildings. Early indications are the cost of the upgrade will be split between 2017 and 2018. More details will be available in the next two weeks.

BID kicks in money to bring color to park

The design of Old Settlers Park is being revamped to add some color. This week the Business Improvement District approved up to $20,000 to help add some red color to the sidewalk. One of the primary complaints is the lack of color in the new park. A major renovation is underway following a $200,000 grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

Mike Husar, president of the downtown BID, has been critical of the design. “Why did we change from the historic red brick to the ugly gray cement,” commented Husar during an Oct. 6 BID meeting. Craig Hoeppner, director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, said there were cost limitations. Husar, in a one-on-one conversation, said the BID was never asked about the design nor did the city ever ask them to kick in on helping to finance the project.

Remembering Nicole Kopfmann

An overflow crowd at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church last Sunday afternoon as family and friends gathered to remember Nicole Kopfmann, who died Oct. 11 following a battle with cancer.

Poster boards of photos of Kopfmann filled the lobby of the church. There were pictures of her years at Slinger High School and at the University of Minnesota. Several tables held items from Kopfmann’s every-day life including her pallet of watercolors, a ukulele, a hat from Slinger High School Marching Band and playbills from performances like Wicked.

Former teacher and mentor Kristin Erdmann talked about sitting and talking with Kopfmann. “I’ve learned we’re called to love everyone and everything we’re given, as hard and as well as we possibly can and then to be OK with letting it go,” she said.

Pastor Darin Wiebe said Kopfmann was “inspiring.” “She did not allow the cancer to put an end to her college education. She graduated and was on the dean’s list,” he said. “Nicole checked into the Kathy Hospice and then… she checked out of the hospice. She had planned a trip next spring to be Cinderella on a cruise ship.  Her life, strength, and hope reflected her faith.”

Nicole Kopfmann was 23.

Effort to save the bridge

Local state lawmakers Senator Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) and Rep. Bob Gannon (R-Slinger) are currently involved in an effort to save the bridge that extends from the back of the downtown West Bend Theater over the Milwaukee River.

Gannon agreed to speak after being advised a freedom of information request would be filed if necessary.

“I was asked to intervene with the Department of Transportation to see if there’s any chance to delay the demolition of the bridge stub,” Gannon said. “That’s based on the possibility of the bridge being used for some other purpose.”

That “other purpose” is connected to discussions and a study that are currently underway regarding redevelopment of the West Bend Theater.

“We met with the DOT over the last 10 days on behalf of a request from the city,” said Gannon. “We talked about delaying the date the grant would expire for the bridge demolition.”

The city of West Bend currently has a bridge contract with Janke General Contractors, Inc. the Common Council approved the $567,946.05 contract on Oct. 5, 2015.

The bridge project includes construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Milwaukee River between Veterans Avenue and Service Drive, as well as removing two existing bridges in the area. City administrator T.J. Justice said once the contract is signed “the city can negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract so the scope of the project could change.”

That change is connected to the request being made by Gannon and Stroebel to delay spending DOT grant money without losing the funding.  “The new bridge contract has money in it for demolition but the city is just asking for some time,” Gannon said.

That “time” request is because the West Bend Theater study is not yet complete and there’s an effort underway to see whether the DOT can reallocate some of the money meant to demolish the bridge and have it go towards renovating the bridge instead.

A note from Justice dated Sept. 22, 2015 indicated talks were underway on whether the state DOT “can be flexible with us on the use (and timing) of a portion of the TE grant that’s been awarded to the city.”

Mike Husar is president of the downtown Business Improvement District and he owns the property on the north side of the bridge. He said “that bridge needs to stay.”

“They need to come up with a way to use it and keep it,” Husar said. “We have a theater that could potentially use the bridge.”

Mayor Kraig Sadownikow said he is pleased a local group is interested in remodeling and, in some way, saving the theater. “If they’re motivated to doing something positive in downtown and they think we need to save the bridge, I’m happy and I’m sure the council is happy to explore that,” Saddownikow said.

The scenario gets a little muddy because the theater project is still in an exploration stage however the DOT funding available to the city comes with an expiration timeline.

“The city is in an unusual spot because we have until May 2016 to complete the bridge project and the way the DOT has approved the project involves demolishing the existing bridge,” said Sadownikow. “If we don’t demo the bridge we lose the potential funding and if the plan for the theater falls apart we now have a bridge standing there with no financial means of removing it.”

Sadownikow said the ball is in the DOT’s court regarding funding. “But as long as there’s motivation coming from the community I’m willing to be part of it,” he said.

The enclosed pedestrian bridge was built in 1982. It was originally a two-span bridge that connected the enclosed walkway to the Outlet Mall. The purpose of the bridge and walkway was to provide a climate-controlled passage from Main Street to the Mall.

The Outlet Mall later became the Fields Furniture store. In 2006 the existing abandoned railroad east of the Fields Furniture store was constructed into the Eisenbahn State Trail. The Fields Furniture store has since been bought by the city of West Bend, demolished in 2007 and the property was redeveloped. The portion of the existing enclosed pedestrian bridge that spanned from the east river bank to the Fields Furniture store was also removed in 2007. Veterans Avenue originally passed between the east side of the Fields Furniture store property and the Eisenbahn State Trail.

The West Bend Theater is owned by Matt Prescott and Eric Nordeen, partners in Ascendant Holdings. The pair purchased the theater, 125 N. Main St., in May 2012. Since then the interior of the theater has been returned to the original single-screen format.  Currently all parties are waiting on a decision from the DOT.

Korean War veteran Paul Hetebuerg on Oct. 24 Honor Flight

On Wednesday afternoon former West Bend Police Captain Paul Hetebrueg paged though a scrapbook of black-and-white photos from his days in the military during the Korean War.

Hetebrueg talked about his days in the Army when he and six of his buddies volunteered for the draft in 1955. “We were 19 years old and they were drafting guys that were 27,” said Hetebrueg. “We wanted to get on with our lives and get that military stuff behind us.”

A 1952 graduate of West Bend High School, Hetebrueg was working at Formetal making vending machines, when he enlisted in the Army.

Basic training was at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then on to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. “After that people were going to Germany and others to Korea and I was fortunate enough to go to Germany,” Hetebrueg said.  Assigned to the 34^th Infantry Scout Dog Platoon, Hetebrueg was part of the Canine Corp.

“I just jumped at the chance to work with the dogs,” he said. “We each had a German Shepherd; mine was named Axel and we trained these dogs and we’d go out with patrols and do some scouting.”

Hetebrueg also put on shows for civilians. “The dog could scale a 10-foot wall and he’d sit up there on a 2 x 4 and I’d give him the command to sit and sing,” he said. “He’d get so excited and I just couldn’t shut him up.”

As Hetebrueg flipped through the pages of the scrapbook he pointed to “Axel in attack mode” and “this is Axel jumping 13 feet,” he said with pride.

Stationed in Lenggries, German Hetebrueg said his quarters were top notch as their base was where Hitler trained his ski troops. “There were only four buildings on the whole base,” he said.

In Germany for a little over a year, Hetebrueg returned to West Bend after service. “I worked for seven months for Fred Mettler Heating and Air Conditioning and then I took the exam for the police department,” said Hetebrueg.

Starting in 1957 as a patrol officer, Hetebrueg spent 32 years with the West Bend Police Department. He climbed the ranks and was one of two second-in-command captains. Hetebrueg was in charge of the department’s operations division; he was widely known and well liked in the community. Hetebrueg retired in December 1989.

Hetebrueg has been to D.C., he went as part of training during his time with the West Bend PD. Hetebrueg’s daughter Jody Bender, a teacher at Holy Angels School, will be his guardian on the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Oct. 24.

Steve Volkert new city administrator in Hartford

The mayor of Hartford announcing tonight Steve Volkert is the new city administrator. Volkert, who will take over January 1, 2016 for retiring administrator Gary Koppelberger, has signed a four-year contract for $115,000.

Volkert, 48, has been the assistant city administrator and human resources director in West Bend since February 2013; he replaced Warren Kraft. “This was a very difficult decision,” said Volkert. “I did not seek this opportunity, it sought me.”

Volkert said it was flattering to be asked into the mix. “I shook off the request a couple of times,” he said. “But in the 11th hour their representative came back to me and said we could get this done.”

After the first interview Volkert was called in for two more meetings. “I was honored and humbled to be called in,” he said. “I really enjoyed the process because I had everything to gain and nothing to lose.”

Volker has been in West Bend for more than two years and said he really loved his job.  “I love the relationship I have with West Bend and the people I work with are absolutely phenomenal and they’re very, very good at what they do,” he said.

Volkert met with department heads in Hartford and felt an overwhelming feeling of professionalism and welcoming. “They’re a really down-to-earth group,” he said.  West Bend Mayor Kraig Sadownikow said the city will now post its open position, set up an interview committee to narrow the list of candidates and have the full council interview the finalists.

Volkert’s last day will be Dec. 31, 2015. He said he is eager to move into Hartford and has two years to do so according to his contract. “They want someone to be the face of the community and really be involved and that’s one of the things I enjoyed at my other jobs in Winneconne and Omro,” he said. “I’m looking forward to building relationships and I feel that’s what the administrator’s job is all about.

Volkert was making $96,600 in his current position in West Bend. “I definitely did not make the move because of the money, this is just about the opportunity to do the things I’m very strong in,” he said.

Volkert was one of two candidates vying for the city administrator’s job in Hartford. A local product, Volkert graduated West Bend East High School in 1985.

Longtime Newburg fire fighter dies

Jeff Lochen, a life-long member of the Newburg Fire Department, Secretary of the Badger Firefighters Association and the Washington County Fire Investigators passed away Friday morning at the age of 44. “Jeff dedicated his life to helping others and will be very much missed by all,” said Ron Naab, volunteer with the Allenton Fire Department.

Police investigate city-wide vandalism

The first call came in Saturday at 9:12 a.m. A person complained their car had been vandalized with mustard and eggs thrown on the exterior. Aside from the cleanup the food and condiments can damage the paint on a vehicle.

Though out the weekend more complaints came in including from people living on Eighth Avenue, Tenth Avenue, Silverbrook Drive north of Paradise Drive, Walnut Street, Poplar Street, Villa Park and Shepherds Drive off Highway 33.

West Bend police confirmed they received 15 complaints, both for mustard-and-egg damage. Police said this is an open investigation and if people have damage they should definitely call police to file a complaint. Lt. Mike Hartwell said police have no leads at this time.

Digital kiosks at McDonald’s in Jackson

The McDonald’s in Jackson has a self-serve electronic kiosk in the house. The Golden Arches on Highway 60 is one of a select few nationwide to test the digital kiosk. A simple touchscreen provides easy-to-read instructions to place an order make a payment and then wait for staff to deliver.

The touchscreen is relatively easy to figure everything out as it’s very similar to the self checkouts at the grocery store. The clerks said the most confusing part of the process has been the option to add or remove certain items from a burger in the “Create Your Taste” selection.

An article in Business Insider said “McDonald’s is not planning to pare down its work force as it adds the new kiosks to restaurants.” The article said, “The kiosks could, however, allow operators to move some workers away from cash registers and into the kitchen to help speed up customer service. That could provide a major boost to franchisees who say they are understaffed and unable to handle busy meal traffic.”

There is no cost to use the kiosk and the turnaround time for my order was just as fast as going to the counter and ordering.

Honoring WBHS alum in the military

West Bend East High School social studies teacher Scott Mindel is trying to make sure Veterans Day is celebrated more appropriately at the high schools. “In the 20-plus years I have taught here we have not properly honored the service of our veterans from our school,” he said. “I would like to display in a prominent place in the high school the names of the faculty/staff and those that attended WBHS that have served or are currently serving in the military.”

Mindel, in cooperation with Judy Steffes and the Washington County Insider, are collecting names and photos branch of service and their years of service. “The idea is to create a portable display that would be used in other buildings in the school district and at community functions. People can submit the information to Judy Steffes at judyharley@yahoo.com or smindel@west-bend.k12.wi.us

Paying tribute to veterans

Common Sense Citizens is organizing the veterans-recognition program set for the Nov. 2 West Bend Common Council meeting. The ceremony at the West Bend High School Silver Lining Arts Center begins at 6:30 p.m. The group will lead the gathering in several songs before the Mayor proceeds with the Pledge of Allegiance. Speeches will follow.

The Council will recognize all military veterans in the community with special thanks to those that served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm and to all veterans that served in the 1990s.

Mayor Sadownikow will issue several proclamations giving thanks to those who risked their lives to serve their country and help maintain our freedoms. If you need a ride please contact Mayor Kraig Sadownikow’s office at 262-335-5123. Transportation to and from the meeting will be free for all veterans.

The Washington County Historical Society also is welcoming the public to join veterans on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the Washington County Veterans Plaza at Fifth Avenue and Poplar Street for a tribute beginning at 10:45 a.m. The ceremony includes the West Bend Veterans Color Guard and Firing Squad and the playing of Taps. After the tribute the Old Courthouse Museum will be open until 4:30 p.m. Admission will be free to all visitors.

Successful fundraiser for Dove family

It was an evening of competition, compassion and community service as the West Bend East volleyball team hosted a fundraiser for the MACC Fund and the Dove family. Sisters Lily and Bailey Dove are battling leukemia. This past Tuesday evening the Suns rolled out the red carpet for the family, selling raffle tickets for gift baskets and raising more than $3,000.

The Suns also went the extra mile to make the family feel special. Bailey was unable to make the game but Lily and her sister Maddie, their father and grandmother were in attendance. Lily and Maddie joined the team on the court prior to the start of the Suns game vs. Oconomowoc. West Bend East junior Kylie Cartwright stepped forward and read a brief story about her battle with cancer.

“Over the course of five months I received five rounds of chemotherapy and 21 days of radiation,” said Cartwright. “The MACC Fund is a dedicated program to funding childhood cancer and related blood disorder research.”  During player introductions the Suns student section, dressed in superhero costumes, held up a pink sign touting ‘Lily and Bailey you are our superheroes.’

In front of their hometown fans coach Colleen Hasse’s Suns brought their ‘A’ game and handed undefeated Oconomowoc its first loss of the season. The West Bend East volleyball team pulled off an inspiring victory handing Oconomowoc its first Wisconsin Little Ten conference loss of the season; 26-24, 25-22, 19-25, and 25-22.

The Moving Wall™

Big plans ahead for The Moving Wall coming to Germantown in 2016: Plans are starting to take shape as The Moving Wall will be coming to Germantown Sept. 1 – 5, 2016. The American Legion Post 1 is organizing the effort. Some of the events include a ‘Welcome Home’ parade for veterans, a Healing Field with hundreds of flags to pay tribute to veterans and military personnel, and a non-denominational service on Sunday with a candlelight vigil at dusk.

The Legion is also planning to transform its banquet hall into an educational hands-on experience with memorabilia, soldiers’ dog tags, and activities with drill sergeants. Plans are also in the works to bring in a Huey helicopter and hopefully have a flyover during open ceremonies.

The Moving Wall™ is a traveling half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. It will be on display next year across from the Legion Post at Kennedy Middle School. The American Legion and The Moving Wall are working in cooperation with Judy Steffes and the Washington County Insider as a partner in media for the event.

Award winners at Elevate 10th annual banquet

More than 100 people were in attendance Thursday evening at the annual Elevate awards banquet. Local leaders recognized for their efforts to help fight alcohol and other drug abuse in Washington County included Ron Naab, Gordie Boucher, Jamie Shutes, Kettlebrook Church, Toni Olson, Jessi Koski, Kristine Dreher, Jennifer Mesko, Serenity Krueger, and Halle Collins-George. “We are making a difference,” said volunteer Ron Naab. “My dream was the Life is Tough trailer and we were fortunate Kettlebrook Church donated the trailer and Michael Albiero did the artwork.”

Elevate executive director Mary Simon said the job is challenging but we’re making progress. “It’s exciting to see all our partners in the room celebrating our successes but we have a lot of work ahead.” Coming up Elevate is releasing a tool kit with information about heroin and opiate abuse. “We’re just trying to educate the community on how they’re being affected by drug use,” Simon said.  Elevate is a non-profit organization with a mission to reduce the risk for behavioral health issues and other high-risk behavior.

Farmer’s Almanac for this winter

As neighbors around West Bend debate whether to turn on their heat, let’s take a peek at the Old Farmer’s Almanac to see what’s in store for the wintry months ahead. The 2016 Farmer’s Almanac marks the publication’s 224th anniversary and features daily weather predictions and climatic trends for each season.

According to the region forecast in the upper Midwest, “winter will be much colder than normal, on average, with above-normal precipitation. Very cold weather will be from late December through early February with the snowiest periods in late November, late January, and mid-March.”

The Harris’ Farmer’s Almanac says the “best chance for snow and rain in the north and mainly rain in the south is November 1-2, 9-11, 15-17, and 26-28. Back on Oct. 10, 2009, West Benders saw their first snow of the season with a bit of a flurry   around 11 a.m. The early forecast for the Nov. 29 West Bend Christmas Parade looks to be cloudy and windy with isolated showers.

Staying true to the Almanac motto “Useful, but with pleasing degree of humor” the book includes features on “The biggest moon of our lives, 10 peculiar ‘Laws’ that explain everything, and The most Dangerous Woman in America – Typhoid Mary.” The Winter Solstice or the first day of winter is Dec. 22.

Updates & tidbits

–Former West Bend alderman Dale Hochstein, 72, died this week. Hochstein served on the common council in the 1970s.  A celebration of Hochstein’s life will be Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. at Grace Reformed Church, 163 19th St. in Fond du Lac.

-Holy Angels Students of the Month for September 2015 include sixth grader Joseph Held, seventh grader Quentin Butschlick and eighth grader Kaya Faehling.

-WBHS culinary instructor Sally Heuer will be recognized Oct. 25 as she receives the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Teacher of the Year award for her work in the hospitality industry. Heuer initiated the ProStart Program, a nationally-recognized industry-driven curriculum at the West Bend high schools.

– The My School Color Run is Oct. 25 at Badger Middle School in West Bend. The 5K is designed to raise money and have fun instilling a healthy lifestyle. The 5K Color Run is $35 and includes a race bib, color packet, and T-shirt. More information contact Koren Wawrzyn, kwawrzyn@west-bend.k12.wi or stop in the school office.

-The American National Red Cross sold its building, 819 Schoenhaar Drive, to Kellnic, LLC for $299,500. Kellnic owns the building next door. Adam Williquette from Anderson Commercial Group, LLC represented the Red Cross. Mike Sterr of Coldwell Banker Residential represented Kellnic, LLC.

– Looking for $4,550 cash? Spaulding Clinical in West Bend has a new study on tap: Supernova Part 2. Healthy men and women are needed age 18 and older with acne. The study consists of an in-house stay, lasting 15 days/14 nights at its state-of-the-art facility in West Bend. Contact 1-800-597-4507 for more information or log onto spauldingclinical.com

– This week three new police officers were sworn in to the Germantown Police Department including officers Catherine Pierce, Kevin Rollinger and Justin Pesch.

– Leaf collection begins Monday Oct. 19 in West Bend. Neighbors can scrape their leaves into the gutter… ALL the way into the gutter as crews aren’t going to get the pile if you leave it sitting between the sidewalk and the curb. Bags of leaves won’t be collected but you can dump your pumpkin in the gutter and it will be picked up.

– Mark your calendar for the Marching Band Scholarship Concert on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Silver Lining Arts Center.

-Living Word Lutheran High School hosts its 15th annual dinner auction on Saturday, Nov. 7.  The theme is “A Crystal Clear Night.”  The evening begins at 5 p.m. with a silent auction, raffle games, hors d’oeuvres, and bottomless wine glasses. Dinner is at 7 p.m. followed by the voice auction.  Tickets must be bought in advance at $60 per person.  More information at lwlhs.com/Support/School-Auction/Auction-Registration.

-Holy Angels is hosting a Swing Dance at the school Saturday, Oct. 24. Mike Mattek teaches dance at several venues in the area. Holy Angels is raising funds for its Angels on the Road partnership with the WB Taxi and Washington County Taxi.

– Saint Frances Cabrini Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts will be hosting a Hero Party on Oct. 24 in the school multipurpose room from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and the scouts are looking for some hometown heroes to join in. If you or your family member has served in the military, law enforcement, fire department, or EMS, please stop by for a FREE treat and a chance to interact with the scouts.

-An interactive evening of food and crime Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Old Courthouse Museum for The Trial of Freddy the Fish. A rash of crimes plague 1930’s Washington County and the Sheriff believes he has caught his man, Gangster Freddy “the Fish,” and his gang of thugs from Chicago.  Judge Andy Gonring presides over the trial of the century. Funds raised will support the Washington County Historical Society. Tickets are $45 and available at www.historyisfun.com.

Vintage Halloween from Barton School

Today’s 1935 photo, courtesy the Washington County Historical Society, is of students form Barton School. Three years ago, Bill Homuth wrote in because he recognized one of the students.

“That was me dressed as the scarecrow on the top left of the photo,” said Homuth. “My cousin Mickey Ostrander was standing next to me as Mickey Mouse. His real name was Lesley but after that we always called him Mickey,” said Homuth who was later dubbed Big Red.

Homuth said he was in first or second grade at Barton State Grade School in 1935. “My mother was the one who came up with the idea or the scarecrow,” he said. “We had a little party that day with candies and things like that.” Homuth remembered his teacher was Helen Nagel and her dad had a barber shop in Slinger. “In the first couple years I went to school for Halloween we all went to school in costumes,” he said.

Other kids in the photo were Eugene Meyer, the cowboy standing next to Mickey Mouse.

“I recognized Mickey Mouse first and I knew I was standing right next to him,” said Homuth. “The ghost is Marian Schacht.” Originally a three-room school house,  there were only two rooms used at the time. They put the third one in and the teacher that came in was Ruth O’Meara.

Big news from Fleet Farm has ripple effect at home

Word came today from corporate headquarters in Minnesota that the Mills family was looking to sell its chain of Fleet Farm stores.

In West Bend there had been promises since 2004 that Fleet Farm was going to build ‘the largest store in the state’ on a 30-acre parcel along Highway 33 and County Highway Z.

The Mills brothers also acquired 40 adjacent acres and plans were on track for a 274,000-square-foot store.

“Fleet Farm has been an asset to West Bend for as long as most of us can remember but their announcement may explain why they’ve been slow to expand in West Bend and elsewhere,” Mayor Kraig Sadownikow said.

“It’s a positive for their organization that they’re recognizing to grow properly they need more cash to do so and hopefully whoever purchases them will recognize the excitement in this community if they chose to expand here.”

Last summer, after 11 years of a stalled project City Administrator T.J. Justice and Mayor Kraig Sadownikow reached out to the Mills brothers. One of the owners and two corporate officials visited the site and the spark on development was relit.

Although the anticipation grew in the community, city leaders said talks with the Mills brothers again cooled off.

As far as the current Fleet Farm on 18th Avenue and Highway 33, Sadownikow and others in real estate qualify the store as a “cash cow” and “an asset to their portfolio.”

An article from the Star Tribune notes, “Chief executive Stewart Mills III, grandson of the store’s founder, told the Brainerd Dispatch that it is more than likely that his family will leave the business after the sale, though the Mills name may remain with the stores.

“We have several interested parties, but we are sorting through those interested parties to make sure they are the best fit for us organizationally and also the best fit for our employees,” he told the Dispatch. “For the long term, this is what’s right for the business. This is what is right for our employees.”

Update on green space south of MOWA

West Bend Mayor Kraig Sadownikow admittedly got on his soap box during Monday night’s Common Council meeting as he provided an update on green space and finances in the community.

Sadownikow specifically focused on the 1.2-acre parcel of green space to the south of the Museum of Wisconsin Art.

The mayor has been working to market TIF districts, No. 5 and No. 9. The difficult challenge, as he explained, was balancing the green space with the financial aspects.

“Over the last four to five weeks I’ve been involved in literally dozens of conversations, meetings and planning sessions in an effort to balance three things,” he said.

Those three things included being true to the spirit of the TIF by generating new property tax, finding a way to keep the property green and living up to the responsibility of the Joint Review Board.

“It’s unusual and financially challenging in a TIF to knowingly pull property out and say there will never be a building on here,” he said. “I’ve been approached by folks who say ‘this is a park vs. a development issue.”

Since August that property south of the Museum of Wisconsin Art has been a hot topic. Sitting vacant and unprofitable for about 10 year the city all of a sudden found two offers in the mix.

One was from the Thomas J. Rolfs Foundation, Inc. and the other from Bob Bach, Project Manager at P2 Development Company LLC in Saukville. He proposed a $5 million housing development.

That proposal rankled some folks in the community that questioned the city’s long-term vision.

During Monday’s meeting the mayor asked, “the community to be patient for the next couple of months and within this time we’ll be able to craft a plan that really respects today’s finances and lays the groundwork for a positive and fun downtown in the future.”

Quite a few aldermen threw in their thoughts, arguing mostly to the point of dollars and cents. “Downtown TIF’s are tough to succeed,” District 2 alderman Steve Hutchins said. “They’re hard to develop the increment to make it successful and right now we’re trying to figure out this balancing act.”

District 3 alderman Ed Duquaine echoed Sadownikow’s thoughts on keeping the parcel green. “It would be nice but the financial aspect is a serious one,” he said. “To keep it green the financials will play a huge role.”

District 7 alderman Adam Williquette was all about the financials. “Right now the debt in TIF No. 5 and No. 9 is $12,621,667 and the whole point of the TIF is to pay that back,” he said. “Obviously it would be nice to see it stays green but green that pays us $125,000 a year but forever.”

Washington County Board Supervisor dies

Washington County Board Supervisor Mel Ewert of Germantown has died. Ewert, who passed away Sunday, Oct. 4, had been ill and had not been at a county board meeting for about a year.

Ewert was Supervisor for District 26 which included the Village of Germantown. County Board Chairman Herb Tennies said the county will likely leave the seat empty until the April 5, 2016 spring election. Ewert was first elected April 18, 2006.

Temporary closure for local recycler

5R Processors Ltd., a recycling company located in the former Praefke Brake & Supply Corp. on Oak Street in West Bend has closed temporarily.

“We ordered them to stop operations about two weeks ago due to some code violations,” city administrator T.J. Justice said. “We’ve met with them since that time and we’re hoping they come within compliance so they can open their doors.”

Last December, 5R Processors Ltd. received a conditional use permit to being recycling large electronic appliances at 133 Oak St. The company, headquartered in Ladysmith, Wis. planned to hire up to 50 employees. Calls to 5R Processors were not returned.

Loan approved for Delta Ventures

A unanimous vote Monday evening as the West Bend Common Council awarded a $250,000 revolving loan to Delta Ventures to help with construction of its new 65,000-square-foot corporate headquarters.

There will be 133 new full-time positions created as Delta Defense merges its Jackson and West Bend facilities into a building on the east side of Corporate Center Drive in West Bend.

Delta Defense is paying off its current loan to the city of West Bend acquired when company CEO Tim Schmidt was purchasing the former West Bend Art Museum, 300 S. Sixth Avenue.

Delta Defense is preparing to invest $15 million into a new, facility.

District 2 alderman Steve Hutchins made clear, this is not free money for the company. “This is a loan with interest over 10 years,” Hutchins said. “Their risk is very low and we’re not giving money away.”

Since Delta Defense moved into West Bend the company has been an extremely generous community servant.

“Tim Schmidt and his work family have given a nice donation to our Dirty Ninja Mud Run for Kids and Enchantment in the Park,” said Lori Yahr, with West Bend Friends of Park and Recreation. “They are always happy to help out with our great community events and I don’t see that slowing down once they move to their new home.”

Mike Nowack, President of West Bend Economic Development Corp., said the impact Delta Defense has had on West Bend has been tremendous. “In addition to the growth in employees and their remodeling of the former Art Museum, Delta Defense has made a commitment to the not-for-profit organizations that support so many individuals,” Nowack said.

“Not only are they financially supportive, their leadership roles engaging their employees in the process of serving the community has been substantial.”

On a side note, Economic Development of Washington County will also be providing a $500,000 loan to Delta Ventures. Delta Defense plans to break ground and begin construction in mid-October.

Diva asks BID for $5,000

The Diva Group is asking the Downtown West Bend Business Improvement District for funding. Ann Marie Craig, president and CEO of Century Farmhouse Soaps, addressed the BID board.  “Who is actually doing advocating for bringing smaller businesses into the downtown,” asked Craig.

An example was given about a vendor in Wisconsin who was invited to open her business in Cedarburg. “The exact words were ‘we will do whatever it takes to get you into our city,’” said Craig.  In a discussion with the Diva Group, the businesses brainstormed about the need for more intensive marketing with strategies including television and multimedia.

Craig put in a request for $5,000 and then laid out a plan for the use of funds which included paid appearances on WTMJ4’s The Morning Blend, marketing special Diva events, and other advertising including the Washington County Insider. “We need to saturate the airwaves throughout the year,” Craig said.

BID board member Wayne Kainz, owner of Riverside Brewery, praised the Diva and its events noting, “We always see an uptick in our traffic.”  The BID seemed genuinely open to the idea and some research will be done before the next BID meeting to determine how the request for funding can be fulfilled.

Update on parks

The BID board got an update on construction at Old Settlers Park and on the Riverwalk. Parks director Craig Hoeppner said there were some minor changes to Old Settlers Park with the addition of two ADA entrances – one on Sixth Avenue by the south end of the park and another on Main Street.  The plaza is going to be larger and on one level.

The park on the triangle is undergoing a major facelift. The initial cost of $500,000 has been knocked down to about $300,000 with a majority of it covered by a $200,000 grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

While the project is coming along well, BID president Mike Husar had a question about the design. “Why did we change from the historic red brick to the ugly grey cement,” he said.

Hoeppner said colored concrete would cost more. Husar countered that the BID would have kicked in some coin if the city would have asked. The Riverwalk project was laid out in a colored concept plan that included a water level overlook, an amphitheatre, and new Rosetta Hardscape stone that could help offset some costs for the retaining wall.

The east side of the project would cost $1.5 million. Hoeppner guestimated the west side of the river would be about $2.5 million – primarily because of the backsides of the buildings and the plumbing and electrical. The project should be bid out around June 2016.

WBHS teachers nominated for Herb Kohl Award

West Bend High School teachers Jen Mesko and Band Director Leah Duckert have been nominated for a 2016 Herb Kohl Education Fellowship Award. The award recognizes teachers in Wisconsin who inspire their students. Herb Kohl award winners are announced in March. This year for the 25th anniversary of the educational foundation, Herb Kohl tripled the amount of each scholarship, fellowship and school grant to $3,000.

Bridge contract awarded

The West Bend Common Council approved a $567,946.05 contract during its Monday meeting to Janke General Contractors, Inc. of Athens, Wis. The bridge project includes construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Milwaukee River between Veterans Avenue and Service Drive, as well as removing two existing bridges in the area.

City administrator T.J. Justice said once the contract is signed “the city can negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract so the scope of the project could change.”

City engineer Max Marechal said the city entered into a State/Municipal Agreement (SMA) with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to secure funding from a Transportation Enhancement grant to cover a portion of the cost of this project.

Updates & tidbits

–In a move that saves Washington County $250,000 by reducing overhead costs and sharing operational expenses, Washington and Ozaukee County Health Departments are merging effective January 1, 2016. In addition to reducing costs, this joint operation will maintain or enhance service levels in the communities by combining the best attributes of both organizations and leveraging these strengths across county lines.

-Record attendance anticipated at the Tuesday, Oct. 13 volleyball game between West Bend East and Oconomowoc as a fundraiser is underway for the MACC fund, in honor of the Dove sisters. The 10-year old twins from Jackson are battling cancer. West Bend East will have a 50/50 raffle and a huge basket raffle.  The twins and their sister will be attending the game as VIP guests.

-The single-bay drive thru car wash at the Shell station on Paradise Drive is being put off until next spring. Owner Pat Osowski said they will rebid the project next year.

– On Monday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Silver Lining Arts Center there will be performances by the West Bend High School Concert Orchestra and Chamber Strings.

– AIMS Fitness, 3130 Newark Dr., is hosting an open house Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Studio owner Jen Lenzendorf. offers Zumba, TDF Boot Camp, TDF Kickboxing, and is hoping to add TDF Dance and LeBarre. There will be Massage & Stretch and Acupuncture & Mediation. There will be a presentation for Exercise & Essential Oil Support and an Essential Oils & You presentation. The final presentation will be Joint Yoga. The day’s activities will be free but a donation (monetary or items from the wish list) to the WCHS would be greatly appreciated.

Positive buzz about West Bend H.S. homecoming

Buzz in the community this week about the great turnout for homecoming activities at the West Bend High Schools. Michelle Spettel submitted this letter echoing similar thoughts.

“I love that in West Bend the schools have a friendly competition, then end the week of activities with a game against each other and a dance with both schools together. It is a unique homecoming experience that we as a community can be proud of.

My daughter Lydia had a great time this year at homecoming. She said that the school spirit was amazing; from the participation on dress up days, a pep rally that was full of high energy, the increased number of floats in the parade, to the spirit activities at the game.

It was fun and it was done together. In talking to other parents I have heard the same comments many times. Attendance was up; people were having fun, and being respectful. What a great year we are having!   Signed Michelle Spettel

On a side note – there were 44 entries in the West Bend homecoming parade. Awards went to: 1st West Soccer, 2nd East Volleyball, and 3rd Lunch Ladies. For the WBE vs. WBW football game there were about 4,000 people in attendance and the dance was attended by over 1,300 students – more than half of the student body.

Harvest history photo

This week’s photo, courtesy the Washington County Historical Society, is a 1945 Gehl Forage Harvester in operation. Area farmers are wrapping up the fall harvest of corn and beans as daylight beings to wane after 6 p.m. and frost settles in overnight.

Contract to be awarded for pedestrian bridge

On Monday the West Bend common council will vote to award the contract for the pedestrian bridge over the Milwaukee River to Janke General Contractors, Inc. of Athens, Wis. Of the three bids received the Janke bid was the lowest at $567,946.05.  The top bid from Zenith Tech, Inc. from Waukesha came in at $674,293.

The bridge project includes a pedestrian bridge over the Milwaukee River between Veterans Avenue and Service Drive, as well as removing two existing bridges in the area.

According to city engineer Max Marechal the city entered into a State/Municipal Agreement (SMA) with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to secure funding from a Transportation Enhancement grant to cover a portion of the cost of this project.

Aside from recommending the contract be awarded, there is a further recommendation that the Board of Public Works and the common council allocate a contingency fund of $29,053.95 (approximately 5.12% of the total bid), for a total allocation not to exceed $597,000.00 for the construction of this project. Previously budgeted TIF No. 9 funds will be used for this project.

City administrator T.J. Justice said once the contract is signed “the city can negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract so the scope of the project could change.” Monday night’s meeting gets underway at 6:30 p.m.

UW-WC Dean Paul Price receives his notice

UW-Washington County Dean Paul Price will be exploring his options after it was announced this week that Dr. Jackie Joseph-Silverstein will oversee UW College campuses as the new Southeastern Regional Executive Officer/Dean.

That means the Campus Executive Officers/Dean positions will be eliminated effective Dec. 31, 2015. Price, who has served as dean at UW-WC since 2011 and who held the position as interim dean since April 2010, will remain a tenured faculty member and could accept a teaching position within the UW Colleges.

“I enjoyed the job I had and as the dean I could encompass the community and the county and be able to work in collaboration as a partner with multiple agencies, the county, the city and different non-profits and I’m disappointed to leave that job,” he said.

The next couple of years, according to Price, will be difficult because of the restructuring. “We don’t have a lot of staff in the first place so now we’re going to have to be better at transferring the knowledge,” he said.

Joseph-Silverstein will take over the position of dean at UW-Sheboygan, UW-Waukesha and UW-Washington County.

Price acknowledged the new position is going to be a huge undertaking. “It’s a job no one has done yet so it’s really up to the person who has the job to blaze the trail and envision the job,” he said.

Price has fielded a number of comments from people sympathetic to his situation and he collected praise from others for a job well done.

“If I go back to teaching it won’t be until next fall,” he said. The position transfer will take place after December 31 and after that Price is expected to contribute in the transition through March 2016.

Price said he definitely will stay in Wisconsin. “I’m pretty well set in West Bend, my daughter is 12 and I’m not ready to uproot my family,” he said.

Price was a professor in the Department of Geography and Geology, prior to becoming dean in 2010.

West Bend East junior makes Milwaukee Bucks drumline

Drum roll please as the Milwaukee Bucks have selected West Bend East junior Duwayne Davis as one of the members of the 2015-16 Bucks Beats.

Davis, 16, tried out for the Bucks drumline a couple weeks ago with classmates Troy Matenaer and Carlitos Salazar. “I found out right after football practice,” Davis said about the email he received Wednesday afternoon from the Bucks Allex Plank.

About 40 people tried out for the Bucks drumline. Davis said 20 people made the cut. “My friends are really happy for me and my drum instructor at school is also really happy for me. I’m really pumped about it,” he said.

Davis presents himself as very grounded for a teen. He said he thought he had a chance to make it but said he was glad the Bucks lowered the age requirement so he could try out. “I’m bummed my friends didn’t make it,” he said.

According to his parents, Davis has been drumming since he was 2-or-3 years old. While he has yet to get his driver’s license, Davis does have his schedule for three upcoming events including a gig at Skate America and then he’ll play opening night for the Bucks vs. Knicks and then a couple days later when the Bucks host the Wizards on Oct. 30.

“I’m not really nervous, I’m just really excited,” he said.

Davis has been playing it low key. “I haven’t told a lot of people but my friends are telling everybody,” he said.

West Bend High School Band director Leah Duckert praised the students’ effort. “All three young men (Troy Matenaer, Carlitos Salazar and Duwayne Davis) have the chops, drive, and dedication to make it into this prestigious Drumline, and I remain immensely proud of all three for their work ethic and fearlessness for attempting the rigorous audition process,” she said.

“As it is, I’m so pleased for Duwayne to have this elite opportunity. He works constantly at his craft, and might be one of the youngest members of the Bucks Beats Drumline. This young man has earned my utmost respect.”

This is the confirmation letter Davis received from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Milwaukee Bucks would like to thank you for auditioning to be a member of the 2015-16 Bucks Beats presented by Cascio Interstate Music. After a thorough review of all of our candidates we have made a decision on the finalists for this year’s team. After judging your performance, we believe you would be an excellent fit for this year’s team. Congratulations! Best Regards, Allex Plank Live Programming & Entertainment Specialist Milwaukee Bucks

West Bend wins 2015 ‘Arts in the Community’ award

The city of West Bend will be recognized for its commitment to the arts during the 117^th Annual Conference of the League of Municipalities – Wisconsin Arts Board. “Every year they choose two to three arts winners and this year West Bend and Waunakee were selected,” Craig Hoeppner, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director, said.

“My name is on it and the mayor’s name but this is a community award,” said Hoeppner citing a number of the organizations responsible for the “Arts in the Community” award.

“The Museum of Wisconsin Art is a big piece of that as it helped elevate the arts,” he said. “Friends of Sculpture, Regner Park and the performing arts on the Silver Lining Stage and even the renovation of Old Settler’s Park and the concerts and events with Music on Main and the Farmers’ Market.”

“It’s taken about five years,” said Hoeppner. “Everybody got involved from the civic groups to the businesses and it helped grow tourism and events.”

The copy in the program for the League of Municipalities describes West Bend in this fashion: The City of West Bend for steadfast and long-term commitment to promote the visual and performing arts in West Bend; Kraig Sadownikow; City of West Bend Mayor and Craig Hoeppner, City of West Bend Parks, Recreation & Forestry Director. Mayor Kraig Sadownikow and Hoeppner will accept the award during the conference Oct. 29 at the Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee. The pair will also participate in a panel discussion about how West Bend grew the arts in the community.

League of American Bicyclists in town this week

A representative from the League of American Bicyclists, Steve Clark, took a tour of West Bend on Friday to take a look at its bicycling amenities.

Members of the group Bike Friendly West Bend gathered at the old train depot on the Eisenbahn State Trail. Mark Ramsey from Pedal Moraine and Clark along with five other bicycling advocates participated in a 1.5-hour ride that showed off the good, the bad and the areas that need improvement for bicycling.

During a post-ride debriefing Clark shared best practices from around the country and offered suggestions to increase bike friendliness.

Bike Friendly West Bend has been reviewing a couple of projects including a proposed bike lane on Eighteenth Avenue from Decorah Road south to Vogt Drive. A public-input meeting is being scheduled for November to gather input on the design of the road, signage and striping.

In other bike updates, two of the 10 new bicycle racks in the downtown Business Improvement District will be put at Vest Park just to the south of the big planter and a design for a 2017 capital improvement plan regarding a trail head at Rusco Road will include parking to the west side of the Eisenbahn State Trail, north of Rusco Road. There will be 10 – 12 spots, a kiosk and a bathroom.

End of an era for The Coachman House

Glenn Peterson gave himself a front-row seat as he stood and watched his former business get clawed to rubble. “A couple people honked as they drove by,” said Peterson. “I feel kinda sad but that’s progress and there’s not a lot you can do about it.”

Peterson circled the building and caught history on film. “Every time the shovel busted something else out I took a picture,” he said. Getting a view of the inside as he stood outside, Peterson said it was as he remembered.

Peterson bought the business in 1969. It was a time when his dad owned the A&W next door. The gals running Prudy’s, as it was called, were going to retire. “I thought I should buy that building and run it as a restaurant,” Peterson said.

It started as South Main Glenn’s Grill II; some referred to it as Glenn’s Other Place. In May 1973, inspired by a trip out west, Peterson remodeled and changed the name to The Coachman House Supper Club. “I wanted to get out of the hamburger business and get into the supper-club business with steaks and dinner and cocktails,” he said. Although Peterson retired in 1997 and sold the business he said that location will always be known as The Coachman House.

Lin’s Wish scrapbook 

There’s a scrapbooking event Oct. 10 to help fulfill the wish of Lin Griffin, who died in August following a battle with cancer. ‘Lin’s Wish’ is looking for friends and volunteers to help finish the scrapbooks Griffin was making for her two boys. “Just bring scissors or whatever cutting system and we’ll provide the papers, stickers and photos,” organizer Lisa Bown said. There will be 14 tables set up and about 10 scrapbooks of Griffin’s that have to be finished. “We’re looking for people to volunteer an hour or two,” Bown said. The event at Pilgrim Church, 462 Meadowbrook Drive, runs from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Set up to begin for Enchantment in the Park

Set-up for Enchantment in the Park starts Saturday, October 10. “We would like the leads to be there by 7:30 a.m. so we can have a quick overview of the day,” said coordinator and Rotarian Lori Yahr. “Please remember to bring as many tools as you think you will need along with work gloves.”

A couple of projects that will begin taking shape will be Santa’s room, the walls to the enclosure and the 1940’s train depot. “Thanks everyone for your hard work,” said Yahr. “There is absolutely no way we accomplish this large project without everyone’s help.”

Enchantment in the Park is an annual event at Regner Park organized by Rotary clubs throughout Washington County and neighboring Waukesha County. The goal is to raise money and collect non-perishable food items for distribution throughout Washington County and Menomonee Falls food pantries.

New events this year include the Dec. 6 Diamond Dash a family 5K run/walk presented by Husar’s House of Fine Diamonds.  The entrance with the elf launch is being replaced by a more old-fashioned Christmas display with soft white lights and a Victorian setting. A new music format synced through a car radio will replace the CD program. Also watch for a new marketing campaign to inspire people to participate in Enchantment in the Park as the goal of the event is to embrace the community to ensure long-term success of the program. Enchantment in the Park powered by Westbury runs November 27 – December 31. More information is at enchantmentpark.org

City officials debate tablets

During Monday night’s West Bend common council meeting there was a brief discussion about whether the city should shift to solely using electronic correspondence. The idea would arm elected officials with tablets, or computers which they would use to receive agendas and messages.

Two plans were laid out, either the city would purchase the tablets and distribute or a stipend would be given to aldermen and they would buy the devices. District 4 alderman Chris Jenkins gave a visual example of how much paper could be saved if the city shifted to electronics. “Here’s a majority of the paperwork I’ve received since first being elected,” Jenkins said as he dropped a 7-inch stack of papers on the council desktop.

District 8 alderman Roger Kist has dry macular degeneration. “I’m going blind,” said Kist. The changeover to an all-computer format concerned him.  “I’m sure that you can make things bigger,” he said, referencing the size of the copy displayed on the computer.  Kist indicated his wife would be able to help him if the city shifted to computer-only correspondence.

The idea is still being explored.  City clerk Amy Reuteman said there would be an expense of about $9,000 on supportive computer programs and the city would break even on the cost of the tablets in about five years. Reuteman also said the tablets would have a lifespan of five years and then need to be replaced.  The effort to go paperless would have to be all or nothing, according to Reuteman. City officials agreed to move forward with more research on costs, added expenses and overall convenience.

Kiwanis Family fishing pond

Watch for the West Bend Parks Department to install a fishing pier at Kiwanis Family fishing pond in the coming weeks. “We’re looking at a pier on the southwest corner by the parking lot,” Park and Forestry Superintendent Mike Jentsch said.  The 50-foot fishing pier will be ‘T’ shaped and it will be handicap accessible. Jentsch said the Parks Department was also looking at another round of stocking fish including crappie, small mouth bass and minnows. “The blue gills are big enough to keep,” he said.

This past year the Parks Department worked to dredge the pond, clearing it of cattails and layers of silt. A new sign was put up on the south side of the pond, recognizing the Kiwanis and some of the larger donors who helped with the project. The pier will be paid for by a combination of donations and city funding.

Lt. Duane Farrand honored for 25 years of service

A resolution will be read during Monday’s common council meeting honoring West Bend Police Lt. Duane Ferrand for 25 years of service. Ferrand started with the WBPD in Sept. 1990. In 1998 he was promoted to detective, then sergeant and on to lieutenant. Ferrand served eight years as part of the Special Response Team and he is currently the Public Nuisance Coordinator. Ferrand is very involved in the community and has worked with the Boys and Girls Club, Shop with a Cop, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Special Olympics and Junior Achievement.

Updates & tidbits

-Watch for Lori Gundrum to give her notice to the BID board as she has taken a new job out of town. Gundrum was previously on the BID board as she and her husband own Apple Barrel, 229 S. Main Street.

-For the past month Haitians Walnes Cangas and Bill Nathan have been touring southeastern Wisconsin sharing stories about Haiti through drumming, song and dance.  On today the pair will be performing at St. Frances Cabrini Church. There will be a spaghetti dinner, a Haitian performance and a raffle. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. in Mother Cabrini Hall.

-The 7th annual Women of Christ conference is Saturday, Nov. 7. Speakers include Rev. Luke Strand, Patrick Madrid and Jennifer Fulwiler. Mass celebrant is Archbishop Jerome Listecki and the emcee is Stacy Gauthier. New this year: A copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be given to each woman in attendance. Register online at womenofchrist.net

-A celebration over the weekend as 106 people turned out for Kewaskum High School’s 50th class reunion. The event was held at the Columbian, formerly the KC Hall. It featured 65 classmates, 39 spouses, and one teacher Mrs. Laurie (Dunlop) Kirsch, and her husband, Joel Kirsch. Classmates traveled from Texas, Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, two from Florida, and two from Arizona. The class of 1965 also had a float in Friday’s Kewaskum Indian homecoming parade.

-A family from Holy Angels Parish in West Bend is featured on the cover of this month’s Catholic Herald Family. The photo was submitted by Gary Held. The picture features Joseph, Michael, Ryan and Helen Held fishing on Catfish Lake in Eagle River.

-A diesel fuel pump is being planned for next spring at Shell West, 3100 W. Washington St. “We had two bids and we’re negotiating,” owner Pat Osowski said. “We only have six fueling stations so we’ll build an island out back and it’s a 3-in-1 so you can get any gas plus diesel.”

-Friday, Oct. 9 students at Good Shepherd in West Bend are doing a Friends walk to raise money for Friends of Abused Families in Washington County. Students are also making other items that afternoon for the shelter like blankets and bags of toiletries.

Fire Prevention Week

Sunday, Oct. 4 marks the beginning of Fire Prevention Week. Today’s photo, courtesy Terry Becker, is of the West Bend Volunteer Fire Department c. 1894. John Spartz with the West Bend Fire Department said this was the Neptune Engine Company. There was also a hook and ladder and two hose companies and the engine was a Waterous Steamer. On Monday the city of West Bend will issue a proclamation that Oct. 4 – 10 be recognized as Fire Prevention Week. Also on Monday, Oct. 5 the Boltonville Fire Department will hold an Open House from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Personal tours of the fire house will be presented along with a close-up view of the equipment and a hands-on fire extinguisher demonstration. There will also be refreshments, snacks and sign up for a door prize as two students will win a ride to school in a fire truck.

Proposed senior apartments on Veterans Avenue

Some business leaders in the community are speaking out about the proposed senior housing development on Veterans Avenue. Several weeks ago the West Bend Common Council voted unanimously to approve an Offer to Purchase 1.2 acres of property in TIF No. 5 and 9 which is currently green space located to the south of the Museum of Wisconsin Art to the roundabout on Water Street.

The offer was made by Bob Bach, Project Manager at P2 Development Company LLC in Saukville. He is proposing a $5 million housing development. That property had been sitting empty the last 10 years.

The Thomas J. Rolfs Foundation, Inc. had also submitted to the city of West Bend a Vacant Land Offer to Purchase dated and signed on August 4, 2015. The offer had an acceptance date of on or before August 20, 2015. The offer was neither accepted nor countered.

“From a BID perspective it makes sense to put the building there because of the increment and the money that we would get coming into the BID,” Mike Husar, president of the downtown Business Improvement District, said.

Husar made clear he was giving his own opinion and not the BID’s regarding the development.

“However, I don’t believe putting a three or four story apartment building next to the arts center makes any sense at all,” he said.

Husar emphasized he had been talking about using the parcel on Veterans Avenue as green space for the past year and a half. “I understand the increment but sometime we need to look into the future at what’s in the best interest of the entire community long term and not just today,” he said.

“It’s a perfect place to put Germanfest, the Farmers’ Market and all of those venues. They should close Veterans Avenue, make it a walking area, put everything over in the Gehl lot, including parking and make the green space part of the Milwaukee River restoration project.”

Prudence Pick Hway is president of the Board of Directors of the Museum of Wisconsin Art. The organization has deliberately withheld commenting on the situation, although Hway confirmed the board has its vision too concerning the space to the south of the museum.

‘The board of directors of any institution and most importantly, nonprofits, have to concerned they have a fiduciary responsibility for the sustainability of the organization and in this case MOWA,” she said. “We’ve always tried to be good corporate citizens and we believe in our roll we can enhance and improve, from every aspect including quality of life and economic development, the present and future of West Bend.”

Mayor Kraig Sadownikow acknowledged he felt the pushback on the multi-level apartment proposal. “My job last week was to get punched in the face a couple of times and hopefully, if this is going to stay green, I can organize the people to get together to have that conversation,” he said.

A possible compromise appears to be in the works and Sadownikow said progress is being made.

“I’ve invested probably 60 – 80 hours in the last three weeks with some folks to try and find a way to keep that space green,” said Sadownikow. “What it would mean is the museum stepping up to the plate and making an offer that would be of interest to the council and at the same time this developer would have to agree to look at a different site.”

Sadownikow said he understood why the museum would like to keep it green, but…. “I understand their motivation but there are some economic realities we have to face,” he said.

Those realities include a TIF district that’s been failing for over 10 years.

Sadownikow made clear the city has not sold the property. “All the council did was approve an Offer to Purchase,” he said. “The developer (Robert Bach) still has to come back with plans, he still has to come back and commit that the apartments will be market-rate apartments for those age 55 and older.”

Sadownikow said the challenging balance is, “Is there a way to gain the positive benefits of the development and at the same time keep the space green and at the same time be true to the TIF district.”  The council will move into closed session on Monday, Oct. 5 to receive an update on the situation.

Remembering Yogi Berra

Fond memories of Yogi Berra were shared this week as Doug Gonring remembered the Berra from 1986 when he was in spring training with the Houston Astros.

“I was about 23 years old and I lived in Mrs. Gloria Wright’s basement my second year in pro ball and she had a little fan club that called me ‘Little Yogi,’” said Gonring.

Relaxing in his office chair with the West Bend Elevator dogs at his side, Gonring kicked back and reminisced about bench coach Berra and Mrs. Wright. “She housed a couple minor leaguers and she thought I looked like Yogi Berra,” he said.

At spring training Yogi Berra came into the clubhouse and that’s where Gonring learned what for.  “‘Where is this Little Yogi,’” said Gonring doing a gruff Berra impersonation. “I stood up and raised my hand and he looked at me and said, ‘You’re too damn big to be a Little Yogi’ and he turned and walked out. I knew he liked me from then on.”

Gonring heard the news of Berra’s death on the radio Tuesday. “I thought about the Hummel statue my grandma got me of Yogi,” he said. “I never got his autograph or my picture taken with him. We didn’t have ‘selfies’ back then – somebody would have had to have taken your picture.”

An “icon of the game” is how Gonring describes Berra. “None of the kids know about his service in World War II; it’s a shame,” Gonring said. “Everybody loved Yogi. It wasn’t because of his coaching ability; he did things everybody dreamed about doing.”

Humble and a “man who held a presence” is how Gonring described him. “Yogi was always the darling of baseball – short and pudgy. He was a three time MVP and won 10 World Series; he was a pretty special man.”

Gonring recalled walking down to the ballpark. “I saw him and called him Mr. Berra and he stopped me in my steps and said, ‘I don’t call you Player Gonring, my name is Yogi and you call me Yogi.’  Here I am getting my ass chewed out by a Hall of Famer,” said Gonring.

“Baseball will miss him,” said Gonring. “I’m going to miss him. To be able to say I walked on the same field as Yogi – that’s my little claim to fame.”

Husar’s praise WBPD for capturing robbery suspects

The West Bend Police Department announcing this week that five people from Detroit, Michigan have been indicted in the Dec. 29, 2014 robbery of Husar’s House of Fine Diamonds, 131 N. Main Street in West Bend. “I always thought they would find them but I didn’t think they’d find them this fast,” Mike Husar said during a one-on-one conversation Tuesday evening.

Husar credited the “due diligence and fortitude of the West Bend Police Department” with keeping the case in front of the FBI and eventually solving the crime.

“They were staying in very close contact with us,” said Husar. “It was because of Detective McCarthy’s push and the police chief and Detective Richard Lucka and the entire detective bureau at the West Bend Police Department, their pushing the feds to keep working; without their initiative this would have never happened.”

Husar confirmed, even though the robbery happened in December they knew eventually they would be hit because of the crime wave sweeping across the country.  “They were checking us out,” said Husar acknowledging an earlier attempt the robbers made to case the store.

“Through the efforts and alertness of our staff and the response of the West Bend Police Department we stalled it,” he said. “But the size of this group, they’re very patient and they couldn’t get us when it was slow – they had to get us when it was busy and everybody’s guard would not be on high alert and that’s why they hit when they did.”

Starting in July 2014 the smash-and-grab robberies were a crime spree making its way across the state. Witness complaints and surveillance video all caught the brazen crimes – men wearing hoodies, smashed display cases with hammers and snatching pricey merchandise before running out of the store. Rolex watches were key item.

The incident at Husar’s following a similar pattern. On Monday just before 4 p.m. five men walked into the store with hammers, shattered a display case and stole a number of high-end watches. The incident took about 30 seconds and Mike Husar said, “The robbers were professionals.”

“We had customers in the store at the time,” Mike Husar said praising his staff.  Multiple calls were made to police and Mike Husar said they were at the store in a matter of moments. “It is unnerving,” he said.

The West Bend police detective bureau, working in conjunction with the FBI, made several trips to Detroit to interview suspects. Husar said they were notified about a week ago that police had made headway. Husar initially thought all the merchandise was pawned to the Far East. He doesn’t expect he’ll get any items back because the insurance company paid out on the claim.

“It’s important for people to realize West Bend is a safe community,” said Husar. “Things happen but because of the due diligence of the West Bend Police Department this is a very safe community. This department has the ability to solve major crime and keep crime out of this community.”

Trying out for the Milwaukee Bucks drumline 

Three students from the West Bend High Schools drumline are still awaiting word to see whether they made the Milwaukee Bucks drumline. Troy Matenaer, Carlitos Salazar and Duwayne Davis drove down to the Bradley Center on Friday evening to tryout.  “There were about 40 people there,” Matenaer, a West senior, said.

Matenaer said they all tried out in a group. “First we played ‘eight on a hand’ which is like a warm up, then we played ‘double beat’ which is another warm up, then we played a piece the Milwaukee Bucks drumline play at half time,” he said.

“We think Duwayne made it because when we rotated people the person in charge would say ‘you stay’ if he liked you,” Matenaer said. “Carlitos and I would rotate a bit but Duwayne was in a good portion of the time.”

Aside from the nervous audition, Matenaer said the Bucks drumline instructors made it clear that this position was demanding. “They said you have to be dedicated because the Bucks drumline plays about half the home games and then they play in the community a lot,” he said. “They said they would have some alternates come play so maybe Carlitos or I would get a call.”

The age range of the people who tried out was between 16 and 40 years old. Matenaer said, on the drive down to Milwaukee they talked about being nervous and on the way back they talked about similar things. “Duwayne talked about how we were all going to make it and on the way back me and Carlitos were kinda bummed but Duwayne praised all of us. He was really nice about it,” Matenaer said.

High School Band Director Leah Duckert praise all three boys for their effort. “I’m amazingly proud,” she said. “It shows how courageous they are and how much integrity they have and it shows their work ethic. They know they just can’t walk in and blow through the audition. These kids are practicing hours a night so that shows their determination too.”

Bergmann’s Appliance & TV opens in new location

The sign for the new Bergmann’s Appliance & TV is in place at 205 Kettle Moraine Drive N. in Slinger. The store, previously at 111 Kettle Moraine Drive N., just finished moving 800 feet up the street. “We needed more parking,” store manager Jeanine McElhatton said. “The ball tournaments affected us and then when the Slinger House did its remodel there was no parking.” Bergmann’s features one name, two stores and three departments which include electronics, appliances, bedding and lift chairs. More information is available at

Updates & tidbits

–A couple of updates on property sales. Steven Kearns sold his home, 4505 Arthur Road in the Town of Polk to Itex Millennium Manor LLC for $1.6 million and neighbors Joseph Menter Jr. and his wife Kathleen sold their home, 4509 Arthur Road, to the same buyer for $3.25 million.

-The property sale has also been posted for the former Coachman House/ Club Ten 06, 1006 S. Main Street in West Bend. The property sold to LCM Funds 19 Kenosha LLC for $320,000 on Sept. 10, 2015.

–The haunted cornfield is up and running at Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm.

– Jennifer Lenzendorf has opened AIMS Fitness LLC at 3130 Newark Dr.  She is the third generation family business in that spot.

– Raymond E. Moser, age 88, passed away Friday, September 18, 2015, at St. Joseph Hospital of West Bend. He was born on March 3, 1927 in Barton to William and Evelyn (nee Falk) Moser.  He married the love of his life, Wyleene (nee Falk) Moser from Georgia. A celebration of life will be held on March 13, 2016 at the Chandelier Ballroom (Hartford).

American Legion members in Allenton celebrate 70 years

Five members of the American Legion Post 483 in Allenton were recognized for their longevity with a special tribute last weekend.  Joe Reinders, Willard Derge and Roy (Rex) Weyer all received certificates for being a member in good standing of the American Legion continuously for the period of 70 years. Francis Nenning and Joe Spaeth received a certificate for 60 years with the American Legion.

Assembly Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) is a member of Legion Post 483. “There are not a lot of people in society today who have this kind of commitment to stay in an organization for 40, 50, 60, or 70 years,” Kremer said. “We have a floor session this week in the assembly and I’m adjourning in your honor and talking about these Legion members; you will also be receiving plaques from the state.”

Willard Derge, 90, enlisted in the Navy in 1944 when he was 18 years old. Derge served as the ships baker on the USS Lycoming – APA-155 and he baked 600 loaves of bread a day. “My ship was part of the Okinawa invasion,” said Derge. “When I saw many Japanese suicide bombers attacking U.S. ships, this is where I saw just how ugly war can be but the good Lord brought our ship and crew home safe.”

Joe Reinders, 90, was drafted into the Marines Dec. 1943 – June 1946. “It took 14 days to cross the ocean,” he said. A World War II veteran, Reinders was involved in three different campaigns including the Battle of the Bulge. Reinders has also been member of the Honor Guard for 65 years.

Roy (Rex) Weyer was in the service from Feb. 12, 1945 – Nov. 21, 1946. He was honored for 70 years with the Legion.

Korean War veteran Joe Spaeth, 85, from the town of West Bend was 21 years old when he was drafted into the Army on March 28, 1951.”I was a mechanic for Weiss Hardware in Allenton on the corner of Main Street,” Spaeth said. Basic training was at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then Spaeth was flown to Korea. “I was part of the 74th battalion combat engineers. Charged with maintaining roads, Spaeth worked as a grader. Corporal Spaeth returned home to his job at Weiss Hardware after being discharged Dec. 27, 1952.

Francis Nenning was born in 1925 and served in the Army from March 22, 1946 – Dec. 8, 1947. He was a private first class with the military police in the Philippine Islands.

History photo – celebrating Homecoming

Next week homecoming celebrations are on tap for the West Bend High Schools. There’s dress-up day, the Powder Puff football games along with the East vs. West varsity football game… and, of course, the homecoming dance.

This 1935 photo, courtesy the Washington County Historical Society, features a float in the homecoming parade – although former WCHS researcher Gene Wendleborn said the parade represented the returning of soldiers and not a high school celebration.

Local historian Jerry Mehring said the young gal with the star crown  and staff is Marita Yahr. “She was a student advisor later at the High School which was where Badger now stands,” he said.   Marilyn Dondlinger said, “The gorgeous young woman on the running board, facing right, is my mom LaVerne Timm Hetzel. She was known to all by the nickname ‘Sunshine.’ My mom and dad, John Hetzel, were married at Holy Angels Church on August 31 of that year.  They raised three children; she was a fantastic cook and bowler.”

Rolfs Foundation helps grow Wash. Co. Shop with a Cop

Washington County’s Shop with a Cop program is growing. Next week an official announcement will be made regarding a major donor and a partnership with another established holiday organization.

Shop with a Cop in Washington County started 12 years ago. Deputy Mary Woerner organized her friends in law enforcement, teamed with area volunteers and took children Christmas shopping.

Moving forward, Woerner said the program is partnering with the Gingerbread House, another local organization that provides holiday gifts to more than 600 families throughout Washington County.

“We’re looking at doing a bigger program to reach more families and offer assistance to the Gingerbread House,” Woerner said.

The partnership means Shop with a Cop will also move to a larger location. “We outsized ourselves at the Moose Lodge,” said Woerner. “We’re moving to the Washington County Fair Park Ziegler Expo Center because it’s a central location and it’s big enough so we’ll never outgrow it.”

The goal, according to Woerner, is to take more kids shopping for their families and help alleviate some of the need for organizer Linda White at the Gingerbread House.

“We never addressed providing presents for parents to take home and have them under the tree,” Woerner said. “We just never thought about it but it there is a need for that surprise gift from Santa.”

The other major announcement is that the Rolfs Family Foundation will be making a generous donation to the program. “It’s to help make this a bigger and better program,” Jeff Szukalski, a board member with Shop with a Cop, said. “The Rolfs family wants to take care of all the kids in Washington County and they will be helping for the next few years.”

Last year Shop with a Cop worked with 65 kids and 125 volunteers including First Bank Financial Centre, Serigraph, West Bend Mutual, Fraternal Order of Police Kettle Moraine Lodge, Delta Defense, West Bend Moose Lodge, Johnson Bus, and the West Bend Walmart.

“We’re not looking at growing so much this year,” Woerner said. “Because we’re implementing so many changes we’re going to try to stay the same size and get the bussing down and getting our new care packages put together.”

Woerner said the partnership with the Gingerbread House will mean both programs will have a long term solid foundation in the community.

Police search for gunman following shooting at Washington House Pub

West Bend police are still looking for a person who brought the gun into the situation last Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Washington House Pub. Police were called to the tavern, 228 N. Sixth Ave., after a fight broke out and then a shot was fired in the women’s bathroom.

Timothy Jackson, 36, of Milwaukee was charged this week in Washington County Circuit Court.  West Bend Police Chief Ken Meuler said the case remains under investigation and they’re still looking into who provided the weapon. “Bottom line is a couple people got into an argument, pushing and shoving and at that time neither one of them was armed,” Meuler said. “Somebody else decided to go and introduce a gun into a pushing match. When they gave the suspect the gun is when it escalated.” Meuler said there is no evidence this investigation has anything to do with gang activity.

Golfing for Gromo

There’s a golf outing Sept. 27 at West Bend Lakes Golf Club and proceeds will go to the Luke Gromowski Ironman Scholarship Fund. Luke Gromowski, a senior at West Bend East, died in a car accident in November 2014. A $1,000 scholarship will be presented each year to a senior from West Bend East and West High School that participated in football from fifth grade through their senior year. Registration for the outing is at 9 a.m. with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The cost is $60 per player. More information is available by contacting Ed Duquaine at 262-305-1177.

Interfaith comes to the rescue for WWII veteran

WWII veteran Bill Wilde of West Bend took part in last Saturday’s Stars & Stripes Honor Flight and a note of thanks going out to Interfaith volunteer Dick Stommel, a Marine Corp. veteran from the Vietnam era, stepped forward to give Wilde a ride to the airport.

“Bill deserved to go and he really needed a wheelchair van to get him down there,” Stommel said. “I’ve been blessed, I served my country in the military, Bill’s going to enjoy this and I’m going to get him there.”

Stommel served in the Marines from 1961-64. A volunteer driver for more than 12 years he got up at 3:45 a.m. to deliver Wilde to the airport and later went back to Milwaukee in the evening to safely deliver him home.

Wilde served in the U.S. Army from Nov. 1945 – 1946. A graduate of Marquette High School, Wilde was drafted when he was 18 years old.  There are 23 veterans from Washington County on last week’s Honor Flight.

Victims in West Bend to receive clergy-abuse settlement

Several residents in Washington County are awaiting a scheduled court hearing in Milwaukee Bankruptcy Court regarding a settlement reached August 24 with the Milwaukee Archdiocese. The settlement awarding $21 million to 330 survivors who claimed they were sexually abused by priests in the Archdiocese.  In West Bend two former priests from St. Frances Cabrini Parish are on the list of substantiated abusers including Rev. Edmund Haen and Rev. Charles Walter.

The number of claimants in the community has not been revealed.  Two local victims sued the Archdiocese directly and were awarded $50,000 and $70,000 respectively.  One victim from West Bend told the Around the Bend that he filed a claim 59 years ago and “finally the nightmare is over.”  More information on the final settlement will be released following the Sept 29 hearing.

Rev. Edmund H. Haen was ordained in 1923. He died in 1997 and had served at St. Lawrence, Milwaukee; St. James, Mequon; St. Kilian, Hartford; and St. Frances Cabrini, West Bend. Charles W. Walter was ordained in 1974. He is not currently allowed to function as a priest.

Moving the gazebo

Steve Awve was the man in charge of moving the 144-square-foot gazebo from Old Settlers Park to Schwai’s in Cedar Creek this week. The transport started Tuesday afternoon as Awve, armed with a forklift and some handyman know-how, hefted the giant circular piece of metal and started the slow 8-mile trek to Cedar Creek.

It wasn’t long into maneuvers when the clunky parade came to a halt at Chestnut and Eighth Avenue. “Stop, stop, stop,” said lead man Mike running from his car. “You’re never going to make it under the wire.”

Awve set down the gazebo, scampered up the arm of the forklift and onto the top of the bell of the building to remove the cupola. An easy tilt of the 2-foot cap and they should were good to go, if only Awve had known about the bees.

“We got bees in here,” said Awve, with a couple one-handed swats. “I hate bees.” It sounded just like Harrison Ford when Indiana Jones came face-to-face with snakes in the Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

Mike seemed to hate bees even more. The pair worked and swatted and within minutes removed the metal lid, dodged the bees and they were on the road again. Getting under the wire was the easy part. There were more challenges with the Highway 45 overpass on Paradise Drive and darkness was setting in. Awve finally received a police escort out of town. A Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy took the final leg of the tour which wrapped up about 9 p.m.

The gazebo, purchased by Kevin and Amy Zimmer for $18.45, had to be removed from Old Setters Park, which is going through a major remodel.

Meijer purchase

Meijer property purchase cleared in West Bend: It’s a story you read first at Washington County Insider in January 2014 as Meijer grocery was preparing to announce it would build in a 192,940-square-foot grocery in the former Bend Industries lot on S. Main Street behind Menards.

This week the property transaction cleared and Meijer Stores purchased 30.65 acres from Bend Real Estate Holdings, LLC for $6.1 million. Meijer Stores also purchased .357 acres from Glacier Hills Credit Union for $150,000.

Construction causing headaches US 41                                         

The lane closure on US 41 southbound from US 45 to STH 145 are causing quite a few headaches for drivers headed to Milwaukee during the work week. The DOT has posted alternate routes but Michelle Lofy said those roads aren’t much better.

“The backups this week have been ridiculous from Pleasant Hill Road all the way to Highway 167,” she said about Highway 164.

Brian DeNeve, spokesman with the DOT, encouraged people to use the official alternate routes. “One of the problems is there are four-way stops and that leads to some congestion,” he said. “We are working with law enforcement and the project team is looking at it now.”

Suggestions on using a temporary signal were downplayed because of the short-term extent of the project. “I’m sure it doesn’t feel short term when you’re in the car in the morning but we’ll look at some flagging,” he said. Staying on US 41 is an option, DeNeve said “no matter what, there are going to be delays.”

Washington County Sheriff’s are aware of the delays and encouraged motorists to drive with caution. The DOT said the culvert work in that area should be finished Sept. 30.

Updates & tidbits

-The 35th Annual Fish Boil at Divine Savior Lutheran Church in Hartford is today from 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Adult tickets $9 {advance} or $10 at the door. Child $4.50 or $5 at the door. Hot dog plate for child $4.

-Registration is underway for the 6th Annual Race to Safety: Family Violence Stops Here! 5k Run/Walk.  This year’s event is Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. at Regner Park.

–  Due to a lack of registered participants, the Sunrise Rotary has cancelled the Amazing Race set for Sept. 26. As of Friday, Sept. 11 only 20 teams had signed up. The goal was 60 teams. Rotarians said they did not “feel it is fair to our event sponsors to accept their generous donations if we don’t have a great or even good turnout for the event.” Race organizer Jeff Szukalski said, “We have refunded teams and we will send them a check from our club.”

-Concerned Citizens of West Bend will meet Monday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at West Bend City Hall. Featured speakers include Washington County District Attorney Mark Bensen and a member of the Metro Drug Enforcement Unit. Concerned Citizens, a local organization started by former Dist. 4 alderman Randy Koehler, is designed to promote neighborhood awareness.

-The West Bend Community Library is selling tickets to its Oct. 17 fundraiser, “The Sly Mr. Read: A Night of Mystery.” The after-hours event will raise money for development and initial installation of a new Digital Creation Lab.

-The West Bend High School drumline was featured this week on the Bob & Brian morning show on FM 102.9 The Hog.  The drumline was part of the shows Small School Ass Whupping segment.  Section leaders Troy Matenaer and Ben Kroll were interviewed live on the air.

West Bend man wins 2015 Harley-Davidson

Jim Tock of West Bend is riding away on a one-of-a-kind 2015 Dyna 75^th anniversary Sturgis-themed Harley-Davidson. The victory was celebrated this week at Open Road Harley-Davidson in Fond du Lac.

“I was shopping at the dealership in June to pick up something for my birthday and a guy told me to sign up,” said Tock, a 1982 graduate of West Bend West High School. “I put my name in one time and a couple months later I got a call saying I won.”

Lori Thiel, managing partner at Open Road Harley-Davidson in Fond du Lac, said they were elated too.  “We got a call saying the drawing happened and the person who won made his entry at our store,” Thiel said.  About 600 dealerships across the country participated in the Road to Sturgis sweepstakes. The contest ran June 1 – July 12.

The motorcycle was made in Milwaukee, valued at $24,000 and features ghost lettering, orange and black color-matched rims and blacked-out accents. “This bike was in production for two years,” Thiel said. “The milestone of the 75^th anniversary of Sturgis makes it that much more special.”

Tock said he’s going to “park it in my living room for a while and then see how I like to ride it.”

Open Road Harley-Davidson celebrated with a big cake and special Harley ice cream from Kelley Country Creamery.

History photo celebrates Officer Appreciation Day

Today’s 1935 photo, courtesy the Washington County Historical Society, is to pay tribute on this Officer Appreciation Day. Can you name these two vintage men in blue?

Army nurse Margaret Behlen on today’s Honor Flight

Washington County veterans from World War II and the Korean War will take off today on the latest Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. One of the veterans preparing for the trip to Washington D.C. is Army nurse Margaret Behlen of West Bend.

A 1940 graduate of Holy Angels Academy, Behlen was 22 years old when she completed nurses training at Milwaukee County General Hospital and then enlisted in the Army.

“I went up to Fort McCoy in August 1944,” she said. “All the men were overseas and all the nurses I knew were going into the Army.”

Following basic training at Fort McCoy, Behlen was transferred to a post in Illinois and was soon selected to be part of the 199^th General Hospital. It was there she earned her stripes with a military nickname.

“They called me Pinky,” she said with a grin. “I think it was because I had a red face and red hair. A woman in the front office named me; she said ‘every unit needs a Pinky’ and I guess I was it.”

Transferred to Providence, Rhode Island, Behlen was then shipped to England. “We were in England for quite a long time and we were scheduled to go to France and open a hospital but the Battle of the Bulge occurred and we had to wait until that was over,” said Behlen

On Christmas day she crossed the English Channel on a ship and took a train to Rennes, France.

“On New Year’s Eve we set up the hospital – we were practically barely in there and getting patients,” she said.

On duty every day Behlen was assigned three or four patients. “You had to talk to them and keep their spirits up,” she said. Night duty, was a different story.

“We’d have to go for 12 hours from 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. for two weeks without a day off,” she said. “That was the roughest part of it and you were usually on a shift yourself and in charge of about 25 patients.”

Stationed within 100 miles of the Battle of the Bulge, Behlen recalled she spent most of her time dancing. “Surrounding our hospital there were other units, specifically ones that had parties at night and women were scarce,” she said. “We were always invited to a party at night, if it wasn’t one place it was another.”

Accommodations in the service were what you might expect, according to Behlen. “We had a Quonset hut in England and there were about 20 of us in there,” she said. “It was pretty cold and we had a home stove and we took turns each week starting the fire.”

Discharged in 1946 Behlen was assigned to a hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She said it was an outfit that had a bad reputation. “Drinking was prevalent and some of the white patients were pretty prejudice to black people,” she said.  “There was a saying at the time, ‘Lucky Strike means fine tobacco,’ but we changed that to read ‘Lord save me from Tuscaloosa.’”

Returning home to Milwaukee, Behlen worked for the Veterans Hospital and later met her husband, in all places her mother’s living room. “He was trying to date my younger sister Harriet,” said Behlen. “I talked it over with my sister and I said, ‘if Morris asks you to marry him, would you?’” Harriet said no, so Morris was on Behlen’s radar.

Married and living in Cedarburg for several years the Behlen’s had seven children. She said her son Christopher will be her guardian on Saturday’s flight.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the WWII monument of course but also the Lincoln Memorial,” said Behlen.

Veterans and their guardians will spend Saturday touring memorials in Washington, D.C., including the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War memorials as well as the Lincoln Memorial. They will also view the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Lloyd Derge Korean War veteran

Another Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is leaving Milwaukee Mitchell International airport Saturday Sept. 12.   There will be 183 veterans on the flight including 44 who served in WWII, 138 who served in the Korean War, and one terminally ill Vietnam veteran. There will also be three veterans who survived the D-Day invasion and coincidentally all are named Floyd.

Quite few veterans from Washington County will be taking part in the tour to Washington D.C. including Lloyd Derge, 83, of Jackson. “I was drafted into the U.S. Army 1952 when I was 19 years old,” Derge said.

Sitting in his Jackson home, surrounded by photos of his six children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Derge spoke about traveling to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania for basic training. “Then we went to Korea,” he said. “It took 18 days to get over there by ship. We first stopped in Japan and then went to Korea.”

Derge, a Corporal in the 5th Regimental Combat team, was a heavy-equipment operator working to repair roads damaged in the war. “The weather was just like Wisconsin,” he said. “Once I got workin’ it was like I was just in the states.”

Returning to Fort Campbell, Kentucky after one year in Korea, Derge was discharged and returned home to work at Weasler Engineering. “I haven’t been to Washington D.C.,” said Derge about Saturday’s flight. “I’m interested in whatever happens.” Lloyd’s son Dean Derge will be his guardian.

Korean veteran Calvin Langer

Calvin Langer, 91, of Hartford was working on his family’s farm in Adams County in 1949 when he was drafted by the U.S. Army. “I was 25 years old,” said Langer. “I went to Camp Breckenridge outside Morganfield, Kentucky for basic training and then to Fort Lewis, in Washington for infantry training.”

Langer served a year, was released with other draftees in October of 1950 and was called back to service. In March 1951 Langer was shipped to Korea.

“I served in the 1st Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment,” he said. Stationed on the front line Langer fired mortars. “I was at Bloody Ridge,” he said about the conflict in the central Korean mountain range. “There was a heavy mortar fight which included the rest of the 1^st Battalion with infantry and riflemen and machine gunners; we started firing mortars around 5 a.m. and kept firing until 6 p.m. They estimated there were 500 Chinese killed,” said Langer.

Langer was discharged in November 1951 after returning from Korea by ship. “We actually returned to Fort Lewis and then I took a plane back home,” Langer said. “I wished later I would have taken the train and saw some of the country.”

Langer farmed for a while until he lost some fingers in an accident. “I went to college at UW-River Falls and studied agricultural education,” he said. “One day a guy came in looking for a field man and that’s how I got a job at Kraft Foods in Hartford.”

Langer, who has been to Washington D.C. before, said he’s looking forward to seeing the Korean Memorial. Cathy Feutz, Langer’s daughter, will be his guardian.

Other local veterans on today’s Honor Flight: Bill Wilde, 88, of West Bend who served from in WWII from Nov. 1945 – 1946, George Fassbinder of West Bend who served as a cook in the Navy during WWII, Willard Kaun of West Bend who worked in the Army Air Corps Supply in WWII.  John Steinmetz of Slinger who was an Army gunner in Korea, John Tessar of Kewaskum who was in the Army in Korea, Ralph Willing of Jackson who was in the Army Signal Corps in Korea and Duane Skofronick of Germantown who was a radar mechanic in the Air Force.

Tree cutting at Old Settlers Park unsettling for some

The triangle corner of Sixth Avenue and Main Street in downtown West Bend had a very open-concept appearance Friday as crews from the city Parks Department removed all the trees at Old Settlers Park.

The work is part of a major remodel although some neighbors in the community thought the mature trees should stay. “They never should have taken out that honey locust; the most beautiful tree in downtown West Bend they have to get rid of it,” Greg Chmielewski, owner of Idle Hour or Two, said.

The restaurant is across the street from Old Settlers Park. “Somebody puts in money and they do whatever they want,” said Chmielewski, referencing the $200,000 the city received from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation to complete the remodel.

“I hope they put in trees that grow tall with a nice crown up high so you can see the businesses,” he said.

Justin Nothem from Modern Woodman in West Bend was walking down Main Street this morning. He admitted he really hadn’t noticed the missing trees but supported the process to remodel the park. “I’m sure they have it planned out when all is said and done it will look fantastic,” he said.

West Bend Parks and Forestry Superintendent Mike Jentsch is the project manager. “It’s unfortunate,” he said. “But in a situation like this with all new elevation and retaining walls, we looked over and over to see if we could save any but with all the construction those trees wouldn’t have survived.”

On Friday morning as work crews reviewed the project at the park Jentsch said he hadn’t heard any complaints about the trees. “Everyone I’ve talked to has been very positive about what’s going on down here,” he said. “Specifically about tree removal I have not received any comment.”

There were five trees that were removed from the park including the honey locust, a hickory tree and a couple maple trees.  Jentsch said the hickory was in decline but the others were healthy. The roots of the honey locust, according to Jentsch, would not have survived because the new retaining wall would be right up to the tree.

Craig Hoeppner with the Park and Rec Department said they will plant more trees to make up for the trees removed. He did not know how many more trees or the species.

The rest of Old Settlers Park will be demolished next week. Hoeppner said the new plants will be put in in spring 2016. “Both Vest Park across the street and Old Settlers Park will be more modern looking with better amenities including benches and bike racks,” he said.

Old Settlers Park is scheduled to open June 1 next year.

Proposal to turn Second Avenue into one-way street

There’s going to be a hearing Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at West Bend City Hall as the Traffic Safety Commission considers a request to change the 500 block of S. Second Avenue from a two-way street to a one-way street.

Neighbors in the area received a note from Police Chief Ken Meuler about the proposal. The flow of one-way traffic would be from Maple Street south to Oak Street. Richard Sussman has lived at 508 S. Second Ave. for the past 20 years. He said he’s the one who initiated the request.

“There’s nowhere to park on this street,” Sussman said. “When Habitat for Humanity added six living residence at the end of the street it added 14 cars that need parking on the block. Some of those vehicles are not running and they park those on the street for storage and that gives long-time residents on the street no place to park.”

Sussman said if the street was changed to a one way there would be room to park 12 vehicles on the other side of the street and that would alleviate the issue. “It would also make it safer for the children that play in the street at the end of the block,” he said. “They would only have to worry about traffic coming from one way.”

Several weeks ago Sussman went up and down the block collecting signatures.

Scott Gerritson lives on Second Avenue and said he signed the petition but now is having second thoughts. “Parking is an issue but turning the street into a one way would be unreasonable,” he said. “The company at the south end of the block has big trucks going down the street and if you park on both sides the street is barely wide enough to get one car down.”

Gerritson said the house on the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Oak Street was built by Habitat for Humanity and it has quite a few vehicles.

“That makes it hard when handicap people on the block need the taxi,” he said. “They have to access it in the alley. In the winter it would be terrible to have parking on both sides as far as snow plowing and stuff.”

Currently there is no parking on the east side of Second Avenue. “I just see traffic patterns changing and being a disaster,” Gerritson said. “People would end up using the alley as a street and we have grandkids and people are in the alley all the time and I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Sussman turned in about 26 signatures on his petition to make Second Avenue a one way.

Neighbors who would like to express an opinion at the meeting next week are being asked to submit a letter to the Chief or call 262-335-5010 prior to Monday, Sept. 14.

Sales recorded at Coachman House and Albrecht Clinic

The sale price has come in for the new Albrecht Free Clinic in West Bend. Jim Strachota, executive director of the Albrecht Free Clinic said the clinic purchased its own building, 908 W. Washington St., on August 25; that property was formerly the Verre Young Eye Clinic. Dale and Joy Matthies sold to Dr. James E. Albrecht Free Clinic, Inc. for $265,000.  LCM Funds 19 Kenosha, LLC and the Dale H. Sterz and Shirley A. Sterz Trust purchased the property 1006 S. Main Street in West Bend from MDR Properties, LLC for $320,000. The property was previously sold to MDR Properties, LLC in 2011 for $233,800. There are plans are to demolish the existing structure and redevelop the property into a Forward Dental office. Adam Williquette from Anderson Commercial Group handled the transaction.

Jesse Kremer proposes transgender legislation

State assembly Representative Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) unveiled a bill this week during the Common Sense Citizens meeting at the West Bend Moose Lodge.

“The measure will provide policy affecting public schools in Wisconsin relating to students who may identify as a different gender and accommodations for them,” he said.

The transgender issue, according to Kremer, is going to be on the forefront in the next several years. Kremer’s interest was heightened following an issue at Kewaskum High School where a student identified as a different gender.

“My understanding was she was walking into the boys bathroom,” said Kremer. “The school district came up with a policy that said the person could use the faculty restroom but could not use the opposite gender restroom.”

School districts across the state, said Kremer, are coming up with their own policy and every district, right now, is on its own.  Kremer relayed the story about a school district in south central Wisconsin involving a seventh grader that has come before the School Board with a similar situation to Kewaskum. “The district doesn’t know what to do and there are lawyers lined up,” said Kremer. “Not for the district but the student.”

Kremer said the bill will set policy statewide for school districts so if there is some sort of litigation in the future the Department of Justice will have to defend it and it won’t be up to the school districts to take it on their own.

“The bill will say if you’re born a boy you will use the boy’s bathroom and locker room. If you’re born a girl you will use the girl’s facilities and if you identify as something else the school district will provide reasonable accommodations, which is similar to what Kewaskum did,” he said. “This bill will protect school districts and it will provide protection for all students for their dignity and privacy.” Kremer predicts the biggest challenge will be possible discrimination charges by students that identify by a different gender.

Alderman Ed Duquaine has sold his home

West Bend Dist. 3 alderman Ed Duquaine has sold his home on Crestwood Drive and moved to 1123 Timberline Drive. Aldermen are required to live in the district they represent and Duquaine said the Timberline Drive home is in Dist. 3. Duquaine confirmed he is building a home in the Town of West Bend.  Asked whether he will run again in April 2016, Duquaine said, “I don’t know.”  Duquaine was first elected to office in April 2010. He replaced incumbent Alderman Richard Lindbeck, who did not to seek re- election.

Updates & tidbits

–The Fall Diva event is Thursday, Sept. 17 in downtown West Bend from noon – 9 p.m. There will be Diva specials at participating restaurants, door prizes, and a complimentary Hummer limo. Century Farmhouse Soaps will have 20 percent off any one item in the shop that day only.

– Watch for the gazebo in Old Settlers Park to be removed from downtown West Bend next Tuesday and relocated to an area next to Dublin’s. Final approval by the common council happens Monday night. Kevin and Amy Zimmer bid $18.45 and are responsible for removing it.

-Concerned Citizens of West Bend next meeting Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at West Bend City Hall. Featured speakers include Washington County District Attorney Mark Bensen and a member of the Metro Drug Enforcement Unit. Concerned Citizens, a local organization started by former Dist. 4 alderman Randy Koehler, is designed to promote neighborhood awareness.

– Assembly Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) is putting together state legislation regarding drones and aviation safety. “The FAA is taking far too long to address the issue,” Kremer said.  “If you have any comments or would like to weigh in on the issue, please do.” Contact Rep. Kremer at rep.kremer@legis.wi.gov and provide “Drones” in the subject of the email.

– Interfaith Caregivers of Washington County is moving to the Threshold building. Interfaith was previously located at 819 Schoenhaar Drive, in the same building as the American Red Cross. Interfaith began scouting for a new location when the building went up for sale after the Red Cross office closed last October.

-All in Books had a new sign installed at 136 N. Main Street, the former location of Ruth Anne’s Gourmet Market. Along with the new sign store owner Betty Bartelt will host weekly special events for children including a Kid’s Club membership card where participants will receive 30 percent off all children’s books every Thursday.

-A new sign for Angels Nails & Spa was installed this week at 535 N. Main St. Owner Charlie Tran said, “My shop will have six manicure stations. We’ll offer manicures, pedicures, and waxing.” Tran has remodeled the south end of the building formerly home to Sweet Creations. Tran expects to open Sept. 13.

WWII veteran George Fassbinder

Today’s history photo is of George Fassbinder of West Bend who served as a cook in the Navy during WWII. Fassbinder, third from the left, is one of 23 veterans from Washington County on today’s Stars & Stripes Honor Flight to Washington D.C.