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Kenosha News Week in Review

Have you had a busy week and lost track of what's going on? Kenosha News editors suggest the following articles to catch up:

Local
State
Sports

Unified sets 3-year plan to improve security

The Kenosha Unified School District will begin improving the security at elementary, middle and high schools this year as part of a three-year, $1.5 million plan.

The project includes adding security cameras to 14 schools in the district and improving the cameras that already exist, enhancing the security software programs in each building, adding doorbells to the elementary schools and installing telephones in every classroom.

Coast Guard calls off search for missing man

The Coast Guard called off the search for a Kenosha man who presumably drowned Monday evening near the North Pier.

A Coast Guard spokesperson said the search was terminated around midnight Monday, and there will be no further search efforts.

Village seeks to lure manufacturing jobs

A new zoning district could help create jobs in Pleasant Prairie.

The Pleasant Prairie Village Board, following the recommendation of the village Plan Commission, on Monday approved creation of a new “production manufacturing district” zoning category. The designation is designed for manufacturing, office and research and development projects, while discouraging large warehousing development.

Silver Lake Fire Department growing, becoming more skilled in medical service

SILVER LAKE — The Silver Lake Fire Department roster is growing, and the department is ready to man an engine with emergency medical personnel, Fire Chief Andy McFarlane said Tuesday.

“Our long-term goal is to become one municipal emergency services department,” McFarlane told members of the village’s Emergency Services Committee. “It is not somthing that is going to happen overnight. We are working toward that goal.”

Kenosha County home sales soar but prices dive

Kenosha County home sales surged in May, jumping more than 37 percent compared with the same month last year, according to data from the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

Despite strong sales, the median sales price continued to fall, bucking state and local trends. The median sales price in May was $112,000, down 7.6 percent from a year ago.

Late but worth it: Strawberry season arrives with a bang

Recent sunny weather and higher temperatures have helped ripen Kenosha County’s strawberry crop.

Area growers report it’s finally time to stain your fingers — and face — by picking berries at area farms.

Motorcyclist killed in crash

One motorcyclist was killed and another was injured in a pair of crashes that occurred within hours of each other on 52nd Street.

Police said the fatal crash occurred about 12:26 p.m. at 39th Avenue and 52nd Street.

UPDATE: Police ID man who presumably drowned off pier

The search has been called off for a man who presumably drowned off Kenosha’s North Pier Monday evening.

Police identified the victim as Benjamin T. McCarter, 31, of Kenosha.

Hospitals brace for changes from Affordable Care Act

Kenosha health-care providers are adapting to the new the Affordable Care Act as it slowly phases into practice.

Hospitals, however, will not see much change.

Operation Dry Water seeks to thwart intoxicated boating

Local law enforcement agencies are working together to establish a safer boating season this summer.

The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, along with the Silver Lake and Twin Lakes police departments, will patrol local lakes June 28-30 as part of Operation Dry Water, a nationally coordinated effort to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence.

Local man’s homemade fish tank is largest in North America

Most Wisconsinites don’t scuba dive. They definitely don’t dive in their living rooms.

But most Wisconsinites are not like Bill Wann, a high school dropout and successful entrepreneur who designed and built a 24-foot-long, 10-foot-wide and 10-foot-deep 20,000-gallon reef tank for his living room.

Coho Classic comes to a close

Anglers woke up at the crack of dawn Sunday for the final fishing tournament at the Kenosha Coho Classic.

The “Two in a Boat” tournament that began at 5 a.m. restricted each boat to two people.

New downtown development director hopes to change perceptions, fill vacant spaces

When it comes to revitalizing an old downtown, perception is no small part of the problem.

Violet Ricker, hired recently as the first executive director of Downtown Kenosha Inc., points to parking.

Father and son find common ground through Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Looking for some father-and-son bonding time on Father’s Day?

Maybe a game of catch. Some fishing. A ball game.

Rain can’t dampen Dairy Breakfast

PARIS — The rain benefited crops but caused some vehicles to become stuck at the Kenosha County Dairy Breakfast on Saturday.

The vehicles were in the farm field that doubled as a parking lot but quickly yielded troughs of mud from the constant wet weather at Uhlenhake Land Locked Acres LLC, 1801 216th Ave. The farm is operated by Doris, Tom and John Uhlenhake.

State Republicans negotiate changes to budget

MADISON (AP) — Republicans privately negotiated a series of last-minute changes to the Wisconsin budget Tuesday designed to smooth its passage, including removing a cap on a popular tax credit program for disabled veterans and delaying the loosening of requirements for high-capacity wells.

The changes, discussed among Republican legislative leaders in both the Senate and Assembly, were announced throughout the day but never formally introduced. After only 15 minutes of debate on the two-year, $70 billion spending plan, the Assembly quit work for the day so Democrats could be briefed on the Republican changes before resuming Wednesday morning.

Democrats urge moderate Republicans to vote against state budget

MADISON (AP) — Democrats in the state Legislature called Monday for moderate Republicans to join them in voting against the state budget this week, and one of Wisconsin’s most conservative lawmakers became the first in his party to publicly say he was casting a ‘no’ vote.

Democrats were pressuring Republicans in advance of the Assembly debating the $70 billion, two-year spending plan Tuesday. The Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow 18-15 majority, is expected to take up the budget on Thursday.

Officer shot at Wis. Sikh temple gets new job

OAK CREEK (AP) — The Oak Creek police officer struck with 12 bullets while responding to the fatal shooting rampage at a Sikh temple last year is starting a new job with the company that made his bulletproof vest.

Lt. Brian Murphy was the first officer on the scene during the Aug. 5, 2012, shootings at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin. He officially retired Wednesday with a duty disability and the department held a retirement ceremony on Friday, a newspaper reported.

Supreme Court agrees to hear state union law lawsuit appeal

MADISON — The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the appeal of a lawsuit brought by two unions challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Scott Walker’s law effectively ending collective bargaining for most public workers in the state.

The 4th District Court of Appeals had urged the high court in April to directly hear the appeal, noting ongoing uncertainty about the law’s status. The court agreed Friday, but didn’t release any details about its decision.

Wis. Assembly approves anti-abortion bills

By TODD RICHMOND

Associated Press

State Senate OKs abortion bill

MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin Senate Republicans abruptly shut off debate Wednesday before a dramatic vote in which they approved a bill that would require women seeking an abortion to first undergo an ultrasound.

Democrats tried in vain to be recognized to speak as the roll call vote proceeded despite their objections. Republican Senate President Mike Ellis repeatedly banged his gavel so forcefully he broke the base. He shouted at Democrats, saying they were out of order and would not be allowed to speak.

Walker to sign abortion bill

MADISON (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker said Tuesday he will sign a measure that’s quickly working its way through the Republican-controlled Legislature that would require women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound.

The Senate debated the measure Tuesday, a week after it was introduced, but Democrats used a procedural move to delay a vote until Wednesday morning. The Assembly hoped to take it up Thursday.

Mikolas set to resume with Yankees in Gulf Coast League

Bradford graduate and 2012 New York Yankees third-round draft pick Nathan Mikolas will begin his first full professional season on Friday.

The left-handed slugger and primarily left fielder is returning to the (rookie level) Gulf Coast League in Tampa, Fla., with the Gulf Coast Yankees, with whom he batted .149 (13-for-87) with one home run and five RBI in 31 games last season.

Central dominates softball coaches’ All-State selections

The state champion Central softball team cleaned up when the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association revealed its annual All-State team on Tuesday.

Senior Sarah Fonk, one of six pitchers to receive first-team honors, was selected as the Division-1 Player of the Year.

Golf roundup: Kolberg advances in match play event

UW-Parkside sophomore-to-be Kyle Kolberg won a pair of matches in the Wisconsin State Golf Association Match Play Championship on Tuesday at the North Shore Golf Club in Menasha.

Playing for Indianhead Golf Course in Mosinee, Kolberg shot a 1-over 71 to finish in a tie for 12th place out of 164 golfers in Monday’s 18-hole qualifier. The top 64 qualified for match play.

Baseball roundup: Big sixth lifts Kings to win

The Kenosha Kings put together a six-run second inning and coasted to an 11-3 Langsdorf League victory over the Genoa City Red Dogs on Tuesday at Torstenson Field.

Andrew Highland’s suicide squeeze with the bases loaded in the second ended up scoring three runs as the Red Dogs committed two errors on the play.

Bucks hire Van Exel as assistant

Nick Van Exel is returning to the state of Wisconsin.

On Monday, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that the Kenosha native along with Bob Bender had been hired as assistant coaches for new coach Larry Drew. The announcement was expected given that Van Exel and Bender have been running the Bucks’ pre-draft workouts.

Well-armed Merchants glide in tourney

The Kenosha Legion Post 21 Merchants finished off a weekend full of dominant pitching with a pair of victories on Sunday.

The Merchants whipped the Illinois Bobcats 7-1 and Jefferson 7-0 to win the Father’s Day Invitational, which concluded Sunday at Tindall Field in Genoa City.

Knowing the terrain pays off

The home course advantage paid off for Jamie Young.

The Kenosha golfer won a pair of matches to claim the Regular Division title in the Milwaukee District Match Play Championship on Sunday at The Club at Strawberry Creek.

Bradford’s DeBartolo named first-team All-State in baseball

Tony DeBartolo raised his level of play this season and was rewarded for his efforts by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association.

After receiving third-team honors last season, the Bradford senior was a first-team selection on the WBCA Spring All-State team, the organization announced recently.

Tremper’s Hughes SEC soccer Player of the Year

KENOSHA — Talk about going out on top.

Tremper defender Emma Hughes was named the Southeast Conference’s Player of the Year in soccer, the league announced on Friday.

Golf notes: Scheppa records a rarity

Shoreland Lutheran High School senior-to-be Brandon Scheppa pulled off one of the rarest feats in golf when he made a double eagle-2 on the par-5 fifth hole at Brighton Dale Links’ Blue Spruce Course on Thursday.

Golfing with Shoreland teammate Ben Rust, Scheppa used a hybrid to hole his second shot from 240 yards and finished with a 2-over par 74.

Victory escapes Boresch

PBA and USBC Hall of Famer Pete Weber claimed the 2013 United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters title in dramatic fashion Friday in Las Vegas.

Weber delivered a clutch finish after fellow USBC Hall of Famer and Kenosha’s Lennie Boresch gave him an opening in the final frame.

Tremper soccer nets five first-teamers

As undefeated league champions, it was only fitting that Tremper dominated the All-Southeast Conference soccer selections.

The circuit announced its awards on Friday with the Trojans securing the league’s Player of the Year in senior defender Emma Hughes, five first-team spots, two second-team selections and one honorable mention.

Tremper’s defense falters in state soccer tourney defeat

MILWAUKEE — The Tremper girls soccer team had been so airtight defensively this season.

That’s what makes what happened against DePere in a WIAA-Division 1 State Tournament quarterfinal Thursday at Milwaukee’s Uihlein Soccer Complex so confounding.

Baseball roundup: Merchants, Kings post victories

Andrew Luscomb’s two-out, opposite field single in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Kenosha Legion Post 21 Merchants a 4-3 walkoff victory over Waterford Legion Post 20 on Thursday night at Carthage College’s Augie Schmidt Field.

Colton Lee (2-for-3, RBI) singled to lead off the Merchants’ eighth, and Kyle Jones (2-for-3, double) advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt.

Bradford’s Tibor collects state, SEC awards

After leading the Bradford baseball team to its third straight WIAA State Tournament appearance, the postseason awards rolled in for senior Kevin Tibor on Wednesday.

The right-hander was named the Southeast Conference Player of the Year and named the state’s top senior pitcher as part of the Wisconsin Sports Network Senior Baseball Awards.

UPDATE: Police ID man who presumably drowned off pier

The search has been called off for a man who presumably drowned off Kenosha’s North Pier Monday evening.

Motorcyclist killed in crash

One motorcyclist was killed and another was injured in a pair of crashes that occurred within hours of each other on 52nd Street.

Brighton couple bring out their Ford collection

When Don and Dorothy Spease decide it’s a nice day to wash their cars, it becomes quite a chore.

Hillside Hardware closes up shop

A small hardware store in Kenosha is closing its doors.

Late but worth it: Strawberry season arrives with a bang

Recent sunny weather and higher temperatures have helped ripen Kenosha County’s strawberry crop.

News briefs

A vehicle stopped at a flashing red light was rear-ended by an alleged drunken driver on Sunday.

Event briefs

KENOSHA — A Medicare chat group will meet 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services, 7730 Sheridan Road.

Dental Association to provide $1M in free dental care

The Wisconsin Dental Association’s fifth Mission of Mercy event, where an estimated $1 million in dental care will be donated by dentists and various other volunteers to those in need, is coming to Lake Geneva later this month.

Kenosha County home sales soar but prices dive

Kenosha County home sales surged in May, jumping more than 37 percent compared with the same month last year, according to data from the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

Man suspected of stealing ATM card charged with armed robbery

A man suspected of helping steal cash by watching a man enter his personal identification number at a convenience store, then following him home and robbing him of his ATM card, is in custody, two years after the incident happened.

Coho Classic comes to a close

Anglers woke up at the crack of dawn Sunday for the final fishing tournament at the Kenosha Coho Classic.

News briefs

A Kenosha man was arrested after he reportedly lied about driving a speeding truck.

Snapshot: Engine machinist not afraid of the tough jobs

Jason Holmes has been attracted to engines since he was young. Now at age 33, he’s a veteran engine machinist at Don’s Auto Parts and Machine Shop, 5515 60th St.