Shooting on Sixth Street early Thursday morning; Suspects arrested

Bad news for the burgeoning entertainment district on Sixth Street ...

May 20 at about 1:40 A.M. a 29 year old male Metro Security Services officer was shot in the lower leg in the 500 blk. of 6th St. Metro Security officers are employed by Park 6. Racine Police officers were in the area of the 500 Blk. of 6th St. when a fight was observed. A single gunshot was fired and the Metro Security officer was struck in the lower leg. The victim was transported to Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints by Racine Fire Department Rescue. Officers learned a red Cadillac with Illinois plates was possibly involved in the incident.

On 5/20/10 at about 2:25 A.M. the red Cadillac was involved in an accident on Sheridan Rd. in the City of Kenosha. Three occupants of the vehicle were detained by Kenosha and subsequently transported to the Racine Police Department. The three occupants are currently being questioned by Racine Police investigators. The red Cadillac has been towed and impounded.

Racine Police investigators are interested in any additional information that you may have about this crime. You are urged to call the Racine Police Department at 262-635-7700 and ask for the Investigations Unit, or Crimestoppers at 262-636-9330, or by texting to CRIMES (274637) and referring to Tipsoft I.D. #TIP417 with your text message.

Salsa maker wins entrepreneur's award at RCEDC's annual meeting

Award-winning local entrepreneur Brian Peters at Wednesday's RCEDC annual meeting. 

If you know Brian Peters, you know the man loves his salsa. That love is on its way to becoming a successful business.

Peters, and his idea to create an all-natural salsa, won a local entrepreneur's competition Wednesday at the Racine County Economic Development Corporation's annual meeting. He beat out five finalists for the $1,000 award, which was voted on by a panel of local business owners.

Peters and the four other entrepreneurs gave "elevator pitches" of their business plans to an audience of about 300 local economic leaders gathered at the Veterans Terrace in Burlington. The three-member panel then put the future business owners on the spot, asking tough questions about their business plans and how they intend to create successful enterprises.

Other finalists included:

Norm Walker, Facilities Services and Solutions. Walker helps manufacturers who use compressed air find inefficiencies in their operations. He has a system that identifies, and then quantifies, potential energy savings. The service is actually free at the moment if business owners use the state's Focus on Energy rebate credit.

Jim Nondorf Jr., Water Separation Systems. Nondorf is looking to expand his Racine-based business to help businesses with large boilers become more efficient. He offers a reverse osmosis solution that reduces the amount of water and energy needed in boilers.

Raymond Madden, Computer Renewal. Madden will "up-cycle" used computers to prevent them from being dumped in the landfill. He intends to collect old computers, fix them, and sell them at discounted prices to consumers and businesses.

Ellen Ferwerda, home composting. Ferwerda plans to invent a garbage disposal that will compost food waste and convert it into nutrient-rich soil. It's meant to capitalize on growing interest in composting, which some cities are beginning to require as a way to reduce garbage.

Peters, whose business is called the Peters Cellars Family Kitchen, began working on his business in 2008 when he was laid off from his job after 20 years in the construction industry. He saw the forced career change as an opportunity to reinvent himself into the owner of a natural foods company. Peters' specialty is an all-natural salsa recipe that he intends to sell  as a top-brand salsa. He also plans to work with the homeless at HALO to create jobs and help people in need get work experience.

All five finalists were selected to participate in the "Launching Green Businesses" program, organized by UW-Parkside's Small Business Development Center and the Racine County Workforce Development Center. He and about 20 other entrepreneurs worked through a 15-week class to develop a business plan they can take to investors and lenders to get started.

The finalists were the featured speakers at RCEDC's annual meeting, which also included a review of the county's economic development in 2009 and the organization's annual awards.

Burlington Area School District Superintendent Ron Jandura, who is retiring after 40 years in education, received the Sam Johnson Volunteer Award. Odinn Johnson (left), Sam Johnson's grandson, introduced the award with stories about his family. He referred to Sam as "Grand-Sam" and recalled that the original Samuel Johnson, his great-grandfather, help support a southern school for former slaves

In his acceptance speech, Jandura talked about innovations in education that are helping students apply learning to the real world. One Burlington High class calls students to a "crime" scene at 2 a.m. to process forensic evidence, while another allows students to witness a live surgery. Burlington also created the state's first Construction Career Academy, which teaches students how to work in the building trades.

Jandura predicted major changes in school systems over the next five to 10 years. While education has resisted technology - walk into a school today and not much is different from 50 years ago, he said - it's headed toward a revolution.

In one specific case, Jandura said a student approached school officials about wanting to study Italian, so the administrators found an online class for him to take. The student went on to become an American diplomat in Italy, he said.

About 300 people attended RCEDC's annual meeting on 

Wednesday at Veterans Terrace in Burlington.

Other award winners included:

The Leonard W. Ziolkowski Public Sector Award - Gilbert Bakke, former RCEDC board member and current member of the Racine County Board

The Anthony J. DiCastri Private Sector Award - Roger Caron, president of the Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce

Lender of the Year - Glenn Schroeder, vice president, business banking division at M&I Bank

RCEDC also recognized its business loan recipients in 2009. They included:

• Amarillo Towing of Wisconsin
• HM Product Solutions
• Johnson's Gardens
• Ketter's Flooring
• Maletto's Packaging
• Michelle R. Bonnesss, M.D.
• Nelson Bros. & Strom Quadra
• Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery
• Strategic Electronic Solutions
• Sturtevant Sportsplex
• Wisconsin Shower Door

RCEDC's 27th annual anniversary celebration started with a welcome talk by RCEDC board President Dan Pettit, followed by a summary of 2009 economic development results by County Executive Bill McReynolds.

Matt Wagner

Burlington Mayor Bob Miller

Matt Wagner, director of UW-Parkside's Small Business Development Center, introduced the entrepreneurs, and Burlington Mayor Robert Miller introduced the community award winners. 

Gordy Kacala, executive director of RCEDC, closed the meeting by saying that, in spite of the recession, he was "pleased with the progress we've had." 

Kacala added that competition is so fierce among communities for new businesses that he's afraid to announce future projects because other communities are trying to poach them.

"That's the reality we're dealing with," he said. 

Weslaski's donate swimming record board to YMCA

Racine's elite youth swimmers have a new goal to swim for thanks to a donation from two local parents.

Claire and Kevin Weslaski donated a new swimming record board for a wall in the Racine YMCA's pool area. The board lists girls and boys records for swimmers who are members of the South-Eastern Aquatics YMCA club, or SEAY.

The Weslaski's daughter, Paige, holds three of the records (in the 500-, 1000- and 1650-yard freestyle) on the new board. But the donation is about more than just individual performances, the Weslaski's said.

The scoreboard is meant to bring visibility to a club that teaches dedication, work ethic and time management, which help academically and with life in general. The Weslaski's speak from experience. Their daughter Paige is heading to St. Bonaventure University in New York state on a full-ride scholarship in the fall.

The scoreboard was installed in the pool on Friday. It displays "senior" records, which are the fastest recorded times by SEAY swimmers in the different events.

SEAY is open to children of all ages. This year about 140 swimmers are competing in age groups from 5 years old through high school. For more information about the swim team, contact Neil Wright at s_e_a_y@yahoo.com or visit the website: http://www.sea-y.org/

(Photo from left to right): Jeffrey Collen, CEO of Racine Family YMCA, Kevin Weslaski, Claire Weslaski, and Neil Wright, head coach of SEAY

Katie Lafond, 16, of Prairie School, releases CD

Katie Lafond, a 16-year-old singer, songwriter and student at The Prairie School, has released a CD  with ten of her original songs, called  “Race Your Pulse.” Katie has been playing guitar and writing music for two years -- we've seen her performing Downtown on First Fridays, at Second Saturdays in Kenosha and other events.

A CD release party will be held starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at the Racine Arts Council, 316 6th St.  Katie will play selections from her CD as well as covers from other acoustic artists. Zachary Scot Johnson will join her on stage.

Tickets are $3 at the door. Proceeds will be donated to the Prairie School Music Foundation and Group Workcamps.

Katie recorded “Race Your Pulse” with Scott Defebaugh in Milwaukee. Her mentor and teacher, Zachary Scot Johnson, played violin, dobro, mandolin and keys on the CD. John Laidlaw, Peter Batchelder, Kevin Polster and Scott Defebaugh also accompanied Katie.

Samples can be heard on her website.  Others are on YouTube.

Commentary: The missing 10-year plan

The JT's Stephanie Jones has a story about Mayor John Dickert's missing 10-year plan. Here's the key quote from the mayor:

The document is in my head. I have not written out the 10-year plan anywhere ... the plan is constantly in a changing mode.

That's an amazing statement. Not only does Dickert not have a 10-year plan, other than shifting thoughts in his head, he's not concerned about not having a plan. It's a remarkably honest admission from a politician who is ignoring his No. 1 campaign promise. 

It's hard to see the strategy here. Dickert ran as the candidate who had a long-range plan to help Racine, but hasn't delivered on that project. It's becoming the mayor's defining trait. He promised to bring jobs to the city, but has created few, if any. He promised to bring development to the city, but every commercial project that's come forward has failed or is on life support. 

Dickert's main accomplishment in office is this year's budget, which held the line on property taxes, maintained most city services and  implemented the blue recycling bins to cut down on the city's garbage bill. 

But the city's 2011 budget will be tougher. Stimulus money is drying up and property values declined citywide this year. The mayor and City Council will likely have to increase property taxes or cut services to balance the budget. Either will be difficult in an election year. 

The lack of a "10-year plan" may be worse. First, it's a catchy slogan any opponent will be able to run with. I can already see the campaign lit in the mail: "Where's the 10-year plan?" Simple. Devastating. The plan is something directly under the mayor's control and came directly from his mouth. No one asked him to create a 10-year plan. He said he would do it, and hasn't followed through. Politicians often make promises they can't keep, but this is hard to overlook. 

Second, it's not that hard to write a 10-year plan - unless you're afraid of being held accountable, or you don't have any ideas. We met with the mayor back in October and asked him about the non-existent plan. We even took his ideas and laid them out into what, conceivably, could be be a 10-year plan. It took about an hour's worth of time. The writing is easy. It's the having your ideas pinned down that's difficult. 

Third, it's just a plain old lack of leadership. We've heard from several people that the mayor is tired of being bogged down with the details of running city government. He's a "big picture" guy searching out a $40 million deal with a Chinese developer" or trying to lure a company to town that will bring jobs. You should see his desk, they say. It's covered with projects and work he's pursuing. That's all great, but this isn't the time for ideas.

The mayor, and others, seem to have a vision of an outside savior coming in to save the local economy and return Racine to a time when major companies gave high school graduates high-paying jobs for life. That isn't our city any more. Racine is a mid-sized, ex-industrial city that's losing population. He talks about building homes and pursing lucrative housing developments with out-of-town money, but the local housing market is flooded with people and banks trying to sell and developers aren't building anywhere. 

On a personal level, I like the mayor. He's a good, nice man who cares about the city and the people who live here. But as a citizen and a local political observer, I'm mystified. The mayor seems to be running a textbook pre-campaign on how to weaken an incumbent and entice potential opponents. Instead of scaring people out of the race, like Gary Becker did back in 2007, Dickert seems intent on convincing as many people as possible that they can run and win next spring. 

Maybe I'm dead wrong. Maybe Dickert is taking the hit now on his 10-year plan so it's old news by next year. Maybe he will land a major development or bring in a pile of jobs. Maybe this is the end of a bumpy first year for a politician learning the ropes.

Even so, it's time for the mayor to get his ideas down on paper for the world to see. Grab your buddies, get together in the basement, take out a blank sheet of paper and actually lay out a plan to improve Racine. If you can't do that, you can't lead. If you can't do that, you won't have to worry about next April because you won't make it through February. 

Update: Reading comments here and at the JT, readers appear to be unanimously upset about the mayor's missing 10-year plan. Out of 80+ comments, I haven't seen one defending the mayor.

Update 2: The mayor's online chat at the JT is finished. Interesting that he twice mentioned he'd be rolling out his plans in the "RJT." Interesting to see the mayor buddying up the with the paper, and apparently, the paper returning the love.

RAM treats insects as art

A vignette from Jennifer Angus' exhibit

Three women artists with an affinity for insects have taken over the Racine Art Museum. They have filled two of the museum's big galleries with thousands of moths, bumblebees, beetles and especially cockroaches -- an installation of three related shows designed to humanize these creatures and restore our sense of awe.

There are dollhouses decorated with beeswax and insect parts, fine drawings and visual puns, and five-foot wide photographs of giant cockroaches in unusual poses. Cockroaches in costume; cockroaches being executed; cockroaches taking over our homes.

And yet ... to use a term from Bruce Pepich, museum director, there's no "ick" factor. "The artists have the wonderment of a child. For adults, they reawaken a sense of awe."

Earlier this month we posted, in the Kiosk, a story about these three interlocking exhibitions by Catherine Chalmers (cockroaches), Jennifer Angus (insect patterns) and JoAnna Poehlmann (insectopedia). Tuesday we got a sneak peak, touring the installation with Poehlmann, Pepich and RAM's new curator of exhibitions, Lena Vigna. It was eye-opening, both visually and intellectually.

But first, a disclaimer from Vigna: "No cockroaches were harmed in the making of this exhibition." That made me feel a lot better than a couple of other things she said: "The average candy bar has eight insect legs in it." And, "cockroaches can live a week without their head."

Those two last statements may help explain Pepich's observation about "the discomfort we have of sharing our homes with these insects." But as he passed one of Chalmer's wall-sized photographs he also noted that cockroaches "are much less threatening in pink."

Chalmers' installation is in three parts, featuring video and large photographs of costumed cockroach "imposters," (above), cockroach "executions," (left), and giant-appearing cockroaches inhabiting our homes (actually small dollhouses that Chalmers creates, which makes the cockroaches seem much, much bigger. The story behind Vigna's "none were harmed" disclaimer is that the roaches are chilled, embellished, posed for their closeups, and then thawed out of hibernation. Any adornment then falls off and the cockroaches are, we are assured, none the worse for wear. But whether you want to put one of Chalmers' large photos in your dining room may be another story. (In my case, no need to ask the wife; I already know the answer.)

Poehlmann explained the background of some of her artwork; for example, a miniature book with four beetles created after John Lennon was killed -- hence its title: Homage to the Beatles. She likes "appropriating " other artwork, and adding bugs, visual and verbal puns that play on the original painting. "Taking things out of their original context," is how Pepich described it.

"People give me things," Poehlmann said, pointing to a small sewing box she adorned with insects. "I keep looking for more boxes like that. I just got in the mail a box of 12 bumblebees... I was thrilled."

Lena Vigna in front of a tiny portion of Angus' patterns

Angus' patterns of insect life used the most bugs -- thousands of them mounted artistically on walls around illustrations from a Victorian children's alphabet book, and more in beeswax dioramas staged around dollhouses, like a bug funeral, bugs kissing a cow, scenes from fairy tales. The exhibit took the artist and four workmen almost a week to install. Vigna assured us that Angus "reuses" the insects as many times as she can. And Pepich noted, "A lot of these insects are not Midwestern bugs -- or we'd be doing an installation of mosquitoes, and houseflies."

Here are some quotes from the artists:

Catherine Chalmers: "Insects are a window into the unimaginable... One of the things I discovered when reading up on the American cockroach is that they are no longer found in the wild. They have existed for hundreds of millions of years, have survived several mass extinctions, yet we have succeeded in chaging how they live. Our homes are now their natural habitat. They are, in a sense, our alter-egos, the shadows that clandestinely follow in our wake.... Our hatred of the roach has perhaps grown in proportion to the boundaries we have erected between ourselves and the natural world."

Jennifer Angus: "I never liked insects; after all I grew up in Canada where most things seem to be black or brown and bite or sting. I have a revulsion for earwigs in particular... and I think junebugs are the stupidest insect I have ever seen because of the way they get stuck on their backs and buzz around trying to right themselves."

JoAnna Poehlmann (above): "My reaction to the world of insects is simply awe at the endless variety and limitless subject matter of creation and the desire to reflect what is witnessed."

RAM has scheduled many events around this All The Buzz exhibition, including kids' days, bug days, opportunities to meet with the artists, summer camp and the like. The full list is here.

CAR25 is re-broadcasting Post Prom this week

We've been asking CAR25 -- Cable Access Racine -- when the re-broadcasts of Rotary's Post Prom would be shown. Today we got the answer: Now!

Today's schedule was from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., and 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. The Prom will continue to run throughout the week, we're told.

Our Prom pictures are here.

Star in Racine Theatre Guild's 'The Producers' overcomes broken foot to make opening night

Daniel Martino (left) and Joseph Cardamone (right) in the Racine Theatre Guild's show, "The Producers."

Many theater puns apply to the opening weekend of the Racine Theatre Guild's production of "The Producers," but which is the best?

There's the obvious: "break a leg." Or the philosophical, "Life imitates art." Or the chivalarous: "The show must go on!" All fit the run-up to the RTG's major musical production, which hit a snag worth of, well, a Mel Brooks' show. Let's start with ...

Break a Leg

Actor Daniel Martino (right), who plays Max Bialystock (Nathan Lane in the movie and on Broadway), took the traditional theater saying, used in place of "good luck," which is considered bad luck, literally. He broke his foot during a dress rehearsal five days before the show's Friday opening. Doctors told him he'd have to be off his foot for two weeks. Martino gave the hairline fracture two days, and didn't miss a rehearsal.

Co-lead Joseph Cardamone, who plays Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick in the movie and on Broadway), quipped that Martino "sat out rehearsals - literally." While Cardamone danced and moved around the stage, Martino spoke and sang his parts in the audience. (Cardamone said it was odd feeling to act without "Max" by his side. "I learned what it must be like for the folks in the Star Wars movies," he said. "I had to act without someone there.")

'Life imitates art'

If you want to sound smart, utter this philosopher's line in any situation and people will assume you know something. But in this case, life really did imitate art, in this case, theater.

In "The Producers," which is about a musical within the musical, the lead actor in "Springtime for Hitler," named Franz, breaks his leg on opening night. He has no understudy and the show appears doomed (don't worry, no more spoilers).

While Martino didn't break his foot on opening night, it might well have been. With just five days to opening, the production had no understudy for Martino, who twisted his ankle backstage running for a quick costume change. "Max" is on stage for nearly the entire production, and Martino's preparation would have been irreplacable.

"We were all on pins and needles waiting for the diagnosis," Cardamone said.

The irony of the accident wasn't lost on the cast, he added. In the show, Leo says to Max, "Franz plays Hitler, Max, and he has no understudy."

After Martino's accident, Cardamone said he had hard time not saying to director Doug Instenes, "Dan plays Max, Doug, and he has no understudy."

The show must go on!

Martino took this one to heart. Ignoring doctor's orders, he strapped a boot-cast on his foot and was back on stage in two days.

"It was very clear that nothing was going to prevent him from performing," Cardamone said.

Instenes and the production crew tweaked a few scenes to help Martino get around on his foot, made an announcement about the boot on Martino's foot before the show and, well, the show went on.

Cardamone said he barely noticed a change in Martino's performance. "I'm not sure anyone had any real concern about it," he said. "Short of something that would literally render him incapable of doing it, I suspected he would move heaven and earth to be there."

Show times

Martino, Cardamone and the rest of the cast are back on stage this Friday at 7:30 p.m. "The Producers" at the Theatre Guild runs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday through May 30.

There are also shows at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 22; 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 23; 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 27; and 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 24.

The adult ticket price is $18 for 7:30 p.m. shows and $16 for all others. Discounts are available for seniors, subscribers, groups and students; however, it is not suitable for young children. “The Producers” earns a PG-13 rating, due to its bawdy and satirical humor.

Box office hours are 12 to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 90 minutes prior to curtain through intermission at performances. Advance reservations are highly recommended. For tickets, call 262-633-4218 or order online at www.racinetheatre.org.

Three crocs take up temporary residence at Racine Zoo

Guess who's staying for dinner at the Zoo?

A few visitors from Milwaukee: three crocodiles and a 175-lb. turtle.

An 8-foot long African slender-snouted crocodile, a 5½-ft. West African dwarf crocodile and another 5½-ft crocodile of undeterminable species, came to the Zoo late yesterday and a 175-lb. alligator snapping turtle is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

The Zoo is providing temporary housing and care for the animals,which  were taken into custody as part of an investigation by Milwaukee Police from a home and a warehouse in South Milwaukee last Thursday. Racine Zoo officials were called to assist in the identification and collection of approximately 250 snakes, crocodiles, turtles, alligators, and caimans.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, it's almost timefor Downtown's art project, Hour Town

Artist Sherri Shaver, right, turns over her two clocks to Terry Leopold;
Dragonfly design at right is called Time is flying

Racine's summer-long Happy Hour began Tuesday morning, as artists from all over the city brought their clock creations Downtown, in preparation for the Downtown Racine Corporation's Hour Town public art display.

By noon more than 20 of the large clocks were on hand, and the clock was ticking: the deadline is 5 p.m. today. The 60 clocks will be displayed Saturday night on the lawn of  "Club Wingspread" at a cocktail party for artists and sponsors. Then they will be distributed Downtown for public display beginning Monday.

Puns were much in evidence among the early arrivals. Plaques with names such as Time is flying, Sands of time, It's always time for tea, Big Time, Timepieces, Time flies and Time to sow were affixed to each clock's base. We'll leave it up to you to guess which name fit which clock: for example, one of a large fish trying to select his lunch or one with farm equipment marking the hours.

Terry Leopold, DRC’s special events coordinator, checked in the clocks as they arrived, listened appreciatively to artists' explanations of their designs, and noted that Racine's public art project -- now in its ninth year -- has gone on longer than any other city's.

Time flies when you're having fun, eh?

Richard Harris and Craig Aude mount Time to Sow on its base

Here's a closeup of Time to Sow, by Jayne and Grace Siler

Natasha Miller brings in Marilyn, by her son Mike Miller, 16, of St. Cat's

Time for Change?, left, recreates artist Shepard Fairey's Barack Obama portrait 

-- made out of painted pennies. Its artist Jeff Levonian, won 1st prize

when fish were the subject of DRC's contest a few years ago.
Center, Sun, Moon and Stars, by Mary Lou Dettmer;
at right, Sun and Moon by Lloyd Swager

Racine's Fischer Precise USA receives $63K in tax credits

The state is helping Racine's Fischer Precise USA replace equipment and hire new employees.

Gov. Jim Doyle announced Tuesday that the local company will receive $63,000 in tax credits from the Economic Development Tax Credit Program from the Department of Commerce to help upgrade the equipment for its facility in Racine and create 14 new jobs over the next three years.

Fischer Precise USA provides high speed rotational systems, which are used in many industries such as aerospace, electronic, and medical. The company recently moved its product line to Racine and is investing $1.3 million to upgrade its equipment.

Remembering Richard Kremen, a cowboy from Racine

The life of Richard Kremen will be remembered here on Friday, May 21, at 1:30 at West Lawn Cemetery in a chapel ceremony.

Kremen's spirit "rode off into the sunset" (in the words of his daughter, Sandee Fischlin) on March 16, in Tucson, AZ. Although he lived in Racine for 49 years, Kremen is best known for the work he did after he took early retirement from Webster Electric, after 33 years, and moved with his wife, Norma, to Tucson, when her company relocated there. But we'll let Sandee tell his story:

Little did he know that he was about to become a legend in his own time when he accepted a position working for the legendary Old Tucson Film Studios.  In more than 10 years in the late '70s and '80s with the company he was involved with security and worked with all the film companies that used the studio  for making movies as well as the TV series Little House On The Prairie, Father Murphy and The Young Riders. 

In these TV series, he worked regularly alongside Michael Landon and Merlin Olsen. The Young Riders TV series, about the pony express, ran for two years, starring Steven Baldwin and Josh Brolin; his grandson, Jamie Metz, appeared in many episodes.

With Ben Johnson

in The Sacketts

Richard had the pleasure of working with Robert Conrad, Ross Martin and Jonathan Winters when they filmed Wild, Wild West at the studio and also shot scenes behind his home in Tucson on location.  He worked on many films, such as: The Gambler with Kenny Rogers, Poker Alice with Elizabeth Taylor, Cannonball Run with Burt Reynolds, Three Amigos with Chevy Chase, Steve Martin and Martin Short, Tombstone with Kurt Russell, The Villain starring Ann-Margret, Kirk Douglas and Arnold Schwarzenegger -- and even his daughter,  Sandee (Kremen) Fischlin.

Because of his unique western appearance and personality he was cast in a couple of commercials and a documentary at Old Tucson. But the most fun and notoriety he had was being cast with Tom Selleck, Glenn Ford, Sam Elliott, Ben Johnson, Gilbert Roland, Jack Elam, Slim Pickens and Mercedes McCambridge in a western miniseries filmed for NBC called The Sacketts. It was an epic saga based on two of the novels by western author  Louis L'Amour.

Old Tucson Studios was legendary with film stars such as John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Dean Martin, William Holden and many more too numerous to mention; over 500 movies were shot there, along with many TV series.

Richard Kremen was fortunate to also have been part of the legend of the Old West as he walked the dirt streets where many legendary movie stars did.  He told me that if you listen hard on a still, dark night, you can hear voices yell "action," and see the shadows of some of Hollywood's biggest stars walking the boardwalks along Front Street.  Old Tucson is not only a historical town but also a place that helped form the legend of the Wild West.  His daughter Sandee Fischlin still lives in Tucson and  remains good friends with Bob Shelton, the founder of Old Tucson Studios.
 
Richard also had a well-known Alaskan artist son, Gary Kremen, who died in 2001. A Horlick High graduate, Gary was most noted for his 62-ft. continuous oil painting, A Tribute to Prince William Sound, painted after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. The painting toured the U.S. for two years and was displayed in Racine at Memorial Hall in 2005.

Grandson Jamie Metz, who returned to Racine over a year ago, participated in Downtown's Sunny & Chair event last summer; his chair took third place in the live auction, raising $1,600.  Jamie has gained his own notoriety with the large-scale mural he painted for a pest control company on one of the busiest streets in Tucson. The mural encompassed the entire building.

Although Richard's spirit has since ridden off into the sunset, he will be remembered on May 21 at 1:30 at West Lawn Cemetery in a chapel ceremony as his life is celebrated with family and friends: Son Richard Kremen (Lenore); daughter Sandee Fischlin (David Hansen); grandchildren Jamie and Ryan Metz; daughter Brenda Cook(Steve); sisters Dorothy Mazzie and Ella Carriello and brother Bruno Kremen.

Chris Wright kicks off legislative campaign

Chris Wright, a Sturtevant Village Trustee for the past three years, kicked off his campaign for the State Legislature Monday, with a meet-and-greet at Mike and Angelo's.

Chris Wright with a fervent supporter, daughter Bria, 5

Wright, 33, is director of admissions for a non-profit post-secondary school in Union Grove for adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities. He holds a bachelor's degree in Christian studies, with a minor in sociology, from Kentucky's Campbellsville University.

A Republican, he is running for the 62nd District Assembly seat held for the past four years by Democrat Cory Mason. One reason he's running, Wright says, is that "communication between state and local officials is one-way," and he cites the Regional Transit Authority issue as an example. "I don't feel KRM benefits the people of Sturtevant," he says. "Logistically, to drive to where the station will be in Racine, and then ride to Milwaukee ... well, I could drive the whole way in the time that would take."

He's also opposed to the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority -- "an appointed board with taxing authority." Would he ever favor KRM? "If it could pay for itself," he says, adding, "This is not a great time for the added burden this would create."

He's a Brewers fan, but he's not a fan of the stadium tax, either. "And that's just been extended," he notes. "It's hard to find a way that benefits Racine County." And, "Then there's the cellphone tax, that's been added to landlines..." Speaking of politicians in general, he adds, "You just can't trust what they say."

Three issues he'd champion are:

• -- Fiscal responsibility: He'd like to improve the way government budgets, "to make it more forward-looking."
• -- Integrity: "I want to be able to lower taxes, but it's not going to happen overnight." He says the Village Board "has made every effort to be fiscally responsible."
• -- Business climate: "I want to find ways to improve the business climate." He cites a recent survey of 651 company chief executives that ranked Wisconsin 42nd of all 50 states. A few years ago, the state was ranked 26th. "When it comes to taxes and regulation, there are only three states ranked lower."

He said he would like to work with Rep. Robin Vos, the new governor and local leaders to find ways to improve the business and financial climate." He concedes that accomplishing that "is not my background," but says he would "find people with the expertise."

Wright was accompanied at his campaign kickoff by his wife, Mary -- today was their 7th wedding anniversary -- and their two children, daughter Bria, 5, and son, Luke, 3.

Follow Chris Wright on Facebook.

A new look

A new version of RacinePost is live today. You'll hopefully notice a more organized, flexible and robust site to display our stories and photos. New features include:

* A cleaner, modern layout

* Easier to read fonts

* A redesigned Racine Kiosk to better display events

* A "Positively Racine" section for good news in the community

* Better display for Obituaries

* A "Daily Headlines" box to track news about Racine

* Improved advertising space to maximize exposure and click throughs

* Flexibility for easy expansion

* 'The Big Picture' to highlight local photography and scenes from the community

* An extensive archive of RacinePost stories

Our new front page is part of a site-wide redesign we're undergoing in the new few weeks. Next up: A new commenting system on our stories.

What do you think about our new look? Post comments below and we'll consider them as we refine the design in the coming weeks. 

63-month prison term ends Felner Chronicle

Finally, the Robert Felner Chronicle comes to an end -- with a 63-month prison term.

Almost two years after he was offered the post of chancellor at UW-Parkside, Felner was formally sentenced to prison today, when a Louisville judge accepted a plea agreement tentatively made in January. Besides prison, Felner was ordered to make restitution of $510,000 to the University of Louisville, where he was dean of the College of Education, $1.64 million to the University of Rhode Island and $88,750 to the Rock Island County Council on Addiction in Illinois.

Offered the position of chancellor at Parkside in the Spring of 2008, Felner withdrew shortly before he was due to take office in August -- after it was revealed that he was being investigated on charges of mishandling federal grants.The incident was a major embarrassment for UW-Parkside, and led to a review of UW system candidate search procedures.

Lane Earns then served for a year as Parkside's interim chancellor, until Deborah Ford assumed the post last August.

PageOneKentucky has a complete chronology here.

Our own chronology is here.

How big is the oil spill?

If you're having a hard time visualizing how big the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is, consider this Google Earth app by Paul Rademacher. It takes an outline of the oil spill on the ocean floor and overlays it on any city you'd like in the world. Above is what the spill would look like centralized on Racine. Click here try the app yourself.

$18 car rental fee for KRM is baaaack (maybe)

UPDATE:  SERTA voted this morning to ask the feds for approval to begin preliminary engineering work on KRM. At the same time, they voted against enacting the $18 rental car fee to fund the commuter rail proposal  -- at least until the Federal Transit Administration OK's the application. More from the Journal Sentinel here.

Original post:

Remember the $18 car rental tax proposed to pay our share of KRM commuter rail?

It's baaaaaaack!

Hard to believe, eh?, especially since the Legislature's inaction at the end of the session just last month appeared to bury the Regional Transit Authority legislation once and for all.

The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SERTA) has scheduled a discussion of the "New Starts" application to the Federal Transit Administration for Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail. Members will decide today whether to submit that application -- and if they do that, they will consider "enactment of vehicle rental fee," according to the May 17 meeting agenda. The meeting is at 8 a.m. at Mitchell Airport.

A PowerPoint presentation prepared in April by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission -- which represents Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Walworth and Ozaukee Counties -- assumes an initial $9 vehicle rental fee to be enacted this month, with revenues collected beginning Sept. 1, 2010; the fee would increase to $18 in March 2012, with the expanded revenue collection to begin on July 1, 2012.

Vehicle rental fee revenues are predicted to produce $10 million to $14.2 million a year, from 2017 to 2028. Commuter fare revenues during the same period are projected to raise $5 million to $6.6 million annually. The rest of the needed operating funds would come from state and federal sources.

Last June, Gov. Doyle said he wanted to veto the car rental fee proposal, but he left it intact "because the transit authority must have a local funding source to move forward with the federal application promise." Doyle had proposed a .5% sales tax, but legislators demurred. Other proposals have included a wheel tax; that, too, has gone nowhere. Last month, the Racine County Board voted to authorize a referendum in November, asking voters: " Should any new tax to support transit or rail services, such as a sales tax or local vehicle registration fee, be permitted in any part of Racine County?" That vote would be strictly advisory, and would have no bearing on SERTA's ability to impose a car rental tax (which would be mostly collected in Milwaukee County anyway.)

Citizens for Responsible Government notes, "SERTA is proceeding with applying to the federal government for the project even though they said in December it wouldn’t be considered without passage of still more tax increases by the legislature. Those taxes failed, but SERTA may raise taxes anyway."

SERTA's meeting agenda is here; the link to the New Starts presention is agenda item 7 b.

Post Prom: Racine's rite of passage

Racine's unique high school rite of passage -- Rotary's 58th Post Prom for seniors from eight city high schools -- took place Saturday night under a quarter-moon and the bright glow of the region's most beautiful gowns and brightest smiles.

Almost 1,400 attended -- fewer than expected, perhaps because of some schools' stricter enforcement this year of truancy rules.

The kids arrived at Festival Hall in block-long limos, fire engines, trucks, buses, a towed boat or two, sports cars, a Rolls Royce and antique cars ("Thanks, Grandpa, for the use of your Excaliber!"); three Case High girls -- begowned and coiffed -- arrived on the back of motorcycles.

Once inside, all enjoyed hours of dancing to a DJ, karaoke, Guitar Hero and other games, and plenty of food to keep up their energy levels.

It's a night most will never forget.The event was broadcast on TimeWarner cable channel 25, and will be scheduled again. And Creative Captures Photography was taking pictures all over Prom, and will be posting them -- for sale -- on the web.

In the meantime, here are our pictures of Racine's 2010 Post Prom.

Andrew Jansen holds Lexi Majack for their Prom portrait

RCPJ takes up Palestinian cause on Al-Nakba Day

Elaine Kinch and Pat Chaffee at RCPJ's peace vigil Saturday

Racine was introduced to an unfamiliar word in the protest lexicon Saturday by the Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice.

The word is "Al-Nakba," and it means "the catastrophe" in Arabic -- the day in 1948 when Israel was created and  700,000 Palestinians were driven out of their homeland.

The RCPJ, which has been a monthly fixture at the corner of Highways 20 and 31 protesting the war in Iraq, took up the new cause today, because May 15 is Al-Nakba Day in the Arab world.

Borrowing protest signs from Peace Action Milwaukee, seven members of RCPJ stood for an hour, hoping to educate those driving past. It was a mostly losing battle; what few reactions they garnered with pro-Palestinian signs -- like No U.S. $$$ for Israeli occupation of Palestine -- were more of the thumbs down variety; one driver shouted "Nazi" as he waited for the light to change.

Pat Chaffee took pains to point out, "We're not talking about Jews; we must distinguish between Israel and Jews."

Elaine Kinch said the vigil was about "peace and justice." The creation of Israel forced out more than 700,000 Palestinians. "Today there are 7 million refugees who can't return where they came from."

"When Israel was created, it started ethnic cleansing," she said.

A solution will be difficult, since turning the clock back 60 years to restore Palestinian homelands would displace the European Jews who came when the State of Israel was created on May 14, 1948, by the United Nations' partitioning of Palestine.

Corky Gerard of the Milwaukee Peace Action Coalition, said, "You can't pick and choose which historic claim to support." If you went by history, he said, "Native Americans would probably own your house."

"I don't think there will ever be a peace, because the Israeli government doesn't want it," he said.

Kinch said "you have to divide" Israel to create states for both Jews and Palestinians. Chaffee said this would be impossible, because of the "Swiss cheese" of opposing settlements.

For a fuller explanation of Al-Nakba, go here. Gerard also recommends a documentary film, Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land, about the U.S. media and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Park High students build a car that goes 287 miles per gallon

Washington Park High School’s Design for Industry class competed in Wisconsin’s Energy Efficient Vehicle Association’s 10th annual Super-mileage Competition at Road America May 9-10.

They tested two student built cars in the unlimited class that completed 13 runs total.

Park HS Car #57 took second place in its class with an average of 287 miles per gallon, and a final run of 300.1 mpg!

(photo right) L-R: Seth Muller, Jerrid Orre, Mari Mason, Kyle Erdman, Mr. Caminiti, Justin Helm, Eddie Martinez, Brian Gronholm, and Jimmy Popawski