Work begins to demolish the Highway G bridge at I-94

I-94 at Highway G is tied up now while construction workers demolish and rebuild the overpass as part of the interstate expansion project. Here's a press release from WisDOT (click here for the project website):

As part of the I-94 North-South Freeway project, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is reconstructing the County G bridge at I-94.

Work to demolish the County G bridge is scheduled to begin the week of July 6 during nighttime hours. This work will create noise, dust and some vibrations while the bridge is being demolished. Additional lighting will brought on-site and the contractor will utilize dust control measures.

For safety reasons, full-freeway closures will be used on I-94 at County G during the demolition.

Other scheduled closures near County G that will occur include:

• alternating East and West frontage roads (one frontage road open at all times) through Fall 2009
• County G roadway between East and West frontage roads through December 2009
• long-term closure of County G northbound entrance/exit ramps through • Fall 2010
• long-term single lane closure on I-94 West (NB) throughout 2009 & 2010 construction seasons
• long-term single lane closure on I-94 East (SB) throughout 2009 & 2010 construction seasons

Dickert backs Hispanic Center

Before we get to this story, we'll start with an appeal to commenters: chill out. This story is about Mayor John Dickert, Hispanics and a community center. No doubt any discussions will blow up within a half hour, but can we try at least some sort of civil discourse?

OK, on to the story ...

Rolando Gomez and Marie Olveda Black sent us a press release today saying Dickert is taking steps toward creating a Hispanic Center. Gomez and Black will head an advisory committee on the center and they're looking for people to help transform the idea into reality.

Here's the statement:

MAYOR DICKERT KEEPS PROMISE TO HISPANIC COMMUNITY!

During the campaign John Dickert spoke of creating a much needed Hispanic Center. He has kept his word; preliminary meetings have been held to start this exciting and considerable undertaking. He has appointed Rolando Gomez and Marie Black to lead this project. An advisory committee will be formed in the next few weeks. A target date of 2012 has been determined. With hard work, dedication and cooperation from the community it will be met. The committee is welcoming all who want to participate in creating a Hispanic Center to contact the Mayor’s office at 636-9111.

The center will be designed to house programs in Health, Education, Business Development, Arts and Music Programs, Legal Advice, Family Wellness, Housing Resources, Spiritual Outreach and many more needed services. This is only the beginning. "We encourage the public to become involved and assist in making the center a resource for the entire community and future generations," said Ms. Black.

The center will also work as an incubator and resource for new employees as well as companies looking for workers. "Any way that we can work to bring employees and employers together to get people back to work is a bonus for Racine," said Mayor Dickert.

We sincerely thank Mayor John Dickert for his trust and conviction in keeping his word to the Racine Hispanic Community. He has taken it one step further. Rolando Gomez has been designated as his liaison in the Hispanic Community. Mr. Gomez will keep him up to date on concerns, needs and challenges facing our community.

Marie Olveda Black

Dickert's office confirmed the mayor reviewed and approved the press release.

Girls just wanna have fun: PJ party at HALO

Six "Glamorous Girlz" from San Juan Diego Middle School presented a “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” pajama party to the mothers and daughters at HALO last week.

The girls were able to host the party after writing and receiving a grant from Youth As Resources through the Racine County United Way. The girls planned six different activities, including a beauty station, cookie decorating, karaoke, quilt making, a night time mask station, and pictures.

Mothers and daughters from the shelter, the transitional housing program and the outreach program attended. The girls purchased new pajamas and a goodie bag with girly treasures for each of the attendees. “Everyone got new pj’s and changed into them right away,” said Deejae Kober, 12, who was one of the grant writers. “We wanted everyone to feel comfortable and just have fun.”

Besides the pictures, the karaoke was the hit of the night as everyone took turns singing. Stephanie Kober, family program manager at HALO said, “It was a great idea to do this with the participants, it gave everyone a chance to relax, and kick back and remember (at least for the moms) what it was like to be a kid.”

The party lasted three hours and included a movie and popcorn. The Glamorous Girlz are Deejae Kober, Luna Font, Minerva Galvan, Elissa Ramos, Jessica O’Connor and Jocelyne Mendoza.

Fireworks light up the harbor

And a few more pictures, just for fun

Those spontaneous cheers and applause on TV? Here's the secret...

And, finally, a few random photos from the parade that just didn't seem to fit in any other category.

Abe and George rode Segways, right after the Harleys

A colorful clown from the McMynn Tower

Horlick cheerleader flashes an enhanced smile

Intense Racine Scout in Drum and Bugle Corps

Theresa Peterson, Lil' Irish Leprechaun

A Baby Boomer Biker

'Drop and give me 20!' Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

Central Bark's mascot rode in the parade

From left, Nicholas Rossi, David Hotchkiss, Ernie Rossi, Chelsea Oscarson

and Marie Hotchkiss in their annual family costume competition

Chef and bartender Gary Gibson dressed
in a hot dog costume; picture sent to us by 'Coolcats'

The parade in pictures...

Racine loves a parade, and is rightly known for hosting one on July 4th that is better than most communities. Here are some pictures from today's three-hour extravaganza, mostly in the order of march in which they appeared.

More pictures -- of the kids along the sidelines -- are here.
Pictures of the bubblewrap poppers are here.
Here's the rude reception given Rep. Mason and Sen. Lehman.
And a few more pictures, just for fun

John Dickert and his wife, Teresa, in his first parade as mayor

Miss Racine, Sha-Nita Rhea

American Legion Boys of '76

Tripoli Motor Corps' hair-raising precision

The Academy of Dance

The Lighthouse Brigade

Re/Max Realty brought a fiery hot air balloon demonstration

Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 767

O&H Bakery's float made us hungry

SC Johnson's float won the Ken Weill Grand Prize Award

Park H.S. Cheerleaders

Bill Reid's Art Car Assn. entry won the Tex Reynolds Award

Rotary's Dragon Boat reminds us of next weekend's festival

Racine Threat football club had a float...

...and here is the Raiders' mascot in action

Kilties played Auld Lang Syne at the home of a former member,

Mike Meredith, who was killed in 1992

Mostly, parades are for kids...

Whether they rode in the parade, as the kids above, or just watched from the sidelines, kids had a great time at Racine's July 4th Parade. Here are some of the smiling faces we spotted along the parade route.

And, yes... parade-watching can take it out of you, too. Nap time!

Plane crashes in Lake Michigan just south of Wind Point Lighthouse

A small airplane went down in Lake Michigan Saturday just south of the Lighthouse about 300 yards East of Shoop Golf Course's parking lot. The accident occured about 1:20 p.m. The pilot was helped off the plane by the Racine County Sheriff Department Boat 1.

The Sheriff later identified the pilot as Christopher D. Stone, 51, of Kenosha. He said he was doing practice landings on Lake Michigan when, on his final landing he believes his port pontoon struck an object in the water, possibly a log, which damaged the pontoon and brought the plane to an instant stop from 70 miles an hour. Stone said he suffered some trauma in the accident, but refused treatment.

When the Sheriff's Water Patrol initially responded to the scene the plane was still under power, operating in a circle, with the left pontoon torn from its mounting brackets on the wing, and the plane listing with that wing in the water. Once the pilot cut the power to the engine, the patrol boat was able to come alongside and take the pilot on board; he was wet from the waist down from water in the plane.

The pilot told deputies that if they could cut the damaged pontoon away from the wing, and attach flotation to it, the plane could be towed to a sand beach. The patrol boat was maneuvered to lift the port wing from the water and an air-filled boat fender was attached to the underside the wing to provide flotation for that side of the plane. The plane was then towed to the beach between North Beach and Zoo Beach and secured.

Photographer Kevin Barz was on the scene and took these dramatic photos of the plane down in the water (top) and the pilot's rescue.

The Sheriff's Department approaches the downed aircraft.

The pilot is pulled safely from the plane.