Time ran out on Racine's summer art project Saturday, as the large artist-decorated clocks were auctioned off on Monument Square.
Despite the rain -- which let up just an hour or so before the scheduled start of the outdoor auction -- bidders filled the seats and gave each other a couple of spirited bidding wars. While some clocks sold for just a little above the $350 minumum, six brought $800 or more. The top price went for Sherri Shaver's Poppies in a Poppy, which sold to its sponsor, Ron Jones, for $1,600.
The second-highest price went for Bill Reid's Loonatick, which was snapped up by Gene Johnson -- yes, that Gene Johnson -- for $1,300.
This year marked the ninth season of a Racine summer public art project, the longest run and most successful in the country, according to Devin Sutherland, executive director of the Downtown Racine Corporation, which stages the event. This year is also DRC's 30th anniversary, and to celebrate that milestone jeweler Chris Sklba of Art Metals Studio downtown created a Tahitian pearl necklace worth $1,000 (pearl being the traditional 30th wedding anniversary gift), that DRC gave away in a drawing Saturday. Winner was Kenneth Wesley Kozack of Kenosha. (UPDATE, Sept. 23: DRC said today that Kozack's winning entry was invalid -- the application form "wasn't completely filled out" -- and a new winner was named: Robert Philopulous of Racine.
No word yet on what next year's summer art project will be (we've already had cats, dogs, otters, lighthouses, fish, etc.) -- but everyone at DRC is determined to make the 10th year of the project special.
The first and second place award winners: Fish In Time,
by Robert Andersen, left, and Bill Reid's Loonatick, on stage.
Anderson's sold for $975, and Reid's for $1,300.
Gene Johnson (bidder No. 152) sponsored Loonatick, and determinedly won it.
Sherri Shaver's Poppies In A Poppy brought the highest amount: $1,600.
Chris Sklba with DRC's 30th anniversary pearl pendant necklace
Congressman Paul Ryan was definitely a Tea Party favorite
Towards the end of the Racine Tea Party's rally Saturday at Pershing Park, a woman on stage announced to the crowd that Community for Change was collecting food and money for the Racine County Food Bank. There was a brief pause, perfect for a chorus of boos in response to mention of the organization formed by the volunteers who helped get President Barack Obama elected.
The boos didn't come. Actually, there was a smattering of applause and many people at the rally donated money and canned goods to the food drive. One person walking to the rally gave $20. Another person pulled a quarter out of his pocket saying he was unemployed and it was all he could give.
While it was a day of pointed, even heated, political rhetoric, the Tea Party's gathering was civil, friendly, peaceful. No one called Obama a Muslim. No one ripped Islam. Democrats didn't even take much of a beating. But the message was clear. The government is taking away people's freedom, speaker after speaker said, and it's time for people take their freedom back.
Rep. Paul Ryan was the star of the afternoon. His clear, concise attack on government deficits drew stirring cheers from the crowd of more than 1,000 people standing and sitting on the soccer field in Pershing Park. Ryan noted that you can't love jobs, but hate the people who create jobs. Government needs to get out of the way and allow free markets to work, he said. When he was finished, emcee Vicki McKenna said five people asked her to tell Ryan to run for president in 2012.
Ryan was followed by columnist and TV commentator Jonah Goldberg, who made the same point by comparing taxes and government programs to slavery. Goldberg said only markets create wealth, and that government needs to support markets by reducing debt and entitlement spending.
Author of the NY Times best-seller "Liberal Fascism," Goldberg mixed comedic one-liners in with his conservative libertarian message. He compared the Tea Party movement to white blood cells healing a wound.
A few of his funnier lines:
He said he was proud Barbara Streisand cancelled her subscription to the Los Angeles Times when his column started running in the paper, and that Keith Olbermann has named him "Worst Person in the World" four times. (One of those times was for Goldberg's prediction that the Iraq would have a stable government with no civil war by 2007, a prediction he later admitted was wrong.)
"The definition of 'fascist' is a conservative who is winning an argument."
"I didn't come here today to burn a Koran. You wouldn't want a radical Islamist to get mad at a guy named Goldberg."
He said liberals believe "there's nothing wrong with America that becoming Europe can't fix."
"Canada is Puerto Rico with EU (European Union) sensibilities."
He said the crowd should be "happy warriors" who are justified in their anger because they're on the side of prosperity.
Goldbeg and Ryan were joined by speaker Niger Innis, who is a political consultant and pundit, and Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. Local Republican Lou D'Abrraccio got the crowd fired up about winning in November, along with Lora Halberstadt, Wisconsin Tea Party organizer.
The gathering was perhaps a little smaller than initially anticipated, due in part to a rainy morning, and part to the loss of John Stossel, and then Michelle Malkin, as the keynote speaker. Nonetheless, the turnout was impressive for a local political rally and it's clear the Racine Tea Party is a well-organized group capable of mobilizing large numbers of voters. That bodes well for conservatives in the November election - and maybe beyond.
Then again, things turn quickly. It was just two years ago that Obama and Community for Change looked formidable, and conservatives were on the outside looking in.
Update: Kelly Gallaher of Community for Change writes to say between the clock auction, Home Expo and Tea Party rally that the group raised $707 and a nice amount of food. Wilson's will accept food and cash donations through the weekend as will the Home Expo through closing tomorrow.
Update 2: The JT is reporting 3,200 people were at Saturday's rally. There's no way that many people were there. We actually counted a large portion of the crowd and came up with about 1,000 people. But that's just a point in time and you have to figure in people who came and went from the event, which is probably another 500-1,000 people, bringing total attendance to somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 people.
Wisconsin Atty Gen. JB Van Hollen
Lou D'Abrraccio and radio host Vicki McKenna, who served as MC
Humorist/speaker Jonah Goldberg with Tea Party organizer Lora Halberstadt
Singer Krista Branch, a former American Idol contestant, entertained
Tee shirts gave a good picture of participants' feelings
There was no exact count, but we estimate between 1,500 and 2,000 attended
The Racine Public Library will be closed today to clear the building of a strong chemical odor resulting from the second floor renovations. The library is expected to reopen on Monday, Sept. 13, at 9 a.m.
Materials due on Saturday, Sept. 11, will be automatically renewed. The Mobile Library will make its scheduled stops. Call 262.939.2264 for information about locations and times. Get more Post! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Want to advertise? Learn how!
Spend the night at the historic DeKoven Center and create to your hearts content. It’s 24+ hours of beadin’ time! Laugh, share & create with fellow beaders! Bring your projects or stop in the shop for some inspiration and join us for this Saturday to Sunday bead time. We’ve got beautiful space for beading, several classes to pick from if you’d like to learn something new and a few fun activities up our sleeve!
The camp runs from Saturday, October 30th to Sunday, October 31st. It will be held at The DeKoven Center, just minutes from Funky Hannah’s on the shore of Lake Michigan, 600 21st Street in Racine.
Registration options include (download registration form):
Overnight Package
• $100 per person. Double occupancy, dormitory-style
rooms with shared bathrooms. All meals provided.
($10 additional for single occupancy room.)
Commuter Package
• $50 per person. Bead all day but go home to
the kiddies at night. Lunch & dinner included.
• Bring your own beverages & something sweet or salty for the snack bar. Refrigerator, ice & full kitchen available.
There will also be special Saturday afternoon classes with three amazing bead designers. Add an extra $25 for these classes.
Here’s the schedule:
Saturday, October 30th 10am – check in & bead! Open beading time all day & night! Noon – Lunch & show-n-tell. 1-4pm Classes (optional) with Three Amazing Designers! (Classes cost $25)
Featured designers are:
Anna Draeger: Moons Of Jupiter – A new creation from Anna! Does she ever stop?! This bracelet is out of this world! Stitched with seeds, crystals, delicas & pearls.
Gail Wing: Variation on the Russian Spiral Bracelet – A gorgeous bracelet created with
a variation on the Russian Spiral using size 15 seed beads, crystals or triangle beads.
Leayn Tabili: Flower Ring – Netted with seed beads, this rivoli is framed with leaves and
attached to a metal ring form.
6pm Dinner & White Elephant Bead Swap. –
Bring a sandwich size baggie of stu_ to swap & let the fun begin. 10pm Pajama Run to Funky’s! – If we need to – we’ve got the keys to the place & drivers standing by!
Sunday, October 31st 9am – Open Bead & Breakfast 11am – Make & Take Halloween project with inspiration for upcoming holiday gifts! Noon – lunch on your own…depart at your leisure.
*Take part in as much or little as you want. Plans subject to change! Space is Limited.
Three Racine Unified School District elementary schools were recently named Wisconsin Schools of Recognition by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Jerstad-Agerholm, North Park and West Ridge Elementary Schools were recipients of this impressive award.
To receive this recognition, schools must be either a Title I school or Title I-eligible, be in the top quartile of the state poverty rates, have above-average student academic performance scores on the 2009-10 WKCE exams in reading and math and have met adequate yearly progress indicators for the last two consecutive years.
The 2010-11Wisconsin Schools of Recognition will be invited to attend a recognition ceremony at the State Capitol at noon on Monday, Oct. 18 in which State Superintendent Tony Evers will congratulate the winners. In addition, each School of Recognitionwill receive $2,000 to be used for school-related purposes and will be eligible to compete for a $250,000 Wisconsin Schools of Recognition grant. Teachers at these schools are also eligible to compete for the Wisconsin Schools of Recognition Teacher Fellowship Program.
Village officials of Caledonia, Mt.Pleasant, Sturtevant and North Bay announce the signing of a new intermunicipal agreement creating a joint local board of health and health department to provide public health services to the four communities.
Approved by the four villages this summer and effective January 1, 2011, this agreement allows the four villages to: 1) provide quality public health services at a low cost to their respective communities; 2) provide representation of all four villages on a joint board of health; 3) create a stable health department structure for the mutual benefit of all four partners; and, 4) reflect this new partnership for the provision of public health services by changing the health department name to the Central Racine County Health Department.
The Central Racine County Health Department will continue to provide population-based services to the communities.Public health nursing services include communicable disease surveillance and investigation, low-cost immunizations for children and adults, TB skin tests, blood pressure checks, case management for pregnant and parenting families, car seat checks, health education, and lead case management.Environmental health services include a radon program, a medication collection program, well test kit distribution, and human health hazard, rabies and lead hazard investigations.In addition, environmental health staff license and inspect restaurants, retail food establishments, temporary food establishments, hotels/motels, campgrounds, swimming pools and body art establishments.The health department also works on emergency preparedness, regularly partnering with other agencies to practice and implement response to natural and man-made public health emergencies.
For information on the Central Racine County Health Department, go to our website at www.crchd.com, call 262-898-4460, fax 262-898-4490 or come to our offices at 10005 Northwestern Avenue, Franksville (2nd floor of the US Bank building).
Gateway Technical College has entered into an agreement to partner on future training offerings for RAMAC’s membership.
Gateway will provide its expertise and teach RAMAC’s catalog of training offerings. Classes offered this fall range from supervision training to human resource and effective planning.
“Our new relationship with Gateway allows RAMAC to better meet the training needs of our membership now and in the future,” said RAMAC board President Daniel Risch. “I am excited by the possibilities that this partnership will provide to the association in expanding the breadth of training to which members
Gateway Technical College President Bryan Albrecht said he is looking forward to the partnership forged with RAMAC for the training offerings.
“Gateway is proud to partner with RAMAC to enhance and support the training needs of our local community,” said Albrecht. “This new partnership will increase the service capacity for RAMAC members and strengthen Gateway's commitment to workforce education.”
The move provides RAMAC with the opportunity to tailor course offerings and class sizes to meet the specific needs of its members and the business.
“RAMAC now has the resources to offer nearly any training program that is needed by our members, and has the flexibility to scale our programs accordingly,” added RAMAC President and CEO Michael Kobylka. “Workforce development and having a trained populace is vital to the needs of our business community. RAMAC will continue to work to ensure that our companies maintain the highly trained workforce that is required in today’s global environment.”
Saying "transportation is at a cross roads in Racine County," the Racine Interfaith Coalition and other community groups will hold a forum to discuss transportation issues on Thursday, Sept. 30 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio St., Racine.
The theme of the evening will be: “When people use public transportation, Does the whole community benefit?”
Public officials, religious leaders, business leaders and union leaders are among those who have confirmed their participation. The highlights of the evening will be first-person testimonials from people across the spectrum of the Racine County community who depend on the bus for work, school, to keep their businesses running, and other needs. Personal stories will be shared in person and by video.
The forum will also provide solid facts and a frank discussion on Racine’s transportation, which has recently suffered from a great deal of mis-information. Some of the topics to be discussed will include a snapshot of the dilemma faced by the bus system, the coming transit referendum, what is happening with the KRM commuter rail, and the Regional Transit Authority (RTA).
The evening will also feature a speaker from the national Transportation Equity Network, who will share stories of successes and challenges in other communities, and the link between transit and jobs, as well as the outlook on the national level for investments in Transit. Local experts and community leaders will provide their insights on transit’s role in strengthening the Racine County economy and community.
The public and elected officials from across the county are encouraged to attend this important discussion about jobs, community, and transportation. A reception will follow the program.
The forum is free and open to the public. For more information, please call Nancy Holmlund at (262) 886-3602.
The forum is sponsored by Racine Interfaith Coalition (RIC), and is co-sponsored by: Downtown Racine Corporation, Hispanic Business and Professionals Association, IBEW Local 430, Racine Peace and Justice Coalition, Racine Transit Task Force, Transit Now, Sierra Club-Gateway Group and John Muir Chapter, UW Parkside Student Government.
Ron Molnar speaks frankly when it comes to the Racine County Sheriff’s Department.
“There’s a lack of leadership and a lack of managing resources,” he said.
As the only Republican candidate who doesn’t work for the department, he doesn’t have to worry about hurting his co-workers’ feelings or returning to a job where he challenged superiors. He’s using that freedom on the campaign trail to raise pointed concerns about Sheriff Bob Carlson and the direction the Sheriff’s Department has gone in the past four years.
“I’ve met with police chiefs throughout the county,” Molnar said. “There’s an obvious need for improved relations.”
Improving relationships starts with dialogue, he said.
“Every relationship starts with dialogue and that leads to relationships and relationships lead to trust,” Molnar said. “That’s what’s missing. Trust.”
Specifically, Molnar criticized the Sheriff for losing $710,000 when the state Department of Corrections cancelled its contract with Racine County. County Board members, including Molnar, have tried to investigate what happened for six months, but have made little progress.
“Information about why and what’s being done is sketchy, at best,” Molnar said.
“Citizens I’ve talked to are outraged,” he added about the lost contract.
Molnar also said the Sheriff’s Department needs to stop using the Racine County Jail as a “penalty box” for wayward staff. Right now deputies are reassigned to the jail when they get disciplined or rub someone the wrong way.
“That needs to stop,” Molnar said. “It needs to be a professional occupation. It needs to be a career path.”
There’s no love loss between Molnar and Carlson. The two ran head-to-head in 2006 with Carlson winning by about 6,200 votes. Four years later, Molnar feels the Sheriff’s Department needs a “new direction.”
If elected, Molnar said he would work to improve the Sheriff’s Department’s relationships with Mount Pleasant, Caledonia, and Sturtevant. Right now the Sheriff’s Department handles many incoming calls from the villages and assigns their deputies to take the cases. In one instance, Molnar said, a deputy was called from Waterford to an armed robbery in Mount Pleasant at the same time that there were six Mount Pleasant police officers on the street.
Cases like these lead to tension between the villages and the Sheriff’s Department, Molnar said. He’d address those tensions by re-writing the Sheriff’s Department patrol plan to give the villages more control over their calls for service and using Sheriff’s deputies for backup.
“We need to eliminate the duplication of services, primarily on the east end,” Molnar said. “We’re not in competition with Sturtevant, Mount Pleasant and Caledonia. Our job is to supplement.”
The new patrol plan should free up resources for the Sheriff’s Department to track down the more than 560 people wanted on felony warrants, report illegal immigrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and to cross-train deputies on various jobs, such as water patrol.
Joint dispatch plays an important role in this plan, Molnar said. Right now the Sheriff’s Department handles all incoming 911 calls from cell phones, which is one reason deputies and not village police are dispatched to calls. Moving to a combined dispatch would route all calls to the officer or deputy closest to the scene.
“Consolidated dispatch will help reduce the feelings of frustrations from the communities,” Molnar said.
Molnar is running his second campaign of the year and his third since 2006. He was elected to the Racine County Board in April. His district, No. 14, contains parts of Mount Pleasant and Racine.
He’s now making a run at a full-time elected position that matches up with his career experience. Molnar graduated with a degree in criminal justice from MATC in Madison. He’s also a trained emergency medical technician and a volunteer fire fighter in Kansasville.
Molnar grew up in DeForest the second oldest of five siblings, including four brothers. His Dad worked for the Dane County Sheriff’s Department and his grandpa was a police officer on the East Coast.
Molnar got hired in 1985 by the Department of Corrections and bounced around the state taking promotions and learning different skills. He wound up in the Racine area after the Racine Correctional Institution opened in Sturtevant.
Molnar, who lives in Mount Pleasant, was elected to the Racine County Board this spring. He now works at the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility. Per state law, he’s on a leave of absence from his job until after the campaign.
Molnar’s job performance became news last month after the JT reported he was demoted by the Department of Corrections for rules violations. Molnar said the demotion was political retribution for running against Carlson in 2006. Carlson was appointed sheriff by Gov. Jim Doyle in 2004.
Molnar said his 25 years of experience in working in state prisons qualifies him to manage large budgets, schedule employees, handle evaluations, negotiate contracts, address grievances, oversee training and develop staff.
“I’m not a patrol deputy and I make no apologies for that whatsoever,” Molnar said. “I have enforce state law and statutes and worked with people out in the community.”
Molnar has been campaigning for the Republican nomination since June. He spoke highly of his opponents, Chris Schmaling and Gonzalo Gonzalez.
“I like both of my opponents,” Molnar said. “They’re both good people. If you’re a victim of a serious crime, I would hope Chris was working on your case. I’ve known Gonzo for 15 years. He’s a very good person.
“Each of us thinks we’re the best, each of us thinks we can win.”
Molnar said he’s a true conservative, noting he ran for sheriff as a Republican in 2006. He’s earned several endorsements from local government leaders, including a key endorsement from former sheriff and now County Executive Bill McReynolds.
Molnar said his law enforcement experience outside of the Sheriff’s Department makes him the most qualified for the job.
“I’m from the outside, I’m going to go in there and get things on track,” he said.
UPDATE, Thursday 4:30 p.m: It's getting hard to keep up with who is NOT coming. Now we have word that Michelle Malkin will NOT appear at this Saturday's Tea Party rally.
Original post:
John Stossel is out.Michelle Malkinis in. That's the word from organizers of this weekend's Tea Party gathering in Pershing Park.Fred Dooley over at Real Debate Wisconsin had the scoop. Malkin, a New York Times best-selling author, is a conservative newspaper columnist who has gained international acclaim, and derision, for her occasionally controversial work. In 2004 she wrote a book, "In Defense of Internment" arguing that the U.S. rightfully detained Japanese Americans during WWII and should have racially profiled Arab-Americans in the post-9/11 war on terror. Her latest book, "Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks, and Cronies," was No. 1 on the NY Times best-seller list for six week.
She'll be in Racine Saturday during the Tea Party event from 2-3:30 p.m. in Pershing Park.
(Sidenote: RacinePost actually started as a site meant only to do this. But that was way back in the halcyon news days of 2007 when the Journal-Sentinel had its Sturtevant bureau and newspapers and TV stations' around the country hadn't laid off hundreds, even thousands, of scribes. There was a lot more news being reported back then and Racine popped up a lot more often. As the cutbacks took hold, we started writing more stories to try and fill the void.)
Anyway, we've been doing our morning Google searches this week and it's suddenly gotten a lot harder to sift out local news. Two "Racine" stories are trumping the real Racine (little plug for Dave Blank's crew).
The first is a recount in the Democratic primary for governor of Vermont where Doug Racine is trailing Peter Shumlin by about 200 votes after the Aug. 24 election. Racine's name has been popping up for several months as he ran for Vermont's top seat.
Doug Racine
The second, and much bigger story, is Brad Pitt allegedly cheated on Angelina Jolie with a 22-year-old French model named, you guessed it (or probably have already heard), Racine. Nevermind that the story was reported by Star tabloid and had little to no sourcing. Like everything Brangelina, it's taken over the Twitter and brought some tawdry attention to the good name Racine.
Another common result for a "Racine" search is French dramatist Jean Racine, who apparently achieved "neo-classical perfection." And there are six other communities in the U.S. with the name Racine, which is French for "root." States with their own Racine's include: Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
If we mix all of this together, what do we have? A "Racine" Hall of Fame, of course!
The hall would include history of the seven Racine's in the U.S., the model Racine's body of work,, a tribute to the great Vermont Recall of 2010, and an annual production of "Phedre." If that's not a party, who needs parties?
Web cam view of Mount Pleasant's future Village Hall
I recently ran into Mount Pleasant Village President Carolyn Milkie at the Farmer's Market where she works selling produce for a relative. She gave a quick update on future plans for the northwest corner of Highways 11 and 31.
It's not secret that Pick N Save bought the property that now houses the Mount Pleasant Village Hall. It's prime real estate and made sense for the village to move its aging buildings, including the police and fire departments, to a new location.
What's somewhat news is Milkie said there are plans for three "out buildings" on the site that will house national chains of some sort or another. She couldn't say what specifically is going in there, but at least one of the out buildings has been filled with a national tenant.
As for timetables, the village plans to move into its new building in April. You can check in on progress on the village's web cam at: http://www.mtpleasantwi.gov/pictbox.htm
Hello, my name is Dog. I arrived at the shelter as a stray after being outside for one week.Countryside Humane Society's Animal Control finally got me and I've been happy ever since. I have really blossomed into the dog I should be.
I am an Australian Cattledog Mix, about five years old. I will need an owner who has Cattledog experience. I am good with children ages 14 and up.
I was neutered while at the shelter and I'm up to date with all my shots. Will you provide the loving home I need?
Come see me at at the Countryside Humane Society, 2706 Chicory Rd., or call me at 262-554-6699. Get more Post! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Want to advertise? Learn how!
Malkin, a New York Times best-selling author, is a conservative newspaper columnist who has gained international acclaim, and derision, for her occasionally controversial work.
In 2004 she wrote a book, "In Defense of Internment" arguing that the U.S. rightfully detained Japanese Americans during WWII and should have racially profiled Arab-Americans in the post-9/11 war on terror.
Her latest book, "Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks, and Cronies," was No. 1 on the NY Times best-seller list for six week.
Original post: One if by land, and two if by Racine.
It'll be two bright lanterns for Tea Party supporters this weekend as Racine hosts a Sept. 11 "Tribute and Town Hall" at Pershing Park. The event will feature Fox News anchor and former 20/20 co-host John Stossel, Rep. Paul Ryan, and American Idol contestant Krista Branch, among others.
Thousands of people are expected for the Racine TEA Party event, which is billed as nonpartisan but appeals largely to conservatives rallying against President Barack Obama and Democrats.
Stossel is famous for controversial, provocative, and occasionally exaggerated, investigative stories on national TV. He'll be joined by Ryan, who has embraced the Tea Party movement and is fast becoming a national Republican political leader. Branch, radio host Vicki McKenna, Milwaukee God Squad Pastor David King, and Climate Legislation Expert from Congress of Racial Equality Niger Innis are also scheduled at the rally, which is scheduled for 2-3:30 p.m. in Pershing Park.
Nancy Milholland, Racine Tea Party coordinator, said the gathering is meant to bring attention to economic issues being discussed on the national level.
"November is coming and we want voters to understand that policies such as Cap & Trade would devastate the economy in Wisconsin," Milholland said. “The politicians who have refused to listen to the people while they were losing jobs are also suddenly looking for ways to improve the economy – because they finally realize their jobs are now on the line. It’s much too little too late."
The last major Tea Party gathering drew 4,000 people for a bonfire. This event is expected to draw many more, thanks to the national figures.
The TEA Party gathering is drawing criticism. Local critics, pulling from the TEA party members' own websites, paint a picture of angry, fearful people who seem open to violence in response to government policies. Here's a selection of writings by the 912 Patriots of SE WI, a group closely aligned to the TEA Party:
·“I certainly hope that is the case but I feel they will go house by house and take away your guns quietly, just like they did in Katrina… How will your neighbors know if they come to take your guns and what will you do? “
·“Like the TEA Party, armed citizenry won't have a head to cut off and stop them. Anarchy will be our friend if we are prepared. I'm not too worried.”
·“Let me just say at the onset that I no longer recognize this communist regime as a legitimate US government. With all the attributes that come with illegitimacy. Therefore whatever they have to say has no effect on my life. I will do what ever I feel is constitutional and is within the pages of the Bible. At this point I will send the first government employee who gets in my face and tries to impose rule over me on to judgement. The war is inevitable if the senate doesn't squash this monstrosity the communist's call health care. I don't mind, as a matter of fact I would be honored to fire the first shot. You see even if they kill me, I still win for I died FREE.
Just a thought.”
·“We must pray for Holy Vengence on the evil people in DC so that the Final bill is defeated...”
·“The Italians had the right idea when they had a party for Mussolini after WW2. They dragged him out in the public square, hung him upside down and castrated him.”
·“I've done the math but I ask all open their eyes and prepare accordingly. I would rather and I pray I'm wrong but if I'm right I would rather be prepared. If your not prepared be willing to accept what you prepared for. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve [liberty] but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined. Patrick Henry “
·“Revolution sounds good to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
·“This is the LAST straw. This muslim in the White House has tipped his hand… I have had it with trying to fight them using the law… THIS OVERTHROW OF OUR COUNTRY IS DIBERATE. IT IS TIME THAT WE STOP PUSSY FOOTING AROUND WITH THESE TRADERS… This is not going to stop without revolution. The elections are fixed, the laws are changing to imprison us…”
·Removed from website: “I agree we are beyond compromise. ..We can always weed out the treasonous ones as we go election to election. Now you know how I feel about doing this the slow way and if I had my way all these sob's would be placed in one massive burial.
I get through my frustration by realizing that anything these politicians do that is not within their power to do simply does NOT apply to me. Gun laws, vaccinations, freedom of speech etc. I will do what ever I want as though they don't exist. If the time comes that they get in my face before the true changes can be made then that will be time to exercise my rights with extreme prejudice.”
·“I wanted to forward this and let the group know that I posted our Sat event on Oath Keepers with an open invite to any and all that would like to attend from that group.”
·“Our country is a sinking ship. I believe we could use a life boat at this point. With no other real option we need to get behind conservative candidates (maybe with a gun to their head) holding them accountable and I pray, plug the hole in the hull.”
·“The Muslims gather like roaches in small communities…”
·“No Muslim should be allowed to hold office anywhere in the United States or in any non-Muslim country period… Allowing them in is no different than allowing a communist into office, or a Nazi…”
·“The Islamic mosques and Islamic schools should be closed as they are dens of evil full of followers…”
Update: Angela at the Racine Fire Department confirmed today that the family had a permit to launch fireworks off Saturday night. The permit cost $50 and was issued to a professional pyrotechnics company, which handled the display. Permits are typically issued to professional companies, and are given out after a fire department inspector reviews the site for safety issues. Angela said she's never seen a private resident get a fireworks permit. As for the timeliness of the display, the permits are usually for shows around dusk. But Angela said the fire department didn't enforce any rules on time. Those are handled by the Health Department, she said.
Original Post: A number of people wrote this morning to ask about a fireworks display late Saturday night on the city's north side. The display occurred around 11 p.m. and woke a number of people up.
We put the question out to our Twitter followers, and here's what we found:
The fireworks were set off from the end of Michigan Boulevard to celebrate a wedding. The celebrants apparently had a permit from the city for the display.
"Whoever it was spent a lot of money," one reader writes. "They were launching 4 to 6 inch shells every few seconds for 12 minutes. I guess each shell is $50-$100. It was quite a show and the bums woke me up!"
Here's another reader:
"It seemed to be near the north side of Racine and a professional display versus some backyard hooligans. It woke up most of us in the area but nobody seems to know who was responsible for it. That hour of the night was unreasonable and someone should be taken to task for it."
We'll have to wait until tomorrow (offices are closed today) to find out how someone acquires a permit to launch fireworks. More as we know it ...
Last Saturday, an old friend invited me to attend the 5th Annual Fishing with the Vets outing, organized and run by the “Friends of Veterans” in Wind Lake. The event has become a yearly tradition that brings together veterans, living at the Union Grove Veterans Home, with volunteers who provide our vets with some well-deserved R&R. The event is based at the Wind Lake public boat launch, where canopies and tables are pitched so the vets can enjoy a wonderful spread of home cooked food, take turns fishing on pontoon boats, or simply enjoy the ride.
It was an honor to be invited, but the real privilege was being able to stand amidst the remnants of the American hero, described by Tom Brokaw as “The Greatest Generation.” Long after the din of the battle has faded, they course through the twilight of their lives; quiet sentinels of a hard earned freedom that should never be taken for granted.
Today, our veterans continue to pay the toll required of us so we may enjoy the privilege of being called Americans. The legacy of the American serviceman lives on, epitomized by the men and women who serve in the armed forces of the United States, at home and oversees. It is a fundamental bond that spans generations and unites us in the common cause of the American dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As I watched these grizzled warriors quietly move out, my mind wandered back to General Douglas McArthur’s farewell speech at West Point. It remains one of the most stirring tributes to the American Serviceman that I’ve ever read, evoking an emotional response that rises from deep within and gets lodged in my throat. General McArthur distilled that credo, that bond, into three simple words that remain just as real today as they were back then, “Duty, Honor, Country…”
I leave you with a quote from the General’s parting words and urge you to remember that freedom isn’t free. It has been bought with the sacrifice of countless men and women who believed in this good and noble cause—a rich and wondrous melting pot called America.
“The shadows are lengthening for me. The twilight is here. My days of old have vanished - tone and tints. They have gone glimmering through the dreams of things that were. Their memory is one of wondrous beauty, watered by tears and coaxed and caressed by the smiles of yesterday. I listen then, but with thirsty ear, for the witching melody of faint bugles blowing reveille, of far drums beating the long roll. In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield. But in the evening of my memory I come back to West Point. Always there echoes and re-echoes: Duty, Honor, Country.”
General Douglas McArthur
May 12, 1962
To the veterans who have come before us, are here today, and are yet to come—thank you for your service.
Early in his adult life Chris Schmaling realized he loved two careers: law enforcement and business. His choice? Both.
Schmaling, a candidate for Racine County Sheriff, opened the first of two Subway restaurants at the same time he was hired as a sworn officer with the Sheriff's Department. He was just 23 years old.
"When I went for the loan the bank asked, 'How are you going to do both?'" Schmaling said. "I wanted to prove I could do it."
Many days working 16 or more hours, Schmaling built up a law enforcement career while also building his small business. As he learned to be an undercover officer, jailer, patrolman and investigator, he also learned how to manage a staff, work the accounting books and market his business. Both paths paid off.
Schmaling worked his way up to investigator in the Sheriff's Department and helped solve a number of high-profile cases, including the Teri Jendusa-Nicolai abduction. He also opened a second Subway restaurant and built up his businesses to $500,000 a year in annual sales, and then sold the restaurants for a healthy profit when he and his wife were expecting their first child.
Schmaling is now looking to combine his law enforcement experience with his business background as Racine County's next sheriff. He said his background in both areas make him uniquely qualified for the job.
"The Sheriff's Department needs to be run like a business," he said. "If you look at the position of sheriff, they have customers who are paying for a service. Their job is make sure the business is top notch."
Schmaling, the youngest of nine siblings, said the drive to pursue two careers at once came from his father, who was a life-long factory worker at AMC, later Chrysler, in Kenosha. "He worked every day and took every hour of overtime he could get," Schmaling said of his father.
Schmaling's law enforcement career began in jail. After graduating from Bradford High School, Schmaling earned an associates degree from Gateway Technical College in criminal science and was hired on at the Lake County Correctional Facility in Illinois. He watched 20 inmates in an open room with little back up. "There was nothing between you and the inmates," Schmaling said of his first duty. "You learned how to talk to people real quick."
Former Sheriff, now County Executive, Bill McReynolds hired him as a sworn officer in 1995. During the interview, McReynolds asked Schmaling where he saw himself in 15 years. Schmaling's response? "Sitting in your chair interviewing someone like me." As Schmaling recalls, McReynolds chuckled and then offered him the job.
His first work with the Sheriff's Department was as an undercover drug buyer. "My first time out I bought marijuana and cocaine," Schmaling said. 'I didn't have any use for drugs, have never used them in my life, but I fit into the role well."
Schmaling then transferred inside the Racine County Jail and then became a patrolman, where he responded to calls, learned how to collect evidence and investigated traffic accidents. "I wanted to be a cop who could do different things," he said.
Schmaling worked his way into an investigator's job, where he took on several difficult cases. He was the lead investigator on cases against at least three law enforcement officers, and built cases to have all of them dismissed for illegal activities. Those cases drew commendations from local police chiefs and prosecutors.
"I told the law enforcement officers I was investigating, 'I can be your best friend or your worst enemy,'" Schmaling said. "'If you're innocent, I'll work long and hard to prove you didn't do it. If you're guilty, I'll work long and hard to prove you did.'"
The Jendusa-Nicolai case earned Schmaling and his fellow investigators and officers national attention for saving the Waterford woman's life. Jendusa-Nicolai was savagely attacked by her ex-husband, stuffed in a garbage can and dumped in a storage locker in Wheeling, Ill. Schmaling and Detective Keith Dobesh worked the case for over a day straight, interrogating suspect David Larsen and following up on leads. Dobesh found a receipt in Larsen's wallet for the storage locker, and police found Jendusa-Nicholai beaten, bound and left for dead in freezing conditions.
Schmaling got to the scene where Jendusa-Nicolai was found just as she was being wheeled into an ambulance. "Her hair was charcoal, wet from blood," he said. "I'd seen a picture of her and she was this beautiful, vibrant woman. When I looked at the woman (on the stretcher), I was asking, 'Could that be her?' She looked nothing like the picture. I couldn't make the ID, so I ran up to her and said, 'What's your name?' 'Teri from Racine,' she replied."
Word of the story spread around the country. The case is remarkable because police located Jendusa-Nicolai alive more than a day after she disappeared. "He'd come to expect we wouldn't find her alive," Schmaling said.
Now, Jendusa-Nicolai is a national figure. She's appeared on several TV shows, including Oprah, and gives talks to young women about early signs of an abusive relationship. She's helped many women avoid serious injury and abuse.
"Teri is a fantastic human being," Schmaling said. "She's someone you want to listen to."
The case also got Schmaling some national TV time. He and Dobesh appeared on Oprah with Jendusa-Nicolai and recapped the investigation that led to her rescue.
Schmaling said his experience on the Jendusa-Nicolai case, and several others, prepared him for the complexities of being sheriff. While there's an administrative side to the job, he said, it's also critical to have a strong officer in the position to ensure public safety. When emergencies arise, Schmaling said, he would be prepared to respond and guide efforts to help people in need.
"You need to have top-level law enforcement," he said. "Racine County's top cop should be held to a high standard."
As sheriff Schmaling said he would use his business experience to find creative ways to save money and improve service. One example: He'd like to allow jail inmates to pay to video conference with visitors. Computers would be set up in the jail and inmates could communicate with their family, friends or lawyer. The county would make money off the service by charging, and save money by reducing visitation hours.
"It'd be a way to streamline and make money at the same time," he said.
Schmaling is also an advocate for installing the Victim Information and Notification Everyday, or VINE, system. The computer system would allow the public to sign up for email, phone or text updates whenever an inmate is released from the jail. For example, the victim of domestic abuse could sign up to be notified when their attacker is released. That would give them time to lock the doors or, if needed, move to a new location.
The state is making the system free to the county, and grants would cover annual maintenance costs, Schmaling said.
He also said he'd support joint-dispatch efforts, and work to build relationships with local, state and federal government agencies to rent out excess beds in the jail.
To get a chance to work on his ideas, Schmaling will need to win the Sept. 14 Republican primary election against Gonzalo Gonzalez, a sergeant with the Sheriff's Department, and County Board Supervisor Ron Molnar. The general election is Nov. 2.
So far it's been competitive race between three candidates who have split support three ways among local conservatives and officials. Schmaling has strong support among local law enforcement, including Sheriff Bob Carlson, and endorsements from all of Racine County's prosecutors. He's up against Gonzalez, who is backed by many local conservatives, including the Ladwig family, and Molnar, who is being supported by McReynolds and several local politicians.
The only specific Schmaling made with his opponents was to note that they're at different points in their careers. While Gonzalez and Molnar are closer to retirement, Schmaling, 38, said he's mid-career and will be held accountable by voters because he'll be looking to get re-elected and continue his career.
"I have to be successful as sheriff," Schmaling said. "I'm only halfway through my career."
Schmaling said he's been a life-long conservative and holds the same beliefs his parents instilled in him. He chose to run as a Republican based on that background. "I'm very conservative," he said.
But Schmaling added he's looking for support across parties. The Sheriff's job is about protecting the public, regardless of their political beliefs. He said one woman asked for a campaign sign for her yard, but then gave it back when she learned Schmaling was a Republican. Wait a minute, he told her, in all of the years of being an officer do you think I ever asked someone what their political beliefs were before helping them? The argument worked and the woman put a sign in her yard, Schmaling said.
Schmaling, who's on a leave of absence from his investigator's job, said he's enjoyed campaigning door-to-door and talking to community groups. This week he met with seniors at St. Monica's, a Lions Club in Union Grove and hit the streets in the Town of Waterford. Even has family has enjoyed the race, Schmaling said. His wife, Jennifer, is his campaign manager. Together they have three children ages 12, 11 and 6. They live in Mount Pleasant.
"Win or lose, I've been flattered by the support," Schmaling said. "I would run again in four years."
But he's hoping to win this year, and feels like police and business careers set him up well to succeed.
"You need more than law enforcement experience to run the Sheriff's Department," Schmaling said. "You need business experience, you have to be good with finances, and you have to be a good cop."
