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Lauderdale Lakes BREEZE SPRING 2022 • First Edition
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Area man killed in boat explosion
A boat explosion on Lauderdale Lake in the Town of LaGrange April 1 claimed the life of Jesse Perry. Perry was working with a crew of two others installing piers on the lake when the explosion occurred, according to the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office. A GoFundMe page for Perry’s family has raised more than $26,000 as of mid-May. Perry leaves behind two children and two step-children and his wife, Teresa. “Jesse was a faithful husband, devoted father and a great friend,” the GoFundMe page states. It went on to detail the explosion, which matches the information from Walworth County Sheriff’s Department. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the department received a 911 call about 12:30 p.m. April 1 regarding some kind of explosion on the lake. Emergency responders were immediately dispatched to the area and deputies located a pontoon-type barge on the shoreline off of Stewart Drive with significant damage. Three male victims were located and medical first aid was administered. One male victim was transported to a local trauma center with severe injuries, another male was treated and released and the third male, Perry, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Walworth County Hazardous Materials Unit assisted with a fuel spill. The three males worked for a local pier service and were in the process of installing a pier when the explosion occurred. The cause of the explosion is under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, the Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Assisting agencies include the Lauderdale LaGrange Fire and Rescue Department, Elkhorn Area Fire Department EMS Division and the Walworth County Hazardous Materials Unit.
An explosion of a work barge on Lauderdale Lakes in early April claimed the life of one man. SUBMITTED PHOTO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
Evergreen GM optimistic about future by Jennifer Eisenbart EDITOR
I
n a management position since 1990, Evergreen County Club General Manager Bill Rogers knows his way around the golf course. First he was golf course superintendent then he moved into
the GM role. With the country club switching hands in a sale recently, Rogers said he will remain as GM – and he expressed excitement with new owner Nehang Anand. “General feeling, in the last 10 years, golf was dead,” Rogers said. “He thinks the complete opposite. “He’s very high and bright on the future of golf,” Rogers added. “Golf
courses have been doing very well the last few years, and that might be the new trend.” The club was sold to Anand for the price of $3.2 million, according to documentation by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Anand has interest in several golf properties in the state of Wisconsin, though none in the immediate area. The previous owners had decided
to retire, Rogers explained. He also added that Anand has a background in IT, and immediately began working on upgrading the computer systems at the golf club. “He’s there virtually every day,” Rogers said. “His background is computer IT, so he’s instrumental in getting everything up and running See FUTURE • Page 4
About Evergreen Evergreen Country Club in Elkhorn has a long and rich tradition in Wisconsin golf as one of the state’s premier places to play, a club dedicated to giving you gracious and friendly professional service along with excellent conditions and value. The club is proud to be ranked as a four-star Golf Digest golf course and a consistent Geneva Lakes Area favorite, and is also a wonderful destination for your next golf outing or fund raising event for See EVERGREEN • Page 4
Lauderdale Lakes
BREEZE A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC
Evergreen County Club, which has enjoyed a long and storied history in Walworth County, was recently sold to a new owner – one committed to the sport of golf. PHOTO COURTESY MATT MCGUINNESS/FINE IDEA STUDIO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
For advertising opportunities in the Breeze or any of our weekly newspapers or other specialized publications, please call PETE HANSEN at (262) 723-2250
Page 2 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Spring 2022 • First Edition
Karen Ostermeier Lakefront Real Estate Specialist
W5135 Bay Shore Dr ∙ La Grange ∙ $769,900 Spacious move-in ready lakefront home on 60 feet of Lauderdale Lakes frontage.
W5625 Westshore Dr ∙ La Grange ∙ $2,995,000 The Lauderdale Landing. Successful, family owned, waterfront restaurant on 215 ft. of crystal clear, sought-after Lauderdale Lakes frontage. Spacious inside dining w/FP and extra bar for private parties.
W5713 Ridge Rd ∙ La Grange ∙ $649,900 75’ of Lauderdale Lakes frontage awaits in this freshly painted, inside & out, 3 BD 2 BA walkout ranch w/1.5 car detached garage.
0000 Placeholder Ln ∙ Neighborhood ∙ $000,000
W5229 Surfwood Dr, 8 ∙ La Grange ∙ $214,000
N7390 Arrowhead Ln ∙ La Grange ∙ $1,750,000
Private lakeside unit in Lauderdale Shores Condominiums on Green Lake surrounded by well-placed trees and perennials.
Everything you & your family will ever need in a lake home or fulltime residence rests on 95’ of prime Mill Lake frontage on Lauderdale Lakes in neighborly Arrowhead Assoc. Cape Cod w/6 BD & 4 full BA.
Karen.O@Compass.com Tricia Forbeck is a real estate licensee affiliated with Compass, a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Keefe RE agents are now licensed with Compass.
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Wandering cops Spring 2022 • First Edition
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 3
Nearly 200 Wisconsin officers back on the job after being fired or forced out By Peter Cameron FOR WISCONSIN WATCH
One officer was accused by a supervisor of snoozing in his squad car while on duty. Another had multiple drunken run-ins with police, including after bar fights. A third repeatedly sent lewd photos to a female officer. All of them were fired or forced out. And all of them are back working in law enforcement in Wisconsin. Nearly 200 law enforcement officers currently employed in the state were fired from previous jobs in law enforcement, resigned before completion of an internal investigation or in lieu of termination, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Justice obtained through an open records request. And more than 1,000 Wisconsin officers have been fired or resigned before termination since 2017, when the state DOJ started tracking that statistic. Some of the most serious offenses include Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff Janelle Gericke, who in January was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to burglary. Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Deputy Joel Streicher ran a red light in his police SUV and hit a vehicle, killing a man and injuring a woman. He was sentenced in April to six months in jail. But the state revoked the law enforcement certification of both officers, meaning they can no longer work as police. As of July, Gericke and Streicher were the only Wisconsin officers decertified since January 2020, said Steven Wagner, director of the DOJ’s Training and Standards Bureau. Usually only severe misconduct, such as criminal activity, results in a decertification, according to the state Law Enforcement Standards Board, which regulates police officers, sheriff’s deputies and prison guards. Some fired officers were simply novices who didn’t perform at an acceptable level during their initial probationary period, when the bar to fire them is very low, experts say. Or they couldn’t handle the high pressure of working in a busy urban area. But for others, misconduct including lying, public intoxication and sexual harassment triggered their termination. Rehiring fired law enforcement officers can be a problem for good policing, said Meghan Stroshine, a social and cultural sciences associate professor at Marquette University who has studied policing, because “a lot of the folks who have been fired and rehired end up getting in trouble again.” Repeated run-ins with the law Jacob Ungerer was no stranger to the Waukesha Police Department when the neighboring New Berlin Police Department hired him in 2018. In 2016, Waukesha officers responded to a drunken fight that prompted a local bar to permanently ban Ungerer and a friend, according to a police report. In 2018, Waukesha Police got called to a fight at another tavern. Ungerer, by then beginning his stint with New Berlin Police and out for a night of drinking, appeared to be “heavily intoxicated,” according to a police report. Video from the bar showed Ungerer swinging at a man, pursuing a man and getting punched in the head, knocking him to the ground. Six weeks later, Ungerer was riding in the passenger seat with another off-duty New Berlin police officer when Waukesha Police pulled them over under suspicion of
The Lauderdale Lakes Law Enforcement Patrol near Elkhorn employs five officers who have lost other jobs in law enforcement – the highest number of any police department in the state. Patrol Chief Christopher St. Clair said via email his department runs a “detailed background check” before hiring officers and was aware of the job histories of all five officers. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES LAW ENFORCEMENT Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
drunk driving. A “visibly intoxicated” Ungerer held his police ID in his lap so it was visible to the on-duty officers, according to a police report. Still in his probationary period, he was fired a few days later for excessive use of alcohol and “unbecoming conduct,” according to documents from the New Berlin Police Department. About 18 months later, the Middleton Police Department hired him. Ungerer was asked for comment but did not offer any; his chief answered questions on his behalf. Middleton Police Chief Troy Hellendbrand said in an email his agency conducted a thorough background check before hiring Ungerer, and it was aware of “the circumstances surrounding the ending of his employment.” Hellenbrand said Ungerer “made some changes in his personal life all in hopes of preventing making further mistakes like he had in 2018.” He added that the officer recently completed his 18-month probationary period without incident.
the political right, untouched. So departments must choose carefully. David Bauer, chief of the Dodgeville Police Department, said job candidates he determined had lied is a “bright line rule for me.” Because police officers are often required to testify in criminal trials, those officers’ reputations are incredibly important, Bauer said. “I can’t put someone on the stand that had issues with honesty,” he said. Patrick Solar, a criminal justice associate professor at University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a former police chief, takes an even harder stance: A termination for a cop should be a death sentence on his or her law enforcement career. “Police officers hold positions of public trust, they are oath takers,” he said. “Once they have been proven to have violated that oath, I believe the possibility of reemployment in the craft should be forfeited,” Solar said in an email. Solar makes a distinction, however, between officers fired because of misconduct and probationary officers who commit minor infractions during their probation, when the bar to fire them is much lower.
of state police academy graduates hit at least a 10-year low in 2020. Law enforcement officers in Wisconsin must complete a 720hour law enforcement academy program. Fired officers already have that certification, so police departments can put them to work immediately, providing an incentive, particularly for smaller departments, to hire fired officers, Solar said. The Lauderdale Lakes Law Enforcement Patrol near Elkhorn has five wandering officers on staff, the highest number of any police department in the state. Lauderdale Lakes Chief Christopher St. Clair said via email his department runs a “detailed background check” before hiring officers and was aware of the job histories of all five officers. Those officers have performed “more than satisfactorily” and have not committed any misconduct, he added. The Town of Madison Police Department has three wandering officers on staff, as do the police departments at UW-Oshkosh and the Wisconsin State Fair Park Police Department. Town of Madison Police Chief Scott Gregory said via email that psychological assessments and Transparency bill mulled extensive background checks were completed on all the officers, and A tactic of some wandering that the officers disclosed their officers is to agree to leave a terminations during the hiring police department without a fight process. if the agency seals their file. Solar “Needless to say, mistakes acknowledged he used to do that as were made by the officers at small-town police chief in Illinois to their previous employment and avoid confrontation with powerful additional training occurred here police unions. to ensure those mistakes would A bill that would require law not occur again,” Gregory wrote, enforcement agencies to maintain adding all three were doing an a personnel file for each employee “excellent job.” and disclose that file to any agency UW-Oshkosh Police Chief that may want to hire them has Kurt Leibold said two of the bipartisan support. If enacted, three officers had previously the measure would bar future and successfully worked for his nondisclosure agreements that department, and all three were shield police personnel files from terminated during their probationary prospective employers. period, “when an agency can let The head of the Wisconsin an officer go for any number of Professional Police Association reasons, including that the officer supports the bill. simply was not a good fit.” Leibold “No one wants a bad cop out of added that they were not fired for the profession more than a good misconduct. one,” WPPA Executive Director Wisconsin State Fair Park Police James Palmer said. Chief James Bruno did not respond to questions about the wandering Supply of officers tight officers on his staff. For police chiefs trying to fill Wisconsin’s wandering out their staff, times are tough. The officer registry number of law enforcement officers DOJ’s publicly available in Wisconsin as well as the number
database of wandering officers puts Wisconsin ahead of some states which don’t disclose police misconduct at all. Police disciplinary records in Wisconsin are public unless they are related to an active investigation; the database is available by public records request. Law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin must report the firings or resignations under pressure of officers to the DOJ, according to state rules, but agencies are not required to check the registry before hiring an officer, said the DOJ’s Wagner. Departments are required to report the hiring of an officer, and the DOJ will alert them of officers flagged for being fired or resigning before a termination, according to the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board Policy and Procedures Manual. At the national level, activists have pushed for a national “bad cop” registry. House Democrats passed the sprawling George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 that would enact one. A National Decertification Database of police officers already exists, used by Wisconsin and 43 other states, yet it does not include officers who committed misconduct but kept their certification, said Michael Becar, executive director of the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training, which manages the database. In the meantime, experts have advice for police departments who need to fill positions. “Be extremely careful about who you hire and what their backgrounds are,” Stroshine said. “We know from a lot of research that there tend to be a small group of officers who cause departments the bulk of their problems.” Peter Cameron is managing editor of The Badger Project, a nonpartisan journalism nonprofit based in Madison. The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (wisconsinwatch. org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison, any of its affiliates or Southern Lakes Newspapers.
Study: Fired officers often fired again A huge study in The Yale Law Journal titled The Wandering Officer found that Florida cops who had been fired from a previous law enforcement job were more likely to be fired from their next job or to receive a complaint for a “moral character violation,” compared to rookies and officers who have never been fired. The study analyzed nearly 100,000 full-time law-enforcement officers from almost 500 agencies in Florida over a 30-year period. The study concluded that “wandering officers may pose serious risks, particularly given how difficult it is to fire a police officer.” Union contracts can give police officers strong job security, sometimes even when misconduct is committed. The controversial Act 10 legislation passed by Republicans in 2011 crippled Officers Riley Schmidt (from left), Jacob Ungerer and Ben Dolnick are some of the nearly 200 law enforcement officers organized public-sector labor in currently employed in Wisconsin who have been fired from previous jobs in law enforcement, resigned in lieu of termination Wisconsin, but largely left police or quit before completion of an internal investigation and fire unions, groups that lean to PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, MIDDLETON POLICE DEPARTMENT FACEBOOK PAGE AND THE DANE COUNTY Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
Page 4 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Spring 2022 • First Edition
Flying across the water
The Southern Wakes United Water Ski Show Team is a merger of the Lauderdale Aqua Skiers and the Whitewater Lake Sports Club – and the only water ski team in Walworth County. The team performs throughout the county, including in Elkhorn, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. DAVE DRESDOW FILE PHOTO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
LAUDERDALE LAKES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION EVENT LISTING The objective of the LLIA is to encourage and assist in the general work of protecting, improving and adorning the Lauderdale Lakes, situated in the townships of LaGrange and Sugar Creek in Walworth County. June 11 – LLIA Annual Membership meeting 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The annual event will be held at Lutherdale Camp, N7891 US-12, Elkhorn. Agenda and details will be set at a later date July 2 – Lake Community Event Sponsored by the Lauderdale Lakes Yacht Club, there will be fireworks celebrating Independence Day from 9:30 to 10 p.m. on Lauderdale Lakes. Anchor your boat in Don Jean Bay, and tune into 96.1 WLKG for synchronized patriotic music. For those viewing from the Lauderdale Lakes Golf Club, parking is available after 8:30 p.m. August 20 – LLIA Directors Meeting Nov. 12 – LLIA Directors Meeting The agenda and meeting details will be communicated in advance, but the meeting will take place from 9 to 11 a.m.
right: Large indoor spaces and restaurants on site at Evergreen make for easy banquet space. FILE PHOTO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
FUTURE • from front page for us.” Rogers said that customers should expect the more of the same, but better – including better service, an updated and improved website and perhaps a golf simulator. In addition, he said that it appears to be a goal to have the restaurants on the site open year-round. Rogers did say that the postponement
of the Friday Fish Fry at the facility was because of the sale. “Ideally, we would’ve opened the week of Fat Tuesday,” he said. In the meantime, Evergreen has also opened up for the golf season. While weather early on in the spring was questionable, spring is now in full force and making the course more appealing.
Rogers said he expected more and more customers as the weather continued to warm up, and, of course, high school golfers are on the course as part of their spring season. In short, people are ready to be outside. “I think it’s a very exciting time for Evergreen and for Elkhorn in general,” Rogers said.
parties, meetings and other events. The outdoor patio over looks our 27-hole golf course and adjoining waterfall, that is set off by flowers and prairie grass...the perfect place for an outdoor wedding, a cocktail reception, or beverages and relaxing after golf. The PUB is a relaxing place to gather with friends, host an open bar for your wedding reception, or stop in after golf and relive the highlights of your round! The Pavilion@Evergreen, is an outdoor pavilion that can be either open or closed and heated depending on the weather. The Pavilion holds up to 200 people and can be set up in different
configurations. This space is great for more informal parties, events, and functions. The Bunker Grill & Bar & Que opened in the spring of 2018 for as a great place for BBQ. It’s returned to a popular, traditional bar and grill and is a great place to gather. The clubhouse, pavilion and our four-star golf course make Evergreen a great place to visit. We’re only 10 minutes north of Lake Geneva and easily accessible to the metro Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison & Rockford areas. – From the Evergreen County Club “About” page
EVERGREEN • from front page your business, organization, or non-profit group. Evergreen features 27 championship golf holes nestled into rolling terrain. You’ll find well-manicured, tree-lined fairways, large undulating greens and a varied selection of tee boxes. Water comes into play on more than half of the holes and numerous bunkers surround the fairways and greens. The unique layout appeals to golfers of all skill levels, so everyone has fun! The clubhouse interior is a Prairie design and offers a first-class banquet facility. The Evergreen Room is perfect for wedding receptions, banquets,
Spring 2022 • First Edition
• COURT NEWS Washington man pleads not guilty in fatal crash A status conference was scheduled for April 7 for a Washington man charged with homicide in connection with a crash that killed a man in the Town of LaGrange. Timothy M. Creiglow, 33, of Seattle, was charged Oct. 18 in Walworth County Circuit Court with second-degree reckless homicide, homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and homicide by use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration. Creiglow appeared in court by video Jan. 31 at which time the prosecuting attorney advised that a prior motion by the defense to dismiss the charges is now moot, and Creiglow’s attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, according to online court records. According to the criminal complaint, a blue Jeep was reported driving recklessly on Highway 12 in the Town of Lafayette at about 11:20 p.m. Oct. 9. The Jeep was reportedly swerving on the roadway, nearly struck a vehicle driven by the person who called police, left the road, struck a sign, crossed into oncoming traffic
and crossed the fog line multiple times, according to the complaint. As police tried to locate the reckless driver, they came upon a crash on Highway 12 east of Jackson Road in the Town of LaGrange involving the Jeep and a BMW. The BMW had extensive front-end damage and smelled of gasoline, and an unresponsive man was lying from the passenger seat across the center console and into the rear passenger seat, the complaint states. A deputy tried to remove the man from the vehicle as a fire began burning near the front passenger tire, according to the complaint. The deputy was unable to remove the man before the BMW became engulfed in flames, and the man died as a result of the crash and fire, according to the complaint. Creiglow, the driver of the Jeep, had a significant head laceration, was drifting in and out of consciousness and smelled like alcohol, according to the complaint. Creiglow’s blood was drawn and sent to the State Crime Lab for analysis, the complaint states.
Council approves permit for marina
Lauderdale Lake Marina plans to increase mechanical work
by Kellen Olshefski CORRESPONDENT
The City of Elkhorn Common Council voted 5-0 in favor of a conditional use permit submitted by Lauderdale Lake Marina, LLC, for vehicle and marine repair and maintenance at its meeting in September, 2021. The conditional use permit came with a recommendation for approval from the city’s Plan Commission, which took the request under consideration at its Sept. 9 meeting. Alderman Ken Meinel – who serves as a liaison to the plan commission and previously served on the commission – said Lauderdale Lake Marina does a lot of its mechanical work at its main location. Looking toward the future the business expects to increase that type of work, he explained. According to Meinel, there’s not an option for the business to expand its building, and as such, the conditional use permit was submitted. The drive behind the request was that the business will be able to do conduct mechanical work in a building on the site where they have the other storage buildings. According to the plan commission’s Finding of Fact research, the intended use is in accordance with the city zoning code, is compatible with other uses permitted in the same zone of vicinity, will not be detrimental to the value of the neighborhood or community, and will not be hazardous, harmful, offensive or otherwise adverse to the environment. Councilmembers voted 5-0 in favor of approving the conditional use permit. Alderman Ron Dunwiddie was absent from Monday’s meeting.
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 5
The Bucks County Paranormal Investigators came to Matheson Memorial Library April 28 to present their new findings on the Beast of Bray Road. Above: Farmer Lee Hampel shares his story about the Beast of Bray road, with members of the Bucks County team behind him. JENNIFER EISENBART Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
The Beast is back in the news Paranormal investigators return to Bray Road By Jennifer Eisenbart EDITOR
After plenty of research and two separate hands-on investigations, the Bucks County Paranormal Society is convinced – The Beast of Bray Road exists. The Pennsylvania group, which stumbled upon lore about the beast during a trip to Wisconsin in 2021, came back for an investigation of the area later last year. Their findings were presented April 28 at Matheson Memorial Library in Elkhorn, to more than 70 people packed into the library’s community room. Spanning about an hour, the presentation covered the investigative trip to Lee Hampel’s farm last fall, and then gave time for a question and answer period. The group also listened to odd tales offered up by those in attendance, who reported seeing animals with odd gaits at odd hours. Bucks County Paranormal went back out to the Hampel farm Sunday night, but did not manage to capture any additional footage. The presentation opened with Hampel telling the story of what he’s seen on his farm. “It’s unbelievable how fast it moves,” he said, adding that he’s seen the creature several times, both by himself and with his brother, Fred. “I took it seriously, once it presented itself.” Led by Eric Mintel, the Bucks County group then showed the details of their research last fall, and also spoke of their experience at the Hampel farm. The key piece to the presentation was a short video where all of the investigators heard a howl, and rustling out in the cornfield. “It’s not a fox, it’s not an owl, it’s not a dog,” Mintel explained. “Believe me, I was a skeptic, too.” Mintel and the other investigators went on to say that electrical interferences with their equipment was an ongoing theme throughout the night, with their Go Pro camera refusing to work properly and drone footage suddenly not showing the investigators. The group also saw an “orb” of light moving around them, before it turned at a 45-degree angle and disappeared. After the howling, the group aimed a flashlight into the wetlands near Hampel’s farm, and got a reflection or “eye shine” about 6 to 7 feet up in the trees. Mintel said that everyone in the group felt that whatever was out there was stalking them. “And that’s when I said, we’ve got to get out of here,” Mintel explained. After promoting visits to Hampel’s farm and for the second annual Beast
above: The assembled crowd of more than 70 listens with interest. left: T-shirt of the “beast” were on sale at the event. JENNIFER EISENBART Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
of Bray Road conference, the group listened to a variety of different stories. One man, a bus driver in Milwaukee, saw an odd creature in the early morning hours before it disappeared in the shadows. Another woman, who frequently traveled along Bowers Road and Potter Road – a stone’s throw from Bray Road – recalled an evening after dropping off her boyfriend. While driving home, and then returning to pick up her boyfriend
when he discovered he was locked out, she saw a lumpy black mass that moved from place to place on the road. As people shared their stories, Mintel’s crew videotaped them – footage that will be used on the group’s television show that airs back in Pennsylvania Saturday nights. Mintel also pledged that the group would get further proof about the beast. “We’re going to get this creature on video,” he said.
Page 6 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Spring 2022 • First Edition
The ins and outs of Lauderdale Lakes Size • Green Lake is 311 acres • Middle Lake is 259 acres • Mill Lake is 271 acres
Lauderdale Lakes consists of Green Lake, Middle Lake and Mill Lake and is located in La Grange Township a few miles north of the City of Elkhorn, west of highways 12 and 67. For more information contact the Lauderdale Lakes Marina at (262) 495-8200 or www.lauderdalelakesmarina.com.
Fish species Lauderdale Lakes offers a wide array of fish with the predominant species being: • Largemouth bass • Smallmouth bass • Northern pike • Walleye • Panfish
Maximum depth • Green Lake: 55 feet • Middle Lake: 42 feet • Mill Lake: 44 feet
Access Lauderdale Lakes is accessible via a paved ramp on Sterlingworth Road off of Highways 12/67. Additionally, unimproved landings are located off of Bubbling Springs Road and Westshore Drive.
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Spring 2022 • First Edition
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 7
LOCAL GUIDE SHARES HIS PASSION WITH CLIENTS
by Sandra Landen Machaj
CORRESPONDENT
For George Kaider, local fly fishing guide and owner of In the Flow Fly Fishing, there is nothing he enjoys more than spending a day on the rivers and streams of Wisconsin, sharing his love of fly fishing. He has been doing so for over 30 years, and he has perfected his skills in both fly fishing and in tying his own flies to use while fishing. “I first learned to fish as a young boy,” Kaider said. ”My grandmother who enjoyed fishing, retired to Florida. There was a small pond on the property and when we came to visit, she would take me out to fish.” While he enjoyed this fishing with his grandmother, it was not long before he became more interested in learning more about fishing, and not just standing casting and holding a pole waiting for the fish to bite. It was fly fishing that caught his attention. Now over 30 years later, Kaider is an expert fly fisherman and guide, who enjoys not only fishing himself, but sharing his knowledge and talents with others. Teaching others has been a life long journey for him. “Early in life, I knew I wanted to work with kids and I have done so as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and sports coach (football and wrestling),” he said. “But over the years I have learned that teaching adults can also be rewarding. Teaching and guiding fly fishing has been a highlight of my life.” Kaider continues to work at Mundelein High School in Illinois as a counselor, traveling from his home in Lake Geneva each day. On weekends and during the summer, he turns his attention to teaching mostly adults how to fly fish and guides them on a day journeys down the rivers and streams of southeastern Wisconsin as he directs them to the best spots to find the fish. Here they then put into action what he has taught them earlier in the day.
A business spawns
While Kaider has been arranging fly fishing trips for years, last year he decided to officially launch In the Flow Fly Fishing Guide Service. In the Flow Fly Fishing Guide Service offers full-day fishing experiences under the direction of Kaider, who is knowledgeable about the special places to find the fish. “Each experience is different depending on the client,” said Kaider. “When a client calls to set up an event, we have a long conversation, much like an interview on both of our sides. I need to know what are their goals for the day and what experience they have. With more information I can set up a
program to meet their needs. I want them to have a great experience whether they are a beginner or an expert. During the interview, the prospective client also learns more about me and my method of teaching and what they can expect from the day.” After he speaks to the client he begins to put together the day. For the beginner, the day will begin with a 60 to 90 minute session on casting. This will be held on dry land as the fundamentals of casting are explained. These will include proper stance and grip. The physics of managing the fly line to direct it to the area where the fish are located and to keep it from tangling will also be addressed. Once the fundamentals are learned, they will move into a wading session. Here Kaider will teach them how to safely wade into the river, how to target the fish, and how to retrieve the fly that is used for bait once the fish is caught. “We do a catch and release method of fishing on all our trips, to protect the environment. This way the population of fish remains for others to enjoy,” added Kaider.
Taking to water
Once the basics are learned, they will move from wading into the raft and begin their float down the river. Kaider will sit in the middle section and man the oars for the entire float, steering and directing the raft. He can take two fishermen on the raft during each trip. One is placed in the front and the other in the back. “More fishermen than that, and it is not possible to observe them and correct any problems,” added Kaider. He also noted that more lines being cast makes for tangled lines especially when they are just beginning to learn how to cast correctly. They will spend the next five hours on the float as Kaider points out the places where there are fish. The type of fish that they will pursue will depend on what the fisherman wants to accomplish. Usually, they will be able to catch a trout. Bass are a bit more difficult to capture and require a bit more finesse. So, if they just want to catch a lot of fish, they will be directed to spots where the trout gather. Lunch is prepared by Kaider, often freshly grilled bratwurst along with trimmings and sides. Lots of Gatorade is on board to keep everyone hydrated. Being out in the fresh air makes everyone hungry and ready to eat. top: George Kaider displays a large northern pike caught in a river. All fishing tours For the more advanced participants, the with In the Flow are catch and release. The fish is returned to the water after a photo is day is planned a bit differently. If they already taken. above: Proper technique is key to successful fly fishing. Guide George Kaider know how to cast, they forego the onshore offers hours of training prior to taking clients to the water. casting basics and the two hours wading in COURTESY OF GEORGE KAIDER Lauderdale Lakes Breeze the river. Instead, they head directly to the raft to prepare for their nine-hour trip. They will spend eight hours fishing and have a one- the appearance of food attractive to the fish hour rest during which lunch will be prepared takes time. The flies are each tied in such a and served. way that they do resemble the types of food “Sitting in the raft for the extensive each individual species searches to obtain.” amount of time that we are in it can become Creating the flies is not just a method of very tiring. So, at times I will stop the raft putting together a variety of colored threads and send them into the river to stretch their or strings but creating one that actually can move in the water as the real bait would. Bass legs and do a little fishing while wading. and pike need 6- to 8-inch streamers that Good exercise and good for circulation,” mimic the patterns of the live bait they crave. added Kaider. Or they search for the frog patterns that float on top of the water. Each of the hand-tied flies takes more than an hour to create. If well Dressing correctly for the day is important. made they will last the season. Participants are advised to bring their own Safety on these trips is important and waders and footwear. If they don’t have Kaider is a Class 5 whitewater kayaker and is waders, they should wear quick drying certified in swift water rescue. clothing and shoes that can withstand being Working with my team in the water. Wearing the waders throughout means innovative tech, the day, even during boat time is suggested money saving programs, “Going out into the rivers and streams because of the time when they enter the water market expertise, and a team and enjoying the time takes you into the to stretch. They are especially recommended zone. Here you are in a state of mind where in the boat in the spring and fall when the of personal home advisors. time seems to stand still,” Kaider said. weather is cooler. “While continuously casting, it becomes a A hat and sunscreen are also good ideas repetitive pattern where one concentrates to bring on board. Other than that, no other on the movement and is able to forget about supplies are needed. In the Flow Fishing problems, work, and responsibilities. You supplies all the fly rods and flies. “All of the flies I use are hand tied by me,” 416904 See EVERGREEN • Page 12 Kaider said. “Learning to tie flies that have
Maximize your Gearing up home's value, Minimize your stress.
One with nature
Page 8 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Spring 2022 • First Edition
How to buy a boat According to Discover Boating, the first step in the boat-buying process is also the most important – determining exactly what type of craft will best fit the needs and wants of both the owner and those they plan to bring along for the ride. Those needs and wants are typically determined by what type of activities boaters want to pursue on the water. Think about the reasons everyone wants to be on the water and then narrow the choices accordingly. The Discover Boating website has a Boat Finder Tool to help with this. Prospective buyers may also be interested in learning more upfront about the overall costs of boat ownership. Local boat dealers can also help with this process. Here are some tips to aid in buying a boat: • Choose the right boat type for the needs. • Decide on a new or used boat. • Ensure the boat is a certified boat. • Determine how much to spend. • Research information about boat financing and how to get a boat loan. • Go shopping – figure out where and when to buy. • Learn more about boat values and pricing, including how to negotiate the purchase. • Conduct a sea trial and a marine survey. • Close the deal – find out more about boat registration, insurance and taxes. Visit www.discoverboating.com for more information.
at right: The Gage Marine boat showroom is on Highway 50 in Delavan. While inventory is down, the boat dealer still has new and used boats for sale. top: Two new Chris Craft boats are seen at the Gage Marine pier in Williams Bay on Geneva Lake. New boats are fewer and far between right now because of high demand and supply issues, but still available. SUBMITTED PHOTOS Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
Boat sales still surging Used boats selling at premium prices by Tracy Ouellette STAFF WRITER
The boating industry is still seeing high demand entering into the third summer of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brian Jahns, who’s been selling boats for nearly 30 years at Gage Marine, said it’s been challenging to keep up with demand. “We have a lot of boats on order,” he said. “They’re slowly trickling in, but not as fast as we would like them to. We represent a lot of brands and we have some of each, but it’s not like it used to be with 20 or 30 boats in stock at a time.” Jahns said between the high demand and broken supply chain, it’s just not easy to get new boats. “It’s the same thing everywhere with everything else,” he explained. “They can’t get the computer systems, the vinyl for the seats, the foam for the seats, labor at the factories not working – it’s not just us. It’s everywhere.” With new boats not as available, the sale of used boats has skyrocketed, Jahns said. “We’re light on used boats as well, we have a small percentage on consignment right now, which we sell for the owners for a fee, and that’s picking up a bit, especially with people freaking out a little bit about gas prices. That’s keeping us limping along.” Jahns said while some people are nervous
about the rise in gas prices, he didn’t think it was going to slow things down at all for the boat dealers. “Yes, gas has gone up, but you’re not looking at thousands and thousands of extra dollars to operate a boat this summer. It’s a few extra dollars each time and you’re maybe out boating 15 times,” he explained. With this being the third boating season during the pandemic, Jahns said many in the industry had thought things would have returned to normal by now. That hasn’t happened. “The first summer, COVID-19 made it so you really couldn’t do anything else, but you could get the family out on the boat,” Jahns said. “That’s what started this demand. People bought up all the boats. “Then the supply chain broke, but we haven’t seen demand decline in more than 2-1/2 years,” he said. “Everyone thought after the first summer of COVID it would taper off, but it didn’t. Then everyone thought last summer it would slow down, but it didn’t. Now we’re in the third season full on and the demand is still unbelievably high.”
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With all that, Jahns said anyone looking to buy a boat for this year should be prepared for the state of the industry. “If you’re serious about a boat, get moving on that sooner than later,” he advised. “On a new boat, the lead time can be a year or two. It doesn’t cost much to put down a small deposit and boat manufacturers are putting a priority on sold boats at the moment. Boats are not just showing up for us like they used to, there is definitely a waiting period.” For those interested in buying a used boat, Jahns said be prepared to pay a premium and don’t be surprised to be bidding against multiple buyers. “A clean, used boat is worth more right now because you just can’t get them,” he said. “People selling them are getting about 35% more for them and they have three or four people bidding on them. They’re gone in a day or two.” Gage Marine can be found in Williams Bay at 1 Liecthy Drice and in Delavan at 5167 Highway 50. For more information, call 262-245-5501 and visit www.gageboats.com.
All in the family
Spring 2022 • First Edition
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 9
Father and daughter make a splash as National Water ski champs
by Christine Sierocki Lupella CORRESPONDENT
Water skiing with a partner is a test of strength, endurance, timing, and trust – similar to the complexities of family relationships. Mike and Megan Bolda of Waterford know this quite well. The father-daughter duo earned the first place title for Individual Doubles at the Division 2 National Water ski Championship held in Shawano last summer. One could say their partnership began nearly 18 years ago when Megan was born, although their water ski partnership started about six years ago. Megan learned to ski eight years ago through lessons offered by the Aquaducks on Browns Lake in Burlington. “My mom found free water ski lessons on Facebook,” Megan said. “I really liked it. I progressed fast and joined the junior team after that.” The high school senior said she enjoys water skiing because “it’s different from the other sports I do.” She also competes in gymnastics and track for Waterford. “Water skiing is a family sport. Three of our four family members ski, and my mom is also involved with the team (Aquaducks),” she said. Mike didn’t learn to water ski until about six years ago – starting with a slightly different approach than his daughter. “I hadn’t even started water skiing yet when we committed to doing this (competing as a team),” he said. When Megan attended a Tommy Bartlett Ski School with the Legends doubles class in the Wisconsin Dells, Mike tagged along. “There were nine girls and one
left: Mike and Megan Bolda celebrate the finish of the performance that earned a national water ski title last year. right: Megan Bolda holds a precarious pose during a final pass with her dad, Mike, at the Division 2 National Water ski Championship in Shawano last year. They earned the first place Individual Doubles title. SUBMITTED PHOTOS Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
male instructor,” Mike said. “I volunteered to lift my daughter and (the instructor) taught me to do the basics. That’s when Megan and I decided to ski together.” “I just needed to learn how to ski,” he laughed. A week later, he put on his first set of show skis for the Aquaducks. The following year, Mike said he learned “quite a bit more” about skiing. By the end of that year, he and Megan were attempting doubles. A short time later, they were competing regularly.
Practice, practice... and more practice The Aquaducks start skiing in May and have until the third week of July to prepare for the state competition. “We practice at least four days a week – usually six,” Mike said. When the snow flies, practice is indoors. “We have to perfect a lot of the moves before we try them on the water,” he said. “There are some dangerous moves. We learn those in a pool because it’s safer. When you fall
or drop your partner, they end up in the water – not on the ground,” Mike said. “Water skiing never ends. It’s all year long.” Competition sometimes makes waves Competing as a father-daughter team can sometimes create “some weird dynamics,” Mike said. “It has definitely brought us closer, but it also has caused a lot of disagreements,” Megan said. “I am stubborn and when he wants one thing, I want the other.”
“We’re both very competitive people. We butt heads often, but in the end, we make it work,” Mike said. “Sometimes everything we try to do just doesn’t work. We have days like that. But then the next day … flawless. “She won’t let me have a bad day and I won’t let her have a bad day. Not when it really matters. “You can coach your kids in a lot of other sports. It’s hard to find a sport when you’re a partner for your kid,” Mike said.
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Keefe partners with Compass Spring 2022 • First Edition
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 11
National firm positions local agency for future by Jason Arndt STAFF WRITER
K
eefe Real Estate, of Lake Geneva, late last year announced a partnership with leading real estate technology company Compass. The partnership, according to President and CEO Tom Keefe, is not necessarily a change in direction. “We were not looking to take the company in a new direction and over the years, we have been approached by franchises, or other companies, looking to buy Keefe,” Keefe said recently. “When Compass called, it was different.” Keefe, who stayed on as managing director, said the decision came amid an unprecedented shift in the real estate market. Tom Keefe The thirdgeneration owner, in a social media message on the company Facebook page, explained the industry changes. “Like many industries, real estate has reached a moment where change has been completely unprecedented,” he said. “The tools we need to continue to serve you, our customers, with the best possible service are becoming more complex.”
“It is simply becoming harder and harder for small, independent brokerages, like Keefe to keep up.” Keefe also noted viable competition is emerging from primary feeder markets, including some firms developing new business models.
Compass has national reach Compass is the nation’s largest independent brokerage with a global headquarters in New York. Compass employs more than 23,000 agents, serving hundreds of the top cities across the country, according to a news release issued by Keefe. In 2020, Compass agents sold $152 billion in residential real estate and completed more 66% more transactions than they did the year before. In Chicago, Compass ranks second for closed sales volume and market share, up from its No. 5 ranking at the end of 2020, and is home to more than 1,400 agents. “By partnering with a larger company, and one that has substantially more resources, we will be able to provide you with the same personal attention and quality of service, while being able to offer you a stronger marketing reach and tools to support the sale or purchase of your home,” Keefe said in his Facebook message.
Leaders, agents remain Under the new Keefe Real Estate Compass brand, the company continues to operate as a market leading real estate brokerage in Southern Wisconsin and
Northern Illinois, maintaining its leadership team, agents and staff as well as existing offices, with the added resources of Compass, according to Keefe. “This is a partnership that will allow us to continue to operate all of our existing offices, and will embrace our local management and staff to remain so that we can continue to support our agents and clients,” Keefe said. “This partnership is full of opportunity and I will be staying on as managing director to lead the team.” Keefe said he planned on maintaining the same mission his grandfather had when he founded the company in 1943. Compass shares a similar philosophy, according to Keefe. “Over three generations of family ownership, our mission has always been to enhance the lives of our agents and staff through careers in real estate, and go above and beyond for our clients. This is a mission we have carried out over the years, and it is one we intend to continue to fulfill, by partnering with Compass,” he said. “We are excited to join a company that shares the same philosophy we do and values their agents as customers and trusted partners.” Rachael Rohn, Compass’ regional president, said she has a personal connection to Lake Geneva and looks forward to partnering with Keefe Real Estate. She also admires the local real estate firm. “As a Chicagoan, I’ve spent the last 16 years taking getaway trips to Lake Geneva and have incredibly fond memories of
the people and the experiences I’ve had here. I’ve been professionally admiring Keefe Real Estate over the years, and I am thrilled to partner together to match Compass’ technology with Keefe’s legacy and local expertise to serve our agents and customers.”
Building on trust Keefe, in his Facebook post, shared the news with his agents and employees before making the announcement. “I want to say that as a company, and as a family, serving our community as your trusted real estate partner over the decades has been an honor and a privilege and has brought my family an immense amount of pride and happiness,” he said. Keefe Real Estate specializes in real estate in Walworth, Racine, Kenosha, and McHenry counties. According to the company, Keefe Real Estate and its associates have been the market leader for decades in Walworth, as well as the leading seller of lakefront properties accounting for nearly 50% of all regional lakefront transactions. Keefe asked his customers, agents, and prospective buyers and sellers to hold the same time-honored trust demonstrated in the last several decades. “Trust was a guiding principal that my grandfather instilled in the DNA of Keefe when he started the company in 1943, and it is that trust that I believe has been at the core of our success since then,” he said. “As we move into this next chapter, I ask that you trust us once again.”
A historic home with 160 feet of frontage on Geneva Lake was among the listings offered in 2021 by Keefe Real Estate. The list price was $5,750,000. According to Keefe, the firm handles 50% of all regional lakefront property sales. COURTESY OF KEEFE REAL ESTATE Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
Page 12 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Spring 2022 • First Edition
J. Roberts changes owners, not style by Jennifer Eisenbart EDITOR
For more than a century, J. Roberts has stood as the symbol of quality and customer service in Elkhorn. After all, the menswear store is famous for this quote: “Customer service is an attitude, not a department.” But although long-time owners Jim and Marilyn Schoberg have retired after 38 years, Jim said he is more than satisfied as the business gets handed off to Kyle Deschner. Deschner has purchased the business, and officially took over April 1. His girlfriend, Signe Bennett, has been added to the staff doing in-house alterations for the store. Jim Schoberg and Deschner are friends, mentor and mentee – and also fellow musicians. In fact, music is how the two became friends. “Our friendship blossomed because of the music, getting to jam together,” Kyle explained, adding that the two would go to each other’s gigs. But last spring, as Jim and Marilyn began contemplating the next step in their life, they reached out to Kyle in another matter. At that point, Deschner had been the food and beverage manager at Lake Lawn Resort for the past few years. “I just needed help,” Jim Schoberg explained, saying he offered Deschner options of parttime, full-time, manager and even owner. Deschner wasn’t sure whether or not the business would be for him, but decided to give parttime a try. “I fell in love and decided to purchase,” Deschner explained. “It’s been great.” Deschner said the decision was made easier because of the mentorship provided by the Schobergs – and the couple’s dedication to the business over the years. “The working dynamic … they really work so well together,” said Deschner, who added that he’s dedicated to keeping the best elements of the store and its place in the community. “I’m not going to be the one to let the ball drop,” he added. Deschner said that the store would remain basically the same, including the same lines, the same Big and Tall offerings, and the same dedication to providing the best quality for a fair price.
left: J. Roberts, a menswear store in Elkhorn, changed ownership in April. Shown here, from left, are: former owners Marilyn and Jim Schoberg, and Kyle Deschner, who purchased the business. Next to Deschner is his girlfriend, Signe Bennett, who also helps with alterations at the store. above: J. Roberts has been a menswear store in Elkhorn for more than a century. DAVE DRESDOW Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
The store is likely to undergo some remodeling at some point, but that will be aesthetics – not something that changes what the Schobergs remained dedicated to for 38 years. “The business has been very good to us,” Jim Schoberg explained. “It’s been just great being such a part of the community. A lot of our customers, we’re on the third generation of the same family.” One of those families includes Deschner, whose father brought him to J. Roberts for his first suit in fifth grade after his grandfather had shopped there as well. He remembers the trip well – and he also knows the value of the business he’s stepping into and his relationship with the Schobergs. “We’ve really grown a great relationship,” Descher explained, adding that he could feel the distance from when he started the process a year ago and where he now with the business. “We made a really seamless working relationship,” he added. “It was really a perfect marriage, workwise.” Jim agreed. “Marilyn and my goal was to make this as seamless as possible,” he said.
FLY FISHING • from page 7 quickly become one with nature.” Spending the day on the boat, friendships are also often established. “Even I can’t just talk about fishing for nine hours so there is often an exchange of information about their lives. Many friendships start on a fishing trip and continue
long after,” added Kaider with a smile. Like any sport, proper instruction is needed to be the best you can be and to especially learn the basics correctly. “You wouldn’t head out on a golf course with a set of clubs and expect to be successful without
some instruction about what clubs to use in which situations,” added Kaider. “Same is true of fly fishing. You need to learn the basics and learn where the fish you hope to catch gather before starting out on your own. I am here to help you do so.” Contact In the Flow Fly Fishing
Guide to set up a day’s fishing experience that will teach you not only how to fish but to truly get “In the Flow” with nature. In The Flow Fly Fishing offers a variety of guided trips including driftless trout wading trips, smallmouth bass or pike wading or float trips or salmon wading trips.
The choice is up to you. Visit In the Flow Fly Fishing guide service at intheflowflyfishing. com or call 262-325-1159 for more information or to set up a guided trip. Phone calls are accepted from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
THE
BY THE NUMBERS Waterfront Home for Sale in Lauderdale Lakes
GOING W5742 North Dr.........................$629,900 W5713 Ridge Rd.........................$649,900 N7637 Bay Shore Dr....................$750,000 N7688 Westshore Dr................$2,100,000 W5245 Lauderdale Dr...............$2,197,000
RATE
HOMES RECENTLY SOLD IN LAUDERDALE LAKES W5615 Oak Park Rd $680,000 N7390 Arrowhead Ln $1,750,000
Spring 2022 • First Edition
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 13
Home sales and listings are down and prices are up, according to the latest market analysis by the Wisconsin Realtors Association. WISCONSIN REALTORS ASSOCIATION GRAPHIC Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
Housing market continues to cool Prospect of rising interest rates is now primary concern
BY SLN STAFF
Driven by an increasingly tight inventory and facing the prospect of rising interest rates, the state housing market cooled off along with the January temperatures, according to the latest analysis by the Wisconsin Realtors Association. January 2022 existing home sales fell 4.2% relative to that same month last year. The inventory challenge pushed the statewide median price to $231,000 in January 2022, an increase of 10% over January 2021. While those dynamics make it more difficult to buy a house, WRA Chairman Brad Lois said it’s a great time for sellers to realize the increase in the value of their homes. “With housing demand so strong and inventory so tight, this is the strongest seller’s market in years,” he said. “With such limited supply, this is a great time to list your home. In the eight-county Southeastern Wisconsin area, the median price of single-family homes sold in January increased 6.8% compared to January 2021. Among local counties, Kenosha was up the most at 12.7% to $231,000, followed by Racine, up 5.7% to $205,000, and Walworth, down 2.7% to $280,000. The number of homes sold in the same comparison decreased 2.9% across Southeast Wisconsin. Walworth County sales in January were down 4.8%, Racine County sales were flat and Kenosha County sales were up 1.5% WRA President and CEO Michael Theo encouraged potential buyers to have financing in place should they be able to find the right home. “Mortgage rates have been trending up since last September, but they are still less than a percent higher than the all-time low we saw at the end of 2020,” he said. “However, you need to move quickly, and working with a Realtor who knows your local market is the best way to find a home in this strong seller’s market.” The economic outlook for the coming year indicates the issues leading to inflation will continue to be a challenge, according to Dave Clark, a Marquette University economist and consultant for the WRA. “Ongoing supply chain problems and labor shortages combined with spikes in energy prices has the Federal Reserve on alert,” Clark
said. “To keep the economy from further overheating, the Fed is likely to begin raising short-term interest rates more aggressively than was suggested in its December meeting. Containing inflationary expectations is the best way to keep mortgage rates from rising more quickly.” Here are other observations about the recent housing market presented by the WRA: • Although the state did not match the record January sales of last year, January 2022 still experienced the second strongest sales for the month of January since the WRA re-benchmarked its data collection protocols in 2005. This suggests that housing demand remains very strong even with significant home price appreciation. • Regionally, sales fell significantly in the less urban regions of the state. Over the past 12 months, existing home sales fell 14.9% in the North region, and they fell 15.3% in the Central region. In contrast, sales were down modestly in the South Central region, down 5.5%, and the Southeast region, down 2.9%. Finally, they rose 0.7% in the Northeast region and increased 4.3% in the West region of the state. • The 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased by just over a third of a percent since December, and it rose by nearly three quarters of a percent in the last 12 months. However, mortgage rates remain low by historical standards, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage standing at 3.45% in January. • Total listings fell 14.6% from their levels 12 months earlier, driving months of supply down to just 1.9 months in January. It has been six years since the January supply of homes was at the sixmonth mark, which indicates a balanced housing market. • The Wisconsin Housing Affordability index shows the portion of the median-priced home that a buyer with median family income qualifies to purchase, assuming a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage financing the remaining balance. The January index indicates that buyer qualifies to purchase 192% of the median-priced home. The index is down from 227% a year earlier, showing that the combination of rising mortgage rates and rising home prices continues to diminish housing affordability in the state.
STOCK PHOTO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
Page 14 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Spring 2022 • First Edition
MARINE TRADING POST BUYING, SELLING & SERVICING BOATS AND MARINE EQUIPMENT
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1998 SUPRA LEGACY Inboard Ski boat, low hours. $8,350. Elkhorn 262-949-6997 SMOKER 16’ On trailer. 30HP Evinrude. Never been in water. 2 tanks, foot control tiller. $4500. Text (262) 989-4112
SPORTING GOODS LADDER & SLALOM SKI Garelick anodized aluminum dock. 3 to 5 step. Brand new. original price $450. Sell price $225 & no tax. Slalom ski Jobe NXT, brand new, originally $650. Now $225, no tax. 708-567-9010
WENONAH 18FT SUNDOWNER CANOE: Tufweave cross-rib hull, sliding bow seat, tractor seats, adj rear footrest, 67#, stored inside-$850. carbon fiber canoe paddles: ZRE 52” bent shaft-$325. (815-675-2562.)
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Fishing Boats
Ski Boats/Fishing Boats
14 foot aluminum fishing boat, trolling motor, oars, battery. $395. (262) 742-3665.
1990 Mastercraft Prostar 190, low
Lift and Lift Parts
hours, excellent ski boat, trailer, lift kept $7500 best (262) 949-6997 1995 Mastercraft Sammy Duvall series, Corvette engine, flat wakes great slalom boat $13,500 best. (262) 742-3665
Jet ski lift, Needs some repair $25.00. (262) 949-6997 Jet ski trailer, Needs work. $50.00. (262) 949-6997 Shore station lift parts, cheap. Lauderdale Lakes. (262) 742-3665
1998 Supra Legacy, Super low hours,
Ski Equipment
clean, kept in heated garage, bow
rider, great family boat. $8500 best. Ski trainer, easy to get up on, builds confidence. $75. Text (262) 949-6997
(262) 949-6997
2000 Supra Legacy, very clean, Slalom ski, 67”, great shape, $125.00. (630) 886-6667 garage/lift kept, bow rider, 275 hours, Skis, doubles, nice condition. $75.00. Text (262) 949-6997 $9995 best. (630) 886-6667
SERVICES OFFERED and Indooroor O u t d ge Stora es Packagble Availa
Boat and Trailers
Professional Ground-up Restoration Services
• Indoor Storage-Summer and Winter • Outdoor Storage-Summer and Winter • Shrink Wrap • Sales • Repairs • In/Out Valet Services • Pickup/Delivery Services Antique Auto • Antique Boat Restoration • Indoor Storage-Summer and Winter • Gel-Coat/Fiberglass Work • Restoration • Custom Woodwork (Transom bars) • Cleaning and Detailing • Cleaning and Detailing • Consignment • Bottom Wash • Consignment • Upholstery • Upholstery • Covers Copyright © 2003-2015. All rights reserved. 375340
LAUDERDALE LAKE ACCESS
RENTAL
2 Bedroom, 1 Bath Condo. Turnkey Furnished, Gas Grill, Fire Pit Area 417996
417142
$6950 Annual/Season • $2950 Boat Slip (262) 949-6997
Spring 2022 • First Edition
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 15
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17 S. Washington, Elkhorn
online parts & service: www.lylestv.com The Appliance Store with So Much More
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• Grills • Smokers • Chips
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394441
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416905
Page 16 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Spring 2022 • First Edition
PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE
JERRY KROUPA HAS JOINED
262-949-3618 262-949-3618
JerryKroupa@atproperties.com
JerryKroupa@atproperties.com View my properties at www.lakehomeswi.net
262-949-3618 JerryKroupa@atproperties.com
MLS 1781758
Paradise found on 2 acres and 700’ of level frontage on Green Lake with rare private island with bridge is just the start. This property offers 2 homes, Main house is a stone 2 story with 4BR, 2BA. MLS 1781758 $2,100,000 SOLD
MLS 1779535
MLS 1784479
Located on 65’ of prime Middle Lake swim frontage with Southern exposure you’ll find this 4 BD, 3.5 Bath 3,968 sq ft 2 story with walk-out lower level. The lake welcomes you as soon as you step inside. MLS 1779535 $2,197,000
Accepted offer in less than 48 hours! Perfect lakes area home within minutes of everywhere you want to be. Built in 2008 this 3 bdrm, 2 bath ranch has all the features you been looking for. MLS 1784479 $289,900
MLS 1781235
MLS 1786817
Green Lake vacant lakefront lot with 75’ of level Sunset filled frontage on 0.65 acre lot on Lauderdale Lakes. Lot features slight wooded slope from road which leads you to level frontage and private pier. MLS 1781235 $549,900
Lauderdale Lakes 1.77 acre wooded corner lot with slope ideal for exposed lower level located on quiet Cane Dr. Ideal country/lake location with easy access to boat launch on Bubbling Springs and short ride to Kettle Moraine trails offering world class mountain biking trails, Hiking and Nordic. MLS 1786817 $109,900 416902