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Lauderdale Lakes BREEZE FALL 2020 • Fourth Edition
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Walworth fair nixed as COVID threat rises Organizers plan to have animal meat, junior livestock sale By Tracy Ouellette STAFF WRITER
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fficials with the Walworth County Fair, which was one of few holdouts in the state still planning to host a fair this summer, announced last week the event has been canceled as the threat of COVID-19 grows. The Walworth County Agricultural Society board voted July 22 to cancel the 171st Walworth County Fair, according to the organization. The board also canceled the popular Ribfest, which had been rescheduled from July to mid August. “The board was concerned these events could pose a risk to Walworth County residents by attracting visitors from areas with much higher COVID-19 infection rates,” Larry Gaffey, Walworth County Fairgrounds general manager, said in a news release that accompanied the announcement. “Ribfest and the fair are the largest events we hold at the fairgrounds, attracting people from as far away as Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and other counties in Wisconsin,” he said. “The board feared the influx of visitors could strain the county’s public health system.” Fair officials said they were determined to preserve many of the events for youth. “We are concerned about the
public health, but also feel an obligation to the young people who have spent a year or more raising livestock, doing photography, gardening crops, woodworking and working on arts and crafts,” Gaffey said. “COVID-19 stole part of a school year from these kids. We will not allow it to ruin their dream projects as well.”
Exhibits, livestock sale to go on Officials said the junior fair exhibits including livestock, woodworking and other projects will proceed, but will not be open to the public. Details were still being finalized as of press time but the Fur & Feather sale will be online and use the same Show Circuit livestock auction site, sconlinesales.com as the Meat Animal Sale. The Fur & Feather sale will open online Friday, Sept. 4 and close on Tuesday, Sept. 8 and each exhibitor is able to sell two lots. Jordann McPherson, the junior goat superintendent for the fair, said the board would provide guidance. “We understand, everyone is upset the fair is canceled, but sometimes things just fall apart and there’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t force vendors to come if they don’t want to. They tried to put the fair on the best they could, but they couldn’t see into the future,” she said. “What if none of the vendors showed up. Or, God forbid, nobody showed up at the fair; some fairs have had only 10% percent of the people they normally do. And while
Savannah Siegler, of Springfield 4-H Club, leads her 1,330-pound Grand Champion steer at last year’s animal meat sale. The 171st Walworth County Fair was canceled last week due to continued concerns related to COVID-19 however, the animal meat sale, junior fair exhibits, including the livestock, and other projects will proceed. FILE PHOTO BY CHAD HENSIAK Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
the fair isn’t about the money, it does need to be self-sustaining and has to generate an income to return year after year. If we put all this money out and not get it back, we might not be able to have a fair next year or ever again,” McPherson continued. Jamie Smith, who McPherson said is her “second in command” in the junior goat project, has a daughter and niece who show dairy
goats at the fair, and wishes the decision to cancel had been made a bit sooner. “I understand why they held out,” Smith said. “No one wanted this, but we would have been more prepared if they had decided earlier. But, we kind of knew. When the State Fair went down, I knew. I told my daughter from Day 1 not to get your hopes up.” Smith said he’s looking forward
to seeing how the fair board decides to proceed with the animal sales and exhibits and hopes the community will support the youth like it does every year. “This is all about the kids,” he said. “They work so hard and this is going to be a lot of money lost for them, which goes toward college. A live auction has the advantage of having everyone there cheering each other on and keeping the bidding going, running up the price. I hope that can be continued if it’s online.”
The decision Fair organizers said the decision to cancel the fair was based on the steady increase in COVID-19 cases in surrounding states and other areas of Wisconsin. The fair – touted as the largest county fair in the state – is held over the Labor Day weekend and attracts “hundreds of thousands of visitors” from a wide radius, fair officials said. This year’s fair was to run Sept. 2 to 7. Organizers had worked with the Walworth County Department of See FAIR NIXED • Page 8
Lauderdale Lakes
BREEZE A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC
Making the rounds
The Lauderdale Lake District weed harvester is shown hard at work cutting weeds on Mill Lake at the end of July. Such machines are specifically designed for inland watercourse management to cut and harvest underwater weeds, reeds and other aquatic plant life. JACK CRUGER JR. Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
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Page 2 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Fall 2020 • Fourth Edition
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LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 3
Chicago man drowns in Geneva Lake A group accompanying a Chicago man watched helplessly as the man began to struggle, slipped below the surface of Geneva Lake and drowned late last month while swimming from a rented pontoon boat, according to an official with the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency. The body of David R. Trehane, 40, was recovered just before 8 a.m. July 28, Commander Tom Hausner said in a news release. Trehane was pronounced dead by the Walworth County Medical Examiner.
He and other members of his group went swimming from a 25foot Misty Harbor pontoon boat rented from a local agency when the trouble arose early the evening of July 27. According to Hausner, members of the group that was with Trehane told investigators the pontoon boat had drifted away from Trehane and as he began to struggle he called out for them to come get him. “They were unable to get the boat started to return to the area (where) Mr. Trehane was
struggling,” Hausner wrote. “They did throw a lifejacket toward Mr. Trehane, but he was unable to retrieve it.” Members of the group immediately called 911 at 5:05 p.m. and rescuers responded to an area of the lake near the Stone Manor in the vicinity of pier 880, according to Hausner. The call brought a massive response from both law enforcement and fire/rescue agencies and shut down much of Lake Geneva’s eastern shore and adjacent streets
for hours as the rescue attempt transitioned into a recovery effort, according to Hausner. The recovery operation was suspended by darkness, but resumed at 6:30 a.m. the following morning. Hausner said the investigation is continuing, but no criminal charges are expected. Law enforcement officers from City of Lake Geneva, Town of Linn and Walworth County Sheriff’s Office responded. The City of Lake Geneva Fire Department was the lead fire and rescue agency
with mutual aid from City of Delavan, Troy Center, Whitewater, City of Burlington and Paratech Ambulance. Dive teams from Darien, Elkhorn, Fontana, Linn, Sharon, Williams Bay, the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department and the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office responded as well. Units from the Town of Delavan and Lyons, along with Racine Fire Bells were also on scene. The Geneva Lake Water Safety Patrol also assisted, according to Hausner.
Rescue units and bystanders gather on the shore near the boat launch at the eastern end of Geneva Lake the evening of July 27 as rescuers search for a Chicago man who failed to resurface after swimming from a pontoon boat. The body of the 41-year-old man was recovered early the following morning. ED NADOLSKI Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
Slices of life
Are there walleye waiting in heaven? As weird as it may sound, this is a question I’ve pondered lately. I’m willing to take a bet that very few reading this have thought about walleye (as in the fish) being in heaven. But you aren’t the daughter of my By dad. JILL For those not familiar PERTLER with walleye, they are a Contributor revered fish akin to the lobster of Minnesota (as well as other states). When you visit a Maine restaurant you order lobster; when you visit Minnesota you order walleye. My dad knows all about walleye – and catching them. He mastered the art. He grew up on a Minnesota lake that had plenty of walleye and he learned right then and there how to bring them into the boat and bring them home for dinner. He traveled throughout the state to various lakes and rivers, catching walleye wherever he went. You could say it was his life’s passion (or one of them at least)
and you’d be right. He’s known for his walleye prowess; for years his moniker has been Walleye Joe. He has a hat proclaiming this nickname and a sweatshirt that simply says, “Shut up and fish.” For most of my adult life, I never had to purchase walleye because my dad caught enough for both of us. He fished so often – and caught his limit – that he was able to share with me. (It helped my cause that my mom didn’t partake of the delicacy.) It truly was a treat, I knew, but I probably didn’t sufficiently appreciate my fully stocked freezer or the delicious taste of the sweet, flaky white fish. He doesn’t fish anymore. Health and other aging issues have made it a part of his past. He always used to tell me, “It’s hell getting old,” and he was right. And then he’d follow that up with, “But it sure beats the alternative,” and he was right. At 89, he’s living the alternative. His days have slowed. He no longer fishes for walleye, but
he’s more than happy to talk about them. Some days his memory isn’t the best, but he remembers his lifelong relationship with the elusive fish. When I visit, it is one of the few topics I can count on to get his attention. Even though I know little to nothing about the art of fishing, I know enough terminology to get him talking. At the mere mention of walleye, he perks up. I have caught his attention. I ask a simple question. Are leeches good bait for walleye catching? “Only in the spring,” he says. “Leeches are best in the spring.” And so we go. I ask about minnows and night crawlers and anything else fishrelated I can think of, talking with the man who raised me and who still wears his Walleye Joe hat and “Shut up and Fish” sweatshirt. He answers with the knowledge of a lifetime of fishing. Which bait works best when. How fishing in a lake is different than in the river. The fact that walleye were more plentiful when he was a boy, so they were easier to catch. I can see, as he talks, he is reliving good memories.
I never caught the fishing bug – unless you count goldfish. I guess I don’t have the patience or the attention to detail it takes to catch the elusive walleye. But I still enjoy eating them – lightly coated, pan-fried with a pat or two of butter for that extra touch. Although these days I purchase them at the grocery store, one thing remains true: Walleye and memories of my dad are inseparable – always have been, always will be. And that, my friends, is golden. My story doesn’t end there. Back to my original question: Are there walleye in heaven? There better be. For my dad, heaven wouldn’t be heaven without walleye. And when he arrives there (hopefully many years from now) he’ll need his fishing pole and a container of leeches, but only if it’s springtime. Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright, author and member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.
Page 4 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Fall 2020 • Fourth Edition
Lauderdale Lakes
CALENDARof EVENTS Note: Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there’s a possibility events may be canceled or dates changed on short notice. Prior to making plans, we strongly advise people check the status of events of interest for the foreseeable future.
FUN FAMILY TIME
SEPTEMBER 10 – AARP Smart Drivers Course, 1 to 5 p.m., Aurora Lakeland Medical Center, W3985 Highway NN, Elkhorn. Learn defensive driving techniques, proven safety strategies, new traffic laws, rules of the road, handling left turns, right of ways and roundabouts. Cost: $15 for AARP members, $20 for nonmembers. Info: 262-7677185. 12-13 – Mid American Draft Horse Versatility Show, Walworth County Fairgrounds Horse Arena, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. For more information email drafthorseaholic61@outlook. com. 19-20 – Wisconsin Ranch Horse Show, Walworth County Fairgrounds Horse Arena, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. Info: wisconsinranchhorse. com. 26 – Lauderdale Lakes Yacht Club’s Final Fall Fling at Heartwood (The Christmas Barn) in Elkhorn.
Krystie Jackson and her young son, Mason, enjoy a July evening boat ride on Lauderdale Lakes. For many families with homes on the lake, time spent on the water with family and friends makes the best memories. SUBMITTED PHOTO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
Ski team cancels remainder of season The Southern Wakes United Water Ski Show Team, which delayed the start of its season due to the coronavirus pandemic announced earlier this month was canceling the remainder of its season as a couple members of the team have tested positive for the virus. “(We’re) sad to announce that we have made the difficult decision to cancel all
our shows for the remainder of the season. We have a couple of members that have tested positive for Covid-19,” a post on the team’s Facebook page states. Due to activities outside of team events, and with the new state mask mandate in place, team leaders said they do not feel comfortable potentially putting anyone at additional risk.
“Performing group acts in shows while maintaining social distancing is nearly impossible,” they said. The team said it will continue practices but the practices will strictly be limited to individual and family groups skiing together. “We appreciate our amazing supporters and will come back stronger in 2021,”
they stated. The team performs each summer at a variety of venues including Lauderdale Lakes, Scenic Ridge Campground and Elkhorn Lake (in Babe Mann Park.) To keep up with the Southern Wakes United Water Ski Show Team visit the website at southernwakesunited.com or follow the team on Facebook.
27 – Antique Flea Market, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. More than 500 vendors. Admission: $5. Info: Call 414-525-0820 or visit nlpromotionsllc.com.
OCTOBER 10 – Lights and Ladders, 8 to 11 a.m., Sunset Park, 200 Devendorf St., Elkhorn. Fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, bucket truck, dump trucks, vehicle tours, games and crafts. Free event. Info: 262-741-5114. 17 – Oktoberfest, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Veterans and Pocket Parks, 100 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn. Walk the downtown square with more than 100 crafters and vendors, antiques, produce and plants, home party consultants, 5K/2-mile run/ walk and more. Oktoberfest
The Lauderdale Lakes Sailing Club’s 2020 remaining race schedule is as follows: • Aug. 30, Bud Weiser Trophy; • Sept. 6, Ladies Appreciation Trophy (Labor Day Weekend); • Sept. 13, Harry S. Truman (all three lakes) and award picnic; • Sept. 19, Galvanized Cup at Lauderdale. For more information about the Lauderdale Lakes Sailing Club visit lauderdalesailingclub.com.
Car Show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Government Center parking lot, games, pumpkin decorating, bounce house, slides and more for the kids. Chili Cook-Off from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wine and Beer Tent from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food trucks, live music and entertainment. Info: www.elkhornchamber.com. 24 – Walk to Fight Suicide (Out of the Darkness Walk), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. Walk to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health issues. Registration begins at 9 a.m., opening ceremony at 10 a.m., walk to follow. Info and registration: afsp.org/ walworth. 24 – Scare on the Square, 3 to 6 p.m., Veterans Park, 100 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn. Fall fun for the whole family with kids’ activities, storytelling, costume contest and more. Hosted by the Elkhorn Chamber, Elkhorn Recreation Department and Mercy Health System. Free event. Info: 262-723-5788. 31 – Trick or Treat, 5 to 7 p.m., city-wide in Elkhorn.
The calendar of events is compiled from a variety of sources including the Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce and the Walworth County Visitors Bureau. Events, dates and times may change and events may be canceled. We suggest you verify event times, dates and locations prior to making travel plans.
Man says he saw Beast of Bray Road in Lyons Area resident claims he saw the creature twice in one month By Mike Ramczyk CORRESPONDENT
With coronavirus affecting thousands, people afraid to leave the house and racial tensions running high in the United States, stories about werewolves can provide quite the necessary distraction. But werewolves? Seriously? Around here, the Beast of Bray Road is a famous legend, known for its location on Bray Road, which starts along Highway 11 east of Elkhorn and winds west to Highway NN and I-43, just
on the other side of Elkhorn Area High School. There’s been a movie about this mythical beast, a 7-foot, hairy brown giant that has frightened locals who have claimed they saw it. One of these locals is Lake Geneva resident Ron Rice. Every once in awhile, Rice travels to the Town of Lyons for work, where he drops off fertilizer at a farm on Highway 36 just west of Church Road. It’s a Burlington address, and there is a circle, gravel driveway where Rice loads up a truck with fertilizer. There are “deep woods,” according to Rice, about 150 feet away from the driveway.
Back in May, Rice was on a routine drop-off in broad daylight, sitting in his truck. He looked into the distance, about 150 feet he thinks, and a figure caught his eye. “This thing was huge, it was over 7-feet tall,” Rice said. “It was brown and hairy with coarse hair. It walked out and picked something up, then turned its back toward me and went back into the woods.” Rice says the barn has a “Ye Olde Motel” sign painted on it. When asked if he swears on his dead relatives’ lives that he saw a werewolf in real life, Rice didn’t budge. “I guess he moved from Bray Road to Lyons,” Rice
said. “It didn’t bother me at all. I was like, ‘Wow, now I know where he’s staying.’”
“Why would I want to do that?” he said. “I’ll leave that up to the media. We need to get a search party.” A second sighting “Find it!” Two weeks later, Rice According to Wikipedia, said, he saw the beast again, the beast is a werewolf-like and again it walked out of creature, and the creature the woods and quickly rewas first reported in 1936. turned. The rash of claimed sight With a brother that lives ings in the late 1980s and on Bowers Road, which is early 1990s prompted a local near Bray Road, Rice has newspaper, the Walworth heard plenty of stories about County Week, to assign the beast. reporter Linda Godfrey to He kind of believed them, cover the story. he said, but now that he’s ac- Godfrey was initially tually seen the beast, which skeptical, but later became is bigger and hairier than he convinced of the sincerity of could’ve imagined, Rice will the witnesses. Her series of never doubt the story of the articles later became a book Beast of Bray Road again. titled “The Beast of Bray But Rice doesn’t want Road: Tailing Wisconsin’s people to find out for themWerewolf.” selves. The beast has been de-
scribed as something resembling “Big Foot,” and it weighs anywhere from 400 to 700 pounds. On all fours, the beast is 4 feet tall, and standing on two legs, it is as much as 7 feet, according to Godfrey’s book. Southern Lakes Newspapers, the company that publishes this newspaper, last reported on a sighting of the beast in February 2018. Danny Morgan reported seeing the beast about 10 p.m. Jan. 27 of that year in the Town of Spring Prairie while driving from Lake Geneva to his home in Menomonee Falls. Morgan also provided a blurry cell phone photo of the beast as it approached the road from the ditch line.
Fall 2020 • Fourth Edition
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 5
Crash claims life of area man Aug. 4 crash occurred at intersection of Highway H, Territorial Road
A crash that occurred near Lauderdale Lakes the afternoon of Aug. 4 claimed the life of an East Troy man, according to family members. Jerry Clark, 58, was reportedly driving his motorcycle when he was involved in a crash with a vehicle at the intersection of Territorial Road and County Highway H. Following the impact, the car – reported to be a late model BMW – traveled
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through the front yard of the LaGrange Town Hall and came to a rest on the hillside facing Territorial Road. The motorcycle ended up near the stop sign at the corner of the intersecting roads. Territorial Road near the crash site was closed to traffic for more than an hour while the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crash. Additional details have not been released by the
sheriff’s office including the condition of the person or people in the vehicle. According to his obituary, Clark worked for many years as a pressman at Quad Graphics and was an avid Harley Davidson rider. He leaves behind six siblings and many nieces and nephews. Monroe Funeral Home in Delavan is assisting the family. To leave online condolences visit delavanfuneralhome.com.
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Page 6 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Fall 2020 • Fourth 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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Lanesway to host car and truck show Fall 2020 • Fourth Edition
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 7
COMMUNITY EVENT TO INCLUDE HOMETOWN HERO HONOR
By Heather Ruenz STAFF WRITER
Lanesway is a foundation that was established last year by Lane Schweitzer’s family after he was tragically killed in a motorbike crash at the age of 15. Lane’s mom, Judy Schweitzer said Lane was full of life and in the short 15 years he had here on earth he touched many lives. “He was our hero as he fought through a battle after suffering a traumatic brain injury in 8th grade,” she said. The Elkhorn community and surrounding communities as well as friends and family offered a great deal of support to Lane and his family during the difficult journeys of both his brain injury and his untimely death, his mom said. Lanesway was established as a way to give back, according to Schweitzer, to help support the community, further education and support veterans and current military, the latter of which was a cause especially close to Lane’s heart. He also loved his truck, his mom said, so the family came up with a way to tie Lane’s passions together
for an upcoming event. The foundation will be hosting the Lanesway Car & Truck Show on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Elkhorn Area High School from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All vehicle types are welcome for the event. Registration will be available on the website lanesway.org after July 1 and more details about the event will continue to be shared as they become available. Among what’s already planned for the show is that veterans and the victims and first responders from 9/11 will be honored and there’s a special reason those groups have been chosen, according to Schweitzer. “This will be a very patriotic event so bring on the red, white and blue! Lane wanted to serve our country but would not have been able to after his traumatic brain injury. So, he honored our country any way that he could… shaking the hands of veterans wherever he saw them, thanking them for their service and donating to veterans’ organizations and causes,” she said. Another special honor is also planned for the Lanesway Car & Truck Show.
Following the March 2019 death of 15-year-old Lane Schweitzer, his family, in response to the community support they’ve been shown, created Lanesway, a foundation that aims to support further education and honor heroes, a cause close to Lane’s heart. They will host a car and truck show Sept. 12 at Elkhorn Area High School and are seeking participants as well as vendors. A hometown hero will also be honored. SUBMITTED PHOTO Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
“We are looking to honor a hometown hero. Anyone who has a hero in their life is asked to submit a written letter about their hero and send it in,” Schweitzer said. The deadline was earlier this month. A panel of judges from the Elkhorn community was set to review the nominations and choose a hero who will be honored at the event. “If this car and truck show is successful we plan on making it an annual event so we can honor our heroes every year,” Schweitzer said. She said they also welcome any
businesses interested in helping out with the event, including food and drink vendors. “There will be no fee to be a vendor as the event will all be done through donations only. We want to support our local businesses and local vendors,” Schweitzer said. Though more details will continue to be shared as the event gets closer, Schweitzer said she wanted to get the word out now so people can mark their calendars, sign up as a vendor and submit letters for the hometown hero honor that will take place.
“Lane lived through kindness everyday that he was here on earth,” Schweitzer said. “Giving back to others is a way for me to keep him alive because that’s who he was and how he lived.” Anyone interested in having a booth or be a food vendor is asked to call Schweitzer at 262-745-1421 or send an email to lanesfullsend@ gmail.com. For more information, visit lanesway.org. Monetary donations can be mailed to: Lanesway, N8420 Highway 12, Elkhorn, WI, 53121.
Still time to try something new Learn how to water ski Anybody who has ever watched a water ski show or competition has had the urge to go water skiing. The first towed sport in what has become an industry unto itself, water skiing has spawned offshoots such as slalom, trick and ski jumping, wakeboarding and wakesurfing, and even tubing and kneeboarding. And it all started behind a boat with a guy with two boards strapped to his feet. If you’re interesting in learning how to water ski, Discover Boating says to be sure to follow these basic steps to help you get started: How to get up on water skis Begin with a deep-water start, with your legs together. Let the boat do the work – stay in a crouched position
until you’re up on a plane. Once you’re up, straighten your legs. Coach your boat driver on the proper speed for towing – around 30 MPH for water-skiers. Once you feel comfortable on two skis, you can transition to slalom-style skiing by dropping one ski. With kids, the best water skiing tip is to start with the skis that are tied together with nylon rope. This keeps their legs together, and keeps them from doing a split as soon as they get on plane – then doing a face-plant. Even adults first learning to ski can feel like they’re being split from the groin up. Skiing on two skis will work muscle groups in your legs and back that don’t normally see that much stress. The hardest part of skiing is the hardest part of any water sport,
and that’s the deep-water start. The important thing is to let the boat do the work. Trying to stand up too quickly makes things more difficult than they need be. Stay in the crouched position until you’re up on plane, then straighten your legs. Of course, we all want to go water skiing with one ski. One good way to learn is to get up on two skis and then drop one. If you’re on a lake or lagoon, just remember where you left the ski. If you’re skiing on a river, take the current into account when you go back to try to find the other one. This gets you accustomed to slalomstyle skiing, and getting up in a deep-water start on two skis is much easier than trying to get up on one ski. See WATER SKI • Page 8
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Page 8 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Fall 2020 • Fourth Edition
Coronavirus rocks Lake Geneva Restaurants were temporarily closed due to employee illnesses
By Mike Ramczyk CORRESPONDENT
Lake Geneva area businesses were scrambling after a wave of coronavirus flooded as many as seven places earlier this summer. During that time, a casual stroll through downtown Lake Geneva, which was often bustling with tourists, some with masks and some without, revealed restaurants like Sprecher’s, Speedos Harborside Café and Simple were closed, while outdoor water sports facilities and some restaurants like Popeye’s remained open. According to their Facebook pages, Chuck’s of Fontana, Pier 290 of Williams Bay, Popeye’s, Sprecher’s, Simple and a few others had employees test positive for COVID-19 and subsequently closed their doors indefinitely to update safety procedures. Some businesses closed for precautionary measures, despite any coronavirus cases. “It’s a fluid situation,” said Julie Ieronimo, whose family owns Chuck’s on Geneva Lake in Fontana. “Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn chose to temporarily close ... following notification that two employees tested positive for COVID-19. We have asked the staff to seek testing and are awaiting all results. In regard for our staff’s privacy, we will not be releasing any further details. Chuck’s has been in contact with the Walworth County Department of Health while we work on our plan for reopening during the week of June 29th. We look forward to seeing everyone soon.”
Cases result of social gatherings outside work Several owners mentioned employees showed symptoms and were tested, but they were mild cases. They believe employees didn’t contract the illness at work, instead at gathering with friends in social settings. At Simple, a breakfast eatery in Lake Geneva owned by former Lake Geneva Mayor Tom Hartz, employees weren’t allowed to return to work until they could produce a negative test. In one case, an employee wanted to return to work because he felt fine and symptoms were gone, but Centers for Disease Control and Walworth County Health guidelines wouldn’t allow it. Simple closed for two days but was able to then open for curbside pick-up only with strict guidelines. “No one on our staff is allowed back in our building until a negative test is produced. This includes production staff, retail/ service staff, managers and owners. Wonderfully, 100 percent of our staff that has been tested have had negative results,” according to a post on the company Facebook page during their temporary closure. “There is inherent risk in the choice to come out in public, but we feel supremely confident in the precautions we are taking for everyone’s safety.” Sprecher’s had one employee test positive. Popeye’s, which is across the street from the Riviera and the Lake Geneva beach, and is
Employees of Popeye’s restaurant in Lake Geneva wipe down outdoor tables as the popular business prepared to reopen following a shutdown in late June related to COVID-19 exposure. MIKE RAMCZYK Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
among the largest and busiest downtown restaurants, closed June 20 due to an employee contracting coronavirus. They brought in Drains Made Simple, a company that used a special fogging solution to sanitize all surfaces. Popeye’s also installed ultraviolet lights in its HVAC system, which inactivates airborne pathogens and microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Like Chuck’s, which offers a scenic lake view in a surrounding community, Pier
290 offers fine dining, beach views and relaxing, outdoor seating. On the morning of June 25, three employees at Pier 290 tested positive for COVID-19. “This morning we were informed that three employees of Pier 290 tested positive for COVID-19. The employees had all been together outside of work at an off-site social gathering,” the company Facebook page stated June 25. “Our management team made an immediate decision to close the restaurant for 48 hours
to gather more information and provide time for deep cleaning. The County Health Department is only interested in tracing people who spent at least 15 minutes or more of uninterrupted contact, inside of 6 feet, with these individuals.” “We are currently working with the local health department for guidelines on how to proceed going forward.” Bars remain open While businesses that rely on walk-in customers,
like restaurants, were closing to avoid large crowds, bars remained open in Lake Geneva, with the exception of Hogs & Kisses. The week of the restaurant closures, bars like the East Troy Brewery, Runaway Micropub and John’s Main Event in Burlington, along with Champs and Northsiders in Lake Geneva, were relatively packed but also offered outdoor seating and had bars outside. It appeared the majority of patrons did not wear masks.
FAIR NIXED • from front page Health and Human Services to develop health and safety plans to make the two events as safe as possible, organizers said. Both the fair and Ribfest had been reimagined to reduce congestion and enable easy social distancing. Events had been moved outdoors and the carnival had been spread out to reduce congestion, according to the release.
Gaffey said smaller events hosted by independent event organizers remain scheduled for the fairgrounds. These independent events attract mainly local visitors. The 171-year-old fair is one of the longest-running events in Wisconsin. Fair officials highlighted a University of Wisconsin economic impact study found the fair annually
creates more than 30 local jobs, contributes more than $7 million to the local economy, and generates significant revenue for retailers, restaurateurs, and hospitality companies in the area. In addition, the fair serves as the year’s largest fundraising activity for many local non-profit organizations and church groups.
Water skiing with the family is a fabulous way to spend the day on the lake. The sport can be learned by adults and children. COURTESY OF DISCOVER BOATING Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
WATER SKI • from page 7 Deep-water starts on a single slalom ski are more difficult, and that’s where the deepV-handle ski rope can help. Once you’re up and running, the average water ski speed is around 30 MPH. Competition speed for pro slalom skiers is 36 MPH, but you can signal to your driver what speed your comfortable with.
While some Walworth County Fair-related events are expected to take place, moments like this father and son riding the carousel won’t be happening in 2020. FILE PHOTO BY CHAD HENSIAK Lauderdale Lakes Breeze
right? Some are better than others, and we’ll get to that in a bit. You’ll also need some water skiing equipment. Let’s start with water ski rope, which is a specific kind of rope. Water ski ropes have floating handles of various designs, and some measure of “give” to them, which means they stretch a bit when there is a skier in tow. For beginners Wake skiing equipment just learning the deep-water Like any other towed sport, start on one ski, the deep-V water skiing requires a fair water ski handle is a must. amount of gear. To get out on The deep V lets you put the the water and enjoy the sport single ski right in front of you need at least the following you and it helps keep the ski four items: pointed dead ahead when • A boat; the boat begins to accelerate. • Water ski rope and As your skills improve, you handle; won’t need a deep V, but • Water skis; and a you might want to advance • Life jacket or PFD to a slalom rope, which has (personal floatation device). colored sections to help you Obviously, you need a boat keep track when start skiing to learn to water ski, or at the slalom at shorter rope lengths. very least a friend with a boat, Obviously you’re also
going to need water skis, and this is where things can get pricey. Luckily for beginners, skis geared toward novices are among the least expensive on the market. A pair of skis from a name brand manufacturer can run anywhere from $250 to $500 or so. More advanced skis can run upward of $1,800 a pair, but also as little as $500. Bear in mind you don’t have to have the best water skis when you’re first starting out. Learn more by reading How to Buy Water Skis. The last essential water ski accessory is the life jacket, and the current generation is more comfortable than ever. Pricey vests can run a little more than $100, but don’t be afraid to spend more for a PFD that fits well. Bright colors are also a good idea for visibility. For more information, visit discoverboating.com.
Fall 2020 • Fourth Edition
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 9
Marine Trading Post
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23FT. AMERICAN SAILBOAT GLASS w/trailer, Sails and extras. $400. 262877-3709
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Jet Ski
2000 YAMAHA WAVE RUNNER MODEL GP760 w/trailer & Shore Station. Runs like new, selling due to lack of use. $2500. Come take a ride. Bohners Lake. 262-492-6840.
LAUDERDALE LAKES CLASSIFIEDS BOATS FOR SALE Ski Boats/Fishing Boats 1980’s Runabout bow Rider, 100 hp Johnson, trailer $95 (262) 949-6997
2003 Tracker, 65 hp. Outboard, electric trolling motor, well maintained. $ 2950 (630) 886-6667 SOLD
Lift and Lift Parts
Jet ski lift, Needs some repair $25.00. 1985 Mastercraft Prostar 190, trailer, (262) 949-6997 garaged, $2975 best. Text please (630) Jet ski lift, Lauderdale location. S95.00. 886-6667 Delivery available. (262) 949-6997 1990 Mastercraft Prostar 190, low hours, excellent ski boat, trailer, lift kept Shore station lift parts, cheap. Lauderdale Lakes. (262) 742-3665 $5250 best (262) 949-6997 1995 Mastercraft Sammy Duvall Golf Carts series, Corvette engine, flat wakes great slalom boat $11,500 best. (262) Golf cart, 4 seater, needs new batteries. 742-3665 SOLD 1998 Supra Legacy, Super low hours, $975. Text please. (630) 886-6667 clean, kept in heated garage, bow rider, great family boat. $7950 best. (262) Ski Equipment 949-6997 Ski trainer, easy to get up on, builds 2000 Supra Legacy, very clean, confidence. $75. Text (262) 949-6997 garage/lift kept, bow rider, 275 hours, Slalom ski, HO high performance, $9750 best. (630) 886-6667 perfect shape. Was $500- now $95. (630) 886-6667
Fishing Boats
14 foot aluminum fishing boat, trolling motor, oars, battery. $395. (262) 742-3665.
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Page 10 LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Fall 2020 • Fourth Edition
REAL ESTATE BY THE NUMBERS
HOME of the Month
Waterfront Homes for Sale in Lauderdale Lakes W5725 Ridge Rd.................................. $639,900 W5343 Lauderdale Dr........................... $660,000 W5339 Lauderdale Dr........................... $670,000 W5213 Sterlingworth Ct........................ $770,000 N7501 Country Club Dr......................... $824,900 N7470 Arrowhead Ln............................ $985,000 W5166 Plantation Rd.........................$1,450,000 N7688 West Shore Dr.......................$2,500,000 W5438 Solid Comfort Rd....................$2,600,000 W5670 Cool Hill Dr............................... $639,900
GOINGRATE
THE Hwy 12 to Plantation Road, to Lost Nation Road right to Cool Hill Dr, Right to Bubbling Springs Rd, Left at fork in the road, Right to Ridge Road, Property on the right WHAT: Single family home on 0.37 acres. WHERE: W5725 Ridge Rd Elkhorn, Wisconsin 53121-2527 AMENITIES: This 3 bedroom 3 bath ranch home with 74 ft of frontage on Lauderdale Lakes has a great floor plan for a second home or a year round residence. This large home has the master suite on the main level with walk-in-closet,steam shower and access to the large main level deck overlooking the lakefront. The main level has a large living room, second bedroom, full bath and entry to the large 2+ car garage. The lower level is set up for lake entertaining with a gourmet kitchen, large counter eating area, and dining area.The open kitchen family room has a gas wood stove, patio doors to access the lake front area and the large covered deck/patio. The lower level laundry room has a stackable washer and dryer; a bar prep area; a large 3rd bedroom; a full bath and much more. ASKING PRICE: $639,900 LISTING AGENT: Tom Martin of Keefe Real Estate, Inc. For more information call (262) 743-1770 ext. 112.
Pandemic impact less than expected Home sales down compared to 2019, but they’ve bounced back from May’s plunge
Wisconsin’s housing market performed far better than expected in June, according to officials with the Wisconsin Realtors Association. Existing home sales were down 4.5% compared to that same month in 2019, and median prices rose 3.6% to $222,000 over the same 12-month period, according to the most recent analysis of the state housing market by the WRA. On a year-to-date basis, home sales for the first half of 2020 were 4.9% lower than the first six months of 2019, and median prices were up 7.6% to $209,900. “This is better than we expected given the COVID-induced slide in sales we saw last month,” said WRA Chairman Steve Beers, of Keefe Real Estate in Lake Geneva. Sales slid sharply in May, dropping 24.3% compared to May 2019, so being down just 4.5% is a big improvement. Beers qualified the comparison by noting that sales in June last year were actually somewhat weak, dropping 7.7% from June 2018. “It’s important to remember that we’re comparing closed sales with the same month a year earlier, so the weak performance in June 2019 makes this past month’s drop in sales smaller,” he said. Locally, Walworth County actually experienced a double-digit increase in home sales when compared with June 2019. Sales this year were up 213 over 193 in 2019 in the county.
Other factors “It’s good to see June sales come in above our expectations,” said WRA President and CEO Michael Theo. “Improvements to the economy and a consistent decline of mortgage rates into record-low territory has definitely softened the blow from the pandemic.” The state unemployment rate dropped significantly, falling from 12.1% in May to 8.5% in June. In addition, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped for the sixth straight month. The rate was at 3.62% in January and fell to 3.16% in June, which is yet another record low. “Low mortgage rates have also kept Wisconsin housing affordable,” said Theo. The Wisconsin Housing Affordability index measures the fraction of the median-priced home that a buyer with median family income qualifies to purchase. The affordability index fell just 1.5% over the last 12 months. “After massive job losses as a result of the economic lockdown in April and May, we saw a nice bounce in June,” said David Clark. “There is still a lot of uncertainty, but at least there are some promising signals looking at the second half of 2020 and beyond,” he said, noting the state economy should continue to improve if the recession is short-lived. With a softer economy, there are good opportunities for buyers, especially given these record-low mortgage rates. “However, this is still a seller’s market,” Theo said, “so buyers need to be pre-approved for financing so that they can move quickly.”
HOMES RECENTLY SOLD IN LAUDERDALE LAKES Aug. 1, 2019 N7947 Surfwood Dr. Iwanski, John & Lori to Duxbury, David & Regina $755,000 Aug. 22, 2019 W5239 Lauderdale Dr. Carusiello, Donna & Michael to Lagunas, Lucio & Jennifer $1,168,295 Sept. 10, 2019 W5392 West Shore Dr. Battle, Janis & Brian to Nelson, Warner Jr $1,550,000 Sept. 16, 2019 N7498 Bay Dr. Anders, Janice L to Pekul Properties LLC $354,000 Sept. 16, 2019 W5619 Forest Dr. Samuelson, John & Beverly to Ramsey, Robert & Judith $362,000 Sept. 20, 2019 N7659 Bayshore Dr. Douglas, Wesley & Robin to Monfils, Karen & Phillip $328,000 Sept. 27, 2019 W5455 Acorn Way Ness, Nancy S to Remien, Mary M $295,000 Oct. 15, 2019 W5455 Acorn Way Labarge, Russell & Anne to Wallace, Teresa Declaration of Living Trust $970,000 Oct. 18, 2019 W5741 Ridge Rd. Schinke, Lyle & Shirley Revocable Trust to Mavon, Rebecca Lynn Metz Revocable Trust $370,000 Nov. 20, 2019 7421 Country Club Dr. Rhyan, Jeffrey to Kalata, Scott & Kelli $925,000 Dec. 5, 2019 W5569 Oriole Dr. Massaccesi, Mark & Suzette to Kullman, John & Leslie $815,000
Dec. 26, 2019 W5167 Bay Shore Dr. Simonson, Jack Jr to Adams-Courtin, Heather A & Courtrin, Alan T $300,000 Dec. 30, 2019 W5358 Lost Nation Rd. Axelson, Carl & Vicki to Mcvey, Michele $400,000 Jan. 8, 2020 W5312 Pebble Beach Dr. Keenan, David & Kristin to Burrows, Gerald & Fitch-Markham, Allison $950,000 Jan. 10, 2020 N7635 Rendell Dr. Leuenberger, Richard L Living Trust to Whitaker, Russell G III & Riordan, Michael H $550,000 Jan. 20, 2020 W5690 North Dr. Castino, Christine & Roger to Johnson, Mark $1,150,000 March 27, 2020 W5106 Plantation Rd. Ashley, Jennifer to Kent, Nancy & James Revocable Trust $485,000 April 14, 2020 W5316 Lost Nation Rd. Dion, James & Barbara to Carrington Mortgage Services LLC $475,000 April 17, 2020 N7790 West Shore Dr. Lipscomb Family Estate Trust to Pillsbury Family Trust $580,000 May 28, 2020 W5123 Bay Shore Dr. $479,000 June 4, 2020 W5489 Rocky Rd. $650,000 W5737 Ridge Rd $639,900 W5496 Lost Nation Rd. $1,549,900 W5160 Plantation Rd $1,760,000
Fall 2020 • Fourth Edition
LAUDERDALE LAKES BREEZE Page 11
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JERRY KROUPA
JERRY KROUPA
SELLING LAKEFRONT & KETTLE MORAINE SELLING 1989 LAKEFRONT & KETTLE MORAINE PROPERTIES SINCE PROPERTIES SINCE 1989
A Reputation for Client Satisfaction A Reputation for Client Satisfaction We were amazed how “Jerry was truly outstanding throughout the entire process.
A Reputation for Client Satisfaction
easy he made it to sell our home. He did valuable marketing, immediately generated showings, and guided us through the contract process all the way through closing. As a bonus, Jerry has relationships with numerous allowed Jerryimportant was truly outstanding throughout the entire process. We were contractors, amazed howwhich easy he made itus toto sell our themarketing, few repairs we needed. Jerry and his terrific associate Andrea werehow home. easily He didmake valuable immediately us through the contract Jerry was trulygenerated outstandingshowings, throughoutand the guided entire process. We were amazedprocess all the way through closing.the Aseasy an important bonus, Jerry hashighest relationships withmarketing, numerous contractors, which absolutely best! We give them recommendation. he made it to sell ourour home. He did valuable immediately generated allowed us to easily make the few repairs we and terrific associate were absolutely showings, andneeded. guided usJerry through thehis contract process all theAndrea way through closing. As a -Seller the best! We give them recommendation. important bonus, Jerryour has highest relationships with numerous contractors, which allowed us to
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easily make the few repairs we needed. Jerry and his terrific associate Andrea were -Seller I haveJerry beenwas an area resident for 44 years so I’m very with each absolutely the best! givefamiliar them our highest recommendation. truly outstanding throughout theWe entire process. We were amazed how surrounding lake and small town community’s facts and activities. -Seller easy it to for sell44our home. He did valuable marketing, immediately generated I have beenhe an made area resident years so I’m very familiar with each surrounding lake
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Take advantage of myJerry experience andterrific area knowledge to help easily make the few repairs we needed. and his associate Andrea were you make the right real estate decision. absolutely the best! We give them our highest recommendation. 262.949.3618 | jerryk@keeferealestate.com -Seller JERRY KROUPA
JERRY KROUPA
”
ANDREA CUMMINGS 262.949.3618 | 262.492.8082 | jerryk@keeferealestate.com
Licensed Assistant I have been an area resident for 44 years so I’m very familiar with each ANDREA CUMMINGS | 262.492.8082 surrounding lake andLicensed smallAssistant town community’s facts and activities. Take advantage of my experience and area knowledge to help View my listings at:my lakehomeswi.com View listings at: lakehomeswi.com you make the right real estate decision.
MLS#1701402 MLS#1693305 One of the best Blue Spring locations on the lake! Lakefront home Great swimming and featuring southern sunsets right across exposure on 65’ the street from the sand frontage golf course - best of offering great both worlds! Four BR, swimming. Inside 2.5 BA two story with this clean 2 BR, 1 BA ranch you’ll find vaulted ceilings in a walkout lower level. Living Room and Bedrooms. Living room with brick fireplace ANDREA CUMMINGS | 262.492.8082 Features an updated and door that leads out to brick patio offering extended lake Licensed Assistant galley kitchen with dinette, living room with a wonderful lake views, Galley kitchen and dining area off living room. Lakeside view, large deck and screened porch. Master bedroom has has deck and lannon stone patio ideal for lounging in the sun. a full bath, plus three more bedrooms and full bath on the Deep 240’ lot with mature trees and 22 x 23 detached garage second floor. Main floor laundry for easy access. Dry boat plus storage shed. Family Room can be used as a bedroom. house with deck above offering extended lake views. Two car Views of Kettle Moraine forest and short drive to John Muir garage with storage closet off of lower level. Mountain bike trails and Nordic hiking. Minutes to downtown $824,900 Palmyra . Ready for Summer fun! $449,900
MLS#1697060 Masterfully updated inside and out, this SO beautiful 3 bedroom, 3 bath home is move in ready now! Not a thing to do but enjoy the lake and time with family! Open concept kitchen and great room with vaulted ceilings and gas fireplace that flows into the glass three season room overlooking the lake. Lower level family room with wood burner and sliding doors leading out to custom paver patio with grilling area, garden shed and space for bonfires while you watch the moon rise over the lake. Completely new custom landscaping, steps to lake and deck on lakeside yard that also offers level play area at the 79’ of shoreline. Enough room at the pier for two boats plus ‘’guest’’ parking. It is time for your escape to Wisconsin! $639,900
MLS#1647249 Overlooking Evergreen Golf Course on a quiet street you’ll find this amazing updated 4 BR, 3 BA home that would make the perfect year round or vacation home. Inside you find a dream kitchen with hardwood floors, granite tops, SS appliances, large breakfast bar, deck access and adjacent to formal dining room, living room with vaulted ceilings, wood floors, skylights and fireplace, master BR with vaulted ceilings, incredible bath with walk-in glass shower, soaking tub and marble vanities, 2nd BR with vaulted ceiling and main floor laundry. LL family room walkout to cement covered patio, FR featuring fireplace, wet bar with two beverage fridges and custom cabinetry. LL also has 4th BR, 3rd bath w/ ample storage. Professionally landscaped and 3 car attached garage with tons of parking. $419,000
MLS#1684989 Tranquil 5 wooded acres overlooking a marsh/pond with enough water to kayak located on dead end road in Dunbar Estates. Build the home of your dreams with this ideal location within minutes of Lauderdale Lakes boat launch. Walk to Lauderdale Lakes Golf Course and short drive to lakefront park with swimming and picnic area on Pleasant Lake and the endless trails of the Kettle Moraine State forest. $99,900
JERRY KROUPA
262.949.3618 | jerryk@keeferealestate.com
View my listings at: lakehomeswi.com MLS#1696368 Located on Middle Lake with 77ft of frontage you’ll find this updated 3 BR, 2.5 BA 2 story with walkout lower level. Inside, find new flooring throughout, LR with vaulted ceiling with sky light and soaring stone fireplace, kitchen with dinette and dining room lakeside with slider to deck. Main floor master with vaulted beamed ceiling and fireplace, master bath with whirlpool tub and separate shower. Upper level has loft overlooking LR, 2nd and 3rd BR plus full bath. Family room walkout to deck with separate Rec Room, work room and large storage area. Lot is wooded and private featuring Sunsets. $639,900
LD
379020