Supervisor appointment draws controversy.

By Dan Benson

Approving appointments to the Sheboygan County Board is usually a rubber stamp affair, but Chairman Mike Vandersteen's nomination of Ron Mueller on Tuesday night aroused a bit more controversy than usual when Supervisor Devin LeMahieu objected.

I'm not going to vote for this appointment," LeMahieu told supervisors, shortly before Mueller's appointment was approved, 24-7. "I don't think he represents the views of the people of that district."

Mueller is in his third year and second term as president of the Sheboygan County Labor Council, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO and an organization that endorses labor-friendly political candidates, usually Democrats.

Mueller was nominated by Vandersteen to replace Connie Ziegelbauer on the County Board to represent the 1st District, which is comprised of the City of Sheboygan's 1st Ward.

In last November's election, the 1st Ward went straight Republican, favoring now-Gov. Scott Walker over Democrat Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, 602 to 529; State Sen. Joe Leibham over Democrat Jason Borden, 770 to 356; and state Rep. Mike Endsley over Democrat Terry Van Akkeren, 560 to 538.

"That district is one of the most conservative districts in Sheboygan," LeMahieu said. "I don't think he represents the views of the district."

Mueller, 63, retired in March 2010 after 33 years as an instrument and control technician at the Edgewater Generating Station.

Mueller said he never has been elected to public office but said he has served on the city's Citizens Committee for Community Block Grants and on the Sheboygan Housing Authority. He's also active in his church and other causes, he said.

The Labor Council is not involved in negotiating contracts for any of the county's eight union groups, Mueller said.

"Now that I'm retired, (joining the County Board) seemed like a new way to serve my community," he said.

Mueller called LeMahieu's objection "understandable. He's more on the conservative side and he had some concerns about my labor affiliation," he said.

"But there's a good share of votes on the other side also. I don't think there's political hangers hung on any of the supervisors. Some are moderates, some are conservatives and some are more liberal. The mix hopefully makes the body run Sheboygan County to the benefit of all of its citizens."

Vandersteen said he chose Mueller over three other candidates and his political affiliation did not figure into the decision.

"I just felt from the discussions I had and from the resume that Ron would be the best candidate and be best suited to be the on board," Vandersteen said. "(Political philosophy) has nothing to do with the criteria to pick the person. That criteria has never been used to determine a representative. It's not something I used to guide me in that decision."

LeMahieu said he preferred two other candidates for the seat: Laureen Leo, who LeMahieu said was endorsed by Ziegelbauer and was encouraged to apply by Supervisor Roger Otten, and former Sheboygan alderman Pat Gillette.

"I think both of them are more conservative and more represent the district," LeMahieu said.

Sheboygan man spears 185-pound sturgeon

 

 

 

 

SHEBOYBAN, Wis. —

A Sheboygan man has speared a 185-pound sturgeon while ice fishing on Lake Winnebago.

Twenty-year-old Josh Genske pulled in the monster catch Monday. He tells The Sheboygan Press from his ice shanty that hanging up, the sturgeon is almost a foot taller than he is -- and he's 6-foot-1.

The sturgeon measures 80.2 inches long and 40.5 inches around. It ranks as the third-biggest speared in the Winnebago system since records began in 1941.

Fisheries biologist Karl Scheidegger with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the sturgeon was likely 90 to 100 years old.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin Largest American Flag In U.S.

Super Bowl ticket snafu drags on for 3 local fans

BY ERIC LITKE

Three Sheboygan County residents caught up in the Super Bowl ticket snafu said today the communication with the NFL remains spotty and their course of action unclear

Dave Richardson of Sheboygan, Herb Binkowsky of Sheboygan Falls and Scott Richards of Plymouth were among 400 people whose Super Bowl XLV seats were declared unsafe because they were not properly inspected. They wound up watching the game from a sports bar in the basement of Cowboys Stadium, with no view of the field.

“It was more than just the game, and it was more than just the ticket, it was the chance to experience something we may not ever be able to do again,” said Richards, 59. “I don’t see anybody that’s been displaced trying to be a gold-digger on the thing, but you want just compensation and a chance to go to another Super Bowl.”

All three men are Green Bay Packers season ticket holders who won the seat lottery and a chance to purchase Super Bowl tickets at the $800 face value. One miserable experience later, they are left to choose their compensation from an ever-sweetening pot of NFL recompense.

The league initially offered $2,400 plus a ticket to the next Super Bowl, and a few days later the NFL said the 400 could also choose a ticket — plus roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations — for any future Super Bowl.

Earlier this week, Commissioner Roger Goodell added a third option in an e-mail to the ticketholders, offering the greater of $5,000 or the actual documented expense of attending the Super Bowl.

But Richards — who has submitted his information on the proper NFL website and called league representatives — never received that e-mail. And when he asked for details on how the future Super Bowl tickets would be awarded or what happens if he misses the March 1 deadline, NFL officials had no answers.

“It’s sort of been the pattern of everything,” said Richards, who has not yet decided which option to take. “I still think they’re searching for what they’re trying to do.”

Richardson said he plans to take the first option, but he hasn’t finalized anything. He went with a college buddy from Illinois this year but plans to take his son next year.

Bull golf course placed in foreclosure

BY JOSH LINTEREUR

The Jack Nicklaus-designed Bull at Pinehurst Farms golf course in Sheboygan Falls remains open despite mounting financial troubles that include more than $500,000 in unpaid property taxes and a bank foreclosure on the property this month.

The course, located at the intersection of State Highways 28 and 32, has received numerous accolades from the golf industry since opening in 2003, but has since fallen on hard times.

According to court records filed this month, the owners are in default on a $6 million dollar consolidated loan issued in September from Community Bank and Trust.
The loan, which is due in September 2013, now totals $6,052,871, including interest, late charges and other fees.

The bank filed a foreclosure notice in Sheboygan County District Court on Feb. 3.
The owners have until next week to respond.

Meanwhile, the owners have also fallen behind on their property taxes and now owe $277,774 on their 2009 tax bill, including interest and penalties. Combined with their 2010 bill, the golf course owes $507,588 in property taxes.

The property was assessed at $8 million in 2010 and has an estimated fair market value of $7.9 million, according to Sheboygan County property records.

Co-owner David Bachmann Jr., who built the course on a 418-acre swath of land where his family once raised Holstein cattle, declined to comment.

Sheboygan Falls Mayor Randy Meyer said the golf course remains a vital part of the local economy and expressed hope that the owners can get their finances straightened out.

“The Bull is an important part of the city, and we hope their fortunes turn around,” Meyer said.

The Bull remains the only golf course in Wisconsin designed by Nicklaus and was recently ranked by Golf Digest as the third best golf course in the state. It’s hosted a U.S. Open qualifier, the Wisconsin State Golf Association senior match play championship and a number of other WSGA events.

But it’s also situated in the middle of a hyper-competitive golf market, as it competes directly with the Kohler Co.’s renowned golf properties, including the nearby Blackwolf Run golf complex and Whistling Straits, site of the 2004 and 2010 PGA Championships.

Meyer said he hopes to see another investor come along to help get the golf course back on its feet.

“You never know,” he said. “Sometimes it looks like doom is on the doorstep and then something comes along to fix the situation.”

Sheboygan Wi Historic Photos,

This sketch was done shortly after the Civil War.  The plate of this sketch was originally owned by an early Sheboygan settler and lake captain, Captain Rudolph Rieboldt.  The depiction, done about 1868, shows one railroad entering the city, The Sheboygan and Mississippi Railroad, with the depot on the south side of the river directly east of the Eighth Street bridge.  The old Pennsylvania Avenue bridge called the "Shanghai Bridge" is also pictured.  The population of Sheboygan at this time was about 5,000 people.

This photograph was taken in 1885.  The picture depicts the early Sheboygan Volunteer Fire Department outside its headquarters building.   The photograph was taken on North Eighth Street between Wisconsin Avenue and the alley to the north on the east side of the street.  The words "bowling alley" are on the front of the building next to the headquarters, which was also the building housing Sheboygan's first two room schoolhouse.

In 1887, Sheboygan launched it largest ship, the Helena, built at the Reibolt and Wolters shipyards located on the present C. Reiss Coal Company land.  Even though the river was dredged for the launching, the stern was severely damaged from the force striking the river bed.   The New Jersey bridge was erected in 1891 and by 1893, the population had grown to 23,000.  Garbage collection for the city had begun.  Electric street cars replaced horse drawn ones in 1895 and land was purchased for a new high school (Central Admin. Bldg.)in 1899.  Fire destroyed Dock #1 at the C.Reiss Coal Co. in 1900.  North 7th St. between Superior Ave. and Bluff Ave. was closed per a city ordinance from 2 to 4 o'clock daily for horse racing in the snow.

The above and below photos were taken in 1911.  They show the paving of Bluff Avenue and North 6th Street.  As can be seen, paving was a labor intense operation.

The city's Common Council changed greatly at the beginning of the 1920's, due to death and elections.  Circulating throughout Sheboygan was a petition for a new post office (then located on the NW corner of 8th and Penn.)  No action was taken.  In 1924, Kiwanis Club donated land for Kiwanis Park.  Funds for Memorial Hospital were bequeathed to the city in 1928.  By 1931, street paving during the previous 10 year period showed 75.9 miles of 18 ft. pavement had been laid.  Fountain Park was the proposed location for a new court house site in 1932, but opposition caused a new site to be chosen.  All Water Dept. customers were metered in the city by 1933 and the next years saw tremendous growth and improvements to city sewers, pavements and curbing due to W.P.A. projects throughout the city.  During this same period, the sewage disposal plant south of the city went before the council.  The need for a new high school was recognized and by 1937 the cornerstone was laid for one.  Bus transportation replaced street cars so the tracks were removed in 1939.

Voting polls open across county

Voting polls are now open across Sheboygan County for the spring primary.

Two judicial races and three City of Sheboygan alderman races are on the ballot.

The primary for Sheboygan County Circuit Court judge is one of two judicial elections on the ballot today. Voters have three choices: Angela Sutkiewicz, Catherine Delahunt and Jim Haasch. Justice of the Supreme Court candidates are Joanne F. Kloppenburg, Joel Winnig, David T. Prosser Jr., and Marla Stephens.

The three races for Sheboygan aldermen positions are in District 4, 5 and 8.
District 4, candidates are Joseph V. Heidemann, James Graf and Todd B. Schaetzer.

District 5 candidates are Joanne M. Scribner, Jeremy Reis and Eric C. Rindfleisch.
District 8 candidates are Marilyn Montemayor, Darryl D. Carlson and Katherine S. Matichek.

The top two finishers in each race advance to the April general election.
Polls are open until 8 p.m.