RACINE — After almost a six-month pause, the Racine Unified Board of Education plans to allow public comment during its next meeting on Sept. 28.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the board left time during its business meetings and work sessions for citizens to raise concerns or make comments, with the stipulations that they had to provide their names and stick to a 2-minute time limit.
It was not uncommon for the public comment period to pass with no speakers. However, during times of controversy within the district sometimes the board room would be packed with commenters and their supporters, including students, teachers and union representatives.
Once the board began to meet virtually, at the start of April and with few members present in the board meeting room, the public comment period was dropped from the School Board agenda.
The district did allow emailed and in-person comments for an April 20 public hearing regarding the district’s request to the state to waive its hours of instruction requirements due to COVID-19.
High-profile conservative lawyers from Atlanta and Los Angeles finally have added a Wisconsin criminal defense attorney to Kyle Rittenhouse's legal team after weeks of promoting their case as a cause célèbre.
Mark Richards of Racine confirmed Monday that over the weekend he agreed to represent the 17-year-old Antioch, Ill., resident. The addition of Richards was key because neither L. Lin Wood, a libel and defamation lawyer from Atlanta, nor John Pierce, a Los Angeles-based civil litigator, are licensed to practice in Wisconsin.
Rittenhouse is charged with fatally shooting two people and wounding a third on Aug. 25 during civil unrest in Kenosha that erupted after a Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back Aug. 23. He remains at an Illinois juvenile detention center.
MADISON — The City of Racine City Hall Annex has been transformed into a laboratory where city employees work with a highly contagious virus that has killed nearly 200,000 people in the U.S. — more than 1,200 in Wisconsin.
And Racine city officials don’t seem at all concerned about the potential safety and liability hazards.
Sources with backgrounds in biotech tell Empower Wisconsin city leaders and Racine citizens should be very wary of the dangers of a COVID-19 experiment they say has no business being conducted on city property.
Coming home
In July, mainstream media outlets began doing feature stories on Christopher Mason’s research. Mason, associate professor and systems biology wunderkind at Weill Cornell Medicine, is looking for a faster way to test for COVID-19. Mason also just happens to be the brother of Racine’s liberal Mayor Cory Mason, a fact that raises some conflict of interest questions. The scientist, the stories note, came home to turn his hometown into a cutting edge laboratory in the fight against a relentless and deadly pandemic.
Professor Mason is working alongside Alison Kriegel, PhD, associate professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Mason, despite promising otherwise, did not return Empower Wisconsin’s multiple requests for comment, nor did he answer questions directly put to him in an email.
As Fox6 explained in late July, the researchers established a mobile lab in the Racine City Hall Annex. They have employed city firefighters to collect “a few milliliters of saliva from city employees taking part in the study.”
“We’re cooking the saliva at 95 degrees for 30 minutes to essentially kill the virus. And then from there, we’re testing it,” Chief Brian Wolf of the Racine Police Department, told the news outlet.
The idea, officials say, is to limit the chance for spread within the lab.
Hello, my dears! How are you? I'm sorry that I took a couple of weeks off. I almost took off today, too. It seems like there's nothing to write about except COVID-19. I'm sick and tired of wearing a mask. I feel like some sort of felon. Stick 'em up.
That's it, my dears. This is the shortened version of my blog. Thank God for the Journal Times, or I'd have nothing to write about.
I love each and every one of you. Thank you for reading my blog. Kisses and hugs to you.
madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com Please be sure to respect one another. It's our best hope for peace. ________________________ Please donate:paypal.me/jgmazelisIf you don't like PayPal, send me a note at madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com and I'll send you my street address so you can send a check or money order. Thank you.
What appears to be a brain, wrapped along with flowers and money, was reportedly found just before 9 a.m. Tuesday at Samuel Myers Park near Gateway Technical College's Racine campus. Police are investigating.
James Senda
RACINE — Police are investigating the discovery of what looks like a brain, found wrapped in foil Tuesday morning at the beach at Samuel Myers Park.
Flowers and money were also reportedly found in the package.
Sgt. Chad Melby, public information officer for the Racine Police Department, said officers were dispatched to the beach off 11th Street at 8:57 a.m., shortly after the items were discovered by a passerby.
The discovery was announced on the Racine Uncensored Facebook page and was posted by James Senda, who said in the posting that he made the discovery.
Melby said that an investigation is underway and noted that as of Tuesday morning the tissue-like item had not been confirmed to be human remains.
The Journal Times will update this story as more information becomes available.
RACINE — A Racine County judge has denied the city’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought forward by Azarian Wrecking and other plaintiffs against the City of Racine and the Racine Redevelopment Authority.
On Friday, the city filed an appeal of the decision with the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
The dispute arises from the failed Machinery Row project. In the lawsuit, Racine-based Azarian Wrecking alleges that it was not paid the full value of its property, and that the city and RDA did not provide adequate relocation fees, violated eminent domain laws and held back money from the sale of the property while also misrepresenting what the money was used for.
In the motion to dismiss the case, City Attorney Scott Letteney argued that Azarian Wrecking had based three of its four charges in its complaint on, “fanciful allegations of a ‘straw man’ theory, unsustainable constitutional violations and ill-pleaded claims related to contract law...”
The motion argued that the Azarian complaint was not properly filed, did not include Financial District Properties of Davenport, Iowa (FDP) — the company that initially purchased the Machinery Row properties — as a party and did not substantiate its claims for relief.
In his response, Racine County Circuit Court Judge Jon Fredrickson presented arguments against the city’s assertions in the motion to dismiss. Fredrickson stated that the city retains the right to test and challenge the allegations as the case progresses but that for now, they would be treated as true.
As she climbed down nine flights of stairs and stepped into the dark night in the pouring rain outside Sellery Hall, Lauren Tamborino described the scene as "apocalyptic."
Students were running to the Walgreens across the street and the nearby Fresh Market, stocking up on food and supplies. They had been told they had just a few hours before they would be isolated in their dorms for two weeks, inciting panic.
"There were people buying gallons of milk, boxes of cereal, tons of food, cases of water, just stocking up for this quarantine," Tamborino said.
Teachers started emailing her to say deadlines on homework assignments were being pushed back. Students were told if they left the dorms after the 10 p.m. lockdown, they would not be allowed back in.
And all of this was unfolding on Wednesday, one week to the day after classes started.
UW-Madison officials sent out information about when meals would be delivered and promised medical care, mental health support and strict enforcement of restrictions on gatherings.
"We know you want to be here and we hope this necessary step will help us achieve the goal of remaining on campus all year," said a message to students in Sellery and Witte halls.
Watching the chaos, Tamborino knew one thing: She did not want to be here.
Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki is urging Catholics in strong terms to return to in-person Mass, provided they follow rules about wearing masks and social distancing.
As of Monday, the order excusing Catholics from in-person worship expires. The move coincides with the archdiocese lifting restrictions that limited churches to 25% of capacity.
Listecki's letter to the 10-county archdiocese said the fear of getting sick, in and of itself, is not an excuse, and Catholics "who deliberately fail to attend Sunday Mass commit a grave sin." He also said that while livestreamed or publicly broadcast services have helped those at home remain connected, they do not replace in-person attendance.
His chief of staff, Jerry Topczewski, told the Journal Sentinel the archbishop does not want people to stay home and continue to watch Mass on TV simply because they’ve gotten comfortable doing so.
The archbishop said Catholics could continue to miss in-person church services if they are at risk because of age, underlying medical conditions or a compromised immune system, or caring for a sick person.
"It is up to each individual to weigh their own circumstances through an examination of their conscience," he said. However, driving home his position, he added, "Remember, a well-formed conscience is upright and truthful."
The Catholic Church's “Sunday obligation” is a dictate set forth in Church canon law. It states that Catholics have a moral obligation to attend weekly Mass, following the Biblical teaching of "keeping holy the Lord's day." It is not absolute; there have always been exceptions for people in crisis situations.
For the last six months, the archdiocese — along with churches nationwide — lifted the obligation because of the threat posed by COVID-19, an unprecedented decision and one that Listecki indicated was made after deep, prayerful discernment.
Over the summer, most churches reopened but limited Mass attendance to 25% capacity and often required advance registration. Sparse attendance was common. Some parishes in certain hotspots, such as Milwaukee’s south side, remained closed for a time, and others opened with smaller limits than the archdiocesan rules.
Church leaders say they believe Masses are reasonably safe gatherings if people abide by the precautions set out by the archdiocese. No cases of COVID-19 have been traced back to Masses celebrated in the Milwaukee archdiocese so far, Topczewski said.
"Assisted by many volunteers, our parishes have worked very hard to provide for sanitized environments, observing social distancing, the wearing of masks and the use of hand sanitizers," Listecki's letter said. "Because of these efforts since the end of May, we have already experienced a return to Sunday worship."
But some Catholics are disappointed, arguing on Listecki’s dispensation announcement blog post that encouraging in-person gatherings is irresponsible and forces people to choose between their health and their faith.
Topczewski said people must make an honest assessment of their circumstance.
“The criticism I think is a reaction to — ‘Well, you’re making people go.’ No, people make their own decisions. This isn’t a guilt-trip, this is a decision that you willfully make of your own free will,” Topczewski said.
Parish priests can grant individual dispensations as well.
RACINE — A Mount Pleasant man accused of sexually assaulting multiple children is scheduled to stand trial this week.
Danny Obuchowski, 28, of Mount Pleasant, is facing eight charges related to sexual assault of a child and incest. On Thursday his defense and the state confirmed that they are prepared to go to trial.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall, where there is more space for social distancing. Due to the sensitivity of the case, officials believe jury selection could continue into Tuesday morning and then move right into the trial itself, which is set to be held in the 7th floor courtroom of the Racine County Courthouse.
The criminal complaint:
A 17-year-old teen boy told a Mount Pleasant Police Department investigator that one of his family members, Obuchowski, sexually assaulted him multiple times while he was a child.
He said the first assault took place at a cabin when he was 10 years old, but said it also happened at another family member’s house in Mount Pleasant. The teen said that Obuchowski forced him to perform sex acts on him and raped him. He said the last assault occurred when he was 12 to 13 years old.
Another reported victim, this time a woman in her 20s, said that Obuchowski touched her while she was a child at a family member’s home in Mount Pleasant. She said the incident happened when she was about 9 years old and Obuchowski eventually raped her.
A third family member of Obuchowski’s, another woman in her 20s, said Obuchowski also sexually assaulted her as a child, between November 2003 and November 2006.
Obuchowski’s stepfather told authorities that he has known Obuchowski since he was 2 years old and “always had an inkling” about Obuchowski. He told investigators he was aware of more victims and identified two incidents involving former neighbors, none of which were reported to authorities.
Obuchowski was reportedly caught in a basement in 2006 or 2007 after a 2-year-old child began screaming and was found naked in a basement with him.
A former neighbor also said that while she lived in a Caledonia apartment, Obuchowski touched her for several years, about 10 times, when she was a child.
An investigator also reviewed yet another report from another person who said that Obuchowski pulled down her pants and underwear as a child; however, he was stopped when her brother entered the room.
Obuchowski has been in custody since the complaint was filed on Feb. 5.
The Caledonia Police Department is selling Back The Blue signs for $10.
Courtesy of the Caledonia Police Department
CALEDONIA — Although one Village Board member has raised concerns about the village appearing partisan, the Caledonia Police Department is continuing to sell Back The Blue signs to raise funds for its community policing efforts.
The laminated yard signs are being sold Monday through Friday for $10 each at the Caledonia Police Department, 6900 Nicholson Road, or by calling 262-835-4433. The proceeds will cover the costs of the signs, with the profit going toward funding the village’s expanding community policing initiative, according to the department.
Botsch
“The ‘Back the Blue’ signs are designed to show support for the police. The signs are NOT designed or intended to oppose any other group or idea,” Police Chief Christopher Botsch explained in an email. “I do NOT believe that support of our police officers and conversations on police reform are mutually exclusive concepts.”
Martin
Still, Trustee Fran Martin had concerns. Regarding the phrase “Back The Blue,” Martin said during a Caledonia Village Board meeting Tuesday, “That’s a very politicized thing. It’s taken by many people to be in opposition to Black Lives Matter. I wish we had done something more neutral … it is interpreted as opposition of Black lives. I don’t think we as a village should be supplying those.”
DEMAND ARMED BLM PROTESTER GAIGE GROSSKREUTZ BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND CHARGED WITH CRIMES RELATING TO BRANDISHING AND AIMING A WEAPON DURING THE BLM/ANTIFA RIOTS ON AUGUST 25th. 2020, violating Wisconsin Statutes 941.20 and its subsections
941.20 Endangering safety by use of dangerous weapon.
(1)Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor:
(a) Endangers another's safety by the negligent operation or handling of a dangerous weapon.
(b) Operates or goes armed with a firearm while he or she is under the influence of an intoxicant.
(bm) Operates or goes armed with a firearm while he or she has a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in his or her blood. A defendant has a defense to any action under this paragraph that is based on the defendant allegedly having a detectable amount of methamphetamine, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in his or her blood, if he or she proves by a preponderance of the evidence that at the time of the incident or occurrence he or she had a valid prescription for methamphetamine or one of its metabolic precursors, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
(c) Except as provided in sub. (1m), intentionally points a firearm at or toward another.
(d)While on the lands of another discharges a firearm within 100 yards of any building devoted to human occupancy situated on and attached to the lands of another without the express permission of the owner or occupant of the building. “Building" as used in this paragraph does not include any tent, bus, truck, vehicle or similar portable unit.
THIS IS AN EMAIL CAMPAIGN TO KENOSHA DISTRICT ATTORNEY MICHAEL GRAVELY AND A.D.A. THOMAS BINGER TO HOLD GAIGE GROSSKREUTZ ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS CRIMINAL ACTS OF CHASING, BRANDISHING AND AIMING A PISTOL AT KYLE RITTENHOUSE.
KENOSHA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY GRAVELY AND A.D.A. BINGER HAS A HISTORY OF FAILING TO PROVIDE EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW, WRONGFUL PROSECUTION AND BAD DECISION MAKING CONCERNING LITIGATION.
BOTH GRAVELY AND BINGER EXHIBIT ANTI SECOND AMENDMENT SENTIMENT AND HAVE ATTACKED RESPECTABLE CITIZENS FOR ASSERTING THEIR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
KYLE RITTENHOUSE HAS THE SAME PROTECTIONS AND RIGHTS TO ASSERT THE SAME STATUTES USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSERTING SELF DEFENSE WHEN PHYSICALLY ENDANGERED.
WISCONSIN STATUTE AS FOLLOWS:
939.48 Self-defense and defense of others.
(1)A person is privileged to threaten or intentionally use force against another for the purpose of preventing or terminating what the person reasonably believes to be an unlawful interference with his or her person by such other person. The actor may intentionally use only such force or threat thereof as the actor reasonably believes is necessary to prevent or terminate the interference. The actor may not intentionally use force which is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm unless the actor reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself.
EMAIL GRAVELY AND BINGER OFTEN AND REMIND THEM OF THEIR DUTY TO PROVIDE EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW TO ALL
WAS GAIGE GROSSKREUTZ UNDER THE INFLUENCE WHEN ARMED?
ASK AND FIND OUT!
GOVERNMENT ASSIGNED PUBLIC EMAIL ADDRESSES AS FOLLOWS:
