KENOSHA, Wis. — With Christmas around the corner, Kenosha County Eye is kicking off a brand-new holiday tradition: our twice-weekly Naughty or Nice Lists. Every Wednesday and Saturday, we’ll spotlight the people and public officials who made an impact on our community — for better or worse. These features are meant to be fun, festive, and community-driven, and we’re inviting readers to submit their own nominations for future editions.
Naughty List
- Bill Siel — Kenosha Alderman
Numerous residents in his district say Alderman Siel has ignored growing concerns about homelessness and open drug use around Library Square and nearby blocks. Despite repeated calls and emails, constituents report he either doesn’t respond or insists everything is fine. They believe he should be helping address homelessness rather than dismissing the people he serves. - Salem Lakes Village President Rita Bucur and the Village Board
For more than a year, the Board has been criticized for micromanaging the Kenosha County Fair’s conditional use permit — dictating when races can occur, how many security guards must be hired, whether DAS Fest can be held during Country Thunder, and even blocking a small building near a tributary labeled “navigable.” Many see this as an unnecessary and harmful assault on one of the county’s most cherished events and charities. - Michael Rizzo — Disgraced Former KPD Officer and Sheriff’s Deputy
Rizzo filed a lawsuit widely viewed as frivolous against Kenosha County Eye. Instead of accepting responsibility for past misconduct and moving forward, he’s consuming court resources with litigation that is almost certain to be dismissed. Residents see it as wasteful and petty. - Court Commissioner William Michel II
After decades as a mediocre defense attorney, Commissioner Michel has become known for setting extremely low bail amounts for violent repeat offenders, placing the community at risk. Critics say his grasp of basic legal principles is shaky at best, and many believe he should retire for the sake of public safety. - Sheriff David W. Zoerner
Sheriff Zoerner campaigned as a tough-on-crime Republican who would work with ICE and federal agencies to detain illegal immigrants who break the law. Once in office, however, he stopped cooperating with ICE, leaving residents feeling misled. Many believe he has put political calculation and reelection above community safety.
Nice List
- Salem Lakes Fire Rescue Department
Crew members saved a man’s life twice after a severe September crash, and he ultimately left the hospital without any brain damage. Their quick action, skill, and dedication earned widespread praise — and a well-deserved spot on the Nice List. - Heidi Tainter and her 15-year-old daughter, Brooklyn
The mother-daughter duo brought holiday magic to Kenosha with their “Letters to Santa” project. They check the special North Pole mailbox daily and personally handwrite responses for every child. Their kindness and dedication touched families all over the city. - Lisa Craft — Founder of “The Traveling Trunk”
Lisa hosts weekly storytimes across Kenosha — at restaurants, farms, beaches, nursing homes, the humane society, and more. She pays for everything herself, gives each child a craft to take home, and hands out treats like ice cream or popsicles. Families adore her, and her generosity has made her a community favorite. - Judge Gerad Dougvillo
Judge Dougvillo has earned praise for consistently being tough on crime and refusing leniency in dangerous cases. He recently denied a convicted former teacher’s request for work release, determining it was not in the community’s best interest. His commitment to accountability keeps Kenosha safer. - Kenosha County-Area Plow Drivers
After several major winter events, plow drivers from area municipalities worked grueling hours — including holidays — to keep roads safe. Their hard work often goes unrecognized, but thousands rely on them. When you see a plow driver, thank them. - Theodore “Teddy” Ruffalo
A former alderman, Marine Corps veteran, and all-around good guy, Teddy actually inspired the idea for this Naughty and Nice List. His service to the community and his character easily earn him a spot on the Nice List. - Kenosha First Responders Who Responded to the Deadly Fire
Firefighters and police officers who raced into the devastating apartment fire last week are heroes. They risked their lives in extreme danger and carried the emotional trauma of encountering dying children — something the public often forgets. Their bravery and sacrifice deserve deep gratitude.
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49 Responses
Bill Siel SUCKS. Will they care about the homeless people once a child or librarian is hurt by them????
Fat slob Zoerner is a disgrace Democrat glad he’s on Santa’s naughty list 😀
Thanks for the plow driver shoutout.
We worked our butts off to keep up with the weather, but it’s what we do. We are very short-handed, made it through this storm with one boss who is great, west end boss on vacation, State boss is a dumbass, and our department is being led by the two biggest pieces of shit who need their own naughty list- Greg Boldt and his dog, Jason Freitag.
Samantha? Are you listening?
She sure AF wasn’t listening when we told her Freitag was coming in for an hour in the morning, going home, and coming in for an hour in the afternoon, and then leaving by 3pm, while getting paid $90k a year to work 25 hours a week. She let that shit go on for another 5 years.
Bill needs to go he’s not a good alderman what’s one thing he has done ? Nothing
Is this “common core” math?
I live in Randall, and someone needs to swing for whatever this mess is. It was still terrible on Sunday at 3pm, when I got home from work. Somehow, even the city was in better shape than my neighborhood! Definitely not the same service we became accustomed to.
They were forced to hire a woman with no experience and apparently the administration put her in the most confusing route for the 1st storm. The highway department is running on fumes due to lack of leadership and accountability.
Not “the leadership.”
Freitag. Freitag put her in the messiest section.
It’s not just DPW. It’s a lack of leadership and accountability on all levels, straight from the top. Kerkman has to go, we need a complete turnover on the county board- the whole board knows of the issues, and they have done nothing besides rubber-stamp whatever Kerkman puts in front of them. Kerkman could get rid of these directors and division heads- but she won’t. Kerkman could walk to Bolt’s office and tell him he’s ruined highways and he’s done- but she won’t.
I got suspended for some bullshit with our wellness app. In the past two months, Freitag has dug around on my boss’s desk and taken his personal paperwork without his knowledge or approval. He deleted some work that the shop boss did, off the shop boss’s computer. He walked away free. I want whatever program these assholes have, that they can be terrible at their jobs and get promotions and raises.
That woman has a lot of experience driving fire & rescue equipment. She’s far from inexperienced. That’s a tough neighborhood to navigate with a snow plow, even for an experienced driver.
She literally has zero experience.
Half of the department has no experience. They’re hiring anyone with a pulse.
Remember the former department head Ray said “you can shake a tree and get a truck driver”
Fenske was apparently the one who knew which tree to shake.
And the one bitching has literally zero balls to get off his ass and shovel. What a beta
What does anonymous name calling make you?
This comment doesn’t scream “alpha” or “class” or “intelligence.”
lol clearly I hit a nerve 😉
Maybe you’ll get off your ass and grab a shovel next time. You should probably buy some work gloves and boots- you likely have neither.
Why’d they give her that route for her first year? Who the hell runs that dept? Are they trying to make people quit? Dumbasses
Have your wife do it better, or buy a plow & help your neighborhood
I help my neighborhood by paying property taxes, so that this work gets done.
Hopefully the Town Board gets on this, before it becomes taxation without representation.
The Randall Town Chair has brought your concerns to the proper people just so you know. Randall made the right person Chair!
When the “proper people” are the ones who have let things spiral out of control, namely— Freitag and Boldt. Chair can talk to whomever, but until there is some level of accountability, problems won’t be solved.
Can you specify which neighborhood of randall you live in please?
Yeah, so “the lady with no experience” can avoid it! A bunch of whiners out there, good grief!
If you feel that way, find another job, or work hard to become a boss. Oh you can’t cause you are barley making ends meet as is
Or— and here’s a thought— as a taxpayer in Kenosha County, I think that our property tax dollars should be used to pay the salaries of people who will DO A GOOD, SOLID JOB for the wages they are paid. I come to work and give my all, the people who supervise me should do the same.
It’s barely, not barely. Barley is a cereal grain. Barely is the word you’re looking for.
I’m not barely making ends meet. I put in an honest day’s work for my wages, and live a modest life within my means. I do not wish to become a boss, I enjoy the work I do. However, in order for me to do a good job, the leaders need to do their jobs- when they don’t, that rolls downhill. Our department is having a hard time doing a solid job for the taxpayers, because of some unfortunate leadership.
Your comment sounds immature and lacks intelligence.
Barely, not barley.
Such a bitch lmao
What about that Shelly Billingsley?
If she doesn’t know what’s going on, it’s by her own choice.
Exactly- she’s inept. She doesn’t care and doesn’t know anything. SHE’S the clueless lady who shouldn’t have that job.
She does whatever Samantha Kerkman tells her to do. That is the only reason she has that job. Same with Gregory Boldt. How many other useless employees can we take off the City’s plate? Everyone is either from the City of Kenosha or Kenosha News. Same with the useless overpaid staff in the County Executive’s office!
Nothing says happy holidays like amateur gay porn from Sgt.hard
Ted is indeed a good guy….he sucks at wrestling video games I’ve heard, though.
Salem Lakes’ Naughty List is far too long for Santa this year, featuring wetland development amateurs, fairground haters, and those borrowing money just to cover day-to-day operations. On the Nice List, the Fire Department appears to be finding its groove, it’s amazing what happened once the witch from Johnsburg took her broom to Elgin.
Salem is naughtiest of all. Santa stay away!
I agree with these lists 100%, although I feel a few community members should be added to the naughty list!!!!
Hah! Bill Michel, is one having attained a level of incompetence a decade or two ago.
Bill Siel is a garbage person and has been since his days at the loser Kenosha News. He is arrogant, pompous, rude, obnoxious and an all around jerk. How he got to be an alderman is questionable
Great idea here, Kevin!
Lived downtown for nearly 7 years, Alderman Bill Siel lived a block away from my wife and I and was often more concerned with the height of my grass than he was about the homelessness, crime, and drugs that were rampant in that very same neighborhood. Terrible man, terrible public official. Waste of tax payer dollars to keep him on the payroll.
You clearly don’t hangout at library park. The homeless people have become VERY aggressive. As someone who has to deal them everyday, this IS an issue.
The city as a whole needs much more resources for homeless people, so I see this as a much more systemic issue. The Shalom Center is massively overloaded and more often than not completely full.
We need more spaces to accommodate our homeless population, and better programs put in place to assist them.
This is not to say that the Alderman also isn’t doing a shit job, because he is. But the city as a whole needs to do better.
I hope you pay for it all bc I don’t want to. Until they vet them for who is on drugs, we shouldn’t support any of them. Far too many not helping themselves by saying clean, looking for jobs and staying out of trouble. Let them deal with themselves.
I agree that the city can do more. A lot of people in this economy are a bad week or two away from homelessness. Could happen to anyone.
Kevin, perfect list you met all of the qualifications to grade everyone the biggest failure on that list is the sheriff. It’s amazing to me that law-enforcement won’t work with the feds over getting rid of the illegal crimes committed by these people. There’s a new crime statistic. It’s crime by illegal aliens thank you Democrats and Joe Biden piece of shit.
I live out in Randall and appreciate the hard work the plow drivers are doing. I understand that it’s a lot of mileage to cover and, in my 70+ years living in the area, know the roads will not be pristine immediately. Every year I hear people complain about how their road isn’t plowed 5 minutes after the snow starts. I find that many of them are transplants and have no idea how any of the clean up works. Take a breath, see that they are doing the best they can, and be grateful.