KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Jason Freitag, the longtime Kenosha County Highway Operations Superintendent, was effectively pushed out of county government late last year after a sustained pattern of complaints and internal concerns, a move some observers speculate was delayed until County Executive Samantha Kerkman knew she would face no opponent in her reelection bid before taking action.
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WAUSAU, WI — Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany escaped with only minor injuries Saturday night after the small plane carrying him home from a political event lost power and made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. Tiffany said he was returning home from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot was
Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Nearly three weeks after bullets allegedly whizzed past the heads of golfers at Strawberry Creek Golf Course, no criminal charges have been filed against a 48-year-old Trevor man who authorities say was target shooting with his two sons, ages 12 and 13, on property north of the course.
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 56-year-old woman was killed Friday after being struck by a vehicle near Washington Road and 30th Avenue in Kenosha, according to Kenosha Police Capt. Leo Viola. Viola told Kenosha County Eye the woman was a pedestrian and that police do not currently suspect criminality in connection
Gabriel E. Mills, 43, of Kenosha in Court Being Re-Arrested(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — Journey Church’s Board of Deacons is defending former Lead Pastor Kevin Taylor’s handling of the Gabriel Mills criminal investigation, telling Kenosha County Eye through legal counsel that Taylor “was not free
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 12-member Kenosha County jury unanimously found Peter E. Johnson III, 45, of Kenosha, not guilty Thursday of all four felony charges against him following a two-day jury trial before Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Heather Iverson. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Norkus prosecuted the case, with Assistant
John Michael Angotti, 44 and Tanya Nicole Angotti, 45, Both of Kenosha(facebook.com) KENOSHA, Wis. — Tanya Nicole Angotti, 45, and her husband, John Michael Angotti, 44, both of Kenosha, have been charged in connection with an alleged road-rage attack in which prosecutors say Tanya Angotti got out of a vehicle
KENOSHA, Wis. — Elijah M. Smith, 23, of Kenosha, is facing criminal charges after prosecutors say he drunkenly drove at a high rate of speed, lost control while attempting a sharp turn and slammed his car into Kenz Smooth Cuts before running from the scene, leaving an injured passenger behind.
Brandon Wayne Smith, 25, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) SALEM LAKES, Wis. — Brandon Wayne Smith, 25, of Salem Lakes, is charged with disorderly conduct as an act of domestic abuse and contact after a domestic abuse arrest after prosecutors say he returned near the home of a woman
WAUSAU, WI — Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany escaped with only minor injuries Saturday night after the small plane carrying him home from a political event lost power and made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. Tiffany said he was returning home from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot was
Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Nearly three weeks after bullets allegedly whizzed past the heads of golfers at Strawberry Creek Golf Course, no criminal charges have been filed against a 48-year-old Trevor man who authorities say was target shooting with his two sons, ages 12 and 13, on property north of the course.
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 56-year-old woman was killed Friday after being struck by a vehicle near Washington Road and 30th Avenue in Kenosha, according to Kenosha Police Capt. Leo Viola. Viola told Kenosha County Eye the woman was a pedestrian and that police do not currently suspect criminality in connection with the crash. Police radio traffic reviewed by KCE showed a significant police
Gabriel E. Mills, 43, of Kenosha in Court Being Re-Arrested(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — Journey Church’s Board of Deacons is defending former Lead Pastor Kevin Taylor’s handling of the Gabriel Mills criminal investigation, telling Kenosha County Eye through legal counsel that Taylor “was not free to disclose” what the Board characterized as privileged pastoral communications. But body-worn camera
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 12-member Kenosha County jury unanimously found Peter E. Johnson III, 45, of Kenosha, not guilty Thursday of all four felony charges against him following a two-day jury trial before Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Heather Iverson. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Norkus prosecuted the case, with Assistant District Attorney Ben Woolley also appearing for the state during the trial, while
John Michael Angotti, 44 and Tanya Nicole Angotti, 45, Both of Kenosha(facebook.com) KENOSHA, Wis. — Tanya Nicole Angotti, 45, and her husband, John Michael Angotti, 44, both of Kenosha, have been charged in connection with an alleged road-rage attack in which prosecutors say Tanya Angotti got out of a vehicle armed with a white PVC pipe measuring four to six feet long before
KENOSHA, Wis. — Elijah M. Smith, 23, of Kenosha, is facing criminal charges after prosecutors say he drunkenly drove at a high rate of speed, lost control while attempting a sharp turn and slammed his car into Kenz Smooth Cuts before running from the scene, leaving an injured passenger behind. Nathaniel R. Presterl, 25, of Kenosha, who police say was riding in the
Brandon Wayne Smith, 25, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) SALEM LAKES, Wis. — Brandon Wayne Smith, 25, of Salem Lakes, is charged with disorderly conduct as an act of domestic abuse and contact after a domestic abuse arrest after prosecutors say he returned near the home of a woman protected by a mandatory 72-hour contact prohibition only hours after being released from
Thomas M. Degroot, 50, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — A 50-year-old Kenosha man is facing a misdemeanor retail theft charge after police say he stole a breast pump and other lactation supplies from the Pleasant Prairie Target before running from store security. Thomas M. Degroot, 50, of Kenosha, was charged Friday with misdemeanor retail theft, intentionally taking merchandise worth
Users KENOSHA, Wis. — At this point, Kenosha County residents could be forgiven for wondering whether someone is playing a joke on them. Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel “Catch & Release” Kellum certainly appears determined to live up to his nickname. One week after Krystyna M. Rogers, 36, of Kenosha, allegedly picked up four new felony bail-jumping charges within hours of Kellum releasing
Greg R. Douma, 59, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Greg R. Douma, 59, of Kenosha, is back behind bars after pleading guilty Thursday morning to repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl whose account indicated the abuse began when she was just 6 or 7 years old and continued for years. Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Heather Iverson accepted Douma’s guilty plea,
SALEM LAKES, Wis. — A private Facebook group packed with Salem Lakes elected officials and other prominent government figures was created by James Beinecke and his wife, Margaret Beinecke, two well-known local internet trolls who routinely ridicule people with whom they disagree online. James Beinecke, whom Kenosha County Eye previously profiled in January as part of its “Internet Troll” series, started the private
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge David O. Hughes formally celebrated his investiture Thursday afternoon during a 4:15 p.m. ceremony in the newly restored Ceremonial Courtroom at the Kenosha County Courthouse, surrounded by family, fellow judges, attorneys, elected officials and members of the community. Hughes began serving earlier this year after Gov. Tony Evers appointed him to succeed retired Branch 4
BURLINGTON, Wis. — Randall Consolidated School J1’s new District Administrator, Dr. Jeffrey Fleig, says transparency, accountability, organizational culture and responsible financial stewardship will be among his top priorities as he takes over leadership of the western Kenosha County school district. Fleig comes to Randall with more than 30 years in public education and nearly three decades in school administration, having served as a
SOMERS, Wis. — Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson will headline a September 11 remembrance ceremony Friday at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, marking 25 years since the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. The “Remembrance Remarks” ceremony, organized by Parkside Student Government, will begin at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at the entrance to
Miguel Medrano, 23, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Miguel Medrano, 23, of Kenosha, was charged Thursday with first-degree child sexual assault involving a child under 13 and resisting an officer after prosecutors alleged he repeatedly sexually assaulted a girl who was as young as 5 while staying overnight at her family’s home. Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum set
KENOSHA, Wis. — Alderman Dominic Ruffalo presented Hope Council Executive Director Michelle Sandberg with a City of Kenosha proclamation Aug. 25 recognizing September 2026 as National Recovery Month, as the local organization highlighted two women whose recovery journeys now total 25 years. Hope Council thanked Ruffalo, Mayor David Bogdala and members of the Kenosha Common Council for recognizing recovery efforts in the community.
Sherman Marquise Howard Jr., 16, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Sherman Marquise Howard Jr., 16, of Kenosha, became the second juvenile charged as an adult in connection with alleged threats to kill a Kenosha Police officer. Howard was also charged in a separate case accusing him of firing a handgun near children during a July 4 gathering. Court Commissioner Daniel
Nehemiah RJ Carr, 21, of Mount Pleasant(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Nehemiah RJ Carr, 21, of Mount Pleasant, was charged Wednesday with a felony after prosecutors say he walked through a Kenosha Dollar General with his genitals exposed and masturbated while staring at a 17-year-old employee. Carr is charged with exposing genitals to a child, a Class I felony; lewd and
Joseph R. Schwarz, 59, of Twin Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) TWIN LAKES, Wis. — Joseph R. Schwarz, 59, of Twin Lakes, was charged Thursday with three counts of felony bail jumping, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia after Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies allegedly found him drinking at a Twin Lakes bar while under felony bond conditions. Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum
Allyson J. Jacobs, 49, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Allyson J. Jacobs, 49, of Kenosha, was charged Thursday with third-offense operating while intoxicated after police say she ran a solid red light and caused two drivers to brake to avoid a collision. Liberal activist supplemental court commissioner Daniel E. Kellum gave Jacobs a no-cash bail Thursday afternoon. Allyson J. Jacobs,
Holly M. Daniel, 18, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Holly M. Daniel, 18, of Kenosha, was charged Wednesday with carrying a concealed weapon after police say she pulled out and sparked a taser during an incident involving students near Reuther High School. Daniel was 17 when the alleged incident occurred. Holly M. Daniel, 18, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You
KENOSHA, Wis. — For months, Kenosha-area residents have packed government meetings to deliver essentially the same message about Microsoft’s proposed hyperscale data center: slow it down, study the consequences and, in many cases, stop it altogether. That message continued Wednesday night at the Kenosha Common Council meeting, which was held at 7 p.m. Wednesday instead of the council’s usual Monday meeting date because
Traci L. Buccieri, 43, of Trevor(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Traci L. Buccieri, 43, of Trevor, was charged Wednesday with criminal trespass as domestic abuse, misdemeanor battery, and two counts of disorderly conduct after authorities say she caused a disturbance at the Riverside Inn, entered her former boyfriend’s apartment without permission and attempted to take his 7-year-old daughter. Court Commissioner Daniel
WAUSAU, WI — Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany escaped with only minor injuries Saturday night after the small plane carrying him home from a political event lost power and made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. Tiffany said he was returning home from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot was
Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Nearly three weeks after bullets allegedly whizzed past the heads of golfers at Strawberry Creek Golf Course, no criminal charges have been filed against a 48-year-old Trevor man who authorities say was target shooting with his two sons, ages 12 and 13, on property north of the course.
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 56-year-old woman was killed Friday after being struck by a vehicle near Washington Road and 30th Avenue in Kenosha, according to Kenosha Police Capt. Leo Viola. Viola told Kenosha County Eye the woman was a pedestrian and that police do not currently suspect criminality in connection with the crash. Police radio traffic reviewed by KCE showed a significant police
Gabriel E. Mills, 43, of Kenosha in Court Being Re-Arrested(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — Journey Church’s Board of Deacons is defending former Lead Pastor Kevin Taylor’s handling of the Gabriel Mills criminal investigation, telling Kenosha County Eye through legal counsel that Taylor “was not free to disclose” what the Board characterized as privileged pastoral communications. But body-worn camera
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 12-member Kenosha County jury unanimously found Peter E. Johnson III, 45, of Kenosha, not guilty Thursday of all four felony charges against him following a two-day jury trial before Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Heather Iverson. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Norkus prosecuted the case, with Assistant District Attorney Ben Woolley also appearing for the state during the trial, while
John Michael Angotti, 44 and Tanya Nicole Angotti, 45, Both of Kenosha(facebook.com) KENOSHA, Wis. — Tanya Nicole Angotti, 45, and her husband, John Michael Angotti, 44, both of Kenosha, have been charged in connection with an alleged road-rage attack in which prosecutors say Tanya Angotti got out of a vehicle armed with a white PVC pipe measuring four to six feet long before
KENOSHA, Wis. — Elijah M. Smith, 23, of Kenosha, is facing criminal charges after prosecutors say he drunkenly drove at a high rate of speed, lost control while attempting a sharp turn and slammed his car into Kenz Smooth Cuts before running from the scene, leaving an injured passenger behind. Nathaniel R. Presterl, 25, of Kenosha, who police say was riding in the
Brandon Wayne Smith, 25, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) SALEM LAKES, Wis. — Brandon Wayne Smith, 25, of Salem Lakes, is charged with disorderly conduct as an act of domestic abuse and contact after a domestic abuse arrest after prosecutors say he returned near the home of a woman protected by a mandatory 72-hour contact prohibition only hours after being released from
Thomas M. Degroot, 50, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — A 50-year-old Kenosha man is facing a misdemeanor retail theft charge after police say he stole a breast pump and other lactation supplies from the Pleasant Prairie Target before running from store security. Thomas M. Degroot, 50, of Kenosha, was charged Friday with misdemeanor retail theft, intentionally taking merchandise worth
Users KENOSHA, Wis. — At this point, Kenosha County residents could be forgiven for wondering whether someone is playing a joke on them. Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel “Catch & Release” Kellum certainly appears determined to live up to his nickname. One week after Krystyna M. Rogers, 36, of Kenosha, allegedly picked up four new felony bail-jumping charges within hours of Kellum releasing
Greg R. Douma, 59, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Greg R. Douma, 59, of Kenosha, is back behind bars after pleading guilty Thursday morning to repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl whose account indicated the abuse began when she was just 6 or 7 years old and continued for years. Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Heather Iverson accepted Douma’s guilty plea,
SALEM LAKES, Wis. — A private Facebook group packed with Salem Lakes elected officials and other prominent government figures was created by James Beinecke and his wife, Margaret Beinecke, two well-known local internet trolls who routinely ridicule people with whom they disagree online. James Beinecke, whom Kenosha County Eye previously profiled in January as part of its “Internet Troll” series, started the private
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge David O. Hughes formally celebrated his investiture Thursday afternoon during a 4:15 p.m. ceremony in the newly restored Ceremonial Courtroom at the Kenosha County Courthouse, surrounded by family, fellow judges, attorneys, elected officials and members of the community. Hughes began serving earlier this year after Gov. Tony Evers appointed him to succeed retired Branch 4
BURLINGTON, Wis. — Randall Consolidated School J1’s new District Administrator, Dr. Jeffrey Fleig, says transparency, accountability, organizational culture and responsible financial stewardship will be among his top priorities as he takes over leadership of the western Kenosha County school district. Fleig comes to Randall with more than 30 years in public education and nearly three decades in school administration, having served as a
SOMERS, Wis. — Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson will headline a September 11 remembrance ceremony Friday at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, marking 25 years since the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. The “Remembrance Remarks” ceremony, organized by Parkside Student Government, will begin at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at the entrance to
Miguel Medrano, 23, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Miguel Medrano, 23, of Kenosha, was charged Thursday with first-degree child sexual assault involving a child under 13 and resisting an officer after prosecutors alleged he repeatedly sexually assaulted a girl who was as young as 5 while staying overnight at her family’s home. Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum set
38 Responses
Be a terrible boss walk out with severance pay??
Get your information correct he didn’t get a severance package
It literally says, “depart with severance.”
As opposed to figuratively?
Yep
So Jason Freitag was the problem? As I recall Greg Bolts name was mentioned just as often as his, and Greg bolt still has a job. Greg bolt also got a promotion and a $7,000 a year raise,
meanwhile four more employees have quit the highway department in the month of January alone after Jason was fired. But he was the problem?
Our insurance SUCKS. It’s easy to find nearby municipalities who have better benefits and pay.
Can’t blame people for leaving when Kerkman set the standard that the insurance is going to get worse every year. Hope the taxpayers aren’t too attached to good road conditions in the winter. Don’t worry, your taxes didn’t go up, but the quality of services is going down.
You can thank Scott Walker for that.
Walker has been on the Kenosha County Board for the past decade? Nope.
Your insurance “sucks” because the liberals on the County Board AND the City Council have screwed their fellow democrat employees by giving you insurance that “sucks”. But they STILL try to blame Walker for something he DID NOT DO. You dumb ass sheep are so gullible.
There are good roads around here? Could’ve fooled me. Your department is just like the medical and penal industries. They treat symptoms, not the underlying cause. Might as well not even have a job. As a matter of fact, that’s what I’ll say to you when I’m driving by, and you’re standing there with 5 other people watching 1 man work.
My guess is you live in the city and dont know the difference between city roads and county roads. But keep that energy up when you pass them running your next door dash order
Yeah maybe keep up with current events as the quality of just about all services, government and otherwise, has gone down markedly over the past decade, while the cost of the services in taxes has gone up.
But please, feel free to make it up as you go along
No one wants to work and the losers they put in charge have no experience or ability to lead but hey, they have a college degree so that makes them important.
Fish stinks from the head down
Our insurance is actually amazing. It’s also extremely affordable. I’m not sure what plan you are on but I’ve compared it to other places and nobody beats ours.
The roads in the County have been terrible this year. I’m not sure what has changed but it’s not for the better.
Sh*t can Billingsley next. She’s just as guilty.
I agree. I don’t think Jason was ever the issue. I know for a fact Jacob, the other superintendent, has been nothing but a problem. Hiring people with zero experience at way higher rates than current employees just for them to leave a few months later. Highway department needs new leadership and fast. The department is drowning.
Shows determination in the face of adversity.
And there’s a lot of that for her.
Aside that we have to now endure her for another 4 years because our Republican Party couldn’t find a replacement for her.
Not as dramatic as teachers but another example of not firing someone. Letting them survive their future job opportunities. I get it but at least a simple background check will pull up this story. Though other municipalities won’t care.
That’s just another way of saying she looks rough….
Her face ages about as well as Kenosha County roads….
Get use to it. Corruption is the merican way
This is what happens when a municipality is taken over by emotional women and feminine men. Absolutely brutal what has become of a once proud department.
Hard to tell the difference between emotional women and feminine men at all levels of government. Going to be hard times when the children they produce gain the throne of power due to a sense of entitlement.
Look at the nepotism on display at all levels of Kenosha government and services and declining level of services while taxes increase.
Does she not ever look in the mirror. She looks so rough
There is much to complain about with her, but no excuse for cheap shots on her looks. Shame on you.
Maybe they should start complaining about Karen Terry and Clara tappa maybe they’ll get fired….. oh wait nope
Them too!
It’s strange that all the bad seeds came from the City of Kenosha and one from Walworth County… Shelly, Greg, Karen, and Jake
In the real world, intentionally sabotaging/deleting a coworkers documents without asking/communicating would get you walked out immediately. They showed this dildo a lot of grace.
“ long time superintendent”
He wasn’t a superintendent that long!
Well, for Kenosha County Highway department standards. There was a long time considering the turnover rate is so extremely high.
You should really look into how many people have left Kenosha County highway department since Jason was promoted to superintendent.
Then you should look at how many highway department employees left since Samantha Kirkman got elected
“Pushed out” in the headline makes it sound like it wasn’t justified, but the article definitely sounds like it was not only justified but sorely overdue!
The two people that were complaining the most were doing it because people at the top needed the documentation to get Jason out. And how convenient one of them just so happened to slide right into Jason’s position. Maybe pull their personnel files and see all the shit they should have been fired for!
The comments made by individuals who didn’t read the article practically have a neon glow.
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I will admit that I have not read the entire article, but, I would like to comment on some of the comments. The county highway department started going down hill when kreuser was in office and when Scott walker signed Act 10. People are always bitching about the roads, but, the county cannot keep help. Who wants to get a call at 2 am to plow snow for low wage and crappy insurance? Those that complain should fill out an application.
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Fish stinks from the head down