The Cowsills are coming to Hartford

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Sept. 23, 2016

The Cowsills are coming to Hartford

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043

Bob Cowsill, an original member of the band that bears his family’s name, has promised he and his siblings can still sing.

And yes, they can still put on a great show as they’re in the middle of a resurgence in their music careers.

Fans of the group that produced top-10 hits like “The Rain, The Park and Other Things,” “Hair” and “Indian Lake,” can see Bob, his brother Paul and sister Susan at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Schauer Arts and Activities Center, 147 N. Rural St., Hartford.

“It will be a blast,” Bob said.

The band is eager to return to Wisconsin.

They played at this summer’s Wisconsin State Fair, which was the band’s first appearance in the state since 1969.

“It was such a huge audience,” Bob said. “In the old days, there were always great crowds in Wisconsin.”

Plus, at one time, they were spokespeople for the American Dairy Association, appearing in commercials promoting milk.

“We are all about Wisconsin,” Bob said.

The band has gone through several breakups and transformations over the years. But one thing has remained constant: the love of music.

That love never wavered far from their hearts and it’s what brought them back together through the years. They also believe now they might be better than ever, while maintaining the sound people fell in love with in the 1960s.

“We’ve just kind of resurfaced,” Bob said. “Our kids are grown and everyone’s older now and we can come out and have fun.

“It’s pretty exciting actually. We’re all alive and well.”

Last summer, The Cowsills got back on the road — The Happy Together Tour, also starring The Turtles.

“We’re building our new history,” Bob said. “We didn’t create this resurgence; it’s happening though. I think the songs that are powerful, the songs of our day are so strong that it keeps all of us going, including our audience. It’s bonded all of us.”

The group was started by brothers Bob, Bill and Barry in 1965. Soon after, brother John joined the fun. A short time later, sister Susan, brother Paul and mom Barbara completed the group.

In 1967, MGM Records signed them. Their self-titled debut album featured the song “The Rain, The Park and Other Things,” also known as “The Flower Girl” song. It has sold 3 million copies.

In 1968, “Indian Lake” was on the band’s album, “Captain Sad and His Ship of Fools,” and it reached No. 10 on the Billboard chart, including No. 3 in Australia and No. 1 in New Zealand.

In 1969, the band recorded its third top-10 hit, “Hair.” It was No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard chart, but No. 1 in Australia and New Zealand.

To Susan, “Hair” and “The Rain, The Park and Other Things” are the songs that mean the most to the group and not just because they were the two most successful songs the band produced and released.

“Hair” was initially meant to be part of a television show to showcase the boom of the long hair and fashion trends of the 1960s.

So when they got to recording it, they felt differently about how the song played out. They loved it.

“My brothers took it with them to a Chicago radio station and played it and the switchboard lit up,” Susan said. “It was a hit and MGM was forced to put it out.”

Paul said it was also special because it was a rare opportunity where each member had a singing part in the song.

It was from the 1968 Broadway musical “Hair” and was in the 1979 film adaptation.

As for “The Rain, The Park and Other Things,” Susan was 8 years old when it was released.

“She was our little flower sister,” Bob joked.

It has maintained popularity with the help of pop culture as it was used in a scene in the 1994 film “Dumb and Dumber,” starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. The song was used as background of a dream Carrey’s character was having in the movie.

“That’s just my childhood heart song,” Susan said.

The band broke up at least twice for several reasons — personal squabbles, solo music aspirations, family, etc.

The family reason was the most important, Paul said.

“We spent 18 years raising our children,” he said. “We went to 13 different schools because our dad was in the Navy. It kept putting us in different school after different school.

“I didn’t go to a prom. I didn’t go to a graduation. I don’t really have people that I can call up and go, ‘Hey remember when we were in high school?’ I didn’t want that for my kids.”

Other groups seen as their competition in the 1960s and ’70s kept going. The Cowsills took breaks.

“Through it all, we all kept singing,” Bob said. “We all kept performing.”

It was the right thing to do, especially looking back on it today.

“One thing when you’re an older artist is an appreciation for what you did as a younger artist and the fact that other people appreciate it still really blew us away,” Bob said. “We’ve had great crowds. The audiences have been amazing.

“It seems like they’re glad to see us and we’re glad to see them.”

Unincorporated hamlet has deep roots in agriculture

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Sept. 23, 2016

CELEBRATE

HUBERTUS

Unincorporated hamlet has deep roots in agriculture

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043

HUBERTUS — Ross Christenson moved to this unincorporated community in 2002.

It was the best fit for him, working in the concrete paving business for more than 20 years with regular trips to Milwaukee, Madison and other places.

“It’s a great location,” he said.

He’s retired now. So, what kept him here?

“It’s quiet, there’s no crime and the taxes are low,” he said.

However, in the early 20th century, word quickly spread there was good soil for farming. Farmers took advantage of it.

“I think what’s interesting about Hubertus in relation to other communities is the fact that it was a hamlet or had a small economic development center that the residential properties in the area relied upon,” said Jim Healy, village of Richfield administrator. “It’s not like a traditional municipality where you have a very urbanized downtown and the residential development sprawls out.

“We had these pockets or nodes or hamlets where people went to and people relied on to go to the butcher, a blacksmith shop. We had all these places all over town that kind of served that very regional population.”

Hubertus is part of the village of Richfield and the town of Erin. The community’s name came from the parish St. Hubert’s, now joined with St. Gabriel.

In 1916, Hubertus had a population of 100, but had the bare essentials, including a railroad depot, a post office, several shops, a hotel, a cheese factory and an independent telephone company with long-distance connections.

Some of the original buildings that made up the main drag through town — today known as Hubertus Road — are still there. One is Johnny Manhattan’s and another is Sloppy Joe’s.

“They’re thriving businesses, which is somewhat unique because they exist in almost a purely residential area,” Healy said.

“Our history is rooted in agriculture,” he added. “We have a lot of people that came out here because we had great, workable soils, still very much today our motto is ‘Is to move forward, but to preserve a country way of life.’” A formerly popular traditions for three decades in Hubertus was the haunted house at St. Gabriel School — The Hubertus House of Horror. It ended in 2014 as southeastern Wisconsin’s longest-running haunted house. It was closed by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which believed haunted houses are not a representation of the Catholic values.

In the early days of Hubertus, there was a cheese factory on the southwest corner of town owned by a Swiss family — the Schillers. It was later run by Peter Fassbender.

One of the factory’s directors, Peter Becker, lost his life in the factory when he was 42.

One day, he volunteered to clean the vat. The gas from the acid was very strong and heavy, and it didn’t circulate. Just as he was starting to clean, he was overwhelmed by the fumes and fell into the vat and was burned up.

St. Hubert’s Parish, now St. Gabriel’s, was built in 1846. It was built at the encouragement and with help by Joseph Saltzmann, founder of St. Francis Seminary.

It wasn’t until 1849 when it became a separate congregation with 48 German families as members. Before that, St. Hubert’s was attended as a mission of the St. Boniface congregation at Goldendale. The first resident pastor arrived in 1854.

In 1858, parishioners voted to build a stone building. It was completed in 1863.

Then, the school opened in 1888.

Tens of thousands of visitors will visit one of the landmarks that can be seen on the western edge of town: Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians.

Thousands of visitors will seemingly go through Hubertus, most of them accidentally, to get to Holy Hill.

Christenson knows that. He’s often the one pointing them in the right direction.

But, in the early 20th century, it was no accident people stumbled into Hubertus.

Milwaukee Bucks rookie gets a taste of Wisconsin

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Sept. 17, 2016

Milwaukee Bucks rookie gets a taste of Wisconsin

‘Own the Future’ tour stops by Theresa cheese shop

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043

THERESA — On Friday morning, Milwaukee Bucks rookie guard Malcolm Brogdon got a taste of how serious Wisconsinites take their cheese.

And it tasted good.

Brogdon, the 37th overall selection in June’s NBA draft, was at Widmer’s Cheese Cellars to continue the “Own the Future” statewide tour. He was joined by Bango, the Bucks’ mascot, the Bucks dance team and the Rim Rockers while visiting several places throughout the state to meet fans.

Earlier this month, the Bucks’ first-round draft pick Thon Maker also participated in the tour.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Brogdon said about the tour. “I enjoy every bit of it and I enjoy meeting new people.”

The tour wraps up today with stops in Oshkosh, Plymouth, Ripon, Two Rivers and Sheboygan. Other places the Bucks visited on the tour were DePere, Green Bay, Appleton, Sauk City, Camp Douglas, La Crosse, Fort McCoy, Viroqua, Dodgeville, Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, Madison, Blue Mounds, Monona, Cambridge and, of course, Milwaukee.

“It’s a Wisconsin team so it’s a great honor,” said Joe Widmer, third-generation owner, about the Bucks’ visit to the family’s store.

For the last two-plus years, the Bucks have used the slogan “Own the Future” to show their dedication to building for the future, starting with budding stars like Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. This year, there is a new twist to it, “Build the Future,” which is tied to the basketball team’s new arena, which is slated to open in 2018.

And that is the underlying goal of this tour: build for the future by building a fan base across the state, a state that loves its Packers, Badgers, Brewers and Golden Eagles.

“I feel like there’s a whole new bloodline coming in,” Widmer said. “They’re surging, moving to the top again.”

Brogdon, a native of Atlanta and a graduate of the University of Virginia, was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and two-time All-American. Last season, he was the first player in ACC history to be named the conference’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. As a senior, he averaged 18.4 points per game for the Cavaliers.

Brogdon has also represented his country, competing in the 2015 Pan-American Games where the U.S. won the bronze medal.

“I’m really excited,” he said about joining the Bucks. “I’m just happy to have the opportunity to play and just got to work and try to help the team win.”

Brogdon knew cheese was a big deal in Wisconsin. But as he watched about a 10-minute video narrated by Widmer, the third-generation family member for the cheese business in tiny Theresa, Brogdon didn’t know just how serious it was here in Wisconsin and how it can be a profession. It’s a profession generations of people are proud of.

Just ask the Widmers.

After the video, a large platter sat on a table in the office wing of the factory. There were several kinds of cheese.

“It was really interesting to see how they make cheese,” Brogdon said. “This is really a profession. Cheese is really a delicacy in Wisconsin.”

He tried, “two-year-aged cheddar, a spicy, maybe pepper jack, something like that, and then I tried a white one that was pretty stinky.”

Brogdon’s favorite?

“The two-year-aged cheddar one was really good,” he said. “There was some good cheese in there.”

The cheese was popular with all the Bucks representatives. Widmer saw all enjoy each bite into a slice of whatever cheese they sampled.

“It meant a lot,” Widmer said. “Some of them said it was the best cheese they’ve ever had.”

And Brogdon could confidentially say it was the best cheese he’s ever had.

“For sure,” he said with a smile.

WhiskeyBelles bring an attitude of fun to the stage

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Sept. 15, 2016

WhiskeyBelles bring an attitude of fun to the stage

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043

Whiskey has been at the heart of the WhiskeyBelles for nearly a decade.

Oh, so is the music.

The trio of Chrissy Dzioba, Sara Moilanen and Kimmy Unger make up the country music trio, who play at 3 p.m. Friday at Cedarburg’s Art Museum to start the two-day Cedarburg Wine and Harvest Festival.

On Aug. 18, they played at West Bend’s Music on Main series and have also performed at the Washington County Fair.

“Our motto is either, depending on your mood, ‘Three chords and the truth’ or “Three shots and the truth,’” Moilanen said. “We are really just all about having fun.”

The fun is playing music, something close to each member’s heart, and doing it in front of thousands of fans. This year, the group will play about 70 shows.

Moilanen started writing music as a teenager and later learned to play guitar. Her mom was a singer and her dad was a keyboard player and piano tuner.

In 2011, she won the Wisconsin Area Music Industry’s award for Best Female Vocalist. Also that year, performing with her husband, Tim Suchocki, in West of East, they won the WAMI for Americana Artist of the Year.

“It was kind of a no-brainer,” said Moilanen when asked when she realized music was something she wanted to pursue. “I really love to sing, it’s always been a part of my life. Music is a great creative release and therapy. It’s just a part of who I am. Growing into songwriting has really pushed me forward as a lasting mark to leave on the world.”

It was at West of East where she also met Dzioba, who sang backup vocals.

Dzioba met Unger through separate projects that came together one night for a jam session — with whiskey — at a cabin with Anjl Rodee.

In 2009, Dzioba and Rodee were in a classic-rock cover band called The Radio Doctors. After rehearsals, they’d often go see an Irish rock band called Reilly perform. Unger was with Reilly, playing fiddle.

“The three of us quickly became close friends and after a weekend at Kimmy’s cabin and late night whiskey-infused jam sessions, we formed The WhiskeyBelles,” Dzioba said.

Later, Dzioba and Moilanen crossed paths at the perfect time because Rodee moved to Seattle and there was an opening in the trio.

However, there was an obstacle.

While an accomplished guitarist, Moilanen learned bass to join the group.

About two years later, the trio as it is today had their first gig.

“From there we had our sound, incorporated more originals, have released three albums and play about 70 gigs a year,” Dzioba said.

So how’d they come up with their sound, which, according to their website, has been compared to The Dixie Chicks, but also an energetic stage performance similar to Dolly Parton?

Well, they originally had thought to become a punk band, Unger said.

Then came their realization.

“We stumbled across the ‘Trio’ album by Linda Rondstadt, Emmy Lou Harris and Dolly Parton, and we were immediately taken by that sound,” Unger said. “We were all choir geeks in high school and for that reason I think were drawn to their incredible harmonies.”

Their following quickly grew, playing with some of the top acts in the country, including country music superstar duo Montgomery Gentry.

“Montgomery Gentry was our first national opener we’d worked with,” Unger said. “It felt very surreal to be backstage and here we are rolling up in our minivan and parking next to these elaborate tour buses.

“Stepping onto that stage looking out at the vast expanse of the audience ... it’s an incredible rush.”

In August, they opened for Charlie Daniels at the Ozaukee County Fair.

“We strive to be a light-hearted band that has fun on stage and with the crowd,” Dzioba said. “The original songs I bring to the ‘Belles’ are all based on my personal experiences, which aren’t always that light, but with our three very different personalities, we’ve got something for everyone in the audience.

“We try to relate to everyone and keep them laughing and smiling.”

In 2013, they were named WAMI’s Americana/Bluegrass Artist of the Year.

They stay busy outside of their performances. Each have day or full-time jobs, including Unger, who has played violin with the Racine Symphony Orchestra since 1999.

“Music has been a huge part of my life since I was very young,” she said. “When I was 10, I had the chance to be a part of a high school production of ‘Fiddler on the Roof.’ The moment I heard the violin at that first rehearsal, I knew I wanted to play.

“That summer following the musical, my folks allowed me to start playing in the orchestra program and I’ve been playing ever since.”

After Cedarburg, they have a show Sunday at Waukesha Eagles Club, then head to Indiana and Kentucky for a string of shows before coming back to Wisconsin — Dec. 2 at Cedarburg’s Cultural Center. They’ve also got shows scheduled for Oshkosh, Grafton and Oconomowoc.

As for a goal, each dreams of touring nationally and quitting their day jobs.

“I really just want to connect with our audiences, play great shows, release new original material and have a lot of laughs along the way,” Moilanen said.

“Also, if we could get our own brand of whiskey, what whiskey woman wouldn’t love that?” Dzioba said.

Lingford doesn’t let this one slip away at Slinger

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Sept. 13, 2016

Lingford doesn’t let this one slip away at Slinger

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043

SLINGER — Eric Lingford didn’t think about the disappointment every day. However, he thought about it enough to where it bothered him.

“We weren’t going to let this one get away,” Lingford said.

He didn’t.

Lingford finished fourth in Sunday’s midwest sportsman feature and won the division’s track championship, his first title in his third full season of racing.

“It sounds awesome,” Lingford said of his new title.

Ryan Gutknecht won the feature, followed by Brian Holtz, last season’s champion, Lingford and Landry Potter to round out the top five.

Lingford went into the final race leading Gutknecht, the 2014 track champion, by 62 points. After qualifying, it was 61 points.

To win the championship, Lingford needed to start the feature, which he did. At that point, the goal was to make sure the car finished in one piece for the champions picture after the afternoon races.

In 2010, Lingford fell 15 points short of Al Stippich in the thunderstock division title chase. He lost the championship in the last race of the season; he held an eight-point edge on Stippich heading into the finale.

Stippich finished third that day in the feature and Lingford was fifth, losing the title.

“That was burning in the head,” Lingford said. “Around the shop, we always talk about it.”

He was also second in the 2009 thunderstock title chase, losing to Aaron Cain by 173 points, in his first full season of racing.

“It was a big learning curve for us that year,” Lingford said of the 2010 season. “I wasn’t going to let this one slip away like that one.”

The lesson he learned was consistency.

While he won the one feature this season, he was also second three times to win the championship by 32 points over Ryan Gutknecht.

“Complete dedication in the shop,” Lingford said when asked what helped him win. “Nut and bolt checks, making sure everything is rock solid. The crew guys are awesome. I just got to be the nut that gets behind the wheel.”

He’s come a long way in a relatively short period of time after his racing career began with a part-time schedule in 2008.

“The first time I ever ran on a race track I asked myself what the hell I was even thinking,” Lingford said. “I was pretty nervous.”

Kyle Chwala, Tom Berens, Scott Goetzke and Andy Welter also put the final touches on their championship seasons Sunday.

Chwala won his first limited late model title by 62 points, ahead of Jordan DeVoy. It is Chwala’s third championship at Slinger in four years. He won the area sportsman titles in 2013 and 2014.

“We were expecting to be about a top-five car,” Chwala said. “It’s kind of what we were set on.”

But a hot stretch in the middle of the season, two victories in three victories, coupled with some struggles by Mike Held and DeVoy — the title contenders early in the season — Chwala got in the championship hunt and eventually took it over.

“It just clicked at about mid-season,” Chwala said.

Berens won his second straight Heros Bees championship in what turned in to a good battle between him and Jakob Hassler for the title. They combined to win five of the final six features and four times they were 12 in that span.

“My hat’s off to Jake,” Berens said. “He was my competition for much of the year. I had fun racing against him.”

Welter added his second track championship, also winning the thunderstock in 2011, and Goetzke won his record-breaking ninth overall track championship – all in the Figure 8 division.

World-renowned pianist comes to Hartford

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Sept. 10, 2016

World-renowned pianist comes to Hartford

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043

Alina Kiryayeva’s speed and accuracy on the piano is like that of a gourmet chef chopping vegetables in the middle of a dinner rush.

Fast and perfect, perfect to the point where audience members get lost and are amazed at what’s unfolding. Hartford, prepared to be amazed.

Kiryayeva, a world-renowned pianist from Ukraine, will perform Sept. 24 at the Schauer Arts and Activities Center. It is one of 70 shows she will do this season.

“I had about 40 last year. It was great,” Kiryayeva said. “But, I still wanted more. I’m happy with what I have now.”

Kiryayeva, 36, has performed in several countries, including Russia, Mexico, France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Japan. She’s also played in collaboration at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including Kharkov State Philharmonic & State Opera Theatre Orchestras, The Imperial Valley Symphony Orchestra, the New York Symphonic Ensemble Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, the Morse Recital Hall and the Concerto Takes Manhattan Series at Yamaha Hall.

In 2013, Kiryayeva released a solo piano album, “Sonatas,” which was featured on the 150th broadcast of “Women in Music” on CKWR Radio in Ontario, Canada.

A review in the Imperial Valley Press in California states, “Kiryayeva’s every phrase shone through with crystal clarity, the piano sang to the audience under her delicate touch.” And a review in the Times Herald Record in Newburg, New York, reads, “Kiryayeva displayed marvelous concentration, control and genuine agility that won her a standing ovation from the audience.”

Robin Klinger of Klinger Entertainment LLC in Great Neck, New York, said in a review, “I have never heard a piano played like that.”

Her show is called “Moving Pictures,” because the audience will hear pieces they’re going to be familiar with — scores from movies and cartoons.

“Playing that’s always fun,” Kiryayeva said.

Growing up, it was hard for Kiryayeva to avoid music. Her mother, father, grandmother and great-grandmother were all pianists. Her brother played flute.

The non-musician in the family was her grandfather. He was a nuclear scientist.

“I remember it was fun,” Kiryayeva said. That was until she was 11 or 12 years old. Then it was terrifying.

“I was getting nervous on stage,” Kiryayeva said. “Before that it was fine. I could do something other people couldn’t do. I wasn’t afraid of anything.”

That changed when she went on her first extended tour when she was 11 years old to France. Outside of trips with her school in her native Ukraine, Kiryayeva hadn’t traveled outside the country until then. When she did, she did it without family, just classmates.

She stayed with a host family in France. She didn’t speak English or French.

“I was more worried about communication and not being able to say anything or do anything,” she said.

She added, “It was scary because I was alone. I’d never been alone before. I was out of comfort zone.”

It’s a different story when she pulls the bench up to a piano.

“While I was playing and it holds true to this day, while I’m playing, I’m in my comfort zone,” Kiryayeva said.

In the moments before sitting at the piano, she couldn’t help but notice the audience — hundreds of people, a lot more than she was used to. Plus, she couldn’t ignore the television cameras roaming on the stage. She knew then and still does to this day that playing the piano is her safe place. It’s how she communicates, admitting she’s not a great speaker.

“I can communicate, express something and I can feel a lot of emotion and I express that (on the piano),” Kiryayeva said. “I’m not a good talker.”

Kiryayeva is one of few classical pianists that completed both bachelor and master degrees at The Juilliard School of Music on a full scholarship. She was also awarded the Fannie Gottlieb-Harkavi Scholarship and Susan Rose Piano Scholarship. Her awards include first-prize winner of Italy’s Senigallia International Competition, and top prizes in the Grace Welsh International and the California Young Artist International competitions. Kiryayeva has been honored by Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk, with the State Award for Achievements in Arts.

“When I got older and realized that I have a choice, I could do whatever I wanted,” Kiryayeva said. “Expression, this is the best medium I can express myself in. I miss it when I don’t do it. And I’m good at it.”

Walker proposing sales tax freeze on school supplies

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Sept. 8, 2016

Walker proposing sales tax freeze on school supplies

If passed in state budget, goes into effect next year

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043

MENOMONEE FALLS — Gov. Scott Walker ogled a Green Bay Packers jersey for Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr at the Kohl’s department store.

Moments later, he pulled out a Kohl’s gift card from his pants pocket and wished he brought some Kohl’s cash with him as well. Otherwise, that jersey might’ve gone home with him.

With his latest proposal, to entice more Wisconsin consumers to do the same: shop at Kohl’s, Shopko or any other retailer in the state — big and small — that sells school supplies.

On Wednesday, Walker introduced an idea he hopes will be included in the 2017-19 biennial budget: a sales tax holiday for taxpayers who buy school supplies.

It would be a state sales tax freeze on all items related to back-to-school on the first Saturday and Sunday of August.

“The idea is to get families all across the state to save a little bit more money on top of the great savings they get from places like Kohl’s and other great retailers across the state,” Walker said. “But then to take away the sales tax, just like what we do, for example, with grocery stores with necessities like food, milk, cheese or butter. People don’t pay a sales tax on that.

“We think for many of our working families across the state, giving them an additional break on top of the savings they’d get in a store like (Kohl’s); that opening weekend, we’re hoping to add an extra incentive for families to go out and save even more money on top of that by no longer paying a sales tax.”

In addition to school supplies, computers costing less than $750 and clothing items costing less than $75 each would also apply.

“We want to target it toward clothing that kids would be getting going back to school,” Walker said.

In addition to his stop in Menomonee Falls, Walker was also at Shopko in Green Bay to present the idea.

“We want, particularly in this global economy, to add one more incentive for people to go out and shop at stores like Kohl’s and other retailers that have locations right here in the state of Wisconsin,” Walker said. “We want to support stores that do business in the state of Wisconsin.”

Last month, the Better Business Bureau said it expected families to spend more than $670 on school supplies, including apparel, shoes, electronics and supplies. According to a news release from Walker’s office, the Department of Revenue estimates the sales tax holiday proposal will have an estimated fiscal impact of $11 million annually. If passed, the sales tax holiday will be in effect for two years. Then it will be re-evaluated by Walker, the Legislature and the public to see if the holiday will continue beyond 2018. Local sales taxes could still apply.

“We think it’s an excellent opportunity for this to get enacted,” Walker said.

He added the proposal was brought up in the last session, but said “there were a lot of different issues up at the time.”

“We believe it will have a long-term benefit,” Walker said.

It was bittersweet thinking about back-to-school time, Walker said, but he also understood the importance after sending his kids through school and having to do the same thing: buy school supplies.

“Those all add up,” Walker said.

Walker added that the budget, if all is on time, will be signed by the beginning of July.

He expects consumers to go to stores to buy school supplies and clothing with this sales tax holiday proposal the same way they go to stores on Black Friday.

When asked for comment, Melanie Hochschild from Kohl’s deferred comments to the corporate office. Attempts to do that were unsuccessful.

❑❑❑

Walker also addressed transportation and its inclusion in the next budget.

“On the 15th of this month, Mark Gottlieb, secretary of transportation, will present a budget on transportation that will include significant increases for local governments for roads and bridges,” Walker said. “It will have a renewed focus on things like safety and maintenance in the state system.

“I think, in large part, people are going to be very happy. There’s room to debate and discuss it. But I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised.

“When I ran for re-election, I said I wasn’t going to raise the gas tax or the vehicle registration fees unless there was a corresponding drop in taxes elsewhere in the state budget. That’s a promise I made to the taxpayers and one that I plan on fulfilling.”

Blawat battles back for track championship

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Sept. 6, 2016

Blawat battles back for track championship

Driver spun out in 1st lap of qualifying

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043

SLINGER — One day, Chris Blawat will look back at this day and think, “Wow.”

Blawat spun on his first lap in qualifying after hitting a water bottle that rolled onto the track under the fence near the start-finish line and started the feature in 13th place.

Then, he rallied for a third-place finish in Sunday's 100-lap super late model feature, which was barely good enough to give him his first career super late model track championship after a spirited side-byside, back-and-forth battle with the three-time defending champion Steve Apel for the final 38 laps.

Blawat won the championship by seven points over Apel.

Wow. What a day. What a race. What a comeback.

“I thought we dug ourselves too big of a hole starting 13th,” Blawat said. “... Oh man, this is awesome.”

Dennis Prunty won the feature for his division-leading fifth victory of the season and his nephew, Alex Prunty, was second.

Apel went on to finish fourth and Brad Mueller rounded out the top five.

“We didn't necessarily have a bad night,” Apel said. “We just needed one more spot.”

The 2016 season could be remembered as one of the best in recent memory.

There were eight different winners this season, nine if you count Matt Kenseth's victory at Slinger Nationals. Dennis Prunty started the season with back-to-back victories. Then the 2012 track champion didn't compete June 12, which gave Apel command of the championship. He looked like he was going to be unchallenged for a fourth straight title.

A fourth straight title would've been historic. Apel would've joined Schill as the only drivers to win four straight super late model titles in a row at Slinger and just the seventh driver all-time in track history to accomplish the feat.

Schill won five straight between 1984-88.

Conrad Morgan, Lowell Bennett twice, Mueller and Robbie Reiser all attempted the four-peat in the super late model division, but were unsuccessful.

“If you think about it, that’s between 80 and 100 races that you have to run really good,” Morgan said. “That’s pretty hard to do. It’s pretty hard to run good in 20 races, one season. It’s hard to do, takes a lot out of you.”

At one point this season, Blawat was more than 100 points behind Apel. After Aug. 7, Apel led Blawat by 97 points. It was a five-point difference between Apel and Blawat heading into Sunday’s finale as Apel had two finishes outside the top 10 in August, while Blawat had strong finishes.

Alex Prunty entered the race with an outside chance at winning the championship, 44 points behind Apel. Prunty finished his rookie season at Slinger third in the championship, 28 points behind Blawat.

“I’m happy,” Alex said. “We’re going up the guys that are the best in the state. It was a real big success.”

Apel won one feature this season, a year after winning six. During his three-year reign, he won 15 features.

“It just wasn’t our year,” Apel said. “We’ve got to put a full year together out here to win a championship and we didn’t do it. That’s what it comes down to. Blawat did a good job being consistent with four wins. I was surprised we even had a chance to win the championship.”

With the title, Blawat becomes the first driver to win the limited late and super late model titles at Slinger. He won the limited late title in 2009.

Blawat moved to the super late model division in 2011 and struggled.

In his first nine starts, he had four top-10 finishes. His first feature victory was Sept. 9, 2012. That was his only feature victory in four seasons.

This season, he won four features.

Blawat is now on the same list of drivers that are widely considered the best short-track racers in state history. Those drivers include Alan Kulwicki, Reiser, Bennett, Morgan, Schill, Joe Shear, Tony Strupp, John Ziegler and Rich Bickle Jr.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” Blawat said. “I’m just humbled.”

But will the 2016 season be remembered for Apel’s collapse or Blawat’s surge?

Even before Apel’s struggles, Blawat was already on a roll, which started after heartbreak at Slinger Nationals.

Blawat started on pole position for Slinger Nationals but an oil pump failure forced him to pull off the track before taking the green flag.

“We thought we had a really good car for Nationals,” Blawat said. “But we just looked at it that everything happens for a reason.”

Since then, Blawat found a rhythm, finishing in the top four in the final seven races of the season, including two victories.

Apel, on the other hand, finished 11th and 19th in the previous two weeks.

Despite the struggles, Apel had a chance to keep his reign. He hit the invert and started the feature on the pole position.

For the first time in four years, it wasn’t his day.

“It’s been an awesome run,” Apel said.

Apel said he will re-evaluate what he wants to do, especially with a 1-year-old son in his life.

“We’ll try to come back a better team, a stronger competitor,” he added.