Category Archives: West Bend
President Baerwald, Please think collaboratively on community college.
Moraine Park Technical College, University of Wisconsin System, UW and Economic Growth, Washington County, West Bend

Bonnie Baerwald, president of Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC), dropped a surprise bombshell on the developing consensus among leaders in Washington County that a consolidation of the county’s two two-year colleges makes pragmatic sense. Baerwald (pictured left) listed “facts” about … Read the rest
The good life: trails network, wild flowers

It was a good week indeed when out on the trails of Washington County I could claim first sightings of 1. A patch of Trilliums, 2. A small swamp full of Marsh Marigolds, and 3. An early bloom of a … Read the rest
Check out spotty records in local races

How did we come up with some of these people as candidates for local offices in Washington County? There is a loose knit group of candidates with extreme views that fly under the radar of media attention. They come across … Read the rest
School election rhetoric: supportive vs. disrespectful

My first cut in a recent column on the defining differences between the three extreme critics running for the West Bend School District school board and the three centrists also running for the three open seats was that the former … Read the rest
School critics aim for West Bend majority

Note to voters/taxpayers in the West Bend School District: the pending election for three seats on the school board April 4 will be of epic proportions for its impact on the school district for the next three years. Three extreme … Read the rest
Two local audits defy election conspiracies

You could imagine the clothes falling off emperor Donald Trump and his loyal courtesans as the results came in from two audits of the Nov. 8 elections in Washington County. A county-executed hand count of the 74,525 ballots revealed only … Read the rest
Historic West Bend lights up, builds chops

The momentum is building for making downtown West Bend a very special place where people go for good memories and good times. The Christmas tree lighting Thursday at Old Settlers Park in the heart of downtown drew more than 1000 … Read the rest
GOP aside, Bluff, Riverwalk projects in the end zone

With zero help from area Republicans, but major support from Gov. Tony Evers, two game-changing urban conservation projects, one in Ozaukee County and one in Washington County, are moving to successful outcomes. In both cases Democratic Gov. Evers remedied a … Read the rest
What would our fallen veterans say to us? Contribute, be united, be tough.

How could a Memorial Day parade and service be carried off any better than last Monday’s in downtown West Bend? It was a sunny, breezy day, perfect to remember and model ourselves after local heroes, to say thanks to our … Read the rest
Respect school board leadership on April 5; keep dissidents off the board

Here we go again. Remember back in the last decade when the West Bend School District was almost brought to its knees when a band of religiously driven zealots pounded away at the management and school board for not meeting … Read the rest