Union Grove Our Town 2021

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Union Grove Lumber has been serving the area since 1972.

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We handle a very large product offering, such as Marvin and Anderson Windows, Western Building Products, Dura Supreme Cabinets, Iko Shingles, USG Drywall Products and a full service lumber yard with quality building products.

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We also have a fully stocked True Value Hardware store with a knowledgeable staff, working inside and outside to help you with all of your needs.

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Welcome to

A barrel train loaded with children makes its way through the Racine County Fairgrounds during the 2019 Pumpkin Chuckin Fest in Union Grove. Along with the assorted pumpkin chucking machines and pumpkin explosions, attendees enjoyed helicopter rides, pirates, magic shows, food, activities and games, costume contests, a BBQ cook off and hayrides. The annual Great Pumpkin Chuckin’ Fest is set for Saturday, Oct. 23, this year.

Our Town! our town CHAD HENSIAK Our Town

of Racine County and we’re looking forward to welcoming back our Fourth of July Parade, summer block party, street dance and popular Super Saturday and Great Pumpkin Chuckin Festivals in 2021.

Union Grove also plays host to the Racine County Fair with the fairgrounds downtown. Every summer (except during a global pandemic) we welcome exhibitors and guests from all over the state to our small town.

Winter doesn’t stop the fun either with the Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas celebration that sets the tone for the season the first Saturday in December there’s always something to do no matter what time of the year.

We invite you to come for a visit and find out what’s so special about Our Town. We hope to see you around!

An annual publication of

Westine Report & Southern Lakes Newspapers 209 Dodge St., Burlington, WI 53105 (262) 763-2575 www.myracinecounty.com Editor in Chief: Edward Nadolski Special Sections: Tracy Ouellette Creative Director: Heidi Schulz Advertising Director: Vicki Vanderwerff Page Design: Jen DeGroot For advertising opportunities: call (262) 763-2575, ext. 139 On the cover: Noah Serdynski poses for a picture in a Union Grove/Yorkville fire truck during Union Grove’s 2019 Super Saturday celebration.

PHOTO BY CHAD HENSIAK

UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

The Village of Union Grove and the greater area that includes the towns of Yorkville, Dover/Kansasville and Raymond is known as the “Heart of Racine County” and this is Our Town.

A close-knit community, we think of each other as neighbors, whether we live a few blocks or a few miles down the road. That feeling of connectedness is reflected in the area’s service organizations, local governments, schools and our commitment to community.

While a growing community, especially with the Foxconn project and the new housing developments, the area works hard to maintain that small-town charm we’re known for.

No matter where you are, you’re within minutes of shopping, restaurants, local activities and more.

We love to celebrate in the Heart

2021

Union Grove, Wisconsin

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HOMETOWN HERO

More than an athlete Grove’s Slattery strives to help the community

BY Jason

Arndt

STAFF WRITER

ngela Slattery is more than just a two-sport student-athlete with multiple athletic accolades at Union Grove Union High School.

Slattery, the youngest of three children to parents Paula and George, holds a 3.95 grade point average while staying active as a member of Hales Corners Lutheran Church and contributing to the community.

The 5-foot-11 Union Grove senior, who also plays softball and just surpassed 1,000 career points for the basketball team on the same week as her 18th birthday, said her mission is simple.

UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

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“I know that I am just one person, but I want to make a difference. I want to make an impact and I wanted to be more than just an athlete,” said Slattery.

Slattery, a three-year honor roll student, serves as vice president of Union Grove’s Student Athlete Leadership Team, otherwise known as SALT, and has been involved with Link Crew and the German Exchange Program.

But her involvement extends beyond school, according to Slattery, who spent time volunteering at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in Union Grove, helping students with special needs, among a series of other activities.

Her sister, Sam, 20, said Angela’s community engagement does not come as a

surprise.

“My sister, for as long as I could remember, has always inspired me with how much she cares about others,” Sam said. “She is constantly looking to enrich her knowledge with helping the community as well as being a presence to others.”

Sam and Angela often travel together and take camping trips, according to Angela, who indicated they are very close.

The Slattery sisters have an older brother, Matthew, 23.

Mission to help

Angela Slattery found one of her volunteer opportunities on a whim during her sophomore year.

As a sophomore, she and her friend,

Angela Slattery (foreground) and her sister, Sam, spend time exploring campgrounds, including Wisconsin Interstate State Park.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

Slattery, a two-sport student-athlete at Union Grove, committed to play basketball at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. She has also volunteered to assist in multiple community causes.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

so I’ve become their all-time rebounder,” Slattery joked.

Additional opportunities included volunteering at A Night to Remember, which is Racine’s special needs prom, the Racine Zoo’s Eggstravaganza in Easter 2019, Kenosha Police Department’s annual Shop for Cop in 2018, as well as the 2019 Great Gobble Wobble 5K event in Milwaukee.

She and Noyes organized around 20 student athletes who participated in the 5K Racine Stuff the Sleigh to raise money for toys for tots.

Coping with COVID-19

While COVID-19 shut off most volunteer opportunities, Slattery found another way to contribute, which happened last May. Slattery began watching a girl with Autism, Lexi, twice a week and the two take field trips to petting zoos, parks and most recently sledding.

“I have been able to start watching Lexi, which is huge, that is really my passion and I started working a lot with her,” said Slattery, adding that she has become a big part of her and her family’s life.

Last summer, when COVID-19 was at its peak, she decided to take a job at

Mileagers garden center, served as referee for youth softball games and cleaned pools.

Slattery, however, acknowledged the need in recent months to take extra precautions since she is a student-athlete who often comes into contact with others.

“It has been really quiet, especially with being an athlete in trying to be safe for myself and for my team,” said Angela.

Looking ahead

Angela plans on attending Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, where she looks to study computer science and play basketball.

But, there could be a mission trip before, or during, her collegiate studies.

“I want to be able to help more than just my community, but the world,” Slattery said.

Her volunteerism, however, leaves one question.

Why? “I wish I could tell you that there was one moment,” she responded. “But it really sparked from my parents.”

However, her sister Sam said Angela deserves the credit. “She has such a large heart for the community and helping out others.”

UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

Tess Noyes, decided to contribute their time at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in the Town of Dover after they earned their driver’s licenses.

Slattery and Noyes, both of whom attended Raymond School, have known each other since kindergarten.

“We have actually been friends for quite a while now so we just decided to do it together just out of the blue,” Slattery said.

Before the Veterans Home closed to the public because of COVID-19, Slattery spent time playing bingo with residents, making crafts and even took field trips once or twice a week with members.

Additionally, as a junior, Slattery helped spearhead a winter coat drive with the girls basketball team after the Broncos coaching staff presented the idea.

The drive, which was held during a doubleheader, brought in 150 coats that were later distributed to Love Inc. of Burlington.

At Hales Corner Lutheran Church, Slattery volunteered at Buddy Break and worked one-on-one with students every third Sunday of the month up until COVID-19 pandemic postponed these events.

“A lot of the VIPs love shooting baskets,

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OUR CHURCHES ASSEMBLY OF GOD First Assembly of God 1845 Main Street, Union Grove (262) 878-1810 BAPTIST Union Grove Baptist Church 417 15th Avenue, Union Grove (262) 878-1264

UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

CHURCH OF GOD Union Grove Church of God 614 11th Avenue, Union Grove (262) 878-4920 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Raymond Baptist Church 8638 W. Highway K, Franksville (262) 878-5133

Union Grove Congregation 14509 Braun Road, Sturtevant (262) 878-9331

CATHOLIC

LUTHERAN

St. Francis Xavier Parish 1704 240th Avenue, Kansasville (262) 878-2267

North Cape Lutheran ELCA 2644 Raynor Avenue, Franksville (262) 835-2206

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 1501 172nd Avenue, Union Grove (262) 859-2484

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 1610 Main Street, Union Grove (262) 878-2600 www.stpaulsug.org

St. Mary Catholic Church 23211 Church Road, Kansasville (262) 878-1762

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St. Robert Bellarmine Church 3320 S Colony Avenue, Union Grove (262) 878-3476

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church 2908 S Colony Avenue, Union Grove, (262) 878-4156 www.trinityug.org UNITED METHODIST Union Grove United Methodist Church 906 12th Avenue, Union Grove (262) 878-1590 www.uniongroveumc.com Yorkville United Methodist Church 17645 Old Yorkville Road, Union Grove (262) 878-2388 www.yumc.org UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Raymond Community Church UCC 8217 W. Highway G, Franksville (262) 835-2157 Union Grove Congregational UCC 1106 11th Avenue, Union Grove (262) 878-3349 or (262) 878-1690 www.forministry.com

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Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest returns in 2021

above: Tyler Crookston and his daughters pet a miniature horse at the Hope booth staffed by Danelle Peterson during the 2019 annual Pumpkin Chuckin Fest at the Racine County Fairgrounds in Union Grove. below: Mason Trottier launches a pumpkin with the Union Grove Chamber of Commerce’s “Big Orange” trebuchet at the 2019 Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest.

The annual Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Racine County Fairgrounds, 19805 Durand Ave. Don’t miss out on this smashing fun time!

Returning this year is The Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook Off. Over 50 teams will compete for $7,000 in prize money and the title of “The Best of the Midwest.” The event will also have costume contests for kids and adults with prizes for the winners.

The event features pumpkin chucking competitions, where teams will catapult pumpkins as far as the eye can see. Raymond Middle School holds the record for the Junior Division with 229 feet, Waterford High School holds the record for the Intermediate Division with 317 feet, and Trinity Lutheran holds the record for the Advanced Division with 476 feet.

Sponsored by the Untion Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, the 2021 event will also include live entertainment by pirates and magicians, food, vendors, seasonal beers, free kids games and activities, carnival and hayrides and so much more!

Free admission and parking.

The Union Grove Chamber of Commerce is at 925 15th Ave., Union Grove. For more information, visit www.uniongrovechamber.org or call 262-878-4606.

UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

CHAD HENSIAK PHOTOS Our Town

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Village Square (Main Street and 10th Avenue); this is the location of the Village Christmas Tree and the Union Grove Farmers Market.

Ryan Moe Michael Young Park located off of 67th Drive has playground equipment and bathroom facilities, along with a football field.

School Yard Park- on the historic site of Union Grove Elementary School (14th Avenue at New Street) has a brand new concession stand, bathroom facilities and several baseball diamonds as well as playground equipment.

Lauer Wildlife Preserve located in the Fox Creek subdivision is the home of Whitetail Lake.

Other parks are Old Settlers County Park (Highway 11); 12th and Vine Park; 18th Avenue Park and Indian Trail Park (New Street); Martin’s Pond; Woods Park and Bufton Park.

OUR PARKS The Village of Union Grove has 13 designated park areas within the village limits.

Leider Park (8th Avenue and High Street) has bathroom facilities, pavilion and soccer field as well as playground equipment.

American Legion Memorial Park (7th Avenue and Main Street) is the new home of our dog park with a sledding hill in the winter.

Two rustic walking trails can also be found in the Village; Eagle Trail which connects Ryan Moe Michael Young Park and Lauer Wildlife Preserve, and Woods Park Trail (Commerce Drive).

OTHER PARKS Lake, Dover Town of Dover Park – Highway 11, 1/2 mile east of Highway J, Dover Samuel Skewes Memorial Park – 15084 Spring St., Yorkville Eagle Lake County Park / Minnetonka Drive Boat Ramp – Eagle, west of Dover Richard Bong State Recreation Area 26313 Burlington Road, Kansasville (262) 878-5600

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SYMPATHY, FORMALS, BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, HOLIDAYS OR JUST BECAUSE

Popular piglets

BY Jason

Live birth in school barn crashes webcam

Arndt

Growing program

Union Grove, which has two agriculture teachers, has experienced growth in recent years, which included the purchase of the small farm.

Johnsen, noting recent trends, began discussing this opportunity with Jacobs and Hagemann. “(We) have talked a lot about wanting to PIGLETS • CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

above: Union Grove student Elizabeth Wisnefski holds a piglet while Katie Johnsen demonstrates how to clip the needle teeth. left: Amy Storm-Voltz cradles a piglet.

Storm-Voltz served as the Union Grove FFA secretary before graduating in June 2020.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Our Town

UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

STAFF WRITER

Union Grove High School officials didn’t believe a live webcam showing a Duroc hog delivering a dozen offspring would cause a system crash.

But the system crash happened on Jan. 23, 2020, when an undetermined number of people tuned into watch as Click the pig gave birth to seven healthy females and five healthy males.

Union Grove FFA secretary Amy StormVoltz and her sister, Allison, were the first two students who discovered the pig giving birth on the webcam set up days earlier.

“A lot of the kids were excited and then our webcam crashed,” said Amy Storm-Voltz, a senior. “I was actually one of the people out here with my sister, Allison. It was really fun. Our family owns a dairy farm, so we have seen dairy cows giving birth. This is our first pig birth.”

Agriculture teacher Katie Hagemann, the school’s co-FFA advisor with Carrie Jacobs, remembered Amy racing into her classroom as the event unfolded in the barn located on the school’s farm just north of Agricultural Sciences building.

Amy reportedly shouted, “The pig’s giving birth!” then grabbed her sweatshirt and ran to the barn with her sister.

“Unfortunately, we had too many people looking at the webcam at the same time, so it crashed,” Hagemann said. “Luckily, because of cell phones and technology, we were able to FaceTime with the students that were out here, so my class was still able to watch the birth.”

The sisters, meanwhile, helped clean the piglets up, determined the gender, and discovered they were all healthy.

School counselor Katie Johnsen’s family operates a farm in Raymond and brought Click to the school on Jan. 19.

Johnsen guided students on how to clip the needle teeth, vaccinate and dock the tails of each piglet.

Docking tails consists of cutting a quarter inch off and prevents the piglets from chewing on them.

The purpose of clipping needle teeth, which are very sharp, is to reduce injuries caused to each other and to their mother as piglets nurse.

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PIGLETS

• CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

have this experience for the students,” said Johnsen, whose mother, Lynn, bought Click in an online auction.

“When the school purchased this property, it gave us the opportunity to bring over a hog and the timing of it was just so we were able to set it up and get it going.”

Hagemann said the opportunity is unlike most other agricultural programs and offered students a valuable experience.

“This is a very unique opportunity,” she said. “So many students, they just have typical animals at home – dogs and cats – even seeing a pig was a first time experience for some of these students.”

Click and her 12 piglets, according to school officials, will return to the Johnsen Farm with some piglets sold as fair pigs for the Racine County Fair.

Long-term plans

The webcam has since been restored and moved to YouTube, where viewers can watch Click care for her 12 piglets.

It could also be used for other live births, which could include lambs and goats.

“We might have those on the webcam in the future,” Hagemann said.

As for the farm itself, while teachers have not made a firm decision, they could bring in poultry, like turkeys, and other animals for students to learn about.

The January 2020 birth of these piglets was streamed live via webcam by Union Grove FFA members. The high number of people tuning in to watch the birth caused the webcam system to crash.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

PHYSICAL THERAPY

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Union Grove

Racine

4350 67th Dr., Union Grove, WI 53182

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Martin’s celebrates 90th birthday in 2020 Union Grove dealership is part of the area’s history

BY Tracy

EDITOR

inety-one years ago, while on strike from the Allen-A Hosiery Company, William W. Martin decided to forego the strike pay of $17 a week from the Fully Fashioned Hosiery Workers Union and change careers.

His love of motor vehicles led him to open Martin’s Garage in Union Grove with his wife, Hilda.

“Bill and Hilda Martin came to Union Grove from Kenosha, where Bill had been on strike and his union was running out of funds,” Marjorie Martin said. “They heard of a garage available to rent where Bill could continue his sideline of working on cars.”

They rented a building a building at the corner of 14th Avenue and Main Street and the previous renter, Orland Hayes, remained at the shop working for the Martins as a mechanic.

The Martins rented a flat across the street from their new company.

“During the summer months Hilda served many meals on the front porch while DEALERSHIP • CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

from top: Martin’s Garage in Union Grove celebrated its 90th anniversary last year. The dealership was founded by William and Hilda Martin on April 1, 1930, and has remained a family-owned and operated business, spanning four generations; William and Hilda Martin opened Martin’s Garage in a rented building on the corner of 14th Avenue and Main Street in Union Grove in 1930.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Our Town

UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

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Ouellette

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DEALERSHIP

• CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

watching for the gas customers,” Marjorie Martin said. “Their family grew as did the business.”

Except for two years in the Army, the Martins’ son William E., has worked and grown along with Martin’s Garage. The senior Martin’s two daughters, Marjorie Martin Demuth and Marlene Martin Beattie, also had the opportunity to earn spending money “cleaning up” at the garage.

“Almost immediately changes were made to make room for the automobile,” Marjorie said.

The shop was enlarged including a cement floor and larger, overhead door.

In 1948, the front of the building was modernized with a showroom, parts counter and offices.

In 1930, Martin’s Garage began with no automobile franchise. Except for a slight go with Oakland-Pontiac the first year, the firm became a Plymouth-Desoto agency. Growth in the 1960s and 70s added vehicle lines of Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep. Martin’s was recently recognized for having a 85 year relationship with Chrysler, Marjorie said.

“Every improvement or addition was celebrated with the community by either holding a dance, movie night or open house

Hilda Martin

William Martin

and free lunch,” Marjorie said.

Martin’s added a used car lot that included a body shop in the 1960s. By 1974, the entire business moved into its present location at 1422 Main St., Union Grove.

president of the corporation when his parents died and today, grandchildren Billy Martin and his sister, Nancy Spiering, work at the Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram dealership; Doug Martin and his sister, Pam Weis, work just north of Union Grove at Martin Ford Sales.

“Today when you visit either Martin’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram or Martin Ford

Changing of the guard William E. “Bill” Martin became

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Serving the customers

Marjorie said that at the core, it’s the customer service at Martin’s that keeps bringing people back.

“Over the years, Martin’s has been recognized for the service they provide and the effort that is made to satisfy the customer,” she said. “If you’re satisfied with our service, please tell others ... if

you’re not, please tell us. The business and every employee knows the importance of the repeat customer.”

The Martins investment into their business and employees is the lifeblood of the company, Marjorie said.

“We believe is preparing our staff to be the best, to know the industry’s best practices,” she said. We take every opportunity to train and certify our team to be the best in our industry.”

COVID-19 challenges As with most, if not all, businesses, the COVID-19 lockdown had presented Martin’s with challenges and a postponement of the dealership’s anniversary celebration until August of last year.

“We were going to have it in April, but we’re putting it off to August,” Marjorie said last year. “The COVID-19 virus has, and will, change us all. No longer does a celebration include a gathering of people.”

She added that marking the 90th anniversary milestone on Aug. 6, 2020, allowed them to celebrate William E.

Martin’s 90th birthday as well. Bill continues to oversee operations of both the Martin’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Martin Ford dealerships, Marjorie said.

“I think the important thing for us, as a family, is to celebrate Bill Sr.’s birthday,” Marjorie said. “Sure it’s great that we’ve gone on this long as a company, but the company is so tied to Bill and the family.

He was born right after they opened.”

Bill is still an active member of the company, Marjorie said, and is at the dealership every day.

“He lives at Martin’s Garage,” she said with a laugh. “He’s there to open the door for anyone who comes in and while he used to walk over to the bank to make the deposit each day, he has had to learn how to use the drive through now, so he’s always changing too.”

Marjorie said adapting to change is what’s made Martin’s a mainstay in the area.

“When they first started in 1930 they sold one car the first year,” she said. “And now they’ve adjusted to internet sales and most recently a pandemic, but they always survive.”

William M. Martin (from left), Tonibeth Martin and William E. Martin represent the three generations that have owned and operated Martin’s in Union Grove since 1930.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

Sales you will be greeted by the fourth generation, the great-grandchildren of our founders with the same commitment to their customers and community,” Marjorie said.

Martin’s has changed and grown over the years, but has adapted to the needs of their customers.

“Martin’s has seen many changes since 1930, some within our control but many not,” Marjorie said. “Increased demand for vehicles, the growth of our community, individual demand for more models with increased in technology. We have seen our country through wars, road out gas wars, oil embargos, automobile worker strikes, and Martin’s has found a way to continue to do business.”

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OUR SCHOOLS There are four K-8 elementary schools (Union Grove, Raymond, Kansasville and Yorkville) that feed into Union Grove Union High School District.

Post-secondary educational opportunities in the area include Gateway Technical College, which serves the tri-county area of Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties, University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Carthage College.

Shepherd Collage in Union Grove is a post-secondary educational program for young adults with intellectual disabilities.

UNION GROVE UNION HIGH SCHOOL 3433 S. Colony Avenue, Union Grove (262) 878-2434 www.ug.k12.wi.us

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS UNION GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1745 Milldrum St., Union Grove (262) 878-2015 www.uges.k12.wi.us

PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC SCHOOL – EAST CAMPUS (Grades K-4) 1481 172nd Avenue, Union Grove (262) 859-2007 www.providencecatholicschool.org

BRIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1200 248th Avenue, Kansasville (262) 878-2191 www.brighton.k12.wi.us KANSASVILLE GRADE SCHOOL 4101 S. Beaumont Avenue, Kansasville (262) 878-3773 www.kansasville.org

POST SECONDARY

YORKVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 18621 Washington Avenue, Union Grove (262) 878-3759 www.kansasvilleschool.org RAYMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2659 S. 76th Street, Franksville (262) 835-2929 www.raymond.k12.wi.us UNION GROVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 409 15th Avenue, Union Grove (262) 878-1265 www.ugbccs.org PARIS CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL 1901 176th Avenue, Kenosha (262) 859-2350 www.paris.k12.wi.us

GATEWAY TECHNICAL COLLEGE (800) 247-7122 www.gtc.edu UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE 900 Wood Road, Kenosha (262) 595-2345 www.uwp.edu CARTHAGE COLLEGE 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha (262) 551-8500 www.carthage.edu SHEPHERDS COLLEGE 1805 15th Avenue, Union Grove (262) 878-5620 www.shepherdsministries.org

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Preserving a Raymond ritual Teachers bid farewell to students from a distance Arndt

STAFF WRITER

When Mackenzie Geschke attended Raymond School, she remembers seeing high school graduates roam the halls, waving goodbye during the school’s annual year-end celebration.

Geschke, who left Raymond School in

2016, experienced a reversal June 5, 2020, as a Union Grove High School graduate.

“When I graduated from eighth grade, I knew I would come back for this,” said Geschke, who joined six former classmates in the celebration.

But, unlike four years ago, last year’s annual wave goodbye brought some changes because of COVID-19.

Instead of the seniors visiting students inside the hallways, Raymond School officials decided to bring the celebration outdoors, creating a parade-like ceremony for students who are heading into summer vacation.

While teachers maintained social RITUAL • CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 top left: Riley Klaus (left) and Kyler Hell, both seventh graders, wave goodbye to Raymond School teachers Corinne Von Bergen and Shelley Caron (far right) during a June 5, 2020, celebration at the school. top right: Isabella StewartLynaugh peeks above a sunroof with her dog to say farewell to teachers June 5, 2020, at Raymond School. at left: Former students and recent high school graduates returned to Raymond School to receive well wishes from teachers they once had.

They are (from left) Brandon Krivsky, Geneva Hebron, Madison Cerny, Kyleigh Ray, Becca Swantz, Autumn Kopac, and Mackenzie Geschke. Kopac graduated from Greendale Martin Luther while the rest received diplomas at Union Grove High School.

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UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

BY Jason

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AN ABANDONED

AIR BASE Bong Recreation Area once considered for military use

BY Jason

Arndt

STAFF WRITER

The Richard Bong State Recreation Area features many attractions, ranging from miles of hiking trails to campgrounds, and a new a Nature Explore Classroom. The classroom presently closed to the public, but is nearing completion.

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Richard Bong State Recreation Area features a variety of attractions for people, regardless of who they are, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The 4,515-acre multi-use recreation area, which sits in the Town of Brighton in Kenosha County, boasts 217 campsites, a nature center, lookout tower, birding, hunting, canoeing, fishing and hiking, among a series of other recreational opportunities.

Other opportunities, the DNR states, consist of eight trails ranging from 0.7 to 8.3 miles

RITUAL

with different terrains as well as scenery.

“Hikers have more than 16 miles of trails to explore, through a variety of habitat,” the DNR states.

Bong Recreation Area, 26313 Burlington Rd., Kansasville, also features areas for fishing on Wolf Lake as well as opportunities to swim along a 200-foot beach on the sprawling land near highways 75 and 142.

The massive state park, according to Burlington Historical Society records, became a designated recreational area during an Oct. 9, 1966 dedication ceremony.

While thousands of people BONG • CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

• CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

distancing, they showcased signs stating, “Miss you” and “Counting down the days until we are back.” The students rode past in the school parking lot in vehicles driven by their parents.

Diane Voge, who has been at Raymond School for 31 years, said the June celebration was a wonderful way to close out the school year and allowed teachers to see their students again.

Raymond School, like others statewide, have been closed since mid-March to stem the spread of COVID-19 and schools were limited to virtual instruction.

“I think it is a wonderful for the tradition here at Raymond, it has gone on for as long as I can remember,” she said. “This is a great closure to the year.”

Voge said the signs showing thanks to her and other colleagues were an inspiration.

The annual wave goodbye, she said, also allowed her to reconnect with former students such as Geschke.

“Once you are a Raymond student, you are always a Raymond student and become part of a family,” she said.

Mitzi Kozad, Communications Director of Raymond School, credited Geschke for gathering some of her classmates for the annual event.

“It feels awesome. Every year, we have senior walk,” Kozad said about Geschke and her classmates.

“They might go to different high schools, but they still talk to one another, and I love it.”

Jeschke was joined by Brandon Krivsky, Geneva Hebron, Madison Cerny, Kyleigh Ray, Becca Swantz and Autumn Kopac.

All of them are graduates of Union Grove High School except for Kopac, who graduated from Greendale Martin Luther.

• CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

have visited since then, participating in multiple activities, the story of Richard Bong State Recreation Area began much earlier as a U.S. Air Force base abandoned by the federal government.

And what about the recreation area’s namesake, Richard Ira Bong, who grew up in northern Wisconsin?

Air Force ace

Richard Bong, also known as “Dick,” earned induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1986 after a short – but well-decorated – career as a World War II Air Force fighter pilot.

Maj. Bong, born in 1920, spent his childhood growing up on his family’s farm near Poplar, Wisconsin, about 20 miles southeast of Superior, the Aviation Hall of Fame states.

Bong finished among the top in his high school class while participating in 4-H, angling waterways, and hunting. He even played the clarinet in the marching band while participating in several sports.

Bong, however, found his first exposure to aviation in 1928 when then-President Calvin Coolidge vacationed and established a summer White House near Superior. “(Coolidge) received his mail every day by airplane. Dick was fascinated,” the Aviation Hall of Fame states. “Later he recalled that the mailplane ‘flew right over our house and I knew I wanted to be a pilot.’”

About a decade later, in 1938, Bong still maintained his career mission of becoming a pilot while attending Superior State Teachers’ College.

Shortly after, Bong enlisted in U.S. Army Air Corps, around the time the United States entered World War II. “Dick became America’s all-time Ace of Aces, downing 40 enemy planes in the Pacific theater of the war while flying

Visitors to Richard Bong State Recreation Area can enjoy the trails and read a book at the same time while they explore a new feature called Storywalk.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

Richard Bong State Recreation Area, 26313 Burlington Rd., Kansasville, was named in honor of a World War II veteran and initially planned as an Air Force base.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

P-38 fighter planes,” the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center states. “His many decorations for outstanding skills and extraordinary courage included the Congressional Medal of Honor.”

Bong, however, saw his life cut short at 24 years old after being killed while testing the first Lockheed jet fighter plane in 1945.

Bong, who returned to the United States to marry Marjorie, suffered the fatal crash in Southern California.

The Burlington Standard Press, which published a 1969 retrospective of Bong’s story, reported the accomplished pilot woke up with a plan, including a movie with his wife.

“I’m taking up one of the new planes today,” he told his wife.

However, in the afternoon, a “Shooting Star roared down a Lockheed runway. Four minutes later, one of its jet engines exploded, the plane crashed, and Dick died.”

Bong died with 500 air combat hours as the holder of 26 decorations, according to the Standard Press, which reported he was buried with full military honors.

State officials began honoring Bong with memorials such as renaming the Superior municipal airport in his name.

The Burlington Standard Press, however, asked one compelling question.

“In what way did the nation posthumously honor its ‘ace of aces?”

Rumors, opposition

The Defense Department, looking for a prospective Air Force base, reportedly began surveying land around Kansasville in 1955, which resulted in several months of rumors.

Federal officials, at least according to a 1961 report from the Saturday Evening Post, found the area as an ideal location because its near Milwaukee and Chicago. “…it was hard to argue with a military decision that here was the best place to locate planes which might someday rise to save Chicago and Milwaukee from destruction,” the Post stated.

U.S. Sen. Alexander, of Wisconsin, vaguely declared in an address a new airfield would be built “near Racine” and wanted to “try to have it named for Richard Bong.”

The U.S. House of Representatives eventually adopted an amendment, which came from Rep. Lawrence, of the First Congressional District, to a military bill designating the ‘proposed Kansasville airfield as the Richard I. Bong Air Base.”

For the next five years, including final authorization from President Dwight Eisenhower, the planned Air Force base drew opposition from landowners and municipalities.

The Brighton Town Board and the City of Burlington both expressed concern over problems such as land acquisitions from farmers, environmental issues, loss of an area cemetery and forcing residents from their homes. Additionally, the planned air base brought concerns from residents in neighboring communities, like the Town of Dover. The Post recalled a meeting at the Dover Town Hall, where 800 farmers filled the building, and presented pressing questions to Brig. Gen. William H. Wise of the U.S. Air Force.

However, the Town of Dover escaped unscathed, with the Air Force selecting land in the town of Brighton.

The Town of Brighton lost nearly 25% of its tax base as the federal government began purchasing land from farmers and caused existing property owners to see increases on their tax bills.

“Well, it’s a sad story – and for many, a nightmare,” the Standard Press reported in 1969. “Some 300 persons were upheaved from 58 farms to provide a 5,420-acre site for an $83 million (before inflation) air base that wound up as a grand boondoggling bust.”

The boondoggling bust, according to the Standard Press, happened in 1959 when the Defense Department abandoned the plan after investing about $25 million (before inflation) on the incomplete base.

Today, there are still remnants of the incomplete base, with a footprint of an unfinished runway viewable through aerial photography.

After the government abandoned the project, there were many options considered for the location, including serving as a fouryear University of Wisconsin campus.

The University of Wisconsin, however, decided on a location near Petrifying Springs in the town of Somers in Kenosha County that became known as UW-Parkside.

UNION GROVE OUR TOWN • 2021

BONG

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OUR GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY An elected Village Board president governs the Village of Union Grove with six elected trustees. These positions are considered part-time. The village administrator is a full-time position, overseen by the Village Board.

A chairman and two to four trustees govern the surrounding townships of Yorkville, Dover, Raymond and Paris.

Visit the municipality website for listing of board members and village/town officials.

VILLAGE OF UNION GROVE Municipal Center 925 15th Ave. (262) 878-1818 www.uniongrove.net • Recreation Department (262) 902-7917 • Public Works (262) 878-9301 • Wastewater Treatment Plant (262) 878-2387 Village Board President....... Steve Wicklund Trustees........ Patrick Brinkman

Gordon Svendsen

Janice Winget

Adam Graf

Jennifer Ditscheit

Amy Sasse VILLAGE OF YORKVILLE 925 15th Ave., Union Grove (262) 878-2123 www.townofyorkville.com Village Board President....... Douglas Nelson Trustees........ Cory Bartlett

Robert Funk

Daniel Maurice

Steve Nelson

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TOWN OF DOVER 4110 S. Beaumont Ave., Kansasville (262) 878-2200 www.townofdoverwi.com Town Board Chairman...... Sam Stratton Supervisors... Mike Shenkenberg

Jared Guillien VILLAGE OF RAYMOND 2255 76th St., Franksville (262) 835-4426 www.raymondtownof.com Village Board President....... Kari Loppnow-Morgan Trustees........ Tim Geszvain

Dave Lecus

Paul Ryan

Keith Kastenson

Doug Schwartz

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Kathleen A. Dean (left) and Carol Swantz checks in a registered voter during the April 6 spring election in the Union Grove/Yorkville Municipal Building.

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TOWN OF PARIS 16607 Burlington Road, Union Grove (262) 859-3006 www.town-of-paris.org Town Board Chairman...... John Holloway Supervisors... Kenneth Monson

Ronald Kammerzels GRAHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY 1215 Main St., Union Grove (262) 878-2910 www.uniongrove.lib.wi.us FIRE DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY – CALL 911 Non-emergency numbers: Union Grove/Yorkville Fire Department (262) 878-4181 Paris Fire Department (262) 859-3009

Raymond Center Fire Department (262) 835-1687 Kansasville Fire Department (262) 878-3811 POLICE – EMERGENCY CALL 911 Non-emergency number: Racine County Sheriff’s Department (262) 636-3211 RACINE COUNTY OFFICES www.racineco.com Courthouse (262) 636-3371 County Clerk (262) 636-3121 Emergency Management (262) 636-3515 Planning & Development (262) 886-8470 Register of Deeds (262) 636-3208 Veterans Services (262) 767-2900

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