The West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 12 at the West Bend Insurance Prairie Center, in West Bend.

The theme was American Spirit Experience.

The West Bend Chamber honored local businesses, nonprofits and community members during the event. They expressed their appreciation of all their nominees and winners, whose leadership and dedication continue to leave a lasting, positive mark on the future of West Bend.

This year's winners were announced by the West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce:

 Business of the Year - Alpha Custom Apparel

 Nonprofit of the Year - Kettle Moraine YMCA

 New Chamber Member of the Year - The Shoppe Custard and Grill

 Chamber Volunteer of the Year - Jerry Alt 

 Richard Klumb Ambassador of the Year - Sharon Martin

 Community Impact Award - Rose Petitte

 Legacy of Excellence Award - Pick Heaters

 President's Award - Sarah Malchow   

Downtown Hartford’s Holiday Open House begins Friday, November 13 and runs through Sunday, November 15.

Downtown businesses are competing in a fun holiday contest until December 13, according to Hartford Business Improvement District President Jason Wix.

"Participating businesses decorate their windows and doors. There is a QR code on each one of those businesses' windows, where you can scan and vote. We will have three winners, so we encourage everyone to get out and vote for their favorite."                Kickoff the holidays in downtown Hartford during the weekend, with great shopping, and dining. It's a chance for early Christmas shopping.

The Volunteers for a Beautiful Hartford recently finished their holiday decorating around downtown Hartford and the Riverwalk. Christmas wreaths and holiday garland abound around the area on the lamp posts. 

The holiday season is officially underway in Hartford.

The annual Hartford Shoebox Project Packing Event is Saturday, November 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Schubert’s Hartford Theater.

Pastor Jeff Schimp leads the local community outreach and shoebox packing efforts in Hartford and told WTKM that this packing event has been held every year for 18 years. 

"It is a community project. It is composed of volunteers from our community who work together. The packed shoeboxes are sent to children worldwide. The packed shoeboxes are put on a semi-trailer and transported to a dropoff point. Then, loaded onto a Samaritan's Purse truck heading to Illinois to a distribution center."     

Once the boxes arrive, they will be transported to over 150 different countries.

Many volunteers have been preparing the gifts that will go into the shoeboxes and many volunteers will pack the shoeboxes.

The Hartford Shoebox Project sends the shoeboxes through Samaritan’s Purse, which is an international Christian relief organization.

The shoeboxes are for children in need.

The 40th Hartford Christmas Parade steps off at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 14.

This year's theme is "Hart of Hartford."

Hartford Mayor Dennis Regan told WTKM that it's a special event every year.

"Every year we get so many super entries for the parade. It's very festive and it's great to see so many people come out. Everybody has a good time, getting ready for the holiday season. It's a great theme this year, celebrating what Hartford is all about."

Mayor Regan will join former mayors of Hartford in the parade on the 40 Years of Mayors float.     

The parade will travel along Main Street, through downtown Hartford, one mile south to Monroe Avenue.

The Hartford Christmas Parade's Honorary Grand Marshal is Gerry Schnorenberg of Schnorenberg's Floor Covering and Museum 53027. 

The parade is organized and presented by the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce. 

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents in the Lomira area of a possible fundraising concern involving individuals going door to door claiming to collect money for the Lomira School District Band.

A similar situation was reported last year, when two juveniles reportedly solicited donations under the pretense of raising money for the band but were keeping the money rather than donating it.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office have reason to believe this activity may be occurring once again this year.

If you have been approached by individuals soliciting money for the Lomira School District band, or believe you may have fallen victim to this activity, please contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office.

They encourage residents to use caution when making donations and to verify fundraisers directly with the school district before giving money.

The Hartford Lions Pancake Day is Saturday, November 14.                                    

Hartford Lions’ member Jeff Zuern told WTKM that all of the funds raised stay local.

"It's a great event with all you can eat pancakes, french toast and a serving of sausage or ham. After that we will have homemade cinnamon rolls, pastries and all kinds of goodies." 

It will take place at Hartford Union High School from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

They serve well over 1,000 people every year with their annual pancake breakfast.

You can buy your tickets from any Lions member, or at Forte Bank, Hartford Cleaners, Hartford’s Flower Café, Brewed Omen or B&S Liquor.

On Wednesday, November 11 Hartford Union High School's student council presented their annual Veterans Day Breakfast in the school's cafeteria to honor local service members. The morning featured a hot breakfast, a message from a fellow veteran guest speaker, and their traditional roll call.  

The morning was all about celebrating community heroes, sharing stories across generations, and saying "thank you" to those who have served.

"It's always a great morning," said Hartford Union High School Director of Communications Laura Trapp. "Our band and choir always perform and members of the student council work hard to present this special event. It's a lovely morning."  

The program featured heartfelt student presentations, and the event's most cherished tradition - roll call and mail call. Veterans received personal, handwritten notes of thanks from members of the student body at Hartford Union High School.

Photo by WTKM's Tom Jeffery.

Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11.

Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all wars.

Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. Veterans are thanked for their services to the United States.

Ron Schnorenberg is a spokesman for Hartford Veteran groups, including the American Legion 19, United Vietnam Veterans of Hartford and Veterans of Foreign Wars #8834. He told WTKM that Hartford's Veteran Community will host a Veterans Day dinner on Wednesday, November 11 at the Hartford Senior Center. A social hour begins at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. at 750 Highland Avenue, in the City of Hartford.

The Slinger Fire Department and Lifestar Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to the area of State Highway 144 and County Trunk Highway K in Polk, Tuesday evening around 8:09 p.m. for a single vehicle crash that entered Big Cedar Lake.

All occupants were out of the vehicle and made it back to land.

The single pickup truck involved came to rest 100 feet from the shoreline in three feet of water. Out of precaution, a crew of fire personnel entered the water, assessed the pickup for possible fuel leaks and assisted with the removal. Advanced Towing was requested to remove the vehicle from the water.

The scene was cleared by 9:22 p.m. The crash remains under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

No injuries were reported.

Agencies assisting at the scene included the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center and Patrol Division, Slinger Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and Advanced Towing.

Pavement repairs at the intersection of Highway 60 and Main Street are scheduled to begin at 5 a.m. on Monday, November 16 in the City of Hartford.

During construction, Main Street will be closed to southbound traffic at Highway 83 and  Johnson Street, and will be closed to northbound traffic at Kossuth Street, according to Hartford City Engineer Chris Walter. 

One lane of traffic in each direction, eastbound and westbound, on Highway 60 will remain open with traffic control and lane shifts in place as needed. The City of Hartford encourages motorists to follow the posted detour for Highway 83.

All areas are expected to reopen to traffic by 3:30 p.m. on Monday, November 16. Traffic restrictions will resume at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17 to allow crews to complete the remaining work.

The project is expected to be complete and all roads are scheduled to be open no later than 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17.

Access to downtown Hartford and surrounding businesses will be maintained throughout the construction period. 

The nation’s veterans have faced many challenging objectives during their service. The Jefferson County Veterans Service Office is dedicated to making life after the armed forces as easy and straightforward as possible. With that mission in mind, the local VSO has launched a refreshed information hub on the Jefferson County website.

The updated website offers convenient access to the full spectrum of VSO resources available to veterans who live in Jefferson County: veterans’ benefits, crisis support, veterans’ resources, and military records and documents.

It includes links to all federal and state military benefits, including disability compensation, education and training, GI Bill, pension, VA healthcare, property tax credit, and state park pass. 

The website is https://www.jeffersoncountywi.ov/veterans_service.php.

A link to order your military records from the National Archives, plus a list of common military records available to veterans.

The Hartford Womens Club’s 41^st annual Great Hartford Craft Expo is Saturday, November 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kathy Vogelsang is one of the original founding members and told WTKM that around 90 exhibitors will be there.

"We have our standards, including jewelry, quilted items, crochet, organic food items and honey seems to be making a comeback. We have nuts, candy and some chocolate vendors coming in. We have some vendors who have been with us for over thirty years." 

It will take place at Hartford Union High School. The majority of the vendors will be in the small gym. There will be other vendors in the lobby, main hallway and cafeteria.

The funds raised stay local. Last year, the Hartford Womens Club gave over $22,000. They have scholarships, they have done things with the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce, they bought a new refrigerator for the Hartford Food Pantry this year, and they have given money to the Washington County Humane Society. They help the Volunteers for a Beautiful Hartford.   

Washington County is moving forward with the next phase of investment in Heritage Trails County Park, following the successful completion of the Heritage Trails Mountain Bike Trail Pass Pilot Program.

The voluntary trail pass program generated approximately $28,600 in revenue, providing a dedicated funding source for trail improvements while helping the county evaluate long-term funding strategies for one of the region's premier outdoor recreation destinations. At its October meeting, the Land Use and Planning Committee approved the allocation of up to $30,000 in 2026 Trail Pass revenue to Metro Mountain Bikers for trail construction and improvements planned for the 2027 riding season. The funding will support continued implementation of the Heritage Trails Mountain Bike Plan and further expansion of the park's trail system. 

Data collected during the pilot program highlights Heritage Trails' growing role as a regional and national destination. Analysis showed that 13% of daily passes were purchased by out-of-state visitors, with riders traveling from across the country to experience the park's trail system. Visitors from Illinois represented the largest out-of-state market. 

The Trail Pass will remain a voluntary contribution through 2027 and is not required to ride the trails. It is separate from the required County park entrance pass. Revenue generated through Trail Pass purchases is dedicated to supporting:

• Ongoing trail maintenance and repairs

• New trail construction and trail features

• Enhancements to the rider experience

• Sustainable park management practices

• Park infrastructure, amenities, and special events

Heritage Trails continues to experience significant growth as Washington County and Metro Mountain Bikers work together to implement the community-supported vision outlined in the adopted Heritage Trails Mountain Bike Plan. Trail pass revenue, endowment support, and upcoming site planning efforts position the park for continued expansion while ensuring a high-quality experience for residents and visitors alike.

Photo by Washington County.

Saturday morning, November 7 around 11:47 a.m. West Bend 911 Dispatch received a call reporting multiple deceased individuals inside a residence on East Washington Street, in the City of West Bend.

Responding officers located four deceased individuals inside the residence including an adult woman, a boy, a girl, and an adult man. Another girl who was inside the residence was transported to a hospital for medical treatment. A deceased dog was also located inside the home.

The deceased adult male subject involved in this incident has been identified as 54-year-old David Slawnikowski.

A firearm believed to be involved in the incident was recovered inside.

There is not an indication of an ongoing threat to the community.

It’s an active investigation. Investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the West Bend Police Department, at 262-335-5000.

Waukesha County Communications notified the Menomonee Falls Fire Department of a structure fire at Whispering Way, in Menomonee Falls last night around 8 p.m.

Fire and smoke were spotted from an attached garage, while flames spread toward the house.

All of the residents were accounted for.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.

The cause is under investigation.

Action was taken on Thursday, November 5 regarding the Hustisford School District.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s School District Boundary Appeal Board unanimously affirmed the Hustisford Board of Education's decision to dissolve its school district, effective July 1, of 2027.

The appeal board also voted unanimously to assign 100% of Hustisford School District’s territory, assets and liabilities to the Dodgeland School District, also effective on July 1, of next year. There will be no changes to where students are attending in the current school year. 

Interim superintendent of the Hustisford School District Todd Bugnacki says the priority is on the students moving forward in a positive fashion. 

“This decision represents a significant and emotional moment for our students, families, staff, alumni, and the entire community. For generations, Hustisford schools have been an important part of our community's identity, providing educational opportunities, building relationships, and creating traditions that extend far beyond the classroom.

"The path leading to this decision has been difficult. Like many small, rural school districts across Wisconsin, Hustisford has faced ongoing financial pressures, including declining enrollment, increasing operational costs, and limitations within the state's school funding system. Despite considerable efforts to address these challenges and explore alternatives, the district's long-term financial sustainability has remained a significant concern. Throughout this process, the Hustisford School Board has taken its responsibility seriously, carefully considering the educational, financial and community implications of its decisions. Ultimately, the Board determined that dissolution was a necessary step to address the district's long-term challenges and protect educational opportunities for students."

The decision, which makes Hustisford the first school district in Wisconsin to dissolve since 1990, follows the Hustisford School Board’s earlier action to order dissolution after carefully examining Hustisford’s long-term financial challenges, declining enrollment, and the ability to continue providing sustainable educational opportunities for students.

Even though the Hustisford School District remains in existence until July 1, 2027 its schools are closed this school year and its students are being educated in the Dodgeland School District under a tuition agreement. 

The annual Veterans Day Observance ceremony at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School was presented on Thursday, November 5.

Kettle Moraine Lutheran President Dr. Jamie Luehring addressed the visitors in the KML Performing Arts Center.                                    

Featured musical selections were performed by the KML band and choir, along with a keynote sermon and message delivered by Pastor James Douglas.

Each branch of the military was recognized and honored during the annual Veterans Day observance program.

There was a moment of silence and special tribute honoring Mike Riebe, an Air Force Veteran and co-founder of the tradition alongside Betty Gumm. 

Downtown West Bend will ring in the holiday season on Thursday, November 5 with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. It's a community tradition featuring festive music, free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the ceremonial lighting of the downtown tree at Old Settlers Plaza.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony is free and open to the public. Hosted by the City of West Bend and the Downtown Business Improvement District, in partnership with The Bend Theater and the Downtown West Bend Association, the event brings residents and visitors together to celebrate the start of a new season. 

Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Stop by Old Settlers Park for free photos. Hot chocolate and hot apple cider will be available. West Bend Mayor Joel Ongert and BID Board President Peggy Fischer will share a few words before they officially light the tree.

“The Tree Lighting Ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to bring our community together and celebrate the start of the holiday season,” said Fischer in a press release. “We encourage everyone to come downtown, enjoy the festivities and take some time to explore the local businesses that make West Bend special.”

The evening’s program will conclude with a musical performance by the West Bend High School Madrigal Singers. Guests are also welcome to stop by The Bend Theater after the ceremony to enjoy a musical performance by Jaik Willis, part of The Bend's Origins Series. The concert is free.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 20-year-old Milwaukee man following a dangerous incident. 

The incident began at 11:47 p.m. on November 4, as the man and his former girlfriend, a 20-year-old West Bend woman, were leaving a hospital. The two became involved in an argument, and the woman was reportedly not allowed back into the vehicle as the man attempted to leave.

The woman then climbed onto the hood of the vehicle. Security-camera footage reportedly showed the man driving through the parking lot while the woman remained on the hood. The vehicle was seen accelerating, decelerating, and sharply weaving as it traveled around the parking lot.

The man eventually stopped, exited the vehicle, and forcefully removed the woman from the hood. The woman reportedly climbed back onto the hood before being forcefully removed a second time. The man then left the area.

The Germantown Police Department located and stopped the vehicle on I-41, near County Line Road around 11:52 p.m. Washington County Sheriff’s deputies took the man into custody on a charge of second-degree reckless endangering safety.

The West Bend Fire Department was dispatched to West Bend High Schools Wednesday morning, November 4 at 5 a.m. on Decorah Road for a report of smoke in the second-floor hallways.

West Bend Public Safety Dispatchers requested a Full Still response, which resulted in the dispatch of all West Bend Fire Department stations, along with designated automatic-aid companies from the Kewaskum and Jackson Fire Departments.

The first unit to arrive reported no visible smoke or flames from the exterior of the building. A school official met with the Engine 2 crew on the south side of the building and reported finding smoke on the second floor near the library and the "Nifty Nibble" kitchen. The Engine 2 crew entered the building with a pressurized water extinguisher.

Crews initially experienced difficulty locating the source of the smoke.

A small fire was found in the Nifty Nibble kitchen, near a stainless-steel food preparation table and a gas range oven. The fire was quickly extinguished.

The fire had not spread.

Firefighters remained on scene for several hours. West Bend School District maintenance staff assisted.

Once ventilation was complete, air quality readings were taken throughout the affected areas and confirmed to be within safe levels.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Witness Tree is raising awareness that many Veterans are suffering.

Witness Tree ceremonies started on November 1 at 9 a.m. and will continue daily, at Bernd Park in the City of Hartford near the Hartford Fire and Rescue Department. It's organized by Warriors Journey Home and will run through Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11.

The public is invited to attend a ceremony, reflect on the sacrifices made by our Veterans, and stand alongside those who continue to carry the burdens of their service. Their service may have ended, but our commitment to them should never end.

The City of Watertown and Watertown Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 877, have reached a new collective bargaining agreement for 2027–2028, reflecting a commitment to the health, safety and long-term well-being of Watertown’s fire and EMS workforce.

Firefighters face elevated occupational risks. Recognizing these risks, the agreement strengthens preventive care through comprehensive medical examinations focused on early detection and annual confidential mental health assessments. The agreement also supports competitive wages for Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Paramedics, helping the City recruit and retain qualified emergency responders.

“Our firefighters and EMS professionals dedicate their careers to protecting others, often at a cost to their own health and well-being,” said Fire Chief Tanya Reynen, in a press release. “This agreement recognizes those risks and reflects a shared commitment to supporting our employees throughout their careers and beyond.”

Reynen also expressed appreciation for the collaborative efforts of Local 877, City administration, Mayor Stocks and the Common Council in reaching a timely agreement that supports employees and the community.

Local 877 President Braunschweig shared the union’s appreciation for the agreement and the collaborative process.

The agreement takes effect January 1, 2027, and continues through December 31, 2028.

The City of Hartford continues to work with Washington County, in particular the highway crew. It provides tools or equipment that the City of Hartford doesn’t have. It makes financial sense, according to Hartford City Administrator Steve Volkert.

"We do work with the county and they bring in their equipment in certain circumstances. In those cases, it works faster. We help them, we assist them but by using their equipment and their guys who run that equipment, it makes for a much quicker solution to the problem."                                    

Volkert says there are many examples of how this helps get the job done safely, quickly and efficiently. Crack filling and sealing of city streets involves cleaning out debris and moisture from pavement cracks and injecting hot rubberized asphalt or liquid asphalt to block water intrusion, stopping potholes and extending road life.

"We don't have the equipment to do that, so they come in and help us with it. It could be street painting. We saw that recently with the county crews and our crews in an area where we don't like to have people painting for a long period of time because of the heavy traffic. Having someone being able to do it quickly and accurately is a huge help for us."

Volkert was referring to the road painting project on Highway 60, in the City of Hartford. 

The relationship between Washington County and the City of Hartford has made an impact for many years. Volkert pointed out that at the end of the day, their jobs are the same. Each of them work to provide a service at the lowest price. The City of Hartford continues to do it, through working with other departments through other communities and the county.

Officers from the Hartford Police Department responded to the 900 block of West Monroe Avenue for a report of shots fired on November 2.

Upon arrival, officers secured the scene and located one individual who sustained injuries. The subject was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

No Hartford Police officers discharged their firearms during the incident, and no officers were injured.

Investigators believe it was an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

The Hartford Police Department continues to actively investigate this matter. 

Midterm Election results from Tuesday, November 3:

Democrat David Crowley won Wisconsin’s governor’s race, defeating Republican Tom Tiffany. Crowley finished with 54 percent, while Tiffany had 45 percent of the vote.

Democrat challenger Mitchell Berman won Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District race defeating Republican incumbent Bryan Steil.

Three questions determined whether to make changes to the state constitution. Voters approved a constitutional amendment that will limit the governor’s partial veto authority, preventing its use to introduce new taxes or fees. The measure passed with 51 percent of the vote. 

Voters also decided whether the state government can close a place of worship during a public health emergency. With 52 percent voting no, leaving the Constitution as is. Voters rejected the proposed amendment that would have prohibited the government from shutting down places of worship during a state of emergency. 

Voters approved an amendment that will prohibit state and local governments from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any groups based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, public contracting, or public administration. 

Democrats won control of the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly.

Democrats have won both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature, setting up single-party control of state government.

In the state Senate, Democrats flipped three seats in the November election, giving them an 18-15 majority, according to preliminary results compiled by The Associated Press.

In the state Assembly, Democrats flipped eight seats and held all their own, giving them a 53-46 majority. 

Wisconsin State Representative Rick Gundrum did not seek re-election to a fifth term in the Wisconsin 58th Assembly District. The 58th will have a new representative. Republican Bernie Newman wins the seat. He earned 67 percent of the vote.

Republican incumbent Jim Piwowarczyk wins with 67 percent of the vote in the State Assembly District 98. Piwowarczyk told WTKM that he was anxious to run for a second term.

"I didn't think twice about it, I was excited to run again. If I'm going to do something, I'm going all the way. If I'm going to ask people to donate money and help me knock on doors and get signatures I owe it to them to give one hundred ten percent. I think I had twenty bills passed on the floor during my first term."

Matt Philibert received 33 percent of the vote in the 98th Assembly race.

Lake Mills Area School District voters approved a ballot question that would let the district exceed Wisconsin's state-imposed revenue limit by $2.9 million per year for four years, to cover operating costs. Superintendent Dr. Tonya Olson told WTKM that they ran out of options.

"We got to the point here last year where we had run out of options in terms of finding any revenue source. This is actually the school district's first operational referendum, just to balance the budget."

2,655 voted for it in Lake Mills, while 2,623 voted against it. It's an operational referendum for ongoing school activities, not construction.

56 percent of the residents within the Oconomowoc Area School District voted against an operational referendum, or 11,414. 8,920 voted for it.

Mayville School District’s referendum was approved with 59 percent of the vote. Superintendent Dr. Scott Sabol told WTKM that the referendum is for seven years, at $950,000 per year.

"It will really address more of a preventative plan for facility maintenance. It's to ensure that our buildings are safe, with some safety updates. All of that technology ages out quickly. And it's to update our bus fleet."

It will not become an annual tax increase beyond the override period in Mayville.

A referendum in New Berlin was defeated with 56 percent of the vote. It would have increased the city's annual property tax levy to fund additional police and fire department staffing and related equipment.

Republican incumbent Dan Knodl wins in Assembly District 24 with 54 percent of the vote, while Matt Brown received 46 percent.

Republican Bradley Petersen wins in the Assembly District 59 race with 73 percent of the vote, or 22,111. Jack Holzman had 8,332 votes.   

In the 5^th Congressional District, Scott Fitzgerald wins with 59 percent of the vote. Andrew Beck received 32 percent.