Town of Salem Fire/Rescue Station One Dedication

The Town of Salem Fire/Rescue and Town of Salem Highway Department celebrated their new, shared facility with a Building Dedication Ceremony and Open House that I attended in Trevor on August 7th.  The Town of Salem Fire/Rescue is made up of former departments that combined to provide emergency medical care and fire protection in the Town of Salem, Paddock Lake and a majority of the Town of Brighton.  The Fire/Rescue and Highway Department combination building is a good fit for both departments, serving our communities well during this winter when highway crews were able to use fire department sleeping quarters to rest between the long hours they were working.  Attendees were able to meet Highway and Fire and EMT personnel, observe a Children's Safety Smoke House and firefighting demonstrations, and receive fire prevention and child safety seat information in addition to enjoying refreshments. 

Rep. Kerkman is pictured at the Town of Salem Fire/Rescue Station One

and Town of Salem Highway Department Building Dedication Ceremony. 

A celebratory collage of the building dedication and open house.

Photo credits above and collage: Linda Valentine

Norstan, Inc. hosts Governor Walker at Ceremonial Bill Signing 

On Tuesday, August 9th Governor Scott Walker visited Pleasant Prairie for a Ceremonial Bill Signing of Senate Bill 144.  A cooperative effort among myself, Representative John Steinbrink, Representative Peter Barca, Senator Van Wanggaard, and Senator Bob Wirch, the now 2011 Wisconsin Act 40 allows the Village of Pleasant Prairie to exceed the 12 percent test that limits a municipality from creating or amending a Tax Incremental Financing district. 

With enactment, the Village of Pleasant Prairie retains a $3.5 million federal Economic Development Administration grant and enters the next phase of project development which will culminate in an expansion at Uline and the creation of a Bio-Medical Innovation Center, and ultimately, the addition of an anticipated 800 new jobs in our area. 

Governor Walker signs the Pleasant Prairie Tax-Incremental-Financing bill in a ceremony at Norstan, Inc. with KABA President Todd Battle, Village of Pleasant Prairie Administrator Mike Pollocoff, Representative John Steinbrink, Senator Van Wanggaard, Senator Bob Wirch, Representative Samantha Kerkman, and John Nordigian of Norstan, Inc. 

Kenosha County Fair Time

I'm looking forward to spending time at the Kenosha County Fair next week which runs Wednesday August 17th through Sunday, August 21st.  Look for me at the fair - I plan to go each day and I'd love for you to stop by and say hello.

The fairgrounds are located at 30820 111th Street in Wilmot and are open from 8:00 AM until midnight daily.  Admission is $8.00 for adults ages 12 and over and $4.00 for children ages 8-11.  Children ages 7 and under are admitted free of charge.  If you're age 62 or better, take advantage of Senior Day and enjoy $5.00 admission on Wednesday.  For additional information, including judging and entertainment schedules visit the Kenosha County Fair's website. 

Back to School Shopping Tips from DATCP

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection warns consumers that there can be a difference between the price you think you are paying, and the price you actually pay.  The back-to-school shopping season is full of advertising circulars, in-store promotions, and discounts at the checkout.  To make sure you are being charged the right price follow these tips from DATCP:

• Bring store ads with you

• Write down prices or special sales as you shop

• Watch display screens as items are being scanned

• Speak up if you think you are overcharged

• Request any appropriate refund while you are still in the store

• Ask about a store's pricing error policy

Wisconsin law requires stores to charge the lowest advertised price and refund any overcharge.  Additionally, you may also report pricing errors to state or local inspectors. 

DATCP inspectors tested more than 29,000 items for price accuracy in stores around the state last year and found a total price scanner accuracy rate of 96.8% (including both overcharges and undercharges).   Their results show consumers were paying either the advertised price or paying less than the advertised price 99.2% of the time.  Inspectors also make sure gas pumps and store scales are accurate, as well as package rates. 

For more weights and measures information, or to file a complaint, contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection on the web datcp.wi.gov; via e-mail at DATCPHotline@Wisconsin.gov; or call toll-free at 1-800-422-7128.

Concealed Carry Questions & Answers

The concealed carry law, 2011 Act 35 goes into effect on November 1, 2011 and the Wisconsin Department of Justice is working to provide timely, accurate and helpful information about the law.  The DOJ website now has a concealed carry page dedicated to official updates and has already released a  Questions & Answers document addressing everything from when you can apply for concealed carry license (November 1, 2011) to how a business can limit or prohibit the carrying of concealed weapons on its premises.  Check back throughout the summer and fall for new information. 

Job Gains Clarification

The flurry of excitement over Wisconsin's job growth led many to report (as I did in the last issue of Capitol Insight) that the 9,500 Wisconsin jobs added in June accounted for more than half of the 18,000 net jobs created across the country during the same month.  Although both numbers are correct, the state and national data are independently developed and the state job reports cannot accurately be used to make a national comparison.  I apologize for the error. 

The news is still good: Wisconsin's June gains are its largest one-month jump in private-sector gains since September 2003 and the Department of Workforce Development reports that Wisconsin has added 39,300 private-sector jobs in the first six months of 2011.  New state numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics are expected next week. 

To track the progress of legislation introduced this session, please visit

http//legis.wisconsin.gov and click on the Notification Service link found on the homepage.