Sunday, December 14, 2025
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Friday, December 12, 2025
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Caledonia man changes plea in April child pornography case
Milana Doné
RACINE — A Caledonia man pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography Tuesday.
Christopher Dufay, 24, was facing 20 counts of possession of child pornography.
Each count is a class D felony which, upon conviction, can result in up to 25 years in prison, a maximum fine of $100,000 or both.
On Tuesday, Dufay pleaded guilty to five counts. The remaining counts were dismissed but read in to the court record.
Allegations
According to previous Journal Times reporting, Dufay was arrested after the Caledonia Police Department received a cyber tip from Internet Crimes Against Children.
The tip included eight videos and a Kik account with an IP address associated with a residence in the 2700 block of Holly Grove Court and an account name of Christopher Dufay.
CPD served a search warrant for the account, which showed 209 images/videos had been downloaded or shared by the account owner. CPD reportedly found 20 distinct videos containing child pornography.
Investigators also searched Dufay’s residence and seized several items as evidence, according to previous reporting.
Dufay originally pleaded not guilty to all charges at an arraignment in April.
He is scheduled for a sentencing hearing Feb. 17, 2026.
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Mt. Pleasant residents will see lower tax rates in 2026 because of net new construction
Holly Gilvary
MOUNT PLEASANT — The village tax rate will decrease in 2026 because of the amount of property value added by Mount Pleasant's net new construction in 2025.
The Mount Pleasant Village Board on Monday heard a presentation on the 2025 progress report for the village's Public Works and Community Development departments, during which Village Administrator Tamara Simons showed that Mount Pleasant had the second-highest net new construction value in the state in 2025.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Mount Pleasant added more than $996 million in net new construction value in 2025, second to the City of Madison with about $1 billion.
The village tax rate will decrease from 2025's rate of $6.09 per $1,000 to $5.67 in 2026 because of the large property value added by new construction, according to the progress report.
Mount Pleasant Community Development Director Samuel Schultz said the village permitted 930 multi-family housing units this year, a 1,228% increase from last year, as well as 50 single-family homes, a 62% increase from last year.
He added that many development projects that began in 2025 were part of village Tax Increment Districts and that the average return on investment for Mount Pleasant's seven active TIDs is 130.9%.
Staff also highlighted the following work completed by the village in 2025: the Mount Pleasant Sewer Utility and Racine Wastewater Utility building; a 1.7-million-gallon underground storage tank near Chicory Road to contain the flow of water into sewers during heavy storms; the village installing permanent generators at seven village sewer lift stations to keep pipes flowing away from homes, even during power outages; building three miles of sanitary sewer; replacing 1,700 feet of storm sewer along Deerfield Road; and conducting its first tree inventory in 2025, during which the village inventoried 6,200 trees in village parks and rights-of-way.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the following roads in Mount Pleasant to be accepted as public/village roads: Hunter Drive; Independence Road; Rosewood Lane from Spring Street to the south terminus; Hoods Creek Path from Gittings Road to the north terminus; Gwendolyn's Way from Hoods Creek Path to its west terminus; Arden Road from Hoods Creek Path to its west terminus; Arden Road from Hoods Creek Path to its east terminus; and Carrington Boulevard from Spring Street to its south terminus.
Mount Pleasant Community Development Director Samuel Schultz said the village permitted 930 multi-family housing units this year, a 1,228% increase from last year, as well as 50 single-family homes, a 62% increase from last year.
He added that many development projects that began in 2025 were part of village Tax Increment Districts and that the average return on investment for Mount Pleasant's seven active TIDs is 130.9%.
Staff also highlighted the following work completed by the village in 2025: the Mount Pleasant Sewer Utility and Racine Wastewater Utility building; a 1.7-million-gallon underground storage tank near Chicory Road to contain the flow of water into sewers during heavy storms; the village installing permanent generators at seven village sewer lift stations to keep pipes flowing away from homes, even during power outages; building three miles of sanitary sewer; replacing 1,700 feet of storm sewer along Deerfield Road; and conducting its first tree inventory in 2025, during which the village inventoried 6,200 trees in village parks and rights-of-way.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the following roads in Mount Pleasant to be accepted as public/village roads: Hunter Drive; Independence Road; Rosewood Lane from Spring Street to the south terminus; Hoods Creek Path from Gittings Road to the north terminus; Gwendolyn's Way from Hoods Creek Path to its west terminus; Arden Road from Hoods Creek Path to its west terminus; Arden Road from Hoods Creek Path to its east terminus; and Carrington Boulevard from Spring Street to its south terminus.
Racine declares apartment complexes and bar to be nuisance properties
Holly Gilvary
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In the past 60 days, the city has recorded 33 police calls and 11 building code violations at the Mitchell Wagon Factory Lofts, 815 Eighth St. |
The Mitchell Wagon Factory Lofts at 815 Eighth St., the Arcade Apartments at 413 Main St., and bar and restaurant Mahoffers on Main at 236 Main St. were declared nuisances this week. Last month, the city declared McMynn Tower Apartments, 110 Seventh St., a nuisance property.
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In the past 60 days, the city has recorded seven police calls and 45 building code violations at the Arcade Apartments, 413 Main St. |
In the past 60 days, the city has recorded 33 police calls and 11 building code violations at the Mitchell Wagon Factory Lofts, and seven police calls and 45 building code violations at the Arcade Apartments.
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| Journal Times |
McMynn Tower has received more than 800 police calls since 2022.
According to the city, the ongoing building code violations and public safety issues at the properties "have reached a point where formal action is necessary to protect residents and the surrounding neighborhoods."
City departments have attempted multiple interventions to resolve the issues at the Mitchell Wagon Factory Lofts and the Arcade Apartments, but the conditions have persisted, according to a news release.
With the nuisance declarations now in place, all properties must provide formal abatement plans to the city that outline specific corrective actions and timelines to address outstanding safety violations, reduce police-related incidents and ensure the properties are managed responsibly going forward.
The Mitchell Wagon Factory Lofts and the Arcade Apartments are both owned and managed by The Michaels Organization, a national housing operator based in Camden, New Jersey. The company is not affiliated with the Wisconsin-based Michels Corporation.
If the property managers do not meet the requirements laid out in the abatement plans, the city may pursue further enforcement actions, including municipal citations, cost recovery or additional legal remedies permitted under city ordinances.
"We expect The Michaels Organization to correct these issues quickly and demonstrate a renewed commitment to the people who live in their buildings," Mayor Cory Mason said in the release.
Unacceptable behavior
The police have received more than 50 calls for service at Mahoffers on Main since the establishment opened in July, with the calls including physical fights, disorderly conduct and loud music complaints, according to the city. Several of the incidents were categorized as "serious" and required "significant police response."
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Mahoffers on Main, 236 Main St., has had more than 50 police calls for service since opening in July, according to the City of Racine. Journal Times file photo |
Racine Police Chief Alex Ramirez said the police department expects business owners to "operate responsibly and to be good neighbors in our community."
"This owner has not demonstrated that level of responsibility," Ramirez said in a statement. "The volume and nature of these calls — some of them serious — are deeply concerning from a public safety perspective. This behavior is not acceptable, and it places an unnecessary strain on police resources."
Trump blames ‘affordability’ rhetoric on Democrats | Morning in America
GZ PrintPak invests $7M in Mount Pleasant bag plant, creating 40 jobs
La Risa R. Lynch
Holiday season shoppers might be bringing home a piece of Wisconsin – a shopping bag made in Mount Pleasant.
GZ PrintPak, a global printing and packaging company, this year began manufacturing paper bags for high-end retailers at its new facility, at 13505 Louis Sorenson Road.
The company now plans to expand its Racine County operation to produce collapsible and standard rigid boxes, along with co-packing services.
The company will invest $7.1 million into its 69,000 square-foot manufacturing facility, creating 40 jobs, according to a Dec. 4 announcement.
“We’re really proud to be here, because Wisconsin offers an ideal mix of workforce availability, infrastructure, and location advantages – enabling us to better serve our customers across North America,” said Peter Levenec, chairman and chief commercial officer of GZ Media, GZ PrintPak's corporate parent.
GZ Media, based in the Czech Republic, is the world’s largest vinyl record producer.
GZ PrintPak is the only U.S. manufacturer to have developed an automated system for producing fully recyclable luxury paper bags, according to the company.
The company says it offers an attractive alternative to overseas suppliers by leveraging tariff-free manufacturing and competitive pricing.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. is supporting the expansion by authorizing up to $300,000 in state income tax credits over the next three years. The tax credits are contingent on the number of jobs created and the capital invested in the project.
“Wisconsin is known as a global leader in the paper industry, and GZ PrintPak is the kind of innovative international paper manufacturing company that belongs in Wisconsin,” said Sam Rikkers, WEDC deputy secretary and chief operating officer.
The expansion also was praised by officials from the Racine County Economic Development Corp., the Village of Mount Pleasant, and the Milwaukee 7 regional economic development agency.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Brian Thompson's Colleague Appalled By Luigi Mangione Supporters
Monday, December 8, 2025
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Martino's prepares to close after 52 years: How Chicago hot dogs ended up in Milwaukee
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Friday, December 5, 2025
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Racine residents express frustration to alders about snow removal efforts
Holly Gilvary
RACINE — Following nearly a foot snowfall last weekend in Racine, some residents say they feel the city did not act fast enough to plow residential roads.
Alice Erven, who lives on Chatham Street, said at Tuesday's Common Council meeting that snow removal occurred after the wet snow "had frozen into ice boulders at the apron of everyone's driveways and (was) turning streets to ice."
"While I appreciate the hard-working snowplow drivers for their tireless work during a holiday weekend, I have no patience for the departmental leadership's handling of what did and did not count as a priority," Erven said.
Karen Briwicic said she and her neighbors were left "stranded" on their street from the snowfall and that she called her alder, Grace Allen, for assistance.
"I literally never have, in all my years, had to call my alderman, and thankfully, Grace came through and actually assisted us," Briwicic said. "I want you all to think of the citizens. We don't all live on main streets; the majority of residents of this city live on a side street. So how are we all going to come together and make sure that we can have these streets plowed in a proper manner?"
Alder Henry Perez said he received several calls and texts from constituents about snow removal and the issue "created some difficult situations for our constituents," but "as a member of the Public Works Committee for the last 10 years, I assure you that this comes up almost every year."
"We reexamine the plan, we look at it again, we have advice. We changed and tweaked some things — but it's really difficult to handle a one-foot snowfall," he said. "Were there shortcomings? Absolutely … some people were hurt, but overall, people were thankful. The calls I got were all thanking me for having Public Works do such a good job as they did."
Perez added that Racine Public Works employees covered more than 300 miles in plowing within 48 hours.
Alder Nathan Pabon concurred that while Public Works employees' work "wasn't perfect … they were out there doing their job, working hard."
"When the time does come to reevaluate and discuss this, I hope that constituents and alders alike will show up to those meetings and express their concerns and work really collaboratively to put a better plan in place for that," he said.
Amended 2026 meeting dates
Also on Tuesday, the Common Council voted to approve its 2026 meeting dates, along with an amendment from Pabon to add Jan. 6 and July 7 to the schedule to make up for reduced meetings during election months.
"This proposed calendar takes into account that this coming year is a very heavy election year, and I understand the lighter schedule in those months, but I think because we are having a lighter schedule in February, April, August and November, that it is incumbent upon us to make sure that we are going through our legislative duty as thoroughly as possible," Pabon said.
With Pabon's amendments, the council will meet on the following dates: Jan. 6, Jan. 20, Feb. 3, March 3, March 17, April 20, April 21, May 5, May 19, June 6, June 20, July 7, July 21, Aug. 5, Sept. 8, Sept. 22, Oct. 6, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 1 and Dec. 15.
The council also approved requests that the Public Works and Services Committee, Finance and Personnel Committee, and Public Safety and Licensing Committee maintain their current meeting dates and times for 2026.
Public Works and Services meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays the week prior to the scheduled Common Council meeting; Finance and Personnel meets at 5:30 p.m. Mondays the week prior to the scheduled Common Council meeting; and Public Safety and Licensing meets at 5 p.m. Wednesdays the week prior to the scheduled Common Council meeting.
In other business, the council:
• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Mount Pleasant Police Department for the Racine Police Department's use of MPPD's shooting range at a cost of $12,000 annually from the RPD budget.
• Authorized a contract with Wil-Surge Electric and Code Red Security for a one-year contract, each with four additional one-year extensions, for surveillance camera and access point contracting services, with the 2025 cost of $50,000 and the 2026 cost of $380,000.
• Disallowed a claim for an unspecified amount from Jerry Price and Danielle Thomas for damages to their property on Fairview Terrace allegedly arising from a tree falling on their property in July. The tree did not belong to the city, nor was it the city's responsibility to maintain the tree.
• Approved the 2026-27 election officials.
• Granted permission to the city to award two contracts for ash tree removal, with one to Acer Tree Service and Landscape for $91,961 and one to Stefka Tree & Landscape for $22,115. The awards will be funded by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Inflation Reduction Act Urban Forestry grant.
• Authorized the public health department to continue the agreement with the Wisconsin Humane Society for stray and impound animal shelter services for $216,039.
• Authorized the public health department to enter into an agreement and accept funding of $198,314 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the Disease Intervention Specialist Supplemental Agreement to be used to support syphilis case management within Racine County. This will increase one current, part-time position to a full-time position.
• Authorized the public health department to enter into a new agreement and accept recurring funding of $51,317 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the Women's Health Block Grant-General and to establish and hire a part-time nurse practitioner position, partially funded through this grant.
• Authorized the public health department to enter into a new agreement and accept recurring funding of $64,753 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the Women's Health Block Grant — City-Based Clinics and to partially fund the part-time nurse practitioner position that correlates with the above agenda item.
• Authorized the public health department to enter into a new agreement and accept recurring funding of $7,888 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the Women's Health Block Grant — chlamydia outreach.
• Approved the 2026 storm emergency sewer repairs fixed prices.
• Approved the 2026 sanitary emergency sewer repairs fixed prices.
• Approved a change order to a contract for concrete reconstruction with LaLonde Contractors, reducing the contract amount by $4,242 for a total contract amount of $1,252,341.
• Authorized final payment for concrete reconstruction by LaLonde Contractors for $1,252,341.
• Authorized the city engineer to sign the renewal with Precise Underground Marketing Corporation to provide underground facility locating services for the city-owned fiber optics and electrical systems from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2026. The estimated annual cost for these services is $100,000.
• Approved an easement request from WE Energies for Racine City Hall, 730 Washington Ave.
• Approved an amendment to city parking regulations to add the following: No Parking Any Time: Glen Street, east end cul-de-sac from curb return to curb return.
• Approved a change order to a contract for City Hall elevator upgrades with Express Elevator, increasing the contract amount by $46,742 for a total contract amount of $361,742.
• Authorized final payment for City Hall elevator upgrades to Express Elevator of $361,742.
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