Village of Fontana News
Services Held for Willa McFarlane
Willa McFarlane, 92, Fontana, died Sunday, June 8, 2008 in Walworth.
She was born June 29, 1915 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. As a child, she moved with her family to the United States and they settled in Chicago. She returned to Ireland with her mother a few years later so that her mother could care for Willa’s ailing grandmother.
While in Ireland, Willa attended Larne Grade School and Larne Tech for two years, before she returned to Chicago so that her family could be together again. Willa graduated from Harrison High School, Chicago. Following graduation, she was employed at the Social Service Exchange.
Willa married Donald McFarlane on June 6, 1947 in Chicago. They moved to Fontana in 1953, where she was employed at Arnold Joerns Real Estate.
Willa served as president of the Fontana Garden Club and the Fontana Women’s Club, and served on the Village of Fontana Park Commission, the Board of Appeals and as an election judge. She also volunteered at Lakeland Nursing Home and was an avid bridge player. She was a longtime member of the Fontana Community Church, where she served as a Trustee, worked at the Thrift Shop, worked at the annual Country Fair and was a member of the Women’s Fellowship.
She is survived by a nephew, Craig McIntosh, Avondale, AZ; a great-niece, Caroline (Joey) Kirkpatrick, and their children, Piper, Maren and Keaton, Madison, AL; a cousin, Gordon (Carolyn) McFarlane, Three Oaks, MI; and her neighbors for 52 years, the Tannehills, who became Willa and Don’s second family.
Services were held June 13, 2008 at the Toynton Funeral Home, Walworth. Interment was at the Walworth Cemetery.
Garlic Mustard Alert
Residents Urged by Park Commission to Pull Invasive Weed
The Park Commission announced at its May 17, 2006 meeting that garlic mustard is starting to bloom in the Village of Fontana.
The Park Commission urged residents to pull the invasive weed from their yards and gardens.
Once pulled, the garlic mustard plants should be kept separate from other yard waste. Pulled garlic mustard plants should be taken to the Duck Pond area and put on the burn pile, or they should be placed and sealed in plastic bags and put out with the garbage for collection by Keizer and Sons on Monday mornings.
Park Commission Listing Landmark Trees
Residents May Nominate Trees
Following the recent adoption of the Natural Resources Conservation Ordinance, the Village of Fontana Park Commission is developing a list of Landmark Trees.
The Natural Resources Conservation Ordinance supports and encourages the preservation of Fontana trees in a variety of ways. One of them is the provision to create the designation of “Landmark Tree.” It states that “a Landmark Tree shall mean any tree so designated by the Park Commission or the Tree Board for its natural beauty, majestic stature, historical significance, location, memorial designation or other qualities deemed appropriate.” These trees will have a measure of extra protection under the new ordinance.
The Park Commission is developing a list of such trees in the Village. It will include Memorial Trees planted in many of the village parks. Also listed will be the three “Champion Trees” designated by the Wisconsin DNR: a Black Walnut in Buena Vista Club, a Black Walnut located at North Lakeshore Drive and North Lower Gardens Road, and a Copper Beech located at 519 S. Lakeshore Drive.
The commission is seeking the assistance of residents in this effort. Landmark Tree Nomination Forms can be obtained at Village Hall.
Police Arrest Suspect on Burglary, Credit Card Charges
Area law enforcement officials announced November 14, 2007 that they arrested Jonathan A. Jeske, 31, with a last known address of Beloit, on receiving stolen property and fraudulent use of credit cards after an early morning burglary that occurred on November 13, 2007 in the Town of Turtle. Jeske reportedly got bonded out from Rock County by a relative later in the day on November 14, 2007.
Jeske is the suspect in a series of home and vehicle burglaries in Walworth and Rock counties that have taken place in the past few months. Charges related to crimes in Walworth County are being prepared by various agencies for review by the Walworth County District Attorney's Office.
Jeske, who has an extensive criminal history and is a registered sex offender, was taken into custody in Beloit and was being held in the Rock County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may be forthcoming.
Agencies involved in the investigation are the Delavan Police Department, Town of Delavan Police Department, Williams Bay Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Fontana Police Department, Town of Turtle Police Department, Town of Geneva Police Department, Walworth County Sheriff's Department, Rock County Sheriff's Department, and Beloit Police Department.
Burglary Investigation Underway
The Fontana Police Department is investigating a burglary where the intruder entered through an unlocked patio door at approximately 6:45 AM on Sunday, October 28, 2007.
The intruder was confronted by the homeowner and fled, taking a purse and jewelry.
Similar incidents have reportedly taken place in the last few weeks in other jurisdictions around Fontana. No other information is available at this time.
Police urge homeowners to ensure the ground floor doors and windows are kept secured, especially during hours of darkness. Outside lights should be checked and vehicles that are parked outside should be locked.
Please report any suspicious activity promptly to the police department.
HOW TO GIVE A BURGLAR A BAD DAY
In light of the recent burglaries in the Geneva Lake West area, the Fontana Police Department would like to remind our citizens of some helpful crime prevention tips.
- Lock ground floor doors and windows when the house is empty and during the hours of darkness. We recommend deadbolt locks on all perimeter doors. Patio doors should have a security bar.
- Make sure outside lights are working properly and consider sensor lights that will turn on if something enters the beam.
- Any vehicles parked outside should be locked and valuables kept out of sight.
- If your house is going to be vacant for a period of time, ask a neighbor or friend to check on it and file a house check request with the Police Department. Be sure to stop your mail and newspaper deliveries. We recommend that one or two lights be on timers.
- Please report any suspicious persons or vehicles promptly to the police.
Visit our website at www.fontanawipolice.com for more crime prevention tips and helpful links.
Volunteers helped the Park Commission plant bulbs at the Reid Park Restroom/Pavilion building and in the Fontana Boulevard medians Saturday morning, October 20, 2007. Some of the volunteers are (from left) Tallory, Wylee and Craig Workman, and Sarah Lobdell and her daughter, Ellen.
Construction crew members work to replace the bricks in the crosswalk at Highway 67 and Kinzie Avenue Monday afternoon, July 23, 2007.
Funeral Held for Robert Sandy
Former Village of Fontana Chief of Police, Village President and Building Inspector Robert "Bob" Sandy, 76, passed away Monday morning June 19, 2006, at Saint Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee.
Robert W. Sandy was born August 1, 1929 in Oak Park, IL, the son of James and Ruth (Kissack) Sandy. He graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School in 1948 and moved to Fontana in 1962. He married Lucille Long on July 16, 1972 in Fontana.
After serving 30 years with the Fontana Police Department, Sandy retired as the chief of police, a position he held from 1989 until 1997. Sandy also served on the Fontana Fire Department and Rescue Squad and most recently was a member of the Village's Protection Committee. He was named Citizen of the Year in 1999. He was a member of the Big Foot Lions Club, a 50-year member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Union, a Scout Master for many years, and a member of the Community Church of Fontana.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Lucy; two sons, James (Theresa), Wauwatosa, and Larry (Sue), Elkhorn; three daughters, Vicki Drake, Vancouver, British Columbia, Kim Dabertin, Delafield, and Elizabeth (Mark) Mlekush, Milwaukee; two grandsons, Rob Sandy and Alex Dabertin; and two nieces, May (John) Markey and Ruth Ann Pratali. His parents, a brother and a sister preceded him in death.
Funeral services were held Friday, June 23, 2006, at Fontana Community Church, 275 Kinzie Avenue. Burial was at Walworth Cemetery.
CDA Offers Facade Improvement Program
The Village of Fontana Community Development Authority (CDA) established the Facade Improvement Program to stimulate exterior building improvements to existing commercial buildings within the boundaries of Tax Increment Financing District No.1.
Renvoations that are sufficient in scope to produce visible changes to the building facades may be eligible for consideration. Application Process
Village, "FROG" Sign Settlement
The Village of Fontana and Robert Sandy, representing "FROG," have signed the settlement to resolve the litigation that stemmed from the Writ of Mandamus filed on December 28, 2005 by Sandy and "FROG." The settlement agreement and the subsequent Stipulation and Order for Dismissal was filed in Walworth County Circuit on February 17, 2006.
Prior to reaching the final agreement the following joint announcement was released by Village of Fontana Attorney Dale Thorpe and Attorney Steven Koch, representing “FROG” and Robert Sandy:
"The parties to the pending litigation have reached a mutually acceptable settlement and are working toward reducing it to writing. We expect to have it completed shortly. The February 2, 2006 court date has been taken off the court’s calendar while we focus our efforts on preparing the final documentation."
Main Lift Station Project
Beach House Project
Duck Pond Pavilion Wing Addition Project
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