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BHS STUDENTS TACKLE HISTORICAL DRAMA
'Radium Girls' set to open at school auditorium Nov. 5
DENNIS HINES
Badger High School theater student Liam Finley rehearses his
lines for the upcoming production of "Radium Girls."
Badger High School theater students, from left, Liam Finley, Jay
Carlson and Dorian Roemer, practice a scene from "Radium
Girls."
DENNIS HINES PHOTOS, REGIONAL NEWS
FALL PLAY
Badger High School theater students are set to present a historical court drama.
Performances of "Radium Girls" are scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 5-7 at the school's auditorium, 220 E. South St. in Lake Geneva.
"Radium Girls" is set in the 1920s and is about a group of female factory workers who sue the the U.S. Radium Corporation after contracting radiation poisoning from painting radium-based dials on watches.
"At the time they thought radium, because it seemed to reduced tumors, that it was safe," said Andrew Stoltenberg, theater director. "They didn't understand the radioactivity of it, so a lot of those girls got sick and they sued U.S. Radium."
Stoltenberg said audience members should enjoy the historical aspects that are presented.
"I think they will learn how things were different for women and how they were treated, but also how sometimes when you see something that is really exciting but you don't fully understand the dangers or consequences of it," Stoltenberg said.
"Radium Girls" features a cast of about 27 actors, who have been working on the production since mid-September.
Liam Finley and Meric Blazina, both seniors, portray opposing attorneys.
Finley plays Attorney Edward Markley, who represents the U.S. Radium Corporation, while Blazina plays Attorney Raymond Berry, who represents the factory workers.
"I like playing the bad guy," Finley said. "I never played a bad guy before."
Blazina also has enjoyed his character.
"I'm very use to the character I'm playing, because I'm use to playing more powerful characters," he said.
Blazina said that even though "Radium Girls" is a drama, there are some light-hearted moments.
Ordinance to appoint city attorney adopted
DENNIS HINES
Draper
Lake Geneva's city attorney position is one step closer to becoming appointed.
On Oct. 26, City Council members unanimously approved a charter ordinance to change the city attorney from an elected to an appointed position.
The ordinance will not go into effect for 60 days. During that time, if 7% of registered city voters file a protest, the issue will be placed on an upcoming ballot.
If a protest is filed, city officials will have to submit a referendum question to Walworth County by Jan. 26 in order for it to appear on the ballot for the spring 2027 election, or a special election would have to be conducted before 2028.
Council members approved an amendment to the ordinance in which they would select a person or law firm to serve as the city attorney by a 7-1 vote with Alder Catherine Stoodley voting "no."
Another option would have been to have the mayor appoint the city attorney and then have the selection approved by the City Council.
"City Council members may have individual concerns and maybe not necessarily have the best interest of the city," Stoodley said. "I would rather the mayor interview and the council approve, as opposed to vice versa.
Lake Geneva's city attorney has been an elected position since 1994, serving two-year terms.
City Attorney Dan Draper, who has served for about 18 years, has indicated that he will not seek re-election when his term expires in April 2028.
Lake Geneva is one of seven Wisconsin communities that has an elected city attorney.
In other business, the council:
■ Approved a public event permit filed by Downtown Lake Geneva Inc. for the Business Improvement District Fall Wine Walk, located at various downtown businesses, for Nov. 1.
■ Approved a temporary “Class B” wine liquor license filed by Downtown Lake Geneva Inc. for the Fall Wine Walk, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 1.
■ Approved a temporary “Class B” wine liquor license filed by the Geneva Lake Arts Foundation Inc. for an open house event, from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 13.
■ Approved an ordinance to have all City Council standing committee meetings televised and livestreamed.
City accepts $5 million grant for Hillmoor projects
DENNIS HINES
Lake Geneva has accepted a matching grant of up to $5 million to
help pay for projects on the Hillmoor property.
DENNIS HINES, REGIONAL NEWS
Lake Geneva has received a $5 million grant to help pay for amenities in Zone 1 on the Hillmoor property.
The City Council on Oct. 26 authorized Mayor Todd Krause to sign a letter of intent with the Alta Vista Foundation to accept the matching funds.
The motion was approved 6-2, with Alders Joel Hoiland and Mary Jo Fesenmaier voting "no."
City Administrator Dave De Angelis said the city has about $613,000 budgeted in 2027 for Hillmoor-related projects and about $2.5 million budgeted during the next five years.
Krause called the grant a "generational gift" and said it could encourage other donations.
Hoiland said he was concerned that the agreement allows foundation members to remain anonymous.
"I think we need to pause a little bit to make sure we fully understand what we're getting into," Hoiland said. "It's a great opportunity, but let's not jump too fast. We need to examine it."
Fesenmaier said she was concerned that the foundation would have naming rights to projects that are completed in Zone 1 and that the city would have to return the money if it renames any of the amenities.
Alder Catherine Stoodley said it is not unusual for a donor to request naming rights for a project.
"Let's just take it as a win-win," she said.
Alder Linda Frame said she understands why foundation members might want to remain anonymous.
"If I had $5 million, do you think I would tell you people? No," Frame said. "That is their right. It's their money, and it's what they want."
Hillmoor's Zone 1 is 32 acres near Eastview Elementary School and Dunn Field Park on Sage Street.
In April, the council approved a conceptual plan for Zone 1 which includes a disc golf course, an amphitheater, a dog park, sledding hills, fishing outcrop areas, a meditation pond, a splash pad and a river discovery walk.
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