LIVING HERE
The first-ever arrival of the cruise ship named ‘Viking Octantis’ ported in Milwaukee, and history was made.
The newly constructed 665-foot-long ship can hold up to 634 people (378 guests and 256 crew members) and is the largest cruise ship to sail the Great Lakes. The port is expected to allow thirty-three ships totaling more than 10,000 passengers, to land in Milwaukee this summer. Tourism had declined significantly, what with the port being closed due to the pandemic. This could be a record-breaking year for Milwaukee and the surrounding areas with travel booming again.
The Port Director has estimated that the cruise traffic could generate an income upwards of $1.8 million in direct revenue to the local economy. This means thousands of visitors will stay in the city, dine in restaurants, and enjoy all the great things the area has to offer. Port Milwaukee recently received $3.5 million in a Capital Tourism grant to build the new Seawaymax infrastructure to support boats as big as the Viking. The Viking is now offering three different cruises, all with stops in Milwaukee but with some dates already sold out. Prices start at $5995 and can go up to $6695.
It’s almost time for the mailboat to deliver to homes all along the shore of Geneva Lake.
For many teenagers, a summer job is a rite of passage into the experience of full employment. Most teenagers start in the food service business, work in movie theaters, or as cashiers. Typically, it’s the undesirable grunt work that they start off with. Well, that’s not the case on Geneva Lake. One of the most sought-after jobs on the lake is that of being a jumper on the U.S. Mailboat named Walworth. The select few teenagers that succeed at tryouts will deliver mail to the lake houses by boat. Only four kids will be chosen. They start at the front of the boat, jump off, deliver the mail, and then jump back aboard, all while the boat never stops. In between leaps on and off the docks the mail jumpers also act as tour guides, sharing the history of the grand estates around the boat passes all along the shore of the lake. Tryouts will be held in the next couple of weeks and the GSR looks forward to sharing video footage and news of this greatly important and entertaining event.
“Big Eddy” Gritzner.
With a heavy heart, we acknowledge the passing of a great man; Edward J. Gritzner Jr. (Big Eddy). Gritzner spent many years serving others in the police field. He worked at the Lake Geneva Police Department from 1978 through 1981, Boulder Junction Police Department from 1981 through 1986, and the Town of Geneva Police Department from 1986 until his retirement. He was appointed the Town of Geneva Police Chief in 1995. Ed Gritzner was a family man and a friend to many and will be very missed. Visitation will be Thursday, May 26th from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. at which time a service will take place at Como Community Church. In lieu of flowers submit any donations or memorials to the Lakes Area Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #19, Officer in distress fund, PO box 101, Lake Geneva, WI 53147.
Where have all the birds gone?
Downtown Lake Geneva is bereft of any but the smallest of avian visitors or residents. It’s been three weeks since any ducks or seagulls have been seen down at the beach or along the shore, or even roosting up on the top of the Riviera Pier Complex. The DNR was called because that organization is the only one that has the authority to issue a permit to ‘cull’ birds for any reason. The DNR was reached but the person answering the phone transferred our reporter to the DNR Hotline, which was a total waste. The recording on the hotline indicated that a call would be returned within 24 hours but only if the initial complaint called in was regarding avian influenza. How dumb is that? DNR hotline? There really isn’t one and nobody else wants to answer the phone. Did some individual act alone to distribute one of the three potentially killing liquids commercially produced? It’s against Wisconsin law to kill wild birds without the DNR’s approval, and it’s not likely the DNR, dumb as it might be, would permit a private citizen to lay out poison and kill offending birds.
Some people, those owning piers, and some municipalities, those owning beaches, are almost always upset by having bird poop around. That’s understandable, and there’s also a safety issue. This was argued out years ago when the avian protection provisions of Wisconsin law were written and passed. The decision was made in the bird’s favor at that time, and no other decisions have been handed down allowing for bird extinction. But there are no birds, except for the very smallest of them, in and around the Lake Geneva area. The GSR is a big fan of all birds and it is going to continue to investigate this issue, even if the DNR is going to be of little or no help.
