The Kenosha police officer who punched a man who'd been with his wife has resigned. The attorney for 30 year-old Kendal West confirms that his client submitted a letter of resignation. Larry Keating declined further comment. Early indications were that West had planned to contest the police chief's termination order. A criminal case stemming from the New Year's Eve incident is also over, with West pleading guilty last week to a pair of disorderly conduct charges. He was fined a-thousand dollars. At sentencing, Keating said his client, an army veteran, was being treated for post traumatic stress syndrome.
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The community is continuing to respond to the Shalom's Center's building campaign. The executive director of Kenosha's only permanent shelter for the homeless says in a news release that over $850,000 have been raised to convert a vacant office building on 39th Ave. into a shelter and soup kitchen. Lynn Biese-Carroll notes than an anonymous donor is continuing to match contributions from area churches, even though his initial $200,000 match has already been met. The same donor is also offering to match contributions to the Shalom Center's operating fund, up to $100,000. Biese-Carroll says the man is particularly pleased with the Shalom Center's soup kitchen, which hasn't missed offering an evening meal in 34 years of existence. A second anonymous donor recently sent in a $50,000 check for operations. 75% of the Shalom Center's annual $1.2 million budget is funded by contributions from local businesses and individuals. The rest is split equally between foundations and government grants.
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