Quick responders

team up for a save

Thursday, May 3, 2007 4:30 PM CDT

The quick thinking of a volunteer, the help of neighbors and the timely response of Racine firefighters averted what might have been a much more tragic incident this week when a fire broke out Tuesday in a home on Birch Street. The volunteer, Becky Marston, was delivering a meal for Meals on Wheels when she saw smoke pouring from the windows of the home across the street. She called the fire department and joined with neighbors to help Lucy Blake and her two-year-old daughter, Asia Smith, get out of the house. That still left four-year-old Maykaylee Smith still inside. The Racine Fire Department was quickly on the scene, entered the house and firefighter James Mikulecky found her on the floor in a bedroom and carried her from the burning building. "They (firefighters) were on it. They did their job, I must say," said Rasheik Simmons, one of the neighbors who helped with the evacuation. The fire caused more than $30,000 in damage to the house and Maykaylee suffered smoke inhalation, but at last report was in fair condition at a hospital. We hope her recovery goes well and that she learns of the heroics of those who pitched in to save her. It's hard to beat a combination like that � caring neighbors, hard-working volunteers who are quick to help when help is needed and firefighting professionals who are always at the ready to respond to dangerous situations. They all earned a thumbs up this week.

Court cases usually don't merit

thumbs up or down, since that's typically the job of judges and juries. Still, we like to commend them when they get it right and the 2nd District Court of Appeals did exactly that this week when it rejected the appeal of David Larsen, formerly of Wind Lake, who got 37 years in prison for beating and abducting his pregnant ex-wife, Teri Jendusa-Nicolai, stuffing her in a trash can and leaving her for dead in an unheated storage facility in Illinois in freezing weather two years ago. Larsen's attorneys contended his Constitutional rights were violated when police searched his home as they were hunting for his ex-wife and their two children who were also reported missing and feared kidnapped. Authorities said the warrantless search was conducted under the "exigent circumstances" execption. The court got it right on the merits of the case and also on the impact: Jendusa-Nicolai won't have to go though this trial again. Jensen, meanwhile, has said he cannot remember any of the events of that day and that while he may be able to regain his memory through treatment, he had no desire to recall the events, according to news reports. This was a brutal and heinous crime that we won't forget. But perhaps now we won't have to think of Jensen for a while.

Riverfront redevelopment, transportation improvements,

the railroad overpass, economic development and running tiffs with the Town of Burlington. Claude Lois is going to miss that kind of action. Most of it, anyhow. Lois announced this week he won't seek a fifth term as mayor of the city of Burlington - a job he's held since the turn of the century. It probably seems longer than that to him at times, but the city has benefitted from both his vision and his hard work. He got a lot done in a short order of time and put Burlington in a good position to grow into the future. Burlington is fortunate to have him as a leader.

For more than a half century

it's been a tradition at Racine's lakefront and it returns in all its griddled glory once again Saturday: it's Pancake Day at Racine Festival Hall. For a mere $4.50 in advance or $5.50 at the door you can get your fill of pancakes and syrup and sweeten the pot for more than a half dozen worthy local causes that benefit from the Kiwanis Club of Greater Racine fundraiser. Last year's event raised more than $20,000 for local literacy efforts, healthcare, arts assistance and homeless program. Breakfast is all day � 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bring a healthy appetite.

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