Did you see Panther tracks leading away from the scene? That Park-Horlick rivalry must be getting out of hand.

The eight courts are only gone temporarily. If weather doesn't mess with the timetable, rebuilding should be complete by mid-August, said Jay Hammes, Horlick's activities director.

Remember the maintenance referendum Racine Unified School District voters approved last year? It included money for the restoration, and some for four new courts at Case.

Hammes said the new Horlick courts will be a funky blue color the United States Tennis Association digs.

Why is a Racine police officer who's accused of sexually assaulting a child still being paid, when a Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy was recently suspended without pay after being arrested?

Let's start with the background, so everybody's clear who we're talking about. Officer Damen Lowe of the Racine Police Department faces 11 charges for allegedly sexually abusing a girl. He has been placed on paid administrative leave while the court case unfolds.

Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Kuhtz was arrested earlier this month for drunken driving. Kuhtz was suspended without pay during an internal investigation.

I called Chief Kurt Wahlen's office and was directed to department spokesman Sgt. Bernie Kupper. State law requires a police chief to get approval from the local police and fire commission before he can fire an officer or suspend him longer than a few days, Kupper said. He added the department tries to strike a balance by removing those officers from patrol while preserving the presumption of innocence. That "innocent till proven guilty" thing also prompted Racine police a few years ago to drop the term "suspension" and call it "administrative leave."

It's hard to draw a comparison with county sheriffs, Kupper said, because they're governed by different rules. A spokeswoman for the Milwaukee County department didn't return messages.

Is it legal for a lawn service to blow grass clippings into the street?

No, and the city ordinance also applies to those who are their own lawn service.

The clippings can clog catch basins, leading to minor flooding, or pollute streams, Public Works Commissioner Rick Jones said. A warning, he said, usually does the trick.

Mike Moore compiles the Glad You Asked column. Call us at (262) 631-1758 or e-mail:

ask@journaltimes.com