Update: $75,000 Cash Bond for Drug Lab Suspect

Racine police announced Wednesday they have a suspect in custody for the drug lab found last week when firefighters responded to calls for a fire on Parkview Drive.

The Racine man police say ran a drug lab in the upstairs apartment of his uncle's house is being held in the Racine County Jail on a $75,000 cash bond. According to a written release from the Racine Police Department, Timothy Gutierrez, 39, of Racine, was taken into custody Tuesday for his suspected involvement in the clandestine ecstasy lab found in an upstairs apartment of his uncle's house. Gutierrez was charged in Racine County Circuit Court Wednesday with one count each of felony possession with intent to deliver THC and felony conspiracy to manufacture designer drugs; two counts of felony first degree recklessly endangering safety; and four counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to 53 years in prison and/or up …

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Firefighters Discover Racine Drug Lab

Racine firefighters responded to calls of a possible structure fire on Park View Drive, but they found a drug lab instead.

**Updated 5:40 p.m. Racine firefighters responded to calls of a blaze in the 400 block of Park View Drive on Friday, but when they went inside, they found more than just a structure fire — they uncovered a drug lab. Two men saw smoke coming from the rear of the home from a block away, according to a press release from the Racine Fire Department. They attempted to knock on the doors to alert any occupants about the fire, but no one answered. Firefighters responded to the fire entered the house, which appeared to be vacant, to extinguish the flames and discovered they were dealing with more than just a fire. "They entered...to investigate and extinguish the fire when they became aware that they had encountered the materials that constitute a…

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$6,000 in Rewards Offered for Tips About Jacato Drive Arson

Between Crime Stoppers of Racine County and the Wisconsin Insurance Council, there's a total of $6,000 in reward money attached to the tip that leads to an arrest for the Jacato Drive apartment building fire.

Dozens of people were displaced because of the Jan. 29 fire on Jacato Drive. At 8:40 p.m., the Racine Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at 2500 Jacato Drive. The blaze destroyed the apartment building, but it could have been so much worse. It took fire fighters from several communities, including Racine, South Shore and Caledonia, to completely extinguish the blaze that displaced dozens of residents. Investigators quickly determined the cause of the fire was arson, according to a story in The Journal Times. Given the scope of the fire, this was a dangerous situation for both the residents living in the building - officially or not - and the fire fighters who battled the blaze. "Occasionally, vacant apartments in this area are …

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Fundraiser Friday for Scott Family

The Scott family suffered the loss of 3 children from an overnight fire last month. Now, the community is pulling together again to support the lone surviving child and his mother.

It is unimaginable to think about the heartbreak Deborah Scott experiences every day since three of her four children passed away after a fire swept through their home in November. Dayja Scott, 9; Daliya Scott, 8, died at the scene. Their brothers Michael Scott, 7, and Luther Scott, 5, were transported to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee. Michael Scott passed away the following day, but Luther Scott was recently released from the hospital and is back with his mother. Mike Degarmo, a 13-year veteran of the Racine Fire Department is one of the organizers of the Scott Family Fundraiser on Friday. He told Patch that Luther's health continues to get better. "I know he is improving daily," Degarmo confirmed. Because many of the fire fighters, …

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Linden Ave. Angels Fundraiser Doubles as Fire Safety Education, Too

Racine fire fighters are teaming up with local organizations and the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin to help raise money for the Scott family and educate the public about fire safety.

After a fire destroyed the Scott family home Nov. 8 and took the lives of three children, the metro Racine community sprang into action. The help continues with a fundraiser from 4 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 14 at Festival Hall featuring a spaghetti dinner; raffle; music; and visits, of course, from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Part of the evening will include a fire education program and the distribution of smoke alarms to families who need them. Dayja Scott, 9; Daliya Scott, 8, died at the scene. Their brothers Michael Scott, 7, and Luther Scott, 5, were transported to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee. Michael Scott passed away Nov. 9, but Luther Scott remains at Children’s recovering. Their mother, Deborah Scott, is staying with family when she is not…

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Community Pulls Together After Fire Claims Lives of 3 Children

Individuals and area businesses are pulling together to help the Scott family of Racine.

The metro Racine community stepped up in record time to offer assistance to the Scott family after a fire destroyed their home and took the lives of three children. Dayja Scott, 9; Daliya Scott, 8, died at the scene. Their brothers Michael Scott, 7, and Luther Scott, 5, were transported to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee. Michael Scott passed away Friday, but Luther Scott remains at Children’s recovering. Their mother, Deborah Scott, is staying with family when she is not at the hospital with her remaining son. From the readers of Racine Uncovered who offered money, clothes and furniture; to Fratt School - where the children attended – collecting cash and gas cards; to local restaurant owners who want to make sure the family is fed and …

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Scott

2:56 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012

I pray for the family and the guys who pulled those kids out. Life will never be the same again.   more ›

Letter to the Editor

City Can't Afford to Lose Protection, More Lives

Beth David writes that a pending decision to close a fire station in the City of Racine, especially after the fire that claimed the lives of two little girls, is a bad choice that could have long-term negative consequences.

I attended the vigil last night at 7 p.m. that was held in front of the home where 2 girls' lives were cut short, 9-year-old Dayja Scott and 8-year-old Dalijah Scott. 2 little boys were hurt; 7-year-old Michael Scott and 5-year-old Luther Scott remain hospitalized. I saw a community come together, people young and old, people from all walks of life to show they care and to show sympathy after such a tragic loss. I saw tears coming from children’s eyes who played with the victims, friends and neighbors hugged each other, strangers that never met the family bow their heads. I went as a mother of two daughters to show my respect for the family, I could never fathom the pain they are going through right now. I stood in front of the boarded up …

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Richard Head

11:13 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Police and fire protection is one of the legitimate functions of government. The City of Racine is going to close this fire station so that 1.1Million Dollars of taxpayer money can be given to Micah Waters and Team Porters to rebuild the vacant Porters furniture store into retail space and one bedroom apartments in a Downtown Racine that already has an excess capacity of available and ready …   more ›

Fire Department Chili Cook-Off a Meals on Wheels Fundraiser

Who will win the great chili cook-off between the Racine Fire and Caledonia Fire departments? Your Patch editors will be the judges!

When Racine Uncovered founder Beth David found out that Meals on Wheels was short on funds, she did what she always does. "This program helps people who wouldn't otherwise get good meals," she said. "I can't sit by and do nothing. That's just not who I am." So David put a call out to the thousands of Racine Uncovered followers - RU Nation - and in a matter of days, she had a chili cook-off and fundraiser scheduled. The Meals on Wheels Fundraiser and Chili Cook-off is from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Paradise Lanes, 6501 Washington Avenue. Fire fighters from the Racine and Caledonia Fire Departments will put their best recipe forward for bragging rights. Patch editors Heather Asiyanbi (Mount Pleasant-Sturtevant) and Denise Lockwood (Caledonia) …

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Caledonia Nixes Talks for Consolidation Of Fire Department

Caledonia's Village President, Ron Coutts, said he's been talking about the idea of consolidating fire departments with Racine and South Shore for months with the Mayor and Village presidents, but the idea has been tabled.

Caledonia's Fire Department will not merge with any others, after the Village Board voted against continuing consolidation talks with the Racine or South Shore fire departments on Tuesday. In a closed session meeting, Ron Coutts, president of the Village of Caledonia, told the rest of the Board that over the past six months he had met with officials from Racine, Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant to talk about consolidating the three fire departments into one. After an hour of discussion, the Board came out of closed session and unanimously rejected the idea of exploring the matter any further. Coutts said he voted against it because of Mount Pleasant’s budget instability as that village tries to plug a $300,000 hole in the South Shore budget …

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UPDATE: Cause Of House Fire On Short Road Undetermined

Homeowner, Victoria Griffin, said no one was living in the house at the time but two cats, which haven't been found and are believed to have died in the fire.

UPDATE: Jeff Henningfeld, battalion chief with the Caledonia Fire Department, said the fire wasn't suspicious, but they don't know what caused the fire.  "It's probably going to be one of those unsolved mysteries," Henningfeld said. "Due to the size of the structure and the limited resources we have to investigate fires, we can't investigate it...especially due to the advanced stage of the fire we found when we rolled up. Rumor has it that a deputy could see the from the Interstate." ORIGINAL STORY: Victoria Griffin, who owned the home at 5132 Short Road with her two sisters, watched the smoke waft and billow from the charred remains that used to be her parent's home on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011. Marion and Orlando Tweet had lived there …

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