Paulson won't seek re-election as a Waukesha alderman
While nine aldermen will look to retain their seats on the Common Council next April, Alderman Duane Paulson announced on Wednesday that he will not seek re-election.
Paulson represents the city's 15th District.
He said he is making his decision with “some regrets” but added “contributing to my decision is situations that require more of my time, and this in turn competes with time for city business. It has been an enjoyable experience to represent the citizens of the 15th (District).”
Paulson, who began serving on the Common Council in 2010, is also a supervisor on the Waukesha County Board. His term on the County board is up in 2014.
He cited his most successful decision as alderman was when he came out immediately and “forcefully” against the $136 garbage fee that was initially proposed by Mayor Jeff Scrima during last year’s budget process.
» Read Full ArticleWaukesha South student wins state park sticker contest
The winning 2013 Wisconsin State Parks admission sticker, with marshmallows being roasted over a campfire, was designed by Holly Jo Cegielski, a sophomore at Waukesha South High School.
The winning design will be printed on state park and forest annual vehicle admission stickers and will be displayed on more than 150,000 vehicles, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
Cegielski's design was chosen by the DNR during its annual contest for Wisconsin students.
The 2013 stickers will be available for purchase beginning Saturday.
The vehicle admission stickers provide access to more than 60 state park, forest and recreation area properties across Wisconsin. The stickers are required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks and recreation areas. Some state forest and trail parking areas also require a sticker.
» Read Full ArticleCatholic Memorial girls soccer team sets state record
The varsity girls soccer team at Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha has been recognized for academic excellence by The National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Catholic Memorial Haunted House raises $15,500 for Wounded Warrior Project
The students at Catholic Memorial put on a scare to make others smile and help those in need.
And this year, those with the Wounded Warrior Project will reap the benefits of the Catholic Memorial Haunted House fundraiser as $15,500 was raised to go toward the organization.
The Would Warrior Project is a national program that began as a way to provide comfort items to wounded service members but has now grown into a complete rehabilitative effort to assist them as they recover and transition back to civilian life.
Justin Constantine, an Iraq war veteran and a board member of the WWP, will accept the check at a 10:20 a.m. Monday presentation in the InPro Athletic Center on the CMH campus.
Constantine, who was injured while serving in Iraq in 2006, will talk about his experiences as well as those of other wounded veterans.
» Read Full ArticleSee the best fog photos on social media
Dense fog clouded Milwaukee and surrounding areas Wednesday morning, and many people took to Twitter, Instagram and other social media services to share photos.
View those photos here.
Man suspected of impersonating photojournalist is arrested, charged
For more than 40 years, Gary Medrow has wielded a telephone the way a check forger wields a pen.
Except instead of faking signatures for financial gain, Medrow has used the phone as a disguise to impersonate people in officialdom - from police officers to accident investigators - to indulge his favorite fetish: persuading complete strangers to carry each other around.
The latest persona adopted by the 68-year-old serial impostor, according to a criminal complaint, is that of a Journal Sentinel photojournalist, calling two female high school athletes to set up photo shoots in which they would hold each other upon their shoulders.
Medrow, of Greenfield, was arrested Friday and charged in Ozaukee County Circuit Court with two counts each of telephone harassment and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident involving two Cedarburg High School girls.
Authorities in Franklin, Verona, Hartland and Mequon are investigating similar incidents, which involve female athletes who have had their pictures in the newspaper, Cedarburg police Officer Joe Biliskov said.
» Read Full ArticleWaukesha considers naming school after Les Paul
A Waukesha school may join the list of Les Paul-branded landmarks across the city.
Sue Baker, program director of the Les Paul Foundation, said she sent a request to School District of Waukesha Superintendent Todd Gray a couple of months ago to name a school after the Waukesha-born guitar icon.
“They’ve all been very positive all along the way,” Baker said.
Baker initially requested to rename Central Middle School, the building where Les Paul attended middle and high school. A spokesperson from the School District of Waukesha said nothing has been done with the request as of yet, but if the district were to start a fine arts charter school down the road, that would be a better option.
“The Les Paul Foundation would prefer [Central Middle School], but having any school named for Les in Waukesha would be an honor that would make him smile,” Baker said.
» Read Full ArticleCatholic Memorial triumphs in D3 title game
The Catholic Memorial football team has long been known as a running team and a program with a number of WISAA titles to its name, but never a WIAA gold ball since the governing bodies merged in 2000.
Friday was a good time for a shift in identity.
Matt Hubley still ran for close to 200 yards, but with Pat White’s three passing touchdowns and receiver/defensive back Andre Bodden’s huge game, the Crusaders won their first WIAA state championship in a Division 3 blowout over Waupaca, 42-7. Memorial did not allow a point in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison and turned a close first half into a laugher.
“It’s special for us,” said Bodden, who finished with three interceptions and two touchdowns, one on both sides of the ball. “We wanted to win for coach (Bill) Young. Everything he’s done for us and the program, we owe it to him.”
» Read Full ArticleRead the social media story of the Division 3 football championship game
Catholic Memorial trounced Waupaca in the Division 3 football championship, 42-7.
Click here to see how the game unfolded on social media.
Waukesha considers pay-for-performance for teachers
One of Wisconsin's largest school districts is considering changing its salary structure to reward teachers based on the quality of their performance, rather than on their seniority and education.
The School District of Waukesha may bring on national consultant Battelle for Kids to design a new compensation and benefits system, according to a proposal from the district's administration that emerged this week.
Waukesha's School Board on Wednesday held off on voting on that approximate $77,000 contract until next month because that contract came in late to the lineup of action items, said Christine Hedstrom, assistant superintendent for human resources and labor relations.
But Hedstrom said Thursday she thinks there's a good chance the board will approve that contract next month.
If it does, Battelle for Kids, which is known for working with teachers' unions on issues related to new compensation systems and other school-improvement efforts, would come back in about six months with suggestions for a new compensation and benefits system, Hedstrom said.
» Read Full ArticleTown of Waukesha supervisor retains attorney alleging open meetings violation
Town of Waukesha Chairwoman Angie Van Scyoc said she had “no idea” there were any concerns on the Special Town Board meeting that was held last month.
But Town Supervisor Everett German has brought forth his concerns as he has retained an attorney to alleged open meetings violations.
The Town Board will discuss this at a Town Board meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall, W250 S3567 Center Road, Waukesha.
In a letter sent by Paul E. Bucher of Bucher Law Group, to Van Scyoc on Oct. 25, it states that the Oct. 16 meeting was, apparently, called on less than two hours’ notice and potentially violates the open meetings law.
“The subject matter of that meeting was not intended to avail itself on less than 24 hours’ notice,” the letter states. “This was certainly not an emergency and it was inappropriate to call a meeting potentially less than two hours notice.”
» Read Full ArticleFirm moving Mequon, Waukesha offices to Third Ward
A firm with separate branches in two suburban locations has moved to a new office in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.
EmPowerHR, a human resources firm, and Laurus Strategies, which does business consulting, have moved from Mequon and Waukesha, respectively, to 10,000 square feet at the Warehouse No. 1 Building, 126 N. Jefferson St., the businesses announced Wednesday.
The move accommodates the current staff of 25 employees, and will allow for expansion.
Open house to review South East Avenue reconstruction project to be held Thursday
An open house, informational-style meeting to discuss the extensive reconstruction of South East Avenue from Sunset Drive to College Avenue will take place Thursday at Whittier Elementary School, 1103 South East Avenue.
Representatives from R.A. Smith National, Inc., the design consultant, and engineers with the City of Waukesha will be on hand from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium.
There will not be a formal presentation and those interested can attend anytime during these hours.
According to the city’s Department of Public Works, the purpose of the meeting is to review the final roadway design and to present the proposed acquisition of temporary construction easements.
The purpose of the project is to upgrade South East Avenue to current design and safety standards, improve drainage, reconstruct pedestrian ramps to Americans with Disabilities Act standards and replace the existing deteriorated pavement.
» Read Full ArticleTaxes remain flat in Waukesha County budget
Waukesha - Waukesha County government will be able to balance its 2013 budget with a few dollars less from most homeowners.
The county will collect $512 in property taxes for 2013 - $2 less than this year's budget - on a home with a median value of $243,200. The taxes will help pay for a $273.77 million spending plan for 2013 adopted Tuesday by the County Board.
The total cost of county government drops 3.8% in 2013, fully $10.9 million less than this year, County Budget Manager Keith Swartz said.
Waukesha County spends less per resident than any other county in the state, Swartz said.
Much of the decline in next year's budget was due to spending less on major capital construction projects than this year.
» Read Full ArticleRead the social media story of Level 4 prep football
Area teams took on other contenders for a trip to state and Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Nov. 9 and 10.
Read the social media story of the games, complete with tweets, photos and more.
In Division 1, Arrowhead took on Hudson. In Division 2 action, Homestead attempted to oust Marshfield and Whitefish Bay took on Waunakee.
And in Division 3, Catholic Memorial faced off against Mount Horeb/Barneveld.
Read the Storify story at this link or below. You can also view NOW's photo gallery of Level 4 action.
» Read Full ArticleWaukesha, Oak Creek working to put water deal back in motion
Waukesha - A proposed amendment to an agreement for Oak Creek to sell Lake Michigan water to the City of Waukesha will put the plan back on track after a one-month delay, Waukesha Water Utility General Manager Dan Duchniak said Friday.
The revision clarifies how Waukesha's future rate payments to Oak Creek will be determined, Duchniak said. The amendment is intended to reassure Oak Creek that it will be paid rates that reimburse it for full costs of the service.
The Oak Creek Water & Sewer Commission will review the proposal Tuesday.
Both the Oak Creek and Waukesha common councils are scheduled to adopt the amended agreement at separate meetings on Nov. 20. The Waukesha council discussed the amendment Thursday night in a closed-door session.
Rate payments unexpectedly became an obstacle to sealing the deal in early October when the Wisconsin Public Service Commission ruled Oak Creek could not bill Franklin for providing adequate volume and pressure for fighting fires as part of its wholesale charges to the community.
» Read Full ArticleCandidate announces for soon-to-open Assembly seat
Waukesha Republican Matt Morzy said Thursday he would run for an Assembly seat that will soon be vacated by Rep. Paul Farrow.
Farrow won a Republican primary in a special election Tuesday to fill a seat in the 33rd Senate district that opened up after then Sen. Rich Zipperer took a job as Gov. Scott Walker's deputy chief of staff.
Farrow has no Democratic opponent in his special general election for the conservative district on Dec. 4, making him a lock to win the Senate seat and leave an opening in his 98th Assembly district.
Morzy graduated in 2005 from Carroll University with a business degree and is finishing a master's degree in finance from Marquette University.
Appeals court reinstates Waukesha stalking case
Wisconsin's anti-stalking law does not amount a restraint of free expression, the state Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.
The decision follows Waukesha County Circuit Judge James Kieffer's decision to dismiss stalking charges against Gary M. Hemmingway, 52, after he argued Wisconsin's law was overbroad regulation of constitutionally protected speech.
"We reverse," the court ruled. "The First Amendment does not protect intentional conduct designed to cause serious emotional distress or fear of bodily harm or death in a targeted victim."
Hemmingway is charged with sending a steady stream of intimidating texts, emails and phone calls to his ex-wife, who felt threatened and upset by the communications, which included such comments as:
- That he would blow his brains out and make a mess of her kitchen.
- That he would love to see someone hold a gun to her head as she begged for her life.
- That the only way she could feel his pain is if both her sons died at the same time.
Waukesha police asking for public's help in finding armed robber
WAUKESHA- Waukesha police want to Crack The Case of brazen and bold armed robber. The robber walked into a gas station with a gun and even brushed shoulders with a customer on his way.
Detectives want to catch the guy before he strikes again. Investigators shared the exclusive video which is key evidence in the July 2010 robbery.
"This is an armed robbery, it's a very serious crime," said Detective Ed Bergin with Waukesha Police.
The video shows a man who walked into the Kwik Trip Gas Station at 924 Fleetfoot Drive. It was around 3:30 a.m. "He produced a handgun which was concealed," explained Bergin. The gunman then demanded the clerk to empty every register. He concealed his face with only a baseball cap but he did cover his hands with latex gloves.
"Those are indications he knows what he's doing. He may have done something like this before," said Bergin.
» Read Full ArticleBill Kramer gets re-elected to District 97 Assembly seat
Rep. Bill Kramer, rather easily, maintained his seat in the state assembly.
Kramer (R-Waukesha), who has served in the state assembly since 2006, defeated political newcomer Marga Krumins (D-Waukesha), 18,013 to 9,888 votes in Tuesday’s General Election for the District 97 Assembly seat.
District 97 covers most of the City of Waukesha and Wards 1, 2-6 and 8 in the Town of Waukesha.
Earlier this year, Krumins was also seeking the District 6 Aldermanic seat in the City of Waukesha that went to Adam Jankowski.
In addition to serving in the state assembly, Kramer, who grew up in Waukesha, was a member of the Waukesha County Board from 1998-99 and 2004-07.
» Read Full ArticleDavid Craig defeats Jim Brownlow in District 83 again
The margin of victory was a little less this time.
But for Rep. David Craig (R-Town of Vernon) the result was the same: A significant victory over Jim Brownlow (D-Muskego).
Craig, who defeated Brownlow by 74 percent of the vote in a special election last year, won with 70 percent in Tuesday’s General Election for the Assembly District 83 seat that covers Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties, including parts of the Town of Waukesha.
Craig garnered 23,004 votes compared to Brownlow’s 9,956.
In the Town of Waukesha (Wards 7, 9-11 and 12) Craig received 1,497 votes, 75.5 percent of the vote.
» Read Full ArticleCity of Waukesha favored Romney, Thompson in 2012 election
Not many voters in the City of Waukesha split their ticket when voting in this election.
Those who supported the Republican ticket of Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan for the presidential election also gave their vote to Tommy Thompson in the US Senate.
Of the 36,219 votes in the City of Waukesha, 21,348 went to Romney/Ryan or 57.8 percent.
The winning Democratic ticket of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden garnered 15,113 votes in the City of Waukesha or 40.9 percent. That is a difference of 6,235 votes.
For the US Senate seat, which US Rep. Tammy Baldwin won, Thompson with 57.9 percent of the vote took home 20,961 votes compared to Baldwin's 14,246 or 39.3 percent. It's a difference of 6,715.
» Read Full ArticleTown of Waukesha had a nearly 90 percent voter turnout
Clerks in Waukesha expected high turnout for the 2012 General Election and they got it.
In the Town of Waukesha, 89.92 percent of registered voters voted in the election.
And a majority of those individuals showed their support for the Republican Party.
Of the 5,739 votes cast in the Presidential Election, 4,025 or 70.1 percent of the vote went to the GOP ticket of Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and his running mate Paul Ryan, a congressman from Janesville.
The Democratic ticket of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who won the election and Wisconsin's 10 electoral college votes, got 1,674 votes in the Town of Waukesha or just 29.2 percent.
» Read Full ArticleGlut of absentee ballots, machine problem slow City of Waukesha count
The City of Waukesha was seeing a record number of absentee ballots as of Tuesday evening, with more than 13,000 to count, according to city clerk-treasurer Tom Neill.
Neill predicted it would take well past midnight Wednesday to count all of them.
Waukesha's absentee ballot count got slowed down earlier Tuesday when one of the machines broke and zeroed out, forcing many of the ballots to be sent through a second time.
Counting all the absentee ballots at Waukesha City Hall poll headquarters was new this year. Previously other polling locations around the city would collect and count absentee ballots, then send their results into City Hall.
Waukesha middle-schoolers tackle presidential politics
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Horning Middle School Teacher Gregg Vergetis talks to students about the presidential candidates Tuesday.
In 28 years of teaching, Gregg Vergetis hasn't missed a major election yet.
Whether it's a race for president, senate or state governor, Vergetis sets aside whatever curriculum is planned at Horning Middle School in Waukesha and assigns a research project about the candidates.
On Tuesday afternoon, his 8th graders were having a robust discussion Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Vergetis, in a red-white-and-blue American flag tie, led the conversation, which dipped into sensitive issues such as race and abortion.
» Read Full ArticleSix Town of Waukesha residents safe after Monday evening fire
Six people were evacuated after a fire started in their Town of Waukesha residence Monday evening.
Four adults, 2 children escape Town of Waukesha fire
Four adults and two children escaped a house fire in the Town of Waukesha Monday evening, authorities said.
The Waukesha County Sheriff's Department said the fire was called in around 6 p.m., and fire departments from Waukesha and several other communities helped extinguish the flames. No one was injured.
Initial investigation suggests the fire started around the chimney. The residents had a fire in the fireplace at the time.
The Sheriff's Department continues to investigate the incident.
Meindel plays hero, CMH stuns Wisco
“I was thinking it’s just like practice, just another kick,” said Meindel, whose liner went through without a doubt. “If I go through the motion, it will be good. I have nightmares about that kind of thing. It’s not what you want to do, but if you have to, you want to be able to produce.”
Meindel’s leg is his greatest attribute. Committed to kick for North Dakota next year, Meindel also happens to be a tremendous punter. He already had a 56-yard punt earlier in the game when he sent a 64-yard boomer down to the Wisconsin Lutheran 1-yard line with 8:51 to play.
City of Waukesha averaging 900 absentee voters a day
City of Waukesha - A steady flow of absentee voters were in City Hall on Friday morning casting their ballots on the last day to "early vote."
A clerk handing out ballots said the city is averaging about 925 absentee voters a day.
Today is the last day to absentee vote. You can absentee vote at City Hall today until 4:30 p.m. More instructions are on the clerk's website, http://www.ci.waukesha.wi.us/elections.
Waukesha officials reported earlier that a 90-percent turnout is expected overall for the fall general election.
Looking for your local polling place?
We are four days away from the next election and one of the best resources to find out local voting information is at the state's official page for Wisconsin Voter Information.
There you can find information on where to vote in your community, check your provisional ballot status and more.
Click here to visit the Wisconsin Voter Information page.
North Shore voters can visit our North Shore Voting Guide, which has a list of polling places and a post-redistricting guide to congressional, assembly, and senate districts.
Driver charged in fatal Waukesha County crash
Waukesha - A Waukesha man has been charged in a fatal three-car crash early Tuesday in the Town of Genesee.
Ernesto Lazo Villamil, 35, faces a count of driving with a revoked license, causing great bodily harm.
According to the criminal complaint:
Villamil was westbound on State Highway 59 near Hillside Road shortly before 6 a.m. when he slammed into a blue Pontiac being driven by Leonard Miller, who died from injuries suffered in the collision.
Villamil's Envoy SUV continued out of control and also slammed into an eastbound Lincoln Town Car.
» Read Full ArticleAll four Waukesha high school drama departments have plays next two weekends
All four Waukesha-area high school drama departments have plays over the next two weeks.
Waukesha West's West End Players will present J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" from Thursday to Sunday.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7 p.m., while the Sunday show is at 2 p.m.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $7 for children and seniors and $3 for students with a West ID.
The Waukesha South Drama Department will present "Meet Me in St. Louis" next week.
» Read Full ArticleBonus Waukesha Farmers Market to take place in downtown Saturday
Those who love the Waukesha Farmers Market get to enjoy it a little longer.
That's because there will be a bonus market Saturday.
The Waukesha Farmers Market and the Horse Emporium are hosting a joint Farmers Market and Tack Sale from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Riverfront Plaza in downtown Waukesha.
Norm Bruce, who owns Martha Merrell's Books in downtown Waukesha, said this combined effort has gone on for the last several years.
He added that this is the Horse Emporium's (280 W. Main St.) annual Used Tack and Storewide Scratch and Dent Sale.
» Read Full ArticleChristmas Clearing Council's toy drop-off begins Thursday at Waukesha County sites
Christmas might be more than seven weeks away, but the Christmas Clearing Council of Waukesha County’s effort to help those in need during the holidays is in full gear.
A few weeks ago, individuals could begin sponsoring a family for the holidays.
With a commitment of $60, families, organizations or companies are matched with a family and receive the child’s wish/need list. They then shop and deliver the gifts to the family by Dec. 12.
In 2011, the CCC coordinated giving to more than 1,900 families and close to 4,500 children in Waukesha County.
Persons wishing to sponsor a family can call (262) 549-NOEL.
» Read Full ArticleClinton pays a visit to Republican country
Waukesha – Speaking in the middle of Republican-held turf, former President Bill Clinton told a crowd of 600 supporters on Thursday that President Barack Obama had put the country in the right direction four years after the nation’s economy nearly collapsed.
“I am far more enthusiastic today than I was four years ago,” Clinton told students, senior and families gathered inside the field house on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha County.
In a nearly 40-minute speech and speaking without notes, the former president, sounding hoarse from days of campaigning for the president, praised Obama’s vision of having a strong government and a strong private sector working together.
Clinton gave a stout defense of the president’s policies, and made particular mention of the changes Obama has made in the student loan program and Medicare as well as enactment of the Affordable Care Act.
Clinton said the actions the president took in the wake of a damaged economy was the right thing to do. Gov. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, Romney’s vice presidential running mate, want to undo that, he said.
» Read Full ArticleMental evaluation ordered for man accused of shooting at Waukesha police
Waukesha - A 76-year-old Sussex man charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide and other crimes after shooting at a police officer responding to a domestic violence complaint on Oct. 23 will be given an evaluation to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial on the charges, Waukesha County Court Commissioner Thomas Pieper ruled Thursday.
Pieper ordered the mental health evaluation in response to a request from the defense attorney for Richard A. Petarius.
Petarius is being held in the Waukesha County Jail. On Oct. 25, Pieper set bail at $500,000.
Petarius carried a 12-gauge shotgun when he forced his way into the Waukesha residence of his ex-wife, Phyllis, on Oct. 23, according to a criminal complaint.
He used a cell phone to contact their son, Rick, of Watertown, shortly after entering the residence, the complaint says. Phyllis Petarius told officers that she overheard him tell their son that he intended to commit suicide that day.
» Read Full ArticleMan implicated in Waukesha shootout will undergo competency exam
The man alleged to have shot at a Waukesha police officer in an Oct. 23 standoff was in court today, where his attorney asked that he undergo a competency evaluation.
Court Commissioner Thomas Pieper ordered the evaluation for Richard A. Petarius, 76, of Sussex, who was charged with nine felonies and a misdemeanor after he allegedly wielded a sawed-off 12-guage shotgun and fired at an officer during a domestic dispute with his ex-wife at a condo on Waukesha's east side.
A follow-up hearing to review the results of the competency evaluation was scheduled for Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.
Muskego police sergeant suspended after arrest in Waukesha
A Muskego Police Department sergeant has been placed on administrative leave following an arrest on Tuesday afternoon after a domestic abuse incident.
City of Waukesha Police were called to the residence in the 100 block of S. Porter Ave. at 4:31 p.m. in the City of Waukesha after the police log says the sergeant allegedly attacked a woman.
The logs say that the man was not armed and was locked out of the house after the incident.
According to logs, the woman refused ambulance assistance.
Muskego Police Chief Paul Geiszler said the Waukesha County Sherriff’s Department will conduct an internal investigation.
» Read Full ArticleWhy Bill Clinton is in Waukesha
Waukesha County is as Republican as you can get in Wisconsin.
So why is former President Bill Clinton speaking there? Shouldn't he be in Milwaukee or some other Democratic stronghold in Wisconsin?
The answer is that, while Democrats know voters in Waukesha strongly support Republican candidates, the county is large enough that it turns out a sizable Democratic minority.
Four years ago, then candidate Barack Obama won Wisconsin. In Waukesha County, he lost the vote to John McCain, the Republican nominee.
But while Obama lost in that county, he got 85,248 votes to McCain's 145,089. There were only two other Wisconsin counties - Milwaukee and Dane - in which Obama got more votes.
» Read Full Article
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