Waukesha County chamber leader announces retirement
Waukesha — The president of the Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce announced Friday that she is retiring after more than six years on the job.
Patti Wallner, who previously led the Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce, has worked for the countywide business group since the fall of 2002.
Wallner, 61, whose retirement takes effect in September, succeeded Ann Nischke, who left the chamber presidency after winning a seat in the state Legislature.
The chamber has nearly 1,000 members representing 800 businesses with a combined 40,000 employees.
Officials said a search committee has been formed to find Wallner's successor.
Muskego petitioners may target mayor, alderman for recall
Muskego - A citizen group that wants the city to seek voter approval of a $3.55 million lake property purchase said it may launch an effort to recall Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti and Ald. Keith Werner if a referendum is not held.
The group, Muskego for Ethical Government, on Monday filed a petition for direct legislation that seeks a referendum on the purchase of two Little Muskego Lake parcels along Janesville Road.
The petition was filed six days after the Common Council voted 4-3 on Jan. 24 to purchase the 4.6 acres, which the city plans to turn into a park. Before the vote, a measure proposed by an alderman that called for a referendum to be held to allow voters to decide on the purchase failed.
Werner voted in favor of the purchase along with aldermen Noah Fiedler, Neome Schaumberg and Tracy Snead.
Chiaverotti, who is completing her first year in office in April, said she hasn't done anything to merit being recalled.
» Read Full ArticleMuskego players sign with colleges
The Muskego football program is being well-represented on the collegiate level.
Linebacker/punter Jordan Gruettner, last season's NOW Newspapers All-Suburban Player of the Year, will walk on at an NCAA Division 1 college. He is currently deciding between the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Northern Illinois or the University of Minnesota.
Three other seniors from the 2011 squad have signed national letters of intent with Division 2 schools: linebacker Tommy Stark with the University of Sioux Falls, offensive lineman Connor McIntosh with St. Cloud State University; and offensive lineman/long snapper Collin Smith with Winona State University.
They will join seven others who are currently playing on college teams. Playing on Division 1 squads are defensive lineman Kyle Costigan at Wisconsin, quarterback Adam Schulz at the University of Utah and long snapper Mike Famigletti at Western Illinois.
Costigan was a redshirt freshman and last year received between 15-20 snaps per game, while Famigletti is the starting long snapper for Western Illinois.
» Read Full ArticleBellafini's in the works on National in New Berlin
After closing in Fond du Lac, Bellafini’s Trattoria is expected to be open for dinners in New Berlin by March 1.
Chef Chris Giaimo, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Jennifer, said he had considered Appleton and Brookfield but decided on New Berlin. He’s originally from the Milwaukee area.
The restaurant will open in the City Center development at 15175 W. National Ave., previously the site of Baker’s ice cream.
Bellafini’s — named for the owners’ daughters, Isabella and Sophia — will serve pastas and other entrees and some traditional Sicilian dishes from family recipes, Giaimo said.
It also will serve pizza made with a sourdough crust, like the Bellafini’s in Fond du Lac.
» Read Full ArticleCompetency exam ordered for driver in double fatal New Year's crash
A judge on Thursday ordered a mental competency examination for the man charged with killing a New Berlin couple in a New Year's Day drunken driving crash.
Ed and Jean Thaves were sitting at a stoplight when prosecutors say Kelly Duke, 17, lost control of the speeding, stolen car he was driving and crashed through the roof of the couple's car, before running away from the scene.
At a hearing Thursday, Duke's attorney Andrew Frankin said he there are reasons to suspect Duke is not competent to proceed in his case, and Circuit Judge David Borowski granted a motion for a mental examination. A doctor's report is due back to the court next month.
Last week, Franklin had indicated he would probably seek a reduction in Duke's $200,000 cash bail at the Thursday hearing, but the victims' family mounted an instant public appeal to oppose any bail reduction. By Thursday, 660 people had signed an online petition, said Edwin Thaves, the victim's son.
He also called Duke's request for a competency exam merely a stall tactic.
» Read Full ArticleNew Berlin-based McKey Perforating sold
A multibillion-dollar metals-service conglomerate has acquired New Berlin's McKey Perforating Co.
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. said Wednesday it has purchased McKey for an undisclosed price.
McKey generated about $18 million in sales last year.
The New Berlin company, which punches holes in metal for such products as laundry drums, mine screens and store fixtures, has been in the McKey family for nearly 60 years.
Douglas E. McKey bought the firm, which dates to the mid-19th century, in 1953. His daughter, Jean, took over after his death in 1983.
» Read Full ArticlePetition gathers 3,400 signatures asking for lake park referendum
Opponents of a proposed park on two Little Muskego Lake today turned in a petition they said was signed by more than 3,400 people demanding a referendum on the plan.
The number of signatures is far more than the organizers' target of 2,100 to have their direct legislation petition considered by the Muskego Common Council.
The next step is for the Muskego Clerk's Office to verify the signatures, said Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti. Under state law, the clerk has 15 days to do that, she said. Given the amount of other work the clerk's office has to do at the moment, Chiaverotti said she would be surprised if the signatures could be verified much before that deadline.
Once the signatures have been verified, city officials will consult with the city's attorney about the next step, she said, withholding any additional comments.
The proposed park would be on the southern shore of Little Muskego Lake on the north side of Janesville Road north of Pioneer Drive. Both property owners have asked the city to buy their homes for a total of $3.5 million.
Lake park opponents gather signatures for petition
A direct legislation petition circulated by opponents of a lake park plan in Muskego may have enough signatures by next week to force a public referendum on whether the city should purchase two key properties.
The city is working to develop a park along Little Muskego Lake near Pioneer Drive and Janesville Road. Despite the fact that the Common Council this week authorized the city to purchase the properties for $3.5 million, opponents believe the plan, if brought before the public, would be defeated in a vote by Muskego residents.
"You need to let the people decide this," Lorie Oliver, petition drive organizer, said today.
Oliver said a concentrated effort will be launched this weekend involving a door-to-door campaign as well as a petition signing station, in a space that used to be a floral business in the 17000 block of West Janesville Road, both Saturday and Sunday.
"I'm very comfortable saying we'll have the signatures we need," she said.
» Read Full ArticleFree blue recycling bins offered in Waukesha County
Waukesha - Waukesha County recycling staff will provide free blue bins for recyclables, while supplies last, at eight Waukesha County libraries in February and will be on hand during evening sessions to answer questions about recycling.
All the sessions run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., except at the Waukesha library where the hours will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The dates and libraries: Brookfield on Feb. 7; Oconomowoc on Feb. 9; New Berlin on Feb. 13; Waukesha on Feb. 15; Elm Grove on Feb. 16; Town Hall Library at North Lake in the Town of Merton on Feb. 21; Pewaukee on Feb. 23 and Delafield on Feb. 27.
Despite waves of protest, lake park plan gains ground
After hearing 53 speakers, most of them against a proposed park on Little Muskego Lake, the Muskego Common Council on Tuesday night narrowly approved purchasing properties for $3.6 million to push the plan forward without a referendum.
The decision was made in a pair of 4-3 votes - with aldermen Noah Fiedler, Neome Schaumberg, Keith Werner and Tracy Snead favoring the purchase and opposing a referendum, and Dan Soltysiak, Neil Borgman and Kert Harenda opposing the purchase and favoring a public vote.
The issue has been a hotly contested one, especially in the past month, including picketers who protested outside the homes of council members who support the acquisition of the two properties.
On Tuesday, Werner said he favors the plan, which calls for a park off of Janesville Road just north of Pioneer Drive, because "this project is going to be a catalyst to promote economic development" on both those roads.
On the opposing side, Soltysiak said, "I don't have enough information to make the argument to go through with it."
» Read Full ArticleFamily of couple killed in New Year's crash decry bail reduction request
The family of a New Berlin couple killed in a drunken hit-and-run crash on New Year's Day tried to get out front of the defendant's intention to seek reduction of his current $200,000 bail.
Kelly Duke is charged in the crash that killed Ed and Jean Thaves.
At a hearing Tuesday, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge David Borowski granted Duke's request to change lawyers, and then set a Feb. 2 bail hearing as sought by Duke's new counsel, Andrew Franklin.
In an email to the Journal Sentinel, a spokesman of the Thaves family said they were "outraged and appalled" that any bail reduction would even be considered.
"We demand Judge David Borowski deny the request to reduce bail and send a clear message that Mr. Duke’s disregard for life and the law will not be tolerated.
» Read Full ArticleLake park meeting moved to country club
Muskego Common Council meeting on Tuesday, in which the public will have input on a controversial park proposal, has been moved from the City Hall to the Muskego Lakes Country Club, W14020 Loomis Road.
Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti was not immediately available Monday morning to explain why the location of the meeting, set for 7 p.m., was changed late last week, and it was not immediately known whether the country club has the ability to televise the meeting.
However, what is known is that residents will be given a formal opportunity for residents to speak on the proposal to establish a park on Little Muskego Lake off of Janesville Road prior to any council vote. The proposal has avid supporters and detractors.
The more than $4 million cost just to acquire property for the park is one of the reasons some people are against the park proposal. Those included picketers who on Sunday afternoon demonstrated in front of the homes of the mayor and three aldermen - Keith Werner, Tracy Snead and Noah Fiedler, who are believed to support the park.
Ike's Timmer's jumper nips Whitnall in 60-58 thriller
Sophomore guard Reed Timmer hit a jump shot with 4.3 seconds left to play and gave New Berlin Eisenhower a thrilling 60-58 victory over Whitnall on Friday at Ike and a share of first place in the Woodland Conference Black Division.
The Lions and Falcons are now 8-2, one game ahead of South Milwaukee (7-3) which was upset by Greendale Friday night.
Ike led after one quarter (16-11) as Sandro Pesqueira had nine points. Keith Kahlfeldt added eight points and John Crowley six in the second quarter to give the Lions a 30-25 lead at halftime.
Kahlfeldt (8 points) and Pesqueira (6) then sparked a third period which gave Ike a 46-42 lead after three quarters.
But the Falcons used runs of 10-0 in the third quarter and 7-0 in the final period to stay in the game.
» Read Full ArticlePilot lands plane in Muskego field; no one hurt
A Cessna 152 made an emergency landing Thursday on the western edge of Muskego, police said.
Both the pilot and a passenger were uninjured, police said.
The plane was returning to Crites Field in Waukesha when engine trouble forced the pilot to land in an open field between Henneberry and Parker drives.
City seeks public input on lake park plan
A public input session on whether Muskego should buy two mansions on Little Muskego Lake and make a park out of the property will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Muskego City Hall, S8200 Racine Ave.
Later that evening, the Common Council will discuss an offer to purchase the properties.
Information is on the city's website, http://www.ci.muskego.wi.us under "What's New" regarding the possible acquisition.
United Way campaign exceeds goal in Waukesha County
Waukesha - United Way in Waukesha County finished strong and will exceed its $4.3 million goal, campaign co-chairmen announced Tuesday.
The campaign raised $4.35 million, which is 6% more than what was raised last year when the campaign totals fell 3.4% short.
"Our largest companies all increased their contributions this year, as did many smaller companies and individuals," said Joan Shafer, 2011 annual campaign co-chair.
In all, 12,000 individuals and 500 companies contribute to the annual Live United campaign.
The dollars are invested in programs ranging from meeting basic needs of individuals to developing self-reliance.
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