Olivia's sturgeon thriving in Lake Michigan
Three years ago, Olivia Marty held a 6-inch-long lake sturgeon in her hands before releasing it to the Milwaukee River in Thiensville.
Olivia was six years old at the time and she named the five-month-old sturgeon "Giggy Fish" because one of her family nicknames is Giggy.
Her sturgeon swam downstream to Lake Michigan where it has evaded predators and grown to nearly 23 inches in length, according to biologists who netted the fish earlier this month in Big Bay de Noc, off the north end of Lake Michigan.
The crew from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources was able to learn the fish's identity by scanning an electronic tag that had been implanted under its skin prior to its release in 2008. They returned Giggy Fish to the lake.
"That is pretty cool," Olivia said when she heard the news. "Its amazing how fish grow that fast."
» Read Full ArticleGet your sports video fix in our Prep Sports Primer
Join sports director JR Radcliffe for this week's Prep Sports Primer, the fastest 90 seconds in local high school sports.
JR takes a look at some of the top stories in the area, including the 6-0 Muskego football team, some dominant efforts by the Brookfield Central girls cross country team and more.
Milwaukee man charged in Guaranty bank robbery and second attempt foiled by employee
The Milwaukee County District Attorney today charged Robleh A. Kahin, a 27-year-old Milwaukee resident, with the attempted robbery of Guaranty Bank, 4000 W. Brown Deer Road, on Sept. 22 and the robbery of the bank on Aug. 2.
In all, Kahin was charged with three felonies, robbery of a financial institution - use of a dangerous weapon, attempted robbery of a financial institution and attempting to flee an officer.
If convicted on all three charges, Kahin could face up to 68 years in prison and fined up to $160,000.
According to police, at approximately 2:20 p.m. Sept. 22, the Brown Deer Police Department received a 911 call from an employee at the bank reporting an attempted armed robbery had just occurred. An alert bank employee, seeing a man with a gun approaching the bank, locked the doors, preventing his entry.
The suspect fled in a Lexus RX350, which was located by Glendale police officers, who pursued the suspect vehicle along with Fox Point officers.
» Read Full ArticleMequon native named White House fellow
A Mequon native has been appointed a White House fellow.
Reginald Chambers was one of 15 people appointed by President Barack Obama to the 2011-2012 Class of White House Fellows. He will be working in the White House as part of the president's National Economic Council.
The son of LaRoyce and Minnie Chambers, Reginald Chambers grew up in Mequon and attended the University School of Milwaukee.
He most recently served as an investment executive in New York and London with 3i Group, where he helped found and lead its North American infrastructure team.
Chambers earned his law degree from Harvard Law School and a bachelor's degree from Duke University. He lives in Harlem, N.Y., with his wife, Tiffani, and year-old daughter, Madison.
» Read Full ArticleDistricts to see $30.4 million from investment firm charged by SEC
An investment firm charged with selling unsuitably risky investments to five Wisconsin school districts has agreed to settle the charges and pay $30.4 million, which will be distributed to the districts, U.S. securities regulators said today.
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged RBC Capital Markets LLC with misconduct in the sale of unsuitable investments to the Waukesha, Whitefish Bay, West Allis-West Milwaukee, Kenosha and Kimberly school districts, and for inadequate disclosures about the risks of those investments, according to a news release.
RBC marketed and sold to trusts created by the districts $200 million worth of risky investments, for which the districts contributed $37.3 million of their own funds and borrowed the rest. The districts made the investments to help fund post-retirement benefits, which they had promised to employees.
"It's a great day for these five districts," said Stephen Kravit, an attorney representing the districts. He added that they had been vindicated in fraud, and that a significant portion of their losses would be paid immediately by RBC.
Districts can expect to receive their share of the money, distributed by the SEC through a formula, within 10 days.
» Read Full ArticleCommunities won't see increase from North Shore Fire Department
The seven member communities of the North Shore Fire Department will not see an increase in the community contributions to the department in 2012, but further adjustments to the 2012 budget, adopted this morning, may be necessary.
The $13,843,909 budget includes the $362,000 paramedic supplemental payment from Milwaukee County. County Executive Chris Abele has said his 2012 county budget would not continue the $3 million of supplemental payments. The North Shore's share of that figure is $362,000.
Fire Chief Robert Whitaker said Milwaukee County fire chiefs continue to meet to devise an alternative to Abele's proposal, including one plan that would reduce the payments but not eliminate them. The supplemental payments have been on the chopping block in past budget years but the payments were ultimately not cut.
The chiefs hope to enlist the assistance of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council at its Wednesday meeting.
Milwaukee River sturgeon release Saturday in Thiensville
Around 1,130 young lake sturgeon -- an average of 7 inches long -- will be released to the Milwaukee River Saturday in Thiensville as part of an ongoing effort to restore a naturally reproducing population of the species to the river.
The sturgeon were reared this year in tanks containing river water inside a trailer at the Riveredge Nature Center east of Newburg in Ozaukee County, Riveredge educator Mary Holleback said. Using river water in the tanks will improve the odds of these fish returning to the Milwaukee River to spawn once they reach maturity in Lake Michigan.
Each of the sturgeon have had a fin clipped to help identify them in the future. An electronic tag containing identifying information was injected into most of them.
Around 4,000 young sturgeon were released to the river from the Riveredge tanks in the last five years.
On Sept. 14, a research crew from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported netting one of the Riveredge sturgeon in Big Bay de Noc off the north end of Lake Michigan.
» Read Full ArticleFormer Wauwatosa West basketball coach Landisch loses battle with cancer
Former Wauwatosa West boys basketball coach Mike Landisch lost his year and a half year battle with cancer Sunday night.
Landisch, 31, is survived by his wife, Colleen, daughter, Makenna, and son, Caden, who was born in August. He was placed in hospice four weeks ago.
The Wauwatosa community and beyond, embraced the likeable Landisch, who discovered he had kidney cancer in January, 2010. There were several fundraisers set up to help him and his family battle medical bills.
Landisch's final season as a coach was one of the best in the school's recent history.
The Trojans finished with an 11-6 Woodland Conference record and a 15-11 overall mark and they won their first regional championship since 1996.
» Read Full ArticleBayside Middle closes because of power failure
Bayside Middle School closed Monday morning because of a power failure in the midst of a wind and rainstorm.
School officials emailed an announcement that they would end classes at 10:20 a.m. The power failure means students could not use the restroom facilities and the cafeteria can't serve lunch. Officials do not know when power will be restored.
Students are being sent home by their regular afternoon bus route.
Berger and Schneider help HHS spoil Cedarburg homecoming
Though they didn't know it at the time, the splendid Homestead offensive connection of quarterback Cody Berger and halfback Jay Schneider got some help in making Friday a most splendid night for the Highlander football team.
The pair connected on four critical passes for 121 yards, including Schneider's impressive end zone takeaway from Bulldogs defensive back Joe Zuba for the clinching 28-yard touchdown with 3:04 remaining.
Homestead later learned it was now all alone at the top of the North Shore mountain because rival Germantown had smashed unbeaten Milwaukee Lutheran, 56-35.
"I think this may have been our best game of the season," said Highlanders coach Dave Keel. "We had a little rhythm right from the get go The kids played hard on both sides of the ball and we got some nice special teams play."
"....This is definitely something that we can build off of. To win here, during their homecoming with this kind of great stmosphere was really special."
» Read Full ArticleFast-rising GT boys v-ball team holds off Bay in five games
Welcome to the state's top 10 Germantown boys volleyball team.
Now you're going to get everyone's best shot.
And that was indeed the case Wednesday night at Whitefish Bay, as the Warhawks had to come back from a two games to one deficit to pull out a 23-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-15, 15-9 decision against the determined Blue Dukes in a North Shore Conference dual.
"They just started to get the feeling (in the fourth game) that they were going to take control of the match and not let the officials decide it," said Warhawk coach Brian Rushmer. "We started getting the ball up better (on the dig) and that really helped."
"We have a lot of talent, but if you can't control the ball (on the dig) you can't win. You make a bad play, just move on."
» Read Full ArticleMan charged in crash that injured police bicyclist
A 47-year-old Mequon man has been charged with second-offense drunken driving causing injury as well as hit and run injury after he allegedly ran into a Milwaukee police bicycle officer with his van last week.
According to a criminal complaint released Wednesday:
Milwaukee police officer Allan Tenhaken was conducting a field interview with a colleague at 1531 W. Vliet St. around 9 p.m. Sept. 15 when Vladimir Krivoshein drove past at high speed in a van. The side mirror struck Tenhaken, who was on his bicycle, in the chest. He spun around and fell. While the interviewee helped the officer up, Krivoshein fled from the scene.
Two other police officers heard the description of Krivoshein's van broadcast on the radio, saw the van a few minutes later in the 1200 block of N. Water St. and pulled it over.
From Krivoshein's lackluster performance on several sobriety tests, the officers suspected he was drunk and arrested him on an allegation of drunken driving.
» Read Full ArticleWhitefish Bay Bridal Walk coming Saturday
The Whitefish Bay Bridal Walk, including trunk shows, in-store consultations and a wedding fashion show, will run from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, in the Whitefish Bay shopping area along E. Silver Spring Drive.
Registration for the event's prize give-aways will begin at 12:30 p.m. at 316 E. Silver Spring Drive.
The event is sponsored by New Options Salon & Boutique and Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers along with Boutique Photographer, Placesetters, ReFresh Aesthetic Center, Regina’s Bay Bakery, Sendik’s Food Market, Simon Oliver, Three Wishes, and Zita Bridal Salon.
You can find more information at shopwhitefishbay.com.
Grafton, Cedarburg, Mequon to study Lake Michigan water supply
Mequon, Cedarburg and Grafton are hiring an engineering consultant to study the feasibility of the three communities joining together to supply their residents and businesses with Lake Michigan water 15 to 20 years from now.
Among the future supply options they are considering: buying lake water from another lakeshore community, such as Port Washington, Milwaukee or the North Shore Water Commission; building their own lake water pipeline and treatment plant; or constructing a series of wells near the lake shoreline that would provide water of lake quality.
The three municipalities will pay $89,228 to CH2M Hill, an international firm with offices in Milwaukee, for the two-year study, said Grafton Water & Wastewater Utility Director Thomas Krueger. The Grafton Village Board on Monday approved the proposal.
A preliminary report expected by December will include estimates of future water demand, preliminary costs of each lake option, indication of whether other nearby communities might join the group, and a recommendation on whether the three municipalities should create a regional water authority to implement a lake water supply plan.
If the three potential partners agree to pursue a lake supply, the consultant will complete the analysis and provide a draft report by July 2012, Krueger said.
» Read Full ArticleCharges filed after raid finds explosives, pot operation
A Whitefish Bay man has been charged with possession of an improvised explosive device and manufacturing a controlled substance in connection with an Aug. 22 raid on his home in the 4700 block of N. Berkeley Blvd.
Brian Dale Hollenbeck, 41, was free Monday on a $20,000 signature bond set by Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Barry Phillips while he awaits a preliminary hearing on Friday, records show.
According to a criminal complaint, investigators discovered a hydroponic growing operation in the attic of Hollenbeck's home and recovered four firearms, about 1.4 pounds of marijuana and a garbage bag filled with dried marijuana stems and plant matter.
Investigators also confiscated 17 1/4 sticks of dynamite, improvised explosive devices with electronic match fuses, M90 dynamite, two 1/8 sticks of dynamite, $500 in cash and a key to a safety deposit box containing $8,460, according to the complaint.
Robbery spree covers three counties
A masked man has captured the attention of police, not just because of the number of armed robberies he has committed - 15 so far, all in the past month - but the unusual geographical breadth of his hits.
He has covered eight police jurisdictions in three counties, hitting gas stations and liquor stores near freeways and highways in the greater Milwaukee area. And he's not working alone; after the robberies, he jumps into the passenger seat of a getaway vehicle.
"What is kind of unique here is the fact that it's spread out in such a wide range of jurisdictions, from Ozaukee to Waukesha County, Milwaukee County," Milwaukee police Lt. Kenneth Grams said Monday. "So that's fairly . . . I'm not going to say unique, but that's not real common."
The man started his armed robbery spree just before 10 p.m. Aug. 18 at the S&M Petro Mart on Stevenson St. in Milwaukee.
Since then, the man has committed 14 more nighttime robberies, police said. All the stores are within a mile of major highways, and all the robberies except one occurred between 8 and 11 p.m. Three of the robberies were repeats at stores he previously had hit, Grams said.
» Read Full ArticleInsanity plea entered for teen charged in ax killing
Waukesha - A plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect was entered Monday on behalf of the Fox Point teenager accused of killing his grandfather in May with an ax.
Richard B. Wilson, 17, of Fox Point is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the May 8 slaying of Ronald Siepmann, 78.
Siepmann, a real estate developer, was found dead in a shed on the property of his Beaver Lake home in the Town of Merton.
Wilson, in Waukesha County Circuit Court for a hearing Monday, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and his attorney, Michael Steinle, entered the not guilty plea for him.
Waukesha County Circuit Judge William Domina ordered a competency examination of Wilson in connection with the criminal insanity defense, and that report is expected to be reviewed at Wilson's next court appearance Nov. 17.
» Read Full ArticleJake's Deli, Robert Haack Diamonds coming to Glendale
Jake's Delicatessen, a fixture on Milwaukee's north side since the 1950s, is planning to open a new store at Glendale Market shopping center, 6969 N. Port Washington Road.
Jake's would lease space that was formerly a Nick n' Willy's Pizza, according to plans filed with the city. The take and bake pizza franchise closed about a month ago.
Jake's, 1634 W. North Ave., has for decades been known for its corned beef sandwiches, among other items. It got a new managing partner, Gary Plassmeyer, last year. The other owners include Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.
This will be a second location for Jake's, Plassmeyer said. He said the plans aren't final yet, but could result in the Glendale restaurant opening within six months.
Also, Robert Haack Diamonds plans to open a new location at Glendale Market, in empty space next to Dr. Dawg's hot dogs.
» Read Full ArticleRed-zone stops fuel Red Knights
Down 27-20 with less than four minutes left in the game, Bay (2-3, 1-2) opted to go for it on fourth down at the 18 yard line, and quarterback Grant Menard’s pass was broken up in the end zone.
Bembenek selected to fill vacant Brown Deer School Board seat
The Brown Deer School Board selected Michael Bembenek to fill the seat left vacant by the July resignation of Kathy Stresman at a special meeting Thursday. Bembenek , Kevin Klimek and Kathleen Schilz applied for the seat and had separate interviews with the board.
Bembenek will take his oath of office on Sept. 27.
Brown Deer School Board interviewing candidates for open seat
The Brown Deer School Board will meet in special session at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Administrative Services Center, 8200 N. 60th St., to interview three candidates for School Board seat vacated in July by the resignation of Kathy Stresman. Michael Bembenek is scheduled for a 7 p.m. interview, Kevin Klimek at 7:30 p.m. and Kathleen Schilz at 8 p.m.
The board will discuss and possibly fill the vacancy following the interviews. The entire meeting is open to the public.
Sensient CEO blames Whitefish Bay, contractors for damage to Lake Drive home
The Whitefish Bay couple who say they were defamed by village and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District officials -- and cited for opening a manhole -- aren't the only village residents with a legal beef over last year's summer flooding.
Kenneth and Maureen Manning have a negligence suit pending against the village and two contractors, blaming them for a sewage backup the Mannings say cost them nearly $400,000 in cleanup, repairs, replacements and the loss of irreplaceable family memorabilia.
The Mannings' suit says they have lived on Lake Drive near Henry Clay St. for more than 10 years and never had sewer backups until the July 14-15 storms last year. (That wasn't even the biggest storm of the month, which hit a week later.) To their knowledge, there were never any such backups since the house was built in 1924.
Kenneth P. Manning is CEO of Sensient Technologies.
The lawsuit claims the village and two contractors it hired to upgrade sewers along Fairmount Ave. last year failed to maintain a properly functioning storm and sanitary sewer system during the project, vastly increasing the likelihood of basement backups.
» Read Full ArticleHit-and-run driver turns himself in to Brown Deer police
Brown Deer Police report a 27-year-old Milwaukee man believed to have struck another motorist on Bradley Road shortly before 3 a.m. Sept. 11 turned himself in to police Monday afternoon. He will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office for charging on Wednesday. According to police, the suspect's vehicle struck a 41-year-old Milwaukee man who was standing behind his car on West Good Hope Road at North 43rd Street. The victim was getting items from his trunk to change a flat tire. After striking the man, the suspect's car backed up, hit a light pole and then fled.
The victim was taken to Froedtert Hospital where he was treated for substantial leg injuries. He has been released and is recovering from his injuries.
At 2:50 a.m. Sept. 11, Brown Deer Police Officers and the city of Milwaukee Fire Department were dispatched to a report of a car accident with injuries on Good Hope Road at Sherman Boulevard. Upon arrival, it was discovered that it was a two-car accident and that the striking vehicle fled the scene.
Cedarburg's De Riah Boutique to open Mequon salon
De Riah Boutique and Salon of Cedarburg said Tuesday it will open a second salon this November at 10526 N. Port Washington Rd., Mequon, in the Concord Square development. The Mequon location will offer services for hair, nails and makeup and a complete line of spa treatments. It will be co-owned by Shelley Szypszak and Rachel Kernan, who have worked together for over 17 years in the salon and spa industry.
Mequon neighbors object to proposed subdivision along Milwaukee River
A proposal for a 19-lot conservation subdivision drew a crowd Monday night at the Mequon Plan Commission meeting, with some neighbors upset about the plan that would create lots from half an acre to 5.35 acres in size.
The 42-acre site south of Freistadt Road and east of Oak Shore Lane border the Milwaukee River and is a habitat for many birds and animals and the neighbors would prefer that to houses.
Some had concerns that the subdivision, because of the variety of lot sizes, would have less expensive homes, but David Leszynski, the developer, said that houses would likely start at the $500,000 price point, with higher prices for riverfront lots.
The Plan Commission recommended that the Common Council approve a zoning change from the current 1-acre lot minimum to a planned unit development designation. That would allow lots of varying sizes, with the average lot size 1-acre. Whether developed as a planned unit development conservation subdivision or under the current zoning, there would be 19 houses in the area. Part of the 42 acres is in the floodway and is not buildable.
The Common Council will schedule a public hearing on the proposed zoning change at its Oct. 11 meeting.
Concordia to dedicate new School of Pharmacy
A new $12 million building featuring state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories for pharmacy students at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon will be dedicated on Friday with an open house.
The public is invited to the open house from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday.
In advance of the dedication, radio WKLH’s (96.5 FM), Dave and Carol will broadcast live from the atrium of the pharmacy school building on Wednesday from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. as part of the station’s “Workforce” tour. The show will consist of interviews with university officials and a pharmacy student.
The building now houses two classes of pharmacy students. The second class of 85 students began the program last month, joining the initial class of 71 students who began their studies last fall. When full, the school will contain four classes and nearly 400 pharmacy students.
A study last year, requested by CUW’s School of Pharmacy, found the economic impact to the area from the school is expected to exceed $9 million per year.
» Read Full ArticleWhitefish Bay couple claim defamation in manhole incident
A Whitefish Bay couple cited last year for removing a manhole cover during an August rainstorm are contending that village and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District officials conspired to defame them in retaliation for their criticism of administrators' responses to serious flooding problems.
Michael Payne and Sally Heiple Payne filed a formal notice of claim against the village and the district, seeking $200,000 in damages. The claim also contends village officials have violated the state open records law by denying the couple some records and vastly overcharging them to inspect others.
"What these people would really like is to get their name cleared," said their attorney, Kevin Demet. "They feel they were entirely scapegoated."
According to the claim, the village's major flooding problems last year were really the fault of village officials who decided to disconnect a storm sewer at the start of a construction project along Fairmount Ave., a plan that "has never been publicly acknowledged by village officials."
Heavy rains in July 2010 caused serious flood damage at hundreds of Whitefish Bay homes, particularly in the area of Cumberland Blvd. and Fairmount Ave., where the Paynes live. After complaining for weeks about what they considered inadequate response, when a fourth heavy rain hit Aug. 20, the couple partially opened a manhole on Fairmount to help drain about 18 inches of water in the street that again threatened nearby basements.
» Read Full ArticleNicolet can't keep pace with Lutheran
One of the game’s most exciting moments took place when senior quarterback Brandon Kappel completed a pass to Bryce Bowen, who fumbled the ball to sophomore teammate Justin Wallace, a lineman who scooped the ball and chugged his way to the end zone for a hair-raising touchdown.
“That gave us a little bit of life, gave us a little bit of confidence,” Kozaczuk said.
Junior Tyler Crass would keep the fans on their feet when he intercepted a Lutheran pass and set his team up for another drive, down just two scores.
The comeback, however, ended there.
Former School Board member applied for counseling positions before leaving board
In response to an Open Records request from NOW Newspapers, the School District of Brown Deer has provided a list of the applicants for two guidance counselor positions that were filled over the summer.
Former School Board member Kathy Stresman applied for an open elementary guidance counselor/social worker position on July 11 and for an open high school guidance counselor position on July 17.
Stresman resigned from the board on July 26.
When asked if she left the board in order to apply for the positions, Stresman last week refused to discuss any jobs that she had applied for in the district but did talk about her newly created position in the school district as community and family outreach coordinator.
She said she learned of that part-time position on Aug. 23 and was interviewed for it on the same day. The School Board both created the position and hired Stresman in less than five minutes on Aug. 30. The job was not posted.
» Read Full ArticleCedarburg rallies for three fourth quarter TDs to beat Bay, 25-21
It was almost a mirror image of what the Whitefish Bay football team faced last week when the Blue Dukes turned back Germantown in the final seconds from their own goal-line and held onto victory in their North Shore Conference opener.
But Thursday night, the tables were turned as the surging Cedarburg offense completed a remarkable 22-point fourth quarter rally when quarterback Joey LePak hit end Zach Hetzel on a quick nine-yard hitch with 7.5 seconds remaining to lift the Bulldogs to a 25-21 victory.
"It was a crazy situation, emotions were just flying so high," said LePak, who completed 14 of 22 passes for 157 yards and two TDs. "We just dedicated ourselves to getting this done."
But Blue Duke coach Jim Tietjen instead saw an opportunity lost when Bay had a 14-0 halftime lead and a 14-3 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
"They made plays and their playmakers made them," he said. "We needed to make stops and we didn't. They exposed our corners (in the second half) and then they were able to run inside."
» Read Full ArticleBay residents OK lower school levy after focusing on recreation
A small group of determined residents almost succeeded in hijacking the Whitefish Bay School District's annual meeting last night. About 18 to 20 residents came to the meeting bent on forcing a $700,000 reduction to the tax levy.
They failed but got the attention of the School Board, which will discuss funding of the Recreation Department as an agenda item at a future School Board meeting.
Recreation Department funding was one of two issues the group focused on in remarks at the meeting. The other item was teacher benefits. Michael Braun and Jamie Kowalski, who led the fight against the referendum for school improvements and additions, had the support of other residents in the attempt to reduce the levy.
After motions and countermotions aimed at trimming the levy, the residents at the annual meeting approved a levy of $21,267,910, a $1,000 reduction from the levy presented for approval by the School Board. The vote to approve was 20 yes, 18 no.
Shorewood could hire consultant to work on assessment error
In an effort to expedite review of an error that could raise property taxes, Shorewood officials are grappling with a proposal to contract with financial advisory firm Ehlers and Associates.
The proposal, announced at a Village Board meeting Tuesday, is an attempt to undo a data-entry error that allegedly was made by the village's outside assessor.
Village officials assert Associated Appraisal Consultants, the outside assessor, reported one of Shorewood's tax-incremental financing districts had growth of $77 million, instead of $77,000. The mistake was revealed several weeks ago when the state Department of Revenue published its list of municipal equalized values.
Because of the error, Village Manager Chris Swartz said Shorewood could face the possibility of having to raise an additional $2 million in taxes for 2012, resulting in a 5.8 percent increase in the tax bill.
"If this happens, the village would request an adjustment in 2013, which would result in a similar tax decrease," Swartz said.
» Read Full ArticleWhitefish Bay adopts grievance policy for employees
The Whitefish Bay Village Board adopted an employee grievance policy Tuesday night, bringing it into compliance with Act 10, the state budget repair bill that mandated the development of such policies for all governmental bodies. The grievance policy covers issues previously covered under public employee contracts.
The board reviewed and adopted a policy developed by attorneys from Buelow Vetter.
The policy allows an employee to file a written grievance with his/her department head within five business days of the incident. The department head or his/her designee may settle the matter but if not the village manager would review the issue as a second step.
The process would continue through a hearing by an impartial hearing officer who would prepare a written decision.
Should the issue not be resolved by the decision of the impartial hearing officer, the Village Board, or the Library Board in the case of a library employee, would conduct a final review and decide the matter by a majority vote.
Bavarian Inn seeks restaurant operator; Oktoberfest begins Friday
Bavarian Soccer Club officials continue to search for a new restaurant operator at Glendale's Bavarian Inn, while also preparing for the opening of this year's Oktoberfest.
In March, a club affiliate, Friends of Bavarian Soccer Club LLC, bought the 14-acre property, which is west of I-43 and north of W. Lexington Blvd. Along with the Bavarian Inn restaurant and banquet hall, the property includes Old Heidelberg Park and soccer fields.
The Bavarian Inn has since been closed to the public, although the facilities have been used by the soccer club and four other German culture clubs that make up United German Societies, which owned the Bavarian Inn through an affiliate, Deutsches Land Inc.
The March sale prevented a sheriff 's auction that was scheduled to satisfy a $1.2 million foreclosure judgment owed to Mitchell Bank by Deutsches Land.
Since then, the soccer club has made improvements, including a new gazebo, to the outside grounds, said Cathy Shaw, club president.
» Read Full ArticleUpdate: Mequon's fine dining Riversite closes
The Riversite, a fine-dining mainstay in Mequon for more than 20 years, has closed for good.
Owner Corey Schultz, who bought the restaurant at 11120 N. Cedarburg Road from Jim and Claire Marks in November 2008, confirmed today that the Riversite is closed, as of Sunday, but did not comment further.
An email from Corey and Maggie Schultz to customers Monday announcing the closing said: "The current economic climate would not allow us to continue to operate. We had our good nights, but we also had our slow nights, and over the past few months, the slow began to outnumber the good by too great a margin."
Under Schultz, the restaurant made efforts to attract more value-driven customers in challenging economic times. It added a small-plates menu on Tuesdays and expanded daily appetizers; offered three courses for $30 on Thursdays; and this year lowered prices on entrees to $16 to $35, down from $18 to $42, while still including soup or salad.
The restaurant, with Thomas Peschong as chef, repeatedly held a place on the Journal Sentinel's Top 30 list and was the only Ozaukee County restaurant on the current list. Peschong, whose cooking style drew on classical technique as well as global flavors, had been nominated for a James Beard Award.
» Read Full ArticleFresh Market, Burghardt Sporting Goods to open in Fox Point
The Fresh Market and Burghardt Sporting Goods are planning to open stores in Fox Point, taking space formerly used by Borders Books, at RiverPoint Village Shopping Center.
The Plan Commission will meet Tuesday afternoon to review conditional use permit applications for the two retailers.
The commission's agenda says Burghardt would use space at 8625 N. Port Washington Road, while Fresh Market would be at 8705 N. Port Washington Road.
Both addresses were formerly used by Borders, which closed this spring. The proposed Fresh Market would be on the upper level of the former book store facing Port Washington Road, while the planned Burghardt store would be on the lower level facing I-43.
Burghardt Sporting Goods would use around 16,000 square feet, said Josh Minkin, of Alpine Commercial, who represented the tenant in its lease negotiations. Burghardt is locally owned, and has another location at 14660 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield.
» Read Full ArticleBay's defense does just enough against Germantown
A penny for Whitefish Bay football coach Jim Tietjen's thoughts as Germantown was sitting on his team's three-yard line with 2.2 seconds to go and his exhausted defense desperately clinging to a 21-17 lead?
"As a defensive coach, I'm just thinking of the next play in front of us," he said. "That it's the most important one of the game. I try to get them settled in and in the right positions."
And his thoughts after junior linebacker Jeremiah Holt tomahawked the ball away from Warhawks receiver Louis Tuszynski in the middle of the end zone, sending the rest of the Bay team racing out onto the Lubar Stadium Field Friday night in pure joy?
"...Our kid made the hit and the scoreboard tells the story."
And that's how the North Shore Conference season got underway on a muddy, windless night as the Bay defense lost the battle to Germantown (over 430 yards allowed) but won the war.
» Read Full Article
