Fire destroys home of child-care provider
An early morning blaze destroyed the Menomonee Falls mansion owned by Latasha Jackson, a child-care provider under criminal investigation after receiving millions of dollars from the taxpayer-financed Wisconsin Shares program.
Fire officials said the call came in at 5:17 Sunday morning. No one was at the home, located on Goetz Court, at the time of the blaze, and no firefighters were reported injured. An agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was called in to assist the investigation.
Jackson, 32, was the subject of a Journal Sentinel story that outlined how she reaped nearly $3 million from the Wisconsin Shares program - and bought a Jaguar convertible and built the 7,600-square-foot house with an indoor swimming pool and indoor basketball court - while, for 10 years, regulators ignored red flags indicating she was scamming the system. The story sparked a wave of taxpayer outrage and led to a sweeping crackdown on sketchy child-care providers. Within weeks, state regulators cut public funding to about 130 child-care providers suspected of cheating the program.
Menomonee Falls Fire Chief Jeff Hevey said Jackson, who also goes by her married name, Latasha Wilder, was out of town and that he spoke to her Sunday morning.
"I spoke to them on the phone and let them know their house was a total loss," Hevey said. "They were devastated by the news."
» Read Full ArticleInterfaith Caregivers tries to bring Meals on Wheels to Germantown
Should the Washington County Board give the stamp of approval at its Thursday meeting, Interfaith Caregivers will bring the Meals On Wheels program to Germantown and start serving food on Friday.
There will be an immediate need for volunteer drivers to serve the approximately 16 senior citizens who would participate in the Meals on Wheels program in Germantown, said Interfaith Caregivers Executive Director Debi Genthe. Volunteers need to fill out an application through Interfaith Caregivers of Washington County. Interfaith will complete a routine background check and driving record check for all volunteers.
Deliveries begin at 10:45 a.m. The driver would use an Interfaith van that is parked at the Germantown Police Department, drive to the Germantown Senior Center to pick up the meals, follow the mapped route to deliver the food, stop back at the Senior Center to drop off the insulated containers, and return the van to the Police Department.
It is estimated that the deliveries would be complete by 1 p.m. Interfaith Caregivers already serves Germantown residents for their medical needs, but this would be the first time that service includes Meals on Wheels.
"Part of our mission is to make sure seniors have access to medical care and they have access to food and this is such a good fit," Genthe said. "On a daily basis for one person to affect the lives of 16 people — that's a pretty good opportunity."
» Read Full ArticleMilwaukeeans Chill on the Hill with social media
Bluegrass music filled Humboldt Park last night in Bay View's latest Chill on the Hill concert.
But photos, videos and tweets filled the social media sphere as musicgoers shared their experiences. Read our social media story of last night's Chill on the Hill, which featured Pay the Devil / The Best Westerns.
Falls bounces back with 7-4 road win at Oak Creek
Menomonee Falls shortstop and ace relief pitcher Brett Krause must love Oak Creek's Abendshein Field.
Last year, he hit an extra inning home run to beat the Knights there and on Tuesday night, with the Indian baseball team coming off a discouraging home loss to underdog West Allis Central the night before, he came up big again, closing out a 7-4 upset of the defending state champion Knights with two sometimes harrowing innings of relief work.
How harrowing? After a stunning 12-pitches, three strikeouts-looking effort in the sixth, Krause was a fighter backed into a corner in the seventh after a walk, a towering flare that dropped into no-man's land and a soft liner loaded the bases with none out.
How did he react?
"That was kind of fun actually," he said.
» Read Full ArticleFalls' soccer star Smalley named first-team all-state
Junior midfielder Anna Smalley of the Greater Metro Conference champion Menomonee Falls girls' soccer team was just announced as a member of the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches' Association (WSCA) All-State "First 11".
The first-team selection for Smalley is another feather in the cap for arguably the best season in the history of the Falls' girls' program, which was ranked as high as third in state polls this season and made sectional semifinals before losing to fourth-ranked in state area rival Germantown, 1-0.
Germantown junior forward Maddie Tetzke earned "Best of the Rest" on the all-state team.
Division I state champion Cedarburg put two players on the first team and Catholic Memorial freshman forward Emily Cervantes, who led the Crusaders to still another state D2 crown, was named player of the year.
Falls baseball team rallies from deficit to down Hamilton, 11-5
After "catching cold" with its hitting last week in a horrendous six-game losing streak, the Menomonee Falls baseball team caught a fever with its bats this week, recording four straight Greater Metro Conference wins, including an impressive 11-5 home rally against archrival Sussex Hamilton Friday night.
"The old adage that hitting is contagious is true," said Indian coach Pat Hansen. "When you hit, it takes a lot of pressure off of you."
The Indians, who could scarcely manage 16 runs in six losses the previous week, scored 27 runs in four victories this past cycle in improving to 7-4 in Greater Metro Conference play and 11-6 overall.
Falls banged out 11 hits and took advantage of a couple of key Charger errors in rallying Friday from a 4-0 deficit for the second straight night.
Falls starter Brendan Paule was a little shaky in the beginning, as two walks and a two-run double by Hamilton clean-up hitter Trent Metzger made the score 2-0 in the top of the first.
» Read Full ArticleParents, school leaders dissect Falls music program
The music department at the Menomonee Falls School District was dissected in a workshop Wednesday that involved parents, teachers, administration and school board members.
The group of selected individuals sat at a table to discuss ways to maintain music programming as the School District was forced to cut $2.4 million from its 2013-14 budget and looks to cut another $2 million the following year as state aid fails to pace with inflation, said Superintendent Pat Greco.
Orchestra is on the list of things that may be cut for the 2014-15 school year and prompted the School Board's Curriculum and Learning Committee to call a music work session that gave an in-depth look at the department. The workshop was also a way for interested parties to generate ideas on how to maintain music programming despite fiscal constraints.
"We have a very difficult couple of years coming up financially," said Committee Chair David Noshay.
One idea the district will pursue is creative scheduling at the elementary and middle school, an idea brought forth by parent Barb Nienow. She said there are ways that cuts can be made by looking at scheduling and teaching all the music courses more efficiently.
» Read Full ArticleGraduation in the suburbs photo gallery now online
It's not all pomp and circumstance, but that might be how it felt for suburban high school graduates this weekend.
Students from Nicolet, Germantown, New Berlin and more crossed across stages around the suburban Milwaukee area signifying their high school success. You can view photos of those proud graduates in our photo gallery.
Cedarburg denies Germantown state soccer berth with 1-0 decision
"Maybe we just weren't ready for the moment."
That was the assessment of Germantown girls soccer coach Paul Sikinger after top-ranked in state Cedarburg got a goal in the 78th minute and denied the Warhawks their first-ever WIAA state tournament berth with a 1-0 sectional final decision Saturday night in Whitefish Bay.
"Our girls knew what was at stake, but maybe they (the Bulldogs) wanted it a little more. That group over there has been together for four years and they know exactly what each other will do. That's something you just can't teach."
"...You just need one great opportunity to go to state and they got it."
The Warhawks, ranked fourth in the state heading into the WIAA Tournament series, finished at 13-3-2 They were in their second sectional final in school history having also lost in 2008.
Westosha's Fonk overpowers Falls, 2-1, in state semifinal softball
Like an overmatched prizefighter who keeps ducking the big blow from a stronger, more talented opponent, the Menomonee Falls girls softball team kept dodging, feinting and finding ways to stay in the game against top-ranked Westosha Central in a WIAA state semifinal Friday night in Madison.
But eventually Falcons' senior pitcher Sarah Fonk and her teammates got the counter-punch they needed, when senior first baseman and leadoff hitter Brittney Blazich ripped a bases-loaded single over a drawn-in Indian infield in the bottom of the sixth to give Westosha a 2-1 victory.
"We did everything that we could," said Indian coach Nick Heiting. "I thought we showed a lot of energy and fight, but that is a great team with a great pitcher. We tried to do things with our speed and our pitching, but it wasn't quite enough."
Because Fonk, a 5-10 senior pitcher who is a leading candidate for state player of the year, simply wouldn't let them. She gave up only a bunt single to Indian lead-off hitter Brittany Robinson in the first, never let Falls hit a ball out of the infield and struck out 13 against only one walk.
Falcon co-coach Tom Lampe summed up his feelings for the three-year starter Fonk this way.
» Read Full ArticleGermantown edges Falls, 1-0, in WIAA soccer sectional semifinal
They want to be the first Germantown soccer team, boys or girls, to go to state.
And if the first major step towards that goal is over the backs of a better ranked and fully tenacious crosstown rival, all the better.
And that's exactly what the fourth-ranked in state Warhawk girls did Thursday night, as they overcame a shaky first half to ride a Jamie Karch goal at the 60:52 mark to down their third-ranked hosts Menomonee Falls, 1-0, in a WIAA sectional semifinal.
"We've come a long ways this year," said Warhawk coach Paul Sikinger, "and these girls have only one thing on their minds, to beat Cedarburg. We weren't focused the first time we played them and we lost (3-1), now we want another chance."
And they will, 13-2-2 Germantown will play the North Shore Conference champion and top-ranked in state Cedarburg squad (14-3-1) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a sectional final at Whitefish Bay for the right to advance to the WIAA State Tournament at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, June 13-15.
» Read Full ArticleSubdivision on tap at former Falls nursery site
The Menomonee Falls Planning Commission on Tuesday conceptually approved a 145-lot subdivision at a tree farm currently owned by Lied's Nursery.
The 82-acre plot of land, southeast of Town Line Road and Mill Road, bordering the Silver Spring Golf and Banquet Center, is no longer being utilized as the company looks to sell the land to Developer Jim Forester and Point Real Estate. There is a contract to purchase the land on the table, but it has not been finalized yet, said Director of Community Development Matt Carran. The conceptual design approved in a planned residential development district includes the development of 130 single family homes and 15 duplexes.
To be developed, the site needs to be analyzed for stormwater infiltration. The developer will have to extend the utility, sewer and water, put in roads, storm sewer and any other infrastructure needed before lots can be sold for the construction of homes.
The proposed layout includes a road to connect the subdivision directly to Town Line Road. The Planning Commission asked that an additional road be constructed to connect the subdivision to the golf course, Carran said.
Now that the conceptual design was approved by the village, the developer has to create a preliminary plat, followed by a developers agreement and obtain final plat approval from the state, Waukesha County and the village of Menomonee Falls. Once the final plat is approved, the lots can be sold. Carran said although they want to move quickly on this, he doesn't anticipate the lots to go on the market until next year.
» Read Full ArticleSheriff's report: 'Porn in the morn' among Butler Police Department's misdeeds
Village of Butler - A Waukesha County Sheriff's investigation that compares the Butler Police Department to a college fraternity because of the behavior of some of its officers is expected to be released Thursday, according to sources familiar with the report.
The voluminous report includes summaries of the activities of five police officers including the retired police chief who participated in what one former police officer described as "porn in the morn."
The officers, including the chief, occasionally viewed and emailed pornographic photos on village electronic equipment including computers and cellular telephones. In addition, the officers engaged in conversations that included sexually and racially offensive language, according to the report.
One of the officers has been referred to the Waukesha County District Attorney's office for possible prosecution. The sources declined to describe the potential severity of the charges that might be brought against the police officer.
Police Chief Michael Cosgrove, a 33 year veteran of the department, announced his retirement in the midst of the investigation.
» Read Full ArticleGermantown edges Brookfield Central in softball sectional final
Just when it looked like the momentum shifted back to Brookfield Central, Germantown senior Felicia Kons took it right back with one swing of the bat.
In an outstanding pitching duel between Central freshman Crystal Sicard and Germantown’s Amanda Witzlib, the sectional championship game at Brookfield East on May 30 looked like it was headed for extra innings.
Sophomore Haley Johnson led off the bottom of the sixth inning with Sicard’s only walk of the game, but Central’s all-star catcher Carly Sobrilsky picked her off first base with a rifle throw. Junior Erika Berry then struck out and the Lancers had momentum squarely on their side.
But then Kons came to the plate — she had a strikeout and a flyball in her first two appearances. And the lefthanded hitter took an outside pitch and deposited over the wall in left centerfield for a 1-0 lead.
“After five innings I felt the game was going to go into overtime, extra innings,” Fons said. “The pitch was a little outside, but it felt great when I hit it. I ran it out and when everyone cheered I knew it was a homer.”
» Read Full Article2013 WIAA State Track and Field photo gallery updated
MyCommunityNOW.com has just updated its photo gallery of the 2013 WIAA State Track & Field Meet in La Crosse with more images from Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Brookfield East boys team captured its third consecutive Division 1 title, edging Green Bay Preble, 51-50. Shorewood won the Division 2 boys title and Saint Mary's Springs the D3 title. Kenosha Tremper, East Troy and Edgar won the girls titles.
Results from this year's meet are available at the WIAA State Meet official results page.
You can see a photo gallery of the 2012 state track and field meet here.
Old Falls Village Days packed with activities
The Menomonee Falls Historical Society is kicking off the month of June with Old Falls Village Days on Saturday and Sunday.
The Menomonee Falls Historical Society is a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers who help manage and run Old Falls Village Museum, a 17-acre museum located on the corner of Pilgrim and Highway Q. Old Falls Village Days is a family-friendly event with a variety of activities from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Events include a tractor show, old car show, motorcycle show, quilt exhibits, silent auction, flea market and a children's area. There will be live music, tours of all of the houses and food available for purchase.
The Historical Society is dedicating a "Little Free Library" at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. This dedication is in memory of John Stacy, business owner and longtime board member of Falls Cable Access, Menomonee Falls Historical Society and the Optimist Club.
The Little Free Library has become a popular project throughout the country and promotes reading for all ages. The idea is to leave a book, take a book or just take one or just leave one. The Old Falls' Little Free Library has been built to resemble a small red barn, is weather proof and can hold approximately 20 to 25 books.
For a full schedule of activities during Old Falls Village Days, visit oldfallsdays.com.
