Falls starts fast, holds on for upset of Hamilton

Sept. 21, 2012 11:32 p.m. | A red and white face-painted Sussex Hamilton backer boldly and swiftly ran out onto the middle of Schumann Stadium in Menomonee Falls on Friday night right after the national anthem and with an impressive amount of chutzpah planted a Chargers spirit flag at midfield much to the great vocal disdain of the Indians football fans in attendance.

Thus, in this long-standing and often intense rivalry, a blow for symbolism was struck.

But the Indians responded with such concrete qualities as execution, character and tenacity, as they scored two touchdowns in the first quarter against the third-ranked iHamilton squad and then hung on for dear life for one of the great upsets of the season so far with a 24-21 decision.

When Chargers quarterback Mike Gryszkiewicz's long sideline pass in the final seconds missed its mark, there was bedlam at the center of Schumann Stadium. If that Hamilton spirit flag had still been there, it would have been trampled into oblivion.

"I never felt like this before, I was so scared (going into those final plays)," said senior linebacker Brian Schmit. "I thought the game would never end. We always knew we were a good football team, but we had to go out and prove it. We had to go out and prove it to everyone."

Germantown political sign debate continues, but ordinance stays the same

Sept. 18, 2012 6:40 a.m. | After two hours of debate, the Germantown Village Board Monday voted to not change the campaign sign ordinance they updated back in May.

The General Government Committee in a 3-to-1 vote approved changes to the ordinance that if approved by the village board would ban all campaign signs from the public right of way. After an hourlong public comment period where residents had differing opinions on whether or not campaign signs should be allowed in public right-of-ways, the board unanimously voted against changing the village code.

The ordinance was clarified in spring to state that campaign signs can be placed on village right-of-ways abutting residential properties only if the property owner has given his or her approval for the sign to be placed there.

Before the April 3 election, candidates thought they could place campaign signs on village right-of-ways as long as they were 4-feet from the curb line. The Germantown Police Department and the village were inundated with calls from residents throughout the month of March asking for illegally placed campaign signs to be removed from the village right-of-ways abutting their property.

Village Attorney Brian Sajdak said prohibiting campaign signs in public space altogether would clear up any confusion regarding the ordinance. He said by allowing signs in the right-of-ways, it also makes a space "quasi-public," meaning the right of way is still public space, but it's not fully public because property owners have to grant permission to place signs there.

Cedarburg's four picks lead to 22-18 rally past Germantown

Sept. 14, 2012 11:30 p.m. | Seeing as this was a Germantown-Cedarburg football game and that many an odd and thrilling finish has occured in the last 15 years of this spirited rivalry, one should not have been surprised at how strangely things turned out Friday on the Bulldogs' home field when the two teams met again.

The youthful but talented visiting Warhawks had broken an 8-8 halftime tie with the help of a quarterback sneak touchdown by Dwayne Lawhorn, Jr., and a 33-yard field goal Carter Schmitz.

Furthermore, they were threatening to build on their seemingly comfortable 18-8 lead with a drive that had reached the Bulldog 36 with just 9:16 left in the game.

But in the space of just six plays and 2:13 on the clock, momentum had shifted dramatically, as Cedarburg seized a 22-18 lead and would withstand a later Warhawk threat to hold onto a critical North Shore Conference victory.

Three Bulldog interceptions in the final four Germantown possessions would help seal the deal.

MU's second half burst too much for Falls soccer team, 4-1

Sept. 11, 2012 10:07 p.m. | The Menomonee Falls boys soccer team withstood an early goal by Wisconsin's prep pitch empire Marquette Tuesday night at Quad Park in a Greater Metro Conference showdown.

They held their own throughout the first half, with coach Scott Stein swapping people in and out as fast he could to keep them fresh and to give the Indians a chance at breaking down the Hilltoppers' backline defense.

And they even got that opportunity in the 14th minute, when senior forward Ayoola Olapo got free on a breakaway, brought the Marquette keeper out and then got the ball just far enough beyond the goal line before it was smothered to tie the game.

The 1-1 tie at the break left the ninth-ranked in state Indians jubilant and thinking maybe, just maybe that this is the year that Falls would beat Marquette (something that has never happened).

But it was not to be as just four minutes into the second half, the top-ranked in state Hilltoppers showed why they have dominated Wisconsin prep soccer for almost the entirity of the new century.

Menomonee Falls residents approve levy decrease

Sept. 11, 2012 6:47 a.m. | Residents of the Menomonee Falls School District can expect a lower tax bill as the levy - which includes a 0.4 percent decrease - was approved at the annual meeting Monday night.

About 25 residents approved the total levy of $38,282,890 for the 2012-13 school year. Despite a projected 15 percent decrease in state aid for the 2012-13 school year, the mill rate will be decreased $0.05 per $1,000 of property value. The mill rate will be $11.42 per $1,000.

According to Business Manager Jeff Gross, a property owner with a home valued at $200,000 would see a reduction of $9.17. The property owner would pay $2,285.52.

This is the second year in a row the levy was lowered in the Menomonee Falls School District. For the 2011-12 school year, it was lowered by 1.96 percent.

Total expenditures in the district are down 1 percent. The transition to a self-funded insurance plan and reducing things such as energy and transportation costs helped the district come to a balanced budget and lower levy.

Drunken driver tries to walk away from arrest

Sept. 10, 2012 4:10 p.m. | Menomonee Falls - A 54-year-old man was arrested for resisting after he tried, unsuccessfully, to walk away from officers three times after he was pulled over for drunken driving during the early morning hours of Sept. 1.

According to Menomonee Falls police:

An officer observed a white, cargo-style van that was driving westbound on Polk Drive suddenly stop and turn its headlights off in the eastbound lane near Jefferson Avenue shortly after 2:30 a.m. When the officer approached the vehicle and made contact with the driver, a 54-year-old Menomonee Falls man, he noticed the man had bloodshot, glassy eyes and smelled of alcohol.

During questioning the driver admitted to having one to three alcoholic drinks, then got out of his car and started to walk away from the traffic stop, ignoring the officer's multiple commands to stop.

When the suspect returned to the vehicle he refused field sobriety tests and tried to walk away again. After attempting to walk away a third time, the man was arrested by police for fourth offense drunken driving and resisting.

Damico sparks East's 21-7 win over Falls

Sept. 07, 2012 11:16 p.m. |  Brookfield East defensive end Alec James came up big down the stretch, but it was a 5-foot, 11 inch, 160 pound quarterback who stole the show Friday night.

Germantown school receives Blue Ribbon award

Sept. 07, 2012 11:32 a.m. | Rockfield Elementary School in Germantown was named a 2012 Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

There were eight elementary schools in Wisconsin that received the award. There are approximately 15,000 public school districts nationwide and 269 individual schools received Blue Ribbon awards this year.

"We are thrilled to have won the Blue Ribbon Schools award. Blue Ribbon Schools exemplify the principal and teacher leadership we continue to cultivate in our schools focused on students," said Germantown Superintendent Susan Borden,

There are now three Blue Ribbon principals out of the four elementary schools in the Germantown School District. County Line Elementary won the award in 2009. Amy Belle Elementary Principal Maria Kucharski recently started with the Germantown School District after working at Magee Elementary in Kettle Moraine, a school that also received a 2012 award.

"Congratulations. Only a few schools in the nation receive Blue Ribbon honors each year," said State Superintendent Tony Evers. "This award recognizes that staff members at these schools work with their communities to help all students achieve at high levels so they are prepared to graduate from high school ready for college and career."