Muskego woman killed in accident
Muskego — A 52-year-old Muskego woman was killed in a one-vehicle accident in the 9800 block of S. Racine Ave. about 12:50 p.m. Saturday, the Police Department said in a statement.
Police did not release the woman's name. She was the only person in her vehicle, the statement said.
New Berlin Walmart opponents claim crucial city vote invalid
The group Neighbors First New Berlin, which opposes a plan to build a Walmart Super Center on Greenfield Avenue in New Berlin, has filed a lawsuit against the city alleging that legal notice of a public hearing affecting the project was not given the required 30 days in advance.
The hearing was held Jan. 7 before the Plan Commission. On May 6, the commission recommended on a 3 to 2 vote that the city change its Comprehensive Plan and zoning that cleared the way for the Walmart. On May 14, the Common Council made those changes.
If Neighbors First prevails, it will get to argue its case again in front of the Plan Commission that got two new members between the January hearing and the actual vote in May, said the group's attorney Dennis Grzezinski. Both the new members voted for the changes in the Comprehensive Plan and the zoning.
Even if those new members viewed the hearing on the city's computer replay system before they voted, the group hopes to change their minds through a full hearing experience, Grzezinski said. The group also will have more time to make its presentation more effective, he said.
The Walmart is proposed for about a block east of Moorland Road. The group's lawsuit also is against the Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust.
Indoor go-kart track proposed for New Berlin
An indoor go-kart track is being proposed for New Berlin.
Pole Position Raceway would be the first two-track indoor raceway in Wisconsin, according to the proposal from local entrepreneur Christopher Daskam.
The two-track design allows customers "the chance to race with minimal waiting time," according to the proposal, filed with the city Department of Community Development.
The facility also would feature laser tag, arcade games, a bar/restaurant and "conference rooms for local businesses and individuals to hold meetings and parties," it said.
Pole Position would lease 64,000 square feet at a distribution center at 5475 S. Westridge Drive, in the Westridge Business Park, at I-43 and Moorland Road. The business would have a peak occupancy of 220 people, and up to 20 employees per shift.
» Read Full ArticleCharges expected against seven seniors for Muskego bus prank
Municipal charges are expected to be filed this week against seven Muskego High School seniors in connection with the air being let out of the tires of 61 school buses and graffiti on the school.
School was delayed two hours in the Muskego-Norway School District on June 6 after the Lamers Bus Company, W19247 Enterprise Drive, reported that air had been let out of one tire on 61 of its 63 school buses. Several of the buses also had "2013" written on them with window soap, police said.
Police believe it was related to an incident in early morning June 4 when several derogatory words and obscene drawings were left on Muskego High School with chalk and window soap. That was cleaned off by school personnel before school started.
Several police officers, led by the school resource officer assigned to the school, identified four MHS seniors who were believed to be involved in the incidents on June 4 and six who were involved in the incident at Lamers Bus Company. It appears that three of the seniors were involved in both incidents.
They called the incidents senior pranks, police said. The district did not say whether the students will be allowed to participate in Sunday's graduation.
Shady contractors soliciting in New Berlin, police warn
The shady door-to-door contractors that state officials warned about last week are now going door to door in New Berlin, police warn.
"There are some less than reputable businesses soliciting in neighborhoods for home improvement," New Berlin police said in an alert Tuesday. "Please use caution and due diligence in investigating these businesses prior to contracting for any service."
Police also cautioned residents to help any elderly neighbors if solicitors come by so they don't become victims of scams.
The problem with traveling contractors, as they're also called, is that consumers may get work and materials of questionable quality or may not get what they pay for.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection sent out a warning about traveling contractors last week. The Dane County Sheriff's Department also warned of "asphalt scams."
» 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.
Baldwin-Woodville clubs Vikings, 9-0, at state
For New Berlin West, it was the big picture that counted.
Defending Champion Baldwin-Woodville crushed the Vikings, 9-0, in the semi-finals of the WIAA State Softball Tournament Thursday night at Goodman Diamond on the Madison campus.
Abby Klopp threw a one-hitter, walked one and struck out five, as the Vikings had one baserunner going into the seventh - Kelly Duggan's walk in the fourth. The Vikings trailed, 2-0, before the Blackhawks scored six runs in the fifth to put the game away.
"We came, we competed and we gave it our best shot, but it just wasn't our night," said West coach Corey Scheel, coaching his final game before moving on to the athletic director's post at Racine St. Catherine's on July1.
"We didn't see anything new tonight (from Klopp)," he said. "We've faced Katie Lang (Eisenhower's ace).
» Read Full ArticleMuskego police say they've identified students who vandalized buses
Muskego police say they have identified high school students involved in vandalizing school buses as part of a senior prank.
The vandalism caused school to be delayed two hours Thursday.
Police say they have identified six students involved with the vandalism on Thursday as well as four students involved in what is believed to be a related incident Tuesday in which derogatory messages were written on the high school building. Police said three of the students were involved in both incidents.
Sixty-one of 64 buses had air let out of the tires and windows covered in a greasy or soap-like material, said Dean Brown, general manager for Lamers Bus Lnies. Muskego police said that "2013" was written on the back of many buses.
The bus company brought in power-washers, mechanics and tire contractors with a labor cost more than $1,000, Brown said. The buses were ready by the time the two-hour delay was over.
» Read Full ArticleMuskego-Norway School Board tabled plan to change grading
Sweeping grading changes that include using numbers instead of letter grades, not grading homework and allowing students to retake tests and get assignments in late didn't get a passing grade at Monday's Muskego-Norway School Board meeting.
While the board liked other aspects of the proposal that came from a committee of teachers, administrators and parents, the board tabled the plan. However, aspects of the plan that had to do with teachers having the same expectations of students and evaluating them the same way attracted support.
The consensus of the board was that those parts of the plan could be implemented. That will be discussed at a later meeting.
2013 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.
Bicyclist, 15, dies from New Berlin accident
A 15-year-old bicyclist struck Saturday afternoon by a vehicle in New Berlin has died, police said.
The Greenfield girl was crossing Sunny Slope Road from the New Berlin Recreation Trail when she was struck by a sport utility vehicle heading south around 4:30 p.m. She was taken to Froedtert Hospital, where she died Sunday.
The girl's name was not released.
Speed and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash, New Berlin police said.
New Berlin crashes leave motorcyclist dead, teen cyclist in critical condition
Separate accidents in New Berlin left a 22-year-old man dead and a 15-year-old girl in critical condition.
Dustin Hanson of Big Bend died Saturday of injuries sustained in a traffic accident Friday at the intersection of Moorland Road and Coffee Road. Hanson was operating a motorcycle going southbound on Moorland Road when it collided with an automobile turning westbound onto Coffee Road, according to a statement from the New Berlin Police Department.
The girl, from Greenfield, was on a bicycle crossing Sunny Slope Road from the New Berlin Recreation Trail about 4:30 p.m. Saturday when she was struck by southbound SUV. Firefighters transported her to Froedtert Hospital, where she is listed in critical condition.
Police said they believed neither speed nor alcohol were factors in either crash.
Carp shoot May 25 on Little Muskego Lake, two carp worth $500 each
Boats with archers and bright lights will bob on Little Muskego Lake in the evening hours of Saturday, May 25, as the Little Muskego Lake Association and the Wisconsin Bowfishing Association hold a carp shoot.
Specially designed bows and arrows will be used to remove carp from the lake in the state Department of Natural Resources supported activity. More than 3,000 carp have been removed from the lake in five years of carp shoots.
The DNR supports removing carp because they are considered a "rough" fish destroying the spawning beds of other desirable fish. Carp also disturb the bottom sediment of lakes causing cloudy water.
A couple of the carp shooters might get lucky and come home with $500 for bagging one of the two carp that have fin tags placed there by the DNR in cooperation with the Little Muskego Lake District. By tagging two carp and offering a $500 reward for anyone catching one, the Lake District hopes more people will hunt carp.
Newsweek names New Berlin schools to 'America's Best High Schools' list
New Berlin Eisenhower and West high schools were named on Newsweek's 2013 "America's Best High Schools" list.
Out of 55 Wisconsin schools Newsweek selected for recognition, Eisenhower was ranked fifth and New Berlin West was ranked 12th.
Nationwide, more than 2,000 high schools were recognized with Eisenhower coming in at 462 and West at 743.
Newsweek ranked six components: graduation rate (25 percent), college acceptance rate (25 percent), AP/IB/AICE tests taken per student (25 percent), average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10 percent), and percent of students enrolled in at least one AP/IB /AICE course (5 percent).
The Newsweek honor comes just weeks after the Washington Post included Eisenhower and West on its lists of "America's Most Challenging High Schools."
Stumbling block cleared for proposed New Berlin Walmart
On a 4 to 2 vote, the New Berlin Common Council approved a rezoning and a change in the city comprehensive plan that will clear the way for Walmart to apply to build a super center on Greenfield Avenue about a block east of Moorland Road.
Most of the site is zoned single-family and is envisioned as mixed use residential in the city's 2020 Comprehensive land use plan.
Walmart will still have to go through the city approval process for its building, site and operations plans, however.
Residents of the area strenuously opposed the rezoning packing hearings and meetings and saying that the Comprehensive Plan clearly says areas that are zoned residential are to stay that way. They also argued that the 2020 plan indicates that big box stores are the least desired type of commercial development for that area.
Many such as Donna Goodrich who helped with the two-year public input process that went into the comprehensive plan felt betrayed.
» Read Full ArticleWalmart rezoning recommended in New Berlin
Before a mostly hostile crowd of about 150 who packed the New Berlin Plan Commission meeting Monday, the commission voted 3 to 2 to recommend changing the zoning and the city land use plan that would allow a Walmart Super Center to be built on Greenfield Avenue just east of Moorland Road.
The New Berlin Common Council will take up the proposed rezoning and land use change on Tuesday.
Mayor Dave Ament left the meeting during the Walmart discussion and vote to avoid any appearance of impropriety because his wife works for the Wal-mart in the New Berlin City Center.
Before the commission vote, Jenny Vellinga, a leader of Neighbors First New Berlin that opposes the rezoning, submitted a petition that she said was signed by 1,800 people in every aldermanic district who oppose rezoning. Currently, the zoning is single-family homes for most of the 16 acres that Walmart has asked to change to shopping center zoning. Commercial zoning is next door on some vacant acres and there is extensive retail building across the street, Walmart officials argue.
