L. T. Hampel to use bonds for addition, positions
The village will issue $5.5 million in industrial development revenue bonds so L. T. Hampel Corp., N11551 McCormick Drive, can improve its facility and operations.
The Village Board on Monday approved the bond issue.
The company, which has been in the village for more than 30 years, will construct a 60,000-square-foot addition and will upgrade equipment. The company also is planning a future 10,000-square-foot addition for office space.
President Paul Lorge said the company will add up to 15 positions with the expansion, bringing its total number of employees to 96. The company had 94 employees, but cut 20 positions. The company recently added back seven positions.
The loan will be in the village's name, but Germantown doesn't incur any liability through the federal program.
Homestead boys thinclads give it their all to win fourth straight outdoor
Homestead boys track coach Dan Benson was having none of it.
It had all but become official that the Highlanders had won their fourth straight North Shore Conference outdoor Tuesday night on an uneven weather night in Grafton.
But when asked for comment he acted dismayed, not wanting to jinx anything before it all became official, because there were still some events out and he remembered his first league title as a coach back in 1989.
"The Tosa East coaches were shaking hands (and getting ready to accept the plaque), but my guy brings home the 1,600 relay and Nicolet passes Tosa East at the last-second (in the race) and we wind up winning by less than a point," he said.
"I was a neophyte coach then just trying to figure things out and still every year, it's always terribly exciting."
» Read Full ArticleDriver to be cited in crash that closed U.S. 41/45
Germantown - A 23-year-old female driver of a 2008 Nissan Versa will be cited for unsafe lane deviation after she caused a three-vehicle crash about 7:20 a.m. Tuesday that closed all southbound lanes of U.S. 41/45 just north of state Highway 167 in the village, Chief Peter Hoell said.
Southbound lanes reopened to traffic shortly before 9 a.m. The crash occurred more than one-half mile south of the Freistadt Road overpass, Hoell said.
The Nissan was in the center lane when the driver made a sudden, unsafe lane change and her vehicle collided with a 2001 Ford Ranger in the right lane operated by a 60-year-old male, Hoell said. The Nissan then swerved and crashed into a 2003 Toyota Highlander in the left lane operated by a 49-year-old female.
The Toyota overturned, trapping the driver inside. Germantown Fire and Rescue extricated the woman from the Toyota, and she was flown by Flight for Life helicopter to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa for treatment of serious injuries, according to Hoell. She was the only occupant in that vehicle.
The drivers of the other two vehicles declined medical treatment.
» Read Full ArticleBid to reduce Waukesha County board position hits bumps
Waukesha - A suggestion that the new Waukesha County Board chairman's job could be reduced to half time as soon as this month appears to have been overly ambitious.
Newly elected Chairman Paul Decker of Hartland, a business owner who took on the chairmanship in the belief that the board would vote to reduce the job to part time, got a mixed reaction to the change Monday from the County Board's Executive Committee.
Decker himself said that in his first four weeks in the office, he's learned the job is bigger and more time-consuming than he had expected, even as he tries to bring technological efficiencies to the County Board office operation.
He's asked staff to prepare information on the leadership responsibilities and comparisons with other counties. He'll schedule more discussion at future Executive Committee meetings, he said.
Supervisor Patricia Haukohl of Brookfield, the board's vice chairman who heads the Finance Committee, said at Monday's meeting that she didn't want to see the chairman's job diminished when it should be an equal partner with the executive and judicial branches of county government.
» Read Full ArticleHigh-caliber Mother's Day celebration prompts call to police
An unusual way to celebrate Mother's Day drew the attention of residents and the police in a Germantown neighborhood this week.
According to the police report:
A resident in the W172 N12800 block of Division Road reported fireworks being set off between 11:30 a.m. and 1:40 p.m.
Police located the source of the noise at a residence in the area, and the property owner told police that the females in his family like to fire guns on Mother’s Day.
The property owner told police the women were finished “celebrating” and were done for the day.
Menomonee Falls Internet golf service raises funding
A Menomonee Falls company that helps golfers book tee times with their friends said Monday it has raised $300,000 from angel investors.
Golf Pipeline Inc. has an Internet-based tee time reservations system that provides golfers with perks while helping golf courses gain customers, maximize revenue and streamline operations.
It also offers a social networking feature that allows golfers to connect with each other and plan golf outings.
The company has 22 courses in its system. They are mostly in Wisconsin, but also Illinois and Minnesota.
Golf Pipeline will expand in the three-state region, then move to Indiana and Missouri before growing nationally, said Brian Wroblewski, the company's founder and president.
» Read Full ArticleFalls softball team seizes first in GMC with 4-0 win over Hamilton
Back on April 23, neither Menomonee Falls softball pitcher Nikki Festge nor her coach Wendy Wolff, a former collegiate hurler herself, were smiling after the messy 18-13 win the Indians pulled out over arrchrival Sussex Hamilton.
Both knew, everyone on the team, including Festge and her defense, could do better.
What a difference 17 days makes, as Festge survived two tough innings Thursday afternoon at Willowood with the help of some good defense and shutout the Chargers on four hits as the Indians moved into sole possession of first place in the Greater Metro with a 4-0 decision.
"There were a lot of things that were better (than on April 23)," said Festge. "The defense was great today. They really gave it their all and we needed to have that, because we knew how important this game was."
The two teams had entered the game tied for first, as Falls now sits alone with a 9-1 league record (12-3 overall) while the Chargers fell into a tie with Brookfield East for second at 7-2 (9-3).
» Read Full ArticleFour students injured in Germantown bus crash
Four elementary school students were transported to Community Memorial Hospital Wednesday morning after a school bus collided with a car on Mequon Road and Fond du Lac Avenue.
The driver of the school bus, as well as the driver of the car were both injured and transported to the hospital. Germantown Police Chief Peter Hoell said in a news release all of the injuries appeared to be nonlife-threatening. A fifth student, who sustained minor injuries, was turned over to a parent at the scene.
The accident occurred at 8:30 a.m. as the school bus carrying 21 students was en route to MacArthur Elementary School. The bus stopped for a stop sign, then proceeded into traffic, colliding with a car traveling eastbound on Mequon Road. Hoell said the accident was a result of the school bus failing to yield the right of way from a stop sign.
The students who did not report injuries were transported by another bus to MacArthur Elementary for a second medical assessment by Germantown EMS and to meet with parents.
Ambulances from Mequon, Menomonee Falls and Richfield assisted the Germantown Fire Department at the scene. The Germantown School District, Hoell said, was instrumental in the immediate notification to the parents of the students involved in the accident.
» Read Full ArticleIndian kickers fight through injuries to beat Hamilton, 2-0
Menomonee Falls girls soccer coach Scott Stein has a very good team as exemplified by the sound 2-0 win the Indians turned in over archrival Sussex Hamilton Tuesday night.
But he can't help but think that he might have had a great team if not for the three season-ending knee injuries that occured earlier this spring.
"Kayla (Heagney), Molly (Poeske) and Monica (Sancho) are all out, all with ACLs," said Stein. "We're the Brewers (not laughing)."
"But people are stepping up. Cassie (Poeske) and Olivia (Dennis) who moved from a forward's role to play defense. The way we looked at it, there was more to life than just a soccer game. We're trying to have some fun out here. We had a good practice yesterday and we had some good results over the weekend (in a tournament)."
"The kids are working hard."
» Read Full ArticleElmbrook administrators to lead Menomonee Falls High School
School administrator musical chairs continues this week with the announcement that two Brookfield East High School administrators will be leading Menomonee Falls High School this fall.
The Menomonee Falls School District released a statement this week that said Corey Golla and Andy Farley will be the high school's principal and assistant principal, respectively, starting July 1.
Golla has been the athletic and activities director for Brookfield East for the past eight years and served as associate principal, and Farley has been interim athletic and activities director and assistant principal at the school since February, the statement said.
Also departing the Elmbrook School District is superintendent Matt Gibson, who will retire this summer.
The district announced earlier this year that Mark Hansen, currently the chief academic officer for the Pewaukee School District, will succeed Gibson and be the next superintendent of Elmbrook Schools.
Life Church expansion moves forward with wetland rezone
Life Church in Germantown hopes to one day seat 800 people.
To expand the church that is located at W164 N11325 Squire Drive, the Village of Germantown board of trustees first had to approve a conditional use permit and a rezone, which they did unanimously Monday night.
After receiving the necessary permits from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers, Life Church was granted the rezone and removal of 9,261 square-feet from the Shoreland-Wetland Zoning District. The church has plans to fill two portions of the wetland area that is approximately 1,580 square-feet in size and located in the northwest corner of the property.
Jeff Retzlaff, planning and zoning administrator for the Village of Germantown, said as part of the conditional use permit, there will be mitigation areas adjacent to the wetlands that would provide the same flood protection for residents in the area. This includes enhancing and expanding the management pond.
Retzlaff said the filling of the wetlands would not significantly impact flood storage, groundwater recharge, shore land erosion, fish spawning or breeding grounds for other wildlife habitats. As part of the permit, a three-year monitoring program will be implemented on the area.
Germantown clerk resigns
The Germantown Village Board of Trustees approved the resignation of Village Clerk Elizabeth Knaack Monday night.
Knaack is retiring from the position she has held since 2006. Her resignation will be effective July 12, however, her last day is June 29, said Village Administrator David Schornack.
The village will soon advertise for the position that pays between $59,711 and $67,531. Pay will be determined on the applicant's level of experience.
"This position is becoming more complex literally every day with all the election changes," Schornack said. "I want to try and get this position filled as quickly as we can."
The board of trustees has the official vote on who holds the position of village clerk.
Menomonee Falls hires new principals
The School District of Menomonee Falls will see two new faces come fall.
Corey Golla was selected as the principal of Menomonee Falls High School and Andy Farley was named assistant principal. Farley and Golla are both wrapping up their tenures at Brookfield East High School.
Golla has been the athletic and activities director for Brookfield East High School for the past eight years and served as associate principal. He has taught both middle and high school courses and has 16 years of experience in education. Golla received his master's degree in educational leadership from Marion College.
Golla has also received the Elmbrook School District Outstanding Employee award and is trained on Baldrige criteria for performance excellence in education, according to the Menomonee Falls School District.
Farley has been interim athletic and activities director and assistant principal at Brookfield East since February. He has taught high school social studies and coached boys' basketball for eight years. Farley has a master's degree in educational leadership from Marion University.
» Read Full ArticleEast's Golla resigns to take over as Falls principal
Brookfield East Athletic & Activities Director Corey Golla has resigned his position with Brookfield East to accept the position of principal at Menomonee Falls High School.
Golla, who has been at Brookfield East since 2004, has a consistent track record of athletic and activities program development, sportsmanship and success. He began his career with the school district in 1996 as a teacher and coach at Pilgrim Park Middle School and Brookfield East.
Golla recently received the Brookfield Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, an honor bestowed upon one outstanding school district employee each year. Superintendent Matt Gibson nominated Golla for the 2012 award, calling him “an advocate for student participation, sportsmanship, character development and award-winning performance.”
“While this opportunity is exciting to me professionally and a great opportunity for my family, leaving Brookfield East and the Elmbrook School District is difficult,” Golla said. “I have proudly given 16 years of my career to this district and the Spartans will be in my heart forever. I am proud of every program I am leaving behind, and I wish to thank the entire East community for your support.”
Principal Mr. Dan Pavletich also commented Golla for his performance at East.
» Read Full ArticleBridge construction pushed back to August
Construction on a pedestrian bridge in Menomonee Falls was postponed until August, according to Michael Pyritz, communications manager for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, who is filling in for Emlynn Grisar.
Preliminary work was slated to begin this month with the bulk of construction occurring in June and early July. Pyritz said construction is now anticipated to begin in October and continue through early November. He did not know the reason construction was pushed back.
The DOT bridge connecting Water Street over US Highway 41/45 is a 365-feet long, 9.7-feet wide pedestrian bridge.
The bridge connects Water Street on both sides of the freeway. There will also be new approaches on both ends of the bridge where it flows downward to the pedestrian sidewalks.
Zenith Tech, the project contractor, is performing maintenance work consisting of blast cleaning and painting the structural steel, concrete work on the deck and removal and replacement of the protective fence and lighting.
» Read Full Article"Next man up" philosophy nets GT girls track team NSC relays title
The litany of injuries that have crossed the Germantown girls track team's path this season could fill an average size roster and have made for many sleepless nights for Warhawk coach Greg Siegert and his staff.
Leah Wheaton, Bethany Laubenheimer, not to mention top hurdler Sammie Gassner, who has been limited in her duties due to a stress fracture.
But that hasn't stopped the Warhawks from competing and competing hard as they did Wednesday night, for even though they won only one individual event (the discus), they had enough depth to outdistance the field in the North Shore Conference Relays.
"It shows that everything I know about this team is true," said Siegert. "That we're a team built on numbers, on an assembly line. Our training is built on training multiple athletes to be ready for multiple events."
To prove his point, Siegert was talking to one of his junior varsity coaches, who will take athletes to the NSC JV meet on Thursday. That coach will be a bit short-handed headed into the event, because Siegert plucked seven athletes off that squad to play roles in the depth intensive varsity relays meet on Wednesday.
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