Archive for October, 2009
H1N1 closes Hartland school
Posted by: | CommentsHartland South Elementary School will be closed at least until Friday due to a Swine Flu outbreak, Waukesha County officials are reporting.
About 40% of the school’s pupils are ill with flu-like symptoms, county Health and Human Services Director Peter Schuler said.
Schuler has ordered ill pupils, faculty and staff to be isolated, meaning they must have no or limited public exposure for the next seven days.
Infected children should not leave their homes.
An H1N1 virus vaccination should be available to the public in coming weeks, he said.
Symptoms of H1N1 are fever over 100 degrees, runny nose, cough, sore throat, aching muscles, vomiting and diarrhea.
For more information about the virus and upcoming clinics, dial 2-1-1 or 866-211-3380 or 262-547-3388.
Police camera signs proposed for downtown Waukesha
Posted by: | CommentsWaukesha police want to install six signs downtown that say the area is watched by police cameras.
A request to install the signs is before the Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting tonight at 7 in City Hall Room 207.
Known as Opti-Cop signs, there would be two posted at the Five Points, two at Maple and Main Sts., one in front of the Transit Center on St. Paul Ave. and Brook St. and one on the Riverwalk on the Bank St. side of the Fox River, near the gazebo.
The signs would be near working cameras.
Eastern Waukesha hears explosion
Posted by: | CommentsA large crane hit power lines north of Spancrete’s west storage lot, causing a large explosion but no power outage or injuries this morning, police reported.
The incident happened about 6:30 a.m. when crane operator accidentally touched the wires and immediately backed off, police said.
Waukesha plans to buy 12.7 acres of Lathers land for shallow wells
Posted by: | CommentsWaukesha plans to buy 12.7 acres adjacent to the Vernon Marsh Wildlife Area, allowing it to tap wells into a rich shallow aquifer that’s needed to increase its water supply and reduce radium levels in its existing drinking water.
DNR Real Estate Director Richard Steffes said the state is acquiring 60 acres adjacent to the planned Waukesha wells.
The DNR is asking for approval to spend $360,000 or $6,000 an acre for the property.
If the city pays the same rate, its 12.7 acres would cost a little more than $72,000.
The 12.7 acres has enough space for at least five individual wells, a written report to the board says.
The property is in the Town of Waukesha, east of Highway I, just north of the marsh. The marsh, established in 1950 is about 4,900 acres that preserves the wildlife and wetlands along the Fox River.
City planners and Fiduciary Real Estate Development Co., a few years back, had proposed using the parcel for residential development. In exchange for development permits, Fiduciary suggested it give property to the city so it could sink needed wells.
The Plan Commission killed the proposal, saying the city could not provide city services to a residential expansion outside city limits. Fiduciary had wanted the city to annex the parcel that is surrounded by the Town of Waukesha.
The city’s need for fresh water forced it to use the law of eminent domain to ultimately acquire enough land for wells.
As part of the legal process, a court orders that all of the concerned parties try to first work out a fiscal agreement.
The city and Fiduciary cannot comment because the legal action is still pending, which means that formal fiscal information was not available to the public..
The pending DNR purchase will go before the Natural Resources Board for action on Oct. 21.
The written proposal contains details about the pending city purchase that has drawn complaints and fears from nearby property owners that the new city wells would drain the aquifer and harm nearby residential wells.
The DNR also has secured a long-term option to purchase another 130 acres of property from Fred Lathers LLC for $773,000 in 2011, the report says.
The city’s 12.7 acres would be open for public use, the report says.
Mack’s custard stand to close, Fish Store done
Posted by: | CommentsA couple of Waukesha businesses staples have called it quits.
The last day of operation for Mack’s, the frozen custard stand at Delafield and Moreland, will be Friday. I remember taking the kids there on hot summer evenings for treats. It wil be missed. Grab a pint of ice cream before it closes for good.
No one at the store knew if it was sold or if it would re-open.
The other business is the Fish Store on W. Main St. I bought a lot of tropical fish there when I had an aquarium.
It was never part of the downtown art and entertainment venues, but I found myself often visiting to soak in the beauty and tranquility of the well kept tanks and exotic fish.
Clarification on Paulson’s council bid
Posted by: | CommentsJust got a message from County Board Supervisor Duane Paulson who says I was given wrong information. He is planning a run for Common Council District 15, not District 5, as reported earlier.
District 15 in the Waukesha Memorial Hospital area is being vacated by Carroll Waldenberger. He will not seek re-election in April because he is moving to Eau Claire.
Because of the incorrect information, WNO reported that Paulson was thinking of challenging Ald. Paul Ybarra, the incumbent for District 5, which is not the case. Ybarra is up for re-election in the spring.
Swine flu vaccine arrives in Waukesha County
Posted by: | CommentsThe vaccine for H1N1 influenza (also known as Swine flu) will be administered to fire and EMS personnel Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m. at Forum Building at the Waukesha County Expo Grounds, 1000 Northview Road.
The Waukesha County Division of Public Health received a small initial shipment of the vaccine that only will be administered to health care workers and emergency response personnel, said Julianne Klimetz of the county executive’s office.
She said the vaccine will be available for the wider community in the coming weeks.
Groups to receive future vaccinations are pregnant women, those from six months t0 24 years old and adults under 65 with compromised immune systems.
Paulson weighing run for Waukesha council
Posted by: | CommentsCounty Board Supervisor Duane Paulson confirmed Wednesday that he’s considering a run in the April election for aldermanic District 5, the seat now held by Ald. Paul Ybarra.
District 5 is on the west side of Waukesha.
If victorious, Paulson would be the second Waukesha resident to hold both aldermanic and supervisory seats.
Alderman and Supervisor Kathleen Cummings holds both seats. Cummings and Paulson are up for re-election for the county spots in April.
Lake Michigan proposal; Republicans court Waukesha Hispanics
Posted by: | CommentsJames Rowen, a Milwaukee-based blogger on the city’s pursuit of Lake Michigan, gives a round up of last night’s meeting of the plans.
Important spending and political decisions are on the horizon.
La Casa listening session
Local Republican Party leaders held a listening session Monday night at the community agency, La Casa de Esperanza, saying the party will no longer be disconnected from the Hispanic community.
Key speaker Manuel Perez, chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Wisconsin, said Hispanics strive for self sufficiency, non- dependency on government , equal opportunity and business opportunities.
Those traits give Hispanics a “great role” to play in the party, Perez said.
“The Republican Party will no longer be disconnected from the Hispanic community,” Perez said.
State Sen. Ted Kanavas talked abut La Casa’s desire to operate a charter school, not doable under Democrat Gov. Jim Doyle.
Alderman and County Board Supervisor Kathleen Cummings spoke of the lack of city vision to bring high paying jobs here.
State Rep. Leah Vukmir talked of the need for improved health care, but not an initiative that’s government run.
Bussler named to new Waukesha County post
Posted by: | CommentsWaukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas confirmed this afternoon that he has named Allison Bussler, who has served as his chief of staff, the new director of public works.
The Journal Sentinel’s Laurel Walker has more on the story.
Bussler’s appointment must be confirmed by the County Board.
The board’s Executive Committee will consider her appointment at a meeting on Oct. 9 at 10:15 a.m.
