The Business Journal reports that Milwaukee to Madison high-speed rail line with stops in Brookfield and Oconomowoc is moving quickly through the planning stages.

This press release just arrived from Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas:

Many Waukesha County top elected officials announced this week that they will make monetary donations to the Waukesha County general fund equal to two days of their pay in support of the County’s 2010 furlough days.

As part of the County’s 2010 budget, all hourly and salaried Waukesha County employees are required to take two unpaid furlough days.  The donations by the elected officials are a gesture of unity with county employees.

“Donating this pay is the right thing to do,” said County Executive Dan Vrakas.  “During tough budget times, such as those we are currently faced with, it is important to be a cohesive team and do what we can as individuals to support our hard working employees and support Waukesha County.”

The state of the current and forecasted economy necessitates the need for the County furlough program.  Due to the current economic recession and the increasing demand for County services tied to rising unemployment, the furlough days are needed to balance the County budget without compromising service delivery.

The Wisconsin Constitution prohibits elected officials pay from being raised or lowered between elections, so furlough funds could not be withheld from their checks.

“I am glad to be making this donation to Waukesha County,” said Clerk of Circuit Courts, Kathleen Madden.  “We cannot ask our employees to give up pay without doing the same.”

Confirmation of this commitment also has been made by: Register of Deeds Jim Behrend, County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus, Treasurer Pamela Reeves and Sheriff Dan Trawicki. the release said.

The Waukesha County Courthouse and Administration Center will be closed on Monday, Jan. 18^, due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the furlough day.  Both buildings will reopen Tuesday at 8 a.m.

Waukesha  County Executive Dan Vrakas announced the appointment of Ellen Nowak as his chief-of-staff .

Nowak replaces Allison Bussler who was recently appointed the Waukesha County Director of Public Works.

“Ellen will be an outstanding addition to the Waukesha County team,” Vrakas said.  “Her policy experience and knowledge of the issues facing the state of Wisconsin and Waukesha County will make her a very successful chief-of-staff.”

Nowak has nearly ten years of experience working with the state legislature.  She served as chief-of-staff and legal counsel to State Representative and Speaker of the Assembly John Gard.

Prior to her tenure in Madison, Nowak practiced law in the private sector in Milwaukee.  Most recently, Nowak served as director of government affairs for School Choice Wisconsin, a non-profit group advocating in favor of vouchers for low-income Milwaukee students to attend the school of their choice.

“I am very excited to be part of the Waukesha County team,” Nowak said.  “I look forward to serving the residents of Waukesha County and continuing to encourage and promote Waukesha County as a leader in Wisconsin.”

Waukesha County is reporting it used up all of its swine flu vaccines yesterday, causing it to cancel the next scheduled clinic.

Here’s the press release:

Waukesha County Public Health Division has administered all H1N1 vaccine available over the course of two clinics held on Tuesday and Thursday.  Clinics will be cancelled indefinitely until additional shipments of vaccine are received.

The Division of Public Health expects additional shipments of the intranasal vaccine, as well as the injectable vaccine to be available in the coming weeks and will announce clinics to administer the vaccine once the shipment has arrived.

For more information, and to learn more about the H1N1 virus and upcoming clinics please visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/pandemicflu or dial 2-1-1. This service will provide information on prevention and community resources. Your call to 2-1-1 is free and confidential, and is available throughout Wisconsin. 2-1-1 service is available 24 hours 7 days per week.  If your cellular provider does not allow calls to 2-1-1, please call (877) 947-2211 or (262) 547-3388.

This just in from Waukesha Police Capt. Mark Stigler:

Today at 4:11 a.m.,  a Waukesha County vehicle was stolen after a county employee who had stopped at the Speedway gas station, 400 Summit,  to purchase fuel.

He parked the vehicle and left it running while he went inside.

A suspicious individual was observed waiting out front while the employee was inside.  That suspect got into the vehicle and drove off, finally heading down I-94 for Milwaukee.

After being spotted by a Waukesha Police Department patrol unit in the city, the officer followed the vehicle and a high risk stop was conducted on the vehicle in Milwaukee County with the assistance from Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department.

Waukesha sheriffs and the State Patrol assisted. The driver, a 30-year-old Waukesha man,  was arrested and will be referred on charges of operating a motor vehicle without owners consent and a probation violation. He was not intoxicated.

Mike Johnson of Journal Sentinel reports that Circuit Judge Richard Congdon will have a challenger in the spring election

Waukesha County Public Health Division will begin the next round of free, H1N1 vaccination clinics starting Tuesday, Nov. 17.  The clinics are intended to provide both the intranasal and injectable H1N1 vaccine to Waukesha County residents in the following targeted groups:

• Health care and emergency medical personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material
• Pregnant women
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants age 6 months or younger, such as parents, siblings, daycare providers
• All children age 6 months to 18 years
• Adults age 18 through 64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications

The H1N1 vaccination will be given on a first come, first serve basis until the vaccine supply runs out at the Waukesha County Expo Center Forum Building on the following dates and times:

• Tuesday from 1 to 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday from 1  to 6:30 p.m.

For more information, and to learn more about the H1N1 virus and upcoming clinics please visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/pandemicflu or dial 2-1-1. This service will provide information on prevention and community resources. Your call to 2-1-1 is free and confidential, and is available throughout Wisconsin. 2-1-1 service is available 24 hours 7 days per week.  If your cellular provider does not allow calls to 2-1-1, please call (877) 947-2211 or (262) 547-3388.

]]> http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/2009/11/new-flu-clinics-next-week/feed/ 0 http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/2009/11/next-round-of-waukesha-county-flu-clinics-announced/ http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/2009/11/next-round-of-waukesha-county-flu-clinics-announced/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:16:15 +0000 Darryl Enriquez http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/?p=468

The Waukesha County Public Health Division will begin the next round of free, H1N1 vaccination clinics Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The clinics are intended to provide both the intranasal and injectable H1N1 vaccine to Waukesha County residents in the following targeted groups:

• Health care and emergency medical personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material
• Pregnant women
• Children age 6 months to 4 years
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants age 6 months or younger, such as parents, siblings, daycare providers
• Children and adolescents age 5 to 18 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications

Vaccinations will be given on a first come, first serve basis until the vaccine supply runs out at the Waukesha County Expo Center Forum Building on the following dates and times:

• Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 12 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, and to learn more about the H1N1 virus and upcoming clinics please visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/pandemicflu or dial 2-1-1. This service will provide information on prevention and community resources. Your call to 2-1-1 is free and confidential, and is available throughout Wisconsin. 2-1-1 service is available 24 hours 7 days per week.  If your cellular provider does not allow calls to 2-1-1, please call (877) 947-2211 or (262) 547-3388.

]]> http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/2009/11/next-round-of-waukesha-county-flu-clinics-announced/feed/ 0 http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/2009/10/no-more-h1n1-vaccine/ http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/2009/10/no-more-h1n1-vaccine/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:41:40 +0000 Darryl Enriquez http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/?p=451

This in from Julianne Klimetz, a Waukesha County public information officer:

Waukesha County Public Health Division has administered all H1N1 vaccine available over the course of two clinics held on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.  Clinics will be cancelled indefinitely until additional shipments of vaccine are received.

The clinics scheduled for Thursday are canceled.

The Division of Public Health expects additional shipments of the intranasal vaccine as well as the injectable vaccine to be available in the coming weeks and will announce clinics to administer the vaccine once the shipment has arrived.

According to new information from the state of Wisconsin, those targeted to receive the H1N1 vaccine include:

• Health care and emergency medical personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material
• Pregnant women
• Children age 6 months to 4 years
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants age 6 months or younger, such as parents, siblings, daycare providers
• Children and adolescents age 5 to 18 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications

For more information, and to learn more about the H1N1 virus and upcoming clinics please visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/pandemicflu or dial 2-1-1. This service will provide information on prevention and community resources. Your call to 2-1-1 is free and confidential, and is available throughout Wisconsin. 2-1-1 service is available 24 hours 7 days per week.  If your cellular provider does not allow calls to 2-1-1, please call (877) 947-2211 or (262) 547-3388.

]]> http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/2009/10/no-more-h1n1-vaccine/feed/ 0 http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/2009/10/the-line-for-wauakesha-flu-shots-got-a-little-disorderly/ http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/2009/10/the-line-for-wauakesha-flu-shots-got-a-little-disorderly/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:03:45 +0000 Darryl Enriquez http://www.waukeshanewsonline.com/?p=445

Police report that around 12:30 Tuesday a gray sedan skipped in front of a long line of cars  with passengers who were waiting for N1H1 (Swine Flu) vaccinations at the Waukesha County Expo Center, 1000 Northview Road.

The incident set off a shouting match and police were called. The county mediated the situation.

The cars apparently lined up outside of the Expo parking lot on Northview Road prior to the shots being distributed at 1 p.m.