Nicolet boys dig deep to hold off rival Bay, 53-52

Jan. 29, 2010 10:15 p.m. | Calling it a character win, coach Paul Hepp and the Nicolet boys basketball team hit just enough free throws and weathered a furious last-ditch series of attempts by host Whitefish Bay to get a badly needed, 53-52 win Friday night.

The win broke a three-game losing streak for the Knights (4-4 in the North Shore and and 10-5 overall) and loused up an opportunity for the Blue Dukes (5-3 and 10-4, respectively) to jump into a tie for the North Shore lead as Germantown (5-3, 11-5) upset league-leading Port Washington (6-2, 12-2), 65-63.

"That felt good," said Hepp. "Our guys already knew the bad news, that they were playing crappy, but the good news was, was that we knew we weren't a crappy team. They know if they do all the little things that they can play with anyone on the schedule and beat them and tonight they did."

Senior guard Myles Henry (14 points) and the Knights took that knowledge to heart.

"We were stuck on that streak," he said. "We understood what we were going through. We knew we were better than that. That we all needed to come together."

West Bend man arrested in robbery spree

Jan. 22, 2010 5:10 p.m. | A West Bend man, 35, suspected of committing one armed robbery in each of four communities Thursday - West Bend, Milwaukee, Fox Point and Brown Deer - was arrested early Friday at a West Bend residence, Police Chief Ken Meuler said Friday.

Surveillance photos and witness descriptions from the four locations helped police identify the suspect, Meuler said in a statement.

At 4:44 a.m. Thursday, the man entered a Walgreen's at 806 S. Main St. in West Bend and told a clerk that he had a handgun, Meuler said. He demanded money and fled the store after obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash.

Between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Thursday, the man is suspected of similar armed robberies at a Walgreen's at 6707 W. Hampton Ave., Milwaukee, at the parking lot of a Walgreen's at 8615 N. Port Washington Road in Fox Point, and at a Cousins' Sub Shop in the 4800 block of W. Green Brook Drive in Brown Deer, police said.

At 2:50 a.m. Friday, West Bend police located the suspect's vehicle in the 1300 block of Hans St. Police subsequently located the suspect in a nearby residence but the man refused to exit the building. The West Bend Police Department's special response team entered the residence at 6:14 a.m. and arrested the suspect, Meuler said.

Green Tree Road dispute moves to federal court

Jan. 22, 2010 3:30 p.m. | A lawsuit filed by Glendale and the Nicolet School District over River Hills' plans to close part of W. Green Tree Road was moved Friday to federal court.

The suit against River Hills, aimed at stopping the proposed closure, was filed Nov. 25 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

A week earlier, the River Hills Village Board had approved a six-month trial of prohibiting eastbound traffic on Green Tree starting at River Hills Road. Emergency vehicles and school buses, however, would still be allowed to travel eastbound.

A circuit judge was to consider River Hills' motion to dismiss the suit next month, but at River Hills' request, the suit was moved to U.S. District Court in Milwaukee. Magistrate Patricia Gorence will consider the motion, but no court date has been set.

River Hills said the case should be heard in federal court because Glendale and the school district are alleging that the village violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Green Tree lane closure to be reconsidered

Jan. 21, 2010 4:48 p.m. | The River Hills Village Board on Feb. 17 will reconsider its decision to allow the closure of the eastbound lane of Green Tree Road between River and Jean Nicolet roads for six months.

The decision to reopen the discussion on the request comes after delivery of petitions with about 90 signatures from residents opposing the plan. In July a group of Green Tree Road residents representing 32 households asked the board to close the street, citing concerns about litter and safety.

After several months of discussion, the board opted for a half closure, the east bound lane only, on a six-month trial basis.

In December the city of Glendale and Nicolet School District sued the village, attempting to stop the plan. A hearing on the case is scheduled in circuit court Feb. 22.

District's leader retiring in July

Jan. 19, 2010 8:32 p.m. | Fox Point-Bayside — Gary Peterson, superintendent of the Fox Point-Bayside School District will retire effective July 1.

Peterson said he told the board when he was hired eight years ago that he planned to work for another eight years.

"It's hard to go because we are doing such good things in the district," Peterson said to a reporter. "But every year, there is another good thing and this just does seem like the right time."

Peterson's youngest child will graduate from Homestead High School in June. Peterson is concentrating on doing his job as superintendent and has not made plans beyond June but did say he will remain in the area.

Peterson, who is 60, came to the district from the Silver Lake School District but spent 26 of his 38 years in public education in the Brown Deer School District.

Fox Point-Bayside putting two referendums on ballot

Jan. 19, 2010 8:24 p.m. | Fox Point-Bayside — Voters will be asked to approve two school referendums in the April 6 election.

The School Board on Jan. 18 approved issuing $3.255 million in general obligation bonds and $3.7 million in general promissory notes if the voters approve.

Superintendent Gary Peterson said the $3.255 million would be used for projects to improve energy efficiency and upgrade facilities and technology in both Stormonth and Bayside schools as well as pay off a $1.585 million State Trust Fund Loan taken to fund post-employment benefits for current and retired personnel.

The $3.7 million would then be used to fund those benefits.

Peterson said that by retiring long term debt in the 2010-2011, the cost of debt to taxpayers would decrease from the current 64 cents to 60 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The new debt would have a lower interest rate than the debt that is being retired.

Knights last-ditch rally comes up short against Brooks Academy, 59-57

Jan. 18, 2010 9:15 p.m. | Nicolet boys basketball coach Paul Hepp has been looking for a full 32 minutes from his team for most of the season now.

"It seems that we're averaging in the 20s at this point," said Hepp, after a fierce rally against Illinois power Brooks Academy came up short, 59-57, when Cameron Smith's last-second shot was blocked at the buzzer Monday night in the NY2LA Sports Extravaganza held in the Knights gym.

The fiercely contested tilt was the second of three games this evening at Nicolet. It was the second time the Knights had hosted a NY2LA event this season. Hepp said he's good friends with the event's organizer Antonio Curl .

"He wanted to use our facilities and it would have given us another home game," Hepp said. "It's also good for us. He (Curl) always schedules good teams and that gets us ready for conference and (WIAA) tournament games."

In Hepp's eyes, the game may still be going if the official's whistle had blown at the right time.

Flat GT grapplers have to work to beat inspired Nicolet, 42-32

Jan. 14, 2010 9:38 p.m. | After separate conversations with the respective coaches, a casual observer would have thought that Nicolet had won the North Shore Conference wrestling dual at Germantown Thursday night.

But despite what Warhawk coach Casey Gabrielson felt was an off performance, Germantown had enough to outlast a persistent Knight squad, 42-32, on its parents' night.

"I thought it was our worst meet of the year," said Gabrielson. "We had no energy and we were flat. Even our wins were flat. ..Nicolet came to wrestle every match. They showed up with a nothing-to-lose attitude and it showed. They wrestled better than us."

Nicolet coach Gus Kaufmann appreciated the praise, but needed a few more bodies to get the win. The Knights forfeited to the Warhawks at 171 pounds (Mike Knippen the win) and at 152 (John Will). The 152 match was the last one of the night.

Nicolet's Bobby Herrick had won a tough 6-3 decision at 145 just before that but Germantown had effectively clinched the match with a first period pin by Danny Krause at 140.

Plea bargains possible in River Hills beating case

Jan. 14, 2010 11:04 a.m. | Two teens, including the son of the Milwaukee chamber of commerce president, could agree to plea bargains in connection with a felony charge they each face in the beating of a third teen.

The incident occurred early Nov. 1 at a parent-supervised Halloween party in River Hills.

Ryan Sheehy of Fox Point, the son of Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, and Ian Bautz of Shorewood both pleaded not guilty Thursday to a felony battery charge.

However, a plea hearing was scheduled for Feb. 4 before Milwaukee County Circuit Judge David Hansher; Judge Daniel Konkol had been handling the case.

Both teens could plead guilty or no contest to a lesser charge or charges at that time, rather than go to trial. They would be sentenced later.

River Hills pushes for dismissal of Green Tree Road lawsuit

Jan. 14, 2010 10:12 a.m. | River Hills, which is being sued by Glendale and the Nicolet School District to stop its plan to close part of Green Tree Road, is asking a judge to dismiss the lawsuit.

A hearing on the request before Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Timothy Dugan is set for Feb. 22.

The village was sued by the city and the school district Nov. 25, a week after the Village Board authorized closing the eastbound lane of the road to through traffic for a six-month trial period.

Some River Hills residents pressed the board to close the road out of safety concerns.

Glendale had asked the Village Board to delay a decision on the closing until after the city received a traffic study. The study was presented Monday to the Glendale Common Council.

College student from Fox Point is safe; Merton student still unaccounted for

Jan. 13, 2010 7:10 p.m. | Melissa Elliott, the 20-year-old daughter of Lisa and Michael Elliott of the Town of Merton, is among students from Florida's Lynn University who were on a humanitarian mission in Haiti and are unaccounted for, her parents said

Michael Elliott said 12 students and two faculty members were staying in the Hotel Montana, which reportedly collapsed in the quake and is located about 10 or 15 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince.

"None of them are accounted for," Michael Elliott said. Conflicting information has made this a rollercoaster ride of emotions for the couple.

The students were on a winter-break humanitarian trip working for Food for the Poor, according to the Palm Beach Post. The list of students and faculty released by the university also included the name of a Fox Point student, Thomas Schloemer. The universy reported Wednesay night tht Schloemer is safe at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

The Palm Beach Post is reporting that one confirmed text message from Haiti to a student in Florida said some students remained unaccounted for. The university notified parents that it could not confirm that one of the students had sent a message on Twitter to a parent saying that the entire group was safe.

Sensenbrenner to hold office hours

Jan. 13, 2010 2:42 p.m. | Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisconsin, will be holding office hours throughout the area Friday.

At 2:15 p.m., he will be at River Hills Village Hall, 7650 N. Pheasant Lane, and at 3 p.m., he will be at Bayside Village Hall, 9075 N. Regent Road.

During these meetings, Sensenbrenner will be available to respond to questions and comments from residents on federal issues, as well as work directly with individuals regarding personal matters with the federal government.

Municipal group endorses uniform trick-or-treating hours

Jan. 11, 2010 4:14 p.m. | Cudahy — A group representing the mayors and village presidents of Milwaukee County's 19 municipalities recommended Monday that each community hold trick-or-treat on the same day - usually a Sunday.

The resolution is aimed at keeping children safe and deterring groups of kids from collecting candy outside their own communities.

The recommendation is not binding on any city or village.

Under the resolution, trick-or-treat would be held from 1 to 4 p.m. the Sunday on or before Oct. 31. When Oct 31 falls on a Saturday, trick-or-treat would be held that day.

The resolution is for 10 years.

Fast start allows Nicolet to overpower GT in NSC girls showdown, 68-52

Jan. 08, 2010 10:15 p.m. | Germantown girls basketball coach Matt Stuve likes watching North Shore rival Nicolet play.

But after the Knights 68-52 handling of the Warhawks Friday night that was facilitated by a 25-10 explosion in the first quarter, he would like to observe them now only from a safe distance.

"They bring a lot of fans, they bring a lot of talent," Stuve said, after his Warhawks dropped their second game in a week after starting 8-0. "People will always get their money's worth from them, because they have ability. ..That starting five is as talented as any we'll see. You take away one option and then they'll bring four others at you."

That much was evident. The Warhawks got an impressive 29 points from center Eliza Wortman, but the Knights countered with balance, as Brittney Fair had 18, Ashley Green 16, Alex Cohen 13 and Gaby Bronson nine.

The Knights, the defending league co-champs with Grafton last season, continued their strong effort to lockdown control of the North Shore with their second win in a week after an impressive three-game sweep in the KSA Tournament in Orlando over the holiday. Nicolet is now 5-0 in conference and 10-1 overall.

Trial ordered in River Hills beating case

Jan. 07, 2010 3:58 p.m. | Two teens, including the son of the Milwaukee chamber of commerce president, were ordered Thursday to stand trial on charges of beating up a third teen at a parent-supervised Halloween party in River Hills.

Ryan Sheehy of Fox Point, the son of Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, and Ian Bautz of Shorewood both waived their right to a preliminary on the felony charges of substantial battery. They were ordered to return to Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Jan. 14 to enter pleas.

Both are 17 and are being prosecuted as adults.

They are charged with punching and kicking 18-year-old Gard Pecor of Fox Point, leaving him with a broken jaw, which was wired shut for six weeks, and a broken nose, according to a criminal complaint.

Plowing, salting under way; one accident reported

Jan. 07, 2010 10:27 a.m. | Police Chief Tom Czaja says roads in the village are snow-covered and slushy. Public works crews are out salting and plowing.

Czaja reports hearing a radio transmission that a car hit the median wire on Interstate 43 near Brown Deer Road within the last half hour. The Fire Department was not called to respond to any injuries.

Nicolet's depth leads to decisive 71-56 win over HHS in NSC boys clash

Jan. 05, 2010 10:51 p.m. | A lot of the early talk this season about the Nicolet boys' basketball team's fast start has been about senior guard Myles Henry, who has taken over games at some points.

But when Henry got into foul trouble in both the second and third quarters of the Knights' first-place showdown with host Homestead Tuesday night, the Knights backcourt depth rose to the fore. Jarel James, Tre Kinlow, Jeff McClain, Clem Robinson and Brandon Zall all took turns running the show, turning up the steam on the halfcourt trap and getting into the lane at will, driving the Knights to a decisive 71-56 victory.

"Everybody has to bust their tails every night and go 100 percent," said James, who finished as one of four Nicolet players in double figures with 10 points. "We had a lot of guys in foul trouble so the bench had to play well and they did. It really helped us."

With the win, the Knights improved to 3-1 in the North Shore good for a four-way tie for the lead with Homestead, Port Washington and Whitefish Bay in what is looking like a fight to the finish for league honors this season.

"It's a game of runs and momentum," said Knight coach Paul Hepp. "We were able to dictate the action. They (the Highlanders) didn't quit, but I thought we did a better job of taking care of the ball tonight. We didn't allow them any big runs or any easy points. It was a very good team win tonight."

Four to vie for pair of three-year Village Board terms

Jan. 05, 2010 6:46 p.m. | Two three-year terms are open on the Village Board and incumbents Eric Fonstad, 7405 N Beach Drive, and Sandy Garmer 7863 N Club Circle, will seek re-election as will Douglas H. Frazer, 6405 N Berkeley Blvd. and Craig Kaplan, 8118 N. Links Way.

Fonstad was first elected in 2007, Garmer in 1998.

There is also one two-year term. F. R. Dengel III, 803 E Calumet Road, was appointed in August, 2009, to fill a seat left vacant when Mark Mowers did not take the oath of office after winning the seat in April, 2009. Dengel is running for the two-year term.

Three set to contend for Nicolet School Board seat

Jan. 05, 2010 6:28 p.m. | One seat is up for election to the Nicolet School Board with three candidates declared, so a primary election will be held in February to narrow the field to two.

Joseph Kasle, 8610 North Point Drive, Fox Point, president of the Maple Dale-Indian Hill School Board, will not seek re-election to the Maple Dale Board and will run for the Nicolet School Board. Also running is Ellen Redeker, 6601 N. Alberta Ct., Glendale, former president of the Glendale-River Hills School District Foundation. Rounding out the trio seeking a seat on the Nicolet board is Bruce Brocker, 2151 West Bernard Lane, Glendale. Incumbent Mark Majeski will not seek re-election.

School Board terms are for three years and members earn $1,000 per year.

Other area races:

Fox Point-Bayside: Incumbent Michael Weiss, 305 E. Acacia Road, Fox Point, will seek another term on the board. Eliz Greene, 514 E. Community Place, Fox Point, will also run for one of two seats. Members serve three-year terms and do not receive compensation.