Help us find the best of our communities
We’ve all recommended a place — maybe an eatery, a park, a theater — to family and friends.
So let’s combine our recommendations, our favorite places, and see what NOW readers think are the best places in the NOW communities.
Each week starting Oct. 31, we’ll ask you to submit your favorite places in a NOW community on our Facebook page. We’ll take submissions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the week.
On Thursday and Friday, we’ll take those suggesions and seek your votes for what are the best places in that community. We’ll even make a Foursquare list that you can follow.
Share your favorite places to go to in Wauwatosa on Oct. 31. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Just go to our Facebook page on Monday and let us know.
Authorities discover grenades, mortars at Hales Corners residence
The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office recovered a barrage of military devices, including mortars and grenades, Wednesday afternoon in a basement in Hales Corners, authorities said Thursday.
Sheriff's deputies arrived at the residence in the 5500 block of S. 92nd St. at 2:30 p.m. They discovered 15 hand grenades, one mortar shell, one stick grenade, 18 military and parachute flares, and a light anti-tank weapon, sheriff's spokeswoman Fran McLaughlin said in a news release. Some of them were live, McLaughlin said. Technicians from the Sheriff's Office Explosive Ordnance Detection Bomb Squad retrieved the military devices, and destruction of the items was pending, McLaughlin said.
The owner of the items was a retired Milwaukee police officer who was also a collector, Hales Corners Police Detective Kent Schoonover said Thursday. The man's family called the Hales Corners Police Department after he died Wednesday, asking police to remove the items.
Schoonover said that as a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard the man was an extremely careful and safe-minded individual who had everything securely stored.
"There was no danger to the neighborhood, there was no danger to the citizens, there was no danger to the family. It's just that these items are beyond our expertise so we called the sheriff's department for assistance," Schoonover said. "It doesn't happen every day, but there's nothing else to this. He was just an avid collector. He was not doing anything dangerous."
Group helps men find their singing voices
Men of all ages are invited for free vocal lessons for six straight Mondays beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 6705 Northway, Greendale.
The lessons are offered by Midwest Vocal Express, an all-male a cappella chorus.
For more information, call Tom Weber at 888-240-4426 or www.MVE.org.
South Milwaukee Walmart foes hold public meeting
South Milwaukee residents opposed to plans for a new Walmart in that city are holding a community meeting tonight.
The new group, Friends of South Milwaukee, will discuss the project starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 732 Badger Ave., South Milwaukee.
The proposed 115,000-square-foot store, to be built on 10 acres west of Chicago Ave., and one block south of College Ave., won several key votes before the Common Council last week. The council will meet Nov. 1 to consider final approval for the project.
Postal Service looking at alternate plans for Oak Creek site
The U.S. Postal Service and developer Cobalt Partners are starting to consider alternatives to a stalled proposal for building a new mail processing facility in Oak Creek.
Plans to develop the 800,000-square-foot building, on 64 acres south of E. College and west of S. Pennsylvania avenues, remain on hold as the agency looks to cut costs by closing post offices and processing facilities nationwide.
The Postal Service in 2009 completed its $8.1 million purchase of the development site. The new facility, to be developed by Cobalt, would replace an obsolete building at 345 W. St. Paul Ave., in downtown Milwaukee, and other facilities.
The Oak Creek Plan Commission, at its Tuesday night meeting, will consider a request to change the development plan to allow for creating an alternate project for the site, said Doug Seymour, community development director.
There are no specific alternatives yet, Seymour said. But it makes sense to begin planning for that possibility given the prospects for the original project, he said.
» Read Full ArticleCentral football game Saturday night at Franklin
Brookfield Central will travel to Franklin for a 7 p.m. WIAA Division 1 level 2 Football game on Saturday.
Central (8-2) will face Franklin (8-2) of the Southeast Conference.
The Sabers have won four in a row since losing to Muskego, 20-0, on Sept. 23. Their other loss came to Kenosha Bradford, 25-0, on Sept. 2.
The Lancers have won five in a row, having last lost, 31-28, to Marquette in double overtime on Sept. 16.
Central drilled Milwaukee Hamilton of the City Conference, 62-24, in the first round at home last week, while the Sabers beat MUHS, 23-21, at Hart Park.
Spartans give away football, keep the win
During the course of Friday night’s game against Greendale, the Brookfield East football team gave away three interceptions, including one deep in its own territory, as well as a fumble near the Panthers’ goal line, and a blocked punt.
The Spartans made six trips inside the Greendale 35, scoring on only one of those possessions. They also ventured inside the 5-yard line and came away with no points on two different occasions.
Considering all that, it seems likely that they would have lost – yet in reality, they came out with a 14-7 victory in a WIAA Division 2 first-round game at Stephen J. Gavinski Field in Greendale.
They survived partially because of Greendale’s own mistakes, including three lost fumbles and an interception, and because of their own stout defense, which stopped the Panthers on downs in East territory twice during the second half.
“We have a habit of (making it tough on ourselves); that’s for sure,” East coach Tom Swittel said. “Our goal always is to play 48 minutes of football, and we had to do that tonight.”
» Read Full ArticleHistory repeats as Franklin tops Marquette
Franklin will face the winner of the Milwaukee Hamilton/Brookfield Central matchup in the second round.
Ryan to hold town halls in Muskego and Oak Creek
Muskego - U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan is planning to hold six town-hall meetings in southeastern Wisconsin in the next two weeks, starting with events in Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.
The Republican congressman is scheduled to hold listening sessions in Muskego and Oak Creek on Thursday. A third event is scheduled for Friday in Racine.
Ryan is the architect of a Republican budget plan to cut taxes. His plan would also restructure Medicare and cut social safety-net programs such as food stamps and Medicaid.
After the plan was introduced, Ryan held a series of town-hall meetings in the spring that drew large and sometimes raucous crowds.
A coalition of groups who want Social Security and Medicare preserved is planning protests Thursday.
» Read Full ArticleSouth Milwaukee Walmart wins OK, residents protest
Plans to develop a Walmart supermarket and discount store in South Milwaukee won several key Common Council votes Tuesday night, following a raucous public hearing.
The council voted 5-2 to sell city-owned land for the 115,000-square-foot store, which will be built on 10 acres west of Chicago Ave., and one block south of College Ave.
The council, by the same margin, also voted to approve zoning for the new store; to vacate one block of 11th Ave. to allow two parcels to be combined for the store, and to finalize plans to provide up to $1.8 million in city funds to help finance the $12 million project.
Those votes came after around 40 residents spoke in opposition to the plan. Their comments drew cheers and applause from dozens of other residents who packed the council chambers, while others watched via Skype from the adjacent senior citizens center.
Among the issues cited by opponents were claims that the store would create traffic congestion, and result in higher crime.
» Read Full ArticleOak Creek's rally just short
Pewaukee bulldozes past Whitnall
Shortly after the Pewaukee-Whitnall football game ended Friday night, two onsite bulldozers revved up a groundbreaking ceremony honoring the planned reconstruction of Whitnall High School's Falcons Field.
Unfortunately for the hosts, the earth-moving machines provided an apt metaphor for Pewaukee's dominating performance in a 44-8 victory over the Falcons on Friday.
Pewaukee needed a win or a Brown Deer loss to clinch an outright Woodland-Blue Conference championship, and the Pirates didn't take any chances, sewing up the league title with a 7-1 record (7-2 overall).
"We wanted to win the conference outright," said Pewaukee head coach Clay Iverson. "Whitnall's a good team; they're well coached, and to come in here and play the way we did was encouraging as we start our next season. Now it gets really fun."
The Pirates stout defense set the tone early, scoring the game's first points on a safety midway through the first quarter, then blocking a punt deep in Whitnall territory, which led to a 4-yard touchdown run by senior Alec Henderson.
» Read Full ArticleBrick, Greendale cap off banner season
The Cudahy football team ran into a Brick wall on Friday night, as host Greendale rolled 49-19 to a second consecutive Woodland-Black Conference title behind its senior quarterback.
Sam Brick compiled more than 300 yards of offense and five touchdowns for the Panthers (8-1, 8-0) against the Packers (4-5, 4-4) on Friday night.
“He’s a phenomenal talent,” Greendale head coach Rob Stoltz said. “Running the ball, throwing the ball, we expect so much out of him.”
After running back Jake Zywicki (13 rushes, 166 yards) capped the opening drive of the game with a one-yard touchdown run, Brick dismantled the Cudahy secondary for the remainder of the half.
He connected with receiver Brett Nethery on a pivotal 4th down and 12 on the team’s second offensive series and on the next play strolled into the end zone on a one-yard run.
» Read Full ArticleStore's Wi-Fi crashes after man reportedly watched porn
A 43-year-old Franklin man caused a store's computer systems to crash after reportedly watching porn using the Wi-Fi.
According to the police report:
The man was at Open Pantry, 7610 W. Rawson St., and the store's computer systems crashed while he was reportedly watching porn, so he was asked to leave the premises prior to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7.
Police warned the man that he is no longer welcome at the business and will be cited for trespassing if he returns.
Pizza restaurant Tazinos to sell $1 million in shares
Tazinos Inc., which operates all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta and salad bar restaurants, said Monday it plans to raise $1 million to expand its business.
The St. Francis company will sell shares for $1 each to investors who meet certain "suitability" standards, Tazinos said in a news release. Typically, investors in such deals must meet certain net worth requirements.
Tazinos operates restaurants in Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek and Pleasant Prairie, and plans to develop more locations in the Milwaukee area, the release said.
Tazinos was founded in 2007 by Purcell, according to the company's website.
Whitnall High School anglers win regional championship
Kyler Chelminiak and Nicholas Peterson of Whitnall High School won the FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Central Region Bass Fishing Championship held Saturday on Kinkaid Lake in Carbondale, Ill.
The Whitnall duo's catch of three bass weighed 9 pounds, 9 ounces. The tourney featured state champions from the Midwest.
The fishing conditions were described as tough.
» Read Full Article
Franklin trumps Tremper on homecoming
There was enough excitement for two nights worth of homecoming fun for the Franklin football program Friday night, anchored by a 28-17 victory over Kenosha Tremper.
Before the game, the Sabers honored the 2006 state champions, who received a long and well-deserved ovation. Then the homecoming court was introduced, and only then did the game finally begin.
But distracting everyone from that thought was this little thing called baseball's National League Divisional Series, for which the crowd got updates every five minutes from the public adddress anouncer.
And even before it was broadcast that Nyjer Morgan had knocked in the game-winning run sending the Brewers to the National League Championship Series, the side judge knew something good had happened because he saw the chain gang jump up and wave their arms in the air.
"I know you're asking me how I know this," he said with a laugh.
Tagye's early strikes lead Rockets
Stauner, who also plays linebacker, said it was the biggest game of the Rockets’ season.
Life sentence given for slaying in Cudahy park
A South Milwaukee man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for the killing of an Oak Creek man whom he initially reported as missing but later admitted to police the victim had been pressing him to pay a drug debt.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Conen sentenced James Szuta to life in prison for the first-degree intentional homicide of John Weinhold, who was found shot to death in June 2010 inside a minivan near a Cudahy park.
Under the sentence, Szuta will be eligible for release under extended supervision after he serves 37 years.
Szuta initially told police Weinhold had been abducted, but investigators later learned that Szuta owed Weinhold money and linked him to Weinhold's killing through DNA evidence, according to the criminal complaint in the case.
Szuta eventually admitted to police that he bought drugs from Weinhold and said Weinhold was pressing him to pay his debt. He told police he knew Weinhold always carried a large amount of money.
» Read Full ArticleHamburger Mary's open in Bay View
The newest in the Hamburger Mary's mini-chain opened Wednesday night in Bay View.
In the works since spring, it opened at 2130 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., the site of a former Omega restaurant.
Starting Thursday, the restaurant will be open for lunch as well, according to Ashley Wright, one of the franchisees. He and his twin, Brandon, are also part owners of the franchise system.
The Bay View restaurant is the 10th in the system, with others in Chicago and across the country.
The restaurant's specialty is its half-pound burgers, but it also serves soups, salads and entrees, and will begin serving weekend brunch.
» Read Full ArticleGreendale lifts water advisory
Greendale on Tuesday lifted its advisory that village residents should use boiled or bottled water.
The advisory, in place since Sunday, was prompted by routine drinking water testing, which detected the presence of coliform bacteria.
Retesting of the village's drinking water came back negative for coliform Tuesday, so the advisory was lifted.
The village distributed more than 3,000 gallons of bottled water to residents during the boil water advisory, according to Greendale Village Manager Todd Michaels.
"Everyone in the village cooperated very well, which made the process go that much smoother," Michaels said. "We understand that it was an inconvenience, but we appreciated everyone's cooperation so that we could ensure the health and safety of our residents, which was our first priority."
» Read Full ArticleDeath of Greendale man in Washington County jail investigated
West Bend - The Washington County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a 24-year-old Greendale man while in custody at the Washington County Jail, Sheriff Dale Schmidt said Tuesday.
Nicholas S. Kraby died Sept. 30. He is the second inmate to die this year at the jail.
His death does not appear to be a homicide, Schmidt said.
An autopsy report has not been completed and a cause of death has not been determined, a representative of the Washington County Medical Examiner's office said Tuesday. Toxicology tests are pending.
Kraby, a Huber inmate with release privileges, had been outside the jail the previous day, Sept. 29, for a medical appointment, Schmidt said.
» Read Full ArticleTake a capsule look at the week's top stories in NOW's Prep Sports Primer
Join NOW and Lake Country Sports Director JR Radcliffe for this week's Prep Sports Primer, the fastest 90 seconds in local high school sports.
Each week, JR will highlight some of the top sports stories in the suburban area. This week includes looks at the standout Homestead girls tennis team, some of the top girls golfers, including Kettle Moraine's Leighann Cabush, and more.
Greendale's boil water advisory extended
An advisory that Greendale residents boil water or use bottled water because coliform bacteria was detected in the village's drinking water supply will remain in effect, as testing continues. Bottled water will be made available to residents until the advisory is lifted, village officials said Monday.
Additional testing of water samples Monday morning came back negative for total coliform bacteria, the village reported. But testing will continue today, and the precautionary advisory will remain in effect until confirmation that no coliform bacteria are present.
Ice, food and any beverages prepared with village drinking water should be discarded, and residents should boil or use commercially bottled water for drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth, making ice, and washing hands before eating. Water does not need to be boiled before showering. If you boil water, it should be heated to a rolling boil at least one minute before use.
While coliform itself is not harmful, officials noted that it could indicate the presence of other potentially harmful bacteria. Its presence also a violation of state and federal safe drinking water regulations.
Lab results require a 24-hour testing period, and an update will be provided Tuesday morning on final lab results, per state Department of Natural Resources protocol.
» Read Full ArticleGreendale schools remain open during boil advisory
Residents in the Village of Greendale should boil their water before consuming it, or use bottled water, until further notice. But school will go on as normal.
Water utility officials found coliform bacteria in the village's drinking water during routine water supply testing Wednesday and Friday, village officials said in a news release Sunday.
"Ice, food and any beverages prepared with unsafe water must be discarded. You should boil or use commercially bottled water for drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth, making ice and washing hands before eating," the news release said. "If you boil water, the water should be heated to a rolling boil for at least one minute before use. Ice should be made from boiled or bottled water."
So should coffee, tea, juices and other beverages. Officials also recommend using bottled or boiled water for washing fruits or vegetables, brushing teeth, watering pets and rinsing dishes.
However, water does not need to be boiled for showering, officials said, only for bathing infants and washing open wounds. Water from the tap can also be used for dishwashers that use a heating element to dry dishes, officials said.
» Read Full Article
