Upset special: Oak Creek girls top Nicolet

March 19, 2010 7:36 p.m. | The Oak Creek girls basketball team advanced to the WIAA Division 1 sectional final following their 42-36 upset win against No. 1-seeded Nicolet at Whitefish Bay Friday night.

Oak Creek guard and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit Angela Rodriguez was held scoreless in the first half, but erupted in the third quarter and scored seven of Oak Creek’s 11 points to give the team a 28-21 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Nicolet cut the lead to two points with just 28.4 seconds remaining, but Oak Creek’s Cydney Weisflog sandwiched four free throws in between two missed free throws from Nicolet’s Gaby Bronson to seal the victory.

Oak Creek shot a mind-boggling 17-for-17 from the free-throw line; Nicolet made just 4 of 13 free throws.

Weisflog scored a team-high 12 points; Rodriguez finished with 11.

Wisconsin's 2010 high school principal of the year from Franklin

March 18, 2010 6:30 a.m. | Franklin High School Principal Mike Cady has been selected the 2010 Wisconsin High School Principal of the Year by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators and the state Department of Public Instruction.

"Mike exemplifies what leadership in public education is all about," Franklin School District Superintendent Steve Patz said in a news release about the honor. "He is a superb principal who serves as a splendid role model for his peers and for those who aspire to serve as school adminstrators."

Cady is in his sixth year as principal at Franklin High. Previously, he was an associate principal at Pewaukee High School and dean of students for Nicolet Union High School. He also taught social studies in Pewaukee and at Pulaski High School.

"Certainly I am humbled and gratified to be acknowledged by my peers in this way," Cady said in the news release, adding, "this award is reflective of the entire staff at Franklin High School, who strive daily for the benefit of our students."

Other principals in the state who are being honored by AWSA and the DPI are Bloomer Middle School Principal Barry Kamrath and Ripon's Barlow Park Elementary School Principal Myra Misles-Krhin, who were selected as the Wisconsin middle school and elementary school principals of the year.

High school principal gains honor

March 17, 2010 4:14 p.m. | Franklin High School Principal Mike Cady has been named the 2010 Wisconsin High School Principal of the Year by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.

Cady, in his sixth year as Franklin principal, was judged on criteria that included professional preparation/education, memberships in professional organizations, community leadership and other awards and honors.

Cady will be recognized at a statewide conference next year and compete in national competition. He will receive $1,000 to be used toward the high school.

"Certainly, I am humbled and gratified to be acknowledged by my peers in this way," Cady said in a news release. "But most importantly, this award is reflective of the entire staff at Franklin High School, who strive daily for benefit of our students."

Cady began his career in 1994 as a high school social studies teacher at Pulaski High School. Prior to coming to Franklin, he served as associate principal at Pewaukee High School.

Franklin delays action on economic incentives

March 17, 2010 12:00 p.m. | Franklin - The Common Council on Tuesday referred to a committee three proposals that would create incentives designed to promote economic development, including one request from an existing business for up to $75,000 in assistance.

Franklin Automotive & Restoration, 3012 W. Ryan Road, asked for lower property taxes, a waiver of various fees and other incentives to aid its plan to construct two buildings next to its business. One would house the auto repair part of their business and the other would be leased, primarily to professional office tenants.

The other proposals would create an interim economic incentive program for small business development and would lay the groundwork for hiring a consultant to identify priorities for an economic development incentive program.

Franklin considers $75,000 incentives for business

March 16, 2010 2:44 p.m. | Franklin - The Common Council tonight will consider incentives worth an estimated $75,000 that are being requested by an automotive business.

The request is being made by Jim Minelli and Bruce Hubbard, owners of Franklin Automotive & Restoration, 3012 W. Ryan Road.

According to a letter to the city, they plan to construct two buildings next to their business - one would house the auto repair part of their business and the other would be leased, primarily to professional office tenants.

Among other things, the owners are requesting a reduction in the property taxes that would normally be assessed on the multi-tenant building; a waiver of various fees; and city-paid construction and installation of a fire hydrant, sewer laterals and a sidewalk.

Separately, the council also is scheduled to consider developing an economic incentives program, according to the meeting agenda.

Aldermanic candidate forum set for March 22

March 15, 2010 4:44 p.m. | The Wisconsin Grandsons of Liberty will hold an aldermanic candidate forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 22 at the Root River Center, 7220 W. Rawson Ave.

The forum will feature candidates from districts 1, 2 and 5 up who are running in the April 6 election.

The District 1 race pits incumbent Steve Olson against challenger Greg Kowalski; District 5 has two newcomers, Bryan Maersch and Doug Schmidt; and Alderman Tim Solomon is running unopposed in District 2.

Moderators will accept questions from the audience and a "meet-and-greet" period will follow the forum.

Patrols will make sure seat belts are fastened

March 11, 2010 3:24 p.m. | Starting Friday, the Franklin Police Department will intensify its seat belt enforcement patrols as part of a statewide initiative to reduce traffic deaths.

Through money from the state Department of Transportation, officers will patrol in greater numbers and for longer hours on the lookout for seat belt violators.

"We want all drivers and passengers to buckle up voluntarily," police Sgt. Danial Morris said. "But if they don't wear a safety belt, we're prepared to stop their vehicle and give them a ticket."

The extra enforcement runs until March 21.

Help us choose the All-Suburban teams and you could win Bucks tickets

March 11, 2010 7:21 a.m. | Want to weigh in on who you think are the best boys and girls basketball players in the suburban area?

Now's your chance, as we're asking high school hoops fans to help us select the annual NOW Newspapers All-Suburban boys and girls basketball teams, and the Players of the Year.

We've nominated the top players in the area to fill 10 spots on each honors team and we're asking you to pick the players that you think are the best in the NOW Newspapers coverage area.

When the fan voting is over, your votes - along with the votes of our sports staff - will determine the makeup of our All-Suburban Teams. And one lucky person will win a pair of lower-level tickets to a Milwaukee Bucks game just for voting!

Vote for the boys team

Finding superintendent taking longer than expected

March 10, 2010 8:44 p.m. | Whitnall school officials were hoping they would know who their next superintendent would be by early February.

But February came and went, and now - the second week of March - a successor to Karen Petric still has not been named.

School Board President Bill Osterndorf said Tuesday the reason for the hold up is contract negotiations with one of the candidates. The board previously narrowed the field to two: Grafton High School Principal Ken McCormick and former Beloit superintendent Lowell Holtz.

Board members are scheduled to meet in closed session Monday to continue discussion over superintendent candidates.

Osterndorf said an announcement could be made as early as the board's next regularly scheduled meeting, March 22.

Suburban leaders rally against bill on sex offenders

March 09, 2010 3:12 p.m. | Suburban Milwaukee leaders are mobilizing against a bill that would outlaw local ordinances that restrict where sex offenders can live.

A hearing on Assembly Bill 759 is set for Thursday before the state Assembly Committee on Corrections and the Courts.

Franklin Ald. Steve Olson said Tuesday that elected officials from Franklin, Greenfield, Cudahy and possibly other suburbs plan to attend the hearing.

Olson said he thinks the bill would result in Milwaukee sex offenders being released from prison and allowed to live in the suburbs.

"It's an effort by some Milwaukee legislators to again pass something quickly, when nobody sees it, and put their problems on to other communities," Olson said.

MMSD considers land purchase in Ryan Creek headwaters

March 08, 2010 12:25 p.m. | An 11.4-acre corridor between S. 116th St. and Dumke Lake in Franklin that includes wetlands at the headwaters of Ryan Creek might be purchased by the Milwaukee Metrpolitan Sewerage District, officials said Monday.

The district would buy the land from William Katzman of Franklin at a cost of $185,000 for its regional flood management and open space preservation program known as Greenseams, MMSD Executive Director Kevin Shafer said. Katzman, a lobbyist, is owner of Eagle Disposal of Franksville.

The parcel encompasses 7 acres of wetlands that help store storm water and prevent downstream flooding. It is located on the east shore of Dumke Lake between two other properties already owned by the district, said David Grusznski, program manager for the Milwaukee office of The Conservation Fund. The national organization administers Greenseams for MMSD.

If the acquistion is approved by the district's commission, MMSD would own a total of 107 acres around the lake. Ryan Creek drains the lake.

On Monday, the policy, finance and personnel committee of the district's governing commission recommended purchase of the property. The full commission will consider the proposal at its March 22 meeting.

Brookfield Central vs. Whitnall, Tosa West basketball photos now online

March 08, 2010 10:30 a.m. | This weekend featured a number of closely contested regional-final boys basketball games and we've posted NOW photojournalist Peter Zuzga's photo galleries from two of the top matchups.

Brookfield Central defeated Whitnall, 73-65, in a regional final Saturday to advance to a sectional semifinal and our photo gallery features more than 20 images from the game.

We also have shots of Wauwatosa West's 78-67 loss to Milwaukee Washington that included a post-game tribute to West coach Mike Landisch.

Brookfield Central vs. Whitnall gallery

Wauwatosa West vs. Washington gallery

Sabers season ends in regional final

March 06, 2010 9:48 p.m. | The Franklin boys basketball team put up a fight against state-title contender Hamilton, but the Sabers were never able to overcome the host Wildcats' fast start and lost, 68-56, in a regional final Saturday.

Hamilton jumped out to a 22-9 first-quarter lead and never let its advantage shrink to fewer than five points the rest of the way.

Franklin did chip away and eventually pulled within five at 43-38 with 1 minute, 50 seconds left in the third quarter, but Hamilton's Charles Lee hit a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws in the Wildcats' 10-2 run that ended the quarter and put his team ahead, 53-40.

Nick Romanowski scored 22 points to lead the Sabers. Darnell Harris had a game-high 26 for Hamilton, which also got 16 points from Elgin Cook before the junior forward was ejected for receiving two technical fouls with 1 minute to go in the second half.

Vote for the All-Suburban Basketball Team and you could win Bucks tickets

March 04, 2010 7:43 a.m. | Want to weigh in on who you think are the best boys basketball players in the suburban area?

Now's your chance, as we're asking high school hoops fans to help us select the annual NOW Newspapers All-Suburban Boys Basketball Team, and the Player of the Year.

We've nominated 14 players to fill 10 spots on the honors team and we're asking you to pick the player that you think is the top basketball player in the NOW Newspapers coverage area.

When the fan voting is over, your votes - along with the votes of our sport staff - will determine the makeup of our All-Suburban Team. And one lucky person will win a pair of lower-level tickets to a Milwaukee Bucks game just for voting!

Vote here.

Sabers end Warriors' hoops season in regional

March 02, 2010 10:40 p.m. | Muskego — The Muskego boys basketball team's game plan was simple: try and limit Franklin junior forward Nick Romanowski.

The Warriors were mildly successful in doing so in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal at Franklin on Tuesday, holding the 6-foot-7 post player to 18 points, four below his average.

But when Romanowski wasn't filling the basket, his teammates were.

Four Sabers scored nine or more points as Franklin blew out its guests, 75-57, to advance to Saturday's regional final against Milwaukee Hamilton.

"We knew we were going to see zone (defense) and we knew they were going to want to take 'Romo' out of the game," Franklin coach Tim Hogan said. "And we ran our offense very, very well.