Parents unhappy over plan to restructure elementary schools

10:38 a.m. | There could be major changes afoot for families of elementary school students in the Whitnall School District.

District administrators are proposing to make Hales Corners Elementary a school for 4-year-old kindergarten through second grade, while Edgerton Elementary would house grades 3 through 5.

The district brought the proposal forward as a means to save money and balance the enrollment at the two schools. By restructuring the elementary schools, officials say they could cut four teachers to save about $280,000 and would cut more costs by consolidating services.

But about 75 people attended Monday's School Board meeting and most spoke out against the proposal.

Many parents said it would create hardships for families with two elementary-age children. They also worried about the effect on busing and the logistics of transitioning to the new model.

Tosa West-Whitnall basketball gallery now online

Feb. 07, 2010 8:08 a.m. | We've just posted a photo gallery from Wauwatosa West boys basketball team's 62-57 victory over Whitnall.

Whitnall's William Pelkofer scored his 1,000th career point for the Falcons in the loss.

Check out our photo gallery from the game.

District hopes to fill another 164 Open Enrollment seats

Feb. 05, 2010 5:44 p.m. | The Franklin Public School District has 164 new seats available for the Open Enrollment program, for which the enrollment period officially began Monday.

The program allows nonresident students to attend schools outside their home district. There are currently 252 students attending Franklin public schools through Open Enrollment. Statewide in the 2008-09 school year, more than 28,000 students transferred to another school district through the program.

The state pays districts about $6,400 per student enrolled in schools through the program.

The enrollment period ends Feb. 19. Parents are urged to apply online at the state Department of Public Instruction's Open Enrollment Web site, dpi.wi.gov/sms/psctoc.html.

Ex-Franklin businessman killed in Haiti helicopter crash

Feb. 05, 2010 4:30 p.m. | A former Wisconsin businessman and real estate developer on a humanitarian mission to Haiti was one of two Americans killed in a helicopter crash in the Dominican Republic, authorities said Friday.

James Jalovec, 53, former owner of Milwaukee-based A&J Cartage Inc., and his pilot, John Ward, 43, of Fort Myers, Fla., were killed Thursday when their helicopter crashed into a mountain in the western Dominican Republic province of Dajabon, said Dominican Civil Aviation Institute spokesman Pedro Jimenez.

A former Franklin resident, Jalovec was also part owner of Oak Creek Storage and Handling Inc.

He moved to Naples several years ago, after selling the sewerage hauling firm, and was the owner of Sweetwater Environmental, a wastewater hauling company in Sebring, Fla., the Naples Daily News' Web site said.

Jalovec also was a former owner of Trees on the Move, a New Berlin commercial and residential landscaping contractor, said the firm's current owner, Gary McHugh.

New committee to focus on helping developers get faster approval

Feb. 04, 2010 3:28 p.m. | The Common Council has approved seven members of a new committee focusing on speeding up the development process in Franklin.

Alderman Steve Taylor said in a letter to Mayor Tom Taylor and the Common Council that he has heard that developers find it tough to do business in Franklin, saying it takes 90 days to get a project through in some communities but nine months in Franklin.

The committee will examine the best policies and procedures from other cities and look to implement them in Franklin, Taylor said.

"Eventually the economy will turn around and days of five subdivisions being developed at the same time will return to Franklin," Taylor wrote. "Until then, we need to turn to our local developers and citizen volunteers and ask them for help."

The members are:

Follow us on Twitter for chance to win Bucks tickets

Feb. 04, 2010 2:48 p.m. | Follow us on Twitter and you could win a pair of Bucks tickets to Tuesday night's game against the Detroit Pistons.

All you have do is visit twitter.com/MyCommunityNOW, click the "follow" button, and then post your own tweet mentioning @mycommunitynow and the words "Tweet this for a chance to win Bucks tickets." The deadline to win the tickets is 5 p.m. Friday.

If you're already following us on Twitter, just send us the Tweet - this contest is open to new and existing followers.

At 5 p.m. Friday, we'll randomly select two people from everyone who tweeted "Bucks Tickets" - and they'll each will win a pair to tickets to Tuesday's game.

If you're not already following us on Twitter, do so today. Not only will you get a chance to head to the game, but you'll also be able to stay on top of the latest news, sports, photos and more from the MyCommunityNOW.com Web sites.

Grant will help firefighters see through smoke

Feb. 02, 2010 1:10 p.m. | The Franklin Fire Department will purchase thermal imaging cameras and related equipment, thanks to a $27,000 grant from the U.S. Fire Administration.

The department has some of the equipment now, but the grant will be used to replace older units and buy additional cameras so that all engines and the ladder truck will have the state-of-the-art equipment, Fire Chief James Martins said.

Thermal imaging cameras help firefighters see through smoke and fire and find people in a burning building.

Warriors win ugly over Sabers

Jan. 29, 2010 9:41 p.m. | Despite 22 turnovers and a rough shooting night, the Muskego girls basketball team pulled out a 38-27 win over host Franklin on Friday.

Junior guard Alyssa Colla scored eight of her game-high 13 points in the second half and Katie Ellerson finished with 10 as the Warriors improved to 11-3 overall, 7-1 conference.

It was Muskego's fifth straight win over Franklin.

The Sabers (8-8, 4-4) took a 22-20 lead with 6 minutes, 55 seconds left in the third quarter on Taylor Atkinson's drive. But Muskego turned up the defensive intensity and went on an 11-0 run that put the Sabers away.

Franklin committed eight turnovers and missed all three of its shots throughout the remainder of the third and endured a scoring drought of 7:44 in the second half.

Children's party center jumps into old grocery site

Jan. 27, 2010 5:26 p.m. | A 14,000-square-foot children's party center will open in the former Pick 'n Save store at 6544 S. Lover's Lane Road.

Jump Zone will include a large inflatable playground with obstacle courses and slides, a party room and an area for toddlers, co-owner Paul Downs said.

The business is designed for children age 2 through 12 and especially children's birthday parties, church group outings or similar events, he said.

The business will occupy the southern end of the old Pick 'n Save store. Construction is under way and Downs said he and co-owner Mark Greene aim to open by May 1.

The Franklin Jump Zone will be the first in Wisconsin. About 50 stores are located across the country, Downs said, adding that he and Greene were motivated to open a franchise in the southern part of Milwaukee County because no similar business exists nearby.

Two Whitnall superintendent finalists identified

Jan. 25, 2010 1:14 p.m. | The Whitnall School District has named its two finalists for the superintendent position, and the community will have an opportunity to question both candidates on Tuesday.

The finalists are Lowell Holtz, a former Beloit School District superintendent, and Grafton High School Principal Ken McCormick.

Each candidate will make a presentation at a forum at Whitnall High School, 5000 S. 116th St., beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, when attendees will also be allowed to pose questions.

An official agenda posting about the forum did not name the two finalists, but School Board President Bill Osterndorf confirmed Holtz and McCormick are the finalists.

Holtz has also served as superintendent of the Palmyra-Eagle School District and last year was a candidate for state superintendent of public instruction, losing in the primary to eventual winner Tony Evers.

Public can question superintendent finalists

Jan. 21, 2010 3:00 p.m. | Whitnall School District residents will have the chance to meet the two school superintendent finalists at a forum set for Tuesday at the high school auditorium, 5000 S. 116th St.

The first candidate will make a presentation and take questions from the public at 6:30 p.m., followed by the second candidate at 7:30 p.m. The candidates were not named in a school district news release.

The School Board has reviewed candidates for the last month before narrowing the pool down to two. The board, which will meet after the forum to discuss the two finalists, hopes to make a selection by early February.

Franklin looks to streamline development process

Jan. 20, 2010 12:50 p.m. | Franklin — The Common Council on Tuesday approved council President Steve Taylor's proposal to create a committee that would suggest ways to speed the development process. The Mayoral Ad Hoc Development Process Review Committee will study what procedures work best in other communities to see if they can be implemented in Franklin.

Taylor has said some developers told him that a development proposed in other communities can be approved in 90 days but that it takes nine months in Franklin.

Mayor Tom Taylor will choose an alderman, three people experienced in development, and one member each from the city plan, economic development and environmental commissions to serve on the committee.

The members would be approved by the Common Council.

$80,000 in jewels stolen from woman

Jan. 19, 2010 8:31 p.m. | A designer bag containing assorted jewels valued at $80,000 was reportedly stolen from a woman in the 9300 block of South 35th Street on Friday, Franklin police say.

The victim told police that a man and woman in their early 30s approached her at about 5:15 p.m., and asked her for directions and then took the bag.

The victim believes the suspects followed her vehicle from a jewelry distributor in Chicago.

Franklin alderman wants to speed development process

Jan. 19, 2010 12:00 p.m. | Franklin — Saying it takes too long to get developments approved in the city, Common Council President Steve Taylor is asking his fellow aldermen to create a committee to review the development process.

Taylor is proposing a Mayoral Ad Hoc Development Process Review Committee to study what procedures work best in other communities to see if they can be implemented in Franklin.

He said some developers tell him that a development proposed in other communities can be approved in 90 days but that it takes nine months in Franklin.

Taylor is proposing that the committee be headed by Mayor Tom Taylor. The mayor would choose an alderman, three people experienced in development, and one member each from the city plan, economic development and environmental commissions to serve on the committee. The members would be approved by the Common Council.

Franklin police focusing on enforcement of seat belt law

Jan. 18, 2010 2:28 p.m. | The Franklin Police Department is stepping up its seat-belt enforcement efforts from now until Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7.

The department received $45,000 in state grant money to put extra squads on the road for speeding and drunken driving enforcement. Those officers will also be paying special attention to drivers and passengers not wearing seat belts, police Sgt. Eric Schroeder said.

A new state law dictates that drivers can be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt. In past years, officers could issue seat belt tickets only after stopping someone for a different offense, Schroeder said.

The Franklin Police Department's initiative coincides with a state Department of Transportation traffic safety campaign, featuring television and radio messages from Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver.