Greenfield can't match Waterford

Oct. 22, 2011 12:37 a.m. | Under head coach Scott Otto, Greenfield's football program has come a long way in a short period of time.

In the first round of the WIAA Division 2 playoffs Friday night, the Hustlin' Hawks were shown how far they still have to go in a 42-7 loss at Waterford High School.

The experienced and battle-tested Wolverines took advantage of several first half mistakes by Greenfield, then sealed the win behind a smothering defense that held Greenfield's vaunted rushing attack to 63 yards over the first three quarters.

"We knew we had our work cut out for us," Otto said. "It's tough enough to play Waterford; you can't make the mistakes that we made. But a lot of that is predicated on we haven't been (to the playoffs) in nine years. It's a different atmosphere, and Waterford has been here three of the last four years. So it's something to get used to, and the only way you get used to it is getting back here year after year after year."

The Hawks got off to a solid start, forcing a quick punt and then using a perfectly placed punt by senior Alex Bosl to pin Waterford (9-1) inside its own 10-yard line. But a 43-yard play-action pass from quarterback Zach Fisher to Dustin Schindler sparked a 93-yard drive for the Wolverines, who broke the scoreless tie with a 6-yard touchdown run by Greg Steffens on 4th and 3.

City considers new budget with heavy road program

Oct. 20, 2011 5:40 p.m. | A proposed 2012 Greenfield budget that calls for a 2.15 percent property tax hike, mainly to finance an aggressive road program, received preliminary Greenfield Common Council Committee of the Whole approval Tuesday .

The package will be the subject of a public hearing Nov. 15.

With a property tax rate of $7.21 per $1,000 of assessed value, 17 cents higher than 2011, the proposed budget would cost about $34 more than this year for the owner of a home assessed at $200,000 both years.

Although the new state law keeps the levy at a zero increase unless there is growth, cities can raise their levies to cover debt. That's where the proposed nearly $11 million borrowing for an aggressive road program comes in, an idea that city officials are just starting to consider.

Because interest rates are so low and contractors are willing to give buyers a break just to keep crews working, the proposal has been made to lump road spending that is scheduled to be done over the next several years and do it all in two years. Then nothing would be done until 2015, when more would be borrowed for those future projects.

City considers longer list of nuisance vehicles

Oct. 18, 2011 10:44 p.m. | Greenfield may add to a its list of nuisances trailers or other vehicles that are used for storage and parked out in the open.

The city's Greenfield Legislative Committee on Monday recommended approval of an amended list. If the Common Council also approves the addition Nov. 1, the city will be able to force a cleanup at homes where the trailers have become eyesores.

Things are often piled around and on top of the trailers or inoperable cars and weeds grow up around them, said Jeff Cavett, fire marshal and code enforcer for the city. But without the addition to the ordinance, the city can't do anything about them.

A car or any other vehicle that's full of stuff wouldn't necessarily be deemed a nuisance. It also would have to have two other problems - such as being inoperable, partially dismantled, improperly licensed or parked in an unapproved surface.

City considers measure curtail gas thefts

Oct. 18, 2011 2:06 p.m. | Greenfield officials are thinking about strongly encouraging all gas stations in the city to go to prepay for gas in addition to paying at the pump in hopes of drastically reducing gas driveoffs.

Interim Police Chief Bradley Wentlandt told the Greenfield Legislative Committee last night that Green Bay had virtually eliminated gas driveoffs by eliminating investigations at stations that do not have prepay. Instead, the owners must write a report, get the registration information from the state Department of Motor Vehicles based on eye witnesses or surveillance videos, and then give the information to police who take it from there, Wentlandt said.

The vast majority of Green Bay gas stations have gone to prepay, he said.

He met with Greenfield gas station owners and all were in favor of going prepay except one, Wentlandt said. That one has a competitor nearby in New Berlin and he is afraid of losing business to the New Berlin station because it would not have prepay.

Caregiver given probation for leaving residents unattended

Oct. 15, 2011 10:18 a.m. | A former caregiver was sentenced to probation Friday for leaving residents at a Greenfield assisted living facility unattended while she went shopping for personal items, according to the state Department of Justice.

During her absence Greenfield police and firefighters were called to the facility for an 88-year-old resident who had fallen to the floor, the department said in a news release.

Latisha Latrece Williams, 24, of Greenfield, who pleaded guilty to negligent abuse of a patient-no bodily harm, was initially sentenced to nine months in jail, but the sentence was stayed and she was placed on probation for one year, according to state court records.

She must also pay court costs, a $500 fine and has been prohibited from employment as a caregiver for the elderly, according to the records.

According to the news release, on December 27, 2009 Williams punched in for her shift at the facility, operated by Lifecare Homes, Inc. at 5128 W. Midland Drive, at 10:56 p.m.

Hale makes the plays against Tosa East

Oct. 14, 2011 11:50 p.m. | West Allis Hale used a power rushing attack and timely defensive plays to overwhelm a hard-charging, never-say-die Wauwatosa East team Friday, 44-27.

The Huskies held a commanding 25-7 halftime lead, thanks largely to the backfield triumvirate of junior Taylor Tomczak, sophomore Corey Stingley and freshman Joe Werner. The trio combined for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries in the first half.

With East leading 7-6 early in the second quarter, Tomczak ripped off 20 yards on three carries in the red zone, ultimately dragging tacklers into the end zone from nine yards out.

Stingley added another touchdown on the ground two possessions later, high stepping through the left side of the line and accelerating down the sideline for the score.

The ground game proved essential on a cold, dry, windy night that saw eight fumbles in the first half.

Cop and canine earn award for police work

Oct. 12, 2011 12:02 p.m. | For locating a handgun that was used in a shooting, Greenfield's police dog and his handler have received a state award.

Police Officer Scott Zienkiewicz and his canine partner Badger were awarded the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association 2011 award for Meritorious Article Find.

In the shooting incident that happened in May in Milwaukee, a suspect fled into Greenfield on foot and was later captured at Clement Manor. Zienkiewicz and Badger were asked to search the area for the gun used in the shooting.

The team began where the suspect had discarded a sweatshirt while running. While tracking the suspect's path, Badger located the crucial piece of evidence.

West Allis to spend additional funds on development parcel

Oct. 11, 2011 7:00 a.m. | West Allis plans to spend another $200,000 to acquire a former restaurant building that was demolished to help create a development site near State Fair Park.

The city Community Development Authority, at its Tuesday board meeting, will consider a proposal to provide the funds to the former owners of the Mykonos Restaurant property, 8201 W. Greenfield Ave.

The city previously paid $1,449,907 to acquire the condemned property last November, said Kristi Johnson, community development supervisor. The owners had appealed that amount, and the $200,000 in additional funds will settle that appeal, she said.

The former restaurant, and the adjacent former Milwaukee Gray Iron foundry, at W. Orchard and S. 83rd streets, were purchased by the city and demolished to create an 8-acre development site. Both buildings were damaged by flooding in June 2008, and the city received a $4.8 million state grant to buy and demolish flooded properties.

So far, no specific development plans for the site have been disclosed. City officials have had contacts with developers who may be interested in building a hotel, neighborhood grocery store, offices and housing.  

Falls breaks through in the fourth

Oct. 08, 2011 12:11 a.m. |