Ducklings lost their way and ended up separated from their mama on April 29 on Lund Lane in Menomonee Falls The Menomonee Falls Fire Department saved them and returned them to their mom Menomonee Falls Firefighter/Paramedic Taylor Knaebe assists while Lt./Paramedic Cody Porter opens the gate on Lund Lane to gain access to stranded ducklings Menomonee Falls Lt./Paramedic Cody Porter opens a gate to save ducklings on Lund Lane on April 29 A relieved mama duck with her ducklings after the Menomonee Falls Fire Department rescued them on April 29 on Lund Lane in Menomonee Falls MENOMONEE FALLS — Several fuzzy ducklings were saved after losing their way on April 29 in Menomonee Falls The Menomonee Falls Fire Department responded to the scene on Lund Lane our firefighters responded to a different kind of rescue: saving a group of ducklings who’d lost their way Thanks to observant citizens and some quick teamwork everyone made it back to their mom safe and sound and the little things that make people (and ducks) smile," the fire department said in a Facebook post 10 things to know this week from the WOW counties (Waukesha Ozaukee and Washington) sent on Sundays Get the latest Waukesha County news delivered every day so you don't miss out on updates Have Waukesha County breaking news alerts sent to your inbox as they happen At 12:54 p.m. on Wednesday, a vehicle was stopped at Michigan Avenue and Grandview Boulevard for a stop sign violation. The driver a… Read moreWaukesha police blotter: April 30-May 1, 20225 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: An enthusiastic group joined honorary chair Pamela Parker for a special evening of auctions Thank you to all the supporters who attended the gala bid in person and remotely on auction items purchased raffle tickets and donated to the Pamela Parker Community Outreach Health Clinic at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital Photos from the event and additional updates are coming soon!  For more information about Spring Splendor or to learn more about the outreach clinic please call 262-257-3200 or e-mail [email protected].  Proceeds benefited the Pamela Parker Community Outreach Health Clinic to serve uninsured and underinsured residents of Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital’s service area BairdDick and Jayne BeckerCollins State BankRobert and Ellen DrisnerDianne JohnsonTeri LuxDennis and Kathy PollardChris and Tricia RechliczJerry and Debbie WickWintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network is a partnership between Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin supporting a shared mission of patient care Our health network operates eastern Wisconsin's only academic medical center and adult Level I Trauma Center at Froedtert Hospital an internationally recognized training and research center engaged in thousands of clinical trials and studies We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. By continuing to use our site, you accept the use of cookies. To learn more, including how to disable cookies, visit our Privacy Policy ATTENTION: If you speak another language, assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call: 414-805-3000 (TTY: 1-800-947-3529) This site is not optimized for Internet Explorer For the best web experience please use an alternate web browser such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari — A Menomonee Falls nonprofit said its mission to support the community through nature-based outreach is in jeopardy due to a major infrastructure project planned through its property is among several properties in the path of a new high-voltage transmission line project proposed by the American Transmission Company (ATC) The $400 million Mill Road–Granville Project includes constructing a new power line and substation as well as upgrading current lines spanning portions of Milwaukee "The only reason I know is because I’ve been thrown in the arena and I feel like I’m running from lions," he said Winter said the project could disrupt the ranch’s operations for several years and cut off essential access to parts of the property "I would have preferred that large corporate business owners and successful energy companies would’ve invited people to the table," he added the project is designed to meet growing energy demand and maintain grid reliability The plan was submitted to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in October 2024 and is currently under review Watch: Nature-based nonprofit trying to protect mission from transmission line project "Our hiking trail and riding trail will become a construction zone for the next several years," Winter said “You certainly can’t have school field trips or special needs individuals with wheelchairs here because it's dangerous." Winter said the ranch plays a significant role in the lives of children "It’s something you feel inside that you only get from the outside," Winter smiled The property spans about 80 acres and has been in the family for generations "My great aunt assisted farmer Victor Hellman who started this mission in the late ‘60s," Winter said "We wanted to keep the legacy and outdoor therapy alive." offers hands-on experiences like harvesting hay "We want to serve the land as the land serves us," Winter said Winter said he hopes ATC will work with him and his neighbors to keep their operations alive "We feel we’ll come back at the end of construction even stronger," he said but also have a future that looks better than the present." The Promised Land Ranch and Preserve accepts volunteers and donations. To learn more about the ranch or support its mission, visit thepromisedlandranchandpreserve.com The proposed project includes a new substation near Mill and Marcy Roads in Menomonee Falls and a 138,000-volt transmission line to the Butler Substation in Wauwatosa ATC has proposed two potential route alternatives for that portion It also involves rebuilding and upgrading existing lines including a voltage increase from 138 kV to 345 kV on one segment and pole replacements along routes extending to Germantown and New Berlin The Wisconsin Public Service Commission(PSC) is holding public and party hearings through July. The PSC holds public hearings for the public to participate in and party hearings for applicants and intervenors Both public and party hearings are open for the public to observe The PSC encourages public engagement throughout its proceedings A previous version of this article stated the PSC is holding public and private hearings It has been corrected to say public and party hearings Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip Report a typo Appleton-based Hop Yard Ale Works is opening a location in Downtown Menomonee Falls Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories in that station's most popular podcast.  For anyone wanting to pick up the growing sport of pickleball the Menomonee Falls location of Pickleball Kingdom will be open soon Pickleball Kingdom will have a grand opening weekend March 27 to 30 Hours for the grand opening ― Thursday through Sunday ― will be the same as the facility's regular hours Local owner Greg Straub said the grand opening will be a "weekend long party" to show how fun pickleball will be at the club people can rent paddles or buy them from the pro shop The 60,000-square-foot indoor facility features 17 courts ― including a champions court with bleachers Packers legend Donald Driver is involved in Pickleball KingdomGreen Bay Packers legend Donald Driver will be an equity investor and brand ambassador for Pickleball Kingdom's locations in Menomonee Falls according to a news release from Pickleball Kingdom Driver will be involved in the ownership and marketing for the locations beginning with the Menomonee Falls facility “I loved winning on the football field and now it’s equally important to me to win in business,” Driver said in a statement “When I met Greg Straub and Doug Reigle from Pickleball Kingdom Pickleball Kingdom is already the champion in its lane and I’m excited about helping take things to a world championship level."   Driver will be at the club for the grand opening He'll be playing in the Founders Event for the club's founding members at 4 p.m according to Menomonee Falls Pickleball Kingdom officials He'll likely be at other events at the grand opening weekend but company officials did not have specific times and dates Founding memberships ― special memberships available to purchase before the club opens ― are available until March 26. To inquire about being a founder member, visit pickleballkingdom.com/clubs/menomonee-falls-wi and click on "Become A Member." Pickleball Kingdom is located at N58 W14900 Shawn Circle (just north of Silver Spring Drive and west of Interstate 41) It is in the former building of Multi-Color Corp. Pickleball Kingdom is a national franchise that opened its first location in Chandler, Arizona, in May 2022, according to its website. There are more than 45 other Pickleball Kingdom locations across the nation Pickleball Kingdom in Menomonee Falls is hiring front desk and bar staff There are full-time and part-time positions available submit a resume to info@kingdommenfalls.com More: Here are restaurants and other places to celebrate 2025 Mardi Gras in the Milwaukee area More: Pie anyone? Here are places in the Milwaukee area to grab a slice of pie on Pi Day March 14 Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com Thank you for completing the form, here is your download: "+jQuery("body").attr("docName")+" Thank you for completing the form, here is the link to your on-demand webinar: On-Demand Webinar Link Welcome to the second installment of a new feature on Police1, where we shine a spotlight on standout police recruitment videos. We recently announced the winner of Police1’s top police recruitment videos of 2024 but there are so many creative and impactful police recruitment strategies to highlight that we’ve decided to keep the momentum going This ongoing series is designed to celebrate best practices in police recruitment campaigns and provide police departments with police recruitment video ideas. Here we profile the Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin) Police Department which has tackled fierce competition in a crowded metro area to create a powerful and emotionally driven recruitment campaign Lewek and his team found their answer in a recruitment video designed to connect with the hearts of aspiring officers — by focusing not just on the job “Being one of many law enforcement agencies in a major metropolitan area we face stiff competition in our recruitment efforts,” said Lewek “Our video addressed this challenge by appealing to an aspiring officer’s inner calling to serve.” Rather than take a standard “day in the life” approach purpose and the personal journey behind the badge — offering an emotional draw rather than a procedural overview To speak directly to those who feel the job is more than just a job “We wanted to showcase the importance of self-leadership and having a vocation to serve others,” Lewek explained we also wanted the audience to feel the tremendous sense of pride that comes along with serving in the Menomonee Falls community.” Rather than scripting a narrative from the top down, the creative team — which included officers, supervisors, commanders and a local videography firm — built the story around real sentiments from those already wearing the uniform “Our group determined the video’s focus should not be a day in the life of an officer,” Lewek said “It should highlight the sentiments of our current officers and why they were ‘called’ to the profession The scenes selected coincided with the reasons our officers gave for choosing to serve in Menomonee Falls.” providing feedback on scene development and answering preset questions that formed the foundation for the video’s voiceover narration The department worked with Captivatefilmco.com a local firm selected after several interviews to ensure the right creative fit officers from all levels of the organization contributed to planning “The process of creating a quality video is quite comprehensive,” Lewek said “From attending numerous meetings focused on messaging to aligning staff to film the scenes and editing shots — it was a detailed undertaking.” The video has resonated — not just with potential recruits but within the department and the broader community “It was incredibly well received by both sworn and non-sworn members of our department and our village leadership,” Lewek said “We’ve had applicants share that seeing the video was the main reason they applied to our agency.” And that’s exactly what the team set out to do: not just show what they do Would you like Police1 to profile your police department’s recruitment video? Contact us here | PREVIOUSLY: Western Australia Police: The recruitment video that’s driving applications Copyright © 2025 Lexipol. All rights reserved.Do Not Sell My Personal Information MENOMONEE FALLS — Village leaders in Menomonee Falls announced new rules and initiatives at Village Park and other parks to address vandalism has experienced repeated incidents of vandalism according to village leaders in a Village Board meeting on March 3 Watch: Vandalism at Menomonee Falls park prompts stricter rules For the rubberized surface in the playground area “We’ve spent $9,000 just in materials to repair the damage The floor was burned and even hacked with a knife.” Leaders described other frequent acts like chopped trees The village now requires children over the age of 12 to be accompanied by a parent or assist a younger child while in the park The village made changes to village ordinances back in November including defined closing hours and the ability for police to eject people from the park A violation of an ejection order results in a $439 fine Playground-related violations start at $124 and increase to $250 for a third offense Officials are also working to install surveillance cameras at Village Park Menomonee Falls Police Chief Mark Waters said police will use surveillance footage to identify suspects for municipal court proceedings and restitution The village’s long-term goal is to install cameras in all parks New signage outlining a code of conduct will go up in all parks this spring “The groups that usually come are 12-17-year-olds and they’re not with any kids,” resident Sarah Thompson said Other parents disagree that an age limit is needed “I don’t think kids need an adult if they’re 12 or older,” resident Paige Knapp said Police Chief Mark Waters acknowledged concerns about limiting access for older children and noted the need for more gathering spaces “This village lacks places for kids between 12 and 16 to gather,” Waters said “We need to work with other village departments We’d like to be able to tell these kids 12 and older where they can recreate and do the things they should be doing versus hanging out on a toddler facility.” The village board approved a bid on March 3 for fiber optic construction along Menomonee Avenue and Village Park cameras are expected to become operational shortly after installation in May Getting into the NCAA tournament was great news as it was But for Seth Trimble to learn he and his North Carolina Tar Heels had the opportunity to play a first-round game at Fiserv Forum on Friday the former Menomonee Falls star and 2022 Wisconsin Mr said Thursday before taking the court for his team's open workout I was talking about how crazy it would be if we got a bid in Milwaukee I was stuck on the couch with a blank expression But there were so many chills going through my body in front of my friends – and run out of the tunnel I've always dreamed about playing in More: March Madness live updates in Milwaukee: Schedule today, Practice sessions at Fiserv Forum ahead of 2025 NCAA tournament It was a performance that perhaps put an end to some of the questions that many had about North Carolina (23-13) even belonging in the field of 68 with a matchup against sixth-seeded Mississippi (22-11) on tap for 3:05 p.m is in position to play a big role in the outcome It's a situation that might very well not have even played out had things broken a little bit differently Trimble averaged 5.2 points in just over 17 minutes off the bench as a sophomore finishing as the third-leading vote-getter for the ACC's sixth man of the year award then entered his name into the transfer portal The Wisconsin Badgers – who recruited Trimble coming out of high school as did the Marquette Golden Eagles – expressed interest in bringing him to Madison but Trimble chose to return to play for coach Hubert Davis in Chapel Hill so that was out of the picture," Trimble said "Wisconsin and coach (Greg) Gard came at me and my family with a good pitch But North Carolina ended up being the school for me once again." The decision ended up being a good one for both parties Trimble ranks second on North Carolina in minutes at 28.7 and third in scoring average at 11.7 "He does a number of positive and great things for us," Davis said "Being able to attack the basket and get fouled and get to the free-throw line he has the ability to do that consistently and be able to score and finish because of his athleticism and strength he can go to the free-throw line and is one of the best free-throw shooters on our team and in the conference attack under control,' because I think good things happen when he attacks the basket." Trimble will be playing in front of a crew 30 strong of family thanks in part to the generosity of several of his North Carolina teammates He and the family were in Dayton on Tuesday but didn't get home until the early-morning hours Thursday due to lengthy weather delays at the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky International Airport The Trimbles have been faithful travelers for years now – older son J.P went from Menomonee Falls star to North Carolina and now plays professionally in Israel but it's been a tradition at Carolina when someone is playing in their hometown they bless them," the elder Trimble continued so shoutout to his teammates for making it happen." arrived in Milwaukee with North Carolina very early Wednesday morning "He got done with his day yesterday and he Ubered home He just wanted to come home and see his dog who we bought at the ACC tournament when his older brother played Father and son locked eyes and shared a wave as the Tar Heels took the floor early Thursday afternoon I think God just gave him a little special blessing to get to come home." "I've always dreamed of a moment like this but this isn't something that comes every single day at this level To have this blessing and this opportunity to have some people who maybe can't make it to North Carolina or can't make it out anywhere else to be able to make it to this game is amazing Law enforcement officers work the scene of an accident on the morning of June 26 2024 at the intersection of Capitol Drive and Pewaukee Road (Highway 164) in Pewaukee WAUKESHA — The Menomonee Falls man who drove his car into a construction zone after reportedly having a seizure last June was sentenced Thursday to serve 25 years in prison followed by 13 years on extended supervision Jade Moen pleaded no contest in February to two counts of first-degree reckless homicide and one more of first-degree reckless injury in a plea agreement that saw the remaining charges against him — first-degree recklessly endangering safety two counts of operating without a license causing death and one more of operating without a license causing great bodily harm — dismissed Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Bridget Schoenborn also ordered that his driver’s license be suspended for life that he have no contact with victims or their families and he is to undergo mental health evaluation and treatment deemed appropriate He was given credit for 289 days already served Moen was charged after the June 26 crash at Capitol Drive and Pewaukee Road where a construction worker reported Moen’s car was going 60 to 80 mph when it struck two construction workers A woman was pronounced dead at the scene after resuscitation efforts failed whose driver told officers Moen’s truck never showed signs of stopping and continued westbound on Capitol Drive at about 30 mph One construction worker was severely injured taken to a nearby hospital and ultimately died of his injuries Another was also transported to a hospital with two dislocated knees a bruised arm and lack of sensation in his lower body Moen told officers he had blacked out with a seizure due to his epilepsy while driving westbound on Capitol Drive and woke up once his vehicle had stopped in a construction pit at Pewaukee Road Moen told police that he has been on two medications for seizures since 2010 and had in the past experienced “mini seizures.” He denied feeling any indications he may have been having a seizure before the crash occurred or missing any doses of his medications SIGN UP Moen’s wife reported he was employed as a construction worker She said he typically takes Uber to work or she drops him off at a worksite when he needs to transport supplies she stated that he has not had a valid driver’s license since a previous accident and he has had mini seizures while driving in the past Defense attorney Jonathan Lavoy said Moen was taking his medications as prescribed “He was running down to Menards to pick up lumber for a project he had been working on for a construction business He had been seizure-free for quite a bit of time leading up to that day and he had a seizure on the way to Menards and it was unexpected and unanticipated,” Lavoy said “I explained to the judge he may have had a false sense of security he felt he’d ben seizure-free and medicated for quite some time and he felt he was safe to drive that day and obviously that was not the case.” Lavoy said Moen “has been incredibly remorseful and accepting of responsibility from the very beginning He never wanted to put the victims through a trial He wanted to accept responsibility.” Moen had dozens of letters submitted on his behalf for Schoenborn to consider and said there were so many people supporting both Moen and the victims that the court proceedings were patched into an adjacent courtroom to accommodate the overflow Restitution in the case is to be determined at a hearing set for May 19 MENOMONEE FALLS — Voters in the Menomonee Falls School District have elected three members to the school board following a closely watched and contentious race that drew six candidates for three open seats Current school board President Nina Christensen Schmeling received the most votes with 6,424 (18%) followed by Christensen with 6,349 (18%) and Cramer with 5,803 (17%) according to unofficial results from Waukesha County Watch: Menomonee Falls race: Christensen re-elected The other three candidates were incumbent Chris Stueland The race drew increased public attention and protest in the final weeks "I think parents need more input in the schools Schools don’t need to tell anybody what they’re doing," Rob Kutz a downtown gun store and the conservative political group Turning Point hosted an event for Stueland and Sachs the League of Women Voters hosted a nonpartisan candidate forum at the public library citing concerns over what they described as bias Schmeling is a former special education teacher and past president of the Menomonee Falls Education Association she focused her campaign on increasing educator involvement in decision-making and supporting student well-being She is a Menomonee Falls High School graduate emphasized her experience in school board governance She campaigned on priorities such as academic excellence and fiscal responsibility an assistant professor and lifelong resident of southeastern Wisconsin and ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive curriculum life will soon get even better in Menomonee Falls Hop Yard Ale Works, based in Appleton, is opening a second location in downtown Menomonee Falls later this year. An opening date will be announced at a later date, according to a Facebook post by the business. a variety of beer and wine options and live music Hop Yard Ale Works will be at N88 W16521 Main St It will be at the former location of Wisconsin on Tap Hop Yard Ale Works serves wood-fired pizza, and the menu includes traditional pizzas and the ability to build-your-own pizza More creative pizzas on the menu are the Mr smoked cheddar and French onion sour cream); Cookie Za (woodfired cookie pizza with ice cream and hot fudge) and White Lightning pizza (white sauce The menu also features a vegan cauliflower crust option and several kinds of toppings to accommodate most allergies Hop Yard Ale Works serves beer including Engine Co Burnsie's Havering (a Scottish ale) and Prancing Pony Porter (Porter English beer) Hop Yard Ale Works also serves wine such as Gewurztraminer When did Hop Yard Ale Works open in Appleton?The pizzeria opened in Appleton in November 2021 The Menomonee Falls location will be the second location of Hop Yard Ale Works in the state For more information and updates, visit hopyardaleworks.com or facebook.com/hopyardaleworks More: Sidewalks: Which Milwaukee-area suburb has the most? It depends on how you measure it. More: When is the tax deadline in Wisconsin? Here's what happens if you file late MENOMONEE FALLS — The village is facing an increasing issue of vandalism in its parks Six newly planted trees have been cut down graffiti has been found all over the parks and equipment has been damaged Menomonee Falls Village Manager Mark Fitzgerald presented an update to the Village Board on March 3 regarding parks security and the plan to add surveillance to Village Park vandalism has become a significant concern to have a fairly active season moving forward," Fitzgerald said there was an agenda item related to a bid opening for a fiber optic extension that will allow for surveillance cameras to be placed in Village Park “Vandalism in our parks tends to be something that has really become There is active vandalism at the old gazebo and in the playground Fitzgerald said the bandstand has “an amazing amount of vandalism.” “Last year had so much vandalism for the rubberized at Village Park that we told you in November that we spent almost $9,000 just on materials to repair it was hacked up with a knife and or something more significant the amount of vandalism tends to be highest at Village Park and Rotary Park and because of the use and value that we now have at Village Park,” Fitzgerald said There’s active vandalism at the old band shell and there’s nuisance vandalism everywhere with people trying to pick locks and damaging the exterior doors Fitzgerald said there is graffiti that can be washed off or sealed over but what he was shocked by was hacking off new trees He added he assumed it is younger people such as adolescents Fitzgerald said the long-term goal is to get full surveillance cameras and systems in all of the parks so they can start to do justice to the growing ongoing problem discussed the ordinance changes that were adopted last fall we adopted a number of new provisions in parks in hopes of being a little bit more proactive to prevent these types of situations it was a little bit more vague with regards to being tied to sunset and so we now have defined closing hours,” Koenings said The police department is now authorized to eject people from the park for a period There is now an age limit in the Village Park playground so nobody over the age of 12 is allowed to utilize that space unless they are with a parent or if they are there assisting a younger child Menomonee Falls Police Department Chief Mark Waters discussed how North Middle School is located near the park “You have people age 12 and over going over there and not utilizing it for its function and the confrontations between those older kids and the younger kids we had no means or mechanisms to eject them from that facility Waters said he has talked to the Menomonee Falls School superintendent to inform and educate regarding the ordinance changes and hopefully gain compliance He added police presence will be increased at Village Park and warnings and citations will be issued it’s extremely difficult to identify the violators without the surveillance cameras but to hold somebody accountable for that damage is extremely difficult,” he said Waters also touched on how Village Park is right across the street from North Middle School but the park is not designed for most middle school-aged children “This village is sort of absent for activities and locations for individuals 12-16 years of age We need to work with other village departments non-governmental organizations and school districts We would like to be able to tell these kids where they can recreate and do the things that they should be doing versus hanging out on a toddler or under the age of 12 facility right now I think the village is absolutely void for recreational activities for individuals between 12 and 16 I think that’s something we need to address,” Waters said the race for Menomonee Falls School Board is heating up There are six candidates vying for three seats.  a downtown gun store and the conservative political action group hosted two school board candidates Chris Stueland and Adam Sachs the League of Women Voters hosted a non-partisan candidate forum at the library Sachs and Nina Christensen declined to participate saying “The level of bias present on their website makes it difficult to accept that this event will be conducted fairly…” Sachs and Christensen are being supported by the Republican Party of Waukesha County and by the WisRed initiative Jesse Cramer and Hallie Newman Schmeling say they are independents Those three agreed to do an on-camera interview Stueland and Christensen offered statements “Was there an incident or something that sparked you wanting to run for school board?” asked reporter Rebecca Klopf “This run is inspired by the book bans in October 2023 As an English teacher I was really concerned about that I tried to engage with the board about that issue particularly and they would not speak to me,” said Derek Blemberg “They banned any teaching from the brand new million dollar curriculum of 21st century history all of that cut from the curriculum,” said Jesse Cramer I felt a lot of fear and a lot of pain as both an educator and as a parent to see that a lot of the things that we prize—Menominee Falls schools to be about being that it's got great courses and great educators and students walk out and graduate being such great citizens and I was noticing that a lot of things were changing,” said Hallie Newman Schmeling Watch:  6 candidates for 3 spots in Menomonee Falls Adam Sachs posted on his Waukesha Freeman candidate questionnaire on Facebook saying I believe education should focus on core skills — reading math and science — not on ideological agendas.” Nina Christensen and Chris Stueland are the incumbents “I will advocate for a real-time increase in SPED (special education) funding with state legislators Our district is committed to serving all students but we cannot do so effectively if the state allocation does not match the percentage initially approved,” said Nina Christensen Chris Stueland directed TMJ4 News to her website “my focus has been to improve the quality of our students’ education by being a voice for parents reviewing school board business with a critical lens and offering ideas and solutions that would best serve the students MENOMONEE FALLS — Appleton-based brewer Hop Yard Ale Works known for craft beers and wood-fired pizzas made with homemade sauce is moving into the former Wisconsin On Tap bar The location is just east of the corner of Appleton Avenue and Main Street Wisconsin On Tap closed in August of last year the company said they are working toward an opening date that will be in the next few months The Menomonee Falls Downtown business association has been hinting at who will fill the space and giving clues about the arrival of beer pizza and a friendly beagle named Josie that has spent time at the Appleton location The identity of Hop Yard as the new tenants was revealed during the village's Pub Crawl today Hop Yard Ale Works is owned by Oliver and Amy Behm The brewery was founded in November 2021 and is located at 512 W — A gun shop in Menomonee Falls is at the center of a controversy between two school board candidates and community members concerned about Shepard Arms as the choice of venue Over a dozen protesters gathered outside the downtown shop Saturday morning to voice their objection to two of the area’s school board candidates campaigning inside Shepard Arms ahead of the April election and this just sends the wrong message,” protester Conor Olson said “I know you want to get your name out there an employee with Shepard Arms said it wasn’t the candidates Adam Sachs and incumbent Chris Stueland Check out: Menomonee Falls gun shop draws protesters over event with school board candidates “The primary point of the event was for Turning Point USA,” Scwharz explained “They just happened to show up because Turning Point USA supports what they’re doing school board-wise.” “If (protesters’) interest is in safety for schools While the candidates passed on an interview other supporters urged Shepard Arms was nothing more than an event Venue Richard Longfellow has two high school students in the district He said because the candidates didn’t sponsor the event they shouldn’t be affiliated with the gun shop "The candidates simply came because they were invited,” Longfellow said "Nothing had to do anything with the gun shop itself anything with the second amendment they just stated you know what they were running on protesters like Karen Jick said the optics alone are reason for concern "The connection between children and guns is already so volatile in our country with so many children being victims of gun violence,” Jick said “that it just seems like it's inappropriate." Protesters also said the conservative political action group hosting the event represents partisan politics that they want to keep out of the school board Families in Menomonee Falls were caught off guard after being notified that their school will close at the end of March school leaders cited the organization's continued enrollment and financial obstacles as reasons for the closure The message stated that the timeline to tackle the issues at the Menomonee Falls location has shortened and that they must close the Silver Spring location and redirect resources to other schools that have proven long-term sustainability and I'm really angry," parent Monte Driscoll told TMJ4 News Driscoll and his wife felt the school was a great fit for their young daughter so I just want to soak up every day we have there But I'm ready for the shoe to drop at any moment," Driscoll explained our head of school and our wonderful teachers are all left scrambling in the middle of a school year and it's incredibly unfortunate," said Melissa McGrath another parent at Guidepost Montessori at Silver Spring "We became aware of other Guidepost schools in the country where this happened and all of a sudden there were chains on the door and families were getting locked out Watch: Menomonee Falls families react to notice that Guidepost Montessori will close Guidepost Montessori is operated by Higher Ground Education News reports from across the country tell the story of locations in multiple states shutting down "They're taking advantage of families and children—families that are trying to do the best for their kids—and then putting them all in a frantic State records show the Guidepost Montessori location in Menomonee Falls was licensed less than a year ago despite parents learning about a possible eviction notice Court records show the ownership group has a hearing scheduled for March TMJ4 tried reaching out to school leaders in person by email and by phone for comment on Monday A spokesperson for Higher Ground Education sent TMJ4 a statement on Tuesday it had to take a hard look at its "network and identify locations where closure was the only viable path forward," and that the Silver Spring location was in this category Despite the dedication of school leadership and staff the organization faced ongoing challenges in achieving a thriving The release also added that families are being offered refunds and transfers to other Guidepost locations where applicable staff completing their Montessori diplomas will continue to have access to the training program The release underscored Higher Ground Education's plans to return to Wisconsin in the future adding that it plans to keep its Guidepost Montessori location in Verona operational TMJ4 News Response (1) by TMJ4 News on Scribd Report a typo or error Occupation: I taught college English for over 20 years ’m currently the Program Director for a TRIO Student Services Support program at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Years lived in the district/city/town/village: 21 Years lived district/city/town/village: 16 Previous elected office (if any):  Current School Board President Occupation: Clinical Pharmacy Manager and Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences Years lived in the district/city/town/village: 8 years Years lived in the district/city/town/village: 9 Previous elected office (if any): Republican Precinct Committeeman (IL) Years lived in the district/city/town/village: 19 years Previous elected office (if any): Current Menomonee Falls School Board Vice President; elected Spring Years lived in the district/city/town/village: 37 years MENOMONEE FALLS — The race for the Menomonee Falls School Board has several candidates Incumbents Nina Christensen and Chris Stueland hope to retain their seats against challengers Derek Blemberg FREEMAN: Why are you running for the School Board Blemberg: I am running for school board to bring community engagement back One of my highest priorities is to improve the relationship between the school board and its constituents I learned first-hand that the current board is not engaging with the community and is reluctant to answer questions or receive feedback My other priorities are access/belonging in our schools and career/college readiness Access in education means students have the resources and support they need to succeed Belonging is a stated district goal; students need to feel welcome and connected to schools I will prioritize college and career readiness Christensen: I am proud to run for a second term on the Menomonee Falls School Board we’ve made significant strides in enhancing education We’ve focused on boosting academic achievement (approving $1 million in curriculum) investing in school safety (added cameras and a resource officer) and initiating a $9 million capital project all while maintaining fiscal responsibility My priorities will be to build on this momentum ensuring every student thrives and our community continues to flourish Cramer: I’m running for school board because I want to improve our schools make our educators feel valued and empowered and set Menomonee Falls students up for success after high school One priority would be enhancing communication and transparency with the community The current board is not responsive to public outreach and they have taken actions that go against their own policies without offering thoughtful explanations to their actions Another priority is giving our educators a bigger seat at the table when important decisions are made I want decisions in our district made using data and evidence Sachs: I’m running for the School Board to ensure our schools prioritize academic excellence I believe education should focus on core skills—reading my priorities will be improving student outcomes through rigorous standards empowering parents with transparency and choice and managing taxpayer dollars wisely to support teachers and classrooms I’m committed to a back-to-basics approach focusing on foundational skills and academic excellence to prepare students for success while keeping education free from political influence Stueland: As an incumbent school board candidate I am running because we have made positive strides in Menomonee Falls and I would like to continue this momentum Our district completed significant safety enhancements and budgeted a Capital Improvement Project with NO added debt and NO referendum My priorities will be to be a voice for parents improve the quality of our students’ education continue to review board business with a critical lens and offer ideas and solutions that would best serve the students Newman Schmeling: I want to be a part of preserving and bringing positive energy to our public schools Being a part as both a professional educator and parent of school-aged children in the district I have direct experience and perspective to contribute Our community values public schools and I believe we can productively unite around them As a school board member I will prioritize increasing educator input integrating learning and well-being to boost student achievement and ensuring the board reflects a balance of perspectives FREEMAN: How do you view the school board’s role vs the administration’s role in running the school district Blemberg: The school board should exercise a supervisory role on district administration They are responsible for the ultimate decision making and examining the overall picture of the district Administration must contend with the day-to-day operation of the schools and supervise principals as well as implementing curriculum The administration should be composed of experts in their fields who then present the board with various courses of action must be in touch with their constituents and make decisions they believe to be the best interests of the students Christensen: The Board is responsible for governance and oversight ensuring the district operates effectively and aligns with community values and set the vision to guide educational goals and priorities The administration manages daily operations the Board and administration collaborate to address the needs of students ensuring decisions align with academic achievement and promote the district’s long-term success Cramer: The school board should be the moderators and act as a bridge between the administration and the community School board members must be willing to sit down and listen to students and school district employees to have a fair and balanced view of issues at hand Our current board members have rejected meetings with concerned parents The school board should focus on policy creation and strategic planning to provide clear direction and empower administrators and teachers to apply their professional expertise to achieve our district’s goals which includes preparing all students for success Sachs: I believe the school board’s role is to set policies The board acts as a check on administrative overreach while the administration implements practical solutions Stueland: A school board comprises elected officials who represent the community as a governance body for our public schools Our role is to provide general oversight for administration make strategic decisions and be advocates for the district in the community Our administration oversees teachers and staff establishes needed professional development Newman Schmeling: School board members provide community representation and policy oversight and educators bring firsthand classroom experience and student-centered insight well-informed decisions that best serve students and the community FREEMAN: How does a school board balance the need to provide a quality education with the need to respond to the local taxpayer burden Blemberg: This is a challenge that every district in the country must manage School board members must make difficult decisions while providing the best education they can for students As state and federal contributions to public schools have shrunk over decades more and more of the burden has been placed on local taxpayers The school board can advocate with state and federal government representatives to increase funding A high-quality education attracts young families to communities increasing home values and leading to investment from businesses The best way to keep a community thriving is to have good public schools Christensen: I’m proud of our district’s progress in fiscal responsibility we faced a potential $1.7 million operational referendum Last year’s mill rate was the second lowest in 30 years This fiscal discipline allowed us to invest in new curriculum while maintaining financial stability Our efforts ensure we continue supporting students and staff while being fiscally responsible Cramer: My approach would be prioritizing those investments with the highest impact on direct student learning and use data-driven decision making to focus on long-term educational outcomes rather than short-term fixes The district must implement sustainable financial practices to avoid sudden tax burden increases the board needs to relay to the community the connection between their tax investments and the educational outcomes with measurable results The board must share student achievement milestones and even property values with the community members so that everyone can see the positive return on investment in education Sachs: The school board balances quality education and taxpayer burden by prioritizing essentials—reading Taxpayers without children often view spending skeptically directing resources to classrooms and core activities showing fiscal responsibility while delivering a well-rounded education that meets student needs and community expectations serving on the Menomonee Falls School Board that it is important to have an established vision to determine a successful school district our district established a 5-year Strategic Plan which is a comprehensive initiative that guides the future of our schools with the shared mission of excellence in our school district A 10-year capital improvement plan has also been established which is a prioritized compilation of capital needs in our district When spending taxpayer dollars responsibly a school district must be considerate of needs and focused on district priorities Newman Schmeling: As stewards of the taxpayer money it is important to balance rationale with resources It is important to gather and analyze information through the feedback loops mentioned in the previous response I have experiences and examples where budget decisions were made that ended up being more costly because the end users were never consulted The school funding formula is a complex and critical issue in Wisconsin FREEMAN: Funding and budgets are ongoing issues there is not an easy answer to this question Salaries for our incredible teachers increase every year (as they should) School districts must be increasingly creative with funding sources and opportunities Some districts are engaging full-time fundraising staff to support their capital projects or seeking sponsorships for athletic improvements State and federal funding could be stronger as well Districts will need to implement cost-savings where they can while prioritizing student opportunities and outcomes Christensen: Our district took a proactive approach to budgeting We prioritized spending in key areas like student achievement ensuring decisions align with long-term goals We also explored additional revenue sources and identified areas of savings we initiated a 10-year capital plan for future infrastructure needs and a 5-year strategic plan By developing long-term financial strategies This approach ensures fiscal responsibility while supporting educational success and meeting the needs of students in the years ahead Cramer: Strategic financial planning prioritizing spending that directly impacts student outcomes should be the focus The board must always have student outcomes as their number one goal for potential efficiency gains through partnerships or shared service agreements with neighboring districts can be examined invest in technology that creates long-term efficiencies remote support for ancillary support services the board must engage the community regularly to communicate the realities of the fiscal situation to ensure transparency and garner community support for proposed solutions Sachs: Districts should address funding challenges by adopting transparent Prioritizing classroom resources over administrative overhead ensures funds directly enhance learning Collaborating with neighboring districts on shared services and applying for grants can supplement budgets without overburdening taxpayers Regularly engaging the community in budget discussions fosters trust and aligns spending with local priorities districts can maintain high educational standards while respecting fiscal constraints Stueland: It is the board’s duty to scrutinize funding It is critical to make budgetary decisions and allocate resources in a manner that is aligned with the school district’s vision Falls district is focused on our Strategic Plan’s 4 main pillars our board has approved the following: debt defeasance for a savings of $3.3 million a $9 million Capital Improvement for Riverside School and CE & Rec remodel/expansion with a balanced budget and no needed referendum and a retirement of non-referendum debt for savings of $500,000 Newman Schmeling: Districts need to get creative and leverage the expertise they have Instead of looking at what other districts are doing and comparing we should focus on finding internal solutions that work it’s essential to include all stakeholders—educators and community members—to determine what works best for both schools and the community through open By gathering perspectives from all invested parties we can tackle important decisions more effectively FREEMAN: What can be done to improve student achievement and make sure graduates are ready for the real world Blemberg: A great educational experience grounded in rigorous academics and experiential learning provides key skills and competencies in preparation for higher education or a skilled profession Career readiness education prepares students for life after high school as they become productive citizens of our community Supporting our students’ growth holistically from 4k — through graduation helps them develop the critical thinking skills necessary to be successful The School District of Menomonee Falls should have options and opportunities for them to grow and be ready for that next step Christensen: School districts should prioritize essential academic skills like reading and apprenticeship programs is equally important to equip students for future employment and ongoing teacher development also play key roles in student success Students excel when the education system focuses primarily on core academic skills rather than social agenda issues and schools must respect this responsibility without interfering with family boundaries Focusing on these priorities will help students thrive academically and in life Cramer: I believe our district has excellent educators that work hard to engage our students To better prepare our students for the real world the board should stop removing curriculum content based on their personal opinions and Biology/AP Biology based on their personal biases This puts our students at a disadvantage after they leave the district and have to compete against peers from other districts who were able to receive a full and comprehensive education This doesn’t develop a well-rounded graduate and is a disservice to our students and community Sachs: To provide various opportunities for students Gifted students thrive through advanced courses while special needs students benefit from tailored support Early College Credit initiatives allow students to earn college credits while still in high school aligning their interests with future opportunities Higher education tracks rely on robust college prep Streamlining administrative processes ensures these initiatives succeed without burdening taxpayers Prioritizing classroom resources over bureaucracy fosters talent Stueland: For student achievement to improve it is imperative to involve parents in their children’s education Communication between schools and families should be two ways and consistent and details of what is being taught in the classroom should be transparent parents and students need to be a team in education To ensure graduates are ready for the real world they need to not only have a solid foundation on the basic subjects but have exposure to the real world Falls school district offers our students various career academies and technical college opportunities to build student success Newman Schmeling: I am interested in learning what members of our community care about and are concerned about regarding student achievement I am confident in my skills as an educator to identify areas of mutual strength and challenge and create action plans that reflect those values key advances in understanding learning and development have occurred but are not reflected in our current models while guiding new opportunities informed by what ensures every learner benefits from a system designed for their growth and success See all of our election coverage at gmtoday.com/elections MENOMONEE FALLS — Inside a Menomonee Falls basement more than a dozen trains snake through tunnels and towns in a near-perfect scale replica of a Pacific Northwest railroad It's bigger than most home models you will ever see The average size for one is about 64 square feet Jordan built a scale replica of the Cascade Division of the Great Northern Railway in his basement he actually bought the home in 2001 because it had the space he needed to build the railroad to the size he wanted It took him about three years of custom lighting and electrical work before he could lay the first tracks down It has been a labor of love for the past 21 years to make it look exactly as he wanted and mountains were built with meticulous design There is fake sawdust where workers are cutting wood ripples to show a river flowing downstream So what I do is I put the larger buildings in the front of the layout and the smaller buildings toward the back of the layout so that as you're viewing up through the streets of Everett it looks like it's further away than it is.” He even took all the photos of the Cascade Mountain range that line the basement walls to give it extra depth That coupled with his appreciation for detail since he was a young child helped him create such an intricate model "Because I try to add as much detail as I can I really enjoy that sort of thing," he said He chose this Pacific Northwest setting because he is fascinated by the level of engineering it took to make it possible some of the things they had to abate the railroad snow I found interesting.” He also threw in his own bits of funky flair like a zombie coming out of a cemetery during a funeral a cross between a bear and a deer he calls a 'beer' and a grim reaper where a major avalanche occurred causing the largest train accident in American history It was a family affair that included his mom and brother too It was really my big driver," Jerry Jordan It’s the same reason his mom began helping out “I just love being a part of it and having conversations while we do this," Irene Jordan More than 20 years have passed since Robert started this railroad he and his wife are thinking of downsizing the home That means something has to happen to the model “I’ve always jokingly said I would sell the layout for $500,000 and throw in a house.” He hopes someone or a model railroad club will take it he doesn’t think he can bring it all with him especially some of the larger heavier features he built “And I've used over 300 pounds of dental plastering caster it's going to take some sledgehammers and some beefy guys," he said Of all the things in the display, there is also a Where's Waldo character hidden for people to find. I showed it in the video. You have to look closely to see it. If that sounds familiar, that's because his friends Ken and Diane Obermann do that with their large Christmas village MENOMONEE FALLS — Riverside Elementary School in Menomonee Falls is reinforcing its ban on Apple Watches and other internet-connected devices in class ahead of state testing Parent Pam Polyak recently got her 10-year-old daughter an Apple Watch for Christmas “We’re seeing a lot more 10-year-olds having these devices There’s several people in her class that have it,” Polyak said school leaders said the watches have caused an “increase in disruptions to learning and teaching in recent in the last couple months." The school’s email reiterated its policy prohibiting students from using smartwatches and similar devices during class Administrators acknowledge the policy has long been in place but say smartwatch use has recently caused more distractions The School District of Menomonee Falls' electronic device policy allows students to bring devices like phones and Apple Watches to school but requires them to be turned off and stored in backpacks while on school grounds Exceptions for medical reasons are handled on a case-by-case basis Violations can result in escalating consequences Watch: Menomonee Falls parents weigh in on school smartwatch crackdown with the device held in the main office until the end of the day and parents notified A third requires parents to retrieve the device and the student must check it into the main office daily for two weeks Some parents see smartwatches as valuable communication tools Polyak has no problem with the ban but believes the device adds a safety layer citing a time when her daughter used it to report a school bus breakdown But the district is doing what the district needs to do- which is teach our kids,’ Polyak said Parent Marcel Clarke has had four kids pass through Riverside and doesn’t think they need a smartwatch but added it’s up to each parent “I think the school's position is actually a good stance,” Clarke said “I want to try to keep kids from getting ahead of themselves and curb them from getting distracted TMJ4 News did reach out to the Menomonee Falls School District for an interview but did not immediately hear back The issue regarding electronic communication devices the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Education will hold a public hearing on a proposed bill requiring Wisconsin school boards to establish policies restricting wireless communication devices during class time — Two Menomonee Falls School Board candidates are holding an event Saturday at a location that has some people concerned a gun shop located less than 1,000 feet from a school caused concern last year before the school year began some people have reached out to TMJ4 News via email questioning why the event is happening at the store Shepard Arms will host school board candidates Chris Stueland and Adam Sachs on Saturday The idea is receiving mixed reactions from people on the street Watch: Mixed feelings about Menomonee Falls gun store hosting school board candidates do you care?” reporter Rebecca Klopf asked an unidentified man walking out of the post office There are bigger things to worry about than that,” said Angela Crittenden But I don’t think it is appropriate,” answered another unidentified man The event is generating even more comments on Facebook after the store posted there would be a protest The protest is being led by Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area a volunteer social justice group that Nathan Russell helps lead "At every classroom that I have ever been in we talked about if someone comes in here with a gun having this event at a gun store just dilutes the whole premise,” said Nathan He says his group will be across the street from what is being billed as a “ballot-chasing event,” protesting The school board event is being hosted by Turning Point Turning Point has donated tens of thousands of dollars to races across Wisconsin has close ties to President Donald Trump and promotes Christian conservatism who are not attending the event and agreed to an interview say that in an election that is supposed to be nonpartisan “What my goals are is to keep the race as nonpartisan as possible and to focus on students and that is going to be my emphasis,” said Derek Blemberg candidate for Menomonee Falls School Board School board should be about making good policy for students and not about Democrat versus Republican and partisanship,” said Jesse Cramer TMJ4 News contacted all the school board candidates to ask for an interview Adam Sachs and Nina Christensen did not respond Hallie Newman Schmeling offered this statement: I find the optics of school board members and candidates attending an event at a gun shop troubling Given the importance of school safety and the need for community-centered discussions this choice of venue is a mismatch to priorities that are best for our public schools and healthy child development I’m hopeful that since they are willing to meet publicly in that space they will also attend the School Board Candidate Forum on March 13 at 6:30 PM at the public library This forum offers the community the opportunity to see all candidates in one place and make an informed decision on who to vote for on April 1st." TMJ4 News also reached out to Turning Point wrestles during the 2025 USA Wrestling Women’s National Championships and World Team Trials in Spokane MENOMONEE FALLS — Becoming a national champion in any sport takes years of hard work Most athletes work their entire lives to be the best But for 12-year-old Julianna LaSavage from Menomonee Falls she needed just six years to become a national champion who by her own admission didn’t even like wrestling when she first started knocked off every competitor she faced at the 2025 USA Wrestling Women’s National Championships and World Team Trials in Spokane earning a gold medal at 33 kilos and a spot on the USA Wrestling World Team "It was really kind of mind-blowing," LaSavage said "Because when I think about where I started from and everything LaSavage won all four of her matches by technical superiority — a win established by earning a lead of 10 or more points She also only had four points scored on her throughout the tournament "Every year we went to the nationals it has always been super fun and the competition has always been really good," LaSavage said "And I’ve always wanted to close how I did this year LaSavage’s victory at nationals earned her a spot on the USA Wrestling World Team giving her the chance to represent her country at the U15 Pan American Championships in Guatemala City “The experience is going to be really cool,” LaSavage said “That would be only my second time traveling out of the country It’s somewhere I’ve never been or really heard about so I’m excited to go there and see everything that is there.” The U15 Pan American games run from May 20 to May 24 giving LaSavage time to recover from nationals and prepare for the games LaSavage trains at the Ringers Wrestling Club in Menomonee Falls where he was a four-time state champion from 2008-2011 and compiled a remarkable 185-1 record He went on to wrestle for the Wisconsin Badgers then qualified for the 2016 Olympics by finishing second at the 2016 World Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament Thielke would reach the quarterfinals before falling to former world champion and two-time silver medalist Rovshan Bayramov of Azerbaijan who has had a front-row seat to Julianna’s incredible journey “It’s been a great experience to be a part of her journey,” Daniel said but she got a letter from the local wrestling club and that’s kind of how it started.” Julianna’s transition from jiu-jitsu to wrestling couldn’t have gone much better Since she started wrestling at the age of 6 Julianna can now add national champion and Team USA representative to her resume Daniel believes this is just the start of his daughter’s journey “I told her after she won that this is just the beginning,” Daniel said “Because this is something that now she likes and she has a large amount of friends and we get to go and do a lot of things We’re kind of changing the approach next year to focus a little bit more on the sport and give her a little bit more time to experience things.” The Pan American games will certainly give Julianna an experience unlike any other “I’m excited and a little nervous,” Julianna said But whatever results come Julianna’s way next month her journey has been nothing short of remarkable Julianna has already had a career that few could dream of but she isn’t planning to stop any time soon “I want to be on a D-I college team for women’s wrestling “I want to be a role model for all the little girls like me If you would like to help fund Julianna’s trip to Guatemala, and to Italy shortly after, Dan created a T-shirt fundraiser: https://julianna-spring-2025.itemorder.com/ — One person was killed Tuesday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash in Menomonee Falls when a vehicle struck a tree at the intersection of Lannon and Lisbon roads Watch: Hamilton School District community mourns student killed in crash According to the Menomonee Falls Fire Department the vehicle was on fire prior to arrival of emergency personnel TMJ4 has reached out to local authorities for more information MENOMONEE FALLS — A 70-year-old man from Kewaskum remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a two-vehicle crash on I-41 in Menomonee Falls on Tuesday according to the Menomonee Falls Police Department a passenger vehicle which was on fire and a pickup truck that were involved in a collision on northbound Interstate 41 The pickup truck was driven by the 70-year-old and the operator of the other vehicle was a 23-year-old man from Milwaukee The investigation of the crash required all northbound lanes of I-41 to be closed for several hours The investigation showed the collision happened because the vehicle driven by the 23-year-old was disabled and parked in the center lane of traffic The vehicle struck in the rear by the pickup truck Stay up-to-date on all the latest southeastern Wisconsin news with a print subscription "We would like to thank the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Waukesha County Highway Department for their assistance in this investigation We would like to remind motorists to maintain safe following distances and be mindful that vehicles can become broken-down anywhere at any time," police said Get updates from the editors of The FREEMAN The NEWS GRAPHIC and The ENTERPRISE sent directly to your email inbox We promise to not clutter your email inbox with any messages you haven't asked for and we won't give away your email address SIGN UP TODAY MENOMONEE FALLS — Dozens of people attended a school board meeting in Menomonee Falls Monday night protesting the district's decision to remove the children's book Love Makes a Family filed a discrimination complaint against the Menomonee Falls School Board "I filed because every kid deserves to feel welcomed and valued in school The removal of the book said otherwise," Michelle said and superintendent dismissed the complaint Cramer and other parents are now taking their case to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) The book was part of the district's optional 4K Family Traveling Read Aloud Books program District leaders removed it because it did not align with the district's Human Growth and Development Standard Watch: Menomonee Falls parents ask state to overrule banned book decision "My kids are still reeling from the grief of losing their other mom 'Why would leaders remove this book for having two moms That's when Vilar decided to be brought into the complaint as well She spoke Monday night about her experience and received a standing ovation All other community members who gave public comments also opposed the ban Board president Nina Christensen read this statement Monday night: "The Menomonee Falls School Board is aware of concerns about how a specific appeal is moving through our internal processes the board wishes to avoid any implications of bias or impartiality in decision-making the board directed the appeal to the Department of Instruction The School District of Menomonee Falls looks forward to the DPI's decision both Christensen and Superintendent David Munoz declined to answer questions from reporters Cramer says the complaint was sent to the DPI for review Parents are hopeful the state will step in and support LGBTQ families in the district "We hope DPI will recognize there's discrimination and reverse the decision," Vilar said "We want the book back in schools and a more inclusive community," Vilar added Menomonee Falls parents have filed a discrimination complaint against the school district after more than 30 books were removed from the library including one for preschoolers depicting same-sex families.  who have two young children in the district said the books’ removal means Menomonee Falls children aren’t getting the same education as students in neighboring districts In October 2023, The School District of Menomonee Falls pulled 33 books from the shelves after deeming them too “sexually explicit” for students.  Michelle Cramer said that was bad enough.  But when she found out “Love Makes a Family” by Sophie Beer was pulled from the supplemental materials offered to 4K parents at Shady Lane Elementary School last month “I want all kids to be able to absorb material that is representative of all people because that is what they are going to see in the real world,” Cramer said “And I want all students to feel welcome at school and their families to be represented How are we going to develop respect between all of our students at school Superintendent David Muñoz said he could not discuss parent complaints with anyone other than the parent School Board President Nina Christensen did not respond to questions from WPR.  The district has 30 school days to respond The Cramers and Grassroots of Menomonee Falls Area a community organization dedicated to promoting transparent and inclusive governance in Menomonee Falls have hired an attorney and are also working with ACLU of Wisconsin on the matter.  If they don’t hear back from the school district they plan to send the complaint to the Department of Public Instruction.   “Love Makes a Family” is a picture book that is described on Amazon as an “exuberant board book.” “Whether a child has two moms, two dads, one parent, or one of each, this simple preschool read-aloud demonstrates that what’s most important in each family’s life is the love the family member,” the description says According to school district policy a parent or district resident can challenge supplemental educational material if they feel that the materials are not age appropriate.  Parents Katrina and Paul Moldenhauer challenged “Love Makes a Family” during a July 8 school board committee meeting.  The couple said the book had no educational value and believed the illustrations showed transgender couples and “grooming.”  Paul Moldenhauer said one photo depicted a man “waking up next to another man with pigtails and breasts.”  want to support alternative lifestyles like the one clearly illustrated in the book but don’t do it on the taxpayer dime and with my children,” Paul Moldenhauer said adding that he is not asking the district to give away bibles or books on how to “assemble and disassemble firearms.”  Shady Lane school principal Brad Hoffman told the school board “Love Makes a Family” is part of a traveling library and a supplemental material that parents can choose to read with their children “The subject is that love is what makes a family The subject isn’t that you must have two same sex parents — same sex parents The committee voted unanimously to remove the book.  School Board President Christensen posted the decision on her Facebook page.  She said the decision was based on the fact that the Human Growth and Development Curriculum doesn’t begin until third grade.  their family structures and their autonomy to teach their children personal value and social systems they see fit,” she wrote It is not the place and position for a school system to usurp parental rights.”  Cramer questions how one family can make that decision for the entire school.  Cramer also questions why religion was brought up several times in the July 8 meeting including a suggestion that the book “God Makes a Family” replace “Love Makes a Family.”  co-leader of Grassroots of Menomonee Falls Area said the ongoing book banning in the school district is not preparing students for the future “Grassroots is in full support (of the complaint),” Guss said “It’s about time we hold the school board accountable for their actions Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board — Longtime Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker is being remembered by many in the Milwaukee-area community The North Hills Country Club was not just where Uecker was a member; it was also his backyard the Golf Pro Emeritus at the North Hills Country Club he knew Bob for three decades from his time at the club They said that even though the club was closed the Uecker family threw Bob a surprise 90th birthday party there on January 26 "So we kind of scrambled and reorganized," said Joe about putting together Bob’s birthday Eddie says that when Bob was regularly golfing they could almost set their watch to when he would show up Watch: How a Country Club in Menomonee Falls is remembering Bob Uecker I know the shortcuts.' Those were some of the memories,” said Eddie Eddie says that when his daughter was getting married Bob made sure to announce it on the broadcast I could see him out in his backyard mowing his lawn," said Eddie I think if a member dies and has been a long-time member of the club I think the members will appreciate that," said Joe The club was hoping Bob would have been able to celebrate his 91st birthday here Three suspects accused in an August Menomonee Falls home invasion and shooting were scheduled to be back in court Wednesday morning The incident left one person injured — police say he confronted the intruders It all happened at a home on Weyer Farm Drive around 2:30 in the morning on August 18th All three men — Demetri Duvall, Desmen Wilks and Zamontae Burch — entered not-guilty pleas Burch was the only one to appear for a preliminary hearing Watch: Home invasion and shooting suspects plead not guilty: the three men stole a vehicle from Milwaukee and then drove it to the Weyerhaven subdivision in Menomonee Falls That detective says Burch told him they were looking through vehicles when they tried the front door of a house Burch says the trio went into the kitchen to look for valuables and ran into the homeowner's brother — who was visiting and sleeping on the couch "His description is it happened very quickly he started screaming and was shot almost immediately," said Detective Andrew Martin "He said the first individual ran out and the second individual stopped pointed the firearm at him and pulled the trigger." The victim was shot in the arm and is recovering Duvall's hearing has been rescheduled to next week Wilks waived his hearing — he and Burch will be back in court in December The former Big Lots building in Menomonee Falls will soon have a new indoor pickleball facility “This is the first of several locations that The Picklr will have in Greater Milwaukee,” Amy Guerrero, marketing director of Murko Capital Corp., the development group bringing the concept to the state and other Midwest markets “Demand for indoor pickleball courts has continued to grow as the game’s popularity soars.” This will be the second indoor pickleball facility coming to Menomonee Falls. Pickleball Kingdom, a franchise, is slated to open in late January The Picklr will be 28,000 square feet and will feature nine indoor courts It will also feature two championship courts to accommodate grandstands for tournaments and special events What is the address for The Picklr in Menomonee Falls?The Picklr club in Menomonee Falls will be at N78 W14511 Appleton Ave The Picklr is slated to open in Green Bay in January at 2610 Holmgren Way there are plans for future clubs in Milwaukee location of The Picklr open?The first location of The Picklr opened in April 2021 in Uintah More than 400 locations are planned for the next few years Where can I get more information on The Picklr?For more information on The Picklr, visit thepicklr.com/location/menomonee-falls or contact menomoneefalls.wi@thepicklrfranchise.com More: You ask, we answer: What to do if you get overcharged at the grocery store in Wisconsin More: Looking for a cozy bowl of soup? Here are 10 places to visit in the Milwaukee area Hundreds of jobs at the corporate headquarters of Kohl's Corp the retailer said about 10% of roles that report to the corporate headquarters in Menomonee Falls have been cut "More than half of the reductions came from closing open positions The remainder of the positions were held by Kohl's corporate associates," according to a statement from Kohl's About 4,000 people work at the headquarters Kohl's did not provide a number of filled positions that were cut but a spokeswoman put the number at "less than 200." The company said "impacted employees are receiving 2 weeks pay plus a competitive severance package.” The move comes after Kohl's announced earlier in January it was closing 27 stores in 15 states shortly before new CEO Ashley Buchanan took over "Both actions were taken to improve the strength of the business for the long-term benefit of our associates and customers," Buchanan said in a message to workers "While I know this has been a challenging time for Kohl's I also know that this is a great company and a very strong brand We will work to create a more sustainable plan for growth data-informed approach that builds on our strengths and creates new innovations that serve our customers in the ways they want to shop and interact with Kohl's now and in the future." Kohl's has been cutting jobs in recent yearsThis latest cut in jobs is among the biggest in recent years In 2024, Kohl's announced it was cutting "a few dozen" jobs in its credit department In 2023, the company cut 60 jobs from the Kohl's headquarters. Kohl's has not announced when it plans to release the fourth quarter earnings report Three new businesses have recently opened in Menomonee Falls and West Bend: a decor and gift shop an indoor pickleball facility and a custom-order bakery Here's more about the businesses that opened their doors in March: For more information, visit www.facebook.com/HomeSpunus 60,000-square-foot indoor pickleball facility opened March 27 This Menomonee Falls location is just north of Silver Spring Drive and west of Interstate 41 at N58 W14900 Shawn Circle It's in the former building of Multi-Color Corp Pickleball Kingdom has a full-service bar and grill For more information, visit pickleballkingdom.com or find Pickleball Kingdom Menomonee Falls on Facebook. Customers can call or place orders online and then pick them up in West Bend This bakery sells bread (flavors include chocolate pumpkin spice and cranberry vanilla); muffins (carrot cake cinnamon and apple spice); cookies (candy and peanut butter blossoms); bars and brownies (swirl dark chocolate with toppings and blondie brownies); cupcakes (lemon double chocolate and red velvet) and mini cupcakes (chocolate People can call or place their orders online and then arrange a pickup at this home-based bakery in West Bend on North 8th Avenue For more information, call the owner, Carissa Gray, at 262-573-4736 or go to barenecessitiessweetsntreats.com More: This couple is one of the thousands who've signed Washington County's 'I Do Wall' More: McBrats and Teenie Beanies: West Bend woman reflects on 44 years at McDonald’s Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy WAUKESHA — A Menomonee Falls woman got upset and physically attacked workers at a hospital when she didn’t get a doctor’s note to excuse her from work quickly enough last week was charged Monday in Waukesha County Circuit Court with three counts of battery or threat to an employee of a health care facility as well as counts of disorderly conduct following an incident that took place Sunday at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital She faces more than 18 years in prison if convicted of all charges She was released Monday after signing a $10,000 signature bond and is to return to court March 12 The criminal complaint against her said police were dispatched to the hospital on Sunday for a report of a visitor being physical with security and medical staff Security directed an officer’s attention to a Ford Edge parked near the entrance Blankenmeyer acknowledged there was an altercation in the hospital with staff "She admitted that she struck multiple hospital workers because she was upset that she could not get a doctor’s note to give to her employer while she was at the hospital visiting her sick mother," who was set to be discharged Blankenmeyer refused to give officers her name but she was identified with the help of hospital staff When they told her she was being arrested for battery to a health care worker she refused to exit the truck and had to be "escorted" to the ground where she kept her hands under her body until officers were able to get her under control A child with her was released to the man accompanying Blankenmeyer in the vehicle A nurse’s aide reported she was punched multiple times in the head but showed no visible injuries A nurse reported she thought she had a bruised neck and reported pain behind her right ear but an officer did not see injuries to those areas Another nurse reported a bruised left wrist The nurse said Blankenmeyer became boisterous and started throwing punches at the other two workers with the aide on the ground covering her head to shield herself from the blows at which time the second nurse stepped in and was hit in the hand Blankenmeyer had three abrasions on the back of her left hand For pickleball enthusiasts or anyone wanting to learn the game a 60,000-square-foot indoor facility will soon open in Menomonee Falls Pickleball Kingdom is slated to open in late January Pickleball Kingdom is a national franchise that opened its first location in Chandler, Arizona, in May 2022, according to its website. There are more than 45 other Pickleball Kingdom locations across the nation "It's a great franchise because the sport continues to grow," Azevedo said who owns the facility with Doug Reigle and Greg Straub said Pickleball Kingdom clubs "promote fun" and "fair play for everyone." "We want to teach new people to play and invite everyone to be a part of the community," she said More: Milwaukee County's first indoor pickleball complex has opened in South Milwaukee Pickleball Kingdom will be just north of Silver Spring Drive and west of Interstate 41 at N58 W14900 Shawn Circle in Menomonee Falls How many courts will Pickleball Kingdom in Menomonee Falls have?There will be 17 fully lit courts including a stadium court Azevedo said there will be a full-service bar with a grill There will be a pro shop with paddles from Prolite organizations and private parties can hold events and parties at Pickleball Kingdom There will also be locker rooms and shower facilities Will there be lessons offered?Azevedo said there will be lessons available for all levels. There will also be a Pickleball 101 class offered for beginners There also will be a daily fee for non-members who want to play at the club The prices and fees have not yet been announced How many locations of Pickleball Kingdom are there in Wisconsin?There are Wisconsin Pickleball Kingdom locations in Appleton For more information, visit pickleballkingdom.com or find Pickleball Kingdom Menomonee Falls on Facebook. More: This South Milwaukee facility could transition from indoor soccer to a pickleball club More: New indoor pickleball club to open in the former Boston Store building in West Bend Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy — Menomonee Falls is about to get a new business dedicated to the growing sport in America Ray Durbin and Barry Hink are avid pickleball players They can be found at least weekly on the courts in the parks in Waukesha as long as the nets are up all the way until they take them down People like Ray and Barry are the type of players the Pickleball Kingdom is betting on as it opens a facility in Menomonee Falls “The state of Wisconsin overall has a significant interest in playing the game,” said Gregory Straub Watch: Hit the pickleball courts in Menomonee Falls At least 14 percent of the population played pickleball at least once just last year according to the Association of Pickleball Players Pickleball Kingdom won’t be the first indoor pickleball courts available in the area many gyms and community centers offer some sort of indoor pickleball options But Pickleball Kingdom will also provide higher-level options “We will be hosting a high-level tournament We will [also] be hosting intermediate-level tournaments,” said Straub Pickleball Kingdom is building 17 courts in its 60,000-square-foot facility our stadium court will be in the center,” said Jen Azevedo the company offers different levels of subscription for Pickleball players “I’m sure there are going to be a ton of people that want to go,” said Ray But right now they prefer their free option in the park suns out,” said Barry pointing to the court and the park The facility in Menomonee Falls opens in January — Crews responded to a house fire in Menomonee Falls Saturday afternoon Smoke can be seen billowing from the home with clouds as tall as the neighborhood trees and blocking the view of the street in a video from the scene TMJ4 reached out to the Menomonee Falls Fire Department for more information but did not immediately hear back Onlookers can be seen watching crews combat the fire just before noon — A Menomonee Falls bakery has filed a lawsuit after becoming the target of threats and comments it claims are defamatory Batter and Mac is suing the head of the Wisconsin Chapter of Gays Against Groomers It was business as usual Monday afternoon at Batter and Mac in Menomonee Falls as catering orders were prepared owners Brittany Wohlfeil and Kasey Gusho had planned to host a drag event during Pride Month It was going to include cupcake decorating and a storybook hour to raise money for the LGBTQ+ organization Courage MKE "We just wanted to raise money for this organization that does really important work for kids right here in our community,” said Brittany the announcement of their fundraiser led to threatening messages that ultimately led them to cancel the event Watch: Menomonee Falls bakery owners file lawsuit over drag event comments “We just wanted everyone to feel loved and it kind of escalated into this situation with Gays Against Groomers and Jesse Simcox,” said Kasey Jesse Simcox is the head of the Wisconsin Chapter of Gays Against Groomers He spoke at the Menomonee Falls village board meeting on May 20 about why he wanted the drag event canceled “…to shut down children's drag performances The reason those people are upset is they publicly told on themselves that they wish to sexually exploit children." The owners of Batter and Mac filed a civil lawsuit against Simcox “We decided we should take our privilege and use that to let him know that it is not okay You can't just bully people and harass people and defame people and get away with it,” said Brittany TMJ4 News reporter Rebecca Klopf called Simcox and his attorney Brent Eisberner about the lawsuit and asked for an interview "We don't comment on cases with ongoing litigation but we are confident the court will do the right thing and dismiss the case Brittany says she is doing what she feels is right “We believe in being a safe and welcoming place and bakeries are for everybody,” said Brittany The Dane County Court is currently reviewing Jesse Simcox's motions to change venues or dismiss the case entirely Brittany and Casey say they are considering more legal action against others who targeted the bakery because of the drag event MENOMONEE FALLS — It’s National Banned Books Week and a community group in Menomonee Falls distributed a recently banned book at school drop-off Monday morning Members of Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area spent the morning at Benjamin Franklin and Shady Lane Elementary Schools handing out free copies of “Love Makes a Family” by Sophie Beer The children’s book was removed in July from the district’s optional 4K Family Traveling Read Aloud Books program I believe it’s all about choice,” Kathy McBride Many parents at school drop-off recognized the book but had mixed reactions Watch: Menomonee Falls community group hands banned book at school drop-off took the book and read it to her kids in the car before sending them into the classroom It had a good message and shows a lot of love,” Inman explained with one even dropping the book out of the car window TMJ4 obtained a letter sent to parents by the Menomonee Falls School District on Monday “They want families to know that this activity was not organized or approved by the school district,” adding that the individuals were “handing out books near the school According to public records obtained by TMJ4 News district parents Paul and Katrina Mouldenhauer challenged the book over the summer after it came home from Shady Lane Elementary with their five-year-old daughter The Mouldenhauers argued the book showed a transgender couple in bed “There are two men lying in a bed together.” The Menomonee Falls Board of Education ultimately banned the book on the grounds that it was not in alignment with the district’s Human Growth and Development Standard “Love Makes a Family” isn’t the first book the district has removed either nearly three dozen books were banned at Menomonee Falls High School They were pulled from library shelves after administrators deemed the material too “sexually explicit.” Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area said they hope to educate others about what’s happening in the community the more people can make their own choices.” FOND DU LAC – A 31-year-old Menomonee Falls man is in custody after a March 18 police pursuit across three counties, Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office said Washington County Sheriff's Office advised it terminated a vehicle pursuit on Interstate 41 near State 28 around the border of Dodge and Washington counties a Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office sergeant found the vehicle traveling south on State 175 near County F in town of Byron Read more: Fond du Lac's Spark Ops Metalworks growing fast behind innovations like the Infinite Cube but it increased speed and led a pursuit south into Dodge County and the village of Lomira A Fond du Lac County deputy deployed tire deflation devices near State 28 but the suspect turned around without striking them and continued north The suspect then pulled over on State 175 near County AH in Dodge County and was taken into custody without further incident Read more: Black bean burger, lobster grilled cheese among Fond du Lac's best sandwiches, readers say The man was the lone occupant of the vehicle and he is being held in Fond du Lac County Jail on charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety operating while intoxicated-third offense and a probation hold He is on probation for felony fleeing/eluding The pursuit lasted 9 miles and no injuries or property damage was reported Dodge County Sheriff's Office and Wisconsin State Patrol assisted with the incident Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com ASHWAUBENON – The Bay Port girls volleyball team made a big statement this season by reaching the WIAA state tournament for the first time in program history 25-21 by Menomonee Falls in a D1 quarterfinal on Thursday at the Resch Center losing to a Phoenix squad making its 12th appearance on the big stage and the first since winning a state championship in 2016 There was no shame in losing to Menomonee Falls It played in arguably the best conference in the state this season as part of the Greater Metro which includes two-time defending champion Divine Savior Holy Angels and Hamilton earned the top three seeds in the eight-team tournament it sucks right now,” Bay Port senior outside hitter Kendra Shimon said it’s going to be amazing that we did this the first time in school history Bay Port (29-3) entered on a seven-game winning streak and did not drop a set during that span but Menomonee Falls (35-9) became just the second team this season and the first since Luxemburg-Casco in August to sweep the Pirates going up 13-3 after it went on a run of seven straight points that forced the Pirates to call a timeout in the middle of it Bay Port rallied to cut the deficit to 20-17 after it won six of seven points but it was as close as it would get in the opening set after senior outside hitter Kennedy Nimmer led the Phoenix with six kills Bay Port won six of the first nine points in a second set that featured six ties and two lead changes The Phoenix broke a 20-all tie with two straight points scored five of the final six and capped the second set with a block from Chassidy Anderson a department in which Menomonee Falls was outstanding after finishing with 10 total team blocks with another six ties and two lead changes Menomonee Falls took control after Bay Port tied the score at 16 winning four straight points and never allowing the Pirates to get closer than two the rest of the way while Cassie Bruns had 14 digs and Anderson six blocks The Pirates were led by senior middle blocker Chloe Parker Shimon added six kills and nine digs and Meghan Bruss a team-high 12 digs Bay Port coach Jeremy Weis talked earlier in the week about the strong defense the Phoenix boasts The Pirates finished with a hitting percentage of .064 They just never could get any substantial runs going “We tried to game plan for it and tried to hit a little bit more toward the center so anything we did hit off of the hands they still were able to get We knew that we couldn’t do a tipping game and we see those Bruns sisters pick up a lot of balls We knew that was going to be a challenge for us “Maybe didn’t realize that their setters were going to dig that many balls deep on us like that We had a little bit of nerves in the beginning That has been something we have done throughout the course of the year.” The match didn’t go the way the Pirates hoped but Weis made note of all the Bay Port fans who supported the team He wasn’t sure what to expect entering the arena “The fact that we got here with this whole team is just an amazing experience,” Parker said but I think being able to experience this with the whole entire team was just really amazing.” The seniors leave an important legacy with what they helped Bay Port accomplish but the momentum the team has created could extend well beyond this year “It’s what I told these guys when we got done,” Weis said “I didn’t say anything on the court to them and now what you guys have to do to help me out is you guys have got to share that with all those elementary school kids all those middle school kids and all the kids who may not even know what volleyball is yet.’ You guys tell them what it’s like to be here Nobody else has that experience in the Howard-Suamico School District The more they talk and the more they share the stories — Bob Uecker had one place he went for his favorite Chinese food: Harvey Moy's Chinese and American Cuisine It was Uecker's go-to spot for more than 45 years Owner Harvey Moy says Uecker may have started as a customer but their relationship grew into a close friendship but I like it sweet and sour,’” Moy reminisced I still didn’t know [who he was] because he had a baseball cap on.” Watch: Uecker visited this Menomonee Falls restaurant for 45 years Moy described a touching moment that showed just how close their friendship had become three days later he showed up here,” Moy said Moy and his son share some of Uecker’s favorite dishes Baseball" — the Ala Bob Uecker Lychee Duck