An Oak Creek parent has started a petition asking the Oak Creek-Franklin School District to recognize major Muslim holidays Mohammad Museitef started the petition on change.org asking the district to recognize Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha as official school holidays when Muslims fast daily from sunrise to sunset Eid-al-Adha celebrates the end of the Hajj When the holidays occur each year varies because they follow the Islamic calendar, which is based on 12 lunar months and consists of 354 or 355 days. A new month begins when a new moon is spotted, according to Islamic Relief USA Eid-al-Fitr was March 30 and Eid-al-Adha will be celebrated June 6 Museitef said on his petition page that as an Oak Creek resident and Muslim taxpayer he has always wanted representation and respect within the community that issue has become pressing as his children attend school in the district which he says does not currently acknowledge Muslim holidays in its calendar this omission means that our children are forced to choose between observing important religious traditions and attending school a choice that no child should have to make," Museitef's petition page said Museitef also cited the growing Muslim community in Oak Creek and national trends of Muslims being among the fastest-growing religious groups in the United States He also said some school districts in other states have recognized Muslim holidays citing New York City public schools and some New Jersey school districts "Incorporating Muslim holidays into the school calendar would reflect the diverse religious demographic of our community fostering an inclusive environment that respects all students' cultural and religious practices equally It would also demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion values that our community and educational institutions should uphold," the petition said Museitef did not immediately respond to a reporter's phone or email message asking about the petition Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District communications specialist Lindsey Ziarnik said in an email to a reporter that to her knowledge the district has not received the petition Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at@AlecJohnson12 has kept his son home from East Middle School for more than a month after he said his son was a victim of bullying Bass moved his 12-year-old son EJ into the district after he came to Wisconsin from Nebraska earlier this year A behavior detail report Bass provided TMJ4 from Oak Creek East Middle shows on March 3 EJ and another student got into a physical fight and classmates called him derogatory names while he was staring at a girl "The boy called him a pedophile," Bass alleged 'I'm not a pedophile!' And they got into an exchange of words and pushing back and forth And I guess my son kind of like slapped him or whatever." another behavior detail report showed EJ was forced into a bathroom by a classmate to fight Watch: Bullying concerns prompt Oak Creek parent to keep 12-year-old son home from middle school and another student dragged my son into the bathroom and they beat him up and slammed his head against a wooden table," Bass said Documents show the school called Bass to tell him about the bathroom fight and to let him know EJ would not face any consequences Bass said his son was given a Band-Aid for a scratch on his head and sent back to class it's dad.'" Bass said he then took him to the hospital The report from the school indicated no medical service was provided after the injury I don't feel safe sending him there," Bass said Bass sent TMJ4 a letter from the district that detailed a safety plan for EJ's return to school It included adjusting EJ's schedule to reduce the risk of "unintended contact." The district added that it "cannot guarantee EJ and the other student will never cross paths during the day." He said he's been completing his school work online but now he's receiving truancy notices from the district The district declined TMJ4's request for an interview "Our top priority will always be the safety of our students." 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 The Oak Creek Board of Trustees voted 5-1 last week to approve a contract to hire Louis Fineberg as the town’s new administrator The decision followed a tense public meeting that bared divisions over salary housing assistance and the dynamics of remote work for the town’s top administrative official negotiating and interviewing candidates with the help of Colorado Springs-based recruiting firm KRW Associates the board ratified Mayor Melissa Dobbins’ signature on a letter of agreement for Fineberg who has served for six-and-a-half years as city manager in Creede.  The interim town administrator position has been occupied by Mary Alice Page-Allen since the departure of David Torgler last July. Fineberg’s contract includes a $130,000 salary and housing assistance — a package that sparked both support and concern among trustees and residents Town Trustee Erika Pastor questioned the necessity of providing housing assistance on top of the salary.  “I just feel like with the salary of $130,000 that Louis could pay his own rent,” said Pastor “I know that the city of Creede might have done that for him in the past but I don’t think that was ever really what we were going to do.” Mayor Dobbins responded that housing assistance had been a “non-negotiable” item for Fineberg and that the need to offer such assistance reflected broader trends in Colorado’s municipal hiring.  “So many of these advertisements had housing assistance in their agreements Several even had free housing for town administrators,” Dobbins said a major shift that seems to be happening in town administration through the state of Colorado at this point.” Another point of contention was Fineberg’s request to work remotely up to five days per month while living at his home in Trinidad which some trustees and residents worried could leave the town without leadership during critical periods Pastor raised the possibility of those days being taken back-to-back effectively making Fineberg absent for two weeks if timed at the end and beginning of consecutive months That wasn’t the intent of that,” Fineberg assured the board who ultimately agreed to amend the contract to clarify that remote work days could not be taken consecutively across two months Trustee Kelly McElfish voiced broader concerns about remote work “If you were to look at that and say that’s one third of the month that this … person we’re offering the job to can be out of town,” said McElfish “In terms of emergency response situations “In the six-and-a-half years I’ve been with Creede there hasn’t been one emergency that I had to be at,” Fineberg responded “I could be in touch with people who were there on the phone … but town managers if you weren’t giving me remote work days or rental assistance it’s just a non-starter,” Fineberg added not only to the recruiter but to all of you that these were my basic requirements and I couldn’t do it without those things.” McElfish also pressed for greater clarity on Fineberg’s obligation to attend community events noting that only Labor Day was specified in the contract.  “When I first started being on this board was at every event that we had,” said McElfish “I understand that we should maybe not require somebody to be at every event but I do feel that one event out of all the other things doesn’t represent a person that’s representing our town.” Fineberg replied that he was comfortable participating in local gatherings The board later agreed to update the contract to require his attendance at a minimum of half of Oak Creek’s public events expressed frustration with the negotiation process itself.  “I feel like the board should have been able to have had an executive session to have this discussion before this was brought to a public hearing,” said McElfish I do feel this should have been brought to us so we could’ve had these discussions obviously not in front of everyone.” “That’s how I feel like this whole process has gone,” Pastor echoed ‘this is what’s happening and this is done,’ even though this was supposed to be the meeting that was determining what we wanted and what we didn’t.” Gregory said that she was still “struggling with the salary part and housing.”  many executive sessions discussing this process … and we’re out of time,” said Dobbins noting the difficulty of being without a town administrator since the summer if we could’ve had the month of May to go through this process I would’ve entertained to be able to do this behind closed doors Fineberg made it clear he would not accept the job if the board could not come to a consensus “If this is going to be a split vote I’m going to decline,” said Fineberg “I don’t want to walk into a situation where you guys are unhappy with the agreement and then that translates into you being unhappy with me.” several trustees and residents spoke to the significance of hiring an experienced administrator and compensating that official properly as Oak Creek faces considerable growth and development.  “Having a master’s degree in government administration very important,” said Trustee Bernie Gagne “This isn’t the maintenance guy at the airport this isn’t an electrical contractor … this is really really important for the future of the town.” “Oak Creek is on the precipice of change and has a lot going on,” said a resident at the close of the discussion “Let’s change the tone a little and say ‘It’s exciting to have a new town administrator and a really great leader.'” with McElfish casting the sole dissenting vote The letter includes amendments to clarify remote work expectations require that Fineberg provide a lease agreement for housing assistance and specify his attendance at community events Fineberg is slated to begin the position in early June The town is also seeking to hire a deputy clerk and a new police chief after the town’s former police chief, Ralph Maher, stepped away from the post last year Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage The natural gas plant We Energies plans to build at its Oak Creek power plant campus will produce more than 1.3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year according to a new report from state regulators The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin filed its environmental assessment on the Oak Creek natural gas plant on Wednesday It found the plant will produce a little more than a quarter of the emissions that would come from continuing to run the aging coal units at the Oak Creek site that are scheduled to shut down We Energies filed an application with the agency to build a 1,100 megawatt natural gas facility in Oak Creek The project has an estimated cost of more than $1.2 billion and has not yet been approved by regulators The new plant would be located on about 16 acres to the west of the coal-fired Elm Road Generating Station which came into service in the 2010s on the Oak Creek campus That campus also includes four coal-fired units that came online in the 1950s and ’60s in the original South Oak Creek Power Plant Two of those aging units came offline last year and two more are expected to shut down this year We Energies hopes to bring the new natural gas plant online in mid-2028 Elm Road will be converted from coal to gas in a separate project Continuing to use the four older coal units would produce nearly 5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year about 3.6 million tons more than the natural gas plant said the data highlights the utility’s transition toward cleaner energy generation “This is part of our continued plan to lower emissions build more renewables and serve our customers,” he said “As we go about this transformation of our power generation fleet we’re investing in a balanced mix of wind energy and air manager for the nonprofit Clean Wisconsin said the report’s comparison between aging coal units and the new natural gas plant is flawed because the coal units would likely not operate through the duration of the gas plant’s life “It sets up this false choice between coal and gas whereas the real choice is between gas and clean energies like solar Gallagher also said the commission released an environmental assessment and not an environmental impact statement because the gas plant is being proposed on an existing coal site “The environmental scrutiny on this project was much lower simply because they’re reusing the fossil fuel infrastructure footprint,” she said a natural gas storage facility in Oak Creek and a pipeline between Racine Conway says those projects are necessary to keep up with increasing demand from development in southeast Wisconsin “The backbone of our power generation is going to be solar and wind all these carbon free sources,” Conway said “But for those times when we cannot meet that need or when there’s more need than the renewables are able to meet we’re going to have this natural gas generation.” But the utility’s slate of projects has faced opposition from environmental groups They argue the projects will harm the clean energy transition and keep We Energies locked into fossil fuels for years to come Gallagher said continuing to burn fossil fuels will continue to worsen the effects of climate change She says those effects are becoming more apparent in Wisconsin the Canadian fires really affected the air quality in Wisconsin and the Midwest,” she said “But we’re also seeing it in less extreme versions where there’s just no snow on the ground.” Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board Top Projects Developers propose 116-acres of housing near Oak Creek Ikea Green space off the east side of 27th Street and Drexel Avenue Developers submitted early plans for hundreds of housing units and a 17-acre commercial space across nearly a dozen parcels Construction is anticipated later this year By: Ethan Duran//April 23 There were 248,000 job openings in construction on the last day of March the Assembly Speaker and members of WILL for its "Building Influence" l[...] who entered the construction workforce after his father said he's already learned a lot with co[...] The newest pour from Starbucks is a 3D printed store that's set to open this week in Texas Tony Evers and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson in attendance the Building Advantage career fair in[...] Sign up for your daily digest of The Daily Reporter Daily News View Results Trump's shifting tariff policies are creating economic uncertainty in Wisconsin A majority of school district referendums across this year’s February and April elections were app[...] the EEOC and the Department of Justice released two technical assistance documents offe[...] This month I will attempt to bring the basics back and show an easy trick when calculating the volum[...] What can you do to create respectful work environments where everyone can work safely and in which y[...] and substantial completion are familiar to const[...] who has focused on renewable energy for much of his time in office As Wisconsin’s next state budget debate begins state finances appear stronger than at most points[...] The Daily Reporter provides 24/7 construction news coverage and events honoring top construction professionals Get our free The Daily Reporter News & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions OAK CREEK — A recently filed 20-page lawsuit is challenging the City of Oak Creek's decision to rezone land for a proposed Buc-ee’s travel center alleging that the city lacks the legal authority to do so PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Oak Creek Buc-ee's project moves forward despite neighbors' concerns voiced concerns about the implications of the city's actions "I think a lot of people rely on zoning and comprehensive land use plans," she said Watch: Oak Creek Neighbors United files legal suit against Buc-ee’s development who resides less than a mile from the proposed Buc-ee’s site is part of the nonprofit that initiated the lawsuit The legal action claims that the rezoning constitutes "illegal spot zoning," a term used when local governments alter the zoning classification for a small parcel of land in a way that does not conform with surrounding neighborhoods typically for the benefit of a specific property owner or project PREVIOUS COVERAGE: How neighbors are feeling about the proposed Buc-ee's in Oak Creek the project in question is the planned Buc-ee’s "That's why we have zoning and comprehensive land use plans They help guide and ensure balanced development in the city," Shreve added According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Plan the land designated for Buc-ee’s was originally zoned for business purposes a recent vote by the Common Council changed the zoning classification to commercial by amending the comprehensive plan Shreve and other residents voiced their opposition to the project during a council meeting held on March 18 "Overbuilding and prioritizing new construction and developments over neighborhoods just has so many negative consequences," Shreve stated The lawsuit asserts that the city's decision to approve the rezoning and the comprehensive plan amendment was made “solely for the benefit of the developer.” It argues that the neighboring community will endure increased light pollution and traffic congestion due to the development "Our neighborhood recognizes there’s going to be some sort of development in that area The City of Oak Creek has approximately 45 days to respond to the lawsuit officials indicated that they are currently reviewing the suit with their legal team and remain committed to holding future public meetings regarding the Buc-ee’s development project Report a typo or error A group of residents in Oak Creek are suing the city to try and keep Buc-ee’s from building Oak Creek Neighbors United filed the lawsuit on April 11 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court The suit said it’s “a challenge to a decision to approve an amendment to the City of Oak Creek Comprehensive Plan and associated spot rezoning of certain property located in the southwestern corner of the City of Oak Creek on South 27th Street and Elm Road.” the plaintiffs are alleging the rezoning and comprehensive plan amendment were only to benefit the owner of the undeveloped property and approved by the Oak Creek Common Council “over the objection of several hundred citizens and the alderman for the district.” The lawsuit alleges this is a case of “illegal spot zoning” and should be declared void by the court The neighbors share their primary concerns in the suit, saying the proposed 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s could be detrimental to surrounding properties Neighbors are primarily concerned with traffic increases through the subdivision and potential impacts of the development on property values Oak Creek’s City Administrator Andrew Vickers shared a statement with the Journal Sentinel April 14 on the city’s response to the filing: “The City of Oak Creek is aware that a notice of circumstances and claim has been filed regarding the proposed Buc-ee’s development We are reviewing this matter with the city’s legal team the city remains committed to upcoming public meetings to review conditions and detailed site plans for the development the city will not be making further comments at this time.” The plaintiffs are seeking a declaratory judgment that the 2020 Comprehensive Plan amendment approval and rezone of the properties by the Oak Creek Common Council be voided by the court Buc-ee’s is proposed to be built on the property at 10700, 10820 and 10840 South 27th Street in Oak Creek. The proposal for the 24/7 “Disneyland of gas stations,” as a Buc-ee’s representative called it Buc-ee’s has also been proposed in DeForest. Oak Creek Mayor Dan Bukiewicz told the Journal Sentinel the issue there is the village needs road improvements. Bukiewicz said he thinks the Oak Creek Buc-ee’s could end up opening first A statement from Buc-ee’s said the Oak Creek store could open in early 2027 To allow the development to move forward, the Oak Creek Common Council needed to rezone the parcels for retail use and approve an amendment to the city’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan from Business Park to Commercial, which it did on March 18 with a 5-1 vote “The city’s actions to approve the rezoning and (comprehensive plan) amendment were done solely for the benefit of the private property owner and developer of the subject parcels and are thus illegal spot zoning,” the lawsuit alleged The plaintiffs allege Oak Creek officials and staff took actions in fall 2024 regarding certain municipal code amendments related to alcohol sales and car washes that would benefit Buc-ee’s before the project was announced to the public Oak Creek Neighbors United said in the lawsuit they thought the development sounded like a “done deal” during the plan commission meeting on Jan 28 – the first public mention of Buc-ee’s on a meeting agenda Bukiewicz told the Journal Sentinel in January he understands the concerns presented by neighbors to the potential Buc-ee’s who spoke at the plan commission meeting He also noted many other residents expressed excitement for the project you really have to look long-term at these things,” he said Oak Creek released a timeline for the project in February Many of the dates are anticipated and not set in stone the next time the project could be on an agenda is the April 22 plan commission meeting for a review of the Certified Survey Map (CSM) application to combine the three parcels A conditional use permit application for a “fueling plaza” at 27th Street and Elm Road is also expected to be up for review The schedule lists May 20 as the next time the Oak Creek Common Council could have the project on its agenda with a public hearing on the CSM and conditional use permit applications and a potential vote More: What's next for Buc-ee's in Oak Creek? City provides a timeline for the project Journal Sentinel reporter Claire Reid contributed to this report Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner The town of Oak Creek is moving ahead with steps to determine the scope and cost of building infrastructure for the Tramway Park subdivision Plans for the proposed development began in 2014 when the town acquired 9.44 acres along County Road 25 in the town’s southwestern corner Tramway Park would include about 33 housing units located on roughly 8.5 acres with a mix of townhouses and detached small single-family homes — or tiny homes Earlier iterations of the subdivision included a public park an amphitheater and space for an RV park and tent camping A primary purpose of the town’s initial property acquisition was to expand the existing public works complex but there remains more than 8 acres of unused land The Oak Creek 2015 Comprehensive Plan directed town officials to “investigate all available means to implement housing initiatives.”  The preliminary engineering work for the subdivision was commissioned in 2017, detailed in a 37-page Tramway Park Preliminary Master Plan According to a Oak Creek Housing Needs Assessment published on Jan “Oak Creek has no active rental listings on the market.” The assessment recommends planning for the “annual development of seven to 11 rental units This proactive approach would help stabilize the rental market accommodate potential population increases and provide a diverse range of housing options.” While much of Colorado has experienced growth in recent years Oak Creek’s population remained essentially the same over the past five years “This trend is largely due to lower household sizes and an aging population,” according to the assessment The town’s population dropped from 863 to 859 residents between 2018 and 2023 The median age of Oak Creek residents increased over that same time period from 36.5 to 45.2 years and “the percentage of households with children under age 6 went from 44% to 9.7%.” “The town’s population is aging with a decreasing number of young people choosing to stay in the area,” reads the assessment’s key takeaway “This demographic shift may result in workforce shortages and could limit the community’s growth potential unless proactive measures are taken to attract younger residents.” 67.3% are owner-occupied and 32.7% are renter-occupied Average home value in Oak Creek increased 105.3% from $157,400 in 2017 to $323,100 in 2022 With a projected need over the next five years of between 39 and 64 housing units (both rentals and for-purchase homes) Oak Creek Interim Town Administrator Mary Alice Page-Allen said at the Feb 27 meeting the development of Tramway Park could “make a huge difference for the community.” The town recently began the process of creating an updated 2025 Comprehensive Plan.  Referring to funds shared with the South Routt School District and the town of Yampa that are designated for studying housing opportunities and infrastructure needs on land owned by the towns and school district 27 agreed to use a portion of the fund’s remaining $49,500 to solicit an infrastructure engineering plan for Tramway Park Page-Allen noted there are a number of issues that would need to be addressed regarding the land including cleanup of an old wastewater building and structural issues on County Road 25 According to the 2017 analysis of the road “The slope failure is likely the result of a combination of factors including groundwater/subsurface runoff perched over clay-stone bedrock surface and steep topography 25 is currently in an unstable configuration and reconstruction is necessary to provide long-term stability.” Page-Allen also emphasized the need to explore different options for funding construction of the proposed subdivision — including looking for a private developer with whom to partner A new neighborhood concept with a mix of commercial condominiums and single-family homes could be coming to Oak Creek and small so-called “pocket parks” could be connected with a neighborhood trail network The project is called The Prairie as elements will bear the names of various prairie plants The concept could cover nearly 116 acres on the northeast corner of South 27th Street and West Drexel Avenue currently owned by Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and Walden OC LLC A segment of land lies between the residential and commercial space that is not part of current plans It’s known as the Ulrich property and the developer said discussions are ongoing on potentially including that segment Who wants to build it?Siepmann Realty Corporation and Wangard Partners submitted the plans as OC 27 LLC Jim Siepmann of Siepmann Realty Corporation along with Matt Moroney of Wangard Partners presented the development concept to the Oak Creek Plan Commission on April 22 Moroney clarified several studies are still underway related to the project “This is purely conceptual,” he said of the plans multi-family buildings off Drexel Avenue with 48 units each for a total of 288 units This section could include underground parking The other section has four multi-family apartment buildings that include 26 units in each for 104 total units walk-up-style units with each having a private entrance Some attached and some detached parking are possible The project also includes 97 single-family lots on the upper and eastern portion of the property Each lot is approximately 8,000 square feet Siepmann estimated the single-family house lot packages will range from $700,000 to $800,000 while the condominiums will range from $400,000 to $600,000 Condominiums are also part of the concept plans but OC 27 will likely not be the developer Instead they told the Oak Creek Plan Commission they will seek out a developer that specializes in condos The concept mentions creating a minimum of 20 units on the northwest corner of the property and a second segment slightly to the south with a minimum of 30 units Will this development incorporate nearby Falk Park?The development could extend Ikea Drive to 27th Street The developer said they are in talks with Milwaukee County for a road through Falk Park Mayor Dan Bukiewicz called it “priceless” that the residents would have a practically built-in the developer said Milwaukee County Parks requested the project have no connection created to Falk Park regarding the planned trail system in the development the concept includes around 28 acres of commercial development on the southwestern portion of the parcel at the corner of South 27th Street and West Drexel Avenue OC 27 has contracted with Mid-America Real Estate Group to get a list of potentially interested users the plan commission can express its opinions on the project but no vote is taken as a formal submittal of plans has not occurred City documents note the developer anticipates bringing forward the first phase of land use and land division applications this summer it would require multiple approvals including an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan Residents in Oak Creek District 1 are getting a new alderperson this spring Incumbent Steve Kurkowski chose not to run so newcomers Zachary Hittman and Alicia Haase are the two choices on the ballot April 1 To help voters learn more about the candidates the Journal Sentinel posed the same three questions to each candidate and candidates were given a 100-word limit for their responses ZACHARY HITTMAN: Oak Creek has done an amazing job creating an environment where businesses want to invest The city’s focus on strategic growth and infrastructure improvements has made it a prime location for companies it's vital to continue investing in infrastructure Supporting local entrepreneurs alongside large investments will help create a balanced Oak Creek's growth reflects the dedication of its people we can build a city that benefits everyone while preserving its unique character ALICIA HAASE: This is what we have been working on so heavily the past 18 months on the Board of Tourism This past year we passed funding for the Discover Wisconsin contract which is a multi-year marketing agreement that focuses on our city More strategy like this and focusing on what makes Oak Creek a great place for businesses and their employees is what I plan to continue to drive home how will you help the city retain longstanding businesses and/or market these spaces?HITTMAN: Losing long-standing businesses is felt deeply Some of my earliest memories are of shopping at Piggly Wiggly with my mother These businesses were a vital part of our community I will prioritize proactive business retention fostering open communication with local businesses to understand their challenges before they leave We need policies that support businesses of all sizes and create a community where businesses thrive and feel supported for the long term HAASE: We need to dig into why these businesses are leaving our city Each one likely has a unique reason or situation I think the key here is building and maintaining relationships and open lines of communication with our businesses to be proactive vs reactive District 1 is guaranteed a new alderperson in this election or approach that only you can bring to the seat to benefit District 1 and the city as a whole?HITTMAN: I’m running because I love this city; it has been home to my family since before Oak Creek was founded ― six generations District 1 deserves caring leadership that listens and creates action that represents its citizens As a small business owner and active neighbor I know how to bring people together and facilitate good ideas into real progress I am not just running to fill a seat; I am running to plant deeper roots and help Oak Creek Grow Mayor Dan (Bukiewicz) asked me if I would be interested in serving on the Board of Tourism I have had the pleasure of being on the committee and driving it forward with some hard decisions our largest investments were formalizing our agreement with the city for services we were receiving Being on the committee has caused my passion for people and my city to continue to grow ADDRESS: Marquette Manor Neighborhood in District 1  - Oak Creek Police Department auxiliary police officer  - Member of the Oak Creek Historical Society  - Active supporter of my wife who is vice president/head coach of OC Youth Cheer - Volunteer for Distinguished Young Women event in Oak Creek - Participates in Drexel Town Square events year-round (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) Routt County sheriff’s deputies arrested a man for alleged meth possession and resisting arrest in Oak Creek on Friday after the Grand Junction Police Department informed a Routt County sheriff’s deputy that Cantrell had two warrants out for his arrest and his cell phone was “pinging” in the Oak Creek area The affidavit states that Cantrell also had one warrant for arrest in Routt County involving a misdemeanor Cantrell was shopping in a supermarket when a sheriff’s deputy approached him Cantrell was “apprehensive” and “appeared to be worried” when the deputy spoke to him The affidavit then states that Cantrell tried to call his mother when the deputy informed him that he was under arrest outside of the store When the deputy told Cantrell to put his hands behind his back Cantrell “began to pull away” in an “attempt to flee,” states the affidavit.  Cantrell and the deputy began to “wrestle” as Cantrell continued to try to get away The deputy then gained control of Cantrell “with the help of a bystander.” Another sheriff’s deputy then arrived at the scene and helped handcuff Cantrell a deputy found a “glass pipe with burn marks on it” and a “small plastic baggy with a white crystal substance inside,” according to the affidavit The affidavit stated that the “crystal substance” later tested positive for methamphetamine Cantrell is currently in custody at Routt County Jail and was issued a $500 bond Tuesday for a previous case involving a misdemeanor His next court appearance will address bond for the charges involving the meth possession and resisting arrest allegations and is scheduled for 3 p.m Master Lock will close its corporate headquarters in Oak Creek as part of an effort by its parent company to consolidate its offices in Illinois essentially ending a more than century-old legacy in the Milwaukee area Around 120 people work at the Master Lock headquarters in Oak Creek All will be given the option to keep their jobs according to a Fortune Brands spokesperson The company hopes to relocate the Oak Creek jobs to the new headquarters in the Chicago suburb of Deerfield from July through September “We are asking many of our associates to relocate to Deerfield though some associates from Oak Creek will likely choose to commute to the new office due to their proximity,” the spokesperson said via email “We would love for all of our highly talented associates to remain with (Fortune Brands Innovations) when their job moves to the new headquarters.” According to Fortune Brands the new corporate campus will feature two buildings and will have capacity for more than 1,000 employees by the end of 2027 Employees who choose not to move to the new office will be given a 90-day notice of their last day of work but some will have a longer notice period They will also be given severance pay and benefits “We are incredibly grateful for the support of the community which has played a significant role in the success of Master Lock and Fortune Brands Innovations as well as for the talented team we have in Oak Creek,” the spokesperson wrote.  Master Lock moved to Oak Creek in 2002 and renovated its 120,000-square foot headquarters in 2017, according to the city of Oak Creek’s website Oak Creek Mayor Dan Bukiewicz said the decision to close the Master Lock headquarters will impact “the fabric of Oak Creek.” He said the company has had a big presence in the community “While many of the affected employees our thoughts are with them,” Bukiewicz said “The City is committed to finding new opportunities to repurpose this space Our goal is to attract future businesses that will provide family-sustaining jobs.” Two years ago, the company’s announcement that it would close its Milwaukee plant in 2024 was met with pushback from the community and local leaders, who urged the company to keep the plant open.  But the facility closed as scheduled last March Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said he was “once again deeply disappointed” in the owners of Master Lock for their decision to “move over 100 good-paying family sustaining jobs out of Milwaukee County.” “After shutting down the Milwaukee Master Lock manufacturing plant last year this latest move by Fortune Brands Innovations essentially signals the end of the iconic Master Lock brand’s century-long history in our community,” Crowley stated “I know many of the workers who created the profit and success that is fueling the company’s move out of Milwaukee,” he added “These hard working people deserve to be recognized and respected especially at a time when other businesses have taken steps to accelerate their presence in Milwaukee.” — Plans for a Buc-ee's chain in Oak Creek will move forward after the Common Council voted to rezone the proposed site Tuesday night's vote came after a contentious public hearing in which more than a dozen neighbors raised concerns including increased traffic my wife and I moved to this neighborhood out of all the possible places we could have moved to in Wisconsin for quality life,” resident Robert Foster said during the public hearing highly visited center that screams quality of life to me or my wife.” Members of the Common Council noted that the purpose of the meeting was only for the rezoning of the property The Council voted 5-1 in favor of the rezoning Watch: Oak Creek Buc-ee's project moves forward despite neighbors' concerns: Buc-ee's will open in Oak Creek in early 2027 It will be open 24/7 and will feature a nearly-74,000 square ft The Oak Creek location will likely be the first of its chain in Wisconsin; however The next closest locations are in Kentucky and Missouri Information provided by Buc-ee’s shows that 4,000 to 8,000 cars are expected to visit the store per day It’s estimated that 5 million visitors will enter the store each year his daily routine almost always includes a drive to Bender Park to walk with his dogs He's been doing it since he was 16—more than 40 years ago it’s my release," Marino told TMJ4."I own a business hour and fifteen minutes every day is what I need." Rick posted this picture to his Facebook page what he said is "tainted meat." He said his dog Jazzie dug it up and ate it that means she's doing something mischievous," Marino said and we ran over and we found remnants of what she was eating Watch: 'Tainted meat' eaten by man's dog four times in the past year at Bender Park Marino said the same thing happened twice last year And as TMJ4 reporter Brendyn Jones was interviewing Marino he brings Jazzie to the vet to get treatment Marino said he worries the meat could be poisonous and dangerous for the dogs "What's frustrating is this is the place I come to relax and I can't relax when you're worried or not your dog is going to die," Marino said Marino said he's reached out to the Department of Natural Resources to get the meat tested but did not provide one by the time the story was published TMJ4 also reached out to the Milwaukee County Parks who said any report of possibly tainted meat gets sent to their park rangers They also said dog owners must have their pets on a leash when in Parks Marino does not use leashes when in the park "Ninety five percent of the people are off-leash," Marino said "It really doesn't hold the person doing it responsible but it's okay for your dog to put tainted meat out Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLAKE CUMBERLAND (WKYT) - The Wayne County Coroner says one person is dead after a boat crash on Lake Cumberland it was a single boat crash with one person on board He says fishermen found the person on the lake and called 911 The Wayne County coroner Gordon Hicks has identified the person killed as 59-year-old John Bezold of California The investigation into the crash remains ongoing Dozens of people are calling on state utility regulators to block key pieces of a more than $2 billion plan to build new natural gas infrastructure in southeast Wisconsin The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin held a pair of public hearings Tuesday allowing state residents to weigh in on We Energies’ plans to build a roughly $1.2 billion natural gas plant and a more than $456.3 million liquefied natural gas storage facility in Oak Creek.  The new natural gas plant in Oak Creek would essentially replace aging coal units at the South Oak Creek power plant and the remaining two are scheduled to come offline this year.  opponents shared concerns about negative health and climate impacts of burning fossil fuels and the potential impact of the projects on electric bills Supporters argued the projects are necessary to meet future energy needs and support economic growth said We Energies’ fossil fuel investments would “devastate Wisconsin’s clean air for decades.” “Our motto is ‘Forward,’ but a fossil fuel plant is a dangerous leap backwards,” she said according to environmental reports from the PSC The coal-fired Elm Road Generating Station on the company’s Oak Creek campus is expected to be converted to natural gas in a separate project, as We Energies’ parent company works to stop using coal by 2032 who testified against the fossil fuel plans Tuesday said the projects carry a hefty price tag and will harm the environment but they are the opposite of what We Energies should do if they truly are concerned about providing energy to possible new very large energy customers,” Randall-Hewitt said “The logical move would be for We Energies to build battery storage While many comments were against the projects union members did speak in support of the We Energies’ plan saying the Oak Creek power plant project would create 800 construction jobs a member of the Carpenters Local 231 union in Pewaukee told regulators the economic impact would go beyond just construction jobs you’re going to find the closest place to grab something to eat and something to drink after work,” he said “With the infrastructure happening along the I-94 corridor building this plant will provide the needed energy to sustain its growth.” We Energies has also pledged to invest more than $9 billion in renewables by 2029. The company says natural gas was crucial to meeting demand spikes last August when heat indexes reached more than 100 degrees.  “It is critical to have quick-start gas plants available and running when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine,” said Brendan Conway “It goes beyond keeping the lights on — it means keeping factories churches and hospitals running and safe during any and all weather conditions.” But testimony from an outside expert on behalf of the nonprofit Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin found that We Energies may have correctly identified an increased capacity need in its system but “exaggerated this need beyond what is reasonable.” “The commission should consider approving only a portion of the proposed generation capacity now, while approving the remainder requested only as certain conditions are met,” said consultant Edward Burgess in his testimony The deadline to submit written comments to the PSC about the Oak Creek gas plant and the natural gas storage facility is April 7 Editor’s note: The Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin is a sponsor of WPR This story was updated to reflect that the deadline to submit comments about the Oak Creek gas plant was extended “I easily saw 14 dead birds without much effort.” Aaron Johnson of Oak Creek said he's been visiting the beach just north of the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility for 16 years The beach recently reopened after the winter months and Johnson stopped down to enjoy some time by the water What he found was akin to a sandy graveyard with over a dozen dead birds along the shore Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Public Information Officer Garrett Dietz told the Journal Sentinel the DNR has received several reports about dead birds around the Milwaukee area in the past months He noted the most recent reports came from Oak Creek Johnson didn’t report his findings to the DNR but did share some photos he took of the birds online to give locals a heads-up in case they’re heading down there with dogs or small kids Could the dead birds found on the Oak Creek beach be victims of bird flu The DNR received a positive avian influenza test from a merganser ― a species of duck ― in the Milwaukee area in late February 2025 Commonly known as bird flu, instances of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI, outbreak have been increasing. Federal officials have called this bird flu outbreak the largest, deadliest, and most costly in history. The United States Department of Agriculture recently released a report saying the virus has been detected in U.S commercial poultry and backyard or hobbyist flocks beginning in January 2022 How to report or dispose of dead birds in WisconsinTo report a sick or dead bird, the Wisconsin DNR has a reporting form on its Wildlife Health webpage we encourage the public the report sick or dead birds via the form and use caution if they need to dispose of any carcasses on private property,” Dietz said “The best practice is to wear rubber gloves double-bag carcasses and throw them away with trash headed to the landfill.” More information about disease transmission, management, and health risks along with links to other resources can be found on the Wisconsin DNR’s Avian Influenza webpage More: Hundreds of dead ducks washed up on southern Lake Michigan shore. Why? And could it happen again? Oak Creek is filled with new and old restaurants but one of the best is the Oak Creek Diner at 6874 South 13th Street unassuming one-story building surrounded by a parking lot You could easily miss this spot without the giant old-school sign out front South 13th Street isn’t exactly a main drag in Oak Creek but it is if you’re someone like me who always sees movies at the Marcus South Shore On the way to see A Complete Unknown (a fantastic movie my mom and I wanted a good American breakfast great diners are hard to come by in the Midwest The internet assured me that Oak Creek Diner was going to be good we walked in at the exact moment to get the only two open seats at my preferred spot who was seating the endless line of people coming through the door I was assured that everything on the menu was good The couple bought the diner from the two previous owners about 15 years ago and added an extra dining room in the back Oak Creek Diner Eggs with Chorizo and Hash Browns you can’t go wrong with whatever direction you decide My mom got the classic two-egg breakfast plate with their homemade chorizo Like I always do when ordering eggs at a diner American cheese) with a side of hashbrowns and two mini pancakes when I tell you I haven’t had a pancake in a decade I never order it because it’s simply too much of one thing for me personally But I love a silver dollar or mini pancake when presented to me but this pancake was banging and the exact right amount on the side of an already big breakfast Oak Creek Diner Western Omelette with Hash Browns and Mini Pancake They have a dedicated server who runs around ensuring all coffee is topped off when needed Our waitress Erica was super friendly for someone seemingly amid chaos I can vouch that the burgers and crinkle-cut fries look exactly like you’d want them to at a good diner and plenty of daily specials ensure you’ll never run out of things to try It’s comforting to know that I have the Oak Creek Diner so close by I can go to the one place that has everything Get the latest news from Shepherd Express delivered directly to your inbox Candidates running for the Oak Creek-Franklin School Board on April 1 cited a variety of issues they feel need to be addressed in the district Incumbent Frank Carini said the safety of students and staff at Oak Creek High School still needs attention Challenger Genene Hibbler sees a greater need for “transparent and collaborative board development and governance policies,” while challenger Brianna Allen Kaiser would like to see a geater focus on mental health Incumbent Jerry Krist did not respond to questions posed to candidates Hibbler and Kaiser are running for two seats on the board They advanced to the April 1 general election from the Feb 18 primary election; challenger Bill McIntosh was eliminated The Journal Sentinel asked each candidate for their thoughts on a variety of issues Their responses were limited to 100 words per questions and were lightly edited Krist did not respond to the Journal Sentinel's questions Oak Creek-Franklin and many other Wisconsin school districts put referendums to voters What place do referendums have in trying to address the financial challenges school districts face?Carini: School districts have challenges every year when it comes to addressing their budgets and improvements In my experience being a board member it comes down to the operational and capital improvement budgets With one of the lowest revenue school districts in Milwaukee County we had to go to referendum to make sure our facilities are updated to improve our classroom experience while maintaining safety and concerns for our students and staff Hibbler: Referendums serve as a powerful tool in overcoming the financial challenges that school districts face They empower communities to invest directly in their schools and prioritize educational funding in areas where state and federal funding often fall short I support referendums that enable us to secure vital resources for staffing and educational programs essential to student success Engaging the community in discussions fosters transparency and unity building strong support for the future of our schools Referendums that support operational budgets of schools inspire hope and create a sustainable thriving educational environment for all children Kaiser: Referendums are a necessary tool for school districts to secure funding in some cases beyond state allocations ensuring students have access to quality education they highlight funding gaps in public education that should be addressed at the state level While they provide communities a say in school funding reliance on them can lead to inequities between districts with varying financial capacities long-term funding model from the state is essential to reduce the need for frequent referendums The district's administration has presented a report with district data on racially insensitive language and acts from the first semester and what do you think the report says about what has been done so far take these complaints and concerns regarding racial discrimination very seriously We have data that we track and monitor to address such issues Our data so far shows minimal incidents in our school district We utilize a training program for our staff on a yearly basis Hibbler: The report serves as both a call to action and a reflection of the current OCFJSD climate and evolving landscape The author(s) of the report presented the data in a manner that shows that while awareness is on the rise the OCFJSD administration still has important strides to make in fostering an inclusive environment The school board must commit to holding themselves and the administrators accountable for establishing a comprehensive improvement plan that addresses the recommendations within the Derute DEI audit equity and inclusion while creating a space where everyone feels valued and respected Kaiser: Transparency in reporting is a good step but the data underscores the need for ongoing efforts to create an inclusive environment real progress requires proactive education staff training and clear accountability measures which the district announced recently it has started to put into place There is need for the district to prioritize restorative practices student engagement initiatives and most importantly increased support for affected students Addressing these issues requires collaboration between families educators and administrators to foster a culture of respect and belonging What issue has the board has overlooked or not resolved to your satisfaction that you would like to see addressed?Carini: The biggest concern to me is the safety and concerns of our students and staff at the Oak Creek High School The main building and ninth-grade center are not connected and students and staff walk between both buildings students and staff walk outside between both buildings consistently every day and with the recent passing of our referendum in November this concern will be resolved our pool will be updated to serve our students and community Hibbler: The board has yet to fully embrace the urgent need for transparent and collaborative board development and governance practices The decisions made by the school board hold the power to profoundly impact our students the absence of regular policy updates and accessible discussion forums for stakeholders has resulted in misunderstandings and a sense of exclusion By prioritizing board development and Improved governance the school board can rebuild the community’s trust and empower parents and educators to actively engage in the educational journey ultimately uplifting our students and enhancing the vibrant future of our school district early intervention programs and staff training offered at Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District but I believe brining attention to the amount of affected students is essential to support students facing stress Expanding access to mental health services will improve student well-being and academic success Past political experience: School Board member/president Oak Creek-Franklin School District Community involvement: Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District School Board member Supporters and/or endorsements: My family and friends throughout Oak Creek Contact info: f.carini@ocfsd.org  Family: Widowed with three adult children and two grandchildren Community involvement: Heart 2 Heart Compassionate Widow’s Circles Inc. Modern Widows Club and the League of Women Voters Supporters and/or endorsements: City of Franklin Mayor John R Contact info:  200 E. Centennial Drive No. 758, Oak Creek, WI 53154-0758; 414-241-4179; genene@up4oc.com 12 who attends Oak Creek East Middle School and black Labrador retriever Duke Community involvement: Brianna Allen Kaiser has actively engaged in her community through various volunteer efforts supported charitable initiatives such as the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots program and contributed to the Oak Creek Franklin School District by working to establish a Parent Advisory Board Brianna also has served her community through her church and has volunteered at Deerfield Elementary assisting teachers with classroom projects including craft fairs and Drexel Square activities demonstrating her commitment to fostering a stronger sense of community Supporters and/or endorsements: Did not provide Employment:  Registered nurse at Aurora Health Care Contact info: Ballenkaiser@gmail.com Past political experience: Oak Creek School Board member-at-large for the past four years Community involvement:  Member-at-large for the Oak Creek Franklin Joint School Board; member Harvest Community Church; lead mentor and head coach of FIRST Robotics Team 1792; regional sectional and statejudge for FIRST Lego League in Wisconsin; American Legion Post 434; Oak Creek Lions Club Contact info:  jerrykristforschoolboard@gmail.com Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12 (LEX 18) — One person is dead after a boat crash on Lake Cumberland according to the Wayne County Coroner's Office The Wayne County Coroner says there was a single boat crash just before 6 p.m on Sunday with one person on board in the White Oak Creek area The corner says a fisherman spotted the boat drifting with the person on board on Lake Cumberland The person's identity has not been released at this time but the coroner says they suffered a lot of head trauma and fishing equipment was also found on board Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is on the scene investigating The town of Oak Creek embarked last week on the year-long process of creating a new Comprehensive Plan Joined by Summit-based consultants Norris Design town planning commissioners and Mayor Melissa Dobbins began the initial conversation on what the process will entail highlighting key areas on which they will focus “It’s a huge opportunity to have the community say what their vision is over the next five to 10 years,” said Norris Design Planner Kate Berg at the Jan Berg described the plan as an advisory document to help the board focus on priorities and goals and detail policies and actions to accomplish goals and address challenges Berg emphasized community engagement in “creating a policy guide for smart growth and sustainable development done in a way that honors what you care about and preserves the town’s heritage and character.”  The first four months of the process will include data and input gathering and “a lot of listening,” Berg said A contract with Norris Design was approved by the board Jan 9 for an amount not to exceed $155,000.  The last Oak Creek Comprehensive Plan was created in 2015 “there has not been a lot of building activity since,” according to the town’s 2024 Request for Proposal for the 2025 plan “But in the last two years building activity has increased and the population has grown.”  Board member and business owner Sascha Stanger suggested some of the town’s biggest challenges entail “a lot of empty buildings” and others in need of repair and a need for increased tax revenue and more collaboration among businesses While the 2015 plan projected consistent annual population growth for the town there were 501 total housing units in Oak Creek Renters accounted for 15% of housing units in the 2010 data with rentals accounting for 34% of the total “The Town knows it needs to diversify and improve its housing base through encouraging housing building and stock,” the RFP stated The consensus among the board was to promote “infill” growth before looking to expand housing in areas near or outside the town’s boundaries Affordable and attainable housing was also a focus “Oak Creek is still one of the cheaper places to live in the Yampa Valley but rising home costs will continue to put a strain on the community,” the RFP states “The median housing price in Oak Creek was $390,000 in March; the average median household income in Oak Creek is $54,545 and as such will only support a housing price of $313,000.” Oak Creek Planning Commission Chair Andy Benjamin noted the declining public school population.  “Build a new affordable housing community and you will bring that population right back up,” said Norris Design Principal Elena Scott “Developers are not interested in that market of real estate,” responded Benjamin.  Benjamin pushed back against the notion that adding more $1.5 million homes to the market increases housing attainability for the workforce He also said the “agricultural community is the thing at the greatest threat of being lost.” Dobbins talked about creating additional job opportunities and business amenities to allow more people to work and spend their money in Oak Creek rather than needing to drive to Steamboat which she said would also provide a much-needed boost in sales tax revenue “The Town is also seeing an economic future that is uncertain due to the challenges that are projected for the future specifically related to the transitions occurring in coal-related industries including the railroad employment support industries that are housed and located in Oak Creek respectively and the pending Discovery Land/Stagecoach development six miles from Town,” according to the RFP.  The application review of Discovery Land Company’s proposed Stagecoach Mountain Ranch private ski area and luxury housing development has not yet been started by the county planning commission Dobbins suggested learning more about how Discovery’s Yellowstone Club in Montana impacted the surrounding communities.  the Town is looking to assure that the growth that does happen is sustainable assists and supports transitioning coal-industry workers rural character of the community,” according to the RFP The next steps will be the formation of a steering committee and focus groups “I’m so excited about this project,” Dobbins said “If there’s ever been a time for the community to participate — it’s now.”  Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Wis.— A proposed new power plant in southeastern Wisconsin could be moving the state one step closer to its clean energy goals We Energies plans to shut down its oldest running coal plant The newer coal plant will be transitioned to a natural gas plant down the road and another new natural gas plant is planned to be built next to that location We Energies said the goal is to have the new plant up and running by 2028 An Environmental Assessment conducted by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin found that the new plant’s emissions would be 75% lower compared to the coal plant that the company plans to retire The current plant would change to natural gas and the new facility would also run on natural gas We Energies said the natural gas will only be used when needed when wind and solar power aren’t in use “These natural gas plants we propose would turn on and then ramp down when the sun comes back up or the wind starts blowing,” We Energies Spokesperson the proposed plant in Oak Creek that is the focus of this hearing would run about 10 to 20 percent of the time it would only be there when we most need to serve our customer.” The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin held hearings on Tuesday at the Oak Creek Community center to listen to public comment on the proposed natural gas plant protests both for and against gathered outside the community center to have their voices heard Dozens of union and trades workers showed up to support the project saying the job opportunities it would create would benefit local workers also serves as the President of the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades council Bukiewicz showed up along with dozens of trade members and unions in support of the $1.2 billion project moving forward He said it would provide between 2,000-5,000 throughout the five-year project It would make an impact not only on the region but on workers across the state of Wisconsin “What we are here today for is to advocate for this project moves forward “Make sure we have a reliable power source these are supporting family supporting careers for all these men and women who have gathered here today locally,” Those against the natural gas plant said their concerns are with the potential rising energy costs and the impact on health issues like asthma “I think this is a very strong message from We Energies customer base to say y’all don’t get to come and build something that is absorbingly expensive without taking serious consideration credibly evidence-based concerns about what its going to do to people's pocketbooks and to the environment,” Walnut Way Conservation Corps environmental justice director While the project has the potential to bring in thousands of local jobs those who oppose the project said it is not worth it in the long run “The jobs that are going to be used to build that plant are short term,” Racine Resident “The life of our planet and future generations are long term We need to continue to persist fighting for the life of our planet.” Many have also brought up concerns about this project being built to power the new Microsoft tech facilities in Kenosha We Energies said while that project will be powered by their grids and these facilities it’s not the only business or home that will be affected “We are building tons of renewable energy and this new kind of quick start natural gas,” Conway said to help reduce emissions and to make the air cleaner but it’s also to support the massive growth we are seeing across southeastern Wisconsin but it’s not the only large manufacturing and work site.” We Energies said their long-term plan would spread out rate payments from customers and they project savings over a 20-year span from this project The Public Service Commission meetings will continue throughout the year and We Energies said they hope to have a decision on this project made by the end of the year — A Burlington woman is facing felony charges after authorities say she hid her 13-year-old daughter for seven days despite not having custody of the girl Luisa Asala appeared in Milwaukee County Court Wednesday to hear the reading of the Class F felony charge of interfering with child custody-other parent Watch: Mom charged with interfering with child custody after disappearance of teen girl Lillian was reported missing on March 1 after she left a skate park in Oak Creek and stopped answering texts and calls from her family Her phone was later pinged near Pennsylvania and Forest Hill Ave — a mile away from the park “over 200 man hours were committed” to finding Lillian Police received anonymous tips that Lillian was in contact with classmates and had told them she “was fine and that her mom was hiding her.” Asala told authorities where her daughter was Asala could face up to 12 years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine Asala was remanded into custody pending posting of $20,000 cash bond A preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 20 When you get an oil change it’s common for the mechanic to place a sticker on the corner of your windshield denoting mileage and when your next service is due “Initially I just sat in my car for about 20 minutes and cried,” Makayla Starks said Starks said she took her car in for an oil change at Kunes Buick GMC Starks started getting phone calls that a technician misplaced a tool in her engine bay “Under those false pretenses they acquired my home address from me,” she said The technician told Starks they wanted to come out that evening one of (Kunes') own employees reached out to me by phone call and text message telling me that there was no forgotten tool,” Starks said “They were just trying to come and retrieve the proof which would be the oil change sticker with the racial slur on my windshield.” believes they hoped to remove the sticker before she saw it She spoke with a regional director for Kunes who “implied that maybe the reason they were going to try and do that was to prevent any harm from happening.” “They sent the racist employee to my home address later that day if anything puts me further in harm’s way,” she said Starks returned to the dealership to request her oil change paperwork she said a manager came up to her with the company’s regional director on the phone who “started apologizing profusely for the sticker that I had not even previously mentioned.” “More than one person knew about this (and) they tried to cover it up with a lie,” she said Starks said she has also since discovered that some buttons on her steering wheel “that allow me to access the safety features that my vehicle is supposed to be equipped with” were damaged What did Kunes have to say in response?Kunes has since taken down its Oak Creek dealership page on Facebook with comments limited on posts elsewhere mentioning the location The company also released a statement on its Instagram and TikTok pages saying the employee has been terminated Kunes did not respond to the Journal Sentinel’s request for further comment "We are deeply disturbed and saddened by the incident that has come to light involving one of our employees and a customer her sense of safety and dignity,” the company said in its statement “We want to be unequivocal: this behavior and the hateful sentiment it implies are absolutely against our values as a company There is no place for racism or discrimination within our dealership or community.” The dealership also said they’ve been in contact with Starks over the last month offering apologies and credits for service at other locations "This incident stands in stark contrast to who we are as a company,” Kunes wrote “We recognize the seriousness of this matter and accept our responsibility to ensure a safe welcoming environment for every person who walks through our doors we know that real change comes from action and we are fully committed to demonstrating our values through measurable steps We are moving forward addressing this with our entire staff Starks ended up using Kunes because of a “traumatic car accident” in October 2024 that totaled her car “The front end was smushed in like a soda can,” she said Starks got an email from a financial institution that she was preapproved to purchase a vehicle only at a certain dealership ― Kunes Buick GMC in Oak Creek When she purchased her vehicle last October When Starks started getting prompts that service was due on the car she scheduled the oil change that led to this incident A protest outside of Kunes and police calledA group of protesters gathered outside of Kunes in Oak Creek on Saturday with flags and signs ― one saying “We won’t tolerate racist hate" and another "Boycott hate and his friends are activists from The People’s Revolution in Milwaukee “They did a lot of protesting back in 2020 throughout the whole Black Lives Matter movement,” she said “They were the ones who were really encouraging me to share my story and get the word out there so that we could make the community aware of what was sort of going on behind closed doors at Kunes.” Starks said she again tried asking the dealership for her oil change paperwork that Saturday but said Kunes called police and said she had to leave or she’d be arrested for trespassing That was not Starks’ first encounter with Oak Creek police related to the incident She said officers visited her home in West Allis the night before “Two officers showed up to my house at 10 p.m and they were banging on my door very loudly,” Starks said The officers said they were sent to investigate an incident at a car dealership and to ask her if she wanted to make a report The Journal Sentinel reached out to the Oak Creek Police Department for more information a representative told a reporter the reports “are still in process” but would be available via open records once completed Facebook post about the incident removedStarks posted about her experience on Facebook That post has since been flagged by Meta as going against its community standards and it was taken down by the company “I thought it was interesting that Facebook’s community standards do not allow people to protest or speak out against racism,” she said Starks did attempt to report to Facebook the context of the post disputing the takedown and asking it to be reinstated Starks plans to continue to make new posts Starks has retained William Sulton, a civil rights attorney with Sulton Law in Milwaukee and said he is “taking the lead right now” in speaking with Kunes and their legal team Starks said she wants to hold Kunes accountable not just for the one employee who typed the racial slur on the sticker but the other employees who she believes had knowledge of this happening She also wants proof these employees were disciplined or terminated all we have are claims and statements that’s happened She said this is an example of why companies need diversity equity and inclusion policies which include “trainings on racial discrimination and culturally diverse consumer relations.” “I think the ultimate message here is just that we want to see Black customers and other people of color being treated with the same respect as white folks,” Starks said She said overall she wants to “spread awareness of the harm that racism does.” a member of TMJ4's staff goes to a local fish fry destination and reviews their product Photographer Claire Karr is reviewing Erv's Mug in Oak Creek My roommate and I made the trip out to Oak Creek to try the Friday night fish fry at Erv's Mug Watch: OnMilwaukee's Lori Fredrich recommends must-try fish fry: The restaurant was packed wall-to-wall with people Normally I don't like waiting more than an hour to get a table but since more people continued to come in and put their name down regardless of the wait time we had to stay and see what hype was about the walls were decorated with everything from old license plates to neon beer signs The restaurant screamed "Wisconsin" in the best way possible We both ordered their 'Famous Fish Fry,' both choosing the beer battered cod and the French onion soup but parted ways in ordering our sides - French fries for myself and potato pancakes for my roommate The soup was a perfect combination of onion and cheese especially if you're a big salt fan like myself I would've been content with it being the whole meal The fish came with a side of coleslaw and rye bread It was so much food I ended up taking it home with me; and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted after tossing it in the air fryer the next day The staff was so kind and even the other customers waiting for tables were friendly The cost for everything was more than fair We couldn't stop talking about Erv's Mug fish fry and we're excited for our next visit This fish fry is definitely worth the wait The City of Oak Creek Plan Commission has released a timeline on next steps for the city's future Buc-ee's location The proposed 74,000-square-foot store is planned to be the popular Texas-based convenience store and gas station brand's first Wisconsin location The 24/7 Oak Creek store will be located at the intersection of South 27th Street and West Elm Road on a 29.6-acre site at 10700 The Plan Commission held its first public meeting addressing Buc-ee's on Jan passing resolutions to change the proposed location from a business park to commercial use in the city's comprehensive plan and rezoning it from mostly agricultural zoning to the B-6 Interchange Regional Retail District Here's what's next for Buc-ee's in Oak Creek: Here are the next steps for Buc-ee's in Oak Creek according to the Plan Commission's timeline: March 18: The Oak Creek Common Council will hold a public hearing to consider the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Category and rezoning application passed at the Jan The Common Council may vote on the resolutions at the meeting.Tuesday April 22 (anticipated): The Plan Commission will review a Certified Survey Map (CSM) application to combine the three parcels at 10700 The commission will also review a Conditional Use Permit application for the operation of a "fueling plaza" at 27th Street and Elm Road The commission will provide a recommendation to the Common Council.Tuesday May 20 (anticipated): The Common Council will hold a public hearing to consider the CSM and Conditional Use Permit applications The Common Council may vote on them at the meeting.Tuesday June 10 (anticipated): The Plan Commission will review the final site architectural and lighting plans for the construction of the building and build-out of the site The Plan Commission may vote on the application at the meeting This application type doesn't go before the Common Council It's the final step in the review process and isn't a public hearing.An earlier statement from Buc-ee's said the Oak Creek store could open in early 2027 The 74,000-square-foot Oak Creek convenience store would be open 24/7 It will have 60 kiosks with a gas pump on each side for a total of 120 fueling stations described the convenience store as "the Disneyland of gas stations" in a presentation she gave at the Jan Janik said it will employ between 175 and 225 full-time workers Janik added that Buc-ee's often partners with local vendors for products to sell in-store candles and honey ― as long as they can keep up with demand Buc-ee's locations attract between 4,000 and 8,000 cars daily Janik said an estimated 90% of visitors to the Oak Creek location could come from outside Milwaukee County In 2023, Buc-ee's said it planned to build a store in DeForest ― a village of about 10,000 in Dane County He added in late January that the Oak Creek project should have no impact on the potential DeForest project The proposed DeForest location would also be 74,000 square feet It would be located off Interstate 39/90/94 Plans include 120 gas pumps and 20 electric vehicle charging stations Before plans can move ahead, the Village of DeForest needs to secure about $7 million in funding Buc-ee's has requested for a nearby interchange upgrade Chang previously called this a "challenging number" but said the village plans to work with state and local elected officials to propose state legislation that would help cover the cost Both proposed Wisconsin stores could rival the biggest Buc-ee's store in Luling which is 75,000 square feet and opened last summer More: Buc-ee's in Wisconsin: Where and when will it open? Where's the closest Buc-ee's now? More: What's the big deal about Buc-ee's, the gas-station chain coming to Wisconsin? Let this native Texan tell you UPDATE at Noon on 4/17/2025: Oak Creek High School administrators say sports practices and games scheduled for the campus will go on as planned OAK CREEK, Wis. — Oak Creek High School will be dismissing at 11:30 a.m administrators say the 10-12 Building has lost complete power so they are dismissing high school students early “Students who get picked up will be at the Ninth Grade Center cafeteria/gym and will have access to lunch Parents can pick up their student from the Ninth Grade Center Practices for spring sports and any home games for tonight will be determined in the next few hours.” We Energies tells WTMJ that construction company doing work in the area hit one of our underground cables and that there are crews on scene working to restore power They have not provided a timeline for when the power will be restored Dear Oak Creek High School Families,  The 10-12 Building has lost complete power.  WE Energies does not have an estimated time of power restoration we will be dismissing all high school students early.  Student drivers and students who take the bus home will be dismissed at 11:30 am Students who get picked up from school will be at the Ninth Grade Center cafeteria/gym and will have access to lunch Practices for spring sports and any home games for tonight will be determined in the next few hours We will communicate as soon as we can.  please contact the Ninth Grade Center at (414) 570-3840 Thank you for your support and understanding. OCHS Administration MILWAUKEE - When it opens in spring of 2027 the new Milwaukee museum will be called the Nature & Culture.. MILWAUKEE — There are over 200 films to see at the 2025 Milwaukee Film Festival MILWAUKEE --  Nehring's Sendik's grocery store on Downer Ave has temporarily closed after the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) found mouse and rat.. We Energies plans for a new natural gas plant in Oak Creek would help southeast Wisconsin with its energy needs but could saddle ratepayers with decades of costs and worsen air pollution Those were some of the comments made Tuesday at a state Public Service Commission hearing in Oak Creek focused on plans for a $1.2 billion gas plant where the current coal power plant will be shut down We Energies says it needs the plant, and other gas generating facilities to satisfy the growing demand for electricity in southeast Wisconsin including a Microsoft data center under construction in Mount Pleasant The state’s largest utility says it is investing more than $9 billion in renewable energy quadrupling its carbon-free sources of electricity – but that natural gas remains an important source when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine say air quality in southeast Wisconsin and beyond would worsen from hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide emitted annually emits pollutants that contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases We Energies is putting profits and their largest customers ahead of what's best for the people of Wisconsin," State Sen a Democrat whose district includes Milwaukee and Oak Creek is not a "bridge to the future" for renewable energy which We Energies has pledged to implement on a wider scale "We already have clean alternatives...by prioritizing renewable energy we can create lower energy costs in the long term and strengthen Wisconsin's leadership in the growing clean energy sector," Larson said Supporters point to hundreds of construction jobsAdvocates for the Oak Creek plant say it would create around 800 construction jobs and generate millions of dollars in economic activity They also say it's necessary to support growth "Many of those who object to the Oak Creek project seek to stop any energy infrastructure that does not come from 100% renewable sources without regard for the impact of such a position on the people and businesses that need access to reliable electricity and without regard for the reality of the state of renewable energy technology," said Steve Buffalo district manager for Local 139 of the International Union of Operating Engineers Buffalo and others in favor of the Oak Creek plant said they weren't opposed to renewable energy projects renewables weren't enough to meet the state's energy needs We Energies has said the gas plant would have a lifespan lasting decades, and that it would augment power generation during extreme weather events such as summer heat waves However critics say the burning of fossil fuels contributes to climate change and extreme weather and that We Energies ratepayers are already paying for the early shutdown of coal power plants "We Energies built one of the last coal plants in the country despite the well known facts about the impact on our health and the environment Ratepayers are still paying for that plant even though it's been decommissioned fossil fuel power plants," Gloria Randall Hewitt OAK CREEK — A proposed natural gas plant in Oak Creek has garnered both strong support and fierce opposition as hundreds of residents gathered Tuesday afternoon at a public meeting to express their views aims to replace the city’s coal-powered facility with a modern natural gas operation the operating director of Operating Engineers Local 139 emphasizing the need for reliable energy sources it's a little chilly out; we want gas to heat our homes and in the summertime we want to have an air conditioner to cool our homes,” he said predicting it will create 800 jobs at its peak construction phase who helped build the existing coal plant in 2007 highlighted the benefits the industry has brought to families in the region “It impacted my family; it gave me great wages and benefits for my family,” he noted Watch: Oak Creek residents takes sides on natural gas plant proposal Proponents argue that natural gas is a safer alternative to coal while maintaining a stable energy supply for Wisconsin; however raising concerns about the environmental impact and health risks associated with the plant an Oak Creek resident and volunteer with Healthy Climate Wisconsin “We need to be prioritizing the health of our community and putting that first,” she emphasized Alberth explained that the fossil fuel plant could harm local air quality and pointed to research suggesting renewable energy sources like solar and wind would meet the community's energy needs “The research has been done; we know that green sources of energy can meet the demands that the community needs,” she stated as they conveyed their thoughts to the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) the PSC will continue to accept comments from both We Energies and the community before making a decision on the project in the coming months construction could begin as early as this year with the facility expected to start operations in 2027 or 2028 Five candidates will square off for two seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin School Board this year Brianna Allen Kaiser and Bill McIntosh are running in the Feb One candidate will be eliminated; the top four vote-getters will advance to the April 1 spring election The Journal Sentinel asked each candidate the same three questions Their responses were limited to 100 words per question 1 priority for the Oak Creek-Franklin School District is safety and security for our students and staff while maintaining high standards for a quality education This is important because students and staff need to know that they are safe and that they are supported by the Oak Creek community We need to continually assess any safety concerns and we must also continue to use research-based best practices in our schools Hibbler: The OCFJSD must do more to cultivate a welcoming and inclusive school culture ensure equitable access to educational resources for everyone and strive for a learning environment where everyone feels valued and supported As a community advocate and resident of Oak Creek for 20 years I will address the challenges impeding unity in the district: unequal access to educational resources insufficient representation that leads to feelings of exclusion and varied family involvement in education I am also committed to keeping politics out of education Every student deserves to feel valued and supported Allen Kaiser: A major issue facing the Oak Creek Franklin School District is the underfunding of special education This shortfall forces the district to divert resources from other programs This includes strains on resources for areas like reading Fair funding benefits students by freeing up dollars for broader programs and teacher salaries I will collaborate with fellow board members and legislators to advocate for increasing the state’s funding to at least 50% ensuring that special education programs are adequately supported without compromising other vital initiatives Krist: A stable school district will provide the leadership and consistency needed to address both immediate and long-term educational challenges By focusing on student achievement and academic performance I will work to ensure that all students have access to quality education which is essential for their future success My pragmatic approach to representing the citizens of Oak Creek ensures we will focus on practical solutions that align with the community’s needs Balancing short-term goals with long-term strategies that foster a thriving educational environment McIntosh: It is my priority to see our Oak Creek-Franklin School District create a world-class educational experience for every student One of my opponents has been on the School Board for 17 years; during that time nearly half of the Oak Creek-Franklin Schools have only been meeting DPI expectations and the high school has been barely meeting DPI educational expectations I will advocate for and hold our school administration accountable for developing a plan with BOE consultation and community input that meets our world-class educational goals that puts every school into the significantly exceeds DPI educational expectations rating category Our Public Investigator team found complaints about racial discrimination in the Oak Creek-Franklin School District largely went unreported to the state and how would you address discrimination issues in the district?Carini: We Our data so far shows minimal incidents in our school district We utilize a training program for our staff on a yearly basis Hibbler: As a taxpayer and parent of former students particularly those of color facing racial harassment and bullying The Journal Sentinel report shows a concerning lack of accountability to Oak Creek-Franklin School District residents I will promote transparency in reporting discrimination and work to ensure that all students — including those of color or facing economic challenges — receive the necessary resources and support to thrive Allen Kaiser: Racial discrimination in the Oak Creek-Franklin School District going unreported to the state is deeply concerning and highlights systemic issues in accountability and transparency I would advocate for improved reporting protocols to ensure all incidents are documented and submitted per state requirements I would prioritize thorough annual cultural competency training for staff implement clear anti-discrimination policies and establish community forums to amplify student and parent voices Creating a task force to oversee complaints and response timelines would also foster accountability inclusive environment for all students must remain a top priority for the district Krist: Oak Creek is a diverse community with great schools led by incredible staff that are educating wonderful students Issues like this can be found in every school district in the country it is not the divisive issue some of our community members are demanding it be The district has spent a large amount of money investigating a small number of complaints We have a monthly reporting system in place and we are ready to deal with individual situations if they arise McIntosh: The under-reporting of racial discrimination by the Oak Creek-Franklin district administration is most likely only one of many things that are not properly reported the Oak Creek-Franklin School District administration does not properly enforce BOE policy and reporting under many of these policies goes largely undone but I will advocate for holding our school administration accountable as well Carini: The school district is working with the city of Oak Creek and we've made some improvements on making drivers aware when students are crossing the streets near our high school There have been additional flashing lights added for the pedestrian crosswalks but we realize we need to continue to push for even more changes I personally spoke with a city official to inquire about additional improvements You can see the work we have done in collaborating with the city of Oak Creek and Milwaukee County on 13th Street with the new HAWK signal near West Middle School Hibbler: As a certified emergency manager with more than 20 years of experience in public safety I strongly urge the district to partner with the Oak Creek Public Works Department to assess and implement essential safety improvements at the site of the recent accident Enhancing visibility is crucial; better lighting and clearer signage can significantly increase pedestrian safety in the area I encourage both motorists and pedestrians to exercise extreme caution when navigating the designated school traffic zone we can create a safer environment for everyone Allen Kaiser: The safety of our students is a top priority and this incident is a stark reminder that we must protect people as best we can local law enforcement and city planners to assess the area for potential improvements I would advocate for community input to identify other high-risk areas near schools Preventing such tragedies requires proactive collaboration and I am committed to ensuring that every student can travel to and from school safely Krist: I would refer you to the Oak Creek Police department on this matter McIntosh: This is the second accident that has injured a student over the past seven years Very little attention has been given to this issue from our current School Board and our school district administration The safety of our students should be our No as I am certain this is how our community feels as well It is my opinion that our current School Board leaders have not given enough thought about the safety of our students as they come to and leave the high school campus Past political experience: School board member since 2006 Community involvement: Oak Creek Citizen of the Year from community involvement in Oak Creek Contact info:  f.carini@ocfsd.org Family:  Three adult children and two grandchildren Community involvement:  I possess more than 20 years of experience in Christian ministry and and senior citizens coping with grief and loss having captured my story and wisdom in a memoir entitled "Navigating a Hurricane of Hurts: Enduring the Loss of Loved Ones." I have received substantial media coverage in recent years for my nonprofit efforts and my advocacy for unity and reform in the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Candidate; Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District - School Board; P.O Community involvement: Kaiser has actively engaged in her community through various volunteer efforts She has supported charitable initiatives such as the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots program and contributed to the Oak Creek Franklin School District by working to establish a Parent Advisory Board which is still in the beginning stages Brianna also serves her community through her church Contact info:  jerrykristforschoolboard@gmail.com Past political experience:  Ran for OCFSB in 2013 Community involvement:  Volunteer reader in the elementary schools participate in school district wide fundraisers past leadership on the Oak Creek Little League Board coached multiple youth teams and also Oak Creek Middle School girls basketball Contact info:  Bmac584@gmail.com Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at@AlecJohnson12 Lillian Asala, the 13-year-old girl missing since March 1 has been found safe by the Oak Creek Police Department the department confirmed Asala was located Police declined to make any further statements as they are still considering this an active investigation “We will release further information on this investigation when we can,” Oak Creek police said on its Facebook page “Thank you to the community for the outpouring of support to Lillian March 1 from the area around South Pennsylvania and East Forest Hill avenues in Oak Creek Police said there “is no active threat to the community.” Some residents have expressed excitement about the new Buc-ee’s proposal in Oak Creek When it was announced Jan. 23 that Buc-ee's was looking to build a 24/7 74,000-square-foot convenience store with approximately 120 fueling stations it was a yin and yang moment for Oak Creek The city was reeling from news the day before that Master Lock’s world headquarters was shutting down and relocating ― along with other offices of parent company Fortune Brands Innovations ― into a new Deerfield “Whether it’s the Buc-ee’s coming in or Master Lock going out so to speak,” Oak Creek Mayor Dan Bukiewicz told the Journal Sentinel The Journal Sentinel talked with Bukiewicz about Master Lock leaving Buc-ee's possibly coming and what Oak Creek has going for it when it comes to attracting chain businesses to the city Master Lock unlocks from a century of history in the Milwaukee areaBukiewicz called Master Lock’s departure “unfortunate,” saying the company has been a great community partner for many years The company has a 100-plus year history in the Milwaukee area, closing its Milwaukee plant less than a year ago “They’re such a quality company we hate to see them go,” he said “We wish they would’ve chosen Oak Creek to relocate people from Illinois but sometimes the winds blow the other way.” The 120 Master Lock employees all have the option to keep their relocated jobs whether they move closer or choose to take the hour-long commute Bukiewicz is hopeful for the future of the property at 6744 S “Whoever decides to locate in it is going to get a real high-quality building.” Master Lock first came to Oak Creek in 2002 Buc-ee’s first contacted Oak Creek in the fall of 2024 He said some city staff were familiar with the chain “They kind of came through and we did our due diligence about the company,” Bukiewicz said “The further along we got with these folks we figured out we had something really unique here.” While he’s never been in a Buc-ee’s himself Bukiewicz said he might take a road trip and check one out “People say when you go in there it’s almost like a kid in a candy shop and it’s overwhelming,” he said noting it sounds like they have “everything under the sun.” The mayor is hopeful if the project does come to fruition it will be an economic driver for the city with visitors checking out other places to dine and shop in Oak Creek Multiple residents who neighbor the potential Buc-ee’s property spoke out against the proposal at the Jan decreased property values and environmental concerns for a large gas station were among the top topics Bukiewicz said he understands neighbors' concerns with the proposed business being so close to their homes he noted many other residents across the city had expressed their excitement for the project you really have to look long-term at these things,” Bukiewicz told the Journal Sentinel Bukiewicz said he thinks Buc-ee’s could be a great addition to the city as a destination stop along a main thoroughfare “It really lined up for them; it’s everything they were looking for,” he said Oak Creek brought the first IKEA to Wisconsin in 2018 the city could be home to the state's first Buc-ee's Bukiewicz said Oak Creek has a few things going for it when it comes to attracting these new companies we’re a good community to work with,” he said “We have the expressway system … we’re on top of the airport we’re within driving distance of the greater Chicago area the location just lends itself to putting these types of businesses in.” Buc-ee’s has been working to open a location in DeForest but Bukiewicz said the issue there is the village needs road improvements “What did it here is the Elm Road interchange is brand new and it was built to handle that volume of traffic,” Bukiewicz said While he thinks the Oak Creek Buc-ee’s could open first if the project moves forward it’s the benefit it brings to the locality and the area,” he said Wisconsinites are proud of Kwik Trip the same as Texans are proud of Buc-ee’s Bukiewicz said it’s like comparing Summerfest and State Fair ― they both sell food and have music but they’re completely different experiences he said people will get their gas where it’s most convenient “There’s room in the market for everybody,” he said More: 'The Disneyland of gas stations': Oak Creek holds first public meeting on proposed Buc-ee's while hitting a few little white golf balls might soon get easier in Oak Creek Swing & Sip Golf Bar is hoping to open at 140 East Rawson Ave. The indoor golf bar would feature golf simulators which according to documentation provided to the city Oak Creek’s Common Council reviewed and approved a conditional use request for the business on March 31 It was recommended for approval by the city’s plan commission in late February The business plans to occupy about 4,000 square feet in the multi-suite building. About 1,760 square feet would be taken up by the four Golfzon golf simulators and 1,996 square feet would be filled with the bar and lounge space The full-service bar plans to offer craft beers “Our goal is to create a welcoming atmosphere where guests can relax enjoy their favorite sports on multiple screens and socialize with friends and family,” the application submitted by Jason Roberts of Lisby & Roberts making it an ideal destination for both casual outings and special occasions.” Roberts has over 20 years of experience in the service industry and owns the Milwaukee Smart Mart Swing & Sip is expected to get about 35 customers per day The space has a 75-person capacity with a maximum of 16 people at the simulators The expected hours of operation are daily from 9 a.m The business may close one or two days each week over the summer months ― what documents called the indoor golfing “off-season.” The business is targeting a fall 2025 opening, according to a March 22 posting on the Swing & Sip Golf Bar Facebook page The company website is still under construction not just because Wisconsin is well known for various cheeses but because those looking out their airplane windows may spot a giant camera carved into snow snapping back up at them Aaron Johnson of Oak Creek created what he calls the “snow camera” the morning of Feb Located in the Carrollville Crossings subdivision close to the shore of Lake Michigan in Oak Creek When he saw the fresh snow on the pond behind his home it looked like a blank canvas I grabbed a shovel and my drone and got to work,” he said who just returned from a two-week photography trip to Tanzania said the idea of what to create came to him quickly “By the time I walked back to the house to get the drone and shovel It took him an hour to shovel out the shape joking that it took two drone batteries to record the time lapse Despite not being a fan of the cold or winter this isn’t Johnson’s first work of snow art He said he has a history of creating snow sculptures including crafting a large “Baby Yoda” with his daughter He’s also created elaborate snow slides and “various other creatures.” He said he wanted to have some fun with the snow the area has finally received “I hope it brings a smile to someone’s face,” Johnson said — The disappearance of 13-year-old Lillian Asala rallied the Oak Creek community to find the missing child and her mother was arrested on felony charges According to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office Lillian's mother was arrested on the felony charge of interfering with child custody — other parents Watch related coverage: Missing Oak Creek teen found safe by police: TMJ4 News does not name people accused of crimes until they are formally charged Lillian was reported missing on March 1st after she left a skate park in Oak Creek and stopped answering texts and calls from her family Police searched for Lillian with K-9s and drones but were not able to find her Family and volunteers came together to search for her at Bender Park on March 6 spoke with TMJ4 and said he was grateful for the number of people who came out to help find his daughter The Oak Creek Police Department then took her mother into custody OCPD is investigating the circumstances behind Lillian's disappearance Authorities have not confirmed if the charges are related to Lillian's disappearance