The Drunk Uncle is celebrating "one last weekend" by offering free beverages starting at 2 p.m according to a post on the bar's Facebook page sent just before midnight on May 1 "Things don’t look good for the world famous Drunk Uncle," the post reads And then later: "I can’t take the beer and booze with me so let’s put it in your belly’s instead." a woman filed a lawsuit alleging that Steffek made defamatory comments online and to her employer after she left a one-star review of the bar at 1902 S West Allis' Common Council found that Steffek has been operating the bar without a seller's permit since 2024 after the state revoked it due to unpaid sales tax according to West Allis City Attorney Kail Decker the council voted to not renew The Drunk Uncle's liquor license giving Steffek until April 30 to request a hearing on the decision and until June 30 to get his seller's permit reinstated The ongoing defamation lawsuit also sparked a city investigation into additional allegations against Steffek including counts related to operating without a seller's permit On April 3, Steffek appeared before the West Allis Public Safety Committee to answer to the complaints and denied all the allegations This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page — West Allis police said a suspect who escaped while receiving medical treatment at a local hospital is now in custody Charles Gregory was arrested following a police pursuit earlier Tuesday He had been injured during the pursuit and was at the Aurora Medical Center receiving care at the time of his escape He was still in handcuffs when he fled around 3:45 p.m Police spent Tuesday afternoon searching the area around the hospital They checked trash cans and knocked on doors throughout the neighborhood before finally locating Gregory hiding in Dale Wahlers' garage on Hayes Avenue 'What is she doing?' I come out and I see the cops walking up and down the driveway." He did not know what was going on at the time A nearby neighbor told TMJ4 that she had spotted Gregory while reviewing her security camera footage around the time he had escaped She reported it to police immediately after reviewing it around 6:30 p.m Gregory was spotted walking down Hayes Avenue near 88th Street until he headed toward Wahlers' backyard Watch: Suspect escapes police at West Allis Hospital he must've booted in the side door and that's how he got in," said Wahlers He said he believes Gregory broke into the detached garage and hid in his Subaru Wahlers said he plans to take extra precautions now I know I'm going to have security cameras and I'm going to screw 2x4s on the inside of that door Gregory was arrested again around 6:40 p.m He still had his handcuffs on from the original arrest 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 WOONSOCKET, RI. — Southeast Wisconsin will be losing another pharmacy location. CVS confirmed to WTMJ that the pharmacy at 92nd and Greenfield in West Allis will close on April 15 Prescriptions will be transferred to the CVS Pharmacy at 75th and Bluemound in Wauwatosa but company officials say patients can choose to fill their prescriptions at any CVS Pharmacy “Maintaining access to pharmacy services in the communities we serve is an important factor we consider when making store closure decisions Other factors include local market dynamics and ensuring there are other geographic access points to meet the needs of the community We’ll continue to provide the community with outstanding service at our over 80 CVS Pharmacy locations in Wisconsin.” CVS previously closed the location at Villard and Teutonia on Milwaukee’s northwest side in January Company officials said there are no additional closures planned for Wisconsin in the immediate future is voluntarily recalling its "on the vine" tomatoes over concerns of potential salmonella contamination... MILWAUKEE -- On the Monday before Mother's Day the Daisie Foundation is bringing its signature "Random acts of Kindness" event.. MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers are bringing back a fan favorite in partnership with local police departments: Brewers trading card.. Utah-based franchise The Picklr is making its way to West Allis the new facility plans to open this year at 2550 S according to a news release from The Picklr The location is the site of a former Dunham's Sports building The Picklr’s West Allis location is the third of eight clubs planned in Wisconsin following openings in Green Bay and Menomonee Falls “Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the nation and demand for indoor pickleball courts continues to rise,” Amy Guerrero the development group bringing The Picklr to the state Guerrero said The Picklr offers a world-class experience with state-of-the-art clubs a player-first environment and unmatched programming for all ages Guerrero said the community will have reciprocal access to other club locations across the nation How big will The Picklr in West Allis be?The Picklr will be 29,920 square feet and will feature 10 courts The Picklr in West Allis will be located at 2550 S The Picklr in West Allis is expected to open this summer What are the other amenities at The Picklr?Members will have access to unlimited open play tournaments and an option to enroll in private and semi-private lessons and clinics run by certified trainers The Picklr will also include an enclosed community space which is ideal for hosting corporate and celebratory events Currently there are more than 475 locations of The Picklr across the United States Need more info?For more information on The Picklr, visit thepicklr.com/location/west-allis Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com A group of New Berlin homeowners who are part of the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District is suing the school district in an attempt to detach from that district and join the neighboring New Berlin School District The group filed a lawsuit March 24 in Waukesha County Circuit Court after the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District declared its detachment petition invalid, according to online court records Homeowner John Molling signed the group's petition even though he had already petitioned to detach his home individually The district cited state law in ruling that action invalidated the group petition The homeowners are asking the court to determine whether the petition is void under state statute if a one-year limitation would apply to the petition and for the court to approve the petition the owners of 134 homes signed a petition to remove their homes from the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District so they could join the New Berlin School District The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District agreed to hear the petition Feb 10 approved the residents' request to attach the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District notified petitioners it had canceled the Feb 24 hearing because Molling had already petitioned to detach his house and his signing of the group's petition rendered it invalid The group of petitioners was unaware that Molling had filed his own petition Molling then contacted the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District seeking to withdraw his individual petition so the group petition could move forward the district denied Molling's request and said that since the district declared the group petition void Lawsuit claims district is trying to silence petitionersThe lawsuit claims the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District is trying to silence the petitioners and said the school district failed to provide any written description of the procedures for school district reorganization The lawsuit also said the New Berlin School Board had no procedural problem in approving the group's petition it argued that there's precedent for homes detaching from the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District and attaching to the New Berlin School District which is within the state Department of Public Instruction approved a petition to move 161 homes from the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District to the New Berlin School District The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District appealed that decision, but in February 2024, Waukesha County Circuit judge Brad Schimel upheld the decision New Berlin School District director of communications and public relations David Cotey declined to comment saying the district doesn't provide statements on pending litigation Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12 This story was updated to add new information Rapper-singer T-Pain is livid with Wisconsin State Fair Park officials challenging their pushback against plans for the rapper's Wiscansin State Fear car-drifting event at the park's Milwaukee Mile in West Allis June 13 Among the fair's alleged concerns: that the event would attract gangs Responding to questions about T-Pain's comments saying "we take responsibility and apologize for the way this was handled." The 40-year-old Grammy winner born Faheem Najm aired his grievances in a pair of videos posted on his TikTok and Instagram pages late on May 1 that In the videos, he said Wiscansin State Fear would no longer be happening at State Fair Park, and instead will take place at Road America in Plymouth In the first video, T-Pain says he first had communications with Wisconsin State Fair officials in February — including an in-person meeting — about his vision for the car-drifting event including karaoke and carnival games and rides even offering the contact for a carnival ride company The event — put on by T-Pain's Nappy Boy Automotive, and scheduled for the day before his fourth annual Wiscansin Fest at the Rave in Milwaukee June 14 — was announced in March. fair officials protested the name's similarity to Wisconsin State Fair and expressed concerns the event wouldn't be "family-friendly." T-Pain alleges the seven-page agreement made no indication that park officials would need to approve the name of the event, saying in the second video that he still apologized fair officials raised more issues and pulled the plug on the plans The performer says he was told they were no longer permitting karaoke "because they don't want the artists coming" that were booked for Wiscansin Fest T-Pain says he also was told the event could no longer have rides and carnival games because "when I bring the rides there that's when the gangs come," despite the fact that the Wisconsin State Fair has carnival rides and games and not Black T-Pain," he says in the second video T-Pain also says in the second video that he was told the "chief of police" would not be able to adequately staff the Wiscansin State Fear event as planned because another event is scheduled at State Fair Park the same day T-Pain doesn't specify in the video which department the chief of police was from deputy chief of the West Allis Police Department told the Journal Sentinel via email "we do not have primary jurisdiction at the fair and have no say in any events being held there." The park has its own police department T-Pain says he offered to pay for 100 licensed security officers to work at Wiscansin State Fear He also says in the second video he requested to speak with the park's CEO but that request was denied — although he said fair officials "had the audacity" to request to "get together on messaging" about the event's cancellation at State Fair Park you don't get to control the narrative," T-Pain says in the second video later uttering an expletive directed at officials The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out to the media relations and marketing teams at Wisconsin State Fair Park the morning of May 2 They replied with a statement to the Journal Sentinel later that afternoon "We take responsibility and apologize for the way this was handled," the statement reads "There were missteps in internal communications that are not representative of the standard at Wisconsin State Fair Park We were overly ambitious about what we could host and these missteps led to this event not coming to fruition We are taking steps to ensure a more complete event review process is in place." In 2023, T-Pain told the Journal Sentinel he plans to open a real-life Wiscansin University, a music school No details have been revealed about the school since but T-Pain has brought Wiscansin Fest back to Milwaukee each June City officials also have recognized T-Pain's contributions Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson declaring June 11 titled "Back to Wiscansin Fest," will feature performances from T-Pain and nearly 20 other acts Shaquille O'Neal (performing under his stage name DJ Diesel) and Milwaukee artists Djay Mando and NilexNile Company officials confirmed the West Bend Applebee's The company did not provide a reason for its closure The Delafield Applebee's, 3100 Golf Road, closed last month due to an unexpected eviction A company official confirmed the West Allis location permanently closed in March Other Milwaukee-area locations that recently closed More: McBrats and Teenie Beanies: West Bend woman reflects on 44 years at McDonald’s More: This fast-growing health and nutrition chain is opening a Bayshore and West Bend location Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy WEST ALLIS — An officer has been removed from the Brady list after we brought the case to the attention of Milwaukee County’s District Attorney The Brady list is a list of officers with alleged credibility concerns due to past accusations of crimes This case involves a former West Allis school resource officer An internal police memo states he admitted to having sex in a school while on duty Former West Allis Police Sergeant Ryan Solie was a school resource officer at West Allis Central High School until 2023 began investigating Solie that January after receiving a complaint about inappropriate behavior at a Central High School party off campus According to a West Allis internal memo TMJ4 obtained through an open records request Solie in February 2023 about the complaint a police lieutenant asked Solie why witnesses at the party claimed he said he had sex with a female employee on school property “Because it happened and that he got blackout drunk that night." Watch: SRO who admitted to having sex in a school while on duty taken off Brady list The lieutenant reported that during the internal investigation interview Solie informed him that he had sexual contact on school property… “six to eight times.” Solie told the lieutenant that one time was “in his office when he was on duty.” a lieutenant "advised Sergeant Solie he was violating department policy by his actions." According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Solie resigned in lieu of termination and he was placed on Milwaukee County’s Brady list It’s a list of 191 officers with alleged credibility concerns that have to be disclosed to defense attorneys if they’re called to testify in court State records show he was also put on Wisconsin’s ‘Flagged Officer List’ which tracks officers who have been fired or resigned during or after an investigation into alleged misconduct Solie and his attorney declined TMJ4’s interview request Solie was hired as the Director of School Safety at Wisconsin Lutheran High School He added a part-time job last year as a Wisconsin State Fair Park police officer We asked both employers if they knew Solie was on the Brady list and why The State Fair Park police chief said they reviewed his entire disciplinary record and determined no Brady list material was discovered Wisconsin Lutheran High School said in part The State Fair Park police chief said he is “proud to have him on our team.” The chief added that “certain people deserve a second chance Officer Ryan Solie was one of those individuals." The State Fair Park police chief noted that West Allis P.D records indicate he was truthful about the entire event “Do officers ever come off the list?” TMJ4 reporter Ben Jordan asked "Officers have come off the list historically,” replied District Attorney Kent Lovern Lovern that question during a joint interview in January with Milwaukee County’s top criminal justice system leaders Lovern said this to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors when he was called to speak about the Brady list "I've seen examples of departments in this county erring on the side of being over-inclusive and in fact I was just drawn to an officer in an agency not Milwaukee County sheriff but another one recently that as we've reexamined this and he was put on the list in the last couple of years his issue was not an integrity related one and he should probably be removed from the list,” he said Lovern sent TMJ4 and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel an email saying “I have removed Ryan Solie from the list.” County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman thinks Solie’s conduct described in the internal memo is an integrity concern "I cannot understand how an officer can have sex on duty and not think it's an issue,” Wasserman said Civil rights attorney William Sulton believes it’s information that should be turned over to defense attorneys if Solie were called to testify “It's absolutely Brady material,” Sulton said That's why West Allis referred it to the district attorney's office and that's also why they put him on the Brady list." Given that Solie’s status on the Brady list only changed after TMJ4 and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel brought the case up to D.A Sulton thinks it suggests the list is poorly reviewed and maintained "It raises a lot of concerns about whether there is in fact a process “It raises a question about their due diligence for example who at the district attorney's office is responsible for accepting these referrals and making these determinations." It’s important to note that Solie is one of seven officers taken off the Brady list after we brought them to the district attorney’s attention If you want to see all of the current and former officers on Milwaukee County’s Brady list our database in partnership with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin Watch can be found below See all Duty to Disclose stories as they are posted here. The Brady list is a compilation of current or former law enforcement officers deemed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office to have credibility issues The underlying allegation can range from lying on exams to violent crimes Just because an officer is on the list does not mean he or she was necessarily convicted or charged with a crime or found guilty of internal misconduct.  According to the office of District Attorney Kent Lovern some cases may have resulted in an acquittal or were amended to non-criminal offenses.  The office says "the database is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of February 27 “Duty to Disclose” is a joint investigation by TMJ4 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin Watch The collaboration was prompted by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s decision in 2024 to release its “Brady List,” a closely-guarded list of law enforcement officers with alleged credibility issues after pressure from the news organizations Journal Sentinel investigative reporter Ashley Luthern and Wisconsin Watch investigative reporter Mario Koran spent four months verifying the hundreds of officers on the list discovering that it is frequently incomplete and inconsistent Readers with tips about the Brady List are encouraged to contact reporter Ben Jordan at ben.jordan@tmj4.com.  Report a typo or error our database in partnership with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin Watch can be found below: A temporary error has occurred. If the problem persists, please visit my.wpengine.com or check our status blog for updates Image courtesy of the West Allis Police Department on 4/15/2025: West Allis Police confirm they have taken the suspect into custody on the 8600 block of Hayes Ave on 4/15/2025: West Allis Police confirm they are looking for escaped prisoner: 29-year-old Charles Gregory He was last observed wearing a black hoodie He was last observed with his hands handcuffed behind his back He is in the area of 88th and Hayes in West Allis and police don’t believe there is any immediate danger to the community WEST ALLIS, Wis. — West Allis Police are looking for a man who escaped police custody while receiving treatment at the Aurora Medical Center near 84th and Lincoln The man is described as an African American man around 6 feet tall Police are saying there is no current danger to the public and we’ll bring you more details as they become available A new hockey development center is set to make a breakout in West Allis transforming part of a grocery store into a hockey training facility featuring synthetic ice The Armory Hockey Development Center will be designed specifically for hockey players unlike other area ice rinks that serve other sports and general recreation The Common Council on March 4 voted to approve the conditional use permit started playing hockey when he was 4 years old he said the lack of an ice facility that's fully dedicated to hockey training is what spurred him to open Armory Hockey Donovan said he's heard from prospective athletes at the youth and high school levels that it's hard for players to get enough ice time as they go through training and development "Whether it's practices and games during the season there's so much more that hockey players can be doing to become more well-rounded athletes," he said The facility will be able to accommodate two to three teams at any given time Donovan researched successful hockey facilities in Canada Minnesota and the northeast when planning Armory Hockey His long-term goal is for more hockey players to develop and stay in Wisconsin "Our best players often get pulled away to Chicago or Minnesota This is really about growing the game here in Milwaukee keeping our players here as long as possible .. ideally so they can go on to play at the University of Wisconsin." The hockey center will occupy a portion of the Festival Foods building in West AllisThe new facility will be located at 11111 W and will occupy a portion of the Festival Foods building The 11,353 square-foot facility will feature a synthetic ice hockey rink but is a plastic self-lubricating material Synthetic ice is not refrigerated and does not require additional operational cost It doesn't quite replicate the feeling of refrigerated ice but will be "as close as you can get to refrigerated ice in terms of the glide that you would experience." And the added resistance is beneficial from a training standpoint The floor hockey rink will be fully enclosed with boards and have a sport court-type surface Armory Development will also have a large sport turf area and a full-gym suite which will accommodate strength training for older players The Pettit National Ice Center will be the closet indoor ice skating facility to the Armory Hockey Development Center The Pettit Center has two international-size refrigerated ice rinks and a 400-meter speed-skating oval The Amory Hockey Development Center will offer hockey players a 80 x 40 synthetic ice hockey rink and shooting range a 50 x 30 floor hockey rink and multi-court rink Armory Hockey will also have a 50 x 30 dryland area a weightlifting area and a hockey pro shop where players can get hockey gear and get their skates sharpened Donovan said synthetic ice is more affordable and has good benefits for prospective hockey players but noted that the traditional game of hockey will always be played on traditional ice What will be the hours of operation?The proposed hours of operation for in-season (September to May) will be Monday to Friday from 2 to 10 p.m. Summer Hours (June to August) will Monday to Friday from 8 a.m How many employees will be at the center?There will be two to three full-time employees and five to 10 part-time and seasonal employees The anticipated opening date for the Armory and Development Center is June 2025 A West Allis Fire Department assistant chief has been recommended for discipline after being the subject of dozens of allegations of bullying retaliation and harassment that were brushed aside by command staff for years according to internal documents obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The documents show that Assistant Chief Jay Scharfenberg was investigated once in 2018 and twice in 2024 over allegations of abusive behavior and other types of misconduct The reports also show a lack of action by department leaders, such as former West Allis Fire Chief Mason Pooler. Pooler became the chief of the Rochester Fire Department in Rochester conducted by law firm Walcheske & Luzi at the request of the city found that claims against the assistant chief have been "continuously raised" since 2017 and since escalated "Should this pattern of conduct and complaints continue WAFD will likely be facing an escalation in complaints likely including in formal legal proceedings," the law firm concludes The year before, a workplace survey conducted by leadership consultant Chris Kolenda similarly singled out Scharfenberg for cultivating a toxic work environment Of the 95 people who participated in the survey 30 described his behavior as "particularly demeaning and toxic," according to the report Six people said he "made unsafe demands during firefighting operations." The survey also noted that West Allis Fire Department employees have long criticized the entire management structure calling for more leadership training so higher-ups are held accountable for poor behavior and ensuring firefighters are safe during critical incidents employees pointed to insufficient training and lack of support after a firefighter narrowly escaped from a roof collapse that could have been fatal these problems could "get someone seriously injured or killed." The West Allis Fire Department did not respond to multiple calls Thursday and Scharfenberg declined to comment when contacted by phone West Allis City Attorney Kail Decker said the West Allis Police and Fire Commission voted to seek disciplinary charges against Scharfenberg on Dec Disciplinary action could include demotion "I don't know exactly what the charges will be seeking because they are still being drafted," Decker said in an email Scharfenberg can decide whether to accept the discipline or dispute the charges West Allis Fire Department employees have been raising concerns about Scharfenberg's behavior as far back as 2017 After employees lodged complaints about Scharfenberg that year asked South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joseph Knitter to conduct an independent investigation Knitter's inquiry uncovered a pattern of allegations against Scharfenberg including berating colleagues and physical intimidation Knitter's report described Scharfenberg's conduct as "unbecoming of a member of the Command Staff" and said it appeared to be a "classic example of workplace bullying." Allegations include Scharfenberg referring to staff who had only received basic life support training as "second class citizens," and saying a fire candidate would fail his physical fitness test based on his appearance One former assistant chief interviewed for the report said employees nicknamed Scharfenberg the "Teflon Man" because of how untouchable he was That assistant chief ultimately resigned from the department Documents show that Scharfenberg denied many of the allegations against him and described being viewed as the informal "Chief of Staff" and "disciplinarian" of the fire department Knitter concluded that "refuted by [AC Scharfenberg] or not the morale of the department and resultant negative impact on performance are certainly bound to worsen and needs to be addressed." Second report found widespread leadership problems 'poisonous' relationship with unionAccording to subsequent reports employees did not see any action taken against Scharfenberg as a result of the 2018 investigation the workplace survey conducted by Kolenda in 2024 found that employees felt the lack of action meant that the fire chief and city administrator condoned Scharfenberg's conduct many of the department's workplace challenges result from poor leadership "Employees report that the Chiefs fault-find obsessively and flaunt policy when it suits them," the report states Nearly 60% of respondents reported experiencing bullying described "lewd" talk in the fire stations and "belittling statements from certain leaders." The report also observed a near-total breakdown in communication between the command staff and the executive board of the union including moving Scharfenberg to a different role establishing a critical incident debrief process and instituting an issue resolution process Most recent investigation cites 28 complaints regarding ScharfenbergLess than three months later a citizen complaint triggered another investigation submitted by a fire lieutenant to the West Allis Police and Fire Commission in April 2024 alleges Scharfenberg attempted to block him from a promotion due to his age and union involvement The lieutenant said his claim could be supported by 28 sworn statements from current and former West Allis Fire Department personnel Brookfield law firm Walcheske & Luzi examined all 28 complaints substantiating many of them and confirming a pattern of misconduct "Most concerning of AC Scharfenberg’s conduct from the sustained claims involves his treatment towards women treatment and attitudes towards employees with PTSD and treatment and attitudes towards employees who are active in being Union members," the report states alleging that he "allowed an environment of fear and bullying to fester within our fire department." the report noted that Pooler and West Allis Fire Department leaders dismissed complaints against Scharfenberg All were were handled internally and deemed "unfounded," according to the report Pooler could not immediately be reached for comment Friday The law firm's report notes that Pooler said he had verbal conversations with Scharfenberg about his behavior but that no formal disciplinary action has been taken against him to date ultimately recommends removing Scharfenberg from all supervisory positions "This negative impact on WAFD cannot be permitted to continue and appropriate disciplinary action must be taken," the report concludes Adrienne Davis covers the south suburbs for the Journal Sentinel. Contact her at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter — A water main break just north of Greenfield Avenue on Highway 100 required crews to work in below-freezing temperatures to fix the issue Lanes were reduced from three to one for a few blocks as crews worked on the road The city had to shut off water access while the work was being done "We have about 120 lots in the court alone," said Jane Styza "And everyone is without water right now." One of those residents is Steven Henry Valentine "I had to buy extra water just to flush the toilet," Henry Valentine said Tenants were told that water would be restored by Monday night at 6 p.m Styza says she understands the community's irritation and my heat tape has gone out.' You just gotta solve the problems and try to make them happy as best as you can." Watch: West Allis water main break leaves mobile home community without water TMJ4 reached out to the interim city administrator in West Allis but had not heard back by the time the story was published Henry Valentine says the water main break is just part of the deal living here in Wisconsin "The things you have to put up with in Wisconsin weather," Henry Valentine said West Allis is getting a slingshot bar thanks to Bars & Recreation street curling and more to the Milwaukee area It features a slingshot shooting rage with targets The bar will provide necessary equipment and safety training from range marshals according to a news release from Bars & Recreation the space will be family friendly and available for group gatherings and birthday parties At night it's going to have an "electric bar atmosphere," David Poytinger co-founder and chief innovation officer at Bars & Recreation Slingshot Bar will be the first of its kind in the Milwaukee area and West Allis Mayor Dan Devine said the project will help activate the West National Avenue corridor "Slingshot Bar is bringing something energizing and unique to National Avenue and I can’t wait to see people taking their best shots," Devine said in the release And another champion has been crowned in a lost art A fourth grader from Living Hope Lutheran School in West Allis went up against nearly 80,000 submissions and was crowned champion of the Central Division of the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting contest You can watch the full segment – with visual aids of the show’s handwriting compared to Emmie’s here a proposed event space offering a full-service bar and catered meals to customers according to City of West Allis Plan Commission documents Here's what we know so far about the proposal: The Emerald would include an upscale event place for various group functions and will include features such as a full-service bar and catered meals The building was most recently the home of furniture store The Emerald is scheduled to be open seven days a week the existing layout of the building would require few changes The single-story building is approximately 10,268 square feet A small exterior patio is planned to be placed in a small open spot on the west side of the property Where will parking be for The Emerald?The site will not have its own parking due to the small size of the area near the corner of South 76th Street Visitors would need to use on-street parking as the primary option public off-street parking is available in the downtown West Allis area near the building The business also has been in contact with the city to potentially use municipal parking at City Hall which is on the opposite side of Greenfield Avenue The first floor would be accessed by two entrances one on West Greenfield Avenue and one on South 76th Street These entries would lead into a banquet area for events A dance floor would accompany the banquet area in the southwest corner of the building The banquet area would also feature a full-service bar in the northern part of the building a ceremony area with space for 190 seats would be available Construction is anticipated to begin in January 2025 and is due to be completed in May 2025 Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss — Crews are working on a water main break in West Allis on Greenfield Avenue and 58th Street The City of West Allis says “Greenfield Avenue eastbound traffic will be detoured at 60th Street Westbound traffic will remain on Greenfield Avenue.” Repairs are expected to be completed by 3 p.m Road closures will remain in place for pavement restoration through Wednesday and Thursday Union Green ― a mixed-used development that will include rental townhomes apartments and more ― is being proposed for Greenfield Avenue in West Allis JJH3group and Galbraith Carnahan Architects purchased five properties from the City of West Allis to redevelop the 6400 block of West Greenfield Avenue according to a news release from the two companies Union Green will be a mix of rental townhomes an indoor/outdoor café and a redesigned public park said this development will be different from many large complexes that are being built with their underground parking garages and hyper-amenitization can sometimes inadvertently create an environment in which their residents can come go and live without ever interacting with the neighborhood and the community outside the walls of the complex," Hook said "A healthy neighborhood offers alternatives like ours; small human-scaled options that actively engage the community and provide a transition between larger buildings and single-family homes." This project will continue the momentum of several recent growing projects in the Six Points Neighborhood including The West Living by the Mandel Group The project will include the relocation and rededication of a public park within the block to better engage with existing and future housing to the north and the Farmers Market to the south Hook said the developers and West Allis are eager for the new park and café patio to become a vibrant community gathering place Hook said Union Green will have three-level rental townhomes with individual front entries and private garages an intimate apartment building in which every unit is a corner unit and a multifamily community where your home "feels a bit more like home and your neighbors feel a bit more like actual neighbors." Demolition of the existing buildings is scheduled to begin soon with construction beginning in mid-February The townhouses are slated for initial occupancy in January 2026 The apartments and retail space are targeted for opening in February 2026 For more information on JJH3group and Galbraith Carnahan Architects The owner of a West Allis bar facing a defamation lawsuit and at risk of losing his liquor license appeared before the West Allis Public Safety Committee Thursday to answer to seven complaints denied all the allegations involving incidents last year in a West Allis Police Department report Steffek is already at risk of losing his liquor license after the state of Wisconsin revoked the bar's seller’s permit in August 2024 due to unpaid sales tax West Allis City Attorney Kail Decker said the committee meeting originally scheduled to address a development matter shifted focus after the city received a signed complaint from the city prosecutor seeking to suspend or revoke The Drunk Uncle’s license The Common Council will hold a hearing to determine whether the licenses and permits issued to Steffek should be revoked or suspended The date of the hearing will be set by mutual agreement between the council and Steffek An ongoing defamation lawsuit against The Drunk Uncle led to an investigation into additional allegations against Steffek Brynn Dutelle posted a one-star Google review March 8 describing a negative experience at the bar claiming a bartender touched her face and told her to "make him a sandwich for International Women’s Day." "You are a fat nerd with no friends" and "That girl was hot AF for this giant huge snake." The city requested more information on the incident from Steffek who responded by publicly posting that the huge snake referenced in the earlier post should be the "new city mascot!" the city investigated and found additional complaints against Steffek related to his conduct during business operations a man at The Drunk Uncle reported Steffek appeared intoxicated and had difficulty standing The man said he observed Steffek lift his shirt and expose himself while speaking to a woman making several inappropriate sexual comments about her exposing herself The man reported Steffek took the woman’s wrist and attempted to lead her behind the bar while she resisted He also said Steffek poured large shots of alcohol for both of them and encouraged her to drink despite her appearing visibly uncomfortable As the man tried to help the woman by distracting Steffek with his friends another man — later identified as the woman’s husband — returned from the restroom The woman confirmed the incident to police on March 30 saying she hadn’t come forward earlier out of fear of retaliation a woman said she went to The Drunk Uncle with a group of friends After being at the bar for 20 to 25 minutes the woman went outside for a cigarette break with another female friend While the women were exiting the bar they observed Steffek wearing a colorful outfit and identified himself as the owner of the bar Steffek began to allegedly berate the women by calling them "white trash" and "sluts." This caused the women to move away from the bar out of fear of Steffek The women decided to return inside the bar to grab the rest of their friends and leave again who berated the women again and threatened to shoot and kill them I've killed plenty of pieces of s--- like you before." He then referenced a gun he owned and began to reach toward his waistband The woman immediately left the bar and went back to her vehicle to call her friends and the police Her friend later confirmed the account to police describing Steffek as a “white male with a beard,” “belligerent,” and “not dressed very nice.” Indecent or Improper HouseA woman who as a patron had known Steffek for four years told police that he frequently greeted her by lifting his shirt to expose his chest and telling her “It’s your turn.” She said this occurred approximately 10 times She described the behavior as disgusting and said it made her feel violated She did not report it earlier out of fear of retaliation a West Allis police officer conducted a routine tavern check at The Drunk Uncle The bar had approximately 20 patrons inside and the officer noted most of them had alcoholic beverages The officer spoke with two female bartenders who had served alcohol The women confirmed neither of them had a valid operator's license to tend at the bar The officer then told the bar to stop serving alcohol and had staff contact Steffek to advise him that he needed to be at the business to supervise any unlicensed bartenders the West Allis Common Council renewed The Drunk Uncle's tavern license the Wisconsin of Department and Revenue informed the city that Steffek’s seller’s permit had been revoked or suspended The West Allis Police Department conducted tavern checks at The Drunk Uncle and confirmed the business was operating and selling alcohol on multiple dates in 2024: Aug Steffek declined to speak with the Journal Sentinel on the record other than to reiterate that he denied the allegations A West Allis bar that's the subject of a defamation lawsuit is at risk of losing its liquor license due to an unrelated issue the City of West Allis Common Council voted to not renew The Drunk Uncle's liquor license because the bar does not have a valid seller's permit West Allis City Attorney Kail Decker said the state of Wisconsin revoked the bar's seller's permit in August 2024 because the owner Steffek has until April 30 to request a hearing on the council's decision Decker said Steffek could still resolve the issue after April 30 if he gets his seller's permit reinstated and the state notifies West Allis before June 30 Steffek did not immediately respond to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's request for an interview a council member asked how to answer constituents wondering why the bar could still operate without a seller's permit Decker said that selling any product without a seller's permit does violate state law But that state law is enforced by the Department of Revenue Not having a valid seller's license does not violate the liquor law The council does not have the authority to revoke a license mid-year in this case Decker also warned council members not to consider social media discussions or public comments unrelated to the permit issue The Drunk Uncle has come under criticism for comments Steffek posted online about a woman who left a 1-star review on Google who in her review said a bartender touched her face and asked her to make him a sandwich in honor of International Women's Day West Allis resident Andrew Wehrheim spoke during public comment Tuesday referencing Decker's warning that the city can't act on the comments of citizens He said there is a wall of protection for businesses in West Allis and it disgusts me the things that have come to light The West Allis Police Department confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that they received three complaints regarding incidents that happened at The Drunk Uncle Police say they are investigating to determine if the alleged actions rise to the level of a violation of a municipal ordinance and/or criminal violation Steffek has denied the woman's account of what happened in his bar in multiple social media posts He told Fox 6 News that he did not regret his response to the 1-star review. Top Projects The city of West Allis will have its first Checkers restaurant location in mid-2025 Construction was scheduled to start in February and wrap up in June 2025 By: Ethan Duran//February 10 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 A West Allis family is grateful after reuniting with their dog TMJ4 first told you about the 11-month-old American Bully on Tuesday The family's home security video shows Bebop approaching a delivery driver in a friendly manner and walking away with her It happened while Charlie Kiefert was walking out of his garage He panicked when Bebop was nowhere to be found "The lady who picked her up returned her with her husband We were just happy that she’s home and glad that she’s safe," Kiefert told TMJ4 News Watch: West Allis family reunites with dog after she left with delivery driver Kiefert said there was a language barrier with the couple the driver relayed that after Bebop jumped into the car The worker returned to West Allis from her home in Chicago to try to find the dog's family Kiefert says the delivery driver communicated that she never intended to steal Bebop Kiefert still has questions about why the driver did not try to connect sooner before leaving Kiefert did not want West Allis police to pursue criminal charges against her "I don’t want to mess anybody’s life up with any type of problems so as long as we got her back and she’s healthy that’s all that matters," Kiefert explained TMJ4 News reached out to the third-party company that conducted the delivery weekly specials and brunch make the new wine bar a must-try on Greenfield Cheers! It's Bar Month at OnMilwaukee – so get ready to drink up more bar articles, imbibable stories and cocktailing content, brought to you by Potawatomi Casino Hotel and Miller Lite. Thirsty for more? To find even more bar content, click here!  As a passionate champion of the local dining scene Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food" Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association writing or planning for TV and radio spots you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference — The second of four public hearings related to the state's upcoming 2025-2027 Biennial Budget will be held in West Allis on Friday Related content: Will we have a state budget on time? Republicans say it depends on the Wisconsin Supreme Court The state legislature's Joint Finance Committee co-chairs we invite you to provide comments and input Your feedback is an essential part of the budget process," they said in a press release Related content: Evers hopes for bipartisan compromises in budget. Vos says negotiations hinge on passing tax cuts Tony Evers last month provided his Capital Budget recommendations including investing $4.1 billion to support major projects in 26 counties that "address the growing backlog of maintenance projects across the state's infrastructure Related content: Wisconsin Supreme Court hears fight over literacy funding "With a backlog of critical maintenance needs and costs rising for building materials and construction because of potential tariff taxes and reckless trade wars these key projects will only grow more expensive with continued delays," Evers said "We cannot afford to kick the can down the road." The Republican-controlled legislature has made it clear they do not plan on adopting Evers budget as is The legislature will listen to our constituents and stakeholders as we build the state budget," Sen We will continue to protect the state's checkbook." at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center located at 640 South 84th Street in West Allis Those unable to attend the hearings but wishing to provide input may do so online at https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/ or by emailing budget.comments@legis.wisconsin.gov The City of West Allis is working with Chicago-based real estate developer Baum Revision to give the unique former Kearney & Trecker factory building at 6771 W Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories in that station's most popular podcast.  Pepi’s Pizza in West Allis ― a longtime popular pizza parlor in the Milwaukee area ― announced Tuesday on social media that it would be going out of business for good The announcement was made on Pepi's official Facebook page: "We are permanently closed," Pepi's said in the post "Thank you to everyone that has supported us throughout the years!" The Journal Sentinel reached out to the owners for additional comment Located at 1329 S. 70th St., the West Allis location served as the last building for the pizza parlor, with its grand opening for that location held in 2019 West Allis Mayor Dan Devine said he was saddened and surprised by the business' sudden closure "I wasn't aware of it until I saw their social media post," Devine said "I was hoping that the continued redevelopment along that corridor would help them in the long run Pepi's Pizza had been in business since 1953 operating out of two locations on the south side for decades and a brief stint on Brady Street in Milwaukee according to previous reporting from the Journal Sentinel The business was most known for its specialty thin crust pizza Pepi's said it will reimburse customers for unused purchased gift certificates according to comments from Pepi's on their Facebook post Those who bought gift certificates can reach out to Pepi's for reimbursement Exterior of the Drunk Uncle bar in West Allis WEST ALLIS — The City of West Allis Common Council has voted to issue a notice of non-renewal for the alcohol license of The Drunk Uncle bar less than a week after a defamation lawsuit was filed against the bar’s owner The council made the decision during a meeting Wednesday, citing Neal Steffek’s failure to submit proof of a seller’s permit after the state rescinded the bar’s liquor license last August. Steffek is listed as a delinquent tax payer by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue; in total, Steffek owes $154,844.24 in back taxes. According to Wisconsin state law a person who operates as a seller in the state without a permit or after a permit has been suspended or revoked or has expired is guilty of a misdemeanor A notice sent to Steffek says he will have until April 30th to formally request an appeal The vote is unrelated to a defamation lawsuit against Steffek filed by a woman from Onalaska who visited the bar earlier this month Court documents obtained by WTMJ reveal the allegations laid out by Brynn Dutelle who went to The Drunk Uncle with some friends on March 8th Dutelle said she felt uncomfortable with the actions of the Steffek and other bar staff Dutelle posted the review of The Drunk Uncle online indicating her friend was “being fed shots” and that Steffek kept kissing her and offering her a job Dutelle wrote that a bartender leaned over the bar and “touched my face asking me to make him a sandwich for International Women’s Day.” The lawsuit alleges a Google user identified as The Drunk Uncle (owner)” responded to the review writing in part: “You are a fat nerd with no friends.” The suit then alleges Steffek posted on Facebook accusing Dutelle of sexually assaulting one of The Drunk Uncle’s employees on or about March 8th along with identifying the school district she works at The suit says Dutelle’s employer was made aware of the posting and required her to explain the circumstances of the post Steffek has not responded to a request for comment on either the common council’s decision or the lawsuit but the bar did post the following on Facebook the day after the alleged March 8th incident: Steffek has 45 days to respond to the lawsuit The bar’s liquor license runs through the end of June The West Allis-West Milwaukee (WAWM) School District is asking voters to approve two tax referendums: a $5.8 million recurring referendum to increase the revenue limit to pay for teacher and staff compensation and a $70 million referendum for facility improvements The questions are on the Nov. 5 ballot, along with the presidential election, a U.S. Senate election, Congressional races, and elections for Wisconsin Assembly and Senate The first question asks voters to allow the district to increase its revenue by $5.8 million per year Shall the School District of West Allis-West Milwaukee Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91 by $5,800,000 beginning with the 2025-2026 school year for recurring purposes consisting of only teacher and staff compensation The second question asks for $70 million to fund districtwide facility improvements Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $70,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a district-wide school facility improvement project consisting of: safety security and accessibility updates; roofing building infrastructure and site repairs; capital maintenance; and acquisition of furnishings Public school district funding in Wisconsin is capped by state-imposed revenue limits which restrict how much districts receive in property tax funding and general state aid Revenue limits determine the majority of schools districts' budgets The Republican-controlled state Legislature has not reliably increased revenue limits to keep pace with inflation — leaving districts to deal with increased costs without commensurate state funding To raise money beyond revenue limits, school districts must go to voter referendum. WAWM along with about 80 other school districts placed referendums to raise revenue limits on the ballot this fall It's become an increasingly common tool for school districts to balance budgets WAWM leaders say their district receives hundreds of dollars less per student compared to other area districts They say compensation is the top reason staff leave the district and that the district has a relatively inexperienced workforce as a result with more than half of employees having five years or less experience passage of the referendum would result in a 6% salary increase for teachers and staff District leaders say the $70 million capital referendum would address roofing building infrastructure and individual building needs A more detailed list of improvement includes: 60 bathroom ADA updates air conditioning window units in seven elementary schools and Dottke High School and an air filtration system at Nathan Hale High School The district notes that school consolidation is not included in this referendum WAWM already closed some schools due to a previous failed referendum and declining student enrollment "In April 2022, a referendum question for $149,000,000 Debt Issue for a comprehensive high school at Nathan Hale site failed." the WAWM referendum website says three schools have been closed in the district as part of the facility plan to reduce costs." According to the district, the $5.8 million operational referendum would result in a property tax increase of $56 a year on a $100,000 home. For a $240,000 home (the average property value in the district), it would be a $134 year increase. The cost is broken into monthly increments on the WAWM website The $70 million capital referendum would have a smaller tax impact because it is funded by issuing debt it would be a $44 property tax increase per year the tax impact on a $240,000 home would be about $239 per year More information about the WAWM referendums can be found on the district website The West Allis Police Department is investigating the death of a 23-year-old West Allis man found outside Mama Mia's restaurant officers responded to a request to check on the welfare of an unresponsive individual outside a building near 8500 W the West Allis Police Department said in a Wednesday news release police found the man deceased at the bottom of the building’s exterior staircase Investigators determined that officers had seen the man in the area the night before officers observed the man standing in a parking lot on the south side of Greenfield Avenue Officers lost sight of him but needed to remain with the individual they were helping They then requested additional officers to check the area for the man Additional officers were dispatched to the area Investigators believe the man ran west through the parking lot and fell down the outdoor stairwell Police do not suspect foul play at this time Final conclusions will be made following an autopsy and when the investigation is complete Anyone with information is asked to contact the West Allis Police Department at 414-302-8000.(This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.)Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com WEST ALLIS — This hidden gem specializes in vintage clothing with a twist opened Ultratwist Vintage in West Allis about one and a half years ago out of a love and appreciation for the unique style and quality construction of vintage clothing “I was always into weird things as a kid and things that didn't look like what other people had the sustainable and environmental aspect of it became much more important than just the esthetics,” Phoenix,said Her views counteract our “throw-away” society “Most people only keep things for seven months you would keep something for years and continue to mend it and do things to prolong its life," Phoenix Watch: Ultratwist Vintage in West Allis proves anyone can wear vintage “My oldest dress is over 100 years old and then on up through current vintage things that are not old enough to be vintage but we still want to keep them out of the landfill because they're cool and can still be worn,” said Phoenix She also carries a small selection of new items sourced from smaller women-owned French companies that have a retro style Ultratwist Vintage carries sizes from XS to 5XL Jamie says it’s all about finding your own style “It takes the same level of confidence to wear vintage as it does to wear anything else that is more unique than what you would find at your local big box store or mall," Phoenix said "And just because you're wearing something vintage doesn't mean you have to go full on You can wear something as close to how somebody might have worn it back in the day or as far apart from that as you want There are no rules to how you mix it all together.” https://www.ultratwistvintage.com/ Milwaukee Tonight focuses on the people, places, and events that make the community special. From artists to architecture, food to festivals, neighborhoods to nightlife - this show is a nightly reminder that our city is filled with stories to be proud of. Watch weekdays at 6:30 p.m. on TMJ4.