Oconomowoc Lake News

City of Delafield - The developers of a proposed 195-home subdivision on the city's northwest corner said they will continue to seek approvals for the project although they face some significant political ...

A few days before 40 members of Milwaukee's chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food were scheduled to dine on rabbit pate, beef short ribs and strawberry-rhubarb crisp at the Oconomowoc Lake Club, the ...

Oconomowoc Mom said in the Oconomowoc Forum:

Family members of a popular Oconomowoc educator killed in a car accident, along with her daughter and unborn child are speaking about the tragedy. At first Steve Bukosky and his family were ready to forgive. Now, hearing about the man who allegedly caused his family so much heartache makes them angry. "It makes me wonder how many chances you give somebody," he said. His daughter-in-law, Jennifer Bukosky was killed, along with her unborn daughter and 10-year-old daughter Friday afternoon in a car crash in Oconomowoc. We've learned the 55-year-old driver arrested for the crash had his license revoked two days before the accident. Mark Benson was convicted of his third drunken driving charge. But yet he was back on the road Friday afternoon. "It's very hard of course on my son. They were recently married," said Bukosky. His son, Michael married Jennifer Bukosky who's an associate principal at Oconomowoc High School last year. She was 7 months pregnant with a baby girl they were going to name Sophia. But that changed Friday afternoon when police say Benson's SUV smashed into Bukosky's car on Highway 67 in Oconomowoc. Her 10-year-old daughter Courtney also died. Her 12-year-old son Zach survived. "He's young, but devastated by it, by the loss of his mother, his sister, and his sister that was to be," he said. The family was supposed to be celebrating Jennifer's 40th birthday this weekend. "He (Michael) had taken the kids out to buy balloons for the house so they still put them up in her memory," Steve Bukosky said. The man allegedly responsible for the accident, Mark Benson, is at the Waukesha County Jail. Bukosky family is currently planning three funerals and a loss that is almost unbearable. "It's a loss for not just our family but the entire community of Oconomowoc," There was another child in the car during this accident. She is in critical condition at Children's Hospital.

Oconomowoc Mom said in the Oconomowoc Forum:

Associated Press writers Carrie Antlfinger and James Carlson in Milwaukee contributed to this report. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (AP) -- The utility worker seriously injured in an explosion and fire at a Baptist church in Oconomowoc has been moved out intensive care at a Milwaukee area hospital. Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital says 60-year-old Ross Phillips is in satisfactory condition Thursday. Phillips was one of seven people hurt when the First Baptist Church exploded Wednesday afternoon, reducing the 100-year-old building to rubble. The others were treated, but not admitted to a hospital. Phillips was a We Energies employee. Just before the blast, the utility was called to the area after a contractor called and said workers smelled gas and may have hit a line. Two adjacent houses were also destroyed in the explosion.

We would like to help the families who lost their homes in this tragedy. If you know them or would like to help please post. Together we can make a difference in our community.

An AMBER Alert is a notification to the general public, by various media outlets and is issued when police confirm that a child has been abducted. AMBER is a backronym for "America's Missing: Broadcasting Emergency Response", and was named for 9-year-old Amber Hagerman who was abducted and murdered in Arlington, Texas in 1996.

We are pleased to announce the availability of the new community site, "Code Amber's Angels" at: http://angels.codeamber.org.

The site is provided to allow all those who wish to participate and contribute to the Code Amber project a forum for the exchange of ideas and community projects to further our mission of keeping kids safe.

Some of the things you will find there are discussions on how to get involved locally, ideas for fundraising for your local groups and organizations, how to educate and train kids to recognize and avoid dangerous situations. And much more! In fact, we want you to help us build the site by contributing ideas and experiences with the entire community.

Beginning today we are starting a ground swell of individual and community involvement in child safety efforts that will surpass anything ever seen before. Code Amber's Angels members have the opportunity to become involved in part of the CodeAmber organization. Here you will also find a broad range of content and online tools geared towards educating and empowering people to make a tangible difference in their own communities. We encourage you to join and get involved today.

Hundreds of people turned out this weekend in Oshkosh in hopes of getting a silent role in the "Public Enemies" movie for which filming will be done in Wisconsin.

They lined up on Saturday dressed in traditional 1930s attire for the casting call for the movie about bank robber John Dillinger that will star Johnny Depp.

The film will be directed and produced by University of Wisconsin graduate Michael Mann.

Project Girl, an extraordinary interactive art exhibit focusing on the impact of mass media on everyone -- and on adolescent girls in particular -- will begin its national tour in Beaver Dam.

The Beaver Dam Area Arts Association is presenting this unusual opportunity from Jan. 13 through Feb. 24, at the Seippel Homestead and Center for the Arts, 1605 N. Spring Street.

"This project helps answer a serious need for our girls to know that there are many very acceptable body types," said BDAAA Exhibit Co-chair Diane Virnig. "They need to know how to develop and maintain their self-esteem in spite of what they hear and see."

For an introduction to the exhibit and the workshop program, visitors can attend the opening on Sunday, Jan. 13, 1 to 4 p.m. A brief tour and explanation of the program will be presented about 1:30 p.m. Following the opening, through Feb. 24, individuals may view the exhibit, free of charge, Thursdays, 1 to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m.; or by appointment by calling (920) 885-3635

In domino style, action clubs have been formed, some teens designed a Web site, www.projectgirl.org, and the creators are receiving invitations from all over the country to give presentations.

You may also want to visit: http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/flat4.asp?id=6909

There will be a hearing before the City of Oconomowoc Plan Commission on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 7:10 pm in the Common Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 174 E. Wisconsin Ave, Oconomowoc, WI 53066.

The purpose of the hearing is to hear public comment regarding the revocation of a conditional use permit granted to Alexis Michael on August 16, 2005 to operate Lake Manor Bed & Breakfast located at 317 North Lake St. per Section 17.905 (9), a conditional use permit may be revoked by the City.

If a person with a disability requires that the meeting be accessible or that materials at the meeting be in an accessible format, call the City Clerk’s office at (262) 569-2186, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to request adequate accommodations.

Interested persons may attend the hearing in person or submit their opinions to the City Clerk, in writing, prior to said hearing.

Alexis Michael, 32, proprietor of Lake Manor Bed and Breakfast, 317 N. Lake Road, is accused of charging $10,000 on a credit card belonging to a woman who used to work for Michael's husband.

Michael faces seven counts of identity theft and two felony charges of credit card fraud, along with two misdemeanor credit card fraud charges in Jefferson County.

Dodge County is also seeking two criminal felony charges for identity theft against Michael.

Michael's lawyer did not return a call requesting comment.

Michael also owns a management company for two of her husbands apartment complexes in Watertown and Beaver Dam. Charges are also pending and include burglary of tenants apartments, by Alexis Michael.

Area residents learned a little more about the city's municipal airport Monday during the annual state of the community luncheon presented by the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce. via Watertown Daily Times

Police have referred a 15-year-old boy to juvenile authorities after he led police on a six-mile chase with speeds reaching 110 mph, police Sgt. via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal

“It was only practical that we wouldn't be two separate firehouses”

The City of Oconomowoc-owned fire station planned to be built on the south side of the city, in Pabst Farms, took a step forward Tuesday night as the city approved the certified survey map for the station, as ... via Oconomowoc Focus

“You know, it's interesting, many of the agencies (awarded grants this year) did not exist in Scherffius' lifetime. You don't know what future needs might be”

A number of local organizations dedicated to the health and welfare of the community were awarded grants at a ceremony of the 2007 Scherffius Fund and Oconomowoc Area Foundation on Oct. via Oconomowoc Focus

“I think Don has done an awful lot for the community and really puts his heart and soul in everything he does. He is definitely an asset not only to the village, but to the entire Oconomowoc area”

Don Wiemer is a lot of things to a lot of people. From chief of police to village administrator to school board president, Wiemer wears a lot of hats in his efforts to make Oconomowoc a better place. via Oconomowoc Focus

Every other year, the Oconomowoc Memorial Auxiliary offers a tour of area homes to benefit Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital. via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal

Musky fishing was good on Pewaukee and Okauchee lakes. On Oconomowoc Lake, anglers reported follows but few takers. via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal