Oconomowoc Transport to be awarded $1.8 million grant

1:12 p.m. | The Governor’s Office of Energy Independence is expected to announce that Oconomowoc Transport will be awarded a $1.84 million grant from the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector Grant Program.

OTC will purchase 11 hybrid school buses and a solar fueling infrastructure system.   This will create the greenest fleet of school buses in Wisconsin and help OASD reduce the amount  of diesel gasoline purchased annually for school bus transportation. OASD typically purchases approximately 70,000 gallons of fuel per year. The green buses will also reduce emissions.

Follow Arrowhead at state Thursday

11:14 a.m. | Lake Country Publications will be on the scene at the Kohl Center in Madison, providing a live blog when Arrowhead takes on Verona in the quarterfinals of the WIAA state boys basketball tournament. Check back for commentary from courtside when the game tips at 8:15 p.m. Thursday.

Ammunition stockpiled in City of Pewaukee

March 16, 2010 11:00 p.m. | The City of Pewaukee is storing 58,000 rounds of ammunition – more than five times any other Lake Country police department surveyed by Lake Country Publications.

There’s so much ammunition, in fact, that it has overflowed its armory storage and excess is in the city garage.

City Administrator Tammy LaBorde said she does not know who ordered the ammo, who it was ordered from, how much was ordered or when. The city budget does not have a separate line item or a budget code to search or track the history of ammunition orders, she noted.

On Monday, city officials debated what to do with the ammunition and other police equipment, now that the city no longer has its own police department. Since Dec. 31, the city has been contracting with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, which has taken custody of the ammunition. Aldermen voted unanimously to determine the value of the ammunition and the legal process for selling much of the supply.

Watch for more on this story in Thursday’s Living Lake Country Reporter.

Silo fire sends two to hospital

March 16, 2010 5:52 p.m. | Two men were taken from the scene of a silo fire on Highway DT near Highway 18 by Flight for Life this afternoon.

The Wales/Genesee Fire Department, along with several other departments, responded to the call around 3:30 p.m.

According to reports, a silo caught fire and two men became embedded in the corn and were trapped.  The two men were just rescued - one was transported to St. Lukes, the other to Froedtert.

Nothing is known of their injuries at this time.

Chemical explosion causes injury to employee's hand

March 16, 2010 11:24 a.m. | City of Oconomowoc - More than 30 people sought treatment at  Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital after a small chemical explosion took place just before 9 a.m. in the laundry area of a local resort.

 A female Olympia Resort employee was in the laundry area of the hotel mixing chemicals, including chlorine, to do the laundry. There was a chemical reaction that resulted in an injury to the woman’s hand. She suffered multiple fractures, mild burns and some eye irritation.

 “Obviously, the chemicals were then airborne, so she was taken to the Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital to be treated and to make sure there were no pulmonary issues,” said City of Oconomowoc Police Chief David Beguhn.

 The majority of the other patients were hotel employees, estimated to be about 32 or 33  in total, but did include some first responders. They complained of minor respiratory complaints and were treated and released.

The incident did not affect the guest area of the hotel.

Update: Chlorine likely cause of explosion

March 16, 2010 9:38 a.m. | A chlorine leak is likely the cause of an explosion at Olympia Resort around 9 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities were called to a report of an explosion in the laundry area of the hotel.

Employees were evacuated from this area only; no others were evacuated. One person was transported by ambulance, but no details were available as to the extent of their injury.

A strong smell of chlorine was reported at the scene. Mutual aid was given by Dousman, Stone Bank and Lake Country Fire and Rescue.

More on this story in Thursday's Living Oconomowoc Focus.

County golf courses open today

March 16, 2010 6:24 a.m. | The weather's warm, daylight saving time means it's now light after work. Sounds like the makings of a round of golf, and Waukesha County's links open this week.

Moor Downs opens for the season today, Tuesday. Naga-Waukee and Wanaki open Thursday, March 18.

To view rates or reserve a tee time, visit www.waukeshacountyparks.com

Green building talk Wednesday

March 15, 2010 12:46 p.m. |  

Tickets on sale for Arrowhead state quarterfinal

March 15, 2010 10:00 a.m. | Arrowhead High School will sell tickets for the boys basketball team's state quarterfinal until noon Wednesday.

The Warhawks play Thursday in Madison against Verona in the WIAA Division 1 tournament, and tickets can be purchased in the North Campus activities office until 4:30 p.m. Monday. Tickets will again be sold from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, at which point the school returns all unsold tickets to the WIAA.

Tickets for subsequent games during the weekend can be purchased directly at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Arrowhead tops Falls in epic sectional final

March 13, 2010 9:35 p.m. | The Arrowhead boys basketball team will make its third appearance at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament after surviving a remarkable 50-48 victory over Menomonee Falls before a packed Al McGuire Center on Saturday.

Michael Skarie drove the paint and scored with 3 seconds left to give Arrowhead the lead. Falls (21-4) ran the length of the floor in the time that remained, and John Cording's pull-up 3-pointer from  the top of the key rimmed short.

JP Tokoto scored 23 points for Falls and hauled in 10 rebounds, but the Indians were limited to 28 percent shooting. Still, Falls led by 1 point with 1:04 to play after Adam Rubatt buried a 3-pointer, and Andy Fox hit two free throws to give the lead back to the Warhawks. Tokoto split a pair of freebies with 21 seconds left, leading into the Warhawks' final possession.

Arrowhead (22-3) will face Verona in the WIAA quarterfinals Thursday at the Kohl Center in Madison, with tip scheduled for approximately 8:45 p.m. Replay the live blog here.

KM victory sets up rubber-match against Mukwonago

March 13, 2010 8:51 p.m. | Kettle Moraine's varsity girls basketball team won a WIAA Division 1 Regional Championship on Saturday, winning at home against Cedarburg 41-34.

The win moves Kettle Moraine to Friday's WIAA Division 1 Sectional semifinal against Mukwonago. The Lasers and Indians, which split this season in Classic 8 Conference play, meet at 8 p.m. on Friday at Waukesha North.

Becki Martin scored 11 points for Kettle Moraine (18-6 overall). Anna Luterbach had 9 points and nine rebounds. Melissa Leister had 8 points.

Carly Lythhohan scored 9 points for Cedarburg. Kelly Doedens scored 8 points.

Mukwonago girls roll past Oconomowoc

March 13, 2010 3:53 p.m. | Mukwonago's girls basketball team took a 23-9 lead after the first quarter and eased past Oconomowoc in the second round of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs Saturday afternoon, 62-35.

Three players hit double figures for the second-seeded Indians, led by Emily Romdenne, who scored 12 of her 16 in that first quarter. Shannon Perez added 13, and Morgan Lamberg pitched in with 12. The trio of seniors have been stalwarts all season for MHS (17-6), which will advance to face either Kettle Moraine and Cedarburg next Friday.

Kendra Brooks scored 9 of her 10 points in the first half for Cooney (14-10).

Lightning eliminated in Beaver Dam

March 13, 2010 3:41 p.m. | Lake Country Lutheran's varsity girls basketball team lost in the third round of the WIAA Division 4 Girls Basketball Tournament on Saturday.

Central Wisconsin Christian advanced  to the WIAA Sectional with a 59-47 victory over the Lightning.

Emily Dufek scored 24 points for Lake Country Lutheran. She had 11 rebounds. Brianna Steirer had 10 points.

Jaimie Kok had 27 points for Chentral Wisconsin Christian.

Lake Country Lutheran, winners on Thursday over Fall River at home, finished 22-3 overall this season.

Pewaukee girls win, move to sectional

March 13, 2010 3:34 p.m. | Pewaukee's varsity girls basketball team, ranked No. 8 in the state in the AP Division 2 rankings, moved to the WIAA Division 2 sectional Saturday afternoon by whipping No. 10 ranked Lakeside Lutheran at Waukesha North, 58-43.

The Pirates, 22-2 overall, will play in the opening round of the sectional Thursday at Waukesha West against longtime conference rival New Berlin Eisenhower. Tipoff time is set for 7 p.m.  NBE and Pewaukee split a pair of conference games this season. The winner of that game will play Saturday  at Waukesha South at 1 p.m. for the right to advance to state.

The 22 wins is a new school record.

Pewaukee trailed 11-10 with 20 seconds to play in the first period and then went on a 15-0 run to pull away for good. Pewaukee's biggest lead of the game was 16 points.

Once again the Pirates had  great balance offensively. Sophomores Natalie Wood and Jordyn Swan had 13 points each to lead PHS and Emily Wirth had 9, Shannon Kalamarz 8 and Hannah Frett 7. Brittany Groer chipped in with 5 points.

Follow Arrowhead live in its quest for state

March 13, 2010 11:04 a.m. | The Arrowhead boys basketball team needs one more win to reach the WIAA Division 1 state tournament, and it won't be easy against Menomonee Falls on Saturday, with tip at 7:30 p.m. from the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee. Both teams enter the meeting with 21-3 records, and you can follow the action live with our courtside blog tonight.