Recent newscasts reporting that Chrysler will be closing 18 Wisconsin dealerships is another grim example of the failing economy. Lakeland GM & Jeep in Oconomowoc is listed among those closing. However, one of the owners, Tom Manthy, said that the dealership is not closing but has been selected to surrender its Jeep franchises around mid-June.

Manthy said the company has a meeting with the Wisconsin Auto and Truck Dealers Association on Monday to discuss the situation and the possibility of appealing the decision. Regardless of the outcome, Manthy said the business will remain open.

"We have been in business 35 years and we plan on being here for another 35 years to serve our customers," Manthy said.

Jody Schutte, a general manager at Ewald Chrysler in Oconomowoc said the dealership has not received any notice of closure.

"We were told that early on and their criteria is pretty simple, (to remain open)," Schutte said. "It's based on continued customer satisfaction, longevity of the store and if the dealer is performing.

"If they're not selling, then they may be on the chopping block," he added saying some stores were also rated on how modern they were as a means to justify closing.

John Quaden Dodge in Okauchee is also on the list of 18 state dealerships. The owner declined to comment.

Schutte said GM will be announcing its list of closures tomorrow. "I'll think they'll leave us alone because of these things," Schutte said referring to the dealership meeting Chrysler's criteria to remain open.

The National Children's Study which will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of more than 100,000 children nationwide launches in Waukesha County today.

Approximately 1,250 children will be from Waukesha County and participants will be recruited starting today from 17 neighborhoods. Researchers will be knocking on doors in the communities of Dousman, Big Bend, Brookfield, Hartland, Menomonee Falls, New Berlin, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Sussex and Waukesha.

For more information click the link below to read a full story on the study.

http://www.livinglakecountry.com/lakecountryreporter/news/43282382.html

The City of Oconomowoc issued a notice to lift the slow, no-wake ordinances on both Fowler and Lac La Belle Friday afternoon. However, Monday morning announced the slow, no-wake order is still issued for Lac La Belle.

The order has been in effect since May 1, when Mayor Maury Sullivan issued the edict because of high water levels on the lakes.

Organizing for America (OFA), the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) grassroots project to support President Obama's agenda, will hold a meeting 10 a.m. Saturday at the Wesley House, 209 W. Wisconsin Ave. with local supporters and volunteers as part of OFAs series of "listening tours" taking place across the country.

Attendees, including supporters and volunteers from the general election, will be invited to offer ideas on how OFA should organize in the Oconomowoc community to support President Obama's priorities. The group will also discuss the best way to provide Americans with the tools to make their voices heard in Washington and help bring about the long-term change.

As the area's marketplace has changed, so has the appeal or the most viable use for downtown Oconomowoc. Because there are more places in the area to buy your groceries and do everyday shopping, Oconomowoc's downtown area should be viewed as a hybrid, niche shopping area said Hitchcock Design Consultants during Wednesday night's informative meeting on plans for Fowler Lake's reviatalization.

Hitchcock Design Group along with the advisory committee presented its latest conclusions and general consensus at City Hall on what is the best use for the area that consultants estimate can support about 150,000 square feet of retail space.

Presenters said that Oconomowoc has an advantage by having Fowler Lake that neighboring downtowns do not. To make the best use of the area, Hitchcock unveiled the preferred strategy design at the end of last month.

Two of the biggest developments of the redesign are the suggested redevelopment of the group of buildings along North Main Street into a four- to five-story mixed residential and retail space that would include enclosed parking as well. The designers know this idea will invite criticism because of the proposed building height but they think it would dramatically improve the now mostly empty building space and make it a economic and aesthetic improvement.

Another change in the preferred strategy is the removal of the boat launch on Fowler Lake. The advisory committee and designers know that the relocation of the boat ramp will be a challenge but feel that where it is located now is not the best spot for it. They have not suggested an alternative location yet.  

The new design also increases parking, creates a direct connection from one end of the waterfront to another with a driving lane and enhances and increases the size of the village green for more use and a better view of the lakefront from Main and Wisconsin streets.

For the most part, the preferred strategy was well-received by meeting attendees. Main concerns were voiced on the removal of the boat launch and more discussion likely will be needed about the potential for a four- to five-story building.

Mayor Maury Sullivan said that the reconstruction of the waterfront should be kept as economically viable as possible. "You can have the best playground possible out there but businesses may not be able to survive," said the mayor of the need to compromise over the use of space for recreation and business interests. "As we lift ourselves up as a community, compromises must be made," the mayor said. 

The mayor asked attendees to share this information and invite continued discussion and comment on this subject and to attend future meetings. To see the preferred design, visit, http://www.hitchcockdesigngroup.com/projectwebpages/oconomowoc/oconomowoc_20090225_preferredstrategy.pdf

Town of Oconomowoc officials closed the Monterey Bridge over the Ashippun River on Mill Street after discovering evidence of a sink hole over the last few days. Town Administrator Jeff Herrmann said officials from the Department of Natural Resources will be on location at 3:30 p.m. to investigate the situation.

The Town of Oconomowoc owns the bridge and has reinitiated talks of what to do about needed repairs or removal of the hybrid bridge and dam. Herrmann said the topic will discussed at the next town board meeting.

Edmond Baysari, who owns 84 acres near Olympia Resort & Conference Center, filed a suit against the City of Oconomowoc today, claiming unlawful and excessive assessments of the property. The city denied Baysari's claim for unreasonable assessment at its Feb. 3 meeting; city attorney Bill Chapman said that some credit has been given for farmland.

Baysari is seeking more than $60,000 in refund taxes plus statutory interest for improper classification of the parcels.

Chapman declined to comment, saying he had not yet seen the complaint.

Three meetings are scheduled tonight for Oconomowoc residents. A Neighborhood Workshop Session will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Silver Lake Intermediate School, 555 Oconomowoc Parkway. The purpose of the meeting is to get direct input about housing, neighborhood character and future land use in the River West Neighborhood. It is the third in a series of workshops for the River West planning effort of the neighborhood located southwest of the city.

The city has also scheduled two informational meetings for residents that reside along streets scheduled for work this year. The meetings will take place in Room 3 at City Hall tonight. The first meeting starts at 4:30 with a presentation at 5 p.m. for the Chaffee Road, Capital and Industrial Drive area. The second meeting begins at 6:30 with a presentation at 7 p.m. for South, Worthington and Blain streets.

Dawn Gutierrez, owner of Sweet Dreams Candies and Gifts, fondly known as the "candy lady" passed away Thursday. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 145 E. Lisbon Road. Funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the church.

Gutierrez collapsed at home on New Year's Eve, fell into a coma and died Jan. 15.

Lisa Oestreich, who operates Lisa’s Grooming Salon on North Main Street said Gutierrez lived for the smiles on childrens' faces when they came into the unique candy store.

Regards can be sent to the family at, N56 W36773 Cherokee Road, Oconomowoc, WI 53066.

Area Business Leads Exchange ( ABLE 6) will host a breakfast meeting from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at ProHealth Care Center, N17 W24100 Riverwood Drive, Pewaukee.

Six chambers of commerce - Pewaukee, Sussex, Delafield, Hartland, Oconomowoc and Brookfield - will meet and network over a continental breakfast. Cost: advance reservations $10, walk-ins $15 (no-shows will be charged).

Advance reservations are required by Jan. 14 by calling (262) 691-8851 or e-mailing jill@pewaukeechamber.org.

The common Council voted Tuesday night to approve the precise implementation plan (PIP) for Brennan's Marketplace and the Valley Road Commons project, to be located at the northeast intersection of Highway 67 and Valley Road.

This was Step 4 of the four-step approval process for the 24,697-square-foot specialty grocer, which will combine with four other buildings in the 12-acre project.

The grocer will serve as the anchor for the development, which is also expected to include a bank, a restaurant, and office and retail space.

One building is yet to be approved.

The newly approved store marks only the fifth store with the Brennan's name, with the others in Brookfield (since 1988), two in Madison (since the late 1960s), and the original store in Monroe (since 1943).

Frontier Development, the entire project's developer, began infastructure work this fall on the project, and will let the project sit through winter before they begin construction on any of the buildings.

The Wisconsin National Guard 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the state’s largest with 3,500 soldiers, will be deployed to Iraq early next year in the state guard’s largest operational deployment since World War II.

Notification began Friday, Sept. 5, and continued through that weekend. The unit – including Sussex’s 108th Forward Support Company and Oconomowoc’s Det. 1, 32nd Military Police Company – has been on alert since last December.

According to a Dec. 3, 2007, Defense Department news release, the brigade "will have a security force mission and be assigned tasks which will assure freedom of movement and continuity of operations" in Iraq.

The Wisconsin units will report for duty at their local armories in mid-February, then train at a U.S. Army installation in Texas for about two months before deploying to Iraq for the next 10 months.

City of Oconomowoc - Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Oconomowoc will reopen between Main Street and Fowler Street, next Friday Aug. 15.

This main stretch of the downtown business sector has been closed, along with a larger portion of Wisconsin Avenue, since the Oconomowoc downtown road reconstruction began in April, and will join the newly reopened and reconstructed N. Main Street for full two-way traffic.

In addition, the downtown's new two-lane concrete roundabout is also expected to fully open in all four directions Aug. 15.

No curbside parking will be allowed however on the street as construction crews still have terrace work to do on the sidewalks.

The road is being opened in time for the Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts Aug. 16-17.

Wisconsin Avenue west of Main Street will remain closed.

The overall project of Wisconsin Avenue from Concord Road east to an area west of the Highway 67 bypass, as well as N. Main Street, is expected to be completely finished by Nov. 1.

, the business sector of Wisconsin Avenue through the downtown

After recent flooding conditions, City Beach is scheduled to re-open Thursday, July 3, weather permitting. City Park will also re-open beginning July 3, after being closed for repairs. Park Street Beach and Bender Beach remain open.

All beach swimming hours are weather permitting and as follows:

10 a.m. to 8 p.m., City Beach

Noon to 6 p.m., Bender Beach

1 to 5 p.m., Park Street Beach.

Wristbands are available for $2 for residents and $4 for nonresidents daily; $15 for residents and $40 for nonresidents for the season; and $75 for residential families and $232.65 for nonresidents. All family members must reside at the same address.

City of Oconomowoc-  The bridge on west Wisconsin Avenue in Oconomowoc is reopening today after being shut down since last Friday due to high flood waters from the Oconomowoc River.

According to information from the Department of Public Works the bridge was expected to open sometime late morning or shortly there after.

Oconomowoc area -  City of Oconomowoc and Town of Oconomowoc boat launches are now closed for the weekend due to high water levels.

Police Chief Dave Begun said the Department of Natural Resources recommended to Lake Country area communities that they think about closing their launches to prevent more erosion.

Town of Summit Administrator Henry Elling said Summit launches are not officially closed but that the town lakes have high water and it "may not be practical to put boats in."

Elling also said the county boat launch at the Nemhabin Lakes on Highway DR are closed down as boats are not pysically able to cross under the bridge.

City of Oconomowoc - Oconomowoc Police Cheif Dave Beghun stated that he awaiting a call from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the city's assistance in closing down westbound traffic access to I-94 at the Highway 67 interchange as part of a bigger effort to close down the interstate's westbound traffic from Highway 83 in Delafield to to Highway 26 in Jefferson County as flooding continues to reach roadways.

The detour will direct drivers south to I-43 to Beloit where they can get on I-90 and head north toward Madison.

The duration of the closure is not yet known.

City of Oconomowoc - Oconomowoc Police Cheif Dave Beghun announced that the bridge on West Wisconsin Avenue near Lutheran Homes of Oconomowoc has closed down due to high water levels coming from the Oconomowoc River which crosses under the bridge coming from Lac Labelle to the north.

 It is unsure how long the bridge will be closed as it depends on the amount of rain water that may still fall and the openings of dams from other northern communities.

The decision was made after the Department of Transportation met with the Oconomowoc Department of Public Works earlier today.

Representatives of the City of Delafield and the villages of Nashotah and Chenequa have reached a tenative agreement on a how a Lake Country Fire Department would be structured to serve the three communities.

According to the agreement, the consolidated department would have three fire stations; the existing ones in Chenequa, Nashotah and the City of Delafield.

There would be one fire chief and the operations of each station would be standardized, according to a list of goals and agreements adopted last week by the nine member committee made up of representatives from each community.

The committee agreed that volunteers would remain a "vital staff component" and existing employees of the Delafield and Lake Country departments would be hired into the consolidated department.

Paramedic service in the merged department was one of 11 items the committee unanimously agreed to at the Tuesday, May 13 meeting.

Members of the committee have acknowledged that reaching an agreement on how the three communities would share funding the department is crucial in determining whether a merger of the Delafield department into the Lake Country Department, which serves Chenequa and Nashotah, is feasble.

Any of the committee's recommendations will have to be approved by the governing bodies of the individual communities.