The Milwaukee Post

4 • Milwaukee Post • June 28, 2013 WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST 1 Fugenschuh to lead county historical society 2 WILL files complaint against Milwaukee County Board 3 Report ranks Wisconsin 12th in nation for kids Deborah Fugenschuh has been named the Milwaukee County Historical Society's new executive director. She succeeds Scott Stroh, who left to become executive director of Gunston Hall in Lorten, Va., the historic home of Founding Father George Mason. Since 1999, Fugenschuh has been president and CEO of the Donors Forum of Wisconsin, an organization that promotes philanthropy and trains grantmakers among family foundations, corporations and individuals. During her tenure, she grew the forum from 50 members to 140 members, with an annual budget of $800,000. Prior to that, she was active in fundraising for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, United Way and other civic ventures. She has written and lectured extensively about philanthropy and led strategic planning for community organizations The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty has filed a complaint against the Milwaukee County Board for allegedly violating the state open meetings law by having walking quorums. According to a press release from WILL, 13 county supervisors reportedly engaged in a series of small secret meetings in order to get enough supervisors to agree to fire Corporation Counsel Kimberly Walker, who was appointed by County Executive Chris Abele. Such small meetings are known as walking quorums, and are illegal because they permit a governing body to conduct business without having to give the public notice and hold debate in open session, the release stated. WILL representatives sent the complaint to the state attorney general, the Milwaukee County district attorney and the Milwaukee County corporation counsel. According to the release, if none of those entities files a lawsuit against the board within 20 days, the WILL representatives will decide whether to bring a lawsuit themselves. Children's lives are better off as Wisconsin's economy recovers, but many families remain worse off now than prior to the Great Recession, according to an annual report that tracks children's welfare. The Kids Count Data Book, a report published each year by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, examines economic, education, health and family data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It ranked Wisconsin as the 12th best place in the nation to grow up. "It's always nice to see Wisconsin go up in state rankings, but when you look a little deeper, there's a lot of cause for concern," said Jim Moeser, deputy director of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. According to the report, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts were the top states in children's overall well-being. Nevada, Mississippi and New Mexico were the bottom states. Wisconsin's overall ranking improved by three places from a year ago. The state's rank in two of the four broad-range categories – health and economic well-being – improved. On the opposite end, poverty and employment did worse. The poverty estimate was based on this year's federal threshold of $23,550 for a family of four. It did not factor in tax credits and government food, housing and health care programs that can reduce the effects of poverty, a release said. 4 Operation Drive Sober nets 10 arrests The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office's Operation Drive Sober resulted in 10 drunken driving arrests last weekend. All of the weekend's arrests were first-time offenders. Two of the alleged drunken drivers were involved in crashes on the freeway resulting in minor injuries. The age range of the arrested were 23 to 53. The average blood-alcohol level of .014. and Donors Forum of Wisconsin members. Randy Bryant, president of the historical society's board of directors, called Fugenschuh a perfect fit for the organization at a crucial period in its history . "Deborah's proven fundraising and networking skills, her ability to inspire people and her broad knowledge of the community and its cultural resources will serve us well," he said. Fugenschuh began her new job Monday . "It is an honor and a privilege to have been selected to lead this important cultural institution. I look forward to working with the board and staff to ensure the society remains strong and plays a critical leadership role in preserving the history of this amazing county we live in." The county's historical society was founded in 1935 and is housed in the former Second Ward Savings Bank at 910 N. Old World Third St. 5 Father:Reckless homicide convictions 'won't bring my son back' 6 Forty jobs eliminated at Urban Day School 7 May had least traffic deaths since the 1940s Even though the men convicted of providing the drugs that killed his son will spend the next several years behind bars, Dan Schulthess said he only feels minimal closure. Earlier this moth, Brandon Ward and Coleon Gallion were both found guilty of reckless homicide in the Feb. 21, 2012 overdose death of Justin Schulthess. According to the criminal complaint, Ward admitted to helping facilitate the purchase of heroin from Gallion on the day Schulthess died. The complaint states that Schulthess injected himself with heroin after he and Ward went to Milwaukee and bought it from Gallion, and Schulthess became lethargic and eventually passed out on the ride back to Waukesha. Gallion, a Milwaukee resident, was sentenced to eight years behind bars and seven years of extended supervision. Ward, who graduated Waukesha South High School with Justin Schulthess, will serve seven years behind bars and eight of extended supervision. Ward helped police track down Gallion, a known Milwaukee drug dealer known as "Little C," according to the complaint. "These guys are just criminals," Dan Schulthess said. "It brought some kind of closure, but I think (Ward) should've gotten more time for what he did." Schulthess said the men are "80 percent" responsible for the death of his son, whom he said had only recently started using drugs when he died. "It should've never happened," Schulthess said. Around 40 employees will lose their jobs at Milwaukee-based Urban Day School, according to a notice received by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The job cuts are a result of the school's decision to consolidate charter school activities in Milwaukee because of the loss of federal Head Start funding, according to the notice. The school operates two campuses at 3728 N. 12th St. and 1441 N. 24th St. in Milwaukee. Urban Day will consolidate activities at its 24th Street campus, which will result in eliminated jobs, according to the notice. The job cuts will be made by Aug. 20. May was the safest driving month since World War II, according to preliminary statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The month had 33 fatalities in 33 Wisconsin traffic crashes. The deadliest May was in 1968 with 123 fatalities. Traffic fatalities last month were 17 fewer than in May 2012 and 19 fewer than the five-year average for the month of May . Five people died in traffic crashes during the Memorial Day weekend. Last year, eight people died during the holiday weekend. As of May 31, 168 people have died in Wisconsin traffic crashes in 2013, including 14 motorcycle drivers, 14 pedestrians and three bicyclists. Traffic deaths through May were 38 fewer than during the same period in 2012 (an 18 percent reduction), and 25 fewer than the five-year average.

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