The Milwaukee Post

July 5, 2013 • Milwaukee Post • 19 Seventeen graduate in homeland security program By DARRYL J. ENRIQUEZ Special to The Post PEWAUKEE – Waukesha County Technical College helped a group of 17 Transportation Security Administration officers become the first class in the Milwaukee area to earn certificates of achievement in homeland security . Brian Dorow, associate dean of the School of Criminal Justice, said WCTC was awarded for the first time a contract to train TSA employees due to the school's expertise in counter-terrorism and homeland security . Dorow said WCTC will host classes for new TSA employees from Milwaukee and Madison in the fall. "All of the credits the TSA employees have earned are transferrable, and we're hoping some will return to earn two-year associate degrees in criminal justice," Dorow said. The employees earned their certificates by taking one three-credit course during each of the past three semesters, he said. The employees were recognized earlier last week at a ceremony at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. The TSA associates program offers three classes: Introduction to Homeland Security, Intelligence Analysis & Security Technology, and Transportation and Border Security . The courses were taught by WCTC Law Enforcement instructor Mark Stigler at the TSA field office in Milwaukee. Officers receive a certificate of achievement upon successful completion of the three classes. "This was the first opportunity for us to partner with the TSA agency, and it was challenging in that we built the program and it was humbling that we got to teach the TSA about homeland security," Stigler said. "It was a mutual learning experience for all of us. They got to learn the bigger picture of homeland security beyond their jobs, and we as instructors got to peek behind the curtain to see what TSA employees do beyond checking luggage." In her remarks during the ceremony, Transportation Safety Officer Paulette Young said the courses taught her to be more aware of her surroundings, how current events affect her mission and the importance of combating complacency in her job duties. "The sharing of experience and knowledge among our fellow classmates established a connection that will increase our Photo by Kat Gaglione, TSA executive assistant at Gen. Mitchell International Airport Here are some of the teachers in and graduates from Waukesha County Technical College's homeland security program. From left: Chris Lamont, Lawrence Willegal, Julie Padden, Carol Ryback, Diane Eckrich, Jacqie Baer, Ed Roucka, Renate Pedrosa, Jill Janikowski, WCTC Law Enforcement instructor Mark Stigler, Dawn Clark, Kelley Caputo, Geraldine Krause, Gina Pollard, Paulette Young and Brian Dollar. contribution to achieving the Department of Homeland Security's goal of one team, one mission, securing our homeland," she said. Tragic downtown Oconomowoc fire recalled By AMBER GRAMZA Conley News Service OCONOMOWOC – Monday marked a year from the day when a devastating downtown fire ravaged businesses, destroyed apartments, injured firefighters and took the life of an Oconomowoc resident. The smell of ash filled downtown as state and local fire officials searched through the charred remains of Stapleton Realty & Appraisal and apartments at 112 N. Main St. just 12 months ago. The fire left a woman, 45-year-old Sharon Phillips, dead and sent eight firefighters to the hospital. Police Chief Dave Beguhn received the official fire report that stated the fire started at the rear exterior area of the building, but the cause was undetermined. Approximately 11 municipalities responded, including Watertown, Waukesha, Waterloo, Eagle and Menomonee Falls, Beguhn said. The 100 block of North Main Street was shut down until the following day . Another woman who lived in the 112 Main St. building for 16 years, Mary Dollak, chef at The Pub, recalled that fateful Sunday She lost everything in the fire and . had to break the second-story window and jump out in order to survive. She was helped by numerous citizens that were nearby . "I knew I only had half a breath left and I just closed my eyes and jumped," Dollak said. She had surgery on her left wrist and multiple stitches on her knees, feet, between her fingers and on other parts of her body . Dollak said she had spent some social time with Phillips, who had lived there for about five years, and said she was a nice woman. Dollak now owns her first house and said she appreciates every day and never takes anything for granted. She was happy to get back into the kitchen at The Pub, because she loves to cook, and said both she and the restaurant were healing at the same time. Aelred Gannon, co-owner of The Pub along with his wife, Bernadette, said the smoke and water damage to the restaurant caused more problems than they could have anticipated. "Everything in the building had to be removed to be cleaned," he said. "Every item of furniture, every decoration, every glass and every plate was taken away and cleaned." The couple, which has operated The Pub for 11 years, had to remove the walls down to the exposed brick and had to put in brand-new bathrooms and a serving station. Electric and heating work were also involved, along with new paint and other maintenance. Along with friends and volunteers, the couple worked seven days a week, sometimes 10 hours a day to get the place open , again mid-November at 114 N. Main St. "We have had a great response from the community; our regular customers are still with us," Aelred Gannon said. "We lost a few along the way ... which happens when you are closed for almost five months, but we've found a lot of new people as well ... all in all right now, we are in a good place." He said there are too many people to thank for the help of getting the restaurant up and running again. Oconomowoc Fire Department Lt. Michael LaVenture was treated for smoke inhalation at Columbia St. Mary's in Milwaukee, after he was caught in the blaze, injured and rescued. Oconomowoc Deputy Chief Glenn Leidel said after months of recovery , LaVenture is working shorter hours on limited duty because he still has some medical issues. "We have expectations to have him back full-time in the future," Leidel said. Leidel said the critical incident stress debriefing that took place 72 hours after the event was a confidential opportunity for any staff – firefighters, EMT or others involved in the fire – to discuss what happened. He said that anytime there is a civilian death or serious injury it is taken very seri, ously and it deeply affects the people involved. The evaluation and review of the fire has been shared by Leidel with five outside agencies and there also was a presentation about it at the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association's annual meeting. Maureen Stapleton said the process to rebuild her building at 112 N. Main St. has been one filled with setbacks. Currently , she is hosting realty operations out of 29 S. Main St. "It took about six months to get the permits from the state to start the project," she said. It has only been about three weeks since the roof was put back onto the building, because inclement weather was another setback to the construction work. "We are in a confined area back here and we are trying to be respectful of our neighbors and our surroundings," Stapleton said. She plans on keeping the "integrity and history of Main Street still alive while making it a functioning building." In addition to the rebuild of the realty office, Stapleton will be able to create loft-type apartments with exposed brick and said she is excited to be part of the redevelopment downtown. "We want to be an addition to all of the work that has been done led by the mayor and Common Council," Stapleton said. The ivy that had been growing on the outside walls of the building was beautiful but was also like "fire tinder" during the severe drought last year, she said. Stapleton hopes to host a grand reopening at Christmas this year. Contact Amber Gramza agramba@conleynet.com

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