The Milwaukee Post

4 • Milwaukee County Post • June 26, 2015 WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST DUI initiative catches three repeat offenders MILWAUKEE — At the start of last year, Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. ordered an aggressive weekend Driving Under the Influence initiative to rid the Milwaukee County freeway system of drunken drivers. Last weekend's initiative from Friday at 4 p.m. through Sunday at 6 a.m. resulted in the arrest of six drunken drivers, with three repeat offenders. The average PBT result was .16. Lydia Garcia, age 24, and Maurice Baines, age 33, both of Milwaukee, were arrest- ed for their second offense of driving under the influence. Doreen Cosson, age 43, of Milwaukee, was arrested for DUI-3rd. Cosson tested a .24 on the breathalyzer test. First time offenders were Jordan Bush, age 37, Jorrell Davis, age 23, and Josh Quinn, age 41, all of Milwaukee. Nationwide flag manufacturer stop sales, production of Confederate flag OAK CREEK – Eder Flag Manufacturing Co. will no longer be selling or manufac- turing the Confederate flag, as recently decided by its board of directors. Currently Eder Flag Manufacturing Co. services over 5,000 customers and sells over 20,000 different products. The company's decision to stop producing the Confederate flag had much to do with upholding its family legacy. A small business launched by seven brothers more than 100 years ago has grown to become America's largest manufacturer of both flags and flagpoles. Originally launched as Eder Manufacturing Co. in 1887, the company focused on making pillows, felt pennants, rag dolls and hunting jackets. From there, the flag-making business was launched and incorporated. As time went on, Eder Flag added to its product line, providing many different types of flags, flagpoles and accessories. The company established itself as a leader in quality and variety of products. Eventually Eugene Eder, son of one of the original seven founders, acquired Eder Flag Manufacturing Co. in 1957 after serving in WWII and receiving a law degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He served as its leader for more than 50 years. "Eugene Eder, our company's former, long-time owner, fought in World War II against the forces of bigotry, hatred and tyranny." said Jodi Goglio, Chief Operating Officer of Eder Flag Manufacturing, Co. "Mr. Eder's primary reason to own and operate Eder Flag after serving in the U.S. Navy was to produce American flags, a symbol of freedom and opportunity." But that's not the only reason they removed the Confederate flag from production. The recent events in Charleston, S.C., and the motivating factors behind those events, coupled with Eder's legacy, led to the company's decision to no longer manu- facture or sell those types of flags. And Eder isn't the only national corporation to ban the Confederate flag. Walmart, Amazon, eBay and Sears all announced bans on the sale of Confederate flag merchandise after the recent shooting in Charleston. "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in Charleston," Goglio said. "Our hope moving forward is that all communities are able to live together in unity so that everyone can experience the freedom and opportunity for which Mr. Eder and so many other veterans fought." For more infor mation about Eder Flag Manufacturing Co., visit www.ederflag.com. City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works to pick up storm-related debris MILWAUKEE — In the aftermath of the thunderstorm and high winds that swept through the city of Milwaukee on Monday, the Department of Public Works will pick up storm-related debris such as downed branches and tree limbs in excess of the 2- cubic yard maximum per household free of charge. Residents must call 414-286-2489 by Monday to request a special pickup of their storm-related debris. Tree branches or limbs should be placed at the regular garbage collection point — curb or alley — for pickup. DPW crews continue to clean up downed trees and eliminate other existing haz- ards in city neighborhoods. For more information, Milwaukee residents can call 414-286-2489. MPD investigates June 19 West Side shooting MILWAUKEE — Police said they are investigating a shooting that occurred in the 2900 block of North 36th Street at about 1:20 a.m. on June 19. The 22-year-old male victim from Milwaukee indicated that he was at a house party when he heard shots fired from the outside, according to the Police Department. He then realized he had been shot and was transported to a local hospital by a friend suffering from what appeared to be a non-life-threatening injury, police said of the ongoing investigation. Milwaukee police arrest suspect in officer shooting MILWAUKEE — Police on Saturday arrested a 20- year-old man who they said shot a Wauwatosa police officer who was investigating a burglary on Friday. Najee Harmon, 20, was arrested Saturday morning, according to media reports. Wauwatosa police said in a statement that Det. Jeffrey Griffin was shot Friday while investigating a burglary in the 7100 block of North 60th St. Griffin, 51, a 25-year and decorated veteran of the department, was reported to be stable and improving, although Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber said he faces a lengthy recovery. Harmon was charged this week with a count of armed robbery after he allegedly put a gun to a woman's neck and demanded money while she sat in a car on June 16, according to media reports and online court records. He had not yet been charged in the shooting of Griffin as of press time. Urban Orchard project dedicated at Garden District MILWAUKEE — County and city officials joined community leaders in dedicating the Urban Orchard project June 19 at the Garden District Farmers' Market, South Sixth Street and West Norwich Avenue, also known as the Garden District, to show- case Milwaukee's first sustainable urban orchard. "I believe it could be used as a model that can be replicated to help grow healthy food in neighborhoods across the city." Milwaukee Alderman Terry L. Witkowski said in a statement. Grants were secured for the Urban Orchard project in a partnership between the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. The project was completed using donated materials. "This is a partnership between the city and the county, along with MMSD and oth- ers who donated their time and labor, to create a new environmentally friendly amenity for the entire community to enjoy," County Supervisor Jason Haas said in a statement. Members of the Green Corridor, officials from Energy Exchange, Inc., members of the Garden District Neighborhood Association and representatives from Gateway to Milwaukee also attended the dedication. The fruit tree orchard at the farmers market site is in the Green Corridor, a por- tion of South Sixth Street, which was designated by the city as a fully-sustainable living laboratory for environmentally friendly practices. Rainwater from permeable pavement at the farmers market parking lots drains into holding tanks and is then used to provide regular watering for the orchard, Witkowski said. The Green Corridor was created through legislation authored by Witkowski. In addition to the successfully installed permeable parking lots and the farmers mar- ket, the Green Corridor is also home to community gardens, bio-swales, bike lanes, green roofs, solar-powered bus shelters and signs, beekeeping, worm-casting opera- tions, composting, solar flowers and other stormwater management technologies. Harmon Griffin

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