The Milwaukee Post

4 • Milwaukee County Post • April 14, 2017 Last month tied for second safest March MILWAUKEE — According to preliminary data from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 28 people died in Wisconsin traffic crashes last month, seven fewer than March of last year. Since the end of World War II, last month was tied for the second safest March fol- lowing the safest in 2010 with 23 deaths, according to a news release from the DOT. "The return of warmer weather means more bicyclists, pedestrians and motorcy- cles will be traveling along Wisconsin roadways, so all travelers need to be alert, patient and willing to share the road," David Pabst, director of the DOT's Bureau of Transportation Safety, said in a release. "Also, April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, so we're reminding people to put down their phones or electronic devices, eliminate all distractions, and just focus on driving." A total of 98 people were killed in crashes over the first three months of the year, 24 fewer than the same period last year and six fewer compared to the five-year aver- age. WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST Milwaukee Water Works appointee applauded MILWAUKEE — Rep. Josh Zepnick, D-Milwaukee, applauded the appointment of Jennifer Gonda to lead Milwaukee Water Works, the state's largest water utility. "After over 12 years of service advocating for the City of Milwaukee in both Madison and Washington, D.C., Gonda has the policy-making, political sense and problem-solving skills to be a strong leader of Milwaukee's Water Utility." "As ranking Democrat and most senior legislator on the Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee, I have often had the opportunity to work with Jennifer in the past on important issues facing Milwaukee. She brings a common-sense pragmatism to the various economic, ecological and social challenges that Milwaukee faces." Zepnick said Gonda is committed to keeping the water supply safe, plentiful and affordable. 32nd Military Police Company returns from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba deployment MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee-based unit 32nd Military Police Company has returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, after deployment in May at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The unit will demobilize before returning to Wisconsin in the coming weeks. It completed a detentions operations mission under Joint Task Force Guantanamo, where it provided care and custody for detainees, according to a Wisconsin National Guard release. Waiting to greet them at the base of the plane when they landed in Texas were sen- ior Wisconsin National Guard leaders including Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, Wisconsin's adjutant general; Brig. Gen. Mark Anderson, the deputy adjutant general for the Army; and Command Sgt. Maj. Rafael Conde, the senior enlisted adviser for the Wisconsin Army National Guard. "The mission is never done until you get back home," Conde told the unit. Others echoed his sentiments and urged the soldiers to take advantage of their time at Fort Bliss to learn more about the benefits they earned and to get the care they need. Dunbar and others praised the unit for its service, accomplishments and profes- sionalism with which it served in Cuba. "I have so much respect for what you do, and the connection to the American pub- lic is the Guard and the Reserve," Dunbar said. "You should be proud of yourselves." The unit previously deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Hungary in 2002, Iraq in 2003-'04 and 2009, and to Kosovo in 2011-'12. Other recent Wisconsin National Guard returns include the return in late 2016 of Army National Guard soldiers with Detachment 1, Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division Multi-Component Unit from a deployment to Iraq and Kuwait; the February mobilization of about 65 soldiers from the Madison-based 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation for a deployment to the Middle East as well as 35 soldiers from the West Bend-based Company C, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation for a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel. About 85 additional soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation are set to deploy to the Middle East later this spring. Alleged illegal immigrant soccer referee deported WAUKESHA — A man accused of assaulting a teenager at the Schuetze Center out- side an adult soccer league in January has been deported to Mexico, according to online court records. Cristian Sanchez, 26, was charged in Waukesha County with sexually assaulting a child, child enticement and refusing to aid an officer following an incident outside the Schuetze Center on Baxter Street on Jan. 29, where a 15-year-old girl report- ed Sanchez wrapped his arms around her waist and touched her backside, and also rubbed his body against hers indecently, a criminal complaint said. In a Milwaukee County court appearance last week, disorderly conduct charges were dropped after defense attorney Erik Colque said Sanchez was in a Louisiana detention facility facing likely deportation, which, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has happened four times previously. Man charged with workplace beating in court WAUKESHA — A Milwaukee man for whom police searched after he allegedly showed up at his ex-girlfriend's workplace last month, beat her and took her phone appeared in court April 5, a week after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Khaleel Durham, 22, of Milwaukee has been charged with stalking causing bodily harm, robbery with use of force, misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct and making threatening computer messages. He was ordered held on a $2,500 cash bond, with Court Commissioner Molly Jasmer entering a protective order to keep him away from the woman. Durham is due for a preliminary hearing May 19. Elm Grove police officers were sent to the Heritage of Elm Grove senior living center, 800 Wall St., at about 3 p.m. March 27. Police learned Durham beat and robbed a 21-year- old victim of her purse. A criminal complaint also said Durham sent a series of text mes- sages, including emojis depicting a gun. Milwaukee County to partner on parkland MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele last week announced the county will partner with the city of Wauwatosa to add new parkland in the area of the county grounds known as Sanctuary Woods. The county has been working transparently with Wauwatosa officials for months in support of the city's efforts to balance development interest, environmental protection and build a sense of community on the county grounds. City officials and some residents have expressed concern that a portion of the Sanctuary Woods would be at risk. The county executive said he is prepared ask the city to rezone the woods to parks. Before rezoning can occur and County Grounds Park can be expanded, officials must determine what land in addition to the woods should be protected. Right now, the parcel that includes part of the wooded area also includes an abandoned county building, a parking lot and land that was never part of the woods. The county is surveying the site, which should take two to four months. "Since I took office the county has added more than 150 acres of parkland and worked with municipalities to rezone more than 350 parcels as parks," Abele said in a news release. "In order to support this expanded footprint and invest in critical priorities, we need to grow our tax base to fund the maintenance of environmental and cultural assets. Mayor Kathy Ehley and the city of Wauwatosa have done a great job balancing smart development opportunities with protecting our natural spaces." Mom charged with neglect after boy shoots himself MILWAUKEE — A 22-year-old woman charged with neglecting her 4-year-old son after she left a handgun in her purse, which he shot him- self with on April 2, was scheduled to appear in court Saturday for a preliminary hearing. Ashley N. Carter said she put the purse with the firearm she carries for protection on the floor, she left the room and heard a gunshot, according to the criminal complaint. Her son was bleeding from his hand and she brought him to a hospital, where he went to surgery, the complaint said. If convicted of child neglect — causing great bodily harm, Carter could be sentenced to a maximum of six years in prison. Carter

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