The Freeman - 11/28/2017 Page : A01

Copyright © 2017 Conley Group. All rights reserved 11/28/2017December 13, 2017 2:22 pm (GMT +6:00) Powered by TECNAVIA

By Hannah Weikelhweikel@conleynet.com

262-513-2651

WAUKESHA — Prelimi-nary police and fire investi-gations show the probablecause of a early-morning

structure fire at the River-crest Apartments in the 700block of West St. Paul Avenuewas due to careless smokingon a third-floor balcony,according to a statementfrom Waukesha Fire Battal-ion Chief Jim Haakenson.

The Waukesha FireDepartment was called tothe fire springing from thebalcony and roof of the 20-unit apartment building sev-eral blocks from downtownaround 12:17 a.m. Mondaymorning. Crews worked to

bring the fire under controlfor about an hour. Mean-while, all residents wereevacuated with help fromthe police department,according to the statement.

One resident was treatedfor smoke inhalation onscene, but no one else wasinjured or killed in the fire,Haakenson said.

By Monday afternoon, theapartment building was stilloff-limits to residents, manyof whom had been assisted

by the Waukesha Red Crossthrough the night.

Property owner BobPeterson was on scene with

his sons, several police andfire investigators and his

A Trusted Tradition since 1859

The FREEMAN75¢

TUESDAYNovember 28, 2017

WEATHERTomorrow:

Mostly sunnyHigh 44 / Low 35

INDEXAsk the Doctors.......7BBusiness...................4AClassified..................5BComics.......................7BCrossword puzzle.....4B

Lottery......... ..............2AObituaries................ 7AOpinion.......................5ASports........................1BWeather.....................8A See complete forecast on Page 8A

JOHN SCHOENKNECHT

See RIVERCREST, PAGE 8A

Volume 159, No. 172

Fill Your Christmas Stockings with Silver & Gold from:

DAN’S L&L FINE JEWELRY

DAN’S L&L FINE JEWELRY

Buying and Selling Jewelry Since 1981New, Used and Estate Jewelry

615 N. Barstow St. Waukesha, WI 53186

262-549-5512

253510031

Open Tuesdays 10-5 through Christmas; Wed. - Fri. 10-6; Sat. 10-3

Nice People, Nice Prices, Great Selection!

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREEMAN, call 262-542-2500 or go online at: gmtoday.com/subscribe

From the Waukesha police blotter1:42 a.m. Saturday — A woman was reportedly trying tostart a fight in a Mexican restaurant in the 100 block ofWest Main Street. She accused several people of beingracist, poured her drink on them and smashed a bottle. No com-plaint was made.

>> More of the weekend blotter on 7A

TOWN OF OCONOMOWOC — Anunidentified man suffered non-lifethreatening injuries when he wasshot while duck hunting in the townSunday afternoon.

A call was placed to theOconomowoc Police DepartmentMonday, but the department saidcomments on the situation would behandled by the Wisconsin Depart-ment of Natural Resources.

The state’s Hunter EducationAdministrator Jon King said theduck hunter was floating in a kayakwhen he was struck in both legs bya bullet fired by an unidentifieddeer hunter. He said the duckhunter went to the hospital wherehe received stitches and wasreleased soon after.

King said late Monday afternoonthat he wasn’t yet briefed on the

exact location on the incident, andthere are details he cannot yetshare. The state’s website said theincident was on public land withinthe county.

The incident is still under inves-tigation and the state DNR willshare more details when it believesit is appropriate, said King.

The DNR says six other hunterswere shot — none fatally — during

the nine-day gun deer season. According to the DNR’s website

Monday, five hunters accidentallyshot themselves during the season.The sixth was shot by someone inhis own party during a deer drive inOzaukee County on Wednesday. Theseventh hunter was the man wound-ed in the Town of Oconomowoc.

— Freeman Staff and The Associated Press

Man shot during Town of Oconomowoc hunt

WAUKESHA

Fire severely damages half of Rivercrest Apartments

Photo courtesy of Mari G. Colaiacomo

Flames spring skyward from the Rivercrest Apartments fireearly Monday morning. A resident of the Riverwalk Apart-ments across St. Paul Avenue took the photo.

Initial investigation shows originwas careless smoking on balcony

Water utility holdsfirst of openhouse seriesat West High

WAUKESHA — Today, Wauke-sha West High School will hostthe first of three open housesthis week. All are open to thepublic and are the first informa-tion sessions since Waukeshaofficials announced their waterpartnership with Milwaukee latelast month.

Waukesha Water Utility Gener-al Manager Dan Duchniak willbe at all three meetings this weekto answer questions about thelatest updates to the water sup-ply project, including the con-tract between Milwaukee andWaukesha that gained approvalfrom committees in both citiesand will be discussed by Milwau-kee’s full Common Council thismorning and Waukesha’s coun-cil on Dec. 5.

Members of the Great WaterAlliance team, which has helpedsteer the Waukesha Water Utilityand works to bring the public upto speed with the water deal, willoffer a presentation and in-depthdisplays at all three open houses.

Waukesha’s $286.2 millionwater diversion project is expect-ed to double or triple water ratesin the coming years. About $40million was saved by choosingMilwaukee over Oak Creek for awater.

The meeting dates, locationsand times are as follows:

■ Today: Waukesha WestHigh School, Media Center;3301 Saylesville Road from 5:30to 7:30 p.m.

■ Wednesday: WaukeshaSouth High School, Media Cen-ter; 401 E. Roberta Ave. from5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

■ Thursday: WaukeshaNorth High School, Media Cen-ter; 2222 Michigan Ave. from5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

— Freeman Staff

WAUKESHAWATER PROJECTStarting early to prepare kids for school

By Ashley Haynesahaynes@conleynet.com

262-513-2681

WAUKESHA — The jumpstart on making sure kidsare prepared for the world

of education is now beginningeven sooner. Across the county, 4Kprograms have become popularoptions for parents who want theirchildren to become accustomed tothriving in a learning environ-ment. Now, some child care cen-ters offer three-year-old kinder-garten options as an expansion totheir programming.

Fox Tale Preschool in Wauke-sha, also a 4K community partnerwith the Waukesha School Dis-trict, is one center that has hoppedaboard the 3K programmingtrend. Run through the WaukeshaParks, Recreation and ForestryDepartment, Fox Tales’ three-year-old kindergarten program boasts a“developmentally appropriate pro-gram” that can help studentsgrasp basic skills and concepts.Growth in areas like social skillsand motor skills are emphasized.

While Fox Tales is a reliableoption for some Waukesha par-ents, one local preschool has beenin the 3K business for 45 years.

At the Kindergarten Preparato-ry School in Pewaukee, 3K hasbeen offered since 1972 to providea healthy range of child careoptions. Director Elizabeth Van

Slett, whose two daughters attend-ed K-Prep, explained that kids whoparticipate in a 3K programbecome both emotionally andsocially prepared for schooling.

“Really, nowadays, education isstarting out so young,” said VanSlett. “4K is not required yet, butalmost everyone is part of some

sort of government funded 4K pro-gram.”

She explained that 3K provides asolid base of knowledge thatyoung ones can use before theyhead into 4K. In addition to learn-ing a few basics such as beginningnumbers and a handful of letters,the three-year-olds get used to

being around adults and peers. “I think the earlier they get into

a program, the easier the transi-tion [into school] is,” said VanSlett. “If they show up to 4K andhave no classroom experience, itcan be difficult. We have goals for

Submitted photo

Charlotte Werner, Emi Takahashi and Kacey Van Slett take some time for outdoor exploration at the KindergartenPreparatory School in Pewaukee.

Local child careprograms adding

three-year-oldclasses

See 3K, PAGE 8A

Salen returns to home, schoolafter war Page 6A

Antibioticsor homeremedies?

Health 8B