Milwaukee County Board Of Supervisors Voted To Review County Land Leases For possible Agricultural Hemp Production By Private Leasers

At least 881 acres and any other Milwaukee County land available could potentially be used by private leasers to accommodate agriculture Hemp production, according to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 29, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday. Milwaukee County Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez confirmed that the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved a feasible study to see, if 881 acres and any other Milwaukee County land can be used by private leasers to produce agricultural Hemp on the land. Supervisor Ortiz-Velez stated, “On Thursday, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a study by the department of parks to evaluate its current policies for the use of its 881 acres of agricultural land. The report shall include whether or not Hemp growth and production would be feasible for these lands and shall also identify any other Milwaukee County land that may be able to accommodate these agricultural purposes and hemp production. The lease rates for agricultural land that Milwaukee County owns has not been reviewed in some time. Any land where it is feasible for Hemp growth and production Milwaukee County could potentially gain an increase in lease revenues.”
Milwaukee County Board records show that an amendment was introduced during the full Board meeting to launch a feasible study to see, if agricultural Hemp production is possible at the following leased lands to private leasers. The Director, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Culture, requested retroactive authorization to execute Agricultural Lease Agreements with: Ronald and Lois Fratrick, in the amount of $100 per year for 8.8 acres of land; Jeff Gassenhuber in the amount of $2,792 for 38 acres of land; Robert Grove in the amount of $3,576 for 47.6 acres of land; M A Mainus Farm, LLC, doing business as Joseph Mainus, in the amount of $9,690 for 116.4 acres of land; John Napientek in the amount of $13,990 for 171.1 acres of land; and James Roszina in the amount of $4,083 for 50.3 acres of land for the period effective January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2021; and with Robert Petzold in the amount of $2,740 for 33.9 acres of land; and Vincent Schmit in the amount of $1,530 for 17 acres of land for the period effective January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, with two one-year renewal options.

Petition Drive Organized By Prince of Peace Student Parents Requesting Their Catholic School Removal From Seton Management

Latino parents of students enrolled at the Prince of Peace K4 and middle schools are circulating a petition among parents requesting for their Catholic School be removed from the Seton Team Management service.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 26, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – On Friday, several letters of concern that detail complaints from parents at the Prince of Peace (PoP) Catholic Schools (4K and middle school) were released to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA), which copies were also sent to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D-Milw.), Archbishop Jerome Listecki and Carolyn Stanford Taylor, the DPI Superintendent of Schools including some Board of Director members from Seton. Both Elizabeth Nolasco and Norma Herrera who have their children enrolled at PoP released the letters to HNNUSA and are the key organizers of a parent campaign to get PoP out from the Seton Team Management for their failure to provide extra-curricular activities that includes sports, underachievment issues and who have noticed more than 25 teacher turnover in the last three years at PoP under Seton management. Many of those teacher positions have remained vacant.
Recently, the principal, a social service worker and a teacher resigned sparking protests by parents at PoP. According to Herrera, the Seton management team finally met with parents during a meeting concerning the recent principal resignation, since taking over the school three years ago. In other words, the parents had not met any of the Seton management team in the last three years.
Since Seton took over at PoP, the state DPI school report card reported that in 2017-2018 students had not improved in their math skills and there was a decrease in reading skills as well.
Nolasco and Herrera in a revised letter to Seton Board members wrote, “This letter is being sent to you because your name is listed on the Board of Directors for Seton Catholic Network. Included is a screenshot from Seton’s own website that claims to offer 9 extracurricular activites to the schools under SCS. Please explain how three years with Seton Catholic Schools NONE of these have been offered to the children of Prince of Peace school? How is it possible to overlook the students from the biggest school SCS has? This is NOT right!”
PoP is one of multiple Catholic schools including St. Roman in Seton’s management that are now seeking to be removed from the Seton Catholic School Network (SCSN). Parents at PoP are circulating a petition requesting for the local priest in charge at PoP to remove the school from Seton.
According to information related to PoP, Seton gets paid at least $64,000 per year for a service fee from the PoP school budget.
The current SCSN participating Catholic schools include Catholic East, Mary Queen of Saints, Northwest Catholic, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Prince of Peace, St. Catherine, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Martin of Tours, St. Rafael the Archangel, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy and St. Roman.
HNNUSA previously published an anonymous 4-page letter detailing concerns with Seton, which included a response to the anonymous letter by Seton.

Seton Catholic School Team Management Associated With The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Allegedly Broke, According To Anonymous Letter Circulating

A 4-page anonymous letter that was circulated allegedly indicates that Seton, a Catholic School Team Management entity connected to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is apparently broke and has difficulty maintaining well qualified teachers and administrators at participating schools.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 22, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is facing criticism concerning its partnership organization that has come to be known as Seton, a management team operating 11 Catholic schools in a network (SCSN). SCSN has also come under criticism after a 4-page anonymous letter was circulated and a January 11, 2019 letter response by Joan Shafer, the Seton interim CEO was sent to the Seton team responding to the anonymous letter. Both letters were made available to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) indicating that SCSN has not been to transparent about their budget deficits, expenditures and are now dependent for survival on participating school budgets and tuition from parents that enroll their children in these Catholic schools.
According to information related to Prince of Peace school, SCSN is paid at least $64,000 for service fees per year from the school budget.
The Catholic Schools are considered Choice Schools as well and are funded by the state of Wisconsin budget educational system that includes minimum accountability of education standards for this type of schools compared to statewide public schools.
So far, two Catholic schools that joined the SCSN, St. Matthias and Divine Mercy opt out within the first two years of initiating the SCSN program due to unsatisfied management and operating procedures that cost both schools. Just last week, parents at the Prince of Peace Catholic School (4K and middle schools) in the Southside of Milwaukee held a protest to seek independence from SCSN as well after a large turnover of teachers totalling around 25 in the last three years and the recent alleged resignations of the principal and two other staff members became public.
The parents at Prince of Peace are hoping their school can also opt out from SCSN, according to parents. The SCSN management team is mostly White and have no Latinos in the team, according to Latino parents at Prince of Peace, who say that their needs are not being met or taken seriously. One parent says that her child underachieved at Prince of Peace due to the turnover of teachers and he wasn’t accepted at Marquette School when he applied and other similar cases with parents having underachieved children exists too.
The current SCSN participating Catholic schools include Catholic East, Mary Queen of Saints, Northwest Catholic, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Prince of Peace, St. Catherine, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Martin of Tours, St. Rafael the Archangel, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy and St. Roman. Some of the schools in the list are also facing similar allegations made by Latino parents who say that a mismanagement pattern is practice by SCSN, which has led to the underachievement of students, according to DPI test results. They have also expressed the same dilemma of not being able to get SCSN to be transparent about their budget deficits and to quickly fill vacancy teaching positions at schools resulting in extra work for those teachers in the network without compensation.
Parents at St. Roman Catholic School are also working to have their school opt out from SCSN as well.

The 4-page anonymous letter indicates:

• SCSN is broke
• Owes $2M to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
• Financial issues has resulted in downsizing or cuts in teaching and staffing positions
• Schools under SCSN lack the freedom to develop their own professional development to best fit their students and staff
• SCSN has not developed a payscale to compensate teachers for their expertise and years of commitment
• Principals can’t act independently to apply their own expertise and implement projects that fit the student population

The Seton letter by Shafer says:

• SCSN has taken some missteps and stumbling blocks
• Not everyone agrees with Seton’s policies, practices, approach and direction
• Anonymous letter contains half-truths, rumors and innuendoes
• It can have a negative impact on Seton, enrollment and Archdiocesan Catholic Schools

Vehicular Homicide Case Dismissed Against Jesus Cardenas-Torres Who Lied To Milwaukee Police That He Was The Driver Of A Stolen SUV That Crashed Into A Uber

Vehicular homicide case dismissed against Cardenas-Torres who had previously admitted to police that he was driving the vehicle that crashed into a Uber killing a 25-year-old passenger and causing injuries to the Uber driver and another passenger who was ejected from the vehicle on impact and survived.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 18, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office requested for a judge to dismissed the case against Jesus Cardenas-Torres, 16, after he recanted his confession and told police who the actual driving suspect was who crashed into a Uber killing Cristian Marilyn Hernandez, 25, in March. The judge dismissed the case without prejudice on Thursday, but no indication, if Cardenas-Torres will be facing charges for lying and committing obstruction in the case during a vehicular homicide case.
On March 22, Cardenas-Torres confessed that he was driving a stolen vehicle (SUV) without a license that crashed into a Uber vehicle killing Hernandez and injuring the Uber driver and another passenger that was ejected on impact and was charged as an adult with two felony counts. Cardenas-Torres had been charged with one count for knowingly driving without a valid license causing death and one count for knowingly driving without a license causing bodily harm. If Cardenas-Torres would have been convicted in the case on both felony counts, he would be facing up to 6 years in prison and $10,000 in fines for causing the death of Hernandez and 3 years and 6 months in prison with up to $10,000 in fines for causing bodily harm, according to court records.

According to Milwaukee police, the driving suspect who has not yet been identified or charged with Hernandez’s death failed to stop at an intersection at the 2000 block of W. Orchard Street and crashed into a Uber with passengers. A 13-year-old who was also a passenger in the vehicle that Cardenas-Torres was a passenger in as well was also taken into custody at the crash scene.

Three Fifth Grade Female Students Suspended For Making Threats To “commit acts of violence” At Mountain View Elementary School In Killeen, Texas Police Reported

Three female students made a threat on Wednesday that they would be committing acts of violence at their elementary school.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 17, 2019

Killeen, Texas – On Wednesday, the Randy Podhaski, the principal of Mountain View Elementary School send out a mass e-mail to the parents of students confirming that three fifth grade students had made threats on Wednesday, that they would “commit acts of violence” at Mountain View Elementary School on Thursday. The three suspects were identified only as three female students by Killeen Independent School District Police (KISDP). The KISDP are investigating the school threat and also whether the three female students involved will get criminally charged.
Podhaski also confirmed that the suspects will not return to the school. Classes at Mountain View Elementary School will resume as normal on Thursday, according to Podhaski.

Alexander M. Kraus Facing Double Homicide Charges For Killing His Grandparents In Grand Chute

Kraus facing life in prison without parole for the cold blooded murder of his grandparents.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 15, 2019

Grand Chute, WI – On Sunday, April 14th, 2019 shortly after the 911 call was placed, Alexander M. Kraus, 17, a resident of Neenah and a Neenah High School Junior, was taken into custody in connection with 2 counts of 1st-degree intentional homicide of his grandparents, the Grand Chute Police Department reported. Kraus was booked into the Outagamie County Jail on homicide charges.
The victims were identified as Dennis L. Kraus, 74, and Letha G. Kraus, 73, both residents of Grand Chute.

Robert M. Matagi Charged For The Hit-and-run Vehicle Homicide Of Pedro Colon-Ortiz In Milwaukee

Matagi facing up to 65-years in prison for multiple felonies in connection with the fatal hit-and-run vehicle crash during a Milwaukee County Sheriff deputy pursuit that claimed the life of a 25-year-old Milwaukee man.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 15, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – On Monday, Robert M. Matagi, 18, of Franksville was charged with three felony counts in connection with the April 11 fatal hit-and-run vehicle crash that claimed the life of Pedro Colon-Ortiz, 25, during a pursuit by a Milwaukee County Sheriff deputy. Matagi was charged with one count for 2nd-degree reckless homicide, second count for hit-and-run involving death and third count for operator fleeing/eluding police causing death. If convicted on all counts, Matagi is facing up to 25 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines for each count for reckless homicide and fatal hit-and-run and up to 15 years in prison and up to $50,000 in fines for fleeing police causing death.
A cash bond of $50,000 was set for Matagi, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the criminal complaint, a Milwaukee County Sheriff deputy going Southbound on I-43/I-94 noticed a vehicle driving erratic and attempted to pull it over. The vehicle failed to pull over and exited on the Holt Ave. exit and headed Westbound at a high rate of speed (85 MPH on a 30 MPH speed limit) and at the intersection of S. 13th Street and W. Morgan Ave., Magati struck a vehicle killing Colon-Ortiz, the driver. Magati and two females that were fleeing from the deputy got out of the vehicle and fled, but were shortly taken into custody. Deputies found drugs and a handgun on a female suspect who attempted to hide the weapon.
Magati confessed to police that he was driving without a license and had drugs including a handgun. He fled the deputy because he didn’t want to go to jail. The two female suspects have not been charged, but charges are pending, according police.
Six people were injured in the crash including a Milwaukee County Sheriff deputy who were taken to several local hospitals for treatment.
Colon-Ortiz was engaged to be married and is survived by a 1-year-old son.

White House Using Taxpayer Dollars To Spread Hate, Division And Endangering The Life Of U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar On Facebook

The White House administration posted Trump’s deceptive 911 video depicting U.S. Congresswoman Omar on its Facebook page with taxpayer funding.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 15, 2019

Washington, D.C. – On Saturday, the White House administration posted Trump’s deceptive 911 video to intentionally create hate, division and to endanger the life of U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on its Facebook (FB) page with taxpayer funding. Who ever posted Trump’s deceptive video in the White House FB is paid by federal tax dollars and would be most likely be in violation of federal law by using taxpayer dollars to promote political propaganda and possibly inciting MAGA red cap right extremist conservative nutcases to commit a federal hate crime against Congresswoman Omar.
Trump definitely intended to create hate targeted at Congresswoman Omar for being Muslim and criticizing him for promoting hate toward Muslims and other people of color in the U.S., since being elected by the outdated electoral vote to the White House and not by popular vote.
As of Monday, the Trump deceptive 911 video remains posted in the White House FB page in violation of federal law.
Congresswoman Omar tweeted on Sunday, that since Trump posted the deceptive 911 video on his Twitter account on Friday, she has received an increase of death threats to her life.

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Fire Destroyed Furniture Depot Store In Milwaukee’s Southside

The Milwaukee Fire Department responded to a 3-alarm blaze at the Furniture Depot store.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 13, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – On Saturday, the Furniture Depot store located at 2525 W. Lincoln Ave. was destroyed by a blaze. The Milwaukee Fire Department responded to a 3-alarm fire around 6:57 p.m. in the Southside of Milwaukee.
No injuries have been reported so far and the fire incident is under investigation.
Lincoln Ave. has been closed temporarily to traffic flow.
Incident Response posted a live video streaming of the blaze on its Facebook page.

Suspect Sought By Milwaukee Police For An Alleged Abduction And Assault At The 1600 Block Of S. 9th Street In Milwaukee Arrested

Police have arrested a suspect and located a victim of an alleged abduction and assault in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 13, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – A suspect has been arrested in connection with a Milwaukee Southside alleged abduction and assault at the 1600 block of S. 9th Street on, Monday, April 8. Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales confirmed that tips and help from the community led to the arrest of a suspect. Chief Morales says that the victim was located several days later on April 11 and led to the identity of the suspect who had a domestic relationship with the victim. Charges are pending and will be filed against the suspect in coming days, according to Chief Morales.
Police had released video footage where the suspect is seen dragging and striking the victim around 1:42a.m. on April 9.