Waukesha Week in Review: Jan 13-19

It's been a busy week here in Waukesha – weird crime, some business controversy and a few good stories too,

The Good

As a Patch editor, I always like to be able to tell stories about people who overcome hardships to become a better person. While you can't always escape your past, you can change your future. That's why I loved talking to Korie Ratelle this week at Waukesha North High School – she was one of the most fun, energetic, upbeat people I've interviewed in a long time. I'm really excited to see what she does with her life as she goes off to college in the next few years!

And Waukesha West High School should be singing a joyful song. Or...they should be watching a 2010 graduate singing. Stephanie Schimel ticked off Nicki Minaj with her pink eyeshadow, but she still made it to Hollywood in American Idol. Good luck, Stephanie! We hope you make it out of Hollywood!

The Business

Should Waukesha limit payday lenders?

That was a question aldermen grappled with this week. Not everyone agrees with the proposed legislation – some people felt that limiting a business' location is too much government control; some felt that if a person borrows from a payday lender, it's that person's personal responsibility; and some felt that payday lenders charge high interest fees and should be capped in our community.

Waukesha Alderman Joan Francoeur agrees with the latter. She brought forward the proposal because of the impact of payday loans have on vulnerable people and the negative impacts on the aesthetics of the neighborhoods.

For now, the Ordinance & License Committee agrees an ordinance should be drafted to keep payday loan stores from clustering in Waukesha.

Meanwhile, the city could be out of some of its $1.5 million investment into The Clarke Hotel. A Sheboygan bank has filed a foreclosure lawsuit against the hotel because of the hotel's inability to pay its property taxes.

The Ugly

It's been a busy week in the crime world. We've seen Waukesha North High School have a security breach and a car being driven into the Fox River.