MEQUON MURDERER COPS PLEA

STEPHEN TRATTNER TO BE SENTENCED IN SEPTEMBER

A MilwaukeeWorld exclusive

By Michael Horne

Steve L. Trattner, the Mequon man charged with murdering his wife Sin Lam in January, appeared in Ozaukee County Court at 1:30p.m. today, June 16th, 2006, and entered a plea of "no contest" to the charges, thereby cancelling the jury trial that had been scheduled to begin June 26th.

What had begun as the final scheduling conference before the trial then became a "Plea Hearing" before Judge Tom R. Wolfgram, who accepted the plea and found the defendant guilty.
The parties, including Sandy Ann Williams, the D.A. from Oz, and Trattner's attorney, Michael J. Fitzgerald, told the judge that there had been no plea agreement and would be no recommendation made at the sentencing, which was set for September 6th, 2006 at 9 a.m. The judge ordered a presentence investigation of Trattner, who was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff pending the sentencing.

Thus ends a sad case in Mequon, where homicide is not common, but is not unknown either, particularly along the river.

REP LASEE: CHILD SUPPORT IS COSTING ME TOO MUCH

Rep. Frank Lasee (R-2nd) has asked to reduce the child support payments he must make for a child of his born out of wedlock to a DePere woman.
A friend of the mother of Lasee's child called www.milwaukeeworld.com, with the permission of the mother, to discuss the matter.
She said Lasee wrote to the mother saying that child support payments were too onerous for his modest legislative salary, to which the mother replied that the payments barely covered day care for the infant.
Lasee also has not seen the child in five months, according to the caller. While the mother would like the Green Bay Republican to be a part of her child's life, Lasee, she says, is unwilling to make a commitment of his time for such a purpose. "It would take too much time and effort," he said, according to the caller.
[The mother of the child and the caller are not being identified here out of concern for the interest of the child.]
Lasee, known as "The Father of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights," a measure that has been oft-aborted, is an active blogger, usually on tax issues, and particularly those dealing with teachers' unions.
He points out that voters expect consistency in their elected officials, noting:
"The voters are fed up with the business as usual mentality. They want politicians who say they'll do something and MEAN IT." [Emphasis original.]
So, when Lasee agreed in court to pay a fixed amount of his income in child support, it appears he didn't really MEAN IT.
--Michael Horne

JOHNSON CONTROLS' $3M PLEDGE TO DISCOVERY WORLD

By Michael Horne

Johnson Controls, Inc., Milwaukee’s largest publicly traded corporation, announced Monday June 12^th 2006 that it would sponsor Johnson Controls’ TechnoJungle: The Hunt for the Next Great Idea in Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, the new science and technology museum on the lakefront.

The $3 million gift, to be funded over the next five years, “will use personalized interactivity and forward-looking technology to give young people and their parents a sense of the possibilities for their future,” said John Barth, Johnson Controls chairman and CEO in prepared remarks.

The announcement was made at the monthly meeting of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, held in the Pilot House of the new facility. About twenty tables of eight persons each were filled for the noon luncheon. GMC members dined on Chicken Caesar Salad and seasonal fruit served by Bartolotta Catering Company, under the watchful eye of Joe Bartolotta himself, surveying the operations of the building. Bartolotta said the service portion of the building needs to be tweaked here and there, as would any foodservice operation, adding, “we’ll make it work.” His firm has the exclusive catering contract for Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin.

The luncheon was only the second official function held at Pier Wisconsin, with the first being a homecoming for the S/V Denis Sullivan Saturday. [See related post.]

Attendees included Governor Jim Doyle, Mayor Tom Barrett (who said his rosy complexion is due to hours spent at Little League games, not to mention a sail on the Sullivan); James D. Ericson, former Chairman of Northwestern Mutual; Ted D. Kellner, CFA (that’s what his name tag said); Fred Luber; Dennis Kuester; John Mellowes; Sheila Cochran; newly-goateed David V. Uihlein, Jr. (seated next to Peter Mahler, who had his name tag on upside down); Bev Greenberg; Daniel J. Steininger, JD, CLU (that’s what his business card said); and others too numerous to mention, including Jack McKeithan and Paul Purcell, the head of Robert W. Baird & Co., who doesn’t hang out in Milwaukee much.

Discovery World director Paul Krajniak, who is equal parts Crazy Professor and Mr. Wizard, narrated a visual presentation about the museum, explaining its attributes, which are multifarious. He said the museum was “built for one reason – to shape the future” of the city, state and region. Museum-goers will be able to design and produce items in the facility that they can take with them, including such things as a handbag or a corrugated fiberboard chair. Governor Doyle paid rapt attention throughout Krajniak’s presentation.

Krajniak was credited by Michael Cudahy with coming up with many of the ideas for the TechnoJungle, designed to reveal “the role that innovation and creativity play in engineering and design.”

The Portable Expeditionary Curriculum “allows participants to download activities that turn the real world into a TechnoJungle with riddles, puzzles, experiments and creativity exercises designed to recognize and inspire innovation.”

Tours would be led by a “virtual Lynde Bradley,” Krajniak said, bringing a smile to the face of David Uihlein, Bradley’s great-grandnephew.

Krajniak says a website “for innovators, only,” has been established at www.TechnoJungle.org for more information. [A card handed out at the event read, “Your Access Code: Join the Hunt.” I tried the access code, and it does get you to the site.]

Michael Cudahy also addressed the crowd, likening the Pilot House to a “Parisian nightclub.” This is very likely firsthand observation on the part of Cudahy who has been known to fly friends to New York City simply for dinner and a show.

He said, “I had 1,200 of my nearest and dearest friends here Saturday night.” Only one thing bugged him, he said, and that was that certain of his friends would say, “’That Mike Cudahy. He’s amazing – for 82.’”

This message of mortality is about the only thing that could humble Cudahy, who thinks he’s amazing -- for anything. He said Discovery World “is not for profit, but is also not for loss. At 82 I know I might croak. This building is designed to last 200 years, and, by God, I’ll see it does, ruling from the grave.”

THE SULLIVAN ARRIVES AT NEW HOME PORT

The almost-completed Pier Wisconsin was the site Saturday, June 10^th 2006 for a $50 per person homecoming celebration for the return of the Denis Sullivan, Milwaukee’s own schooner.

Actually, the ship had been in town for a while, but Saturday was the first time it berthed in its new home at the lakefront educational center that is the brainchild of Michael Cudahy, the millionaire philanthropist who has a way of seeing his projects to fruition. Since retirement age, Cudahy, now 82, has moved Discovery World into the Milwaukee Public Museum, spearheaded construction of the schooner, bought one theater and leased another, dismantled his home and moved it 7 miles to the north, wrote his autobiography, (as did his father and grandfather before him), tinkered with a disposable hearing aid idea and is now moving Discovery World out of the museum and into Pier Wisconsin. What have you been doing lately?

Saturday’s gala was semi-grand, as befits a building that is still under construction. However, enough of the sawdust was swept away that the thousand or more guests could get a general impression of the place, and its position in the firmament of Milwaukee cultural and entertainment venues.

“I don’t really know why I’m here,” said Nana Allis of Mequon, “I guess it’s practice for the real party in September,” when the place officially will open. She attended with her husband Bill Allis, and retreated to a tent where they and friends enjoyed premium service reserved for special donors. The Von Briesen law firm sponsored quite a large reception and the liquor flowed freely.

Among the dignitaries joining the Allises in the tent were such worthies as Jack Brysson and Olive “Cissy” Van Dyke Brysson, Bob Otte and Fair Otte, among others familiar to those in possession of a Milwaukee Club, or Milwaukee Country Club directory (either will do, in this case.) Jeffrey Allis accompanied Mary Cudahy, in from Florida. Also present was Lisa Cudahy. She had accompanied Mike Cudahy on the ship as it sailed in earlier. In his welcoming remarks to the audience, he called her "one of my favorite ex-wives."

Meanwhile, the building itself served admirably for its maiden voyage. The place apparently works, at least as a gathering spot, with ample room for banquet tables, service bars, musicians and other party necessities.

Ald. Michael S. D’Amato was there, as were Common Council President Willie Hines and Ald. Michael Murphy. Hines had sailed in on the boat for its official arrival, next to Tom Barrett, the mayor of the city of Milwaukee, reddened from some much-needed sun. Former alderman Sue Breier was there, visiting from one of the many homes she enjoys in retirement. She said she plants roses everywhere she lives (here, up north and Florida) in memory of her father, former police chief Harold Breier.

Election commissioner Sue Edmond was there.

Rep. Curt Gielow was there with wife Mary Gielow. Curt is retiring from the legislature, but is not lacking for things to do. He has incorporated a business called Thoroughbred Products, LLC. He said the business will distribute equine calcium supplements under contract with a Madison firm. “It’s a connection I made in Madison,” he said. Once out of office, you can count on him to ditch Mequon and move downtown. “I’m working on Mary,” he said. Fellow legislator Jeff Stone was also present, as was Mequon mayor Christine Nuernberg.

During the event, I headed up to the Pilot House, the round room at the top of the museum, only to find it quite empty. Out on the deck, Michael Cudahy was chatting up Doug Neilson, President and CEO of Visit Milwaukee, the convention bureau for Milwaukee. His organization has been showing off the uncompleted facility to travel planners from around the country recently. Also present was Dan Steininger of Catholic Knights, the chairman of the City of Milwaukee Board of Harbor Commissioners. Cudahy showed how a mini-harbor is being constructed at the site that will accommodate pleasure craft, visiting charter cruises, the Denis Sullivan – and more.

How much more? Cudahy drew Steininger away for a private conversation. As the two of them walked away -- perhaps to discuss how Pier Wisconsin would be an ideal home port for the Lake Express Ferry, which now dumps its human cargo off in Bay View – you could see that the backs of their blazers were soiled, perhaps by wet paint, or at best, by drywall dust.

Mike Cudahy, himself a piece of work, was in his element – a work in progress, discussing future plans, and not afraid to get a little dirty in the process.

[Note: The Greater Milwaukee Committee will hold its monthly meeting today, June 12^th 2006 at noon, with Governor Jim Doyle as guest speaker. A major announcement is planned for the meeting. I’ll try to head over there and report back to you later.]

--Michael Horne