Year in Review: April

As 2011 comes to a close, Brookfield Patch is looking back at the year's biggest local stories and conversation starters, month by month. Here’s a recap from April.

• See all Brookfield Patch Year in Review stories

That was the headline Brookfield Patch , reporting ward-by-ward vote results in the hotly contested state Supreme Court race, provided by City Clerk Kristine Schmidt. State prosecutor Joanne Kloppenburg declared victory over incumbent Justice David Prosser with a razor-thin margin of 204 votes out of 1.5 million cast statewide.

That was Tuesday night. On Thursday afternoon Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus stood before cameras and delivered a that she had failed to include the entire City of Brookfield's votes in her countywide total on election night, which meant Prosser had won re-election to a second 10-year term on the state's high court.

Dems called for . She said she . Kloppenburg ask for a statewide recount and investigation into Nickolaus, who had . Waukesha County's live-streamed , with Patch coverage.

Lindsay Huenink was remembered as a carefree, compassionate, plucky “tomboy in ribbons and bows” who hid an inner sadness from loved ones, yet touched so many lives, as some 1,000 people gathered April 2 for her memorial services. Huenink died after being intentionally March 30.

Police officers and fire fighters should be added to the state's sweeping collective bargaining changes and contribute to their pensions like other public employees, Brookfield Mayor Steve Ponto told the state Joint Finance Committee. 

Waukesha County Circuit Judge Linda Van De Water, a Brookfield resident, was accused in a criminal complaint of tracking down and jumping on her ex-boyfriend’s car in Caledonia, creating a scene at 2:28 a.m. Jan. 16. Van De Water would later to a reduced non-criminal ticket for disorderly conduct with a $100 forfeiture.

Brookfield's Nora Collins at 16 was nominated as a "Rising Star" in a busy year of performances and accolades for the Brookfield East High student, as detailed in this feature story.

to Elmbrook School Board;

Although completely overshadowed by the state Supreme Court race on the same ballot, Elmbrook voters gave Kathryn Wilson a second term and chose former Ald. Dick Brunner over former schools superintendent Ken Moe.

, a special education school in Brookfield, celebrated its 40th anniversary at the annual Spring Fling dance at Wisconsin Hills Middle School, with alumni and former staff returning.

Becky Druml, a royal history buff and Brookfield resident, won a USA Today contest to travel to London for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. She shared her memories and photo album with Brookfield Patch.

Reigniting a decade-old battle, the Town of Brookfield is seeking for the third time to be incorporated as a village, a move that would prevent the cities of Brookfield, Waukesha and Pewaukee from annexing town lands.