Latest news with #Oconomowoc
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Here's what readers had to say about incessant robocalls, robotexts and scams
Columnist James E. Causey May 31 wrote about his frustration with robocalls, robotexts and frequent scam calls. We asked readers to share their experiences and advice for coping. The most colorful comment came from Alan Mark of Watertown who advised: "I use a pocket-size air horn to send them away. It works…" Thanks to everyone who sent a comment. Here they are: No financial loss on this end, but yes frustration. I no longer answer any calls on my cell or landline; if it's important, caller must leave a message. That gives me pause because as a nonprofit founder, I receive calls from practitioners, researchers, industry connects, or patients in high anxiety. Why haven't the powers that be outlawed robocalls? My husband likes to play with them, leading them on through extended untruthful conversation. I keep telling him that just adds his name to more lists as reachable. In my opinion, the national Do Not Call Registry list is far less than a functional system. This issue should be addressed by government restrictions. I don't care if it's state or federal, someone please fix this! Sherrie Palm, Mukwonago I have fun with telemarketers. Whatever they tell me they're selling, I tell them that is exactly what I do for a living. I tell them I'll buy their product if they buy mine. They hang up on me! Jim Labradori, Oconomowoc I never answer phone calls of numbers that I don't recognize. If it's someone, or something important they will leave a voicemail. Speaking of voicemail. If I get a call identified as "potential spam," I answer and hit mute. The automated dialer on the other end will hang-up after 5 to 30 seconds. This stops the automated caller from leaving an unwanted voicemail that I have to listen to and delete. I reply "stop" to unwanted texts and this seems to have lessened the amount that I receive. David Mancl, West Allis I recommend every person listen to the podcast :The Perfect Scam" by AARP. It has been available since about 2019. The episodes are about 30 minutes each and feature real people who have fallen prey to scams. They detail just about every kind of typical scam people encounter, from old school romance scams, to calls from loved ones who say they're in trouble, to phony computer issues, or bank/government notices, to the ones you mentioned with the phony house sales, etc. Most were phone or email during COVID-19 times, but as the years go by, they become more and more geared toward texts. also, AARP websites provide lots of info about the same. They are very concerned with elder abuse and scams, which cause heartache and loss of entire savings. When my late husband was still alive, he got a call from a guy who said he had my (step) daughter in custody after an 'accident.' They demanded money to release her. I told him it was a scam, but he couldn't reach her on my phone, I talked him into going to the police department, and they reassured us it was a common scam. We finally got ahold of our stepdaughter. She had her phone off at work. The police told us to hang up whenever we get such a call, not to even be polite. Then call the person allegedly involved. People get rattled and do foolish things because the scammers are relentless. 'If only' is a phrase of regret from people who don't pause to take a breather. Anyone can get sucked into scams. AI is going to make it even harder to discern what is real. Nancy Huber, New Berlin I just no longer answer the telephone (both landline and cell) unless I recognize the number or the name. I let everything else go to message. If it's a legitimate call they will leave me a legitimate message. Text I just never respond too. Perry Holzman, Two Rivers Several years ago I subscribed to a service called RoboKiller. For less than $100 per year, it intercepts every call placed to my cell phone number. As a result, zero robocalls get through to me. Non-robo callers can leave a message. Once I call a number back, the caller gets through to me thereafter. And the people I call frequently get through when they call me. Being free from receiving robocalls has been liberating. As a 'Senior citizen' at 75, I'm in the group of people most targeted by scammers. It seems odd in 2025 that the cell phone companies and our federal government can't figure out a solution to this plague. Peter Christianson, Pewaukee My new phone system allows me to block the phone number being used by the caller. After using it for a "possible spam call" I realized I had blocked the number of some friends. So I deleted all blocked numbers and started over, listening to each call before blocking. In the past three weeks, I have received over 50 spam calls that I have blocked. This is ridiculous. Whatever happened to the no call list? Leon E Burzynski, Waukesha I also get many calls and and texts asking if I want to sell my home. They know my address, which is creepy. I started replying no, but I might want to buy your home and ask them for their address. This usually results in stunned silence and ends the conversation rather quickly. Steve Stein, Oak Creek Replying STOP does not do any good because I feel most of the callers (robo or not) get their information from a third party and the third party does not get the STOP message. It's time laws are passed to more severely penalize those who call numbers on the do not call lists. It also seems to me that with all the great technology this country has, it could be used to block calls that emanate from the same general source, that's not a verifiable source. Lastly, it's time for do not call lists apply to political action calls. Joseph Streator, Oconomowoc Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Readers share how they cope with flood of scam calls | Letters
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Milwaukee Veterans Park Field of Flags honors Wisconsin's fallen
The Brief More than 27,000 flags have been placed at Veterans Park ahead of Memorial Day. The Field of Flags honors each Wisconsinite who made the ultimate sacrifice. The Field of Flags will be on display all Memorial Day weekend. MILWAUKEE - More than 27,000 flags have been placed at Veterans Park ahead of Memorial Day, each representing a Wisconsinite lost in battle. "We are grateful and humbled for all your sacrifices, and to all my fellow veterans here with us today, thank you for your service to our country and the state of Wisconsin," said James Bond, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Dig deeper It's a moment that will live with you forever and a reminder of what Memorial Day is truly about. "Thinking about that sacrifice and thinking about his family and the pain that they have felt through all these years," said Jenny Ebert. Eber was at the Field of Flags to honor her uncle, Private First Class Robert Stephen Lutz. "A few months after he arrived in Vietnam, he was tragically killed during an ambush as he was trying to aid some of the injured Marines," she said. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Lutz, an Oconomowoc native, is among the more than 27,000 Wisconsinites who made the ultimate sacrifice. "I always knew how important he was, his family and the deep loss that the family experienced following his death, but they were always so proud of him," said Ebert. While Ebert said she never got to meet her Uncle Bob, after more than 55 years, she carries his memory with her. "He loved sports. He was a star wrestler with Oconomowoc High School. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, just hanging out with friends," she said. What you can do The Field of Flags will be on display all Memorial Day weekend. The Source Information in this report is from FOX6 News interviews at the Field of Flags.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Lac La Belle arrest; defendant accused of causing $7K+ damage to squad
The Brief An Oconomowoc man is accused of causing damage to a police squad during his arrest in Lac La Belle. The arrest happened at a bar in the village on Saturday, April 5. The damage to the police squad totaled more than $7,000. LAC LA BELLE, Wis. - A 37-year-old Oconomowoc man is accused of causing significant damage to a Lac La Belle police squad during his arrest on Saturday, April 5. The accused is Phillip Pasholk – and he faces the following criminal counts: Obstructing an officer Possession of drug paraphernalia Possession of THC Felony criminal damage to property What we know According to the criminal complaint, Lac La Belle police received a tip from Delafield police on Saturday, April 5, that the defendant was at a tavern in the village. Delafield police provided the tip because they knew Pasholk "had a felony warrant out for his arrest," the complaint says. Employees at the tavern confirmed the defendant was at the bar. Around 11:15 p.m. on Saturday, two officers entered the bar in full uniform and identified themselves as officers. They made contact with the defendant and told him to place his hands behind his back. The complaint says the defendant ignored all commands given to him. The officers were aware the defendant "has a history of violent behavior and for ignoring law enforcement orders." Officers then took the defendant to the ground in an attempt to place him in handcuffs. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android According to the criminal complaint, Pasholk "continued actively resisting by kicking his feet and pulling his hands away from officers." The officers threatened to use a taser if Pasholk did not cooperate, but they managed to secure his hands and handcuff him. The defendant ignored orders to stand up and walk. The officers "were then forced to carry the defendant out of the bar to the parking lot," the complaint says. Once outside, the defendant "continued to actively resist by thrashing his body around, nearly headbutting officers in the process," the complaint says. After getting Pasholk into a squad, the complaint says the "defendant refused to simply sit in the squad car and instead started kicking the glass windows and spitting on the windows inside the squad car." Pasholk was eventually taken to the Waukesha County jail in the sheriff's department restraint chair and van. Officers recovered Pasholk's property that was left at the bar. It included a "blue glass smoking pipe with burnt residue in the bowl of the pipe that also had a fresh green leafy substance in it," the complaint says. That substance later tested positive for THC. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Lac La Belle police took the squad to be repaired after this episode. An estimate provided by the auto body shop for the damage to the rear passenger doors was $7,242.59. What's next Pasholk made his initial appearance in Waukesha County court on Monday, April 7. Cash bond was set at $750. Pasholk is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on May 16. The Source The information in this post was provided by Wisconsin Circuit Court Access as well as the criminal complaint associated with this case.
