The venerable Johnny's Yellow Rose has finally hit the road. The tavern, at 2325 S. 13th St., has for years irked neighbors over noise, fights, drug dealing and a general nose-thumbing attitude by owner Juan Sendejo Sr.

Even Sendejo's son was busted for selling drugs in the bar. Last year the city pulled Sendejo's dance license, yet neighbors testified that he continued to have bands and dances at the joint. The tavern license was also suspended last year for 20 days. "Ongoing misery," is how one neighbor described the scene.

Sendejo sat in front of the Licenses Committee saying little and claiming not to have known the rules -- a tactic he apparently uses regularly. He also promised a new business plan to address concerns of the Lincoln Avenue business association and to fix up the decrepit outside of his building.

"Johnny has learned from the past," said a friend of Sendejo.

"You were operating illegally and that's the facts," said Ald. Willie Wade. "There's going to be a price to pay for that."

Led by Ald. Jim Witkowiak, no one was buying that line. He acknowledged that he's known Sendejo for some time, calling him a "personal friend. ... I think he's a great guy."

But he added that Sendejo didn't pay attention to the warning signs. "The majority of people around there have spoken that they don't want this sort of activity."

Sendejo also owns Johnny's Club Carnival on Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View, which has been the site of after hours hijinks and other nefarious activities. That license will likely be considered again by the committee this year.

Eggtoberfest: It wasn't all fun and games during "Biketoberfest," an annual ritual where folks ride bikes from bar to bar in Bay View and St. Francis imbibing at will. Some revelers perhaps had too much revelry and began to egg cars as they went on their route.

Twisted Logic: Not even the National Rifle Association has this much cajones -- politicizing the Crandon murder rampage where six people were killed. In a statement from its Greenfield headquarters, the Libertarian Party said that the state law barring people under the age of 21 from buying guns should be changed. The law says that only police officers can buy guns under age 21. The victims in Crandon were all under 21.

"How can the Legislature justify that only the police should carry firearms when the latest atrocity was carried out by a police officer?" asks state Libertarian Party Chair Linda Sturtzen.

"It would be encouraging to learn that the citizen who shot the mass murderer was a civilian, perhaps a public-spirited resident of the North Woods who put his hunting rifle to its best use, protecting the innocent. After all, the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Amendment to the Wisconsin constitution was intended to ensure that law-abiding citizens have the means to defend themselves and others from anyone who may attack or threaten the innocent."

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