Update: Here is the Journal Sentinel story on the team’s 69-61 win over New Berlin Eisenhower on Tuesday.
The Rockets are firing.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has named the streaking South Milwaukee boys’ basketball team its Team of the Week. Learn more here, and check out more information on the team on the Wisconsin Sports Network’s team page.
We can only hope the basketball team finds the same success the football team had. Go Rockets!
Filed under Sports
The South Milwaukee Police Department is holding an informational session on sex offender registration laws on Monday, Jan. 20, at City Hall.
The approximately 30-minute presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session, starts at 7 p.m. Learn more in this flier.
Also, the South Milwaukee Fire Department joined others in the area responding to a fire in Cudahy Friday morning.
And check out these other headlines of interest from around the South Shore:
Filed under Headlines
Haven’t heard of Joseph Ryan Clothing? You will.
It’s a “socially conscious clothier” started by brothers Nicholas and Chris Fare, South Milwaukee brothers who have both overcome muscular dystrophy en route to becoming entrepreneurs with a purpose — helping those with special needs.
Learn more on the brothers’ website and in this YouTube video. Also check out this story on South Milwaukee NOW, one that details the brothers’ efforts to land a Pepsi Refresh Project grant for their business.
From the business website:
The brothers have been personally involved in every phase of developing JR Clothing, from choosing the fine pima cotton fabric from a Peruvian supplier to designing the company’s logo. The name of the clothing is a combination of the brothers’ middle names, Nicholas Joseph and Christopher Ryan Fare.
The company donates 20% of every shirt sold. “This may seem like a lot especially for a new business but we are confident that we can establish ourselves as a successful brand in fashion and as a charitable organization by combining our values and our style.”
Sounds like a great concept, something South Milwaukee can be proud of. The Fares grew up in the city, went to South Milwaukee High School and still live here … so let’s get behind two of our own!
Filed under Local Business
There isn’t much new on the South Milwaukee Walmart front, but I’ve had a number of people ask recently, so here is what I know, based on an email from Community Development Director Danielle Devlin:
I promise to keep you informed on the proposed Walmart if and when I know more — including information on any public meetings about the project. You will have a number of chances to be heard on this issue.
In the meantime, feel free to post your comments below and to vote in the poll found on the right-hand side of this page.
(Also: Gatlin and Walmart continues their efforts to build in a number of other communities in the area, to varying levels of hospitaility, including Menomonee Falls and the area near Timmerman Field.)
Filed under Local Business
The South Milwaukee School Board ballot is set.
Three of the eight School Board seats are up for election on April 5 — those held by incumbents Patricia Bordak (board president), John Haslam and Brett Briesemeister — and there are three people formally running for those seats.
Pat and John will join challenger Carol Dufek on the ballot, according to the district. Brett is not running again after six years of service.
It’s good to see that there will at least be three candidates on the ballot. You’ll recall that in 2009 just one candidate (Theresa Travia) declared to run for two open School Board seats.
Joe Weirich beat Dufek as a write-in candidate to claim the other seat.
School board candidates serve three-year terms. Elected city officials serve two-year terms.
Tuesday’s filing deadline has come and gone, and it looks like the names on the April 5 ballot will be familiar ones.
Of the eight South Milwaukee aldermanic seats up for election, only one race — that for First District alderman — will feature competition.
In that district, incumbent Mike Karbowski will square off against local businessman Mike Moeller and Craig Maass for two seats. (You’ll recall that Mike McCarthy resigned the other First District seat in October.)
In the other three districts, only the two incumbents will have their names on the ballot come April: Patrick Stoner and Ramon Navarro in the Second District, Lisa Pieper and Joe Bukowski in the Third District and Dave Bartoshevich and me in the Fourth District.
Click here to see a complete list of aldermanic candidates whose names will appear on the South Milwaukee ballot.
Here is a link to my campaign website. You can view Moeller’s campaign site here. No other candidate has such a site.
Of course, South Milwaukee is not alone in having most of its local council seats uncontested. Here is a Journal Sentinel roundup of local election filings, and here is a look at what Oak Creek voters will see on their ballot.
On a personal note, the fact that I do not have competition on the ballot does not mean I won’t campaign this spring (although it might mean fewer yard signs). I look forward to getting out in the district in coming weeks and months to continue a dialog with my constituents and talk about the future of the Fourth District and South Milwaukee.
Filed under Politics
I’ve been a pretty vocal critic of the NOW newspapers and websites on this blog.
So, I think it’s only right that I call out a strong piece of journalism from this media outlet when I see one. The paper’s new year’s “stories of resolve” are just that — examples of what reader-generated (and first-person) journalism can be if done well.
There are a couple of South Milwaukee stories of note. Check them out:
Filed under Community
OnMilwaukee.com has a first-person account of a ride on the Route 15 bus from Bayshore to South Milwaukee and back again.
Check it out here. From it:
Jackie Janz, the marketing director for the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), verified that the 15 was the longest route, looping 59.8 miles. It runs from the North Shore to South Milwaukee and back again. A portion of the 15 route is one of two of the original bus routes that originated 150 years ago.
“The 15 was an important industrial route back then and it remains that way today,” says Janz. “So many people rely on this route to get to work as well as to school and other important places.”
MCTS does not have demographic information for the passengers of specific bus routes, but from what I could assess, the 15 is a diverse mix of ages and races, with — not surprisingly — more college students riding on the East Side and more workers riding on the South Side. …
I also met Wayne Schuman, who has rode the 15 for 15 years to and from his job at Bucyrus International.”It takes me 15 minutes to get to and from work,” he says. “It has worked out great for me.”
I also took the 15 bus to work at MillerCoors one day recently, with my car in the shop. I was happy with the experience … and would not hesitate to do it again.
The question is, however, what type of transit system will we have in coming years given the “death by a thousand cuts” reality of recent years with this one-time mass transit jewel?
Filed under Transportation
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s PolitiFact team has an interesting story taking a closer look at a statement made recently by U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore: Is the Fourth Congressional District (which includes South Milwaukee) the fourth-poorest in the country?
The short answer: No.
Learn more in this story.
And check out these other headlines of note from around the South Shore:
Filed under Headlines
I continue to believe that we do a poor job of telling the South Milwaukee story — letting others know about all of the things that make our city great and all of the opportunities available here.
That includes promoting our local businesses.
The South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce is doing its part. It is taking part in a new “Milwaukee Shop Local” campaign that offers online and in-store shopping opportunities, discounts, coupons and events associated with local businesses.
Learn more here. Advertisers range from Parkway Floral to the South Milwaukee Public Library.
Filed under Local Business
You see that sign at the top of this page? It’s the city’s welcome sign at the intersection of Nicholson and College Avenues.
Well, it went missing several weeks back … and it’s been found again.
Apparently, all of the city’s welcome signs are being (or have been) temporarily removed to be cleaned and otherwise touched up to address fading from the elements. The new one looks great — it’s really eye-catching.
And that’s what a welcome sign should be, shouldn’t it?
Filed under Community
South Milwaukee Blog 