Author Archives: Erik Brooks

In-person absentee voting is now open, and runs through Friday, Nov. 4.

Anyone planning on being out of town or unable to make it to the polling place on election day can cast an absentee ballot at the clerk’s office at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave.

For hours and availability, click here. Remember to bring your photo ID.

Requests for absentee ballots should be mailed to:

City of South Milwaukee – City Clerk
2424 15th Avenue
South Milwaukee, WI, 53172

The request must list the voter’s resident address, where the ballot should be mailed (if different), the election for which they are requesting the ballot, and must be signed by the voter. The last day to mail out absentee ballots by mail is Nov. 3.

Also, voters can register at the clerk’s office prior to the election date or at the polling place on Election Day. Voters should bring their Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID card when registering. If the information on your license does not list your current address, additional documentation with the current address will be needed to establish residency. A voter must have lived at their residence for at least 10 consecutive days prior to registering. Remember, you must change your voter registration if you are new to the city, have changed residences within the city or if you had a legal name change.

More details on voting here.

From the South Milwaukee School District … 

MARCHING BAND

Check out these South Shore headlines …

• With Open Land and Open Minds, South Suburbs Experiencing a Renaissance (BizTimes)
• Construction Starts on Another Oak Creek Apartment Complex (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Former Cudahy YMCA to Reopen as New Community Center (Journal Sentinel)
• Wisconsin “Fab Labs” Boost High School Tech Ed (Journal Sentinel)
• As $100 Billion Goal Crumbles, Peoria’s Caterpillar Shakes up its C-Suite (Chicago Tribune)
• Cudahy Police Investigating Saturday Night Stabbing (TMJ4)
• Lucky the Fox is Released Back into the Wild (Fox 6)
• Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Potbelly Opening at Drexel Town Square (Business Journal)

And NOW has published a new police blotter.

Thanks to the South Milwaukee Lions for carrying on this wonderful tradition!

This year’s crop of scarecrows is the biggest yet …

Thank you to Blakewood and Lakeview Elementary students for your works of art, to Ace Hardware and Geneva Lakes Produce for helping with supplies and to the Street Department for installing them around downtown.

I love it when a plan comes together. Happy Rocketober!

Farewell, Donn Powers.

Donn is retiring, and he is going out of business after 39 years in jewelry — 33 in South Milwaukee. He and his business will be missed. They are both one of a kind.

“Honest prices, quality jewelry sales and impeccable customer service.” That’s how Donn describes his business in a mailing advertising a retirement/going-out-of-business sale starting Friday for the general public.

But it’s much more than that.

In an era of mass, mall jewelers, Donn stands tall as an independent business focused on the community (and downtown) he serves. He is incredibly civic-minded, and that’s why all of South Milwaukee will feel this closure, whether you shop there or not.

He writes: “I, along with my wife Tracy, are very thankful that you have entrusted us with your family heirlooms and jewelry decisions for over 39 years. We have been blessed over the years with wonderful customers and many wonderful memories. …

“You never know what tomorrow may bring and now is the time to go out on top. Our customers have always been a blessing to us and we will miss you all tremendously.”

The feeling is mutual. Good luck, Donn and Tracy. We wish you nothing but the best.

South Milwaukee is a better place because of you.

The South Milwaukee football team is headed to the WIAA playoffs.

After finishing the season 3-6, they are the No. 7 seed in Division 2’s Group D, and they will travel to second-seeded Whitefish Bay at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Check out the full pairings here.

And here are South Milwaukee’s schedule and results.

The Rockets finish 3-3 in the Woodland Conference East Division, qualifying them for the WIAA playoffs despite their overall 3-6 record. They have lost their last two — Woodland “crossover games” — after winning three straight.

They lost 35-0 to Greendale on Friday, but played without star quarterback Jake Simuncak, who is averaging more than 208 yards per game rushing this season and has 23 touchdowns on the ground (another seven as a passer).

I’m so excited to see new life at the former South Shore YMCA.

Check out the facility’s grand opening on Oct. 22, and see firsthand the investment the Federation of Balkan Americans has made in this facility. It’s impressive.

Welcome to the South Shore!

Here is the press release.

Our city has an unbelievable collection of volunteers, and that’s especially evident with those who step up to beautify South Milwaukee.

A few recent examples …

• Today, I joined members of the city’s Beautification Committee putting corn stalks and other decorations on downtown street light poles. Next week, look for downtown scarecrows made by Blakewood and Lakeview students!
• Last Saturday, more than 50 people (a record) took part in the Friends of the Mill Pond Oak Creek cleanup.
• Earlier that week, the Garden Club, led by Patti Bergeson, stepped up to landscape the welcome sign on Lake Drive near Cudahy. A big thank you also goes out to Sue Lindmeyer Janowski for donating the hostas and Jim Schulte at Verdant Landscaping for helping us out by edging, rototiling and planting.

Thank you to everyone who helped with all of these efforts — and everyone who is committed, in big ways and small, to make South Milwaukee a more beautiful place. We will never take our volunteers for granted.

Leaf collection season is here.

The city picks up leaves from street gutters from October 1 through November 15 each year.

It’s a service we’re proud to offer, even as many do not (at least not free of charge).

A few notes for South Milwaukee residents … No yard waste and plants will be collected. They must be taken to the Self-Deposit Station. And please do not push leaves into the gutter after November 15 — they may not be picked up.

You may recall my open letter on this subject from 2014, as we were faced with significantly higher costs in picking up and disposing of leaves. Well, we’ve solved that problem and have a disposal site more reasonably priced and closer by.

Still, I continue to ask: If possible, consider mulching instead of raking. Or compost them. Or save a few bags of leaves in your garage to use for mulch next spring.

Why do I ask for moderation?

• First, this service is extremely costly for taxpayers. From the labor costs of picking up the leaves and trucking them to our collection site in Caledonia to what the facility bills us for accepting the leaves to the fuel costs associated with that work, we’ll spend more than $100,000 on leaf collection and disposal this fall, if nothing changes.
• It is also bad for the environment. While the landfill does compost the leaves we give them, the fuel it takes to make the trip alone makes this bad for our planet. Plus, leaves being left in the street can be washed into area waterways, causing water quality issues. And piles of leaves can, and do, clog sewer drains during rainstorms. Mulching is better.

Of course, I realize mulching is not an option for some homeowners, especially those with a number of trees in their yard that can bury a lawn in leaves each fall.

But for those who can, please consider putting the rake away. I do.

My next Meet the Mayor session is at one of South Milwaukee’s newest business: Taco Stop MKE.

Join me from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 513 Chicago Ave.

Bring your questions, comments or concerns, or just stop by to say hi, and check out some of Taco Stop’s terrific Mexican food. My door is open!

Today, I proudly announce my intentions to run for a second term as South Milwaukee’s mayor. Your mayor.

It’s been an honor serving these past two-plus years. I humbly ask for your vote on April 4, 2017, as I seek three more years leading our city forward.

We’ve made great progress since 2014, responsibly investing in critical areas.

• We’re welcoming new businesses across the city, as we step up our economic development efforts.
• We’re breathing new life into downtown, taking concrete actions to ensure we set our city center up for long-term success.
• We’re working with public and private partners to renew the Oak Creek watershed, planning to make the environmental, ecological and recreational improvements needed to make it a first-class destination once again.
• We’re making our city government more efficient, improving how we deliver the services you have come to expect from us.
• We’re driving significant and critical public works projects to replace and enhance our public infrastructure.
• We’re improving communication, sharing important information more frequently and better telling our story with residents, visitors and business owners.
• And we’re doing this all as responsible stewards of your money, living out our commitment every day to keep expenditures under control and taxes as low as possible.

As election day approaches, please take a few minutes to learn more about me, the campaign, the progress we have made, and, most importantly, a vision for our promising future that both builds on our successes and reflects on the lessons we’ve learned as we drive positive change.

Here is my campaign website, and here is my campaign Facebook page. Also, look for me around town as I ramp up the campaign … and, as always, do not hesitate to contact me to share your thoughts and views.

I am excited for the future of this city, and I ask you to join me in continuing to shape that future next April.

We’re in this together. And the best part? We’re just getting started.

Please join me for this important event, as I join Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi and Pardeep Kaleka, whose father was killed in the 2012 Sikh Temple shootings in Oak Creek, on a panel discussion following the showing of the movie.

The response to the shootings was heroic, and the dialog they sparked continues. I’m proud to be a part of it.

From the South Milwaukee School District …

MARCHING BAND

The Rocket Marching Band won both of their AAA competitions last weekend (at Greendale on Saturday & at WA Hale for the Wisconsin Lutheran Invite last Sunday)! They scored some of their best scores ever!

• Best percussion caption award for AA & AAA (our highest percussion score ever)
• Best Music caption award for AA & AAA.

They compete tomorrow night at Cudahy and again on Sunday afternoon at Fort Atkinson! Good luck Rockets!

CROSS COUNTRY

The Rocket Boys CC Team won last Saturday at the Cudahy Purgolder Invite. Jordan Janusiak won the meet again as well individually! The Rocket boys also won the meet yesterday at Westosha Central (see results down below).

Girls Results – Cudahy

• 16 – Miranda Ekleberry
• 17 – Maddie Smith
• 28 – Vivian Grossman
• 31 – Alezandria Zeman
• 32 – Kate O’Neill

Girls Resuts – Westosha

• 6 – Maddie Wood – 20:58
• 15 – Miranda Ekleberry – 22:11
• 24 – Maddie Smith – 22:32
• 43 – Vivian Grossman – 23:51
• 49 – Kate O’Neill – 24:33
• 56 – Alexandria Zeman – 24:47

BOYS RESULTS – CUDAHY

• 1 – Jordan Janusiak  JR  16:13
• 3 – Chris Sobczak  SR  16:49
• 11 – Aiden Sodemann  SO  17:11
• 18 – Max Moran  JR  17:29
• 20 – Wyatt Schlager  JR  17:32
• 29 – Andrew  Strasser  JR  17:41
• 30 – Nick Sluga JR 17:41

BOYS RESULTS – WESTOSHA

• 5 – Jordan Janusiak – 17:41
• 6 – Aiden Sodemann – 17:44
• 7 – Chris Sobczak – 17:46
• 10 – Wyatt Schlager – 17:54
• 16 – Max Moran – 18:09
• 21 – Sage Leahy – 18:21
• 25 – Andrew Strasser – 18:27
• 26 – Nick Sluga – 18:28
• 43 – Jacob Meszaros – 18:54

The Rockets next race at Whitnall (Hales Corners Park) next Thursday at the Woodland Conference Championships!

WC Time Schedule

• 3:15pm – Girls’ J.V.
• 3:55pm – Boys’ J.V.
• 4:35pm – Girls’ Varsity
• 5:05pm – Boys’ Varsity
• Approx. 5:55 PM             Awards

FOOTBALL

The Rockets are on a roll winning their last 3 games (55-18 over Brown Deer, 36-0 over Cudahy on Homecoming! and 33-27 last Friday against Whitnall)! The win over Cudahy earned the Rockets back The Hammer! The win over Whitnall made the Rockets playoff eligible which means that they have guaranteed themselves a .500 record in conference and a very good chance to make the playoffs.

The Rockets next travel to New Berlin West tonight at 7:00pm in a crossover that is a non-conference game and then finish by hosting Greendale on Friday, 10/14 in the final conference game of the season.

Speaking of being on a roll, South Milwaukee Senior QB Jake Simuncak is on a roll that has only happened twice in state history. Behind some stellar offensive line play, Jake has rushed for 308, 418 and 309 yards in his last 3 games!!! Yes, you read those numbers correctly! This has only been accomplished twice before in Wisconsin HS FB State history (1970 & 2001). Jake’s 418 yards is also a state record for rushing yards by a QB (the former record was 363 yards) and is obviously also a school record and Woodland Conference record (formerly held by Zack Baun currently a Wisconsin Badger) for any position! See the article and blog down below for more info including a nice little family State Record tie-in for Jake and his dad Dennis!

Player of the Week by Lake Country Now

http://www.lakecountrynow.com/story/sports/2016/08/22/push-weekly-rundown-milwaukee-area-prep-football/88903796/

http://www.lakecountrynow.com/story/sports/blogs/first-and-short/2016/10/07/first-and-short-simuncak-record-setting-run/91724174/

Preps Plus

Jake will also be the featured student-athlete of the week by Preps Plus on Sunday night! Due to the Packer game being on NBC (Channel 4 or 1004 on TWC), the show (which is scheduled to air at 11:05) will be delayed undoubtedly closer to midnight just so you know for DVR purposes. Jake will also be featured soon on Fox6 and I will let you know when that will air (likely Sunday, 10/16).

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

The Rocket Varsity BVB team won it’s first conference match in at least 5 years with a thrilling 5-set win last night over Greendale! Great effort by the boys!

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

The Rocket Varsity GVB team won their first crossover with the always tough West Division (they beat New Berlin West) last week! Again it was a tremendous effort by the girls!

BOYS SOCCER 

The Rockets tied Greenfield on Monday 2-2 (Luke Harty scored both goals for the Rockets) and lost 3-2 to NB West on Wednesday. The Rockets are at NB Eisenhower on Monday and then host Pius XI on Wednesday (4:30pm JV & 6:30pmVarsity)

GIRLS SWIM & DIVE

The Rockets will be hosting St. Thomas More/St. Francis on Wednesday, 10/12 at 5:00pm and New Berlin West on Wednesday, 10/19 at 5:00pm as well. Good luck to senior diver Ally Osell as she dives at Nicolet tonight and Cedarburgtomorrow morning!