Author Archives: Erik Brooks

It’s May 22, 2020. South Milwaukee and 17 other suburban Milwaukee County communities are now reopened, amid the pandemic. 

And my message hasn’t changed from what we shared earlier in the week …

I recognize the impact the health orders have had on our residents, business owners and others, and I hope lifting this order will allow for the beginning of a return to normalcy for all of us. I believe we will reopen responsibly, following proper protocols, safety measures and best practices to ensure customer and worker safety and restore confidence. The decision by the Supreme Court did not end the pandemic, nor does the end of this order. This is not over. We need to learn to live with this disease safely, and we will, together.

I want to emphasize that last word. Together.

The last few weeks have been some of the ugliest in my time in elected office, with so much hatred, anger and vitriol aimed at local leaders, public health officials and others who are doing what they they think is right, on behalf of the community, in unprecedented times.

I hope we can move beyond this, as we enter this new phase. We need unity, not division, if we are going to reopen safely. 

That is why I am proud to see so many of our local businesses going above and beyond to take measures to keep everyone safe — measures that will lead to increased customer confidence, and increased business, for those who do it right. Places like Moran’s Pub. Sorce Martial Arts. The Tap Room. Ferch’s Beachside. CM Salons. And many, many more, which you can track on my Shop Local South Milwaukee Facebook page. 

I spoke to another prominent local business owner less than two weeks ago — it feels like two years ago with how quickly things have changed since then — and he was asking for clarity around a reopening plan in South Milwaukee. 

He well understands the gravity of the public health crisis we find ourselves in, and why governments have taken the measures they have to keep people “Safer at Home.” He understands the need to flatten the curve, and the dangers that reopening the city, county, state and country too quickly could bring.

He knows the actions we have taken so far have made a difference — and without them the pandemic toll would have been (and could still be) catastrophic. He knows how important it is to listen to health experts and act backed by science and data. 

But it’s understandably more complicated than that for him — and countless others like him. Like many, he has seen his business significantly impacted by the pandemic, with lost revenue and layoffs. He worries about his people, and wants to get them back to work. He also recognizes the broader toll this has taken on society, the impact record unemployment and months of isolation and shutdowns could have and are having: bankruptcies, broken families, substance abuse, depression, suicide. 

In our conversation, he wanted a light at the end of the tunnel for him, his family and his employees. He wanted hope. 

He wanted to know there is a plan in place that provides a reasonable, responsible and safe approach to reopening, one that puts public health and science first, while also reflecting the impacts orders have had on businesses like his. Both can be achieved at the same time, and they are in the new guidance.

Even without an order, there is a strategy in place that provides stringent yet attainable milestones and benchmarks for a safe, phased return to some semblance of normalcy.

I ask that we follow that guidance. For the safety of all of us. 

Thankfully, there are also professionals working every day to help: the South Milwaukee and St. Francis Health Department. 

 I’m so proud of this team, and know their work in addressing the pandemic is far from over. You could argue it’s just beginning, as they continue to try and stay ahead of the virus and prevent a second spike in cases. As Health Administrator Jackie Ove said in her letter accompanying the announcement about ending the order … 

The threat of COVID-19 is still very much alive in South Milwaukee and St. Francis, and throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. The South Milwaukee/St. Francis Health Department will continue to investigate COVID-19 disease in our community, with a focus on aggressive testing, case identification, and contact tracing. We will continue to monitor the data and to communicate with you all as we work closely with business colleagues and community members to adhere to safe practices and to spot and contain any outbreaks.

It is up to each of us to play our part in protecting ourselves, our families, our customers, and our community moving forward. I am confident that we are all up to the challenge.

So am I. Stay safe and healthy, South Milwaukee. 

The South Milwaukee Police Department presented its annual report on Tuesday, and there is a good news for our city.

Crime is down, service is up and there is some great work going on in the department. I thank our officers and staff for it, and for putting their lives on the line to keep us safe every day.

Check out the report here, and watch Chief Jessup’s presentation here (starting at around the 42:00 mark). There are also a couple charts in this post showing strong and sustained decreases in crime — trends that have thankfully continued into the first quarter of 2020.

That is something all of South Milwaukee can be proud of.

Here is Chief Jessup’s introductory letter ….

To the citizens of South Milwaukee, Mayor Erik Brooks, City Administrator Tami Mayzik, the South Milwaukee Common Council, the South Milwaukee Police & Fire Commission, and members of the South Milwaukee Police Department:

In 2019 I completed my second year as Chief of Police for the South Milwaukee Police Department. Each and every day I am proud to serve this City and this Department, and I am grateful for your support, confidence and enthusiasm as our officers diligently work to keep our community safe. I am pleased to present to you the 2019 South Milwaukee Police Department Annual Report and I believe you will find that it provides an accurate overview of the challenges and accomplishments, as well as the activities undertaken by our staff to enhance public safety in our community.

The past year brought some notable changes to our staff, with the retirements of Officer Dave Kozlowski and Officer Carol Olson. We thank them for their lengthy and impactful service to the City of South Milwaukee, and wish them a long and healthy retirement. In 2019 we were joined by two new police officers, Adam Harnen and Gerrit Verhagen. They are great additions to our force and are looking forward to serving this community for many years. We were also joined by a new dispatcher, Sarah Vosberg, and a new police clerk, Jenna Czerwinski. They are proving to be excellent additions to our
staff.

The police profession comes with many challenges. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of our nation spoke of it in this way. He said “the duties which a police officer owes to the state are of a most exacting nature. No one is compelled to choose the profession of a police officer, but having chosen it, everyone is obliged to live up to the standard of its requirements. To join in that high enterprise means the surrender of much individual freedom.” These are important concepts to consider as we continue to advance the department’s mission and vision. Our members are committed to their profession and will work tirelessly on behalf of our citizens while laying the groundwork for future generations.

Nevertheless, our relationship with the citizens we serve is the cornerstone of our profession, and the work we do must be based on a mutual respect. We strive to make our city safer through a community-based policing strategy that is responsive to the needs of individuals and businesses while following a set of principles that fosters mutual respect.

There is one truism in public safety; our work is never done. As we move forward, we will surely encounter new challenges but I am confident in our members and grateful for the support of our community. In partnership, we will overcome those difficulties to make South Milwaukee healthier and stronger. 

South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joe Knitter presented the department’s 2019 annual report at Tuesday’s South Milwaukee Common Council meeting.

You can see it here, and you can see the presentation Chief Knitter made to the council on the Facebook Live video of the meeting (25:30 mark).

I offered my continued thanks and gratitude to these heroes, and thank them for their service in keeping us safe. Here is Chief Knitter’s introductory letter …

On behalf of the dedicated members of the South Milwaukee Fire Department, it is with great pleasure that I present our 2019 Annual Report. Contained in this report is a brief snapshot of the efforts put forth by the hard working members of your fire department who continue to provide the exceptional level of service they are known for with the limited resources on hand. Like our community, the fire service continues to change and the South Milwaukee Fire Department is committed to change, as well, to meet the needs of our community.

Of significance in 2019 was the noteworthy reduction in dollar loss associated with structure fires. While estimates of dollar loss by fire personnel attempt to be reflective of actual damages, true dollar loss could only be measured by determining what insurance costs were actually paid out to repair, restore, or replace material items, like structures and belongings. What cannot be measured is the physical, emotional, and psychological impact felt by someone who experiences a fire. While identifying a single cause for this
reduction is nearly impossible, it is my belief that it can attributed to several factors, all of which continue to be our focus: early detection of fires due to increased numbers of smoke detectors, early activation of the 9-1-1 system, quick “turn-out” and response times on the part of fire personnel, and quick and efficient personnel deployment once on scene.

Our overall call volume decreased slightly from 3481 calls for service in 2018 to 3345 calls for service in 2019, with the largest single decrease involving Emergency Medical Service (EMS) responses, which account for nearly 84% of our call volume. Our focus on the at–risk populations in our community continues with increased safety presentations in apartment buildings for those age 55-and-over, earlier referral to the South Milwaukee Health Department for more appropriate and patient-focused medical care, and continued training on response to bariatric patients, a patient demographic that continues to rise in numbers. In 2019, we utilized our bariatric response equipment on twenty-eight different responses, focusing on safe and efficient patient handling, as well as personnel safety and injury avoidance.

In closing, the South Milwaukee Fire Department will continue to answer the call 24/7/365 and maintain its high level of service delivery as we respond to the needs of the community as an all-hazard, all-risk department. Our focus will remain on community involvement, risk reduction, fire prevention, public education, and delivering timely, professional, effective, and efficient service. The members of the South Milwaukee Fire Department and I would like to thank Mayor Erik Brooks, the members of the Common
Council and Police and Fire Commission, and our citizens for all their hard work and continued support.

The South Milwaukee Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to cancel the city’s 2020 Independence Day celebration at Grant Park due to the pandemic. 

The South Milwaukee and St. Francis Health Department recommended the cancellation due to continued concerns over large gatherings spreading the coronavirus.  

I support this decision, and know it was a difficult one. This is an important community celebration, and always a special event. But we have to act in the best interest of public health. We also recognize the impact the pandemic has had on small businesses, who typically provide significant sponsorship funding for this event, and we needed to act now to let our vendors know our plans. Public health guidance around a phased reopening will continue to inform decisions on future city-sponsored events.

Memorial Day and Flag Day have also been cancelled.

South Milwaukee/St. Francis Health Administrator Jacqueline Ove has announced Emergency Health Order No. 1, issued by suburban Milwaukee County health officials last week, will expire at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May, 21, as planned.

It will not be extended.

Health officials continue to recommend a phased reopening and are issuing guidance based on key indicators they are following in Milwaukee County.

Here are key materials …

• Letter from Health Administrator Jacqueline Ove
• Health Officer Guidelines for Safe, Phased Reopening – Phase B
• Suburban Milwaukee County Safe Opening Capacity Guidance
• Milwaukee County COVID-19 Dashboard & Tracking Map
  • Key indicators available through tab at the bottom of the dashboard.

The end of the order means bars, restaurants, churches and other organizations and institutions closed or limited in operations under the order will be allowed to reopen. Many will have significant changes in how they operate around physical distancing, increased sanitation, and other recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Eleven suburban health departments in Milwaukee County issued the emergency order last week after the Wisconsin State Supreme Court overturned the state’s “Safer at Home” order. The goal of the interim order was to provide a bridge to an orderly and safe transition for business operations, and give health officers time to monitor the continued spread of the virus.

In the past week, the Health Department has shared guidelines and best practices with bars, restaurants and other businesses, and will continue to work in partnership with them to ensure a safe reopening. Health officials will also continue monitoring for spread of the virus, perform contract tracing of infected individuals, and take steps as needed to prevent and limit outbreaks.

Statement from Health Administrator Jacqueline Ove

We ask everyone to continue to follow the order until it expires Thursday. We still have disease, and after this order expires, we are still going to have disease. That means our work as a Health Department in fighting the virus and upholding high standards of public health will continue. We need the community’s help to do that, and ask our residents, visitors, business owners and others to continue to act responsibly and safely, consistent with federal, state and local guidelines for a safe reopening. We must be in this together.

Statement from Mayor Erik Brooks

I recognize the impact the health orders have had on our residents, business owners and others, and I hope lifting this order will allow for the beginning of a return to normalcy for all of us. I believe we will reopen responsibly, following proper protocols, safety measures and best practices to ensure customer and worker safety and restore confidence. The decision by the Supreme Court did not end the pandemic, nor does the end of this order. This is not over. We need to learn to live with this disease safely, and we will, together.

I have made the unfortunate decision to shut down all commenting on South Milwaukee Blog going forward, at least temporarily, maybe for good.

The ugly, personal attacks and baseless allegations have continued — even threats to my family! — and I no longer want to provide a forum for that.

And I don’t have to, according to the city attorney. So I won’t.

To be clear, the blog will continue. I’ll continue share news and information as I always have. But the commenting feature will be turned off starting now.

Comments are no longer adding value to this site and to its 893 subscribers and many other readers.

If you want to spew venom and share hate, please use Facebook. There are plenty of places to do it there, and on countless other websites and other media.

I launched this blog as a service to the community, as a way to share information you likely aren’t getting anywhere else, while also offering an opportunity for me to share my views and provide a forum for people to have an open, honest debate about the issues, and offer feedback and constructive criticism.

And it was mostly like that for more than a decade, for almost 4,500 posts, nearly 1.5 million views, and more than 453,000 visitors.

It has all changed in the last few weeks, and I won’t be a part of it.

There remain plenty of ways to get a hold of me and share you feelings and raise questions.

• Email me at brooks@smwi.org.
• Or call me and leave a voicemail at 414-768-8049. I receive an email message with an audio file of all voicemails left on my office line.
• While I will continue to post on Facebook as a means to share information to a large audience quickly, and will continue to monitor comments, I will likely not engage on any comments that tag me. It’s overwhelming, and Facebook is not the right platform to have reasonable debates on issues, at least not now.
• I’ll also respond to as many questions via direct Facebook messages that I can.

And please read this blog post again. We have to be better than this.  

Almost there, South Milwaukee! We are at a 70.3% response rate for the #2020Census. Let’s get to 100%! Have you been counted?

To respond now, visit https://my2020census.gov/

HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GET CANCER OR AIDS AND PERISH IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.

So said one person in their comments on a blog post I shared about the new health order issued following Wednesday’s Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling. I did not publish it, per my policy, because it was also full of swear words.

But I share it here to say this is where we are when it comes to political discourse in America, in Wisconsin, in South Milwaukee.

Granted, this is an extreme example. But a quick scan of social media in the past week, and beyond — including my own blog and Facebook pages — shows a host of ugly, personal attacks, accusations and name calling.

Some have called me a “dictator” and “king” and “tyrant” for standing behind the local health order in place across all but one community in Milwaukee County right now. I have been called “Herr Brooks” for supporting our health officer and other health experts in trying to take a responsible, measured, and safe approach to reopening, for fear of unnecessary sickness and death. I’ve been called a liar, lawbreaker, a “POS,” and a hater of small business (despite being a small business owner myself and spending more than a decade fighting for them in South Milwaukee).

Of course, this is not only in our city. This is happening across social media — and in normal discourse — and about and from leaders across our country, about and from the highest levels of government to those on the front lines. It’s happening in neighborhoods, among friends and families.

This has somehow now become OK in 2020 America, and I can’t stand for that. I won’t stand for that. We are better than this. We have to be better than this.

We need to get back to a place where we can agree to disagree reasonably, where we can respect opposing viewpoints and those who hold them, where we can overcome differences amicably to work together and get things done. We must move away from our “winner takes all” mentality,  away from a place where politics is a zero-sum game, away from a place where “if I’m right, you are not only wrong, you must also be shouted down and ridiculed because of it” — and to a place of mutual respect.

The division must end, and it starts with the words we choose, starting with me.  I am passionate in my viewpoints, and last week said a few things on Facebook in the heat of the moment I’d probably take back if I could. I can do better, too.

As we move ahead, let me be clear: I can take it, and I will as I have for more than a decade in politics. In many ways, this is what I signed up for. I’ve taken my share of arrows, and I welcome and encourage disagreement. I have even created platforms (including this one) to allow people to do so. I will continue to share information all of these platforms, always putting a high value on communication and transparency.

With that in mind, I offer this ….

• While I will continue to post on Facebook as a means to share information to a large audience quickly, and will continue to monitor comments, I will likely not engage on any comments that tag me. It’s overwhelming, and Facebook is not the right platform to have reasonable debates on issues, at least not now.
• Instead, email me at brooks@smwi.org.
• Or call me and leave a voicemail at 414-768-8049. I receive an email message with an audio file of all voicemails left on my office line.
• You can also comment on my blog, constructively. I will attempt to respond to all questions raised in that manner.
• I’ll also respond to as many questions via direct Facebook messages that I can.

In other words, there are plenty of ways to contact me, and I will always make sure that is the case. I welcome feedback, and I will take all of it with my head held high, always staying focused on making what I think are the best decisions I can on behalf of the people who have entrusted me with the responsibility of leading this city.

I take that responsibility seriously, and will continue to work toward a day of respectful debate, constructive criticism and acceptance that we are stronger, together.

Stay healthy, and united, South Milwaukee.

Check out the newest production from South Milwaukee High School Theatre Company! 

Here is the link on Facebook.

And here is the YouTube link: https://youtu.be/QH0O9HI71k8

From their Facebook page …

SMHS Theatre is proud to present THE QUARANTEENS: An Original Virtual Play.

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT OUR UPAF FUNDRAISER!: https://bit.ly/3dQalcj

When the COVID-19 pandemic strikes and turns the lives of people around the world upside-down, a group of 16 high school students are suddenly forced to grapple with social isolation, a loss of meaningful experiences and uncertainty of their own futures.

CAST:

• Alex Trevithick
• Anna Basha
• Brianna Gaidosh
• Cara Jenquin
• Eli Lindner
• George Vajagich
• Isabella Bravo
• JP McCown
• Kal Knight
• Kaylyn Hipsley
• Lia Krystowiak
• Natasha Bernovich
• Owen Smith
• Shelby Morgan
• Shyann McIntosh
• Sonona Haring

Written/Directed/Edited by Tim Backes. Costumed by Eva Menzia

 

The Public Health Plan for Milwaukee County, issued by the South Milwaukee and St. Francis Health Department and other suburban departments on Wednesday, will remain in effect in South Milwaukee through its original expiration date of 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 21. 

The decision to continue the order aligns with guidance issued Friday from Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, and the advice of our city attorney. 

You can see the order here. 

Statement from Health Administrator Jackie Ove

We have this order in place because we still have disease. That has not changed in the last 48 hours, and after this order expires, we are still going to have disease. We ask our residents, visitors, business owners and others to continue to abide by the order and act responsibly and safely, consistent with federal, state and local guidelines. I and other Milwaukee County health officers continue to work together on guidelines and other measures to be in place after this order expires, to ensure a safe reopening. Disease does not know jurisdictional boundaries. 

Statement from South Milwaukee Mayor Erik Brooks

I agree with this decision and stand behind the order and our Health Department. The decision by the Supreme Court did not end the pandemic. And while we recognize the impact the health orders are having on our residents, business owners and others, we must act in what we believe is the best interest of the community. Public health must come first, and health experts are clear: There is significant risk in reopening too quickly.  Community members and business owners want clear guidance and direction on how we will reopen safely. I support the Health Department’s continued efforts in working with departments across the county to determine those next steps. We need a coordinated approach.

The South Milwaukee/St. Francis Health Department has joined with those in other suburban communities to issue a new local health order after the Wisconsin State Supreme Court invalidated the state’s “Safer at Home” order in a ruling on Wednesday. 

The order, effective immediately and through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, sets in motion the first phase of a larger reopening plan under development by local health officers in the last two weeks. 

It allows for the reopening of most businesses, limiting the number of people allowed inside most establishments to 25% of their capacity. Salons, barber shops and playgrounds may also reopen, with restrictions. Restaurants and bars would remain closed except for takeout and delivery. Gatherings must be limited to nine or fewer people. 

You can see the full order here.

Statement from South Milwaukee/St. Francis Health Officer Jackie Ove

Our efforts to combat COVID-19 are working. We are flattening the curve,  but in Milwaukee County we continue to have a high percentage of positive cases,and more work needs to be done. The worst thing we can do is reopen too quickly and give back our progress, and potentially make a second or third wave even worse than the first. We are not ready to fully reopen in Milwaukee County, or South Milwaukee. That is why we have put in place this short-term local order. 

Statement from South Milwaukee Mayor Erik Brooks

I fully stand behind the South Milwaukee/St. Francis Health Department’s new order. The actions of the Supreme Court — invalidating the order without a stay, basically throwing open the state after almost two months of being “Safer at Home” — are irresponsible and reckless. They will lead to a patchwork approach to health orders across the state, with many communities likely not enacting one at all. 

We were one of a handful of states in the country that was fully open for a time on Wednesday. Health leaders at all levels are nearly unanimous in stating the approach allowed by the court is dangerous and carries a cost of increased illness and death. A day without orders will come, and hopefully someday soon. But we are not there yet. We will reopen, the right way.

Statement from South Milwaukee Police Chief William Jessup

We thank the vast majority of people who voluntarily complied with the state’s “Safer at Home” order. We expect the same level of compliance with the new local health order. We will continue to work in concert with our Health Department to ensure orders are followed. If violations arise, law enforcement will take note and educate and inform those individuals. Enforcement has been and will be a last step.

Work is ramping up on the new look of Milwaukee Avenue. 

The South Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday approved a $416,504 contract with locally based EK Construction LLC for Phase 2 of the project.

That work will include sidewalk removal and concrete replacement between back of curb and buildings (except curb ramp areas completed in Phase 1). Picture-frame terrace area concrete and 16-inch paver bands will be installed at new street tree planters. New trees will be purchased and installed with Phase 2, as well as bike lanes and parking stalls.

Work on phase two will continue into July. 

Streetscaping amenities like planters, benches, and bike racks will be reviewed after Phase 2 is complete and ordered for a late 2020 or spring of 2021 installation.

For now, work on Phase 1 continues, which began with installation of new LED lighting, and has included … 

• Modification of traffic signals at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and 13th Avenue to remove signal heads from banner poles, removal of banner poles and footings, and installation of new pedestal bases and poles;
• Installation of temporary traffic signals at 10th and Milwaukee, removal of existing traffic signal equipment, installation of a new controller, equipment, and conduit;
• Installation of storm sewer and inlets at the Ninth and Milwaukee intersection;  
• Removal and replacement of deteriorated curb and gutter as identified, and curb for new curb ramps, new curb on the west side of Ninth, south of Milwaukee Avenue;
• Removal and replacement of curb and concrete pavement; and
• Installation of new curb ramps and pavement marking for new signals, and crosswalks.

To stay up to date on the project, visit the Milwaukee Avenue streetscaping page on the city website, or become a member of the Facebook group. 

I’m excited to see the continued progress amid the pandemic, especially in conjunction with other major projects in our city center, like the Bucyrus Club and 11th and Madison Avenue public space. These are investments that will help reshape Main Street, and the city, for the long term.

Really excited to see today’s news. Congratulations, Coach Dufek!

He replaces John Galewski, who announced his retirement after last season. I wish John nothing but the best, and he’ll be missed, but Pete is great choice, the right person to build on the foundation laid by John and others.

Go Rockets!

Now is a great time to be reminded about what makes South Milwaukee, South Milwaukee — what we want to and should be famous for. 

That is why, I am proud to present “The South Milwaukee Story,” a production of Kyle Olson. Watch it here. 

You’ll recall that Kyle, a South Milwaukee High School graduate and now Emmy Award-winning Hollywood film director, returned home in February to shoot two short films for us: a submission for HGTV’s “Hometown Takeover” show and a marketing video that would stand the test of time in promoting our city.

He overdelivered on both, as I knew he would — in partnership with an amazing team.

We have not yet heard back from HGTV on our submission, and we have always known it would be a longshot, as we went up against thousands of submissions nationally. The real value for the city in this effort is the marketing video, and you’ll be seeing a lot more of it across our platforms in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Check it out, and share the heck out of it. We have so much to be proud of in South Milwaukee, and this video brings it to life beautifully.

Use it to tell our story to the world!

Also, join me in thanking everyone who made this possible. It took a village to tell the story of our city, and I’ll attempt to thank them all here … 

We shot at nine different locations in less than 12 hours on that February Saturday: Moran’s Pub, Avenue Coffeehouse, Barbiere’s Italian Inn, The Barber Shop, Parkway Floral, the Muza Church, American Legion Post #27, South Milwaukee High School and the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

We talked to more than a dozen people along the way — not including a segment with the South Milwaukee Youth Basketball Club sixth-grade girls basketball team — who shared their stories about what makes our city great … and why a makeover would only make that story stronger. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

The crew was first rate, and with a distinct local flavor. Kyle and videographer Nick Koscielniak are South Milwaukee graduates who started making movies together more than a decade ago while in school — like this one.

They were joined by James Stewart, Sasa Miladinovic and Julia Beck, as well as assistant City Administrator Patrick Brever, who was invaluable in getting us from point A to point B. Local teen Austin Keller also pitched in. 

A special thanks to Ante Udovicic, who welcomed us with open arms at the school campus and expertly accommodated us. And it was great to see Kyle’s parents, Mick (a longtime former South Milwaukee police officer) and Jewel join us on the shoots. It’s easy to see where Kyle gets his Emmy award-winning passion and talent from.

Three South Milwaukeeans also supplied footage, including local photographers and videographers Julie Arnold and John Krecji. The beautiful drone footage was provided by David Ryba of Veterans Media Services. 

Editor Mitchell Stewart put this all together, and his work speaks for itself.

And, our sponsors! We could not have done this without them. 

Thanks to the City of South Milwaukee, Molthen-Bell & Son Funeral Home, Da Crusher Foundation, Moran’s Pub, DB Tax & Financial Services, the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center and Anne and Tom Frederick for their support of this economic development and community building project.

Enjoy, South Milwaukee. Be proud.