Category Archives: South Milwaukee

by | October 2, 2015 · 11:01 am

It’s Rivalry Night!

smrockets2015

The South Milwaukee football team travels to Cudahy tonight, as the two teams meet for the 87th time in one of the oldest rivalries in the area. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Rockets coach Derek Hoff wanted to share a few words on this great tradition. Coach, you have the floor …

The traditions of South Milwaukee have been a big part of our school and community.  One Tradition that was postponed in 2001 was the annual Rivalry Football game between South Milwaukee and Cudahy.  The 2 communities are separated by the dotted line on College Ave.  Both cities show great pride in their history and great pride in their grit/work ethic.  “The Rivalry” Football game between the 2 schools is almost 100 years old and was renewed in 2009 when the Rockets won 22-21 and since the renewal have won 6 straight over the Packers.  The series now rests at 46-35-5 in favor of Cudahy.  

If you read old newspaper articles or talk to former players, coaches, teachers, and administrators you will read/hear stories of 9,000+ people attending the annual game.  You will hear stories of more $ being bet and changing hands during this week between communities… specifically employees at Ladish and Bucyrus(Caterpillar).  

My purpose for e-mailing today is that many of our students will live and stay in South Milwaukee in the future.  Many of our students will have children that we teach in future years.  This game to many is ‘just’ a game…but to those that live here, grew up here, and will live here in the future it is way more than ‘JUST A GAME’.  

This game is about Pride.  It’s symbolic for both gritty communities and for the winner each year it states “we’re tougher and work harder than you!”  It carries a lot of weight across that dotted line on College Ave.  Tonight It would mean a lot to the Sons of South Milwaukee if you would pack the stands in Cudahy and cheer on the Rockets to Victory @ 7:00 in the 87th meeting between the schools. 

See all-time rivalry records here, and for more on rivalry’s history, click here.

Go Rockets!

Leave a comment

Filed under South Milwaukee, Sports

Tagged as ,

by | September 30, 2015 · 10:18 pm

Friday: Support Justice For A Cure

Pink Day

Program begins at noon … then a parade of squads to raise awareness, and funds for breast cancer research.

See you there!

Leave a comment

Filed under Police, South Milwaukee

Tagged as , ,

by | September 28, 2015 · 6:46 am

Big Play, Big Win Sends Rockets To 4-2 Record

It was the kind of play that defines seasons — and might send the South Milwaukee football team to the WIAA playoffs.

The play: A double reverse pass from wide receiver Daijon McCoy to quarterback Jake Simuncak for an 81-yard touchdown in the Rockets’ 35-14 win over Brown Deer on Friday.

Check out the play here. It was beautiful to witness, and the start of a great game for Simuncak and the Rockets. In addition to the reception in the in the opening moments, Jake finished with 188 yards passing, including touchdowns of 75 and 41 yards to Lawrence Turner, as the Rockets moved to 4-2 with the annual rivalry game at Cudahy set for Friday.

The play is also up for Time Warner Cable’s Play of the Week award.

Twitter and Facebook users should use the hashtag #TopPlaysWI and @TWCSportsWI when sharing or retweeting the South Milwaukee play. In doing so, it will increase the chances of it winning the award.

From the TWC website …

The Time Warner Cable SportsChannel Play of the Week promotion recognizes the best plays from our coverage of high school football this fall. We’ll select a winner every week, which will advance to the Play of the Year contest at the end of the regular season. Find out which play comes out on top every week at halftime of the following week’s games on TWC SportsChannel. Along with bragging rights, the Play of the Week winners will have a shot at the $1,000 Play of the Year Grand Prize that will be awarded to the athletic department of the school that executed the winning play. Watch ‘em… Tweet ‘em… Blow ‘em up! Tell us which play you think is best. Who knows, it could end up being our Play of the Year!

Watch the TWC replay of the game here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee, Sports

Tagged as ,

by | September 26, 2015 · 9:15 pm

Honoring Three Terrific Local Businesses, Including Our Farmers’ Market

Market committee Market 1

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has announced it is honoring three local businesses at its Oct. 29 banquet — including one particularly near and dear to my heart: the South Milwaukee Downtown Market.

It, PDQ Tooling of St. Francis and Jen’s Sweet Treats of Cudahy will be honored at the annual awards dinner and silent auction at the Pulaski Inn.

Congratulations to all three businesses, especially our farmers’ market and the people who make it happen.

I am proud to have played a part in starting the market seven seasons ago, and I could not have predicted how big it has become. It’s humbling, and exciting, to see how far we’ve come … and where we’re headed.

We have one of the best markets in the region. Let’s all celebrate that.

Tickets for the dinner are still available for $40 each, or tables of eight for $320, and can be purchased through the chamber. The proceeds of silent auction will be for the SSCC Scholarship Fund to benefit South Shore seniors pursuing higher education. Silent auction donations can be delivered to The K-Ranch, BMO Harris Bank – Cudahy Branch, or by contacting the chamber 483-8615 for pick-up.

1 Comment

Filed under Cudahy, Local Business, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, St. Francis

Tagged as , , ,

by | September 25, 2015 · 3:46 pm

Big Rocketober Weekend: Homecoming, Warming House Open House, Food Trucks And More

Food truck image

Rocketober picks up this weekend, with several big events around town. They are …

  • Tonight: The South Milwaukee Yacht Club’s Yachtoberfest begins at 5:30, and South Milwaukee takes on Brown Deer for Homecoming starting at 7.
  • Saturday: The Friends of the Mill Pond host their Warming House Open House from noon to 4 p.m. … and just down the road I’ll be hosting a Meet the Mayor session from 2 to 4 at Ferch’s Beachside at Grant Park Beach.
  • Sunday: The food trucks return to downtown South Milwaukee, with the Fall Festival of Food Trucks set for noon to 3 p.m. on 11th Avenue at the farmers’ market site.

Check out the full Rocketober schedule here, and like the Rocketober Facebook page for regular updates.

And the weather looks fantastic!

1 Comment

Filed under South Milwaukee

Tagged as ,

by | September 24, 2015 · 10:30 pm

Saying Farewell To A Special South Milwaukeean

South Milwaukee lost a good man earlier this month, as Karl Nimphius passed away on Sept. 10 at the age of 93.

From his obituary …

Karl was a lifelong resident of South Milwaukee and a very committed volunteer, having served as the President of the South Milwaukee Lions, Jaycees, Yacht Club, Retired Teachers Association, and Toppers Club. He was the Founder of the national Old GOATS (Gentleman Of Assorted Talents and Skills) Association. Karl was also a Life Member of the VFW and proud guest on the WWII Honor Flight.

As a teenager, Karl joined his brothers in the Nimphius Boat Company building wooden sail boats. After 4 years in the Air Force he returned to the boat business and married Esther Dinkel in 1950. They went on to become avid ballroom dancers and world travelers. Karl turned his love of wood working to a career in building homes. Karl and Esther raised their family in a home Karl designed and built. He later earned his teaching degree and joined SMHS as a Building Trades teacher. Many of his students recall his love of teaching and carpentry, and how he was always happy to help.

A visitation, service and open house are planned for Friday. Details can be found in the obituary.

Please keep Karl’s family in your thoughts and prayers.

Leave a comment

Filed under South Milwaukee

Tagged as ,

by | September 24, 2015 · 10:22 pm

Golden Birthday For South Milwaukee’s Quintuplets, Big Honor For Local Filmmaker And Other Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines, including some positive press for our fair city …

And NOW has published a new police blotter.

3 Comments

Filed under Headlines, South Milwaukee

Tagged as

by | September 24, 2015 · 10:25 am

More Bad News For Caterpillar: Up To 10,000 Job Cuts Coming

Caterpillar plans to cut up to 10,000 jobs worldwide over the next three years, the company reported today, as it also announced reorganization of its mining division.

Check out coverage from the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, USA Today and CNBC. Here is the press release.

From the Wall Street Journal piece …

The Peoria, Ill.-based company said the job cuts would occur through a reduction in its salaried and management staff and, longer term, through contemplated plant consolidations and closures. Caterpillar is aiming to reduce annual costs by roughly $1.5 billion a year. …

The planned job cuts include reductions of between 4,000 and 5,000 salaried and management staff through 2016 but mostly this year. The potential plant consolidations and closings could affect more than 20 of its operations and slightly more than 10% of its factory floor space.

Caterpillar said that since 2013, it has closed or announced plans to close or consolidate more than 20 facilities, impacting 8 million square feet of manufacturing space. In addition, the company already has reduced its total workforce by more than 31,000 since mid-2012. …

Caterpillar also said it would revamp its mining business, as well as the company’s dealer and customer-facing divisions as part of the efforts to lower costs.

Details of the mining reorganization are contained in a company press release. From it …

As previously announced, Chris Curfman, vice president with responsibility for Caterpillar’s Mining Sales & Support Division is retiring, effective December 31, 2015. His division will be integrated into the existing Global Mining machine business divisions. Bringing product, operations, sales and marketing organizations together in both the surface and underground mining applications aligns well with our customers and will also enable a more effective cost structure in a challenging mining environment. The surface mining sales and support teams will join the Hauling & Extraction Division, which will be renamed the Surface Mining & Technology Division, led by Caterpillar Vice President Tom Bluth. The underground mining sales and support teams will join the Material Handling and Underground Division, led by Caterpillar Vice President Denise Johnson.   

So, what does it all mean for South Milwaukee? It remains to be seen.

I’ll keep you posted, especially if I hear more about potential impacts to our city.

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Caterpillar, Local Business, South Milwaukee

Tagged as ,

by | September 23, 2015 · 10:30 pm

Big Kickoff To Rocketober: Homecoming Weekend

ParadeCheerleaders

Fire

Go Rockets!

Join me as we kick off Rocketober with Homecoming festivities this weekend – starting with the return of the Homecoming parade, pep rally and bonfire Thursday night.

The parade starts at 6 p.m. and runs from the corner of 15th Avenue and Maple Street north to Oak Creek Parkway, where the pep rally and bonfire will take place at the baseball diamond.

Then it’s game time on Friday, as South Milwaukee hosts Brown Deer at 7 p.m. at Spaltholz Field.

Be sure to get to 15th Avenue and cheer on the school and other local organizations taking part in the parade. (And look for me and my family in the fire truck.)

Also on the Rocketober calendar this weekend is …

  • Friday: Yachtoberfest at the South Milwaukee Yacht Club
  • Sunday: South Milwaukee Fall Festival of Food Trucks

Check out a full Rocketober schedule here … and be sure to check out these great community events.

1 Comment

Filed under Events, Rocketober, South Milwaukee, Sports

Tagged as , ,

by | September 22, 2015 · 7:23 pm

Driver Arrested After 12-Year-Old Struck In Hit-And-Run Accident

From the South Milwaukee Police Department …

On 09-22-15 at about 3:26pm the South Milwaukee Police were called to the 1500 block of N. Chicago Avenue (N. Chicago/ Rawson) on report of a pedestrian who had been struck by a car. While officers were responding to the accident scene witnesses reported that the striking vehicle had fled the accident scene. Through witness information officers were provided a license plate and were able to locate the suspect vehicle at an address in Cudahy. The driver was taken into custody at that address. Preliminary investigation indicates that the pedestrian (a 12 year old child) was crossing against the signal. The child was transported for medical treatment as a precaution. 

Case remains under investigation. No further information is available at this time.

1 Comment

Filed under Police, South Milwaukee

Tagged as

by | September 22, 2015 · 5:00 pm

Welcome To Rocketober 2015!

Rocketober2015

We’re proud to bring back Rocketober — our month-long series of events celebrating fall, Halloween and everything that is great about South Milwaukee.

Here is your schedule events, and it starts this week. I can’t wait!

Thanks to all of the local groups who are planning and executing this terrific list of activities.

 

(If we missed something, or got something wrong, please let me know.)

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Halloween, Rocketober, South Milwaukee

Tagged as , ,

by | September 21, 2015 · 8:00 am

South Shore Option 4.0: Economic Development Event Set For Oct. 14

There is lots of economic development happening in the South Shore, and much more to come.

Local leaders (me included) will have a chance to tell that story at the fourth-annual South Shore Option event set for Wednesday, October 14, at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

The meeting — presented by the South Shore Chamber of Commerce — begins at 6 p.m.

It will feature presentations from representatives from South Milwaukee, Cudahy, Oak Creek and St. Francis, including summaries of recent developments, a look at what’s on the horizon and development opportunities.

Thanks to the chamber for driving this event, and to Milwaukee County Supervisor Patricia Jursik for creating the concept and leading in executing the first several South Shore Option gatherings.

We need to be more vocal about economic development in the South Shore. We have a good story to tell, and it’s getting better as it’s being written, especially in South Milwaukee. I’m excited to be a part of it.

1 Comment

Filed under Cudahy, Events, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, South Milwaukee PAC, St. Francis

Tagged as , , ,

by | September 17, 2015 · 9:45 pm

See You At The Beach: I’m Holding My Next Meet The Mayor Event At Ferch’s

Ferch's 1

Now that it’s open, I’m calling an audible and moving my next Meet the Mayor event to Ferch’s Beachside.

Join me from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, at South Milwaukee’s newest business, located at Grant Park Beach. Bring your questions, comments and concerns … and your appetite.

Be sure to try a burger, hot dog, custard and a beer.

See you on September 26!

Ferch’s opened last weekend and is planning limited weekend hours this fall, before hitting it hard in 2016 and beyond. They are open from 2 to 7 p.m. this Saturday, September 19, for example.

Leave a comment

Filed under Grant Park, South Milwaukee

Tagged as , ,

by | September 17, 2015 · 9:27 pm

Key 2016 Budget Dates Set

It’s budget season, and here are some key dates to keep in mind in the weeks ahead …

  • Oct. 15: Executive budget review, 6 p.m.
  • Oct. 21: Additional budget review, if needed, 6 p.m.
  • Oct. 29: Proposed budget published.
  • Nov. 30: Public hearing on proposed budget, 6 p.m.
  • Dec. 1: City Council meets to adopt budget, 7 p.m.

All meetings are public, and I encourage you to be part of the debate.

This is shaping up to be a particularly tough budget year, with rising costs coupled with state-imposed limits on local levy and spending increases taking a toll. We’ll adapt, as we always do, but it won’t be easy.

I’ll keep you posted throughout the process.

1 Comment

Filed under 2016 Budget, South Milwaukee

Tagged as ,

by | September 15, 2015 · 9:00 am

Kicking Brass: SMPAC Boldly Kicks Off 2015-16 Season This Weekend

Boston Brass

The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center has coined this Bold and Brassy Week, with three contrasting styles of brass performances planned at two local venues.

First, Extra Crispy Brass Band will be at the South Milwaukee Downtown Market this Thursday, September 17. This is a New Orleans-style Brass group with high energy and an old-school, New Orleans swing style. They will be performing from 5 to 7 p.m.

Then, the PAC kicks off its 2015-16 season with a show by Boston Brass at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 19.

Boston Brass is internationally regarded ensemble whose members have performed with the world’s top orchestras and recording artists, and have earned a reputation for delivering highly entertaining concerts with their delightful sense of humor. It’s an audience participation event, as patrons can vote on their favorite songs to be played in the second half of show.

Also, be sure to stop by the pre-show social event starting at 6:30.

For sale will be light snacks, and there will be pre-show entertainment by saxophone player Aaron Gardner and guitarist Steve Peplin, a jazz improv duo.

Tickets are still available to Boston Brass. Learn more here.

Leave a comment

Filed under Events, South Milwaukee, South Milwaukee Farmers' Market, South Milwaukee PAC

Tagged as , , ,