It’s becoming quite a summer for Nate Snead.
Fresh off a College World Series title, the South Milwaukee High School graduate now has a chance to join USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Snead has been invited to the National Team’s training camp, joining an impressive list of players announced earlier this week.
More details here. Go Nate!
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From TMJ4 …
Let’s talk, South Milwaukee! What matters to you is important to us. That’s why TMJ4 is embarking on a series of listening sessions throughout the area. We’ve held sessions in Kenosha, Waukesha, Racine, and now we’re coming to South Milwaukee.
Tell us what’s going well, what’s not, and anything else we should know about living in South Milwaukee at the Bucyrus Club on Thursday, June 27th, from 4-6 p.m.
Come and share your stories with TMJ4’s Milwaukee County reporter Elaine Rojas-Castillo, reporters Jenna Rae and Cassandra McShepard, anchor Shannon Sims, and sports reporter Ashley Washburn.
Don’t have a “story idea?” No problem! Come and mingle with our reporters and tell them what makes South Milwaukee special, or what could use some improvement in a relaxed setting.
The Bucyrus Club is located at 1919 12th Ave. in South Milwaukee. See you there!
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Details here. From Milwaukee County Parks …
An ever-rotating selection of Sprecher craft beer is on tap at each tour stop. While Sprecher remains the featured beverage at the TBG, we also offer options from Third Space, New Glarus, and 3 Sheeps Breweries. Cider, gluten-free options, and non-alcoholic beverages are available as well.
Bring your own Parks Beer Garden branded (or other) pint glass to pay the refill price! All standard pour pricing comes with a commemorative glass to take home.
Here is the full menu.
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This was a lot of fun, even from 500 miles away. Congratulations to a special young man and family. Go Nate Snead! Go Tennessee! You earned this.
And thanks to Moran’s Pub for going all in on the idea to be become Knoxville North. I love how South Milwaukeee rallies around its sons and daughters. This is what makes this community so special.
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Find some more orange in the closet, as Moran’s Pub will once again transform into Knoxville North on Monday, with its College World Series Viewing Party II.
Saturday’s event was a lot of orange-filled fun, as 100+ people packed the pub to see South Milwaukee’s Nate Snead and Tennessee open the College World Series against Texas A&M.
Let’s do it again Monday for a decisive Game 3, as Nate (Rockets Class of 2022) and the Volunteers play for the championship! Nate (10-2 on the season) recorded the save in Game 2 and should be ready for the finals. Come cheer Nate and the Vols on at the pub. First pitch is 6 p.m.
More details in the Facebook event. Please share it!
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This should be a lot of fun. Thanks, James Moran, for stepping up to support the community (yet again).
From the Moran’s Pub Facebook post …
Wear your orange and watch South Milwaukee High School graduate Nate Snead (Class of 2022) and the Tennessee Volunteers take on Texas A&M in Game One of the College World Series Finals on Saturday. First pitch is 6:30 p.m. Nate, a UT sophomore, is a key part of the Tennessee pitching staff (10-2 on the season) and has finished each of the team’s first three CWS wins behind 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Join other Rocket (and Nate) fans for some fun surprises as we sing “Rocky Top” and cheer Tennessee on to victory in game one of the three-game series. Go Volunteers! Go Nate!
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I love this initiative from the city, as a worthy investment of Bucyrus Foundation funds. Small businesses are the backbone of our city, and the city understands that.
From the city’s Facebook page …
At last night’s Common Council meeting, the 2024 Bucyrus Business Awards and Bucyrus Business Retention Grants were presented. Congratulations to Better Together Cafe for winning Bucyrus Business of the Year and Bakehouse 23 mke for being recognized as the Bucyrus New Business of the Year! 
Azteca Restaurant MKE, Moran’s Pub, ChowChow Treats And Bakery, and The Chi Shed, LLC also received well-deserved honorable mention awards.
Awards were presented based on a public nomination and voting process that took place earlier this year. Over 1,100 ballots were cast to determine the winners.
Bucyrus Business Retention Grants were also awarded to the Golden Lion, Sorce Martial Arts, and Gray’s, Inc. These grants were distributed via random drawing from our 2024 business anniversaries list.
Our thanks to the Bucyrus Foundation for fully funding the awards and the grants distributed to our businesses. Economic Development Month and last night’s presentation are part of the S.M.ALL Business Program. The program’s goal is to recognize our businesses and encourage them to stay and grow in South Milwaukee.
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Tennessee is two wins away from a College World Series title.
The Volunteers advanced to the best-of-three finals with a 7-2 victory over Florida State on Wednesday. South Milwaukee’s Nate Snead through a scoreless ninth inning and has now not allowed a run in three CWS games and 5 1/3 innings.
Tennessee will play either Florida or Texas A&M in the final series, which begins Saturday in Omaha, Neb. Game two is on Sunday and game three, if needed, is on Monday.
Let’s go, Nate! More on Nate in this story. From it …
“It’s honestly my dream. Dream come true, honestly,” Snead said. “It’s a lot of fun going out there and doing what I do.“
“This was absolutely the plan. This is why I came here,” said Snead on pitching in the CWS for Tennessee. “This is what I wanted to do when I was here. Getting to do it now is pretty exciting.”
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There is so much going on in South Milwaukee this summer! This weekend alone there is the monthly Community Meal, Market Music, the Garden Tour, a Bonsai Society exhibit, and a cool South Milwaukee PAC show.
Here is an updated events list … with my Events page getting regular updates as they come in.
Did I miss something? (I’m sure I did.) Want to add an event? Email me at erikbrooks32@gmail.com. Otherwise, enjoy a special South Milwaukee summer!
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Orange is the new Rocket red this week, as South Milwaukee’s Nate Snead and the top-seeded Tennessee Volunteers play for a College World Series title in Omaha, Neb.
And they’re off to a heck of a start!
Nate threw two and a third scoreless innings and picked up the win in Tennessee’s thrilling, 12-11 comeback win over Florida State on Friday night. With the win, the hard-throwing 2022 South Milwaukee graduate moved to 10-2 on the season.
Next up for Tennessee: fourth-seeded North Carolina on Sunday. Go Nate! Go Vols!
More on Nate’s road to Omaha here. Not referenced: Nate leading the South Milwaukee Little League Durham Bulls (including my son, Christian) to a Schattschneider championship in 2014. 🙂
That was then …
This is now …
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A couple updates on two critical South Milwaukee redevelopment opportunities from two different Plan Commissions — the official one and another involving an innovative partnership between the city and Lakeview Elementary.
First, news from the South Milwaukee Plan Commission … there is progress on redevelpoment of the remaining portion of the former Bucyrus campus. The latest proposal is for $51.6 million and calls for 177 apartments, among other uses. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story …
Following previous proposals which have fallen through, Milwaukee-based Scott Crawford, Inc. is teaming with The Littlestone Company to present yet another modified concept for a mixed-use development on the former Bucyrus campus in South Milwaukee.
Preliminary plans show 177 apartments, 300 parking spaces and over 17,000 square feet of commercial space, according to the latest proposal for 1100 Milwaukee Ave.
This isn’t the first proposal from Scott Crawford, which partnered with J. Jeffers Co. for its last proposal in late 2022 which included 92 mixed-income apartments and loft units plus commercial space. In August 2021, the firm presented a $35.7 million “Bucyrus Community” project plan with 160 apartments and a restaurant, but that fell through. Those plans were modifications from an earlier proposal to renovate the existing Technical, Corporate and Heritage buildings and construct a new building for $46 million.
In the latest, and most expensive, $51.6 million proposal, Scott Crawford and The Littlestone Company are proposing a project which developer documents indicate is “part of a larger Transit Oriented Development that will connect South Milwaukee to the Northside of Milwaukee.”
The South Milwaukee Plan Commission held a meeting June 10 allowing the developer to introduce the proposal and gauge interest. While no action was taken on the plans, the commission voted 4-2 to approve preliminary considerations and the approval schedule outlining each step of approval needed and the expected dates.
Much more to come on this … and hopefully the Everbrite property too.
Details on the latter from TMJ4 …
In May, we told you the story of a local elementary school using an empty property to dream up a big future. The vacant lot that was formerly known as the Everbrite site sits across the way from Lakeview Elementary School in South Milwaukee. Rather than simply ignore it, teachers and students like Kristen Mortier and Besim Fejzoski decided to bring it directly into the classroom. “It has allowed students to envision possibilities for their future that they may never have ever considered before,” said Mortier.
Rather than simply ignore it, teachers and students like Kristen Mortier and Besim Fejzoski decided to bring it directly into the classroom. “It has allowed students to envision possibilities for their future that they may never have ever considered before,” said Mortier.
Those dreams can be seen in every corner of Lakeview’s library as the students gather to showcase their ideas to their fellow classmates and families. From large-scale models of a homeless shelter that could sit on the grounds to interactive presentations that explain a long-term plan for the community, Mortier says she is already seeing the benefits go beyond the grade.
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South Milwaukee lost well-known local businessman Ed Abrams last week.
You can read the obituary for the owner of Spirits Bar & Grill here. From it …
Edward attended Wauwatosa West High School before embarking on a diverse career. He worked on Merchant Marine ships and also found joy in owning Tavern Middle Earth and Spirits Bar & Grill. His dedication to his work was evident in all his endeavors.
Beyond his professional life, Edward enjoyed a variety of hobbies, including fishing, playing pool, and visiting Disney World. He cherished spending time with his beloved dogs, Ellie and Bella, and was a familiar face at his establishments.
Described as a caring and giving man with a sharp wit, Edward was known for his kindness and willingness to help others, even if it meant forgetting about financial assistance he provided. His humor and candid nature left a lasting impact on those around him.
Rest in peace, Ed. Services are Saturday, June 15.
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Longtime South Milwaukeee Mayor Chet Grobschmidt turns 104 years old today. Please join me in celebrating this local icon. Happy birthday, Chet!
Check out the TMJ4 story here. And here is the proclamation we gave him in 2020, as he turned 100.
WHEREAS, Chester W. Grobschmidt was born June 8, 1920, one of five children of John and Ann Grobschmidt. The family moved to South Milwaukee in 1926. Chet attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from South Milwaukee High School in 1938; and
WHEREAS, in 1938 Chet got his first job pedaling the Shopping News. Four years later, Chet began his 40-year career at Bucyrus Erie, retiring in 1983. Chet served in the Navy during World War II from 1942-46 in New Guinea (Admiralty Islands), and was discharged with the rank of Second Class Metalsmith. Chet was celebrated for his service by participating in an Honor Flight to Washington D.C.; and
WHEREAS, in January, 1948, during the Blizzard of ‘48, Chet married Leone Repech and they had two children, Richard and Karen. Leone passed away in 1982 after 34 years of marriage. In 1992, Chet married Lorraine Schweitzer and expanded his family with four stepchildren: Sharon, Patsy, Jim and Jon. Chet and Lorraine were married for 24 years until her death in 2016; and
WHEREAS, Chet has a long legacy of service to his community. He served as Alderperson for the Fourth District for nine years. In 1966, Chet was elected Mayor of the City of South Milwaukee and served the city in that capacity for 28 years, retiring in 1994. During his time as Mayor, Chet provided strong leadership for the city during a time of significant change. This list of course is long, a few highlights are in 1982, City Hall moved to its current location at the former Parkway Elementary School on 15th Avenue, and the mayor led efforts to fund and open the South Milwaukee Senior Center, which was renamed the Chester W. Grobschmidt Senior Center in 1996. The new fire station was dedicated in 1981, and Chet was instrumental in the bringing the Med-10 Unit to the city which began service in 1988. He also began the recycling program and led efforts to keep local control over the South Milwaukee Sewage Treatment Plant; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Chet’s dedication to the city and it didn’t end when he left office. Chet was a strong advocate for the beautification of the downtown area. An avid gardener, he prized his dahlias and would bring some to City Hall every year for the employees to enjoy. He was a member of multiple veterans organizations, involved with the War Memorial and served as president of the Historical Society; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Erik Brooks and the Common Council of the City of South Milwaukee do hereby declare June 8, 2020, as “Mayor Chet Day” in the City of South Milwaukee in celebration of his 100th birthday, wish Chet well as we recognize this milestone, and thank him for his lifetime of dedicated service to the city.
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The Grobschmidt Senior Center will close at the end of 2024, and the city will partner with the Wisconsin Policy Forum to study the future of the South Milwaukee Public Library following two South Milwaukee Common Council votes — and more than 90 minutes of comments from the public — on Tuesday.
The council voted 8-0 to close the senior center. The vote was 7-1 on the library study.
The votes came after more than 30 people offered public comments on the topics, with many making personal and passionate pleas to the city to continue to fund those services.
TMJ4 captured some of the emotion in the room in this story. A few of my takeaways …
So, what’s next? Keep speaking up! There is a still a lot to be decided, especially around the future of the library. This is just the beginning of that debate. Share your stories and your points of view.
While it may not always deliver the outcome you want, your voice makes a difference.
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Government, and governing, is about choices. I wish it wasn’t — I always prefer “both-and” vs. “either-or” debates, and those are still sometimes possible — but choices have to be made when it comes to where taxpayer dollars should be invested. In an era of increasingly constrained budgets, these decisions are increasingly difficult. Cuts more often have real impact. As dollars are saved, services are impacted. The fat in most muncipal budgets, especially South Milwaukee, is long gone.
Which brings me to what’s happening with two South Milwaukee institutions: the South Milwaukee Public Library and Grobschmidt Senior Center.
Senior Center
First, the Senior Center. Last week, the city announced it will permanently close the facility at the end of the year, linking the resulting cost savings to the decision to contract with the City of Oak Creek for dispatch services starting in 2025. I support this decision.
The city allocates nearly $150,000 to the Senior Center each year, which is hard to justify given its declining membership (it serves just 225 people) and the fact that the majority of those members reside outside the city. Consider: The center costs the city $1,419.54 per South Milwaukee member, acording to the city. It costs $7.34 per South Milwaukee resident.
Also working against the center: Milwaukee County operates its Kelly Senior Center less than three miles away — offering similar services — and longtime South Milwaukee Senior Center Director Sandy Quinlan is retiriing at the end of the year. Now is the time to do it.
Here is the council and Mayor Jim Shelenske’s letter to the community on the issue …
Reallocating more than $560,000 to dispatch costs is a big investment, but a worthy one I fought hard for as mayor. We need to make it, and that money has to come from somewhere.
And while I wish the city wouldn’t directly link the senior center closure to dispatch costs — budgeting is more complicated than a binary choice across two very different city government functions — the need to find extra funding is real. It’s the right choice.
South Milwaukee Library
The future of the library is more nuanced, complex and critical to the larger community.
The South Milwaukee City Council on Tuesday, June 4 — meeting time is 7 p.m. at City Hall — will be considering a “motion to approve a scope of services outline from the Wisconsin Policy Forum in an amount not to exceed $14,500 to explore options for library services in the City of South Milwaukee.” Specifically, the Forum would look at:
Here is the information the city shared on its website last week …
I support the study. After years of increasingly tight budgets, belt tightening and service reductions, it is time to explore options — and, more importantly, best practices and how we might employ them in South Milwaukee — for our library. And the Policy Forum is the right organization to do it. It is a trusted, local, and independent source that will provide what we need for a way forward.
I hope the Policy Forum asks me what I think. Here is what I would tell them.
Libraries define communities. Think of what nearly every city, village or town, from the smallest to the largest, has: A library. Why? They are public places in an inceasingly connected yet disconnected world, providing essential services that have the ability to touch residents of every age.
It was that way in 1917, when the South Milwaukee Library was founded. It’s even more so today.
I really liked this description from the National Endowment for the Humanities …
There aren’t many truly public places left in America. Most of our shared spaces require money or a certain social status to access. Malls exist to sell people things. Museums discourage loiterers. Coffee shops expect patrons to purchase a drink or snack if they want to enjoy the premises. One place, though, remains open to everybody. The public library requires nothing of its visitors: no purchases, no membership fees, no dress code. You can stay all day, and you don’t have to buy anything. … In a country riven by racial, ethnic, political, and socioeconomic divides, libraries still welcome everyone.
Put another way, from the article, libraries are “social infrastructure … the physical spaces and organizations that shape the way people interact.”
They are also increasingly everything to everyone, and it’s about way more than checking out physical books. They are job centers, copy centers, meeting venues, Blockbuster Video stores (apologies to anyone under the age of 40 reading this; learn more here), Netflix, and WiFi hot spots.
They are also Google, but smarter and more personal. Researching your genealogy? Have questions about consumer issues, technology or your health? That and plenty more is available through free library databases.
Then there is the programming calendar, hundreds of offerings throughout the year for kids to seniors. Get your blood pressure screened, take a Barre fitness class, have a teen Nerf war, and join the weekly “Music and Movement” storytime. Meet with Lego Club and STEAM Club, and there is teen anime and a magician. Try fiber art and learn about the history of Continental Tile in South Milwaukee.
And that’s just in June.
Libraries can also be the keeper of a community’s history and help tell that history story. Ours does it better than most. Have you clicked on the Local History link on the South Milwaukee Library website recently, to see their work as South Milwaukee archivist? Do it now. I’ll wait …
[Waiting as you check out the digital collection of yearbooks, newspapers, government documents, historical photos, telephone directories, written histories, Spectacle of Music programs and more]
And it’s all free. That’s what makes libraries so critical, especially now, especially here.
South Milwaukee families are struggling. More than 13% of residents are in poverty in our city, according to the U.S. Census. And well over half of all South Milwaukee School District students qualify for free or reduced lunch, signifiying some sort of economic challenge.
They are welcome at the library. All are welcome at the library. Even those from the nearly 700 South Milwaukee households in our city without a computer, and from the nearly 900 households without broadband. The 2,000+ people with a disability in South Milwaukee? The 1,500+ residents without a high school degree? The 2,300+ who speak a language other than English at home? Come on in! There is something for you here.
The library offers plenty of data points in annual report (see below). A sampling from 2023:
And maybe most importantly: 4,817 residents with library cards, almost 24% of our population.
But this is about more than numbers. It’s about serving the community, the entire community — and what it would mean if that service was no longer there, or diminished in a major way.
Here is a message the South Milwaukee Library shared last week …
There has been a lot of misinformation shared about our library on social media lately. As information professionals, we want to share some facts. This is our 2023 Annual Report which shows our library’s usage for the past year. The City of South Milwaukee is facing significant budget constraints and these affect the library. This coming Tuesday, June 4th, the South Milwaukee Common Council will look at an agenda item to consider a third party study that will evaluate library services in South Milwaukee and present suggestions for library services moving forward.
If the library were to close, and the city still wanted to offer library services to its citizens through allowing them to utilize neighboring libraries, based on current library usage and the population size of South Milwaukee, it would cost the city $1.2 million annually. The library’s budget for 2024 is approximately $690,000. We are confident that no one WANTS to close the library; however, we might need to relocate in order to save funds. Other solutions could be identified from the study.
If you want to support the library, the most important thing you can do is get a library card and use your library! It’s also important to come into the library, look around, check out materials, or attend a program. All of these things are free and are important data points for the library to show its value.
If you want to do more, you can join the Friends of the South Milwaukee Public Library. Membership costs $5 for a single membership or $10 for a family membership. If you want to do even more, you can donate to the library here: https://countycat.mcfls.org/screens/donate.html
We are committed to serving the community of South Milwaukee, and thank you for your support.
You’re welcome.
I am sure the city council and mayor will hear quite a bit from residents on Tuesday about the importance of the library, and what would happen if it closed or if something resembling closure came of this effort. Good. They should be reminded of that.
Indeed, if there is anything good coming from this sobering fiscal reality and resulting study, it’s that community conversation. Let’s get the data and other information we need to have that dialogue. And then let’s have it — never forgetting just what libraries mean to communities like ours.
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