Category Archives: Uncategorized

I’ll be taking a break from blogging this Labor Day weekend.

I hope you can enjoy the long weekend with your family and friends … and, while you do, don’t forget the reason for the holiday. According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, this day is “dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

On this weekend, I give a special shout out to our city employees. We deliver first-class services in this city, and that’s a credit to their hard work and dedication. I am thankful for that.

To celebrate them and all workers, I might suggest a few South Shore events, check out Oak Creek Lionsfest or St. Francis Days. And, of course, the South Milwaukee football team travels to Westosha Central in Paddock Lake tonight. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week!

A big thanks to McDonald’s and Educator’s Credit Union for investing in their businesses — and in South Milwaukee. Both recently completed extensive renovation projects. Stop by and see for yourself!

Back to the blog after a week of vacation …

Here is some of the local news from the past week.

• The Caterpillar contract and layoffs continues to make headlines. Today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a story quoting an employee seeking public release of the contract vote results. And Tim Sullivan has slammed the Caterpillar CEO for the recent round of layoffs at the plant. Check out the Business Journal story.
• The South Milwaukee Fire Department helped a distressed boater over the weekend.
• And South Milwaukee police are looking for the driver of an SUV that caused a motorcycle accident at 15th and Drexel Avenue on Saturday. Two people were injured. From the press release: “The suspect vehicle is described as a newer model, dark red or burgundy colored SUV, similar to a GMC Yukon, with tinted windows. The vehicle should have significant damage to its front, passenger side and at least one broken window on the passenger side. The vehicle was being driven by a black male and possibly also occupied by a black male passenger, who may also have been injured. The vehicle was last seen travelling west on Rawson Avenue, from Howell Avenue, in the city of Oak Creek, at a very high rate of speed. Anyone having information on this suspect is asked to contact the South Milwaukee Police Department at 768-8060.”

South Milwaukee NOW has published a new police blotter, too.

I guess I thought the new contract would avert these. I guess not.

Around 260 are planned in coming weeks, according to various media reports.

So please keep the hundreds of families impacted by these layoffs in your thoughts and prayers.

With that, I will be taking some time off from the blog, returning next week.

As always, I’d like to thank my readers and encourage you to spread the word about this website. I am proud to offer this service and look forward to continuing it in the days, months and years to come.

Until next week …

Continuing a regular series of blog posts on the South Milwaukee Police Department’s annual award winners …

This one was particularly inspiring (and emotional) to hear at the South Milwaukee City Council meeting earlier this month, as Mrs. Schulz — and the man she saved, and his family — were in attendance.

Police Chief Ann Wellens also read from a heart-felt story posted on NOW about the case. It’s absolutely worth the read.

CITIZEN RECOGNITION AWARD

Whenever any officer believes that behavior coming to the attention personally or through a third party is deserving of recognition by the Department, an officer should indicate the circumstances of the incident in writing and should forward same to the Awards Committee.  Upon Committee approval, the Chief will affix their stamp of approval.

Mrs. Cynthia Schulz

Officer Dave Stratton recommended Mrs. Schulz for a Citizen Recognition Award for her actions on May 15, 2012.

 On May 15, 2012 Ms. Schulz was driving on College Avenue in South Milwaukee when she observed a serious traffic accident.  She immediately stopped at the scene and began rendering assistance.  Ms. Schulz removed the non-responsive driver from the vehicle and immediately began CPR.  Ms. Schulz continued CPR until relieved by SMFD personnel.  Because of her actions the driver of the vehicle was transported to Froedert Hospital and began a successful recovery.  Ms. Schulz’s concern for this subject and his welfare should be commended.

Awful, just awful. What kind of people do this?

As the father of an 8-year-old boy — one of the victims of Monday’s Boston bombings apparently was an 8-year-old boy — it’s difficult to comprehend today’s events. Difficult, but not impossible. Nothing surprises me anymore.

For now, please join in praying for those impacted by this senseless tragedy. In some ways, that’s all of us.

Just got the following update from the South Milwaukee School District …

WIAA REGIONAL WRESTLING

The Rockets won Regionals last Saturday and qualified for WIAA Team Sectionals for the first time (Team Sectionals began in 1992). Rockets who won Regional Championships included McCoy Swanson (126), Ben Zbikowski (160), Tom Mitchell (182), Brian Chapman (195) & Tom Wawzyniak (285). At Team Sectionals, the Rockets took on a deep and tough Burlington squad and gave them a scare, but lost 34-21 in a good match.

BOYS BASKETBALL TONIGHT

Boys Basketball vs. Brown Deer (4:15pm Freshman, 5:45pm JV & 7:30pm Varsity)

Senior Night & Be Like Mike Night – The Rockets will honor their senior class of Nick Lehrer, Brandon Kocherer, Seth Robinson, Kojo Kazmende, Evan Marlowe, Jordan Pekar, Josh Nelson & Richard Day. Fans are asked to wear orange or purchase a Be Like Mike t-shirt to show support for 8th grader Michael Christensen, the younger brother of junior varsity basketball player Richard Christensen and his battle with Leukemia.

Last Game – The Rockets beat St. Francis 63-40 behind 24 pts by Jr. Tanner Zaeske and 17 pts. by Sr. Brandon Kocherer

GIRLS BASKETBALL FRIDAY

Girls Basketball v. St. Francis  (4:15pm Freshman, 5:45pm JV & 7:30pm Varsity)

Senior Night – The Rockets will honor their senior class of Lisa Thush, Brittany Bruck, Sam Page, Ellie Pusheck, Riley Budde, Emily Pusheck & Katie Bartlett as they look to move one step closer to winning the Woodland East title!

Last Game – The Rockets beat Brown Deer 48-37 behind 12 pts and 12 rebounds from Emily Pusheck and 16 pts from Ellie Pusheck.

BOYS BASKETBALL – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

The #7 seeded Rockets will host #10 seeded Indian Trail in the WIAA Regional opener. All tickets are $4 (no passes accepted). Come on out and support the Rockets as March Madness begins early!!! Game time is 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16

The Rocket Cheerleaders compete on Saturday, February 16th at the WACPC Regional competition at Wilmot High School, hoping to qualify for State in Madison the following weekend. Competition starts at 9:00am. Rocket cheerleaders perform around 11:30 against six other teams in their division.

Rocket Wrestling – A number of Rocket wrestlers qualified for Sectionals, including McCoy Swanson (126), Mitchell Dess (132), Gage Keene (138), Tanner Dorangrichia (145),Stuart Swanson (152), Ben Zbikowski (160), Josh Wilkowski (170), Tom Mitchell (182), Brian Chapman (195), Kenny Senner (220), and Tom Wawrzyniak (285).

Wrestling Sectionals @ Racine Case HS

Doors open at 9:00am

Wrestling begins at 10:00am (finals should start between 2:30pm and 3:30pm per a guess from Case)

$7 – all day price, $5 – for session 2 & finals, $4 – finals 

UW-OSHKOSH & KATIE KITZKE

For the second time this season, Katie was named Conference Player of the Week!

http://uwoshkoshtitans.com/sports/wbkb/2012-13/releases/201302124dxtid

MIAMI HURRICANES & TREY McKINNEY JONES

The 20-3 Hurricanes are ranked #3 in the country and have 2 national tv games coming up:

Sunday, February 17 on ESPNU at 5:00pm @ Clemson

Tuesday, February 19 on ESPNU at 8:00pm v. Virginia

DONATION DAYS

Also, We have 2 more Cousins Donation Days next week:

Mon. February 18 – Cousins Sub Donation Day to benefit the Rocket Basketball program (9:00am-10:00pm) at the Cousins in South Milwaukee.

Wed. February 20 – Cousins Sub Donation Day to benefit the Rocket Basketball program (9:00am-10:00pm) at the Cousins in South Milwaukee.

Taking a couple of days off from blogging, barring any big breaking news from South Milwaukee …

Thanks to everyone for reading, and I pray you have a blessed holiday with your family and friends.

The blog was born three years ago today.

I published my first post on 4th District Blog (the site was renamed later) on improvements to 15th Avenue. More than 1,200 have been published since then, attracting more than 1,700 comments. And I’m just getting started.

Of course, none of this would be possible — or worth it — without readers, and I sincerely thank you for logging on. I hope you find what you read here valuable, and always welcome feedback on how to make the blog better.

In the end, this is your blog — a community resource that would not be what it is today without community support.

So far, the blog has logged more than 142,000 page views, and readership continues to grow. The blog’s biggest month was last month, with more than 12,500 page views alone, including 1,276 on Sept. 19 (the blog’s busiest day).

I hope that figure only increases … and I’m already looking forward to celebrating the blog’s fourth birthday. I’ll bring the cake.