The April 5 ballot will include one contested South Milwaukee race.
Two South Milwaukee School Board seats are up, and incumbents Terri Travia and Doug Perry are running against challenger Frank “Disco” Gratke. They are seeking three-year terms. South Milwaukee Municipal Judge Bill Fenger is running unopposed for an eighth term. The judge serves a three-year term.
More on these races as the election nears …
Filed under 2016 Elections, Schools, South Milwaukee
Two people are running to replace Supervisor Patricia Jursik on the Milwaukee County Board.
The two candidates for the District 8 seat are …
Cudahy’s Kevin Fech, who had filed a declaration of candidacy for the seat, informed me today he will not be running.
The deadline for nomination signatures was 5 p.m. today.
You can see a list of all 2016 spring candidates on the Milwaukee County Election Commission website here. And here is Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage on contested races.
Election day is Tuesday, April 5.
Jursik announced in November she would not seek another term.
Look for more information as the race heats up this winter.
Filed under 2016 Elections, Cudahy, Milwaukee County, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee
Lots happening at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center in the next few months …
See the full list of big events and details here. Next up: A Cappella with Six Appeal on Saturday, January 23.
From the PAC website …
Popularized by TV shows like “Glee”, “The Voice” and the “Sing-Off” and movies like “Pitch Perfect I & II”, a cappella music has swept the country! It’s hot and it’s fun! That’s why Landaas and Company Investments and The Rotary Club of Mitchell Field are excited to welcome Six Appeal to the beautiful South Milwaukee PAC. Join the Six Appeal Vocal Band for an evening of a cappella artistry as they bring their vivid musical style, unmatched energy and playful charm to songs spanning the musical spectrum: from pop to country, classic rock to R&B and jazz. Now, here’s the best part! Six Appeal will spend the day of the show conducting workshops for area high school, tech and college students in the art and science of a cappella. The evening show will open with performances by student a cappella groups who’ve spent the day studying with the band. Six Appeal will then share the stage with their entire class before taking the microphones and rocking the house like no one else can! Ask anyone who attended last year’s show – this will be the must-see concert of the year! Proceeds from ticket sales will go to fund community and international projects of The Rotary Club of Mitchell Field.
Filed under Events, South Milwaukee, South Milwaukee PAC
Various news outlets are reporting a tragic story from Cudahy — the apparent murder-suicide death of a 2-year-old girl, shot and killed by her father shortly after the clock struck midnight on the new year.
See coverage from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Fox 6, and WISN.
Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers, and let’s not forget the first responders: South Milwaukee paramedics. The trauma for them is real, too, and this type of incident only adds to my appreciation of them and the work they do.
Filed under Crime, Cudahy, South Milwaukee
I posted this story on my Facebook page last night, and it’s blown up, with more than 500 likes, 43 shares, 39 comments and a reach of more than 14,000. I reprint it here … and repeat my thanks to these young men.
Call it another example of South Milwaukee student athlete volunteerism in action. Last night, I spoke to a local senior citizen who was concerned she would not be able to remove the snow and ice from her corner lot sidewalk. I sent Rocket football Coach Derek Hoff an email asking for help … and minutes later got a message back saying several of his players were already on the way. Jake Simuncak, Nick Honerlaw and Clayton Westrum stepped up. Really, really cool. Go Rockets, indeed.
Filed under South Milwaukee, Sports
It’s South Milwaukee’s version of the Polar Plunge.
From the Polar Bear Dash 5K website …
START YOUR NEW YEAR OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT. And then the left! The Polar Bear Dash is a 5k race on New Year’s Day at beautiful Grant Park in South Milwaukee. What sets this race apart from any other 5k race you have done: an optional polar dip into Lake Michigan at the end of the race. There will be a special award to the first few runners who take the dare into the lake immediately after the race.
Of course, the South Milwaukee Fire Department will be on hand to make sure all goes well with the lake plunge. Here is video from their work last year. It looks like it will be another cold one on Friday — high of 22 degrees.
Filed under Events, Parks, South Milwaukee
Update: Read coverage in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and on Fox 6.
The former St. Adalbert’s property has been sold to a mosque for use as an Islamic house of worship and school.
The purchase by Masjid Al-Huda Milwaukee — also known as Guidance Inc. — closed last week.
They plan to use the facility for both worship services — five per day, between the hours of sunrise and sunset — and religious education for primarily middle and grade school-aged children, after the normal school day, and other events.
The mosque hopes to take occupancy by late January.
You can learn more about the mosque, which also has a location in Greenfield, here and on their Facebook page.
I want to officially welcome Al-Huda to South Milwaukee. We are a welcoming and increasingly diverse community, and the fact that Al-Huda sought out St. Adalbert’s is a reflection of that.
I personally look forward to getting to know the members of Al-Huda more, and to see them become a part of this community, as they have pledged to do. They want to open their doors to introduce themselves to South Milwaukee and educate residents about who they are — and, perhaps just as importantly, who they aren’t.
In meeting with them recently, I encouraged them to do just that.
(One way they’re showing community commitment already: They have told me they will continue to allow Lionsfest on their property.)
I also ask South Milwaukeeans to take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about our newest neighbors and their beliefs.
I fully realize there is an increased anti-Muslim sentiment, given recent world events. I pray not to see that here. We are fighting extremists, radicalized terrorists who preach jihad. That is not Masjid Al-Huda Milwaukee.
I turn to their statement about the most recent terror attacks …
Masjid Al-Huda, along with Muslims throughout Milwaukee, are heartbroken over the recent string of violent attacks that have been perpetrated over this past week. The stabbings that took place in London, the suicide bombings in Chad, and the shooting in San Bernardino has left people all over the world shaking their heads and asking the same question: “Why?”
Such acts are cowardly and carry no purpose other than promoting a militant agenda that finds no basis in any religion or humane ideology. We at Masjid Al-Huda encourage all members of the greater Milwaukee community to take this opportunity to fight such ideologies through acts of kindness directed towards everyone, despite our differences.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
One additional note: I know some have wondered why I have not written about this on my blog until now, and why the city did not formally announce this. The short answer: It’s not our place to do so. This is a real estate transaction that does not require city approval and, because of it, no public meetings, etc. Instead, it’s up to the buyer and seller to announce their plans. We must abide by their wishes. In this case, Divine Mercy and Masjid Al-Huda are announcing the sale to the media today and gave me permission to share the news on my blog.
Filed under South Milwaukee
On behalf of the Brookses, I want to wish you all a joyous and happy holiday. I love being the mayor of this great city. And I love being a part of this family even more. Merry Christmas!
Filed under South Milwaukee
Here are more South Shore headlines …
And NOW has published a new police blotter.
Filed under Headlines, South Milwaukee
Good news for students, dog walkers, bikers and runners: The Beech Street foot bridge over Oak Creek was put in place on Monday.
According to Milwaukee County, “Work is progressing on the approaches today (Tuesday, Dec. 22). The bridge is usable but still hard to get to without the approaches. … The bridge should be safely usable by Thursday.”
Paving the approaches and turf restoration will not occur until the spring.
Thanks to the Parks Department for their work in getting this done before Christmas, and to County Supervisor Pat Jursik for leading the charge to get this built as quickly as it is.
This bridge will stand the test of time, and it’s great to see the county’s continued investment in our parks and parkways.
Filed under Milwaukee County, Oak Creek watershed, Parks, South Milwaukee
What a watershed week for the future of the Oak Creek watershed.
In the past week, the South Milwaukee Common Council, Milwaukee County Board and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Board all approved intergovernmental cooperation agreements for the creation of an Oak Creek watershed restoration plan.
Next: The beginning of the planning process itself in the first couple of months of 2016.
The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission will do the work, as it develops recommendations to improve water quality, recreational access and use, habitat conditions and targeted stormwater drainage and flooding issues. The status and future of the Mill Pond and dam will also receive special focus as part of the study.
It’s much-needed work that is too long in coming — about 30 years, to be exact. That’s how long it’s been since the watershed has received this kind of holistic planning focus. And I’m proud to help drive it.
Of course, patience is encouraged, as we take a long-term view in fixing the watershed.
The study will take more than two years to complete. My ask: Be heard, throughout.
There will be plenty of opportunities for public input, comment and reaction. In addition to regular meetings of a technical committee comprised of representatives from each watershed jurisdiction, there will be a number of stakeholder meetings for area residents, an open house and other chances to weigh in. More details to come on that early next year.
The study will cost $542,900, with MMSD contributing $280,000 of that — equal to the amount of watershed land mass in the sewerage district boundaries. SEWRPC is contributing $225,000 in-kind, while the remaining $18,950 shares will be paid by the City of South Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.
I have every confidence this will be money well spent, as it yields the information, science, context and road map we need to make decisions big and small in bringing the watershed back to life.
In other words, the work toward a cleaner and more vibrant Oak Creek watershed begins now. Dive in with all the partners who have come together to make this restoration plan a reality.
Let’s go.
Filed under City Council, Milwaukee County, Oak Creek watershed, South Milwaukee
I just heard about this great example of local industry stepping up to support local kids.
From the South Milwaukee School District …
Through a generous $40,000 donation from Caterpillar, the Technology & Engineering department at South Milwaukee High School was able to purchase a new CNC milling machine. The milling machine accepts computerized 3D modeled designs and machines them out of wood, plastic, or aluminum.
The donation will also fund the future purchase of a 3D printer, design laptops, field trips, engineering kits, and professional development opportunities for teachers. The equipment will be used to create a new rapid prototype lab for students to manufacture their design projects.
A big thank you goes out to Caterpillar and their support for our technology & engineering program. Caterpillar sponsors and their engineers lead South Milwaukee High School’s FIRST Robotics Team. Also, each year engineering students are invited to take a field trip to visit the plant and engineers then visit the school as guest speakers and engineering project judges.
Pictured is the Roland MDX-540 Bench Top CNC Milling Machine.
This is really cool. Thanks, Caterpillar. And good luck to our next generation of engineers and skilled workers.
Filed under Caterpillar, Schools, South Milwaukee
The city council has approved a new contract with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1633.
The two-year deal — which begins Jan. 1, 2016, and ends Dec. 31, 2017 — includes 2% pay raises each year and a continued commitment by firefighters to pay the same toward their health insurance and pensions as all other employees do. The latter point is significant because it puts everyone on a level playing field, even though police and fire unions are exempted from Act 10 bargaining limitations.
The union has ratified the deal, and it replaces this contract.
The IAFF Local 1633 represents 21 South Milwaukee firefighters and paramedics, and I thank them for their work on this contract – another strong example of the type of collaboration that can happen among public employee unions and their employers.
And this is a partnership – our front-line firefighters and paramedics working with department and city leaders on matters that are truly life and death. We are only as good as our people when it comes to delivering our services, and we’re blessed to have some of the best in the SMFD.
Here is the statement from IAFF Local 1633 President Kurt Egner …
The Firefighters of Local 1633 are proud to serve the citizens of South Milwaukee. The Union values its partnership with the City and we are pleased to have participated in the smooth negotiation process that resulted in what we believe to be a reasonable agreement for both parties.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Filed under City Council, Fire, South Milwaukee
Tragic news today. From the South Milwaukee Police Department:
On December 19, 2015 at 6:38am, the South Milwaukee Police Department responded to the intersection of 10th Avenue (Hwy 32) and Marquette Avenue for a report of a single car crash. The vehicle had traveled through the intersection and struck a fire hydrant, a traffic light standard, and then a utility pole at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was eastbound in the westbound lane at the time of the crash. The sole occupant of the vehicle was a 35 yr old male who was still in his seat belt and breathing at the time of police arrival. The South Milwaukee Fire Department responded and Flight for Life was requested. The subject died in the ambulance at the scene and Flight was cancelled. The crash is still under investigation at this time and the SMPD is being assisted by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department in reconstruction efforts.
The victim was identified as David K. Kelly of Waukesha.
Please keep the victim’s family in your thoughts and prayers.
Filed under South Milwaukee, South Milwaukee Police
From South Milwaukee technology and engineering teacher Erik Wolbach …
The 2nd Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta on December 17th at South Milwaukee High School was a big success. Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer on our young engineers of the Technology & Engineering Academy. The competition highlights and interviews will be televised on Fox 6 News on December 27th at 10:30PM. The following are champions and award recipients:
Pictured: Jon Yang and Tim Bralick preparing to row their championship boat.
Congratulations to everyone who took part in this latest example of innovation in South Milwaukee schools. Go Rockets!
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee
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