by | April 1, 2015 · 5:27 pm

New Business Updates

Nomi JCs Produce This and That

Lots of new business momentum these days in South Milwaukee …

  • First, Nomi Coffee is now open. For now, it’s coffee and baked goods, but there are plans for fuller breakfast and lunch options. Temporary hours are Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Two new businesses are coming to the 1200 block of Milwaukee Avenue downtown. JC’s Produce, expected to open this week, is a convenience store with a focus on fresh produce (and no alcohol). It’s located in the former liquor store building at 1232 Milwaukee Ave. Across the street is This & That, a discount variety store. It will open in a few weeks.
  • Also, Hidden Treasures, a collectibles store, has opened in the 1000 block of Milwaukee Ave.

Let’s welcome all of these new businesses to town!

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by | April 1, 2015 · 5:22 pm

South Milwaukee Leos Offer Free Community Movie Night: “Hop”

Leos movie night Mark your calendars for April 17!

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by | March 30, 2015 · 7:15 pm

Shooting Ruled A Homicide

Update: There is coverage from WISN, Fox 6 and TMJ4. 

South Milwaukee Police have ruled last Thursday’s shooting a homicide, the city’s first in five years.

From the department …

On March 26, 2015, at approximately 6:31am the South Milwaukee Police Department received a 911 call from 2504 Lake Shore Blvd regarding an accidental shooting which had just taken place. Officers responded to the residence and located a victim who had been shot inside the residence. Life saving measures were attempted, but were unsuccessful. Subsequent investigation revealed that a deceased female was the victim of a homicide. The victim has been identified as 68yr old South Milwaukee resident Scheherazade Mae Chadwick. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone having information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the South Milwaukee Police Department.

Reiterating, if you can help with this case, please contact the SMPD at 414-768-8060.

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by | March 29, 2015 · 9:56 pm

No One Hurt In South Milwaukee Duplex Fire

Maple Fire Revised

From the South Milwaukee Fire Department … please keep these residents in your prayers.

At approximately 4:40PM this afternoon, SMFD responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a fire in the lower unit of a duplex at 1821 Maple Street.  Arriving SMFD units forced entry into the lower unit and encountered heavy smoke causing zero visibility conditions and a fire burning in the kitchen and extending down a hallway.  Crews extinguished the fire but not before extensive heat and smoke damage occurred on the first floor.  The fire was discovered by the upstairs tenant whose smoke alarm is interconnected with the one in the lower unit.  Once his detector sounded, he went to investigate and saw flames in the kitchen of the lower unit through the front window.  No one was home in the lower unit at the time of the fire.  Damaged was extensive to the first floor with moderate smoke damage to the 2nd floor.  Thankfully, the 2nd floor tenant took the time to close his door when leaving.  No injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and the American Red Cross has been requested to the scene to assist the families.

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by | March 29, 2015 · 12:21 pm

Celebrate Earth Day 2015

Earth Day 2015

A quick peek at what’s coming up on Saturday, April 25 … mark your calendars as we look to make this event bigger and better than ever!

Volunteers needed, of course. So start organizing your groups now. There’s plenty to do.

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by | March 29, 2015 · 8:48 am

Introducing … The South Milwaukee Food Truck Festival!

Another cool new event for our city … and it’s coming up quickly.

The area’s top food trucks are planning a stop in downtown South Milwaukee.

I’m excited to announce the first-ever South Milwaukee Food Truck Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Food Truck Alliance. The event — planned for noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, on 11th and Milwaukee Avenues, site of the farmers’ market — will feature a number of the area’s top trucks and live music throughout the afternoon.

Already committed to attend: Streetza Pizza, Gouda Girls, Eats & Treats, Meat on the Street, Simmer, and Hattie’s, with more to come.

The event will go before the city council for formal approval this Tuesday.

Mark your calendars, save your appetite, and help me spread the word.

This will be a huge hit. Besides great food, these trucks have huge followings and fans from across the area that have yet to discover our fair city. We’re expecting there will good spillover business to our existing downtown stores.

And this is just the start to our downtown summer. From this to the farmers’ market to the return to the outdoor movies to Evening on the Avenue to the Heritage Days Parade — and more — downtown South Milwaukee will be hopping in 2015.

Look for a full list of downtown events coming soon.

One more note: To get a sense of how big these food trucks are and the reach they have, consider the award-winning Streetza Pizza. Owned by South Milwaukee resident Scott Baitinger, it has 12,500 Twitter followers. And that’s just one truck.

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by | March 26, 2015 · 2:09 pm

Update: South Milwaukee Shooting Investigation

The South Milwaukee Police Department has issued an updated press release on this morning’s shooting, including the name of the victim and the address of the incident.

At approximately 6:31 am the South Milwaukee Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call reporting an accidental shooting at 2504 Lake Shore Blvd, South Milwaukee. Officers responded to the residence and located a victim who had been shot inside the residence. Life saving measures were attempted but were unsuccessful.

Victim: Scheherazade Mae Chadwick, 68 years of age

South Milwaukee Police Department is currently conducting a death investigation. The Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory is assisting in the investigation.

There are no further details at this time.

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by | March 26, 2015 · 10:45 am

Death Investigation Underway Following Report Of Accidental Shooting

From the South Milwaukee Police Department …

At approximately 6:31 am the South Milwaukee Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call reporting an accidental shooting at a residence located in the 2500 block of Lake Shore Boulevard. Officers responded to the residence and located a victim who had been shot inside the residence. Life saving measures were attempted but were unsuccessful.

The South Milwaukee Police Department is currently conducting a death investigation.

There are no further details at this time.

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by | March 25, 2015 · 9:37 pm

Town Hall With Senator Larson Set For Monday At South Milwaukee Library

I’ll be joining State Sen. Chris Larson for a town hall meeting this Monday, March 30, to discuss the state budget and its impact on state programs, as well as its impacts on the City of South Milwaukee.

We’ll be meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the South Milwaukee Library.

Sen. Larson will devote the first 30-45 minutes to highlight what is in the budget and then will open the meeting to a Q&A session. While the focus will be on the budget, feel free to ask questions about other topics.

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by | March 25, 2015 · 3:01 pm

Honoring A South Milwaukee Hero

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“I’m just a caretaker, a soldier doing his job.”

Those are the humble words of a real hero, South Milwaukee resident Gary Wetzel. Gary, a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Vietnam War, was named Milwaukee County Veteran of the Year today and had a street sign and monument dedicated in his honor. I was honored to be a small part of the ceremony — and am incredibly thankful for his sacrifice and the sacrifice of all our veterans. We should all be thankful for their service, not just today but every day.

Thanks for calling South Milwaukee home, Gary

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by | March 24, 2015 · 9:21 pm

Headlines!

More news and notes from around the South Shore …

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.

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by | March 24, 2015 · 8:56 pm

Saturday’s SMPAC Performance Cancelled

More information from the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center … might I suggest using the tickets for the Kitzke performance or the gala event? Both very good options.

The Sunday, March 29 performance of In Thinking of America: Songs of the Civil War has been CANCELLED due to medical reasons.

South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center recently learned about a medical condition that prevents the artist, Robert Trentham, from travelling or performing at this time. We send Mr. Trentham our best wishes for a complete and quick recovery.

We are unable to reschedule the performance, so current ticket holders will be contacted by our box office to receive a refund or exchange their tickets for the April 10th performance by Jerome Kitzke, Music in Poetry, Poetry in Music, or the May 1st 2014‐15 Performing Arts Series finale, 10th Anniversary Gala featuring Tomas Kubinek.

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by | March 23, 2015 · 8:19 pm

Partnering To Combat The Heroin Epidemic

The South Milwaukee Police Department is committed to fighting the battle against heroin in our community. And I stand with them.

One key front in that fight: education.

The department sent home a note and a flyer with more information on heroin abuse to all school parents last week. Here is the note …

Across the nation there is a growing heroin epidemic. Recently the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published an article titled “Heroin deaths in Milwaukee County jump 72%.” The South Milwaukee Police Department working together with the South Milwaukee School District is committed to protecting our youth and educating our parents regarding this epidemic.

 Through education, enforcement and working with the medical field we can fight this epidemic. It is a goal of the Police Department to partner with parents in an effort to stop this addiction.

 On the South Milwaukee Police Department website (www.smpolice.com) is educational information addressing the heroin epidemic. Please visit the South Milwaukee Police Department this educational information. Additional information can be found at www.pact360.org.

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by | March 23, 2015 · 4:28 pm

In-Person Absentee Voting Underway

Update: Here is a voter guide on the local candidates, including bio information and stances on issues.

You can now cast a vote in the April 7 election.

In-person absentee voting is open, meaning you can vote at South Milwaukee City Hall each business day between now and Thursday, April 2, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. City Hall will be closed on Good Friday, April 3. However, appointments can be made in advance with the city clerk to vote absentee on that day between 3 and 5 p.m. by calling 768-7499.

You don’t need a reason to vote this way — you can simply show up and request a ballot and cast it right there.

Learn more on the city’s elections web page, and you can also see sample ballots on the main page of the city website.

There are contested aldermanic races in the First and Second Districts and a contested school board race.

  • In the First District, incumbents Craig Maass and Frank Van Dusen III face challenger Frank Disco Gratke.
  • In the Second District, incumbents R. Patrick Stoner and Ramon Navarro face challengers Michael Johnson and Larry Pagelsdorf for two seats.
  • For school board, incumbent David Maass faces challengers Jon Shelenske and Jeff Dess for two seats.

And keep in mind that an ID is not required to vote for this election.

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by | March 22, 2015 · 2:52 pm

Happy Easter: Pancake Breakfast, Egg Hunt Set For This Saturday, March 28

It’s becoming an Easter tradition in South Milwaukee: the annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny & Egg Hunt, presented by the South Milwaukee Lions and Friends of the Mill Pond.

This year’s event is this Saturday, March 28, at the Grobschmidt Senior Center.

Breakfast runs from 8:30 to 11 a.m., with the egg hunt at 10:30.

The breakfast is $6 for adults, $4 for kids 5-11. Those under five are free. The egg hunt is free.

Here is the flyer.

See you there, and happy Easter!

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