South Milwaukee Blog

What a special run for a special team!

The South Milwaukee-Saint Thomas More-Reagan United boys’ volleyball team is headed to the WIAA State Tournament after a straight-set sectional final win over Franklin on Saturday.

Sixth-seeded United takes on third-seeded Marquette High in a quarterfinal at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the Resch Center. See the full schedule and information here.

And here is the route United took to get there.

This is an inspiring story that began more than a decade ago, as the Rockets, struggling to field a full team of players, joined with Saint Thomas More on a co-op team. Reagan was added after the pandemic, the result of a player — Ethan Jetzker, now one of the top players in the state — writing area athletic directors for a chance to play. South Milwaukee and Saint Thomas More responded.

And the rest is (hopefully) state history.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covers the story here, including that of its head coach, South Milwaukee graduate Tyler Cicigoi. From it …

Before it would even become official – South Milwaukee United – for the 2022 season, Jetzer showed up to South Milwaukee’s open gym for volleyball work.

“I saw this tall kid. I was like, ‘This is gonna be awesome. He’s gonna play middle for us,’” Jetzer said. “And he stuck his hand out and said, ‘Hey, I’m Coach Cicigoi.’ It was great. Right away I knew that he was going to be not only a coach but a friend.”

“He really put in the work right away, he was ready to go,” Cicigoi said of that first impression of Jetzer. “He’s a leader. We came from a one-win team. There’s hope for this program to not just only be good but be great and just seeing that impact he made on the court in an open gym just was incredible.”

Get behind this team!

Should be a fun day and evening in South Milwaukee!

Get a sneak peek at November events on the the blog’s Events page. It is updated frequently.

Some well-deserved recognition recently for the city team …

The following updates are from the City of South Milwaukee Facebook page.

South Milwaukee Fire Department

October 21: At this week’s Common Council meeting, SMFD gave recognition to the extraordinary efforts of our members. While the nature of our job demands extraordinary efforts daily, the following members were called upon rise to the occasion during chaotic, complicated, and rare encounters:

• Lifesaving Award: Matt Boss (not pictured). While off-duty, FF Boss was called upon to provide CPR and AED defibrillations resulting in a successful resuscitation and the patient returning to normal life.
• Meritorious EMS Award: Jeremy Fronczak, Ryan Miksa, Matt Swietlik, (not pictured: Nathan Heard). These paramedics received recognition for excellence in their service involving expert management of a chaotic and critical resuscitation.
• Meritorious Fire Response Award: Ryan Porter, Jason Helmlinger (not pictured: Ryan Wendt, Mike Landgraf, Mark Witt)

These department members received recognition for the actions they took in response to a swift water rescue involving a vehicle below grade and an entrapped driver.

South Milwaukee Police Department

October 18: Yesterday, Representative Jessie Rodriguez presented Captain Daniel Fournier of the South Milwaukee Police Department with the First Responder of the Year Award. Captain Fournier has been serving the City of South Milwaukee with honor and distinction as a law enforcement officer for 16 years. Most recently, he spearheaded SMPD’s initiative to add a K9 unit to the force. Because of his leadership, SMPD welcomed Rocket to the department earlier this year. Captain Fournier, thank you for your service!

South Milwaukee Health Department

October 10: Our Health Administrator, Jackie Ove, was awarded the Health Care Worker of the Year award by Congressman Steil last week. She was nominated by current and former staff for her dedication to improving the health of the communities. Congratulations!

Important news with a windy few days coming up …

Fall leaf collection is underway in South Milwaukee and continues through November 15th. Residents may place leaves in the street, at the curb. From the city …

• Leaves only. Please no yard waste, plants, grass, branches, or garden waste. This material will need to be disposed of at our Self-Deposit Station.
• Leaf collection crews will pick up piles of leaves one street at a time, in an orderly fashion.
• Residents who dispose of their leaves directly at the Self-Deposit Station will have the user fee of $3.00 waived from October 1st through November 15th.
• Fee is waived for leaves only.
• Do not add to any leaf piles after November 15th. The city may not be able to collect after that date.
• Leaf collection is weather dependent. Should snow fall before leaf season is over, city trucks will need be to be outfitted with snow removal equipment.
• Burning leaves is prohibited by local ordinance.

Voting closes Thursday in the Midwest Sport & Turf Systems’ Home Field Pride contest, and South Milwaukee’s Spaltholz Field is closing in on a win — and the $1,000 cash donation.

From Athletic Director Ante Udovicic: “We are a huge underdog, yet we are hanging in there with the 3rd biggest HS in Wisconsin, and we are only the 102nd biggest!”

Vote once per device per day using this link.

From Midwest Sport & Turf Systems …

A fast-growing Midwest-based company specializing in sports construction and synthetic turf related projects, Midwest Sport & Turf Systems has installed and serviced many of the turf fields that have become increasingly popular at schools around the state. To highlight these communities and their investments in their young people and student-athletes, WSN and MWSTS will select 51 recent MWSTS football fields to be featured as part of the Home Field Pride campaign.

These 51 incredible athletic fields installed by MWSTS will be split into four groups, and each week on WisSports.net, fans can vote on which field design and construction they think is the best. After the five preliminary rounds, the top vote-getter in each round plus the next three highest vote-getters overall will move on to the finals, where the winner will receive a $1,000 cash donation from Midwest Sport & Turf Systems.

Last year’s winner of the Home Field Pride Contest, Delavan-Darien’s Borg Stadium, joins Amherst’s Heartland Farms Field as past winners, and is moved to emeritus status and a new 2023 winner will be crowned.

So follow along beginning Saturday, September 16th and vote for your favorite in each of the weekly preliminary rounds and the finals, which will be conducted from Saturday, October 14th to Thursday, October 19th. If your school is selected, be sure to share with your school and community, and encourage your supporters to vote once per day per device!

Our city’s outstanding events schedule continues! A peek at some of what’s coming up …

• Wednesday, October 18: South Milwaukee Fire Department Spaghetti Dinner, 4 p.m., presented by Local 1633, South Milwaukee firehouse. Details
• Wednesday, October 18: “Sincerely, Sondheim,” 7:30 p.m., South Milwaukee PAC. Details
• Thursday, October 19: Community Dinner, 5-6:30 p.m., First Congregational United Church Christ. Details
• Saturday, October 21: South Milwaukee Historical Society Open House, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Details
• Saturday, October 21: Family Spooktacular at the Commons. This new family-friend Halloween-themed event will feature a carved pumpkin illumination and end with a spooky outdoor movie. Event starts at 4 p.m., movie at 7. Details
• Sunday, October 22: South Milwaukee Library Family Bowling Fundraiser. 1 p.m., Classic Lanes (Oak Creek). Details
• Tuesday, October 24: “It Takes a Whole Village,” free fall concert from the South Milwaukee High School choirs. 7 p.m., South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.
• Saturday, October 28: Fall Craft & Vendor Fair, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, South Milwaukee. Details
• Saturday, October 28: Official City of South Milwaukee trick-or-treating.

You can help make two upcoming holiday events events even more special!

October 21: Family Spooktacular at the Commons

First, consider registering your car/truck for the “trunk or treat” being planned for the Family Spooktacular at the Commons event on Saturday, October 21. Register your vehicle here. As of October 11, there are still spots available! Also planned is a Grand Pumpkin Illumination, and food/drinks will be available for purchase from local food trucks. Don’t forget to bring your dressed-up dog too! Stay for an outdoor movie — “Hocus Pocus,” airing at 6:30 p.m.

December 2: Christmas at the Commons

Mark your calendars now, as a holiday tradition is born at South Milwaukee’s downtown public square featuring a new take on the traditional Christmas parade, food, music, holiday activities, and family fun, culminating with the lighting of the city’s downtown Christmas tree.

As for that unique parade … it’s a standstill parade! Think traditional parade, but instead of units lining up and moving down the street, units line up … and stand still. Attendees walk around the parade units as they remain in place, meeting and greeting participants, watching them perform, etc. (Here is a fun example from Vermillion, S.D.)

The event itself begins at 3 p.m. at the adjacent Commons outdoor space and includes music, food, holiday activities and Santa. The “parade” runs from 4 to 5, and the event concludes with the lighting of the official city Christmas tree at the Commons starting at 6 p.m.

Learn more and sign up you entrant here. Organizations, businesses, team and more are welcome!

Learn more in this OnMilwaukee.com story … and see for yourself!

The work of local artist Lauren Marvell, combined with the creativity of James Moran, never disappoints.

And check out their list of events this month …

So glad to see a project come to life here …

We acquired this parcel in 2014, knowing it would be a strategic redevelopment opportunity for the downtown area, and city. I’m excited to see what’s next!

From the City of South Milwaukee press release …

South Milwaukee, WI – At the October 3, 2023 Common Council meeting, the City of South Milwaukee approved a development agreement to sell 2001 7th Avenue to Janssen-Bruckner, LLC for $250,000. The 2.3-acre site was first acquired by the City in 2014 for $120,000.

Janssen-Brucker, a Milwaukee area residential developer, has completed projects throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Their plan for the South Milwaukee site is eight single family homes.

The site, two blocks from South Milwaukee’s downtown, adjacent to the Mill Pond and along the Oak Creek Parkway environmental corridor, is within walking distance of Grant Park with its 380 acres and home of Seven Bridges Trail, an 18-hole golf course, a thriving beach, South Milwaukee Yacht Club, and the Oak Leaf Trail.

The sale comes after a request for proposals (RFP) process that started in 2022. According to forecasting by the City’s assessor, the Janssen-Bruckner project is expected to create up to $2,500,000 in new value for the City of South Milwaukee.

Here is the South Milwaukee Police Department release …

From the South Milwaukee School District …

South Milwaukee schools are currently exploring whether or not to pursue an operational referendum. The details about why are below. 

We want your input, and want to be available to answer your questions!

Reduced Revenue + Increased Costs = Deficit Spending

The South Milwaukee School Board approved a preliminary budget in September that deficit spends – which means projected costs are anticipated to be more than revenues . The district can run a deficit by using a source of money called fund balance – a type of savings account the District uses to bridge times between when money comes into the District from the state and local taxes and when bills are due. Although using fund balance can be used for short term financial problems, it does not address the recurring deficit problem which is projected for future years.

Wednesday, October 4th @ 4:30 p.m.

The School District of South Milwaukee is asking for the community’s input on a possible operational referendum in the spring.

Please join us on October 4 from 4:30-6 p.m. in the High School Commons (Enter Door 9).

Residents will have an opportunity to:

• Speak to the Superintendent and School Board
• Learn about past referendums and school finance
• Learn about District facility and safety upgrades
• Share your thoughts about what SM needs (if any) in a new referendum

It’s been a heck of an extended summer for local events, and it’s not over yet. This weekend …

• Thursday, September 28: South Milwaukee Downtown Market Fall Festival. 3-7 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. Details
• Saturday, September 30: South Milwaukee Fire and Police Safety Display. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., South Milwaukee McDonald’s. Details

And there is plenty shaping up for early October too. See the updated list on the Events page.

October 2023

• Thursday, October 5: Final South Milwaukee Downtown Market, 3-7 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. Details
• Sunday, October 8: Art Works On The Avenue, 1-4 p.m., 10th and Milwaukee Avenue. Details
• Sunday, October 8: Friends of Grant Park Trek ‘n Treat, 1-4 p.m., Grant Park Picnic Area 5. Details
• Saturday, October 14: ACG presents The Zombies, 8 p.m., South Milwaukee PAC. Details

From the South Shore health departments …

Your voice Is needed! Join us in imagining a healthy and thriving South Shore!  

• Cudahy Family Library (3500 Library Drive, Cudahy): Tuesday, October 3rd from 4pm to 6:30pm 
• Oak Creek Civic Center (8040 S. 6^th Street, Oak Creek): Thursday, October 12th from 4pm to 6:30pm 
• South Milwaukee Administration Building (2424 15^th Avenue, South Milwaukee): Monday, October 16th 4pm to 6:30pm 
• St. Francis Civic Center (3400 E. Howard Ave. St. Francis): Thursday, November 2nd from 4pm to 6:30pm 

The Cudahy, Oak Creek, and South Milwaukee-St. Francis Health Departments have surveyed, interviewed, and held focus groups with community members and partner organizations to better understand how COVID-19 impacted our communities and to determine how we can support our communities using a collaborative and equitable approach. Join us to see the information we have gathered as well as give your feedback on the topic!  

Who: Anyone who lives, works, plays, or learns in the South Shore communities of Cudahy, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, or St. Francis is invited to join us. 

What: During these events, you will have an opportunity to view results from recent surveys, focus groups, and interviews. You will also have an opportunity to share your experiences and will be invited to participate in the creation of a community map that will explore what we need, in our communities, to be healthy and thrive.  

When/Where: If you are unable to attend this event, check out the other dates we are offering here. 

Why: These events will help your local health departments, as well as other South Shore agencies, learn about the biggest needs that exist in the South Shore. These discussions will also direct future programming and services provided in our communities. Attendees will receive a gift for participating (while supplies last) and can enter for a chance to win a raffle prize!