Check out these South Shore headlines …
Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.
Filed under Headlines, South Milwaukee
Update: Here is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story.
It’s official — there will be a primary in the South Milwaukee mayoral race.
The Feb. 18 ballot will feature me, Tom Zepecki and Jim Leavens, with the top two finishers in that race advancing to the April 1 general election.
So mark your calendars and be sure to vote.
Of course, I humbly ask for your support.
It’s time for new ideas, perspective and energy around some of the key issues facing this city … and I look forward to delivering those. I pledge to continue to be a responsible steward of taxpayer money, while putting a fresh focus on redeveloping downtown, building local business, investing in community attractions, seeking efficiencies and enhancing communications.
With growing support across the city, my campaign has some really good momentum, and I look forward to continuing that into the spring. Join me! Check out my campaign website here. And please “like” my campaign Facebook page.
Also of note: The three South Milwaukee School Board positions up for election this spring will be uncontested. Only incumbents John Haslam, Patricia Bordak and Carol Dufek will be on the April 1 ballot, according to the district.
Filed under 2014 Elections, Brooks for Mayor, South Milwaukee
Add another day to Christmas vacation for South Milwaukee students.
The South Milwaukee School District has cancelled classes again due to the extreme cold.
Check out their website for more.
Other cold notes:
Do you know of any other are businesses closed today or Tuesday? Pass them along.
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee, Weather
South Milwaukee firefighters were among those responding to a house fire Saturday on East Forest Hill Avenue in Oak Creek.
One man was injured in the blaze, according to reports in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Fox 6 and WTMJ.
And check out these other headlines …
Thanks to South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joe Knitter for the photo.
Filed under Headlines
Here are the details … on Wisconsin!
Tickets Now on Sale for UW Band Concert February 15
Come see the UW Band perform half-time shows from Camp Randall as well as their legendary 5th quarter. The show is February 15 at 2:00 p.m. at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, 901 15th Avenue.
Proceeds from this event with help support the South Milwaukee Marching Band and Color Guard Boosters.
An additional 50/50 raffle will be held to support the Sharon Awe Scholarship fund at the event.
Tickets are: $15 General Public / $12 Seniors (60 & over) / $10 Students. Handicapped seating available, notify ticket agent of special requests. All seats are sold as reserved tickets.
Tickets can be purchased over the phone by calling 414-766-5049 or in person at SMPAC box office (high school door #7). The SMPAC accepts cash, check, MasterCard, and VISA. Additional fees added only when purchased online. The SMPAC Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Update: Divine Mercy School is closed, too. So is Zion Lutheran. And the city is still picking up garbage on Monday, Jan. 6. Recycling, however, is not being picked up. Check out the city’s Facebook page for more.
South Milwaukee public schools will be closed on Monday, as the bitter cold sets in.
Here is the announcement from the South Milwaukee School District. I haven’t heard officially about local private schools.
The announcement came after Milwaukee Public Schools announced they would close — and news that Gov. Scott Walker was considering ordering a statewide school closure, similar to what’s happening in Minnesota.
The state has some tips in dealing with the cold weather here.
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee, Weather
It’s been a few months since South Milwaukee lost Jim Cullen, a former Milwaukee newsman who touched countless lives.
His memory will be celebrated on Saturday, January 4, with an event at Pat’s Oak Manor, 1804 15th Ave., starting at 3 p.m. Food and drink will be served, and a silent auction is planned. Cover is $5.
Filed under Community
The 2014 Polar Bear Dash is in the books, with more than 250 runners competing in a 5K run through Grant Park, followed by a plunge into a 36-degree Lake Michigan. About 50 actually took the plunge at the end — under the watchful eye of the South Milwaukee Fire Department, of course.
Here are more details on event. And thanks to South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joe Knitter for the image.
Did you take part? How was it?
Happy new year to all of my readers!
It’s an exciting time to be in South Milwaukee, and I’m hoping to drive even more positive change as mayor starting in April. Mark your calendars for April 1 (and February 18, if there is a primary).
Here’s a recap of the top local stories from 2013, ranked by number of page views …
For the year, the blog attracted more than 115,000 views, as the blog continues to grow every year. Since I launched this in 2009, we’re at just shy of 280,000 views. Pretty amazing.
That said, I know I couldn’t do this without you. So thanks for reading … and please keep doing so in 2014.
Tell your family, friends and neighbors. And happy new year!
Filed under Community, South Milwaukee
Sad news. Erick Slamka, South Milwaukee police chief from 1988 to 1997, passed away on Saturday at the age of 70 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, at Molthen-Bell & Son Funeral Home in South Milwaukee. Services follow at 1.
Here is the obituary. From it …
Erick was born July 16, 1943 and lived in South Milwaukee all his life. He graduated from South Milwaukee Senior High in 1961 and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 1975 from UW Milwaukee. He was hired as a Patrolman for the South Milwaukee Police Department in October of 1964. Erick served his country during the Vietnam War with the Army 630th Military Police Co. from 1965-1967. After serving in Vietnam, he returned to the police force where he rose through the ranks, as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Inspector and ultimately appointed as Chief of Police in January of 1988. Erick retired from the South Milwaukee Police Department in June of 1997 after 33 years of service. Following a brief retirement he became the First Executive Director of the Milwaukee High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, HIDTA, where he served for 10 years before finally retiring in 2008. Erick was involved in many Community and Law Enforcement organizations. He was an avid boater, golfer, loved cars, motorcycles, his dogs and the view of Lake Michigan from his home.
Please keep the Slamka family — and all who knew Erick — in your thoughts and prayers.
Filed under Community, Police, South Milwaukee
A note from the city treasurer’s office and the South Milwaukee Facebook page …
Are you looking to see if your bank has paid your tax bill? Go to the City’s website at http://smwi.org/index.php/tax-bill-disclaimer/
City departments will be CLOSED on Tuesday, December 31, & Wednesday, January 1, 2014. The Treasurer Office (only) will be open from 8:00 am to 12 Noon for Tax Collection on December 31st.
Filed under City Services, South Milwaukee
Happy to be back, after spending some time with family for the holidays …
Catching up on a few things …
And NOW has published a new police blotter, including this …
A fight broke out at South Milwaukee High School, 801 15th Ave., after noon Dec. 21 following a basketball game between recreation department seventh- and eighth-grades girls teams, the South Milwaukee Lakers and Deer Creek of St. Francis. According to police reports the 14-year-old daughter of the South Milwaukee coach was slapped in the face, while the South Milwaukee coach and her husband were punched. The fighting was over by the time police arrived.
Filed under Headlines, South Milwaukee
I hope the holiday finds you with family and friends … and with some of the same magic I see in the eyes of my son and daughter. This is a special time, and I vow to cherish every minute of it.
So I’ll be taking a few days off from blogging, barring a major breaking news event.
In the meantime, thanks for your continued support of this blog. And if you haven’t checked out my mayoral campaign site, or liked my mayoral Facebook page, please do. And tell your family, friends and neighbors.
Merry Christmas!
Filed under Community, South Milwaukee
The 80-year-old victim of Saturday’s South Milwaukee house fire has been identified Eugene C. Eastway. Check out the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story here … and these other headlines.
In some other news, there is finally some potential good news for Caterpillar … and NOW has published a new police blotter.
And, finally, the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center is receiving a $2,000 grant from Northwestern Mutual through its Days of Sharing program. Through the program, employees receive grants for their favorite nonprofits, and this gift goes to former South Milwaukee Mayor David Kieck. Congratulations, Dave and the PAC!
Filed under Headlines
I just got off the phone with our Street Department, and confirmed that cleanup continues from yesterday’s storm.
So, please be patient, especially considering that many plow and salt drivers have been working off and on since the start of the ice storm almost four days ago. And more snow is predicted a couple days this week … Christmas week.
In fact, I ask for more than patience. I say thank you to these dedicated city workers.
Our street department workers who keep our roads clear no matter when the storm hits. Our police officers and firefighters who keep us safe, 24-7. Our water utility workers who fix mains whenever they break. And the list goes on.
It’s something to keep in mind when we’re probably off from work and gathered with our families in the coming days.
Filed under City Services, South Milwaukee
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