Here is the latest news on the Hoan Bridge project, including details on a key closure and a new temporary roadway into downtown …
I took this route a couple times this weekend, and I can see this being a big mess during rush hour especially. Stay safe!
Filed under Construction
Good luck, Mick Olson.
The South Milwaukee police officer is retiring after 31 years on the force.
He was recognized at a surprise ceremony on Thursday — which included this video produced by his son. Check it out.
Please join me in wishing Officer Olson well in retirement, and thanking him for his service. He’s touched a lot of lives.
Filed under Community, Police, South Milwaukee
Update: Further investigation has shown the fire began in the kitchen, but a cause could not be determined. And the firefighter suffered a neck strain, was released from the hospital and returned to work.
Some tragic news just ahead of Christmas …
Please keep the family of the victim — and the injured firefighter — in your prayers.
Here is the report from South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joe Knitter:
At approximately 1:26 this afternoon, the South Milwaukee Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 call of smoke coming from the back of the house at 1609 Manitowoc Avenue. Upon the arrival of SMFD units, smoke was seen issuing from the house and the windows were heavily stained from the heat and smoke. The level of response was immediately upgraded to a Working Still which brings in mutual aid crews from Cudahy, St. Francis and the 128th Air Guard. Oak Creek Fire Department was unavailable to respond.
SMFD firefighters forced entry into the locked front door of the single-family ranch home and encountered heavy smoke and moderate heat conditions. A neighbor reported that there may be one male occupant that would probably still be in the house. While conducting their primary search of the house and advancing a hoseline, SMFD crews encountered a fire in the kitchen and discovered the sole male occupant who was unresponsive and obviously deceased. The fire was controlled, ventilation efforts initiated and the extension of the fire stopped while the rest of the dwelling was searched. No other occupants were found in the house.
Due to the fatality, the State Fire Marshall’s Office (SFMO) was notified and is responding to the scene at this time. SMFD and South Milwaukee Police remain on the scene conducting the initial stages of their investigation awaiting the arrival of the SFMO. The area of origin appears to be in the kitchen with the cause of the fire yet undetermined at this early stage of the investigation.
The sole male occupant, Age 80, has been identified but his identity is being withheld until his next of kin can be notified.
One member of the fire department did receive a shoulder injury and is currently being evaluated at St. Luke’s – South Shore Hospital.
Filed under Fire, South Milwaukee
Shop local this holiday season — and here is the list of options I’ve presented on this blog the last few weeks …
Merry Christmas!
Here’s a bonus day in the “12 Days” series …
If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for a child, be sure to stop at the I Can’t Resist Kids Resale store, now located at 915 Milwaukee Ave.
Learn more in my previous post about one of our newest merchants, and check out their website and Facebook page.
Shop local this holiday season!
And on the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … nothing. Instead, she gave back to the community.
So here’s a thought for a last-minute gift this holiday: Give to one of South Milwaukee’s terrific charities or organizations.
There are too many to list here, obviously, but I’ll give a few …
Or, give to help the family affected by the recent Cudahy fire. Or the Gawlitta family. Or donate some toys that the Brooks family will take to area homeless and domestic violence shelters on Christmas Eve.
In other words, there are plenty of ways to give this holiday season. Please consider doing so.
I work for MillerCoors, so I need to get a shoutout in for our local liquor stores this holiday season …
Here is a list …
(I took off Bully’s from last year’s list because it appears to be closed — at least that’s what the sign says on the door.)
And here are a few recommendations …
Christmas should be about giving, not receiving, shouldn’t it? In that spirit, the Brooks family is continuing a holiday tradition started last year …
We’re taking the kids shopping for toys, games, etc. this week and then delivering those Christmas gifts to three local homeless/domestic violence shelters on Christmas Eve: Hope House, Milwaukee Women’s Center and the Salvation Army Emergency Lodge.
So here is the ask: If anyone wants to donate gifts for us to take, or donate money for us to spend on gifts when we go shopping, drop them off with Sarah or me any time before Christmas Eve. New, unwrapped items, please.
And if you’d like to come with us on Dec. 24 — and show your kids the true meaning of the season — please join us. We’d love to have you. It was a special time when we did this in 2012.
(Feel free to call me at 414-651-1105 or email me at erikbrooks32@gmail.com for more information.)
Filed under Community
What a sad story out of Cudahy … please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season.
Here are some headlines following Tuesday’s fire …
The Brooks house is a NASCAR house. Our favorite driver: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford.
That’s why we’re really lucky to live in South Milwaukee, home of perhaps the only NASCAR collectibles store in the area.
Didn’t know about Green Flag Racing? You should stop by. It’s located at 1218 Milwaukee Ave., and it has some terrific gear for race fans of all ages.
Diecast cars, clothing, signs and more — this is the kind of stuff you can’t get at other stores, making this just the kind of destination retail business we should focus on attracting to this city.
People drive to South Milwaukee just to go to Green Flag Racing. We need more of that.
Check out these South Shore headlines …
And NOW has published a new police blotter, including this disturbing road rage incident …
A 26-year-old South Milwaukee man was charged with disorderly conduct and use of a dangerous weapon after a road rage incident at about 1:15 p.m. Dec. 5 in the 1300 block of Madison Avenue. The man allegedly left his vehicle and pointed a gun at a 31-year-old South Milwaukee man.
Filed under Headlines
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter and blogger has a well-done piece on how running brought together a former South Milwaukeean and her new husband.
Here is the feature on Jennee Molus. From it:
Jennee was running the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon as part of UWM’s Team Paws; Dan was running the Chicago Marathon.
“I used these two races to suggest meeting for dinner to load up on carbohydrates together the night before our races,” said Dan.
“Eventually we stopped calling them carb-loading dinners and started calling them dates when we ran out of races. We got to know each other on short runs that we would take around the neighborhood, ones that inevitably always snaked through Humboldt Park. At some point we didn’t need to use running as an excuse anymore to spend time with each other, but we continued to train together.”
Dan proposed in February and the wedding was October 5, the anniversary of the pre-race, carb-loading dinner before their marathons. The theme of the wedding? Running and Ragnar.
Filed under Community, South Milwaukee
I try and shop local whenever I can for Christmas … and sometimes that means a local chain.
My favorite? Ace Hardware. It truly is the “helpful hardware place,” with customer service that you simply can’t get at the big-box home improvement stores, Walmart, etc. And it’s convenient.
That’s why I’m willing to pay more to shop there. It’s worth it.
I was recently part of a panel discussion at the Milwaukee Forum about chain vs. local shopping. My argument: It’s not an “either-or” argument. It’s “both-and.” There is room for both chain and local retailers.
Ace is the best of both worlds.
Here is the Ace website. And here is my 2012 12 Days post on this.
Now, a closer look at my favorite local artisan shop: Studio One Art Glass.
Kim and company do a lot first-class custom work, so check them out if you’re interested in a new stained glass window, door or cabinet. They also have a terrific retail shop full of sun catchers, candle holders, clocks and other items at variety of price points.
The best part: It’s likely Kim made made those products right in the basement of the building.
Stop by and discover Studio One, if you haven’t already. It’s a real gem … and a great example of the type of destination retail business I’d love to see more of in South Milwaukee.
Here is their website, and here is my 2012 12 Days post on Studio One.
Automated water meters are being installed across the city.
The project began this spring and will continue for the next several years.
Learn more on the city website. From it:
The Utility plans to replace or retrofit all of its water meters with automated meters. This will increase meter reading efficiency in addition to providing meaningful real time data for customers. South Milwaukee Water Utility will be able to remotely read all of our customers from one location without physically having to read your meter on site. The Utility will have the ability to catch a customer’s leak in a timely manner, instead of waiting until the next meter reading, helping conserve water and save customers from a potential high bill.
Filed under City Services, Water Utility
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