by | November 3, 2013 · 9:50 pm

Headlines!

Check out these South Shore headlines, including a disturbing case out of Racine involving a South Milwaukee woman …

And there is this follow-up story from the Business Journal on the news last week that Cat is moving a small amount of work from Texas to South Milwaukee. It includes this line …

“We’re going to evaluate the manpower needs of that production shift,” Potts told The Business Journal. “The company has taken many actions to align our costs with the environment we’re in currently…While we’ve done much already, we’re not finished and expect to take deeper actions to improve our cost structure and balance sheet.”

In other words, more to come. And that’s scary news for South Milwaukee.

2 Comments

Filed under Headlines

by | November 3, 2013 · 9:42 pm

Jursik Publishes News Update … Including An Oak Creek Watershed Update

Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik has published her latest E-Update, including this update on the Oak Creek watershed …

On October 17, the City of South Milwaukee hosted the group from Watershed Initiative Network (WIN); I thank Mayor Zepecki for hosting this meeting at city hall. While WIN largely discussed the Root River Watershed which does partially include areas within South Milwaukee, this discussion revealed what can take place regarding study and clean-up of a watershed area. Many active citizens also attended including the great volunteers from Friends of Grant Park and Friends of Mill Pond including former Alderman Mary Nelson, a tireless advocate for dredging the pond. This discussion highlighted the need for all neighbors living in a watershed to take responsibility for keeping our streams and lakes clean. Simple activities such as keeping yard waste from draining into storm waters or ensuring that oil or gasoline leaks from older cars do not foul our roadways which then get washed into the storm sewers and empty into the creek are examples. Before dredging of the Mill Pond can be done, we first need to address silt and toxicant washouts upstream. The county capital budget for 2015 does plan for a stream bank initiative for the Oak Creek. To realize the dream of the many citizens that signed the Petition for the Mill Pond restoration, all of the issues surrounding this watershed must be addressed.

I also attended this meeting and was happy to hear of plans for the WIN group to do a more detailed study on the Oak Creek watershed in coming years. I strongly support this effort — and look forward to better days for this watershed, including and especially the Mill Pond.  I hope the city will help lead the way.

Leave a comment

Filed under Milwaukee County

Tagged as , , ,

by | November 2, 2013 · 10:05 pm

Public Welcome: Local Children’s Book Author Halfmann Speaking At My Church

It’s another Sunday afternoon without a Packers game … why not fill the time with some family fun?

Award-winning children’s book author Janet Halfmann is coming to South Milwaukee’s Trinity Lutheran Church as part of my church’s Community Lecture Series.

The free, family-friendly event, which is open to the public, is set for Sunday, Nov. 3, starting at 4 p.m. It includes a children’s story time, where Halfmann will read from several of her books, and a deeper discussion on her background and tips for aspiring authors.

Child care and activities will be available.

A free spaghetti dinner follows the presentation, and Halfmann will sell and sign her books.

Halfmann, who lives in South Milwaukee, has authored more than a dozen children’s books, including critically acclaimed titles like “Little Skink’s Tale,” “Fur and Feathers,” “Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish” and “Eggs 1, 2, 3: Who Will the Babies Be?”

Trinity Lutheran Church is located at 2507 5th Ave. in South Milwaukee. Learn more at www.tlcsm.org.

Leave a comment

Filed under Community

Tagged as , ,

by | November 1, 2013 · 9:45 pm

South Milwaukee Football: Season Ends With Playoff Loss At Waterford

Update: Here is a game story on the heartbreaking loss, which saw Waterford score two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

It was another strong season for the South Milwaukee football team … but it had to come to an end sometime.

It did Friday night, with a 14-7 loss to Waterford in the second round of the WIAA playoffs.

Here is the WIAA bracket, and I’ll update with more information as I get it.

Congratulations to the Rockets, who finished the year 8-3 and with a Woodland Conference East championship.

Leave a comment

Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee, Sports

Tagged as

by | November 1, 2013 · 2:56 pm

Listen To Tonight’s South Milwaukee Playoff Football Game

Not planning to attend the matchup between South Milwaukee and Waterford, at Waterford? Tune in.

Here are details from the school district …

While we certainly hope that many of you can make it to the football game tonight at 7:00pm at Waterford HS, obviously not everyone can. If you can’t make it, you can listen to the game live on the radio, catch it streaming on the internet, or listen on your smartphone using a free app called TuneIn Radio.

AM1400 WRJN out of Racine will broadcast the game live on the radio and hopefully you will hear some cool information about current and former Rockets players and coaches if you listen to the game.

Here is the link to where I found a live feed of their broadcast. Once you are on the site, click on the button in the top middle where it says LISTEN LIVE. 

http://www.wrjn.com/Local-Sports/6786479

If you can’t get to a computer but you have a smartphone, you can download a FREE app called TuneIn Radio. Once you have that app you can get AM 1400 WRJN on the app and listen to the game by signing up quickly using an email address.

Leave a comment

Filed under Schools, Sports

Tagged as

by | October 31, 2013 · 9:29 pm

More Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Leave a comment

Filed under Headlines

by | October 31, 2013 · 7:27 am

Happy Halloween! South Milwaukee’s Trick-Or-Treating Is Tonight

It’s the second straight year the city has its official trick-or-treating set for Halloween night.

Hours are 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. If you plan on handing out candy, please leave your porch light on.

Now, let’s hope the weather holds … and please stay safe.

Let me know what you’re seeing out there, too. Post your comments below.

Leave a comment

Filed under Community, South Milwaukee

Tagged as

by | October 31, 2013 · 7:27 am

South Milwaukee Sports Update

A few items from the South Milwaukee School District …

FOOTBALL

Congratulations to the Rocket Football team on their Level One Playoff victory over Messmer/Shorewood on Friday night 21-13. Ian Pribyl (11) had 26 carries for 124 yds & 2 TD’s and Justin Oliden (11) was 13-19 for 135 yds and 1 TD pass to Zach Osell (12). AJ Plewa (12) had 7 catches for 74 yds as well. 

Joey Nelson (10) led the team with 12 tackles, Bryan Honerlaw (12) had 7 tackles including 4 for a loss and Ben Zbikowski (12) had his 6th interception of the season and 9 tackles as well.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

The Rockets will travel to Franklin HS on Friday night with an early start time of 5:00pm to take on the Sabers in WIAA Regional action. Tickets will be $4. Good luck Rockets!!!

ROCKET MARCHING BAND

The Rocket Marching Band competed at the WSMA State Marching Band Championships at UW Whitewater last Saturday and took 7th in State with a record high score in competition! Congratulations Rockets!

CROSS COUNTRY

At the WIAA Sectionals held last Saturday at Mitchell Park in Brookfield, the Rockets qualified 3 runners for the State Meet in Wisconsin Rapids. This is the 16th year in a row that the Rockets have sent at least 1 runner to state!

GOOD LUCK AT STATE ON SATURDAY!!!

  • Josh Janusiak (11) took 2nd overall with a 16:26 and qualified for State for the 3rd time!
  • Justin Weber (10) finished with a personal best of 17:50
  • Chris Sobczak (9) finished in 18:18
  • Damon Dettmann (11) finished in 18:23
  • Steven Merkel (12) finished in 18:24
  • Sam Zakovich (11) finished in 18:55 
  • Joey Bennett (12) finished in 19:03

In the girls’ race, Becca Heller took 5th overall with a time of 15:35 to qualify for State!

  • Capri Fowler (12) ran a great race as well and took 13th overall with a time of 16:09. 
  • Maddie Wood finished of her stellar freshman season with a time of 16:21
  • Bristine Fowler (12) finished in 17:09
  • Samantha Meszaros (11) finished in 17:23
  • Rebecca Schoenike (11) finished in 17:34
  • Alexandra Tereshchencko finished in 17:55

Two Saturdays ago, the Rockets competed in the Woodland Conference Championships. Congratulations to the Rocket CC team as they closed out the regular season at Sheridan Park.

  • Josh Janusiak (11) took 4th (missing 3rd by 1/100th of a second) at 16:20
  • Justin Weber (10) took 38th with a time of 18:06
  • Chris Sobczak (9) finished in 18:11
  • Steven Merkel (12) finished in 18:16
  • Damon Dettmann (11) finished in 18:40
  • Joey Bennett (12) finished in 18:55
  • Sam Zakovich (11) finished in 18:59
  • Gage Keene (12) finished in 19:02
  • Becca Heller (10) took 5th overall with a time of 15:37
  • Capri Fowler (12) finished in 16:25
  • Maddie Wood (9) finished in 16:44
  • Bristine Fowler (12) finished in 16:49
  • Sam Meszaros (11) finished in 17:14
  • Rebecca Schoenike (11) finished in 17:52
  • Alexandra Tereshchencko finished in 17:56

And here are some more details on Friday’s football game …

The 8-2 Rockets travel to take on the 8-2 Waterford Wolverines on Friday night for Level Two of the Playoffs. Kickoff is at 7:00pm. All tickets are $4. Kids under 6 are free. 

Location: Waterford Union High School, 100 Field Dr. – Football field is west of the school

Directions

Take highway 36 south to Main Street (& turn right onto Main). Take Main Street through town to the stop lights at Jefferson Street. Turn left (south) on Jefferson, go one block to Washington St. Turn right (west) on Washington St. and then take the 3rd right onto Field Dr. (north) and follow it around to Barnes Drive, which runs along the field. 

 Fan Parking

Fans can park along the streets in the area of the field, in the main parking lot on the west of the school (enter from Barnes), in the soccer parking lot west of the football field or in the baseball field parking lot on Main Street (If you want to go to this lot, don’t turn on Jefferson, just keep going west on Main Street).

Fan Seating

South Milwaukee fans will occupy the west bleachers. Entrances are on South end of the bleachers. There is an overflow area in the north end zone that can be used by fans from either school.

 

1 Comment

Filed under Sports

by | October 29, 2013 · 10:30 pm

Catching Up: Cat Bringing Work To South Milwaukee And Other News

Back to blogging, and here’s what I apparently missed …

  • Various news outlets are reporting that Caterpillar is closing a plant in Texas — and moving some of that work to South Milwaukee. So a win, but still a loss.
  • Of course, the third-seeded South Milwaukee football team topped Messmer-Shorewood in its opening-round WIAA playoff game. Here is coverage from NOW. Next up: second-seeded Waterford at 7 p.m. Friday in Waterford. It’s the first trip to the second round of playoffs for the Rockets since 2010.
  • Unfortunately, the Milwaukee Bucks released South Milwaukee’s Trey McKinney Jones over the weekend. I’ll keep you posted when I hear where, and if, he’ll be playing professionally (I assume he will).
  • And South Milwaukee firefighters responded to Tuesday’s fire at We Energies. Thankfully, it wasn’t a major blaze.

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.

2 Comments

Filed under South Milwaukee

Tagged as

by | October 25, 2013 · 11:12 am

Open Thread … So, What Do You Think About Chickens?

Update: By the way, South Milwaukee beat Shorewood-Messmer in WIAA playoff action Friday night, 21-13. More on that when I return. Go Rockets!

Barring a significant breaking news story, I’ll be taking a few days off from blogging.

But I leave you with a question: Should the city, with restrictions, allow residents to keep chickens? If not, why not? If so, what restrictions should we consider, if any?

Discuss. And vote in my new poll.

Thanks again for your continued support of this blog.

25 Comments

Filed under City Council, South Milwaukee

Tagged as ,

by | October 25, 2013 · 11:11 am

Headlines!

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter, including this scary report …

A shotgun shell was found by a student outside the entrance to South Milwaukee Middle School, 1001 15th Ave., before the start of classes Oct. 16. The student turned in the shell at the school office.

Leave a comment

Filed under Headlines

by | October 23, 2013 · 10:27 pm

Halloween In South Milwaukee: Frankenstein At The PAC, Human Concerns Haunted House, Trick-Or-Treating And More

As the parent of two young kids, I’m starting to enjoy Halloween more and more. And there’s a number of ways to have some frightful fun around town in coming days …

  • Friday and Saturday: There is a kid-friendly haunted house benefiting Human Concerns at 821 Marion Ave. Hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Cost is a $2 donation or two (or more) non-perishable food items at the door.
  • Saturday: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, next to Rawson Park, is hosting a family-friendly Halloween event from 2 to 4 p.m. featuring candy, games and more. Learn more here.
  • Saturday: The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center is bringing “500 Clown Frankenstein” to town for a show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available. Here is the description from the PAC website — sounds like a great time. 500 Clown uses action-based performance, improvisation, and circus arts to enact long-form dramatic stories that involve both physical and emotional risk. “ Frankenstein” features three performers who are charged with a task: “make monster.” Bound in elaborate Edwardian costumes, the trio embarks on a journey to construct Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory while they struggle and battle through acrobatic feats. A tale of Doctor and Monster is told from scraps of the classic novel and Hollywood versions, inviting audience involvement throughout.
  • Thursday, Oct. 31 (Halloween): Don’t forget … the city is again holding its official trick-or-treating from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Be sure to leave your porch lights on if you are handing out candy. Learn more in my previous post.

Did I miss anything? Let me know!

1 Comment

Filed under Community, South Milwaukee

Tagged as ,

by | October 23, 2013 · 9:21 am

More Bad News For Caterpillar … And Exploring The Local Impacts Of The Layoffs

The hits just keep coming for Caterpillar …

The company reported Wednesday that profits are down more than expected, and they cut their forecasts again. From Reuters:

In an interview with CNBC, Caterpillar Chairman and Chief Executive Doug Oberhelman said he was confident mining customers would begin ordering again but acknowledged he did not have any idea when that would happen.

“Long term, the mining customers I’ve talked to lately are very bullish – as am I, and I have to be based on what they tell me,” Oberhelman said.

“But I don’t know if long term is next year, five years or 10 years. But it will come back. We’ve seen it every single time.”

Meanwhile, local impacts of the recent layoffs continue. WUWM has a good piece on those impacts, with interviews with area business owners and impacted workers. From it:

Across the street, sits a bar named Powers on 10th. Owner Joe Braun says, if not for the layoffs, the place would be packed this evening.

“A lot of those employees were people who like to come here at night after second shift or there’s a group of guys who would come after first shift. My group of guys who would stop here from 3:00 to 6:00 at night went from 10 or 12 people down to about four people, so yeah, it affects a lot,” Braun says.

Braun says business dropped so profoundly this past summer that by August he had laid-off several employees. He says he can’t afford to hire anyone right now, so he tends bar.

6 Comments

Filed under Caterpillar

Tagged as ,

by | October 23, 2013 · 7:41 am

Dollars And Sense: More Context On Tuesday’s Republican Primaries

Jessie Rodriguez won the Republican primary in the 21st Assembly District Tuesday. School choice won, too.

The American Federation for Children spent more than $45,000 to support Rodriguez in her race, according to this story from WisPolitics. That’s about $30 per vote she received.

$30 per vote! 

It wasn’t all good news for the AFC, however. In the 69th District primary, the AFC-backed candidate who also received about $45,000 in support, lost handily. 

Say what you want about AFC and school choice — and as the proud parent of children enrolled in the terrific South Milwaukee school system, I don’t support it — something has to change when it comes to the role of outside money in politics, doesn’t it?

Discuss.

50 Comments

Filed under 2012 Elections

by | October 22, 2013 · 9:57 pm

21st Assembly District: Rodriguez Cruises In Republican Primary

Update: The final tally was nearly two to one for Rodriguez (1,512) over Kujawa (864). Gehl was third with 535 votes.  

I must admit, the margin surprised me.

Jessie Rodriguez, a school choice advocate from Franklin, easily won the Republican primary for the 21st Assembly District seat vacated by Mark Honadel. She will now face Democrat Elizabeth Coppola in the general election on Nov. 19.

This one wasn’t even close. While I don’t have final, district-wide results yet, Rodriguez won in South Milwaukee, despite Mayor Tom Zepecki’s very public endorsement (in literature and on a robocall) of Kujawa. She tallied 516 votes to Kujawa’s 492, with Oak Creek Alderman Ken Gehl finishing third, Larry Gamble fourth and Jason “Red” Arnold fifth.

The margin was much bigger in Oak Creek, which has most of its results listed on its Facebook page.

Of course, Rodriguez doesn’t live in Oak Creek or South Milwaukee. She is from Franklin, where she tallied 57 votes in the small chunk of that city in the 21st District. Kujawa and Gamble each had 22 votes in Franklin. 

Next up: the general election, where Coppola is running on a platform of bipartisanship and investment in public schools, among other issues.

Who gets your vote? Check out my new poll!

(And I’ll post final results as soon as I get them.)

11 Comments

Filed under 2012 Elections

Tagged as , , , , , ,