by | October 22, 2013 · 10:12 am

It’s Election Day!

Republican voters in the 21st Assembly District head to the polls today for a primary in the race to replace Mark Honadel.

Here are some of the basics …

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Check out a district and polling location map here. All Fourth District residents vote at Rawson Elementary, 1410 Rawson Ave.
  • See a sample ballot here.
  • Learn more on the city website elections page.

Check out my previous post for more on the candidates and race.

And visit South Milwaukee Blog later tonight for local election results.

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by | October 21, 2013 · 9:47 pm

Hoan Headaches Start

And so it begins …

Check out Hoan Bridge project update from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation here.

In early November, work will begin in preparation for the I-794 Lake Freeway / Hoan Bridge Project. This work includes improving local intersections and building ramps and crossovers to prepare for construction. As part of this work, the I-794 East exit to Lincoln Memorial Drive will close from early November 2013 until Fall 2015. Motorists are advised to take the Jackson / Van Buren Street exit to Michigan Street and travel east to Lincoln Memorial Drive. The Lincoln Memorial Drive southbound entrance ramp to I-794 East (Southbound) will also close during this time. Motorists should utilize the Broadway Street entrance ramp to access I-794 East (Southbound). In late 2013 / early 2014 additional traffic changes will take place. This will include lane restrictions and additional ramp closures. 

Check out some more project details, and here is a project newsletter.

And here is a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story. From it:

By the week of Nov. 4, though, work will ramp up with Lake Interchange closures, including the eastbound I-794 exit to Lincoln Memorial Drive and the southbound entrance to the Hoan Bridge.

In late December, the bulk of the $172.2 million construction project will commence, including redecking of the Hoan Bridge as well as a complete reconstruction of I-794 from the Milwaukee River to Milwaukee St., including the Jackson St. and Van Buren St. ramps.

Roads on the Lake Interchange also will be resurfaced with two inches of concrete. First, the eastbound lanes of I-794 and the southbound lanes of the Hoan Bridge will close, shifting all traffic to the other halves of the structures. In about a year, the scenario will flip, with westbound I-794 and northbound Hoan Bridge lanes closing for construction.

Carolynn Gellings, the project manager, said the state anticipates reopening I-794 completely by Labor Day 2015 and the Hoan Bridge by December 2014. 

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by | October 21, 2013 · 11:50 am

Big Power Outage In South Milwaukee

Update #2: As of 2:45 p.m., We Energies was not showing any power outages in South Milwaukee.

Update: As of 12:45 p.m, power was apparently back on for most people. It seems the outage was concentrated on the northwest side of town, impacting the middle and high schools and Rawson Elementary (and my house).

Nearly 3,000 We Energies customers are affected, according to the current outage map (as of 11:45 a.m.).

I’ll keep you posted, and let me know what you’re experiencing. Post your comments below.

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by | October 20, 2013 · 9:15 pm

South Shore Icon: Remembering Milton Vretnar, St. Francis’ Longtime Mayor

Longtime St. Francis Mayor Milton Vretnar passed at the age of 85 last week.

Here is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story. From it:

Milton Vretenar oversaw construction of the Lake Parkway, renovation of Howard Ave., a public library and other development during 26 years as mayor of St. Francis.

“He had a huge impact on our city,” St. Francis Mayor CoryAnn St. Marie-Carls said of Vretenar, who died Sunday of congestive heart failure at Franciscan Villa in South Milwaukee. He was 85.

“I saw that he inspired people with his passion, with his sincere dedication for the betterment of the community,” said St. Marie-Carls, who met Vretenar 28 years ago when she served as Miss St. Francis.

She pointed to the Lake Parkway, the Howard Ave. project, and restructuring of the intersection of Kinnickinnic Ave. and Howard Ave. — “It’s such a great corridor to the lakefront,” she said — as well as his work on the park that would later be named after him.

Please keep the Vretnar family– and all who were touched by Vretnar during his decades of community service — in your prayers.

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by | October 19, 2013 · 6:19 pm

Playoff Time: South Milwaukee Gets A Three Seed, Home Game

South Milwaukee gets a home playoff game.

The third-seeded Rockets will host sixth-seeded Messmer-Shorewood at 7 p.m. Friday at Spaltholz Field. The winner of the game faces a second-round matchup with Greenfield or Waterford.

No. 1 seed Waukesha West also looms in the Division 2 Group D bracket.

Check out complete WIAA pairings here, and go Rockets!

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by | October 18, 2013 · 9:42 pm

From Five Republicans To One: An Assembly Primary Primer

Tuesday is election day.

That’s the date of the Republican primary in the race to replace Mark Honadel and represent the 21st Assembly District in Madison.

It’s a crowded field, with five candidates …

The winner faces Democrat Elizabeth Coppola in the general election on Nov. 19.

Here are some voting basics … and be sure to check back to South Milwaukee Blog for local election results.

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Check out a district and polling location map here. All Fourth District residents vote at Rawson Elementary, 1410 Rawson Ave.
  • See a sample ballot here.
  • Learn more on the city website elections page.

See you at the polls!

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by | October 18, 2013 · 4:57 pm

Headlines!

Check out these South Shore headlines …

And NOW has published a new police blotter, including this …

A 24-year-old South Milwaukee man was arrested for stealing several aerosol cans from Walmart, 222 N. Chicago Ave., and inhaling them in the parking lot at 4:45 p.m. Sept. 30.

And this …

A 51-year-old South Milwaukee man was arrested for recklessly endangering safety, second degree, and causing a hit-and-run accident causing injury in the 2300 block of 15th Avenue after rammed his car into the front end of a car backing into a driveway in the 1400 block of Madison Avenue at 8:04 p.m. Oct. 7. He was reportedly mad that his neighbor routinely parked a vehicle in front of his residence.

And these …

A malamute shepherd dog was put down by its owner was after it escaped from its yard, jumped over a fence into another yard in the 700 block of Marquette Avenue at 8:21 a.m. Sept. 29, where it attacked and killed a morkie living at that residence. The owner of the dog was later cited for having a dog at large.

A 16-year-old South Milwaukee boy was arrested in the 1200 block of Williams Avenue after a 17-year-old South Milwaukee boy reported being shot by a BB in the area at 10:13 p.m. Oct. 3. The boy was also found to be responsible for shooting a window on the block with an airsoft gun from his car. Three other boys in the car were also detained at the scene and released to their parents there, but not cited.

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by | October 18, 2013 · 10:39 am

Losing Streak: Greendale Rolls Past South Milwaukee In Woodland Title Game

Suddenly, the previously undefeated South Milwaukee football team has lost two games in a row heading into the WIAA playoffs.

Greendale rolled past the Rockets, 41-7, Thursday night in the first Woodland Conference title game.

Check out coverage in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Next up: the postseason. Playoff pairings will be set in coming days, and I’ll keep you posted as to where and when South Milwaukee plays.

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by | October 17, 2013 · 9:03 pm

A Word On Regional Cooperation

We’re not in this alone — and if we approach economic development that way, we’ll be worse off for it.

That’s why I am happy to support regional efforts like Aerotropolis Milwaukee, the initiative to bring local communities together to seize on the advantages provided by proximity to Mitchell International Airport, the Port of Milwaukee, our rail network and other transportation hubs.

The South Milwaukee City Council put our stamp of approval on this effort in 2010. We took that a step further Tuesday by adopting an agreement aimed at promoting a more collaborative approach to issues like economic development and land use.

Check out the BizTimes story here. From it:

According to the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement, “The purpose of this Agreement is to provide a cooperative intergovernmental process for land use planning and economic development activities within the Interlocal Aerotropolis Area, in connection with attracting commercial, industrial, and other businesses and activities having a direct or indirect relationship to intermodal transportation, logistics, air commerce and the use of (the airport).” 

The agreement enables the local governments to discuss and approve other matters to which they may agree in good faith, including design and development principles; streamlined or expedited permitting processes; economic incentives; joint marketing and promotion and infrastructure development. 

Of course, this is all on paper. I look forward to seeing this spirit of cooperation come to life — and in a way that will lift the entire South Shore.

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by | October 17, 2013 · 1:50 pm

Jim Cullen: Touching A Lot Of Lives In 55 Years

Update: Here is a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story.

I did not know Jim Cullen. From what I’ve seen the past couple of days, I wish I had. It is pretty amazing to see the outpouring of sympathy following the South Milwaukeean’s death on Wednesday.

We should all be lucky to leave such a legacy — and so many friends.

You can get a sense of this on this long string of Facebook posts starting with a touching tribute from WTMJ meteorologist Brian Gotter. And WTMJ and WISN ran stories on Cullen’s death Wednesday.

Cullen worked at both stations on the assignment desk, among other stops at Midwest stations, and was named to the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences coveted Silver Circle in 2012. TMJ4 did a terrific feature on Jim at that time.

Please keep the Cullen family and friends in your prayers — and consider helping defray some of the family’s medical bills by donating here.

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by | October 17, 2013 · 8:41 am

Mark Honadel’s New Job

South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel, who recently resigned his post in the Assembly, has accepted a position at Goodwill Industries.

Check out the BizTimes story here.

I wish Mark well. He’s a good man, and I’m glad he’s bringing his talents to an organization like Goodwill, which does so much good for our community.

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by | October 16, 2013 · 9:43 pm

Council Update: Water Rate Increase, 15th Avenue Traffic Light Study, Chickens In South Milwaukee?

Tuesday night’s South Milwaukee City Council meeting started off with some fun — and some big money for the Susan B. Komen for the Cure — but also included some newsworthy business items. On the agenda …

  • The council voted 8-0 to approve a 3% increase in water rates effective Jan. 1. The increase is a “simplified” one as defined by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and does not require PSC approval. It “is necessary to reduce the existing deficiency in present rates and allow the Utility to build some cash reserves so as not to get in a financial bind while trying to replace some aging infrastructure,” according to a letter from Water Superintendent Douglas Fischer. The average residential user’s bill will increase $7.56 annually, with the largest residential user’s bill going up $10.80 annually, due to the increase. I am OK with the modest increase. Our rates remain competitive, and our water utility infrastructure is truly state of the art — a real point of difference for South Milwaukee. I support investing in this advantage.
  • The council also agreed to award a small contract for the study of a potential traffic signal at 15th Avenue and Oak Creek Parkway near South Milwaukee High School. This “warrant study” will help determine if traffic counts support installation of a light, or perhaps other changes to this intersection, which gets quite chaotic (and unsafe) before and after school. In recent months, I and other city officials (including our city engineer and police chief) have been a part meetings with school leaders to discuss traffic safety concerns around the high and middle school campuses, and we’ve identified this as one potential improvement for that area. I’m interested to see what the study finds.
  • The Legislation & Permits Committee also discussed allowing residents to keep chickens in South Milwaukee. Some balked at the idea. My thoughts? This is just the start of the debate, but I’m glad we’re having it. As it stands now, I’m inclined to support this, with clear restrictions around number, proper containment, and other measures included in ordinances in place with other communities (including Milwaukee). Of course, I’d like to know what you think about this as the discussion continues. I would hate to run afowl of my constituents. Post your comments below!

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by | October 16, 2013 · 10:56 am

Going Pink In A Big Way

20131015_191122_resizedSouth Milwaukee’s commitment to breast cancer awareness and research continues to amaze.

At Tuesday’s city council meeting, South Milwaukee school leaders and students presented checks totalling nearly $9,000 for the Susan G. Komen Justice for a Cure campaign. That includes $8,279 raised through the high and middle schools, $226.86 from Lakeview Elementary and $400.11 from Rawson Elementary. T-shirt sales alone — both through the schools and the South Milwaukee Fire Department — topped $7,000.

Thanks to Police Chief Ann Wellens, the DECA marketing class at the high school and other local and school officials for leading this effort. It’s great to see South Milwaukee continue to get behind worthy causes like this.

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by | October 15, 2013 · 11:08 pm

Farewell, Patch: Local News Coverage Takes Another Hit

I’ve said all along I hope this blog gets put out of business one day — that an actual media outlet comes along and devotes the time and energy necessary to cover South Milwaukee and the South Shore the way it deserves to be.

Well, it seems like the trend is moving the other way.

The latest example of the decline of local news coverage: The laying off of a number of local Patch editors later this week … Oak Creek included. I expect that will also mean the end of the actual Oak Creek Patch website, but who knows?

In the end, it doesn’t much matter. Without an actual journalist covering Oak Creek, it joins the long list of local communities lacking regular, independent news coverage — and that’s a loss for all of us.

We need more Patches, not less.

We are all better served when we have a media outlet or outlets truly interested in what’s happening locally. Important news and information gets disseminated. Events and activities get promoted. And government officials get a watchdog.

We don’t have this currently. NOW may be printed on newsprint, but with only user-generated content, a police blotter and legal notices, it’s not a newspaper. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel rarely shows an interest in South Milwaukee. And the television and radio news stations only show up when something is bleeding.

The loss of Patch is yet another blow — another reason that I’ll keep on keeping on with South Milwaukee Blog. I am happy to do what I can to keep residents informed on key news and information. Someone has to.

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by | October 14, 2013 · 8:52 pm

What To Do With Those Falling Leaves …

Trees are shedding their leaves quickly these days, so here is a quick reminder on protocols from the city website …

Residents are permitted to place leaves in the gutter for collection from October 1 to November 15. NO YARD WASTE OR PLANTS WILL BE COLLECTED. Yard waste and plants must be taken to the Self-Deposit Station at 1106 Blake Avenue for disposal.  There is no charge for disposal of yard waste, although there is a $2.00 per day user fee to use the facility. Do not  place leaves in the gutter after November 15. They may not be picked up.

Check out the Street Department web page for more information.

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