Check out these South Shore headlines …
Filed under Headlines
Fresh ideas for South Milwaukee’s future. That’s what I pledge to deliver if I am elected mayor this April.
I humbly ask for your vote.
I announced my candidacy this morning, and I am officially breaking the news here because this platform is one example of my commitment to delivering new ideas and new solutions for the issues facing South Milwaukee.
I launched South Milwaukee Blog to address a need to improve communications – a commitment that I carry through as part of my mayoral platform. We need to do a better job telling our story to our neighbors and prospective residents, businesses and visitors and keeping neighbors informed on key issues.
But that’s just the start. Fixing downtown is job No. 1. And my plan is straightforward: Develop a plan. Then work the plan.
Today, if you ask 20 people what the vision is for downtown, you get 20 different answers. We need a single, community-generated and community-supported plan for our city center – something all of South Milwaukee can rally around in restoring vitality to our struggling downtown. That plan demands short-, medium- and long-term objectives … then we need to make a commitment to achieving those goals.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers here. But there are plenty of smart people who do – and plenty of best practices upon which we can draw. We need to tap those ideas and bring them to life, devoting renewed energy and focus to this critical issue.
My platform includes more than improved communications and a downtown action plan. It also calls for investments in economic development, city services, efficiency and infrastructures. I also want to see increased investment in our city attractions, doubling down to ensure the long-term future of the South Milwaukee Downtown Market, Mill Pond and more.
You can learn much more about my campaign on my website: www.brooksformayor.org., or on Facebook (Facebook.com/brooksformayor) and Twitter (#brooksformayor). And here is the press release I’ll be sending out.
I encourage you to read more about me and my vision, and I appreciate any support you can provide for my campaign.
I love South Milwaukee, I am anchored in this community, and I am excited about the future of this city. Please join me in helping shape that future on April 1.
Filed under 2014 Elections, Brooks for Mayor
Chalk up one more honor for John Galewski.
The South Milwaukee football coach and Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame member has been named the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week after leading the Rockets to a 6-0 start.
See the Fox 6 story here and the TMJ4 story here … and be sure to check out the South Milwaukee’s bid for seven straight when they host St. Francis on Friday night. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
A quick summary from Tuesday’s South Milwaukee City Council meeting …
The council also briefly discussed the recently released fire consolidation report. The upshot: It’s still early in the process, but at least we have a potential roadmap to seriously consider this issue. I will keep you posted … and encourage you to get involved in the debate. Your voices must be heard.
Filed under City Council, South Milwaukee
South Shore Supervisor Pat Jursik has published her October E-News newsletter, with updates on various issues facing the county and some good advice on the rollout of Affordable Care Act …
There is much confusion on the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act in addition to the histrionics taking place in D.C. including a government shut-down. I know this is a controversial topic, but I would like to suggest the following: First try to understand the new law. Here is a link to a very easy-to-watch video featuring the “You Toons” produced by the Kaiser Foundation which tries to explain the program without a heavy bias: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZkk6ueZt-U.
Second, since Wisconsin is one of the states that did not accepted the Medicaid extension that would have provided more coverage to low income families, the County Board and Executive responded by funding several programs. The programs are too complicated to fully address in this short article, but there is a service available with the additonal county funding. If you are a family that has received Badgercare, please call the social services hotline at 211. The county funded additonal staff to answer questions and to assist those who will not get the expanded insurance with a substitute program available to Wisconsin citizens.
For more information visit http://www.healthcare.gov, or call the 24/7 hotline at: 1-800-318-2596.
Filed under Milwaukee County
A woman was sentenced to 12 years in prison following a shooting in South Milwaukee last year, Fox 6 is reporting.
See the story here. And check out these South Shore headlines …
Also, NOW has published a new police blotter, including this …
A house was broken into and burglarized in the 1600 block of Blake Avenue between 1:45 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 21, after an unknown number of subjects forced open the front door. The stolen items include two $400 rings, two $500 rings, $50 in silver dollars and $580 in cash.
And this …
A $22,639 car was reported stolen from outside of a residence in the 600 block of Columbia Avenue at 5:45 a.m. Sept. 23. Using OnStar, the car was located and recovered by Milwaukee Police and returned to owner.
Filed under Headlines
Here is an update from Ante with the South Milwaukee School District …
Well, if you were at the game last Friday at Greenfield, I am quite certain that you will never forget that game. It was an away game in name only…the crowd was 60-40 Rocket fans. The Rockets were down 13-10 at the half (on a 39 yd FG by JP Saskowski (12) and 41 yd TD reception for AJ Plewa (12)), but scored in the 3rd quarter shortly after an approx. 70 yd pass to Zach Osell (12) led to a 4 yd TD run by Zach Simuncak (12). to take a 17-13 lead. Late in the game, a questionable reversal of a call led to a fumble being recovered by Greenfield near midfield, which they capitalized on and took the lead 20-17 with 27 seconds remaining in the game.
After a squib kick the Rockets started their fateful drive at their own 47 yard line. Justin Oliden (11) was precise in running the 2-minute offense leading the Rockets to a couple of first downs. With 4 seconds remaining, the Rockets lined up for one last shot from the 32 yard line. Oliden rolled a little to his left and just as he released the ball he got crushed by a defender, but his aim was right on target as Saskowski jumped up at the 4 to catch the ball as 3 defenders collapsed on him as he fell into the end zone at the horn for a spectacular 23-20 win for the Rockets, propelling them to 6-0, vaulting them into the WIAA Playoffs for the 5th year in-a-row, and putting them in a position to clinch back-to-back Woodland East Division Championships with a win this Friday at home against St. Francis. Simply a fantastic job by the coaches and players in keeping their cool as the Rockets did the improbable.
ROCKET FANS
As a side-note, in case anyone was curious who has the best student section and crowd overall in the Woodland Conference…look no farther than the South Milwaukee bleachers. Not only are Rocket fans going out to games in droves, but the decibel level at the game was special…keep that up fans!! And don’t miss another game…you just might see something you will never forget!
CROSS COUNTRY
The Rocket Boys took 10th out of 16 teams overall at the Len Nikolai Invitational on Saturday in Manitowoc. Josh Janusiak (11) took 7th with a time of 16:29. Justin Weber (9) took 66th with a time of 18:40 and Damon Dettman (11) took 76th with a time of 18:52.
The Rocket Girls’ runners took 6th out of 17 teams. Becca Heller (10) took 15th overall with a time of 15:53. Maddie Wood (9) took 24th with a time of 16:04, Capri Fowler (11) took 38th with a time of 16:29, and Bristine Fowler (11) took 42nd with a time of 16:40 followed closely by Samantha Meszaros in 43rd place and a time of 16:29 as well.
Great job Rockets!
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Congratulations to the Rocket Girls’ Tennis team on going 5-1 and taking 2nd place for the 2nd year in-a-row behind perennial tennis power Shorewood in the Woodland East Division! Mackenzie Meyers (10) went 6-1 in conference matches at #2 singles, Rachel Zdero (12) went 5-2 at #3 singles, Kristen Bizub (12) & Ines Hoxha (12) went 5-2 at #1 doubles, and Chidimma Ozodi (11) and Amber Bizub (11) also went 5-2 at #3 doubles.
Woodland Conference Tournament action begins on Tuesday and concludes on Wednesday at various sites in the Greendale and Greenfield area. Good luck Rockets!!!
And a couple other notes involving South Milwaukee athletes …
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee, Sports
Update: The number is 115 in South Milwaukee alone, Fox 6 is reporting.
Not good news … here is the Milwaukee Business Journal story. From it …
Caterpillar spokeswoman Rachel Potts confirmed to The Business Journal that layoff notices went out to employees in South Milwaukee and Oak Creek as recently as last week, but she declined to indicate the types of positions and number of jobs cut.
Potts said the latest local layoffs are in addition to 260 production jobs cut in South Milwaukee during the summer.
“We stated in our second quarter financial results released in July that the company would be taking actions to reduce costs in the second half of the year,” Potts told The Business Journal. “The employee notifications in both Oak Creek/South Milwaukee and Decatur are included in those actions. We are not breaking out specific location totals or details.”
Filed under Caterpillar, Local Business, South Milwaukee
Check out these South Shore headlines …
Filed under Headlines
This game sounds like it was a real classic.
South Milwaukee remained perfect on the season, as quarterback Justin Oliden hit Joe Saskowski with a 38-yard touchdown pass as time expired to lead the Rockets to an improbable 23-20 win over Greenfield Friday night.
New Kid’s View and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel have details, and you can find stats on this page. TMJ4 also has a couple of highlights from the game, which South Milwaukee played without star running back Ian Pribyl.
The win pushed the Rockets’ record to 6-0, with South Milwaukee hosting St. Francis on Friday night.
Go Rockets!
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee, Sports
From South Milwaukee to the Milwaukee Bucks …
Trey McKinney Jones, a South Milwaukee High School graduate who played collegiate basketball at Missouri-Kansas City and Miami, has been invited the Bucks’ training camp.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the story.
Go Trey!
Update: Or is Grobschmidt Pool not on the chopping block? The updated Journal Sentinel story says it might not be. I’ll try and get to the bottom of this. From that story … “Abele said the indoor pools were aging, expensive to maintain and not heavily patronized. Interim Parks Director John Dargle said earlier the budget would include closing outdoor pools at Grobschmidt and Jackson parks. But those closings were not listed in Abele’s budget.”
It’s official — South Milwaukee’s Grobschmidt Pool is on the budget chopping block. Can it be saved?
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more details on County Executive Chris Abele’s proposed budget. From the story …
County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic said the tax levy freeze needed to be evaluated in light of the county’s huge service needs, as well as substantial deferred maintenance on county buildings.
“There needs to be a balance” between the goals of providing necessary services and freezing taxes, she said. The board added $4 million to the tax levy over what Abele proposed for this year’s budget.
She called Abele’s plan to close both of the county’s indoor pools and replace them with a skate board park and splash pad “basically offensive.” Abele wants to shut down pools at Noyes and Pulaski parks, as well as outdoor pools at Grobschmidt and Jackson parks.
Abele said the indoor pools were aging, expensive to maintain and not heavily patronized. Dimitrijevic said the more than 50,000 residents using the indoor pools indicated they are well used and said she’d gotten numerous phone calls and emails of concern since Abele’s pool plan was first discussed last week.
Just as concerning for South Milwaukee and our police department — the proposal to put park patrols in the hands of local departments. In a city where more than 20 percent of our land is parks, that’s a big deal, especially when I have my doubts there will be proper funding for this mandate.
Abele also released more details of his public safety budget, including a $1.2 million program to have local police departments patrol county parks. The City of Milwaukee would get the lion’s share — about $1 million for patrolling the lakefront and other parks in the city. Off-duty cops would handle the patrols and get paid overtime, if the city agrees to the plan.
The same idea was rejected last year by the County Board and opposed by Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., who requested 100 new deputies for 2014.
I’ll keep you posted.
Filed under 2014 Budget, Milwaukee County
So the field is set …
Democrat Elizabeth Coppola of South Milwaukee will challenge five Republicans in the race to replace outgoing state Rep. Mark Honadel.
Check out Elizabeth’s Facebook page and her bio from the Social Development Commission (of which she is a commissioner). And here is more information from Oak Creek Patch.
Elizabeth is the only Democrat in a race that features five Republicans, so there will be a primary on Oct. 22. The candidates are …
Here is the Patch story about Kujawa, a local business executive, entering the race on the Republican side.
Also, races like this are often about who chooses not to run. Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi was in, before he was out. And County Supervisor Steve Taylor was never in.
Who do you support? Vote in my new poll!
Filed under 2013 Elections, South Milwaukee, State Lawmakers
Check out these South Shore headlines …
Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.
Filed under Headlines
Just a reminder … preeminent local historian John Gurda is giving his “Making of Milwaukee” presentation Sunday afternoon at Trinity Lutheran Church (my church).
Admission is free, and so is a spaghetti dinner afterwards.
The presentation starts at 4, after the Packer game.
If you haven’t seen him present, Gurda is terrific. And if you have, he’s worth seeing again. We hope to see you there!
Learn more in my previous post.
Filed under Community, South Milwaukee
