And the perfect season continues …
Ian Pribyl ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns to lead South Milwaukee past Whitnall, 16-6, Friday night. The Rockets are now 5-0, their best start to a season in recent memory (ever?).
Check out highlights on WISN. And the South Milwaukee team page on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel website has even more details.
Next up: South Milwaukee travels to Greenfield — also undefeated in the Woodland Conference — Friday night. Game time is 7 p.m.
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee, Sports
WISN has the story. Very cool.
From it …
At South Milwaukee High School, you don’t have to go too far to run into an Arnold quint.
“They’re all different and unique. They each have different personalities. I think they add a lot to our building,” Kaminiski said.
The quints that captured Milwaukee’s heart 16 years ago are growing up.
Alyssa, Daniel, Natalie, Emily and Devin are high school sophomores who still like to hang out together and who can now appreciate their parents.
“I give them props for handling things the way they did,” Emily said.
Filed under Community, Schools, South Milwaukee
At 4-0, the South Milwaukee football team deserves some recognition. And they’re getting it.
Check out stories this week from TMJ4, NOW and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which named South Milwaukee one of its Teams of the Week. (And don’t forget Friday’s game at Whitnall. Kickoff is 7 p.m.)
And check out these South Shore headlines …
And the South Milwaukee Police Department has this update on a scam going around …
A follow-up to a previous e-mail about a church fund raising scam. The SMPD has taken two complaints about this person soliciting funds since I sent the original alert. The suspect uses the name Eugene Hankins and claims to be soliciting for the United Restoration Church. Hankins is described as a black male, about 50’s, about 5’7″ with salt and pepper hair. Hankins is not affiliated with the United Restoration Church and does not have permission to be soliciting on their behalf. Please contact the SMPD if you have contact with Hankins. Please pass this along to anyone you think may benefit from it.
Filed under Headlines, South Milwaukee, Sports
The answer? Pretty well.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction came out with its school report cards on Tuesday, and every South Milwaukee school fell in the “meets or exceeds expectations” category.
Here is where each one ranked …
And the overall district received a “meets expectations” grade of 68.4.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has some context in this story.
And these report cards demand context. While I respect the effort in grading schools — and support having objective standards in doing so — there are so many factors driving educational excellence that a true apples to apples comparison is nearly impossible.
I prefer the eye test when it comes to rating schools, and South Milwaukee’s schools pass that with high marks. I am the proud parent of two Rawson Elementary students, and I continue to be impressed with that school and the district as a whole. I see every day the strides my children are making as young learners, the excitement they bring home every day about what they’ve learned. It’s infectious.
And that’s something you can’t measure on DPI report cards.
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee
“No regrets.”
That’s the message from state outgoing Rep. Mark Honadel in an extensive interview with Oak Creek Patch.
See it here. From it:
In a wide-ranging interview with Oak Creek Patch last week, Honadel said “he was going out on top,” proud of his career, accomplishments and approach to politics.
He’s long prided himself on working with people of all political beliefs, while at the same time staying true to his. That philosophy guided his years as a legislator, he said.
“If the cause was worthy, I’m not going to get all shook up about what’s what. Either you’re with me or you’re not. No sweat off my rear end,” he said.
His accomplishments include changing the payout formula for communities hosting power plants. The formula used to be based on the value of the facility, which depreciates over time, and now is based on how much power the plant generates. …
Honadel also successfully pushed for a deregulation of the telecommunications industry and the Drexel Interchange, which opened late last year. In fact, the apples shown on the Drexel Avenue overpass are a tribute to the apple orchards, including the Honadel’s, that once graced the area.
One of his most controversial causes was the mining legislation that passed last year. Honadel was a chief sponsor and advocate of the bill.
Several groups and lobbyists approached Honadel, with his industrial background, about sponsoring a bill that would loosen regulations and overhaul the state’s mining laws.
Supporters said the bill would help create a mine in northern Wisconsin, and Honadel also believed it would help southeastern Wisconsin companies like Caterpillar.
“I said, ‘Yes, I want to be your guy. I’ll take this on,'” Honadel said.
Then there were the Capitol protests of 2011, when thousands descended on Madison rallying against widespread changes to collective bargaining for public employees.
Honadel views that as an ugly period for the Legislature, with protestors taking over the Capitol and Democratic state senators making a high-profile trip to Illinois.
“I think the Legislature lost some dignity,” Honadel said. “I hope respect and dignity comes back, and I think it has.”
What do you think of Honadel’s record? Post your comments below!
Filed under South Milwaukee, State Lawmakers
Thankfully, no one was injured in the fire at 313 N. Chicago Ave. in South Milwaukee this morning … but there was extensive damage to the home. Please keep the family in your prayers.
Here is the report from the South Milwaukee Fire Department …
At approximately 10:13AM this morning, SMFD received a 911 call of fire in the living room at 313 North Chicago Avenue. Due to the nature of the 911 call, an immediate request for a “Working Still” level response was called bringing in mutual aid assistance from Oak Creek, Cudahy, St. Francis and the 128th Air Guard. Upon my arrival, dark smoke was issuing from the front door and a front window that had broken out from the fire. Contact with the occupants proved that all had self-evacuated and the fire was located in the living room. Hoselines were laid to the front door and a quick knockdown of the fire was made by SMFD crews. Additional crews performed a search of the dwelling to confirm the absence of occupants. The occupants also evacuated their pets from the house. Heat and smoke damage to the living room was extensive with moderate to extensive smoke damage to the rest of the first floor and moderate to light smoke damage to the 2nd floor and basement. WE Energies was called to the scene to control the utilities and the American Red Cross was requested to assist the family with lodging and belongings. No injuries to the occupants or fire personnel were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage to the structure is approximately $50,000.
Filed under Fire, South Milwaukee
Update: And, now, a fourth …
Three Republicans have stepped up so far …
An Oak Creek alderman, a school choice champion and tea party leader.
Here is the Oak Creek Patch story on Jessie Rodriguez and Larry Gamble. And here is the story on Ken Gehl.
I’ll keep you posted … and post your comments below!
Filed under 2012 Elections, Oak Creek, Politics, South Milwaukee, State Lawmakers
South Milwaukee’s Grobschmidt Pool is one of four Milwaukee County pools the new parks director is eyeing for closure in 2014, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Here is the story. From it …
Indoor pools at Noyes and Pulaski parks and outdoor pools at Jackson and Grobschmidt parks all have relatively high costs and low attendance, Dargle said.
A proposed pool closing plan would include reinvestment of savings for other amenities at those parks, Dargle said in an interview and comments before the County Board’s parks committee Tuesday.
He said costs greatly exceeded revenue at Noyes and Pulaski pools each year, in response to a question by Supervisor Khalif Rainey on whether Abele would propose their closure.
“We are losing some money at those” pools, Dargle said. “They are old pools.”
Noyes Pool is at 8235 W. Good Hope Road and Pulaski is at 2701 S. 16th St.
The two pools need a combined $4.2 million in repairs, the report said. That includes nearly $1 million in electrical work and more than $700,000 for heating and cooling system upgrades.
In the interview, Dargle added Jackson and Grobschmidt to the potential closure list. The Jackson Park pool is at 3500 W. Forest Home Ave. Grobschmidt pool is at 2600 16th Ave. in South Milwaukee.
An Abele spokesman said full details of his 2014 budget won’t be released until next week. Any potential changes with pools Abele may propose would be better described as offering supervisors “options to open amenities that get more use by the public” and cost less, said spokesman Brendan Conway.
This is really disappointing news and thankfully far from the final word. As this debate continues, please make your voice heard … and let’s work to save this community amenity.
As County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimtrijevic put it: “I don’t understand this philosophy of eliminating public amenities.”
Instead, let’s invest in them to make them viable. What a concept.
Filed under Community, Milwaukee County, Parks, South Milwaukee
Now we just need some candidates …
Here is the Oak Creek Patch story. The special election in the race to replace South Milwaukee Republican Mark Honadel for his 21st Assembly District seat is set for Nov. 19, with any primary being held on Oct. 22.
Also, check out the press release and executive order. Nomination papers are due Sept. 24.
Filed under 2013 Elections, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, State Lawmakers
Check out these South Shore headlines …
Also, Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik has put out a press release announcing committee passage of a regional housing plan. It and the report itself are worth a read.
And NOW has published a new police blotter.
Filed under Headlines
Thanks to a partnership between the South Milwaukee School District and the South Milwaukee Police Department, the city is going pink on Oct. 15. The goal: Raise money for breast cancer awareness and to help find a cure.
South Milwaukee High School has some cool-looking t-shirts for sale, with proceeds going to the Justice for the Cure Foundation. Here is the flyer, and here is more information on NOW.
T-shirt order forms are also available from Parkway Floral.
Let’s hope we can beat last year’s total!
Mark Honadel has yet to officially step down from his Assembly seat, but the search for candidates is in full swing.
The Wisconsin State Journal and Oak Creek Patch have stories, including this information …
But Jessie Rodriguez, who is making plans to run for an Assembly seat soon to be vacated by Rep. Mark Honadel, R-South Milwaukee, could represent a significant step forward in the state GOP’s attempts to diversify.
Rodriguez is an outreach coordinator for Hispanics for School Choice, a non-profit advocacy group that pushes for the expansion of private voucher schools. It has close links to several Republicans, such as former Department of Administration Secretary Jim Klauser, the group’s advisory chairman. The group is also tight with socially conservative Christian groups, as illustrated by the motto on the group’s website: “Faith, Family, Freedom.”
Rodriguez did not respond to emails seeking comment. So far, she appears to have registered a campaign website but the content, if any exists, is still not publicly accessible. She has a Facebook campaign page up which includes a short statement declaring her support for local government and school accountability.
The district, which includes South Milwaukee and Oak Creek, leans Republican but is competitive. Mitt Romney edged out President Obama in the district last year, 51-49. But in a low-turnout special election, the Republican advantage is typically greater, meaning Democrats have an uphill battle.
The district is only seven percent Hispanic but in a swing district, that bloc of voters is too sizable to ignore.
Joel Gratz, executive director of the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee, says Democrats expect to have an announced candidate next week and hope to avoid a primary.
“It’s a very winnable seat so finding the best candidate and getting them a quick, strong start will be important to winning it,” he says.
Filed under 2013 Elections, State Lawmakers
South Milwaukee’s perfect season continues …
Ian Pribyl rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown, and Andrew Plewa caught seven passes for 100 yards to lead the Rocket football team to 29-14 victory over Brown Deer Friday night at Spaltholz Field.
Quarterback Justin Oliden was 9-of-15 passing for 145 yards and added a touchdown on the ground for South Milwaukee, which scored 15 unanswered points to snap a 14-14 halftime tie.
Next up: Tough road tests at Whitnall and Greenfield.
More details here … and go Rockets!
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee, Sports
Need a flu shot?
The South Milwaukee Health Department is offering flu clinics from 2 to 4 p.m. every Thursday starting September 26. Shots are $30 for adults 19 and over. Uninsured children and those on Badgercare or Medicaid get shots for free.
No appointments are necessary.
Learn more here, and check out the Health Department’s web page.
Filed under South Milwaukee
Check out these South Shore headlines …
NOW has published a new police blotter.
And there is this from the South Milwaukee Little League …
This Friday, September 13th at 6:30, before the Rocket football game at Spaltholz Field the 2013 Intermediate All-Star State Champs will be honored. Please come and join us in this celebration and stay for the Rocket football game as they take on Brown Deer at 7:00.
You’ll recall the historic season the Intermediate team had in 2013.
