by | July 27, 2013 · 10:13 pm

South Milwaukee Fire Department Responds To Deadly Plane Crash

Two people were killed Saturday in a plane crash off of Cudahy in Lake Michigan, according to various reports. Check out coverage from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WISN, TMJ4 and Fox 6.

And here is information from the South Milwaukee Fire Department on their response to the incident …

At approximately 5:25 this evening, the SMFD Rescue Boat, “Guardian II”, was requested by the US Coast Guard to assist in performing surface searches at the site of the reported plane crash in Lake Michigan off the shoreline of Cudahy.  The Guardian II responded and conducted surface searches for approximately 1-1½ hours.  After being released from that operation, the Milwaukee Fire Department, who was conducting underwater search and recovery operations, requested the use of the side and bottom scan sonar on the Guardian II to further search the crash site and debris field.  The SMFD rescue boat worked side-by-side with the Milwaukee Fire Boat “Trident” until approximately 8:50PM when operations were terminated due to darkness and the crash scene was turned over to the US Coast Guard.

The US Coast Guard and Milwaukee Fire Department will be returning to the site tomorrow for further operations and may be requesting our assistance again.

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by | July 27, 2013 · 1:28 pm

New To The Blog? Welcome

My family and I just got back from the Heritage Days Parade, where we handed out more than 1,000 flyers promoting South Milwaukee Blog.

My goal: Continue to build readership and further spread the word about what is happening in our city.

So, if you’re new to the blog, welcome. I hope you like what you see.

And what you’ll see are daily (or almost daily, sometimes multiple times each day) updates on news and information from around South Milwaukee and the South Shore.

You’ll also see viewpoints on some of the local issues of the day. If I support something, I’ll tell you why. If I don’t, I’ll tell you why — and then give you a chance to weigh in too. Please join that conversation by commenting on my posts and voting in the polls.

South Milwaukee Blog is approaching 250,000 page views since I launched it in 2009. For that, I owe a big thanks to my readers over the years. Please keep reading … and tell your family and friends.

I launched this website to keep people informed on what’s happening in South Milwaukee, good and bad. I look forward to delivering on that promise well into the future.

Let me know what you think.

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by | July 26, 2013 · 11:02 pm

Big Heritage Days Finish: Parade Saturday, Lionsfest Continues

The weather improved, and Lionsfest got off to a good start Friday night with the fish fry, car cruise, all-South Milwaukee High School reunion and more.

(And I sold a fair amount of pull tabs.)

Saturday and Sunday bring more great food, music and activities at 16th and Rawson Avenues … and, of course, the annual Heritage Days parade. The parade starts at 11 a.m. around Eighth and Milwaukee Avenues, heads west down Milwaukee, then north on 16th Avenue to Lionsfest. I’ll be handing out flyers promoting the blog, so be sure to say hi.

And don’t forget about the Great Duck Race presented by the Friends of the Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse. It starts at 2 p.m. at 15th and Milwaukee Avenues.

Check out a full schedule in my previous post.

Enjoy the weekend!

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by | July 25, 2013 · 11:49 pm

Next Up: Lionsfest

Evening on the Avenue is in the books, and it looked to be another big South Milwaukee Heritage Days success.

Next up: Lionsfest. Here’s a quick summary of the schedule …

  • Friday: Fish fry, cruise and car show and music (Cheap Shots, 4 to 8 p.m., and Caught in the Act, 8 p.m. to midnight). And don’t forget the all-class reunion for South Milwaukee High School.
  • Saturday: Rib dinner and music (Kool Grey, 1 to 4 p.m.; Jamit, 4 to 8 p.m.; and Mount Olive, 8 p.m. to midnight)
  • Sunday: It’s Kids Day, with cookie decorating, a visit from the Racing Sausages, a magic show, face painting, a penny scramble and a chance to win two bicycles. There’s also the famous Lions chicken dinner and music (Chuck Travis Band, noon to 4 p.m., and Ricochettes, 4 to 8 p.m.)

See the full schedule here, and I’ll hopefully see you there. As a new member of the South Milwaukee Lions, I’ll be volunteering throughout the weekend.

And don’t forget about Saturday’s parade and the duck race. See my previous post for more details.

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by | July 25, 2013 · 11:38 pm

Busy Week For Police

NOW has published a new police blotter, and it’s not pretty for South Milwaukee this week. Some of the items …

  • Reports of two car thefts and three bicycle thefts;
  • Five reports of eggings; and
  • A number of incidents at Grant Park.

There was also this …

A 48-year-old South Milwaukee man was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct ay Muskie’s Gourmet House, 800 Milwaukee Ave., around 11 p.m. July 19 after he tackled and punched a 45-year-old South Milwaukee man. The two men had been arguing throughout the evening and had seemed to have resolved the dispute, when the victim put his arm around the offender, who then began the attack. The aggressor had a bloody nose, but the victim reported no serious injuries.

And this …

A can of gasoline started on fire in the yard in the 1300 block of Michigan Avenue around 1:30 a.m. July 18 after a man was working on a car and threw a lit cigarette in the yard near the can. The man fled the scene when the fire started, and a 16-year-old girl, whose stepmother owns the house was able to kick the can into the road and put it out with a fire extinguisher. The car was found to have been stolen from Milwaukee. The owner collected the car, but found tools, a CD visor with two CDs, a set of golf clubs and a cooler bag in the car that did not belong to him. These items were taken to the South Milwaukee police station.

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by | July 24, 2013 · 9:49 pm

Heritage Days In Full Swing With Evening On The Avenue, Lionsfest, The Big Parade And More

SpaghettiFrom the vantage point of the soda table — where Trinity Lutheran Church volunteers served thirsty guests — Wednesday’s South Milwaukee Fire Department Spaghetti Dinner looked to be a huge success.

And South Milwaukee’s Heritage Days celebration is just getting started.

Thursday, it’s Evening on the Avenue. Friday through Sunday, it’s Lionsfest. Saturday, it’s the Heritage Days parade and the duck race.

My previous post has a full schedule. Hope to see you around the next few days!

(In fact, I’ll be walking the parade route handing out flyers promoting this blog. Say hi if you see me.)

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by | July 24, 2013 · 9:37 pm

Another Tough Quarter For Caterpillar; More Job Cuts Coming?

Caterpillar’s second-quarter earnings report was another ugly one, with profit declines and a cut in the company’s annual earnings projections.

Of bigger concern: The potential for more job cuts. From the story in USA Today:

He said the company already has temporarily closed factories and had rolling layoffs. “We’ve taken significant action already, and we will be taking additional cost reduction measures in the second half of 2013,” he said.

Caterpillar cut its global full-time work force by more than 10,000 people compared with the second quarter of last year. The company had 122,402 employees at the end of June. The temporary work force also dropped by 9,633 during the quarter.

Also, check out coverage from Reuters, Bloomberg and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

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by | July 23, 2013 · 10:05 pm

Reading Rocks: South Milwaukee Library Issues Annual Report

When I think of the first-class city services we provide in South Milwaukee, I put our library at the top of that list.

My wife and kids love it and are regular visitors. They’re not alone. The library attracted nearly 75,000 visitors in 2012 … and circulated more than 172,000 items last year. Those are just two of the stats in the library’s 2012 annual report. See it here. Some other numbers:

  • 121,146: The size of the library’s book collection at the end of last year
  • 62,707: The number of e-books in the collection
  • 27,711: The number of questions answered by the reference desk in 2012
  • 11,826: The number of residents with library cards

Thanks to Library Director Bob Pfeiffer and his hard-working team at the library!

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by | July 23, 2013 · 9:38 pm

Lionsfest Features All-Class Reunion Friday

South Milwaukee’s Heritage Days culminates with Lionsfest, the three-day celebration featuring a wide range of events and activities.

Check out the full schedule here, and I hope to see you around this weekend.

Of note Friday night, it’s an all-class reunion for South Milwaukee High School. Here is information from Leslie Henry …

Friday, July 26, the South Milwaukee Alumni Association Steering Committee will host an all class reunion beginning at 6 p.m. at the South Milwaukee Lions fest Heritage Days.  The celebration will be an informal event for individuals to casually run into classmates from all graduating years.  Individuals attending can check in at the welcome table in the food tent, look at memorabilia, look at rocket wear, and obtain a name tag and coupons for use at Lion’s fest for Friday.  Please come out and join the event, visit with classmates and have a great time reminiscing about your favorite Rocket town memories.

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by | July 22, 2013 · 9:58 pm

South Milwaukee Little League Team Falls In Regionals

It was a good run for the South Milwaukee Little League Intermediate boys team, but their season is over.

The boys went 1-2 in three games in the Intermediate Central Regional.

Jerrianne Hayslett has the story in her New Kid’s blog.

Congratulations on a great season!

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by | July 22, 2013 · 9:50 pm

Cudahy Priest’s Death Reportedly Ruled A Suicde

Tragic news — please keep the congregations Fr. Jan served in your prayers.

See stories in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, TMJ4 and Fox 6.

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by | July 22, 2013 · 10:26 am

Even More Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, new University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Athletic Director Amanda Braun is having a meet and greet from 5:30 t0 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Powers on 10th in South Milwaukee, 1815 10th Ave. As a frustrated men’s basketball season ticket holder, I’m thinking about attending. Learn more here.

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by | July 21, 2013 · 6:30 pm

Fun In Faith: Looking For A Vacation Bible School Home?

I know a number of area churches offer Vacation Bible School programs, but I’m going to plug one in particular because I know it will be a terrific time for all involved.

Trinity Lutheran Church in South Milwaukee (my church) is offering VBS from Monday, July 29, through Friday, August 2, from to 9 to 11:30 a.m. each day. Classes are available for 3-year-olds through fifth-graders. The theme this year: “Everywhere Fun Fair.”

There is still time to sign up, whether you are a church member or not. Applications are due by Wednesday, July 24.

To register, contact Trinity at 762-6626 or stop by the church at 2507 5th Ave.

I’ve been a Trinity member for a number of years now, and I continue to be impressed with its family-friendliness, Christ-centeredness and community commitment. VBS is just one example of this. Learn more here.

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by | July 21, 2013 · 11:14 am

Investing In South Milwaukee

A big thanks to McDonald’s and Educator’s Credit Union for investing in their businesses — and in South Milwaukee. Both recently completed extensive renovation projects. Stop by and see for yourself!

McDonald'sEducator's

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by | July 20, 2013 · 4:22 pm

Foreclosures In South Milwaukee

South Milwaukee is far from alone in having problems with foreclosed properties.

They can hurt entire neighborhoods — and can be found across the city.

Check out Zillow’s list of South Milwaukee properties in foreclosure here. A few examples …

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