by | July 19, 2013 · 5:53 pm

Investing In Infrastructure: City Council Approves 2013 Capital Projects

The biggest decision at Tuesday’s South Milwaukee City Council meeting: A 7-0 vote to move ahead with $1 million in various capital improvement projects this year. Among the projects and estimated costs …

  • Re-roofing the city garage: $300,000
  • 12th Avenue reconstruction, Milwaukee to Minnesota Avenues: $250,000
  • Replacing one of the South Milwaukee Fire Department medical units: $185,000
  • Repaving and other work on Minnesota and Monroe Avenues, 12th to 14th Avenues: $150,000
  • Various repaving, local streets and alleys: $105,500
  • Replace lighting fixtures at the library: $9,500

While the council approved the overall plan, it must still approve each of these products as they come up, so actual costs may vary. And we’ve already discussed several of these improvements.

As to how these projects will be paid for, the council also approved either of two options, to be determined: moving existing money from our undesignated funds (“rainy day” fund) or borrowing the amount with a short-term loan to be paid off when we do a larger, longer-term borrowing down the road (likely in 2014).

I’ll keep you posted on some of these projects as they get underway.

Also approved at Tuesday’s council meeting: Spending up to $180,000 for significant concrete repairs on Drexel Boulevard, from Nicholson to 15th Avenues. That work will be completed by the end of September, with pavement marking after that. Phase two of this project — east of 15th — will come later, perhaps 2014. The pavement dates to 1972.

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by | July 18, 2013 · 6:51 pm

On To Regionals: South Milwaukee Little League Team Makes History

South Milwaukee’s boys of summer aren’t done yet.

The South Milwaukee Little League intermediate boys team (ages 11-13) beat West Bend Tuesday night to win the state title and advance to the Central Regional tournament in Millwood, Mich., this weekend. This puts them a few wins away from qualifying for the national tournament in San Francisco later this month.

This is a big deal. How big? It’s the first time in 35 years that any South Milwaukee Little League boys team at any level has advanced to regional competition.

The Little League intermediate level is designed to help older boys better transition from “traditional” Little League – those competing to play in the ESPN-televised World Series in Williamsport, Penn., each year – to more advanced levels like high school.

The team needs your help. They are seeking to raise money for the additional travel expenses.

Those interested in helping can contact Madeline McCarrier at 414-429-0001 or at madeemac@yahoo.com.

Here is the tournament bracket. Go South Milwaukee!

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by | July 18, 2013 · 6:41 pm

More Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines, most from Oak Creek this time …

State Sen. Chris Larson has published a new Larson Report.

And NOW has published a new police blotter, including this item … A 15-year-old Milwaukee boy and a 15-year-old South Milwaukee boy were arrested for stealing a car from the 1200 block of Missouri Avenue during the early morning of July 12. The boys tried to sell the $8,000 2003 Honda Odyssey to an auto salvage company that morning at Grant and 25th streets in Milwaukee, but the buyer refused and alerted police when he learned the car was stolen. The Milwaukee boy was arrested by that city’s police and the South Milwaukee boy came into the department for another case. The van was found in Cudahy and returned.

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by | July 16, 2013 · 9:56 pm

8 Ways To Stay Cool, South Milwaukee

Looking to beat the heat this week? Here are a few local ideas …

Did I miss any? Post your comments!

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by | July 15, 2013 · 4:46 pm

“Jungle Book” Comes To Town

Putting in a quick plug for this Saturday’s South Milwaukee Youth Theatre presentation of “The Jungle Book” at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

Show times are 1 and 6 p.m.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-17  (under 5 are free), and they can be purchased at the show or at the PAC box office this week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I hope to see you there — because my five-year-old is the Baby Elephant!

(Also, the SMYT seniors put on the “Little Mermaid” July 26-28.)

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by | July 14, 2013 · 10:01 pm

South Milwaukee Police Department Files Annual Report

Like the fire department report, the South Milwaukee Police Department’s 2012 annual report is full of in-depth information on the work the department does to keep our community safe.

See it here. Some good news/bad news on crime figures:

  • Property crime reports were down to their lowest levels in at least five years, with 450 reports in 2012, compared with 513 in 2011 and 595 in 2010.
  • Clearance rates were also at their highest levels in at least five years, at 39.6%.
  • Of biggest concern, violent crime increased to its highest level in at least five years, with 40 incidents reported, compared with 16 in both 2011 and 2010. An increase in aggravated assault drove most of the increase.

Of course, the report has much more information than this, including shift highlights and details on the 2011 department awards.

Thanks again to all of our police officers for their efforts. They are never forgotten.

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by | July 14, 2013 · 9:16 pm

Headlines!

Check out these South Shore headlines …

The South Milwaukee Rockets baseball team ended the season with a record of 15-15 after a loss to Oak Creek in a WIAA regional final. Check out the NOW story here.

And check out this story from Whitefish Bay Patch about Joey Plale, son of former South Milwaukee state Sen. Jeff Plale. Joey is headed to the exclusive University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, which boasts graduates like Will Ferrell, George Lucas and Matthew Weiner (creator of “Mad Men”).

Congratulations, Joey, and good luck!

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by | July 11, 2013 · 11:11 pm

Good Food: South Milwaukee’s Free Summer Lunch Program

Just a reminder about the terrific program providing free lunches to area children at South Milwaukee High School and Lakeview Elementary this summer. For adults, it’s only $2.

The Summer Food Service Program, funded by the federal Department of Agriculture, is administered by the state.

Locally, the lunches are well attended. That’s according to my wife, who has been taking advantage of them frequently this summer following my son’s summer school classes.

Of course, for us, it’s more of a convenience. For others, these lunches are critical. South Milwaukee has a number of families struggling financially. Programs like this make their lives a little easier.

The Lakeview lunches run through July 25. The high school lunches run through August 2.

Learn more here.

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by | July 10, 2013 · 10:13 pm

Shooting In Cudahy

Flight for Life was reportedly called to the scene of the shooting Wednesday evening at a home near Packard and Ramsey Avenues in Cudahy. A man is in custody.

Learn more from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel or WISN.

I’ll keep you posted.

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by | July 9, 2013 · 10:07 pm

Cudahy Teen Charged In Robbery Of South Milwaukee’s King’s Row Liquor

A 17-year-old Cudahy boy has been charged in the alleged May armed robbery of King’s Row Liquor in South Milwaukee.

Nathan Warrix faces one count of armed robbery and has his preliminary hearing set for July 17 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. He is subject to electronic monitoring until then, court records show.

Here are the case details.

Warrix also has several other oustanding charges, including another felony charge for drug possession and several misdemeanor charges for retail theft, online court records show. I’ll keep you posted … and congratulations to the South Milwaukee Police Department on the arrest.

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by | July 9, 2013 · 10:06 pm

New Operators For South Milwaukee’s Crest House And Other Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines …

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

A window was found damaged with a hole shot through it at Nona’s Café, 2206 10th Ave., around 11:30 a.m. July 1. That window will cost about $2,500 to replace. Additionally, the windows of four cars parked along 15th Avenue between the 1500 block and 3000 block were found damaged the same morning and afternoon, with about $930 collectively in damage. In three cases, the window either had a hole in it or a marble was found nearby.

And this …

Two men were arrested for a fight that took place at a residence in the 1300 block of Milwaukee Avenue around 2:30 a.m. June 29. The two men were a 42-year-old South Milwaukee man, arrested for battery, and a 48-year-old South Milwaukee man, arrested for endangering safety by use of a firearm while intoxicated. County officials did not process charges against either man. 

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by | July 7, 2013 · 9:22 pm

Busy Year: South Milwaukee Fire Department Files Annual Report

The South Milwaukee Fire Department has published its 2012 annual report, and it does a great job  detailing all that the work this team does to keep us safe every day.

See it here. From it:

  • The department responded to 2,931 incidents in 2012, essentially static from previous years.
  • That includes responses to 2,494 emergency medical service calls, up slightly from the previous two years.
  • They also responded to 85 fires, the highest figure since at least 2009. Of those, 44 were building fires.
  • Fire dollar loss topped $541,000.

Of course, the report goes into much more detail and includes sections on equipment, training, youth education, incident photos and much more.

Thanks again to our South Milwaukee firefighters!

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by | July 6, 2013 · 6:12 pm

Making Sweet Music: South Milwaukee Farmers’ Market Concert Announcement

To anyone who has attended the South Milwaukee Downtown Market, you know music is important to us.

We want to deliver an experience that goes beyond shopping — truly an event that people look forward to every week.

That starts with music … and brings me to the news.

The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center is bringing three concerts to the market, with the first one this Thursday, July 11.

All three acts are truly unique:

  • July 11: Brett Newski. Newski is an indie pop singer, songwriter and guitarist from Saigon, Vietnam, whose most recent album “Tiny Victories” includes songs and tales from that country. He has been touring Vietnam on his Folk Catastrophe Tour, a benefit for disaster relief in the U.S. http://brettnewski.com/
  • August 8: Jim Green. Green is a Guitar Idol champion and was voted one of the “best artists in the Midwest” by Billboard Magazine. His music has been licensed by United Church of Christ and used in documentaries, such as “Innocence Abandoned: Street Kids of Haiti.” www.jimgreenmusic.com
  • August 15: OPUS Jazz Band. An icon of Wisconsin jazz, the band was founded more than 30 years ago and nominated for a 2013 Wisconsin Area Music Industry award for “best jazz group.” OPUS has shared the stage with jazz artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Pat Metheny, Spyro Gyro, Bill Bruford and many others. http://www.opusjazzband.com/

Of course, these performances are in addition to our regular weekly music.

Learn more in this press release, and see you at the market!

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by | July 6, 2013 · 8:58 am

A Chance To Do Your Part For Grant Park

Grant Park is a wonderful asset for South Milwaukee — but we need to be active caretakers of it, too.

You have a chance to do just that on Tuesday, July 9. That’s when the Alliance for the Great Lakes is looking for volunteers to help with a habitat assessment and restoration effort.

Learn more in this event alert. From it:

As a volunteer, you will help reduce the threats to this important natural area by conducting habitat assessments and on-the-ground restoration. Volunteers will learn skills needed to collect field data to inform future restoration planning, monitor ongoing restoration projects and protect habitats by removing invasive plants and planting native species.

Two shifts are available: 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Meet at the Grant Park beach parking lot.

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