by | March 29, 2013 · 10:34 pm

School Board Calls On Lawmakers, Gov. Walker To Increase Revenue Limits

Costs go up every year. You see it in your household, and so do I. It’s the same for school districts … but state lawmakers haven’t allowed districts to raise more revenue in recent years to account for it.

Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget includes another $0 increase for the 2013-15 biennium.

The South Milwaukee School Board is taking a public stance against the proposal, approving a resolution urging Walker, members of the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, state Rep. Mark Honadel and state Sen. Chris Larson to support a $200 adjustment in the per-pupil revenue limit for each of the next two years.

Check out the resolution here. And here is a presentation explaining the school district’s budget plight — and the potential real-world impacts of unfair revenue limits.

The document was presented at a “world cafe” public information meeting on Wednesday that I was glad to attend. It was a good conversation exploring many of the issues the school district is facing during these uncertain budget times.

I applaud the district for its work in educating the public on these issues … and not being afraid to collectively stand up for the best interests of South Milwaukee students.

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by | March 29, 2013 · 5:09 pm

Not Surprising: More On The Cat Layoffs

The Business Journal has a follow-up piece on the looming Caterpillar layoffs, with comments from a Robert W. Baird analyst who is not surprised by the announcement.

Check out the story here. From it:

Caterpillar’s mining customers shrank their capital spending budgets this year, and many have even been spending below that lowered budget line, Dobre said.

“That, along with quite a bit of uncertainty for miners with regards to which projects they’re going to expand and continue versus the ones that they’re going to cancel, has created a near-term environment that is quite difficult for all mining (original equipment manufacturers),” Dobre said.

He pointed out that Caterpillar competitor Joy Global Inc. has faced these same challenges. The Milwaukee-based mining equipment maker has been going through a couple of rounds of restructuring, which you can read more about here.

Dobre told me he expects a “challenged” mining environment for the foreseeable future.

“But it remains to be seen as to whether or not incremental demand from slightly better growth in China is going to have a little bit of impact in lifting sales,” Dobre said.

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by | March 29, 2013 · 1:42 pm

South Milwaukee Alums Find Success In The Arts

An update from Ante Udovicic and the South Milwaukee School District …

Emily Zakrzewski, Class of 2007 (and daughter of Rawson’s very own Nancy Zakzewski)

Emily has landed a job with Wild Space as a professional dancer. Emily was in theater and poms in high school, and if you saw her perform before, her success is certainly not a surprise! Congratulations Emily!!

The show ran on March 15 & March 16.

http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/wild-space-enjoys-a-chocolate-haze-tn93p8h-198492581.html  

Michael Cotey – Class of 2004

Please follow the link below for a great Journal Sentinel review of Michael Cotey in another standout performance. Not a surprise if you have ever seen him perform. Cheka out the link, it’s a great picture of Michael!

http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/in-tandems-beast-on-the-moon-shines-brightly-vr8udct-194518881.html

 Congratulations to Emily and Michael!

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by | March 28, 2013 · 1:19 pm

Reports: Caterpillar Laying Off Up To 300 Union Workers In South Milwaukee

Update: This story from February (just came across it) quotes a senior Cat executive as being “bullish” on the future of his company’s mining operations. Let’s hope he’s right, and these layoffs are indeed temporary.

Bad news for South Milwaukee …

Check out coverage in the Business Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. From the Business Journal story …

Caterpillar Inc. told South Milwaukee employees Thursday morning that it plans to lay off 40 percent of its union work force there by June, or between 250 and 300 production workers, a local union official said. …

Fox 6 Milwaukee, The Business Journal’s TV partner, first reported the news.

Local United Steelworkers official Ross Winklbauer confirmed the company’s announcement to The Business Journal, after he spoke with Kevin Jaskie, president of USW Local 1343 and a Caterpillar employee.

The union represents about 810 workers at Caterpillar’s South Milwaukee plant. The Peoria, Ill.-based equipment manufacturer (NYSE: CAT) also has its global mining equipment unit based in Oak Creek.

The company is citing lower sales as the reason for the cuts, Winklbauer said. Caterpillar said this month that global retail sales of its machines dropped 13 percent in the three-month rolling period through February, compared with the same period a year earlier, according to MarketWatch.

But Winklbauer questioned the timing of the layoff announcement, with labor talks scheduled to begin Tuesday. The union’s contract expires at the end of April.

I’ll post more details when I get them.

And post your comments below!

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by | March 27, 2013 · 9:35 pm

Caterpillar Negotiations Update And Other Headlines

WUWM has an update on the looming negotiations between the United Steel Workers and Caterpillar in South Milwaukee.

In less than a week, contract negotiations will begin at Caterpillar in South Milwaukee. The talks will be the first since the company took over former Bucyrus International in 2010.

Caterpillar is a major manufacturer of mining equipment.

About 800 members of the United Steel Workers make two different mining shovels at Caterpillar’s South Milwaukee plant.

Local 1343 spokesman Ross Winklbauer will be a member of its bargaining team. He says he’s hoping for “good faith” negotiations, because union workers have enabled Caterpillar to succeed.

“This is a multibillion dollar company that makes record profits, has been making record profits. We are hoping that when the company comes in, it’s with a fair contract,” Winklbauer says.

Read the full story here. And check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.

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by | March 26, 2013 · 9:19 pm

“Severe Infestation”? Sobering News On Emerald Ash Borer’s Presence In South Milwaukee

Is emerald ash borer in South Milwaukee?

This email from Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik — sent in response to a constituent concern about trees being cut down near Oak Creek Parkway recently — essentially confirms it is.

Here is the email …

I communicated with the Milwaukee County Parks Department about the tree removal north of South Milwaukee High School.  This removal is indeed related to Emerald Ash Borer as your constituent surmised.

The forestry manager explained that the removal of the ash trees along 15th Avenue just south of Oak Creek Parkway is in response to a  severe infestation by Emerald Ash Borer near 15th Avenue, city sidewalks and park paths. The same week, Milwaukee County Parks forestry removed several mature ash trees just west of Grobschmidt pool because they were also infested and could pose a threat to the pool, and walkway.

The forestry manager believes that we will see a rapid increase in the infestation, removal and requests for removal of Ash trees in South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Franklin, and Cudahy.  Forestry staff has confirmed infestations at several County Parks locations including Oak Creek Parkway, Grobschmidt Pool, Pulaski (Cudahy), Oakwood, the Sports complex and Southwood Glen.

Jursik also reported that South Milwaukee officials, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Milwaukee County Parks administration “have been proactively working together to identify and address infested ash trees.”

So that’s the problem on county land, and what the county is doing in response. What is the city doing?

As you may recall, the South Milwaukee City Council recently voted to match grant funding from the state to perform a GPS study of trees on city property and in the right of way, as well as develop options for fighting EAB.

It’s a start. At least we’ll get a better handle on the problem — and have the information we need as a council to make a decision on an EAB action plan. From the looks of things, we can’t start soon enough.

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by | March 26, 2013 · 11:16 am

South Milwaukee Downtown Market Update: Like Our New Facebook Page!

Get a preview of the South Milwaukee Downtown Market’s fifth season — it’s hard to believe it’s been that long — with our next indoor Spring Market on Saturday, April 6, at the South Milwaukee High School Commons.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More than 50 vendors are expected selling arts, crafts, organics, baked goods, prepared foods and more. And there will be live entertainment presented by the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center throughout the day.

Our Christmas Market at the high school was a big hit, and we expect this event to be the same. See you there!

Learn more here and here.

And if you haven’t already, please like our new market Facebook page here … and ask your friends to do the same. We’ve dumped our clunky “group” setting for a more traditional look.

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by | March 23, 2013 · 6:06 pm

Farewell, Lenny’s

Lenny's

Here’s the scene at 15th and Rawson, if you haven’t driven by that corner lately … I’ll keep you posted about future plans for what used to be Lenny’s, the service station that closed years ago.

 

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by | March 23, 2013 · 1:05 pm

South Milwaukee School Board: Just Say No To Voucher School Expansion

The South Milwaukee School Board has taken a public stand against the expansion of voucher schools in Wisconsin.

Check out the resolution signed by six board members last week here.

It claims (and I agree) that …

  • Vouchers do not improve student achievement.
  • Vouchers avoid or eliminate public accountability.
  • Vouchers both drain resources away from public schools and increase local property taxes in any community where they are established.

The resolution: “The South Milwaukee Board of Education calls on Gov. Walker, Joint Finance, Sen. Chris Larson and Rep. Mark Honadel to removal all voucher expansion proposals from the state budget bill.”

What do you think of this? Post your comments below!

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by | March 22, 2013 · 11:31 pm

South Milwaukee Track Star Creighton Profiled And Other Local Headlines

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a feature on South Milwaukee track star Micaela Creighton, who is aiming for her (and the school’s) first state long jump champion in 2013.

See the story here. And check out these other South Shore headlines …

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by | March 22, 2013 · 12:25 am

School Budget Update: Preliminary Recommendations Published, Public Input Meeting Set For March 27

Uncertainty remains as South Milwaukee School District officials consider their 2013-14 budget, but this much is certain: The scenarios aren’t pretty … and Obamacare will have an impact.

The district has published its “budget impact statement” in advance of a public input meeting set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27, at the South Milwaukee High School library.

While impacts will depend on the actual size of per-pupil revenue limit increases, the school board is considering making changes to health plans (saving up to $250,000), as well as a $135,000 reduction in retiree health care costs, as more employees are expected to be coming off the district-paid plans than coming on to it in the next year.

The district is also considering increasing annual student fees by $10, resulting in $25,000 in new revenue, among other changes.

Another significant change potentially coming next year: reductions in hours for some part-time district workers (especially aides, office staff and food service workers) due to the Affordable Care Act. As you recall, Obamacare requires that employers provide health coverage for all employees working at least 30 hours per week. The estimated budget impact of the requirement for the district is $600,000, and the district said paying this is “impossible … given the situation the district has been in over the last decade.”

All of this and more will be discussed at next Wednesday’s meeting, which will focus on “small group discussion around the important topics of public education funding, budget recommendations and staff motivation,” according to the district.

I’ll keep you posted, and post your comments below!

(See all the school budget documents here. And here is my previous post on this.)

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by | March 21, 2013 · 7:25 am

Happy Easter! Pancake Breakfast, Egg Hunt Set For Saturday

The South Milwaukee Lions Club and Friends of the Mill Pond have a special event planned for Saturday, March 23: a pancake breakfast, followed by an Easter egg hunt.

Both events are at the Grobschmidt Senior Center, 2424 15th Ave.

The breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m., the egg hunt at 11.

Learn more on NOW.

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by | March 20, 2013 · 3:59 pm

Big Cheer For The South Milwaukee Cheerleaders

Just got this email from the South Milwaukee School District … congratulations, cheer team!

This past weekend the Rocket varsity cheerleaders competed in the Xtreme Spirit Midwest Nationals at the Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells. After Saturday’s performance they were six points out of first place. The two-day competition averages the scores for the two days. There was ground to be made up if they wanted to win. With an almost flawless routine, the team pulled it off and came home with a first place trophy, championship banner, and the sportsmanship award.

Members of the team are Brittany Backes, Sam Schattschneider, Ally Schubert, Sarah Windler, Sierra Kurt, Randi Recore, Rachael Ricupero, Amber Betancourt, Nora Hall, Nora Laasiri, Nadia Mandilawi, Hailey Heath, Eleanor Borden, Jessica Rutowski, and Morgan Moczynski. They are coached by SM grad Michele (Oliphant) Sodemann.

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by | March 20, 2013 · 3:51 pm

Swimming And Singing Through Time: Beatles Tribute Band Concert To Benefit South Milwaukee Swim Team

Here’s a unique sports team fundraiser — a Beatles concert.

OK, it’s not the Beatles. It’s a local Beatles tribute band called Liverpool ’64, and it promises to be a fun night when they play on Saturday, April 6, at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $13 for adults and $9 for high schoolers and younger. A bake sale, raffles and performances from the South Milwaukee High School swim team are also planned.

Learn more in this flyer. Here is the band’s website.

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by | March 20, 2013 · 3:50 pm

Headlines!

Check out these South Shore headlines …

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

A South Milwaukee man was arrested after he called Walgreens’ corporate office in Danville, Ill., around 4:30 p.m. March 8 and threatened to shoot up the Walgreens walk-in clinic at 2985 S Chicago Ave. The man was upset about an ongoing billing issue with Walgreens, and he voluntarily gave up his rifle when he was arrested.

And this …

A 31-year-old South Milwaukee man was arrested for recklessly endangering safety after he drunkenly shot three blasts into the air with a pump shotgun outside of his residence in the 1300 block of Minnesota Avenue around 3 a.m. March 10.

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