by | March 11, 2013 · 4:57 pm

794 Changes, A Different Perspective On The Worker “Skills Gap” And Other Local Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines, including a well-done piece from Bruce Murphy, now of Urban Milwaukee, that dissects former Bucyrus CEO Tim Sullivan’s notion of a “skills gap” in Wisconsin …

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by | March 11, 2013 · 2:06 pm

Cudahy News Update: New Development Proposed For Iceport, Vaccaro Passes Away

Updating the update: Here is a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story on the Angelic Bakehouse project. 

A couple news items from our neighbors to the north …

Cudahy lost a community icon last week, as Jack Vaccaro — the city’s former economic development director, as well as a longtime teacher and businessman — passed away at the age of 75.

Read the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel obituary here.

Also, the former Iceport site may (finally) be getting some new life, with the relocation of the Angelic Bakehouse headquarters and the addition of up to 100 jobs at a 3.7-acre site along Layton Avenue.

The Business Journal has the details.

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by | March 11, 2013 · 11:46 am

Concerts Aplenty In South Milwaukee As “March Music Madness” Kicks Off This Week

The South Milwaukee Music Parents Association is promoting a number of student musical performances starting tonight and running through March 23.

South Milwaukee NOW has all the details about “March Music Madness.”

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by | March 10, 2013 · 10:36 pm

South Milwaukee Has Moxie (Fitness)

Just wanted to give a quick shoutout to downtown South Milwaukee’s newest business — Moxie Fitness.

Here is how the owners of the business, located in the former home of PJ’s Variety Store at 1234 Milwaukee Ave., describe themselves …

Moxie Fitness creates coaching and training plans for triathlon, running, cycling, fitness, and more. Tori Oman is one of the most well-loved triathlon coaches in the Milwaukee area. Tori and her workout leaders provide individual attention, group coaching, goal setting, and more. Group programs provide an environment of support and team building, and all programs can be individualized with additional sessions.

Learn more on the Moxie website, and welcome to South Milwaukee!

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by | March 8, 2013 · 8:00 pm

Rawson Interchange Update: Long Summer

Expect delays as you head through the Rawson Ave.-Interstate 94 interchange through the summer.

Oak Creek Patch has more, and here is a one-pager from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation with more details and a construction timeline. From the DOT document …

Construction on this project will take place in four major stages.

  • In Stage 1, Rawson Avenue will be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction between 13th and 20th Streets. The northbound exit ramp to westbound Rawson Avenue and the westbound Rawson Avenue bus and carpool entrance to the northbound loop ramp will also be closed at this time. Stage 1 of construction begins in mid-February to early March.
  • In Stage 2, Rawson Avenue southbound entrance ramp, northbound loop ramp, northbound exit-ramp, and southbound exit ramp to eastbound Rawson Avenue will be closed to traffic. Rawson Avenue will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction between 13th and 20th Streets. Stage 2 of construction will start in early March to early June.
  • In Stage 3, Rawson Avenue between 13th and 20th Streets will be closed to traffic as the old bridge is demolished and a new bridge installed. In addition to the ramps closed in Stage 2, the northbound entrance ramp from Rawson Avenue to I-94 will also be closed to traffic. Stage 3 of construction will begin early June to early July.
  • In Stage 4, Rawson Avenue will be reopened to one lane in each direction between 13th and 20th Streets. All entrance and exit ramps atthe interchange will be closed to traffic during this stage as construction on the new interchange is finished. Stage 4 of construction will begin in early July and completed in late fall.

In other words, please be patient.

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by | March 8, 2013 · 7:59 pm

More Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, state Sen. Chris Larson has published a new Larson Report, detailing his opposition to the mining bill.

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by | March 6, 2013 · 9:18 pm

Jursik: Clarke “Must Not Be Permitted To Bully The Executive, Bully The Board, And Bully The Taxpayer”

South Shore County Supevisor Pat Jursik has weighed in on recent comments from Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke criticizing County Executive Chris Abele and Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn.

Oh, has she ever weighed in.

From the press release, in which she also speaks out against Clarke’s running of the House of Correction …  

Sheriff Clarke’s recent comments have hit a new low. While my office has had policy disagreements with the County Executive, these disagreements have always been at the policy level, never about personalities. Unfortunately Sheriff Clarke has reduced himself to only a personality. He refuses to engage in real discussion much less cooperation with departments.

Clarke’s recent remarks regarding the County Executive and now the City of Milwaukee Police Chief are below the belt, but also entirely out of line for an elected official. If anyone owes an apology, it is the Sheriff for his comments last week regarding the County Executive. …

The Sheriff must not be permitted to bully the Executive, bully the Board, and bully the taxpayer. Bullies do not get to win because they are better at name-calling.

I encourage you to read the whole press release, and post your comments below!

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by | March 6, 2013 · 6:35 am

South Milwaukee High School Students Present “Hairspray”

Got this from Leslie Henry …

This weekend the students from School District of South Milwaukee High School will be presenting the blockbuster hit Hairspray at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

The production will be Friday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 9th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 10, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $11 for adult admission, $9 for students and seniors, $33 for a four pack of tickets.

For information for tickets call the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center box office 766-5049 or through their website
http://www.southmilwaukeepac.org/.

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by | March 5, 2013 · 7:01 am

Out Of Retirement: Greenfield Tabs Former South Milwaukee Superintendent David Ewald As Interim Chief

From Greenfield Patch …

The School District of Greenfield has turned to former South Milwaukee Superintendent David Ewald to lead the district on a temporary basis. Ewald was chosen by the Greenfield School Board as the interim superintendent Monday. He will fill the role vacated by Conrad Farner, who resigned in January, and serve through the end of the school year.

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by | March 5, 2013 · 6:54 am

Headlines, Headlines, Headlines … And a Swordfight?

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, state Sen. Chris Larson has published a new Larson Report, with his thoughts on the mining bill.

And there is a new NOW police blotter, including these items …

Three South Milwaukee residents reported that they had received fraudulent calls from scammers who claimed to be law enforcement officers from various countries, during the evening hours of Feb. 21. One victim wired $1,400 through Western Union to Mexico City under the impression it would free her grandson from prison. Another victim wired $850 to a caller from Peru to get her grandchild out of jail. The third victim was told she had to pay $100 to take care of a warrant for her arrest, but she did not pay.

A man was arrested at his residence in the 1200 block of Milwaukee Avenue after he and his girlfriend were seen from the street arguing and dueling with swords in their living room at around 1:30 a.m. Feb. 24. The man was taken into custody because he was the first to arm himself and because he had his sword unsheathed while his girlfriend kept her sword in its scabbard.

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by | March 5, 2013 · 6:21 am

Guest Blog: County Supervisor Pat Jursik On How The County Is Bearing Down On The Emerald Ash Borer

I’ve had a few questions about what the county is doing to combat emerald ash borer — including some of my own — so I posed them to Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik.

Here is her response …

I appreciate the questions about Milwaukee County’s strategy to combat Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Milwaukee County Parks and particularly at Grant Park.  The Milwaukee County Parks Department updated me on its current efforts:

  • To combat EAB and limit the impacts of ash tree loss, the Parks Department has applied a balanced solution of treatment, removal, and replacement.  To date the majority of the work in dealing with EAB in Grant Park has been ash tree removal.  Our goal is a balanced approach by increasing our plantings and ash tree treatments in the park.  We have applied for grants and will continue to apply for them.  To date we have received three grants that have been major keystones in our approach to EAB and Ash.  One grant helped us to write the EAB plan, another helped with treatment, and the most recent will increase plantings in Milwaukee County, specifically Grant Park.  We are currently at Grant doing some work and plan to continue this fall.  For efficiency, we make every attempt to coordinate EAB-targeted work with regular forestry duties in the park. We do continue to work and seek out any partners and other municipalities that share this cause.  For example, we hope to participate in an opportunity using predatory wasps that attack EAB.  The WI DNR is the lead on this.

 

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by | March 3, 2013 · 6:30 pm

Educate Your Lawmakers: South Milwaukee School Leaders Want Your Help In Speaking Out Against Walker’s Budget (And For Public Schools)

Update: Vote in the new poll!

Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2013-15 budget is not a pretty one for South Milwaukee schools — and the district wants you to contact local legislators and other lawmakers to tell them about it.

From a memo posted on the school district website …

The Governor’s budget for 2013-15 is yet another reduction to K-12 public education, in a period where there is over $1.7 billion of new funds available to allocate in the state budget. 

  • The Governor is proposing that the available funds in the State budget be allocated to expand the number and cost of voucher and charter schools in Wisconsin – this money reduces the amount available to public schools.
  • The Governor has allocated a 1% increase in state aid to K-12 education, but this is NOT ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR SCHOOLS. This is only a property tax reduction. The Governor must allow school districts to increase the revenue limit. An increase in revenue limits enables schools to sustain programs whereas the state aid in the Governor’s budget is only going to provide property tax relief.
  • Tell the legislators that public schools need a per pupil increase to the revenue limit.

The upshot? The South Milwaukee School District would face a more than $365,000 budget deficit if Walker’s budget passes. That would surely mean cuts for a district that has already dealt with more than its fair share.

Preliminary budget recommendations are expected on March 20. In the meantime, hopefully the state funding scenario will improve — although I certainly have my doubts.

It’s clear Gov. Walker and many Republicans have decided to place their bet with voucher schools … and not with public education. As the proud parent of two Rawson Elementary students, I think that’s wrong. Fix public education. Invest in it. Fund it properly. Don’t encourage its demise in favor of a voucher system that has yet to demonstrate results (and may never do so).

You can learn more about the district’s budget plight on this page on its website. As you do that, I think I’m going to call my legislators … and I encourage you to do the same.

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by | March 3, 2013 · 8:59 am

Rocket Girls Fall In Regional Finals

With its first conference championship in 18 years, it was quite a year for the South Milwaukee girls’ basketball team. Unfortunately, it ended Saturday night, as top-seeded New Berlin Eisenhower held off fourth-seeded South Milwaukee in a WIAA regional final, 63-59.

Check out more on the game here.

And congratulations to the Rockets on a great season!

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by | March 2, 2013 · 11:26 am

Sports Update: On To The Regional Finals (Tonight) For The South Milwaukee Girls’ Basketball Team

Update: Here is a NOW game story.

Just got this from Ante Udovicic and the South Milwaukee School District …

The fourth-seeded South Milwaukee girls’ basketball team will play top-seeded New Berlin Eisenhower at 7 p.m. tonight at Eisenhower after beating Whitnall in the regional semifinals Friday.

Here is the full bracket.

ROCKET GIRLS BASKETBALL

South Milwaukee defeated Whitnall last night in a regional semi-final 59-44. It was an eventful day for the Rockets as they cut down the symbolic net for winning conference at the morning student-staff basketball game assembly and then went on to beat the Falcons in a very exciting game.

Leading the way for the Rockets against Whitnall:

  • Brittany Bruck (hugely clutch with a 9-9 night from the FT line!) with 13 pts
  • Ellie Pusheck with 16 pts and 11 reb
  • Riley Budde with 7 pts, 11 reb and 6 assists
  • Emily Pusheck with 11 pts, 7 reb and 2 blocks

 The Rockets take on New Berlin Eisenhower tonight at 7:00pm (all tickets are $4 and no passes accepted). Please try and head out there and be as GREAT a crowd as you were last night. Should be a heck of a game! Good luck Rockets!!!

ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHTS

We have to make note that the staff won for the 8th time in the last 9 games by a score of 44-38 behind a stellar performance by Jason Termaat, Derek Hoff, and Barrett Danz. Senior Alyx Birmingham deserves mention for the most exciting moment of the game though, when she hit a near half-courter from the Rocket which was worth 5 pts. SeniorBrandon Dutcher later followed it up with a 5-pointer of his own, which was great, but Alyx’s shot stole the show!

The Polar Plunge was highlighted in the assembly. As of today, the SMHS Bomb Pops Polar Plunge team raised over $3,300 for Special Olympics and DeLynn Charon in particular needs to be commended for her great work! I will pass along more info with a team photo after we plunge Saturday around noon at McKinley Marina. Noon temp of 25 degrees, but with an 11 mph wind, the wind chill will be 14. 

POWERLIFTING STATE

Good luck to Coach Danz & Coach Wojciechowski and the following student-athletes who qualfied for the WHSPA Girls’ State Powerlifting meet being held this weekend in Necedah, WI. Good luck Rockets!!!

  • Sarena Christoffersen
  • Judy Slamka
  • Claire Morse
  • Glorian Koniecny
  • Kayla Hurula
  • Samantha Sankey
  • Sofia Terranova
  • Emily Rice
  • Tess Thompson

BASKETBALL GAME TO DVR

Since you will hopefully be at the SM v. IKE game, you should DVR the  5:00pm game on ESPN – Miami @ Duke, and catch SM grad Trey McKinney Jones and the Hurricanes in action.

Another great weekend to be a Rocket!

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by | March 1, 2013 · 6:58 pm

Strike Looming At South Milwaukee Caterpillar Plant?

Deeply concerning news from the Wall Street Journal …

Caterpillar Inc., after prevailing in battles with unions in Illinois and Ontario last year, is preparing for the possibility of a strike at a mining-equipment plant in South Milwaukee, Wis.

Caterpillar, the world’s biggest maker of construction and mining equipment, is training managerial and support staff for production jobs at the South Milwaukee plant, which makes large shovels used in mining, a company spokesman said. The Peoria, Ill.-based company is due to begin talks soon with officials of the United Steelworkers union, which represents about 800 workers at the plant. The USW labor contract at the plant expires April 30.

The Caterpillar spokesman said the preparations were part of the “normal workforce contingency training process that we have been using since the early 2000s prior to labor negotiations.” But some USW officials saw the training as a warning to unionized workers that the company was prepared to keep producing even if they strike.

“We’re going to be very well prepared” for the negotiations, said Gary Hubbard, a spokesman of the USW in Washington. He described the union as both “tough” and “sophisticated” and said the USW “can help Caterpillar succeed.”

See the whole story here … and post your comments below!

I’ll keep you posted.

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