by | February 25, 2013 · 11:08 pm

South Milwaukee’s EAB Fight: Bring It On

Last fall, you may recall the city applied for, and received, a $23,000 matching grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for combating the emerald ash borer.

Well, that work is set to begin soon.

The South Milwaukee City Council voted 7-1 last week to seek bids for work on the effort, which includes:

  • A computer-based tree inventory, providing details (type, health, etc.) on all trees in the public right of way (perhaps 10,000);
  • Development of urban forest management and EAB management plans; and
  • Potential public information materials.

I’m happy to see we’re moving ahead here and at least gaining the baseline of information we need as a City Council to make informed decisions about how to best address the EAB.

At this point, even though I’m no arborist, I’m going to assume the EAB is in South Milwaukee. It’s been reported to be in communities all around us, most recently in Greenfield and Greendale. It’s been in Oak Creek for some time.

Soon, the question in South Milwaukee will become: What role should the city play in fighting it, and how aggressive should we be? It’s a debate many communities are having, and I welcome it here.

We’re a bit late to the game, but at least we’re in the game.

I’ll keep you posted.

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by | February 23, 2013 · 3:28 pm

New Day For St. Adalbert’s?

A new church may be coming to the former home of St. Adalbert’s.

New Day Church — a non-denominational church that currently meets at Martin Luther High School in Greendale — is seeking a conditional use permit for the 2.79-acre property at 16th and Manitoba, as it continues to negotiate with Divine Mercy for purchase of the land and buildings.

According to a letter from Pastor Neal R. Letteney to Plan Commission members, plans include:

  • Wednesday and Sunday worship;
  • Adult and child Sunday school classes; and
  • Adult classes on weekday mornings and evenings in association with Midwest Bible College (current enrollment: 63 students).

The pastor and his wife will live at the rectory, and the church offices will also be located on the property.

“We wish to return the facility to its former use as a church and school,” the pastor writes, and I’m happy to see the interest in the property. The merger of local Catholic parishes has left too many empty buildings around the area, including several in South Milwaukee. The faster we can see these properties come alive again, the better.

The former St. Mary’s hall is now home to a sports auction firm. And Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral Home is moving into the former school. So there’s some progress here, and that’s good news.

Learn more about New Day Church — which describes itself as a “modern, non-denominational church where you’re sure to fit right in” — here. And here is the Plan Commission agenda.

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by | February 23, 2013 · 3:01 pm

West Milwaukee Walmart Also Opening April 10 And Other Headlines

Check out these local headlines …

And NOW has a new police blotter, including this scary item from South Milwaukee …

The rear window of a van was shot out as it passed the intersection of Fifth and Milwaukee avenues at 11:14 a.m. Feb. 14. The damage is estimated at $500.

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by | February 22, 2013 · 10:39 pm

Season Over For South Milwaukee Boys’ Basketball Team

Waukesha Catholic Memorial rolled past South Milwaukee, 71-53, in a WIAA regional contest on Friday.

The seventh-seeded Rockets finished 10-14.

March Madness, meanwhile, continues for the Rocket girls, who are coming off their first conference title in 18 years. They play next Friday in South Milwaukee.

Learn more in my previous post.

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by | February 22, 2013 · 3:57 pm

Short-Term Headaches, Long-Term Improvement: Work Underway On Rawson Interchange

Reports Oak Creek Patch:

Crews have begun the first stage of a months-long project to reconstruct the interchange, which will result in multiple lane and ramp closures from now until fall.

Access from northbound I-94 to westbound Rawson Avenue closed this week, and beginning next week, Rawson will be down to one lane in each direction between 13th and 20th streets.

Stage 2 is set to begin March 7, which will result in several ramp closures and more lane closures, and continue until early June.

The bridge will be demolished in the summer, and construction will wrap up in late fall, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Zoinks.

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by | February 22, 2013 · 6:24 am

South Milwaukee Sports Update: Girls’ Basketball Team Wins First Conference Title In 18 Years

Congratulations to the South Milwaukee girls’ basketball team, which secured its first conference title since 1995 with a win over Greendale. Next up is the WIAA Tournament on Friday.

South Milwaukee Athletics and Activities Director Ante Udovicic has more details in the following update …

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Congratulations to Coach Derek Hoff and Coach Carl Bauhs and the Rocket Girls’s Basketball team on winning their first conference championship since 1995!!! Their 49-40 defeat of Greendale on Wednesday night cemented sole possession of 1st place for the Rockets (see attached team photo after the win). Ellie Pusheck led the way with 16 pts and 12 reb, while Brittany Bruck hit 5 straight free throws late and finished with 10 pts while Emily Pusheck chipped in with 12 pts. 

The Rockets earned the #4 seed in the Sectional and await the winner of Tuesday’s Regional opener between #5 seeded Whitnall and #12 seeded Milw. Ronald Reagan. The Rockets will play the winner on Friday, March 1st in South Milwaukee HS’s Sullivan Gymnasium at 7:00pm (all adult & student tickets will be $4 and doors open at 6:00pm). This will be a great game, so please come on out and support the girls and cheer as LOUD as you can, but please make sure it is positive for our girls and not negative against the refs and opponents!

WRESTLING

Congratulations again to Tom Mitchell on qualifying for State Wrestling, but he lost his opening match at state 2-1 yesterday finishing the season with a fantastic 39-6 record. Hope to see you in Madison again next year!

CHEER

Good luck Saturday at State!

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Good luck tonight to the Rocket Boys’ Basketball team as they face Catholic Memorial at 7:00pm. Let’s see if some more people can sign up for the fan bus, especially with the snowy conditions we are having.

As of now, we only have 8 people signed up for the fan bus. If we don’t at least approach 30 people, we will end up cancelling the bus by 3:00pm today. Call/text 414-531-2362 if you need to know if the bus is cancelled.

Catholic Memorial HS – 601 E. College Ave in Waukesha

DIRECTIONS TO CATHOLIC MEMORIAL FROM SMHS

  • Take I-94 W to 894 W
  • Take exit 4 to merge onto I-43 S toward Beloit
  • Take exit 54 for Racine Ave.
  • Stay straight to go onto Racine Ave. (the school is about 6 miles from I-43)
  • Turn left onto College Ave. (school will be on your left)

SIGNING DAY

As some of you might have seen a few weeks ago, college football’s national signing day was held. Well, other sports had signing days as well, and so far, I have 2 SM signings to report (with photos of the signings and links to the college teams and info on their recruits). Congratulations ladies!!!

Micaela Creighton – signed her letter of intent to go to school and compete on the women’s track and field team on a scholarship for Auburn University (currently ranked #25 in the nation).

http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/020813aad.html

Kaylyn Markiewicz – signed her letter of intent to go to school and golf on a scholarship for Adams State University (in Colorado).

 http://www.asugrizzlies.com/article.asp?articleID=6551

 

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by | February 21, 2013 · 5:11 pm

Dunkin’ Donuts Coming To South Milwaukee?

Soon, South Milwaukee could run on Dunkin’.

The South Milwaukee Plan Commission is set to review on Monday an application for a conditional use permit for construction of a Dunkin’ Donuts at 3103 S. Chicago Ave. The proposed 2,129-square-foot restaurant would be built on an outlot in the shopping center that currently includes Aldi, Dollar Tree and Little Caesars Pizza.

I’ll post more details when I get them, and keep you posted.

Also, I’ll post more soon on another topic on the upcoming Plan Commission agenda — an application by a local non-denominational church for a conditional use permit for the former St. Adalbert’s facilities (school, church, convent, rectory) on 16th and Manitoba. The proposal calls for worship services, other church-related events, a small adult bible school and clergy housing at the site. Stay tuned.

Here is the agenda.

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by | February 20, 2013 · 5:53 pm

Welcome To South Milwaukee, Max A. Sass & Sons

Turning a school into a funeral home? That unique transformation is happening now, as Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral Homes prepares to open at the former St. Mary’s School in South Milwaukee.

I had the chance to tour the new Sass South Shore Chapel location — still very much under construction — on Monday, and I came away impressed with a terrific example of a second-generation reuse of a property.

From the large, open hall in the basement to the classrooms remaining on the second floor, there’s still plenty of signs that this was a school not too long ago. The biggest changes, however, are coming on the main floor, as Sass plans a large chapel, offices and family lounge. Workers were busily rehabbing the interior this week, and the funeral home is expected to open in April.

The facility at 1314 Manitoba Ave. will be Sass’ fifth location and its first in the South Shore, as Sass celebrates its 76th year in 2013. It’s a welcome addition, and I wish Sass & Sons well in South Milwaukee.

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by | February 19, 2013 · 10:33 pm

Spring Primary In South Milwaukee: Judicial Incumbents Roll Locally, Turnout Low

No surprises in Tuesday’s spring primary election in South Milwaukee …

  • In the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court, Justice Patience Roggensack tallied 1,040 votes, or 66.8%, in South Milwaukee. Ed Fallone came in second with 401 votes, or 25.7%. Vince Megna finished a distant third. Roggensack and Fallone will square off in the general election on April 2.
  • In the Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 45 race, Judge Rebecca Bradley finished with 890 votes, or 60.1%, to Janet Protasiewicz’s 434 votes, or 29.3%. Gil Urfer was third. Bradley and Protasiewicz will appear on the April 2 ballot.

Turnout was low, with 12% of the city’s 13,129 voters coming out to the polls.

See the full results here.

Any thoughts on the election? Post your comments below!

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by | February 19, 2013 · 5:59 am

It’s Election Day: Vote!

Just a reminder that it’s spring primary election day. Do your duty and vote!

Learn more in my previous post.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. See you there.

And check South Milwaukee Blog later tonight for local results.

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by | February 18, 2013 · 9:08 pm

Good Hearts: South Milwaukee Students, Others Raise $5,000+ For American Heart Association

Here is a heartwarming story — and yet another example of South Milwaukeeans stepping up to support a good cause.

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by | February 18, 2013 · 8:53 pm

Oak Creek Mayor’s Profiled And Other South Shore Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, State Sen. Chris Larson has published a new Larson Report. The headline: Prioritizing Middle Class Values.

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by | February 16, 2013 · 3:40 pm

South Milwaukee Election Preview: Spring Primary Edition

Tuesday is election day, and I ask you to do your democratic duty and vote.

Races for State Supreme Court and Milwaukee County Circuit Court will be on spring primary ballot in South Milwaukee.

Patch has good previews on both races. Click on the links above to learn more.

And here are some other election resources …

See you at the polls!

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by | February 15, 2013 · 7:51 pm

Caterpillar Names New Mining Chief

It didn’t take Caterpillar long to find a new head for its mining business.

Dow Jones is reporting that Tom Bluth will succeed Luis de Leon as vice presidents of mining products — a role especially significant to South Milwaukee given the work performed at the large local plant and office building.

You will recall De Leon resigned in January after reports of “accounting misconduct” in China — conduct, sources told Dow Jones, that de Leon wasn’t involved in. De Leon is a former Bucyrus International executive.

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by | February 14, 2013 · 6:53 am

Would You Recommend South Milwaukee To A Friend?

It’s the type of question that often shows up on quality surveys — including at my full-time employer — and it does so because it gets to the heart of a matter.

Do you think highly enough of the city you live in to tell the world about it?

I’ve posed the question in a new poll. Please answer it … and comment, too. Would you recommend our city to a friend? Why? If not, why not?

By the way: I answered an emphatic “yes.”

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