Update: I Can’t Resist comes from Cudahy, where it opened in 2012.
Downtown South Milwaukee has a new retailer.
I Can’t Resist Kids Resale has opened in the former home of Ooh La La Beauty Boutique, which closed recently.
Learn more about the new store on its website, and welcome to South Milwaukee!
Filed under Development, Local Business
BizTimes.com has an in-depth feature on Oak Creek’s “game-changing” plans for its mixed-use Drexel Town Square Development.
Check out the story here.
And check out these headlines from around the South Shore …
Also, two filmmakers have released a film on the Oak Creek Sikh Temple shooting, including details and interviews not seen before. It’s pretty compelling. See it here.
And NOW has published a new police blotter (albeit minus South Milwaukee reports).
Filed under Headlines
The death of 12-year-old South Milwaukee boy Gage Witek last fall was terribly tragic. His father, however, hopes some good comes of it.
Craig Witek was one of several parents of choking game victims who spoke to Channel 12 for its feature on the activity that aired Monday. Check it out here. From it:
These families met as strangers, but embraced as friends as they started telling stories of their sons, and then began telling the stories no parent wants to tell: How their children died.
“I found my son with a (plastic) bag over his head and ligature around his neck,” Witek said.
He said that it was only after his son had died that he started to put the pieces together.
“When we found these belts, we came to the conclusion that he had been using ligatures for a while,” Witek said. “They didn’t leave any marks, no headaches or the bloodshot eyes.”
Please continue to keep all of these families in your prayers.
Just got this email from South Milwaukee School District …
Attached you will find a t-shirt design for a t-shirt we are selling now ($10 per shirt – payable to SMHS) for an 8th grade student at the South Milwaukee Middle School named Michael Christensen.
The deadline for ordering the shirts is this Wednesday at noon. Read below for more info.
MIDDLE SCHOOL STAFF & STUDENTS – please contact guidance counselor Kelly Hruz for ordering them. She will also be selling orange & white wristbands soon for $2.00 with the words “Be Like Mike” and “#nevergiveup” on them as well (due in at the end of the week).
OTHER RECIPIENTS OF THIS EMAIL – please email me if you would like to order a shirt with size(s). I will be picking the shirts up on Wednesday, 2/13/13 and will have them in the athletic office for pickup or at the Boys’ Basketball games on 2/14/13.
SHIRT & WRISTBAND SALES – We will have a t-shirt order form available at the Rocket Girls’ Basketball games tomorrow (freshman at 4:15pm, JV at 5:45pm & Varsity at7:30pm) and will be selling wristbands at the basketball games next week.
ROCKET BOYS’ BB – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14th
Show your heart on Valentine’s Day by purchasing a Be Like Mike shirt and wearing it to the Rocket Boys’ Basketball games on Thursday, February 14th against Brown Deer.
Here is the background information on why we are selling these shirts and wristbands.
BACKGROUND INFO
in the fall of 2010, the SM Boys Volleyball team did a fundraiser for the MACC Fund on behalf of Michael Christensen, the younger brother of Richard, a freshman volleyball player. As some of you know, Michael is now an 8th grader here at the South Milwaukee Middle School.
Here is some information passed along by Middle School Counselor Kelly Hruz about Michael’s situation.
Michael is a wonderful person with an amazing spirit. Michael was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) when he was 3. Michael received treatment and his cancer went into remission. In 2010, the Leukemia came back and after a long fight he was clear of cancer earlier this year. He stopped his last chemo treatment in August. Unfortunately, Michael found out last week that his Leukemia has come back. It is devastating to Michael and his family for the cancer to come back so quickly. Michael has already started chemo treatments 2 weeks ago and his family will have the consultation with doctors next week.
Even though Michael has not been a student here for a long time, he has made an impact on those who have met him.
If you are interested in following Michael’s progress, the family has asked that you visit the following site: www.caringbridge.org . Once there, type in michaelchristensen (all lower case, all one word).
Thanks,
Ante Udovicic & Kelly Hruz
With plans for a Meijer in Oak Creek and the Walmart opening soon in South Milwaukee (April, I hear), in addition to existing retailers like Pick ‘n Save and Piggly Wiggly, competition is heating up among grocery stores in the South Shore. Oak Creek Patch takes a closer look at the issue here.
And check out these other local headlines …
Also, Caterpillar recently reported disappointing earnings news — and a dim outlook for the year. Check out the Reuters story here. From it:
In a somber note on the global economy, Caterpillar said the “most significant favorable factor” for 2013 profit will be the absence of the ERA accounting fraud writedown, not increased demand for its machines.
“We’re encouraged by recent improvements in economic indicators, but remain cautious,” Caterpillar Chief Executive Doug Oberhelman said on Monday.
Filed under Headlines
Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik has published her monthly newsletter, and it includes updates on the Seven Bridges project and the Oak Creek watercourse.
Check it out here. Here is the item on the Seven Bridges …
The Parks Department is working to have the contractor rectify ravine damage during lakeside bridge reconstruction at Seven Bridges trail in Grant Park. Of course, the good news is that Seven Bridges will finally be restored come Spring of 2013.
Along with the Parks Department and engineering staff, I met with the Friends of Grant Park in January. The Friends are alarmed at the ravine damage and want to ensure the area is properly restored with native vegetation and clean soils. They have offered to assist with volunteer hours. I am in awe of wonderful groups like the Friends of Grant Park and thank them for their passion and work.
Filed under Milwaukee County, Oak Creek, Parks
I recently received an email from Stacy Benjamin Wood, an account manager manager for AFS-USA, calling out the 60th anniversary of the foreign exchange program in South Milwaukee.
She writes …
AFS USA (formerly the American Field Service) was founded during World Wars I and II by ambulance drivers, and continues now as a leader in international high school exchange. Over the years, 125 AFS exchange students from 51 different countries have experienced the hospitality of South Milwaukee. Likewise, 83 American students have brought a taste of Milwaukee to countries around the world. They and the network of volunteers who supported them, changed lives and the communities they came into contact with.
Learn more about AFS’ rich tradition in South Milwaukee on its local website. The site includes some great personal stories of local families who have hosted students, local students who have traveled abroad, and students who have come to South Milwaukee from foreign lands. After reading the testimonials, it’s clear to see how remarkable the program is.
Have you hosted an AFS student, who sent a student abroad? What was your experience like? Post your comments below!
Filed under Community
Check out these headlines from around the South Shore …
State Sen. Chris Larson has published a couple new Larson Reports (on the mining bill and education priorities, among other topics). See them here.
Also, NOW has published a new police blotter, which includes this item on the recent BP robbery …
A 20-year-old Milwaukee woman was allegedly robbed of $85 at knife point from a man she described as 5-foot 6-inches to 5-foot 8-inches and between 170 and 200 pounds while she was working at BP Gas Station, 2318 10th Ave., about 6:40 p.m. Jan. 17.
Filed under Headlines
Just got this update from South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joe Knitter …
I thought I would bring you up to date on Milwaukee County’s involvement at the ongoing fire at the Echo Food Processing Plant in Burlington. First off, SMFD has not sent any apparatus to the scene.
At approximately 11:30 last night, I received a phone call from Deputy Chief Bill Rice of the Wauwatosa Fire Department in his role as the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Coordinator of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). Deputy Chief Rice responds to either the Command Post or Communications Center on all MABAS alarms over the 3rd alarm level. As Vice-President of MABAS Division 107 (Milwaukee County), I was asked to begin efforts to coordinate the assembly and response of an Interdivisional Task Force (a combination of 3 fire engines, 2 ladder trucks, and two Fire Chiefs), to respond to the staging area in Burlington for a 6-hour operational period. I contacted our MABAS Dispatcher, the Wauwatosa Police/Fire Dispatch Center, and, according to our MABAS Box Cards, requested engines from Greendale, Wauwatosa, and the North Shore, ladder trucks from Greenfield and West Allis and Chief Officers from Greenfield and the North Shore. The Interdivisional Box Card also contains EMS units, which our paramedic unit would have been one of, but Burlington Fire decided that they did not need the EMS units. The Task Force units assembled at a pre-determined muster point at Oak Creek Fire station #3 and then responded to Burlington. As of 6:30 this morning, some of those units were being released and were returning to their respective communities.
While monitoring our mutual aid radio channel throughout the night, I was contacted once again by Deputy Chief Rice who was requesting three more Chief Officers to serve on the Incident Management Team at the incident. Chiefs from West Allis, Greendale and Hales Corners were called upon to respond.
As of this writing, most media outlets are reporting that this is an 8-alarm fire. In reality, it is a 5-alarm fire with approximately 10 special alarms for Interdivisional requests for Task Forces as far west as Dane County and down into Illinois. The fire is not yet under control and there will be much more work to be done. I would not be surprised if our division is called upon again sometime today to provide more resources.
I’ll keep you posted if and when I hear more.
Filed under Fire
Update: Changes day of “Red Out” game and Teff dedication to Friday. Sorry about that.
Here’s an update from Ante Udovicic, athletics and activities director for the South Milwaukee School District, which includes details on Friday’s “Red Out” basketball game and next Friday’s Teff Gymnasium dedication …
With a ton of things happening in the next few weeks, I wanted to send a brief recap of the upcoming events so you have it handy.
Here are a few odds and ends from around the city …
With that, I’m going to take a few days off from blogging, barring significant breaking news from South Milwaukee. I ask that you keep my grandmother in your prayers. She’s 96 and nearing the end of her long, rich life. A wonderful woman — she’ll be missed.
Filed under City Services, Community
Check out these South Shore headlines …
Also, the South Milwaukee High School wrestlers are holding a casino night. Learn more from this NOW story.
Filed under Headlines
Here’s a quick shoutout regarding the South Milwaukee Lions Club blood drive on Wednesday, Feb. 13.
Donate from 2 to 6 p.m. at the South Milwaukee Lions-Knights of Columbus Hall, 732 Badger Ave.
You can set up an appointment beforehand online, but walk-ins are also welcome.
Learn more in this flier.
If you smelled something like natural gas on Friday evening, you weren’t alone.
Check out this update from South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joe Knitter …
At approximately 5:45 this evening, the police department received numerous reports of a strong odor similar to natural gas in the area of the 500 blk. of Marshall Avenue. The fire department responded and canvassed the neighborhood from Madison Avenue to the north, Columbia Avenue to the south, 5th Avenue to the East and 9th Avenue to the west and could not locate any positive source. Andy Bakalarski was contacted to determine if the odor could have been coming from the Wastewater Treatment Facility and reported that the probability was minimal. WE Energies Gas Operations was notified and had crews in the area, but could not locate anything either. We then rec’d subsequent calls from the area of Pick ‘n Save and Aldi’s and that area, including the Grant Park Square Apartments and associated buildings on Marion Avenue, was thoroughly investigated as well with nothing found. WE Energies remained in the area and was going visit each of the homes that called WE Energies directly and was asked to notify SMFD if they located the source. WE Energies did report that they received reports of the odor as far west as Howell Avenue in Oak Creek and had a crew in the area of 120 East Drexel.
I’ll keep you posted if I hear more.
Filed under Fire
Just got this from South Milwaukee Police … scary stuff.
South Milwaukee Police have received a report from an elderly citizen that they had received several phone calls from a company trying to solicit money. The caller identified them self as being from the “Martinez Law Firm” in Lawrence Kansas with a phone number of 785-371-3081. The caller told the citizen if she did not pay $250.00 by 2pm today that an arrest warrant would be issued for her.
A short time later she received another call from a person giving the name of an officer who works for the South Milwaukee Police Department. The caller ID also showed that the call had originated from the South Milwaukee Police Department. The caller at this time threatened to arrest her on the warrant if she did not pay by 2pm. The citizen then came to the police department to find out what was happening.
Investigation revealed that this is a scam that has been running and that the suspect caller had “spoofed” the number to make it appear that the call had come from the South Milwaukee Police Department. The first call was also determined to not have come from a law firm in Kansas. The call actually was found to have originated somewhere in Pakistan. The caller confessed to running a scam to try to get money from people by saying they were the police.
Due to the international nature of this incident, enforcement actions will be difficult. The best protection is for citizens to be aware of this scam and report these issues to their local police.
Citizens should know that the South Milwaukee Police Department will not call people on the phone regarding these types of issues.
If you receive a phone call of this nature, please contact your local police department.
