by | February 1, 2013 · 4:36 pm

Supervisor Jursik Update: Seven Bridges, Oak Creek Watercourse And More

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.

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by | January 31, 2013 · 10:31 pm

An AFS Milestone: 60 Years Of Promoting Peace, One Student At A Time

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!

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by | January 31, 2013 · 10:30 pm

Even More Local Headlines

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.

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by | January 31, 2013 · 9:15 am

Ready To Help: South Milwaukee’s (Limited, So Far) Role In Fighting The Big Burlington Fire

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.

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by | January 30, 2013 · 10:01 pm

Lots Happening With Local Sports Teams

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.

  • Fri. February 1 – Red Out Basketball Game (Whitnall @ SM – 5:45pm JV & 7:30pm Varsity) – Sullivan Gymnasium. Wear red, meet Bango (6:15pm-6:45pm), fight heart disease and have a chance to win an iPad mini!
  • Sat. February 2 – Woodland Conference Varsity Wrestling Tournament at Pewaukee HS (9:00am)
  • Sat. February 2 – Woodland Conference Varsity & JV Boys Swim Meet at Greenfield HS (9:30am diving & 1:15pm swimming)
  • Tue. February 5 – Shorewood at SM Girls’ Basketball (4:15pm Frosh 5:45pm JV & 7:30pm Varsity) – Sullivan Gymnasium
  • Wed. February 6 – Woodland Conference JV Tournament in the SM Middle School Gym (4:00pm)
  • Fri. February 8 – Teff Gymnasium Dedication – Middle School Gym (approx. 7:10pm)
  • Fri. February 8 – Cudahy @ SM Boys’ Basketball in the Teff Gym (4:15pm Frosh 5:45pm JV & 7:30pm Varsity)
  • Fri. February 8 – Wrestling Casino Night at Knights of Columbus (contacts – jshilling@sdsm.k12.wi.us & lwawrzyniak@sdsm.k12.wi.us)
  • Sat. February 9 – WIAA Swim Sectionals at Greenfield HS (1:00pm start)
  • Sat. February 9 – WIAA Wrestling Regionals at Marquette Univ. HS (9:30am start)
  • Mon. February 11 – Cousins Sub Donation Day to benefit Rocket Basketball program (9:00am-10:00pm)

 

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by | January 27, 2013 · 9:46 pm

Few Odds And Ends … Then A Few Days Off

Here are a few odds and ends from around the city …

  • Property taxes. Don’t forget that the first installment of your property taxes are due Thursday. You can view and print a copy of your tax bill, and check payment status, by clicking here.
  • Fire captain. With the hiring of Joe Knitter as South Milwaukee’s permanent fire chief, the city has now posted its vacant fire captain position. Joe had held that job (as one of three captains) until he was named interim chief last year. I’m glad we’re filling it. It’s an important role. See the job advertisement here.
  • Summer jobs for college students. Know a college student in need of summer employment? Are you one yourself? If so, visit City Hall, or call Jenny Maciejewski for more information at 414-768-8051. Applicants must be South Milwaukee residents.
  • Chamber dinner. The South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce has set the date for its Spring Social and awards banquet. It’s Friday, April 19 at Salvatore’s in South Milwaukee. Learn more about this terrific annual event here.

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.

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by | January 26, 2013 · 11:09 pm

Headlines, Headlines, Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, the South Milwaukee High School wrestlers are holding a casino night. Learn more from this NOW story.

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by | January 26, 2013 · 4:16 pm

Do Your Part: South Milwaukee Lions Blood Drive Coming Up

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.

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by | January 25, 2013 · 9:41 pm

So, What Was That Smell?

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.

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by | January 25, 2013 · 3:25 pm

Alert: “Spoofing” Scammer Posing As South Milwaukee Police Demands Money

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. 

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by | January 25, 2013 · 7:15 am

New Look For South Milwaukee McDonald’s?

The South Milwaukee McDonald’s might be getting a facelift.

Representatives from the fast-food restaurant at 2715 S. Chicago Ave. are set to go before the South Milwaukee Plan Commission at its meeting on Monday seeking an amendment to the restaurant’s conditional use permit. The project includes an “exterior remodel, cash booth addition, revised drive-thru layout, and interior remodel,” according to the meeting agenda.

I’ll keep you posted when I learn more. The meeting is at 6 p.m. in the Common Council chambers.

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by | January 24, 2013 · 4:24 pm

Happy Anniversary Season: South Milwaukee Little League Accepting Player Applications

The South Milwaukee Little League turns 60 years young this year.

My son, Christian, has been a part of the program for two years now, and not only has he developed skills on the field, he is developing life skills too — skills like humility, perseverance and work ethic.

I’d encourage every South Milwaukee boy or girl to play.

Player applications are now being accepted, and tryouts are in March.

Learn more on their website. Play ball!

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by | January 24, 2013 · 3:55 pm

More Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter (albeit minus reports from South Milwaukee).

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by | January 23, 2013 · 5:55 pm

Teff Gymnasium: Honoring A Local Legend

Here is some really good news from the South Milwaukee School District …

South Milwaukee is renaming the middle school gymnasium after longtime athletic director, coach and physical education teacher Jim Teff, who passed away last fall.

Check out the press release from the district here. From it:

Jim Teff was a legend. He had a tremendous impact on thousands of student athletes. By naming this gym after him, current and future Rocket coaches and teachers will be able to use Jim as a shining example of what hard work, dedication and integrity mean for thousands more.

The naming ceremony will take place on Friday, Feb. 8, as the South Milwaukee boys’ basketball team takes on rival Cudahy … at the middle school. The ceremony starts after the junior varsity game, around 7:10 p.m. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

What do you think of the honor? Did you know Coach Teff? What are your memories of him? Post your comments below!

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by | January 22, 2013 · 4:18 pm

Downtown Loses Ooh La La

I was sorry to see the Ooh La La Beauty Boutique close recently.

The salon at 1017 Milwaukee Ave. opened in 2004, according to its still-functioning website.

Renovation work on the cool space was still ongoing as of Saturday, and I’ll keep you posted as to who the next tenant will be.

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