by | October 25, 2012 · 10:27 am

Help Wanted: Community Health Survey

About 400 South Milwaukee residents are being be asked to take part in a community health survey, our Health Department reports.

From the press release:

The South Milwaukee Health Department, Aurora Health Care, Froedtert Health, Children’s Hospital and Health System, Columbia St. Mary’s, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, and the Center for Urban Population Health Research are working in partnership to conduct a community health survey. The effort will supplement a prior community health assessment conducted three years earlier with updated data and the ability to analyze trends over time.

The survey will provide valuable data for continued evaluation of community needs and help guide government, not-for-profit, and volunteer organizations as they fashion services to meet the most pressing needs of the community. It will be conducted between now and mid -October.

About 400 area residents will be interviewed by telephone.

“I would encourage all residents of South Milwaukee to help us with this research,” said Jacqueline Ove, City of South Milwaukee Public Health Administrator, “If you are among those who receive a phone call, please take the time to answer the survey questions.”

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by | October 24, 2012 · 8:33 pm

Taste Of South Milwaukee Set For Nov. 8

I think South Milwaukee has a great array of restaurants for a city its size. See for yourself at first Taste of South Milwaukee on Thursday, Nov. 8.

City Clerk and Lions President Jim Shelenske has the details ….

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us for the South Milwaukee Lions Club first annual “Taste of South Milwaukee.”

The event will be held on Thursday, November 8, at Salvatore’s from 4 to 8 p.m.

There will be 16 local restaurants participating and with unlimited tastings/samples to enjoy!

Advanced tickets are only $10, which includes coffee and cake. Other refreshments will be available for purchase at the event as well.

Children’s Tickets (ages 6-18) will be available at the door. Children under 6 are able to get in for free.  

For more information or a flyer click on this link: http://www.smlions.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Flyer.pdf

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by | October 24, 2012 · 8:31 pm

Headlines, Headlines, Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.

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by | October 23, 2012 · 12:35 pm

Grading South Milwaukee Schools: State Issues New School Report Cards

The Wisconsin Department of Instruction is out with a new take on school report cards.

Check out the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story here, and here is the DPI site showing how South Milwaukee schools performed.

So, how did we do? Well, there are a number of different measures presented in the report card, but here are the overall scores for each school:

So, mixed results. But there is some explaining to do.

The South Milwaukee School District provides its own context for the report cards here. It includes an action plan for improving student achievement in reading and math and ways it is driving toward better “post-secondary readiness.”

My take: I have mixed feelings on report cards like this. I always welcome common metrics to judge performance, and I see their effectiveness every day in my day job.

But it’s also clear that metrics like this don’t tell the whole story when it comes to rating schools. So many factors outside of a district or school’s control drive performance and achievement – especially income levels and other demographics – that it’s difficult to get a fair comparison across districts and even schools within a district.

Forget apples to apples, or even apples to oranges. Data sets like this can be apples to tomatoes – in other words, an OK comparison, at best.

Instead of a “one-size-fits-all” report card, I prefer the eye test … what I see when I see my 4- and 7-year-old come home from Rawson Elementary every day. And that’s two young people who love learning and love their school, two kids who are gaining knowledge every minute thanks to strong school and district leadership, teachers, staff, facilities and curriculum.

Based on that daily “report card” – not the ones released Monday — I’m excited for what the future holds for our kids in South Milwaukee schools.

With all due respect to the DPI, my expectations have been exceeded, and they’re exceeded every day.

Of course, I’d like to know what you think. Post your comments below!

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by | October 22, 2012 · 10:10 pm

Caterpillar’s Continued Gloomy Outlook

Caterpillar further reduced its 2012 forecasts and reiterated its concerns for global growth as it reported its third-quarter earnings on Tuesday.

Check out coverage from Reuters, the Wall Street Journal and Associated Press. From the Journal:

Last month, Caterpillar predicted revenue for the year would be about $2 billion lower than the midpoint of its July revenue range of between $68 billion and $70 billion. On Monday, it chopped an additional $1 billion from its revenue forecast and shaved its 2012 profit outlook, reinforcing a view of rapidly deteriorating end-market demand.

“As we’ve moved through the year, we’ve seen continued economic weakening and uncertainty,” Chairman and Chief Executive Doug Oberhelman said. “It’s definitely impacting our business with dealers intending to lower inventories and mining customers delaying some projects and reducing orders.”

Caterpillar has dialed down production rates, temporarily idling some assembly plants and laying off workers. It said lowered production rates would likely accelerate during the fourth-quarter and extend into the first quarter of 2013. But executives stressed that the slowdown is likely to be temporary.

“We think the opportunity for growth still exists in 2014 and 2015, and you have to make sure you’re ready,” said Chief Financial Officer Ed Rapp during an interview.

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by | October 22, 2012 · 5:48 pm

Report: South Milwaukee Man Arrested In Oak Creek Bank Robbery

Oak Creek Patch has the story …

According to the Oak Creek Police Department logbook, a security guard at Caterpillar’s South Milwaukee facility reported seeing a man matching the description of the suspect talking with a Caterpillar employee.

The employee told police the suspect is his roommate. A detective then went to the suspect’s South Milwaukee apartment and arrested him.

Online court records show the man, who had not been charged as of noon Monday, has open cases in Milwaukee and Racine counties for misdemeanor retail theft. He remains in Milwaukee County Jail.

Nice job, Caterpillar security guard.

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by | October 21, 2012 · 9:04 am

South Milwaukee Fire Forces 12 People From Their Apartments

Update: The Red Cross has been called to help those displaced by the fire. And the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more details — including word that South Milwaukee police helped evacuate some from the building. 

Thankfully, no one had to be taken to the hospital following the fire Sunday morning at 708-710 Madison Ave., although there was damage to all three apartments.

Here is the update from Acting South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joe Knitter …

At approximately 5:17 this morning, South Milwaukee 9-1-1 Dispatch received a call from the occupants of the third floor apartment at 710A Madison Avenue reporting that their bathroom was on fire.  The building is a multi-family apartment building with three addresses, 708-710 & 710A Madison Avenue. Upon arrival of South Milwaukee Police and Fire units, occupants were in the process of self-evacuating while fire vented through the roof above the rear, northwest corner of the building. 

Firefighters made their way up the narrow, winding staircase to the third floor and found significant fire involvement in the bathroom and above their heads in the attic area.  Walls and ceilings had to be pulled to access the fire that continued to burn. 

In all, 12 occupants were evacuated from the three apartments with one receiving medical evaluation on scene and refusing transport.  Damage in the attic was extensive throughout with significant damage to the rear portion of the third floor apartment and water damage to the 2nd and 1st floor apartments.

The initial fire response included assistance from Cudahy, St. Francis, Oak Creek, and the 128th Air Refueling wing.  In addition, a MABAS Box alarm was requested due to the numerous void spaces that would have to be opened up to check for fire extension and the extensive overhaul that would be required.  The MABAS alarm brings units from Greenfield, Greendale, Franklin to the scene and Hales Corners, who provides staffing to cover our station and respond to subsequent calls.

The fire remains under investigation at this time, but accidental, intentional and providential causes have been eliminated with close examination of the electrical system in the third floor apartment continuing.

Please keep these families in your prayers … and say another thank you to our firefighters for the work they do. I’ll keep you posted.

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by | October 20, 2012 · 9:54 pm

In-Person Absentee Voting Opens Monday

Starting Monday, you can vote at City Hall.

In-person absentee voting runs from Oct. 22 through Friday, Nov. 2, and you can vote during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 2424 15th Ave.

Learn more on the city website’s elections page, which includes sample ballots and district maps.

Remember: No photo ID is necessary, but voters will have to sign the poll book before receiving a ballot.

And you can register at City Hall. From the city site:

Voters can register at the City Clerk’s office prior to the election date or at the polling place on election day. Voters should bring their Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID card when registering. If the information on your license does not list your current address, additional documentation with the current address will be needed to establish residency. A voter must have lived at their residence for at least 28 consecutive days prior to registering. Remember, you must change your voter registration if you are new to the city, have changed residences within the city or if you had a legal name change. 

Of course, Election Day is Nov. 6.

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by | October 20, 2012 · 9:53 pm

Oak Creek Bank Robbery And Other Headlines

Check out these local headlines …

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by | October 20, 2012 · 7:46 am

South Milwaukee Football Team Falls In First Round Of Playoffs

Brookfield Central rolled to a 33-8 victory over South Milwaukee Friday night in the first round of the WIAA playoffs, ending the season for the Rockets.

Here is a game story. And here are stats.

After losing their first two games of the season, South Milwaukee finished 5-4 — and landed a share of the Woodland Conference East title, their first conference title since 1980.

Congratulations on a good season!

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by | October 19, 2012 · 9:57 pm

Haunted Grant Park? And Other Headlines

The Wisconsin Gazette has an interesting roundup of haunted local places, and that includes Grant Park’s Seven Bridges.

Check out the story here, and these other South Shore headlines …

And State Sen. Chris Larson has published a new Larson Report. The headline: “Democratic Legislators Push for Accountability.”

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by | October 18, 2012 · 9:52 pm

Report: South Woods Of Cudahy Closing

The South Shore is losing an institution.

South Woods is closing later this month after 42 years in business, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

See the story here.

Owner Larry Burss cited factors including the rising price of beef and seafood and the prohibitive expense of making the lower-level banquet room fully accessible for customers with disabilities.

It’s been an emotional week since making the decision to close, he said. “A lot of people, I’ve known for 40 years,” he said.

Burss started working at South Woods in 1974 as a dishwasher; at 16 he was cooking, and at 18 he was tending bar. In 1992, he bought the business.

Although he and his wife are closing South Woods, he’s not leaving the restaurant business.

Starting Nov. 5, he’ll manage banquets at Joe’s K Ranch, about two miles away at 4840 S. Whitnall Ave. in Cudahy.

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by | October 18, 2012 · 4:52 pm

Council Update: Wastewater Treatment Projects, Drug Paraphernalia, Emerald Ash Borer, Foreclosure Demolition … And Spirits

From Tuesday’s South Milwaukee City Council meeting …

  • The council voted 7-0 to award a contract of more than $4.5 million to C.D. Smith Construction for a variety of necessary upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Facility. This includes construction of a new ultraviolet disinfection system, a new pumping system, a new diesel generator to serve as a backup power source for the plant, various upgrades to the plant’s secondary digester, new “tube mixers,” and a new plant power distribution system. The rate increase approved earlier this year will fund the project. Learn more in my previous posts here and here.
  • The council voted 7-0 to give first reading to an ordinance around drug paraphernalia. This ordinance adopts the state statute locally, stating this: “No person may use, or possess with the primary intent to use, drug paraphernalia to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled substance or controlled substance analog in violation of this chapter. Any person who violates this subsection may be fined not more than $500.” An important goal of adopting this ordinance change: Stop local businesses from selling gear that while not solely used for drug use, is clearly meant to be used for just that purpose.
  • The council voted 6-1 to match a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grant that will help us take a big first step in fighting back against the emerald ash borer. The city recently applied for a $46,000 grant from the DNR, with $23,000 of those funds coming from the city and the other half from the state. If we get the money, the grant will pay for mapping all trees on city-owned land and in the street right of way, preparation of emerald ash borer preparedness and urban forest management plans, and production of information materials. I am a strong supporter of this initial step because, at this point, we don’t know what we don’t know when it comes to EAB. We don’t know how widespread nor how acute the EAB infestation is in South Milwaukee – nor do we have a plan for next steps once we do know this information. This funding will answer those questions … giving us the education we need to make an informed decision. Doing nothing is really not an option here.
  • The council voted 7-0 to approve spending up to $8,400 on demolition of a foreclosed home at 3804 4th Ave. I consider this a sad case study in the impact of the foreclosure crisis on neighborhoods. This home has been abandoned for some time – the owner apparently walked away from the mortgage – and the demolition was a long time coming (too long) because of the complexities so commonly associated with the foreclosure process. While lawyers, lenders and others spent years trying to bring this to a conclusion – including spending months fighting just over who actually owns the property – the home became a hazard as its foundation crumbled. It got so bad that a neighbor’s driveway has been damaged by the deterioration. The demolition will at least stop the damage, bring this property a step closer to being a home again … and conclude, for now, a story that is unfortunately playing out across the country, one neighborhood at a time.

Also, the next City Council meeting is Nov. 13, rescheduled from Nov. 6 (Election Day). The other council meeting next month will be Nov. 27, when the budget will be considered.

And, finally, the newly formed Chapter 68 Appeals Committee, at its meeting Monday night, voted to deny the variance sought by the owner of Spirits Bar & Grill for installation of an automatic sprinkling system. Spirits suffered a major fire in May, and owned Ed Abrams is looking to rebuild. However, city ordinances are clear: The rebuilt establishment must have an automatic sprinkling system, for safety reasons. Abrams told the panel that he wants the exception because he can not afford the estimated $50,000 it will cost to install the system, and insurance will not fund it. I am not sure what the denial will mean to the future of Spirits, but I will keep you posted.

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by | October 18, 2012 · 9:04 am

Rocket Update: South Milwaukee Sports News

Check out the latest edition of Rocket Update, the South Milwaukee School District’s sports news source.

The latest edition, published Tuesday, includes updates on all the fall sports, including information on the WIAA playoff-bound football team — which was named a Preps Plus Team of the Week this week.

The update also has this item on the boys’ volleyball coach from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and this item on the cross-country team …

The Rockets hosted the Woodland Conference Cross Country Championships last Friday on a fantastic fall day. Sophomore Josh Janusiak finished in 6th place in the boys meet, earning first-team all-conference status with a time of 16:37 (a pace of 5:21 per mile in the 5K race). In the girls’ race, senior Abbie Fakler earned 3rd team All-Woodland by taking 18th place in a time of 16:05 (1 pace of 6:29 per mile in the 4K race) and freshman Rebecca Heller earned 2nd team All-Woodland with a time of 15:57 (a pace of 6:25 per mile in the 4K race). 

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by | October 17, 2012 · 9:09 pm

Who Gets Your Vote For President?

Just wanted to call out my latest poll.

If you haven’t voted already, please do … and post your comments below!

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