Update: I found this old Milwaukee Journal story on South Milwaukee’s undefeated season in 1961. Check it out here.
Did you know Coach Bill Spaltholz? Did you play for him? Were you taught by him?
What will you remember most about him? What is his legacy?
Post your comments below … and let me know if you’d be interested in doing a “guest blog” about this South Milwaukee legend.
Update: Here is Coach Spaltholz’s obituary in Sunday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. There will also be a visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, before the funeral service.
Hall of Fame South Milwaukee football coach Bill Spaltholz — the namesake for the high school’s football field — has passed away. He was 86.
The visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Molthen-Bell & Son Funeral Home, 700 Milwaukee Ave. in South Milwaukee. The funeral is at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church, 3401 Puetz Road in Oak Creek.
Please keep the Spaltholz family, and all who knew him, in your thoughts and prayers.
And learn more about the coach on the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association website here. Among his accomplishments …
What will you remember most about Coach Spaltholz? Did you play for him, or others who did? What will be his legacy? Post your comments below.
When the City Council passed our laundry list of fees late last year, I was hesitant to support just one of the literally hundreds we approved: the junk dealer fee.
Why? The size of the increase. The annual fee, to go into effect July 1, was to go from $150 to $1,000 under the fee schedule we approved.
I voted to approve the fee schedule because I didn’t want to hold up the entire schedule over one fee. But I remained uncomfortable with it. It was simply too much.
Well, the Legislation & Permits Committee is thankfully revisiting that fee at our meeting on Monday night, and I hope we can lessen the increase.
I understand there have been concerns raised with junk dealers and their business practices, from how they secure their loads to how they dispose of Freon-bearing appliances to the dealers taking items that would have real recycling value had the city picked them up.
But raising the fee by as much as we did is not the answer to dealing with the issue. If we have concerns with junk dealers, then let’s talk about a stronger ordinance to regulate them. Let’s not “fee them” out of existence. A $1,000 annual fee would probably do that.
I’ll keep you posted.
Filed under City Council
Check out these headlines from around the South Shore:
Also, three South Milwaukee High School football players have committed to play at the next level, according to this story in the Journal Sentinel. They are linebacker Chris Krakau (NCAA Division II Concordia-St. Paul), defensive end Sterling Smith (Division II St. Cloud State) and offensive lineman Dylan Stefanec (Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater).
Good luck to all those young men, and hopefully Dylan can help Whitwater bring home another championship.
Filed under Headlines
Update: And here is a statement from Gov. Scott Walker.
South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel’s “Wisconsin Wins” unemployed worker job training initiative has passed through key Senate and Assembly committees.
Check out the press release from Sen. Van Wangaard, the Republican sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, on WisPolitics.com here. From it:
“Wisconsin Wins” is a pilot program under which employers would apply to the Department of Workforce Development to offer six-week employer-specific training to unemployed workers. Unemployed individuals who participate in the program will receive an additional $75 stipend for each week they participate. If the worker and employer are a good fit, the worker should have a full-time job at the end of the six weeks. The program is based on a successful Georgia program called “Georgia Works.” “Wisconsin Wins” is one of the centerpieces of Governor Walker’s “Wisconsin Working” agenda.
The bill must still get Joint Finance Committee and full Senate and Assembly approval. I’ll keep you posted.
Filed under State Lawmakers
You’ll have your chance to weigh in on the potential extension of the Lake Parkway south to Highway 100 at a public hearing and informational meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 29, at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.
The meeting, which is planned from 6 to 8 p.m., specifically seeks comment on whether or not the project should be included on the regional transportation plan — a key step in actually helping this project become reality one day. It will also include a chance to view maps, ask questions and hear a presentation about recommendations from a committee studying the extension.
There are several ways to submit comments: verbally or in writing at the Feb. 29 meeting, via mail or at this SEWRPC website.
Learn more about the Lake Parkway project here on County Supervisor Pat Jursik’s website.
Jursik is chairing the Advisory Committee of the Lake Parkway Extension Study. The committee is working with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to analyze the project.
Of course, I’d like to know what you think of the extension. Post your comments below!
Filed under Milwaukee County, Transportation
South Shore Supervisor Pat Jursik has published her latest E-news update, and it includes information on a public hearing for the Lake Parkway extension project, transit changes, Family Care and Grant Park improvements.
Check it out here.
And check out these other local headlines of interest:
Also, South Milwaukee NOW has published a new police blotter, including information on a snowblower theft on Lakeview Avenue, tire slashings on Sycamore Avenue and an underage drinking party on Marshall Avenue.
Filed under Headlines, Milwaukee County
South Milwaukee NOW has a great story on South Milwaukee High School baseball and football coach John Galewski and his wife Sandy — who both will be honored by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association in February.
John will be inducted into the WBCA Hall of Fame. Sandy is the organization’s Woman of the Year.
Check out the story here. From it:
“Throughout the 25 years, the most dependable person I had was her,” said John, who nominated his wife in October. “She picks up any job I need her to do. The only thing I always knew from year to year was I’d always get help in any area I needed from her.
“It was something where I didn’t know if she’d win or not, but at least she’d find out I was thinking of her.”
John and Sandi’s relationship has always included baseball, softball or coaching. For eight years of their marriage, John played softball five days a week and on the weekends from April to October, many of those years when the couple had young children.
At times, he was coaching as many as three high school sports, including girls basketball and football.
Even today, John is South Milwaukee High School’s head football and baseball coach. But never once did Sandi issue an ultimatum and make John choose between her and athletics or coaching. As she puts it, how could she? The family loved traveling around on the weekends, taking mini-vacations to watch John play softball, and coaching, well, that brought out a special side of her husband.
“Once he started coaching, you could tell it was his passion,” Sandi said. “The passion he had for it, and how many lives of kids he’s changed, kids that didn’t have that fatherly figure … I just saw how much he loved it, and I wouldn’t want anyone to tell me I can’t do something that I loved.”
Congratulations to John and Sandy. Well deserved!
Work will begin this spring on the new Interstate 94 interchange at Drexel Avenue — with additional work to widen Drexel to four lanes between 27th Street and the freeway beginning next month.
That’s according to this story in Oak Creek Patch. From it:
Oak Creek officials have said the expanded Drexel Avenue and new interchange will greatly help efforts to create economic development and jobs, though it will certainly be a huge change for residents in the area.
The interchange is expected to bring new development near the freeway. City officials believe it will also aid efforts to redevelop the former Delphi site, at the corner of Drexel and Howell.
It will also help South Milwaukee, providing another link to our city from I-94.
Here is more information on the West Drexel project.
Filed under Construction, Transportation
Here is the latest South Milwaukee sports and activities update from Ante Udovicic and the South Milwaukee School District …
Milwaukee Wave Senior Boys Soccer All-Star Game
Rocket standout senior Jake Eaton will be playing in the 4th Annual Wave HS Senior All-Star game this Sunday, January 29th, following the Wave game at the US Cellular Arena that begins at 3:00pm. The Rockets have been represented in all 4 all-star games, so the tradition continues with Jake.
Congratulations on the honor Jake, and have fun!!
BOYS BASKETBALL
Good luck tonight to the Rocket boys basketball team as they take their 10-4 record into a matchup with the 11-3 Cavaliers from St. Thomas More. If you aren’t going to cheer on the girls team at St. Thomas More, come on out and cheer on the boys at the SM Sullivan Gymnasium tonight at 7:30pm!
The Rockets are only a game and half out of first-place and have had some great results lately behind some stellar play from senior Austin Stueck (32 pts and 12 reb in the Rockets 60-52 win over NB Eisenhower on 1/13), senior Dominic Stanley (9-10 from the free throw line and 16 pts against Franklin on Tuesday) and the aforementioned Jake Eaton (14 pts in the Rockets 56-53 win over Franklin on Tuesday). Junior Evan Marlowe contributed a season-high of 18 pts in the 1/20 loss at Greendale.
ROCKET BASKETBALL ON TIME WARNER CABLE
Next Friday, February 3rd, the Rockets will take on the 9-3 Vikings of New Berlin West at 7:35pm. This game will be shown live on TWC Sports 32 (ch1332 in HD, ch32 in standard) at 7:30pm. We hope you will come to the game and cheer on the Rockets and set your DVR’s as well. If you do come on out, please try and wear some Red Rocket wear. Let’s have the gym look like a sea of RED!
POMS
Congratulations to the Pom squads on their performance last Saturday at Hartford HS.
The JV team place 2nd for their Pom routine. The Varsity girls placed 1st for their Pom routine and 3rd for the their Jazz routine. In addition, juniors Madi Calteaux and Nicole Kowalski placed 3rd for their duet, while junior Mary Berger took 6th in her solo performance.
Best of luck to the varsity Rockettes as they travel to Watertown HS on Saturday to compete in Regionals!
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Rockets are 8-3 on the season, with their only 3 losses coming against teams with a combined record of 35-4, including a tough 40-39 defeat at 11-2 Oconomowoc on Tuesday. Junior Emily Pusheck led the Rockets with 13 pts, 8 reb and 4 steals, while junior Riley Budde had 12 pts and 8 rebs.
The Rockets travel to St. Thomas More tonight. Their next home game will be Tuesday, 1/31 at 7:30pm against Woodland Blue Conference leader Pewaukee. Come on out and support them if you can.
BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING
Congratulations to the boys swim team for taking 1st out of 8 with a score of 190 at the Cudahy Packer relays on Wednesday, and for taking 1st out of 8 with a score of 398 at the James Garcia Relays at Milwaukee Hamilton on 1/19.
At Cudahy, the 200 medley relay of Jake Polakowski, Andrew O’Neill, Michael O’Neill, and Mark Czarnezki took first (1:56). The 900 free relay with James Janka, Bart Brzezicki, Brian Rewolinski, and Noah Gear took first (10:15). The 300 Backstroke Relay with Dan Wimmer, Joey Fischer, Louis Christensen, and Jake Polakowski took first (3:23). The 300 Breaststroke relay with Brian Hofer, Andrew O’Neill, Noah Gear, and Dan Wimmer took first (3:40). Our diving relay took first with Michael O’Neill and Brian Hofer. The 300 butterfly relay took first with Brian Rewolinski, Michael O’Neill, Brian Hofer, and Joey Fischer (3:33). The 200 free relay with Kody Kaszuba, Louis Christensen, James Janka, and Bart Brzezicki took third (1:50). The 400 IM Relay took first with Mark Czarnezki, Noah Gear, Andrew O’Neill, and Dan Wimmer (4:38). The 100 Medley relay took first with Louis Christensen, James Janka, Kody Kaszuba, and Bart Brzezicki(1:01). The last relay, our 100 free relay with Joey Fischer, Brian Rewolinski, Mark Czarnezki, andJake Polakowski received second place (48.04).
Great job Rockets and good luck at the Woodland Conference Meet at Greenfield HS on Saturday, February 4th!
WRESTLING
The Rockets are fresh off of a 57-13 dual meet win against Cudahy/St.Francis on Wednesday. The JV wrestlers are competing at Cudahy HS on Saturday while the varsity is off. The next competition for the Rockets will be Saturday, February 4th at Greenfield HS for the Woodland Conference Tournament.
Filed under Sports
Tommy Thompson has put his money behind South Milwaukee.
Among the municipal bonds he has invested in are some from our fair city, according to this story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. And here is a more detailed story on the results of the former governor and current Senate candidate’s financial disclosure this week.
From it:
In the interview, Thompson said his actual net worth is roughly $13 million. He provided a letter from his accountant saying he paid an effective federal tax rate of 31.1% in 2010 (36.1% when state taxes are factored in), noting the controversy over GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who paid less than 15% on multimillion-dollar earnings. Thompson said he would release his tax returns if he becomes a U.S. senator but did not promise to do so during the campaign.
A review of Thompson’s stock holdings, contained in the 63-page report, shows Thompson holds health care-related stocks, energy stocks, stocks in Wisconsin companies, municipal bonds, including several in Wisconsin, and even some holdings that any investor would consider blue-chip stocks.
If you need a refresher on municipal bonds, this information from the Securities and Exchange Commission is sound.
Filed under 2012 Elections, Community
Check out these headlines of note from around the South Shore:
Also, state Sen. Chris Larson has published a new Larson Report. The headline: The State of Wisconsin is Divided.
Filed under Headlines
Caterpillar had a strong 2011, and there’s optimism for the new year. Is that great news for South Milwaukee?
Check out the Wall Street Journal story on Cat’s annual earnings here. From it:
Caterpillar said it is racing to expand capacity for mining equipment and has such a big backlog that it won’t be able to deliver on some orders for large mining trucks until 2014. Whether those delays lead to a loss of business depends on how fast Caterpillar and its competitors can expand production, Edward Rapp, Caterpillar’s chief financial officer, said in an interview. “We are absolutely committed to hitting goals” for higher capacity, he added.
“The orders are there,” said Lawrence De Maria, an analyst for brokerage firm Robert W. Baird. “Now they just have to get capacity up to meet that demand.” The company expects to spend about $4 billion on capital investments in 2012, about half of which will be in the U.S.
Let’s hope some of that investment comes in South Milwaukee.
(Check out similar stories in Bloomberg, the New York Times, and Reuters.)
Filed under Local Business
Update: Not surprisingly, the Assembly passed the bill on a party line vote. We’ll see what the Senate does.
South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel has an edidtorial in Oak Creek Patch explaining his support for the mining reform bill making its way through the legislature.
Check it out here. From it:
The bill to be considered by the State Assembly this week reforms the process by establishing clear and achievable standards to issue a permit for an iron ore mine. We can pass legislation that forms a reasonable process for active mining while still protecting our environment.
The result of encouraging the mining industry to come back to Wisconsin will mean thousands of jobs and new investment in our state. Jobs will be created around the state from Iron and Ashland Counties where the mine would be located to southeastern Wisconsin where mining equipment is manufactured.
The bill is expected to go to an Assembly vote today (and will surely pass). I will keep you posted.
In the meantime, I’d like to know what you think. Post your comments below!
Filed under State Lawmakers
The changes to Route 15 — South Milwaukee’s only bus line — take effect Sunday morning.
As you recall, a new Route 52 will replace some of the 15’s service in the South Shore, including South Milwaukee.
This Milwaukee County Transit System publication describes the new routes in more detail and includes a color map. This document lists all of the new Route 15/52 bus stop locations.
You can also learn more about the system-wide changes in this Journal Sentinel story and on this MCTS web page.
Of course, I’d like your thoughts on these changes. Post your comments below!
Filed under Milwaukee County, Transportation
