by | October 27, 2011 · 9:27 am

Coverage From Wednesday’s Walmart Meeting

Update: Here is a story about the Wednesday meeting on the New Kid’s View blog.

WISN 12 was in South Milwaukee to cover Wednesday’s meeting of Walmart opponents.

Check out the story and video here.

It was a fair and balanced piece that showed clearly the emotions surrounding this issue — sentiments I absolutely respect and, in some caes, agree with.

I expect to hear similar sentiments at Tuesday’s City Council meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall. And I welcome the continued feedback.

On a related note, I want to thank readers of this blog for the tone of the ongoing dialog about the Walmart project. I appreciate the rational and intelligent nature of the debate on these pages. Dozens of people have posted comments here in the last few weeks, easily pushing blog traffic to an all-time high, and I have yet to see anything inappropriate.

It is much appreciated. I want this blog to be a respected forum for debating important community business, and readers are delivering on that promise. Thank you.

15 Comments

Filed under South Milwaukee Walmart

Tagged as

by | October 26, 2011 · 10:25 pm

Coming Soon To Oak Creek: The Next Bayshore?

Ever been to Bayshore Town Center?

It’s a large — and unique to the area — mix of retail, restaurants, office, residential and entertainment space that opened in Glendale in 2006.

Pretty soon, Bayshore may not be the only town center in town. That’s because Oak Creek city leaders are proposing a similar development for the former Delphi site at Howell and Drexel Avenues, according to a story in Oak Creek Patch.

The plan will be presented at a meeting Monday night.

From the story:

The town center plan emerged following two public meetings held earlier this year, according to a news release issued Wednesday afternoon. The Oct. 31 meeting will finalize the recommended plans for Delphi, 7929 S. Howell Ave., as well as the existing Civic Center site at the corner of Puetz and Howell avenues.

The plan for Delphi will include one option with a relocated Oak Creek City Hall and public library and one option without those buildings.

I know that some South Milwaukeeans are (rightly) concerned about the impact the proposed Walmart may have on the retail we currently have in our fair city. However, I would argue that developments like this — not to mention existing big boxes like Kohl’s and Target on Howell Avenue — are just as big a threat, maybe bigger.

In this regional economy, competition comes from all around us.

The town center meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Monday at the Oak Creek Community Center, 8580 S. Howell Ave. I’ll keep you posted as this story develops.

2 Comments

Filed under Local Business

by | October 26, 2011 · 9:04 pm

All Aboard!? Honadel, “The Mine Train” And Other Local Headlines Of Interest

South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel is helping lead the charge to get new mining legislation passed through the Assembly by the end of the year.

The bill would help speed development of an iron mine near Ashland.

Check out the story in the Ashland Current. From it:

Republicans in the State Assembly say they’ll push ahead with a rewrite of Wisconsin’s mining laws and could have something passed by the end of this year.

Ever since the State Senate set up a special committee to study and rewrite Wisconsin’s mining laws, many assumed that any mining bill would have to start there first. But South Milwaukee Republican Representative Mark Honadel says the Assembly won’t wait.

“I think the iron mine train starts today,” Honadel says.

The iron mine in question is being proposed for a stretch along Iron and Ashland Counties. It would be the largest in the state. The company proposing it thinks Wisconsin’s current mining laws are onerous. Honadel says they will be changed.

“Part of our agenda is to make the bill a little more friendly to anybody that wants to come here and mine but yet keep our air and water permits intact to protect our beautiful Wisconsin Northwoods,” Honadel says.

And check out these other local headlines:

Leave a comment

Filed under Headlines, State Lawmakers

Tagged as

by | October 26, 2011 · 8:40 pm

Caterpillar Reports Strong Third-Quarter Earnings, Big Worldwide Job Growth

Caterpillar is growing, and not only in South Milwaukee.

The company reported a 44 percent increase in profit this week for the third quarter and said it created 4,800 jobs worldwide during the period.

Check out The Business Journal story here. Also check out coverage from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Business Week.

From the Times piece:

Caterpillar executives said they expected that momentum to carry into next year, with sales rising up to 20 percent above the $58 billion in sales it expects to have this year.

“We’re having a great year in 2011, and 2012 is shaping up to be better,” said Douglas R. Oberhelman, Caterpillar’s chief executive.

Leave a comment

Filed under Local Business

Tagged as

by | October 26, 2011 · 1:15 pm

Walmart Opponents Plan Meeting For Tonight

A group of residents opposed to the Walmart project is holding a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Knights of Columbus.

Learn more in this Journal Sentinel story.

While I favor the project — I laid out the reasons why in a previous blog post — I feel an obligation to keep people informed on key issues and events like this. And I respect the issues raised against the development, and the people raising them.

The Knights of Columbus is at 732 Badger Ave.

Leave a comment

Filed under South Milwaukee Walmart

Tagged as

by | October 25, 2011 · 10:26 pm

What’s For Sale? For Starters, The Old City Hall, Police and Fire Station (List: $700,000)

It’s time for the latest installment of What’s For Sale, which provides a snapshot of South Milwaukee properties on the real estate market.

Let’s start with a 22-unit apartment building at 2005 10th Ave. that just happens to be the former City Hall, police and fire station. According to the description, the building is now owned by the bank, so you might be able to get a deal on the $700,000 asking price.

Learn more in this listing on the Nicholson Realty website. And this story from a 1986 edition of the Milwaukee Journal takes a look at the initial plans for the building after the city sold it (five years after moving City Hall to the former Parkway School building).

And here are some other properties up for sale:

Leave a comment

Filed under What's For Sale

Tagged as

by | October 25, 2011 · 9:27 pm

Leave It To the City: Street Department Continues Leaf Pickup Through November 15

Just a reminder that South Milwaukee residents can place their leaves in the street gutter for collection through Nov. 15.

Yard waste and plants, however, must be taken to the Self-Deposit Station for dropoff. Summer hours (Tuesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at the station are in effect through Nov. 30.

Learn more in the Street Department section of the new online Keeping in Touch newsletter.

Leave a comment

Filed under City Services

Tagged as

by | October 25, 2011 · 1:26 pm

Toppers Opens Saturday: Free Pizza*

Update: Here is The Business Journal story.

The South Milwaukee Toppers Pizza location at Grant Park Plaza opens on Saturday … and if you don’t mind getting there early (probably really early) you could win free pizza for a year.

Learn more in this Oak Creek Patch story. From it:

The chain is most known for its pizza and cheese sticks and has expanded rapidly in the Milwaukee area. Saturday’s South Milwaukee grand opening begins at 10:30 a.m. The first 50 customers in line get free pizza for a year.

I’d also like to know what you think of the chain — and the state of South Milwaukee pizza in general. What is your favorite pizza place in town? Post your comments below!

Leave a comment

Filed under Local Business

Tagged as

by | October 24, 2011 · 4:11 pm

Postal Facility Update And Other Headlines

The U.S. postal facility planned across the street from South Milwaukee’s 4th District may not be a postal facility at all.

That’s according to this story from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. From it:

The Oak Creek Plan Commission, at its Tuesday night meeting, will consider a request to change the development plan to allow for creating an alternate project for the site, said Doug Seymour, community development director.

There are no specific alternatives yet, Seymour said. But it makes sense to begin planning for that possibility given the prospects for the original project, he said.

Seymour said city officials are working with Cobalt and the Postal Service “to try to get something going on that property.” The land, once used for farming, hasn’t been paying property taxes since it was sold to the Postal Service, Seymour said.

The agency hasn’t yet dropped its plans for the site, said Tim Ratliff, a Postal Service spokesman.

“We always like to keep our options open,” he said.

I’ll keep you posted on this story. In the meantime, check out these other local headlines:

1 Comment

Filed under Headlines

Tagged as

by | October 22, 2011 · 11:12 pm

South Milwaukee Football Team Loses Playoff Opener

The South Milwaukee football team staged a strong comeback but fell to Wilmot, 23-20, in the first round of the WIAA playoffs on Saturday.

Check out the box score and highlights here.

Mat Tagye had another 100-yard rushing game in the loss and tallied a one-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, as South Milwaukee battled back from a 23-7 deficit with 13 points in the quarter.

South Milwaukee finished the season 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the Woodland Conference.

Leave a comment

Filed under Sports

Tagged as

by | October 22, 2011 · 4:36 pm

Special Delivery: Celebrating Our Local Firefighters

The South Milwaukee Fire Department helped celebrate a birthday to remember this week.

Oct. 19, 2010. That’s when a South Milwaukee ambulance crew was called to assist a woman in labor. En route to the hospital, the ambulance ended up pulling over on College Avenue just west of 15th.

A few minutes later, little Anya was born.

Anya and her family stopped by the firehouse to celebrate her first birthday this week … and that’s the origin of this photo.

From left to right in the photo are father Juan Cazares, firefighter/paramedics Tim Wendt and Ryan Kurz, Anya, Alana (Anya’s 2-year-old sister) and mother Lauren Figueroa.

Consider it another story of first-class local firefighters in action. And happy birthday, Anya!

On another note, I also want to thank the firefighters who stopped by my house on Thursday to deliver the Pizza Hut pizza we ordered. This annual partnership with Pizza Hut — in which local firefighters delivered pizza to area residents, free of charge if they had a working smoke detector — is a great and unique way to encourage fire safety.

And the pizza wasn’t bad either 🙂

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

by | October 21, 2011 · 9:22 pm

Rep. Gwen Moore Endorses Baldwin And Other Local Headlines

Not surprisingly, Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore has endorsed Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) in the race for U.S. Senate in 2012.

Check out the press release here.

And check out these other local headlines of note:

Also, NOW has published a new South Shore police report roundup.

Leave a comment

Filed under Headlines

Tagged as ,

by | October 20, 2011 · 11:54 am

Wind Damage, Plale Confirmation And Other Local Headlines Of Interest

The high winds last night and today knocked out power to about 2,500 South Milwaukee customers, according to We Energies and a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Most power was restored by early Thursday.

Check out the story here, and these other local headlines:

Leave a comment

Filed under Headlines

by | October 20, 2011 · 10:59 am

South Milwaukee Sports Update: Football Playoff Details And Other Success Stories

The WIAA playoff-bound South Milwaukee football team plays Wilmot at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Wilmot, in western Kenosha County.

Learn more about the game, including information on a fan bus, in this week’s Rocket Sports Update.

The update also includes information on the other fall sports, and there is plenty of good news when it comes to South Milwaukee sports:

  • Running back Mat Tagye became the first Rocket to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since 1991.
  • Cross-country senior Leah Rendflesh won the Woodland Conference championship.
  • And the boys’ soccer team has made the sectional semifinals and plays Marquette at 5 p.m. today at Quad Park at 38th and St. Paul Avenues.

Go Rockets!

2 Comments

Filed under Sports

Tagged as

by | October 20, 2011 · 10:48 am

What’s The Future Of The 15?

The future of the Route 15 bus — which serves South Milwaukee — is the topic of a public information meeting several Milwaukee County supervisors are holding on Monday, Oct. 24.

Check out the press release from County Supervisor Pat Jursik here.

As I have written about, the 15 was threatened with some serious reductions in service as part of the Milwaukee County Transit System’s 2012 budget proposal. County Executive Chris Abele spared the 15 from some of those cuts in his proposed budget, creating an Express Route 15 to serve the South Shore, among other changes.

You can learn more about that new plan at the meeting.

Leave a comment

Filed under Transportation

Tagged as