South Milwaukee Blog

Congratulations, South Milwaukee!

From the South Milwaukee School District …

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Education (SOE) in partnership with the Wisconsin Character Education Partnership (WCEP) is pleased to announce the Wisconsin schools recognized in 2019 for their personal, creative successful initiatives integrating character education into the curriculum. SOE understands the value of WCEP’s mission to promote the intentional, proactive effort by public and private K-12 schools and school districts to instill in all Wisconsin’s students, core universal ethical values such as integrity, honesty, fairness, responsibility and respect for themselves and for others. Character education enables these accomplishments.

Six schools win awards: one for becoming a National School of Character (NSOC) and five for Promising Practices as State Schools of Character.

Wisconsin schools participating in Character Education (CE) annually promote and succeed in doing something adults often fear to attempt-make the world a better place. CE is not a program; rather CE is a practice amongst the entire school community. The purpose of the practice is to improve the emotional, caring environment necessary for terrific academic achievement and opportunities to exercise becoming good citizens as the students grow up.  Dedicated teachers, staff, eager students and their caring families purposefully team up to improve their worlds in all categories.

Yearly, some schools arrive at exceptional ideas. They are recognized statewide as Promising Practice Winners. A statewide panel judges each school’s idea to be so successful they deserves to be shared with others. The schools’ innovative practices exemplify the following basic principles that Schools of Character adhere to.

Those principles promoting core ethical and performance values as the foundation are from Character.Org Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education:

• Define “character” comprehensively to include thinking, feeling and doing.
• Use a comprehensive, intentional and proactive approach to character development.
• Create a caring community.
• Provide students with opportunities for moral action.
• Offer a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops their character and helps them to succeed.
• Foster students’ self-motivation.
• Have an ethical learning community that shares responsibility for character education and adheres to the same core values that guide the students.
• Foster shared leadership and long-range support of the character education initiative.
• Engage families and community members as partners in the character-building effort.
• Assess school culture and climate, the functioning of its staff as character educators, and the extent to which its students manifest good character.

Here’s how winning schools around the state responded this year.

SOE congratulates the following schools for their achievements.

National School of Character Category

South Milwaukee High School Veteran’s Day Program

Students work all year for this special day for veterans including a reception and gifts for veterans using fund raiser money. The program has grown from 75 students to well over 200 students and the recent Veterans Day program honored 100 veterans.

They will be honored at the Character Education Conference held at Alverno College on June 19-20, 2019.

The May 21 city council meeting is my favorite each year, as we get a chance to recognized members of the South Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments and citizens for their heroic acts. I will feature one story each day on my blog. Please thank these everyday heroes!

“The Grant Park beach is enjoyed by countless citizens each day, and Sunday, June 17^th, 2018, was no exception.  With the warm weather of early summer, families were relaxing and enjoying cookouts while several children were swimming.  13-year-old Aaniyah Lucas was one of those children.  As her mother watched from the beach, Aaniyah was swimming and holding on to a large inflatable toy.  Suddenly, a day of enjoyment turned to panic.  Aaniyah was approximately 100 yards from shore when she began to have difficulty breathing and was struggling to stay above the water. 

Two men, complete strangers to the Lucas family, were on the beach and saw what was happening.  These men immediately sprang into action.  Mr. Lee VanDixhorn ran to the water and began swimming out to Aaniyah while Mr. Mark Anderson commandeered a kayak that he observed on shore and began paddling out.  Both men quickly reached Aaniyah and held her above water, but they now had another problem.  The kayak capsized during the event making the rescue even more difficult.  That is when two other strangers, Luis Garcia and Cesar Mariscal, saw what was occurring and rode out on a jet ski to help them.  All four men worked to get Aaniyah onto the jet ski and transport her safely to shore where the South Milwaukee Fire Department treated her.  It was later determined that Aaniyah had an asthma attack while in the water, making it difficult to breathe and causing her to panic.  She was conveyed to the hospital but was released a short while later and made a complete recovery. 

It is often acknowledged that an individual’s character is revealed during difficult times, and as an author once noted, “It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.”  These men could have stood by like others did during this crisis, but they did not.  This incident has a positive ending only because they quickly jumped into action and took risks to rescue a complete stranger.  They demonstrated their character and, in so doing, wrote a great chapter in the life’s story for Aaniyah, for her family, and for themselves.  For their actions to rescue a child on June 17^th 2018, the South Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments hereby present to Lee VanDixhorn, Mark Anderson, Luis Garcia and Cesar Mariscal, a Citizen Recognition Award for Lifesaving. “

The South Milwaukee Downtown Market kicks off its 11th season today, with dozens of vendors — including some exciting new ones in 2019 — setting up shop on 11th and Milwaukee Avenues.

Combine weekly live music with the street market and you have one of the coolest events in the area — something our entire city should be proud of.

And it happens every week! Hours are 3 to 7 p.m. each Thursday through Oct. 10.

Thanks to all of the volunteers who make this happen, and we’ll see you at the market!

The South Milwaukee girls softball team is one step from the WIAA Division I State Tournament after pulling a couple of huge upsets in the past week.

On Thursday, it was eighth-seeded South Milwaukee with a 5-3 win over top-seeded Oak Creek in the regional final.

Then, on Tuesday, it was a 1-0 extra-inning victory over fourth-seeded Franklin in the sectional semifinal, thanks to a two-out home run from Mia Johnson in the 10th inning and some stellar pitching by Megan Traxel, who threw all 10 inning and had 13 strikeouts.

Next up: the sectional final at Kenosha Bradford/Reuther at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. The winner of that game advances to the state quarterfinals June 6 in Madison.

South Milwaukee is seeking its seventh trip to state and its third state title, after winning championships in 1988 and 1998. Why not 2019?

Go Rockets!

Honored to be a small part of today’s Memorial Day ceremony, where we honored our fallen soldiers and the family of a local muralist who paid tribute to those heroes with a beautiful work of art.

As I said in my remarks .,.

“We remember Ruddy as he would have wanted – through his art. This mural is his legacy, and it’s an incredible one at that. It also represents everything that Memorial Day is all about, about how some have paid the ultimate price, made the ultimate sacrifice, as they served our country.

We remember these heroes today, and every day, for how they laid their lives on the line to keep us free and safe from harm. We honor them for their service. Those on this memorial died for something real and enduring. In fact, they died so that people like Ruddy could express themselves freely and openly and creatively through works of art like this.

“I can’t think of a better tribute.”

The May 21 city council meeting is my favorite each year, as we get a chance to recognized members of the South Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments and citizens for their heroic acts. I will feature one story each day on my blog. Please thank these everyday heroes!

In the early morning hours of February 20, 2019, South Milwaukee Police Officer David Hoeppner was dispatched to a report of a one-car motor vehicle crash in the area of North Chicago and Elm Avenues. Upon his arrival, Officer Hoeppner encountered a single vehicle facing the wrong way and up on a snow bank, positioned directly against another unoccupied vehicle. Officer Hoeppner immediately went to assist another passerby in removing the unresponsive elderly driver who was in cardiac arrest. 

Once the driver was extricated from the vehicle, Officer Hoeppner assisted in placing him on the sidewalk and immediately began assisting with CPR.  Upon the arrival of the fire department, patient care was turned over to paramedics and it was learned the patient’s pulse had been restored.  The patient was transported to St. Luke’s Medical Center where he remained on life support for several days, eventually succumbing to his cardiac event.

While the end result of the call was not ideal, the family was tremendously grateful for Officer Hoeppner’s actions as it gave them time to gather their family together to say their final good-byes and find closure in the death of their loved one. Officer Hoeppner’s unselfish actions that cold, winter morning on a snow-covered sidewalk between two snow banks demonstrates his commitment to serving the public and making a difference.

Chief Knitter was the “other passerby.” He was also honored. Well done, chief!

The May 21 city council meeting is my favorite each year, as we get a chance to recognized members of the South Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments and citizens for their heroic acts. I will feature one story each day on my blog. Please thank these everyday heroes!

“At approximately 10:10 am on March 9, 2019, South Milwaukee resident Ricky Ellis was in his basement getting his morning treadmill workout in.  Suddenly, he collapsed to floor in the presence of his wife, Julie.  Julie attempted to call 9-1-1 but, for some reason, couldn’t get through.  Her next call was to her son, Jon, who happened to live a few blocks away and who also happened to be married to a Registered Nurse, Melissa. 

Jon immediately called 9-1-1 and they both jumped into their car and drove over.  Upon reaching the basement, Melissa found her father-in-law pulseless and not breathing and immediately started CPR. Arriving SMFD personnel found Ricky in the care of Melissa and took over resuscitation efforts, defibrillating Ricky once and starting an IV to administer medications.  Ricky’s pulse returned. He was alive. 

Ricky was transported to St. Luke’s Medical Center and has made a full recovery.  It is without doubt that Melissa’s actions that morning helped in saving the life of her father-in-law and the actions of our EMS personnel, once again, demonstrates the high level of care they provide on a daily basis.”

Congratulations to the following firefighter/EMTs: Jared Rentmeester, Matthew Boss, Nathan Fager, Scott Wallis, and Jeremy Fronczak … and Melissa, who now works for the South Milwaukee Health Department!

The May 21 city council meeting is my favorite each year, as we get a chance to recognized members of the South Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments and citizens for their heroic acts. I will feature one story each day on my blog. Please thank these everyday heroes!

“One generally accepted definition of a community is “A place where people are bound together because of where they live, work or otherwise spend a continuous portion of their daily life.”  A community offers many appealing features, including safety, familiarity, loyalty and support, but it is important to remember that those features don’t simply exist without effort, nor do they exist due to the rank or status of individuals.  Those desirable features are the result of many individual efforts and distinct contributions to the community itself. 

For many years, Mr. Fred Sinani, owner of the Paisano’s Restaurant in South Milwaukee, has been a vital partner with this community and with the South Milwaukee Police Department.  The biggest event of the year for our department is always the Night Out event, which takes place each August.  That event is intended to create stronger bonds between the police department and the community, through an evening of music, games and prizes.  It requires many hours of planning, but just as important, its success is dependent upon contributions from the business community.  

For the past several years, Fred Sinani has generously donated the food for those events and has also hosted planning meetings for the Night Out committee.  His contributions don’t stop there.  Fred has donated to numerous other events such as Shop with a Cop and has consistently gone out of his way to support our department’s efforts.   He continually demonstrates his strong and steadfast commitment to the City of South Milwaukee and we are lucky to have him as a reliable partner.  For these reasons, the South Milwaukee Police Department hereby presents Mr. Fred Sinani a Citizen Recognition Award.”

The May 21 city council meeting is my favorite each year, as we get a chance to recognized members of the South Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments and citizens for their heroic acts. I will feature one story each day on my blog. Please thank these everyday heroes!

“On July 7, 2018, Officers Kadija Walusay and Michael Luczak were dispatched to the 1000 block of Lake Drive for a report of a male who was passed out in the driveway of a residence.  The officers found the man to be highly intoxicated, but were able to gather some information from him concerning his presence at that address.  He told them that he had been visiting a male friend who lived at that address and had permission to be there.  As Officer Luczak began making arrangements to give the man a ride home, Officer Walusay continued to investigate and walked to the rear yard of the residence.  There, she noticed a hot tub and discovered that a woman was alone, unconscious and almost completely submerged in the water.  Officer Walusay took quick action and pulled the woman from the water while summoning medical attention.  It turns out, the woman was highly intoxicated and had passed out while in the water.  Luckily she was revived and was uninjured. 

This assignment could have been closed after initial contact with the intoxicated male in the driveway but Officer Kadija Walusay did not stop there.  As a conscientious public servant, she always shows leadership and she did so on that night.  She is to be commended for taking initiative, conducting a thorough investigation,

searching the area and ultimately finding an unconscious woman in need of assistance.  If not for the actions of Officer Walusay, the woman likely would have lost her life.  For these reasons, Officer Kadija Walusay is hereby presented a lifesaving award.”

The May 21 city council meeting is my favorite each year, as we get a chance to recognized members of the South Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments and citizens for their heroic acts. I will feature one story each day on my blog. Please thank these everyday heroes!

“At approximately 10:41 am on Saturday, March 9, 2019, off-duty Milwaukee Police Officer Michael Rohde was working out at the South Milwaukee Planet Fitness. Suddenly, he noticed an adult male who had been working out on a nearby treadmill collapse to the ground.  Officer Rohde jumped into action and, along with several other bystanders, administered CPR, applied an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) that administered one shock, and stayed with the patient until EMS arrived.  Upon the arrival of SMFD personnel, the patient was still unresponsive, but had regained his pulse and, after a thorough evaluation of his condition, was transported to St. Luke’s Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment. Officer Rohde’s actions that day undoubtedly helped save the man’s life and demonstrates his commitment to helping his fellow man.”

From Milwaukee Sausage Co. …

Introducing The Firehouse Sausage!!! We are very proud to be working with South Milwaukee Fire Department on our newest collaboration. The Firehouse is a smoky, chipotle sausage that has just the right amount of heat. We are also proud to announce that $2 from every pound sold will go to help support Stop The Bleed. See the photo below for more information on Stop The Bleed. Stop in all weekend to try The Firehouse and support a great cause this Memorial Day! #MilwaukeeSausageCo#SouthMilwaukeeFireDepartment#MemorialDay#StopTheBleed#ThankYouForYourService

I love this, and can’t thank this terrific local business for stepping up to support our fire and health departments. And it might just save a life.

I love this partnership! Many of the bikes come from the police department and were either found or were abandoned property, and they have met the required time frame for being purged. I’m told there are a number of really nice bikes, and very reasonably priced, from $10 to $70.

Check out these South Milwaukee headlines …

• These Two Wrestling Legends Will be at South Milwaukee’s Crusherfest in June (NOW)
• Life-Size Statue of “Da Crusher” to be Unveiled Next Month (WISN)
• Seton Catholic Schools Network Shows Signs of Fraying (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Lawrence’s Janusiak Ready to Make Final Run at National Championship (Appleton Post Crescent)
• A South Milwaukee Burger King Customer Asked for a Refund, Then he was Pushed out of the Restaurant (NOW)
• South Milwaukee Speedway Sells Winning $350,000 SuperCash Ticket (CBS 58)
• After 55 Years, Dairy Queen in South Milwaukee has Closed (NOW)
• These are a Few of the Most Instagrammable Places Around Milwaukee’s Suburbs (NOW)
• Milwaukee’s Frozen Custard Hot Spots (Chicago Tribune)

Giving a quick shoutout to two local companies for recent awards!

First, Chris Jensen, owner of C3 Designs, has won another major award for his work. Chris recently won a first-place CASE honor from the Jewelers of America for “a pair of sterling silver and 14-karat yellow gold earrings with rough selenite crystal and rough black tourmaline crystal, accented with bezel set rainbow topaz cabochon, topaz, London Blue Topaz and diamonds.” One judge called the design “stunning.”

More details in the press release, and you can celebrate with him at a party at the store from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 30. Details here.

And the Emerson Foundry (former Appleton Electric) has been recognized with the 2019 Plant Engineering Award by the American Foundry Society for its commitment to continuous improvement at its South Milwaukee Foundry. From the press release:

The foundry manufactures electrical fittings, enclosures and other cast products that enable safe, reliable power connections for customers in oil and gas, power, chemical, and construction industries, among others.

The honor recognizes Emerson’s innovation and leadership in driving improved workflow by updating the plant’s processes and equipment to the very latest industry standards, from melting operations to the coreroom. The award was presented to Emerson at the CastExpo tradeshow in Atlanta.

The AFS Plant Engineering Award recognizes plants’ engineering achievements in planning, installation, operation and maintenance and automation of foundry equipment. The award’s emphasis is on application and implementation of new and innovative equipment, and its purpose is to advance technical expertise and professionalism of foundry engineering.

The AFS is a Schaumburg, Illinois-based trade association representing more than 800 foundries in the $33 billion metal casting industry.

The South Milwaukee baseball team did a terrific job in honoring its past last week … but its present, and future, is pretty bright too.

The Rockets have clinched a Woodland East Conference championship for the second straight season, and third time in four years.

The team is 14-5 overall and 11-1 in league play, with a game at Greendale tonight and at Sussex-Hamilton on Wednesday. Then it’s off to the postseason, with South Milwaukee hosting a regional final on May 30. Sectionals are June 4, also at the newly renamed John Galewski Field.

From coach Ben Parlier …

We were led by Xavier Watson, Dom Rizzotto and Austin Preiss. Xavier has been our shortstop all year finished the year with a .509 average including 4 HR and 22 RBI. Rizzotto and Preiss have been our workhorses on the mound this year, combining for 8 wins. All three have been incredible leaders with how they carry themselves both on the field and in the classroom.  

Go Rockets!