South Milwaukee Blog

Just a reminder about two opportunities to enjoy a free community meal in the next week — and every month. Spread the word!

Thanks again for stepping up, St. Mark’s and First Congregational.

At St. Mark’s on Saturday, special guest Grandma Story Time & the Great Zotz will be entertaining kids of all ages with fun stories and surprises.

_________________________________________

“Keep the lights on. We’re coming in behind you.”

I’ve been saying that for a while now in regards to the former Bucyrus campus downtown – 28 acres with more than 750,000 square feet of buildings being left vacant with the completion of Caterpillar’s move to the north side of Rawson Avenue.

And what I mean by that is simple: Unlike similar facilities you see across the region, state and country – where idled industrial facilities sit in decay for years, sometimes decades, in hopes of redevelopment, often before meeting their demise by wrecking ball – this campus is different. South Milwaukee is different.

We are reinventing ourselves, and it starts at 1100 Milwaukee Ave.

There is already positive momentum. It started with work the city did in the past year securing grant funding from the Bucyrus Foundation for, among other things, campus planning; applying for and obtaining Economic Opportunity Zone status from the federal government; and, perhaps most significantly, creating a new tax incremental district to encompass the now-vacant campus and other high-profile parcels downtown.

Then Reich Brothers closed on its sale a little over three months ago.

Since then, the pace of progress has quickened, as the new owners quickly began moving to buy out Caterpillar’s lease for the south-of-Rawson property (to fully enable the site for development) and take a deep dive, with an engineer’s eye, into subdividing the campus. That work continues, and there was more progress this week – the reason why I am writing this post today.

On Tuesday, the South Milwaukee City Council voted 7-0 to enter into a master planning agreement with Reich Brothers, contributing $40,000 of the Bucyrus Foundation grant money to, as the resolution states, “pay for a party in 2018 to subdivide and reconfigure parcels, design access points and road layouts and connect to the city’s grid for maximum use and visitor benefit.” More specifically, Reich Brothers wants to hire a consultant to study and report on existing site conditions, and offer cost estimates for necessary repairs. Importantly, the study will provide “initial plans for subdivision of the site that will provide improved circulation and public access to existing facilities.”

The work will be done in the spring of 2019.

In other words, this is the first step toward a new day for this campus, our downtown and our city – redevelopment of a site that for more than 100 years was a city unto itself, into one that, while different, will hopefully be just as central to South Milwaukee’s growth and prosperity as it was in 1892.

Proud past, promising future, indeed.

What will that look like exactly? That’s what the master planning effort is for, for which we’ll have a seat at the table the whole time, per the agreement we signed.

Have a plan, work the plan, together. There is no wishing, hoping and waiting here, as we’ve seen in so many other cities. The time is now. Let’s go!

Check out these South Shore headlines …

• Kmart in Cudahy, the Brand’s Last Store in Milwaukee County, Will Close (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• South Milwaukee Voters OK $3.8 Million School Referendum (Journal Sentinel)
• South Milwaukee Man Found After Missing Person Alert (WISC-TV)
• South Milwaukee Woman with 3-Year-Old in Vehicle Arrested for OWI (CBS 58)
• Man Flees South Milwaukee Walmart Wearing Multiple Stolen Jackets and Pairs of Pants (NOW)

Also, check out coverage of how various city/school referendums fared in Cudahy, Oak Creek and St. Francis on Tuesday.

The South Milwaukee Veterans Day event is planned for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11, at Van Eimeren-Kolonka American Legion Post #27.

The ceremony will be held in the parking lot of the post, starting at 11  a.m. Lunch will be served afterwards inside the post.

Please note the location change, due to construction on 10th Avenue. There will be no march to the memorial this year.

Thank you to all of the veterans who take part in this event, and to everyone who has served. Please join me Sunday in honoring these everyday heroes.

Here is a list of more area veterans events. 

Wow — what an Election Day in South Milwaukee!

Here are the local results. Some highlights …

• Let’s start with the huge turnout, more than 85% of registered voters, as 9,343 ballots were cast on Tuesday. Terrific!
• The South Milwaukee School District referendum easily passed, 55.6% to 40.8%.
• In the Assembly race, Democratic challenger Gabriel Gomez beat incumbent Republican Rep. Jessie Rodriguez in South Milwaukee by 15 votes: 4,553 to 4,538.
• Incumbent Democratic State Sen. Chris Larson beat Republican challenger Red Arnold, 53.7% to 41.9%.
• In statewide races, Democrats swept in South Milwaukee: Tony Evers for governor (49.3% to 47.1% for incumbent Scott Walker); Josh Kaul for attorney general (48.6% to 46.6% for incumbent Brad Schimel); Doug LaFollette for secretary of state; and Sarah Godlewski for treasurer.
• Rep. Gwen Moore beat Republican challenger Tim Rogers, 49.4% to 43.6%.
• Sen. Tammy Baldwin easily beat challenger Leah Vukmir (55.6% to 42.7%).

Also, South Milwaukee voters overwhelmingly backed the Milwaukee County marijuana legalization referendum, 63.3% to 34.8%.

Thanks to everyone who voted today. We consistently outperform on turnout, and I love that. And thanks to the clerk’s office and all of our pollworkers for their work today.

Today is Election Day! Please do your constitutional duty and vote.

There are contested races for Wisconsin governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer; state senator and assemblyperson; U.S. senator and representative; and U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

There are also two referendum questions: a countywide question around legalization of marijuana and the school district referendum (on the back of the ballot).

Here is a sample ballot.

And and here are additional voting details …

• Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• First District voters vote at Divine Mercy School, 695 College Ave.
• Second District voters vote at Lakeview School, 711 Marion Ave.
• Third District voters vote at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave.
• Fourth District voters vote at Rawson Elementary, 1410 Rawson Ave.
• Not sure what district you live in? Here is a map.
• Please remember to bring photo ID.
• For information on voter registration, polling locations, and to request an absentee ballot for future elections, visit MyVote.

Check out more details on the city’s elections web page … and look for more information on local results from South Milwaukee Blog later tonight or Wednesday morning.

And while you’re out, please thank a pollworker. These dedicated citizens bring democracy to life through their too-often thankless work.

See you at the polls!

There is lots going on at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center these days, with an another rich mix of performances coming to our city.

Here are some highlights …

• Nov. 9-11 (this week!): The South Milwaukee High School Theatre Co. presents “Almost, Maine.” Details here.
• Thursday, Nov. 15: Soweto Gospel Choir, “South Africa’s Grammy Award-winning heavenly voices.” Show at 7:30 p.m. Details here.
• Thursday, Dec. 6: “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theatre.” Show at 7:30 p.m. Details here.

Get the full list of events here … and support this terrific community institution!

Check out these South Milwaukee headlines, including word on an error in absentee ballot instructions, and stories on a heroic act to save a life and a local love story, rediscovered more than 70 years later …

• Check Your Absentee Ballots Mailed in South Milwaukee: Incorrect Fill-Out Instructions Given to Residents (NOW)
• Stingl: Suitcase Found in a South Milwaukee Attic Holds Secrets of Dad and Mom Lost Too Soon (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Chain of Survival: Good Samaritans Save Man in Cardiac Arrest at Local School (CBS 58)
• A Cudahy Man Led Police on 109 mph Chase, Then Called a Woman to Brag About Getting Away, Report Says (NOW)

Also, NOW has an overview of the South Milwaukee schools referendum. And the South Milwaukee Police Department has posted new crime summaries on its Facebook page.

From the South Milwaukee Fire Department …

At approximately 3:30 this afternoon (Saturday, Nov. 3), SMFD responded to a 911 call reporting smoke coming from a house at 1817 Drexel Blvd. and the sound of a smoke alarm going off. Upon arrival of SMFD units, fire was discovered in the kitchen of the single-family dwelling. The fire was extinguished quickly as the entire structure was searched for occupants of which none were found. A dog was located during the search and removed to the outside but despite efforts to resuscitate, succumbed to it’s injuries. Damage was extensive in the kitchen area with heat and smoke damage to the entire structure. No injuries were reported and the fire remains under investigation. Mutual aid assistance was provided by the Oak Creek, St. Francis, and Cudahy Fire Departments.

Halloween is over. It’s time to focus on Christmas!

I’ll be posting a full holiday events list soon.

For now, I want to call your attention to three big activities coming up, so you can make plans to be a part of them …

• Old Fashioned Christmas/Lighted Christmas Parade. We’re moving our official city celebration up a day this year, to Saturday, Nov. 24 … and the South Milwaukee Lions have added a new Lighted Christmas Parade! Details in the flyer with this post. Sign up your organization — business, team, church, group, you name it — for the parade! And get festively creative on your entries; there will be prizes. 
• Festival of Trees. The Festival returns this holiday season, as South Milwaukee Ace Hardware and Caterpillar employees partner to bring a bit of holiday magic back to the site of the South Milwaukee Downtown Market. Caterpillar is still looking for organizations, businesses, teams, families and others to reserve a tree to decorate — and then trim it ahead of the official unveiling event from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7. Interested? Email Karin Wierman (Wierman_Karin_A@cat.com) for more information and to sign up, and please consider being a part of this fun event. Ace has donated more than 30 trees — let’s get them all decorated!
• Light Up South Milwaukee Awards. We’re also bringing back the Beautification Committee holiday lights awards. They were a big hit last year, and we’re hoping for even more entries in 2018! Look for more information on soon how to nominate your home or business and others. Here were last year’s winners.

We are looking for your artistic eye to provide us with photographs of South Milwaukee, as we add to our digital library for use in our blogs, posts, and other material to share, including a new promotional website as part of our ongoing rebranding.

We are looking for photos showcasing the following activities:

• Grant Park (like the photos with this post, which I shot on Sunday);
• Hiking;
• Biking;
• Bird watching;
• Fishing;
• Boating;
• Golfing; and
• Swimming.

The deadline to submit your photographs is this Wednesday, Oct. 31.  Please submit the photo(s) to mattg@smwi.org.

Of course, full credit will go to photographers for all images we use.

From the South Milwaukee Police Department …

Please be advised that on 10/27/18 at about 3:33 p.m., the SMPD received a 911 call that a vehicle had struck a residence in the 1400 block of Willow Lane. Upon arrival, officers observed that a vehicle had struck the south wall of 1410 Willow Lane. The vehicle caused extensive damage to the residence. The residence was occupied at the time of the accident, but no injuries occurred to the occupants.

A 57-year-old South Milwaukee resident was taken into custody at the scene. Alcohol is suspected to be involved. The driver was transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

The South Milwaukee building inspector and health department director were called to the scene to inspect the structure of the residence. No further info is being released at this time.

I love to see all of the Halloween decorations around town! The Beautification Committee is honoring the best of the best with their first-annual Rocketober Awards.

A group of us judged the nearly 30 entries in the last couple of days, and here are your winners … be sure to check them out before Halloween to see some terrific displays.

• 1322 Edgewood Ave., worth a trip on its own with a terrific light show set to music. Special shows benefiting type 1 diabetes research are planned for tonight (Saturday, Oct. 26) at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Details below.
• 1304 Edgewood Ave.
• 1716 Sherman Ave.
• 1432 Lakeview Ave.
• 1907 17th Ave.

Here are some honorable mentions, a list of every home that received at least one score of four on our unscientific grading scale. Extend your tour with these addresses!

(Pro tip: Visit when the skies are dark. Even though you may miss some detail, many of these houses have good light displays.)

• 1805 Beech St.
• 1644 Milwaukee Ave.
• 1328 Michigan Ave.
• 825 Lakeview Ave.
• 517 Michigan Ave.
• 1203 Milwaukee Ave.
• 1219 Rawson Ave.
• 1229 Rawson Ave.
• 1515 Cherry St.

Thanks to all of our judges — it was fun! — as well as everyone who nominated addresses. From driving around town, I know some terrific displays were missed. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen with our Light Up South Milwaukee holiday lights awards starting next month.

Winners receive a cash prize, a sign, and recognition on the city’s/mayor’s digital platforms

Happy Rocketober!

It’s been a special couple of weeks for South Milwaukee senior cross country runner Aidan Sodemann.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where he is a candidate for athlete of the week …

The Rockets senior enters his third state meet appearance with consecutive victories in his last two meets. Saturday he won the sectional title, completing the 5,000-meter course at Mitchell Park in 16 minutes 9 seconds. He won the Woodland Conference title a week earlier at Grant Park in 16:30.86.

Vote for Aidan here. And wish him — and girls teammate Katie Keller — well as they prepare for the WIAA state meet on Saturday in Wisconsin Rapids.

Go Aidan and Katie!

Check out these South Milwaukee headlines …

• Death Investigation Underway at Laundromat in South Milwaukee (TMJ4)
• Demolished Gas Station Provides a Key Redevelopment Opportunity in South Milwaukee, Mayor Says (NOW)
• Mother Believes daughter’s Diabetic Testing Machine is Being Used by Others at Her School (Fox 6)
• Jamaican Native Fills Void in South Milwaukee With Island Jam (NOW)
• Wisconsin Referendums Will Test Voter Willingness To Pay More For Schools (WUWM)
• Caterpillar Tries to Allay Earnings Concerns After Shares Tank (Reuters)

Also, the South Milwaukee Police Department has published its weekly crime summary on its Facebook page.