South Milwaukee Blog

What an amazing response to our first-ever Light Up South Milwaukee holiday lights awards program!

More than a dozen of us — including Beautification Committee members, families and friends, young and less young — toured and scored each of the 49 entries on Saturday evening. A few thoughts on what we saw …

• There are LOTS of terrific lights displays out there across the city, including many that weren’t even nominated for the program.
• A number of blocks have some great displays, too. James Circle comes to mind.
• The seven winners are below (in no particular order). Each of these houses received at least nine scores of “five” from the 12 judges. Winners will receive $40, a yard sign and mention in this blog post and on social media. (Note: We decided to scrap the idea of categories once we got into the judging; too complicated.)

We have also compiled a list of addresses of each home that received at least one “five” score from our judges — including a list of seven “honorable mentions,” addresses that received at least five “five” ratings. Check it out here, and take your own tour!

Finally, I say thanks to the Beautification Committee for their support of the program, our judges, Sue Hebner for mapping the route, and the Golden Lion for the bus, especially driver Kurt for his patience with our festive group. And thanks to Ryan Greco for the photos.

I think we have the start of another South Milwaukee Christmas tradition here. This was a ton of fun. I’m already looking forward to 2018.

806 Lake Drive

1306 Marquette Avenue

1720 Manitoba Avenue

1817 Edgewood Avenue

1333 Columbia Avenue

2501 8th Avenue

3701 6th Avenue

Check out these South Shore headlines …

• “We Love You, We Miss You”: South Milwaukee Teen Missing 3 Days (TMJ4)
• Year-End Cuts Expected at Cudahy Fire Department (TMJ4)
• Gun Shots Fired in Oak Creek Meijer Parking Lot (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Oak Creek School District Considering Random Drug Testing (NOW)
• Tutaj Announces Interest in Running for St. Francis Mayor, Provided Recall Moves Forward (NOW)
• This Might be the Charlie Brown-est Tree in Milwaukee (OnMilwaukee.com)

And NOW has published a new police blotter.

Update: She was found safe.

The South Milwaukee Police Department (SMPD) is requesting assistance in locating Abigail Maduscha, a missing/endangered 15 year old girl.  The SMPD has received information that Abigail has asked for someone to buy her a plane, train, or bus ticket to California.  California is the destination she had been discussing going to months earlier in relation to sex trafficking, specifically the Sacramento area.

Please call 911, or contact your local law enforcement if you see her.  SMPD case #17-026794.

From the South Milwaukee Unite Against Drug Abuse Coalition …

This is the 2nd Annual Addiction Information and Resource Fair. This event is a FREE community forum to bring information to our residents to increase awareness and understanding of substance use disorder and treatment. At this event we will have speakers on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the connection to Addiction. A community member will share their personal story about addiction, and a panel of professionals will talk about treatment options. There will also be an opportunity for FREE Narcan training. For planning purposes, we ask that you please pre-register, however, walk-ins are welcome.

The event starts at 5:45 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22, at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Learn more and register here.

Thanks to all involved for their continued work on this critical effort, and for organizing this event. Parents and children are invited to attend.

Great news from the FBI today … there has been an arrest of a man suspected in seven ALDI robberies in recent months, including of the South Milwaukee store.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the arrest, especially the South Milwaukee Police Department, which played a significant role.

From the FBI …

On 12/08/17, Special Agent in Charge Justin Tolomeo of the FBI Milwaukee Division announced serial armed robbery suspect, Hiram O. Graham, age 30, resident of Cudahy, Wisconsin was arrested without incident at his residence. Graham is alleged to have victimized seven ALDI Foods’ stores throughout Wisconsin and northern Indiana over the past six months, and was arrested by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crime Task Force (MAVCTF) around 6:00 am on Friday, December 8, 2017.

The FBI MAVCTF, which is comprised of law enforcement officers from the FBI, the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office Investigative Unit, supported by FBI SWAT teams from the Milwaukee and Chicago Field Offices executed two federal search warrants on residences in the 3300 block of W. Bottsford Avenue in Cudahy and the 200 block of W. Mitchell Street in Milwaukee.

The FBI announced on November 6, 2017, a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the spree of ALDI’s robberies. Regarding today’s arrest, Milwaukee FBI Special Agent in Charge Justin Tolomeo stated, “The FBI Milwaukee Division is committed to relentlessly pursuing violent offenders. This case highlights the lengths to which our task force will go to bring violent criminals to justice.”

Graham is believed to be responsible for the armed robbery or attempt armed robbery of the following locations:

• 06/15/17- ALDI Foods located at 3105 South Chicago Avenue, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 07/10/17- ALDI Foods located at 4615 West Layton Avenue, Greenfield, Wisconsin
• 08/01/17- ALDI Foods located at 1521 Unity Drive, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
• 09/16/17- ALDI Foods located at 19555 West Bluemound Road, Town of Brookfield, Wisconsin
• 10/07/17- ALDI Foods located at 3925 Lein Road, Madison, Wisconsin
• 11/02/17- ALDI Foods located at 3105 South Chicago Avenue, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin (attempted robbery)
• 11/24/17- ALDI Foods located at 10 81st Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana

Graham is charged with violation of the federal Hobbs Act and use of a firearm in a crime of violence. He is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee on Friday, December 8, 2017.

The referenced cases were jointly investigated by the FBI MAVCTF, South Milwaukee Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, Oconomowoc Police Department, Town of Brookfield Police Department, Madison Police Department, as well as the Merrillville, Indiana Police Department.

The public is reminded that all persons are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The South Milwaukee Police & Fire Commission has chosen our next police chief: William Jessup.

The PFC voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the appointment of Jessup, a longtime Milwaukee Police Department leader who grew up in Cudahy. The South Milwaukee Common Council then accepted and placed on file the letter announcing his appointment, and approved his salary and benefits.

It is anticipated Chief Jessup will start with the SMPD on Jan. 8, giving him a week to work with Chief Ann Wellens before she retires. He will be sworn in Jan. 16.

He has big shoes to fill, as I’ve written about. One example of the impact Chief Wellens has had was on full display on Tuesday, as the chief received a proclamation celebrating the department’s latest Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group accreditation.

This is a strong validation of the work of our department, as WILEAG officials measure 237 items in assessing the quality of an agency. We excelled again, and are one of less than 10 percent of the state’s more than 550 police agencies to secure this accreditation. We’ve been accredited since 1998, when we were one of only three departments in the state to earn it the first year of the program.

“This is no small accomplishment,” said Stan Stojkovic, WILEAG board member and dean of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

No small accomplishment, indeed. Congratulations to Chief Wellens and the entire department for delivering every day to make this accreditation possible — and good luck to Chief Jessup as he builds on that legacy.

Proud to present this proclamation at tonight’s city council meeting. What a special group of young men and coaches, led by Stan Druckrey. Go Rockets!

CONGRATULATING SOUTH MILWAUKEE

ROCKETS CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM

Whereas, the South Milwaukee cross-country team finished in third place at the WIAA Division 1 state cross-country meet, the highest finish for South Milwaukee in 52 years; and

Whereas, the team accomplished this historic performance through a true team effort, led by seniors Jordan Janusiak, Andrew Strasser, Wyatt Schlager, Max Moran, Nick Sluga, and Jacob Meszaros;  junior Aidan Sodemann ; and sophomore Owen Smith.

Whereas, under the guidance of Coach Stan Druckrey and Assistant Coaches Paul Hiegel and Jim Oelschlager, the cross-country team finished second in four meets, won the Cudahy Purgold Invitational for the fourth straight year, and won the WIAA sectional meet, earning the Rockets a state berth; and 

Whereas, Jordan Janusiak placed fifth at the state meet, leading his team to their strong finish. Schlager finished 53^rd, Moran 59^th, Sodemann 94^th, Sluga 105^th, Smith 162^nd and Strasser 168^th.

Whereas, Janusiak finished his South Milwaukee running career with 15 individual meet titles and four appearances at state, including finishing eighth at the state meet in 2016; 

 Whereas, it is with great pride the City of South Milwaukee pays tribute to the South Milwaukee cross-country team and coaches for their dedication and outstanding performance during the season.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor Erik Brooks and the Common Council of the City of South Milwaukee, do hereby extend congratulations to the South Milwaukee cross-country team on their excellent year and third-place finish in the WIAA Division 1 state meet.

Dated at South Milwaukee this 5^th day of December, 2017.   

The updated list of South Milwaukee holiday events includes a really cool one: the first-ever Festival of Trees Celebration!

More information from this Facebook event …

Check out more than 30 trees decorated by local organizations, businesses and families, and enjoy hot chocolate, candy canes and more. Caterpillar employees will be collecting personal hygiene products and new, unwrapped toys for Human Concerns. 4-7 p.m. at the South Milwaukee Downtown Market. Presented by Ace Hardware and Caterpillar employees.

Of course, you can come by anytime to see the trees — many are already beautifully decorated. Thanks to everyone who has stepped up to become part of this new holiday celebration.

The Brooks family is proud to present a holiday tradition that continues to grow.

We’re again gathering toys, games, etc.  and then delivering those Christmas gifts to three Milwaukee homeless/domestic violence shelters on Christmas Eve. We’ll also donate toys to South Milwaukee Human Concerns before the holidays.

Our family will go shopping for toys in the next few weeks, putting to good use a $250 grant from Thrivent Financial.

So here is the ask: If anyone wants to donate gifts for us to take, or donate money for us to spend on gifts when we go shopping, drop them off with Sarah or me any time before Christmas Eve.

New, unwrapped items, please.

And if you’d like to come with us on Dec. 24 — and show your kids the true meaning of the season — please join us. We’d love to have you. We leave from our house around 9 a.m. and will stop for lunch afterward.

Post a comment here, or feel free to email me at erikbrooks32@gmail.com for more information.

Thanks for helping make a child’s life more merry this Christmas.

From the South Milwaukee Police Department …

Cost of the permits is $30.00 per month or $100.00 for the entire 4 month season.  Any resident who wishes to park on the street between the hours of 3am and 6am must purchase a parking permit. 

Alternate side parking rules also apply.  Winter parking is enforced 7 days a week.

PLAN AHEAD, get your permits early.  Parking permission will not be given because you did not have time to purchase a permit.

More details here.

I’m really enjoying “Growing Up Polish in South Milwaukee,” the new book from former South Milwaukee resident Carol Wagner DeMarco.

From Carol …

The book spans three generations of Polish Americans: the immigrant grandparents at the turn of the century, the parents who grew up immersed in Polish ways, and their three daughters who enjoyed the “happy days” of the 1940’s and 50’s.

The memoir is lightly seasoned with Polish words, recipes and humor, but you don’t have to be Polish to enjoy it. However, if you are a South Milwaukee Pole, there is a good chance your family name is on the cover.

It’s definitely worth the read and would make a great “shop local” Christmas gift.

Buy it locally at …

• Parkway Floral, 1001 Milwaukee Ave.;
• South Milwaukee Historical Society, 717 Milwaukee Ave.; and
• Curves, 2032 E. Rawson Ave.
• A copy is also available at the South Milwaukee Library.

It is also available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Carol will also be at Parkway Floral this Saturday, Dec. 2, for a book signing starting at 10 a.m. So stop by, say hi and pick up a copy!

The South Milwaukee Common Council voted 7-0 last Tuesday to approve the 2018 city budget, which you can see here.

I wrote about the proposed budget extensively here.

I am proud of this budget, and I offer this context.

The tax rate will be $9.65 per $1,000 of assessed value. A homeowner living in a house assessed at $150,000 will pay $1,447.50 in city taxes come December.

For that approximately $120 per month — or about $27.83 per week, $3.96 per day — you receive 24/7 police and fire protection, paramedic service, garbage pick up, snow plowing (including alleys), leaf pick up and free (for the first one) special pickups and chipper jobs. We maintain 70 miles of paved roads (even more when you include alleys), and thousands of street trees. Your taxpayer dollars also fund the South Milwaukee Public Library, Health Department, and Grobschmidt Senior Center.

We support the South Milwaukee Little League, stepped-up beautification efforts and events like the South Milwaukee Downtown Market, Heritage Days, Old Fashioned Christmas, July 4th, the food truck festivals and a variety of Rocketober events. We provide police services in the middle and high schools, and in and around Grant Park.

And that’s just the start of the services and amenities delivered by more than 150 city employees who work hard to give you, our residents, value for your taxpayer dollar.

No one likes paying property taxes, me included. But I always ask, “What do you get for that investment?” The answer: A lot.

From the South Milwaukee Street Department …

The final leaf collection pass is underway. We have started on the north side of town and are working south. This process should take 7 to 10 working days. Please do not add any leaf piles to the gutter, as they may not be picked up. Leaves may also be taken to the Self Deposit Station (SDS), 1106 Blake Avenue (see hours below). The $2.00 user fee will be waived if you are only disposing of leaves. Should a winter storm arrive before our final pass concludes, the leaf collection equipment will be removed from the vehicles to install snow plows and leaf collection will end. Remaining leaves may be taken to the SDS and the $2.00 user fee waived if you are only disposing of leaves. Your patience is much appreciated.

Check out these South Shore headlines, including an article on South Milwaukee’s strong performance in the state school report cards, the potential for a new state office building in South Milwaukee, a celebration of the Rocket boys’ cross-country team, a new operator for Willowcrest Care Center, and more …

• South Milwaukee’s School Report Card Shoots up (NOW)
• South Milwaukee Wants State to Consider Caterpillar Site for New Office Building (BizTimes)
• South Milwaukee Runners Reflect on Third-Place Finish at State Meet (NOW)
• North Shore Takes Over 23 Assisted Living Facilities (Beloit Daily News)
• Cudahy May Restructure Health Department (NOW)
• What’s Next for Oak Creek Water? (NOW)

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.

More on the school report cards from the article …