South Milwaukee water now safe to drink

Feb. 06, 2010 11:06 a.m. | South Milwaukee - The city of South Milwaukee's water supply was declared safe for drinking about 10 a.m. Saturday, and a state of emergency that had been declared after a major water main broke Friday morning was lifted.

Tests of the water came back negative for any bacteria, including E. coli, City Administrator Tami Mayzik said.

That means residents can drink the water, use it for cooking and for making infant formula, city officials said.

Restaurants, schools and businesses also can resume normal operations. They had been told on Friday not to use the tap water and ice from ice-makers. Many restaurants and taverns brought in bottled water and bagged ice so they would not have to shut down Friday.

The 20-inch water main connected directly to the city's water plant broke about 8:30 a.m. Friday and a state of emergency was declared.

Lions remain undefeated, down Rockets

Feb. 05, 2010 10:28 p.m. |

The New Berlin Eisenhower boys basketball team improved to 17-0 with a 69-39 home win over South Milwaukee on Friday.

The Lions shot an impressive 59 percent from the field, including 7-for-17 on 3-pointers, and 12-for-16 from the free-throw line.

South Milwaukee water main emergency could last through the weekend

Feb. 05, 2010 12:39 p.m. | South Milwaukee — The freezing and thawing that break multitudes of water mains throughout Wisconsin each winter - usually without much notice - took out a big one Friday morning, stirring fears throughout the day about the safety of the water supply.

By evening, the fracture of a 20-inch pipe connected directly to the city's water plant hadn't led to any reports of illnesses, and there was hope that the city might declare the water safe Saturday.

But city officials warned that the emergency, in which residents were advised not to drink tap water, could continue through the weekend or beyond. Aside from fixing the break, flushing the system and conducting tests would need to be done.

Friday brought inconveniences for residents, who were told not to sip, cook with or even brush their teeth with water from the faucet.

Johnny Mo's Bar and Grill decided to close around lunchtime so employees could spend the afternoon sanitizing the premises and buying ice, paper plates and plastic cups in time to reopen around happy hour.

Follow us on Twitter for chance to win Bucks tickets

Feb. 04, 2010 2:48 p.m. | Follow us on Twitter and you could win a pair of Bucks tickets to Tuesday night's game against the Detroit Pistons.

All you have do is visit twitter.com/MyCommunityNOW, click the "follow" button, and then post your own tweet mentioning @mycommunitynow and the words "Tweet this for a chance to win Bucks tickets." The deadline to win the tickets is 5 p.m. Friday.

If you're already following us on Twitter, just send us the Tweet - this contest is open to new and existing followers.

At 5 p.m. Friday, we'll randomly select two people from everyone who tweeted "Bucks Tickets" - and they'll each will win a pair to tickets to Tuesday's game.

If you're not already following us on Twitter, do so today. Not only will you get a chance to head to the game, but you'll also be able to stay on top of the latest news, sports, photos and more from the MyCommunityNOW.com Web sites.

Municipal group endorses uniform trick-or-treating hours

Jan. 11, 2010 4:14 p.m. | Cudahy — A group representing the mayors and village presidents of Milwaukee County's 19 municipalities recommended Monday that each community hold trick-or-treat on the same day - usually a Sunday.

The resolution is aimed at keeping children safe and deterring groups of kids from collecting candy outside their own communities.

The recommendation is not binding on any city or village.

Under the resolution, trick-or-treat would be held from 1 to 4 p.m. the Sunday on or before Oct. 31. When Oct 31 falls on a Saturday, trick-or-treat would be held that day.

The resolution is for 10 years.

Bucyrus announces $1.3 billion deal

Dec. 20, 2009 9:00 p.m. | Bucyrus International will become the world's largest mining equipment manufacturer after a $1.3 billion acquisition announced Sunday night.

South Milwaukee-based Bucyrus (BUCY) said it is buying the mining division of Terex Corp., a move that could double Bucyrus' market from roughly $15 billion to more than $30 billion a year in potential equipment sales.

Combined, the two companies would have about 10,000 employees in 100 locations.

As a result of the acquisition, Bucyrus plans to add manufacturing and office jobs in South Milwaukee, where both the Bucyrus and Terex product lines will be managed.

"We plan to continue having our worldwide headquarters here," Bucyrus Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said in an interview.

Ladish will recall 27 union employees

Dec. 18, 2009 4:40 p.m. | One-third of the hourly workers laid off by Ladish Co. this summer will return to work in mid-January.

The Cudahy manufacturer is bringing back 27 union blacksmiths, said Chief Financial Officer Wayne Larsen. The company laid off about 75 people in July.

"Business has bounced back a little, and we're encouraged with what the demand looks like in the first quarter, so we're bringing some people back," he said.

Ladish makes forgings for jet engines and the aerospace and industrial markets.

Through the first nine months of the year, Ladish reported sales of $266.6 million, down 25% from the same period in 2008.

Airport promotion group seeks to become non-profit corporation

Dec. 14, 2009 12:00 p.m. | The Airport Area Economic Development Task Force, a consortium of government and private-sector representatives that promotes Mitchell International Airport as an economic development catalyst, is proposing to become a non-profit corporation.

The new organization, which would be called the Milwaukee Gateway Aerotropolis Corp., would be better able to promote the airport, according to information being circulated among local governments.

The local governments are being asked to support the creation of the organization. On Tuesday, a resolution detailing the proposal will be considered by the Oak Creek Common Council.

The resolution says the task force has been meeting for two years and includes elected officials and staff from Oak Creek, Cudahy, Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Milwaukee, St. Francis and South Milwaukee, as well as from the airport, Milwaukee County, the Port of Milwaukee, and the state and federal governments.

The Airport Gateway Business Association, the South Suburban Chamber of Commerce, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce, the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Spirit of Milwaukee and VISIT Milwaukee also have been participating in the task force, according to the resolution.

Tell us how the roads are in your neighborhood

Dec. 09, 2009 2:48 p.m. | As the workday comes to an end, people are going to want to know: What are the roads going to be like?

Help us help your fellow driver by sending an update on the situation where you are. Are the roads well-plowed? Is black ice beginning to develop? Are the puddles knee deep in the dip in the road at the intersection?

Feel free to also share other ways the weather is affecting you. Whether the power is out or the kids are enjoying the first sledding of the year, it's unquestionable this first snowstorm of the season is affecting people's plans.

Let us know what is going on by sending an e-mail to news@cninow.com. We may share your stories with our readers. Please make sure to note which community you are in, and if relevant, which specific area of the community.

Full-court press stymies Greyhounds in loss to South Milwaukee

Dec. 05, 2009 11:35 a.m. |  

Reprimand withdrawn against South Milwaukee firefighter

Dec. 03, 2009 4:18 p.m. | South Milwaukee — In a case connected to Fire Chief Jay Behling's use of racial slurs, the city agreed Thursday to withdraw a reprimand that Behling imposed on the firefighters union president, who had tried to get the chief fired.

After Behling admitted to using racial slurs against African-Americans five times in February at the firehouse, union president Glen McCoy led an effort to get Behling fired.

The city Police and Fire Commission instead imposed a 90-day unpaid suspension and Behling returned to work July 14.

On Aug. 14, Behling issued a written reprimand to McCoy, a lieutenant, saying he failed to follow proper procedures in handling a firefighter's return to work following a sick leave.

McCoy, alleging retaliation, filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission.

Hearing set on retaliation claim against South Milwaukee fire chief

Dec. 01, 2009 4:28 p.m. | South Milwaukee — A hearing on a union president's claim of retaliation against Fire Chief Jay Behling is set for 10 a.m. Thursday at the library.

Lt. Glen McCoy claims that Behling reprimanded him over a personnel matter because McCoy, as president of the firefighters union, led an effort to get Behling fired.

That effort began in connection with Behling's admission that he used racial slurs at the firehouse. The city suspended Behling without pay for 90 days for the slurs.

Behling reprimanded McCoy Aug. 14, a month after he returned from the suspension.

South Milwaukee OKs fair housing ordinance, freezes police and fire pay

Nov. 19, 2009 11:00 a.m. | South Milwaukee — The city has a new fair housing ordinance and new contracts with its police officers and firefighters that essentially provide no pay raises in 2010 and 2% raises in 2011.

The Common Council approved all three actions Tuesday.The ordinance creates a process for making housing discrimination complaints and a board to hear them.

The city has been accused of housing discrimination in its handling of the Lake Bluff apartment complex, which houses many minority residents. The city opposed the apartments when they were proposed and has since tried to raze the complex, which was built in 1995.

The city, tenants and the bank that holds the mortgage on the complex are trying to resolve a federal lawsuit over the city's attempt to raze the buildings. The case went to trial in July, and a jury concluded that razing the complex would have a disproportionate impact on minorities. However, the jury was hung on several other questions.

Under the two union contracts, police officers and firefighters are scheduled to receive no salary increases in 2010 and a 2% raise in 2011.

South Milwaukee plans fair housing ordinance, new union contracts

Nov. 13, 2009 1:40 p.m. | South Milwaukee — The Common Council on Tuesday is expected to adopt a fair housing ordinance and to approve contracts with its police and fire unions that call for a pay freeze next year and a 2% raise in 2011, City Administrator Tami Mayzik said Friday.

The ordinance would create a process for making housing discrimination complaints as well as a board to hear them.

The city has been accused of housing discrimination in its handling of the Lake Bluff apartment complex, which houses many minority residents. The city opposed the apartments when they were proposed and has since tried to raze the complex, which was built in 1995.

The city, tenants and the bank that holds the mortgage on the complex are trying to resolve a federal lawsuit over the city's attempt to raze the buildings. The case went to trial in July, and a jury concluded that razing the complex would have a disproportionate impact on minorities. However, the jury was hung on several other questions.

The lawyers met again this week but could not reach a settlement.