TCD’s week in review
A Milwaukee-area veteran is honored at the White House, it was an up-and-down week for Gov. Walker, Donald Driver wins Dancing With The Stars and more.
WINNERS
1. Donald Driver
Green Bay Packers all-time receiving leader Donald Driver was named the winner of this year’s Dancing With The Stars. Evidently, this was a bit of an upset, and people were pretty jazzed. This is great and all, but if something dance-related is happening around town and Milwaukee Press Club Gold Award-winner Tom Strini isn’t covering it, it might not be worth paying attention to. But hey, go Donald.
2. Robert Curry, founder and president of Dry Hootch
Memorial Day is Monday, and veterans deserve our thanks and recognition all year round. On Friday, the White House honored eleven Vietnam Veterans as Champions of Change, one of whom was Robert Curry, founder and president of Dry Hootch, the veterans support center and coffee house located on Brady Street. To learn more about Dry Hootch, listen to Mark Metcalf’s podcast on Dry Hootch, part of last fall’s series on Veterans in Milwaukee.
3. The Class of 2012
About 5,600 men and women in Milwaukee received degrees from Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Cardinal Stritch last weekend. The ThirdCoast Digest staff congratulates our very own new grad, Matthew Reddin, who was also honored by the Milwaukee Press Club last week for his work at the Marquette Tribune.
4. Milwaukee: Bar City of the Year
Esquire magazine named Milwaukee the Bar City of the Year for their seventh annual Best Bars in America list, which comes as no surprise to anyone. Shouldn’t this really be a competition for 2nd?
In the upcoming election, there’s only one thing both sides can agree on: This is a numbers game. Whether Governor Walker remains in office or Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett takes his seat is going to be a matter of who can get the most people to the polls. Early voting opened Monday, and groups are taking matter into their own hands, driving Milwaukee voters to the polls. Their tactic seems to be working. According to City Election Commissioner Sue Edman more than 1,100 people voted in the first three days—many more than most early voting periods. The election commission has decided to keep the building open throughout the weekend for voters, as well, including a few hours on Memorial Day.
LOSERS
1. Scott Walker
It’s been an up-and-down week for the controversial Wisconsin governor. The St. Norbert/Wisconsin Public Radio poll shows Walker with a five-point lead over Tom Barrett in the June 5 election. However, alarming controversy continues to surround the Governor. This week, Walker was under fire for accusations that he committed perjury when testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on April, 14, 2011. Congressman Jerry Connelly (D-Virginia) raised concerns in the wake of recently released video from the documentary As Goes Janesville. Details continue to emerge.
2. The Milwaukee Police Department
On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that hundreds of incidents of violent crime since 2009 were misreported by the Milwaukee Police Department. State and local officials have called for a an independent audit of the crime numbers. Gov. Walker also joined the call for an audit. Some have criticized the JS story, but no matter how the details shake out, this is not good news for the MPD.
3. Drunk drivers and passengers
Milwaukee Sheriff, David Clarke, wants to remind everyone that driving under the influence is a serious matter. There will be extra deputies on duty all weekend to keep the roads safe. Clarke said seven people died on the roads last Memorial Day weekend in Wisconsin. Clarke also said that in addition to intoxication, high speeds and riding without a seat belt can be deadly.
4. Milwaukee native Dan Harmon
Dan Harmon, creator and executive producer of NBC’s Community was unceremoniously ousted as showrunner this past week. It was a tumultuous third season for the show, which fought off threats of cancellation, but managed to deliver a truly amazing three part finale. The show will return to NBC next fall on Fridays in a slightly different timeline.
