May 16, 2012

No circus parade next year

The Great Circus Parade returns Sunday after a six year hiatus. Record turnout is expected  at the downtown Milwaukee event which will be proceeded by wagons displayed by the lake and circus performances. Although a half million people are expected, organizers have already decided they will not hold a parade in 2010.

Dave Fantle with Visit Milwaukee understands their decision saying the more often you have an event the more likely it will be taken for granted, where as event like the Olympics, every four years, always builds up a demand.

Organizers say the economy must improve before they plan on bringing back the parade, which relies completely on private funding. The last one, which took place in 2003, cost $1.5 million.

This year's parade is expected to be among the largest in the county surpassed only by the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Bowl Parade.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :77)

Brewers Blanked…Braun Sorry

 Adam Wainwright shut down the Brewers 5-0 last night at Miller Park. Wainwright struck out 9 and gave up just seven hits in 8 and a third innings of shutout ball to notch the win last night at Miller Park.  Yovani Gallardo gave up a three run homer to Ryan Ludwick in the first and a solo shot to Colby Rasmus in the 5 th as he took the loss.  Rasmus drove in another run in the 6 th to round out the scoring.  The series continues tonight as Jeff Suppan takes on Todd Wellemeyer at Miller Park.

Ryan Braun met with GM Doug Melvin before last night's game to address his comments about the team needing go get help pitching to be legitimate contenders.  Braun told the GM that he didn't mean to offend anyone with those statements and apologized if he did.  Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the statements made by Braun after the loss to the Cubs on Sunday were "inappropriate."

Listen/Download: Ryan Braun is sorry for speaking up. :21

Packers Sign Draft Pick

The Green Bay Packers now have five of their eight 2009 draft picks in the fold with the signing of 4 th round pick TJ Lang.  The offensive lineman from Eastern Michigan started every game during his final three seasons at the school.  Lang started 26 games at left tackle and 10 more at right tackle.

Bucks Gear Up For Vegas

The Bucks are getting ready for the Las Vegas Summer League which starts on Friday. 

1 st round pick Brandon Jennings and 2 nd rounder Jodie Meeks will be playing for Milwaukee.  Last year's draft picks, Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will also suit up in Vegas. 

The Bucks six game schedule in Las Vegas begins on Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks.

Listen/Download: 2nd Round Pick Jodie Meeks wants to play well. :10

Job worries for Cudahy

The fire at the Patrick Cudahy meat packing plant stopped almost all work at the facility in recent days, leaving nearly 1,400 workers without a job for now.

Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue says the city has offered to do whatever is needed to get the plant up and running again, as quickly as possible. The state is also offering assistance to the company, and displaced workers.

The plant employs over 1,800 people, and most hourly workers have been told to stay home. McCue says there are concerns about the impact on the local economy, because so many people who work in the plant also live and shop in the area.

Some production is expected to be shifted to other facilities. However, McCue remains hopeful those jobs will return. He says Cudahy is their home and he believes they will remain there.

As the company tries to sort out of the future of the plant, workers are being urged to apply for unemployment benefits. 

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:03)