Milwaukee, WI
A Brewer on the Brewers? Hicklen hoping his dream becomes a reality with Milwaukee
PHOENIX – Time will tell on his game. But there’s just no questioning the name.
Of course, we’re talking about Brewer Hicklen, non-roster invitee to major-league spring training with the Milwaukee Brewers.
If ever there were a marketing match made in heaven between player and franchise, this one is it as the 28-year-old native of Huntsville, Alabama, will spend the next few weeks engaged in an uphill battle to earn a spot in a Milwaukee outfield bursting at the seams with talent.
Hicklen already has heard the jokes a bunch, and even he can’t deny the serendipity.
“Yeah, it is pretty cool,” he said. “It’s just a family name. It was my great- great-grandmother’s maiden name, so my mom decided that she liked it. I had never met another Brewer until a couple years ago, and then this past year in Omaha in Triple-A with the Royals I met a baby that was named Brewer because they saw the scoreboard and liked the name.
“There’s some more Brewers out there. There’s not a ton, but it’s pretty a unique and uncommon name and I’m really excited. I hope the marketing team will have a good time trying to put something together if I do something cool.”
Hicklen was known for more than his first name before signing a minor-league deal with Milwaukee in late November.
An accomplished two-way athlete in high school, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Hicklen carried his dual talents to the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he played wide receiver on the football team (which disbanded in 2014 but revived in 2016) and hit .308 with a .911 OPS in 107 games for the Blazers over 2016 and 2017.
“I feel like I’m kind of a power-speed duo that you don’t necessarily get,” Hicklen said. “I kind of have that hard-headed, hard-nosed, gridiron way that I approach the game. Any time I’m between the white lines I’m going to put my best foot forward. You never know when your last day is going to be playing this game, so I don’t take for granted any day or any game.”
Hicklen has spent most of his time in minor leagues
Kansas City drafted Hicklen in the seventh round in 2017 and he steadily ascended through the Royals’ minor-league system before making his major-league debut on May 26, 2022 with a start in Minnesota.
Hicklen’s stay was brief, however. He logged four at-bats over six games, was sent back down to Class AAA Omaha and has been seeking a return to baseball’s highest level since.
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired Hicklen for cash last August, but after he played 11 games at Class AAA Lehigh Valley he was cut loose, leading to his signing with the Brewers.
“Any time you get another year to play the game that you’ve dreamed of playing your entire life, it’s a blessing,” said Hicklen, a .262 hitter with 25 home runs, 90 runs batted in and an OPS of .829 in 577 games in the minors. “So, I’m truly excited for a new chapter with the Milwaukee Brewers. I’ve been welcomed with open arms, I’ve met a lot of great people in the organization and I’m excited for new beginnings.”
Hicklen is also realistic about what lies ahead with Cactus League play kicking off Saturday.
Of the eight outfielders in camp, seven are on the 40-man roster and Hicklen isn’t one of them. He’s undoubtedly done the math and knows that, barring a series of unexpected events, that he’s more than likely destined for Class AAA Nashville.
“I think that’s one thing, as you continue to stay in the game longer, you mature and really just focus on what you can control and what you do,” Hicklen said. “That’s something that I’ve developed over the last couple years, is just trying to embrace each and every day for its own and just go out there and get 1% better.
“That’s the only thing that I can control. I just put my best foot forward and hopefully upper management and the front office will make the decision to push me there. But at the end of the day, I can only do my best.”
Manager Pat Murphy was asked, tongue-in-cheek, if Hicklen’s first name had any bearing on his signing.
“He’s an impressive human and an impressive player,” he said. In a camp already full of Murphy-bestowed nicknames, Hicklen already has been dubbed, you guessed it, ‘Bernie.’
“Speed, power. I’m excited about him,” Murphy continued. “I don’t care what the first names are.”
Perhaps the stars will align and Hicklen will make it to Milwaukee. Imagine what a PR bonanza and fan favorite he could end up being.
“I saw that there’s only a handful of people, I think five or six guys, that have played for a team that (shared) a name,” Hicklen said. “Angels, a guy named Red. Only a handful, so hopefully I get the opportunity to make the opportunity a reality this year.”
Milwaukee, WI
'This is a critical decision for MPS'; Community members provide input on superintendent search
MILWUAKEE — The Milwaukee Public School Board heard some encouraging news Thursday night. Board members found out that there are currently twenty-six applicants in the mix as they search for the next superintendent.
“This is a critical decision for MPS and for Milwaukee,” associate with Hazard Young Attea Associates, Pat Neudecker said.
Hazard Young Attea Associates is the firm Milwaukee Public Schools hired to help with the superintendent search after Keith Posley resigned back in early June amid a financial crisis in the district. Eduardo Galvan stepped in as Interim at the end of July.
Watch: Community members provide input on MPS superintendent search
‘This is a critical decision for MPS’: Community members provide input on superintendent search
“Know that we are going to bring the best candidate,” Neudecker said.
Neudecker said she met with Mayor Cavalier Johnson, County Executive David Crowley, Governor Tony Evers, students, and parents in the last six weeks. She also got to meet with other community leaders for input.
“We asked everyone the same. What’s great about MPS, what are the challenges, and what do you look for in a new superintendent,” Neudecker said.
The firm got about 850 responses in the survey that was conducted.
“Which is low for the size of your community. But again, good responses,” Neudecker explained.
One of the qualities many are hoping the candidates can bring to the district is transparency.
“I think a lot of the issues we had in the past could have been avoided through transparency,” Rufus King Senior, Manuel Ishag said.
Ishag is a leader on the Superintendent Student Advisory Council. He is passionate about the district and what a new leader could bring to the table.
“I like to see tangible progress. I’m a numbers guy. So, I’d like to see maybe a little more focus on academics and test scores,” Ishag explained.
TMJ4’s Megan Lee asked Ishag if he wants a thriving school district. He said, “Oh I would love that, I’m already proud of my district.”
The district plans to name a new superintendent in late February.
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Milwaukee, WI
Judge sentences Milwaukee rapper to 40 years in crash that killed pregnant Shorewood woman
Kia Boyz YouTube video driving dangerously around Milwaukee goes viral
Milwaukee YouTuber “Tommy G” recorded a group known as the Kia Boyz while they engaged in reckless driving with stolen cars. This video contains excerpts from the original Kia Boyz YouTube video.
Lou Saldivar, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A Milwaukee rapper is going to prison for 40 years in connection with a crash last year that killed a pregnant Shorewood woman.
Frank Mosley Jr.’s mother fainted in the courtroom as Circuit Court Judge David Swanson handed down the sentence against him on Thursday afternoon.
Mosley, 21, of Milwaukee, was convicted in September of multiple felonies in the Nov. 2, 2023, crash in Milwaukee that took the lives of Erin Mogensen and her unborn child.
Mogensen was two months pregnant at the time of the crash, which occurred on the day of her fourth wedding anniversary.
“All her dreams were about to come true until she crossed paths with evil,” her father Mark Hagen said, calling Mosley “an extreme danger to society.” “Her killer should have been in jail. He was the one who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, not Erin.”
Prosecutors said Mosley, a rapper known locally as Lil Frank, led police on a chase that began in Wauwatosa for not having a license plate. The fleeing vehicle at one point hit speeds of 116 mph before police called off the pursuit.
Moments later, the officer came upon a crash scene between the BMW and a Toyota at Capitol and North 100th Street in Milwaukee. Mogensen, 32, was at the wheel of the Toyota.
In court, Mosley apologized to Mogensen’s family, and took responsibility for the crash, but asserted it was an accident. Swanson said although Mosley didn’t intend to hit anyone, he made the choice to drive a car “at an absurdly high speed.”
“If you didn’t hit Mrs. Mogensen, you could have hit someone else,” the judge said.
Mosley also was ordered to serve 10 years of extended supervision when he is released from prison.
This is a developing story. Stay with jsonline.com for updates.
Milwaukee, WI
What are the road conditions in and around Milwaukee Thursday morning?
Drone view: Winter wonderland from the snow in the Milwaukee area
Check out a drone view of the winter wonderland from Thursday’s snow around the Milwaukee area.
As Milwaukee sees its first snowfall of the season Thursday morning, you should brace for some tricky road conditions on your morning commute.
Two to four inches of wet, heavy snow is possible in the Milwaukee area, making for a “messy morning commute,” the National Weather Service Milwaukee wrote on X. Motorists should drive slowly and with caution throughout the morning, NWS said.
Here’s what to plan ahead for if you’re commuting in Milwaukee on Thursday.
What are the road conditions in and around Milwaukee this morning?
As of 8:15 a.m. Thursday, all of Milwaukee and its surrounding areas — including Interstates 41, 43 and 94 — were seeing “slippery stretches,” according to 511 Wisconsin. Several highways are also seeing one or more lanes blocked due to crashes or stalled vehicles.
If you’re traveling on I-94 this morning, NWS wrote on X that conditions south of the I-94 corridor, especially between Milwaukee and Madison, would “quickly deteriorate” as snow continues.
In affected areas, drivers should plan for slushy snow accumulation and low visibility on the roads, NWS said.
Accidents reported in Milwaukee on Thursday morning
As of 8:15 a.m. Thursday, several crashes or incidents have been reported in Milwaukee that could affect traffic, 511 Wisconsin reported:
- 7:49 a.m. – I-794 West 1.3 miles beyond the ramp from Carferry Road. The center lane is blocked due to a crash.
- 7:44 a.m. – I-43 South at ramp from Wisconsin Avenue. The left shoulder is blocked due to a crash.
- 7:50 a.m. – Ramp from I-94 East to I-43/94 South. Shoulders are closed due to a disabled vehicle.
- 7:51 a.m. – I-794 West at Michigan Street. The right shoulder is blocked due to a disabled vehicle.
- 7:52 a.m. – I-43 South at I-794 East. The center lane is blocked due to a crash.
- 7:57 a.m. – I-43/94 North at Ramp from 6th and Mineral Street. The center lane is blocked due to a disabled vehicle.
Accidents reported in Milwaukee suburbs on Thursday morning
- 7:15 a.m. – Disabled vehicle on ramp from Burleigh Street to I-41/US 45 North.
- 7:22 a.m. – I-94 West 1.3 miles beyond the ramp from Highway 100. The right shoulder is blocked due to a crash.
- 7:23 a.m. – I-43 North at Hampton Avenue East. The left shoulder is blocked due to a crash.
- 7:37 a.m. – I-94 West at ramp from Moreland Boulevard East. The right shoulder is blocked due to a crash.
- 7:42 a.m. – Highway 38 South at Air Cargo Way (by the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport). The right lane is closed due to a crash.
- 7:52 a.m. – I-41/894 South 0.3 miles beyond the ramp from National Avenue. The right shoulder is blocked due to a disabled vehicle.
- 7:54 a.m. – Ramp from I-94 West to I-41/US 45 North. The right shoulder is blocked due to a disabled vehicle.
- 8:05 a.m. – I-41/US 45 North at North Avenue. The 3 right lanes are blocked due to a disabled vehicle.
To look up road conditions on your morning commute, check out 511 Wisconsin’s live map.
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