Milwaukee, WI

Friends, family gather to remember gunshot victim Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr.

Published

3 days ago

June 4, 2026

Friends, family gather to remember gunshot victim Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr.

Tears, prayers, songs and memories filled the Lancaster Elementary School parking lot June 2 as family, friends and fellow members of S.I.G. Youth Fraternity, Inc. gathered at a Blackout Community memorial to honor Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr.

Sikisi-Belle, 22, was killed May 30 during a birthday party for his son at Center Street Park in Milwaukee. During the private memorial, loved ones shared stories of the Milwaukee man, who was known within the fraternity as “House Party.”

‘He was the life of the party’

The memorial was emceed by fellow S.I.G. Youth Fraternity member Juanie Johnson, who said he had known Sikisi-Belle, a father of three, since he was a freshman.

“I actually pledged him into [S.I.G. Youth Fraternity], so I’ve had the opportunity to work with Pepe since he was in ninth grade,” Johnson said. “Like we said, we’re here to celebrate his life. This is what we do when one of our members passes. Just remember that although he’s gone, he will forever live in our hearts.”

Several fraternity brothers remembered Sikisi-Belle as the ‘life of the party’ who regularly checked on friends and family.

Speakers said Sikisi-Belle’s fraternity name, “House Party,” reflected not only his outgoing personality but also the comfort he provided to others. One fraternity member described him as a sincere soul who was always there for those around him, while others recalled his playful side and said he was known for teasing and trolling his friends.

One of Sikisi-Belle’s fraternity line brothers was too emotional to speak during the memorial, so Johnson spoke on his behalf.

“They were like two peas in a pod. They gave me a headache,” Johnson said. “They used to always get in trouble together, but to know Pepe is to love Pepe. He was always the life of the party, the spirit of the party, and he used to call me every morning just to be like, ‘You good, bro?’”

Sikisi-Belle’s parents also attended the memorial and shared remarks about their son.

“I miss my son,” said Marissa Bopilo, Sikisi-Belle’s mother. “I know that he loves y’all very, very much, and he’ll live on with us for the rest of our lives.”

Bopilo said she hopes those responsible for her son’s death are brought to justice.

“He was the life of the party, and he was definitely loved by many,” Bopilo said after the memorial. “I’m hoping things move forward with the situation. I’m hoping that we get justice.”

Members of the organization blew out candles one by one in honor of Sikisi-Belle before closing the memorial with a song.

Sikisi-Belle died from multiple gunshot wounds

At 6:47 p.m. May 30, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Center Street Park, 420 W. Clarke St., for reports of a shooting.

When authorities arrived, they found Sikisi-Belle dead from at least two gunshot wounds to his upper torso, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.

A 25-year-old Milwaukee woman was arrested at the scene in connection with the shooting. MCSO said the woman knew Sikisi-Belle and was found with two firearms in her possession.

As of June 3, no criminal charges had been filed in the case.

Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.

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Milwaukee, WI

Banana Ball brings sold-out crowd and hometown connections to Milwaukee

Published

5 hours ago

June 7, 2026

Press Room

Banana Ball brings sold-out crowd and hometown connections to Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE — On Saturday night at American Family Field, nearly every seat was filled, but the crowd wasn’t there for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Thousands of fans packed the ballpark as Banana Ball, the fast-paced baseball and entertainment phenomenon popularized by the Savannah Bananas, brought its traveling show to Milwaukee.

The event featured the Party Animals and Loco Beach Coconuts, two teams in the six-team Banana Ball Championship League.

For many fans, the attraction goes beyond baseball.

“It’s the music, the dancing, and a lot of things for families,” said Sue Liegeois of Muskego, who attended with family members visiting from Michigan.

Liegeois said she became a fan after watching on TikTok and then attending a Banana Ball event in Franklin in 2023.

“The first time I went, I was hooked,” she said.

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Banana Ball fans.

Banana Ball has built a national following through viral social media content and its fan-focused approach to the game.

The Milwaukee stop also featured local connections on the field.

Brady Kais, a southeastern Wisconsin native and pitcher for the Party Animals, said playing in front of family and friends at a major league ballpark was a special experience.

“It’s unbelievable being able to see my friends, family — everybody I’ve seen throughout my whole life,” Kais said.

Kais attended Greendale High School and later pitched for the Lake Country DockHounds in Oconomowoc before joining the Banana Ball tour.

“Growing up, Banana Ball wasn’t a thing, so I definitely never thought this would be something I’d be a part of,” Kais said. “But once I saw it, I knew I needed to be involved.”

Untitled design - 2026-06-06T220315.925.png — Left: Brady Kais. Right: Erik Ostberg.

On the opposing side, Loco Beach Coconuts catcher Erik Ostberg also has ties to southeastern Wisconsin.

Ostberg spent two seasons with the Milwaukee Milkmen before joining Banana Ball and said his time in the area helped shape his career.

“The people here are great. A lot of the people here helped build me up, and I’m very thankful for the Milkmen and Milwaukee,” Ostberg said.

The event also drew young baseball players eager to see the unique version of the game in person.

“It inspires little kids to have fun and follow their dreams,” said Nelson Damrow of the Concordia Lakeshore Jr. Chinooks baseball team.

For longtime fans like Helen Evans, who traveled from South Carolina, sharing the experience with newcomers is part of the appeal.

“To share this with people who’ve never been able to experience it is almost as good as going to the game yourself,” Evans said.

The Loco Beach Coconuts defeated the Party Animals on Saturday night. The teams return to the ballpark Sunday for a second sold-out game

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Milwaukee, WI

Here’s how much rain fell in Milwaukee area on June 5?

Published

15 hours ago

June 6, 2026

Press Room

Here’s how much rain fell in Milwaukee area on June 5?

After its driest May on record, Milwaukee just got hit with its heaviest day of rain since early April.

Between morning showers and evening storms, Milwaukee logged 1.42 inches on rain on June 5, according to the National Weather Service Milwaukee. That’s Milwaukee’s most precipitation in a day since April 2 and nearly four times what fell in the city for the entire month of May, which received a total of just 0.36 inch.

The rain fell as part of a statewide weather pattern on June 5, as severe weather alerts launched the weekend for several counties in south-central Wisconsin. Tornado warnings were issued in Green Lake, Dodge, Fond du Lac and Columbia counties with the final warning expiring at 10:30 p.m.

Andrew Quigley, a meteorologist at the NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan office, said there were no confirmed tornadoes in south-central Wisconsin yesterday. However, there was some severe weather inthe western half of the state.

In Juneau County, the NWS received reports of 60 mile-per-hour winds and damage to barns, said Jeff Boyne, a meteorologist at the NWS La Crosse office. There was also a report of a tornado in Buffalo County, though the NWS has not yet confirmed it.

How much rain did the Milwaukee area get on June 5?

Quigley said southern Waukesha County and southern Milwaukee County turned in the day’s highest totals with anywhere from 1 inch to 1.5 inches of rain, on average. Other suburbs in the Milwaukee area averaged from a half inch to 0.9 inch of precipitation.

“[It’s] some beneficial rain,” Quigley said. “I know some were probably going to be looking for a little bit more than that, but it’s a good start.”

The National Weather Service has a volunteer monitoring system for rainfall, which is updated each morning. Here are southeastern Wisconsin’s rainfall amounts in the 24-hour period as of 9:30 a.m. June 6.

Lake Geneva: 0.44 inch
Wauwatosa: 0.69 inch
Menomonee Falls: 0.69 inch
Mequon: 0.52 inch
Waukesha: 0.71 inch
Jefferson: 0.72 inch
Oregon: 0.87 inch
Burlington: 0.92 inch
Racine: 1.06 inches
Greendale: 1.37 inches
South Milwaukee: 1.44 inches
Cudahy: 1.72 inches

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Milwaukee, WI

Brewers score 8 late runs, stun Rockies 9-7 in wild 10-inning victory

Published

1 day ago

June 6, 2026

Press Room

Brewers score 8 late runs, stun Rockies 9-7 in wild 10-inning victory

DENVER (AP) — Jake Bauers hit a two-run double in Milwaukee’s four-run 10th inning after Andrew Vaughn’s pinch-hit two-run single capped a four-run ninth and the Brewers held on to beat the Colorado Rockies 9-7 on Friday night.

Milwaukee scored eight runs in the final two innings after going hitless from the second through the eighth innings. The Brewers won for the first time this season when trailing after eight.

Trevor Megill (1-2) blew the save, but got the win for the Brewers. Aaron Ashby allowed two runs — one earned — on Sterlin Thompson’s bases-loaded single in the 10th before getting Brett Sullivan to ground into a double and striking out Jake McCarthy to end it.

Juan Mejia (1-5) got just one out and gave up four runs — three earned — to take the loss for the Rockies.

Colorado took a 3-1 lead into the ninth after Ryan Feltner allowed one hit and a run through six innings and Jaden Hill pitched a scoreless seventh.

Antonio Senzatela struck out the side in the eighth before coming back out for the ninth. He gave up a leadoff single to Brice Turang, then threw wide of second going for a double play after snagging a comebacker from William Contreras.

Bauers followed with an RBI single and Sal Frelick doubled in the tying run before Vaughn’s single made it 5-3. Turang’s hit was the first for the Brewers since Bauers doubled in the first inning.

Chad Stevens walked to force in a run against Megill in the ninth, and Hunter Goodman hit a sacrifice fly to tie it at 5.

Goodman hit his 16th homer, a solo shot in the third to make it 3-1. Willi Castro had a two-out double, but Frelick made a diving catch in right on a sinking liner by Ezequiel Tovar to save a run and end the inning.

Brewers starter Brandon Sproat allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. He was relieved by Brian Fitzpatrick, who threw a scoreless sixth, came out for the seventh and was throwing warmup pitches when he reacted in pain and grabbed his left arm. Brewers manager Pat Murphy told reporters after the game that Fitzpatrick, promoted before the game, would have an MRI but “it doesn’t look good.”