🌱 Patch AM: How will Oak Creek’s new utilities chief shape your water service?

Greetings Oak Creek! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How will Oak Creek’s new utilities chief shape your water service?
• Why are some Oak Creek neighbors so wary of a Buc-ee’s?
• How much will Oak Creek’s retired coal plant still cost you?

Also on today's calendar: Oak Creek Winter Farmers Market.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Oak Creek.

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Breezy and much colder, with a high of 26 and low of 22 degrees.
• Saturday: A shower; breezy, not as cold, temps: high: 40, low: 12. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Colder; breezy in the morning, with a high of 26 and low of 20 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Oak Creek Welcomes Brian Johnston as New Director of Utilities (hoodline.com) — Oak Creek has appointed longtime city engineer Brian Johnston as its new Director of Utilities, succeeding retiring veteran Mike Sullivan on January 3, 2026. The Common Council unanimously approved the move, and city leaders say Johnston’s experience will be crucial as major underground and plant projects shape the future of local water and sewer services.
   

• Wis. Morning News - 2025 Quotes of the Year (wtmj.com) — Oak Creek residents are quoted pushing back against a proposed Buc-ee’s development in their community, questioning why the Texas-based chain wants to build in their Milwaukee suburb. Their remarks appear in a statewide roundup of notable 2025 quotes, alongside political, sports, and pop culture soundbites from across Wisconsin and beyond.
   

• As energy-hungry data centers loom, Wisconsin ratepayers owe $1 billion on shuttered power plants (wisconsinwatch.org) — Oak Creek residents are still paying for the soon-to-close Oak Creek coal plant, with about $650 million in costs remaining that will stay on customer bills for years. The story explains how Wisconsin ratepayers statewide owe nearly $1 billion on shuttered coal plants, why utilities can keep earning profits on them, and how new data center-driven power projects could create more long-term costs without stronger state rules.
   

📸 Around Oak Creek

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Oak Creek

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Oak Creek Winter Farmers Market
  8580 S Howell Ave, Oak Creek
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 20

• Trivia Fun for Everyone
  130 W Ryan Rd , Oak Creek
  8:00 pm

Monday December 29

• Winter Break Trivia Fun on MONDAY 12/29
  130 W Ryan Rd , Oak Creek
  7:30 pm

📣 Oak Creek Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 20

• Stuff the Sleigh 5K Run/Walk - Caledonia, WI
  5530 Middle Rd , Racine
  4:00 pm
• Stuff the Sleigh 5K
  5530 Middle Rd , Racine
  4:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Family singalong, Southridge Mall
  Southridge Mall , 5300 S 76th St , Greendale
  11:00 am
• Miracle on 34th Street
  Martin Luther High School , 5201 S 76th St , Greendale
  12:00 pm

Monday December 22

• No School-Winter Break
  Greenfield SD Milwaukee, WI 53220
• No School - Winter Break
  Whitnall SD Hales Corners, WI 53130
• Mindful Movement for PD – Cudahy
  Lawrence P. Kelly Senior Center , 6100 S Lake Dr , Cudahy
  11:30 am
• Baseball Camp (Single Day Options Available) - Caledonia, WI 2025
  Hitters Baseball , 2915 6 1/2 Mile Rd , Caledonia
  12:30 pm
• Village Board Meeting
  Caledonia Village Hall , 5043 Chester Ln , Racine
  6:00 pm
• Committee of the Whole
  Caledonia Village Hall , 5043 Chester Ln , Racine
  6:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• RITEWAY BUS SERVICE, Inc. posted a job opening for Vehicle Cleaner / Porter / Custodian (Weekends) in Oak Creek. Apply here.
• PetSmart, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate Part Time in Oak Creek. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Oak Creek here.

🗞 Nearby News

South Milwaukee

• Earl E. Kluz (dailydodge.com)
• Milwaukee 12-year-old charged in juvenile court with abducting her brother (jsonline.com)
• Minnesota man sentenced to 20 years for fentanyl trafficking (wislawjournal.com)

Franklin

• Franklin mayor investigated for possible misconduct, search warrant says (fox6now.com)
• Fam Stumabo Scales Global Presence with New U.S. Headquarters, European Expansion (thepacker.com)

Milwaukee

Ok Oak Creek! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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