July 2020

Thu
23
Jul
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Daniel Albert Meier

CROSS PLAINS - Daniel Albert Meier, age 93, of Cross Plains, passed away on July 5, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on July 27, 1926, in the Town of Cross Plains, the son of Matt and Christine (Marking) Meier. He married Charlene "Char" (Tourdot) Meier on February 13, 1954 in Belleville. 

He served in the Army from 1954 until 1956. He was a member of the Cross Plains American Legion Post 245. Daniel worked for the Middleton/Cross Plains School Buses as a mechanic for 15 years.

Daniel loved to polka dance and was the best waltz dancer around. He enjoyed going fishing, hunting and playing golf. He was a very meticulous man and found great joy in fixing or making anything. He was known as the best mechanic by many and people often said if he couldn't fix it to just keep it. Daniel loved his cherries. Whether it was chocolate covered cherries or a cherry pie. 

Thu
23
Jul
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Plan Commission Updated on Comprehensive Plan

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission reviewed the latest revisions to the city’s comprehensive plan which is expected to be adopted by the Common Council by the end of the year.

Director of Planning and Community Development Abby Attoun told the commission the final document is mostly fleshed out and staff are now focused on design, layout and visuals. She said staff has had more time than usual to work on the plan in recent months. 

To recapitulate, Attoun explained that the plan is meant to serve as a community guide to physical, social and economic development. She noted the plan is not intended to be land use regulations but rather provide rational basis for local land use decisions with a 20 year vision.

Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Planning law requires that a comprehensive plan adopted by a government body, involve public input and be consistent with local ordinances.

Thu
23
Jul
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IUB Denies Appeal for Rehearing in CHC Decision

DES MOINES, IA–In a move that a Cross Plains resident fighting against the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line said was “expected,” the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) has denied an appeal for a rehearing that was one of the final roadblocks before work on the project begins. 

Chris Klopp had filed the petition earlier this year, arguing the line was initially approved using erroneous and missing information. 

On May 27, prior to Klopp’s appeal, the IUB issued an Order Granting Petition for Electric Franchises and Right of Eminent Domain. The board found “that the electric transmission lines as described in the revised petitions are necessary to serve a public use and represent a reasonable relationship to an overall plan of transmitting electricity in the public interest.”

Thu
23
Jul
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City Council Reconsiders Then Tables SRO Agreement with School District

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council tabled an agreement with the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) to provide police officers at Middleton High School (MHS) and Kromrey Middle School after voting to reconsider it. The agreement for the SRO (Student Resource Officer) program has come under scrutiny since its approval by the school board at the June 22 by community members, students, parents and alumni who are calling for suspending the program while it is reviewed. 

During the council meeting two members from the School Community Partnership committee presented a plan to suspend and review the program. School district administrators and Middleton police presented on the history of the program, its benefits and a review plan to be completed by January.

Wed
22
Jul
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Protesters Gather Outside Helbachs

MIDDLETON–About 25 protesters showed up throughout the morning of July 18 to protest Helbachs coffee house in Middleton, which has not been following the public health order requiring masks, which put in place by Public Health of Madison and Dane County (PHMDC).

Armed with signs that read “Masks Save Lives,” “Mask Up” and “Trust Science,” protesters gathered outside of the main entrance to the business beginning at 8 a.m. with the intent of remaining onsite until 2 p.m. when the business closed. The protest was called off at 11 a.m. due to heavy rain and lightning in the area. 

Organizer Tulin Waters said, “It was not surprising that 90 percent of people going in did not have masks, nor did any of the employees. I did get threatened by a man saying he had a gun, and there were two private citizens with guns out watching the door.”

Wed
22
Jul
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Ranking Middleton's top male athletes of the century

The task was daunting.

The Times-Tribune recently asked a 16-person panel to rank the best male and female athletes to pass through Middleton High School in the 21st century. Any athlete who competed in the 21st century was eligible to be nominated and their exploits across their entire career were considered, even if a portion of their playing days came in the 1990s.

The panel consisted of past and present coaches, local sportswriters and community members that have seen countless Cardinals’ events.

There were no set criteria outlined. Beauty was in the eye of each beholder.

If one voter thought a multi-sport athlete with solid production across the board rated ahead of a one-sport athlete who excelled at their craft, that was their prerogative. If another voter prioritized team success, that was fine, too.

Nearly 60 boys and 60 girls were nominated for consideration, and after the votes were tabulated, each field was trimmed to a top-20. 

Tue
21
Jul
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Fall sports now on life support

Fall sports at Middleton High School and inside the Big Eight Conference are on life support.

The Big Eight announced Tuesday that schools can’t hold conference competitions this fall, nor will it crown champions. That measure passed by a vote of 10-0.

Schools do have the option, though, of scheduling non-conference competitions in any fall sports, so long as they follow the guidance of the WIAA and local public health officials. Middleton athletic director Jamie Sims said Tuesday afternoon, though, that for the time being there MHS won’t schedule any non-conference events.

Sims said when Public Health Madison and Dane County moves to Phase 3 of its Forward Dane re-opening plan, Middleton will consider scheduling non-conference events.

Sports played in the fall include football, boys soccer, girls golf, girls tennis, girls swimming, boys and girls cross country and boys and girls volleyball.

Tue
21
Jul
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School Board Approves Virtual Return to School, Modified SRO Agreement

MIDDLETON–The Middleton-Cross Plains School District Board of Education unanimously adopted a plan to begin the year with a strictly virtual instructional model and pivot to full-time in-person instruction or a hybrid model later in the year based on local health data.

Superintendent Dana Monogue acknowledged the plan will please some families and disappoint others, but said the health and safety of students and staff is the district’s highest priority. 

“Schools have been placed in the middle of an impossible decisions, one where we must weigh the health and safety of our students and staff against concerns regarding the academic, social and emotional well-being of our students,” Monogue said.  

Monogue said under the current rate of COVID-19 infections locally staff or students would inevitably contract the virus. 

Tue
21
Jul
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School Board Approves Virtual Return to School, Modified SRO Agreement

MIDDLETON–The Middleton-Cross Plains School District Board of Education unanimously adopted a plan to begin the year with a strictly virtual instructional model and pivot to full-time in-person instruction or a hybrid model later in the year based on local health data.

Superintendent Dana Monogue acknowledged the plan will please some families and disappoint others, but said the health and safety of students and staff is the district’s highest priority. 

“Schools have been placed in the middle of an impossible decisions, one where we must weigh the health and safety of our students and staff against concerns regarding the academic, social and emotional well-being of our students,” Monogue said.  

Monogue said under the current rate of COVID-19 infections locally staff or students would inevitably contract the virus. 

Fri
17
Jul
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Peaceful Protest Planned Outside Helbachs

MIDDLETON–Protesters plan to gather outside Helbachs coffee shop during the stores regular business hours to express their opposition to the business not observing the county mask order, which began on Monday.

Helbachs has refused to follow the order, and organizer Tulin Waters said, “To recklessly try to flaunt your personal beliefs during a pandemic in this industry, while numbers are surging is so dangerous, and I want to hand out as much informative flyers as possible to remind people the importance of wearing masks.”

She added that the group would also be protesting the homophobic and xenophobic posts that owners have allegedly made on social media.

The protest will be held for 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on July 18, and the group will be handing out a competitors coffee. There will also be spoken word artists and musicians at the event.

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