March 2021

Sat
27
Mar
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Middleton rolls past Beloit Memorial

They had waited nearly 17 months for this moment.

When it finally arrived, Middleton’s football team was filled with passion, fury and hunger.

And Beloit Memorial paid the price.

In its alternate-fall season opener on March 26, Middleton’s defense and special teams dominated. The offense also played well after a slow start and the host Cardinals rolled to a 38-0 win.

“It felt great. It was amazing,” said senior safety Josh Stormer, who had a touchdown on offense and another on special teams. “We haven't played in so long. It felt great being back with the team. It was awesome.”

Running back Elijah Gray, who had a rushing touchdown and a kick return score, agreed with Stormer.

“It was just great to be back,” Gray said. “I felt we played a good game, especially because it was our first game in over a year.

Fri
26
Mar
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Elizabeth Johanna “Betty” Schroeder

MIDDLETON–Elizabeth Johanna “Betty” Schroeder, age 88, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2021. She was born on June 3, 1932, in Madison, the daughter of John and Mary (Wagner) Meier.

Betty was a 1950 graduate from Middleton High School. She worked at Oscar Mayer in Madison, Eagle Foods as a head cashier, The Flower Shop, Lands’ End and National Guardian Life where she retired in 1999. 

Betty was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the Middleton Senior Center. She enjoyed going to NASCAR races in Florida and Michigan, swimming with her friends at Swim West, hunting, fishing, and searching for morel mushrooms.

Fri
26
Mar
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Stop Asian Hate

When Donald Trump was running for office and began hateful rhetoric about immigration, immigrants and migrants, I became worried. When it looked like was going to win, I called my brother in Des Moines and insisted he get a passport. You see, my brother is Asian and a naturalized citizen. While I was expecting Trump to start banning migrants from the country, I also worried that he might turn on naturalized citizens as well if he didn’t like their race.

My brother thought I was overreacting, but with no parents, I feel the need to look out for him. Once he secured the passport, I was a little more at ease. If necessary, he could flee the country until Trump was gone, I thought.

Fri
26
Mar
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Board Increases In-person Instruction for Middle School, Keeps Two-Day High School Schedule

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) Board of Education voted to increase in-person instruction for middle school students to four days a week beginning April 19. High school students will continue with two days of in-person instruction through the end of the 2020-21 school year. 

Superintendent Dana Monogue explained the administration recommendation to have middle school students attend four days a week. The start date of April 19 is intended to provide a buffer to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 from traveling during spring break. 

Wednesday will remain as a planning day for staff and virtual independent instruction for students. Educators have to plan for in-person and virtual instruction because they are teaching students in the room and over Zoom simultaneously.

Fri
26
Mar
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Council Narrowly Approves Rezoning for Twin Sunset Duplexes

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council approved a rezoning ordinance to change an R1 single family lot at 7103 Twin Sunset Road to a planned development district (PDD) which creates zoning regulations specific to the development. The rezoning request came to the council for a proposal which would split the lot and create two duplex buildings. Despite ardent calls from neighboring residents in single family homes in the Town of Middleton and the Hidden Oaks subdivision to deny the rezoning, the council approved the request to support infill development and increase the variety of housing types.

The motion to approve the rezoning passed on a four to four split vote on the council triggering the mayor’s tie breaking vote, who voted in favor of the request. 

Fri
26
Mar
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Festival Announces Theme

MIDDLETON–Thanks to the increased availability of vaccines and lower rates of community spread, the Good Neighbor Festival (GNF) Board of Trustees feels optimistic about the prospects of holding an in-person event on August 27-29.

Trustees have selected “All Together Now” as the theme for the 2021 festival to recognize the ways in which people have helped each other over the past year and to help inspire Middleton’s path forward as we recover from the pandemic.

This year will mark the 58th Annual Good Neighbor Festival. Since the 2020 event could only be held virtually, Mark Opitz will serve as Festival President again in 2021, with Courtney Reichard continuing as President-elect. 

Fri
26
Mar
Wed
24
Mar
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Friday Night Lights set to return

Jason Pertzborn has spent the last two weeks playing doctor, nurse, receptionist, motivator — and oh yeah, football coach.

Middleton’s second-year boss has taken temperatures before practices, shuffled through piles of administrative work and tried keeping morale high — all while getting his team ready for Friday’s season-opener against Beloit Memorial.

At times, Pertzborn himself admits he’s been “beaten down.” But after a long battle just to have this alternate football season, all Pertzborn needs to do is look at his team to quickly feel rejuvenated.

“It’s been a lot of work, and it’s been stressful,” Pertzborn said. “But when we’re out on the field, it’s been therapeutic. The energy and the chatter of the kids has been awesome. There’s no place they’d rather be.”

Wed
24
Mar
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Soccer Cards thrilled new season has arrived

The wait was excruciating.

Which is why the return figures to be so much sweeter.

Middleton’s boys soccer teams began its new season Monday. And after a 16-month gap between competitions, the Cardinals were thrilled to get their new year started.

“The kids are fired up,” said Kevin Pauls, who’s beginning his first year as Middleton’s head coach. “We had contact days a couple weeks ago and had over 90 student-athletes participate each of the five nights. As of Friday, I have about 130 kids signed up, which is down a little from a normal year, but still shows how excited these players are to get out and play.”

No one is more excited than Pauls, though.

Pauls is a lifelong soccer player who attended McFarland High School and began coaching with the Spartans in 1998. At McFarland, Pauls coached at all levels and was also a varsity assistant.

Wed
24
Mar
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Tennis Cardinals win a pair

The wait is over.

And now, Middleton’s girls tennis team is ready for a big season.

The Cardinals cruised past Janesville Craig and Janesville Parker by identical 7-0 scores last Saturday. It was the first time Middleton took the court since Oct., 2019.

“For the first match of the alternate fall season the girls came out and played well,” Middleton first-year coach Matt Given said. “It was nice to finally get the season going.”

In the Cardinals’ win over Craig, Netra Somasundarem rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles. Sophia Agapov posted a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 2, Amy Li rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 3, and Charlotte Sax cruised at No. 4, 6-2, 6-0.

In doubles play, Karsen Dettman and Noor Rajpal posted a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 1. Cece Hujanen and Rose Ryan rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 2, while Grace Olson and Cate Ohly notched a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 3.

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