Community

MIDDLETON–On June 22, at approximately 9:24 p.m. Middleton Police Officers responded to a report of possible gun shots heard in the area of 2110 Allen Blvd. in the City of Middleton.

When officers arrived to check the area, they located a handgun and eight individuals nearby. Cesar Rivera-Luna, 28, of Madison, was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. Shyla Femrite, 28, of Madison, was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and obstructing an officer.  Both individuals were transported and booked into the Dane County Jail.

This investigation is ongoing. The Middleton Police Department is asking anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact the police department at 608-824-7300, tipster line at 608-824-7304, or text at 608-824-7300.

MADISON––Sometimes a great idea doggedly niggles until a healthy dose of empathy launches it. The brainchild of Rowan Childs, Executive Director of the Madison Reading Project (MRP), evolved while she ruminated on childhood: hers, her children’s, and by extension, the children of others.

“I always considered books treasure,” Childs said. “We moved a lot when I was a child, and no matter where we went, I had my books.” 

But what, she wondered, happened to children who don’t have books in the home or can’t get to a library? Books shouldn’t be a luxury, Childs thought.Could I provide free home libraries for others? In this area, was there even a need?

To learn how community literacy fared, Childs met with Will Green at the Salvation Army.

That same week, the Race to Equity Report was published in Madison, revealing discrepancies in reading rates according to socioeconomic factors. 

The City of Middleton has proclaimed June 21 as “Eileen Kelley Day.” The Proclamation follows:

PROCLAMATION

Honoring Eileen Kelley’s 31 Years of Distinguished Service to the City of Middleton & Declaring June 21, 2019, as “Eileen Kelley Day in Middleton”

Whereas, Eileen Kelley has served the City of Middleton as its City Planner & Zoning Administrator, faithfully, honorably, effectively and with an ever-ready smile and Good Neighbor attitude for the past 31 years (1988-present); and

Whereas, Through Eileen’s skill, knowledge, experience and diligence, Middleton’s planning for growth and conservation has benefited its residents immensely, helping to make Middleton one of America’s Top 10 Places to Live, according to CNN/Money Magazine from 2005-2013; and

MIDDLETON–The Town of Middleton’s Plan Commission will be holding an Open House on June 19, starting at 6:30 pm to 8 p.m. to discuss planning issues with the public and obtain their input, comments, and concerns on the 10-year update to the Comprehensive Plan.

A Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor Public Input Session will be held on June 2o, 7 p.m., at the
Kromrey Middle School Ccafetorium.

The Department of Public Lands, Recreation, and Forestry is seeking public input as we develop the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor Restoration & Improvements Master Plan.

MIDDLETON­–On June 10, the Middleton Action Team, a group of concerned citizens, held a Racial Equity in Middleton forum at the Middleton Public Library. About 60 people turned out and a panel made up of City Administrator Mike Davis, Percy Brown Jr., Director of Equity and Student Achievement for the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District and Pastor Jim Iliff, of the Middleton Community Church-United Church of Christ gave reports and answered questions. All three men are on the Middleton Equity Team.

Iliff started off the night and gave some background information about himself, telling the group about how he came to the realization that he was not living in the community he thought he was living in when he read the city’s racial equity report. That was back in 2001 and Iliff said, “Once you learn about inequity, you can’t unlearn it.” 

SPRINGFIELD–The Springfield Town Board had questions about the reclamation process and whether or not the land is grandfathered in as non-conforming for the planned expansion of the Meinholz Quarry owned by Yahara Materials on June 5. Homeowners near the quarry had some questions of their own. The special meeting, which had an item of revisiting a resolution on Dec. 18, 2018 concerning the reclamation, had a representative from Yahara, as well as their attorney, in attendance, trying to provide answers to both the board members and residents during the agenda item’s discussion. 

Town Chair Jim Pulvermacher told the crowd that after the December meeting, he thought the NR-130 permitting process for excavation had been stopped because the town had not heard anything else from Yahara. The item then came up on a City of Middleton agenda in late May.

MIDDLETON–Communicator in multiple languages, world traveler, partner of Howard Statz, and catcher of suspected law-breakers, Szeci (pronounced Zekey) has already led an adventurous life in his short 16 months on Earth. The German Shepherd Belgian Malinois mix is also the newest member of the Middleton Police Department, and the first of his kind on the force.

“I’m his only handler, and I hope to get five to seven years working with him, as long as possible, before his body slows,” said Officer Statz of his 65-pound, rambunctious sidekick. Statz intentionally selected a smaller dog, he said, in case he must lift his partner. However, Szeci’s bobbed tail wasn’t for weight reduction—the pup had injured himself doing backflips in his Pennsylvania kennel, Statz explained. 

CROSS PLAINS–At approximately 2:10 a.m. on June 9, Dane County Sheriff’s Deputies, along with fire departments from Cross Plains, Dane, Black Earth, Mazomanie, and City of Middleton responded to a structure fire at 3107 Hillside Trail, in the Village of Cross Plains. Upon arrival, the residents were located safely outside of the home, and flames were visible on the roof of the residence. The fire was safely extinguished after about an hour. 

At this time, the fire does not appear suspicious.  The home was a total loss, and an estimated damage is unavailable at this time. The owners did not have pets.