Local

WISCONSIN–The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on Becker v. Dane County on July 8, a case which bought into question Public Health of Madison and Dane County’s (PHMDC) ability to issue a public heath order for the safety of the public. 

The judges found no cases to support prohibiting the agency from issuing mandates or enforcing civil citations so long as it is within the bounds of other laws. 

The initial lawsuit was filed in November 2020 in the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) on behalf of two Dane County residents, and challenged Emergency Order #10, which extended face mask requirements indoors, restricted the size of indoor gathering to 10 and only allowed in person learning for grades K-2 and those with disabilities.

WISCONSIN–Cue the “Never Ending Story” theme song. The saga of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek (CHC) power transmission line has yet another chapter in it. 

The latest entry is a ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court that marks another victory for the line’s supporters and the Public Service Commission (PSC) that approved construction of the project, which will link wind and fossil fuel-generated power in Iowa to consumers in Wisconsin. 

In essence, critics of line, chief among them the Driftless Area Land Conservancy, had alleged that PSC commissioner Michael Huebsch had a conflict of interest when he approved the line, but the state’s highest court found no solid evidence that the allegations were true. In fact, the majority of justices said such claims were meritless and borderline frivolous. They also disagreed with procedural issues raised by the circuit court, but supreme court justices themselves could not agree on some of the procedural questions, either.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton is creating new zoning classifications for its parks to better reflect how the property is being and will be used, Abby Attoun, Director of Planning and Community Development told the Middleton Plan Commission last week.

The change follows “best practice(s)” used by planning professionals and would create the Neighborhood Park District for eight parks including Fireman’s, Parkside Heights, Stonefield, and Stricker, which are currently zoned residential.

“We have a pretty outdated zoning ordinance, it’s older than I am,” Attoun said at the June 28 meeting. The name changes allow the city to implement its Comprehensive Plan and “get things up to date and where they need to be.”

Comments from the public about the proposed change during the public hearing were favorable.

MIDDLETON–The Times-Tribune will once again be collecting school supplies for MOM’s (Middleton Outreach Ministry) Back to School program. 

“We are excited to help MOM raise donations for the school supply program again this year,” said Times-Tribune editor, Michelle Phillips. “Families are struggling even more to make ends meet with the increase in prices for goods, and we hope to collect more supplies than previous years to help fill that need.”

MIDDLETON–Fourth of July is fast approaching, and the Middleton Fire District (MIFD) would like to remind residents that if your celebration will include fireworks, safety measures should be practiced. 

MIFD also encourages residents to check with your local government concerning regulations surrounding fireworks.

While it is legal to buy and possess many types of fireworks in Wisconsin, it is illegal to set off large fireworks without a permit, which must be obtained through local government. Groups or individuals may apply for permits under Wisconsin law.

“Only a group with a valid municipal permit may use Roman candles, firecrackers, bottle rockets, mortars and anything else that explodes or leaves the ground,” said MIFD Battalion Chief Brad Subera. “Generally, no permit is needed for sparklers, stationary cones and fountains, toy snakes, smoke bombs and caps, noisemakers and confetti poppers with less than 1/4 of a grain of explosive mixture.”

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–A request for beer and six golf cart crossings at the new Pioneer Pointe Golf Course gave the Town Board pause Monday as they considered a liquor license for the golf/housing development that replaced the Tumble Down Trails course.

State law prohibits vehicles from transporting alcohol in an open container on a public street, said Town Attorney Eileen Brownlee, and that includes crossing a public street.

“Someone would have to walk across the street with their open intoxicant in hand in order to adhere to the law,” she said.

Board Supervisor Richard Oberle seemed surprised to learn that people drink while they golf.

“People drink and golf at the same time? Is that common?” he asked.

Brownlee responded that drinking on golf courses is nearly “universal.”

MIDDLETON–Drazen Dupor was just a child when he began painting and had his first exhibit when he was just 14 years old. By the time the Middleton man was 20, he had painted his first icon, and he said since that time, he has been painting icons and frescos for churches as well as other customers.

“As a child, I went to church solely to observe the frescoes and was simply fascinated by them. I knew it would be my basic life job,” said Dupor, who has been in Middleton for 12 years. 

Dupor describes his style as traditional Byzantine iconography and that he prefers large format, wall murals.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council approved an agreement with Elevate Energy to use federal funds the city received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to fund solar and energy efficiency projects in so-called naturally occurring affordable housing or NOAH. The city was awarded a $150,000 grant to support local projects that will benefit neighborhoods, businesses and communities who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. 

MIDDLETON–Make Music Middleton is a part of the international Make Music Day movement which brings free, community-wide, musical celebrations to hundreds of cities worldwide. Every year, the celebration is held on June 21, the summer solstice, in more than 1,000 communities around the world.

Make Music Day events are organized with, for and by the community.  Completely different from a typical music festival, Make Music is open to anyone who wants to take part. Every kind of musician–young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion–pours onto streets, parks, plazas, and porches to share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers. All of it is free and open to the public. All of Middleton is encouraged to participate.

Step into summer, reconnect with neighbors, and dive into your creativity.

The Make Music Middleton Schedule is as follows:

Middleton Center, 7611 Elmwood Ave.

1-2 p.m.: John Kostle

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–After living in a secluded subdivision for 22 years, Melissa and Casey Helbach sought a permit to rent out their house on a short-term basis while they travel.

Residents of Applewood Hills neighborhood’s 41 single-family homes, located off South Junction Road, prize their safety and told Town of Middleton Board of Supervisors Monday that the Helbachs’ request jeopardizes that.

“The primary concern I’ve heard from most folks revolves around safety,” David Huntsman, president of the Applewood Hills Homeowners Association said.

About half of the homeowners in this “tucked away neighborhood,” have children plus, there are no streetlights or sidewalks, he said. Residents know their neighbors and they would lose a sense of security if they started seeing strangers around their properties who aren’t properly vetted, said Huntsman.