Local

MIDDLETON–The second annual Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Forum was held at the Middleton Performing Arts Center and was sponsored by the school district, Dane County Equity Consortium, Madison365 and Unidec. Speakers included Dane County Circuit Court Judge Everett Mitchell Middleton, Madison’s East High School employee and spoken word artist Marlon Anderson, his son Noah Anderson also a spoken word artist and rapper, and keynote speaker Percy Brown, Director of Equity at Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District.

In Brown’s presentation he reflected on a progressive era in American history that occurred between 1890s and 1920s. During that time there was widespread social activism and political reform. The movement operated at local level but extended up to the federal level.

DANE COUNTY–Detectives with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office are working diligently to follow-up on any tips related to the homicide of Nicholas Day of Blue Mounds, whose body was found on the side of CTH JG. Investigators are reaching out to the public and asking to speak with anyone traveling in and around the area of CTH JG, Bergum Road, Stewart County Park and Bohn Road. The time frame of particular interest is between noon and 1:30 pm on Jan. 15.

Detectives have identified some vehicle descriptions and would like to talk to the occupants of:

• A small silver 2-door vehicle that was southbound on JG near Stewart County Park around 1:10 p.m.

• A red vehicle in the area between 12:50 and 1 p.m., traveling north on JG near Stewart County Park.

• A full-size dark colored pick-up truck in the area of CTH JG near Bergum Road in the general time frame of 12:30-1:30 p.m.

CROSS PLAINS–Citing an adage most cannot relate to, retiring Cross Plains Chief of Police Tom Janssen explained, “The life of a police officer is filled with seven hours of boredom, punctuated by five minutes of terror, followed by eight days of paperwork.”

In his experience, even in a village of a few thousand or throughout rural Wisconsin.

Janssen’s last day in the office will be Jan. 10. Recently he reflected on his 34-year career in law enforcement, and the changes he instituted throughout his tenure as chief.

When he moved from Manitowoc to Cross Plains in 2005, leaving behind roles as a SWAT sniper and on the scuba dive rescue and K-9 teams, Janssen welcomed the new challenges posed as police chief. The job also appealed to him because it wasn’t simply administrative, he said.

“I still got to do patrol work, and I really enjoy that,” he said. “What my officers got to do, I do too: vehicle lockouts, traffic stops, calls.”

MIDDLETON–Beginning on Jan. 3,  TDS will have a crew repairing a manhole in westbound Century Avenue at the approach to Allen Boulevard.  One lane will be closed for the work, and kept closed overnight while the concrete is curing. The plan is to place a temporary pavement patch on Jan. 4 before opening the lane to traffic. A permanent pavement patch will be done in spring when asphalt plants open.

This lane closure won’t restrict any vehicle movements, but may result in longer than typical queues and delay. Please allow for a little extra time when driving through the area.

MADISON–Two environmental groups opposed to the Cardinal-Hickory Creek (CHC) powerline have filed lawsuits against the Public Service Commission (PSC) in state and federal courts seeking to reverse the decision to construct the Dubuque, IA-to-Town of Middleton, high voltage line.

The Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC) and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WWF) contend in federal court that the PSC decision violates private property owners’ due process rights and uses eminent domain to take property for a private use in violation of the Fourteenth and Fifth amendments.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton is currently collecting 2019 taxes. There are 4 ways taxes can be paid:

1. Pay by Mail: City of Middleton Treasurer, 7426 Hubbard Ave., Middleton, WI 53562

The City will recognize the postmark date. Mail postmarked Dec. 31 will be credited to 2019. Mail postmarked Jan. 31, 2020 will be considered timely.

2. Pay in Person: Middleton City Hall, Finance Department, 7426 Hubbard Ave.

City Hall will be closed Dec. 24, 25, and 31, and Jan. 1, 2020. The tax payment drop box and online payments will be available during these closures. All payments dropped off or postmarked in 2019 will be processed as 2019 payments.

3. Drop Box: Located in Library parking lot 

Payments dropped off on Dec. 30, 31 or Jan. 1, 2020, will be collected from the drop box by 8 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2020, and will be processed as paid in 2019.

4. Pay Online: cityofmiddleton.us click Online Bill Pay click Property Tax.

MIDDLETON–Tucked away in the basement of the Harbor Athletic Wellness building on the corner of Allen and Century Boulevards is the state’s only free specialty care medical clinic, BSP (Benevolent Specialists Project) Clinic.

The clinic was the brainchild of three physicians who saw an unfulfilled need for specialty medical services back in 2001. BSP, a mostly volunteer organization with only a handful of paid employees, partners with hospitals, clinics, the UW-Madison and AmeriCorps VISTA to provide a variety of services to patients. 

Patients are referred to the clinic by free clinics around the state. BSP Clinic is available to uninsured adults through the clinics. “We have over 30 clinics in the state that refer patients to us,” said Chris Mullen, program development director and AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. “About 60 percent of them come from Dane County.”

MIDDLETON–The North Mendota Trail connection to Allen Boulevard will move ahead despite considerable debate among city council members on how to fund it. An item to approve increased funding of about $30,000 for design work with a total cost not to exceed  $294,313 was ultimately approved by the council in a six to two vote.

At the council meeting District 8 Alder Mark Sullivan stated that the finance committee had a two to two split vote so there was no recommendation to the common council. 

Sullivan said the council should reject item because it is funded by TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) District #5 which has a deficit balance. 

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Plan Commission reviewed a concept proposal for a new, four-story, mixed use development along the Beltline at its meeting on Dec. 10. The commission also held a public hearing for a rezoning request for the 14-story Pleasant View Park Apartments, which would be built across from Pleasant View Golf Course and overlook Greenway Station.

Tom Sanford proposed redeveloping the current site of Badger Books tucked between the Beltline and North High Point Road to build a four-story, mixed use building. Sanford’s proposal calls for 44 parking spaces, most underground and 18 apartment units. The retail space would be about 2,000 square feet. 

Sanford envisions retail on the first floor, residential on the second and third floors, and office space on the fourth floor to be visible from the Beltline. 

MIDDLETON–Middleton Police Chief Charles Foulke, 63, retires after a 38 year career in the department serving many roles and the last five and a half as chief. Foulke looks back at his career and shares what he’ll be doing after his last day on Dec. 13.

Foulke says he went to UW Madison expecting to end up in law school, but was inspired by his professors to get into criminal justice. 

In the summer of 1980 Foulke took on a criminal justice internship in Middleton going into senior year. 

Having always lived in Madison and never spending much time in Middleton, he realized he really liked the community. After graduating he felt fortunate to get offered a position at Middleton Police Department.

Foulke says he and his wife grew up moving around a lot and expected they would be the same, but it turned out they both found jobs they loved and saw the area as a great place to stay for their kids.