September 2022

CROSS PLAINS–Donald J. “Jim” Sebree, 74, of Cross Plains, passed away on Sept. 21, 2022. He was born on April 2, 1948, in Indianapolis, IN, the son of Donald and Lois (Stonebreaker) Sebree.

Jim moved to Wisconsin to pursue his education at UW-Madison. He was united in marriage to Linda Diederich on Sept. 27, 1980 in Madison.

Jim worked as a purchasing agent at several area companies, enjoyed woodworking, cooking, reading and golfing. 

Jim is survived by his wife, Linda; daughters, Erica Sebree and Lisa (Nick) Williams; grandchildren, Mason and Harper Williams; sister, Lois Ann (Chris) Johnson; and two nieces. He was preceded in death by parents, Donald and Lois.

MIDDLETON–Lisa Marie Morrick, 60, of Middleton, passed away peacefully on the morning of Sept. 20, 2022, surrounded by her family in Madison Wisconsin at UW Hospital. She was born on Jan. 14, 1962, the daughter of Robert and Joan (Hanson) Morrick.

Lisa grew up in Middleton Wisconsin. She was a server at Perkin's for many years. However, her real calling in life was to help and serve those in need at the Salvation Army’s Women’s and Children’s homeless shelter where she enjoyed doing arts and crafts and spending time with children.

MIDDLETON–Judith Ann (Kolb) Faren, 77, of Middleton, passed away on Aug. 20, 2022. She was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison on May 16, 1945 to Quintin "Jake" and Dorothy Helen (Knoche) Kolb, who were married on June 3, 1944.

After graduating from Madison West High School in 1963, Judy married the love of her life, Robert "Bob" Faren, on June 25, 1966 at Saint Bernard Catholic Church in Middleton. At the time of their marriage, she worked at Reliance Insurance Co. in Madison, and he worked at Johnson-Hill Press Co. in Fort Atkinson, where they lived soon after their return from a honeymoon to northern Wisconsin.

Later, they started their business, Faren Electric. They were blessed with a son Joseph and a daughter Rebecca and were longtime members of Saint Bernard Catholic Church in Middleton.

CROSS PLAINS - Police Chief Tony Ruesga is reluctantly asking to hire part time officers to partly replenish department ranks and reduce overtime costs.

“I don’t like part timers, but we’re at that spot unless board willing to invest significant money that we don’t have,” he told the Village Board Monday night.

Hiring a new full-time officer costs an estimated $80,000 annually which Ruesga said he’d like but realizes it’s not financially prudent to do so at this time.

The village’s current population warrants having an additional officer and the department will be losing one due to a retirement in January, with more retirements expected in the next few years, Ruesga said.

Hiring an officer part-time shortens the time involved in hiring a full-time officer by months and allows for more flexible scheduling, he said.

It could also save money compared to overtime costs as the position would pay $30 an hour without benefits.