In Brief

Subway crimes are nothing new in major metropolitan centers, where millions of people utilize subterranean public transportation. But modest little Middleton experienced its own kind of serious Subway crime yesterday.

On Thursday at approximately 9 p.m., the Subway restaurant at 2522 Allen Blvd. was robbed at gunpoint. 

According to Sgt. Darrin Zimmerman, a white male entered the store armed with a black handgun and demanded money from the cash register.  The suspect left on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.



The suspect is described as a white male with blue eyes, last seen wearing a dark-colored hooded jacket, blue jeans, black winter mask and white tennis shoes. 

He was last seen running south from the business and may have been in the parking lot of Harbor Athletic Club before and/or after the robbery.



The Dane County Sheriff’s Office wants to caution motorists to the quickly deteriorating road conditions due to the winter storm.  Deputies are busy responding to numerous accidents and slide-offs throughout the county.

The roads are extremely slippery, and some areas are experiencing near whiteout conditions.  Snow is expected to be heavy until mid afternoon, with wind gusts up to 30 mph causing reduced visibility.

If travel is not completely necessary, please stay off the roads, asked the DCSO, adding, " if you must travel, use extreme caution.  Slow down, wear your seatbelt, and keep your headlights on." The Sheriff’s Office also recommends having an emergency kit inside your vehicle, including a fully charged cell phone and charger. 

The National Weather Service has issued Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings for much of Wisconsin. Forecasters are tracking a strong storm producing heavy rain today which will change to snow overnight. Some parts of the state could see 6 and 10 inches of snow before the system passes through the state late Wednesday. The Wednesday morning commute may be difficult with hazardous road conditions due to ice, snow and blowing snow. Arctic air then arrives Wednesday night with wind chills reaching -25 to -35 by Thursday night into Friday.

National Weather Service offered the following tips to help citizens stay safe:

From a Dane County Sheriff's Office Press Release:

Dane County Sheriff’s deputies and many local fire departments, including Middleton's, responded to structure fires in southwestern Dane County Tuesday morning.

The first call came in at 9:57 am at 1301 HWY 69 in the town of Montrose.  A barn, two attached and one detached sheds being used to store milking equipment are a total loss valued at approximately $350,000.  No one was injured in the blaze and no livestock were in the barn at the time.  Fire Departments that responded included Belleville, Oregon, Fitchburg, Verona, Mt. Horeb, New Glarus, Stoughton, Middleton and Brooklyn.  HWY 69 was shut down for several hours, but deputies expect it to be open by about 2 p.m.

The Middleton Police Department on Monday night warned local citizens and businesses to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency.

According to Sgt. Troy Hellenbrand, on December 30 and 31, the individuals attempted to pass counterfeit $5, $10 and $20 bills at various businesses in the Good Neighbor City. 

Anyone with information about suspects pictured here is asked to contact the Middleton Police Department at 608-824-7300 or leave a message on the tipster line at 608-824-7304.

At approximately 11 p.m. Friday, Dane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the intersection of County Highway K and County Highway Q, in the Township of Westport, for a report of a male subject slumped over the steering wheel of his vehicle.  According to a statement issued by the sheriff’s office, upon arrival, deputies made contact with Patrick E. Jensen, age 42, Waunakee, who subsequently failed Standardized Field Sobriety tests.

Jensen was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated – 4th Offense and was booked into the Dane County Jail.  Since Jensen’s last OWI offense date occurred within the last five years, this most recent arrest is a felony offense.

Jensen was also arrested for Possession of Cocaine.

The National Weather Service says strong winds and plummeting temperatures will make for a bitterly cold combination this Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. These are expected to be the coldest days of the winter so far with highs only in the single digits and dangerously low wind chills. Wisconsin Emergency Management’s ReadyWisconsin campaign is urging families to take appropriate measures against the arctic chill, according to a press release issued by the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs.

There will be a slight change for voters at St. Bernard’s Church during the February 19 Primary.

“We will not be in the Parish Center as we usually are,” said city clerk Lorie Burns. The Parish Center, which is the usual location for voting, is already scheduled to host a private event. “We will still be at St. Bernard’s in the lower level of the Education Center, [on the] far east side of building.”

 Burns said there will be two entrances to the polling place. The first entrance will be directly inside the main doors off of the east entrance to the building. The other entrance will be off the north side of the building (stairs only).

“We will have plenty of signage guiding voters to the two entrances of the building,” said Burns.

The Primary for Justice of the Supreme Court. The candidates are Vince Megna, of Menomonee Falls; Ed Fallone, of Whitefish Bay; and Pat Roggensack, of Madison.

Due to mechanical difficulties, the pickup of recycle materials will be delayed for today’s route in the Town of Middleton.

The regular trash truck is running on schedule, according to town administrator David Shaw.   If they are not able to complete their route today or tonight, they will be pick up the remaining materials tomorrow. 

For additional information, call Advanced Disposal (formally Veolia) at 251-7878 or the Town Hall at 833-5887.

In celebration of the city’s 50th birthday, the Middleton Tourism Commission is giving 12 fans a chance to experience all the Good Neighbor City has to offer in the 2013 Middleton Stay and Play Giveaway.

Each month in 2013, one Facebook fan will win an overnight stay plus a $50 gift certificate to dine or shop in the city. To be entered in the entire year of drawings, log on to www.visitmiddleton.com or www.facebook.com/MiddletonWI, like the Facebook page and enter your contact information.               

“We’re heaven for foodies and a shopper’s paradise all in one place,” said Val Steel, director of tourism for the Middleton Tourism Commission. “Add in our spas, museums, all the places to get out and enjoy nature, the fact we’re just 10 minutes from downtown Madison and we really are an all-inclusive getaway spot.”