Local

MIDDLETON–The Dane County Medical Examiner’s office has released the name of a woman who was killed in an alleged vehicular homicide in Middleton last week. The incident happened in the 7700 Block of Terrace Avenue on the afternoon of Dec. 2.

Susan Wilke, 77, of Middleton died after she fell to the ground and suffered injuries after being hit with the door of a car driven by 27-year-old Thomas J. Wilke. Police have not released Thomas Wilke’s relationship to Susan Wilke.

The medical examiner’s office completed an autopsy on Dec. 4 but has not yet released a cause of death pending further investigation and testing.

Emergency personnel received reports of the incident and that Susan Wilke had an injury to the head. By the time authorities arrived, she was unresponsive and efforts to save her were unsuccessful. 

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission approved a zoning change for the Tribeca Village development to create a regional stormwater pond, serving the lands north of 3440 Tribeca Dr.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Mark Opitz said the city is collaborating with the developer of Tribeca Village to create the regional stormwater pond.

Brad Hutter from MIG Commercial Real Estate said the plan covers 50 acres of regional stormwater runoff coming from the Town of Middleton area west of the Beltline. Hutter said in the original Tribeca Village development plan the land was to be detained in a Department of Transportation right-of-way but that is no longer the case.

Plan commission member Randy Bruce asked how the general plan has changed in an area which previously consisted of high-density office buildings and an associated parking lot.

DANE COUNTY–Even Christmas tree farms, which have a supply chain that largely stretches only from the back 40 to the sales counter in a converted garage, report having a few supply issues.

“Garland, about the only thing we don’t make here, beside tree stands, twine and netting, is in short supply,” said Lance Jensen, of Jensen Trees on Valley View Road.

That impacts the decorative wreaths they sell but otherwise Jensen, ordered supplies far enough in advance to have on hand in time for the business’ 55th holiday season.

The supply of certain-sized trees has been affected by a three-year drought that began in 2012 and today contributes to an overall tree shortage in the area, he said.

On average, Christmas trees in the state take about six or seven years to mature to market size. The 2012-15 drought created a shortage of trees that will affect the industry for years to come, Jensen said.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Police Department, Fire Department and EMS responded to the 7700 Block of Terrace Avenue just after 4 p.m. on Thursday after receiving a call about an elderly woman who fell and hit her head.

While in route to the scene, emergency personnel received further information that the woman, described only as a 77-year-old female, was not breathing and didn’t have a pulse. Responders performed life saving measures on the women but were unable to revive her and she died at the scene.

Upon further investigation, police learned there had been a disturbance between the victim and 27-year-old Thomas J. Wilke, of Middleton. The fatal injuries were a result of the victim being struck by the door of Wilke’s vehicle, knocking her to the pavement as he backed up. Wilke was subsequently arrested and transported to the Dane County Jail on a charge of Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council approved the city’s 2022 budget and moved forward with several development projects including a 44-acre subdivision and a four-story multifamily building on Lake Street. The Council also approved a request for proposals for a project with 30 or more affordable housing units on Century Avenue.

The 2022 budget approved by the council increases the assessed value mill rate on the city’s portion of the tax bill by 1.4 percent to $6.25 per $1,000 of property value.

The total tax levy for the general fund is $14,042,426, a 5.1 percent increase, and the city’s 

debt service property tax levy increased by four percent to $5,250,000.

Finance Director Bills Burns noted the change in city tax for an average home valued at $403,450 will be a $34 increase. 

TOWN OF CROSS PLAINS–Dismayed that construction of a power line from Dubuque to the Town of Middleton would begin while it’s being challenged in court, long timeline opponents wanted the public to know Sunday that they were still in the fight.

Opposition to the most contested power line proposal ever in the state didn’t end when the Public Service Commission (PSC) approved construction of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek (CHC) line in August 2019. Environmental groups that opposed it then, continued their opposition in state and federal lawsuits that have recently turned promising for the line’s opponents.

“I’m really glad that a federal judge and a state judge have both indicated that our cases would likely succeed,” Dena Kurt, of Grant County, said Sunday.

Kurt joined a few dozen other power line opponents who gathered at Festge County Park and caravanned to the Cardinal Substation on USH 14.

WISCONSIN–The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announces that children 5-11 years old are now eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine requires two doses 21 days apart for full protection and is the first and only vaccine currently available for this age group.

Vaccinations for this age group will begin as soon as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) releases the associated clinical guidance and vaccinators are able to review and complete the necessary trainings. It is important that parents and guardians are patient as Wisconsin vaccinators take the necessary steps to be properly informed and trained before beginning vaccination.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council approved a $1.2 million TIF agreement for a 54-unit apartment which will include 45 subsidized units for people earning less than the area median income (AMI). The council also got a first look at a new long-term plan from Madison Metro for bus service and approved funding for the design of an asphalt bicycle pump track part of the city’s newly expanding bike and cross country skiing park. 

The affordable housing project, which is part of Tribeca Village, located at3 725 Tribeca Dr., was originally approved by the council in late 2019. The project, titled 38ten and proposed by JT Klein, a local developer specializing in Section 42 tax credit projects, consists of two three-story buildings with a combined total of 125 multi-family units in the Tribeca Village development between Parmenter St. and Tribeca Dr. Ten units would be market rate while the rest would be income-restricted for a period of 30 years.

MADISON–Criminal charges have been referred to the Dane County District Attorney’s Office against Eric N. Mehring, 30, of Madison, for his alleged role the Town of Middleton crash that killed Evan Kratochwill, John “Jack” Miller and Simon Bilessi. The three young men were all seniors in high school, Kratochwill and Miller at Middleton High School, and Bilessi at Madison West High School.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is recommending the following charges in the case:

• Second Degree Reckless Homicide (three counts)

• Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Motor Vehicle (three counts)

• Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle (3 counts)

• Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–The communities Middleton and Madison are mourning the loss of two Middleton High School seniors and a West Madison High School senior who were killed in the Town of Middleton Saturday night when their vehicle was hit by another vehicle, then burst into flames.

John “Jack” Miller, Evan Kratochwill and Simon Bilessi, who formerly attended Middleton High School, were traveling westbound on Mineral Point Road near Swoboda Road, when their vehicle was rear ended by a 30-year-old man. Authorities have released no further details about the man, who they say is facing pending charges. The vehicle the young men were in came to rest in a field on Mineral Point Road where residents began leaving flowers soccer balls, notes and stuffed animals in their memory.