Local

New confusion about an old federal law is forcing local governments to choose between the right to privacy and the public’s right to information. Further muddying the waters is the fact that cities, villages and towns know they run the risk of getting sued either way.

Many government agencies in Wisconsin have begun blacking out names and addresses from what had previously been public police reports in response to a new interpretation of the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).

Government decision-makers essentially have two choices. They can continue releasing names to the public and risk lawsuits from individuals who claim their right to privacy has been violated, or they can redact the information and face lawsuits from newspapers and other government watchdog groups that believe the information must be turned over under state open records law.

It was simple coin toss, but its meaning was so much more.

Independence Day is fast approaching, and that means Freedom Fest: An Ol’ Fashioned Picnic in the Park is right around the corner.

The celebration will take place Thursday, July 4 at Pioneer Park  (located corner of W. Old Sauk and Pioneer roads next to the Middleton Town Hall).

The day will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a 5K Run/Walk.

A fire truck parade will follow at  11 a.m. It will begins near Betsy Court and end at Pioneer Park.

Food and an array of festivities at the park will start at 11:30 a.m.

“The last couple of  summers we have really enjoyed celebrating and honoring the fourth of July by staying near home and keeping it simple,” said organizer Melanie Kranz. “Watching the kids in the bike parade, playing games that we played as kids and meeting and chatting with neighbors is a fun way to spend the afternoon.”

Editor’s note: The Burmese comprise the vast majority of the peoples in Myanmar, a primarily agrarian society. But the country is populated with more than 120 ethnic groups. After independence from Britain in 1947, and prior to 1962 when the military dictatorship rose to power, Burma functioned as a democracy. After the coup, the country declined into economic and political isolation, impoverished and without basic freedoms. In 1989, the authoritarian government officially changed the name of the country from Burma to Myanmar. Various countries recognize both names.

In this 21st century global village, serendipity abounds. How else to explain that a handful of folks from Middleton and Madison are able to directly impact Myanmar, a newly emerging democracy?

A man who sold hundreds of pounds of marijuana before moving to his father’s Century Avenue condominium pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to conspiring to sell a controlled substance.

According to a complaint filed in court:

Nicholas Bokas, 33, began selling ounces of marijuana per week in late 2011, which escalated into sales of up to 10 pounds weekly at $3,400 a pound, according to a complaint filed with the court.

Bokas and Justin Triplett shared an apartment on E. Mifflin Street in the spring of 2012 when Bokas arranged to sell 50 pounds of pot to Joshua Campbell through Triplett.

Campbell was wearing a recording device when he met Triplett at the Mifflin Street apartment. There, Campbell saw 20 pounds of marijuana and Triplett said he could provide another 30 pounds within an hour.

Seven Madison Youth Special Olympics athletes went to the Special Olympics State Summer Games at the UW-Stevens Point campus June 6-9. Six of them were from Middleton-Cross Plains. They are Lauren Hopp (MHS): shot put - 2nd place, 100M run - 3rd place, 4x100 relay - 6th place; Nick Annen (Cross Plains): shot put - 1st place, 4x100 relay - 6th place; Nikki Ordaz (Madison): 200M dash - 4th place, 1500M run - 4th place, relay - 6th place; Faith Engle (MHS): Turbo jav - 5th place, 4x100 relay - 6th place; Ashlee Hrdlicka (MHS) - Standing Long Jump - 1st place; Regina MacLean (MHS) - 50M run - 2nd place; Gavin Katovich (Kromery Middle School) - 100M run - 5th place.

Pictured here from left to right are agency manager/coach Jean Hopp, Regina MacLean, Coach Joe Ordaz, Ashlee Hrdlicka, Lauren Hopp, Nick Annen, Gavin Katovich and coach Debbie Borth. Not pictured are athletes Faith Engle and Nikki Ordaz and chaperone Jane MacLean.

Middleton Good Neighbor Festival organizers are seeking nominations for the 2013 Good Neighbor Awards.  Each year, in association with the Middleton Good Neighbor Festival, the Good Neighbor Award is given in recognition of individuals whose volunteer efforts have made a difference in the Middleton community and who embody what it means to be a Good Neighbor.

In this fast-paced era replete with technology, Rudy and Malinda Stutzman prefer keeping to the old ways.

The Amish couple, hailing from outside Readstown, run R&M Bakery & Candy Shoppe. They’ve only been in operation since April 2012.

Twenty-seven-year-old Rudy Stutzman explained they founded the business to support their three young children because of dire circumstances.

“The reason we got started was for four years I used to go out and help a guy who takes down old barns and resells the wood,” he recalled. “One year, me and my brother were on our way to work and a bad car accident shattered the buggy into 100 pieces,.”

“Actually, I’m lucky I’m still here,” he said.

Stutzman remained in the hospital for twelve days with a badly broken leg, and admitted his back still pains him.

“So I quit working, and we had to do something,” he concluded.

Dagmar LeMans learned a valuable skill that could come in handy during months of Wisconsin winters – and even in spring. She said if she ever sees someone fall through lake ice, she’ll know what to do. LeMans, age 16, is one of twelve Junior Firefighters with the Middleton Fire Department.

According to Battalion Chief Brad Subera, 16 high school students participated in the “Juniors” program over the past four years. Although not allowed to actively fight fires, or on EMS assists or at car accident sites, at the station they learn and practice skills along with the rest of the department, he said.

Skills include extrication, ice rescue, search and rescue, and fire attacks. In addition, they are allowed on fire calls as adjunct staff.

While Middletonians heading to the city’s post office likely expected a logjam in the parking lot, they probably didn’t anticipate meeting Judy Clark, who was holding a large sign that depicted the President of the United States with a Hitler-esque mustache.