Local

James  Helmuth, the 10-year-old boy who inspired local first responders to create a charity softball game, lost his battle with cancer on Saturday, surrounded by his family, Lisa, Jeff and Jack.

Helmuth was honored during the 1st annual "Battle of the Badges" charity softball game in the summer of 2012. A statement posted on the MIPD website said Middleton Police, Fire & EMS Departments will continue to hold the charity softball games each summer to benefit local charities, such as the Badger Childhood Cancer Network.

Helmuth loved to watch and play basketball and football and loved karate and swimming. He had many friends, including a special place in his heart for Bella, Buddy, and Sparkle - the family dog and two cats. 

Services will take place Saturday, April 6 at 11 a.m. at St. Luke's Church, 7337 Hubbard Avenue in Middleton.

A man called “Slim” ran a small but lucrative prostitution ring out of a Middleton apartment in late 2011 and early 2012, using heroin addiction, frequent beatings and a handgun named “Lucille” to control those around him, according to court documents.

Criminal complaints filed in Dane County Circuit Court late last month allege Alvin “Slim” Siller oversaw one prostitute’s every move, only allowing her to eat once per day, usually off of the dollar menu at McDonald’s. He stands accused of beating the woman so severely on one occasion that he broke her dentures.

Siller faces an array of charges, including Human Tracking, Pandering/Pimping, Battery, Strangulation, Negligent Handling of a Weapon, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and Child Enticement. He faces multiple counts of several offenses.

The local crime rate hit its lowest point in more than a decade last year, with the Middleton Police Department (MIPD) reporting an FBI index of 2,754 crimes per 100,000 citizens.

However, chief of police Brad Keil said offenses linked to heroin continue to “plague” the Good Neighbor City.

Middleton’s crime rate in 2012 was lower than those of Madison, the United States, and Dane County, respectively. It was slightly higher than the State of Wisconsin’s rate of 2,695.

The local violent crime rate remained lower than those of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, and the United States.

“We are very fortunate to experience a crime rate that is
 typically lower than National, State, and Dane County rates of crime,” wrote Keil in his introduction to the annual MIPD report. “Unfortunately, the use of heroin, and crimes being committed by 
users of heroin, continues to plague our community.”

Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM) has a new face to go along with its new home on Parmenter Street. It just so happens to be an affable, local face that is already familiar to countless people throughout the community.

On the eve of last week’s move from MOM’s outdated Hubbard Avenue offices to a new facility at 3502 Parmenter Street, Al Ripp, the charitable organization’s new executive director, was reclining in a chair in an office stripped almost bare. Boxes were piled high, and volunteers were taking a break from carrying items up and down the creaky wooden steps of the old MOM offices.

Through the window, large flakes of snow were gently swaying in the breeze as they make their way down to Hubbard Avenue.

A Middleton man who worked at a local church stands accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a male 14-year-old runaway, according to a criminal complaint filed in circuit court last week.

James A. “Alex” Gillespie, age 48, made his initial appearance in Dane County Court Thursday on charges of Sexual Assault of a Child.  He faces two counts, each of which could carry 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

The victim is a boy who went missing from his Beloit home in October of 2012.

Police allege Gillespie performed oral sex on the teen on multiple occasions, in Gillespie’s Century Avenue residence, when the victim was intoxicated. The first sexual encounter occurred shortly before Christmas of 2012, and the last took place shortly after the holiday, according to investigators.

The Middleton Police Department (MIPD) is launching tip411, an Internet based tool that enables the public to text anonymous tips to police. It also lets police respond back, creating a two way anonymous “chat.”



Reserved exclusively for Public Safety purposes and powered by CitizenObserver, a St. Paul, MN company, tip411 puts a powerful new crime fighting tool into the hands of our community for all ages and demographics.



“We’re proud to be part of a national program that benefits over 1,000 communities around the country,” said MIPD Capt. Charles Foulke. “This new capability will help our citizens play an active role in keeping neighborhoods safer, it will engage a younger demographic in the process and it will save our agency time and resources.”



Anyone with a cell phone can now send an anonymous tip to the Middleton Police Department by texting the word “MIDDLETON,” followed by the tip information to 847411 (tip411). 

James A. “Alex” Gillespie, age 48 of Middleton, made his  Initial Appearance in Dane County Court today on charges of Sexual Assault of a Child.  Middleton Police said the victim is a 14-year old boy who had been missing from his Beloit home since October of 2012. He had been living with Mount Horeb Police officer Dennis Jenks, on Raymond Road in Madison until contacted by Middleton detectives on February 13, 2013.

Middleton Detectives notified Madison Police of the relationship between the victim and Jenks and then developed probable cause to charge Gillespie. Gillespie is alleged to have assaulted the victim in his Century Avenue residence.

The investigation of Gillespie began in December of 2012 and continues. Gillespie is a former music director at St. Luke’s Church in Middleton. Anyone who has information concerning Gillespie is asked to contact the Middleton Police Department.

The Friends of the Middleton Performing Arts Center regret that the Tom Wopat show on April 6 is canceled.

Wopat has taken the opportunity to perform in a new play opening this spring and the Friends issued a statement saying they wish him well in his return to Broadway. 

"We are not able to reschedule the show and will therefore be refunding all tickets sold," said Kathy Holt. "We hope that this has not inconvenienced our patrons."

The Friends are currently working on the 2013-14, 10th anniversary season and look forward to an exciting concert series.  Visit www.friendspac.org and the Friends' Facebook page in late summer for details.

The Middleton Community Orchestra (MCO) will present its Winter Concert on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Middleton Performing Arts Center. As the show nears, MCO co-founders Larry Bevic and Mindy Taranto recently took a few moments to reflect on the burgeoning community orchestra.

Daughters of Africa, performed by the Twin Cities’ Mixed Blood Theatre, will be at the Middleton Public Library Monday at 7 p.m. Daughters of Africa is a music-driven history of African American women from slave ship survivors to stars of the silver screen.  Fueled by the songs of Lena Horne, Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah and many others, the performance vividly commemorates both the famous and the overlooked. 

This free, 45-minute performance is for school-age children, families and adults.  Audience members will have the opportunity to engage the performers after the show in reflection and questions.

This program is funded in part by Beyond the Page, with assistance from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Madison Community Foundation. For more information or to register for this program, email mid@scls.lib.wi.us or call 827-7403.