Local

MIDDLETON–The North Mendota Trail connection to Allen Boulevard will move ahead despite considerable debate among city council members on how to fund it. An item to approve increased funding of about $30,000 for design work with a total cost not to exceed  $294,313 was ultimately approved by the council in a six to two vote.

At the council meeting District 8 Alder Mark Sullivan stated that the finance committee had a two to two split vote so there was no recommendation to the common council. 

Sullivan said the council should reject item because it is funded by TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) District #5 which has a deficit balance. 

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Plan Commission reviewed a concept proposal for a new, four-story, mixed use development along the Beltline at its meeting on Dec. 10. The commission also held a public hearing for a rezoning request for the 14-story Pleasant View Park Apartments, which would be built across from Pleasant View Golf Course and overlook Greenway Station.

Tom Sanford proposed redeveloping the current site of Badger Books tucked between the Beltline and North High Point Road to build a four-story, mixed use building. Sanford’s proposal calls for 44 parking spaces, most underground and 18 apartment units. The retail space would be about 2,000 square feet. 

Sanford envisions retail on the first floor, residential on the second and third floors, and office space on the fourth floor to be visible from the Beltline. 

MIDDLETON–Middleton Police Chief Charles Foulke, 63, retires after a 38 year career in the department serving many roles and the last five and a half as chief. Foulke looks back at his career and shares what he’ll be doing after his last day on Dec. 13.

Foulke says he went to UW Madison expecting to end up in law school, but was inspired by his professors to get into criminal justice. 

In the summer of 1980 Foulke took on a criminal justice internship in Middleton going into senior year. 

Having always lived in Madison and never spending much time in Middleton, he realized he really liked the community. After graduating he felt fortunate to get offered a position at Middleton Police Department.

Foulke says he and his wife grew up moving around a lot and expected they would be the same, but it turned out they both found jobs they loved and saw the area as a great place to stay for their kids. 

MIDDLETON–Middleton High School and Clark Street Community School will not have classes on Dec. 11 after threats were made on social media.

In a call to parents on the night of Dec. 10, the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District stated the following:

We are canceling school on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Clark Street Community School and Middleton High School.

Late today, we learned of serious and specific threats to students on social media. We take these threats very seriously. We have shared the threats with the Middleton Police Department and they are investigating.  

Our elementary and middle schools will still be in session on Wednesday.  

In a separate call to elementary and middle school parents, the call stated:

Due to serious and specific threats on social media, we are canceling school on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Clark Street Community School and Middleton High School. 

**UPDATE**Lindsey M. Olson has been located and is safe.  The Dane County Sheriff’s Office thanks everyone who called following the media release to provide information.

ORIGINAL STORY

DANE COUNTY–The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is looking for information on the whereabouts of Lindsey M. Olson, age 16, from the Town of Bristol. Lindsey is 5’8” tall, 155 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. 

She was reported missing from her home in the Town of Bristol on Friday night, Dec. 6, at approximately 10: 30 p.m. Lindsey was picked up by an unknown person operating a black Pontiac vehicle. She was last seen wearing green Converse sneakers and an “All Seasons Landscaping” sweatshirt.

If you have seen Lindsey or know where she is, please call the Dane County Communications Center non-emergency line at 608-255-2345.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Plan Commission unanimously recommends approval of a rezoning request for a proposed four story, 37 unit apartment building on University Avenue, called University Flats, at the site of the closed Sonic fast food restaurant 6413 University Ave. 

The project is being proposed the Commonwealth Companies. Kevin McDonell from Commonwealth said they are the seventh largest affordable housing developer nationwide.

The proposal would consist of 37 units of market rate and affordable apartments in a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, 31 of the units would be reserved for families or individuals earning 60 percent of the area median income or less, 20 percent of all units are reserved for veterans or people with disabilities.

During the public hearing residents spoke passionately both in favor and opposed to the affordable housing units.

TOWN OF BERRY–In a Dec. 2 meeting that last just over 15 minutes, the Dane County Board of Adjustments (BOA) made a decision on a parcel of land slated for quarry expansion by Yahara Materials. The board found that the 40-acre piece of land, known as the Meinholz property, was conforming status and did fall under the Town of Springfield ordinance jurisdiction, which would require a conditional use permit from the town for mineral extraction.

The decision upheld a determination by the Town of Springfield Zoning Administrator, Kory Anderson, which stated that the property was not continuous use, a requirement for non-conforming status. 

MIDDLETON-On Nov. 29 at 4:21 a.m., Middleton Police were dispatched to an alarm at the AT&T Store located at 2173 Deming Way. On arrival, police determined that the business had been burglarized by forced entry and the suspects were no longer on scene.

Upon reviewing security footage it appears that two suspects got into the business by breaking a window. They attempted to gain access to another room in the store but were unsuccessful.  The suspects were in the store approximately one minute then fled prior to police arrival in an unknown vehicle.  It was also determined that a third suspect was likely involved as a “look out.”

The suspects are described as:

Suspect #1 was wearing light or gray pants, a black hoodie, face was covered, gloves and gray shoes.

Suspect #2 was wearing all black or dark clothing, face was covered and carrying some type of dark bag or backpack

MIDDLETON–The downtown plaza, located next to Village Green, officially has a name, Stone Horse Green. The moniker reflects the stone horse sculptures, called “Herd of Boulders,” that will be installed at the park. In addition, plans are moving forward to start work on the green space in spring of 2020. 

Abby Attoun Middleton Director of Planning & Community Development said the city has contributed $500,000 and still needs to raise $1 million to cover the costs for the new park. 

She said the concept for the green space was presented to the Plan Commission in 2015 and the city purchased properties in January 2018. The city then asked residents their vision for the space. 

“We started with a sign on the property saying, ‘What do you want to see here?’ We held widely attended public input sessions and that helped us to hone in on five design principles for the space,” Attoun explained.

Those principles are as follows:

**UPDATE** Colleen Soper Dies at Hospital

MADISON–Colleen Soper, 87, who was found in a vehicle with her deceased husband, Donald, 87, after the two disappeared on Thanksgiving, has died at a local hospital. 

She was taken to Meriter Hospital after the couple’s car was found on a remote trail in the Town of Vermont on Saturday morning. Donald Soper was found dead at the scene, and Colleen in critical condition.

The Sopers went missing after attending a family gathering on Thursday afternoon. A Silver Alert was issued when the couple failed to make it to their destination. 

Cause of death has not been released, and autopsies are being performed. 

**UPDATE** Missing Dane County Couple Found

TOWN OF VERMONT–On Thanksgiving Day, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office took the report of a missing elderly couple.