Local

Two area men recently arrested at the Middleton Municipal Airport-Morey Field while allegedly carrying nearly 64 pounds of fentanyl made their first appearance Wednesday, February 14 in federal court on drug charges. 

Middleton’s city administrator Bryan Gadow announced last Friday that the city council and current Middleton mayor Emily Erin Kuhn will honor former mayor Gurdip Singh Brar with an official portrait  revealing next Tuesday evening. As tradition, Brar, of 1312 Sweeney Drive in Middleton, who was Middleton’s mayor from April 2017 to April 2023, will be presented to the city council for the installment of his official portrait in the city council chambers and receive special recognition for his many contributions and achievements  as a citizen and as an elected official in Middleton.

 Ahead of the Wisconsin Primary on Tuesday, February 20, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reminds voters how to obtain identification, free of charge, that is valid for voting.

A large portion of Middleton is eligible for Wisconsin Inflation Reduction Act tree funding, according to a presentation from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Coordinator during the Middleton Common Council’s Jan. 16 meeting.

Brian Wahl made the presentation so Middleton alders would know how the state DNR’s Urban Forestry program is available to assist the city. 

A group gathered at the Hubbard Center Jan. 24 to create mushrooms... needle felting mushrooms. It’s the art of sculpting polypay wool by repeatedly stabbing the wool with a barbed needle.  Per its instructor Erin Ehlert Maddocks , “it’s very therapeutic.” The stabbing sculpts the wool with the needle angled at 90, 45 and flat angles depending on the stage of the process. Pictured above, Elizabeth Montemayor gauges an amount of wool to be used as the mushroom’s stem. See more on page 5 of this week's edition. Photo by Mary Langenfeld. 

Cross Plains former Emergency Medical Service director made an initial court appearance Monday, on felony charges in connection with allegedly falsifying payroll records.

Erica J. Jensen, 38, town of Verona, and her attorney, Nathan Otis, waived the right to a preliminary hearing and agreed to the state’s request for release on a signature bond with conditions.

The William “Sonny” Simon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8216 celebrated the 100th birthday of Army Staff Sgt. John M. “Jack” M. Hall at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 3 at the post building, 6710 Century Avenue.

Hall was born on Jan. 3, 1924 and enlisted in the U.S. Army on Dec. 7, 1942 at the age of 17. 

The Airport Commission is ready to return public comments to its monthly meeting agendas, possibly early next year. 

Public comments were eliminated about three years ago in the wake of meetings that sometimes devolved into sharp back and forth exchanges between commissioners and residents upset about the potential for a longer runway.  

The City of Middleton will kick in $8,000 per year for five years, or a total of $40,000, as part of the Black Earth Creek Stream Monitoring Program thanks to a motion approved Dec. 5 by the Middleton Common Council.

Bob Auerbach, 94, of Middleton – affectionately known as “The Piano Man” for volunteering his musical gifts at a variety of area senior centers, assisted living and memory care facilities – was selected by AARP, the nonprofit organization for people 50 and older, to receive the 2023 AARP Wisconsin Andrus Award for Community Service. It was formally presented to Auerbach at a ceremony on Monday, Dec. 4, at 10:30 a.m. at the Middleton Senior Center, 7448 Hubbard Ave., where Auerbach thrilled the crowd with his playing. Read more on page 5 this week. Photo  by Mary Langenfeld.