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Emergency open-heart surgery at age 47 forced photographer Cameron Gillie to make significant lifestyle changes. He started to combine exercise and photography, a practice that evolved into the biggest photographic project of his decades-long photography career: to hike and photograph the Ice Age Trail.

Gillie set out to tell the story of Wisconsin’s landscapes, communities, and people by backpacking the 1200-mile-long Ice Age National Scenic Trail. His recently published photography book “Around Wisco: Hiking the Ice Age Trail” chronicles his journey as he explored Wisconsin on foot.

The beautiful 264-page book is a mixture of photojournalism and nature photography. Cameron documents the scenic landscapes left behind from the last ice age. In addition, he photographed the small towns he passed through and the proud hard working people who call Wisconsin home.

GREEN BAY–Gordon Eugene Ellis, 75, of the Village of Howard, sadly passed away from a sudden brief illness on May 17, 2023 at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay.

He was born on April 19, 1948 in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the second oldest of eight children of Riley J. and Alberta E. (Harms) Ellis, who later divorced on Aug. 30, 1977. 

In 1967, Gordon graduated from Marshall High School where he was on the school's football and track teams, high school chorus, served as a student council representative, was a member of the Marshall "M" letterman club and the All-School play, and he was elected as senior class president.

MIDDLETON–Laughter yoga is a form of the art that using yoga breathing techniques along with laughter exercises to help alleviate stress and depression. The technique brings more oxygen into the blood stream making its practitioners feel heathier both physically and mentally.

Now laughter yoga is available in Middleton at the William "Sonny" Simon, VFW Post 8216 every third Saturday of the month beginning at 10 a.m.

The class is led by veteran and VFW member Stephen Lee.

MIDDLETON–Middleton Fire District (MIFD) Battalion Chief Brad Subera received the First Responder of the Year Award for Wisconsin Assembly District 79 (Middleton), which is represented by Alex Joers.

On October 17, first responders from across Wisconsin were recognized in the State Capitol with a First Responder of the Year Award for their service and sacrifice.

Subera said he learned of the award when MIFD Fire Chief Aaron Harris called to see if he was home so he could stop by and delivered news of the award on his arrival. 

Both Harris and Adrienne Leslie, MIFD Office Manager wrote letters of support leading up to the award.

“I was surprised and honored,” said Subera who has spent 31 years with the department. 

Subera began as a volunteer for MIFD in 1992. “When it sparked my interested was the TV show ‘Emergency,’” he quipped.

At the time he was working at Gordon Flesch, and several coworkers were volunteer firefighters.

MIDDLETON–Retired Middleton City Administrator Mike Davis has found a volunteer gig to occupy part of his time and allow him to share his knowledge of Middleton history.

Davis has long been involved with studying history and he and his wife, Julann Jatczak, have been members of the Middleton Area Historical Society (MAHS) for more than 20 years. Davis was on the organization’s board of directors for eight years, the last three of which he was president.

“I have a passion for history,” Davis said of his decision to start up Stroll & Tell, a walking tour of Middleton history. He said he came up with the idea and Ruth Bachmeier, current MAHS president came up with the name. The late Jeff Martin, who also served as MAHS president, created a flier for the event.

The tour discusses 15 landmarks in downtown Middleton and is just under two hours long. “Fitting it in to an hour and a half was a challenge,” said Davis.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission reviewed the latest changes to the draft zoning ordinance, which will overhaul the existing zoning codes when adopted. A public hearing for the ordinance rewrite is set for the Nov. 14 plan commission meeting.

City Planner and Zoning Administrator Mark Opitz reviewed the changes starting with single family zoning districts. Opitz presented three options: option one would add duplexes and two-flats as conditional uses in areas zoned single family residential; option two would add duplexes and two-flats as permitted uses in single family zoning; and option three would expand areas on the zoning map where the two-family zoning districts are applied.

Opitz said the conditional use option is problematic and staff do not recommend the third option because it does not align with the goals of the zoning ordinance rewrite.

MIDDLETON–Middleton Police Department (MIPD) officers responded to a call last week that left a building damaged, a pedestrian injured and the suspect in the hospital.

Police were called to the Ace Hardware at 2540 Allen Blvd. at 7:18 p.m. on Oct. 11 for a car that had driven into the building. Upon arrival officers discovered the driver had intentionally rammed the vehicle into the building and was stealing items.

The driver then pulled the vehicle out of the building and fled the scene. In the process the suspect hit a pedestrian and then another vehicle. The pedestrian was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and released.

Police disabled the vehicle a few blocks away, but the driver refused to get out. MIPD requested assistance from Madison Police Department and the Dane County Sheriff’s Department, including a negotiator.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–The third time wasn’t a charm for a family that wants to convert their horse stabling business to a kennel for 100 dogs.

The Town of Middleton Board voted 4-1 Monday to deny a conditional-use permit to Dan and Marlene La Fleur, of 3440 Meadow Rd. It was the third denial the couple received from the board since May.

The La Fleur’s 15-acre property has operated as a “world-class” horse training and boarding facility since 2001 and is largely undeveloped on three sides, said their attorney, Andrew Weininger.

Since the board’s last denial, the La Fleurs eliminated outdoor dog runs from their proposal and will keep the dogs inside a 20,000-square-foot former horse barn.

A recently commissioned sound study concluded that a recording of dogs barking at a 116-decibel level inside the barn couldn’t be heard above the ambient noise at the edge of the property, according to Justin Bowers, an audio consultant.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission approved changes recommended by other city committees to the proposed second amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan. The plan commission did not take action on a change affecting the land designation at 2159 Allen Blvd. 

The proposed second amendment would be the first full revision to the comprehensive plan since it was adopted in 2021. The revision fulfills the intent to annually review and update the plan as a living document.

CROSS PLAINS–After years of getting below-market rates for mowing grass in village parks and other public areas, that service became a $112,000 expense this year.

The village board has been comparing doing the work with public facilities department staff versus contractors, but it didn’t reach a decision at Monday’s meeting.

Chad Rickman, of Rickman Snow Removal and Lawn Care, submitted the lowest bid of the three proposals the village received last week. However, at $96,743 for weekly mowing and trimming between April and October, the village may able to do it for $8,000 cheaper with in-house labor.

Finance Director Bobbi Zauner budgeted next year’s mowing expense at $80,000 whether it’s contracted or done in-house.

The village would have to buy mowing equipment, a trailer and possibly add an employee, which can lead to complications, said Cross Plains Village President Jay Lengfeld.