March 2021

Fri
12
Mar
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Ruesga Reflects on First Year as Cross Plains Police Chief

CROSS PLAINS–Village of Cross Plains Police Chief Tony Ruesga Jr.’s first year on the job coincided with a sharp increase in the number of incidents his seven-person department responded to, but that hardly means that the village is a less safe place to live.

The number of service calls and traffic incidents increased from 1,676 in 2019 to 2,324 last year, however, Ruesga attributed that to the pandemic, a growing population, and assigning the school resource officer to patrol duty.

More people working from home during the pandemic no doubt contributed to the spike in complaints about noisy neighbors.

“Noise complaints almost tripped from years past and that comes from people trying to work from home and their next-door neighbor isn’t being quite a quiet as they would like,” Ruesga said.

Fri
12
Mar
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Hibner Looks Back on Time at MCPASD

MIDDLETON–In the 10 years since Perry Hibner began his position at Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD), he has become much more than just a communication director. Hibner has been a coach, volunteer and visible part of the Middleton community, but in June he will retire from the position, leaving big shoes to fill. 

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said of his post retirement plans. “We plan on staying in Middleton.”

His wife, Sheila, who retired from Monona Grove in 2015 is a Middleton native, the couple has three children in the area, so his roots run deep in the community. He added that though he’s retiring he may take another job, but after a decade in a high pressure position, he is ready for a change.

Fri
12
Mar
Thu
11
Mar
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Boys spikers off and rolling

It’s often been said that first impressions are the most telling.

If that’s the case, it could be a banner spring for Middleton’s boys volleyball team.

The Cardinals kicked off their season last week with a pair of wins.

Middleton defeated host Beloit Memorial, 25-11, 27-25, 25-14 on March 4. The Cardinals then downed visiting Racine Case, 25-17, 25-21, 25-22, on March 6.

In Middleton’s win over the Purple Knights, Ruben Emmerich had seven kills, while Nick Stott had 19 assists. Jacob Andler had three aces, John Kruchten had two blocks and Jackson Pertzborn added five digs.

“We had a solid first match against Beloit and got the win,” Cardinals first-year coach Rob Kleinschmidt said. “We were able to use a number of lineup combinations and start to get comfortable with each other in competitive situations. Nick ran a good offense and we saw some positive things we can build on for the season.”

Thu
11
Mar
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Girls tennis team hopes for a big spring

Matt Given was planning for the worst.

Instead, Middleton’s girls tennis coach got the absolute best weather possible when his Cardinals began their alternate-fall season Monday.

Middleton was greeted with sunny skies and temperatures in the low-60s when it took the courts. And with temperatures expected to stay surprisingly warm all week, the Cardinals were given the gift of beautiful weather — something that rarely happens in early-March.

“This is a tough group of ladies, and I think they will wear an extra layer if it means we get to be outside,” said Given, who’s in his first year as Middleton’s coach. “We are just very happy to have this chance to play alternate-fall and we will make the most of every chance.”

The Cardinals’ season typically runs in the fall. Due to COVID-19, though, the WIAA gave teams the option of postponing fall sports to the spring, and Middleton elected to do just that.

Tue
09
Mar
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Middleton's lengthy wait comes to an end

Nov. 1, 2019.

That was the last time Middleton’s football team took the field together — until Monday night.

Finally, after a topsy-turvy 16 months — one in which COVID-19 hit, the Cardinals postponed their fall season, and their spring season hung in the balance — Middleton was back at Otto Breitenbach Stadium. And there was nowhere else coach Jason Pertzborn and his team would have rather been.

“It was just great,” Pertzborn said after Middleton’s first practice of the alternate-fall season ended. “The energy of the kids was unbelievable. They were just jacked to be out there, running around.

“From freshmen to seniors, it just felt different. I felt like our camaraderie was better than it’s ever been. Everyone was happy and really enjoying the moment.”

For the better part of a year now, Pertzborn wondered if this moment would ever come.

Mon
08
Mar
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People’s Maps Commission Seeks Public Comment  

WISCONSIN–The People’s Maps Commission will hold a virtual public hearing for the 2nd Congressional on Thursday, March 11, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. to seek public input on the upcoming redistricting of legislative maps. All Wisconsin residents are encouraged to watch and participate. 

The hearing is one in a series of at least eight meetings, one for each one of Wisconsin’s eight congressional districts. The virtual public hearing will include testimony from subject matter experts and also provide Wisconsinites the opportunity to express how they have been affected by legislative redistricting and share their ideas for how Wisconsin can work together to achieve fair maps.        

Sun
07
Mar
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Updated: Former Middleton Resident Charged in Sexual Assault Case

MADISON – A Mount Horeb man was formally charged Tuesday with four child sex offenses and ordered released from jail on a signature bond with conditions.

Brian R. Henige, 53, formerly of Middleton, was arrested and jailed Saturday after police investigated a tip that Henige had been sexually assaulting a 15-year-old female and showing her pornography during the past several months.

Assistant District Attorney John Black asked for a $10,000 cash bail saying the allegations against Henige are “extremely serious” and occurred up until a week ago.

“There were more incidents reported than what was charged. According to the victim, the defendant told her that he would kill her and they would never find her body if she reported what happened,” Black told Court Commissioner Daniel Floeter.

Black called Henige a flight risk and said a cash bond is necessary to ensure his appearance at future court proceedings.

Fri
05
Mar
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AMPAC Reviews Final Airport Plan

MIDDLETON–The Airport Master Plan Advisory Committee (AMPAC) last week completed a review of the document’s final chapter in preparation for a public presentation at a date to be announced.

In a nearly 5.5 hour discussion of narrowing alternatives to lengthening or realigning runways and adding hangers, AMPAC reiterated its opposition to a longer runway that would accommodate more jets.

The east-west runway could be lengthen by 440 feet to the west at most and still keep the runway protection zone on the airport property, said Greg Stern of Mead & Hunt, project director. 

A 1,440-feet extension would satisfy insurance requirements for business-type jet operations during slippery conditions, but navigation easements would have to be acquired for a runway protection zone for the longer landing strip, Stern said.

Fri
05
Mar
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Falling

We used to sleep high up in the trees, nestled among fragrant branches in the cool night air. Each evening we would ascend, far above the leopards and lions that so often devoured us below. 

But with slumber comes paralysis. With paralysis comes the very real possibility of falling from the tree. With falling from the tree comes the near certainty of death on the ground. 

Sometimes, just as wakefulness left us, our minds would start to detach from our bodies for the evening, our muscles would relax, and we would start to fall from our branches. When that happened, our brains would send an emergency signal to our bodies, a jolt of neurological energy that would make us shudder and wake up just enough to prevent a deadly plunge. 

That, according to some scientists, is why so many of us experience the sensation of falling just as we drift into sleep. That is why we sometimes wake, as if shocked, just as we begin losing consciousness. 

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