December 2021

When Middleton’s girls basketball team last faced Madison Memorial, the two produced a game for the ages.

Back on March 7, 2020 — just days before the pandemic shut down the world — the Cardinals rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit and defeated the Spartans, 61-58, in a WIAA Division 1 sectional final.

When the teams got together again last Friday, the stakes weren’t quite as high. But the drama was.

Middleton junior Audrey Deptula knocked down a free throw with 1.5 seconds left to give the Cardinals a thrilling 42-41 win.

Middleton, which also defeated Beloit Memorial, 84-60, on Nov. 30, improved to 3-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big Eight Conference. The Cardinals, picked for a middle-of-the-pack finish in the league, are tied atop the conference standings with Sun Prairie at 3-0.

Middleton’s hockey team dropped a pair of games last week.

Madison Memorial defeated the Cardinals, 3-2, on Nov. 30. Middleton then dropped a 6-4 decision to Janesville last Saturday.

Middleton fell to 2-3 on the young season and 0-2 in the Big Eight Conference.

“Last week obviously didn’t bring the results that we were looking for,” Middleton coach Dan Truehl said. “That said, there are a lot of good things that we can take away from the games, and the mistakes are small and easily corrected. We’re still crafting our identity as a team, and we’ve got to use these close losses as lessons to draw back on if we want to be successful moving forward.”

Middleton led Memorial, 1-0, after the first period and 2-1 through two periods, but couldn't hold on.

Ryan Inman gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the game with an even strength goal. Hayden Wimmer and Brendan Julius both had assists on the play.

MIDDLETON–The Dane County Medical Examiner’s office has released the name of a woman who was killed in an alleged vehicular homicide in Middleton last week. The incident happened in the 7700 Block of Terrace Avenue on the afternoon of Dec. 2.

Susan Wilke, 77, of Middleton died after she fell to the ground and suffered injuries after being hit with the door of a car driven by 27-year-old Thomas J. Wilke. Police have not released Thomas Wilke’s relationship to Susan Wilke.

The medical examiner’s office completed an autopsy on Dec. 4 but has not yet released a cause of death pending further investigation and testing.

Emergency personnel received reports of the incident and that Susan Wilke had an injury to the head. By the time authorities arrived, she was unresponsive and efforts to save her were unsuccessful. 

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission approved a zoning change for the Tribeca Village development to create a regional stormwater pond, serving the lands north of 3440 Tribeca Dr.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Mark Opitz said the city is collaborating with the developer of Tribeca Village to create the regional stormwater pond.

Brad Hutter from MIG Commercial Real Estate said the plan covers 50 acres of regional stormwater runoff coming from the Town of Middleton area west of the Beltline. Hutter said in the original Tribeca Village development plan the land was to be detained in a Department of Transportation right-of-way but that is no longer the case.

Plan commission member Randy Bruce asked how the general plan has changed in an area which previously consisted of high-density office buildings and an associated parking lot.