August 2022

MADISON–Nodding his head in response to Judge Ellen Berz, Eric Mehring entered guilty pleas for three counts of intoxicated use of a vehicle last week, stemming from an October 2021 accident that killed three teenage boys. 

The incident occurred in the Town of Middleton when Mehring was speeding down Mineral Point Road in the Town of Middleton and rear-ended a Chevy Cruze that contained John “Jack” Miller and Evan Kratochwill, Middleton High School students, and Simon Bilessi, a West Madision High School student. All three teens were killed in the crash. Merhing’s blood alcohol content was 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

He was driving his Jaguar an estimated 35-40 mph over the 45 mph posted speed limit at the time of the crash. At the time, a sheriff’s deputy asked Mehring how fast he was going and he estimated 75 mph. When asked why he was traveling at such a high speed he replied, “over confidence.” 

MIDDLETON–Local officials joined at a bike/pedestrian bridge on Century Avenue in Middleton last week to announce a $1 million dollar county grant for the construction of the next segment of the North Mendota Trail. The section will run from Highland Way/Century Avenue traffic signal to the eastern city limits just past Signature Drive.

Middleton Mayor Gurdip Brar and District 7 Alder Dan Ramsey joined Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and County Board Supervisors Alex Joers, District 9, Holly Hatcher, District 26 and April Kigeya, District 15 in announcing the grant on July 27.

MIDDLETON–Alice Elizabeth (Ripp) Hanson, 86, of Middleton, passed away on July 21, 2022. She was born on Feb. 25,1936, to Martin and Clara (Acker) Ripp in Ashton. On June 21, 1958, she wed the love of her life, Lawrence Ivan Hanson. Together they raised five children.

Alice graduated from Middleton High School in 1954 and went on to earn her associate degree in teaching from UW-Platteville. This began a fulfilling and impactful 40-plus year career, 36 of which were at Elm Lawn Elementary in Middleton. While teaching full-time, she continued her own education and received both her bachelor’s degree from Edgewood College and her master’s degree from UW-Madison. She took pride in being a “bear” early each school year, but she knew she was helping her students learn respect for themselves and others as well as teaching them integrity and responsibility.

MIDDLETON–Property assessments in Middleton are complete and residents and business owners have received letters informing them of their current property assessments. Like much of Dane County, the City of Middleton saw a big jump in assessments, on average 26 percent–27 percent for residential properties and 25 percent for commercial properties.

Middleton Finance Director Bill Burns said the last time assessments were done in Middleton was 2018. The four-year span was determined to be adequate in determining property value, Burns said, and included, “The timing of when a revaluation is needed is based on how quickly market values are changing.”