March 2023

And then there were two.

Middleton High School has narrowed its search for a new football coach to two individuals.

Those men are scheduled to meet with athletic director Jamie Sims, assistant A.D. Brad Crandall and principal Peg Shoemaker on March 22.

Sims said he was hopeful the panel would have a decision shortly thereafter.

Former Middleton coach Jason Pertzborn resigned in late-January in the wake of a bullying scandal inside his program. Pertzborn, a business education teacher at MHS, also stepped down from that position.

The Middleton football position was posted last month and Sims said there were 17 applicants. Of those, six were selected to meet with a 14-person panel on March 13.

That panel included Sims, Crandall, a handful of current players and assistant coaches on Middleton’s football team, as well as two non-football coaches at MHS.

MIDDLETON–After six years of planning and preparations, the widening of Pleasant View Road from USH 14 to Old Sauk Road to four lanes is finally happening.

At times during the next 16-months, motorists should expect lane closures, realignments, and other inconveniences that road construction causes.

“But we’ll try to keep most of the places open most of the time,” was how City Engineer Shawn Stauske put at an open house last week.

The biggest impact will occur between now and November as the road between Timber Wolf Trail and USH 14 will be closed to through traffic.

The segment north of Pleasant View Golf Course entrance to the Lycon, Inc. 

Property, south of Quarry Road, will be entirely closed until November as a hill is being lowered by 20 feet. 

Lowering the hill will improve visibility as will the new street lighting, Stauske said. 

During that time, the city-owned golf course will only be accessible from the south. 

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission reviewed a concept proposal for a four-story, residential building on University Avenue at its meeting on Feb. 28.  The proposal would replace the existing two-story, multi-family building at 6413 University Ave. with the stone castle-like facade.

The owner of the existing multi-family building Tom Ripple said his proposal calls for the demolition of the two-story building, consisting of 25 units, and replacing it with a four-story building, consisting of 84 units and 60 covered parking spaces. Ripple said he has owned and managed the property for 39 years and intends for the redevelopment to add a positive image to Middleton’s gateway.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Mark Opitz reviewed his staff report for the proposal explaining that the project would implement several aspects of the University Avenue Corridor Plan, but he has concerns regarding density, impact on adjoining properties, and the parking ratio.

CROSS PLAINS–Rodney “Mr. Peanuts” Esser, custodian at Park Elementary School, has been named a finalist in the national 2023 Custodian of the Year contest sponsored by Cintas Corporation. This contest recognizes custodians for all they do to help provide students with a clean and safe environment.

We need your help to get Mr. Peanuts enough votes to win the title of 2023 Custodian of year, The winner will receive $10,000 cash, $5,000 in Cintas and Rubbermaid products and training valued up to $30,000 from ISSA. New this year, the Top 3 finalists will also win an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas.