Local

MIDDLETON–The Middleton City Council will seek approval from 250 to 300 homeowners to be granted permission to treat the spongy moth outbreak that began last summer. The permission for access is the next step after the council voted to approve a contractor for aerial spraying.

Numerous City of Middleton residents called on the council last summer to take action to mitigate the spongy moth outbreak which could devastate the city’s deciduous tree population, especially oak trees. 

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) European spongy moths (formerly known as gypsy moths) were accidentally introduced into Massachusetts in 1869 by an amateur entomologist. Since then, spongy moths have defoliated millions of acres of trees in forests and urban areas in at least 20 states. Spongy moth caterpillars feed on more than 300 species of deciduous and evergreen trees.

MIDDLETON–Middleton police have asked the Dane County District Attorney to review possible charges of misdemeanor disorderly conduct involving four members of the Middleton High School (MHS) football team, according to a report released Monday.

Middleton Police Department (MIPD) determined that due to a lack of evidence and conflicting statements, referral of criminal charges against the suspects was not prudent. Instead, the department asked the district attorney’s office to review the case for a possible charging decision.

The investigation by Kim Wood, MHS’ school resource officer, and other department members, began on Jan. 11 into a possible sexual assault in the shower areas of MHS used by the varsity football team. The report was obtained by the Times-Tribune through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

MIDDLETON–Middleton Community Orchestra (MCO) will hold its 2023 Young Artist Competition Winners Concert, featuring the winners of the auditions, which were held Jan. 8 at Capitol Lakes Retirement Home.

This year’s winners include: Kaitlyn McIntosh, viola; Ellen Zhou, violin; and Angelina Chang, piano. The women will perform with MCO On Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. at the Middleton Performing Arts Center with Christopher Ramaekers conducting.

Selections for the performance will include: Macura “An Unquiet Overture”; Elgar “From The Wand of Youth Suite 2: The Wild Bears”; Walton “Viola Concerto,” featuring McIntosh; Chopin, “Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op.11,” featuring Chang; Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47,” featuring Zhou; and Dvorak “Carnival Overture.”

Ellen Zhou

\TOWN OF MIDDLETON–The town board Monday added its voice to the growing chorus of entities urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize findings that exhaust from leaded aviation gas is a public health risk.

Last year, the EPA signaled its intention to make an “endangerment” finding regarding the fuel used in 170,000 piston-driven aircraft nationwide, including the aircraft hangered at Middleton Municipal Airport-Morey Field.

The town was the only Wisconsin municipality to join a petition by Earthjustice in 2020 to urge the EPA to regulate leaded aviation gas, which is the largest source of lead emissions in the country.

Morey Field is Dane County’s second-largest source of lead emissions behind only Dane County Regional Airport, annually contributing more than 200 pounds of airborne lead.

MIDDLETON–The Airport Commission is pushing back against the public perception that recreational, or hobby flying, is the primary use of the Middleton Municipal Airport–Morey Field.

Instead, with its two flight schools, it’s primarily used to train pilots, Airport Manager Richard Morey and others said at last Thursday’s commission meeting.

The airport was built by Morey’s grandfather in 1942 to train military pilots and continues that use to today, said Morey.

‘Since then, we’ve trained thousands and thousands of pilots,” with many becoming commercial aviators, said Morey, who also heads the Morey Airplane Co.

Nearly 75 percent of the roughly 40,000 annual operations at the airport are training related, said Morey. An operation is defined as one takeoff or one landing.

By contrast commission member Kevin Munson called recreational use “an insignificant component of what we do.” Munson had asked that the topic be discussed.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Town of Middleton residents living in Wards 5-8 will have a new polling place starting with the Feb. 21 Primary Election.

After voters waited in long lines–sometimes up to four hours–during the November 2022 General Election, the town board voted on Jan. 3 to include a second polling place at West Middleton Lutheran Church, 3763 Pioneer Rd.

Voters in Wards 1-4 will continue to vote at Town Hall, 7555 W. Old Sauk Rd.

Both polling places are accessible to those with disabilities. Disabled individuals who cannot make it inside to vote can also vote curbside. Look for handicap parking stalls, which include a number to call when you arrive.

During in-person absentee voting, the town’s clerk and deputy clerk will come to your car. On election day, poll workers will be available to perform this service. Curbside voting is available at both polling places. 

If you are not sure what ward you live in, visit myvote.wi.gov.

WISCONSIN–The Wisconsin Supreme court seat left open by the retirement of Justice Patience Roggensack who served two terms on the state’s highest court has a field of four, who would like to fill her seat. 

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, and circuit court judges Everett Mitchell (Dane County), Jennifer Dorow (Waukesha County) and Janet Protasiewicz (Milwaukee County) will run in the Feb. 21 Spring Primary, with the top two competing in the April 4 Spring Election.

The justice seat is a 10-year term and non-partisan. 

For more information about your polling places, visit myvote.wi.gov.

Daniel Kelly

Daniel Kelly wants you to give him his old job back. Kelly served as a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice between the years of 2016-2020 after being appointed by former Gov. Scott Walker. Kelly lost his bid for reelection, and said he was running a second time because he wants to serve the people of Wisconsin.

DANE COUNTY–An announcement by Little John’s, a non-profit organization that provides hot meals to other non-profits and government agencies, left Dane County Senior Dining holding the (lunch) bag last week when they drastically reduced production and cancelled contracts.

Paulette Glunn Northwest Dane Senior Services (NWDSS) director and Middleton Senior Center Director Tammy Derrickson both said the dissolution of the contract came as a surprised to them on Jan. 23 when the announcement was made. The short notice caused the senior dining sites to scramble to find replacements for the hot meals. Both women sought help from the community, and local stores, restaurants and Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM) pulled together to offer shelf stable meals.

MADISON–A Dane County judge Friday refused to grant the Town of Middleton an injunction against a resident who caused town hall to close for two days after he harassed staff about snow plowing.

Town hall closed on Jan. 18 and 19, after Samuel A. Roessler, 42, yelled profanities at Town Treasurer Megan Hughes and Town Clerk Barbara Roesslein about damage made to his lawn by a snowplow driver.

“He repeatedly told (Hughes) that he was tired of the f-ing snowplow plowing snow into his year and f-ing destroying his yard,” Town Attorney Eileen Brownlee wrote in a petition for an injunction.

Hughes testified Friday that Roessler was “swearing every other word,” during their encounter. She also said that Roessler refused her requests to “calm down,” and continued to “pace and swear…I was intimidated by this.”

When Roessler also refused Hughes request to leave, she went downstairs to the Dane County Sheriff’s West Precinct office to summon help.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Despite the threat of being infected with the COVID-19 virus falling to the low stage in Dane County, all town meetings will continue to be held via Zoom until at least the April 4 spring election, the Town of Middleton Board decided last week.

Continuing to hold virtual meetings is prudent, said Board Supervisor David Bryce.

“If we can have these meetings without risk of being exposed, I’ll agree with that,” he said, but the country is entering the season when COVID-19 cases have been most numerous.

In urging that meetings remain virtual; Town Chair Cynthia Richson said the newest virus strain is the most antibody resistant to date.

The Park Commission expressed interest in resuming in-person meetings again, said Town Clerk Barbara Roesslein, who added that the latest vaccines aren’t as effective against the new coronavirus variant.