Local

MADISON–Criminal charges have been referred to the Dane County District Attorney’s Office against Eric N. Mehring, 30, of Madison, for his alleged role the Town of Middleton crash that killed Evan Kratochwill, John “Jack” Miller and Simon Bilessi. The three young men were all seniors in high school, Kratochwill and Miller at Middleton High School, and Bilessi at Madison West High School.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is recommending the following charges in the case:

• Second Degree Reckless Homicide (three counts)

• Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Motor Vehicle (three counts)

• Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle (3 counts)

• Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–The communities Middleton and Madison are mourning the loss of two Middleton High School seniors and a West Madison High School senior who were killed in the Town of Middleton Saturday night when their vehicle was hit by another vehicle, then burst into flames.

John “Jack” Miller, Evan Kratochwill and Simon Bilessi, who formerly attended Middleton High School, were traveling westbound on Mineral Point Road near Swoboda Road, when their vehicle was rear ended by a 30-year-old man. Authorities have released no further details about the man, who they say is facing pending charges. The vehicle the young men were in came to rest in a field on Mineral Point Road where residents began leaving flowers soccer balls, notes and stuffed animals in their memory.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission granted concept approval to proposed residential development with more than 800 homes and multifamily units east of Parmenter Street and north of Graber Pond. The proposal calls for extending Belle Fontaine Boulevard from High Rd. to Parmenter St. creating the main street through the development which would include commercial storefronts.

The plan commission also approved a change to the general building plan for the Bishops Bay neighborhood to allow for a natural cemetery.

The concept proposal for the 44-acre development proposal titled “Belle Farm” at 4887 Parmenter St. returned before the plan commission after being introduced in June and then referred to various city committees.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Three people were killed in the Town of Middleton Saturday night when their vehicle was hit by another vehicle, then burst into flames.

At 10:15 p.m., Dane County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Middleton Fire and EMS, and Madison Fire were dispatched to an injury crash on West Mineral Point Road and Karls Court in the Town of Middleton. 

Their preliminary investigation indicated a vehicle driving eastbound on West Mineral Point Road struck another vehicle in the rear end, sending the struck vehicle into a farm field south of Mineral Point Road.  The vehicle in the farm field became fully engulfed with fire.  

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton’s fall leaf collection will begin in October and continue through November, weather permitting. Collection will end following the season’s first snow accumulation, but no later than the end of November, when trucks are converted for snow and ice control operations.

Please see the Leaf and Yard Waste Collection Policy at cityofmiddleton.us for a complete description of rules and alternative options and check the city’s Leaves and Garden Waste webpage (https://www.cityofmiddleton.us/360/Leaves-and-Garden-Waste) for weekly progress updates.

In October, priority is given to the final scheduled brush collection for the year. As a reminder, there is no brush collection in November.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton City Council approved changes to the stormwater utility which expands the areas it can service and clarifies the term maintenance to mean bringing assets up to current standards and guidelines and may be more substantial than the original design.

The changes to the stormwater utility were brought to the council by Assistant Public Works Director, Assistant City Engineer Erik Sorensen. Sorensen said the utility should be able to address stormwater issues in all areas of the city since it is paid for by all residents. Sorensen said the utility has a specific list of assets it is permitted to service.

MIDDLETON–Menes A. Weightman, 43, of Dallas has been arrested for allegedly burglarizing two Middleton businesses on University Avenue last week.

On Sept. 15 at 11:50 p.m., the Middleton Police Department took a report of an attempted burglary on University Avenue when a suspect was seen on video attempting to enter a locked back door. Officers searched the area and could not find him.

Several hours later, at around 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 16, officers were sent to an alarm at Dunn’s Auto at 6516 University Ave. Officers discovered that the business had been burglarized and property was missing.

Later that same morning, a burglary was reported at the Wolf Kubly Ace Hardware store at 6305 University Ave. Video surveillance showed a male matching the description from the first attempted burglary that night loading stolen merchandise into a vehicle.

MIDDLETON–Middleton police are asking the public’s help in identifying looking a man and a woman that were allegedly involved in a retail theft that occurred at Costco on Sept. 16. The individuals (pictured) left in a white VW Alltrack with a rear license plate described as orange and a roof carrier.

If you have any information regarding this incident please call or text Middleton Police Department at 608-824-7300, Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or on the web at p3tips.com. 

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council adopted a resolution in support of the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) development and implementation of anti-racist/ethnic studies beginning this school year at its Sept. 7 meeting. The council also approved the first amendment to the city’s TIF District #5 which will remove land parcels and add others to the district that are deemed blighted and will be targeted for redevelopment. In addition, council approved a rezoning request and general building plan for a major redevelopment project proposed by The Bruce Company which will redevelop the company’s current site on Parmenter St. to construct a two-story retail and office building, up to 800 apartment units and 700 hotel rooms.

MIDDLETON–Plans are taking shape on how to offer unleaded aviation fuel at the Middleton Municipal Airport-Morey Field.

At last week’s Airport Commission meeting, Chairman John Hallick outlined a number of steps to be taken including:

• Inventory the aircraft based at the airport to see if they’re approved for unleaded fuel.

• Ask plane owners how much unleaded fuel they would use at a higher price than the leaded fuel currently available.

• Get quotes for the cost of a new fuel tank.

• Determine if federal funding is available for costs associated with switching to unleaded fuel.

• Selecting General Aviation Modifications, Inc. G100 unleaded fuel for sale at Morey Field.