Welton Sentenced to Four Years for Sexually Assaulting Two Girls
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New Police Chiefs Hired in Middleton & Cross Plains The City of Middleton hired interim po- The Village of Cross Plains recently wel- lice chief Troy Hellenbrand permanently comed new police chief Tony Ruesga, who after interviewing two other candi- spent most of his career in Darlington. dates. He replaces chief Chuck Foulke. Ruegsa replaces former chief Tom Jans- Read about Hellenbrand on page 3. sen. Read about Ruegsa on page 8. VOL. 128, NO. 5 THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020 MIDDLETONTIMES.COM SINGLE COPY PRICE: $1.25 Welton Sentenced to Committee of the Whole Reviews Community Campus Concept By Cameron Bren She said development pressure in downtown Four Years for Sexually Times-Tribune Middleton began ramping up in 2014 with the MIDDLETON–The Middleton Committee of construction of Middleton Center Apartments fol- the Whole (COW), made up of all members of lowed by the redevelopment of Middleton Center. Assaulting Two Girls the city council and plan commission, reviewed In a survey conducted in 2016, a space needs the initial concepts for downtown community By Kevin Murphy study which recommended nearly tripling the size “I believe he’s been at it campus, a redevelopment of downtown public of the library. Times-Tribune awhile. I don’t believe he took buildings including the library, city hall and se- Attoun said making a plan to redeveloping MADISON–A Middleton an eight-year wait been as- nior center. city buildings could also address deferred and man found guilty of sex assault saults,” Assistant District At- Director of Planning and Community Develop- expected maintenance on city buildings. of two young girls occurring torney Erin Karshen read from ment Abby Attoun presented the history leading She pointed out the success of Middleton’s TIF about 10 years apart in Har- the message of the mother of up to the community campus concepts presenta- district #3 which had the most increment gener- bor Athletic swimming pools the seven-year-old victim. tion. The impetus goes back to 2012 when the ated in 2019 compared to all other TIF district was sentenced Monday to four “He’s the true epitome city purchased the site of the former Middleton in the state. Putting a plan in place now could years in prison and four years of evil…I hope he dies (in Outreach Ministries building next to city hall, At- allow the city to use TID #3 funding while it’s extended supervision. prison),” Karshen read. toun said. The city demolished the building and available. The sentence Dane County Torbenson said Welton con- has held onto the lot to serve a purpose for recon- Circuit Judge Susan Crawford tinues to blame the victims and figuration or expansion of city buildings. See COW, page 4 imposed on Kevin D. Welton, their parents and refuses to take 59, was less than half of what responsibility for his offenses. the prosecution or victims’ fam- Kevin Welton That denial makes him a con- City Council Takes Steps ily members sought. tinued danger to the commu- Deputy District Attorney waited until “his hand rubbed nity. Matthew Torbenson asked for my body.” “Prison is the only way to pro- Toward LEED Certification a 10-year prison sentence say- “He selfishly hurt two little tect the community until he ing that Welton “had perfected girls,” she added. completes treatment for his By Cameron Bren tification called LEED for Cit- Cities and Communities Certi- the methodology of assaulting The impact on her continues, conduct,” he said. Times-Tribune ies and Communities offering fication. The application is due children under water,” in in- she said. Seeking a probation-only MIDDLETON–As the city cities a globally consistent way Jan. 31 and the city may apply cidents that happened in 2010 “I’ve lost all faith and trust in sentence, Welton’s attorney, makes efforts to reach its goal of to measure and communicate jointly with Dane County. Hil- and again in June 2018. society. I’m more aware of old Robert Ruth, said this was his having all city buildings and op- performance under categories yard says if accepted staff can “He took advantage children men and less trusting of them,” client’s first offense, he’s done erations carbon neutral by 2040, including: nature and ecology, begin assessing the city using counting on what they would she said. charity work, been a church developing a system to measure energy use, water efficiency, measurable data to see where misinterpret as incidental The girl’s father asked Craw- volunteer, has letters of support energy use and efficiency will transportation and land use, ma- it stands on sustainability, resil- contact…but we know it was ford to impose at least nine from 16 friends and family, and be vital. Middleton Sustainabil- terials and resources, and qual- iency, quality of life and equity grabbing and squeezing,” Tor- years, the amount of time his has been “a good, productive ity Coordinator Kelly Hilyard ity of life. compared with other similar cit- benson said. daughter has suffered since the law-abiding citizen.” says new program could help “This certification is about ies. The victim of the 2010 inci- assault. Ruth admitted Welton hasn’t the city develop and implement evaluating where we stand as a Hilyard envisions the pro- dent told Crawford on Monday The sentence should do two accepted responsibility for his such a system. city on sustainability compared gram helping to align goals of that as a six-year-old she saw things, “tell future victims that actions, “but this is so humiliat- Hilyard says Leadership to other similar cities,” Hilyard the city’s comprehensive plan, Welton’s “creepy eyes” follow they should report (sex crimes) ing for him. Acceptance doesn’t in Energy and Environmen- states. “My hope is that LEED sustainability plan, and recently her around the pool and then and allow my daughter to begin come at once.” tal Design (LEED) is the most for Cities will help the city to drafted energy plan created with healing,” he said. Welton has begun counsel- trusted and well known, third identify where we need im- a coalition of six other Dane A written message from ing and “is on the road to fully party, green building certifi- provement if we evaluate sus- County municipalities. The the mother of the 2018 victim accepting responsibility,” Ruth cation standard in the world. tainability holistically. program could also help fos- stated that Welton had “caused LEED recently expanded be- The city council approved ter more trust and government extreme pain and suffering in yond buildings and landscapes, See Welton, page 6 moving forward with a grant See LEED, page 6 my family.” and is now piloting a new cer- application for the LEED for Table of Contents Ramsey to Run For Middleton Mayor Local 1-3, 5-7 By Michelle Phillips there have been discussions cent,” Ramsey explained. He Times-Tribune about increasing homeowner- said the discussion about TIF Opinion 4 MIDDLETON–Middleton ship, the city needs to encour- policy came to the forefront District 7 Alder Dan Ramsey II age developers to address the during discussions of future Cross Plains 8-9 said there are some issues that issue. He noted that Middleton projects. The item was a large have come up over the past two is poised to keep growing and part of the Committee of the years that played into his deci- families continue to move to Whole retreat last week. School 10-11 sion to run for mayor. the city because of the repu- Public transit is another area “I was approached to run table school system. that Ramsey said needs some Lifestyles 12 after Gurdip [Brar} said he “I hear that individuals don’t work. “I think we can all agree was not running,” Ramsey ex- want to buy houses, but I find that we don’t have as good of plained, and decided to con- that to be false,” he said. public transportation as we County 13 tinue with the campaign even Ramsey said the city is cur- could have,” he said. though Brar did decide to run Dan Ramsey II rently working on formulating He said he would like to ad- Sports 14-19 again. a TIF policy, which he supports. dress this by working with the “One of the things that is re- and building equity. He said the TIF funds should City of Madison to have more ally important to me is the num- “It’s a missing part of our go to the city and incremented buses during peak hours. He Legals 16, 18-20 ber of apartments,” he said and market,” added Ramsey, who from there. “I want to see it said it was a surprise when noted that without single family currently serves as council work for the whole community, Madison told the city dur- Help Wanted 20 homes and townhomes, there is president. not just the developer by not little room for homeownership Ramsey said that although giving the developer 100 per- See Ramsey, page 6 PAGE 2 TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020 Weitzel Dedicates Life to Environmental Studies & Sustainability By Katherine Perreth camped throughout the Rocky When the year-long course Times-Tribune and Cascade mountain ranges “Advanced Placement Envi- MIDDLETON–“I tell my along the way. ronmental Science (APES)” neighbors I have embraced di- “Camping, hiking, sleeping began, Weitzel set her sights versity,” said Deb Weitzel, 67, under the stars, being one with further than within the Middle- laughing, “I have dandelions in nature,” Weitzel reminisced. “It ton-Cross Plains Area School my yard.” was very cool.” She had never District boundaries.