Ron Endres has spent nearly 30 years reconstructing prairie, providing prairie seed for local projects and raising prairie awareness through the sale of Native Seed Necklaces. Learn more about Ron and his passion for prairies on page 2. VOL. 127, NO. 46 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019 MIDDLETONTIMES.COM SINGLE COPY PRICE: $1.25 Frosty Flock Noise Complaints Continue, Residents Say Airport Officials Aren’t Addressing Concerns By Kevin Murphy Times-Tribune MIDDLETON–Residents affected by airplane noise continue to see Middleton Municipal Airport officials as unresponsive to their noise complaints, according to comments made last week at a Middleton Airport Commission meeting. Cynthia Richson, a commission member and board chair of the Town of Middleton, said plane noise recently woke her three times between 2-3:30 a.m. “They may be (Med Flights) saving lives but there’s a lot of sleep deprivation caused by planes flying west of the airport,” she said. The airport has a noise abatement program which directs pilots to avoid developed areas, but planes on instrument approach can fly as low as 400 feet above the ground. “I’m in the noise abatement area and it isn’t working,” said a Meadowrue Circle resident. “Planes fly low over my house on a daily basis, it’s every two minutes sometimes; over and over and over…I want it stopped. I don’t want (airport expansion)...I don’t like what we have now,” she said. Katherine Perreth-Times Tribune The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) governs aircraft Cold weather doesn’t prevent a flock of ducks from enjoying Pheasant Branch Conservancy. This flock was spotted Mon- operations after takeoff, preempting local authority, said Airport day after nearly three inches of snow fell in Middleton. The storm ushered in frigid temperatures with highs in the teens and lows in the single digits for the beginning of the week. See Noise, page 3 Republican Legislators Halt Gun Law Discussion By Michelle Phillips In October, Gov. Tony Evers checks when purchasing a fire- guns away,’” Erpenbach said. Times-Tribune issued an executive order for arm. The background checks “It’s about gun safety to me.” MADISON–A September a special session to be held on would include private sales at He added that he thinks the Marquette Law School Poll on Nov. 7 addressing two gun re- gun shows as well as Internet refusal to discuss gun laws is gun laws in Wisconsin showed lated bills presented by Melissa sales. There was an exclusion fueled by the National Rifle that just over 80 percent of citi- Sargent (D-Madison). for firearms sold among family Association (NRA). Erpenbach zens contacted want gun safety The first bill was to enact members. said he expects the issue to con- laws put in place (see graphic). a “red-flag” law. These laws, Both Senate Majority leader tinue to come up until, “the leg- allow law enforcement officers Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) islature gets it right.” or family members to petition and Assembly Speaker Robin Middleton Police Chief a judge to temporarily revoke Vos (R-Rochester) opened the Chuck Foulke, who recently someone’s right to buy, own session Thursday and each took sent a letter supporting com- or carry weapons if they are a less than a minute to adjourn mon sense gun laws to the threat to themselves or others. the special session with no dis- Times-Tribune as well as the The second bill would have cussion or vote on the two pro- legislature, said he was disap- ensured universal background posed bills. pointed in the way lawmakers “I was surprised that they’re dismissed the special session. unwilling to even have a dis- “The governor requested Table of Contents cussion. There was no chance a special session to discuss to voice concerns on the bill,” and hopefully enact universal Local 1-3, 5 said Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D- background checks and what Middleton), who supports the is commonly referred to as red Opinion 4 bills. flag laws. These laws have the “There’s just not any mo- potential to save people’s lives mentum in the caucus to take from gun violence. These laws County 6 up either one of the bills that the are supported by a majority of governor has offered,” Fitzger- the people living in Wiscon- Cross Plains 7 ald told the reporters on Nov. 7. sin, yet the special legislative While Vos claimed there was session was opened and then no reason to debate because the immediately closed without School 8-9 bill would fail. any debate or action. The lead- These comments do not seem ers who have circumvented Sports 11-18 to reflect the will of Wisconsin the people’s will should be voters–both gun owners and ashamed of their inaction and non-gun owners said they are should be prepared for the Legals 18-19 in favor of stricter laws. consequences during election “What some Republicans time,” Foulke said in a state- Help Wanted 19-20 try to do is run to this extreme and say, ‘They want to take you See Bills, page 3 PAGE 2 TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019 Endres Works to Reconstruct Prairies, Raise Awareness By Michelle Phillips valley behind the homes in the the land, which he and his wife seed prairie projects in the area. Times-Tribune Town of Verona is now 79 acres later built a house on in 2003. Some of those non-profits in- TOWN OF VERONA–Ron of reconstructed prairie, which He started out volunteering at clude the Driftless Area Land Endres has a passion for prai- came to be known as Halcyon prairie burns, and began asking Conservancy, Holy Wisdom ries, not only reconstruction of Prairie. questions. Over time he learned Monastery, Taliesin Preser- the once prolific ecosystems, “Realizing that they are a about taking care of the land, vation Society, Groundswell but also awareness of their loss bigger part of this-their piece is and this year the prairie pro- Conservancy–Patrick’s Marsh, and rebirth. a part of a bigger picture–may duced nearly half a ton of seed. Swamp Lovers, Wild Ones and Endres journey began when have done more to educate “This year we had a huge har- some small parks. he bought a piece of land in the them (on prairies) than the sep- vest,” said Endres, who added “If you are a non-profit and early ‘90s, one of his neighbors arate pieces. They don’t want there are about 250 species of you call me, I will give you had the idea that if they each to sell it and see it destroyed” plants in Halcyon Prairie. seed,” he said. “The project has bought 15 acres, five could Endres said of the agreement. Most of that seed ends up to be shovel ready.” He said go into conservancy. Most of He said he didn’t know much being given to non-profits in the landowners agreed and the about prairies when he bought south central Wisconsin to help See Endres page 5 Clockwise from top right: A white Baptisia in bloom at Halcyon Priarie this sum- mer. The reconstructed Michelle Phillips-Times Tribune prairie in the Town of Ve- rona was created by several homesowners with adjacent property; Ron Endres cre- ates Native Seed Necklaces from prairie seed he har- vests on his land. The neck- laces can be created from a variety of seed, bottle and charm choices, including pollinators like this butter- fly. He sells the necklaces to raise money for prairie awareness; Endres, pic- tured in a patch ot Prairie Lupine this summer, har- vests prairie seed that he gives away to Dane County Parks as well as reconstru- tion projects around the area. This year he harvested about a half a ton of seed with the help of volunteers. DINING & Your local source for what’s happening around town! To Advertise Contact Ann Bond, 608-220-9300 • [email protected] ENTERTAINMENT Here... or Karin Henning, 608-358-7958 • [email protected] ReserveReserve youryour adad herehere andand getget reservations!reservations! 7508 Hubbard Avenue SATURDAY, The Village Downtown Middleton 608-831-9962 NOV. 16, 2019 • Green • thevillagegreenmiddleton.com 7:30 P.M. 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