The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is hosting a Virtual Yoga Session. Tune in to the Library’s Facebook page Friday, August 7th at 9:00 a.m. to participate.
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Coding Club
Irvin L. Young Memorial Library offers virtual meetings of the Coding Club on August 13 and 17 @ 3:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Learn to create your own filters, memes and more using JavaScript. Create and share your own unique projects and learn from others. No previous coding experience is required. This program is recommended for ages 10 – 18.
Register below to participate.
WHITEWATER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ACTION GRANT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Per a press released issued by the Whitewater Community Foundation:
The Community Space (TCS) was able to put their $3,025 Community Action Grant received from the Whitewater Community Foundation in June to immediate use. Timing is everything! TCS was able to purchase a full-size walk-in cooler and a freezer at a great price from the nearby Subway which recently closed their doors. The new appliances will allow volunteers at The Community Space to accept more food donations for distribution to families in the Whitewater area. Pictured in front of their “almost-new” walk-in cooler from left to right are: Therese Kennedy, Board Member, and Bonnie Miller, Program Coordinator, representing WCF, and Cindy Robers, Assistant Site Manager at TCS, along with volunteers Miranda Barber, Topni Czebotar, Kelly Landes and Sam Hearn. You might not be able to see them, but there are smiling faces under all those masks. We are all facing difficult times right now in our own way. It is through the generosity of ordinary people like you that grants like this one are made possible.
About WCF: The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “Enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures” through scholarships and community action grants. To donate and support the continuation of the Whitewater Banner, simply send a check made out to Whitewater Community Foundation to P.O. Box 428, Whitewater, WI, 53190, or donate online at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org by hitting the “Donate” button on top of the contact page. For tax purposes, the Whitewater Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Corporation.
Public Library Little Free Pantry
Give what you can. Take what you need. As pulled from littlefreepantry.org website, “The mini pantry movement is a grassroots, crowdsourced solution to immediate and local need. Whether a need for food or a need to give, mini pantries help neighbors feed neighbors, nourishing neighborhoods.”
With the roll back of library services due to increases in Covid19 cases in Whitewater, Irvin L. Young Memorial Library has moved their Little Free Pantry outdoors so that it continues to be accessible to the community. The cart is located just outside the doors on the south side of the building.
Barbara Ellen Walenton, age 77, of Whitewater passed away unexpectedly at home on the family farm on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 surrounded by her loving family
Barbara Ellen Walenton, age 77, of Whitewater, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly at home on the family farm on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 surrounded by her loving family.
Barbara was born in Whitewater on December 30, 1942 to Donald and Eleanor (Rutoski) Vail. She received her education at Whitewater High School and was a member of the Girls Scouts and Rainbow Girls. On January 2, 1960, Barbara married Robert E. Walenton at the First United Methodist Church in Whitewater, recently celebrating their 60th anniversary.
Barbara was a homemaker at heart and enjoyed spending time with family and friends on the Farm. As a young woman, she worked as a CNA and medical records technician. Her need to be a stay-at-home mom inspired her to become a business woman so she became an Avon representative. Her love of children inspired her to open her own licensed daycare provider. To this day, those daycare children have grown to become family.
Family was her foundation, but her passion was always horses, a passion she shared with her husband. Bob and Barb raised quarterhorses on the Farm and, for many years, along with their six children and other family and friends, they hosted hundreds of riders and barrel racers at the Walenton Speed Shows on the Farm, also known as the “Rockin ‘B’ Ranch.” Inevitably, the shows outgrew the Farm, so they took the shows on the road. For over a decade Bob, Barb and crew held the Walenton Speed Shows at the Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn. It was only natural that was an active member of the Boots and Saddle Club of Walworth County and the Kettle Moraine Saddle Club.
Barb enjoyed cooking, gardening, bird watching, reading, doing puzzles and gambling. You will often find family and friends gathered at the Farm for game nights, cookouts and bonfires. She loved playing cards and learning new games. Barb loved to dance and go to concerts, especially if the music was country music. Her love of traveling often took them “Up North,” and it seemed that every year, you would find her “on the road again” to faraway places like Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia. Her favorites were Nashville, Dollywood, Loretta Lynn’s Farm and the occasional casino in between.
Barbara is survived by her husband Bob, three beloved sons: John E. Walenton of Whitewater, Donald J. (Cindy) Walenton of Smiths Grove, KY, and Robert D. Walenton of Rhinelander; three beloved daughters: Susan R. (Brent) Nelson of Janesville, Michelle M. (Chris) Haferman of Whitewater and Carrie E. (Scott) St. Clair of Whitewater; grandchildren: Jennifer (Quinn) Walenton, Samantha Bluhm, Catherine Nelson, Melissa Walenton, Nicholas Haferman, David Nelson, Cheyenne St. Clair, Canyon St. Clair, Jodi Harris, Jozie Reed, Jamie Reed, Nicki Olds, Emily Olds, and Chad Olds; great-grandchildren: Angelita Walenton-Garnica, Kiana Walenton-Garnica, Jay Schwartz, Braxton West-Olds and Ophelia Diaz; sisters: Karen (Bob) Fadness of Colorado, Bonnie (Tom) Miller of Whitewater, and Nancy (Perry) Kairis of North Carolina; brother-in-law: Raymond (Jan) Walenton of Whitewater; sister‑in‑law Avril Walenton of Menominee Falls, WI; nieces: Debora Austin (and her son Elijah) of Friendship, WI, Amy Austin of Milwaukee, WI, Amanda (Daniel) Travis of Walkertown, NC, Ashley Kairis of Cary, NC, Lisa Burk of Longmont, Colorado, Geila Frevele of Menominee Falls, Lori Lang of Menominee Falls and Robin Walenton; nephews: Andy Fadness of St. Croix Falls, WI, Rodney Walenton and Ronald Walenton, both of Whitewater; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Donald and Eleanor Vail.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Farm at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, Barb’s family would like to suggest a donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or to the family at: Walentons, P.O. Box 818, East Troy, WI 53120-0818.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the Whitewater Rescue Squad, the Rock County Sheriff’s Department, and the Mercy Hospital Paramedics for their assistance and compassion.
The Nitardy Funeral Home of Whitewater is assisting the family. Online condolences may be given to the family at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com
This Weekend’s Garage Sales
Welcome to the Banner’s inaugural posting of garage sales. Thanks for these groundbreaking announcements!
W7640 Shagbark Rd
Fri 9-5 / Sat 9-4 / Sun 9-12
Flat screen tv, bar stools, Red Bull mini fridge, layout field blind, dresses, womans clothing, kids clothing, shoes, baby items… and much more!
129 N. Park St., Whitewater
Friday 7/31 8am-4:30 pm / Saturday 8/1 8am-2pm
Household items, tv stand, Ludwig drum set, toys, clothes, miscellaneous.
Be sure to keep an eye out for next week’s post, for which there’s already a big moving sale scheduled.
A New Banner Service – Garage Sale Ads
As a result of a reader’s comment that it’s hard to find garage sales in Whitewater now that we no longer have a weekly shopper, the Banner staff has agreed to begin a “consolidated” garage sale posting that will be published each Thursday morning for the upcoming weekend’s sales. This announcement will only be for garage sales (a sale of miscellaneous household goods, often held in the garage or front yard of someone’s house) in the city and school district boundaries. We will not be accepting, for example, ads for cars or other items that are not part of a scheduled garage sale. There will be a limit of three times per year for a particular property. Although we may eventually make a small charge for this service, initially it will be complimentary.
Those wishing to place a notice must send the information to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com by Wednesday at 6 p.m. You may include a brief description of the items that are for sale, the hours and days of the sale, and of course your address.
Census Takers Begin Canvassing in Walworth County
Per Regional Census Partnership Specialist Patti Gillete, Walworth County is one of several counties in Wisconsin selected for an early start to non response follow-up. Census takers will start going door to door beginning today, July 30 (instead of starting on August 11).
So far, more than 62,508 Walworth County households have responded to the 2020 Census (60.7%). For those who have not yet responded – there’s still time to respond at 2020census.gov – your response matters!
Walworth County has a long way to go to reach 100% – we still need more than 40,505 households to complete the 2020 Census. Responding to the 2020 Census in this time of social distancing makes a difference for the well-being of your neighbors and your community. Your response helps to funnel much needed federal funds to your local community for health care, emergency response, schools, education programs, roads, and many other public services over the next 10 years.
That said, it has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone (844-330-2020) or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker. To learn more, visit 2020census.gov.
Local League of Women Voters Encourages Community to Vote Absentee; Banner Note: In-Person Absentee Voting at Municipal Building Now Open
Act Now To VOTE ABSENTEE for August 11, 2020 Primary Election
Do you want to VOTE SAFE FROM HOME for the August 11th Election?
The League of Women Voters urges voters to please act as soon as possible. Do not wait for the August 6, 2020 deadline for your mail-in request to be processed. Any qualified person who is already registered to vote at their current address may apply to Vote Absentee. Here’s is how to go about it:
- Request the Application for Absentee Ballot Form from myvote.wi.gov Make your request for the August 11 and November 3, 2020 elections. Mail request to your Municipal Clerk’s Office along with your Photo ID.
(If you already have a Photo ID on file with Clerk, you can send your request directly from myvote.wi.gov). - Upon receipt of your Absentee Ballot in the mail, please note that it will contain: Instructions, Ballot and Return Stamped Envelope
a. Fill out Ballot using black or blue ink.
b. A witness* must confirm that you filled out the ballot.
c. Place Ballot in pre-addressed and stamped envelope.
d Voter must sign and date the envelope. A witness* must sign and write their address on the envelope.
e. Seal envelope and mail ballot to City Municipal Clerk’s Office.
*The League of Women Voters understand that some sheltering-in-place voters
might not have access to a witness to sign their Ballot Envelopes. We are happy to
provide League Members who will safely come to your doorstep with mask and
social distancing to be your witness. Please Make your Vote Count.
Please contact Julia Ross at 262 581-5411 for arrangements.
From the Banner:
August 11 Primary Election has Only One Contested Race: Representative in Congress for Republican Party; Voting Absentee at Municipal Bldg Rather than by Mail Saves the City Postage & Time, Helps to Ensure Your Ballot is Valid
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Though the Banner does not wish to discourage citizens from voting, we feel that you should know that the City is spending a great deal of money and staff time sending out absentee ballots that only contain one contested race. Those voting Republican may vote for Scott Fitzgerald or Cliff DeTemple for Representative in Congress in District 5.
In-person absentee balloting is now available, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Clerk’s office at the Municipal Building, 312 W. Whitewater Street. (If possible please come at a time other than 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.) If you’re able to go to there to vote absentee, rather than requesting a ballot by mail, you will save the City on postage and paper, as well as several minutes of time, which really adds up. Importantly, the city personnel will ensure that your ballot is properly witnessed. Sadly, in the April 7 election approximately 72 ballots were unable to be counted due to not meeting the requirements. Of course you may also vote in person on August 11.
Here are the races for Walworth County:
Democratic:
Representative in Congress: Tom Palzewicz
Representative to The Assembly District 43: Don Vruwink
Walworth Co. District Attorney
Walworth Co. Clerk
Walworth Co. Treasurer
Walworth Co. Register of Deeds: Cairie Virrueta
Republican:
Representative in Congress: Scott Fitzgerald / Cliff DeTemple
Representative to The Assembly District 43: Beth Drew
Walworth Co. District Attorney: Zeke Wiedenfeld
Walworth Co. Clerk: Kim Bushey
Walworth Co. Treasurer: Valerie Etzel
Walworth Co. Register of Deeds: Michele Jacobs
Constitution:
No candidates have filed.
Here are the races for Jefferson County:
Democratic:
Representative in Congress District 5; Tom Palzewicz
Representative to the Assembly District 43: Don Vruwink
Jefferson County District Attorney: Monica J. Hall
Jefferson County Clerk
Jefferson County Treasurer
Jefferson County Register of Deeds
Republican:
Representative in Congress District 5: Scott Fitzgerald / Cliff DeTemple
Representative to the Assembly District 43: Beth Drew
Jefferson County District Attorney:
Jefferson County Clerk: Audrey McGraw
Jefferson County Treasurer: John E. Jensen
Jefferson County Register of Deeds: Staci M. Hoffman
Constitution:
No candidates have filed.
ATTENTION: RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNSHIPS – The City has posted information regarding absentee voting in the townships on this page.
Local Fastpitch Softball Team Takes Home Top Trophy
Submitted by: Shelly Black shellymblack5@gmail.com
This weekend, the Rock River Stix U18 Girls Fastpitch Softball team traveled to Lakeville, Minnesota to play in the NAFA Northern Regional National Softball Tournament. The team went 2-1 in pool play and then went 5-0, undefeated, in bracket play. The team faced some tough competition and ended up coming out on top of 29 teams, taking home the championship trophy!
Playing for the Rock River Stix U18 team from Whitewater are Morgan Gransee, Bryce Hibbs, Grace Black, and Izzy Regner, formerly of Whitewater. (Pictured left to right)
Rock River Stix Fastpitch softball is an organization based out of Fort Atkinson, with its practice facility in Whitewater. Tryouts for the 2020/21 season are on July 28, August 1 and 2. For more information, visit https://rockriverstix.com/.
