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Help Whitewater become recognized as an “Active Community”!

The City of Whitewater and W3 (Working for Whitewater’s Wellness, Inc.) are working on an application to become recognized as an Active Community in Wisconsin.  Recognition is given to community groups and partnerships for their commitment to building active, vibrant communities.  The application is mainly focused on walking and biking strategies, policies and community engagement. We believe that these and many other opportunities are already happening in our community!  We would like to develop a list of these opportunities to share with all who live, work and play in and around Whitewater, WI.

Please fill out our online SURVEY to share your program, event or activity available in the Whitewater community.

For questions or additional feedback please email whitewaterwellness@gmail.com

City of Whitewater Receives GFOA Budget Award

The City of Whitewater proudly receives its first Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2018 budget.

The award represents a significant achievement reflecting the commitment of city staff to utilize best practices within governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the City of Whitewater had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as:

  • A policy document
  • A financial plan
  • An operations guide
  • A communications device

Budget documents must be rated as “proficient” in all four categories, and in fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award.

When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individuals or department designated as being primarily responsible for having achieved the award. This has been presented to Cameron Clapper, City Manager; Steve Hatton, Finance Director; and Karen Dieter, Comptroller.

“We are very proud to have received this award,” said Finance Director, Steve Hatton. “This was the first year the City of Whitewater submitted a budget to the GFOA Award Program. We developed a number of enhancements to our 2018 Budget document with this program in mind. Each member of our staff played an important role in compiling and submitting information for us to create a complete and digestible document. We have already begun the 2019 budget process and are implementing several suggestions received through the GFOA program to further improve next year’s document.”

One purpose for submitting a governmental budget to this awards program is to benchmark efforts to improve the quality of local budgeting against established best practices. This program serves as an excellent tool for local governments throughout North America.

Over 1,000 municipalities were awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award across the nation for the 2017 budget year, only 22 of which were in Wisconsin. Whitewater is proud to have joined the group of Wisconsin award winners for the 2018 budget year. The most recent Budget Award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA’s website www.gfoa.org.

To view the 2018 City Operational Budget: http://www.whitewater-wi.gov/images/stories/finance/documents/2018_Budget_for_publishing_with_cover.pdf

Whitewater High School Class of 1978 – 40th Class Reunion, July 28, 2018

Whitewater High School Class of 1978 – 40th Class Reunion

July 28, 2018, at 841 Brewhouse, Whitewater (Photo by Tom Ganser)

Top row standing L to R

Kelly (Wynn) Smith, Martha (Wilson) Arnold (Texas), Jordeanna (Zweiffel) Daellenbach, Lori (Meisner) Roach, David Helming, Tammy (Root) Wiedenhoeft, Liz (Haughian) Vasquez, Ron Brenton, Mary (Weiman) Bourgeois (Texas), Barbara Johnson, Mary (Cordio) Lakatos (Illinois), Pam (McCulloch) Hookstead, Kevin Hartman, Charles Davidson, Wayne Redenius, Frank Taylor, Karl Stroll, Marc Taylor, Don Peterson, John Forester, March (Piasecki) Rebman (Minnesota)

Second row from top sitting L to R

Janine (Zelle) King, Joe Vasquez, Lezlie Oldenburg, Cindy (Fero) Halfmann, Lisa (Buening) Sheldon, Kim (Pilon) Berry, Pam (Jennings) Reiling (Illinois), Joanne (Triebold) Himebauch, Lisa (Fulton) Taylor, Laurie McLeroy, Diane (Roe) Holtz, Lisa (Johnson) Strielow

Third row from top standing L to R

David Caldwell, Jim Kienbaum, Jim Casey, Jeri (Webb) Henry, Kandie (Taylor) Saxe, Gary Tucker (Oregon), Scott Sweno, Eric Triebold (Georgia), Craig Zeise, Dale Wendorf, Terry Stritzel, Dan Becker, Brenda (Quass) Garncorvitz

Fourth/Bottom row from top sitting L to R

Marie (Harris) Parker, Brenda (Roloff) Neumeister, Jolene (Schmeling) Krahn, Brenda (Voss) Powell, Jodeen (Stone) Kienbaum, Vicki (Albrecht) Hagstotz, Janet Salzwedel (Minnesota), Kay Grosinske (Texas), Rachel (Alvarado) Hellen

Flash Mini Workshop: Create A Personal Website

Wisconsin Makers, 200 E Clay Street, is having two Flash Mini Workshops, August 1, from Noon to 2 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm, Creating A Personal Website.  The workshop will show you how to create and publish a personal website. Each person will create a free personal website using photos, graphics, and text. Webmasters of any skill level are encouraged to attend. The instructor has a sample website at https://spangler53511.jimdo.com/.

Norman Arthur Crosby Godfrey, 81, Fort Atkinson passed away after a sudden illness and entered his heavenly home on Friday, July 27, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison surrounded by his loving family.

Norm was born on September 5, 1936, in Milton Wisconsin to Norman and Janet (Anderson) Crosby.  He attended Whitewater High School. Norm married Stephanie Thompson at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Whitewater, WI.  They recently celebrated their 61st anniversary. If you asked him what made his marriage successful he would say, “Yes dear”. Norm was so in love with Stephanie and would do so many special things for her.  Norm worked for 48 years for Crepaco in Fort Atkinson which became APV Crepaco in Lake Mills.  He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson.  He and Stephanie were very active at the church.  Norm was a family man that enjoyed supporting his family.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Stephanie; loving children, Kathleen Godfrey Cordio, Fort Atkinson, James Godfrey, Whitewater, Stephen Godfrey, LaValle, WI, Phillip Godfrey, Verona, WI, Susan (Gabriel) Hall, Baraboo, WI; grandchildren Frank Cordio, William and Garrett Godfrey, Ashley Kutschenreuter,  Ben and Cassandra Godfrey, David, Grant and Gavin Hall; 8 great-grandchildren; brother Stanley (Carolyn) Godfrey, Fountain City, WI; close family friend, William Malsch.  He was preceded in death by his parents, step-father David Godfrey, grandson, Joshua Cordio; brothers Ronald and Thomas Godfrey.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, at 11:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1660 Endl Blvd, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538.  Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Palmyra, WI.  A visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, from 4:00-7: 00 pm at the Nitardy Funeral Home, 1008 Madison Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI and on Wednesday from 9:30 am until the time of the service.  As an expression of sympathy, you may wish to consider memorials to the family for future designation to charities to be determined. The family would like to thank the medical staff at Fort HealthCare emergency room and helicopter staff, EMT’s and St. Mary’s MCIU staff for their care. A special thank you to Father Peter Auer, Monsignor Duane Mollenberndt, and Father Pat of St.Mary’s for their compassion and caring.

Leonard R. Plucinski, age 83 of Whitewater, WI, left his earthly home to be with God on Friday, July 27, 2018.

Leonard was born June 9, 1935, in Milwaukee, WI, the son of Harry Sr. and Violet (Wilks) Plucinski.  He graduated from Whitewater High School in 1953 and enlisted in the United States Army from 1957 -1960.  Leonard married Carolyn Groshek on December 2, 1961.  Len was employed at Hough Mfg. in Janesville and later at Weiler Co. in Whitewater working in the field service and product engineering depts.  Len worked at Waukesha Fluid Handling as a technical writer-illustrator from 1991 until his retirement in 1999.  He was actively involved with the Lauderdale LaGrange Volunteer Fire department and served as captain of the rescue squad from 1960-1974.  He served on the LaGrange town board from 1973-1974.   He was a member of the Whitewater Lions Club from 1984-until his time of passing, receiving the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award and Birch Sturm Fellowship Award.  Len enjoyed playing guitar and harmonica; he shared his talent with St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Folk Group, St. Mary’s Catholic Church Choir, proud district song leader for the Lions Club 27-A1 for 21 years,  and especially enjoyed playing with his friend Terry Lee.

Len is survived by his wife, Carolyn of Whitewater; children, James (Wendy) of Fort Worth, TX, Gregory (Lissa) of Lexington, KY, and Donna (Mark) Cuyler of Cudahy, WI; granddaughters, Mayah and Susannah; brother, Harvey (Phyllis) of Elkhorn; sisters-in-law, Sherry Plucinski and Charlotte Guzman.  Len was loved and will be remembered by other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Harry Jr. and Robert; brother-in-law George Guzman.

Visitation will be on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Haase Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home 320 W. Main St. Palmyra, WI from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM and on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church 919 W. Main from 10:00 AM until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM.

Those planning an expression of sympathy please consider memorials to illnesses that affected Len or organizations that are dear to him:  the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Palmyra, Lauderdale LaGrange Fire Dept. or Whitewater Lions Club.

Online obituary, or to leave a condolence, please visit www.Haaselockwoodfhs.com.

Jon A. Witkins, 69, passed away on Tuesday morning July 24, 2018, at the Loft Assisted Living after a long illness.

Jon was born in Madison on December 22, 1948, to John W. and Helen M. (Orlowski) Witkins.

Jon farmed in Palmyra for over 50 years.  He had been named the winner of the Wisconsin division of the National Corn Growers Association corn-growing contest, winning the award with an impressive 178.07 bushels per acre.  He also scored well in the Palmyra Future Farmers of America corn shows and other exhibits.  Jon also drove his Peterbilt truck for the Canning Co. in Fort Atkinson for many years.

Jon graduated from Palmyra High School in 1967.  He enjoyed mechanics and farm machinery.  Jon was an outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting.

Jon will be dearly missed by his partner of many years, Evelyn Portman.  Jon and Evelyn spent many years together, farming and enjoying life.  Jon is also survived by his sister, Ann (Ron) Rein of Fort Atkinson; nephew, Brian Rein of Fort Atkinson; niece, Tammy (Michael) Boyd of Footville; two great-nieces, Lilly and Brooke Boyd; and other relatives and friends including very special friend of 15 years, Jerry Laxton, whom he stopped by every night after the farm to talk about his day.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen (Orlowski) Witkins.

A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 4 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 313 Main St., Palmyra, WI 53156, with Reverend Steve Blyth officiating.  A visitation will take place on Saturday, August 4 from 10 a.m. until time of service.  Burial will take place at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at St. Matthew Lutheran Church.

Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Loft Assisted Living.

Nitardyfuneralhome.com

Whitewater Police Department Remembers K-9 Officer Ruso

With heavy hearts, the Whitewater Police Department is saddened to announce the passing of current K-9 officer, Ruso.

Ruso recently developed a kidney issue and underwent a very common surgery earlier in the week. After further monitoring, it was discovered his kidneys were still not performing as expected. Sadly, Ruso took a turn for the worse Thursday afternoon and passed away Friday morning.

Ruso was officially sworn into the Whitewater Police Department June 6th, 2017 at a common council meeting. He was a high energy, 3-year-old Labrador retriever from Mexico. Ruso graduated from Little Rock K-9 Academy after months of training. The well-respected kennel has received high recognition for their K-9 dogs and training program.

He worked and lived with his handler, Officer Justin Stuppy who began his career as a Whitewater Community Service Officer in April 15, 2013. On March 9, 2015, Stuppy was promoted to patrol officer and is currently serving on the night shift.

Stuppy is a 2017 UW-Whitewater graduate with a major in Letters and Sciences with a focus on criminal justice. He currently resides in Whitewater. He is a member of the Crime Prevention Team, assists training new Community Service Officers and with the Whitewater Volunteer Cadet Program, and was the past president of the UW-Whitewater campus student organization Law Enforcement Organization LEO.

The K-9 program is a “BY THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY” initiative. Along with Eric Lang and Mary Horing of M.E. & My Pets covering the cost of food for Ruso and Dr. Mike Newell of the Animal Medical Center of Whitewater covering the annual medical care, fundraisers and donations helped cover the cost of maintaining the K-9 Unit needs. A special thank you is extended to the UW Veterinary Care in Madison for assisting in Ruso’s care this past week.

A fundraiser, Run, Golf, Ride for Ruso, was previously scheduled for tomorrow, July 28th to raise funds for the unit. With his passing, the fundraiser will now take place in Ruso’s honor and memory. All funds will still go to the K-9 Unit in hopes of swearing in a new canine officer in the future.

The fundraising events all begin and end at Spring Creek Golf Center. The 5K Fun Run/Walk begins at 8 a.m. and for $20 you receive a t-shirt, 1 raffle ticket for a grand prize and a goodie bag. The Poker Run is at 10 a.m. and all vehicles are welcome for $30 for 1 rider, $25 for 2 riders and $25 per additional hand. This includes a t-shirt, lunch, prizes and 1 raffle ticket for a grand prize. The 9 hole golf tournament begins at 12 p.m. and for $120 per foursome, your golf, food, t-shirt and 1 raffle ticket for the grand prize per player and other prizes are included. Join for appetizers, DJ, and a silent auction raffle will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register at wwcfpruso.eventbrite.com.

To make a donation or purchase a K-9 t-shirt in Ruso’s memory, you may register and attend the fundraiser, visit the Whitewater K-9 or Whitewater Police Department Facebook pages, the City of Whitewater website, or stop at the Whitewater Police Department.

“Although young, Ruso worked hard to keep the community safe,” said Chief Aaron Raap. “He was continuing to excel in search trainings at our local schools and made appearances at many city events including the recent 4th of July parade. Ruso was a very loving and hardworking K-9 officer and will be missed by the Whitewater police team and community.”