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The Walworth County Sheriff’s Office reports that on May 10, 2023 two persons were caught on a trail cam three times in one day stealing flower baskets, pots, vegetables, and flower trays from a stand at County Trunk P and Territorial Road in the Town of Richmond. The incidents occurred at 7:00 a.m., 12:55 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. Anyone with information or who recognizes the individuals or the vehicle in the photos above is asked to contact Deputy Kirk Dodge at 262-741-4422. Alternatively if you wish to remain anonymous please contact www.p3tips.com or call 262-723-2677.

The City of Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater are excited to host the 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games June 8-10, 2023. All events will take place on the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater campus. More than 1,400 athletes from across the state will compete in track & field, cornhole, powerlifting, tennis, and soccer.

Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports. It empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, leading to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Using sports as the catalyst as well as programming around health and education, Special Olympics works to end inactivity, injustice and intolerance.

John Weidl, Whitewater city manager, shares, “The City of Whitewater couldn’t be happier to do our part supporting the 2023 Special Olympic games taking place in our community. It’s fitting that such a diverse and inclusive event be hosted in such a diverse and inclusive community. Please join us in welcoming and celebrating these athletes, their families, friends, and visitors alike.”

The 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games will include a parade of athletes and the opening ceremony, the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® LETR medal moments, and more (learn more about the event). Fun for the whole family! Fans are welcome to watch the Summer Games from the stands or to get involved by volunteering.

The mission of the LETR is to raise funds and awareness for the Special Olympics Movement. LETR is ever growing and has raised over $600 million for Special Olympics programs since forming. Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the “Flame of Hope” into the Opening Ceremonies.

Join or cheer them on as they finish strong and carry the Flame of Hope through our community. All community members are welcome to cheer on the runners or participate in the LETR (Learn more about LETR – see “final leg.”) To participate, registration is required. There are various registration options: register to participate and receive a t-shirt for $25, register to be fan and receive a t-shirt for $25, or register to participate in the event for free. LETR will take place Thursday, June 8th, 2023. Participants will gather at Cravath Lakefront Park at 5:00 p.m. The Torch Run will begin at 5:30 p.m. from Cravath Lakefront Park and end at approximately 6:00 p.m. at Perkins Stadium.

Eric Boettcher, Parks & Recreation Director, shares, “It’s an excellent opportunity for our community to host such a great event at one of our parks and along with other community partners. The partnership we have with Special Olympics is a great way to support these athletes and provide volunteer opportunities for residents to get involved.”

Editor’s note: The following urgent communication was received from John Weidl, Whitewater city manager.

I have been working with a group of community members, including employees of the school district, university, and the League of Women Voters (LWV), who have been trying to secure rental housing for the tenants who are living in the Hawk Apartments. Direct contact with the ownership group of the apartments indicates that the tenants were asked to vacate the premises in April and the deadline of June 30th is approaching. Several have found other places to live, but tenants from approximately 15 units are still in need of housing. Of these tenants, two consist of families with school‐aged children. These two families are our highest priority.

In partnership with the City, the community group has talked to the four local hotels seeking long‐term stay arrangements at reduced prices. The least expensive option is $2,300 per month. The group has also looked into services from the Bethel House and Salvation Army. The group has even investigated whether space is available at the university and Fairhaven. While there is the potential for funding, the need is really in terms of available space in Whitewater. At this time, we are still seeking housing.

Because of the urgency of the situation, we ask the members of the Whitewater Rental Association or anyone in the community to contact the City Manager at citymanager@whitewater‐wi.gov if you have immediate housing availability for these families.

Warmest Regards,
John S. Weidl
City Manager

Editor’s note: The Banner will post information on the Residential Clean Sweep in the near future.

Jeanine and Rick Fassl write, “Adding beautiful color to our downtown with a perfect blue sky backdrop, the barn quilts are up! This is the two sides of the “quilt” painted by Shannon Lawrence, of Clinton, WI.”

Our thanks to Jeanine and Rick Fassl for reminding us to look UP to enjoy the contributions of the “quilt” artists.

— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share.  Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com or click on “submit a story” near the top right of our homepage.  Thanks for thinking about this!

Mariah Sprain is a budgeting coach who has a passion for helping people find tools and learn techniques to help them become financially stable and prosperous. Sprain states that “financial literacy is a topic near to my heart, as education around money tends to be lacking. Many people believe that living paycheck to paycheck, or accumulating debt, is what is expected. However, the more you learn about financial literacy and money management, the more you realize that money is a tool that can help you achieve your goals. Finance is a passion of mine, and with this knowledge, I am dedicated to helping those around me understand and embrace their finances.” 

The public is invited to a free workshop for adults, Smart Spending 101, where Sprain will discuss spending habits and explore different types of budgets, emergency funds, and how to curb impulse buying. The hour-long workshop will be held at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library’s Community Room on Tuesday, June 6 at 5:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend, although registration is requested. Visit whitewaterlibrary.org and click on “Events—Registration Forms” or contact Sarah French to register or with questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-568-2782. 

Richmond Cemetery Association Annual Mtg- Monday, June 5 @ 7 p.m. at the Richmond Town Hall.  Any questions call 608-883-6609.

Editor’s note: This announcement was submitted by Wayne L. Redenius. The image on the homepage is from findagrave.com and was submitted by Clara Ann Straws.

According to Gina Crown, the memory care manager at Glenwood/Mulberry Campus in Whitewater, the campus has adopted a highway, and will be responsible for periodic cleanups there. Crown indicates that when they have a date for clean up they would also be open to the public participation.