WHS-1981-ish Class Reunion – July 23, 2022 – Willow Brook Golf Course

Also present were some of the WHS graduates of 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984.

Photos by Tom Ganser  tganser33@gmail.com

ROW 1 (bottom) from left:

Rebecca Steck, Cheryl (Heth) Zoesch, Dyanna Sutherland, Bart Henry, Karen Messier, Sherrie (Schultz) Benes, Jim Schlough, Tom Downs

ROW 2 from left:

Jeff Lyons, Bob Schallock, Rhonda (Mandell) Kilcoyne, Kelly (Sweno) Strait, Lisa (Reinke) Garland, Rolf Lindgren, Sheryl (Werdin) Clark, Shari (Redenius) Genrick, Luann (Reese) Gauthier, Karla Zahn, Karin (Wildi) Ritter, Phil Ritter

ROW 3 from left:

Michelle (Sellers) Johnson, Mickey Schirmer, Mark Triebold, Sandy (Schoenbeck) Loudon, Bruce Zweifel (Standing behind the row), Jim Plucinski, Martha Lundin, Mary Jo (Peiffer) Unger, Mary Kay (Fisher) Nelson, Mark Schroeder, Pete Knusel, Reed Fulton, Chris Lenz, Dale Lilly

ROW 4 from left:

Wade Oberle, Kurt Ketterhagen, Tammy Holland, Rita (Donahue) Ristow, Robin Schwab, Eileen (Voss) Gailloreto, Karen Salzwedel, Rita (Domitrz) Hookstead, Ann (Schulte) Parker, Rob Homola

ROW 5 from left:

Phil Yao, Dave Zweifel, Scott Stauffacher, Cort Hartmann, Jeff Hookstead, Uwe Westerwelle, David Williams, Curt Brokmeier, Bob Triebold, Dave “Nellie” Nowak, Chris Ketterhagen, Mike Murphy.

Not pictured: Ami Dortch, Len Faytus, Stacie (Werdin) Faytus, Matt Gailloreto, Terri (Anderson) Laban, Bob Wagner

Update from National Weather Service 8/7 @ 3:24 p.m.:
 – A Flood Watch for flash flooding remains in effect for all of southern Wisconsin through Monday afternoon.    
 – Outside of showers pushing through eastern Wisconsin we are in the lull in activity that should last through the early evening.     
– The next round of rain should begin around mid evening bringing another round of 1-3 inches to the area it impacts with localized higher amounts possible.    
 – Uncertainty remains in exactly where this will occur but the flooding concern continues with any training storms.      – Rainfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour are possible with storms. 
What has changed?     – The area has changed slightly with a shift further north in the best rainfall potential for round 2 with slightly lesser amounts than previously expected. Still some uncertainty on where we will see the highest rainfall totals with this second round.
(See map below.)

According to the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office, A Flood Watch for flash flooding remains in effect for all of southern Wisconsin through Monday afternoon. An estimated 1-2 inches of rain had fallen by 5 a.m. on Sunday.  A second round of rain will be late this evening into early Monday morning, bringing the potential for repeated rounds of heavy rainfall and flash flooding. Rainfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour are possible. Heavy rainfall over the same areas may result in flash flooding of low lying areas, urban areas, creeks and streams, and other vulnerable areas. Those in the Flood Watch area should prepare for the potential for flash flooding, and be prepared to seek higher ground if flash flooding occurs.

Editor’s note: The Banner gave the candidates for State Assembly in District 33 an opportunity to provide a final statement before Tuesday’s primary election. As a result of redistricting, Whitewater has been split into two Assembly districts. Jefferson County residents are now in District 33. There are two Republican candidates and one Democratic candidate on the primary ballot. The candidates are listed below in alphabetical order by surname.

Update 8/6/22 @ 1:50 p.m.: The Banner has added the response of Dale W. Oppermann. Though this was received after our deadline, this was through no fault of his, as we had not located his contact information until after the original article was posted.

Scott L. Johnson, Republican Candidate for State Assembly District 33

Age: 68

Address: N3043 Haas Road, Jefferson, WI 53549

Educational Background:
1972 Milton High School
1977 UW Madison BS Agricultural Economics
Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program
Completed half of my masters credits at UW Whitewater in school business finance

Employment history:
I have worked for Monsanto and Ralston Purina.
I am a farmer and a farm consultant.
I am a substitute school bus driver for more than 20 years serving Jefferson School District

Political experience: I served on the Fort Atkinson Board of Education for 15 years

I have been well received out campaigning; here is a list of things people seem to be agreeable with.

People are tired of the lack of leadership and nothing getting done; one is elected to govern.
The people are not impressed with the Republican Party funding my opponent’s campaign in an open primary.
The people want to be represented, they want fair maps and they want term limits.
The people do not want career politicians, nor do they like the dark money that the parties receive that can be spent wherever.
The people want their tax dollars spent wisely and for the government to stay out of their personal life.
The people want the roads fixed and maintained and to collect the tax equitably from all users. Also do not spend the funds for non-road projects.
They want the school funding to be appropriate and transparent with all schools, public or private held accountable.
They want us to upgrade our workforce by utilizing our technical schools to train and equip our citizens for the high skill, high pay jobs. The people want the infrastructure built and maintained by a qualified workforce.
They do not want us to forgive student loans.
The people want their broadband to work and at a reasonable cost.
People want affordable healthcare; $50,000 a year for a family of four does not seem affordable.

I believe our elections are run very honestly with a high degree of integrity, but there are areas that can be improved.
I believe we should stop demonizing our clerks and election workers for fraudulent actions that cannot be validated in a court of law.
We can improve our elections by allowing every citizen of sound mind the opportunity to vote once.
One person, one vote, early, absentee, or in person. Our clerks should be able to count the early votes just prior to election day so a timely vote count outcome can be made, thus avoiding the perceived delays of just found ballots.

Why I am the best Republican for the job?

I am willing to represent the people. I want to listen to the local governing boards to learn of the challenges they face in carrying out their duties. How and where can our State help them succeed?

I have demonstrated that I am a principled visionary leader during my many years of service on the Fort Atkinson School Board. As a public servant, I govern for the benefit of everyone. I have not spent our tax dollars unwisely nor will I burden the taxpayer with unnecessary expenses. I am a fiscal conservative and believe tax dollars should be spent where the public is served the best.

I am a farmer. I believe that the practical, logical, common sense solutions should be used in governing.

Governing definitely requires a sense of compromise. Local governing boards have to make choices to balance their budgets each year. It is not uncommon for a member to concede their perspective on an issue to allow the board to move forward and take action. Mandates unfunded or underfunded should not exist as they create budget issues for local governing boards.

I will represent the people first and foremost. I will be available to hear your concerns, questions, and opinions. I want to take ACTION on what you have told me. My opponent will be beholden to the party that chose him.

*I believe that school funding should be accountable for all stakeholders including the taxpayer.
*I believe that we need to further incentivize our technical schools to benefit both employers and workers. These skilled jobs should support families and reduce the need for student loans.
*I believe that maintenance of our roads is required to transport our commerce, workforce and to promote tourism. The fuel tax may need to be reformatted to adequately support our roads and replace the regressive taxes like titling fees, registration fees and wheel taxes.
*I believe in promoting clean energy, air and water. My experience when establishing Geo-Thermal in the Fort Atkinson School District proved to be economical in heating and cooling costs. Agriculture, municipalities and businesses all play a role in clean energy and water, each has a responsibility to manage the waste or by products of their operations.

My knowledge and experience of Education and Agriculture, which are two of Wisconsin’s largest expenses and economic engines is crucial for a legislator. Thank you.

Dale W. Oppermann, Republican Candidate for State Assembly District 33

Editor’s note: Unfortunately Mr. Oppermann was unable to submit a timely response to our request for comments before we published our original article, as we had not located his contact information. For that reason we are posting this response that was received after our deadline.

I am 63 years old and I’ve been married for 41 years to Karleen, a teacher.  We have three grown children and three grandchildren. I’ve served six terms on the Jefferson City Council and I presently serve as the Mayor of Jefferson, having been elected seven times since 2010.  In that capacity, I have worked with both Republicans and Democrats in Madison and Washington D.C. to help bring prosperity to our community.

I also hold a full-time job as a sales representative for Milwaukee Plate Glass Company in West Allis.

I am a pro-life Republican.
I believe in upholding the 2nd Amendment.
I believe that parents should have a say in what’s being taught to their children and I think every child deserves to be able to attend a school that best meets their individual needs.
I believe that government should keep our communities safe by adequately funding and supporting law enforcement officials.  That also applies to fire and emergency medical services.
I believe that criminals should be held accountable for their actions.
I believe that our government should work with the private sector to help them provide good, family-supporting jobs.  We’ve done that in Jefferson, as evidenced by the recent announcement of the expansion at Nestle Purina which will add another 75 jobs.
I believe that government should not penalize honest, hardworking people who pay their own financial obligations themselves by offering to pay off the debts of those who don’t.

The city of Jefferson has grown and thrived during my time as mayor.  We have addressed the need for additional housing by creating new subdivisions and working with developers to create new single and multi-family housing opportunities in Jefferson.  We’ve fixed and improved many streets.

I am proud to have earned the trust of many residents of the 33rd Assembly District who have supported my campaign by putting up yard signs and offering monetary contributions. My campaign has been very transparent about who is supporting me, unlike that of my primary opponent. I am running for the 33rd Assembly seat because I would like to serve all the people of this area.  I have no hidden agenda, no false claims and I am not running for the position because I need a job. I believe that I am the best Republican for this job because not only do I hold and demonstrate true core Republican values, but because I can and will defeat Democrat Don Vruwink on November 8th.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my views.  Please vote on August 9th.

Don Vruwink, Democratic Candidate for State Assembly District 33

Since no response has been received this week from Mr. Vruwink, we are republishing the announcement that he provided to us in April.

State Representative Don Vruwink (D-Milton), issued the following statement regarding the recent redistricting decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court:

“While I am disheartened by the recent redistricting decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court and Wisconsin Supreme Court, I recognize the courts have made their rulings and it is time for us all to move forward because there is so much work to do after the November elections and beyond. Representing voters in the 43^rd Assembly District has been a great honor, and I have enjoyed getting to know so many hard-working, thoughtful, and community-minded people on both sides of the aisle over the past six years.”

“With the recent Supreme Court decision, my hometown of Milton is now in the 33^rd Assembly District, and after taking some time for personal reflection, having conversations with my wife Beth, and hearing from so many people in the new parts of this district encouraging me to seek a term in a new district, I have decided to seek another term in the Assembly.”

“Serving my community and being a champion for constituents is a pleasure and privilege. From teaching students and serving on the school board, to coaching high school athletes and serving in the State Assembly, I bring a unique passion and perspective to the State Capitol that puts people and our community first. I am very excited to launch my campaign to be the next State Representative from the 33^rd Assembly District, and I look forward to introducing myself to voters, hearing what matters most to them, and earning their trust as I seek another term.”

Representative Vruwink currently sits on the Committee on Agriculture, Committee on Education, Committee on Tourism, and is the Ranking Member on the Committee on Rural Development. In addition to serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Representative Vruwink gives back to the community as a substitute teacher and umpire for recreational baseball and softball. Prior to being elected to the State Assembly in 2016, Representative Vruwink taught History at Milton High School and coached basketball, football and softball. He has also served on the Milton City Council and Milton School Board.

The 33rd District will be representing the Jefferson County portion of Whitewater, as well as Milton, Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Palmyra, N. Janesville, Harmony Twp.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

It’s time again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. The Whitewater Fire Department has been in the news lately, so enjoy this photo of the department taken some time in the 1920s. The department is lined up with its all-motorized equipment at the rear of the old city hall where the department was located.

The Whitewater Fire Department started as a volunteer organization in the fall of 1871 and had a small fire house on Whitewater Street that included a water wheel and pump to get water to fight fires from Cravath Lake. After 1889, when the water system was installed, fire hydrants provided the water to fight fires. Equipment was still horse-drawn and included a steam-powered pumper. In 1900, the fire department was housed in the new city hall and in 1915, the first truck was purchased, soon followed by another truck and pumper truck. These three vehicles are seen in this photograph.

Join us again next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(3816P, Whitewater Historical Society)

 

“Downton Abbey: A New Era”
Tuesday, August 9, 1 p.m. (Romance/Drama/Comedy) Rated PG; 2 hours, 4 minutes (2022)
All of the favorite characters and actors from the popular ITV/PBS series reunite as the Crawley family goes on a grand journey to the south of France to uncover Violet’s newly inherited villa. Meanwhile, back at Downton, the staff has to contend with a production company, making “motion pictures.”

On Monday, July 25, the Whitewater Unified School District School Board approved an operational referendum question that will appear on the ballot Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

If approved, the referendum would renew a similar measure voters passed in 2018. That non-recurring operational referendum, which has now expired, has allowed WUSD to exceed its state-imposed revenue limit to fund critical programs and services for students.

With the November referendum, the district and board are not asking the community for additional funding, despite rising costs over the past several years. As a result, taxpayers will likely realize a reduction on their property tax bills. 

“The 2018 voter-approved referendum has been critical to ensuring we can continue to provide programs and opportunities that allow our students to thrive and prepare them for the future. Now, we are returning to our community to ask them to renew these important funds,” said Thayer Coburn, Board President. “By placing this measure on the ballot, we are proposing a solution that allows us to maintain the programs and services available to our students now and in the years to come.”

In Wisconsin, the amount of money a school district receives is restricted by a revenue limit. Every district has its own revenue limit, which is impacted by the state budget every two years and is highly dependent on annual enrollment changes. WUSD’s revenue limit dictates the majority of its operational budget. 

In recent years, state budgets have not increased revenue limits to keep up with inflation. Expenses for things like state- and federally mandated services, transportation, utilities, and insurance also continue to increase, as do other costs that are out of the district’s control. 

If approved by voters, the November referendum would provide WUSD with extended revenue limit authority to maintain academic and athletic opportunities, student support and mental health services, comprehensive instructional and co-curricular programs, and technology and facilities infrastructure.

The funds would simply go toward maintaining these programs and services. The district does not have plans to expand offerings to students.

For more information on the district’s financial needs and the November 8 operational referendum, please visit www.wwusd.org/page/referendum. 

Editor’s note: This information was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

La junta del WUSD aprueba renovación de referéndum
operativo en la boleta del 8 de noviembre

El lunes, 25 de julio, la Junta Escolar del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Whitewater aprobó una pregunta de referéndum operativo que se incluirá en la boleta electoral del martes, 8 de noviembre de 2022.

De aprobarse, el referéndum renovaría una medida similar aprobada por el electorado en 2018. Aquel referéndum operativo no recurrente y ya expirado autorizó al WUSD superar el límite de ingresos impuesto por el estado para financiar programas y servicios estudiantiles fundamentales.

Con el referéndum de noviembre, el distrito y la junta no solicitarán más fondos a la comunidad, a pesar del aumento de los costos de los últimos años. Por ende, los contribuyentes probablemente obtengan una reducción en su factura del impuesto sobre la propiedad. 

“El referéndum de 2018 aprobado por el electorado ha sido fundamental para asegurar la continuidad de los programas y las oportunidades que permiten que nuestros estudiantes se desarrollen y se preparen para el futuro. Ahora, recurrimos a nuestra comunidad para solicitar la renovación de estos importantes fondos”, dijo Thayer Coburn, presidente de la junta. “Al incluir esta medida en la boleta electoral, proponemos una solución que nos permita mantener los programas y servicios disponibles para nuestros estudiantes ahora y en los años venideros”.

En Wisconsin, la cantidad de dinero que recibe un distrito escolar está restringido por un límite sobre los ingresos. Cada distrito tiene su propio límite sobre los ingresos, que se ve afectado por el presupuesto estatal cada dos años y depende en gran medida de los cambios en la matrícula anual. El límite sobre los ingresos de WUSD determina la mayor parte de su presupuesto operativo. 

En los últimos años, los presupuestos estatales no han aumentado los límites sobre los ingresos para estar al nivel de la inflación. Gastos como los servicios obligatorios estatales y federales, el transporte, los servicios públicos y los seguros también siguen aumentando, al igual que otros costos fuera del control del distrito. 

De ser aprobado por el electorado, el referéndum de noviembre otorgaría al WUSD autorización para extender el límite sobre los ingresos a fin de mantener las oportunidades académicas y deportivas, los servicios de salud mental y apoyo para los estudiantes, programas educativos y co-curriculares integrales e infraestructura para tecnología e instalaciones. Los fondos simplemente se destinarían para mantener estos programas y servicios. El distrito no tiene planes de ampliar la oferta para los estudiantes.

Para obtener más información sobre las necesidades financieras del distrito y el referéndum operativo del 8 de noviembre, visite www.wwusd.org/page/referendum. 

Editor’s note: The Banner gave the candidates for Walworth County Sheriff an opportunity to provide a final statement before Tuesday’s primary election. The submissions are printed below. Since there are no candidates for the office on the Democratic ballot the winner of this election will be installed as the next sheriff. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order by surname.

Editor’s note update: Due to concerns expressed on behalf of both candidates, the Banner has reviewed this post in accordance with our policies. We have concluded that there were some errors in judgment in the drafting of our original article, in that some comments that were received after the deadline were added. Consequently we are now publishing the submissions that were received from both campaigns by the deadline that was communicated to them. We regret this error and the resulting confusion.

Dave Gerber for Walworth County Sheriff

With 27 years of experience in law enforcement and my current position as Undersheriff, I am confident that I can continue to serve the people of Walworth County with integrity, professionalism, and compassion. I have been promoted through the ranks in my career.  I have served on many specialty teams such as SWAT, Dive Team, and Honor Guard. I am endorsed by the current Sheriff, past Sheriff, surrounding County Sheriffs, Walworth County District Attorney, many local current and retired police chiefs, and many others.  I have been rated consistently as a “high level performer” on annual evaluations throughout my career, by many supervisors.  I will continue that strong work ethic as your next Sheriff.  I possess immediate readiness to serve as your next Sheriff.  I have the required education, advanced training, experience, and references required to be a Police Chief and Sheriff.  My opponent does not.  This is what sets me apart from my opponent.

My selection for Undersheriff is Tom Hausner who has over 40 years of law enforcement experience.  He is the Commander of the Geneva Lake Police Department, retired Sergeant with the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, and a United States Marine Corps veteran.  Tom served 24 years on the SWAT team, 12 years as SWAT commander. Tom has spent his career at the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office as a respected leader and understands our entire operation including Jail Operations and 911 dispatch. His lifelong history with the department and proven ability as a leader were paramount in my decision to select Tom. Tom has executive level experience leading the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency as Commander/Chief and in the private sector for 24 years as Director of Security and Operations at Alpine Valley Music Theatre.  Tom is a graduate of the FBI – National Academy and numerous other state and national law enforcement schools.  He and I possess immediate readiness to lead the Sheriff’s Office into the future.  This inherent knowledge of the Sheriff Office is what sets Tom apart from my opponent’s selection as Undersheriff who does not possess any knowledge of Sheriff’s Office operations and has never worked for our agency. 

Some of my endorsements include:

Sheriff Kurt Picknell – Walworth County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff David Graves – Walworth County Sheriff’s Office (retired)

Zeke Weidenfeld – Walworth County District Attorney

Sheriff David Beth – Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Christopher Schmaling – Racine County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Troy Knudson – Rock County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Eric Severson – Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Cory Roeseler – Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office

David Bretl –Walworth County Administrator (retired)

Nancy Russell – Chair – Walworth County Board of Supervisors (retired)

Rick Stacey – Chair – Walworth County Board of Supervisors

Chief Jeremy Swendrowski – Village of East Troy Police Department

Chief James Hansen – Delavan/Darien Police Department

Chief Joel Christensen – City of Elkhorn Police Department

Chief Brad Buchholz – Village of Sharon Police Department

Chief Joseph Balog – Village of Genoa City Police Department

Chief Jeff Cates – Village of Fontana Police Department

Chief Matthew Kiederlen – UW Whitewater Police Department

Chief Steve Cole – Bloomfield Police Department

Commander Thomas Hausner – Geneva Lake Police Department

John Marra –Chief of Police Genoa City Police Department (retried)

Jim Kimpinski – Police Chief Twin Lakes Police Department (retired)

Tom Whowell – President Village of Fontana (retired)

Alan Boyes – Chief of Police Village of East Troy Police (retired)

Father Lucien Gaudrault – Retired Chaplain Walworth Co Sheriff’s Office

Brother Desales Wisnewski – Retired Chaplain Walworth Co Sheriff’s Office

Mel Niewenhouse – retired Mayor – City of Delavan

Kristy Secord – Walworth County Clerk of Courts

Michelle Jacobs – Walworth County Register of Deeds

Valerie Etzel – Walworth County Treasurer

Walworth County Sheriff Kurt Picknell states “Undersheriff Dave Gerber is the most qualified in every way to be the next Sheriff of Walworth County. He has the education, experience and dedication serving and protecting others. Dave has a highly distinguished law enforcement career ready to lead the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office.”

Walworth County Sheriff David Graves (retired) states “Undersheriff Dave Gerber is running to be the next Walworth County Sheriff. Undersheriff Gerber has the education, administrative experience, and moral compass to move seamlessly into the top position as the next Sheriff of Walworth County. As a 42-year veteran of Walworth County law enforcement which includes 14 as Walworth County Sheriff, I had the opportunity to watch many deputies grow within the profession.  Undersheriff Gerber rose through the ranks, accepting more responsibility with every new assignment and promotion. I came to admire his ability to interact with other employees as well as our outside law enforcement partners. Undersheriff Gerber is dedicated to keeping our county a safe place for all of its residents and visitors.  Undersheriff Dave Gerber is the best choice for Walworth County Sheriff. Please join me in endorsing and voting for Undersheriff Dave Gerber for Walworth County Sheriff.  You’ll be glad you did!”

As your Sheriff, I will continue to uphold the 183-year tradition of integrity, excellence, professionalism, and compassion.  My number one priority will be the Safety, Security, and Service to the Citizens of Walworth County.  Walworth County has a low crime rate and I intend to keep it that way. I will honor my oath to support the Constitutional rights of all our citizens and hold criminals accountable by continuing a strong partnership with all Law Enforcement agencies in Walworth County, along with our District Attorney’s Office and the Circuit Courts. I will always support all first responders for their hard work and dedication to the citizens we serve.  We will enhance interoperability among all first responders in Walworth County in terms of communication and records management.  I will continue to ensure fiscal responsibility within our annual budget.  I will ensure all employees continue to receive the highest level of training in order to provide the highest level of service to the citizens of Walworth County.  I will continue to partner with all Law Enforcement agencies in the County to ensure we remain a safe place to live, work, and play.  Our agency has worked hard to achieve accreditation through the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group (WILEAG) and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and I will ensure our accreditation status continues.  A police agency is most effective when it engages and partners with its community members.  I plan to continue our community outreach efforts and build stronger relationships with our citizens.  Finally, I have worked tirelessly for decades providing the needed training and equipment for our employees and strongly support our agency in recruiting and retaining the best employees to serve our citizens.

Tom Hausner and I have the REQUIRED experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities to immediately lead the agency into the future.  I am proud to serve alongside our 214 employees within the Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement officers and first responders in Walworth County.  I am equally proud to serve with all of our dedicated County employees who serve Walworth County every day.  Having served in the various ranks and specialty teams and most recently as your Undersheriff, the transition to Sheriff will be seamless.  I look forward to being your next Sheriff.  I will continue to apply my education and experience along with integrity, compassion, and professionalism in serving the citizens of Walworth County.  I ask for your support and prayers.  Please vote GERBER for Sheriff next Tuesday August 9^th, 2022.

Craig Konopski for Walworth County Sheriff

Craig Konopski for Walworth County Sheriff

Just who is Craig Konopski?

Craig is one of two candidates that are running for the seat of Walworth County Sheriff that are replacing current sheriff Kurt Picknell who is retiring after serving his second term effective 1/6/2023.

Both Craig and his opponent are running on the conservative ballet with nobody on the liberal ballet. Thus, the August 9^th primary vote is more important than a standard election year. It will eliminate one of the candidates.

For those of you that have yet to have the pleasure of meeting Craig in person, let’s get to know him, his chosen running mate for undersheriff, Daniel Derrick, and what they stand for as it matters for Walworth County justice and citizen safety.

Craig, his wife Lisa, of over 29years, have made Walworth County their home for the past 21yrs. During this time they have raised their now adult son Joe and been active in the community and created many long lasting friends and relationships.

On a professional level, Craig is a 13 year Navy combat Veteran, serving on the U.S.S Wisconsin in Desert Storm. Craig is bringing 24 combined years of law enforcement experience, 21 within Walworth Co Sheriff’s Department; 14 yrs as a Deputy on patrol then promoted 7 yrs ago to the detective bureau of which he currently serves as a detective. In addition he has been a member of the Walworth County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (WCDSA) since 2002. It is the mission of the WDSA to provide representation to the sworn deputies of the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office. The WCDSA provides services in the area of contract negotiations with Walworth County in regards to wages, benefits, and working conditions. Currently representing 70 sworn personal consisting of deputies, sergeants, and detectives. His seats within the WCDSA have included Bargaining & Grievance chairman for 7 years, VP for 4 years and currently as President. These years of experience have brought Craig to know firsthand what his department’s men and women are looking for in support and training.

Craig had decided to run for the Sheriff because he could no longer stand seeing the continual decline of the Walworth County Sheriffs office that once was considered elite within the state. He has been a witness to this decline rapidly increasing over the past 8 years. There has been a high volume of turnover in the jail, numerous veteran deputies leaving prematurely, communication teams (911 operators) being forced into long hours due to lack of staffing, internal enforcement departments (i.e. drug & investigation units) under staffed as well as crucial training being by passed (i.e. active shooter, range & arrest tactics) in order to keep deputies on the road. These are just a hand full of concerns that Craig could not stand by for anymore knowing how it affects the overall safety of the people in the community that he and his family have called home themselves of over 20 years and will continue for many years to come.

The perception of law enforcement has agreeably changed over the years however, it is not a matter of lack of people wanting to become officers, jailers or dispatchers, but, it has become an issue of individuals wanting to work within our agency. We have lost our elite status to become an agency known for favoritism, lack of accountability within and poor training.

As sheriff, one of his focuses is to rebuild our agencies reputation, hold every individual accountable and to the same standards. Craig will have the jailers and deputies trained properly to work and handle the issues of society today as well as tomorrow vs. merely the state minimum requirements. We have and have had the resources to do this however, over the years only minimum has been even offered to employees. Our men and women need and deserve the best, most up to date training. When they are properly taken care of and equipped, they can better give the families of our county the protection they deserve. In turn of proper accountability it will also enable our agency to rebuild faded relationships with other community offices such as local police, fire & EMS and surrounding counties as well.

It may sound like Craig’s only focus is within the buildings of the Sheriff’s office. As an active, boots on the ground deputy, he knows that the 1^st change needs to happen AT ground zero. The changes and improvements made here will rapidly move throughout our counties communities; families, neighborhoods, schools, churches, businesses, etc.

In addition to Craig’s dedication to run for the Sheriffs seat, he has done something rare. He had gone outside of his agency for an undersheriff. After months of deep thought and careful consideration to what our county needs, he approached Dan Derrick to join him if elected to serve as undersheriff.

Dan is a native to Lake Geneva. He and his wife of 13 years, Haley, are proudly raising their young daughter here as well. Dan has been with the Lake Geneva Police Dept for over 30 years. He has been a k-9 officer, member of the SWAT team serving as the assistant commander, drug investigator and graduate of the Northwestern School of Staff and Command. He shares in Craig’s convictions of protecting others within the county. Dan is well rounded in his career, leadership and interpersonal skills to assist with aligning the Sheriff’s department with law and order. His fresh eyes in the department will assist Craig in implementing the proper changes needed.

Together they are knowledgeable of the people within their communities and surrounding departments of which they actively serve. They will both admit that neither of them are politicians, rather, they are active duty officers which gives them the boots on the ground knowledge of what the people of Walworth County want. They look forward to serving together with a broader ability to bring Honor Dedication & Safety to the people of Walworth County!

Please, to make our County Elite again & protect the safety and well being of our county we all call home, Vote Konopski for Sheriff on Tuesday, August 9^th.

Editor’s note: The Banner gave the candidates for State Assembly in District 31 an opportunity to provide a final statement before Tuesday’s primary election. As a result of redistricting, Whitewater has been split into two Assembly districts. Walworth County residents are now in District 31. There are three Republican candidates and one Democratic candidate on the primary ballot. The candidates are listed below in alphabetical order by surname.

Brienne Brown, Democratic Candidate for State Assembly District 31

Since no response was received from Ms. Brown this week, we are reprinting the announcement that she provided to us in May.

Brienne Brown, a Democrat from Whitewater, has declared her candidacy for the Wisconsin State Assembly, District 31.

My name is Brienne Brown, and I’m running for Wisconsin State Assembly, District 31, which includes the Walworth County portion of Whitewater, Whitewater Lake, Elkhorn, Darien, Richmond, Clinton, and eastern Beloit. I am running for office because I want to put my experience in politics, business, and community voluntarism to work. I want to represent all the citizens of the 31st, both rural and urban, as I work to regain local control of government and schools, strengthen Wisconsin’s stewardship of the environment. and support women and their families.

I have more experience in local politics than anyone else in this race. I am completing my second term on the Whitewater Common Council, where I serve as Council representative for the Library Board, Plan Commission, and Equal Opportunities Commissions. When I worked as the Program Director for the Whitewater Community Foundation, I helped them expand from their operations to include Community Action Grants. I also served on the board for Downtown Whitewater, a nonprofit dedicated toward revitalizing the historic downtown. During this time, we worked with local farmers to create the Whitewater City Market, a successful downtown farmers’ market.

Like most of us, I’ve changed careers more than once in my life. My husband and I moved to Whitewater a decade ago, and we both teach at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. I’ve worked as a managing editor for an open-source intelligence company (stratfor.com), as an epidemiologist for the Texas Department of Health, and in a fish cannery in Alaska. I am also a certified grant writer and own a small business.

After the last grocery store in town closed its doors in 2015, I joined other community members in founding the Whitewater Grocery Cooperative, an initiative to build a community-owned grocery store in Whitewater. The GroCo has grown to 820 members and we are on track to open our doors in 2024. As the chair of the GroCo Grants committee, I successfully applied for a $46,300 WEDC feasibility grant to secure a location and design the store.

I want to put local communities back in charge of their spending and funding. All politics are local. In fact, many of the bills that come to the legislature are researched and written by regular people like you and me. The problem is that the Republican-led legislature has consistently refused to do its job and gaveled out of session without looking at the over 250 bills that hardworking Wisconsinites have put together to improve their communities. This means that our current representatives are sitting on our hard-earned tax dollars – dollars that belong to our schools and city governments. Our schools and infrastructure remain underfunded and it’s our children and local communities that are paying the price.

Education is a top priority for me. Tony Evers has managed to undo some of the damage done by Scott Walker and a decade of gerrymandered Republican dominance, but we still have a ways to go. At both the K-12 level and UW-Whitewater, we need to make sure that our educational system is adequately funded so that all our children have the opportunity to succeed. This applies to all students in Wisconsin, regardless of their income or resident status. Wisconsin has always been lucky to have immigrants bolster our workforce and populate our schools.These hard-working community members should be able to drive legally on the way to work and school. Their children should pay the same in-state tuition rates as other Wisconsinites. Instead, we are leaving these children behind. We are failing to live up to the standards of the Wisconsin Idea, which is to solve problems and improve health, quality of life, the environment, and agriculture for all citizens of the state.

As a gun owner, I support common sense gun laws and universal background checks.

No less important is my support for state parks, clean air, and water standards. Wisconsin is a state of hunting, farming, fishing, hiking, and tourism. We live in some of the most beautiful and water-rich country of the United States, and we should act as good stewards. I will work to strengthen laws that protect the lands we live on and give back control to local governments so the citizens, not the corporations, can decide what happens in their backyards.

I want to get women the resources they need to work and take care of their families. Fifty-eight percent of the workforce is female. We should have universal 4k and paid maternity/paternity leave, so that a woman’s paycheck doesn’t simply turn into a childcare payment. We need a strong Medicaid program that lifts Wisconsin families out of poverty. We need better access to healthy food. Women should have the power to decide how and when to start their families. Women’s rights are human rights.

We need to work smarter, we need to work harder, and we need to work together.

For more information about Brienne Brown, visit BrienneForWisconsin.com or find me on Facebook @BrienneDieboltBrown or Instagram @brienneforwisconsin

Jason Dean, Republican Candidate for State Assembly District 31

Since no response was received from Mr. Dean this week, we are reprinting the announcement that he provided to us in April.

Jason Dean Announces Run for 31st Assembly District Seat

LaGrange Republican to bring experience as a Marine Corps. Veteran, Father, Businesses Leader and
Community Volunteer to State Assembly

LaGrange, April 18 – Jason Dean, a Republican from LaGrange, today announced his candidacy for the Wisconsin State Assembly. Jason is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, father, private sector business leader, and active
community volunteer. He promises to bring experience, commitment, and commonsense conservative
values to Madison on behalf of the people of the 31st Assembly District.

“After serving our country for over 20 years in the United States Marine Corps., I now have a strong
desire to serve Wisconsin, and I see a state in need of help. Politicians in Washington and Madison like
Joe Biden and Tony Evers are leading us in the wrong direction. I’m running to get back our way of life,
empower Wisconsin families and local communities, not big government, and return commonsense
leadership to our state,” said Jason Dean.

Jason served over two decades in the United States Marine Corps and deployed for multiple tours of
duty in Iraq. In 2006, Jason was wounded in action by enemy fire. He was subsequently awarded the
Purple Heart Medal.

Jason held leadership roles throughout his military career and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. His
final duty station included serving as a Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense in
the Pentagon. The same sense of service to our nation that inspired Jason to enlist in the Marine Corps
motivates his efforts to serve in elected office.

Upon his retirement from the military in 2017, Jason and his family relocated to Wisconsin and settled in
LaGrange. In 2018, Jason began volunteering for Congressman Bryan Steil’s campaign and served as
Field Director, coordinating the grassroots efforts for the campaign. After helping Congressman Steil win
the election, Jason accepted a position at ABC Supply Company, Inc. to serve on a divisional leadership
team.

On a volunteer basis, Jason serves as an Advanced EMT with the Lauderdale-LaGrange Fire Department
and on Whitewater Fire Department (WFD). In 2021, Jason was elected to the WFD Board of Directors
as the Vice-President. Jason holds leadership roles in various veterans’ service organizations in
Wisconsin including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) where he advocates for veterans and their
benefits.

Jason lives in LaGrange with his wife, Jessica and his teenage son Jeffrey. Jason also has two adult sons
currently serving in the United States Marine Corps.

Ellen Schutt, Republican Candidate for State Assembly District 31

“Growing up on a farm in Walworth County gave me a deep understanding of our area and sincere appreciation for our values. The last few months of meeting people on the campaign trail have only deepened that understanding and appreciation. I’ve had the honor of meeting thousands of you at events, parades, and at your doorsteps. We’ve talked about how inflation is hurting families and the need to support our first responders who protect us and keep us safe. Most of all, we agree that our communities need a strong voice to advocate for our conservative principles. As your representative, I’ll be that voice. I’ll fight to cut wasteful spending, lower taxes, and support our police so that we can afford to keep our homes, raise our families, and live in safe communities. I’m asking for your vote on August 9th in the Republican primary for State Assembly. Thank you!”

Maryann Zimmerman, Republican Candidate for State Assembly District 31

Since no response was received from Ms. Zimmerman this week, we are reprinting the announcement that she provided to us in April.

It is with pride that the Maryann Zimmerman for Wisconsin State Assembly announces Maryann’s bid to run for the open assembly seat for the 31st District Assembly Seat. The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s reversing its previous decision to use the Republican district map instead of the map submitted by the Governor Evers’ Administration resulted in Maryann Zimmerman, a first-time state candidate becoming ineligible for the Senate race in the 15th district. Rather than give up, Zimmerman changed gears. “I am a public servant and I know I have the expertise, work ethic and fortitude to serve my community well in the State Legislature.” Zimmerman is no stranger to serving her community; since moving here 8 years ago, she has held many volunteer positions within the school district and the community. Zimmerman is currently a member of the Whitewater Unified School District School Board and a State of Wisconsin Parent2Parent Advocate. Maryann’s role as a Parent to Parent Advocate includes acting as an advocate, mentor and friend to parents of children with special needs. Maryann is also a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Disability Rights Commission for the City of Whitewater and the Middle School PTO Vice-President. Professionally, Zimmerman has been the Director of the Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank, a Compliance Officer for a local manufacturer as well as presenter at a national conference on poverty and basic needs for women. Zimmerman is also a certified Six-Sigma Black Belt. ” We are at a time where normal, everyday citizens are galvanized into public service. It’s needed. My experience in quality management, equality and leadership gives me a well-rounded background to serve my community. We don’t need the same types of people running-it’s time for fresh ideas and perspectives to be infused into our state government.” Zimmerman and her husband are small business owners. The Zimmermans live on a hobby farm with 3 of their 4 children in the town of Whitewater. Zimmerman, one of 8 children, grew up in Milwaukee and Glendale and is the daughter of a retired public school teacher and homemaker.

Her new Assembly Campaign has officially kicked off and she is excited to travel to the communities within the 31st district to meet constituents and gather feedback. “I love to interact with people so please come and say, “Hi” when I am in your area; I truly have an open-door policy and welcome your input, feedback and ideas. I am running to serve the people of the 31st district.” The 31st Assembly District includes Elkhorn, Whitewater, Darien, Clinton, Parts of Beloit and the Town of Beloit and right up to Burlington and all the rural communities in between. The Zimmerman campaign website will be updated regularly with events that Zimmerman will be attending within the district at www.maryann4assembly.com.

For more information about her campaign, please visit her social media @mazi4assembly on Facebook and Instagram. She also can be reached via email at maryann@maryann4assembly.com or via her campaign hotline at (262) 753-1063.

Since its inception five years ago, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Center for Inclusive Transition, Education and Employment (CITEE) has been working to help people from all walks of life as they explore education and career opportunities. A new, sizable grant will help in furthering that mission.

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services have announced the center will be awarded approximately $9.1 million through the American Rescue Plan Act to enhance an existing Qualified Treatment Trainees (QTT) grants program.

The program supports placements for behavioral health professionals with a training license who need hours of observed practice for their full license. Trainees are able to provide clinical care under supervision, and these supervised hours are a requirement for clinicians to become fully licensed treatment providers.

Jessica Smith, the center’s director, said the grant will have a notable impact on the program’s ability to address the workforce shortage in this industry, and will have a ripple effect for organizations offering behavioral health services across the state. Grant recipients will be able to hire more qualified treatment trainees and thereby serve more clients, addressing waiting lists for care.  

“Historically, there hasn’t been a lot of emphasis on developing trainees in the area of supervision,” Smith said. “We know that high quality supervision can support trainees’ clinical skill development, and we hope it will also promote their longer term success, retention as clinicians, and also support supervisor satisfaction. Ultimately, it will help the clients that they serve by providing them with the best treatment available.”

Smith said the new award will help people on and off UW-Whitewater’s campus.

“This will bring tons of opportunities for students,” she said. “It’s a great time to be going into social work, counseling or marriage and family therapy.” 

Dr. Lakeia Jones, chief executive officer and director of Milwaukee-based AMRI Counseling Services, has worked with the center in the past via its QTT grants program.

“When I came across this program, I was so excited to be a part of it. It’s been a great opportunity to connect with other supervisors at other agencies and work together to provide supervision to students and supervisees,” said Jones, a UW-Whitewater alum who has been in the behavioral health field for 22 years. “Clinical supervision is extremely important. If you don’t have anybody providing that kind of work, you end up having individuals in the field without any type of guidance or direction.”

Adah Muwonge, who is graduating this month from UW-Whitewater with a master’s degree in counselor education, had the opportunity to intern this spring at AMRI Counseling Services. She has been hired before graduation for a counseling position within the agency.

Speaking to the hands-on training she received through the Qualified Treatment Trainees program, Muwonge, of Milwaukee, said, “This has put me in a place to really understand and learn more about myself and my needs and what I want to do in the future. There’s been a lot of self-exploration throughout this summer.” 

Muwonge, who also holds a bachelor’s degree from UW-Whitewater in psychology, said the experience she has gained in the field has only solidified the course she has embarked on since first walking onto the university campus seven years ago.

“Now I really know, it’s for me,” Muwonge said. “I’m learning where I can fine tune my own personal practice and the way that I counsel in the future.”

A hallmark of UW-Whitewater is to ensure people from all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds have an opportunity to receive an education and pursue their career goals. 

Directing funds toward such efforts as the QTT grants program is another means of furthering that mission, Smith said. With diversity, equity and inclusion in mind, Smith said the grant will help in one area that has been a challenge in the past.

“The intention is to remove the barriers that people might have, particularly because we know that graduate students are frequently asked to do their placements or internships unpaid,” she said. “It certainly is a challenge for many people, particularly if we want to diversify the workforce.” 

Part of the grant money managed by the center will go toward supporting students directly and developing new educational pathways to behavioral health careers, including a pilot program managed with UW-Whitewater at Rock County to make it easier for students to move from an associate degree in human services to a bachelor’s degree in social work. Additionally, the university will develop a post-master’s certificate in treating people diagnosed with both mental health and substance use disorders. 

Editor’s note: The above information was provided by UW-Whitewater. We appreciate the use of the image on the homepage, which was provided by Tiyo Prasetyo from Pixabay.