News

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

At the December 19 Common Council meeting, Police Chief Daniel Meyer requested feedback regarding a letter he had drafted to be sent to President Biden regarding the need for more resources for the Police Department and other areas in order to continue effectively serving the entire population of the city. Those residents now include an estimated 800-1000 persons who have immigrated here from Central and South America in the past two years.

The council members endorsed the draft while also suggesting a few additional points they thought might be included in the letter. Ultimately City Manager John Weidl suggested that Meyer be allowed to send his letter with minimal changes, while committing that Weidl would be happy to draft an additional letter through which the council might communicate its own concerns. Council members, endorsing this proposal, requested that the chief’s letter also be sent to a number of federal and state officials. They also felt that in addition to the chief it should also be signed by the city manager and the council members. The letter, a copy of which is included at the end of this article, was sent on December 28. In addition to the president, it was also sent to Vice President Harris, DHS Secretary Mayorkas, Governor Evers, Lieutenant Governor Rodriguez, US Senator Baldwin, US Senator Johnson, US Representative Steil, US Representative Fitzgerald, WI Senator Nass, WI Representative Peterson, WI Representative Schutt, and WI Representative Vos.

State and national media picked up the story, and among the inaccurate comments being made in some outlets and on social media are references to busloads of people being “dumped” in Whitewater.

The Banner inquired whether the police chief and city manager would care to provide any comments in response to this concern. Their comments are below.

Police Chief Daniel Meyer: “I would like to make it absolutely clear that this is an apolitical issue for us. It’s unfortunate that certain media outlets have chosen to use the letter as political ammunition. The purpose of the letter is to obtain financial support for services that the Whitewater community is in critical need of. It is a simple fact that we are not currently providing the Whitewater community with the degree of service that our residents are accustomed to. Our proactive law enforcement statistics show that. That needs to change for the sake of both long-time residents, as well as individuals who have recently moved here from Central America. We are in no way working to divide this community. We want to make positive change so that we can all continue to move forward in a safe and welcoming city.”

City Manager John Weidl: “The City of Whitewater is experiencing population growth, necessitating a shift in the allocation of city resources to address the evolving needs of the community. This includes ensuring access to safe housing, education registration, library services, and other essential public amenities. Additionally, it is crucial to adapt our public safety strategies to effectively serve newcomers, enhancing communication between officers and residents, aiding in obtaining necessary identification, and providing support to integrate them as active, contributing members of the community.

It is important to emphasize that the intention of this letter is not to cast a negative light on any part of our community. Instead, it is a call for additional resources to enable the City to more effectively serve all community members.”

Editor’s note: We appreciate having permission to use the image on the homepage by Pexels from Pixabay.

Congratulations to A’lani Ross, Calli Grosinske, and Maddison LaHaie for being selected to represent Whitewater High School at Badger Girls State in 2024! 

Badger Girls State is a program designed to develop leadership skills in high school students and train future stateswomen in the science of government. The program will be held at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh from June 16-21. Participants are chosen for their interest in the American government and their outstanding qualities of leadership, character, cooperativeness, dependability, and participation in extracurricular activities.

Thank you to the Whitewater American Legion for sponsoring our awesome delegates again this year! Congratulations!

Article and Photo Submitted by Pamela Sonmor-Wintz
Whitewater High School Counselor
psonmorwintz@wwusd.org

“A Haunting in Venice”

Tuesday, January 9, 1 p.m.

(Mystery/Drama) Rated PG-13. 

1 hour, 43 minutes (2023)

Agatha Christie’s celebrated sleuth Hercules Poirot, now retired and living in self imposed exile in Venice, reluctantly attends a Halloween séance in a “haunted” palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, Poirot is, once again, on the hunt.

Kenneth Branagh, Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh star. 

Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $10 and non-residents is $15. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes our of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

With the 72-hour extension in the filing deadline for Common Council seats having passed at 5 p.m. on Friday, January 5, the April 2 ballot has now been finalized. City Clerk Heather Boehm indicated that the candidates are as follows.

At large seat (Shown here in alphabetical order; the draw for placement on the ballot will be held on Monday, January 8.)

Greg Majkrzak, 1294 Tower Hill Pass
Keith Staebler, 542 E. Clay Street

Aldermanic District 2

Orin Smith, 901 W. Starin Rd., #502A

Aldermanic District 4

Brian Schanen, 441 S. Buckingham Blvd.

There will be no primary election for either the Common Council or the School Board. The general election will be held on April 2. As was previously announced on The Whitewater Banner, there are three candidates for two seats on the Whitewater Unified School District School Board.

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Walworth County Public Health. After that article is a press release on the same subject from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Walworth County Public Health Providing $5 Radon Test Kits with a Food Pantry Donation

Sixty Percent of Walworth County Homes Tested for Radon Had Higher Levels than the EPA Deems Safe

The Walworth County Division of Public Health is offering $5 radon test kits throughout Radon Action Month in January to anyone who donates a non-perishable food item. There is a limit of one kit per person. All food donations will go to the Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank.

Radon is an odorless, radioactive gas that is the nation’s second leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for roughly 20,000 deaths each year. Data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services indicates that about 6 in 10 homes in Walworth County have radon levels above the EPA’s recommended action limit. “January is the ideal time to see if your home has elevated radon as houses are closed up for the cold winter weather and we’re spending more time indoors,” said Walworth County Public Health Officer Erica Bergstrom.

Testing is offered locally through the Kenosha/Walworth Radon Information Center, funded through a Wisconsin Department of Health Services grant. Normally, the cost is $15 per kit.

The test kit includes a small vial that must be left open to the air in the lowest livable level of a home — usually the basement — for 48 to 96 hours. The vial is then capped and mailed to Accustar Labs, which generally provides the results via mail, email, or telephone within three days. Shipping and analysis of the kit are included in the $5 price.

Those whose homes test at an elevated level of radon are encouraged to contact the Kenosha/Walworth Radon Information Center for more information about mitigation options.

The reduced-price test kit offer is redeemable January 1 to 31, 2024, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Walworth County Health and Human Services building at 1910 County Rd. NN, Elkhorn. After that date the kits may be purchased at the same location for $15.

Visit the Walworth County Division of Public Health’s website for more information about radon. 

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

DHS Encourages Homeowners, Property Owners, and Child Care Centers to Test for Radon

Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall and leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers

During National Radon Action Month, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is encouraging home and building owners, along with child care providers, to test their buildings for radon.

Radon, an odorless, radioactive gas naturally present in the ground, is found across Wisconsin, and enters buildings through their foundations. Approximately one in 10 homes in our state have elevated radon levels.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s action level for safety is 4 picocuries per liter (4 pCi/L). Last March, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) enacted rule changes which require licensed family and group child care providers to test for radon and install a mitigation system if radon levels exceed the EPA action level.

“Reducing radon exposure is a top environmental health concern,” said Paula Tran, State Health Officer. “DHS applauds DCF for taking this important step toward protecting all Wisconsinites from exposure to radon by putting children, and their caretakers, first.”

This National Radon Action Month, DHS encourages all Wisconsinites to test their homes and business locations for radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and it is estimated to cause over 21,000 deaths each year in the United States. Approximately 962 of these deaths are in Wisconsin. High radon levels are especially dangerous for people who smoke; their risk of lung cancer is 10 times higher than non-smokers.

Fortunately, this cause of lung cancer is largely preventable, and the first step is to test your house, apartment, or business location for radon. The cost of mitigation can be a barrier for some families and businesses; Wisconsin residents can visit lowradon.org to find their Radon Information Centers (RIC) in Wisconsin or speak with local public health department radon experts by calling 888 LOW-RADON to discuss available options. Reduced-cost test kits are available through RICs and test kit promotions are happening throughout January.

Any house or building can be at risk for high radon levels, including apartments and commercial buildings. Landlords have a responsibility to provide safe living and working conditions to their tenants and should work with a certified radon testing and mitigation contractor to get started on addressing the issue for their tenants. DHS maintains a list of certified radon professionals that can provide radon measurement and mitigation, and encourages homeowners and property owners to prioritize using a certified contractor.

More information can be found at lowradon.org.  

The image on the homepage “radon” by oparvez is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Marquette University.

Maddie Arnett of Whitewater, WI, has been named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2023 semester at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Arnett is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology.

To make the Dean’s List, students must have earned at least 12 credits for the fall 2023 semester and have no disqualifying grades. The GPA threshold varies by college – for the College of Education and the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduate students must have at least a 3.7 to be named to the Dean’s List. 

The undergraduate GPA requirement is 3.5 for the following colleges: the Diederich College of Communication, the College of Business Administration, the College of Health Sciences, the Opus College of Engineering and the College of Nursing. All other programs have a 3.75 GPA minimum.

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 7,600 undergraduate and 3,700 graduate and professional students from nearly all states and more than 60 countries. In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. We have a tradition of posting winter-related photos in January and here is the first of four featuring the downtown. This image is from a post card, probably from the 1960s before the old city hall was torn down. It is a popular view from across Cravath Lake, possibly taken from Hillside Cemetery. The bare branches make for a very artistic winter view.

Join us next week for another vintage winter scene of downtown Whitewater.

(5090PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the City of Whitewater. The photo on the homepage was taken in November, 2020, the only occasion when the election was held in the UW-W Kachel Fieldhouse. Although most poll workers are likely motivated primarily by civic service, a modest hourly wage is paid.

The City of Whitewater is urgently seeking dedicated and civic-minded individuals to volunteer as poll workers for the upcoming election. With election day drawing near, this is a critical opportunity for our fellow citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and ensure a smooth voting experience for all.

Poll workers play an essential role in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of our elections. As trusted individuals who oversee polling sites, they help in guaranteeing the fundamental right to vote for every eligible citizen. Their involvement is crucial in upholding the democratic values that shape our great nation.

The City of Whitewater invites all community members, from eager first-timers to seasoned professionals, to lend their time, skills, and enthusiasm to this essential civic duty. By volunteering as a poll worker, you will gain firsthand experience in democracy at work, fostering a deeper understanding of the electoral process and contributing directly to the success of our elections.

The City of Whitewater also strongly encourages bilingual individuals who are fluent in both Spanish and English to reach out. It is important to ensure that all members of our diverse community have access to accurate information and support in their preferred language. This is an opportunity for bilingual residents to make a meaningful impact and provide assistance to voters who may require language assistance.

If you are interested please contact the City Clerk’s office at 262-473-0102.