News

Editor’s note: It appears that a few appointments are still remaining. See below to view the appointment schedule.

Walworth County Health and Human Services, along with State Farm® and Safe Kids Worldwide, invite families to a free Car Seat Check-Up Event on Wednesday, May 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Community Space in Whitewater. Car seats may be available at no cost for families in need.

This appointment-only event is part of the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program, an initiative aimed at ensuring that children are buckled up safely for every ride. Studies indicate that more than half of child car seats are misused or incorrectly installed, yet a correctly used and installed child safety seat can reduce the risk of injury by as much as 71 percent. To schedule an appointment for this event, visit https://bit.ly/May7seatcheck (click on “get tickets”) or call 262-741-3200. If you can’t make it, families can still have their car seats checked by calling Walworth County Health and Human Services at 262-741-3200 to arrange an appointment.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) is proud to announce the 2025 Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) Exhibition, running from May 1-31, 2025, at the Cultural Arts Center, located at 402 W. Main Street, Whitewater, WI. This exhibition provides artists from across Wisconsin with a platform to showcase their creativity, enhance their skills, and connect with others in the arts community.

WRAP offers a welcoming environment where artists can learn, share ideas, and find inspiration. Regional winners will advance to a statewide exhibit, giving them an even greater opportunity to showcase their talent. The exhibition will feature a variety of artwork, including 3D sculptures, acrylics, oils, and collages. Supporting local artists through programs like WRAP is central to WAA’s mission to foster a thriving arts community.

Also in the gallery at the same time:

About Whitewater Arts Alliance:

The Whitewater Arts Alliance, Inc. is dedicated to supporting, promoting, and developing the arts as an essential and integral part of the community.

Whitewater Arts Alliance / Cultural Arts Center
402 West Main Street
Whitewater, WI, 53190
Phone: 608-201-2151
Email: wwartsalliance@gmail.com Website: whitewaterarts.org
Facebook: facebook.com/wwartsalliance

Gallery Exhibit Hours
Thursdays: 12-4 pm
Fridays: 12-4 pm
Saturdays: 12-4 pm
Sundays: 12-4 pm

Please Note: The gallery is closed outside of Gallery Exhibit Hours except for special events and is also closed when no show is currently running.

This public service announcement serves as a reminder that blowing or depositing grass clippings into any City street is prohibited. Reasons this is not permitted include: 1) Grass clippings, leaves, and other lawn debris can clog storm drains, resulting in street and private property flooding. 2) Storm drains flow directly to local lakes untreated. Grass clippings add unnecessary nutrients, which help feed harmful algae blooms. 3) Clippings can make the street slippery and hazardous for bicyclists and motorcyclists.

Using a mulching mower puts clippings back into the turf and keeps the nutrients where they belong. Should you choose to use a discharging mower, please be sure to point the blower toward your property (away from the street) to prevent clippings from leaving your lawn.

When finished mowing, be sure to use a blower, broom, or rake to clean up any grass clippings or debris that have inadvertently made their way into the street, sidewalk, or storm drain. Mowers may also choose to bag clippings, but they may not be disposed of in the garbage totes. City residents are encouraged to compost clippings on their property or take them to the City’s compost site.

City Code – Chapter 12.08 – STREET OBSTRUCTIONS
Sections:
12.08.010 – Prohibited.
(a) No person, except as provided in Section 12.08.020, shall place, deposit, keep, or cause to be placed,
deposited or kept in or upon any street, alley, gutter, sidewalk or public ground within the limits of this city any
stone, brick, timber, lumber, iron, wood or other material for building, or any wood, snow, rubbish, earth, grass
clippings or lawn debris, or anything or substance whatever; nor shall any person burn or cause to be burned any
such substance in any public street or alley; nor shall any person leave any automobile, truck, trailer, equipment or
other vehicle standing or parked in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, or public ground so as to encumber the
same, or so as to obstruct, impede, or hinder travel thereon; nor shall any person leave, or cause to suffer any box,
barrel, crate, cask, bale, package, merchandise, or other thing to stand, be or remain upon any street, alley,
sidewalk, gutter, or public ground longer than may be actually necessary for the act of delivering or receiving the
same.

(b) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall forfeit and pay a penalty of not less than twenty-
five dollars not more than two hundred fifty dollars, together with the costs of prosecution.

(Ord. 983 §51, 1982; prior code §6.01(1))
(Ord. No. 1759A, § 1, 2-16-2010)

Brad Marquardt
Director of Public Works
bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov

The Annual Whitewater FFA Plant Sale, featuring bedding plants, hanging baskets, and vegetables, will be held May 5th – 10th. The hours Monday through Friday will be from 8 am – 4 pm. On Saturday the hours are 9 am – 12 pm. This is a good event to support our local FFA chapter for the many events that they sponsor. The plant sale will be at the Whitewater High School, at door 32 behind the shop at the green house. The address is 534 S Elizabeth St.

By Sherry Stanek
Member, Urban Forestry Commission

The 4th Annual Community Tree Sale was held Arbor Day weekend as in past years, and for a change, we didn’t have a Nor’easter or any blizzards! The weather was seasonal and hundreds of people came to browse and buy native trees and shrubs that can’t be found easily in the area and were grateful to find them in Whitewater! Many of the buyers have been to one or more of our earlier sales and several said they’d see us again next year!

This year more than 350 native trees and shrubs were purchased! Several people asked why Whitewater’s Urban Forestry Commission holds this sale, and we explained that local pollinators and birds need native plants, shrubs and trees to survive, and we all need pollinators and birds! This is our effort to increase awareness of this fact and to make it easier for people to find native plants that they often aren’t able to find at big box stores and outlets nearby so that they can add native plants to their landscapes. The few that don’t sell each year are planted at Starin Park as we work to expand the Arboretum there. Thanks to these sales, more than a thousand native trees and shrubs have been added to our area on private land! Thanks to our City Foresters for increasing the numbers of native trees planted on city streets and in our parks each year. Because of their work and dedication, Whitewater is one of the MOST diverse Tree Cities in the entire state of Wisconsin! And that’s a big deal! If another pest like Emerald Ash Borer shows up here like it did a few years ago, we won’t lose so many of our city street and park trees because of the wide variety of trees in our urban forest!

Thank you to all of the many volunteers, city staff and, of course, our customers, who make this possible. It couldn’t happen without all of you!! And a special thank you to the Whitewater Middle School Show Choir members who helped us celebrate another year of being a Wisconsin Tree City!

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. In honor of May Day (OK, it was yesterday), here is a photo of some Whitewater Normal School (UWW) students participating in a May Day pageant around 1920. A few years ago we posted a photo of these same students around a May pole, so we know that this photo is related to that celebration. During the twentieth century, May Day was celebrated as a spring festival by many young people. Happy Spring!

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

(5394PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

Gov. Evers Orders the Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Firefighters of Wisconsin Who Have Given Their Lives in the Line of Duty

Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #258 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sun., May 4, 2025, as a mark of respect for the firefighters of Wisconsin who have given their lives in the line of duty.  “Our firefighters have selflessly dedicated their lives to service and to ensure Wisconsinites across the state are safe and secure, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year,” said Gov. Evers. “On behalf of the state, we recognize and thank all members of our firefighting communities for their brave service and sacrifice and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of safety and serving their fellow neighbor.” Executive Order #258 orders the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sun., May 4, 2024, in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Gov. Evers proclaimed May 3-4, 2025, as National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. The governor’s proclamation is available here.  On Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial in Wisconsin Rapids will hold the Final Alarm Ceremony honoring the memory of members of Wisconsin’s fire services who have given their lives in the line of duty. Executive Order #258 also orders the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, in honor of that occasion.   Finally, in Wisconsin, Wis. Stat. 995.225(1) designates each week annually during which October 9th falls as Fire Prevention Week and the Saturday at the end of Fire Prevention Week as Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day. To that end, Executive Order #258 orders the flags be lowered on Sat., Oct. 11, 2025, in honor of Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day during Fire Prevention Week.

The following individuals have been criminally charged in Walworth County Circuit Court. Only alleged offenses that are charged as felonies are listed.

Yair Hernandez Rivera, 21, of N407 County Trunk N, Whitewater, has been charged with battery or threat to judge, prosecutor or law enforcement officer, and throwing or discharging bodily fluids at a public safety officer or prosecutor.

Kimberly J Voegeli, 62, of 720 W. Walworth Ave., Whitewater, has been charged with maintain a drug trafficking place, PTAC, and possession of narcotic drugs, PTAC.

Craig O Voegeli, 66, of 720 W. Walworth Ave., Whitewater, has been charged with maintain a drug trafficking place, PTAC, and possession of narcotic drugs, PTAC.

Tanya J Voegeli, 38, of 720 W. Walworth Ave., Whitewater, has been charged with possession of narcotic drugs.

Austin M Voegeli, 21, of 608B S. Franklin St., Whitewater, has been charged with neglecting a child – no harm and child under 6 years or disability.

Alicia A Zamora, 27, of 608B S. Franklin St., Whitewater, has been charged with neglecting a child – no harm and child under 6 years or disability.

Noaa J Belasic, 27, of 720 W. Walworth Ave., Whitewater, has been charged with possession of narcotic drugs.

James R. Braya, 44, of 720 W. Walworth Ave., Whitewater, has been charged with possession of narcotic drugs and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

Editor’s notes: The above information is taken from the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website.

PTAC is an abbreviation for “party to a crime.” Party to a crime is a legal term that alleges that someone who was not the primary actor in a crime was ready, willing, and able to assist in the commission of the offense.

It is a cardinal principle of our system of justice that every person accused of a crime is presumed to be innocent unless and until his or her guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Saturday City Market at Cravath Lakefront Community Center has ended for its season, but the Farmers Market will pick up where the City Market left off (well, not exactly.) Beginning on Saturday, May 3, the Farmers Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon, 301 W. Whitewater Street, in the parking lot next to the historic Train Depot. This early in the season, of course, the produce selection will be limited, but there are likely to also be eggs, baked goods, and a variety of other items.

The City Market will be back at the Train Depot beginning on Tuesday, May 6 from 4-7 p.m. Their announcement will be forthcoming soon.

The first phase of the Walworth Avenue repaving project is scheduled to start Friday, May 2.

Walworth Avenue/CTH N will be closed from State Highway 12 west to the City Limits. The closure is anticipated to last through the end of May. Work in phase 1 includes concrete curb replacement and milling and repaving of the asphalt surface. The road will be closed to all traffic. The detour will include State Highway 59 and State Highway 26.

Phase 2 of the Walworth Avenue repaving project will begin after the Whitewater Unified School District is completed with their spring semester. During phase 2, Walworth Avenue will be closed to thru traffic from State Highway 12 to Janesville Street. Local access and access to the Whitewater High School and the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center will be maintained via side streets.

For questions regarding the project please contact the Department of Public Works. Brad Marquardt
Director of Public Works
(262) 473-0139

El proyecto de repavimentación de Walworth Avenue comenzará el viernes 2 de mayo.

La primera fase del proyecto de repavimentación de la Avenida Walworth está
programada para comenzar el viernes 2 de mayo. Walworth Avenue/CTH N estará cerrada
desde la autopista estatal 12 hacia el oeste hasta los límites de la ciudad. Se prevé que el
cierre dure hasta finales de mayo. Los trabajos de la fase 1 incluyen el reemplazo de
bordillos de concreto y el fresado y repavimentación de la superficie de asfalto. La
carretera estará cerrada a todo el tráfico. El desvío incluirá la Carretera Estatal 59 y la
Carretera Estatal 26.

La Fase 2 del proyecto de repavimentación de la Avenida Walworth comenzará después de
que el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Whitewater termine su semestre de primavera.
Durante la fase 2, Walworth Avenue estará cerrada al tráfico desde la autopista estatal 12
hasta la calle Janesville. El acceso local y el acceso a la Escuela Secundaria Whitewater y
al Centro Acuático y de Fitness Whitewater se mantendrán a través de calles laterales.

Si tiene preguntas sobre el proyecto, comuníquese con el Departamento de Obras Públicas.
Brad Marquardt
Director de Obras Públicas
(262) 473-0139
bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov