News

Final Boat Safety Course of the Season

Sheriff Fell is pleased to announce that the Rock County Sheriff’s Office will offer our second and final 2024 Boater Safety Education Course on April 30, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and May 11, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., at the Rock County
Fairgrounds – Craig Center, 1301 Craig Ave, Janesville, WI 53545. Students will need to attend both sessions to graduate.

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1989, is required to complete a Boater Safety Education Course to legally operate a motorized boat or personal watercraft (PWC) on Wisconsin waters. It is recommended that participants are at least 12 years of age or turn
12 shortly after the class.

Session 1: April 30, from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. @ Rock Co. Fairgrounds – Craig Center
Session 2: May 11, from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. @ Rock Co. Fairgrounds – Craig Center

Registration is now open. Complete the online enrollment form to reserve a seat.
https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/sheriff-s-office/recreational-patrol/boater-education

Class size is limited to 30 students. Upon submission of the registration form, the submitter will see an onscreen confirmation message with course information. The course fee of $10 per student will be collected at the first session. If the student is under 18 years old, a parent/guardian will need to attend the first session with the student. Students will receive course materials at the first session. Please direct any questions to Deputy Trevor Lund at trevor.lund@co.rock.wi.us.

Three Killed in Crash on Hwy 12 (Updated)

Update 4/15 @ 9:15 a.m.: In a press release on this date the Whitewater Fire/EMS Department included the following statement: “Whitewater Fire and EMS would like to extend a thank you to the numerous bystanders and witnesses that offered assistance and first aid during the initial moments of this mass casualty event.”

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Rock County Sheriff’s Department.

On 4/13/2024 at approximately 1204 hours Rock County Deputies, Jefferson County Deputies, Whitewater Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol along with several fire/EMS agencies responded to a three-vehicle crash at HWY 12 and E County Line Rd in Lima Township, Rock County. [City residents may know this intersection as HWY 12 and Business HWY 12/Main St.] Through investigation this is believed to be what occurred:

A passenger van was eastbound on E County Line Rd approaching HWY 12. The driver of the passenger van did not adhere to the stop sign entering the intersection. There was a passenger SUV, with the right of way, southbound on HWY 12. The front of the SUV collided with the driver side of the van in the intersection. As they collided a truck pulling a fifth wheel trailer hauling hay was northbound on HWY 12. The driver side of the trailer collided with the front of the van. During the crash two adult females and one adult male were ejected from the van. Those three subjects were later declared deceased on scene.

The female adult driver of the van sustained non-life-threatening injuries as did the adult male driver of the SUV. The driver of the truck was uninjured. There were four additional passengers from the van that were transported to nearby hospitals. One of them, an adult female, was transported via Med Flight with life threatening injuries. The other three, two adult males and an adult female, have severe but non-life-threatening injuries.

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office will be the primary investigating agency for the crash. At this time no criminal charges have been filed as a result of the crash and the investigation is ongoing. The names of the deceased will be later released by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

LWV Presents: Impact of Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories on Voting

Michael Wagner

The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area invites the public to attend an illuminating program by Michael Wagner, UW-Madison Professor of Journalism & Mass Communication, on The Impact of Misinformation, Disinformation, & Conspiracy Theories on Voting, to be held on Thursday evening, April 18th, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM in the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library, 431 West Center Street in Whitewater.

This is a special election year program in which Professor Wagner will discuss the influence of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories on voting and their relationship to political intimidation and violence. Michael spoke about this topic in November 2022, on the PBS Program, Here & Now, hosted by Frederica Freyberg. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and completed his Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University. Professor Wagner centers his research, teaching, and service on the question, “How well does democracy work?”

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!

Care & Skills Training – Especially helpful for those providing care for loved ones

This is a FREE educational training open to the community, that Fairhaven is hosting on Friday, April 19th from 12:00-2:00.  UW-W Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students and Clinicians will be covering the following topics:

ORAL CARE

HEARING AID CARE

COMMUNICATION

SAFE SWALLOW

Session and topics will be particularly helpful for those who provide care to loved ones, specifically for older adults.

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Fairhaven Senior Services.

Obituary: Tiiu (Rodima) Gray-Fow, 82

WHITEWATER, WI—Tiiu (Rodima) Gray-Fow, age 82, died at home on April 6, 2024, from the late effects of a heart attack that she suffered several months earlier. She was born in Tartu, Estonia, and spent her childhood in the shadow of World War II. When Tiiu was three years old, her family fled Estonia between the retreating Nazi army and advancing Soviet forces which were to occupy Estonia for the next fifty years. Young as she was, she still recalled their wild flight from midland Estonia to the harbor at Tallin, and the red glow in the sky from Tartu burning in the distance. She grew up in various German refugee camps, most notably the Estonian camp in the Alpine village of Geislingen where she spent almost three years and developed an abiding love of the mountains. At age ten, she emigrated to America with her parents and settled in the Lakewood area of New Jersey where a community of Estonian exiles was forming. Both Tiiu and her father contracted tuberculosis in America. Her father responded to antibiotics, but Tiiu did not recover until she underwent a risky new lung operation in her late teens. Tiiu matriculated at Douglass College in 1960 where she majored in history and met her lifelong friend Linda Alfonso. Afterwards, she moved to Madison to pursue graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin. She taught European history at Carroll College, Marquette University, and then UW Whitewater where she met and married Raleigh Williams and started a family. Later, she returned to school for a masters in counseling and worked as a guidance counselor in Williams Bay and then the Palmyra Eagle school district. In 1983, she married Michael Gray-Fow with whom she shared a happy life for over forty years.

More than anything, Tiiu loved camping in the mountains and spent many summer vacations in the national parks, most notably in the Rocky Mountains. She was a passionate defender of trees and was responsible for planting and protecting many terrace trees in Whitewater. She was instrumental in forming the Whitewater Tree Commission and served as its chair for ten years. The City honored her service with a day named in her honor and a tree planting ceremony at Cravath Lakefront Park where a plaque now bears her name. She was active in local politics through the League of Women Voters and the Democratic Party of Walworth County. Democracy, she often said, is not a spectator sport. She loved to travel and returned to visit Estonia several times after it finally became independent in 1991, once with her cousin Maret Henrikson and twice with Michael. She was very serious about home maintenance and spent a lot of time fixing, painting and repairing the rambling old farmhouse that she shared with Michael and their many dogs. She loved her dogs, always and deeply: Muri the cherished dog of her youth, then Buster, Chester, Kalju, Rufus, and finally Puck and Sophie. She was a fierce spirit, a fighter, and a lover of natural beauty.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eino Rodima and Aino (Keder) Rodima and all of her maternal first cousins including Juhan Urm. She is survived by her husband Michael Gray-Fow; daughter Susan Maaja Williams (partner Bryan James); step-daughter Emily Gray-Fow; cousin Juhan’s wife Carol Urm and their sons Erik and Matthew (Robbi) Urm; and Matthew’s children, Rebecca, Nicholas and Nathan Urm.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 on Saturday, April 20 at St Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fort Atkinson. Lunch to follow at the church. Flowers are welcome, or donations may be made to the Walworth County Humane Society. Online condolences may be made at www.firstwisconsincremation.com.

Whitewater Traveling Basketball Club’s New “Shot Club” Registration Open

Whitewater Traveling Basketball Club is excited to announce the details of the 2024 shot club.  Registration is currently open and the spring portion of the Club starts April 7. Registration closes April 30. 

1.  Registration must be completed by completing the Google Form: https://forms.gle/JGjzDLAVBUG8W5N78

2.  In order to receive recognition at a game next season, the player will need to make 10,000 game like shots and participate in four (4) shot club training sessions between June 15 and August 31.

The rules of the Whitewater Shot Club are:

1. Every game like shot made counts as “1 make”;

2. Every 10 minutes of focused ball handling counts as 10 makes (limit of 2000 makes for the 2024 with ball handling);

3. Students in grades 9-12 for the 2024-25 school year have until August 31 to get 10,000 makes. Students in grades 5-8 have until October 31 to get 10,000 makes. 

4. Makes are submitted weekly. Information on recording and submitting makes will be sent out to athletes that sign up. Workouts will be run by Coach Dowden and Coach McCabe and more information will be coming to families that sign-up. Open gyms begin Sunday, April 7 at 5 pm. In May, Open Gyms run from 4-6pm. There is no open gym on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day; otherwise gym is open at 4 pm starting on Sundays in May until basketball season starts. 

This programming is new for the community, and we look forward to answering questions and working to get better at basketball!

Coach Dowden and Coach McCabe

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by the Whitewater Traveling Basketball Club. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the homepage image by Schorsch from Pixabay.

Enroll in 4K/K Today! Registration Day Event Wed.

Registration opened on April 8 for 4K and new-to-kindergarten students for the 2024-25 school year!

WUSD Families can complete the 2024-25 annual update and add their 4K/new kindergartner into the portal.

1) Please log into your Infinite Campus portal account: https://wicloud3.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/whitewater.jsp

2) On the left navigation bar, click on “More”

3) Click on “Online Registration”

4) Select the “2024-25 School Year Annual Update” option

Once on the Annual Update page, you can proceed with updating student and family information and register 4K or New to K students for school.

Step-by-step instructions with screenshots to follow are available on the Parent Technology Resources page: https://sites.google.com/wwusd.org/ptr/infinite-campus/annual-update.

➡️ New families to our district can complete the full online registration here: https://www.wwusd.org/o/wwusd/page/new-family-enrollment

Obituary: Jayce Xavier Rocha, 21

Jayce Xavier Rocha, our beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew, and friend, passed away unexpectedly in a boating accident on March 9th, 2024 at the age of 21.

Jayce was born on March 4, 2003, to Benny and Casey Rocha in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Jayce attended Milton schools throughout his youth where he participated in many activities and built lifelong friendships. Jayce was a three-sport athlete excelling in hockey, lacrosse, and football. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, where he played football. Stevens Point is also where he met the love of his life, Mara. After his time at Stevens Point, he spent the summer and fall working for K&W Greenery doing landscape work before deciding to follow his dreams and move to Florida. Jayce was enrolled in Northwest Lineman College in Edgewater, FL, studying to become an electrical lineman and obtain his CDL. He was leading his class and excelling in the program, scheduled to graduate in May of 2024.

Jayce had a deep love for the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. If he wasn’t sitting in a duck blind, shooting his gun, launching his fishing boat, or casting a line, you could find him scouting a pond, practicing his bird calls, or getting his gear set up for the next day. The outdoors is where he was happiest.

Jayce also had a love for sports. He played on various youth and club teams all the way through high school and into college. Whether on the ice or on the field, Jayce’s competitive spirit and love for the game shone brightly. Through sports, Jayce created countless memories with lifelong friends.

Jayce was known for his infectious laughter, vivacious personality, and zest for life. His presence was undeniable, lighting up every room he walked into. Nobody could make friends faster than Jayce. Everyone who interacted with Jayce felt his ability to make you feel like the most important person in the world. Every one of Jayce’s days were filled with doing the things he loved most: being with friends or family, spending time with Mara, hunting, fishing, playing sports, listening to music, or making people laugh. He left an indelible mark on those who knew him.

To know Jayce was to love Jayce. Though Jayce may no longer walk among us, he is with us in our hearts and the memories we have with him. When you’re hunting in a field, fishing on a pond, or spending time with friends and family, think of Jayce and smile. May his memory be the source of many smiles, laughter, and fun for generations to come.

Jayce is preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Richard and Margaret Bailey, Alvin and Jane Becker, and Adelaida Vasquez; his second cousins Shelby Long and Andrew Rocha, and his uncle, Max.

Jayce is survived by his parents, Benny and Casey Rocha and sister, Emelia Rocha. His grandparents, Dan and Jane Becker, Grandfather Ramon Rocha, and Grandmother Susy Hernandez. Aunts and Uncles, Cody (Kari) Becker, Chad (Teegan) Becker, Ramon Rocha Jr, Felipe (Britnei) Cervantes, Stacey Rocha, Mari Rocha and Ashley Gonzalez as well as many other family and friends.

A celebration of life will take place at Rock River Heritage County Park on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.

Rock River Heritage County Park

5801 N River Rd.

Janesville, WI 53545

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Delta Waterfowl in Jayce’s honor.

Municipal Judge Resigns; Common Council to Consider Interim Appointment

Patrick Taylor [LinkedIn]

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

In a letter to the city manager dated April 1, Municipal Judge Patrick Taylor tendered his resignation effective June 1. Taylor, who has served for five years, indicated that his wife, Grace Crickette, “has taken a position as vice president of her alma mater, the University of Redlands in California, and I must follow her there.”

Taylor added, “Many thanks to my staff, Beatriz Aranda and Mike Ciardo, for their support and guidance. I am also grateful for the participation of WUSD high school and middle school administrators who wholeheartedly accepted my invitation to be active participants, as well as Walworth County Health and Human Services professionals who provide needed services beyond the significant capabilities of the schools. It was also a privilege to work with the city attorney and witness the professionalism of the WPD as few people can.”

“Preparation, understanding, impartiality, and creative resolutions are among the keys to successfully administrating community justice and are prerequisites to steering lives onto a more constructive path. To my successor I would suggest adopting this philosophy and an inclusive 360-degree approach, and never underestimate the positive effect you can make. I will be available to assist as needed. Above all, I am exceptionally grateful to this community filled with kind, thoughtful and generous people. It has been an honor and privilege to serve you.”

Per a state statute, the Chief Judge of the Judicial Administrative District may designate another municipal judge…until the municipal governing body fills the vacancy…The power of appointment by the Chief Judge is limited to 90 days…” John Weidl, city manager, placed discussion of the subject on the council agenda for April 16, obviously presuming that the council would prefer to make a timely appointment rather than relying on an outside temporary designation. He provided a proposed schedule “designed to ensure the seamless integration of the new appointee with the outgoing judge, facilitating an effective onboarding period before June.” Weidl suggested establishing a deadline for applications of April 30, with vetting of the candidates to occur at the May 7 council meeting. Alternatively he proposed the possibility of calling a special meeting to expedite the process, with the hope that the incoming judge might be able to attend the New Municipal Judge Orientation hosted by the Wisconsin Judicial Education division of the Director of State Court’s Office. This orientation will take place in Appleton from May 7-10. Weidl’s view is that the city’s “prompt identification and appointment of the new judge could significantly benefit from this educational opportunity, ensuring a well-prepared judiciary to serve our community.”

The state statute specifies that ultimately a special election should be held, and Weidl suggests that this be scheduled as part of the November election, indicating that the winner will serve out the remainder of the original term that expires in May 2027.

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Original Starin Park Community Building

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week, we feature a mid-20th century postcard of the Starin Park Community Building in its original form.

In the 1930s, funding for a community building was started in Whitewater, but due to the financial hardships of the Great Depression, the effort was slow. In 1936, the federal government expanded its work program for the unemployed under the Works Progress Administration or WPA and began to help fund community projects. The Starin Park Community Building benefited from this program and the building was completed by July of 1936. The architect of the building designed it as a somewhat “rustic” lodge, a popular style for park buildings at the time. It has been enlarged and remodeled and has served the community for over 80 years as a general-purpose community center and as a Senior Center.

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

(2290PC, Whitewater Historical Society)