News

Zachary M. Lemmer, age 34, of 158 W. Whitewater St., B, Whitewater, was charged in Walworth County Circuit Court on November 19 with Child Abuse-Intentionally Cause Harm, a Class H Felony. Bond was set at $5,000. Lemmer remains in custody. Class H felonies carry with them a maximum penalty of 6 years in prison, $10,000.00 in fines, or both.

Travis Arlyn Brown, age 35, of W7209 Kettle Moraine Dr., Whitewater, was charged in Walworth County Circuit Court on November 1 with Hit and Run – Involve Death, a Class D felony. According to Fox6 News, prosecutors say that Brown hit and killed Noe Rendon Jr., age 59, near his Delavan home at about 9:40 p.m. on November 14, 2020. Per Fox6 News, “According to the complaint, Brown reported a crash to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Nov. 20, 2020 – six days after Rendon’s death. He said he ‘hit a deer’ in Burnett County – more than 300 miles northwest of Delavan. Insurance records showed where Brown had his truck serviced, and investigators obtained pictures from that business. The pictures showed the damage to Brown’s truck before it was repaired. Investigators showed those pictures to a Wisconsin State Patrol crash reconstruction expert, per the complaint, who determined the damage was “not consistent” with a truck hitting a deer but ‘was consistent’ with the truck hitting a pedestrian.”

“The Delavan police chief told FOX6 News the department referred charges to the district attorney’s office in June 2021. FOX6 reached out to the district attorney’s office about the delay in those charges being filed, but did not hear back by Wednesday’s deadline.”

Brown was released on $100,000 cash bond on November 9. The penalty for a Class D felony is up to 25 years in state prison, a maximum fine of $100,000, or both imprisonment and a fine.

Editor’s note: A charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage from Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

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

The city’s curbside leaf pickup ended on Friday, November 17. If there are still bags at curbside, it is likely because they were put out later, or that they are not in the biobags or clear bags that are required for pickup.

Leaf bags that are left outside for the winter will not be picked up by the city crew in the spring. Residents who have leaves which they still wish to be composted have the option of bringing their leaves to the city garage, 150 E. Starin Rd., where two dumpsters are provided, from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. through Friday, December 1. Although the sign there says that bags must be emptied into the dumpster, biobags do not need to be emptied.

The dumpsters are for leaves and other yard waste only. Yard waste is defined as leaves, weeds, grass clippings, and yard and garden debris. The only bags that may be placed in the dumpster are the biobags or transparent bags. Black bags must be emptied into the dumpster. Brush is not to be placed in the dumpster.

Residents requesting brush collection should call 473-0560 by 5 a.m. on Tuesday to make an appointment for pick up on Tuesdays.

On Sunday, December 17th, the Whitewater High School Music Masters Ensemble will present their Music Masters Showcase. The event will take place in the Whitewater High School MPR and will include solos and small ensemble performances, as well as songs sung by the entire Music Masters Ensemble. The event will begin at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 and include reserved seating for the performance and refreshments. Advanced ticket purchase is necessary for this event and should be purchased by December 8th. Tickets will not be sold at the door. See any Music Masters Ensemble member, their director Karen Tordera, or the Whitewater High School Office for tickets. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Tordera at ktordera@wwusd.org .

Who doesn’t enjoy seeing the lit-up candles in all of the front windows of the Victoria on Main B&B during Christmas time? This month, Landmark Trek gets inside the beautiful home of Nancy and Jerry Wendt, to explore the nooks and crannies, as well as the many stories this Whitewater Landmark holds. You can access this new episode at:

Landmark Trek will be taking a few months off over the holiday season, but will be back in the early part of next year. The Whitewater Landmark Commission would like to thank all of our viewers for your support, and for all to have a wonderful holiday season!

Persons who are responsible for any building or lot with a public sidewalk are required to remove all snow and ice from the sidewalk within 24 hours after a snow or ice event. If ice can’t be removed, it must be kept sprinkled with salt or sand. If these requirements are not met, the city may have the work performed at a minimum cost of $100. Please see below for the city ordinance.

12.20.020 Snow and Ice Removal Required.
The owner, occupant, and person in charge of any building or lot fronting upon or adjoining any sidewalk
shall remove all snow and ice from the sidewalk no later than twenty-four hours after a snow or ice event.
When any ice is so formed on any sidewalk that it cannot be removed, then the responsible party shall keep
the same sprinkled with salt or sand. If any such owner, occupant, or person in charge refuses or fails to
comply with the provisions of this section within the time aforesaid, the city manager or an appointed
representative may remove such snow or ice and the cost thereof shall be charged at a rate of one hundred
dollars per hour, with a minimum charge of one hundred dollars. Work lasting more than one hour will be
billed an additional twenty-five dollars. Any subsequent snow removal, which takes place within six months
of the prior removal, will be charged at a rate of one hundred fifty dollars per hour, with a minimum charge of
one hundred fifty dollars. Work lasting more than one hour will be billed an additional twenty-five dollars. If
the city contracts the service out for snow and ice removal, the city shall bill back to the property owner the
cost, for any labor, equipment, and material necessary to remove the snow and ice from the public sidewalk
the rate of the cost of the contracted service, plus a ten percent administrative cost fee, or, at the city’s
discretion, the street department’s going rate for time, materials and equipment. The cost of such removal
shall be reported to the city clerk in writing with a description of the premises, and such costs shall be and
become a special tax and lien against the premises, and if not previously paid shall be inserted by the city
clerk in the next ensuing tax roll as a special tax against such premises; and such costs may, in the
discretion of the common council, be collected by suit against the owner or occupant of the premises.
(Ord. 1474 §1, 2001: Ord. 1193 §1, 1990: Ord. 983 §54(part), 1982; Ord. 901 §1, 1978: Ord. 862 §1, 1976:
prior code §6.01(8)).
(Ord. No. 1846A, § 1, 11-8-2012; Ord. No. 1993A, § 1, 2-4-2020)

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.

The library is participating in “Hour of Code” on Monday, December 4 at 3:30-4:30 p.m. in celebration of Computer Science Education Week. This year, children in grades two through six (ages 7-12) are invited to learn how to program drones and a high-tech sleigh (virtually) with coding magic to capture presents and navigate down the mountain to return Christmas to Whoville in a Grinch-style educational game. Computers will be provided.  

Please register in advance as space is limited. Visit whitewaterlibrary.org and click on “Events – Registration Forms” or contact Sarah French at sfrench@whitewaterlibrary.org or 262-458-2782.  The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater.