News

An event to celebrate the Heart Prairie Norwegian Methodist Episcopal Church being listed in the National Register of Historic Places will be held on Sunday, September 10th at 2:00 p.m.  The church is located at N7372 County Road P, Delavan.  The program will feature music, speakers, and attaching a bronze plaque to the front of the church. There also will be a marked walk of the historic cemetery.  Refreshments will follow.  There is limited parking and seating.  For more information, contact Georgia Kestol at gkestol@yahoo.com.

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Georgia Kestol.

Whitewater Grocery Co. is thrilled to invite GroCo Owners to attend our Annual Meeting on October 19th, 2023 at Second Salem, 111 W. Whitewater St, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Since our last annual meeting, we’ve made tremendous leaps toward our goal of opening our friendly neighborhood grocery store. This year will be the biggest one yet for Whitewater Grocery Co. and we’d love to share in that excitement with all of our Owners.

Join us to hear Board of Directors election results, updates from committee chairs and special guests. Have your questions answered and find out how you can help open our store even faster.

Stay tuned for more information. We can’t wait to see you there!

WUSD Professional Learning Community Presentation – Monday @ 8:00 a.m.Members of the Whitewater School Board will be attending a presentation by Eric Twadell at Whitewater High School. A quorum of the School Board may be present; however, the Board will not be conducting any business during the event.

Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 5:30 p.m. (Closed Session) 7:00 p.m. (Open Session)
Agenda (click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes 2023-24 Budget Hearing
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin

5:30 p.m. via Zoom Online – Closed Session

• URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85107808798?pwd=bWVteVN6ODRtajJ4b000RjdZWTZuZz09

– Passcode: 308069

• Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
• Webinar ID: 851 0780 8798

– Passcode: 308069

Closed Session

7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online

• URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88605456019?pwd=Vk1CTFZjeHlTVEx1N24veTZ6cGpsZz09

– Passcode: 727968

• Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
• Webinar ID: 886 0545 6019

– Passcode: 727968

City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda
Community Room – 2nd Floor – 4:30 p.m. In Person and Virtual
312 W. Whitewater St.
Please join meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/280678605
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 280-678-605
United States: +1 (571) 317-3122

WUSD Staff Kick-off – Tuesday @ 7:00 a.m.
Members of the Whitewater School Board will be attending the 2023 WUSD Staff Kick-Off at Whitewater High School. A quorum of the School Board may be present; however, the Board will not be
conducting any business during the event.

1. 2023 WUSD STAFF KICK-OFF
   A.

WHITEWATER –August 22, 2023 –The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, Half Marathon Team Event, 5k, and W3 Fit Kid Shuffle is excited to announce the registration for the Fit Kid Shuffle and Kids Korral are now live. 

The 11th annual DWS will be held on Sunday, September 17th, 2023. The DWS partners with Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3) to host the Fit Kid Shuffle, a free race for kids. The Fit Kid Shuffle is held on Saturday, September 16th at 10:00 a.m. where kids 10 and under can join in on the fun. This one-mile course includes obstacles and pathways for participants to enjoy. Fit Kid Shufflers are provided with a t-shirt, snacks, and even their very own medal after the race. 

Meanwhile, the Kids Korral, free childcare for children ages 1-10 is available for parents, guardians, or caregivers who are participating in the race. In previous years, the Kids Korral has been a great success for the DWS, as well as an important feature for runners with children.

The DWS partners with UW-Whitewater’s College of Educational and Professional Studies to make the Kids Korral possible. Members of the University’s student organization: Creative and Resourceful Educators (CARE) plan to dedicate their time to making the Kids Korral as safe and beneficial as possible. 

The Kids Korral is scheduled to open at 7:00 a.m. on race day, where kids have the opportunity to play games, arts and crafts and much more. The Kids Korral will offer child supervision until noon. Parents and caregivers can pick up their kids whenever they are finished, and can continue the festivities at the DWS’ post-race celebration. 

The DWS Team is excited to offer the Fit Kid Shuffle and Kids Korral once again. To register to run or volunteer, visit https://RunWhitewater.com/.

For further details, please contact Jeffery Knight, Executive Director at 920.728.0662 or jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com.

About the DWS
The goal of the DWS is to promote the City of Whitewater and highlight its greatest features, while keeping everyone in the community active. All the proceeds from the race are donated to local non-profit partners: Bethel House (which provides interim housing for homeless families), Whitewater LEADS, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. The DWS partners with the city, business community, and university to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit www.runwhitewater.com.

(ELKHORN, WI): According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four older adults has a fall each year and Wisconsin leads the nation in fall-related deaths for people 60 and older. But the good news is that falls are not a normal part of aging and can be prevented. The Stepping On program offered by the Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) has been researched and proven to reduce falls by 31 percent.

Stepping On gives participants strategies for avoiding falls in just seven weekly sessions, including balance and strength exercises, home safety check suggestions, medication review, and more. Local experts, including a physical therapist and pharmacist, visit over the course of the seven sessions to provide fall-prevention information and strategies. The workshop is designed specifically for people aged 60 or older who have fallen and/or have a fear of falling.  Participants can expect to leave with improved strength, better balance, and a feeling of confidence and independence.

Stepping On will be held in the Stratford Community Room on Thursdays, September 21 through November 2, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Westshire Farms at the Lakes, 5680 Parliament Lane, in Delavan. The workshop has a suggested contribution of $10. 

For questions or to register for the program, contact Chetney Blaszczyk RDN, CD at (262) 741-3309.

About the ADRC of Walworth County: The ADRC provides information and assistance to older and disabled adults, their friends, family, caregivers, and the public. We can assist by evaluating your current needs and providing options available to meet the needs of your personal situation.

                                               

Attorney Michael E. Grubb (formerly with Brennan Steil S.C. in Janesville) is now affiliated with Olm & Associates in Whitewater. Mr. Grubb’s law practice is concentrated in the areas of real estate, estate planning and general business matters.

He can be reached at:
Attorney Michael E. Grubb
Olm & Associates
522 W Main Street
P.O. Box 37
Whitewater, WI 53190-0037
608-743-2930
262-473-1819 (General Office)
Fax: 262-473-1977
mike@olmandassociates.com

UW-Whitewater’s Fairhaven Lecture Series Celebrates 40 Years of Community Conversations

UW-Whitewater’s Office of Continuing Education and Fairhaven Senior Services are recognizing “A Legacy of Lifelong Learning: Celebrating 40 years of Community Conversations” through the Fairhaven Lecture Series. Since 1983, UW-Whitewater faculty and staff and community and business leaders have offered free presentations on topics ranging from art and literature to history and politics.  

This fall, we celebrate four decades of timely and relevant presentations by showcasing the University’s award-winning faculty and staff who are committed to providing exceptional educational experiences for all. Once dubbed “one of Whitewater’s best kept secrets,” the Series has become a well-known tradition, engaging our community and transforming lives. Join us in celebrating 40 years of conversations, won’t you?

Lectures in the Fall Fairhaven Lecture Series, “A Legacy of Lifelong Learning: Celebrating 40 Years of Community Conversations” are free and open to the public. They are held on Mondays at 3:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at Fairhaven Senior Services, 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater. Lectures will be recorded and posted to our website and YouTube channel. Videos of lectures from this and previous series can be accessed for free any time after they are posted.

Visit www.uww.edu/ce/fairhaven and www.facebook.com/UWWFairhavenLecture/ for videos, descriptions of each lecture, and updates on the status of each lecture.  Contact Kari Borne at bornek@uww.edu or 262-472-1003 for further information or to request accommodations.   

About UW-Whitewater

At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater we inspire, engage and transform lives. Our higher education mission began more than 150 years ago — and we now serve more than 11,000 students at our Whitewater and Rock County campuses, 90% of whom stay in the region after earning their degree.  Offering more than 170 undergraduate and graduate majors and minors as well as an education specialist and a doctoral degree. The Warhawk family — led by caring faculty and staff — is devoted to student success within a broad range of academic programs. One of only four Public Colleges of Distinction in the state, the university boasts small class sizes (20:1 ratio), is ranked one of the top 10 public colleges by the U.S. New & World Report, and is the top-ranked college in the state for serving students with disabilities.

Editor’s note: The following press release was issued by the State of Wisconsin Department of Revenue on August 24, 2023.

Whitewater Tax Preparer Charged with Tax Crimes Filed 340
False Returns

Mauricio Castaneda, a Whitewater tax preparer, was charged with theft, five counts of filing false Wisconsin income tax returns and five counts of filing false claims for credit. Castaneda was charged in Walworth County on August 21, 2023.

According to the criminal complaint, Castaneda allegedly filed returns for customers at El Nevado Taxes [239 E. Milwaukee St.] in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Some customers filed under Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) which are issued and used by individuals who are required to have a tax identification number but do not have a Social
Security number. Customers received refunds for Wisconsin income taxes withheld. Later, Castaneda allegedly filed fraudulent returns that used different identification numbers, but the customers’ same W-2 wage
statements that were previously used to receive refunds. Castaneda also allegedly added fictitious spouses and claimed credits to increase the tax refunds. Castaneda received the refund checks in the mail and deposited
them into his bank account. Castaneda allegedly filed 340 false returns attempting to defraud the state of Wisconsin of approximately $331,656.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue prevented refunds from being issued for 307 fraudulent returns. However, Castaneda received refunds on 33 returns, for a loss of $33,356. If convicted on all counts, Castaneda may be imprisoned up to 70 years, face fines up to $125,000, or both, and
assessed the cost of prosecution. An assistant attorney general from the Criminal Litigation Unit in the Wisconsin Department of Justice is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Office of Criminal Investigation.

Castaneda is presumed innocent. An initial appearance is scheduled in Walworth County Circuit Court for September 19, 2023, at 1:15 p.m.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue Office of Criminal Investigation investigates individuals and businesses suspected of committing tax crimes and seeks criminal prosecution for those crimes.

To report tax fraud, go to www.revenue.wi.gov and click the “Report tax fraud” link under Quick Links.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

This is the last in our series of business transition photos taken by George Scharfenberg in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. In this case, it is the going out of business sale for the Gift Hutch in 2000.

Many retail businesses have come and gone in downtown Whitewater, but this gift store was one of the longest businesses of the 20th century. Helen Ridge established the store as Helen’s Gift Shop in 1962 and ran the business until 1973, when new owners purchased the business and renamed it the “Gift Hutch.” They operated the store until going out of business in 2000. That’s almost 40 years.

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

(Photo from the George Scharfenberg collection, Whitewater Historical Society)

Whitewater’s CCS Disbands

After more than 50 years of worship, fellowship, and benevolence, the membership of Community of Christ the Servant (CCS) has voted to disband the congregation. The difficult decision followed the passing of Mike Obinger, who had served as the church’s pastor since November 1987.

Arising from the political turmoil of the time, the church was founded on October 3, 1971 as a new non-denominational Christian fellowship. It brought together people of many faiths, including Congregational, Quaker, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist and others.

Founding members sought a new type of church with less emphasis on fundamentalism and ritual and more emphasis on relating the ancient truths of Scripture and Sacrament to living in current times. Being a Christian community through fellowship, discussion, study, involvement, and benevolence was a hallmark of CCS throughout its history.

Community of Christ the Servant especially was dedicated to serving those in need. Its bylaws mandated that fully 25 percent of all church income be donated to well-vetted local, national and international causes. Over the past 52 years, countless organizations at all levels have benefited from CCS’s generosity. At their last meeting, members of CCS voted to disperse the church’s remaining assets to Bethel House, Whitewater Food Pantry, Whitewater Community Space, Salvation Army, Planned Parenthood, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, Doctors Without Borders, the UN’s International Children’s Fund, and the Carter Center.

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Community of Christ the Servant. The image is of a CCS banner designed and made by CCS Quilters.