News

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Walworth County Dept. of Health & Human Services. Bold emphases have been added by the Banner. The image on the homepage was provided by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay.

On October 3, 2022, the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services (WCDHHS) was notified by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) of a suspected opioid overdose alert for Walworth County.

The alert was issued due to an increase in suspected opioid drug overdose activity in Walworth County between September 25, 2022, and October 1, 2022, when DHS identified three reports of suspected opioid drug overdoses seen at hospital emergency departments. An alert is triggered whenever the suspected number of opioid overdoses in emergency departments is statistically higher than usual in a specific area.

“We have been seeing an increase of overdoses related to the illegal use of drugs, most containing fentanyl,” says Walworth County Medical Examiner Gina Carver. “Our first responders and hospitals are doing a great job of providing effective treatment, which is keeping our death numbers lower. But any increase in overdoses is certainly concerning.”

The suspected opioid overdose alert was generated through the National Syndromic Surveillance Program, a nationwide emergency department surveillance system that tracks suspected opioid overdoses. DHS uses the platform’s data to learn about suspected increases in activity so it can alert affected health departments. The data is listed as suspected because the cases were not confirmed by a clinician at the time the visit was transferred into the data system.

“We want residents to know immediate support is available and we are currently assessing ways to expand critical services, particularly around prevention,” says WCDHHS Deputy Director Trista Piccola. “We also have a team of community leaders taking a hard look at how to reduce the stigma that is still associated with reaching out for help.”

The Walworth County DHHS provides assessment, counseling, detoxification, and residential treatment of youth and adults with alcohol and/or drug addiction. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (262) 741-3200. Information is also available at www.co.walworth.wi.us/351/Behavioral-Health.

Those seeking help are also encouraged to dial 2-1-1. Among other things, 2-1-1 is a Wisconsin addiction recovery helpline that provides information, resources, and advocacy. A statewide resource, 2-1-1 is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It can also be accessed at https://211wisconsin.communityos.org.

The Walworth County Drug & Alcohol Coalition (WALCO DAC), a nonprofit organization launched in July 2017 in an effort to address the growing opioid epidemic, maintains a comprehensive Resource Guide featuring local treatment and counseling services, inpatient services, transitional housing, transportation options, and support groups. The guide can be found at https://walcodac.com/resources.

Family and friends with loved ones affected by substance use disorders should be prepared to save their lives using Narcan, the FDA-approved medication used to reverse the effects of opioids. WALCO DAC is certified to provide Narcan training and doses. To schedule an appointment, email walcodac@gmail.com. WCDHHS has a self-serve overdose aid kit in its lobby that can be accessed Monday through Friday until 7 p.m. Free doses of Narcan are also available at Open Arms Free Clinic during clinic hours Monday through Thursday. Information about Narcan can be found at https://walcodac.com/narcan.

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Whitewater Police Department.

Narcan Available for Emergency Situations in Municipal Building Lobby 24/7

The Walworth County Drug and Alcohol Coalition has, at no cost to the city, provided the Whitewater Police Department with an overdose aid kit, also known as a NaloxBox. The NaloxBox is available 24/7 and has been installed in our Municipal Building vestibule at 312 W. Whitewater St. as shown in the photos. The kit contains Narcan (aka Naloxone) which is used to combat the effects of an opioid overdose. Common opioids include heroin, fentanyl, Oxycodone, and Percocet among others. The NaloxBox is intended to make Narcan more readily available to the public in an actual overdose emergency. A couple key things to note for anyone needing the NaloxBox:

1) In order to ensure a proper EMS response, first call 911 or notify our Dispatch Center using the after-hours assistance button to the right of the NaloxBox.

2) Follow the simple directions on the inside panel of the NaloxBox to administer the Narcan and provide initial first aid.

Reynolds Fall and Winter Rummage Sale
Friday, Oct. 7th. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 8th. 8-11 a.m.
12240 E. Bradley Road
Whitewater, Wi. 53190

Rain or Shine!   Look for signs!

Girls infant, 2T-5 clothes, Boys 18 months-3T and 10/12-16 clothes, Adult clothes,
Household items, Halloween and Fall decorations, Boy’s bikes and much more!
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Editor’s note: The following excerpts are from an article on WMTV dated October 3. For the complete article please click here.

MILTON, Wis. (WMTV) – A family in Rock County is devastated after losing their son to depression and alcoholism last year. They’re now sharing their story in the hopes that they may help save someone else’s life.

Kevin Pope had plenty of family and friends who loved him. He also worked as the beloved head chef at the popular Buckhorn Supper Club on Lake Koshkonong in Milton.

But unfortunately, Kevin’s demons proved to be just too powerful.

“He didn’t want his life to be like that and why it was chosen to go that way, I don’t know.” said Dawn Pope, Kevin’s mother.

….On August 17, 2021, Kevin Pope died at the age of 44.

….“He made a damn good steak, he was good at what he did,” said Josh Lund, Kevin’s friend. “If you want the best prime rib or the best steak in the area, it’s hands down where you are going.”

“I mean he could have 50 steaks on there and every one would be cooked perfectly and well-seasoned,” said Chico. “A plate never left the kitchen without him looking over it. He really was a perfectionist.”

…In a study from the World Health Organization (WHO), in the first year of the pandemic, anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25% worldwide.

“Our career boomed,” said licensed therapist and Kevin’s friend Jessica Cullen. “There was no down time. We actually got a lot more clients.”

….The Popes also hope Kevin’s story acts as a cautionary tale. They want anyone who might feel depressed and thinks they need help, to seek out those resources.”

For the complete article from WMTV, please click here.

Henry Brockwell of Whitewater passed his board of review on October 3 in front of three committee members of Whitewater Scouting Program 173. He has now advanced to the Tenderfoot rank. He joins two other members within his troop to reach this rank and three more to join him shortly. He has three more ranks to achieve before reaching Eagle. Whitewater Scouting Program 173 consists of a Cub Scout pack for grades K-5th, a Boy BSA Troop and a Girl BSA Troop, which are chartered by the American Legion Post 173 of Whitewater. Join us at beascout.org

City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes update on city manager recruitment, An Ordinance Creating Chapter 19.19 R-1S One Family Residence District Small Lots, An Ordinance Creating Chapter 11.39, Operation of Golf Carts on Public Roads, and Presentation and brief overview of draft 2023 budget and 2023 alternate budget.
City of Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room
312 W. Whitewater St.
This will be an IN PERSON and a VIRTUAL MEETING. (not in person).
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join us via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82700497255?pwd=NXVLWDV6TUhBZ1JLclphZllFTGhnZz09
Passcode: 616346
Or Telephone:
1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 827 0049 7255
Passcode: 616346

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Thursday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes 2023 budget review (1 of 3)
This will be a blended meeting (both in person and virtual options). To join from your computer, tablet or smartphone, please use the below link:

https://meet.goto.com/212008853
You can also dial in using your phone.

1 (224) 501-3412
Access Code: 212-008-853

City of Whitewater Landmarks Commission – Thursday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Birge Fountain update and Starin Park Water Tower update (structural assessment).
Cravath Lakefront Room
312 Whitewater Street
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/137605093
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: 1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 137-605-093

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by the organizations listed below.

Immediately following the August primary elections, a committee representing the nonpartisan
organizations of the League of Women Voters (LWV) -Janesville, LWV-Beloit, LWV-Whitewater Area, LWV-Dane County,
and the NAACP of Beloit began work to set up candidate forums for EIGHT county-wide and
state legislative races:
● Rock County Sheriff
● Senate Districts 11 and 15
● Assembly Districts 31, 33, 43, 44, and 45
The following in-person candidate forums will take place as both candidates have agreed to
participate:
● Rock County Sheriff: Curt Fell (D) vs. Craig Keller (I) on Wednesday September 28,
6:00-7:30 pm, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville (broadcast live, live-streamed on
YouTube, and recorded by JATV)
● Assembly District 33: The forum that had been scheduled for October 6 has been canceled.
● Assembly District 45: Clinton Anderson (D) vs. Jeff Klett (R) on Wednesday, October
12, 6:00-7:30 pm, School District of Beloit School Board Room (video recorded)

Regrettably, the other six forums had to be canceled because only one of the candidates
running in each of those races agreed to participate. Candidates who agreed to participate
are:
Curt Fell (D), Craig Keller (I), Brienne Brown (D), Steven Doelder (D), Mark Spreitzer
(D), Jenna Jacobson (D), Sue Conley (D), Donald Vruwink (D),
Clinton Anderson (D), and Jeff Klett (R).

Candidates who are not participating in the League’s invitation are:
Scott Johnson (R), Ellen Schutt (R), Steve Nass (R), Mark Trumfimchuck (R), Marisa Voelkel (R), and
Spencer Zimmerman (R).
When a candidate in a contested election declines to accept a League forum invitation, the
event must be canceled because proceding with only one candidate would give an unfair
advantage to the sole participating candidate, risking the League’s compliance with FEC
and/or IRS rules as well as the League’s nonpartisan policy.

The failure of candidates to participate in League of Women Voters forums deprives the voters
of an opportunity to hear the candidates’ responses to voters’ questions, and deprives their
opponents of an opportunity to share their views in a fair and impartial setting.

The League of Women Voters’ mission, “Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy,” is made
more difficult when candidates for office deny voters opportunities to learn their positions.

We encourage members of the public to go to VOTE411.org to find candidate
responses from those who participated in the nonpartisan website’s request for candidate
information on important issues.

The College of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater announces the first show of the Theatre/Dance season with “Perfect Wedding” by Robin Hawdon. Directed by Sara J. Griffin, this production will run in Barnett Theatre Oct. 11-14 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 15-16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale for the performances and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. The Barnett Theatre is located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts at 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI.

“Perfect Wedding” takes place on the morning of Bill’s wedding as he wakes up in his honeymoon suite with a dreadful hangover and an unknown woman in his bed. It’s a race against time as he has to either get her out or make up a plausible story before his fiancée and future mother-in-law arrive. Desperate times call for desperate measures in this hysterical romp of a love story gone wrong!

Writer Robin Hawdon has spent his life on stage, screen, directing, and writing. For thirty years, he played British characters in television series such as ‘Play for today,’ ‘Armchair Theatre,’ ‘Wives and Daughters,’ ‘Flying Swan,’ ‘Robin’s Nest’ etc. He also played the part of Barry Southern in the long-running BBC series ‘Compact,’ and later co-starred with Jonathan Pryce in the ITV play ‘Spasms,’ and with Michael Crawford in the ITV sit-com ‘Chalk and Cheese.’  Hawdon made a number of films – starring in ‘When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth’ and the James Bond movie spoof ‘Zeta One.’ 

On choosing this production Griffin states, “This was a favorite title of mine from the first read. It’s super fast, witty, zany, and charming. For a play to be chosen, it has to go through multiple rounds of discussion and voting by our Play Selection Committee. Titles must meet our pedagogy needs, fit into our genre rotation, excite our audience, and work within our budget. It’s a much more complex process than meets the eye, and is never the same from season to season.”

The cast for the UW-Whitewater production of “Perfect Wedding” includes: Erin Mckee as Rachel (the bride), Carter Waelchli as Bill (the groom), Harry Heinrich as Tom (the best-man), Makayla Fedler as Judy (the mystery woman), Core Miller as Julie (the hotel maid), and Emma Dutcher as Daphne (mother of the bride). 

You don’t want to miss this hysterical performance of “Perfect Wedding” in Barnett Theatre Oct. 11-14 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 15-16 at 2 p.m. Get your tickets today online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. The Barnett Theatre is located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts at 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190. 

Upcoming Gardening Mini Webinar Series

UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program is offering FREE educational mini webinars to help you be more successful in your own yards, gardens, containers – anywhere you grow plants! 

Join us for the Fall into Winter Gardening series where you’ll learn how to get your landscape ready for winter, protect young trees from damage, and take care of your festive houseplants. These engaging mini-webinars are 20 minutes each followed by Q&A. Registration is required for each mini webinar. Participants can attend only one or all three! This series is open to the public. All webinars will be recorded and made available on the Extension Horticulture website.

Go to https://bit.ly/3rZez9V to find out more and to register!

Fall into Winter Gardening

Tips for Getting Landscape Plants Ready for Winter
Thursday, October 13, 12:00 p.m.
Even though the days are getting shorter and winter is around the corner, your gardening tasks are not done yet! Join us to learn about how to protect susceptible plants from snow and cold damage. We will also talk about proper mulching and watering to help your plants through the fall and survive the winter. Presented by: Lisa Johnson, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension, Dane County.

Protecting Young Trees from Animal and Other Damage Over Winter
Thursday, October 20, 12:00 p.m.

In winter, young trees are prone to a variety of hazards. Be prepared to mitigate that damage by learning how to protect young trees from potential wildlife damage and how to effectively protect trunks from winter sunscald damage. Presented by: Diana Alfuth, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension Pierce and St. Croix Counties.

Maintaining Your Festive Houseplants
Thursday, October 27, 12:00 p.m.
Festive houseplants are a common gift that you may give or receive. Learn how to keep a poinsettia, Christmas cactus, Norfolk Island Pine and other favorite gift plants thriving. We’ll cover requirements including light, watering, fertilizer, and humidity. Presented by: Janell Wehr, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension Wood and Marathon Counties. 

Go to https://bit.ly/3rZez9V to find out more and to register!

These mini webinars are hosted by UW-Madison, Division of Extension, Horticulture. For upcoming events and learning opportunities, see https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/events/

New Wisconsin Tuition Promise requires FAFSA filing

University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman recently announced the launch of a new social media campaign to encourage students and parents to fill out the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The FAFSA filing period for the 2023-24 academic year begins Saturday, Oct. 1, and Rothman said the application is critical for students to secure aid that will help them pay tuition and other costs for college.

He also said the new Wisconsin Tuition Promise, which will ensure that students from families earning less than $62,000 annually can attend the UW System tuition free, will be available only to eligible students who file the FAFSA.

“Filling out the FAFSA is as important as applying for admission,” Rothman said. “Too many Wisconsin students are leaving aid on the table and limiting educational opportunities by not taking this critical first step.”

The UW System is creating a new FAFSA website with resources and more information, including help on how to fill out the FAFSA, contact information for UW System financial aid offices, and dates and locations for in-person and virtual assistance events from College Goal Wisconsin, a volunteer program that promotes FAFSA completion involving universities, colleges, high schools, businesses, and others.

Find the website at https://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/pay-for-college/fafsa/.

About $3.75 billion in federal Pell Grant aid goes unawarded each year nationally because students don’t fill out the FAFSA, according to an estimate using data from the Office of Federal Student Aid.

Only about 50 percent of Wisconsin high school seniors file, ranking it 38^th in the FAFSA completion rate.

The UW System campaign will use social media to encourage students and parents to fill out and file the FAFSA and to direct them to the new website. It will also use strategically targeted radio ads to reach parents of eligible students.

“A UW System education is both affordable and accessible,” Rothman said. “Federal financial aid can make it even more affordable.”

Federal financial aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Students and parents who apply early have a better chance of receiving aid, including grant aid that does not have to be repaid. Students must also file a FAFSA to be eligible for the Wisconsin Grant Program and other state aid.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to utilize on its homepage “FAFSA Form” by The Bent Tree, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

Breakfast Club provides fellowship and free breakfast for high school youth from 6:45 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. every Wednesday that school is in session. Men of the First United Methodist Church, 145 S. Prairie Street, enjoy providing a hot (and cold) breakfast and a welcoming atmosphere for all WHS students. Younger siblings are also invited. You’ll have plenty of energy for your day — it’s all you can eat, for free!

The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image by Jeremy Brooking from Pixabay on our homepage.