News

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.

Be inspired for adventures on the Ice Age Trail! The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a 1,200-mile-long hiking trail found entirely within the state of Wisconsin that traces the terminal moraine of the glacier from the most recent Ice Age 15,000 years ago. Join the Ice Age Trail Alliance at this introductory presentation to learn tips and tricks for day hiking and backpacking, along with plenty of resources to get you started. You’ll leave with maps and information suited to scratch that hiking itch. Also get ready for the Mammoth Hike Challenge coming this fall! Challenge you and your friends to hike 42 miles and visit trail communities along the way!

The presentation will be given by Gary Hitchcock and held at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library’s Community Room on Tuesday, September 27 at 5:30 p.m. All ages are welcome and there is no registration or cost to attend.

For additional information, visit the library’s website at www.whitewaterlibrary.org or call 262-473-0530.

Editor’s Note: The following was submitted by the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

The Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club will be holding a sit-down, dine-in Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, September 24 from 6:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. (or until the pancakes run out).  All are invited to bring their appetites to the Old Armory, 146 W. North Street, in downtown Whitewater (not at the high school).  No tickets will be sold, and people are invited to make contributions to help the children in our community and the world by donating to Kiwanis.

Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club President Patrick Taylor said, “We are so excited to see people in person and enjoy camaraderie and friendship as we feast on the delicious Kiwanis pancakes and Jones sausage.  The Old Armory has been our home base for years, and we are continuing that tradition.” 

Whitewater Kiwanis is a group of dedicated volunteers who help both children of the Whitewater community and the world, all with 100% of funds raised going directly to youth projects and zero to administrative costs. Over the past five years the club raised funds to make possible the recent installation of the city’s first piece of inclusive playground equipment, a We-Go-Round, in Starin Park.  Annual donations are also made to provide shoes and winter clothes for students, as well as support for organizations such as the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, The Community Space, and the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club.

If you have an interest in helping youth in Whitewater, you can check out Whitewater Kiwanis on Facebook and join our Club by contacting Patrick Taylor at Petaylor.law@gmail.com.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.

Editor’s Note: The following was submitted by the City of Whitewater.

NOTICE: Effective Wednesday, September 14, 2022 the City of Whitewater’s Compost Site will be changing its hours of operation on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.  This will remain in effect until the site closes for the season.  However, the site will still remain open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., until further notice.  More information will be published when a closing date has been determined.

For additional questions or concerns contact the Streets Department at (262) 473-0560.

The City of Whitewater provides efficient and high-quality services which support living, learning, playing and working in an exceptional community. Visit www.whitewater-wi.gov for community information and updates.

Editor’s Note: The following was submitted by Walworth County.

One in four older adults has a fall each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Wisconsin leads the nation in fall-related deaths for people age 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, has been researched and proven to reduce falls by 31%.

Stepping On will be held on Thursdays, September 22 to November 3, 2022, from 10 a.m. to noon, in the Auditorium at the Aurora Lakeland Medical Center building located at W4051 County Road NN, Elkhorn, WI. The workshop has a suggested donation of $10. 

In just seven, two-hour sessions, Stepping On gives participants strategies for avoiding falls including balance and strength exercises, home safety check suggestions, medication review, and more. Guest experts, including a physical therapist and pharmacist, will provide fall-prevention information and strategies. The workshop is designed specifically for individuals age 60 or older who have fallen and have a fear of falling. Participants can expect to leave with improved strength and balance, and a feeling of confidence and independence.

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 help provide options available to meet the needs of your personal situation.

The following was provided by the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office.

Walworth County Emergency Management Director Lieutenant Jason Rowland recently completed the Wisconsin Emergency Management (W.E.M.) Professional Emergency Management Certificate Program. The training and certification is designed to be a 2-year course of study with a combination of online and in-person courses to include the Incident Command System (ICS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), hazardous materials identification and response, natural disaster response and recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) procedures, and the Wisconsin Disaster Response and Recovery Operations. In January 2021, Lt. Rowland enrolled in and subsequently completed this training program in 19 months. The course requires 374 training hours and a 100-question test covering every course section of the training. Lt. Rowland joins Captain Todd Neumann in completing the Professional Emergency Management Certificate Program.

Lt. Rowland stated, “It is an honor to be able to serve the County of Walworth in the position of Emergency Management Director. Working with local community leaders, fire departments, volunteer organizations, and private businesses to ensure we are ready to respond and recover should the need arise, is a responsibility that is not taken lightly. Most importantly, I thank my family, Kellie, Ethan, and Aaron, for their love and support with all the time spent studying to achieve this goal.”

Sheriff Kurt Picknell stated, “I commend Lt. Jason Rowland for his dedication, demonstrating personal and professional achievement directly benefiting the citizens of Walworth County”.