News

Banner note: Though the county’s notice did not include the fact that this meeting would also be livestreamed, the following information is provided on the agenda for this Board of Supervisors meeting:

NOTICE: DUE TO THE CONTINUING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, THIS MEETING IS PLANNED TO
PROVIDE FOR REMOTE OR OFF-SITE ATTENDANCE BY COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS.
The Walworth County Government Center remains open, but in-person attendance may be limited to help ensure appropriate social distancing is observed. ALL INDIVIDUALS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO WATCH THE MEETING STREAMING LIVE AT https://mediasite.co.walworth.wi.us/Mediasite/Play/515e9c4541a84126a48b105c54a8d68c1d
Individuals wanting to provide a Public Comment can do so remotely by telephone, but must contact the County Administrator’s Office at 262-741-4357 on the day of the meeting and at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting to obtain instructions.

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by Whitewater Grocery Co.

GroCo Food Warrior certificates are presented to Sirina Hoffmann (L), Kay Robers – Director of the Community Space, and Sarah Hoots (R) for their volunteer efforts on behalf of The Community Space.   They are also presented a certificate for a free pizza or Toppers Stix from Toppers Pizza.  The number of people served at The Community Space remains high and the Whitewater Grocery members (783 members strong) thank them for their many hours of service.

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the City of Whitewater Public Works Dept.

Effective Wednesday, September 15, 2021 the City of Whitewater’s Compost Site will be changing its
hours of operation on Wednesdays. The new hours will be 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. and 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. For other requests,
visit https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/RequestTracker.aspx.

Editor’s note: Our thanks to Tom Ganser for this photo and caption.

Hosted by the United Way of Wisconsin, the challenge will deliver an email to your inbox every Monday morning for 21 weeks, offering resources and opportunities to learn more about specific topics related to equity, and offer suggestions on how to get involved in helping create more equitable communities! 

THANK YOU to the 220 Jefferson County residents/employees who participated in our first challenge. We hope to have another wonderful turnout of community members who want to join us in our equity work.

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by 4-H / UW-Madison Extension

Walworth County 4-H celebrated the graduation of twenty-five members from its program this summer. 4-H graduates are current youth members who are either aging out of the 4-H program or who graduated from high school during the spring and are not planning to continue their 4-H membership into their freshman year of college.

Honorees include:

• Melissa Konkel, Elkhorn, Big Foot Pioneers 4-H
• Madeline Eggert, Elkhorn, Elkhorn 4-H
• Gavin Storlie, Elkhorn, Elkhorn 4-H
• Amelia Guanci, Spring Grove, IL, Flame Throwers 4-H
• Alexia Schroeder, Janesville, Harvesters 4-H
• Abigail Tollakson, Janesville, Harvesters 4-H
• Lillian Geuder, East Troy, Lake Beulah 4-H
• Dakota Horlacher, East Troy, Lake Beulah 4-H
• Ty Adams, Delavan, Lakeland 4-H
• Phoebe Phillips, Lake Geneva, Linn 4-H
• Bethany Klein, Darien, Sharon 4-H
• Makayla Ohrwall, Sharon, Sharon 4-H
• Codey Schell, Clinton, Sharon 4-H
• Owen Kramer, Whitewater, Spring Prairie 4-H
• Benjamin Laskowski, Burlington, Spring Prairie 4-H
• Jack Etten, Elkhorn, Spring Prairie 4-H
• Alexander Haacker, Elkhorn, Springfield 4-H
• Claire Schilz, Elkhorn, Springfield 4-H
• Tommy Slack, Lake Geneva, Springfield 4-H
• Anna Hansen, Elkhorn, Sugar Creek 4-H
• Julia Brost, Walworth, Walworth 4-H
• Amanda Harder, Delavan, Walworth 4-H
• Theresa Bellrichard, Whitewater, Whitewater 4-H
• Tiffany Bellrichard, Whitewater, Whitewater 4-H
• Ruth Tanis, Whitewater, Whitewater 4-H
  
  

4-H Graduates were formally recognized by the county 4-H Senior Leaders’ Association during a program at the Walworth County Fairgrounds on July 26. They are also being honored via social media throughout the months of August, September, and October.

4-H is a Positive Youth Development program of UW-Madison Division of Extension. Membership is open to boys and girls, grades 5K-13. Learn more about Walworth County 4-H at: https://walworth.extension.wisc.edu/, contact the Walworth County Extension Office at 262-741-4951, or visit our promotional display in the Youth Building at this year’s Walworth County Fair (September 1-6). The new 4-H year is starting soon!

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Discover Whitewater Series.

Local business Whitewater Manufacturing Co. has recommitted as a title sponsor of the Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, 5K & W3 Fit Kid Shuffle for the NINTH year in a row! 

Race day is scheduled for Sunday, September 19, 2021. Support from local businesses and community members is what allows this event to thrive, year after year. 

Whitewater Manufacturing is a fourth-generation family-owned company that works with assembly, welding, engineering, turning and milling, supply chain management and more. Their support has allowed the DWS to give $204,500 to local charities since its inaugural year in 2013. These charities include: Bethel House, Whitewater LEADS, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness, Whitewater Unified School District and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club.

In addition to giving back through charity partners, Whitewater Manufacturing’s contributions have allowed DWS to expand marketing efforts, showcase Whitewater and most importantly create a fun and challenging athletic event for runners in the area. Each year, the DWS brings in runners from all over, most notably the Chicago area. As a Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) certified race, the DWS presents a challenging event that is held to high athletic and safety standards. 

“We are so grateful for the generous level of support that Whitewater Manufacturing has been able to give us these past nine years,” DWS Executive Director Jeff Knight said. “They have been such a pleasure to work with, year after year, helping us to provide a fun event for the community and bring in runners from all over.”

Get ready for race day by visiting  https://runwhitewater.com/ and don’t forget to register by Sept. 5 to receive your free t-shirt and ensure your place at the start line. 

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 five local non-profit partners: Bethel House (which provides interim housing for homeless families), Whitewater LEADS, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), Whitewater Unified School District and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. The DWS partners with the city, business community, university and the school district to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit www.runwhitewater.com

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by UW-Whitewater.

Free COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

Students, faculty, staff and members of the community can receive their free COVID-19 vaccinations at the Whitewater and Rock County campuses at upcoming clinics. The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available as supplies last.

These are walk-in clinics with no appointments. No “booster shots” will be offered during these times. 

Whitewater campus, Esker Hall

Free parking is available in lot 4, with overflow parking in lots 18 and 19.

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31 (1st dose Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson only; no boosters)
Noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1 (1st dose Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson only; no boosters)
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 (1st dose Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson only; no boosters)

Noon to 6 p.m.  Wednesday, Sept. 22 (2nd dose Pfizer from 8/31 and 9/1 and Johnson & Johnson only; no boosters)
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 (2nd dose Pfizer from 9/8 and Johnson & Johnson only; no boosters) 

Rock County campus (location on campus TBD)

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7 (1st dose Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson only; no boosters)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 (1st dose Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson only; no boosters)

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28 (2nd dose Pfizer from 9/7 and Johnson & Johnson only; no boosters)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 (2nd dose Pfizer from 9/8 and Johnson & Johnson only; no boosters)

If you have not been vaccinated and are able to do so, it is highly recommended that you get vaccinated as a safe and effective way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Staff, Faculty and Students who get vaccinated are asked to report it to UW-Whitewater.

A reminder that the following incentives are currently available to students who get vaccinated and report their status: 

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services is giving a $100 Visa Gift Card to Wisconsin residents ages 12 and older who receive their first COVID-19 vaccine from a Wisconsin vaccination provider from August 20 through September 6. Everyone who is eligible to receive the free COVID-19 vaccine is eligible to receive this gift card, regardless of insurance, ID or citizenship. Learn more: https://100.wisconsin.gov/
• COVID-19-vaccinated students who have submitted their vaccination status can win $500 awards through a weekly drawing. Funding for the drawing is made possible by donations to the UW-Whitewater Foundation to support our students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• COVID-19-vaccinated students who have submitted their vaccination status and attend universities that achieve at least 70 percent vaccination rates by Oct. 15 will be eligible to win one of 70 scholarships valued at $7,000 each from the UW System. 

Whitewater campus COVID-19 testing location changes to Esker Hall starting Aug. 30

Beginning Monday, Aug. 30, the campus COVID-19 testing location on the Whitewater campus will move to Esker Hall from the Williams Center. (The Rock Campus testing location remains in the lower level of Allen Hall.) 

Beginning Monday, Aug. 30, testing will be at:
Esker Hall
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday
Free parking is available in lot 4, with overflow in lots 18 and 19

1. Community members are welcome. Schedule your test in advance (required) at doineedacovid19test.com. You will need to register for an account to sign up for an appointment; call 1-800-635-8611 with any registration questions.
2. Go to the testing location and check in for your scheduled test. (Students: Remember to bring your UW-Whitewater HawkCard (required) with you and swipe it at the testing location for records purposes.)
3. You do not have to wait on site for your result. You will receive an email notification when your test result is ready. Log in to your online account to view the result.
4. Students & Employees: If you test positive, contact the COVID-19 Hotline at 262-472-1362 or covid19info@uww.edu. Employees and students living off campus should return home to isolate. Students living on campus can isolate in Clem Hall or choose to go home for their isolation period.

A reminder that, effective Aug. 30, employees and students who are unvaccinated or who have not shared proof of COVID-19 vaccination with UW-Whitewater will be required to test weekly on campus at least through September. For more information read the 8/20/21 announcement. For the most up-to-date information on testing, vaccinations, masking and other practices, visit Warhawks Are Back or contact the COVID-19 Hotline at 262-472-1362 or covid19info@uww.edu.