News

Last year, the Whitewater Polar Plunge raised over $59,000 for Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes in the Southeastern Region. 

Residents of the Whitewater Unified School District are encouraged to consider seeking a position on the School Board. The final day for filing for those interested in becoming a candidate for one of the three open positions on the Board is Tuesday, January 7, 2020, by 5:00 p.m.

Any person who is a United States citizen and a qualified elector of the Whitewater Unified School District is legally qualified to become a member of the School Board. In addition, Board candidates should have a genuine interest in and devotion to public education, a willingness to give time and effort to the position, a capacity to understand people, and the ability to work cooperatively with others.

The School Board is the District policy-making authority and is responsible to the public for the success of all education services offered by the District. This success is dependent on many individuals, but also upon each Board member’s understanding of the workings of the District-wide operations and each member’s ability to participate meaningfully in the decision-making process that governs the District.

Three positions will be on the spring ballot. The incumbents are Miguel Aranda, Casey Judd and Steven Ryan. One incumbent, Miguel Aranda, has filed a non-candidacy document.

The Board will provide an orientation for Board candidates in order to help them become quickly acquainted with the election process and Board members’ duties and responsibilities in January. The District Administrator has developed, in consultation with the Board, a candidate orientation program to be presented by District staff and a Board member appointed by the Board President.

The candidate filing documents may be obtained and filed at the office of the School Board Secretary at the Whitewater Unified School District Central Office, 419 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater. School Board candidates do not circulate nomination papers but the School Board Secretary, Jaclyn Tueting, will assist to complete necessary filing documents. The Central Office will be open on Monday and Tuesday, 1/6-1/7, from 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Again, the deadline for filing candidacy paperwork is Tuesday, 1/7 at 5:00 p.m.

The Whitewater Area Chamber of commerce has started the process to assemble the 2019 Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce book.

They would like to include a list of relevant local events from non-profit organizations. If your organization would like to submit your event for consideration in the book, please email tourism@discoverwhitewater.org, or go to their website www.whitewaterchamber.com > events > submit new event.

Amanda donated 2 cases for the third year in a row to the “Friends of Lakeland School” (“FOLS”) local charity for their “Waffles with Santa” 16th annual fundraiser breakfast at the Walworth County special education school held on Dec. 8, 2018 in Elkhorn.

Kian is a graduate of Lakeland School, and Amanda’s son Logan currently is a student. 1300 Waffles were made in 4 hours.

Amanda and S & R Egg Farm family love to support their community and donated an additional case of 30 dozen eggs to the Whitewater Food Pantry where Kian works.

The Whitewater Police Department held their second successful Shop with a Cop event on December 10th.

One student from each elementary school within the Whitewater Unified School District was selected to join local law enforcement to shop for the holidays; Gio from Washington, Gavin from Lakeview and Jacob from Lincoln.

Detective Jake Hintz, Officer Shane Brandl, Officer Liz Tlougan, Support Services Manager Kathy Boyd, Records Technician Angela Sahr and Dispatcher Angieleek Lipski and Chief Aaron Raap met with the students and their families at Wal-Mart in Whitewater. Staff split into teams and helped the students find gifts for their families and themselves.

Each student was presented with a $100 gift card from the Whitewater Crime Prevention Fund along with an additional $25 from Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart also gave each family a $50 gift certificate to use for groceries.

“We are grateful for the wonderful partnership we have with the Whitewater Unified School District. They did an excellent job of selecting deserving and respectful students for this event,” said Chief Aaron Raap. “We also value and deeply appreciate our ongoing partnership with our local Walmart.”

The students were driven in squad cars back to the police department where staff helped them wrap their gifts while enjoying cookies and hot chocolate.

“It is incredibly rewarding to work with a professional, caring and dedicated law enforcement team every day. But when we have or can create an opportunity to interact with our community, especially the youth of Whitewater, it really means so much more,” said Raap. “We hope that this event will make the holidays a little more special for these young students and their families.”

The Whitewater Police Department will officially swear in their newest canine officer, Tilla, who will be accompanied by his handler, Officer Justin Stuppy, at the December 4th Common Council meeting.

The City of Whitewater Police Department’s K-9 program focuses on drug detection and tracking and will now add the component of apprehension. With the retirement of canine officer Boomer in January 2017 and the passing of canine officer Ruso in July 2018, the addition of Tilla allows for the police department to train in all three techniques.

The department worked with Little Rock K-9 Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, the same academy that worked with K-9 officer Ruso. This well-respected kennel has received high recognition for their K-9 dogs and training program.

Tilla, a high energy, 2-year-old male, black German Shepard from the Netherlands was chosen as the new K-9 officer. Tilla graduated from Little Rock K9 Academy after months of training. Tilla is certified in narcotics detection, tracking lost persons or suspects and apprehension.

“Tilla is expected to be a great addition to our agency,” said Police Chief Aaron M. Raap. “It has been said that ‘dogs don’t rationalize.’ They don’t hold anything against a person. They don’t see the outside of a human but the inside of a human,” Chief Raap shared. “K-9 Officer Tilla and Officer Stuppy have been properly trained and they will undoubtedly prove to be a force multiplier within our community.”

Officer Justin Stuppy was again chosen to be Whitewater’s K-9 handler. Stuppy began formal training with Tilla in October of 2018. Stuppy was the handler for the city’s previous canine, Ruso. Tilla will be sworn in as the newest member of the Whitewater Police Department’s K-9 Unit on December 4, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. at the Common Council Meeting. The public is welcome to attend.

“We deeply appreciate the community’s continued support of the City of Whitewater Police K-9 program,” said Raap. “This program likely could not have been sustained without the community’s ongoing, generous support as the program is not supported by city tax dollars, but rather as a citizen partnership program. The sustainability of our program will continue to rely on annual fundraisers and private donations. Your generous donation will help to sustain the program and cover annual and/or unexpected expenses.”

Chief Raap stated the K9 program remains a ‘BY THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY’ initiative.

For the most up to date fundraising events, to purchase police K-9 swag or seek additional ways to financially support Tilla and K-9 Handler/Officer Stuppy, visit the Whitewater Police Department Facebook page, the City of Whitewater website or stop at the Whitewater Police Department.