News

UPDATE: (Rock County Sheriff’s Dept. press release) On March 19, 2021, law enforcement and fire personnel continued searching the northwest corner of Bowers Lake where the two deceased golden retrievers were recovered on March 18, 2021. At 11:08 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office Drone Team spotted an anomaly in the water on the drone feed. Sheriff’s Office personnel on shore directed a Sheriff’s Office Recreational Safety Deputy in a boat to the area of interest. At 11:43 a.m., two divers from the Sheriff’s Office Rescue Team confirmed locating a body in Bowers Lake. Divers worked with the Medical Examiner to recover the body. This incident is considered closed. The identification of the body will be made by the Medical Examiner. This was a difficult search. We appreciate the contributions of so many who helped.

Banner note: Per the Gazette, “Bowers Lake is northwest of Storrs Lake.” Per this link, https://www.fishidy.com/map/us/wisconsin/bowers-lake Bowers Lake is 8 acres with a maximum depth of only 6 feet. Storrs Lake is described as being 20 acres with a maximum depth of 25 feet. It would seem that the shallow depth stated for Bowers Lake would make it more likely to have still been holding significant ice, but could it raise a question as to whether the person could have had a medical incident?

UPDATE – 3/18 @ 2:40 p.m. – MILTON, Wis. — Officials with the Rock County Sheriff’s Office are calling their search for a hiker who went missing Wednesday morning a recovery mission.

Kevin Doyle, 66, was last seen leaving his home in Milton at 9:30 a.m. Officials said he was headed to Storrs Lake Park with his two yellow Labrador retrievers, Holly and Frank. Authorities said the two dogs were found dead in a lake at the park Thursday morning.

UPDATE – 3/18 @ 12:39 p.m. – Apparently sufficient volunteers have responded.

UPDATE – 3/18 @ 11:47 a.m. – The following is being posted on the Rock County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page:

Despite extensive search effects to this point, Mr. Kevin Doyle has not been located. Another foot search of the area will be conducted this afternoon at 12:30 pm. Volunteers who are physically prepared and equipped to search the cold, wet, and windy weather conditions, in the difficult terrain of the park are welcome to join in this effort. Parking for volunteers with be at 257 Sunnyside.

If this search does not produce results, another foot search will be conducted later in the day. If volunteers have SPECIALIZED training or equipment, they should directly contact Sergeant Shena Kohler at 608-290-6135.”

(Rock County Sheriff’s Office press release) On March 17, 2021, at 1:35 p.m., a Rock County Sheriff’s Office deputy, conducting a routine security check at Storrs Lake Park in Milton, took a report that 66-year-old Kevin
J. Doyle was missing. Prior to the report, family members had been searching for Kevin
for approximately two hours. According to family, Kevin left his residence in Milton at
approximately 9:30 a.m. to hike the trails in Storrs Lake Park, which he does most days.
Kevin had not returned home as of 11:30 a.m., which led family members to start
searching for him.

During the ensuing hours, Sheriff’s Office personnel were assisted by individuals from
Milton Fire Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Milton Police
Department, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, Wisconsin K9 SOS, and
WAMSTAR in searching the greater Storrs Lake area. Search efforts included grid
searching on foot, vehicle patrols, neighborhood canvas, ATVs, UTVs, drones with
thermal capabilities, and several canines. The search suspended in the late evening
hours and will resume tomorrow morning.

Kevin is 5’6” tall, 170 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes. He has a white mustache and
goatee. He was wearing a blue jacket with khaki pants. Kevin left home with his two yellow
Labrador retrievers. His vehicle is still parked at Storrs Lake Park. If you have any
information as to Kevin’s whereabouts, please contact 608-757-2244.

Banner note: Storrs Lake Park is located north of Highway 59 and east of Highway 26, north of the ethanol plant in Milton.

ATTENTION: Important COVID-19 Vaccine Update!

(Walworth County press release – March 16) – Today, the Department of Health Services (DHS) moved up vaccine eligibility for Wisconsinites with certain medical conditions to Monday, March 22, 2021. Those groups can be found on the DHS COVID-19 vaccination page.

Banner note: Significantly, eligibility includes those whose BMI (body mass index) classifies them as “overweight,” or having “obesity.” This link provides a BMI calculator in which a person simply enters their height and weight. According to this site, approximately two-thirds of adults in Wisconsin fit this criteria.

Beginning March 22, individuals age 16 and older with certain medical conditions that have a greater risk of severe infection from COVID-19 will be eligible. The decision is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and supported by Wisconsin’s medical experts.

Eligibility includes individuals with the following conditions:

• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
• Cancer
• Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2
• Down syndrome
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant, blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
• Liver disease
• Neurologic conditions, such as intellectual disabilities and dementia
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30-39 kg/m2)
• Overweight (BMI of 25-29 kg/m2)
• Pregnancy
• Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
• Severe Obesity (BMI 40 kg/m2 or more)
• Sickle cell disease
• Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)

Individuals with these medical conditions will have multiple vaccination options, including through community-based clinics, health care providers, local health departments, and pharmacies.

Additionally, DHS updated eligibility to include all clergy, restaurant workers (as part of the food supply eligibility group) and further expanded public safety to include judges, prosecutors and district attorneys in addition to public defenders.

These doses will be for the Moderna 2-dose vaccine series, which requires anyone who schedules to be 18 years or older. You must live, work, or study in Wisconsin (a Walworth County relationship is not required.)

No Registration Required! Please use this link to schedule your appointment:  https://walcophdose1.timetap.com. If you need assistance in scheduling, please call (262) 741-3400. 

Banner note: Www.vaccinefinder.org is a site where users may enter their zip code to find locations where vaccine appointments may be available. One may, if desired, specify which of the three vaccines they prefer.

(First Citizens press release) – Nate Parrish, President of First Citizens State Bank, is happy to announce staff promotions.

We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Katie Lehman from Loan Officer to Assistant Vice President at the Main office location. Katie has worked for First Citizens for 20 years, and will continue in her role as a Loan Officer.

First Citizens also announced that Sara Tincher was promoted from Loan Officer to Assistant Vice President. Sara joined the bank as a Loan Officer 4 years ago, and she will continue in that capacity.

In making the announcement, Nate Parrish said, “Katie and Sara have shown great dedication to both the Whitewater Community, and to our organization. Their work on guiding customers with SBA (Small Business Association), commercial and Mortgage loans is exceptional. We are proud to have them take on more of a leadership role.”

First Citizens State Bank has full service offices in Whitewater, East Troy, and Palmyra. Member FDIC.

Welcome back to another week of #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society!

Pictured here is the Whitewater Brick and Tile Company, located on Jefferson Street. The company opened in 1903 and produced brick and tile into the 1940s. Overall, Whitewater possesses a rich history of brickmaking, with the first brickyard in the area established in 1841. Many of the older brick homes in town and most of the downtown area buildings utilize the cream colored Whitewater brick produced by these local businesses.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society collections!

(5126P, Whitewater Historical Society)
The Whitewater Historical Society collects, preserves, and interprets the history of Whitewater and the surrounding area. Be sure to join us next week for more from the Society’s collections. Please “like” us on Facebook, and check out our website at whitewaterhistoricalsociety.org!​ 

(UW System press release) MADISON, Wis.—The University of Wisconsin System will provide summer learning assistance to 1,400 additional incoming freshmen this year, more than doubling the number of admitted students receiving help through campus-based summer bridge programs.

Summer bridge programs are critical to ensuring that high school graduates make a successful transition to university. While program details and offerings differ at each university, many of them have core areas in common, including academic skill-building, career exploration, mentoring, and student health and wellness.

Summer bridge programs are now even more important for incoming students who have had to endure academic, financial, and emotional challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. UW System is seeding the expansion of summer bridge programs across the state with an initial $1.3 million investment in these important campus programs. The UW System will be seeking reimbursement with state revenue or federal COVID-19 relief funds and ongoing support for this expanded program.

“Student success is critical to the UW System, and our work starts even before students step foot on campus,” said UW System President Tommy Thompson. “Wisconsin’s high school seniors have demonstrated remarkable resilience as the pandemic has presented additional challenges. We will be there to help those who need it this fall and in the coming years.”

In 2020, Wisconsin’s public universities assisted 1,189 students in their transitions to college. The proposed expansion would provide support to an additional 1,410 students. In addition to the UW System contribution, universities are providing additional financial support with the UW System seeking $2.7 million over all to support the program.

“As we return to a more traditional semester this fall and beyond, we need to build programs that will help all of our students find success, especially those whose academic progress was slowed by the pandemic,” Thompson said. “This expansion of our summer bridge programs will help position our universities to help students who need it over the next several years.”

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(Studio 84 submission) Just in time for Mother’s Day gift giving, honor mom, grandma, or someone who is like a mother by gifting them with a special gift from Studio 84. Each gift comes with a specially designed mug, of your choosing, a box of 10 notecards, chocolates, a cupcake and cookie created just for the occasion from SweetSpot Bakehouse in Whitewater.

Gifts can be ordered on Studio 84’s website www.studio84inc.org for $30. There are only 36 baskets available, and when they are gone, they are gone! You can make an additional donation in honor of the basket recipient and we will include a special card that lets them know.

Can’t meet with mom yet? Why not consider dropping it off at her door, ring the doorbell and run! Then keep your distance and watch the surprise on her face after sending her an air hug.

Proceeds from this event will go to help support our programing services in the arts for people with disabilities.

Date: May 8^th 2021 from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Curbside pick-up location: 121 W Center St. Whitewater, WI 53190

For more details and to order your gift visit Studio 84 online at www.studio84inc.org  

(Whitewater Unites Lives submission) Robert McCullough is at WUL Hometown Hero.  He was nominated “For his many contributions to the people of Whitewater, including helping to keep people safe and healthy during COVID-19.”

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

 Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com