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The person who was found deceased in a home where a fire had been reported on November 21 has been identified as Indumathi Chilukuri, a 71-year-old female Whitewater resident, Whitewater Police Chief Dan Meyer told The Whitewater Banner. Meyer indicated that no other person of interest has been identified. Per Ryan Dion, assistant fire/EMS chief, the origin and cause of the fire, which had nearly self-extinguished upon the department’s arrival, is being investigated by the Walworth County Fire Investigation Team as a possible arson. If it is determined that there is a potential that a crime occurred, the investigation will be turned over to the police department. The Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office declined to provide the Banner with any information regarding the decedent, including the cause of death. A previous Banner article provides further details from the initial reports.

The incident occurred at 505 Ventura Lane on the city’s west side. According to the recently issued 2024 Walworth County property tax bill, the property is in the names of Chilukuri Rao and Chilukuri Indumathi. It is unclear as to why the reported first and last names of the decedent are reversed from those on this document.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Photo courtesy of Tom Ganser.

Rotary Youth Exchange Notice:

The Whitewater Rotary is currently hosting an exchange student from France at Whitewater High School this school year. A critical part of this program is finding willing host families from within the Whitewater Unified School District families. Families come in all shapes and sizes: married w/students, married/no students, retired, single and everything in-between. Rotary families host for a third of the year, depending on the need and number of host families that apply. We are seeking a 2nd host family (approximately 2nd week in Dec to 2nd week of March) and 3rd host family (approximately 2nd week in March to 3rd week of June). Your local Rotarians will meet with you to discuss the specifics.

Youth exchange helps broaden viewpoints of the events in the world and gives a student the opportunity to realize their dream of studying abroad. Rotary students are sponsored by other Rotary clubs around the world, are vetted and arrive with health insurance. They are enrolled in local schools, attend classes and are expected to attend Rotary events throughout their school year.

Contact the name listed below if you are interested in applying to become a Rotary Host family. We look forward to hearing from you!

Please contact Mark Olm, mark@olmandassociates.com if you are interested in learning more.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Construction of the new Dollar Tree store to the southwest of the intersection of Main Street and Indian Mound Parkway seemed to move along rather rapidly, but it looks like decorations won’t be on sale for this year’s holidays. Llana Dostie, Neighborhood Services Administrative Assistant, told The Whitewater Banner that “The current contractor will be turning the building over to the next contractor around December 1st.    It usually takes about two months after that contractor starts work for the building to open.  Given that time line we are looking at sometime 1^st quarter of 2025.”

The apparent delay in opening may be related to the fact that Dollar Tree has been in the process of opening several other stores in the state this year. Longtime residents recall that the chain previously operated a smaller store in Whitewater Plaza for several years. Residents who are looking forward to the store mention that, among other things, they find it to be a good source of party and craft supplies and greeting cards. Unfortunately the days of $1 prices are long gone. In 2021 the chain raised the price on most items to a minimum of $1.25, and this fall many items were lifted to $1.50. Some items, however, are even as high as $7, or possibly higher.

Chris Verhyen of the Southeast Region WI Department of Transportation confirmed to The Whitewater Banner that US Highway 12 between LaGrange and Elkhorn reopened, after months of construction, on November 19. The new traffic signals at County ES (“Abell’s Corners”) are awaiting an inspection, so there is a temporary four-way stop there. Verhyen indicated that the department is hoping to turn the signals on during the week of November 25.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage https://www.flickr.com/photos/neiljenkins/

The “CliffsNotes” version: Persons who are responsible for any building or lot with a public sidewalk are required to remove all snow and ice from the sidewalk within 24 hours after a snow or ice event. If ice can’t be removed, it must be kept sprinkled with salt or sand. If these requirements are not met, the city may have the work performed at a minimum cost of $100. Please see below for the city ordinance.

12.20.020 Snow and Ice Removal Required.
The owner, occupant, and person in charge of any building or lot fronting upon or adjoining any sidewalk shall remove all snow and ice from the sidewalk no later than twenty-four hours after a snow or ice event. When any ice is so formed on any sidewalk that it cannot be removed, then the responsible party shall keep the same sprinkled with salt or sand. If any such owner, occupant, or person in charge refuses or fails to comply with the provisions of this section within the time aforesaid, the city manager or an appointed representative may remove such snow or ice and the cost thereof shall be charged at a rate of one hundred dollars per hour, with a minimum charge of one hundred dollars. Work lasting more than one hour will be billed an additional twenty-five dollars. Any subsequent snow removal, which takes place within six months of the prior removal, will be charged at a rate of one hundred fifty dollars per hour, with a minimum charge of one hundred fifty dollars. Work lasting more than one hour will be billed an additional twenty-five dollars. If the city contracts the service out for snow and ice removal, the city shall bill back to the property owner the cost, for any labor, equipment, and material necessary to remove the snow and ice from the public sidewalk the rate of the cost of the contracted service, plus a ten percent administrative cost fee, or, at the city’s discretion, the street department’s going rate for time, materials and equipment. The cost of such removal shall be reported to the city clerk in writing with a description of the premises, and such costs shall be and become a special tax and lien against the premises, and if not previously paid shall be inserted by the city clerk in the next ensuing tax roll as a special tax against such premises; and such costs may, in the discretion of the common council, be collected by suit against the owner or occupant of the premises.

(Ord. 1474 §1, 2001: Ord. 1193 §1, 1990: Ord. 983 §54(part), 1982; Ord. 901 §1, 1978: Ord. 862 §1, 1976: prior code §6.01(8)).
(Ord. No. 1846A, § 1, 11-8-2012; Ord. No. 1993A, § 1, 2-4-2020)

Wild Ones Kettle Moraine Chapter Presents “Wisconsin’s Rare Plants: Monitoring and Conservation“
Presented by Kevin Doyle

Kevin Doyle is a botanist with the DNR’s Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation.  He also coordinates the Rare Plant Monitoring Program, which is a citizen science program aimed at training volunteers to search for and record data on rare plants. This talk will focus on the ecology and biology of Wisconsin’s rare plants, as well as how people can get involved and how volunteer data are used in rare plant conservation.

WHEN:  Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 10 a.m.

WHERE:  South Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters, Eagle

      S91W39091 Highway 59

                   One mile west of Eagle, on Highway 59

Open to the Public.  No admission fee.

Friday, November 1 is the last day for early voting on the second floor of the city Municipal Building. Hours are 8 am – 5:00 pm. (Normally the building closes at 4:30 pm.)

Tom Ganser writes, “I began voting in 1971, and until today [Thursday, Oct. 31] I have always voted on the day of the election.  Today was the first time I’ve voted in person before the election date in the Whitewater Municipal Building … and it was “easy peasy” !

Jefferson County Administrator Ben Wehmeier Taking New Position
Wehmeier will join Watertown Community Health Foundation as President & CEO

Jefferson County Administrator Ben Wehmeier announced he will be taking a position with the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, where he will serve as President and CEO. Wehmeier started as Jefferson County Administrator July 1, 2013. His last day as county administrator is anticipated to be in mid-December.

“It’s been a great honor to serve the people of Jefferson County for the last 11 years,” Wehmeier said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to serve Jefferson County in this new role, which has many alignments with the Jefferson County strategic plan.”

In collaboration with the county board of supervisors, county department leaders and staff, and with the many public-private partnerships developed over the years, Wehmeier enacted numerous processes that have enhanced communications, budgeting and management of the county.

During his tenure, Wehmeier worked to advance the strategic priorities of the county. There’s been $1.3 billion worth of business investment in the county in the last year alone. Additional examples of county accomplishments under his leadership include:

• Updating the county’s strategic and comprehensive plans
• Developing the Bridges Federated Library System, a consolidated system between Waukesha and Jefferson County that has been recognized by the Public Policy Forum for intergovernmental cooperation
• Founding a 501(c)(3) entity focused on public/private partnerships for Economic Development, now known as ThriveED
• Developing a treatment court system
• Integrating mental health teams with law enforcement
• Developing a Youth Crisis Stabilization Facility
• Positioning the county to address housing shortages, including the development of the Live Local Development Fund with ThriveED and fundraising of nearly $10 million
• Partnering with broadband providers to expand access in the county
• Developing the Food and Beverage Innovation Park that led to Kikkoman choosing to locate its facility in the county
• Executing numerous building and infrastructure projects, including the construction of highway facilities, communication infrastructure, interurban trails, and courthouse/sheriff/jail facilities
• Receiving recognition for financial reporting and budgeting excellence 10 years running
• Developing shared local government positions

“We’ve valued Ben’s leadership, collaboration, and achievements over the years on behalf of the people of Jefferson County,” County Board Chair Steve Nass said. “We wish him well in the future and look forward to continuing to collaborate with him in his new role.”

“We have a plan in place to transition seamlessly into recruiting and onboarding our next county administrator,” Nass added. “We believe having Michael Luckey serve as interim county administrator, while we transition, will ensure the county continues to move forward on its strategic priorities.”

Luckey, in his role as assistant to the county administrator, has made significant contributions to advancing the county’s longer-term strategic initiatives. He has a decade of experience in local and state government, including a number of leadership positions.

The County Board Executive Committee will oversee the recruitment of the new county administrator, and the transition period working with Luckey as well as county department heads.