News & Events

Antonio Jermaine Statam, 36, of 300 block N Tratt St., Whitewater, has been charged with physical abuse of a child, repeater; and two counts of felony domestic battery, domestic abuse assessments, domestic abuse repeater, repeater.

Yefferson Guzman, 18, of 200 block N Fraternity Ln., Whitewater, has been charged with false imprisonment; strangulation and suffocation; misdemeanor battery; and disorderly conduct.

Life on the lake is easy, especially when the fish are biting, the jokes are funny, there’s a ‘couple two three’ beers in the bucket and the Green Bay Packers are on the field. From the warmth of their shanty ‘up north,’ old pals Marvin and Lloyd spin wit, wisdom and hilarious songs about life, love and the one that got away. Don’t miss this Wisconsin musical tradition, featuring songs like “When On Thin Ice,” “Ode to a Snowmobile Suit” and “The Wishing Hole.”

Since 1998, Guys on Ice has played to sold-out houses throughout Wisconsin and played for audiences as far away as California, New York and Oregon.

Tickets are available at www.youngauditorium.com. There is an additional service charge for tickets purchased at the door.

Caregivers deserve thanks every month of the year, and November is the month to remind us of that.  Keeping a person with dementia safe, content, fed and cared for is a 24-7 job.  Understandably caregivers often feel alone and unappreciated. This month we are saying to caregivers, “You are appreciated!”  

Say Thank You    Do you know someone who is caring for a person with dementia?  Just saying Thank You acknowledges their work and makes them feel valued.  Express gratitude for the small and large things they do for their loved one.

Make a Friend    Get to know about the life of this caregiver, what she/he likes, what her hobbies are, maybe take note of her birthday and send a card.  Learn what is most difficult about her caregiving job.  Giving her a chance to share with someone who is actively listening can be very comforting.

Send a Thank You Note  Often, writing instead of speaking makes it simpler to show gratitude.  Choose a beautiful card and send it through the mail.  Such a simple thing can make someone’s day.  Perhaps you have a parent who is being cared for by one of your siblings.  Your non-judgmental expression of appreciation will mean a lot.

Include a Gift Card!  Take your thank you card up a notch and include a gift card for a take-out meal,  gas, a massage or pedicure.  The options are endless.   

Encourage Self Care  Being a caregiver is emotionally and physically taxing. Caregivers need to be encouraged to take a break and care for their own needs.  Look into Whitewater’s ’”Rockin’ Respite” program where caregivers can drop off their loved ones two days a month and know they are receiving social and emotional stimulation.  The loved one is paired with a volunteer whose job it is to give their full attention to their friend-for-a-day.  An activity director keeps everyone busy with crafts, light exercise, games. music and puzzles.  Caregivers can make necessary appointments, go shopping, have lunch with a friend, relax at home or have an undisturbed nap.  Contact Jennifer at Seniors in the Park (jfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call 262-473-0535) to find out more.

THANK YOU, CAREGIVERS!

For more information, go to  https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/getting-help-alzheimers-caregiving

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This article submitted by Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, a program of Whitewater Seniors in the Park (SITP) to help inform the community about dementia and to support caregivers and their loved ones.  New members are always welcome!  Contact Jennifer jfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call 262 473 0535.  More resources for caregivers:

https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/376/Aging-Disability-Resource-Center

https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/departments/human_services/aging_and_disability_resource_center/index.php

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/benefit-specialists/ebs.htm

Did you know Whitewater has a 1,000+ year old archaeological site located within our city limits? Join us on November 6th at 6:00 p.m. at Irvin L. Young Memorial Library for a family-friendly presentation that dives into the mysteries of Whitewater’s Effigy Mounds and mound builder culture. This free event is being sponsored in collaboration with the Wisconsin Historical Society, Whitewater Unified School District, Irvin L. Young Memorial Library, Whitewater Parks and Recreation, and the Landmarks Commission in honor of Native American Heritage Month.

The program will be led by Wisconsin Historical Society staff archeologist, Dr. Amy Rosebrough. The presentation will promote a greater historical and cultural understanding of Whitewater’s Effigy Mounds to highlight this important community landmark.

Dr. Amy Rosebrough is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and she received her doctorate for region-wide re-analysis of Wisconsin’s effigy mounds and mound builders. In her current position at the Wisconsin Historical Society, she manages archaeological and burial sites data, assists Wisconsin’s citizens with archaeological questions, and serves as a subject matter expert.  

The presentation will be held on Monday, November 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. There is no cost or registration to attend. For additional information, visit the library’s website at www.whitewaterlibrary.org or call 262-473-0530.  

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

The Common Council’s decision to reject using a Request for Proposals for legal counsel to advise the council regarding personnel matters but rather to authorize the council president to solicit proposals has resulted in an “urgent call for transparent attorney selection process” from the city manager.

As was previously announced on The Banner, the Common Council at its October 3 meeting authorized, by a 4-3 vote, engaging an outside attorney at a cost of up to $10,000 to advise the council on employee discipline and personnel matters. This action would pertain specifically to the city manager, since that position is the only one that reports to the council.

At its subsequent meeting on October 17 the council was provided a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) that might be used in soliciting interested legal firms for such an engagement. That RFP received no discussion before a motion was made to allow Council President Allen to solicit two to three proposals. Several citizens spoke against the motion, including Ryan Oezer, who endorsed the transparency that would be provided through the RFP process, and Brian Schanen, who questioned why the city’s attorney who handles personnel matters, or someone in that firm, could not address the matter at hand. It was indicated by Allen that this attorney works with the city manager. Objections to forgoing the RFP process were also voiced by Councilmembers Brown and Dawsey Smith. Ultimately a motion by Hicks/Stone for Allen to present proposals from three legal firms passed with a 4-3 margin with Allen, Gerber, Hicks, and Stone in favor.

The city’s labor and employment attorney is Kyle Gulya from von Briesen & Roper SC. According to its website, the firm has 22 attorneys other than Gulya whose specialty is labor and employment. The Banner reached out to attorney Robert J. Simandl, the section leader for that area of practice, to inquire as to whether the firm might be able to suggest any of these attorneys who might be available and have appropriate expertise to work with the council. No response has been received.

John Weidl’s statement, dated October 19, is printed below in its entirety.

To the Members of the Common Council and Whitewater Community:

I wish to address the recent decision concerning the authority granted to a single elected official in sourcing an attorney to represent the interests of the council. With prior concerns regarding the conduct of the body, this decision adds to the prevailing unease.

Entrusting a solitary elected official with the responsibility to source and recommend an attorney, without adhering to our good governance manual and procurement policy, raises concerns of potential conflicts of interest. It’s paramount that our council operates with utmost transparency, ensuring our processes are free from any perceived biases. The essence of our decision-making should be rooted in integrity and impartiality. Granting extensive authority to a single individual might inadvertently convey a message to our community that our decisions might not be entirely unbiased.

Previous discussions and citizen comments at the last meeting have pointed towards an inconsistency in how our governing body views public participation and transparency. Decisions that bypass our governance standards might contribute to this inconsistency, potentially diminishing trust in our processes. Our stakeholders expect our actions to be transparent, consistent, and devoid of conflicts. They trust us to prioritize the broader community’s interests. The current decision might unintentionally foster an environment where the public, staff, or future stakeholders might hesitate to participate, apprehensive of potential bias or influence.

For the sake of our community’s trust and to ensure that our actions resonate with transparency and consistency – at the next meeting, I encourage the council to reconsider the decision of attorney selection based on any one individual’s discretion and instead propose we follow the established Request for Proposals (RFP) process, as delineated in our Good Governance Manual and Procurement Policy. Such an approach guarantees a selection process that upholds the broader interests of our council and community, aligning with clear, objective standards. A very real and actionable RFP was provided at the last common council meeting. Even following the process, the governing body should be able to have professionally, transparently sourced proposals for review in December. To date, no reason has been provided to the staff or public for circumventing established processes or requiring a tighter timeline. 

Finally, I urge any attorney considering working for the City in this capacity to insist upon a public and transparent process. This will not only protect the reputation and integrity of the attorney but also ensure that the Common Council’s decision-making is held to the highest standards. A commitment to transparency is a shared responsibility.

In conclusion, my intent isn’t to oppose the hiring of an attorney, but to advocate for a clear and transparent process. Let’s ensure our decisions remain free from any doubts related to ethics, conflicts, or potential backlash.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Warm regards,

John S. Weidl
City Manager, City of Whitewater

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Karen Tordera.

WHS junior, A’lani Ross, performed at the Overture Center in Madison with the Wisconsin School Music Association Honors Choir on Thursday evening, October 26. A’lani was chosen last February to perform in the Honors Treble Choir under the direction of Dr. Julie Skadsem. The concert was held in Overture Hall along with the Honor Mixed Choir. Congratulations to A’lani on a fantastic performance!