News & Events

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Thursday, May 29 through Sunday, June 1
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Lexus D. Boedecker was driving a group home’s vehicle on April 13, 2024, her 24th birthday, when she ran a stop sign at East County Line Road and Highway 12 in the town of Lima, causing a chain reaction crash that involved two other vehicles. Four persons who were in the vehicle that Boedecker was driving died as a result of the crash, with several other occupants being injured as well as one of the other drivers. On May 27, 2025 Rock County Circuit Court Judge Karl Hanson sentenced Boedecker to 16 years in prison followed by four years of extended supervision. Boedecker had pled guilty in February to four charges of Homicide by Vehicle – Use of a Controlled Substance.

Boedecker, residing at the time in Elkhorn, was not authorized to be driving the group home’s vehicle, was 23 weeks pregnant, admitted to smoking marijuana the night before, and had a vape THC cartridge in her possession after the crash. Testing indicated that she had THC in her system at the time of the crash. She was charged in August with four charges of homicide and four charges of causing injury related to the alleged intoxicated use of a vehicle.

Three passengers — Jeffrey Turnipseed, 67, Ericka Berg, 38, and Jamie Ranguette, 39, all of Whitewater, who were not wearing seatbelts — were ejected from the rear windshield and died at the scene, while a fourth passenger — Patricia A. Seufzer, 59, of Whitewater, who also wasn’t wearing a seat belt — died of her injuries a few days later. All four victims were adults with cognitive disabilities.

Rock County District Attorney Jason Sanders issued the following news release after the sentencing:

RE: Boedecker sentenced to 16 years in prison for Fatal Crash that Killed Four

Janesville, WI – On April 13, 2024, Lexus Boedecker was driving a group home’s vehicle when she blew through a stop sign in Lima township, Rock County, setting off a “chain reaction” crash with two other vehicles. The crash she caused killed four people and injured four others. Three passengers, who were not wearing seatbelts, were ejected from the rear windshield and died at the scene of the accident. A fourth passenger, who also wasn’t wearing a seat belt, died of her injuries a few days later. All four adult victims had cognitive disabilities. Boedecker was not authorized to be driving the group home’s vehicle, was 23 weeks pregnant, admitted to smoking marijuana the night before and had a “vape” THC cartridge in her possession after the fatal crash. The Rock County District Attorney’s Office charged Boedecker last August when the test results showed that she had THC in her system at the time she was driving. In February, Lexus Boedecker pled guilty to four counts of Homicide by Vehicle – Use of a Controlled Substance.

Today’s sentencing hearing took place in a crowded courtroom, with more than a dozen family members of the deceased attending the sentencing hearing. Four family members of the deceased victims addressed the courtroom, with more writing to the judge directly. Some victims expressed their anger and asked for Boedecker to be sentenced to the maximum consecutive sentence in prison. Others expressed that their strong faith compelled them to forgive Boedecker. Boedecker, who recently turned 25 years old, had no criminal history and recently gave birth to a child. She also had several letters testifying to her character, including from her pastor, and one that described her as “a tender soul.”

Assistant District Attorney Jerry Urbik argued for her to be sentenced to prison for a “substantial number of years, consecutive to one another.” Urbik noted that, while Boedecker did not intend to hurt anyone, she chose to consume THC on a daily basis
despite being pregnant and chose to drive a vehicle she was not authorized to drive with THC in her system and without ensuring that her passengers, who she was responsible for, were wearing their seat belts. Boedecker’s attorneys argued that she should spend
4-5 years in prison, with more time on extended supervision. Judge Karl Hanson agreed with Urbik that Boedecker had made a series of bad decisions and sentenced Boedecker to 16 years in prison custody, followed by another four years of extended supervision. Because her crimes involved the death of others, she will not be eligible for early release pursuant to the Substance Abuse Program but can petition for release after serving 85% of her sentence.

“The senseless deaths of these four people could have been avoided if Ms. Boedecker chose not to drive a vehicle after consuming marijuana,” ADA Jerry Urbik said. “Judge Hanson’s sentence was tough but fair.” Urbik and his co-counsel ADA Verity Altenberger both thanked the Rock County Sheriff’s Office for an excellent investigation, and for their assistance in helping all the people injured by Boedecker’s crash. They also thanked the Victim-Witness office for their tireless work helping the many family members and friends victimized by Boedecker’s crime.

“Some people think that because THC isn’t as dangerous as fentanyl, it is just not a big deal,” said District Attorney Jason Sanders. “That’s not true when you’re driving. We’re moving thousands-of-pounds at high speeds, and it is easy to make mistakes even when sober. Don’t drive high. The lives you wreck may include your own.”

Editor’s note: Previous Banner articles regarding this crash were published on April 14, April 17, April 22. and July 30, 2024.

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

The Whitewater Unified School District School Board put in a long evening’s work on Tuesday, returning from a nearly one-hour closed session at 10:39 p.m. to vote on the choice of a superintendent to succeed Caroline Pate-Hefty, who resigned effective July 1 to accept a superintendent position in Pennsylvania. In its meeting after final interviews of three candidates last Thursday, the board chose Samuel Karns and Kurt Schneider as the finalists. The motion to approve the hiring of “Sam” Karns was supported on a 6-1 vote, with Jeff Tortomasi the lone dissenter. The terms of the proposed contract were not announced, other than a term of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027. The job posting indicated that the base salary range was “expected to be $165,000 to $180,000 (based on experience); other benefits to be negotiated.” It is assumed that the hiring is contingent on successful negotiation and Karns’ acceptance of the offer.

Karns is the principal of Todd Elementary in the School District of Beloit, where he has served for three years. He was named the 2025 Elementary Principal of the Year by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators and was a 2025 Herb Kohl Principal Leadership recipient.

Last Bugle Call

We honor and remember the following Whitewater area veterans who passed away since last Memorial Day.  “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”  General George S. Patton.   

Taps
27 May 2024 – 26 May 2025

Joseph C. Bauer
Will D. Ensslin
Robert W. Fiskum
Charles A. Grover
Edward W. Hamilton
Leo J. Hansen
Donald J. Jacobs
John Kent, Jr.
Raymond Miles
Lee S. Murray
Patrick J. O’Connor
Ernest W. Regelein
Fred C. Traxler
Jack G. Trojan
Bradford L. Tuttle
 John D. Varnes
Robert K. Webb
Clifford M. Witte
Lloyd G. Worden
Lowell V. Youngs

We apologize if we have omitted the name of any veteran.  It is not intentional.  We only know what we see reported in the media and other sources.

Steven R. Smith, Adjutant, William Graham Post 173, Whitewater American Legion

Editor’s note: Updated on 5/28 to add current photos

Dear Caregivers, you and your loved one are cordially invited to a tour of Hoard Museum in Ft. Atkinson on Wednesday June 11 from 1 to 3 p.m.  The history of the dairy industry in Wisconsin is featured in the museum’s Dairy Shrine exhibit.  Another favorite exhibit features the Civil War including a replica of a library like the one used by Abraham Lincoln.  The museum’s gardens should be in full bloom and there are many places to sit and relax indoors and out.

The Mystery of the Mounds explores the culture of the native Americans of the Woodland Period who built effigy mounds in Wisconsin and the Mississippi valley, 700 in Jefferson County alone, over 1000 years ago. This was long before the familiar tribes of today, Potawatomie and Ho Chunk.  Little is known about these mound builders except what is left of their earthen mounds in the shape of animals and birds still visible especially around Lake Koshkonong.  Other items of interest in the Mystery of the Mounds exhibit are arrowhead collections, a diorama of a Late Woodland camp, a replica keyhole pit house and an informative video. 

The Whitewater Dementia-Friendly Community Initiative is happy to sponsor this visit for caregivers and their loved ones.  Capri Communities has graciously covered the suggested donation.  

Caregivers should provide their own transportation to Hoard Museum, 401 Whitewater Ave., Ft. Atkinson WI  53538.

Registration is appreciated so we have enough volunteers to assist everyone.  Please call Seniors in the Park at 262 473 0535 or email jjackson@whitewater-wi.gov by June 4.  

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by the Whitewater Dementia-Friendly Community Initiative.

William David Hofmann of Whitewater was among 3,591 graduates who received degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln during commencement exercises May 3, 17 and 18.

Hofmann earned a Bachelor of Journalism from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

The graduates are from 57 countries, 46 U.S. states and 250-plus Nebraska communities.

For the full list of May graduates, visit https://go.unl.edu/grads-may25.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

John Wilberding kindly shared the following news: “Over the years Gulf Shores [Alabama] has been a point of destination for many Whitewater residents. It was announced recently that Allegiant will begin nonstop flights from Appleton to Gulf Shores beginning in October. A drive to Appleton is a bit shorter than the 1,065-mile drive to GS.”

Departures from Appleton and from Gulf Shores will normally be on Thursday and Sunday, starting on October 2, with occasional changes during holiday weeks. Fares vary considerably from one date to another. Currently there are one-way fares as low as $54.50 and as high as $224.

Allegiant is described as a low fare carrier; however, they have some “optional” fees that are similar, for example, to those of Spirit Airlines. Seat selection at the time of reservation can range from $0 to $80. It appears that there are no free beverages; the charge for drinks and snacks is $2-7. Booking travel through the call center incurs an additional fee of $19.99. One personal item, defined as follows, is free: “8 in. x 14 in. x 18 in. (20 cm x 35 cm x 45 cm) maximum -A purse, briefcase, laptop computer, small backpack, small camera or food container. The item must be stored completely underneath the seat in front of you.”

Baggage fees apply to carry-on and checked bags and vary depending on route and when the bag is added to your itinerary. Below are shown the fees that are quoted for a trip on October 2. A carry-on costs $1 more than a checked bag when paid for at booking!

According to gulfshores.com, Gulf Shores International Airport (GUF) is just three miles from the beach. “From the airport, guests can call shuttles, taxis, or ride-share services like Lyft or Uber to take them to their accommodation. We suggest arranging transportation in advance to secure a ride. If you prefer to have a vehicle for your entire trip, book a rental car so you can easily get around the destination.”

Our thanks to John Wilberding for discovering and sharing this news.

Editor’s note: Minor corrections/changes were made shortly after this was posted on May 26.