News & Events

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

The Associated Press reported that the statewide turnout for the August 13 primary election was approximately 26% of the voting age population, which was the highest in 60 years for a fall primary in a presidential year. 1825 ballots were cast in the City of Whitewater, representing approximately 37% of the 4890 registered voters. Nearly 35% of those ballots were cast absentee, which, for the first time, were processed at a “Central Count” location, the Community Room at the Municipal Building. It was the second local election that made use of the Badger Books electronic poll books, and the process appeared to work very efficiently. City personnel and election officials completed the Board of Canvass and were able to leave the polls by 10:30 p.m.

Just over 1.2 million people cast a ballot on each of two constitutional amendments which were proposed by the Republican majority legislature. Statewide about 58% voted no on the issues, though in the city, which traditionally leans Democratic, the measures were turned down by approximately 69% of the voters. It seems likely that the turnout in the city was driven significantly by the amendments, as there were no contested races on the Democratic side of the ballot. Nonetheless approximately 67% of the voters cast their ballots in the Democratic primary.

Constitutional amendment #1

	State	Walworth County	Jefferson County	City	City vote
No	57.5%	48 %	52%	69%	1197
Yes	42.5%	52%	48%	31%	542

U.S. Senate – Republican

Eric Hovde easily beat two opponents to win the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. He advances to the November general election, where he will face incumbent Tammy Baldwin.

	State	Walworth County	Jefferson County	City	City vote
Eric Hovde	86%	86%	86%	82%	481
Charles E. Barman	7%	9%	5%	11%	96
Rejani Raveendran	6%	5%	5%	7%	42

State Assembly District 43

This election was the first to be conducted with new district maps that were adopted in February for the State Senate and Assembly. Whitewater resident Brienne Brown ran for the Democratic nomination for the new district 43 unopposed. She will face Scott Johnson, a Republican incumbent who currently represents a different district. As a Jefferson area resident, if Johnson wins the November election he will have to move. Johnson bested opponent Dylan Kurtz in the city with 72% of the vote, which was very similar to the districtwide outcome.

Walworth County Register of Deeds

This race was the only contested Walworth County office. Republican Kathy Komstock, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Evers in January, 2024, won 69% of the vote against Michael Domino. In Whitewater her 223 votes out of 325 also amounted to 69%. She will run unopposed in November.

Pictures may be viewed here on Craigslist.

Ranger Power has proposed a large solar farm, referred to as Whitewater Solar, that would be built on multiple parcels of land east of Whitewater. Information regarding the proposal may be found on the company’s website. The company has reserved a room on Thursday, August 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Whitewater University Innovation Center, 1221 Innovation Drive, for an open house with company representatives.

Separately, another company called ClearPath Energy has obtained an option from the city to construct a smaller solar farm on the old landfill which is next to the city’s compost site at the north end of Jefferson Street. Brad Marquardt, the city public works director, told the Banner that he believes that the company is in a waiting period while they pay an annual fee to keep the option open.

Editor’s note: Ranger Power did not request for this announcement to be published on the Banner. We discovered it in a post on social media.

Where: N1019 Fremont Rd, Whitewater, WI 53190

When: Sat, Aug 10, 2024 @ 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sun, Aug 11, 2024 @ 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Details: No more babies sale! Lots of different baby items (swing, sit me up) along with clothing newborn – 2T. Kids toys. Lots of women’s name brand clothing. Kuerig. Housewares. Women’s shoes, kids shoes. & so much more!

Due to the projected interesting Thursday weather, The Concert In The Park of Ladies Must Swing is Cancelled. We are disappointed this has to happen, but for the safety of the performers and community, it’s best we cancel. Be sure to join us next week Thursday for our last concert of the Piper Road Spring Band.

Editor’s note: The above announcement was posted to the Whitewater Park & Recreation Department Facebook page.

Kevin Brunner, a long-time Whitewater resident, recently was honored by the Geneva Lake Conservancy at its summer fundraiser for his six years as Chair of the organization during a time of unprecedented growth. During Brunner’s tenure, the organization received accreditation from the National Land Trust Alliance and protected an additional 1,500 acres in Walworth, Racine and Kenosha counties. In 2020, the Conservancy was also named Land Trust of the Year, by Gathering Waters, Wisconsin’s state land trust organization.

The GLC board and staff honored Brunner for his “good judgement, leadership skills, financial support, steadfastness and dedication to our conservation mission.” Brunner was instrumental in the purchase of Bromley Woods, an 83 acre oak forest and kettle pond, in LaGrange from the Bromley family who had owned the property since 1844. Today, the Conservancy owns Bromley Woods as a public nature preserve with more than three miles of hiking trails.

In addition, under Brunner’s tenure, the organization’s annual donations increased from $250,000 to more than $1 million and the Conservancy began working with the DNR Knowles Nelson staff and Ducks Unlimited to obtain grants for the purchase of land with high conservation value.

“I am grateful to our partners and the Conservancy’s board and staff for allowing us to open three new nature preserves in the last five years as well as to complete more than 10 conservation easements,” said Brunner. “We have a very talented board and staff and I am excited to see what can be accomplished in the years ahead.”

The mission of the Geneva Lake Conservancy is to protect and restore the land and lakes of Walworth County and beyond. It owns 13 properties with high conservation value and has completed 37 conservation easements, which protect more than 3,000 acres.

In addition to protecting land, the Conservancy also offers its Conservation@Home and Keep It Blue program to Walworth County residents. With Conservation@Home, a Conservancy staff member will meet at a landowner’s property and educate them on how to make the land more ecological healthy by planting native plants, improving wildlife habitat, managing storm water and removing invasive species. The Keep It Blue program asks residents to minimize the use of fertilizers and other chemicals to protect our lakes and waterways.

For more information on the Conservancy go to its Website at genevalakeconservancy.org.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Geneva Lake Conservancy.

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh celebrated the achievements of more than 1,300 students in two ceremonies May 18 inside Kolf Sports Center. The 150th spring commencement included the recognition of candidates for doctoral, master’s degree, bachelor’s degree and associate degree students. 

Students from this area who graduated include:

Fabian Gonzalez, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Lizbeth Rodriguez, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Dalia Velazquez, Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Editor’s note: This announcement was published by City Clerk Heather Boehm.

All Absentee Ballots will now be processed at a Central Count location. That means that Absentee Ballots will no longer be processed at the corresponding polling place on Election Day. All Absentee Ballots will now be processed at the Municipal Building, Community Room (Council Chambers), 312 W Whitewater St, Whitewater, 53190 between the same polling hours of 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

If you are retuning your Absentee Ballot in person on Election Day, please return to the Municipal Building not the Armory. The same polling place rules and standards will apply to Central Count as they do for any other polling place. The difference is you can not vote at the Municipal Building, we will only be processing Absentee Ballots.

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact Heather Boehm, Whitewater City Clerk at 262-473-0102.