News & Events

Editor’s note: The following information was received from a political candidate announcing that he is running for office. Any other candidate wishing to seek a political office in the Whitewater area is encouraged to provide information to be published in The Banner.

With the recent announcement from Sheriff Kurt Picknell on his retirement at the end of this year, I humbly announce I am a candidate for Sheriff in this year’s election. I have spent the last 27 years dedicating my time in service to the citizens of this great county and will continue to do so as your next Sheriff. This decision was not taken lightly as I understand the Office of Sheriff carries with it a great deal of responsibility. In my tenure with the Sheriff’s Office, I have been honored to have served in the various ranks and specialty teams up to my current role as your Undersheriff, which is second in command of the Sheriff’s Office. I will continue to apply my education and experience along with integrity, compassion, and professionalism in serving the citizens of Walworth County. I ask for your support and prayers during this election.

Walworth County Sheriff Kurt Picknell states, “Undersheriff Dave Gerber is the most qualified in every way to be the next Sheriff of Walworth County. He has the education, experience and dedication serving and protecting others. Dave has a highly distinguished law enforcement career ready to lead the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office.”

Walworth County Sheriff David Graves (retired) states,“Undersheriff Dave Gerber is running to be the next Walworth County Sheriff. Undersheriff Gerber has the education, administrative experience, and moral compass to move seamlessly into the top position as the next Sheriff of Walworth County. As a 42-year veteran of Walworth County law enforcement which includes 14 as Walworth County Sheriff, I had the opportunity to watch many deputies grow within the profession. Undersheriff Gerber rose through the ranks, accepting more responsibility with every new assignment and promotion. I came to admire his ability to interact with other employees as well as our outside law enforcement partners. Undersheriff Gerber is dedicated to keeping our county a safe place for all of its residents and visitors. Undersheriff Dave Gerber is the best choice for Walworth County Sheriff. Please join me in endorsing and voting for Undersheriff Dave Gerber for Walworth County Sheriff. You’ll be glad you did!”

Some of my endorsements include:

Sheriff Kurt Picknell – Walworth County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Dave Graves – Walworth County Sheriff’s Office (retired)

David Bretl –Walworth County Administrator (retired)

Nancy Russell – Chair – Walworth County Board of Supervisors (retired)

Rick Stacey – Chair – Walworth County Board of Supervisors

Zeke Weidenfeld – Walworth County District Attorney

Valerie Etzel – Walworth County Treasurer

Michelle Jacobs – Walworth County Register of Deeds

Kristy Secord – Walworth County Clerk of Courts

Chief Jeremy Swendrowski – Village of East Troy Police Department

Chief James Hansen – Delavan/Darien Police Department

Chief Joel Christensen – City of Elkhorn Police Department

Chief Brad Buchholz – Village of Sharon Police Department

Chief Donald Jensen – Town of East Troy Police Department (retired)

Chief Joseph Balog – Village of Genoa City Police Department

Chief Jeff Cates – Village of Fontana Police Department

Chief Matthew Kiederlen – UW Whitewater Police Department

Chief Steve Cole – Bloomfield Police Department

John Marra –Chief of Police Genoa City Police Department/Council President Williams Bay (retried)

Tom Whowell – President Village of Fontana (retired)

The training and experience I have received has prepared me to lead the Sheriff’s Office into the future. As your Sheriff, I will continue to uphold the 183-year tradition of integrity, excellence, professionalism, and compassion. I will honor my oath to support the Constitutional rights of all our citizens and hold criminals accountable by continuing a strong partnership with all law enforcement agencies in Walworth County, along with our District Attorney’s Office and the Circuit Courts. I will always support all first responders for their hard work and dedication to the citizens we serve. We will enhance interoperability among all first responders in Walworth County in terms of communication and records management. I will continue to ensure fiscal responsibility within our annual budget. I will ensure all employees continue to receive the highest level of training in order to provide the highest level of service to the citizens of Walworth County. I will continue to partner with all law enforcement agencies in the County to ensure we remain a safe place to live, work, and play. Our agency has worked hard to achieve accreditation through the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group (WILEAG) and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and I will ensure our accreditation status continues. A police agency is most effective when it engages and partners with its community members. I plan to continue our community outreach efforts and build stronger relationships with our citizens. Finally, I have worked tirelessly for decades providing the needed training and equipment for our employees and strongly support our agency in recruiting and retaining the best employees to serve our citizens. I am proud to serve alongside our 214 employees within the Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement officers and first responders in Walworth County. I am equally proud to serve with all of our dedicated county employees who serve Walworth County every day. Having served in the various ranks and specialty teams and most recently as your Undersheriff, the transition to Sheriff will be seamless. I look forward to being your next Sheriff.

BIO

Undersheriff Dave Gerber has 27 years of full-time law enforcement experience starting with the Village of East Troy Police Department and joining the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office in 1997. Undersheriff Dave Gerber also continued as a part-time police officer with the Village of East Troy Police Department for an additional 15 years. In his tenure with the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, Undersheriff Dave Gerber has served in many positions which include patrol deputy, detective, Lieutenant, Captain of Support Services, and Captain of the Patrol Division.  In his current role as Undersheriff, Dave is second in command and serves as Chief Operating Officer for our 214-employee workforce. Undersheriff Dave Gerber oversees all divisions of the Sheriff’s Office operations and is responsible for an annual 28-million-dollar budget. Undersheriff Dave Gerber has served for many years on specialty teams which include SWAT Team, Dive Team, Honor Guard, Evidence Technician, Bike Patrol, Background Investigations, and Field Training Officer. Undersheriff Dave Gerber served as the Chair of the Walworth County Traffic Safety Commission, and administered the K9 Unit, Traffic Crash Investigation Team, Fugitive Task Force, Gang Unit, Commercial Motor Vehicle Carrier Enforcement Unit, Boat Patrol contract with the Town of Whitewater, Town Liaison Program, Sex Offender Registry Unit, and many other specialty teams. Undersheriff Dave Gerber is certified by the Wisconsin Department of Justice as a Unified Tactics Instructor. Instructor certifications include Firearms, Defense and Arrest Tactics, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Vehicle Contacts, Tactical Skills, Professional Communication Skills, Taser, and many other disciplines. Undersheriff Dave Gerber also served as range-master where he oversaw all aspects of the Walworth County Range. Undersheriff Dave Gerber holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin at Platteville in Criminal Justice/Sociology. Undersheriff Dave Gerber is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command in Evanston, IL, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Command Institute, and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.  Undersheriff Dave Gerber served as an instructor at Gateway Technical College for many years where he instructed both in-service and police academy courses. Undersheriff Dave Gerber is a past State Director for the State of Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Council for Special Olympics and recipient of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Dale Brunner Hall of Fame award. Undersheriff Dave Gerber has volunteered for over 25 years for Special Olympics and coordinates the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run and Polar Plunges. Undersheriff Dave Gerber is also a past Director for the Wisconsin Field Training Officers Association. In his spare time Undersheriff Dave Gerber enjoys being active and spending time with his family.  Undersheriff Dave Gerber has been married to his wife for 22 years and their twin sons both attend UW Whitewater. Undersheriff Dave Gerber served as a coach for many years for youth sports including baseball and soccer in the East Troy area. Undersheriff Dave Gerber enjoys bicycling and has participated as one of the Wisconsin Riders for the Police Unity Tour riding from New Jersey to Washington D.C. to raise money for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Editor’s Note: The following press release was provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension.

Have you noticed small black caterpillars eating the leaves of your oak, maple, birch and other
trees and shrubs? These caterpillars continue eating and growing, turning into larger caterpillars
with long hairs and distinctive red and blue dots on their backs. These particular caterpillars will
keep eating until July before they spin a cocoon and pupate, emerging as adult spongy moths.
Each year, spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) caterpillars defoliate thousands of acres of hardwood
forests, yard trees and other urban trees throughout the northeastern United States, including
Wisconsin. Here are some common questions and answers about spongy moths and what you should do about them.

Spongy moth? Is this a new pest?

No, the name spongy moth replaced the previous name of this insect, gypsy moth, earlier in 2022.

Why haven’t I seen them before?

Spongy moths have been present in Walworth County for years, but have gone mostly unnoticed. Last year’s drought conditions allowed their populations to explode so many residents are notic-
ing them for the first time or in higher numbers than before.

I have many trees on my property. Should I be worried?

Please do not panic! The caterpillars are voracious feeders and can defoliate trees; however,
healthy trees and shrubs are likely to survive. The caterpillars are a nuisance and you can work to
help reduce their numbers. (Note: The caterpillar hairs can cause skin reactions in some people).

What should I do?

Not all caterpillars are bad. Make sure you properly identify any insect or caterpillar that might
be causing damage before practicing any management strategy. Right now, you can be reducing the number of spongy moth caterpillars by putting up burlap collection bands to collect the cater-
pillars and remove them. Visit the spongy moth information page to learn about what spongy moths look like, their life cycle, and management options throughout the year. https://go.wisc.edu/kz1yc1

If you have questions about spongy moths or other gardening questions, please contact Julie
Hill, Horticulture Outreach Specialist at julie.hill@wisc.edu or by calling the UW-Extension
Walworth County office at 262-741-4958. You can also find our local Master Gardeners at the
Lake Geneva Farmers Market every Thursday morning to answer your gardening questions.

W5294 County Rd. M 
Thurs 3-7; Fri 8-5; Saturday 8-2
TONS of kids’ clothes! Most $1 or less. Girls Nb-3t, boys nb-6/9 months; Lots of Baby Gear, Fisher Price Kitchen, Vintage Vinyl Records, Brand New Blackstone Propane Griddle, TV stand, Lots of Misc. 

Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the Ice Age Trail Alliance.

Celebrate National Trails Day® on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Hikes taking place throughout the state on Saturday, June 4

Cross Plains, Wis. (June 1, 2021)—American Hiking Society’s 30th annual National Trails Day is happening this Saturday, June 4. This is a day of public events aimed at advocacy and trail service.

To celebrate National Trails Day, Ice Age Trail Alliance chapters throughout Wisconsin are hosting events along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail:

Lodi/Columbia County: Mammoth Fun Run & Hike: family friendly, all-ages event. Enjoy the beauty of the Lodi Marsh Segment. For details, visit https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/mammoth-fun-run-hike-2022/

Manitowoc County: Travel through the Walla Hi County park on a 2.3 mile (total) out and back hike along the Ice Age Trail. Meet in the lower parking lot by the bridge in Walla Hi County Park. For details, visit https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/walla-hi-segment-national-trails-day-hike-lakeshore-chapter/

Janesville/Rock County: Enjoy a 5.2-mile round trip hike from the North Pavilion in Riverside Park to the rustic cabin in the Janesville School Outdoor Lab. The hike features the Devil’s Staircase and Arbor Ridge Segments of the Ice Age Trail, along with a stop for snacks and drinks. For details, visit: https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/national-trails-day-hike-rock-county/

Walworth/Jefferson Counties: Saunter up to 20 miles through the Southern Kettle Moraine. Full-day hikes start at Rice Lake parking lot and end at Emma Carlin Trailhead. Free parking available all day in the DNR parking lots. Shorter hikes are available (volunteers will be stationed along the route to shuttle hikers back to their cars). Bring your own lunch for a picnic at Olsen Cabin. For details, visit https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/national-trails-day-hike-walworth-jefferson-chapter/

Washington County: Climb a large glacial kame as you participate in a guided hike on the Pike Lake Segment of the Ice Age Trail. Hike will start at the Beach Parking Lot, in the Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Free parking in the DNR lot. For details, visit https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/discovery-day-hike-wash-oz-2022/

Hartland/Waukesha County: Take a guided hike (3 to 4 miles) along the Hartland segment of the Ice Age Trail and enjoy the new loop trail that’s been added to Penbrook Park. Hike begins at Nixon Park’s Bandshell. For details, visit https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/waukesha-milwaukee-county-chapter-national-trails-day/

Waushara County: Meander the rolling terrain of the Greenwood Segment of the Ice Age Trail and receive a National Park Service bandana! This self-guided hike starts at the Greenwood Segment parking lot on Brown Deer Court. For details, visit https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/national-trails-day-greenwood-segment-waushara-county-chapter/

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About the Ice Age National Scenic Trail:

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a 1,200-mile footpath contained entirely within Wisconsin. It traverses the state from St. Croix Falls in the west, to Sturgeon Bay in the east, going as far south as Janesville. One of 11 National Scenic Trails, the Ice Age Trail highlights the landscapes that were carved out by ancient glaciers, which happen to be some of the most beautiful areas in the state. Approximately 60% of Wisconsin residents live within 20 miles of the Ice Age Trail.

About the Ice Age Trail Alliance:

The Ice Age Trail Alliance is a non-profit, member and volunteer-based organization which conserves, creates, maintains, and promotes the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. For more information visit  iceagetrail.org.

About National Trails Day:

Celebrating the 30th annual  American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®  is about coming together again on the trail and leaving the trail and the outdoor community better than you found them. Millions of hikers, bikers, rowers, horseback riders, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, land trusts, and businesses come together in partnership in events across the country to forge a more inclusive trail community and advocate for, maintain, and clean up public lands and trails.

Editor’s Note: The following press release was provided by the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Rock County.

One in Four people aged 65 and older has a fall each year! Stepping On participants have a 31% reduced rate of falls!

JANESVILLE— The ADRC of Rock County/ Aging Unit, in partnership with Mercy Health Systems Janesville, is pleased to offer Stepping On, our most popular health and wellness class for those ages 60+ this summer!

Stepping On is a seven week workshop proven to help participants prevent falls. The classes will include strength and balance exercises, home safety check suggestions, expert guest speakers, and a medication review. The workshop is for people who have fallen and for people who fear falling.

A Stepping On workshop will be held at Mercy Health Mall from June 16 – July 30, 2022, on seven Thursday afternoons from 1:30-3:30 pm. Mercy Mall is located at: 1010 N. Washington Street, Janesville, Wisconsin. Masks are required. A suggested donation of $15 is asked to cover the cost of class materials. Scholarships may be available.

For questions, or to register by June 9th, call the ADRC of Rock County/ Aging Unit at: (608) 757-5309 or email: Lisa.messer@co.rock.wi.us

The program was developed by Dr. Lindy Clemson of Sydney, Australia, to help older adults learn ways to prevent falls. It was brought to the United States by Dr. Jane Mahoney, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging, with funding from the CDC and other partners. The research has found that people who complete the workshop have a 31% reduced rate of falls.

Therapy Dog Brings Special Focus to Reading
By: Alison Keenan, Trainer
Intermountain Therapy Animals®/READing Paws

Teachers are tasked with the difficult jobs of educating their students and looking for ways to make that learning fun and creative. Students can be a challenge to engage and keep interested. The goal is always to have a positive effect on academic and social growth. Unique opportunities exist for teachers in a Special Education program because there are students with learning challenges as well as the daily obstacles imposed by a global pandemic, world turmoil and rising crime. Students range in age, attention and capability which adds to the degree of difficulty in engaging them. Four educators in a Whitewater, Wisconsin school system did just that, and they not only captured attention and participation, but they super charged it.

A loveable but highly trained English cream golden retriever named Piper and her owner, Alison Keenan, provided the motivation for a class of mixed level Special Education students. During the middle of the Covid pandemic, four teachers and the dog trainer got together and created a unique opportunity to encourage students to read: a virtual reading session with a Reading Education Assistance Dog®. Their idea was especially challenging because it involved a video session with a dog living in Tennessee interacting with students from Wisconsin.

Piper is not an ordinary friendly golden retriever. She is a graduate of training aimed at assisting students with reading. This program, READing Paws®, is education provided through Intermountain Therapy Animals® and Piper is part of a Registered Team that provides just that: reading assistance. Together with her trainer, Alison, Piper is the center of the reading opportunities. Usually a one-on-one situation, this opportunity was adjusted to meet the needs of several students at a time in a classroom over 500 miles away. Reading to a dog provides a nonthreatening and enjoyable option to the stress of reading out loud. Students become engaged through their connection to the dog and forget about the challenges they may have with reading. They read to her and then explain what they just read which helps expand their comprehension. Research shows that if a student has not mastered the skill of reading before the third grade, he or she will always have challenges with academic achievement.

What were the magic ingredients of this program? Because Piper is not an ordinary dog, and this is not an ordinary story. There is magic than unfolds in this setting.

Piper came from a professional breeder in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, The Golden Choice. She was reserved months before she was born and was the choice of her forever Mom and Dad.

Keenan had been given a second chance at life after receiving a bone marrow transplant for a rare blood disorder that almost claimed her life. She felt a strong sense of needing to give back somehow and envisioned using this especially smart and loveable white dog to help her fulfill that dream.

Keenan and her dog engaged in focused dog training: first basic puppy manners and obedience followed by more intensive Canine Good Citizen training. During her work, Keenan discovered that her special dog suffered from kidney issues: Piper had only one functioning kidney. This became apparent when her endurance was not equal to other young dogs. Veterinary testing determined that Piper would require prescription food and professional oversight. Much like Keenan herself, both dog and trainer had similar kidney lab values. They were in the same stage of renal failure.

Before moving to Tennessee, Keenan approached her local library in a small Wisconsin town, Mukwonago. The librarian there allowed Piper and her dog “Mom” to begin reading to children on Thursday afternoons. ‘Paws to Read with Piper’ started with a handful of children and progressed to as many as 12, all waiting for a chance to read to Piper. Laments of “I don’t want to read” quickly changed to “I only got to read three books to Piper today” as the program took off. Piper grew to become very popular as she greeted each child with special focused attention. She loved the ribbon adorned ponytails, lighted sneakers and the promise of leftover food sometimes stuck to children’s shirts. She had a special intuition for knowing the children who needed attention the most, and she laid either in their laps or shared a paw as they read to her. Some did not even know how to read yet, so they told her about bulldozers, kitties, and their favorite superheroes. Piper was mesmerized. The success of these reading sessions encouraged Keenan to write a children’s book about how this special dog with health challenges came to realize her special intention in life to be a Reading Assistance Dog. In the book, Piper Finds Her Special, the story is told about Piper finding the magic of helping readers.

Still focused on a higher calling, Keenan and Piper remained intent on paying it forward, but now their family had relocated from Wisconsin to the state of Tennessee. With a new home, new surroundings, and new friends to be made, they engaged in Therapy Dog training. After intense training and guidance with specialized evaluators, Keenan and Piper successfully became a Registered Therapy Animal Team, and the magic started.

Keenan and Piper relocated to Tennessee but maintained a friendship with their dog sitter, Jill Rausch. Jill was a teacher in the Special Education program at Whitewater High School. Piper and Jill bonded together, as Piper was not left with just any dog sitter. This valuable dog needed someone who connected with her when her ‘Mom’ was away, and Jill did just that. Jill saw the magic and knew of the reading miracles that Keenan often spoke about, and the seeds were sown. Raush and three other teachers, Lauren Moll, Martha Ngabo, and Amy Houwers brainstormed together to see how to capture some of this magic for their students.

With the challenges of Covid impacting everyone and everything, it also affected the students and carried over into their mental health and wellbeing. Rausch and her colleagues saw the potential for a new way of reaching their students. They approached Keenan with an idea: how about a virtual dog reading session? This would be a group of students paired together instead of the usual one-on-one format, but it was worth a try. It began with two students at a time, reading to Piper, and blossomed.

The first year, a total of eight students read each week to Piper. They chose their favorite book or Keenan chose a book. They read to each other. To make it more challenging, they prepared a pretend presentation to the school principal about the benefits of allowing a Reading Education Dog in the classroom. They created a contest and competed amongst themselves by writing a poem or story or creating a T-shirt design involving a Therapy Dog. The items were submitted to the teacher and then mailed to Keenan. A video was made showcasing each entry that was placed on the floor with a treat on it. Piper chose the ‘winners’ by taking a treat from each of the entries. The project was a wonderful success, so this team is now engaging in another semester with new students and two students from last year reading to Piper. Even though some might be a bit older, they are eager to spend time with Piper every week. They have chosen a book and they all take turns reading to Piper, talking about what they have read, relating their experiences or just discussing dog related things. They are reading, they are engaging, and they are having fun! There are no barriers: no distance, Covid or turmoil. All that matters is that this is special, and they have all found their own ‘special’ in this unique program. After all, the definition of ‘special’ is better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual. This is, indeed, Special.

Editor’s note: WHS teacher Lauren Moll told the Banner, “Alison donated her time to us. This is the second year we have done the program and she has been so wonderful!”

Editor’s note: The following announcement was received from Ripon College.

Every year, Ripon College holds an award convocation to recognize students and faculty with outstanding merit and achievements. On April 20, 2022, Ripon College brought back in-person celebrations and hosted an evening for the College’s community and award recipients’ guests.

Lydia Wiley Deal, class of 2022 with majors in Music Education and Physics and a minor in Mathematics, was recognized. Wiley Deal of Whitewater, Wisconsin received the Alumni Association Senior Award and Student Organization Leadership Award.

Ripon College, founded in 1851, prepares students of diverse interests for lives of productive, socially responsible citizenship. Ripon’s liberal arts and sciences curriculum and residential campus create an intimate learning community in which students experience a richly personalized education. In recognition of its academic excellence, the college was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 1953, placing it among a select group of the nation’s top colleges. Visit ripon.edu.