What’s happening in #WalCo this week? County Board recognizes Kurt Picknell, Clover University registration & Geneva Lake Management Plan Meeting.
Picknell Recognized at County Board Meeting
At its January 10 meeting, the Walworth County Board of Supervisors formally recognized Kurt Picknell for his years of service. Picknell served as Walworth County’s 43rd Sheriff for eight years. The County Board highlighted several of Picknell’s accomplishments during his tenure, including obtaining body-worn cameras for deputies, a third K-9 for coverage on all shifts, and accreditation and reaccreditation from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group, as well as establishing a school resource deputy at Lakeland School.
Senator Stephen Nass was also on-hand to present a Citation from the Wisconsin State Legislature congratulating Picknell on his retirement and thanking him for his service.
County Administrator Mark Luberda acknowledged Kurt’s accomplishments by stating, “Sheriff Picknell’s efforts during his time in office will leave a lasting legacy upon Walworth County, which is a reflection of his dedication and efforts to constantly improve the Sheriff’s Office. His spirit of cooperation drew others in to see and then to help achieve his vision.”
Picknell spoke briefly, stating that he was eternally grateful for the support of Walworth County Sheriff’s Office deputies, staff, and families, the County Board of Supervisors, and County staff.
Pictured: Kurt Picknell with County Board Chair Rick Stacey (top); Kurt Picknell with Senator Stephen Nass (bottom)
Stepping On Program Starts January 19
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four older adults has a fall each year, and Wisconsin leads the nation in fall-related deaths for people aged 60 and older. But the good news is that falls are not a normal part of aging and can be prevented. The Stepping On program offered by the Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) has been researched and proven to reduce falls by 31 percent.
In just seven weekly, two-hour sessions, Stepping On gives participants strategies for avoiding falls, including balance and strength exercises, home safety check suggestions, medication review, and more. Local experts, including a physical therapist and pharmacist, visit over the course of the seven sessions to provide fall-prevention information and strategies. The workshop is designed specifically for people aged 60 or older who have fallen and/or have a fear of falling. Participants can expect to leave with improved strength, better balance, and a feeling of confidence and independence.
Stepping On will be held in Classroom ABCD on Thursdays, January 19 to March 2, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Aurora Lakeland Medical Center, W3985 County Road NN, in Elkhorn. The workshop has a suggested donation of $10.
For questions or to register for the program, contact Chetney Blaszczyk RDN, CD at (262) 741-3309.
Test Your Nest
The Walworth County Department of Health & Human Services is offering $5 radon test kits throughout January—“Radon Action Month”—to anyone who donates a nonperishable food item.
There is a limit of one kit per person. All food donations will go to the Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank.
Radon is an odorless, radioactive gas that is the nation’s second-leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for roughly 21,000 deaths each year. “In Walworth County, an estimated 6 in 10 homes have elevated radon levels,” says Walworth County Public Health Officer Erica Bergstrom. “Now is a great time to find out if your home is impacted as houses are closed up for the cold winter weather and we’re spending more time indoors.”
Visit https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/426/Healthy-Homes for more information.
Geneva Lake Management Plan Meeting
The organizations that help keep Geneva Lake healthy, including the Walworth County Conservation Office, Geneva Lake Conservancy, Geneva Lake Environmental Agency, Geneva Lake Association, Wisconsin DNR, and the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, are updating the Geneva Lake Management Plan.
The kick-off meeting to gain public input on the plan will be held on Thursday, January 26, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Lake Geneva City Hall, 626 Geneva St, Lake Geneva. Learn about issues that will be studied to protect the health and recreational uses of Geneva Lake. Meet and hear from the project partners and help craft a lake user survey. You will also have an opportunity to tell these organizations' representatives what issues are most important to you.
The information will be used to update the Geneva Lake Management Plan, which will be completed in 2024 and offers recommendations on how to address various issues facing the lake, including rising phosphorus levels, invasive species, changing fisheries, the impact of wakeboarding and increased boat traffic.
The meeting is free and open to the public, so please encourage your friends and neighbors to attend.
Registration is appreciated but not required. To register, please go to www.genevalakeconservancy.org.
Job of the Week: Deputy Sheriff - Patrol
The Walworth County Sheriff's Office is looking for candidates like you to join our dedicated team of law enforcement professionals that pledge to preserve and enhance the quality of life within the community through efficient, effective, and professional law enforcement services. Although it is beneficial for us to hire candidates with prior law enforcement experience, we are always willing to hire good candidates entering the field and put them through Wisconsin Law Enforcement Academy.
After field training, deputies with the Walworth County Sheriff's Office are assigned to one of three 8.25-hour shifts within the Patrol Division on a rotating schedule working 5 days on/2 days off, 5 days on/3 days off to provide 24-hour per day, 7-day per week service. The Sheriff's Office offers a robust training program with lots of opportunities for collateral duties such as Substation assignment with deputy assigned take home squads, SWAT, Dive Team, Crowd Control, Honor Guard, FTO, etc.
Learn more and apply online: https://bit.ly/WalCoJobs.
Walworth County Community Health Survey
Local health partners, including Aurora Health Care and Mercy Health, are urging residents to participate in a community health online survey open now through January 15. The Community Health Assessment (CHA) survey will provide valuable data for continued evaluation of community needs and help guide government, not-for-profit, and volunteer organizations as they fashion services to meet the most pressing health needs of the community.
The anonymous survey will take 5-10 minutes to complete. Anyone who is 18 and older and lives or works in Walworth County can take the survey. Questions will focus on issues such as access to primary care, health care coverage, substance use, smoking, vaping, nutrition, physical activity, cancer prevention, injury prevention, immunizations, children’s health, mental health, and chronic disease. Results will be released to the public in summer 2023.
Survey Link: Walworth County Community Health Survey (research.net)
Follow us! Walworth County is on Facebook
Walworth County has launched an official Facebook page. Here’s what you can expect to see on the page: News alerts, information about upcoming County Board meetings and public hearings, details about programs and services, park events and highlights, construction updates, community updates, career and volunteer opportunities, answers to FAQs, behind-the-scenes snapshots, and more. We hope you’ll give us a follow and share this page with your friends, family, and neighbors. Also, check out these County departments on Facebook: