LIVING HERE
Thomas Routt was found guilty Friday of shooting and killing newlywed couple Gina and Emerson Weingart, inside a local bar.
Elkhorn police were dispatched to Sports Page Barr for a report of shots being fired around 12:15 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2024. When a police sergeant arrived on the scene, he spotted the bodies of two victims, later identified as 33-year-old Emerson Weingart and 37-year-old Gina Weingart. Gina was a bartender at Sports Page Barr, and Emerson was there to keep her company when the shooting happened.
The cash register behind the bar had the drawer open, and the cash tray was empty. A detective spoke with a third victim who was in the bar at the time of the shooting. His trial reached a pivotal moment Friday with closing arguments from both sides. The jury, comprised of 12 members, began deliberations around 2:30 p.m., following the conclusion of arguments in the Walworth County Judicial Center.
Prosecutors asserted the evidence against Routt is compelling. They highlighted that he reportedly confessed to law enforcement and shared details about the crime with his parents, even guiding police to the alleged murder weapon. After a little over two hours of deliberation, the jury found Routt guilty on the following charges: 2 counts intentional homicide, 1 count attempted homicide, armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of meth.
Summer is just getting started, and Geneva Lake is the place to be.
Boat, kayak, and water safety in general is always a good idea to review. Stay safe while on the lake for yourself and for others enjoying the day. Before heading out for a day on your boat, make sure the plug is in, the battery is charged, fuel up, and most importantly, make sure there are enough life jackets for everyone on the boat.
Geneva Lake gets extremely busy on beautiful summer days, so prepare yourself for the frustration that may come. Not all boaters on the lake are experienced, and some may be celebrating a little too much and may be impaired, so be aware of others on the lake. Non-experienced boaters, which Lake Geneva has many due to all the boat rentals that go on, may not know all the rules of the lake and unintentionally cause a scare. There are more than just boats on the lake to watch out for; there are several different forms of watercraft on the water. There have been requests from paddle boarders, kayakers, and skiers out on the water for boats to slow down near or in the buoys.
There have been incidents of paddleboarders and kayakers flipping due to the unnecessary speed of boats. Slow-no-wake buoys mean exactly what they say and need to be obeyed, as do all rules of the water for everyone’s safety. An unnecessary incident and possible injury can ruin everyone’s good time. Geneva Lake is a very busy lake with many different forms of activity going on most time, and it’s important to look out for each other. Be safe, enjoy the lake, and have a great summer.
