LITTLE GEMS
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are coming to Walworth County.
Baby boxes are temperature-controlled, multiple alarm devices that provide a safe, loving, last-resort option for parents in crisis. The Safe Haven Baby Box takes the face-to-face interaction out of the surrender of a newborn child and protects the mother from being seen. When the door of the box is opened, a call is automatically dispatched to the local 911 center. If a child is placed inside the box, a second call goes out, based on a weight sensor that can detect the presence of something about the weight of a baby. Emergency responders will then retrieve the newborn from the box and transport it to the nearest hospital.
By May, Wisconsin’s very first Safe Haven Baby Box could be in place in Whitewater, where a newborn could be safely and anonymously given up. It comes a year after the body of a newborn was found in March 2023 in a field in the Whitewater area, where his mother had left him. Safe Haven already has baby boxes in other states that, like Wisconsin, have adopted safe-haven laws that protect from prosecution those who drop their newborns off. In December, Gov. Tony Evers signed into law an amendment to Wisconsin’s series of existing safe haven laws. It allowed, for the first time in the state, newborns up to 72 hours old to be anonymously given up via baby boxes.
Elkhorn also has a Safe Haven box that has been funded for its initial fee and delivery. The leadership there is making delivery arrangements as soon as possible this spring, and that leadership will keep everyone posted and hopes to have them installed by early June. Forty-three babies have been surrendered in the Baby Boxes to date, nationwide. Three babies were surrendered directly to firefighters at Safe Haven Baby Box locations. Hopefully, Wisconsin will be able to assist more mothers and help protect more of the innocent infants. Any parent in crisis can text or call 1-866-99BABY1 for help 24/7.
Geneva Lakes Got Talent and on May 11th, on the stage in the Badger Auditorium at 7 p.m., the show will begin.
There will be food and entertainment between 6 and 7 p.m. Magpie’s Kitchen and Lake City Social will provide the food and Rock Central will entertain the crowd pre-show time. Auditions were submitted by the public, including students from surrounding high schools. There were many interested entrants enthusiastic about being a part of the show. Auditions ended on April 1st, and the selections were made. The Lake Geneva Jaycees teamed up with the Badger High School DECA chapter to make this event a showstopper. Get ready to be impressed with the unique talents in the area. There will be cash prizes for the top three talents with 1st place being invited to perform on stage at the annual Venetian Fest this summer.
