Month: January 2018

WHS Juniors Zach Brantmeier and Bennett Miles nominated for FIRST Dean’s List Award

Mentors of the Whitewater High School Robotics Team Ferradermis have the opportunity to nominate two members each year as semi-finalists for the Dean’s List Award, named after Dean Kamen, co-founder of FIRST, to “celebrate outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals is exemplary.”  This year, the mentors nominated juniors Zach Brantmeier and Bennett Miles. These students will participate in an interview process either before or at the Seven Rivers Regional in LaCrosse. The judges will select two finalists from the LaCrosse regional to advance to the national championship where the 10 Dean’s List Winners will be announced.

When recommending Zach, the mentors noted that at the Seven Rivers Regional in 2017, Zach found himself under a great deal of stress as the lead programmer on a robot that was behaving unexpectedly. He handled himself with tremendous poise, working with his mentors, programmers from other teams, and the control system advisors to troubleshoot under extreme pressure, ensuring the team made it to all of its scheduled practice matches and qualification matches on time. Zach has become the team’s “make it happen” person. His mentors rely on him heavily for team communication. Zach set up and manages both our Slack and Remind accounts; he is the first person to arrive for every meeting and the last person to leave. When someone needs to know what is going on, the answer is, “ask Zach.”

When recommending Bennett, the mentors commented that this fall, Bennett took the initiative to reach out to one of our elementary school teachers that he thought might be interested in sponsoring a FIRST Lego League Team as none exist in our school system; he recognized the need in our community and went for it. Bennett has scheduled several meetings with this teacher and the two of them are planning a fundraising campaign to make the FIRST Lego League team happen for the 2018-2019 school year. Bennett is already looking ahead to bring a freshman student into this loop so that when Bennett graduates in 2019, there will be someone prepared to continue this community outreach.

Congratulations, Zach and Bennett, and thank you for your dedication to Team Ferradermis! Good luck in LaCrosse!

Zach Brantmeier (L) and Bennett Miles (R)

 

Whitewater Girls Basketball 75 East Troy 47

 

Allison Heckert scored a career-high 30 points.

File photo by Bob Mischka.

From Coach Judy Harms:

Allison Heckert was on fire tonight, pouring in 30 points to lead Whitewater to a win against East Troy 75-47!  Ali Ketterhagen followed suit with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Whippets.  Our team brought a lot of energy to the court tonight, and overall played well both halves, something that was high on our list.   We had contributions from many players, which was great to see.

Whippets will be looking to carry tonight’s momentum into Friday and back again when they travel to Jefferson Tuesday.

 

Adele Marie Gergen, 95 of Whitewater, passed away peacefully Monday, Jan 29, 2018, at Alden Estates of Jefferson where she had been a resident for 1 month.

Adele was born on her parents’ farm in rural Whitewater on April 21, 1922, the daughter of the late Walter and Martha (Schmidt) Ludeman. She was baptized as an infant, confirmed in the Lutheran faith in 1936 and married in 1942 by the Rev. Fredrick Loeper at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church of Whitewater. She attended Island Country School on Hwy 89 for grades 1-8 and graduated as valedictorian of her 1940 Whitewater Public High School class.  She attended Whitewater Teachers College, today’s UW Whitewater for one year.

She met Ralph Leslie Gergen, who had just moved from Milwaukee to the Whitewater area with his parents and two sisters in 1939.  On January 24, 1942, Adele and Ralph were married in Whitewater and as newlyweds moved to Milwaukee. They moved back to Whitewater in 1945. Ralph passed away on March 8, 1987.

Adele was hired as the secretary for  Lincoln Elementary School in Whitewater in June 1969. What started as a 10-month contract, turned into a career lasting 17 years.  She enjoyed working with the children, families, and teachers during this time and retired in 1986.  She loved music and played oboe in her high school band, participated in school choirs and was a dedicated member of St. John’s Sr. Choir for many years.  Her talents as a pianist gave her the opportunity to accompany the singing during the meetings of St. John’s ladies groups.

Over the years, Adele was a member of several local organizations.   She served in various offices of these groups to include president and secretary of the local Thursday Meeters, Walworth County Homemakers, the Hi-Los, St. John’s Evening Circle and Ladies Aid.  Additionally, she was a clothing leader in the Whitewater 4-H Club for 6 years.  Adele loved to bake and cook meals, enjoyed the activities involved with Seniors in the Park, playing cards and dominoes and spending time with family and friends.

Adele is survived by two daughters, Karen (Don) Swartz of Whitewater, Carol (Kent) Zastava of Wisconsin Rapids, daughter-in-law Darlene Gergen, sister Doris Wutke both of Whitewater. She is further survived by 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends. Preceding her in death were her husband Ralph, son Richard, sister Wilma, 3 brothers-in-law and 2 sisters-in-law.

Funeral services will be held at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church 116 S Church St. Whitewater, WI  on Thursday, February 1, at 1 pm.  Visitation will be held from noon to time of service at the church.

Memorials may be made to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church.

Nitardy Funeral Home of Whitewater is assisting the family.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

 

Whitewater Boys Basketball 52 Monroe 59

From Steven Shears:

Whitewater once again played a tough opponent and came up short in OT with Monroe getting the win 59-52. Monroe held a 3 point lead at halftime 29-26. Whitewater battled and refused to go away getting a game tying 3 in the final seconds of the game from Roberto Navejas.

In overtime, Whitewater missed their opportunities to tie or take the lead getting a single free throw while Monroe netted 7 points. Roberto Navejas led Whitewater with 19 points followed by Daniel Fuller getting 15. Monroe was led by Kade King with 19 followed by Max Lange with 15.

Whitewater has no time to dwell as they face Edgerton on Thursday in Edgerton for an important rematch with their conference foe.

Regional Southern Lakes Anthology Winners Announced

(L-R) Zuri Goldsmith, Caleigh Yang, Blake Wegner, Silas Baker, Andrew Rollette, Anna Ejnik, and Reese Brantmeier

The Regional Judging for Southern Lakes Anthology was completed on January 24th in Elkhorn.  Again this year, Whitewater Middle School was very well represented at this event having seven of our submitted middle school entries chosen for publication.

The following Middle School students had their entries selected and were identified as Regional Winners: Zuri Goldsmith, Caleigh Yang, Blake Wegner, Silas Baker, Andrew Rollette, Anna Ejnik, and Reese Brantmeier.

These students will have their entries published in the 2018 edition of the Southern Lakes Anthology and will be publicly recognized at a special reception that will be held on May 23rd  at the Young Auditorium here in Whitewater.

Great job and congratulations to all of the students whose work was selected.  You make us very proud!

 

Fairhaven Lecture Series, Spring 2018: Native America: People and Places, Past and Present

America’s indigenous peoples have rich and diverse traditions and cultures. What are the impacts of historical treaties and
contemporary policies on native people past and present? How are native communities responding to issues of social injustice?

Join us this spring as we explore historic and contemporary stories, issues and customs from the country’s indigenous peoples.

All lectures are free and open to the public and are held on Mondays at 3 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Fairhaven Senior Services, 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater.

The first lecture, Ho-Chunk Nation: Building Relationships and Strong Communities Throughout Wisconsin, takes place on February 5, 2018. For more information and complete schedule, 

John Joseph Remkus passed away on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, at the age of 89.

He was born on December 26, 1928, at the Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park, IL. to John and Mary Remkus (nee Dobbins). He grew up in Melrose Park, IL. He earned a Bachelor’s in Mathematics at DePaul University in Chicago. He served as an Ensign in the Navy. He was married to Geraldine Huron on July 31, 1951, who passed away September 21, 2001.

He was preceded in death by his wife Geraldine, his son William, daughter Barbara, brothers Edwin and Tom. He is survived by his daughters, Cathy and Margaret, sons Steven, Allen, and David, and sister Lorraine Nosacek (nee Remkus). He had 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was accompanied in life by Charlotte Seiler at the Fairhaven Senior Services. Charlotte’s daughter and son-in-law Jaime and Richard Gunther generously cared for John, and he was accepted as a part of the entire Seiler family He was a parishioner of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Whitewater, WI.

A memorial service will be held at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, at the Fairhaven Senior Services 435 W. Starin Rd, Whitewater, WI 53190 Nitardy Funeral Home in Fort Atkinson, WI is assisting the arrangements, http://www.nitardyfuneralhome.com/

City Meetings: Week of 1/29 to 2/4

Police and Fire Commission, Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 6:30 pm; Municipal Building – Community Room

For agenda, 

Whitewater Landmarks Commission, Thursday, February 1, 2018 – 6:00 PM; Municipal Building – Cravath Lakefront Room

For agenda, 

Upcoming City Meetings

Urban Forestry Commission Meeting | Monday, January 29, 4:30 PM, for the agenda