Seniors in the Park: “Let Him Go” – Tues., 3/9

“Let Him Go”(Crime/Drama/Thriller)
Tuesday, March 9, 1 pm
Rated R (Violence);
1 hour, 53 minutes (2020)
A retired sheriff (Kevin Costner) and his wife (Diane Lane) learn, after the death of their son, that their grandson has been adopted by a family living in a compound in the Dakotas, away from law enforcement and modern amenities. With no other recourse, they embark on a mission to get the boy back, no matter what the cost. 

There is a capacity limit, and COVID-19 precautions, including facial mask, are required. Please register in advance online, by email (dweberpal@whitewater-wi.gov), or phone (473-0535).

Judy Harms Inducted in WI Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame

Photo courtesy of Bob Mischka


(Whitewater Unified School District press release) Judy Harms – Inductee of the WBCA 2021 Hall of Fame

Whitewater, WI – Judy Harms, a 2020 retiree of the Whitewater Unified School District,
was recently announced as an inductee of the 2021 Hall of Fame from the Wisconsin
Basketball Coaches Association.

Harms was a Physical Education Teacher in the Whitewater Unified School District for
33 years. Coaching was a large part of Harms’ career in Whitewater as she coached 18
seasons; 2000-2018. Highlights in her career included: 244-157 Record; 5 Rock Valley
North Conference Titles; 56 Game Rock Valley Conference Winning Streak; 4 WIAA
Regional Titles; and 1 WIAA Sectional Title. Her ultimate highlight was the road to
winning a Division 3 Girls State Basketball Championship in 2015, in addition to being
named the WBCA’s Wisconsin Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

A Hall of Fame banquet is scheduled for September 25, 2021 to honor the 2021
inductees.

Congratulations Coach Harms!

Whippet Volleyball Team Moves to 2-0

Article by Kathy Bullis
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
kbullis@wwusd.org
March 5, 2021

The Whippet Volleyball Team traveled to Brodhead on Thursday night, and for the second match in a row Kiyla Kopecky scored a match winning point. This time Kiyla Kopecky topped off the three game sweep of Brodhead with a block of the Cardinals outside hitter. All Whippets once again contributed in the 25-16, 25-15 & 25-20 win. The defenders of Caleigh Yang and Cali Kopecky provided solid back row play. Amanda Tovar provided a strong serving attack. The Whippets now move to 2-0 in Rock Valley Conference.

Stat Leaders:
Aces: 4-Kiyla Kopecky, 2- Amanda Tovar, 2- Emme Bullis
Kills:16-Emme Bullis, 11-Kindyl Kilar
Blocks: 4-Kiyla Kopecky
Assists: 22-Cora Linos
Digs: 10- Cora Linos, 9- Caleigh Yang, 9- Kindyl Kilar, 8- Emme Bullis

The Whippets next competition is Thursday, March 11th, which is the annual Play for Trey night, hosting Turner.

UW-Whitewater Women’s Basketball Falls in WIAC Title Game

2021 WIAC Women’s Basketball Championship Web Page

(UW-W press release) The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team concluded another winning season Friday night with a 74-58 loss at UW-Oshkosh in the title game of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship (Presented by Culver’s).

The Warhawks finish the 2021 campaign with an 8-3 record. Seniors Emily Schumacher and Adriana Wood complete their careers after having helped UW-W compile a 74-21 record (.779 winning percentage), three NCAA Tournament appearances, two WIAC regular season championships and the 2018 conference tournament title.

Johanna Taylor led UW-Whitewater on Friday with a career-high 23 points to go along with eight rebounds and three blocks. Aleah Grundahl registered 12 points, nine rebounds and a career-high eight assists.

Schumacher finished with seven points and three rebounds, and Wood recorded five points and two rebounds.

The Warhawks were held to 34.4 percent shooting in the contest, while the Titans (9-2) made 55.1 percent from the field and 10-fo-22 from 3-point range.

Both teams led by as many as four points in the first quarter. A free throw by Taylor brought UW-W to within a possession at 17-14 by the end of the period.

UW-Whitewater tied the game at 20-20 near the midway point of the second, but UW-Oshkosh took a six-point advantage with just over a minute to play in the quarter. Abby Belschner brought the Warhawks to within four with a layup just before halftime.

The Titans outscored the Warhawks by 16 points in the third quarter. UW-Whitewater trailed by 10 with 4:16 on the clock following a layup by Taylor, but UW-Oshkosh continued to build its lead and led by 22 with under a minute to play in the frame. Grundahl’s layup brought the Warhawks to within 55-35.

UW-W got as close as 13 in the fourth, outscoring the Titans 23-19 in the quarter.

The WIAC Championship concludes the season for the conference. The NCAA Tournament was canceled earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whitewater Grocery Co. presents “Whitewater Food Warrior” certificates to Barb Quast, Pat Chaput and Kay Robers

(Whitewater Grocery Co. submission) Whitewater Grocery Co., our “future” locally-owned Grocery Store with 722 members is proud to present the 1st “Whitewater Food Warrior” certificates to Barb Quast and Pat Chaput, Co-Directors of the Whitewater Food Pantry and Kay Robers, Director of the Community Space here in Whitewater. 

Barb Quast and Pat Chaput, Co-Directors of the Whitewater Food Pantry and Kay Robers, Director of the Community Space

These two Food Pantries were busy before the Pandemic but their story after March 1, 2020 is amazing.   With their organizations and the entire team of volunteers from both Pantries they have donated thousands of hours to help others with needed FOOD to get through this Pandemic.   A year has passed but they are serving as many people as ever.

Congratulations and Thank You to Barb, Pat, and Kay.  If you would like to help the Pantries, contact them directly. 

Banner note: The Food Pantry provided us with the following information.

The Whitewater Community Food Pantry is located at;
146 W. North Street
PO BOX 63  (for monetary donations)
Whitewater, Wi. 53190 
The Whitewater Community Food Pantry is open Wednesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. 262-458-2720 for those in need living within the Whitewater School District.
Brown Cab will give free rides to the food pantry once a month.  They will pick you up and return you home.  
Call:  920-563-6303
We are a 501 (c) (3) Organization.

Contacts: Barbara Quast 262-473-5792         or     Pat Chaput       262-473-5854                  patricia_chaput@hughes.net  
At present time we could use:  
Salt, pepper, sugar, flour,  child friendly cereal, pancake mix and syrup, crackers, mayonnaise, salad dressings, peanut butter, chicken noodle soup, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, kidney beans, chili beans, diced tomatoes, mixed vegetables, peas, green beans, canned salmon, canned chicken, canned ham, Spam, canned beef stew, Beef A Roni, spaghetti‘os, pineapple chunks, puddings, pie fillings, coffee, instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate packets, snacks for children’s lunch box. Bar soaps, dish soap, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, diapers.

Studio 84 Seeks four more cupcake bakers for fundraiser

(Studio 84 submission) Wanted! 4 More Cupcake Bakers! Spring ” ReLeaf ” Cupcake Battle

Spring is traditionally a time of new growth and renewal and for 2021 spring will be a welcome relief from the troubles that 2020 brought all of us! 

Thus the theme of Spring ‘ReLeaf.’ 

Cupcakes have been a long time tradition at Studio 84’s annual gala night and 2021 will be no different.  A springtime cupcake battle will be part of the fun. 

We will be needing a dozen competitive cupcake bakers! 

We currently have 8 signed up so we only need 4 more!!!

Entry Form & Details Here: https://forms.gle/RnqeZ8FxUASe6E8r7

Studio 84
121 W. Center St.
Whitewater, WI 53190 

More about Studio 84: 262-473-9845 info@studio84inc.org www.studio84inc.org facebook.com/studio84inc

Airing of Smoking Concerns Clouds Understanding of Existing Ordinance

By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
March 4, 2021

The issue of smoking in city parks once again dominated Whitewater Common Council discussions March 2 — this time with a potentially embarrassing revelation and an uncommon split vote.

The “first reading” of an ordinance prohibiting smoking and vaping within 20 feet of a city playground or of city skate park equipment will be moved forward for further discussion and a required second vote after a 4 to 3 affirmative tally Tuesday night. Passage of ordinances requires a second reading.

Long-time Common Council member Patrick Singer described the discussion leading up to the vote as “… one of the weirdest situations in my 14 years on the Common Council.”

The general issue of smoking in city parks has been a somewhat controversial one for several years. An earlier more comprehensive ordinance prohibiting smoking in city parks was passed in 2018 but most of the Common Council members who were there at the time indicated that they were under the impression that the ordinance had been voted down or repealed.

In the next meeting after this earlier more comprehensive ordinance was passed, a motion passed for the City Attorney to draft an amendment that would apply the smoking ban only to playgrounds, with input being requested from the Parks and Recreation Board. It was not until several months later that a different amended ordinance was brought back for discussion. That amended ordinance was voted down, but the original ordinance was still legally in effect, which created the confusion.

The comprehensive ordinance which is currently a part of the city’s code of ordinances (Sec. 8.36.015) states “To protect the health and comfort of the public, smoking and vaping is prohibited in all public parks under the jurisdiction of the city, except within designated smoking/vaping areas.” It stipulates a penalty of “…not less than $25 nor more than $250 for the first offense, and for the second and subsequent offenses, not less than $50 nor more than $250, and the costs of prosecution.”

How the proposed ordinance and/or existing ordinance will ultimately read will be dependent on future Common Council action. City Attorney McDonell advised that the possible options could range from repealing the existing ordinance, adding the new language to the existing ordinance, replacing the existing the ordinance with the proposed new language or taking no new action. Common Council President Lynn Binnie recommended that the second reading of the proposed ordinance should only take place after gathering wider public input. “This definitely needs to be kicked around a little more,” he added.

In other action the Common Council passed a Resolution extending the Declaration of Emergency regarding the COVID-19 pandemic till June 30 to stay eligible for reimbursement grants and passed a first reading of an ordinance extending the requiring of face coverings in public places. The Council also agreed to a continuation of holding “virtual” (online only) city meetings. That decision will be revisited in April.

The Common Council also amended the contract of City Manager Cameron Clapper and authorized a 4.76% wage increase for 2021. Clapper, who has served as City Manager since 2012, had been a candidate for a similar position in Fort Atkinson until he withdrew his name from consideration. The Fort Atkinson position has now been filled at a starting wage $2000 lower than Clapper’s 2020 salary according to a City of Fort Atkinson news release.

Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center Developing Three-Year Aging Plan – Residents are encouraged to submit input via short survey

(Walworth County submission) Programs and services for older adults and adults with disabilities play a major role in the health of our community. The Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is developing a 3-year plan on how best to provide the services that keep older people healthy and independent. This plan will help identify priorities and guide the ADRC staff with providing programs and services that best meet the needs of those living in Walworth County.

To help pinpoint the needs of Walworth County residents most impacted by these services, the Walworth County ADRC is requesting public input. The ADRC would like to know what Walworth County residents think is important for individuals to be as independent as possible and maintain a good quality of life as they age.

A short survey has been created to assist in capturing these thoughts. The survey is available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ADRC2022-2025. A paper version of the survey may be requested by contacting Kyla Barrows at (262) 741-3378 or emailing kbarrows@co.walworth.wi.us  to make a request.

Learn more about the ADRC at www.co.walworth.wi.us/376/Aging-Disability-Resource-Center.

Whippet Volleyball Opens with a Win

Article by Kathy Bullis, Photos by Kathy Bullis, Whitney Updike, and Bob Mischka
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
kbullis@wwusd.org

Tuesday night the Whippet Volleyball Team hosted their first conference match of the 2021 truncated season. Seniors were honored before play by their teammates. Together, each member played a vital role in the 3-1 victory over the Tiders. 

Sophomore Caleigh Yang led the way with 18 digs, one being a pancake which led to a Whippet point. Senior Cora Linos dealt out 31 assists. Sophomore Kindyl Kilar (18) and Senior Emme Bullis(16) were a great 1-2 punch, accumulating 34 kills on the night. Additionally, they each added 4 aces from the serving line. Senior Amanda Tovar played great defense and added a serving ace at a critical point in the third set. Junior Avery Hintz contributed with solid front row and back row play. Junior Lexi Juoni made her starting debut in the middle. She played confidently, adding to the strong Whippet block and showed her athleticism while covering other Whippet hitters.  She used her quick reflexes to pick up a few balls that were blocked back to the Whitewater side. Sophomore Cali Kopecky played very strong defense and came in as a serving specialist in the 4th set to help seal the deal. Last but not least, Senior Kiyla Kopecky scored the winning match point off a smart tip over the middle block.

The Whippets travel to Brodhead on Thursday night, looking to build on the momentum of the Tuesday night win.