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(ELKHORN, WI): Wisconsin Educators Association (WEA) insurance members will be losing their health insurance as of December 31, 2022. To assist WEA members with this transition, the Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will host a meeting on Thursday, September 15^th from 1 to 2 p.m. to discuss available options and provide information.

WEA’s decision to exit the group health insurance program affects approximately 154 beneficiaries in Walworth County. WEA has sent letters to members notifying them of the loss of coverage and the need to choose a new plan to supplement their Medicare coverage for 2023. WEA members will be required to take action to find a new insurance company that will accept them into a supplemental plan. There is also the option of enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan.

“This change will affect most of the retired educators that taught in Wisconsin,” says Elder Benefit Specialist Julie Juranek. “Many of these individuals have not had to worry about the status of their Medicare supplement for decades.”

The ADRC of Walworth County will be hosting the meeting at the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services, 1910 County Road NN, Elkhorn, WI. Attendees will be provided with non-biased options and contact information for other insurance companies and Medicare Advantage Plans available for Walworth County residents. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions of the Walworth County Elder Benefit Specialist. If you have questions about this program, contact Julie Juranek at the Aging and Disability Resource Center at (262) 741-3366.

WHITEWATER–August 11th, 2022– The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, 5K, and W3 Fit Kid Shuffle is excited to unveil a brand new race course for its 10th anniversary celebration, which showcases the beautiful scenery of Whitewater more than ever before.

The DWS 10th Anniversary race is set to be held on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. Its course highlights some of Whitewater’s greatest features, including local landmarks and picturesque landscape. Originally, the DWS team had planned to incorporate the same race course that was used previously. However, due to supply source disruptions on road construction, the original course route needed to be altered.

The new race features even more scenery than before, running along a local bike path near the Water’s Edge Apartment complex. Keeping runners’ safety and expectations in mind, the DWS team guarantees that the half marathon course will once again be certified by the USA Track and Field.

“Once we realized that the road construction would not be complete on time, we started working closely with the Police, Public Works, and the Recreation Departments to come up with an alternate plan,” said DWS Executive Director, Jeff Knight. “In the end, we all believe the new course will be more scenic and one that everyone will love.”

The DWS team is incredibly thrilled to be able to offer a new and unique perspective of the Whitewater community. With this new race course, it will be able to celebrate the 10th year anniversary in a safe and exciting way. To register for the DWS and find out more about the new course, visit https://RunWhitewater.com/.

About the DWS

The goal of the DWS is to promote the City of Whitewater and highlight its greatest features. The DWS partners with the city, business community, university, and the school district to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit runwhitewater.com. For general race inquiries, email info@runwhitewater.com.

FORT ATKINSON – Fort HealthCare (FHC) Orthopaedics is honored to receive a High-
Performing rating from U.S. News & World Report. Over 6,000 hospitals were evaluated, and
only 694 received a High-Performing rating in this category.

The rating is compiled by various quality indicators, such as patient experience, survival, board
certified physicians, and more. Fort HealthCare received a 5/5, the highest possible rating,
performing significantly better than the national average.

Matthew Bliss, MD, Isidoro Zambrano, MD, and Paul Schuppner, DO, board-certified
orthopaedic surgeons, comprise the expert team at Orthopaedic Associates. They provide
prevention through education, therapy, surgical treatment, and rehabilitation services. The
Center for Joint Replacement, in collaboration with FHC’s Therapy & Sport Center, provides a
comprehensive care program customized to the patient.

To learn more, visit forthealthcare.com/clinic/fort-healthcare-orthopedic-associates/.

Board of Trustees Irvin L. Young Memorial Library – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes accessibility review report.
Community Room
431 W. Center Street
This will be a hybrid in-person and virtual meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 819 2078 0404
Passcode: SkRdefC3
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Dial
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Meeting ID: 819 2078 0404
Passcode: 30034256

City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes update on lakes drawdown project, agreement for Interim City Manager, approval of employment agreement with newly appointed Police Chief, resolution authorizing referendum question for November election, discussion regarding extension of hours for Bird scooters.
This will be an IN PERSON and a VIRTUAL MEETING.
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join us via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84843608011?pwd=MUFUdmdiK09SVE4vamVIUUZNdnY1Zz09
Passcode: 821976
Or Telephone:
Dial 1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 848 4360 8011
Passcode: 821976

City of Whitewater Parks & Recreation – Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes High School Closed Campus And WAFC Discussion
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Cravath Lakefront Room- 2nd Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2219259222
Meeting ID: 221 925 9222
Dial
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 221 925 9222

City of Whitewater Community Development Authority – Thursday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes offer to purchase property at 206 E. Cravath St., Discussion regarding Economic Development Director position, and Discussion and possible direction regarding request from Blue Line Battery, Inc. to alter the terms of a Secured Promissory Note Dated July 12, 2017 as amended and restated as of January 30, 2018 evidencing a $64,614 Capital Catalyst Loan.
Location: Municipal Building – Community Room 1st Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
This will be an IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL MEETING
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join us via computer, smart phone or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84360756548?pwd=Y05OZTgyekdCcVFXbFdJRXBzTjM3QT09
Passcode: 601302

Or Telephone:
US: 1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 843 6075 6548
Passcode: 601302

Editor’s note: This post was updated at 12:45 p.m. on 8/15/22 to add the CDA meeting.

FORT ATKINSON – Fort HealthCare is proud to share that Fort Memorial Hospital, Fort Atkinson, WI was named one of only 429 hospitals in the country to achieve an overall 5-Star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the 2022 Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. The more stars earned, the better a hospital performed on quality measures. Fort Memorial Hospital received the highest possible rating of 5-Stars.

For more information, go to https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/rankings-and-ratings/429-hospitals-with-5-stars-from-cms-2022.

The star rating is compiled by measures across five areas of quality including mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care. Patients can use these ratings to compare hospitals and provide more information when making decisions about care.

To view area healthcare STAR ratings, go to https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/#search.

Join us for the first annual Whitewater Community Fall Festival event to be held on Saturday, October 15th, 2022.  The free family-friendly event will be held at Cravath Lake Park from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Add this event to your Google Calendar!

This is an event that will bring together community members, local businesses and organizations and families of the Whitewater Unified School District area.

The event will feature: A family-friendly business expo, live music, food, a raffle, a free kids’ fun zone, fun demonstrations and more!

Community Organizations who are interested in setting up a booth, should complete this Google Form.

Versiti is the primary blood supplier for Southeastern Wisconsin, as well as Lakeland and Fort Hospitals. As usual in the summer, donations have been down and there is definitely a need for more donations. Please consider making an appointment by clicking here today. Save time by answering the questionnaire at home; this cannot be done before Thursday.

Sign up at bit.ly/armoryaug2022

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

This time of year was historically busy for local canning factories, like the one in Whitewater shown in this photograph. Today, the vegetables grown by Wisconsin farmers are canned or frozen in huge regional factories, but from the early to mid-20th century, most vegetables were processed in local factories.

The Whitewater Canning Company was founded in 1913 and the buildings shown in this photograph were built primarily in 1918. Initially, the factory only canned corn, but by the 1930s, it was also canning peas and tomatoes. The canning factory operated until the early 1960s.

Join us again next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(3123PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Updated 8/10 @ 11:43 a.m. primarily with information about contests in the November general election.

Poll workers reported steady traffic at the primary election on Tuesday. Unfortunately segregated City of Whitewater results are not available at this time; however, we are able to report below the unofficial results on races of particular local interest.

Whitewater resident Dave Gerber appears to the the victor in a hard fought race for Walworth County Sheriff. With 100% of the precincts reporting, he leads opponent Craig Konopski by 8149 to 7943. Since there was no Democrat in the race, presumably Gerber will be elected. Actually there were several write-in votes, that did not count, cast on the Democratic ballot for Gerber.

Republican race for Assembly District 31: Local area residents Jason Dean and Maryann Zimmerman appear to have been defeated by Clinton resident Ellen Schutt. Assuming that Schutt is declared the victor, she will face Democrat Brienne Brown in November.

	Rock County	Walworth County	Total
Ellen Schutt	1247	1998	3245
Maryann Zimmerman	582	1823	2405
Jason Dean	396	1581	1977

The Jefferson County portion of the city is in Assembly District 33. There, Scott Johnson appears to have won a tight race over Dale W. Oppermann, although a number of media sources have not yet projected a winner. The victor will face Democrat Don Vruwink in November.

	Rock County	Jefferson County	Total
Scott Johnson	922	2371	3293
Dale W. Oppermann	762	2325	3087