Carol McCormick writes, “This group must have missed the last southbound flight! Thought Trippe Lake had better accommodations.”
Our thanks to Carol McCormick for sharing yet another interesting nature photo.
— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share. Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com or click on “submit a story” near the top right of our homepage. Thanks for thinking about this!
Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.
In honor of National Apprenticeship Week, which was last week, November 14th-20th, Whitewater High School wishes to congratulate all of our students who have taken steps into their future by participating in Youth Apprenticeships. Youth Apprenticeship (YA) integrates school-based and work-based learning to instruct students in employability and occupational skills defined by Wisconsin industries. WHS has more than doubled participation in YA over the last few school years and we hope to continue growing opportunities for WHS students. Students wishing to learn more about YA should contact Mr. Baron West.
Editor’s note: The following statement from Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth was published in the UW-W announcements on November 22.
News about UW-Platteville Richland
Dear faculty, staff and students,
The University of Wisconsin System has announced that UW-Platteville will be transitioning the academic programs at its Richland branch campus to either its main Platteville campus or Baraboo campus next fall. The Richland branch campus enrolls only 60 students, by far the lowest of any of the branch campuses, and this level of enrollment was not sustainable for vibrant academic programs.
I recognize this news may cause some initial concern, given UW-Whitewater also has a branch campus. Please know that the decision on UW-Platteville Richland is specific to that campus, and does not affect other branch campuses. UW-Whitewater at Rock County, which is one of the top-three largest branch campuses in the system with more than 570 students, remains fully committed to providing exceptional and expanding opportunities to students in our region.
I am devoted to ensuring that our branch campus maintains long-term viability and continues to be a dependable cornerstone of the Rock County region.
Examples of this commitment include:
Building a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree pathway in partnership with Edgewood College. The initial cohort of students is expected to start in fall 2023.
Launching the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree, a degree completion program for students with applied associate degrees.
Engaging in strategic discussions about expanding pathways to careers, degrees, and increased opportunities for students.
Enhancing facilities to ensure our campus is meeting the needs of faculty, staff, students, and the community.
Growing our existing partnerships with area technical schools, school districts, employers, and community partners.
We know the UW System is wholly committed to providing the broadest access possible, allowing all Wisconsin residents to attend college if they desire and to achieve their goals. Our branch campus provides this region a critical access point to higher education and we will continue to invest in UW-Whitewater at Rock County.
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Liberia. It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year. Similarly named festival holidays occur in Germany and Japan. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and around the same part of the year in other places. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well.
Prayers of thanks and special thanksgiving ceremonies are common among most religions after harvests and at other times of the year. The Thanksgiving holiday’s history in North America is rooted in English traditions dating from the Protestant Reformation. It also has aspects of a harvest festival, even though the harvest in New England occurs well before the late-November date on which the modern Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated.
[The above information is from Wikipedia.]
The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Sue Junky from Pixabay.
By Angela Kelm Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater head football coach Kevin Bullis has announced his retirement after fifteen seasons with the Warhawks including the last eight at the helm. Assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Jace Rindahl has been named the interim head coach.
“It has been an honor and pleasure coaching and teaching in the Warhawk football program and UW-Whitewater,” said Coach Bullis. “I will greatly miss the students and staff. Kathy and I have lived truly amazing coaching lives and it is time for us to live life.”
Coach Bullis joined the Warhawk football staff in 2008 as an assistant before taking over as head coach in January of 2015. He is just the fourth head coach in the last 60 years and 21st head coach in program history.
Bullis led the program through the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the return to action in 2021.
In seven competition seasons as the head coach, Bullis has compiled an overall record of 78-13 (.857) including a 45-4 (.918) mark in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. His overall win percentage is second only to his predecessor, Lance Leipold, in the history of head coaches in the WIAC that have led programs for more than two seasons. Bullis ranks third among active coaches with at least five seasons in the NCAA, any division, for win percentage.
UW-Whitewater participated in the NCAA Division III playoff six of seven seasons under Bullis and claimed at least a share of the WIAC title five times including the program’s 39th conference championship this season. Bullis led the Warhawks to a national runner-up finish in 2019 and semifinal appearances in 2015, 2018 and 2021. In total, since Bullis joined the staff, UW-Whitewater reached the Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III championship game, seven times and has won eleven league titles.
He has coached UW-Whitewater players to more than 35 All-America honors, six WIAC Player of the Year accolades and nearly 120 all-conference honors. Bullis was selected the WIAC Coach of the Year in 2016, 2018 and 2021. He added d3football.com Region 6 Coach of the Year honors in 2021.
Adopting the Division III philosophy of valuing the balance of academics and athletics, Bullis coached players to six Academic All-America honors including the 2019 College Sports Information Directors of America All-American of the Year in 2019, numerous Academic All-District accolades and a multitude of conference scholar-athletes. Additionally, the Warhawk football team has logged more than 1,000 hours of community service working on initiatives with Special Olympics of Wisconsin, Fairhaven Senior Community and the Whitewater Food Pantry under Bullis’ leadership.
“Kevin is a great coach and an even better person,” said Athletic Director Ryan Callahan. “The life lessons he taught his student-athletes, coaches and colleagues will continue to be felt for years to come. I’m forever grateful for my time with Coach Bullis and excited for him and his family on his retirement.”
A national search for the next Warhawk football head coach will begin early in 2023.
Editor’s note: The photos are from the UW-Whitewater Warhawk Football Facebook page.
There will be a free showing of the award-winning documentary, “What We’re Hungry For: How Food Pantries Fed Rural Wisconsin During the Pandemic, on Monday, November 28, 2022, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Cinemas of Whitewater, 151 Pearson Lane in Whitewater. The screening of the documentary will be followed by a discussion of hunger and food insecurity in the Whitewater area.
This documentary was directed and co-produced by Whitewater resident Dr. Jim Winship, with the videography and film editing by Whitewater High School graduate Parker Winship. The film chronicles the response of five rural Wisconsin food pantries to the unprecedented needs of their communities during the coronavirus pandemic. The stories of how these pantries responded to hunger and food insecurity during this crisis reveal the vital role their efforts play in the wellbeing of their communities and provide a lens to look at longstanding underexplored issues surrounding hunger in rural Wisconsin. What We’re Hungry For was recently honored at the Ceres Food Film Festival with the Moved Us Most Award.
Cash donations may be made at this event to The Community Space, Whitewater Food Pantry, and Whitewater Unites Lives Summer Feeding Program — Mind the Gap.
For more information, contact Jim Winship at jim@beechwoodtrue.com, 262-215-1492.
On November 15th, the WHS Music Masters Ensemble performed at Fairhaven. The students sang six ensemble selections and one solo. The music was a preview of the songs they will sing at their Music Masters Showcase which will be held on December 18th at 3:00 p.m. at Whitewater High School. The tickets are reserved-seating only and can be purchased from any Music Masters Ensemble member, director Mrs. Karen Tordera, or the HS office. Tickets are $10. Please call 262-472-8174 or email Mrs. Tordera at kTordera@wwusd.org with any questions.
Let the festivities begin with UW-Whitewater Department of Music’s Gala Holiday Concert on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022 in Young Auditorium. This annual holiday tradition is filled with joyous sounds from nearly every music department student ensemble throughout the facility. Small ensembles will play throughout the building prior to the performance, during intermission, and immediately following the large concert. All proceeds benefit the Department of Music student scholarship fund. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased in advance by calling 262-472-2222 or online at tickets.uww.edu.
Tickets for the general public are $25.00, over 65 and under 18 are $20.00, and UW-Whitewater students will be charged $16.50. Tickets purchased at the event will include an additional $2.00 surcharge. In addition to ticket sales, we welcome gifts through our Angel donation program. Gifts can be made online at uww.edu/coac/gala-benefit-concert. Alternatively, checks made out to the UW-Whitewater Foundation can be sent to UW-Whitewater, 950 W. Main Street, CA2031, Whitewater, WI 53190.
On the night of Dec. 3, small ensembles will begin performing at 6:45 p.m. throughout the Young Auditorium and in the atrium of the Greenhill Center of the Arts. The first half of the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and will include performances by the Brass Ensemble, Vocal Jazz, Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. During intermission, various smaller ensembles will perform throughout the Young Auditorium. The second half of the concert will feature the Chamber Singers, Whitewater Symphony Orchestra and Concert Choir. In addition to the festive music, several student groups will be selling artwork throughout the evening, and a limited number of commemorative ornaments will be available for purchase as supplies last.
Jeff Herriott, Interim Department Chair for the Department of Music, will be hosting the event. “The annual Gala Holiday Concert is a wonderful opportunity to showcase and support our many talented, hard-working students. I feel privileged to host this outstanding event and welcome you all to join in the festivities,” said Herriott.
Come get into the holiday spirit and support the UW-Whitewater music students at 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 3. The main concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Young Auditorium located at 930 W. Main St., Whitewater, Wisconsin 53190. Tickets are available at tickets.uww.edu or by calling 262-472-2222. All proceeds benefit the Department of Music student scholarship fund. For more information or to become a Gala Angel by donating to the Department of Music student scholarship fund, visit uww.edu/coac/gala-benefit-concert.
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
In recent years “Just-In-Time” Delivery has become a popular inventory management approach for many types of businesses from manufacturers to retailers. The approach is designed to increase efficiency while reducing waste, and to cut warehousing and financing costs.
Walmart may have taken the approach a little too far, or perhaps it’s just due to an unexpectedly large pre-Thanksgiving rush, but as of a little past 8 p.m. on Monday, November 21 the store had no plastic “grocery” bags. If a customer hasn’t brought their own bags, they have a choice of purchasing a reusable bag or putting their purchases back loose into the cart for delivery to their vehicle, assuming they aren’t on foot.
Walmart staff indicate that they expect a new shipment of bags sometime on Tuesday; meanwhile, B.Y.O.B.
Editor’s note: The following announcement is on the WIAC website.
LANSING, Mich.–University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Christian Patzka and UW-La Crosse’s Ethan Gregg each posted top-four finishes at the NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country Championship that was held at Forest Akers East Golf Course on the campus of Michigan State University on Nov. 19.
Patzka placed second on the 8,000-meter course with a time of 24:40.0, while Gregg was fourth in 24:52.8. UW-La Crosse’s Isaac Wegner finished 12th in 25:16.2, UW-Whitewater’s Gunner Schlender 30th in 25:30.8 and UW-Stout’s Spencer Schultz 37th in 25:35.6. All five runners received All-America accolades from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Alex Phillip of John Carroll University (Ohio) secured the individual national title with a time of 24:37.6. A total of 292 runners completed the race.
In the team standings, UW-La Crosse took eighth with 276 points, while UW-Whitewater was 10th with 365, and UW-Stout 23rd with 562. Massachusetts Institute of Technology secured the first national title in program history with 82 points. Wartburg College (Iowa) placed second with 129, State University of New York Geneseo third with 168, John Carroll fourth with 186 and Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.) fifth with 193. A total of 32 teams participated in the championship that was hosted by Olivet College (Mich.) and the Greater Lansing Sports Authority.
