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No. 39 UW-W Men’s Tennis Wins NJAC Title, Earns NCAA Bid

By Chris Lindeke, Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communications and Branding, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Box Score

The No. 39 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s tennis team secured its first ever New Jersey Athletic Conference championship Saturday with a 5-0 victory against The College of New Jersey at the Warhawk Outdoor Tennis Complex.

The Warhawks (21-2 overall) also clinch the league’s first-ever automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which begins next week.

UW-W, the NJAC West Division champion for the second straight year, won all three doubles matches to take a 3-0 advantage against the Lions (13-3).

Niclas Goltz and Ryan Mitchell earned the first team point with an 8-4 triumph at the third position. John Zakowski and Alex Gray were next on the board with an 8-4 victory at the first position.

Rory Calabria and Cole Lindwall made it 3-0 thanks to an 8-5 win at the second position.

Zakowski posted a 6-4, 6-0 triumph at No. 1 singles to increase the UW-W lead to four before Gray sent the match to decision with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 5 singles.

Two of the remaining four singles matches were in a third set.

UW-Whitewater will make its 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last 15 seasons. The team will find out its regional draw Monday via press release on NCAA.com.

Frank Bartlett Named UW-W Asst. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Frank Bartlett



Artanya Wesley, vice chancellor for student affairs, announces the appointment of Frank Bartlett as the next assistant vice chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“I am pleased that Frank Bartlett has accepted the position of assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. Frank has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving as a leader within the Division of Student Affairs. He brings great institutional knowledge to the position as well as fiscal management and projection skills. He is always looking for ways to partner and collaborate with campus constituency groups to serve students and ensure their success on campus. He understands system and campus policies and keeps compliance as a top priority. I look forward to working with Frank as we serve the students, the Division of Student Affairs and the institution.”

Since July of 2021, Bartlett has served in the critical leadership role of interim assistant vice chancellor for student affairs in addition to his permanent duties as executive director of university housing. As interim assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, he has provided senior level administrative leadership, strategic planning, vision and direct supervision of University Housing, University Bookstore and Textbook Rental, and the University Center and UW-Whitewater Dining Services. 

Bartlett will assume the new role on July 1.

After serving as assistant director of residence life for facilities and custodial services at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Bartlett came to UW-Whitewater in 2000 and served as associate director of residence life until 2008, interim executive director from 2008 to 2010, and was appointed as the permanent executive director of university housing in 2010. For nearly 22 years, Bartlett has provided leadership to University Housing, a department of over 60 professional staff, more than 300 student employees, and a budget of approximately $17.4 million. Bartlett has overseen largescale projects such as the planning and construction of Ma’iingan Hall, Pulliam Hall (previously Starin Hall), the Arey/Fricker renovation and others, as well as successfully led the department and assisted guiding the division through the difficulties and revenue losses related to COVID-19. He earned bachelor’s degrees in history and finance and a master’s degree in higher education administration.  

“I would like to express my appreciation to Kristin Fillhouer and Dale Pinzino for their leadership of the search as well as Erica Johnson for support throughout the process,” Wesley said. “Also, I would like to extend my gratitude to each search committee member for their time and commitment to the process.”

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Whitewater Condensery

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

This week, we begin a set of three photos that are related to the Open House at the Depot Museum on May 22, 1:00-4:00. The Open House is a celebration of the completion of the permanent Whitewater History Gallery that features eight history exhibits. This week’s photo is related to the exhibit “Commercial-Agricultural Era, 1900-1945.” An important industry in this era was the Whitewater Condensery, later the Hawthorn-Mellody Milk Plant, established in 1913. The photo shown here was probably taken around that time. Note the horse-drawn wagons lined up to drop off milk cans at the condensery.

Please join us on May 22 or come to the museum beginning in June when we will begin our summer hours to see more of this exhibit and a special attraction, Don West’s c.1900 model of the Whitewater rail yard in the temporary gallery.

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

(3110P, Whitewater Historical Society)

Janesville Kohl’s Reopens a Month After Fire

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

Kohl’s at Uptown Janesville (formerly the Janesville Mall) reopened on May 2 after having been evacuated on April 1 due to a fire that started in the bedding department. The police department concluded that the fire was set intentionally, with three juvenile suspects being arrested for arson and recklessly endangering safety. The suspects are a 17-year-old female, a 15 year old male, and an 11-year-old male, all Janesville residents.

A large portion of the store’s inventory was destroyed by smoke, or by water from the fire sprinklers or from firefighters. Removal and replacement of merchandise as well as repair of the building kept the retailer closed until it finally reopened on May 2. Regular hours have resumed: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Mall hours, however, are Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. A “youth escort policy” is in effect at all times for the mall, requiring persons 17 years of age or younger to be accompanied by a parent or guardian 18 years or older.


Lincoln Principal Mary Kilar Leaving to Fort Atkinson

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

According to a post on the Purdy Elementary School Facebook page, Mary Kilar will become principal of that school in Fort Atkinson effective with the 2022-23 school year. Kilar has served as principal of Lincoln Elementary School since 2014. In 2021 she was among 16 statewide winners of the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Principal Leadership Award. The current Purdy principal, Leigh Ann Scheuerell, was recently named the new principal of Fort Atkinson High School effective July 1.

Per the Facebook post, Kilar stated, “It is with great excitement and honor that I become the next Principal of Purdy Elementary. From the minute I met the team at Fort Atkinson, I could feel the pride they have in both the culture of community and excellent learning environment created here. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity, look forward to the connections I will be making, and can’t wait to grow and learn among the wonderful staff, students, and families. I was drawn to the mission and vision of Fort Atkinson School District, cultivating an inclusive high-performing culture of growth and community, and can’t wait to be part of it!”

Whitewater Fire Department Inc. Signs Memorandum of Understanding with City; Merger Progressing

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the City of Whitewater.

The Whitewater Fire Department Inc. (WFD, Inc.) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Whitewater to continue the process of becoming a city department.

Cameron Clapper- City Manager (L) and Christ Christon- WFD, Inc. Board of Directors President and Fire Captain (R) signing MOU.

An outside consultant, Public Consulting Group, is working with WFD Inc. and the City of Whitewater weekly to help put a plan together for a smooth transition. This process is allowing for an outside look at current operational protocols in addition to possible future needs to help service the community and townships.

“We are excited to continue moving forward on the process to join the city,” said WFD, Inc. Board of Directors President and Fire Captain, Christ Christon.

Cameron Clapper- City Manager (L) and Christ Christon- WFD, Inc. Board of Directors President and Fire Captain (R) by truck.

All groups are anticipating a mid-summer date for a complete merger between the city and WFD, Inc.

Visit www.whitewater-wi.gov for community information and updates.

Water Bills Delayed in Mail; Due Date Extended

Dear Water/Sewer Utility Customer:
On May 4, 2022, the Whitewater utility department discovered that this month’s utility bills
had not been delivered. We contacted the post office and were informed that due to a US
Post Office error, the May 2022 utility bills are being delivered late. Due to this discovery we are delaying the due date for this month’s utility bill until May 25, 2022. Late fees will be
applied on May 26, 2022, not May 20, 2022.

This error and the previous month’s error originated in the Milwaukee Office of the US Postal Service. The first-time error with the April billing was discovered much later in the billing cycle and did not allow us to be proactive. This month the bills were delivered to the Whitewater Post Office on the morning of April 29. They were sent to the Milwaukee Post Office to be sorted on evening of April 29. On the morning of May 5, 2022, the Whitewater Post Office received the bills back to be delivered (five days later than normal). We have contacted the Whitewater Post Office several times and they assured me that the problems have been addressed in the Milwaukee Office and this should not happen again.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by phone or email.

Sincerely,

Karen Dieter
Comptroller
kdieter@whitewater-wi.gov
(262) 473–1382

Editor’s note: Per below, City of Whitewater utility customers may choose to have their monthly statement emailed to them instead of mailed, and may also request to have their balance withdrawn from their bank account or charged to a credit card. Customers who chose this option would have received the bill by email on April 29 and the balance would be withdrawn, for example, from their bank account on May 20.

Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser for UW-W P.D. K-9 Unit this Saturday

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Justin Krause.

The fundraiser begins Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 a.m. and will go until 10:30 a.m. Join us at Congregational UCC’s parking lot, and our volunteers will be ready to take your order!

Your donations will assist the Police Department by covering training costs and allow the Department to onboard another K-9 to the unit! We will have breakfast along with a raffle with lots of fun prizes (check out the graphic below)!

Lastly, you will also have the opportunity to meet Lt. Servi, Officer Stuppy, and K-9 Truss! We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, May 7th!

Register with the link below:
https://fb.me/e/2pUMhucl5

Obituary: Thomas (Tom) S. Grotelueschen, 88, of FL

Thomas (Tom) S. Grotelueschen was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on March 24, 1933, to parents Edmund and Josephine (Nowak) Grotelueschen. He passed away, in the presence of loved ones, in Hospice Care at Cape Canaveral Hospital, FL on March 4, eighteen days short of his 89th birthday.

A Celebration of Life is planned by the family at Evergreen Golf Course, on Sunday, June 26th from 1:00-4:00 p.m., N6246 US Highway 12, Elkhorn, WI 53121. Please bring a story of remembrance to share.

Tom is predeceased by first wife, Kathleen (Kay) Amend Grotelueschen (1985) In their 25 years of marriage, they raised daughters Amy Oselio (Rick), Sally Fairbairn (Jim) and son, Tag Grotelueschen. Grandchildren are Kathleen Streuly, Aubrey Fairbairn, Brandon (Marcus), Andres, and Thomas Oselio, and Tess and Holden Grotelueschen. He is also predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law Catherine and Michael Weyer and their children Pat, Mike, and Julie Weyer.

Tom is survived by wife Francine Pease and her children Kurt (Dana) and Kristi Pease. Tom was also “Papa” to Sydney and Samantha Pease and Lauren Campbell. Tom and Francine spent their retirement traveling in their RV and hosting family and friends at Tom’s Place on the Sumo River in Tomahawk, WI. He taught everyone to fish and how to bait their own hook – using worms. His fishing skills were legendary! Tom and Francine moved to Cocoa Beach, FL from Whitewater, WI in 2014. Tom continued his activism with his “Letters to the Editor” and in the League of Women Voters.

Tom is lovingly remembered by his various roles. He was a lifelong educator (Mr. G/Dr. Grotelueschen), an adored grandfather, Papa Tom, or the “funny/nice guy” who told jokes. His last name was often a challenge as well as was his middle name of Savage which made him an easy target for childhood bullies. He was also a literary man who read voraciously and wrote his memoirs as well as dozens of “Letters to the Editor” to various papers. His Donald Duck impressions were memorable! He was an active man who enjoyed participating in most sports in his youth but gave up golf numerous times- in frustration.
He never shied away from expressing himself in person or in print. His many “Letters to the Editor” reflected his lifelong love for public education and his abhorrence toward injustice and prejudice, He started teaching seventh grade students in 1959 in the Milwaukee Public schools, continued at Roseman Campus Elementary School, and became full-time faculty at UW-Whitewater in the College of Education in 1965. Tom received many teaching awards including The Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. Tom retired from UW-Whitewater in l992 as Emeritus Professor. He also worked on a federally funded project at the University of Florida for two years (1970-72).

The family is establishing a scholarship in Tom’s name at UW-Whitewater, WI in acknowledgement of his 30 plus years as a passionate educator. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family suggests donations be made to UW-Whitewater Foundation and marked for the “Thomas S. Grotelueschen Endowed Scholarship.” UW-Foundation; 800 W Main St; Whitewater, WI 53190.