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Happy Valentine’s Day

This image, “Happy Valentine’s Day” by faith goble is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine,[1] is celebrated annually on February 14.[2] It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, through later folk traditions, has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.[3]

There are a number of martyrdom stories associated with various Valentines connected to February 14,[4] including an account of the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire in the third century.[5][6] According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer.[7] Numerous later additions to the legend have better related it to the theme of love: an 18th-century embellishment to the legend claims he wrote the jailer’s daughter a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell before his execution;[8] another tradition posits that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry.[6]

There is a tradition that the Feast of Saint Valentine was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496 to be celebrated on February 14 in honour of Saint Valentine of Rome, who died on that date in AD 269.[9][10] The feast is found in the Gelasian Sacramentary (which was compiled after Gelasius), meaning that is has been observed since at least the eighth century.[11] The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries when notions of courtly love flourished, apparently by association with the “lovebirds” of early spring. In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion in which couples expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines”). Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.[12] In Italy, Saint Valentine’s Keys are given to lovers “as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart”, as well as to children to ward off epilepsy (called Saint Valentine’s Malady).[13]

Saint Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday in any country, although it is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion[14] and the Lutheran Church.[15] Many parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day on July 6 in honor of Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and on July 30 in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni).[16]

(From Wikipedia)

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Growth of Old Main

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Here is the second post featuring the growth of Old Main on the UW-Whitewater Campus that burned on February 7, 1970.

This image shows the first addition to Old Main, completed only eight years after the Whitewater Normal School opened. The Second Empire (mansard roof) style addition was designed by noted Madison architect David R. Jones. Jones designed several buildings on the UW-Madison campus and became notable for being one of the most important Welsh-American poets in the United States.

This addition burned in 1891, but was quickly rebuilt along with a new gymnasium addition attached to the west wall.

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

(1633P, edited, Whitewater Historical Society)

Walworth County: COVID Cases Decreasing Significantly; Still at “Very High Level”

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

The Walworth County Health & Human Services Department stated in its February 10 weekly report that the county, along with 15 other WI counties, moved from Wisconsin’s critically high to very high COVID disease activity level. The transmission level for the past week decreased to 372.59 cases per 100,000 from 707.53 cases per 100,000 the previous week.

Walworth County statistics as of February 10 may be viewed here. 14.2% of ICU beds in the county were reported as being available, compared with 7.7% two weeks ago. Updated: We previously reported the two weeks ago statistic as .077%; 7.7% is correct.

Information on testing sites, including at UW-Whitewater, may be found here. As was previously announced on the Banner, the federal government is now mailing four at-home COVID-19 test kits to any residence upon request. Those tests have started to be delivered.

This Week’s City Meetings (UPDATE: Common Council Agenda Has Multiple Additions)

Whitewater Unified School District School Board Legislative Breakfast – Monday @ 8:00 a.m.
Whitewater Unified School District Central Office
William D. Kyle Board Room
419 South Elizabeth Street
Agenda – Click on “meetings” in the upper right

City of Whitewater Plan and Architectural Review Commission – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
This Meeting is IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Community Room- First Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
Agenda includes Review And Possible Recommendation To Consider A Change Of The Zoning Ordinance
Regulations, To Enact Proposed Amendments To The City Of Whitewater Municipal Code
Title 19, Chapter 19.46 Floodplain Ordinance and Review And Possible Recommendation To Consider A Text Amendment To Of The City Of Whitewater Municipal Code Chapter 19.38 – Whitewater University Technology Park District (WUTP).
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/822623277
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212
Access Code: 822-623-277

City of Whitewater Alcohol Licensing Commission – Tuesday @ 6:15 p.m.
Community Room – Whitewater Municipal Building, 312 W. Whitewater St.
Agenda: Request for Class B Beer License for San Jose Mexican Grocery, 148 W. Main Street

City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
City of Whitewater Municipal Building – Community Room
312 W. Whitewater St
This will be an IN PERSON MEETING as well as a VIRTUAL MEETING
Agenda includes Authorizing the Sale of Real Estate in the Industrial Park to Richter Excavating, LLC
and to enter into Development Agreement with Richter Excavating LLC, Update on Code Enforcement, and Discussion regarding Charter / Spectrum streaming transmission.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89707150076?pwd=cVBFZnd5QjVEbXdwRGt0b21LOEpEQT09
Passcode: 043422
Or Telephone:
Dial 1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 897 0715 0076
Passcode: 043422



Swimmers Wrap Up Season at Sectionals

The Whippet Boys’ Swim Team traveled to Baraboo on Saturday, February 12, to compete in the WIAA Sectional Meet. They came to swim fast and did just that; they went 8 for 10 in individual best times! 

Miles Nickelsburg, Tyler Arnett, Andrew O’Toole, Zach Tomomitsu, Jack Hefty

Senior Zach Tomomitsu finished off his swim career with some spectacular swims in the 100 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke! In the 100 Free, Zach nailed down some perfect flip turns. In the 100 Back, he went a best time by 4 seconds! 

Tyler Arnett continues to flourish in the 200 and 500 Freestyle. Tyler started off the day going a best time in the 200 Free by dropping 4 seconds and earned himself a spot on the Whippet Top 10 List! Tyler also had a lifetime best swim in the 500 Free where he had a 6 second drop going 5:24.97 and placing 5th overall at the meet! Tyler also had a season best split in the 400 Freestyle Relay going 56.04!

Jack Hefty improved his time in the 200 IM, dropping 2 seconds. He also continues to improve his time in the 100 Freestyle, going a 57.91. Later in the meet, during the 400 Freestyle Relay, Jack dropped his time even more from the leadoff spot, going a 57.31! 

Miles Nickelsburg had a wonderful swim in the 100 Backstroke, where he had a 4 second drop. He also had a season best relay split in the 400 Freestyle Relay, going a 1:09.39.

Andre O’Toole improved his overall 50 Freestyle time, going a 30.67! He also had a season best time in the 100 Breaststroke, where he had a 2 second drop! 

Congratulations to the boys’ swim team on an amazing season. We can’t wait to see what they can accomplish next year!

Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Co-Head Boys’ Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org

No. 7 UW-Whitewater Women’s Hoops Clinches WIAC Title Outright

By Chris Lindeke, Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communications and Branding, UW-W

Box Score

The No. 7 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team secured the program’s 10th Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship outright on Saturday with an 87-56 win against UW-Stout at Kachel Gymnasium.

The Warhawks (22-2 overall, 12-1 WIAC), who have now won three conference regular season titles in the last five years, also honored Courtney Oomens, Rebekah Schumacher and Johanna Taylor on Senior Day presented by Educators Credit Union in a halftime ceremony.

Aleah Grundahl registered a game-high 18 points to go with three rebounds and three steals to pace a group of seven UW-W scorers with eight or more points in the contest. Veronica Kieres collected 13 points and five rebounds, and Abby Belschner posted 12 points and five rebounds.

Taylor recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with four blocks and two steals. Schumacher and Kacie Carollo totaled nine points apiece and Yssa Sto. Domingo added eight points.

UW-W turned 28 turnovers into 36 points on the other end and added 20 second-chance points on 20 offensive rebounds.

The Blue Devils (13-9, 8-4) scored the first four points of the game and held an 8-3 lead three minutes into the opening quarter. UW-Whitewater rallied for 11 straight points and never trailed again in the contest.

The Warhawks’ lead increased to double digits in the final minute of the period, and Taylor’s put-back layup made the score 24-13 through 10 minutes of play.

UW-Stout scored the first basket of the second before UW-Whitewater’s 8-0 run made it 32-15 just past the midway point of the quarter. The Warhawks maintained a double-digit advantage and led 47-32 by halftime.

UW-Whitewater scored six consecutive points to start the third quarter, including buckets by Schumacher, Kieres and Grundahl, for a 21-point advantage with 8:42 on the clock. UW-W led by as many as 27 points in the period and held a 69-46 advantage heading to the fourth.

All 19 players saw action in the fourth quarter for the Warhawks and eight of them found their way into the scoring column.

UW-Whitewater closes the regular season Wednesday at UW-Oshkosh. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

Middle School and UWW students Working Together

Editor’s Note: This information was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

Whitewater Middle School (WMS) Associate Principal Ben Holzem and 26 members of the WMS Builders Club walked over to UW-Whitewater to meet with the Whitewater chapter of Circle K this week.

WMS Builders Club members attended a Circle K meeting, toured Hyland Hall and worked with the Circle K Club on making blankets for Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee.

The visit promoted public service, post secondary education and the value of giving back to the community. 
Also present were several members of the local Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club–which sponsors Builders Club at Whitewater Middle School. The Builders Club is made up of 60 students in grades 6-8 who meet to identify community needs and work to meet these needs through community service events throughout the greater Whitewater community.

Lincoln Spelling Bee Results

Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

On Wednesday, February 9th about 30 fourth and fifth grade students at Lincoln participated in the spelling bee. Emma Schultz-Majkrazak took first and Rafaela Los took second. Everyone had a great time and showed great sportsmanship. It was wonderful having the spelling bee back!

Rafaela Los and Emma Schultz-Majkrazak

Whippet Girls Fall at Brodhead

The Whippet Girls’ Basketball Team came out strong in the beginning of the first half in a very physical, faced-paced game at Brodhead on Friday, February 11. We were tied within the first 9 minutes of the first half, playing a tight defense. Brodhead went on an 11-point scoring run, stretching their lead. Going in to halftime, we were down 14-37.

We got into foul trouble, and struggled to stop Brodhead’s offense, coming up short, 37-67.

Josie Treder led the Whippets with 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Gwen Truesdale contributed 6 points (4 for 4 from the free throw line), 3 blocks, and 2 rebounds. Cali Kopecky also added 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals.

The Whippets will host Evansville at home Monday, February 14th. It is our last regular season home game and Senior Night.

Article Submitted by Kristen Lippens
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach
klippens@wwusd.org

Shinhoster Wins Title; UW-W Wrestling Places Fifth at WIAC Championship

By Chris Lindeke, Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communications and Branding, UW-W

Saturday, February 12, 2022

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater wrestling team placed nine wrestlers among the top six of their respective weight classes Saturday on its way to a fifth-place finish at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship (presented by Culver’s) in Oshkosh, Wis.

Jaritt Shinhoster earned the individual championship at 184 pounds to lead the Warhawks, who totaled 85.5 team points for the tournament.

Shinhoster, the 2020 champion at 174 pounds, earned his first title at 184, posting a pair of pins on his way to the final, where he bested UW-La Crosse’s Kalyn Jahn by 7-0 decision. Shinhoster was also named the 2022 WIAC Wrestling Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete, UW-W’s first such honoree since 2005. (Check back in the coming week for the complete announcement.)

Jake Burford finished as runner-up at 149 pounds, tallying a 3-1 record with one pin and one major decision on the way to his second career top-three WIAC finish. He was also selected to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team following competition. Ryan Vedner rebounded from a semifinal loss to place third at 174 pounds, and Cadin Koeppel finished third at 285 pounds following a narrow semifinal defeat.

Fourth-place finishers included Ethan Pogorzelski at 133 pounds, Dakarai Clay at 141 and Shelby Jones at 285.

Ryan Riser placed fifth at 174 pounds, and Drew Nash finished sixth at 141.

UW-Whitewater is set to compete next at the NCAA Upper Midwest Regional, which is slated for Feb. 25-26 in Eau Claire.

See below for complete UW-Whitewater results from Saturday’s tournament.

125

Griffin McEnroe

First Round: lost to Remington Bontreger (UW-La Crosse) by decision, 11-8

Consolation: lost to Brandon Murphy (UW-La Crosse) by technical fall, 18-2 (7:00)

133

Matt McEnroe

First Round: Bye

Quarterfinal: lost to Denis Murphy (UW-Oshkosh) by decision, 7-5 (SV-1)

Consolation: lost to Julian Purney (UW-La Crosse) by fall, 3:24

Ethan Pogorzelski

First Round: Bye

Quarterfinal: lost to Zach Thompson (UW-Platteville) by decision, 8-4

Consolation: d. Caleb Radtke (UW-Platteville) by decision, 6-4 (SV-1)

Consolation: d. Denis Murphy (UW-Oshkosh) by decision, 7-3

Third Place: lost to Zach Thompson (UW-Platteville) by decision, 11-6

141

Dakarai Clay

First Round: Bye

Quarterfinal: d. Tyler Shackle (UW-La Crosse) by fall, 6:38

Semifinal: lost to Zach Sato (UW-Eau Claire) by decision, 8-6

Consolation: d. Luke Hill (UW-Stevens Point) by decision, 6-1

Third Place: lost to Tyler Shackle (UW-La Crosse) by technical fall, 15-0 (7:00)

Drew Nash

First Round: d. AJ Schoenfuss (UW-Oshkosh) by fall, 6:43

Quarterfinal: d. Markus Brown (UW-Eau Claire) by decision, 8-6 (SV-1)

Semifinal: lost to Zach Licht (UW-Platteville) by fall, 4:41

Consolation: lost to Tyler Shackle (UW-La Crosse) by major decision, 10-1

Fifth Place: lost to Luke Hill (UW-Stevens Point) by medical forfeit

149

Jake Burford

First Round: d. Wyatt Willey (UW-Platteville) by fall, 0:43

Quarterfinal: d. Tyler Goebel (UW-La Crosse) by decision, 6-4

Semifinal: d. Gabe Pugh (UW-Eau Claire) by major decision, 10-2

Final: lost to Brock Parker (UW-Platteville) by decision, 3-2

Alex Valenzona

First Round: lost to Brock Parker (UW-Platteville) by major decision, 14-2

Consolation: lost to Tyler Goebel (UW-La Crosse) by technical fall, 17-1 (5:13)

157

Ty Miller

First Round: lost to Owen Norman (UW-Platteville) by decision, 5-4

Consolation: lost to Mason Wheeler (UW-Stevens Point) by decision, 3-1

Simon Rillie

First Round: lost to Isaac Ortegon (UW-Oshkosh) by decision, 10-4

Consolation: lost to Adam Rients (UW-Eau Claire) by major decision, 11-2

165

Tommy Hoy

First Round: Bye

Quarterfinal: lost to Seth Brossard (UW-La Crosse) by major decision, 19-5

Consolation: lost to Cody Welker (UW-Oshkosh) by medical forfeit

Nick Klug

First Round: lost to Nick Fetzner (UW-La Crosse) by fall, 2:35

Consolation: lost to Josh Heuss (UW-Stevens Point) by fall, 4:38

174

Ryan Riser

First Round: d. Trystan Altensey (UW-Stevens Point) by decision, 5-1

Quarterfinal: lost to Jared Stricker (UW-Eau Claire) by decision, 10-5

Consolation: d. Muzi Siseltha (UW-Oshkosh) by major decision, 16-2

Consolation: d. Niall Schoenfelder (UW-Eau Claire) by major decision, 12-3

Consolation: lost to Ryan Vedner by decision, 7-3

Fifth Place: d. Luke Clark (UW-La Crosse) by decision, 11-5

Ryan Vedner

First Round: d. Niall Schoenfelder (UW-Eau Claire) by decision, 8-4

Quarterfinal: d. Luke Clark (UW-La Crosse) by decision, 5-2

Semifinal: lost to Nick Dado (UW-Platteville) by decision, 3-2

Consolation: d. Ryan Riser by decision, 7-3

Third Place: d. Isaac Gust (UW-La Crosse) by decision, 4-3

184

Jerred Grell

First Round: lost to Kalyn Jahn (UW-La Crosse) by fall, 1:59

Consolation: lost to Jacob Sklenar (UW-Platteville) by major decision, 12-2

Jaritt Shinhoster

First Round: Bye

Quarterfinal: d. Darren Leibsle (UW-Stevens Point) by fall, 1:27

Semifinal: d. Chase Melton (UW-Eau Claire) by fall, 3:54

Final: d. Kalyn Jahn (UW-La Crosse) by decision, 7-0

197

Jakub Maciorowski

First Round: Bye

Quarterfinal: lost to Tyler Hannah (UW-Platteville) by decision, 4-0

Consolation: lost to Blake Flach (UW-Stevens Point) by fall, 1:56

285

Shelby Jones

First Round: d. Matt Hanke (UW-Oshkosh) by major decision, 14-5

Quarterfinal: d. Ben Gunderson (UW-Stevens Point) by decision, 3-1 (SV-1)

Semifinal: lost to Ben Kawcyznski (UW-La Crosse) by decision, 4-2 (SV-1)

Consolation: d. Matt Hanke (UW-Oshkosh) by decision, 3-1

Third Place: lost to Cadin Koeppel by fall, 1:47

Cadin Koeppel

First Round: d. Ethan Tegels (UW-Eau Claire) by major decision, 16-6

Quarterfinal: d. Noah Wieczorek (UW-Stevens Point) by major decision, 13-3

Semifinal: lost to Jordan Lemcke (UW-Oshkosh) by decision, 3-1

Consolation: d. Brett Schoenherr (UW-Platteville) by decision, 10-4

Third Place: d. Shelby Jones by fall, 1:47