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

Persons age 65 and over may now be able to register their interest in obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine online. Registrations are not on a “first come, first served” waiting list, as most health care providers are prioritizing patients on the basis of their age and other risk factors. Due to the large number of individuals who are eligible and the limited amount of available vaccine, it will likely be a month or more before everyone is able to be vaccinated. All health care providers are requesting that patients not call for information on vaccine scheduling.

There is no fee for the vaccine.

Advocate Aurora Health: Per this link, patients will be contacted when it is their turn to schedule an appointment. There is no waiting list.

Fort Heathcare patients may use the signup form at this link. It is indicated that although priority will be given to Fort system patients, “availability will also be open to the public.” Individuals will be contacted when a vaccine is offered, and it is indicated that this could even be for a same day appointment if they become available.

Jefferson County residents may express an interest in obtaining the vaccine from the health department by using this form.

Mercy indicates that “Mercyhealth will be reaching out to our established patients as they become eligible for the vaccine, based on the information in their medical record. We’re coordinating appointments from a central location and will contact you via MyChart to notify you of your eligibility. We’ll expand notification through other outreach methods (mail, phone and email) as our vaccine supply allows. Wait lists are not available at this time. Please continue to monitor your MyChart account and our website for further updates.” If you are a Mercy client but have not yet established a MyChart account, it is suggested that you do so at this link.

Rock County residents who do not have a regular health care provider may fill out the vaccine request form at this link.

SSM Health/Dean Medical Group: This information page is being updated regularly. A vaccine interest form is available at this link. Persons who are not SSM patients may sign up, but would not be expected to receive priority.

Walworth County residents: The Division of Public Health is helping to coordinate distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine for individuals age 65 and older that do not have a usual healthcare provider. Walworth County residents in this age group that already have a health care provider will most likely be contacted by that provider about scheduling a vaccination and should wait to hear from them. Due to a nationwide vaccine shortage, vaccinations will likely take several weeks or months. For eligible individuals who do not have a primary medical care provider, the Public Health Division has published a form on the Walworth County website that individuals may use to register. When registering, individuals will be asked to provide their name and some additional information so that they can be connected to a vaccination site in the County. After registering through this form, individuals will be contacted by a vaccinator with instructions on how to schedule an appointment when a vaccine becomes available for them. It may take several weeks to receive an appointment.

All Jefferson County Snowmobile Trails opened at
12:00 (noon) Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

This includes all County Trails – both north and south.

Some trails may be closed due to open water.
Plowed fields may be rough. 
Please ride safely.

Please stay on the marked trails and obey all signage.

Please call the Snowmobile Alliance 24-hour Hotline at 920-699-SNOW (7669) daily for current information. Snowmobile trails in adjoining counties may be closed. Trail users should check with each county to determine trail status.

PELLA, IA (01/19/2021)– Nash Christian, a Central College student from Whitewater, WI, has been named to the dean’s list for the Fall 2020 semester.

The honor is awarded to full-time students who achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale while taking 12 or more graded credit hours for the semester.

Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private, four-year liberal arts college. Central is known for its academic rigor, leadership and character development, global experiential learning, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and sustainability education, athletics and service. For more information about Central College: www.central.edu.

(Whitewater LWV press release) Whitewater Area League of Women Voters Reminds Voters to Be Informed Voters on Election Day

The League of Women Voters of the Whitewater Area reminds voters to get ready to vote in the upcoming February 16 Primary Election. On the ballot this election are candidates for Whitewater Unified School District School Board (WUSD) and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The League encourages voters to start their candidate research before they cast their ballot, so they are informed voters whether they vote by absentee ballot or at the polls on Election Day.

One source of nonpartisan candidate information is the League’s voter guide on VOTE411.org, where voters can go to read candidates’ responses to the League’s questionnaires. By visiting the site, voters are able to compare the answers, which are posted verbatim, of the five WUSD school board and seven State Superintendent of Public Instruction candidates.

The Whitewater Area League has asked WUSD school board candidates these questions:  Why do you feel motivated to run for a seat on the School Board? What do you think is the most important issue facing our School District and what are your ideas for addressing it? What are your top three spending priorities for the School District? What do you think is going well in how the School District is handling the challenges of the pandemic? What areas do you see need for improvement?  Look for their responses on VOTE411.org beginning January 27th.

“VOTE411.org is a convenient, easy and invaluable resource for voters who want reliable information about voting in Wisconsin,” said Anne Hartwick of the Whitewater League. “Tens of thousands of voters in Wisconsin rely on VOTE411.org as their go to source for unbiased candidate information, including many young people and first-time voters.”

“We know voters are busy, and we know that it is important to them to make a plan to vote so they can readily participate in our democracy. That’s why we’re excited to provide voters these easy-to-access resources so they are fully prepared to cast their ballot as an informed voter,” said Eileen Newcomer, Voter Education Manager of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. “The League encourages voters to prepare to vote, visit VOTE411.org, and remind others about Election Day on February 16th.” 

The League is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at lwvwhitewater.org and like us on Facebook!

(UW-W press release) COVID-19 testing for community members moves to UW-Whitewater Community Engagement Center on Monday, Feb. 1

After conducting more than 19,000 COVID-19 tests as part of UW System’s “surge testing” program, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is extending operations into the spring by opening a new testing clinic at the Community Engagement Center.

The location, at 1260 W. Main Street on the west side of Whitewater, will be open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., beginning Monday, Feb. 1. (Banner note: the location is the former Sentry grocery store building.) The free, fast antigen tests are available to anyone 5 years or older. (Banner note: The nasal test is self-administered; it is somewhat uncomfortable but not really painful.)

“As we did during the pandemic of 1918-19, this university is proud to lend its resources and expertise to assist in the fight against COVID-19, and I am proud of the staff across UW-Whitewater who continue to work hard to make this possible,” said Chancellor Dwight C. Watson. “And we appreciate the community members of all ages who take the opportunity to get tested to help keep the city of Whitewater as safe as possible. They participate not only for their own wellbeing, but for the good of others — upholding their responsibility as caring and committed members of our community.”

A total of 19,408 tests (with an overall positivity rate of 13.5%) were administered at the clinic’s previous location at the Williams Center, which was made possible through a University of Wisconsin System “surge testing” initiative in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program at the Williams Center ran from Nov. 9, 2020, through Jan. 22, 2021, and has concluded.

The community surge testing program complements an already existing partnership between UW-Whitewater, UW System and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to regularly test university members, which also began earlier in the fall. Free student, faculty and staff testing is now available at the University Center, where participants are required to show their UW-Whitewater identification. On the Rock County campus, testing is available to students, faculty and staff once a week on a rotating Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday schedule. 

During the spring 2021 semester, UW-Whitewater students who live on campus are expected to get tested every week, while others who come to campus at least once a week, including students who live off campus and faculty and staff, are expected to get tested every other week. 

Registration information on COVID-19 testing at the UW-Whitewater Community Engagement Center will be posted soon at https://www.uww.edu/warhawks-return/testing.

Community members who wish to get tested between now and Jan. 31 should consult the COVID-19 Community Testing Site page on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. That page currently lists four testing sites in Walworth County, one in Jefferson County, and five in Rock County.

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(UW System press release – Jan. 25)

UW System COVID-19 surge testing sites extend operations into spring

MADISON, Wis.—University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson today announced an extension of community COVID-19 surge testing sites at UW System campuses.

After conducting more than 220,000 free tests through last week, most of the 22 surge testing sites were scheduled to close. However, in partnership with the UW System, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be providing 140,000 additional Abbott BinaxNOW tests and associated confirmatory PCR tests for use across Wisconsin in the coming weeks.

The extension of the community tests begins today at UW Oshkosh and will launch at other sites in the coming days, as specified below. Not all original sites will continue surge testing.

“We thank the federal government for their confidence in us, and we’re pleased that our university sites can continue to be used in the fight against this insidious disease,” President Thompson said. “Where there’s a problem, I want the UW System here to help.”

At the request of federal officials, UW System universities set up surge testing sites last fall, and testing began in early November. The testing identified nearly 18,000 potential positive carriers of the virus who were advised to isolate.

“We are all hopeful by the arrival of vaccines, but we must remain vigilant in our behaviors, and that includes getting tested,” Thompson said.

The Abbott BinaxNOW antigen tests used for surge testing will be supplied by the federal government, which is also providing the personnel and logistical support and confirmatory tests as necessary.

Persons who want to receive a rapid-results test – available in about 15 minutes – should register at www.doineedacovid19test.com or call 1-800-635-8611. Those who test positive through the rapid-results test are urged to get a confirmatory PCR test.

Individuals do not have to be experiencing symptoms or be a close contact of someone with COVID-19 to get a test, nor do they need to live in the community where the testing site is located.

Individuals seeking to be tested will register online, proceed to the testing site, administer the test themselves under supervision, and label it for processing.