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Seniors in the Park March Activities at a Glance

‘FUN’ctional Fitness—Mondays & Thursdays 9:30 am; $1.00 per class Members; $2.00 non-member
Core & More—Mondays & Thursdays 8:30 am; $1.00 per class Members; $2.00 non-member
Pickleball—Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 12:30-2:30 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00-11:00 am at the Downtown Armory
Let’s Walk! (indoors)—Wednesdays & Fridays 9:00 am
Whitewater Warblers (singing) – Mondays 11:00 am
Open Sewing—Second Friday 10 am-3 pm
Book Worms—First Monday 10:30; Books available at Starin Park
Potluck—First Tuesday 11:15 am
Bingo—First, Second & Fourth Tuesdays 10:00 am
Canasta—First, third and fifth Mondays 1:00 pm
Dominoes—First Tuesday 12:00 pm
Mah Jongg – Mondays, 1:00 pm
Pegs and Jokers –Third Tuesday 9:30 am
Sheepshead—Tuesdays 1:00 pm
Puzzle Exchange—Third Friday 9:30 am

Whitewater Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast this Saturday

The Kiwanis Whitewater Breakfast Club will be serving their all-you-can-eat Kiwanis pancakes, delicious Jones sausages, coffee, milk and orange juice on Saturday, March 7 from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Old Armory, 146 W. North Street, in downtown Whitewater.  For just $5 in advance and $6 at the door, you can enjoy a delicious meal and help the Kiwanis Club raise funds for many worthy projects in the community.

Shirley Grant and Rick Halvorson help make pancakes for last year’s breakfast.

Tickets for the breakfast will be available at PremierBank, First Citizens State Bank, and Fort Community Credit Union-Whitewater.  They can also be purchased from any Whitewater Kiwanian.  Tickets for the breakfast are a $5 donation per person in advance and $6 at the Whitewater Armory the day of the event (with preschool children FREE).

Lorrie Koppein, president of the Kiwanis Whitewater Breakfast Club, said, “I always look forward to our pancake event, where so many people enjoy great pancakes and help out the children in our community at the same time.”

Kiwanis thanks all of the sponsors who help make the breakfast possible with donations of products and services, including:  City of Whitewater Parks & Recreation, Dalee Water Conditioning, DLK Enterprises Inc., First Citizens State Bank, Jessica’s Family Restaurant, Milton Propane Inc., PremierBank, Second Salem Brewing Company, Studio 84, Gus’ Pizza Palace, and Whitewater Manufacturing.

The Kiwanis Whitewater Breakfast Club is made up of dedicated volunteers who help children in the Whitewater community and the world, all with 100 percent of funds raised going directly to projects and zero to administrative costs.  Each year, the club distributes approximately $20,000, with over half going to the Whitewater Unified School District, including Ferradermis, ELL Summer School Transportation, shoes for students, Badger Boys State and Badger Girls State, and scholarships.  Kiwanis helped to build and maintain the Flowing Well Shelter, the shelter and accessible playground at Starin Park and Treyton’s Field of Dreams, the WHS football field lights and press box, as well as adopting a highway to clean up.  In addition, the group donates to the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club, the Friends of the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center Family Partnership Fund, the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House and more.

Funds are raised through annual Pancake Breakfasts that have been served continuously since the 1950s, the Discover Whitewater Series Half-Marathon Pancake Breakfast since it began, and yearly poinsettia and lily plant sales. More information can be found on the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club Facebook page.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.

Fort Memorial Hospital Receives Top 100

Fort Memorial Hospital Recognized by The Chartis Center for Rural Health as a Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital

Fort Memorial Hospital announces it has been named a 2020 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. This annual award honoring rural hospital performance is determined by the results of iVantage Health Analytics’ Hospital Strength INDEX®, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2020.

“In collaboration with our community, we are proud to be named a Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital once again,” said Mike Wallace, President and CEO of Fort HealthCare. “Together, we are fulfilling the Mission and Vison of Fort HealthCare and this Top 100 recognition affirms the partnership we have with our community.”

Based entirely on publicly available data, the INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Utilizing 50 independent indicators, the INDEX assesses performance across eight pillars of performance that span market-, value- and finance-based categories. Hospitals recognized as a Top 100 facility had one of the 100 highest overall scores among all Rural & Community Hospitals nationally.

“The Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital award program reminds us that rural providers haven’t lost touch with their mission and are committed to delivering better quality, better outcomes and better patient satisfaction. It’s a pleasure to be able to not only recognize this year’s recipients, but our larger group of top 100 alumni as we celebrate 10 years of The Hospital Strength INDEX,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

Top 100 Hospital Resources:
The list of this year’s Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals as well as the INDEX methodology can be found at www.ivantageindex.com/top-performing-hospitals.

To learn more about The Chartis Center for Rural Health or to speak with someone regarding the INDEX and the Top 100, please email Billy Balfour at wbalfour@chartis.com.

About Fort HealthCare
Fort HealthCare is committed to improving the health and well-being of our communities, with a vision to be the healthiest community in Wisconsin. As the leading healthcare provider in the region, it is our goal to reach as many members of the community as possible with health and wellness messages, providing tools and resources to help individuals improve their health and quality of life, while collaborating with several partners to positively improve the population’s health overall on a long term basis. For more information, visit FortHealthCare.com.

UW-W @ Rock County: “Drawing 101” – Sat., 3/28 -Register Now

Saturday March 28, 2020 1 – 4 pm

Do you want to learn how to draw?

For the beginner, this drawing class will have you looking like an expert with avariety of drawing techniques to produce professional results from beginners.  This is a hands-on class with instructor Kelly Hausknecht.  Class will include media: colored pencils, chalk, oil pastels, and subject matter: landscapes, pets,still life, portraits and geometric designs.  Please bring photographs of your choice of subject matter (via Smartphone is acceptable). All supplies will be provided.    

This event is available to those aged 16 and older.

Register Now

Registrations are accepted online until noon three days before the event. 
Any additional questions can be directed to Continuing Education Services at cesevents@uww.edu or (608) 758-6549 .

Barbara Lewis of Chaska, MN passed away on February 22, 2020 at the age of 74.

Barbara Lewis of Chaska, MN, passed away on February 22, 2020 at the age of 74. Barbara was born to parents, William and Beverly (McCulloch) Kyle of Whitewater, WI on July 24, 1945 in Edgerton, WI.  

Barbara had a passion for reading and a soft spot for children’s literature.  For many years, she worked at Jonathan Elementary School in Chaska as a Media Specialist.  Barbara was a creative person and enjoyed the arts. She was a loving and dedicated mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.

Barbara will be remembered forever by her son, Kyle (Mary) Lewis; daughter, Dianne (Steve Olson) Lewis; grandchildren, Sandra (Andre) Jacques, Dakota Blatterman, Kent Poirier, Cameron Lewis, Sonja and Erik Olson; siblings, Marge Watson, Mary Ormson, Richard Kyle, David Kyle, Dean Kyle, William Kyle, Howard Kyle; other loving relatives and friends. 

Barbara is greeted in Heaven by her parents and her sister, Helen Kyle. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be distributed by Barbara’s family to her favorite charities.

No memorial service will be held.  A private family interment will be held this spring in Whitewater, WI.  



Whitewater Community Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

Please join the Whitewater Community Foundation as they welcome five new members of their Board of Directors!

These five new board members joined the Foundation in January of 2020. The Whitewater Community Foundation is excited for these new board members to contribute to the Foundation and the Whitewater community.

Roni Telfer has been a resident of Whitewater since 1985 and has held multiple community service positions over the years in the Whitewater community. She will be serving as an At-Large Director for the Foundation.

Dr. Dwight C. Watson has served as Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater since August 1st, 2019 and will be serving as the UW-Whitewater Representativeon the Foundation Board.

Kim Walton has been a part of the Whitewater Community for 30 years and is looking forward to continuing her civic involvement. She will be serving as an At-Large Director for the Foundation.

Dr. Jim Shaw is acting as Interim District Administrator for the Whitewater Unified School District and will be serving as an At-Large Director for the Foundation.

Jerry Wendt is a retired Pastor of Whitewater’s First English Lutheran Church, and with his wife Nancy, owns and operates Victoria on Main, a local bed and breakfast. Jerry will be serving as an At-Large Director for the Foundation.

About WCF: The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “Enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures” through scholarships and community action grants. To donate and support the continuation of the Whitewater Banner, simply send a check made out to Whitewater Community Foundation to P.O. Box 428, Whitewater, WI, 53190, or donate online at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org by hitting the “Donate” button on top of the contact page. For tax purposes, the Whitewater Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Corporation.

Registration Now Open – Summer Music Camps at UW-Whitewater

Find more information about upcoming summer music camps held at UW-Whitewater. Camps are listed by month. Each camp title is a link to the website to find additional information and registration.

June

Choir Camp  Sunday, June 14 – Friday, June 19, 2020 
String Orchestra Camp  Sunday, June 21 – Friday, June 26, 2020 
Jazz Camp  Sunday, June 28 – Thursday, July 2, 2020

July

Whitewater Rock Band Camp  Monday, July 6 – Saturday, July 11, 2020 
Flute Camp  Sunday, July 12 – Thursday, July 16, 2020 
Piano Camp Sunday, July 12 – Friday, July 17, 2020 
Middle School Band Camp Sunday, July 19 – Friday, July 24, 2020
High School Band Camp Sunday, July 26 – Friday, July 31, 2020

August

Solo Voice Camp Sunday, August 2 – Friday, August 7, 2020 
Percussion Camp Sunday, August 2  – Friday, August 7, 2020

Contact Continuing Education Services at cesevents@uww.edu for any additional questions.Looking for athletic or other summer camps? We’ve got those, too! Check out our full list of upcoming events.

Senior Brandon Wilde from the Palmyra-Eagle Area School District awarded the Spectrum News 1 Scholar Athlete Scholarship

Palmyra-Eagle senior, Brandon Wilde holds the boys basketball Trailways South Conference Championship Trophy for the 3rd year in a row.

Palmyra, WI
Senior Brandon Wilde from the Palmyra-Eagle Area School District was recently awarded the Spectrum News 1 Scholar Athlete Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship recognizes exceptional high school student athletes – who excel in the classroom, in the community, and in athletics. The award was presented to Brandon Wilde by Spectrum Cable News 1 and the Palmyra Village President, Kathy Weiss, in a special ceremony prior to the February 21 boys basketball game in Palmyra. (Brandon and his team also accepted the Trailways South Conference Championship trophy on the same night -after winning their final home game of the season to end the season undefeated within their conference.)

Brandon participates in five sports, is a 4-year band member with multiple appearances at State, a National Honor Society member, and is on student council. He will graduate with 18 varsity letters, a 4.0 GPA, and 200 hours of community service. Brandon also made the 2019 State Record Book for the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association for both single game passing yards and career passing yards. He has been accepted at both colleges he applied to – with a $32000 scholarship and offer to play football at Ripon College and a $19000 scholarship and offer to play football at Carroll University -where he was accepted into the Physical Therapy Direct Admit program that only 90 students get accepted into each year.

Photos Courtesy of Tara LeRoy
SpectrumNews.BrandonwWilde.jpg Palmyra-Eagle senior, Brandon Wilde, is awarded Spectrum News 1 Scholar Athlete award – presented by Spectrum News and Palmyra Village President, Kathy Weiss.

Brandon’s story was aired on March 1st and March 2nd on Spectrum News 1 and can also be viewed at https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/scholar-athlete/2020/02/29/scholar-athlete–brandon-wilde

Kwik Trip Looking to Open a Second Whitewater Store

Per the Plan Commission agenda for March 9, Kwik Trip is applying for a conditional use permit for a second Whitewater convenience store with a car wash and fuel pumps, to be located at 837 S. Janesville Street. The approximate five acre lot is located on the west side of Janesville Street between Highway 59 and the bypass. Kwik Trip already has an approved conditional use permit for a store at the roundabout, with construction anticipated to begin in April, 2021. It appears that the proposed second store might be somewhat smaller than the first one.

Janice Anne Fox (Durow) of Port Edwards passed away suddenly on February 27, 2020.

It is with deep sorrow that we share our loss. Janice Anne Fox (Durow) of Port Edwards, passed away suddenly on February 27, 2020. Janice was born to Ronnie and Catherine Durow on August 1, 1944 and grew up in the small town of Astico, Wisconsin. Janice attended the Columbia County Teachers College. She married James Fox on September 5, 1963. Janice and Jim moved to Port Edwards in 1969.

Janice is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Jim, her son, Ron Fox, her daughter Dr. Robin Fox (Kim Simes), her grandsons, Alex, Benn (Hannah), Brady, Chase and Brett Fox and her granddaughters, Brennan and Sanibel Fox-Simes. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Joan (Robert) Bleich and her brother-in-law John (Diana) Fox. Janice is also survived by other family members, nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her mother in-law and father in-law (Harley and Celia Fox), her sisters and their husbands, Mary (Jerry) Schave and Suzanne (Tom) Evans and her brother and his wife, David (Rosemarie) Durow and her niece, Deborah Durow.

Janice was a gifted seamstress – making her children’s clothes when they were little, making beautiful quilts, making ornaments that were on display on the Christmas tree at the White House and for years made a wedding album for every wedding she attended. In our sadness, we like to think about all of the people who have been gifted with a “made especially for you by Janice Fox” album. She loved reading, planting and taking care of her beautiful garden, crafting, crossword puzzles, watching Jeopardy with Jim (and knowing most of the answers) and spending time with her family. She was active in Wood County HCE and volunteered many hours at Edgewater Nursing Home.

As our mum, she never missed a game, a recital, a graduation or concert. Ron and Robin have lost their biggest supporter. Her grandchildren have lost an amazing person in their lives. We will all cherish the hundreds of handwritten cards and notes she has sent us over the years. Jim has lost the love of his life and his Jeopardy rival.

Janice made a wonderful life with and for her family. She was our greatest teacher, a calming presence and perhaps the most well-read person we knew. If you were lucky enough to meet her – when you were with her, she made you feel like the most important person in the world. She taught us “to look at everything twice” and to leave the world a better place than how we found it.

We are honoring Janice’s wishes and had a small, private burial. We will have a celebration of her life in late spring. If individuals would like to honor Janice’s life and kindness, please send donations to Opportunity Development Center. This organization was near and dear to Janice because of their amazing local work in the community. The address is: ODC, 1191 Huntington Ave, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494

We love you Janice, Mum, Grandma, Jammie.