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Whitewater Chief of Police Retires to Start New Chapter

The City of Whitewater thanks Chief of Police, Lisa Otterbacher for her 28 years of service as she retires from the department and starts a new chapter in her life.

From the age of seven, she knew she wanted to go into law enforcement. Helping others was a part of who she was even at a young age. Coming to the defense of others and sometimes even getting in trouble for beating up the boys in order to save the girls.

Lisa became an officer in Crystal Lake where she grew up followed by being the first female officer hired in Whitewater. She credits her parents for supporting her lifelong goal.

While performing an undercover drug search at Richmond High School in Illinois, an article was written about her work by the mother of an officer in Williams Bay. She urged her son to meet this young female officer and arranged a blind date. Tim and Lisa have now been married for 29 years.

The two have a strong friendship and partnership. “I would not be where I am today if it were not for Tim.” Along with Lisa’s parents, Tim was always a lifelong supporter of Lisa challenging herself and climbing the ladder saying, “If you don’t apply, you’ll have no options.” Tim helped as a dad while Lisa got an education, both a bachelors and master’s degree in order to follow her dream. Tim’s passion was to work as a deputy in the field where he recently retired as a sergeant from the Walworth Sheriff’s department with 33 years of experience.

“Tim kept me humble and in line with what was going on,” Lisa said. “If you hold people accountable for the little things, big issues won’t happen and we don’t get lost in our jobs.” Both worked 2nd shift and then switched shifts to parent their two kids, whom Lisa speaks of proudly. “Our son Calvin is 21 and in the Army. I am proud of his service work and willingness to serve and defend our country. Our daughter Kaylee works in Washington DC. I am proud that both of our children have it in their hearts to work in public service.”

Through her time as an officer, Lisa fondly remembers her mentors, Chief John Coan and Lt. Tom Guequierre. “Tom was on my interview board and we had an instant connection. He felt I could do the job. And Chief Coan saw what I never saw in myself, leadership.”

Photo Gallery from the Change of Command Event

 

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Whitewater Police Department seeking Public Safety Dispatcher

Are you interested in an exciting, challenging and highly rewarding career in public service?

Consider joining our Communications Center team by becoming a Public Safety Dispatcher with the Whitewater Police Department. As the initial point of contact, our dispatchers provide 24/7 coverage to ensure emergency service needs are managed professionally and efficiently for the City of Whitewater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and surrounding townships.

For more details on the position,

Whippets 4 x 200 relay team takes 5th at State Championships

From Coach Houwers:

The Whippets finished off the 2018 track and field season at LaCrosse this weekend. The weekend started off with excitement and anticipation as we climbed into vans for the trip. About 40 minutes into the trip, it came to a complete halt, with all traffic coming to a complete standstill for an hour and a half due to an accident. It added a little stress to the morning, forcing some changes in the plan. But we arrived with plenty of time to get checked into our rooms and get ready for the meet to begin at 3 pm.

Miranda Reynolds was the first Whippet to go. She cleared 4′ 10″ in the high jump, and then bowed out at 5′. She had some nice attempts at 5′, but showed a little inconsistently, the result of only jumping in 3 meets prior to to the state meet due to a quad injury. She was disappointed with the result, as she was hoping for better. She’s been forced to deal injuries at inopportune times each of the last two years. But she ended her high school career as one of the top high jumpers in WHS history, as only the 4th high jumper to even qualify for state.

Sashi Popke was next up, starting what would be a very busy weekend. He got things going in the pole vault. He vaulted as good as he ever has, equaling his lifetime bet of 13’6″. This meet, he cleared that bar without a miss. Unfortunately, 6 other competitors cleared the next height of 14′, meaning Sashi would finish 7th, just one place off the podium.

The 4x200m relay team of Tyler Sheffield, Will Leibbrand, Popke and Jack Mayer had their preliminary race on Friday, running a very solid race, and very close race. The Whippets were edged out at the line by Aquinas by only .01 seconds. Oddly, in the second heat, the team from Wautoma managed to finish between the Whippets and Aquinas, leaving 3 teams within .01 seconds of other heading to finals. On Saturday, the Whippets ran well again, equaling their seed from Friday, finishing 5th. The effort resulted in a trip to the podium and the highest finish for the Whippets this weekend.

The same four boys ran in the 4x100m relay and also competed both Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the team struggled a little bit, with a poor handoff almost costing the team an opportunity to compete on Saturday. They managed to sneak into finals with the last qualifying time. It was a chance for redemption. Saturday was a better race, but only enough to finish 8th overall. While they scored, it wasn’t quite enough to make the podium. Their best race proved to be at Sectionals, where they set a new school record.

The final event of the weekend was the long jump, where Popke got an opportunity to make one more trip to the podium. The timing of the event ended up less than ideal for him, as it fell right between the two relays he was running on. The 4×200 went first. Then he had to come back to the runway to get approaches in. He was ushered away for the 4×100 before he could make adjustments to his approach due to the headwind they were jumping into. After the 4×1, meet officials quickly ushered him back to the event even though he was supposed to be allowed 15 minutes to check out for his event. He put two of his jumps on the board and managed to make finals, seeded 7th. His one scratch was by a fraction of an inch, and clearly his best jump of the day. In finals, the wind picked up and not a single jumper better their jump. He finished 7th, and again 1 spot off the podium. Even without the medals, Popke ended one of the best track seasons ever for a Whippet as just the second WHS athlete to qualify in 4 events for the state meet.

WHS Baseball falls to Jefferson in Regional Final

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Article by Nate Parrish

It is always hard to beat a good team three times in a season and that was the case on Thursday evening as Whitewater High School baseball team fell to Jefferson 7-0 in the Regional final. Jefferson was able to score three runs in the top of the first inning and Junior Pitcher Ryan Brost never let Whitewater get any momentum as the left-hander located his pitches all evening and the Whippets managed just 3 hits. Jefferson will move on to play in the sectional semifinal against Columbus on Tuesday, June 5th at 1 pm. Whitewater finished the season at 14-9 and 3rd place, 1 game behind Beloit Turner and Jefferson in the tough Rock Valley Conference. Coach Pease said ”this loss was a tough one, I feel for every one of our players and especially our Seniors that have meant a lot to me and the program. This group put a lot of hard work into the season and things just did not go our way tonight”. Although the Whippets did not meet some of their team goals, they still had a successful year and were within a few plays of getting at least a share of the Conference Title. With a successful year, they also had some players received some all-conference recognition.

1st Team All-Conference

  • Bryce Parrish- Utility
  • Jimmy DuVal- Outfield
  • Cooper Pease- Catcher

2nd Team- All-Conference

  • Dylan Pease- Infield
  • James Dedrick- Outfield

Honorable Mention – All-Conference

  • Jordan Curtis
  • Chris Dedrick

Bryce Parrish was also selected to the 2018 Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Classic to be played in Oshkosh on June 29th-30th. Bryce had one of the best seasons that any player has had at Whitewater High School by hitting over .450 with 10 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, 34 RBI’s, 31 runs scored while having a pitching record of 6-1, 2 saves, 55 strikeouts, 7 walks and a 0.881 ERA. Bryce will play for UW Whitewater next season.

Whippets take down Wisconsin Lutheran in WIAA Playoffs

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From Coach McCrea:

On Thursday, the Whitewater Whippet Soccer Team hosted and defeated Wisconsin Lutheran 6-1 in the first round of the 2018 WIAA soccer playoffs. The depth of the number seven seed Whippets, 5-4-3 overall, proved too much for the tenth seed visiting Vikings, 2-9-0.

However, the Whippets started slow and gave up a goal in the second minute of play scored by Zoe Buske. The Whippets Jaden Henneman quickly responded with a goal to tie the match. Ten minutes later Meikayla Korf found the back of the net to place the Whippets up 2-1 where the score remained until the second the half.

The Whippets came out strong in the second half with exceptional midfield play allowing the Whippets to maintain a press in the Vikings half of the field. Late in the second half, the Whippets were able to outpace the tiring Vikings and put up four additional goals to finish 6-1.

Crystal Chan scored on an assist by Kacie Carollo at the 72-minute mark. Quickly thereafter Jaden Henneman scored her second goal of the night on a shot that rebounded of a Viking defender. In the 81st minute Sierra Brunner scored by following Kacie Carollo’s shot that rebounded off the goal post, and then in the 83rd Sierra Brunner scored again on an assist by Carollo.

In addition to the strong midfield play was a solid performance by defenders Abby Center, Hannah O’Brien, Brianna Zimdars, Liz Rodriguez, and Melanie Reyes.

The Whippets will need a much faster start to the game when facing Grafton on Saturday when traveling to Concordia University for a 5:00 pm match.

Parker Closes Out HS Career at Sectionals

Senior Billie Jo Parker closed out her high school golf career Wednesday afternoon, competing in the WIAA Division II Sectional hosted by Kewaskum High School at Kettle Hills Golf Course. Parker entered the sectional as a fourth place individual qualifier and finished with a final round score of 82. Wednesday’s culminating competition for Parker marked the end of a successful four-year run on the Whippet golf team, a fact not lost on her. “I feel grateful that I have been able to be apart of a great golf team. I have met great friends through the team and I have been given many great opportunities,” Parker stated.

On the front nine, Parker got off to a slow start with a triple bogey on the third hole, leaving her to reflect, “I wish I could have taken back my tee shot that went into a bush area.”

Regardless, Parker persisted and fired a two-over par 38 to put herself in early contention, entering the back nine with high aspirations. “I wanted to be able to take that energy from the front nine to the back,” she stated.

Unfortunately, on the back nine, she found some of the early control from the front nine slip away. “Billie Jo is as steady as they come and although she didn’t have the pinpoint accuracy that she had on the front, she did enough to limit the damage and come in with a very solid back nine score”, Coach Wiegman said.

Parker finished the back nine with a 44. When asked what she was feeling as she potentially watched her last putt fall into the hole on the par five 18th, Parker stated, “It kind of hit me that it might be the last putt I make in competition for high school golf. But I also thought about all I have accomplished this year, and it felt great being able to end my season with a good score.”

After watching his senior leader finish her career, Coach Wiegman had some high praise for the four-year varsity player, saying that “Billie Jo continued to battle and persevere through some tough second shot positions. She never lets emotion get in the way of her next shot. I couldn’t be more proud her. Even though she didn’t qualify to play at U-Ridge, she ended the season on a high note, with a really great round.”

Stuart Nagy named Studio 84 “Artist of the Month”

Stuart Nagy has been a student at Studio 84 for about a year. He has always had a love for art beginning in kindergarten and started working with clay in high school. He creates unique coffee mugs, canvas paintings and much more.

Stuart comes one day a week and spends the day, traveling from Hales Corners, WI. He works on his ceramic containers and other projects. Recently he worked with members of the Geneva Lake Women’s Association and designed a character named Ms. Flippy D’Lid for a special event they will be having in October. Two of Stuart’s unique cow paintings are in the private collection of the Coburn Company.

Stuart’s work has a beautiful earthy, naïve feel to it. With his ceramic, his glaze colors are exquisitely paired to create patterns he has carved into the clay during the process.

Stuart said, “When I walked into the door of Studio 84, I knew this was the place where all my dreams can come true.” One of Stuart’s goals is to open an art studio and have his own gallery and it is at Studio 84 he is learning about all it takes to do that. He has just entered into the Vocational Training in the Arts programing that Studio 84 has. He will be getting his own website and business cards and learn about social media to market his work. You will find him at his booth every other week at the Whitewater City Market on Tuesdays afternoons from 4-7.

You can meet Stuart and many of our other artists during the annual Gala event on Saturday, June 23 from 6-8 pm.

Studio 84 in Whitewater is a non-profit art studio that provides experiences in the arts for the community. They specialize in the creative and vocational development of people with disabilities, including those with Autism, physical disabilities, cognitive limitations, and mental illness. The studio is open to all ages and all abilities.

For more information visit studio84inc.org.