Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Wisconsin Makers.

Wisconsin Makers is offering a four-session class on ChatGPT in February and March.

“Introduction to ChatGPT: Unleashing AI in Your Everyday Life” will take place at 7 p.m. on four consecutive Thursdays starting Feb. 15 at the makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. in Whitewater. Each weekly session will be one to two hours in length.

ChatGPT is a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tool that is transforming how humans interact with technology.

“Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a creative mind or just curious about artificial intelligence, this four-week course is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge to harness the power of ChatGPT in your daily life,” said Wisconsin Makers Board of Directors President Al Jewer.

“This course is perfect for anyone interested in AI, looking to enhance his or her tech skills or seeking new ways to boost productivity and creativity,” he added. “No prior experience with AI is needed.”

The syllabus is as follows:

• Week 1: Dive into the basics of ChatGPT and artificial intelligence. Understand how these technologies work and get hands-on experience with simple interactions.

• Week 2: Explore the practical applications of ChatGPT. From crafting emails to generating creative content, discover how AI can be your personal assistant.

• Week 3: Delve into advanced features and customizations. Learn how to tailor ChatGPT to your specific needs and interests.

• Week 4: Interactive workshop and sharing session. Share your experiences, showcase your projects and learn from fellow attendees.

Instructing the class will be Nick Stratton, owner of Hotends.com in Whitewater. The company makes innovative J-Head hotends, the portion of the 3-D printer that extrudes the filament.

To register, contact Al Jewer at (630) 430-9498 or wisconsinmakersinc@gmail.com. The course fee is $50, with payment on the first night. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and seats are limited.

Wisconsin Makers is a nonprofit regional makerspace (community workshop) offering an affordable, collaborative and educational environment that inspires people of all ages to become innovators by unlocking their skills through continual experimentation and training. Work areas/equipment include: 3-D printing, laser engraving, machining, welding/fabrication, electronics, blacksmithing, woodworking, ceramics/pottery, jewelry making, arts/crafts, quilting/fabric arts, matting/framing and more.

For more information about the makerspace, classes or memberships, visit Wisconsin Makers’ Facebook page at @wisconsinmakers or call Jewer at (630) 430-9498.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

In a press release dated February 5, The City of Elkhorn Police Department stated that, “Law enforcement officials continue to actively investigate the early morning double homicide that occurred at the Sports Page Barr…on Thursday, February 1, 2024.

Officials have been focusing efforts on an investigation lead that developed over the weekend which identified a person of interest. The person of interest has been taken into custody on an unrelated matter as officials continue their investigation.

In order to protect the integrity of this investigation, no further information is available at this time. In addition, any person of interest is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.

Any person who may have information is asked to call the Walworth County Communications Center at 262-741-4400. You may also remain anonymous and contact Walworth County Crime Stoppers at 262-723-2677 or electronically by using P3 tips (http://www.p3tips.com)”

Amy Weh, Wisconsin Mosaic Artist

“A Mosaic Journey Through Texture and Color”

Schedule of Events:
Exhibit

February 1 to February 24, 2024 during normal gallery hours: Thursday through Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

Collage Workshop

Saturday, February 17 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Amy will conduct a mosaic workshop focusing on paper mosaic collage techniques.

Limited spots available, no charge, registration required. Age 10+. All materials provided.

To register, or for further information about Amy, click here.

Congratulations to the eleven WHS students who were selected for and performed with the 2024 Rock Valley Conference Honors Choir.  The event was held at Big Foot High School in Walworth on January 31st.

Students sang under the direction of Dr. Zachary Durlam, director of Choral Activities at University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee. Students prepared the music ahead of time, rehearsed with Dr. Durlam during the day, and then presented a concert in the afternoon.

Alex Clarksen was honored to be selected to sing one of the solos in “I’ll Be on My Way.”

Congratulations to all! 

Article, Photos, and Video Submitted by Karen Tordera
Whitewater High School Choir Director
ktordera@wwusd.org

City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and possible action regarding Interviewing and Appointing of Common
Council Applicants for At Large/Even position and District 1 position and Immigration Letter from Common Council. Closed session, to reconvene to open session: Review and discuss Transmission Facilities Agreement with Whitewater Solar, LLC for an easement across the Wastewater Facility property, Review and discuss Agreement with our building inspector, Kahube, LLC d.b.a Municipal Zoning and Inspection Services, and city manager’s performance evaluation.
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the
webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84127184745?pwd=fFPAz0h792XvtIh6RN9vKEnqQvWDtg.ASTfp2WDKzVyXT0l
Telephone: 1 (312) 626-6799
Webinar ID: 831 9828 2604
Passcode: 827617

City of Whitewater Landmarks Commission – Wednesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Territorial Oak Site
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater St
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86065966421?pwd=OVVaaXRXMDdGZlJ5K0xCYTdSbEJNZz09
Meeting ID: 860 6596 6421
Passcode: 301598
Or dial 1 312 626 6799 US

City of Whitewater Lakes Advisory Committee Workshop – Friday @ 08:30 a.m.
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater St
Agenda: Presentation on creating a Lakes District by the Whitewater-Rice Lakes Management District 
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.  Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87034151865?pwd=WEtLT1hZbisyK210cTFNTzZ1b0lhZz09
Meeting ID: 870 3415 1865
Passcode: 325706
Or dial 1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 870 3415 1865
Passcode: 325706

—

Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by the UW-Madison Division of Extension Dairy Program.

UW-Madison Division of Extension Dairy Program “Reproduction Roadshow” Meetings – February 19-23, 2024

By Jackie McCarville, Alison Pfau, Heather Schlesser, Ryan Sterry, and Angie Ulness, UW-Madison Division of Extension – Dairy Program Educators

To help Wisconsin Dairy Farmers get the most current and up-to-date research information, the UW-Extension Dairy program has developed the “Reproduction Roadshow.” This roadshow is an update on UW-Madison dairy reproduction research, covering heifer reproduction, sexed semen, the high fertility cycle, and more. The roadshow features Dr. Paul Fricke, Professor and Extension Specialist in Dairy Cattle Reproduction, and Dr. JP Martins, DVM, Ph.D. from the Department of Medical Sciences – School of Veterinary Medicine UW- Madison.

We want to thank Parnell for sponsoring the Reproductive Roadshow this year.

Join this free event the week of February 19 around Wisconsin and take the opportunity to learn from and discuss with experts on the dates below:
Farmer specific meetings:
February 19, 2024, 10:00 am Lafayette County Multipurpose Building (11974 Ames Rd. Darlington)
February 20, 2024, 10:00 am UW-River Falls Dairy Learning Center (129 South Glover Rd. River Falls)
February 20, 2024, 1:30 pm Barron Electric Cooperative (1434 WI – 25 North Barron)
February 21, 2024, 10:00 am Edgar Family Restaurant (127590 Opportunity Ln. Edgar)
February 22, 2024, Noon Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center (7001 Gass Lake Rd. Manitowoc)
February 23, 2024, 11:00 am Rex’s Innkeeper Restaurant, Waunakee (301 N. Century Ave. Waunakee)
Pre-registration by February 12, 2024 is required. For more information and to register for the meeting, visit
https://go.wisc.edu/repro .

For more information, please contact:
 Jackie McCarville jackie.mccarville@wisc.edu (Lafayette location)
 Ryan Sterry ryan.sterry@wisc.edu (Barron and River Falls locations)
 Heather Schlesser heather.schlesser@wisc.edu (Edgar location)
 Angie Ulness angie.ulness@wisc.edu (Green Bay & Manitowoc locations)
 Alison Pfau alison.pfau@wisc.edu (Waunakee location)

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by the Whitewater Lions Club.

The first Whitewater Lions Club Annual Fish-A-Ree was held in 1976. Since then, 48 years ago, the Fish-A-Ree has become a Whitewater and Southern Wisconsin tradition.   This year, with the unseasonably warm weather and early thaw, ice fishing is canceled.

However, Sunday morning, February 11, at 6:00 a.m., the Lions Clubhouse on Kettle Moraine Drive will open its doors to serve its well-renowned awesome Pancake Breakfast with super sausage, scrambled eggs, and jalapeno poppers. Breakfast will be served until 11 a.m. Free will donations accepted.

Bucket Raffles will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. drawing at the Clubhouse.  The Online Auction will be in full swing from February 11 to 18.  Due to the generosity of so many local merchants and businesses, there are over 40 bidding items to choose from.  View the website now to check it out at:  https://new.biddingowl.com/WhitewaterLionsClub

Raffle tickets are still available for the 50/50 cash raffle with a bonus prize!

The episode of America’s Most Wanted on Monday, February 5 will feature the case of a Fort Atkinson man wanted since 2020 for homicide and arson. Kevin P. Anderson is charged with fatally shooting his sister and brother-in-law, Nedra and James Lemke, in Jefferson County on June 16, 2020. The couple’s bodies were found in the driveway of a house in the town of Sumner, which Anderson is accused of burning down. Anderson also allegedly shot at a sheriff’s deputy who responded to the incident.

The criminal complaint says Anderson and his sister were engaged in a dispute over the will of their father, who had recently died.

A warrant for Anderson’s arrest was issued 10 days after the incident, but he has never been found. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, “Anderson should be considered armed and dangerous.”

Anderson is described as a white male with blue eyes and balding brown hair. He is six feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds.

This episode of America’s Most Wanted is reportedly scheduled to run at 7 p.m. Monday on FOX6 Milwaukee.

Editor’s note: This announcement was adapted from one on FOX11 Green Bay.

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.

Now is the time to lock in summer plans for kids!

For more than 50 years, UW-Whitewater has hosted summer camps for youth.  Each year, thousands of kids gather on the Whitewater and Janesville campuses, leaving devices behind to engage with each other in the magic of camp. This summer, nearly 70 camps are scheduled, offering opportunities for everyone to learn and play the Warhawk Way!

After a record-setting camps season in 2023, Continuing Education Services is prepared to host even more budding athletes, musicians, artists, gamers, and active learners this summer.  New offerings this season include Sports Performance camp, College for Teens, and Wrestling programs.  At the Rock County campus, Volleyball Day Camp and Musical Theatre Magic will both make their debut. For those over 18 looking for a camps experience of their own, Adult Pickleball will be offered in June. And making its highly-anticipated post-COVID return is Flute Camp in July. 

Inclusivity and belonging are part of the priority mission of UW-Whitewater. Summer camps put the mission into practice by providing events like Wheelchair Basketball camp, hosted by national champion teams, and Chatter Matters, a camp serving individuals who use assistive communication devices and their families. In addition, UWW maintains a 1:10 ratio of camp staff to camper for all youth programming and prides itself in youth protection training for all faculty, staff, coaches, and volunteers involved in leading programming.  Over 500 staff and volunteers are hired, representing a wide range of backgrounds and areas of expertise.

“We are proud the reputation we have built for exceptional programming,” says Morgan Anderson, Director, Camps & Conferences. “Often youth start with a commuter or day camp to learn the ins and outs or attend with a friend or teammate. Most return summer after summer to experience college life,” Anderson shares. Families have many options to fill their summer breaks, and UWW camps should be on the top of the list. “When you choose a summer experience for the youth in your life, we understand the weight of that decision. Safety is our top priority, followed closely by skill development and lots of FUN!”

Registration for the 2024 camps season is now open, with more than 700 registrants to date. Visit our website at camps.uww.edu for more information and join us to learn and play the Warhawk Way!

Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by Debbie Harris, 4-H Youth Development Educator, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension–Walworth County

During the cold days of winter, who can’t help but daydream about warm spring days bursting with new life? Students in 20 Walworth County classrooms won’t be daydreaming this May when they hear the pipping and peeping of newly hatched chicks coming directly from inside their room. As participants in the Walworth County 4-H Eggsploring Incubation Science Lab, these students will truly have a bird’s-eye view of the miracle and fragility of new life.

Eggsploring Incubation is one of eight science-based 4-H school outreach opportunities available to Walworth County K-8 teachers. During the 3-4 week program period, teachers can focus on leading an unforgettable incubation and embryology experience for their students; not worrying about logistics. All of the equipment and resources needed for the lab are dropped
off and picked back up in a timely fashion, and homes for the resulting chicks and ducklings are arranged entirely by the 4-H staff.

Eggsploring Incubation offers a unique opportunity for students to explore a wide range of science concepts while building science and life skills. From the moment they begin to set up the incubator until the last chick leaves the brooder box for life in the coop, students will be growing science abilities (observing, comparing, measuring, relating, and predicting) and building important life skills (planning and organizing, keeping records, problem solving, decision making, self-responsibility, compassion, empathy, and gratitude). They will also learn important science concepts such as temperature, humidity, food science, genetics, fertilization, life cycles, and physiology.

As stated by one recent participating teacher, “my students were totally engaged and eager to ‘check on the chick eggs and chicks’ throughout the entire school day. To explain life cycles through pictures is one thing; through video even better. Hands-on is fantastic! Through candling, they can actually see the growth!”

As noted by another teacher, “[Students] were blown away when we candled the eggs, and they saw movement inside! They learned all about chickens and can be confident the eggs they buy to eat do not have chicks inside.”

“This experience is the base for the many things students will build upon in life, not just in school,” said a third classroom teacher. “They will remember this long after elementary school.”

Now in its 13th year, Eggsploring Incubation has touched the lives of more than 5,600 Walworth County students and become a core part of participating teachers’ annual lesson planning. In addition to using the many books, visuals, and activities included, most program veterans have developed their own special science, reading, writing, or art assignments to give the experience
a personal touch. Journaling of some kind is a popular student “ask.” Other examples of specialized activities teachers say they have fashioned include dissecting eggs, making egg diagrams, building dioramas representative of the major components of incubators or brooder boxes, preparing reports and posters focused on chicken or duck breeds, and crafting illustrated “books” about the experience in its entirety. Most classrooms also host a steady stream of visitors, both youth and adults, excited to meet their hatchlings.

“Children stop in every year to ask if I will be having chicks again,” one teacher wrote in an evaluation, “even children who weren’t actually ever in my class. I have also had a couple of parents request their children be placed in my room partly because of this wonderful experience.”

“This program is fantastic in that it completely supports a teacher in making science hands-on,” another teacher stated. “The Extension staff is so helpful and responsive in answering all of my questions, as I am in no way a farmer. It is amazing that all of the resources you need are provided. This is a highlight of my school every year.”

“I always appreciate how well organized the program is, as well as all of the supplies and learning materials that are provided. “ “I love that the program is available to me. I couldn’t do all the leg work myself or afford the equipment,” a couple of additional teachers added.

What did participating students say about their experience in 2023? Evaluation data collected from 186 youth showed that 99% agreed that the experience taught them something brand new. Ninety-five percent said it changed the way they think about eggs and what’s inside them, and 97% agreed that it helped them appreciate how fragile life is. Some things they found to be
particularly memorable included: seeing tiny beaks emerge through the “pip holes” in the eggs during hatch; how noisy chicks could be; how long it took for the babies to hatch; the fact that some chicks were more dominant than others; and how “slimy, wet, and gross” they were when they first emerged from the egg.

Eggsploring Incubation 4-H Science Lab sign-up is open until March 1 or whenever equipment for loan runs out. You can learn more about THIS Walworth County 4-H Science Lab and the other labs at https://go.wisc.edu/9ac0d1. Confirm availability and schedule your lab with Debbie Harris at 262-741-4959 or deborah.harris@wisc.edu. Then, fill out the registration form
at https://go.wisc.edu/6fyahc. Due to limited equipment and staff capacity, 4-H Science Labs are open only to Walworth County teachers.

4-H is a Positive Youth Development Program of UW-Madison Division of Extension. Learn more about 4-H community club opportunities at https://walworth.extension.wisc.edu/.