Editor’s note: The below press release was received from the UW-W College of Business and Economics.
A new collaboration between the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs Division of Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will bolster cybersecurity in the state.
A memorandum of understanding signed on Sept. 15 by WEM Administrator Greg Engle and UW-Whitewater Chief Research Administration Officer Carl Fox allows the UW-Whitewater and WEM to work together to strengthen the state’s Cyber Response Team (CRT) Training Program.
“It is vital to build partnerships and share best practices when it comes to the cyber domain,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, Wisconsin’s adjutant general and the governor’s chief cybersecurity advisor. “The state’s Cyber Response Team plays an integral role in assisting local communities to respond and recover from attacks on information systems and communications networks.”
The CRT, which is administered by WEM, is a voluntary group of general members and cyber incident responders. The agreement seeks to close the gaps between general members and incident responders.
“This new partnership is a step towards resiliency against growing cyber threats in our state,” said Engle. “Working together will not only invest in cybersecurity education, but it will also encourage the continued growth of the Cyber Response Team.”
The CRT and WEM will also be supporting the university’s cybersecurity program and cyber research projects. The projects look at current and future states of preparedness throughout Wisconsin. There will also be joint outreach efforts to inform and educate both the public and private sectors about cybersecurity threats and mitigation strategies.
“Cybercrime is a formidable threat to today’s businesses. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, organizations must create more impermeable systems and be ready to defend their business from cyberattacks,” said Dr. Balaji Sankaranarayanan, director of the Cybersecurity Center for Business at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics. “Through this collaboration with WEM, we aim not only to educate today’s professionals in cybersecurity, but to arm tomorrow’s IT leaders to thrive in the face of adversity.”
Specific collaborative efforts between UW-Whitewater and WEM include:
· The university providing faculty and/or graduate students, facility space, and existing equipment for the CRT Quarterly Training Program.
· The CRT and WEM employees will assist the University with identifying and promoting public-sector placement opportunities in support of UW-Whitewater’s Cybersecurity Program. Public-sector placements will be co-facilitated by the WEM Cybersecurity Preparedness Coordinator and the University.
· Under the supervision of university faculty, the WEM Cybersecurity Preparedness Coordinator will assist in supporting UW-Whitewater’s cybersecurity program institutional review board-approved academic research efforts through program-aligned activities. Those will include data collection, analysis, writing, and other traditional peer-reviewed activities consistent with research or experimental design.
The Cybersecurity Center for Business (CCB)’s mission is to offer leading-edge and innovative cybersecurity education, research, outreach services and opportunities to organizations and learners in Wisconsin. More information about the UW-Whitewater’s CCB and cybersecurity programs is available at https://www.uww.edu/cobe/ccb.
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation.
Linda, a new community member from Nicaragua, benefited from the Community ESL program that helped her learn English. When applying for a job and her interpreter did not show up, thanks to the training she received in the Level 1 ESL course, she had learned enough English to respond to the first round of interview questions about basic personal information and preferences. Her newly learned English helped her get the job!
Linda’s story “is just one example of the positive impacts the Community ESL Program of Whitewater has on the community, impacts which would not be possible without the support of organizations such as the Whitewater Community Foundation,” said Terilyn Robles, Director of Teaching & Learning for the Whitewater Unified School District.
ESL Students
The grant to the Community ESL Program was $1,000 to purchase 25 curriculum texts and workbooks. This is just one of the community action grants provided. Each year, the Whitewater Community Foundation makes community action grants that tie in with the Foundation’s mission, including but not limited to education, arts, economic development, and improving the Whitewater Community.
“We are very pleased to support Linda and all of the English language learners here in our community,” said Whitewater Community Foundation Co-President Roni Telfer. “A recent influx of non-English speaking families has made it crucial to provide opportunities in our community to welcome and assist,” said Telfer.
One of the key areas of need identified at the 2023 Civic Summit in April was related to communication with diverse groups: Communicating to Whitewater’s diverse population in English and Spanish, making signage bilingual, coordinating communication to all groups, and providing opportunities for people of different backgrounds, age groups, etc. to integrate to help meet community needs.
Another Whitewater Community Foundation grant addressing Whitewater’s diverse population was a 2022 grant to the Whitewater Police Department for interpretation services.
“Our need for interpretation services has drastically increased in Whitewater over the last two years, to a point that we quickly outgrew our operating budget to cover the costs ($2,500 budget). Our department also recently switched our interpreter services from using SWITS at a cost of $2.50 a minute, to using a worldwide company called Propio at a cost of 65 cents a minute. In the first nine months of this year, our department has used a total of 61.2 hours of Propio interpretation services. So between us switching our interpreting services and your generous grant donation, we are in a much better position financially to continue to provide these interpretation services,” said Adam Vander Steeg, Administrative Captain of the Whitewater Police Department.
These two grants exemplify one of the key challenges identified at the 2023 Civic Summit in Whitewater, communicating with our diverse community in Whitewater.
More than 30 community members, business leaders, educators, nonprofit organizers, and others met in April at the Civic Summit and determined key areas for improvement in Whitewater:
Communicating to Whitewater’s diverse population in English and Spanish, making signage bilingual, coordinating communication to all groups, and providing opportunities for people of different backgrounds, age groups, etc. to integrate to help meet community needs;
Housing assistance, affordability and accessibility for families and professionals seeking to purchase homes;
Marketing Whitewater by coordinating and cross-pollinating events, calendars and volunteer opportunities.
The Whitewater Community Foundation, tasked with holding a Civic Summit to determine community needs, plans to continue to draw on the results and the community experts who shared them. Discussions demonstrated Whitewater is a diverse community that provides many opportunities to work together: the 4th of July parade and events, the City Market, the Spirit Tours, and more. Our community needs its valuable but underutilized facilities like the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center and the Young Auditorium to be supported to rebound from the pandemic. Our rich diversity offers many hopeful opportunities for people of all ages, races, religions, etc. to learn from each other and celebrate our common humanity.
Twice a year, the Whitewater Community Foundation offers Community Action Grants for projects that the community and board of directors believe are worthwhile and beneficial to various segments of the population, projects like the ESL classes and interpretation services. Grant proposals are due on April 30th and October 31st of each year.
“Our foundation is dedicated to making our community stronger through these action grants,” said Julie Caldwell, Secretary of the Whitewater Community Foundation.
Whitewater’s Fire and EMS department received a WCF action grant of $1,810 for a fire blanket involving electric vehicles. Kelly Freeman, Fire and EMS Chief, said that, while they have not used it yet, they are very pleased to have available the fire blanket, which will more quickly and safely extinguish car fires.
Example of a Fire Blanket
Freeman said, “On behalf of the Fire Department, I would like to express how thankful we are to have received this grant and to have the opportunity to purchase this equipment to aid in property conservation.” He said, “This grant aims to support local civic organizations and their remarkable projects, and we couldn’t be prouder to see our fire department is recognized for its outstanding efforts in keeping our community safe. Let’s celebrate this remarkable achievement together!”
The First United Methodist Church also received $1,000 for its free lunch program that feeds students and community members. The church has been providing a free Tuesday lunch for more than 25 years. They have served 105 meals in the last two Tuesdays, and indoor, sit-down eating encourages people to meet one another and build community. Comments from diners include:
Food was great with good serving sizes;
Very tasty warm food;
It was amazing, everything tasted great. The dessert was phenomenal.
In conversations with people eating Tuesday lunch, volunteers have also heard how challenging it can be for students and community people to stretch every dollar. One said, “There is just too much month at the end of the money. Thank you for this; it makes a difference.”
“This kind of caring is what Whitewater and the Whitewater Community Foundation are all about,” said Telfer.
Following are some additional projects recently receiving grants:
Wisconsin Makers, Inc. received $500 to fund free classes including robotics.
Whitewater Unified School District received $1,000 for its Robotics program.
St. Patrick’s Church and its Hands Up Program received $500 for emergency assistance.
Whitewater Urban Forestry received $500 for Starin Park Arboretum signage.
“We are pleased that the Civic Summit results tied in so beautifully with some of the community action grants that we funded recently. We look forward to this year’s distribution of Community Action grants,” said Whitewater Community Foundation Co-President Therese Kennedy.
The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.
The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.”
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday [Monday in this case due to the Banner being tardy] with the Whitewater Historical Society.
It’s football season and time for the annual vintage football photo. This photo is of the Whitewater (City) High School football squad from 1930. Someone’s grandfather or great-grandfather is, no doubt, in this image. Again, it is always amazing to see the little protection the vintage football players wore.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
By Angela Kelm Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information UW-W
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater head coach Stacy Boudreau captured her 500th win at the helm of the Warhawk volleyball program Friday evening in front of a fantastic home crowd. The The Warhawks swept Elmhurst 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-21) in the win.
In her 19th season as the head coach of the Warhawk volleyball team, Boudreau now holds a mark of 500-135 at UWW, a win rate near 80-percent. She leads all active volleyball coaches in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and ranks sixth in league history for wins. Nationally, Boudreau is eighth among active coaches in Division III with a 78.8-win percentage. That mark is 10th all-time in Division III.
The Warhawks jumped out to a quick lead to set the tone for the match that secured win number 500 Friday night. UWW’s offense was rolling while the defense held the Blue Jays to a negative attack percentage in the first two sets. Ally Warburton, Jenna Weinfurt and Kirsten Anderson all registered three kills to lead UWW in the first set.
The second set was a defensive masterpiece as the Warhawks recorded six total blocks. Anderson assisted on three while Abbie Dix registered a solo and two assist blocks.
Weinfurt bolstered the offense in the third set with 4 kills on 13 attempts with just one error.
For the match, Weinfurt was the lone hitter to reach double digit kills with 10. Anderson and Dix were huge at the net defensively combining for 11 blocks – six block assists for Anderson and a solo and four assists for Dix. Anderson also got it done from the service line with a match-high three aces.
Aubrie Krzus posted 24 assists and partnered on five blocks. Morgan Jensen stifled the Elmhurst attack with 18 digs.
(Left to right, first row) Norma Sauerberg Osterndorf, Mary Warner Peiffer, Carol Luderman Connors, June Wolfe (Second row) Dick Trewyn, Ray Walton, Dave Stroupe
The 1951 Class of Whitewater High School held its 72nd class reunion at The Real McCoys in Cold Spring on September 23. Seven classmates and two spouses enjoyed their get-together.
Editor’s note: This report and photo were submitted by Mary Warner Peiffer.
The Walworth County Drug Enforcement Unit, in partnership with the Whitewater Police Department, and City of Delavan Police Department conducted an investigation that involved the sale of cocaine in the City of Whitewater. The investigation included surveillance and controlled buys, culminating in the arrest of two subjects.
On September 4th, 2023, the Walworth County Drug Enforcement Unit located one of the subjects, identified as Carlos ARIAS-PEREZ (19, from 137 N. George St., Whitewater), in the City of Whitewater. Carlos ARIAS-PEREZ was subsequently arrested for (1) count of Delivery of Cocaine (5-15 grams).
On September 19th, 2023, the Walworth County Drug Enforcement Unit located the other subject, identified as Rolando LOPEZ-GOMEZ (38, from 353 N. Cherry St., Whitewater), in the City of Elkhorn. Rolando LOPEZ-GOMEZ was subsequently arrested for (2) counts of Delivery of Cocaine (15- 40 grams) and (1) count of Delivery of Cocaine (5-15 grams) – Party to a Crime.
Both Carlos ARIAS-PEREZ and Rolando LOPEZ-GOMEZ were arrested and transported to the Walworth County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.
Rolando LOPEZ-GOMEZ is currently facing the following charges: 961.41(1)(cm) Delivery of Cocaine (3 counts)
Carlos ARIAS-PEREZ is currently facing the following charges: 961.41(1)(cm) Delivery of Cocaine (1 count)
Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m. Agenda includes Adjourn to closed session, to reconvene in open session, pursuant to Chapter 19.86 notice of collective bargaining negations Item to be discussed: Discuss Bargaining and Negotiation strategy related to the contract with the Police Union Open session: update on limiting discount stores, Housing Summit update, ordinance establishing lake advisory committee, Discussion and possible action regarding deferred assessments for Wisconsin Street sanitary sewer and water main
Additional closed session agenda to reconvene: Items to be discussed: 1) Review and Discuss A1 Packaging development agreement 2) Review and discuss possible options for resolution of the Walton excessive real estate tax assessment claim
