News

A Proclamation on Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2024

    Every day, police officers pin on their shields and walk out the door, rushing into harm’s way to keep the rest of us safe. Being a police officer is more than what they do — it is who they are. On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, we recognize the incredible courage of our Nation’s police officers and honor the fallen heroes, whose ultimate sacrifice we can never repay……

   This year, we also honor our Nation’s law enforcement families, who serve and sacrifice alongside their loved ones. Every day, they summon courage as their loved ones put on their badges and leave for work, praying for their safe return home. To those who have lost a loved one who served, I know that no memorial can fill the void left in your heart. But I hope you find solace in knowing that their memory lives on through you, the community they served, and all those that they inspired through their example. Our Nation will never forget their sacrifice. 

   Last year, I bestowed six law enforcement officers with the Medal of Valor for going to unimaginable lengths to protect their fellow citizens. They exemplified a selflessness of character and a bravery that inspires. On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, let us show our gratitude for all the women and men of our Nation’s law enforcement community, who make extraordinary sacrifices every day. Let us honor the memory of those who have fallen in service to their fellow Americans. Let us recommit to supporting the people in uniform and their families, who ensure the safety of our communities all across the Nation.

   By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, as amended (76 Stat. 676), and by Public Law 103-322, as amended (36 U.S.C. 136-137), the President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day” and the week in which it falls as “Police Week.”

   NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2024, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 12 through May 18, 2024, as Police Week. I call upon all Americans to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities and salute our Nation’s brave law enforcement officers and remember their peace officer brothers and sisters who have given their last full measure of devotion in the line of duty. I also call on the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that day.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

                            JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Editor’s note: This will be Karen Tordera’s last concert as Choral Director at Whitewater High School. Tordera is retiring after 37 years of teaching, 29 years of which has been in the Whitewater Unified School District. She has taught at Lakeview, Lincoln, Washington, and the high school. 

The Whitewater High School Choirs and  A Cappella Ensembles will present their Spring Concert on Wednesday, May 15th at 7:00 pm.  Music awards will also be presented at this concert with a reception to follow.  This free event is open to the public and will be held in the James M. Stewart Auditorium, We hope you can join us for an evening of song and celebration! 

Over the past two weeks, WHS students in Dual Credit/PIE Biology 142 had the opportunity to conduct an observational field study of Red Wing Blackbird populations in the Whitewater area! Students traveled to the UW-Whitewater Nature Preserve with Mrs. Lindsey Taylor and Mr. Shane Cullian, and collected data on the behavioral ecology of Red Wing Blackbirds.

For those not familiar, those little guys can be pretty fierce when it comes to guarding their nests! Giving students the opportunity to collect geographical and behavioral data to determine their territories is an experience they won’t soon forget! 

Article and Photos Submitted by Shane Cullian
Whitewater High School Biology Teacher
scullian@wwusd.org

Editor’s Note:  The following interview was done by Dr. Lauren Smith on behalf of Whitewater Unites Lives.

A Whitewater resident for 29 years, Hassimi Traore was born in Burkina Faso in the town of Dedougou and graduated high school from Bobo Diolasso, a privilege reserved for only the top 5% of students from his home town. Because he was at the very top of his class, Hassimi was chosen to receive support offered by a generous Canadian family. When he graduated from high school, he received a government scholarship to attend Burkina Faso’s Math and Science Institute, where he earned a baccalaureate and then master’s degree in math and chemistry.

While earning his degrees, Hassimi also worked for the Peace Corps, where he made lasting friendships with African and American colleagues. These colleagues encouraged Hassimi to apply for graduate programs in the United States, and he was accepted to every program to which he applied. Because one African friend, a Peace Corps colleague, was attending graduate school in Iowa City, Iowa, Hassimi chose to attend the state university there. He used the money he’d earned working for the Peace Corps to buy his plane ticket. It was a long journey for a young man with limited resources. He arrived in New York City with only a couple of hundred dollars in his pocket. Part of that was spent on a gouging taxi cab ride, and most of the rest went to a bus ticket to Iowa City.

The challenges of life in Iowa City were multiple. It was cold, and his winter coat didn’t cover his forearms, so he cut off the tops of a pair of socks to keep his arms warm. His English was “really rough,” too, so he found two old televisions on the side of the road to help him learn. One had picture but no sound and the other had sound but no picture. He stacked the two televisions on top of each other. In Africa, he hadn’t experienced racism, either, and it was difficult for him when he realized that others couldn’t recognize his skills in math and science because of his race or when he was harassed by racists.

Mostly, he says, people in Iowa “were wonderful” to him, and despite challenges, Hassimi graduated with a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1995. He got a job teaching Chemistry at UW-Whitewater after that, where he has been teaching for 29 years. During this time, he has helped many students who face their own challenges. He has helped African students who have had difficulty transitioning to Wisconsin as well as students who struggle with difficult academic subjects. He has also family back home who need help with tuition or medical care, and he frequently provides financial assistance to them.

He has raised the money to buy and send home four different ambulances with the help of many community members.  He said he felt “I am home” after all of the contributions from so many who care.

“People talk about ‘illegal’ or ‘legal’ immigrants but I don’t use those terms.  To blame everything on immigrants is not fair.  Immigrants contribute so much to the economy and culture in our cities, states and country,” said Hassimi.

Hassimi recently earned his Master’s Degree in Peace Building from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and his goal after retiring is to help nonprofits foster peace.  Even in retirement, he will continue to care for his homes, both in Whitewater and abroad.

The Whitewater Dementia Friendly Community Initiative would like to publicly thank Randy Cruse for his advocacy work in Washington (recently reported on whitewaterbanner.com) on behalf of persons with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.  Thank you, Randy, for your efforts to improve health care, financial support and community understanding for persons with dementia. 

Persons with cognitive decline report being misunderstood by friends, family and providers because of myths and misconceptions about their disease.  Often patients themselves misunderstand, especially when the only advice they get from their doctors is to get their affairs in order and come back in six months for a checkup.

But there is good news: the health care community is getting educated.  There is even a trend to recruit patients to serve on boards and committees to help bring their perspective for proper treatment and planning.

Stigma is the use of negative labels to identify a person with a disability or illness. It prevents patients and caregivers from taking the positive steps that can be helpful. Like any disease, cognitive decline benefits from good habits of nutrition, sleep, exercise and health care.  Make sure hearing or vision loss is properly treated.  Seek out and share accurate information. Maintain relationships with friends and family.  Have fun with music, games and laughter.  Developing these good habits early on can slow and ease this progressive disease.

An individual living with this disease has the most powerful voice to help raise awareness, end stigma, and advocate for more  support and research. We can learn a lot from them.   For more ideas visit https://www.alz.org/help-support/i-have-alz/overcoming-stigma

This article submitted by Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, a program of Whitewater Seniors in the Park to help inform the community about dementia and to support patients and caregivers.  New members are always welcome!  Contact jjackson@whitewater-wi.gov or call Jennifer at 262 473 0535.  

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Two Whitewater High School Choir students have won the prestigious Wisconsin School Music Association [WSMA] Exemplary Performance Recognition at two WSMA State Solo/Ensemble Festivals. Alex Clarksen earned the award for his Music Theater Solo event on April 27th at UW-Whitewater when he sang “She Cries” from Songs from the New World. A’lani Ross earned the award for her Alto Solo event on May 4th at Carroll University when she sang “Pastorale” by Georges Bizet.  Students performing at State Solo/Ensemble Festival can be nominated for this award by the adjudicators throughout the day. At the end of the day, the adjudicator can choose up to two events from each festival site to be awarded this honor. Seven other events from Whitewater High School were also nominated for this award. They are: Alex Clarksen-Tenor Solo, Charlotte Hajewski-Music Theater Solo, Brooke Mason -Alto Solo, Samuel Nickelsburg-Tenor Solo, Ava Van Daele-Alto Solo and Music Theater Solo, and Music Masters Ensemble-Mixed Vocal Jazz Ensemble.  Music Masters Ensemble members are Payton Bunger, Meridyth Cashion, Ayden Clark, Alex Clarksen, David Enns, Marina Linos, Brooke Mason, Samuel Nickelsburg, Lauren Rollette, A’lani Ross, and Alex Sullivan. 

Congratulations to A’lani and Alex and all students who were nominated to the WSMA Exemplary Performance Recognition!!

Tuesday, May 14^th from 4:00-7:00 pm here at the Whitewater Culver’s, 10% of sales will be donated to Hearthstone for their Garden Project.  Please help us share this flyer with as many as you can, and we hope that you will be able to stop by for some food and see some of the management staff running orders. 

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.

Lincoln Elementary School was full of families and fun when Whitewater hosted its third, free International Children’s Day for all children on April 27.  Organizers estimate that more than 350 people attended. 

All families were welcome at the Lincoln School and grounds.  Events included face-painting, arts and crafts, Culver’s custard, balloon art, chalk art and more.  A variety of international food offerings were available for sale, and students performed music. 

“It was wonderful to see the smiles on all of the children’s faces and to celebrate our diverse student population,” said Miguel Aranda, chair of the International Children’s Day committee.

Sponsors of International Children’s Day Celebration include Whitewater Unified School District, Whitewater Unites Lives, and Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

An Oil Lamp Service will be held at the historic Heart Prairie Norwegian Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday, May 19th at 7:30 p.m. The church is located at the East Richmond Cemetery, N7372 County Rd P, south of Whitewater, WI. Refreshments will be served prior to the service. Rev. Minyoung Han, minister at Bethel and Richmond United Methodist Churches, will officiate. Others participating are Rev. Larry Froemming, organist; Caitlyn Karbash, violinist; and Lisa Bauer, flutist. This will be the first oil lamp service at the church in more than 125 years. In March 2023, the recently restored church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There is limited parking and seating. For more information email gkestol@yahoo.com.

Editor’s note: This announcement was submitted by Georgia Kestol.