News

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.

Local author, Mark Maas, will be at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m. He will be talking about his book, One Team / One Family: Winning Is a Lifestyle, which reflects the belief that building character, trust, and positive chemistry among teammates is at the core of success. Whether in the realm of athletics, the corporate boardroom, on the factory floor, or in schools and offices across America, this book provides a blueprint for success. Sharing stories from a forty-year career in teaching and coaching, Maas lays out the fundamental principles for building team relationships.

Maas will be available for questions after his presentation. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. The library has a copy of the book available for checkout as well.

The presentation will be held in the library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. The public is invited to attend this free program and no registration is required. For additional information, visit the library’s website at www.whitewaterlibrary.org or call 262-473-0530.

Editor’s note: With a portion of Whitewater being in Jefferson County, Whitewater residents would be expected to be welcome regardless of whether they live in Jefferson or Walworth County. Walworth County always has at least one clean sweep annually; sometimes there has been a Whitewater event, though not last year.

Editor’s note: The following announcement was posted at UW-Whitewater on April 2.

After the completion of a national search, Provost John Chenoweth is pleased to announce that Dr. Lana Collet-Klingenberg has been appointed to serve as the Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies effective April 7, 2024.

As a distinguished teaching scholar, Dr. Collet-Klingenberg has served the college as Associate Professor and Professor as well as Chair of the Department of Special Education.  Dr. Collet-Klingenberg has also served the college as Associate Dean and most recently as Interim Dean.

Dr. Collet-Klingenberg earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Provost Chenoweth would like to thank everyone who provided feedback during the interview process as well as the members of the Search and Screen Committee, chaired by Vice Chancellor for University Relations and UW-Whitewater Foundation President, Katie Kuznacic, for their extensive work on this search.

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Habitat for Humanity in Walworth County.

Habitat Walworth has completed its fifteenth Walworth home, in Whitewater, – a three bedroom designed for a young family of five.

The dedication and house blessing is scheduled for Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 1 p.m.

Pastor Sean Walker, Chapel on the Hill, will be performing the ceremony as mom and dad (Che & Bo) welcome their two sons and daughter to their new home. The immediate family has put in more than five hundred hours of sweat equity since last fall in building the new home….framing, siding, painting, and whatever!

President Mark Gardner will be welcoming the hundred plus volunteers and supporters who have made the 1,200 SF home
possible. In addition, Mark says: “We thank the many volunteers and contractors who built this house. And we welcome Che & Bo to their new home, and look forward to identifying another Walworth family for our next build.”

Photos by Tom Ganser – Democracy in action, RAIN or shine

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Turnout in the city was steady on Tuesday but not particularly strong, with 1562 people voting. Voters and election inspectors experienced the first use of the electronic Badger Books, and there were virtually no glitches. It sped up the check-in process using the digital poll books instead of the cumbersome paper books. Some other cities that have transitioned to the new technology reported concern from voters about the new system, but Whitewater poll workers reported virtually no negative comments and many positive ones.

The results shown below are unofficial until the election canvasses take place; however, most of the races were not close enough for a recount to be considered. Incumbents are designated by (I).

Whitewater Common Council: In the only competitive race in the city, former Council member Greg Majkrzak II beat Keith Staebler for an at-large seat by 786 to 532. Orin Smith won the District 2 seat unopposed with 63 votes, as did Brian Schanen with 359 votes.

Whitewater Unified School Board: The race for two seats on the Whitewater Unified School Board had three candidates on the ballot, but Larry Kachel had announced that he would be unable to serve if elected. The results were:
Jeff Tortomasi 1562
Larry Kachel (I) 919
Maryann Zimmerman (I) 1636

Walworth County Circuit Court Judge: Scholtz won the seat over Navis in the countywide vote, 14,213 to 6,283.

Walworth County Supervisor: Brian Holt (I) and Al Stanek (I) retained their seats without competition.

Town of Richmond Supervisor #3 – Alexander 301 to Wade (I) 220
Town of Richmond Supervisor #4 – Bergman 296 to Kraus (I) 231

Fort Atkinson School District Referendum passed by a squeaker, 2360 vs. 2280.

Palmyra Eagle School Board: There were three candidates for two seats.
Patrick 477
Moro 304
Williams (I) 372

Both Constitutional Amendments are projected to have passed on a statewide vote.

Children, Youth, and Family Director Position

First English Lutheran Church is hiring for a CYF Director position, working with children of all ages, planning and running events, and coordinating with schools and organizations to better serve the children and young families in our community and in our church.  The position is 15-20 hours per week and pays $20 per hour.  Find a link for applications about halfway down the home page, on the right at https://firstenglishlutheranchurch.360unite.com

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

Iron pour at Wisconsin Makers April 6

Wisconsin Makers will host its seventh annual iron pour on Saturday, April 6.

The public is invited to this family-friendly event at the regional makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. in Whitewater.

Spectators are welcome to watch the “pour team” — Teresa “Tree” Lind, a former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater lecturer of art and design — and her student alumni melt cast iron in an outdoor furnace and then fill sand scratch molds with the liquid metal.

Those wishing to make their own casting may buy a scratch mold square to personalize with their design that day, starting at 9 a.m. Each scratch mold must be completed no later than 11:15 a.m.

By noon, the outdoor forge should have reached 2,700 degrees and be ready for the pour. Lind and her team will fill buckets with molten iron and pour it into the sand scratch molds. They will present the completed castings to participants by mid-afternoon.

The per-person cost is $25. Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis.

During the iron pour, grilled brats, chips, water and soda will be available for purchase.

Scratch mold workshop set

Persons wishing to get a head start on their squares may attend a scratch mold workshop at the makerspace Friday, April 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. Pizza will be available for $1 per slice.

In addition, those wishing to design a scratch mold ahead of time at home and then bring it to the iron pour may contact Ron Binning at Binning and Dickens Insurance, 319 W. Center St. in Whitewater. His phone number is (262) 473-3930.

“Your unique design will be preserved in cast iron for ages to come,” said Wisconsin Makers President Al Jewer, adding that past years’ iron pours each have drawn more than 100 people. “This is a wonderful opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art.”

To view a short YouTube video of the 2017 iron pour, please click this link: https://youtu.be/Q5HgV94OPe4.

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, and quilting. For more information on the iron pour or scratch mold workshop, or to learn about the makerspace or memberships, visit Wisconsin Makers’ Facebook page at @wisconsinmakers or call Jewer at (630) 430-9498.

The WHS Portfolio Committee is seeking community members to be a part of the listening audiences on Wednesday, May 22, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. We are hoping for at least 15 Whitewater Community members to participate. Community members willing to attend the presentations can email lmoll@wwusd.org  or call 262-472-8203 to sign up by Friday, May 3. 

Members of the Whitewater High School Class of 2024 are currently preparing for the annual Portfolio Event which will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the high school. 

This event for seniors allows them to showcase their academic achievements, celebrate their accomplishments, and share their postsecondary career and academic plans before graduation. To make the presentations more meaningful, students present to an audience of WHS staff members and members of the community along with family and friends who are invited to attend. 

Students present examples of their best work in core academic and elective areas, share 2 or more examples of their involvement in activities in and outside of school, or work experiences, and at least one service activity that had special significance. Students then describe their future career & educational plans and the pathway they have chosen to accomplish their career goals. Graduates end their presentation by summarizing the most important learning experiences they’ve had in high school and how they hope to use their knowledge and skills to become a productive and responsible member of society. 

We are looking forward to having our community support for this event.

Article Submitted by Kate McNulty
WHS Senior Class Advisor
kmcnulty@wwusd.org