News

WHS Automotive Students Earn ASE Certification

Shown in the photo with their teacher, Justin Buntrock, are the eight students who passed certification to earn their ASE. Buntrock is second from the left in the front row.

Whitewater High School, one of the few high schools in Walworth County fortunate enough to have an automotive program, had the opportunity for students to earn their entry-level Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification. The ASE certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is a nationally recognized certification and an industry standard for most mechanics in the industry. Entry-level certification is the first step in building career credentials as an automotive service professional. “The ASE Entry-Level certification tests are designed to indicate a substantial level of practical, knowledge-based readiness for the workforce in those seeking a career in the automotive service industry,” said Mike Coley, ASE Education Foundation president. “These tests are intended for students in career and technical programs and are a predictable gauge for future success with ASE professional-level certifications.”

Sixteen students in our Automotives I and II courses taught by Mr. Justin Buntrock took advantage of this opportunity. Of those students, eight passed their certification to earn their ASE. We as a district and technology education department are very proud of these young men for this achievement. It is a very rigorous test and very content heavy on theory and automotive repair skills and knowledge. In addition to earning their ASE certification, these students are also being provided customized mechanic shop shirts as an acknowledgement of their efforts. Thank you to Mr. Brent Mansky, WHS principal, for providing this reward to our students! Students who have earned their certifications are: Brakes ASE certificate awards: Nolan Legge, Gavan LaFlash, Nate Holden, AJ Canipe and Logan Voegeli. MLR(Maintenance and light repair) ASE certificates: Scotty Krebbs, Justin Johnson and Jacob Raglin.  

Editor’s note: The photos and most of the content of this article are courtesy of Justin Buntrock.

Whitewater Chamber Celebrating Great Growth Over the Last Year! (Updated)

Editor’s note: 4/25 @ 10:40 a.m. – Corrections made to sponsors.

The Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating great partnership growth in the last year as they commemorate another year of success and honor the community and local businesses at their annual dinner on Friday, April 28th. The Chamber has seen over 20 new partner businesses join since January of 2022, returning the Chamber to membership levels not seen since 2018. The new partners, from a wide range of industries and business sizes, are a true representation of the local and regional business community.

The Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome all their new partner businesses who have joined the organization in 2022 & 2023. Please join the Chamber in supporting these local and regional businesses that have dedicated themselves to serving the community of Whitewater and supporting the efforts of the Chamber in helping the community grow and thrive.

United Way of Walworth County, Inc.Ridgeview Coaching
Duesterbeck’s Brewing CompanyMr. Plumber, LLC
Nordskov, LLCOn the Bias Designs
Live Life Spiritual Direction, LLCUnderground Cutz
Badgerland Computers & NetworkingWhitewater Home Repair LLC
The Vinery Stained Glass Studio 2023 Silver SponsorDormAdvertising 2023 Silver Sponsor
The Boat House of Whitewater BaristaCats Café
Walworth County Fair/Agricultural Society 2023 Gold SponsorTDS Telecom 2023 Gold Sponsor
Doctor Sealgood Mr. Fixer Upper, LLC
Imhoff Financial Services Agency Anderson Commercial Group
Edgerton Hospital and Health Services Pet Supplies Plus

Discover Whitewater is excited for our future and the future of Whitewater! The Whitewater Chamber of Commerce invites other local businesses to join the organization and take advantage of the many benefits and opportunities to help guide the growth and direction of Whitewater. Come be a part of innovation and creativity that defines the Whitewater business community.

For information about Chamber membership and the benefits of becoming a partner in Whitewater please contact Executive Director, Kellie Carper at (262) 473-4005 or by email at info@whitewaterchamber.com.

City Board of Review Scheduled for Tuesday is Canceled

According to a notice from the City of Whitewater, the Board of Review scheduled for Tuesday, April 25 has been canceled. Board of Review is the body that hears property owners’ claims that their property assessment is incorrect. A new date and time will be forthcoming.

Affordable Housing Public Input Session Will Be Held on Thursday

Notice of Affordable Housing Public Input Session

City of Whitewater staff has drafted an Affordable Housing Fund Policy for the Community Development Authority to assist home buyers and developers by addressing the lack of housing available in the City of Whitewater, especially for low-income residents. With this policy, the city seeks to support home buyers in acquiring homes and incentivizing contractors/developers with construction of new housing units.

The goal of the Affordable Housing Fund is to aid homebuyers and provide gap financing for projects in the City of Whitewater that seek to increase the supply of safe, quality, affordable housing and facilitate long‐term affordability and sustainability. In addition, the funds seek to achieve a wider dispersion of affordable housing units throughout the city and discourage development of more affordable housing in areas with existing high concentrations.

Approximately $1.9 million will be allocated to fund single‐family housing projects that promote housing affordability and down payment assistance to purchasers of single‐family homes who qualify based on income in comparison to the median for the County in which the dwelling resides. This policy also proposes to allocate a small amount ($200,000) toward single‐family home rehabilitation in an existing program run by the CDA (view the affordable housing fund policy draft).

John Weidl, Whitewater city manager, shares, “Anyone interested in developing, financing, purchasing, or promoting affordable housing in the City of Whitewater, please attend our public input session and provide input and feedback on how to best allocate $1.9 million toward single-family homes that are affordable for current and future residents. We are grateful for your participation and please know that we value your input.”

The City of Whitewater will host an Affordable Housing Public Input Session “open house” on April 27, 2023, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building Community Room, 312 W. Whitewater Street, Whitewater, WI. This two‐hour open house will allow any person interested in discussing, reviewing, or commenting on the policy to do so.

Editor’s note: In response to our inquiry, Weidl told the Banner that approximately the first 20 minutes “will be a presentation of how the fund was developed, an explanation of the draft policy, and a recap of some of the major feedback we’ve received to this point. That will be followed by an open house style event. We also intend to livestream and record the event.”

Please feel free to contact City Manager John Weidl at jweidl@whitewater‐wi.gov or 262‐473‐0104 with any questions, comments, or concerns.

WHS Music Masters & Jazz Band Performed for WMS Music Students

Whitewater High School Students from Music Masters Ensemble and Jazz Band performed at Whitewater Middle School on April 14th. All WMS Music students were in attendance and the WMS Jazz Band performed with the WHS Jazz Band on one piece of music. Congratulations to all on a fine performance! 

Photo credit: Karen Tordera

The Discover Whitewater Series is CARA Certified for 11th Year

The Discover Whitewater Series is CARA Certified for the 11th Year in a Row

The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, Half Marathon Team Event, 5k, and W3 Fit Kid Shuffle is excited to announce that the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA)  has certified the DWS for the eleventh year in a row! The 11th annual DWS will be held on Sunday, September 17th, 2023. 

CARA operates as a non-profit organization committed to serving and advocating for the running communities in the region. CARA provides accessible opportunities for all runners to train, race, learn, be social, and volunteer. They currently have over 11,000 members and over 1,300 programs and events each year. 

Due to the high standards of a CARA certification, the DWS is able to ensure that the race is a safe and professional event for all participants. The DWS is the only Wisconsin race certified by CARA! Along with safety, CARA has high standards for race quality and enjoyment that the DWS is pleased to achieve. In addition to the high-quality running experience this certification provides, CARA races are also able to qualify runners for highly competitive marathon races such as the Chicago and Boston Marathons. 

“We are proud to uphold some of the toughest standards for safety.” said DWS Executive Director Jeffery Knight, “we also send out surveys to our runners to ensure we have met the standards of each and every participant”. 

The DWS is a premium race event for the community for all ages to enjoy. As you go through the course see some of Whitewater’s finest features and be assured that safety and quality is the DWS’ top priority. To register for the 11th Annual DWS, visit www.RunWhitewater.com/Register.

For further details, please contact Jeffery Knight, Executive Director at 920.728.0662 or jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com.

About the DWS

The goal of the DWS is to promote the City of Whitewater and highlight its greatest features, while keeping everyone in the community active. All the proceeds from the race are donated to five local non-profit partners: Bethel House (which provides interim housing for homeless families), Whitewater LEADS, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), Whitewater Unified School District and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. The DWS partners with the city, business community, university and the school district to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit www.runwhitewater.com.

 

Obituary: Edna (Peyer) Park, 87, of Sauk City

Edna (Peyer) Park, age 87, passed away April 19, 2023 at her home in Sauk City, Wisconsin.  She was born the fourth of five children to Carl H. and Aurora D. Peyer in Peoria, Illinois on April 4, 1936.  Edna graduated from Galesburg High School in 1954.  She completed her Bachelor’s degree in 1957 at Illinois State University and her Master’s degree there in 1962.

                Her career in education began in Illinois at Lisle Community High School where she taught mathematics and psychology from 1957 to 1960; she served as a counselor and school psychologist at Deerfield High School from 1962 to 1968 and completed her career teaching remedial mathematics for fifteen years (1981 to 1996) at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.  Edna’s greatest joy was to see students achieve success and gain self-confidence.

                On December 18, 1965 Edna married Joe Charles (Chuck) Park and they made Whitewater Lake their home for 48 years.  They traveled extensively throughout their 58-year marriage both before and during their retirement.  When she wasn’t globe-trotting, she was active in The League of Women Voters and Habitat for Humanity.  She served as co-chair of the International Student Host Family program at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater for a number of years and was active in the Foreign Foods club at the university which later became the Gourmet Club.  She loved music, she loved to play bridge, she liked the creativity of sewing and quilting and was considered to be a gourmet cook.  After moving to Sauk City in 2013, Edna became a member of the Free Congregation of Sauk County.

                Chuck and Edna were blessed with two wonderful children: Laura Park of Los Angeles, California and David Park of New Orleans, Louisiana.  Their personalities, talents and interests enriched the lives of their parents.

                Along with her loving husband and children, Edna is survived by cousins and nieces and great nieces and great nephews as well as her many friends.  A private memorial service will be held in accordance with her wishes.

Obituary: Thomas Marshall, 72

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Thomas Marshall.

Tom was born on February 17, 1951, in Fort Atkinson, WI. After a 13-year battle with Parkinson Disease, he passed away peacefully at his home on April 20, 2023, with his family by his side.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Keith and Jean (Klitzke) Marshall, and two brothers, Jeff and Ronald Marshall. He grew up on his family farm on Howard Road and graduated from Whitewater High School. Over the years he was employed at Frohling Farm Equipment, Mountain View Equipment, Walworth County Highway Department, owned/operated a small excavating company, and developed Nature Dr subdivision. When he wasn’t at work, he still loved to work. His happy place was operating a chain saw or brush mower and burning brush in his woods. He planted hundreds, if not thousands, of trees to make up for it. He was a natural at running equipment, had his pilot’s license and an airplane until it wasn’t practical. He filled in the gap with other petroleum powered hobbies which included cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc. He also enjoyed hunting, playing softball and tennis.

Tom spent the last 25 years of his life with his soul mate, Donna Marshall (Shoenbeck). Together they enjoyed taking trips with the Mad City Corvette Club and enjoying winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama, as much as they enjoyed everyday time with family, attending church and Brewer games.

Tom leaves behind his wife, Donna, son Jon (Michelle) Marshall, daughter Laura (Tommy) Schmeckel; five grandsons Tanner, Tucker, Dylan, Ryan, and Evan; stepdaughters Lori (Michael) Moore and Traci Bates as well as their children Ella, Quintin, Madesyn, Noah, and Liam. Tom is also survived by two sisters, Sally (Mike) Lange and Donna (Neal) Meier.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, April 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 145 S. Prairie St., Whitewater, WI 53190. A private burial will follow in the Richmond Cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Friends are encouraged to drive their old collector cars to the church in honor of Tom.

As an expression of sympathy, you may wish to consider memorials to Rainbow Hospice, First United Methodist Church of Whitewater, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

The family would like to express a special thank you to family, friends, as well as the Kendra, Sara and Gretchen from Rainbow Hospice and the church congregations of First United Methodist Church and Millard Community Church. Online condolences may be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Macbeth Coming to UW-W Stage; WHS Grad Carter Waelchli is in the Cast

The College of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater announces the final show of the 2022/2023 Theatre/Dance season with “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare. Directed by Bruce Cohen, this production will run in Barnett Theatre April 25-29 at 7:30 p.m. and April 30 at 1 p.m. Tickets ($16) are on sale for the performances and can be purchased in person, online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. The Barnett Theatre and UW-Whitewater Ticket Services are located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts at 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190.  

WHS Grad Carter Waelchli, who is studying Theatre Education at UW-W, is a member of the cast, serving in the role of Ross/Understudy Banquo. This is Carter’s third mainstage show at UW-W. Their previous performance credits include Bill in “Perfect Wedding,” and Marplot in “The Busybody.” This is Carter’s first Shakespeare show, and they’re excited to share this story.

Returned home and celebrated for victory in battle, the triumphant warlord, Macbeth believes that becoming King might be possible. Driven by mystical and sinister prophecies, he and his Lady set out on a path of butchery to slake their lust for power. A story of lost humanity and deadly ambition, Shakespeare’s tragic play is a murderous thriller. 

On choosing this production director Cohen states, “Ultimately, Macbeth is a cautionary tale of political ambition and corrupted power. These themes were front and center during the reign of James I and, sadly, remain contemporary and evergreen to this day.” 

The cast for the UW-Whitewater production of “Macbeth”  includes Antonio Parra as Macbeth, Erin McKee as Lady Macbeth, Bryce Giammo as Banquo, and Makayla Fedler, Dyamond Jackson, and Abby Frey as the three witches.  

You don’t want to miss this thrilling performance of “Macbeth” in Barnett Theatre April 25-29 at 7:30 p.m. and April 30 at 1 p.m. Get your tickets today in person, online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. There is a $2 surcharge for tickets purchased at the door at the time of the event. The Barnett Theatre and UW-Whitewater Ticket Services are located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts at 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190.  

Opening Reception Held for the WUSD Art Show

There was a fantastic opening reception on Saturday, April 15 with Lincoln World Drummers, MS Strings, and HS Choir Soloists for the Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) Art Show hosted by the Whitewater Arts Alliance. Great student art at the building by the Birge Fountain for the rest of the month. Thank you student musicians and their teachers.

Students between the ages of 4-18 from the WUSD will be on display at the Cultural Arts Center (CAC)—402 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI –from April 13 to 30, 2023. Due to the vast number of pieces, the exhibition will be in-gallery only with a few quick overview camera shots on the Whitewater Arts Alliance website. The gallery hours are Thursdays thru Sundays, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Editor’s note: Photos and first paragraph of text courtesy of Christine Hayes.