By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Kristin Mickelson, Public Relations and Communications Manager for the city, indicated that it was not possible to broadcast the 4th of July parade live due to some changes made by Charter Spectrum. “We are currently making some updates to allow us to stream to both Vimeo and to Channel 990 from more locations. This is still a work in progress and we are very appreciative of your patience while we set up and learn our new equipment,” Mickelson stated.
Mickelson indicated that the parade video has been edited and can now be viewed on Channel 990 each day this week at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9:30 p.m., along with Whitewater High School graduation at 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 10:30 p.m. Here is the direct link for the parade on Vimeo.
Continue the welcomed return of “Fourth of July” excitement by taking in a performance of the Whitewater Summer School Playhouse production of the charming and delightful “Madagascar, Jr.” at the Whitewater High School Auditorium July 8 and 9 at 7:00 p.m. and July 10 at 2:00 p.m. (Continued below the pictures.)
Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser
Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hippo and, those hilarious, and plotting penguins – along with a conspiracy of lemurs – as they bound onto your stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime.
There is a lot that the kids can learn from this fun musical. Apart from the many humorous jokes, the adorable characters, and an entertaining story, “Madagascar, Jr.” offers kids the opportunity to pick up a lesson or two about the value of friendship, of sticking together even in troubling times, of adjustments, and of never giving up hope.
Under the direction of Jim McCulloch, the production features a cast of students ranging from 6th graders in their first performance on stage through Whitewater High School Class of 2021 graduates with extensive experience in theater — all supported by outstanding stage and technical crews.
About 30 minutes before the performances Tom Ganser’s photos from the last three Summer School Playhouse productions (“Bugsy Malone,” “School House Rock,” and “The Phantom Tollbooth”) will be shown. Don’t miss it!
Seats ($10 adults and $5 students) for the performances can be reserved by calling 262-472-8178. Tickets are also available one hour before the performance.
247 Lakeview Dr. “POP-UP SALE” Thursday (7/8) 8-12, Friday (7/9) 8-4, and Saturday (7/10) 8-4. Items from every room in the house looking for a new place to call home.
Paid advertisement Estate sale of Mrs. Norma “Jeanne” Triebold 227 S. Prince St., Whitewater Saturday, July 10: 9-2 Sunday, July 11: 9-1 (Numbers, used to control the number of people in the house, are issued one hour prior to sale on Saturday; one-half hour prior to sale on Sunday.)
Mrs. Triebold owned and operated “The Little Red Schoolhouse” in Whitewater for 33 years.
Partial listing: Fran Achen photo, Leon Pescheret etchings, various types glassware, several pieces of Tell City furniture, patio furniture, sofa sleeper, beautiful table and floor lamps, bar stools, game tables, chairs, pictures and frames, usual kitchen items, lots of holiday decorations, beautiful clothing size 4-8 petite.
See Craigslist for complete listing and pictures.
All sales final – No refunds – Cash – Sold in “as is” condition – No early sales – Not responsible for accidents
Please bring help and tools for removing your items on the day of purchase; our staff is unable to lift or load items.
For any questions contact Shirley Erdman, 920-563-9039.
The following welcome message from Interim Chancellor Henderson was posted on the UW-Whitewater announcement page on July 2.
Dear colleagues,
On Thursday, July 1, we held an in-person and virtual meet-and-greet at the University Center on the Whitewater campus to introduce myself to faculty, staff and students on and off campus and to give colleagues a chance to ask questions. For those unable to attend, that event was recorded and is available for viewing.
At the meet-and-greet I shared how delighted I am to join the UW-Whitewater community. I’ve dedicated my career to higher education and I have a rock-solid belief in the ability of higher education to be a transformative experience for students. As a first-generation college student who grew up in rural New Mexico, my experience at the University of Texas-Austin as an undergraduate was magical, and I want to help provide that experience for others.
The Ph.D. in math I earned at UW-Madison provided the basis for a terrific career that has been anything but typical, and I’m thankful for that grounding. I’ve had tenure-track or tenured faculty positions at a Research 1 institution (Texas A&M), a national liberal arts college (Colorado College), a regional university (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs), and urban universities (California State University, Los Angeles and UW-Milwaukee).
My heart has always been in the university that serves students for whom a university education is not a given, but an achievement that alters their lives. I’ve been fortunate to work at several such institutions at senior levels. I served as vice chancellor for student success and enrollment management at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, the dean of natural and social sciences at California State University, Los Angeles, and provost at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
I know UW-Whitewater from my time as vice president for academic and student affairs for the UW System, and I believe it is just that kind of institution. I’m honored to be asked to be a part of YOUR community.
As your interim chancellor I will operate based on a fundamental set of beliefs:
We are here primarily to support teaching, learning and student development
ALL of us play a crucial role in that mission
When we admit students to our community, we have an obligation to provide them with the support needed for their success
Students have an obligation to dedicate themselves to the hard work of learning, broadening their horizons and contributing to our community
We owe it to each other to operate in an ethical manner that rewards collaboration, transparency and achievement in service to our community
I have 40 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member and administrator, having served in the cabinet of four different presidents or chancellors, so I am familiar with the level of leadership and decision making leading a university demands. Still, I have a lot to learn about UW-Whitewater. I look forward to learning from you all, serving you all and making major contributions to the growth of UW-Whitewater.
This is a difficult time for all of higher education, and UW-Whitewater has seen its share of challenges. But those challenges pale in comparison to the strengths I see here, and I’m excited to join you as we build on those strengths and move forward together as one community.
In spite of the Independence Day holiday, John’s Disposal indicates that they are following their regular pickup schedule. Consequently Whitewater’s garbage will be picked up on Thursday this week, and those on the south side are also due for their recycling pickup.
Congratulations to Liam Egnoski for being Whitewater Unified School District’s Reading All Star this week!! Liam, we are honored to have you as our Reading All Star! Keep up your love of reading!
By Al Stanek Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
The Whitewater Common Council met for the third time in the month of June for a special joint meeting with the City Finance Committee to authorize two land transactions on June 29.
The Common Council approved the purchase of a one-acre parcel adjacent to the westside city well on Indian Mound Parkway for development of a proposed new water tower and sold a 1.5-acre site in the Industrial Park to Lavelle Industries. Earlier in June the City also approved the sale of a triangular property adjacent to the roundabout on East Milwaukee Street for development of an unnamed retail business.
The Levelle Industries sale is expected to provide parking for additional employees as the result of a proposed expansion. The Levelle Industries website currently lists 12 vacancies. The company has aggressively recruited UW-Whitewater (UWW) students with a reported nearly 50% Whitewater employee roster of UWW students, graduates or former students.
Levelle Industries has had an operation in the Whitewater Industrial Park since 2000. The designer and manufacturer of custom rubber and plastic moldings is most notable for the development of the “flapper” that is a component in most toilets.
In other City business the City has issued its fourth new home building permit this year for the Loos Homes development off Tratt Street on the City’s northside and is expected to see the arrival of motorized scooters available for rental later this month. The city also received the first installment of roughly $1.5 million of federal pandemic assistance.
Ambrose joined the information technology and supply chain management department in 2005. He is a tenured professor and served as department chair for nearly four years. As associate dean of graduate programs since 2015, he has been responsible for the administration and oversight of seven master’s degree programs and one doctorate program. He also worked closely with John Chenoweth, dean of the college, who will serve as the new provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UW-Whitewater.
“I’m pleased Dr. Ambrose has agreed to serve as interim dean,” Chenoweth said. “He has overseen the advancement and growth of our graduate programs, which have experienced considerable success during the past six years. He understands the college and is fully prepared to support the overall goals of the university.”
Ambrose assumed the role of interim dean on July 1.
“I plan to carry on the vision and framework of excellence developed by both Dr. Chenoweth and Dr. Christine Clements, former dean,” Ambrose said. “That framework requires adapting and responding to changes in the environment, and we will continue to move forward with innovative new initiatives.”
The College of Business and Economics is the largest AACSB-accredited business school in Wisconsin and is highly regarded for the quality of both its in-person and online degree programs. Ambrose will lead 184 faculty and staff in a college with more than 4,000 students enrolled in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Meeting students’ needs and providing exceptional experiences are at the core of the college’s strategic priorities.
Notably, the college set a graduate program enrollment record in fall 2020 under Ambrose’s leadership. Reaching this milestone required monitoring higher education and economic trends, in addition to listening to feedback from students, faculty and employers.
“The college has a rich tradition of excellence as a business school, and we have been a pioneer in online education,” Ambrose said. “We can never rest on our past achievements, however. A large percentage of our graduates are employed in Wisconsin and the surrounding region, and we must remain nimble to meet the evolving needs of the workforce. This requires providing a broader range of learning opportunities for both traditional students and adult learners.”
Ambrose earned a Ph.D. in business administration from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, an MBA in marketing and information systems from the Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Tiruchirapalli, and a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering from the Coimbatore Institute of Technology. Ambrose is also a co-founder of Ekantha Global, a U.S.-based social enterprise that seeks to equip and empower the underprivileged — both locally and globally.
A national search for the dean position is planned in 2021-22.
In the fall of 2019, the Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission (UFC) received a contribution from the late Jerry Schoen, a longtime member of the Commission, to erect its first Purple Martin House overlooking Trippe Lake in Minneiska Park. This house was dedicated this spring to the Jerry and Bunny Schoen Trust. The house was placed along the walking trail at the park and, in its first year, attracted 2 pairs of Purple Martins. These two pairs successfully raised two clutches of baby Martins in 2020, which is unusual for the first year.
This summer, as a result of contributions, a second martin house was erected in the Clay Street Nature Preserve on the city’s east side. It also attracted a nest of Martins its first year, while the first house hosts five nests this year! A total of 25 eggs are now ready to hatch, which triples last year’s brood. Purple Martins love to be around people and eat many insects as they swoop around their homes. The birds have hung a welcome sign at their two sites inviting the public to visit them!
Whitewater is a designated Wisconsin Bird City. The Urban Forestry Commission raised money to erect a Swift Tower in Cravath Lake Park a few years ago that now serves as a nesting site for Chimney Swifts who’ve lost chimneys as building designs have changed over the years. Our focus is to create sustainable habitat for birds that need them and we’d like to erect more Martin houses in the city. The UFC is requesting contributions in order to hopefully expand to six houses throughout the city. If you would like to support this project of the Urban Forestry Commission, you can contribute by sending checks in any amount, made out to the City of Whitewater Martin Project to be delivered or mailed (P.O. Box 178) to the Whitewater City Hall, attention Finance Dept. Put Purple Martin Project in the memo line of your check, and when we have raised enough for another house, we will purchase and erect our third house at Starin Park in the soon to be announced Arboretum At Starin Park!
The Greater Whitewater Committee (GWC) will be hosting an event to welcome UW-Whitewater Interim Chancellor Dr. Jim Henderson to the Whitewater Community.
This event will take place on Wednesday, July 7 at 7 a.m. at 841 Brewhouse in Whitewater.
The meeting is open to the public and acts as a formal meet and greet of the new UW-Whitewater Interim Chancellor. Anyone who would like to attend is requested to RSVP by noon on Tuesday, July 6 to research@knightpublicaffairs.com.
Per an article in the Banner, Chancellor Dwight C. Watson announced that he was resigning effective June 30 due to health concerns. The GWC indicated that they wish to join the community in wishing Dr. Watson all the best and hoping that his health improves with every day. They encourage all to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
About the GWC
The GWC is an action-oriented group committed to working with citizens, elected officials, and policy makers to identify, craft, and implement a pro-business agenda. The agenda advances the economic, education, and social policies required to energize and secure the Whitewater area’s economic future, as well as protect Whitewater’s quality of life.
