News

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Fort HealthCare.

Fort HealthCare (FHC) Board of Directors announced today that Michael Anderson, MD, will transition to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President in January 2023. Mary Behling, chair of the Fort HealthCare Board of Directors, stated, “We’re excited about the talent and perspective that Dr. Anderson brings to Fort HealthCare in his new role as CEO. He has consistently demonstrated his dedication to the highest standards of care and improving the health of the community, and we’re confident that his leadership will position the organization well going forward.”

Anderson has held numerous positions within Fort HealthCare since 2003 in addition to his role as an Otolaryngologist at the FHC ENT clinic. Besides Chief of Surgery, Medical Director of Perioperative Services, and Chief of Staff, he has also served on the FHC Board of Directors for nine years and most recently held the position of Sr. VP, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer.

Anderson stated, “Healthcare is evolving at a rapid pace. I’m honored to step into this role and navigate that future for the organization. As a physician, I understand the importance of quality and value-based healthcare, while sustaining medical excellence to the community. Fort HealthCare has a very bright future, and I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of it.”

The current CEO and President, Michael Wallace, will be retiring at the end of the year. He has been with FHC since 2006 and will continue in an advisory role for the next year. Under his leadership, Fort HealthCare has received several recognitions, such as Top Workplace from the Journal Sentinel, Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center, and a 5-Star rating from CMS. In addition, Wallace has worked closely with the Wisconsin Hospital Association for the past 10 years and served as Board Chair in 2016. He was honored with the prestigious “Distinguished Service Award” by WHA last year.

When asked about what he is most proud of, Wallace said, “The people. We have a strong culture at FHC that has allowed us to make a difference in the health of Jefferson County. Any recognition or successes we’ve had are a direct reflection of everyone who makes FHC what it is — the board, the providers, the staff, and the community. We have a strong management team and Dr. Anderson is uniquely positioned to lead FHC over the next decade.” He adds, “FHC has been the joy of my professional career. I’m fortunate that my family and I found our way to Fort Atkinson! I look forward to staying involved with the community.”

To learn more about Michael Anderson, MD, visit https://www.forthealthcare.com/physician/michael-anderson-otolaryngologist-ent/.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

Rollie Cooper was recognized for his tremendous achievements and work on behalf of the children of Whitewater. Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club members Jean Bromley, Lorrie Koppein and Patrick Taylor presented Rollie Cooper with a Municipal Commendation and declared October 30, 2022 to be “Rollie Cooper Day.”

Following is the proclamation:

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Pamela Sonmor-Wintz, National Honor Society Advisor.

Whitewater High School established the Minneiska Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) in 1956 to inspire enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, promote worthy leadership, and encourage the development of character in high school students. NHS has become a prestigious organization ranking high among college admission officers, scholarship committees, high school faculty and administrators, students, parents, and residents of our community.  For many, selection as a member of the National Honor Society is the pinnacle of achievement in school.  This honor, recognized throughout the nation, is both the public recognition of outstanding accomplishments and the private commitment to continued excellence on the part of each new member.

Eight juniors and five seniors will become new members of the National Honor Society at Whitewater High School this year during an Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, November 30. These students have demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership, character, scholarship, and service to their school and community and have worked extremely hard to achieve at the highest level in school. 

Congratulations to the new members of the Whitewater High School National Honor Society!

Brenda Aguilar

Andrea Alcala

Allison Alvarado

Aidyn Amundson

Dayna Carlson

Anders Clarksen

Danielle DePorter

Emerson Ellenwood

Marina Linos

Kayla Mikos

Mayte Navejas

Davin Parboteeah

Evelyn Troxel

Senior members inducted in December 2021

 Tyler Arnett – Treasurer

Brandan Haas

Kindyl Kilar – Secretary

Cali Kopecky

Jake Kuhlow

Alexandra Martin

Courtney Meyer

Aileen Perez – President

Jenna Pope

Ashlynn Prah

Skylar Staebler

Josephine Treder – Vice President

Karime Velazquez

Maria Verduzco

Caleigh Yang

For more information about the Whitewater High School National Honor Society, please see the following website:  https://sites.google.com/wwusd.org/whsnationalhonorsociety/home

Editor’s note: The following news release was received from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Carter Waelchli from Whitewater, WI, who is studying Theatre Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is a member of the creative team, serving in the role of Sound Designer in “Grounded” by George Brant.

This is Carter Waelchli’s first design role in a show at Whitewater. He began composing during the COVID-19 pandemic and is excited to share his work with you! He’d like to thank Ruth Conrad-Proulx for her support and guidance throughout the process, and he hopes you enjoy the show.

The production, directed by Bruce Cohen, will run at Hicklin Studio Theatre in the Greenhill Center of the Arts, Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 3-4 at 2 p.m.

An unexpected pregnancy ends an ace fighter pilot’s career in the sky. Reassigned to operate military drones from a windowless trailer outside Las Vegas, she hunts terrorists by day and returns to her family each night. As the pressure to track a high-profile target mounts, the boundaries begin to blur between the desert in which she lives and the one she patrols half a world away.

Tickets are on sale for the performances in Hicklin Studio Theatre and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling 262-472-2222. The Hicklin Studio Theatre is located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts at 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190. Please be aware this production features adult language and themes.

Editor’s note: The following charges from the police blog in Lake Zurich, IL were reported in the Lake Zurich Courier.

Oscar Lopez-Fajardo, 29, of the 200 block of North Fraternity Lane, Whitewater, Wisconsin, was charged November 12 with driving while license suspended, attempted possession of a controlled substance, operating an uninsured vehicle and having no vehicle registration following an incident at Route 12 and Ela Road. Lopez-Fajardo is scheduled to appear in court December 6 in Waukegan.

Lisvania Moreno-Menis, 20, of the 700 block of West Walworth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin, was charged November 12 with forgery and unlawful possession of a fraudulent identification card following an incident at Route 12 and Ela Road.

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

Following the 2020 U.S. Census, state redistricting resulted in changes to both the Senate and the Assembly district assignments for the City of Whitewater. In fact, the city was split into two new Assembly districts, being divided by the Jefferson/Walworth County line. This redistricting appears to have played a major role in the city being represented on the state level by only Republican legislators for the first time in a decade. During that time the city was in Assembly District 43, which was served by Democrats Andy Jorgensen (2013-17) and Don Vruwink (2017-23). The city was represented for even a longer consecutive time by Democrats in State Senate District 15, including Judy Robson (1999-2011), Tim Cullen (2011-15), and Janis Ringhand (2015-23.)

Steve Nass (R) will represent Whitewater, which is now in State Senate District 11. Nass defeated Steven J. Doelder (D) by 44,967 to 32,083 votes.

Ellen Schutt (R) will represent the Walworth County portion of Whitewater in the State Assembly, District 31, having garnered 14,704 votes versus the 10,134 favoring Whitewater resident Brienne Brown (D).

Scott Johnson (R) will represent the Jefferson County portion of Whitewater in the State Assembly, District 33, having beaten Don Vruwink (D), who represented the entire city since 2017. Johnson received 13,709 votes vs. Vruwink’s 13,462. Vruwink previously served in District 43, but the redistricting that took place after the 2020 census resulted in his residence being located in District 33 instead of 43.

Bryan Steil (R) will represent the Walworth County portion of Whitewater in the U.S. Congress, District 1, having received 162,562 votes to Ann Roe’s (D) 135,788. The entire city was in District 5 until the recent redistricting.

Scott Fitzgerald (R) will continue to represent the Jefferson County portion of Whitewater in the U.S. Congress, District 5, having received 243,719 votes to Mike Van Someren’s (D) 134,562.

Ron Johnson (R) was reelected to the U.S. Senate by a slim margin, 1,336,873 to Mandela Barnes’ 1,310,451. Effective January, 2023 the only Democrat representing Whitewater in the state or federal legislatures will be Senator Tammy Baldwin.

Whitewater has been a popular target during redistricting.  The city had been in the Congressional 1st district and was represented by Les Aspin from 1971-93 until he was appointed Defense Secretary by President Clinton in 1993.  The city was moved to the 2nd Congressional district after the 2000 census and represented by Tammy Baldwin. After the 2010 census the city was moved to the 5th Congressional district and represented by Jim Sensenbrenner. The city has now come full circle as most of it is back in the First Congressional district. 

Meanwhile, Whitewater resident Dave Gerber (R) was elected Walworth County Sheriff, successfully besting a write-in campaign by his primary opponent, Craig Konopski, by a vote of 34,889 to 3,382.

The entire city ordinance regarding removal of snow/ice on city sidewalks is printed below, but the bottom line is that snow and ice must be removed within 24 hours after a snow/ice event. When ice is so formed that it cannot be removed, the sidewalk must be kept sprinkled with salt or sand. There’s a minimum cost of $100 if the city has to have snow/ice removed from a property owner’s sidewalk.

12.20.020 Snow and Ice Removal Required.
The owner, occupant, and person in charge of any building or lot fronting upon or adjoining any sidewalk shall
remove all snow and ice from the sidewalk no later than twenty-four hours after a snow or ice event. When any
ice is so formed on any sidewalk that it cannot be removed, then the responsible party shall keep the same
sprinkled with salt or sand. If any such owner, occupant, or person in charge refuses or fails to comply with the
provisions of this section within the time aforesaid, the city manager or an appointed representative may
remove such snow or ice and the cost thereof shall be charged at a rate of one hundred dollars per hour, with
a minimum charge of one hundred dollars. Work lasting more than one hour will be billed an additional twenty-five dollars. Any subsequent snow removal, which takes place within six months of the prior removal, will be
charged at a rate of one hundred fifty dollars per hour, with a minimum charge of one hundred fifty dollars.
Work lasting more than one hour will be billed an additional twenty-five dollars. If the city contracts the service
out for snow and ice removal, the city shall bill back to the property owner the cost, for any labor, equipment,
and material necessary to remove the snow and ice from the public sidewalk the rate of the cost of the
contracted service, plus a ten percent administrative cost fee, or, at the city’s discretion, the street
department’s going rate for time, materials and equipment. The cost of such removal shall be reported to the
city clerk in writing with a description of the premises, and such costs shall be and become a special tax and
lien against the premises, and if not previously paid shall be inserted by the city clerk in the next ensuing tax
roll as a special tax against such premises; and such costs may, in the discretion of the common council, be
collected by suit against the owner or occupant of the premises.

Editor’s note: The following announcement was received from UW-Whitewater.

Mark Zimmermann, from Whitewater, who is majoring in history at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has won the Outstanding Nontraditional Student Award for 2022-2023.

There are approximately 900 nontraditional students (ages 25 and older) at UW-Whitewater. These students’ drive and intellectual engagement is impressive as they work to juggle school, work, family and other obligations to accomplish their educational goals.

Each year, faculty and staff are asked to nominate individuals who have made notable contributions in the classroom and to campus, and they are recognized during National Nontraditional Student week (Nov. 7-11). This is a time to recognize and celebrate the many accomplishments and contributions that our adult students bring to our campuses.

The Adult Student Outreach, which offers resources to adult students at UW-Whitewater – whether they are returning students or are attending for the first time – coordinates the awards program. In addition to student awards, faculty and staff members are eligible for the CARE (Concern for Adults Returning to Education) Award. These faculty and staff members have provided extraordinary support and encouragement to returning adult students. This year’s CARE recipients are Teri Alder in the Department of Mathematics and Karl Brown in Department of History.

Editor’s note: The following was prepared by the National Weather Service – Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office as of 3:50 p.m. on Monday, November 14.

Here’s an update regarding wet, slushy snow for Tuesday into Wednesday.

Bottom Line Up Front:

• Accumulating wet, slushy snow is expected to start during the Tuesday morning commute, continuing through Tuesday night, with light snow showers lingering on Wednesday. 
• Highest snowfall amounts & increased impacts look to occur across east-central Wisconsin, due to lake enhancement.
• There is high uncertainty with snowfall amounts in far southeast Wisconsin, mainly around and south of Milwaukee, due to milder temperatures and some rain mixing in.
• With this being the first widespread accumulating snowfall of the season, expect some travel impacts.

Timing of snow:

• Snow begins 5-7 a.m. Tuesday morning, becoming widespread with a quick inch of snow accumulation by 9 a.m.
• Peak snowfall is expected mid-morning Tuesday through Tuesday evening.
• Light snow lingers through Wednesday.

What has changed?

• A quick inch of wet, slushy snow is expected to occur during the Tuesday morning commute, which may cause reduced visibility and slippery roads.
• There is high uncertainty with snow amounts in far southeast Wisconsin, mainly around and south of Milwaukee.

Editor’s note: The image on the homepage is by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.