News

“Mulan”(Drama/Adventure/Family) Tuesday, February 9, 1 PM; PG-13; 1 hour, 55 minutes (2020)
Mulan is a legendary folk heroine from the Chinese Dynasties, 4th to 6th century AD. According to their legend, Mulan takes her aged father’s place in conscription for the army by disguising herself as a man, as the Huns invade China. Pushing herself to her limits and braving the war, Mulan digs deep to find her true inherited strength. This is the live action/actors adaptation of the 1998 animated version. Due to Covid restrictions, it was originally solely released via the Disney+ streaming service, last September 4.

There is a capacity limit, and COVID-19 precautions, including facial mask, are required. Please register in advance online, by email (dweberpal@whitewater-wi.gov), or phone (473-0535).

Welcome to another week of #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society! This week’s photo is a rare view from around 1900. Looking eastwards, this is the intersection of the present-day North and Main Streets. The triangle-shaped area of grass would become home to the White Library Building and the famous Birge Fountain in 1903. The space is officially known today as Flat Iron Park, though it has also been called Triangle Park. Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society collections!

(3328P, Whitewater Historical Society)

The Whitewater Historical Society collects, preserves, and interprets the history of Whitewater and the surrounding area. Be sure to join us next week for more from the Society’s collections. Please “like” us on Facebook, and check out our website at whitewaterhistoricalsociety.org!​

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
February 5, 2021

In December the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, for the first time, started providing COVID-19 data for each municipality and school district in the state. This is particularly helpful for Whitewater, as the previous information that was enumerated by census tract did not isolate the portion of the city that is located in Jefferson County. The ten new local cases for the seven days ending February 5 is the lowest number since the city-specific data has been available, and undoubtedly reflect the lowest level of reported confirmed infections in many months. Seventeen new cases were confirmed in the school district.

However, per WISN-12, “State health officials said Tuesday (Feb. 2) they are concerned about the potential for new COVID-19 strains entering Wisconsin and the impact they may have on the state’s vaccination efforts. ‘We can continue to see our vaccine rate rising but if we get one of these highly transmissible variants in our state, we could see a surge even with a vaccination rate in the 30, 40 or 50%,’ Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said. Neither the South Africa or Brazil variants have been detected in Wisconsin, which health officials say are more transmissible.”

The information that is currently being provided on the UW-W COVID-19 Dashboard does not permit the determination of the number of new cases identified among students, faculty, and staff during the past seven days. The Banner has requested clarification.

Thirty-three deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported in the city, an increase of two from our last report, two weeks ago; thirty-seven have been reported in the school district. It is believed that the majority of the deaths that have been reported in the city have taken place in senior residences.

Rapid testing is now being offered at the UW-W Community Engagement Center (formerly Sentry Grocery Store), Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Persons who want to receive a rapid-results test – available in about 15 minutes – should register at  doineedacovid19test.com or call 1-800-635-8611. Those who test positive through the rapid-results test are urged to get a confirmatory PCR test. Individuals do not have to be experiencing symptoms or be a close contact of someone with COVID-19 to get a test, nor do they need to live in the community where the testing site is located. Please note: The testing site will be closed Wednesday, Feb. 10, due to a blood drive that day.

New daily confirmed cases reported as an average over the last 7 days and rate per 100,000 population:

City of Whitewater	Average new daily cases	Rate per 100,000 population
12/5	7.14	48.4
12/12	10.57	71.6
12/21	4.29	29.1
12/28	3.00	20.3
1/4	1.57	10.6
1/11	3.57	24.2
1/19	1.57	10.6
2/5	1.43	9.7
Whitewater Unified School District
12/5	9.29	46.1
12/12	13.14	65.2
12/21	5.00	23.4
12/28	4.57	22.7
1/4	3.00	14.9
1/11	5.00	24.8
1/19	1.86	9.2
2/5	2.43	12.10

Rates per 100,000 population for selected municipalities based on past 7 days as of date shown

	12/12	12/21	12/28	1/4	1/11	1/19	2/5
Madison	35.1	25.8	24.3	27.9	38.9	23.1	24
Jefferson	39.4	43.1	46.6	55.6	53.9	26.9	16.2
Palmyra	49.5	40.9	24.8	57.6	24.8	16.7	16.7
Fort Atkinson	50.6	52.9	25.3	50.6	50.6	39.1	20.7
Jefferson County	53	42.2	33.4	45.4	52.0	33.6	20.9
Entire state of WI	65	61.4*	51.3**	40.1***	38.5 ****	44.4 @	24.1 @@
Milton	66.5	17.9	20.4	89.7	69.2	38.4	10.2
Walworth County	67.5	49.4	31.9	34.4	50.3	21.2	14.3
Milwaukee	67.8	53.4	30.1	34.5	43.7	31.6	19.1
Rock County	67.8	50.1	33.5	40.4	45.9	31.8	21.5
Whitewater	71.6	29.1	20.3	10.6	24.2	10.6	9.7
Elkhorn	73.6	56.2	33.2	27.4	46.1	18.8	5.8
Janesville	78	60.4	34.8	35.0	41.9	29.8	27.4
Cambridge	80	45.6	0	45.6	56.8	11.2	56.8

*The statewide rate is for the past 14 days. ** Statewide rate for the 14 days ending 12/22 ***14 days ending 12/29 **** 14 days ending 1/5/21 @ 14 days ending 1/12/21 @@ 14 days ending 2/2/21

(Public Health press release) ELKHORN, WI — The Walworth County Public Health Department has observed
sustained improvement in COVID-19 key indicators and is shifting from Phase 1 to Phase
2 in the County’s Phased Guidance.

The Public Health Department continues to analyze data to assess the state of the
community’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The County’s Phased Guidance
document offers recommendations tailored to the level of COVID-19 activity and available
resources in the county, and is available on the county website here.

Walworth County has been in Phase 1 since November and this shift represents a small
but significant step toward a full recovery. “Improvement in key indicators means that the
methods being used across our community to slow the spread of COVID-19 are working.
We must continue to use all of our tools to maintain these improvements as we
systematically move towards our new normal,” said Erica Bergstrom, Public Health
Officer.

As part of the move to Phase 2, Public Health is serving as a resource for county
businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic by encouraging participation in the
“Stay Well in Walworth” Business Recognition Program. This program recognizes and
highlights local businesses that are effectively applying Walworth County’s COVID-19
Phased Guidance to help keep their customers, employees, and communities healthy
and safe. These tools include, but are not limited to:
– Encouraging physical distancing and keeping customers 6 feet from each other
– Implementing easy to understand face covering policies that align with Walworth
County’s Phased Guidance
– Adhering to business capacity recommendations
– Adopting protocols to routinely clean and disinfect
– Creating designated hours for vulnerable populations and those at higher risk

Businesses wishing to participate in the program may complete the application located
on the county website. Others may also nominate businesses they wish to recognize for
their efforts through this application.

Walworth County Public Health thanks everyone for doing their part and recognizes all
efforts to help keep the community safe. For more information on Walworth County Public
Health’s COVID-19 Data and Phased Guidance, or how to nominate a business for the
Business Recognition Program, please visit our website at
https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/856/COVID-19.

Questions on the Phased Guidance or Business Recognition Program may be sent to
walcoph@co.walworth.wi.us.

(Kettle Moraine Land Trust press release) Elkhorn, Wisconsin, February 3, 2021 —The nonprofit Kettle Moraine Land Trust (KMLT) has accepted a grant of conservation easement on nearly 176 acres of natural area and farmland adjacent to the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The property includes a 132-acre working farm and more than 35 acres of natural area. The remainder of the property is in a minimal-protection management zone where the owner is free to build residences for family members and out buildings to support farm operations.

Owners James and Lois (nee Anderson) Benes chose to protect the site in perpetuity, citing the value of working farms and recognizing the exceptional conservation values inherent in the natural areas, which include oak woodlands, remnant wet prairie, riparian wetlands, and the confluence of Bluff Creek and Whitewater Creek, two high-quality cold-water streams. The Anderson and Benes families have owned and farmed the site since the early 1930s.

Jim Benes, reflecting on the quality of the site, noted, “A few years ago we decided to preserve it for future generations and we were convinced by Maggie Zoellner (then Executive Director of KMLT) that putting the farm with the Kettle Moraine Land Trust was the way to go.  At that time, little did we know of the quality of the site; we gradually learned about the species that occupied the natural area and we came to appreciate even more the quality of the area and knew that it was important to protect it.  We are pleased with the effort put forth by KMLT personnel, current and past, and all that helped us accomplish this easement.  We are looking forward to our association with the KMLT and to continue to improve the area.”

KMLT’s current executive director Greg Rajsky agreed, stating, “the conservation values of this property are exceptional, with a rich variety of habitats. We are grateful to the Benes family for their generosity and foresight in seeking permanent protection of the property.”

In collaboration, the Benes family and KMLT have prepared a natural areas management plan for the site, which will guide activities intended to preserve and restore plant communities and natural habitat for native organisms while supporting productive soils, clean water, and scenic viewsheds for the whole community.

The Kettle Moraine Land Trust, originally established in 2000 as the Lauderdale Lakes Conservancy, preserves the natural heritage of the southern Kettle Moraine region through land conservancy, resource management, and environmental stewardship. The Trust owns four nature preserves, holds conservation easements on a number of additional properties, and assists Walworth County Parks and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with the management of publicly held natural areas.

The Trust also hosts several community events each year. Volunteers and members of the Kettle Moraine Land Trust help improve wildlife habitat and native ecosystems by working with local landowners and in partnership with organizations and municipalities. For more information visit www.kmlandtrust.org

(University of Wisconsin-River Falls submission) Anna Lucht, of Whitewater, was among 420 students receiving degrees from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls following commencement in December. Bachelor’s degrees were awarded to 386 undergraduates, while 34 students received master’s degrees. Anna Lucht earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. She graduated with Senior Merit, and is part of a group that includes seniors who have maintained a 3.500 grade point for their last 60 credits at UWRF.

Founded in 1874, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is located in a scenic community just 30 miles from downtown St. Paul. Minn. UW-River Falls students are empowered, beginning in their first semester, to participate in groundbreaking research, global travel, and collaborative learning with award-winning and caring faculty. This commitment to academic excellence has led to UW-River Falls consistently being named a Best College in the Midwest.

(Cedarville University submission) Mina Truesdale, of Whitewater, was recently named to the Dean’s Honor List for the fall of 2020 at Cedarville University. This recognition required Truesdale to obtain a 3.75 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,550 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement ranking. For more information about Cedarville University, visit www.cedarville.edu.

Per the Banner’s weather source, predicted lows: Friday -2; Saturday -15; Sunday -26; Monday -13; Tuesday -13; Wednesday -4, Thursday -6, Friday -20. Daily highs are expected to barely break zero.

(From the City of Whitewater Facebook page)