News

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Anchor Bible Church.

Vacation Bible School will take place August 1-3 at Anchor Bible Church in Whitewater from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m.

Police and Fire Commission Special Session – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: Nominations And Potential Approval Of Fire Department
Command Staff Positions and Interview Of Chief Of Police Candidate
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Community Room- First Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
This will be an IN PERSON MEETING as well as a VIRTUAL MEETING
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/774289949
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: 1 (571) 317-3122
Access Code: 774-289-949

Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 6:00 p.m. (Adjourn to closed session)
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street
Agenda includes Resolution Providing for a Referendum Election on the Question of the Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the School District Budget to Exceed Revenue Limit by $4,400,000 Per Year for Four Years for Non-Recurring Purposes 

6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online

• URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84396712435?pwd=Mm1aL21LWDBhdmZRU2hWdlc1RFZhQT09
  Passcode: 954239

• Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
• Webinar ID: 843 9671 2435
  Passcode: 954239
  

7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online (Open Session)

• URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83903883684?pwd=ZzhudWpLaGxYUzB2blBxQTZtSXRjZz09
  Passcode: 586077

• Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
• Webinar ID: 839 0388 3684
  Passcode: 586077

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Review Fire/EMS Transition Into Municipal Department
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
City Manager’s Conference Room – 2nd Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
This will be a blended meeting. Please join in person at above address or from your
computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/943573557
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: 1 (646) 749-3122
Access Code: 943-573-557

Community Development Authority Board of Directors – Thursday @ 5:30 p.m.
AGENDA
Location: Municipal Building – Community Room 1st Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
This will be an IN‐PERSON and VIRTUAL MEETING
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join us via computer, smart phone or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83033541274?pwd=T1VaM01KeFUvbUNMRlk5ZHd1QzBJQT09
Passcode: 481880
Or Telephone:
US: 1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 830 3354 1274
Passcode: 481880

City of Whitewater Common Council Special Meeting with Whitewater Fire Dept., Inc. – Thursday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Update on Financial Outlook for City as it relates to adoption of
Agreement with Whitewater Fire Dept., Inc. to provide fire and rescue
services, followed by closed and open session Item to be Discussed: Agreement between City of Whitewater and
the Whitewater Fire Department, Inc., relating to fire and rescue services.
City of Whitewater Municipal Building – Community Room
312 W. Whitewater St.
This will be an IN PERSON and a VIRTUAL MEETING. Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join us via computer, smart phone, or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81667771614?pwd=RHZxRHlNTE4vcXpha3g2M1dBUDNTdz09

Passcode: 264617

Or Telephone:
US: 1 646 931 3860
Webinar ID: 816 6777 1614
Passcode: 264617

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

At a special meeting on July 25 the City of Whitewater Police and Fire Commission unanimously approved the appointment of Daniel “Dan” A. Meyer as police chief, subject to negotiation of salary and benefits with city staff and the approval of the Common Council. Per state statute, the hiring of a police chief is the responsibility of the Police & Fire Commission; however, the Common Council has sole responsibility for approving significant financial matters such as wages. Meyer is currently the deputy chief and has been acting chief since Aaron Raap, who had served as chief since June, 2018, was placed on administrative leave in December, 2021. Raap resigned and retired effective June 30, 2022.

Meyer graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2009 from UW-Platteville with a B.S. in Criminal Justice, with minors in psychology and Spanish. There he was a four year letter winner in track and field. The same year he graduated from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Academy. Meyer joined the Whitewater Police Department as a patrol officer in January of 2010. He served as a detective from January 2013 to August, 2014. Meyer then rose through the ranks as follows: Detective Sergeant, August, 2014; Detective Lieutenant, September, 2015; Captain, November, 2015, and Deputy Chief, April, 2019.

Meyer earned an M.S. in Public Administration, with a criminology and criminal justice specialization from University of Nebraska – Omaha in 2019.

He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in 2020 after eight years of service.

In his current position Meyer is responsible for a wide range of roles, including direct supervision of the captain and the support services manager and oversight of 35 employees. He is the public information officer, manages critical incidents and major events, and coordinates internal and citizen complaint investigations. He has also managed the accreditation process. Last year the department received its seventh accreditation from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group. He is currently vice president of the Wisconsin Police Accreditation Coalition.

“Drive My Car,” the 2022 Oscar winner for Best International Feature Film, will be shown, Tuesday, July 26, 1 p.m., at Seniors in the Park. 

(Drama) Unrated film; 2 hours, 59 minutes (2021). Japanese, shown with English subtitles. Oscar winner for Best International Feature Film 2022. A renowned stage actor and director learns to cope with his wife’s unexpected passing when he receives an offer to direct a production of “Uncle Vanya” at a drama festival in Hiroshima. A taciturn young woman is assigned to chauffeur him in his beloved red Saab 900 Turbo. The New York Times called this “a quiet masterpiece; considers grief, love, work and the soul-sustaining, life-shaping power of art.”

When we moved to Whitewater in 1978, we easily found resources such as grocery stores, hardware stores, our church, and our doctors. In the last five years, I have had to find new resources to help Rich and to protect our assets.

In 2015, Rich and I met with our lawyer and set up a trust. In 2019, Rich was treated at Fort Memorial Hospital for a hernia. The nurse on call suggested that I get an incapacitation letter from his general practitioner. His doctor, who was familiar with his case, agreed to write it and have another doctor sign off. This letter was given to the lawyer and the trust was changed to my having control.

The staff at Rich’s memory care location are involved in the community and connected to the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) that exists in each Wisconsin county. I talked with them as well as the Veterans Administration of Walworth County since Rich is a Vietnam veteran.  These agencies enable families to know what’s available to help them emotionally as well as financially.

Twice a month, a program called Rockin’ Respite occurs at the Living Word church in downtown Whitewater where caregivers can drop off their loved ones for activities and lunch.  The activity is held two Tuesdays a month from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.  Masie can answer questions about respite care by emailing her at masieallie@yahoo.com.  Also a Memory Cafe social hour takes place at Whitewater’s Library; it is rotated among several libraries (Whitewater, Jefferson, Palmyra, and Fort Atkinson).  For more information, contact Suzanne at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library—(262) 473-0530.  She also wanted me to share that with your library card, you can check out activity kits to keep your loved one occupied.  Helpful presentations about dementia can be found online, on YouTube and sometimes in person.  A nationally-known dementia trainer, popular and entertaining speaker Teepa Snow presented at Young Auditorium to an audience of about 400 in June. 

Finally I cannot say enough good things about hospice. After being approved by a doctor, Rich now has a new bed, a Broda wheelchair, a Hoyer lift, and a shower chair. Each week a nurse visits him and emails me her report. Also, an aide gives him a shower twice a week.  Medicare covers these expenses.

Thank you for letting me share how our idyllic retirement has been derailed by dementia.  During this time, you find out who your true friends are and how wonderful a community can be! Please contact me at jamesm@uww.edu if you want to continue the conversation.

-Marcia James

This article is submitted by Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, a program of Whitewater Seniors in the Park.  
https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/273/Seniors-In-the-Park

More resources for caregivers:
https://teepasnow.com/resources/pac-videos-about-dementia/
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/memory-forgetfulness-and-aging-whats-normal-and-whats-not

Retired, local, American Red Cross (ARC) volunteer coordinator, Jeanine Fassl, began donating her 21^st gallon of whole blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive held Friday, July 22 at the Cravath Lakefront Center. She is seen here with the certificate and 20-gallon pin that honored her previous donation this past March.

Jeanine had been an active Red Cross Blood Drive volunteer since the Whitewater Jaycettes began assisting Arlene Newhouse, who then coordinated the drive. In 1979 Jeanine became Whitewater’s ARC local coordinator in charge of procuring up to 57 volunteers including nurses, EMTs, registrars, donor room aides, segmentors, canteen staff, churches to make and serve food and drivers to bring the collected blood up to the Madison Red Cross processing center. Serving with ARC was one of her passions, as she honored the memory of her mother, Clara, who passed away in 1979 from acute onset adult leukemia. Jeanine spent over 25 years with the local drive.

Human blood is one of the rare components of the body that cannot be duplicated in a lab. There is always a need, as someone gets a blood transfusion EVERY 3 MINUTES in this country! Please consider donating soon! Visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Our thanks to Jeanine Fassl for sharing this achievement and important request.

— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share.  Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com or click on “submit a story” near the top right of our homepage.  Thanks for thinking about this!

Fort HealthCare is hosting its tenth annual Frosty Rock Challenge event on Saturday, November 12, 2022. The event consists of an in-person 12k trail/road run, a 5k run/walk, a 1-mile Kids Run, and a virtual option for the 12k and 5k races. The race and festivities are being hosted at the Fort Atkinson High School (925 Lexington Blvd.) this year and will begin in the morning and wrap up by noon. In honor of Veterans Day on November 11^th, veterans can participate in the run/walk for FREE this year.

New for 2022 is the Kiwanis club of Fort Atkinson will be partnering with Fort HealthCare and will be volunteering their time at the event. For each Frosty Rock registration, a portion will be donated back to the Kiwanis club towards local park improvement projects. Curt Polzin, Kiwanis Club member writes, “Our local Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club is thrilled to be partnering with Fort HealthCare for this community run/walk event.  Kiwanis is a volunteer organization that is dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  All proceeds from this event will be going towards local park improvement projects.”

Lisa Jensen, Fort HealthCare Vice President of Nursing and Frosty Rock planning committee member, states, “Fort HealthCare is excited to be back in-person for the 2022 Frosty Rock Challenge, and this is a great way to promote wellness and create an opportunity to give back to the community. We have had so much success with this event in bringing people together of all ages and activity levels.”

Jensen adds, “The Frosty Rock Challenge gives people a fun reason to come out on a Saturday morning, get some exercise, enjoy camaraderie with friends, and support the local community. The employees of Fort HealthCare spend a lot of time planning this event and are very passionate about donating back to a local cause [Kiwanis] and honoring our Mission and Vision.”

Frosty Rock committee member and Community Health & Wellness Department Coordinator, Tiffany Pernat, notes, “The last two years of the Frosty Rock Challenge have been virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’m looking forward to being able to offer participants the opportunity to race in-person for 2022, while also offering a virtual option too. This race gives purpose to participants and allows Fort HealthCare to continue working towards our vision of being the healthiest community in Wisconsin.

Pernat adds, “Every year there is a great staff of volunteers, sponsors and partners that help make this event a success. We are still reaching out to local groups and businesses to assist with different sponsorship opportunities. We are so grateful for the support this event receives and look forward to another successful year after the break we’ve had!”

For more information about the event or to register, visit FortHealthCare.com/FrostyRock.

Fort HealthCare is committed to improving the health and well-being of our communities, with a vision to be the healthiest community in Wisconsin. As the leading healthcare provider in the region, it is our goal to reach as many members of the community as possible with health and wellness messages, providing tools and resources to help individuals improve their health and quality of life, while collaborating with several partners to positively improve the population’s health overall on a long-term basis. For more information, visit FortHealthCare.com.

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

At a special meeting on June 30 the City of Whitewater Police and Fire Commission voted unanimously for an internal search for a new police chief to be managed by the city and Human Resources with one month to complete. This action coincided with the resignation and retirement of Aaron Raap, who served as chief since June of 2018.

The agenda for the City of Whitewater Police & Fire Commission special meeting on Monday, July 25 includes a closed session discussion titled, “Interview Of Chief Of Police Candidate.” The candidate is not named; however, it is obviously a current police officer in the department since the commission did not open the search to external candidates. The open session to follow the closed session includes the item, “Consideration Of Direction To City Staff To Proceed With A Conditional Offer And Negotiation For Chief Of Police Finalist (Name Will Be Included In Motion).” Per state statute, the hiring of a police chief is the responsibility of the Police & Fire Commission; however, the Common Council has sole responsibility for approving significant financial matters such as wages.

Also on Monday’s closed session agenda is “Nominations And Potential Approval Of Fire Department Command Staff Positions.” The Whitewater Fire Department, Inc. is in the process of finalizing a merger with the City of Whitewater, and has made nominations for the Command Staff positions that will take effect when the integration is complete. Per state statute, it is the responsibility of the Police & Fire Commission to approve the appointments to these positions. The concluding open session includes the item, “Announcement Of Recommendation Concerning Whitewater Fire Department Promotional Process.”