News

(Jefferson County press release) The Jefferson County Highway Department will be resurfacing CTH “N” from Walton Drive to STH “106.”  The work is scheduled to take place beginning the week of April 19, 2021.  The existing deteriorated asphalt pavement will be pulverized, graded and compacted prior to paving the roadway.

During construction the roadway will be closed to through traffic, but access will be maintained to local residences and businesses, as well as emergency vehicles.  A detour will be posted utilizing Business “”12” (Main Street), STH “59”, CTH “D” and STH “106”.  The road will remain closed until approximately the middle of July, depending on the weather.    

Please use caution within the construction areas and please keep children away from the operations.  If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact the Highway Department at (920) 674-7265.

The image on the home page, “Road Closed Sign” by theglobalpanorama is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Our thanks to Jeff Bierman for sharing another striking photo with us.

— 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!

(School District of Fort Atkinson press release) – The School District of Fort Atkinson is pleased to announce that Justin Stewart has been named the new principal of Barrie Elementary School. 

Stewart is currently an elementary teacher in the Whitewater Unified School District. He will succeed Brent Torrenga who has accepted an administrative position with Oostburg Christian School beginning with the 2021-2022 school year. 

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rob Abbott noted, “We are very excited to add Mr. Justin Stewart to our 1FORT Leadership Team and as the next Principal at Barrie Elementary School. After working through a very rigorous process that involved a screening interview, on demand scenario/performance task, in-basket exercise, a recorded school improvement plan presentation, an interview with Luther administrators, a Barrie building tour, an interview with elementary principals, and a final interview with representative Barrie staff members and families, Justin rose to the top of our 54 applicants.” 

Mr. Stewart holds 14 years of educational experience as an elementary teacher. During his time at Whitewater Unified School District, he also served as a Teachers Rights Representative, Personalized Learning Grant Coordinator, Building Technology Coordinator, member of the Building Leadership Team, Summer School Administrator (Intern), and District-Wide Leader in Me Lighthouse Coordinator. Stewart holds a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater (2006), and earned his Masters of Science in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University – Milwaukee in 2019. 

Abbott added, “Not only does Justin have many successful years as an elementary classroom teacher in Whitewater, he has served in many building and systems level leadership roles that will serve our District well as we continue to improve teaching and learning for all of our students. Justin is the right person to move Barrie Elementary School forward as we launch and embrace a new results driven strategic plan this summer. 

Upon acceptance of his new position, Mr. Stewart stated, “I am honored and humbled to be joining the School District of Fort Atkinson to serve as the next Barrie Elementary School principal. It is with much enthusiasm that I look forward to partnering and leading the Barrie school community to create amazing learning opportunities for our students each and every day. To that end, I am ready to join the 1Fort family in becoming a Barrie Bronco!” 

“It is a wonderful coincidence that our top candidate also happens to already live in Fort Atkinson where he will be able to continue building upon his already strong community relationships. Justin and his family are invested in Fort, and we are excited to invest in Justin as he takes over the reins at Barrie,” Abbott continued. 

Banner note: Per the Whitewater Unified School District directory, Justin Stewart is a 4th grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School.

Welcome back to another round of #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society!

This week, we’re featuring the Whitewater Consumers Cooperative Association, founded in 1934 by local farmers and other residents. They furnished petroleum products, auto accessories, and other supplies. By 1936, the Co-op had built the small gas station and bulk tank facility pictured here. The following year, the Co-op boasted over 900 members and constructed a new building. Stay tuned for a snapshot of it next week!

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society Collections!

(5891P, 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!​ 

(Whitewater Arts Alliance submission)   Art by students from ages 4 to 18 is now featured in the April virtual exhibit at the Whitewater Arts Alliance’s website www.whitewaterarts.org/wusd-2021.  The gallery at the Cultural Arts Center will be closed for the month of April.

The exhibit includes visual two dimensional artwork by students from area schools.  The art teachers displaying their students’ art are:   Justin Mane (Washington), Sara Sixel (Lincoln), Sara Brautigam (Lakeview), Sarah Heyer (Middle School), and Crystal Gill (High School).

Here is a message from WAA’s President, Kristen Burton, about the show, “Part of the Whitewater Arts Alliance’s mission is to promote arts education. This collaborative exhibit between the Whitewater Unified School District and the Whitewater Arts Alliance supports that mission, provides the community an opportunity to follow the developing talents and careers of our up-and-coming artists, and fosters a positive environment for life-long learning and creativity.”

Big thanks to WAA’s sponsor!

The mission of the Whitewater Arts Alliance is to promote the visual and performing arts through an alliance of artists, individuals, educational resources, and organizations to promote creativity and diversity that will serve to educate and enrich the lives of the residents of the Whitewater community and surrounding areas.

(UW-Whitewater submission) Four alumni who have achieved significant professional and community service success are being honored as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater celebrates its 153rd anniversary. The 2021 class of alumni award honorees include graduates with careers in business, biology and broadcasting — including one whose work shifted in 2020 to lead a team that helped develop a successful COVID-19 test. 

The virtual Founders Day Awards Celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 17.

This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award is Earl Arms. The award recognizes the professional accomplishments of Arms, who earned a B.S. in broadcast journalism in 2009, as an accomplished journalist and communications professional. Arms is the media relations manager for Milwaukee Public Schools, the largest school district in the state of Wisconsin, with approximately 77,746 students in 2018. He also serves as host of Black Nouveau, a popular series on Milwaukee Public Television.

The recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement is A. Scott Muerhoff. Muerhoff, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1983, is recognized for his outstanding work in the field of research, including a significant contribution to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Muerhoff is director of Biologics Discovery, Analysis and Design and the Volwiler Senior Research Fellow at Chicago-based Abbott Laboratories, with more than 28 years of experience in diagnostics assay research and development with an emphasis in infectious diseases.

Wade Fletcher is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Community/Regional Service. Fletcher, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1978, is recognized for his exceptional service to others, as evidenced by numerous local, regional and statewide awards citing his outstanding commitment to the community of Beaver Dam, focusing on the health issues and the welfare of youth and people with disabilities. Fletcher is a retired corporate executive and entrepreneur.

The recipient of the Distinguished Alumni for Service to UW-Whitewater is Rajen Patel. Patel, who earned a BBA in computer end-user technology in 2000, is recognized for his outstanding dedication to the university in providing services for students, faculty and staff over the years. Patel is assistant director of University Housing, in charge of the overall management, supervision, planning, upgrades and maintenance of all things technology for more than 4,000 students living in residence halls, 70 employees and 16 buildings.

“All four of these accomplished alumni speak to the breadth and the depth of the impacts that our graduates can have, both professionally and in their communities,” said Chancellor Dwight C. Watson. “As evidenced by these individuals, our business, science and communication programs have a strong track record of producing talented, versatile graduates, and I couldn’t be more proud to recognize and celebrate the achievements of these Warhawks.”

“Our alumni bring a wealth of experiences to the Warhawk family,” said Amy Oeding ’90, director of alumni relations. “Like so many of our alumni, they not only give back to their communities, they continue to have a rich connection to the campus and to today’s students.”

In addition to the 2021 award recipients, the university’s 2020 award recipients — Regina Carlisle-Williams, Sarahí Monterrey and Sydney Nelson — will also be recognized at the Founders Day celebration.

Also being honored are the 2021 UW-Whitewater Outstanding Student Awards, one from each of the university’s five colleges. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship in addition to their award:

• Emily Burk, accounting and finance double major from Waukesha, College of Business and Economics
• Nicole del Plaine, criminology and psychology double major from Sherwood, College of Letters and Sciences
• Elise Matson, history education major from Waukesha, College of Education and Professional Studies
• Parker Peabody, mechanical engineering major from Janesville, College of Integrated Studies
• Danielle Terrell, communication major from Sun Prairie, College of Arts and Communication

The outstanding alumni and student awards will be presented at a virtual event on April 17, in honor of the university’s founding on April 21, 1868. 

For more information on UW-Whitewater’s Outstanding Alumni awards, visit uww.edu/alumni/awards.

(Jefferson County Parks submission) The Jefferson County Parks Department is seeking volunteers to complete several essential projects in our parks, and we need your help.  Volunteers continue to be an essential part of the development and maintenance of our system of Parks and Trails and below are a few of the projects you can help us with today.  For more information on volunteer opportunities in the parks or where to meet and what to bring, contact our office at 920-674-7260 or email parks@jeffersoncountywi.gov   

DATE:	TIME:	LOCATION and TASK
Tuesday, April 20, 2021	8:00 am – noon	Korth Park	W8390 Korth Lane, Lake Mills	Invasive Plant Removal
Thursday, April 22, 2021	8:00 am – noon	Korth Park	W8390 Korth Lane, Lake Mills	Invasive Plant Removal
Tuesday, April 27, 2021	8:00 am – noon	Dorothy Carnes Park (West)	N3220 Radloff Lane, Fort Atkinson	invasive Plant Removal & Tree Planting
Friday, April 30, 2021	8:00 am – noon	Dorothy Carnes Park (West)	N3220 Radloff Lane, Fort Atkinson	invasive Plant Removal & Tree Planting
Friday, May 14, 2021	8:00 am – finished	Maunesha River Clean Up	Put-In:  136 N Monroe St, Waterloo	Take-Out: Gravel lot by the bridge west of Hwy 19 and Hubbleton Rd.
Saturday, May 22, 2021	8:00 am – finished	Koshkonong Creek Clean Up	Put-in: CamRock Bike Park, W Water St, Cambridge	Take-Out: Hwy B Bridge in Rockdale
Saturday, June 5, 2021		National Trails Day		TBD
Friday, June 18, 2021	8:00 am – finished	Bark River Clean Up	Put-In: Hagedorn Rd, east side of river	Take-Out: Hwy 106 on east side of river, roadside parking.

 Volunteer Checklist:

Gloves                                           Safety Glasses or sun glasses

Closed toe shoes                          Sunscreen

Drinking Water                             Snacks

• Volunteer waivers must be signed prior to starting.  Anyone under the age of 18 must have an older an adult with them for signature.
  
  If you or your organization are interested in adopting a park or trail for a clean-up event or improvement project please contact us today at 920-674-7260 or e-mail.