News

Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Five alumni who have achieved significant professional and community service success are being honored as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater celebrates its 154th anniversary. The 2022 class of alumni award honorees include graduates with careers in education, communication, accounting, human resources and mental health — including a public servant who has served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate for more than a decade. 

The awards will be presented at the Founders Day Celebration, held at UW-Whitewater at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 9.

This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award is Christopher Maniece. The award recognizes the professional accomplishments of Maniece, who earned a B.A. in psychology in 2013 followed by dual master’s degrees in 2017, and his work as a school counselor with the Madison Metropolitan School District. After earning his Ed.D. from Edgewood College in 2021, he is currently pursuing his MBA from UW-Whitewater, with expected completion in 2023.

The recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement is Frederick Arndt. Arndt, who earned a B.S. in political science and English in 1970, held executive and leadership positions in human resources in Fortune 50 corporations as well as startup and early stage ventures for more than 45 years, including McKesson Corporation, SegaSoft, Capitol Records, Apple Computer, Searle Pharmaceuticals, Frito-Lay, and Baxter International.  

Also receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement is Amy Herbst. Herbst, who earned a B.S. in social work in 1993, is vice president, mental and behavioral health, at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and an industry expert with more than 25 years working with children, youth and families, including leading the largest child welfare and foster care programs in the state.

Sen. Howard Marklein is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Community/Regional Service. After earning his BBA in accounting in 1976, Sen. Marklein pursued a successful career in public accounting as he devoted himself to public service, from community development to being elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2010. Since then, he has been elected to the Wisconsin State Senate and serves as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance.

The recipient of the Distinguished Alumni for Service to UW-Whitewater is William Lowell. Lowell, who earned a B.A. in communication in 1982 followed by an M.S. in speech–public relations in 1983, has taught in the Department of Communication since 1985 in addition to pursuing a long career as a marketing and management consultant. He tapped into his business relationships to supervise numerous internships in the College of Arts and Communication. 

“All 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 Interim Chancellor Jim Henderson. “As evidenced by these individuals, our academic 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, chief alumni relations officer. “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.”

Also being honored are the 2022 UW-Whitewater Outstanding Student Award winners, one from each of the university’s five undergraduate colleges. Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship in addition to their award:

• Samantha Adler, early childhood education major from Mt. Horeb, College of Education and Professional Studies 
• Jackie Carper, marketing and communication double major from Lake Geneva, College of Business and Economics 
• Abigail Lammers, English and Spanish double major from Waukesha, College of Letters and Sciences
• McClane Noffke, journalism major from Holmen, College of College of Arts and Communication 
• Natalie Shortreed, liberal arts major from Janesville, College of Integrated Studies

The outstanding alumni and student awards will be presented at an Awards Celebration at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 9, in honor of the university’s founding on April 21, 1868. 

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

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

As Americans watch the unspeakable loss of life and property in Ukraine, not to mention the millions of citizens who have become refugees, many people have expressed a wish that they could do something to help. For your information we are providing links below to several sources that are making recommendations for charitable contributions. The Banner, of course, is unable to make any endorsements. Readers are undoubtedly aware that thousands of Afghan refugees were recently hosted at Fort McCoy. Many people and organizations have been helping a number of those people to get settled in Wisconsin. See the second part of this article for information on these efforts.

Catholic News has a number of suggestions of Catholic related organizations.

CNN’s “Impact Your World” is suggesting contributions to 40 different organizations that are assisting with relief efforts. A contribution may be given that will be split between the 40 agencies, but the website also provides an opportunity to contribute directly to any one of the 40 organizations.

The Cut provides a very extensive list of suggested organizations to help the people of Ukraine.

Fox News lists three organizations which it says have received top ratings from Charity Navigator.

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Efforts to Assist New Afghan Neighbors

Editor’s note: Thanks to Rev. Mary Beth Byrne for this information.

Resettlement Agencies, Coalitions, and Communities in Wisconsin

South Central Wisconsin – Jewish Social Services is a resettlement agency located in Madison. With the support of volunteers through Open Doors For Refugees, they are resettling families and individuals in and around Madison. Visit opendoorsforrefugees.org to learn how you and/or your congregation to volunteer.
South East Wisconsin – Lutheran Social Services is resettling and supporting Afghans primarily in Milwaukee and within a 100 mile radius. International Institute of Wisconsin is also resettling Afghans in Milwaukee. LSS does cosponsorship with churches and both are in need of volunteers. Team Rubicon collects and distributes material donations and the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition provides services and support to the refugee communities in Milwaukee.

Webinar Opportunity:
After Fort McCoy: Immigration Justice Here and Now with our New Afghan Neighbors
Hosted by the United Church of Christ, Wisconsin Conference
Looking for inspiration in the Lenten season? Join us at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, for a conversation about ways congregations around the state are welcoming our new Afghan neighbors. During this 90-minute Zoom workshop hosted by the UCC Wisconsin Conference’s Immigration Working Group, we’ll learn about the big picture of statewide refugee resettlement from the Rev. Peder Johanson (Volunteer Coordinator for Afghan Refugee Response with the Wisconsin Council of Churches) and Mary Flynn (Program Manager for Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan). We’ll be inspired by stories of personal experiences welcoming new Afghan neighbors, including an update from the newly-formed group, Welcoming New Neighbors-NW WI Refugee Resettlement. And we’ll have a chance to brainstorm together and share ideas of how our congregations might get involved in welcoming new refugee neighbors to our communities.

Register here for “After Fort McCoy: Immigration Justice Here and Now with our New Afghan Neighbors” on Tuesday, March 22 from 6:30-8 p.m.

On Saturday, March 12 the League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area sponsored a forum for the candidates who are running for the Whitewater Unified School District School Board in the April 5 election. Four candidates are running for two open seats. All of the candidates participated: Miguel Aranda, Jennifer Kienbaum (incumbent), Joseph Kromholz (incumbent), and Andrea Svec. Approximately twenty people were in the audience. The forum was moderated by Whitewater High School student Alex Martin under the supervision of the League and WHS American Government teacher Greg Stewart.

[From the League of Women Voters’ website] Candidates were asked questions about how to address the needs of English language learners, whether or not the school board should hold listening sessions with the students, if they would support any policy blocking what could be taught in the classroom, how a school board knows if they are achieving their goals, how to address the waiting list for free counseling at the high school, whether or not they would vote to require masks be worn at school, and much more!

The forum was filmed by Whitewater Community TV. You can watch a recording of the forum on Vimeo. The recording will be rebroadcast on Channel 990 during the weeks leading up to the April 5 Spring Election.

It’s Oscars Month and the Seniors in the Park Bijou Theatre will be showing three of the Nominated Films. The Academy Awards ceremony is Sunday evening, March 27. Movie Buff Mark will have movie-related treats at each showing!

“King Richard”
Tuesday, March 22, 1 p.m.
(Biography/Drama/Sports)
Rated PG-13; 2 hours, 24 minutes (2021)
The story of tennis Super Stars Venus and Serena Williams and their coach and Father, Richard Williams (Will Smith; Best Actor nomination). Also nominations for Best Supporting Actress (Aunjanue Ellis), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Happy Belated St. Patrick’s Day!!

It is fitting that this week’s post is a vintage post card showing St. Patrick Catholic Church of Whitewater. Founded in the 1840s by Irish immigrant farmers who settled in the Town of Whitewater, the church grew in the 1860s with an influx of ethnic Irish workers who were employed at the two large factories in town. The current church complex, shown here, was built in 1958 and still serves the congregation today.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(3299PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Whitewater citizens who were rightly confused about the costs of dredging the city’s two downtown lakes got some much needed clarification at the March 15 Whitewater Common Council meeting.

The dredging of Trippe and Cravath lakes has been completed according to City Parks and Recreation Director Eric Boettcher and the project is expected to come in under budget. There are several options for distribution of the nearly 69,000 cubic yards of dirt that have been deposited in a field just east of the Whitewater University Innovation Center.

Initial bids for the dredging portion of the project came in over budget and were rejected by the Common Council on November 16. The low bid was nearly $2.5 million which was well above the estimated entire project budget of just under $1.5 million. Dredging plans were downsized from the original plan to remove 81,000 cubic yards of material and an area that was thought to possibly be contaminated was avoided which resulted in a much lower $1.1 million cost to dredge and transport the material.

Boettcher also addressed the issue of options for what to do with the huge pile of dirt visible off of Howard Road on the city’s east side. “First of all we have to let the material de-water,” said Boettcher. “After that is complete we can either spread the dirt over the area where it is and possibly other nearby areas,” he added. The option of providing the remaining black dirt to area farmers or citizens is also under consideration.

Common Council members also heard from five area property owners who were concerned about newly distributed property assessment notices. Property owners can discuss the reasoning behind any change in property value with the company hired to do the assessments by scheduling an appointment by calling (920) 749-8098 before April 24. Occasionally this conversation may result in a change being made in the assessment. Ultimately, however, if a property owner objects to the assessment they must file a “Form of Objection” with the Whitewater City Clerk’s office at least 48 hours before a city established “Board of Review” meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Property tax bills mailed out by the City of Whitewater in November of each year represent the total of City, County, School District and Technical College taxes based on the assessed value of each property. The city’s portion of annual property tax bills is determined by a property’s assessed value multiplied by a “mill rate” (cost per thousand dollars of property value) which is not determined until the city formally adopts the next year’s budget. That final city budget is significantly impacted by the amount of state and other financial contributions which are not determined until late in the fall of each year.

Josh Sherman, the designated assessor for the City of Whitewater, told Common Council members that residential and rental units of less than four units generally increased by 7% to 11%. Commercial and larger residential properties are assessed under a unique state driven formula. Sherman indicated that commercial and large residential properties increased by an average of 15%, but were considerably higher in some cases.

Sherman explained that changes in property values are determined by actual recent sales of property which, in Whitewater like nearly everywhere else, have generally been coming in well above previous property value assessments. He pointed to the fact that there had not been many commercial and large residential property sales during the past few years which had kept previous years’ commercial assessments relatively steady. Several sales of very large Whitewater residential properties this past year are likely to be the cause of the steep increase according to Sherman.

Theoretically significant increases in both residential and commercial property values should increase the total city’s tax base which, when divided equally among property owners based on the cost per thousand mill rate, should not impact residential taxpayers and landlords owning other than four unit or larger rentals. The disparity between assessment increases for commercial versus residential property is likely to have a significant impact on commercial and large rental property owners.

Larry Kachel, a principal in DLK Enterprises, told Common Council members that an increased tax burden comes at the same time that landlords have been forced to turn to 10 month rental contracts as opposed to 12 month contracts in reaction to the change in demand caused by the reduced number of UW-Whitewater students seeking off-campus housing.

On Saturday, March 12 the League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area sponsored a forum for the candidates who are running for City of Whitewater Common Council in the April 5 election. Participating were at-large candidates James “Jim” Allen (incumbent) and Chuck Mills, as well as Jill Gerber (AD4). Approximately twenty people were in the audience. The forum was moderated by League member and UW-Whitewater Professor of History Dr. Karl Brown.

[From the League of Women Voters’ website] Candidates were asked questions about economic development, electronic vehicle charging stations, the city’s response to the influx of immigrants from Nicaragua, the lakes drawdown project, progress on attracting a grocery store, the plans to transform Whitewater’s volunteer fire department into an official city department, the public library’s expansion and renovation project, the increase in the water utility bills, housing, and more!

The forum was filmed by Whitewater Community TV. The recording may be viewed on their Vimeo website. In addition, the recording will be rebroadcast on Channel 990 and in the weeks leading up to the April 5 Spring Election.

Editor’s Note: The following was received from the Walworth County Democrats.

The citizens of Walworth County acknowledge we are part of a global community.  We have been watching in anguish the horrific situation exploding in Ukraine and wish we could do something.  We are doing something!  Join the Democratic Party of Walworth County for a rally to demonstrate our support for Ukraine. Wear Ukrainian colors of blue and yellow and bring signs supportive of Ukraine – no other political themes.

Our featured speaker will be Russian-born Yuri Rashkin, founder of the Rashkin Report and Beloit City Council member.   Monetary donations will be collected for UNICEF to support relief efforts in Ukraine; thanks in advance for your support and generosity. Cash only please. This event is open to the public and is family-friendly.  For additional information, contact us at 262-427-1250 or walworthcodems@gmail.com.

What:         Rally to Support Ukraine

Where:       Walworth County Government Center (former County Courthouse), 100 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn

When:        Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 1 p.m.

Why:          We stand against wars of aggression.  We believe in peace. We believe in democracy.