News

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #231 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff immediately through sunset on Thurs., June 27, 2024, in honor of Corey P. Proulx, a youth counselor for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC), who was killed while on duty. Proulx passed away on June 25, 2024, at the age of 49.

“Our hearts break for Corey, his family and loved ones, his colleagues at the department, and all those who knew and loved him. By all accounts, Corey was a dedicated public servant who led with kindness and compassion in his commitment toward helping and supporting the youth he worked with,” said Gov. Evers. “Wisconsinites today are honoring Corey and his service as we mourn his tragic passing and keep Corey’s family and loved ones, colleagues, and all those who knew and served alongside him in our hearts and our prayers.”

Editor’s note: The following press release was issued by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections on June 26.

MADISON, Wis. – A Lincoln Hills School staff member died Tuesday night from injuries he sustained in an assault at the school Monday.

Corey Proulx, 49, had returned to serve as a youth counselor at Lincoln Hills [Copper Lakes] School last spring after briefly leaving the school two years prior.

“It is with tremendous sadness and regret that I announce the loss of a dedicated professional, colleague, and friend in the line of duty,” said Jared Hoy, Department of Corrections (DOC) secretary. “A career in corrections, with its dual mission to protect the public and guide individuals toward rehabilitation, can be demanding and requires so many sacrifices for our staff and our families, and Corey made the ultimate sacrifice. Our DOC family is mourning Corey’s loss, and we are keeping all of his family members and friends in our thoughts.”

Proulx’s fiancée and daughter shared with Secretary Hoy that they would like everyone to know that Corey was an amazing partner, father, son and human being. At this time, the family does not wish to comment further and asks for privacy as they grieve.

In a message to staff at Lincoln Hills School, Superintendent Klint Trevino wrote the following:

“Corey was a dedicated and compassionate member of our team, always striving to make a positive impact on the lives of the young individuals we serve. His commitment to our mission was unwavering, and he will be deeply missed by all of us.”

Secretary Hoy is at Lincoln Hills School today to support staff and has deployed Peer Supporters from across the agency to help staff process this tragic event.

Editor’s note: The following press release was issued by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections on June 25.

Two staff members injured at Lincoln Hills School

Two Lincoln Hills School staff members were injured when a 16-year-old youth attacked them around 8 p.m. Monday night.

One staff member was assaulted in the residence hall when the youth returned from outdoor recreation. The staff member was taken to an area hospital to receive medical treatment before being released.

The youth shortly thereafter encountered and assaulted a second staff member, causing the staff member to hit their head on the concrete. The staff member was taken to an area hospital to receive medical treatment and remains in critical condition at this time.

As with any assault incident at the school, the incident was referred to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department. Lincoln Hills School is currently operating normally though some youth were moved to a different residence hall due to the ongoing investigation.

Out of respect for the employees involved and their families, the department is unable to confirm the names of the employees at this time.

No other youth were involved in this isolated incident. The 16-year-old youth who was involved did not have any injuries requiring medical treatment. The department is working to move the youth to a suitable facility.

UPDATE 5:00 p.m. 6/26/24: WKOW reports “The teen who police say assaulted two staff members Monday at Lincoln Hills Copper Lake School, leaving one of them brain-dead, appeared in court Wednesday.

Javaris M. Hurd, 16, of Madison, is charged in the death of Corey P. Proulx, a youth counselor for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Proulx died Tuesday night at age 49. 

Hurd is facing one count of second-degree reckless homicide, one count of felony murder – battery with special circumstances and one count of battery by prisoners.

The criminal complaint shows Hurd’s current residence is a Madison address. 

The attack took place in the Krueger Living facility in the lower day room and courtyard area.

According to the criminal complaint, Hurd attacked one staff member, a woman, by throwing a liquid substance believed to be soap in her face and punching her in the face.

The complaint states Hurd then went outside into the courtyard where a second staff member, identified as Proulx, followed him. 

According to the complaint, Hurd maintained a fighting stance and punched Proulx in the face two times. There is video of the incident, which is referenced in the criminal complaint……

Hurd is charged as an adult even though he is 16. He’s being held in Lincoln County Jail on $100,000 cash bond and is to have no contact with either victim or their family members, their place of employment or education. He’s also not to have contact with any Lincoln Hills School staff.

If convicted on all counts, Hurd faces up to 52 years in prison and $120,000 in fines.”

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Whitewater Police Department.

Whitewater Police Arrest Juveniles After Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle

On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at 8:02 am, Whitewater Police received a report of a vehicle stolen from a parking lot in the 400 block of N. Tratt St. in the City of Whitewater. At approximately 8:24 am, officers located the stolen vehicle being operated by two suspects. The suspect driving the stolen vehicle immediately accelerated upon the officer’s attempt to conduct a traffic stop, and a pursuit was initiated. Officers pursued the vehicle at speeds exceeding 100 mph into Jefferson County. Jefferson County deputies assisted deploying spike strips in an attempt to slow the vehicle. The pursuit continued into Waukesha County where Whitewater Police terminated the pursuit due to reported traffic hazards.

After terminating the pursuit, officers remained in the area and were able to determine that the vehicle was stationary in Waukesha County near the intersection of Highway 67 and Wilton Road. The Whitewater Police Department drone was deployed to locate the vehicle. The vehicle was found off the roadway with heavy damage. The two suspects, both identified as juveniles, were located by the Whitewater Police Department with the assistance of Waukesha County deputies and were taken into custody without incident.

The suspects were subsequently confined at the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center. A number of charges including Operating without Owner’s Consent (Wis. Stat. 943.42(2)(b)), Fleeing and Eluding an Officer (Wis. Stat. 346.04(3)), Recklessly Endangering Safety (Wis. Stat. 941.30(1)), Reckless Driving (Wis. Stat. 346.62(2)), and Operating without a License (Wis. Stat. 343.05(3)(a)) will be forwarded to the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office.

The Whitewater Police Department highly encourages residents to lock their vehicles ensuring that vehicle keys are not left inside. Three vehicles were reported stolen to WPD in the past week, and in each instance, vehicles were unlocked with readily accessible keys.

The assistance of the UW-Whitewater Police Department, Palmyra Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Natural Resources is greatly appreciated.

The following announcement was posted on June 24 to the UW-W community by the UW-W Police.

Crime alert

Campus community,

UW-Whitewater Police have recently received several complaints of attempted entries into vehicles. On Sunday, June 23, around 7 p.m., the UW-Whitewater Police Department received a report of a stolen vehicle from a campus parking lot. University police remind all students, faculty, and staff to lock their vehicles, ensure valuables are out of sight, and to call in any suspicious behavior.

If you are ever in a situation where you are unsure or scared, call police immediately at 911 for emergencies, or 262-472-4660. Please visit our website for additional safety tips.

This Thursday, June 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., the Whitewater Art Alliance’s Savory Sounds Summer Concerts goes Irish with The Currach Irish Trio.  The Irish Folk & Reel band features Daithi Wolfe on fiddle, Darl Ridgely on bodhran, and Josh Perkins on guitar – and all three are known as “exceptional and spirited vocalists!” They play monthly at Alt Brew in Madison.  Our vendor this week to help follow the Irish Folk Fest theme is Annie’s Burgertown, a popular food truck from Elkhorn.  They will be offering an Irish food menu for the lunchtime festivities, so come hungry!

This week’s band is sponsored by First Citizens State Bank. 

• Location: Flat Iron Park (next to the Birge Fountain), 402 W Main St, Whitewater.
• Rain or Shine: Normally held outdoors on the lawn, in the event of rain, the concerts are moved indoors to the Cultural Arts Center.
• Seating: Bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets but if the concert gets moved indoors you won’t need them.
• Food & Refreshments: Food and other refreshments will be available from the food vendor or bring your own lunch.
• Parking: CAC lot and city street parking is available with additional parking is available at First English Lutheran Church.

Season Sponsors

The University of Wisconsin – Whitewater College of Business and Economics is pleased to announce the introduction of a new fully online Human Resource (HR) Management undergraduate degree. This program is designed to give students a comprehensive overview of the field of HR and real world experience with training and developing employees, managing benefits and compensation, and effectively handling employee relations on a day-to-day basis.

The introduction of this program coincides with the rise in demand for quality Human Resource  professionals. “HR Specialists” is ranked #9 on the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development hot jobs list. It is also listed as a fast growing job category by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. When asked about why HR Professionals were in such high demand recently, Dr Joshua R. Knapp, a professor of Management – Human Resources, pointed out that the answer was simple. “HR is always at the center of the organization and is intimately involved with managing its most important asset: People.” 

The UW-Whitewater Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management is one of a select number of programs recognized by the National Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for fully aligning with SHRM’s Curriculum Guidebook and Templates.

If you are interested in learning more about or applying to this program please visit: www.uww.edu/online/bachelors/human-resource-management

More about the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics (CoBE): 

Wisconsin’s largest business college, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics, is home to the #1 ranked online Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program in the State, of single schools. The College of Business and Economics offers a rich breadth of co-curricular activities to enhance student development and learning outcomes. CoBE is in the top 2% of the world’s business schools, earning both AACSB and AACSB Accounting Accreditation (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). For more information on the College of Business and Economics, visit uww.edu/cobe or email cobe@uww.edu.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by UW-Whitewater.

IOWA CITY, IA — In May, more than 6,500 University of Iowa undergraduate, graduate, and professional students received their degrees, a group that included Thomas Smith of Whitewater, WI.

Smith was a student in the Graduate College whose academic program of study was Finance. The degree awarded Smith was a Master of Science.

To learn more about the University of Iowa’s 2024 spring semester graduating class, click HERE.

To review a photo gallery of Iowa’s spring commencements, click HERE.

About the University of Iowa

As a top global university, Iowa is the ideal destination for learning, discovery, and innovation. We bring art and science together to create a truly unique interdisciplinary education. With over 200 areas of study to choose from, students are encouraged to mix and match majors, minors, and certificates to earn a degree that reflects their unique interests.

From inside our world-class medical center to the most prestigious creative writing program in the U.S., students have access to quality academic support and are equipped with the tools they need to stand out in a competitive workforce. Our 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio allows students to work directly with experts in their field while earning valuable, practical skills.

Our campus seamlessly blends into the heart of downtown Iowa City, making it easy to access academic resources and belong to a larger, welcoming community. With over 500 student organizations, clubs, and communities on campus, and countless in-town events scheduled throughout the year, Iowa makes it easy to build a network of friendships and connections that last a lifetime.

To learn more about the University of Iowa, click HERE.

Carol McCormick writes, “The first baby duck. We’re thinking it’s a wood duck. Has healthy peeps!”

Our thanks to Carol McCormick for sharing this special photo.

— 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. Thanks for thinking about this!

NOTICE: The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will be conducting road construction work along US 12 between the Walworth/Rock County line and Cox Road. Construction is scheduled to begin July 8, 2024. Crews will be repaving the shoulders and adding rumble strips throughout the project limits.

Construction will be done in multiple stages. [During the first phase, traffic will remain open with flagging operations.] During the second stage, eastbound US 12 will be closed to traffic between W. Main Street/Tri County Road and County P. Traffic will be detoured using Business US 12 (W. Main Street, Milwaukee Street, and Elkhorn Road). This detour is expected to last approximately two weeks.

After completion of the eastbound work, westbound US 12 will be closed to traffic between County P and W. Main Street/Tri County Road. Traffic will again be detoured using Business US 12 (Elkhorn Road, Milwaukee Street and W. Main Street). This detour is expected to last approximately two weeks.

City officials are asking residents to use extra caution and have patience as the additional traffic through the City could cause some delays at intersections throughout the detour. The project is tentatively scheduled for completion by late summer 2024. All work is weather dependent and subject to change.

More information on the US 12 project can be found on the attached brochure and WisDOT’s 511 project page:
https://projects.511wi.gov/12whitewater/

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the City of Whitewater. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay.

William Hofmann of Whitewater has been named to the Deans’ List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the spring semester of the 2023-24 academic year.

Hofmann, a junior majoring in advertising and public relations, was named to the Dean’s List for the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

More than 6,600 students at Nebraska were named to the Deans’ List for the spring semester.

Qualification for the Deans’ List varies among the eight undergraduate colleges and the Explore Center. Listed below are the minimum requirements for each entity and the name of its respective dean or director. All qualifying grade-point averages are based on a four-point scale and a minimum number of graded semester hours. Students can be on the Deans’ List for more than one college.

• College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 3.75; Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss.
• College of Architecture, 3.75; Dean Kevin G. Van Den Wymelenberg.
• College of Arts and Sciences, 3.7; Dean Mark E. Button.
• College of Business, 3.6; Dean Kathy Farrell.
• College of Education and Human Sciences, 3.75; Interim Dean Nicholas J. Pace.
• College of Engineering, 3.5; Dean Lance C. Perez.
• College of Journalism and Mass Communications, 3.7; Dean Shari Veil.
• Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, 3.7; Dean Andy Belser.
• Explore Center for undeclared, pre-engineering, pre-health and pre-law students, 3.6; Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Undergraduate Education Amy Goodburn.

Those passing by the corner of Prairie Street and Starin Road in recent days likely couldn’t miss this AT&T tower in the UW-W parking lot, and probably wonder what its purpose is. Tom Ganser learned from Jeff Angileri, University Marketing & Communications Director, that it’s a temporary tower while maintenance is done to the existing communications equipment atop Winther Hall.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL.)

Lynn Binnie is a WUL Hometown Hero, and has been nominated by David Stoneman, “For his volunteer work as Editor of Whitewaterbanner.com and for the countless hours he donates in order to help Whitewater residents stay well-informed.”

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com