News

Ferradermis Heads to Houston

Members of Whitewater High School Ferradermis FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition Team #6574 will be heading to Houston, Texas for the April 17-20 FIRST Championship, a culminating, international event for the youth robotics competition season and a celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This year’s championship will include slightly over 600 teams, including 9 teams from Wisconsin.  Last year’s Championship included teams from 50 countries. The full list of qualifying teams can be found at https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/2024/CMPTX.

Members of Ferradermis pose for a photo with Chief Lee the Tangerine before their Whippet Walk on Friday.

The teams will play on 8 fields in Houston, each named after a famous scientist; Ferradermis will play on the Hopper Field, named for computer science pioneer Grace Hopper. The 75 teams assigned to Hopper hail from 28 states and 7 other countries including Australia, China, the Netherlands, Canada, Israel, Turkey, and Mexico. Once qualification and playoff matches are complete on each field, the winning alliance from each field will come together on the Einstein field for a new set of playoffs to determine the world champion.

Emerson Dunham remakes a set of robot bumpers
Programmers Ace Hudec and Margaret Brown make changes to the autonomous code.
Andrew O’Toole makes a mechanical adjustment to the robot.
The drive team practices scoring a note in the “amp.”
The drive team practices scoring notes in the “speaker.”
Preparations for Houston

Ferradermis’ current membership includes 28 students and about 20 adult mentors. Twenty-one students and 9 adults will be making the trip to Houston.

The Ferradermis ticket to the FIRST Championship was punched at Northern Lights Regional Competition in Duluth when it was the Impact Award Winner from among 55 teams from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa. The Impact Team will present again in Houston for the chance to become a member of the FIRST Hall of Fame.

This season, the robots have been put to the test in a music-themed challenge that requires retrieving round, orange “notes” from the floor, depositing them in an “amplifier” or launching them into a “speaker” while running on a prepared program or under the control of a student “driver.” The Ferradermis robot is named “Chief Lee the Tangerine,” inspired by the prominence of orange in his components.

WHS Celebrates the Team with a “Whippet Walk” on Friday, April 12

The qualification matches for the competition will be livestreamed on Thursday, April 18, and Friday, April 19, from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm at https://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires_hopper. Playoff matches will take place beginning at 8:30 am on Saturday, April 20. You can also follow the team’s journey to Texas on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ferradermis/.

Ferradermis would like to thank the nearly 75 sponsors who stepped forward in the last 6 weeks to help the team fund their trip to the FIRST Championships. Every donation, whether it was $15 or $15,000, helped the team make this journey possible. Thank you, Whitewater!

Go Team, go!

Article and Photos by Tom Ganser, Supplemented by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor
lmasbruch@wwusd.org

Local Lawrence Viking named to Academic All-District team

APPLETON, Wis. — Four Lawrence University volleyball players were chosen for the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team.

Taylor Hughes (Wausau, Wis./West), Cora Linos (Janesville, Wis./Whitewater), Hilirie McLaughlin (Mosinee, Wis./SPASH) and Bailey Nez (Pinehill, N.M./Pine Hill) were all selected for the team.

McLaughlin, a junior outside hitter, was chosen for the second consecutive season. McLaughlin has a 3.65 grade point average and is majoring in physics with a pre-medicine track. Nez has a 3.97 grade point average and is a sophomore outside hitter. She is an environmental science major.

A junior setter, Linos has a 3.91 grade point average and is a government major. A junior defensive specialist, Hughes has a 3.84 grade point average and is a creative writing major.

To be eligible for the team, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore and have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average. The student-athlete must also meet the playing time requirements.


PLAYERS MENTIONED
#4 Hilirie McLaughlin
OH/MB 6′ 0″ Junior
#2 Taylor Hughes
DS/L 5′ 3″ Junior
#8 Bailey Nez
OH/RS 5′ 7″ Sophomore
#17 Cora Linos
S/RS 6′ 2″ Junior

This Week’s City Meetings (Updated thrice)

Updated 4/14 @ 3:20 p.m.: CDA meeting details added.
Updated 4/16 @ 2:40 p.m.: Webinar ID added to CDA Zoom signin.
Updated 4/17 @ 12:20 p.m.: Parks & Recreation Board details added.

Irvin L. Young Memorial Library Board of Trustees – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Library Building Project update: approve building schematics and color finishes and guest presenter Eric Robinson
Library Community Room 431 West Center
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84130965938?pwd=SmhrM2FmRVJQa0hxbmNBUnBiMjlqdz09
Telephone: +1 312 626 6799
Meeting ID: 841 3096 5938
Passcode: SzGnVr9h

City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes election of Council President, Update on MOU with UWW regarding elections, Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Resignation of Municipal Judge Patrick Taylor, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Changing City Class, and Discussion and Possible Action regarding Ayres Old Stone Mill Dam Proposal for Engineering Services for Downstream Wall Repairs
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82620567128?pwd=yNQKWe39zrX_cTmWXImujvrzu0_a-Q.I4HX6aLGTu3eUVWS
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799
Webinar ID: 826 2056 7128
Passcode: 065668

City of Whitewater Parks & Recreation Board – Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater St
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please note that although every effort will be made to provide for virtual participation, unforeseen
technical difficulties may prevent this, in which case the meeting may still proceed as long as there is a
quorum. Should you wish to make a comment in this situation, you are welcome to call this number:
(262) 473-0108

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85428039940?pwd=SWRsRDJrenludFhhUlRuTDRVbkZjdz09
Meeting ID: 854 2803 9940
Passcode: 355760
Dial by your location
+1 309 205 3325 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 854 2803 9940
Passcode: 355760

City of Whitewater Community Development Authority Board of Directors – Thursday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and possible action regarding Memorandum of Understanding – Whitewater Innovation Center (Joe Kromholz), including discussion regarding FERC’s Assessment of the Innovation Center (Russ Kashian), Discussion and possible action regarding transfer of funds from Action Fund Account to Facade Loan Fund Account, Discussion and possible action with regard to Request for Proposal for legal counsel to represent the interests of the CDA, Discussion and possible action regarding selection of a judge for the WindUp competition.
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar 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/j89062950482?pwd=3iDD6qyXEEJC0AusurYHpg8SeDBX4A.-6UJSDDvtIShk9CA
Webinar ID: 890 6295 0482
Passcode: 328531
Phone: +1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 890 6295 0482
Passcode: 328531

Final Boat Safety Course of the Season

Sheriff Fell is pleased to announce that the Rock County Sheriff’s Office will offer our second and final 2024 Boater Safety Education Course on April 30, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and May 11, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., at the Rock County
Fairgrounds – Craig Center, 1301 Craig Ave, Janesville, WI 53545. Students will need to attend both sessions to graduate.

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1989, is required to complete a Boater Safety Education Course to legally operate a motorized boat or personal watercraft (PWC) on Wisconsin waters. It is recommended that participants are at least 12 years of age or turn
12 shortly after the class.

Session 1: April 30, from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. @ Rock Co. Fairgrounds – Craig Center
Session 2: May 11, from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. @ Rock Co. Fairgrounds – Craig Center

Registration is now open. Complete the online enrollment form to reserve a seat.
https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/sheriff-s-office/recreational-patrol/boater-education

Class size is limited to 30 students. Upon submission of the registration form, the submitter will see an onscreen confirmation message with course information. The course fee of $10 per student will be collected at the first session. If the student is under 18 years old, a parent/guardian will need to attend the first session with the student. Students will receive course materials at the first session. Please direct any questions to Deputy Trevor Lund at trevor.lund@co.rock.wi.us.

Three Killed in Crash on Hwy 12 (Updated)

Update 4/15 @ 9:15 a.m.: In a press release on this date the Whitewater Fire/EMS Department included the following statement: “Whitewater Fire and EMS would like to extend a thank you to the numerous bystanders and witnesses that offered assistance and first aid during the initial moments of this mass casualty event.”

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Rock County Sheriff’s Department.

On 4/13/2024 at approximately 1204 hours Rock County Deputies, Jefferson County Deputies, Whitewater Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol along with several fire/EMS agencies responded to a three-vehicle crash at HWY 12 and E County Line Rd in Lima Township, Rock County. [City residents may know this intersection as HWY 12 and Business HWY 12/Main St.] Through investigation this is believed to be what occurred:

A passenger van was eastbound on E County Line Rd approaching HWY 12. The driver of the passenger van did not adhere to the stop sign entering the intersection. There was a passenger SUV, with the right of way, southbound on HWY 12. The front of the SUV collided with the driver side of the van in the intersection. As they collided a truck pulling a fifth wheel trailer hauling hay was northbound on HWY 12. The driver side of the trailer collided with the front of the van. During the crash two adult females and one adult male were ejected from the van. Those three subjects were later declared deceased on scene.

The female adult driver of the van sustained non-life-threatening injuries as did the adult male driver of the SUV. The driver of the truck was uninjured. There were four additional passengers from the van that were transported to nearby hospitals. One of them, an adult female, was transported via Med Flight with life threatening injuries. The other three, two adult males and an adult female, have severe but non-life-threatening injuries.

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office will be the primary investigating agency for the crash. At this time no criminal charges have been filed as a result of the crash and the investigation is ongoing. The names of the deceased will be later released by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

LWV Presents: Impact of Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories on Voting

Michael Wagner

The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area invites the public to attend an illuminating program by Michael Wagner, UW-Madison Professor of Journalism & Mass Communication, on The Impact of Misinformation, Disinformation, & Conspiracy Theories on Voting, to be held on Thursday evening, April 18th, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM in the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library, 431 West Center Street in Whitewater.

This is a special election year program in which Professor Wagner will discuss the influence of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories on voting and their relationship to political intimidation and violence. Michael spoke about this topic in November 2022, on the PBS Program, Here & Now, hosted by Frederica Freyberg. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and completed his Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University. Professor Wagner centers his research, teaching, and service on the question, “How well does democracy work?”

_______________________________

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!

Care & Skills Training – Especially helpful for those providing care for loved ones

This is a FREE educational training open to the community, that Fairhaven is hosting on Friday, April 19th from 12:00-2:00.  UW-W Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students and Clinicians will be covering the following topics:

ORAL CARE

HEARING AID CARE

COMMUNICATION

SAFE SWALLOW

Session and topics will be particularly helpful for those who provide care to loved ones, specifically for older adults.

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Fairhaven Senior Services.

Obituary: Tiiu (Rodima) Gray-Fow, 82

WHITEWATER, WI—Tiiu (Rodima) Gray-Fow, age 82, died at home on April 6, 2024, from the late effects of a heart attack that she suffered several months earlier. She was born in Tartu, Estonia, and spent her childhood in the shadow of World War II. When Tiiu was three years old, her family fled Estonia between the retreating Nazi army and advancing Soviet forces which were to occupy Estonia for the next fifty years. Young as she was, she still recalled their wild flight from midland Estonia to the harbor at Tallin, and the red glow in the sky from Tartu burning in the distance. She grew up in various German refugee camps, most notably the Estonian camp in the Alpine village of Geislingen where she spent almost three years and developed an abiding love of the mountains. At age ten, she emigrated to America with her parents and settled in the Lakewood area of New Jersey where a community of Estonian exiles was forming. Both Tiiu and her father contracted tuberculosis in America. Her father responded to antibiotics, but Tiiu did not recover until she underwent a risky new lung operation in her late teens. Tiiu matriculated at Douglass College in 1960 where she majored in history and met her lifelong friend Linda Alfonso. Afterwards, she moved to Madison to pursue graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin. She taught European history at Carroll College, Marquette University, and then UW Whitewater where she met and married Raleigh Williams and started a family. Later, she returned to school for a masters in counseling and worked as a guidance counselor in Williams Bay and then the Palmyra Eagle school district. In 1983, she married Michael Gray-Fow with whom she shared a happy life for over forty years.

More than anything, Tiiu loved camping in the mountains and spent many summer vacations in the national parks, most notably in the Rocky Mountains. She was a passionate defender of trees and was responsible for planting and protecting many terrace trees in Whitewater. She was instrumental in forming the Whitewater Tree Commission and served as its chair for ten years. The City honored her service with a day named in her honor and a tree planting ceremony at Cravath Lakefront Park where a plaque now bears her name. She was active in local politics through the League of Women Voters and the Democratic Party of Walworth County. Democracy, she often said, is not a spectator sport. She loved to travel and returned to visit Estonia several times after it finally became independent in 1991, once with her cousin Maret Henrikson and twice with Michael. She was very serious about home maintenance and spent a lot of time fixing, painting and repairing the rambling old farmhouse that she shared with Michael and their many dogs. She loved her dogs, always and deeply: Muri the cherished dog of her youth, then Buster, Chester, Kalju, Rufus, and finally Puck and Sophie. She was a fierce spirit, a fighter, and a lover of natural beauty.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eino Rodima and Aino (Keder) Rodima and all of her maternal first cousins including Juhan Urm. She is survived by her husband Michael Gray-Fow; daughter Susan Maaja Williams (partner Bryan James); step-daughter Emily Gray-Fow; cousin Juhan’s wife Carol Urm and their sons Erik and Matthew (Robbi) Urm; and Matthew’s children, Rebecca, Nicholas and Nathan Urm.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 on Saturday, April 20 at St Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fort Atkinson. Lunch to follow at the church. Flowers are welcome, or donations may be made to the Walworth County Humane Society. Online condolences may be made at www.firstwisconsincremation.com.

Whitewater Traveling Basketball Club’s New “Shot Club” Registration Open

Whitewater Traveling Basketball Club is excited to announce the details of the 2024 shot club.  Registration is currently open and the spring portion of the Club starts April 7. Registration closes April 30. 

1.  Registration must be completed by completing the Google Form: https://forms.gle/JGjzDLAVBUG8W5N78

2.  In order to receive recognition at a game next season, the player will need to make 10,000 game like shots and participate in four (4) shot club training sessions between June 15 and August 31.

The rules of the Whitewater Shot Club are:

1. Every game like shot made counts as “1 make”;

2. Every 10 minutes of focused ball handling counts as 10 makes (limit of 2000 makes for the 2024 with ball handling);

3. Students in grades 9-12 for the 2024-25 school year have until August 31 to get 10,000 makes. Students in grades 5-8 have until October 31 to get 10,000 makes. 

4. Makes are submitted weekly. Information on recording and submitting makes will be sent out to athletes that sign up. Workouts will be run by Coach Dowden and Coach McCabe and more information will be coming to families that sign-up. Open gyms begin Sunday, April 7 at 5 pm. In May, Open Gyms run from 4-6pm. There is no open gym on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day; otherwise gym is open at 4 pm starting on Sundays in May until basketball season starts. 

This programming is new for the community, and we look forward to answering questions and working to get better at basketball!

Coach Dowden and Coach McCabe

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by the Whitewater Traveling Basketball Club. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the homepage image by Schorsch from Pixabay.

Enroll in 4K/K Today! Registration Day Event Wed.

Registration opened on April 8 for 4K and new-to-kindergarten students for the 2024-25 school year!

WUSD Families can complete the 2024-25 annual update and add their 4K/new kindergartner into the portal.

1) Please log into your Infinite Campus portal account: https://wicloud3.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/whitewater.jsp

2) On the left navigation bar, click on “More”

3) Click on “Online Registration”

4) Select the “2024-25 School Year Annual Update” option

Once on the Annual Update page, you can proceed with updating student and family information and register 4K or New to K students for school.

Step-by-step instructions with screenshots to follow are available on the Parent Technology Resources page: https://sites.google.com/wwusd.org/ptr/infinite-campus/annual-update.

➡️ New families to our district can complete the full online registration here: https://www.wwusd.org/o/wwusd/page/new-family-enrollment