News

Sandra Ramirez has been nominated as a WUL Hometown Hero.  Her nomination includes, “Although not a Whitewater resident, Sandra Ramirez is a teacher at Washington Elementary School, and she was instrumental in keeping our students and teachers connected through weekly virtual assemblies, setting up the technology, making videos, and keeping everything running smoothly during the spring school semester of COVID 19.”

Sandra said, “When all of a sudden technology is all we had to be able to connect with each other, I saw an opportunity to do just that. All virtual assemblies and videos were a group effort. They brought us very special moments. As a school community we had a venue to laugh, to vent, to reflect, and even to cry. We did what we needed in order to regain a sense of normalcy. In retrospect, it gave me a new purpose and helped me get through it all easier.”

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 

UPDATE: City Clerk Michele Smith indicates that as of 4:00 p.m. a grand total of 1048 ballots have been cast all day, including all absentee ballots. The poll workers spent the whole day, from 7:30 a.m. until nearly 4 p.m. processing the absentee ballots.

The August 11 partisan primary has only one contested race for city of Whitewater residents: Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District. Polls will be open at the Downtown Armory, 146 W. North Street, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Turnout is expected to be light, especially in view of the unusually high number of absentee ballots that have already been cast. City Clerk Michele Smith reports that as of 6:00 p.m. on August 7, 762 absentee ballots had been returned out of the 1286 that were issued. By comparison, the August 2018 partisan primary included the gubernatorial office, and there were only 306 absentee ballots and a total of 1381 votes, including absentees.

Due to the unusual circumstances in the April 2020 primary, a court ordered that ballots that were postmarked by election day were to be counted. This exception is not in effect for this election. If you still hold one of the 524 ballots that were not yet returned, these are the only options you have in order for your vote to be counted:

• Deliver your ballot to the City Clerk at the Armory before 8 p.m. TODAY.

Same day registration is permitted, assuming that you will have lived in the city for at least 28 days. You must present an acceptable photo ID (generally a drivers license or VOTER ID) and acceptable proof of residency.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (August 7, 2020) – This past spring, Allison Sedmak of Whitewater, WI, graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. Sedmak earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences.

Sedmak was one of 2,236 students to graduate from Marquette in May. Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws its more than 11,500 students from all 50 states and more than 84 different countries. Marquette is ranked in the top 10 nationally for job placement.

In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu.

The following persons were either recently charged in Walworth County Circuit Court or recently made their initial court appearance.

Christopher P. Czerpak, 33, W8165 Nature Dr., Whitewater, has been charged with armed burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon, and criminal damage to property involving a residence in Whitewater. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years and nine months in prison and $85,000 in fines.

Jaslyn M. Kunkel, 33, 614 S. Franklin St., Whitewater, has been charged with failure to act to prevent bodily harm to a child allegedly involving a 14-year-old boy. If convicted, she faces up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Ryan P. McKevitt, 36, 542 S. Franklin St., Whitewater, has been charged with OWI (4th) and Operating with prohibited alcohol content (4th). McKevitt was apprehended for drunken driving after he parked with the vehicle’s right front tire on top of the curb in the 500 block of South Frankilin Street in Whitewater at about 9:10 p.m. July 10, according to the complaint. He had a blood alcohol content of .11, failed field sobriety tests, smelled like alcohol and had glassy eyes, according to the complaint. If convicted, he faces up to $10,000 in fines, up to six years in jail, lifetime drivers license revocation with no possibility of occupational license, 1-3 years required ignition interlock device in vehicle.

McKinley Palmer, Aldermanic District 5 councilmember, announced on August 4 that as a result of an impending move outside the district, his last meeting will be on September 1. Applications to fill the seat, which represents all residents who live in the Jefferson County portion of the city, will be accepted until September 10. The successful applicant will serve from September 15 until April 20, 2021, at which time the councilmember elected at the April 6, 2021 election will take office. The person appointed to this interim position may choose to run for a two-year term in that election. Councilmembers are paid $300 per month. In addition to preparation for and participation in two regular monthly council meetings, members are also appointed to serve on other city committees. Residents of the district who may be interested are encouraged to contact City Clerk Michele Smith, msmith@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-473-0102.

NOTICE OF VACANT ALDERMANIC DISTRICT 5 COUNCIL SEAT

The Councilmember Seat for Aldermanic District 5 (Wards 10-12) is currently vacant, and the Common Council of the City of Whitewater is seeking Applications for Appointment from individuals who reside in Aldermanic District 5 (Wards 10-12), and who are willing to serve on the Common Council. Council meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of each month. Occasionally there are additional meetings. Each Common Council member also serves as a representative to various Boards or Commissions. The Common Council will review Applications from applicants, and will consider appointment of an applicant to the position at their September 15, 2020 council meeting. The appointment will be until the third Tuesday, April, 2021 at which time the councilmember elected at the April, 2021 election will take office. For those unsure of their Aldermanic District, please contact the City Clerk at 473-0102.

An application must be submitted to City Clerk Michele Smith, P.O. Box 178, Whitewater, WI 53190 by 4:30 p.m. on September 10, 2020. The Clerk can be reached by e-mail at: msmith@whitewater-wi.gov or by telephone at 262-473-0102.

Michele Smith, City Clerk

262-473-0102

MADISON, Wis. (August 6, 2020) – Nearly 8,500 students received degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison during a unique online commencement ceremony on May 9, 2020, including students from your area.

The ceremony, forced online because of the Coronavirus pandemic, was for doctoral, bachelor’s, master’s and law graduates.

Best-selling author James Patterson, the commencement speaker, counseled graduates on persistence and resilience, telling them, “Hey, it’s hard now, but it’s been hard before. When I graduated from college, the war in Vietnam was raging, there was a draft . . . When my dad graduated, he got shipped off to Europe and WW II.”

Chancellor Rebecca Blank praised graduates for the way they handled their unprecedented final semester – in-person instruction ended in March — and she thanked their family and friends for helping them through it all.

Some graduates will face a longer job search than expected, Blank said. Others will face personal pain from unexpected family loss or will end up doing very different things next year than they might have expected.

“But when we are past this crisis, you will also see many new opportunities – opportunities to re-engage the economy, to re-build personal connections, and to figure out how to live together in ways that reduce the threat of future pandemics,” Blank said. “Our world will change permanently because of this global shared experience. Your diploma from this great public university is your ticket to be part of that change.”

In addition to Saturday’s virtual ceremony, numerous famous Badger alumni posted shout-outs on social media, including soccer star Rose Lavelle, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and Tony Award-winning actor Andre De Shields, who sang a bit for graduates. On May 8, the UW Athletic Department lit Camp Randall and the Kohl Center in red to honor the Class of 2020.

To ease the sting of the last few months, the Wisconsin Union announced it would provide all graduates with lifetime memberships – a first in the association’s more than 110-year history. Additionally, the Wisconsin Alumni Association is giving graduates two free years of membership.

For more information about UW-Madison, visit http://www.wisc.edu.

Here are the degree recipients from your area:

HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, COLLEGE, DEGREE, MAJOR(S), DISTINCTION (if listed), COLLEGE (if listed), DEGREE (if listed)

Whitewater, WI

 Mia Bentel, College of Letters and Science, Bachelor of Arts, Computer Sciences
 Shelley Gard, School of Education, Master of Science-Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
 Alan Jaime, School of Education, Bachelor of Science-Education, Elementary Education
 Owen Zinkgraf, College of Letters and Science, Bachelor of Science, Computer Sciences, Graduated with Distinction

By Lisa Dawsey Smith
Whitewater Banner staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The Common Council met virtually on August 4 in an approximate 2.5 hour meeting, with about thirty citizens participating online or on the phone. Highlights include:

Lakes Drawdown Extended One Year
Eric Boettcher, Parks & Recreation Director, reported on the status of the lakes drawdown, including the installation of three siphons on Trippe Lake in an effort to reduce the depth to the 5-6 foot goal. Although dredging had been scheduled for this coming winter, Mr. Boettcher indicated that the State Department of Natural Resources personnel confirmed that there would be advantages to delaying that work for a year. Ecological benefits would include allowing both lakes more time to eliminate invasive vegetation, providing more head cutting of the channel, and possible increased depth from decomposition. Additionally, this would allow more time for shoreline restoration for land owners. Those attending a recent meeting of those residents were all in favor of the extension, and 76% of those responding to a city POLCO poll answered likewise. Council members voted unanimously to affirm the one year extension in the timeline.

City Manager’s Report
– Cameron Clapper provided a tutorial on how to utilize the state COVID-19 site to find the daily number of positive and negative cases in the Walworth County portion of the city. Positive results have been rapidly rising in recent weeks in Whitewater.
– The reconstruction of Milwaukee Street and of Elkhorn Road is essentially completed. The roundabout has been reconfigured with only one lane.
– Paving has been completed at the Dog Park and Moraine View Park.
– The Amphitheater at Cravath Lake Park is nearing completion, with a grand opening scheduled for September 17.
– Three siphons have been installed at Trippe Lake in an effort to reduce the depth to the 5-6 foot goal.
– The library building is closed; however, outside pickup is available, and residents are welcome to use the WIFI in the parking lot.
– The State Department of Transportation is currently completing the improvements at the Highway 12 and Walworth Avenue intersection.
– The city, the school district, and the university will be participating in an online community forum on Thursday, August 6 at 6 p.m.

Facial Covering Mandate Update
– The Police Chief indicated that after almost four days of the Governor’s emergency order requiring the wearing of facial coverings, although the dispatch center has answered a number of questions, there has not been a single complaint filed. Residents with a concern may call the non-emergency number, 262-473-0555 option 4, and non-urgent questions may be left as a message on the info line at 262-473-1398.
– The Council unanimously passed an amendment to the local ordinance which adopted the following state exemption: “While a single individual is giving a religious, political, media, educational, artistic, cultural, musical or theatrical presentation for an audience, the single speaker may remove the face covering when actively speaking. While the face covering is removed, the speaker must remain at least 6 feet away from all other individuals at all times.

Virtual Meetings
In view of the surge in positive COVID-19 cases in the community, consensus was that it was advisable to continue to hold all City meetings virtually. The subject will be revisited at alternate Council meetings.

Racial Justice and Equality Initiatives
A draft ordinance that would establish a new Equal Opportunities Commission was reviewed, with a finalized proposal to be brought to the August 18 meeting.

Upcoming Vacancy in Aldermanic District 5
McKinley Palmer, AD5 councilmember, announced that as a result of an impending move outside the district, his last meeting will be on September 1. Applications to fill the seat, which represents all residents who live in the Jefferson County portion of the city, will be accepted until September 10. Residents of the district who may be interested are encouraged to contact City Clerk Michele Smith, msmith@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-473-0102.

Moving  Sale
625 Waters Edge Drive, Whitewater
Aug 7 and 8, 8:00-5:00

A whole condo full of household items must go! Kitchen, decor, books, tools, and more
Everything priced to sell.

160 S. Locust Ln, Whitewater
8am-3pm Fri 8/7 and Sat 8/8

Household items, coolers, furniture, Bowflex, DJ Lighting and accessories, 10×20 Moto Shade Canopies, Lawn mower

233 N Queen St., Whitewater
Thursday Aug 6: 11-5, Friday Aug 7: 9-5, Saturday Aug 8: 9-1
Flatware, glassware, set of Sheffield Elegance #502 dishes, Tupperware, Home Interiors sconces and mirrors, vintage doll cradle and high chairs, vintage Royal Haeger, vintage Domino travel sets, vintage sewing books, propane tank, Darton Hunting bow and case, older microwave, LP hose with connectors, misc household stuff.  Will have Marsh’s Sweetcorn for sale too.

A New Banner Service – Garage Sale Ads

As a result of a reader’s comment that it’s hard to find garage sales in Whitewater now that we no longer have a weekly shopper, the Banner staff has agreed to begin a “consolidated” garage sale posting that will be published each Thursday morning for the upcoming weekend’s sales. This announcement will only be for garage sales (a sale of miscellaneous household goods, often held in the garage or front yard of someone’s house) in the city and school district boundaries. We will not be accepting, for example, ads for cars or other items that are not part of a scheduled garage sale. There will be a limit of three times per year for a particular property. Although we may eventually make a small charge for this service, initially it will be complimentary.

Those wishing to place a notice must send the information to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com by Wednesday at 6 p.m. You may include a brief description of the items that are for sale, the hours and days of the sale, and of course your address.