Lions present $1500 proceeds of Halloween Pancake Breakfast to Food Pantry

(Lions Club press release – Nov. 18)

Lion Judy Malone and Lion Steve Malone are shown presenting a check in the amount of $1500 from the Whitewater Lions Club Halloween Drive-thru Pancake Breakfast to Pat Chaput (2nd from right) and Barbara Quast (last on the right) of Whitewater Community Food Pantry.  THANK YOU for the tremendous support for our continuing efforts to SERVE our community. “WE SERVE”

Patrick Singer retiring from Common Council after 14 years of service

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
November 18, 2020

At the end of the November 17 meeting of the Common Council, Patrick Singer announced that he will not be running for reelection. Mr. Singer will complete his fourteenth year on the council in April. Beginning in 2007 he represented the 5th District, and since 2013 has served in one of the two at-large positions. He was president of the council for twelve years. Patrick indicated a desire to spend more time with his family, including his two young sons.

Three other council seats will be on the April 6, 2021 election: Aldermanic District 1, currently held by Carol McCormick; District 3, currently held by Brienne Diebolt Brown; and District 5, to which Greg Majkrzak II was appointed in September to fill the position vacated by McKinley Palmer. It is not known whether these council members plan to run for reelection.

Council members are elected for two-year terms, which will begin on April 20, and are paid $300 per month. In addition to regular council meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month, members are also appointed to serve on committees. The total time commitment is significant, but many of those who have served have indicated that it is a very enlightening and rewarding experience.

Citizens who may be interested in running for the council are encouraged to contact City Clerk Michele Smith at 312 W. Whitewater Street, msmith@whitewater-wi.gov, or (262) 473-0102. Ms. Smith can provide information concerning the aldermanic district boundaries as well as the candidacy process. The first day to circulate nomination papers is December 1, and the deadline for filing is 5:00 p.m. on January 5, 2021. Persons running for district seats must submit 20-40 signatures, and for an at-large seat, 50-100 signatures. A primary, if necessary, will be held on February 16.

Banner note: Lynn Binnie is president of the Common Council.

UW-Whitewater Delivers Music Right to Your Home This November; Symphonic Wind Ensemble & Whitewater Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra

(UW-Whitewater submission) The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Department of Music brings music straight to your home this November with a variety of virtual concerts (see full list of upcoming virtual concerts below). Two of these virtual events include the Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE) concert conducted by Glenn Hayes Ph.D., and the Whitewater Symphony Orchestra (WSO) conducted by Christopher Ramaekers, Ph.D. Tickets for these two concerts will be on sale Friday, November 13, 2020 – Sunday, November 22, 2020. Ticket buyers will be sent a link by email to their selected concert on Wednesday, November 25, 2020. The content will be available for viewing Wednesday, November 25, 2020 – Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Single viewer tickets are $13, and family viewing tickets are $26. Tickets can be purchased by calling 262-472-2222, or by going to tickets.uww.edu.

WSO is the flagship orchestra at UW-Whitewater, and includes woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings. Repertoire selections focus on standard symphonic masterworks, but include a variety of pieces from the classical period to modern day. The Symphony will be playing “Symphony No. 38 (Prague)” by Mozart, and “Symphony No. 6 (Le matin)” by Haydn. “Le matin” features the skills of Dayna Hubbartt on flute, Claire Whitney on violin, and Samuel Kristiansen on cello. WSO will also be joined by the UW-Whitewater Chamber Orchestra, and together they will be performing Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings” and Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3”.

SWE is the premiere wind and percussion ensemble on campus. The group has distinguished itself internationally, nationally, and regionally; honors include being the first university band from Wisconsin to perform at Carnegie Hall. SWE will be performing “Canzona” by Peter Mennin, “Divertimento for Band” by Vincent Persichetti, movement II of “Four Abstractions for Band” by Robert Ward,” Prelude and Fugue in Ab” by Bach (arranged by Roland Moehlmann), movement II of “Dragon Rhyme” by Chen Yi, and “Mysterium” by Jennifer Higdon.

“We are all learning something new from this experience. There is nothing usual or convenient about what we are doing, and the students have responded magnificently as always,” says Hayes, who conducts SWE. “Following safety standards put in place by the University, we have been rehearsing in thirty-minute increments utilizing appropriate personal protective equipment for musicians. This semester has been a challenge; the equipment allowing us to rehearse and perform safely arrived late, social distancing measures have us spaced out much further than in a normal non-pandemic year and I’m conducting from the audience seating in the space. This semester, SWE is showing their resolve, character, and again, their musical excellence. Nobody planned for this; everybody is working to make it special for all. I could not be prouder of the members of SWE if they were my own children. It is a true honor to be their conductor.”

Tickets for these two concerts will be on sale Friday, November 13, 2020 – Sunday, November 22, 2020. Ticket buyers will be sent a link by email to their selected concert on Wednesday, November 25, 2020. The content will be available for viewing Wednesday, November 25, 2020 – Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Single viewer tickets are $13, and family viewing tickets are $26. Tickets can be purchased by calling 262-472-2222, or by going to tickets.uww.edu.

Upcoming Department of Music virtual concerts

Gala Gets Thankful Scholarship Fundraiser Tickets on sale now | Content available: Mon., Nov. 23 – Mon., Dec. 21 Despite this unusual time, we are profoundly grateful for MUSIC. UW-Whitewater’s Department of Music is shaking up the traditional holiday Gala this year with a digital November event. We are serving up a musical fest with all of the fixings – featuring works from current students, faculty, and more! This year, we are incredibly thankful for our community – you make what we do possible. Tune in for an evening of extraordinary music and generosity as we raise funds for student scholarships.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble Tickets on sale: Fri., Nov. 13 | Content available: Weds., Nov. 25 – Weds., Dec. 9 The UW-Whitewater Symphonic Wind Ensemble is the premiere wind and percussion ensemble on campus. The group has distinguished itself internationally, nationally, and regionally; honors include being the first university band from Wisconsin to perform at Carnegie Hall. SWE will be performing “Canzona” by Peter Mennin, “Divertimento for Band” by Vincent Persichetti, movements II and III of “Four Abstractions for Band” by Robert Ward,” Prelude and Fugue in Ab” by Bach (arranged by Roland Moehlmann), movement II of “Dragon Rhyme” by Chen Yi, and “Mysterium” by Jennifer Higdon.

Whitewater Symphony Orchestra & Chamber Orchestra Tickets on sale: Fri., Nov. 13* | Content available: Weds., Nov. 25 – Weds., Dec. 9* The Whitewater Symphony Orchestra is the flagship orchestra at UW-Whitewater and includes woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings. The Symphony will be playi ng “Symphony No. 38 (Prague)” by Mozart, and “Symphony No. 6 (Le matin)” by Haydn. “Le matin” features the skills of Dayna Hubbartt on flute, Claire Whitney on violin, and Samuel Kristiansen on cello. WSO will also be joined by the UW-Whitewater Chamber Orchestra, and together they will be performing Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for String”s and Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3”.

Music Mosaics: Faculty Jazz, Tribute to Charlie “Yardbird” Parker Tickets on sale: Tues., Nov. 10 | Content available: Tues. Dec. 1 – Tues., Dec. 15 The great jazz legend Charlie “Yardbird” Parker would have turned 100 this past August. Charlie Parker the legendary Grammy Award–winning jazz saxophonist who, with Dizzy Gillespie, invented the musical style called bop or bebop. The Faculty Jazz Ensemble performs a tribute to “Yardbird”. The ensemble includes Michael Hackett, trumpet; Matt Sintchak, saxophone; Rob Hodson, piano; Brad Townsend, bass; and Devin Drobka, drummer.

Winter emergency preparedness tips provided by Rock County Sheriff’s Office

WINTER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 2020

As we prepare for another Wisconsin winter, this is the perfect time to make sure you have fresh batteries
in the smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and NOAA Weather Radios at home. It’s also
important to make sure you have an emergency kit in your home and vehicles, supplied with nonperishable food, bottled water, blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, vehicle cell phone charger, and a
first aid kit. “While Wisconsin typically experiences most of its winter weather from late November through
April, this season got off to an early start with several parts of the state receiving a late-October blast of
snow,” said Dr. Darrell L. Williams, Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator. “It’s an important
reminder that winter weather can be unpredictable, so you need to be prepared early on for what Mother
Nature may throw at us.”

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, an average of 43 people are killed and 4,138
are injured each year in crashes on icy or snow-covered roads in the state. On average, there are about
18,000 vehicle crashes in the state each year caused by poor winter driving conditions.
“During the winter months, it’s important to check current road conditions before you head out,” Williams
said. “Consider cancelling travel plans, if you don’t need to be on the roads. If you can’t avoid driving,
make sure you have an emergency kit in your vehicle, slow down, and make sure someone knows where
you’re going and that you have arrived safely.”

You can check travel conditions for most major roadways in the state by using 511 Wisconsin, a state
Department of Transportation service updated regularly with the latest traffic and road conditions on
major routes throughout the state. This information, along with live traffic cameras and traffic alerts, can
be accessed through the free 511 Wisconsin mobile app, @511WI on Twitter, or the mobile-friendly
site www.511wi.gov. You may also find updates through local government websites and social media
accounts.

View ReadyWisconsin’s full Winter Awareness Week information at https://tinyurl.com/y2pwqxx3.
Find more tips on getting ready for winter at http://www.readywisconsin.wi.gov. You can also follow
ReadyWisconsin on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ReadyWisconsin) and on Facebook
(http://www.facebook.com/ReadyWisconsin) for daily safety tips and severe weather updates

Reminder: Chamber of Commerce “Week for the Community” Virtual Raffle – Nov. 16-22

WHITEWATER, WIS – The Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for a socially
distanced holiday season and announcing an exciting community event, the “Week for the
Community” Virtual Raffle.

This virtual raffle event is designed for the whole community to participate in. The raffle is
helping us put some money in the hands of local businesses while raising money for some
marvelous reasons! The Chamber and its partner organizations, The Whitewater Tourism
Council and Downtown Whitewater, Inc. want to help ease the holiday stress for families who
are suffering this year and celebrate the community of Whitewater. Proceeds from the raffle
will be used to help support the Bethel House holiday giving program and help seed the
preparations for a grand celebration of the Whitewater Community in the Fall of 2021!

The Chamber, with the help of some wonderful and generous sponsors, has put together six
incredible packages filled with experiences that celebrate all that Whitewater has to offer! The
packages range in value from $400 to $500 and we think they could be a great addition
to your holiday giving plans. Tickets are $20 per package or a bundle of 6 tickets (one for each
package) for $100. Ticket sales will begin on November 16th and be available until November
22nd. See the Chamber’s Facebook event page at https://fb.me/e/3AhYplPUq for event &
package details and announcements about tickets and winners.

We would like to thank our generous sponsors! Your contributions are going a long way to
support the community and local businesses. Corporate sponsors: First Citizens State Bank,
Lavelle Industries, 841 Brewhouse, Whitewater Arts Alliance, Premier Bank, LSP
Whitewater/NAES, Fort Community Credit Union, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and The Book Teller.
Individual sponsors: Kim Brotz, Katy Grady, Kristen Burton, and Lisa Dawsey-Smith

COVID-19 update: Positive cases continue to rise in city, including WUSD; State ranks Jefferson & Rock Counties in new “critically high” level

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
November 16, 2020

  • With a 7-day case incidence as of November 8 of 92.4, Walworth County’s positive cases have continued their climb, from 77.6 in the past week. The county is very deeply into the “very high risk” category (which begins at 25) under the Jefferson County model that Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) is no longer using as guidance. Whitewater’s case incidence, 104.3, is even higher than Walworth County’s. Meanwhile, Jefferson County is currently reporting a 7-day case incidence as of November 14 of 95. The statewide case incidence is reported to be 93.6. (Case incidence = daily average new cases per 100,000 people.)
  • The school district has now had three school closings since the gradual return to in-person school, with classes going virtual at Lakeview for 11/5-6, at the High School on 11/9, and at Lincoln for 11/10-12. The 24 new staff/student cases in the district for the week more than equalled the previous cumulative total of 21. WUSD’s current data indicates that since September 1 there have been 34 positive cases among students and 11 staff members, a change of 18 students and 6 staff members since our report of November 8. In-person classes resumed fulltime for 4K – 5th grade on September 28; grades 6-12 began a hybrid model on October 12, and fulltime in-person classes resumed on November 2.
  • UWWs current data shows that last week there were 57 students and 6 staff/others with positive PCR tests, a decline from the 70 students in the previous week. In the initial four weeks of the semester there had been a total of 371 students and 15 others. In the past six weeks there have been 199 students and 21 others with positive PCR tests. Positive results from the rapid antigen tests that are administered to asymptomatic and random volunteers increased from 1.1% five weeks ago to 1.9% four weeks ago, 3.35% three weeks ago, to 8.15% two weeks ago. With an increase in testing, those results dropped last week to 5.85% positive.
  • In the past week the state introduced a new “critically high” COVID activity level. Per this state website, the state as a whole and all but seven counties have “critically high” COVID activity levels. The remainder, including Walworth, are at the “very high” activity level. Per the state, “COVID-19 remains very contagious and most people in Wisconsin are still at risk of getting sick from the virus.”
  • The majority of new positive cases in Whitewater still appear to be at UW-W; however, it is evident that there is ongoing community spread in the remainder of the community.
  • Both Rock and Walworth Counties today indicated that the deterioration in their key indicators have resulted in recommendations to revert to Phase I in their COVID-19 phased guidance.

DAILY CASE INCIDENCE PER 100,000 PEOPLE – WALWORTH COUNTY

End DateNew cases/14 daysIncidenceNew cases/7 daysIncidence
9/1552738.840359.2
9/2264847.724536
9/2937927.913419.7
10/530222.217625.9
10/1630822.617625.9
10/2542731.426539.0
11/153339.226839.4
11/879558.552777.6
11/16121889.662892.4
*

DAILY CASE INCIDENCE PER 100,00 PEOPLE – CITY OF WHITEWATER (WALWORTH COUNTY PORTION)

End DateNew cases/14 daysIncidenceNew cases/7 daysIncidence
9/15345206.8284340.4
9/22419251.1132158.1
9/29180107.94857.6
10/174225.12024.0
10/256136.64554.0
11/17544.93036.0
11/88852.75869.6
11/1616095.987104.3

TEST POSITIVITY RESULTS – CITY OF WHITEWATER (WALWORTH COUNTY PORTION)

End Date# Tests Reported – 14 days# PositivePositivity %# Tests Reported – 7 days#PositivePositivity %
8/222162712.5%10365.8%
8/29240197.9%128139.2%
9/74217718.3%2746021.9%
9/2095840442.2%57120435.7%
9/2966318027.1%2364820.3%
10/171754224.0%802025.0%
10/253106119.7%1404532.1%
11/12667528.2%1263023.8%
11/82978829.6%1715833.4%
11/1641316038.7%2348737.2%

TEST POSITIVITY RESULTS – WALWORTH COUNTY

End Date# Tests Reported – 14 days#PositivePositivity %# Tests Reported – 7 days# PositivePositivity %% of Those with Positive Results Who Reported being Asymptomatic Total Deaths
8/22238627711.6%107111210.5%11.4%25
8/29197221010.6%9019810.9%11.1%27
9/7195322811.7%98612913.1%10.9%32
9/22268964824.1%124924519.6%9.7%34
9/29250437915.1%125513410.7%9.75%35
10/5218930213.8%86417625.6%9.49%35
10/16180330814.6%114217615.4%9.47%36
10/25330442712.9%109726524.2%9.36%38
11/1228953323.3%119226822.5%9.10%39
11/8274879528.9%155652733.9%8.8%39
11/163465121835.2%182462834.4%7.84%43
Note: On May 12, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) advised governments that before reopening, rates of positivity in testing (ie, out of all tests conducted, how many came back positive for COVID-19) should remain at 5% or lower for at least 14 days. If a positivity rate is too high, that may indicate that the state is only testing the sickest patients who seek medical attention, and is not casting a wide enough net to know how much of the virus is spreading within its communities. Wisconsin’s current positivity rate is 36.5%.

WUSD is providing the following “COVID Tracking Data” on its website at this link.

COVID TRACKING DATA

On September 23, 2020 the WUSD School Board voted to suspend the utilization of a community level metric.

Below is the cumulative and current number of close contact, symptomatic, COVID positive staff and students.

District COVID Tracking Data Sept 1 – November 9 (updated Nov. 10)
CumulativeNov. 9
STAFF
Close Contact Positive Person3710
Showing Symptoms411
Tested COVID-Positive115
Total Quarantined Staff89
STUDENTSClose Contact Positive Person 225105
Showing Symptoms3005
Tested COVID-Positive3415
Total Quarantined Students559
TotalsNumber of Positive COVID Cases45
Number of Days of School47

UWW has established the following dashboard which provides useful information. It is found at this link.

COVID-19 Dashboard

The COVID-19 pandemic is an ever-changing situation and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater actively monitors and reviews a series of health, safety, and resource metrics to guide decision-making with regard to university operations. These metrics are considered in combination and consultation with recommendations and orders from the state and county health departments before any changes in operations are made.

Last Updated 11/16/2020 at 9:00 AM

COVID-19 cases reported to UW-Whitewater

New reports – Week of Nov. 8-14Previous weekCumulative reports since March 2020
Students5773607
Employees3636
Other105
Unknown202

Dashboard is updated on business days with available data. Numbers include cases reported through university-coordinated testing, as well as those reported through the COVID-19 Hotline, which may include testing that occurred off-campus through other health clinics/providers. Student employees are counted in the student numbers. The “Other” category is defined as any positive cases reported to UW-Whitewater who are neither students nor employees and may include visitors to the university, contractors or vendors, or others who have been to the university in person.  These numbers represent individuals who have had direct contact with the campuses.  Individuals who are working or attending solely in a remote manner and not living in University Housing are not included.

Regional Metrics


University Health and Counseling Services (10/31-11/13)Walworth County (10/28-11/10)Rock County (10/28-11/10)Jefferson CountyWisconsin (7-day average)
Percent Positive43% (166/390*)26.54%26.4%32%36.5%
Time to complete contact tracing100% of contacts are initiated within 48 hours**79% of contacts are initiated within 48 hours49% of contacts are initiated within 48 hoursNot AvailableN/A
Healthcare system capacity levelNo crisis management of care15% ICU beds availableHospitals at a medium capacity levelNot Available14% Available (Based on Immediate Bed Availability)
Total cases per 100,000n/a973.5
(69.5 per day)
1136.9
(81.2 per day)
1254.2
(89.6/day)
1310.6
(93.6)

*UHCS percentage positive is based on PCR testing performed at the University Clinic site of students only.  Case totals are represented by (Total Positives/Total PCR Tests)

**To avoid duplication, UHCS actively partners with Walworth, Rock, and Jefferson Health Departments.  County Health Departments do tracing of positive cases and UHCS employees do tracing of contact cases. 

Previous 7 days of PCR Tests Administered

PCR* Test Date# of PCR Tests Administered
11/5/2030
11/6/2026
11/9/200
11/10/2016
11/11/2061
11/12/2024
11/13/2014

*PCR testing is conducted on symptomatic individuals and individuals with positive Antigen testing results.

Total All PCR Tests# of PCR Negative# of PCR PositivePercentage Positive
1404102345630.8%
3.2%Antigen* Test Date# of Antigen Tests Administered# of Antigen Negative Results# of Antigen Positive ResultsPercentage Positive
11/5/20242221218.3%
11/6/201069798.5%
11/9/20170155158.8%
11/10/2011310587.1%
11/11/20633613203.2%
11/12/20545047.4%
11/13/20666246.1%
Weekly total 13841303815.85%
Total All Antigen Tests533050902334.4%

*Antigen testing is conducted on asymptomatic and random volunteers.

League of Women Voters hosting program on “Feeding Communities in Difficult Times” – Thurs., Nov. 19

(LWV -Whitewater Area press release – Nov. 16)

League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area To Host Program on Feeding Communities

The League of Women Voters-Whitewater Area invites the public to attend a virtual presentation, “Feeding Communities In Difficult Times: How WI Food Pantries Adapted to COVID-19,” on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. Join us in taking a closer look at how local food pantries and other community-owned organizations address food distribution issues in underserved communities. Panel members include representatives from the Whitewater Grocery Co., Community Space, and local documentary producers Jim & Parker Winship (What We’re Hungry For: How Food Pantries Fed Rural Wisconsin During the Pandemic).

Due to COVID-19, this event will be virtual. To attend live, please join the webinar by using the URL: https://bit.ly/LWVFoodProgram. Passcode: 249359. Or, join us by telephone: Dial (312) 626-6799, Webinar ID: 931 0257 0849, Passcode: 249359. This event will be recorded and made available to the public afterwards.

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!

More than 3,400 COVID-19 tests conducted at UW-W last week

(UW-W Press Release – Nov. 16)

More than 3,400 COVID-19 tests conducted at UW-Whitewater last week

Free, rapid testing at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater continues apace as 3,414 COVID-19 tests were conducted last week.

A total of 2,377 of those tests occurred at the Kris Russell Volleyball Arena in the Williams Center, where testing began Nov. 9 and is offered 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Anyone 5 years or older can get a test.

“People are responding to our call for a culture of responsibility to flatten the curve,” said Chancellor Dwight C. Watson. “Getting tested is a critical action step people can take to stop community spread by identifying those who are contagious but not showing symptoms. At UW-Whitewater, we have a friendly, safe and convenient testing site where folks can get their results in 15 minutes.”

Separate from the surge testing effort, University Health and Counseling Services — the primary tester of UW-Whitewater students — conducted 1,037 tests since Monday, including 633 on Wednesday alone.

“To help bolster our student testing numbers, local business DLK Enterprises provided financial incentives for our Warhawks who volunteered to get tested. I’m grateful for the Kachel family’s continued support of our university as we work to protect the health of our campus and greater community,” Watson said.

“In addition, our employees at UW-Whitewater continue to go above and beyond to ensure a robust testing environment here. This is a true collaborative effort to navigate the pandemic and protect one another. And, it’s our proud role as a public university to carry out the Wisconsin Idea to use our knowledge and expertise in the service of this great state, and to solve critical issues facing our society.”

For more information on getting tested for COVID-19 at UW-Whitewater, visit: https://www.uww.edu/warhawks-return/testing

Free parking is available in lots 7 and 9 on Warhawk Drive.

Student testing is made possible due to a partnership with UW System and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Faculty, staff and community testing is possible due to a University of Wisconsin System “surge testing” initiative, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Jorge Islas Martinez is a Hometown Hero

(Whitewater Unites Lives submission) Jorge Islas Martinez is a WUL Hometown Hero, and has been nominated for “Jorge Islas is a real hero in our community.  He has served the Latino community over most of his lifetime in this area and offers English classes out of a deep need to help the Latino community.”

The nomination includes, “We are so fortunate to have him here.”

Jorge Islas Martinez is a Hometown Hero

Jorge is very active in making the Whitewater community welcoming for all people. He says he loves to help people and give back to the community. He has been teaching English to non-English speakers for 23 years.

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 

Contrary to expectations, City Presidential Election turnout fell far short of a record; Contest results shown

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
November 15, 2020

Complete results for the Presidential Election on November 3, 2020 are shown below. In races that were opposed, comparisons are given with the state, county, and/or district results. Some highlights:

  • City Clerk Michele Smith had anticipated that this year’s turnout would exceed that of the 2008 Obama/McCain election. This year’s turnout, however, was only 5066, compared with 7884 in 2008.
  • The percentage of absentee voting doubled compared with 2008. It may be assumed that a primary reason for this dramatic increase was related to COVID-19.
  • Election day registrations fell dramatically, from 3086 in 2008 to 1231 this year.
  • Turnout at both the Armory and the Williams Center polling places fell substantially compared with 2008. It is believed that one factor is that this year many UW-W students voted absentee from their home address. Will Hinz, Whitewater Student Government Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, told the Banner that the marketing campaign that was conducted by the Warhawks Vote Committee encouraged students to vote by mail. Mr. Hinz indicated, “I really do believe that the majority of the students did vote, and I really believe that it was voting from home by absentee.” However, since the districts that vote at the Armory are predominantly populated by long-term residents, it seems clear that participation fell among those residents as well.
  • As has been the case in all recent elections in the city, support for Democratic candidates leaned stronger than in the statewide vote, and particularly higher compared with that in Jefferson and Walworth counties.
  • Banner note: Appreciation should be expressed to City Clerk Michele Smith, Deputy Clerk Andrea Jacobs, and the many poll workers from city staff and other citizens for their conscientious work in administering this challenging election. University staff also did a great job in providing for infection control measures at the Kachel Fieldhouse.
  • Banner note: Thanks to Tom Ganser for the photos at the bottom of this post.

TOTAL BALLOTS CAST – 2020

ArmoryWilliams CenterTotal%WI %
Absentees2544221276554.6Approx 57.9
Election day1622679230145.4
Total41669005066
Election day registrations6665651231

TOTAL BALLOTS CAST – 2008 – Largest election turnout in Whitewater history

ArmoryUniversity CenterTotal%
Absentees1916170208626.5
Election day43361462579873.5
Total625216327884
Election day registrations22858013086

ELECTION RESULTS – 2020

PRESIDENTArmoryWilliams CenterTotal%WI %Jeff Co %Walw Co %
*Biden (D)2459548300759.6549.641.2539.56
Trump (R – Inc)1607329193638.4148.956.3958.76
Jorgensen (Libertarian)6914831.651.21.31.1
Carroll (Solidarity)7310.20.20.1.1
Blankenship (Constitution)505.10.20.1.2
CONGRESS – DISTRICT 5ArmoryWilliams CenterTotal%Dist 5 total %
Palzewicz (D)2345506285158.3539.9
*Fitzgerald (R)1702333203541.6560.1
ASSEMBLY – DISTRICT 43ArmoryWilliams CenterDist 43 total %
*Vruwink (D – Inc.)2367536290360.055.3
Drew (R)1642295193739.244.7
WALWORTH COUNTY – UnopposedArmoryWilliams CenterTotal
*Wiedenfeld (R – District Attorney – Inc.)22254712696
*Bushey (R – Clerk – Inc.) 23094732782
*Etzel (R – Inc.)22764702746
WALWORTH COUNTY – Reg. of DeedsArmoryWilliams CenterTotal%County total %
*Jacobs (R)1460228168842.961.6
Virrueta (D – Inc.)1858385224357.138.4
JEFFERSON COUNTY – UnopposedArmoryWilliams CenterTotal
*Hall (D – District Attorney – Inc.)425138563
*Jensen (R – Treasurer – Inc.376126502
*Hoffman (R – Reg. of Deeds – Inc.)376127503
*McGraw (R – Clerk – Inc.) 377129506
JEFFERSON CO. – REFERENDUM
Nonpartisan Redistricting
ArmoryWilliams CenterTotal%County
Total %
*Yes3377841564.050.9
No1666723336.036.5

Key:
* Candidate elected
D = Democrat
R= Republican
Inc. = Incumbent

565 out of the 679 people who voted at the Kachel Fieldhouse needed to register to vote – Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser
Each of the districts at the Kachel Fieldhouse had a huge “gymnasium” space divided off from the rest of the fieldhouse. Lori Heidenreich (L) assists a voter.
City Manager providing instructions to a voter at the Armory
Plexiglass screens were provided at the polling places in an effort to prevent any COVID-19 transmission
Bird’s eye view of the spacing at the Armory polls