News

Walmart National Policy Requires Shoppers to Wear Face Covering Beginning Monday, July 20

Per The Hill and various other media outlets, “Walmart announced on Wednesday it will require shoppers to wear a face covering starting on July 20 in all stores and clubs across the U.S.

Walmart noted that currently about 65 percent of its more than 5,000 stores and clubs are located in areas where there is some form of government mandate on face coverings. The new policy is in place to help bring consistency, the company said.

“While we’re certainly not the first business to require face coverings, we know this is a simple step everyone can take for their safety and the safety of others in our facilities,” Dacona Smith, Walmart U.S. chief operating officer, and Lance de la Rosa, Sam’s Club chief operating officer, wrote in a press release.

Walmart created a health ambassador position for each store and will station them near the entrance of stores, along with clear signage, to remind people without a mask of the policy. The ambassadors will receive special training and be identifiable by black polo shirts.”

For the complete story in The Hill, please click here.

Savory Sounds Concert Today Features “A Rose Among Thorns”

(WHITEWATER – Whitewater Arts Alliance Press Release) – The first of three Savory Sounds Concerts to take place at the Cultural Arts Center on 402 West Main Street on Thursday, July 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. will feature A Rose Among Thorns. All concerts will be outside at the Whitewater Arts Alliance’s Cultural Arts Center. In case of rain, the concerts will be live-streamed.

Las Chicas, 1170 W. Main Street, will provide lunches with pre-orders.  Attendees are invited to call 262-458-2303 to pre-order lunches for pick up prior to the concert.

July 16, 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

A Rose Among Thorns

A Rose Among Thorns

Called A Rose Among Thorns, this quartet of local musicians offers pleasing melodies, tight musicianship, and stirring renditions of songs from folk, pop, blues, country, and Celtic traditions. The foursome includes Jeff Mason on acoustic guitar, bass, and vocals; Perry Baird on vocals and acoustic guitar; Tom Cook on bass, mandolin, banjo, and a host of other stringed instruments; and Angela Martin Licari on violin and vocals. Fort Atkinson natives Jeff and Perry played as solo acts and as a duo in the mid-1980s, renewing their musical partnership about five years ago. Tom, retired band teacher at Fort High School, came on board in 2015, and a violin was added in 2016, with Angela capably taking over that duty last year. All are familiar to local audiences as members of other musical ensembles, some of which include Jeff with the Merry Horde, Expanded Waist Band, and Blue Stew; Perry with The Buzzards; Tom with Madison Brass and Guitarcheology; and Angela with Madpolecats. The Rose Among Thorns collaboration gives each a chance to contribute favorite—often eclectic—songs for interpretation by the group. Songs featuring moving stories and themes, energetic instrumentals, soothing vocals, and singable choruses are all part of typical Rose Among Thorns musical sets.

Street Construction Projects Starting Thurs., 7/16: Wisconsin St., Starin Rd., Dog Park parking lot

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Street Construction Projects

Construction work is anticipated to begin Thursday, July 16, 2020, on streets and parking lots in the City. Specifically, the streets include Wisconsin Street between Milwaukee Street and Coburn Lane, and Starin Road between Park Street and Fremont Street. Work includes pulverizing the existing asphalt pavement, grading and paving of new asphalt.

Parking lots being paved include the parking lot at the Dog Park and along Innovation Drive adjacent to Moraine View Park. During construction on the streets, the streets will be open to traffic, though they may be reduced to one lane at times. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of July.

Questions should be directed to Brad Marquardt, Director of Public Works, at (262) 473-0139.

Thank you!

Local Student Named to Dean’s List at Aurora University

AURORA, Ill. (July 13, 2020) – Aurora University has named Cherie Meinen of Whitewater, WI, to the Dean’s List for the spring 2020 semester. Meinen is a Junior majoring in Bachelor of Soc Work. The Dean’s List recognizes full-time undergraduate students who have earned a 3.6 GPA or higher.

Aurora University is a four-year, private, nonprofit, fully accredited higher education institution offering students an excellent education while maintaining one of the lowest private school tuition rates in Illinois. Our campus is nestled in a tree-lined neighborhood in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois, and located approximately 45 miles from Chicago. The university serves approximately 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students across more than 50 majors and programs. AU leadership, faculty, and staff are committed to the success of our students, offering strong academic support programs and learning opportunities that prepare students for success beyond graduation. The university is also committed to giving back to the city we live and work in by offering educational and cultural programming that enriches the larger community. Our dedication to the transformative power of learning inspires all to discover what matters and build a life around it.

Linda Kay Niemuth, 69, of Hustisford, passed away July 11, 2020 at UW Hospital in Madison

Linda Kay Niemuth, 69, of Hustisford, passed away July 11, 2020 at UW Hospital in Madison.

A private service will be held on the shore of Lake Sinissippi on Thursday, July 16th for family and close friends. Memorials, if desired, may be directed to UW Carbone Cancer Center (600 Highland Avenue, K4/658, Madison, WI 53792-6164). Hafemeister Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Watertown is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.hafemeisterfh.com.

Linda Kay Kuehni was born June 29, 1951 in Stanley, WI, daughter of Warner and Jennie (nee Thoreson) Kuehni. She graduated from Cadott High School. Linda married Daniel Niemuth on October 19, 1968 in Cadott, WI. Together, they shared 51 blessed, wonderful years. Linda worked at Spacesaver in Fort Atkinson and then Fairhaven in Whitewater, where she retired.

Linda was a member of the Garden Club in Hustisford, and was in the various ladies’ circles at church. She was known for her smile that lit up a room. She crocheted countless blankets and gifted them to her family and loved ones. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading and baking pies and cookies. She loved being on the water and watching the lake. Linda appreciated a well-made bed. She helped people without needing to be asked and could make friends with anyone. Together, Linda and Dan attended the Packers Super Bowl victory in 1997 in New Orleans. Most of all, Linda loved spending time with her grandkids and granddogs.

Linda is survived by her husband, Daniel Niemuth; children, Jeremy (Cori) Niemuth, Melissa (John) Seamonson, Jason (Kerry) Niemuth, Laura (Seth) Nagy; Grandchildren, Chelsea and Tyler Niemuth, David and Joshua Seamonson, Savannah and Charlotte Nagy; siblings, Ruth Ramsier, Karen (Ken) Habedank, Clarence (Eileen) Kuehni, Rodney (Darlene) Kuehni, Jon (Ruth) Kuehni, David (Carla) Kuehni; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Janet (Roman) Bourget; brother, Jerry Kuehni and sister-in-law Betty Jacobson; brother-in-law Ronnie Ramsier.

Our Readers Share – Ginny Coburn: East Gateway Prairies are Blooming

East Gateway Prairie – Photo courtesy of Ginny Coburn

Ginny Coburn writes, “Shown here are purple prairie clover and coreopsis, two of the native Wisconsin plants growing in the mini-prairie surrounding a public art piece at East Milwaukee St.  A matching sculpture and prairie is found across the street at East Main and together the area is known as the East Gateway to Whitewater.  Other plants found in the landscapes are white prairie clover, silky Canadian rye, black-eyed Susan, rattlesnake master, butterfly weed, bee balm, liatris, milkweed and more.  The growing of native plants benefits the environment by hosting caterpillars and pollinators.  Birds need protein to feed their babies and caterpillars are a great source but some species of caterpillar are “specialists” and will only feed on one plant family. The monarch caterpillar, for example, only feeds on milkweed leaves.  Growing a variety of native plants benefits birds and encourages a variety of butterflies and moths. 

The pair of sculptures by Richard Taylor is titled “Ascent and Bloom” and suggests a tree with branches, each of which has symbols of Whitewater history such as agricultural implements, native birds, flowing water, Esterly Reaper factory parts and a wooly mammoth representing the Ice Age which shaped our Kettle Moraine topography.  Pedestrians enjoy interpreting the various symbols for themselves, then making a visit to the Whitewater Depot Museum to see the actual artifacts.

The sculptures and prairie were made possible by a generous grant from Fort Community Credit Union.”

— Our thanks to Ms. Coburn for sharing this beautiful photograph and interesting information with us.

— 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 or click on “submit a story” near the top right of our homepage.  Thanks for thinking about this!

Whitewater Marketing Alliance shares survey results: “Whitewater is…” (in one word)

(Whitewater Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Whitewater Press Release) In February, the Whitewater Marketing Alliance, a collaborative group whose goal is promote Whitewater as a place to live, learn, work and play, prepared a survey to begin to find out how residents of Whitewater feel about their community. The survey asked for one-word answers to the question “Whitewater is….”

The results of the survey, which received nearly 150 responses, can be seen in this graphic, commonly called a word cloud. Words that were used fewer than five times were not included in the graphic. Top responses include UW-Whitewater, community, home, small, quaint and friendly.

This sign can be downloaded, printed and displayed as a way to show pride in and support for Whitewater. Here is a link to word cloud: https://www.downtownwhitewater.com/whitewater-is-word-cloud 

The Whitewater Marketing Council includes representatives from the City of Whitewater, Downtown Whitewater, the Whitewater Chamber of Commerce, the Whitewater Unified School District, UW-Whitewater, and the Greater Whitewater Committee.

Message from Chancellor Watson on International Students and New ICE Guidance / BREAKING NEWS: Trump Administration Rescinds Rule

From the International Students page on the UW-W website

UPDATE – 7/14 @ 2:40 p.m., per the Wisconsin State Journal and other media outlets, as a hearing was getting underway before a federal judge on a lawsuit contesting the policy, ICE announced that the Trump administration is rescinding the policy. For the story in the Wisconsin State Journal click here.

Message from Chancellor Watson on international students

Dear Campus Colleagues,

Earlier this month, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released its Fall 2020 operational guidance that prohibits international students from returning to or remaining in the United States this fall if the college or university they attend adopts online-only instruction models amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, Monday, July 13, 18 states, including Wisconsin, filed a lawsuit that challenges the rule. This is a dynamic situation and we are monitoring it closely, as is the UW System administration.

UW System President Tommy Thompson said, in a statement, “International students are welcomed here at the UW System. We fully support the Attorney General’s action today joining the lawsuit challenging the ICE rules regarding international students. While we provided background for the lawsuit, our belief is that our universities’ planned hybrid model of teaching delivery during the fall 2020 semester ensures our compliance with the rules if they are upheld.”

As a university that embraces diversity and inclusion — in all its forms — we find this order by ICE troubling. UW-Whitewater deeply values and appreciates our international students and staff. Our campus is a more engaging and vibrant place because of our international Warhawk family members. These valued colleagues represent more than 40 different countries contributing to the richness of our university. It is our hope that our international students and staff always feel that they belong on the UW-Whitewater campuses. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure their presence and success at UW-Whitewater.

Currently, campus leaders and the staff in the Office of International Students and Scholars are working to support our international students. We are in contact with students at both campuses to ensure that the students feel supported, valued and cared for as well as receiving critical information that they need. We are also reaching out to instructors and administrators to explain the potential impact these rules could have on our students.

As members of the Warhawk family, I encourage all of us to take the time to reach out to students or friends impacted by these new rules to check in with them and to offer support.

Sincerely,
Dr. Dwight C. Watson
Chancellor

Banner addition: The following statement was issued by UW System Regent President Andrew S. Petersen:

“The value of international students to our universities extends beyond the financial and research support they provide Wisconsin. Their presence on UW System universities contributes to the learning opportunities and cultural enrichment provided to all of our students.”

Wayne A. Saxe, 88, went to be with the Lord on July 8, 2020 at his home with his loving wife by his side

Wayne A. Saxe, 88, went to be with the Lord on July 8, 2020 at his home with his loving wife by his side.

Wayne was born in his grandparent’s house on September 5, 1931 in Lima Center, WI the son of Glenn and Kathryn (Hunt) Saxe. The Saxe farm was a homestead that Wayne’s grandparents bought from the State of Wisconsin. Wayne was very proud of his home farm. He went to grade school in a one room school house in Lima Center and attended high school in Whitewater, WI, graduating in 1949. While Wayne was in high school, he was able to take the train from Lima Center in to Whitewater for 10 cents. After graduating high school, Wayne enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950 and was stationed in Las Vegas, NV. While in Las Vegas, Wayne met Patsy Scott and the two were married. After an honorable discharge, the couple purchased a farm that neighbored his parents’ farm. The couple farmed together until Patsy’s death on January 20, 1975. Wayne was given the honor of Farmer of the Year two times during his farming career. In the 1950’s Wayne and some of his friends formed a snowmobile club called the Snow Seekers. After his 25 year farming career, Wayne purchased the Lone Star Inn of Twinkling Star Road and operated the bar and restaurant for 35 years. In 1991, Wayne met Edith Allen and the two were married in 1999. The couple ran the bar together until their retirement. They loved to attend NASCAR races, and were season ticket holders for the Badgers and the famous Green Bay Packers. The two traveled to Hawaii and all across the United States to the Meadowlands, attending two Rose Bowls. They also attended a host of Packer games, including the 1998 Super Bowl. Wayne and Edith also enjoyed a trip together to Las Vegas with a highlight being their visit to Nellis Air Force Base. For leisure, Wayne enjoyed playing cards, especially with his family. He was a member of the Whitewater Country Club for a number of years and golfed very well. It must be mentioned that for 25 years, the Lone Star hosted the UW-Whitewater Quarterback Club and Tip Off Club for their meetings and socials. In 2017, UW-Whitewater awarded Wayne and Edith a Distinguished Service Award for their support over the years. Wayne lived a full life and he will be dearly missed.

Wayne is survived by: his loving wife, Edith Saxe; his daughter, Nancy (Mike Ilg) DeSpain; his daughter-in-law, Kandie (Reed) Fulton; 3 stepsons, Kyle (Lori) Allen, Karl (Jessica Thorson) Allen, Joe (Becky Palmer) Allen; 5 grandchildren, Nathan (Jordan) DeSpain, Summer (Bobby) DeSpain, Mary (Chase) Ervin, Michael (Alisha) Saxe, and Hunter Allen; 6 great-grandchildren, Payton, Jayci and Dayvee DeSpain, and Charlie, Bailey and Emerson Ervin; and a sister, Dorothy (Dale) Pieper. Wayne is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Patsy, and his dear son, Scott Saxe.

The family would like to extend a special, heartfelt thanks to Rainbow Hospice for the loving care they provided to Wayne and his family the last few months.

A Friends and Family Gathering will be held to honor Wayne’s life at a later date.

Gibson Family Funeral Homes of Palmyra & Eagle, WI is serving the family. To place an online condolence please visit gibsonfuneral.com