News

The Washington Post asked three public health experts where they’ll be comfortable going now that states are reopening.

In general, they’ll consider three key points:

●Whether they’d be indoors or outdoors (Outdoors is safer.)

●Their proximity to employees and customers (Can they stay at least six feet from others?)

●How much time the outing would entail (Less is better.)

If you’re interested in seeing more of the experts’ advice, click here.

May 15, 2020 Update from City Manager.

Municipal Facility Closures

Though the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the Governor’s Safer At Home order (Order #28), many of the practices outlined in the Governor’s order were of significant value in protecting the health and safety of employees. Because the dangers associated with the spread of COVID-19 remain, the City of Whitewater will continue with modified operations until further notice. As a result, municipal facilities will remain closed to the public until further notice. This standard will be reevaluated on or before June 1, 2020. Any updates or changes will be provided publicly via this page as well as the City’s other media outlets.

UW-Whitewater announces 2020 alumni award recipients

Three alumni who have achieved significant professional and community service success are being honored as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater celebrates its 152nd anniversary. Each 2020 award winner is a woman of color and represents the first generation in her family to earn a college degree.

This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award is Sydney Nelson. The award recognizes Nelson’s personal and professional commitment to mentoring others and her focus on teaching financial literacy skills to the various communities she serves, including in her role as president of the Milwaukee Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. Nelson, who earned a BBA in accounting in 2013 and a Master of Professional Accountancy in 2014, is a senior internal auditor for Advocate Aurora Health in Milwaukee. Read more >>

The recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement is Sarahí Monterrey. The award recognizes Monterrey’s extensive career developing bilingual curricula and advocating for dual-language programs. She was named Wisconsin’s 2018-2019 High School Teacher of the Year and selected as Wisconsin’s 2019 representative to the National Teacher of the Year Program. Monterrey, who earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 2002 and a master’s degree in 2003, is an English learner teacher at Waukesha North High School. Read more >>

Regina Carlisle-Williams is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Community/Regional Service. Carlisle-Williams, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business education in 1978, is recognized for her service to others, as evidenced by numerous local, regional and statewide awards citing her outstanding citizenship and her commitment to the community. Carlisle-Williams is a retired legal assistant for Loeb & Herman, S.C., of Milwaukee, where she worked for 40 years. Read more >>

“All three of these accomplished alumni speak to UW-Whitewater’s legacy of supporting diversity and the success of students of all backgrounds,” said Chancellor Dwight C. Watson. “I couldn’t be more proud of their achievements. Through their lived experiences, they have modeled the Warhawk values of equity, diversity and inclusion that we work to instill in all of our students.”

“The impact of UW-Whitewater alumni can be seen and felt across the nation and world,” said Amy Oeding, director of alumni relations. “They not only contribute immensely to their professions, but they also give back to their communities and continue to have a rich connection to the campus and to today’s students.”

Also being recognized are the 2020 UW-Whitewater Outstanding Student Award winners, one from each of the university’s five colleges. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship in addition to their award:

• Allison August, general management major from Janesville, College of Integrated Studies
• Haley Fritsche, early childhood education major from Lake Tomahawk, College of Education and Professional Studies
• Julia Gahr, accounting and supply chain and operations management double major from Sussex, College of Business and Economics
• Jasmyn Kosier, music education major from Wauwatosa, College of Arts and Communication
• Komi Yenkey, computer science major from Whitewater, College of Letters and Sciences

The outstanding alumni and student awards are traditionally presented at an event in honor of the university’s annual Founders Day on April 21. Because of the state Safer-at-Home order, this year’s event, scheduled for April 25, was canceled. This year’s awardees will instead be honored at the university’s 2021 Founder’s Day event.

For more information on UW-Whitewater’s Outstanding Alumni awards, visit http://www.uww.edu/alumni/awards

BEEF AND PORK CONTRIBUTION SUPPORTS COMMUNITY AND FARMERS

(Madison, Wis.) – Tyler Sailsbery, owner and chef at The Black Sheep in Whitewater, is committed to providing nourishing meals for Whitewater community members in need.  A recent contribution from Vita Plus helped him in that mission.

This contribution is part of the Vita Plus Serving Customers & Rural Communities Project.  Vita Plus, an employee-owned livestock feed and nutrition company, has committed $100,000 to support rural food security initiatives throughout the Upper Midwest.  The purposes of the project are to assist those in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic while also supporting dairy, swine, and beef producers by purchasing their products as dairy and livestock farms face subsequent market challenges.  Through this broad-based effort, local Vita Plus nutrition consultants and facilities will identify opportunities to make a difference in the communities where they and their customers live and work.

Chad Howlett, Vita Plus beef consultant and sales manager, worked with Katy Katzman and her daughter, Elizabeth, of Katzman Farms in Whitewater to designate his portion of the funds to The Black Sheep.  The restaurant used the contribution to purchase ground beef and pork to use in the meals it prepares and offers to kids and families free of charge.

“This was a great chance for us to give back to a local community,” Howlett said.  “We’re all in this together and it’s great when the agriculture community can come together to support one another.  Our farmers love to know the food they produce is put to good use and enjoyed.  This project helps us complete that circle in the community.”

Tyler Sailsbery told the Banner, “That was very kind of them (Vita Plus.) We ordered just over a hundred pounds of meat from Sorgs with this donation. It allowed us to offer the kids sloppy joes, tacos, breakfast quiche or egg bake with the sausage, brats and more. We were also able to hand out 1 lb packages of ground pork and ground beef.”

Vita Plus Corporation is an employee-owned company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, and has been serving livestock producers since 1948.  More than just a feed supplier, Vita Plus consultants offer the latest cutting-edge technology, nutrition and management information.  For more information about the organization, call 800.362.8334 or go online at www.vitaplus.com.

Congratulations to UW-W’s 150th Graduating Class!

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater celebrated the achievements of its graduates on Saturday, May 16, in a virtual event, which can still be viewed on UW-Whitewater’s Facebook page.

More than 1,700 students received degrees, including 1,685 from the Whitewater campus and 95 from the Rock County campus.

The commencement ceremonies at both campuses originally scheduled for this month have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the university is looking at potential dates to hold an in-person event at some point in the future.

“These unprecedented times have changed how we live our lives, and we must forego the traditions we normally experience. Although we cannot be together physically at this time, we can still come together and celebrate the success and achievements of our graduating students,” said Chancellor Dwight C. Watson

At the event, Watson and Interim Provost Greg Cook gave remarks, as did student speakers Alexander Ostermann and Brian Martinez.

Ostermann, a marketing major from Cedarburg, is the outgoing student body president who had wide-ranging experiences at UW-Whitewater, including as a musician, fraternity leader, Warhawk Ambassador and Homecoming King. Read more >>

Martinez, a political science major from Mt. Pleasant, served as intergovernmental affairs director for Whitewater Student Government, where he advocated for student concerns and causes to elected officials at the local, state and national level. During his time as a Warhawk, he incorporated his passions for environmental conservation and philanthropy. Read more >>

The virtual event also featured the conferring of degrees and a special musical surprise. In addition, UW-Whitewater debuted its Warhawks Rising social media campaign, where newly minted graduates share their photos and proudest achievements on Facebook.

The graduating class includes 15 international students, 85 military veterans and 244 nontraditional students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 137 self-identified students with disabilities will receive degrees.

CITY OF WHITEWATER PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

This public service announcement serves as a reminder that blowing or depositing grass clippings into any City street is prohibited.

Banner Comments: Reasons that this is not permitted include: 1) Grass clippings, leaves, and other lawn debris can clog storm drains, resulting in street and private property flooding. 2) Storm drains flow directly to local lakes untreated. Grass clippings add unnecessary nutrients, which help feed harmful algae blooms. 3) Clippings can make the street slippery and hazardous for bicyclists and motorcyclists.

Using a mulching mower puts clippings back into the turf and keeps the nutrients where they belong. Should you choose to use a discharging mower, please be sure to point the blower toward your property (away from the street) to prevent clippings from leaving the lawn. Mowers may also choose to bag clippings, but they may not be disposed of in the garbage totes. City residents are encouraged to compost clippings on their property or take them to the city’s compost site site.

When finished mowing, be sure to use a blower, broom, or rake to clean up any grass clippings or debris that have inadvertently made their way into the street, sidewalk, or storm drain.

City Code – Chapter 12.08 – STREET OBSTRUCTIONS

Sections:

12.08.010 – Prohibited.

(a)No person, except as provided in Section 12.08.020, shall place, deposit, keep, or cause to be placed, deposited or kept in or upon any street, alley, gutter, sidewalk or public ground within the limits of this city any stone, brick, timber, lumber, iron, wood or other material for building, or any wood, snow, rubbish, earth, grass clippings or lawn debris, or anything or substance whatever; nor shall any person burn or cause to be burned any such substance in any public street or alley; nor shall any person leave any automobile, truck, trailer, equipment or other vehicle standing or parked in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, or public ground so as to encumber the same, or so as to obstruct, impede, or hinder travel thereon; nor shall any person leave, or cause to suffer any box, barrel, crate, cask, bale, package, merchandise, or other thing to stand, be or remain upon any street, alley, sidewalk, gutter, or public ground longer than may be actually necessary for the act of delivering or receiving the same.

(b)Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall forfeit and pay a penalty of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than two hundred fifty dollars, together with the costs of prosecution.

(Ord. 983 §51, 1982; prior code §6.01(1)).

(Ord. No. 1759A, § 1, 2-16-2010)

Stacey Lunsford, Director of the Irvin L. Young Library, told the Banner that as of May 13 the library had had 333 curbside pickups since that service began on April 27. For information on how to arrange for a pickup, please click here.

Requests may now be made for materials from the other consortium libraries, recognizing that wait times are longer due to safety protocols. Per Ms. Lunsford, items are quarantined for 72 hours after they eventually arrive at the library before they can contact patrons to arrange for pickup.

WHITEWATER RESPONDS MEAL MINISTRY

Effective Monday, May 25, Whitewater Responds – the meal ministry at First United Methodist Church – will take a hiatus. The number of those receiving food is decreasing as the weather warms up and college students are leaving the community. This is simply a pause to reevaluate the needs of the community and to refresh our volunteers. This ministry may be revived as we simply do not know the timeline of the pandemic. Since March 18, over 4,000 meals have been provided to college students, families with children, and seniors. First United Methodist Church will continue to have a limited number of pre-packaged meals and bags of nonperishable items available in case of an emergency. Thank you to the Whitewater community for all the support and encouragement. 

City Manager Cameron Clapper issued a press release on May 14 in reference to the changes made to the Safer at Home Emergency Order #28. Please click here to download the release, which includes links to many helpful resources.

Mr. Clapper states, “As most are aware, yesterday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the Safer at
Home Emergency Order #28. The Court determined that the order is subject to administrative rule-making, and because it was not established in rule, but rather it was established via order, the Supreme Court found EO #28 “unenforceable.” This ruling takes effect immediately.”

“As is the case with any municipal government, two fundamental objectives of the City of Whitewater are to first protect and preserve the health and safety of the community and second, to support local business growth and development. With these two objectives in mind, the City has issued the following release in response to the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision.”

Here are the highlights from the “For Residents and Visitors” section. There is another large section particularly addressing business concerns.

For Residents and Visitors:
The City of Whitewater encourages community members to adhere to health and safety guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Jefferson County Health Department, and Walworth County Health & Human Services Department. Follow key practices as outlined below.

1. Practice social/physical distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet between yourself and others at all times, except
   when gathering with those within your own household;
2. Avoid large gatherings, especially those where social distancing practices are not observed;
3. Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer;
4. Cover coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands);
5. Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces;
6. Avoid shaking hands;
7. Stay home when sick, including with even mild symptoms, and discuss your health with your primary medical care
   provider.
8. If you are considered high risk due to age or a health condition, continue to remain safer at home and take
   precautions such as limiting travel to essential reasons and working from home as much as possible.

Municipal Facilities
Municipal facilities will remain closed to the public through June 1st and may extend as needed until a system is in place to ensure the safety of city staff and community from possible exposure. Further details and a timeline for incremental reopening will be released at a future date.