News & Events

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Update: Clarification made that the board agenda for the July 13 meeting did not allow for voting by that body, although the council’s agenda did.

The City of Whitewater Common Council (“council”) and the Whitewater Unified School District School Board (“board”) will meet tonight at 6 p.m. with the hope of concluding a nearly six month effort to reach a new agreement for the operation of the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center (“WAFC”). The bodies last met on July 13, and by the conclusion of the nearly 100 minute meeting there seemed to be growing consensus, but there were substantial frustrations expressed along the way by both officials and the public.

Representatives of the council and board have been meeting, whether as full bodies or in a subcommittee, since March 2. From the beginning of the July meeting it was evident that the groups had different ideas regarding the purpose of the session. The council’s agenda allowed for discussion and possible action on the proposals offered by the city and the district, and Council President James Allen indicated that everyone was prepared to stay as long as necessary to hopefully conclude negotiations. Board President Larry Kachel, however, soon made clear that the board would not be taking any votes. In fact the board’s agenda did not allow for action on the proposals.

Although there were several points of contention, the primary potential deal breaker was the district’s plan to reduce its annual contribution towards operating expenses to $78,000 versus the city’s request for $178,000. The city planned to contribute $250,000 annually in addition to covering any operating deficits. The district offered to take full responsibility for capital expenses on the building after $100,000 annual contributions from the city and the district. All contributions would be subject to a 3% annual escalation factor. The city continued to maintain that it would be unable to operate the facility without the full district operating expense payment.

The public comment period at mid-meeting allowed Jeff Knight and Steve Ryan, among others, to express their disappointment that they were unable to congratulate the representatives on completing their months-long work, as they had planned to do.

A restroom break seemed to clear the air, and ultimately the suggestion was made that the city might be willing to increase its annual capital improvement payment to $200,000 in exchange for the district meeting the $178,000 annual operating expense request. The council voted unanimously to request staff to provide a new financial analysis based on that proposal, and though the board took no vote, members appeared to be willing to consider the proposal at their next meeting on August 14.

It may be anticipated that tonight’s audience will likely include some citizens hoping to provide their representatives with postponed appreciation and congratulations on achieving a new agreement that will keep “Whitewater’s jewel” open for recreation, education, and fitness for the next six years.

The Whitewater Cross Country teams are conducting their annual water softener salt fundraiser and would like you to be a buyer! The CC athletes will stack your order wherever you see fit, including your basement provided you are home during our delivery window and request that level of service. 

There is a two bag minimum order required and orders are due on Wednesday, August 30th. All orders must be prepaid. Delivery will take place on Friday, September 8th from 3:30-6:00 p.m. Use this link to access the flyer.

Thank you to Dalee Water Conditioning for supplying the salt for this year’s fundraiser!

Place an order with any member of the CC team or email Coach Chad Carstens at ccarstens@wwusd.org

The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office (NWS) has issued a Heat Advisory for a number of counties, including Jefferson, Rock, and Walworth, for Sunday. On Saturday the advisory was set for 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., but this morning it was moved back to 11 a.m. Whitewater’s heat index is predicted to reach 99 degrees F.

WHITEWATER, WI (08/16/2023)– The following students conducted research at UW-Whitewater during the 2022-2023 school year.

• 53190 Whitewater, WI: Alex Abplanalp who is majoring in Psychology, presented “Research Compliance Administrator” while mentored and supervised by Donna Kempf while participating in the following program(s): Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.
• 53190 Whitewater, WI: Elbee-Fae Ascherl who is majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies – Bachelor of Arts, presented “Trans-forming Healthcare: Developing Inclusive Healthcare Environments” while mentored and supervised by Stephanie Selvick while participating in the following program(s): Spring Undergraduate Research Day, National Conference on Undergraduate Research, and Fall Undergraduate Research Day. Ascherl won the Research in the Rotunda 2023 award for this project.
• 53190 Whitewater, WI: Danielle Klais who is majoring in Environmental Science – Bachelor of Arts, presented “Evaluating methods for determining thermokarst lake extent changes over the period 2001 – 2020” while mentored and supervised by Rocio Duchesne while participating in the following program(s): Spring Undergraduate Research Day, Fall Undergraduate Research Grant, and Spring Undergraduate Research Grant.
• 53190 Whitewater, WI: Michaela Nitka who is majoring in Geography, presented “Paleontology of Faunas from Initial Transgression to Deep Marine, Cretaceous (Albian) of Central Texas” while mentored and supervised by Rex Hanger while participating in the following program(s): Spring Undergraduate Research Day and Spring Undergraduate Research Grant.
• 53190 Whitewater, WI: Connor Rohde who is majoring in Chemistry – Bachelor of Science, presented “Carbon Capture by Icelandic Basalts: A Potential Way to Address Global Climate Change” while mentored and supervised by Pajukti Bhattacharyya while participating in the following program(s): Spring Undergraduate Research Day.
• 53190 Whitewater, WI: Evan Schepp who is majoring in Environmental Science, presented “The Mesoscale Conditions that Contributed to the development of the Morton, Texas Tornado on 23 May 2022” while mentored and supervised by John Frye while participating in the following program(s): Spring Undergraduate Research Day, Fall Undergraduate Research Grant, and Fall Undergraduate Research Day.
• 53190 Whitewater, WI: Carter Waelchli who is majoring in Theatre Education, presented “It’s not like a Video Game:” Grounded and the influences of its Sound Design.” while mentored and supervised by Ruth Conrad-Proulx while participating in the following program(s): Spring Undergraduate Research Day and Group Grant.
• 53190 Whitewater, WI: Jon Zheng who is majoring in Biology – Bachelor of Science, presented “Phylogenetic Diversification of Mpox and Related Poxviridae” while mentored and supervised by Robert Kuzoff while participating in the following program(s): Spring Undergraduate Research Day, National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Fall Undergraduate Research Grant, and Fall Undergraduate Research Day. Zheng won the Birch and Aspen award for this project.

The Undergraduate Research Program (URP) offers a variety of programs aimed to connect students with faculty mentors and provide them with enriching research opportunities. This can be in the form of working alongside a mentor as a student researcher, or creating independent, student-led projects with a mentor’s help.

Undergraduate students from all majors are able to apply and participate in the various programs, grants, and opportunities that the URP offers, and many take part in undergraduate research every year. URP supports inquiry-driven research scholarship and creative activity, and provides grants, research fellowships, and travel support to undergraduate students and faculty mentors.

“The Undergraduate Research Program is a high-impact practice that gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge outside of the classroom and dive deeper into their field of interest,” said Ana Caballero Mengibar, director of the Undergraduate Research Program. “It stimulates critical thinking, helps to improve communication and problem solving skills, and advances both individual and collective knowledge. Students participating in the Undergraduate Research Program have higher levels of acceptance rates to graduate school, increased graduation rates, and they are more likely to find jobs upon graduation.”

To find information about the Undergraduate Research Program, visit https://www.uww.edu/urp.

Updated at 10:50 a.m. on 8/21 to confirm time of the library meeting.
Updated at 7:50 p.m. on 8/21 to add City Community Lakes meeting on Saturday.

Joint Meeting with City of Whitewater Common Council and Whitewater Unified School District – Monday @ 6 p.m.
Agenda
City of Whitewater Municipal Building – Community Room
312 West Whitewater St.
This will be an IN PERSON and a VIRTUAL MEETING.
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join us 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/j/84831526958?pwd=Q1FsNG43TjhtWW1hUHNOY0RZZGVYdz09
Passcode: 280540
Or dial
1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 848 3152 6958
Passcode: 280540

Irvin L. Young Memorial Library Board of Trustees – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda
Community Room
431 W. Center Street
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89929656951?pwd=dmd4QkppL2FDMXA5WURjcy8rZ0dHdz09
Meeting ID: 899 2965 6951
Passcode: EzXQ7vJz
Or dial
1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 899 2965 6951
Passcode: 50657151

City of Whitewater Police and Fire Commission – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes closed session interview of EMS Lieutenant candidate followed by open session.
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Community Room- First Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
Please join meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/195294189
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 195-294-189
United States: +1 (872) 240-3412

City of Whitewater Parks & Recreation Board – Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes WAFC Membership Fee Discussion/Approval and Starin Park’s Treyton’s Field Of Dreams Deck Expansions Discussion And Approval.
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Cravath Lakefront Room- 2nd Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
or Virtual
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86135525968?pwd=ZXZ4ZDk1NC8rZDFMd2R6K1J6NkZyZz09
Meeting ID: 861 3552 5968
Passcode: 839644
Or dial 1 312 626 6799
Meeting ID: 861 3552 5968
Passcode: 839644

• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
  Meeting ID: 861 3552 5968
  Passcode: 839644

City of Whitewater Community Lakes Meeting – Saturday @ 11:00 a.m.
Guest: Heidi Bunk, Lakes Biologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
WHERE: City of Whitewater Municipal Building, Common Council Chambers Room, 312 W. Whitewater St. Councilmembers and DNR
will walk over to Cravath Lake to continue the meeting.
A quorum of the Common Council will be present. This notice is given to inform the public that no formal action will be taken at this meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

to the public.

The Rock County Communications Center is announcing Text-to-911 Services in Rock County are fully operational again.

Text-to-911 services have been available in Rock County since 2015. Text-to-911 is not intended to replace voice calls to 911; however, if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or in a dangerous situation where it is unsafe to make a voice call, text-to-911 is another way to reach emergency assistance in Rock County.

More information on text-to-911 can be found on the Rock County Communications website under the Public Education section.

“The Desperate Hours”
Tuesday, August 22, 1 p.m.
(Crime/Drama/Thriller/Film Noir)
Rated PG; 1 hour 52 minutes (1955)

Rarely shown on TV: in one of his last films, Humphrey Bogart plays a mad dog escaped convict who takes over and terrorizes a suburban Indianapolis household. The film critic of The NY Times likened Bogart’s performance to one of his earliest, Duke Mantee, in “The Petrified Forest.” 

Stars Humphrey Bogart, Frederic March, Arthur Kennedy. 

Fort HealthCare, the leading healthcare provider in the region, is excited to announce the launch of its annual community wellness initiative, “Rock the Walk 2023.” This year’s challenge, commencing on Tuesday, September 5th, and concluding on Tuesday, October 17th, aims to encourage residents of Jefferson County and the surrounding areas to be more mindful about their health and physical activity while embracing “Falling into Wellness.”

The “Rock the Walk” challenge centers around the theme of “Building Health Habits.” Participants will have access to an online “Wellness Portal,” offering valuable educational information, exercise trackers, meal plans, strength and cardio training examples, recipes, blogs, and other free tools to support their wellness journey.

To join the challenge, participants are encouraged to sign up on the Fort HealthCare website (https://www.forthealthcare.com/wellness/challenges/rockthewalk/) starting from August 15th. There is no cost to participate, and the challenge is 100% digital. Upon registration, participants will be invited to join one of the Rock the Walk teams, organized by either their employer or local township. Fort HealthCare shares a common goal with these local entities to motivate individuals to understand how their health impacts the overall community wellness.

Experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity per week, which equates to just over 20 minutes per day. Participants are encouraged to log their activity on the Rock the Walk online tool regularly to stay in the challenge and compete for fantastic prizes. Any form of exercise that gets the heart pumping and encourages movement is welcome, regardless of one’s current fitness level. From swimming, walking, and biking to weightlifting, aerobics, gardening, and more, every effort counts in contributing to a healthier community.

“We are thrilled to challenge our Jefferson County community once again to Rock the Walk and embrace “Falling into Wellness,” said Molly Prater, Community Health Programmer at Fort HealthCare. “By participating in this initiative, individuals not only enhance their personal well- being but also contribute to making Jefferson County the healthiest community in Wisconsin.”

For more information on how to participate in Rock the Walk 2023 or how organizations can sponsor the initiative, please visit www.FortHealthCare.com/RockTheWalk.

Participants are encouraged to share their progress and positivity on social media using the hashtag #HealthiestHereWe Come and tagging @FortHealthCare and/or their team coalition or organization.

About Fort HealthCare
Fort HealthCare is committed to improving the health and well-being of our communities, with a vision to be the healthiest community in Wisconsin. As the leading healthcare provider in the region, it is our goal to reach as many members of the community as possible with health and wellness messages, providing tools and resources to help individuals improve their health and quality of life while collaborating with several partners to positively improve the population’s health overall on a long-term basis. FortHealthCare.com.