News & Events

Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced they are hosting a free online student loan debt relief workshop on April 21. The workshop will help student loan borrowers prepare for the end of the federal student loan payment pause, which the Biden administration recently extended from May 1 through August 31.

“With student loan payments resuming in September, it is more important than ever for borrowers to explore their student loan repayment options and make a plan for repayment today,” said DFI Secretary-designee Cheryll Olson-Collins. “Borrowers should take time now while payments are still paused to look into repayment options such as income-driven repayment plans, which may lower monthly payments, and check their eligibility for student loan forgiveness. Not waiting until the last minute to make a plan is important and will help ensure a smooth return to repayment.”

“As student loan payments resume, borrowers should watch for dishonest offers of loan forgiveness or savings from consolidation from debt relief scammers,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “Borrowers with questions should attend this informational workshop to learn more about the many resources consumers can access without paying any fees.”

Join the “Student Loan Debt Relief Workshop: How to Avoid Scams, Use Free Repayment Tools and Save Money” on April 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. by registering for free here.

During this workshop, student loan borrowers will learn about current student loan debt relief scams to avoid and how to use the free Wisconsin Student Loan Repayment Tool, created by Savi. Savi’s student loan experts will answer questions about student loan repayment and explain how their tool can help borrowers navigate the complexities of federal student loan repayment plans, forgiveness programs, and lowering student loan payments. Using Savi’s tool may help borrowers reduce their monthly payments and optimize their repayment plans. On average, users of this tool save $156 each month and have a lifetime savings of $28,308. Student loan borrowers can find additional free repayment resources on DFI’s LookForwardWI.gov website.

DFI and DATCP encourage student loan borrowers to create a repayment plan now to help ensure a smooth return to repayment and to beware of fraudsters taking advantage of this transition period. Borrowers with questions are encouraged to call the Wisconsin Student Loan Help Hotline at (833) 589-0750 or contact Federal Student Aid. Student loan borrowers who have been the victim of a scam should report it by filing a complaint online, emailing datcphotline@wisconsin.gov, or calling DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128.

As an extension to their A Long Walk to Water novel unit, sixth graders at Whitewater Middle School have completed the Iron Giraffe Challenge for the third year in a row. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park tells the true story of Salva Dut, a man who was driven away from his home in Sudan as a young boy due to the ongoing civil war between northern and southern Sudan. As students read this story, they learned how Salva, despite personal and societal conflicts, was able to survive the harsh environment of Sudan and eventually be granted US citizenship. After gaining US citizenship, Salva Dut started Water for South Sudan, an organization that works to provide clean and sustainable drinking water to areas of South Sudan that are in need. Each year, Water for South Sudan invites schools to participate in the Iron Giraffe Challenge which asks schools to raise $1,000 for their organization. WFSS uses this money to build and rehabilitate water wells in Africa; the foundation also uses this money to provide hygiene trainings for villages in South Sudan which teach villagers to bathe, clean, and wash properly with their newly accessible water source. Each of the past three years, Whitewater Middle School has participated in and completed the Iron Giraffe Challenge, raising a total of $3,435 in their fundraising efforts. On Friday, April 8, Whitewater Middle School will be one of less than 100 schools in the world in a drawing to win a number of prizes including a school visit from Salva Dut himself. Other prizes include Zoom calls from Salva and Linda Sue Park. Please join in the community excitement by tuning in to Water for South Sudan’s live drawing which will stream worldwide on Facebook on Friday, April 8th at 11:00 CDT.

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The election is TODAY! Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wisconsin has same day registration.

You can register in person at your voting place. To register you will need proof of residence. The list of accepted proof of residence documents may be found here (a driver’s license with your current address counts).

Find your voting place here. For the City of Whitewater, everyone votes at the Downtown Armory, 146 W. North Street.

To see what’s on your ballot, visit vote411.org.

YOU WILL NEED A VALID PHOTO ID TO CAST A BALLOT. A list of accepted IDs may be found here:

Wisconsin Makers will host its fifth annual iron pour on Saturday, April 9. The public is invited to this family-friendly event at the regional makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. in Whitewater. The doors to the event, which is returning after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will open at 9 a.m.

Spectators are welcome to watch the “pour team” — Teresa “Tree” Lind, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater lecturer of art and design, and her students — melt cast iron in an outdoor furnace and then fill sand scratch molds with the molten metal. Those wishing to make their own casting may buy a scratch mold square to personalize with their design that day. Each scratch mold must be completed no later than 11:15 a.m. At noon, Lind and her students will begin pouring the cast iron into the molds. They will present the completed castings to participants by mid-afternoon.

“Your unique design will be preserved in cast iron for ages to come,” said Wisconsin Makers member Ron Binning, adding that past years’ iron pours each have drawn more than 100 people. “Your iron mold sculpture will make a truly unique one-of-a-kind design of your own making.”

Scratch Mold Workshop Set

Persons wishing to get a head start on their squares may attend a scratch mold workshop at the makerspace Wednesday, April 6, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The per-person cost is $25 to participate in both the scratch mold workshop and the iron pour ($15 for Wisconsin Makers members) and $20 for the mold and pour without the workshop. Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. During the iron pour, brats will be available for $3, and chips and soda, for $1 each.

Modern Woodmen of America Youth Service Club 5005-1 is co-sponsoring this fundraiser. All proceeds raised from the project will be matched by Modern Woodmen up to $500.

Wisconsin Makers is a nonprofit regional makerspace (community workshop) offering an affordable, collaborative and educational environment that inspires people of all ages to become innovators by unlocking their skills through continual experimentation and training. Work areas/equipment include: 3-D printing, laser engraving, machining, welding/fabrication, electronics, blacksmithing, woodworking, ceramics/pottery, jewelry making, arts/crafts, quilting/fabric arts, matting/framing and more. 

For more information on the iron pour or scratch mold workshop, or to learn about memberships, visit the makerspace’s Facebook page at @wisconsinmakers or call Binning at (262) 203-3247.

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

The Banner reached out to all of the candidates in the April 5 election for the two Walworth County and two Jefferson County supervisory districts that represent portions of the city of Whitewater, offering them the opportunity to share with our readers their background, what they feel they would bring (or already bring) to the board, reasons for running, what they believe should be primary goals for the county, etc.

For information on all of the candidates on your ballot, visit vote411.org

Jefferson County

District 24 represents wards 11 and 12 in the Jefferson County portion of the city. Roger Lind, 525 N. Fremont, is running unopposed. He did not provide a statement to the Banner.

District 25 represents ward 10 in the Jefferson County portion of the city, together with the town of Cold Spring; Wards 1 & 2 Town of Hebron; Ward 3 Town of Koshkonong, and Ward 2 Town of Palmyra. Matthew Foelker, W3467 Lower Hebron Road, Fort Atkinson, is running unopposed. He did not provide a statement to the Banner.

Walworth County

District 3 represents most of the eastern part of the city, together with the townships of Whitewater, LaGrange, and Sugar Creek. This map shows the boundaries after 2021 redistricting. Brian Holt, W6873 Sugar Creek Road, Elkhorn, is running unopposed.

Brian Holt, while writing that we should “save space for contested races,” indicated that he is “a 34 year old farmer from Sugar Creek who is looking forward to continuing my term on the board.” He offered for us to provide his email address, brian.e.holt@gmail.com, and his phone number, 414-520-2620.

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District 4: Jerry Grant, Vice Chair of the County Board, has chosen not to run for re-election. The district represents primarily the western portion of the city that is located in Walworth County. This map shows the boundaries after 2021 redistricting. Running for the seat are Curt Knull, 404 E. Cravath, Whitewater; and Al Stanek, 415 S. Douglas Court, Whitewater.

Curt Knull, Candidate for Walworth County Board of Supervisors, District 4

My name is Curt Knull. I am running for the Walworth County Board of Supervisors. I’m a disabled veteran and, other than my time in the US Air Force and a brief time in Oklahoma, for work, am a lifelong Walworth County resident.

I grew up on a farm in Millard and graduated from Elkhorn High School in 1990. I joined the Air Force immediately after graduation and I’ve seen a fair portion of the world and served in Desert Storm.

I’m blue collar, through and through and made a living as a sheet metal fabricator until the doctor advised me against it, due to the damage my back sustained while in service.

I’m running because I still believe in serving my country and community. I believe in accountability and our representative government. What that means is, while I refuse to betray my principles, my personal tastes or preferences take a back seat to the people who may elect me. Lowering taxes and a positive environment for entreprenurship are important to me.

I can be reached on Facebook at Curt Knull 4 County Supervisor and at statelinetoo@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. I look forward to the opportunity to serve and hope you will give me that opportunity April 5th. Thank you.

Al Stanek, Candidate for Walworth County Board of Supervisors, District 4

Thank-you for extending the opportunity to me and others to provide voters some background information regarding our qualifications for various local elected offices.

I have lived in Whitewater for over 26 years and am asking Whitewater Walworth County District 4 voters to consider me as their representative on the county board of supervisors.

I was a senior level transportation planner in the Tommy Thompson administration where I learned how a government by the people can overcome obstacles, make positive changes and responsibly manage our tax dollars. I also served two years developing and coordinating a cost-effective way of responding to the transportation needs of Walworth County’s elderly and disabled citizens while also providing a trip to work option for others that need one.

I represent Walworth County on the Wisconsin River Rail Transit Authority, a multicounty agency working to maintain safe and efficient rail service to area businesses which helps to keep our employers competitive. As a former member and Chair of the Whitewater Community Development Authority I know how important it is that we expand our tax base.

No one is born with the desire or the capacity to spend hours in long meetings considering complex and often contentious public issues. A commitment to be a County Board Supervisor includes long hours reviewing complex materials and regular attendance at a half dozen or more committee meetings along with regular County Board meetings and hours working with the people that you represent.

Educated and trained as a journalist, I understand the importance of listening and paying attention to the positions of all participants as critical decisions are made. I have years of experience making sense out of often conflicting viewpoints and finding a way to solve problems.

I consider myself a fiscal conservative but hold no allegiance to any political party.

For more information simply type www.stanekcountyboard.org into the address bar of your computer. PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO VOTE and THANK-YOU for your consideration.