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After having asked for input as to how to best recognize the UW-W Class of 2020 without being able to hold the scheduled commencement on Saturday, May 16, Chancellor Dwight C. Watson announced on April 30 that the university has decided to hold a Virtual Celebration of Graduates on the same date at 1 pm. Dr. Watson emphasized that this celebration is not taking the place of a commencement ceremony, which is hoped to be held on a date yet to be announced.
Although the graduates are obviously disappointed not to be able to be recognized in person on the originally scheduled date, social media posts in reaction to the announcement appear to be overwhelmingly positive. Zody Levin posted this comment under the Chancellor’s announcement: “Thank you chancellor for offering both a virtual commencement and planning a later date. As a graduating senior myself, we do not care WHEN commencement is, but IF it happens. I will wait as long as necessary for a proper commencement ceremony.”
The Chancellor’s announcement is shown below:
Celebrating our 150th graduating class
Warhawks,
More than 1,600 of you are ready to graduate this May.
You are the 150th graduating class of this great university. You have achieved. You have overcome every challenge put in front of you. You are standing on the threshold, ready to fly. And I couldn’t be more proud of you.
Traditionally, we mark this milestone at commencement. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all know the ceremonies at the Whitewater and Rock County campuses have been postponed. Those of you set to graduate will graduate regardless, so we want to celebrate your achievements. And so, I am proud to announce that UW-Whitewater will be hosting a Virtual Celebration of Graduates on Saturday, May 16, 2020, at 1 p.m.
At the event, which will occur via Facebook Live on UW-Whitewater’s Facebook page, Interim Provost Greg Cook and myself will share some words, as will our student speakers, Brian Martinez and Alex Ostermann. After we mark the conferring of degrees, we have a special musical surprise to share with you. And we will also share our Warhawks Rising social media campaign, where we will see photos of our newly minted graduates and read about the achievements they are most proud of. Graduating students from the Whitewater and Rock County campuses will be contacted via their university email for instructions on how to participate in Warhawks Rising.
This celebration is not meant to take the place of our traditional commencement ceremonies. We know that many of you and your friends and family members prefer to hold in-person ceremony at some later date, and that is what we hope to do. Because of the ongoing nature of the pandemic and the Safer-at-Home orders, however, we do not yet know when such a ceremony will be feasible. Simply put, we do not want to select a date at this point, only to have to postpone it again for reasons beyond our control. We are looking at potential dates, including Homecoming Week, and will be sure to let you know when we have a firm.
These unprecedented times have changed how we live our lives and 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. Please join us on Saturday, May 16 at 1 p.m. for this virtual celebration of our class of 2020.
Go Warhawks!
Dr. Dwight C. Watson
Chancellor
The Whitewater Unified School District School Board has selected Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty to be the District administrator, effective July 1, 2020. This announcement is the culmination of a four-month process that began with soliciting the community’s feedback about the needs and priorities of the school district and the qualifications and
characteristics stakeholders wanted in their next leader.
From a field of approximately forty applicants, a slate of 10 potential candidates emerged as best matches to the search criteria. The Board selected five semi-finalists to interview and after two final interviews, Dr. Pate-Hefty emerged as the perfect fit for the students, staff, schools, and community of WUSD. School Board President Casey
Judd said, “Dr. Pate-Hefty’s focus on all students and obvious passion make her an excellent fit for the Whitewater Unified School District. The Board unanimously approved her, and we are confident that her leadership will serve our school and community exceptionally well.”
Dr. Pate-Hefty is a leader in supporting diverse school districts with a focus on equity and inclusion. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Student Services in Maywood, Melrose Park and Broadview Public Schools in Cook County Illinois, for over eight years. In Maywood, Dr. Pate-Hefty spearheaded legislation that allowed 125 students to return to their nine home school environments saving her district millions of dollars annually.
Dr. Pate-Hefty brings extensive experience in supporting campus security, Special Education, discipline, climate/culture and district-wide social and emotional learning models. She has been a selected presenter for Empowerment and Advocacy for Students with Challenging Behavior Conference, Illinois Association of Latino
Administrators and the Healthy Schools Campaign.
Dr. Pate-Hefty holds a Doctor of Education degree from National Louis University (2017), a Master of Arts degree from Concordia University (2007) and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, UWW (2002). She is thrilled to be selected as WUSD’s District Administrator saying, “I am honored and proud to have been selected to serve as the District Administrator for Whitewater Unified School District and to support their mission to inspire and empower students to achieve excellence in a safe, innovative educational environment. Every student, every day, in a unified way.”
The School Board thanks the WUSD district and community members for their support and input throughout the process. We are especially thankful for participation in digital sessions during these unprecedented times. Additionally, the School Board thanks Dr. Jim Shaw for his unwavering professional and exceptional service as interim district administrator.
WUSD will soon be announcing an opportunity for the community to meet and welcome Dr. Pate-Hefty to Whitewater.
In a seemingly topsy turvy world the sights of city crews continuing their efforts is oddly comforting. Thank you to Tom Ganser for capturing these images, and thank you to every member of the city’s streets crews diligently continuing their work throughout the city.
Ketterhagen Motor Sales, your local Ford dealership, is celebrating 100 years in business. They were founded in 1920 in Palmyra, WI by W.J. Ketterhagen. W.J. was involved in the family business until his passing in 1981. In 1943 they opened a 2nd Ford Agency in downtown Whitewater where they are still currently located and have been since 1946. In 1960 they sold the Palmyra location to Lambert Maney. In that same year Joe Ketterhagen (W.J.’s son) returned from college and 2 years in the navy to run the family business. Joe was actively involved in the dealership for 50 years until his passing in 2010. The current owner is Joe’s son, Kurt, who has been involved in the day to day operations since 1985. The 3rd generation owner expresses his appreciation to Whitewater and the surrounding communities for their continuous support throughout the years and wishes to thank his father, grandfather, and Ford Motor Company for the opportunity. Most of all, the family gives a big thank you to all of our past and current employees and customers.
April 16, 2020
Whippet Students and Families,
As you may know, Governor Evers directed an extension of the Safer at Home order, which contains a provision that schools remain closed through the 2019-20 school year. This extension of the stay at home order has created many questions and concerns regarding school expectations through the rest of the year as well as the status of many of our end of the year celebrations and programs. I would like to address what we can at this time.
First, I would like to address the students and parents of the Class of 2020. As this is not the end of the school year that any of us imagined, I wanted to let students, parents and community members know that we have been and will continue to work on, alternative plans regarding the Prom, Senior Portfolio Presentations, Scholarship Night and of course, Graduation. We have included and will continue to include the Senior Class advisors, Senior Class officers and our medical advisors in this planning process. Although these events are now officially not allowed to be run in a face-to-face format as they have traditionally, we are still committed to holding these celebrations and programs in some format so we can honor the class of 2020. We will be sending out more specific information regarding these events early next week through IC, our school website, Facebook account and the Whitewater Banner.
Second, although the school may be physically closed, students are still expected to complete their assignments through the home based learning model. In addition, because of the quick closure of our buildings when COVID-19 first appeared, students will have one more opportunity to come to the school and retrieve personal and/or academic items on Tuesday April 28. Students will not be allowed in the building but will be able to come to the main office door, where staff members will be there to assist them. Students coming to the school to retrieve items must practice social distancing and preventive measures such as masks and gloves. Congregating at the school before and after students retrieve their items will not be permitted. The times for each grade level is as follows:
12th GRADE: 9:00-11:00 am
11th GRADE 9:00-11:00 am
10th GRADE: 12:00-2:00 pm
9th GRADE: 12:00-2:00 pm
We will continue to make decisions with the intention of honoring our students and communicating respectfully while at the same time prioritizing the safety of our entire community. Your patience and understanding is appreciated as we work through this unique time.
Sincerely,
Mike Lovenberg
Principal
Whitewater High School
_______
16 de abril del 2020
Estudiantes de Whippet y familias,
Como ya sabrán, el gobernador Evers ordenó una extensión de la orden “Más seguro en casa”, que contiene una disposición de que las escuelas permanezcan cerradas durante lo que queda del año escolar 2019-20. Esta extensión de la orden de permanencia en el hogar ha creado muchas preguntas e inquietudes con respecto a las expectativas escolares durante el resto del año, así como el estado de muchas de nuestras celebraciones y programas de fin de año. Me gustaría abordar lo que podamos en este momento.
Primero, me gustaría dirigirme a los estudiantes y padres de la Clase o promoción del 2020. Como este no es el final del año escolar que imaginamos, quería que los estudiantes, padres y miembros de la comunidad sepan que continuaremos trabajando en crear planes alternativos con respecto al baile de graduación, presentaciones de portafolio para las personas mayores, noche de becas y, por supuesto, la graduación. Hemos incluido y seguiremos incluyendo a los asesores de la clase senior, a los oficiales de la clase senior y a nuestros asesores médicos en este proceso de planificación. Aunque ahora oficialmente no se permite que estos eventos se realicen en un formato presencial como se lo hace tradicionalmente, todavía estamos comprometidos a celebrar de alguna manera para que podamos celebrar a la clase del 2020. Estaremos enviando información más específica sobre estos eventos a principios de la próxima semana a través de IC, el sitio web de nuestra escuela, la cuenta de Facebook y el Whitewater Banner.
En segundo lugar, aunque la escuela puede estar físicamente cerrada, se espera que los estudiantes completen sus tareas a través del modelo de aprendizaje basado en el hogar. Además, debido al cierre rápido de nuestros edificios cuando apareció COVID-19 por primera vez, los estudiantes tendrán una oportunidad más para venir a la escuela y recuperar sus artículos personales y / o académicos el dia martes 28 de abril. No se permitirá el ingreso de los estudiantes al edificio. pero podrán llegar a la puerta de la oficina principal, donde los miembros del personal estarán para ayudarlos. Los estudiantes que vienen a la escuela para recuperar artículos deben practicar el distanciamiento social y las medidas preventivas como uso de máscaras y guantes. Congregarse en la escuela antes y después de que los estudiantes recuperen sus artículos no será permitido. Los horarios de recogida para cada nivel de grado son los siguientes:
12º GRADO: 9: 00-11: 00 am
11 ° GRADO 9: 00-11: 00 am
10º GRADO: 12: 00-2: 00 pm
9º GRADO: 12: 00-2: 00 pm
Continuaremos tomando decisiones con la intención de honrar a nuestros estudiantes y de comunicarnos respetuosamente , mientras que al mismo tiempo damos prioridad a la seguridad de toda nuestra comunidad. Apreciamos su paciencia y comprensión mientras trabajamos en estos tiempos únicos.
Sinceramente,
Mike Lovenberg
Director
Escuela secundaria de Whitewater
Kellie Bohn
Kellie Bohn began her career in education teaching music and band in both Clintonville, WI and Whitewater, WI. After receiving her Masters’ Degree from UW-Madison, she became the Middle School Principal at Brookwood Middle School, Genoa City — a position she held for fourteen years. In 2015 she became the Superintendent of the Genoa City Jt. 2 School District.
The Genoa City Jt. 2 School District is a 4K-8th grade district in Southeastern Wisconsin. Although the district website states, “Both schools have consistently earned the state report card rating of “Exceeds Expectations,” per the WI Department of Public Instruction Accountability Report Card for 2018-19, released in November, 2019, Brookwood Elementary School received a rating of 77.7 (“exceeds expectations”), and Brookwood Middle School received a ranking of 63.5 (“meets expectations”). The district served 526 students between the two schools. Presumably most middle school graduates from the district would enroll at Badger High School or New Visions (public) Charter School in Lake Geneva.
Per the Genoa City district website, “in addition to holding licenses for Principal, Director of Curriculum and Instruction and Superintendent, Ms. Bohn is a Past-President of the WI Association of Middle Level Educators. She has presented at conferences on the topics of assessment, beginning teacher programming, the referendum process and time/task management.”
Caroline Pete-Hefty
Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty has been in education for nearly twenty years, most of which appears to have been focused on the area of special education. She currently serves as the Director of Student Services at Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89, a role she has been in for seven years. Per the district’s website, the focus of Student Services is serving students with disabilities. District 89 has an enrollment of approximately 4800 students, K-8th grade, and is located in metropolitan Chicago, south of O’Hare Airport. The district has six “commendable schools” and three “underperforming schools,” per https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/District.aspx?districtId=06016089002
Dr. Pate-Hefty previously served as the Director of Special Education at Harlem (IL) Consolidated School District from 2008 to 2013. A state audit of the district during that period is reported to have prompted changes in special education. Ms. Pate-Hefty has also gained experience by serving as Principal of Walter Lawson Children’s Home, which serves persons with intellectual disabilities, for a year and a half and serving as a teacher for six years. She holds a Doctor of Education degree from National Louis University (2017), a Master of Arts degree from Concordia University (2007), and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin (2002). Dr. Pate-Hefty holds a Superintendent Endorsement for Illinois. (Source: https://www.fsd145.org/Page/3300)
Dr. Pate-Hefty’s LinkedIn biography states, “…responsible to oversee and support 9 schools serving 5000 students. I am a passionate educator with extensive district level experience; excellent communication, problem solving, human capital management and finacial management skill. Strong commitment to educational excellence for all students.”
Please see the post titled, “WUSD School Board Announces Two Candidates for District Administrator” for an invitation to community forums next Tuesday and Wed., 4/21-22 to introduce the candidates. There is also an opportunity to submit questions online through noon on Thurs., 4/16, although questions may also be submitted online during the forums.
Recently WJW Fox 8 TV in Cleveland, Ohio has been running a new feature during their morning newscast called “What Day is IT?” Many are finding that losing track of the calendar is part of everyday life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently it wouldn’t be shocking if you didn’t realize that April 15, normally “tax day,” is today.
If you haven’t yet filed your income taxes, the good news is that it doesn’t matter if you’re sick, quarantined, or perfectly healthy but trying to keep others safe by sitting at home, you now have a new one-time July 15 deadline for filing your 2019 returns. No late-filing penalty, late-payment penalty or interest will be due. The delay is designed to give a break to taxpayers who may be having a hard time making ends meet, as hours are cut and workplaces are closed to combat the spread of the virus.
Estimated Tax Payments: The Internal Revenue Service had also announced that any estimated tax payments for 2020 that would normally be due on April 15 could also be delayed until July 15 without penalty. This resulted in an odd situation: it appeared that the deadline for filing April 15 estimated taxes would come later than the usual June 15 payment. On April 9, however, the IRS announced that the due date for the June payment had also been extended to July 15. This means that any individual or corporation that has a quarterly estimated tax payment due on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020, can wait until July 15 to make that payment, without penalty.
Extension of time to file beyond July 15
Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline can request an extension to Oct. 15, 2020, by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004. An extension to file is not an extension to pay any taxes owed. Taxpayers requesting additional time to file should estimate their tax liability and pay any taxes owed by the July 15, 2020, deadline to avoid additional interest and penalties.
A Walworth County resident has died due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, per a press release on April 12. The patient is an adult in their 80’s. UPDATED: In response to a question from the Banner, Carlo Nevicosi, Deputy Director of Walworth County HHS, indicated that “The case was laboratory-confirmed for COVID-19.”
“It is with great sadness that I confirm that a Walworth County resident has passed away due to COVID-19”, said Elizabeth Aldred, Health and Human Services (HHS) Director. “This is a sad day for Walworth County. Our entire community feels the weight of this loss.”
The release did not indicate where the individual had lived. Walworth County HHS recently indicated that COVID-19 has been confirmed or suspected in every major community in the county. In a telephone conversation with a Banner staff member on April 7, Carlo Nevicosi, Deputy Director of the Walworth County Department of Health & Human Services, confirmed that there are “confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19” in Whitewater. Mr. Nevicosi stated that he was not at that time authorized to release any further information regarding the nature of those cases.
The Walworth County Division of Public Health continues to monitor the spread of the disease and implement practices to reduce transmission.
“We know that many Walworth County residents are concerned about what impact this virus may have on themselves and their loved ones. This is a rapidly evolving public health event that we are taking very seriously” added Aldred. “This is a time to remind everyone of the importance of taking precautions to protect those at higher risk, especially the elderly and people with serious underlying health conditions.”
To reduce risk of getting sick, Public Health advises everyone to follow these simple steps:
- Following the Safer at Home Order
- Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Stay home when sick.
This is a rapidly evolving situation. For the latest information, visit the CDC’s website or the DHS website.
For the latest information about COVID-19 in Walworth County, visit:
Obituaries
Patricia Juene Duckworth, 70, of Fort Atkinson passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Fort Memorial Hospital. Patricia was born on June 7, 1953 in Modesto, California to Benjamin and Marilyn (Cooper) Morris. On November 26, 1983 Patricia married Ronald Duckworth and together they raised a son. For many years, Patricia worked as an administrative assistant at Fort Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed arts and crafts, pottery, and gardening. Patricia is survived by her husband, Ronald; son, Benjamin; and siblings, Michael Morris, and Melinda Nead. She is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Marilyn Morris. The family would … Read more
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Update 4/25/24: A memorial service will take place at 11 AM on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at First United Methodist Church in Whitewater. A visitation will take place from 10 AM until the time of service. A burial will follow the memorial service at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater. Shirley Lorraine (Drays) Sweno, age 85 of Whitewater, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2024. She was born January 8, 1939 to the late William and Lydia (Stork) Drays. Shirley was united in marriage to Howard Sweno Jr. on November 8, 1958 in Whitewater. She was a member of First United Methodist Church … Read more
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Patricia (Pat) S. Johnson (Welter) passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 21, 2024 with her loving family by her side. Pat was born on March 24, 1951 in Edgerton, WI., the daughter of Stephen and Florence (Koscyczarek) Welter. Pat attended Whitewater High School graduating in 1969. She attended UW-Whitewater. Pat worked at Schweiger Industries in Jefferson, WI, where she met her first husband Frank Heth. They had two sons Shane and Todd. In 1990 she married Maynard (Skip) Johnson. They moved to Atlanta, Georgia where Pat was employed by Wal-Mart. After a number of years in Georgia they returned to Wisconsin to be closer … Read more
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Lawrence Edwin Schauder (Larry) of Punta Gorda, Florida passed away on April 12, 2024, at the age of 79. He was born January 28, 1945, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Larry graduated from Rhinelander High School and attended classes at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. He took a break to serve two years in the military and returned to UW to graduate in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in business. He established Schauder Building, Inc. in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1974 which was in operation until his retirement in 2008. He was very active in the South Central Builders Association, and he … Read more
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Donald Lee “Donny” Deegan, 76, of Whitewater passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024 after a short stay at Alden Estates of Jefferson. Donny was born on October 19, 1947 to Daniel and Ada (Fitzpatrick) Deegan. He was raised in a family of 13 children and was very close to all of his siblings. Donny worked many years in construction, mostly roofing, until he had to retire due to health issues. Donny spent his whole life fishing and hunting. He was such a marksman that he once saw a buck while driving down the road, pulled over and parked, aimed … Read more
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Teta Hoerman, of Antigo, died peacefully on April 15, 2024 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital surrounded by her family. She was 74 years old. She was born on December 24, 1949 in Whitewater, a daughter of Donald and Dora “Pat” (O’Connor) Platner. She married Dale Pellmann; they had three children. The couple later divorced. She married James Hoerman on June 12, 1992; he preceded her in death on November 16, 2014. Teta graduated from Whitewater High School in 1968. She was employed at Schweiger Furniture in Jefferson for over 20 years. She then received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of … Read more
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PERRY DOUGLAS MOYER, 91 of Whitewater, Wisconsin passed away peacefully at Fort Memorial Hospital surrounded by family on April 8, 2024. He was born to John and Myrtle (Brokmeier) Moyer in Whitewater on March 23, 1933. Perry grew up farming most of his life. He graduated from Whitewater High School in the class of 1950. Perry married Dorothy Kramer on October 25, 1958 at St. Patrick Catholic Church by the late Father Berry. Perry served in the Army from March of 1958 where he served 16 months in Germany. Perry’s Ayrshire cattle played a large part in his life, leading … Read more
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A Celebration of Life will be held for at Robert “Bob” Obney of Whitewater on April 20, 2024, from 3 pm to 6 pm, at 841 Brewhouse, Whitewater, WI . Whitewater, WI – The man, the myth, the legend – Robert “Bob” Clayton Obney Jr., 82, took his final bow on the stage of life on March 10, 2024. Born with a twinkle in his eye on July 8, 1941, in Barberton, Ohio, Bob was infamous for his dad jokes, his green thumb, and his ability to fall asleep in any chair known to mankind. Bob leaves behind his soulmate … Read more
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WHITEWATER, WI—Tiiu (Rodima) Gray-Fow, age 82, died at home on April 6, 2024, from the late effects of a heart attack that she suffered several months earlier. She was born in Tartu, Estonia, and spent her childhood in the shadow of World War II. When Tiiu was three years old, her family fled Estonia between the retreating Nazi army and advancing Soviet forces which were to occupy Estonia for the next fifty years. Young as she was, she still recalled their wild flight from midland Estonia to the harbor at Tallin, and the red glow in the sky from Tartu … Read more
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Jayce Xavier Rocha, our beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew, and friend, passed away unexpectedly in a boating accident on March 9th, 2024 at the age of 21. Jayce was born on March 4, 2003, to Benny and Casey Rocha in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Jayce attended Milton schools throughout his youth where he participated in many activities and built lifelong friendships. Jayce was a three-sport athlete excelling in hockey, lacrosse, and football. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, where he played football. Stevens Point is also where he met the love of his life, Mara. After … Read more
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