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Today is Thursday, November 28, 2024
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Last week Thursday, December 1st, the Boys’ Swim Team competed in the Southern Lakes Conference Relay meet. The boys had some AMAZING races!
In the 1000-meter Crescendo Relay, where each swimmer swims 100-200-300-400 respectively, the relay comprised of Andrew O’Toole, Cruz Aranda, Jack Hefty, and Tyler Arnett swam strong throughout the race. This strong performance led to a 3rd place finish and geared up the team for other mentally challenging races.
The splash and dash of the evening was an amazing event to watch! Each swimmer sprints one length of the pool for a total of 100 meters to find out how quickly they can get themselves up to speed. With just over 2 seconds separating 2nd thru 5th place, the boys were able to clinch 2nd place. Cruz Aranda led off the relay followed by Jack Hefty, Myles Morse, and then Tyler Arnett for a time of 58.01! David Enns, Xavier Zei, Onyx Thompson, and Sam Nickelsburg won their heat which was fabulous as well!
The 500-meter Crescendo Relay, 50-100-150-200, was the highlight of the night for the team. The boys came back from almost being a full length behind the 3rd and 4th place teams to taking the 3rd place medal position! There were a lot of fast swims at the beginning of the race and the swimmers’ mental toughness allowed for them to come back strong. Miles Nickelsburg, Cruz Aranda, Jack Hefty, and Tyler Arnett came in with a time of 5:52.79.
Then on Saturday, December 3rd, the Whippet Boys’ Swim Team competed at the 2nd Annual Tom Lieder Invitational in Milton. There was success for each swimmer in their individual swims, and two were able to grab hardware in their events.
Tyler Arnett started off by taking 3rd in the 200 Free. He out-touched the next person in the final yard of the race.
Then Jack Hefty tied for 6th in the 100 Free with a time of 58.94. This was the first time Jack broke 1 minute in a 100 Free!
In the 500 Free, Tyler Arnett came on strong, and this was a grueling match-up from several swimmers from other teams. He was able to hold strong until the end; he finished first and again out-touched 2nd and 3rd place by less than half a second.
Other top 10 finishes were 8th in the 200 Medley Relay (Tyler Arnett, Cruz Aranda, Jack Hefty, and Andrew O’Toole), 7th in the 200 yard Individual Medley (Cruz Aranda), and 8th in the 200 Free Relay (Myles Morse, Xavier Zei, David Enns, and Miles Nickelsburg).
The boys swam fast and are looking forward to their next away meet against Edgerton/Evansville on Tuesday, December 6th.
Article Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Co-Head Boys’ Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
On November 8, all current Whitewater High School Computer Science Students participated in Bebra’s Online Computational Thinking Challenge. This annual challenge presents students with a series of 15 puzzles divided into three degrees of difficulty. The competition is designed to help students explore their talents and passion for informatics and computational thinking with engaging challenges.
For the purposes of scoring, freshman and sophomores were classified as “juniors” while juniors and seniors took part in the “senior” division. Freshmen Chacha Binagi and Andrew Wych tied for the high score in the Junior Division, while Senior Daniel (Peter) Portwine earned the high score in the Senior Division as well as the high score for the school.
Article and Photos Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Computer Science Teacher and Banner Volunteer
lmasbruch@wwusd.org
(Lieutenant), Dan Meyer (Chief), Kat Mahwinney (WCF Board Member), Roni Telfer (WCF
Board Member and Co-President), Therese Kennedy (WCF Board Member and
Co-President), Adam Vander Steeg (Admin. Captain), Bonnie Miller (WCF Program
Coordinator), Justin Brock (Detective), and David Gempler (Patrol Captain).
GRANT AWARDED TO WHITEWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Whitewater Community Foundation is proud to support the Whitewater Police Department with a $1,000 Community Action Grant which will be used to offset the costs associated with their efforts to improve outreach and communication through interpretation services while providing assistance to individuals unable to speak or understand the English language. Timely, accurate and reliable translation services are essential and vital to saving lives, now more than ever. Interpretation services have provided staff with the ability to assist members of our community during a wide range of calls for service from simple information requests, to assisting victims of significant crimes, and providing emergency medical assistance. The Whitewater Police Department is a full-service, community oriented and state accredited law enforcement agency consisting of 24 sworn officers and 13 civilian personnel, including a 24/7 Communications Center. Working together as a team under the leadership of Chief Dan Meyer, every effort is made to be innovative, professional and responsive to public safety concerns of our community. The Foundation extends their gratitude and appreciation to the Whitewater Police Department for their service to this community.
About WCF: The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “Enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures” through scholarships and community action grants. To donate and support the Foundation, simply send a check made out to Whitewater Community Foundation to P. O. Box 428, Whitewater, WI, 53190, or donate online at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org. For tax purposes, the Whitewater Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Corporation.
Two concerts will be performed in UW-W’s Light Recital Hall this week. Saxophone Quartets & Ensembles will perform on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and a Jazz Holiday Concert will be on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling 262-472-2222.
For the Saxophone Quartets & Ensembles, you can expect several saxophone quartets along with the UW-Whitewater Saxophone Ensemble, who will perform a wide variety of works and styles.
The final concert of the season, Jazz Ensembles and Combos Holiday Concert, features jazzy holiday tunes. This ensemble is directed by Dr. Michael Hackett with student performers.
Beyond the many ticketed events happening this month in the Department of Music, there are a multitude of free events including student recitals, ensembles and studios. For a full lineup of events, please visit uww.edu/coac/events.
All music events are in the Light Recital Hall in the Greenhill Center of the Arts, located at 950 West Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190, unless specified otherwise. Tickets are available in advance and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling 262-472-2222. There is a $2.00 surcharge if purchased at the door at the time of the event.
Our Whippet Gymnastics team had a great 1st meet of the season where they placed 3rd overall at the Jefferson Invite on Friday, December 2.
They started on the bars where Makayla Bazeley earned 4th place and Halee Peters earned 2nd place – both taking home hardware!
Next up was beam where Myialynn Cobbs had a no fall beam routine. We also got to cheer on Brenda Aguilar for the first time in a while after taking a year off. We’re so happy to have her back with us.
The third rotation allowed the girls to show off their fun floor routines. Freshman Alexa Wildenberg was able to compete in her first ever gymnastics meet and performed well, while putting on an entertaining routine. Nola Coburn showed us her spunk in her floor routine where she scored close to her personal best.
Last up was vault where all the girls did awesome! Both Makayla Bazeley and Halee Peters had lifetime best scores with a 7.75 and 8.425, respectively. Halee earned herself another medal with a 2nd place finish.
In all-around, Halee Peters took 4th place, Makayla Bazeley took 6th, Nola Coburn took 13th, and Myialynn Cobbs took 14th.
We are so excited to watch the girls progress through the season. What a great start to what will be an amazing season!
Article Submitted by Shawnda Peters
Whitewater High School Head Gymnastics Coach
speters@wwusd.org
Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Wisconsin Makers.
“The Princess Bride” will be featured as Wisconsin Makers debuts Movie Night. The public is invited to attend the free showing of the family-friendly film at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at the community makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. in Whitewater. Free popcorn will be served. Pizza, soda and water will be available for $1.
Before and after the film, attendees are welcome to tour the makerspace and see what it has to offer.
In addition, they will be able to peruse items in the makerspace’s rummage sale.
Wisconsin Makers President Al Jewer said Movie Night is designed to open the makerspace to area residents as it emerges from a two-year hibernation during the coronavirus pandemic. He noted that volunteers have been busy reorganizing the space for educational and recreational use.
“We have installed a 15-foot-wide movie screen and 500-watt surround-sound in our common area, and will be showing films periodically throughout the winter months,” Jewer said. “We want to provide a fun, affordable evening out for people of all ages.” Future Movie Nights are planned this winter; some will offer a double feature, with a Disney film shown first, he said. “We chose ‘The Princess Bride’ for our kickoff Movie Night because it is a classic that is geared to both young and old,” Jewer said.
“The Princess Bride” is a 1987 American fantasy adventure comedy about a farmhand named Westley who, accompanied by companions befriended along the way, must rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup, from the odious Prince Humperdinck. The film presents the story as a book being read by a grandfather to his sick grandson. Adapted by William Goldman from his 1973 novel of the same name, it is directed and co-produced by Rob Reiner and stars Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, André the Gian, and Christopher Guest.
Located at the corner of Wisconsin and East Clay streets, Wisconsin Makers is a makerspace that creates an affordable, collaborative and educational environment that inspires people of all ages to become innovators within their communities by unlocking their skills through continual training. It has members from Jefferson, Walworth, Rock and Waukesha counties and beyond, and all have access to the workshops around the clock. The facility houses machine, welding/fabrication, electronics, automotive, 3-D printing, laser engraving and woodworking shops. It also offers ceramics, metal art, quilting, fabric arts, matting/framing and more. The building is handicapped accessible, and has off-street parking, WiFi, and many other amenities.
For more information about Movie Night or the makerspace, contact Chris Spangler at (920) 728-2960.
City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
312 W. Whitewater St.
Agenda includes Fox Meadows Apartment Building management presentation regarding actions that have
been taken to address concerns relating to their property at 291 N. Fraternity Lane, and Recruitment Process for Economic Development Director
This will be an IN PERSON and a VIRTUAL MEETING. (not in person).
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join us via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86276586407?pwd=cUpLTTdvMEV2RVAwaDRYbG1GSERYd
z09
Passcode: 746391
Or Telephone:
1 305 224 1968
Webinar ID: 862 7658 6407
Passcode: 746391
Whitewater Unified School District Policy Review Committee – Wednesday @ 9:00 a.m.
Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner)
Whitewater Unified School District Central Office
419 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
City of Whitewater Landmarks Commission – Thursday @ 6:00 p.m.
Cravath Lakefront Room
312 W. Whitewater St.
Agenda includes PUBLIC HEARING TO DESIGNATE THE CONVERSE HOUSE (161 FREMONT STREET) AS A
LOCAL LANDMARK
AMENDED ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022 AT 10:00 AM TO ADD A VIRTUAL MEETING OPTION
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/223568885
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212
Access Code: 223-568-885
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install
Editor’s note: The school district meeting was added on 12/5/22 at 6:30 p.m. A virtual option for the Landmarks meeting was added on 12/6/22 at 10:30 a.m.
According to an article in the Daily Jefferson County Union, “A Fort Atkinson woman who killed her 72-year-old grandmother and set fire to the house containing her body received a life sentence Thursday, December 1, according to court documents.
Elizabeth Durkee, 37, will be eligible for extended supervision after an initial confinement of 22 years, minus the 537 days she has already spent in custody.
Durkee taped her grandmother’s mouth and nose closed with floral print duct tape in 2021 after discussions involving end of life, according to criminal complaints filed at the time. Durkee stayed in the room while her grandmother suffocated, then spent at least two days in the house with the decaying corpse, according to court documents filed at the time.
On the morning of June 11, 2021, Durkee set a fire she originally intended to take her life and the life of her 2-year-old daughter. Officials briefly issued an amber alert after Durkee left with the daughter, but revoked it hours later when Durkee was arrested and her daughter was handed over to family members.”
Obituaries
Becca Piper, 65, of Sedona, AZ died on November 21, 2024 as a result of complications of antibiotic toxicity. She was preceded in death by her beloved son Michael and her parents Reg and Maydean Nash. She is survived by her dear husband of almost 40 years, Ken Piper, along with her children Joe, ^^Michael^^, Selena and Larry, granddaughter Maelyn and Becca’s siblings David and Janet (Nash) Schenck. She is also survived by extraordinary friends, extended family and much loved colleagues. Being a mother was especially important to Becca. She and Ken adopted all of their 4 children. Becca’s life … Read more
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In Loving Memory of Will Daniel Ensslin Whitewater, WI – Will Daniel Ensslin, 77, passed away peacefully on 11-26-2024, surrounded by his loving family, after a brave and long battle with cancer. He was born on February 5, 1947 in West Allis, WI to Willy and Ellen Ensslin. Will was a devoted husband, proud and loving father, cherished brother, uncle, cousin and loyal friend to many. He was also a proud Vietnam veteran, serving his country with courage and honor as a Huey helicopter mechanic from 1966 – 1967 — a dedication to service that remained a cornerstone of his life. He married the love of his life and best friend, Susan Bilkovich, in 1971 in Milwaukee, WI. Shortly after their wedding, … Read more
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Richard Allen Splitter, age 80, of Blue Eye, Missouri, passed away November 12, 2024. He entered this life on June 16, 1944, the son of Edward and Berniece (Craig) Splitter in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Richard proudly served our country in the United States Navy for two terms. During his time in the service, he was able to get his master’s degree in engineering from California State University of Long Beach. During his working years, Richard was an engineer for different aerospace companies. He retired to Blue Eye, Missouri, and thoroughly enjoyed lake life. Richard appreciated the outdoors and loved hiking, fishing, … Read more
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Edward W. HamiltonApril 3,1941 – October 26, 2024 Edward “Edjo” Wickman Hamilton, 83, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at home. Ed was born in Evanston, Illinois and moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin with his family when he was eight years old. He attended Whitewater High School and then graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater with a bachelor of science degree. He also served two years in the army. He moved to Davenport, Iowa in 1971 and worked at John Deere Davenport Works until he retired in 2001. Then he followed a dream, moved back to Whitewater and … Read more
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Verne Paul Schrank was born on March 9, 1930 at home on the family farm in Lima Township, Rock County, to Arthur and Marie (Witte) Schrank. He attended the Sturtevant one room school which closed when he graduated in 1944. He attended Whitewater High School and graduated in 1948. Verne farmed with his parents until 1967 when he moved to Whitewater and worked for the Whitewater Unified School District as a custodian – courier for 27 years. Verne served on various boards at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, as well as playing on the dartball team for many years. Verne … Read more
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After a long full life, Janine Marie (Dickerson) Weiss was called home to the Lord. Janine was born on April Fool’s Day, 1930 in Milwaukee. She grew up enjoying Trolleys, dancing and school with her sisters, Donna Domagalski, Marcyl Howel, Karen Moczynski and her parents, Glenn and Lucille Dickerson. In 1950, she married Frederic Weiss in a little church in Three Lakes WI. Shortly after, the first of 5 kids was born with the next 2 shortly after. Denice Lucille (Edward DeGroot), David Arthur, and Dana Lynn (Stephen Lind). After a breather Debra Beth (Alyn Jones) and Donna Raye (Dale … Read more
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Raymond Miles, 96, Whitewater, passed away on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at Our House Senior Living in Whitewater. Raymond was born on February 10, 1928, in Elkhorn, WI to Rueben and Norma Miles. He served in the US Army. On June 18, 1955, Raymond married Waverly Sutherland in Whitewater, WI. He enjoyed a long and successful career as a Livestock Dealer. In retirement, he cherished time spent with his family and remained informed on the farming community. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Waverly of Whitewater, sons Eddie of Madison and Todd (Barbara) Miles of Sarasota FL, … Read more
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Connie Jean Sukowski embarked on her next big adventure on the evening of Friday, November 8, 2024. Connie enjoyed decades of adventures with friends and family. She spent 36 years teaching 2nd and 3rd grade students in the Palmyra Eagle School District, working alongside many cherished colleagues and friends. Connie and her husband, Patrick Theodore Sukowski, shared 55 and a half years of marriage. Together they raised four children: Peter, Allan, Ann and Kevin Sukowski. She took great joy in watching her five grandchildren grow into amazing adults: Sonora Sukowski, Brianne Hebbe, Jared Gundrum-Sukowski, Nolan Causey, and Lore Lai Schimmel. … Read more
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Nancy Lou Hallock Cooper passed away November 8, 2024 due to complications of lungcancer. Nancy was born on April 20, 1936 in Springfield, MA to Howard and Barbara (Corliss) Hallock. As a child, Nancy spent every summer in her beloved Piermont, NH where she and her brothers “helped” the local farmer with his chores, including riding in the truck with the milk cans every morning. She enjoyed swimming in the local brooks, picking berries, going to the nearby library, visiting with cousins, and playing croquet every evening. As she grew older, she spent time as a camper and then a camp … Read more
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James Robert Trier (Jimbo), passed away on November 10, 2024, at the age of 89. Born on December 22, 1934, in New Holstein, WI, to George and Frances Trier. He spent his later years residing in Whitewater, WI. Jim began his teaching career as a high school mathematics teacher and then dedicated 55 years of his life to education as a mathematics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He was the chairman of the faculty senate as well. He had a passion for math and an engaging teaching style, which made him a student favorite. He was known for telling … Read more
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