News & Events

Public Health Emergency COVID-19 Alert

Very High COVID-19 Activity Levels – Celebrate Upcoming Holidays Safely

(Press release – Dec. 17) Issued by the following Local Health Departments: Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Lafayette, Madison/Dane, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, Watertown

The impact of COVID-19 continues to affect our lives every day. As we head into the Holiday season, the Southern Region Public Health Officers are issuing a Public Health Emergency COVID-19 Alert to urge residents to follow good public health practices this holiday season. Public Health Officers stress that it is safest to celebrate upcoming holidays with the people in your immediate household and not risk gathering with others. Traveling, hosting guests indoors, and sharing food, utensils and plates all pose significant risks, they warn.

“Now is the time to be persistent with following public health recommendations. Every act of prevention matters and will continue to be important this Holiday season,” explained Debbie Siegenthaler, Chair of the Southern Region’s WI Association of Local Health Departments and Boards (WALHDAB).

“There’s still a large amount of community transmission in every area of the region and state. Keep gatherings small and wear a mask anytime you’re in an indoor environment with someone that you don’t live with. Our health care and public health workers continue to need the help of the community in slowing spread so that hospitals can continue to meet patient needs,” Siegenthaler urged.

All public health jurisdictions, except one, in the Southern Region of Wisconsin are in the “Very High” category for Activity Level, with case burdens between 350 and 1,000 cases per 100,000 people. One of the counties in the Southern Region is in the “critically high” category with a case burden over 1000. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) tracks disease burden and activity level through the Disease Activity Dashboard to give Wisconsinites a better idea of how COVID-19 is impacting the state.

Health Departments in southern Wisconsin issue this alert with hopes we can avoid having critically high levels of COVID-19 as experienced in mid-November which resulted in increased COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths.

An important focus is on individuals at a high risk whom we recommend remain home as much as possible. Factors that place you at higher risk include having an underlying health condition, including asthma, obesity, compromised immune system due to conditions like cancer, HIV or AIDS, and serious chronic illnesses like kidney, heart, lung or liver disease. In addition, older adults, over the age of 60, are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. If you are unsure if you are high risk, please reach out to your health care provider. See also https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/risks.htm

Further strategies from (DHS) for reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 during the upcoming holiday season can be found here. Additionally, Governor Evers signed Executive Order #94, which advises Wisconsinites to stay home, urging them to take precautions to stay safe if they must leave their home, and encouraging businesses to take more steps to protect their customers, employees, and the community.

Everyday Practices to Stop the Spread

• Physically distance at least 6 feet from people with whom you do not live.

• Wear a cloth face mask, unless unable to wear one for medical reasons.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

• Indoors: do not gather with people outside of your household.

• Outdoors: limit gatherings to 10 people or fewer, physically distance and wear face coverings.

• If symptomatic, call your health care provider, get a test, and stay home while awaiting results.

• Cooperate with public health officials if you have tested positive or are a close contact.

“It can be difficult suggesting changes to holiday traditions, which we understand,” said Siegenthaler. “Remember that safer celebrations offer protection for the most vulnerable members of your family so you can all gather for years to come.”

For more information on cases in your area and COVID-19 recommendations, visit your local health department’s website.

Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday
Closed session @ 6:15 p.m. via Zoom online
Agenda (click on agenda in upper right corner) includes review evaluations of administrators, consider contract extensions of administrators and coordinator, and prepare for Whitewater Education Association negotiations
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84673935695?pwd=VloxN1JFQkJvRlBTcWxMREdiUWxoUT09
Password: 551575
Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
Webinar ID: 846 7393 5695
Password: 551575
Open session @ 7:00 p.m. via Zoom online
Agenda (click on meetings in upper right corner) includes changes to close contacts quarantine guidance; building/program goals; Approval of Administrator Contract Extensions and Letters of Intent for 2022-23; Approval of Athletic Director Contract and Letter of Intent for 2021-22; High school boiler repair; Quantity of School Board meetings
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82678269916?pwd=c0Zrbmg0dWlwK3RVM0hhVHVMUC9CUT09
Passcode: 138504
Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
Webinar ID: 826 7826 9916
Passcode: 138504

Irvin L. Young Library Board of Trustees – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Sustainable Shelves Program Through Baker & Taylor, Closed session for performance evaluation of Library Director
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/573707085
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (646) 749-3112
Access Code: 573-707-085

(UWM press release) – The following individuals from your area are among the 2,050 prospective candidates for degree attending University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee virtual commencement exercises Sunday, December 20, 2020 in Milwaukee.

UWM is the second largest university in the State of Wisconsin, with over 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Whitewater, WI

 Sophie Dern, College of General Studies, Associate of Arts and Sciences
 Abigail King, College of Nursing, Bachelor of Science

By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
December 16, 2020

A Whitewater citywide ordinance requiring face coverings in all interior public and business spaces that had originally been set to expire at the end of the year has been extended through March 31, 2021 by Common Council action at the body’s last meeting of 2020. It was one of three actions related to COVID. The other actions include an extension of a citywide COVID-19 Emergency Declaration and a decision to continue holding city meetings “virtually” as opposed to allowing for in person participation.

The actions took place with little debate compared to the initial July Common Council discussion of the ordinance that lasted over three hours and featured a dozen public participants and petitions that supporters claimed were signed by over 1000 residents and petitions from opponents that reportedly had over 200 signatures.

Discussion at the July 21 Common Council meeting referenced the fact that, at the time, an analysis of just the Walworth County portions of the City of Whitewater reported 70 active cases in the roughly 4-month period between March and early July. That compares with recently released state data that indicates 74 new active Whitewater COVID-19 cases in the most recent week. Fourteen of last week’s 74 City of Whitewater COVID-19 cases were attributed to UW-W students and staff according to the state’s most recent data.

COVID-19, a flu like virus that has reached worldwide proportions, is reported to have been at least partially responsible for over 300,000 American deaths so far. Hundreds of thousands of others have been treated in intensive care units (ICUs) across the country. The long-term effects of the virus have yet to be documented. A Whitewater Common Council briefing paper on the COVID-19 situation quotes the WI Department of Health Services (DHS) indicating that 87.8% of statewide ICU beds were in use as of the morning of December 11.

The City of Whitewater COVID-19 Ordinance requiring face coverings was one of the first in the State of Wisconsin. It states that “… wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to reduce person to person transmission of COVID-19.” The ordinance goes on to state that masks “…when combined with other preventative measures, including physical distancing and proper hygiene practices, is a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.” It was extended Tuesday night after waiving a generally required “second reading” because the Common Council will not meet again until after the first of the year.

The Emergency Declaration, which was originally issued in March and ratified by Common Council resolution in June is a viewed as a potential requirement for current and future financial assistance. It can be rescinded at any time. The decision to hold all City of Whitewater public meetings virtually began in April.

(UW-W Faculty Senate press release) At its Dec. 15 meeting, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee rescinded a compromise plan to collect budget information from academic programs in response to statements made by Chancellor Dwight Watson asserting he would not permit the faculty to make curricular decisions based on that information. Chancellor Watson stated at a previous Faculty Senate meeting on Dec. 8 that he would instead receive the Senate’s work and make decisions himself about what programs would be offered going forward.

In August 2020, Chancellor Watson began a “Program Optimization” process in which up to 40 percent of UW-Whitewater’s programs would be identified for possible reduction or elimination by May 2021. The timeline called for this process to take place during a pandemic, and with an Interim Provost who is leaving the role in June 2021. This process was met with immediate opposition from the faculty, based on the rationale that the entire Program Optimization plan is a short-sighted response to budget shortfalls caused by recent enrollment declines exacerbated by COVID-19. The faculty contends that such drastic decisions should not be made so quickly and during such an unprecedented year.

If Chancellor Watson goes forward with Program Optimization on his own, the resulting cuts would permanently eliminate some programs (meaning fewer major and minor choices for students and limited course offerings), which would likely accelerate the decline in enrollment. This plan would also result in employee layoffs, which would harm the city of Whitewater and surrounding areas.

The Faculty Senate opposes any hasty decisions that would have long-term and widespread impacts, instead opting for sacrifices that can get UW-Whitewater through this difficult time while protecting its ability to be successful for decades to come. Furthermore, the return to stability is already on the horizon: COVID-19 vaccines are becoming available; applications for Fall 2021 are up, and universities will be in high demand as workers seek new skills in response to the changes caused by a year of remote business. If UW-Whitewater plans to remain as successful in the next ten years as it has been in the previous 20, closing programs and laying off instructors is not the way forward.

The Faculty Senate will meet Tuesday Feb. 2 from 2-5 p.m. to discuss institutional direction. Interim UW System President Tommy Thompson has been invited to attend this meeting, which will be streamed via Facebook Live. For more information, contact: Faculty Senate Chair Tracy Hawkins at facsenate@uww.edu or 262-472-1975.

(Whitewater Grocery Co. press release)

As this crazy year of 2020 comes to an end, Whitewater Grocery Co. wants to share some joy and update Whitewater on this year’s activities. The GroCo volunteers have been busy!

First, this year saw a change in leadership when Lacey Reichwald, our founding president stepped down from her role. Katy Wimer was voted in by unanimous consent by the Board to replace her in October. Like Lacey, Katy is an entrepreneur, experienced in marketing and social media and has devoted many years of dedicated volunteerism to the GroCo’s Ownership & Outreach Committee. Lacey remains on the board until the end of her term.

Second, the GroCo moved its office to the UWW Community Engagement Center (CEC) in the old Sentry building. We can’t wait until we can fully utilize this amazing space and see our owners.

Third, during the pandemic, the GroCo Ownership Committee ran a successful food drive during the 4^th of July, and is currently wrapping up another initiative called 31 Days of Sharing with the UWW Warhawk Pantry, Whitewater Community Food Pantry, and The Community Space. The GroCo is asking all those who are able to put together a box of 31 thoughtful items to help our struggling families. There are a few days left to put together your box of goodies. The list of recommended supplies can also be found on Facebook or on Instagram. If you’re strapped for time, the GroCo will also take monetary donations that can be split among the pantries. Checks can be made payable to Whitewater Grocery Co. and mailed to: CEC – Whitewater Grocery Co., 1260 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190.

Fourth, the pandemic has demonstrated the fine line that a lot of our families navigate to be able to pay their bills and find affordable food, and the GroCo has redoubled its efforts to make grocery shopping accessible for all. The GroCo is offering scholarships (paid for with donations from current owners and from the UWW student government) for members of the community who want to help build a grocery store but would consider it a financial hardship to buy a full-priced ownership. A community-owned grocery store must be accessible for everyone in the community and be culturally sensitive to the needs of our neighbors. Essentially, the $150 ownership is a crowdfunding tool to convince banks and investors that there is enough community interest, but co-ops across the country have found the need to reach deeper into the community in order to get the necessary feedback about offering SNAP benefits and bulk deals that make it possible for everyone to afford to eat healthy. 

Fifth, the Whitewater Grocery Co. has narrowed down possible sites that follow market study recommendations and is conducting due diligence in order to build. We cannot progress to the next stage of development until a few more owners sign on to this community project. In order to generate excitement, owners have thrown money into a pot to make things more exciting. In the Ownerpalooza, each owner can recommend a friend to become an owner. If that friend becomes an owner during December, the recommending owner and the new owner are eligible to win the $700.  Anyone who becomes an owner in December will be eligible to win. A number of payment plans are available for ownership.

When you become an Owner of Whitewater Grocery Co. (GroCo), you become a part of something bigger: a community of people taking matters into their own hands to nourish our community. Your GroCo ownership lasts a lifetime and ensures you have a voice in our local food system. More information can be found on our website https://www.whitewatergrocery.co/. 

UW-Whitewater Student Organization Brings Virtual Holiday Cheer

(College of Arts and Communication, Department of Music press release)

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater chapter of the Student National Association of Teachers of Singing (SNATS)  is bringing holiday cheer directly to homes this year, with a free virtual caroling video. The National Association of Teachers of Singing fosters the formation of student chapters in order to advance knowledge about the Association and the professions of teaching and singing. A Student NATS (SNATS) Chapter is an organization of students that can meet, hold events and discussions, participate, practice, and learn more about voice teaching as a profession.

Students have been working hard all semester to remove obstacles to performing for audiences. “Despite the craziness that is this semester, it warms my heart that our organization is able to share music with the community, even if it can’t be in person” says chapter president, Cassie Coenen. Short but sweet the video includes renditions of “Deck the Halls”, “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells”. This holiday season doesn’t have to be less joyful because gatherings are limited. 

The idea developed in a brainstorming session of the group. “We all have had a lot of fun caroling in years past and we wanted to continue the tradition this 2020 holiday season,” says secretary Molly Wanless.  The video will be sent to three senior centers in the area: Fairhaven in Whitewater, Milton Senior Living and Oak Park Place in Janesville, with the hopes of it reaching more residences in the coming weeks. “We are doing this at no cost, only to spread some holiday cheer,” says Wanless.

Everyone plays their part in this student organization. This project features singers: Bekah Trussler, Alexis Nungaray, Paris Barker, Hunter Gebauer, Nathan Roley, Paul Borden and Jacob Krueger alongside Coenen and Wanless. Krueger also plays accompaniment in the video and Wanless was responsible for editing.

Outside of their music studies, SNATS does volunteering in the community and in the music department, fundraising for students to attend conferences and competitions, and hosts colloquiums to inform music students on various topics.

If you’re looking for another way to bring some holiday cheer to your home, we hope you’ll share the video far and wide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSzLu14lCrw&feature=youtu.be