News & Events

On Nov. 18, the WI Department of Health Services added Walworth County to the “Critically High” COVID-19 Activity Level that was just introduced last week. Every county in the state except Green is now shown at that extraordinarily high level, reflecting a very dangerous risk of transmission. Even Green County is at the “Very High” level.

Walworth County has issued the following guidance for the holidays.

(Movie buff Mark Dorn news release)

“Give Me Liberty”(Comedy/Drama) -Tuesday, November 24, 1 p.m. only
Rated PG – 1 hour, 50 minutes (2019)

An Independent film to be thankful for! Vic, a young Russian American, drives a handicapped van in Milwaukee, where he shares an apartment with his grandfather. Already running late on a day when street protests break out, Vic reluctantly agrees to ferry his grandfather and a dozen elderly Russians to a funeral, but they’re upset when he stops first in a Black Milwaukee neighborhood to pick up Tracy, a Black woman with ALS. On the verge of being fired, Vic’s hectic day goes from bad to worse. Filmed entirely in Milwaukee, this film was the winner of the prestigious 2020 John Cassavetes Award/Independent Spirit Award, presented to a creative team of a film budgeted at less than $500,000.

You will need to wear a mask and sanitize hands. Bring your own beverage and snacks, no sharing. Please call, email, or sign up online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk We no longer are allowing walk-ins so you must register if you will be attending. This allows us to implement physical distancing. Thanks so much!

(UW-W Press Release – Nov. 16)

More than 3,400 COVID-19 tests conducted at UW-Whitewater last week

Free, rapid testing at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater continues apace as 3,414 COVID-19 tests were conducted last week.

A total of 2,377 of those tests occurred at the Kris Russell Volleyball Arena in the Williams Center, where testing began Nov. 9 and is offered 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Anyone 5 years or older can get a test.

“People are responding to our call for a culture of responsibility to flatten the curve,” said Chancellor Dwight C. Watson. “Getting tested is a critical action step people can take to stop community spread by identifying those who are contagious but not showing symptoms. At UW-Whitewater, we have a friendly, safe and convenient testing site where folks can get their results in 15 minutes.”

Separate from the surge testing effort, University Health and Counseling Services — the primary tester of UW-Whitewater students — conducted 1,037 tests since Monday, including 633 on Wednesday alone.

“To help bolster our student testing numbers, local business DLK Enterprises provided financial incentives for our Warhawks who volunteered to get tested. I’m grateful for the Kachel family’s continued support of our university as we work to protect the health of our campus and greater community,” Watson said.

“In addition, our employees at UW-Whitewater continue to go above and beyond to ensure a robust testing environment here. This is a true collaborative effort to navigate the pandemic and protect one another. And, it’s our proud role as a public university to carry out the Wisconsin Idea to use our knowledge and expertise in the service of this great state, and to solve critical issues facing our society.”

For more information on getting tested for COVID-19 at UW-Whitewater, visit: https://www.uww.edu/warhawks-return/testing

Free parking is available in lots 7 and 9 on Warhawk Drive.

Student testing is made possible due to a partnership with UW System and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Faculty, staff and community testing is possible due to a University of Wisconsin System “surge testing” initiative, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

(Walworth County Health & Human Services press release – Nov. 13)

Walworth County Foster Parents Recognized by Governor

On November 13, 2020 at 2:00 p.m., Walworth County Department of Health and Human
Services foster parents, Dakota and Zack Hedrick, will be recognized as recipients of the
2020 Governor’s Foster Care Award. This award honors outstanding members of
Wisconsin’s foster care community. The Hedricks were nominated by Walworth County
staff due to the extraordinary care, support, and stability they provide to the children they
serve.

“The Hedricks are an example of the powerful impact that caring adults can have on
vulnerable children,” said Deborah McDaniel, Youth Justice Social Worker. “Walworth
County is very fortunate to have foster parents dedicated to providing children with a safe
place to heal.”

Walworth County is actively recruiting foster parents. For more information, please
contact the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services Foster Care
Coordinator Susan Earnest at 262-741-3200 or visit
https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/366/Become-a-Foster-Parent.

(Whitewater Arts Alliance press release – November 9) The annual Whitewater Arts Alliance Members Show (and sale) will be exhibited at the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center and online at whitewaterarts.org from Friday, November 6 to Sunday, December 13.  Except for Thanksgiving week (11/27 – 11/29), the gallery will be open Friday through Sunday each week from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. Twenty-two artists are exhibiting their work in the virtual gallery, and sixteen artists are displayed in the Cultural Arts Center. Viewing the exhibit is free of charge and open to everyone interested in the visual arts. Hop online to vote for the Viewer’s Choice Award. See www.whitewaterarts.org for more information. 

The Whitewater Arts Alliance will release an artist spotlight video to YouTube in late November or early December in collaboration with McDarison Productions in lieu of a reception. This is to keep our community healthy and safe in the face of the spread of COVID-19.

Anyone can become a member of the Whitewater Arts Alliance by completing a membership form and choosing a contribution level.  Check out whitewaterarts.org and click on “get involved” and “membership” for more details. 

The Cultural Arts Center is located on 402 West Main Street in the historic White building near the Birge Fountain. Parking is behind the building. An elevator is available for access from the parking lot entrance.  

The mission of the Whitewater Arts Alliance is to promote the visual and performing arts through an alliance of artists, individuals, educational resources, and organizations to promote creativity and diversity that will serve to educate and enrich the lives of the residents of the Whitewater community and surrounding areas.

UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc. announces the Dr. Elmer G. Redford ’59 Lab

The Dr. Elmer G. Redford ’59 Lab has been established in the Mary Poppe Chrisman Success Center on the campus of UW−Whitewater. “Thanks to a generous contribution from a UW−Whitewater alumnus, we are pleased to name this lab in honor of noted alumnus, instructor and staff member, Dr. Elmer Redford,” noted Greg Rutzen, President, UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc. and Vice Chancellor
for University Advancement.

The room will recognize the foundational work of Dr. Elmer Redford, UW-Whitewater Emeritus Physics Faculty Member and Developmental Studies and Learning Skills Center Director. Dr. Redford faithfully served for twenty-seven years as a member of the Department of Physics and is highly regarded for mentoring numerous students. He was instrumental in leading the development and growth of the Tutorial Services precursor, then known as the Developmental Studies / Learning Skills Center. His vision laid the foundation for a tutoring program focused on student needs and leveraging the talents of peer mentors, faculty and counselors. Dr. Redford also was a long-term stakeholder and supporter of the R. W. Prucha Scholarship Fund. Additionally, he participated in the shared governance of the University as a member of the faculty senate.

The Mary Poppe Chrisman Student Success Center is the home to the UW-Whitewater Campus Tutorial Services. The flexibility and resourcefulness of staff and student tutors have demonstrated the ability for tutorial services to still be delivered remotely in adherence with pandemic related safety protocals on the UW-Whitewater campus. The technology in the Mary Poppe Chrisman Success Center
has proven to be an impactful resource for students who are now not only struggling with classwork, but also unable to meet physically with staff and tutors for assistance. Luckily, the Campus Tutorial Services had been proactive early to implement digital options for the delivery of tutorial services. For the summer, fall and spring 2019-2020 semesters, 188 student workers (summer/fall) and 149 student workers (spring) assisted their fellow students at the center. Tutors delivered 66,245 hours of services
during the academic year.

An event to dedicate the Dr. Elmer G. Redford `59 Lab will be held at a future date.

UW−Whitewater students and Dean Goza introduce the newly named Dr. Elmer G. Redford ’59 Lab in this video.

The compost site will close for the season at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. The site will remain open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. until the posted closing date of November 18, 2020.

Additional Opportunity for Leaf and Yard Waste Collection

For those who miss the November 20 bagged leaf pickup deadline, there will be two, six-yard dumpsters at the Department of Public Works (150 E. Starin Rd.) on November 23 through November 25 and November 30 through December 4. This will be an additional opportunity to dispose of leaf and yard waste only, NO BRUSH. City of Whitewater residents only will have access between 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. We ask that you please empty your bags (Bio bags do not have to be emptied)/containers into the dumpsters and take them with you when you leave.

If you have any questions please call the Department of Public Works at 473-0560.

(Studio 84 news release – Nov. 5) — Governor Tony Evers announced that $15 million in COVID-19 Cultural Organization Grants has been awarded to 385 cultural organizations across Wisconsin. Studio 84, a nonprofit art studio in Whitewater that specializes in the creative development of people with disabilities is one of these award winners.

“Just like small businesses, cultural organizations have taken a major financial hit,” said DOA Secretary Joel Brennan. “We’re all in this together. We hope that these funds will make it possible for us to be able to enjoy the museums, theaters, and music from these organizations once it is safe to do so again.”

Administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), the COVID-19 Cultural Organizations Grant program provides grants to nonprofit organizations whose primary missions are to produce, present, or exhibit cultural disciplines such as music, dance, theater, literature, and the visual arts, or items of environmental or scientific interest. Grant awards can be used to cover pandemic-related impacts such as lost revenue, increased workers’ compensation costs, cleaning and sanitization, and purchases of services or equipment to facilitate telework by employees.

Director of Studio 84, Deborah Blackwell, said, “We are very grateful for this award. We lost almost four months of revenue, and continue to do so even though we are open again with students. In order to keep safe distancing and with reduced staff/volunteer availability we are only able to be open at a 20-30% capacity with artists. Donations became nearly nonexistent and have been slow to come back also. While this grant will assist in a small way to keep us open, we are still in need of donations to keep us moving forward until we can be fully functioning again.” Blackwell states that the artists really missed their programming and are so glad to be back.

You can visit Studio 84 at www.studio84inc.org to donate online or mail in donations to Studio 84, 121 W. Center St. Whitewater, WI 53190

More information regarding the COVID-19 Cultural Organization Grant Program is available HERE. A full list of grant winners is available HERE. Banner note: Per this list, Studio 84 was awarded $8906.41, and Whitewater Arts Alliance, $3855.95.