News & Events

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

The “road closed ahead” signs that are still posted on the approach to the Tratt Street and Starin Road intersection may be disregarded, as the construction project has been completed ahead of schedule. The originally announced estimated completion date was August 9. Water main, sanitary sewer, curb and gutter spot repairs, pedestrian ramp ADA improvements, and new asphalt were included in this project.

Meanwhile, Fremont Street is still closed from Starin Road to Whitewater Creek, with an original estimated construction completion date of September 1. Further, the westbound lane of the Highway 12 bypass is currently closed, with a projected reopen date of August 9 at 6:00 p.m.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics Epsilon Rho chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an accounting student organization, is pleased to announce that they have been awarded Gold status for the year of July 2023-June 2024. This prestigious recognition is a testament to Beta Alpha Psi’s commitment to excellence in education and the UW-Whitewater community. 

In acknowledgment of this achievement, our Beta Alpha Psi chapter, Epsilon Rho, will receive a congratulatory letter and a $500 sponsorship from the KPMG Foundation in the upcoming fall season. This recognition highlights UW-Whitewater’s Beta Alpha Psi’s outstanding performance in meeting the high standards set forth by Beta Alpha Psi International.

Beta Alpha Psi’s achievement of Gold status reflects members’ dedication to growing professional development and community engagement within our university and their future careers. To receive a Gold status for Beta Alpha Psi, chapters are expected to fulfill key reporting requirements and participate in valuable training sessions. The chapter must also participate in activities for outreach, the accounting profession, and service. 

“Student organizations provide opportunities beyond the classroom allowing students to connect with professionals, peers, and professors. Our accounting student org activities complement classroom learning to allow students a deeper understanding of the accounting profession, potential career paths, and current events,” Dr. Jodi Gissel, Beta Alpha Psi faculty advisor, shared. “Students are able to enhance professional, social, and leadership skills; develop stronger connections and expand networks; and add value to the community through volunteer activities.”

Throughout the past year, Epsilon Rho of Beta Alpha Psi has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, participating in events such as Explore Accounting Day, Women in Business, Junior Achievement, helping in the Campus Garden for Make a Difference Day, and making over 140 cards that were shared with local veterans at a Veterans Day Ceremony. On top of that, they hosted numerous events throughout the year to engage students with professionals and enhance skill development including a mock interview event, multiple professional panels, and Accounting Jeopardy Night. These efforts underscore the dedication to making a positive impact beyond the classroom.

Accounting is one of the most popular majors at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and is offered at the undergraduate level and as an accounting emphasis in our MBA program. Applied- and high-impact learning, stellar student organizations and the fact that all courses are taught by professional faculty are key reasons for this success as are the facts that the department boasts strong alumni connections and a close relationship with area employers. The accounting program at the College of Business and Economics has also received Accounting Accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Achieving AACSB accreditation is a mission-driven, rigorous process that includes an in-depth assessment of internal activities. These principles-based standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation, research, teaching and learning. This level of specialized accreditation places the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the top 2% of business schools worldwide.

“Beta Alpha Psi has long been the flagship student organization within the department and is the main driver of student engagement through professional events and volunteer activities.” Dr. Abbie Daly, the chair of accounting, shared. “Dr. Gissel and the Beta Alpha Psi board members expended an immense amount of effort to achieve this accomplishment, helping us accomplish our department’s vision ‘to be the first choice in the state of Wisconsin for accounting students’.”

About Beta Alpha Psi: 

Beta Alpha Psi is an international scholastic and professional organization for students and professionals in accounting, finance, and information systems. Dedicated to academic excellence and community service, Beta Alpha Psi prepares members for future success through networking opportunities, leadership development, and career support. For more information about Beta Alpha Psi and its upcoming events, please visit: https://uwwbap.wixsite.com/uwwbap.

As was previously reported on The Whitewater Banner, on July 23, 2024 a Jefferson County jury found Pedro Mayorquin Landero Jr. [age 23, now of Crystal Lake, IL] guilty of two charges in connection with an assault that happened in May, 2021 on the UW-Whitewater campus. The defendant was found guilty of attempted robbery with use of force and battery.

Per Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, on August 2, Judge Bennett J. Brantmeier sentenced Landero Jr. as follows:

For the attempted robbery with use of force conviction:

“4 years, with an Initial Term of Confinement in Prison of 2 years, and the maximum time to serve on Extended Supervision of 2 years. The Court finds that the Defendant is eligible for the Challenge Incarceration Program “Boot Camp.” The Court finds that the Defendant is eligible for the Substance Abuse Program. The Court STAYS this sentence places the Defendant on Probation for 3 years.“

For the battery conviction:

“Court withholds sentence and places the Defendant on Probation for 1 year, with conditions: —to serve 6 months in the Jefferson County Jail, with work-release privileges. The Court indicates there will be testing for alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substances; a failed test will result in work-release privileges being revoked.”

a

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

This month we are featuring summertime images from the Scholl glass negative collection, taken between 1890 and 1910. We start with a summer view of a picnic, probably around 1900. Several views of this old farmstead are in the collection, and it appears to be abandoned and in a state of disrepair. Perhaps the people in the photo are the owners who no longer inhabit the farmstead. In any event, note the hats on all of the people except one. They are “boaters,” a type of hat very popular for summer in the early 1900s. Even the women are wearing versions of this popular style.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(3753GP, Whitewater Historical Society)

For 30 years, Bethel House has provided support to Whitewater community members who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing their housing.

To help celebrate the organization’s milestone, SSM Health recently donated $1,000 in support of its mission.  The gift helped to jumpstart the organization’s celebratory campaign to raise at least $3,000 by seeking $30+ donations.

“Bethel House is 100% locally funded and receives no financial assistance from the state or federal government,” said SSM Health Community Health Director Megan Timm. “SSM Health is proud to help support the great work they are doing in Walworth and Jefferson counties.”

Bethel House provided over $6,000 in financial assistance to 17 families from January-March 2024. They were able to stop four evictions from taking place and kept nine kids in their homes and schools.

“Of these impacted families, 64% were single-parent households, and two-thirds of the families had at least one person working full-time in the household,” Timm said. “This really shows that we are currently in an environment where many families are struggling to make ends meet.”

Last year, Bethel House provided nearly $23,000 to assist 80 local families with emergency assistance. In addition, Bethel House has a transitional housing program for families who are trying to establish stable housing.

“We are so humbled by the generous investment SSM Health made towards our efforts to keep local children and families housed. Support from community partners who believe in our mission is critical to our ability to provide our crucial services to families who need us,” said Bethel House Executive Director Megan Hartwick. “We’re so thankful to the whole team at SSM Health for their understanding of the importance of supporting families with stable housing.” 

To learn more about Bethel House or to contribute to its 30-year celebration campaign, visit http://www.bethelhouseinc.org/.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by SSM Health.

Get ready to listen to the instrumental ensemble Bonzo Squad! Thursday night, August 1, they will be at the Cravath Lakefront park for Concerts in the Park starting at 7:00 pm. Admission is free and for all ages.

Update: Rain won’t keep this group away! We will still have the concert, but, it will be inside the Cravath Lakefront Community Building.

Listen to some of their work before tonight by heading to: https://bonzosquad.com/listen

Bonzo Squad

Bonzo Squad is an instrumental jazz ensemble based in Chicago IL, with a focus on  presenting fun, eclectic music with a high level of musicianship. The group consists of  Bonzo himself, born Corbin Andrick, who plays the flute and the saxophones.  Completing the line up are Andrew Lawrence on keyboards, Andrew Vogt on bass, and  Zack Marks on drumset. The band formed in 2014 through playing a weekly residency at  Lilly’s in Chicago. 

In 2017, they released their first, self-titled album, which received a coveted 4-star  review from Downbeat Magazine. The track “Lemons” was added to Spotify’s popular “The State of Jazz” playlist. In 2019, Bonzo Squad released their sophomore record, 
“There’s Always Tomorrow.” They also moved their residency from Lilly’s to the Arrogant Frog, and finally to aliveOne, where they are still performing live every Thursday night. 

Bonzo Squad kept active during the Covid-19 pandemic, producing a series of virtual  livestreams on Facebook and YouTube. They released the live album “Live At aliveOne” in 2020, and were nominated by the Chicago Reader as one of the best jazz bands in 
Chicago, in their 2020 best of poll. 

In addition to their weekly residency at aliveOne, Bonzo Squad has produced tribute  shows to Stevie Wonder and Vulfpeck through the Jazz Record Art Collective in  Chicago, IL. They have also presented numerous educational clinics at High Schools, 
both in person and virtually.

[From Bonzo’s website]

Editor’s note: The following press release was issued by the Rock County Sheriff’s Department on July 30, 2024. Previous Banner articles regarding this crash were published on April 14, April 17, and April 22.

Original Release
On 04/13/2024, at approximately 1204 hours, Rock County Deputies, Jefferson County Deputies, Whitewater Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol along with several fire / EMS agencies responded to a three-vehicle crash at Highway 12 and East County Line Road in Lima Township, Rock County. An adult male and two adult females were declared deceased at the scene of the
crash. A third adult female passed away days later from injuries sustained from crash.

Updated Release
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office concluded its investigation and on 07/29/24, Lexus D. Boedecker, 24, Elkhorn, Wisconsin, was arrested on four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle – controlled substance, one count of operating with a detectable amount of a controlled substance, two counts of injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle-controlled substance. Boedecker was taken into custody with the assistance of the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office. Boedecker was transported to the Rock County Jail and has a future court date of 08/26/24 at 1:00 P.M.

“Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”