News & Events

MADISON – July 24, 2020 — Gov. Tony Evers announced today that the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin will be flown at half-staff on July 25, 2020, in honor a recently identified Korean War Soldier whose remains have been returned to Wisconsin for burial. Army Cpl. Francis J. Rochon of Superior will be buried with full military honors on Saturday, July 25, in Foxboro, Wisconsin, after the Department of Defense positively identified his remains 70 years after his death. “This is a great yet somber day,” said Gov. Evers.  “We humbly remember Cpl. Rochon’s brave sacrifice to our nation and offer our condolences to his family as they now find closure after so many years and lay Cpl. Rochon to rest eternally in his home state and community.” Rochon was a member of the 2nd Infantry Division.  He was reported missing in action on Sept. 1, 1950, after fierce fighting near Changnyeong, South Korea. The Army officially declared Rochon deceased on Dec. 31, 1953, and declared his remains non-recoverable Jan. 16, 1956. Rochon’s unidentified remains were buried at a cemetery in South Korea in January 1951 and reinterred in 1956 to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.  He was disinterred in 2018 for possible identification by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. To identify Rochon’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. Rochon will be buried at Summit Cemetery in Foxboro.  His military awards include the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge. Executive Order #81 is available here.

Due to the increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases, the Irvin L. Young Library will be closing its doors again on Friday, July 24 at 5:30 p.m. Curbside pickup will resume on Monday, July 27. Please see the information below.

(WHITEWATER – Whitewater Arts Alliance Press Release) – The second of three Savory Sounds Concerts to take place at the Cultural Arts Center on 402 West Main Street on Thursday, July 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. will feature harpist Lauren Hayes. All concerts will be outside at the Whitewater Arts Alliance’s Cultural Arts Center. In case of rain, the concerts will be live-streamed.

La Piazza Pizzeria, 162 West Main Street, will provide lunches with pre-orders.  Attendees should call 262-458-2727 to pre-order lunches for pick up prior to the concert.

Chicago-based harpist Lauren Hayes is an avid orchestral, chamber, and solo musician, frequently performing with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Composers Orchestra, and as an Associate in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.  In addition to performing, she maintains a large private teaching studio and volunteers with the non-profit Sharing Notes. Hayes holds a PD in Orchestral Studies from Roosevelt University (2019), a MA in Harp with Distinction from the London Royal Academy of Music (2016), and a BM in Harp Performance from the University of Arizona (2014).  Lauren Hayes was born and raised in Whitewater.

The comet Neowise will be visible in Whitewater’s northwestern sky in the hours after sunset until July 23. Around 10:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, the Donnelly Sahyun family were just able to make out the comet from the hill over Trippe Lake park. It was about one fist above the downtown lights and two fists below the Big Dipper. To the naked eye it looked like a faint blur, but a better view was available through binoculars secured to a camera tripod. If you live in the countryside and have an unobstructed, northwestern, dark sky view, you may see it even more clearly. We recommend the experience! 

Our thanks to the Donnelly Sahyun family for this first-hand report.

Link to NASA Neowise information: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/how-to-see-comet-neowise. There you’ll learn that the comet was just discovered on March 27, 2020 by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission, not to be seen again for another 6,800 years.

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, Minn. (July 17, 2020) – The following students have been named to the 2020 spring semester Dean’s List at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the university announced today.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must complete 12 or more letter-graded credits while attaining a 3.66 grade point average.

John Downs, Senior, College of Sci and Engineering

Whitewater, Wis. July 17, 2020 – On Monday, July 20, 2020, the Department of Public Works will begin crack sealing in various locations around the City. No parking signs will be posted in these areas as crews progress through the list. There will be no parking allowed between 6:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, when posted. Work is expected to be completed in two to three weeks.

Group #1

Lot A
Lot B (including 2nd Street from Whitewater St south)
Lot C
Lot D
Lot E
Lot F
Lot G
Lot H
Lot I

Group #2

Bluff Road (Round-a-bout to Howard Rd)
Howard Road (Bluff Road north)
Greenway Court
Executive Drive

Group #3

N. Esterly Avenue
N. Franklin Street (Main St to Starin Rd)
Starin Road (Tratt St to Park St)
Starin Park parking lots (2)
Starin Park park roads
Highland Street (Summit St to Elizabeth St)

Group #4
Black River Court
Bloomingfield Drive (Tratt Street to west)
Blue Mounds Drive
Tower Hill Pass
Stonefield Lane
Peninsula Lane

Per The Hill and various other media outlets, “Walmart announced on Wednesday it will require shoppers to wear a face covering starting on July 20 in all stores and clubs across the U.S.

Walmart noted that currently about 65 percent of its more than 5,000 stores and clubs are located in areas where there is some form of government mandate on face coverings. The new policy is in place to help bring consistency, the company said.

“While we’re certainly not the first business to require face coverings, we know this is a simple step everyone can take for their safety and the safety of others in our facilities,” Dacona Smith, Walmart U.S. chief operating officer, and Lance de la Rosa, Sam’s Club chief operating officer, wrote in a press release.

Walmart created a health ambassador position for each store and will station them near the entrance of stores, along with clear signage, to remind people without a mask of the policy. The ambassadors will receive special training and be identifiable by black polo shirts.”

For the complete story in The Hill, please click here.