News & Events

(Whitewater Unified School District press release, April 19) Whitewater, WI – “Mr. David Brokopp has been named the next Superintendent of the Bangor School District. Mr. Brokopp has been with the Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) since 2011 as the Lakeview Elementary Principal.

Mr. Brokopp said, “This is an incredibly bittersweet moment as I am incredibly excited to take on this new challenge. At the same time, it will mean leaving behind this amazing team, this awesome school, and a community that I have truly loved being a part of.”

WUSD will be creating a committee for the hiring of the next principal for Lakeview Elementary and will put out an announcement regarding the process to the community soon.”

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From the Bangor School District website: (https://www.Bangor.k12.wi.us/)

Bangor Selects New Superintendent

“After engaging in an extensive search process, the Bangor School District Board of Education is pleased to announce that David Brokopp has agreed to a contract as the next Superintendent for the District.

Mr. Brokopp is presently serving as the Lakeview Elementary School Principal in the Whitewater Unified School District. He has held this post since 2011. In addition, he has served as the Whitewater District Safety Coordinator since 2013. Prior to his position in Whitewater, David was a 7-12 Technology education teacher in the Clinton School district for ten years.  

David is enrolled in the educational leadership and policy analysis executive Ph.D. cohort through the University of Wisconsin – Madison and has completed his superintendent certification. He anticipates completing his PhD later this fall.

David, his wife and his two middle school age daughters are looking forward to a move to Bangor. He shared that he has been incredibly impressed with the community pride in and support of the Bangor school district. He hopes to move the district forward in a way that continues to honor the rich traditions and values of the district. 

Please join the Bangor School District Board of Education in welcoming our new Superintendent. He will assume his duties on July 1, 2021.”

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From the Village of Bangor website (villageofBangor.com)

Welcome to the Village of Bangor!

Bangor has a population of approximately 1533 and is located between La Crosse and Sparta on I -90 along the La Crosse River. With great schools, and a friendly community, it is the perfect place to call home, or open a business. Located close to the amenities of the La Crosse area we can offer the access of the best of city life and the feeling of small town living. 

As a result of a reader’s comment that it’s hard to find garage sales in Whitewater now that we no longer have a weekly shopper, the Banner staff agreed last year to begin a “consolidated” garage sale posting that will be published each Thursday morning for the upcoming weekend’s sales. We will continue that service this year. This announcement will only be for garage sales (a sale of miscellaneous household goods, often held in the garage or front yard of someone’s house) in the city and school district boundaries. We will not be accepting, for example, ads for cars or other items that are not part of a scheduled garage sale. There will be a limit of three times per year for a particular property. Although we may eventually make a small charge for this service, initially it will be complimentary.

Those wishing to place a notice must send the information to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com by Wednesday at 8 p.m. You may include a brief description of the items that are for sale, the hours and days of the sale, and of course your address.

Wonder Woman 1984 – (Superhero action, Rated PG-13, 2 hours 31 minutes, 2020) Tuesday, April 20, 1:00 p.m.

Diana Prince (Gail Gadot) lives quietly among mortals in the vibrant, sleek 1980’s, but soon she will have to muster all of her strength, wisdom, and courage as she finds herself squaring off against Maxwell Lord and the Cheetah, a villainess who possesses superhuman strength and agility.

There is a capacity limit, and COVID-19 precautions, including facial mask, are required. Please register in advance online, by email (dweberpal@whitewater-wi.gov), or phone (473-0535).

(Whitewater Public Library submission)- The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library presents “Home Improvement Contracts under Wisconsin Law,” a virtual program, on Tuesday, April 20th at 6:00 p.m. Individuals can register for this Zoom program at whitewaterlibrary.org.

The Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will present information on home improvement practices and contracts under Wisconsin law.  Wisconsin residents sign home improvement contracts every day to make improvements to their homes and property. It is important to understand the consumer protection laws that are in place to protect you before you enter into this type of contract. As part of the presentation, you will learn about tips on hiring a contractor, contractor requirements, and required contract provisions.  Home improvement resources will be available to all attendees. As Wisconsin’s lead agency for consumer protection, the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection provides information and education, mediates complaints, investigates cases, and takes enforcement actions to fight fraudulent and deceptive practices that harm consumers and honest businesses.

Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. If you notice any of them, don’t ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
   One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.
   
   What’s a typical age-related change?
   Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
   
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
   Some people living with dementia may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.
   
   What’s a typical age-related change?
   Making occasional errors when managing finances or household bills.
   
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
   People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
   
   What’s a typical age-related change?
   Occasionally needing help to use microwave settings or to record a TV show.
   
4. Confusion with time or place
   People living with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
   
   What’s a typical age-related change?
   Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
   
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
   For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving.
   
   What’s a typical age-related change?
   Vision changes related to cataracts.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
   People living with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).
   
   What’s a typical age-related change?
   Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
   
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
   A person living with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. He or she may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.
   
   What’s a typical age-related change?
   Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.
   
8. Decreased or poor judgment
   Individuals may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
   
   What’s a typical age-related change?
   Making a bad decision or mistake once in a while, like neglecting to change the oil in the car.
   
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
   A person living with Alzheimer’s disease may experience changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation. As a result, he or she may withdraw from hobbies, social activities or other engagements. They may have trouble
   keeping up with a favorite team or activity.
   
   What’s a typical age-related change?
   Sometimes feeling uninterested in family or social obligations.
   
10. Changes in mood and personality
    Individuals living with Alzheimer’s may experience mood and personality changes. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, with friends or when out of their
    comfort zone.
    
    What’s a typical age-related change?
    Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
    
    Get checked. Early detection matters.
    If you notice one or more signs in yourself or another person, it can be difficult to know what to do. It’s natural to feel uncertain or nervous about discussing these changes with others. Voicing worries about your own health might make them seem more “real.” Or, you may fear upsetting someone by sharing observations about changes in his or her abilities or behavior. However, these are significant health concerns that should be evaluated by a doctor, and it’s important to take action to figure out what’s going on.
    
    Reference: Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs
    Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline: (800) 272-3900
    
    For more information, please contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center:
    Aging and Disability Resource Center – Walworth County
    www.co.walworth.wi.us/adrc
    (262) 741-3400
    Aging and Disability Resource Center- Jefferson County
    www.jeffersoncountywi.gov
    (920) 674-8734

This Banner article submission is part of an ongoing series to bring information and awareness to the Whitewater community via a partnership of Whitewater’s Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, Seniors in the Park, Jefferson and Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center Dementia Specialists, and Downtown Whitewater.

By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The Thursday, April 8 Whitewater Common Council meeting that was moved because of the previous Tuesday’s election resulted in final clarification of an ordinance on smoking in city parks and the announcement that the City is scheduled to receive $1.48 million of federal assistance as stipulated in the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). The meeting also included recognition of long-time council member Patrick Singer for his 14 years of service.

The issue of smoking in city parks has been confusing to citizens and even some council members for several years. The final resolution of the issue, which was almost not achieved due to one council member’s objections, will focus only on air-quality and health issues within 20 feet of a playground, skate park, or bleacher area as opposed to an earlier ordinance that applied to all city parks.

The issue of the $1.48 million dollars of additional federal funding came in a report from City Manager Cameron Clapper. HR 1319, or the ARP as it is known, was signed into law in mid-March. With a total authorized spending of $1.9 trillion it includes direct aid and economic stimulus funds for local governments. Reimbursed costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic along with economic stimulus funding for allowable “infrastructure improvements” are included.

ARP funding to cities like Whitewater is designated in “Section M” of the bill. That section includes nearly $220 billion of direct state and local government relief and stimulus funding which represents nearly 12% of the ARP’s total budget. More than half that amount ($130.2 billion) is designated specifically for counties, cities and other governments including the City of Whitewater.

City Manager Clapper’s report to the Common Council, based on information provided by the WI League of Municipalities, indicated the funding will be distributed in two different payments which will later be subject to audit. The first payment is expected to arrive by “mid-year.” The “League” cautioned that the US Treasury Department is still developing and issuing guidance on the 242-page legislation which “is expected take several months to complete.”

Eligible uses and restrictions on usage were highlighted in Clapper’s report. Eligible uses included replacement of lost city revenue attributed to COVID-19, reimbursement of premium pay attributed to the pandemic for essential city worker activities, and the cost of city emergency responses to the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. Investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure may also be approved.

Restrictions include the stipulation that funds “cannot be used to directly or indirectly offset tax reductions or delay a new tax or tax increase” and “funds cannot be deposited into any pension fund.”

Clapper cited the negative financial impact to the city-supported Aquatic Center as the best local example of COVID-19 impacts. The facility was closed for a time which impacted revenues and is still operating under a modified schedule and COVID-19 mandated restrictions.

Council member and former multiple-term Council President Patrick Singer was rewarded by a City Proclamation plus praise and applause from council members. He was first elected to the Common Council in April of 2007 and has recently run and been elected as one of the two council members elected by city-wide ballot as opposed to the remaining five who only receive votes from one city ward. Singer declined to run for reelection because of the increasing demands of his young family.