News & Events

Photos and text courtesy of Tom Ganser

If you’re thinking the Fourth of July fireworks will be spectacular . . . you haven’t thought about taking in a performance of “Finding Nemo, Jr.” by the Unified School District’s Summer School Playhouse June 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. and July 1 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Whitewater High School Auditorium.

The play is perfect for all ages – and a wonderful treat for your relatives and neighborhood kids.

If you happen to be a senior adult, don’t worry.  Any youngster attending a performance with you will be happy to clue you in on the plot.

General admission tickets for adults ($10) and students ($7) can be reserved by calling the Box Office at 262-472-8178 or purchased beginning one hour before the performance.

“Finding Nemo Jr.” is a lively 60-minute musical adaptation of the popular 2003 Pixar movie telling the story of Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, who lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid, Nemo.

“Finding Nemo Jr.” brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure.

The cast and technical crew for this amazing production includes more than 70 students ranging from incoming 6th graders to WHS Class of 2023 graduates.

Led by director Jim McCulloch, music director Liz Elliott, and choreographer Taytum Adkins, the talented cast of fish and birds includes Ian Agen, Deven Bawden, Chacha Binagi, Nels Brown, Anders Clarksen, Alex Clarksen, Ayden Clark, Belle Cohen, Grace Coleman, Peyton Comfort, Julianna Cortez, Sienna Dahl, Esteban Diaz-Gallegos, Franki DiFiore, Emery Duris, David Enns, Tyrelle Griswold, Charlotte Hajewski, Nina Heim, Raena Hicks, Toby Kapfer, Haley Keltesch, Evelyn Kjome, Josh Kirley, Amelia Lafaive, Ameera Lin, Brooke Mason, Eloise Morse, Virginia Nelson, Kai Peterson, Julian Rennells, Lauren Rollette, Zel Scherer, Josie Selby, Melody Smith, Serina Soto, Skylar Staebler, Evie Stine, Alex Sullivan, Ava Van Daele, Anderson Waelchli, Cosette Wildermuth-Breizman, Elora Wildermuth-Breitzman, Talon Wildermuth-Breitzman, Xavier Zei, Zoe Zei, and Matt Zingsheim.

Guided by amazing technical director Kat Dunham in creating a magical big blue world are Caitlin Alford, Henry Brockwell, Payton Bunger, Alexsandra Cansino-Pena, Lucy Davis, Laken DePorter, Alejandra Diaz-Gallegos, Emerson Dunham, Lu DiFiore, Ace Hudec, Gabbie Kirley, Rayne Levaspu, Marren McCulloch, Kara Long, Jacob McGlaughlin, Ava Nygren, Abigail Olson, Betzy Palomec, Lucy Troxel, Sami Van Daele, Miles Nicklesberg, Josh Nygren, Payton Peacock, Cora Shimming and Claire Tourdot.

According to Liz Elliott, “Finding Nemo Jr.” “is a fun and familiar story that the students have expressed their excitement to be a part of.  This show allows for many small groups of students to shine with the variety of songs and scenes that they are in.  Not all shows function this way, so it is a unique experience for many of our cast members.  While all students contribute to the greater whole of the show, these individual small group numbers highlight the many different characters and creatures within “Finding Nemo Jr.”

Comments from the students show how much they enjoy being part of the action.

Anders Clarksen said, “This is the second time I have been a bird!  I was a seagull in “The Little Mermaid” and I am a pelican in “Finding Nemo Jr.”

“I like being able to work with all ages and making an impact with performance and music,” stated Skylar Staebler.

Matt Zingsheim shared, “I enjoy the music in this show a lot,” adding, “I like the styles of the songs and some of the titles are funny to me.”

Asked to compare her character to an ice cream flavor, Charlotte Hajewski said, “I feel like my character, Peach, would be rainbow sherbet, because she lives in the colorful coral.”

“I am anxious just like my character,” Lauren Rollette noted.  “However, I am not purple or yellow.”

Ayden Clark reflected, “”I love helping with the dances, and helping the younger students get around the show and on stage.

7th grader Melody Smith, cast in the role of Breeze, said, “Something I have enjoyed about being in theatrical productions is feeling like you’re part of a family and getting really close with all of your fellow performers.”

Raena Hicks, a 7th grader, who plays a turtle and a seagull in “Finding Nemo, Jr.,” admitted, “Something that I learned about being in the play is that it takes a lot of time and effort to learn your part.”

Put seeing “Finding Nemo Jr.” on your bucket list for June 29, 30 and July 1.

Class of 2023 WHS and Ferradermis Alum Daniel (Peter) Portwine spent three days in Washington DC for the National Advocacy Conference sponsored by SASA (Student Association for STEM Advocacy).

On Tuesday, Daniel was able to meet with staffers for Senator Tammy Baldwin, Senator Ron Johnson, and Representative Scott Fitzgerald to discuss the importance of STEM education.

Daniel has been passionate about the impact of the FIRST Robotics program on students for a long time, but a new fire was kindled when he was one of five Ferradermis members to participate in the Wisconsin Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in February.

More information on the conference can be found at https://mysasa.org/national-advocacy-conference.

Article Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor and Banner Volunteer
lmasbruch@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Daniel Portwine

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Paul Kuenning, president and chief executive officer of Fairhaven Senior Services.

With the upcoming retirement on Friday, June 30th for current Marketing Director Tim Probst, I am happy to announce that the new director of marketing and community relations for Fairhaven is Brian Robinson. Brian is no stranger to Fairhaven as he is approaching his 9th year here and has created a solid leisure services program fostering many contacts throughout the surrounding communities and also at UW-Whitewater. His 18+ years working in senior living/healthcare and passion for what he does will be an asset that we look forward to tapping into with this new role. He will be overseeing the apartments, assisted living and Hearthstone levels.

Shannon Schoville will be the marketing manager for Prairie Village. Shannon has been with Fairhaven six months and shares her passion of adding to the culture of care throughout Fairhaven. She has experience with marketing and fundraising and we look forward to her adding that experience to Prairie Village. Each will also continue in their current roles, Brian as director of leisure services and Shannon as executive secretary.

Both Brian and Shannon will utilize the current Marketing Office together but can also be reached at their current office location. If needing to direct any calls related to marketing, we ask that they be sent to the Marketing Office phone at ext. 1143.

Brian Robinson may be reached at
Director of Marketing and Community Relations
robinsonb@fairhaven.org
262-473-2140 ext. 1143 Marketing Office

Shannon Schoville may be reached at:
Marketing Manager Prairie Village
schovilles@fairhaven.org
262-473-2140 ext. 1143 Marketing Office

We thank Tim for all he has done and added to the Fairhaven family and wish him the best in retirement.

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Walworth County Health & Human Services Department.

On June 20, 2023, the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) confirmed a positive rabies test for a bat from Walworth County. This is the first rabid bat identified in the county this year. Human rabies is now rare in the United States; the last case of human rabies in Wisconsin occurred in 2010, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health
Services.

Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It is transmitted from infected
mammals to humans and is invariably fatal once symptoms appear. Human rabies is rare in the
United States, averaging about two to three cases per year. Although people typically acquire
rabies from the bite of an infected animal, the virus can also be transmitted by a claw scratch, or
by saliva from a rabid animal that comes in contact with an open wound or with a mucous
membrane.

For this reason, persons should be considered potentially exposed to rabies if they have had
physical contact with a bat and a bite or scratch cannot be ruled out. A common example of this
would be a cyclist who is struck by a bat while riding. Additionally, a bat that is found in the
same room as a person who cannot rule out physical contact with the animal may also constitute a potential rabies exposure. This would include a sleeping person, an unattended child or someone who is intoxicated.

Persons who sustain any animal bite or experience the type of bat exposures described above
should notify local law enforcement, humane society, family physician or health department as
soon as possible for evaluation as a possible rabies exposure.

Pet owners can help prevent rabies transmission by getting their dogs, cats, or ferrets vaccinated for rabies, even those that do not go outside. Indoor pets can still be exposed to rabid bats that find their way into living areas. Additionally, if an unvaccinated dog, cat, or ferret bites a person, the animal will be ordered into an isolation facility for a 10-day observation period—at the owner’s expense. Parents should also warn children to never handle a bat (or any other wild animal).

Keeping bats out of living areas can significantly reduce the potential for rabies exposure to
residents and their pets. Most bats enter homes and apartments through an open or loose fitting door or an attic, open unscreened window, unscreened chimney, or gaps in an outside wall, fascia, or soffit. Animal control professionals, pest control professionals and bat exclusion
professionals can be consulted to address these problems. Bat exclusion professionals, according
to Bat Conservation International, are insured and licensed in the states they serve and use
approved bat exclusion methods. For more information, visit their website at www.batcon.org.
Additional information about rabies can be obtained from the CDC’s website at
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ or from the Wisconsin Division of Public Health’s Rabies Fact Sheet, which can be viewed at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p4/p42081.pdf.

For more information about bats, rabies control, reporting and treatment, please contact
Walworth County Public Health at (262) 741-3200.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the photo on the homepage by Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash.

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

As is shown below, the “purple” level of air quality is the second worst level, with index values between 201-300. Whitewater’s level on Tuesday, June 27 at 8 p.m. was 253. This poor air quality, as a result of the forest fires in Canada, is described as being very unhealthy. Everyone is encouraged to limit outdoor physical activity, and it is recommended that members of “sensitive groups” avoid all outdoor physical activity.

Source: https://fire.airnow.gov/

The following announcement was made by Brenda Jones, UW-W Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs, on June 26.

“University community,

I am pleased to announce that Trisha Barber has been named assistant vice chancellor for financial services. Trisha has been serving as both interim controller since 2020 and interim budget director since 2022. During that time, she has been instrumental in developing and refining the budget process to better reflect the true activities of the university. 

As assistant vice chancellor, Trisha will continue her role as primary budget officer and will provide oversight to the controller and financial services. By merging these two areas under her guidance, we will be able to provide a more comprehensive approach to developing and monitoring financial plans as we work toward eliminating our structural deficit. This new structure will result in a better management system for campus resources, allowing reinvestment back into the strategic priorities of the university. 

Please join me in congratulating Trisha on her new position.”

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

Upon hearing the news that the City of Whitewater did not have the resources to plant or water the several planter boxes in the downtown area, a group of local residents decided to help out by purchasing, donating some flower stock and doing the actual planting to make sure those flower boxes did not go empty this year.  

With the approval of Public Works Director, Brad Marquardt and Streets Superintendent, Brian Neumeister and a generous donation of gift cards from Walmart, to date, four flats of annuals have been planted in the four large boxes at Cravath Lakefront Center as well as bulbs that will put on a beautiful show of color all summer.  On Wednesday, May 10th,  the “pop-up volunteer garden club” worked on the large planter boxes at the Lakefront park as well as adding some bulbs to the boxes across from the SweetSpot.  The “crew” also began to clean up the area around the Birge Fountain on the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center grounds, planting the urns with flowers and pruning the rose bushes there.  

The first members of this group are Sherry and Al Stanek and Rick and Jeanine Fassl.  After a couple of phone calls by them, more help was found.  The Living Word Fellowship on Main Street is sponsoring the two large flower boxes in front of their church.  Fanatico’s and the SweetSpot are sponsoring the boxes in front of their restaurants.  Common Council member Dave Stone offered to keep the four boxes planted at the Lakefront Park watered for the duration of the summer.  And Tokyo Japanese Cuisine will keep the box in front of their restaurant watered this summer.  Bonnie Miller planted and donated a big beautiful pot of flowers outside of the Municipal Building and a hanging basket has also been spotted hanging on the light pole outside of K-9 Haircare!  The group was also contacted by Dawn Hunter who has planted the concrete planter located at the Prairie Tiller Mural! 

Thank you to these residents and businesses who are volunteering to help beautify areas around Whitewater for residents as well as the many visitors who come to our city!

Update, 6/27/23 @ 4:20 p.m.: Jeanine Fassl shared that “there is an additional group helping to water the four urns by the Birge Fountain in Library Park.  The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity across from the fountain has three members: Owen Russell, Cole McIlroy, and Kendal Thomson who’ve agreed to keep those urns watered this summer.  This has truly been a community wide effort.”

Identification of photos:
First row of photos: Rick Fassl, Sherry Stanek, Al Stanek (L-R)
Photo in second row: Jeanine Fassl

William Hofmann of Whitewater has been named to the Dean’s List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the spring semester of the 2022-23 academic year.

Hofmann, a sophomore majoring in advertising and public relations, was named to the Dean’s List for the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

More than 6,400 students at Nebraska were named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester.

Qualification for the Dean’s List varies among the eight undergraduate colleges and the Explore Center. Listed below are the minimum requirements for each entity and the name of its respective dean or director. All qualifying grade-point averages are based on a four-point scale and a minimum number of graded semester hours. Students can be on the Dean’s List for more than one college.

• College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 3.75; Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss.
• College of Architecture, 3.75; Dean Kevin G. Van Den Wymelenberg.
• College of Arts and Sciences, 3.7; Dean Mark E. Button.
• College of Business, 3.6; Dean Kathy Farrell.
• College of Education and Human Sciences, 3.75; Dean Sherri Jones.
• College of Engineering, 3.5; Dean Lance C. Perez.
• College of Journalism and Mass Communications, 3.7; Dean Shari Veil.
• Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, 3.7; Dean Andy Belser.
• Explore Center for undeclared, pre-engineering, pre-health and pre-law students, 3.6; Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Undergraduate Education Amy Goodburn.