Lynn Binnie

Music Masters Showcase Photo gallery

The Whitewater High School Music Masters Ensemble, directed by Karen Tordera, presented their Music Masters Showcase on December 17 at the high school. The event included solos and small ensemble performances as well as songs sung by the entire ensemble. Photos are courtesy of Tom Ganser.

This Week’s City Meeting

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda
Cravath Lakefront room, 2nd floor, 312 West Whitewater St, Whitewater, WI
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/982280285
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 982-280-285
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212

In Memoriam: Council President James Allen


Editor’s note: The following message was provided by City Manager John Weidl on December 23.

It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of the Council President, Mr. James Allen. At the request of family, the Whitewater Police Department conducted a welfare check at 8:00 p.m. this evening, during which Mr. Allen was found deceased.

Please know that his next of kin have been duly notified. As we come to terms with this unexpected loss, our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Allen’s family, friends, and colleagues. His long-standing service to our community has left a unique mark, and his absence will be deeply felt.

In this difficult time, let us honor his memory and continue his legacy of service. Further details regarding any arrangements will be shared as they become available.

With deepest sympathy,
John S. Weidl
City Manager, City of Whitewater

Bird is Restructuring in Bankruptcy Court – No impact expected on scooters here

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

Bird Global, the company that operates the electric rental scooters in Whitewater during warmer months, on December 20 voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to undergo restructuring to strengthen its balance sheet in preparation for the sale of its assets. The company’s primary lenders are providing an additional $25 million debtor-in-possession funding for operations in the meantime. According to seekingalpha.com, the company has been experiencing falling sales, and in spite of aggressive expense reductions has been unable to achieve profitability. This week the company assured the city that it expects to continue fulfill its commitments and to resume normal operations in the spring, although Bird acknowledged in a November public statement that there was substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Apparently it was after that announcement was made that the company agreed to a “stalking horse bid” in which lenders provided a floor for the company’s value in the hope that other prospective owners offer a higher bid. In its communication to the city, Bird indicated, “We expect Bird to emerge from this restructuring process in 90-120 days with a strengthened financial position that will allow us to invest more significantly in our operations, employees, and the communities we serve for years to come.”

Jimmy Gilman, Bird’s government partnerships manager, wrote, “Our commitment to the City, local workforce, and riders remains unwavering and we expect that this restructuring will allow us to continue investing in hardware and technology and to continue building on our success in the City.” 

In response to Bird’s message, City Manager John Weidl stated, “The City of Whitewater acknowledges Bird Scooters’ recent announcement regarding their financial restructuring. We remain focused on the provision of uninterrupted services in our community. Bird’s assurance of maintaining their operations during this period is important to us, as we continue to prioritize diverse, accessible, and sustainable transportation options for our residents, such as scooters, golf carts, UTVs, and our shared ride program with Brown Cab. We look forward to our ongoing partnership with Bird and their contribution to our City’s transportation network.”

Our Readers Share: Steve Watson – Slippery Landings on Cravath Lake

Our thanks to Steve Watson for another beautiful and informative nature submission.

— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share.  Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks for thinking about this!

Preliminary Listing of Council & School Board Candidates – Filing Deadline Jan. 2 (Updated)

Updated on 12/24/23 at 1:00 a.m. to reflect the passing of James D. Allen.

The following three seats on the Common Council will be up for election on April 2, 2024. Candidate information was provided by City Clerk Karri Anderberg.

Aldermanic District 2 (Wards 9 & 10) – Currently held by Lukas Schreiber, who has filed a certificate of noncandidacy. Orin Smith, 901 W. Starin Rd., #502A, has filed nomination papers.

Aldermanic District 4 (Wards 6, 7 & 8) – Currently held by Jill Gerber, who had not filed a certificate of noncandidacy by Thursday morning, December 21. Since that notice was due to be filed by that date if an incumbent does not plan to run, it is likely that Gerber intends to run, but The Whitewater Banner has not received a response to its email inquiry to her.

Brian Schanen, 441 S. Buckingham Blvd., has submitted nomination papers for District 4.

Council Member at Large – Was held by the late James D. Allen, who passed away unexpectedly on or about December 23. See this article.

Greg Majkrzak, 1294 Tower Hill Pass, has submitted nomination papers for the at large seat.

Persons who may be interested in running for a Common Council seat may find information about the process here. Nomination papers must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2. If there are more than two candidates for any seat, a primary will be held on February 20.

The following two seats on the Whitewater Unified School District School Board will be up for election on April 2, 2024. The Whitewater Banner did not receive a response regarding candidate status from the District office on December 20, the last day the office was open before winter break. If there are more than four candidates, a primary will be held on February 20. The seats are currently held by the following:

Larry Kachel, who indicated to The Whitewater Banner that he will be running for re-election.

Maryann Zimmerman, who indicated to The Whitewater Banner that she will be running for re-election.

Persons who may be interested in running for a School Board seat may find information about the process here. Candidacy papers must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2. The district office is closed for winter break until January 2 at 7:30 a.m.

Seniors in the Park Presents Oppenheimer

“Oppenheimer”
Tuesday, December 26, 12:30 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE EARLY START TIME!
(Biography/Drama/History) 
Rated R (sexuality, nudity, language)
3 hours, 1 minute (2023).

The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. Stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Robert Downey, Jr.

Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. There is no charge to attend. 

First United Methodist Church Offers Four Christmas Eve Services

Sunday, December 24

We would be honored to welcome you to any of our services on Christmas Eve.

10:00 a.m. – On this, the last Sunday of Advent, we light the fourth candle. Katie Fortney will sing “Some Children See Him” and “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow.” Pastor Dan Fahs will bring the message. This service takes place in our upstairs sanctuary. An elevator is available.

4:00 p.m. – We have a children and family worship focus. There will be carols sung and a retelling of the Christmas story that speaks to children of all ages. We will feature our drummers and lift up the spirit of the season! This service takes place in our upstairs sanctuary. An elevator is available.

7:00 p.m. – This will be a more traditional worship service with carols, a wonderful anthem from our choir, and a message from Pastor Dan. We will also light candles in our congregation as we sing about Christ’s birth. This service takes place in our upstairs sanctuary. An elevator is available.

11:00 p.m. – A combination of Bible lessons and carols. We will hear the Christmas story and sing traditional Christmas songs and celebrate communion. As United Methodist pastors sometimes say in our Invitation to the Table, “Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin, and seek to be at peace with one another.” If you can say you do or have done these three things, you are welcome to receive. The service will culminate with the singing of “Silent Night,” lit by candles. This is a truly moving time of worship that will inspire us as Christmas Day approaches. This service will be held in the chapel on the main floor.

Welcome

You are welcome to come just as you are and be met by God who knows you by name, who loves you and wants to have an ever-closer relationship with you. God made us who we are, and ALL of us are children of God.
To people of all…

  • sexual orientations and gender identities
  • racial and ethnic backgrounds
  • ages and physical/mental abilities
  • economic and family status
    …. we welcome and affirm you.
    We are all on a spiritual journey and want all to feel included here.

Obituary: Lt. Col. Mark Thomas Diebolt, 90, of Austin, TX

In Memoriam: Lt. Col. Mark Thomas Diebolt

Plattsburg, NY – 12/16/1932
Austin, Texas – 10/07/2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lt. Col. Mark T. Diebolt, an extraordinary man whose life was a testament to values, courage, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence.

Born in Plattsburg NY, Mark left an indelible mark on the world. He lived a life of passion, integrity, and honor and dedicated himself to love of country and fighting Communism.

As a child in the 1940s, Mark was crushed by a tractor and was confined to a full body cast for months. He later told stories of cutting ice from Lake Champlain and hauling the blocks into the ice house. His father was a professor who taught economics at NYU and took the family to post-WWII Japan to help reconstruct the country through the Marshall Plan.

An accomplished athlete, he played almost every sport, including football, when helmets were made of leather. As a young adult, Mark continued his journey, attending Colgate University, where he honed his intellect and immersed himself in the study of classical philosophy. He was a New York State Golden Gloves boxer in the welterweight division and displayed tenacity and prowess, not only in the ring, but later as a fighter pilot, earning respect and admiration from his peers.

After graduating from Colgate University in 1955, Mark joined the U.S. Air Force, embarking on a career that would see him through some of the most critical moments in history. His aerial skills were unmatched, and he served as an Air Operations Officer and a Tactical Fighter Pilot during the Cold War leading up to and including the Vietnam War. His dedication to duty and exceptional flying abilities earned him a legendary status among his fellow aviators. He also stood ready on nuclear alert, fifteen days a month in Okinawa, Japan from 1959-1962 before later serving in the Vietnam War.

During the Vietnam War, he was in charge of the largest Forward Air Control Base at Long Tiên, ultimately completing three tours in the war-torn country. As a pilot with the 559th TFS (Tactical Fighter Squadron), part of the 12th Fighter Wing (Billy Goats), he flew more than 800 hours of combat missions from Cam Ranh Bay providing close air support, and also flying between 750-1000 combat hours hitting targets along the protected Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos. His list of proficiency with aircraft included, but was not limited to: A-1 (A,D6), F-4 (B,C,J), O1 (E,F), U-17, T28B, T33, T-34A, T39, F86F, F5E, RF5A, F5B, F100 (C,D,F).

But most important to him, it was in Cam Ranh Bay in 1969 that he met his second wife Jean Anne Youngstrom, a combat nurse in Vietnam, and the love of his life.

While serving in Vietnam, Mark was soon attached to the CIA to support the Lao Hmong guerrilla army with a number of other exceptional pilots known as the Ravens. Most of those missions were declassified in the late 1980s and these warriors, unlike any today, are immortalized in two books, The Laotian Fragments and The Ravens: Pilots of the Secret War in Laos, cementing their legacy as a true heroes.

Later in 1974, he was assigned the role of Military Attaché to the Shah of Iran, where he trained the Persian Air Force and introduced electricity to remote mountain villages in the region.

Back in Texas, when asked what medals he earned in combat, he often said, “Every time they nominated me for a medal, I told them to give it to that guy or this guy, there are plenty of men who flew more hours and deserved it more than I did.” Nevertheless, among his many medals earned in combat, he was awarded not one but two Distinguished Flying Crosses (the highest medal for extraordinary aerial achievement), and he was the first ever member of the U.S. Air Force to receive a Navy Commendation Medal. He loved flying with the U.S. Marines!

Away from the cockpit, Col. Diebolt had a passion for politics, authors such as Lawrence Durrell, the French language, the timeless melodies of Edith Piaf, all sports that interested his children, and collecting firearms. His appreciation for culture and art reflected the depth of his character and the philosophical underpinnings that drove him to excellence while fighting for liberty. Mark was not only a man of action but also a father who demanded excellence from his children in academics and sports, instilling in them the values of discipline and hard work.

Col. Mark Diebolt leaves behind a legacy of courage, honor, and an unyielding commitment to duty and integrity. As we mourn his passing, let us remember and celebrate a life fully-lived, a life that was built on selfless dedication to others, one that not only touched the skies but went further, leaving an indelible mark on those who knew, and loved him.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Col. Jean Y. Diebolt; children Mark Diebolt JD, [Melinda Diebolt], Amy Diebolt Kristofitz [Brian Kristofitz], Karen Diebolt JD, [Bob Samuelson], Alison Diebolt Linton [Tom Linton], Stephen Diebolt, Brienne Diebolt-Brown [Karl Brown PhD], Erik Diebolt DO; brother Craig Diebolt; and 14 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C. at 9 a.m. on January 10, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Edgar Allan Poe Society, Inc. A 501(c)3 started by the Ravens to give scholarships to descendants of Lao and Hmong refugees of the Vietnam War. EAPLS, Inc., 507 Rolling Green Dr., Lakeway, TX 78734-5222

…quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”