Whitewater Urban Forestry’s 2nd Annual Community Tree Sale

It’s that time of year again in Whitewater! In honor of Earth Day, the Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission along with the City of Whitewater will hold our 2nd Annual Community Tree Sale on Saturday, April 22nd from 10 – 4 and Sunday, April 23rd from 10 – 2 . Last year we sold all of our trees in two days so the sale this year will only be for two days instead of last year’s four. Come early so you don’t miss out!

What’s so great about these trees you ask? All of these trees are native to this area of Wisconsin and are usually very hard to find. They are also very reasonably priced because they are smaller than what you’d be lucky to find at a nursery, so they will fit in an SUV. What’s really special though is that these trees have been grown in a process called air pruning which means that they have very well developed, fibrous root systems that will allow the trees to take off quickly once planted. Each tree comes with planting instructions and we will have knowledgeable people on hand to answer your questions. Go to our website at www.arbatstarin.org for a complete list of the trees for sale, their characteristics and pictures so you can start planning! I will note here that our supplier, Possibility Place, lost all of their Ironwood trees this winter, so though these are on the list, they will not be available for this sale, we’re sorry! Hope to see you at the Tree Sale!

*This sale is held to provide native trees to area residents. Prices are just enough to cover the cost of the trees and their transportation. Last year they were $30 to $65 and will be that or very close to that again this year.

WHS National Honor Society is Hosting a Spring Silent Auction

The National Honor Society at Whitewater High School is hosting a Spring Silent Auction from April 14 – 28 this year!  Projects up for bid are Babysitting, Yard Work, Spring Gardening, Dog Walking, Car Wash, Baking / Catering, Starbucks Coffee Basket, Spring Cleanup Project, Movie Night Basket, Candyland Basket, Walk & Wash Dog Project, Book Gift Basket, and a Rainy Day Basket! 

NHS members will notify their winners the week of May 1 and will complete their projects from May 1 – 22.  Funds raised will be used for local & area scholarships and other worthwhile causes.  People interested in participating can place their bids on the following link to the WHS NHS Website by 3:30 pm on Friday, April 28:

https://sites.google.com/wwusd.org/whsnationalhonorsociety/spring-silent-auction-23

Thank you so much for participating!

Please contact Pam Sonmor-Wintz if you have any questions!

Pamela Sonmor-Wintz, 
Whitewater High School Counselor (M-Z)
Scholarship Coordinator
National Honor Society Advisor

 Whitewater High School
 534 S Elizabeth St  
 Phone:  262.472.8113

Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Chetek & Cameron Police Department Officers

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Orders #192 and #193 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sat., April 15, 2023, in honor of Chetek Police Officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron Police Officer Hunter Scheel, who were killed in the line of duty on Sat., April 8, 2023.

“By every account, Officer Breidenbach and Officer Scheel were deeply committed to their roles and responsibilities as law enforcement officers and the people and communities they served every day,” said Gov. Evers. “Their tragic and senseless deaths are an incredible loss and a testament to the danger first responders face every day in the line of duty to keep our communities safe. Our hearts are with Officer Breidenbach and Officer Scheel’s family, friends, and loved ones, members of the Chetek and Cameron police departments, and everyone from the Barron County community.”

Officer Breidenbach began her law enforcement career with the Stoughton Police Department before joining the Chetek Police Department in 2019. Officer Breidenbach was committed to serving her community, seeking public office and serving as president of the Chetek Youth Center board.

Officer Scheel graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy in 2022 and served the Cameron Police Department for the past year. Additionally, Officer Scheel’s commitment to service extended even beyond the Cameron community, having served as a member of the Army National Guard for six years.

Services for Officer Breidenbach and Officer Scheel, announced yesterday, will be held on Sat., April 15, 2023, in Cameron, Wisconsin.

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Snow Banks in April 1881

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

We had a lot of late snow in March, but nothing beats 1881 when after the big storm in early March (see our post from March 3) led to more snow storms in that month and into April 1881. This stereoscope view is actually dated April of 1881.
In fact, in the Whitewater Register on April 21, 1881, a Whitewater citizen is quoted, “Here it is the 13th day of April and hardly a spot of bare ground to be seen, and plenty of snow banks four feet deep. The situation finally improved later in the month, but there was extensive flooding due to rain and snow melt.

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

(1686ST, Whitewater Historical Society)

Town of Whitewater Seeks Bids for Road Projects

Advertisement for Bids
Road Repair Projects 2023

Town of Whitewater, Walworth County, Wisconsin

The Town Board of the Town of Whitewater will receive sealed bids for the following road projects:

Chip & Seal:
Parker Road
Cox road
R&W Townline Rd: two different sections

Asphalt:
Shereda Rd
Krahn Dr
W. Lakeshore Dr
Clover Valley from Anderson Rd to Millis Rd

Patches and wedging:
Clover Valley between Willis Ray Rd and Anderson Rd intersection
Woodward Rd at boundary of Cold Spring Township

For specifics on proposed projects, please contact Carl Ahrens, Public Works Superintendent: 920-723-0458.

All sealed bids, clearly marked “ROAD BID”, must be received by the Town Clerk before NOON, May 1, 2023. Bids will be opened on May 2, 2023 at a Special Meeting for the Board, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Weight slips required for all road materials used. Proof of Worker’s Comp Insurance and a W-9 must be furnished prior to any work being done. All bids and materials must be according to State of Wisconsin, DOT road standards.

The Town of Whitewater reserves the right to core and test asphalt content at the expense of the awarded contractor. The Town Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts of bids.

Jorja Boiley
Clerk/Treasurer

Iron Pour Returns to WI Makers Saturday

During the 2022 iron pour, members of the public scratch their designs on sand molds, which later were filled with molten iron. (Submitted photos from April 2022 event)
Members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater “pour team” fill scratch molds with molten cast iron during the 2022 event at Wisconsin Makers.


Remember that Wisconsin Makers is hosting its sixth annual iron pour this Saturday, April 15.

The public is invited to this family-friendly event at the regional makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. in Whitewater.

Spectators are welcome to watch the “pour team” — Teresa “Tree” Lind, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater lecturer of art and design, and her students and alumni — melt cast iron in an outdoor furnace and then fill sand scratch molds with the liquid metal.

Those wishing to make their own casting may buy a scratch mold square to personalize with their design that day, starting at 9 a.m.

The per-person cost is $25 ($15 for Wisconsin Makers members). Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each scratch mold must be completed no later than 11:15 a.m.

After the sand mold is removed, cast-iron
squares cool down before grinding and heading
home with their creators.

At noon, Lind and her team will begin pouring the cast iron into the molds. They will present the completed castings to participants by mid-afternoon.

During the iron pour, brats will be available for $3, and chips and soda, for $1 each.

Wisconsin Makers is a nonprofit regional makerspace (community workshop) offering an affordable, collaborative and educational environment that inspires people of all ages to become innovators by unlocking their skills through continual experimentation and training. Work areas/equipment include: 3-D printing, laser engraving, machining, welding/fabrication, electronics, blacksmithing, woodworking, ceramics/pottery, jewelry making, arts/crafts, quilting/fabric arts, matting/framing and more.

It also is home to the Whitewater Art Club, which holds a free drawing class from 4:30 to 6 p.m. every Thursday. Taught by Michael Alvarez of Whitewater, the class is designed for all ages and abilities, and one need not have participated in past classes to attend.

For more information on the iron pour or scratch mold workshop, or to learn about the makerspace or memberships, visit Wisconsin Makers’ Facebook page at @wisconsinmakers or call Jewer at (630) 430-9498.

Motorcyclist Dies in Town of Sullivan Crash


According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded on April 12 at 6:25 p.m. to a two vehicle crash on State Highway 106 at Mehring Road in the Town of Sullivan. One vehicle is described as a motorcycle, but the type of the other vehicle is not identified in the news release.

The department indicated that their initial investigation found that when a vehicle traveling northbound on Mehring Road pulled out from the stop sign at STH 106 to go westbound it was hit by an eastbound motorcycle. Both drivers were traveling alone. The operator of the motorcycle sustained critical injuries and succumbed to those injuries at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle had minor injuries.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Rome and Sullivan Fire. Jefferson EMS and Jefferson County Emergency Communications for traffic control.

There was no indication of any citations being issued, and the names of the persons involved were not released. The incident is being investigated by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Our Readers Share: Tom Ganser – Two Spring Surprises

Tom Ganser writes, “Totally unexpected but fun early spring surprises.  No. 1 would have been enough, but then seeing No. 2 on walk through campus with [my dog] Max was frosting on the cake.”

Easter Sunday, April 9 @ 4:30 p.m. – “Spring Surprise #1”
April 9, 5:30 p.m.
“Spring Surprise #2” – on UW-W Campus

Our thanks to Tom Ganser for sharing these beautiful spring surprises.

— 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 or click on “submit a story” near the top right of our homepage.  Thanks for thinking about this!

Appreciation of Young Artists at CAC During April

Appreciation of Young Artists at the CAC during April 2023

Students between the ages of 4-18 from the Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) will be on display at the Cultural Arts Center (CAC)—402 W. Main St. Whitewater, WI –from April 13 to 30, 2023. Due to the vast number of pieces, the exhibition will be in-gallery only with a few quick overview camera shots on the Whitewater Arts Alliance website. The gallery hours are Thursdays thru Sundays, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

With new coordinators taking over the show, the Art Walk from last year will instead be a musical reception day with performances as follows:

  • 1:00 – 1:30 Lincoln World Drumming Ensemble – Christine Hayes, Teacher
  • 1:30-2:00 WUSD String Ensemble – Patricia Nielsen, Teacher
  • 2:00-2:30 WHS Choral Students – Karen Tordera, Teacher

Reception will be Saturday, April 15 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Light food and drinks will be provided.

The exhibition will include visual two-dimensional artwork by students from area schools. The teachers displaying the artwork are: Sara Brautigam (Lakeview), Sarah Heyer (Middle School), Crystal Gill (High School), Justin Mane (Washington), and Sara Sixel (Lincoln).

To learn more about this show as it updates, head over to the WAA’s webpage, https://www.whitewaterarts.org/wusd-exhibition-2023.