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In a Facebook post on October 3, The Black Sheep announced that it is suspending dinner service for an indefinite amount of time. The Banner reached out to the restaurant to inquire about additional details. We have not received a response.

The Facebook post is reproduced below.  

Hey everyone,

We regret to inform you that we will be suspending dinner service for an indefinite amount of time.

We will still be offering private and group dinners by booking, however we will no longer be open for reservation or walk in service.

We would like to thank every one of our guests for being such great patrons and we hope to be back at some point in the future.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email us at blacksheep@eatatblacksheep.com or send us a message here on Facebook.

Thank you for your time. Have a blessed holiday season.

Much love.

Dear Whitewater Banner,

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the letter published on Oct. 13, 2022 regarding the Whitewater Unified School District’s upcoming referendum.

The district’s administrative team has put together an extensive referendum FAQ sheet at https://www.wwusd.org/page/referendum that addresses many topics, including Mr. Kinson’s assertions. Anybody who is interested in learning the whole story should check it out. Beyond that, I will decline to respond to Mr. Kinson’s misguided, inflammatory letter.

The Whitewater community has a long history of working together for strong schools. Twenty-five years of successful referendums is the most visible example, but it happens every day, in innumerable other ways. The WUSD would not be where it is today without the hundreds of parents, teachers, administrators and community members who put children first every day.

Instead of wasting time casting blame, the WUSD is relentlessly addressing the challenges of our changing world. We are grateful for the Whitewater community’s past support as we pursue that mission, and we know your continued support is critical to ensure a bright future for our schools and our community.

Thank you.

Thayer Coburn, President

School Board of the Whitewater Unified School District

Editor’s note:  The Banner’s policy is not to publish letters to the editor. We deemed it appropriate to publish the following submission expressing an individual’s views due to the fact that we previously posted an organization’s advocacy for the Whitewater Unified School District referendum.  The Banner will provide the opportunity to the District Superintendent and/or School Board President to submit a response to this statement. Otherwise the Banner will not be publishing anything further, prior to the election, regarding the school referendum except for the material that the district previously distributed.

By Henri Kinson

The Whitewater School District last lost a referendum 25 years ago.  The never-ending stream since has, unfortunately, generated an arrogant and daft board.

Start with the Covid shutdown.  When discussing options, the district took a survey in which 75% of parents wanted some sort of in-person instruction.  Showing less concern for its kids than any school in the area, Whitewater shut down anyway.  Didn’t the board know that kids might leave and take their state money with them?  Of course, but why should they care when they know that taxpayers will bail them out?  Whitewater lost 200 kids and $10m in the process (and it now needs the referendum to make up for it). 

What about academics?  Everyone knew after the initial shutdown that kids weren’t learning anything.  Since all the other districts were staying open, didn’t the board know that poor achievement would lead to fewer parents with an interest in academics moving to or staying in Whitewater?  Yes, but why should they care when they know taxpayers will bail them out with a referendum?  Whitewater’s test scores tanked, with its ACT scores falling to the bottom third in the state and the district now losing $2m every year to kids transferring out.

OK, but that’s only two (admittedly huge) knuckleheaded decisions, right?  Hardly.  Last year, the board got $3m in Covid money from the feds to spend pretty much however it liked.  So it upgraded its football fields for $2m and put $1m away for pensions.  Didn’t they know that it would be asking for money this year for stuff that really mattered?  Of course, but why should they care when they know that taxpayers will bail them out with a referendum?

It’s not just dumb decisions that the never-ending money encourages, but arrogance as well.  You needn’t look any farther than the referendum material itself to see what I’m talking about.  Did the district ever mention the money it lost from the shutdown in the referendum materials it sent you?  Why should it?  Did it mention its plummeting test scores, or highest in the area spending and state aid it loses as a result?  Ha!  Did it mention why it paid $2m for a football field before it addressed the more important things in the referendum?  Please.  Has it ever suggested it was a mistake to callously dismiss three quarters of the parents and kids it’s supposedly here to serve by shutting its doors in their face?  Never.

When Whitewater last lost a referendum, I remember hearing that people look for a reason to vote no.  You certainly have several, from the parents, kids, and revenue it drove away, to the record spending and lost state aid, to the fields and pension goodies.  The biggest, however, is the contempt the district shows towards us because we pass every referendum they send to us no matter how irresponsibly it acts.  We must stop subsidizing such negligence, or we will continue to get it.  Please vote no.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This is the second of three vintage post card views in our walk down Main Street.

This view is along Main Street between Franklin Street and Prairie St., north side, now part of the Main Street Historic District. The view was probably taken around 1900-1910, given the look of the early automobile in the photo. Post cards were often “colorized” in this fashion and the same view would also be available in black and white.

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

(2190PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

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

Per the National Weather Service (NWS), Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office, “A line of thunderstorms moved eastward across southeast Wisconsin during the late morning and early afternoon hours on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. This line of storms possibly produced several short-lived tornadoes, as well as some wind damage. The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan office will be conducting storm surveys of several locations across southeast Wisconsin on Thursday, October 13. Stay tuned for later updates as the storm surveys are completed.”

NWS issued a tornado warning for Jefferson and Waukesha Counties on Wednesday at approximately 11:30 a.m. Shortly thereafter the warning was extended to Walworth County. Students in Whitewater public schools were quickly moved to tornado shelter areas, which in many cases are restrooms.

At 11:36 a.m. NWS received a report from Whitewater’s Emergency Management Office of several trees and powerlines down in the city.

At 11:45 a.m. NWS passed on a report from a member of the public who indicated they observed “rotation/condensation funnel in contact with the ground just south of Highway 12 and Highway 59.” NWS defines a condensation funnel as “A funnel-shaped cloud associated with rotation and consisting of condensed water droplets (as opposed to smoke, dust, debris, etc.)” No other reports were received regarding such a sighting in this area.

The tornado warning expired at 12:15 p.m. There have apparently been no reports of significant damage in the city.

The tornado sirens were not activated. Police Chief Dan Meyer offered the apology below via social media. Although the sirens are sometimes heard inside buildings, depending upon various factors, it should be noted that they are not designed for this purpose. Those who have a cell phone should receive a warning in that manner; it is recommended that those without a cell phone obtain a weather radio, or at least monitor on a television or radio when there is threatening weather. The primary purpose of the sirens is to warn persons who are outside to seek cover immediately.

“Good evening Whitewater,

I am aware there are a number of questions being asked regarding why the tornado sirens were not activated during today’s storm. I want to make sure it’s clear that our department is responsible for activating the sirens manually. We are in the process of reviewing this, but simply put, the sirens should have been activated today. We will be addressing the issue by ensuring our policy is updated to more clearly indicate when the sirens need to be activated to reduce any ambiguity.

I want everyone to know that the safety of everyone in our community is our number one priority, and we will do everything we can to ensure this doesn’t happen again. I apologize for any confusion or fear that this may have caused.

Sincerely,

Chief Dan Meyer”

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area.

The League of Women Voters of the Whitewater Area reminds voters to get ready to
vote in the upcoming November 8 General Election. On the ballot this election in
Whitewater and surrounding communities in Walworth and Jefferson counties are
candidates running for US Senate, US House of Representatives, Wisconsin Governor,
Lt Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and State Senate
and Assembly District seats. Many communities and school districts also have important
referendums on the ballot. The League encourages voters to start their candidate
research before they cast their ballot, so they are informed whether they vote by
absentee ballot or on Election Day.

Walworth and Jefferson County voters can access nonpartisan information on
candidates running for federal and state offices and read their local referendums by
using the League’s voter guide on VOTE411.org. Enter your street address, ask to view
your ballot and then link to read candidates’ responses to the League’s questionnaires.
VOTE411 is a one-stop shop for statewide election information and provides simple
tools to help Wisconsin voters navigate the voting process. These include candidate
information, voter registration tools, polling place information and other helpful Election
Day resources. Voting is the best way to make the change you want to see in your
community, and VOTE411 empowers voters to use their voices. Nearly 25.4 million
voters have found the information they needed thanks to VOTE411, many of them
young people and first-time voters.

The League of Women Voters of Whitewater Area is a nonpartisan political organization
that advocates for informed and active participation in government. More information at
lwvwhitewater.org

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office.