It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. In honor of May Day (OK, it was yesterday), here is a photo of some Whitewater Normal School (UWW) students participating in a May Day pageant around 1920. A few years ago we posted a photo of these same students around a May pole, so we know that this photo is related to that celebration. During the twentieth century, May Day was celebrated as a spring festival by many young people. Happy Spring!

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

(5394PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

Gov. Evers Orders the Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Firefighters of Wisconsin Who Have Given Their Lives in the Line of Duty

Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #258 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sun., May 4, 2025, as a mark of respect for the firefighters of Wisconsin who have given their lives in the line of duty.  “Our firefighters have selflessly dedicated their lives to service and to ensure Wisconsinites across the state are safe and secure, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year,” said Gov. Evers. “On behalf of the state, we recognize and thank all members of our firefighting communities for their brave service and sacrifice and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of safety and serving their fellow neighbor.” Executive Order #258 orders the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sun., May 4, 2024, in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Gov. Evers proclaimed May 3-4, 2025, as National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. The governor’s proclamation is available here.  On Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial in Wisconsin Rapids will hold the Final Alarm Ceremony honoring the memory of members of Wisconsin’s fire services who have given their lives in the line of duty. Executive Order #258 also orders the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, in honor of that occasion.   Finally, in Wisconsin, Wis. Stat. 995.225(1) designates each week annually during which October 9th falls as Fire Prevention Week and the Saturday at the end of Fire Prevention Week as Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day. To that end, Executive Order #258 orders the flags be lowered on Sat., Oct. 11, 2025, in honor of Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day during Fire Prevention Week.

The following individuals have been criminally charged in Walworth County Circuit Court. Only alleged offenses that are charged as felonies are listed.

Yair Hernandez Rivera, 21, of N407 County Trunk N, Whitewater, has been charged with battery or threat to judge, prosecutor or law enforcement officer, and throwing or discharging bodily fluids at a public safety officer or prosecutor.

Kimberly J Voegeli, 62, of 720 W. Walworth Ave., Whitewater, has been charged with maintain a drug trafficking place, PTAC, and possession of narcotic drugs, PTAC.

Craig O Voegeli, 66, of 720 W. Walworth Ave., Whitewater, has been charged with maintain a drug trafficking place, PTAC, and possession of narcotic drugs, PTAC.

Tanya J Voegeli, 38, of 720 W. Walworth Ave., Whitewater, has been charged with possession of narcotic drugs.

Austin M Voegeli, 21, of 608B S. Franklin St., Whitewater, has been charged with neglecting a child – no harm and child under 6 years or disability.

Alicia A Zamora, 27, of 608B S. Franklin St., Whitewater, has been charged with neglecting a child – no harm and child under 6 years or disability.

Noaa J Belasic, 27, of 720 W. Walworth Ave., Whitewater, has been charged with possession of narcotic drugs.

James R. Braya, 44, of 720 W. Walworth Ave., Whitewater, has been charged with possession of narcotic drugs and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

Editor’s notes: The above information is taken from the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website.

PTAC is an abbreviation for “party to a crime.” Party to a crime is a legal term that alleges that someone who was not the primary actor in a crime was ready, willing, and able to assist in the commission of the offense.

It is a cardinal principle of our system of justice that every person accused of a crime is presumed to be innocent unless and until his or her guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Saturday City Market at Cravath Lakefront Community Center has ended for its season, but the Farmers Market will pick up where the City Market left off (well, not exactly.) Beginning on Saturday, May 3, the Farmers Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon, 301 W. Whitewater Street, in the parking lot next to the historic Train Depot. This early in the season, of course, the produce selection will be limited, but there are likely to also be eggs, baked goods, and a variety of other items.

The City Market will be back at the Train Depot beginning on Tuesday, May 6 from 4-7 p.m. Their announcement will be forthcoming soon.

The first phase of the Walworth Avenue repaving project is scheduled to start Friday, May 2.

Walworth Avenue/CTH N will be closed from State Highway 12 west to the City Limits. The closure is anticipated to last through the end of May. Work in phase 1 includes concrete curb replacement and milling and repaving of the asphalt surface. The road will be closed to all traffic. The detour will include State Highway 59 and State Highway 26.

Phase 2 of the Walworth Avenue repaving project will begin after the Whitewater Unified School District is completed with their spring semester. During phase 2, Walworth Avenue will be closed to thru traffic from State Highway 12 to Janesville Street. Local access and access to the Whitewater High School and the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center will be maintained via side streets.

For questions regarding the project please contact the Department of Public Works. Brad Marquardt
Director of Public Works
(262) 473-0139

El proyecto de repavimentación de Walworth Avenue comenzará el viernes 2 de mayo.

La primera fase del proyecto de repavimentación de la Avenida Walworth está
programada para comenzar el viernes 2 de mayo. Walworth Avenue/CTH N estará cerrada
desde la autopista estatal 12 hacia el oeste hasta los límites de la ciudad. Se prevé que el
cierre dure hasta finales de mayo. Los trabajos de la fase 1 incluyen el reemplazo de
bordillos de concreto y el fresado y repavimentación de la superficie de asfalto. La
carretera estará cerrada a todo el tráfico. El desvío incluirá la Carretera Estatal 59 y la
Carretera Estatal 26.

La Fase 2 del proyecto de repavimentación de la Avenida Walworth comenzará después de
que el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Whitewater termine su semestre de primavera.
Durante la fase 2, Walworth Avenue estará cerrada al tráfico desde la autopista estatal 12
hasta la calle Janesville. El acceso local y el acceso a la Escuela Secundaria Whitewater y
al Centro Acuático y de Fitness Whitewater se mantendrán a través de calles laterales.

Si tiene preguntas sobre el proyecto, comuníquese con el Departamento de Obras Públicas.
Brad Marquardt
Director de Obras Públicas
(262) 473-0139
bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov

“Spring Splash, an unofficial annual event in anticipation of warmer weather and the conclusion of the UW-Whitewater academic year, is taking place on Saturday, May 3. Event participants are primarily UW-W students and friends. Spring Splash has no official connection with UW-W. An organization known as “Wisconsin Red” publicized the early versions of the event in 2013 through 2015 with relatively few problems. In 2016, however, as social media spread word of the event, crowds became large and unmanageable. Problems included public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and large-scale litter. Wisconsin Red pulled its formal sponsorship of Spring Splash in 2017, and their involvement now appears to be limited to online merchandise sales.

In recent years the event has gone forward with less issues than once occurred, but the Whitewater Police Department annually requests mutual aid on a prescheduled basis from the county sheriff’s departments and nearby municipal police departments. Whitewater Police Chief Dan Meyer posted the following notice on the department’s Facebook page this week: “We’d like to inform the public that on Saturday, May 3rd, there will be increased law enforcement presence in the City of Whitewater in response to Spring Splash. Our goal is to maintain public safety and order, and we rely heavily on the community in order to accomplish that. As always, dial 911 if you have an emergency, and contact the Whitewater Police Department at 262-473-0555 option #4 to request a non-emergent police response. Thank you for helping us ensure a safe environment for everyone.”

Whitewater Symphony Orchestra 

Saturday, May 03, 2025 @ 7:30 PM
The Young Performing Arts Center
930 W Main St

Experience the brilliance of the esteemed Whitewater Symphony Orchestra. Immerse yourself in a captivating symphonic journey as the orchestra’s harmonious blend of woodwinds, brass, percussion and strings come together to bring classical masterworks and modern-day compositions to life. With their unrivaled talent and dedication to musical excellence, the WSO promises an unforgettable performance that will leave you awe-inspired. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for those age 65+ or under age 18. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Ticket Services office in the Greenhill Center for the Arts, 950 W. Main Street, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets purchased at the door are subject to a $2 surcharge.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble & Friends 

Sunday, May 04, 2025 @ 3:00 PM
The Young Performing Arts Center
930 W Main St.

Join us for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s post Carnegie Hall performance featuring two of our outstanding faculty members. Dr. Carson King-Fournier performs the jazz-influenced “Concerto for Trombone” by Dana Wilson and Dr. Diana Shapiro performs Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” in a delayed celebration of the work’s centennial. You don’t want to miss this spectacular combination of jazz and classical music! Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for those age 65+ or under age 18. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Ticket Services office in the Greenhill Center for the Arts, 950 W. Main Street, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets purchased at the door are subject to a $2 surcharge.

Chamber Singers and Vocal Jazz 

Sunday, May 04, 2025 @ 7:30 PM
Light Recital Hall
950 W Main St.

Experience the vocal mastery of the Chamber Singers and Vocal Jazz groups as they come together for an exciting evening of music. Featuring student conductors, this concert promises to be an eclectic celebration of vocal talent. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for those age 65+ or under age 18. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Ticket Services office in the Greenhill Center for the Arts, 950 W. Main Street, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets purchased at the door are subject to a $2 surcharge.

By Pat Blackmer
President of the Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs

Make a Difference Day is an event at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, held annually to inspire and mobilize the campus community to engage in meaningful service activities. This day is dedicated to fostering a spirit of volunteerism and collective action, aiming to create a lasting impact on the local community and beyond.

The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs was fortunate to have a group of young ladies who volunteered to assist club members with the annual spring landscape clean-up at the historic Bassett House on Friday, April 25th . With their assistance,
leaves were raked, weeds were pulled and bushes were trimmed.

UW-Whitewater’s Make a Difference Day exemplifies the power of collective action and the positive influence of community service. By uniting students and local residents in purposeful activities, this event not only addresses immediate needs but also fosters a culture of empathy and proactive engagement. As it continues to grow and evolve, Make a Difference Day will undoubtedly remain a cornerstone of UW-Whitewater’s commitment to making a meaningful difference in the world.

Warhawks Give is happening April 30 at 9 a.m. – May 1 at 4 p.m., and we’re celebrating 1868 Minutes to Give—honoring the year UW-Whitewater was founded in 1868 and the generations of Warhawks who have shaped its legacy.

For 1868 minutes, alumni, donors, and friends will come together to support the students, programs, and initiatives that make UW-Whitewater special. Your gift—no matter the size—helps provide scholarships, enhance campus experiences, and strengthen the future of our university. Join us in making an impact today!

Click on this link to see the progress of the campaign, specific funds that may be designated for a gift, and a video about what makes UW-Whitewater so special.

The Whitewater Music Boosters is holding its next monthly meeting on Monday, May 5th from 5:30-6:30 PM. Join us at WHS – Room 403 or via Google Meet at the following link: https://meet.google.com/fko-afzc-hxa.

Agenda, Past Minutes and Other Documents:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TuBl93A6i-eHoumy9RN1HDvYWYLHdbeN?usp=sharing

Constitution:https://docs.google.com/document/d/176FiAPf8aBMIY6qAUMseCVGTBSoBRencaSgcpmIwuek/edit?usp=sharing

Ways to get involved: 

Way #1: Run for a seat on the Board! The positions of President, Treasurer, and Sponsorships/Fundraising Chair are up for election at the upcoming meeting. Position descriptions are in the Constitution.

Way #2:
Volunteer! 

Whitewater music events frequently need your assistance. Look for other opportunities from Whitewater Music Boosters and from teachers. Volunteering is a great way to support students in their music experience.

Way #3:

Donate/Fundraise! In addition to supporting student activities through volunteering, Music Boosters supports the growth of students through sponsoring music related activities and providing monetary support for instruments, uniforms, and other needed items that aren’t budgeted for. Donors are recognized on social media and through the programs at district music events but can also donate anonymously if it’s preferred.

Donate/Share Form here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qkxHs1iNBujuaWKY7SqiDjH4QjZQ5dg2/view?usp=drive_link