News

Geneva Lake Conservancy, with its partner Lakeland Audubon Society, is pleased to announce its fourth biennial Kettle Moraine Bird Festival on Saturday, May 17 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bromley Woods, W5798 Greening Road in Whitewater.
Participants can expect to see a variety of warblers as well as many other forest interior birds.

Bromley Woods is the Conservancy’s largest public preserve and features an oak woodland, savanna, and kettle pond, which provide habitat for many declining bird populations. Bird walks will be offered at 8, 9 and 10 AM. Be sure to bring your cameras and binoculars!

After the last bird walk, there will be an official opening of the last Bromley purchase of 21 acres, where the Conservancy’s Chair and a member of the Bromley family will speak. This will be open to the public. A ticketed lunch will be available after the Bromley opening with an avian presentation by Beth Martin, lead of the Bald Eagle Nest Watch Program.

The event is open to the public and registration is limited. The bird walk is $5 and the walk with lunch and presentation is $30. To register go to https://www.genevalakeconservancy.org/ [click on “events”] or call 262-275-5700.
Editor’s note: The site indicates that reservations should be made by May 14. A call to confirm availability might be wise.

The Geneva Lake Conservancy is an accredited land trust that has protected over 3,500 acres of open land in Walworth County. Formed in 1977, it offers five public nature preserves for hiking and other recreational activities as well as other programs and educational activities for children and adults, including its Conservation@Home program. For more information, go to GenevaLakeConservancy.org.

All WUSD after-school activities, athletics, and practices will be cancelled today, May 15, 2025, due to severe weather predictions in the area.

Alex Clarksen’s senior voice recital has been postponed until next week Wednesday, May 21 at 7:15pm, after senior portfolio presentations.

Lincoln Elementary School’s Family Teacher Partnership donated a helmet to every student who wanted one! A total of 115 helmets were distributed this year!

We take bike safety very seriously, even Mr. Smith, our P.E. teacher, demonstrates the importance of helmet safety while teaching a roller blading unit.

As the warm weather approaches, we ask that you watch for all the cyclists, children, and people! Be safe and have fun!

Warmly,
Lincoln Elementary Family Teacher Partnership

Key points for the Whitewater area: We are in the area that has a higher risk for damaging winds, damaging hail, and tornadoes. The peak intensity is expected between 4-7 p.m. on Thursday.

According to the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office, “There continues to be a risk for severe thunderstorms across most of southern Wisconsin on Thursday, with a risk for very large hail, tornadoes, and high winds.  Initial storm development is expected between 2 PM and 4 PM, with peak intensity and storm coverage between 4 PM and 7 PM.  Storms are expected to move east of the area after 8 PM. 

Uncertainty remains regarding how south severe thunderstorms develop on Thursday, with the higher storm coverage expected north of the US Highway 18 corridor.  While coverage may be more sparse south of this area, these more isolated storms may be more intense.

By Marcia James

You already have read the article about the Madison Brass Band performing at Whitewater High School’s Auditorium this Saturday night at 7 p.m.  But the story doesn’t end there.  In the band are Dr. Don Deal and his former student, Griffin James, a Whitewater High School graduate–1999.

Griffin plays euphonium, Don’s instrument, and when Griffin was a student in the Whitewater School District, he was blessed with having many fine music instructors including Christine Hayes, John Tuinstra, and Don Deal.

Don received his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where his mentor was John Stevens, who later became Griffin’s major professor and father-in-law!

Don and Griffin have collaborated on several projects.  For instance, when Griffin is unavailable to lead his polka band, Don substitutes.  

Griffin is the high school band director for the Baraboo School District.  He is also the UW-Sauk County, Platteville, and Baraboo Community Band Director.  His wife, the former Katie Stevens, is the choir director for the Baraboo School District.

Don and Griffin hope to see you this Saturday!

Fly the United States Flag at Half-Staff on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day

May 11 through May 17, 2025, is Police Week. May 15, 2025, is Peace Officers Memorial Day. 

On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, we honor our brave officers who serve on the front lines to protect our families, safeguard our communities, and shoulder a burden of responsibility that most Americans cannot fathom. This week and always, we honor the courageous men and women serving in law enforcement and memorialize those who sacrificed their lives defending the thin blue line.

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is hosting an online fundraising auction featuring card catalogs, furniture, and more. As the library moves into Phase Three of their Expansion and Renovation Project, proceeds from the online auction will help give the library a funding boost.

The link for the auction website is here.

By bidding on furniture and other items that the library can’t use after the remodel you are not only supporting the new library but also getting a piece of Whitewater history! 

Bidding will take place from 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 12th and will end at 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21st. 

Winning bidders will need to pick up their items between Thursday, May 22nd – Saturday, May 31st during open library hours. Please be prepared to move your items as staff will not be able to do it for you. 

Please contact the library with any questions!

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Contact the library at 262-473-0530 with questions.

From an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Wisconsin’s depleted roster of drive-in movie theaters is shorter by two.

The Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre, W6423 Highway 18 in Jefferson (at Highways 18 and 89), closed after the end of the 2024 season. Owner Lee Burgess — who had put the drive-in property up for sale after the 2023 season — announced in September 2024 he was retiring and again putting the property up for sale.

The drive-in, which was built in 1953, was in bankruptcy when Burgess bought it. He reopened the Highway 18 in 2000……The drive-in property is currently listed for sale at $595,000….

The loss of the Highway 18 and Chilton Twilight leaves Wisconsin with eight drive-in movie theaters, and only one in southeast Wisconsin: the Milky Way Drive-In Theatre in Franklin, which opens for the season May 16.”

The link to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article is here.

Lakeside Lutheran High School student Tessa Schmocker is being recognized as Wisconsin Dairy Female Athlete of the Month for May by the Wisconsin Sports Network and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.  Tessa received this honor because of her balance of school and athletic achievements as well as working on her family’s farm Go Sho Cattle Dairy in Whitewater. She is the 3rd generation of family helping to run the farm. Her athletic achievements include playing on the school’s golf team where they were conference and regional champion and named to the Academic All-State team. She is also the Valedictorian of her class. This is all while balancing her work on the farm where she milks, cleans out pens, feeds heifers and milks calves. She is also in charge of the young stock, feeding milk and grain as well as halter-breaking calves and working with them before shows. 

Editor’s note: This press release was received from Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Hmong-Lao Veterans Day, Proclaims “Hmong-Lao Veterans Day” Across the State

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #260, ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Wed., May 14, 2025, in honor of Hmong-Lao Veterans Day. “Members of our Hmong-Lao veteran community bravely served this nation during the Vietnam War and in conflicts since, and these heroes deserve every honor and respect they’ve earned,” said Gov. Evers. “As governor, it’s important to me that we protect, defend, and support the veterans who’ve protected, defended, and supported us, and that includes our Hmong-Lao heroes.” During the Vietnam War, thousands of Hmong-Lao people courageously fought alongside the United States and, following the end of the war, faced harsh retribution from the Vietnamese and Lao governments for their service. Many Hmong-Lao soldiers and their families were ultimately forced to flee their homes, and many later resettled in communities throughout the United States, including in Wisconsin. Today, Wisconsin is home to the third-largest Hmong population in the United States. On May 14, 2021, Gov. Evers signed 2021 Wisconsin Act 31, designating May 14 as Hmong-Lao Veterans Day in Wisconsin, as May 14, 1975, was the last day of airlift evacuation of remaining Hmong-Lao soldiers and their families from the covert headquarters in Long Tieng, Laos to the Nam Phong refugee camp in Thailand. 2021 Wisconsin Act 31 requires the governor to annually issue a proclamation for the observance of Hmong-Lao Veterans Day that orders the flags at the State Capitol Building to be flown at half-staff, requests that the day be used to recognize Hmong-Lao veterans’ accomplishments and to thank Hmong-Lao veterans for their service, and encourages schools to discuss Hmong military service in support of the armed forces of the United States.  Gov. Evers has proclaimed May 14 as Hmong-Lao Veterans Day in Wisconsin each year since assuming office in 2019. A copy of the governor’s 2025 “Hmong-Lao Veterans Day” proclamation is available here. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Vietnam War and the Secret War in Laos, among other events that significantly impacted the lives of millions in Southeast Asia, Gov. Evers also recognized the 50th anniversary to honor the resilience of Southeast Asian American communities.  A copy of the governor’s “50th Anniversary to Honor the Resilience of Southeast Asian American Communities” proclamation is available here.  Gov. Evers has long made supporting the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Wisconsin’s Hmong and Asian American communities, including Hmong-Lao veterans, a priority of his administration. Last year, Gov. Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 205, which ensures Hmong veterans can have veteran status on their driver’s license or ID by adding to the definition of “veteran” any person who was admitted to the United States under the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act. Additionally, Gov. Evers celebrated Hmong Heritage Month last year by signing 2023 Wisconsin Act 266, requiring schools to include education on the contributions and history of Hmong Americans and Asian Americans in Wisconsin. Wisconsin law requires K-12 schools to teach Black American, Hispanic American, and Native American history. 2023 Act 266 added Hmong and Asian American histories to this required curriculum, promoting greater awareness and understanding among Wisconsin students of the histories, cultures, and traditions of these diverse communities in Wisconsin. Gov. Evers also proclaimed April Hmong Heritage Month in accordance with national observances. The governor’s proclamation can be found here.