News

The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The City of Whitewater has two polling places for this election, the Downtown Armory, 146 W. North Street, and the UW-W University Center Hamilton Room. If you are uncertain as to which is your polling place, you may enter your address at this site.

Update 11/4/24 @ 11:50 p.m.: City Clerk Heather Boehm told The Whitewater Banner that over 2100 voters have already submitted their ballots prior to the opening of the polls. Less than 100 absentee ballots were outstanding as of Monday, November 4. Anyone still wishing to submit their absentee ballot must bring it to the Municipal Building, where there is a “Central Count” for all the early/absentee ballots. A voter may bring their ballot into the Community Room or place it in the drop box in the Whitewater Street vestibule. The deadline is, of course, 8 p.m.

Here’s what’s on your ballot

Federal races: U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
Walworth County – District 1
Jefferson County – District 5

State race: Representative to the Assembly District 43
State issue: Constitutional amendment

County race – Walworth County – District Attorney
County race – Jefferson County – District Attorney

City of Whitewater Non-binding Referendum – “The City of Whitewater Water Utility has decommissioned the Starin Park Water Tower, meaning it is no longer part of the water system. The Water Utility can spend up to $600,000 (the cost of demolition) to maintain it as a City-owned Historical Landmark. The remaining costs, approximately $1,000,000 for repairs and $250,000 every 10 years for maintenance would need to come from City tax dollars or donations. Should the City of Whitewater use tax dollars to repair and maintain the Starin Park Water Tower?”

You may view what’s on the ballot (except the City of Whitewater referendum) by entering your address on this site.

If you haven’t voted in one or more of the previous elections this year, you’ll notice some changes:

Voters will notice two significant changes from all the previous elections. Instead of there being the usual four check-in tables, there will be only one. A voter may approach any poll worker (officially called an election inspector) who is sitting at a Badger Book. These electronic devices are replacing the paper poll books. The voter is still required by law to state their name and address and provide their driver license or other photo ID. Rather than signing in ink, the signature will be provided on the electronic screen. This may be done either by using the provided stylus or with a finger. The signature must be written entirely within a box on the screen. Never fear, the signature need not bear great resemblance to one’s usual signature. From there, the process will be essentially the same as before, except that the voter will be provided a receipt that indicates the “style” of paper ballot (for Jefferson or Walworth County) which they are to be issued at the next table. The ballots will be marked by the voter in the same fashion as previously.

Here is a link to a brief video from the City of De Pere which provides an excellent introduction to the Badger Books. As is shown in the video, the Badger Books will also be used to register new voters or to enter changes of address. Our voters will, however, be directed to a separate station for this purpose. After the voter is registered or their address is changed, the same poll worker will provide the receipt that they need in order to obtain their ballot.

ID required

Specific types of photo identification are required in order to vote. This website shows the acceptable forms of ID.

Same day registration

Citizens may register to vote at the polls. Proof of residence is required. This website shows the acceptable forms. A qualified elector is any U.S. citizen who:

• will be 18 years of age or older on Election Day.
• has resided in the ward or municipality where they wish to vote for at least 28 consecutive days before the election.  
• An otherwise eligible elector who moves within or to Wisconsin less than 28 days before an election must generally vote in his or her previous election district or ward. If a person is otherwise qualified to vote in Wisconsin except for meeting the 28 day residency requirement prior to a presidential election, the individual may vote for the offices of President and Vice President, but no other office.

Famed “Pop music in a Time Machine” concert act Postmodern Jukebox has announced a new World Tour to celebrate the dual milestone of their 10th anniversary of touring and their 1,000th show in 2024. Dubbed The ‘10 Tour, Postmodern Jukebox will bring their North American Tour to The Young on Saturday, November 9^th, 2024, at 7:00 pm.

Concertgoers can expect a dazzling, inspiring trip through the PMJ Universe — where modern-day earworms and iconic pop hits alike are reimagined in classic genres like 1920s jazz, Swing, Doo-wop and Motown, and brought to life by a cast of some of the world’s best singers, dancers, and instrumentalists. Think “The Great Gatsby” meets “Sinatra at the Sands” meets “Back! …To The Future”.

When pianist Scott Bradlee started the time-twisting musical collective from a basement apartment in Queens, NY, an online, “viral” success story was born —one that quickly led to sold out shows across North America and Europe in the Summer of 2014.

The touring act received rave reviews from industry publications and world-renowned artists alike. In the years that followed, “PMJ” built a reputation as the “Saturday Night Live of Singers” by introducing audiences to dozens of exceptional musical artists —many of whom had been previously overlooked by the modern record industry — and turning them into bonafide stars.

Ten years and two billion views on their YouTube channel later, a Postmodern Jukebox show has become something of an annual musical tradition for hundreds of thousands of dedicated fans all over the world — fans that often show up dressed to the nines in their vintage best, eager to immerse themselves in the experience.

“By the end of 2023, PMJ will have performed 937 shows in 44 countries across 5 continents,” says Bradlee, who creates the musical arrangements and directs the shows. “That kind of longevity in a notoriously fickle industry was completely unexpected for us. There’s no secret formula, other than an obsession for classic sounds and a commitment to showcasing phenomenal talent. We continue to feel honored and humbled by our audiences’ support for this project, which continues to inspire us and push us to new heights of artistry. It’s the perfect marriage, and our 10th anniversary tour will be a celebration.”

For more information about the show and to purchase tickets ($62-88), please visit TheYoungWhitewater.com or contact the box office at 262-472-2222. Tickets purchased at the door are subject to a $2 per ticket surcharge. [Tickets are truly going fast — it’s already the biggest show of the season so far.]

The Young serves as a presenting organization for the performing arts and as an educational and cultural center enriching the lives of regional communities. Tickets for any show can be purchased online at TheYoungWhitewater.com, by calling the Box Office at (262) 472-2222, or in person. Ticket Services is located in the atrium of Greenhill Center of the Arts, 950 West Main Street, Whitewater, and is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Young is located at 930 West Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190, and parking is always free during your event. To learn more, visit TheYoungWhitewater.com.

Alex Martin from Whitewater, WI, who is studying Music at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, will perform in the university’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble during the 2024-25 academic year.

Martin plays baritone saxophone for the group, which includes 50 student musicians.

The group will perform at UW-Whitewater’s Gala Holiday Concert on December 7 at Young Auditorium. The Gala is an annual tradition that features nearly every student ensemble in the university’s Department of Music. All profits from the event support the department’s scholarships.

UW-Whitewater’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble is a select wind band performing a variety of concert band repertoire. All students are required to audition for the group.

Alex Martin will also perform in the university’s Jazz Ensemble I during the 2024-25 academic year.

Martin plays saxophone for the group, which includes 18 student musicians.

Jazz Ensemble I is a jazz big band including saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and rhythm section. An audition is required to join the group.

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Sarah Keller from Whitewater, WI, who is studying Music at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, performs as part of the university’s Opera Workshop.

Keller sings Soprano for the group, which includes 10 student musicians.

The Opera Workshop, directed by Brian Leeper, performed scenes from timeless operas and beloved musical theatre classics. The talented cast transported the audience to a world of passion, drama, and pure emotion to bring iconic stories to life.

UW-Whitewater’s Department of Music, a part of the College of Arts and Communication, prepares students for a future of performance, composing, teaching, and other music-related roles. The university’s musical ensembles play in famous venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York City, Lambeau Field in Green Bay, the Symphony Center in Chicago, and at venues in Germany, Poland and England.

To learn more about the department, visit uww.edu/music.

Editor’s note: The above announcements were provided by the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.

Kiwanis is a nonpartisan organization, so we can’t help you with who to vote for on Election Day, but we can help you with the dinner plan for Election night!

Order from Rocky Rococo Pizza in Whitewater this Tuesday from 4-8 p.m., and Whitewater Breakfast Kiwanis will receive a portion of the sales.

Treat yourself to their pan-style pizza by the slice or a whole pie, bread sticks, pasta, salad, kids meals, and desserts.

Do your civic duty and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and then help Kiwanis by dining in or getting supper to go at Whitewater Rocky Rococo from 4-8 p.m.

Halloween ’24 was a very windy, cold event, but some residents reported seeing over 200 trick-or-treaters.
Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation.

Join Us for an Engaging Community Evening!

Date:             Monday, November 11, 2024
Time:                         5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Location:      Willow Brook Golf Course, N9035 Hwy 89, Whitewater, WI 53190

The Whitewater Community Foundation is excited to invite the community to a special social event on Monday, November 11, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Willow Brook Golf Course. This event will provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how you can get involved!

The evening will feature a presentation at 5:30 PM, including:

• Introductions to our team
• A presentation showcasing our recent projects and highlights from our annual report
• A heartfelt message from our co-presidents

Join us for an evening filled with inspiration, connection, and community spirit. Whether you are a long-time supporter or new to our organization, this is a wonderful chance to engage with our mission and discover ways to participate in our initiatives.

Light refreshments will be served. We encourage everyone to bring friends and family!

For more information, please contact:  info@whitewatercommunityfoundation.org

We look forward to seeing you there!

Our Website: https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitewatercommunityfoundation
#CommunityEvent #GetInvolved

City of Whitewater Election Central Count – Tuesday 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
This notice is given to inform the Public that the City of Whitewater is processing all Absentee Ballots in a Central location. The information follows:
When: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm
Where: City of Whitewater Municipal Building, Community Room, 312 W. Whitewater St.
If you are retuning your Absentee Ballot in person on Election Day, please return to the Municipal Building, not the Armory. The same polling place rules and standards will apply to Central Count as they do for any other polling place. The difference is you cannot vote at the Municipal Building; we will only be processing Absentee Ballots.
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact Heather Boehm, Whitewater City Clerk at 262-473-0102.
This is open to the public.

City of Whitewater Common Council Meeting – Thursday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Public Safety Referendum and Discussion and Possible action regarding 2025 Budget
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St.
*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:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84304645001?pwd=YZ4aKEGZ3DAb0Kc2PZzt0e6bIlX48i.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 843 0464 5001
Passcode: 460333

On Saturday, November 2, WHS students participated in the Madison Model United Nations XV conference at Middleton High School. The Madison Area Model United Nations (MADMUN) Conference is a high school Model UN conference organized and run by students from multiple high schools throughout Wisconsin. The conference is geared towards students of all ability levels (beginner through advanced) and is a great way to kick off the Model UN conference season. Students learn the structure of parliamentary procedure, how to debate and communicate ideas, and how to problem-solve international issues. 

MADMUN XV allows its participants to step outside their comfort zones, outside the echo chambers that many of our media algorithms, friend groups, peers, and families often become. By acquiring knowledge about diverse international cultures, policies, and approaches to some of the most pressing topics of our world today, delegates learn valuable lessons in communication, compromise, and empathy. 

Students wrote position papers and participated in various issues at MADMUN, ranging from the impact of bioweapons to addressing the needs of Eastern European refugees.

Carley Boudreau served as a Co-Chair of the Human Rights Council at MADMUN. This leadership role was the second time a WHS student had ever participated in a MADMUN conference as a Co-Chair. Being selected as a co-chair means work developing background materials starting in May and working with students in preparation leading to this day in November, along with chairing a 40-60 student committee for the delegates.

Article and Photos Courtesy of Greg Stewart
Whitewater High School Model UN Advisor
gstewart@wwusd.org