News

Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today ordered the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Wed., Dec. 7, 2022, in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. “Each year, as a state and nation, we recognize Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day to honor the 2,403 lives lost, including 54 servicemembers from Wisconsin, in the attack on Pearl Harbor and to reflect on the service of the more than 330,000 Wisconsinites who served in World War II,” said Gov. Evers. “Today, we remember the heroism, sacrifice, and valor exhibited that day and every day since by generations of veterans and servicemembers.”  The governor also proclaimed Dec. 7, 2022, as “Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day” across the state. A copy of the governor’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day proclamation is available here. Executive Order #179 will be in effect from sunrise to sunset on Wed., Dec. 7, 2022, and is available here.

On November 8, all current Whitewater High School Computer Science Students participated in Bebra’s Online Computational Thinking Challenge. This annual challenge presents students with a series of 15 puzzles divided into three degrees of difficulty. The competition is designed to help students explore their talents and passion for informatics and computational thinking with engaging challenges.

For the purposes of scoring, freshman and sophomores were classified as “juniors” while juniors and seniors took part in the “senior” division. Freshmen Chacha Binagi and Andrew Wych tied for the high score in the Junior Division, while Senior Daniel (Peter) Portwine earned the high score in the Senior Division as well as the high score for the school.

Article and Photos Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Computer Science Teacher and Banner Volunteer
lmasbruch@wwusd.org

GRANT AWARDED TO WHITEWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Whitewater Community Foundation is proud to support the Whitewater Police Department with a $1,000 Community Action Grant which will be used to offset the costs associated with their efforts to improve outreach and communication through interpretation services while providing assistance to individuals unable to speak or understand the English language. Timely, accurate and reliable translation services are essential and vital to saving lives, now more than ever. Interpretation services have provided staff with the ability to assist members of our community during a wide range of calls for service from simple information requests, to assisting victims of significant crimes, and providing emergency medical assistance. The Whitewater Police Department is a full-service, community oriented and state accredited law enforcement agency consisting of 24 sworn officers and 13 civilian personnel, including a 24/7 Communications Center. Working together as a team under the leadership of Chief Dan Meyer, every effort is made to be innovative, professional and responsive to public safety concerns of our community. The Foundation extends their gratitude and appreciation to the Whitewater Police Department for their service to this community.

About WCF: The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “Enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures” through scholarships and community action grants. To donate and support the Foundation, simply send a check made out to Whitewater Community Foundation to P. O. Box 428, Whitewater, WI, 53190, or donate online at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org. For tax purposes, the Whitewater Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Corporation.

Two concerts will be performed in UW-W’s Light Recital Hall this week. Saxophone Quartets & Ensembles will perform on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and a Jazz Holiday Concert will be on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling 262-472-2222. 

For the Saxophone Quartets & Ensembles, you can expect several saxophone quartets along with the UW-Whitewater Saxophone Ensemble, who will perform a wide variety of works and styles.

The final concert of the season, Jazz Ensembles and Combos Holiday Concert, features jazzy holiday tunes. This ensemble is directed by Dr. Michael Hackett with student performers. 

Beyond the many ticketed events happening this month in the Department of Music, there are a multitude of free events including student recitals, ensembles and studios. For a full lineup of events, please visit uww.edu/coac/events.

All music events are in the Light Recital Hall in the Greenhill Center of the Arts, located at 950 West Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190, unless specified otherwise. Tickets are available in advance and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling 262-472-2222. There is a $2.00 surcharge if purchased at the door at the time of the event.

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Wisconsin Makers.

“The Princess Bride” will be featured as Wisconsin Makers debuts Movie Night. The public is invited to attend the free showing of the family-friendly film at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at the community makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. in Whitewater. Free popcorn will be served. Pizza, soda and water will be available for $1.

Before and after the film, attendees are welcome to tour the makerspace and see what it has to offer.

In addition, they will be able to peruse items in the makerspace’s rummage sale.

Wisconsin Makers President Al Jewer said Movie Night is designed to open the makerspace to area residents as it emerges from a two-year hibernation during the coronavirus pandemic. He noted that volunteers have been busy reorganizing the space for educational and recreational use.

“We have installed a 15-foot-wide movie screen and 500-watt surround-sound in our common area, and will be showing films periodically throughout the winter months,” Jewer said. “We want to provide a fun, affordable evening out for people of all ages.” Future Movie Nights are planned this winter; some will offer a double feature, with a Disney film shown first, he said. “We chose ‘The Princess Bride’ for our kickoff Movie Night because it is a classic that is geared to both young and old,” Jewer said.

“The Princess Bride” is a 1987 American fantasy adventure comedy about a farmhand named Westley who, accompanied by companions befriended along the way, must rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup, from the odious Prince Humperdinck. The film presents the story as a book being read by a grandfather to his sick grandson. Adapted by William Goldman from his 1973 novel of the same name, it is directed and co-produced by Rob Reiner and stars Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, André the Gian, and Christopher Guest.

Located at the corner of Wisconsin and East Clay streets, Wisconsin Makers is a makerspace that creates an affordable, collaborative and educational environment that inspires people of all ages to become innovators within their communities by unlocking their skills through continual training. It has members from Jefferson, Walworth, Rock and Waukesha counties and beyond, and all have access to the workshops around the clock. The facility houses machine, welding/fabrication, electronics, automotive, 3-D printing, laser engraving and woodworking shops. It also offers ceramics, metal art, quilting, fabric arts, matting/framing and more. The building is handicapped accessible, and has off-street parking, WiFi, and many other amenities.

For more information about Movie Night or the makerspace, contact Chris Spangler at (920) 728-2960.

City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
312 W. Whitewater St.
Agenda includes Fox Meadows Apartment Building management presentation regarding actions that have
been taken to address concerns relating to their property at 291 N. Fraternity Lane, and Recruitment Process for Economic Development Director
This will be an IN PERSON and a VIRTUAL MEETING. (not in person).
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join us via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86276586407?pwd=cUpLTTdvMEV2RVAwaDRYbG1GSERYd
z09
Passcode: 746391
Or Telephone:
1 305 224 1968
Webinar ID: 862 7658 6407
Passcode: 746391

Whitewater Unified School District Policy Review Committee – Wednesday @ 9:00 a.m.
Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner)
Whitewater Unified School District Central Office
419 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin

City of Whitewater Landmarks Commission – Thursday @ 6:00 p.m.
Cravath Lakefront Room
312 W. Whitewater St.
Agenda includes PUBLIC HEARING TO DESIGNATE THE CONVERSE HOUSE (161 FREMONT STREET) AS A
LOCAL LANDMARK
AMENDED ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022 AT 10:00 AM TO ADD A VIRTUAL MEETING OPTION
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/223568885
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212
Access Code: 223-568-885
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install

Editor’s note: The school district meeting was added on 12/5/22 at 6:30 p.m. A virtual option for the Landmarks meeting was added on 12/6/22 at 10:30 a.m.

According to an article in the Daily Jefferson County Union, “A Fort Atkinson woman who killed her 72-year-old grandmother and set fire to the house containing her body received a life sentence Thursday, December 1, according to court documents.

Elizabeth Durkee, 37, will be eligible for extended supervision after an initial confinement of 22 years, minus the 537 days she has already spent in custody.

Durkee taped her grandmother’s mouth and nose closed with floral print duct tape in 2021 after discussions involving end of life, according to criminal complaints filed at the time. Durkee stayed in the room while her grandmother suffocated, then spent at least two days in the house with the decaying corpse, according to court documents filed at the time.

On the morning of June 11, 2021, Durkee set a fire she originally intended to take her life and the life of her 2-year-old daughter. Officials briefly issued an amber alert after Durkee left with the daughter, but revoked it hours later when Durkee was arrested and her daughter was handed over to family members.”

Residents of the Whitewater Unified School District are encouraged to consider seeking a position on the School Board.  The final day for filing is Tuesday, January 3, 2023, by 5:00 p.m. 

Any person who is a United States citizen and a qualified elector of the Whitewater Unified School District is legally qualified to become a member of the School Board.  In addition, Board candidates should have a genuine interest in and devotion to public education, a willingness to give time and effort to the position, a capacity to understand people, and the ability to work cooperatively with others.  

The School Board is the District policy-making authority and is responsible to the public for the success of all education services offered by the District.  This success is dependent on many individuals, but also upon each Board member’s understanding of the workings of the District-wide operations and each member’s ability to participate meaningfully in the decision-making process that governs the District. 

Three positions will be on the spring ballot.  The incumbents are Casey Judd, Thayer Coburn, and Steve Ryan.  Incumbents have until Friday, December 23, by 5:00 p.m. to file their Notification of Noncandidacy. Under section 120.06(6)(b)3m of state statutes, the District Clerk will give the public prompt notice if any incumbent files their Notification of Noncandidacy on the School Board Election page of the District website. Editor’s note: Currently none of the incumbents have filed such a notification.

The Board will provide an orientation for Board candidates in order to help them become quickly acquainted with the election process and Board members’ duties and responsibilities.  The Superintendent has developed, in consultation with the Board, a candidate orientation program to be presented by District staff and a Board member appointed by the Board President. 

The candidate filing documents may be obtained and filed at the office of the School Board Secretary at the Whitewater Unified School District Central Office, 419 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater.  School Board candidates do not circulate nomination papers, but the School Board Secretary, Jaclyn Tueting, will assist to complete necessary filing documents. 

CENTRAL OFFICE HOURS

Through Thursday, December 22…………………………………………………………….M-Th, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m./ F, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Friday, December 23 through Monday, January 2………………………………………………….……………………………….Central Office Closed

(Friday, December 23 at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for incumbents to file a Notification of Noncandidacy)

Tuesday, January 3…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….…….7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

(5:00 p.m. is the deadline for filing candidacy paperwork)

WHS Players would like to thank all of our sponsors, volunteers, parents, and the Whitewater community for all their support for our recent production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. We are proud of the outstanding work we accomplished and are grateful for the opportunity to share our talents with all of you.

If you would like to show your support for the WUSD Drama Program by becoming a sponsor or community partner, please contact Jim McCulloch at jmcculloch@wwusd.org for more information. The Spring Play (February 23-26, 2023) will be Agatha Christie’s, “A Murder is Announced.” We hope to see you there!

Article Submitted by Jim McCulloch
Whitewater Unified School District Theater Director
jmcculloch@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Tom Ganser

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Today’s image shows a large steam-powered locomotive sitting at the back of the old freight house (Whitewater’s first depot, located in the parking lot next to the current depot) in 1936. By this time, diesel engines were replacing old locomotives on the rail lines, but this image shows that the old locomotives were still in service. Rail transportation was still highly important in Whitewater and would be until after World War II in the 1950s.

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

(4379P, Whitewater Historical Society)