News

Nancy Brunner, Janie Anderson and Katie Melody are WUL Hometown Heroes, and have been nominated for “Volunteering at the Whitewater Food Pantry at various times, and through that opportunity to help others they found a way to help each other, teaching and learning sign language.  They have also found individual interests in supporting the Whitewater community at their churches, the Whitewater Arts Alliance, the Whitewater Aquatic Fitness Center, Rockin’ Respite, and Studio 84.  Sharing their time and talents is a way to build up the community and build friendships as well.”

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

 Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com 

Rapid testing continues to be available at the Williams Center on the following dates. Preregistration is required at this site. Resulted are emailed within appoximately 30 minutes. If you are symptomatic or get a positive result on the rapid test, you will be offered a PCR test, the results of which are not available for at least a couple of days.

UW-Whitewater Williams Center (Community Member)
907 W Schwager
Whitewater, WI 53190

Testing Hours: Monday, Jan. 11 through Friday, Jan. 15 – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Please note that this location will only test individuals who are 5 years of age or older.

UW System President Thompson, Wisconsin comedian Berens urge continued use of free testing sites

(UW System press release) MADISON, Wis.—University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson and Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens of The Manitowoc Minute are urging state residents to obtain a free COVID-19 test at one of the state’s rapid-results “surge testing” sites.

Thompson challenged Berens to a smash-off in his latest “Smash COVID” video aimed at reminding UW System students and others to get tested and to continue behaviors that prevent the spread of the disease, including wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing hands.

“We all want to smash COVID, and I’m happy to join President Thompson in bringing attention to these free tests,” Berens said. “Keep ‘er Movin’ Wisconsin – through the COVID testing line.”

Since surge testing began in early November, more than 170,000 free tests using the Abbot BinaxNOW rapid-results antigen test have been administered at Wisconsin’s 22 surge testing sites on or near UW System campuses, identifying nearly 14,000 potential positive carriers of the virus who have been advised to isolate. The testing sites will be operable for several weeks, likely through Jan. 23, with UW-Madison closing its sites on Jan. 7.

“With our partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we began surge testing in early November when the virus was raging across Wisconsin,” Thompson said. “Since then, the number of cases in our state has been dropping, and surge testing has been a critical factor because we could quickly identify potential cases.”

Thompson said Wisconsin residents should consider getting tested at a surge testing site now that the holidays are over – especially if they spent more time than usual outside of their home or socializing with people who are not in their household.

Thompson and Berens filmed the latest “Smash COVID” video in downtown Waukesha and on the campus of UW-Milwaukee at Waukesha. Thompson has also served as a spokesman for the “Stop the COVID Spread! Coalition.” Berens is the founder of The Manitowoc Minute, the popular weekly video featuring a uniquely Wisconsin perspective.

View the video here: https://youtu.be/DvamjfLfGc4

View President Thompson’s other “Smash COVID” videos here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/uwsystem/2093215074148544/

Plan and Architectural Review Commission Meeting – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes proposal for a Conditional Use Permit for Development of a 36-Unit Multifamily Building
at Parcel ID /WUP 00153A for Adam Coyle And Ryan Hughes Doing Business As ARCH Development, LLC.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/355747573
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 355-747-573

Public Works Committee and Public Works Committee acting in its Capacity as the City of Whitewater Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Citizen Participation Committee – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes
– Public Hearing And Possible Action: Community Development Block Grant – Public
Facilities CLOSE Program Funds – Residents of the City of Whitewater are encouraged to attend,
especially residents with low to moderate incomes.
– Discussion And Possible Action Regarding New Water Tower Site Selection
– Discussion And Possible Action Regarding Removing The Left Turn Arrow From Eastbound Main Street To Northbound Prairie Street
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/259093013
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 259-093-013

Whitewater Unified School District Policy Review Committee – Wed. @ 10:00 a.m.
Click here for agenda, then click on “meetings” in upper right hand corner.
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85850987882?
pwd=SzdKZGpBNUpVZG1hUmxSYndBdnZzQT09
Passcode: 808702
You can also dial in using your phone.
Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
Webinar ID: 858 5098 7882
Passcode: 808702

Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Special Meeting – Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Prime Training LLC proposal for WAFC
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/253710045
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3122
Access Code: 253-710-045

Police and Fire Commission Regular Session Meeting – Wednesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Embedded Walworth County Crisis Employee Update
Due to Coronavirus concerns, this will be 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.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/562136885
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (786) 535-3211
Access Code: 562-136-885

(Whitewater Lions Club news release) Due to the Covid-19, the Lions Club has made significant changes to this year’s Fish-A-Ree, to be held on February 14. Because the Lions clubhouse will not be open to the public, the Valentine Pancake Breakfast will be a Drive-thru Pancake Breakfast.  The hourly fish prizes have been replaced with prizes for the biggest of the day prizes.  The bucket raffles this year will be conducted as an online auction.  Tickets for the $500 Raffle are available from the Whitewater Lions Club members at $5.00 each and 5 tickets for $20.00.

It’s time again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society!

Most likely taken sometime between 1910 and 1919, this image depicts the skating rink at the local swimming pool. It was located between Main and North Streets, along Whitewater Creek and behind the Old Stone Mill. The buildings on the right side of the photo stand where Brewery Hill Park is now located. What are some of your favorite winter Whitewater activities?

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society collections!

“The King of Staten Island”(Comedy/Drama) – Tuesday, January 12, 1 p.m. only
Rated R (Language, Sex, Drugs), 2 hours, 16 minutes (2020)
A semi biographical film of Pete Davidson, a member of the ensemble of “Saturday Night Live.” At age 24, he still hasn’t come to grips with the passing of his firefighter father, a victim of 9/11. Also stars Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Steve Buscemi, and Machine Gun Kelly.

There is a capacity limit, and COVID-19 precautions, including facial mask, are required. Please register in advance online, by email (dweberpal@whitewater-wi.gov), or phone (473-0535).

(Whitewater Public Library submission) The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library Presents “Bizarre History of Wisconsin- Strange Stories from Our Past” on Tuesday, January 19th at 6:00 p.m. Registration is required for this Zoom program. Register at whitewaterlibrary.org to receive a meeting invitation.

This presentation, by Chad Lewis, showcases over 100 bizarre newspaper stories from Wisconsin that have not been seen in over 100 years. These unbelievable stories were not lost; they were simply hidden. This program provides a time portal back to the early days of the state when it was filled with strange deaths, ghosts, sea serpents, peculiar people, medical anomalies, oddities, psychic phenomena, and UFOs This will change the way you view the good ol’ days of WI.

(Whitewater Public Library submission) The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library presents “Health Disparities and Race in the Time of COVID-19” on Monday, January 18, 2021, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. No registration is required. To view the presentation, people should go to: youtube.com/waukeshalibrary. This program will only be viewable LIVE with no recording available afterward. Visit whitewaterlibrary.org for more information.

Join Dr. Damon Tweedy for a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day presentation on YouTube examining health disparities and race in the time of COVID-19. Dr. Tweedy is the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor’s Reflections on Race and Medicine and is a professor at Duke University. He will discuss the topics of race and medicine as they intersect at the center of our national discussion during this historic pandemic.

Dr. Tweedy is a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine and Yale Law School. He completed both his medical internship and psychiatry residency at Duke Hospital. He is currently an associate professor of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine and a staff psychiatrist at the Durham Veteran Affairs Health Care System. He has published articles about race and medicine in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and other medical journals. His columns and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, and various other print publications.

This presentation was made possible by the collaboration of fifteen public libraries in the Bridges Library System: Alice Baker, Brookfield, Butler, Delafield, Dwight Foster, Hartland, Jefferson, Muskego, New Berlin, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Town Hall, Watertown, Waukesha, and Whitewater.