News

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

This Sunday (May 22) from 1:00-4:00, the Whitewater Historical Society will be holding its Open House at the Depot Museum. It’s a celebration of the completion of the permanent Whitewater History Gallery that includes eight exhibits from pre-1837 to c.1990.

As a special attraction, in the museum’s temporary gallery, we are fortunate to feature Don West’s c.1900 model of the Whitewater rail yard. The 8 feet by 3.5 feet model features buildings, trains, and structures in an accurate presentation of the rail yard around 1900. You won’t want to miss it!

One of the photographs that Don used to depict the rail yard was this one, a Henry Scholl glass plate negative taken around 1900. He even decorated his engine on the model from this photo. Several more c.1900 railroad photos and other railroad items are on display in the museum’s temporary gallery this Sunday and will continue to be on display beginning in June when the museum is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

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

(2988GP, Whitewater Historical Society)

Editor’s note: The following information was received from a political candidate announcing that she is running for office. Any other candidate wishing to seek a political office in the Whitewater area is encouraged to provide information to be published in The Banner.

My name is Ellen Schutt and I am running for the 31^st Assembly District. I was raised in Darien on my parents’ farm with my four siblings. On the farm, we raised cattle and grew crops, and there was always work to be done. Growing up, my parents taught us that if you work hard and play by the rules you will be successful. The strong work ethic our parents instilled in us pushed us to chase our dreams and be successful. 

My husband Eric and I, with our beagle Ruby, now live in Clinton. As we think about starting a family of our own, I want to make sure the next generation has the same opportunities and abilities to succeed that I had. Due to increased government spending, inflation has skyrocketed, and the cost of nearly everything has gone up. It has become harder for people to buy their first home, start a business, or start a family. I’m running to make sure your tax dollars are spent responsibly. We must cut wasteful spending that adds to government bureaucracy and slows down growth. We have to get back to the basics and support the basic functions of government, which is to keep people safe, and protect our liberties.

I first got involved in politics as a freshman at UW-Madison. I got tired of the one-sided political debate in the classroom and wanted to make sure conservative students knew they had a voice on campus. I started two conservative groups on campus, chapters of the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), and the Luce Society. Establishing these groups on campus showed conservative students that there were others just like them. Both groups were a place for conservative students to come together and share ideas.

During my time at UW, I interned with Representative Amy Loudenbeck in the State Capitol, and Congressman Paul Ryan in his Janesville District Office. I also worked for UW-Athletics and worked at the DeLong Company. After I graduated, I worked as a legislative aide for Representative Loudenbeck. I learned how the process works in the State Capitol and how to get things done for your constituents. I understand that you must work with others to get things done for the communities you represent. I have worked both in the State Capitol and had private sector jobs. I understand both sides. I believe that is important and sets me apart.

We need a representative in Madison who listens to the communities they represent and is a voice for them.  We need to keep our tax dollars local, or send them back to taxpayers through a tax cut. We need to support law enforcement and first responders who bravely serve our communities and keep us safe. We need to protect our most vulnerable populations. We must cut wasteful spending that prevents people from being successful. I want to put the people back in charge of their government and allow them the opportunity to follow their dreams and get the government out of the way.

For more information, please visit my website, VoteEllenSchutt.com. Also, please feel free to reach out to me by email at VoteEllenSchutt@gmail.com or connect with me on social media on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Steve Smith, Adjutant and Memorial Day planner, Whitewater American Legion.

William Graham Post 173 of the American Legion in Whitewater is sponsoring the Memorial Day activities in the city.

On Thursday, May 26^th at 5:00 p.m. Post 173 will gather in the center of Hillside Cemetery to decorate the veterans’ graves at the cemetery.  All community members are invited to participate.  Post 173 will provide the flags.

Plans for the parade and ceremonies at the Whitewater Armory are well underway.

The parade will form in the First Citizens State Bank parking lot at 10:00 a.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th.  Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and other interested groups are encouraged to participate in the parade.

More information will be published later. 

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

The Whitewater Police Department is participating in a program, Kiwanis “Cops ‘N Kids,” that promotes literacy and community trust in law enforcement with the goal of getting free books into the hands and homes of children.  Each quarter, the officers read to children.  This week the event was held at Washington Elementary on May 17 when officers read to first grade students.

Acting Chief Daniel Meyer, who was on hand to read, said, “Reading is a great way for our officers to connect to our youngest residents.  Our officers are all pleased to participate in this program.”

Patrick Taylor, President of the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, said, “Kiwanis is excited to see another opportunity where children can have direct contact with the police through books and the joy of reading.”

Kiwanis Whitewater Breakfast Club is made up of dedicated volunteers who help children in the Whitewater community and the world, all with funds raised going directly to projects helping improve the lives of children in the community and the world.  Each year, the club distributes approximately $20,000, with over half going to the Whitewater Unified School District, including shoes and scholarships.  Kiwanis helped to build the Flowing Well Shelter, the shelter at Starin Park and Treyton’s Field of Dreams, the WHS football field lights and press box, as well as adopting a highway to clean up.  In addition, the group donates to the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club, the Friends of the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center Family Partnership Fund, the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, Camp Wawbeek, and more.

More information can be found on the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club Facebook page. If you are interested in joining the club, helping the children and having fun at the same time, contact us!

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Knight Public Affairs, LLC.

The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, 5K, and W3 Fit Kid Shuffle is eager to announce that Whitewater Manufacturing will once again be featured as a title sponsor of this community event! Whitewater Manufacturing has been a long standing sponsor of the DWS since its inaugural race in 2013.

The DWS 10th anniversary race is scheduled for Sunday, September 18th, 2022. With growing support from local businesses, the DWS can continue to thrive as a premier athletic event for the City of Whitewater.

Whitewater Manufacturing is a fourth-generation, family-owned company. Their team works effortlessly to ensure complete, accurate, and instantaneous results for their customers. Whitewater Manufacturing’s services include welding, assembly, engineering, turning & milling, inspection, supply chain management, and more. They value hard work and strive to satisfy Whitewater’s needs with efficiency, which is what makes them such an excellent sponsor to the DWS.

Through this sponsorship, the DWS team is able to provide runners with incredible opportunities such as free childcare, age group awards, a post-race community celebration and more. The race course is even designed as a way to highlight Whitewater’s best features, including locations like the Whitewater Manufacturing plant.

“The DWS team is always so appreciative of Whitewater Manufacturing’s title sponsorship,” said GWC Chairman, Larry Kachel. “They have supported us for 10 years now and are always so wonderful to work with.”

As the DWS team continues to prepare for an unforgettable 10th anniversary race, it is so grateful to sponsors like Whitewater Manufacturing. With their help, this race is able to give back to the City of Whitewater by promoting local businesses and donating to its charity partners. To register for the DWS, learn more about race weekend, and connect with sponsors, visit
https://RunWhitewater.com/.

Editor’s note: The following announcement was received from the UW System.

Edmund Manydeeds III, President of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, and Michael J. Falbo, interim President of the UW System, on May 18 appointed a 12-member Search and Screen Committee to help identify the next UW-Whitewater chancellor.

Regent Amy Blumenfeld Bogost will chair the Search and Screen Committee. Lynn Gilbertson, Associate Professor and Department Chair in the College of Education and Professional Studies, will be vice chair. Other members of the committee are:

• Tanja Anderson, Campus Administrative Specialist, Rock County Campus
• Hector Colón, Regent
• Ciera Edwards, Associate Director, University Bookstore
• Lynn Gardinier, Community/Alumni Representative
• Kimberly Nath, Associate Professor, College of Letters and Sciences
• Praveen Parboteeah, Professor, College of Business and Economics
• Ashok Rai, Regent
• Davin Stavroplos, Student
• Jill Underly, Regent
• Kyle Weatherly, Regent

“This is a critically important search,” said Manydeeds. “The students, faculty and staff of UW-Whitewater have been resilient and dedicated, and they deserve stable leadership,”

The Search and Screen Committee is expected to convene in the coming weeks, when Manydeeds will charge the committee with its mission and review search procedures. The national search is expected to officially begin July 1.  A team of staff from UW System Human Resources, the Office of the Board of Regents, and the executive search firm of Isaacson, Miller will assist the committee throughout this search process.

The committee will determine and interview candidates. A Special Regent Committee will review candidates forwarded by the Search and Screen Committee. The Special Regent Committee will include regents Bogost, Colón, Rai, Underly, and Weatherly and will be chaired by Bogost.

The successful candidate will require the approval of the full Board of Regents.