Editor’s note: Our apologies to the Whitewater Historical Society. This #FlashbackFriday should have been posted on Memorial Day but was misplaced.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. In honor of Memorial Day, we feature a photo of Ernest Magoon, a young, Whitewater area man who was killed in World War I.
Ernest Magoon was drafted into the Army in May of 1918 around the same time Arthur Ardelt, a Whitewater man, was also drafted. They ended up in the same division, but different companies, and found each other in France. They met up almost every day to share letters and stories of home. In September, 1918, they were sent to fight in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Ardelt was lucky; a machine gun bullet grazed his helmet before killing the man in front of him (see Ardelt’s dented helmet in the depot museum). But Ernest Magoon was killed in action.
When Ardelt returned from the front, he went in search of the fate of Magoon and encountered some soldiers who had helped bury Magoon in the field. They said that another soldier took Magoon’s small Bible and Ardelt went to find that soldier. He confronted him and demanded Magoon’s Bible, which had Magoon’s name and address in it, intending to take it back to Magoon’s family.
The Meuse-Argonne battle had many casualties and news was slow. By March of 1919, Magoon’s family still had no word of his fate. Someone wrote Ardelt (still in France) to see if he knew something and Ardelt wrote this story in a letter home. It was the first news the family received of Magoon’s death. Later, Magoon was honored in Whitewater for making the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
Editor’s note: The following was received from Walworth County Health and Human Services
The Walworth County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is launching a new TeleFriend program designed to promote the security of older adults and adults with disabilities while reducing loneliness, isolation, depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, through daily or weekly telephone calls. The ADRC is seeking volunteers willing to make friendly phone calls to participants at least one day per week for a minimum of six months.
“TeleFriend volunteers can make a real difference in the lives of seniors and adults with disabilities who live alone or feel isolated,” says Colleen Lesniak, Walworth County volunteer services coordinator. “Many of these individuals want to remain independent and age in place in their own homes; however, because they are isolated or homebound, meaningful relationships are difficult to come by. The volunteers serve as a lifeline for this population.”
In addition to providing much-needed social interaction, TeleFriend also helps to ensure the safety and well-being of participants. If a participant does not answer the phone at the designated time, a series of safety checks is followed before an emergency response is activated.
“Among its many benefits, the TeleFriend program helps the ADRC and local law enforcement partner for more efficient problem solving of safety issues involving older adults and adults with disabilities,” says Randy Kohl, ADRC manager.
Volunteers should be good listeners and keen conversationalists willing to establish friendly, caring relationships with seniors or adults with disabilities over the phone. The ADRC is looking for a minimum time commitment of at least one call per week for a minimum of six months. The ADRC will provide an orientation and training. The first volunteer training session is scheduled for June 16 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Walworth County Health and Human Services building, 1910 County Rd. NN, Elkhorn.
To volunteer, contact Colleen Lesniak, Walworth County volunteer services coordinator, at clesniak@co.walworth.wi.us, (262) 741-4223. A volunteer application and additional program information can also be found at www.co.walworth.wi.us/574/Volunteer.
On Saturday, June 4, the Whippets competed in Day 2 of the WIAA State Track and Field Championships in La Crosse, WI. The team had several competitors who had qualified for Saturday’s events during the preliminary rounds on Friday, as well as other athletes competing in distance and field events.
Day two proved to be a day to remember for the Whippets, despite the weather changing significantly from day one, which was full of sun and temps in the 70’s, to overcast skies, cooler temps, headwinds on the home stretch, and rain falling intermittently throughout the day.
Maddie Buehler was up first for the Whippets as she coiled into her blocks for the last time in the 100-Meter Dash Final. She got off to a great start and looked strong throughout in the toughest field she has faced in her career yet. She finished in 10th overall in a time of 12.94 seconds with a gritty effort. It was a great season for Maddie in this individual event, as she got to rub elbows with state finalists for the first time during the State Final. Her Sectional time of 12.41 pulled her to within .06 of the school record, good for #2 all-time in Whitewater history. Maddie’s accomplishments in the individual sprint events during the 2022 season are a lot to be proud of!
Next up was the Girls’ 4×200 Meter Relay Final, running out of lane three on the ten-lane track. The team qualified for the final by running within the top 10 teams on Friday. Maddie Buehler returned for her second race of the day, getting into the blocks to lead off the relay. She shot out of the blocks and ran a strong leadoff leg and made a clean exchange to fellow Whippet Emma Weigel. Emma came screaming down the home stretch in front of the roaring crowd of a full grandstand and got the baton to Olive Coburn early in the zone. This quick exchange saw Olive press on the gas, and she gave it her all during her last race in a Whippet uniform. Olive finished her leg of the relay strong and passed the stick to a patiently waiting Kindyl Kilar. Another smooth exchange from Olive to our anchor, and Kindyl was off like a rocket with one goal in mind: bringing home a medal. With the entire fanbase of Wisconsin Track & Field cheering the relays on down the home stretch, Kindyl brought it home and crossed the finish line in 6th place, claiming the final podium position! Their time of 1:47.00 was a hair off their best time of the season from the prelims, but at this point, it didn’t matter as their smiles on the podium said it all!
With the rainy weather conditions unsafe for vaulting outdoors, the Girls’ Division 2 Pole Vault was moved inside Mitchell Hall where Evie Troxel competed in her first ever State meet. Surrounded by her family members, teammates, and coaches, Evie used her home crowd advantage of the cheering fans to sail cleanly through the opening height of 9’ 0”. The next height of 9’ 6” was her previous goal entering the 2022 season, but as she crushed that height at sectionals, she proved that 9’ 6” is no longer a challenge for her! At State she showed that same demeanor and cleared 9’ 6” on her first attempt. With several other competitors remaining in the competition, the bar was raised 6 more inches to 10’, a height that Evie had several attempts at last week at the Sectional meet. Of her three attempts at that height, Evie had two that were very close to clearing and setting a new personal best on the biggest stage. With her ability to stay clean through the first two heights, she finished tied for 9th place and a smile a mile wide that is trademark Evie!
The final event for the Whippets was freshman Jack Hefty in the 3200-meter run. Jack had been waiting nearly two full days of competition for his event as the gun went off at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday. In what were the best conditions for a distance event in years, Jack ran the most thrilling race one could imagine. The race strung out early as both the winner and runner-up would eventually break the state record in this event. He started out in 15th place at 400 meters as he knew the pace would be brisk. He stayed true to himself, controlling what he could control and made his way to 13th in two laps, 11th in three laps and 9th coming through the 1600 in 4:47.12. Jack stayed locked in on his pacing as the pack he was with chased down other runners in front of them. On the penultimate lap he pressed on the accelerator and ran a 70 second lap, and from there it was all guts as he went into overdrive and passed four runners on this final lap to come screaming home in 7th place overall and closed in 63.1 seconds! Jack cut just over 20 seconds off his previous personal best from Sectionals, nearly breaking the school record held by Ben Maas from 1996. Jack’s time catapulted him into the #3 spot all-time in the Whitewater Track and Field record books in the two-mile. His 7th place finish was one place away from the podium and scored the Whippets two points for the weekend. It was a stunning effort, and an incredible end to a stupendous freshman season for Hefty!
This concludes the 2022 Track and Field Season! It was the first “normal” season for nearly the entire program, as the team was able to resume a typical schedule full of invitationals and a two-day state meet for the first time in three years. The coaches would like to thank all the athletes, parents, fans, staff, and the Whitewater community that have supported the team through this season. We will celebrate all the athletes on Monday during our end-of-season banquet as we close the chapter on a fine season!
Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Urban Forestry Commission.
Whitewater city crews have begun planting nearly 200 new trees and shrubs in Whitewater’s Starin Park as the first step in a multi-year project to develop an Arboretum or “living classroom” where children and adults can identify and help preserve and maintain a diverse network of primarily native trees and shrubs.
As a living outdoor classroom an arboretum demonstrates the essential value to humans that trees and shrubs provide by enhancing air quality and helping tamp down increasingly warmer summer temperatures. The nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation estimates that a medium sized tree provides the equivalent temperature reduction of 10 room size air conditioners each running 20 hours per day.
The project is being funded by a WI Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry Grant which will reimburse up to $25,000 of city and volunteer efforts within the nearly 35-acre park. Starin Park borders the UW-Whitewater (UWW) campus and its 7.6-acre Chopp Arboretum and the Salisbury Arboretum effort to label UWW trees that started out as a 5.2-acre effort.
The Starin Park Arboretum also receives funding from local individuals and businesses, the Starin Park Neighborhood Association. the utilization of City of Whitewater staff and equipment as well as the proceeds from a recent citywide tree sale.
Tree planting advocates stress the importance of tree and shrub planting to reduce the impact of “climate change” which is widely believed by the scientific community to be one of the greatest threats to the Earth’s atmosphere and its ability to maintain reasonable temperatures and abundant clean air.
Humans and animals take in oxygen from the atmosphere and exhale carbon dioxide as a by-product. The combination of growing human and domesticated animal populations along with the significant impact of burning coal and fossil fuels is creating an environment that most scientists believe might not be able to support future generations. The Arbor Day Foundation identifies carbon dioxide as the single most destructive “greenhouse gas” affecting climate change.
The concept of an arboretum at Starin Park was initiated by Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission (UFC) member and retired educator Jim Nies. Mr. Nies estimates that there are currently as many as 50 unhealthy trees in Starin Park that will soon need to be replaced. It is estimated that the park currently contains roughly 650 trees. Whitewater City Forester Brian Neumeister estimates that the park has lost over 20 trees in just the last three years.
The city supported UFC has established partnerships with the UW-Whitewater, the Whitewater Unified School District, the Starin Park Neighborhood Association and other interested businesses and individuals.
Nearly 30 informational tree tags identifying common trees at Starin Park have already been placed as an example of the type of information to be provided to Arboretum visitors. Expanded tree tagging will continue for existing trees as well as for future new plantings. In depth information on each tree will ultimately be available via an online program called PlantsMap. The UFC has obtained formal accreditation of the Arboretum at Starin Park by the international arboretum accreditation agency ArbNet.
Volunteers will be needed to maintain plantings and informational tree tags. Interested volunteers are asked to contact City of Whitewater Parks and Recreation Director at 262-473-0122.
For the 24th year, we will be putting together an alumni band for the July 4 parade. If you’re going to be in this part of the country for the holiday, please consider joining us! I know that some of you have been playing professionally while others haven’t touched your instrument since graduation – ALL are welcome as long as you’re fully vaxxed! Instrument loans are available as are fingering charts! No marching is involved; we’ll be sitting on a flatbed truck!
There will be no rehearsal, but if you want to see the music ahead of time I can email scans to you. Our “uniform” for the parade consists of ANY WHS Band T-shirt and AT LEAST one other article of clothing. (I just happen to have some pretty nifty WHS Band shirts still available at the low price of $5.) Or just wear something red.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. this year, the normal time (last year was later because it fell on a Sunday) . We’ll plan to meet at Lincoln Elementary School (Prince St. between Highland and Walworth) around that time although we will be near the end of the parade. Do not attempt to drive up Prince Street that morning; best bet for close parking is in the Middle School (old HS) lot off Elizabeth Street. Drummers, talk to me about the best way to get your equipment onto the truck.
For added incentive, there will be the traditional gathering at the beer tent after the parade. (OK, soda for you recent alumni).
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU’RE COMING so I know how many chairs, stands & copies of music we need. Also, please invite any other WHS Band Alumni you know from any decade – my list of email addresses is far from complete.
Hope to see you there!
Dr Don W Deal (WHS Band Director 1979-2012 and again in 2020)
Whitewater School Board – Special Meeting – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m. Whitewater High School Library 534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin 6:00 p.m. – Closed session agenda: To discuss and consider terms and conditions of a potential donation by a third party into an endowment fund to benefit the District. ———————————————– 6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online – URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85810245116?pwd=amZYcVdXMzJCa08yL3JZMDgxQVdwdz09 – Passcode: 182521 ———————————————- – Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799 – Webinar ID: 858 1024 5116 – Passcode: 182521 ———————————————- Closed Session ———————————————- 7:00 p.m. Open Session via Zoom Online Agenda (click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes possible action on closed session item and Multilingual/English Language Learner Program Recommendations – Terilyn Robles, Multilingual Services Coordinator – URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87484211912?pwd=L2lJUTd3c0dWaSttc2piTXNxNWZudz09 – Passcode: 688940 ———————————————- – Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799 – Webinar ID: 874 8421 1912 – Passcode: 688940
City of Whitewater Common Council– Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m. Agenda includes presentation regarding Whitewater Aquatic & Fitness Center and possible action/direction regarding same, Request for authorization to file an application with the Public Service Commission for a water rate adjustment, and discussion and possible direction regarding “No Mow May.” City of Whitewater Municipal Building – Community Room 312 W. Whitewater St. 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/83603106305?pwd=WEs0RzlyUkNTWnR6MlBhR1dFdFI5QT09 Webinar ID: 836 0310 6305 Passcode: 738777 Or Telephone: US: 1 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 836 0310 6305 Passcode: 738777
Editor’s note: The following announcement was received from UW-Stout.
The following students from the area have been named to the University of Wisconsin-Stout Dean’s List for the spring 2022 semester.
The award is presented to students who have a grade point average of 3.5 or above.
UW-Stout, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, has 47 undergraduate majors and 23 graduate programs, including one doctoral degree. UW-Stout, established in 1891, prides itself on the success of its students in the workplace, with an employment rate above 98% for recent graduates. The university was awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2001.
Enrollment was 7,692 in the fall.
UW-Stout is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes.
Whitewater, WI
Broderick Frye, Senior, BS professional communication and emerging media Bennett Miles, Senior, BS computer and electrical engineering Luke Rule, Senior, BS digital marketing technology Gabe Schemmel, Junior, BS digital marketing technology
Editor’s note: The following announcement was received from the ADRC of Rock County.
The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Rock County and the Rock County Resource Center in Clinton is set to host a free seminar, Senior Smart: A better way for living on Friday June 10, 2022 at Emmanuel Community Church, 319 East Street, Clinton, WI from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch will be included at no charge.
Participants will learn from the experts: Attorney Bob Blakely, Darcy Toberman, Karen Tennyson MSW, Asha Tewani, Dietitian and Niccole Ranz FNP. They will each do a short presentation and be ready to answer your questions. Information booths will also be available with resources.
The Dementia Live Experience will be offered at the conclusion of the seminars. Dementia Live gives people the opportunity to experience what it might feel like to have dementia in an effort to promote understanding and compassion.
Anyone wanting to know more about aging well can join us for this free informative seminar. Pre-registration is required by contacting Dina Knibbs at (608)774-7810 or dknibbs62@charter.net or Cori Marsh at (608)757-5416 or cori.marsh@co.rock.wi.us.
Editor’s note: The following announcement is from the city of Whitewater homepage.
“Due to staffing shortages Brown Cab Shared Ride Service will close service starting on [Friday] June 3rd at 5:00 p.m. and will reopen on [Monday] June 6th at 7:00 a.m.”
Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Life Life Spiritual Direction.
The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is hosting a free meditation workshop facilitated by Denise Maple from Live Life Spiritual Direction, LLC of Whitewater on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This program is geared toward adults although teens are welcome. This event is free and open to the public.
Tea and fruit will be served. Participants should feel free to bring a yoga mat. Chairs will also be available. The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Registration is preferred, although drop-ins are welcome. If interested, anyone can register by visiting this link: https://bit.ly/394FOdq
Denise Maple has been a meditation facilitator since 2017 and stated, “If you think you can’t meditate, I encourage you to reconsider.” She went on to explain that meditation is scientifically proven to reduce feelings of stress, improve sleep, lower cortisol levels, enhance creativity, and increase mental focus. There are so many ways to calm the mind, be present, and access one’s own intuition. From this workshop, participants will understand a multitude of meditation practices so that they can learn what works for them.”
About Live Life Spiritual Direction, LLC Through Live Life Spiritual Direction, LLC, Denise Maple is a holistic business coach, spiritual counselor, and Reiki Master with an office at 202 E. Main St in Whitewater. Denise started Live Life because she wants all of us to live our lives in a way that is true to who we are. With deep spiritual training and 30+ years of business and teaching experience, Denise can be your guide in your personal life and business. As a Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Illinois with recognition as a Teacher Rated as Excellent by Students and a Dean’s Impact Award recipient, she is poised to teach you how to unearth and live the song of your soul and all of its potential.
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