Many City Residents Saw a Significant Increase in WUSD Property Tax; Explanation Provided

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Many City of Whitewater property owners undoubtedly noticed an unusually high increase in the school district portion of the property tax bill that they received early in December. Ben Prather, Director of Business Services for the Whitewater Unified School District, drafted the letter that is shown below in order to address this concern. Prather noted to the Banner that, “Of all the municipalities within our levy the city of Whitewater saw the largest increase in property value (13.75%) and the Walworth County portion of the city experienced the largest change in share of the levy (.49%).”

Waukesha County Sheriff Dept. Records Re: Police Chief Arrest Released

By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

fortatkinsononline.com made an open records request for the Waukesha County Sheriff department’s records regarding the arrest of Whitewater Police Chief Aaron Raap on Thanksgiving Day. The summary of their review of those records may be found here.

Previous Banner posts on this subject:

Waukesha County DA Drops Potential Case Re: Whitewater Police Chief; City Updates Status of Leave (Dec. 17)

Police Chief Placed on Paid Administrative Leave (Dec. 3)

WUSD Rebrands Youth Apprenticeship Program

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

The Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) has expanded their Youth Apprenticeship Program, which allows students the chance to gain work experience in career fields of interest to them. 

In coordination with local businesses in the City of Whitewater, WUSD has worked to develop a program for the upcoming summer and school year that offers high school students ages 16-18 real life experience in jobs they are interested in.  During the 2022 spring semester, the Whitewater Unified School District will host a career fair on January 19th where students can discuss apprenticeship opportunities with local employers.

To aid students as much as possible, Whitewater High School will assist students in building resumes, maintaining proper work etiquette, and hosting mock interviews.  There will then be a follow-up job fair on March 16th which will give students the opportunity to go through the hiring process with businesses of their choice. 

The WUSD Career Fair is set for January 19th, 2022 from 5-7 p.m. and the WUSD Job Fair is set for March 16th, 2022 from 2-4 p.m. Both will take place at Whitewater High School. 

“Our goal is to empower and engage students to start thinking about their future,” said Family/Community Engagement Coordinator, Molly Fuller. “The Youth Apprenticeship Program is a great way to let students test out different job paths and give them an advantage when it comes to college applications and future job searches.”

Once hired for their apprenticeship, students will begin training through the high school from March up until work begins on June 1st. Typically, youth in this program will work at their job of choice for about eight hours per week, completing roughly 450 hours in a year.  

The WUSD is dedicated to making sure this process is equally beneficial for both the youth and the businesses that participate. To ensure students are providing their best efforts, the high school will be consistently contacting employers for updates on students’ performance. 

The Youth Apprenticeship Program will continue to grow over the next few years and will eventually provide younger students with opportunities to get them thinking about their career at an earlier age. The WUSD will continue to allow extra accommodations for anyone interested in this program, and urge as many students as possible to take advantage of this opportunity.

For further information, contact Molly Fuller, Family/Community Engagement Coordinator at: mfuller@wwusd.org  or learn about updates at https://www.facebook.com/wwusd

Local Students Graduate from UW-Milwaukee

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The following individuals from our area are among more than 1,900 prospective candidates for degree attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee virtual commencement exercises held on Sunday, Dec 19, 2021 in Milwaukee. UWM is the second largest university in the State of Wisconsin, with over 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students. 

Whitewater, WI

 Abigail Childs, College of Letters and Science, Bachelor of Arts
 Talia Olson, College of Letters and Science, Bachelor of Arts
 Viet Vo, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, Bachelor of Science

#FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society: G. Stuart’s Mens Shop

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

This week we are featuring G. Stuart’s Mens Shop in this mid-1990s photo by George Scharfenberg. This storefront, constructed in 1892, housed long-term hardware stores and men’s clothing stores.

Many people probably remember this as the location of Art Lein’s men’s store. Art Lein began his store in 1959 out near the Hawk bowling alley, but soon moved to downtown. He operated his store until 1980. After remaining a men’s store, the storefront was absorbed into the Double Dip Deli in 1999 (now Rosa’s).

In the first half of the 20th century, this was the location of Baker Hardware and Keiser & Tubb’s Hardware (1894-c.1940). Many stores came and went quickly in downtown Whitewater, but the three storefronts we have featured this month housed some of the city’s most long-time businesses.

(George Scharfenberg Collection)

Whitewater High School Winter Gala Concert Photos

Editor’s Note: The below photos from the Whitewater High School Winter Gala Concert on December 9 were contributed by Tom Ganser. Several ensembles performed.

City of Whitewater to Provide Sand for Residents on Monday; Sturdy Container Required

Editor’s Note: This information was provided by the City of Whitewater.

The City of Whitewater – Department of Public Works will deliver sand on Monday, December 20, 2021.
Residents who wish to receive a quantity of sand for placement on public sidewalks during the winter months are asked to have a sturdy container at the curbside by 7:00 a.m. on Monday, December 20. City officials stress that a cardboard box is not considered a sturdy container.

If there is a snowstorm or some other unpredictable occurrence that prevents delivery that week, the sand will be delivered as soon as weather permits. As a reminder, the owner, occupant, and person in charge of any building or lot fronting upon or adjoining any sidewalk shall remove all snow and ice from the sidewalk no later than twenty-four hours after a snow or ice event. When any ice is so formed on any sidewalk that it cannot be removed, then the responsible party shall keep the same sprinkled with salt or sand.

For additional questions or concerns, contact the Streets Department at (262) 473-0560.

The City of Whitewater provides efficient and high-quality services which support living, learning, playing and working in an exceptional community. Visit www.whitewater-wi.gov for community information and updates.

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Reynolds Pharmacy

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

Today’s post features another mid-1990s photo taken by George Scharfenberg. It is the Reynolds Pharmacy, located in a building that housed a pharmacy for 120 years. Built in 1883, the storefront first opened as A.V. Burke’s drug store (1883-1893), then housed the Duffin drug store for over 50 years (1893-1945). Clarence Krahnke operated his drug store here from 1945 to 1968, when he sold it to Jim Underwood, who sold it to Dan Reynolds in 1986. Reynolds remained here until 2004 before relocating to the west side.

Join us again next week for another 1990s look at a downtown Whitewater storefront.

(George Scharfenberg Collection)

This Week’s City & School Board Meetings

Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
———————————————-
Whitewater School Board
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street
———————————————–
6:30 p.m. via Zoom Online
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84762539647?pwd=bmN1NTFrbWNjS2xucU8reVF6Tytzdz09
– Password: 157894
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 847 6253 9647
– Passcode: 157894
———————————————-
Closed Session
———————————————-
7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84232602136?pwd=Q2xTUEZxSER2SnZWZXEyTGlLa1lTQT09
– Passcode: 410444
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 842 3260 2136
– Passcode: 410444

Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes Approval of Administrator Contract Extensions and Letters of Intent for 2023-24; Review of 2020-21 financial audit

Irvin L. Young Memorial Library Board of Trustees Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes update from Library Expansion Committee
Irvin L. Young Memorial Library
Community Room
431 W. Center Street
This meeting will be both in-person and virtual
Join Zoom meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83199582389?pwd=Sm9NUjZXYTNVM3J0SmVrNjU2cG8xdz09
Meeting ID: 831 9958 2389
Passcode: Ei3JsjBg
Dial 1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 831 9958 2389
Passcode: 80191071

City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Commitment to contribute $3,000,000 towards library expansion project; discussion of lakesdrawn project and dredging of portions of the lakes.
City of Whitewater Municipal Building – Community Room
312 W. Whitewater St., Whitewater WI 53190
This will be an IN PERSON MEETING as well as a VIRTUAL MEETING
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join us in person, or 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/85136735869?pwd=czg3djh6ZTk5RExIYk14aHF1ckN0dz09
Passcode: 179389
Or Telephone:
Dial 1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 851 3673 5869
Passcode: 179389