News

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PAGEANTS is proud to announce Sage Spear of Whitewater has been crowned as United States of America’s Miss Wisconsin 2025 and will represent the great state of Wisconsin at the 2025 national competition.

Sage, a Whitewater native, has made significant strides in both volunteerism and scoliosis awareness. She received the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award for completing over 250 hours of community service within the past year. She actively works to raise awareness and provide support for those affected by scoliosis—a condition she personally faces after being diagnosed at age 11. Sage’s passion for advocacy inspired her to create Every Stem Has a Story, a platform dedicated to funding scoliosis research and spreading awareness. Through her initiative, she illustrated and self-published a coloring book and designed a sweatshirt to promote her cause.

In addition to her advocacy work, Sage serves as an AmeriCorps member with the United Way of Jefferson & N. Walworth Counties. In this role, she recently organized a free community baby shower, providing over 8,000 essential items to families in need. Alongside her service work, Sage is the office manager at her family’s local business, Aropa Designs. In her free time, she enjoys watching football, spending time outdoors, and listening to true crime podcasts. Her family is proud to support her as she competes against inspiring women from across the nation, striving to bring home the title of United States of America’s Miss 2026!

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PAGEANTS is the fastest growing pageant system in the nation and was named in the TOP 10 BEST National Pageants of 2019, 2020, 2021, & 2022 by the Pageant Planet! The pageant is designed to encourage women to strive to achieve their hopes, dreams, goals, and aspirations, while making them feel confident and beautiful inside and out! Our motto is to EMPOWER women, INSPIRE others, & UPLIFT everyone! We focus on women empowerment, promoting positive self-image and advocating a platform of community service, which allows our contestants to rise by lifting others. Additionally, we award thousands of dollars in prizes and provide countless opportunities to achieve success including an opportunity to be considered for a modeling contract with MMG!

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Two weeks ago, we featured a horse-powered sorghum press. This week we are showing a horse-powered saw with men doing a late fall/winter chore, sawing wood for wood stoves. This view from the Scholl collection of glass plate negatives from the turn of the 20th century, shows piles of wood ready for cutting and a draft horse providing the power for the saw. With winter near, we are very lucky that most of us only have to turn on a switch to get heat today!

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society

(3766GP, Whitewater Historical Society)

Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff on Anniversary of 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade Tragedy

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today ordered the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Thurs., Nov. 21, 2024, in recognition of the 3rd anniversary of the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy and to honor the six individuals who were senselessly and tragically killed in the attack: Tamara Durand, 52; Wilhelm Hospel, 81; Jane Kulich, 52; Leanna Owen, 71; Virginia Sorenson, 79; and Jackson Sparks, 8. “The Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy three years ago shook the Waukesha community and folks across our state and country. On this anniversary, we honor Tamara, Wilhelm, Jane, Leanna, Virginia, Jackson, their loved ones, the dozens of people who were injured that day, and the many whose lives were forever changed by this senseless act of violence. Kathy and I keep them in our hearts today and every day,” said Gov. Evers. “Today, we also remember and recognize the strength and the spirit of the Waukesha community, their resilience, and their generosity and compassion in the wake of an unspeakable tragedy. Waukesha and Wisconsin remain ‘Waukesha Strong.’”

Per the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office, the Whitewater area is likely to get 1-2″ of heavy, wet, slushy snow between 6 a.m. to noon on Thursday morning.

• A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for east central and southeast Wisconsin from 6 AM to Noon CST Thursday.
• A burst of moderate to heavy, wet, slushy snow and west northwest wind gusts of 35 to 45 MPH are expected for the Thursday morning commute, mixing with and changing to rain by midday into early afternoon. 
• Wet, slushy snow accumulations of 2-4 inches are forecast including on roadways with eastern Wisconsin having the greatest travel impacts. 
• Although windy conditions will be occurring, the snow will be wet, which will greatly limit the blowing, but still contribute to lower visibility with sideways falling snow.
• Temperatures will warm to near 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the afternoon and evening commute, with much better road conditions anticipated at that time.

A number of appointments are still available between 3:10 and 4:20.

As we move into the holidays there always seems to be a drop in blood donations, so your gift will be especially appreciated. To make an appointment please click here or call Lynn at 262-473-2997.

Photos from dress rehearsal on November 18 and story courtesy of Tom Ganser

CORRECTION: Sunday’s performance is at 1 p.m. (Previously it was shown as 2 p.m.)

Kick-start your holiday season by taking in a performance of the Whitewater High School Players sparkling production of Irving Berlin’s classic “White Christmas” Nov. 21-23 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. in the James M. Stewart Auditorium at Whitewater High School.

Better yet … treat someone to seeing a performance as an early holiday gift.

General tickets ($7 for students and $10 for adults) are available at the box office one hour before the performance.

The WHS Players production showcases the talents of a cast of 30, a crew of 18, and a live band of 11.

Before the curtain opening, Tom Ganser’s photos of the WHS Players productions of “Footloose” (2021), “Beauty and the Beast” (2022), and “Mean Girls” (2023) will be shown.

Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander.

With a dazzling score featuring well-known standards including “Blue Skies,” “I Love A Piano,” “How Deep Is the Ocean” and the perennial title song, “White Christmas” is an uplifting, wholesome musical that will delight audiences of all ages.

Paramount Pictures released the movie musical “White Christmas” in 1954. The film starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen, and featured 17 songs by Irving Berlin. The top moneymaker of 1954, White Christmas set a new record as Hollywood’s all-time highest-grossing musical.