News

Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes WUSD Library Plan Review, Elementary Scorecard Presentation 25-26, E. 25-26 District Report Card, and Overview Referendum Update
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
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6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83362071024?pwd=bWxo3q7Ifa6PCLfRbxbNrC0p9wEeSf.1
– Passcode: 439146
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– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 833 6207 1024
– Passcode: 439146

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and possible action to recommend employee bonuses for 2025
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater St
*In Person and Virtual
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83198282604?pwd=cDdLWjUvTTRqRUQ4UVcwQWcrcW1BUT09

     Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
     Webinar ID: 831 9828 2604
     Passcode: 137945

RACINE, Wis. (WSAW/Gray News) – “A newborn was safely surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box for the first time in Wisconsin state history.

According to officials, the baby was placed in the Safe Haven Baby Box at a fire department in Racine on Oct. 16.

Division Chief Joshua Weber said in the release obtained by the Racine County Eye that the infant was in good health and immediately cared for by on-duty firefighters.

The baby was taken to the hospital for an evaluation and then placed in the custody of Child Protective Services….

Officials say the National Safe Haven Crisis Line has assisted in more than 175 handoff surrenders and 66 baby box surrenders nationwide.”

Editor’s note: As was announced in a Whitewater Banner article, a baby box was installed in the Whitewater Fire Department building in June of 2025.

According to State Statute 48.195, a parent can leave their unharmed newborn, under 72 hours old, anonymously and without fear of prosecution in a newborn infant safety device, or with a law enforcement officer, EMS provider, or hospital staff member. This life-saving resource allows a parent in crisis to legally accomplish this surrender anonymously. The Safe Haven Baby Box is equipped with alarm systems and climate control to ensure a rapid response from trained personnel and the health and safety of the surrendered infant.

If you are a parent in crisis, you can call or text 1-866-99BABY1 to reach the National Safe Haven Crisis Line.

The new Born Learning Trail at Starin Park will be unveiled on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 11 a.m. The trail, a collaboration between the UW-Whitewater Children’s Center, the City of Whitewater Department of Parks and Recreation, Whitewater Public Library, Whitewater LEADS and the Whitewater Community Foundation, is a celebration of early literacy and connecting with the community and the natural world around us. Signs along the trail, which runs one third of a mile, depict interactive activities in both English and Spanish that young learners can do with their caregivers. More activities will later be painted on the sidewalks and asphalt paths that form the trail.

[The national United Way organization is the sponsor of the learning trails, and their website indicates “The Born Learning Trail is a series of 10 interactive signs that offer fun, active learning activities for young children and their families. It helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality engagement opportunities when out on a stroll or visiting a local playground.”]

Congratulations to all who brought this project to Whitewater!

“What’s Cooking?”

Tuesday, November 25, 1 pm

(Comedy/Drama/Romance)

Rated PG-13; 1 hour, 49 minutes (2000).

Several families of different ethnicity (Latino, Asian, Black, Jewish, and White) gather together for Thanksgiving dinner, with much humor, drama, and love. Starring Joan Chen, Juliana Margulies, Mercedes Ruehl, Alfre Woodard, and Dennis Haysbert. 

Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $10 and non-residents is $15. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes out of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/

Jefferson County Sheriff Travis Maze is proud to announce the addition of its newest canine, Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Kingsley. Kingsley has been officially assigned to Detective Ryan Viney, who will oversee her training, deployment, and daily care.

K9 Kingsley joins the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office with a critical mission: to assist investigators in the fight against Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC). As an ESD-certified canine, Kingsley possesses specialized skills to detect hidden electronic storage devices – such as flash drives, micro-SD cards, and other digital media – that may contain evidence vital to protecting children and supporting criminal investigations. Her keen abilities will significantly enhance the Sheriff’s Office’s capability to locate and secure digital evidence that might
otherwise go undiscovered.

The acquisition of K9 Kingsley was made possible through the extraordinary generosity of community member Mabel Schumacher. Her support not only enabled the Sheriff’s Office to expand its K9 program, but also directly contributes to safeguarding children across Jefferson County and beyond.
We are deeply grateful to Ms. Schumacher for making this addition to our team possible.

K9 Kingsley will be an invaluable asset in our ongoing efforts to investigate crimes against children and bring offenders to justice.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

The UW-Whitewater men’s wheelchair basketball team welcomes the top teams from around the nation this weekend for its annual home tournament this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22, at the Williams Center Fieldhouse, 907 Schwager Drive. The Warhawks host games Friday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Saturday at 8 a.m. and noon. [The public is welcome. There was no admission charge on Friday, so it appears that the same would apply on Saturday.]

Editor’s note: This announcement is from the UW-Whitewater Facebook page.

Hundreds of trick or treaters came out for Ghoul’s Night Out on October 30. It was a beautiful night to visit businesses and organizations. Photos are courtesy of Tom Ganser.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This weekend begins the gun-deer season, a popular hunting season in Wisconsin. Hunters in the mid-20th century may have stopped by at the Whitewater Sports and Tackle store for last minute needs. Before the sports store, this building, on 2nd Street, was the long-time location of Pete Johnson’s meat market. Johnson retired in 1964 and this photo was probably taken in the 1970s. The building is also of interest because it was built around 1915-1920 from rusticated concrete blocks, an unusual material for a downtown building.

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

(5709 P, Whitewater Historical Society)

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

Gov. Tony Evers on Nov. 19 ordered the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Fri., Nov. 21, 2025, in recognition of the fourth 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. “Four years ago, six of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones were senselessly killed in the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy, forever changing the lives of folks and families in the community and across our state, and each year since, we’ve come together to honor them, their loved ones who carry on their memory, and all those who were affected by this horrific and tragic act of violence,” said Gov. Evers. “The memory of those we lost that tragic day lives on through the strength, resilience, generosity, and compassion we have seen exemplified by the entire Waukesha community over the past several years. We will never forget Tamara, Wilhelm, Jane, Leanna, Virginia, and Jackson, and today, the state stands with the Waukesha community in remembering, honoring, and mourning.”

Holiday Helpers connects community donations, sponsors, and resources directly to families in need to ensure every child experiences joy, dignity, and care during the holidays. The deadline for families to register their children, ages 0-17, is Sunday, November 23. The form is accessible through the QR code above or on the United Way website.

“Our community always steps up in big ways — and this is one of the most meaningful examples of neighbors helping neighbors,” said Elizabeth Bols, United Way’s CEO. “Holiday Helpers ensures children don’t feel forgotten during the holidays, and for many families, this relief makes an enormous difference.”

More information, registration details, and ways to get involved will be shared at: www.uwjnwc.com

Holiday Helpers conecta las donaciones comunitarias, patrocinadores y recursos directamente con familias necesitadas para garantizar que cada niño experimente alegría, dignidad y cuidado durante las fiestas. La fecha límite para que las familias registren a sus hijos, de 0 a 17 años, es el domingo 23 de noviembre. El formulario está disponible a través del código QR arriba o en el sitio web de United Way.

“Nuestra comunidad siempre responde de manera extraordinaria, y este es uno de los ejemplos más significativos de vecinos ayudando a vecinos”, dijo Elizabeth Bols, CEO de United Way. “Holiday Helpers garantiza que los niños no se sientan olvidados durante las fiestas, y para muchas familias, este alivio marca una diferencia enorme.”

Más información, detalles de registro y formas de involucrarse se compartirán en: www.uwjnwc.com