News

This Week’s City & School Board Meetings

Editor’s note: The Whitewater Banner does not necessarily post all notices of gatherings where a quorum of council and/or committee members may be present, as long as no action will be taken.

City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater St
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or
telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Topic: Urban Forestry Commission
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82948501460?pwd=l9Lndio7GYohm0mMXg9a6sFLnZ7JBa.1
Meeting ID: 829 4850 1460
Passcode: 212599
Or dial:
+1 312 626 6799 US

Whitewater Unified School District Annual Budget Hearing – Monday @ 5:45 p.m.

Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
5:45 p.m.
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5:45 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85782823820?pwd=LL9I9ngH588YLmUWsaBt5PCrwjFR2A.1
– Passcode: 949460
———————————————–
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 857 8282 3820
– Passcode: 949460

Whitewater Unified School District School Board Regular Meeting – Monday @ 6:15 p.m. (CLOSED SESSION)
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
6:15 p.m.
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6:15 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84566437470?pwd=JpfnoJYSdUVXk4Fv4YaZou0qzsQWmY.1
– Passcode: 511610
———————————————–
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 845 6643 7470
– Passcode: 511610
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Closed Session: Agenda – Adjourn into closed session, (Action Item) pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(f), considering financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigation of charges against specific persons except where par. (b) applies which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data, or involved in such problems or investigations, specifically, to discuss contract updates and non-certified employee termination.
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7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online (OPEN SESSION)
Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes WUSD Strategic Planning & Scorecard Review, Middle School (Informational),Transfer – ADMINISTRATION – Associate Principal at the Middle School to ADMINISTRATION – Principal at the Middle School effective July 1, 2025, Approval of the 2024/2025 Whitewater Unified School District Tax Levy and 2024-25 annual budget.
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87107415224?pwd=TnFUaWhpMEFpNXZNajhVTDhhTE4zdz09
– Passcode: 317163
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– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 871 0741 5224
– Passcode: 317163

City of Whitewater Public Test of Ballot Machines – Tuesday @ 10 a.m. – noon
Whitewater Municipal Building Cravath Lakefront Room, 2nd Floor, 312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person

City of Whitewater Special Finance Committee Meeting – Wed. @ 4:00 p.m.
Agenda includes 2025 Draft Budget Review (3 of 3), City Attorney and Code Enforcement & Zoning Contracts and Job Descriptions, Sick Leave Severance Budget & Policy, and Shared-Ride Budget
Whitewater Municipal Building Cravath Lakefront Room, 312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar 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/86803129460
Or One tap mobile :
+16469313860
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
+1 312 626 6799 US
Webinar ID: 868 0312 9460
International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kYQp6AdD



Whippet Boys Repeat as Sectional Champs, Qualify for State Meet

The Whippet Boys’ Cross Country Team emerged as sectional champions once again after supreme races from top to bottom on Friday, October 25 on the campus of UW-Whitewater. In a very controlled, dialed-in effort, Jack Hefty once again led the team to his second individual sectional title in 16:39. Xavier Zei ran perfectly and closed the door on his race very well and finished fifth overall. Miles Nickelsburg had the race of the day for the team placing in sixth overall. He methodically made his way through the upper crust of the pack passing two runners in the second mile and five runners in his final 1.1 miles of the race to stop the clock in 17:47. Luc Pomazak will get his first taste of the state meet after never seeing a varsity race all last season. Having improved significantly this season, he was the team’s fourth runner today and placed 17th in 18:28. Andrew O’Toole rounded out the team scoring with a strong 23rd place finish and an overall time of 18:47 on this difficult course. Onyx Thompson mowed down at least five guys in the final 200m finish straight and placed 31st with a time of 19:06. Isaac Straight was the final Whippet to finish today in 54th with a time of 19:56, twenty-four seconds faster than he ran on this course a week earlier.

Isaac Straight, Onyx Thompson, Andrew O’Toole, Luc Pomazak, Miles Nickelsburg, Xavier Zei, Jack Hefty, Coach Carstens

The girls’ race proved to be a good day overall for the team as they finished in sixth place. Nearly every girl ran faster than they did a week earlier on the same course at the conference championship. Today the team was led by senior Carley Boudreau who stopped the clock at 22:37 for a final placing of 21st. Fellow senior Athena Soto was a few steps behind her in 22:39 and placed 22nd. Virginia Nelson completed her first high school season as the team’s third runner and placed 23rd in 22:42. Mady Hefty moved up little by little throughout the race and was the team’s fourth runner in 28th with a time of 22:58. Senior Nola Coburn placed 41st with a time of 24:25. Ema Aranda placed 44th in 24:35, and senior Sami Van Daele placed 47th in 24:57. The team wraps up their season having finished second in the Valley division, third overall in the RVC, and with numerous seniors that have dedicated themselves to the sport of cross country for four years. The coaching staff is very thankful for the seniors and the leadership they have provided over the years. They are Isabella Aranda, Carley Boudreau, Nola Coburn, Athena Soto, Lucy Troxel and Sami Van Daele.

The WIAA State Meet will be held on the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, November 2nd. The boys will be competing in the Division 2 race which is slated to begin at 2:35.

Full results: https://wi.milesplit.com/meets/628524-wiaa-d2-sectional-whitewater-2024

Article and Photo Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Head Cross Country Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org

ProPublica Features Our City: The Police Chief & The Immigrant

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

ProPublica, a Pulitzer prize winning nonprofit news organization with the tagline, “Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest,” published an article about Whitewater on their website that was initially titled “The Police Chief and the Immigrant” on October 24. Eventually the headline was changed to “What Happened in Whitewater: How immigration is affecting one small Wisconsin city.” It’s a very lengthy article, with over 5700 words. An audio recording that is provided is over 34 minutes long. Normally The Whitewater Banner would print a few quotes from such a piece, but we are honoring ProPublica’s requirement that their articles only be reprinted in their entirety. Photos, however, could not be reprinted. The Banner has used one of their photos on the homepage under the practice of fair use.

The lead author of the article, Melissa Sanchez, is a Chicago-based reporter who focuses on immigration and low wage-workers.  She is the daughter of immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador, and she speaks Spanish. Sanchez and other ProPublica journalists have visited the city over a dozen times since January, conducting many interviews with city staff, long-term residents and recent immigrants. Police Chief Dan Meyer told The Whitewater Banner that he has spoken with Melissa seven or eight times, and “has nothing but good things to say” about her. She really poured a lot of time into her research and writing the article, he said. Meyer felt that his comments were fairly represented in the article, and that “it’s about as balanced” as could be expected. Undoubtedly readers will have varying opinions, and Meyer expressed his view that “opinions need to get out there to make progress.” The Banner’s Facebook page does allow for comments to be made, with the trust that kindness and civility be evidenced. The ProPublica article may be accessed here.

Background

In December, 2023, City of Whitewater Police Chief Dan Meyer composed a letter to President Biden regarding the challenges faced by our relatively small community in serving the estimated 800-1000 immigrants who had arrived, primarily from Nicaragua, beginning in early 2022. Examples were given of the difficulties the Police Department was experiencing in communicating with this Spanish-speaking population, encountering many unlicensed drivers with fake IDs, and investigating some serious crimes. “None of this information is shared as a means of denigrating or vilifying this group of people,” the letter stated, “We know that challenges will come with the addition of any significant number of people to a City. In fact, we see great value in the increasing diversity that this group brings to our community. We simply need to ensure that we can continue to properly serve this group, and the entirety of the City of Whitewater.” The letter was also signed by City Manager John Weidl and Common Council members.

City staff and officials were shocked by how quickly state and national media picked up the story. A number of journalists have contacted them, and in some cases, even visited the city to develop stories that have sometimes included inaccuracies. A presidential candidate even mentioned the city’s challenges. Little governmental assistance has resulted from the plea, although the city was recently awarded a grant totaling $375,000 over three years to assist with the hiring of three additional police officers.

Obituary: Nancy Ungerer Duval, M.D., 75, of Florida

Nancy Ungerer Duval, M.D. was born on October 9, 1948 to Glenn May Ungerer and Elizabeth Elsie Ungerer in Buffalo, New York.  She was raised in the Buffalo suburb of Amherst, and graduated from Amherst Central High School at age 16, having been advised to skip a grade in elementary school.  She attended Vassar College for two years before transferring to Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois where she obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree.  While she may have preferred to attend veterinary school, she attended the University of Illinois Medical School where she obtained her medical degree, and did a residency in Pediatrics at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. As she finished her residency, she decided to specialize in the emerging field of Emergency Medicine and took additional training in adult medicine and critical care, becoming board certified in both specialties.  She worked most of her career in Emergency Medicine at Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, Illinois and also was on the teaching faculty at Northwestern where she taught residents in the emergency room.   

Nancy was a trailblazer for women in the medical field.  After a lengthy screening process, she was chosen to winter over at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica in 1984-85, serving as the doctor, dentist, postmaster and guardian of the liquor supply.  In preparation, she received training in dentistry, as well as survival skills on the ice in New Zealand.  While at the South Pole, she became a member of the elite 200 Degree Club, an event that involves experiencing an immediate 200 degree drop transitioning from sauna to a total polar plunge. 

She and her late husband, Thomas Duval, lived actively in their Barrington Hills, Illinois community for years: enjoying horses, Cubs games, and the active life of the local hunt club.  They parented Newfoundland and Corgi dogs.  Tom and Nancy relocated to Whitewater, Wisconsin to be close to Tom’s family and their grandchildren and were actively involved in their lives for many years. In Whitewater,  Nancy worked at the U. of Wisconsin campus in the student health clinic. While living in Whitewater, they enjoyed boating, golf and bicycling. They also had a great group of friends at the Whitewater Golf Course and enjoyed going out for fish frys at 5 pm. Nancy always thought of Whitewater as a hidden gem.

Nancy and Tom retired to Sebastian, Florida.  Once again, they immersed themselves into the local community and became active participants in their homeowners association and developed long-lasting friendships with their new tribe there. 

Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Duval of 25 years, after a long and difficult struggle with his chronic illness.   Nancy took care of him until he passed.  She is survived by her brothers, Robert (Beverly) Ungerer, M.D. and Ronald (Stephanie) Ungerer, M.D.  She was aunt to Natasha, Rachel, Olivia, Mary Ungerer and Mark and Andrew Ungerer.  She was a great-aunt to 10 nieces and 7 nephews.  She was stepmother to Tom Jr. “Beau” DuVal (Julie) and Jerry Duval (Julie) and step-grandmother to Emma, Jimmy and Tommy, Clayton and Blaise.

Nancy passed away from cancer May 3, 2024, which she had dealt with for 3 years.  A Celebration of Life was held August 18, 2024 in Sebastian, Florida.  A sunrise gathering and memorial was held on the dock over the Indian River where Nancy and her close friends and their dogs had gathered at sunrise every morning for years.  Breakfast refreshments and a sharing of memories followed the sunrise gathering, with a dedication of an ornamental tree and engraved bench in Nancy’s honor from her friends and the homeowners association. A later Celebration of Life with Family is planned at Whitewater Lake in Whitewater, Wisconsin, where they both loved to enjoy the sunsets and boat rides with family and friends.

Arts Alliance Meat Raffle – Sunday

Whitewater Arts Alliance Meat Raffle Fundraiser

Event Date: October 27, 2024, 12-3pm (approximately)

Event Location: Second Salem Brewery, 111 W.Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI

Whitewater,WI – The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) will host a meat raffle fundraiser at Second Salem Brewing Co. on Sunday, October 27, 2024, starting at 12:00pm and ending when all prizes have been distributed, approximately 3:00pm.

The meat raffle will take place throughout the Packer game, with numbered paddles sold for $5 each round, with multiple winners called each round. Prizes include locally sourced meat from Little Red Farms in Whitewater and Wilson Farm Meats in Elkhorn, as well as from Aldi in Whitewater. In addition, there will be a 50/50 cash raffle as well as ticketed bucket raffles for goods donated by numerous local businesses and community members. 

All proceeds from the raffle will directly benefit the Whitewater Arts Alliance, supporting their mission to promote and sustain the arts in our community.

About Second Salem Brewing Co.

Second Salem Brewing Company is a brewpub located on Cravath Lake in historic downtown Whitewater, Wisconsin. Back in the early 20th century, Whitewater earned the moniker “Second Salem” from the locals, owing to its association with witch gatherings around the Witchtower (better known as the Starin Park water tower),as well as eerie incidents, mysterious deaths, and other unworldly occurrences in the lake. These intriguing events, along with the distinctive figures and architecture of that era, constitute a shared history that sets our town apart,offering a trove of captivating tales to infuse into our exceptional brews.

The Whitewater Water Tower is on the Ballot: Historical background

The Whitewater Water Tower
By Carol Cartwright

A question about the Starin Park Water Tower will be on the ballot on November 5. Here is some historical background about the water tower.

The Starin Park Water Tower was built in 1889 as part of the first water system built in Whitewater. It was one of the earliest water towers built in the area, has outstanding stone construction and an original tank, and it was the result of an effort to provide better fire protection and pure drinking water in the city.

In June of 1887, the city entertained a proposal from a private company to build a water system. At the time, most communities only considered a water system to provide water pressure for firefighting. In Whitewater, the Whitewater Register printed a lengthy article on the proposal for a water system and promoted an interesting view, citing sanitary reasons for a waterworks. The article stated that micro-organisms were readily found in water samples in town. As an afterthought, the article also mentioned that a water system was necessary for fighting fires and would result in a reduction of insurance rates.

In a second article in the Whitewater Register, the newspaper noted that private wells were the source of much “enfeebled health and shortened life.” Only a very deep artesian well assured pure water, and that “a careful examination of the subject has convinced the city officials that an artesian well is the best source of supply.”

In the spring of 1889, Gray Brothers of Milwaukee began construction on the waterworks system that included a well at the corner of Fremont Street and what is now Starin Road. At about 1000 feet, the workers hit a water supply with enough volume to fill a reservoir and to serve a city twice the size of Whitewater. The supply was submitted for testing at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and pronounced pure. The Gray Brothers then built a pumping works, a reservoir, a tower with elevated tank, water mains, hydrants, and fountains. Upon completion, the city paid the company to operate the system for 25 years.

On October 1, 1889, the waterworks components were completed and tested and found to be acceptable. One aspect of the test was to make sure that a stream of water could be thrown over the roof of the Normal School, located on a hill and the highest building in the city. The test showed that there was enough pressure to send water through 500 feet of hose onto the roof of the building.

The most impressive structure that was built for the water works was the water tower. The octagonal tower was built with limestone walls eight feet thick to a height of 80 feet. A steel tank, 30 feet in diameter and 32 feet tall, was built on top of the tower. The tank was built to hold 200,000 gallons of water, and with the 800,000 gallon capacity of the reservoir, the total supply on hand would equal 1,000,000 gallons, enough to provide excellent water pressure for both everyday usage and for emergency fire-fighting. After the private contract expired, Whitewater citizens voted to purchase and operate the system.

The water tower is an early and fine example of its type of structure. It is architecturally significant for its outstanding stone construction and intact metal tank, but it is also historically significant as the most intact resource related to the development of Whitewater’s waterworks, one of the most important city services ever developed in the community.

Editor’s note: Information regarding the non-binding water tower referendum that’s on the November 5 ballot may be found on the city website here.

City Announces Developer Meet and Greet Event – Community members welcome

The City of Whitewater is pleased to invite developers and community members to its inaugural Developer Meet and Greet. This event aims to foster connections and provide valuable insights into development opportunities within the city.

Attendees will benefit from presentations by key team members, including the Zoning Administrator, Neighborhood Services staff, the Economic Development Director, and additional support staff. These discussions will cover essential aspects of development processes, zoning regulations, and economic initiatives in Whitewater.

Following the presentations, a guided bus tour will showcase available parcels of land, offering an in-depth look at prime development opportunities in the community.

Event Details:

  • Date: Friday, November 1, 2024
  • Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Location: Innovation Center, 1221 Innovation Drive, Whitewater, WI
    With space limited, we ask all interested participants to RSVP by Monday, October 28th, 4:30 PM
    to secure their spot.
    RSVP Contact Information: Bonnie Miller
    Phone: 262-473-0148
    Email: bmiller@whitewater-wi.gov

    The City of Whitewater is committed to supporting development and growth, and this event represents a significant step toward engaging with developers and the community to explore future opportunities.

    For more information about the city’s initiatives and updates, please visit the official
    website: www.whitewater-wi.gov.

Arts Alliance Members’ Show Call for Art – Due Sunday: New members welcome

Call for Art!! Entries due Sunday, Oct. 27

2024 Members’ Show

Each year the Whitewater Arts Alliance is delighted to showcase the outstanding 2D and 3D visual art produced by its members. Not a member? Special mid-year rates for the remainder of 2024 and all of 2025: Student $15; Senior (Age 62+) $50; Individual $95; Family (one household) $130. Join here.

The 2024 exhibit opens Friday, November 1 with a reception Sunday, November 3 at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street in Whitewater.

Being eligible to exhibit in the Members’ Show is is one of the benefits of WAA membership. There is no fee to enter and WAA does not deduct commission on sales made during the show.

Entry forms must be completed online and are due by by Sunday, October 27, 2024. Learn more and enter here.

Seniors in the Park Presents Godzilla Minus One

October is a month for the macabre, mysterious moans, mammoth monsters…and Halloween! Three movies to induce mayhem! 

“Godzilla Minus One”

Tuesday, October 29, 1 pm 

(Epic/Monster/Horror) Rated PG-13; 2 hours, 4 minutes (2023)

In Japan, Godzilla is a revered pop culture icon and national hero. On November 3, 2024, after 40 films and over 70 years, Japan will be celebrating Godzilla Day. Don’t laugh. This film was the 2024 Oscar Winner for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, and is one of the highest/best rated films ever, by critics/audience.

(Certified Fresh Tomatoes). Personally, as a longtime Godzilla fan, I can tell you this is The. Best. Godzilla. Film. EVER.  Language: Japanese; English subtitles. 

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 our 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/

Early Voting Off to a Strong Start – Open today (Sat.)

Early in-person voting is available today, Saturday, October 26 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the City of Whitewater Municipal Building, 312 W. Whitewater St., 2nd Floor, Administration Window. See below for the remaining early in-person voting dates/times.

Heather Boehm, city clerk, told The Whitewater Banner that absentee and early in-person voting has been off to a strong start this week. As of the close of business on Friday, 514 ballots have been cast in person, and 713 absentee ballots have already been returned. That leaves only 228 absentee ballots outstanding. Currently a total of 5130 persons are registered to vote.

Statewide turnout has been so strong that the Wisconsin Election Commission’s database has been bogged down for much of the week, causing waits that have caused some clerks to handwrite the voter information that’s supposed to be provided on a sticker on the absentee envelope. At the end of the day they have to go back and generate the stickers.

Early voting times for next week:
Monday, October 28th, 2024 – 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – 8:00 am-6:30 pm
Wednesday, October 30th, 2024 – 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Thursday, October 31st, 2024 – 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Friday, November 1st, 2024 – 8:00 am-5:00 pm

DROP BOX INFORMATION
Whitewater Municipal Building
312 W. Whitewater St.
Last pickup on election day is 8:00 p.m.
Drop box is located in the entryway on the Whitewater St. entrance. Please use the box that is labeled “Absentee ballots only.”

NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024 – GENERAL ELECTION
Voting Hours – 7 am-8 pm

Polling Locations:

The Downtown Armory, 146 W. North St.
WARDS: 1-7 and 11-12

UW – Whitewater
The University Center
190 Hamilton Green Way
Hamilton Room
WARDS: 8-10 and 13

Any Absentee Ballots being returned on Election Day MUST be returned to the Municipal Building, Council Chambers, or the drop box in the Municipal Building Whitewater Street entrance. Absentee ballots may not be returned to either polling place.

This website allows you to do the following:

  • Check your current registration information
  • Update your name and address
  • Request an absentee ballot
  • Find your elected officials
  • Track your absentee ballot
  • View a list of elections you have voted in
  • Find your polling place
  • See what will be on your ballot
  • Register to vote