News

Updated throughout the day on Thursday with match scores.

Members of Whitewater High School Ferradermis FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition Team #6574 are in Houston, Texas for the April 17-20 FIRST Championship, a culminating, international event for the youth robotics competition season and a celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). An April 15 post on the Banner provides information about the competition.

Laura Masbruch, team administrator, provided the qualification match schedule for the World Championships for Ferradermis on Thursday and Friday, which is shown below, with #6574 being underlined. The event will continue on Saturday with a full day of playoffs. The livestream may be watched at  https://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires_hopper 

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the City of Whitewater Dept. of Public Works.

It is anticipated Phase I of the Fremont Reconstruction Project will begin on Monday, April 22, 2024. Fremont Street from Starin Road to Lauderdale Drive will be closed to through traffic. The intersection of Starin Road and Fremont Street will remain open to traffic; however, the intersection of Lauderdale Drive and Fremont Street will be closed to traffic. Work in this portion of the project includes replacement of sanitary sewer mains and laterals, replacement of water mains and laterals, storm sewer improvements, replacement of sidewalk, curb and gutter, and new asphalt pavement. The project also includes work to abandon, in place, sanitary sewer and water mains that run under Treyton Field.

Phase II of the Fremont Reconstruction Project will begin later this summer. During work on Phase II, Fremont Street will be closed to thru traffic from Starin Road to Whitewater Creek. Work includes the pulverizing of existing asphalt, new asphalt pavement, and ditch work between Lauderdale Drive and Whitewater Creek. The intersections of Schwager Drive and Fremont Street and Burr Oak Drive and Fremont Street will also be closed to traffic during this phase. Additionally, there will be periodic closures of the Starin Road and Fremont intersection to facilitate curb and gutter replacement and repaving of the intersection.
Fremont Street from Starin Road to Whitewater Creek is tentatively scheduled to be open to traffic by September 1, 2024.

If you have any questions please contact Brad Marquardt, Director of Public Works.
Brad Marquardt
Director of Public Works
(262) 473-2239
Bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov

The City of Whitewater is sad to share the resignation of Judge Patrick Taylor. Judge Taylor has served the community with distinction, dedicating five years to upholding justice as a municipal judge. We thank him for his service and are excited for him on his new adventure.

In light of this resignation, the City of Whitewater is actively seeking qualified candidates to fill the vacant position of judge. Applications are now being accepted and will remain open until April 26th. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit their letter of intent, resume, and three references promptly to be considered for this vital role in our community.

Following the application deadline, candidates selected for consideration must attend a special council meeting scheduled for May 1st at 6:00 p.m. At this meeting, candidates will have the opportunity to participate in interviews conducted by the Common Council and the Council will appoint a judge that night. Our intent is that the newly appointed judge will have the opportunity to attend New Municipal Judge Orientation, May 7-10, 2024 in Appleton.

A special election for the municipal judge will be held on November 5 together with the Presidential Election. The successful candidate will be expected to complete the unexpired term which ends in April, 2026.

Qualified individuals interested in applying for the position of Judge in the City of Whitewater must submit their application to the Chief of Staff, Becky Magestro at bmagestro@whitewater-wi.gov Any questions, please call at 262-473-0101.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the city of Whitewater. Per state statute, a qualified candidate must be an elector in the city. Although municipal judges are generally attorneys, it is not a legal requirement of the city.
A previous post regarding the resignation of Patrick Taylor may be viewed here.

Landmark Trek has found out, through its own investigation, that our Whitewater Landmarks were not originally delivered to the city of Whitewater by the stork. On the contrary, there is an organization in Whitewater that actually takes care of this work. The details are in the new Landmark Trek video below – take a gander!

Reynolds’ Rummage Sale
12240 E. Bradley Road
Whitewater, WI
Friday April 19th. 9-6pm.   Sat. April 20th. 9-2pm
Rain or shine!
A lot of like new/new in the box Baby gear, 2-12” girl’s bikes, Lg. galvanized outdoor pots, adult clothes, dishwasher, household items and decorations!

A Banner Service: Garage Sale Ads

As a result of a reader’s comment that it’s hard to find garage sales in Whitewater now that we no longer have a weekly shopper, the Banner staff agreed to begin a complimentary “consolidated” garage sale posting that will be published by Thursday morning for the upcoming weekend’s sales. This announcement will only be for garage sales (a sale of miscellaneous household goods, often held in the garage or front yard of someone’s house) in the city and school district boundaries. We will not be accepting, for example, ads for cars or other items that are not part of a scheduled garage sale. There will be a limit of three times per year for a particular property. 

Those wishing to place a notice must send the information to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com by Wednesday at 6 p.m. You may include a brief description of the items that are for sale, the hours and days of the sale, and of course your address. A few photos may also be included if desired; we prefer jpg format if possible.

Update at 12:30 p.m. on 4/18: On April 18 the Rock County Sheriff’s Office reported that one of the adult female passengers of the van who was medically transported from the crash had succumbed to her injuries in the early morning hours of that day. The identity of this victim will be released later. The investigation is still ongoing.

On April 17 the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Office released the names of the persons who were pronounced deceased on the scene of a crash involving three motor vehicles on April 13, 2024. The crash occurred at the intersection of US Highway 12 and East County Line Road. Further details about the incident may be found in this article on the Whitewater Banner.

Preliminary results of the forensic examinations found that the following people died from injuries sustained in the crash:

Jeffrey Turnipseed, 67, Whitewater
Ericka Berg, 38, Whitewater
Jamie Ranguette, 39, Whitewater

It was indicated that additional testing is underway and that the incident is still under investigation by the Rock County Sheriff’s Department and the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Department.

“The Sweet Science of Bruising” by Joy Wilkinson, directed by Sara J. Griffin, brings you into the world of women’s underground boxing in London, 1865. 

Follow the lives of four courageous women as they step into the ring to fight for their independence, dignity, and empowerment. With heart-pounding action, compelling characters, and a thrilling blend of athleticism and drama, this extraordinary production puts the fight for equality center stage. Don’t miss your chance to witness the raw power of resilience and the triumph of the human spirit in this knockout theatrical event!

This play contains scenes depicting domestic violence and discussion of female circumcision that some may find troubling. It is intended for adult audiences and mature sensibilities.

Friday, April 19 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, April 20-21 – 2:00 p.m.
Thurs., Fri., & Saturday, April 25, 26 & 27 – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available in advance through Ticket Services. Adults – $17, Age 65+ – $15, Under 18 – $12. There is a $2.00 surcharge for tickets purchased at the event.

Purchase Tickets Online

Students at WHS achieve the school’s highest ACT scores since 2018-2019

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

Whitewater High School juniors have achieved the highest composite ACT score the school has reached since 2018-2019. They achieved an average composite score of 19.1 as compared to a composite average score of 17.2 last year, an 11% increase year over year. The 2024 state average composite score is 19.4. 27% of the WHS students met or exceeded three or more college readiness benchmark scores—an 8% increase from the previous year.

This celebration did not come without work and a plan. This year, the WHS staff implemented a three-pronged campaign with students to address skill development, attendance improvement, and test preparation tools. Utilizing a College Equipped Readiness Tool (CERT) program, which took the guesswork out of establishing benchmark scores, it allowed staff to focus on areas of improvement to set student improvement goals, and gave students individualized assessment practice where they needed it. WHS also emphasized the importance of attendance, working with families to eliminate barriers in getting to school, and implemented an exam exemption incentive plan that students could achieve by setting personal improvement goals.

“Our students’ outstanding performance on the 2024 ACT is a testament to the innovative spirit around success that we have at the high school; our educators are committed to continuous improvement,” said Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty, Superintendent of the Whitewater Unified School District. “We proudly celebrate their academic success and commitment to reaching their full potential.”

The ACT is an in-person assessment designed to measure the academic readiness of 11th-grade students in English, math, reading, science, and writing. The ACT provides benchmarks to categorize students as college-ready or below college-ready. Students can use their ACT scores for various purposes, including college admission, scholarships, course placement, and even NCAA eligibility.

More information about the ACT in Wisconsin is available at https://dpi.wi.gov/assessment/act.

Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.

The Whitewater community has the opportunity to help fill the shelves of local food pantries to serve those in need on Saturday, May 11. There are two ways to donate food and help our hungry neighbors.

– For more than 30 years, USPS has conducted an annual nationwide food drive on the second Saturday of May- the largest one-day food drive in the country.  In Whitewater, the food drive is supported by the Hunger Task Force to help the Whitewater Food Pantry. Residents will be receiving postcards and/or plastic bags in the mail as a reminder of the food drive. Just put your nonperishable contribution in or near your mailbox on Saturday, May 11, and your mail carrier will take the food to the Whitewater Food Pantry. Questions? Laurie Giorno, lead volunteer in Whitewater, can be reached at 262-903-9416. 

– The Community Space in Whitewater has been in operation for just five years, but has already ramped up to give out more than 300,000 pounds of food a year through its collaboration with Feeding America and other organizations and its dozens of volunteers. Whitewater Unites Lives is hosting the food drive at the Community Space this year to help meet the increased demand TCS has experienced. To help, bring your nonperishable donations to TCS on 834 East Milwaukee St., drive around the back, and WUL volunteers will happily collect your donation from your car between 8:30 and 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 11. Questions? WUL co-founder Rosalinda Martinez can be reached at 920-222-0749 and co-founder Marjorie Stoneman can be reached at 414-861-4126.

Suggested donations to both pantries include peanut butter, jelly, individual packets of oatmeal, canned tuna, dried cereal, canned fruits and canned vegetables.   

Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.

For more information about The Community Space, visit their website at communityspacewhitewater.com/

For more information about Whitewater Community Food Pantry, visit facebook.com/WhitewaterFoodPantry/