News

Richard F. James has lived in Whitewater for 42 years.  Many know him because he is the original owner of a 1964 Corvette that is driven in the July 4th parade each year.  Many do not know that Rich served in the Air Force from 1966-69 in Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.  He is very proud of his service.  When he returned from service, many veterans were not honored.  They were criticized for participating in the Vietnam War.  Rich’s life got busy. He got his doctorate, married Marcia, and fathered two sons.  He taught in the College of Business at UW-Whitewater until his retirement in 2007; he continues his UW-Whitewater prairie initiatives as he walks the prairie each day with his Brittany Spaniel.

In 2014, Rich learned that the Badger Honor Flight was accepting Korean War Veterans for flights.  He served as guardian for John Waldman whose wife Lila taught in the same department as Rich.  He finally felt that people had rallied around and supported what the veterans had done for this country.

Although Rich put his name in for a flight for Vietnam veterans, he learned he was on a long list.  However, medical circumstances allowed Rich and another veteran–one from WWII–to be on a corporate jet donated by Dan and Patti Rashke of the TASC Family Foundation that departed Madison at 7 a.m. December 2.  Whitewater High School Graduate (1999) Griffin James served as his dad’s guardian.

After a short ceremony attended by John and Lila Waldman, long-time friend Dee Simon, and Rich’s wife Marcia, Richard and Griffin boarded the corporate jet.  They spent the day touring the Marine Corps, Air Force, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam Veterans, and Lincoln Memorials.  They were also to go to Arlington National Cemetery to view the changing of the guard ceremony. 

Pictured are Richard and Griffin James.  Griffin is Baraboo High School’s band director.  He is married and has two sons.

The Whitewater Area Regional Ministries of the United Methodist Church and
friends will be presenting their Christmas Cantata, “Holy Light,” this
Sunday, December 8 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  The cantata, arranged by Robert
A. Hobby, will be presented at the First United Methodist Church, 145 S. Prairie Street in
Whitewater.  This beautiful service of traditional carols and narration
will be accompanied by brass and percussion from UW-W, and James Athas
on organ and piano.  Featured soloists are: Barb Athas, Mary Baas, Jen
Crone, Nathan Roley, Barb Taylor and Kim Taylor.  There is also a featured host of
children’s voices on two selections.  Narrators are The Rev. Susan
Bresser and The Rev. Phil Blackwell.  This festive group is directed by
Christine Hayes.  The performances are free of charge.

WHITEWATER, WISCONSIN, December 2, 2019 – Parade week has finally arrived! Volunteers and staff at Downtown Whitewater, Inc have been working furiously behind the scenes again this year to light up the night sky to celebrate the holiday season. The snowflakes are up downtown, the trees have been strung with lights and we’re ready to celebrate with our community. Join us for activities beginning at 4 p.m. on December 6, 2019.

This year’s parade theme is Peace on Earth. Entries have been pouring in for the last 6 weeks or so and we’re looking at another festive and good sized parade. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the extra special guest at the end of this year’s parade in his beautiful new suit. Thank you to downtown business 70×7 Trends for her beautiful work!

There are activities that are not to be missed, so please make sure that you check out the locations listed in the timeline below before and after the parade to continue the fun. We’ll have a Selfie Sleigh right at the corner of 1st and Main to capture holiday memories and the beloved s’mores station right across from there. Don’t forget to wander into all of your favorite downtown locations before the parade or into your favorite restaurant to warm up afterwards.

4 to 5:30 pm Santa at First Citizens State Bank
4 to 8 pm Open House at the Book Teller – Click here for details: https://facebook.com/events/s/parade-of-lights-holiday-open-/459946704643048/?ti=cl
5 to 6 pm Goody Bag pickup at Dale’s Bootery (many thanks to our local Daisy Scouts for helping put these together!)
5 to 6 pm Craft time at the Discover Whitewater Offices
5:30 pm Story time at the Book Teller
5 to 6 pm S’mores just outside the Discover Whitewater Offices
6 pm Parade (Parade route is Main/Whiton to Main/Whitewater around the corner onto Whitewater and ends at the SweetSpot Cafe)
After the parade – Chili dinner at Living Word Fellowship

We are incredibly grateful to a great group of sponsors for this year’s event and are so fortunate that they are part of this community: First Citizens State Bank, Whitewater Veterinary Hospital, the Book Teller, LSP Whitewater, Whitewater Family Dentristry, and Cabinets & Design by Cozette.

About the organization:
Downtown Whitewater, Inc. is a volunteer-driven organization spearheading community efforts to re-energize and enhance our historic downtown. We are community advocates and volunteers who share a passion for Whitewater. We bring people from all walks of life together to celebrate Whitewater’s history and traditions, to care for our downtown neighborhood, and to inspire confidence and investments that are flowing toward an economically vibrant, engaging and exciting place in the heart of Whitewater – a place we love, a place we’re proud to call home, and a place where future generations can grow and take pride in calling their own.

For more information contact:
Lisa Dawsey Smith
Board President, Downtown Whitewater, Inc.
ldawsey06@gmail.com | (262) 510-4183 – Cell

Sarah Liedtke
Associate Director
director@downtownwhitewater.com | (262)473-2200

It’s been two years since The (Janesville) Gazette gifted us with this video of “Whitewater From Above.”

Per their description, it includes: Watching the sunrise from Lake Cravath. A wet and muddy hike through Natureland Park. The first snowfall of the season on campus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1r4qrQ8EoQ&feature=youtu.be

Check out a different view of our beautiful city, with thanks to The Gazette.

A Holiday Season program of three classic TV shows; 2 hours in length. When: Tuesday, December 10, 12:30 p.m. Where: Seniors in the Park

Movie Information:  From December 24, 1955: “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” a Honeymooners version of “The Gift of the Magi,” originally telecast live, in black-and-white;

“An Old Fashioned Christmas,” telecast December 21, 1966, in color: Oliver Wendell Douglas shocks Hooterville by chopping down a real tree for Christmas; and

“The Johnny Cash Christmas Special’” telecast November 30, 1977, featuring June Carter Cash, The Statler Brothers, Roy Clark, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Taped at The Grand Ole Opry, Nashville. 

At an election to be held in the City of Whitewater on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the incumbents listed. (Note: all incumbents are eligible for re-election.) The term for Council member offices listed below begins on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 and expires April 19, 2022.

OFFICE INCUMBENT

Council member, District 2 Matthew Schulgit

Council member, District 4 Lynn Binnie

Council member, at large James D. Allen

Information pertaining to district boundaries and nomination procedures may be obtained from City Clerk Michele Smith at 312 W. Whitewater Street or msmith@whitewater-wi.gov.

The first day to circulate nomination papers is Sunday, December 1, 2019, and the final day for filing nomination papers is Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 5:00 p.m. in the office of the City Clerk.

If a primary is necessary, it will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

The Presidential Primary will also take place on April 7.

On the same date, an election will take place for 3 School Board members. The incumbents for those seats are Miguel Aranda, Casey Judd, and Steve Ryan. Information pertaining to nomination procedures may be obtained from the District Office,  419 South Elizabeth St. Whitewater, WI 53190, Phone: 262-472-8700. The first day to circulate nomination papers is Sunday, December 1, 2019, and the final day for filing nomination papers is Tuesday, January 7, 2020, in the School District office.

This year Whitewater senior Josie Ann Hintz, daughter of Carrie and David Hintz, was chosen as Whitewater High School’s Good Citizen.  She was chosen for this honor based on her Scholarship, Dependability, Leadership, and Service to her school and community.

Her leadership ability can be seen throughout her various school activities. She is in the French Honor Society where she has served as President, Secretary, Treasurer and Event Coordinator over the years.  Also, she has been French Club president as well as Co-President of Student Council.  Josie is the FBLA Event Coordinator and received her school’s “Jerry Award” for Outstanding Stage Management.  Her other activities include WHS Ringers, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, WHS Marching Band and National Honor Society. She has volunteered as a LEAD dog for the freshman class. One of her teachers said of Josie, “She works with diligence and grace whether on the tennis court or soccer field or as she leads meetings for the French Club.”

Academically, Josie is in the top 5% of her class and has taken Advance Placement courses in Calculus, English Language and English Literature. One of her teachers described Josie as, “organized and intelligent, focused and enthusiastic, and a team-player and leader.”

In school, Josie has volunteered for food drives and blood drives. She has volunteered for the Middle School musicals and as a backstage director for the plays at high school. Also she volunteers her time at her church.  She went on a mission trip to Michigan where she worked with Habitat for Humanity.  This summer she will be going to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana.

Josie’s immediate educational goal is to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in exercise science with minors in psychology and nutrition.  Her future plans include a doctoral degree in physical therapy and her life goal is to have an active life where she will continue to give back to the community.

Josie will be honored by the Fort Atkinson-Eli Pierce Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution along with the other area Good Citizens at a reception March 5^th at the Hoard Museum.  One of the seven area Good Citizens will be chosen in December to represent the Chapter at the State Good Citizen competition in January.

The WHS Computer Programming Team competed at the annual Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Opportunity Conference Computer Programming Competition on Friday, November 22. Twelve students including Colin Chenoweth, Brian Apgar, Arno Crowley, Shawn Chan, Gwynne Sahyun, Morgan Stillwagon, Broderick Frye, Cody Rupke, Nikole Pelot, Andy Vo, Elijah Grall, and Reilly Aschenbrener were given 2.5 hours to solve 9 problems of varying difficulty using Java. Ten of the Whitewater participants have completed or are currently enrolled in AP Computer Science A; the other two participants are in their first semester of computer programming. The students enjoyed a new venue for the competition as MSOE has just opened a brand new computer science building, Diercks Hall, and the competition was held in the shadow of their new supercomputer, ROSIE.

The three Whitewater teams competed against 48 teams from 20 other schools from southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois including Brookfield Central, Cary-Grove, Janesville Craig, Crystal Lake Central, Grafton, Homestead, Marquette, Menomenee Falls, Milton, Neuqua Valley, New Berlin West, New Berlin Eisenhower, Janesville Parker, Prairie Ridge, Rufus King, Shorewood, Stoughton, University School of Milwaukee, Waukesha County Home School, and Whitefish Bay. University School of Milwaukee came out on top with Neuqua Valley securing both second and third place. The top two Whitewater teams finished in 15^th and 26^th.