News

Diane Jaroch assumed the directorship of the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on an interim basis November 26, 2023, upon the resignation of long-time director Stacey Lunsford, who took a position in Minnesota. The Library Board subsequently appointed her to the position on a permanent basis effective January 29, 2024.

Diane provided the Banner with the following biography and thoughts.

“I began my career working in libraries while attending Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL, where I worked for four years in the Slide Library within the Art History Department. My undergraduate degree was in Art History, so that was the perfect fit for me. After graduation, I accepted a position at Columbia College in Chicago, where I worked in the Audiovisual Department of the library for seven years, cataloging art and photography slides. I made the transition to public libraries in 1990 and received my MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1995. Before coming to the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library, I worked at the Kenosha Public Library, Deerfield Public Library, Monona Public Library, and then at the Watertown Public Library, where I held the position of Library Director for two years.

Before accepting the position of library director, I was the assistant library director here at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library for the past thirteen and a half years. I am very excited to be the new director at a time when our library is beginning an expansion and renovation project. The response to our capital campaign by the community was overwhelming. It’s wonderful to know that the library is such a valued resource in the Whitewater community. The new library will offer more space and features where people can connect, read, learn, create and feel welcome. There will be 4,400 square feet of additional space and the current space will be redesigned to be more welcoming and accommodating. Construction is expected to begin in July of 2024, with an anticipated completion date of October 2025.”

Virginia Coburn points out part of her collection of Fiesta Ware at last year’s Whitewater
Collects.

The Tenth Annual Whitewater Collections will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 12 to 3 p.m. at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center, located at 341 S. Fremont Street in Whitewater (Whitewater Street, behind the arch). This event is free and open to the public.

In years past, collections displayed included temperance memorabilia and whiskey nippers, barbershop memorabilia, sock monkeys, vintage Planters Peanuts memorabilia, antique perfume bottles, political memorabilia, neckties, vintage model airplane kits and models, and antique Copper Lustre. This year’s collections promise to be equally eclectic and intriguing!

Visitors can also receive free verbal professional evaluations of value (limit: two items) from noted auctioneer, Carol Miller. Ms. Miller is the owner of Bailey’s Honor Auction and Estate Services, LLC. and conducts the biennial fundraising auction for the Friends of the Wisconsin State Historical Society.

This event is sponsored by the Whitewater Historical Society. Everyone is invited to come enjoy their neighbors’ fascinating collections and learn what their treasures are worth.

For more information, please contact Jan Goder at jgoder1976@gmail.com or (262) 949-0644.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Here is the third view of a band in a mid-20th century parade coming down Main Street. This view shows the west end of the downtown with Hackett’s Grocery on the left side. But, note the three large houses at the top left of the photo. They would all be demolished soon for the First Citizens State Bank building and the gas station that shared the block. Given the vintage of the cars in the photo, I wonder if this was a World War II “victory” parade. Does anyone know?

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

3729P, Whitewater Historical Society

The Universities of Wisconsin has unveiled a new one-stop, easily searchable website that provides access to and information about every fully online degree program being offered at the constellation of 13 public universities. 

Wisconsin Online – with the URL online.wisconsin.edu – will list the more than 200 fully online programs offered by the 13 universities, including 10 associate, 99 bachelor’s and 95 master’s degree programs.

Dozens of academic program degrees are showcased through Wisconsin Online, from applied biotechnology to business administration to transportation and logistics management to writing and applied arts.

“This new website makes it easier than ever for Wisconsinites to find an online degree program suitable to their needs,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. “It’s a one-stop-shop that showcases the excellent online education our universities offer, and we anticipate that online.wisconsin.edu will especially appeal to adult learners and traditional-aged students who simply prefer to learn online.”

The online programs featured on the website include those that are semester-based, accelerated semester-based, collaborative multi-campus semester-based, and competency based. Semester-based online programs are similar to traditionally delivered in-person programs with courses delivered over a 15-week semester. The competency-based programs, called the UW Flexible Option or Flex, is a distinct pedagogical approach to teaching and learning that focuses exclusively, and explicitly, on the learner’s ability to demonstrate mastery over defined competencies. While fully asynchronous like the semester-based online programs, the Flex competency-based programs are self-paced.

Students can search for programs by program level, area of interest, or campus. There’s also information about what it means to be an online student as well as specific information for international students, military members, transfer students, and prospective graduate and undergraduate students.

Wisconsin Online enhances the promotion of UW online programs marketed on each UW university’s website by collecting all fully online programs into one easily searchable website. Students wanting to learn more about a particular program can click through to the university’s online program webpage or request more information from the university.

“Online.wisconsin.edu also will allow us to market our programs across the U.S. and internationally,” Rothman said. “The Universities of Wisconsin have a great reputation around the nation and the globe, and we want to make our programs as accessible as possible.”

Wisconsin Online was launched on February 1, and, in the future, the website will point prospective students to online certificates, microcredentials, and other “course-to-career” education offerings that serve Wisconsin’s workforce needs. 

###

The Universities of Wisconsin serve more than 162,500 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the universities are Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The universities provide a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.

Gustav Holst’s The Planets is a monument of the early twentieth century, and our March concert includes two orchestras performing at the same time! The LGSO joins forces with the incredibly gifted musicians of the University of Whitewater Symphony Orchestra, and this special collaboration will take place at Young Auditorium in what will be a not-to-be missed event for the entire region. In addition, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Vaughan Williams, will feature the string sections of both orchestras.

Saturday, March 16, 7:30 p.m. – Young Auditorium, 930 W. Main Street, Whitewater
Tickets: Priority reserved $50; General admission $20; High school and university students are free
Tickets may be purchased online here. There is a $2 surcharge for tickets purchased at the door.

Editor’s note: The following notice was provided by the city clerk.

NOTICE VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT – APRIL 2, 2024

Any qualified elector who is unable or unwilling to appear at the polling place on Election Day may submit a request to
vote an absentee ballot to their municipal clerk. A qualified elector is any U.S. citizen who: will be 18 years of age or
older on Election Day and has resided in the ward or municipality where they wish to vote for at least 28 consecutive
days before the election. The elector must also be registered to vote to receive an absentee ballot. Proof of
identification must be provided before an absentee ballot may be issued.* Refer to www.myvote.wi.gov for more
information

Making application to receive an absentee ballot by mail
Contact your municipal clerk and request that an application for an absentee ballot be sent to you for the primary or
election or both. You may make written application to your municipal clerk for an absentee ballot in person, by mail, by
fax, by email or at MyVote.wi.gov.
Your written request must include: your voting address within the municipality where you wish to vote, the address
where the absentee ballot should be sent, if different from the address above, your signature and copy of your photo
identification*. Refer to www.myvote.wi.gov for more information.

The deadline for making application to receive an absentee ballot by mail is: 5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 28, 2024.

*Voters who are indefinitely confined due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability may not be required to provide photo ID.
If this applies to you, contact the municipal clerk regarding deadlines for requesting and submitting an absentee ballot.

**Special absentee voting application provisions apply to electors who are indefinitely confined, in the military,
hospitalized, or serving as a sequestered juror. If this applies to you, contact the municipal clerk regarding deadlines for
requesting and submitting an absentee ballot.

Voting an absentee ballot in person
You may also request and vote an absentee ballot in the clerk’s office or other specified location during the days and
hours specified for casting an absentee ballot in person. Refer to www.myvote.wi.gov for more information.

Municipality Clerk
City of Whitewater Heather Boehm
262-473-0102
312 W Whitewater St
Whitewater
Mon – Fri 8 am–4:30 pm

The first day to vote an absentee ballot in the clerk’s office is: Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
The last day to vote an absentee ballot in the clerk’s office is: Friday, March 29, 2024
No in-person absentee voting may occur on the day before the election. The municipal clerk will deliver voted ballots returned
on or before Election Day to the proper polling place or counting location before the polls close on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Any
ballots received after the polls close will not be counted. Refer to www.myvote.wi.gov for more information.

Editor’s note: Photos and report courtesy of Tom Ganser

The Whitewater High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) sponsored a donkey basketball night on March 7. There were two games, each having two 8 minute halves.  

Game One 
WHS staff in light blue vs East Troy HS FFA in green.
WHS = 12  East Troy = 8

Game Two 
WHS FFA in purple vs Milton HS FFA in pink
WHS = 6  Milton = 4

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Public Library.

Winter sowing is a way to start flower and vegetable seeds outside during winter using little greenhouses made from milk jugs. It is an easy and inexpensive way to grow many seedlings that can be transplanted into your garden when the weather gets warmer, no hardening off required. You can also use the same technique during Spring and Summer to get even more seedlings to transplant.

In this workshop with Linda Holmes, all the materials will be provided. The community is invited to attend on Tuesday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. After you make your own little greenhouse, you will fill it with soil, plant the seeds of your choice, water it, and tape it shut. Then you will take it home, leave it outside and wait for the exciting results.

The presentation will be held in the library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. There is no cost or registration. This program is for adults; teens are welcome with a participating adult. For additional information, visit the library’s website at www.whitewaterlibrary.org or call 262-473-0530.

According to a press release from UW-Milwaukee dated March 11, “The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee announced today that its UWM at Waukesha campus will close after the Spring 2025 semester in response to a directive from the Universities of Wisconsin. [This follows the news last fall that UW-Milwaukee at Washington County and UW-Oshkosh, Fond du Lac campuses would end in-person instruction by June 2024. Another campus, UW-Platteville-Richland had previously suspended in-person classes and will close.] This also means closing the College of General Studies and ending its associate degree offerings at that time. Declining enrollment, shifting demographics and budgetary constraints led UWM to re-evaluate the best pathway for delivering higher education in Waukesha County.

As part of this transition, UWM and Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) jointly announced plans to develop the UWM University Center at WCTC. The University Center model ensures that students in Waukesha County can obtain a high-quality associate degree from WCTC at a low cost and then seamlessly continue a four-year degree with UWM. It also allows UWM to continue offering affordable higher education in Waukesha County through bachelor’s degree completion and graduate-level offerings.”

In response to the above news, UW-W Chancellor Corey A. King issued the following statement:

UW-Whitewater community,

Today, UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone announced the university’s branch campus in Waukesha will close after the spring 2025 semester. This news naturally raised questions about other branch campuses in Wisconsin.

Earlier this academic year, I composed a message that detailed the multiple successes we’ve achieved, as well as our plan to drive growth and evolve UW-Whitewater at Rock County.

I want to reassure our entire Warhawk community — and especially our students and colleagues at the Rock County campus — our plan has not changed.

The positive enrollment trajectory, vibrancy of academic and co-curricular programs, and strong ties to the community of the Rock County campus make it not only viable, but integral to the region.

I’ll conclude by reaffirming our commitment to investing in our branch campus. The future of URock is bright. And we will continue to provide transformational educational experiences in the Rock County region.

Sincerely,
Corey A. King
Chancellor

Whitewater Fire and EMS, in conjunction with the City of Whitewater Parks and Public Works Departments, will be conducting a controlled burn of several sub units inside the Effigy Mounds Preserve Property on Wednesday, March 13th 2024.

This training opportunity is a dual-purpose event. Conducting live fire exercises in a controlled environment gives our firefighters the experience needed to perform their job functions safely and efficiently when called to an emergency. All of the tools, strategies, and tactics used in a prescribed fire can be applied to suppression activities when we are called to duty in an emergency. Moreover,
the application of prescribed fire will help control invasive plant species and reduce timber litter. Not only does this make the park a pleasant spot for everyone to enjoy, it also reduces the amount of dead vegetation/fuel load to help reduce the chance of a significant fire occurring on the property.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a mild east wind, which should minimize impact to surrounding homes and ensure the fire is kept under control. However, there will be visible smoke/odor in the area. Conditions will be monitored throughout the burn to ensure safety for the surrounding properties and homes. While the road will remain open, please avoid the area on Indian Mound Parkway if possible, as we will have apparatus parked on the road, and firefighters operating about the area. The park will be closed to the public during the burn.

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the City of Whitewater Fire & EMS. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the photo on the homepage by M Barnett from Pixabay. The controlled burn shown is not in Whitewater.