Police Chief & City Manager Grateful for Increased ’24 Funding for Police Dept.

To the Members of the Whitewater Community,

We, Chief of Police Dan Meyer and City Manager John Weidl, are jointly writing to express our deep gratitude to the elected officials of the Whitewater Common Council and the larger Whitewater community for the recent decision to invest an additional $120,000 in the Whitewater Police Department for the year 2024. This specific investment is earmarked to fully fund our staffing study strategy and make immediate technological improvements that seek to alleviate pressure on our existing workforce until we can thoroughly assess the staffing needs of the entire police department next year.

This investment comes at a critical juncture, as we are witnessing significant demographic changes within our city, alongside escalating pressures on our existing law enforcement resources. We want to assure you that this augmentation of resources is not something we take lightly. Together, we are committed to ensuring that these resources are utilized strategically and effectively to address these emerging challenges.

One of our primary objectives is to enhance our department’s ability to proactively police and adapt to changes in our community. We are dedicated to achieving this in a manner that is objective, measurable, and sustainable over the long term. Nothing is more important to us than the safety and welfare of the residents, students, businesses, employees, and visitors in our community. In line with this, we are introducing new levels of accountability, objectivity, and follow-through in our operational planning.

Part of our strategy includes improving our technological capabilities. We have already invested in three Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, which are proving to be invaluable investigative tools. With the additional funding, we plan to add nine more cameras, ensuring comprehensive coverage throughout the city. Additionally, future investments will include advancements in language translation, mental health, and new arrival-related services, enhancing our ability to communicate and effectively serve all community members. This is a critical step in ensuring inclusivity and accessibility in our law enforcement efforts, matching the diversity in needs of the community.

Furthermore, we are taking steps to bridge the gap created by reduced revenues coming from the State of Wisconsin and University in relation to the police and dispatch services we provide (reductions totaling over $400,000 in 2024). This is an essential part of our strategy to maintain high-quality services without compromising our commitment to community safety or reducing our ability to serve and protect State owned property and the University population.

Understanding the necessity of proper staffing, we have initiated the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for a law enforcement staffing study with an outside firm, funded in advance by the Common Council. The findings of this study, expected by the first quarter of 2024, will guide our future steps, including the possibility of a referendum for law enforcement services. We are also financially prepared to go through the referendum process if the recommended staffing measures exceed the governing body’s ability to implement solutions. This demonstrates our strategic foresight and readiness to follow through with the likely outcomes as well as our commitment to engage the taxpayers of the community in the process.

Bottom line: our staff remains dedicated to providing proactive and efficient law enforcement services based on objectively assessed needs and embracing the diversity of services required across the City of Whitewater. We are thankful for the Common Council’s support in this endeavor and deeply appreciate the ongoing support from our residents as we strive to meet the evolving needs of our community. We ask for your patience and understanding as we work to build a Whitewater that everyone is proud to call home.

Most importantly, together, we pledge to bring about a safer, more secure Whitewater.

Respectfully,
Dan Meyer, Chief of Police
John S. Weidl, City Manager

Winter Parking Hours Are Now in Effect

Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by the City of Whitewater Department of Public Works. November 1 begins at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.

The City of Whitewater would like to remind everyone that winter parking hours go into effect on November 1, 2023.

It is unlawful for the operator or owner of any vehicle to park the vehicle on any street in the City between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on any day from November 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024, except as hereinafter provided:

  • Physicians and surgeons shall be permitted to park vehicles at any time when the physician is on emergency call.
  • Parking shall be permitted in the downtown parking area after 5 a.m. of such period.
  • By special advance arrangement with the Public Works Director.

    Any person who violates the provisions of this ordinance shall be subject to the penalties and provisions set forth in Sections 11.56.010(4) and 11.56.010(5) of the Municipal Code.

Water Utility Personnel Working on Valves on Far West Side

Valve Opening💦

Residents of Whitewater, we’re informing you that the Water Utility has begun operating distribution valves and fire hydrant auxiliary valves across the City. This is in order to comply with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Public Service Commission regulations. Please be aware of crew members in the road while driving in certain areas between Walworth and West Main Streets, Indian Mound Parkway, and Elizabeth St. If you experience discoloration with your water after the operation, let it run until it clears. 

Editor’s note: The above announcement was posted to the city Facebook page.

Obituary: Richard Reinhold Glombowski, 81, Milton

Richard Reinhold Glombowski, 81, Milton, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at Sienna Crest Memory Care in Fort Atkinson, WI.

Richard was born on December 12, 1941, in Canada to Rudolph and Ida (Somerfeld) Glombowski. He received his education in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. On May 28, 1966, Richard married Ruth Blager in Moose Jaw. Together they traveled the world with his careers, working for the Canadian Government in the North Pole, missionary work in Brazil and then for the Ottawa, Ontario government. His hobbies and experiences were just as expansive as an airplane pilot, designing and building homes, college teacher, electronics engineering technologist, ran the heart machine during open heart surgery, and taught electronics in Moose Jaw, SK. Richard and Ruth have lived in Milton since 2019, Whitewater for 14 years prior and various cities all over the world before that. They were members of Faith Community Church in Fort Atkinson.

He is survived by his wife Ruth, Milton; daughters Michele Unger, Milton, and Jaclyn Engele, Whitewater; grandchildren Bree and Emma Unger, Holland and Anais Engele. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ewald and sister Erna.

There will be no services at this time. Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater is assisting the family.

Palmyra-Eagle School District Opening a Montessori School

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Palmyra-Eagle Area School District.

Palmyra-Eagle Area School District is very excited to be opening up a Montessori School and Daycare in the Palmyra Elementary building this fall. We are looking forward to providing this educational option, along with offering a daycare for younger children and wrap-around care for students. Montessori Schooling is a method of education that is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play.

Palmyra-Eagle Montessori School will have a classroom for students in 3K-5K and also one for 1st-3rd grade. The Montessori School calendar will run the same timeline as the whole district, and the daycare will run year round. There is no cost for school-aged students to attend the Montessori School. Daycare will be $56 for a full day, and $29 for half of a day. Wraparound Care will be $11 per day for just AM or PM and $14 for both AM and PM. Families who enroll more than one child will be eligible to receive a 5% discount as well.

More information is to come in the very near future, follow Palmyra-Eagle Area School District on Facebook or visit www.peasd.org to stay up to date!

WHS Players Presents Beauty & the Beast – Thurs. – Sun.

There’s no better way to start the holiday season than by taking in a performance of the Whitewater High School Players production of the beloved Disney classic, “Beauty and the Beast,” that showcases the talents of nearly 70 actors, stage crew members, and musicians. 

Jim McCulloch and Liz Elliot serve as Directors, Kat Dunham is the Scenery Construction Coordinator, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Theatre major Taytum Adkins is the Choreographer, and Justin Kamp is Conductor of the pit band.

Performances in the Whitewater High School Auditorium will be Nov. 17, 18, and 19 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 19 and 20 at 2:00 p.m.

General admission tickets ($7 for students and $10 for adults) can be reserved by calling 262-472-8178 or in person at the Book Teller in downtown Whitewater.  Tickets also are available an hour before the performances.

“Beauty and the Beast” tells the story of a “beast” who captures a young woman, Belle, in an attempt to gain her love, so he can shed his monstrous form. It’s filled with lovable characters and singalong songs.

“Beauty and the Beast” (“La Belle et la Bête”) was written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740 in “La Jeune Américaine et les contes marins” (“The Young American and Marine Tales”).  It has been prominent in books, on the stage, and in movies ever since.

About thirty minutes before the curtain rises, there will be a “pre-show” of Tom Ganser’s photos from WHS Players productions of “The Little Mermaid” (2019), “Summer Shorts” (2021), and “Footloose” (2021).

In addition to the regular performances, there will be a special “Be Our Guest” Tea Party on November 19th at 12:30 p.m.  Come dressed as your favorite Disney character, enjoy some sweets and treats in the enchanted castle, get your picture taken with some of the cast, and take home a souvenir teacup. Tickets are $10 per child. Adult chaperones are free. Seating is limited and reservations for this event are required by calling 262-472-8178.

This production of “Beauty and the Beast” will participate in the Madison Overture Center’s Jerry Awards program that encourages, recognizes, and honors excellence in high school musical theater.

Hayleigh Pond is an 8th grader at Whitewater Middle School and takes to the stage as a villager and as a piece of silverware in “Be Our Guest.”  She said, “Even a spoon is important, so that means even if you are not popular or known, you are still a big part of life.”

Skylar Staebler, a senior at WHS, has been in many productions throughout her years in Whitewater.  In “Beauty and the Beast,” she takes on one of the leading roles as Belle.

“I love the resilience and strong, independent nature of Belle. I am a very independent person and think that I can connect well to Belle’s standards. I am not as proper or ‘princess’ like Belle, but I think my hard work and love of stories make up for it. I often find myself daydreaming and living in the world of music like Belle’s love of books.”

Staebler concludes, “I’ve truly loved bringing the world of Belle to life and can’t wait for an audience to see all the hard work the cast and crew have done.”

Joshua Kirley, also a WHS senior who has been in many theatrical productions, is cast in a leading role as the Beast.  He shared that a challenge for him as the Beast is “portraying my emotions in the songs I sing.”

Asked to compare the Beast to a flavor of ice cream, Kirley said, “I think that Rocky Road suits the Beast, because he’s mean at first but as soon as you get to know him you’ll learn to love him.”

Seniors in the Park Presents Elvis

“Elvis”

Tuesday, September 27, 1 p.m. 

(Biography/Drama/Music)

Rated PG-13; 2 hours, 39 minutes (2022)

The life of music icon Elvis Presley (Austin Butler), his relationship with manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), and Elvis’ love affair with eventual wife, Priscilla. 

Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin awards more than $500,000 for projects involving 10 UW institutions

Editor’s Note: The following was received from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.

In its latest round of funding, the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin has awarded $544,541 for eight projects that will increase research and student training collaborations among 10 UW System universities.

Students will be involved in projects and programs that include expansion of the Wisconsin Agriculture-Water Nexus Network, summer field experiences in western and central Wisconsin, lab and field training in water quality techniques, examination of the economic impact of recreational and commercial fishing, monitoring of the Red Cedar Basin watershed and expansion of the Innovative Weather program.

“Our latest funded projects will create new collaborations and strengthen existing partnerships among the UW institutions and external partners that will further enhance the student experience and prepare undergraduates for careers in Wisconsin’s workforce,” said Marissa Jablonski, executive director for the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin. “We were very pleased that many of the projects will involve students, faculty and staff at multiple universities.”

Freshwater Collaborative funding to date has been awarded to UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-La Crosse, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout, UW-Superior and UW-Whitewater.

Grant descriptions for the latest funded projects are available at https://freshwater.wisconsin.edu/funded-projects-august-2022/

The funding is part of a statewide initiative, backed by the Wisconsin State Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers, to tackle Wisconsin’s grand water challenges and support curriculum development, undergraduate research opportunities, career development and field training experiences for students interested in studying water-related fields at the 13 UW universities.

Startup funding for the Freshwater Collaborative was provided in 2019 by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the UW System. In July 2021, the state legislature and Gov. Evers approved $5 million in the biennial budget to expand the collaborative’s ability to train water professionals and establish Wisconsin as a leader in water-related science and economic growth. The Freshwater Collaborative awarded $3.42 million in March 2022.

Whitewater FFA Officer Camp- Adventure of a Lifetime

Editor’s Note: The following was submitted by Whitewater High School FFA Reporter Katie Gillette.

On Wednesday, July 20th, the Whitewater FFA officers united together at Whitewater High School to embark on an adventure of a lifetime. We departed from Madison Airport and made our way to Denver, Colorado. We arrived at our lodge in Estes Park and were greeted with the amazing Colorado scenery. We knew we were in for a treat when just a half mile away we saw 50+ elk. Thursday, July 21st, we made our way to Rocky Mountain National Park. Our officer team hiked the Emerald Lake trail, which took us about 4 miles and 700 feet in elevation. It was hard to keep moving, as the views were breathtaking. Every step we took looked like a postcard. Later that evening we returned to the lodge to prepare for the upcoming year and events. Friday, July 22nd, our officer team loaded up and traveled to Fort Collins, Colorado. We arrived at “Moutain Whitewater.”

Whitewater FFA Officer team enjoying the beautiful views in Estes Park, Colorado.”

After having lunch and a short safety lesson, we kicked off our Whitewater rafting adventure. We assembled in our rafts and started our voyage. The views were incredible. Along the journey, we spotted many species of wildlife, including rocky mountain goats gazing down at us from a small cliff. Whitewater rafting was an absolute thrill for everyone. Saturday, July 23rd, started at 4:30 A.M. We re-entered Rocky Moutain National Park, hoping to see a moose. Though we were unsuccessful the views once again did not disappoint. Later that morning we set off for Cheyenne, Wyoming, to see the opening of Cheyenne Frontier Days. The rodeo was full of excitement and suspense.

The night was followed by a great performance from Dierks Bentley. Sunday, July 24th, our team finished its annual planning for the upcoming year. We all enjoyed some leisure and bonding time. Later that afternoon we headed into town for some shopping and tourist attractions. Monday, July 25th, we packed up our bags and said goodbye to Estes Park. We traveled to Denver once again and before we knew it we were back in Wisconsin.

Whitewater FFA Officer team enjoying the beautiful views at Emerald Lake Trail in Rocky Moutain National Park. Left to Right: (President) Heidi Sherman, (Secretary) Emily Schmidt, (Reporter) Katie Gillette, (Vice President) Eloise Rohloff, (Treasurer) Owen Heussner,(Sentinel) Sterling Truesdale, (FFA Advisor) Paul Majors

Our trip could not have been possible without the following people: FFA Advisor Paul Majors, FFA Alumni, and Donna Sherman.

We would also like to give an extra thank you to the FFA Alumni and Donna Sherman for their donations and funds for our trip and other events throughout the year.

Whitewater FFA Officer Team at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming.