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Water Utility Personnel Working on Valves on Far West Side

August 30, 2023August 29, 2023

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

August 3, 2023

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

July 19, 2023July 19, 2023

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.

November 16, 2022

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

September 24, 2022

“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

September 30, 2022September 16, 2022

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

September 14, 2022

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.

Job Services Help Desk at the Library

September 24, 2022September 12, 2022

Amanda Abbott, of the Walworth County Job Center, said, “Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA), we can assist eligible individuals in career planning, paying for school, and arranging apprenticeships and work experiences. Even more so, we have funding for supportive services to assist in breaking down the barriers that have kept individuals from getting the job or education that they desire. Most people do not know that these services are available in Walworth County, and we really want to spread the word. In addition, most people don’t know about the assistance available to them just by coming into the Job Center. That being said, we are hoping that in collaboration with local libraries, we can spread the word.”

UW-W Related Tax Exemption Relief Funding Unchanged for a Decade / Lost Tax Estimates Grow by 74%

September 5, 2022August 23, 2022

By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

A state agency report indicates that, if trends continue, a significant increase in the cost of improved Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the city of Whitewater will not result in a sharing of the increased costs by the state on behalf of UW-Whitewater.

A recent ‘Banner’ article highlighted the fact that the increased costs for needed improvements in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) would likely only be absorbed by local taxpayers.

A WI Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) “Information Paper” reveals that the amount of state dollars appropriated for a state program intended to compensate cities for lost property tax revenue due to state buildings not being taxable has remained unchanged for the last decade or more while municipalities’ costs have gone up significantly.

The appropriation for the WI Municipal Services Payments (MSP) program has not changed since 2011 according to a LFB 2021 report. The LFB, which defines itself as a nonpartisan agency says “The intent of the program is to aid in the reduction of local property taxes by making an equitable contribution toward the cost of certain municipally provided services.”

A recent state report on the Municipal Services Payments (MSP) program stipulates that the city of Whitewater will receive only 38.48% of what the program estimates is a fair estimate of the total loss of tax revenue by the city because of state buildings being exempt from municipal property tax.

Whitewater is in the top 10 of Wisconsin communities regarding the annual amount of what the MSP “… calls entitlements, or the. amount of reimbursement earned by each municipality,” according to another nonpartisan group’s recent report. The WI Policy Forum, which traces its roots to what was called the WI Taxpayers Alliance, concluded that “Our analysis found municipalities’ entitlements, for which fire and police are by far the largest components, rose by more than 74% in the last decade.”

The Whitewater Common Council recently committed to having enough paid-on-premises EMS staff to have two ambulances available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Relying primarily on paid-on-call EMS staff in the past often took five minutes or more before an ambulance left the fire station according to a city news release. Often calls were ultimately referred to other agencies which created longer delays.

The city of Whitewater’s projected cost share of incorporating enhanced EMS services as a city department is estimated at $1,100,000 annually. The owner of a $200,000 home in Whitewater will need to pay an additional $105 to $134 each year in added property tax depending on their county of residence.

WFD, Inc., the previous service provider, currently contracts with area towns and those taxpayers are expected to be asked to pay higher taxes to pay for the enhanced level of EMS services. A city of Whitewater news release lists the towns of Whitewater, Cold Spring, Johnstown, Koshkonong, Lima Center and Richmond as currently under contract for fire and EMS services. Town boards in those communities will be asked to collectively increase their contribution for Fire/EMS by an estimated $370,000 per year.

The current proposal for sharing of the additional costs uses a combination of assessed property value for each unit of government and the average number of EMS calls originating from each governmental unit over a five-year time period. There appears to be no way to apply that formula for the 400-acre UW-Whitewater campus and its roughly 11,500 students.

Whitewater’s First International Children’s Day a True Celebration

June 27, 2022May 14, 2022

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives. Tom Ganser took and provided the photos.

The Starin Park Community building was full of families and fun on Saturday, April 30, International Children’s Day. Whitewater hosted its first, free International Children’s Day event on Saturday, April 30 from noon to 4 p.m., and all children were welcome at the Starin Park Community Building and grounds. Events included face-painting, arts and crafts, healthy snack activities, balloon art, chalk art and more. St. Patrick Church offered food for purchase, and music featured Lincoln School’s 5th Grade World Drumming Ensemble, 12-year-old Alondra Valadez, and Marco Wence.

Sponsors and/or partners of the Children’s International Day included the City of Whitewater, The Health Promoters, Kiwanis Whitewater Breakfast Club, The Tree House Child and Family Center, UW-Whitewater Spanish Club, Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services, Whitewater Unified School District, Whitewater Unites Lives, Mexican Consulate of Milwaukee, Urban Forestry Commission, and Working for Whitewater’s Wellness – W3.

Miguel Aranda, Chair of the Children’s International Day, said, “Everywhere I looked children were smiling and enjoying the activities. The weather outside did not hamper the great fun inside. With an estimate of 200 attendees, many thanks to our community for celebrating all children on this wonderful day.”

Photo of Lincoln World Drumming by Tom Ganser

Plans are already underway for International Children’s Day in 2023.

In 1925, International Children’s Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. The represented countries recognized that “mankind owes to the Child the best that it has to give.” Specific goals focused on increasing childhood access to quality education, decreasing unethical child labor practices, and lifting children out of poverty. International Children’s Day is celebrated on different days depending on the country – some dates include June 1st or November 20th. In many Latin American countries, the special day is celebrated on April 30th.

Children’s Day is celebrated similar to Mother’s or Father’s Day. In some countries, teachers suspend lessons and it becomes a day for children to have fun with activities during school and afterwards with their parents. A day the community, from businesses to governments, comes together to advocate for and champion the rights of children and to celebrate the joy they bring to the world.