News & Events

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.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Khalil King, 19, was charged on March 12 with armed robbery with threat of force, a Class C felony, in connection with a police report from the BP Station on February 20 at 9:06 p.m. It was indicated that a male entered the gas station, located at 1138 W. Main Street, displayed a facsimile (replica) firearm, and demanded a pack of cigars. The suspect fled in a vehicle. Just over an hour later, officers took King into custody without incident at Knilans Hall on the UW-Whitewater campus. He was released on a $10,000 signature bond with a cash payment of $2000.

According to Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, King’s residence is in Madison. However, on February 22 a search warrant was issued for a room at Knilans Hall. As of March 12, per the UW-W directory, Khalil King was enrolled as a freshman student majoring in psychology.

Upon conviction, a Class C felony is punishable by up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.

Unless a judgment of conviction is entered, the defendant is presumed innocent of all charges.

The highly anticipated Fremont St/Rd reconstruction project is set to begin in April, with private utilities currently relocating in preparation for the project. As part of the preparations, WE Energies is installing a new gas main along the route. It is important to note that although private utility construction has commenced, street construction has not yet begun. The street will remain open to traffic during this phase of the project.

As shown above, the section of Fremont Street from Starin Road to Lauderdale Drive will be reconstructed. Fremont Road from Lauderdale Drive to Whitewater Creek will be pulverized and repaved.

Local residents and commuters are advised to stay tuned for further details as the project gets underway. The Fremont St reconstruction project aims to improve infrastructure and enhance the safety and efficiency of the roadway for all users.

For more information and updates on the Fremont St reconstruction project, please visit www.whitewaterwi.gov or contact 262-473-0101.

Join Cristina Ballatori, UW-W Flute Faculty, and Friends to celebrate Women’s History Month in a program featuring the music of women composers. Thursday, March 14, 7:30 p.m., Light Recital Hall, Greenhill Center for the Arts, 950 W. Main Street

Music Mosaics programs support scholarships for music students.

Tickets may be purchased at this link. Adults are $10, age 65+ and under 16 are $6. Tickets purchased at the door are subject to a $2 each surcharge.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Wild Ones Kettle Moraine Chapter.

While Wisconsin’s Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) leads the way for evaluating climate change impacts on Wisconsin and identifying solutions, much of the research conducted on carbon sequestration has been in natural landscapes and agricultural lands. Intact, diverse ecosystems show the greatest resilience to climate change and can better absorb stress. Furthermore, interconnected ecosystems are critical to ecological health and the ability for flora and fauna to adapt to climate change. Residential ornamental landscapes have potential to sequester carbon, reduce flooding and erosion and enhance biodiversity. As gardeners, our practices are part of the whole landscape system and we can contribute to creating healthy and diverse ecosystems.

In this interactive discussion, we will briefly take a step back to understand the basics of climate and the carbon cycle so we have a common understanding of impacts in Wisconsin and the relationship of gardeners to the changing landscape. Together, we will explore science-guided gardening practices, actions and resources to reduce emissions, better sequester carbon in plant biomass and soil and retain ecological functional values across landscapes. You, as gardeners, no matter your experience or gardening expertise, no matter if you have a large, small or no yard, can help lead the way through sustainable gardening practices to adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

Julie Hill is the Horticulture Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison Division of Extension serving Walworth, Rock and Jefferson Counties. She works with local, regional and statewide partners to provide horticulture education to residents of Walworth, Rock and Jefferson counties and statewide audiences. As a free service to these counties, Julie also provides advice on a variety of lawn, landscape or gardening issues and concerns.

WHEN:  Saturday, March 16. 2024, at 10 a.m.

WHERE:  South Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters, Eagle

      S91W39091 Highway 59; One mile west of Eagle, on Highway 59

Open to the Public.  No admission fee.

Editor’s note:  Monica Los was interviewed by Marjorie Stoneman on behalf of Whitewater Unites Lives.

Every immigration story is unique, and Monica Los’ path to citizenship and living in Whitewater is no different.  Born in Peru, Monica traveled to the United States during the summer to visit family in Boston and as a working student in Lake Geneva during the summer of her law school studies.  After a variety of experiences both in the United States and across the world, Monica’s path has led her to Whitewater, where she and her husband are raising their 11-year-old daughter. 

She is so grateful to the people of Whitewater who have welcomed her and her family, are respectful, willing to help, and care about the community. 

“Whitewater has been very healing,” said Monica.

Monica’s journey began in Peru, where she attended an all-girls school run by German nuns. 

As a law student in Peru, Monica wanted to explore the world, and she ended up choosing Wisconsin, specifically Lake Geneva, for her summer work.

At a resort, she helped with housekeeping and then was promoted to the office because of her great dual-language skills.  As a student there she realized she was making more money than many of the immigrants who lived and worked there.  She learned how to make a bed for the first time and was taught by one of the local immigrant workers.  She later met that same woman through her work at Planned Parenthood. 

Both of Monica’s parents were chemical engineers in Peru and her father a professor, so education was important to them.  Monica met her husband while in Wisconsin, and eventually decided to finish her schooling at UW-Whitewater.  She came to the United States with a ‘fiancé’ visa, and as such they had to interview with an American woman who asked them to prove their relationship was real.  Her fiancé pulled out a stack of calling cards that he had purchased to make the long-distance calls to her and that sealed the deal. 

Monica has two undergraduate degrees, one in political science and one in international studies.  She then went on to earn her master’s degrees in public administration and nonprofit management at DePaul University. 

Because medical costs are so expensive in the United States, Monica would, each year, travel to Peru for checkups and medicine.  One year she had run out of birth control, and found out she could get help from Planned Parenthood.  She made a promise to herself that, “If I can ever do something for them I will totally do that.”  Years later, she ended up as the manager of Planned Parenthood.

“I am on the side of privilege and it is a duty and an honor to represent those who cannot represent themselves,” she said of her work as manager of the Planned Parenthood of Delavan.

She is also aware that the majority of immigrants are focused on work, work and more work.  In many countries, like Nicaragua, people are not allowed to stand up for themselves politically, so it does not come naturally.  She hopes that the people who have lived here for a long time will realize they have a voice and know that they can help make the community stronger.  And she hopes newcomers will realize that they have advocates and people who welcome them into the Whitewater community.

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) 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.