News & Events

Mark Dorn came across this novel “Spring Splash” scene at the corner of Main and Prairie Streets on May 3. When he sent the photo to the Banner, in addition to “Students study hearty,” Mark added “Boys just wanna have fun.”

Mark gave the following account of his experience catching the photo: “I drove past before Noon and was amused by their sign.  I turned around and parked on Cottage and walked over.  I asked them if I could take a pic, and they said “Yes.” One young man asked me who I was with, and I told him I’d like to share it with The Whitewater Banner. He asked if it was a paper. Replied it was a website that is considered Whitewater’s daily online paper.  He asked the other guys, and they were OK with it.  After I took the pic, I thanked them, and we shook hands. I was happy and they..umm..were already feeling happy.”

A few hours later a huge crowd of “honorees” was spotted on the fraternity lawn.

Our thanks to Mark Dorn for this fun photo and commentary!

— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share.  Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks for thinking about this!

Editor’s note: It appears that a few appointments are still remaining. See below to view the appointment schedule.

Walworth County Health and Human Services, along with State Farm® and Safe Kids Worldwide, invite families to a free Car Seat Check-Up Event on Wednesday, May 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Community Space in Whitewater. Car seats may be available at no cost for families in need.

This appointment-only event is part of the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program, an initiative aimed at ensuring that children are buckled up safely for every ride. Studies indicate that more than half of child car seats are misused or incorrectly installed, yet a correctly used and installed child safety seat can reduce the risk of injury by as much as 71 percent. To schedule an appointment for this event, visit https://bit.ly/May7seatcheck (click on “get tickets”) or call 262-741-3200. If you can’t make it, families can still have their car seats checked by calling Walworth County Health and Human Services at 262-741-3200 to arrange an appointment.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) is proud to announce the 2025 Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) Exhibition, running from May 1-31, 2025, at the Cultural Arts Center, located at 402 W. Main Street, Whitewater, WI. This exhibition provides artists from across Wisconsin with a platform to showcase their creativity, enhance their skills, and connect with others in the arts community.

WRAP offers a welcoming environment where artists can learn, share ideas, and find inspiration. Regional winners will advance to a statewide exhibit, giving them an even greater opportunity to showcase their talent. The exhibition will feature a variety of artwork, including 3D sculptures, acrylics, oils, and collages. Supporting local artists through programs like WRAP is central to WAA’s mission to foster a thriving arts community.

Also in the gallery at the same time:

About Whitewater Arts Alliance:

The Whitewater Arts Alliance, Inc. is dedicated to supporting, promoting, and developing the arts as an essential and integral part of the community.

Whitewater Arts Alliance / Cultural Arts Center
402 West Main Street
Whitewater, WI, 53190
Phone: 608-201-2151
Email: wwartsalliance@gmail.com Website: whitewaterarts.org
Facebook: facebook.com/wwartsalliance

Gallery Exhibit Hours
Thursdays: 12-4 pm
Fridays: 12-4 pm
Saturdays: 12-4 pm
Sundays: 12-4 pm

Please Note: The gallery is closed outside of Gallery Exhibit Hours except for special events and is also closed when no show is currently running.

This public service announcement serves as a reminder that blowing or depositing grass clippings into any City street is prohibited. Reasons this is not permitted include: 1) Grass clippings, leaves, and other lawn debris can clog storm drains, resulting in street and private property flooding. 2) Storm drains flow directly to local lakes untreated. Grass clippings add unnecessary nutrients, which help feed harmful algae blooms. 3) Clippings can make the street slippery and hazardous for bicyclists and motorcyclists.

Using a mulching mower puts clippings back into the turf and keeps the nutrients where they belong. Should you choose to use a discharging mower, please be sure to point the blower toward your property (away from the street) to prevent clippings from leaving your lawn.

When finished mowing, be sure to use a blower, broom, or rake to clean up any grass clippings or debris that have inadvertently made their way into the street, sidewalk, or storm drain. Mowers may also choose to bag clippings, but they may not be disposed of in the garbage totes. City residents are encouraged to compost clippings on their property or take them to the City’s compost site.

City Code – Chapter 12.08 – STREET OBSTRUCTIONS
Sections:
12.08.010 – Prohibited.
(a) No person, except as provided in Section 12.08.020, shall place, deposit, keep, or cause to be placed,
deposited or kept in or upon any street, alley, gutter, sidewalk or public ground within the limits of this city any
stone, brick, timber, lumber, iron, wood or other material for building, or any wood, snow, rubbish, earth, grass
clippings or lawn debris, or anything or substance whatever; nor shall any person burn or cause to be burned any
such substance in any public street or alley; nor shall any person leave any automobile, truck, trailer, equipment or
other vehicle standing or parked in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, or public ground so as to encumber the
same, or so as to obstruct, impede, or hinder travel thereon; nor shall any person leave, or cause to suffer any box,
barrel, crate, cask, bale, package, merchandise, or other thing to stand, be or remain upon any street, alley,
sidewalk, gutter, or public ground longer than may be actually necessary for the act of delivering or receiving the
same.

(b) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall forfeit and pay a penalty of not less than twenty-
five dollars not more than two hundred fifty dollars, together with the costs of prosecution.

(Ord. 983 §51, 1982; prior code §6.01(1))
(Ord. No. 1759A, § 1, 2-16-2010)

Brad Marquardt
Director of Public Works
bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov

The Annual Whitewater FFA Plant Sale, featuring bedding plants, hanging baskets, and vegetables, will be held May 5th – 10th. The hours Monday through Friday will be from 8 am – 4 pm. On Saturday the hours are 9 am – 12 pm. This is a good event to support our local FFA chapter for the many events that they sponsor. The plant sale will be at the Whitewater High School, at door 32 behind the shop at the green house. The address is 534 S Elizabeth St.

By Sherry Stanek
Member, Urban Forestry Commission

The 4th Annual Community Tree Sale was held Arbor Day weekend as in past years, and for a change, we didn’t have a Nor’easter or any blizzards! The weather was seasonal and hundreds of people came to browse and buy native trees and shrubs that can’t be found easily in the area and were grateful to find them in Whitewater! Many of the buyers have been to one or more of our earlier sales and several said they’d see us again next year!

This year more than 350 native trees and shrubs were purchased! Several people asked why Whitewater’s Urban Forestry Commission holds this sale, and we explained that local pollinators and birds need native plants, shrubs and trees to survive, and we all need pollinators and birds! This is our effort to increase awareness of this fact and to make it easier for people to find native plants that they often aren’t able to find at big box stores and outlets nearby so that they can add native plants to their landscapes. The few that don’t sell each year are planted at Starin Park as we work to expand the Arboretum there. Thanks to these sales, more than a thousand native trees and shrubs have been added to our area on private land! Thanks to our City Foresters for increasing the numbers of native trees planted on city streets and in our parks each year. Because of their work and dedication, Whitewater is one of the MOST diverse Tree Cities in the entire state of Wisconsin! And that’s a big deal! If another pest like Emerald Ash Borer shows up here like it did a few years ago, we won’t lose so many of our city street and park trees because of the wide variety of trees in our urban forest!

Thank you to all of the many volunteers, city staff and, of course, our customers, who make this possible. It couldn’t happen without all of you!! And a special thank you to the Whitewater Middle School Show Choir members who helped us celebrate another year of being a Wisconsin Tree City!

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. In honor of May Day (OK, it was yesterday), here is a photo of some Whitewater Normal School (UWW) students participating in a May Day pageant around 1920. A few years ago we posted a photo of these same students around a May pole, so we know that this photo is related to that celebration. During the twentieth century, May Day was celebrated as a spring festival by many young people. Happy Spring!

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

(5394PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

Gov. Evers Orders the Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Firefighters of Wisconsin Who Have Given Their Lives in the Line of Duty

Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #258 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sun., May 4, 2025, as a mark of respect for the firefighters of Wisconsin who have given their lives in the line of duty.  “Our firefighters have selflessly dedicated their lives to service and to ensure Wisconsinites across the state are safe and secure, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year,” said Gov. Evers. “On behalf of the state, we recognize and thank all members of our firefighting communities for their brave service and sacrifice and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of safety and serving their fellow neighbor.” Executive Order #258 orders the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sun., May 4, 2024, in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Gov. Evers proclaimed May 3-4, 2025, as National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. The governor’s proclamation is available here.  On Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial in Wisconsin Rapids will hold the Final Alarm Ceremony honoring the memory of members of Wisconsin’s fire services who have given their lives in the line of duty. Executive Order #258 also orders the flags to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, in honor of that occasion.   Finally, in Wisconsin, Wis. Stat. 995.225(1) designates each week annually during which October 9th falls as Fire Prevention Week and the Saturday at the end of Fire Prevention Week as Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day. To that end, Executive Order #258 orders the flags be lowered on Sat., Oct. 11, 2025, in honor of Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day during Fire Prevention Week.