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

ProPublica, a Pulitzer prize winning nonprofit news organization with the tagline, “Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest,” published an article about Whitewater on their website that was initially titled “The Police Chief and the Immigrant” on October 24. Eventually the headline was changed to “What Happened in Whitewater: How immigration is affecting one small Wisconsin city.” It’s a very lengthy article, with over 5700 words. An audio recording that is provided is over 34 minutes long. Normally The Whitewater Banner would print a few quotes from such a piece, but we are honoring ProPublica’s requirement that their articles only be reprinted in their entirety. Photos, however, could not be reprinted. The Banner has used one of their photos on the homepage under the practice of fair use.

The lead author of the article, Melissa Sanchez, is a Chicago-based reporter who focuses on immigration and low wage-workers.  She is the daughter of immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador, and she speaks Spanish. Sanchez and other ProPublica journalists have visited the city over a dozen times since January, conducting many interviews with city staff, long-term residents and recent immigrants. Police Chief Dan Meyer told The Whitewater Banner that he has spoken with Melissa seven or eight times, and “has nothing but good things to say” about her. She really poured a lot of time into her research and writing the article, he said. Meyer felt that his comments were fairly represented in the article, and that “it’s about as balanced” as could be expected. Undoubtedly readers will have varying opinions, and Meyer expressed his view that “opinions need to get out there to make progress.” The Banner’s Facebook page does allow for comments to be made, with the trust that kindness and civility be evidenced. The ProPublica article may be accessed here.

Background

In December, 2023, City of Whitewater Police Chief Dan Meyer composed a letter to President Biden regarding the challenges faced by our relatively small community in serving the estimated 800-1000 immigrants who had arrived, primarily from Nicaragua, beginning in early 2022. Examples were given of the difficulties the Police Department was experiencing in communicating with this Spanish-speaking population, encountering many unlicensed drivers with fake IDs, and investigating some serious crimes. “None of this information is shared as a means of denigrating or vilifying this group of people,” the letter stated, “We know that challenges will come with the addition of any significant number of people to a City. In fact, we see great value in the increasing diversity that this group brings to our community. We simply need to ensure that we can continue to properly serve this group, and the entirety of the City of Whitewater.” The letter was also signed by City Manager John Weidl and Common Council members.

City staff and officials were shocked by how quickly state and national media picked up the story. A number of journalists have contacted them, and in some cases, even visited the city to develop stories that have sometimes included inaccuracies. A presidential candidate even mentioned the city’s challenges. Little governmental assistance has resulted from the plea, although the city was recently awarded a grant totaling $375,000 over three years to assist with the hiring of three additional police officers.

Whitewater Arts Alliance Meat Raffle Fundraiser

Event Date: October 27, 2024, 12-3pm (approximately)

Event Location: Second Salem Brewery, 111 W.Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI

Whitewater,WI – The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) will host a meat raffle fundraiser at Second Salem Brewing Co. on Sunday, October 27, 2024, starting at 12:00pm and ending when all prizes have been distributed, approximately 3:00pm.

The meat raffle will take place throughout the Packer game, with numbered paddles sold for $5 each round, with multiple winners called each round. Prizes include locally sourced meat from Little Red Farms in Whitewater and Wilson Farm Meats in Elkhorn, as well as from Aldi in Whitewater. In addition, there will be a 50/50 cash raffle as well as ticketed bucket raffles for goods donated by numerous local businesses and community members. 

All proceeds from the raffle will directly benefit the Whitewater Arts Alliance, supporting their mission to promote and sustain the arts in our community.

About Second Salem Brewing Co.

Second Salem Brewing Company is a brewpub located on Cravath Lake in historic downtown Whitewater, Wisconsin. Back in the early 20th century, Whitewater earned the moniker “Second Salem” from the locals, owing to its association with witch gatherings around the Witchtower (better known as the Starin Park water tower),as well as eerie incidents, mysterious deaths, and other unworldly occurrences in the lake. These intriguing events, along with the distinctive figures and architecture of that era, constitute a shared history that sets our town apart,offering a trove of captivating tales to infuse into our exceptional brews.

The Whitewater Water Tower
By Carol Cartwright

A question about the Starin Park Water Tower will be on the ballot on November 5. Here is some historical background about the water tower.

The Starin Park Water Tower was built in 1889 as part of the first water system built in Whitewater. It was one of the earliest water towers built in the area, has outstanding stone construction and an original tank, and it was the result of an effort to provide better fire protection and pure drinking water in the city.

In June of 1887, the city entertained a proposal from a private company to build a water system. At the time, most communities only considered a water system to provide water pressure for firefighting. In Whitewater, the Whitewater Register printed a lengthy article on the proposal for a water system and promoted an interesting view, citing sanitary reasons for a waterworks. The article stated that micro-organisms were readily found in water samples in town. As an afterthought, the article also mentioned that a water system was necessary for fighting fires and would result in a reduction of insurance rates.

In a second article in the Whitewater Register, the newspaper noted that private wells were the source of much “enfeebled health and shortened life.” Only a very deep artesian well assured pure water, and that “a careful examination of the subject has convinced the city officials that an artesian well is the best source of supply.”

In the spring of 1889, Gray Brothers of Milwaukee began construction on the waterworks system that included a well at the corner of Fremont Street and what is now Starin Road. At about 1000 feet, the workers hit a water supply with enough volume to fill a reservoir and to serve a city twice the size of Whitewater. The supply was submitted for testing at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and pronounced pure. The Gray Brothers then built a pumping works, a reservoir, a tower with elevated tank, water mains, hydrants, and fountains. Upon completion, the city paid the company to operate the system for 25 years.

On October 1, 1889, the waterworks components were completed and tested and found to be acceptable. One aspect of the test was to make sure that a stream of water could be thrown over the roof of the Normal School, located on a hill and the highest building in the city. The test showed that there was enough pressure to send water through 500 feet of hose onto the roof of the building.

The most impressive structure that was built for the water works was the water tower. The octagonal tower was built with limestone walls eight feet thick to a height of 80 feet. A steel tank, 30 feet in diameter and 32 feet tall, was built on top of the tower. The tank was built to hold 200,000 gallons of water, and with the 800,000 gallon capacity of the reservoir, the total supply on hand would equal 1,000,000 gallons, enough to provide excellent water pressure for both everyday usage and for emergency fire-fighting. After the private contract expired, Whitewater citizens voted to purchase and operate the system.

The water tower is an early and fine example of its type of structure. It is architecturally significant for its outstanding stone construction and intact metal tank, but it is also historically significant as the most intact resource related to the development of Whitewater’s waterworks, one of the most important city services ever developed in the community.

Editor’s note: Information regarding the non-binding water tower referendum that’s on the November 5 ballot may be found on the city website here.

The City of Whitewater is pleased to invite developers and community members to its inaugural Developer Meet and Greet. This event aims to foster connections and provide valuable insights into development opportunities within the city.

Attendees will benefit from presentations by key team members, including the Zoning Administrator, Neighborhood Services staff, the Economic Development Director, and additional support staff. These discussions will cover essential aspects of development processes, zoning regulations, and economic initiatives in Whitewater.

Following the presentations, a guided bus tour will showcase available parcels of land, offering an in-depth look at prime development opportunities in the community.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, November 1, 2024
• Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Location: Innovation Center, 1221 Innovation Drive, Whitewater, WI
  With space limited, we ask all interested participants to RSVP by Monday, October 28th, 4:30 PM
  to secure their spot.
  RSVP Contact Information: Bonnie Miller
  Phone: 262-473-0148
  Email: bmiller@whitewater-wi.gov
  
  The City of Whitewater is committed to supporting development and growth, and this event represents a significant step toward engaging with developers and the community to explore future opportunities.
  
  For more information about the city’s initiatives and updates, please visit the official
  website: www.whitewater-wi.gov.

Call for Art!! Entries due Sunday, Oct. 27

2024 Members’ Show

Each year the Whitewater Arts Alliance is delighted to showcase the outstanding 2D and 3D visual art produced by its members. Not a member? Special mid-year rates for the remainder of 2024 and all of 2025: Student $15; Senior (Age 62+) $50; Individual $95; Family (one household) $130. Join here.

The 2024 exhibit opens Friday, November 1 with a reception Sunday, November 3 at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street in Whitewater.

Being eligible to exhibit in the Members’ Show is is one of the benefits of WAA membership. There is no fee to enter and WAA does not deduct commission on sales made during the show.

Entry forms must be completed online and are due by by Sunday, October 27, 2024. Learn more and enter here.