News & Events

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area will hold the second of three Book Club discussions on Thursday evening, March 21, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., in the Irvin L Young Memorial Library, 431 W Center St, Whitewater. Chapters 4-6 of Poverty, by America, by Pulitzer Prize winning author Matthew Desmond will be discussed.

Desmond draws upon history, research and original reporting to argue that poverty in America persists because the rest of us benefit from it. Please join us to investigate new ways of imagining solutions to a morally urgent problem and engage in how to usher in an age of shared prosperity.

Books have been reserved at Irvin L Young Memorial Library for the group’s use during the study. Please ask at the front desk for a copy. A final discussion will be held in April, the date to be determined at the March 21st meeting.

The LWV Book Club was formed to help our members and friends engage in meaningful discussions of current notable books dealing with public policy issues of interest to the League. You do not need to be a member of the League to participate! Please contact Deb Gamble (262-583-1946 or shebagam@gmail.com) for questions or further information.

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the UW-Whitewater College of Business & Economics.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics, the state’s largest business school, is celebrating 110 years of offering business education and 25 years of offering online courses and degrees during the 2023-24 academic year.

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the college is among less than 2 percent of business schools in the world that hold dual accreditation in business and accounting.

“We are proud of our College of Business and Economics,” said UW-Whitewater chancellor Corey A. King. “For more than a century, business education has been a source of pride for our university. The college’s reputation for excellence is founded on exceptional student experiences, and it delivers relevant and rigorous curriculum that is conveyed through innovative and effective teaching.

“Thousands of Warhawks are making a difference throughout the world in their professions and communities because of their experience at our business school.”

The college places 99 percent of graduates in jobs or graduate school within six months of graduation. Nearly 90 percent of graduates are employed in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.

“We help create a stronger economy for Wisconsin,” said Paul Ambrose, dean of the College of Business and Economics. “When students earn a degree in business from UW-Whitewater or UW-Whitewater Online, employers can be sure that they are looking at a quality candidate.”

Outside of its rigorous curriculum, UW-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics provides students with hands-on experience through championship-caliber student groups with the support of faculty advisors, including its chapters in the American Marketing Association, DECA, College Entrepreneurs Organization and Enactus, a group that creates sustainable business models for causes that positively impact lives around the world.

Emma Hager, a senior marketing major, has engaged in sales competitions through the college in addition to playing on the Warhawk women’s soccer team. After graduating this May, she will begin her professional career at Motorola Solutions in Chicago. 

“My undergraduate career has prepared me for this,” Hager said. “The lectures are good, but I think the main thing is the hands-on experiences — the sales competitions we do. All those role-plays help you get more comfortable talking with others and really help you prepare for what the business world is actually like.”

Renee Kraft, who earned a BBA in accounting in 2012 and a Master of Professional Accountancy in 2013, also pointed to the hands-on experiences the university provides, including internships with companies around the region.

“UW-Whitewater has such a great internship program,” said Kraft, who works as a senior manager for planning and forecasting at Molson Coors. “They bring in all the different employers on site for interviews and have a match process. I can’t imagine every school does that… they made it so seamless and got us so prepared for it.”

Steve Flunker, a 1993 BBA graduate, recently joined the Dean’s Advisory Board. He currently resides in Barrington, Illinois, and works as vice president of transportation for Cornerstone Brands.

Flunker previously held positions at Kohl’s, Nike, JCPenney, Abercrombie & Fitch, and other national brands. He was originally drawn to UW-Whitewater after attending a band camp on campus as an eighth grader.

“I’m trying to explain to these business leaders in the Midwest that you’ve got this great gem that’s turning out great students,” Flunker said. “I’m hoping we can continue to ingrain that connection between these top companies and our university.”

The university launched UW-Whitewater Online in 1998. Its programs include 16 undergraduate majors, 15 master’s degrees and 34 certificates. Subjects include business, communication, math and science, liberal studies, political science and special education.

The college ranked No. 1 in the state in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report review of online programs. UW-Whitewater is home to Wisconsin’s top-ranked single school in the following categories:

• Best Online MBA
• Best Online Business Graduate Program
• Best Online Business Undergraduate Program
• Best Online MBA Program for Veterans
• Best Online Business Graduate Program for Veterans

“Business programs offered in the online format are taught by the same faculty and have the same learning outcomes as on-campus programs,” Ambrose said. “We are proud to say that our online degree has the same quality, the same impact, and, in fact, the same diploma as our on-campus programs.”

For more information on the College of Business and Economics, visit uww.edu/cobe or email cobe@uww.edu.

The Walworth Jefferson Ice Age Trail Chapter is hosting a speaker from the DNR on March 19th as part of their monthly meeting.  The discussion will cover terrestrial invasive plants. This is a free presentation.

Updated 3/18/24 @ 11:15 p.m. – Deleted Common Council At-large Candidate responses, as this information is now available to all residents through the link.

The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area published its local online Voter Guide on March 10 on the VOTE411.org platform. The League sent a questionnaire to a total of 119 local candidates running in 45 contested races in several villages, towns and cities in Walworth and Jefferson counties. Questions were provided in English and Spanish and candidates were encouraged to reply in both languages. Communities with contested races included in the Voter Guide are: in JEFFERSON CO. cities of Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Waterloo, Watertown, Town of Ixonia, Villages of Johnson Creek and Palmyra; and, in WALWORTH CO. cities of Delavan, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva, Whitewater, Towns of Richmond and East Troy, and Villages of Fontana, Mukwonago and Sharon. Ten local municipal and school board referendums will also appear in the Voter Guide.

The League’s Voter Guide on VOTE411.org is a source of nonpartisan candidate information where voters can go to read candidates’ responses to the League’s questionnaires. By visiting the site (click on “Find What’s On Your Ballot”), you will be able to compare their answers, which are posted verbatim. The League encourages voters to start their candidate research before they cast their ballot so they are informed voters on Election Day.

To learn more about what’s on the Spring Election ballot on April 2, view information available on LWVWI’s website.

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!

Photos courtesy of Doug Anderson

Whitewater Fire and EMS, in conjunction with the City of Whitewater Parks and Public Works Departments, conducted a controlled burn inside the Effigy Mounds Preserve on Wednesday, March 13.

Fire & EMS indicated that this training opportunity was 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.”

It was reported that the burn was conducted around all but three of the effigy mounds. Burning at those mounds was deemed to represent a potential risk to residences in relatively close proximity.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

The Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club will be holding a sit-down, dine-in Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 16 from 6:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. (or until the pancakes run out).  All are invited to bring their appetites to the Old Armory, 146 W. North Street, in downtown Whitewater.  No tickets will be sold, and people are asked to consider a donation of at least $7.  Additional donations are welcome to help support the children that Kiwanis serves.

Corey Davis preparing the Jones Dairy Farm sausage at a prior breakfast

Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club President Patrick Taylor said, “We are so excited to see people in person and enjoy camaraderie and friendship as we feast on the delicious Kiwanis pancakes and Jones sausage.  The Old Armory has been our home-base for years, and we are continuing that tradition.” 

Whitewater Kiwanis is a group of dedicated volunteers who help both children of the Whitewater community and the world, all with 100% of funds raised going directly to youth projects and zero to administrative costs. Over five years the club raised funds to make possible the recent installation of the city’s first piece of inclusive playground equipment, a We-Go-Round, in Starin Park.  Annual donations are also made to provide shoes and winter clothes for students, as well as support for organizations such as the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, The Community Space, and the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club.

If you have an interest in helping youth in Whitewater, you can check out Whitewater Kiwanis on Facebook and join our Club by contacting Patrick Taylor at Petaylor.law@gmail.com.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving  the world one child and one community at a time.

Introducing The Bassett House Spring Concert Series!

The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs (WFWC) is pleased to announce the inauguration of the Bassett House Spring Concert Series. The concerts will be held at the Bassett House, 708 W. Main Street in Whitewater, on Sunday, April 7, 2024, and Sunday, May 26, 2024. This year, the series will consist of vocal performances by University of Wisconsin-Whitewater faculty and students. The first concert will feature the vocal studio of faculty member Rachel Wood. The second concert will be a performance by faculty members Robert Gehrenbeck and Sarah Gehrenbeck. Tickets include not only delightful musical performances, enjoyed in the charming ambiance of one of Whitewater’s loveliest old homes, but complimentary wine and refreshments. Come join us as we initiate an enchanting new spring tradition.

Ticket prices for adults are $30 per concert or $50 for the full series. Student tickets (high school and college) are $15 per concert. Child tickets (13 years or younger) are $10 per concert. Make checks out to the WFWC, and mail them to Linda Robinson at 957 W. Highland Street/Whitewater, WI 53190. Alternatively, you may pay via Venmo: Whitewater Federation. In either case, please indicate the chosen concerts and the number of adults, students, or children attending. Space is limited, so buy your tickets soon.

All proceeds will go to help preserve the Bassett House, one of Whitewater’s oldest historic homes. The WFWC is currently engaged in a full, multi-stage, and necessary restoration of the Bassett House, and all proceeds will be used for this restoration. This is a wonderful opportunity to support this beautiful Whitewater landmark!

Diane Jaroch assumed the directorship of the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on an interim basis November 26, 2023, upon the resignation of long-time director Stacey Lunsford, who took a position in Minnesota. The Library Board subsequently appointed her to the position on a permanent basis effective January 29, 2024.

Diane provided the Banner with the following biography and thoughts.

“I began my career working in libraries while attending Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL, where I worked for four years in the Slide Library within the Art History Department. My undergraduate degree was in Art History, so that was the perfect fit for me. After graduation, I accepted a position at Columbia College in Chicago, where I worked in the Audiovisual Department of the library for seven years, cataloging art and photography slides. I made the transition to public libraries in 1990 and received my MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1995. Before coming to the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library, I worked at the Kenosha Public Library, Deerfield Public Library, Monona Public Library, and then at the Watertown Public Library, where I held the position of Library Director for two years.

Before accepting the position of library director, I was the assistant library director here at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library for the past thirteen and a half years. I am very excited to be the new director at a time when our library is beginning an expansion and renovation project. The response to our capital campaign by the community was overwhelming. It’s wonderful to know that the library is such a valued resource in the Whitewater community. The new library will offer more space and features where people can connect, read, learn, create and feel welcome. There will be 4,400 square feet of additional space and the current space will be redesigned to be more welcoming and accommodating. Construction is expected to begin in July of 2024, with an anticipated completion date of October 2025.”