News & Events

There is, of course, no mail today, and the City Market is taking the day off.

Today’s events:
9:45 a.m. – Whippet City Mile
10:00 a.m. – Parade: The parade will start at Lincoln School on Prince, to Main, to Whitewater, and end at Fremont.
The livestream of the parade for those unable to attend in person may be found here. Unfortunately the city cable TV station is still down.

Carnival (No wrist band sessions)
Food vendors – Noon to 11 p.m.

Meisner band: 2-4 p.m.
Whiskey Flats: 5-7 p.m.
The Britins : 8-11 p.m.

Fireworks: 10 p.m.

2023 Parade Grand Marshall – Terry Phelps

Terry Phelps joined the Whitewater Volunteer Fire Department on July 5, 1973. His father, Charles Phelps was a 25-year veteran of the Whitewater Volunteer Fire Department and took Terry on many calls before he officially became a member. It was only natural that Terry would follow in his father’s footsteps.

Over all the years of service Terry has provided, he was named Firefighter of the Year twice (1982 & 1990), Fire Officer of the Year in 2014 and was named a Home Town Hero in 2022. Terry has been a Whitewater Fire Department Captain for over 30 years and a Certified Instructor for Gateway for 25 years.

Terry will be retiring this year after 50 years of service!

Terry has been an integral part of the community helping install draft hydrants; 2 in the city of Whitewater, 6 in local townships and 1 draft tank reservoir. He often assisted in department training nights, & served on truck committees. While working as a machinist, he also made parts for the department.

Over the past 50 years, Terry is credited with the following Fire Education and Training: Firemanship 1 & 2, Firefighter 1, 2 & 3, Driver/Operator Engine, Driver/Operator Aerial, Fire Instructor 1 & 2, FEMA Incident Command ICS 100, 200 & 700, several National Fire Academy classes, Farm Accident Rescue, Flammable Liquids Seminar, Safety Handling petroleum, ammonia & LP, Foam, Large Diameter Hose & Breathing Air Systems, Got Big Water – Rural Water Supply, Blackhawk Technical College Basic Pump Operator Seminar, Gateway Technical College – Building Burns, Wisconsin Firefighters Association Convention and Classes (20+ years), Walworth County Firefighters Association Meetings and Trainings (20+ years), Jefferson County Firefighters Association Meetings and Trainings (20+ years) and Monroe Fire School (15 years).

We thank you for all of your dedication and years of service, Terry!

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire extends congratulations to the 2,528 students named to the spring 2023 dean’s list. Their academic performance has been outstanding, and we recognize these students with pride.

Congratulations, Blugolds! 

The Dean’s List eligibility criteria can be found online at: https://www.uwec.edu/news/news/spring-2023-deans-list2-5791/

Students from our area who were named to the Dean’s List are: 

 Rye Fader, College of Business, Eau Claire

Editor’s note: The city of Whitewater did not have the test kits; it was the town. The press release was in error using the word “city,” and unfortunately we didn’t catch that.

Walworth County Public Health Offers Discounted Well Water Test Kits

Do you live on or own a property with a private well? This July, Walworth County Division of Public Health is offering well water test kits at a discount. It is recommended to test your well water annually for contaminants, such as bacteria, to ensure you and your family have safe drinking water. Walworth County offers testing for four different contaminants, including bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, and lead.

Throughout July, residents can purchase test kits for $10 per test—that’s half off. The at-home test kits can be picked up or dropped off at Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services or any of the participating town halls listed below.

• Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services: Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Town of Whitewater Town Hall: July 5, 2 to 4 p.m.
• Town of Bloomfield Town Hall: July 6, 3 to 5 p.m.
• Town of Spring Prairie Town Hall: July 26, 2 to 4 p.m.
• Village/Town of East Troy Town Hall: July 27, 2 to 4 p.m.

Only checks will be accepted as a form of payment at the town halls. Cash or check are accepted at Health and Human Services.

Testing your private well water is simple to do. Follow the instructions provided in the sample kit and then return the bottles to Walworth County Health and Human Services, or any of the participating town halls, within 30 hours of taking the test.

The Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services is located at 1910 County Rd. NN, Elkhorn. Please visit our website at www.co.walworth.wi.us/430/Well-Water-Testing for water laboratory hours or call (262) 741-3200 for more information.

A Whitewater Main Street Church will be opening its building for Fourth of July attendees and providing free cold water, iced tea, and frozen treats along with available parking.

First English Lutheran Church (FELC) at 401 W. Main Street will provide restroom facilities from 9:30 until the end of the parade on Tuesday, July 4^th. Main Street doors will be open with volunteer church members guiding guests through the historic structure that dates back to the late 1800s.

In addition, FELC will have a drawing to give away two tickets (including transportation) to the Sunday, July 9^th Milwaukee Brewer game against the Cincinnati Reds. Winners of the drawing will join over 30 FELC members as they depart from the church parking lot after services on the Sunday following the 4^th of July celebration. Carpools with pre-purchased preferred parking privileges are targeted to leave between 10:30 and 11 on July 9. Church attendance is not mandatory.

FELC offers services downtown each Sunday at 9:30 and monthly oil lamp services at a historic one room church on Chapel Drive on Whitewater Lake. The historic Whitewater Lake Heart Prairie church was built in 1858. Oil lamp services are held because it has never had electricity. The “English” in the First English Lutheran name refers to the fact the Norwegian founders of the original church proudly offered services in English in addition to traditional Norwegian.

FELC welcomes all individuals and offers open communion. Weekly online services are also available at www.FirstEnglishLutheranChurch.360unite.com. Page down to the video screen and hit the forward (>) symbol. The congregation also operates a “Thrift Shop” featuring second items at bargain prices on nearby Church Street. Thrift Shop is open various late morning and afternoon hours every day except Sundays and Mondays. The proceeds go toward church operation costs.

Prairie Village residents assemble to plant their share of 288 flags on the tree lawns.
Front row:  Curt McCulley, Tom Dosemagen, Lee Murray, Carolyn Behrens, Beth McCulley Back row:  Kathy Ross, Tom Stanley, Bob Aulik, Rusty Kapela, Gary Fry, Steve Ryan, Bob Behrens.  Photo courtesy of Terrie Munger

By Tom Ganser

Feeling the need for the Prairie Village community of seniors to commemorate Independence Day, a small group of Prairie Village residents placed 288 American flags along N. Acorn Ridge and Burr Oak Trail on June 29.  The flags will remain in place through the 4th of July holiday and will be picked up Thursday, July 6th.  The plan is to continue this new commemoration annually each Independence Day as a way for Prairie Village residents to honor our nation. Remaining photos are courtesy of Tom Ganser.  

Carthage College congratulates Andrew Schmidt of Whitewater, WI, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

About 620 members of the Carthage Class of 2023 took part in Commencement festivities May 26-28. After the formal degree conferral on Friday evening, individual graduates and their guests took part in an extended procession and ceremonial stage walk at assigned times on Saturday and Sunday.

ABOUT CARTHAGE

Carthage College is raising expectations for a private college experience. It blends the best liberal arts traditions with desirable degree programs, transformative learning opportunities, personal attention from distinguished faculty, and a focus on career development, which makes its graduates competitive in the workforce. Founded in 1847, Carthage is located on an idyllic shore of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the thriving corridor between Milwaukee and Chicago. Grow with Carthage: www.carthage.edu

Mark Dorn writes, “At 5:20 a.m. Thursday morning, a visitor to the Village at Trippe Lake pondered: where’s the lake..?”

Our thanks to Mark Dorn for sharing this great photo with us.

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