News & Events

By Sherry Stanek

On October 24th, 2023 Whitewater’s historic Territorial Oak was taken down. Since the 1800s, it has been located at the intersection of what became Franklin and Main Streets. Unfortunately, the tree had been in decline for a long time, but in the past few years had stopped producing acorns and produced only a few leaves as is common for dying trees. Unlike its sister tree located just across Franklin Street in a front lawn with plenty of soil to live in, this tree has struggled to thrive in its confined quarters between a cement sidewalk and a street and had become a hazard to drivers and pedestrians as it had started to drop chunks of branches, some landing on cars. Its time had come.

When this tree sprouted from its acorn, this was still Indian country. The squirrel who probably planted this tree nearly 250 years ago was just doing its job. When the area was surveyed, this tree’s diameter at breast height was 16 inches and was used as the “witness” tree from which much of this area was platted. On October 23rd that measurement was 169 inches. Just imagine all that this tree has been witness to! The Urban Forestry Commission along with the Landmarks Committee and city staff decided that we can’t just say goodbye to this historical treasure.

The City of Whitewater and its Urban Forestry Commission intend to honor this tree by keeping it as an active part of this community. When the Arboretum at Starin Park was proposed a few years ago, the designs included a natural play area that will be adjacent to the existing playground. When we started this project, we had no idea that the Territorial Oak would be coming down at this time. Next summer, parts of this tree will be used to create a natural playground at Starin Park.

Sections of the tree will be used to create different kinds of play spaces and signage will be located throughout the area to explain why these logs and “wooden boulders” have come to live in the park. There will be safe and interesting climbing, jumping and educational opportunities for many, many years to come as this tree continues to be a living part of Whitewater’s community.

Slices of the trunk will be used to create historical tree ring maps that will show the life of this tree from its beginning until now. They will chronicle historic events in line with the rings of the tree, showing its size at various points of its history and the history of our town and the world. These will be on display at Starin Park and also at the Walworth County Historical Society. Other slices will be used for signage at the Generac Welcome and Education Center at the Arboretum to honor the donors who’ve been essential to creating this arboretum, and at the local Historical Society at the Whitewater Depot.

The Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission is always grateful for volunteers who have skills that would be useful to our efforts both at continuing to build and maintain the plantings at the Arboretum, this playground project, or for other ideas that you have and would like to share. Contact the Parks and Recreation Department to get involved in our great community!

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

An article was published in The Gazette on October 26, titled “Police: Whitewater principal allegedly tackled student toilet-papering his home.” The alleged incident occurred at Whitewater High School Principal Brent Mansky’s home in Williams Bay and was investigated by that village’s police department.

According to the Gazette article, “The principal of Whitewater High School allegedly tackled a Williams Bay High School student and put him in a chokehold for toilet-papering his home, police records show. The students involved told police they had permission from Williams Bay High School to toilet paper designated houses in the neighborhood where Whitewater High School Principal Brent Mansky resides, as part of their Homecoming celebration on Sept. 21. They did not have permission to toilet-paper Mansky’s home….Mansky is also the former principal of Williams Bay High School…Mansky was not arrested….However, the incident has been forwarded to the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office for review…The two students were both cited for attempted vandalism and trespassing.”

“…An officer who responded said Mansky reported in the past there’s been ‘kitchen condiments sprayed on his house, beer cans thrown resulting in damage to his siding and now this year toilet paper.’ ”

The Gazette article, which is considerably longer than the above quotes, may be found here.

Superintendent Caroline Pate-Hefty issued the following statement on behalf of the Whitewater Unified School District on October 27 in response to the media report:

“The Whitewater Unified School District conducted an investigation into the alleged incident
involving Whitewater High School Principal Brent Mansky on September 21 in Williams Bay.

Upon review of all the documentation and statements provided by the Williams Bay Police
Department and the Williams Bay School District, we have been able to confirm that only juveniles were issued citations related to the incident. Mr. Mansky was not cited.

Furthermore, based on the documentation, it is clear that the article published in a recent media
report did not contain all of the facts, important context and information surrounding the incident in question.

Our focus will continue to be on our students and staff. We will continue to give our students the best educational experience. Every Student, Every Day, In a Unified Way.”

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Public Library.

Community members are invited to read and discuss “Somewhere in the Unknown World,” a collection of powerful stories of refugees who have found new lives in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, told by the award-winning Hmong American author Kao Kalia Yang. In her exquisite, necessary telling, these fourteen stories of refugee journeys restore history and humanity to America’s strangers and redeem its long tradition of welcome.

A limited number of library copies are available for checkout at the front desk. Read in advance and then join us for a book discussion at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library (431 W. Center St., Whitewater) on Tuesday, November 7 at 5:30 p.m.

In addition, community members are invited to a book discussion and Q&A with the author on the UW-Whitewater campus. Virtual options are available. More information may be found at https://my.uww.edu/SignUp/Public/Register/17536.

Contact the library at 262-473-0530 with questions.

We are in the Halloween Spirit for 2 Tuesdays in a Row, October 24 and 31!  Free Halloween Treats, too!!

“Hocus Pocus 2”
Tuesday, October 31, 1 PM
(Comedy/Family/Fantasy)
Rated PG. 1 hour, 43 minutes. (2022).

The misadventures continue as two young women accidentally bring the three Sanderson Sister witches back to life in Salem and must figure out how to stop these child-hungry witches in our modern day world.  The returning cast really camps it up!

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

A number of communities in south central Wisconsin move trick or treating to a weekend day when October 31 falls on a weekday. Fort Atkinson’s children will trick or treat this year on Sunday from 1-4 p.m., Palmyra’s on Saturday from 3:30-6:00 p.m., and Jefferson’s on Sunday from 2-5 p.m. For at least the past many years, however, Whitewater has always remained traditional with trick or treat on October 31 regardless of the day on which it falls. Again this year the hours will be 4-7 p.m.

How many readers remember growing up in a community where you wouldn’t have dreamt of going out trick or treating till it was nearly dark? (Was that ever the case in Whitewater?) This writer’s trick or treating curfew was 9 p.m., and the last doorbell was rung at about 8:55. Our city didn’t ever have to tell us when to trick or treat; Halloween was October 31, we started out when it was dusk, got home when our parents told us to, and a few mischievous kids took soap along!

Editor’s note: The following press release was issued by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting next month to discuss planned improvements to the WIS 106/County N intersection outside Fort Atkinson.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Town of Koshkonong Town Hall, located at W5609 Star School Road. WisDOT officials will be on hand to speak with the public and get feedback on the proposed improvements.

WisDOT intends to turn the intersection into a single-lane roundabout. Both State Highway 106 and County Highway N would be closed and detoured during the project. Work is set to begin in 2027.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

Our final image in the historic houses in Whitewater series is another stereoscope taken around 1870. Perhaps overlooked at 522 W. Main St., the Sanger Marsh House is a fine example of an Italianate Style house built in 1861 by local builder Nelson Salisbury, who built several cream brick houses in a similar manner in Whitewater.

Sanger Marsh was a prominent businessman who helped found the First National Bank in Whitewater in 1863. This bank was the first public bank in the community and lasted until the 1930s, when it merged with the Citizens State Bank to become the First Citizens State Bank of Whitewater that we all know today.

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

(1657ST, Whitewater Historical Society)

Editor’s note: The following proclamation was issued by President Biden.

As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on October 25, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, October 30, 2023. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
_________________________________________________________________________

Editor’s note: The following proclamation was issued by Gov. Evers.

Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #215 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Oct. 28, 2023, in honor of former Wisconsin State Rep. John Klenke, who passed away on Tues., Oct. 10, 2023, at the age of 65.

“Representative Klenke is remembered for his conviction, generosity, and dedication to serving his community,” said Gov. Evers. “In the wake of his passing, Kathy and I send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and former colleagues during this difficult time.”

Former Rep. Klenke was born and raised in Green Bay and graduated from the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in accounting and finance and UW-Milwaukee with a Master of Science in Taxation. He worked at Schneider National for over two decades, serving as the treasurer, vice president of corporate strategy, division president, and director of corporate tax. In 2010, Klenke was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly to represent the 88th Assembly District. During his time in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Klenke served on the Joint Committee on Finance and as vice-chairperson of the Energy and Utilities Committee. He was re-elected in 2012 and did not seek re-election in 2014.

Services for former Rep. Klenke will be held on Thurs., Oct. 26, 2023, with his burial subsequently occurring on Sat., Oct. 28, 2023.