News & Events

Updated Feb. 10 @ 10 p.m.: Per historian Carol Cartwright:”The mill was located next to the old Baker’s garage.” (Jefferson & Main)

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

The second in our series “Gone but not Forgotten,” is the old stone mill. This image, taken in January of 1970, shows the demolition of the frame portion of the mill, also the oldest portion, built in 1839 and the first industry in Whitewater. In 1860, the large stone addition was completed and the mill operated well into the 20th century.

It was two more years (November of 1972) before the rest of the building was demolished, after the owner could not find a way to renovate and reuse the building.

Join us next week for more “Gone but not Forgotten” images.

(2595P, Whitewater Historical Society)

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from UW-Stout.

The following student from the area graduated on Dec. 16, 2023, from University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wis. The university graduated 526 students, with 440 undergraduate and 86 Graduate School students this fall.

UW-Stout has more than 45 undergraduate programs and more than 20 graduate programs, including one doctoral degree. UW-Stout, established in 1891, prides itself on the success of its students in the workplace, with an employment rate of 99.4% for recent graduates. The university was awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2001. 

UW-Stout is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes.

Whitewater, WI

 Cassandra Hoxie, BS Computer and Electrical Engineering

Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser

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

The Community Space (TCS) recognized their fifth anniversary on February 1 with a Celebration Open House including a potluck picnic. TCS gratefully accepts donations from Feeding America, businesses, and individuals, stocking the large building with food, clothing, furniture, books, and housewares. It’s something like a thrift store with food, except everything is free, and it’s open to all, without restrictions. No one knows if there’s anything like it, anywhere in the country, and it’s run entirely with volunteers and donations. Hours are Tuesday 8:30-11:00 a.m., Wednesday 3:30-7:00 p.m., and Saturday 8:30 a.m. – noon. Donations are accepted at the rear of the building during the same hours, up until fifteen minutes before closing. TCS is located at 834 E. Milwaukee Street in Whitewater. The organization recently achieved 501(c)(3) status, and monetary donations may be sent to P. O. Box 213, Whitewater, WI 53190. More information may be found on their website.

Remarks that were given at the celebration by Executive Director Kristine Zaballos, and Site Manager Kay Robers, as well as by Jorge Islas-Martinez and two English as a Second Language (ESL) learners may be viewed here. Zaballos and Robers provided some of the history of the Community Space, including the essential food and services that they provided to many people during the early days of COVID-19. Of particular note was the generosity of the Coburn family in donating the use of the former Coburn Company building for the agreed upon rent of $10 per month. Zaballos indicated that she doesn’t remember ever paying the rent. Islas-Martinez, who co-founded and directs the ESL program for the Whitewater Unified School District, expressed appreciation for the opportunity that TCS has offered to provide space for morning classes. Previously the classes had only been scheduled in the evening at the high school, when some interested people were unable to attend. Anna and Margarita, two of the successful students, spoke and expressed how much of a difference it has made for them to be able to communicate in English.

The following area students have been named to the Dean’s List at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for the fall semester of the 2023-24 academic year, ending December 2023.

Qualification for the Dean’s List is limited to students who have attained outstanding academic achievement. To be eligible, students must have earned at least a 3.5 semester grade point average and carried a minimum of 12 credits. 

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, founded in 1909, is one of the 13 four-year institutions comprising the Universities of Wisconsin. UWL offers 130-plus degree programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels in arts, social science and humanities; science and health; business; and education. UW-La Crosse – www.uwlax.edu – is a top-ranked national university.

Students on the Dean’s List from this area include:

Whitewater, WI

 Bryce Hibbs, Communication Studies Major: Organizational and Professional Communication Emphasis
 Josie Hintz, Finance Major
 Morgan Janovec, National Student Exchange
 Catherine Skindingsrude, Biology Major

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 make a donation of at least $7 to help cover the food costs and support our charitable mission.  Additional donations are welcome to help support the children that Kiwanis serves.

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 the past 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.

Whitewater’s chapter of Future Business Leaders of America [FBLA] traveled to Columbus High School on Saturday, February 3rd for the Regional Leadership Conference. It was filled with inspiring future and business experiences. Six members of the group qualified to compete at the state competition, including Ghati Binagi and Alexandra Meyer with Broadcast Journalism, Mia Islas with Public Speaking, Aidyn Amundson and Xavier Zei with their Business Plan, and finally, Jared Apgar with Word Processing. The students are thrilled to be traveling to Green Bay in April for the state competition. 

Mia Islas – FBLA President
Ghati Binagi – FBLA Vice President
Alex Meyer – FBLA Secretary

Article and Photo Collage Submitted by Baron West
Whitewater High School FBLA Advisor
bwest@wwusd.org