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The City of Whitewater is excited to partner with the Whitewater Community Foundation to make it more efficient for residents to contribute towards projects they want to see in Whitewater. The Whitewater Community Foundation has set up a fund for the first city project, a new amphitheater planned to be built in Cravath Lakefront Park. The amphitheater project has been approved by the city council and is moving forward. The structure has been ordered by Polygon and is scheduled to be installed in spring of 2020. Additional items to enhance the amphitheater would include landscaping, lighting, and a new projection screen.

Citizens can donate by credit card on the Whitewater Community Foundation website to help with these additions to the new Cravath Lakefront Amphitheater. A company, organization or individual can choose to be the title sponsor and display their logo and/or name for the next 20 years at the top of the Cravath Lakefront Amphitheater for a $50,000 donation. Donations over $10,000 will be recognized on a plaque at the base of the structure.

“The City of Whitewater is excited to have a facility to bring people to the downtown and lake front,” said Eric Boettcher, Parks and Recreation Director. “This new amphitheater should truly enhance existing events and music and we couldn’t be happier to see it move forward.”

To make a donation, click here. Click the Donate Now button and the site will direct you to choose a dollar amount, how often you wish to donate and which cause you wish to support. Donors can also choose to share a note of why you are supporting the cause.

The City’s street crew will deliver sand the week of Monday, December 2, – Friday, December 6, 2019, according to Streets Superintendent, Kelly Freeman.

Residents who wish to receive a quantity of sand for placement on public sidewalks during the winter months are asked to have sturdy containers at the curbside by 7:00 a.m. on that Monday. City officials stress that cardboard boxes are not considered sturdy containers.

If there is a snowstorm or some other unpredictable occurrence that prevents delivery that week, the sand will be delivered as soon as weather permits.

The Whippets came to race! The 200 Medley Relay (Foucault BA 28.69, Houwers BR 29.82, Zimdars FLY 26.67, Krebs FR 26.29) seeded 10th going into the race, won their heat and knocked three other teams out of the top heat!  The Whippets ended with a new School Record time of 1:51.47 and earned 6th place medals!

Ella Houwers backed up her lifetime best swim from last week by posting another 2:06 in the 200 Individual Medley earning 2nd place overall (2:06.99)!

Brianna Zimdars beat her own school record in the 100 Butterfly and finished 12th overall with a 1:00.16!

The Whippets continued to swim well in the second half of the meet.  Brianna Zimdars finished with a 5th place medal in the 500 Freestyle with a lifetime best time 5:18.20!

The 200 Freestyle Relay (Houwers 24.99, Foucault 24.89, Krebs 26.02, Zimdars 24.88) ended up in 7th place with a new school record 1:40.72.  Ella Houwers broke the 50 Freestyle record on the lead off leg of the relay. 

Finishing out the night, was Ella Houwers winning the 100 Breaststroke for the second year in a row!  Ella posted a lifetime best time 1:05.07 and broke her own school record!

Shout out to freshman Grace Foucault and Amber Krebs for their outstanding relay splits!

It was a great night to be a Whippet!

With health insurance coverage dates coming up, it is important for people to understand their needs and which plans are the best option for them and their families.

If you do not have insurance and are finding yourself confused about the process of enrolling in the Affordable Care Act, Fort HealthCare can help you. Choosing a plan is an important decision. Aside from getting the coverage you need, you will also be building relationships with health care providers to ensure a healthy future for you and your family.

Fort HealthCare has a Certified Application Specialist who can provide assistance to help individuals navigate their way through all options. If an individual calls 920-563-4443 they will be connected with a trained professional who can provide personalized help selecting plans that meet their individual needs. Whether you are re-enrolling or enrolling for the first time, Fort HealthCare’s Certified Application Specialist can help. Accounts can be established on the website: www.HealthCare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). Dozens of preventative services are covered fully by insurance plans, requiring no office visit co-pay.

Every health insurance plan in the Health Insurance Marketplace will offer basic health benefits, including doctor visits, preventative care, hospitalization and medications. The website allows visitors to compare plans based on price, benefits, quality and other features.

Open Enrollment in a 2020 Marketplace plan starts November 1, 2019

Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage is December 15, 2019

(If you don’t enroll by the deadline, you can’t enroll in a health insurance plan for 2020 unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.)

Coverage for the 2020 calendar year begins on January 1, 2020.

For personal assistance, contact Fort HealthCare’s Certified Application Specialist at 920-563-4443.

UWW/Community Optimist Club is entering its 25th year of hosting the Mitten Tree collection, which continues this holiday season for the kids in our community!

Associated Bank, First Citizens State Bank, Fort Community Credit Union (FCCU) and PremierBank will be collection places in addition to several area churches including First English Lutheran Church. Check with your church to see if they are participating.

Donations will be accepted Friday, Nov. 22nd through Tuesday, December 12th by 4 p.m.

Our main needs are mittens, hats, and scarves. In addition, underwear, socks, snow boots, and snow pants (for elementary school kids) are encouraged as they are used for emergency items for the kids throughout the school year. Gift cards will also be accepted by Lanora Heim, Director of Pupil Services for the Whitewater Unified School District and Coordinator of the Family Emergency fund, to purchase items as needed.

There is a large need for smaller sizes since there are more than 300 children under age 5 in the Whitewater Unified School District.

By Tom Ganser

Need a break – already? – from the quick return of bone-chilling winter weather? The perfect solution is taking in a performance (or two) of the Whitewater High School Players production of “The Little Mermaid” at the WHS auditorium on Nov. 21-23 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. on Nov. 24.

Your time in a tropical blue lagoon with Ariel the mermaid and her colorful friends Flounder the fish and Sebastian the crab will soon bring back your memories of perfect summer days in June and July.

Consider treating the youngins in your neighborhood to see this show.

Reserved seat tickets for the performance are $9 for adults and $5 for students, available one hour before the performance or by calling the WHS Box Office at 262-472-8178.

More than 60 cast, technical crew, and pit band members will take to the stage for this Disney classic based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories.

“The Little Mermaid” is a hauntingly beautiful love story never out of date and will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Part of Your World.”

The memorable cast includes Gio Anello, Gracia Boley, Henry Bresser, Keith Cameron, Jazmin Cederberg, Emma Clarksen, Olive Coburn, Sarah Felland, Sierra Gonzales, Jullian Harkness, Lauren Harkness, Maggie Jay, Josh Kirley, Ilana Lothes, Audrey Mayer, Sophie Mayer, Ben McCulloch, Stephanie Ordaz, Betzy Palomec, Chris Porcaro, Aldo Rodriguez, Lucas Scherer, Arianna Schroeder, Skylar Staebler, Haley Street, Madison Strickler, Evie Troxel, Anderson Waelchli, Carter Waelchli, Marco Wence, Ella Willman, and Matt Zingheim.

Putting their technical skills to the test are backstage crew members Payton Bunger, Emerson Dunham, Josie Hintz, Bailee Korf, Jordan Korf, Hailey Long, Abby Olson, Cole Schlicher, Lucy Troxel, Emma VanDaele, Sami VanDaele, and Emma Weigel.

Adding to the fun of a LIVE production are pit band musicians including Maddy Blain, Colin Chenoweth, Anne Coburn, Caroline Crowley, Colin Dugan, Liz Elliott, David Flemming, Zuri Goldsmith, Justin Kamp, Jimmy Karolek, Alex Martin, Jack Mayer, Sophie Mayer, Sophie Walton, and Caryl Whiteman.

Jim McCulloch directs this production, with musical direction by Liz Elliott, choreography by Lynn Lema, set design by Kat Dunham, sound design by Tony Hansen, and costume design by Karen McCulloch. Frankie Heurtz serves as conductor for the pit band.

Jim Shaw, Whitewater Unified School District Administrator, said, “Thanks to Whitewater High School’s staff and students for their wonderful production of ‘The Little Mermaid.’ The arts are a critical part of our students’ education. More than 80% of WHS students are engaged in the arts, music, athletics, or other extracurricular activities.”

“I am proud to be part of school district and community that values and encourages the arts and student engagement,” Shaw added. “Congratulations to students and staff for another great production.”

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released its annual report cards on all the districts and schools in the state on Tuesday, 11/13. The ratings are based on test scores, student growth, absenteeism, the district’s ability to close gaps among disparate groups of students, being on-track for graduation, and post-high school readiness. The Whitewater Unified School District as a whole achieved a score of 73, which was exactly the minimum score required in order to be considered to “exceed expectations.”

The scores assign the performance of a district/school into one of five categories:

83-100, significantly exceeds expectations.

73-82.9, exceeds expectations.

63-72.9, meets expectations

53-62.9, meets few expectations.

0-52.9, fails to meet expectations.

The schools achieved the following scores and recognitions in 2018-19, compared with 2017-18

Lakeview Elementary – Exceeds expectations – 80.6 (Last year, Significantly exceeds expectations – 89.1)

Lincoln Elementary – Exceeds expectations – 76 (Last year, Exceeds Expectations – 82.2)

Washington Elementary – Significantly exceeds expectations – 84 (Last year – Significantly exceeds – 91.2)

High School – Exceeds expectations – 74.6 (Last year – Meets expectations – 66.8)

Middle School – Meets expectations – 66.1 (Last year – Meets expectations – 65.4)

Other districts in the area achieved the following overall scores:

Delavan-Darien: 76.8

East Troy: 76.2

Edgerton: 76.5

Elkhorn: 78.8

Janesville: 64.2

Milton: 78.7

Scores in the Palmyra-Eagle School District, currently under consideration for closure:

Eagle Elementary 77.3

High School 77.2

Middle School 60.7

Palmyra Elementary 71.8