News

Citizens Police Academy Set to Begin Soon

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that its upcoming Citizens Police Academy will begin soon, offering residents a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about local law enforcement operations.

The Citizens Police Academy is designed to educate community members about the role of the sheriff’s office promote transparency and strengthen relationships between officers and the public. Participants will gain insight into a wide range of topics, including patrol operations, investigations, traffic enforcement, use of force policies, communications, and more. 

The academy is open to residents who live in the Jefferson County area and meet basic eligibility requirements. [Editor’s note: The application form indicates that residents of “neighboring communities” may apply, so it appears, for example, that city of Whitewater residents in Walworth County would be eligible.] Classes will be held on Wednesdays from 6p-9p beginning August 26, 2026 and will run for approximately 12 weeks. Participants must complete an application and background screening prior to acceptance.

There is no cost to attend, and space is limited.

Those interested in participating are encouraged to apply soon. Apply with the link posted on the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page or contact Deputy Bergholz at 920-675-6933.

Submissions OPEN NOW Until Sunday, June 21, 2026, 11:59 pm

Theme:

• Artistic works that capture the essence and aesthetics of life in Wisconsin. Paint Wisconsin is a celebration of the state’s essence through any visual medium—whether rendered in clay, with a brush, a lens, or a digital stylus. “Paint” is a metaphor.

Overview:

Paint Wisconsin is an annual, themed, juried exhibition of original artwork, showcasing traditional, physical media alongside digital artwork in a traditional yet innovative in-gallery experience, together with online display of all accepted work. While the theme of the artwork must relate to Wisconsin, artists do not need to be residents of Wisconsin. The exhibition has two divisions, the Traditional Salon and the Digital Salon. The key conceptual difference between the two salons is that for the Traditional Salon, the images submitted by the artist represent the artwork while in the Digital Salon, the images submitted by the artist are the artwork.

• The Traditional Salon: The Traditional Salon is dedicated to the enduring impact of physical artwork.
  • Experience: Accepted works will be displayed in a traditional gallery exhibit and a concurrent online exhibit.
  • Mediums: We welcome all traditional 2D and 3D mediums including painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, illustration, and mixed media. Also welcome are digital mediums that have been rendered and prepared for physical display.
  • Requirement: Open to artists in the contiguous United States. Artists are responsible for delivery/shipping of wire-hung, framed work.
• The Digital Salon: The Digital Salon is an electronic showcase of screen-based fine art.
  • Experience: Accepted work will be exhibited electronically in-gallery via high-definition display and featured in a global online exhibit.
  • Mediums: We welcome 2D visual art mediums such as digital painting, digital drawing, digital illustration, digital mixed media, and photography. Also welcome are works in traditional mediums that have been prepared for digital reproduction.
  • Requirement: Open to artists worldwide. This is a digital-only submission process; no physical delivery of work is required.

Key Dates:

• Exhibition: Thursday, August 13 – Friday, September 18, 2026.
• Submissions Open: March 22, 2026
• Submissions Close: Sunday, June 21, 2026, 11:59 pm
• Notification to Artists: Monday, July 13, 2026
• Drop-Off Dates:  Saturday, August 1, 2026 – 12 pm to 4 pm; Friday, August 7, 2026 – 12 pm – 4 pm
• Artist Reception: Friday, August 14
  • Roberta’s Art Gallery, UW-Whitewater campus, 3pm-4:30 pm
  • Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main St., Whitewater, 5 pm-7 pm.
• Pick-Up Dates: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 12 pm – 4 pm.

Full information at: whitewaterarts.org/paint-wisconsin-2026-call

BLOOMINGTON, IL – Brooke Mason, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester of the 2025-26 academic year at Illinois Wesleyan University. Mason is a Junior majoring in Music Theatre.

Mason was among 883 students from 29 states and 18 countries named to the spring 2026 Dean’s List.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a GPA of 3.50 or better during the semester, based on 4.0 for straight As.

Founded in 1850, Illinois Wesleyan is a nationally recognized, highly selective liberal arts university. The University is exclusively undergraduate and enrolls approximately 1,700 students from across the nation and around the globe. Illinois Wesleyan prides itself on producing graduates who are well-rounded, broadly educated individuals with a spirit of inquiry who can successfully adapt to the demands of a rapidly changing, complex world.

Four UW-W Faculty and Staff Garner Prestigious Awards

Written by Kristine Zaballos | Photos by Craig Schreiner and submitted

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater faculty across two colleges and two senior leaders have been honored with prestigious fellowships that offer transformative opportunities to teach, visit institutions and conduct research abroad in 2026.

Included are three Fulbright awards — designed to strengthen the recipient’s professional development and foster long‑term connections that enrich their careers, campuses, and communities — and one international visiting fellow program.

University of Jyväskÿla 2026 Visiting Fellow Programme

Jenna Cushing-Leubner, associate professor of curriculum and instruction in the College of Education and Professional Studies, was selected as a visiting fellow as part of the University of Jyväskÿla in Finland’s 2026 Visiting Fellow Programme, which accepts only 5-8% of applicants. The program supports short-term travel grants of up to three months for researchers with a doctoral degree to visit JYU and engage in high-quality collaborative research.

Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Finland 2026-27

Steven Girard, a professor of chemistry in the College of Letter and Sciences, was selected by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Finland Foundation as Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Finland for the 2026-27 school year. As a Fulbright-University of Turku Scholar, Girard will conduct research at the Turku Clinical Biomaterials Centre, studying bioactive glass-ceramics with renowned biomaterial researchers Pekka Vallittu, professor at the Institute of Dentistry at the University of Turku, and Leena Hupa, head of research for the Laboratory of Molecular Science and Engineering at Åbo Akademi University.

Fulbright International Education Administrators Awards 2026-2027

Pieter deHart, incoming provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, and John McGuigan, director of the Center for Global Education on campus, each received a Fulbright International Education Administrators Award for 2026-2027 and will be participating in a two-week program in France in the fall of 2026, visiting Amiens, Rouen, and Paris and learning about the education system and making site visits to build connections.

UW-Whitewater has exchange partnerships with NEOMA Business School and Burgundy School of Business and a direct enrollment agreement for an immersive French program at Aix-Marseille University in Aix-en-Provence.

UW-Whitewater will share stories that highlight what the four awardees learned and how it will impact their teaching and the classroom experience after they return from their international research and teaching experiences.

For almost 10 years UW-Whitewater has been named a College of Distinction, a national honor that recognizes campuses for exceptional teaching in addition to dedication to student success.

Kids From Wisconsin (KFW) is a non-profit performing arts organization featuring youth aged 15–20 who tour across Wisconsin performing Broadway-style revues and musical productions. Founded in 1968, the troupe provides a pre-professional performing experience and has become a celebrated platform for young talent in the state. The group is headquartered at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis. The troupe performs in over 40 communities statewide.

Our country’s fabric is interwoven with the sounds and rhythms of our unique music genres that continue to shape our identity and unite generations. Join Kids from Wisconsin in their 58th season as we honor the 250th anniversary of this great nation with America’s great composers, songwriters, musicians and instrumentalists. Our show will salute their creativity, innovation, and unforgettable contributions to the world of music. From the smoky pulse of rhythm and blues to the soaring spirit of jazz, from the electric fire of rock and roll to the raw power of soul, and from chart-topping pop to timeless folk, country and classic Broadway, this live show—brought to life by Wisconsin’s finest young performers—ignites the very heartbeat of American music.

All tickets are $25 including tax and service fees. Parking is free in lots 1 and 2. (Access to the auditorium is generally most convenient from lot 2 off Prince Street. Tickets may be purchased online. They also will be available at the door.

The Young Performing Arts Center is located at 800 W. Main Street, Whitewater.

Daniel Portwine, from Whitewater, was named to the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Dean’s List for the 2026 Spring Semester. Portwine is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

Zoe Olson, from Whitewater, was named to the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Honors List for the 2026 Spring Semester. Olson is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering.

MSOE encourages excellence in academic achievement and, as a result, publishes the Dean’s List and Honors List each fall and spring semester. Students taking undergraduate courses who have earned at least 12 credits in residence at MSOE, are in good academic standing, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher are on the Dean’s List. Students on that list who have maintained a 3.70 or higher receive “high honors.”

Milwaukee School of Engineering (www.msoe.edu) is the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners driven to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. The independent, non-profit university has about 3,000 students and was founded in 1903. MSOE offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, computer science, business, nursing, mathematics, user experience, and construction management. Faculty are student-focused experts who bring real-world experience into the classroom. This approach to learning makes students ready now as well as prepared for the future. Longstanding partnerships with business and industry leaders enable students to learn alongside professional mentors and challenge them to go beyond what’s possible. MSOE graduates are leaders of character, responsible professionals, passionate learners and value creators.

City of Whitewater Plan & Architectural Review Meeting – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and possible recommendation to Common Council Zoning Ordinance creating
section 19.09.291 and subsections 19.19.30(G), 19.33.30(T) amending subsections
19.15.30(G), 19.18.30(H), Creating 19.19.030 (H) to define Family child care Centers and
Define conditional uses for Family Child Care Centers; Discussion and possible recommendation to Common Council the Child Safety Zone Map and Resolution.
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join ourww webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2380281851001?p=sEgX6zC8pyw2OoWXIW
Dial in by phone
+1 929-229-5663,,311833736# United States
Phone conference ID: 311 833 736#

City of Whitewater Parks and Recreation Board – Food Pantry Subcommittee – Wednesday @ 12:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion on Food Pantry Lease Options
Armory Basement Summer Camp Room, 146 North Street, Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/257016959841236?p=sThPLeowTPYBQzi26x

WHITEWATER ARTS ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES 17th ANNUAL FRAN ACHEN JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

Record Regional Submissions and New Digital Platform Mark Landmark Year for Whitewater’s Premier Photography Event

The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) is proud to announce the 17th Annual Fran Achen Juried Photography Exhibition, opening Thursday, June 4, 2026 at the Cultural Arts Center Gallery, 402 W. Main Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin. The exhibition runs through Sunday, June 28, 2026, with an Awards Reception on Sunday, June 7 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.

This year’s exhibition marks a landmark moment for the event, drawing a record 502 submissions from photographic artists across the region — a 25 percent increase over the previous year. The breadth and quality of work submitted reflects the exhibition’s growing reputation as a serious regional venue for fine art photography.

Two Salons — A Philosophy of Full Equals

The Fran Achen Exhibition has pioneered a dual-salon format that treats the photographic print and screen-based digital media as full equals in the gallery space. The Traditional Salon celebrates the enduring power of the physical print, displayed in a classical gallery setting. The Digital Salon champions screen-based fine art, presented on high-definition displays in-gallery — not as an afterthought, but as a fully realized exhibition experience alongside its printed counterpart.

This year’s exhibition received 201 submissions in the Traditional Salon and 301 in the Digital Salon. A total of 342 works by 75 photographic artists are represented in the show, with 150 works hung in the gallery.

“Each work here represents an artist who responded to the world with skill, intention, and a point of view worth sharing. That is what this exhibition has always been about.”

— Jeff McDonald, WAA President and 12-Year Exhibition Chair

The G/A Exhibition Engine — A First for Local Arts Organizations

Making its debut this year is the G/A Exhibition Engine, a sophisticated web application developed by Gaelic Arts LLC and provided to WAA at no cost. The Engine brings both salons together in a single unified digital experience and represents a significant advancement in how community arts organizations can present exhibition work.

The G/A Exhibition Engine was designed specifically for desktop and laptop viewing. Respect for its artists and an uncompromising commitment to quality drove that decision — every image is presented with true color, fine detail, and the visual scale that serious fine art photography deserves. The Whitewater Arts Alliance is proud to be among the few regional arts organizations providing this level of international-standard digital presentation.

The Exhibition Engine features high-definition zoom capability, an interactive artist directory with direct links to participating photographers’ websites and social media channels, and a real-time Public Choice voting system. It is available now at whitewaterarts.org/fa-2026-exhibition.

The Jury

This year’s distinguished jury panel brings three distinct perspectives to the evaluation of submitted work: Ashley M. Dimmig, PhD, Crossman Gallery Director and Art History faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; Gerald H. Emmerich, Jr., HonPSA, GMPSA-P, a Photographic Society of America Grand Master with over 15,400 international acceptances; and Michael J. Havice, PhD, a retired Marquette University broadcast faculty member and active professional photographer with significant magazine publication credits.

Awards

Eleven cash awards totaling $1,300 will be presented at the Awards Reception, including Best of Show, Photographic Merit Awards (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place in each salon), Fran Achen Creative Expression distinctions, and Public Choice Awards determined by community voting both in-gallery and online.

About the Exhibition

The Fran Achen Juried Photography Exhibition commemorates the life of Fran Achen, a longtime Whitewater resident, educator, and photographer whose work chronicled the history of the Whitewater community for decades. Named in his honor, the exhibition continues his legacy of helping people see the world through fresh eyes.

Admission is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, Noon to 4:00 PM.

More information about the exhibit, including a link to the digital Exhibition Engine, may be viewed here.

Jefferson Street Road Project Information
The City of Whitewater would like to inform residents of upcoming road construction activities and related impacts associated with the Jefferson Street Reconstruction Project.

Phase 1
Construction Starts: June 15, 2026
Project Limits: Jefferson Street from Starin Road northward, including the closure of the Starin Road/Jefferson Street intersection.
Property Access: Access will be maintained for properties located north of Starin Road.
Estimated Completion: July 17, 2026 (weather dependent)

Compost Site Schedule Changes
Due to construction -related access restrictions, the compost site will be open on Saturdays only beginning June 13, 2026, and will resume its regular Wednesday schedule on July 22, 2026.
Therefore, the compost site will be closed on the following Wednesdays:

• June 17
• June 24
• July 1
• July 8
• July 15
• 
  Temporary Compost Site Access Changes Beginning June 27
  Access to the compost site will be limited due to ongoing road construction.
  Visitors must enter:
• From Jefferson Street south of Starin Road, or
• From Starin Road via Fremont Street
  Please note: Starin Road will close between Newcomb Street and Jefferson Street.
  
  Dog Park Access
  Beginning June 15, residents visiting the Dog Park will need to park along the north side of Starin Road west of Jefferson Street.
  
  The City appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation throughout this important infrastructure improvement project. Additional updates will be provided as construction progresses.
  
  Brad Marquardt
  Director of Public Works
  (262) 473 -0139
  Bmarquardt@whitewater -wi.gov
  

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