News

On Saturday, May 17^th Studio 84 opened its doors to the community with a night of kindness and sharing and had its annual Gala event.  Studio 84 is a non-profit Art Studio, Gallery and Gift Shop in downtown Whitewater that provides fully accessible opportunities in the arts. There were artists proud to share their work, themed raffle baskets, and the room was filled with laughter and the telling of wonderful stories. Even though it was chilly outside it was nice and toasty warm inside listening to the delightful sounds of the Vox Quartet playing a whimsical medley of light-hearted tunes. The Co-Directors Ben Kelly and Lynnette Gmur were introduced, along with the board members in attendance. Karina Pittro, the Artistic Mentor, even made it there after appearing at her own graduation ceremony. She graduated with a BFA (Bachelors of Fine Arts) earlier in the day from UW-Whitewater. Another notable attendee was the recently retired founder of Studio 84, Deborah Blackwell. She was honored and appreciated for her innovation and many years of dedication to the studio and its artists. Everyone was sad to see her go, but excited for the continued success and growth of Studio 84. 

Studio 84
121 W Center Street
Whitewater, WI 53190

Studio, Gallery and Gift Shop Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Friday 10-5
Thursday 10-2

262-473-9845
www.studio84inc.org
info@studio84inc.org
facebook.com/Studio 84, Inc.

Photo credit: Tom Ganser

BLOOMINGTON, IL — Brooke Mason, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester of the 2024-25 academic year at Illinois Wesleyan University. Mason is a first-year majoring in Music Theatre.

Mason was among 812 students from 29 states and 27 countries named to the spring 2025 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.

First Citizens State Bank will be offering a free Homebuyers Workshop for anyone interested in learning about the path to homeownership. Thinking about setting down roots and buying a home? Or maybe you’re looking for something new. Please join us on Wednesday, June 4th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Main office at 207 W Main Street in Whitewater. This event will take place after business hours so please enter from the Fremont Street parking lot on the west side of the building.

Financing is a key step in what can be an overwhelming process. The expert lenders at First Citizens State Bank will help you understand the process, provide tips on how to prepare, and share information about programs available to assist with your down payment.

Kasey Reed from Banco Insurance will also share insights on selecting the right insurance options and Jon Marshall from Tincher Realty will discuss current housing market trends. Plus, there will be time to answer your questions.

Please send any questions ahead of time and RSVP (appreciated, but not required) by June 2nd to Kimberly Myszkewicz at (262) 473-1402 or kmyszkewicz@firstcitizensww.com or on the Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/share/1BapdTEon9/.

Member FDIC
Equal Housing Lender

Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser

Updated on 5/11/25 @ 8:15 a.m. to add the high school and middle school bands to the parade. Apologies for the unintentional omission.

Guest Speaker USAF Senior Master Sargeant Jessica Kienbaum

The Richmond Cemetery Association will hold its Annual Meeting on Monday, June 2, 2025 @ 7 pm, at the Richmond Town Hall.
Any questions may be directed to Wayne Redenius 262-203-4763. Hwy A Construction/Road Closure–Access to the hall should be available on County A from Hwy 89 east at Duck Inn, Hwy. 89 to Church Rd to County A on west, or use back entrance to Town property from Hwy 89.

Editor’s note: This announcement was submitted by Wayne Redenius.

Whitewater Unified School District administrators Dr. Terilyn Robles, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Melania Argueta Borchert, Multilingual Services Coordinator, led a session for educators and school leaders from across the state at the recent 2025 Wisconsin Association for Bilingual Education (WIABE) Conference.

The session, titled “Empowering Families as Advocates in Education through Partnership and Cultural Awareness, examined how the district has redesigned its family intake process to improve communication, promote advocacy, and establish partnerships with local organizations and businesses. The session was well attended and drew interest from educators and leaders seeking to implement similar strategies in their respective districts. Attendees cited WUSD’s approach as a model for sustainable and inclusive family engagement.

“Our goal is to equip families not just to engage in their child’s education, but also to become strong advocates who feel respected and valued,” said WUSD Multilingual Services Coordinator Melania Argueta Borchert. “We are building systems that honor culture and promote independence and empowerment.”

Additionally, 10 students from Whitewater High School performed a series of traditional Nicaraguan dances under the direction of WHS teacher Silvana del Val. The performance served as a representation of student heritage and received positive recognition from the audience.

“Our students did an incredible job representing their culture and our district,” said WUSD Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Terilyn Robles. “It was a beautiful reminder of the strength and joy that multiculturalism brings to our schools.”

WUSD’s involvement in the 2025 WIABE Conference reflects the district’s continued work in supporting multilingual learners, promoting cultural awareness, and fostering inclusive educational environments across the community. For more information on WIABE, visit www.wiabe.net.

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

This week we have an image from 1889 of the first waterworks building and water reservoir. Both are still extant at the corner of Fremont Street and Starin Road, although the keeper’s house shown in the photo is not extant. The Starin Park Water Tower, also from 1889, gets the most attention in the history of Whitewater’s water system, but these resources were also important components of the system, one of the earliest in the area.

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

1944P, Whitewater Historical Society

Fort HealthCare is pleased to welcome Dr. Jay MacNeal, DO, as Emergency Services Medical Director and EMS Medical Director at Fort HealthCare. As EMS Medical Director, Dr. MacNeal provides guidance to our EMS direct affiliations and serves as a
liaison to all EMS in the region.

Educated at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. MacNeal completed his residency at Akron General Medical Center and a fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine. Prior to accepting his roles with Fort HealthCare, Dr. MacNeal held a full-time position at Watertown Regional Medical Center. In May 2024, he was contracted by Fort HealthCare to work on a part-time basis and continued in that capacity when DEMI Healthcare Partners/Southern Wisconsin Emergency Associates (DEMI/SWEA) began staffing Fort HealthCare’s Emergency Department in October 2024.

“I am excited to join Fort HealthCare in a permanent role,” Dr. MacNeal shares. “The hospital leadership is passionate about caring for their local community, and I appreciate that vision. I look forward to working with the excellent team already in place and becoming more involved in the community.”

Sheryl Krause, Director and Clinical Nurse Specialist of Fort HealthCare Emergency Services, elaborates, “Since his first shift, Dr. MacNeal has demonstrated alignment with our mission and values. He engages with staff from other departments to ensure collaboration toward Fort HealthCare’s goal of providing the highest quality of care possible. Dr. MacNeal also strives for an environment of care that promotes staff wellness and allows staff members to be at their best. And, because of his past EMS training and experience, Dr. MacNeal recognizes the importance of working closely with his EMS colleagues as well.”

The Fort HealthCare Emergency Department is committed to serving our community and prepared to handle any situation. Our Emergency Department and Urgent Care is staffed by board certified emergency physicians and experienced advanced practice providers from DEMI Healthcare Partners/SWEA.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Fort HealthCare.

2025 Whitewater Storytelling Festival

Friday, May 30 / Saturday, May 31

Cultural Arts Center / Flat Iron Park

The Magical Music of May courtesy of 301 talented students and their gifted directors
Photos by Tom Ganser

WUSD Orchestras Spring Strings Festival directed by Patricia Nielsen – May 1

Beginning Orchestra = 20 students, Intermediate Orchestra = 10 students, Middle and High School Orchestra = 8 students

Middle School Bands directed by Justin Kamp – May 6

Justin Kamp writes, “The Whitewater Middle School Bands performed their Spring Band Concert on Tuesday, May 6.  The students performed four pieces in each grade that were all extremely challenging, but the hard work and dedication of the students paid off with a wonderful performance that showcased the learning that occurred this semester!”

Whitewater Middle School Bands directed by Justin Kamp

               6th Grade = 67 students

               7th Grade = 29 students

               8th Grade = 26 students

Sixth Grade Band – 67 students

Seventh Grade Band – 29 students

Eighth Grade Band – 26 students

WHS Bands directed by Sam Averill – May 7

Symphonic Band = 38 students, Wind Ensemble = 32 students

5th Grade Band directed by Nathan Roley – May 8

71 students