Whitewater Community Drumming Circle
Thursday 1:15 p.m.
Mark your calendars…..the next Community Drum Circle with Christine Hayes is set for this Thursday…12/18 at 1:15 pm in Olm Fellowship Hall at Fairhaven, 435 W. Starin Road. All skill levels and ages are welcomed. We hope to see a full room!
All welcome!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D6ngfnNFp/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Christine Hayes.
The Community Development Authority (CDA), the economic development organization for the City of Whitewater, exists to encourage and assist development in the City that creates jobs, increases the tax base, and improves quality of life in the community. In addition to offering multiple programs to help businesses grow, the CDA also offers a Down Payment Assistance Loan Program for first-time home buyers.
Earlier this month, two families [pictured above] moved closer to making their dream of owning a home a reality. They each received funds from the Loan Program which helped towards their down payment.
Mason Becker, Community Development Director says, “The City of Whitewater showed tremendous foresight in using Affordable Housing Extension funds from the closure of a Tax Increment District to support the Down Payment Assistance Program. We are proud to be able to work with local lenders, such as Fort Community Credit Union, to help make the home ownership dream a reality, along with bringing more residents into the Whitewater community. Nine individuals and families have already been assisted by this program, and we’re looking forward to helping many more achieve home ownership.”
City of Whitewater DPA Program Details:
Loan to support purchase of single-family home for use as borrower’s primary residence.
Loan is 0% interest.
Repayment of the loan is deferred until the home is sold or is no longer the borrower’s primary residence.
The maximum amount allowed for a second mortgage through the Homebuyer Program is $25,000 and may be applied to lender-required down payment.
Borrower Requirements:
Meet program income guidelines.
Be mortgage ready and able to secure affordable superior mortgage loan from a bank, credit union, USDA Rural Development, or another conventional lender.
Must qualify for a conventional loan through a reputable lender.
Land Contract purchase does not qualify.
To increase the probability that a house payment will remain affordable, the first mortgage used to purchase a home must be a fixed rate mortgage.
To be eligible for the Down Payment Assistance, applicants must have a combined household income of 100% or less of current HUD Income Limits by county (see HUD Income Limits Chart found through the link at the bottom of the article).
Property Requirements:
Home must be move in-ready and meet Housing Quality Standards at the time of purchase.
Property value must not exceed HUD established county limits.
Must be fee simple title at purchase.
Homes that qualify for Down Payment Assistance can be stick built, modular, new manufactured or condominium on a permanent foundation. A home on a rented or leased lot does not qualify.
Additional information can be found at: https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/571/Housing-Loan-Program
City of Whitewater property owners recently received a tax bill which, in nearly all cases, reflects a significant increase in city and school district property taxes. (The only exception would be if the assessed value of the property declined significantly.) The city has released a video which seeks to explain the tax increase, which is almost entirely a result of the police and fire/EMS referendum which passed last April. The video may be viewed here.
County residents and staff family members recently had a unique opportunity to tour the Jefferson County Courthouse upon completion of a multi-year renovation project. Guests at the November 12 Open House were encouraged to meet with design/construction, facilities, and county representatives; view maps, floor plans, and photographs; and enjoy a self-guided tour through the building.
The renovation added approximately 33,000 square feet of office, meeting, and mechanical space on the north, east, and south sides of the Courthouse, including expanded capabilities for the Jefferson County 911 Call Center and the Emergency Management Command Center, additional court hearing rooms, and a larger area for Geographic Information System (GIS) services.
More than 120,000 square feet of existing space was remodeled, with objectives to modernize furnishings, fixtures, and mechanical/electrical systems to gain efficiencies and maximize functionality for staff and residents. Related County departments are now located in shared suites, allowing for improved customer experience.
“It was wonderful to meet and visit with our constituents as they explored the renovated Courthouse,” said Michael Luckey, Jefferson County Administrator. “This location has been home to the County Courthouse since 1880, with the last major building update completed in 1966. The latest updates position us to serve the people of Jefferson County effectively both now and into the future.”
For additional information about the Jefferson County Courthouse, please contact John Fox, Director of Facilities Management, at JFox@jeffersoncountywi.gov or 920-674-7322.
We were thrilled to have 25 Little Dribblers (K-1st grade) and 25 Shooting Stars (2nd-3rd grade) participate in our six-week basketball clinic this year. Both groups worked hard throughout the year on basic basketball skills. All participants improved on their listening, dribbling, passing, defense, rebounding and shooting skills. The highlight of the clinic occurred when all participants demonstrated their skills at halftime of the Boys basketball game on December 5 against Jefferson. The Little Dribblers and Shooting Stars also had the chance to root for two of their coaches, Casey and Matt, as they led the Whippets to a great win over Jefferson.
Coach Bob stated: “If the Little Dribblers and Shooting Stars continue their dedication and positive work ethic regarding basketball practice and games, the future of boys and girls basketball will be very bright!”
The coaches and Whitewater Park District also want to extend a large THANK YOU to all the parents who helped with practices and supported these young basketball players.
We hope to see all of the kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders back next year. We wish our 3rd graders best of luck as they join traveling basketball.
Happy Holidays,
Coaches Gerry, Casey, Matt and Bob
(Submitted by Coach Bob Schramm)
| The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) is excited to announce a Call for Art for the 3rd Annual Artrageous Birds Juried Exhibition, a celebration of creativity inspired by the beauty and spirit of birds. This juried exhibition welcomes artists from the local and regional community to submit original work in both traditional and digital mediums. The exhibition will run from Thursday, March 5 through Sunday, March 29, 2026 at the WAA Cultural Arts Center Gallery 402 W. Main St., Whitewater. All accepted works will also be displayed online, offering artists the opportunity to reach a wide audience. As a juried exhibition, all entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges, and accepted works will be eligible for cash awards. A Best of Show award of $250 will be presented, along with first, second, and third place prizes in both the Traditional and Digital Salons. Additional honors such as Viewer’s Choice, Public’s Choice, and Honorable Mentions will also be awarded. Artists may submit work in the following categories: Traditional Salon: Painting, drawing, illustration, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, 3D art, and photography. Digital Salon: Digital painting, drawing, illustration, mixed media, and photography. Submissions are now open and close on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Notifications of acceptance will be sent on Monday, February 9, 2026. Accepted works for the Traditional Salon must be delivered to the gallery on Tuesday, March 3 (4 pm-6 pm) or Wednesday, March 4 (12 pm-4 pm). Artwork pick-up will take place on Monday, March 30 (4 pm-6 pm). Artists can submit entries through ArtCall, accessible via the WAA website at whitewaterarts.org/artrageous-birds-2026-call. Discounts for WAA members and students are available. “This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for artists to share their creativity and connect with audiences both in Whitewater and beyond,” said Exhibit Co-Chair Emily Painter. Exhibit Chair, Jeff McDonald added, “By expanding the mediums, welcoming regional artists, and offering cash awards, we are creating a vibrant showcase that reflects the diversity of artistic expression in our community.” For more information, please contact Exhibit Co-Chairs Jeff McDonald at waa.franachen@gmail.com or Emily Painter at wwartsalliance@gmail.com, or Gallery Director Kim Adams at wwartsalliance@gmail.com or 608-201-2151. |
| Website: whitewaterarts.org Facebook: facebook.com/wwartsalliance Gallery Hours: Thursdays-Sundays, 12 pm-4 pm Please Note: The gallery is closed outside of Gallery Exhibit Hours except for special events and is also closed when no show is currently running. “20 Years Of Celebrating The Arts And Creating Community!” |
On Saturday, December 13, the Whitewater Wrestling Team hosted the 14th Annual Whitewater Invitational involving 12 teams from around the area. After coming close over the years, for first time in the 14 years of hosting the tournament, the Whippet Wrestling Team found themselves in first place, outdistancing Waterford.
Individually the team had many great performances throughout the day with lots of pins along the way.
Leading the way were three champions in George Christon going 3-0, Gabe Crane going 5-0, and Brady Friend going 5-0. This was the first high school tournament championship for all three of these young men. George had 2 pins, Brady 4 pins, and Gabe pinned all 5 of his opponents. George came out really motivated after a tough loss on Thursday night and was on a mission. Gabe also was on a mission and was focused on doing what he does best in his victories. Brady has shown more confidence each time he steps on the mat, and he is fun to watch.
Coming in as runner ups after making the finals were Alex Morales, Dahlton Vogel, and Austin Retzlaff, with all 3 of them going 4-1 on the day. Alex showed some great technique and persistence in a couple of close matches during the day coming out on top. He learned how to fight through adversity in the semi-finals to win his match, eventually by pin. Dahlton wrestled very well all day before running into a tough opponent from Janesville Craig. Finally, Austin won a tight match in the quarter finals and then came out on top of a very tough competitor in the semifinals before falling in the finals to a strong student from Kenosha Bradford.
Coming in 4th place and just missing out on the podium were Julio Avelino, Duli Balazi, Max Babcock, and Deavion Olson. Each of these students wrestled well but just missed out on the podium.
Great work to the entire wrestling team on a great job on Saturday. Also thank you to the many hands that made this tournament run so smoothly.
The team is next in action on Tuesday night, December 16, when they host East Troy in a Rock Valley Conference match up. Both teams are 1-0 in the conference so come out and support the Whippet Wrestling Team!
Article Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Cora Schimming
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater held its 2025 winter commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Williams Center on the Whitewater campus.
On a bitter cold day in Whitewater, families and friends gathered to celebrate 888 undergraduate and graduate students who earned degrees. Graduates represented the College of Arts and Communication, the College of Business and Economics, the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Integrated Studies, the College of Letters and Sciences, and the School of Graduate Studies.
Chancellor Corey A. King presided over the two-hour event.
“We’re grateful you chose to be Warhawks,” King said. “We see you. We share in your emotions today.”
After a recognition of university administrators, faculty, and staff, student speaker Samuel Bardales addressed his fellow graduates and attendees. Bardales earned a BSE in mathematics education with a minor in business law, and served as a leader in residence life, Whitewater Student Government, Lambda Chi Alpha, and more organizations on campus.
“Whitewater has been more than a place to learn,” Bardales said. “It’s been a place to grow, to belong, and to become who we are today.”
Bardales shared some of his favorite memories and traditions on campus and acknowledged the role that challenges in his life played in making him ready for the real world.
“Failures — and bumps in the road — will come, but now we have experience, resilience, and each other,” he said.
Bardales, a native of Gurnee, Illinois, lauded those who took winding roads and faced the same challenges on the way to graduation.
“You should be so proud of yourself, because even when it felt impossible, you still kept fighting, and now look at where you are,” Bardales said.”
Commencement speaker Mark Perry addressed the audience next, focusing on the story of his father, Harold Perry, who graduated in 1933, and the role UW-Whitewater played in his life.
Perry and his family remain highly engaged with the university. UW-Whitewater recently announced the Harold M. Perry ’33 and Margaret A. Perry Endowed Faculty Chair, a $2 million gift that will support a select UW-Whitewater faculty member or members to tackle complex issues, develop long-term solutions, and positively affect Wisconsin’s economy and student success.
The Endowed Faculty Chair started as a $10,000 retirement gift from Harold’s employer in 1974. Harold asked that it be donated to UW-Whitewater to establish a scholarship for students like him.
On Saturday, Perry stood in the same spot as his father did 67 years ago — Harold gave the commencement address in 1958.
“(My dad) often spoke about how influential his time here was, how his Whitewater education gave him opportunity, purpose, and community,” Perry said. “I was privileged to visit campus this summer, and I immediately understood why he loved it. This is a special place, rich with history, tradition, and people who sincerely care about students and their future.”
Perry, who is retired after a career working in accounting and finance in Silicon Valley, remains active through governance of various community service ventures. He offered graduates the lessons he’s learned in mentoring young people for his 55 years of professional experience.
“By far, the most important of the four lessons is to figure out what you are good at and then work hard to master it,” Perry said.
Perry noted that his father — a first-generation college student — stood in the same place as Saturday’s graduates nearly a century ago.
“Be guided by your Whitewater education, your core values, and hard work,” he said.
After crossing the stage, graduates marched out to “The Warhawk Strut” as the ceremony concluded.
Ron Binning writes, “The Whitewater subdivision off of Indian Mound Parkway is really growing. At least six units have been sold already, and more are being built. Attached are two pictures taken November 17.”
Editor’s notes: Our thanks to Ron Binning for sharing these photos.
This nearly 11-acre site was first approved for a single-family development in 2000, with various plans having been discussed, and sometimes approved, since that time. The street and utilities were installed around 2000, and the barely used street was reconstructed before the developer began construction in 2024 of the proposed nineteen two-family home “Residences at Meadowview Court.”
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Edgerton Hospital Expands Access to Advanced Mobile Digital PET/CT Imaging
Edgerton Hospital and Health Services is enhancing its diagnostic imaging capabilities with the addition of a mobile digital PET/CT solution, delivered in partnership with Shared Medical Services. The new system — featuring United Imaging’s uMI 550 — supports Edgerton Hospital’s mission to provide high-quality, accessible imaging technology close to home for the patients and communities it serves.
“This investment reflects our continued commitment to bringing advanced technologies directly to the communities we serve,” said Marc Augsburger (MBA, BSN, RHCEOC), President and CEO at Edgerton Hospital. “By partnering with Shared Medical Services, we’re able to offer digital PET/CT imaging in a mobile format — giving our patients access to accurate, timely diagnostics without the need for long-distance travel.”
The uMI 550 is equipped with advanced features including time-of-flight, point spread function, HYPER Iterative (ROSEM), uAI HYPER DLR (Deep Learning Reconstruction), deviceless gating, motion head correction, and metal artifact correction. This technology enables healthcare providers to expand clinical capacity and deliver precise, low-dose imaging efficiently and reliably.
With a 2.9mm ultra-high NEMA PET resolution and a 24 cm axial field of view, the system supports enhanced lesion detection and faster patient throughput. Built with the same uEXPLORER PET technology that powers United Imaging’s flagship molecular imaging platforms, the uMI 550 enables future-proof flexibility and consistent image quality across a wide range of clinical applications.
“United Imaging designs our technology to support our mission of Equal Healthcare for All,” said Jeffrey M. Bundy, Ph.D., CEO of United Imaging Healthcare Solutions. “This mobile solution empowers organizations like Edgerton Hospital and Shared Medical Services to expand access and bring high-end imaging to both large systems and underserved regions.”
About Shared Medical Services
Shared Medical Services is a national leader in mobile diagnostic imaging solutions, offering PET/CT, MRI, and CT through the largest OEM-serviced and OEM-certified mobile imaging fleet in the nation. With decades of experience and a commitment to excellence, SMS partners with healthcare providers to deliver cutting-edge mobile and in-house imaging equipment and services. Learn more at https://sharedmed.com.
About Edgerton Hospital and Health Services
Edgerton Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital. It merited a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital Best Practices in Patient Satisfaction designation, in 2024 and 2025, from the National Rural Health Association. Edgerton Hospital has also been recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience by the Women’s Choice Award®. The hospital and its clinics serve Edgerton, Milton, Whitewater, and surrounding communities. Founded in 1923, the facility offers inpatient, outpatient, surgical, diagnostic, emergency, orthopedics, pain management, swing bed, primary care and rehabilitation services. For additional information about Edgerton Hospital, please visit www.edgertonhospital.com.