News

Proceeds from all sales on Thursday, October 23rd from 4:00-9:00 pm will go towards the Bus Fund.

The Whitewater Grocery Co-Op (Grocery Co.) will be holding its annual meeting on Wednesday October 22, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Engagement Center located at 1260 W. Main St., Whitewater. During the meeting, Owners will discuss the future community owned grocery store.

The Grocery Co., as it is commonly called, was established in 2017 when the Sentry Store closed. Since then, the Co-Op has gained over 900 Owners and continues to remain active. Over the past 18 months, the focus has been on site selection. Starting with a list of over thirty possible locations, the Board looked at sites from every angle, including: number of parking stalls, space rental costs, income projections, food desert status, and more.

While the ALDI store coming to town has reduced some of the food desert status, the east side of town remains a food desert. Additionally, the Whitewater Grocery Co-Op remains steadfast in its commitment to locally sourced, sustainable, reasonably priced products. Market studies conducted since the opening of ALDI continue to indicate a strong market for the Grocery Co. in Whitewater’s food ecosystem.

Whitewater Grocery Co-Op is your (future) friendly neighborhood grocer supporting fresh and local products. We value: community ownership, quality customer service, welcoming everyone, a lively learning and gathering space, and sustainable practices: people, planet, profit.

Former Wisconsin Poet Laureate and UW-Whitewater Professor Nicholas Gulig presents a lyrical reflection on his return to Wisconsin adjoined to the literary echoes of Fort Atkinson’s famed 20th century poet Lorine Niedecker (1903–1970). “Welcome Poets” is a PBS Wisconsin production that connects the shared and divergent landscapes, personal histories and poetry of both writers — exploring themes of place and displacement, nature and culture, alienation and belonging. Gulig retraces the terrain of his childhood and coming of age as a Thai-American growing up in Eau Claire, his education and career taking him out of state and abroad to Southeast Asia and ultimately back to Wisconsin — landing in Fort Atkinson, the same town where Lorine Niedecker lived her entire life, writing and publishing in relative obscurity until shortly before her death in 1970. Gulig’s story accompanies Niedecker’s biography and poetry in a lyrical, layered conversation, her words etched in the geographies where Gulig is reestablishing home.

The film screening will be followed by a discussion with former Wisconsin Poet Laureate, UW-Whitewater and film writer/narrator Professor Nicholas Gulig and Colin Crowley, productor, director and videographer. 

This event will be held on Wednesday, October 22 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at the Summers Auditorium in the University Center at UW-Whitewater. It is free and open to the public. No registration required. 

More info: https://events.uww.edu/lectures/event/welcome-poets 

This Tuesday, October 21, will be the season finale for the outdoor City Market, from 4-7 p.m.

The market will be moving to the Cravath Lakefront Community Center on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon beginning November 8.

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office released the following press release on October 20:

“On October 20, 2025 at approximately 8:00 a.m., the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Whitewater Police Department, Milton Police department along with Fire personnel from Whitewater and Lakeside fire were dispatched to a traffic crash with injuries. The location of the crash was in the 11000 block of E CTH N in Lima Township.

The investigation revealed a passenger car driven by a 56-year-old female of Whitewater was WB on E CTH N. There was a passenger SUV being driven by a 53-year-old male of Janesville traveling EB on E CTH N. The WB car had gone into the EB lane with the front of both vehicle’s colliding in a virtually head on collision. There were no other occupants of either vehicle. Both operators were wearing their seatbelts.

The driver of the passenger car was pronounced deceased on scene due to injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the SUV was treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital.

The Rock County Medical Examiner’s Office, Rock County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team and Rock County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team assisted with this crash.

The name of the deceased will later be released by the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The crash investigation is ongoing.”

CURTIS N. FELL
SHERIFF

Online orders may be placed directly on this form.

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by the J-Hawk Aquatic Club.

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Updated 10/19/25 @ 3:30 p.m. to add contact information for photographer.

The 13th annual Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, Half Marathon Teams, & 5K were run on September 21, 2025. For the first time the races did not begin at the high school, due to the construction on Walworth Avenue. The start was on Schwager Drive near Perkins Stadium, and the finish line was on the football field.

Many thanks to Tom Ganser for this extensive photo gallery. Email tganser33@gmail.com to inquire about copies.

5k Judy Valdez of Whitewater

Whitewater Public Library Board of Trustees – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes discussion regarding new library logo; Discussion and possible action concerning a new Strategic Plan.
Cravath Lakefront Conference Room
312 W Whitewater St.,
*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.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87195021449?pwd=Qsc6P46bSnEtf2sk9PxW2hGDiBlUmU.1
Meeting ID: 871 9502 1449
Passcode: z6ZZaDE9
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US

City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Presentation and Brief Overview of the 2026-2027 Draft Budget, Resolution Authorizing Application for Wisconsin Department of Administration Non State Grant Funding – Starin Park Splash Pad and Park Enhancement Project, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Presentation on Single Family Housing Program Proposal, Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Rate Increase for the Stormwater Utility.
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St.
*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.
Please click the link below to
join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89984012939?pwd=4ecXTRFGyft51TCDOua1IGnhFM1bkd.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 899 8401 2939
Passcode: 810474

City of Whitewater Alcohol Licensing Committee – Wednesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and Possible Action regarding All You Can Drink specials at Class “B” Liquor
establishments in the City of Whitewater
Whitewater Municipal Building, Cravath Lakefront
Room, 2nd Floor,, 312 West Whitewater St.
*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.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81339674272?pwd=SPqYz9w6xUo4ztD4wTFHz32aSDoZw7.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 813 3967 4272
Passcode: 364395