Where: 329 E. Cravath St., Whitewater When: Saturday 9/27 – 9a -4p Details: House, garage, and basement cleanout sale! Everything is $1 unless marked. Women’s clothes size S/M, Men’s clothes size L/XL. Some furniture, priced to sell. Full-size refrigerator in great working condition- $50. Lots of miscellaneous items. Stop and see, there’s something for everyone and we want everything gone!
Where: N5907 State Rd. 89 Delavan (3/4 mile south of Duck Inn). When: Friday + Saturday 9/26 & 9/27 8am-4pm both days. Details: Misc household, outdoor items, cookbooks, KitchenAid mixer, misc Christmas, women’s Harley coat/boots, dog toys, bed and kennel like new.
Updated 9/23/25 @ 11:45 p.m. to add Tom Ganser photos at end of the post.
The Greater Whitewater Committee (GWC)’s 13th annual Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, Half Marathons Teams, and 5k was a success raising money for local charities.
This year, the DWS team worked hard to put together brand-new maps that allowed runners an exhilarating experience while still highlighting all of the amazing qualities Whitewater has to offer. The entire DWS team wants to give a special thank you to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; with their help and hospitality, we were able to continue to host this safe and fun community event.
With this new course, runners had the chance to finish the race in the University’s football field, Perkins Stadium, on the 50-yard line! Participants of the 5K got to see some of Whitewater’s’ incredible campus, beautiful nature trails, and lively downtown area! Runners on the new 13.1 course got to experience a significant course in Whitewater’s racing history, as they went along part of Whitewater’s Marathon Qualifiers in the 80s and 90s! Because of these two maps, the 13th annual race was themed as a “Retro Race,” a showcase to the history of Whitewater seen in a new light!
This year, the DWS brought in over 420 participants, 180 volunteers and nearly 70 sponsors. The DWS team was thrilled to welcome runners from so many different states! The weather was nice for the runners with clear skies and temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s.
Chancellor Corey A. King arrived at the race bright and early Sunday morning to give the welcoming remarks and wished all of the participants a great race. He was joined by Whitewater Unified School District’s new superintendent, Samuel Karns, who helped kick off the exciting day!
Thank you to all of our runners for coming out to participate! A special shout out to all of our top placing racers!
The top runners in the Women’s Half Marathon: ● First Place: 1:18:55.29 – Runner 1786 Jessa Victor ● Second Place: 1:21:04.87- Runner 1771 Jenny Zwagerman ● Third Place: 1:24:40.25- Runner 1775 Jenny Simpson
The top runners in the Men’s Half Marathon: ● First Place: 1:07:51.20 Runner 1626 John Dewitt ● Second Place: 1:09:35.18 Runner 1676 John Liddell ● Third Place: 1:11:13.08 Runner 1636 David Fassbender
The top runners in the Women’s 5K: ● First Place: 23:58.90- Runner 2476 Kate Omernik ● Second Place: 24:12.31- Runner 2456 Kirstin Colligan ● Third Place: 24:12.37- Runner 2459 Jessica Krause
The top runners in the Men’s 5K: ● First Place: 16:57.07- Runner 2423 Tyler Zwagerman ● Second Place: 17:24.02- Runner 2249 Andrew Balistreri ● Third Place: 18:18.85- Runner 2249 Nate Holden
Thanks to all of the hard work of our amazing volunteers and sponsors, the 13th Annual DWS proved once again, to achieve its mission of bringing people together in support of a good cause. All proceeds will be distributed to the DWS’ four charity partners: Bethel House of Whitewater, J-Hawk Aquatic Club, Warhawk Athletics through the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Foundation, and Whitewater LEADS. Runners and volunteers joined together after the race to celebrate the day’s accomplishments, enjoying a free beverage from post-race celebration sponsor, 841 Brewhouse.
“I wanted to give a shout out to all of our runners, volunteers, and of course, the University for hosting us,” said Race Director Dawson Miller, “We are all very honored that everyone came together to make this community event possible once again, and we are happy for the overwhelmingly positive feedback on the new course.”
The DWS team would like to thank all who came out in support of the race. The entire community has been a part of such an amazing event that has greatly helped charities across Whitewater.
The Planning Committee is already starting on next year’s race! Save the date for September 20, 2026 for our fourteenth anniversary of the Discover Whitewater Series. Stay tuned for updates – we hope everyone will join us!
Photos below are of the start of the half marathon, from very start to photos as runners passed, courtesy of Tom Ganser.
Photos below are of the start of the 5k,from the very start to runners along the way passing Tom Ganser.
About the DWS
The goal of the DWS is to promote the City of Whitewater and highlight its greatest features, while keeping everyone in the community active. All the proceeds from the race are donated to local non-profit partners: Bethel House (which provides interim housing for homeless families), J-Hawk Aquatic Club, Warhawk Athletics through the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Foundation, and Whitewater LEADS. The DWS partners with the city, business community, and university to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit www.runwhitewater.com.
The Cultural Arts Center is proud to present a Latino Heritage Pop-Up, a three day celebration honoring the artistic contributions and cultural richness of Latino art and culture in Wisconsin. Sponsored by McCullough LTC Pharmacy, this event brings together a diverse group of artists and performers whose work reflects the vibrancy, resilience, and depth of Latino heritage.
Among the featured artists is Edith V. Wence, a young,contemporary artist from Whitewater whose work explores themes of identity and transformation through expressive visual language. Her work invites viewers to reflect on the beauty found in everyday materials and the stories they carry.
Thom Romero, an interdisciplinary artist from Milwaukee, brings a meditative and layered approach to his work. With degrees in Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Romero bridges drawing, painting, printmaking, and large-scale fiber installations. His work documents memory and shared histories, using color and line to unlock narratives embedded in the surface of his materials.
Emmanuel Guerra, a mixed media artist with an MFA from UW–Milwaukee and a BFA from Ball State, creates evocative assemblages, drawings, and paintings that explore intergenerational memory and personal identity. Guerra’s art is rooted in the intersection of their Midwest upbringing and Mexican heritage, offering intimate reflections on grief, resilience, and cultural continuity.
Marco Wence, a Latino musician from Whitewater, is known for his expressive vocal performances and contributions to the local music scene. His solo rendition of “Who Am I?” from Les Misérables earned him an Exemplary Performance Award at the WSMA State Solo/Ensemble Festival. Wence’s music blends theatrical storytelling with Latinx heritage, creating a powerful and heartfelt experience for audiences.
The celebration culminates in a special event titled Hispanic Roots, held on Sunday, September 28 from 2pm-4pm. This gathering will feature live music, artist talks, and community engagement, offering a space for reflection, connection, and celebration of Latino culture.
The Latino Heritage Pop-Up runs from September 25 through 28 at the Cultural Arts Center in Whitewater. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Cultural Arts Center directly.
The special event Hispanic Roots on Sunday, September 28 from 2–4 PM is completely free. It’s a perfect opportunity to connect, reflect, and celebrate Latino heritage together.
Hungry for a great pork loin sandwich? Come visit the FFA Alumni before the Homecoming game on Friday evening between 5:00 and 7:00 in the back of the high school!
John Schneider of Schneider Brothers Plastering and Stucco, repaired water damage to the substrate of the “Prairie Tillers” mural at the intersection of Center and Whitewater Streets.
This repair is in preparation for the mural’s second coat of MSA Varnish which is scheduled for the week of Monday, September 22nd. The damaged area will be re-painted and the varnish will protect the colors from sun damage.
Sheriff Travis Maze reports that on September 17, 2025, at 2:22 p.m. Deputies responded to a 911 call advising of a two-vehicle fatal traffic crash involving an SUV and a Semi Tractor Trailer on CTH N just south of Carnes Rd., in the Town of Cold Spring.
Preliminary investigation at the scene shows that the Semi Tractor Trailer was traveling northbound on CTH N when it began to enter the eastside gravel shoulder of the roadway. The driver of the Semi Tractor Trailer then overcorrected back onto the roadway and crossed the center line into the southbound lane. The second vehicle that was involved was traveling southbound on CTH N and attempted to make an evasive maneuver onto the west shoulder when it was struck by the Semi Tractor Trailer.
When Deputies arrived both the driver and the front passenger of the vehicle that was struck were trapped in the vehicle. Life saving measures were attempted, however both the driver and the passenger were pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Semi Tractor Trailer was uninjured.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Whitewater Fire Department and EMS, the Jefferson County Medical Examiner, as well as staff from Jefferson County Emergency Communications.
The incident is still being investigated by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Investigation Team.
The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin has awarded funding to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to provide resources for the recruitment of students grades 6 through college-age and to offer water-related experiential learning opportunities and cross-campus collaborative courses as crucial parts of the pipeline for water-related jobs here in Wisconsin.
The overall project, in collaboration with UW-Milwaukee and UW-La Crosse, is part of a larger collaborative effort geared toward student success and workforce development in water-related research and industry.
Elisabeth Harrahy, professor of biology at UW-Whitewater, is collaborating on “Programmatic Funding Building Capacity for Water Careers, Education, and Freshwater Policy Connections.” UW-Whitewater was awarded $11,431 in funding and will be one of three UW campuses that will implement intensive hands-on courses that were developed specifically for the Freshwater Collaborative.
Harrahy worked with UW-La Crosse colleague Tisha King-Heiden and UW-Milwaukee colleague Michael Carvan of UW-Milwaukee to develop the collaborative field course “Water Pollution Field and Lab Methods,” which will be offered in summer of 2027 as part of this grant. Students will gain experience in field sampling, water quality and chemical analyses and toxicity testing, and they will spend time on a research boat.
“Each of the 13 Universities of Wisconsin offers expertise in some area of water, whether it be the Great Lakes, large rivers, water pollution, water policy, or water business. Collaborative courses allow students on one campus to take advantage of expertise on other campuses and to broaden their perspective and training,” says Harrahy. “Solutions to today’s biggest water challenges — such as agricultural water management and water pollution — will require such collaboration and interdisciplinary training.”
Biology is a top-10 major at UW-Whitewater, where students can specialize in marine and freshwater ecology as well as ecology, evolution, and behavior, cell/physiology or pre-biomedical professions. Students who study in marine biology and freshwater ecology often seek careers in conservation, public policy, research, education and other related fields. Over the next decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment opportunities will grow by 7% for environmental scientists and specialists, 7% for biological technicians, and 4% for zoologists and wildlife biologists.
A portion of the current grant will be used to provide activities for middle and high school students that are designed to raise the awareness of water-related issues and opportunities. In June 2022, Harrahy co-led with Jessica Orlofske (UW-Parkside) “Freshwater Camp: A Summer Field Experience for High School Juniors,” a water-focused high school camp in Southeastern Wisconsin that highlighted important freshwater habitats in the region, built confidence and skills with hands-on field and laboratory activities, and introduced potential freshwater career opportunities to students who spent three days at UW-Whitewater and three days at UW-Parkside, staying in the residence halls at night.
The funding for the project is part of a statewide initiative, backed by the Wisconsin State Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers, to tackle Wisconsin’s grand water challenges and support curriculum development, undergraduate research opportunities, career development, and field training experiences for students interested in studying water-related fields at the 13 Universities of Wisconsin.
The 19 new projects involve faculty, staff and students from all 13 Universities of Wisconsin as well as dozens of partners from industry, government, local communities, tribal nations, nonprofits and K-12 education. They will increase research and training opportunities for high school, undergraduate and graduate students and will address Wisconsin’s biggest water challenges, including PFAS and phosphorus pollution.
“The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin shows the power of our universities when we come together to address Wisconsin’s needs,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. “By expanding water-related degree programs and providing students with professional training opportunities, our universities are preparing future leaders while also strengthening Wisconsin’s economy, protecting our natural resources, and serving communities and industries throughout our state.”
Chad Tjugum, an entrepreneurship major from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, founded Recrura, a startup driven by artificial intelligence that matches employers with candidates that fit the qualifications of open jobs. The platform tackles inefficiencies in the job search process using agentic AI, in which AI agents take autonomous action to achieve pre-defined goals as established by humans.
Bella Biever, who graduated with a B.S. in communication in May, oversees the startup’s marketing and analytics. Sadiq Wanyaka, a computer science major from Madison, Wisconsin, is a programmer for the company. UW-Madison student John Mertz is also a programmer for the team.
“All of these students are intelligent, capable people — the kind you want to represent the university,” said Bill Dougan, professor of management and co-director of UW-Whitewater’s Launch Pad, a startup business accelerator that provided mentoring and support to Tjugum.
Recrura, which also launched an AI voice interview practice tool for students over the summer, advanced from a field of 24 teams that gave a virtual pitch to a panel of AI and business experts in July. The team will present its startup plans in person on September 19-20 in College Station, Texas, for cash prizes awarded to the top three placers and the opportunity to be paired with an entrepreneur mentor from Texas A&M for one year.
Other finalists include student teams from the University of Houston, George Washington University, Southern Methodist University, the University of Maryland, the University of Texas, and Texas A&M.
Initially, students from 37 universities across the nation submitted 103 proposals for the competition. Proposals were evaluated on their potential for innovation, market potential, feasibility, and impact, according to the university’s Mays Business School.
The road to Texas
Recrura entered the competition after being invited to e-Fest, a prestigious national pitch competition for undergraduate students run by a foundation at St. Thomas University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Out of 220 teams who entered, Recrura earned a spot in the top 25 and a small cash prize.
As they compete around the nation for startup funding, the team is working with universities to build professional talent pools they can eventually sell to businesses.
“They’ve put this startup together in the kind of rapid fashion that is often described in the press,” Dougan said. “The team members have been working very hard on the business, and they have achieved some pretty notable success in a short period of time.”
Biever also participated in the Innovation Challenge, a sub-competition at the e-Fest event, and won a cash prize as a member of the winning team in that contest. The contest challenged students to create plans and a presentation for a brand-new business and present the plan to judges within a five-hour window.
An accomplished graduate
A Stewartville, Minnesota, native, Biever was initially attracted to UW-Whitewater’s location between Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago.
“I loved how updated everything was,” she said. “As soon as I stepped onto campus, it felt like a place I was going to grow. The more I learned about UW-Whitewater, the more I liked it.”
Biever was highly decorated as an executive board member of UW-Whitewater’s DECA team during her tenure on campus. She was hired before graduation and continues to work as a wedding planner with Graceful Events in Lake Geneva.
A seasoned startup veteran
Tjugum’s path to Whitewater included a gap year after graduating from Sun Prairie East High School. His journey at UW-Whitewater includes work on a rare coin wholesale company that’s earned Launch Pad assistance and received several awards as part of the DECA team.
“I had a couple of friends who went there, and I visited them and saw the campus,” he said. “I enjoyed the process, the programs, and the professors during my time on campus.”
Tjugum continues to work in consultation with others, including gener8tor, one of the most successful business accelerators in the nation that has provided funding for more than 1,600 startups.
“Startups rely on outside team members and resources as much as inside team members and resources because of the uncertainty and the significant amounts of change, revision, and exploration required to make them successful,” Dougan said. “The resulting need for creativity, effort, insight, and improvisation prompt the folks who fund startups to bet on a team as much as they bet on an idea.”
A transfer success story
Wanyaka is also a Launch Pad scholar and is a member of UW-Whitewater’s national championship-winning Enactus team that will represent the United States later this month — one week after the Recrura team trip to Texas A&M — at the Enactus World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand.
Wanyaka stepped onto campus in 2023 after transferring from another institution, citing affordability and community as the top draws to UW-Whitewater. He quickly discovered the resources — including the talented people — available on campus.
“The things I wanted out of UW-Whitewater came true,” he said. “I had a great love for programming, so I couldn’t grow into entrepreneurship smoothly. I needed support for that transition, and that’s when I joined clubs like Enactus and worked with people like Chad.”
Faculty support along the way
Each member of the dynamic Warhawk trio has benefitted from their experiences at UW-Whitewater as they continue to pitch Recrura around the nation.
Dougan and Frank Lanko, business career services manager at UW-Whitewater, are advising the group. Wanyaka lauded the support of Dougan, Lanko, and David Gee, a co-director of Launch Pad, through the process of building the business.
“They have been with us through the competitions and helping us practice our presentation styles,” Wanyaka said. “They’ve been there from the beginning.”
Finance Committee Meeting – Tuesday, Sept. 23 @ 5:00 p.m. Agenda 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/82978131573 Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US Webinar ID: 832 7813 1573
