It’s Not Thanksgiving Without Pie

Last year, the Whitewater Food Pantry distributed 149 Thanksgiving meals…and no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without pie! Jake, Elizabeth and Aaron Katzman are participating in the Jefferson County 4-H Pizza & Pie Fundraiser. For each Pine Cone Restaurant Pie Gift Certificate ($11) you order from the Katzman kids for donation to the Whitewater Food Pantry, they will match – up to 75. Your $11 donation, will turn into two pies for the Whitewater Food Pantry…all while supporting 4-H, a program near and dear to the Katzman family! Please help them reach their goal of donating 150 pies!

Orders are due by Monday, September 30. To order gift certificates, contact Katy Katzman at 262-903-6727 or katzman@idcnet.com.

4-H has given us so many opportunities, so we would like to give back by not only supporting Jefferson County 4-H through this fundraiser but also the Whitewater Food Pantry!

Medals Won at Hotly Contested Verona Cross Country Invitational

Report courtesy of Chad Carstens: Trenten Zahn and Gio Anello medaled for the Whippet boys CC team in the hotly contested Verona Invitational on Saturday, 9/7. Trenten placed 20th with a strong time of 17:16 and Gio placed 39th in 17:38. Peter Zimdars ran a superb race to finish as the team’s 3rd runner in 19:48. Their efforts boosted the boys to a 4th place finish out of 8 teams in our division. The JV team was led by Evan Schepp and Marcus DePorter who finished with times of 21:34 and 21:38, respectively. The JV team finished in 17th out of 21 scoring teams.


Facing the equally tough field, the girls were led by Trinity Nickels who placed 129th in 25:14 and Gwen Truesdale placing 137th in 26:37. The varsity girls finished in 8th place from their division. The JV girls were led by Jenny Villarreal 255th in 28:44 and Nikole Pelot 289th in 30:18. Their efforts helped the team finish in 16th place overall. 


It was a strong day overall for the program and the team looks to complete some great training this week as they are off from racing before returning to the starting line on Tuesday, September 17th at the Marshall Invitational.

10th Annual Fran Achen Photography Competition at Whitewater’s Cultural Arts Center in July

The 10th Annual Fran Achen Photography Competition kicks off July 5 and runs through July 28 at the Cultural Arts Center on 402 West Main Street in Whitewater. The Whitewater Arts Alliance honors Fran Achen with this yearly competition.

An opening reception will be July 7 from 1-3 p.m. with awards at 2 p.m. More than 34 people of all ages and experiences in photography will exhibit their work.

Jeff McDonald, chair of the show and Whitewater Arts Alliance board member, said, “The Fran Achen show is truly one of the highlights of the year and the Cultural Arts Center is one of Whitewater’s gems. Together they provide a showcase for outstanding work created by both established and aspiring area photographers. It is exciting to see the many ways these artists interpret the world through their images. Fran Achen was an exceptional photographer and his catalog of images continues to inspire. I eagerly await this year’s event and hope to see you there.”

Fran Achen was a longtime Whitewater resident, teacher, and local photographer. He is most remembered for his photographic collection which chronicles the history of Whitewater.

Born in Kenosha in 1916, his interest in photography began after high school. He spent almost two years delivering cars for the Nash automobile factory. “It seemed like such fun to explore America, so that started my interest in photography and geography, which became my major in college,” he said.

In 1938, when Fran enrolled at Whitewater State Teachers College, it was the first year enrollment went over one thousand. Fran remembered being the last one to register, making the enrollment that year 1,008 students. While an undergraduate student at the college, he served as a photographer for the Royal Purple and the former Minneiska yearbook, as well as working as a freelance photographer for the Janesville Gazette, making “a buck a picture” which helped to pay his way through school.

While attending college, Fran met his wife, Lydia. They were married for 55 years and had three children – Chap, Randi, and Jim.

The mission of the Whitewater Arts Alliance is to promote the visual and performing arts through an alliance of artists, individuals, educational resources, and organizations to promote creativity and diversity that will serve to educate and enrich the lives of the residents of the Whitewater community and surrounding areas.

Calling All Soccer Goalkeepers Ages 10-15!

The Whitewater Youth Soccer Club is sponsoring a no-charge goalie clinic for any interested players between the ages of 10 and 15 starting Wednesday, July 3. Each session will run from 6:00 until 7:30, and there will be four sessions total (July 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th). No need to sign up ahead of time – just bring your child to the Moraine View Soccer Fields before the first session to fill out the participation waiver form (we will have extra copies on hand for you to fill out). Also don’t forget to bring a ball, soccer cleats and shin guards, and a big bottle of water! Finally, please direct any questions to whitewateryouthsoccer@gmail.com.

Whitewater Historical Society Creates New Photographic Exhibition

Focusing on its mission to collect, preserve and educate about the history of Whitewater and the surrounding area, the Whitewater Historical Society has created a new exhibition of historic photographs to be on display at the Depot Museum on Whitewater Street. “We have thousands of very good historic photographs in our archives and this exhibition is our chance to share some of the best that we have with our members and visitors,” according to Carol Cartwright, President of the historical society board of directors and Depot Museum curator. “We have attempted to provide those who view the exhibit with a wide range of topics photographically covering the time period of the late nineteenth century into the twentieth century,” Cartwright added.

Historical society members and visitors to the depot museum can expect to see historic photographs that deal with a number of topics such as Whitewater citizens, U.W. Whitewater, schools, important historic buildings and street scenes among others. Those who observe the display will also see a variety of types of photographs including tin types, stereo views, cabinet cards, silver prints and glass negatives. Snapshots to formal studio views are included throughout the exhibit. Simple easy-to-read labels describe many of the rare views of the interesting history of the City of Whitewater and the surrounding area.

The new photographic exhibit at the Depot History Museum is located at 301 Whitewater Street, Whitewater and is open Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. during the downtown City Market, Friday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. or by appointment by calling 1-262-473-6820. Admission is free and donations are welcomed.

Pictured here are Carol Cartwright, Whitewater Depot Museum Curator and Lizzie Farrey preparing the new Whitewater Historical Society exhibit of historic photographs from the Society’s archive. The exhibit is now open for public viewing.

Whippets compete at regional meet; Up Next: WIAA State Championships

Article by Coach Maas

The Whippet Track and Field Family had a busy week, first competing at the Regional Meet on Monday at Beloit Turner. From there they qualified several individuals and relays for the Sectional Meet in East Troy. There the Whippets then qualified 5 relays and 4 individuals for the WIAA State Track and Field Championship in La Crosse. Qualifying for State for the girls were the 4X200 and 4X100 M Relays. Those relays consist of Kacie Carollo, Morgan Radaj, Grace Black, and Abby Grosinske, with Amanda Tovar, Hailey Murphy, and Olive Coburn serving as alternates. The 4X200 got things going running a season best of 1:48.19 and. When the dust settled in the 4X100 the girls ran another season best touring the track in an outstanding time of 50.93 finishing 2nd. The girls are now ready to show what they can do at the State Meet.

On the boys’ side the 4X800 M Relay with Juan Cuellar, Gio Anello, Ignacio Cuevas, and Trenten Zahn rolled to a season best time of 8:17.20 and earned themselves a trip to La Crosse. Jared Clapper kept things rolling qualifying for State in the 100 M Dash, finishing 3rd in a photo finish with a time of 11.40. The Italian Stallion Avery Caputo took home gold in the wheelchair division of the 100 M Dash, and Sashi Popke delivered another gold winning the pole vault, skying 13’ 6”. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was Joe Gmur’s personal best in the high jump. Gmur leaped 6’ 2” to earn himself a trip to state. Then it was time for the boys 4X200 M Relay to step up to the starting line. Jack Mayer, Juan Cuellar, Will Leibbrand, and Jared Clapper were only seeded fourth coming out of regionals, but they had other plans. Setting a blistering pace from the very start, the quartet of sprinters ran the second fastest time in school history with a 1:30.72 winning the relay and cementing their spot at the state meet. Next it was time for the 4X100 Meter Relay consisting of the same 4 gentlemen. All they did was win again lighting a fire on the track with a time of 43.67. Once again running the second fastest time in school history.

The track and field team would like to thank all of their supporters who came to sectionals to cheer them on. It was great having everyone there. Now, it’s on to La Crosse for the WIAA State Track and Field Championships.

Upcoming City & Community Meetings: Week of May 20 – May 26

Library Board of Trustees Meeting – Monday, May 20, 2019, at 6:30 pm at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library

More information, including agenda


Common Council – Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at 6:30 pm at the Whitewater Municipal Building- Community Room

More information, including agenda


CDA Board Meeting – Thursday, May 23, 2019, at 5:30 pm at the Innovation Center, Room 105

More information, including agenda