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Today is Wednesday, May 13, 2026
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Visit the College of Arts and Communication website to explore our full list of events. Reserve your spot for upcoming ticketed shows or enjoy our enriching non-ticketed events for free. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to engage with creativity and culture – join us and let the arts ignite your imagination!
Whitcomb/deVries Duo
September 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Light Recital Hall
Celebrate the 20th tour of the acclaimed cello/piano duo Vincent deVries and Benjamin Whitcomb as they return to the stage with a dynamic program of works by Beethoven and Dohnányi. This seasoned duo promises an evening of unforgettable music. Don’t miss this milestone performance from two masters.
Matthew Onstad – Faculty Trumpet Recital
September 21 at 1 p.m.
Light Recital Hall
Join Dr. Matthew Onstad for a captivating Faculty Trumpet Recital, joined by pianist Dr. Diana Shapiro. This dynamic program of trumpet and piano repertoire features the world premiere of an exciting new work by acclaimed composer Su Lian Tan. Experience the brilliance and artistry of two outstanding faculty performers in an unforgettable afternoon of music.
Misty Shore Duo
September 25 & 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Light Recital Hall
Misty Shore Duo, including piano and live electronic performance, will present 2 portrait concerts of work by the members of the duo. The first concert, on September 25, will feature the mature works by pianist Chen-Hui Jen, while the second, on September 26, will include 2 large-scale works by electronic performer Jacob Sudol.
“The Friend”
Tuesday, September 23, 1 p.m.
(Comedy/Drama) Rated R (language)
1 hour, 59 minutes (2025).
When a solitary writer adopts and bonds with a Great Dane that belonged to a late friend, she begins to come to terms with her past and her own creative life. Starring Naomi Watts, Bill Murray and Apollo (Great Dane). “A fresh, fun, sentimental and meaningful film” says The Hollywood Reporter.
Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $10 and non-residents is $15. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes out of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/
The University of Dubuque is excited to celebrate the academic accomplishments of undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students who graduated this summer.
Whitewater, WI
Jonathan Mayer, Master in Management – Aviation Leadership
Monday, September 22, 2025
Whitewater School Board – Regular Meeting
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89329605814?pwd=TVqnVI4kSrdqJ1z1H10hPlLZ7qodrz.1 – Passcode: 363074
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– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 893 2960 5814
– Passcode: 363074
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PUBLIC NOTICE: The meeting will be live streamed via Zoom for those Board members and individuals unable to attend in-person. If you require special accommodations to fully participate, please notify the School Board Secretary by phone (262) 472-8713 or in writing at least 24 hours prior to the meeting time.
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If participants wish to speak on Agenda Items they may speak regarding specific issues on the agenda at the time the Board discusses that item. A Citizen Comment Request should be filled out prior to speaking. In accordance to Board Policy 187, personal criticism and/or derogatory remarks directed at School Board members or employees of the district will not be tolerated. Should there be a number of citizens planning to speak, the President will announce the total time for citizen comments and divide the time between speakers equally with no more than three minutes allotted to each participant. The Board will not be able to respond to individual questions at the meeting. Complaints against an employee should be sent to the Superintendent or Board in writing with your signature. Please keep in mind that students often attend or view board meetings. Speakers remarks should therefore be suitable for an audience that includes Kindergarten through 12th grade students. An officer of the Board may interrupt, warn or terminate speakers’ statements that are unrelated to the business of the School District or inappropriate for K-12 students or is disruptive to an orderly, productive meeting. –
The time estimates noted for agenda items are for informational purposes only and may not be reflective of actual discussion during the meeting.
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (Action Item)
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS – NONE
5. STUDENT REPORTS – 5 MINUTES
A. Whitewater Student Council Report – Whitewater Middle School
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Citizens may speak under Public Comments, but no School Board action will be taken. Issues raised may become a part of a future agenda. Participants are allotted a three-minute speaking period. A Citizen Comment Request should be filled out prior to speaking. In accordance to Board Policy 187, personal criticism and/or derogatory remarks directed at School Board members or employees of the district will not be tolerated. Should there be a number of citizens planning to speak, the President will announce the total time for citizen comments and divide the time between speakers equally with no more than three minutes allotted to each participant. The Board will not be able to respond to individual questions at the meeting. Complaints against an employee should be sent to the Superintendent or Board in writing with your signature. Please keep in mind that students often attend or view board meetings. Speakers’ remarks should therefore be suitable for an audience that includes Kindergarten through 12th grade students. The Board President or officers of the Board may interrupt, warn or terminate speakers’ statements that are unrelated to the business of the School District or inappropriate for K-12 students or disruptive to an orderly, productive meeting. The time estimates noted for agenda items are for informational purposes only and may not be reflective of actual discussion during the meeting.
7. SPECIAL REPORTS AND/OR ACTION
A. Report on Washington DC Trip
B. 2027 Trip to Washington DC/New York City
C. 2027 Trip to England and France
D. District Goals Presentation (Pillars)
E. WHS Booster club to present on recent improvements to the JV Baseball fields and present donation of $13,000 to the district for the HUDL Subscription
8. PERSONNEL REPORT (Action Items) – NONE
9. SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS – 5 MINUTES
A. Superintendent Update – Celebrations; look, listen, and learn update
10. BUSINESS OFFICE REPORTS – 10 MINUTES
A. Preliminary 2025-26 Budget Report
11. CONSENT AGENDA (Action Item) – 5 MINUTES
A. Voucher Approval – August 2025
B. Donations for $1,020.00 from several donors.
C. Minutes Approval of Regular Meeting – August 25, 2025
D. Minutes Approval of Policy Review Committee Meeting – September 8, 2025
12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Bray’s Architecture Milestone Updates
B. Building Solutions Referendum Update
C. Referendum Update for cameras and doors
D. Superintendent goals
13. NEW BUSINESS (Action Items) – 10 MINUTES
A. Donation for $5,183.61 from several donors as part of the DonorsChoose Project for Ferradermis. B. Donation for $5,000.00 from Kiwanis to the Family Emergency Fund for shoes and coats. C. 225, Superintendent Evaluation, For Immediate Implementation.
D. 225-Ex, Superintendent Evaluation Tool, For Immediate Implementation.
E. 671.1 Payday Schedules, For Immediate Implementation
14. BOARD MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
A. Future Agenda Items
15. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
A. Board Engagement Opportunities
16. ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION
A. Adjourn into closed session, (Action Item) pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(f), considering financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigation of charges against specific persons except where par. (b) applies which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data, or involved in such problems or investigations, specifically, to discuss a busing issue and revisit ACC stipulations or criteria for to appoint members. When closed session ends, the meeting ends.
17. ADJOURN
Watercolor, Acrylic, Metallic, Charcoal Pencil, and Cray Pas on Arches Paper
Whitewater, Wis. (Sept. 18, 2025) – Roberta’s Art Gallery is proud to present the watercolor works of Merwood “Woody” Olsen, a local artist and alum of UW-Whitewater, on display from September 18 to October 17. A free public reception will be held on October 7, 2025, from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by an open house from 7 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. In addition, a free watercolor workshop for students will take place on Tuesday, October 14, from 7 to 9 p.m., in the University Center Lower Level, hosted in collaboration with UC Live.
“Expressing Imagination” showcases bright splashes of watercolor in various shapes and sizes, layered to create dynamic compositions in both positive and negative space. Figures, often faceless or with distorted features, emerge from these vibrant backgrounds, encouraging personal interpretation. Olsen’s unique process combines watercolor with drawing, collage, and mixed media, incorporating crayons, charcoal, and wash. The result is artwork filled with depth, texture, and motion, influenced by years of experimentation and a love of color theory. Olsen says, “When first studying watercolor, I was instructed to drag the brush across the paper overlapping other washes to create color, depth and texture. The results fascinated me. I knew I had found my media.”
Watercolor, Acrylic, Metallic, and Charcoal Pencil on Arches Paper
Born in Beloit, raised in Sharon, and graduated from Big Foot High School, Walworth, Wisconsin “Woody” attended UW-Whitewater, studying art history, studio arts, etching, and printmaking. He was a student of the late Leanne Stevenson, Whitewater professor and artist. Olsen continued his studies at the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His abstract paintings have been featured in juried shows throughout the Midwest, including “Watercolor Wisconsin”. His work is included in several private collections. He currently resides in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he is the curator chair of the Janesville Art League’s permanent collection.
Roberta’s Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the James R. Connor University Center at 190 Hamilton Green Way, Whitewater, Wisconsin. The gallery collaborates with campus departments, student organizations, and community artists to coordinate and sponsor exhibits. Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
At Roberta’s Art Gallery, we pride ourselves on providing free and open exhibits to the public, and attending certain events can earn students class credit. If you are interested in being featured in the gallery, please contact us for a proposal request. Reach us at ucart@uww.edu or 262-472-3193. Visit www.uww.edu/rag for any questions or inquiries, and follow our Instagram @uww_rag. For more information about Woody Olsen’s work, please visit woodyolsen.com.###
Whippet Soccer faced another tough loss against Delavan-Darien on Thursday night, September 18. Your Whippets fearlessly lined up against the 4th ranked Division 3 team in the state and held them scoreless until the 72 minute mark.
The Whippets put up an incredibly strong defensive performance all around with standout performances by Casey Schlicher and Aaron Garcia. A missed penalty late in the first half saw Whitewater miss a golden opportunity to take the lead, but WHS kept fighting and pushing for a result.
In the 72nd minute, Whitewater conceded a penalty which Delavan was able to convert, giving them a 1-0 lead. Demoralized, the Comets high press yielded 2 more goals with mere seconds remaining.
Whippet Soccer is confident moving forward and ready to turn our results around next week against Jefferson and Edgerton.
Calling all Whitewater High School Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer alumni! Please join Whippet Soccer on Thursday, September 25th as we honor former coach and mentor René Menager and all that he has done for WHS Soccer. The game will begin at 7:00pm at Whippet Stadium against conference opponent Edgerton. For all former players, coaches, friends, and family in attendance, we will be taking a group photo at half time. We hope to see you all there.
Article submitted by Sam Burns
Whitewater High School Head Boys Soccer Coach
dburns@wwusd.org
Whitewater High’s Homecoming 2025 has arrived! The theme for this year is “Whippets Got Game.” The week’s activities along with the dress up days and schedule change for Friday are posted below.
Keep in mind that other schools in the district may have different activities and dress up days.
Also, please note that Homecoming Court will no longer be taking place on Lip Sync night. Instead, the court students will be announced at their assembly on Friday and at the football game Friday evening.
Whitewater High School would like to give a special shout out to Home Lumber for donating the materials for construction of the W to be burned on Wednesday evening after Lip Sync.
Information Submitted by Chelsea Luebke
Whitewater High School Student Council Advisor
cluebke@wwusd.org
Obituaries
Lawrence “Larry” C. Hartung, a proud Marine Veteran of the Vietnam War, and longtime resident of Fort Atkinson, WI, passed away peacefully at his home on May 1, 2026. Larry was born June 7th, 1949, to Levon and Charles Hartung in Chicago, IL. Larry enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1968 and served 3 consecutive tours in the Vietnam War. During this time, he became pen pals with his future wife, Candy, via a connection through his father. In 1970, he came home on leave to marry Candy. They celebrated 55 years of marriage on October 31st, 2025. During … Read more
Leo E. Wurzer, 65, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at his home. Leo was born on April 15, 1961 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Cyril and Shirley (McNeil) Wurzer. He grew up between Pleasant Prairie and Antigo, spending his childhood summers on his uncle’s farm where he discovered his love for all things tractors. Although he never had a farm of his own, he was able to partially fulfill his dream by working as a driver for Robin’s Trucking in Whitewater, WI in his last days and collecting miniature Tonka toys. He began his career … Read more
Lois Cummings, 99, of Fond du Lac, WI (formerly of Janesville, WI, Fort Atkinson, WI, Fountain Hills, AZ, and Green Valley, AZ) passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026 at the Meadows Senior Residence in Fond du Lac surrounded by family. Lois was born on February 17, 1927 in Fort Atkinson to Edward and Clarice (Roseth) Stevens. The middle child of 9 children, she attended Fort Atkinson schools and graduated in 1944. On September 11, 1948 Lois married Grant Cummings at Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Delavan, WI. Together they had 3 children, Gary, Colleen (Tom) Sabel, and Patty (Paul) … Read more
Come celebrate William Kincaid’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 30th at 1 pm at Trippe Lake Park Pavillion in Whitewater. He truly enjoyed gatherings where his favorite foods and music could be enjoyed with some of his closest friends and family. We will honor him by carrying on one of his favorite traditions. Please bring your own beverages and chairs. There is limited seating. See you all there!
Gladys Jean (Riley) Hildebrandt, age 89, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 23, 2026. Gladys was born on December 26, 1936, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Theresa Egnoski Riley. She was married to Walter Sobolik Sr., and later married James A. Hildebrandt in 1976. Gladys was a hardworking woman who spent her life caring for others. She worked in school kitchens, restaurants, factories, and cleaning services. She concluded her working career as a full-time nanny. In that role, she lovingly cared for Andrew, Daniel, and Kaitlyn Drzewiecki, who became part of her chosen family. Gladys is survived by her sons, Wally … Read more
WHITEWATER – Nan Rowley died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on September 4, 1935, in a little house on the prairie in the Town of Johnstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of Wayne L. Wilbur and Florence (McQuillen) Wilbur. Nan attended primary schools in the towns of Johnstown and Richmond and in the City of Whitewater. Nan graduated with honors from Whitewater City High School. On June 19, 1954, Nancy and Ken Rowley were united in marriage in Whitewater and went to live on the Rowley family farm in Richmond. Over the years, Nan served … Read more
Marion H. Gorniak (nee Pfeiffer), 74, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026. She was born on October 24, 1951, to the late Harvey and Loraine (nee Drifke) Pfeiffer in Fort Atkinson, WI. On June 2, 1969, she was united in marriage to Alan Gorniak. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and cooking, especially her rhubarb pies. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her. Those Marion leaves behind to cherish her memory include her husband, Alan Gorniak; stepson, Alan Bauer; sister, Sue Ann Schultz, other relatives and friends. … Read more
Ruth Irene (Phelps) Justis, 88, of Appleton City, Missouri, passed away Friday morning, April 10, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, MO, with her family by her side. Ruth was born June 3, 1937 in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Charles and Ada Mae (Maly) Phelps. She joined the Marine Corps in 1956. During her time there, she met and married her husband, Forest Wayne “Wayne” Justis in 1957. They shared 62 years of marriage and to this union, 2 children, Charles and Dorene, were born. Ruth grew up in Whitewater, WI., the oldest of three children. Ruth graduated from … Read more
Dorothy C. Kau, age 101, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Fort Memorial Hospital. Dorothy was born on March 18, 1925 in Eagle on the family farm, the daughter of John and Katherine (Faestel) VonRueden. Dorothy was a 1942 graduate of Palmyra High School. On May 21, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to Alvin E. Kau at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle and the Lord blessed their union with 8 children. Alvin and Dorothy enjoyed 50 years of marriage together until Alvin’s death in the year 2000. Dorothy enjoyed being a farm … Read more
Dorothy E. McCracken, 95, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, in Sarasota, Florida. Born on April 14, 1930, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Carl and Joyce Meyer, Dorothy grew up in Whitewater and graduated from Whitewater High School. She then worked for a photographer and hand painted his first colored portraits, until she got married. She and her first husband, Bernard Wafle, owned and operated a 179-acre dairy farm in Helenville, Wisconsin, for 25 years before relocating to Ocala, Florida, in 1979. Dorothy later married Earl McCracken, in Ocala, Fl. She also shared a special companionship later in life with … Read more
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