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Missoula Children’s Theatre is the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre, touring extensively for more than 40 years, performing all over the world. A tour team arrives in a given town with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything it takes to put on a play…except the cast. The team holds an open audition and casts 50-60 local students to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and a public performance is presented on a Saturday.
This year’s MCT show is an original adaptation of the classic children’s story, The Wizard of Oz.
Tickets for the show on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 3:00 p.m. are available here for $24. They also may be purchased at the ticket office in the Greenhill Center for the Arts, 950 W. Main Street in Whitewater or at the door with a $2 surcharge.
After a reported five-plus acre marsh fire on Sunday in the Town of Oakland to which the Whitewater Fire Department provided mutual aid, the Fort Atkinson Fire Department recommended to all of the towns in its territory to suspend approving any outdoor burning. The department stated, “Over the past week, multiple large brush and marsh fires have occurred in the county, and the current [extremely dry and windy] conditions are making outdoor burning exceptionally dangerous.”
WMTV-15 reported on Sunday regarding the marsh fire, which fortunately was extinguished before it reached a nearby home. “Officials say the fire started when embers from a debris burn in a burn pit were carried by strong winds into the adjacent marsh,” WMTV reported.
February 18, 2025 Spring Primary Election
In Person Absentee Voting
All In Person Absentee Voting for the City of Whitewater, will be held at the
City of Whitewater Municipal Building, 312 W Whitewater St
Voting starts Tuesday, February 4, 2025 and goes through Friday, February 14, 2025.
Hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Please contact the City Clerk’s office with any questions. 262-473-0102 or 262-473-0103 or hboehm@whitewater-wi.gov
Heather Boehm
City Clerk
Late Saturday morning, February 1, leading into early afternoon provided fans of wrestling with some great action to take in as the Whitewater Boys’ and Girls’ Wrestling teams closed out their home season with dual meets against the Panthers of Oregon.
The day started off with 20 great match ups between the two teams as weights aligned very well and all students from both teams had the opportunity to compete in front of their parents and family on parent/senior night. At the end of the JV competition the Whippets found to be on the positive side of approximately ⅔ of the matches so it was a great showing and very positive way to close out the home season.
Girls’ Wrestling Hosts First Ever Dual Meet Under the Light
Following the Boys’ JV the Girls’ Team had the opportunity to wrestle under the spotlight for the first time ever at Whitewater High School. This was a very nice experience as it had the exact same feel that fans are used to seeing when the boys compete, with the spotlight and their famous 30 seconds of walkout music that pumps them up. The girls wrestled very well with Isabelle Cantu, Aubrey Fuoco, Payton Taylor, and Marianna Kubicz all coming away with wins on the night. Aubrey had the match of the night as she was losing 3-0 in the 3rd period. She chose to go on top when it was her choice and she used lots of grit to turn her opponent to take a lead 4-3 and then turned her again this time to seal the pin. It was a very nice moment for a young lady who had just joined wrestling for the first time this year. Marianna Kubicz closed things out for the girls with a 2nd period reversal and then turned the girl to her back to secure the pin for the Whippets. Unfortunately, Oregon Girls were too much to handle and the Whippets dropped the dual meet 24-42, but it was definitely a step in the right direction for the growth of girls’ wrestling in the area having a dual meet with the same atmosphere as we are used to seeing the boys have at home.
Boys Fall to Oregon in Close Dual Meet
The boys’ team closed out the day’s events with a very good dual meet that saw them fall just short to a very strong Panther team. Oregon is a favorite to win their regional in two weeks, and the Whippets held their own. Unfortunately, in the end a couple of tough losses were too much for the Whippets to overcome, falling 36-38. Junior Soto got the team on the board first with what may have been his best wrestling match of his career as he wrestled extremely smart vs an opponent that was significantly bigger than he was. Junior was able to stay in great position on top and used perfect technique to turn his opponent over for the pin. The Whippets followed with a couple of forfeits at 106 and 113 by Cooper Housel and Juan Garrafa. This brought us to one of the featured matches of the day where Jarvis Porcaro had a very talented opponent from Oregon. Jarvis just missed out on a takedown on the edge of the mat in the first period as his foot just came off the mat; as they say sports are inches from success or failure sometimes. This really could have been a swing in the match. Jarvis ended up wrestling to the bitter end but dropped a tough decision. After a couple more tough loses for the Whippets, Connor Friend came out and went to work securing a pin to bring the Whippets back where they needed to be, needing one win to secure a victory. Another pivotal match occurred at 150 pounds where Traysen Thomason had a great opponent whom he had narrowly beaten at the mid-states 7-6. This was a match that came right to the end with Traysen falling 7-8. Avi Kalra closed out the scoring for the Whippets with a pin at 165 to bring the score to the final of 36-38.
A big thank you goes out to all parents and family members who make wrestling possible for their sons and daughters. Also, a congratulations goes out to the seniors as they competed on the Whippet home wrestling mat for the final time on Saturday. It was a nice career for all of them, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds in the tournaments series as well as their future selves.
The Lady Whippets are next in action on Tuesday night, February 4, when they travel to Beloit Turner for a quad starting at 5:30. Both teams then close out the regular season on Wednesday night at Janesville Craig. Friday night sees the JV team traveling to East Troy to compete in the JV Conference Tournament followed by the boys’ and girls’ teams traveling to East Troy on Saturday morning for the RVC Conference Tournament. Wrestling begins on Saturday at 9:15.
Article Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
Following a tough loss the night before, the boys’ varsity wrestling team traveled to Monroe for an individual tournament on Saturday, January 25. The boys recovered quickly from the previous day’s disappointment. Since the tournament was individual, each wrestler had their own personal goals for the day. It was inspiring to see them test their determination in the quest for victory and overcome adversity throughout the event.
Leading the way was Jarvis Porcaro. He opened the day by winning his first match by pinning his opponent. This victory propelled him into the semifinal match against a competitor from Belmont/Platteville, where he won decisively by a major decision, 15-1. This win advanced him to the finals against a tough wrestler from Boscobel/Wauzeka-Steuben. We believe this was one of Jarvis’s best matches of the year. He displayed persistence throughout the match and secured the victory with a last-second takedown.
As mentioned earlier, each wrestler had individual goals, and most were able to achieve at least some of them. Following Jarvis in the tournament standings were Jason Porras, Traysen Thomason, and Avi Kalra. All three wrestlers won their first-round matches but lost in the second round. This loss placed them in contention for fifth place, which they fought hard to attain.
Overall, it was a very successful tournament. The Whippets finished 9th out of 16 teams, despite competing with only 11 wrestlers. The coaches were impressed with how the team performed after a tough loss the night before. As a team, they have committed to continuous improvement throughout the season, aiming to peak at the right time.
Article and Photo Courtesy of John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
The Whitewater Unified School District is home to three unique robotics programs, all within the FIRST sequence of challenges. Fourth and 5th graders at all three elementary schools and 6th graders at the middle school can participate in the FIRST Lego League Challenge (FLL), 7th and 8th graders from the middle school have a new FIRST Tech Challenge Team (FTC) this year, and the high school is in their ninth season as a FIRST Robotics Competition Team (FRC).
On Saturday, February 8, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, the public is invited to meet the teams and see their 2024-2025 projects during the annual Robotics Open House at Whitewater High School. Visitors should follow the signs in the parking lot and enter through Door #38 which is between the rear of the auditorium wing and the overhead shop doors.
Editor’s note: The following statement was provided by Dan Meyer, chief of police, regarding the city public safety referendum which will be on the April 1 ballot.
As the Chief of Police for the City of Whitewater, I am honored to serve a community that values safety, growth, and inclusivity. Today, I want to share details about an important initiative that will help us meet our city’s growing needs: the $1.3 million public safety referendum on the April 1, 2025, ballot.
Whitewater is a vibrant community, but with growth comes challenges. Calls for service have nearly doubled in the last decade, from 7,501 in 2010 to over 14,000 in 2024. This reflects a dynamic city where evolving needs require us to adapt. While our Police and Fire/EMS teams have worked tirelessly to serve everyone, the increasing volume and complexity of calls demand additional resources.
The referendum will enable the City of Whitewater to make critical investments in public safety, including:
· Four additional police officers to improve response times and address rising call volumes.
· Increased Fire/EMS staffing, adding one person on every shift to enhance emergency response capabilities.
· Capital fund creation to eliminate borrowing for all public safety vehicles and equipment, saving taxpayer dollars in the long run.
· The addition of one dispatcher increasing staffing levels to prevent service disruptions and ensure efficient emergency response.
Additionally, the referendum’s structure allows for adding a second School Resource Officer (SRO). In this scenario, the two SROs would support our schools and assist with school traffic crossings during start and end times—a critical improvement for student safety that has been a growing concern in our community.
These enhancements will strengthen our ability to protect and serve all residents while preparing for the future. Importantly, this referendum builds on steps we’ve already taken, including adding a detective without increasing the levy, securing a $375,000 federal grant to fund three officers, and implementing cost-saving technologies.
Our commitment is to provide the highest level of public safety to all who call Whitewater home. This referendum represents a responsible, forward-thinking investment in that vision, ensuring our city remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone. Whether you’ve lived here for decades or just joined our community, these improvements will enhance your quality of life.
I encourage you to learn more about this referendum and the opportunity it presents to build a safer, stronger Whitewater. Further information can be found on the City website: https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/615/CITY-OF-WHITEWATER-REFERENDUM-APRIL-2025.
Specific questions can be directed to: WW2025Referendum@whitewater-wi.gov.
Together, we can ensure our community thrives for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Dan Meyer
Chief of Police
City of Whitewater
Whitewater Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty and Whitewater Middle School Assistant Principal Caitlin Dowden presented at the 2025 Wisconsin State Education Convention on January 22.
Their breakout session, titled “From Absenteeism to Engagement: Proven Strategies for Increasing School Attendance,” explored the role of school boards in addressing chronic absenteeism. “While many Wisconsin schools are dealing with chronic absenteeism, the circumstances leading to absences may be different for every family,” said Dr. Pate-Hefty. “We are able to take an engaging and solutions-focused look at improving student attendance. The panelists in the session shared innovative strategies and successful practices designed to enhance student engagement and reduce absenteeism.”
The Wisconsin State Education Convention, held January 22-24 at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, drew more than 2,000 attendees. The event is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (WASBO), and the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA).
Obituaries
Sally A. Schutte, age 73, of Whitewater, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2026, while at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater. Sally was born on November 6, 1952, to Roy and Elsie (Rohloff) Haas. Sally married William Schutte in the spring of 2003. Sally grew up on the family farm in the Town of Hebron and graduated from Jefferson High School. She dedicated nearly her entire career to Fort HealthCare, where her hard work and versatility shone through various roles. Over the years, she served in housekeeping and medical records, Center for Dermatology. Sally … Read more
Zachariah “Zach” Schoenke, 41, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He was born April 4, 1985, to Keith W. Schoenke and Kathleen Schoenke in Fort Atkinson, WI. He grew up and graduated from Whitewater High School in 2003. Zach worked various jobs over the years but was currently working at Cracker Barrel in Janesville. He was a big Packers Fan and liked to play fantasy football. He enjoyed reading, cooking, and watching horror shows. Zach fiercely loved his son, Lincoln, his sisters, Cami and Cary, his mom and stepdad, and his aunt Robin. He will be dearly … Read more
Carla Winn, 82, died September 5, 2026. Funeral Service will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218, followed by a burial at 2:00 PM at White Chapel Memorial Garden 1806 N Oliver Ave. Carla is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Dwight and Wilma Lois Krehbiel; and sister, Jennifer Krehbiel. She is survived by husband, Stephen; daughter, Ashley (Clint) Gagel, of Overland Park; siblings, Paul (Kay) Krehbiel, of Socorro, NM, Lynn (Bill) Oetting, of Wichita, Ellen (John) Querner, of Wichita, Teresa Woodson, of Lawrence, KS, … Read more
Susan Miller Celebration of Life There will be a gathering of friends and acquaintances at Susan’s Farm Store to celebrate Susan’s life on Saturday, September 19th from 2-5 p.m. at N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, Wisconsin
Our loving mother, JoAnn E Harrop, age 95, passed away on September 11, 2026. Our sorrow is deep, but we are filled with gratitude for the many years we had with her. Even as her mind was failing, she remained strong and appreciative of all who cared for her. JoAnn was born on January 13, 1931, daughter to Fred Braun and Evelyn Braun {Storck). She was raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin by her grandparents, Otto and Edith Storck. She attended Whitewater High School and helped at the Storck tavern where she met her husband Earl C. Harrop. They married on November … Read more
Russell O. Johnson “Russ,” 88, passed away on September 4, 2026 in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Russell was born on July 12, 1938, in Janesville, Wisconsin. Russ grew up in Janesville, and after high school he joined the Air Force on May 1, 1958, serving as an aircraft mechanic until June 12, 1962. He then worked at Parker Pen in Janesville for a time, where he met his future wife, Avis. After marrying Avis Mason in April 1964, Russ worked for Gillman Manufacturing for a time, then began a career at Dana until its closing in 1980. In 1981, Russ started working … Read more
Marcia Zingg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at the age of 75. Marcia will be remembered for her unwavering love, remarkable strength, generous spirit, and lifelong devotion to her family. She shared 40 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Jeffrey Zingg, who considered her not only his wife but also his best friend, business partner, and the love of his life. Together, Marcia and Jeffrey built a successful life rooted in perseverance, hard work, laughter, and love. As entrepreneurs in Whitewater, Wisconsin, they owned and managed new car franchises and … Read more
Amanda Jean Hunter was born to Ralph and Malinda (Thomas) Hunter of Whitewater, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1976. She passed away on August 4, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she lived with her family. Amanda passed peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Amanda was a kind-hearted free spirit with an unmistakable hippie warmth. Generosity, spontaneity, a quick wit, a macabre sense of humor, and an open heart were traits that she embraced. She was a tireless champion of those in need, an innate characteristic that became among the best of her qualities. She proved to be a … Read more
Ellen Eichmiller, 82, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Ellen was born on September 10, 1943, in Monroe, Wisconsin, to Chester “Guy” and Irene (née Holmen) Steig. She married the love of her life, Paul Eichmiller, on December 7, 1963, and together they made their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Ellen spent much of her working life as a secretary at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she formed many lasting friendships and memories. Ellen cherished her family and friends and treasured the time she spent with those closest to her. She was known for her love of … Read more
Janet Quinn, age 71, of Jefferson passed away on Thursday, August 20th. Janet was born on December 22nd, 1954 in St. Joseph, MI to Robert Mounsey and Edith Christison Mounsey. She was a granddaughter to Herbert Bragg Mounsey, Charlotte Mounsey, and Ester Christison West. She married Michael Durden in 1979 and later married Eury Quinn Jr. (J.R.) in 1988. Janet grew up in Benton Harbor, MI, and subsequently lived in New York and Arkansas before moving to Wisconsin in 2016. She was a dedicated caregiver to her disabled Mother, and worked as a custodian for various employers over the years. … Read more
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