News & Events

Update at 12:30 p.m. on 4/18: On April 18 the Rock County Sheriff’s Office reported that one of the adult female passengers of the van who was medically transported from the crash had succumbed to her injuries in the early morning hours of that day. The identity of this victim will be released later. The investigation is still ongoing.

On April 17 the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Office released the names of the persons who were pronounced deceased on the scene of a crash involving three motor vehicles on April 13, 2024. The crash occurred at the intersection of US Highway 12 and East County Line Road. Further details about the incident may be found in this article on the Whitewater Banner.

Preliminary results of the forensic examinations found that the following people died from injuries sustained in the crash:

Jeffrey Turnipseed, 67, Whitewater
Ericka Berg, 38, Whitewater
Jamie Ranguette, 39, Whitewater

It was indicated that additional testing is underway and that the incident is still under investigation by the Rock County Sheriff’s Department and the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Department.

“The Sweet Science of Bruising” by Joy Wilkinson, directed by Sara J. Griffin, brings you into the world of women’s underground boxing in London, 1865. 

Follow the lives of four courageous women as they step into the ring to fight for their independence, dignity, and empowerment. With heart-pounding action, compelling characters, and a thrilling blend of athleticism and drama, this extraordinary production puts the fight for equality center stage. Don’t miss your chance to witness the raw power of resilience and the triumph of the human spirit in this knockout theatrical event!

This play contains scenes depicting domestic violence and discussion of female circumcision that some may find troubling. It is intended for adult audiences and mature sensibilities.

Friday, April 19 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, April 20-21 – 2:00 p.m.
Thurs., Fri., & Saturday, April 25, 26 & 27 – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available in advance through Ticket Services. Adults – $17, Age 65+ – $15, Under 18 – $12. There is a $2.00 surcharge for tickets purchased at the event.

Purchase Tickets Online

Students at WHS achieve the school’s highest ACT scores since 2018-2019

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

Whitewater High School juniors have achieved the highest composite ACT score the school has reached since 2018-2019. They achieved an average composite score of 19.1 as compared to a composite average score of 17.2 last year, an 11% increase year over year. The 2024 state average composite score is 19.4. 27% of the WHS students met or exceeded three or more college readiness benchmark scores—an 8% increase from the previous year.

This celebration did not come without work and a plan. This year, the WHS staff implemented a three-pronged campaign with students to address skill development, attendance improvement, and test preparation tools. Utilizing a College Equipped Readiness Tool (CERT) program, which took the guesswork out of establishing benchmark scores, it allowed staff to focus on areas of improvement to set student improvement goals, and gave students individualized assessment practice where they needed it. WHS also emphasized the importance of attendance, working with families to eliminate barriers in getting to school, and implemented an exam exemption incentive plan that students could achieve by setting personal improvement goals.

“Our students’ outstanding performance on the 2024 ACT is a testament to the innovative spirit around success that we have at the high school; our educators are committed to continuous improvement,” said Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty, Superintendent of the Whitewater Unified School District. “We proudly celebrate their academic success and commitment to reaching their full potential.”

The ACT is an in-person assessment designed to measure the academic readiness of 11th-grade students in English, math, reading, science, and writing. The ACT provides benchmarks to categorize students as college-ready or below college-ready. Students can use their ACT scores for various purposes, including college admission, scholarships, course placement, and even NCAA eligibility.

More information about the ACT in Wisconsin is available at https://dpi.wi.gov/assessment/act.

Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.

The Whitewater community has the opportunity to help fill the shelves of local food pantries to serve those in need on Saturday, May 11. There are two ways to donate food and help our hungry neighbors.

– For more than 30 years, USPS has conducted an annual nationwide food drive on the second Saturday of May- the largest one-day food drive in the country.  In Whitewater, the food drive is supported by the Hunger Task Force to help the Whitewater Food Pantry. Residents will be receiving postcards and/or plastic bags in the mail as a reminder of the food drive. Just put your nonperishable contribution in or near your mailbox on Saturday, May 11, and your mail carrier will take the food to the Whitewater Food Pantry. Questions? Laurie Giorno, lead volunteer in Whitewater, can be reached at 262-903-9416. 

– The Community Space in Whitewater has been in operation for just five years, but has already ramped up to give out more than 300,000 pounds of food a year through its collaboration with Feeding America and other organizations and its dozens of volunteers. Whitewater Unites Lives is hosting the food drive at the Community Space this year to help meet the increased demand TCS has experienced. To help, bring your nonperishable donations to TCS on 834 East Milwaukee St., drive around the back, and WUL volunteers will happily collect your donation from your car between 8:30 and 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 11. Questions? WUL co-founder Rosalinda Martinez can be reached at 920-222-0749 and co-founder Marjorie Stoneman can be reached at 414-861-4126.

Suggested donations to both pantries include peanut butter, jelly, individual packets of oatmeal, canned tuna, dried cereal, canned fruits and canned vegetables.   

Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.

For more information about The Community Space, visit their website at communityspacewhitewater.com/

For more information about Whitewater Community Food Pantry, visit facebook.com/WhitewaterFoodPantry/

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation (WCF.)

The Whitewater Community Foundation (WCF) has announced that the Rock River Community Clinic (RRCC) was the recipient of the WCF Action Grant from last fall, and has received $3,500 for website design and development improvements with more accessible materials and clear, simple navigation in both Spanish and English.  The grant will also aid in completing the poster project and finishing the Community Resource Wall in the Dental Office.    

Olivia Nichols, CEO and Executive Director of the Rock River Community Clinic, said, “We are so grateful for the support of the Whitewater Community Foundation to advance these two projects at RRCC, both of which will support our efforts to continue finding effective ways to support our patients. Partnership support is critical to our organization’s overall community outreach and education efforts, and we are incredibly appreciative of the WCF’s willingness to serve in this partnership capacity for our organization.” 

At RRCC, all community members are welcome and accepted. BadgerCare (Medicaid) and Medicare are accepted at all RRCC locations and help support RRCC operations and services. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), RRCC receives higher reimbursement rates for BadgerCare and Medicare payer groups, which helps cover discounted prices for patients who are uninsured or underinsured (high deductible plans). Many commercial insurance groups are also accepted at RRCC, and further support the mission.

Care coordination services are also available at RRCC to help patients overcome barriers to accessing healthcare, including prescription assistance programs, transportation support, and behavioral health referrals. Care Navigators also assist in enrolling eligible families in BadgerCare to attain needed health insurance for individuals, families, and children. Over one-third of RRCC medical staff are bilingual (Spanish & English) to further support patient care and communication.

By increasing access to health care services, offering care at affordable costs, and providing care coordination services, RRCC works to create a healthier, more equitable, community. For clinic hours and directions, visit www.rockrivercommunityclinic.org

Rock River is one of many organizations that have received Whitewater Community Foundation Action Grant funds over the years.  The next grant application process deadline is April 30.  

Qualified projects should be intended for educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent purposes that will benefit and improve the greater Whitewater community.  Consideration will also be made based on the results of the 2023 Civic Summit, when more than 30 community members, business leaders, educators, nonprofit organizers, and others determined key areas for improvement in Whitewater:

• Communicating to Whitewater’s diverse population in English and Spanish, making signage bilingual, coordinating communication to all groups, and providing opportunities for people of different backgrounds, age groups, etc. to integrate to help meet community needs;
• Housing assistance, affordability and accessibility for families and professionals seeking to purchase homes;  
• Marketing Whitewater by coordinating and cross-pollinating events, calendars and volunteer opportunities.

Projects are expected to be accomplished within a specific period of time (generally not more than one year) and should be creative, innovative and address community needs.  Interested organizations can find more information and fill out an application at: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bx6_oS4QSIAeR3BoVjNTeVJfQzg 

The deadline for submitting applications is April 30, 2024.

Organizations interested in pursuing a Whitewater Community Foundation Action Grant should check out the Whitewater Community Foundation web site https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/community-action-grants/ or contact Kat at 262-473-1403.

The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.

More information about the Whitewater Community Foundation can be found at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org and on Facebook. 

The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.”

Updated 4/15 @ 11:40 p.m. – Typical sale items and prices added

Typical Sale Items and estimated prices:

Apple Laptops (Macbooks)- $200* (limit 1 Apple computer or laptop per person)

Apple Desktops (iMacs) – $150* (limit 1 Apple computer or laptop per person)

PC Laptops – $125* (limit 1 per person)
PC All-In-Ones – $75

PC Desktops – $50

Projectors – $125

Printers – $50

Monitors -$20

Video Cameras – $25

Cameras – $20

M.2 SSD – $10** (limit 2 per person)

SATA SSD – $5

HDD – $1

RAM – $5

Misc. Devices – $5 -$200 (prices as marked)

All pricing includes tax.

*Limit of 1 Apple computer (laptop or desktop) and 1 Windows laptop per person.

**Limit of 2 M.2 SSDs per person.

Accepted payment options:

• Cash (For the quickest checkout, bring cash.)
• Check
• Credit Card / Debit Card
• Purple Points

Receipts will be provided for all purchases. Individuals with tax-exempt status should bring in a physical copy of their signed tax exemption form to process tax-exempt purchases.

Items are not reserved and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All devices are sold as-is and may not be returned or used at UW-Whitewater for any reason. Devices are not subject to warranty, support, or return once the sale is processed.