News & Events

The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs (WFWC) is pleased to announce that its Ladies and Young Ladies Tea Party will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Whitewater’s beautiful Bassett House, 708 W. Main Street in Whitewater.

We will have two seatings: First Seating 1:00 to 2:00 PM, and Second Seating 3:30 to 4:30 PM. All ladies over six years old are welcome. Delicious refreshments, tea, and lemonade will be served in the charming ambiance of one of Whitewater’s loveliest old homes. This is a wonderful spring tradition that you won’t want to miss.

Ticket prices are $35 for an adult and a child; $10 for additional children; and $30 for a single adult. Make checks out to the WFWC and mail them to Linda Robinson at 957 W. Highland Street/Whitewater, WI 53190. Alternatively, you may pay via Paypal to Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs. In either case, please indicate the number of adults attending, the number of children attending (if any), and First or Second Seating. Space is limited, so buy your tickets soon! The ticket purchase deadline is April 13, 2026.

All proceeds will go to the Bassett House Preservation Fund, which the WFWC will use to ensure the preservation of the Bassett House, one of Whitewater’s oldest historic homes.

For more information, contact Linda Robinson at linrob73@gmail.com

Editor’s Note: The above was provided by The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs.

Rock Lake is a popular destination for many fishermen – both in the summer and during the ice cover. The fishery is in good condition because of the variety of habitat in Rock Lake such as the bulrush bed in Korth Bay, the variety of native aquatic plants, and rocks that are found mostly on the eastern shore. However, there is a shortage of one type of habitat in the lake: wood. In order to change this situation, trees must be installed in the water at various locations around Rock Lake. Rock Lake Improvement Association members along with the local Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish Biologist and Jefferson County Water Resource Specialist worked to install fish sticks on February 9, 2026. (Fish sticks consist of multiple whole trees, including branches, bundled together and anchored to shore or the lake bed, partially to fully submerged under water.) More fish sticks are planned in the future.

Fish sticks are recommended where the density of trees in a lake is less than 200 trees per mile of shoreline. A 2016 wood survey on Rock Lake found 55 trees in the water, amounting to just 7.5 trees per mile. In order to improve this number, the Jefferson County Land and Water Conservation Department (LWCD) obtained a DNR grant to install fish sticks in Rock Lake adjacent to the Glacial Drumlin Trail. The Rock Lake Improvement Association helped to provide funds and coordinate the project.

The DNR approved installation of the fish sticks along the shore and the City of Lake Mills Parks Staff agreed to supply the trees that would be used. The trees are ones that the City was planning to take down anyway.

The fish and wildlife of Rock Lake will benefit greatly from the partnership between the Rock Lake Improvement Association, the City of Lake Mills, the County, and the DNR. Almost all of the fish species in the lake use woody habitat for a portion of their lifecycle. Depending on the species, the habitat provides areas for spawning, shelter, and feeding. The fish sticks can also benefit creatures that use the parts of the trees that will be above the water by providing nesting and sunning areas for birds and turtles.

The contractor, Forest Landscaping & Construction, Inc., helped to transport and place the trees at the installation location. A total of five trees varying in size were placed and connected to form this fish stick. When the ice melts, the trees will drop into the water so that the majority of the trees are underwater and a small portion is above water. Please note, it is always a good idea when in shallow waters near shore to watch for structures under water to prevent damage to boat propellers and hulls.

In order to further improve the woody habitat in lakes, we recommended that homeowners leave the trees that naturally fall into the water in place if possible, and plant native shrubs and trees that will become fish habitat in the distant future. For more tips on improving fish habitat or to learn more about the fish stick projects on Rock Lake, contact Colton Hutchinson (CHutchinson@jeffersoncountywi.gov, 920-674-7111).

Editor’s Note: The above was provided by the Jefferson County Land and Water Conservation Department.

Moody’s Ratings has assigned an Aa3 rating to the Whitewater Unified School District’s planned $13.6 million issuance of general obligation promissory notes.

Moody’s also maintained the district’s Aa3 issuer rating and Aa3 rating on its outstanding general obligation unlimited tax bonds. Following the sale, WUSD will have approximately $34 million in outstanding general obligation unlimited tax debt.

Promissory notes are a type of short-term borrowing used by school districts to finance projects and manage capital needs. According to Moody’s, the rating reflects WUSD’s growing local economy, stable enrollment, adequate reserves, and modest debt levels.

“This strong credit rating reflects our commitment to responsible financial management and long-term planning,” said Superintendent Samuel Karns. “We are proud to maintain a high rating from Moody’s while continuing to invest in our schools and support the educational needs of our students and community.”

Moody’s noted that WUSD benefits from its location, approximately 50 miles from both Madison and Milwaukee, as well as the presence of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, which plays a significant role in supporting local economic activity.

The agency also reported that the district’s tax base continues to grow, driven by recent residential and commercial development. New housing construction and population growth are expected to help maintain stable enrollment.

Financial indicators remain solid, with the district’s available fund balance ratio at 18 percent and its net cash ratio at 14 percent in Fiscal Year 2025. The district projects balanced general fund operations in the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years.

To learn more about WUSD’s rating, visit https://ratings.moodys.com/ratings-news/460247.

Walworth County Public Works manages about 400 miles of county highways, striving to keep them clean and beautiful. To help maintain our roads and eliminate litter, Public Works invites individuals, families, businesses, and civic organizations to participate in the Adopt-a-Highway program. 

This volunteer program allows groups and individuals to “adopt” a stretch of roadway—two miles or less—by cleaning up litter at least three times per season. 

If residents are interested in getting involved, there are several highway segments available for adoption on County Highways A, B, C, D, DD, ES, K, M, O, and X.  

Walworth County urges drivers to stay alert, watch for Adopt-A-Highway volunteers, and slow down around them. 

For more information about Adopt-A-Highway or to adopt a section, please contact Walworth County Public Works at 262-741-3114, option 1. 

Editor’s Note: The above was provided by Walworth County.

On Saturday, March 14th, Whitewater High School’s music department sent 74 events to District Solo and Ensemble with 28 events qualifying for the state competition that will be hosted by UW Whitewater on April 25th. Congratulations to every single performer for representing our school district well and sharing your musical talent. We wish good luck to our future state performers. 

Article and Photos Submitted by MacKenzie Gehrke
Whitewater High School Vocal Music Instructor
gehma01@wwusd.org

Due to the severe winter storm that affected our area Monday, John’s Disposal suspended collection
services for the day to ensure the safety of both drivers and the public.

All collection routes will be delayed by one day. Therefore, Thursday’s route will be picked up on Friday.
This adjustment allows their team to safely make up for the missed service day while ensuring all
residents receive collection within the week.

Please leave your carts at the curb until your collection has been completed.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as John’s Disposal works through the effects of the
storm. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact John’s Disposal at 262-473-4700.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the City of Whitewater.

Elizabeth Matson and Jim Winship will be telling stories at The Wright House on March 21 at 7pm.

A performing storyteller since 1987, Elizabeth Matson grew up in her mother’s Children’s Theatre Company and read her way through the fairy tale section of her childhood public library. She is a spinner of tales, weaving magic into her original performances of fairy, folk, personal, and family history tales. Elizabeth brings stories to life with her expressions, movement, and voice. She offers performances, workshops, and story coaching for all ages. She is the co-author, with Stuart Stotts, of The Bookcase Ghost: A Storyteller’s Collection of Wisconsin Ghost Stories (Midwest Traditions, 1996). She holds a MA in Folklore and MS in Library Science. She coaches her library’s teen storytelling troupe, has performed at the Whitewater (WI) Storytelling Festival, and performs virtually with 4 Women Telling.

Jim Winship has been a college professor for over three decades, a Professor of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and also a Fulbright Scholar in Colombia and El Salvador. He has performed as a professional storyteller and has been conducting workshops on digital storytelling since 2009. Jim left full-time employment at UW-W in 2016 to have the time to devote to fully engaging with training opportunities and story-based work. Jim has been trained by StoryCenter in Berkeley, California, the organization that pioneered digital storytelling. He creates digital stories and has conducted five three-day workshops in which college faculty and professional staff members each created their own digital stories. He has facilitated students in creating digital stories both at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — including a series of stories on race, ethnicity and power — and at the University of Cartagena, Colombia.

Register on Eventbrite: https://matsonwinship.eventbrite.com

The Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will offer the AARP Driver Safety Class on April 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services, 1910 County Road NN in Elkhorn.

This class is a great refresher on driving techniques and rules of the road and provides a proven method for seniors to evaluate their driving and make necessary changes to remain safe. In addition, most insurance companies offer a discount for up to three years for completion of the course. The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members. 

For questions or to register for the program, contact Chetney Blaszczyk at 262-741-3157.

About the ADRC of Walworth County: The ADRC provides information and assistance to older and disabled adults, their friends, family, caregivers, and the public. We can assist by evaluating your current needs and providing options available to meet the needs of your personal situation.

Editor’s Note: The above was provided by Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC).