News

SnapPlus (Soil Nutrient Application Planner) is Wisconsin’s nutrient management planning software that helps farmers make the best use of their on-farm nutrients and make informed decisions about commercial fertilizer purchases. This latest release of the software includes new maps, and easier ways to add crops and grazing schedules.  Join Extension, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), and the SnapPlus Team to walk through new features in SnapPlus Version 3. 

Each of the six webinars will cover a different topic.  Each session focuses on a specific part of the software and runs from 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., including a 45–60 minute tutorial followed by one-on-one “office hours” with staff to ask questions. Sessions cover:

• April 21 — Adding Crops, Setting Rotations, Planting & Application Seasons
• May 12 — Nutrient Systems and Template Builder
• June 2 — Silurian Bedrock Plan Features
• June 16 — Annual Updates
• July 21 — Winter Manure Applications
• August 18 — Grazing

You can register for all sessions, or the ones most relevant to you. Registration is free.  Learn more and register:go.wisc.edu/841xe6

While storms raged across the state, Whippet FBLA brought the thunder to Green Bay and the State Leadership Conference. Lighting struck twice as Atreya Wilson defended her state title and once again became state champion in Entrepreneurship. She is headed back to nationals to compete against the best in the country. Lillian Navejas-Ortiz also made some noise as she made it to the stage taking fifth place in Data Science and AI. She is an alternate for Nationals and could soon be headed to San Antonio as well. The other teams posted impressive finishes of 9th and 12th in the state, showing off their skills in Digital Video Production and Chapter Service Project respectively. It was a great conference to be a Whippet!

Article and Photos Submitted by Kurt Nickelsburg
Whitewater High School FBLA Advisor
nicku01@wwusd.org

Last Friday, students in Ms. Lynn Weilbrenner’s Early Childhood Health and Safety class at Whitewater High School had the opportunity to work with the UW-Whitewater Police Department to earn their CPR certification. A huge thank you to the UW-Whitewater PD for taking time out of their busy schedules to work with our high school students. It was a great learning experience for all. 

Article and Photos Submitted by Lynn Weilbrenner
Whitewater High School Family and Consumer Science Teacher
lweilbrenner@wwusd.org

The College of Business and Economics at UW-Whitewater has received a Tommy Thompson Speaker grant to bring Dr. Ludmila Praslova to campus. Dr. Praslova is a leading voice in neurodiversity, inclusion, and organizational culture. Her work focuses on equitable practices in academic and corporate settings. She is a Professor of Graduate Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Accreditation Liaison Officer at Vanguard University of Southern California. She will be visiting on Monday, April 20, and the event is scheduled from 11:45 AM – 2:00 PM in the Hamilton Room at the University Center. The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided to registered attendees. Virtual attendance is also available.

Neuroinclusion in the workplace is recognized as valuable, but still limited by outdated systems, stigma, and a reactive approach. Community members, potential employers, and corporate leaders need to hear from experts like Dr. Ludmila Praslova, who are calling for a shift from “accommodation” to systemic redesign, where belonging and dignity are built into organizational practices. Systemic neuroinclusion also means creating workplaces that better support everyone’s needs and productivity. Hence, this presentation can be of interest to those interested in dignity, productivity, and decent work for all.

Event website for registration: https://www.uww.edu/ce/powerdiversemindscobe

Free Somatic Release for Spring Event for Adults

Community members are invited to a free Somatic Release for Spring event facilitated by local writer Katy Daixon Wimer on Thursday, April 16 at 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Through breathwork, movement, and journaling practices, reconnect with your body this spring, and the juicy, messy, radiant, challenging truth it might reveal as you open to the new chapter 2026 brings. Please come with an open heart and mind, a sense of humor, a journal, and a yoga mat or blanket.

This program is for adults. The event is free, but please register in advance at whitewaterlibrary.org/events as space is limited. You may also email sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call 262-458-2782 to register, or with any questions. 

The Whitewater Public Library is located at 431 W. Center St. Visit whitewaterlibrary.org for more information and to view all upcoming events.

The Boards of Canvass for the city of Whitewater and the Whitewater Unified School District both convened on Monday, April 13 and certified the results of the Spring Election. There was no change from the results that were previously reported on The Banner.

City of Whitewater Common Council

Councilmember at Large
Orin Smith 1081
Aubrey Thompson 861

Councilmember, District 2
Gavin Kelleher 190
Sean Liebherr 46

Councilmember, District 4
Chuck Mills 210
Brian Schanen 375

Council terms are for two years. The newly elected members will take the oath of office on April 21.

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The Whitewater Unified School District provided the following press release.

Three Members Elected to Whitewater Unified School District School Board

At 3:30 p.m. on Monday, April 13, the Board of Canvassers certified the votes cast from the April 7 School Board Election for the three open board seats.

The results of the canvass are as follows:
Stephanie Hicks – 2044 votes
Terri Jones – 1849 votes
Lisa Huempfner – 2053 votes
Christy Linse – 1707 votes

Stephanie Hicks, Terri Jones, and Lisa Huempfner will hold office for a three-year term, commencing on Monday, April 27, 2026, and expiring on Monday, April 22, 2029.

Versiti is the primary blood supplier for Southeastern Wisconsin hospitals, including Aurora Lakeland Medical Center and Fort Memorial Hospital. They are also the primary provider for all of the veterans’ hospitals in the state.

Appointments are preferred, and many are still available. Please use the QR code, visit https://www.versiti.org or call Lynn at 262-473-2997 to make an appointment

Sometimes April 15 falls on the weekend and taxpayers are given a bit of grace in filing their federal and state income tax. Alas, there is no grace this year, and no longer is it sufficient to dart to the post office drop box to catch the 5 p.m. pickup. As has been previously announced on The Banner, Whitewater’s first-class mail does not leave the city until the next morning (Sundays excluded) after it is deposited in a box. The mail is then processed in the Oak Creek distribution center, where it may or may not be postmarked that next day. Consequently “mailing” a return on April 15 will not be considered timely, so penalties and interest may result.

If you’re mailing your return(s) on Wednesday, report to the post office before 5 p.m. and request a local postmark, which the clerk will be happy to provide.

The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office has issued another tornado watch that includes Jefferson, Rock and Walworth counties effective from 2:30 – 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday. In addition, our area is seen as being at risk of damaging hail up to 3.5″ in diameter, which is between the size of a hockey puck and a baseball.

On Tuesday morning at approximately 1 a.m. the tornado sirens sounded in Whitewater. Though the sirens are designed to warn people who are outside, in the quiet of the night the sirens were undoubtedly heard inside many homes. There has not been confirmation of a tornado touching down in our area, but there was significant wind damage. The schools closed for the day due to ongoing power outages and hazardous travel due to trees down. A large portion of the city was without power overnight, but as of 3 p.m. on Tuesday, We Energies reports that only about ten customers are still without power.

On January 28th, Quinton O’Toole enlisted in the Wisconsin Air National Guard at Truax Field in Madison.

Quinton began investigating the Wisconsin Air National Guard in August 2023 with a trip to Volk Field in Camp Douglas. He completed the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) in his sophomore year and again in his senior year. 

Quinton expects to complete his high school sports career after competing in Cross Country, Wrestling, and Track & Field. He has completed AP classes in Literature, English, Speech and Biology. Last summer, he was selected as a delegate to Badger Boys State and attended with Sam Nicklesburg and Chacha Binagi. 

Starting July 7th, Quinton will attend basic training in Texas, followed by F-35 Crew Chief training in Texas/Arizona or Florida. His duty station will be the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field in Madison. As a member of the Wisconsin Air National Guard, Quinton will be eligible for in-state tuition and federal education benefits for future use.

Article Submitted by Greg Stewart
Whitewater High School Social Studies Teacher
gstewart@wwusd.org