Update: The Old Main fire took place on February 7, 1970, not 1971.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. It’s UWW Homecoming week, so here is a nice view of Old Main, probably from the 1960s. It is also a lovely fall photo. Before the 1970 Old Main fire, the UWW had one of the prettiest campus entrances in the state system.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(5092PC, Whitewater Historical Society)
The Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club is selling florist-quality, red poinsettia plants for $20. Orders are due the second week of November, and the plants will be delivered December 5 and 6.
Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club Co-President Corey Davis said, “We are delighted to be able to sell florist-quality poinsettias again this year, with the funds helping children in our community and the world as well as brightening your holidays.”
If you would like a plant, please contact any Kiwanian or contact Al Stanek at albertstanek@gmail.com
Whitewater Kiwanis is a group of dedicated volunteers who help both children of the Whitewater community and the world. Over the past several years the club raised funds to make possible the installation of the city’s first piece of inclusive playground equipment, a We-Go-Round, in Starin Park. Annual donations are also made to provide shoes and winter clothes for students, as well as support for organizations such as the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, The Community Space, and the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club.
If you have an interest in helping youth in Whitewater, you can check out Whitewater Kiwanis on Facebook and join the Club by contacting Corey Davis at davisc@uww.edu.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
Poinsettia Sale to Benefit Children
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Whitewater Breakfast Kiwanis Club.
DHS Reminds Wisconsinites to Take Action Against Mosquito Bites
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) encourages Wisconsinites to continue to protect themselves against mosquito bites after the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
EEE is a rare but serious disease. No human cases of EEE have been reported in the state so far this year. Since 2011, three of the seven human cases of EEE disease in Wisconsin occurred during the month of October, a time of year when many people think mosquitoes are no longer active. EEE virus spreads to humans, horses, and other animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes acquire EEE virus by feeding on infected birds. The virus is not spread person to person, directly between animals, or between animals and humans.
Some people with EEE may develop fever, headache, chills, and vomiting. The illness may become severe resulting in encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), disorientation, seizures, coma, or death. Approximately 30% of people who develop severe EEE disease will die, and those who do survive often have long-term neurologic problems. Adults over 50 and children under 15 are at the greatest risk for developing severe EEE disease. There is no specific vaccine or treatment for EEE illness available for people.
Wisconsin residents and visitors should take steps to reduce exposure to mosquitoes when spending time outdoors. Mosquito activity and the risk of EEE, West Nile virus, and other diseases spread by mosquitoes will continue during the fall until there is a hard frost (temperatures below 28 degrees Fahrenheit for at least four straight hours). DHS offers these tips to protect against mosquito bites:
Find more information on illnesses spread by mosquitoes and additional ways to Fight the Bite on the DHS website.
Edgerton Hospital Celebrates Launch of X-Ray Services and Ribbon Cutting at Whitewater Urgent Care
Edgerton Hospital and Health Services proudly celebrated the official launch of X-ray services at its Whitewater Urgent Care location on Monday, October 20. The milestone was marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted in partnership with the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce, welcoming community members, ambassadors, and local business leaders.
Located at 757 E. Milwaukee St., Whitewater, Urgent Care is open seven days a week [from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.] and provides accessible, walk-in care for patients with non-emergency medical needs. With the addition of on-site X-ray, the facility now offers enhanced diagnostic capabilities to help patients receive quick, comprehensive care close to home.
“We’re thrilled to officially offer X-ray services in Whitewater,” said Marc Augsburger, MBA, BSN, RHCEOC, President & CEO of Edgerton Hospital and Health Services. “Our goal is to make healthcare as convenient and accessible as possible for our surrounding communities. By adding X-ray and maintaining extended urgent care hours, we’re ensuring that patients can get the care they need without having to travel far.”
Edgerton Hospital Urgent Care treats a wide range of conditions, including sprains, minor fractures, cuts, infections, and other urgent, non-life-threatening concerns. The clinic’s walk-in model eliminates the need for appointments and supports patients with busy schedules or unexpected healthcare needs.
The launch of X-ray services marks another step in Edgerton Hospital’s ongoing commitment to expanding local healthcare access throughout southern Wisconsin.
###
About Edgerton Hospital and Health Services
Edgerton Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital. It merited a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital Best Practices in Patient Satisfaction designation, in 2024 and 2025, from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). The hospital serves the communities of Edgerton, Milton, Whitewater, and surrounding communities. Founded in 1923, the facility offers inpatient, outpatient, surgical, diagnostic, emergency, orthopedics, pain management, swing bed, and rehabilitation services. For additional information about Edgerton Hospital, please visit www.edgertonhospital.com.
Editor’s note: The above press release was received from Edgerton Hospital and Health Services.
Authors, storytellers, and other guests are often invited to visit Whitewater’s Book Buddies program to share their unique insights on the importance of reading. This year, we have learned a lot about animal characters in stories and books. On October 6, Book Buddies welcomed Gayle Stettler who spoke about Wisconsin author Sterling North and his pet raccoon, the experience of which North formed the basis of his popular book, Rascal.
On Monday, October 13, Tammy Tomomitsu visited Book Buddies with her mini-donkey Otis and goat pal Geoffrey. The children were allowed to pet the animals while they asked a lot of questions and used their imagination to develop stories about Otis.
Book Buddies is a free, community after-school literacy program that pairs caring adult volunteers with children in grades Kindergarten through Grade 5. Volunteers read with their younger book buddies, thereby stimulating the child’s love of reading and hopefully improving reading skills. Guests who visit Book Buddies further demonstrate how enjoyable reading can be!
For more information contact Barb Penington at bookbuds1@gmail.com.
Editor’s note: This submission was provided by Barb Penington. Photos courtesy of Janie Anderson and Barb Penington.
Whitewater Unified School District Superintendent Samuel L. Karns is one of 43 principals [in his case, former principal] from across the nation being honored in Washington, D.C. ceremony.
| Alexandria, VA, – Samuel L. Karns, [former] principal of Todd Elementary School [of Beloit], has been named as one of 43 exemplary elementary and middle-level principals from across the nation to receive the award of 2025 NAESP National Distinguished Principal (NDP) by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). The pre-K-8 principals travel to the nation’s capital from Oct. 23 – 24, to participate in two days of events that culminate in an awards banquet to honor their accomplishments. The program is held at The Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C. [The following statement regarding Karns appears on the NAESP website: In his three years as principal of Todd Elementary School, Samuel Karns has helped transform school culture, restore academic achievement, and expand equitable access to health and wellness. At the start of his tenure, Todd Elementary was rated a one-star school for “failing to meet expectations.” Just three years later, the school has progressed to three-star status, exhibiting year-over-year growth in reading and math. To get there, Karns assembled a cross-disciplinary leadership team to synergize and clarify campus improvement goals, reorienting the school’s culture to embrace collective ownership of school improvement. By leading 100-day improvement cycles emphasizing inquiry, planning, action, monitoring, and reflection, Karns has supported staff in advancing consistent, data-based strategies while invigorating professional collaboration and shared leadership. Karns has also reached beyond the school to eliminate barriers to learning and advance whole-child initiatives at Todd. Under his leadership, the school’s PTO relaunched as “E3”–Engage, Educate, Empower–generating a variety of new initiatives to support parents and students, including a popular mothers’ support group. Karns also launched the Back to School Community Health Fair, which has served over 1,700 people in two years with free immunizations, vision screenings, and other health services. Karns holds a Superintendent Licensure from Concordia University, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University, and a B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at San Antonio.] “School principals continue to show exceptional adaptability and creativity in meeting the changing needs of students and staff,” said NAESP Executive Director L. Earl Franks, Ed.D., CAE. “The 2025 NAESP NDPs exemplify this resilience and leadership well beyond the status quo. Congratulations to this outstanding class of deserving school leaders.” Since 1984, the NDP program has recognized public and private school principals who make superior contributions to their schools and communities and has given them the opportunity to share best practices with each other. NAESP state affiliates selected these 43 principal honorees, who join 2,364 principals before them who have also been recognized as NAESP NDPs. It is particularly fitting to acknowledge the work of principals in October because it is National Principals Month, which was established to recognize and honor the contributions of school principals toward the success of the nation’s students and encourage awareness of their significance. Criteria for selection of the principals require that the honorees are active principals of schools where programs are designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and where there are firmly established community ties with parents and local business organizations. |
| About NAESP – Principals are the primary catalysts for creating lasting foundations for learning. Since 1921, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has been the leading advocate for elementary and middle level principals in the United States and worldwide. NAESP advances the profession by developing policy, professional learning, and resources for instructional leadership including specialized support and mentoring for early career principals. Key focus areas include pre-K-3 education, school safety, technology and digital learning, and effective educator evaluation. For more information about NAESP, visit naesp.org. Editor’s note: The photo on the homepage is courtesy of Tom Ganser. |
Walworth County Finance Director Jessica Conley will present the 2026 Preliminary Budget on behalf of the County’s Finance Committee at a Public Budget Hearing on Thursday, October 30, at 6 p.m., in the Board Room at the Government Center, 100 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn. The hearing is one of the final steps before formal budget adoption at the County Board meeting on Monday, November 10, at 5 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend the hearing to learn more about the budget and provide feedback to the Board of Supervisors and staff. Changes to the preliminary budget may be made by Supervisors up until the budget is adopted.
Walworth County residents can expect several direct benefits from the proposed 2026 budget. First, the County is budgeting an additional $1 million in sales tax revenue, helping to maintain services without raising property taxes. The County has also budgeted $1.29 million of contingency reserves, ensuring quicker responses to emergencies like severe weather and infrastructure needs without impacting core services.
The County is investing over $5 million of its existing reserves in capital projects, 41% of the total 2026 capital plan, while remaining debt-free. Among the capital projects outlined in the proposed budget, the future of the Government Center in downtown Elkhorn is particularly significant. The budget delays all Government Center capital improvement projects for 2026 to allow time for a comprehensive evaluation of long-term options, including potential relocation or renovation. This strategic pause avoids unnecessary spending while preserving flexibility and transparency in future planning. Finally, the County’s long-term capital planning process has been strengthened through a more complete 10-year Capital Improvement Plan, ensuring that infrastructure investments are aligned with community needs and fiscal sustainability.
The public budget hearing agenda, supporting documents, and the link to view the livestream can be accessed at https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/agendacenter. Members of the public can also attend in person. For more information about the proposed budget, visit www.co.walworth.wi.us/250/Budget.
By Olivia Pagnotta
UW-W Senior
Social Work BA
By the time foster children enter their teens, they have been through many homes. They have experienced trauma and have been bounced around from place to place, waiting for someone to be their home. What these children need is stability, structure, and therapy. They need someone to show them their worth and to help them process their hardships. 80% of teens and children in foster care have mental health issues. This is because they lack stability, and many have little family structure and have experienced childhood trauma. The foster care system focuses on finding a place for the adolescents to stay, but what it needs to do is focus on healing their emotional wounds so that they can be set up for success.
The foster care system is there for when it is not safe for the children to stay with their biological family anymore. The foster system places them in a different home, either temporarily or permanently, based on what is best for the child. While it is great that foster children are receiving placement and getting into homes, they also need mental health support. Giving them a bed is a short fix, but mental health care is a long-term solution. Children are going through many changes, and so they do not know how to cope and make sense of their trauma. By talking to a mental health professional, they can start their healing journey and become their happiest self. In society, needs like food, shelter, and physical health are often met, while mental health is left out.
People need to care because this is the future generation. Care4Kids is a program designed to provide Wisconsin children and teens with the necessary healthcare. This includes mental health care. However, it is not supported in Walworth and Jefferson County. To help the children, please reach out to the Department of Health Services to advocate for the kids’ rights.
References
Care4Kids Program. (2014, April 24). Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/care4kids/index.htm
Foster VA. (n.d.). Facts About Mental Health In Foster Care | FosterVA.
www.fosterva.org. https://www.fosterva.org/blog/facts-about-mental-health-in-foster-care
Mental and Behavioral Health Needs of Children in Foster Care. (2020). Aap.org.
Mental and Behavioral Health Needs of Children in Foster Care
Editor’s note: The Whitewater Banner does not normally publish letters to the editor. We have received several submissions from UW-Whitewater students and are choosing to publish them since they have been written as a class assignment. The Banner appreciates having permission from Pixabay to use the photo on the homepage.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Los Jóvenes de Crianza Merecen, no Solo una Cama
Por Olivia Pagnotta
Estudiante de último año en UW-W
Licenciatura en Trabajo Social
Cuando los niños de crianza llegan a la adolescencia, han pasado por muchas casas. Los
niños han experimentado un trauma y han estado de un lugar a otro, esperando que una persona
sea su hogar. Los niños necesitan estabilidad, estructura y terapia. Necesitan que alguien les
demuestre su valor y les ayude a procesar sus dificultades. 80% de los adolescentes y niños en
crianza tienen problemas de salud mental. Esto es porque ellos faltan estabilidad, muchos tienen
poca estructura familiar y han experimentado traumas de niños. El sistema de acogida se centra
en encontrar un lugar para los adolescentes, pero lo que debe hacer es curar sus heridas
emocionales para que puedan prepararse para el futuro.
El sistema de acogida existe para cuando ya no es seguro para los niños estar con su
familia biológica. El sistema de acogida pone a los niños en un hogar diferente, ya sea temporal
o permanentemente. Hacen lo que es mejor para el niño. Es positivo que los niños de acogida
estén entrando en hogares. También necesitan apoyo en materia de salud mental. Ofrecerles una
cama es una solución a corto plazo, pero la atención de salud mental es una solución a largo
plazo. Los niños están experimentando muchos cambios y no saben cómo afrontar su trauma. Al
hablar con un profesional de la salud mental, pueden comenzar su proceso de salud mental y
alcanzar su máximo potencial. En la sociedad, las personas necesitan comida, una casa y salud
física. No se satisfacen las necesidades de salud mental.
La gente necesita preocuparse porque esta es la generación del futuro. Care4Kids es un
programa que ayuda a los niños y adolescentes de Wisconsin a obtener la atención médica
necesaria. Esto incluye atención de salud mental. Sin embargo, no cuenta con los condados de
Walworth y Jefferson. Care4Kids es un programa que brinda a los niños y adolescentes de
Wisconsin la atención médica necesaria. Esto incluye atención de salud mental. Sin embargo, no
cuenta con apoyo en los condados de Walworth y Jefferson. Para ayudar a los niños, contacta con
el Departamento de Servicios de Salud para defender los derechos de los niños .
Nota del editor: El Whitewater Banner normalmente no publica cartas al editor. Hemos recibido varias contribuciones de estudiantes de la UW-Whitewater y hemos decidido publicarlas ya que han sido escritas como parte de una tarea de clase.
