News

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Be Kind Whitewater.

Due to the Heat Advisory, Be Kind Whitewater and Whitewater Unites Lives have made the decision to postpone today’s picnic. We hope to reschedule soon. We are disappointed but believe it is the right decision for our community members.

If you have donations for the Community Space, they are open until noon today. They are also open from 8:30 until 11 a.m. Tuesday, and 3:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Joe Sherman is a lifelong resident of Whitewater living on the family homestead farm. Joe comes from an Air Force family with someone continually serving since 1955. He joined the United States Air Force in 1965. After basic training he went to flight school to be a flight engineer. In 1966 he volunteered to serve in Vietnam and was assigned to the H53 Jolly Green Helicopter Squadron doing 133 air rescue missions in 13 months. He was based at Udorn, Thailand from 1967-68. After his military service Joe went to aircraft flight school in Janesville and flew charter for General Aviation Corporation.

In 2000 he was called to do maintenance at the First United Methodist Church which he continues to do today. He is active in the church and community in many ways. He is always helping others, providing assistance and practicing servant ministry at every opportunity, including delivering food, working with youth ministry, organizing special ministry activities, setting up big events (including organizing the 4 th of July food tent) and assisting with weddings and funerals. He volunteers many hours with Bethel House. In 2020 Joe was honored by Whitewater Unites Lives as a Hometown Hero.

Information and Photo Submitted by Donna Segraves

The National Weather Service is warning of triple-digit heat indices for our area for Saturday and Sunday.

• Heat indices exceeding 100°F Saturday through Monday across much of southern WI, with 105°F values in southeast WI.
• Low temperatures in the middle 70s Saturday and Sunday night, resulting in little overnight relief.
• Breezy southwest winds expected Saturday through Monday. Winds could be particularly gusty on Saturday (gusts to around 35 MPH expected, peaking late morning through late afternoon). 

Below is information from the National Safety Council on avoiding heat related illness:

Heat Exhaustion: When the body loses excessive water and salt, usually due to sweating, heat exhaustion can occur. According to the free NSC First Aid Quick Reference app, signs and symptoms include:

● Pale, ashen or moist skin
● Muscle cramps (especially for those working or exercising outdoors in high temperatures)
● Fatigue, weakness or exhaustion
● Headache, dizziness or fainting
● Nausea or vomiting
● Rapid heart rate

Uncontrolled heat exhaustion can evolve into heat stroke, so make sure to treat victims quickly:

● Move victims to a shaded or air-conditioned area
● Give water or other cool, nonalcoholic beverages
● Apply wet towels, or have victims take a cool shower

Heat Stroke: Seek medical help immediately if someone is suffering from heat stroke. Signs include:

● Body temperature above 103 degrees
● Skin that is flushed, dry and hot to the touch; sweating has usually stopped
● Rapid breathing
● Headache, dizziness, confusion or other signs of altered mental status
● Irrational or belligerent behavior
● Convulsions or unresponsiveness

Immediately take action:

● Call 911
● Move the victim to a cool place
● Remove unnecessary clothing
● Immediately cool the victim, preferably by immersing up to the neck in cold water (with the help of a second rescuer)
● If immersion in cold water is not possible, place the victim in a cold shower or move to a cool area and cover as much of the body as possible with cold, wet towels
● Keep cooling until body temperature drops to 101 degrees
● Monitor the victim’s breathing and be ready to give CPR if needed

DO NOT:

● Force the victim to drink liquids
● Apply rubbing alcohol to the skin
● Allow victims to take pain relievers or salt tablets

The best way to avoid a heat-related illness is to limit exposure outdoors during hot days. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

● Air conditioning is the best way to cool off
● Drink fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty, and avoid alcohol
● Wear loose, lightweight clothing and a hat
● Replace salt lost from sweating by drinking fruit juice or sports drinks
● Avoid spending time outdoors during the hottest part of the day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
● Wear sunscreen; sunburn affects the body’s ability to cool itself
● Pace yourself when you run or otherwise exert your body

Keep Each Other Safe

In your community, please check in on neighbors who are elderly, house-bound or otherwise may be reluctant to ask for help. You can offer to host them in the air-conditioned comfort of your living room on hot days, drive them to a local cooling center, or call relatives or city services to arrange for them to stay cool.

Nathaniel (Nate) Parrish, president, First Citizens State Bank, Whitewater, will serve a three-year term on the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) Board of Directors.

“We are delighted to have Nate join the WBA Board of Directors,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO. “His expertise and commitment will have a positive impact on Wisconsin’s banking industry and the communities we serve.” 

Parrish joined First Citizens State Bank in 2011, bringing over fifteen years of banking experience with him. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance and a minor in economics from Carroll University. Parrish’s extensive community involvement includes serving on the boards of the Rainbow Hospice Foundation, Whitewater University Tech Park, and was the 2023-2024 president of the Whitewater Rotary Club, of which he is still a member. 

Serving as officers on the WBA Board are Chair Paul J. Northway, president and CEO, American National Bank Fox Cities, Appleton; Chair-Elect Joseph (Joe) Peikert, CEO, Wolf River Community Bank, Hortonville; Vice Chair Greg Lundberg, president and CEO Fortifi Bank, Berlin; and Past Chair Alvaro (Al) Araque, SVP, director of consumer, private and business banking, Johnson Financial Group, Racine. 

Also joining the Board for three-year terms are Jim Hartlieb, president and CEO, First Business Bank, Madison; Lindsay Spitzer, president and CEO, Bluff View Bank, Galesville; and Eric Witczak, executive vice president and COO, Nicolet National Bank, Green Bay.  

Those continuing their terms on the Board are: Tina DeGustino, regional president, BMO Bank, Milwaukee; Kelly Heroux, president and CEO, Peshtigo National Bank; Shay Horton, president and CEO, Cumberland Federal Bank; Shane Ilstrup, president, Citizens First Bank, Trempealeau; Jimmy Kauffman, president and CEO, Bank of Sun Prairie; Todd Nagel, president and CEO, IncredibleBank, Wausau; Timothy (Tim) Schneider, president and CEO, Bank Five Nine, Oconomowoc; and Bill Sennholz, CEO, Forward Bank, Marshfield.

About the Wisconsin Bankers Association
Founded in 1892, WBA is the state’s largest financial industry trade association, representing nearly 180 commercial banks and savings institutions, their branches, and 30,000 employees. The Association represents banks of all sizes in Wisconsin, and 96 percent of banks in the state are WBA members.

“Nickel Boys”

Tuesday, June 24, 1 pm

(Coming of Age/Drama/History)

Rated PG-13; 2 hours, 20 minutes (2024). 

The chronicles of a powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers, navigating the harrowing trials of the Nickel Academy, a Florida reform school in the 1960’s Jim Crow South. Based on the best-selling novel by Colson Whitehead. Nominated for Oscars: Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay. 

Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $10 and non-residents is $15. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes out of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/

Chancellor Corey A. King, Foundation President Katie Kuznacic, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Foundation formally announced the university’s “Our Stories. Our Future.” fundraising campaign on June 12, 2025, at Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium, home of the 2025 national champion Warhawk baseball team.

The campaign is the most ambitious in the university’s history, which spans more than 150 years.

“It is my hope that, through this campaign, we’ll continue to make UW-Whitewater stronger for another 155 years,” King said.

In a gathering of alums, faculty, staff, students, stakeholders, and community members, UW-Whitewater Foundation Board Chair Sandy Dunst announced the campaign is more than halfway to its minimum fundraising goal of $50 million. The foundation started working with university leadership in 2021 to establish the framework for the campaign, which will support scholarships, innovation, faculty development, and campus enhancement projects to ensure continued university excellence. 

“Many of you in this room have given your time, resources and talents, and you do it every day because you love this great institution,” King said. “I ask you to continue to lean into your story and your journey as a part of the Warhawk family.”

John and Wendy Buckley are serving as co-chairs of the campaign along with honorary chairs Gaylon and Hannah Greenhill. Gaylon Greenhill served as Chancellor from 1991-99 as part of a 37-year professional career at the university, and John Buckley graduated from UW-Whitewater in 1982 with a BBA in accounting.

“This is more than a campaign, this is about building the foundation for the future generations and for other people to write their own stories,” Buckley said.

Buckley outlined the campaign’s approach to build affinity groups — groups of people with shared experiences who are committed to the betterment of UW-Whitewater by supporting opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.

Examples of such groups could be a group of alums who live in a certain area, alums who studied the same major, or alums who were part of a sports team, club, or organization on campus.

“This campaign is about more than dollars — it’s about connection, legacy, and belief in what UW-Whitewater makes possible for generations to come,” Kuznacic said.

Each speaker celebrated UW-Whitewater’s recent successes, including the Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s performance at Carnegie Hall and, most recently, the baseball team’s third national title.

Attendees enjoyed baseball-themed snacks, appetizers and gift bags, and toured the baseball facility — widely recognized as one of the best in the nation — as part of the launch event.

The UW-Whitewater Foundation drives long-term university support through strategic engagement and impactful giving. 

To learn more about the “Our Stories, Our Future.” campaign, visit uww.edu/campaign.

About UW-Whitewater
At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, we inspire, engage and transform lives. Founded in 1868, we serve almost 12,000 students and celebrate more than 100,000 alumni around the world. Our faculty and staff are devoted to student success on our Whitewater campus, our Rock County campus, and our vibrant online environment. We prepare innovative, resilient students with outstanding skills that make them strong candidates for 21st-century careers and community leadership. We embrace our priority mission to serve students with disabilities. Home to the Warhawk family, UW-Whitewater delivers a supportive, caring culture with an entrepreneurial spirit and championship drive.

Chris Lindeke
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
lindekec@uww.edu
262-472-1193

Samuel Karns will serve as the next Superintendent of the Whitewater Unified School District, effective July 1.

The appointment follows a comprehensive search process led by executive search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA). Earlier this spring, HYA facilitated a series of focus groups with WUSD students, staff, families, local organizations, and community members to gather input on the district’s priorities and the desired qualities of its next leader. The feedback collected was used to develop a leadership profile that guided candidate recruitment and selection.

“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Karns to the Whitewater Unified School District,” said Stephanie Hicks, Board President. “Throughout the search process, the community expressed a desire for a student-focused, collaborative leader who understands how to support academic growth and build strong relationships. Mr. Karns brings experience in all these areas, and we look forward to partnering with him in service of our students.”

Karns currently serves as Principal of Todd Elementary School in Beloit. Under his leadership, the school improved its Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction School Report Card rating from “failing to meet expectations” to “meeting expectations.” In recognition of his work, Karns was named 2025 Wisconsin Elementary Principal of the Year by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA) and received the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Leadership Award.

Before leading Todd Elementary, Karns held Assistant Principal positions at McNeel Intermediate School in Beloit and Landrum Middle School in Houston, Texas. He also served in district administration as Assistant Director for Student Wellness from 2016 to 2018.

Karns holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Texas A&M University. He completed his superintendent licensure program at Concordia University in December 2024 and is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership.

Karns is an advocate of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework and has presented on the topic at national conferences hosted by ASCD, SHAPE America, and other educational organizations.

The WUSD School Board will share additional information in the coming weeks regarding opportunities to welcome Karns to the district community.

Stephanie Hicks, School Board President
920-723-7892
stephaniehicks@wwusd.org

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week’s image is from 1993, when the old Sherwood Forest Motel changed its name to the Diplomat Motel. The Sherwood Forest Motel was located where the modern Fairfield Inn and Suites is now located (next to the new Starbucks near Wal-Mart). The Sherwood Forest Motel was developed in 1978-1979 as an extension to a church building already on the site. The old church building can be seen behind the bank of rooms in the image. In 1996, the building was demolished for part of the parking lot of the new Sentry grocery store (now the UW Community Engagement Center). As usual, historical society member George Scharfenberg was on hand to photograph the business when it changed its name in 1993.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(Photo from the George Scharfenberg collection)

Taken the week of June 2, 2025

Last week Steve noticed a couple birds darting around on Cravath Lake over several days. They moved like swallows, but looked like the size of a woodduck. With the help of the Wisconsin Wildlife page, Steve found out they were Black Terns. 

Terns were common in Wisconsin,  but are declining in part due to habitat loss.

Our thanks to Steve Watson for sharing these interesting photos and information.

— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share.  Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks for thinking about this!