News

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!

The City of Whitewater is updating its Parks and Recreation Open Space Plan, and we need your input!

This short survey is your chance to help guide the future of our parks, trails, natural areas, and recreational programs. Whether you use the parks daily or only occasionally, your feedback is vital. By sharing your thoughts, you’ll help our Parks and Recreation team identify priorities, shape future improvements, and ensure that our public spaces reflect the needs of everyone in our community.

The survey takes just a few minutes to complete and will directly inform how we plan for the next five years — and beyond.

Take the Survey Now ➜ https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z5HWL8W

Thank you for being part of the process to keep Whitewater’s parks welcoming, safe, and enriching for all.

Kevin Boehm
Director of Parks and Recreation
City of Whitewater
(262)473-0122
kboehm@whitewater-wi.gov

Whitewater Arts Alliance Presents

Savory Sounds Concert featuring Tony Rocker

Thursday, June 19, 2025
11:30am – 12:45pm
Flat Iron Park, Whitewater

Tony Rocker is an Elvis tribute artist known for authentic performances, original keys, and replica jumpsuits.

Sponsored by TDS
Food Vendor:  Annie’s Burger Town

• Concert Times: All concerts are held on Thursdays from 11:30am – 12:45pm.
• Location: Outside the Cultural Arts Center (CAC) / Flat Iron Park (next to the Birge Fountain), 402 W Main St, Whitewater.
• Rain or Shine: Normally held outdoors on the lawn. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts are moved inside the CAC and seating is provided.
• Seating: If the concert is held outside, please consider bringing a lawn chair or blanket. A few picnic tables and benches around the Birge Fountain are also available.
• Food & Refreshments: Food and other refreshments will be available from the food vendor or bring your own lunch.
• Parking: CAC lot and city street parking is available with additional parking available at First English Lutheran Church.

Friday 6/20/25 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday 6/21/25 8 am to 4 pm  
W6915 Bluff Road, Whitewater

Huge rummage sale! Something for everyone.

• Clothes for kids and adults, Winter coats,  and boots.
• Toys from little tyke, Melissa and Doug, Barbie and more. 
• John Deere kids 2 seater gator, petal tractors, bikes and more. 
• Kitchen items, holiday, and crafts.
• Yard tools, old cow tank, hunting and fishing items. 
• Many Black bear cabin decorations.

Come on out we have it all!

Get ready to clean out your garage: Walworth County will host residential Clean Sweep recycling events on June 20 and 21, 2025, at Walworth County Public Works, W4097 County Road NN, Elkhorn. No registration is required. 

Schedule

• Recycle household hazardous waste only on Friday, June 20, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. View a full list of acceptable items. 
• Recycle household hazardous waste and electronics, TVs, appliances, and tires on Saturday, June 21, from 8 a.m. to noon. 

Fees

Household hazardous waste is free. Electronics and computers can be recycled for free. The following items can be recycled for a fee (cash only):

• All TVs: $10 each 
• Monitors: $5 each 
• Mini fridges, small AC units, and dehumidifiers: $5 each 
• Refrigerators and freezers: $10 each; all other appliances are free 
• Tires with 18-inch rims or smaller may be recycled: The cost is $10 each for tires without rims and $15 each for tires with rims. 

Learn more about our Clean Sweep events. 

Congratulations to students making the Honor Roll and High Honor Roll for second semester of the 2024-2025 school year at Whitewater High School. These designations are based on Semester 2 weighted grades. Students earning a 3.500 – 3.7499 are on Honor Roll, and students earning a 3.75 – 5.0 are on High Honor Roll.

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library’s Expansion and Renovation Project is currently in Phase Three. While the library building is closed to the public, curbside pickup services will be available starting Monday, June 23.

Library patrons may place holds on books, movies, and other materials and pick them up at the library. Print jobs may be sent to the library’s printing email at library-printing@whitewater-wi.gov. When holds or print jobs become available, patrons must call
or email the library in advance to schedule a time to pick up their items (times will be available in two-hour windows). Community members may also register for a library card via curbside or at any library event.

In addition, reference services and help with library accounts and databases will be available via phone or email. Reading logs and prizes for the Summer Reading Program will also be available via curbside.

Hours for Curbside Services
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m-1:00 p.m.

Completion of the library’s building project is projected for November 2025.

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Complete details, updates, online services, and the library events calendar can be found at whitewaterlibrary.org. Call the library at 262-473-0530 or email library@whitewater-wi.gov with questions.