Family Friendly Workplaces is happy to announce that Jefferson County has earned Gold Certified Employer status as a Family Friendly Workplace, recognizing its commitment to supporting employees’ well-being and work-life balance.
“In Jefferson County, we understand that supporting employees’ work-life balance is key to building a strong, sustainable workforce,” said Jessica Tucker, Human Resources Director of Jefferson County. “This certification affirms our dedication to creating an environment where staff can succeed at work while also prioritizing their personal and family needs. When our employees are supported, our whole community is stronger.”
Jefferson County earned this certification after a comprehensive evaluation of its workplace policies, including flexible work options, parental leave, healthcare benefits, and family-centric support programs. Key family-oriented benefits at Jefferson County include generous paid time off that can be used for maternity and paternity leave, short-term and long-term disability insurance, Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) retirement plan benefits, and employer-paid dental insurance.
This recognition supports multiple pillars of Jefferson County’s Strategic Plan, notably Transformative Government and Intentional Economic Growth. County officials are encouraging other employers – public or private, large or small – to do a similar evaluation through Family Friendly Workplaces.
As a certified employer, Jefferson County is now entitled to use the Family Friendly Workplaces logo in its talent attraction and retention work, as well as access a range of other benefits. “We’re proud to recognize Jefferson County as the fifth county to be certified as a Family Friendly Workplace,” said Neil Kline, Executive Director of Family Friendly Workplaces. “Their commitment to supporting employees and strengthening the community truly reflects the core values of a family-friendly organization.”
Enjoy family-centered activities on Saturday, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the annual International Children’s Day celebration at Lincoln Elementary School, Whitewater.
This free fun family event will include live music, games, crafts, face-painting and other activities for children of all ages and runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Information will be available on local and regional services for families. A variety of international food offerings from local organizations will also be for cash sale.
“Whitewater prides itself on being a community that is supportive of all children and their families. April 18 is an opportunity to celebrate International Children’s Day and those who care for, support, and encourage children here and around the world. We are so pleased that another child-focused organization, the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, is one of our sponsors for this volunteer-based event,” said Miguel Aranda, planning committee member.
The World Conference for the Well-being of Children in Geneva, Switzerland, proclaimed June 1 to be International Children’s Day in 1925. It is usually marked with speeches on children’s rights and wellbeing, and other events involving or dedicated to children. A similar event, Universal Children’s Day, falls on Nov. 20. It was established by the United Nations in 1954 and aims to promote the welfare of children around the world. The first celebration of International Children’s Day in Whitewater was held in April of 2022. Many countries around the world celebrate the day in late April.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at this event. The food offers are cash only.
Sponsors of International Children’s Day Celebration include the Whitewater Unified School District, Whitewater Unites Lives, and Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.
WHITEWATER: disfrute de actividades familiares el sábado 18 de abril, de 11:00 a. m. a 2:00 p. m., con la celebración anual del Día Internacional del Niño en la escuela primaria Lincoln, en Whitewater.
Este divertido evento familiar gratuito incluirá música en vivo, juegos, manualidades, pintura facial y otras actividades para niños de todas las edades, y se llevará a cabo de 11 a. m. a 2 p. m. Se proporcionará información sobre los servicios locales y regionales para familias. También se venderán en efectivo una variedad de platillos internacionales ofrecidos por organizaciones locales.
«Whitewater se enorgullece de ser una comunidad que apoya a todos los niños y sus familias. El 18 de abril es una oportunidad para celebrar el Día Internacional del Niño y a quienes cuidan, apoyan y animan a los niños aquí y en todo el mundo. Estamos muy contentos de que otra organización centrada en los niños, el Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, sea uno de los patrocinadores de este evento basado en el voluntariado», dijo Miguel Aranda, miembro del comité de planificación.
La Conferencia Mundial para el Bienestar de los Niños, celebrada en Ginebra (Suiza), proclamó el 1 de junio como Día Internacional del Niño en 1925. Suele celebrarse con discursos sobre los derechos y el bienestar de los niños, así como con otros eventos en los que participan o que están dedicados a los niños. Un evento similar, el Día Universal del Niño, se celebra el 20 de noviembre. Fue establecido por las Naciones Unidas en 1954 y tiene como objetivo promover el bienestar de los niños de todo el mundo. La primera celebración del Día Internacional del Niño en Whitewater se llevó a cabo en abril de 2022. Muchos países de todo el mundo celebran este día a finales de abril.
Los niños deben estar acompañados por un adulto en este evento. Las ofertas de comida solo se pueden pagar en efectivo.
Entre los patrocinadores de la celebración del Día Internacional del Niño se encuentran el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Whitewater, Whitewater Unites Lives y el Club de Desayuno Kiwanis de Whitewater.
Editor’s Note: The above was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has named Michael Zweifel as its 15th head football coach in school history. A native of Whitewater, Wisconsin, Zweifel completed his fourth year as an assistant coach at UW-La Crosse during the 2025 season. He replaces Matt Janus, who was announced as head football coach at Northern Michigan University on January 5.
“My family and I are extremely honored and excited to be the next head coach at UW-La Crosse,” said Zweifel. “To be a part of the proud history and standard of excellence here at UW-La Crosse is a dream come true.”
Michael Zweifel
Zweifel served as UW-La Crosse’s defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2025. He has coordinated the Eagles’ defense and special teams to a 36-11 record the last four years as UW-La Crosse won two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championships and made four appearances in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Playoffs.
“The mindset and standard of our football program is not to maintain what we’ve accomplished the past few years; I was hired to elevate and take this program to the next step,” added Zweifel. “The expectation is to win championships, and we plan to do that by developing competitive, connected, accountable and resilient young men.
This football team will value competition, being selfless, and seeking out challenges every day. Our staff and I are fully committed to building champions in school, sport and life.”
He has coached 15 All-WIAC selections on defense, including 10 first team choices. UW-La Crosse led the league in passing defense (188.9 yards per game) and punting net yards per game (39.4) in 2025. The Eagles led the WIAC in quarterback sacks (28) and fumble recoveries (9) in 2024 while ranking third in interceptions (13).
“Michael has displayed his football intelligence while leading our defense for the last four years, but he also brings experience as a player and coach on the offensive side of the ball which is unique,” said UW-La Crosse Director of Athletics Kim Blum. “He has made an impression on our players as someone who engages with them and brings a lot of energy, but also as a strong family man who cares about making an impact on young men on and off the field.”
In 2022, UW-La Crosse ranked second in the conference in scoring defense (17.8), sacks (67), interceptions (13), opponents’ third-down conversions (32.2%) and red-zone defense (66.7). The Eagles led the conference in kickoff returns (23.8) while finishing third in punt returns (9.3) and second in punting (35.4).
Zweifel was the wide receivers and quarterbacks coach at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) from 2012-21. A 2011 graduate of Dubuque (Iowa), Zweifel earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science while graduating Summa Cum Laude. He earned his master’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Tyler in 2015. Zweifel owned Building Better Athletes, LLC from 2013-22.
Michael Zweifel spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at UW-La Crosse.
He was named the winner of the 2011 Gagliardi Trophy, awarded annually to the top NCAA Division III football player. Zweifel led the nation in receiving yards (1,915), receiving yards per game (174.1), receptions (140), receptions per game (12.7), and receiving touchdowns (25). He also recorded 29 tackles in 2011 with 2.5 tackles for loss, nine pass breaks-ups, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Zweifel set a NCAA III record with his 140 catches in 2011 and ended his career as the all-time NCAA leader (all divisions) with 463 receptions. He was a three-year team captain at Dubuque (Iowa).
Selected the 2011 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Offensive Most Valuable Player, Zweifel was named to six All-America teams. He was an All-IIAC First Team selection in 2009 and 2011, helping lead the Spartans to their first conference championship in 31 years in 2011.
“I appreciate Michael’s commitment to UW-La Crosse and his unique vision for the future of UW-La Crosse football as a contributor to the overall athletic program,” noted Blum. “Michael was able to demonstrate his ability to lead the program by pulling from his experience as a business owner, and he clearly understands the incredible opportunity he has to write the next chapter of the Eagles’ football program.”
Zweifel attended the Green Bay Packers Rookie Minicamp and Fall Camp in 2012. Voted the 2011 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American® of the Year, he was named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete finalist.
Zweifel was formally introduced as the Eagles’ head coach at a press conference held in Hetzel Fieldhouse on the UWL campus, scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17. The press conference may be streamed here.
UW-La Crosse has won two (1992, 1995) NCAA Division III Championships and one (1985) National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) title while making 16 appearances in the NCAA Division III Championships, including the last five seasons, and seven trips to the NAIA Playoffs. The Eagles have captured 35 conference championships in school history.
Zweifel lives in Holmen, Wisconsin with his wife, Jennifer, and two daughters, Ainsley and Sienna.
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by UW-La Crosse.
Front: Josie Davis (stage manager), Amerra Lin Middle: Aurora Gerblick, Lia Ramirez, Peyton Comfort, Isabella Cohen, Sophia Noonan, Ian Agen Back: Esterban Diaz-Gallegos, Kia Peterson, Vivian Harris, Camdyn Avila, Joseph Falcon-Kienbaum, Jesus Ramirez (stage manager), Sam Nickelsburg
The Whitewater High School Players performances of “Radium Girls” open on Feb. 26 at 7 pm in the James M. Stewart Auditorium at WHS. Performances continue on Feb. 27-28 at 7 pm and Mar. 1 at 2 pm.
General admission tickets ($12 for adults, $7 for students) are available beginning one hour before the performances.
Before the performance, Tom Ganser’s photos will be shared of the WHS Players productions of “A Murder is Announced” (2023), “Our Town” (2024), and “The Good Doctor” (2025).
Under the direction of Jim McCulloch, the cast includes Ian Agen, Camdyn Avila, Isabella Cohen, Peyton Comfort, Esteban Diaz-Gallegos, Joseph Falcon-Kienbaum, Aurora Gerblick, Vivian Harris, Ameera Lin, Sam Nickelsburg, Sophia Noonan, Kia Peterson, and Lia Ramirez. Josie Davis and Jesus Ramirez support the production in their important role as stage managers.
Under the guidance of Kat Dunham, the scenery construction and backstage crews include Caitlin Alford, Sidney Block, Georgia Esch, Ace Hudec, Hadley Huebner, Joshua Nygren, and Jesus Ramirez.
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, “Radium Girls” traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation, but with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Former Whitewater Unified School District Caroline Pate-Hefty has been placed on administrative leave from her new role as superintendent of the Manheim Township School District [“Manheim”] in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Per lancasteronline.com, the superintendent’s status was announced to district staff in an email on February 18, 2026. No reasons were given for the leave; reportedly her contract prohibits the district from publicly disclosing matters related to Pate-Hefty’s performance or conduct. It was not indicated whether the leave is paid. Pate-Hefty’s annual salary is $227,250.
Pate-Hefty signed a five-year contract in March 2025 and began her employment with the 6000-student Manheim on July 1. She had held the Whitewater position, where there are nearly 2000 students, since 2020.
Since Pate-Hefty’s tenure began in Pennsylvania there have been four resignations from the administrative staff, although one of those individuals has since rescinded their resignation.
Per lancasteronline.com, Manheim has had seven superintendents in the past 14 years.
The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee of the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area will hold the second of three Book Club discussions on our spring book selection, An Eye for an I: Growing Up with Blindness, Bigotry, and Family Mental Illness by James Bonilla, on Monday evening, March 9th, 6:15 PM-8:00 PM, at The Whitewater Public Library, 431 W Center St, in Whitewater.
This powerful narrative offers an intersectional analysis of disability, racism, and mental illness, inviting readers to empathize, be inspired, and consider their own potential for social change. Our discussion on March 9th will cover chapters 13-30. SAVE THE DATE – the last discussion will be held on April 13 (Chapters 31-42) at the same time and location.
ACQUIRE THE BOOK TODAY! A limited supply of books are available at The Book Teller (call 262-269-9109 to hold a copy to purchase) and local libraries. You can also order the book from Amazon.
The LWV Book Club was formed to help our members and friends engage in meaningful discussions of current notable books dealing with public policy issues of interest to the League. You do not need to be a member of the League to participate and refreshments will be served. For questions or further information please contact Dwight C. Watson, dwight.watsondcw@gmail.com, or Deb Gamble, 23debg@gmail.com
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the League of Women Voters – Whitewater area.
The Robotics Booster Club will be hosting the United Way Bingo night on March 3rd to raise money for Whitewater Unified School District’s seven robotics teams.
The 12th Annual Whitewater Collects takes place on Sunday, March 15 from 1 PM – 4 PM at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center in Whitewater. This popular event, hosted by the Whitewater Historical Society, is free and open to the public. In addition to viewing the collections of Whitewater-area collectors, the public is invited to bring up to two antique/vintage items for evaluation by noted auctioneer, Carol Miller, owner of Bailey’s Honor Auction and Estate Services, LLC.
Collections being displayed this year include pre-war train sets, paperweights, glass birds, Fort Atkinson memorabilia, marbles, 4th of July Milwaukee Brewers caps, antique English Doulton Lambeth pottery, Japanese lacquer trinket boxes, cabinet photos, Delavan memorabilia, antique and contemporary quilts, sewing items, Rinconada figurines, brass carburetors, Lucy and Me bears, steins, decanters, cameras, 1950’s-60’s model cars, nativity sets and memorabilia of the Heart Prairie Norwegian Methodist Episcopal Church.
For more information, contact Jan Goder at jgoder1976@gmail.com or 262-949-0644.
Blackhawk Technical College will host an exciting, high-level wheelchair basketball game featuring some of the nation’s most talented adaptive athletes, including Paralympians, as the Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association (WASA) Marquette Golden Eagles defending national team takes on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks Men’s wheelchair basketball team.
The game is free and open to the public and promises a fast-paced, competitive showcase of elite athleticism, teamwork, and inclusion. Fans of all ages are encouraged to attend and experience the intensity and skill of wheelchair basketball at its highest level.
“This event is about more than just a game,” said Emily Oberst, WASA Community Outreach Director. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate inclusion, challenge perceptions of disability, and showcase the incredible athleticism of wheelchair basketball. Whether you’re a lifelong sports fan or brand new to adaptive sports, this is an experience you won’t forget.”
The event also serves as an educational and community-building opportunity, exposing spectators to adaptive athletics and reinforcing the message that sport is for everyone.
Event Details: WASA Champ Marquette Golden Eagles v. UWW Warhawks Wheelchair Basketball Exhibition Game Where: Blackhawk Technical College, 6004 S County Rd G, Janesville WI When: Saturday, February 28, 6:30 pm – Admission: Free
About WASA – WASA’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical or sensory disabilities through the power of adaptive sport, recreation, fitness, and education. WASA programs impact health, independence and rehabilitation – transforming lives and empowering individuals in their daily living.
About University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – We inspire, engage and transform lives. Founded in 1868, we serve more than 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.
About Blackhawk Technical College – Blackhawk Technical College, one of 16 colleges under the Wisconsin Technical College System, serves students and employers in Rock and Green counties with campuses in Janesville and Monroe, Wisconsin. The College has more than 6,000 credit and noncredit students enrolled in more than 70 programs. Based in Janesville, Wisconsin, it has provided education and training to area students and employers since 1912. Find out more at blackhawk.edu.
