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Neuroinclusion in the workplace is recognized as valuable, but still limited by outdated systems, stigma, and a reactive approach.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.
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.
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
Northwoods Seniors Unite Around Shared Issues in Merrill, Extend Project to South Central Wisconsin for Summit Set for April 23 in Elkhorn
Growing Movement of Seniors to Host “Senior Summit” in South Central Wisconsin
Last Saturday, 87 residents gathered at the Eagles Club in Merrill for the Senior Empowerment Project’s Northwoods Senior Breakfast. Participants enjoyed breakfast and connecting to neighbors from across the region. The event included a process for collectively naming the issues and concerns felt most deeply and widely among those who gathered. Top concerns for the group included:
Isolation & lack of transportation across city and county lines,
Isolation & the need to better connect neighbors who are left behind by technology, as well as
Access to senior healthcare and caregiver support.
Now, the energy from that gathering is heading south.
On Thursday, April 23, 1-5 PM, the Senior Empowerment Project will host the South Central Wisconsin Senior Summit at the Walworth County Health and Human Services building in Elkhorn—a free, community-wide gathering for seniors and supporters across the region to connect, share what matters most to them, and help shape the organizing agenda ahead.
“Senior citizens have more power than they realize,” said the Rev. Michael Southcombe, who moderated the Merrill breakfast. “When they gather and talk about the issues they’re facing, they start to see opportunities and focus on solutions. That’s what we are witnessing here in Lincoln County and beyond.”
This is a conviction that resonates in Walworth County, where the need is often invisible to outsiders.
“Most people don’t realize how much disparity continues in our county. There are thousands of people who cannot afford good food, healthcare, or rent without the help of organizations like Open Arms Free Clinic or local food pantries.”
“People don’t realize there’s so much disparity in our county,” reports Sherry Engstrom of Common Ground Lake Geneva. “People hear about Lake Geneva and they think, ‘Oh, everyone here is rich, or from Chicago living in their third vacation home.’ That may be true. But at the same time, there are so many people who can’t afford to pay rent, eat, or live in the county without the help of places like Open Arms Free Clinic or one of the local food pantries—and even then it is hard, especially if you don’t have reliable transportation.”
The Rev. Jeremiah Gómez is pastor of Trinity Church in Genoa City and a member of the Groundswell Collective, a grassroots group that has organized for transportation as well as senior and childcare in Walworth County. Pastor Gómez sees the summit as a chance to enhance local efforts while also uniting with groups from around the state to address needs felt across county lines. “One of the things we’ve been learning from the summits and senior breakfasts we’ve been hosting around the state,” he said, “is that when seniors come together—when we, as humans who struggle, are given permission to share our needs, our concerns, and our hopes for a better future—the connections that are made are sacred. They give us the power, together, and make real, positive changes, for seniors and for all of us here in Wisconsin.”
The April 23 summit will feature a keynote address from Janet Zander of the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, facilitated small-group discussions, and opportunities to connect with local organizations including the Walworth County ADRC.
The event is free and open to the public, ADA accessible, and has ample ADA parking.
The project’s vision: every senior has a home; every senior has access to affordable local care; seniors are no longer isolated, but integrated into community life; care workers are treated with dignity and paid wages that reflect the value of their work.
What: South Central Wisconsin Senior Summit—Aging Forward: Informed. Inspired. Involved.
When: Thursday, April 23, 2026, 1-5 PM
Where: Walworth County ADRC, 1910 County Road NN, Elkhorn
Why: Unite seniors and allies around shared concerns to collectively work toward shared solutions.
Who: This event is co-hosted by the Senior Empowerment Project, Common Ground Lake Geneva, and the Groundswell Collective. It is a non-partisan event, open to seniors and those who care about seniors in South Central Wisconsin.
8:30 am Update: After doing a more thorough assessment of our district facilities and talking with other officials, half of our buildings are still without power. WE Energies is not able to provide any type of timetable for when the power should be restored. There is still a downed tree and power line at Elizabeth Street, impeding traffic and creating a safety hazard. Therefore, school will be cancelled today, April 14, 2026, and all after-school activities. We will continue to monitor the weather, as we are aware that there is another round coming tonight.
