News

The City of Whitewater is pleased to share that a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Stonehaven Development housing project will be held on Wednesday, June 17, at 2:00 PM. The groundbreaking is open to the public and will be held at 1222 E Bluff Rd, site of the upcoming project.

This new construction infill housing project will be the site of 14 new owner-occupied, single-family homes, helping to address a significant need for new housing stock in the City of Whitewater.

“This project has been a long time coming, and we are pleased to celebrate this groundbreaking along with the developers, Tim and Amanda Vandeville,” said Mason Becker, Community Development Director. “Not only does this project help address a need for more housing stock that is suitable for retaining young talent, families, and renters seeking ownership opportunities, the price points will be more attainable than most new construction housing we are seeing in our area. This is an example of our proactive and collaborative approach to addressing this issue in our city.”

It is expected that formal construction on the project will begin in the later part of June. The developer has already ordered the first four home builds from Wisconsin Homes, a company that offers a factory-built modular housing product that helps reduce both construction overhead and the price to the home buyer.

“This project is about more than building houses,” said Tim Vandeville Jr. of Stonehaven Development. “It’s about creating a path to homeownership for working families and showing that communities can be proactive and creative when solving the housing shortage. We’re grateful for the City of Whitewater’s partnership and excited to get started.”

Price points on the new homes are targeted at $330,000, with a maximum price of $350,000, per the development agreement between the City of Whitewater and Stonehaven Development. Each home will include three bedrooms, two bathrooms, poured concrete basements and driveways, and furnished appliances.

Whitewater Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program is in full swing! Bookworms and
aspiring bookworms of every age are invited to read books, win prizes, and attend fun, FREE
events. Here is the week two lineup for children and teens:

Make Your Own Playdough
Monday, June 15th 
4:00-5:00 PM
Ages 6-11
Registration preferred
Transform common household supplies into your own playdough to take home.

Teen Terrariums
Tuesday, June 16th
3:00-4:30 PM
Ages 12-18
Registration required
We provide the supplies, you provide the green thumb.  Build a living terrarium with us!

Storytime
Wednesday, June 17th
9:30 a.m.  
Storytime
Ages 0-5
Join Miss Deana for stories, songs, and general silliness!

Seed Art
Thursday, June 18th
3:30-4:30 PM
Meeting Room 1
Ages 6-11
Registration preferred
Make a work of art with seeds and canvas!

If you have any questions, please contact Deana Rolfsmeyer at (262) 458-2788 or
drolfsmeyer@whitewater-wi.gov

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced that Samuel Pieper, a former correctional officer for the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, who previously pled guilty to two counts of Trafficking a Child, has been sentenced by a Walworth County judge to 10 years initial confinement and 10 years of extended supervision.

On March 6, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mr. Pieper’s residence [in Whitewater]. The warrant was the result of tips provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) involving suspected exploitation of children where money amounts were being transferred to suspected minors in exchange for videos or images in June and July of 2024. Mr. Pieper was taken into custody at the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Pieper was booked into the Walworth County Jail and transported to the Rock County Jail for housing. Mr. Pieper resigned his position as a correctional officer at the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office on March 6, 2025.

The ICAC Task Force at DOJ investigated this case and was assisted by the Whitewater Police Department, Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, and Wisconsin DOJ Crime Response Specialists. The Walworth County District Attorney prosecuted this case.

Editor’s note: This press release was submitted to the Whitewater Banner. The original Banner article on the charges being filed against Pieper may be viewed here.

 Nate Parrish, President & CEO of First Citizens State Bank, is pleased to announce that Mark Olm of Olm & Associates has joined First Citizens State Bank’s Board of Directors.

With more than four decades of legal experience and community involvement in the Whitewater community, Mark has built a distinguished career serving individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the region. Since moving to Whitewater with his family in 1988, he has remained actively engaged in the community through his work with numerous charitable organizations. 

A graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Political Science in 1976, he received his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. in 1979. He practiced law in Lake Geneva for nine years before establishing Olm & Associates in Whitewater, where he spent 37 years providing legal counsel in the areas of real estate, banking matters, small business representation, and estate planning. In addition to his legal practice, he served as a part-time instructor at Marquette University Law School for five years. He retired from private practice on December 31, 2024. 

In making the announcement, Nate Parrish said, “We are excited to welcome Mark to First Citizens State Bank’s Board of Directors. Mark’s extensive legal experience, deep ties to the Whitewater community and years of service on the bank’s Trust Committee have provided valuable insight and perspective. We look forward to the contributions he will make as a member of our Board.” 

Mark commented, “With First Citizens’ long history of being a community-oriented bank with exceptional leadership, I am both humbled and excited to be asked to serve on the Board of Directors. During these times when it is difficult to be able to call and talk to a human, it is particularly gratifying to work with an organization that values personal relationships with its customers.” 

First Citizens State Bank, locally owned and operated since 1863, is committed to serving the communities in which we live, work, and do business. The bank takes pride in building lasting partnerships with organizations, businesses, and individuals throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. First Citizens State Bank has full-service offices in Whitewater, East Troy and Palmyra. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – This past spring, Emilie McLeod of Whitewater, WI, graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. McLeod earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology.

McLeod was one of 3,166 students to graduate from Marquette in May. The university celebrated its 145th Commencement with a series of events, including Graduate Recognition Ceremonies at Fiserv Forum and a Baccalaureate Mass on campus.

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 8,000 undergraduate and 3,700 graduate and professional students from nearly all states and more than 60 countries. In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu.

Congratulations to Whitewater High School students achieving High Honor Roll and Honor Roll for second semester 2025-2026 based on semester weighted grades.

High Honor Roll: 3.75 – 5.00 GPA
Honor Roll: 3.5 – 3.7499 GPA

It’s time for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

It’s getting close to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, signed July 4, 1776. The last time the country had a milestone celebration was in 1976 for the Bicentennial. In that year, five wagon trains transversed the country as part of the national celebration. One of the wagon trains took the “Great Lakes Route,” Minneapolis to Valley Forge Pennsylvania, traveling from April to July, 1976. This is the one that came through Whitewater on April 30, 1976. This view shows the wagon train stopped in front of the Center of the Arts while parading down Main Street. For those who were alive in 1976, can you believe it has been 50 years?

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

(2355P, Whitewater Historical Society)

Be Part of the 2026 City of Whitewater 4th of July Parade! 

Registrations received by Monday, June 15th will be eligible for prizes and appear in the Parade Program Guide. 

The Whitewater Parks & Recreation Department is excited to host the 2026 Whitewater 4th of July Parade, and we want YOU to be part of it!

This year’s celebration is extra special as we celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary, and we’re looking to make the parade bigger, more festive, and more memorable than ever. No entry fee! 

Floats

Marching groups

Decorated vehicles

Performances or creative displays

Saturday, July 4, 2026

Parade begins at 10:00 AM

Sign up today and help bring the patriotic spirit and community pride to this historic celebration!

If you’re interested in participating, register now or reach out for more details. www.wwparks.org. 

Let’s make this a parade to remember! 

Try the Reformer — Free Intro Class at Pilates Reformed, 131 W. Center Street!

Experience a free 15-minute introduction to reformer Pilates and see what everyone is talking about. Reformer Pilates is designed for all fitness levels and is especially loved for being low-impact and easy on the joints.  

Why people love Pilates:  

• Improves strength + flexibility  

• Builds deep core stability  

• Helps posture and balance  

• Supports mobility and recovery  

• Low-impact and joint-friendly  

• Great for athletes, beginners, and busy adults  

• Helps you move and feel better in everyday life  

Whether you’re looking to get stronger, recover, improve mobility, or simply try something new — this is the perfect place to start.

You’re welcome to a FREE demo class on Saturday, June 13th @ 10 am or 10:15 am. Space is limited and you may sign up online just like booking a class but it’s completely free. 

Here’s the link to sign up: https://www.vagaro.com/pilatesreformedllc/classes – Just look for the date and time labeled “FREE – Reformer Intro.”

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point honored more than 2,500 undergraduate students for attaining high grade point averages during the spring semester of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Full-time undergraduates who earned grade points of 3.90 to 4.0 (4.0 equals straight A) are given the highest honors designation.  High honor citations go to those with grade point averages from 3.75 to 3.89 and honor recognition is accorded to those with grade point averages from 3.50 to 3.74.

Personalized certificates of scholastic achievement are sent to those who earned highest honors distinction.

Students who received honors include:

Whitewater, WI

 Wyatt Anderson, Honors
 Giovanni Anello, Honors
 A’lani Ross, Highest Honors