News

Caroline Pate-Hefty, who served as Whitewater Unified School District Superintendent for five years, ending in June 2025, has resigned from the same role for the much larger Mannheim Township [Pa.] school district. The landcasteronline newspaper reported that the school board approved Pate-Hefty’s resignation on March 19, 2026. As was indicated in this previous Whitewater Banner article, she had been on leave since mid-February.

The following are excerpts from the Landcasteronline article:

“The Manheim Township school board unanimously approved a resignation agreement negotiated with Superintendent Caroline Pate-Hefty, with the board president saying she was “not the right fit for Manheim Township.”

Board President Patrick Grenter’s brief statement Thursday evening before the vote shed little light on why Pate-Hefty’s tenure ended after less than eight months. He insisted that a clause in Pate-Hefty’s employment contract barring the board from revealing details of any investigation into her leadership was not why the board was providing little information about the reasons for her departure.

“Simply put, confidentiality of this matter would have occurred regardless of this contract language,” Grenter said. “Our employees have rights. They have rights to a fair process and we will uphold those rights. Nowhere in that process does it involve discussion of personnel matters in the media.”

“We are committed to learning from this outcome to strengthen the next superintendent search in partnership with our administration staff and parents,” Grenter said.

Grenter said the board listened to feedback from the school community, worked with its counsel and investigated, acting swiftly to make a change. Yet, as four residents pointed out during public comment, replacing the superintendent is a costly burden.

“We are paying Dr. Hefty through June 30 of this year,” parent Marty Kieffer said. “This means we are paying out $75,000 to someone who is not working.”

“There is a cost of separation that we do not take lightly but are clear that this is the best path forward for the school district administrators, staff and students,” Grenter said before voting to approve Pate-Hefty’s resignation.”

Update 3/20/26 @ 9 p.m. – Reader John D. McLean, City High class of 1959, wrote with this correction: “Your ‘FlashbackFriday’ posting on March 20, 2026 has an address error.  The Whitewater Brewery building was on the corner of North Street and Jefferson Street and overlooked the creek. That is one block from Main Street.  I grew up on Jefferson Street from 1941 to 1954 and walked past the brewery every day.” Our thanks to Mr. McLean. This website also confirms that location.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This is an image of the Old Whitewater Brewery, formerly known as Klinger’s Brewery, on fire in 1974. The building was located on the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets and had been closed as a brewery since 1942. The brewery was built in 1862, closed during Prohibition in the 1920s, and reopened in 1933. But, it was too outdated to successfully survive in the 1940s. Its popular beer was known as “Old Cream Top.” The site stood vacant until the later 1980s when a group home facility was built there. Wisconsin had many small, local, breweries in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but they all could not compete with the large beer producers in the mid-20th century.

Hello, I’m Christy Linse, a lifelong Whitewater resident, proud WWUSD graduate from the Class of 1996 (the second class to walk through the “new” high school) and a dedicated community member. I’m currently serving my first term on the Whitewater Unified School District Board of Education, and I’m seeking re-election to a second term because our district is finally turning the corner. Student achievement is climbing, opportunities are expanding, and we’re mending key relationships across the community—all while staying true to our mission of empowering every student to achieve excellence every day in a unified way. I’m committed to protecting that momentum and fully supporting the outstanding work of our administration and board president.

After graduating from Whitewater High School, I moved to Milwaukee to earn degrees in Cardiovascular Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Health Service Administration. For the next 15 years I worked in hospitals across the region, spending 14 of those years alongside physicians in Cardiac Cath Labs and Interventional Radiology. Today I serve as a Senior Clinical Specialist for a medical device company, supporting physicians in hospitals throughout Wisconsin.

My family has been deeply rooted in Whitewater for generations. My grandfather owned CK’s Keg and the Citgo Service Station at Five Points, served as police commissioner and university maintenance supervisor. My mother retired from the Whitewater Post Office, my father worked construction locally, and my cousin is a Whitewater police officer who was named Officer of the Year in 2022.

My husband TJ (also a lifelong Whitewater resident) and I built our home just outside of town, where we’re raising our two sons along with our dogs and chickens. Our older son is working full-time selling insurance with State Farm near Milwaukee, while our younger son, Thomas, is a freshman at Whitewater High School—walking the same halls I once did. As a proud boy mom, and soccer mom, I love being part of Thomas’s activities and sharing a great friend group with his circle. Our family enjoys camping, vacationing, skiing, gardening, and beekeeping together.

Having grown up here and watched our schools overcome challenges and begin thriving again, I’m more committed than ever to every child’s success. I consider myself very approachable and always welcome questions and conversation. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me—I humbly ask for your support as I seek a second term so we can keep moving Whitewater schools forward together.

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by Christy Linse. The Whitewater Banner welcomes a submission to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com from Common Council, School Board or Town Board candidates for the city and nearby towns.

UW-MADISON ANNOUNCES WINTER 2025 GRADUATES

A total of 2,151 students, including students from your area, received degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on December 14, 2025. The university held its Winter 2025 Commencement ceremony for undergraduates and graduates at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

UW-Madison was ranked the #2 public university in the United States by Time magazine in 2026. With public service as its guiding principle, UW-Madison’s students, staff, and faculty engage in a world-class education while solving real-world problems. For more information, visit http://www.wisc.edu.

Local degree recipients include:

 Crystal Chan, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry
 Andy Vo, College of Letters and Science, Master of Science-Psychology

The Whitewater Public Library is hosting the traveling exhibit, “Wisconsin’s John Muir: An Exhibit Celebrating the Centennial of the National Park Service” starting on March 18. The exhibit will be available for viewing in the library’s atrium during all open hours, through April 17.

Generously provided by the Wisconsin Historical Society, this exhibit commemorates the centennial of the National Park Service and explores Muir’s youth in Wisconsin, his advocacy for national parks and his views on environmental issues such as logging, hunting, and climate change. 

The eight panels of “Wisconsin’s John Muir” share facsimiles of images and manuscripts from the Society’s library and archives alongside Muir quotes and interpretive texts. More information about the exhibit, including links to Muir’s books, writings, and biographical information, can be found on the Society’s website at wisconsinhistory.org.

The Whitewater Public Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. For more information, visit whitewaterlibrary.org, email library@whitewater-wi.gov or call 262-473-0530.

NOTICE: Road Construction – State Highways 59 & 89

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has announced a roadway improvement project affecting portions of State Highway 59 and State Highway 89 in and near Whitewater.

Construction is expected to begin April 1, 2026, and is anticipated to be completed by the end of June, early July, 2026, weather permitting. The project will occur in three stages.

Stage 1:
Highway 59 from the Rock/Walworth County line to Janesville Street

• Curb and gutter replacement
• Sidewalk and pedestrian ramp upgrades
• Milling existing pavement and installing new asphalt
  Traffic will be detoured using County Highway N and Highway 26.
  
  Stage 2:
  Highway 59 from Janesville Street to US 12 and Highway 89 from US 12 to Wills Ray Road
• Milling existing pavement
• Installing new asphalt
  Traffic will remain open with flagging operations.
  
  Stage 3:
  Highway 59 from the Rock/Walworth County line to Janesville Street
• High-friction surface treatment
  Traffic will again be detoured using County Highway N and Highway 26.
  Electronic message boards will be placed one week prior to closures to alert motorists. Please slow down and use extra caution when traveling through construction zones.
  Thank you for your patience during these roadway improvements.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Brad Marquardt, city director of public works.

Jefferson County Parks, in partnership with local volunteers, educators, and utilities staff, has completed the installation of a new osprey nesting platform at Dorothy Carnes Park East, marking yet another milestone in ongoing efforts to support native bird populations and enhance wildlife habitat within the park.

The installation fulfills a long-standing goal of the Friends of Rose Lake, which has advocated for a dedicated osprey nesting structure since 2019. That year, an active osprey nest had to be removed from an ATC transmission pole within the park for safety reasons, leaving the area without a suitable nesting site. Since then, Friends of Rose Lake members have worked diligently with park staff to raise funds and advance a solution that would safely accommodate returning ospreys.

Jefferson County Parks Operations Supervisor Rolland “JR” Klement led the project on behalf of the Jefferson County Parks, coordinating fundraising, design, and installation with numerous partners.  Students from Fort Atkinson High School provided a key educational component under the guidance of ecology teacher Stephanie Schreiner. Students in her ecology class assisted with assembling the nesting structure, gaining hands-on experience in conservation, ecology, and community service.

On February 24, crews from Jefferson Utilities came on site to drill and set the pole that now supports the osprey platform. Jefferson Utilities also donated the pole and assembly hardware for the structure.  The successful installation reflects a true team effort involving county staff, students, utility professionals, Friends of Rose Lake volunteers, and other community supporters.

Nesting platforms have played a critical role in the long-term return of ospreys and bald eagles to southern Wisconsin. Once nearly eliminated from the region due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and human disturbance, these raptors have rebounded in recent decades thanks to conservation efforts, cleaner waterways, and the availability of safe nesting structures. Purpose-built platforms reduce conflicts with infrastructure, increase nesting success, and help anchor breeding pairs to suitable habitats near lakes and wetlands.

Beyond the osprey platform, Fort Atkinson High School students and Friends of Rose Lake volunteers continue to install and maintain wildlife habitat throughout the park system. Their ongoing stewardship includes more than 30 wood duck nesting boxes, 25 bluebird houses, four purple martin “condos,” and two kestrel boxes, all monitored and maintained by these two groups to support healthy breeding populations.

Creating and maintaining nesting habitat is especially important for species such as purple martins and bluebirds, which rely almost entirely on human-provided structures due to the loss of natural cavities and competition from invasive species. These efforts not only help sustain local bird populations but also provide educational and observational opportunities for park visitors, students, and families.

The osprey nesting platform at Dorothy Carnes Park East stands as a clear testament to the power of partnerships. Through collaboration, shared vision, and volunteer commitment, local organizations and residents continue to make Jefferson County’s parks stronger, more resilient, and richer in natural resources for future generations.

For more information about Jefferson County Parks, visit https://parks.jeffersoncountywi.gov/.

Editor’s Note: The above was provided by Jefferson County Parks Department.

Monday, March 23rd through Thursday, March 26th there will be free kids’ movies at the library! Grab your pillows, grab your blankets, and lounge at the library with snacks and cinema. Showtime is 11:00 a.m. in Meeting Room 1.

Per our movie license, all movie titles are listed on our website:
https://whitewaterpl.librarycalendar.com/events/month

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

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Canva.

I am seeking re-election to the Whitewater School Board because this community and our schools mean a great deal to my family and me. Whitewater has been our home for the past 27 years, and it is where my husband and I chose to raise our children. We have two children who have grown up in Whitewater schools. Our oldest is a graduate of Whitewater High School, and our youngest is currently a freshman at WHS. Watching my children grow and succeed here has reinforced how important strong public schools are to our community.

I am a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, and my connection to the district is both personal and professional. I have been an educator for 22 years and currently work as a special education teacher. This experience allows me to relate firsthand to the work of educators and the needs of students. I also hold a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.

For the past three years, I have had the privilege of serving on the Whitewater School Board, and I am currently the sitting Board President. In this role, I have worked collaboratively with fellow board members and district leadership to support students, staff, and families while helping guide important decisions for the district. I have also had the opportunity to be part of the hiring of our new superintendent.

Beyond the board, I stay actively involved in our community through organizations such as the Whitewater High School Athletic Booster Club, Whitewater LEADS, and the Parks and Recreation Board. Prior to that, I served on the Whitewater Middle School PTO for three years, including my final year as PTO president.

I am proud of the progress our district has made and excited about the positive momentum in our schools. With the addition of our new superintendent, Samuel Karns, and his leadership in strengthening connections among our board, schools, families, and community, I believe it is important to maintain continuity and stability on the board to keep this work moving forward.

Serving on the school board has been a true honor, and I would appreciate the opportunity to continue serving our community and supporting the success of every student in Whitewater.

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by Stephanie Hicks. The Whitewater Banner welcomes a submission to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com from Common Council, School Board or Town Board candidates for the city and nearby towns.