Dr. Robin Fox, UW-W Interim Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs joined the chancellor
David and Beverly Stone chatting with the chancellor after the address
The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area sponsored their annual State of the City and the Schools address at the library on February 19. City Manager John Weidl, WUSD Superintendent Samuel Karns, and UW-W Chancellor Corey A. King provided updates on their respective organizations’ accomplishments and plans. Approximately thirty community members were in attendance.
The city Media Services staff videotaped the event and has now posted it to the city’s YouTube channel. The LWV appreciates their efforts as well as those of the speakers. Thanks also to the audience for sharing a number of questions.
Scroll down or clink the link above to watch the 2026 State of Whitewater Address:
The original “Kong” opened 93 years ago on March 2, 1933, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Film Critic Leonard Maltin writes “this is the rare remake that reinvents the original film while honoring it at the same time.” 2005 Oscar winner for best visual effects. Directed by Peter Jackson. Starring Jack Black, Naomi Watts, Adrian Brody, Colin Hanks, Kyle Chandler, and “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” Due to the length of this epic adventure (we WILL have an intermission). Our film will begin at 12:30 PM.
Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $15 and non-residents is $20. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes out of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/
Written by Abigail Dotzler | Photos by Craig Schreiner and submitted
Motivated by a passion for learning about the surrounding environment and a love of birds, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Biology built a tool with the potential to captivate audiences and support valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students.
In May of 2025, the department launched a “nature cam” livestream on YouTube. Inspired by the bird cams that exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, Susan Devries, professor of biology, led the charge to create the livestream.
“There isn’t really a major bird cam, especially one affiliated with a university, in Wisconsin,” Devries said. “Why can’t we do one of our own to showcase the birds that we get here in the Midwest?”
Susan Devries, associate professor of biology, teaches human anatomy at Upham Hall on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
Following guidelines provided by the acclaimed Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, the biology department set up a bird feeder and camera in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The feeder provides food for a variety of local species.
The livestream has recorded more than 40 distinct bird species to date. Devries and her colleagues monitor the stream when they can, but viewers are more than welcome to identify a visitor new to the feeder, and Devries or one of her colleagues review the footage to confirm the identification.
The UW-Whitewater Biology Nature Cam channel boasts over 100 subscribers, and Devries was pleased to report more than 4,000 hours of watchtime.
A Cooper’s hawk sits atop UW-Whitewater’s bird feeder in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. (Submitted photo)
Devries stressed that, while these stats are incredibly encouraging, garnering views and subscribers were not primary goals of the nature cam. Instead, the focus was on sharing a love of birds and promoting the hard work and talents of those in the department.
The livestream makes nature more accessible — viewers are able to study the local fauna from the comfort of their couches. Through the biology department’s bird cam, everyone can learn a little more about the local bird populations.
Local K-12 schools are using the livestream in their classrooms to foster a love of nature in their students, and UW-Whitewater professors are employing it to encourage hands-on learning for biology students.
“Students are watching the cam, and they’re learning how to identify birds and how to quantify animal behavior, all from the comfort of wherever they happen to be parked,” Devries said.
The department always seeks new ways to innovate and improve their students’ experiences.
“We could always do better,” Devries said, “because that’s our goal. We always strive to do better and keep our finger on the pulse of what young people need to be successful in the workforce.”
A group of Baltimore orioles descend upon UW-Whitewater’s bird feeder in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. (Submitted photo)
Students are not currently involved with the management of the livestream, but the biology department has plans to include students on the content creation side of things in the future.
“We wanted to make sure that we knew what we were doing before we brought in a student, so we could train them well,” Devries said.
Eventually, students will be able to use the livestream in their undergraduate research projects. Devries sees promise in the livestream as a survey tool, clueing researchers in to what species inhabit the area during each season. Additionally, student researchers could monitor species populations from year to year.
In the meantime, undergraduate students have plenty of other opportunities for research. Every professor in the biology department is an active researcher, and the Undergraduate Research Program is thriving. Whether a student’s interests lie in mammals, birds, and insects, or molecules and medical school applications, the biology department has a research opportunity for them.
Students in a Developmental Biology class taught by Kris Curran, professor of biology, use fluorescent microscopes to examine components of plant reproduction on April 5, 2022. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
“Just about every lab has at least one to two undergraduates working in it,” Devries said. “So if folks want hands-on research experience, [they can] come see us.”
As winter closes in, the birds consume seed at a much faster pace. All seed is purchased and provided by Devries and her colleagues. Anyone interested in supporting the livestream can donate or leave a “Like” on the livestream to help the biology department fulfill its educational mission.
Editor’s note: This article was posted to the UW-Whitewater website.
The Wisconsin Writers Association’s (WWA) newest fiction anthology, A Wisconsin Harvest of Horror, includes a story set in the City of Whitewater.
Chris Welch’s tale “The Water Tower Witch of Whitewater” is one of fifteen scary stories set across the Badger State, some of which are based on local folklore and urban legends. Authors are either members of the WWA or the Wisconsin Chapter of the Horror Writers Association (HWA). The book’s release date is March 3.
“When the idea for this anthology was first discussed, I knew the perfect place to write about,” said Welch, a former freelance reporter for the Daily Jefferson County Union and WFAW radio. He covered news in Jefferson County, but Whitewater was his primary beat, where he covered the city council, school board, community issues, and events on the UW-Whitewater campus.
“Whitewater has a reputation for alleged supernatural elements, but none are as remarkable as the water tower witch,” Welch said. “When I first arrived in Whitewater and heard the legends, I was fascinated by them. I’m a big nerd who loves ghostly tales and horror stories, but what really struck me was how interests in Whitewater’s legends peaked every year when a new batch of freshman arrived on campus. Every generation learned the legends anew, and in turn, each generation added another element when they re-told them, whether it was factually accurate or not. Mostly not.”
Welch added his story is structured on Whitewater’s lore, not its factual history. How three college students perceive Whitewater’s spooky past while menaced by the witch drives the narrative. “Stories about monsters, ghosts, witches are always more fun than the debate about whether such things exist or not,” Welch said. “These things only exist in stories, so their stories need to be told.”
Editor’s note: Karen McCulloch, proprietor of The Book Teller at 171 W. Main Street, told The Whitewater Banner that her store will be carrying the book.
The book’s description from WWA Press:
WWA Press’s A WisconsinHarvest of Horror is spine-tingling! Whether you’re a Badger State native or simply enjoy vacationing in the Wisconsin Northwoods that’s haunted by spooky forests, misty lakes, or shadowy small towns, this anthology will make your spine tingle. These stories of horrors and jump-scares are told by writers who know the land’s lore and are attuned to the secrets of hidden hollows, backwoods byways, and dark waters. These chilling tales grip the soul, lingering like a fog over Lake Michigan. From the ghouls of Door County and legendary cryptids lurking in Lincoln County, to zombies worth avoiding, you’ll travel to creepy corners of the state, one ear cocked for things that go bump in the night. This anthology will make you afraid to turn out the light! The WWA’s A Wisconsin Harvest of Horror is available in trade paperback, hard cover, and digital formats.
Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by Chris Welch.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week’s view is a mid-20th century post card featuring greetings from the city. The card can be dated prior to 1959 because the high school shown on the card is the old 1927 high school building (Old Franklin Junior High School) and not the new high school built in 1959 (Whitewater Middle School). Someone who is good at dating cars can enlarge the view and date the car that is in one of the images of the post card for an even more precise date. In the mid-20th century sending post cards was still a popular activity.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(5414PC, Whitewater Historical Society)
Update 2/27/26 @ 7:45 a.m. – Originally it was indicated that the school building was the Old Lincoln Junior High School, but reader Barb Taylor informed us that it was actually the Franklin Junior High School. It was located on the now-vacant lot at the west end of Center Street. See this previous Whitewater Banner article for further information. Thanks to Barb for this correction.
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.
Scroll down or clink the link above to watch the 2026 State of Whitewater Address:
