News

Jim Caldwell is a WUL Hometown Hero, and has been nominated by Jim Winship, “For all that he has contributed and continues to contribute to Whitewater’s growth and well-being.”

Winship said, “Since becoming President and Chief Executive Officer of First Citizens State Bank of Whitewater in 1979, Jim has been deeply involved with supporting both economic development and civic life in Whitewater.”

He was one of the prime movers in the development of the Whitewater Business and Industrial Park, established in 1986, which is one of the largest office and industrial developments in Southeastern Wisconsin. He has worked with the City of Whitewater’s Community Development Authority on multiple projects and has been a mentor to startup businesses at the Whitewater University Innovation Center.

His community involvement includes serving as the Chairman of the Board of the Fairhaven Foundation, Board Member for 30 years and Former Chair of the UW-Whitewater Foundation, serving as Kiwanis Foundation Treasurer, Whitewater Library Association Vice-President and Treasurer, as well as informal service to Habitat for Humanity and other organizations.

Jim and his wife Julie have supported Whitewater through their philanthropy. A longtime strong supporter of Bethel House, Jim and Julie Caldwell were major donors in Whitewater Public Library’s Capital Campaign.

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com 

Editor’s Note: The above was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL).

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The first installment of property taxes is due this Saturday, January 31, but if you assume that depositing your check in your mailbox or a postal box on Saturday will ensure that your tax is paid timely, you will be mistaken. As The Banner announced in June, 2024, first-class mail is no longer postmarked on the same day that it is mailed. Instead, it sits in Whitewater overnight until it is picked up at 6 a.m. the next postal working day on its way to the Oak Creek Distribution Center. So, for example, if you mail your payment this Saturday it will not be postmarked until Monday. In reality there could be a delay in the automated sorting machine processing and postmarking the envelope. If the first installment is not paid on time, the second payment becomes immediately due, and a 1% penalty per month [or fraction of a month] is assessed. [A notice on the back of the Walworth County bill appears to allow a grace period of five days for the payment to be received before this penalty is assessed.]s

How to ensure your payment is made on time?

• If you’re a city of Whitewater property owner, you may pay your bill in person at the Finance Department at the Municipal Building, 312 W. Whitewater Street, by 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
• If you’re a city of Whitewater property owner, you may pay your bill online by January 31. There is a 3% convenience fee for using a credit card, but there is no fee for paying from a checking or savings account.
• Mail your payment at the Whitewater Post Office counter before noon on Saturday, requesting a local postmark.
• Place your payment in the mail as soon as possible but not later than Friday.

Editor’s note: The below press release on this subject was provided by the Walworth County Treasurer. Though it references a Postal Service change effective in December, 2025, in reality, as indicated above, this change was effective here in June, 2024.

Contact: Valerie Etzel
County Treasurer
(262) 741-4251
treasurer@co.walworth.wi.us

County Treasurer advises USPS postmark change may affect tax payments

(ELKHORN, WI): Walworth County Treasurer Valerie Etzel is encouraging residents who pay their property tax bills by mail to be aware of a recent U.S. Postal Service policy change that may affect when envelopes are postmarked.

Effective December 24, 2025, the Postal Service will institute a nationwide change as to when a postmark is affixed to incoming mail, Etzel said. Instead of postmarks being affixed when the Postal Service first touches the item, postmarks are now stamped at regional sorting centers. “That means your postmark could be several days after you put it in your mailbox,” Etzel said. “In other
words, if you plan to pay your property taxes by mail, don’t wait until right before the deadline to put it in the mail.”

Etzel noted that many federal and state laws define timely payment based on the USPS postmark, meaning payments may be considered delinquent if they are mailed too close to the deadline — even if they were, in fact, placed in a mailbox before the deadline.

To avoid this issue, Etzel encourages Walworth County property taxpayers to contact their municipality about the online E-check option, other online payment options, or mail payments earlier to avoid becoming delinquent and accruing substantial late fees. Municipal contacts can be found on the County’s website at https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/216/Municipality-Directory
Etzel cautioned taxpayers against sending tax payments through their personal bank’s online bill payment option, as those payments are often processed in bulk with many other customers’ payments, which can delay their arrival and cause them to become delinquent. This type of payment has become even more problematic in recent years, as the time it takes for USPS items to reach their destination after mailing has increased, Etzel added. Another option could be to bring your payment to the post office in person and have them postmark it in front of you or send it by certified mail, Etzel said.

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City of Whitewater Conducts Business Retention & Expansion Visit with Edgerton Hospital Focusing on Local Urgent Care and Upcoming Pain & Spine Center Clinic

As part of the City of Whitewater’s ongoing Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) program, City and Chamber staff recently met with Jason Hafeman, Director of Marketing and Communications for Edgerton Hospital, to discuss the continued growth and impact of Edgerton Hospital’s Urgent Care Clinic located at 757 E Main St in the City of Whitewater.

The Urgent Care Clinic opened in September 2025 and has quickly become an important healthcare resource for the Whitewater community. The clinic currently employs five full-time employees, along with additional support staff, and continues to expand services to meet local demand.

A major focus of the meeting was the announcement of a new Pain & Spine Center Clinic, scheduled to open before the end of February, further enhancing healthcare options available in Whitewater. The Pain & Spine Center Clinic will feature Carmen Bills, APNP-BC, who will be on-site by appointment, supported by dedicated staff. This new clinic will be located immediately adjacent to the existing Urgent Care.

“This expansion reflects the strength of our local healthcare partners and their commitment to investing in Whitewater,” said Mason Becker, Community Development Director for the City of Whitewater. “Edgerton Hospital has been very intentional about meeting community needs, and the addition of a pain clinic is a meaningful step that improves access to specialized care while supporting local employment.”

During the visit, Hafeman emphasized Edgerton Hospital’s commitment to quality and community-based care, stating, “We want to be a top-notch standards of care provider.” He also highlighted that Edgerton Hospital operates as a private, independent, local health system, and continues to accept all previous insurance providers, ensuring continuity of care for patients.

The Urgent Care Clinic is equipped with on-site diagnostic capabilities, including an X-ray machine, which Hafeman noted, “would not have been possible without the Community Development Authority’s Action Fund loan.” The investment underscores the role of strategic local financing tools in supporting essential services and infrastructure.

Edgerton Hospital also noted its strong workforce ties to the region, employing many University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and Blackhawk Technical College alumni.

“Healthcare access is a critical component of a strong business climate,” said Karin Silvius, Executive Director of the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce. “Edgerton Hospital’s continued investment in Whitewater not only supports residents but also strengthens our community’s ability to attract and retain both employers and talent.”

The City of Whitewater’s BRE program focuses on supporting existing employers, understanding business needs, and identifying opportunities for expansion and long-term success. Healthcare providers remain a key sector in Whitewater’s economic development strategy due to their role in employment, quality of life, and regional service delivery. Businesses interested in participating in the BRE program can contact Ashwini Rao, Economic Development Coordinator, at arao@whitewater-wi.gov

The following student from the area has been named to the University of Wisconsin-Stout Dean’s List for the fall 2025 semester.

The award is presented to students who have a grade point average of 3.5 or above. 

UW-Stout, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, offers more than 70 industry-aligned undergraduate and graduate degrees and 40 professional certificate programs. Established in 1891, the university prides itself on the success of its students in the workplace, with more than 1,000 national internship placements and an employment rate of 99% for recent graduates. UW-Stout is a top-rated Military Friendly and Best for Vets institution, a DOE Green Ribbon recipient for sustainability, and the only four-year institution in the U.S. to win the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

University of Wisconsin-Stout offers a polytechnic education distinguished by applied learning and research, business and industry collaboration, and career-focused experiences to prepare students for success in engineering, technology, design, management and other fields. It is one of the 13 Universities of Wisconsin.

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Whitewater, WI

 Michael Olszewski, BS cybersecurity

On Sunday, January 25, two teams from Whitewater High School competed in the 2nd Annual Culinary Showdown, and WHS was well represented.

The WHS girls’ team was made up of Payton Brautigam, Kiana Aranda, Jazlin Rios, and Natalia Casillas. They were assigned the country of Italy and paired with Chef Stephan from the Delavan Yacht Club. These girls put together a beautiful dish of Braciole with Pappardelle noodles in a homemade ragu sauce. It was amazing. 

The WHS guys’ team consisted of Oz Navejas, David Enns, and Alex Huicochea Balderrama. They were paired with Chef Nic from Lake Lawn Resort, and their assigned country was Germany. They prepared Obatzda Pretzel Sliders. The Whitewater Germany Team won the German title!

We are extremely proud of both teams and very grateful to our chefs for helping and guiding our students. The teams are coached by Ms. Lynn Weilbrenner. 

Article and Photos Submitted by Lynn Weilbrenner
Whitewater High School Family and Consumer Education Teacher
lweilbrenner@wwusd.org

The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee of the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area will hold the first 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, February 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 February 9th will cover the introduction through Chapter 15. SAVE THE DATES – additional discussions will be held on March 9 (Chapters 16-30) and April 13 (Chapters 31-42) at the same time and location.

ACQUIRE THE BOOK TODAY! A limited supply of books is 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

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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!

Per the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office, a Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for all of southern Wisconsin midnight to noon Monday. Wind chills of -20 to -25 with temperatures of 0 to -10 degrees are expected. The coldest conditions will be near sunrise.

Is there anything about a muskrat seeing its shadow?

Frozen mill pond and steamy dam

Spillway also putting out steam

Ice art by nature

 Dam icing over

Frosty selfie

Steve Watson writes “These photos were taken on my daily walkabout, 1/23 & 1/24. I go out so you don’t have to. Stay warm.”

Our thanks to Steve Watson for going out so we don’t have to, taking beautiful pictures in the process.

— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share.  Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks for thinking about this!

Updated 1/26/26 @ 7:40 p.m. to correct link for the WUSD Board meeting.

Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda [Click on “meetings” in upper right corner] includes Recognition of Lee Loveall for “All Means All” Award, Recognition of the Coburn Company for the All Means All award, All Star Staff of the month recognitions, Referendum update, Open enrollment space limitations, WHS ’26-’27 new course proposals, and 4K programming proposal
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
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6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86988418385?pwd=jbMIwWFPaX5WaO7LKPF8lgF7eWNigG.1
– Passcode: 311715
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– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 869 8841 8385
– Passcode: 311715

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Seeking Common Council approval of the Vendor Remote Access Policy to establish
standardized security requirements for vendor remote access to City systems, including
critical infrastructure.
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater St
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/22124084500683?p=0Fcek1QwNGmETIpkmh
Meeting ID: 221 240 845 006 83
Passcode: b2wu6oe9
Dial in by phone
+1 929-229-5663, 159481450# United States
Phone conference ID: 159 481 450#

University of Dubuque Fall Semester 2025 Academic Dean’s List

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque congratulates the following students on being appointed to the Fall Semester 2025 Academic Dean’s List.

Full-time students in good academic standing (registered for and having earned 12 or more letter grade credits for the term) who earn a term grade point average of 3.5 or above and who do not have any grades of Incomplete for the term are named to the Dean’s List. Once grades have been submitted for any Incompletes, the Office of Academic Affairs will review eligibility again for possible placement on the Dean’s List for the given term. 

Dean’s List is awarded for the fall and spring semesters only and may be awarded retroactively.

About the University of Dubuque

The University of Dubuque (UD) is a private, coed university founded in 1852 that offers undergraduate, graduate, and theological seminary degrees as well as other educational opportunities with the intention of educating and forming the whole person. Here, the value of an education is measured in helping our students find their calling in life through academics, community, character, vocation, and stewardship. Our approach to learning is based on professional programs with a liberal arts core, and we prepare students to find their purpose and make meaningful contributions to the world. https://www.dbq.edu/

Whitewater, WI

 Halee Peters