News

Update 2/29/26 @ 5:00 p.m. – The agenda, which includes the virtual access link, may be viewed here.

The Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Committee invites residents to comment on a proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) amendment to the existing County Zoning Ordinance during its public hearing at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 19 at the Jefferson County Courthouse (Room C2063) or via Microsoft Teams teleconference.

The County is exploring this amendment because it has potential to contribute to two pillars within the Jefferson County Strategic Plan: diverse housing opportunities and intentional economic growth. ADUs support diverse housing opportunities by enabling the addition of new housing units that broaden the variety, size, and cost of local housing options. They enable intentional economic growth by adding housing units quickly on developed land, with no impact on farmland or undeveloped spaces.

ADUs provide flexibility and efficiency that many existing housing options lack. Homeowners may opt to build an ADU to facilitate multi-generational family living on the same lot, or they may rent an ADU to supplement their income while providing additional affordable housing.

The amendment contains several safeguards designed to maintain quality of life for current residents:

• Lot size restrictions: ADUs can only be built on standard, conforming lots
• Lots must contain enough space for two parking stalls per dwelling unit
• Septic/sanitary district requirements: Septic systems must be approved to serve the total number of bedrooms (main residence and ADU); all homes in sanitary districts must receive approval before permitting
• The property owner must live onsite (in the main residence or the ADU)

After this public hearing, the Planning and Zoning Committee will consider the ADU amendment at its Planning and Zoning Committee meeting on February 23 and may recommend action by the Jefferson County Board at its March 10 meeting.

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

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by Jefferson County on February 18.

The following students are serving on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Segregated University Fee Allocation Committee for the 2025-26 year:

Whitewater, WI 53190: Orin Smith, who is studying Higher Education Leadership MSE, is the Vice Chair and College of Graduate Studies Representative.

Whitewater, WI 53190: Olivia Nanni, who is studying Human Resource Management, is the College of Business and Economics representative.

The Segregated University Fee Allocation Committee (SUFAC) is made up of student representatives from across campus that allocate fees to student organizations and campus departments. SUFAC appropriates budgets to fund more than 100 activities, programs, and student organizations on campus.

“Representatives come from each academic college and Whitewater Student Government. Students gain decision-making skills, policy development and implementation, and the management of hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Kim Clarksen, an advisor to SUFAC. “Their goal is focused on providing access to funds that assist students in having meaningful educational experiences while maintaining affordable fees for all students.”

Clarksen assists the committee in applying policy and understanding the nuances of the groups requesting funds. She also supervises the budget interns that work alongside the committee, helping groups to spend their allocated dollars.

Students can reach out to the dean of their colleges and/or to the Whitewater Student Government to express interest in serving. For more information, visit uww.edu/sufac or send questions to sufac@uww.edu.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Nearly 900 students graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at winter commencement, held Dec. 13, 2025, at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center.

The following students from our coverage area earned degrees from the UW-Whitewater at winter commencement:

Whitewater, WI 53190: Salaar Akbar graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Biology – BS

Whitewater, WI 53190: Garrett Allamian graduated with the following degree: Business Administration – MBA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Samantha Beecroft graduated with the following degree: Sociology – BS

Whitewater, WI 53190: Nicole Butry graduated with the following degree: Art – BA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Montserrat Cuevas graduated with the following degree: Spanish – BA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Makenna D’Amico graduated Summa Cum Laude with the following degree: Biology – BS

Whitewater, WI 53190: Jaciel Flores graduated Summa Cum Laude with the following degree: Marketing – BBA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Dawson France graduated with the following degree: Music – BM

Whitewater, WI 53190: Sirena Gomez graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Early Child Care and Education – BA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Elyse Hansen graduated with the following degree: Elementary Education – BSE

Whitewater, WI 53190: Stephanie Hensel graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Accounting – BBA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Aidan Impola graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Criminology – BS

Whitewater, WI 53190: Misynn Jones graduated with the following degree: Art – BA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Caleb Karlson graduated with the following degree: Physical Education – BSE

Whitewater, WI 53190: Andrea Kuhl graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Biology – BS

Whitewater, WI 53190: Aubrie Malette graduated with the following degree: Associate of Arts and Science – AAS

Whitewater, WI 53190: Elvia Meza Klosinski graduated with the following degree: Business Administration – MBA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Bradley Morris graduated with the following degree: Music – BM

Whitewater, WI 53190: Aiden Murray graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Physical Education – BSE

Whitewater, WI 53190: Jonah Panning graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Finance – BBA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Dante Poe graduated with the following degree: Cybersecurity – MS

Whitewater, WI 53190: Pureless Powell graduated with the following degree: Computer Science – BS

Whitewater, WI 53190: Jake Satterfield graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: General Business – BBA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Jazmin Soto graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Marketing – BBA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Anna VanWormer graduated with the following degree: Management – BBA

Whitewater, WI 53190: Brianna Zimdars graduated with the following degree: Business Administration – MBA

Students crossed the stage to receive their degrees at the ceremony, held at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center.

The 888-member graduating class included nine international students, 69 military veterans and 154 nontraditional students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 77 self-identified students with disabilities received degrees.

A total of 61 students participated in the university’s Hired Before Graduation campaign, which celebrates students who landed a job, earned a job promotion, were accepted to graduate school, or started their own business before commencement.

Editor’s note: It is likely that a number of these graduates did not reside in Whitewater prior to enrollment in the university. UW-W lists graduates as residing in the city that is shown in their registration.

Sixteen members of Ferradermis chose to participate in the team’s 4^th annual trip to Madison for Robotics Advocacy Day at the State Capitol on Thursday, February 12.

Over 300 middle school and high school robotics students and their mentors from across the state gathered at Monona Terrace to begin their day with lessons on state government and how to advocate with legislators. As both a parent of robotics team members and a state legislator, Representative Brienne Brown addressed the large group and encouraged students to embrace the opportunity to make a difference.

Wisconsin offers a robotics league participation grant as one way to promote STEM education, and each year, teams descend on the capitol to discuss the importance of continuing and potentially increasing this funding. This year’s ask was for our representatives to consider lowering the age group for the grant to include elementary school teams; currently the grant is only open to teams with students in grades 6-12.

After a morning of speakers and meeting rehearsals, teams moved to the capitol building. Throughout the day, robot demonstrations took place in the rotunda.

Ferradermis members were able to schedule meetings with seven different legislators and/or their staffers over the course of the afternoon. In order to cover the full schedule of meetings, the students split into two and sometimes three groups. Within each group, students divided up their talking points with one student taking on the role of facilitator. At times, Ferradermis joined together with other teams who shared the same legislator.

Ferradermis’ first meeting of the day was with Senator Melissa Ratcliff, a joint meeting with Ferradermis and FTC Team 10100 Phoenix Force from Verona.

Next up was a meeting with Representative Brienne Brown who is very familiar with FIRST already, but the team spent some time talking about the changes coming to FIRST Lego League and the need to extend the Robotics League Participation Grant to the lower grades.

The team then met with staff from Representative Ann Roe’s office in conjunction with FTC 21355 Turtle TEK from Beloit. The Assembly was in session throughout the day, so many of the meetings were with staffers instead of the representatives themselves if the timing did not work out.

Part of the team was then able to meet with staffer Katherine Morgan for Representative Joan Fitzgerald.

Next on the Ferradermis Advocacy Day agenda was a meeting with a staffer for Senator Mark Spreitzer. The Whitewater team was again able to team up with students from Turtle TEK for this meeting.

Thank you to staffer Cameron O’Connell from Representative Tyler August’s office for taking the time to learn about FIRST Robotics.

The final Ferradermis meeting on Advocacy Day was with staff from Senator Steve Nass’ office.

Article and Photos Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor
lmasbruch@wwusd.org

The Whitewater Unified School District will present its annual State of the District update on Thursday, February 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Whitewater Public Library.

Superintendent Samuel Karns will provide an overview of district priorities, student achievement, financial stewardship, and ongoing efforts to support student learning and wellbeing. The presentation is part of the State of Our City and Schools event hosted by the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area.

“This event is an important opportunity to share the progress we are making across our schools and to highlight the accomplishments of our students and staff,” Karns said. “We are committed to continuous improvement and working in partnership with our families and community members to ensure every student has the support they need to succeed.”

In addition to the district’s update, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Chancellor Dr. Corey A. King and Whitewater City Manager John Weidl will present a comprehensive look at the state of education, local government, and higher education in the Whitewater community.

The event is open to the public, and community members do not need to be members of the League of Women Voters to attend.

For more information about the State of Our City and Schools event, community members may contact Mary Beth Byrne of the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area at wisconsinwoods@gmail.com.

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.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

Apologies that we’re tardy in posting John’s 2026 schedules for the city and all of the nearby towns. It’s the first item under the “Helpful Links” section of The Whitewater Banner.

Our thanks to former Banner volunteer Lisa Dawsey Smith for taking care of this from her new home in North Carolina, and also to two readers who prompted us to get this done.

The Whitewater Unified School District has launched a strategic planning process to gather community input and establish priorities that will guide the district over the next three to five years.

The process began with a community survey that invited feedback from students, families, staff, and community members. Building on that initial outreach, the district will host a series of in-person focus groups later this month to further engage the community and gather more detailed input.

Community members are invited to attend one of the following engagement sessions:

Tuesday, February 24
● 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. – Community Engagement Session, Whitewater Public Library
● 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Parent Engagement Session, Whitewater High School LMC

Wednesday, February 25
● 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. – Parent Engagement Session, Cravath Lakefront Community Center
● 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. – Community Engagement Session, Whitewater High School Auditorium

Feedback gathered through the survey and engagement sessions will be used to identify key priorities and help guide district decision-making in the years ahead.

“This strategic planning process is about listening to our community and learning from the experiences of those we serve,” said Superintendent Samuel Karns. “The input we receive will help shape a shared vision for the future and ensure our priorities reflect what matters most to our school community.”

For updates on the strategic planning process, please visit www.wwusd.org.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs (WFWC) is thrilled to present its third annual Bassett House Spring Concert Series, which promises is to be as lovely an experience as ever. The first concert of this season’s series will be a highly anticipated performance by the Rock River Woodwind Quintet on Sunday, March 15, 2026. This special children’s program will include the beloved “Peter and the Wolf” by Sergei Prokofiev and a piece based on Winnie the Pooh. So please bring your little ones to this recital, which is sure to delight audiences of all ages. The second concert will feature the talented students of Rachel Wood’s Voice Studio on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Come hear classic repertoire and Broadway favorites! For our third concert, we are pleased to offer our first all-piano recital, so piano lovers, take note! This concert will feature the exceptional students of Diana Shapiro’s Piano Studio on Sunday, May 13, 2026. All concerts will be held at 1:00 PM at the Bassett House, 708 W. Main Street, Whitewater. Adult ticket prices are $30 per concert or $75 for the series. Student tickets (over 13 years old) are $15 per concert, and child tickets (13 and under) are $10 per concert. Please make checks out to the WFWC and mail them to Linda Robinson at 957 W. Highland Street/Whitewater, WI 53190. Alternatively, you may pay via Paypal to the Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs. In either case, please make sure we have your name and address, and please indicate the number of tickets you want and for which concerts, and the number of adults, students, and/or children attending. Space is limited, so buy your tickets soon. All proceeds will go to the Bassett House Preservation Fund, which the WFWC will use to ensure the preservation of the Bassett House, one of Whitewater’s oldest historic homes. For more information, visit our website at bassetthousewww.org or contact Linda Robinson at linrob73@gmail.com

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by The Whitewater Federation of Women’s Clubs.

The Department of Art and Design in the College of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater invites the public to an artist talk with Fei Jun, the 2026 Schuh Visiting Artist. The talk takes place in the atrium of the Greenhill Center of the Arts on Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m., followed by an hors d’oeuvres reception and celebration of the program’s 10th anniversary beginning at 7 p.m. The Crossman Gallery will be open during this time to provide an opportunity for everyone to view an exhibition of the artist’s work. Fei Jun is a world-renowned digital and installation artist on the cutting edge of utilizing artificial intelligence in the creation of original artwork. His research focuses on hybrid spaces constructed through the interplay between virtual and physical environments. He is currently a professor in the Art and Technology program at the School of Design, Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China, serving as the academic program leader and doctoral supervisor. He is also the Secretary-General of the Digital Art Committee, China Artists Association, and the founder and Chief Creative Director of a collective focusing on ART+TECH, as well as the co-curator of the Beijing Media Art Biennale. With a multifaceted identity as an artist, designer, and educator, he engages in the research, education, and practice of art and technology. Through hands-on practice, he has achieved a high level of expertise and produced substantial accomplishments. His work has been recognized with numerous prestigious domestic and international awards, including the“BBART AWARDS 2023 Art and Technology Innovation Award” by Harper’s Bazaar Art, the Second Annual Artist Nomination Award by Guangdong Museum of Art, the ART POWER 100 Nomination Award (2019), the German iF Design Award, Red Dot Design Award, German Design Award Special Mention, and the Asia Most Influential Design Award. His artistic and design works have been exhibited in museums, galleries, and art festivals both in China and abroad, and he has led the design and development of numerous mobile applications and interactive spatial installations for institutions such as the Palace Museum, Audi China Research Institute, and Fashion Publishing Group. Fei’s exhibition “Hybrid Intelligence” will be on view at the Crossman Gallery from February 23 to March 19, 2026. The exhibition will include work created by Fei along with art made by UW-Whitewater Art and Design students in a studio workshop led by Fei and Professor Xiaohong Zhang.  The exhibition and Fei’s visit are funded by the Annette and Dale Schuh Visiting Artist Endowment. The endowment was established in 2015 in honor of Annette’s transformative experience as an undergraduate art student at UW-Whitewater interacting with notable visiting artists.  It is with this remarkable donor intent that artists of prominence and significant stature will visit UW-Whitewater on an annual basis. Please join the Department of Art and Design for these free and public events on March 5: Artist Talk: 6 -7 p.m. in the Center of the Arts atrium Exhibition Reception and 10th Anniversary Celebration: 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the Crossman Gallery The Greenhill Center of the Arts atrium and the Crossman Gallery are located at 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190. The Crossman Gallery is always free and all are welcome. Gallery hours during scheduled exhibitions are Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. The Annette and Dale Schuh Visiting Artist Endowment supports an annual visit of a visual artist of a significant stature to UW-Whitewater. It offers a transformative visual arts experience to students in the Department of Art and Design. The College of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offers rigorous programs in music, theatre, dance, and the visual arts; internships; pre-professional opportunities in journalism, advertising, and applied communication; and innovative interdisciplinary studies. Visit the College of Arts and Communication website for more information.   Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the College of Arts and Communication at UW-W. Parking: A permit is required to park in University lots during events that take place Monday – Thursday. The closest lots are Lots 1 and 2. Permits may be purchased at the kiosk at the Visitors’ Center on Starin Road. To purchase a permit online, visit uww.aimsparking.com. For further information click here.