We are getting ready to drum into March with our Fairhaven Drum Circle led by Christine Hayes. Whitewater area community members are welcome.
The next drumming dates are Friday, March 6 @ 1:15 p.m. and Thursday, March 19 at 1:15 p.m.
Fairhaven Senior Services, Olm Fellowship Hall, 435 W. Starin Road
We hope you can attend one but we all know you would have a better month if you attended both!
Steve Watson writes, “Well, spring is on the way. I’ve heard robins and sandhill cranes and have seen redwing blackbirds.
This morning, 2-21-26, the first migratory ducks, common mergansers.”
Our thanks to Steve Watson.
— 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!
Town of Whitewater
Walworth County Wisconsin
2026 Road Work
The Town of Whitewater is now accepting proposals for chip sealing projects in 2026. There will be 8 roads involved in this project. If interested in participating in the project, please contact CARL AHRENS, Public Works Superintendent at
920-723-0458 or public.works@townofwhitewaterwi.gov. Carl will provide the complete bid package.
Sealed bids, clearly marked “ROAD BID,” must be delivered to the Town Clerk no later than Monday, March 23rd, 2026, at 12:00 pm (noon). All bids received by the deadline will be opened at a special open meeting to be held at 8:00 AM, March 24, 2026. You
may also use the secure drop box at the Town Hall to submit your proposal.
Mailing Address:
Town of Whitewater
W8590 Willis Ray Road
Whitewater, WI 53190
Phone: 262-473-4639
Project completion date is 8/21/2026
Editor’s note:
The Whippet Boys Swim Team closed out an incredible season at the WIAA State Meet on Friday, February 20th with outstanding performances and fast swims across the board!
State Highlights:
• Cruz Aranda placed 10th in the 200 Freestyle with a time of 1:48.99 — now 2nd all-time on the Whippet Top 10 List.
• Langdon Coburn finished 15th in the 200 IM with a strong time drop to 2:04.45 — now 4th all-time on the Whippet Top 10 List.
• Mateo Bazeley swam a quick 22.58 in the 50 Freestyle to place 13th.
• 
Langdon Coburn earned a 5th place finish in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 52.47 — now 3rd all-time in school history.
• Cruz Aranda added a 9th place finish in the 100 Freestyle with a fast 48.93 — now 4th all-time on the Whippet Top 10 List.
NEW SCHOOL RECORD!
The 200 Freestyle Relay team of Langdon Coburn, Caleb Kluck, Cruz Aranda, and Mateo Bazeley broke the school record with an incredible time of 1:30.61, finishing 8th overall!
The 400 Freestyle Relay team of Langdon Coburn, Mateo Bazeley, Wyatt Esch, and Cruz Aranda capped off the meet with a 12th place finish in 3:25.28.
We are extremely proud of the way these athletes represented Whitewater on the biggest stage. Thank you to all of our fans for the tremendous support throughout the season!
A special thank you to our seniors for your dedication, leadership, and commitment to the program — you will be greatly missed. 
Article and Photos Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu
Nate Parrish, President and CEO of First Citizens State Bank, is pleased to announce the promotions of Shelly Bucholtz and Kelsey Reilly to Assistant Vice President. Both Bucholtz and Reilly are based at the bank’s Whitewater Main Office, located at 207 W Main Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Bucholtz has been with First Citizens State Bank for nearly 33 years and oversees all aspects of Loan Processing and Servicing. During her tenure, she has advanced through several key roles within Loan Operations, most recently serving as Loan Operations Officer. Bucholtz holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from UW-Whitewater and has completed extensive professional training through the Wisconsin Bankers Association. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for FIPCO.
Reilly joined First Citizens State Bank in 2018 and has steadily advanced into leadership roles. She currently serves as the Bank’s Compliance Officer and Assistant Security Officer, ensuring strong internal controls and regulatory compliance. Reilly earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from UW-Whitewater and is a Whitewater High School graduate. She serves as the Treasurer for the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club and is a member of the Whitewater Landmarks Commission.
Commenting on the promotions, Parrish said, “Shelly and Kelsey each bring exceptional knowledge, integrity, and dedication to their roles. Their leadership, attention to detail, and commitment to our customers and our bank make them highly deserving of this advancement. We are proud to recognize their contributions and look forward to the continued impact they will have on our organization.”
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.
February was Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, and we wrapped it up with a busy week in the Tech Ed classes.
First, in honor of National Discover Engineering Week, students in Exploratory Tech went on a tour of Doosan Bobcat in Johnson Creek on Wednesday. Students were able to see how they engineer and manufacture the mowers and other machines in the Doosan Bobcat line. They also had the chance to try out their own engineering skills by designing and building a boat. One of our teams even took 2nd place!
On Thursday, students in Introduction to Engineering traveled to UW–Madison to learn more about different engineering disciplines, with a focus on Nuclear Engineering. They heard from a prestigious career panel, interacted with local businesses, and toured engineering labs on campus. Students were able to see just how wide the world of engineering really is and explore what the schooling looks like to get into an engineering program.
Finally, students from first semester Exploratory Tech celebrated completing and receiving their OSHA 10 certifications. This certification will help them as they work toward Youth Apprenticeships and other technical careers. Students were excited to receive their cards today!
Thank you to Doosan Bobcat and UW–Madison for hosting our students and giving them a glimpse into their futures!
Article and Photos Submitted by Nolan Otremba
Whitewater High School Technology and Engineering Teacher
otrno01@wwusd.org
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will host a NCAA women’s basketball regional for the sixth consecutive championship this weekend. The Warhawks are set to host the four-team regional with games scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
UW-Whitewater (19-8) will take on Transylvania (24-4) at 7:15 PM Friday evening in Kachel Gym. The Warhawks, an at large selection, are making their 10th straight and 17th overall appearance in the NCAA Championship under Head Coach Keri Carollo. UWW is ranked 10th in the final NPI (NCAA Power Index) list. The Warhawks are 39-23 in the program’s 23 total postseason appearances.
Transy punched their berth into the 2026 championship with their eighth consecutive Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title. The Pioneers, ranked 44th in the NPI, are making their seventh straight appearance in the postseason.
The first game of the regional will feature the University of Chicago and Gustavus Adolphus College at 4:45 PM Friday evening. The Maroons (17-7) claimed an at-large bid into championship to make the program’s 11th trip to NCAA action. Back in the postseason for the first time since 2023, Chicago comes into the regional ranked 21st according to NPI.
Gustavus Adolphus (18-8) also received an at-large bid into the postseason. The Gusties are making their fifth consecutive and 12th overall appearance in the NCAA tournament. GAC is ranked 36th in the NPI.
The winners of Friday’s contests advance to the regional final slated for 7:15 PM Saturday in Kachel Gym. Stay tuned for more information on the Whitewater Regional including tickets, media coverage and more.
Whitewater Common Council Candidate Forum
Saturday, March 7, 1:30PM – 3:00PM
Whitewater City Hall Council Chambers, 312 W Whitewater Street
There are three open seats on the Council with two candidates running for each seat. The candidates are: Aldermanic District 2 (Wards 9 & 10) Gavin Kelleher and Sean Liebherr; Aldermanic District 4 (Wards 6, 7 & 8) Brian Schanen (incumbent) and Chuck Mills; and, Member at Large Aubrey Thompson and Orin Smith. All candidates have agreed to attend the forum.
The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area sponsors candidate forums for the benefit of YOU, the voter. At the forum, you will be asked to write your questions on cards distributed by the League. Questions are reviewed by question checkers, who sort them by topic and check for redundancy, before forwarding them to the moderator. We do not accept questions targeted to specific candidates. Questions prepared by the League board will be used only if there are not enough questions provided by residents in attendance at the forum. Bring your family, friends and neighbors! Be an active participant in our democracy!
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!
The Jefferson County Beef Producers (JCBP) are proud to announce their 1st Annual Steak Dinner, to be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Jefferson County Fair Park, located at 503 N. Jackson Ave., Jefferson, Wisconsin.
This community event is designed to bring consumers and producers together while celebrating the importance of the local beef industry. Guests will enjoy a hearty dinner featuring freshly grilled ribeye steaks, along with hotdogs, corn, baked potatoes, dinner rolls, desserts, and beverages including soda and beer. The evening will also include raffles and silent auctions, offering attendees additional opportunities to support local agriculture.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Jefferson County Beef Producers and help fund educational opportunities for both current and future beef producers. These efforts aim to strengthen the beef industry in Jefferson County and ensure its success for generations to come.
“The Jefferson County Beef Producers are dedicated to promoting and preserving the local beef industry by bridging the gap between producers and consumers,” said representatives of the organization. “This steak dinner is a great way for the community to enjoy a delicious beef dinner and socialize while supporting agriculture.”
Community members, families, and supporters of local agriculture are encouraged to attend.
For sponsorship opportunities, donations, or additional information, please contact the Jefferson County Beef Producers on Facebook or jeffersoncountybeefproducers@
