News

Are you struggling through the holidays as a caregiver?

Understand the grief, loss and mourning associated with caring for someone with dementia.

Join us for Moving Forward:

Grief and Ambiguous Loss Associated with Dementia Caregiving

The Aging & Disability Resource Centers of Rock and Marquette Counties are offering the 16- week grief and bereavement educational support group on Friday afternoons from 1-3 pm beginning January 16 and running through May 1, 2026. This is a virtual group. There is no cost to attend. Registration and screening are required.

Who is this group for? The group is for anyone who is or has cared for someone with dementia. Caring for someone with dementia presents a constant series of losses and not just those related to death. Each session will cover a grief, loss and mourning topic followed by about 60 minutes of conventional support group discussion.

For more information or to register, please contact
Rock County Dementia Care Specialist, Karen Tennyson at 608/921-7165 or karen.tennyson@co.rock.wi.us
Marquette County Dementia Care Specialist, Janet Wiegel at 608/297-3148 or
jwiegel@co.marquette.wi.us

Editor’s note: The Rock County Aging & Disability Resource Center has previously told The Banner that residents of counties other than Rock are welcome to participate in their programming when space permits.

A New Year Intention-Setting Workshop in Whitewater
Live Life Spiritual Direction Announces “One Word. Infinite Possibility”

Live Life LLC, led by local mind-body-spirit coach Denise Maple, is pleased to announce a reflective and creative workshop designed to help community members begin 2026 with clarity, intention, and purpose. The “One Word. Infinite Possibility.” workshop will be held in early January at The Book Teller in downtown Whitewater.

This inspirational experience invites participants to discover their personal Word of the Year—a single guiding theme that serves as both a touchstone and a compass for the year ahead. Through guided reflection, discussion, and manifestation-focused exercises, attendees will explore what energy or essence they want to cultivate in 2026.

Along with the intention-setting work, the workshop includes a hands-on creative component where participants will design and decorate a personal keepsake featuring their chosen word. This take-home piece serves as a daily reminder of their intention and a source of inspiration throughout the year.

“Choosing a Word of the Year is a powerful way to stay aligned with your values, goals, and inner truth,” said Maple. “This workshop creates space to slow down, listen inward, and begin the new year grounded and fully connected to what matters most.”

The event is open to adults of all backgrounds—no experience with coaching, creative work, or intention-setting practices is required. All materials will be provided.

Event Details:
What: One Word. Infinite Possibility.
Where: The Book Teller, Whitewater, WI
When: Tuesday, January 6th at 6:00 p.m.

Registration: Learn more and sign up at https://livelifespiritual.com/events/word-of-the-year/

About Live Life Spiritual Direction
Live Life Spiritual Direction, a branch of Live Life LLC, is where soul-centered wisdom meets practical, grounded guidance. Led by Denise Maple a mind-body-spirit coach who serves as a spiritual life coach, bioenergetic testing practitioner, Reiki Master, and holistic business coach— this work is rooted in the belief that you deserve to live authentically, vibrantly, and in alignment with who you truly are. Denise welcomes clients at her cozy office on Main Street in Whitewater, Wisconsin, as well as virtually.

Denise founded Live Life Spiritual Direction to help people move beyond merely surviving and step into a life where they can thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Her approach blends deep spiritual training with over 30 years of business leadership and teaching experience.

As a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Illinois, honored as a Teacher Rated as Excellent by Students and a Dean’s Impact Award recipient, Denise brings a rare blend of heart, intuition, and grounded expertise. She serves as a compassionate guide to help you unearth and live the Song of Your Soul—so you can expand into your fullest potential with clarity, joy, and confidence.

The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area co-sponsored a public Fair Maps Community Hearing Tour event at the Community Engagement Center on November 11. Activists across the state are educating the public and looking for input on an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) for drawing Wisconsin legislative voting districts in the future. Bill language for an IRC has been drafted, and multiple nonpartisan organizations are working together to gather public feedback. 

Wisconsin has fair maps now, but they’re only temporary. Without lasting legislation ahead of the 2030 Census, Wisconsinites risk going back to a system where politicians pick their voters—and ignore the will of the people. That’s why the Fair Maps Coalition has written a draft proposal and is looking for public input. 

The community hearing included a presentation on fair maps in Wisconsin and a breakdown of the draft Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) proposal. Attendees then engaged in a lively exchange of questions and answers with the presenters.

Comprehensive information regarding the IRC proposal may be found on the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition website. Photos of the meeting, courtesy of Tom Ganser, are shown below. Whitewater Community TV provided a recording of the meeting, which may be viewed here.

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area.

Ready to start your farm succession planning? Virtual workshop series to connect you and your family wherever you are.

Join UW-Madison Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialists Joy Kirkpatrick, Steph Plaster, Kelly Wilfert, and Kevin Bernhardt as they lead important discussions and helpful activities in the Cultivating Your Farm’s Future workshop series. This series provides tools and resources for farmers who are ready to start their succession plans. 
Cultivating Your Farm’s Future explores the three-step process of planning your business succession:

• Where are you now?
• Where do you want to be?
• How do you get there?
  The workshops prepare you to shape and communicate your ideas about the future of the farm and business and also save time by having crucial conversations before visiting with professionals. 
  Who should attend? 
  This series is for farm businesses and farm families ready to shape the future ownership of their farm. If you are the owner generation, you may be wondering how to transfer to the next generation or develop a fair inheritance distribution plan. If you are the next generation, you may have questions or ideas about your future role in the farm business or how to make it financially feasible and realistic for your goals. Multiple farm/family members are encouraged to attend together.
  What topics are covered?
  ● Communication preferences and how to talk about the farm’s future
  ● Common tensions around farm succession 
  ● Inheritance distributions – Is equal fair?
  ● Financials for farm succession
  ● Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats – SWOT analysis
  ● Estate planning including probate and estate tax
  ● Wills, trusts, and business entities
  ● Setting goals and action steps
  
  When are these workshops?
  February 2026
  Thursday evenings, 6:30–8 p.m., February 5, 12, 19, 26, 2026. This series also offers an optional action-planning session on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
  
  Where are the workshops held? 
  All sessions are held live via Zoom, so participants can join from anywhere! Each week participants will receive an email with homework assignments. The homework is designed to help gather information and prepare for the discussions and activities during the live Zoom sessions. The homework is a mix of short videos, worksheets or reading assignments. Hard copies of program materials will be mailed to each participant before the first class.
• Registration details
• The cost to register is $150/per farm. Multiple farm/family members are encouraged to participate—all for $150/farm. The registration fee covers one Cultivating Your Farm’s Future workbook and one Cultivating Continuity book per farm, a participant manual for each person registered, access to digital course materials, and four (with an optional fifth) live zoom classes.
• Additional Cultivating Your Farm’s Future workbooks can be purchased for $15/each and Cultivating Continuity books for $25/each.
• Register online at https://uwmadison.eventsair.com/farm2526/reg/Site/Register
• The registration deadline is January 16, 2026, to ensure participants receive the mailed materials in time for the first class. Registration is limited to 20 farms.
• Even if you have attended other transition, estate, or succession planning classes, consider attending this program to get a START on YOUR succession plan.
• For more information contact Joy Kirkpatrick, Farm Succession Outreach Specialist, joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu, 608.263.3485

The Whitewater Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Freddy from Pixabay.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday on New Year’s Day from the Whitewater Historical Society.

The Whitewater Historical Society would like to extend “A hearty wish for the New Year” with this post card from 1908. It is from our collection of holiday post cards from the early 20th century.

Have a Happy New Year and join us for special celebrations in this 250th year of the Declaration of Independence.

Wishing you good health and happiness in the new year!

The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage and above by Waseem Ahmad from Pixabay.

Mark Dorn writes “Some hearty souls!”

Thanks to Mark Dorn for sharing this chilly holiday photo.

— 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 1/2/26 @ 9:30 p.m. with up-to-date information about Council candidates.

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

Anyone wishing to run for city, state or federal office must complete the necessary steps by Tuesday, January 6 at 5 p.m. For Common Council, nomination papers with at least 25 signatures must be submitted for a district seat, or 50 signatures for an at-large position. The clerk’s office at the municipal building is closed on New Year’s Eve and Day. It will be open on January 2 and January 5 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on January 6 until 5:00 p.m.

City of Whitewater Common Council

Three City of Whitewater Common Council seats are up for election on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. If there are more than two candidates in any race there will be a primary on February 17, 2026. Per City Clerk Heather Boehm, the following is the status of the nomination filings, which are listed in alphabetical order.

District 2 (Currently represented by Orin Smith, who has filed a noncandidacy statement)
Gavin Kelleher, 451 Warhawk Drive – campaign registration is complete.
Sean Liebherr, 771 W. Lauderdale Drive, campaign registration is complete.

District 4 (Currently represented by Brian Schanen)
One other person has indicated an interest in running but has not yet completed any papers.
Brian Schanen, 441 S. Buckingham Blvd., campaign registration is complete.

At-large (Currently represented by Greg Majkrzak, who has filed a noncandidacy statement)
Teresa Golembiewski, 1180 Bloomingfield Drive, campaign registration is complete.
Orin Smith, 329 N. Tratt St., campaign registration is complete.
Aubrey Thompson has submitted her campaign registration forms but has not yet submitted her nomination signatures.

Whitewater Unified School District

Information regarding the School Board election may be found here.

Walworth County Supervisor, District 4

District 4 represents the western portion of the city; a map may be found here.
Incumbent Al Stanek has indicated that he is not running for re-election.
Tyler Schneider has announced that he is a candidate.
The Banner has not sought an update from the county, but understands that no one else had filed as of December 31.

Walworth County Supervisor, District 3

Incumbent Brian Holt has not filed a noncandidacy statement.

_______________________________________________________________________________

U.S. House of Representatives

The general election for this position is not until November 3. It is very likely that a primary will be held on August 11, as the following candidates have already been announced:

Bryan Steil  (Incumbent) (Republican Party)

Miguel Aranda  (Democratic Party)

Mitchell Berman  (Democratic Party)

Randy Bryce  (Democratic Party)

Enrique Casiano  (Democratic Party)

Gage Stills  (Democratic Party)

Connor Walleck  (Republican Party) 

Adam Follmer  (Independent)

State offices – November election

Walworth County Sheriff – November election

Incumbent sheriff Dave Gerber has filed a noncandidacy statement.