News

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

The process will begin with a brief community survey, open from January 9 through January 30, inviting input from students, families, staff, and community members. Feedback collected through the survey will help inform the district’s strategic direction and ensure future planning reflects the needs and priorities of the broader school community. The survey is available at https://dgsurveys.com/r/Whitewater2026.

Input from the survey will guide the work of a Strategic Planning Workgroup, which will meet several times throughout the process to help shape the district’s vision, core values, and strategic priorities. Additional opportunities for engagement will include focus groups and community engagement sessions designed to gather deeper insight and encourage broad participation.

“We are committed to hearing directly from our students, staff, families, and community as we plan for the future,” said Superintendent Samuel Karns. “This process will help us build on our district’s strengths, address areas for growth, and make sure our strategic priorities reflect the voices of those we serve.”

A guiding theme of the strategic planning is “All Means All,” a commitment to ensuring every student is seen, heard, and supported. The district aims to create an accessible process that reflects the full diversity of the school community and engages participants across all backgrounds and experiences.

Updates and additional information about the strategic planning process will be shared throughout the coming months. For more information, visit www.wwusd.org.

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Andreas Breitling from Pixabay.

Storytime
Wednesdays | 9:30 a.m. | January 7th-May 20th
Meeting Room 1
Join Miss Deana for stories, songs, and silliness! Storytimes are best for children ages 2-5, but older and younger siblings are always welcome. No registration is required. Please contact Deana Rolfsmeyer at (262) 458-2788 with any questions.

Coloring Club
Mondays | 3:30 p.m. | January 5th-May 18th
Meeting Room 1
Mondays are hard. Come to the library for snacks, soothing music, and seasonal coloring pages. All ages are welcome and no registration is required. Please contact Deana Rolfsmeyer at (262) 458-2788 with any questions.

Build It! Club
January 6th | February 3rd | March 3rd | April 7th | May 5th
3:30 p.m.
Meeting Room 1
Spend an afternoon building whatever suits your fancy with the library’s LEGO bricks. This program is best suited to kids in grades K-5. No registration is required. Please contact Deana Rolfsmeyer at (262) 458-2788 with any questions.

Family Game Night
January 13th | February 10th | March 10th | April 14th | May 12th
3:30 p.m.
Meeting Room 1
Tired of sitting at home and beating your family at Monopoly? Come to the library and beat someone else’s family at Monopoly! Games and snacks will be provided. Registration is not required. Please contact Deana Rolfsmeyer at (262) 458-2788 with any questions.

Homeschool Hangout
January 8th | February 12th | March 12th | April 9th
2:00 p.m.
Meeting Room 1
Join Whitewater homeschool families at the library for educational presenters or problem solving activities. Activities are geared towards children ages 6-12, but older and younger siblings are always welcome. No registration is required. Please contact Deana Rolfsmeyer at (262) 458-2788 with any questions.
2nd Thursday of the month.

Teen Gaming Club
Thursdays | 3:30 p.m. | January 8th-May 21st
Teen Room
Nintendo Switch and snacks. What more do you need? Open to students ages 12-18. No registration required. Please contact Deana Rolfsmeyer at (262) 458-2788 with any questions.

HERSHEY, Pa. — Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA) announced today that Lindsay and Eric
Baneck of Helenville, Wisconsin have been named finalists for the 2026 National Outstanding Young
Farmer of America (NOYF) Award.

The 2026 finalists are:
Mitchell and Rebecca Henry, Moulton, Alabama; John and Rachel Bearden, Arkadelphia, Arkansas;
Knapp Boddiford III, Sylvania, Georgia; Todd and Meghan Selvik, Waseca, Minnesota; Preston and
Emily Cave, Dobson, North Carolina; Wade and Abby Walters, Shickley, Nebraska; Brandon and
Nichole Raso, Hammonton, New Jersey; Tanner Hento, Avon, South Dakota; Lindsay and Eric Baneck,
Helenville, Wisconsin; and Adam and Amanda Bunker, Sheridan, Wyoming.

Nominations were submitted from across the United States by a nationwide network of county extension
agents with the National Association of County Extension Agents, as well as members of OFA, former
NOYF winners, and agricultural industry professionals. Nominations may be submitted by anyone, and
while multiple nominations from a single state are allowed, no more than two finalists may represent any
one state.

Eligible nominees must be between the ages of 21 and 40, not turning 41 prior to January 1, must be
active farm operators, and must derive at least two-thirds of their income from farming. Nominees are
evaluated based on progress in their agricultural careers (50%), soil and water conservation practices
(25%), and contributions to their communities, states, and the nation (25%).

“There are challenges in Agriculture today, but there are also opportunities. These 10 Finalists exemplify
their ability to take on challenges, their love for their families & communities, and their desire to improve
their operation for generations to come,” said Mary Johnson, National Outstanding Young Farmer of
America coordinator. “These finalists represent the best of American farming. This award recognizes
their hard work and dedication while welcoming them into Outstanding Farmers of America, where they
can connect and network with top farmers from across the country.”

The finalists were notified in December and invited to attend the 2026 Outstanding Farmers of
America Convention, scheduled for Feb. 4–7 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. During the convention,
finalists will participate in in-person interviews to determine four honorees who will be named the
National Outstanding Young Farmers of the Year for 2026. Winners will be announced during the
final banquet on Saturday, Feb. 7.

All finalists attend the convention with travel and expenses fully covered. More than 200 farmers from
across the United States are expected to attend the annual OFA Convention, which includes educational
sessions, agricultural tours, and networking opportunities celebrating the NOYF Class of 2026.

For more information, visit www.outstandingfarmers.com or email info@outstandingfarmers.com.

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by Kelly McElroy, Administrator, Outstanding Farmers of America

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”

(Period Drama)

Tuesday, January 13, 1 pm

Rated PG; 2 hours, 3 minutes (2025).

Is this really the final chapter in the favorite 14 year family saga…? Starring Hugh Bonneville and the entire Downton cast.

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/ 

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Today’s image is of the Whitewater Paper Mill that was located on Trippe Lake off of Wisconsin Street today.

The Whitewater Paper Mill was built at the Trippe Lake dam on the site of a saw mill from the 1830s constructed by James Trippe, who financed the building of both the Trippe Lake and Cravath Lake dams and started industry in Whitewater. In 1859, Trippe and Crombie built this paper mill on the sawmill site. It had a stone foundation and brick walls. It made paper from straw, a plentiful by-product of wheat growing, which was dominating agriculture around Whitewater in the mid-19th century. The paper made at this mill in 1860 was advertised as book and wrapping paper. The paper mill operated until the mid-1890s. In the 1910s, the Whitewater Condensery (later the Hawthorn-Mellody Milk Plant) was built on this site. That complex was demolished in the 1990s and today condos sit on the site.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society

(3127STU, Whitewater Historical Society)

UW-MADISON ANNOUNCES FALL DEAN’S LIST

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has recognized students named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Students who achieve at a high level academically are recognized by the dean at the close of each semester. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, students must complete a minimum of 12 graded degree credits in that semester. Each university school or college sets its own GPA requirements for students to be eligible to receive the distinction. 

To view an online listing, visit https://registrar.wisc.edu/deanslist/.

Here are the students from the Whitewater area who have received this honor.

 Andrea Alcala, School of Education, Dean’s List
 Isabel Aranda, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List
 Carley Lane Boudreau, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List
 Crystal Chan, Col of Agricultural & Life Sci, Dean’s List
 Jonathan Chan, College of Engineering, Dean’s Honor List
 Shivam Kalra, School of Education, Dean’s List
 Leah Newmann, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List
 Lucien Pomazak, Col of Agricultural & Life Sci, Dean’s List
 Kendal Schreiber, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List
 Caleigh Yang, School of Business, Dean’s List

The Greater Whitewater Committee is set to host the new Executive Director of The Young Performing Arts Center, Mike Stefiuk, to present on the Young’s current and upcoming projects and initiatives at the upcoming January meeting. 

This event will take place on Thursday, January 15th at 7:00 a.m. at Jessica’s Family Restaurant: 140 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190.

Mike Stefiuk, the recently appointed Executive Director of The Young Performing Arts Center, is a strategic, results-driven performing arts executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience in concert operations, artistic programming, and venue management. He has overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, led high-performing teams, and produced nearly 1,000 events annually across major venues serving audiences of up to 5,000 patrons. Known for his expertise in artist relations, contract negotiations, and cross-sector partnerships, Mike has collaborated with world-renowned artists and institutions while driving significant growth in ticket revenue, audience engagement, and operational efficiency.

The GWC’s upcoming monthly meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 15th at 7:00 a.m. at Jessica’s Family Restaurant: 140 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190. The public is more than welcome to attend this meeting to learn more about The Young Performing Arts Center. If you are interested in attending, you must RSVP. To reserve your spot, contact Jeff Knight at jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com or 920.728.0662 by Wednesday, January 14th.

“The Young Performing Arts Center has always been a staple in the heart of the Whitewater community,” said GWC President, Jeffery Knight. “Many of our members frequently attend the events they host. We are excited to hear about the recent initiatives and learn how we can support this incredible program.”

For further details, please contact Jeffery Knight at 920.728.0662 or jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com. 

About the GWC

The GWC is an action-oriented group committed to collaborating with citizens, elected officials, and policy makers to identify, craft, and implement a pro-business agenda. The agenda advances the economic, education, and social policies needed to energize and secure the Whitewater area’s economic future, as well as protect Whitewater’s quality of life.

A New Year Intention-Setting Workshop in Whitewater – New Date!
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 13th at 6:00 p.m. (originally planned for January 6th)

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.

Walworth County Health and Human Services Offers $5 Radon Test Kits for January 2026

In 2025, more than half of the homes tested for radon in Walworth County had levels exceeding the safety threshold set by the EPA

This January, in recognition of National Radon Awareness Month, Walworth County Health and Human Services will offer radon test kits to residents for just $5 with the donation of a non-perishable food item. The $5 price includes shipping and laboratory analysis. Normally priced at $15, the kits are supplied by the Kenosha/Walworth Radon Information Center. Donated food will be distributed through The Bridge Food & Diaper Bank, which supports local families experiencing food insecurity. This offer is limited to one test kit per person. 

Radon testing is an essential step in maintaining a safe living environment, as testing is the only way to know if radon levels in a home are elevated. “January is a great time to find out if your home has elevated radon as houses are closed up for the cold winter weather and we’re spending more time indoors,” says Walworth County Public Health Officer Erica Bergstrom.

The reduced-price test kit offer is redeemable Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Walworth County Health and Human Services building, located at 1910 County Road. NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121.  Cash and check payments only. 

For more information on the promotion, or to learn more about radon testing, please contact the Walworth County Health and Human Services at (262) 741-3200, email walcoph@co.walworth.wi.us, on Facebook @WalCoDHHS, or online at www.co.walworth.wi.us.

Residents with elevated radon results should contact Walworth County Health and Human Services or the Kenosha/Walworth Radon Information Center at (262) 605-6731 for mitigation options.

Editor’s note: The tests that were distributed a few years ago had to be received by the testing lab within a limited number of days. It may be worthwhile to pay for expedited shipping.

Heather Boehm, city clerk, indicates that Teresa Golembiewski requested on January 7 to have her name removed from the April ballot for Common Council At-large. Boehm has confirmed that this request will be honored, and consequently there are two candidates: Orin Smith and Aubrey Thompson. As a result, there is no need for a primary in February.

The Whitewater Banner provided a list of Common Council and School Board candidates which may be found here.