News

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Updated 10/19/25 @ 3:30 p.m. to add contact information for photographer.

The 13th annual Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, Half Marathon Teams, & 5K were run on September 21, 2025. For the first time the races did not begin at the high school, due to the construction on Walworth Avenue. The start was on Schwager Drive near Perkins Stadium, and the finish line was on the football field.

Many thanks to Tom Ganser for this extensive photo gallery. Email tganser33@gmail.com to inquire about copies.

5k Judy Valdez of Whitewater

Whitewater Public Library Board of Trustees – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes discussion regarding new library logo; Discussion and possible action concerning a new Strategic Plan.
Cravath Lakefront Conference Room
312 W 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.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87195021449?pwd=Qsc6P46bSnEtf2sk9PxW2hGDiBlUmU.1
Meeting ID: 871 9502 1449
Passcode: z6ZZaDE9
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US

City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Presentation and Brief Overview of the 2026-2027 Draft Budget, Resolution Authorizing Application for Wisconsin Department of Administration Non State Grant Funding – Starin Park Splash Pad and Park Enhancement Project, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Presentation on Single Family Housing Program Proposal, Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Rate Increase for the Stormwater Utility.
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
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.
Please click the link below to
join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89984012939?pwd=4ecXTRFGyft51TCDOua1IGnhFM1bkd.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 899 8401 2939
Passcode: 810474

City of Whitewater Alcohol Licensing Committee – Wednesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and Possible Action regarding All You Can Drink specials at Class “B” Liquor
establishments in the City of Whitewater
Whitewater Municipal Building, 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.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81339674272?pwd=SPqYz9w6xUo4ztD4wTFHz32aSDoZw7.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 813 3967 4272
Passcode: 364395

The University of Wisconsin-Division of Extension is excited to announce the
launch of two free interactive workshops, part of a brand-new curriculum aimed at providing
education and resources to farmers and rural communities. These workshops will focus on
critical topics such as health care, health insurance, and childcare.

The workshops will be led by Stephanie Plaster, Farm Management Outreach Specialist, and
Crystal Walters, Human Development and Relationship Educator. They will take place on Friday,
November 14, 2025, at five locations across the state. The sessions are scheduled from 9:30
AM -11:00 AM and 11:30 AM -1:00 PM, with a break from 11:00 AM-11:30 AM.

Workshop Details:
The Health Care session will help participants connect health care needs and insurance to farm
and family well-being, manage health insurance as part of farm risk, explore insurance options,
and budget for insurance costs. The Child Care session will help participants navigate the
impact of childcare on farm life, integrate child care into farm risk management, design
family-friendly farm enterprises, and budget for child care costs.

Event Information:
● Date: Friday, November 14, 2025

● Locations:
o Neillsville: Clark County Courthouse: 517 Court Street Neillsville, WI 54456
o Oconto Falls: HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital- Assisi Rooms: 855 S Main St.
Oconto Falls, WI 54154
o Prairie du Chien: Crawford County Administration Building: 225 North Beaumont
Rd, Suite 236 Prairie du Chien, WI
o Menomonie: Dunn County Government Center: 3001 US Hwy 12 East, Suite 216
Menomonie WI 54751
o Elkhorn: Government Service Center: 100 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn, WI 53121

● Times: Choose one or attend both.
o Child Care: 9:30 AM -11:00 AM
o Break: 11:00 AM-11:30 AM
o Health Care: 11:30 AM-1:00 PM

Space is limited, so registration is required. For more information and to register, please contact
Clark County Extension at 715-743-5121 or visit go.wisc.edu/hiddenchallenges2025 by
November 3.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in
employment and programming in compliance with state and federal guidelines. You may request
an interpreter, materials in an alternative language and/or format, and/or other services to make
this event more accessible. Contact us at crystal.walters@wisc.edu or 715-743-5121 and make
your request by Monday, October 20.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the UW-Madison Division of Extension.

The following students will represent the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater as student teachers during the fall 2025 semester:

53190 Whitewater, WI: Dawson France, who is majoring in Music and will work in Music at Cambridge High School the Cambridge school district(s).

53190 Whitewater, WI: Elyse Hansen, who is majoring in Elementary Education and will work in Elementary & Middle at Washington-Caldwell School the Washington-Caldwell school district(s).

53190 Whitewater, WI: Caleb Karlson, who is majoring in Physical Education and will work in Physical Education at Dakota Junior/Senior High School the Dakota CUSD 201 school district(s).

53190 Whitewater, WI: Dylan Kleinschmidt, who is majoring in English Education and will work in English at Ft. Atkinson High School the Ft. Atkinson school district(s).

53190 Whitewater, WI: James McCulloch, who is majoring in Undeclared and will work in Theatre at Whitewater High School the Whitewater school district(s).

53190 Whitewater, WI: Bradley Morris, who is majoring in Music and will work in Music at Winnebago Middle & High School the Winnebago CUSD 323 school district(s).

53190 Whitewater, WI: Aiden Murray, who is majoring in Physical Education and will work in Physical Education at West Elementary School the Jefferson school district(s).

Students from the university’s College of Education and Professional Studies will serve as student teachers through January 2026.

A total of 179 UW-Whitewater students were placed in school districts around the region starting in August. Student teaching is the final activity before teacher candidates earn their degree and license.

UW-Whitewater will partner with 223 cooperating teachers across 175 schools in 117 districts over the course of the semester.

Student teachers assist cooperating teachers with lesson planning, instruction and assessment. This fall, 42 UW-Whitewater teacher candidates were hired by school districts as student teaching interns as part of the Department of Public Instruction’s Wisconsin Improvement Program (WIP). Interns are licensed by the DPI to teach up to 50 percent of each day on their own and receive a stipend for the semester.

UW-Whitewater licenses the most teachers in the state of Wisconsin. Educating teachers was the university’s original mission during its founding in 1868. To learn more about the College of Education and Professional Studies at UW-Whitewater, visit uww.edu/coeps.

Editor’s note: The students who are listed here have registered with Whitewater as their hometown. The image on the homepage is by Craig Schreiner / UW-Whitewater.

Little Rainbows Play Place is turning one! The beloved family-owned indoor play space opened on October 17, 2024, is celebrating its first anniversary with a Birthday Party Celebration on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

Families are invited to join the fun during one of three time slots — 9:00–11:30 AM, 11:30 AM–2:00 PM, or 2:00–4:30 PM — for a day filled with cupcake decorating, face painting, crafts, open playtime, and a festive balloon drop to close out each session.

Tickets are $8 per child, while adults and infants under 6 months are free. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required to ensure a comfortable and safe experience for all. Tickets can be purchased online at www.littlerainbowsfort.com/event-list [Note: in order to choose the second or third time period it’s necessary to “select a different date.]

“We’re so grateful for the incredible support we’ve received over the past year—from our amazing members and families who host parties with us, to our wonderful staff and the Fort Atkinson community,” said Niina and Jason Konz, owners of Little Rainbows Play Place. “This celebration is our way of saying thank you and marking a year full of laughter, learning, and connection.”

Located in Fort Atkinson, Little Rainbows Play Place offers inclusive play for children of all abilities, featuring a large play structure, imaginative play areas, adaptive swings, a baby/toddler zone, and a snack bar. The space is designed to help families connect and create joyful memories together.

Join the celebration and help Little Rainbows Play Place kick off its second year with color, creativity, and community!

Editor’s note: We published the wrong time for this event. It is actually 7:00 p.m. Also, we have been informed that due to the state band competition, patrons are requested to park in lot #1.

Ballet Hispánico – Saturday, October 18, 7:00 p.m. – The Young Performing Arts Center, 800 W. Main Street, Whitewater – All tickets are $40 and may be purchased online. There is an additional $3 per ticket charge at the door. Parking is free – lot #2 is the closest to the venue.

Ballet Hispánico is the nation’s leading Hispanic/Latin dance company and the largest cultural institution of its kind in the United States. For over five decades, it has been a beacon of artistic excellence, celebrated for its bold repertory and exceptional training programs. The Company has commissioned over 100 original works, performed on the world’s most prestigious stages, and inspired generations through performances, education, and community engagement. Recognized as one of America’s Cultural Treasures by the Ford Foundation, Ballet Hispánico continues to redefine what it means to be an American dance company.

From Ballet Hispánico’s website:

Our performances seamlessly blend dance excellence, contemporary innovation, and cultural authenticity, telling stories that resonate across generations and cultures. Featuring works by renowned and emerging choreographers, we have reached over 2 million audience members since our founding. With every movement, our dance works bring to life the vibrant traditions and modern expressions of Latinidad.

From the press:

“Explosive.” – The New York Times​

“Infectious…. Playful…” – The New Yorker​

“Ballet Hispánico dances with elegance and lyricism.” – The Washington Post​

In conjunction with this month’s Wisconsin Science Festival — a celebration of science, art, and technology — the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater department of chemistry will host a chemistry demonstration showcasing the wild and whimsical side of science on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. in room 145 of Upham Hall [771 W. Starin Rd.] on the Whitewater campus.

The event, titled “Bedtime Dreams: The Mystical World of Chemistry — Spicy Spectacles, Magical Reactions, and Rockin’ Science Fun,” is open to the public and is free to attend. Free parking is available in UW-Whitewater’s Lot 14, which can be found on the university’s campus map.

UW-Whitewater faculty and students will show the power of chemistry to create visual, dramatic reactions. The one-hour presentation is light, fun, and fit for families and students of all ages, including high school and college students.

The demonstration is also part of programming for UW-Whitewater’s Homecoming 2025 and the American Chemistry Society’s National Chemistry Week and National Mole Day.

For more information, visit wisconsinsciencefest.org.

JEFFERSON COUNTY 2025 FALL HOUSEHOLD
ELECTRONIC & APPLIANCE RECYCLING EVENT

The Jefferson County Solid Waste Program will be holding an Electronic & Appliance Recycling Event on Saturday, October 18 from 8-11 a.m. at the Jefferson County Fair Park (503 North Jackson Ave, Jefferson). The event is open to all Jefferson County HOUSEHOLDS.

You do not need to register for the event! Simply, come to the Fair Park between 8 and 11 a.m. First come, first served. Please note that gates may close prior to 11 a.m. if there is a large turnout. Cost: $10 per vehicle (cash only).

Acceptable Electronics:

Computers (desktop, laptop & notebook); Computer accessories (keyboards, mice, hard drives, scanners, speakers & other devices); Monitors; TVs; DVDs; VCRs; Fax machines, Stereos; Calculators; iPads; Camcorders; Shredders; Tablets; Cameras; Copiers; Game Consoles; E-Readers; Electric Motors; Modems; Printers (desktops, 3-D & combos); Handheld Electronics; Microwaves; Cellphones; Adding machines; Vacuums; Scanners; Monitors; Toasters

Acceptable Appliances:

Refrigerators (mini & regular); Freezers (chest & upright); Dishwashers; Air conditioners; Water heaters

**If possible, please remove all batteries prior to recycling.

Items not accepted: smoke detectors, fluorescent bulbs, batteries, fans, coffee makers, blenders, hazardous waste, latex paint or unused prescription drugs.

For information about this or upcoming events, go to www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/cleansweep or contact Kim at 920-674-7430 or kimb@jeffersoncountywi.gov

Editor’s note: Jefferson County has previously indicated to The Banner that residents of the City of Whitewater are welcome to participate in their events, regardless of whether they live in Jefferson or Walworth County.