The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area will hold the second of three Book Club discussions on our fall book selection, American Madness: Fighting for Patients in a Broken Mental Health System by Alice Feller, M.D., on Thursday evening, October 9, 6:15PM-7:45PM, at The Book Teller, 171 W Main Street, in Whitewater.
The book explores the complex realities of mental health care in the United States. Our discussion on October 9th will cover Chapters 5 – 9. The last League discussion of this book will be held on November 13 (Chapters 10 – Epilogue) at the same time and location.
ACQUIRE THE BOOK TODAY! A limited supply of books are available at The Book Teller (call 262-269-9109 to hold a copy to purchase) and local libraries. You can also order the book from Amazon.
The LWV Book Club was formed to help our members and friends engage in meaningful discussions of current notable books dealing with public policy issues of interest to the League. You do not need to be a member of the League to participate and refreshments will be served. For questions or further information please contact Dwight C. Watson, dwight.watsondcw@gmail.com, or Deb Gamble, shebagam@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. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!
Versiti is the primary blood supplier for Southeastern Wisconsin hospitals, including Aurora Lakeland Medical Center and Fort Memorial Hospital. They are also the primary provider for all of the veterans’ hospitals in the state.
Appointments are preferred, and many are still available. Please use the QR code, visit https://www.versiti.org or call Lynn at 262-473-2997 to make an appointment.
Unfortunately, the closest partnering breweries for the free pint or beverage are all in the Milwaukee area: Milwaukee: Component Brewing Co., Dead Bird Brewing Co., Lakefront Brewery, Third Space Brewing Co. Wauwatosa: Lion’s Tail Brewing Co. Waukesha: Raised Grain Brewing Co.
VIP Services Hosts Food Drive for Pets and People in Whitewater
VIP Services, Inc. will host a community food drive on Thursday, October 9, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church (1225 W. Main Street, Whitewater). The event will collect non-perishable food items, fresh fruits and vegetables, and pet food to help families and their companion animals facing food insecurity.
All donations will be given to the Whitewater Community Space.
The drive builds on VIP Services’ broader efforts to fight hunger and strengthen community connections. Disabled adult clients in VIP’s therapeutic horticulture program have planted, raised, and harvested more than 1,000 pounds of produce this year, much of which has been shared with local food pantries. Clients take great pride in these contributions and value every opportunity to connect with their community.
Kelly Bates, one of VIP’s leading horticulture experts and a team lead in their Day Services program, emphasized the value of the food drive—not just for those receiving donations, but also for the clients who make it happen.
“This food drive is a great opportunity for our disabled adult clients to help others,” Bates said in an address at VIP Services. “They build important skills in our therapeutic horticulture program, and they are also very proud to help others in need and connect with the community.”
The food drive resonates deeply with Tom Hapka, a dedicated VIP Services employee living with a disability who actively supports social media and community outreach for VIP.
“When people struggle with food insecurity, it often means their pets are going hungry too,” Hapka said in a presentation at UW–Whitewater. “We want to ease that burden. Families should not have to choose between feeding themselves or feeding their animals. Every donation helps keep both people and pets cared for.”
The food drive will take place on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located at 1225 W. Main Street in Whitewater.
VIP Services invites the public to join in the effort by bringing donations of non-perishable food, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as dog and cat food to support individuals and pets in need.
“Every can of soup, every loaf of bread, every bag of pet food helps,” Hapka added. “Together, we can make a difference for people and pets in our community.”
Donations can be dropped off at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Whitewater on October 9 between noon and 5 p.m., and community members are welcome to stop by at any time during that window to contribute. We will be in the big room on the second floor of the church hall. Please come to the north end of the building, where there are stairs and an elevator.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by VIP Services.
Whitewater Unified School District Policy Review Committee – Monday @ 4:30 p.m.
Whitewater Public Library Board of Trustees – Monday @ 6:00 p.m. – Virtual only Agenda: Discussion and possible action of the four proposed library logos from LimeGlow Design 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/89973138404?pwd=bdJgKijauHAVsfppKpeYDQbTDfl9Ja.1 Meeting ID: 899 7313 8404 Passcode: 18vBNQbH Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799
Whitewater Unified School District BoardGovernance Workshop – Monday @ 6:00 p.m. – The board will not be conducting any business during the event.
City of Whitewater Common Council Meeting – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m. Agenda includes Discussion and Possible Action regarding Approval of Rate Increase for the Stormwater Utility and Discussion and Possible Action regarding Approval of Proposed Scope of Services for the development of an updated Comprehensive Plan with RDG Planning & Design Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190 *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/81727535940?pwd=7uJInpOFNkGk4KSdd51RAGkOvj8whs.1 Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US Webinar ID: 817 2753 5940 Passcode: 535819
City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Thursday @ 5:00 p.m. The agenda has not yet been posted online as of 10/6/25.
City of Whitewater Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Commission – Thursday @ 5:30 p.m. The agenda has not yet been posted online as of 10/6/25.
The Greater Whitewater Committee (GWC) is set to host Edgerton Hospital and Health Services’ CEO, Marc Augsburger, at the upcoming October Meeting. He will present on the newly established Urgent Care facility in Whitewater.
This event will take place on Thursday, October 9th at 7:00 a.m. at Jessica’s Family Restaurant: 140 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190.
Marc Augsburger is celebrating his 37th year in healthcare and has been the CEO of Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, located in Edgerton, WI, since March 1, 2021. He has an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in nursing as well as an MBA with Healthcare Emphasis. As a practicing RN, Marc worked extensively in emergency and aeromedical services. He has 16 years Critical Access Hospital CEO experience, serving three hospitals over these years. Edgerton Hospital and Health Services (EHHS) is celebrating their second year in a row being named a National Rural Hospital Association Top 20 Critical Access Hospital in the Nation for Patient Satisfaction as independently evaluated by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. In addition, EHHS has recently been named a 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience (<25 beds), Woman’s Choice Award (and actually is ranked #5 in the nation).
The GWC’s upcoming monthly meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 9th 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 about Whitewater’s new Urgent Care. 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, October 8th.
“We are very ecstatic about all Marc has accomplished with establishing this Urgent Care initiative,” said GWC President, Jeffery Knight. “Having an urgent care in town was one of Greater Whitewater Committee’s goals, and to see one of our members go above and beyond in achieving this goal is incredible.”
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.
Nate Parrish, President of First Citizens State Bank, is pleased to announce that Jarod Schut, CFP®, CTFA has joined the Bank as Vice President – Trust & Investment officer at the Whitewater Main Office, located at 207 W Main Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Jarod has more than 10 years of experience in financial advising including 8 years specializing in Trust Administration, Financial and Estate Planning, and Fiduciary Investment Management. He graduated from UW-Whitewater with a BBA majoring in both Finance and Economics, and later an MBA with a Finance emphasis. He also received his Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) professional certification from the American Bankers Association (ABA) and holds the Series 7, 63, and 65 along with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP ® ) certification.
In making the announcement, Nate Parrish said, “Jarod’s commitment to craft solutions to our customers’ specific needs aligns perfectly with our mission to provide personalized service with professional recommendations. We are thrilled to have him on board heading up our Trust Department.”
Jarod enjoys going on family trips with his wife and two sons, having playground picnics, and playing pickleball. He is also a certified SCUBA diver.
Jarod commented, “I’m excited to bring my passion for helping clients understand their estate plan and investments, developing financial plans, and helping them achieve their future goals to such a historic institution with a focus on community. I enjoy getting to know clients and their families through listening and cultivating relationships.”
First Citizens State Bank, locally owned and operated since 1863, is committed to serving the communities in which we live, work, and do business. We are proud of the partnerships we have established with organizations, businesses and individuals in Southeastern Wisconsin. First Citizens State Bank has Full-service offices in Whitewater, East Troy and Palmyra. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
A crowd of over 20,167 visited Perkins Stadium for Family Fest Saturday. (Dane Sheehan)
In front of another huge crowd at Perkins Stadium, the No. 9 Warhawk football team fell to No. 5 UW-La Crosse 23-20 in a double overtime thriller. The 2025 Family Fest attendance number announced in the third quarter — 20,167 — the second-highest attendance for a game played on a Division III campus in history. The Warhawks hold that record from Family Fest a season ago.
The game was a tale of two halves … UWW dominant in the first half and UWL dominant in the second. The Warhawks tallied 17 unanswered in through the first 30 minutes. The Eagles responded after the break in kind sending the battle between two titans into overtime.
The stifling Warhawk defense set the tone early forcing a three-and-out in UWL’s first two possessions. The UWW offense opened the scoring in their second drive of the day. Noah Battle put the Warhawks on the board with a three-yard rush into the endzone to cap an 11-play, 64-yard drive that took over six minutes off the clock. Seth Adams hit the extra point for the 7-0 Warhawk lead.
Both teams tallied takeaways in the second, but it was Ethan Gallagher’s interception that led to points for UWW. The Warhawks needed just two plays to find the endzone after the pick as Justin Klinkner took it up the middle for a six-yard TD run. Adams drilled the point after to extend the advantage to 14-0.
The defense came up big again with another three-and-out to bring the UW-Whitewater offense back out with less than three minutes left before halftime. A nine-play, 37-yard drive ended in an Adams’ 45-yard field goal as UWW took the 17-0 lead into the intermission.
In the third quarter, the Eagles capitalized on special teams. A low snap on a Warhawk punt was bobbled back into the endzone where a UW-La Crosse player recovered for the special team’s score. The point after sailed through the uprights to make it 17-7.
UW-La Crosse pulled to within a touchdown with a field goal early in the fourth. The Eagles kicker hit from 43-yards out to make it a one-score game, 17-10, with just over 12 minutes remaining.
Later in the fourth, on 2nd-and-4 near midfield, the Eagles’ quarterback rolled to the right and found a receiver at the 25. The wide out broke a tackle and headed for the endzone. The point after knotted the game 17-17 with less than three to play.
Both defenses held, forcing punts and the Warhawks opted to kneel out the clock and send the game into overtime.
UW-La Crosse had the first opportunity in overtime. The UWW defense held with a big play by Karsten Libby on 3rd-and-6. His quarterback hurry forced an incomplete pass. The Eagles’ kicking unit took the field and Michael Stack split the uprights from 38-yards out to give UWL a 20-17 advantage.
On 3rd-and-9 in the Warhawks’ drive, Brian Stanton hauled in a pass but lost the ball after the catch. The ball rolled out of bounds and Adams came on for the kick. He hit from 37 to send the game into the second OT period.
UW-Whitewater had the first opportunity in the second overtime. On 3rd-and-9, the Eagles got into the backfield for a strip sack and recovered the fumble to put the pressure on UWW’s defense.
The Eagles gained seven yards on three straight runs to force 3rd-and-4 at the UWW19. Stack set and the kick sailed through the uprights for the win.
Klinkner was 16-27 for 79 yards in the game. Stanton and Klinkner combined for 88 yards on the ground. Tyler Vasey was Klinkner’s top target with 52 yards on nine receptions.
Defensively, Efrein Ramirez and Gallagher paced the UWW defense. Ramirez tallied 15 tackles while Gallagher registered 11 adding a tackle for a loss and an interception. Libby found his way into the backfield four times, hurrying the Eagles quarterback each time.
UW-Whitewater heads to UW-Stevens Point next week. Kickoff at Community Stadium at Goerke Park is slated for 1 PM.
Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of DNR Forester Adam Zirbel
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #276, ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Oct. 4, 2025, in honor of Adam Zirbel, who unexpectedly passed away in the course of his work as a forester at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, on Mon. Sept., 22, 2025, at the age of 48.
“Adam committed his life to preserving and protecting Wisconsin’s forestlands, and his sudden passing leaves behind a void in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing, loving, and working alongside him,” said Gov. Evers. “Kathy and I share our deepest condolences with Adam’s wife and kids, as well as his many loved ones, friends, and colleagues, as we join in paying our respects to Adam for his many years of dedicated service to the state.”
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Adam Zirbel earned his undergraduate degree in forest management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and proudly served as a forester and wildland firefighter for 24 years. Most recently, Zirbel served as senior forester at Kettle Moraine State Forest’s Northern Unit, one of the state’s stewardship demonstration forests, where he worked diligently to maintain the forest grounds and educate students, private landowners, and professional foresters on sustainable forest management and responsible stewardship. Zirbel helped plant millions of trees on the Northern Unit and was responsible for setting up timber sales to address forest health, storm damage, and hazard trees, and to promote forests into the future. An advocate for protecting and conserving Wisconsin’s natural resources, Zirbel was a member of various state incident management teams, responding to significant weather events such as large wildfires, floods, windstorms, and tornadoes. He also taught many DNR courses throughout his tenure with the agency and was instrumental in the development of many aspiring foresters, taking them on as part-time employees and providing them the mentorship, skills, and knowledge needed to be successful.
Services for DNR Forester Zirbel will be held on Sat., Oct. 4, 2025, in DeForest and Middleton.
Editor’s note: Per MSN, Zirbel died from a lightning strike while working in the New Fane Trail area on September 22, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
View of the new entry hallway, still being used for storage while construction proceeds
Irvin L. Young Memorial Wing nearing completion
The Whitewater Public Library’s Expansion & Renovation Project, which broke ground in October 2024, is heading into its final stretch. The updated timeline is as follows:
October 27-November 8: The library will be closed in order to move back into the renovated space.
November 10-December 6: Curbside pickup services, printing, and assistance via phone and email will be available as construction wraps up.
December 8: Projected reopening of the library building.
The expanded and renovated library adds an additional 4,400 square feet to the library’s space, including an expanded early learning area, a teen area, an expanded Makerspace, additional social seating areas, three additional study rooms, larger meeting rooms equipped with AV and a full kitchen, upgraded and accessible facilities, outdoor seating with expanded Wi-Fi, and more.
The library continues to offer events and programs off-site during construction. View the library’s calendar at whitewaterlibrary.org/events.
The Whitewater Public Library is located at 431 W. Center Street. More information about the library can be found at whitewaterlibrary.org. Contact the library at 262-473-0530 or library@whitewater-wi.gov with questions.
Editor’s note: The above press release was received from the Whitewater Public Library.
