Following an update provided at the Whitewater Unified School District School Board meeting on February 23, the Whitewater Unified School District and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are adjusting their partnership with the UW-W Children’s Center as the center pursues a new state funding opportunity.

The district and the university have partnered with the Children’s Center for more than a decade under a memorandum of understanding that has supported 4-year-old kindergarten services for families in the community located on the university campus. As the Children’s Center applies for a state grant this year to more completely fund programming and support its future operations, both organizations have agreed to place the current partnership structure on pause for one year.

UW-Whitewater is applying for the Get Kids Ready Grant, which is funded through the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. If awarded funding, the Children’s Center would help offset the cost of care during the school day, allowing families to access high-quality early learning at a reduced rate. Under the requirements of the grant program, childcare centers receiving this new state funding may not receive financial support from a local school district, which means that the Children’s Center cannot serve as a Whitewater Unified School District site.

“This is a thoughtful and temporary adjustment that reflects our shared commitment to supporting children and families in a sustainable way,” said WUSD Superintendent Samuel Karns. “Our partnership with the Children’s Center and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has been valued for many years. This pause allows the Children’s Center the flexibility it needs to pursue long-term funding while we continue to work collaboratively.”

School district leaders and university leaders emphasized that the pause does not signal an end to the relationship. “We see this as the next evolution of our partnership, not a conclusion,” said Interim Provost Robin Fox at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. “While the structure may look different in the coming year, our shared commitment to early childhood education and to serving families in the Whitewater community remains strong.”

District and university leaders will continue working together with the Children’s Center throughout the year and will keep families and community members informed as plans move forward.

Editor’s note: The photo on the homepage is by UW-W/Craig Schreiner.

Get ready for glitter, drama, and a whole lot of heart!

Book and Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Book by Bob Martin, Music by Matthew Sklar

“The Prom” directed by Robyn Accetta is a vibrant, feel-good musical that brings together an impactful story of queer love, Broadway glitz and small-town grit in a story bursting with humor, heart, and humanity. Full of show-stopping songs and powerful moments, this production celebrates redemption, transformation, and the joy of being seen. Whether you’re here for the laughs, the love, or the glitter—there’s a place for you at “The Prom.”

A total of 58 students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will be part of the university’s production of “The Prom,” which is set to debut Feb. 20 and runs through Feb. 28 at Barnett Theatre inside the Greenhill Center of the Arts, 950 W. Main Street.

THE PROM is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide,1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. http://www.theatricalrights.com/

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for those age 65+ and $14.50 for those under age 18. Tickets may be purchased online or at the ticket office at 950 W. Main Street, where hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. There is a $2 surcharge for tickets purchased at the door. Note that there is a charge for parking on Monday through Thursday evening. Details are available on the ticketing website.

Act now to take advantage of our half-price matinee on Saturday, February 21. Seats are limited. Don’t miss out—reserve yours today!

Friday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. – Wear your prom attire and join us after the show for music and dancing until 10:30 p.m. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Saturday, February 21 at 2 p.m. – All tickets are 50% off for this performance. Get your tickets before it’s too late.

Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, February 24 at 10 a.m. – Student and Community matinee – This special mid-week matinee is open to high school groups as well as community members. Stay for a talk back with cast members after the show.

Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 28 at 2 p.m.

Creating a Front Yard Prairie: In the Land of Riding Lawn Mowers

Deb McRae, Retired Director Wehr Nature Center

This is a story of the McRae’s family’s journey, with its many successes and failures, to create a front yard prairie in a subdivision of acre lots that love their manicured landscaping.  Besides the actual processes used in creating the prairie, Deb will also share the continuing changes to their yard based on aging of the surrounding landscape, new knowledge, increasing plant diversity, and even climate change. Working with native plants and the wildlife they attract is a joy, a challenge, and great exercise. Deb hopes you will enjoy their journey and learn something new in the process.

Deb McRae is the former Director of Wehr Nature Center, serving from 1998 to 2021, following the retirement of Mariette Nowak. Before that, she was the Education Director at the Wehr Nature Center and Director of the Nature in the Parks program. She helped launch the environmental education programs at what is now the Urban Ecology Center, and the Pringle Nature Center, and worked to create and promote sharing of environmental education programming and teacher education with the metro Milwaukee environmental centers. Today she continues to naturalize the same yard she and her husband purchased in 1982. She is busy with the never-ending battle with invasive plants and animals, adapting to climate change and watching the change from yard to meadow to prairie and now probably an oak savanna as the land around her continually changes.

WHEN:  Saturday, February 21 at 10 a.m.

WHERE:  South Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters, Eagle

      S91W39091 Highway 59, One mile west of Eagle.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  No admission fee.

The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, 5k Team Event, Fit Kid Shuffle, and 5k is excited to announce that registration is now open for its 14th annual race! The upcoming Discover Whitewater Series is set to be held on September 20, 2026.

Since its establishment in 2013, the DWS has hosted 13 successful races, raising $314,881 for local charities. The DWS partners with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater Unified School District, and the City of Whitewater to make this race a premium community event. Once again, the DWS plans to host a fun and safe event the entire community can enjoy! 

This year, the DWS will be maintaining fan-favorite events from years past such as: Kids Korral childcare, 5k, Half Marathon, and the Post Race Celebration at 841 Brewhouse. The team is also thrilled to bring back the Fit Kid Shuffle and introduce a 5k Team Event!

The 5k Team Event will have teams consisting of businesses or sponsors and student organizations. Each team will have four participants, and the top three times will be counted towards their finishing placement. Whichever group wins the traveling trophy will get their company/organization’s name inscribed on it and keep it until the next race!

The Fit Kid Shuffle is for children 10 and under. The kids will run with their age-group and the top finishers will win a trophy! However, all participants do earn a t-shirt and a medal.

“We’d like to invite runners of all capacities to join us in our 14th Annual DWS; we love to see new and returning faces!” said Race Director, Dawson Miller. 

The DWS is offering an early bird special through the end of the month of January where registration rates are at their lowest of the year! To get signed up while early bird rates still apply, visit: www.RunWhitewater.com/Register. 

About the DWS

The goal of the DWS is to promote the City of Whitewater and highlight its greatest features, while keeping everyone in the community active. All the proceeds from the race are donated to four local non-profit partners: Bethel House (which provides interim housing for homeless families), Whitewater LEADS, Whitewater Foundation-Athletics, and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. The DWS partners with the city, business community, university and the school district to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit www.runwhitewater.com.

DHS Confirms Salmonella Infections Linked to National Recall of Live it Up Brand ‘Super Greens’ Powder

Eleven Wisconsinites sick, two hospitalized with Salmonella infection; consumers advised not to use product and monitor symptoms

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has confirmed 11 Wisconsinites have become sick, and two of them have been hospitalized, from Salmonella infection after consuming Live it Up-brand Super Greens dietary supplement powders.

Wisconsinites who have purchased the product are advised not to eat or drink it, to throw it away or return it, and wash any items or surfaces that may have been in contact with it. Anyone who has used this product should monitor for symptoms of Salmonella infection and contact a health care provider if symptoms become severe.

DHS is working with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Wisconsin Division of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), and other states to investigate this outbreak. At this time, 45 people in 21 states have become infected with Salmonella after consuming the product. The first person in Wisconsin to become sick related to this outbreak reported symptoms that began on October 1, 2025.

Live it Up-brand Super Greens dietary supplement powder with expiration dates from 08/2026 to 01/2028 have been recalled by the FDA. This includes original and wild berry flavors. The supplement powder is sold nationwide, primarily online. See the FDA’s recall notice for more information.

Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) is caused by Salmonella bacteria that are spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or by direct or indirect contact with poop from infected people or animals. There are around 1,000 cases of Salmonella infections reported in Wisconsin per year.

The most common symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. In rare cases it can cause serious illness including bloodstream infections and death. Symptoms are most commonly reported between six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover from Salmonella infection on their own. Some people, especially children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, may have serious symptoms that require medical treatment.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Correction 1/6/26 @ 9 a.m. – The Banner misspelled the name of Terri Jones in this article (it is not Terrie). Apologies for this error.

On January 5 at 3:12 p.m., Whitewater Unified School District School Board Secretary Christine Dodge notified The Whitewater Banner that two additional persons have filed for candidacy on the board in the April 7 election. This morning The Banner had indicated that there were only two candidates for three open seats.

The following have now filed as candidates:

Stephanie Hicks [Incumbent]
Lisa Huempfner [Incumbent]
Terri Jones
Christy Linse [Incumbent who had filed a noncandidacy statement but changed her mind and is now running.]

Interested in Running for the WUSD School Board?
All School District candidates must complete and submit the required forms to the filing officer no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Candidacy paperwork, Ballot Access Checklist & Campaign Finance Overview – Local Candidate Committees is available at the Central Office, 419 S. Elizabeth Street, Whitewater. The Whitewater Unified School District does not require nomination papers for School Board candidates.

The district office is open on Monday, January 5 until 4:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, January 6 until 5:00 p.m. The candidacy paperwork may be completed in a matter of minutes.

*If you have questions or need assistance with candidacy paperwork, please contact Christine Dodge, School Board Secretary, at 262-472-8713 or cdodge@wwusd.org.

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

Sheriff Fell is pleased to announce that the Rock County Sheriff’s Office will offer our first
2026 ATV/UTV Safety Education Course on January 14, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and
January 24, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., at the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, 200 East
U.S. Highway 14, Janesville, WI 53545. Students must attend both sessions to graduate.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, is required to complete an ATV Safety
Education Course to legally operate an ATV or UTV in areas open to the public within
Wisconsin. Students should be at least 12 years of age or turn 12 shortly after the class.

ATV/UTV Safety Education Course

Session 1: January 14, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. @ Rock County Sheriff’s Office
Session 2: January 24, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. @ Rock County Sheriff’s Office
Registration is now open. Complete the online enrollment form to reserve a seat.
https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/sheriff-s-office/recreational-patrol/atv-education
Class size is limited to thirty (30) students. Upon submission of the registration form, the
submitter will see an onscreen confirmation message with course information.
The course fee of $10 per student will be collected at the first session. If the student
is under 18 years old, a parent/guardian will need to attend the first session with the
student. Students will receive course materials at the first session. Please direct any
questions to Deputy Michael Borgwardt at michael.borgwardt@co.rock.wi.us.

Gov. Tony Evers today announced the Wisconsin Capitol Holiday Tree was nationally ranked No. 7 by USA Today as part of the 10 BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for the “Best Public Holiday Lights Display.” Awardees were chosen from a pool of candidates across the nation through a public voting system, which closed December 1. Nominees were selected by USA Today 10 BEST editors and a panel of subject matter experts. “We’re really jazzed to see Wisconsin’s Capitol Holiday Tree receive well-deserved national recognition, especially as this year’s ‘Learning Tree’ theme celebrates our dedicated education professionals, bus drivers, school nurses, food service staff, and so many others who are committed to doing what’s best for our kids every day, ” said Gov. Evers. “There’s no question that part of what makes Wisconsin’s Capitol Holiday Tree so special is that the tree is decorated with handmade, one-of-a-kind ornaments sent in from Wisconsin’s kids every year. The Capitol Holiday Tree really makes the Wisconsin State Capitol building a magical place during the holiday season, and we’re incredibly grateful for all of the folks who help make it happen. Be sure to stop by the Capitol between now and New Year’s to check it out!” The Capitol Holiday Tree is displayed in the rotunda of the Wisconsin State Capitol building throughout the holiday season and serves as a centerpiece of festivity for those visiting and working at the Capitol. Each year, the Capitol Holiday Tree is decorated with handmade ornaments from kids, students, and families from every corner of the state. The 2025 Capitol Holiday Tree theme, which was selected by Gov. Evers, is the “Learning Tree,” honoring Wisconsin’s educators, child care providers, administrators, custodians, school bus drivers, counselors, librarians, school staff, tutors, mentors, after-school program teachers, and all the heroes in their lives who help them learn and support, educate, empower, and inspire them. Gov. Evers, who began the year declaring 2025 the Year of the Kid in Wisconsin, has spent his entire career fighting for Wisconsin’s kids and K-12 public schools, first beginning as a science teacher and going on to become a principal, superintendent, and state superintendent before becoming governor. The Wisconsin Departments of Administration (DOA) and Tourism both celebrated the Capitol Holiday Tree’s recognition and encouraged Wisconsinites and anyone visiting Wisconsin during the holiday season to go see the Capitol Holiday Tree display at the Wisconsin State Capitol building. “The Capitol Holiday Tree is one of our most beloved traditions. We’re so proud to have it recognized on a national stage, and I commend the dedicated work by our facilities staff that bring the holiday tree to life each year for everyone to enjoy,” said DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “Wisconsin’s iconic State Capitol is a top attraction for visitors year-round, and the Capitol Holiday Tree provides an extra special opportunity for visitors and residents to create memories with loved ones,” said Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers. “This recognition is another reason to put Wisconsin, and our beautiful Wisconsin Capitol, on the list of must-visit places to experience the magic of the holiday season.” Last week, Gov. Evers hosted the annual Capitol Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony with members of the Evers Administration and special guests, including Wisconsin educators and students, in the Capitol Rotunda. During the event, the governor welcomed guest speakers from around the state, honoring this year’s theme, “The Learning Tree.” Visitors can view the tree throughout the holiday season during visitor hours. The Capitol is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays. The Capitol Holiday Tree will be on display through the end of the year. Capitol hours and information are available here.

Santa is making his annual visit to First Citizens State Bank in downtown Whitewater! 

Stop by before the Whitewater Parade of Lights to take your picture and share some treats and refreshments with the jolly ol’ man himself. He’ll be in our lobby at the main office on Friday, December 5th from 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm (Parade starts at 6 pm).

Plus – Write a letter to Santa and be entered into a random drawing for Culver’s Gift Cards. You can pick up a blank copy at the bank ahead of time or we’ll have some on hand.

We’ll also be accepting non-perishable food items for the Whitewater Food Pantry.

Ho-Ho-Ho Happy Holidays!

Alyx Karges-Kiernan graduates from Marquette University

This past summer, Alyx Karges-Kiernan of Whitewater, WI, graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Karges-Kiernan earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in Dentistry.

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 7,600 undergraduate and 3,600 graduate and professional students from nearly all states and more than 60 countries. In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu.