News & Events

Sing, Dance, Thrive! Music & Movement Fun for Children

Do you and your young kids love to sing, dance, and play musical instruments? Do you wish you had new parenting strategies to handle stress, meltdowns, and challenging behaviors? Children ages zero to six and their caregivers are invited to “Sing, Dance, Thrive,” a free class at Cravath Lakefront Park (341 S. Fremont St.) on Monday, July 21 at 4:30-5:30 p.m. Participants will engage in imaginative music and movement adventures, playfully dance with colorful ribbons and parachutes, and nurture relationships by deepening emotional awareness and learning coping strategies for home and school.

The class is taught by Noelle Larson, a Board-Certified Music Therapist, graduate of Whitewater High School and Berklee College of Music, and the owner of Circle of Song Music Therapy, LLC. Noelle has a passion for helping clients and participants to “Connect, Thrive, and Come Alive Through Music,” strengthen family relationships, learn adaptive coping strategies, and experience wonder and joy through the delight of participating in live music making.

There is no cost or registration required to attend. While the class is best for ages 6 and under, all ages are welcome to attend. Contact Sarah French with any questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-473-0530.

The city’s ongoing major project to replace all the lead water pipes, which was described in a previous Banner article, will necessitate major changes in downtown parking and traffic flow beginning on Monday, July 21. The work is anticipated to be completed by Friday, August 1.

• Parking will be prohibited on both sides of Main Street between Whitewater Street and 2nd Street. Alternative parking options are the side streets and the nearby public parking lots.
• Westbound traffic will be detoured via Whitewater Street and Franklin Street. Eastbound traffic will be shifted into the parking lane where possible to give more room for the workers. 
• Pedestrian access to downtown buildings will be maintained but may shift daily based on construction progress.

The contractor is hoping to have all water service lines replaced during the week of July 21.  Restoration of sidewalks, curb and gutter, and asphalt pavement is scheduled for the week of July 28.  All work is anticipated to be complete and the street and parking back open by August 1^st. 

Editor’s note: The above information was provided by Brad Marquardt, public works director.

The Edgerton Tobacco Heritage Days Parade will step off on Sunday, July 20 at 11:30 a.m., beginning on Stoughton Road.

This year’s parade is proudly coordinated by Edgerton Tobacco Heritage Days Committee Member Anna Jensen, with support from the Edgerton Police Department and the City of Edgerton’s Department of Public Works.

“We’re excited to welcome back many local favorites in this year’s parade, along with some exciting new entries,” said Anna Jensen, Parade Coordinator. “Find your favorite spot along the route and make some unforgettable memories!”

The parade will start Stoughton Road, turns into W Rollin St, turns right on Albion St, turns left on W Fulton St, turns left on N Henry St and will end at Central Lutheran Church.

The parade will feature over 50 entries from local organizations, businesses, and community groups, including: 1953 Chevy Belair,   Brown Paws Rescue Transport Van,  Chris Squire Classic Cars,  Cottage Grove Lions Happy Whistlers, Cripple Creek Cloggers,   Edgerton High School Band,  Edgerton Care Center,  Edgerton Fast Pitch Softball,  Edgerton FFA,   Edgerton High School Dance Team,   Edgerton Hospital & Health Services,   Edgerton Lions, Edgerton VFW, Forsaken Souls Haunted Attraction,  Friday Night Skate, Fulton Church Celebrate 175,  Gemuetlichkeit Days, Jefferson, WI,  Girl Scouts of Wisconsin – Badgerland,   Gifts For Kids,  Green Beret Marching Band,  H&P Rentals of Edgerton, LLC, Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin and Job’s Daughters International Bethel #21 Edgerton.

In additional to:   Kim Colby Homes,   Lakeside Fire and Rescue/Edgerton Fire,   Lake House Inn,  Last Nite Bar and Grill,  Lifes a Batch – Cookies by Laura, Model A Restorers Club of America, Perry’s Piggly Wiggly, Premier Outdoors,  Renegades 4-H Club,  Red Hot TradJazz Band,  Rocket Cycle,  Sam the Wheeler,  State Assembly,  Starlight Dance Edgerton,  Sterling North Society,  Sundowners Snowmobile Club, Sun & Stars Birth Services,  Tebala Air Squadron,  TRICOR,  Vintage Acres Welding and Yettis Bar and Grill,  Wisco Aerial & Ground Services LLC,  Yankee Dutchmen Marching Band,  Yackety, the Clown,  Zor Shine Clowns and  Zor Shrine Mincars.

For parade updates and the full Edgerton Tobacco Heritage Days schedule, visit www.edgertontobaccodays.com or follow Edgerton Tobacco Heritage Days on Facebook.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by Anna Jensen.

“Last Breath”

Tuesday, July 22, 1 pm

(Adventure/Thriller/True Story)

Rated PG-13. 1 hour, 33 minutes (2025). 

A true story: North Sea deep-sea communication divers battle the raging sea to rescue their crew mate, trapped on the ocean ‘bottom, with oxygen and time running out. Gripping. Breathtaking. Edge of your seat! Filmed on location. Stars Woody Harrelson. 

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 $10 and non-residents is $15. 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/

In June 2024 Kikkoman broke ground in Jefferson on a $560 million plant which is expected to begin producing soy sauce and related seasonings such as teriyaki sauce in early 2026. The plant will be the company’s third, with one in Walworth and the other in California. It is planned to be a high-tech, energy efficient factory and is projected to create over 80 jobs.

In celebration of Kikkoman’s investment, the City of Jefferson has planned a new event celebrating Japanese cuisine. The Japan-America Society of Wisconsin is also assisting with the event. The Kikkoman Cookout will take place from 12-6 p.m., Saturday, July 19, at Rotary Waterfront Park, 227 S. Gardner Ave. All ages are welcome to the free event.

According to the Daily Jefferson County Union, Jefferson Mayor Dale Oppermann said that when the Kikkoman plant groundbreaking took place last year, the soy sauce company brought in an authentic Japanese drum group, and the spectacle so impressed local leaders that they started looking into the idea of bringing in more Japanese entertainment. “We wanted to welcome Kikkoman into the Jefferson community,” Oppermann said. “There’s a lot our community doesn’t know about the new company coming in, and there’s a lot the company doesn’t know about our community. We thought, what about having an event that brings the two together and celebrates the Japanese culture at Kikkoman’s roots?”

The schedule includes:

12:00 – Opening of the event – Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, a member of the Japan America Society, a Kikkoman advisory board member and a longtime backer of the company, is scheduled to be present.

12:30 – Beni Daiko Drumming will perform

2:30 – Hibiki Taiko Drumming Performs

4:30 – Koto Strings performance

The publicity is unclear — starting at either noon or 2 p.m. there will be free samples of barbecue and other American foods, using Kikkoman sauces. Throughout the fest, there will be authentic Japanese cuisine on sale, as well as American food, produced by food trucks and restaurateurs from the Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago areas. Along with the grilling samples and the food trucks, there will also be beverages available on site for children and adults. There will be Kona Ice, in a nod to the Japanese tradition of serving shaved ice, and adult drinks including Japanese beer and non-alcoholic “Asahi.”

Chad Holpfer, parks and recreation director for the City of Jefferson, said that in keeping with the city’s goal of offering family-friendly events, there will be lots of activities appropriate for children and all ages.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

This week’s post is our annual salute to local mid-20th century baseball. This view is marked as the “Whitewater Sand-Lot Baseball Team” the tri-county champions of 1950. If you enlarge the photo, you will see the names of the players shown in the photo. The coach was Clarence Kachel, who with his wife, Mae, operated Kachel’s Kids baseball leagues during the mid-20th century.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(0018P, Whitewater Historical Society)

Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Wisconsin State Patrol Bureau Director David Pabst and Teresa “Teri” Pabst

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers ordered the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff across the state from sunrise until sunset on Sat., July 19, 2025, in honor of Wisconsin State Patrol Bureau Director David Pabst and his wife, Teresa “Teri” Pabst, who suddenly and unexpectedly lost their lives earlier this month. “David and Teri Pabst were pillars of their community and dedicated public servants. Their tragic passing leaves a void in the hearts of everyone who had the pleasure of knowing and working alongside them over the years,” said Gov. Evers. “On behalf of the state of Wisconsin, Kathy and I share our deepest condolences with David and Teri’s family, friends, colleagues, including the folks at the Wisconsin State Patrol, and all those who knew and loved them during what is a very difficult time. Their memories and contributions to make Wisconsin a better and safer place for all who call our state home will not be forgotten.”   Director Pabst led a life of public service and proudly served the Wisconsin State Patrol for more than 38 years, including 25 years as a law enforcement officer, rising through the ranks from trooper and inspector in the Northwest Region to sergeant, lieutenant, and captain at State Patrol headquarters in Madison. In 2013, Director Pabst was appointed director of the Bureau of Transportation Safety and Technical Services, where he used his knowledge and dedication to public safety to lead the State Patrol’s safety programs and public outreach efforts. Teri Pabst was a lifelong educator who was fiercely dedicated to the kids she worked with. Most recently, Teri served as a special education teacher at Thoreau Elementary School in Madison. David and Teri were married for nearly four decades, and their memory lives on through their children, Lora, Danielle, Heidi, and Martavous “Noah,” as well as their seven grandchildren. Services for David and Teri Pabst will be held on Sat., July 19, 2025, in Middleton. Executive Order #269 will be in effect from sunrise to sunset on Sat., July 19, 2025, and is available here.