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The Whitewater Unified School District is proposing a $30 million capital referendum on the April 1st ballot to address our schools’ most pressing needs. To assist community members in learning more about these needs, a set of short videos is linked at www.whitewaterreferendum.org. Additionally, these videos will be shared out on the school district’s social media platforms. For community members who have remaining questions or feedback, please complete the brief form at the bottom of the www.whitewaterreferendum.org site.
Readers may view all fourteen of the videos from the link above, but for a few days the Banner has featured several videos per day with introductions to the direct links that will be provided. The earlier post regarding tech ed may be viewed here, and the one showing the ag area is available here.
Laura Masbruch: Robotics Team – 2:09 (two minutes, nine seconds)
Laura Masbruch, Robotics Team Advisor and veteran Math/Computer Science Teacher, showcases the current robotics team space. Limited by space constraints, the program would greatly benefit from the expansion and improvements funded by the April 1 referendum. This video may be viewed here.
WHS Cafeteria Crowding Timelapse – :53
This timelapse video shows the inability of the Whitewater High School cafeteria to accommodate the school’s student population and the crowding that occurs daily.
Dave Friend: Doors in Need of Repair/Safe Doors – :44
Dave Friend, Director of Buildings and Grounds, highlights one of the many problematic doors at Whitewater High School. Many district doors are in poor condition, compromising safety. Safe and secure doors and entryways are a key focus of the April 1 referendum. Passing the referendum will provide funding to replace these doors, ensuring a safer environment for students, staff, and the community. Friend demonstrates what a high-quality, secure door should look like. This video may be viewed with this link.
Dave Friend: New Bus Loop and Parent Drop-off/Pickup Area at WMS – 1:18
A new bus loop serving both Lincoln Elementary and Whitewater Middle School would open up the former middle school bus loop for parent drop-off/pickup of students. This safety enhancement is among the improvements that would be funded by the referendum. Please click here to view this video.
Dave Friend: Washington Elementary School Windows – :56
WUSD Buildings and Grounds Director, Dave Friend, explains the urgent need for new windows at Washington Elementary School. Click here to view this video.
Dave Friend: WHS Tennis Courts – :34
Dave Friend provides a look at Whitewater High School’s aging tennis courts, built in the 1990’s. If the April 1 referendum is approved, they will be replaced with modern, safer courts for student-athletes and the community. This is just one of the many capital improvements included in the referendum. This video may be viewed here.
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.
For the past twelve years, the Discover Whitewater Series (DWS) has collaborated with the university, the city, the Whitewater Unified School District, and the Greater Whitewater Committee. DWS is proud to announce we will be hosting the thirteenth annual Half Marathon, Half Marathon Team Event, 5k, and Kids Korral. The DWS team is excited to announce that the thirteenth annual DWS will be held on September 21st, 2025.
The DWS was delayed in organizing the 13th annual DWS race due to Walworth Avenue soon being under construction. Despite these challenges, our team has put in lots of time and effort to create the best possible 5k and Half-Marathon map for the runners to enjoy.
This year, DWS will feature a retro racecourse created in the 1980s and 90s, parts of which were run by Olympic Qualifiers! Once the changes were complete, we were required to get approval from various governing bodies, including the township, university, and city, before proceeding. We are pleased to announce that we have received all final approvals, and the 13th annual DWS is moving forward with organizing the race.
With the new retro race maps, the Executive Committee decided to have the start line on Schwager Dr. and the finish line at UW-Whitewater’s Perkins Stadium. Due to the closure of Walworth Avenue, packet pick up will no longer be at the Whitewater High School, instead it will be located at UW-Whitewater’s Kachel Gymnasium. As the DWS team moves forward with finalizing race details, registration on the DWS website will be opening very soon. Make sure to check our website daily, as many updates will come soon.
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.
Editor’s note: This press release was received from DWS.
Steve Watson writes, “Every walk is an adventure.
A pair of swans on a migration layover this morning. 2-27-25.”
Our thanks to Steve Watson for another beautiful wildlife photo.
— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share. Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks for thinking about this!
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Photos courtesy of Andy Ognenoff
Saint Peter, Minn. — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater finished second at the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships Saturday as Paige Magel (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) and Tegan Haberstock (Alberta, Canada/National Sport School) shared the individual national title on the balance beam. The Warhawk coaching staff was also recognized with a number of honors.
UW-Whitewater finished as the national runner-up behind the second-highest team total in program history, 194.025. That score was bolstered by a program record on the balance beam – 48.875 – where three Warhawks finished among the top eight including two that shared gold. Magel and Haberstock registered phenomenal routines scoring 9.85 to share gold on the beam in a six-way tie for first place. The pair are the fifth and sixth Warhawks in program history to secure an individual national title on the balance beam. Chloe Hammond (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) added All-America honors in the event with a seventh-place score of 9.825. Sofia Spadafora (Windsor, Ontario, Canada/Saint Thomas of Villanova) and Kelsey Kollhoff (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) each registered 9.675s to help UWW break the program record on the apparatus.
The Warhawks’ first event of the 2025 championships saw the second-highest team total in program history recorded – a 49.025 on the floor exercise. Elaine Copeland (Arlington, Texas/University Prep) and Carleigh Moore (Oregon, Wis./Oregon) led the way with 9.825s to share sixth and claim their first career All-America honors. Zoe Jenks-Recker (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) and Kollhoff posted 9.8s while Ariana Goodwin (Elgin, Ill./The Einstein Academy) registered a 9.775 to round out UWW’s scoring five.
On the vault, Ava Pesch (Waterford, Wis./Waterford Union) paced UW-Whitewater with a 9.675. Moore added a 9.65 followed by Alayna Fern (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville) (9.625), Hammond (9.625) and Copeland (9.575).
Kollhoff secured her fourth career All-America honor on the uneven bars. The senior’s impressive routine scored a 9.75 to share bronze in the event. Pesch posted a 9.625 while Carley Scott (Oak Grove, Mo./Grain Valley) and Magel each registered scores of 9.55. Copeland added a 9.5 on the event.
Following competition, Head Coach Jennifer Regan was named the NCGA Coach of the Year for the third time in her tenure at UWW (2009, 2017). Coach Regan was also honored as the NCGA West Region Coach of the Year this season – the fourth time she’s been recognized with the regional award. Additionally, Chloe Edgren and Acacia Fossum were named the NCGA West Region Assistant Coaches of the Year – the seventh time the honor has been bestowed upon the Warhawk staff since 2008.
The NCGA also recognized the 2025 All-Americans in Academics that include Warhawks Carley Scott (Oak Grove, Mo./Grain Valley), Fern, Jenks-Recker and Gracie Talley (Collierville, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian).
This season marks the 13th time since 2007 the Warhawks have finished among the top three nationally as a team.
As is tradition at the national championship, after all of the scores are announced, awards handed out and honors recognized, the seniors gather in a circle on the floor – coming together one last time – as all of their teammates surround them in a larger circle while music is played. This season, that circle was missing an important piece of the Warhawk family. The 2025 team has persevered through incredible adversity this season to achieve exceptional levels of success. The team has leaned on each other, supported each other and competed for each other, but above all, they did it For Her – for Kara. So as the seniors gathered in the circle with a photo of Kara firmly planted at their side, they stood together, surrounded by their teammates and the gymnastics community, a fitting end to a remarkable season.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by UW-Whitewater Athletics.
The League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area School Board Candidate Forum on March 15 brought out a great turnout of citizens wishing to hear the views of the four candidates running for the Whitewater Unified School District board. Two seats are open: those of Miguel Aranda and Jennifer Kienbaum, both of whom are running for re-election. The other candidates are Nick Baldwin and Wayne Redenius.
For a video of this forum, visit www.youtube.com/@WWTV990. At the bottom of the page in the video section, click on LWV WUSD School Board Candidate Forum 2025. The video also plays periodically on Spectrum 990. The forum was an hour and a half long. All of the candidates also answered the questions on the League sponsored www.vote411.org website. By entering one’s address a voter may view all of the competitive races on their ballot.
Early in-person absentee voting is open at the municipal clerk’s office, 312 W Whitewater St., 2nd floor, the week of March 24: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. The election is on April 1 at the Downtown Armory and the James R. Connor University Center. Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser
The Whitewater Unified School District is proposing a $30 million capital referendum on the April 1st ballot to address our schools’ most pressing needs. To assist community members in learning more about these needs, a set of short videos is linked at www.whitewaterreferendum.org. Additionally, these videos will be shared out on the school district’s social media platforms. For community members who have remaining questions or feedback, please complete the brief form at the bottom of the www.whitewaterreferendum.org site.
Readers may view all fourteen of the videos from the link above, but for a few days the Banner will be featuring several videos per day with introductions to the direct links that will be provided. The earlier post regarding tech ed may be viewed here.
Allison Parsons and Paul Majors: Ag Classroom – 1:15 (one minute 15 seconds)
Join Allison Parsons and Paul Majors, Agriculture Instructors at Whitewater High School, as they showcase the current Ag classroom. If the April 1 referendum passes, this space will be expanded and improved to better serve students. This video is found here.
Paul Majors: Aquaculture – :50
Explore Whitewater High School’s Aquaculture area with veteran teacher Paul Majors. Currently, this small space struggles to accommodate 20-25 students. If the April 1 referendum passes, it will be modernized and expanded to enhance learning opportunities. Click here to see this video.
Paul Majors: Greenhouse – 1:07
Veteran Ag Instructor, Paul Majors, takes you on a tour of Whitewater High School’s current greenhouse. If the April 1 referendum passes, this space will be expanded, providing students with enhanced hands-on learning opportunities. This video may be accessed here.
Allison Parsons: Small Animal Lab – :56
Agriculture Teacher, Allison Parsons, gives a tour of Whitewater High School’s Small Animal Lab, highlighting the space available to students. If the April 1 referendum passes, this area will be improved to enhance hands-on learning experiences. This video may be viewed here.
Editor’s note: The above was submitted by the Whitewater Unified School District.
Another Oscar nominee this month!
“A Different Man”
Tuesday, March 25, 1 pm
(Drama/Thriller)
Rated R (language, violence);
1 hour, 52 minutes (2024).
This unusual transformation of an “Elephant Man” into a handsome actor earned Sebastian Stan a Golden Globe award for Best Male Performance; it was also Oscar nominated for Best Makeup/Hair. It is an unusual, harrowing film.
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 our 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/
The Town of Whitewater offers the following early voting hours:
Saturday, March 22 – 9:00 AM – Noon
Monday, March 24 – 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Tuesday, March 25 – 8:30 AM – 1:30 AM
Town Hall
W8590 Willis Ray Rd
Whitewater
Editor’s note: This information was provided by Town Clerk/Treasurer Jorja Boiley.
Obituaries
Sally A. Schutte, age 73, of Whitewater, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2026, while at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater. Sally was born on November 6, 1952, to Roy and Elsie (Rohloff) Haas. Sally married William Schutte in the spring of 2003. Sally grew up on the family farm in the Town of Hebron and graduated from Jefferson High School. She dedicated nearly her entire career to Fort HealthCare, where her hard work and versatility shone through various roles. Over the years, she served in housekeeping and medical records, Center for Dermatology. Sally … Read more
Zachariah “Zach” Schoenke, 41, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He was born April 4, 1985, to Keith W. Schoenke and Kathleen Schoenke in Fort Atkinson, WI. He grew up and graduated from Whitewater High School in 2003. Zach worked various jobs over the years but was currently working at Cracker Barrel in Janesville. He was a big Packers Fan and liked to play fantasy football. He enjoyed reading, cooking, and watching horror shows. Zach fiercely loved his son, Lincoln, his sisters, Cami and Cary, his mom and stepdad, and his aunt Robin. He will be dearly … Read more
Carla Winn, 82, died September 5, 2026. Funeral Service will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218, followed by a burial at 2:00 PM at White Chapel Memorial Garden 1806 N Oliver Ave. Carla is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Dwight and Wilma Lois Krehbiel; and sister, Jennifer Krehbiel. She is survived by husband, Stephen; daughter, Ashley (Clint) Gagel, of Overland Park; siblings, Paul (Kay) Krehbiel, of Socorro, NM, Lynn (Bill) Oetting, of Wichita, Ellen (John) Querner, of Wichita, Teresa Woodson, of Lawrence, KS, … Read more
Susan Miller Celebration of Life There will be a gathering of friends and acquaintances at Susan’s Farm Store to celebrate Susan’s life on Saturday, September 19th from 2-5 p.m. at N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, Wisconsin
Our loving mother, JoAnn E Harrop, age 95, passed away on September 11, 2026. Our sorrow is deep, but we are filled with gratitude for the many years we had with her. Even as her mind was failing, she remained strong and appreciative of all who cared for her. JoAnn was born on January 13, 1931, daughter to Fred Braun and Evelyn Braun {Storck). She was raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin by her grandparents, Otto and Edith Storck. She attended Whitewater High School and helped at the Storck tavern where she met her husband Earl C. Harrop. They married on November … Read more
Russell O. Johnson “Russ,” 88, passed away on September 4, 2026 in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Russell was born on July 12, 1938, in Janesville, Wisconsin. Russ grew up in Janesville, and after high school he joined the Air Force on May 1, 1958, serving as an aircraft mechanic until June 12, 1962. He then worked at Parker Pen in Janesville for a time, where he met his future wife, Avis. After marrying Avis Mason in April 1964, Russ worked for Gillman Manufacturing for a time, then began a career at Dana until its closing in 1980. In 1981, Russ started working … Read more
Marcia Zingg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at the age of 75. Marcia will be remembered for her unwavering love, remarkable strength, generous spirit, and lifelong devotion to her family. She shared 40 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Jeffrey Zingg, who considered her not only his wife but also his best friend, business partner, and the love of his life. Together, Marcia and Jeffrey built a successful life rooted in perseverance, hard work, laughter, and love. As entrepreneurs in Whitewater, Wisconsin, they owned and managed new car franchises and … Read more
Amanda Jean Hunter was born to Ralph and Malinda (Thomas) Hunter of Whitewater, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1976. She passed away on August 4, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she lived with her family. Amanda passed peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Amanda was a kind-hearted free spirit with an unmistakable hippie warmth. Generosity, spontaneity, a quick wit, a macabre sense of humor, and an open heart were traits that she embraced. She was a tireless champion of those in need, an innate characteristic that became among the best of her qualities. She proved to be a … Read more
Ellen Eichmiller, 82, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Ellen was born on September 10, 1943, in Monroe, Wisconsin, to Chester “Guy” and Irene (née Holmen) Steig. She married the love of her life, Paul Eichmiller, on December 7, 1963, and together they made their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Ellen spent much of her working life as a secretary at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she formed many lasting friendships and memories. Ellen cherished her family and friends and treasured the time she spent with those closest to her. She was known for her love of … Read more
Janet Quinn, age 71, of Jefferson passed away on Thursday, August 20th. Janet was born on December 22nd, 1954 in St. Joseph, MI to Robert Mounsey and Edith Christison Mounsey. She was a granddaughter to Herbert Bragg Mounsey, Charlotte Mounsey, and Ester Christison West. She married Michael Durden in 1979 and later married Eury Quinn Jr. (J.R.) in 1988. Janet grew up in Benton Harbor, MI, and subsequently lived in New York and Arkansas before moving to Wisconsin in 2016. She was a dedicated caregiver to her disabled Mother, and worked as a custodian for various employers over the years. … Read more
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