News & Events

FIBER FRIDAYS AT THE WHITEWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY

Feeling crafty? Community members are invited to Fiber Fridays at the Whitewater Public Library. This is an informal gathering to create, relax, and have fun! Participants are welcome to bring their own fiber art project such as knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, etc. The library will also provide some basic supplies, tools, and materials, including a sewing machine. This program is for adults and there is no cost or registration to attend. Drop by if you can!

Fiber Fridays will take place at 5:00-6:30 p.m. on the following Fridays in Meeting Room 2:

• March 6
• April 17
• May 8

The Whitewater Public Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. For more information and a full calendar of events, visit whitewaterlibrary.org.

The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area sponsored their annual State of the City and the Schools address at the library on February 19. City Manager John Weidl, WUSD Superintendent Samuel Karns, and UW-W Chancellor Corey A. King provided updates on their respective organizations’ accomplishments and plans. Approximately thirty community members were in attendance.

The city Media Services staff videotaped the event and has now posted it to the city’s YouTube channel. The LWV appreciates their efforts as well as those of the speakers. Thanks also to the audience for sharing a number of questions.

Scroll down or clink the link above to watch the 2026 State of Whitewater Address:

“King Kong” 

Tuesday, March 3, 12:30 pm

(Epic/Action/Adventure) Rated PG-13; 3 hours (2005). 

The original “Kong” opened 93 years ago on March 2, 1933, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. 

Film Critic Leonard Maltin writes “this is the rare remake that reinvents the original film while honoring it at the same time.” 2005 Oscar winner for best visual effects. Directed by Peter Jackson. Starring Jack Black, Naomi Watts, Adrian Brody, Colin Hanks, Kyle Chandler, and “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” Due to the length of this epic adventure (we WILL have an intermission). Our film will begin at 12:30 PM.

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 $15 and non-residents is $20. 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/ 

Written by Abigail Dotzler | Photos by Craig Schreiner and submitted 

Motivated by a passion for learning about the surrounding environment and a love of birds, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Biology built a tool with the potential to captivate audiences and support valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students.

In May of 2025, the department launched a “nature cam” livestream on YouTube. Inspired by the bird cams that exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, Susan Devries, professor of biology, led the charge to create the livestream. 

“There isn’t really a major bird cam, especially one affiliated with a university, in Wisconsin,” Devries said. “Why can’t we do one of our own to showcase the birds that we get here in the Midwest?” 

Following guidelines provided by the acclaimed Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, the biology department set up a bird feeder and camera in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The feeder provides food for a variety of local species. 

The livestream has recorded more than 40 distinct bird species to date. Devries and her colleagues monitor the stream when they can, but viewers are more than welcome to identify a visitor new to the feeder, and Devries or one of her colleagues review the footage to confirm the identification.

The UW-Whitewater Biology Nature Cam channel boasts over 100 subscribers, and Devries was pleased to report more than 4,000 hours of watchtime. 

Devries stressed that, while these stats are incredibly encouraging, garnering views and subscribers were not primary goals of the nature cam. Instead, the focus was on sharing a love of birds and promoting the hard work and talents of those in the department.

The livestream makes nature more accessible — viewers are able to study the local fauna from the comfort of their couches. Through the biology department’s bird cam, everyone can learn a little more about the local bird populations. 

Local K-12 schools are using the livestream in their classrooms to foster a love of nature in their students, and UW-Whitewater professors are employing it to encourage hands-on learning for biology students. 

“Students are watching the cam, and they’re learning how to identify birds and how to quantify animal behavior, all from the comfort of wherever they happen to be parked,” Devries said. 

The department always seeks new ways to innovate and improve their students’ experiences. 

“We could always do better,” Devries said, “because that’s our goal. We always strive to do better and keep our finger on the pulse of what young people need to be successful in the workforce.” 

Students are not currently involved with the management of the livestream, but the biology department has plans to include students on the content creation side of things in the future.

“We wanted to make sure that we knew what we were doing before we brought in a student, so we could train them well,” Devries said. 

Eventually, students will be able to use the livestream in their undergraduate research projects. Devries sees promise in the livestream as a survey tool, clueing researchers in to what species inhabit the area during each season. Additionally, student researchers could monitor species populations from year to year. 

In the meantime, undergraduate students have plenty of other opportunities for research. Every professor in the biology department is an active researcher, and the Undergraduate Research Program is thriving. Whether a student’s interests lie in mammals, birds, and insects, or molecules and medical school applications, the biology department has a research opportunity for them. 

“Just about every lab has at least one to two undergraduates working in it,” Devries said. “So if folks want hands-on research experience, [they can] come see us.”

As winter closes in, the birds consume seed at a much faster pace. All seed is purchased and provided by Devries and her colleagues. Anyone interested in supporting the livestream can donate or leave a “Like” on the livestream to help the biology department fulfill its educational mission.

Editor’s note: This article was posted to the UW-Whitewater website.

The Wisconsin Writers Association’s (WWA) newest fiction anthology, A Wisconsin Harvest of Horror, includes a story set in the City of Whitewater.

Chris Welch’s tale “The Water Tower Witch of Whitewater” is one of fifteen scary stories set across the Badger State, some of which are based on local folklore and urban legends. Authors are either members of the WWA or the Wisconsin Chapter of the Horror Writers Association (HWA). The book’s release date is March 3.

“When the idea for this anthology was first discussed, I knew the perfect place to write about,” said Welch, a former freelance reporter for the Daily Jefferson County Union and WFAW radio. He covered news in Jefferson County, but Whitewater was his primary beat, where he covered the city council, school board, community issues, and events on the UW-Whitewater campus.

“Whitewater has a reputation for alleged supernatural elements, but none are as remarkable as the water tower witch,” Welch said. “When I first arrived in Whitewater and heard the legends, I was fascinated by them. I’m a big nerd who loves ghostly tales and horror stories, but what really struck me was how interests in Whitewater’s legends peaked every year when a new batch of freshman arrived on campus. Every generation learned the legends anew, and in turn, each generation added another element when they re-told them, whether it was factually accurate or not. Mostly not.”

Welch added his story is structured on Whitewater’s lore, not its factual history. How three college students perceive Whitewater’s spooky past while menaced by the witch drives the narrative. “Stories about monsters, ghosts, witches are always more fun than the debate about whether such things exist or not,” Welch said.  “These things only exist in stories, so their stories need to be told.”

Editor’s note: Karen McCulloch, proprietor of The Book Teller at 171 W. Main Street, told The Whitewater Banner that her store will be carrying the book.

The book’s description from WWA Press:

WWA Press’s A Wisconsin Harvest of Horror is spine-tingling! Whether you’re a Badger State native or simply enjoy vacationing in the Wisconsin Northwoods that’s haunted by spooky forests, misty lakes, or shadowy small towns, this anthology will make your spine tingle. These stories of horrors and jump-scares are told by writers who know the land’s lore and are attuned to the secrets of hidden hollows, backwoods byways, and dark waters. These chilling tales grip the soul, lingering like a fog over Lake Michigan. From the ghouls of Door County and legendary cryptids lurking in Lincoln County, to zombies worth avoiding, you’ll travel to creepy corners of the state, one ear cocked for things that go bump in the night. This anthology will make you afraid to turn out the light!  The WWA’s A Wisconsin Harvest of Horror is available in trade paperback, hard cover, and digital formats.

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by Chris Welch.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week’s view is a mid-20th century post card featuring greetings from the city. The card can be dated prior to 1959 because the high school shown on the card is the old 1927 high school building (Old Franklin Junior High School) and not the new high school built in 1959 (Whitewater Middle School). Someone who is good at dating cars can enlarge the view and date the car that is in one of the images of the post card for an even more precise date. In the mid-20th century sending post cards was still a popular activity.

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

(5414PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

Update 2/27/26 @ 7:45 a.m. – Originally it was indicated that the school building was the Old Lincoln Junior High School, but reader Barb Taylor informed us that it was actually the Franklin Junior High School. It was located on the now-vacant lot at the west end of Center Street. See this previous Whitewater Banner article for further information. Thanks to Barb for this correction.

Family Friendly Workplaces is happy to announce that Jefferson County has earned Gold Certified Employer status as a Family Friendly Workplace, recognizing its commitment to supporting employees’ well-being and work-life balance.

“In Jefferson County, we understand that supporting employees’ work-life balance is key to building a strong, sustainable workforce,” said Jessica Tucker, Human Resources Director of Jefferson County. “This certification affirms our dedication to creating an environment where staff can succeed at work while also prioritizing their personal and family needs. When our employees are supported, our whole community is stronger.”

Jefferson County earned this certification after a comprehensive evaluation of its workplace policies, including flexible work options, parental leave, healthcare benefits, and family-centric support programs. Key family-oriented benefits at Jefferson County include generous paid time off that can be used for maternity and paternity leave, short-term and long-term disability insurance, Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) retirement plan benefits, and employer-paid dental insurance.

This recognition supports multiple pillars of Jefferson County’s Strategic Plan, notably Transformative Government and Intentional Economic Growth. County officials are encouraging other employers – public or private, large or small – to do a similar evaluation through Family Friendly Workplaces.

As a certified employer, Jefferson County is now entitled to use the Family Friendly Workplaces logo in its talent attraction and retention work, as well as access a range of other benefits. “We’re proud to recognize Jefferson County as the fifth county to be certified as a Family Friendly Workplace,” said Neil Kline, Executive Director of Family Friendly Workplaces. “Their commitment to supporting employees and strengthening the community truly reflects the core values of a family-friendly organization.”

For more information about Family Friendly Workplaces and its certification program, visit
www.familyfriendlyworkplaces.org.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Jefferson County.

Enjoy family-centered activities on Saturday, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the annual International Children’s Day celebration at Lincoln Elementary School, Whitewater.

This free fun family event will include live music, games, crafts, face-painting and other activities for children of all ages and runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Information will be available on local and regional services for families.  A variety of international food offerings from local organizations will also be for cash sale.

“Whitewater prides itself on being a community that is supportive of all children and their families. April 18 is an opportunity to celebrate International Children’s Day and those who care for, support, and encourage children here and around the world. We are so pleased that another child-focused organization, the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, is one of our sponsors for this volunteer-based event,” said Miguel Aranda, planning committee member.

The World Conference for the Well-being of Children in Geneva, Switzerland, proclaimed June 1 to be International Children’s Day in 1925. It is usually marked with speeches on children’s rights and wellbeing, and other events involving or dedicated to children. A similar event, Universal Children’s Day, falls on Nov. 20. It was established by the United Nations in 1954 and aims to promote the welfare of children around the world. The first celebration of International Children’s Day in Whitewater was held in April of 2022. Many countries around the world celebrate the day in late April.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at this event. The food offers are cash only. 

Sponsors of International Children’s Day Celebration include the Whitewater Unified School District, Whitewater Unites Lives, and Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

WHITEWATER: disfrute de actividades familiares el sábado 18 de abril, de 11:00 a. m. a 2:00 p. m., con la celebración anual del Día Internacional del Niño en la escuela primaria Lincoln, en Whitewater.

Este divertido evento familiar gratuito incluirá música en vivo, juegos, manualidades, pintura facial y otras actividades para niños de todas las edades, y se llevará a cabo de 11 a. m. a 2 p. m. Se proporcionará información sobre los servicios locales y regionales para familias. También se venderán en efectivo una variedad de platillos internacionales ofrecidos por organizaciones locales.

«Whitewater se enorgullece de ser una comunidad que apoya a todos los niños y sus familias. El 18 de abril es una oportunidad para celebrar el Día Internacional del Niño y a quienes cuidan, apoyan y animan a los niños aquí y en todo el mundo. Estamos muy contentos de que otra organización centrada en los niños, el Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club, sea uno de los patrocinadores de este evento basado en el voluntariado», dijo Miguel Aranda, miembro del comité de planificación.

La Conferencia Mundial para el Bienestar de los Niños, celebrada en Ginebra (Suiza), proclamó el 1 de junio como Día Internacional del Niño en 1925. Suele celebrarse con discursos sobre los derechos y el bienestar de los niños, así como con otros eventos en los que participan o que están dedicados a los niños. Un evento similar, el Día Universal del Niño, se celebra el 20 de noviembre. Fue establecido por las Naciones Unidas en 1954 y tiene como objetivo promover el bienestar de los niños de todo el mundo. La primera celebración del Día Internacional del Niño en Whitewater se llevó a cabo en abril de 2022. Muchos países de todo el mundo celebran este día a finales de abril.

Los niños deben estar acompañados por un adulto en este evento. Las ofertas de comida solo se pueden pagar en efectivo.

Entre los patrocinadores de la celebración del Día Internacional del Niño se encuentran el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Whitewater, Whitewater Unites Lives y el Club de Desayuno Kiwanis de Whitewater.

Editor’s Note: The above was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.