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Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Whitewater Unified School District.
In a display of community support and generosity, the Whitewater Unified School District Athletic Department has made a donation to the Wisconsin Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The donation will help allow a young girl’s dream of having a playhouse in her backyard to become a reality.
Ten-year-old Sophia Skrede, who is living with a liver transplant, and her family have endured lengthy hospital stays, appointments, and procedures needed for her healthcare. She made a request through the Make-a-Wish Foundation and was granted her wish for a playhouse. The donation facilitated the construction and installation of a custom-designed playhouse in Sophia’s backyard. The playhouse was unveiled to Sophia and her family in a memorable reveal at their home.
“Sophia is an incredible young person living with unimaginable stress and challenges,” said Justin Crandall, WUSD Athletic Director. “We are honored to play a part in bringing a little more joy and magic into her world. This donation is a testament to our community’s caring and compassionate nature and our district’s commitment to giving back to the community we serve.”
Through a collaborative effort, the WUSD Athletic Department donated $600 to fulfill the wish of Sophia. The donation was generated through a Wish Week fundraiser at Whitewater High School as part of a greater Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association (WADA) initiative.
On Saturday, November 25th, students from WHS Choirs and their friends sang Christmas carols at the first-ever Whitewater Holiday Market. The event was held at Cravath Lakefront Park. WHS students who sang were Meridyth Cashion, Lucinda DiFiore, Molly Donner, Ian Ngabo, Cruz Aranda, Alex Sullivan, and Georgia Esch. Thank you to our fantastic students who helped make the event a success!
The Whippet Boys’ Swim Team had an AMAZING night of racing at the Southern Lakes Conference Relay Championship Meet on Thursday, November 30th. The boys placed 5th overall as a team, two relay teams took home medals, and there were many impressive swims on the night!
The night started off with the Medley Relay team of Onyx Thompson, David Enns, Sam Nickelsburg, and Wyatt Esch. The boys each had impressive splits in their respective strokes, but most notable was Sam Nickelsburg’s 50 Fly with a time of 33.45 and Wyatt Esch’s 50 Freestyle of 32.63.
Miles Nickelsburg and Caleb Kluck joined David Enns and Sam Nickelsburg in the 200 Freestyle Relay. The boys had a fantastic race and out touched Burlington by 2 seconds to secure a 3rd place finish and were the first to take home some hardware for the Whippets!
Langdon Coburn, Jack Hefty, Myles Morse, and Cruz Aranda all teamed up to take on the 1000 Free Crescendo Relay and the 200 Butterfly Relay. They all had fantastic performances, placing 4th in the 1000 Free Relay with a time of 11:06.15 and 5th in the 200 Fly with a time of 1:56.98. Langdon Coburn had some impressive splits with 1:01.02 in his 100 FR and 27.15 in his 50 Fly.
The Whippets had two relays in the splash and dash of the evening. Each swimmer sprints one length of the pool for a total of 100 yards. Miles Nickelsburg, Onyx Thompson, Sam Nickelsburg, and David Enns won their heat and finished 7th overall with a time of 56.62. And Caleb Kluck, Angel Kilar, Wyatt Esch, and Isaac Straight all racing in their first meet ever, all swam a great race and placed 11th overall with a time of 1:08.77.
Miles Nickelsburg, Jack Hefty, Cruz Aranda, and Myles Morse put on a stellar performance in the 500 Freestyle Crescendo, 50 -100-150-200, a very fun race to watch where they battled back and forth with Badger with only 4 seconds separating them. They were able to clinch a second-place finish and take home a medal!
The 400 Backstroke relay of Langdon Coburn, Sam Nickelsburg, Onyx Thompson, and Miles Nickelsburg secured a 7th place finish.
We finished out the night with our 400 Freestyle Relay of Caleb Kluck, Wyatt Esch, David Enns, and Angel Kilar. All had some great times and have made some serious improvements from their first timed 100 Freestyles at practice during the first week.
Now that the first meet jitters are out of the way, the boys are ready for their next races on Saturday, December 2nd at the Milton Invite. Racing starts at 10 a.m.; we hope to see you there!
Article and Photos Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Serving on the Common Council or the School Board is a great way to learn about the community, to express one’s views, and to make a significant contribution to the greater Whitewater community. While the financial compensation is moderate, the intrinsic benefits can be many.
The following seats on the Common Council will be up for election on April 2, 2024:
Aldermanic District 2 (Wards 9 & 10) – Currently held by Lukas Schreiber
Aldermanic District 4 (Wards 6, 7 & 8) – Currently held by Jill Gerber
Council Member at Large – Currently held by James D. Allen
This map shows the voting wards.
Persons who may be interested in being a candidate may wish to review the publication, How to Run for Local Elected Office in Wisconsin, published by UW Extension and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. Councilmembers are expected to prepare for and regularly attend council meetings, which are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. In addition they serve on a variety of committees, many of which meet on a monthly basis. Members have a two-year term. There is a salary of $300 per month.
Nomination papers may be obtained beginning on December 1 from the City Clerk, Karri Anderberg, whose office is on the second floor of the Municipal Building at 312 W. Whitewater Street. Her phone number is 262-473-0102; email is cityclerk@whitewater-wi.gov. Her office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Candidates for a district position must obtain at least 20 signatures; for the at large position, at least 50 signatures are submitted. Papers must be submitted no later than January 2, 2024 at 5 p.m. If more than two candidates file for a seat, there will be a primary on February 20.
Two seats on the Whitewater Unified School District School Board will be up for election on April 2, 2024. If there are more than four candidates, a primary will be held on February 20. The seats are currently held by the following:
Larry Kachel
Maryann Zimmerman
Persons who may be interested in being a candidate may wish to review the publication, How to Run for Local Elected Office in Wisconsin, published by UW Extension and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. Board members are expected to prepare for and regularly attend monthly board meetings, which are normally scheduled on the fourth Monday of each month with the following exceptions: December and March (third Monday) and August (second and fourth Monday). In the event that Memorial Day falls on the fourth Monday of May, the regular meeting in May will be held on the Tuesday following Memorial Day.” In addition members serve on a variety of committees. The meetings convene at 7:00 p.m., although sometimes earlier for a closed session. Members are paid $15 per meeting unless they file an annual refusal of salary. Members serve a three year term.
Nomination papers are not required for the board, but some forms must be completed by the candidate.. Interested persons should contact the School Board Secretary, Jaclyn Tueting, who works in the District Office, 419 S. Elizabeth Street. Her phone number is 262-472-8702, and her email, jtueting@wwusd.org. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Fridays. Candidates must file by January 2, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
Per the district, for up-to-date information, please check out the School Board Election website: https://whitewaterusdwi.sites.thrillshare.com/page/school-board-election
The following press release was issued by the district:
WHITEWATER, WI – Residents of the Whitewater Unified School District are encouraged to consider seeking a position on the School Board. The final day for filing is Tuesday, January 2, 2024, by 5:00 p.m.
Two seats will be on the spring ballot. The incumbents are Larry Kachel and Maryann Zimmerman. Incumbents have until Friday, December 22, by 5:00 p.m. to file their Notification of Noncandidacy. Under section 120.06(6)(b)3m of state statutes, the District Clerk will give the public prompt notice if any incumbent files their Notification of Noncandidacy on the School Board Election page of the District website.
Any person who is a United States citizen and a qualified elector of the Whitewater Unified School District is legally qualified to become a member of the School Board. In addition, Board candidates should have a genuine interest in and devotion to public education, a willingness to give time and effort to the position, a capacity to understand people, and the ability to work cooperatively with others. The School Board is the District policy-making authority and is responsible to the public for the success of all education services offered by the District. This success is dependent on many individuals, but also upon each Board member’s understanding of the workings of the District-wide operations and each member’s ability to participate meaningfully in the decision-making process that governs the District.
The candidate filing documents may be obtained and filed at the office of the School Board Secretary at the Whitewater Unified School District Central Office, 419 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater. School Board candidates do not circulate nomination papers, but the School Board Secretary, Jaclyn Tueting, will assist to complete necessary filing documents.
CENTRAL OFFICE HOURS
Through Wednesday, December 20
M-Th, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m./ F, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 21 through Monday, January 1 – The Central Office is Closed
Tuesday, January 2
7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. is the deadline for filing candidacy paperwork)
Whitewater beat Monroe 56-25 in Rock Valley Conference Girls’ Basketball action at Whitewater High School on Thursday, November 30.
Whitewater jumped out to a 22-6 lead and never looked back behind aggressive defense and good patience on offense.
Whitewater travels to Parker on December 5 and East Troy on December 8 next week.
Article Submitted by Mike Dowden
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach
dowmi01@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
Editor’s note: The following announcement was posted on Downtown Whitewater’s Facebook page on Friday morning:
Join us downtown for holiday festivities on this first day of December. It’s parade day, and while mother nature has kept us on the edge of our seats for days, the risk of rain diminishes after 4 pm so we’re ready to have some fun! Dress warmly and join us downtown today. Recapping the various things happening:
– 4 – 5:30 PM visit with Santa at First Citizens State Bank
– 5:15 PM until they run out, take and make crafts and goody bag pickups at the corner of Main and 1st Street
– 5:30 PM while you await the parade, join us by our offices at 150 W Main St to warm your hands and s’more by the fire
– 6 PM Parade time! Best viewing areas will be the 100 and 200 block of West Main Street downtown
– Immediately after the parade join us by the mill pond dam at the interesection of Main and Whitewater for carolers, check out the Park and Whitewater Parks & Recreation pallet tree installation and enjoy the lighting of the tree.
Don’t forget to pop into one of our downtown business for holiday shopping before or after the parade, and warm up with a tasty dinner at one of our incredible restaurants. #dinedowntown #downtownwhitewater #smalltownholiday #lovewhereyoulive
Thank you again to our continued generous sponsor Generac Power Systems Inc. for their investment in this event and the broader community of Whitewater.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Join us for a magical evening at the Downtown Whitewater’s Annual Parade of Lights- Powered by Generac on Friday, December 1st at 6 p.m.! 
If you can’t make the parade, don’t worry; the Media Services Office will be live-streaming it on Vimeo from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. Be ready to be amazed by the dazzling lights and festive floats that will light up the streets. After the parade will be the Tree Lighting Ceremony in the grass area just west of the Main Street bridge.
Update: Taylor Zeinert, City of Whitewater Chief of Staff, indicates that the parade will not be livestreamed to Channel 990 due to a signal issue with the equipment.
See above the parade route in green, the detour route in black and the red is the staging area for participants.
Bring your loved ones and get into the holiday spirit! Don’t miss out on this enchanting celebration. See you there!
#HolidayLightsParade #FestiveFun #GetIntoTheSpirit #Whitewater #WhitewaterWI
Not to worry, we’re watching the weather forecast closely. We don’t mind a few flurries on parade day; it just adds to the ambiance of the season. Rain potential is what we keep a very close eye on, so that some of our youngest parade viewers and participants aren’t out in weather not suitable for their safety. We’ll update you if the forecast becomes unfavorable for the parade and tree lighting. That announcement would be made by 9 a.m. on parade day. Thanks for hanging out on the edge of your seat with us as Wisconsin weather is ….well Wisconsin weather. #lovewhereyoulive
Guess who’s coming to the bank! It’s Santa! 
Come take your picture and share some refreshments with the jolly ol’ man himself. He’ll be in the lobby at the First Citizens State Bank main office on Friday, December 1st from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (before the 6 p.m. parade). Plus – bring Santa a letter (print from here or pick up at the bank) and they’ll have a random drawing for Culver’s Gift Cards. They’ll also be accepting non-perishable food items for the Whitewater Food Pantry. Happy Holidays!
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Three members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team have earned All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association this season. Middle hitter Kirsten Anderson and outside hitter Jenna Weinfurt were Second Team honorees while libero Morgan Jensen added Honorable Mention recognition.
Anderson, now a two-time All-American (2022 Honorable Mention), led the nation in blocking nearly the entire season. The senior broke the UW-Whitewater single season record in total blocks with 163. She finished the 2023 campaign with the most blocks per set (1.42) of any player in Division III as the Warhawks led the nation in the statistic as a team averaging 2.75 blocks per set. In addition, Anderson was one of the most efficient hitters in the country ranking among the top 30 with an attack percentage of 35.9. Anderson was selected First Team All-Region and First Team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season. She held top ten marks in the conference in kills per set, aces per set, blocks per set and points per set. Anderson holds 361 career blocks in three seasons of play – a mark ranked 12th in the program record book.
Weinfurt claims her first All-America honor after securing First Team All-Region recognition and WIAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. The powerful outside is ranked 26th in Division III in kills per set (4.03) and 10th in total kills (463) this season. Weinfurt reached the 1,000 career kill milestone during the 2023 campaign and currently holds 1,150 kills in three seasons – 14th in the program record book. She also set the program record for attack attempts in a match (73) and is second in both kills (463) and attacks in a season (1,293) in UWW history.
Jensen, a two-time WIAC Defensive Player of the Year (2023, 2021), was selected as Honorable Mention All-America this season. The conference’s top libero ranked 26th in Division III in total digs (589). Jensen averaged over five digs per set this season, the most for a libero in the WIAC. She reached the 2,000 career dig milestone this season and ended her career with 2,287 – fifth-most for a Warhawk in program history. Jensen was the second-best server in the league this season with 56 aces. Her 197 service aces in four seasons is seventh-most in program history.
The 2023 Warhawk volleyball team posted the most wins in a season, 28, since 2016. UWW made the program’s 34th appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament where they advanced to the regional final.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Christmas Decorations are up around the town and this week we celebrate with a photo from 2003 of only part of the large “Dickens’ Village” that was on display that year at Fairhaven. This photo is from long time historical society member Dan Sable, who is now a resident at Fairhaven.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(Photo from the Dan Sable Collection, Whitewater Historical Society)
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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