Lynn Binnie

Seniors in the Park Presents A Haunting in Venice

“A Haunting in Venice”

Tuesday, January 9, 1 p.m.

(Mystery/Drama) Rated PG-13. 

1 hour, 43 minutes (2023)

Agatha Christie’s celebrated sleuth Hercules Poirot, now retired and living in self imposed exile in Venice, reluctantly attends a Halloween séance in a “haunted” palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, Poirot is, once again, on the hunt.

Kenneth Branagh, Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh star. 

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/

Obituary: Apollonia “Loni” Magadanz, 83

Apollonia “Loni” Magadanz, 83, of Whitewater, WI passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at Mulberry Glen in Whitewater.

Loni was born on January 8, 1940 in Bamberg, Germany the daughter of Christoph and Margareta (Geyer) Dotterweich. She grew up in Bamberg and after completing her schooling, she immigrated to the United States in 1958 on the M. V. Berlin Luxury Liner and settled in Marquette, Michigan. She was united in marriage to Fredric “Fritz” Magadanz and the couple was blessed with five children, Christoph, Jeffrey, John, Margareta and Jason. Loni and Fritz would later divorce and Loni eventually moved out to the Palmyra area in 1987. Loni ran her own cleaning service for the majority of her working career. She worked hard and had a long career, retiring at the age of 70. She cleaned commercially at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater and also cleaned homes. She had a strong will and was very independent and capable. Loni also had many interests during her life. In her younger years, she loved to garden and take care of her home. She was an avid sports fan and loved watching sports of all types on TV. She also enjoyed watching the news. Loni was also a history buff and was particularly interested in United States history and the Civil War. One of her great joys in life was her many pet cats. She had a special place in her heart for her cats and kittens and loved them all dearly. Loni was a loving mother to her children and Oma to her grandchildren and she will be dearly missed.

She is survived by: her children, Christoph (Tina) Magadanz of Niagara, WI, Jeffrey (Dick) Magadanz of Vail, AZ, John (Julie) Magadanz of Big Bend, WI, Margareta (Tim) Gray of Fort Atkinson, WI, and Jason (Naomi) of Ripon, WI. She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild and her cats.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Georg.

Memorials in Loni’s name may be made to the Lakeland Animal Shelter in lieu of flowers.

A Funeral Service will be held 12:00 noon on Monday, January 8, 2024 at the Gibson Family Funeral Home in Palmyra, WI (320 W. Main St., Palmyra, WI 53156). Fr. Patrick Wendler will officiate the service. Visitation will take place from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Apollonia will be laid to rest in Hillside Cemetery of Palmyra at a later date.

Gibson Family Funeral Home of Palmyra and Eagle, WI is serving the family. To place an online condolence please visit gibsonfuneral.com

Common Council Ballot Finalized: At Large Seat is Contested

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

With the 72-hour extension in the filing deadline for Common Council seats having passed at 5 p.m. on Friday, January 5, the April 2 ballot has now been finalized. City Clerk Heather Boehm indicated that the candidates are as follows.

At large seat (Shown here in alphabetical order; the draw for placement on the ballot will be held on Monday, January 8.)

Greg Majkrzak, 1294 Tower Hill Pass
Keith Staebler, 542 E. Clay Street

Aldermanic District 2

Orin Smith, 901 W. Starin Rd., #502A

Aldermanic District 4

Brian Schanen, 441 S. Buckingham Blvd.

There will be no primary election for either the Common Council or the School Board. The general election will be held on April 2. As was previously announced on The Whitewater Banner, there are three candidates for two seats on the Whitewater Unified School District School Board.

High Radon Levels in 60% of Walworth Co. Homes – $5 test kit offer

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Walworth County Public Health. After that article is a press release on the same subject from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Walworth County Public Health Providing $5 Radon Test Kits with a Food Pantry Donation

Sixty Percent of Walworth County Homes Tested for Radon Had Higher Levels than the EPA Deems Safe


The Walworth County Division of Public Health is offering $5 radon test kits throughout Radon Action Month in January to anyone who donates a non-perishable food item. There is a limit of one kit per person. All food donations will go to the Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank.

Radon is an odorless, radioactive gas that is the nation’s second leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for roughly 20,000 deaths each year. Data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services indicates that about 6 in 10 homes in Walworth County have radon levels above the EPA’s recommended action limit. “January is the ideal time to see if your home has elevated radon as houses are closed up for the cold winter weather and we’re spending more time indoors,” said Walworth County Public Health Officer Erica Bergstrom.

Testing is offered locally through the Kenosha/Walworth Radon Information Center, funded through a Wisconsin Department of Health Services grant. Normally, the cost is $15 per kit.

The test kit includes a small vial that must be left open to the air in the lowest livable level of a home — usually the basement — for 48 to 96 hours. The vial is then capped and mailed to Accustar Labs, which generally provides the results via mail, email, or telephone within three days. Shipping and analysis of the kit are included in the $5 price.

Those whose homes test at an elevated level of radon are encouraged to contact the Kenosha/Walworth Radon Information Center for more information about mitigation options.

The reduced-price test kit offer is redeemable January 1 to 31, 2024, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Walworth County Health and Human Services building at 1910 County Rd. NN, Elkhorn. After that date the kits may be purchased at the same location for $15.

Visit the Walworth County Division of Public Health’s website for more information about radon. 

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

DHS Encourages Homeowners, Property Owners, and Child Care Centers to Test for Radon

Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall and leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers

During National Radon Action Month, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is encouraging home and building owners, along with child care providers, to test their buildings for radon.

Radon, an odorless, radioactive gas naturally present in the ground, is found across Wisconsin, and enters buildings through their foundations. Approximately one in 10 homes in our state have elevated radon levels.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s action level for safety is 4 picocuries per liter (4 pCi/L). Last March, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) enacted rule changes which require licensed family and group child care providers to test for radon and install a mitigation system if radon levels exceed the EPA action level.

“Reducing radon exposure is a top environmental health concern,” said Paula Tran, State Health Officer. “DHS applauds DCF for taking this important step toward protecting all Wisconsinites from exposure to radon by putting children, and their caretakers, first.”

This National Radon Action Month, DHS encourages all Wisconsinites to test their homes and business locations for radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and it is estimated to cause over 21,000 deaths each year in the United States. Approximately 962 of these deaths are in Wisconsin. High radon levels are especially dangerous for people who smoke; their risk of lung cancer is 10 times higher than non-smokers.

Fortunately, this cause of lung cancer is largely preventable, and the first step is to test your house, apartment, or business location for radon. The cost of mitigation can be a barrier for some families and businesses; Wisconsin residents can visit lowradon.org to find their Radon Information Centers (RIC) in Wisconsin or speak with local public health department radon experts by calling 888 LOW-RADON to discuss available options. Reduced-cost test kits are available through RICs and test kit promotions are happening throughout January.

Any house or building can be at risk for high radon levels, including apartments and commercial buildings. Landlords have a responsibility to provide safe living and working conditions to their tenants and should work with a certified radon testing and mitigation contractor to get started on addressing the issue for their tenants. DHS maintains a list of certified radon professionals that can provide radon measurement and mitigation, and encourages homeowners and property owners to prioritize using a certified contractor.

More information can be found at lowradon.org.  

The image on the homepage “radon” by oparvez is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Local Resident Recognized on Marquette University Dean’s List

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Marquette University.

Maddie Arnett of Whitewater, WI, has been named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2023 semester at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Arnett is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology.

To make the Dean’s List, students must have earned at least 12 credits for the fall 2023 semester and have no disqualifying grades. The GPA threshold varies by college – for the College of Education and the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduate students must have at least a 3.7 to be named to the Dean’s List. 

The undergraduate GPA requirement is 3.5 for the following colleges: the Diederich College of Communication, the College of Business Administration, the College of Health Sciences, the Opus College of Engineering and the College of Nursing. All other programs have a 3.75 GPA minimum.

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 7,600 undergraduate and 3,700 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.

Happy 75th Wedding Anniversary to Richard & Beverly Grosskreutz

HAPPY 75TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO RICHARD AND BEVERLY GROSSKREUTZ 

They were married January 28th, 1949 in Palmyra, WI. They will be celebrating with family for this historic event. We our wishing them many more years of wedded bliss!

Editor’s note: The above announcement was submitted by Patrice and Steven Grosskreutz.

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Downtown across the lake, circa 1960’s


It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. We have a tradition of posting winter-related photos in January and here is the first of four featuring the downtown. This image is from a post card, probably from the 1960s before the old city hall was torn down. It is a popular view from across Cravath Lake, possibly taken from Hillside Cemetery. The bare branches make for a very artistic winter view.

Join us next week for another vintage winter scene of downtown Whitewater.

(5090PC, Whitewater Historical Society)

MBB FINAL: UWW 62, UWO 53

Trevon Chislom Celebrating by Dane Sheehan

By Broderick P. Frye
Asst. Director of Sports Information

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s basketball team fended off a late push from UW-Oshkosh as they picked up the win in the WIAC opener.

The first half was a defensive battle, with neither team reaching the 30-point mark. The Titans had the lead in the beginning, but the Warhawks quickly bounced back and took the lead at the 17-minute mark and led the rest of the way.

The first half was a game of runs, with each team trying to take ahold of the contest. The Warhawks took an 8-point lead with a minute left, but two Titan field goals brought it within 4 at the break.

After a defensive first half, the offense came alive to start out the second. The Warhawks exploded and quickly gained their biggest lead of the night at the mid-point of the half. With 11-minutes on the clock, UW-Whitewater led 48-31. A few minutes later, Oshkosh closed the game back down after a 9-0 run of their own, making it a six-point game with five minutes left. 

In the final minutes of the contest, the Warhawks fended off the Titans, keeping the game in their hands to finish out with their first conference win of the season, 62-53.

Miles Barnstable (Sheboygan, Wis./Howards Grove) led all scorers with 18 points. Barnstable also pulled down a game-high 8 rebounds. Trevon Chislom (McFarland, Wis./McFarland) finished with 14 points, and James Kelley (Milwaukee, WI/St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy) added in 13 of his own and pulled down 7 rebounds. Elijah Lambert (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine’s) (8) and James Barker (7) rounded out the Warhawk scoring. Barker also recorded 7 rebounds and 4 steals.

UW-Oshkosh was led by Will Mahoney with 16 points and 7 rebounds.

The Warhawks will return home for their next contest, taking on UW-Eau Claire on Saturday, January 6th at 5 p.m. The Blugolds fell to #24-ranked UW-Platteville, 74-69 in their WIAC opening game.

Box score

Poll Workers Needed

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the City of Whitewater. The photo on the homepage was taken in November, 2020, the only occasion when the election was held in the UW-W Kachel Fieldhouse. Although most poll workers are likely motivated primarily by civic service, a modest hourly wage is paid.

The City of Whitewater is urgently seeking dedicated and civic-minded individuals to volunteer as poll workers for the upcoming election. With election day drawing near, this is a critical opportunity for our fellow citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and ensure a smooth voting experience for all.

Poll workers play an essential role in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of our elections. As trusted individuals who oversee polling sites, they help in guaranteeing the fundamental right to vote for every eligible citizen. Their involvement is crucial in upholding the democratic values that shape our great nation.

The City of Whitewater invites all community members, from eager first-timers to seasoned professionals, to lend their time, skills, and enthusiasm to this essential civic duty. By volunteering as a poll worker, you will gain firsthand experience in democracy at work, fostering a deeper understanding of the electoral process and contributing directly to the success of our elections.

The City of Whitewater also strongly encourages bilingual individuals who are fluent in both Spanish and English to reach out. It is important to ensure that all members of our diverse community have access to accurate information and support in their preferred language. This is an opportunity for bilingual residents to make a meaningful impact and provide assistance to voters who may require language assistance.

If you are interested please contact the City Clerk’s office at 262-473-0102.

Obituary: Dr. Frank V. Beran, 89, of Fort Atkinson

Dr. Frank V. Beran, age 89 of Fort Atkinson, WI, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 22, 2023 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, WI. with his wife, Stephanie at his side.  Frank left us on the darkest day, (Winter solstice), going toward the light.

Frank was born on May 23, 1934 in Garden City, Iowa.  The son of Frank, Sr. and Gertie (Simonsen) Beran.  He graduated from Radcliffe High School, Radcliffe, Iowa the Class of 1952. He attended the University of Iowa graduating in 1958 with a B. A. degree.   He attended Medical School at University of Iowa graduating in 1960.  After graduation, Frank did an Internship at San Bernardino Charity Hospital in California.  Frank spent two years in Public Health serving his country on an Indian Reservation in Winnebago, Nebraska.  After the service he started his Surgical Residency at Madison General Hospital.  He then joined the medical practice of Dr. James Russell and Dr. Henry Aufderhaar in Fort Atkinson, WI.

On April 19, 1975, he married Stephanie (Welter) Beran at Trinity Lutheran Church.  They were married 48+ years.

Frank was a beloved physician serving the Fort Atkinson community for over 50 years, retiring in 2009.  He truly enjoyed being a doctor.  In retirement Frank enjoyed playing cribbage, euchre, putting jigsaw puzzles together, playing golf, and croquet, although you better pay attention to the rules (well Frank’s rules) because they always changed with each game.  Frank also started painting, taking classes from Tom Jewell.  Inasmuch as all of this gave him pleasure the greater joy was talking on the phone with Greg, lunch with Paul or coffee with Cindy.  He was a teacher whether teaching his grandchildren how to play cribbage, croquet, golf or how to be the engineer or conductor on Grandpa’s train set. Frank also shared medical skills with his nurses, Kelly, Ingrid and Jenice. 

Spring was his favorite time of the year when the earth started to wake up.  His gardens were adorned with beautiful flowers.

He was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church.  He was a member of the Fort Atkinson Lions Club and served as Chief of the Medical Staff at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital 1974-1976.

Surviving to cherish Frank’s memory are his children, Daughter, Cindy (Brandon) Pietruszynski, Stoughton, WI.  Sons, Greg (Patricia), Denver, Colorado, and Paul (Patty) Whitewater, WI.  Grandchildren:  Jeffrey Beran, Nicolas and Sofia Beran, Oliver, Samuel and Milo Pietruszynski.  Nieces Paula Bruce, Nevada, Iowa and Pam Brinton, Rogers, Arkansas, many cousins, family, and friends, especially his friend, neighbor and golf partner, E.G. Becker.

He was preceded in death by his parents Frank, Sr. and Gertie Beran, brother and sister-in-law, Virgil and Erma Beran.  His in-laws Stephen and Florence Welter.

Funeral service will be on Friday, January 5th, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Atkinson. Visitation at 9 a.m. with service at 11 a.m.  Pastor Amy Waelchli presiding.  Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Salvation Army or Trinity Lutheran Church.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the Med-flight Crew, Dr. Singer, Dr. Megan and MICU nurses especially Amanda, Nicole and Rachel for the exceptional care and kindness they showed to Frank and his family.

 Dunlap Memorial Home assisting the family.

www.DunlapMemorialHome.com

A quote from former President Jimmy Carter: “The only things that we can truly give to each other are the only things that we truly need—an ear to listen, a heart to care, a word of encouragement and a hand to help.”   This is how Frank lived.