Lynn Binnie
#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Summer Picnic c.1900
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
This month we are featuring summertime images from the Scholl glass negative collection, taken between 1890 and 1910. We start with a summer view of a picnic, probably around 1900. Several views of this old farmstead are in the collection, and it appears to be abandoned and in a state of disrepair. Perhaps the people in the photo are the owners who no longer inhabit the farmstead. In any event, note the hats on all of the people except one. They are “boaters,” a type of hat very popular for summer in the early 1900s. Even the women are wearing versions of this popular style.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(3753GP, Whitewater Historical Society)
Local Student Named to Univ. of Delaware Dean’s List
Sophie Olson from Whitewater, WI has been named to the University of Delaware Dean’s List for the Spring 2024 semester.
To meet eligibility requirements for the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled full-time and earn a GPA of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for the semester.
SSM Health Supports Bethel House: Nonprofit is celebrating 30 years
For 30 years, Bethel House has provided support to Whitewater community members who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing their housing.
To help celebrate the organization’s milestone, SSM Health recently donated $1,000 in support of its mission. The gift helped to jumpstart the organization’s celebratory campaign to raise at least $3,000 by seeking $30+ donations.
“Bethel House is 100% locally funded and receives no financial assistance from the state or federal government,” said SSM Health Community Health Director Megan Timm. “SSM Health is proud to help support the great work they are doing in Walworth and Jefferson counties.”
Bethel House provided over $6,000 in financial assistance to 17 families from January-March 2024. They were able to stop four evictions from taking place and kept nine kids in their homes and schools.
“Of these impacted families, 64% were single-parent households, and two-thirds of the families had at least one person working full-time in the household,” Timm said. “This really shows that we are currently in an environment where many families are struggling to make ends meet.”
Last year, Bethel House provided nearly $23,000 to assist 80 local families with emergency assistance. In addition, Bethel House has a transitional housing program for families who are trying to establish stable housing.
“We are so humbled by the generous investment SSM Health made towards our efforts to keep local children and families housed. Support from community partners who believe in our mission is critical to our ability to provide our crucial services to families who need us,” said Bethel House Executive Director Megan Hartwick. “We’re so thankful to the whole team at SSM Health for their understanding of the importance of supporting families with stable housing.”
To learn more about Bethel House or to contribute to its 30-year celebration campaign, visit http://www.bethelhouseinc.org/.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by SSM Health.
WHS Class of 1972 70th birthday picnic – Update: Names added
Sandy Dunne Blaedow, Elaine Rohrs Younger, Marcia King Gascho, Pam Piatt Hansen, Donna Behling Ludtke, Connie Maize Hix, and Rebecca McLean
Row 2 left to right
Terri Davis Gaffner, Lynn Bellman Keiser, Ruthie Stradinger, and Lynne Berard Kepp
Back row left to right
Kathy Lynd Roelli, Jack Wafle, Doug Hare, Rick Hare, Woody Knox, Kurt Markham, Dennis Wagie, Jeff Gage, Carl Dravis, Todd Pickering, and Bruce Parker
Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser, who said, “A gathering of Whitewater High School Class of 1972 alumni who gathered together on July 20 for a picnic in Starin Park to celebrate their 70th birthday. Very fun.”
Concert Today: Chicago Based Bonzo Squad – Update: Moving Inside Due to Rain Forecast
Get ready to listen to the instrumental ensemble Bonzo Squad! Thursday night, August 1, they will be at the Cravath Lakefront park for Concerts in the Park starting at 7:00 pm. Admission is free and for all ages.
Update: Rain won’t keep this group away! We will still have the concert, but, it will be inside the Cravath Lakefront Community Building.
Listen to some of their work before tonight by heading to: https://bonzosquad.com/listen
Bonzo Squad
Bonzo Squad is an instrumental jazz ensemble based in Chicago IL, with a focus on presenting fun, eclectic music with a high level of musicianship. The group consists of Bonzo himself, born Corbin Andrick, who plays the flute and the saxophones. Completing the line up are Andrew Lawrence on keyboards, Andrew Vogt on bass, and Zack Marks on drumset. The band formed in 2014 through playing a weekly residency at Lilly’s in Chicago.
In 2017, they released their first, self-titled album, which received a coveted 4-star review from Downbeat Magazine. The track “Lemons” was added to Spotify’s popular “The State of Jazz” playlist. In 2019, Bonzo Squad released their sophomore record,
“There’s Always Tomorrow.” They also moved their residency from Lilly’s to the Arrogant Frog, and finally to aliveOne, where they are still performing live every Thursday night.
Bonzo Squad kept active during the Covid-19 pandemic, producing a series of virtual livestreams on Facebook and YouTube. They released the live album “Live At aliveOne” in 2020, and were nominated by the Chicago Reader as one of the best jazz bands in
Chicago, in their 2020 best of poll.
In addition to their weekly residency at aliveOne, Bonzo Squad has produced tribute shows to Stevie Wonder and Vulfpeck through the Jazz Record Art Collective in Chicago, IL. They have also presented numerous educational clinics at High Schools,
both in person and virtually.
[From Bonzo’s website]
Obituary: Janet Irene Heckert, 87
Janet Irene Heckert, age 87, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2024 in Delavan, Wisconsin. Born on November 1, 1936, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of Gladys and Henry Jansen. Janet was preceded in death by her loving husband Kenneth Heckert and her brothers Sonny and Paul and sister Darlene.
Janet was a graduate of Elkhorn High School in 1955. On October 24, 1957, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Heckert, at Elkhorn Baptist Church in their hometown of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Janet worked for many years as a seamstress, but her true passion was as a wife, mother and homemaker. She was also a dedicated member of the United Church of Christ along with her husband where she served many salad and funeral luncheons.
Janet is survived by her children, Bret (Kristine), Mark (Jeri Comyford) and Kevin (Sally) Heckert, her siblings, Don (Darlene) Jansen and Mary Rice, her cherished grandchildren, Justin (Melissa) Kreuziger, Logan (Whitney), Troy (Rachel), Emily, Allison (Zach Licht), Meredith, Clare and Liam Heckert, and her beloved great-grandchildren Kendyl and Kiersten Kreuziger, Maverick, Myles, Brooks and soon to be born, Kaden Heckert.
A memorial service will be held at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, WI, on Friday, August 30th at 10 a.m. where Janet will be laid to rest with her dear husband Kenneth.
Janet Irene Heckert will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, wonderful grandmother, great-grandmother, a passionate cook and baker. Her grandchildren will always remember how she made her famous macaroni and cheese for them when they visited. She loved sewing, knitting, crocheting and tatting. She enjoyed gardening and putting up the vegetables. Her canned tomato sauce made for the best mostaccioli ever. If someone needed a zipper replaced in a tent or a pair of blue jeans, that was not a problem for her. Her famous slippers, baby booties and crocheted Christmas ornaments were passed out to many that she loved. She made the perfect “Wilma” to her “Fred Flintstone” in many area parades. Her smile, cute giggle and kindness will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Special thank you to Vintage on the Ponds for their many years of dedicated care to Ken and Janet. Also, thank you to Agrace Hospice Care for their care of Janet during her final days.
Elkhorn Woman Arrested for Fatal Hwy. 12 Crash
Editor’s note: The following press release was issued by the Rock County Sheriff’s Department on July 30, 2024. Previous Banner articles regarding this crash were published on April 14, April 17, and April 22.
Original Release
On 04/13/2024, at approximately 1204 hours, Rock County Deputies, Jefferson County Deputies, Whitewater Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol along with several fire / EMS agencies responded to a three-vehicle crash at Highway 12 and East County Line Road in Lima Township, Rock County. An adult male and two adult females were declared deceased at the scene of the
crash. A third adult female passed away days later from injuries sustained from crash.
Updated Release
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office concluded its investigation and on 07/29/24, Lexus D. Boedecker, 24, Elkhorn, Wisconsin, was arrested on four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle – controlled substance, one count of operating with a detectable amount of a controlled substance, two counts of injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle-controlled substance. Boedecker was taken into custody with the assistance of the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office. Boedecker was transported to the Rock County Jail and has a future court date of 08/26/24 at 1:00 P.M.
“Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
Obituary: Fred Chester Traxler, 78
Obituary: Fred Chester Traxler, 78
Fred was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin on October 23, 1945, son of Chester and Elva (Klug) Traxler. He was born to eternal life at Ascension St. Francis Place in Milwaukee on June 1, 2024.
Fred was a 1964 graduate of Whitewater High School. In his younger days Fred enjoyed bowling and polka dancing–and was very good at both. He was very competitive, especially when pitching horseshoes with his Dad, brothers, and cousin Sid. He was always ready for a card game, and was also a big fan of the Packers and Brewers.
Fred is preceded in death by his wife of 38 years, Alice (Abrahamson) Traxler, parents Chester and Elva, and sisters Shirlene Meyer of Fort Atkinson and Marian Coates of Lake Mills.
He is survived by brothers Charles Traxler of Redondo Beach, California and Bruce (Joyce) Traxler of Whitewater. He is further survived by nephews, nieces, and other relatives and friends.
Fred was a U.S. Navy veteran and will be buried in a military funeral at Fort Snelling, Minnesota in a private service.
Jelacic Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Open Position at St. Patrick Catholic Parish: Director of Faith Formation
There is also a posting at the Archdiocese of Milwaukee website.
Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by the St. Patrick Catholic Parish.