News

As was previously reported on The Whitewater Banner, a Whitewater resident was pronounced deceased at a hospital following a single vehicle crash in the Town of Newark in Rock County on May 18, 2026. On May 26 the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Department [RCME] released the identity of the victim as being Erik G. Gonzalez Machuca, age 33.

The RCME indicated that “A forensic examination was completed on May 19, 2026. Preliminary results of the examination confirm that Mr. Gonzalez Machuca died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Additional testing is underway at this time. This incident remains under investigation by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office and the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Department.”

Date: Sunday, June 7, 2026
Place: Downtown Clinton, WI from 208 Allen St. to 260 Allen St.
Time: 9 am to 2 pm
Cost: Free to visitors and drivers
Website: http://www.rockfordas.org
Facebook: Rock-Ford A’s
Info about the event:
One of the Midwest’s largest Ford Model A events, hosted by the village of Clinton, WI on Sunday, June 7, 2026 from 9 AM – 2 PM. C’mon over and bring your friends and family!
This is a free event and our 38th Annual Model A Day! You’ll have a chance to talk to the owners and get an up-close look at these beautiful old Fords from 1927-1932. If you are the proud owner of a Ford Model A, this is a great time to meet other owners from around the Midwest. Guests and villagers are welcome to dress in period apparel. There will be a balloon artist, vendors, music, great food from Pat’s Brew & Que and Pop’N Delites Kettle Korn, Myrt’s Ice Cream, door prizes, silent auction, raffles, grand prize drawing and more! Step back in time to the 1920’s and 30’s! Come to this annual unique event and wander through downtown streets, enjoying over 100 beautiful antique Ford Model A vehicles, and eight local restaurants. For more information or to be a vendor, send an email to: rockfordas.modela.club@gmail.com or call/text Sue: 608-295-2590. Plenty of parking ~ mark your calendar! FREE Admission! FREE Registration! Free dash plaque to registered drivers!
Plenty of food and area restaurants available. All proceeds will be donated to the Clinton Public Library and to the Clinton Community Outreach Program Food Bank!
Lodging – 10+ major hotels in nearby Beloit, WI
Directions: WI Hwy. 140 & County Hwy. X

Al Stanek caught this photo on the Ice Age Trail.

Our thanks to Al Stanek for sharing this beautiful 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!

UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey A. King and Willie Warhawk were excited to visit Aropa Designs — a fixture in the community for almost 40 years. At the downtown shop, which offers custom and contract screen-printing and embroidery on a wide variety of apparel products, they were joined by co-founder Tom Spear, who started the business with his brother Tim in the back of a bar. Tom is now helped by his wife, Ann, and two of their kids, Sage and Slate. (Shout out to double alum Ann Spear, who earned a BSE in elementary education in 1990 and an MSE in reading and elementary education in 1996, and worked for the Whitewater Unified School District for more than 30 years!)

View the video here:

Every year Aropa Designs prints more than 3,000 T-shirts for UW-Whitewater to hand out when first-year and transfer students experience painting Warhawk Drive and running into Perkins Stadium during our signature Warhawk Welcome event. It’s another shining example of a local business working closely with the university and leaning into what they do best to benefit the Whitewater community.

Mascot on Main showcases community businesses and organizations like Aropa and the many positive relationships they have with the university. To view more Mascot on Main highlights, visit our YouTube playlist.

To find out more about Aropa Designs, visit https://www.aropadesigns.com/

Jefferson County has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). This award is considered the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

GFOA evaluated Jefferson County’s budget for the fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2026. An impartial panel determined that the budget satisfied “nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device,” as noted in the GFOA press release. Those who earn the award are rated “proficient” in the four main categories and all fourteen of the criteria within the categories.

Jefferson County’s budget also received special recognition for strategic goals and strategies, signifying that this aspect of the budget earned the highest possible score from each of the three GFOA reviewers.

“Jefferson County’s continued recognition from GFOA reflects the skill, dedication, and professionalism of our Finance Department and the entire team behind this budget,” said Michael Luckey, Jefferson County Administrator. “This is evidence of the County’s commitment to being a transformative government as called for in our Strategic Plan through careful planning, transparency, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.”

Jefferson County is one of just five Wisconsin counties to receive the most recent Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the most recent Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, which is also presented by GFOA.

“These awards reflect the trust and confidence we have in (Jefferson County Finance Director) Marc DeVries and his team,” noted Finance Committee Chair George Jaeckel. “Marc oversees the budget with the conservative views our community values while maintaining fluidity to allow for the purchases necessary to serve the people of Jefferson County.”

To serve residents with outstanding fiscal responsibility, Jefferson County will continue to submit financial documents that comply with the highest established reporting standards.

For more about Jefferson County: jeffersoncountywi.gov

Last Bugle Call

We honor and remember the following Whitewater area veterans who passed away since last Memorial Day. “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” General George S. Patton.

Taps

22 May 2025 – 25 May 2026

Bruce Bucholtz
Kenneth D. Eggleston
Walter F. Eichman
Louis W. Golembiewski
Ronald Gosh
Clarence E. (Bud) Hansen Jr.
Michael J. Higgins
Richard D. Kilpin
John D. Koebler
Leonard J. Larsen
Kelly S. O’Donnell
Stephen Thorngate

We apologize if we have omitted the name of any veteran. It is not intentional. We only know what we see reported in the media and other sources.

Steven R. Smith, Adjutant, William Graham Post 173, Whitewater American Legion

If you have a worn American flag, you can drop it off at the flag drop for proper disposal. Located at 292 S. Wisconsin St.

If you’re a Veteran, consider joining American Legion Post 173, or your local post. 

Thank you

Steve  GO NAVY  Watson 

Our thanks to Steve GO NAVY Watson for this helpful reminder.

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Review and discussion of updated Capital Improvement Project Plan and Borrowing
Requirements; Review and Discussion of potential policy concepts related to fiscal management and
budgetary practices
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West
Whitewater Str, Whitewater, WI, 53190
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/22802858602943?p=eENK9PjoSvnCdsileP
Meeting ID: 228 028 586 029 43
Passcode: KR7qT2n9
Dial in by phone
+1 929-229-5663 United States
Phone conference ID: 424 306 282#

City of Whitewater Board of Review – Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190

City of Whitewater Aquatic Center Committee – Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and possible recommendation on Engineering Audit proposal award.
Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center, Large
Meeting Room 580 S. Elizabeth St. Whitewater, WI
53190
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/210153510526973?p=q0pBJLhyuyvOUQEHse

Whitewater Unified School Board – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner) – Includes potential November operating referendum, Closed session regarding preliminary consideration of allegations of misconduct against a District employee.
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
6:00 p.m.
———————————————–
6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83039116695?pwd=nGaWlsWf5Ube2585gESOQbR1KpxFxb.1
– Passcode: 002157
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 830 3911 6695
– Passcode: 002157

City of Whitewater Board of Zoning Appeals – Thursday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Property Location: 328 W Main Street Parcel #/OT 00036
Variance Requested: To allow driveway asphalt to be up to the property line.
Reason for Request: To allow easier parking and wheelchair ramp access
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190
*In Person and Virtual
Thursday, May 28, 2026 – 5:00 PM
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83198282604?pwd=cDdLWjUvTTRqRUQ4UVcwQWcrcW1BUT09
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 831 9828 2604
Passcode: 137945

City of Whitewater Ethics Board – Thursday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West
Whitewater Str, Whitewater, WI, 53190 *In Person
and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2967478053654?p=JEESDGICrxf7EyvfjJ
Meeting ID: 296 747 805 365 4
Passcode: 3wv9RX7y
Dial in by phone
+1 929-229-5663,,528687501# United States,
Phone conference ID: 528 687 501#

Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff for Memorial Day

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #296 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Mon., May 25, 2026, as the state and nation recognize Memorial Day to honor and remember the nation’s fallen heroes, as well as the family members and loved ones they left behind. “Memorial Day marks a tradition that has been part of our nation’s history for more than 150 years, and today, we pay tribute to the selfless service members who have given their lives in the line of duty to defend and protect the freedoms, principles, and values we hold dear,” said Gov. Evers. “From soldiers and sailors to marines and airmen, our service members exemplify great courage, selflessness, dedication, and determination, and those who sacrificed their lives for this country will forever be heroes. Today, we join the loved ones, friends, and colleagues of our fallen service members in mourning their loss and sharing our deepest condolences and gratitude for their loved ones’ service.” Executive Order #296 will be in effect from sunrise to 12 p.m., as is customary, on Mon., May 25, 2026, and is available on Gov. Evers’ website.