News

Steve Watson writes, “This morning’s [August 1] bike ride by Hillside cemetery hay field. Two deer playing tag and running circles around sandhill cranes.”

Our thanks to Steve Watson for these great wildlife action photos!

— 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!

The 2025 National Senior Games is coming in hot in Des Moines, Iowa and four Wisconsinites representing the Wisconsin Tai Chi Academy are helping to bring the fire by already bringing home 7 golds in their sport.

Tracy Douglas, who attends the WTCA at their Whitewater location in the Cravath Lakefront Community Center was especially gratified. “This is the first time Tai Chi has been included in the National Senior Games, so to have won 1st place in the solo and group competitions is amazing. It’s wonderful knowing I’ve been a small part of tai chi’s history while representing Wisconsin. I even got to be the Wisconsin flag bearer in the Celebration of Athletes parade on Monday, July 28th which was an incredible honor.”

Founder and Head Instructor at WTCA, Ray Gates, was excited to be participating in the Games this year with three of his students. “Competitions are a great way to enjoy Tai Chi and meet others in the Tai Chi community. It’s a very supportive community; people are more interested in seeing what other people do and how they do it as opposed to being competitive. Having said that, we’re still very happy to have brought some medals back to Wisconsin.”

Four WTCA participants were the first from Wisconsin to compete in this sport at the Games.

The four WTCA athletes competed in a Group competition, as well as solo men and women’s competitions. Gates also competed in Open Weapon and Sword solo competitions, as well.

WTCA Medals

Women’s 65-69 Open Chuan Beginner- Sheila Quinnies

Women’s 60-64 Open Chuan Intermediate- Kerrie Hoffman

Women’s 55-59 Open Chuan Beginner- Tracy Douglas

Men’s 50-54 Open Chuan Advanced- Ray Gates

Open 50-54 Weapon (Non-Jian) Advanced- Ray Gates

Men’s 50-54 Sword (Jian) Advanced- Ray Gates

Group Advanced- Ray Gates, Kerrie Hoffman, Sheila Quinnies, Tracy Douglas

The National Senior Games run July 24-Aug 4 and include competitions for 25 different sports. Over 12,500 participants, including 400 from Wisconsin, ages 50-100+ will compete during this two-week event. More information about the Tai Chi competition at NSG can be found at: https://nsga.com/tai-chi/.

Wisconsin Tai Chi Academy is celebrating their 10th year this year, and offers classes in Cedarburg, River Hills, Brookfield, Wauwatosa, and Whitewater. You can find out more about WTCA at: https://wisconsintaichiacademy.com/.

Editor’s note: The above press release was submitted by Tracy Douglas.

Renea Gardner Zuehlke writes, “This was a beautiful butterfly that joined me in the garden.”

Our thanks to Renea Gardner Zuehlke 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!

Paint Wisconsin Awards, Art Auction and 20-Year Gala: Cultural Arts Center, Friday, August 8, 2025, 5-8 p.m.

• 5:00 pm – Gallery viewing, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and piano music by Jim Olm
• 5:45 pm – 20th Anniversary Acknowledgement, Marilyn Fuerstenberg Tribute and Thank You to WHS Class of 1961, Paint Wisconsin Awards
• 6:15 pm – Appeal by WAA Board Member Dwight Watson
• 6:20 pm – Live auction of “Painting with the Whitewater Stars” pieces and WAA artwork
• 7:30 pm – Performance by “Here Comes Treble” Sweet Adeline Quartet

The Painting “Stars” at work on their masterpieces – Courtesy of Tom Ganser

The Marilyn Fuerstenberg Paint Wisconsin Exhibit Reception and Whitewater Arts Alliance 20-Year Anniversary Gala Scheduled for August 8, 2025

The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) is proud to present the 1st Annual Paint Wisconsin Exhibition and to host its 20th Anniversary Gala on Friday, August 8, 2025. The Paint Wisconsin Exhibit will run from Thursday, August 7 – Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Due to the overwhelming response to the call for art and the high-caliber pieces submitted for this juried exhibition, the WAA has partnered with Roberta’s Art Gallery in the James R. Connor University Center, located on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-W) campus, to display some of the works. A list of the exhibiting artists and biographies of jurors Thomas Jewell, Frank Juarez, and Graeme Reid are available on the WAA website at https://www.whitewaterarts.org/paint-wisconsin-2025.  Roberta’s Art Gallery will hold a Paint Wisconsin Overview and Reception on August 8, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Free parking will be available in UW-W Lot 12. The lot is located behind Andersen Library, near the corner of Prairie and Main Streets.

At 5:00 p.m., the program and celebration will continue in the Cultural Arts Center, home of the Whitewater Arts Alliance, located at 402 W Main Street, Whitewater. The ticket cost is “pay what you will.” The event will open with free heavy hors d’oeuvres, a beer and wine cash bar, and live piano music by Jim Olm. At 5:45 p.m., the WAA will honor former member, self-taught artist, and inspiration for the Paint Wisconsin Exhibit, Marilyn Fuerstenberg. When Marilyn passed away in June 2024, her many friends in the WAA and classmates from the Whitewater High School class of 1961 wanted to establish an event in her honor. Through their generosity and the contributions of local sponsors, the Paint Wisconsin Exhibition became a reality. The Paint Wisconsin Awards will be announced at this time.

Marilyn Fuerstenberg was instrumental in the development and growth of the WAA as she led workshops and brought renowned artists from around the country to Whitewater. Thanks to dedicated members like Marilyn, the WAA is also celebrating its 20-year anniversary on August 8. Established in 2005 by community members and local artists working together to preserve the Prairie Tillers Mural at the corner of Center Street and Whitewater Avenue, the organization strives to expand its mission to “support, promote, and develop the arts as an essential and integral part of our community.” To that end, the evening will include a live auction at 6:20 p.m. as a fundraiser. Auctioneer Jenny Gehl from Bravo Benefit Auctions will auction off the 12 pieces from the “Painting with the Whitewater Stars” event (to include pieces by Chancellor Corey King, City Manager John Weidl, and First Citizens State Bank CEO Jim Caldwell, among others), two paintings by Marilyn Fuerstenberg, two pieces by Albert Benedict, and other works. Directly following the auction, Jenny will guide a live paddle raise; all donors over a certain amount will be entered in a drawing for a gift basket valued at more than $500. The festivities will close with a performance by “Here Comes Treble” Sweet Adeline Quartet featuring Christine Hayes, Valerie Troxel, Lori Heidenreich, and Kim Taylor.

Everyone is welcome to the Cultural Arts Center for an evening of food, drink, art, and music in celebration of Marilyn Fuerstenberg, the Whitewater Arts Alliance, and community.  Many thanks to our sponsors for making this event possible: Anonymous sponsors, Edge Broadband, Fort Community Credi

An Old Fashion Ice Cream Social
Music: Hardanger Fiddle. Pump Organ,
and Flute
Children’s Activities
Books, Bakery, and Photography Sale
100% proceeds go to church restoration.
August 17th 2:00 p.m.
Heart Prairie Norwegian
Methodist Episcopal Church
N7372 County Road P, Delavan, WI
Limited Parking ~~~Early Arrival Advised
>>>>>>> Ice Cream Free <<<<<<<

Editor’s note: The following announcement was made on the Sweet Spot Bakehouse Facebook page.

Hey folks, we have some bittersweet news to share—

At the end of August we will be closing the Bakehouse location of the Sweet Spot.

We are so grateful for our time in Whitewater and are so proud of what our team has accomplished over the past 5 years— bringing you freshly baked scratch pastries, morning coffees through our drive through, and working to be better every day.

While the doors at 1185 W Main will be closing, our two other locations— the Cafe in downtown Whitewater and the Langholf in Fort Atkinson— will continue to be open for your daily caffeine needs. We are working on a solution to provide pastries at these locations as well.

Our closing is coming much quicker than anticipated due to factors beyond our control. We know it will sadden many of you, and you may have questions about what comes next. We ask that you please refrain from asking our staff and instead direct them to our email: contact@sweetspotwhitewater.com

We’ll announce our official end date soon, but we will not be taking custom orders past August 24th. We will be open daily from 7am-4pm until then.

Where one door closes, another opens. This decision will allow us to invest more time and energy into our other ventures, and into our personal lives and communities. We hope that down the road, we can reopen our bakery in a new capacity (perhaps with a partner— and if this interests you, we’d love to chat!).

For now, we hope to see you for a cup of coffee at one of our other locations! Running a small business is no easy feat, and it takes a village. Thank you to our staff, customers, and everyone who has supported us for the past 5 years. We hope that you continue to support your local businesses— not just our shops or even the ones in Whitewater, but in every community wherever you go. Supporting small matters in big ways.

Editor’s note: There are many online comments indicating that this property at 1185 W. Main Street will be the site for a Dunkin’. Attempts by The Whitewater Banner to confirm this report with the current owners or with a manager of the Fort Atkinson Dunkin’ have thus far been unsuccessful.

Wisconsin Man Sentenced for Possessing Chemical Weapon Precursors

Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 1, 2025, United States District Judge Brett Ludwig sentenced James Morgan (formerly known as Karactus Blome) to 29 months in prison. Morgan had pled guilty to one count of possession of chemical weapon precursors— chemicals that combine to create chlorine and chlorine gas—not intended for peaceful purposes, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 229(a).

According to court documents, on December 21, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at Morgan’s storage unit and found the precursor chemicals. Morgan had studied chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and had described himself as a weapon designer who did not need a conventional weapon. In a video, Morgan displayed the chemicals and said they were for making a lot of chlorine very quickly. In messages in 2022, he said that what he had was “scary,” and that the chemicals react to produce a lot of chlorine gas, which can be “effective if your enemy is not ready for it.” He sent links for purchasing the chemicals and discussed the amounts needed to make a lot of chlorine gas quickly. In messages in 2023, Morgan discussed a plan to defeat the government, if it came for his guns, by producing a large amount of chlorine that he claimed could be used against approximately twenty government agents. The FBI Laboratory determined that the chemicals Morgan possessed could produce a large amount of chlorine that could result in rapid, serious health effects, including death.

In announcing the sentence, Judge Ludwig focused on the incredibly dangerous nature of chlorine gas and the defendant’s possession of the chemicals knowing that he could combine them to harm law enforcement. Judge Ludwig also discussed the need to provide deterrence to others who might try to do the same.

“The defendant’s conduct posed a serious risk to others and the community as a whole,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “This individual spent substantial time discussing and constructing weapons and expressing opposition to law enforcement and individuals whose race, ethnic origin, or backgrounds differed from his. I commend the hard work and collaboration of everyone involved in seeking to hold him accountable for his criminal activity.”

“Mr. Morgan obtained commercially available chemicals with an intent to manufacture chemical weapons which could have had a devastating impact to citizens and law enforcement officers in Wisconsin,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “Morgan is already serving a two-year sentence for possessing destructive devices. The Milwaukee Field Office of the FBI will continue to work aggressively with our partners to prevent the acquisition and use of weapons of mass destruction.”

The FBI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney John Scully prosecuted, with assistance from Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section.

Editor’s note: The above press release was received from the U.S. Department of Justice, United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Updated 8/4/25 @ 2:45 p.m. with identification of the insect.

Tom Ganser writes, “This is the most interesting butterfly, moth, dragon fly, or ??? that I have ever seen.  Stayed at its resting location long enough for me to grab my camera.

Anyone know what species it is?”

Our thanks to Tom Ganser for sharing this beautiful photo. Anyone who may be able to identify this creature, please write to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Crystal Singer writes, “With Picture Insect’s help, I learned that this species is a Widow skimmer. You should check it out!

Our thanks to Crystal Singer for this identification.