Jon and Terri Kachel’s 1970 muscle cars: a rare winged Plymouth Superbird and a Plum Crazy Purple Dodge Challenger. [Wall Street Journal photo Steven Piper]
Editor’s note: Below are some highlights of an article regarding Whitewater residents Jon and Terri Kachel that appeared in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on page A11 on Monday, July 1, 2024. The print article may be seen in the Irvin L. Young Library’s copy of that WSJ, which may be obtained at the circulation desk. The online version, with more copy and photos than the print version, may be found here. The article, written by A.J. Baime, is part of his weekly series titled “My Ride.” The Banner appreciates that Mark Dorn tipped us off to the article.
A Secret to Their Happy Marriage: His and Hers 1970 Muscle Cars
“Jon [Kachel]: I was still in high school in Whitewater when I bought a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner. Terri was my girlfriend…. We lived the lives of kids with muscle cars.
Terri [Kachel]: It was like the movie “American Graffiti.” We would cruise with our friends…
Jon: The Plymouth Superbird was a special version of the Road Runner, with a wing on the back. The Superbird was only made one model year, 1970, and it didn’t sell well. But when Richard Petty started winning races in the Superbird, people noticed. Petty topped 200 miles per hour in a Superbird that year….
Terri: Jon and I got married on June 12, 1976…Over the years, we worked pretty hard. We raised three kids. In 2017, Jon decided to pursue this thing he had loved all his life..
Jon: Chrysler only built about 1,940 Plymouth Superbirds. I found one in 2017 and bought it from a car collector….I took off the glove box door and sent it to Richard Petty. He autographed it and sent it back.
Terri: This car is in gorgeous condition. But it’s almost 19 feet long. It was a lot more than I could handle. I always loved Dodge Challengers, so soon after Jon bought his Superbird, I started shopping around….I found one…..The color is Plum Crazy Purple.
WSJ photo
Jon: In Wisconsin in the summer, you can go to a car show twice a week and not have to drive more than 40 miles….As rare as Plymouth Superbirds are, one of the only clubs in existence is based in Wisconsin. I went to one club meeting in 2022 and I remember seeing 13 Superbirds there.
Terri: Jon calls his passion a hobby…It’s more of an obsession….We grew up in southern Wisconsin loving muscle cars. We still live in southern Wisconsin and we still love muscle cars.”
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Walworth County Sheriff and the Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office.
On July 2nd, 2024, at approximately 2:18 PM, the Walworth County Communications Center received numerous calls of a structure fire and reports of an explosion at a residence located on Kulow Road in the Town of Lafayette, Walworth County, Wisconsin. [The town of Lafayette is located a few miles southeast of Abells Corners.] Walworth County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Elkhorn Fire Department were dispatched. Upon the arrival of Sheriff’s Deputies, they reported a small fire and confirmed an explosion had occurred at the residence. Deputies immediately began to search for survivors and secured the area until the arrival of fire and rescue personnel.
The only occupant of the structure was a 68-year-old male resident, Leland R. Holden, who was located in the rubble and transported by Flight for Life to a local trauma center, where he later died. The Elkhorn Fire Department is investigating the cause of the explosion with the assistance of the State Fire Marshall and the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office.
We would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance: The Lake Geneva Police Department, the Elkhorn Area Fire Department, Flight for Life, the Lake Geneva Fire Department, the Lyons Township Fire and Rescue Department, the LaGrange Fire Department, the East Troy Fire Department, the Town of Delavan Fire Department, the City of Delavan Fire Department, the Troy Center Fire Department, the Paris Fire Department, the Kansasville Fire Department, the City of Burlington Fire Department, the South Shore Fire Department, the Somers Fire Department, the Bristol Fire Department, the Vernon Fire Department, the Racine Fire Department, the Racine Fire Bells and the Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Editor’s note: According to ABC7, Elkhorn Fire Chief Trent Eichmann said it took 30-40 minutes to get to the victim before he was taken to the hospital. Preliminary information suggests that the incident may be a result of a propane gas explosion, Eichmann said. Since the area is rural, it is not serviced by natural gas.
Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by the City of Whitewater.
Whitewater Police Seek Federal Funding
The Whitewater Police Department has been working to creatively address staffing needs within the police department to meet demand for law enforcement services. In June, the department submitted a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office. The grant, entitled FY24 COPS Hiring Program, is intended to advance public safety through community policing by funding additional full-time law enforcement positions to meet agencies’ community policing strategies. Whitewater Police have requested funding for three additional law enforcement positions through the grant. If granted, the funding will enable Whitewater Police to hire three additional officers, each supported by $125,000 over a three-year period. This initiative promises to strengthen community bonds and ensure a brighter, safer future for Whitewater.
Editor’s note: The following additional information was included in the Common Council agenda packet on May 7, 2024.
The CHP provides funding to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional sworn officers in an effort to increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Agency requests for officers are capped at 20% of actual sworn force, and the maximum federal share per officer position is $125,000 over the three‐year funding period. Agencies are required to cost share at least 25% and are required to pay a progressively larger share of the cost of the award with local funds over the award period.
Staff would plan to request three officers with the following cost breakdown per officer (based on the assumption that the total annual cost per officer is approximately $105,000): 2025: Federal share: $60,000 per officer ($180,000 total)/City share: $55,000 per officer ($165,000 total) 2026: Federal share: $40,000 per officer ($120,000 total)/City share: $75,000 per officer ($225,000 total) 2027: Federal share: $20,000 per officer ($60,000 total)/City share: $95,000 per officer ($285,000 total)
The City would be responsible for the full cost of each officer after the three‐year funding period. The City is required to retain the additional positions for a minimum of 12 months beyond the three‐year funding period.
The Common Council at the May 7, 2024 meeting unanimously passed a motion to approve the submission of the grant application.
Garage sale July 5 and 6. 8 am – 4 pm. 623 Waters Edge Dr, Whitewater oak book case, steamer trunk, pine storage trunk, many books, HO gauge model RR stuff, 2 inflatable air mattresses, 1 queen 1 single, shop tools, push golf cart, dishes, glassware, bakeware, kitchenware, TV sound bar, small electric snow thrower, blue mason jars and more!
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on July 3 appointed Travis Maze as Jefferson County Sheriff. The appointment fills a vacancy created by Sheriff Paul Milbrath’s retirement, effective August 8, 2024. Maze will complete the remainder of the unexpired term that ends January 2027.
“With more than two decades of experience demonstrating his commitment to public service and connection to the local community, Travis Maze brings the necessary qualifications and experience to serve the people of Jefferson County as their new sheriff,” said Gov. Evers.
Maze has been with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for over 25 years. After graduating from Waukesha County Technical College with an associate degree in police science, he joined the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office as a correctional officer in 1998. The next year, he joined the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, where he climbed the ranks from jail deputy, patrol deputy, detective, and patrol sergeant to patrol captain, a position he has held for the past four years. As patrol captain, he is responsible for the patrol and communication divisions, which consist of 50 personnel, and helps set the department’s budget, schedules, policies, and procedures. Maze has also completed numerous additional law enforcement training and leadership certifications.
“I am very pleased with Gov. Evers’ selection of Captain Travis Maze to finish my term as sheriff,” said retiring Jefferson County Sheriff Milbrath. “These are challenging times for law enforcement, and Captain Maze has both the skillset and the knowledge to take on these challenges and lead the agency into the future. It is a comfort to me knowing the agency that I have led for 22 years and worked at for over 43 years is in such capable hands.”
Maze lives in Jefferson with his family. In his role with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, he has extensive experience working with stakeholders in county government, including supporting crisis intervention training with the Jefferson County Human Services Department and helping to upgrade the county’s communication system. He also served for three years on the Jefferson School Board.
“I am so honored and excited to have been chosen by Governor Evers to fill the Jefferson County Sheriff vacancy upon the retirement of Sheriff Paul Milbrath,” said Maze. “In my 25 years of service with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Milbrath has trusted me in several different leadership roles. I appreciate his confidence in supporting me in the position of Sheriff.”
Whitewater Arts Alliance is proud to present the “15th Annual Fran Achen Juried Photography Exhibition” featuring 95 juried works of 39 photographic artists from across the State of Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
The exhibition opens on Friday, July 5th and runs to July 28th, 2024, at the Cultural Arts Center 402 West Main Street, Whitewater. An awards reception will be held Sunday, July 7th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. where light refreshments will be served. Admission to the exhibition and its reception are free of charge, open to the public, and all are invited. The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Jeff McDonald, the event’s 10-time Chair and president of the Whitewater Arts Alliance, said “This exhibit is an exciting and inspiring visual experience. As we celebrate the 15-year milestone of the Fran Achen Juried Photography Exhibition, it is fitting that the submitted works are so extraordinarily strong and have been submitted in record numbers from such a wide regional area. We hope you will be able to share in the experience. Join us at the awards reception for a surprise announcement!”
The exhibit features work by photographic artists from the local area, as well as from Wausau to Rockford and Madison to Milwaukee.
About Whitewater Arts Alliance: The Whitewater Arts Alliance, Inc. is dedicated to supporting, promoting, and developing the arts as an essential and integral part of the community.
Students leave the stage with their diploma covers. UW-Whitewater held commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 11, 2024, for more than 1,400 graduates. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
The following students from the Whitewater area earned degrees from UW-Whitewater. Editor’s note: It’s obvious that not all of these graduates have been long-term Whitewater residents. The university includes anyone who indicates that they consider Whitewater to be their home.
Whitewater, WI 53190: Chris Abts graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Management – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Jocelin Beecroft graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Physical Education – BSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Michael Blija graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Psychology – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Gracia Boley graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Journalism – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Alondra Buboltz graduated Summa Cum Laude with the following degree: Elementary Education – BSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Riley Burbach graduated with the following degree: Management – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Cody Carlson graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Computer Science – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Brandye Carter graduated with the following degree: Journalism – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Juan Cuellar Meza graduated with the following degree: Computer Science – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Anna Dahl graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Communication – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Midalis Delacruz graduated with the following degree: Higher Education Leadership – MSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Brian Duncan graduated with the following degree: Computer Science – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Kennedi Finley graduated with the following degree: Psychology – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Griffin Gerber graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Marketing – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Jacob Godden graduated with the following degree: Business Administration – MBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Reilly Grasso graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Management – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Nathan Gross graduated with the following degree: Supply Chain Management – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Josie Hammes graduated with the following degree: Social Work – MSW
Whitewater, WI 53190: Jack Hanlon graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Finance – BBA
Greendale, WI 53190: Megan Haskins graduated with the following degree: Special Education – BSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Joshua Hetz graduated with the following degree: Journalism – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Gaby Islas graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Finance – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Talba Kabore graduated with the following degree: Computer Science – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Teagan Kane graduated with the following degree: Marketing – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Michael Kelley graduated with the following degree: General Business – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: David Kneiser graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: General Business – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Sarah Lalasz graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Special Education – BSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Earl Lewis graduated with the following degree: Management – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Yingxin Lin graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Mathematics – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Jack Lind graduated with the following degree: Marketing – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Parker Louden graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Finance – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Isaac Lytle graduated with the following degree: Computer Science – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Joey Maffiola graduated with the following degree: Computer Science – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Natalie Mayer graduated with the following degree: Marketing – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Danielle McCauley graduated with the following degree: Social Work – MSW
Whitewater, WI 53190: Janessa Norvell graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Social Work – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Katie Oehm graduated with the following degree: Marketing – MS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Annabelle Olson graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Criminology – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Kaitlyn Partoll graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: General Business – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Montana Petersen graduated with the following degree: Sociology – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Brodie Peyer graduated with the following degree: Cybersecurity – MS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Aeron Polley graduated with the following degree: Social Studies – BSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Jenna Prock graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Psychology – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Hayden Radloff graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Media Arts and Game Development – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Sandra Rasmussen graduated with the following degree: Business Administration – MBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Emma Reineking graduated with the following degree: School Psychology – MSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Melanie Reyes graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Human Resource Management – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Yacouba Soire graduated with the following degree: Business Administration – MBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Ashlee Steed graduated with the following degree: Biology – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Keagan Stoltz graduated with the following degree: Computer Science – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Lili Templeman graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Art Education – BSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Krystalyn Terski graduated with the following degree: School Psychology – MSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Mason Thompson graduated Summa Cum Laude with the following degree: Journalism – BA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Sebastian Van Wyhe graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Management – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Zach Wagner graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Environmental Science – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Joel Watter graduated with the following degree: Human Performance – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Carolyn Watts graduated with the following degree: School Psychology – MSE
Whitewater, WI 53190: Mackenzie Wesoloski graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Biology – BS
Whitewater, WI 53190: Trenten Zahn graduated with the following degree: General Business – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Brianna Zimdars graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: General Business – BBA
Whitewater, WI 53190: Elizabeth Zinda graduated Cum Laude with the following degree: Marketing – BBA
Approximately 1,500 students crossed the stage to receive their degrees at the ceremony, held at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center.
The graduating class included nine international students, 102 military veterans and 200 nontraditional students, defined as undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. In addition, 187 self-identified students with disabilities received degrees.
A total of 231 students participated in the university’s Hired Before Graduation campaign, which celebrates students who landed a job, were promoted in their current job, earned acceptance to graduate school or started their own business before commencement.
John’s Disposal is celebrating Independence Day as a holiday, and consequently the city trash pickup that normally occurs on Thursday will be on Friday.
4th of July Festival Quick Tips from the questions I answer often:
– Festival opens Wednesday. Full schedule on website – whitewater4th.com
– Festival is cash only. Yup it’s true, plan ahead.
– Wrist band sessions [unlimited rides for $25] are on the festival schedule and only at specific times not throughout the entire event.
– All food vendors south of the railroad tracks are local organizations – this is a fundraiser for them. Please support them as much and as often as you can. [These vendors do not accept cash; purchase your tickets at the festival booths.]
– Fireworks are 10 p.m. 7/4, 7/6. If for any reason there are weather changes the ONLY place to stay informed is the Whitewater 4th of July Festival Facebook page; we are a water launch and a metal platform + explosives + lightning don’t mix.
– The festival (outside of family owned and operated carnival) is volunteer run; please be kind and thankful for the tremendous amount of time these folks invest in this event to celebrate with their friends and neighbors.
– The parade is 7/4 at 10 a.m. Preceded by the Whippet City Mile at 9:45. Road closure is a firm 9:30 am.
– Road closures around the festival on Whitewater St begin today and run through 7/8. Thanks for your patience.
– Helping hands make light work. The festival is always seeking volunteers and donor support. Connect with us down at the ticket booths or by email whitewater4th@gmail.com
– Thank the city streets crews when you see them. They are also working as hard as our volunteers and we are so thankful for their partnership. City of Whitewater
Last but not least, be patient with our social media page; we try to answer comments but once we’re on-site that is our primary focus.
Have an absolutely amazing holiday week, be safe, please keep your teens off the railroad tracks [the trains do run during the festival], hydrate, and have fun!
Editor’s note: Lisa Dawsey Smith posted this message on Facebook and gave the Banner permission to post it.
Editor’s note: The following was posted to the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network on Monday, July 2 at 11:00 p.m.
On Saturday, 6/29/2024, at 7:38 PM, Officers responded to Soup’s On Bar, 1125 Whitewater Ave in the City of Fort Atkinson for a report of a male subject dragging a female into a black sedan, possibly a Pontiac Firebird T top. The vehicle left at a high rate of speed traveling southbound on Highway 12 out of the city. Witnesses heard screaming and said the female was not moving and was possibly unconscious. Suspect was described as a skinny white male wearing a hat and the female was described as having long hair.
No plate was obtained. If anyone has similar contacts or can identify the vehicle or subjects involved, please contact our department: Fort Atkinson Police Dept., Officer Adsit, aadsit@fortatkinsonwi.gov, 920-397-9905.
