Early City Motto "The Banner Inland City of the Midwest"
The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006
Today is Wednesday, June 17, 2026
News & Events
To add an event, click here to go to the Community Calendar. Then, click on Submit Event.
Helpful Links
Search our Archives
To search our archives, enter a search term in the search box, then press enter to search.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week our post honors Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11. While Memorial Day honors all those who died in service, Veterans Day honors all those who served. Here is a photo of Whitewater’s National Guard unit on the march in the summer of 1951 at Camp Ripley, Minnesota. This was at the height of the Korean War so National Guard readiness was important. To all veterans, have a Happy Veterans Day.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(1827P, Whitewater Historical Society)
The 15th Annual Run for Trey took place on October 5, 2025. Treyton Kilar’s life was tragically cut short on September 2, 2010. His legacy and love for baseball lives on through Treyton’s Field of Dreams, the scholarships given in his name, and the community that gathers year after year to honor him.
Photos are courtesy of Tom Ganser.
As renovation work concludes at the Jefferson County Courthouse building, the County is hosting a free Open House from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12 for Jefferson County residents and employee family members who would like to view the remodeled spaces.
Visitors should arrive at the Courthouse building, 311 S. Center Ave. in Jefferson, starting at 5:30 p.m. After passing through security, guests will have the opportunity to view maps, floorplans, and photographs, chat with County department heads and representatives from the architect and builder, and take a self-guided tour. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
“We hope to welcome many friends, family, and neighbors to see the refreshed and reimagined workspaces for County employees,” said Michael Luckey, Jefferson County Administrator. “I am proud that the renovations have enabled our staff to better serve County residents while maintaining excellent stewardship of taxpayer dollars.” For additional information about this event, please contact John Fox, Jefferson County
Director of Facilities Management, at JFox@jeffersoncountywi.gov or 920-674-7322.
Sheriff Fell is pleased to announce that the Rock County Sheriff’s Office will offer our final
2025 Snowmobile Safety Education Course on December 2, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00
p.m., and December 13, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., at the Rock County Sheriff’s
Office, 200 East U.S. Highway 14, Janesville, WI 53545. Students must attend both
sessions to graduate.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1985, is required to complete a Snowmobile Safety
Education Course to legally operate a snowmobile in areas open to the public within
Wisconsin. Students should be at least 12 years of age or turn 12 shortly after the class.
Snowmobile Safety Education Course
Session 1: December 2, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. @ Rock County Sheriff’s Office
Session 2: December 13, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. @ Rock County Sheriff’s Office
Registration is now open. Complete the online enrollment form to reserve a seat.
https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/sheriff-s-office/recreational-patrol/snowmobile-education
Class size is limited to thirty (30) students. Upon submission of the registration form, the
submitter will see an onscreen confirmation message with course information.
The course fee of $10.00 per student will be collected at the first session. If the student
is under 18 years old, a parent/guardian will need to attend the first session with the
student. Students will receive course materials at the first session. Please direct any
questions to Deputy Trevor Lund at trevor.lund@co.rock.wi.us.
The all-female Black Hawk Artists will host their annual art show at the Hoard Historical Museum.
The opening reception will be on Sunday, November 2 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. The show runs until Thursday,
November 20. Shown here are Black Hawk Artist Janet Nelson [above] preparing a piece for the show and artwork [below] by Black Hawk Artist Jan Gilkey that will be in the show. For more information, please contact the Hoard Historical Museum at 920-397-9914 or info@hoardmuseum.org
Returning for its 52nd year, the Black Hawk Artists’ Show will run from November 2 through November 20.
As it has been for all 52 years, the show will be held at the Hoard Historical Museum, 401 Whitewater Ave.,
Fort Atkinson WI. Artists invite the public to an opening reception on Sunday, November 2 from 1:00-4:00
p.m. The Black Hawk Artists is a group of women artists who meet monthly to support each other’s work
and to plan their annual show at the museum. This year’s artists include Jan Gilkey, Priscilla Heussner, Judith
Henning, Jan Holewinski, Julia Ince, Sally Koehler, Mary Pratt, and Angie Hamele Szabo, all of Fort Atkinson. The group also includes Janet Nelson and Mary Wallace of Cambridge; Karen Crosby of Lake Mills, and Linda Tump of Whitewater.
Each artist’s interpretation of this year’s theme and title for the show, “Hanging By A Thread” will be
displayed as part of the theme wall located in the museum’s entrance gallery. The wall will end in a tribute to
Priscilla Heussner who passed away shortly before the show. Prior to her death, she completed most of her
theme piece. That accomplishment, one of her many achievements in overcoming her physical limitations
stands as a testament to her absolute determination to create art and to inspire the artistic efforts of her
fellow Black Hawk Artists.
The largest collection of the show’s art is found in the museum’s Jones Family Gallery. The gallery
provides a rich showcase for artwork created in the past year. The artwork is remarkably diverse. Artists’
media include oil, acrylic, pastel, and ink paintings. There are also fiber creations, jewelry, mixed media,
crafted papers, scarves, sculpture, and a Jan Holewinksi miniature assemblage featuring wildlife stamps.
Each artist spent the last year creating new pieces of art for the show. Julia Ince drove to the Pacific
Northwest in her modified van in search of painting subjects. She especially savored the stunning scenery of
Washinton state and Oregon. She painted oil and acrylic works on site and took a wealth of photographs to be subjects in later paintings. Karen Crosby is continuing her lifelong exploration of all things related to paper. She has also produced pieces in fused glass and a mobile for this year’s show. Judith Henning’s abstract
paintings involve continued experiments with various media. She has been printing leaves on gel plates for
this year’s show. Sally Koehler is searching for inspiration in Spain. Mary Wallace has spent weeks on a large
wall-hanging fashioned from wool and silk. Mary Pratt is working on small landscaping paintings which reflect the same fine craftmanship of her pottery. Linda Tump’s pear paintings have evolved into collaged sculptures.
New this year, the artists will also be hosting a gallery talk regarding their artwork. Led by Julia Ince,
the gallery talk will be held on Friday, November 7 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Artwork created by the artists will be
for sale during the run of the show.
The Hoard Historical Museum and National Dairy Shrine Museum are located at 401 Whitewater
Avenue in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 9:30 to 4:30.
There is no admission charge. For more information, call the Museum at 920/563-7769, e-mail the Museum at info@hoardmuseum.org, and visit our website at www.hoardmuseum.org.
Potential caption:
Richard “Dick” Cheney died on November 3, 2025. He was the 46th Vice President of the United States, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.
The flag on the White House was lowered to half-staff on November 4. As of the afternoon of November 5 it appears that no official proclamation has been issued calling for flags to be lowered; however, the U.S. Flag Code calls for this to occur from the day of death until interment of a former Vice President.
Carol McCormick writes, “Trippe Lake reflects twice the beauty of fall colors!”
Our thanks to Carol McCormick for sharing another special 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!
Share This
Obituaries
Patricia “Pat” Lynn Bailey, age 70, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2026 with her daughter by her side. Pat was born February 21, 1956 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to John and Ruth (Hudock) Prentice. After a brief time in Ann Arbor, the Prentice family moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin, where Pat grew up as part of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater community, where her father served as University Registrar. Pat attended the University School and later graduated from UW Whitewater with a degree in Elementary Education. Although she did not pursue teaching, she built a meaningful career in Human … Read more
Gemelino Paris Esperante, 83, long time resident of Whitewater, passed away on Thursday, June 4th, 2026. He was born on January 10, 1943, to his late father and mother, Evaristo and Carmen in Spain. In 1973 he moved to the United States as a sheep herder. On August 21, 1981, he was united in marriage to Cyndie Esperante in Colorado. Gemelino also worked in Mining and construction for many years. He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, raising sheep and growing things in his garden, and flowers. He will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife … Read more
Mary Ann Warner died peacefully on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Crestridge Assisted Living in Dodgeville. Her physical heart failed, but her actual, loving heart never did. Ann was born June 28, 1939 to Mary and Charles Kearns in Iowa. She moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin and graduated with many dear friends in the class of 1957. Ann married John Warner on September 19, 1959. They lived in Whitewater, Sturgis Michigan, and finally settled in Janesville where they built a beautiful life and raised their family. Together, they ran a business, traveled, played cards, and enjoyed their lives. When they became … Read more
Patricia Ann Jacobson (Bureau), age 81, of Whitewater, WI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, WI. Born on September 2, 1944, in Marquette, MI, to the late Donald and Margaret Bureau, Pat grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She graduated from Graveraet High School, attended Michigan State University, and later earned her bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. Pat dedicated her professional life to shaping young minds, working as an elementary and junior high school teacher in both Flint, MI, and Whitewater, WI. At the heart of Pat’s life was a beautiful, … Read more
In loving memory of Lois Lauritzen, age 92, who passed away on June 1, 2026 at Lakewood Memory Care in Brookfield. Lois led an active life full of devotion to family and friends. Born July 14th, 1933 in Silvis, IL, daughter of Harry and Elsie Wilson, she grew up in the Quad Cities with older brother Harry Wilson Jr. Lois graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with a degree in physical education. She met her husband Paul Lauritzen on the college tennis team. Their marriage on June 12th, 1955 lasted 59 years until Paul’s death on September 26th, … Read more
Donald Walter Triebold passed on to his eternal home on May 21, 2026. Don was born on April 23, 1935, in Evanston, IL, to the late Frederick W. and Mildred (nee Stecher) Triebold. Through his teen years, Don lived and worked on the family’s dairy farm, where he developed a life-long work ethic. His first eight years of education were in a one-room country schoolhouse, in which all eight grades were taught by one teacher. He graduated from Whitewater City High School in 1953 and then graduated from UW Whitewater in 1958 with a degree in Business Education. He continued his education, and earned a Master’s … Read more
William Kincaid Davis, age 84, passed away on Tuesday, May 19 at Agrace Hospice Center in Fitchburg. He was born on November 1, 1941, in Madison, Indiana, the second son of Salvation Army Officers Agnes (Dixon) and William C. Davis. He attended several schools in Indiana and Illinois, including University of Illinois Experimental High School (Champaign), and graduated from Galesburg High School in 1958. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UW-Eau Claire in 1964 and his master’s degree from UW-Whitewater in 1972. He had an expansive career in education, beginning as an English teacher in Whitehall, Thornton Township (IL) and … Read more
Magdalene “Maggie” Stetter (nee Fritz), 79, of Whitewater, Wisconsin passed from this life onto the next on Monday, May 4, 2026. She was born on January 16, 1947, to the late John and Mary (Presser) Fritz in St. Stefan, Austria. Maggie immigrated from Austria with her parents and brother, became a US citizen, and grew up and attended school in West Allis, WI and then graduated with a teaching degree from University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Maggie served as a substitute, English, and German language teacher in the Whitewater, Elkhorn, Delavan, and Palmyra schools and at Divine Word Seminary. Maggie … Read more
Lawrence “Larry” C. Hartung, a proud Marine Veteran of the Vietnam War, and longtime resident of Fort Atkinson, WI, passed away peacefully at his home on May 1, 2026. Larry was born June 7th, 1949, to Levon and Charles Hartung in Chicago, IL. Larry enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1968 and served 3 consecutive tours in the Vietnam War. During this time, he became pen pals with his future wife, Candy, via a connection through his father. In 1970, he came home on leave to marry Candy. They celebrated 55 years of marriage on October 31st, 2025. During … Read more
Leo E. Wurzer, 65, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at his home. Leo was born on April 15, 1961 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Cyril and Shirley (McNeil) Wurzer. He grew up between Pleasant Prairie and Antigo, spending his childhood summers on his uncle’s farm where he discovered his love for all things tractors. Although he never had a farm of his own, he was able to partially fulfill his dream by working as a driver for Robin’s Trucking in Whitewater, WI in his last days and collecting miniature Tonka toys. He began his career … Read more
Other Recent Posts
Click on the title to view the post. To open the post in a new tab, press Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) while clicking on the title.
