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The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is hosting two artmaking classes for children during the month of May. Maker Club is for ages 5-12 and will be held on Thursday, May 16 at 3:30 p.m. This month, the project is painting wooden signs. A snack will be served.
For children ages 2-6, Little Makers will be held on Thursday, May 30 at 9:30 a.m. This month, the project will be decorating cardboard tubes and creating sculptures. The class allows children to explore and experiment with different art materials, tools, and techniques which helps develop their fine motor skills, critical thinking, social/emotional development, and more.
Both events will be held in the library’s Community Room and are free and open to the public. The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Contact Sarah French with questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-458-2782. For a full listing of the library’s events, visit whitewaterlibrary.org.
A Proclamation on Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2024
Every day, police officers pin on their shields and walk out the door, rushing into harm’s way to keep the rest of us safe. Being a police officer is more than what they do — it is who they are. On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, we recognize the incredible courage of our Nation’s police officers and honor the fallen heroes, whose ultimate sacrifice we can never repay……
This year, we also honor our Nation’s law enforcement families, who serve and sacrifice alongside their loved ones. Every day, they summon courage as their loved ones put on their badges and leave for work, praying for their safe return home. To those who have lost a loved one who served, I know that no memorial can fill the void left in your heart. But I hope you find solace in knowing that their memory lives on through you, the community they served, and all those that they inspired through their example. Our Nation will never forget their sacrifice.
Last year, I bestowed six law enforcement officers with the Medal of Valor for going to unimaginable lengths to protect their fellow citizens. They exemplified a selflessness of character and a bravery that inspires. On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, let us show our gratitude for all the women and men of our Nation’s law enforcement community, who make extraordinary sacrifices every day. Let us honor the memory of those who have fallen in service to their fellow Americans. Let us recommit to supporting the people in uniform and their families, who ensure the safety of our communities all across the Nation.
By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, as amended (76 Stat. 676), and by Public Law 103-322, as amended (36 U.S.C. 136-137), the President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day” and the week in which it falls as “Police Week.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2024, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 12 through May 18, 2024, as Police Week. I call upon all Americans to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities and salute our Nation’s brave law enforcement officers and remember their peace officer brothers and sisters who have given their last full measure of devotion in the line of duty. I also call on the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
Editor’s note: This will be Karen Tordera’s last concert as Choral Director at Whitewater High School. Tordera is retiring after 37 years of teaching, 29 years of which has been in the Whitewater Unified School District. She has taught at Lakeview, Lincoln, Washington, and the high school.
The Whitewater High School Choirs and A Cappella Ensembles will present their Spring Concert on Wednesday, May 15th at 7:00 pm. Music awards will also be presented at this concert with a reception to follow. This free event is open to the public and will be held in the James M. Stewart Auditorium, We hope you can join us for an evening of song and celebration!
Whitewater and Delavan-Darien soccer played a conference game on Monday, May 13. The game ended with Delavan winning 1-0, the lone goal being scored by Anna Smith (32’). The two teams will play again next week in the Rock Valley Conference Tournament.
Article Submitted by Maddy Blain
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach
mblain@wwusd.org
Photo courtesy of Bob Mischka
TICKETS
$10 – Adults
$8 – Senior Citizens/Students
PARKING
Lot 22 and Lot 24
GAME SCHEDULE
*SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
| Friday May 17 | Time | Live Links | Results |
| Game 1 – (#1) UW-Whitewater vs (#4) Crown | 11:00 AM | Stats | Stream | |
| Game 2 – (#2) Centre vs (#3) Cal Lutheran | 2:30 PM | Stats | Stream | |
| Saturday, May 18 | |||
| Game 3 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 | 11:00 AM | Stats | Stream | |
| Game 4 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 | 2:30 PM | Stats | Stream | |
| Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs Loser Game 4 | 6:00 PM | Stats | Stream | |
| Sunday, May 19 | |||
| Game 6 – Winner Game 4 vs Winner Game 5 | 11:00 AM | Stats | Stream | |
| Game 7 (if necessary) | Stats | Stream |
Over the past two weeks, WHS students in Dual Credit/PIE Biology 142 had the opportunity to conduct an observational field study of Red Wing Blackbird populations in the Whitewater area! Students traveled to the UW-Whitewater Nature Preserve with Mrs. Lindsey Taylor and Mr. Shane Cullian, and collected data on the behavioral ecology of Red Wing Blackbirds.
For those not familiar, those little guys can be pretty fierce when it comes to guarding their nests! Giving students the opportunity to collect geographical and behavioral data to determine their territories is an experience they won’t soon forget!
Article and Photos Submitted by Shane Cullian
Whitewater High School Biology Teacher
scullian@wwusd.org
Whitewater High School played the role of host for the 2024 Rock Valley Conference Track and Field Meet which featured all 11 teams from both divisions. When the dust settled, the teams finished in 2nd for the boys and 11th for the girls.
On the boys’ side, Ty Bucholtz was the first to claim a medal with a killer 110H hurdle final. Three stepping his final flight of hurdles, he thrusted himself into third by the finish line and earned his first ever medal as a freshman. Not to be outdone, next up was Traysen Thompson who broke 11 seconds for the first time in the 100-meter dash final running 10.99 and capturing the individual title. Not long after, Jack Hefty raced to his first of three conference titles on the day by winning the 1600 and closing in under 60 seconds for his final lap to stop the clock in 4:28.91. The track was still smoldering when the boys’ 4×200 stepped on the track and blazed to a victory in 1:32.97. This relay consisted of Traysen Thomason, Nate Black, Keenan Sheffield, and Quincy Boudreau. If the track wasn’t hot enough, Ethan Dugan was next up in his premiere event, the 400m dash, and was able to handle the field and take the crown in 50.22. Akamion McHenry placed 4th and Curtis Rossmiller placed 8th in the same event. Jack Hefty stepped back onto the track after a few events and was able to earn his second title on the day to win the 800 in 2:01.98, and teammate Nate Holden was fifth in the same race. Ethan Dugan stepped into the blocks for the second time and blazed a trail of fire behind him as he stopped the clock at 22.36 and also claimed his second title on the day in the 200m dash. In the same event, Trayson Thomason took 3rd in his final race of the day and Akamion McHenry placed 6th. Xavier Zei ran a gutsy race, much of it by himself running solo in 3rd and was only passed by one runner and earned a fourth, and final medal, in the 3200. His time was 10:36.91. The final track event for the boys was the 4×400 relay. With the walk-up song of Iron Man by Black Sabbath blaring throughout the facility, the boys got pumped to leave it all out there and did just that. The relay team of Quincy Boudreau, Jack Hefty, Curtis Rossmiller, and Ethan Dugan set a new conference meet record in their win by stopping the clock at 3:25.75. The previous mark was set by Jefferson in 1980. It was the oldest record in the books.
In the field events, Jaylyn Ewing placed 8th in the discus and 4th in the high jump. Quinton O’Toole secured fifth place in the pole vault. Three Whippets scored in the long jump by placing 5-6-7. Traysen Thomason just edged out his teammate by .75″ to lead the trio. Quincy Boudreau was 6th and Nate Black was 7th. In the triple jump, David Rubio placed 5th with a jump of 39′ 3″.
Ethan Dugan was named the male track athlete of the meet based on his performance in the meet. This is the first Whippet to earn this honor since Brett Harms earned it in 2014 when he won the 800, 1600, and 3200 events.
On the girls’ side, A’lani Ross earned a 6th place finish in the finals of the 100 with a time of 13.45. Mady Hefty ran a lifetime PR and placed 8th in the 1600 with a time of 5:53.64. The 4×2 stepped on the track and earned a fifth-place finish with a time of 1:51.95. This relay consisted of A’lani Ross, Sydney Schilt, Ava Alvarado, and Calli Grosinske. The same relay, just in a slightly different order, came back for the 4×100 and secured a top 3 finish by .01 with a hard lean by Sydney Schilt. The relay order was Calli Grosinske, A’lani Ross, Ava Alvardo, and Sydney on the anchor leg. Carley Boudreau placed 7th in the 300 hurdles with a time of 55.27. Athena Soto placed 6th in the 800 with a time of 2:35.63. Sydney Schilt blazed her way down the homestretch in the 200-meter dash to stop the clock in 27.21 and took the bronze medal position. To wrap up the track events, the girls’ 4 x 400 relay of Athena Soto, Calli Grosinske, Carley Boudreau, and Emy Islas took 7th with a time of 4:32.61. Placing in the field events, Myialynn Cobb and Makayla Bazeley took 4th and 6th in the pole vault. They cleared 8′ 0″ and 7′ 6″ respectively. A’lani Ross placed in the triple jump with a leap of 31′ 1.25″ and took 7th overall.
Full results can be found here: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/554326/results/all
Next up the the team will be at the JV conference meet on Tuesday followed by the WIAA Regional on Monday, May 20th at Delavan.
Article Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Track and Field Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Bob Mischka
Obituaries
In Loving Memory of Kandi Lynn Kincaid (Cardinal)Beloved Daughter, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, and Friend It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kandi Lynn Kincaid, daughter of Eunice and Richard Kincaid, on December 28th at 7 PM. Kandi passed away peacefully in bed, enjoying one of her favorite pastimes—watching crime shows. Kandi was a woman of many passions. She was a devoted fan of the Chicago Bears, found joy in listening to 2Pac, and had an unwavering love for animals, always standing against cruelty of any kind. Her smile could light up a room, and her warmth … Read more
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Dr. George Harold Seeburger, 89, of Lake Mills passed away on Friday, January 3, 2025 at Lilac Springs Assisted Living in Lake Mills. George was born on July 20, 1935 in Phillips, Wisconsin to George and Nellie (Knight) Seeburger. He graduated from Phillips High School and received an undergraduate degree from UW Stevens Point and went on to earn his PhD from the University of Georgia Athens. He was a biology professor at UW Whitewater up until his retirement. George married Nancy Carole Skalitzky on November 6, 1959 in Waukegan, Illinois. Nancy passed on November 13, 2021. They enjoyed traveling … Read more
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William J. “Bill” West, 75, of Whitewater passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at Fort Memorial Hospital in Fort Atkinson. Bill was born on September 8, 1949 to John and Bessie (Sutherland) West in Fort Atkinson. He worked at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater for twelve years. Bill enjoyed watching the Packers and NASCAR. He is survived by his girlfriend, Sandy Hahn; and many friends and family. A memorial visitation will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 11 AM until 1 PM at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190. Inurnment will take … Read more
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David Harold Baker Jr., beloved husband, father, stepfather, son, and brother, passed away on December 16, 2024, in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 61. Born on August 10, 1963, in Beaufort, South Carolina, David was the firstborn child of David Baker Sr. and the late Betty Jean Baker (née Wickham) while his father served in the United States Marine Corps. David spent his early years in Wyoming, where the family lived until his parents divorced. In 1976, David moved to Oregon with his father, and he graduated from high school in 1982. Shortly after, he moved to Wisconsin to … Read more
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Allen C. Hicks, 85 of Whitewater passed away on Saturday, January 4th, 2025 at Huntington Memory Care in Janesville. Al, the oldest of seven boys, was born on July 5th, 1939, in Belvidere, Illinois to Walt and Laura (Keller) Hicks. A few years later, the family bought a dairy farm in Whitewater and became very active in the Whitewater community. There was always work to be done or something to be repaired on the farm which led to Al’s lifelong love of tinkering. He was very active in high school sports which continued on into his adult years playing in … Read more
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Jeanette Ila Hansen, 91, Whitewater passed away on December 24, 2024 at Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek, WI, having lived independently almost all her later life. Jeanette was born on May 12, 1933 in Whitewater, WI to Alvin and Maybell (Maasz) Cox. She married Norman Hansen on November 2, 1950 and they were married for 59 years. Jeanette enjoyed fishing, reading, indoor gardening, collecting dolls, and cooking; and she made many beautiful items with crocheting, knitting, and sewing. She was generous and seemed to have a good word to say about almost everyone she met. She especially loved … Read more
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Isaac Richard Unger left the field on Christmas Day, and is now at peace. He was born in Whitewater, WI on April 1st, 1993 to Paul and Mary Jo (née Peiffer) Unger. Isaac was born ten days late on a silly holiday, and lived his life as such–never rushed, and with a lighthearted sense of humor. Isaac graduated from Madison East High School in 2011, and then attended UW-River Falls from 2011-2016, where he studied English and philosophy. Isaac was a sports lover, not only as a spectator, but as a participant. Isaac grew up playing soccer, basketball (Badger Sporting … Read more
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John George Mack passed away into eternal glory on December 24th, 2024. John was born December 1, 1963, in Fort Atkinson, WI to Ronald and Mary Alice (Hanson) Mack of Whitewater. John was a 1982 Whitewater High School graduate. In 1983 just out of high school John started his first wood company selling wholesale through all the major gift markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York. At the time his clients included 8 out of the 10 retail chains and several thousand independent stores nationwide. John had so many wonderful customers and associates. As the wholesale gift market shifted to cheaper overseas … Read more
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Clifford Maynard Witte, age 103, of Whitewater, WI completed his earthly journey on December 24, 2024 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Clifford was born on September 13, 1921 on a farm in Mount Horeb, WI, and was the third child of Ella and Eli Witte. Clifford served his country by joining the Navy in 1942 during WWII, and served alongside his two brothers. Later he used the GI bill to attend Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, IA. There he met the love of his life, Beulah (Billie) Ohrberg, and they married on Nov 7, 1946. Shortly after … Read more
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Mary Ann Burkhardt, 79, passed away December 24, 2024, at Edgerton Hospital, surrounded by loved ones following a brief illness. Mary was born on September 14, 1945, in Chicago, IL, to Raymond and Helen (Pasternak) Burkhardt. She attended elementary school in Chicago and Good Counsel Catholic Girls High School, before her family moved to Whitewater where she graduated from WHS in 1963. She worked at Gus’s Pizza Palace, Whitewater Products, and finally, Jones Dairy Farm until her retirement 33 years later. She enjoyed bowling, snowmobiling, boating, golf, riding her motorcycle, and playing softball for the Long Branch Saloon. She was … Read more
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