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Today is Wednesday, May 13, 2026
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“Jane Austen Wrecked My Life”
Tuesday, September 9, 1 p.m.
(Comedy/Romance) Rated R (language)
1 hour, 38 minutes (2025).
An aspiring author, looking to get more out of life, takes up a writing residency and finds herself in the sort of romantic entanglements that could come from the pages of a Jane Austen novel. Filmed in England and France. Dialogue in English and French with subtitles.
Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $10 and non-residents is $15. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes out of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/
SI.com, the official website of Sports Illustrated, featured an article on September 5 titled Border Showdown: Is Missouri Game the Biggest of Lance Leipold’s Career?
Leipold is the head football coach at the University of Kansas, a position he has held since 2021. He was the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater from 2007 to 2014 and the University at Buffalo from 2015 to 2020.[2] During his tenure at Wisconsin–Whitewater, the team won six NCAA Division III Football Championships: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 and were runners-up in 2008. During his time at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Leipold led the Warhawks to 5 undefeated seasons. [Wikipedia]
Per the article, it sounds like the national media has overhyped the September 6 game of Kansas vs. Missouri, but those who remember Leipold may enjoy reading an update on his career.
On Thursday, September 4, the Whippets traveled to Jefferson High School to compete in the Southern Lakes Conference Relay Championship. The team finished 5th overall and showed up with incredible swims, heat wins, and huge time drops throughout the night!
Meet Highlights:
200 Medley Relay (Maggie Maas, Atreya Wilson, Lucy Davis, Charlotte Hajewski) – 8th overall and won their heat by nearly 17 seconds!
4×100 IM Relay (Kendra Serrano, Grace Coleman, Charlotte Hajewski, Emma Maas) – pulled off a thrilling comeback win in the final leg to take their heat!
1000 Crescendo Relay (Grace Smith, Atreya Wilson, Maggie Maas, Lucy Davis) – 7th overall, winning their heat by nearly 40 seconds!
50 Freestyle “Splash & Dash” Two teams made their mark!
- Laken DePorter, Jalayne Hanson, Paige Kollwelter, Storm DePorter – 10th overall, dropping 11 seconds from their seed time!
- Emma Maas, Maya Davis, Grace Smith, Maggie Maas – 6th place with a time of 1:01.10.
400 Backstroke Relay (Grace Smith, Caitlin Alford, Paige Kollwelter, Georgia Esch) – dominated their heat with a win by over a minute, with all four swimmers crushing their times!
The Whippets brought the energy, teamwork, and grit—what an amazing night of racing! 
Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu
The Whitewater Whippet Soccer Team played to a 2-2 tie with Fort Atkinson on Thursday, September 4.
Whippet goals were scored by Abdi Calvillo with an assist from Langdon Coburn (65’) and Elijah Gutierrez with an assist from Kevin Gonzalez (70’). Fort Atkinson’s goals were scored by Connor Luebke (6’) and Tristan Dommershausen (50’).
Casey Schlicher had 7 saves for the Whippets and Ayden Schaller had 8 saves for the Blackhawks.
Comments from Coach Burns:
Your Whitewater Whippets fought hard to come back from a 2-0 deficit. After conceding a “one in a million” free kick and a slop goal from outside of the box, it appeared that your Whippets were in for a disappointing evening with only 19 minutes remaining. However, with strong second half performances from Kevin Gonzalez, Abdi Calvillo, Elijah Gunierrez, and the rest of the Whippet team, the comeback was on. The character this team displayed was really a sight to see. WHS created numerous chances to not only go even with Fort Atkinson but win it as well. In the end, the match finished 2-2, and Whippet Soccer remains undefeated.
Article and Photos Submitted by Sam Burns
Whitewater High School Head Boys’ Soccer Coach
dburns@wwusd.org
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. During this first week of school, students are using their brand-new school supplies often acquired last week or the week before. In this image, probably from around the turn of the twentieth century, drug store H. O. Conner & Sons advertised the business as the “headquarters for school books and supplies.” The O’Connor Drug Store was a long-time business in downtown Whitewater.
Before the big box stores appeared in the mid-20th century, dime stores, drug stores, stationery stores, and office stores were the go-to places to get school supplies. You will note that school pennants were also available for purchase.
To all students, the historical society wishes you a successful year!
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(2111PC, Whitewater Historical Society)
The City of Whitewater is proud to announce the latest expansion by Lavelle Industries, a long-standing manufacturer and valued employer in the community. Lavelle is investing in a new 49,855-square-foot warehouse and dock extension at its Whitewater facility, reinforcing its commitment to continued growth and operational excellence.
The expansion represents a significant reinvestment in the City of Whitewater, supporting both the local economy and Lavelle’s ability to meet the needs of their customers. The project will improve distribution capabilities and streamline shipping operations, further strengthening the company’s supply chain.
“We are grateful to see Lavelle Industries continue to grow right here in Whitewater,” said City Manager John Weidl. “Their investment reflects the strength of our business environment and the roots they’ve established in our community. It’s always a great day when one of our local employers chooses to expand, and we look forward to supporting their success for years to come.”
Lavelle Industries is known nationwide for their high-quality rubber and plastic products and assemblies including their Korky® brand of toilet repair products. They have a long history of innovation and manufacturing excellence. This expansion underscores Lavelle’s continued leadership in the industry while reaffirming its commitment to the Whitewater community.”
Initial site work is underway, with completion expected in 2026.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the City of Whitewater. Per the Lavelle website, the company is over 100 years old, and in 1954 they designed the first toilet flapper, technology which is still being used today.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team will kick off the 2025 campaign in front of the Warhawk faithful at Perkins Stadium this Saturday, September 6 against Carleton.
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between the Warhawks and the Knights. UWW heads into the season ranked 24th according to D3football.com and 22nd in the preseason American Football Coaches Association poll. Carleton is unranked to start the season.
Head Coach Jace Rindahl will lead UW-Whitewater onto the field for the third consecutive season. The Warhawks were picked to finish fourth in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference race according to a preseason poll. Returning to the squad this season is All-American and reigning WIAC Special Teams Player of the Year Tyler Vasey, as well as all-league picks Ethan Gallagher (LB), Paul Kim (DB), Karsten Libby (LB), Noah Moris (DL), Evan Oberg (OL) and Alex Pethan (OL).
The Knights were 5-5 including a 4-4 mark in the Northwoods Division of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference a year ago. Carleton has been led by head coach Tom Journell since 2018.
This season will welcome a new feature at Perkins Stadium – the Champions Club. The Champions Club is a designated area beyond the north endzone where beer and alcohol will be sold from the time gates open until the start of the fourth quarter. This area is restricted to fans aged 21 and over. Visit our Champions Club page for more information.
No changes have been made to UW-Whitewater’s tailgate, carry-in and bag policies, but fans are encouraged to take a look before heading to the game Saturday. You can find links to all three and additional gameday information on our Gameday Central page.
UW-Whitewater police and community service officers will continue to run shuttles from parking lots to and from Perkins Stadium before and after the game. New this season are specific pick-up and drop off locations as shown on this map. These areas will be the best spots to get a shuttle up to Perkins Stadium prior to the start of the game.
If you haven’t gotten your tickets or parking passes for Saturday, head to our Gameday Central page to purchase them ahead of time. Also new this season, Lot 24 – the Perkins Stadium Lot – will have limited spaces available for purchase on a per-game basis.
Can’t make it to the game on Saturday? Don’t worry, we have you covered! You can watch the Warhawks take on the Knights live on Spectrum Channel 989 courtesy of UWWTV or stream the game live on the WIAC Network. Listen to Josh and Bill on the call on 105.9 The Hog starting at noon. Fans can also follow along with live stats here.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by UW-Whitewater Athletics.
Gov. Tony Evers announced on September 3 that he is seeking applicants for the Walworth County Circuit Court – Branch 4. The appointment will fill a vacancy being created by Judge David M. Reddy’s retirement, effective Jan. 2, 2026. The new judge will complete a term ending July 31, 2027.
To apply, please email a completed application form and supporting materials to GOVJudicialAppointments@wisconsin.gov. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Mon., Sept. 29, 2025.
The application can be found on the “Apply to Serve” page on Gov. Evers’ website at: www.evers.wi.gov.
Applicants with questions about the judicial selection process may contact the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel at (608) 266-1212.
Obituaries
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
Lois Cummings, 99, of Fond du Lac, WI (formerly of Janesville, WI, Fort Atkinson, WI, Fountain Hills, AZ, and Green Valley, AZ) passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026 at the Meadows Senior Residence in Fond du Lac surrounded by family. Lois was born on February 17, 1927 in Fort Atkinson to Edward and Clarice (Roseth) Stevens. The middle child of 9 children, she attended Fort Atkinson schools and graduated in 1944. On September 11, 1948 Lois married Grant Cummings at Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Delavan, WI. Together they had 3 children, Gary, Colleen (Tom) Sabel, and Patty (Paul) … Read more
Come celebrate William Kincaid’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 30th at 1 pm at Trippe Lake Park Pavillion in Whitewater. He truly enjoyed gatherings where his favorite foods and music could be enjoyed with some of his closest friends and family. We will honor him by carrying on one of his favorite traditions. Please bring your own beverages and chairs. There is limited seating. See you all there!
Gladys Jean (Riley) Hildebrandt, age 89, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 23, 2026. Gladys was born on December 26, 1936, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Theresa Egnoski Riley. She was married to Walter Sobolik Sr., and later married James A. Hildebrandt in 1976. Gladys was a hardworking woman who spent her life caring for others. She worked in school kitchens, restaurants, factories, and cleaning services. She concluded her working career as a full-time nanny. In that role, she lovingly cared for Andrew, Daniel, and Kaitlyn Drzewiecki, who became part of her chosen family. Gladys is survived by her sons, Wally … Read more
WHITEWATER – Nan Rowley died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on September 4, 1935, in a little house on the prairie in the Town of Johnstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of Wayne L. Wilbur and Florence (McQuillen) Wilbur. Nan attended primary schools in the towns of Johnstown and Richmond and in the City of Whitewater. Nan graduated with honors from Whitewater City High School. On June 19, 1954, Nancy and Ken Rowley were united in marriage in Whitewater and went to live on the Rowley family farm in Richmond. Over the years, Nan served … Read more
Marion H. Gorniak (nee Pfeiffer), 74, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026. She was born on October 24, 1951, to the late Harvey and Loraine (nee Drifke) Pfeiffer in Fort Atkinson, WI. On June 2, 1969, she was united in marriage to Alan Gorniak. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and cooking, especially her rhubarb pies. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her. Those Marion leaves behind to cherish her memory include her husband, Alan Gorniak; stepson, Alan Bauer; sister, Sue Ann Schultz, other relatives and friends. … Read more
Ruth Irene (Phelps) Justis, 88, of Appleton City, Missouri, passed away Friday morning, April 10, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, MO, with her family by her side. Ruth was born June 3, 1937 in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Charles and Ada Mae (Maly) Phelps. She joined the Marine Corps in 1956. During her time there, she met and married her husband, Forest Wayne “Wayne” Justis in 1957. They shared 62 years of marriage and to this union, 2 children, Charles and Dorene, were born. Ruth grew up in Whitewater, WI., the oldest of three children. Ruth graduated from … Read more
Dorothy C. Kau, age 101, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Fort Memorial Hospital. Dorothy was born on March 18, 1925 in Eagle on the family farm, the daughter of John and Katherine (Faestel) VonRueden. Dorothy was a 1942 graduate of Palmyra High School. On May 21, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to Alvin E. Kau at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle and the Lord blessed their union with 8 children. Alvin and Dorothy enjoyed 50 years of marriage together until Alvin’s death in the year 2000. Dorothy enjoyed being a farm … Read more
Dorothy E. McCracken, 95, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, in Sarasota, Florida. Born on April 14, 1930, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Carl and Joyce Meyer, Dorothy grew up in Whitewater and graduated from Whitewater High School. She then worked for a photographer and hand painted his first colored portraits, until she got married. She and her first husband, Bernard Wafle, owned and operated a 179-acre dairy farm in Helenville, Wisconsin, for 25 years before relocating to Ocala, Florida, in 1979. Dorothy later married Earl McCracken, in Ocala, Fl. She also shared a special companionship later in life with … Read more
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