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The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006
Today is Wednesday, May 13, 2026
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The Whitewater Lions would like to congratulate Joe Sherman for being our Grand Marshal for the Fourth of July Parade this year.
Joe Sherman is a lifelong resident of Whitewater living on the family homestead farm. Joe comes from an Air Force family with someone continually serving since 1955. He joined the United States Air Force in 1965. After basic training he went to flight school to be a flight engineer. In 1966 he volunteered to serve in Vietnam and was assigned to the H53 Jolly Green Helicopter Squadron doing 133 air rescue missions in 13 months. He was based at Udorn, Thailand from 1967-68. After his military service Joe went to aircraft flight school in Janesville and flew charter for General Aviation Corporation.
In 2000 he was called to do maintenance at the First United Methodist Church which he continues to do today. He is active in the church and community in many ways. He is always helping others, providing assistance and practicing servant ministry at every opportunity, including delivering food, working with youth ministry, organizing special ministry activities, setting up big events (including organizing the 4 th of July food tent) and assisting with weddings and funerals. He volunteers many hours with Bethel House. In 2020 Joe was honored by Whitewater Unites Lives as a Hometown Hero.
Information and second photo submitted by Donna Segraves.
Updated on 7/28/25 @ 7:30 a.m. to add information regarding Cty Hwy P closure.
Updated on 7/28/25 @ 10 a.m. to add additional information regarding Cty Hwy P closure.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Road construction on US Highway 12 between Elkhorn Road/County Highway P and WIS 20/WIS 67 started in late March and was scheduled to be completed in “late summer.” This project was completed on July 25. Upgraded traffic signal equipment was installed at the US 12 and Elkhorn Road/Cty P intersection. The entire highway was resurfaced, and rumble strips were added to the centerline and the shoulders.
Rumble strips, “known for their auditory and tactile warnings, have proven to be an effective measure in ensuring driver safety. These patterns on the pavement surface alert drivers who have drifted out of their travel lane, whether due to distracted driving or fatigue, providing them with an opportunity to correct their steering. The Federal Highway Administration reports that rumble strips reduce:
- Crossover crashes by 40-60 percent when center line rumble strips are installed
- Single vehicle run-off-road fatal and injury crashes on rural freeways by nearly 29 percent when edge line rumble strips are installed”
The following was provided by Amy Limones, Walworth County Highway Department Operations Support Assistant:
“CTH-A is a closed to all through traffic. Meaning unless a person lives on it or is going to a business located within the work zone, they are to use alternate routes.
The project began after Memorial Day and has always been scheduled for completion the end of September.
They are trying to keep cars off of CTH-A between North/South CTH-P in order to continue with work now that US12 is reopened. They realize the gas station is within that location and there will be vehicles that need to go through.
At this time, milling continues to be done and I believe they are starting to pave. Work was to be done all day this past Saturday but it was cancelled because of the rain Saturday morning.”
Update 7/28/25 @ 8:55 a.m. – The NWS has reduced the predicted heat index for our area from 103 to 101 degrees. Newly added: “A complex of thunderstorms is expected to approach the region late this evening. These storms are expected to be in a weakening phase as they approach, but may still be capable of producing some strong/severe wind gusts, especially over south-central Wisconsin. There is above average uncertainty regarding the track and strength of these storms; some details should become clearer by later this afternoon as storms begin to form over South Dakota.”
The National Weather Service [NWS] Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office has issued a Heat Advisory all of Southern Wisconsin for Monday from noon to 8 p.m. Our area is predicted to have a heat index of 101 degrees F during the afternoon and early evening. There is a possibility of thunderstorms and/or cloud cover lingering over our area later into the morning than anticipated, in which case the advisory-level heat indices might be delayed until mid-afternoon.
It is recommended to spend as little time as possible outdoors, and if that is necessary, to be certain to hydrate frequently.
Ron Binning shared this photo he took of the Birge Fountain on the beautiful sunny morning of July 21.
A Landmarks Trek video that was produced in 2023, the 120th anniversary year of the fountain, provides interesting information about its history.
Our thanks to Ron Binning 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!
To register click here. Registration is preferred but walk-ins are welcome.
City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda has 12 items including Discussion and possible action on a education piece for the Whitewater Banner why the Bradford pear should not be used in plantings and the environmental impact of using them; Discussion and possible action on the use of Tree Sale funds to pay to remove Bradford Pear trees from the city landscape & replace with alternatives.
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor, 312 West St Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82152804858?pwd=Dv009gV9zzhbMcLx1Y3zETxLfyz4bD.1
Meeting ID: 821 5280 4858
Passcode: 525352
Dial +1 312 626 6799 US
Whitewater Unified School District School Board – CLOSED SESSION – 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: to discuss Superintendent evaluation process.
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street
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6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85350592490?pwd=3ybp64g4eQNd47eO4jsIvhKy5Ba558.1
– Passcode: 732656
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– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 853 5059 2490
– Passcode: 732656
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Closed Session
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7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online – OPEN SESSION
Agenda [click on “meetings” in upper right corner] includes High School Scorecard Review
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82666153766?pwd=oPJ4frZLHQ3tar1LzNxcVL2FsjUg8p.1
– Passcode: 597924
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– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 826 6615 3766
– Passcode: 597924
In a unanimous decision on July 21, the Board of Trustees voted to rename the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library the Whitewater Public Library. This decision included input from community members who attended the last two library board meetings.
Library Board President, Jennifer Motszko, stated that “the decision to change the name from Irvin L. Young Memorial Library to Whitewater Public Library reflects our commitment to creating a more inclusive and welcoming space for all members of the Whitewater community. This new name better represents the library as a vibrant hub and gathering place for everyone in our town.”
It is important to the library board, library staff, and community that the Young name continues to be honored. A sign over the entrance to the existing library will read “Irvin L. Young Memorial Wing.” The original donor plaque will also be displayed in a prominent location in the library.
Library Director, Diane Jaroch, stated that “the name Whitewater Public Library conveys a sense of community and inclusiveness. We are a public, community space that is free for all to explore. The renaming of the library honors all of the donors who have contributed and all of our community members.”
The library building project is slated to be completed in early November 2025. There is still time to donate to the building project. Donations may be sent to the Whitewater Community Foundation at https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/donate/.
The Whitewater Public Library is located at 431 W. Center Street. More information about the library can be found at whitewaterlibrary.org.
Editor’s note: [Previously published on The Whitewater Banner.] Theological Seminary in Chicago. In 1940 he started the Snow Valley plant of Young Engineering in Palmyra. In 1954 he married Fern Drummond Jones of Chicago and established a home in his farm in the Palmyra area as well as retaining the Chicago home. Per his obituary, “He dedicated his life and income to the Irvin L. Young Foundation, a charitable foundation concerned mainly with the support of medical missionary work in Africa working through the board of 15 different denominations….Untold thousands of lives have been affected by the life and work of this one man.” Fern Young died in 2002. The Irvin L. Young Foundation made donations from its remaining assets of approximately $670,000 in 2019 and it was dissolved effective November 1, 2020.
The Whitewater Banner asked Library Director Diane Jaroch if she knew whether there were any stipulations connected to the foundation’s donation specifying how long the library was required to be named after Young. Jaroch replied, “I did do research before this idea was proposed, and there is nothing in the paperwork stating that we cannot change the name of the library. I also consulted with Stacey Lunsford, the former Director. I plan to present the board with information on the history of the naming rights in their June board packet, so they will have all of the pertinent information they need before the June 16 board meeting.”
Local historian Carol Cartwright indicated that newspaper articles from 1987 and 1989 reported that the Young foundation gave $500,000 toward the library with the stipulation that it be named after Irvin Young. She stated that nothing was said about the duration of the naming. Taking inflation into account, today’s value of that donation would be approximately $1,300,000. The library opened in 1991, so it has carried the Young name for 34 years. The Young Auditorium, which opened on the UW-Whitewater campus in 1993, was also constructed with donations that included significant assistance from the Young foundation.
The approximate $6 million addition and renovation currently underway is being funded by over $2,300,000 in donations, library reserves of $840,000 and a $3,000,000 commitment from the city.
The Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) will close the 2025 Fran Achen Photography Exhibition with a special live performance by Pieces of Eight, a semiprofessional woodwind octet from southern Wisconsin.
The concert will take place on Sunday, July 27 at 2 p.m. at the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main Street. The octet includes pairs of oboes, clarinets, horns, and bassoons, and will perform works by Mozart, Hidas, Kalinnikov, and a new piece by Wisconsin composer Brian Packham.
Admission is free. A suggested donation of $10 will support WAA’s ongoing arts programming.
“This performance is a great way to wrap up the exhibition,” said Jeff McDonald, chair of the photographic exhibition. “It’s a unique opportunity to bring two art forms together—photography and music—in one shared space.”
The 2025 Fran Achen Juried Photography Exhibition features over 200 photographs in total. About 100 pieces are displayed on the gallery walls as part of the Print Division, and another 100 or so are projected digitally in the new Digital Division.
It’s a remarkable expansion from previous years, showcasing work from 57 photographic artists across six states—Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Florida. Guests are invited to explore the gallery and enjoy light refreshments prior to the performance.
For more information, Contact: Kim Adams, Gallery Director, Whitewater Arts Alliance
Phone: 608-201-2151
Email: wwartsalliance@gmail.com
Website: whitewaterarts.org
Gallery Hours: Thursdays-Sundays, 12 p.m.- 4 p.m.
“20 Years Of Celebrating The Arts And Creating Community!”
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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