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The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006
Today is Monday, June 15, 2026
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The Whippet Cross Country Team competed in the Palmyra Eagle Invitational on Thursday, August 28.
The boys’ race was led by freshman Tyler Carollo, who clocked a time of 20:14 and earned his first high school medal with a 24th-place finish (the top 25 received medals). Wyatt Esch and Isaiah Mendez were the team’s second and third finishers, each running within 30–35 seconds of their lifetime personal bests. Marcus Roselle and Quinton O’Toole rounded out the team’s top five, helping the Whippets place eighth out of 14 teams.
On the girls’ side, Virginia Nelson led the way with a 7th-place finish, earning a medal in 22:20—just six seconds off her lifetime best to start her sophomore season. Delaney Hammack ran strong in the No. 2 spot, finishing 31st. Melody Smith, in her first-ever 5K race, was the team’s third runner, finishing only 20 seconds behind Hammack. Ema Aranda claimed the fourth spot, while freshman Madelyn Taylor completed the team’s scoring five. The girls’ team placed sixth out of 14 teams.
Next up for the Whippets is the 22nd Annual Dirk Seibold Alumni Meet, hosted at Whitewater High School on Saturday. The boys’ race begins at 10:00 a.m. followed by the girls’ race at 10:40 a.m. This year’s course will be 1.5 miles. Fans are encouraged to come out, support the team, and reconnect with former Whippets.
Full results: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/258787/info
Article and Photos Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Head Cross Country Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org
The following are excerpts from an article by Matt Ellis in The Gazette on August 28.
“Until the Sept. 6 season kickoff, UW-Whitewater head coach Jace Rindahl and his staff will be evaluating a quarterback competition between sophomore Justin Klinkner and transfers Jake Frantl and Aidan Lucero.
None of the three has received any meaningful snaps on a college football field.
The Warhawks’ season starts by hosting Carleton (Minn.) College at Perkins Stadium for a nonconference game.
Klinkner did not see the field as a Warhawk freshman in 2024. Frantl spent four years at Pittsburgh but did not see the field. Lucero spent three years at Grand Valley State (Mich.), where he redshirted as a freshman in 2022 and did not see the field in the two years since.
“We’re intentional,” Rindahl said about the process of determining the Week 1 starter, “You’ve got three guys fighting for it. So you make sure that you give (fairness) and balance. You give them equal reps with the ones. Then you just are very strategic when you go through fall camp.”………
The Whitewater Nifty Ladies Red Hat group hosted Red Hat members from Fort Atkinson’s Sizzling Sweethearts and several members from the Madison area’s, Red Dazzling Dames, for a pizza party, bunko and silent auction on Monday, August 18, at The Real MacCoys restaurant. 24 Red Hatters enjoyed sharing a meal and getting some great bargains for numerous Red Hat items including hats, scarves, jewelry and collectibles after playing the rousing game of bunko.
The Red Hat groups are open to any “young at heart” lady who is 50 years young or older. Red Hats “In Training” can join if they are under 50 years young. For more information on how to become a member of this fun raising, NOT fund raising group feel free to call Recording Secretary, Jeanine Fassl, at 262-473-4906.
Editor’s note: This report was provided by Jeanine Fassl.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Not only is this Labor Day Weekend, but it is also the Walworth County Fair weekend. The fair has been held on this weekend for many years and in 1906, it was held in September as shown on the sign on the old Town Line Creamery seen in this photo. Creameries were small factories that made butter and purchased milk directly from local farmers. In this view, we see farmers dropping off their milk to the creamery. Creameries and cheese factories like this one helped transform Wisconsin into the “dairy state” during the turn of the twentieth century.
The historical society hopes you enjoy your Labor Day weekend, perhaps with a day at the fair!
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
3033P Whitewater Historical Society
The construction signs have been removed, and Walworth Avenue has reopened to through traffic. It had been closed for full reconstruction since June 9, with completion having been projected to be by the end of August. The entire stretch of the road now has a double line, indicating that passing is not allowed.
As was previously mentioned on The Banner, “Normally road construction in the city is its own responsibility. The Walworth Avenue project, however, was selected to be included in the funding provided to the state under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Consequently, the state will be responsible for 80% of the cost, leaving the city with only 20%.”
Editor’s note: This announcement was submitted by Shelby Reese.
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
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