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Top 16 finishes (Top 8 Individual medal & Top 4 Relays medal)
200 Medley Relay
- Georgia Esch, Atreya Wilson, Lucy Davis, Adalynn Frye (11th – 2:42.08)
200 Freestyle
- Makayla Bazeley (1st – 2:00.26)
- Lucy Davis (16th – 2:40.54) *dropped 6 seconds
100 IM
- Charlotte Hajewski (11th – 1:19.08)
- Atreya Wilson (15th – 1:26.57)
50 Freestyle
- Maggie Maas (15th – 30.35)
500 Freestyle
- Emerson Dunham (2nd – 6:05.21)
- Charlotte Hajewski (8th – 6:31.85) *dropped 10 seconds
200 Freestyle Relay
- Makayla Bazeley, Maggie Maas, Charlotte Hajewski, Emerson Dunham (5th – 1:56.69) – Makayla Bazeley’s lead off 50 time improved her Whippet Top 10 to number 6 overall
- Adalynn Frye, Georgia Esch, Payton Peacock, Atreya Wilson (11th – 2:21.97)
100 Backstroke
- Makayla Bazeley (1st – 1:00.06)
100 Breaststroke
- Emerson Dunham (7th – 1:25.06)
400 Freestyle Relay
- Makayla Bazeley, Charlotte Hajewski, Maggie Maas, Emerson Dunham (5th – 4:20.61)
- Atreya Wilson, Georgia Esch, Payton Peacock, Lucy Davis (12th – 5:09.31)
Up next the Whippets head to the Conference Championship Meets. Tuesday, October 24th is JV Conference at Elkhorn, starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 28th is Varsity Conference at Delavan-Darien, starting at 11 a.m. Hope to see you there!
Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.
The Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Top Dog fundraising contest kicks off November 4 and runs through November 18 and anyone can submit a cute photo of their pet beginning November 4.
Participants will vote for the cutest and/or coolest dog and the winner will be the dog with the most votes. Beginning November 4, dog owners can go to the contest website at wwtopdog.net (see QR code below) and donate $5 to enter a photo of their dog (showing the dog only-no humans) to enter the contest. After registration, contestants will encourage their friends and family to vote for their canine companion (votes are just $1 each). Contestants can also vote multiple times. At the end of the contest, the top eight dogs with the most votes will have the choice of some great prizes.
Many thanks to First Citizens State Bank for being the major sponsor of this event. Thanks, also, to the following sponsors for contributing prizes: Second Salem Brewing, HSI Rentals, Shadow Dog Photography, Whitewater Veterinary Hospital, Whitewater Pet Supplies Plus, Whitewater Animal Medical Center and Studio 84.
Following is a list of the current prizes and additional sponsors:
Grand Prize
Second Salem Brewing Company, working with the winner, will craft an exclusive springtime brew featuring a portrait of the victorious pup on its label. The winner’s owner/guardian will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with their Brewmaster on the label’s design and the beer’s moniker.
Additional Prizes and sponsors are as follows:
- $500 Cash prize
- A winter weekend retreat provided by HSI Rentals at their Lake Alice Airbnb
- Shadow Dog Photography is providing a portrait experience – $800 value
- Whitewater Veterinary Hospital will provide a free annual exam, vaccinations, heartworm test and fecal test – value $300
- Whitewater Pet Supplies Plus will provide a gift basket for your “top dog.”
- Whitewater Animal Medical Center will provide a gift basket of prizes for your “top dog.”
- Studio 84 in Whitewater will provide an artist’s rendition of your special dog.
Rick Halvorson, Kiwanian and Chair of the Top Dog contest, said, “As a retired vet, I am very enthusiastic about this program that combines our love of our pets with our love of community and helping the children of Whitewater and the world.”
This fun contest will support youth activities in our Whitewater community. If you have an interest in helping youth in Whitewater, you can check out Whitewater Kiwanis on Facebook and join our Club by contacting Patrick Taylor at Petaylor.law@gmail.com.
Whitewater Kiwanis is a group of dedicated volunteers who help both children of the Whitewater community and the world, all with 100% of funds raised going directly to youth projects and zero to administrative costs. Over the past five years the club raised funds to make possible the recent installation of the city’s first piece of inclusive playground equipment, a We-Go-Round, in Starin Park. Annual donations are also made to provide shoes and winter clothes for students, as well as support for organizations such as the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, The Community Space, and the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
Editor’s note: The following word of thanks was received from Patricia Chaput.
The Whitewater Community Food Pantry wishes to thank everyone for their support of “Stuff the Bus” which was held in September. The event was conducted by the Whitewater High School Student Council during Homecoming Week. All Whitewater schools participated in this event and together they collected 2,640 pounds of food. The high school students were responsible for loading the food on the bus and delivering it to the food pantry. We thank all students from all the schools for their hard work in support of this event. Beth Arnett, the Event Coordinator, and Lead teachers Amy Houwers and Anne Cresswell helped Beth, and Dave Nelson provided the bus. We thank all of them for their time and dedication to this yearly event. Needless to say, we are extremely grateful.
We also wish to thank the Whitewater University students involved with the Community Garden for their hard work. They have been bringing in fresh produce every week throughout the summer. Thank you to our local farmers and gardeners who also bring in produce from their crops.
Whitewater churches and friends of the food pantry are also very generous in support of the Whitewater Community Food Pantry. With the end of September, the pantry has three hundred and fifteen families who are in need of help.
Currently, during the month of October, we are signing patrons up for the Thanksgiving meal which will include the meat of choice: turkey, ham, chicken or ground beef and the fixings for the Thanksgiving dinner. The Thanksgiving meal will be given out November 15 and 16 during regular hours. The pantry is open every Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The Whitewater Community Food Pantry will be closed Thanksgiving Day November 23, 2023.
The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area’s Book Club’s second discussion of Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by Jacob Tobia, will be held on Thursday, October 26, 6-8 p.m., in the Irvin L Young Memorial Library in Whitewater. Part II (pgs 98-174) of the book will be discussed. Sissy is a complex, moving and enlightening memoir written by a gender non-conforming writer. Tobia inspires readers to open their minds and experience his fascinating journey of gender positivity.
Books are reserved at the Whitewater Public Library. League members and the general public are invited to fully participate in discussions of this engaging memoir. Refreshments will be served! If you have any questions, please contact Dwight C. Watson at dwight.watsondcw@gmail.com or call 920-542-8601.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!
According to the City of Whitewater Public Works Department, on Tuesday morning October 24th the street department will be closing N. Franklin St. for the removal of the Territorial Oak Tree. There will be a hard closure at W Main St. Homes and Fairhaven will be accessible from W Starin Rd. The closure will be removed as soon as work is complete.
The Territorial Oak tree and site are Local Landmarks. The site includes a Bur Oak tree dating to 1800 or before that was used as the fixed point from which U.S. federal land surveyors platted the village of Whitewater in 1836.
Unfortunately the tree has been in decline for a number of years and recently has been deemed to be dying.
The following Banner articles provide further information about the tree.
“Landmark Trek: The territorial burr oak tree and its impending end,” posted September 17, 2023 – This article includes a link to the Landmark Trek video about the tree.
https://whitewaterbanner.com/landmark-trek-the-territorial-burr-oak-tree-and-its-impending-end/
“#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: The Territorial Oak,” January 20, 2021
https://whitewaterbanner.com/flashback-friday-with-the-historical-society-the-territorial-oak/
“Territorial Oak Site Designated as Local Landmark,” March 26, 2019
https://whitewaterbanner.com/territorial-oak-site-designated-as-local-landmark/
Editor’s note: In previous years, Ghoul’s Night Out has still been held in spite of inclement weather, so it’s probably safe to assume that it will not be canceled by rain tonight.
Start your Halloween celebrations right! Join the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce and local businesses on Main Street and beyond for a ghoulish good time of scavenger hunts, trick or treating, costume contest, fright or delight, and more!
Participating Businesses doing Trick-or-Treat Inside or Outside:
The Sweet Spot Bakehouse and Cafe
Whitewater Cinemas
Fairfield Inn & Suites Whitewater
BaristaCats Cafe
advance auto parts
Culver’s
Revamp Nutrition
Associated Bank
Burtness Chevrolet
HSI RENTALS
Fort Community Credit Union
Whitewater Arts Alliance
Underground Cutz
Whitewater Family Dentistry
Arby’s
Whitewater Fire/EMS
The Vinery Stained Glass Studio
Rocky Rococo
SteveO’s Flip Flops & Tank Tops
Mercyhealth Whitewater
QDOBA
Botanica Beauty Parlour
The Book Teller
Mainstreet Laundromat (Officer Stuppy and K9 Tilla will be there handing out candy!)
SSM Health
FCCU
Rosas Pizza
Whitewater Walmart (with Whitewater Police Department!)
First Citizens State Bank
McCullough’s LTC Pharmacy
M.E. & My Pets
Cozumel
Subway
Businesses Offering a Game/Activity:
The Sweet Spot Bakehouse and Cafe
Whitewater Cinemas
BaristaCats Cafe
Revamp Nutrition
Whitewater Nutrition
Associated Bank
Burtness Chevrolet
Whitewater Arts Alliance
Whitewater Family Dentistry
The Vinery Stained Glass Studio
Mercyhealth Whitewater
Walworth-Jefferson County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail
Productive Living Systems
Whitewater 4-H Club – (Will be set up at Saint Patrick Church’s corner)
Rosas Pizza
Businesses Participating in the Scavenger Hunt (grab forms at the Chamber office or at the business!):
The Sweet Spot Bakehouse
The Sweet Spot Cafe
Whitewater Cinemas
Fairfield Inn & Suites Whitewater
BaristaCats Cafe
Advance Auto Parts
Culver’s
Revamp Nutrition
Associated Bank
Burtness Chevrolet
Whitewater Arts Alliance
Underground Cutz
Whitewater Family Dentistry
Whitewater Fire/EMS
The Vinery Stained Glass Studio
Rocky Rococo
Mercyhealth Whitewater
QDOBA
Botanica Beauty Parlour
Center Street Cafe
The Book Teller
Businesses that will be set up along the sidewalk outside the Chamber’s office!
BaristaCats Cafe
Whitewater Nutrition
Walworth-Jefferson County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail
Productive Living Systems
Ferradermis Robotics
City of Whitewater Parks & Recreation
Whitewater Grocery Co.
The year was 1996. The Spice Girls were popular, people went to Blockbuster to rent a movie, the Ford Fiesta was the most popular vehicle on the road, and 16% of homes owned a cell phone. It also happens to be the last time that Whitewater had both a girls’ and boys’ cross country team qualify for state in the same year. We can now add 2023 to that historical data. The boys’ and girls’ CC teams raced with passion and a purpose at the WIAA Sectional race held at UW-Parkside on Saturday, October 21st.
The boys raced first with cool temps, and calm winds, on a soft and muddy course. They quickly put people on notice that they were not messing around. With 4 runners in the top 10, their Whippet red jerseys were flying at the front of the race. Jack Hefty took an early lead, gapping the field within 600 meters and never looked back. His role was to secure one point for the team and he did just that by crossing the line first in 17:13 to claim his first sectional cross country title. Nate Holden held a top five position throughout the race and gutted his way to a fourth place finish with a time of 17:47. Miles Nickelsburg ran with the confidence of being surrounded by teammates and flourished in 7th place with a time of 17:52. Xavier Zei floated along and secured a top 10 finish by stopping the clock in 18:16. With such a strong tone set by the top four guys, Onyx Thompson was feeling ice in his veins and felt the energy from his teammates crushing it up front and ran a lifetime best as the team’s fifth runner, placing 25th overall to seal the team scoring. Quincy Boudreau was just 22 seconds off his lifetime best on this grueling course and placed 40th with a time of 19:49. Andrew O’Toole battled his way through the course to finish in 62nd with a time of 21:42. The final team scores showed Whitewater had won a sectional title with a team total of 47 points, with the next closest team being conference foe Clinton, with 74. That margin was a mere five points at the RVC meet a week earlier. The last time just the boys’ team had qualified for state was 2007.
The girls were in for a fight in their race as well. Mady Hefty was back on the starting line after missing conference and was not going to be denied the chance to compete at state. Battling through her recent setback, she paced the team by placing fifth overall with a time of 21:54, which would have guaranteed her a spot at state regardless of how the team performed. However, it was the team that shined the most on this day. Like the boys, Mady set the tone up front while Athena Soto and Nola Coburn weren’t far from her. Athena kept inching her way up place by place and was able to take 6th overall, 12 seconds back from Mady in 22:06. Nola Coburn looked fantastic and took 8th overall to wrap up a great 1-2-3 punch. Nola’s time was 22:29. Carley Boudreau gave the race all the grit she had and placed 20th with a time of 23:36. Ema Aranda was all guts as she not only ran a lifetime best time on this challenging course and conditions, but she did so after taking a fall. She continued to race with bloodied knees to a 25th place finish to seal the scoring runners with a time of 24:17. Ema’s sister Bella was the next Whippet across the line in 37th with a time of 25:57. Silvia Harris wrapped up the day for the Whippets with a 41st place showing and an overall time of 26:35. When the team scores were tabulated, Clinton came out on top with a score of 31 and Whitewater was second just ahead of a tough Jefferson team to take the final team qualifying spot. Whitewater scored 57 to Jefferson’s 69. The last time the girls’ team qualified for state was 2015.
The teams will now prepare for the WIAA Division 2 State Meet in Wisconsin Rapids at The Ridges Golf Course which will be held on Saturday, October 28th. The boys will race first at 12:35 and the girls will race at 2:25. For all the WIAA State Meet Information, visit: https://www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Fall/Girls-Cross-Country/Tournament
BOYS’ RESULTS: https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Cross_Country/2023/racinesectionalb.htm
GIRLS’ RESULTS:
https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Cross_Country/2023/racinesectionalg.htm
Article and Photos Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Head Cross Country Coachccarstens@wwusd.org
Whitewater Lions Club Annual Dine-in and/or Take-out Pancake Breakfast
Welcome back to the Whitewater Lions Club annual Pancake Breakfast, Sunday, October 29th , from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Although there is a chill in the air, there is warmth and hospitality being dished out along with the eggs, sausage, and pancakes at the Whitewater Lions Club, located at N7462 Kettle Moraine Drive. Freshly brewed
steaming hot coffee, cold milk and juice are included.
Dine-in or Take-out, there will be treats for the kids and a 50/50 cash raffle with bonus prizes for the adults.
Profits from the breakfast and your donations of non-perishable food items will be donated to the Whitewater Food Pantry. Thank you for your generous freewill donations.
Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by the Whitewater Lions Club.
Obituaries
Obituary: Fred Chester Traxler, 78 Fred was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin on October 23, 1945, son of Chester and Elva (Klug) Traxler. He was born to eternal life at Ascension St. Francis Place in Milwaukee on June 1, 2024. Fred was a 1964 graduate of Whitewater High School. In his younger days Fred enjoyed bowling and polka dancing–and was very good at both. He was very competitive, especially when pitching horseshoes with his Dad, brothers, and cousin Sid. He was always ready for a card game, and was also a big fan of the Packers and Brewers. Fred is preceded … Read more
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Harry Oliver Dempsey passed away peacefully and among family in Elkhorn, WI on July 24, 2024 at the age of 80. Born on May 21, 1944 to William and Norma (Shober) Dempsey, Harry grew up on the family farm in Whitewater. In his younger years, Harry enjoyed hunting and fishing, a passion that he later passed on to his own children. All his life he could often be found in his shop, building or fixing something – from a child’s toy to lawn mowers, cars, and tractors. His passion for self-sufficiency extended to his large garden whose abundance he happily … Read more
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SHIRLEY A. KNUTESON, age 85, of Whitewater, died Thursday, June 27, 2024 at Glenwood at Mulberry Campus in Whitewater. She was born to Hugo and Helen (Wilson) Ferge of Elkhorn, WI. She attended school in Walworth High School, graduating in 1956. Shirley worked at Sterlingworth in Elkhorn and then Fairhaven Nursing Home prior to retirement. As a young woman, she loved roller skating, had a love for animals, especially her dogs and horses on the farm. She was a loyal Brewer and Packer fan. Her diverse family was her pride and joy. Shirley is survived by her six children Jerry … Read more
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A celebration of life for Dave Triebold will be held July 27 at Triebold Farms, with festivities beginning around 11:30 am. A rememberance service will take place at 12:30 pm. A pig roast will follow, and the pool will be open. The family encourages you to stay through the evening for a bonfire as well. Contact Kris (262)949-5474 or Kath (414)412-4385 with questions.
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James Paul Fisher, 86, known by friends as JP or Jay, passed away on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at UW Hospital, Madison, with his immediate family by his side. His body finally surrendered to a heart attack after battling heart and kidney ailments for many years. Born in Fond du lac, Wisconsin, on October 25, 1937, to Lorraine and James Fisher, JP was a resident of Elkhorn and then Whitewater, Wisconsin. At age 2 JP was diagnosed with polio. Through daily therapy administered by his mother and grandmother, he overcame this life threatening virus, and with a prognosis of limited … Read more
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Shirley M. Messier, 86, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on July 8, 2024. Shirley was born to Erwin and Leona Reese on May 20, 1938, in Farmington, Wisconsin. Shirley (“Shirttail”) attended the local country school, then set out on her own, taking a job doing factory work. On August 24, 1957, she married Blaine Messier in Jefferson, Wisconsin. They had three daughters, Michele (Shelly), Terry, and Karen. Shirley spent many years being a working wife and mother, finally retiring from Polymer Technologies / MacLean Fogg in Whitewater. Shirley loved country music and spent her retirement years going to George Jones … Read more
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Patricia Ann ParrBorn 7/20/42Departed to Heaven 5/10/23 About herself, Patricia often said “I love life, I love God, He always has taken care of me, and He always will”. Patricia died peacefully at Angels Grace Hospice in Oconomowoc, after a long and courageously fought season of declining health. Patricia was born in Beaver Dam, to a lovely family, which included her older brother Dennis and not too long after, her lifetime best friend and little sister Mary. They grew up on an idyllic “Gentlemen’s Farm” outside of Jefferson, with horses and many animals. Her parents, Floyd and Kathryn owned the … Read more
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Marjorie Alice “GG” Roloff, 89, passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at Golden Years in Lake Geneva, WI. She was born July 31, 1934, to Fred and Martha (Arndt) Papcke, in Whitewater, WI, the fifth of eleven children. GG attended South Heart Prairie School, across the road from the family’s home farm. She is a Whitewater High School graduate. On April 19, 1953, she married her high school sweetheart, Eric. She worked a variety of jobs over the years. Her most memorable of those being the local canning factory and as a crossing guard. After retiring, she and Eric would … Read more
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Marilyn Mae Fuerstenberg, 81 of Whitewater, WI., passed away on June 27, 2024, at Agrace Hospice in Janesville, WI. Marilyn was born May 27, 1943, in Geneva Township, to Raymond and Doris Kilpin. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, her two younger brothers, Mike and Donny Kilpin. Marilyn married William (Bill) Fuerstenberg on September 21, 1963. Bill and Marilyn lived in Whitewater. Together they raised three children, taking the family on yearly vacations and camping trips throughout the years. Marilyn worked for Walworth County Health and Social Services as a Child Protection Social Worker. She dedicated 25 years … Read more
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Jerome Francis Burke, age 76, of Whitewater, WI, passed away unexpectedly following a brief illness on June 27, 2024. Jerry was born in Evanston, IL on May 13, 1948 to Stephen and Catherine Burke. He grew up in Glenview, IL, where he graduated from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grade School and then Loyola Academy (Wilmette). Those early days spawned treasured, lifelong friendships. He went on to graduate from St. Joseph’s College (IN) with a BA in Economics, and it was there thathe met his beloved wife, Eileen. They married shortly after graduation and were blessed to share their lives … Read more
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