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Today is Monday, June 15, 2026
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“Just a Bit Outside: The Story of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers”
Tuesday, August 26, 1 pm
(Sports/Baseball/Documentary)
Free and open to all.
Hopefully, by the time you read this, the Brewers will be thick into this season‘s Race for the 2025 pennant! This is the chronicle of the City of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin and their 55 year love affair with the Milwaukee Brewers, and the incredible yet heartbreaking run in the 1982 World Series. (Our day will come). You’ve got to believe!
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/
Editor’s note: The following announcement was made by Chancellor Corey A. King on the UW-Whitewater announcements page on August 13.
We are thrilled to announce that Michael (Mike) Stefiuk will be joining UW-Whitewater as the new Director of The Young Performing Arts Center. With over 20 years of transformative leadership in arts administration, Mike has held prominent roles in top symphony orchestras, music festivals, and higher education institutions. Most recently, he served as Director of Concert Operations at the Eastman School of Music [Rochester, NY], overseeing three prestigious venues and nearly 1,000 events annually.
Mike’s recent accomplishments include:
- Leading teams of 20+ staff and managing multimillion-dollar budgets
- Increasing ticket revenue by 48% while cutting expenses by 50%
- Launching award-winning community initiatives and partnerships
- Programming major festivals and commissioning new works
- Producing events for audiences of up to 72,000
Mike’s vision aligns perfectly with The Young’s mission to enrich the cultural life of Whitewater and the surrounding region, and we look forward to his collaborative spirit and passion for creating spaces where the arts can thrive.
A special thank you to Dean Michael Dugan for his exceptional leadership in serving as Interim Director in addition to his responsibilities as Dean. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the search committee, chaired by Dr. Katy Casey, and to our HR partners for their dedication and hard work throughout the summer. Their collective efforts were instrumental in making this appointment a reality.
We also want to extend heartfelt gratitude to the current staff of The Young for their unwavering dedication and hard work throughout this time of transition. Their commitment has been vital in keeping the center vibrant and moving forward.
Mike will officially begin on Monday, September 15, and will represent The Young at the Midwest Arts Expo in Milwaukee. Please join us in welcoming him to the Warhawk family!
Editor’s note: According to the Eastman School of Music website, Stefiuk received a bachelor’s degree in music from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Music from New England Conservatory,
The following Walworth County court felony charges and convictions are from the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access site.
Tracy Smiter, 39, of 340 N Newcomb St., A6, Whitewater, has been charged with strangulation and suffocation, domestic abuse assessments; false imprisonment, domestic abuse assessments; felony bail jumping, domestic abuse assessments.
Nathan S McAllister, 40, of 135 W Main St, 2, Whitewater, has been found guilty of strangulation and suffocation, domestic abuse assessments; Intimidate Victim/Domestic Abuse Crime, Domestic Abuse Assessments.
Updated 8/24/25 @ 10:50 p.m. to add the photo of the plaque that was unveiled today.
American Family Field was sold out on Sunday, August 24 as the Milwaukee Brewers paid tribute to Bob Uecker. The full ceremony may be viewed here.
Uecker was a Brewers legend, broadcasting for the team for 54 seasons. Before that, he played as a backup catcher in MLB, including a stint with the Milwaukee Braves, making his major league debut in 1962 and winning a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964.
Beyond baseball, Uecker was a regular guest on Johnny Carson, he starred in the sitcom “Mr. Belvedere,” where he played the character George Owens, and had a role in the movie “Major League,” where he played himself. He even hosted “Saturday Night Live” on Oct. 13, 1984.
Uecker died at his Menomonee Falls home on January 16, 2025, ten days shy of his 91st birthday.
Our thanks to Ron Binning for passing on the kind letter of gratitude from the Uecker family.
The Whitewater Whippets downed Big Foot 26-22 in the football home opener on Friday night, August 22.
Comments from Coach Bartlett:
We went into this game with the mindset of proving that Whitewater football is ready to fight for all four quarters. Our season mantra is Pound the Stone — a reminder that every play matters and that adversity is always part of the game.
Big Foot gave us a tough battle, and we had to overcome our own mistakes, but our players never stopped grinding. We opened strong with a defensive three-and-out followed by a touchdown on our first offensive play. Big Foot responded immediately, setting the tone for a back-and-forth fight the rest of the way.
Our players’ resilience showed late in the fourth quarter when, down by a score, we put together the game-winning drive. Junior quarterback Ty Bucholtz delivered a huge throw to junior Emmett Spear across the middle, while senior Christian Minett and Bucholtz powered through with tough runs to keep the chains moving. That drive was set up by a momentum-shifting kick return from junior Hayden Armstrong after Big Foot had just taken the lead.
New offensive coordinator Daniel Strause called an excellent series to close out the game, while new defensive coordinator Jacob Biesterveld kept our defense locked in and battling all night. Our entire coaching staff — Michael Maas, Michael O’Neal, Quinn Williams, and Jacob Brown — played a vital role in the victory.
Senior Casey Lyon (#2) also stood out, making plays at wide receiver while anchoring our defense at middle linebacker with toughness and athleticism.
This win was a true team effort and an important step in showing who we are becoming as a program: a Whitewater team that will keep pounding the stone until the final whistle.
Stats:
Rushing
- #4 Ty Bucholtz 8 Rushes, 60 Yards, 1 TD
- #33 Christian Minett 14 Rushes, 85 Yards, 2 TD
Passing
- #4 Ty Bucholtz 8-16, 156 Yards, 1 TD, 1 Int
Receiving
- #1 Trevor Piper 1 Catch, 3 Yards
- #2 Casey Lyon 6 Catches, 113 Yards, 1 TD
- #3 Emmett Spear 1 Catch, 17 Yards
- #15 Connor Brummeyer 1 Catch, 23 Yards
Defensive Notable Stats
- #3 Emmett Spear 5 Solo, 6 Assists, 11 Total Tackles
- #50 Deavion Olson 2 Solo, 2 Assists, 1 TFL
Article Submitted by Sam Bartlett
Whitewater High School Head Football Coach
barsa01@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Olivia Kowlaski
Hartland Shores is proud to announce the groundbreaking of their new residential development located on the city’s southeast side. The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 10:30 AM, marking the start of Phase I of the project.
The multi-family development will ultimately encompass eight buildings with a total of 128 units, and will begin the first phase which includes construction of two buildings comprising 32 apartments.
As part of Central and Southeastern Wisconsin, particularly Jefferson and Walworth counties, faces a significant housing crunch, new multi-family developments like this one are increasingly critical. According to data provided by Thrive Economic Development and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), in Jefferson County, vacancy rates are alarmingly low—sitting around 3% for rental housing and just 0.4% owner-occupied housing, both of which are well below a healthy 6% benchmark. Further, projections estimate that 3,500 to 5,250 new market-rate units would be entirely absorbed within three years.
Meanwhile, according to Walworth County Economic Development Alliance’s (WCEDA) housing study, Walworth County continues to suffer from a shortage of housing affordable to working families and essential community members. Construction costs are rising rapidly—single-family costs increased 37% and multi-family by 38% between 2020 and 2023. From 2006 to 2022, the county underproduced housing by approximately 4,179 units.
City Manager John Weidl emphasized the importance of projects like this one, “In an area that is increasingly drawing attention, continuing to expand housing options is critical. Where people live is powerful—new homes mean new opportunities, stronger neighborhoods, and meaningful community growth.”
Chris Slater, Developer with Hartland Shores, shared his enthusiasm, “I’m thrilled to break ground on this development right here in Whitewater. Our goal is simple: to contribute positively to the community by providing quality housing. This project will offer real solutions for the area’s workforce, families, and those looking to make Whitewater their home.”
The groundbreaking will bring together local officials, community members, and the Hartland Shores team at the project site on the southeast side of Whitewater on August 26 at 10:30 AM.
Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Manfred Richter from Pixabay. The above press release was provided by the City of Whitewater. Becky Magestro, chief of staff, confirmed that the groundbreaking is for the project that was previously described as for Slate Development and that the event will take place in the proximity of Moraine View Parkway & Jakes Way. The sources referenced were provided as shown below.
Sources for Housing Data in Jefferson & Walworth Counties:
- Jefferson County Housing Report
- Source: Thrive Economic Development & Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority
(WHEDA) - Details:
o Jefferson County’s rental vacancy rate: ~3.2%
o Owner-occupied vacancy rate: ~0.4%
o Needed housing units: 3,500 to 5,250
o Household growth (2012–2022): 9.5% - Link: ruralwi.com – Solving Jefferson County’s Housing Gap
- Jefferson County Strategic Housing Plan
- Source: Jefferson County Housing Task Force / ThriveED
- Details:
o Vacancy rates far below the healthy threshold (6%)
o Emphasizes underproduction of housing - Link: Canva site summary of housing report
- Walworth County Housing Study
- Source: Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA)
- Details:
o Undersupply of 4,179 units (2006–2022)
o Construction cost increases (2020–2023):
Single-family homes: +37%
Multi-family units: +38% - Link: WCEDA Housing Resource Page
City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes 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 planting 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. Discussion and possible action on what to do with wood from Territorial Oak.
Discussion regarding having controlled burns in city parks.
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West 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.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88529480331?pwd=O8ujJsf9tOZN1D7fN1iypKnAZjOmXS.1
Meeting ID: 885 2948 0331
Passcode: 648772 —
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,88529480331#,,,,*648772# US (Chicago)
Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 6:30 p.m. – CLOSED SESSION
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
6:30 p.m.
———————————————–
6:30 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89239395241?pwd=b77pMwExa5beQEErRpDWYD4BB6dfNc.1
– Passcode: 307067
———————————————–
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 892 3939 5241
– Passcode: 307067
———————————————–
Closed Session
———————————————–
7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online – OPEN SESSION
Agenda (Click on “meetings” in upper right corner)
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88976820391?pwd=wFHrfZ1QIAYMfXKahhMmIBa140ZZpI.1
– Passcode: 171688
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 889 7682 0391
– Passcode: 171688
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City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Review of Sample Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Analyses Presentation from Ehler’s Inc.
on sample Tax Increment Financing analyses conducted in other Wisconsin communities.
Whitewater Municipal Building City Manager’s Conference Room, 312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 – 5:00 PM
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar: You are invited to a Zoom webinar!
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87134989060
Phone one-tap:
+13126266799, 87134989060# US
Join via audio:
+1 312 626 6799 US
Webinar ID: 871 3498 9060
Community Meeting for a Discussion of Common Code Enforcement Violations – Thursday @ 5:00 p.m.
Where: City of Whitewater Municipal Building, Community Room 1st Floor
Conference Room, 312 W. Whitewater St., and virtually
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/488521845
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 488-521-845
United States: +1 (646) 749-3122
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install
Copper bracelet and copper enameling workshops are being offered at Wisconsin Makers in September. Leani Schoor will lead “Make Your Own Copper Bracelet” on Monday, Sept. 8, at the nonprofit makerspace in Whitewater. The cost is $20 and includes a bracelet to take home. In addition, she will teach “Copper Enameling for Beginners and Beyond” on Monday, Sept. 15. The fee is $25 and includes a copper dish. Copper enameling is a traditional technique that involves fusing powdered glass to a copper surface at high heat to create a permanent, colorful coating.
Both workshops will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at Wisconsin Makers, 200 E. Clay St., Whitewater. Payment may be made at the workshops, which are geared toward ages 10 and up. Register by calling Schoor at (608) 421-4078 or emailing her at leanischoor@gmail.com.
Schorr earned her Bachelor of Science degree in art education and master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She taught art at Jefferson High School for 38 years. The owner of Studio 2154 in Madison, Schorr teaches wet and needle felting, beadwork, glass fusing, cement yard art, ceramics, copper enameling, metal work and quilting.
Located at the corner of East Clay and Wisconsin streets in Whitewater, Wisconsin Makers is a makerspace that creates an affordable, collaborative and educational environment. The facility houses machine, welding/fabrication, electronics, automotive, 3-D printing, laser engraving and woodworking shops. It also offers pottery, ceramics, metal art, quilting, fabric arts, matting/framing and more.
For more information about the makerspace or workshops, contact Chris Spangler at (920) 728-2960.
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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