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Today is Friday, October 9, 2026
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RACINE, Wis. (WSAW/Gray News) – “A newborn was safely surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box for the first time in Wisconsin state history.
According to officials, the baby was placed in the Safe Haven Baby Box at a fire department in Racine on Oct. 16.
Division Chief Joshua Weber said in the release obtained by the Racine County Eye that the infant was in good health and immediately cared for by on-duty firefighters.
The baby was taken to the hospital for an evaluation and then placed in the custody of Child Protective Services….
Officials say the National Safe Haven Crisis Line has assisted in more than 175 handoff surrenders and 66 baby box surrenders nationwide.”
Editor’s note: As was announced in a Whitewater Banner article, a baby box was installed in the Whitewater Fire Department building in June of 2025.
According to State Statute 48.195, a parent can leave their unharmed newborn, under 72 hours old, anonymously and without fear of prosecution in a newborn infant safety device, or with a law enforcement officer, EMS provider, or hospital staff member. This life-saving resource allows a parent in crisis to legally accomplish this surrender anonymously. The Safe Haven Baby Box is equipped with alarm systems and climate control to ensure a rapid response from trained personnel and the health and safety of the surrendered infant.
If you are a parent in crisis, you can call or text 1-866-99BABY1 to reach the National Safe Haven Crisis Line.
The new Born Learning Trail at Starin Park will be unveiled on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 11 a.m. The trail, a collaboration between the UW-Whitewater Children’s Center, the City of Whitewater Department of Parks and Recreation, Whitewater Public Library, Whitewater LEADS and the Whitewater Community Foundation, is a celebration of early literacy and connecting with the community and the natural world around us. Signs along the trail, which runs one third of a mile, depict interactive activities in both English and Spanish that young learners can do with their caregivers. More activities will later be painted on the sidewalks and asphalt paths that form the trail.
[The national United Way organization is the sponsor of the learning trails, and their website indicates “The Born Learning Trail is a series of 10 interactive signs that offer fun, active learning activities for young children and their families. It helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality engagement opportunities when out on a stroll or visiting a local playground.”]
Congratulations to all who brought this project to Whitewater!
“What’s Cooking?”
Tuesday, November 25, 1 pm
(Comedy/Drama/Romance)
Rated PG-13; 1 hour, 49 minutes (2000).
Several families of different ethnicity (Latino, Asian, Black, Jewish, and White) gather together for Thanksgiving dinner, with much humor, drama, and love. Starring Joan Chen, Juliana Margulies, Mercedes Ruehl, Alfre Woodard, and Dennis Haysbert.
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/
Jefferson County Sheriff Travis Maze is proud to announce the addition of its newest canine, Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Kingsley. Kingsley has been officially assigned to Detective Ryan Viney, who will oversee her training, deployment, and daily care.
K9 Kingsley joins the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office with a critical mission: to assist investigators in the fight against Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC). As an ESD-certified canine, Kingsley possesses specialized skills to detect hidden electronic storage devices – such as flash drives, micro-SD cards, and other digital media – that may contain evidence vital to protecting children and supporting criminal investigations. Her keen abilities will significantly enhance the Sheriff’s Office’s capability to locate and secure digital evidence that might
otherwise go undiscovered.
The acquisition of K9 Kingsley was made possible through the extraordinary generosity of community member Mabel Schumacher. Her support not only enabled the Sheriff’s Office to expand its K9 program, but also directly contributes to safeguarding children across Jefferson County and beyond.
We are deeply grateful to Ms. Schumacher for making this addition to our team possible.
K9 Kingsley will be an invaluable asset in our ongoing efforts to investigate crimes against children and bring offenders to justice.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.
Bloomington, Ill. – The 2025 campaign for UW-Whitewater volleyball came to a close in the second round of the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship Friday evening. The Warhawks fell to Calvin in four sets 27-29, 25-12, 23-25, 18-25.
The Warhawks got on top early with a kill from Abbie Dix followed by back-to-back aces from Kyanne Wusterbarth. A Calvin miscue made it 4-0 UWW. The Knights responded eventually tying the set 8-8. The teams traded small runs with Calvin grabbing their first lead 14-15. Head Coach Stacy Boudreau called her first timeout of the set one point later.
On the other side of the break, the Knights were able to build a three-point margin, 15-18, when the Warhawks put together a 5-1 run to reclaim the lead 20-19 and force a Knight timeout. Dix and Gaby DiMotto registered kills while Kylee Altendorf and Aubrie Krzus added aces in the run that was capped by an Amanda Hillmann and Emily Lego block.
The squads traded points out of the timeout until Emma Bludgen hammered down a kill to give UWW a 23-22 advantage and force Calvin’s second timeout of the set. The Knights got the first two points out of the break to push set point as Coach Boudreau signaled for timeout. Bludgen tipped over the block for a kill to knot the set 24-24. After multiple set points, a deep Knight serve had the Warhawk bench calling out, but the line judge signaling in for the 27-29 final.
UW-Whitewater responded in a big way, absolutely dominating set two for a 25-12 win. The Warhawks had their way offensively pounding down 14 kills with a team attack percentage of .387 in the set. Three blocks and three aces bolstered UWW in the set and swung all of the momentum to the Warhawks.
Set three was much like the first – a back-and-forth battle with the teams trading leads, but the Knights coming out on top 23-25.
UWW struggled to rebound offensively as the Knight defense picked up in the final set. Calvin tallied eight total blocks in set four, leading to the 25-18 final score.
Dix paced the UWW offense and defense at the net with 13 kills and 6 blocks. Bludgen joined Dix in double digits with 10 kills adding 10 digs, 3 aces and a block. Krzus registered 35 assists and tallied 8 kills and 4 blocks.
UWW caps their season with a 26-8 record after making the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 36th time in program history.
The UW-Whitewater men’s wheelchair basketball team welcomes the top teams from around the nation this weekend for its annual home tournament this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22, at the Williams Center Fieldhouse, 907 Schwager Drive. The Warhawks host games Friday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Saturday at 8 a.m. and noon. [The public is welcome. There was no admission charge on Friday, so it appears that the same would apply on Saturday.]
Editor’s note: This announcement is from the UW-Whitewater Facebook page.
Bloomington, Ill. — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team swept Coe 3-0(25-21, 25-11, 25-15) in the First Round of the NCAA Division III Championship Thursday morning. With the win, the Warhawks advance to face either Hanover or Calvin in the NCAA Regional Semifinal scheduled for Friday at 4:30 PM at the Shirk Center.
UW-Whitewater led the majority of the first set using a four-point, mid-set run to take a 15-11 lead. Emma Bludgen assisted on a pair of blocks while Abbie Dix hammered down a kill to bolster the run. The Warhawks held at least a two-point advantage the rest of the way.
Emily Lego and Dix had a phenomenal start to the match. The right side – middle duo each hit .417 to combine for 11 of UWW’s 14 kills in set one. Lego led the way with six while Dix added a pair of blocks.
UWW ran away with set two 25-11 paced by an efficient offensive attack — UW-Whitewater hit .464 as a team in the set. This time it was the outsides, Bludgen and Gaby DiMotto, with half of the Warhawk kills in the set. Delaney Ward came in late in the set and pounded down a pair of kills for the Warhawks’ final points of the set.
Five consecutive kills for UWW in set three opened up a 15-10 Warhawk lead and forced a Kohawk timeout. After another run of kills from Dix, Aubrie Krzus and Amanda Hillmann, UWW’s lead grew to 21-12 as Coe called their final timeout of the match. UW-Whitewater never looked back, closing out the set and the match to punch their ticket to the semifinal.
UW-Whitewater’s offense was efficient hitting .371 bolstered by a .500 attack percentage in the third set. UWW tallied just eight attack errors in the entire match. Lego hit .417 in the match with 12 kills. Dix had her way at the net hammering down 11 kills without a single attack error (.524 attack percentage) while adding five blocks.
Krzus ran the offense setting up Warhawk hitters for 33 assists, adding five kills and four blocks. Defensively, Kylee Altendorf and Natalie Lawton shared team-high dig honors with 11 each.
Friday’s semifinal match marks the fifth consecutive NCAA Second Round appearance for the Warhawks.
Columbus beat Whitewater 63-24 in a non-conference girls’ basketball game on Thursday, November 20. Whitewater was led by Paige Kollwelter with seven points, while Emery Kachel and Alondra Verduzco had six each. Columbus was led by three girls in double digits. The Whippets will travel to Orfordville to play a varsity only game against the Parkview Vikings at 6:30 pm Friday night.
Information Submitted by Mike Dowden
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach
dowmi01@wwusd.org
Obituaries
Sally A. Schutte, age 73, of Whitewater, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2026, while at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater. Sally was born on November 6, 1952, to Roy and Elsie (Rohloff) Haas. Sally married William Schutte in the spring of 2003. Sally grew up on the family farm in the Town of Hebron and graduated from Jefferson High School. She dedicated nearly her entire career to Fort HealthCare, where her hard work and versatility shone through various roles. Over the years, she served in housekeeping and medical records, Center for Dermatology. Sally … Read more
Zachariah “Zach” Schoenke, 41, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He was born April 4, 1985, to Keith W. Schoenke and Kathleen Schoenke in Fort Atkinson, WI. He grew up and graduated from Whitewater High School in 2003. Zach worked various jobs over the years but was currently working at Cracker Barrel in Janesville. He was a big Packers Fan and liked to play fantasy football. He enjoyed reading, cooking, and watching horror shows. Zach fiercely loved his son, Lincoln, his sisters, Cami and Cary, his mom and stepdad, and his aunt Robin. He will be dearly … Read more
Carla Winn, 82, died September 5, 2026. Funeral Service will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218, followed by a burial at 2:00 PM at White Chapel Memorial Garden 1806 N Oliver Ave. Carla is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Dwight and Wilma Lois Krehbiel; and sister, Jennifer Krehbiel. She is survived by husband, Stephen; daughter, Ashley (Clint) Gagel, of Overland Park; siblings, Paul (Kay) Krehbiel, of Socorro, NM, Lynn (Bill) Oetting, of Wichita, Ellen (John) Querner, of Wichita, Teresa Woodson, of Lawrence, KS, … Read more
Susan Miller Celebration of Life There will be a gathering of friends and acquaintances at Susan’s Farm Store to celebrate Susan’s life on Saturday, September 19th from 2-5 p.m. at N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, Wisconsin
Our loving mother, JoAnn E Harrop, age 95, passed away on September 11, 2026. Our sorrow is deep, but we are filled with gratitude for the many years we had with her. Even as her mind was failing, she remained strong and appreciative of all who cared for her. JoAnn was born on January 13, 1931, daughter to Fred Braun and Evelyn Braun {Storck). She was raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin by her grandparents, Otto and Edith Storck. She attended Whitewater High School and helped at the Storck tavern where she met her husband Earl C. Harrop. They married on November … Read more
Russell O. Johnson “Russ,” 88, passed away on September 4, 2026 in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Russell was born on July 12, 1938, in Janesville, Wisconsin. Russ grew up in Janesville, and after high school he joined the Air Force on May 1, 1958, serving as an aircraft mechanic until June 12, 1962. He then worked at Parker Pen in Janesville for a time, where he met his future wife, Avis. After marrying Avis Mason in April 1964, Russ worked for Gillman Manufacturing for a time, then began a career at Dana until its closing in 1980. In 1981, Russ started working … Read more
Marcia Zingg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at the age of 75. Marcia will be remembered for her unwavering love, remarkable strength, generous spirit, and lifelong devotion to her family. She shared 40 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Jeffrey Zingg, who considered her not only his wife but also his best friend, business partner, and the love of his life. Together, Marcia and Jeffrey built a successful life rooted in perseverance, hard work, laughter, and love. As entrepreneurs in Whitewater, Wisconsin, they owned and managed new car franchises and … Read more
Amanda Jean Hunter was born to Ralph and Malinda (Thomas) Hunter of Whitewater, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1976. She passed away on August 4, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she lived with her family. Amanda passed peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Amanda was a kind-hearted free spirit with an unmistakable hippie warmth. Generosity, spontaneity, a quick wit, a macabre sense of humor, and an open heart were traits that she embraced. She was a tireless champion of those in need, an innate characteristic that became among the best of her qualities. She proved to be a … Read more
Ellen Eichmiller, 82, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Ellen was born on September 10, 1943, in Monroe, Wisconsin, to Chester “Guy” and Irene (née Holmen) Steig. She married the love of her life, Paul Eichmiller, on December 7, 1963, and together they made their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Ellen spent much of her working life as a secretary at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she formed many lasting friendships and memories. Ellen cherished her family and friends and treasured the time she spent with those closest to her. She was known for her love of … Read more
Janet Quinn, age 71, of Jefferson passed away on Thursday, August 20th. Janet was born on December 22nd, 1954 in St. Joseph, MI to Robert Mounsey and Edith Christison Mounsey. She was a granddaughter to Herbert Bragg Mounsey, Charlotte Mounsey, and Ester Christison West. She married Michael Durden in 1979 and later married Eury Quinn Jr. (J.R.) in 1988. Janet grew up in Benton Harbor, MI, and subsequently lived in New York and Arkansas before moving to Wisconsin in 2016. She was a dedicated caregiver to her disabled Mother, and worked as a custodian for various employers over the years. … Read more
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