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Today is Friday, January 10, 2025
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It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This view from 1957 features Marilyn Hull and Minnie Rowland from the Whitewater Cooperettes at their craft table for what appears to be a Christmas craft sale. Note the interesting Christmas tree decoration. The Cooperettes were the organization of women members of the Whitewater Co-op, later the Midland Co-op, a membership organization that provided reduced rates on goods and services, particularly those that appealed to farmers, such as fuel and farm supplies. The co-op had a service station on East Milwaukee Street during the first half of the 20th century and even a retail store in downtown Whitewater.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(2612P, Whitewater Historical Society)
2024 Whitewater Holiday Extravaganza: Parade of Lights and More
Friday, December 6th, 4 PM – 8 PM
3:30-5:30 PM
Visit with Santa at First Citizens State Bank
- Location: Main Branch, 207 W Main Street
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Holiday Market at Cravath Lake Community Center
- Location: Cravath Lakefront Community Center – 341 S Fremont Street (please note the parking lot is closed for a portion of the evening to accommodate parade entries after the parade)
- Explore unique gifts, handmade crafts, and holiday treats from local vendors in a cozy indoor setting.
- Warm up by the s’mores pit just outside the community building
6:00 PM
Annual Parade of Lights
- Parade Route: Intersection of 4th and Main down to Whitewater Street, ending at the Cravath Lakefront Park
- Enjoy the illuminated parade as it makes its way through Whitewater, concluding at Cravath Lakefront Park for an up-close look at the dazzling displays.
- Warm up as you await the parade with a cup of hot cider from Discover Whitewater at 150 W Main Street and don’t forget to snag a take and make craft for the kids!
Shortly After the Parade
Park Lighting Ceremony & Pallet Tree Display
- Location: Cravath Lakefront Park 341 S Fremont Street
- Be part of the grand debut of Whitewater’s first-ever walk-through 8-foot light displays.
- Enjoy the community-favorite pallet trees decorated by local businesses, organizations, and community members. The trees and lights will be on display through January 6th.
After the Lighting Ceremony
Free Chili Dinner
- Location: Living Word Fellowship 212 W Main Street
All Evening
- Celebrate the holiday spirit, shop local, and make memories with family and friends in the heart of Whitewater!
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.
Barb and Harry Penington are WUL Hometown Heroes, and were nominated by Suzanne Chenoweth “For their unwavering commitment and selfless service that has profoundly enriched our community.”
Suzanne said, “I am thrilled to nominate Barb Penington and her husband, Harry, for the Hometown Hero Award. Four years ago, Barb spearheaded the Book Buddy program at First English Lutheran Church, which now provides one-on-one reading support to approximately 30 children. Her dedication to literacy and education has significantly impacted young minds.”
“Barb and Harry are also deeply involved in several community organizations, often working behind the scenes to drive positive change. Among the many causes they support, their contributions to Bethel House, Delta Kappa Gamma, UWW alumni events, Tone Chimes & Handbells Choir, Evangelism, WELCA, scholarship committee, and various other activities at FELC stand out. Barb leads book studies and discussions, fostering a spirit of learning and community engagement. Harry is always positive and willing to help anywhere as needed, smiling and happy,” said Suzanne.
She added, “Barb and Harry are always generous with their time and talents, consistently contributing to the betterment of our community. Barb is also a trusted advisor and a compassionate listener, providing wisdom and empathy to those in need. We want Barb and Harry to know how much we appreciate their efforts to improve our world. Their dedication and kindness have not gone unnoticed. THANK YOU Peningtons!!”
Following are quotes from others:
“They are truly a treasure to the Whitewater community: youth, students, seniors, and everyone in between.”
“She is a very gifted lady and serves others in many, many ways.”
“They are tireless in their commitment to the Whitewater kids and community.”
“They are constant public-spirited people who put the needs of others before their own, a well-deserved honor!”
“She is a very gifted lady and serves others in many, many ways. Great couple to nominate and honor!”
WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.
Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com
The UW-Whitewater Women’s Basketball team is hosting the Hoops4Hunger Event on Wednesday, December 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kachel Gymnasium in Williams Center. As of December 5, the team’s record is 5-1.
Editor’s note: This announcement was submitted by Kendall Roquet, grad assistant, who welcomes any questions at roquetk23@uww.edu
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Salem, Va. — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team opened play at the NCAA Division III Championship with a phenomenal three-set sweep over Emory Wednesday morning. The Warhawks took down the Eagles 25-13, 25-23, 25-19 in the Cregger Center in Salem, Virginia.
With the win, the Warhawks advance to the semifinals to face the winner of a match between Johns Hopkins and UW-Oshkosh currently underway at the Cregger Center. UWW’s semifinal match is slated for Thursday, December 5 at 4 PM CST. [Per the bracket, Johns Hopkins beat UW-O by 3-2.] The championship is being streamed exclusively on ESPN+.
UW-Whitewater set the tone early in set one to draw all of the momentum in the arena. The Warhawks followed up a 6-2 run with five consecutive points to open up an 18-9 advantage. The five-point spurt featured a pair of kills from Alayna Jansky and a huge block by Chloe Werner and Hannah Proctor. UWW capped the set with a 6-1 run to take an early match lead.
The second set was a back-and-forth affair with the teams trading the lead eight times. The battle came down to the wire in the end. With the Eagles leading 22-21, Jenna Weinfurt hammered down a kill to knot the set. After a miscue from each team, the squads were tied for the 14th time in the set, 23-23. Jansky gave the Warhawks set point with a cue and another Eagle mishap had UWW enjoying a 2-0 lead in the match.
Set three was all Whitewater from the first serve. The Warhawks scored the first three and never looked back, leading the entire way through to secure their spot in the semifinals.
Like it has been all season for UWW, defense was a key difference maker in the match. The Warhawks held the Eagles to a .000 attack percentage in the first set and a negative hitting efficiency in the third. Meanwhile, the offense was working in tandem as UWW hit .234 for the match with double digit kills in each set.
Jansky led all players with 13 kills, adding 17 digs. Weinfurt also posted a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs. Jaedynn Evans tallied 16 digs in the match.
Aubrie Krzus averaged over 10 assists a set with 37 total in the sweep. Middles Abbie Dix and Hannah Proctor combined for seven blocks in the match.
UW-Whitewater has now won their last 14 matches and is a perfect 25-0 in three-setters this season. The Warhawks are amid the program’s 11th trip to the final eight.
Date change for Scholarly scoop, now Friday, December 13th at 10:30 a.m. [The program was scheduled for Friday, December 6.] Our apologies for any inconvenience.
Protect yourself and others online: Come learn some of the ways to keep yourself and the ones you love stay connected to online safe from the scammers, hackers and data thieves. Jay will give you some basic safety skills and what to look out for while you shop and share online this holiday season. Enjoy some stories and laugh a little as he gives you some insight as to what current scams look like and how to best avoid being an online victim from someone who’s on the front lines.
Jay Jones is a UW-W grad of 2000 and earned his masters in Cybersecurity from UC-Berkley in 2023. He’s currently an IT Infrastructure manager at Douglas Dynamics in Milwaukee, a cybersecurity analyst for Public Partnerships and an adjunct professor at UW-Whitewater.
Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Seniors in the Park. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Esmoth from Pixabay.
The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library has several opportunities for crafty folks in December. Starting on December 4, adults and teens are welcome to stop by the library and pick up a take & make kit featuring a scrap fabric tree ornament.
A take & make craft kit for kids will be available for pick up starting on December 11, featuring a gingerbread house photo frame ornament. Kits will be available while supplies last.
In addition, community members are invited to visit the library’s Makerspace during December to create a holiday greeting card. Supplies will be available all month. The Makerspace is open during regular library hours, up until 30 minutes before closing time. Children under age 11 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. For more information about the library, visit whitewaterlibrary.org.
Obituaries
William J. “Bill” West, 75, of Whitewater passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at Fort Memorial Hospital in Fort Atkinson. Bill was born on September 8, 1949 to John and Bessie (Sutherland) West in Fort Atkinson. He worked at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater for twelve years. Bill enjoyed watching the Packers and NASCAR. He is survived by his girlfriend, Sandy Hahn; and many friends and family. A memorial visitation will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 11 AM until 1 PM at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190. Inurnment will take … Read more
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David Harold Baker Jr., beloved husband, father, stepfather, son, and brother, passed away on December 16, 2024, in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 61. Born on August 10, 1963, in Beaufort, South Carolina, David was the firstborn child of David Baker Sr. and the late Betty Jean Baker (née Wickham) while his father served in the United States Marine Corps. David spent his early years in Wyoming, where the family lived until his parents divorced. In 1976, David moved to Oregon with his father, and he graduated from high school in 1982. Shortly after, he moved to Wisconsin to … Read more
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Allen C. Hicks, 85 of Whitewater passed away on Saturday, January 4th, 2025 at Huntington Memory Care in Janesville. Al, the oldest of seven boys, was born on July 5th, 1939, in Belvidere, Illinois to Walt and Laura (Keller) Hicks. A few years later, the family bought a dairy farm in Whitewater and became very active in the Whitewater community. There was always work to be done or something to be repaired on the farm which led to Al’s lifelong love of tinkering. He was very active in high school sports which continued on into his adult years playing in … Read more
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Jeanette Ila Hansen, 91, Whitewater passed away on December 24, 2024 at Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek, WI, having lived independently almost all her later life. Jeanette was born on May 12, 1933 in Whitewater, WI to Alvin and Maybell (Maasz) Cox. She married Norman Hansen on November 2, 1950 and they were married for 59 years. Jeanette enjoyed fishing, reading, indoor gardening, collecting dolls, and cooking; and she made many beautiful items with crocheting, knitting, and sewing. She was generous and seemed to have a good word to say about almost everyone she met. She especially loved … Read more
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Isaac Richard Unger left the field on Christmas Day, and is now at peace. He was born in Whitewater, WI on April 1st, 1993 to Paul and Mary Jo (née Peiffer) Unger. Isaac was born ten days late on a silly holiday, and lived his life as such–never rushed, and with a lighthearted sense of humor. Isaac graduated from Madison East High School in 2011, and then attended UW-River Falls from 2011-2016, where he studied English and philosophy. Isaac was a sports lover, not only as a spectator, but as a participant. Isaac grew up playing soccer, basketball (Badger Sporting … Read more
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John George Mack passed away into eternal glory on December 24th, 2024. John was born December 1, 1963, in Fort Atkinson, WI to Ronald and Mary Alice (Hanson) Mack of Whitewater. John was a 1982 Whitewater High School graduate. In 1983 just out of high school John started his first wood company selling wholesale through all the major gift markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York. At the time his clients included 8 out of the 10 retail chains and several thousand independent stores nationwide. John had so many wonderful customers and associates. As the wholesale gift market shifted to cheaper overseas … Read more
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Clifford Maynard Witte, age 103, of Whitewater, WI completed his earthly journey on December 24, 2024 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Clifford was born on September 13, 1921 on a farm in Mount Horeb, WI, and was the third child of Ella and Eli Witte. Clifford served his country by joining the Navy in 1942 during WWII, and served alongside his two brothers. Later he used the GI bill to attend Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, IA. There he met the love of his life, Beulah (Billie) Ohrberg, and they married on Nov 7, 1946. Shortly after … Read more
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Mary Ann Burkhardt, 79, passed away December 24, 2024, at Edgerton Hospital, surrounded by loved ones following a brief illness. Mary was born on September 14, 1945, in Chicago, IL, to Raymond and Helen (Pasternak) Burkhardt. She attended elementary school in Chicago and Good Counsel Catholic Girls High School, before her family moved to Whitewater where she graduated from WHS in 1963. She worked at Gus’s Pizza Palace, Whitewater Products, and finally, Jones Dairy Farm until her retirement 33 years later. She enjoyed bowling, snowmobiling, boating, golf, riding her motorcycle, and playing softball for the Long Branch Saloon. She was … Read more
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Jean Lucile Zuill, 98, of Whitewater passed away on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at Hearthstone Memory Care. Jean was born on April 20, 1926 in the Town of Lima to Howard and Florence (VanDuser) Hunt. Along with her brother Van, she grew up on their family farm in Lima. She graduated from Whitewater High School in 1944. For a short time, Jean worked at the Parker Pen Company in Janesville. She married David “Dave” Zuill on August 9, 1947 in Whitewater. Upon marriage and having their two daughters, Janet and Mary, Jean undertook the meaningful job of mother and homemaker. … Read more
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Helen Ruth Delaney, 94, of Whitewater, WI, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Heavenly Father on Friday, December 20, 2024. She was born in Bellwood, West Virginia on August 8, 1930, daughter of Henderson C. and Bertha J. (Skaggs) Hamby. She attended Leedwood High School in West Virginia. She attended Cornell University in New York studying economics and business. On April 8, 1978, Helen married Laurence W. Delaney in Rockton, IL. Helen retired as the Manager of a Hallmark gift shop in Greenville SC and previously managed the Stop ‘N Go in Whitewater, WI. Helen was a member … Read more
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