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Today is Monday, June 22, 2026
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The Whippet City Mile will again be run 15 minutes before the start of the 4th of July Parade at 9:45. Harleys will once again lead the runners along the parade route as they race in front of thousands of cheering fans. The Whippet City Mile is open to everyone and is a free event encouraging families and friends to join in together to celebrate and help kick off the parade. This year’s honorary race starter will be Washington Elementary Teacher, Justin Mane.
Arrive by 9:30 on the day of the race to register on site. More information is available on the 4th of July WCM site. The waiver for runners is also available here.
This year’s format will be different as the race will be “self timed”. Runners will time themselves and no bib numbers will be handed out. Water will be available at the finish line and all racers are responsible for making sure they have a signed race waiver before the start. The course will follow the usual route starting on Prince Street and finishing at the crosswalk in front of the Brass Rail.
Information Submitted by Mark Maas
Photos and copy courtesy of Tom Ganser
Whitewater High School Class of 2025 graduated on Friday, May 23 in the WHS gymnasium.
The program listed 127 graduates, including eight valedictorians and one salutatorian, eight senior class leaders, and flowers in memory of Ricardo (Ricky) Lopez Navejas.
Music was provided by the Music Masters Ensemble and the WHS combined bands.
The announcement of graduates was made by WHS Social Studies Teacher Greg Stewart, and the commencement address was given by Mark Ehlen, WHS building substitute teacher.
Officials included Brent Mansky, WHS Principal; Caroline Pate-Hefty, Superintendent; Stephanie Hicks, School Board President; Miguel Aranda, School Board Vice President
You are invited to Bill Sydow’s birthday celebration at the Starin Park Community Building, 504 W. Starin Road in Whitewater, Wisconsin, Saturday, June 28 from 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Please RSVP if possible. However, drop-ins are welcome. Dad made a difference not only in the lives of his five children, but also in the lives of countless students, colleagues and even random strangers.
Dad has requested no gifts, but cards are welcome.
If you would like to send a memory, story or anecdote about our Dad, please email them to Catherine at the address below:
For more information, please contact:
Catherine (Sydow) Pearson at (920) 817-4730 or labellearthenice25@gmail.com
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater finished 14th in the 2024-25 Learfield Directors’ Cup. A total of 323 Division III institutions are ranked in the Directors’ Cup standings. The Warhawks have finished among the top 20 for 16 consecutive seasons dating back to 2007-08.
UW-Whitewater compiled 737.25 points across three seasons of competition. UW-Whitewater added 360 points to the institutional total this spring behind a national title for Warhawk baseball that secured 100 points. Softball advanced to the super regional to garner 64 points while outdoor track and field combined for 72. Men’s tennis added 50 after advancing to the second round of regional action while the women secured 25 points this season. The women’s golf team rounded out the phenomenal spring with 49 points from their championship appearance.
The winter campaign saw four Warhawk programs combine for 207.25 points. Women’s basketball led the way with yet another Sweet 16 appearance for 64 points. The wrestling team finished 13th at nationals for 63 points. Men’s indoor track and field also finished 13th for 62.25 points while the women’s program added 18 to the UWW total. UW-Whitewater ranked 20th in the standings following winter competition.
The Warhawk volleyball team bolstered UWW in the fall with a national runner-up finish that claimed 90 Directors’ Cup points. The men’s cross country team added 80 after finishing fourth at the Division III championship for a total of 170 points in the fall.
Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference institutions are ranked among the top 30 in the final Learfield Directors’ Cup standings making the WIAC the most competitive public school conference in Division III. Only two conferences had more teams among the top 30 – the University Athletic Association (UAA) and the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).
More Information on the Learfield Directors’ Cup:
The Directors’ Cup measures the overall athletic success of collegiate institutions. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 18 NCAA sports – nine women’s and nine men’s. Men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s soccer must be counted among the total.
The Directors’ Cup did not take place during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2013-14, UW-Whitewater finished second in the Directors’ Cup standings, the school’s all-time best finish.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the UW-Whitewater Athletics Department. The following article is from the WIAC website.
All Eight WIAC Institutions Finish In Top 101 of Directors’ Cup Standings
CLEVELAND–All eight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) institutions have finished in the top 101 of the 2024-25 Learfield Directors’ Cup NCAA Division III standings.
UW-La Crosse topped the conference entries, placing 10th with 856 points, while UW-Whitewater was 14th with 737.25, UW-Eau Claire 21st with 654.75, UW-Oshkosh 28th with 562.50, UW-Platteville 59th with 331, UW-Stout 73rd with 280, UW-Stevens Point 94th with 218.50 and UW-River Falls 101st with 194.60. A total of 324 institutions were represented in the final standings.
Emory University (Ga.) accumulated 1,198.75 points to claim the top spot in the standings that recognize the best NCAA Division III overall athletics programs in the country. Johns Hopkins University (Md.) finished second with 1,147, Tufts University (Mass.) third with 1,069, Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) fourth with 1,044.75 and Middlebury College (Vt.) fifth with 971.75.
The WIAC secured five NCAA Division III titles during the 2024-25 academic year as UW-La Crosse won men’s cross country, men’s indoor track & field and men’s outdoor track & field, while UW-River Falls claimed the women’s ice hockey championship and UW-Whitewater posted a first-place finish in baseball. UW-La Crosse also captured the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association championship.
The Learfield Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in NCAA championships.
The virtual WeCope lunch and learn series will begin June 25th and is open to the public. University of Wisconsin Madison – Division of Extension educators will be offering an online six-session lunch and learn opportunity this summer designed specifically on finding the good. Beginning Wednesday, June 25 and meeting from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM through July 30, 2025, this Lunch and Learn Series will give people the tools they need to feel better every day.
WeCOPE is an evidence-based program that helps adults cope with life stress by connecting with positive emotions. This program has been shown to increase positive feelings, reduce stress, and improve health behaviors in randomized trials.
WeCOPE is based on the work of Dr. Judith Moskowitz, whose research shows that even in the context of serious life stress, positive emotions can and do occur and these emotions have positive adaptive consequences. The course includes an activity book with simple assignments for participants to complete between sessions as well as a journal. Materials and the class itself are currently free thanks to SAMHSA ROTA Grant #1H79TI083277-01; there may be a $10.00 fee to ship materials outside of the hosting counties.
Register for this team-taught series by using this link: go.wisc.edu/15kcue .Materials can be picked up in Barron County’s Extension Office, or several other Extension offices, by arrangement. Details, including the Zoom link, will be provided in an email before the class starts.
For more information, feel free to reach out to Extension Barron County Human Development and Relationships Educator, Missy Bablick via phone or email: 715-788-6217, missy.bablick@wisc.edu
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension–Walworth County.
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Be Kind Whitewater and Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL).
Join Be Kind Whitewater and Whitewater Unites Lives in celebrating all that summer has to offer with a free community “Picnic in the Park and Food Drive” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 at Cravath Lakefront Park.
This fun, free, and family-friendly event will include live music by Idledaze, games, arts and crafts, food, and an opportunity to connect with people from our community. Bring your own picnic dinner or pick up something from one of Whitewater’s many wonderful restaurants and food trucks. Please bring your own chairs/blankets, and a nonperishable food donation for The Community Space. Let’s celebrate the beauty of Whitewater and the first night of summer!
In case of light rain, we will be under the stage and pavilion. If there are storms, the picnic will be canceled.
Be Kind Whitewater is a grassroots, community-based, non-partisan group that promotes kindness, connection, civility, and creative expression for the betterment of our community and region.
Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL) 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.
For more information, email bekindwhitewater@gmail.com or go to our website at www.bekindwhitewater.weebly.com
The Safe Haven box, which is currently in the “testing phase.” After the ceremony it will be put in service. [Lynn Binnie photos except the third one]
The instructions that are mounted above the box.
This photo is not of the inside of Whitewater’s box but it may be somewhat similar.
The City of Whitewater and Whitewater Fire & EMS invite the public to attend a blessing and dedication ceremony for the city’s newly installed Safe Haven Baby Box on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 2:00 PM. The event will take place at 312 W. Whitewater Street, on the west side of the building.
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 LEO, 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.
The ceremony will include remarks from city and state officials, representatives from the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization, and members of the Whitewater community who helped lead the initiative. A demonstration of how the box works will also be provided, followed by a blessing and officially placing the Safe Haven Baby Box in service.
The Whitewater Safe Haven Baby Box reflects the city’s commitment to protecting its most vulnerable residents.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the City of Whitewater.
Obituaries
Marion Jauch Burrows (Feb. 2, 1930 – June 5, 2026) Her sparkling eyes, warm laugh, and generous ways were gifts Marion brought into this world, touching family members and friends alike over the ninety-six years of her life. She was born and raised in Lombard, IL, and in the course of her life lived with her husband and growing family in Abilene, TX, St. David’s, PA, Arkadelphia, AR, Ada, OK, and Colorado Springs, CO, before settling in Whitewater, WI, in 1965. Generosity of heart, compassion toward those in need in and beyond her community, and an unwavering commitment to fairness … Read more
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
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