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Today is Friday, June 19, 2026
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The Whitewater Unified School District is proposing a $30 million capital referendum on the April 1st ballot to address our schools’ most pressing needs. To assist community members in learning more about these needs, a set of short videos is linked at www.whitewaterreferendum.org. Additionally, these videos will be shared out on the school district’s social media platforms. For community members who have remaining questions or feedback, please complete the brief form at the bottom of the www.whitewaterreferendum.org site.
Readers may view all fourteen of the videos from the link above, but for a few days the Banner will be featuring several videos per day with introductions to the direct links that will be provided. The earlier post regarding tech ed may be viewed here.
Allison Parsons and Paul Majors: Ag Classroom – 1:15 (one minute 15 seconds)
Join Allison Parsons and Paul Majors, Agriculture Instructors at Whitewater High School, as they showcase the current Ag classroom. If the April 1 referendum passes, this space will be expanded and improved to better serve students. This video is found here.
Paul Majors: Aquaculture – :50
Explore Whitewater High School’s Aquaculture area with veteran teacher Paul Majors. Currently, this small space struggles to accommodate 20-25 students. If the April 1 referendum passes, it will be modernized and expanded to enhance learning opportunities. Click here to see this video.
Paul Majors: Greenhouse – 1:07
Veteran Ag Instructor, Paul Majors, takes you on a tour of Whitewater High School’s current greenhouse. If the April 1 referendum passes, this space will be expanded, providing students with enhanced hands-on learning opportunities. This video may be accessed here.
Allison Parsons: Small Animal Lab – :56
Agriculture Teacher, Allison Parsons, gives a tour of Whitewater High School’s Small Animal Lab, highlighting the space available to students. If the April 1 referendum passes, this area will be improved to enhance hands-on learning experiences. This video may be viewed here.
Editor’s note: The above was submitted by the Whitewater Unified School District.
Another Oscar nominee this month!
“A Different Man”
Tuesday, March 25, 1 pm
(Drama/Thriller)
Rated R (language, violence);
1 hour, 52 minutes (2024).
This unusual transformation of an “Elephant Man” into a handsome actor earned Sebastian Stan a Golden Globe award for Best Male Performance; it was also Oscar nominated for Best Makeup/Hair. It is an unusual, harrowing film.
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 our 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/
The Town of Whitewater offers the following early voting hours:
Saturday, March 22 – 9:00 AM – Noon
Monday, March 24 – 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Tuesday, March 25 – 8:30 AM – 1:30 AM
Town Hall
W8590 Willis Ray Rd
Whitewater
Editor’s note: This information was provided by Town Clerk/Treasurer Jorja Boiley.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
The third of our series of Fairhaven images is this one, probably from 1970, as a similar image of this lady appeared in the Whitewater Register in April of 1970 in a special section celebrating the completion of a major expansion at Fairhaven. The image shows the lady in the new wing of the facility that added 63 new apartments and other amenities. The new additions to Fairhaven cost an additional $2,000,000. Of course, many other improvements have been made to Fairhaven since 1970, updating the facility to reflect the current lifestyles and needs of older residents.
Join us next week for another Fairhaven image from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(2344PC, Whitewater Historical Society)
Dr. Pate-Hefty to Depart WUSD, Named Superintendent of Manheim Township School District in Pennsylvania
The Whitewater Unified School District School Board has announced that Superintendent Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty has been named the next superintendent of the Manheim Township School District in Pennsylvania. Dr. Pate-Hefty has served as WUSD superintendent since 2020.
“We want to thank Dr. Pate-Hefty for her outstanding work and leadership over the past five years,” said Board President Jennifer Kienbaum. “In that time, our district has managed the effects of a global pandemic and kept the focus on providing a truly exceptional educational experience to our students. We wish Dr. Pate-Hefty the very best as she takes this next step in her career in educational leadership.”
The School Board will immediately begin its search for the next superintendent of WUSD. This will start with soliciting proposals for a search firm. The chosen firm will assist with recruiting, screening, and the interview process.
“As a board, our focus will now shift to ensuring we have a highly effective new leader in place as we prepare for the 2025-26 school year,” Kienbaum said. “We look forward to engaging our community as we embark on this important process.”
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District. An announcement that was made by the Manheim Township School District may be found here. It mentions that Pate-Hefty “will be relocating to Manheim Township with her husband and two daughters and looks forward to being closer to her oldest [sic] son, who will be attending the U.S. Naval Academy in the fall of 2025.” The website indicates that “The Manheim Township is a single municipality government in Lancaster County. We are approximately 23 square miles, with +16,000 residential dwellings and approximately 44,000 residents. We have a public school population of +5,000 students in kindergarten through twelfth grades. There are six elementary schools (K-4), an intermediate school (grades 5 & 6), one middle school (grades 7 & 8), and one high school (grades 9-12). Both residential and commercial growth has been consistent in Manheim Township…” The district indicated that there was strong interest in their position, as evidenced by 35 applications from 10 states. Per lancasteronline.com, “Former Manheim Township Superintendent Robin Felty stepped down to start as chief operating officer to the Lancaster-based Barley Snyder law firm in December 2024.” Dr. Felty retired after over eight years as the superintendent.
The WUSD School Board has scheduled a special meeting on March 31 to act on Dr. Pate-Hefty’s resignation and consider search firms to assist with the search for a new superintendent.
The Whitewater Unified School District is proposing a $30 million capital referendum on the April 1st ballot to address our schools’ most pressing needs. To assist community members in learning more about these needs, a set of short videos is linked at www.whitewaterreferendum.org. Additionally, these videos will be shared out on the school district’s social media platforms. For community members who have remaining questions or feedback, please complete the brief form at the bottom of the www.whitewaterreferendum.org site.
Readers may view all fourteen of the videos from the link above, but for the next few days the Banner will be featuring several videos per day with introductions to the direct links that will be provided.
Mike Fellin: By the Numbers – 1:13 (one minute, thirteen seconds)
Award-winning Tech Ed Instructor, Mike Fellin, discusses the growing enrollment in Tech Ed classes at Whitewater High School. The April 1 referendum will provide the resources needed to modernize and expand Tech Ed spaces to meet increasing student demand. Click here to view this video.
Mike Fellin: Tech Ed Space Needs – 1:52
Tech Ed Teacher, Mike Fellin, explains the limitations of the current Career Tech Ed (CTE) spaces at Whitewater High School. The April 1 referendum would fund improvements to better support students preparing for careers in skilled trades. Click here to view this video.
Justin Buntrock:- Auto Shop – 1:58
Take a tour of the Whitewater High School auto shop with Justin Buntrock, Automotive and Metal Instructor. He highlights the equipment and space challenges students face. Passing the April 1 referendum will ensure students pursuing careers in skilled trades have access to updated and properly equipped facilities. Click here to view this video.
Mike Fellin: Woods/Construction Area – :56
Tech Ed Teacher, Mike Fellin, provides a tour of the current Woods/Construction learning area at Whitewater High School. If the April 1 referendum passes, this space will be expanded and upgraded to better support students in hands-on learning environments. This video is viewed here.
Editor’s note: The above was submitted by the Whitewater Unified School District.
240 Dann St.
Misc items.
Some tools and household.
Friday 21st. and Saturday 22nd.
8AM till dark
A Banner Service: Garage Sale Ads
As a result of a reader’s comment that it’s hard to find garage sales in Whitewater now that we no longer have a weekly shopper, the Banner staff agreed to begin a complimentary “consolidated” garage sale posting that will be published by Thursday morning for the upcoming weekend’s sales. This announcement will only be for garage sales (a sale of miscellaneous household goods, often held in the garage or front yard of someone’s house) in the city and school district boundaries. We will not be accepting, for example, ads for cars or other items that are not part of a scheduled garage sale. There will be a limit of three times per year for a particular property.
Those wishing to place a notice must send the information to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com by Wednesday at 6 p.m. You may include a brief description of the items that are for sale, the hours and days of the sale, and of course your address. A few photos may also be included if desired; we prefer jpg format if possible.
Whitewater Middle School presents “Annie, Jr.” April 10 & 11 (7 p.m.) and April 12 (2 p.m.) in Stewart Auditorium at Whitewater High School.
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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