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The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006
Today is Friday, June 19, 2026
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“Blitz”
Tuesday, February 25, 1 PM
(History/Drama/Action)
Rated PG-13; 2 hours (2024).
The dramatic and hair raising stories of a group of Londoners during the German blitzkrieg bombing campaign of the British capital during World War II. Starring Saorise Ronan, Harris Dickinson.
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/
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
Here is another of our mid-20th century photos of Whitewater businesses. This image shows the Moksnes Manufacturing Company in 1955. Built of concrete blocks, the Moksnes building still stands today on East Milwaukee Street, part of the Coperion complex. The Moksnes company produced lawn rakes, milk and egg coolers, and printing equipment in the mid-20th century.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(6079P, Whitewater Historical Society)
A 12-person jury trial for the man accused of 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide in the August 30, 2024 death of 21-year-old UW-Whitewater gymnast Kara Welsh is scheduled to begin on December 15. The trial is expected to last seven days.
Chad T. Richards, 23, who was also a UW-W student, appeared in court by video at a hearing on February 18 at which time the trial was scheduled. Richards continues to be held in the Walworth County Jail on a $1,000,000 cash bond.
Richards and Welsh were in a relationship at the time of the shooting. According to the complaint, the two got into an argument. Richards claimed that Welsh grabbed the gun first and he took it away from her, then shot her because he feared for his life.
If found guilty, Richards would face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Editor’s note: Earlier stories in the Banner regarding this matter may be found here, here, and here.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Congratulations to the following students who were recognized on the 1st Semester Whitewater Middle School Honor Roll. Those students with an asterisk had all A’s!
Whitewater Girl Scout Troop 7639 will begin selling Girl Scout Cookies Saturday 2/22!
This is our main fundraiser, and funds our entire year of activities, including monthly outings, meetings, service projects, and our annual camping and waterpark trip!
Cookies are $6/box and all proceeds stay in our local Madison area council. This is the last year for Toast-Yays, which means we expect to roll out a new flavor next year!
We will be selling every weekend at Whitewater Walmart and will be at Sweet Spot Cafe [226 W. Whitewater St.] every other Tuesday evening. Please follow our troop Facebook page for our up-to-date booth schedule.
We also offer free local delivery in Whitewater. Simply order online and one of our Girl Scouts will connect with you to deliver. https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/troop7639c467 (link will go live 2/22)
Thank you for supporting Girl Scouts!
Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by Sarah Hoots.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
There was only one race on the city ballot on February 18, and the turnout was low. 324 people voted absentee, and 424, in-person, for a total of 748. Only 78 people, nearly all students, cast their ballot at the university polling place. It was a dramatic change from the presidential election, when some patient citizens waited more than three hours to vote.
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction primary featured three candidates, with incumbent Jill Underly and Brittany Kinser moving forward to the April 1 election. That election will also include candidates for State Supreme Court, Whitewater Common Council and Whitewater Unified School District School Board. As shown in the table below, city voters supported Underly at a higher percentage than the statewide outcome.
| Candidate | Statewide vote | City vote |
| Jeff Wright | 27.1% | 24.7% |
| Brittany Kinser | 35.3% | 30.1% |
| Jill Underly | 37.6% | 45.1% |
Town of Richmond
Town Supervisor 1
Paul J. McGraw 144 – Advances to April ballot (Neither candidate is an incumbent)
Joe Staller 123 – Advances to April ballot
Carl Redenius 50
Rob Chelminiak 16
Town Supervisor 2
Rob Chelminiak 181 – Advances to April ballot (Neither candidate is an incumbent)
Larry Gard 91 – Advances to April ballot
Donald R. Sparks 52
Results shown are unofficial, subject to Board of Canvass.
Housing Development Priorities in Whitewater
To the Residents of Whitewater,
The City of Whitewater is committed to fostering a housing market that supports residents at every stage of life—from young professionals and growing families to retirees looking to stay in the community. Our 2024-2028 Strategic Goals emphasize expanding family-style housing options to accommodate workforce demand, homeownership opportunities, and long-term community stability.
As part of this strategy:
- Single-family housing development remains a core priority, ensuring that families and long-term residents have paths to homeownership.
- We recognize the need for diverse housing choices—including townhomes, duplexes, and other family-oriented units—to provide options that support Whitewater’s workforce and aging population.
- Beyond the multi-family projects already approved or in progress, the city is not actively soliciting, reviewing, or pursuing additional large-scale multi-family developments at this time.
To ensure a thoughtful, data-driven approach, the city continues to collaborate with regional and statewide experts, including county economic development professionals to housing specialists from the University of Wisconsin system to assess housing needs and align development efforts with best practices.
As housing and economic development remain important topics in our community, we encourage residents to rely on verified, publicly available sources for the most accurate and up- to-date information. The City of Whitewater provides comprehensive, fact-based resources on our official website—ensuring transparency and accountability. While opinions will always be part of the conversation, we believe public policy is best guided by recognized data and informed analysis, rather than yard signs or messaging from special interest groups.
Our focus is on creating a balanced housing market that supports economic growth, housing affordability, and a high quality of life. We welcome continued collaboration with community members, businesses, and development partners to ensure Whitewater remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
For accurate information on the city’s housing initiatives, please visit www.whitewater-wi.gov or contact the Economic Development Department at 262-473-0148.
Taylor Zeinert
Economic Development Director
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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