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Today is Monday, May 11, 2026
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On Saturday, March 14th, Whitewater High School’s music department sent 74 events to District Solo and Ensemble with 28 events qualifying for the state competition that will be hosted by UW Whitewater on April 25th. Congratulations to every single performer for representing our school district well and sharing your musical talent. We wish good luck to our future state performers.
Article and Photos Submitted by MacKenzie Gehrke
Whitewater High School Vocal Music Instructor
gehma01@wwusd.org
Due to the severe winter storm that affected our area Monday, John’s Disposal suspended collection
services for the day to ensure the safety of both drivers and the public.
All collection routes will be delayed by one day. Therefore, Thursday’s route will be picked up on Friday.
This adjustment allows their team to safely make up for the missed service day while ensuring all
residents receive collection within the week.
Please leave your carts at the curb until your collection has been completed.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as John’s Disposal works through the effects of the
storm. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact John’s Disposal at 262-473-4700.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the City of Whitewater.
Elizabeth Matson and Jim Winship will be telling stories at The Wright House on March 21 at 7pm.
A performing storyteller since 1987, Elizabeth Matson grew up in her mother’s Children’s Theatre Company and read her way through the fairy tale section of her childhood public library. She is a spinner of tales, weaving magic into her original performances of fairy, folk, personal, and family history tales. Elizabeth brings stories to life with her expressions, movement, and voice. She offers performances, workshops, and story coaching for all ages. She is the co-author, with Stuart Stotts, of The Bookcase Ghost: A Storyteller’s Collection of Wisconsin Ghost Stories (Midwest Traditions, 1996). She holds a MA in Folklore and MS in Library Science. She coaches her library’s teen storytelling troupe, has performed at the Whitewater (WI) Storytelling Festival, and performs virtually with 4 Women Telling.
Jim Winship has been a college professor for over three decades, a Professor of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and also a Fulbright Scholar in Colombia and El Salvador. He has performed as a professional storyteller and has been conducting workshops on digital storytelling since 2009. Jim left full-time employment at UW-W in 2016 to have the time to devote to fully engaging with training opportunities and story-based work. Jim has been trained by StoryCenter in Berkeley, California, the organization that pioneered digital storytelling. He creates digital stories and has conducted five three-day workshops in which college faculty and professional staff members each created their own digital stories. He has facilitated students in creating digital stories both at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — including a series of stories on race, ethnicity and power — and at the University of Cartagena, Colombia.
Register on Eventbrite: https://matsonwinship.eventbrite.com
The Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will offer the AARP Driver Safety Class on April 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services, 1910 County Road NN in Elkhorn.
This class is a great refresher on driving techniques and rules of the road and provides a proven method for seniors to evaluate their driving and make necessary changes to remain safe. In addition, most insurance companies offer a discount for up to three years for completion of the course. The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members.
For questions or to register for the program, contact Chetney Blaszczyk at 262-741-3157.
About the ADRC of Walworth County: The ADRC provides information and assistance to older and disabled adults, their friends, family, caregivers, and the public. We can assist by evaluating your current needs and providing options available to meet the needs of your personal situation.
Editor’s Note: The above was provided by Walworth County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC).
Whitewater Unified School District [WUSD] will be closed on Monday, March 16, 2026, due to a Winter Storm Warning that is tracking heavy snow that will impact travel during school hours. All before and after-school athletics and activities for Monday will also be canceled.
UW-Whitewater: No in-person classes, events or activities at Whitewater and Rock County campuses on Monday, March 16, 2026.
WUSD School Board meeting will be held virtually.
6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85788115969?pwd=inx7iakfakvjCzvZa3k5WKmiIy70td.1
– Passcode: 386809
Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
Webinar ID: 857 8811 5969
The felting workshop slated for Monday, March 16, at Wisconsin Makers in Whitewater has been canceled due to the anticipated snowstorm. It will be rescheduled for a later date.For more information, contact instructor Leani Schoor at (608) 421-4078 or leanischoor@gmail.com. Located at the corner of East Clay and Wisconsin streets in Whitewater, Wisconsin Makers is a makerspace or community workshop.
The Whitewater Public Library is closed on Monday, March 16, due to weather. Online resources are always available at whitewaterlibrary.org. In addition, the Library Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. is postponed. Date/time TBA.
The City of Whitewater Municipal building will have limited staff, Monday, March 16, 2026, due to the weather. If you were planning to visit the Municipal building tomorrow, many of the services available in person can be completed online. We encourage residents to visit www.whitewater-wi.gov to access payments, permits, and other city services from the safety of your home.We anticipate reopening Tuesday, March 17th, 2026.
Due to weather, the Senior Center will be closed on Monday 3/16. Please be safe and we will see you on Tuesday.
Palmyra-Eagle Schools are closed on Monday.
The Whitewater Aquatic & Fitness Center will delay opening this morning.
Planned opening time: 9:00 AM. We will continue monitoring conditions and will post another update here on our Facebook page at 8:00 AM if anything changes. Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize the safety of our members and staff. Please travel safely this morning! 
All SSM Health Dean Medical Group primary care clinic locations are closed. Express Virtual Care is available from 6:00 am – 10:00 pm for minor and moderate illness or injury at ssmhealth.com/visitnow
Associated Bank has an 11am opening today.
Premier has a 12 pm opening.
UW Credit Union is closed.
Local students named to Marquette University’s fall 2025 Dean’s List
The following students have been named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2025 semester at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
To make the Dean’s List, students must have earned at least 12 credits for the fall 2025 semester and have no disqualifying grades. The GPA threshold varies by college — for the College of Education and the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduate students must have at least a 3.7 to be named to the Dean’s List.
The undergraduate GPA requirement is 3.5 for the following colleges: the Diederich College of Communication, the College of Business Administration, the College of Health Sciences, the Opus College of Engineering and the College of Nursing. All other programs have a 3.75 GPA minimum.
Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 8,000 undergraduate and 3,700 graduate and professional students from nearly all states and more than 60 countries. In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu.
Whitewater, WI
Maddie Arnett, Doctorate, Occupational Therapy
Emerson Maliszewski, Bachelor of Science, Nursing
Following is a message from the City of Whitewater Parks and Recreation Department:
The Whitewater Parks & Recreation Department is excited to announce that we will be overseeing the 2026 Whitewater 4th of July Parade, and we would love to invite you to participate!
The City would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Whitewater Lions Club for their many years of service and dedication in organizing the parade and helping make this event a highlight of the summer season.
The parade will take place on Saturday, July 4, 2026, beginning at 10:00 AM. This year’s celebration will be especially meaningful as communities across the country celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary. We are looking forward to making this milestone celebration an unforgettable event for our community.
We hope you will consider joining us to help make the parade bigger, more festive, and more memorable than ever. Whether through a float, vehicle, marching group, performance, or other creative display, your participation will help bring excitement and patriotic spirit to this historic celebration.
The parade registration form is below. [Note: A printable copy of the form may be found here.] Additional details regarding parade lineup and staging will be shared in June.
If you are interested in participating or would like to receive more information, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you for helping us celebrate Whitewater, our community, and America’s 250th Anniversary in a truly amazing way.
Birmingham, Ala. — Sam Vargas (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) represented UW-Whitewater on the second day of the 2026 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday, March 14.
Vargas finished eighth in the 60-meter dash with a clocking of 6.80 to secure his first All-America honor indoors. The sophomore is the eighth Warhawk to earn All-America honors in the 60-meter dash and holds three-time All-America honors in his career.
Editor’s note: The above announcement is from the UW-W website.
Obituaries
Leo E. Wurzer, 65, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at his home. Leo was born on April 15, 1961 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Cyril and Shirley (McNeil) Wurzer. He grew up between Pleasant Prairie and Antigo, spending his childhood summers on his uncle’s farm where he discovered his love for all things tractors. Although he never had a farm of his own, he was able to partially fulfill his dream by working as a driver for Robin’s Trucking in Whitewater, WI in his last days and collecting miniature Tonka toys. He began his career … Read more
Lois Cummings, 99, of Fond du Lac, WI (formerly of Janesville, WI, Fort Atkinson, WI, Fountain Hills, AZ, and Green Valley, AZ) passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026 at the Meadows Senior Residence in Fond du Lac surrounded by family. Lois was born on February 17, 1927 in Fort Atkinson to Edward and Clarice (Roseth) Stevens. The middle child of 9 children, she attended Fort Atkinson schools and graduated in 1944. On September 11, 1948 Lois married Grant Cummings at Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Delavan, WI. Together they had 3 children, Gary, Colleen (Tom) Sabel, and Patty (Paul) … Read more
Come celebrate William Kincaid’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 30th at 1 pm at Trippe Lake Park Pavillion in Whitewater. He truly enjoyed gatherings where his favorite foods and music could be enjoyed with some of his closest friends and family. We will honor him by carrying on one of his favorite traditions. Please bring your own beverages and chairs. There is limited seating. See you all there!
Gladys Jean (Riley) Hildebrandt, age 89, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 23, 2026. Gladys was born on December 26, 1936, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Theresa Egnoski Riley. She was married to Walter Sobolik Sr., and later married James A. Hildebrandt in 1976. Gladys was a hardworking woman who spent her life caring for others. She worked in school kitchens, restaurants, factories, and cleaning services. She concluded her working career as a full-time nanny. In that role, she lovingly cared for Andrew, Daniel, and Kaitlyn Drzewiecki, who became part of her chosen family. Gladys is survived by her sons, Wally … Read more
WHITEWATER – Nan Rowley died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on September 4, 1935, in a little house on the prairie in the Town of Johnstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of Wayne L. Wilbur and Florence (McQuillen) Wilbur. Nan attended primary schools in the towns of Johnstown and Richmond and in the City of Whitewater. Nan graduated with honors from Whitewater City High School. On June 19, 1954, Nancy and Ken Rowley were united in marriage in Whitewater and went to live on the Rowley family farm in Richmond. Over the years, Nan served … Read more
Marion H. Gorniak (nee Pfeiffer), 74, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026. She was born on October 24, 1951, to the late Harvey and Loraine (nee Drifke) Pfeiffer in Fort Atkinson, WI. On June 2, 1969, she was united in marriage to Alan Gorniak. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and cooking, especially her rhubarb pies. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her. Those Marion leaves behind to cherish her memory include her husband, Alan Gorniak; stepson, Alan Bauer; sister, Sue Ann Schultz, other relatives and friends. … Read more
Ruth Irene (Phelps) Justis, 88, of Appleton City, Missouri, passed away Friday morning, April 10, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, MO, with her family by her side. Ruth was born June 3, 1937 in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Charles and Ada Mae (Maly) Phelps. She joined the Marine Corps in 1956. During her time there, she met and married her husband, Forest Wayne “Wayne” Justis in 1957. They shared 62 years of marriage and to this union, 2 children, Charles and Dorene, were born. Ruth grew up in Whitewater, WI., the oldest of three children. Ruth graduated from … Read more
Dorothy C. Kau, age 101, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Fort Memorial Hospital. Dorothy was born on March 18, 1925 in Eagle on the family farm, the daughter of John and Katherine (Faestel) VonRueden. Dorothy was a 1942 graduate of Palmyra High School. On May 21, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to Alvin E. Kau at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle and the Lord blessed their union with 8 children. Alvin and Dorothy enjoyed 50 years of marriage together until Alvin’s death in the year 2000. Dorothy enjoyed being a farm … Read more
Dorothy E. McCracken, 95, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, in Sarasota, Florida. Born on April 14, 1930, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Carl and Joyce Meyer, Dorothy grew up in Whitewater and graduated from Whitewater High School. She then worked for a photographer and hand painted his first colored portraits, until she got married. She and her first husband, Bernard Wafle, owned and operated a 179-acre dairy farm in Helenville, Wisconsin, for 25 years before relocating to Ocala, Florida, in 1979. Dorothy later married Earl McCracken, in Ocala, Fl. She also shared a special companionship later in life with … Read more
Carol Ann Seebruch, 88 of Whitewater passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, April 3, 2026. Carol was born July 12, 1937 in Chicago IL to William and Ann Borovec. She married Marvin Seebruch on June 9, 1984. Carol and Marvin enjoyed traveling the United States making it to 48 of the 50 states. She also enjoyed her time with the Red Hat Ladies. She loved taking pictures of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Carol is survived by her three children; Bill Anderson of Fort Atkinson, WI, Terri Laban of Whitewater, WI, and Donna (Mike) Jones of Crivitz, WI. She … Read more
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