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Today is Friday, June 19, 2026
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The tickets may be purchased online. Alternatively the QR code below will access the form. [Sorry, there are only two ways left!] Reservations are accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, October 18 or until sold out.
Brianna Zimdars from Whitewater, who is studying Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has earned a roster spot on the Warhawk women’s swimming and diving team for the 2024-25 season.
The Warhawks finished fifth at last year’s Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships. UW-Whitewater is coached by Elise Knoche, who enters her seventh season at the helm of the program. The team garnered the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America Award for the 11th straight season in 2023-24.
The Warhawks won their season-opening meet on Saturday, October 12 at Illinois Tech. They continue competition this Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Wisconsin Invite in Milwaukee. For the full 2024-25 schedule, visit uwwsports.com.
Update 10/15/24 @ 12:20 p.m. – Community Development Authority Board of Directors agenda added.
City of Whitewater Plan & Architectural Review Commission – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and possible approval of a Conditional Use Permit for Vacant Lot 4 at Cedar
Court for a planned residential development to call for a duplex; Discussion and Recommendation to Council Regarding Annexation of Parcel at N9618 and N9622 Howard Road, Town of Whitewater, Owned by Michael Mason, Including Zoning Map Designation and Certified Survey Map Approval; Discussion and possible approval for a Conditional Use permit for an 18-foot pylon sign and more than 1 wall sign for Dollar Tree to be located at 1441 W Main Street.
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/301922029
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 301-922-029
United States: +1 (872) 240-3412
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install
City of Whitewater Alcohol Licensing Committee – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes appeal of the denial of a beverage operator’s license
Whitewater Municipal Building Cravath Lakefront
Room, 2nd Floor, 312 West Whitewater St.,
Whitewater, WI 53190 *In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81342413169?pwd=cjMMYRMOgSwPUQ6SEOWxfVteEmvxQW.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID:813 4241 3169
Passcode: 566469
City of Whitewater Common Council – Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Fitch & Associates Whitewater Police Department Organizational and Workload Study presentation; ATV/UTV Data update; Update on Whitewater Middle School parking on Elizabeth Street; Mid Block crosswalks on Main Street by UW Whitewater; Presentation and brief overview of draft 2025 budget; Discussion and Possible Action regarding changing winter parking restrictions to start December 1 instead of November 1; Discussion and Possible Action regarding WPD request for proposals-Public Safety Referendum Communications Firm
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85183483921?pwd=2QXCtaFWNl5qGeP3lSlSOqPFW1rPGF.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 851 8348 3921
Passcode: 245344
City of Whitewater Parks & Recreation Board – Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and Possible Action on Capital Campaign implementation for WAFC upgrades.
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor, 312 West Whitewater St
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82801219900?pwd=JRaIgKXoaeHymJYN0JOyGBbj4oqjas.1
Meeting ID: 828 0121 9900
Passcode: 978114
One tap mobile
+13092053325,,82801219900#,,,,978114# US +13126266799,,82801219900#,,,,978114# US (Chicago)
City of Whitewater Community Development Authority Board of Directors – Thursday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and possible action regarding Request for Proposal (RFP) for demolition of the
108 West Main Street building (EDD Zeinert), Discussion and possible action regarding Request for Proposal (RFP) for the demolition of the 216 East Main Street building (EDD Zeinert), and closed session re: Consideration and possible action regarding Development Agreement with Tanis.
(In-Person & Virtual)
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St.
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82244534281?pwd=OxaO933yrs5h45YyRnnRdlV6jTYtKA.vm2j4MY31USfiJSs
Or Telephone:
Dial +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Webinar ID: 822 4453 4281
Passcode: 627030
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation.
The Whitewater Community Foundation is now accepting applications for Fall Community Action Grants. Grants will be awarded to local non-profit organizations actively working to support the greater Whitewater community.
Qualified projects should be intended for educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent purposes that will benefit and improve the greater Whitewater community. Consideration will also be made based on the results of the 2023 Civic Summit, when more than 30 community members, business leaders, educators, nonprofit organizers, and others determined key areas for improvement in Whitewater:
- Communicating to Whitewater’s diverse population in English and Spanish, making signage bi-lingual, coordinating communication to all groups, and providing opportunities for people of different backgrounds, age groups, etc. to integrate to help meet community needs;
- Housing assistance, affordability and accessibility for families and professionals seeking to purchase homes;
- Marketing Whitewater by coordinating and cross-pollinating events, calendars and volunteer opportunities.
Projects are expected to be accomplished within a specific period of time (generally not more than one year) and should be creative, innovative and address community needs. Interested organizations can find more information and fill out an application at site https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/community-action-grants/ The deadline for submitting applications is October 31, 2024.
Kat Mawhinney, WCF Board Member who chairs the Community Action Grant Selection Committee, said, “We are pleased to be able to offer these grants to organizations helping to make the Whitewater community stronger.”
Organizations interested in pursuing a Whitewater Community Foundation Action Grant should check out the Whitewater Community Foundation web https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/ or contact Kat at 262-473-1403.
The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.
More information about the Whitewater Community Foundation can be found at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org and on Facebook.
The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.”
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.
Whitewater Breakfast Kiwanis volunteers helped to clean up Highway 12 from County O to County H in La Grange recently. Pictured here are Steve Ryan (L) and Steve Smith. Others not in the picture who helped are Lynn Binnie, Rick Halvorson, and Darsha Olsen.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
Twenty-one members of Ferradermis, Whitewater High School’s FIRST Robotics Competition Team, participated in the TWIST off-season event held at Muskego High School on Saturday, October 12. The mission of TWIST (Together Women in STEM Thrive), hosted by Team 6421 The WarriorBots from Muskego, is to create an off-season event with a twist, centered around creating an empowering and inclusive environment for girls, a group typically underrepresented in STEM fields, to take their skills to the next level. The one rule modification for the event is that the drive team must be entirely female; male team members otherwise fully participate. The second annual TWIST event hosted 30 teams and 27 robots from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.
The event also included a FIRST Lego League (FLL) Scrimmage, providing an opportunity for FLL teams who have already started their new season, to meet with judges to learn about the judging process and get feedback on their in-progress Innovation Projects. Full competition tables with referees were also available for students to test their robot runs and receive feedback. The Washington Bricklayers FLL Team, under the mentorship of Chris Nate and Val Troxel, embraced this opportunity to test their season progress so far. The Washington team, along with Whitewater FLL teams from Lincoln, Lakeview, and the Middle School will be competing with 20 other teams from around the state at the Whitewater FLL Regional hosted by Ferradermis at Whitewater High School on Sunday, December 8.
At TWIST, each team may nominate one student for the Student Inspiration Award Presented by CrunchLabs and Milwaukee Tool. Ferradermis was proud to nominate Senior Mechanical-CAD subteam lead Zoe Olson. Her nomination essay, submitted by Head Coach Mark Zimmermann and Advisor Laura Masbruch, included the following summary of Zoe’s contributions to the team: “Zoe Olson has shown amazing growth in both her leadership skills and her technical skills over her four years on Ferradermis. When Zoe joined the team as a freshman, she was not sure she wanted to travel with the team and really hung back at meetings. As a senior, she is still a very soft-spoken young woman, but her determination to push herself out of her comfort zone to master CAD and get comfortable with large-scale shop equipment has set a great tone for other girls on our team. Zoe has taken on the role of CAD subteam lead for the last two years. She has a true drive to learn and understand mechanical concepts. When not operating the lathe or the CNC router in the shop, she will often sit and have quiet debates with our technical team lead about mechanical design. Zoe is very welcoming of all students and will often sit with our newest members, exposing them to CAD and sharing her passion. Zoe tackles any job that needs to be done, whether that be repairing the robot or scouting in the stands. As a senior, she has enrolled in the Introduction to Engineering Design course as well as Digital Electronics and is now considering pursing a biomedical engineering degree at MSOE.”
The Ferradermis robot, Chief Lee the Tangerine, was led onto the field by Drive Coach Emerson Dunham, Driver Margaret Brown, Operator Erison Dreksler, Human Player Vivian Harris, and Technician Nina Heim. Ferradermis membership is currently over 60% female, so the team had no issues fulfilling the all-female drive team requirement. Other teams, however, would have been unable to field a drive team with enough girls to compete. For the second year in a row, Ferradermis demonstrated their gracious professionalism and loaned out girls to other teams so they would have a full drive team. Zoe Olson had agreed ahead of time to fulfill the role of human player for Team 8531 the TermiKnightors from Dominican High School. On the spur of the moment, two Ferradermis freshmen, attending their first ever robotics competition, also stepped up to help out other teams. Charlotte Trautman filled in as the human player for Team 1259 Paradigm Shift from Pewaukee, and Emilie Bruns stepped in as the human player for Team 1675 UPS from Milwaukee. The role of the human player is to feed game pieces into the field at the appropriate moment and to control the coopertition and amplification buttons, which change the scoring during a match.
The Ferradermis robot went 6-5 on the day and was invited to be part of the 6th seeded playoff alliance by Team 930 from Mukwonago. The pair then invited Team 6381 Red Raider Robotics from Sheboygan North to round out the alliance. Ferradermis was represented on the field for alliance selections by Isabella Cohen and Georgia Esch. The alliance pushed their way through the double-elimination playoff bracket, finishing the day in third place.
The team was supported throughout the day by members Andrew O’Toole, Preston Miller, Carson Miller, and Safety Captain Elora Wildermuth-Breitzman in the pit. The scouting team in the stands was led by Chacha Binagi and Andrew Zimmermann. Freshman Eli Gonsior took on the task of videoing every match and delivering it immediately to the pit for analysis by the drive team. Freshman Virginia Nelson wore the team’s media badge, photographing the event for the team’s records, and freshmen Jayden Kehrer and Cooper Housel helped with scouting and each spent some time in the pit, learning how an event works. Students were able to take advantage of an Opportunities Fair throughout the day. The fair featured representatives from multiple universities, scholarship providers, and NCWIT, the National Center for Women in Information Technology.
Seven team awards were presented throughout the playoffs, and Ferradermis was honored to receive the T’WISTful Thinking Award Presented by Generac. This award was to celebrate a team with innovative designs and use of materials to create a successful and creative mechanism. The judges were impressed with the team’s use of 3D printing to create custom components and the team’s iterations on their robot design throughout the season.
FIRST Robotics competitions are run by volunteers, and the event on Saturday had over 110 people step up to take on volunteer roles, several of them with ties to Ferradermis. Whitewater’s Administrative Team Captain Maddison LaHaie got her wish to “DJ” and ran the sound system in the gym throughout the day. Ferradermis Advisor Laura Masbruch volunteered as a Judge, gaining valuable insight for the team on the judging process used at all FRC events. Several Ferradermis alumni were also at the event as volunteers including MSOE student Reilly Aschenbrener, UW-Madison student Kay Mikos, and former Head Coach Dilpreet Randhawa. Thank you to volunteer team mentors Kat Dunham, Tori Breisath, and Paul Kriegel for supporting the team throughout the day. Thank you also to alum Zach Brantmeier for spending time with the team in the pit and helping troubleshoot the code on the team’s second robot.
At a FIRST Robotics Competition event, a unicorn match is a match where the two alliances earn all possible ranking points. TWIST took this concept to a whole new level with charity matches for Children’s Hospital. Many off-season events include some aspect of community service, and our hosts for TWIST chose to create a competition between teams to bring in the most LEGO kits to be donated to Children’s Hospital. Our Head Coach Mark Zimmermann graciously agreed to don a unicorn costume if Ferradermis brought in enough LEGO kits to earn a spot in the match. Thanks in great part to generous Whitewater community members who ordered kits and had them shipped to the high school, Ferradermis was able to donate 32 LEGO Kits, won a $25 gift certificate for REV Robotics, and earned a spot in the match! The participating teams donated a total of 217 kits.
Ferradermis will enter its 10th and final competition of the 2024 Crescendo season on October 25-26 at Roboteer Rumble in Tremont, Illinois, where they will face off with 36 robots from Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Iowa. The new 2025 Reefscape season will kick off on January 4.
Article Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor
lmasbruch@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Kat Dunham, Tori Breisath, and Laura Masbruch
Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, and Columbus Day 2024 occurs on Monday, October 14. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937. For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage. But throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy, and many alternatives to the holiday have proposed since the 1970s including Indigenous People’s Day, now celebrated in many U.S. states and cities.
Editor’s note: The above article is from history.com. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay.
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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