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The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006
Today is Thursday, May 14, 2026
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The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Monday from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. Walworth, Jefferson and Rock Counties are included in the expected hot and humid conditions. Heat and humidity are expected to continue into Tuesday, though perhaps not quite as extreme, with the potential for some cooling if there are storms.
Residents who don’t have air conditioning may wish to seek out a cool place such as the library, which is open until 8:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
City Market Canceled
Lisa Dawsey Smith, Downtown Whitewater Board Chair, stated in a Sunday afternoon announcement, “This is much earlier than I would be considering any weather implications for our upcoming market but given the … message issued by the National Weather service please note that the Tuesday market is Cancelled. Please take care of yourselves and stay safe over the next two days. Thank you all for your efforts in making the market a success week after week, year over year.”
Gwynne Sahyun, from Whitewater, graduated from Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in Spring 2024. Sahyun received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering .
Milwaukee School of Engineering (www.msoe.edu) is the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners driven to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. The independent, non-profit university has about 2,800 students and was founded in 1903. MSOE offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, business and nursing. Faculty are student-focused experts who bring real-world experience into the classroom. This approach to learning makes students ready now as well as prepared for the future. Longstanding partnerships with business and industry leaders enable students to learn alongside professional mentors, and challenge them to go beyond what’s possible. MSOE graduates are leaders of character, responsible professionals, passionate learners and value creators.
City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Upkeep of the Arboretum and Discuss and possible action on placing additional Purple Martin Houses in the Community.
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/84422777264
Meeting ID: 844 2277 7264
Or dial 312-626-6799
Whitewater Unified School District Staff Kick-Off – Tuesday @ 8:00 p.m.
Members of the Whitewater School Board will be attending the 2024 WUSD Staff Kick-Off at Whitewater High School on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 beginning at 8:00 am. A quorum of the School Board may be present; however, the Board will not be conducting any business during the event.
City of Whitewater Lakes Advisory Committee – Wednesday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and possible action on Clay Street Nature Park Resident Concern, Discussion and possible action on Together for Healthy Lakes Summit- October 2, 2024, Discussion and possible action regarding SEWRPC Recap of Trippe and Cravath Lake Plant and Shoreline Inventory, Discussion and possible action regarding 2025 Dredge Inquiry
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.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83198282604?pwd=cDdLWjUvTTRqRUQ4UVcwQWcrcW1BUT09
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 831 9828 2604
Passcode: 137945
City of Whitewater Finance Committee Meeting – Wednesday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion of Updated License and Permit Fee Schedule
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.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86137121258?pwd=LJrBtwRZxrPj5Yz7Zrv9stboakO99K.1
Passcode: 946608
Telephone: +1 312 626 6799 US
Webinar ID: 861 3712 1258
Passcode: 946608
| Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Sergeant Jack Hohlfeld Who Lost His Life in World War II |
| MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #236 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Mon., Aug. 26, 2024, in honor of U.S. Army Air Forces Sergeant Jack Hohlfeld, who lost his life in World War II and whose remains have been identified and returned to Wisconsin for burial. “Sergeant Jack Hohlfeld was a decorated military hero who selflessly answered the call to serve and gave his life defending the values and freedoms we as a nation hold most dear,” said Gov. Evers. “It is our responsibility to make sure no hero is ever left behind, no matter how many years have passed, and it is an honor to be able to help welcome Sergeant Hohlfeld back to his home so that he may be laid to rest.” Born in Vernon County and raised in La Crosse and Trempealeau Counties, Sergeant Hohlfeld voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1938 and was assigned to the Philippines as a member of the Headquarters Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group. On Dec. 8, 1941, Sergeant Hohlfeld and members of the 24th Pursuit Group were engaged in combat and were soon overtaken by Japanese forces and forced to surrender as prisoners of war. Sergeant Hohlfeld survived the Bataan Death March and was held captive in the Cabanatuan Japanese prisoner of war (POW) camp until his death on Dec. 26, 1942, after which he was buried in Common Grave 811 with five other service members, before being moved to the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in 1948. The recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, WWII POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, WWII Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Honorable Service Lapel Button-World War II, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, and Philippine Defense Ribbon with Bronze Star, Sergeant Hohlfeld’s family have worked tirelessly to advocate for his identification, and his remains were positively identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in May 2024. Sergeant Hohlfeld will be buried on Mon., Aug. 26, 2024, in La Crosse. |
The Whippets opened their football season against Big Foot on Friday, August 23. The final score was Big Foot 7, Whitewater 6.
Coach Sam Bartlett commented, “The game was a hard fought, physical contest with both teams pounding the ball downhill in the run game. We battled the entire time, and I am so proud of everything the kids did out there. We put together a great drive and scored on a short run by Traysen Thomason to put up a score. Defensively we played extremely well, not giving up a single point. The lone score came on special teams which we will get better at. Ultimately the game came down to holding onto the football. Big Foot had one lone turnover, and we gave them the ball three times. It is hard to win games when giving up the ball. We will improve on that part of the game. The biggest thing I was proud of is the kids never gave up and fought until the final whistle. We made mistakes but we did not have a lack of effort out there. They exemplified the ACE standards we strive to live out in everything we do. I have no doubts that by the end of the season we can be a team that is playing a week 10 if we keep improving and play for each other!”
Rushing Offense:
- Rushes: 33
- Total Yards: 175
- Average:5.3
Passing Offense:
- Attempts:10
- Completions: 2
- Yards 22
Notable Player Stats:
- #6 Traysen Thomason 13 rushes, 73 yards, 1 TD
- #3 Connor Friend 12 Rushes, 60 yards
- #1 Mishaun Harris 6 rushes, 36 yards
Article Submitted by Sam Bartlett
Whitewater High School Head Football Coach
barsa01@wwusd.org
Photo Credit: Olivia Kowalski
Rockin’ Respite now has openings for caregivers seeking respite care for their loved one. The Rockin’ respite program is a collaboration of Fort HealthCare, local volunteers and local churches. We serve seniors in the Walworth and Jefferson county area.
Here’s an unsolicited testimonial that was received from the spouse of one of our participants:
“Whitewater is a dementia-friendly community that includes Rockin’ Respite. My name is Susan and I am a care partner. I know firsthand caregiving is hard. It often feels like there is no time left for you. Rockin’ Respite is a free program that offers time and rest for you, the care partner. Staff, including a nurse and volunteers, work one-on-one with your care partner. Activities include games, trips down memory lane, music, and light exercise. Lunch and snacks are provided. More importantly, smiles, laughter, and abundant care are provided.
As for me, well, I can read a book, have coffee with a friend, or finish a long overdue project worry-free knowing my care partner is happy and is in good hands thanks to Rockin’ Respite.“
Rockin’ Respite meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 9:30-3:30 at The Chapel, 445 Warner Road, Whitewater. There is no cost other than a nominal charge for lunch. If you are a full time caregiver in need of a respite break please contact Nurse Maisie Allie at (920) 723-7288 or Jennifer at 262-473-0535 for more information,
The Walworth County Division of Public Health, in partnership with the Geneva Lake Environmental Agency (GLEA) and the City of Lake Geneva, has officially closed the Lake Geneva Public Beach at the Riviera. The Big Foot Beach State Park beach will also be closed, per the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. A harmful algae bloom has been reported. Please avoid aquatic recreation and swimming in this area.
To ensure public safety, GLEA and Walworth County Public Health continue to actively sample the algae blooms in the city and lake-wide to determine the strain of Cyanobacteria and its toxicity level.
Blue-green algae, known as Cyanobacteria, are microscopic organisms naturally present at low levels in lakes, streams, and ponds. When conditions are favorable, usually in summer, the number of algae can increase dramatically. Some algal species produce toxins that, when ingested, can harm the neurological systems or liver of people, pets, livestock, and wildlife, and can cause other health problems.
There is no way to know immediately whether an algal bloom is harmful, so follow these tips to try and avoid contact with harmful algae:
- Do not swim in or near algal blooms
- Avoid water where blue-green algae appear as scums on the surface of the water, pea-soup-like discoloration, or a paint-like sheen
- Don’t swallow water while swimming
- Wash off after swimming in any lake, river, or pond to reduce the chance of illness
- Keep your pets away from algal blooms and rinse them off with clean water after swimming in lakes and ponds to reduce exposure to algal material
Symptoms of algae-related illness include:
- Sore throat, congestion, cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing
- Eye irritation
- Itchy, red skin, with or without blisters and/or hives
- Earache
- Agitation, headache
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting
Members of the public and veterinarians should call 608-266-1120 or complete the online form Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) Illness or Sighting Survey, F-02152 (web survey) to report any blue-green algae blooms and related human or animal illnesses.
For more information on harmful algae blooms, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/harmful-algal-blooms.
Editor’s note: The image on the homepage is not a photo of either of the above lakes.
“The Fall Guy”
Tuesday, August 27, 1 p.m.
(Comedy/Action/Romance)
Rated PG-13; 2 hours, 6 minutes (2024)
Stuntman Cole Seaver (Ryan Gosling) has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy, and try to win back his girlfriend (Emily Blunt) while still doing his “day job.
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/
Obituaries
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
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
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