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It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This month we will be featuring major fires in Whitewater. Most of us are aware of the famous 1970 Old Main fire, but did you know that Old Main burned in 1891? This image shows the after effect of this fire that primarily destroyed the original front portion of the building. This section was rebuilt with a new, impressive front that existed until the 1970 fire.
Today, Wisconsin announced where all 496 student Battle of the Books teams ranked in the state. Whitewater Unified had an AMAZING showing!
The high school team, The Final Braincell, placed 6th this year out of 65 high school teams. This was the third state qualifying run for Vivian Harris, Alex Nelson, and Letty Trautman.
The Grumpy Monkeys elementary team placed 8th out of 235 elementary teams. This was the second state qualifying run for Chloe Swaney, Cecilia Harris, Ailene Straight, and Emily Wagner.
The Dawgs from the middle school placed 42nd out of 196 middle school teams. Way to go Ben Roe, Isac Lopez, Lyonel Hernandez, and Logan Dammeir.
Article and Photos Submitted by Kathy Retzke
Whitewater Unified School District Library Media Specialist
kretzke@wwusd.org
“Blue Moon”
Tuesday, March 10, 1 pm
(Biography/History/Drama) Rated R (language)
1 hour, 40 minutes (2025).
On the evening of March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator, Richard Rodgers, celebrates the opening night of his groundbreaking hit musical “Oklahoma.” Oscar nominations for best actor (Hawke) and original screenplay.
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 $15 and non-residents is $20. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes out 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/
March 07, 2026 @ 7:00 PM
The Young Performing Arts Center
930 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190
Rachmaninoff, Symphony No. 2
Combined performance featuring Lake Geneva and UW-Whitewater Symphony Orchestras
The LGSO and the UW-Whitewater Symphony Orchestra join forces for one of the monuments of the symphonic literature. In addition to hearing two orchestras combine to play an incredible piece, this performance also celebrates the close relationship that the LGSO and the UW-Whitewater Department of Music have shared over the years.
This event is general admission, $20, with the option of priority seating for an additional cost. Tickets are available online; there is a small surcharge for tickets purchased at the door. There is no charge for parking.
Whitewater Common Council Candidate Forum
Saturday, March 7, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Whitewater City Hall Council Chambers, 312 W Whitewater Street
There are three open seats on the Council with two candidates running for each seat. The candidates are: Aldermanic District 2 (Wards 9 & 10) Gavin Kelleher and Sean Liebherr; Aldermanic District 4 (Wards 6, 7 & 8) Brian Schanen (incumbent) and Chuck Mills; and, Member at Large Aubrey Thompson and Orin Smith. All candidates have agreed to attend the forum.
The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area sponsors candidate forums for the benefit of YOU, the voter. At the forum, you will be asked to write your questions on cards distributed by the League. Questions are reviewed by question checkers, who sort them by topic and check for redundancy, before forwarding them to the moderator. We do not accept questions targeted to specific candidates. Questions prepared by the League board will be used only if there are not enough questions provided by residents in attendance at the forum. Bring your family, friends and neighbors! Be an active participant in our democracy!
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!
The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office provided the following forecast update at 3 a.m. on Friday, March 6.
Bottom Line Up Front
Confidence remains high for multiple rounds of thunderstorms this morning through early Saturday morning:
Friday Morning (~ 7 AM – 12 PM) (Confidence: High)
- A widespread area of showers and storms will move into southern Wisconsin from Iowa and Illinois.
- Areas of heavy rain and some hail will be the primary threat.
Friday Afternoon (~12 PM – 5 PM) (Confidence: High)
- Storms will likely continue for much of the afternoon over southern WI as they train into the area from Illinois or redevelop over southern WI.
- Areas of heavy rain, urban and small stream flooding, and some hail will be the primary threats.
— Break in activity from ~5 PM to 10 PM Today —
Overnight (~10 PM Tonight – 5 AM Saturday) (Confidence: Medium)
- Widespread storms track across the area along and ahead of a cold front.
- Damaging wind and a few tornadoes will be the primary threats.
Heavy rainfall is expected with widespread accumulations between 1 and 2 inches areawide. Locally higher amounts from 2 to 3 inches may occur wherever thunderstorms repeatedly train throughout the day. Frozen ground and the rainfall will lead to:
- Standing water in ditches, as well as low-lying areas and roads
- Increased runoff and urban and small stream flooding.
What has changed?
- Later storm timing. A significant break in activity is now expected from 5PM to 10PM today.
- Greatest threats of tornadoes and damaging winds will be late this evening into the overnight. .
- Confidence in localized flooding remains high.
On Wednesday, March 4, we hosted our first annual Whippet Works: Connecting Community, Careers, and Classrooms event at Whitewater High School, and what an incredible night it was!
We welcomed local businesses, organizations, and industry partners to experience firsthand the many ways they can connect with and support students in the Whitewater Unified School District. Guests toured our CTE learning spaces, learned about our exciting CTE renovation and expansion plans, and participated in a Youth Apprenticeship informational session and panel discussion featuring local partners.
The energy, ideas, and conversations throughout the evening made one thing very clear: when schools, businesses, and the community come together, amazing things happen for our students.
Our goal is simple: to bridge the gap between community, business, and education so our students are better prepared for life beyond high school whether that path leads to college, technical training, apprenticeships, or directly into the workforce.
Together we make a difference.
Together we show students the incredible opportunities around them.
Together we make the Whitewater area a great place to live, work, and belong.
A huge thank you to the many businesses and organizations who joined us and are committed to building these opportunities for our students. Big things are happening in WUSD, and this is only the beginning. The future is bright for our students and our community!
Article Submitted by Mike Rick
Whitewater Unified School District Career and Technical Education Coordinator
ricmi01@wwusd.org
The following students are UW-Whitewater’s 2025-26 Greek chapter presidents.
Whitewater, WI 53190: Omarian Hughes, who is studying Cybersecurity and is president of Kappa Alpha Psi.
Whitewater, WI 53190: Ashton Gillespie, who is studying Management and is president of Lambda Chi Alpha.
Whitewater, WI 53190: Cam Kerber, who is studying Marketing and is president of Lambda Chi Alpha.
Whitewater, WI 53190: Michaela Boose, who is studying Psychology and is president of National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Whitewater, WI 53190: Shon Benson, who is studying Accounting and is president of Omega Psi Phi.
Whitewater, WI 53190: Daven Cooper, who is studying English Literature & Language Arts Education and is president of Zeta Phi Beta & National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Ranging from two members to 70, the 24 Greek chapters at UW-Whitewater stem from a rich history and are affiliated with national, international, and local organizations. While the individual goals of each chapter are different, the overall mission of the presidents of the chapters is largely centered around service, engagement and commitment to their members and campus.
When a student joins Greek Life, they meet other young professionals looking to develop long-lasting relationships on campus. By joining a Greek organization, students can meet and network with individuals through conventions, conferences and other campus and national events. On average, members of fraternities and sororities have a higher GPA and are more likely to remain in school and graduate than average students.
Greek students provide thousands of community service hours annually. Their organizations raised more than $19,000 for local and national philanthropy efforts in the 2024-25 academic year.
UW-Whitewater’s Greek community offers a sense of accomplishment and ways to make the world a better place. For more information on the presidents of the Greek chapters or the Greek community at UW-Whitewater, contact greeks@uww.edu.
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by UW-Whitewater.
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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