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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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WHITEWATER WEATHER

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Additional Local Students Named to UW-W Dean’s List

June 12, 2024

The Banner previously announced the names of a large number of UW-Whitewater students who were named to the spring Dean’s List. On June 10 the university announced that the following students had been added to the previously announced Dean’s List recipients.

  • Whitewater, WI 53190: Megan Forester
  • Whitewater, WI 53190: Megan Haskins
  • Whitewater, WI 53190: Sarah Lalasz

These students have demonstrated their academic abilities by receiving a grade point average of 3.4 or above in a single semester.

“Making the Dean’s List is a tremendous honor. It is a recognition of our students’ hard work and commitment to success,” said John Chenoweth, who serves as UW-Whitewater’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “We are proud of our students and hope to see their names on the list again. Congratulations to all who were recognized!”

The Registrar’s Office reports 3,298 students were selected for the Dean’s List for the spring semester. More than 11,500 students were enrolled at the university’s Whitewater and Rock County campuses in 2023-24.

UW-W Rock Band Camp Free Concert – Thurs.

June 12, 2024

This Thursday, June 13 from 7-9 pm the talented musicians from UW Whitewater’s Rock Band Camp will be putting on a FREE show open to all to watch! Campers have been rocking their songs and are ready to put on a great show! We have campers from as far as New Mexico and Florida, as well as Wisconsin and many of these campers are playing professional gigs! You don’t want to miss this!

Where:
Cravath Lakefront Park

When:
Thursday, June 13 from 7-9 pm

This event will also be live streamed on Facebook for those who are not able to make it in person! Bring a blanket and some snacks and come hear some great music! And support our future in music! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/838360271547060?ref=newsfeed

This Week’s Garage Sales

June 12, 2024

Huge rummage sale! Something for everyone. Girl clothes birth to size 4/5.  Winter coats and boots.   Playpen, strollers, booster chairs, and toddler bed. Toys from vintage tractors and construction toys to Little Tikes and Melissa and Doug. Men toys and tools  available. Kitchen items and furniture. Yard tools and old cow tank. 

Friday 6/14  9 am to 4 and Saturday 6/15 8 am to 4.  W6915 Bluff RD. Whitewater

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W9622 Breidsan Dr.

Whitewater (headed out of town it is the next left-past Taco Bell). 

**Multi-family rummage…

Tons of name-brand clothing for infant-adult. College dorm supplies, sporting clothes, household goods, furniture…Too much stuff to list!

Thursday 9-3 Friday 8-3 and Saturday 8-2

Whitewater United FC Tryouts for Select Teams Start on Thursday

June 12, 2024

For birth years 2013 and older. Register here.

City Apologizes for Extended Water Outage; Additional Outage Averted

June 12, 2024

Editor’s note: The city provided the explanation and apology shown below for Tuesday’s unexpectedly extended water outage in the Tratt Street area. In response to a question from the Banner, Brad Marquardt, public works director, indicated that an additional shutdown on Wednesday will only affect two residence halls on campus, which are aware and onboard. “There was going to be another shutdown for residents on Tratt St south of Starin Road for a hydrant replacement, but we are asking the contractor to change construction techniques and do the tap under live conditions, foregoing another shutdown,” Marquardt added.

The city’s statement:

Yesterday, our contractor was working on replacing a water main at Tratt and Starin, which required shutting off water to a large area of residents from 8 AM to 4 PM. Unfortunately, the contractor encountered unexpected issues, resulting in the water being turned back on much later than anticipated—closer to midnight.

Our staff went door to door starting at 4 PM, leaving notices and posting updates to inform everyone of the delay. While many residents were understanding and appreciated our efforts to stay late and resolve the problem, we understand that this caused significant inconvenience for others.

We sincerely apologize for any hardship this delay may have caused. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we strive to improve our city’s infrastructure.

Thank you,

City of Whitewater Public Works

Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

Summer School Playhouse – The SpongeBob Musical

June 11, 2024

Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser

Photos from rehearsal on June 11, also courtesy of Tom Ganser

Local Student Named to Northern Illinois University Dean’s List

June 11, 2024

Northern Illinois University announces its spring 2024 Dean’s List students. To earn this distinction, students must meet a minimum semester grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology or a minimum of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale in the colleges of Business, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts.

The student from your area who achieved this honor is: 

Brianna Tillett, of Whitewater, who is majoring in Rehabilitation & Disability Services. Tillett is a graduate of Kettle Moraine High School.

Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Oregon and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 courses of study while serving a diverse and international student body of about 19,000. The 17 NIU Huskie athletic teams compete in the Mid-American Conference at the highest NCAA Division I level. For more information, visit www.niu.edu.

Bids Solicited for Addition/Renovations to the Whitewater Library

June 11, 2024

IRVIN L. YOUNG MEMORIAL LIBRARY PROJ. NO. 20118A
ADDITION AND RENOVATIONS

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS 001113 – 1 MAY 16, 2024
Revised with Addendum 4

SECTION 001113 – ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for the Addition and Renovations at Irvin L. Young Memorial Library will be received by the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library at 431 W. Center Street, Whitewater, WI 53190 until 11:00 a.m. prevailing time on Thursday June 27, 2024. Lump Sum bid proposals will be received for this project at the scheduled time of receipt of bids and will be publicly opened and read aloud at the above stated time and place.

Each bid must be accompanied by a Bid Guarantee in the form of a Bid Bond, Certified Check or Bank Draft in an amount equal to and not less than ten percent (10%) of the bid and made payable to the City of Whitewater. No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after the bid opening date without the consent of the Owner. Checks or drafts of unsuccessful Bidders will be returned as soon as practical, after opening and checking the bids. Successful Bidder must provide a Performance Bond and a Labor and Material Payment Bond in the full amount of the Contract, acceptable to the Owner. Bids shall be submitted in an opaque sealed envelope clearly marked as SEALED BID and addressed to:

Diane Jaroch
Library Director
Irvin L. Young Memorial Library
431 W. Center Street
Whitewater, WI 53190

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts thereof or waive any irregularities or informalities in bidding.

QUALIFICATION: Each Bidder must satisfactorily complete the qualification process described in Section 004395 -General Requirements of the Project Manual, by providing the required Qualification Documents. The required Qualification Documents must be delivered along with the Bidder’s sealed bid at the same place and time requiredfor the bid. Contents of each Bidder’s Qualification Documents will be available for public review. The Qualification Documents will be reviewed by the Owner and Architect to determine the lowest responsible Bidder.

Bidding documents consist of drawings, project manuals, plus all addenda issued prior to bids; and may be obtained electronically from QuestCDN. (https://www.questcdn.com/questcdn/) Bidders will need to create a free account to login and search for the project through the QuestCDN E-bid document: # 9122030. Bid documents will be available beginning on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

A pre-bid meeting walk-through for general contractors was held at 1:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library located at 431 W. Center Street, Whitewater, WI 53190. Interested subcontractors were asked to attend. After the pre-bid meeting, everyone shall be given an opportunity to view the area of work, gather additional information, and ask specific questions. All contractors intending to submit a bid are required to visit the site. Bidders not attending the pre-bid meeting are required to make a site visit on their own time during the library’s regular hours. Visitors are asked to sign in at the circulation desk. Documented proof of a site visit, at the time of the pre-bid meeting or on the bidder’s own time, is required as part of a successful bid submission. Not visiting the site will be grounds for rejection of bid.

Board of Trustees
Irvin L. Young Memorial Library
Walworth County, Wisconsin

Obituaries

Obituary: Lawrence “Larry” C. Hartung, 76, of Fort Atkinson

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

Obituary: Leo E. Wurzer, 65, of Eagle

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

Obituary: Lois Cummings, 99, of Fond du Lac

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

Celebration of Life: William Kincaid

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!

Obituary: Gladys Jean (Riley) Hildebrandt, 89, of Milwaukee

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

Obituary: Nancy “Nan” Rowley, 90

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

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

Obituary: Ruth I. (Phelps) Justis, 88, of MO

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

Obituary: Dorothy C. Kau, 101, of Eagle

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

Obituary: Dorothy E. [nee Meyer] Wafle McCracken, 95, of Florida

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