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Today is Tuesday, October 13, 2026
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The City of Whitewater is excited to announce its first-ever Food Truck Fest, scheduled for Saturday, September 14th, from 11 AM to 7 PM at Cravath Lakefront Park. This marks the first event of its kind in our community, and we are thrilled to bring a diverse lineup of 15 food trucks to the area.
Attendees can look forward to a variety of delicious options, including tacos, donuts, and so much more! Whether you’re in the mood for a savory meal or a sweet treat, there’s something for everyone at the Food Truck Fest.
In addition to the fantastic food offerings, the City is partnering with Second Salem Brewing Company to provide a selection of local beers for the event. This collaboration promises to enhance the festivity of the day, offering a perfect pairing of food and beverages in a beautiful lakeside setting.
Join us at Cravath Lakefront Park for a day of great food, community, and fun. Bring your friends and family to enjoy the unique flavors and vibrant atmosphere of the inaugural Food Truck Fest!
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the City of Whitewater. Actually there was a food truck festival held at the library a number of years ago, but it featured about half as many trucks and no beer.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
As was previously announced on the Banner, the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library’s major renovation and expansion project is underway. On Friday, September 13 two giant burr oak trees were taken down to make room for the construction. Observers opined that the trees were likely over 200 years old. It was the price of progress, they admitted, while also acknowledging that trees don’t last forever. The event brought back memories of the relatively recent loss of the failing “Territorial Oak” at Main and Franklin Streets, as well as the controversial destruction about a decade ago of the gorgeous huge oak behind the former Olsen Funeral Home at Main and Prince Streets.
The library will be closed for approximately one month beginning Saturday, September 14. It will be open today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and materials that are checked out will be given an October 21 due date, although it is hoped that the reopening will occur by October 12. Should patrons wish to return those materials sooner than that date, they could return them at any of the Bridges System libraries, which includes Fort Atkinson, Jefferson and Palmyra. Anyone wishing to obtain materials during the library’s closure may do so by visiting one of those libraries, or by placing a hold on their desired materials on the library’s website but designating the library where they wish to pick them up. A patron’s library card is accepted at any of the system libraries.
Groundbreaking will be held on Wednesday, October 2 at 5 p.m. with speeches at 5:15. Cake and beverages will be served.
On Tuesday, September 10, the Whippet Swim Team took on Edgerton/Evansville in their first conference dual meet of the season.
The Whippets put up a close battle against Edgerton/Evansville by putting up some impressive times. Here are some highlights from the night:
In the 200 Medley Relay, Makayla Bazeley, Emerson Dunham, Charlotte Hajewski, and Maggie Maas beat out the rest of the competition by 5 seconds.
In the 50 Freestyle, Laken DePorter, Lucy Davis, and Georgia Esch all posted best times.
Charlotte Hajewski swam a lifetime best of 1:18.26 in the 100 Butterfly. And a quick shout out to Marijose Verduzco for competing in the 100 Butterfly for the first time.
In the 100 Freestyle, Maggie Maas, Maya Davis, Laken DePorter, and Caitlin Alford all posted best times. Maya Davis had an impressive 10 second time drop which puts her under 1:30. Way to go!
In the 500 Freestyle, Georgia Esch went a lifetime best time of 7:33.78. Emerson Dunham went a season best time of 6:17.82. And finally, we were so excited to see Zoe Zei back competing in the 500!
Marijose Verduzco went a lifetime best in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:34.40.
Makayla Bazeley improved in the 100 Breaststroke by going a time of 1:17.20. This secures her 8th place spot in the Whippet Top 10 list.
The Whippets are back in action on Saturday, September 14, at the Elk Invite in Elkhorn. We hope to see more red in the crowd cheering on our team!
Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu
It time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
Here is a post card image of the East Side School in the early 20th century after a large addition was made to the original building in 1906-1907. By the turn of the 20th century, the population of Whitewater had increased significantly and in 1884, a new west side “Union School” had been built; then that building became a high school building by 1893, when the Esterly School for elementary students was established, also on the west side. Finally, after 1900, the east side was addressed with an addition that doubled the size of the original building. In this configuration, the East Side school served this area of Whitewater for 50 years.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(3100PC, Whitewater Historical Society)
Courageous Conversation: Project 2025
The League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area invites the public to participate in a Courageous Conversation on Project 2025, Wednesday, September 18, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM, at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center, 341 S Fremont St, in Whitewater.
Project 2025 is a series of goals and objectives shaped by the Heritage Foundation as a strategy document for the Office of the President.
An objective of the League is to engage in dialogue, deliberations, and discernment about issues that are critically important to the community. The premise of a courageous conversation is to speak your truth, experience discomfort, accept and expect non-closure, but stay engaged. The topic of Project 2025 is one that the community should discuss openly to understand its intent and proposed actions. During a presidential election year, we must stay vigilantly informed and have opportunities to deliberate through a lens of open-mindedness and freedom of expression.
The purpose of this courageous conversation is for participants to receive an overview of Project 2025, to ask questions about its intent, and to dialogue with other community members in a round table arrangement to seek understanding and to be understood. To assist in this discernment process, we have asked Dr. Eric Loepp, Associate Professor in the Department of Politics, Government, and Law and Director of Learning Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, to facilitate the discussion.
Please direct any questions about this program to League board member Dwight Watson, dwight.watsondcw@gmail.com.
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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!
Hello basketball families!
Registration for the 2024-2025 Jr. Whippets basketball season is OPEN for both boys and girls in grades 3 through 8!!
Deadline to register is October 1 so don’t delay.
You can access the registration page through this link:
https://sportswwusd.sportngin.com/register/form/339853979
or scan the QR code on the attached flyer below.
Brock Grosinske, an accounting and finance major from Whitewater, WI, and graduate of Whitewater High School, is a member of the 2024 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team, which started its 2024 season last Saturday with a 34-7 victory against John Carroll (Ohio).
The Warhawks are ranked third in the nation by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association.
UW-Whitewater will be led by three Preseason All-Americans on offense including center John Pekar (Franklin, Wis./Franklin), lineman Alex Pethan (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) and running back Tamir Thomas (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls). The Warhawks return breakout returner and wide receiver Tyler Vasey (Crystal Lake, Ill/Prairie Ridge) – the 2023 WIAC Newcomer of the Year – to the team this season. Kyle Koelblinger (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) returns to help lead the defense after claiming Newcomer of the Year honors in 2021 as a defensive back.
UWW returns a number of all-league players to the squad this season. Running back Drake Martin (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) and wide receiver Steven Hein (St. Charles, Ill./North) join Pekar, Pethan and Thomas offensively. Defensive lineman Matt Burba (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Huntley) and Nehemiah Lomax (Park Forest, Ill./Crete-Monee) are joined by linebacker Ethan Gallagher (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) in addition to Koelblinger on the defense. Mason Stepanski (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) and Vasey head the all-conference earners returning on special teams.
UW-Whitewater finished second in the league a season ago after securing a 6-1 mark against Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference competition. The Warhawks made a run to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals before capping the season with an 11-2 record. UWW has secured at least a share of the conference title in 14 of the last 18 seasons. The Warhawks have claimed more WIAC championships than any other team in the league — 39.
UW-La Crosse has been picked to win the title in 2024 followed in order by the Warhawks, UW-River Falls, UW-Platteville, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point.
The first road game of the season is set for September 14th at Roosevelt University in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
UW-Whitewater returns to The Perk for the final non-conference game of the season – a September 21 matchup against Mary Hardin-Baylor (Alumni Day presented by Mercyhealth). The Warhawks will host UW-Oshkosh in the WIAC opener on October 5 for UW-Whitewater’s annual Family Fest and Shriners Day presented by PremierBank.
Back on the road on October 12, the Warhawks will be in Menomonie for a meeting with UW-Stout. Kickoff against the Blue Devils is slated for 2 p.m. UWW will host UW-Stevens Point on Military Appreciation Day presented by the UW-Whitewater ROTC under the lights on Friday, October 18 at 7 p.m. Following an October 26 match-up at UW-Platteville, the Warhawks return to Perkins Stadium to take on UW-River Falls for Homecoming and the annual Hall of Fame Game presented by Educators Credit Union on November 2.
The final two games of the 2024 regular season are set for November 9 at UW-La Crosse and November 16 at UW-Eau Claire.
The Rotary Club of Whitewater is hosting an online auction that ends this Friday, September 13, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. Over 50 items from sport collectibles to chocolate chip cookies will be available to the highest bidder. Proceeds will help our club’s continuing support of community projects and Whitewater High School scholarships. The auction’s website is https://www.32auctions.com/Rotary2024. Be sure to click on “view all items” at the bottom of the page as there are dozens more items to choose from.
Here are some examples of the items that are featured on the auction:
Obituaries
Sharlene Ruth (nee Stone) Chapman, 84, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at Agrace Hospice on September 11, 2026. Born in Whitewater to Ralph Edward Stone and Eleanor Bernice (nee Jacobs) Stone. Sharlene graduated from Whitewater High School in 1961; she attended vocational secretarial school and began working as a blueprint secretary at Creamery Package in Fort Atkinson. It was there that she met the love of her life, design engineer George Chapman. Sharlene quickly captured his heart—delivering morning pastries and always saving George’s favorite for him, a sweet gesture that earned her the lifelong nickname “Sweets.” Sharlene and George … Read more
Sally A. Schutte, age 73, of Whitewater, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2026, while at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater. Sally was born on November 6, 1952, to Roy and Elsie (Rohloff) Haas. Sally married William Schutte in the spring of 2003. Sally grew up on the family farm in the Town of Hebron and graduated from Jefferson High School. She dedicated nearly her entire career to Fort HealthCare, where her hard work and versatility shone through various roles. Over the years, she served in housekeeping and medical records, Center for Dermatology. Sally … Read more
Zachariah “Zach” Schoenke, 41, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He was born April 4, 1985, to Keith W. Schoenke and Kathleen Schoenke in Fort Atkinson, WI. He grew up and graduated from Whitewater High School in 2003. Zach worked various jobs over the years but was currently working at Cracker Barrel in Janesville. He was a big Packers Fan and liked to play fantasy football. He enjoyed reading, cooking, and watching horror shows. Zach fiercely loved his son, Lincoln, his sisters, Cami and Cary, his mom and stepdad, and his aunt Robin. He will be dearly … Read more
Carla Winn, 82, died September 5, 2026. Funeral Service will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218, followed by a burial at 2:00 PM at White Chapel Memorial Garden 1806 N Oliver Ave. Carla is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Dwight and Wilma Lois Krehbiel; and sister, Jennifer Krehbiel. She is survived by husband, Stephen; daughter, Ashley (Clint) Gagel, of Overland Park; siblings, Paul (Kay) Krehbiel, of Socorro, NM, Lynn (Bill) Oetting, of Wichita, Ellen (John) Querner, of Wichita, Teresa Woodson, of Lawrence, KS, … Read more
Susan Miller Celebration of Life There will be a gathering of friends and acquaintances at Susan’s Farm Store to celebrate Susan’s life on Saturday, September 19th from 2-5 p.m. at N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, Wisconsin
Our loving mother, JoAnn E Harrop, age 95, passed away on September 11, 2026. Our sorrow is deep, but we are filled with gratitude for the many years we had with her. Even as her mind was failing, she remained strong and appreciative of all who cared for her. JoAnn was born on January 13, 1931, daughter to Fred Braun and Evelyn Braun {Storck). She was raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin by her grandparents, Otto and Edith Storck. She attended Whitewater High School and helped at the Storck tavern where she met her husband Earl C. Harrop. They married on November … Read more
Russell O. Johnson “Russ,” 88, passed away on September 4, 2026 in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Russell was born on July 12, 1938, in Janesville, Wisconsin. Russ grew up in Janesville, and after high school he joined the Air Force on May 1, 1958, serving as an aircraft mechanic until June 12, 1962. He then worked at Parker Pen in Janesville for a time, where he met his future wife, Avis. After marrying Avis Mason in April 1964, Russ worked for Gillman Manufacturing for a time, then began a career at Dana until its closing in 1980. In 1981, Russ started working … Read more
Marcia Zingg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at the age of 75. Marcia will be remembered for her unwavering love, remarkable strength, generous spirit, and lifelong devotion to her family. She shared 40 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Jeffrey Zingg, who considered her not only his wife but also his best friend, business partner, and the love of his life. Together, Marcia and Jeffrey built a successful life rooted in perseverance, hard work, laughter, and love. As entrepreneurs in Whitewater, Wisconsin, they owned and managed new car franchises and … Read more
Amanda Jean Hunter was born to Ralph and Malinda (Thomas) Hunter of Whitewater, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1976. She passed away on August 4, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she lived with her family. Amanda passed peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Amanda was a kind-hearted free spirit with an unmistakable hippie warmth. Generosity, spontaneity, a quick wit, a macabre sense of humor, and an open heart were traits that she embraced. She was a tireless champion of those in need, an innate characteristic that became among the best of her qualities. She proved to be a … Read more
Ellen Eichmiller, 82, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Ellen was born on September 10, 1943, in Monroe, Wisconsin, to Chester “Guy” and Irene (née Holmen) Steig. She married the love of her life, Paul Eichmiller, on December 7, 1963, and together they made their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Ellen spent much of her working life as a secretary at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she formed many lasting friendships and memories. Ellen cherished her family and friends and treasured the time she spent with those closest to her. She was known for her love of … Read more
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