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Today is Tuesday, May 12, 2026
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By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Updated 1/31/24 @ 11:25 a.m. – Per City Clerk Heather Boehm, no additional applications were received.
As was previously announced on the Banner, the Common Council is accepting applications for the open at large seat that was held by the late James “Jim” Allen. The council will interview the candidates on February 6, and if a selection is made, that individual will be immediately sworn in for a term that will expire on April 16, 2024. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, January 30 at 4:30 p.m.
Common Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Members are expected to review the agenda packet prior to the meeting. In addition, all members serve on one or more committees. The salary is $300 per month.
Applications can be physically picked up at the second floor of the Municipal Building, found at 312 W Whitewater Street, or they can be found online at the City Website. If you have any questions about the application please contact the City Clerk at 262-473-0102 or at hboehm@whitewater-wi.org.
The following individuals have submitted applications as of the close of the Clerk’s Office on Monday:
Joseph Kromholz, 393 Eagle Court
Carol McCormick, 555 E. Clay Street
Greg Majkrzak, 1294 Tower Hill Pass
Michael Smith, 327 E. Clay Street
Keith Staebler, 542 E. Clay Street
Majkrzak and Staebler are the two candidates who will be on the ballot for the position in the April 2 election.
Do you love nature and writing? Join a small group of like-minded individuals to read and/or reconnect with, and then discuss, the best environmental literature of all time: representative excerpts from the likes of Thoreau, Burroughs, Muir, Leopold, Beston, Krutch, Eiseley, Carson, Abbey, Lopez, Kimmerer, and others. If participants have interest, we will also do a little nature writing, each of us creating a short personal narrative for group discussion.
The workshop series will be held at the Irvin L. Young Library’s Community Room every Thursday evening in February at 5:30 p.m. and will be led by Jim Nies – a retired educator, author of several children’s nature books, editor of an environmental lit anthology, and founding member of the Arboretum At Starin Park.
There is no cost, but registration is required. Visit whitewaterlibrary.org – events – registration forms or contact Sarah French to register at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-458-2782. The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater.
Updated 1/30/24 @ 4:20 p.m. – Parking in the lot adjacent to the Greenhill Center for the Arts will be free for this event.
Join us for an evening of musical excellence as these talented musicians showcase their skill and dedication. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this unforgettable musical event. Tues., 1/30, 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Light Recital Hall (Greenhill Center of the Arts)
The 132D Army Band is made up of 37 Army Musicians hailing from all across the state of Wisconsin and beyond. These Soldiers are music teachers, students, and performers, as well as all manner of professionals in various fields, but they come together one weekend a month and two weeks a year to perform both high quality concerts and military ceremonies wherever the mission takes them. Not only does the unit combine to form large ensembles such as concert, ceremonial, and jazz band, but also brass and woodwind quintet and any other small ensembles the mission dictates or the unit desires. For their 2024 Winter Tour, the 132D will be performing in their newest musical project, Concert+Rock, combining the strengths and sounds of both our amplified and acoustic instrumentation.
The Whitewater High School Forensics Team kicked off the 2024 season on Saturday at the Polar Plunge Forensics Festival Hosted by Badger High School in Lake Geneva. Five students competed and earned awards across four different categories:
Makayla Bazeley (11) – Prose Reading
Carley Boudreau (11) – Informative/Demonstration Speech
Emilia Houwers (12) – Expository Speech
Marina Linos (12) – Informative/Demonstration Speech
Lauren Rollette (12) – Solo Serious Acting
The event was a great warm-up before the team begins competition in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Association (WISDAA) State Series at their Subdistrict Tournament at Fort Atkinson High School on February 20th. Students earning a certain number of points on their performances there will qualify for the District Tournament at Stoughton High School in March and the State Tournament at UW-Madison in April. Everyone involved had a lot of fun, and is excited to build on our early success!
Article and Photos Submitted by Elizabeth Miller
Whitewater High School Co-Forensics Coach
emiller@wwusd.org
Elizabeth Stanek of Whitewater has earned Semester Honors for the Fall 2023 semester at Edgewood College. Fulltime students who achieve a 3.5 grade point average for the semester are eligible for this honor.
About Edgewood College
Located in Madison, Wis., Edgewood College is a liberal arts Catholic college in the Dominican tradition. We serve approximately 1,800 undergraduate and graduate students. The College offers more than 40 academic and professional programs, including master’s degrees in business, education, and nursing, and doctoral degrees in educational leadership, nursing practice, and business administration.
According to the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office, fog and freezing fog is expected to develop late this evening over south central Wisconsin. Temperatures tonight will be colder with overnight lows in the mid to upper 20s.
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area will begin its 2024 Book Club with a study of Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Do you wonder why the United States, the richest country on earth, has more poverty than any other advanced democracy? Desmond draws upon history, research and original reporting to argue that poverty in America persists because the
rest of us benefit from it. Please join us to investigate new ways of imagining solutions to a morally urgent problem and engage in how to usher in an age of shared prosperity.
Books have been reserved at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library for the group’s use during the study. Please ask at the front desk for a copy. Book Club discussions will be held at the library on the following Thursday evenings, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
February 22, Chapters 1 – 3
March 21, Chapters 4 – 6
April 18, Chapters 7 – 9
The LWV Book Club was formed to help our members and friends engage in meaningful discussions of current notable books dealing with public policy issues of interest to the League. You do not need to be a member of the League to participate. Please contact Deb Gamble (262-583-1946 or shebagam@gmail.com) for questions or further information.
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!
Fort Community Credit Union (FCCU) is pleased to announce Kendra Lozano, Member Service Representative, and Theresa Huser, Consumer Loan Officer, have earned their designation of Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC).
This certification requires participants to complete the Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) offered by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). The program involves self-study, webinars, and rigorous testing with the aim to identify financial challenges and provide effective intervention not typically offered by for-profit financial institutions.
Lozano and Huser join FCCU’s team of Financial Coaches whose mission is to help members identify goals, raise their credit score to qualify for better rates, reduce loan delinquencies, and improve their overall financial wellbeing. Lozano is bilingual and will utilize her Spanish communication skills to assist and advocate for those in the Hispanic community.
“Kendra and Theresa were the perfect candidates for the FiCEP program and are committed to helping members gain control of their financial future,” said Whitney Townsend, Director of Business and Community Development at FCCU. “Our entire financial coaching team is dedicated to helping members transform their lives and ensure financial well-being for all.”
Individuals with the CCUFC designation are required to recertify every three years to ensure their financial counseling knowledge is current. Members interested in receiving free financial coaching can request an appointment by emailing financialcoaches@fortcommunity.com
About FCCU: Established in 1940, Fort Community Credit Union (FCCU) is a member-owned financial cooperative open to anyone living or working in Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Rock, Walworth, or Waukesha counties. With branch locations in Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Watertown, and Whitewater, FCCU holds $339 million in assets and has more than 21,000 members. For more information about FCCU and the products and services they offer, visit fortcommunity.com or call (920) 563-7305.
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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