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Today is Tuesday, May 12, 2026
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Editor’s note: The following announcement was posted on Downtown Whitewater’s Facebook page on Friday morning:
Join us downtown for holiday festivities on this first day of December. It’s parade day, and while mother nature has kept us on the edge of our seats for days, the risk of rain diminishes after 4 pm so we’re ready to have some fun! Dress warmly and join us downtown today. Recapping the various things happening:
– 4 – 5:30 PM visit with Santa at First Citizens State Bank
– 5:15 PM until they run out, take and make crafts and goody bag pickups at the corner of Main and 1st Street
– 5:30 PM while you await the parade, join us by our offices at 150 W Main St to warm your hands and s’more by the fire
– 6 PM Parade time! Best viewing areas will be the 100 and 200 block of West Main Street downtown
– Immediately after the parade join us by the mill pond dam at the interesection of Main and Whitewater for carolers, check out the Park and Whitewater Parks & Recreation pallet tree installation and enjoy the lighting of the tree.
Don’t forget to pop into one of our downtown business for holiday shopping before or after the parade, and warm up with a tasty dinner at one of our incredible restaurants. #dinedowntown #downtownwhitewater #smalltownholiday #lovewhereyoulive
Thank you again to our continued generous sponsor Generac Power Systems Inc. for their investment in this event and the broader community of Whitewater.
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Join us for a magical evening at the Downtown Whitewater’s Annual Parade of Lights- Powered by Generac on Friday, December 1st at 6 p.m.! 
If you can’t make the parade, don’t worry; the Media Services Office will be live-streaming it on Vimeo from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. Be ready to be amazed by the dazzling lights and festive floats that will light up the streets. After the parade will be the Tree Lighting Ceremony in the grass area just west of the Main Street bridge.
Update: Taylor Zeinert, City of Whitewater Chief of Staff, indicates that the parade will not be livestreamed to Channel 990 due to a signal issue with the equipment.
See above the parade route in green, the detour route in black and the red is the staging area for participants.
Bring your loved ones and get into the holiday spirit! Don’t miss out on this enchanting celebration. See you there!
#HolidayLightsParade #FestiveFun #GetIntoTheSpirit #Whitewater #WhitewaterWI
Not to worry, we’re watching the weather forecast closely. We don’t mind a few flurries on parade day; it just adds to the ambiance of the season. Rain potential is what we keep a very close eye on, so that some of our youngest parade viewers and participants aren’t out in weather not suitable for their safety. We’ll update you if the forecast becomes unfavorable for the parade and tree lighting. That announcement would be made by 9 a.m. on parade day. Thanks for hanging out on the edge of your seat with us as Wisconsin weather is ….well Wisconsin weather. #lovewhereyoulive
Guess who’s coming to the bank! It’s Santa! 
Come take your picture and share some refreshments with the jolly ol’ man himself. He’ll be in the lobby at the First Citizens State Bank main office on Friday, December 1st from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (before the 6 p.m. parade). Plus – bring Santa a letter (print from here or pick up at the bank) and they’ll have a random drawing for Culver’s Gift Cards. They’ll also be accepting non-perishable food items for the Whitewater Food Pantry. Happy Holidays!
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Three members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team have earned All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association this season. Middle hitter Kirsten Anderson and outside hitter Jenna Weinfurt were Second Team honorees while libero Morgan Jensen added Honorable Mention recognition.
Anderson, now a two-time All-American (2022 Honorable Mention), led the nation in blocking nearly the entire season. The senior broke the UW-Whitewater single season record in total blocks with 163. She finished the 2023 campaign with the most blocks per set (1.42) of any player in Division III as the Warhawks led the nation in the statistic as a team averaging 2.75 blocks per set. In addition, Anderson was one of the most efficient hitters in the country ranking among the top 30 with an attack percentage of 35.9. Anderson was selected First Team All-Region and First Team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season. She held top ten marks in the conference in kills per set, aces per set, blocks per set and points per set. Anderson holds 361 career blocks in three seasons of play – a mark ranked 12th in the program record book.
Weinfurt claims her first All-America honor after securing First Team All-Region recognition and WIAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. The powerful outside is ranked 26th in Division III in kills per set (4.03) and 10th in total kills (463) this season. Weinfurt reached the 1,000 career kill milestone during the 2023 campaign and currently holds 1,150 kills in three seasons – 14th in the program record book. She also set the program record for attack attempts in a match (73) and is second in both kills (463) and attacks in a season (1,293) in UWW history.
Jensen, a two-time WIAC Defensive Player of the Year (2023, 2021), was selected as Honorable Mention All-America this season. The conference’s top libero ranked 26th in Division III in total digs (589). Jensen averaged over five digs per set this season, the most for a libero in the WIAC. She reached the 2,000 career dig milestone this season and ended her career with 2,287 – fifth-most for a Warhawk in program history. Jensen was the second-best server in the league this season with 56 aces. Her 197 service aces in four seasons is seventh-most in program history.
The 2023 Warhawk volleyball team posted the most wins in a season, 28, since 2016. UWW made the program’s 34th appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament where they advanced to the regional final.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Christmas Decorations are up around the town and this week we celebrate with a photo from 2003 of only part of the large “Dickens’ Village” that was on display that year at Fairhaven. This photo is from long time historical society member Dan Sable, who is now a resident at Fairhaven.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(Photo from the Dan Sable Collection, Whitewater Historical Society)
Zachary M. Lemmer, age 34, of 158 W. Whitewater St., B, Whitewater, was charged in Walworth County Circuit Court on November 19 with Child Abuse-Intentionally Cause Harm, a Class H Felony. Bond was set at $5,000. Lemmer remains in custody. Class H felonies carry with them a maximum penalty of 6 years in prison, $10,000.00 in fines, or both.
Travis Arlyn Brown, age 35, of W7209 Kettle Moraine Dr., Whitewater, was charged in Walworth County Circuit Court on November 1 with Hit and Run – Involve Death, a Class D felony. According to Fox6 News, prosecutors say that Brown hit and killed Noe Rendon Jr., age 59, near his Delavan home at about 9:40 p.m. on November 14, 2020. Per Fox6 News, “According to the complaint, Brown reported a crash to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Nov. 20, 2020 – six days after Rendon’s death. He said he ‘hit a deer’ in Burnett County – more than 300 miles northwest of Delavan. Insurance records showed where Brown had his truck serviced, and investigators obtained pictures from that business. The pictures showed the damage to Brown’s truck before it was repaired. Investigators showed those pictures to a Wisconsin State Patrol crash reconstruction expert, per the complaint, who determined the damage was “not consistent” with a truck hitting a deer but ‘was consistent’ with the truck hitting a pedestrian.”
“The Delavan police chief told FOX6 News the department referred charges to the district attorney’s office in June 2021. FOX6 reached out to the district attorney’s office about the delay in those charges being filed, but did not hear back by Wednesday’s deadline.”
Brown was released on $100,000 cash bond on November 9. The penalty for a Class D felony is up to 25 years in state prison, a maximum fine of $100,000, or both imprisonment and a fine.
Editor’s note: A charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage from Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
The city’s curbside leaf pickup ended on Friday, November 17. If there are still bags at curbside, it is likely because they were put out later, or that they are not in the biobags or clear bags that are required for pickup.
Leaf bags that are left outside for the winter will not be picked up by the city crew in the spring. Residents who have leaves which they still wish to be composted have the option of bringing their leaves to the city garage, 150 E. Starin Rd., where two dumpsters are provided, from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. through Friday, December 1. Although the sign there says that bags must be emptied into the dumpster, biobags do not need to be emptied.
The dumpsters are for leaves and other yard waste only. Yard waste is defined as leaves, weeds, grass clippings, and yard and garden debris. The only bags that may be placed in the dumpster are the biobags or transparent bags. Black bags must be emptied into the dumpster. Brush is not to be placed in the dumpster.
Residents requesting brush collection should call 473-0560 by 5 a.m. on Tuesday to make an appointment for pick up on Tuesdays.
On Sunday, December 17th, the Whitewater High School Music Masters Ensemble will present their Music Masters Showcase. The event will take place in the Whitewater High School MPR and will include solos and small ensemble performances, as well as songs sung by the entire Music Masters Ensemble. The event will begin at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 and include reserved seating for the performance and refreshments. Advanced ticket purchase is necessary for this event and should be purchased by December 8th. Tickets will not be sold at the door. See any Music Masters Ensemble member, their director Karen Tordera, or the Whitewater High School Office for tickets. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Tordera at ktordera@wwusd.org .
Who doesn’t enjoy seeing the lit-up candles in all of the front windows of the Victoria on Main B&B during Christmas time? This month, Landmark Trek gets inside the beautiful home of Nancy and Jerry Wendt, to explore the nooks and crannies, as well as the many stories this Whitewater Landmark holds. You can access this new episode at:
Landmark Trek will be taking a few months off over the holiday season, but will be back in the early part of next year. The Whitewater Landmark Commission would like to thank all of our viewers for your support, and for all to have a wonderful holiday season!
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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