Early City Motto "The Banner Inland City of the Midwest"
The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006
Today is Tuesday, May 12, 2026
News & Events
To add an event, click here to go to the Community Calendar. Then, click on Submit Event.
Helpful Links
Search our Archives
To search our archives, enter a search term in the search box, then press enter to search.
Editor’s note: The following word of thanks was received from Patricia Chaput.
The Whitewater Community Food Pantry wishes to thank everyone for their support of “Stuff the Bus” which was held in September. The event was conducted by the Whitewater High School Student Council during Homecoming Week. All Whitewater schools participated in this event and together they collected 2,640 pounds of food. The high school students were responsible for loading the food on the bus and delivering it to the food pantry. We thank all students from all the schools for their hard work in support of this event. Beth Arnett, the Event Coordinator, and Lead teachers Amy Houwers and Anne Cresswell helped Beth, and Dave Nelson provided the bus. We thank all of them for their time and dedication to this yearly event. Needless to say, we are extremely grateful.
We also wish to thank the Whitewater University students involved with the Community Garden for their hard work. They have been bringing in fresh produce every week throughout the summer. Thank you to our local farmers and gardeners who also bring in produce from their crops.
Whitewater churches and friends of the food pantry are also very generous in support of the Whitewater Community Food Pantry. With the end of September, the pantry has three hundred and fifteen families who are in need of help.
Currently, during the month of October, we are signing patrons up for the Thanksgiving meal which will include the meat of choice: turkey, ham, chicken or ground beef and the fixings for the Thanksgiving dinner. The Thanksgiving meal will be given out November 15 and 16 during regular hours. The pantry is open every Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The Whitewater Community Food Pantry will be closed Thanksgiving Day November 23, 2023.
The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area’s Book Club’s second discussion of Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by Jacob Tobia, will be held on Thursday, October 26, 6-8 p.m., in the Irvin L Young Memorial Library in Whitewater. Part II (pgs 98-174) of the book will be discussed. Sissy is a complex, moving and enlightening memoir written by a gender non-conforming writer. Tobia inspires readers to open their minds and experience his fascinating journey of gender positivity.
Books are reserved at the Whitewater Public Library. League members and the general public are invited to fully participate in discussions of this engaging memoir. Refreshments will be served! If you have any questions, please contact Dwight C. Watson at dwight.watsondcw@gmail.com or call 920-542-8601.
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!
According to the City of Whitewater Public Works Department, on Tuesday morning October 24th the street department will be closing N. Franklin St. for the removal of the Territorial Oak Tree. There will be a hard closure at W Main St. Homes and Fairhaven will be accessible from W Starin Rd. The closure will be removed as soon as work is complete.
The Territorial Oak tree and site are Local Landmarks. The site includes a Bur Oak tree dating to 1800 or before that was used as the fixed point from which U.S. federal land surveyors platted the village of Whitewater in 1836.
Unfortunately the tree has been in decline for a number of years and recently has been deemed to be dying.
The following Banner articles provide further information about the tree.
“Landmark Trek: The territorial burr oak tree and its impending end,” posted September 17, 2023 – This article includes a link to the Landmark Trek video about the tree.
https://whitewaterbanner.com/landmark-trek-the-territorial-burr-oak-tree-and-its-impending-end/
“#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: The Territorial Oak,” January 20, 2021
https://whitewaterbanner.com/flashback-friday-with-the-historical-society-the-territorial-oak/
“Territorial Oak Site Designated as Local Landmark,” March 26, 2019
https://whitewaterbanner.com/territorial-oak-site-designated-as-local-landmark/
Editor’s note: In previous years, Ghoul’s Night Out has still been held in spite of inclement weather, so it’s probably safe to assume that it will not be canceled by rain tonight.
Start your Halloween celebrations right! Join the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce and local businesses on Main Street and beyond for a ghoulish good time of scavenger hunts, trick or treating, costume contest, fright or delight, and more!
Participating Businesses doing Trick-or-Treat Inside or Outside:
The Sweet Spot Bakehouse and Cafe
Whitewater Cinemas
Fairfield Inn & Suites Whitewater
BaristaCats Cafe
advance auto parts
Culver’s
Revamp Nutrition
Associated Bank
Burtness Chevrolet
HSI RENTALS
Fort Community Credit Union
Whitewater Arts Alliance
Underground Cutz
Whitewater Family Dentistry
Arby’s
Whitewater Fire/EMS
The Vinery Stained Glass Studio
Rocky Rococo
SteveO’s Flip Flops & Tank Tops
Mercyhealth Whitewater
QDOBA
Botanica Beauty Parlour
The Book Teller
Mainstreet Laundromat (Officer Stuppy and K9 Tilla will be there handing out candy!)
SSM Health
FCCU
Rosas Pizza
Whitewater Walmart (with Whitewater Police Department!)
First Citizens State Bank
McCullough’s LTC Pharmacy
M.E. & My Pets
Cozumel
Subway
Businesses Offering a Game/Activity:
The Sweet Spot Bakehouse and Cafe
Whitewater Cinemas
BaristaCats Cafe
Revamp Nutrition
Whitewater Nutrition
Associated Bank
Burtness Chevrolet
Whitewater Arts Alliance
Whitewater Family Dentistry
The Vinery Stained Glass Studio
Mercyhealth Whitewater
Walworth-Jefferson County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail
Productive Living Systems
Whitewater 4-H Club – (Will be set up at Saint Patrick Church’s corner)
Rosas Pizza
Businesses Participating in the Scavenger Hunt (grab forms at the Chamber office or at the business!):
The Sweet Spot Bakehouse
The Sweet Spot Cafe
Whitewater Cinemas
Fairfield Inn & Suites Whitewater
BaristaCats Cafe
Advance Auto Parts
Culver’s
Revamp Nutrition
Associated Bank
Burtness Chevrolet
Whitewater Arts Alliance
Underground Cutz
Whitewater Family Dentistry
Whitewater Fire/EMS
The Vinery Stained Glass Studio
Rocky Rococo
Mercyhealth Whitewater
QDOBA
Botanica Beauty Parlour
Center Street Cafe
The Book Teller
Businesses that will be set up along the sidewalk outside the Chamber’s office!
BaristaCats Cafe
Whitewater Nutrition
Walworth-Jefferson County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail
Productive Living Systems
Ferradermis Robotics
City of Whitewater Parks & Recreation
Whitewater Grocery Co.
The year was 1996. The Spice Girls were popular, people went to Blockbuster to rent a movie, the Ford Fiesta was the most popular vehicle on the road, and 16% of homes owned a cell phone. It also happens to be the last time that Whitewater had both a girls’ and boys’ cross country team qualify for state in the same year. We can now add 2023 to that historical data. The boys’ and girls’ CC teams raced with passion and a purpose at the WIAA Sectional race held at UW-Parkside on Saturday, October 21st.
The boys raced first with cool temps, and calm winds, on a soft and muddy course. They quickly put people on notice that they were not messing around. With 4 runners in the top 10, their Whippet red jerseys were flying at the front of the race. Jack Hefty took an early lead, gapping the field within 600 meters and never looked back. His role was to secure one point for the team and he did just that by crossing the line first in 17:13 to claim his first sectional cross country title. Nate Holden held a top five position throughout the race and gutted his way to a fourth place finish with a time of 17:47. Miles Nickelsburg ran with the confidence of being surrounded by teammates and flourished in 7th place with a time of 17:52. Xavier Zei floated along and secured a top 10 finish by stopping the clock in 18:16. With such a strong tone set by the top four guys, Onyx Thompson was feeling ice in his veins and felt the energy from his teammates crushing it up front and ran a lifetime best as the team’s fifth runner, placing 25th overall to seal the team scoring. Quincy Boudreau was just 22 seconds off his lifetime best on this grueling course and placed 40th with a time of 19:49. Andrew O’Toole battled his way through the course to finish in 62nd with a time of 21:42. The final team scores showed Whitewater had won a sectional title with a team total of 47 points, with the next closest team being conference foe Clinton, with 74. That margin was a mere five points at the RVC meet a week earlier. The last time just the boys’ team had qualified for state was 2007.
The girls were in for a fight in their race as well. Mady Hefty was back on the starting line after missing conference and was not going to be denied the chance to compete at state. Battling through her recent setback, she paced the team by placing fifth overall with a time of 21:54, which would have guaranteed her a spot at state regardless of how the team performed. However, it was the team that shined the most on this day. Like the boys, Mady set the tone up front while Athena Soto and Nola Coburn weren’t far from her. Athena kept inching her way up place by place and was able to take 6th overall, 12 seconds back from Mady in 22:06. Nola Coburn looked fantastic and took 8th overall to wrap up a great 1-2-3 punch. Nola’s time was 22:29. Carley Boudreau gave the race all the grit she had and placed 20th with a time of 23:36. Ema Aranda was all guts as she not only ran a lifetime best time on this challenging course and conditions, but she did so after taking a fall. She continued to race with bloodied knees to a 25th place finish to seal the scoring runners with a time of 24:17. Ema’s sister Bella was the next Whippet across the line in 37th with a time of 25:57. Silvia Harris wrapped up the day for the Whippets with a 41st place showing and an overall time of 26:35. When the team scores were tabulated, Clinton came out on top with a score of 31 and Whitewater was second just ahead of a tough Jefferson team to take the final team qualifying spot. Whitewater scored 57 to Jefferson’s 69. The last time the girls’ team qualified for state was 2015.
The teams will now prepare for the WIAA Division 2 State Meet in Wisconsin Rapids at The Ridges Golf Course which will be held on Saturday, October 28th. The boys will race first at 12:35 and the girls will race at 2:25. For all the WIAA State Meet Information, visit: https://www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Fall/Girls-Cross-Country/Tournament
BOYS’ RESULTS: https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Cross_Country/2023/racinesectionalb.htm
GIRLS’ RESULTS:
https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Cross_Country/2023/racinesectionalg.htm
Article and Photos Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Head Cross Country Coachccarstens@wwusd.org
Whitewater Lions Club Annual Dine-in and/or Take-out Pancake Breakfast
Welcome back to the Whitewater Lions Club annual Pancake Breakfast, Sunday, October 29th , from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Although there is a chill in the air, there is warmth and hospitality being dished out along with the eggs, sausage, and pancakes at the Whitewater Lions Club, located at N7462 Kettle Moraine Drive. Freshly brewed
steaming hot coffee, cold milk and juice are included.
Dine-in or Take-out, there will be treats for the kids and a 50/50 cash raffle with bonus prizes for the adults.
Profits from the breakfast and your donations of non-perishable food items will be donated to the Whitewater Food Pantry. Thank you for your generous freewill donations.
Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by the Whitewater Lions Club.
Editor’s note: The following announcement was received from UW-Whitewater.
Sydney Johnson from Whitewater, who is studying [towards her Master’s degree in] Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, represented the university at the Wisconsin Nonprofit Summit on July 27-28 in Milwaukee.
The summit featured national-level speakers and three learning tracks: Leadership, Financial Sustainability and Marketing and Communications.
UW-Whitewater’s Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies sponsored five scholarships for students, alumni, staff and community members involved in nonprofit services. Participants had the opportunity to network with professionals in the nonprofit field
Located within the College of Business and Economics’ Department of Management, the Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies promotes the study and practice of nonprofit management at UW-Whitewater and within the larger community. The Institute focuses on relevant research, energized education and community co-production to strengthen Wisconsin communities.
Editor’s note: Johnson is the Director of Case Management Services at Bethel House.
To learn more about the Institute, visit https://www.uww.edu/cobe/non-profit.
Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by the City of Whitewater Department of Public Works.
The City of Whitewater would like to remind everyone that winter parking hours go into effect [beginning at 12:01 a.m.] on November 1, 2023.
It is unlawful for the operator or owner of any vehicle to park the vehicle on any street in the City between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on any day from November 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024, except as hereinafter provided:
- Physicians and surgeons shall be permitted to park vehicles at any time when the physician is on emergency call.
- Parking shall be permitted in the downtown parking area after 5 a.m. of such period.
- By special advance arrangement with the Public Works Director.
Any person who violates the provisions of this ordinance shall be subject to the penalties and provisions set forth in Sections 11.56.010(4) and 11.56.010(5) of the Municipal Code.
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
Other Recent Posts
Click on the title to view the post. To open the post in a new tab, press Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) while clicking on the title.
