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Today is Thursday, June 25, 2026
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The City of Whitewater Landmark Commission has finally produced Landmark Trek – The Depot Part 2. This Episode 4 covers the Whitewater Passenger Depot history from 1951 to 2023. Come view all the transformations and events that have happened at this Whitewater treasure here or below:
You can also view Episode 3, The Depot Part 1, as well as all five episodes of Landmark Trek at this link.
Whitewater High School Players presents the hit Broadway Musical Mean Girls, The High School Version, book by Tina Fey, music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Neil Benjamin and based on the Paramount Pictures film Mean Girls. It tells the story of Cady Heron, a teenage girl who finds herself in a suburban Illinois public high school after years of being home-schooled on the African savanna. Confronted with the animalistic social order of American teenagers, Cady devises a plan to topple the school’s queen bee Regina George and her cohorts: The Plastics.
Under the artistic direction of Jim McCulloch and musical direction Liz Elliott, the cast and crew have been working very hard preparing for opening night. Due to mature themes and language a rating of PG-13 is recommended for audiences.
The production cast, pit band, and stage crew includes:
Stage Managers Kara Long and Gabi Kirley.
Cast members Brooke Mason, Alex Sullivan, Ayden Clark, Hayleigh Pond, Haley Keltesch, Lauren Rollette, Cosette Wildermuth-Breitzman, Chacha Binagi, Ava Van Daele, Alex Clarksen, David Enns, Jocelyn Alcala, Ian Agen, Hailee Ambrose, Deven Bawden, Kaci Beaver, Belle Cohen, Peyton Comfort, Esteban Diaz-Gallegos, Vivian Harris, Nina Heim, Jimmy Kinson, Ameera Lin, Ruth Lopez, Sam Nickelsburg, Sophia Noonan, Kai Peterson, Lia Ramirez, A’lani Ross, Josie Selby, Taylor Speerbrecher, Willow Vogelzang, Sophia Walenton, Elora Wildermuth-Breitzman.
Production Crew: Kat Dunham (Tech Director) Costumes: Alexa Casino-Pena. Sound: Matt Zingsheim. Scenic Painter: Kerry Ramsden. Crew: Payton Bunger, Natalia Gallegos, Laken DePorter, Emerson Dunham, Ava Nygren, Lucy Troxel, Joshua Nygren, Rae Breisath, Ace Hudec, Miles Nickelsburg, Taiya Kolb, Payton Peacock, Cora Schimming.
Pit Band Members: Sam Averill (Conductor), Thayer Coburn, Isabelle Lavertu, Liz Ngabo, Jay Downs, Dante Baker, Justin Kamp, Maddy Blain, Samantha Van Daele, Kayla Mikos, and Adam Drefs.
Performances of Mean Girls, High School Version will be held November 16-18 at 7 p.m. and November 19 at 2 p.m. in the James Stewart Auditorium located in the Whitewater High School. General Admission seating is $10 for adults and $7 for students. Call the box office at 262-472-8178 for more information.
Article Submitted by Jim McCulloch
WUSD Drama Director
jMcCulloch@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Tom Ganser
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Knight Public Affairs, LLC.
The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, 5k, and W3 Fit Kid Shuffle held their eleventh annual race banquet on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at Willow Brook Golf Course. Race sponsors, team leaders, volunteers, and four local charities came together for an evening to celebrate the accomplishments of the 11th Annual DWS race.
During the banquet, the DWS presented $5,000 to each of the four charity partners to total $20,000 distributed. The four charities include: Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), Bethel House, Whitewater LEADS, and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. In addition $260 was donated directly from anonymous individuals to the charities of their choosing on the DWS website. Throughout the past eleven years, the DWS has raised a total of $274,500 for the local charities of Whitewater.
“DWS’ mission is to make this a community event and give back to organizations that dedicate their time and support others in the city of Whitewater. ”DWS Executive Director Jeffery Knight says, “I’m glad we get to celebrate the hard work of the individuals who put a lot of effort into the race. It was an honor to present these distinguished charities each $5,000 and I look forward to doing it for years to come.”
“This is our eleventh annual banquet and it’s always a wonderful night to get together, to enjoy our friendship and get excited for next year’s race,” said Greater Whitewater Committee Chairman, Crystal Singer.
“It is great to see all of the hard work pay off on race day, from the sponsors, volunteers, and community members. It really makes the DWS a special community event,” said Race Director, Dawson Miller.
The DWS Team would like to thank everyone who came together to make the 11th Annual race a success. The banquet celebrated the hard work and dedication that was put forth by the volunteers, sponsors, charity partners, and team leaders who make the DWS an event to remember year after year.
For further details, please contact Executive Director, Jeffery Knight, at 920.728.0662 or jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com.
About the DWS
The goal of the DWS is to promote the City of Whitewater and highlight its greatest features, while keeping everyone in the community active. All the proceeds from the race are donated to four local non-profit partners: Bethel House (which provides interim housing for homeless families), Whitewater LEADS, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. The DWS partners with the city, business community, and the university to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit: www.runwhitewater.com.
On Wednesday, November 8, Whitewater High School honored our bus drivers, thanking them for getting our students to school safely every day! As each bus rolled up, the driver was greeted with a “thank you” and a bag of treats.
Each bag represented the collective effort from multiple student groups. Key Club decorated the bags, Ferradermis wrote individual thank you messages, Advanced Foods class baked treats for each bag, and Student Council provided the lemonades and arrived early in order to greet each of our buses and deliver the thank you bags.
Article and Photos Submitted by Kate McNulty, WHS
kmcnulty@wwusd.org
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Kiwanis.
The Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club is selling florist-quality, red and white poinsettia plants, in 6.5 -inch pots with plants for $18. Orders are due November 10, and the plants will be available December 1 and 2.
Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club President Patrick Taylor said, “We are delighted to be able to sell florist-quality poinsettias from a new grower this year, with the funds helping children in our community and the world as well as brightening your holidays.”
If you would like a plant, please contact any Kiwanian or contact Jerry Grant at 262-473-2214 or Penny Ardelt at pardelt@firstcitizensww.com or 262-473-1411.
Whitewater Kiwanis is a group of dedicated volunteers who help both children of the Whitewater community and the world. Over the past several years the club raised funds to make possible the recent installation of the city’s first piece of inclusive playground equipment, a We-Go-Round, in Starin Park. Annual donations are also made to provide shoes and winter clothes for students, as well as support for organizations such as the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, The Community Space, and the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club.
If you have an interest in helping youth in Whitewater, you can check out Whitewater Kiwanis on Facebook and join our Club by contacting Patrick Taylor at Petaylor.law@gmail.com.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
Editor’s Note: The following was shared by Jorge Islas Martinez from the Whitewater Unified School District.
Join us on November 9th, at UW-W at Rock County, 2909 Kellogg Ave, Janesville, for a climate change and environmental discussion with professor Dr. Tracey Holloway!
Learn about the atmosphere, how our past experiences will change how we address our earth in the present, and discuss how we can make a sustainable impact on our planet.
Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Anja from Pixabay.
Obituaries
Marion Jauch Burrows (Feb. 2, 1930 – June 5, 2026) Her sparkling eyes, warm laugh, and generous ways were gifts Marion brought into this world, touching family members and friends alike over the ninety-six years of her life. She was born and raised in Lombard, IL, and in the course of her life lived with her husband and growing family in Abilene, TX, St. David’s, PA, Arkadelphia, AR, Ada, OK, and Colorado Springs, CO, before settling in Whitewater, WI, in 1965. Generosity of heart, compassion toward those in need in and beyond her community, and an unwavering commitment to fairness … Read more
Patricia “Pat” Lynn Bailey, age 70, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2026 with her daughter by her side. Pat was born February 21, 1956 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to John and Ruth (Hudock) Prentice. After a brief time in Ann Arbor, the Prentice family moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin, where Pat grew up as part of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater community, where her father served as University Registrar. Pat attended the University School and later graduated from UW Whitewater with a degree in Elementary Education. Although she did not pursue teaching, she built a meaningful career in Human … Read more
Gemelino Paris Esperante, 83, long time resident of Whitewater, passed away on Thursday, June 4th, 2026. He was born on January 10, 1943, to his late father and mother, Evaristo and Carmen in Spain. In 1973 he moved to the United States as a sheep herder. On August 21, 1981, he was united in marriage to Cyndie Esperante in Colorado. Gemelino also worked in Mining and construction for many years. He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, raising sheep and growing things in his garden, and flowers. He will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife … Read more
Mary Ann Warner died peacefully on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Crestridge Assisted Living in Dodgeville. Her physical heart failed, but her actual, loving heart never did. Ann was born June 28, 1939 to Mary and Charles Kearns in Iowa. She moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin and graduated with many dear friends in the class of 1957. Ann married John Warner on September 19, 1959. They lived in Whitewater, Sturgis Michigan, and finally settled in Janesville where they built a beautiful life and raised their family. Together, they ran a business, traveled, played cards, and enjoyed their lives. When they became … Read more
Patricia Ann Jacobson (Bureau), age 81, of Whitewater, WI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, WI. Born on September 2, 1944, in Marquette, MI, to the late Donald and Margaret Bureau, Pat grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She graduated from Graveraet High School, attended Michigan State University, and later earned her bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. Pat dedicated her professional life to shaping young minds, working as an elementary and junior high school teacher in both Flint, MI, and Whitewater, WI. At the heart of Pat’s life was a beautiful, … Read more
In loving memory of Lois Lauritzen, age 92, who passed away on June 1, 2026 at Lakewood Memory Care in Brookfield. Lois led an active life full of devotion to family and friends. Born July 14th, 1933 in Silvis, IL, daughter of Harry and Elsie Wilson, she grew up in the Quad Cities with older brother Harry Wilson Jr. Lois graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with a degree in physical education. She met her husband Paul Lauritzen on the college tennis team. Their marriage on June 12th, 1955 lasted 59 years until Paul’s death on September 26th, … Read more
Donald Walter Triebold passed on to his eternal home on May 21, 2026. Don was born on April 23, 1935, in Evanston, IL, to the late Frederick W. and Mildred (nee Stecher) Triebold. Through his teen years, Don lived and worked on the family’s dairy farm, where he developed a life-long work ethic. His first eight years of education were in a one-room country schoolhouse, in which all eight grades were taught by one teacher. He graduated from Whitewater City High School in 1953 and then graduated from UW Whitewater in 1958 with a degree in Business Education. He continued his education, and earned a Master’s … Read more
William Kincaid Davis, age 84, passed away on Tuesday, May 19 at Agrace Hospice Center in Fitchburg. He was born on November 1, 1941, in Madison, Indiana, the second son of Salvation Army Officers Agnes (Dixon) and William C. Davis. He attended several schools in Indiana and Illinois, including University of Illinois Experimental High School (Champaign), and graduated from Galesburg High School in 1958. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UW-Eau Claire in 1964 and his master’s degree from UW-Whitewater in 1972. He had an expansive career in education, beginning as an English teacher in Whitehall, Thornton Township (IL) and … Read more
Magdalene “Maggie” Stetter (nee Fritz), 79, of Whitewater, Wisconsin passed from this life onto the next on Monday, May 4, 2026. She was born on January 16, 1947, to the late John and Mary (Presser) Fritz in St. Stefan, Austria. Maggie immigrated from Austria with her parents and brother, became a US citizen, and grew up and attended school in West Allis, WI and then graduated with a teaching degree from University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Maggie served as a substitute, English, and German language teacher in the Whitewater, Elkhorn, Delavan, and Palmyra schools and at Divine Word Seminary. Maggie … Read more
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
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