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Celebrate the Season with the Annual Gala Holiday Concert

November 21, 2022

UW-Whitewater Department of Music

Let the festivities begin with UW-Whitewater Department of Music’s Gala Holiday Concert on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022 in Young Auditorium. This annual holiday tradition is filled with joyous sounds from nearly every music department student ensemble throughout the facility. Small ensembles will play throughout the building prior to the performance, during intermission, and immediately following the large concert. All proceeds benefit the Department of Music student scholarship fund. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased in advance by calling 262-472-2222 or online at tickets.uww.edu.

Tickets for the general public are $25.00, over 65 and under 18 are $20.00, and UW-Whitewater students will be charged $16.50. Tickets purchased at the event will include an additional $2.00 surcharge. In addition to ticket sales, we welcome gifts through our Angel donation program. Gifts can be made online at uww.edu/coac/gala-benefit-concert. Alternatively, checks made out to the UW-Whitewater Foundation can be sent to UW-Whitewater, 950 W. Main Street, CA2031, Whitewater, WI 53190. 

On the night of Dec. 3, small ensembles will begin performing at 6:45 p.m. throughout the Young Auditorium and in the atrium of the Greenhill Center of the Arts. The first half of the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and will include performances by the Brass Ensemble, Vocal Jazz, Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. During intermission, various smaller ensembles will perform throughout the Young Auditorium. The second half of the concert will feature the Chamber Singers, Whitewater Symphony Orchestra and Concert Choir. In addition to the festive music, several student groups will be selling artwork throughout the evening, and a limited number of commemorative ornaments will be available for purchase as supplies last.  

Jeff Herriott, Interim Department Chair for the Department of Music, will be hosting the event. “The annual Gala Holiday Concert is a wonderful opportunity to showcase and support our many talented, hard-working students. I feel privileged to host this outstanding event and welcome you all to join in the festivities,” said Herriott.

Come get into the holiday spirit and support the UW-Whitewater music students at 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 3. The main concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Young Auditorium located at 930 W. Main St., Whitewater, Wisconsin 53190. Tickets are available at tickets.uww.edu or by calling 262-472-2222. All proceeds benefit the Department of Music student scholarship fund. For more information or to become a Gala Angel by donating to the Department of Music student scholarship fund, visit uww.edu/coac/gala-benefit-concert.

B.Y.O.B. (Bag) at Walmart Monday p.m. (Tuesday?)

November 21, 2022

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

In recent years “Just-In-Time” Delivery has become a popular inventory management approach for many types of businesses from manufacturers to retailers. The approach is designed to increase efficiency while reducing waste, and to cut warehousing and financing costs.

Walmart may have taken the approach a little too far, or perhaps it’s just due to an unexpectedly large pre-Thanksgiving rush, but as of a little past 8 p.m. on Monday, November 21 the store had no plastic “grocery” bags. If a customer hasn’t brought their own bags, they have a choice of purchasing a reusable bag or putting their purchases back loose into the cart for delivery to their vehicle, assuming they aren’t on foot.

Walmart staff indicate that they expect a new shipment of bags sometime on Tuesday; meanwhile, B.Y.O.B.

Patzka Places Second in D-III Cross Country Championship

November 20, 2022

Editor’s note: The following announcement is on the WIAC website.

LANSING, Mich.–University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Christian Patzka and UW-La Crosse’s Ethan Gregg each posted top-four finishes at the NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country Championship that was held at Forest Akers East Golf Course on the campus of Michigan State University on Nov. 19.
 
Patzka placed second on the 8,000-meter course with a time of 24:40.0, while Gregg was fourth in 24:52.8. UW-La Crosse’s Isaac Wegner finished 12th in 25:16.2, UW-Whitewater’s Gunner Schlender 30th in 25:30.8 and UW-Stout’s Spencer Schultz 37th in 25:35.6. All five runners received All-America accolades from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
 
Alex Phillip of John Carroll University (Ohio) secured the individual national title with a time of 24:37.6. A total of 292 runners completed the race.
 
In the team standings, UW-La Crosse took eighth with 276 points, while UW-Whitewater was 10th with 365, and UW-Stout 23rd with 562. Massachusetts Institute of Technology secured the first national title in program history with 82 points. Wartburg College (Iowa) placed second with 129, State University of New York Geneseo third with 168, John Carroll fourth with 186 and Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.) fifth with 193. A total of 32 teams participated in the championship that was hosted by Olivet College (Mich.) and the Greater Lansing Sports Authority.

Whippet Programmers Compete at MSOE

November 20, 2022

Forty-five computer programming teams representing 14 Wisconsin and Illinois high schools gathered in Diercks Hall at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) on Friday, November 18, for the annual Opportunity Conference Computer Competition. Competing schools included Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, Arrowhead, Greendale, University School of Milwaukee, Homestead, Grafton, Brookfield East, Janesville Parker, Janesville Craig, Menomonee Falls, Whitefish Bay, Prairie Ridge, and Whitewater.

Students worked in groups of up to four using only two computers per group to tackle nine problems of varying difficulty including three 10-point problems, three 20-point problems, and three 40-point problems, during 2.5 hours of intense competition. Groups could choose to use either Python or Java.

Whitewater was represented by two groups made up of current and former AP Computer Science students and 3 groups of students just getting started with coding in the Computer Programming I course. Programming in Java were Jazmin Cederberg, Daniel Portwine, Brooke Bazeley, Dayna Carlson, and Drew Swartz. Programming in Python were Zoe Olson, Arson Webster-Barczak, Atreyu Blahnik, Chacha Binagi, Ace Hudec, Rae Breisath, Ethan Barels, Chris Cortes, Adalynn Frye, and Ash Kutal.

A group from Greendale High School placed first, eventually solving 5 of the 9 problems correctly and earning 78 of the possible 210 points. Greendale was the only group to solve any of the 40-point problems correctly.

While awaiting the awards ceremony, students learned about machine learning and artificial intelligence projects taking place at MSOE using their on site super-computer named Rosie.

Article and Photos Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Computer Science Teacher and Banner Volunteer
lmasbruch@wwusd.org

Finalists for Dean of College of Business and Economics; Open Forums Begin Mon.

November 20, 2022

Interim Provost Robin Fox has announced three finalists for the position of Dean of the College of Business and Economics at UW-Whitewater. All are invited to attend the open forums listed below. 

FINALISTS

Dr. Robert Beatty
On Campus Monday, November 21, 2022
Open Forum:  1:00-2:00 p.m., Timmerman Auditorium

Dr. Timothy O’Keefe
On Campus Monday, November 28, 2022
Open Forum:  1:00-2:00 p.m., Timmerman Auditorium

Dr. Paul Ambrose
On Campus, Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Open Forum:  1:00-2:00 p.m., Timmerman Auditorium

Shown below are brief biographies that are provided at the following link. https://www.uww.edu/dean-cobe-search Curriculum vitaes and additional information are also available at that link.

Bob Beatty

Bob Beatty [Mount Mercy University]


Bob Beatty is a dedicated educator committed to student achievement and success. He is an unwavering champion for students from any background seeking to earn a college degree that will enable them to achieve their personal and professional goals. Bob has proudly served in leadership positions throughout his career. He held management positions for the United States Air Force, Hess Oil Company, and the Kellogg Company before pursuing his dream of becoming an educator. His passion for educational innovation, scholarly excellence, and impactful community engagement inspired him to assume leadership positions at Whitworth University, Rowan University, Florida Gulf Coast University, the University of Texas at Tyler, and Mount Mercy University. Bob is an accomplished scholar, and his research in e-commerce, information systems strategy, cybersecurity, and data analytics has been presented at national and international systems conferences, and is published in leading academic and business journals, publications, and books. Bob is an enthusiastic supporter of his students both in and out of the classroom, a tireless advocate for faculty and staff, and an avid promoter of his local community.

Editor’s note: This article and this article from The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, make reference to Dr. Beatty’s tenure at Mount Mercy University.

Timothy P. O’Keefe

Timothy P. O’Keefe [From Longwood Univ. website]

Dr. Timothy P. O’Keefe served five years as the Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Longwood University in Farmville, VA. Prior to joining Longwood University, he served as Executive Director and Chair of the School of Entrepreneurship, MBA Director, and Chair of the Department of Information Systems and Business Communication, all at the University of North Dakota. Dr. O’Keefe earned a Ph.D. in Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis at the University of Arkansas where he was an AACSB National Doctoral Fellow, an MBA from Moorhead State University, and a BA and AA from Mayville State University.

Paul Ambrose

Paul Ambrose [LinkedIn]

Paul Ambrose holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a specialization in Information Systems, an MBA with dual specialization in Marketing and Information Systems, and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has worked in industry in India, in marketing and consumer banking, and was a small business owner in Hong Kong before entering academia. He is an experienced administrator who has held positions of progressively higher responsibility in higher education over the last 12 years, which include Program Coordinator, Department Chair, Business Outreach Center Co-Director, and Associate Dean, and is currently the Interim Dean of the College of Business and Economics, and a Professor of Information Technology, at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Under his leadership as Associate Dean, graduate business programs saw a headcount growth of more than 70% over a span of six years.

Jake Hintz Promoted to Police Lieutenant

November 20, 2022

The City of Whitewater Police & Fire Commission approved the promotion of Jake Hintz to Lieutenant on November 16. Jake has served the community as a sworn officer since 2012 in a variety of positions including Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Detective, and now as a Lieutenant.

Whitewater Community Foundation Kicks Off Annual Campaign

November 19, 2022

The Whitewater Community Foundation (WCF) invites you to join us by investing in Whitewater. The Foundation’s mission is “to enhance the quality of life in our community through educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.” Our success depends on the generosity of people like you.

A gift from you by December 31, 2022 can provide necessary funding for scholarships and for Community Action Grants awarded twice a year. In the past, grants have supported programs such as the Rock River Free Clinic, the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, First English Lutheran Church Book Buddies Program, the Arboretum at Starin Park, and many other organizations that do good works for the benefit of all who live here.

To do your part in helping our community, send your check made payable to Whitewater Community Foundation to P.O. Box 428, Whitewater, WI 53190, or you may donate online at www.whitewatercommunityfoundation.org by clicking the “Donate” button. You can donate to our General Fund or, if you prefer, you may choose a designation for your gift by selecting a specific focus area you are passionate about.

The Whitewater Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, and you will receive an acknowledgement of your gift to use for tax purposes. For more information, contact info@whitewatercommunityfoundation.org. Thank you for considering the Whitewater Community Foundation as a part of your charitable giving for 2022.



This Week’s City Meetings

November 19, 2022

Board of Trustees Meeting Irvin L. Young Memorial LibraryMonday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda
Community Room
431 W. Center Street
This will be an in-person/virtual hybrid meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86244329323?pwd=KzVBWVp1NERjcUdtb3B3b1c5RGo4dz09
Meeting ID: 862 4432 9323
Passcode: guht6San
or dial
1 312 626 6799
Meeting ID: 862 4432 9323
Passcode: 07053256

City of Whitewater Finance Committee MeetingTuesday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes ride share program update and application for 2023 service
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
City Manager’s Conference Room – 2nd Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
This will be a blended meeting (both in person and virtual options). To join from your
computer, tablet or smartphone, please use the below link:
https://meet.goto.com/782662949
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (669) 224-3412
Access Code: 782-662-949

Obituaries

Obituary: Lois Cummings, 99, of Fond du Lac

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

Celebration of Life: William Kincaid

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!

Obituary: Gladys Jean (Riley) Hildebrandt, 89, of Milwaukee

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

Obituary: Nancy “Nan” Rowley, 90

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

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

Obituary: Ruth I. (Phelps) Justis, 88, of MO

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

Obituary: Dorothy C. Kau, 101, of Eagle

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

Obituary: Dorothy E. [nee Meyer] Wafle McCracken, 95, of Florida

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

Obituary: Carol Ann Seebruch, 88

Carol Ann Seebruch, 88 of Whitewater passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, April 3, 2026.  Carol was born July 12, 1937 in Chicago IL to William and Ann Borovec. She married Marvin Seebruch on June 9, 1984. Carol and Marvin enjoyed traveling the United States making it to 48 of the 50 states. She also enjoyed her time with the Red Hat Ladies. She loved taking pictures of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Carol is survived by her three children; Bill Anderson of Fort Atkinson, WI, Terri Laban of Whitewater, WI, and Donna (Mike) Jones of Crivitz, WI. She … Read more

Obituary: Donna Lyons, 65

Entered God’s Kingdom on Friday, April 3, 2026, age 65. Donna is survived by her cousins, other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents James and Lois (Michels) Lyons. Donna was raised in the Church of Nazarene, with her father being the assistant pastor. Religion was very important to Donna. Donna enjoyed working with the students of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, where she resided. Donna also loved to travel, visiting France, Italy, and all around the United States. She also loved to paint, cross-stitch, knit, and crochet. She also loved collecting recipes and trying … Read more