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Today is Friday, October 9, 2026
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Steve Watson writes, “Here’s a bird I heard about last year, but never saw until this July.
A Yellow-Headed Blackbird.
They’re shy and hang out in marshes, making their nests out in the reeds and grasses in the water. On my daily walks I could hear an unusual bird call coming from out on the marsh (what used to be Cravath and Trippe Lakes), but didn’t know it was this.
These photos are from Trippe Lake trail. Hope you enjoy.
Our thanks to prolific nature photographer Steve Watson for sharing more of his work.
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It’s time once again for #flashbackfriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week we feature George Scharfenberg’s photo of the Grand Opening of the new Sentry Grocery Store on West Main Street. The Sentry operated in this location until 2015, when competition from an enlarged grocery selection at Walmart next door hurt the profitability of a traditional store like Sentry. Since that time, both the city of Whitewater and its citizens have tried to come up with a solution to the lack of good grocery stores in Whitewater. Today, we are looking forward to both a community supported full-service grocery store and/or a branch of Aldi, a small discount grocery store with many fans.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
Photo from the George Scharfenberg photo collection, Whitewater Historical Society.
The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, Half Marathon Team Event, 5k, and W3 Fit Kid Shuffle is excited to announce that Performance Running Outfitters is the new Half Teams Award Sponsor for the 11th Annual DWS.
The 11th annual DWS will be held on Sunday, September 17th, 2023. The DWS team has rolled out a new addition to the Half Marathon Team Event. Each team will consist of four participants (all women, all men, or co-ed: two women and two men) competing for the best combined half marathon finishing time.
The top three teams will receive one of the amazing DWS trophies designed by Amaya Phillippi and a gift certificate to Performance Running Outfitters. Performance Running Outfitters has been a sponsor of the race in the past and are excited to contribute to the new Half Marathon Teams Event this year.
“The Team Event for the Half Marathon brings a new competitive element to the race this year” said DWS Executive Director, Jeffery Knight, “We are excited to have Performance Running Outfitters sponsor the Team Awards and can’t wait to see the community come together for race day.”
As the 11th Annual DWS gets closer the DWS Team Leaders are putting their final touches on for another amazing race. Be sure to look around Whitewater for all of the DWS signs and banners. With the generous help from sponsors the DWS is able to give back to the community and put on a premier running event for the city.
To register to run or volunteer, visit https://RunWhitewater.com/.
For further details, please contact Jeffery Knight, Executive Director 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 local non-profit partners: Bethel House (which provides interim housing for families experiencing homelessness), Whitewater LEADS, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. The DWS partners with the city, business community, and university to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit www.runwhitewater.com.
55th Anniversary STARSTRUCK Tour
The iconic Kids from Wisconsin are rolling out the red carpet for our 55th season of musical excellence!
With musical selections from award-winning artists, Broadway’s Tony Awards, Hollywood’s Oscars, and top Grammy Awards performers, you’re sure to be Starstruck as we pay homage to our nation’s famous awards shows that celebrate accomplishments from the stage, screen, and beyond.
The Kids from Wisconsin’s 55th Anniversary Tour will bring these sensations, and much more, to life in our high-powered two-hour Broadway-style production for families and audiences of all ages. This elite troupe, consisting of Wisconsin’s most talented 15-to 20-year-olds, is the country’s only pre-professional organization of its kind.
Young Auditorium, 930 W. Main Street, Friday (8/18) @ 7:00 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased online here for $22. There may be a slight additional fee for purchasing a ticket at the door.
Come support the Whippets as they open their season Friday night. WHS will be honoring our youth players. Any youth wearing their Whitewater Youth Football/Park and Rec jersey will receive free admission to the game. Youth athletes are invited onto the track pregame to form a tunnel for the Whippets as they make their way to the field. Middle School football players will be showcasing their skills at halftime through 7 on 7 competition. Make sure to stick around after the game as the youth athletes are once again welcome on the field to play catch with their favorite players!
Yard Sale
Saturday, August 19 – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
N6653 Lake Lorraine Rd, Delavan
Great Items at Great Prices!
College Dorm items, TV, Furniture, Wall Art, Home Decor, Kitchen Items, Storage Bins, Books, Shoes, Clothing, Beautiful Homecoming Dresses, Prom Dresses (worn 1 time), Hunting Equipment, Lawn Equipment, Outdoor Furniture and Indoor Furniture. Much More, Don’t miss this sale!!
Antioch Temple No. 113, Madison area of Daughters of the Nile support Shriners’ kids by creating hospital tray favors, sending toys, games, and financial donations to the Chicago Shriners Hospital. We have a fundraiser to benefit our general fund. We will receive money by the pound for gently used men’s, women’s, or kids’ shoes of any type and size, except skates. You can make a huge impact by simply donating shoes you never wear. The donated shoes stay out of landfills, and are shipped to small businesses in poor communities, such as in Haiti that can repurpose them and sell. Instead of a handout it’s a hand up!
Dales Bootery is a generous donor and collection site: 155 West Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190.
The Shoe Box also has graciously agreed to be a collection site. There is a donation box outside by their pop machines. Address: 1314 Canal St.(Hwy 14), Black Earth, Wisconsin 53515.
Jack Russell Reagan and Scottie Micki help with the shoe count, you can help too, by clearing your closets of wearable shoes. Working together for the children!
Editor’s note: The following press release was received from UW-Whitewater.
Summer camps have been a vital part of UW-Whitewater’s history since 1973, and in its 50th year, record-setting participation was set. More than 6,740 people participated in UWW’s summer camps and clinics, breaking the previous record set in 2015. In addition to those participating in its homegrown athletic, arts, and STEM programs, more than 7,000 additional people experienced the UWW campus through partner events, such as Special Olympics State Summer Games and Madison Scouts Marching Band.
Several camps had record participation in 2023 including Football (2,031), Volleyball (1,051), Boys Basketball (155), Boys High School Soccer (80), Jazz (49), and Game Development (45). Many other popular camps returned with high registration numbers including Tennis, Band, Gymnastics, and College for Kids. Grandchildren’s University returned for the first time since the pandemic and new camps were added, including Rock, Pop, and Music production in Whitewater and Music Explorers on the Rock campus.
Inclusivity and belonging are part of the priority mission of UW-Whitewater. Summer camps put the mission into practice by providing events like Wheelchair Basketball camp, hosted by national champion teams, and Chatter Matters, a camp serving individuals who use assistive communication devices and their families. In addition, UWW maintains a 1:10 ratio of camp staff to camper for all youth programming and prides itself in youth protection training for all faculty, staff, coaches, and volunteers involved in leading programming.
“UW-Whitewater has built a reputation of offering exceptional programming, in state-of-the-art facilities, at affordable prices,” says Morgan Anderson, Director, Camps & Conferences. “Camps offer spaces for kids to be kids, disconnect from devices and reconnect with activities they love. Through camps, youth are developing life skills that will serve them well, long after camp is over.”
Registration for the 2024 camps season will begin in January. Music, athletic, and academic events for youth are also held throughout the academic year. Visit our website at camps.uww.edu for more information.
Obituaries
Sally A. Schutte, age 73, of Whitewater, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2026, while at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater. Sally was born on November 6, 1952, to Roy and Elsie (Rohloff) Haas. Sally married William Schutte in the spring of 2003. Sally grew up on the family farm in the Town of Hebron and graduated from Jefferson High School. She dedicated nearly her entire career to Fort HealthCare, where her hard work and versatility shone through various roles. Over the years, she served in housekeeping and medical records, Center for Dermatology. Sally … Read more
Zachariah “Zach” Schoenke, 41, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He was born April 4, 1985, to Keith W. Schoenke and Kathleen Schoenke in Fort Atkinson, WI. He grew up and graduated from Whitewater High School in 2003. Zach worked various jobs over the years but was currently working at Cracker Barrel in Janesville. He was a big Packers Fan and liked to play fantasy football. He enjoyed reading, cooking, and watching horror shows. Zach fiercely loved his son, Lincoln, his sisters, Cami and Cary, his mom and stepdad, and his aunt Robin. He will be dearly … Read more
Carla Winn, 82, died September 5, 2026. Funeral Service will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218, followed by a burial at 2:00 PM at White Chapel Memorial Garden 1806 N Oliver Ave. Carla is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Dwight and Wilma Lois Krehbiel; and sister, Jennifer Krehbiel. She is survived by husband, Stephen; daughter, Ashley (Clint) Gagel, of Overland Park; siblings, Paul (Kay) Krehbiel, of Socorro, NM, Lynn (Bill) Oetting, of Wichita, Ellen (John) Querner, of Wichita, Teresa Woodson, of Lawrence, KS, … Read more
Susan Miller Celebration of Life There will be a gathering of friends and acquaintances at Susan’s Farm Store to celebrate Susan’s life on Saturday, September 19th from 2-5 p.m. at N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, Wisconsin
Our loving mother, JoAnn E Harrop, age 95, passed away on September 11, 2026. Our sorrow is deep, but we are filled with gratitude for the many years we had with her. Even as her mind was failing, she remained strong and appreciative of all who cared for her. JoAnn was born on January 13, 1931, daughter to Fred Braun and Evelyn Braun {Storck). She was raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin by her grandparents, Otto and Edith Storck. She attended Whitewater High School and helped at the Storck tavern where she met her husband Earl C. Harrop. They married on November … Read more
Russell O. Johnson “Russ,” 88, passed away on September 4, 2026 in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Russell was born on July 12, 1938, in Janesville, Wisconsin. Russ grew up in Janesville, and after high school he joined the Air Force on May 1, 1958, serving as an aircraft mechanic until June 12, 1962. He then worked at Parker Pen in Janesville for a time, where he met his future wife, Avis. After marrying Avis Mason in April 1964, Russ worked for Gillman Manufacturing for a time, then began a career at Dana until its closing in 1980. In 1981, Russ started working … Read more
Marcia Zingg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at the age of 75. Marcia will be remembered for her unwavering love, remarkable strength, generous spirit, and lifelong devotion to her family. She shared 40 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Jeffrey Zingg, who considered her not only his wife but also his best friend, business partner, and the love of his life. Together, Marcia and Jeffrey built a successful life rooted in perseverance, hard work, laughter, and love. As entrepreneurs in Whitewater, Wisconsin, they owned and managed new car franchises and … Read more
Amanda Jean Hunter was born to Ralph and Malinda (Thomas) Hunter of Whitewater, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1976. She passed away on August 4, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she lived with her family. Amanda passed peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Amanda was a kind-hearted free spirit with an unmistakable hippie warmth. Generosity, spontaneity, a quick wit, a macabre sense of humor, and an open heart were traits that she embraced. She was a tireless champion of those in need, an innate characteristic that became among the best of her qualities. She proved to be a … Read more
Ellen Eichmiller, 82, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Ellen was born on September 10, 1943, in Monroe, Wisconsin, to Chester “Guy” and Irene (née Holmen) Steig. She married the love of her life, Paul Eichmiller, on December 7, 1963, and together they made their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Ellen spent much of her working life as a secretary at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she formed many lasting friendships and memories. Ellen cherished her family and friends and treasured the time she spent with those closest to her. She was known for her love of … Read more
Janet Quinn, age 71, of Jefferson passed away on Thursday, August 20th. Janet was born on December 22nd, 1954 in St. Joseph, MI to Robert Mounsey and Edith Christison Mounsey. She was a granddaughter to Herbert Bragg Mounsey, Charlotte Mounsey, and Ester Christison West. She married Michael Durden in 1979 and later married Eury Quinn Jr. (J.R.) in 1988. Janet grew up in Benton Harbor, MI, and subsequently lived in New York and Arkansas before moving to Wisconsin in 2016. She was a dedicated caregiver to her disabled Mother, and worked as a custodian for various employers over the years. … Read more
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