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The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006
Today is Sunday, June 7, 2026
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John’s Disposal was closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. As a result, Thursday’s route is delayed to Friday.
The 17th annual VetsRoll trip took place, May 17-20, 2026, taking nearly 200 American Veterans, Rosie the Riveters and 125 volunteers on a free four-day trip to Washington, D.C. VetsRoll honors America’s Senior Veterans.
Ron Slapinski, Whitewater, was selected as one of the nationwide honored Veterans to take part in this 14-bus caravan on Badger Coaches, that departed Machesney Park, Illinois in the early morning of May 17, 2026.
Ron served from 1970-1974. He was an Air Force Sergeant E4. His service was spent at:
*Lackland Air Force Base, Texas for Basic Training
*Lowery Air Force Base, Colorado, Tech School Training
*KI Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan, General Duties
*RAF Bentwaters, Woodbridge, England Flight Line, Various Duties
The Veterans were escorted to Washington D.C. and back with 35 motorcycles and various police, first responders and fire departments.
During their travels, the Veterans toured all the Major American Military Memorials:
*National Museum of the USAF at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio
*U.S. Marine Corp Memorial, Washington, D.C.
*WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C.
*Vietnam Memorial, Washington, DC.
*Korean Memorial, Washington, DC.
*Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC.
*Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC.
The convoy left Washington D.C. Early on Wednesday, May 20, for a long trip home. They were greeted by thousands of community members, supporters, a parade, and a large fireworks display.
If you are interested in volunteering, donating or applying as a veteran for next year‘s trip, you can find more information on the VetsRoll homepage. VetsRoll.org
Editor’s Note: Submitted by Ron Slapinski’s PROUD Air Force wife, Sharon Reigstad.
Pre-register at: whitewaterunitedfc.com
As was previously reported on The Whitewater Banner, a Whitewater resident was pronounced deceased at a hospital following a single vehicle crash in the Town of Newark in Rock County on May 18, 2026. On May 26 the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Department [RCME] released the identity of the victim as being Erik G. Gonzalez Machuca, age 33.
The RCME indicated that “A forensic examination was completed on May 19, 2026. Preliminary results of the examination confirm that Mr. Gonzalez Machuca died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Additional testing is underway at this time. This incident remains under investigation by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office and the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Department.”
Date: Sunday, June 7, 2026
Place: Downtown Clinton, WI from 208 Allen St. to 260 Allen St.
Time: 9 am to 2 pm
Cost: Free to visitors and drivers
Website: http://www.rockfordas.org
Facebook: Rock-Ford A’s
Info about the event:
One of the Midwest’s largest Ford Model A events, hosted by the village of Clinton, WI on Sunday, June 7, 2026 from 9 AM – 2 PM. C’mon over and bring your friends and family!
This is a free event and our 38th Annual Model A Day! You’ll have a chance to talk to the owners and get an up-close look at these beautiful old Fords from 1927-1932. If you are the proud owner of a Ford Model A, this is a great time to meet other owners from around the Midwest. Guests and villagers are welcome to dress in period apparel. There will be a balloon artist, vendors, music, great food from Pat’s Brew & Que and Pop’N Delites Kettle Korn, Myrt’s Ice Cream, door prizes, silent auction, raffles, grand prize drawing and more! Step back in time to the 1920’s and 30’s! Come to this annual unique event and wander through downtown streets, enjoying over 100 beautiful antique Ford Model A vehicles, and eight local restaurants. For more information or to be a vendor, send an email to: rockfordas.modela.club@gmail.com or call/text Sue: 608-295-2590. Plenty of parking ~ mark your calendar! FREE Admission! FREE Registration! Free dash plaque to registered drivers!
Plenty of food and area restaurants available. All proceeds will be donated to the Clinton Public Library and to the Clinton Community Outreach Program Food Bank!
Lodging – 10+ major hotels in nearby Beloit, WI
Directions: WI Hwy. 140 & County Hwy. X
Al Stanek caught this photo on the Ice Age Trail.
Our thanks to Al Stanek for sharing this beautiful photo.
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UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey A. King and Willie Warhawk were excited to visit Aropa Designs — a fixture in the community for almost 40 years. At the downtown shop, which offers custom and contract screen-printing and embroidery on a wide variety of apparel products, they were joined by co-founder Tom Spear, who started the business with his brother Tim in the back of a bar. Tom is now helped by his wife, Ann, and two of their kids, Sage and Slate. (Shout out to double alum Ann Spear, who earned a BSE in elementary education in 1990 and an MSE in reading and elementary education in 1996, and worked for the Whitewater Unified School District for more than 30 years!)
View the video here:
Every year Aropa Designs prints more than 3,000 T-shirts for UW-Whitewater to hand out when first-year and transfer students experience painting Warhawk Drive and running into Perkins Stadium during our signature Warhawk Welcome event. It’s another shining example of a local business working closely with the university and leaning into what they do best to benefit the Whitewater community.
Mascot on Main showcases community businesses and organizations like Aropa and the many positive relationships they have with the university. To view more Mascot on Main highlights, visit our YouTube playlist.
To find out more about Aropa Designs, visit https://www.aropadesigns.com/
Jefferson County has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). This award is considered the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.
GFOA evaluated Jefferson County’s budget for the fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2026. An impartial panel determined that the budget satisfied “nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device,” as noted in the GFOA press release. Those who earn the award are rated “proficient” in the four main categories and all fourteen of the criteria within the categories.
Jefferson County’s budget also received special recognition for strategic goals and strategies, signifying that this aspect of the budget earned the highest possible score from each of the three GFOA reviewers.
“Jefferson County’s continued recognition from GFOA reflects the skill, dedication, and professionalism of our Finance Department and the entire team behind this budget,” said Michael Luckey, Jefferson County Administrator. “This is evidence of the County’s commitment to being a transformative government as called for in our Strategic Plan through careful planning, transparency, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.”
Jefferson County is one of just five Wisconsin counties to receive the most recent Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the most recent Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, which is also presented by GFOA.
“These awards reflect the trust and confidence we have in (Jefferson County Finance Director) Marc DeVries and his team,” noted Finance Committee Chair George Jaeckel. “Marc oversees the budget with the conservative views our community values while maintaining fluidity to allow for the purchases necessary to serve the people of Jefferson County.”
To serve residents with outstanding fiscal responsibility, Jefferson County will continue to submit financial documents that comply with the highest established reporting standards.
For more about Jefferson County: jeffersoncountywi.gov
Obituaries
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
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!
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