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Today is Monday, June 8, 2026
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The City of Whitewater Parks & Recreation Department is excited to announce that it will be coordinating the 2026 4th of July Parade!
2026 Theme “America 250”
The 4th of July Parade is a beloved Whitewater tradition, bringing residents, families, and visitors together to celebrate community spirit, patriotism, and summertime fun. The Parks & Recreation Department looks forward to carrying on this tradition and sharing more details as planning progresses.
Community members are encouraged to stay up to date by following the Whitewater Parks & Recreation and City of Whitewater Facebook pages, and visiting:
- www.wwparks.org
- www.whitewater-wi.gov
Additional information, including parade participation details, and event announcements, will be shared in the coming months. For more information, please contact Michelle Dujardin at (262)473-0121 or via email at
mdujardin@whitewater-wi.gov
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
This week we have an image of the first industry in Whitewater, the Old Stone Mill, a flour mill built by James Trippe, who developed both the Cravath and Trippe Lake dam sites in the 1830s and built the front frame portion of this building in 1839. The mill was important as it provided a local place for pioneer farmers growing wheat to market their grain. In 1853, William Birge purchased the mill and added the stone portion in 1856. Byron Brown purchased the mill in 1866 and owned it until the 1880s. After a series of other owners, the mill was purchased and operated by the Fetherston family from 1925 to c.1960. The frame portion of the mill was demolished in 1970 and the stone portion in 1972 after an effort was made to save it.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(0405ST, edited, Whitewater Historical Society)
The community is invited to join the Winter Reading Challenge at the Whitewater Public Library, which runs January 20 through March 13. The challenge is for all ages, and it’s easy to participate! Pick up a bookmark at the library’s front desk. Fill in a circle
for every 20 minutes that you read or listen to a book. When all of the circles are filled, return the bookmark to the library and claim your goody bag! All entries will go into a grand prize drawing. There will be two winners – one in the children’s category and one in the adult and teen category. Winners will be notified the week of March 16. Stay cozy this winter by snuggling up with some good books!
The Whitewater Public Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Contact the library at 262-473-0530 with questions.
The Whippets took care of business against Beloit Memorial, picking up a 108–49 victory and winning 9 of the 11 events Tuesday night, January 20!
Meet Highlights:
• 200 Freestyle
Wyatt Esch won his heat with a time of 2:18.68. Sam Nickelsburg dropped 8 seconds for a best time of 2:20.07, and Hunter Runnoe had a massive 55-second time drop going 2:44.15.
• 200 IM
Langdon Coburn won the event with a time of 2:21.84. Caleb Kluck gave the 200 IM a try for the first time, posting a solid 2:45.88, while Ian Agen dropped 6 seconds off his previous time.
• 50 Freestyle
In the JV heat, ChaCha Binagi won with a blazing 30.41, and Cooper Housel dropped 2 seconds to go 32.84.
In the varsity heat, Mateo Bazeley won the event with a lifetime best 23.28, jumping from 9th to 6th on the Whippet Top 10 list.
• 100 Fly
Sam Nickelsburg won his heat swimming right on his best time at 1:10.50. Angel Kilar also had a strong swim, posting a new best time.
• 100 Freestyle
Langdon Coburn hit a lifetime best with a 54.58, and Hunter Runnoe followed with a best time of 1:11.10.
• 500 Freestyle
Mateo Bazeley won the event in his first-ever 500, clocking a 5:46.69. David Enns dropped nearly a full minute for a lifetime best of 7:36.69, and ChaCha Binagi also put together a solid swim in his first 500 of the season.
• 100 Backstroke
Wyatt Esch dropped 2 seconds, finishing with a time of 1:13.68.
• 100 Breaststroke
Caleb Kluck posted a lifetime best 1:20.59, dropping 6 seconds off his previous time.
The Whippets were back in action tonight, Thursday, January 22 as they traveled to Badger High School to take on Badger and Platteville/Lancaster.
Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu
For anyone who is in need of a place to keep warm, there are unfortunately very few shelters in the area that have been posted as being available other than during business hours on the weekend.
In an urgent situation, 24/7:
– 211 is an information and referral phone number
– City of Whitewater Police: (262) 473-0555 option 4 or 312 W. Whitewater St.
– Walworth County Health & Human Services: 262-741-3200
– Jefferson County Health & Human Services: 920-674-3105
Walworth County provides a list of libraries that can serve as shelters. None of them are open on Sundays. Whitewater’s Public Library, 431 W. Center Street, is open Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Andersen Library, 750 W. Main Street, is open the following hours during school sessions and is open to the public. Note that there is a charge for parking on campus except for starting at 5 PM on Friday and extending through 11 PM on Sunday. City street parking, however, is available at no cost across Main Street.
Monday – Thursday: 7:30 am – 12:00 am
Friday: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday: 1:00 pm – 12:00 am
The Daily Jefferson County Union has published a list of warming centers in Jefferson County. The only location that is indicated to be open on Sunday is the Watertown Public Library, 100 S. Water St., Sunday 12 – 4 p.m.
Rock County has the most extensive list of warming sites, with the following introduction:
When forecasted temperatures, real temperatures, or wind chills drop below zero degrees in Rock County, WI, these locations shall automatically authorize use as a warming site during their normal business hours only. These daytime site locations will not extend or alter their hours so citizens should plan accordingly. Warming sites may close without notification and are not obligated to participate. Citizens are responsible for their own belongings. Food and water are not provided. Overnight warming sites will only open during a county emergency activation.
Warming sites are activated overnight when temperatures drop below 0 degrees. Overnight warming sites will be open Thursday night, January 22nd through Tuesday morning, January 27th. New safety notice: Zero tolerance for drug, alcohol, intimidation, or weapons. Violators will be removed immediately and Law Enforcement contacted.
Uptown Janesville (formerly the Janesville Mall) is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
The Milton Public Library, 430 High Street, is open Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by S K from Pixabay.
| Exhibition: Thursday, March 5, 2026 – Sunday, March 29, 2026. Whitewater Arts Alliance Cultural Arts Center Gallery, Whitewater, WI |
| Artrageous Birds is an annual, themed, juried exhibition of original artwork, showcasing traditional, physical media alongside digital artwork in a traditional yet innovative in-gallery experience, together with online display of all accepted work. Theme: Birds! Original artwork depicting or inspired by birds. Two Divisions (Salons) Traditional Salon: welcomes 2D and 3D visual art mediums such as painting, drawing, illustration, mixed media, sculpture, and photography which will be displayed in both a traditional, physical gallery exhibit, and in an online web exhibit. Accepted pieces must be physically delivered to the gallery and be ready to hang with wire hangers (2D), or fully assembled and ready for display (3D). Digital Salon: welcomes 2D visual art mediums such as digital painting, digital drawing, digital illustration, digital mixed media, and photography which will be displayed electronically in-gallery and in an online web exhibit. Entries are submitted as digital files only and no physical delivery is required. Questions?Please see our Frequently Asked Questions Page Key Dates Exhibition: Thursday, March 5, 2026 – Sunday, March 29, 2026. Reception: Saturday, March 7, 2026, 1pm-4pm. Submissions Close: Sunday, January 25, 2026, 11:59pm. Notification of Acceptance: Monday, February 9, 2026. Drop-Off (Salon): Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 4pm-6pm; Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 12pm-2pm. Pick-Up (Salon): Monday, March 30, 2026, 4pm-6pm. |
| Ashley Dimmig is the Crossman Gallery Director at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. In addition to overseeing all operations of the Crossman Gallery and its permanent art collection, she also teaches art history in the Department of Art and Design. After completing her PhD in the History of Art at the University of Michigan (2019), she worked as the interim curator of Islamic Art at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Additionally, Dimmig has served on a number of professional boards, she has published in various scholarly journals and edited volumes, and she has been the recipient of many awards and fellowships, including residencies at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, and the Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations in Istanbul. Dimmig also holds two Master of Art degrees (Indiana University Bloomington and Koç University in Istanbul), as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Kansas City Art Institute. | Nicholette “Nikki” Marsicano:I received my fine arts education at UWM -Milwaukee and UNM – Albuquerque (BFA degree) and my Pre-K-12 Art Specialist certification at UW- Whitewater. In 2002 I received the Herb Kohl Fellowship for Teaching Excellence. Retired after 29 years of classroom teaching K-8, I continue to teach children and adults privately. I have illustrated four children’s books by Marilyn Ellman. My work has been on exhibit at various venues in Wisconsin and New Mexico and can be found in collections across this country as well as Europe and Asia. Retired after ten years as president of Geneva Lake Arts Foundation, I continue to support its mission by volunteering for various programs which brings the arts to the community including Art in the Park. |
Click here for more information and to submit your work.
Gallery Exhibit Hours
Thursdays: 12pm – 4pm
Fridays: 12pm – 4pm
Saturdays: 12pm – 4pm
Sundays: 12pm – 4pm
Please Note: The gallery is closed outside of Gallery Exhibit Hours except for special events and is also closed when no show is currently running.
A massive fire late on Monday, January 19 destroyed a large portion of the AJ Anich Lumber – Pal Steel Company on Third Street near Highway 59 in Palmyra. An off-duty police officer first saw smoke coming from the business and called emergency services at about 11:48 p.m.
The extreme cold temperatures caused firefights to upgrade the response to a four-alarm fire, bringing in 30 fire trucks from Dane, Jefferson, Walworth, and Waukesha counties.
“We had multiple departments respond to help us out,” said Dylan Callas, deputy chief of the Palmyra Fire Department. “The cold weather definitely made things more challenging for our crews, but everyone worked together effectively.” Fire officials indicated that the fire was one of the worst in the past decade.
Company officials said staff will move operations to another facility while investigators determine the cause of the fire.
Firefighters remained on scene until 11:05 a.m. on Tuesday, using a backhoe to knock out remaining hot spots from the blaze. No injuries were reported among civilians or firefighters despite the size of the fire.
The cause of the fire has not yet been announced.
Further information is provided in the press release below.
Hate to announce that due to the extreme cold warnings, we will not have the market on Saturday, January 24. It will be too cold for the safety of the vendors and our market goers. Everyone please stay warm and safe this week. We will see everyone next week.
Editor’s note: This announcement was posted to the City Market Facebook page.
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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