Today's News - May 12, 2012

Eagles Win Soccer Regional

Columbia defeated Gibault 3-0 on Saturday night to win the Girls' Soccer Regional. 

Recent Obituary                                                                   

Harold R. McCarty Sr., 79, of Columbia, died May 12, 2012 at Columbia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. He was born March 1, 1933, in Hawkpoint, Mo., the son of the late John and Rebecca (nee Downing) McCarty. He married Margaret (nee Schindler) McCarty in 1961 in Frankford, Mo. In addition to his wife, Mr. McCarty is survived by a son, Harold (Patricia) McCarty Jr. of Columbia; his children Laveta (Randy) Braun of Prairie Du Rocher, Kim (Jerry) Rush of Columbia and Mark (Michelle) McCarty of Columbia; sisters Marguerite Wood of St. Louis, Mo., Mary Moeller of Warrenton, Mo., and Jane McCarty of Hawk Point, Mo.; and a brother, Jim (Margaret) McCarty of Louisiana, Mo.; along with 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Wayne McCarty; brothers Bill, Dan, Robert and John McCarty; and a sister, Katheryn Busse. Mr. McCarty was retired from Middle West Freightways in St. Louis, Mo. He enjoyed gardening a looking for adventures. A family graveside service will be held Wednesday, May 16, at the Old Alexandria Cemetery in Troy, Mo., with Pastor William Groennert officiating. Lawlor Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Parkinsons Disease Assoc. 

E-Newsletter - May 11, 2012

The Waterloo concert and jazz bands performed their spring concert Thursday evening at the WHS auditorium.

- photo by Gage Wienhoff

Arson Fires Have Plagued Rural Freeburg

The Freeburg and Smithton Fire Departments have been kept busy the past couple weeks extinguishing fires set by an arsonist. There have been a total of six building heavily damaged or destroyed in rural St. Clair County since April 23. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois State Fire Marshals’ office and the Freeburg Police Department are jointly investigating the series of suspicious fires. Most of the fires have occurred in the unincorporated area surrounding Freeburg.

The locations of the fires include: April 23, a metal shed at 6768 Press Road; May 1, a metal shed at 4667 Carr Road; May 7, a Freeburg Township building at 718 Hill Mine Road; May 7, a shed in the 2000 block of Rt. 15; May 7, a shed at 8400 River King Road (off Peabody Road); and May 9, a large agricultural barn at 3017 Turkey Hill Lane. These six fires have occurred at different times of the day and are in areas considered rural. These buildings are located away from houses, but near roadways.

In addition, a suspicious fire destroyed a vacant residential building early Friday morning, May 11, at the YMCA Outdoor Center in rural Belleville. St. Clair County Sheriff Merrill Justice is not yet sure if this fire is related to the ones occurring closer to Freeburg.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Brian Cregger of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department at 618-825-5712 or Freeburg Officer Mike Schutzenhofer at 618-539-3132. Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. Contact Crimestoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).

Columbia Dentist David Rodenberg has had his dental license indefinitely suspended  and fined $10,000 by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The discipline was signed by Director of Professional Regulation Jay Stewart and announced this week. The disciplinary orders were issued in March. Rodenberg was cited for “unprofessional conduct as manifested by poor standards of care,” according to a news release from the state.

Hawks To Face Eagles For Soccer Regional

The Columbia and Gibault soccer teams will compete Saturday at 7 p.m., in the championship game of the Althoff Regional at McKendree University.

Musketeers Soar Over Columbia For 22^nd Victory

Two of the area’s best softball teams met on the field Wednesday, May 9. Columbia (22-2) headed to Red Bud to take on the Musketeers (22-7). Red Bud pitcher Andrea Hartmann out-dueled the Eagles Brianna Weilbacher to garner a 5-3 victory. Red Bud's offense was led by Ciara Schaefer who knocked in two RBI. Red Bud had got their revenge on losing in extra innings a prior meeting this season by a score of 1-0. The two teams are battling for the top place in the Mississippi Conference. CHS holds a one game edge with a conference record of 7-1, while Red Bud stands at 8-2.
 

Red Bud pitcher Andrea Hartmann pitches a strike past a Columbia batter.

Columbia Ballplayers Beat Red Bud

The Columbia baseball team traveled to Red Bud on Wednesday, May 9 and came away with a 9-3 victory.
 

Columbia’s Hayden Landgraf, right, slides safely into second, avoiding the tag of Red Bud’s Greg Godier.    - photo by Gina Phegley

Waterloo Beats Valmeyer

Waterloo’s baseball team defeated the visiting Valmeyer Pirates on Tuesday, May 8 by a score of 14-0.

Waterloo's Eli Snodgrass waits for the throw to tag out Valmeyer runner Casey Harget who unsuccessfully attempted to advance to second base when the ball bounced away from WHS catcher Joey Campbell.    – photo by Bob Haentzler – www.gatewayphoto.net

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The Independent’s softball team (1-1) lost Thursday night to The Hustlers in a game held in Millstadt.

Christine Kaiping belts a hit up the middle for The Independent softball team.

Waterloo Defeats Triad’s Softball Team 

Waterloo's Tiffany Harbison was again on her game Wednesday, May 9 as picked up a complete game victory - striking out 13 batters to help the Bulldogs defeat Triad 9-3 in a Mississippi Valley Conference game.    - photo by Gateway Photography-game photos on line at www.gatewayphoto.net

Waterloo slugger Annie Crouch is given the glad hand by softball coach Sarah Renner as she rounds third base after belting a three-run homer over the center field fence during third inning action against Triad. Waterloo went on to win the game 9-3. The two teams are tied atop the Mississippi Valley Conference with records of 7-1.

Upcoming Weekend Sports:

Friday:

Waterloo baseball at Granite City, 4 p.m.

Highland softball at Waterloo, 4 p.m.

Gibault softball at O’Fallon, 4:15 p.m.

Red Bud baseball and softball at Trico, 4:30 p.m.

Columbia softball in the Triad Tournament

Waterloo tennis at the MVC Championships at Triad

 Saturday:

Collinsville baseball at Waterloo, 10 a.m. (DH)

Columbia baseball at Breese Central, 11 a.m.

Columbia softball at Nashville, 12 noon

Waterloo tennis at the MVC Championships at Triad

Current team records

Baseball

Columbia 23-6

Gibault 19-12

Waterloo 13-13

Red Bud 12-15

Valmeyer 10-14

Softball

Columbia 22-2

Red Bud 22-7

Waterloo 18-4

Gibault 16-10

Valmeyer 7-14

Soccer

Waterloo 15-6

Columbia 9-7-2

Gibault 10-8-2

Safety Patrols In Columbia Over Memorial Day Week

Beginning today, Friday, May 11, and lasting through the Memorial Day weekend, May 28, the Columbia Police Department will be participating a Click It Or Ticket traffic safety campaign. The CPD along with Illinois State Police officers will conduct random safety belt checkpoints along the Admiral Parkway (Route 3) corridor. "Our goal is to save more lives by enforcing seat belt safety laws around the clock," said CPD Captain Jerald Paul. 

Recent Obituaries

Theresa (Gummersheimer) Collier, 94, of Columbia, died May 11, 2012 at Columbia Rehab and Nursing Center. She was born May 30, 1917, in Columbia, the daughter of the late John and Theresa (nee Schuchardt) Gummersheimer. She married Mark M. Collier in 1941. He died in 1997. Mrs. Collier is survived by nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and a special friend, Bernice Arras of Columbia. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers Edwin, Elmer, Ernst, William and John L. Gummersheimer; brothers-in-infancy, Oliver and Phillip Gummersheimer; and sisters Alma Schrader, Adele Schneider and Dorothy Fischer. Mrs. Collier attended St. Paul UCC of Columbia where she was an active quilter. She was a member of the Columbia Senior Citizens, Order of the Eastern Star 98 - Rob Morris Chapter in Fairview Heights, the Columbia Gymnastic Association Auxiliary (where she was famous for her 'secret' potato salad recipe) and the Monroe County Farm Bureau. Theresa had worked as a seamstress at Gossard Garment Co., in Millstadt. Visitation is Tuesday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at St. Paul UCC in Columbia. A service will follow with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mrs. Collier will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Mary B. Drury, nee Reid, 96, of Renault, died May 9, 2012 in Waterloo. She was born Aug. 30, 1915 in Renault, the daughter of the late James and Julia (nee Tansey) Reid. Mrs. Drury is survived by nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde W. Drury; and brothers William, Michael, and James Reid. She was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Renault. Visitation is Friday, May 11, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, May 12, at 10 a.m. at her church with Father Roger Karban officiating. Mrs. Drury will be buried at the Waterloo City Cemetery. Memorial may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. 

Rev. Edwin H. Kastner, 90, died May 1, 2012, at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital. He was ordained a priest in 1951 by Rev. Albert Zuroweste. Father Kastner was born July 26, 1921, the son of the late Edwin and Emma (nee Ottinger) Kastner. Father Kaestner is survived by several cousins. He is a former pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Valmeyer. There will be no visitation as Father Kastner donated his body to the St. Louis University School of Medicine. A memorial mass was held at Blessed Sacrament Church in Belleville. Kutis Funeral Home in St Louis handled the arrangements.