Columbia firefighters assess the damage to the weight room entrance to Columbia High School following the Aug. 17 explosion.

The burning contents of a Reliable Sanitation garbage truck was emptied onto the pavement at the entrance to the Columbia Safety Complex. The driver of the truck saw smoke coming from the back end of the truck while driving on the north end of town.

Waterloo High School students Brett Lenhardt, Shelby Culpepper and Alex Bauer, right, were able to exit their vehicle following a rollover accident on Konarcik Road. They encourage their friend Ian Reitz to hang in there while firemen use Jaws of Life to extricate him.

Ronnie “Gunner” Crook donates to the MDA Fill The Boot Drive. Accepting the donation is Firefighter Dennis “Dix” Lenhardt.

The Waterloo Fire Department recently received a new water tanker truck.

David Uhler of rural Fults was ticketed with a driving under the influence following a July 20 roll-over accident on Bluff Road. Uhler lost control of his Ford Ranger in the 3800 block of Bluff Road, between Maeys Station and Fults. He was not injured.

The Waterloo and Red Bud Fire Departments put out a field fire July 17 in Burksville on property owned by Nick Heimos. A resident of downtown Burksville accidently ignited the fire while using a torch to cut up metal barrels. Firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fire. There were no injuries and the Red Bud Fire Department was even able to save a decoy deer from any damage.

A tractor trailer from Renner Stock Farms of Belleville accidently took down a low-hanging power line on Gardner Street in Waterloo. Two utility poles were tore down causing electric to be out in the area for a couple hours.

A tree limb landed on a car sitting at St. Paul UCC of Waterloo’s parking lot during the Aug. 5 thunderstorm. - photo by Ericha Sondag

Circuit Clerk Aaron Reitz walks past fallen tree during the morning after the Aug. 5 thunderstorm.

The roof blew off one of the dugouts at the Waterloo High School baseball diamond during the Aug. 5 storm. This was the second time this year a storm ripped off the roof.

Retired Waterloo firefighters gathering at the firehouse for a July 31 barbecue are, left to right, Jeff Vogt, Bob Jaenke, Bob Horn, Bernie Ross, Bob Prange, Ken Buettner, Al Jacobs, Charlie Lutz, Bill Novack, John Pottoff and Steve Goessling (not pictured).

Columbia Firefighter Don Sutter discusses fire safety during the annual Columbia Police Department Safety Town.

Area teenagers learned valuable skills during a babysitting clinic recently offered at the University of Illinois Extension office in Waterloo. A highlight was when Waterloo firefighters Andrew Glessner and John Glessner demonstrated the proper use of a fire extinguisher.

ICS fifth graders were honored for completing the DARE program.

Waterloo firefighters spray water on the roof of the under-construction Waterloo High School.

Monroe County K-9 unit Sari was a semi-finalist for the German Shepherd Dog Club of St. Louis 2008 Outstanding K-9 Award. Sari was honored in two categories: suspect apprehension and tracking. Sari works with Sgt. Jim Lansing of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.