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If it happens in Monroe County, it's news to us! |
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E-Newsletter - February 9, 2007 Freeburg Catholic School Loses Gymnasium To Fire  Firefighters from Freeburg and several neighboring departments work to put out the fire in the gym. The school, at right, was not damaged. The gymnasium and parish hall at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Freeburg were destroyed by fire this afternoon. All 104 students, teachers and staff safely exited the adjacent school building and waited in the church across the street until the fire was under control. At 1:20 p.m., eighth grade teacher Katie Waldron of Red Bud looked out a window and saw flames shooting through the roof of the gymnasium and hall. She immediately pulled the fire alarm which alerted the Freeburg Fire Department. Fellow teachers then led students out of the building. School was scheduled to be dismissed at 2 p.m. for a teacher’s meeting so parents and buses soon began arriving to take the students home. When firefighters arrived the facility was completely engulfed in flames and the gym’s roof soon collapsed. Mutual aid calls were sent to several neighboring fire departments. Firefighters worked for several hours to extinguish the blaze which heavily damaged the facility. A fish fry scheduled for this evening has been canceled. Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire, which started near the kitchen of the parish hall. Principal Leo Hodapp of Waterloo was out sick today, but arrived at the school to address the teachers and make arrangements for classes next week. The gymnasium is used as the cafeteria for the school. Plans for lunch service for next week have not yet been determined. “It is such a heartbreak,” said Susan Mackin, a former principal at St. Joseph’s and current counselor at Gibault High School. “The building meant so much to the school.” Gibault Principal Russ Hart is also a former principal at St. Joseph’s.  St. Joseph’s Catholic School Principal Leo Hodapp, second from left, addresses teachers after all the students were picked up and taken home. He was very pleased the teachers and students followed the evacuation procedure. There were no students in the gym at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. Wetters Injured In New Hanover Collision  Brenda Wetters is recovering at home following a two-vehicle collision yesterday near her residence. Wetters’ car and Glen Stumpf’s truck collided near the intersection of D Road and Hanover Road near downtown New Hanover. The vehicles knock over a power pole and Wetters’ car came to rest in a grove of trees down a hill. Waterloo firefighters helped Monroe County Ambulance Service personnel extricate Wetters from her vehicle. She was transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital with minor injuries and was released later that evening. Stumpf was not injured. Former Waterloo Alderman Michael Augustine began his 13-year prison sentence Monday at the Federal Correctional Institution in Forrest City, Ark. It is a low security facility located in eastern Arkansas. Augustine was sentenced December 11 with nine counts relating to an arson fire at a business he owned in Cahokia. He pleaded guilty in September, 2005 to charges three through nine of his indictment. The charges are: two counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, one count of using a fire to commit a felony (mail and wire fraud) and two counts of witness intimidation. Anita (Kruse from home) Sennott of Kissimmee, Fla., reports she survived the tornadoes that ripped through central Florida last week. She said the storm stayed north of Highway 75. “The damage is really bad,” said Sennott. St. John UCC of Valmeyer will celebrate its 100-year anniversary Sunday, February 11. Activities will include a 10:30 a.m. anniversary worship service followed by a light lunch. The Afternoon of Memories program begins at 1:30 p.m. Their will be a car seat check at the Monroe County Ambulance Garage Sunday, February 11, noon to 2 p.m. The facility is located at 901 Illinois Av. Ste C, in Waterloo. Humane Society of Monroe County’s Pet of the Week  Jericho is a one-old male coonhound. He is a very friendly, playful young pup who is good with other dogs and loves kids, but a house without cats might be best. Jericho is crate trained and doing well housetraining. He was rescued from the Monroe County Pound on his last day. The society’s next adoption event is Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Waterloo Feed Store from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Upcoming Blood Drives
Recent Obituaries Theresa Dietz nee Eschmann, 87, of Waterloo, died Feb. 8. Survivors include children Russell (Ruby) Dietz, Orville (Ellen) Dietz, Margaret Nobbe and Phyllis (Mike) Hauptfleisch; and siblings Rose Ruff, Francis Heimbach and Robert (Betty) Eschmann. She was preceded in death by husband Wilfred Dietz; sons Gene and Harold Dietz; sisters Ardell Kary, Vera Voytas and Louis Eschmann; and sister-in-law Roger Nobbe. Visitation is Friday, Feb. 9, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m., at Quernheim. Joseph Labruyere, 49, of Wildwood, Fla., formerly of Modoc, died Feb. 2. He was a supervisor for Delta Milling Co. in Leesburg, Fla., and enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and playing golf. Survivors include daughters Shannon Labruyere and Brandy Labruyere; father and stepmother T.G. and Carol Labruyere; mother Ruth Ann White; brothers Jeff, Justin and Jonathon Labruyere; and sisters Joann Chandler, Lori Palmer and Carol Ann Rhom. Visitation is Saturday, Feb. 10, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., at St. Leo Catholic Church in Modoc. Funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Cora B. Esker nee Middleton, 49, of Marissa, died Feb. 5. Survivors include her mother Mildred Middleton; significant other Vincent Stern Sr.; and children Donna Esker, Michael Haas, Vincent Stern Jr., Andrew Stern and Raymond Stern. Visitation is Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo. A funeral service is Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Quernheim. Shirley A. Schulz nee Harvey, 74, of Waterloo, died Feb. 6. She was married to the late Richard P. Schulz. Survivors include her children Jennifer Carr of Arnold, Mo., Jane (Phil Pippins) Schulz of Arnold, Mo., Richard P. Schulz of Waterloo and Robert Schulz of Waterloo; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother Elvin Harvey of Paso Robles, Calif., and sister-in-law Joanne Goeddel of Waterloo. Visitation is Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo. A funeral service is Thursday at 1 p.m. at Quernheim. Audrey Mueller nee Steffens, 81, of Cassville, Mo., formerly of Columbia, died Feb. 7. She was married to the late Clarence Mueller, who died in 2005. She was a retired nurse's aide, and was active in the Columbia American Legion Auxiliary. Survivors include sons Jim (Kimberly) Turner and Pat (Sharon) Turner. Visitation is Saturday, Feb. 10, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Viola "Vi" Baltz, 92, of Columbia, died Feb. 5. She was the former owner of Baltz's Tavern and a member of the Columbia Senior Citizens. She was married to the late Roland "Sooner" Baltz. Survivors include son, Robert (Judy) Baltz; daughter, Jacqueline (Robert) Huschle; and brother, Oliver "Ollie" Hoock. She was preceded in death by sisters, Vera Hildebrand and Lucille Sager; and brothers Leonard, Clemence, Erwin, Herbert and James Hoock. Visitation is Wednesday, Feb. 7, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Thursday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m., at Lawlor.
Calendar of Events
Saturday
Tuesday Breaking News - February 9, 2007
Horse
Pulled From Kueker’s Lake  Edd Kueker, far right, looks on as his horse Blackie is pulled from a frozen lake. Blackie, a 20-year-old mare, fell into the lake in front of Edd and Violet Kueker’s home along Lakeview Drive this morning. After about one-half hour the horse was pulled from the frozen lake and is recovering back in Kueker’s barn. At 8 a.m. Edd Kueker left for a doctor’s appointment and saw Blackie walking on the side of the lake. At approximately 9 a.m., Waterloo Gas Department employees Chris Frank and Matt Dugan were driving along Lakeview Drive and noticed the horse struggling to get out of the frozen lake. They immediately contacted the emergency dispatcher and Waterloo firefighters, police officers, county deputies, city employees, neighbor Ken Hartman Jr. and veterinarian Dr. Allen Mueller rushed to the scene to assist. Using ropes, straps and a lot of elbow grease, after about 20 minutes the horse was pulled safely out of the water. It took another five minutes for the horse to regain enough strength to stand upright. It quickly trotted along side another horse as the two headed back into their stalls. Dr. Mueller told Kueker to put a blanket on the horse, keep it in the barn and she should be just fine. The Kuekers were very thankful to all those who helped rescue their horse.  Heave! Ho! Waterloo firefighters, police officers, city workers and neighbors all lend a hand to help pull the horse from the freezing water.
 Waterloo Animal Hospital Veterinarian Allen Mueller unhooks the rope from Blackie’s tail after the horse was able to get onto its feet. |
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