Columbia Attorney Steve Buser had some good news and bad news Wednesday on his 54th birthday. The good news was that his co-workers treated him to lunch at Joe Boccardi’s Ristorante.

The bad news occurred later that afternoon, when he was involved in a traffic accident. After seeing clients in Sparta and another in Ames, he was headed back home.

Moments later he was rear-ended by Clyde Krausz, 74, of Waterloo.

Both Krausz and Buser were transported by ambulance to Red Bud Regional Hospital. Buser was treated and released later that evening. Krausz was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

There was a two-car accident this morning at the intersection of Maeys Road and JJ Road, just outside of Maeystown. Lauren Bundy, 16, of downtown Maeystown, was on her way to Valmeyer High School when she pulled into the path of Susan Vogt. The cars received extensive damage, but there were no injuries. Mark Bundy, Lauren’s father, said there have been numerous accidents right at that location, in front of Willard Meister’s house, through the years, including one last week.

Rogers Elementary School Music Director Leah Ziegler directs the band yesterday evening during the school’s band and chorus concert.

Air Force Major Andrew Aycock is again being deployed overseas. He previously served on two tours in Afghanistan and now he is headed to Qatar. Aycock is a flight nurse with the 375th and will coordinate critical care flights from Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a 1987 graduate of Columbia High School and the son of Ray and Jackie Aycock of Columbia. His best friend in high school, Major Scott Gerringer, is stationed in San Antonio, Texas. Gerringer will be deployed to Iraq on May 23.

The Hoyleton Youth and Family Services annual Walk-a-thon is Saturday, May 5, at Zion UCC of St. Joe. The 10k route for walkers and 20k route for bicyclists begins at 9 a.m. A free picnic lunch will be served to all participants.

Maeystown Homecoming Is May 25 And 26: Maeystown Homecoming organizers are looking for parade entries. Floats; antique cars, tractors or other vehicles; bands; politicians; or just about any parade entry is welcome. Call Carla Coats at 458-5633 or Mark Bundy at 458-6930 or just show up for the parade, May 26, at 5:30 to line up at the church on top of the hill. The parade will start at 6 p.m.

The second annual Maeystown Creekside Cup washer tournament will be held during the homecoming again this year. Starting time is 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 26, and the entry fee for each two-person team is $10. To enter a team into the tournament, call Mark Baum at 618-791-3229 or Mark Bundy at 458-6930. There will be trophies and cash prizes.

The ducks will be racing again at the Maeystown Homecoming Duck Race. Starting time will be 3:30 pm on Saturday, May 26, at the old rock bridge. This event is sponsored by the Maeystown Clovers 4-H club. The cost for one duck is $2 or a family of six ducks for $10. To buy ducks and enter in the race, call Lisa Schwarze at 458-6462 or Dorothy Schilling at 458-7720 or Kelly Brandt at 458-7471.Then come on down, watch the race and see if you're the lucky duck who wins!

The Porta Westfalica Fest is scheduled for June 19 in downtown Waterloo. Those wishing to enter floats can contact Parade Chairman Debbie Augustine at 939-5698. Booths can be arranged by contacting Yvonne Matzenbacher at 939-3188.

The Valmeyer Lions Club is sponsoring a hearing screening May 10, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Valmeyer School.

Columbia Middle School fifth graders performed Decades of Disney during Yesterday’s Year-End Concert in the school cafetorium.

Benefit Concert For Cassy Diehl
Singer / songwriter Nathan Clark George will perform an acoustic guitar concert May, 19, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Monroe County Courthouse bandstand. This is a free event, but donations will be accepted for the Heal Our Diehl Fund. Cassy Diehl is battling ovarian cancer and her friends are helping her pay her medical expenses.

George is a professional touring artist who was named the 2006 and 2007 Acoustic Artist of the Year by Indieheaven. For additional information about George, his website is www.nathanclarkgeorge.com. Heal Our Diehl’s website is http://www.healourdiehl.com.

Steve Stuart is busy planning his 13th annual Stuhaus Golf Classic. It is scheduled for June 23, 12 noon, at The Ridge Golf Course in Waterloo. For signup information contact Stuart by email: Stuhaus@aol.com. All proceeds benefit the Stuhaus High School Scholarship fund, for Columbia and Gibault High Schools, and other worthy local causes.

Calendar of Events
Friday
Fish fry and bingo at Waterloo VFW

Saturday
Ed Gardner Memorial Walk / Run, 8 a.m., at WJHS
Cinco de Mayo party at Bobecks
20-family garage sale in Lou Del subdivision
Derby Day at Fountain Inn

Sunday
Maeystown Fruehlings Fest – Antique and Garden Sale, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tuesday
Long term care seminar, 6:30 p.m., at Columbia Public Library

Thursday
Oak Hill Senior Jubilee at Turner Hall, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Humane Society of Monroe County’s Pet of the Week:

Baxter is a two-year-old, 30-pound, male Basenji mix who was rescued from the animal pound on his last day.  He is great with other dogs and cats and loves the children in his foster home. He will require a fenced yard or someone who would take him jogging every day. Baxter does not bark but will howl if left crated a lot. To adopt Baxter call 618-281-5199 or 618-282-PETS.  The society has two adoption events: At the Waterloo Feed Store from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at PetsMart on LeMay Ferry Road from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The website is www.hsofmcil.org.

Recent Obituaries
Fred “Fritz” Vogel, 69, of Waterloo, formerly of Columbia, died May 4. He was the manager of the Waterloo McDonald’s. Survivors include wife Patricia (Bequette) Vogel; sons Mark (Amber) Vogel and Jason Vogel; grandchildren Taylor and Corey Vogel; and sisters Viola Frank and Helen (Kenneth) Reichert. Visitation is Sunday, May 6, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, 10 a.m., at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Paderborn. Memorials may be made to the Waterloo High School Athletic Department or masses at St. Michael's.

Ronald Abernathy, 60, of St. Louis, formerly of Waterloo, died May 3. Survivors include wife, Patricia Abernathy nee Fults; children Christopher Abernathy, Karen (Kelly) Pearce; grandson Andrew Pearce; brother Larry (Kathy) Abernathy; sister Debra (John) Rosenfeld; and in-laws Larry and Doris Fults. Visitation is Tuesday, May 8, 4 p.m. until the service at 7 p.m. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Della Mae Schmidt nee Killion, of Cahokia, died May 3. She was a retired bookkeeper at Harold Waggner Trucking in Cahokia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Schmidt; son Larry Goodrich, Charles Edward Hedgecock and Donald Hedgecock. Survivors include her children Lois Hanner and Mike (Judy) Hedgecock; brothers John and Jim Killion; and sister Glenda Self. A graveside service will be Monday, May 7, at 10 a.m., at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.