A wreath was laid at the Doughboy Monument at the entrance to the Columbia American Legion Post 581 Park, concluding the Memorial Day program.  Taking part in the laying of the wreath, are, left to right, Post 581 Senior Vice Commander Jim Vogt; First Baptist Church Pastor The Rev. Jonathan Peters; Guest Speaker Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith; Legionnaire and World Ward II POW Clifford Haberl; Legion Post 581 Commander-Elect Bill Wolf; Legion Post 581 Auxiliary President Joyce Rose; and Columbia Alderman Mary Ellen Niemietz. There were approximately 200 people in attendance for the annual program. Memorial Day programs were also held in Waterloo, Hecker and Valmeyer.

The Gibault High School girls’ soccer team finished second in state. They were defeated Sunday by Rockford Lutheran 2-1 in the championship game.

Eagles Baseball Headed To State Tournament

The Columbia Eagles baseball team celebrates winning the sectional championship on Memorial Day at Blackburn College. Their seven-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning propelled them to an 11 – 7 victory over Hillsboro. In the super-sectional game on Tuesday, the team easily defeated Williamsville 11 – 1. CHS (31-5) is scheduled to play Reed – Custer High School of Braidwood in the quarterfinals. The game is set for Friday, 9 a.m., at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.

Cole Goldschmidt throws a ball at a soda bottle at the Rahns’ Baseball Game during the Maeystown Homecoming. There was a good turnout for Saturday’s parade and fried chicken dinner.

Recent Obituaries
Francis Fromme of Columbia died earlier today. The former Columbia fire chief and alderman was the widower of Marlene Fromme nee Goessling. Funeral arrangements are pending. This morning Columbia firefighters hung a black ribbon from the front of the fire station in Fromme’s honor.

Helena Kleinat, 101, died this morning. Funeral arrangements are pending at Kasseley’s Funeral Home in Fairview Heights. She is the grandmother of Virginia Bersche, Ilona Hattan, Patricia Klopmeyer and Regina Kaiser.

Melba L. Hetherington, 81, of Olympian Village, Mo., died May 27, 2007. Survivors include her husband, Donald Hetherington; children Donald (Monica) Hetherington of Festus, Mo., and Darla (Bill) Hatley of Chase City, Va., eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and siblings Dorothy (Edmond) Willis of Percy, Phyllis (Harold) Damron of Mt. Vernon, Bob Grah of East Carondelet, and Jack (Sylvia) Grah of Tacoma, Wash. Visitation is Wednesday, May 30, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home in De Soto, Mo. A funeral service will be Thursday, May 31, at 10 a.m., at the funeral home.

Howard Yankey, 89, of Waterloo, died May 27, 2007, in Chester. He was married to the late Gertrude Yankey nee Deul. Survivors include his children Bonnie Schlotmann of Waterloo and Dale Yankey of Waterloo; grandchildren Kimberly (Jeff) Mueth and Regina Yankey; great-grandchildren Jacob Mueth and Emma Mueth; and brother Glen Yankey of Belleville. Visitation is Friday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Friday, June 1, at 12 p.m., at Quernheim. He will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo.

Loretta M. Dohrman nee Joseph, 78, of Millstadt, died May 28, 2007, in Millstadt. Survivors include by her children Donald (Diana) Dohrman of Millstadt, Diane (Randy) Heil of Marissa, and Dale (Donna) Dohrman of Millstadt; grandchildren Andrew (Danielle) Heil, Daniel Heil, Vance Heil, Valerie Heil, Nikki (Dustin) Trankle, Kyle Dohrman and Morgan Dohrman; great-grandchildren Jonathan Dohrman, Jennifer Dohrman and Noah Dohrman; sister Eleanora Helfrich; brother Raymond Joseph; and sister-in-law Verna Joseph. Visitation is Thursday, May 31, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Heil-Schuessler Funeral Home in Marissa, and Friday, June 1, from 9 a.m. until the funeral service begins at 11 a.m., at Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt.

Doris Watters nee Pflueger, 71, of Belleville, died May 28, 2007, in Belleville. Survivors include her children Russell Watters of Columbia, Dave Watters of Sacramento, Calif., Bryan Watters of Belleville, and Aaron Watters of Dyersburg, Tenn.; grandchildren Jacob Watters, Crystal LeBlue, Jamie Watters, Brent Watters, Bekah Watters and Seth Watters; great-granddaughter Paris LeBlue; and siblings Ardell Kinzinger of Millstadt, Alvin Pflueger of Caseyville, and Gene (Arlene) Pflueger of Hecker. Visitation is Thursday, May 31, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home, and Friday, from 9 a.m. until the funeral service begins at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Waterloo.

Upcoming American Red Cross Blood Drives
June 18, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., at St. John UCC – Valmeyer
June 19, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., at Turner Hall in Columbia
June 22, 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., at Hecker Community Center