Ameren UE lineman Jim Salazar of Waterloo was seriously injured Wednesday afternoon when he was shocked by a power line. One of his arms will be amputated and his is listed in serious, but stable condition, reports family friend Nancy Koesterer. Salazar, 30, was working in a bucket lift near the intersection of Telegraph Road and I-255 when he made contact with a high-voltage electric line. Salazar and his wife, Dawn, have two sons.

CHS Baseball Team Wins Quarterfinal Game: The Columbia High School baseball team defeated Braidwood Reed Custer High School 4-2 in a Class A state quarterfinal game this morning. The game was tied 2-2 after the seventh, sending the game into extra innings. Ben Thoma led off the top of the eighth with a walk and was sacrificed to second with a bunt by Dusty LePere. Trent Blank then hit a ground ball to second advancing Thoma to third. The next batter, Drew Weisenborn, was intentionally walked and quickly stole second base.

The star of the game, Tyler Truttmann, then stepped to the plate and hit an 0-2 pitch into right field for a double scoring Thoma and Weisenborn. CHS pitcher Josh Mueller was able to shut down the opposition in the bottom in the eighth for the 4-2 win. He pitched a scoreless inning and a third. Trent Blank started the game for the Eagles and pitched 6 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits, two earned runs, four walks and five strike outs.

Columbia’s semi-final game is scheduled for Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.

The combined choirs of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo, SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Oakville, Mo., performed “Grace: The Music of Our Faith” last night at The Falls. More than 80 choir members from the three churches and a handbell choir from St. Paul’s in South County performed 19 musical selections for a crowd of 400 people. The concert was organized by Andy Waggoner of St. Paul UCC in Waterloo and Gail Robbins of St. Paul’s UCC in South County.

Gibault Girls Soccer Wins Second At State

The Gibault High School girls’ soccer team celebrated last Saturday’s second place win at the state tournament with a parade through Waterloo May 27 followed by a gathering at the high school gymnasium.  

The village of Valmeyer has completed a comprehensive plan. Those wishing to view the plan before it is adopted can stop by the village office prior to the June 5 meeting of the village board.

Morrison – Talbott Library of Waterloo’s summer reading program begins June 4. Call 939-6232 to register.

Upcoming Events at the Morrison – Talbott Library:
Mon., June 4: Registration for Mission Read begins.
Tue., June 19, 10 a.m.: Blast Off Story Hour for ages 3-8. 11 a.m.: Program Explore – St. Louis Zoo – “U.F.A.” (Unidentified Flying Animals).
Thu., June 21, 6:30 p.m.: MTL Board Meeting. 7 p.m.: Monroe County Genealogy Society Meeting.
Tue., June 26, 10 a.m.: Blast Off Story Hour for ages 3-8. 11 a.m.: Program Explore – St. Louis Science Center – Unisphere: Space, The Final Frontier. 7 p.m.: Bestsellers Book Club “April in Paris” by Michael Waller.
Wed., July 4: Library closed for Fourth of July.
Tue., July 10, 10 a.m.: Blast Off Story Hour for ages 3-8. 11 a.m.: Program Explore – Butterfly House – World According to Insects. 7 p.m.: Friends of the Library Meeting.
Tue., July 17, 10 a.m.: Blast Off Story Hour for ages 3-8. 11 a.m.: Program Explore – Singing Sue.
Thu., July 19, 6:30 p.m.: MTL Board Meeting. 7 p.m.: Monroe County Genealogy Society Meeting.
Thu., July 26, 10 a.m.: Mission Accomplished Party with Chris McBrien, The Magicstoryteller.

Vacation Bible School At Immanuel Lutheran: Immanuel Lutheran Church of Waterloo’s summer Vacation Bible School program is June 18 to 22, from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. This year’s program is Quest for Truth - Jesus: The Way, The Truth, The Life. Registration is free. Call the church for additional information.

The Columbia Summer Theatre’s production of The Music Man will be performed August, 2, 3, 4 and 5 at the Columbia Middle School.

The Monroe County Garden Tour is planned for Saturday, June 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

The Monroe County Historical Society Annual Picnic is Sunday, June 3, at Bellefontaine Home. A tour of the home and surrounding grounds begins at 1 a.m. Barbara Kay will perform as First Lady Abigail Adams at 2 p.m., followed by a viewing of old Waterloo photographs. A picnic lunch will be served at 4 p.m.

There is an American Red Cross Blood Drive Tuesday, June 19, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Turner Hall in Columbia. All presenting donors will receive a free St. Louis Cardinals t-shirt. Sandwiches, cookies and refreshments will also be served. To make an appointment, call 281-6941. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Monroe County Retired Teachers' Association will meet Monday, June 11, at the Monroe County Annex in Waterloo. Coffee hour and conversation will begin at 11 a.m., and lunch is served at noon. Richard Nunes, a writer specializing in the history of Southern Illinois, will be the guest speaker.

Waterloo Mayor Tom Smith was spotted earlier this week working behind the counter of the Red Bud McDonald’s. He has not taken a job serving French fries and hamburgers, but was spraying for bugs for his company – V. Red Smith Pest Control.

Singers are invited to stop by Cup Coffeehouse in Waterloo on Friday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for open mic night.

The schedule has been finalized for the 2007 Valmeyer Mid-Summer Celebration, which will be held June 29 through July 4 at Borsch Park in Old Valmeyer.

The celebration kicks off Friday, June 29, with rock music by Fountain Creek from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The first baseball game of the Mid-Summer Classic will be Saturday, June 30, at 9 a.m. Other Saturday events include a lawnmower pull, volleyball tournament and evening music by Aftershock. This year’s parade is scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m. Activities on Sunday include baseball games and a washers tournament.

The celebration resumes Tuesday night with rock music by Aftershock from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The championship game of the baseball tournament will be Wednesday, July 4, at 3 p.m. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display at dusk.

The SS. Peter and Paul Church of Waterloo Summer Picnic is June 8 and 9. Friday’s food features hamburgers and fried fish. Saturday’s family-style chicken dinner begins serving at 3:30 p.m., with Mass at 4 p.m. Activities both nights include games, quilt and cash bingo, and musical entertainment.

U.S. Representative Jerry Costello, center, welcomed Columbia City Attorney Tom Adams, right, and former Columbia Alderman Mike Conrad to a fundraiser last night at The Oz in Sauget.

Calendar of Events
Friday
Fish fry and bingo at Waterloo VFW

Saturday
Elements Off Main Street in Columbia open house
Shady Springs development open house in Waterloo

Sunday
Historical Society Picnic at Bellefontaine House in Waterloo

Tuesday
Waterloo Municipal Band concert at courthouse bandstand

Recent Obituaries
Francis W. Fromme, 74, of Columbia, died May 30, 2007, in St. Louis. He was married to the late Marlene M. Fromme nee Goessling. Survivors include his sons Timothy (Lisa) Fromme of Columbia, Patrick (Amanda) Fromme of Columbia, and Daniel (Kim) Fromme of Waterloo; grandchildren Brittany, Christopher, Elliott, Marie, Emma, Taisha and Elissa; sisters Mary K. Havel of Belleville, Judy Fromme of Columbia, and Christine (Ron) Etling of Columbia; and brother Michael Fromme of Columbia. He was an active member of the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department, of which he had served as chief. Visitation is Friday, June 1, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be Saturday, June 2, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. He will be buried at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Columbia.

Eugene W. Braun, 84, of Hecker, died May 31, 2007, in Red Bud. He was married to the late Irma F. Braun nee Wittenauer. Survivors include his children Barbara (Garry) Matzenbacher, Janice (Ken) Buettner, Thomas (Nancy) Braun, Daniel (Stephanie) Braun, and Mary (Tom) Lloyd; grandchildren Stephanie (Brad) Meyer, Adam Matzenbacher, Jonathan (fiancée Becky Thompson) Matzenbacher, Rhonda (fiancée Kevin Niemeier) Buettner, Michael Buettner, Matt Buettner, David Buettner, Mark Braun, Blake Braun, Andrew Braun, Timothy Braun, Robert Wagner and Jason Wagner; great-grandchildren Wesley Meyer and Henrey Meyer; and sisters Elaine (Roland) Head and Mary Ann Landolt. Visitation is Friday, June 1, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, June 2, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hecker, Fr. Robert Gore officiating. He will be buried at St. Augustine Cemetery in Hecker.

Esther A. Guebert nee Werner, 89, of Red Bud, died May 31, 2007, in Red Bud. She was married to the late Carl E. Guebert. Survivors include her children Judy (Charles) Meyr of St. Louis, John (Judy) Guebert of Arnold, Mo., Lois (Joel) McQueen of Knoxville, Tenn., Steve (Carol) Guebert of Marshall, Va., David (Alice) Guebert of Red Bud, Tom (Barbara) Guebert of Carlyle, Roger Guebert of Millstadt, and Kathy (Tom) Murray of St. Ann, Mo.; 20 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brother Walter Werner of Millstadt; and sister-in-law Esther Guebert of Red Bud. Visitation is Friday, June 1, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Koch-Liefer Funeral Home in Red Bud, and Saturday, June 2, from 10 a.m. until the funeral beings at 11 a.m., at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Bud, Rev. Russell Koen officiating. She will be buried at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Red Bud.

Helena (Kleinaitis) Kleinat, nee Michmel, age 101, of Belleville, formerly of East St. Louis, born May 7, 1906, in Antanava, Lithuania, died Tuesday, May 29. Mrs. Kleinat worked for Busch Stadium for 21 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Kleinat; daughter, Ona Afanasievas; one sister; and three brothers. Survivors include granddaughters, Virginia (Lynn) Bersche of Waterloo, Ilona "Sam" (Bob) Hattan of Belleville, Regina "Reggie" (Allen) Kaisor of Smithton and Patricia (Ron) Klopmeyer of Freeburg; great-grandchildren, John A. Burris, Tim V. Mancinas, Deanna L. Richardson and Christina L. Scott; and five great-great-granddaughters. Donations may be made to the Pink Sisters of Mount Grace Convent, P.O. Box 5500 St. Louis, Mo., 63147, Shrine of Our Lady of the Snow or donor's choice of any agency for the blind. Visitation is Sunday, June 3, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Kassly Mortuary in Fairview Heights. Funeral will be Monday, June 4, 11 a.m., at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church in Belleville.

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

Ben is an eight-week-old male kitten. Ben and five of his sibling are up for adoption this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Waterloo Feed Store.