Eagles Win State Baseball Title
by Carol Floarke

The Columbia High School baseball team won the Illinois State Class A Baseball Championship Saturday night in Joliet with a 3-1 victory over Pinckneyville. Junior Aaron Floarke picked up the win and went 2 for 3 at the plate, including an inside-the-park home run, to propel the team to victory. Senior Josh Mueller pitched the seventh inning for the save securing the championship.

“This is a day I will remember the rest of my life,” said Floarke.

Floarke’s home run came in the fourth inning. He hit a long drive to right field and Pinckneyville outfielder Kevin Sweeney came up empty when he dove for the ball. The ball rolled away from him and the speedy Floarke was waved home and beat the throw to the plate.

“I was running so fast it was crazy,” said Floarke.

The Eagles last won the championship in 1987, lead by T.J. Matthews, who went on to pitch for several years in the Major Leagues.

The team will be lead in a parade along Main Street today beginning at 4 p.m. The caravan will begin at the old Middle School / Unit Building and proceed to the high school gymnasium for a celebration.

Former CVFD Chief Laid To Rest

The historic CVFD Studebaker, second vehicle, carrying Francis Fromme Saturday makes it way underneath a flag at Turner Hall and up Cherry Street on the way to the Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery.

Former Columbia Fire Chief and Alderman Francis “Chiefee” Fromme was buried Saturday morning at the Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery in Columbia following funeral services. Fromme’s casket was carried to the cemetery in the CVFD’s restored antique Studebaker fire truck, which Fromme worked on along with several other firefighters. He had died earlier this week from a heart attack.

The Outback Steakhouse blimp that was circling the north end of Waterloo Sunday morning is part of Cassy Diehl benefit poker run which left from Bobeck’s at noon. Coaches at a baseball tournament at the Jaycee’s Ball diamond had asked the Waterloo Police Department to see if the balloon could avoid the area because it was distracting the players.

Car Rolls On Maeystown Road Trapping Teenage Girl

A teenage driver avoided injury Saturday night when she lost control of her car on Maeystown Road. The vehicle rolled several times before coming to rest on its side. Maeystown firefighter Aaron Voelker witnessed the accident and stayed with the driver until Waterloo firefighters and the Monroe County Ambulance Service arrived on the scene. Firefighters used Jaws of Life equipment to extricate the girl from the vehicle. She was not injured, but the car was totaled. Her name has not yet been released.

Wrong Way Route 3 Driver Hits Truck Head On

A wrong-way driver in a Pontiac Grand Am slammed head-on with a Ford F-250 Saturday night on Route 3 near Hope Christian Church. Just before the accident several 9-1-1 calls were received by county emergency dispatchers advising a car was driving southbound in the northbound lanes of Route 3 between Columbia and Waterloo. As police responded to the area, the head on accident occurred. Three people in the car and the driver of the truck were able to exit their vehicles on their own with only minor cuts and bruises.

“I saw a car coming right at me and it hit me,” said Ryan Muench of Red Bud, driver of the truck.

Names of the people in the car and the reason they were headed in the wrong direction has not yet been released.

The Prairie du Rocher American Legion lead the Prairie du Rocher Summer Parade Saturday afternoon. The parade is held annually in conjunction with the Fort de Chartres Rendezvous.  – photo by Carol Floarke

Recent Obituaries
Edward Holzhauer, 79, of Waterloo, formerly of Cahokia, died June 2. He was an Army veteran of World War II and retired from Anheuser-Busch in 1988 after 35 years of employment. He was preceded in death by a son, Edward Steven Holzhauer. Survivors include his wife, Eula Jo Holzhauer; children Sharon (Steven) Couch; sister Mary (Tom) Allen; and three grandchildren. Visitation is Monday, June 4, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, June 5, 10 a.m. at Quernheims.

Viola Schreder nee Williams, 68, of Ruma, died June 1. She was preceded in death by sister, Josephine Williams; and brother, James Williams. Survivors include husband, Francis Schreder; children Vickie Le, Wayne Schreder, Pamela (David) Turner, Laurie (Andy) Mosbacher, Mark (Tina) Schreder and Bridget Hooten; sisters, Agnes (John) Buettner and Edna (Denzel) Mace; and brother, Leon Williams. Visitation Is Sunday, June 3, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, June 4, 10 a.m., at St. Patrick’s Church in Tipton.