Waterloo Streets Filled With Revelers Tuesday Night For Porta-Fest

The Waterloo German Band plays a polka on Main Street in downtown Waterloo Tuesday night during the Porta Westfalica Festival. Mild temperatures ensured a large turnout for the annual event celebrating the town’s Sister Cities partnership with Porta Westfalica, Germany.

Longtime Sister Cities supporter Luella Mueller, left, was the grand marshal of the Porta Westfalica Festival parade.

Liefer Sentenced To Embezzling From Union
Vicky Liefer of Waterloo was sentenced June 18 to three year’s probation for her conviction of embezzling $5,019 from United Mine Workers Local 1458. The judge also ordered her to make full restitution, complete 100 hours of community service and undergo drug and alcohol counseling and treatment.

Liefer, 48, was the financial secretary of the United Mine Workers Local 1458 for 12 years. According to the court report, from March 2006 through August 2006 she embezzled funds from Local 1458 while she operated at the Consolidated Coal Company in Modoc. The mine closed in 2003, but the local continued until its termination in October 2006. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman Smith.

Former Gibault ace pitcher Brian Unger has been named the new head coach at Quincy University. Unger pitched in college at Southwest Illinois College and the University of Hawaii before returning to the area and graduating from Quincy. He has been an assistant coach at Quincy for the past several years. Unger, 27, is the son of Rhonda and the late Bernie Unger of Waterloo.

Columbia Police Hand Out Nearly 90 Tickets During Safety Campaign
The Columbia Police Department handed out 87 citations during its Memorial Day Holiday Click It or Ticket traffic safety campaign. Officers worked more than 85 overtime hours on the detail, which concentrated seatbelt enforcement zones at the stoplight intersections along the Admiral Parkway stretch of Route 3.

“Our most serious traffic crashes within the city occur at or near the stop lighted intersections along the Admiral Parkway corridor,” said Jerry Paul, Columbia deputy police chief.

Of the 87 tickets issued, 78 were for failing to wear a seat belt, five for driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, three for no insurance and one expired vehicle registration.

“Only 21 percent of the citations were issued to residents living within our community, reflecting our citizens’ continued commitment to traffic safety and making the roadways safer for everyone,” said Paul.

David Ruggeri, husband of Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Ruggeri, is recovering from a broken arm sustained last week when he was bucked off a horse. He is hoping to make a full recovery and saddle up again soon.

Upcoming Red Cross Blood Drives
July 17, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., at the Waterloo VFW Hall
July 19, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., at the Millstadt Senior Center
July 22, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia

The St. Louis Science Center will provide a unisphere presentation June 26, beginning at 11 a.m., at Zahnow Elementary School in Waterloo. The program, organized by Morrison-Talbott Library in Waterloo, is open to 9 to 12 year olds. “The room will be aglow with stars and constellations,” said Susan Oerter, library assistant. To register, call 939-6232.

Gary Hemmer, First National Bank of Waterloo’s president and CEO, has been named by the Illinois Banker's Association as Banker of the Year.

Betty Berg celebrated a 70-something birthday June 16. She was joined for dinner at JV’s Downtown Bar ad Grill by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Recent Obituaries
Robert Charles Mehring, 55, of Fairview Heights, died June 17, in Urbana. He owned a tree trimming business. Survivors include his parents, Robert L. and Mildred Mehring; sisters Pamela Jenkins, Elizabeth Jouglard, Judith Weis and Krista Wideman. There was no visitation. DeFabio Funeral Home handled the cremation.

Ermantine Gruninger nee Range, 94, of Columbia died June 19 at Columbia Convalescent Center. She was a retired cashier at Famous – Barr in St. Louis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Gruninger; and brothers Theodore, Paul and Virgil Range. Survivors include son, Clark (Judy) Gruninger; brothers Joseph (Pat) Range and Kenneth (Clara) Range; sisters Gertrude Doerr and Doris Mae Tolbird; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Visitation is Friday, June 22, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia with Lawlor Funeral Home handling the arrangements. Funeral Mass is Saturday, June 23, 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Church.