Waterloo Man Seriously Injured In I-270 Accident
Donald Rule of Waterloo sustained serious injuries in an auto accident Friday morning on I-255. Rule, 56, was transported to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. His current condition has not been released by the hospital.

According to the police report, Gregory Walker, 43, of St. Louis was driving a 1998 Ford concrete truck northbound in the outside lane of I-270 near Tesson Ferry Road at 8:10 a.m. when his left front tire blew out, causing him to lose control of the truck. He swerved into the path of Rule’s truck, which was traveling northbound in the inside lane. Both vehicles slid out of control and overturned, each coming to rest in the middle of the roadway.

Walker, 43, was transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center with minor injuries.

Fire Destroys Reinhardt’s Barn In Rural Red Bud

Red Bud firefighters battled a barn fire yesterday afternoon at David Reinhardt’s farm on Brickey Road.

Fire destroyed a barn Thursday afternoon at David Reinhardt’s farm on Brickey Road in rural Red Bud. The barn was filled with round straw bales, and all were destroyed.

“It appears spontaneous combustion started the blaze,” said Red Bud Fire Chief Curt Guebert. The Hecker Fire Department helped Red Bud firefighters keep the fire from spreading to other barns.

The black smoke billowing from the Columbia bottoms Thursday and Friday is coming from a wheat field being burned off on the Krueger farm.

Walsh’s Inn Changing Owners
Louann and Dale Walsh have sold Walsh’s Inn to Sharon Whelan and Ricky Muertz. The bar and restaurant in downtown Burksville is known for his fried fish and chicken, and caters family functions.

“The Walsh’s were looking to sell the business and I hated to think someone else might buy it and change the way the Walshes ran it,” said Muertz, who has been a waitress there for several years.

The business will be closed from July 2 through July 12 as Whelan and Muertz make some changes to the building, and also to their personal life.

“We’re getting married at Maeystown Sportsman’s Club July 7,” said Whelan.

The business will reopen July 13 as Kaskaskia Roadhouse and Grill.

Waterloo Animal Hospital Warns: Don't Kidnap Bambi
With does giving birth in May and June, there are numerous fawns in the rural areas of Monroe County. The Waterloo Animal Hospital advices people who see a fawn laying down alone without a mother in site to just leave it alone. Because fawns are not strong enough to outrun predators, they are born with survival instincts, one of which is to lie down at signs of danger and “play possum.” While the fawn is hiding, the mothers graze and draw predators away from the fawns. If a fawn is spotted on its own, the Waterloo Animal Hospital advices to not disturb the fawn, and to keep dogs away from the area.

Lightening Awareness Week Is June 24 – 30
With an estimated 650,000 annual lightening strikes in Illinois, the week of June 24 to June 30 has been designated as Lightening Awareness Week. While lightning can be fascinating to watch, it is also extremely dangerous. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency considers it an under-rated killer. Lightening safety information is posted on the IEMA website: www.state.il.us/iema.

There were 101 donors at the June 19 blood drive at Turner Hall in Columbia. Donors reaching milestones were Mary Ford and Jeffrey Grueninger, 1 gallon; Denis Ling, Amy Mueth and Timothy Sitkiewicz, 2 gallons; Jacqueline Costner, Ricky Hacker, Tammy Krebel, Sharon Nealon and Mary Lou Stoecker, 3 gallons; Geralyn Kutz, 4 gallons; Yvonne Schutzenhofer, 7 gallons; Janet Bense, 11 gallons; Dorothy Wessel, 14 gallons; and Rich Dreher, 21 gallons. The next Turner Hall blood drive is August 21, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information call 281-6941.

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

First Tomato Of The Season

Bob Schulmeister harvested one of the first tomatoes in this season’s crop. “Shoe” picked the tomato Monday, June 18, in his garden behind his house on Konarcik Road in rural Waterloo.

“Most years tomatoes don’t get ripe until July 4,” said Schulmeister.

He said his wife, Tara, plans to use some of the tomatoes from their garden to make her famous salsa.

Former Columbia Mayor John Coats has announced his intention to run for mayor in the April 2009 election. He has formed a campaign fund handled by CPA Brett Steffenauer.

Father John Ssebitosi, who served for two years at St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer, is visiting from Uganda and will hold mass at St. Mary on Saturday, June 23, at 5 p.m. The current St. Mary’s priest, Fr. Ted, had previously cancelled that mass, so St. Mary wants everyone to know that the mass is back on, and to come and show support of Fr. John! Note: A visiting priest will hold mass on Sunday - not Father John. 

Upcoming picnics include the Our Lady of Good Counsel of Renault Picnic on July 21, and St. Patrick’s Church in Tipton’s Parish Picnic on August 5. The Fults Softball Tournament is July 20 through July 22.

The Red Bud High School Class of 1942 celebrated their 65th class reunion Thursday at Gallagher’s. The Waterloo High School Class of 1987 will reunite this weekend.

Chase Retiring: After 21 years of ministry at Bethany United Methodist Church in Columbia, Pastor Ron Chase is retiring. There is a special service planned for Sunday, June 24, at 10 a.m. Pastor Ray Long will take over July 1.

Kristine Voelker is celebrating her 35th birthday today. She is marking the occasion with a family outing to the St. Louis Zoo today.

Lee Mueller is celebrating 25 years of employment at Ken Valentine Auto Body.

Weekend Mon-Clair Baseball League Schedule
Sunday, June 24 (double-headers begin at 1:30 p.m.)
St. Louis Spikes at Valmeyer
Edwardsville at Waterloo
Fairview Heights at Millstadt
Belleville at Columbia

George Weber Chevrolet will sponsor Music at Metter on Sunday, June 24. Country band San An Tones will provide musical entertainment from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Metter Park, next to the Columbia Public Library and Turner Hall. The concert is free and attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating.

Humane Society of Monroe County’s Pet of the Week

Ben is a two-year-old, 70-pound dog. He is mellow and gets along well with other dogs. To see Ben visit the society’s next adoption event, June 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Waterloo Rural King. Their website is www.hsofmcil.org.

Recent Obituaries
Edward J. Sugden Sr., 88, of Columbia, died June 19, 2007, in St. Louis. He married the late Bernice Sugden. Survivors include his children Barbara (John) Kiefer of Columbia, Edward (Diana) Sugden Jr. of Columbia, James (Roberta) Sugden of Miami, Fla., and Jean (Rick) Barton of St. Louis; grandchildren Debra (Tim) Busch, Janice Ferrier, Christina Sugden, Edward J. Sugden III, Michael (Lora) Wacker, Jill (Clinton) Tanner, Brian (Ann Marie) Sugden, Scott (Jennifer) Sugden, Michael Power, Mark Power, Therese (Donnie) Power, Danielle Power and Eileen Power; six great-grandchildren; sister Clara Meier of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Mo., and dearest friend Helen Hefflinger. Visitation is Sunday, June 24, from 3 to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. A funeral Mass will be Monday, June 25, at 11 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fr. Steve Gira officiating. He will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. 

Ardelle Hoffman nee Wilde, 87, formerly of Columbia, died June 18, in Kansas City, Mo. She worked at Weilbacher's Department Store in Columbia and was active at Christ Community Church. She was preceded in death by husband, Clarence Hoffman; brothers Edward Wilde and Robert Wilde, who died in infancy; and sister Dorothy Klohr. Survivors include daughter, Jean (Fred) McCain and son, Allen Hoffman. Visitation is Friday, June 22, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral service is Saturday, June 23, 1 p.m., at Christ Community Church in Columbia.

Robert Charles Mehring, 55, of Fairview Heights, died June 17, 2007, in Urbana. Survivors include his parents Robert L. and Mildred L. Mehring nee Wiegreffe; two children; two grandchildren; and sisters Pamela Jenkins of Belleville, Elizabeth Jouglard of Columbia, Judith Weis of Waterloo, and Krista Wideman of Belleville. There were no visitation or funeral services. He was cremated.

Marvin Fred Hesterberg, of Florissant, Mo., formerly of Waterloo, died June 20, 2007. He was married to Loretta Hesterberg nee McDonald. Survivors include by his wife; children Lynn (Richard) Werner, Sandy (Neal) Goldford, and Jana (Dan) Swanger; five grandchildren; and sister Macrcella Moffit. Visitation is Sunday, June 14, at O’Sullivan Muckle Mortuary in Chesterfield, Mo. A funeral service will be Monday, June 25, at the funeral home. He will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo and a gathering will follow at Oddfellows Hall in Waterloo.

Calendar of Events
Friday
Fish Fry and Bingo at Waterloo VFW

Saturday
Stuhaus Golf Tournament at The Ridge Golf Course
Rock band Moe Cash at Valmeyer’s Corner Pub
Betty Brandenberger Cancer Benefit at the Waterloo VFW

Sunday
Trio Freddie at the Heckerdome: 2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
San An Tones at Music At Metter in Columbia: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Tuesday
Waterloo Municipal Band concert at Monroe County Courthouse Bandstand: 8 p.m. – 9 p.m.