Columbia City Worker Chases Down Park Vandals

Columbia city employee Mike Sanders, right, watches yesterday as Police Officer Steve Patton interrogates a youth accused of vandalizing a Metter Park pavilion.

Columbia city employee Mike Sanders went above the call of duty yesterday as he assisted the Columbia Police Department track down alleged vandals. As he was working on the Centennial Dance Hall at Metter Park, he observed a group of boys standing on a picnic table apparently writing graffiti on the roof of one of the pavilions along Metter Street. After he contacted the Columbia Police Department he followed the boys as they ran southbound on Metter Street. Sanders and police officers were able to stop the boys near Immaculate Conception School.

Before they took a ride in the back of a squad car to the police department, the boys were taken back to the park to discuss the incident. Later in the afternoon the five were released to the custody of their parents. The police department has yet to charge the boys in connection with the incident. The graffiti dealt with the apparent physical attributes of a female – reading “Xxxx has big Xxxx’s.” The writing has since been removed.

“Mike Sanders did a heck of a job in helping us,” said Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards.

Edwards said there have been several reports of vandalism at Metter Park over the last couple week, including one of the spindles broken off of the gazebo. Police officers will be providing extra patrols of the park and Edwards asks citizens who witness anyone vandalizing park property to immediately contact the police department.

Teens Searching Garage Flee Scene
A homeowner in the Burroughs subdivision in Columbia reported seeing two young men in his garage last night. When the homeowner went to close his garage door, he noticed two individuals using flashlights to walk through the garage. Police officers were dispatched and searched the area. The Columbia K-9 unit picked up a scent, but it immediately stopped at Wellington Street.

“We believe the individuals got into a car at that location,” said Police Chief Joe Edwards.

The homeowner did not report any items missing from his garage.

Columbia And Dupo Officials Meet To Discuss Development Plans
In an effort to open up a line of communication between Columbia and Dupo regarding each town’s plans for commercial development along the Columbia bottoms, Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson and Alderman Dan Row met July 12 with representatives from the Village of Dupo. The group gathered at Metro East developer Rich Sauget’s office inside the Gateway Grizzlies business office in the Village of Sauget.

“We want to be proactive about sharing information and setting up protocols for future meetings,” said Hutchinson. “Everyone wants to increase communication and cooperation.”

A ribbon-cutting was held last Saturday to mark the grand opening of the new home of the Humane Society of Monroe County. It is located at 4172 State Route 3, eight miles south of Waterloo. Hours are Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are cats and dogs available for adoption.

The Monroe County Fair begins Sunday, July 22.
Highlights of the week’s events:
Sunday, July 22
7 p.m. - Little Miss Queen Pageant
8 p.m. - Monroe County Fair Queen Pageant

Monday, July 23 ($6 after 3 p.m.)
6:30 pm - Farmer's Class Tractor Pull and ITPA Truck Pull

Tuesday, July 24 ($5 after 3p.m.)
11 a. m. - 2 pm. - Tractor Driving Contest
6 p.m. - Open Class Horse Show
7 p.m. - 4x4 Street Truck Pull   

Wednesday, July 25 ($9 after 3 p.m.)
9:30 a.m. Rooster Crowing Contest
7:30 p.m. Figure 8 Race (Monroe County Rules)

Thursday, July 26  (free admission)
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. - Bud Light Brigade
6 p.m. - 4H and FFA Market Animal Auction
6 p.m. – 11 p.m. - Carnival Armband Night ($15)
6 p.m. - Senior Class Horse Show
8 p.m. - HTC Customer Appreciation Day with New Odyssey

Friday, July 27 ($12 after 3 p.m.)
7:30 p.m. - Auto Demolition Derby

Saturday, July 28  ($10 after 1 p.m.)
10:30 a.m. - Open Class Heavy Horse Show
10:30 a.m. - Open Class Mule Show
12:30 p.m. - Pedal Pull (children 12 yrs. and younger)
1:30 p.m. - Heavy Horse and Mule Hitch Classes
6 p.m. - ITPA & ISPA Truck and Tractor Pull
9 pm. - Mo Cash rock band

Sunday, July 29 (Free Admission)
11 a.m. - Monroe County Antique Tractor and Garden Tractor Pull
1 p.m. - Sandcastle and Animal Sculpture Contest
3 p.m. - Youth Fun Day
4 p.m. - 9 p.m. - Carnival Armband Night ($15)
5 p.m. – 7 p.m. - The Thunder & Lightning Cloggers
7 pm   FFA Fun Night
9 p.m. - HTC Fireworks

Check out the fair’s website for a complete listing of events and times: www.monroecounty-fair.org. Stay tuned to The Independent for daily reports from the fairgrounds.

Waterloo Police Department’s next Senior Academy is right around the corner. The free program is an eight-week training course that meets Tuesday, beginning September 18, at Waterloo City Hall.

“There are several new topics for this year’s academy,” said Waterloo Police Officer Scott Spencer.

Registration begins July 30 and open to Monroe County residents 50 and over. For more information call the Waterloo Police Department at 939-3377.

Waterloo City Attorney Dan Hayes stopped in for a visit to The Independent Friday morning and officially met the Ed-itor. No further introductions were necessary, as co-editor John Conrad and Hayes have been friends since high school at St. Henry’s Prep Seminary. Hayes is also the village attorney for Sauget.

The Fults Softball Tournament begins Friday evening at Cedar Bluff Park. Admission is free and there is food and cold beverages available for purchase. Event organizers ask players and attendees to be respectful of neighboring homeowners and the crops in the fields. Bob Krebel has soy beans planted in the field surrounding the ball field.

Fults Softball Tournament First Round Pairings
Friday, July 20
6:30 p.m.: Outsider’s vs. Mustangs
7:30 p.m.: JC Hauling vs. Bluff Jumpers
8:30 p.m.: Four-Baggers vs. JDR
9:30 p.m.: Randy’s vs. Miller Lite
10:30 p.m.: Eaglestone vs. The Independent’s

Saturday, July 21
8:45 a.m.: Bud Light vs. TMW
10 a.m.: Undertakers vs. Tiny’s
11 a.m.: Silkworms vs. The Outlaws

Monroe County Calendar of Events
Friday
Fish fry and bingo at the Waterloo VFW
Fults Softball Tournament

Saturday
Fults Softball Tournament
Our Lady of Good Counsel – Renault Summer Festival

Sunday
Fults Softball Tournament
Music at Metter in Columbia with Blues Racket

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

Fog is a two-year old male cat who loves to purr and rub for attention. He also loves sitting in windows and looking out outside. To visit Fog, drop by the Humane Society Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., or Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Their next adoption event is Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Waterloo Feed Store. The Humane Society of Monroe County is having a grand opening special on all adult cat adoptions. Fee is $39.95 for a limited time.

Recent Obituaries
Ida Osick nee Foster, 89, of Columbia, died July 19, at New Athens Home. Survivors include her husband, Orville Osick; son, Lawrence (Carol) Osick; and daughter, LaVerne (Dale) Ritter. She was preceded in death by brothers Harry and Harvey Foster; and sisters Bessie Stamm, Sara Sheehan and Eleanor Salomo. Visitation is Sunday, July 22, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral service is Monday, July 23, 11 a.m., at St. Paul UCC of Columbia.

Alida Mathews nee Eckert, 97, of Columbia, died July 18, at Canterbury Manor in Waterloo. Survivors include sons LeRoy (Rosemary) Mathews, Ralph (Catherine) Mathews, Harold (Janice) Mathews and Nelson (Joan) Mathews. She was preceded in death by husband, Leo Mathews; brothers Edward, Louis, Elmer and William “Monnie” Eckert; and sisters Elsie Vogel and Matilda Tattich. Visitation is Friday, July 20, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral service is Saturday, July 21, 11 a.m., at Lawlors.

Richard “Biscuit” Fred Mayo, 87, died July 7, 2007, at Canterbury Manor in Waterloo. He was a retired laborer at Columbia Quarry. He lived in Harrisonville until he lost his home in the Flood of ’93. He lived in the Femaville condos in Monroe County until moving to Millstadt. Richard came back to Monroe County in 2006 when he moved into Canterbury Manor in Waterloo. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Mayo; and daughter Judith Carol Baillargeon. Survivors include daughter LaVerne (Bill) Reeder of Colorado; son-in-law Paul Baillargeon of Millstadt; grandchildren Patti Reeder, Jason Baillargeon; Shannon Baillargeon; and cousin Russell Perry. Richard was cremated and there were no services. Memorials may be made to the family, c/o Paul Baillargeon at paulbaillargeon@aol.com.

Joe Pfeffer, 93, of Millstadt, died July 18, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital. He was a farmer and a retired boilermaker. He was a 50-year member of the St. Clair County Farm Bureau and Bluff Grange. He was  preceded in death by a son, Donald Pfeffer. Survivors include wife, Hilda Pfeffer; children Carolyn (Lawrence) Patterson, Raymond (Pam) Pfeffer, Wayne (Pamela) Pfeffer and Glenn (Melody) Pfeffer; and sisters Irene Mauck and Virginia Schaefer. Visitation is Friday, July 20, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Strauss Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral is Saturday, July 21, 10 a.m. at the funeral home.

Cecil Lee Oliver, 77, of Columbia, died July 20. He was a retired graphic illustrator with Chrysler Corp. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean Conflict. Survivors include daughters Terry Genette Hornbacker and Susan Smith; and sister, Geraldine Kelley. He was preceded in death by son, Kirk Steve Oliver. A memorial service will be Sunday, July 22, 4 p.m., at Bethany United Methodist Church in Columbia.