Excessive Heat Warning For Monroe County
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for the St. Louis Metropolitan area, including Monroe County. It remains in effect from this weekend through next Tuesday evening. There will be a continual build-up of heat and humidity across the region bringing the hottest weather this year. High temperatures will average in the upper 90s. With increased levels of humidity, the heat index will approach 105 degrees. Prolonged exposure to this weather will create a dangerous situation in which heat-related illnesses are possible.

The Monroe County Emergency Management Agency is requesting individuals, especially senior citizens and children, to limit their outdoors act ivies during this watch. Those without air conditioning are advised to use fans and take cold showers to stay cool.

Mobile Home Damaged By Fire

Columbia firefighter Rodney Fassell, left, directs firefighters this morning to direct water underneath a burning mobile home.     – photo by Rich Dreher

Columbia firefighters were called out Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. to put out a mobile home on fire at 7252 Triple Lakes Road, near the intersection of Cement Hollow Road. The three renters of the structure, owned by Rose Sellers, smelled smoke. They were able to exit the building.

“Their three dogs also made it safely out,” said Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Jim Broshears.

Broshears said the initial report is an overloaded fuse box caused a wire to overheat and catch on fire. The fire burned through a floorboard and began spreading through the living room and a side wall. One of the renters stated their dogs began barking Thursday night at 9 p.m. and it continued through the night.

“The dogs likely smelled the wire and wood smoldering,” said Broshears.

Columbia firefighter Wes Methany lives nearby on Quarry Road and arrived first on the scene. After making sure everyone was safety out, Methany used a garden hose to keep the fire from spreading.

“Wes did a heck of a good job this morning,” said Broshears.

The renters have found another place to live until repairs can be made to the mobile home.

Niles Pleads Guilty To Sex Offense Against A Minor
Aaron Niles of Waterloo was sentenced last Thursday by Judge Dennis Doyle to 30 months probation for sex crimes conducted on the internet. He must also not have any contact with the victim. Niles, 20, had pleaded guilty May 23 of indecent solicitation of a child, a Class 1 felony. He was arrested December 2006 by the Columbia Police Department for alleged acts which occurred during April and May of 2006 and were committed through the internet. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Columbia and was a camp counselor at Super Summer Camp in Greenville. The indecent solicitation of a child charge alleges Niles, as a person over the age of 17, knowingly solicited a child under the age of 17 to engage in sexual intercourse.

Last Saturday Reliable Sanitation was awarded the service contract at the Monroe County Recycling Center after county commissioners rescinded Roll-Off’s To Go’s contract. Reliable Sanitation has since taken over operation of the facility located on Illinois Ave. in Waterloo.

Al Menke, former co-owner of NAPA Auto Parts, is recovering from quadruple bypass surgery. He went in for a routine checkup last Thursday and, based on the test results, his doctors said he needed immediate surgery. “We ask everyone keep him in your prayers,” said his daughter Nancy Koesterer.

This year’s Monroe County Demolition Derby champ Scott Kohler said it has been 22 years since he first won the event. Kohler entered the event for the first time in 1985 and came home with the first-place trophy.

“There was not a demo derby at the fair between 1982 and 1984,” Kohler added.

Kohler last won the award in 2004. In recent years the trophy has been won by John Toenjes in 2006 and Vince Allschied in 2005. Kohler has yet to decide whether or not he will participate in next year’s demolition derby.

“It might be nice to start and end with first-place trophies,” said Kohler. “But I’ll make that decision when next year’s fair comes around.”

Casino Queen Reopens With Land-based Gaming Hall

Monroe County Independent travel writer Mark Bradley attended the grand opening yesterday of the new Casino Queen in East St. Louis. “It is a wonderful gaming attraction,” said Bradley. Several celebrity impersonators were in attendance, including Marilyn Monroe, who told Bradley, “Today, I’m Marilyn Monroe County.” While looking through the current edition of the paper, Monroe said she is considering running for the 2008 Monroe County Fair Queen.

Costello Addresses Minnesota Bridge Tragedy
U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement regarding the collapse of the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis yesterday:

I want to say at the outset that my thoughts and prayers are with the citizens of Minneapolis and the friends and families of the deceased. This is a terrible tragedy and the rest of the nation stands ready to assist with the recovery. I have received inquiries about how this accident might affect the $239 million set aside for the new Mississippi River Bridge project in the bi-state region. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved quickly today to authorize emergency funds to help with rebuilding the bridge in Minneapolis. These are emergency funds and will not come from the new Mississippi River Bridge project.

This tragedy is also a reminder of the need to be ever vigilant in evaluating and investing in our transportation system. We are not close to making the investments necessary to keep pace with the maintenance requirements of our roads, bridges and waterways. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers 2005 Report Card, 27 percent of the nation's 590,750 bridges rated structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and it will cost $9.4 billion a year for 20 years to eliminate all bridge deficiencies. This situation will not correct itself; we need to get serious about meeting our transportation needs.

Hope Christian Church’s Operation Hope is collecting school supplies for underprivileged local students. Donations are being accepted at the church, located at 9272 Coach Stop Road in Columbia. For more information call 618-939-9089 or 939-4101.

The third annual JAKES Day is Saturday, August 11 at the Waterloo Sportsman’s Club. The event is sponsored by the Monroe County Long Beards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. The free outing, open to children ages 6 to 17, is from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Classes include clay bird shooting, gun safety instructions, hunting techniques, archery, fishing, supervised shot gun shooting and taxidermy. All attendees receive a turkey call, gun lock and JAKES Day shirt. In addition, attendance prizes include 12 guns and tickets to the St. Louis Rams and Cardinals. To register call Scott Goeddel at 939-2987.

Maeystown will host the annual Trash and Treasures village-wide yard sale is Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to noon. Maeystown residents participating in the sale will have tables set up in front of homes and businesses throughout the village, and a map to the various sale locations will be available at the Maeystown General Store the day of the sale. For more information call 618-458-6660 or 618-458-7463.

The History Museum of Monroe County will break ground August 17 at its planned new facility in Waterloo. The event will take place at 10 a.m. next to the Bellefontaine Historic Site on Elaine Drive. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, with the help of Rep. Dan Reitz, secured $75,000 for the project. In addition, donations from civic groups and businesses aided in funding the cost of construction. Civic groups participating included the Waterloo Oddfellows Lodge and Lions. Local businesses making donations were HTC, First National Bank Waterloo, State Bank Waterloo, Scott Credit Union, Gallagher's, Columbia Quarry and Baxmeyer Excavating. Providing design, engineering and building work were Mike Schneider of Quadrant Design, Kent Nurnberger of TWM ,Tom Cleary and Butch Sparwasser of Cleary Corp. and Derrick Huebner of Huebner Excavating and Concrete Contracting.

Phase I construction will provide 3,700 square feet of space for display and museum services. The design and site planning have allowed for additional future construction as funds allow.

"Telling the stories of the people of Monroe County and surrounding areas and the times in which they lived through preserved collection items is our mission,” said society board member Linda Polka.

The third annual Melvin J. Fisher Memorial Hills and Hollows Half Marathon, 5K Run / Walk is Saturday, September 22. The event begins at 8 a.m. at the Valmeyer Emergency Services Building. Proceeds will benefit the Valmeyer Active Firemen Association and BackStoppers. New this year, all Monroe County police, fire and EMS departments that register and provide volunteers will receive a donation to their department.

“The purpose of this event is to promote fire safety, raise funds for firefighter’s training classes and support, via BackStoppers, families of firemen or police officers that have lost their life in line of duty,” said Marvin Fisher, race director and brother of the late Melvin.

Before he died from cancer several years ago, Melvin’s last public activity was coaching young firefighters at the Dupo Firemen’s Muster.

“Melvin was proud to be known as a fireman and for stepping forward when needed,” said Marvin Fisher. “We look forward to the continued success of this event in his memory.”

The half marathon course is the only one in southern Illinois certified through the USATF. Awards will be presented to the male and female winners of the 5K run / walk. Half marathon runners will be presented awards in age categories, as well as the overall top finishers. The first 300 registered participants will receive a t-shirt and medal. A traveling trophy will be awarded to the first emergency services personnel who completes the half marathon course and the 5K run / walk.

Entry forms are available on the website www.hillsandhollows.org. Those wishing to volunteer for the event can contact Marvin Fisher at hikingmcdosher@hotmail.com. Businesses or individuals wishing to donate items or help sponsor the event can do so by contacting a Valmeyer firefighter or first responder or going to the event’s website. For additional information, send correspondence to Hills and Hollows RRCA, P.O. Box 222, Valmeyer, IL,  62295. Marvin Fisher can be reached by phone at 402-598-9178.

Friendship Day is August 5 at Waterloo’s Morrison-Talbott Library. The library’s staff encourages people to set time aside that day to touch base with friends by phone, email or letter. Additional information about Friendship Day is located at the website www.friendshipday.org.

Upcoming events at the library:
Sat., Aug. 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: 50¢ Book Sale
Thu., Aug. 9, 10 to 11 a.m.: Kids Scrapbooking
Tue., Aug. 28: Best Sellers Book Club “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” by Lisa See 

Calendar of Events
Friday
Fish Fry and bingo at Waterloo VFW
Music Man at Columbia Middle School

Saturday
Music Man at Columbia Middle School

Sunday
St. Patrick’s Church of Tipton’s Chicken Dinner and Auction
Rosalie Whelan Poker Run leaving Sporto’s at 12:30 p.m.
Raven Moon at Columbia Music at Metter: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Recent Obituaries
Adele Schuff nee Vogt, 92, of Millstadt, died July 30 at Columbia Convalescent Center. She was a homemaker and tailor and was a member of St. James CCW, VFW Post 7980 Ladies Auxiliary. Adele was preceded in death by husband, Louis Schuff; infant daughter Janice Lee Schuff; sisters Ruth Pistor, Esther Briesacher and Marcella Hatter; brother in infancy Lester Vogt; nephew Tony Pistor; and great-niece Toni Mueller. Survivors include sister, Erdline Lippert; and nieces Bonnie Mueller, Sheila (John) Campe and Doreen (Tom) Baltz. Funeral arrangements were handled by Strauss Funeral Home in Millstadt.

Humane Society Of Monroe County’s Pet of the Week

Sophie II is a female, domestic short-haired cat. She is litter trained, does well in the house and is very friendly. Sophie II can be visited at the Humane Society of Monroe County’s shelter at 4172 State Route 3, 8 miles south of Waterloo. Hours are Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The society currently has a special adoption fee for adult cats of $39.95. There is also an adoption event Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Waterloo Feed Store.