Waterloo Buds Crowned Mon-Clair Baseball League Champs

The Waterloo Buds won the Mon-Clair Baseball League Championship for the fourth year in a row. They defeated the Fairview Heights Redbirds August 12 at Twyla and Alois Luhr Field in Valmeyer in a best-of-three series.   The Buds won the first game in this year’s championship series on August 11 with a 10-6 victory over the Redbirds.

With a strong pitching performance by Brandon Musso and timely hitting, the Buds easily won the second game 13-1. Musso pitched a complete seven-inning game and Eric Caby hit a home run. Caby was named the playoff MVP by going 7 for 12 during the tournament, with five home runs and two doubles. The victory was Buds’ Manager Vern Moehrs' 1,700th as manager, a position he has held since the early 1960s.

Four people were injured Saturday when a staircase collapsed at Camp Wartburg. Three of the individuals were treated for minor injuries at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. They were released later that same day. The fourth person, an adult, was taken to Barnes-Jewish Hospital with more serious injuries, but they were not considered life threatening. Those injured were participating in a retreat organized by an Episcopal church in St. Louis.

The staircase was located in the rear of the newly-opened dining hall and office complex at the facility, which is located at the intersection of Maeystown Road and LRC Road, south of Waterloo. Construction of the dining hall began last October and was completed in June. Camp Wartburg Executive Director John Mohr said they are investigating the cause of the accident.

“In a ministry dedicated to bringing the experiences of nature to children and adults and taking care of people, this was unfortunate,” said Mohr.  

Events are continuing as scheduled at the camp.

Summer Heat Advisory Continues
The National Weather Service has extended the excessive heat warning through Wednesday, August 15, at 7 p.m. Dangerous levels of heat are forecasted with heat index values of 105 degrees and higher during the afternoon and early evening hours during this period.

Heat relief centers open in Monroe County are the Columbia Convalescent Center in Columbia, the YMCA-HTC Center and Oak Hill, the new Monroe County Nursing Home, in Waterloo. Columbia Convalescent Center is located at 253 Bradington Drive, behind the Marketplace grocery store. Oak Hill is located at 623 Hamacher Street, next to Southwestern Illinois Center For Health. The YMCA-HTC Center is located at the intersection of Route 3 and EE Road.

The longer this heat wave lasts, the harder it will be on people and animals, reports Gene Henckler, director of the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency.  There is concern that the increased utility rates may prevent some people from using their air conditioning as they should, thereby compounding the affects of this excessive heat warning period.

With temperatures being 100 degrees or more through Wednesday, the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency is advising people to be sure and check on the well being of the elderly, the incapacitated and those with breathing difficulties who do not have air conditioning in their homes or who may not have it turned on.

Those who work outside or spend time in the heat can decrease the effects of heat by:
1. Drinking plenty of liquids, but avoiding the consumption of caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
2. Never ignore the signs of overheating, including nausea and dizziness.
3. Take cool baths or showers.
4. Use cold compresses on the neck and wrists.
5. Wear loose fitting, light color clothing.
6. In homes without air conditioning, keep the shades drawn, blinds closed and leave the windows slightly open.
7. Spend more time in the basement where it may be cooler.
8. Make sure that pets and farm animals have plenty of fresh water and shade, and bring them indoors if possible.

Drew Gericke of Belleville proposed to Lauren Bivens of Waterloo Friday night. Gericke, a star of the Fairview Heights Redbirds baseball team, found time to pop the question between games of the Mon-Clair Baseball League Championship Series. The couple was spotted Saturday night with their parents dining at the Waterloo Country Club.

Emma Mehrtens, daughter of Roger “Squirts” Mehrtens, celebrated her second birthday at a Cardinals game with her uncle Curt Sondag. Emma was amazed when she saw her name and birthday posted on the jumbo-tron.

The family of Eugene and Wilma Linker gathered Sunday at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo. Eugene celebrated his 90th birthday and the couple also marked 60 years of marriage.

Former Dupo resident Leon “Lee” Shaffer of Arizona will sign his new book, B3: Valkyrie Incarnate August 20 from 3:30-8 p.m. at the Daugherty Public Library, 220 S. 5th St., Dupo. The story revolves around espionage and aeronautic design. Shaffer has 35 years experience on teams that developed various secret military aircraft.

Recent Obituaries
Mildred Louise Goodwin, 80, of Dupo, died Aug. 13, 2007, in Dupo. She was born Oct. 17, 1926, in Columbus, Ky., the daughter of the late Ronald and Nellie Jane Childers nee Chaney. She was married to the late Frank Robert “Bob” Goodwin Sr. Mrs. Goodwin is survived by her children Sheila (Donald) Ellis of Dupo, Frank R. Goodwin of Dupo, and Theresa Hunt of Dupo; grandchildren Mandy Lynn Goodwin, Faith Michelle Dugan and Sean Hunt; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson Christopher Michael Goodwin, and sisters Ruby Bishop and Mary Beck. Mrs. Goodwin was a member of First Congregational Church in Dupo. She had worked for Toby Color Card Co. as a machine operator in St. Louis. She was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. Visitation is Tuesday, August 14, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dashner Funeral Home in Dupo. Funeral is Wednesday, August 15, 10 a.m., at Dashner.

Amy Melissa Watkins, 34, of Dupo, died Aug. 12, 2007, in Dupo. She was born Jan. 18, 1973, in Centreville, the daughter of Fallis and Kay Watkins III nee McKinney. She is preceded in death by her parents; daughter Ashley Watkins; brother Scot Watkins; grandparents Kelly and Ruby Heyen; and aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Fallis and Alice Watkins and her uncle Mike McKinney. Visitation is Wednesday, August 15, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Dashner Funeral Home in Dupo, with a memorial service to follow.