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independent@htc.net |
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If it happens in Monroe County, it's news to us! |
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Today's News - September 19, 2007 A bicyclist was struck by a vehicle Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. in Columbia. The incident occurred on Valmeyer Road, near West Park Bowl. Injuries were not considered serious. Additional information has not yet been released. County Approves Archeological Study Plan For Columbia Bottoms  Marsia Geldert-Murphey of Kaskaskia Engineering Group, left, addresses the PMOA issue during Monday’s meeting of the county commissioner. Listening in are, left to right, County Engineer Ron Polka, and commissioners Delbert Wittenauer, Dale Haudrich and Terry Liefer. The Monroe County Commissioners voted Monday to accept the Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement for the interchange at Fish Lake. The document sets a protocol for archaeological findings and the curation of artifacts, and had been held up in the Columbia City Council. Grewe and the engineering firm Horner and Shifrin informed the council no work could be completed on the interchange or development until the PMOA was signed, per Illinois law. When the council failed to approve it after repeated attempts, Grewe sued the city. “This is one small part of the deal and I don’t feel we’re overstepping our bounds," said Dale Haudrich, president of the Monroe County Commission. "This is a message I don’t mind sending to the city that we’re behind them and we’ll support them.” Haudrich cited the document’s prior verbal approval by the Columbia school board, the Monroe County Taxpayers and the former Columbia City Council. “We’re not telling Columbia how to put their development together or what plans to offer,” Haudrich said. The county's signature on the document was required because the land on which the interchange is planned lies in the county. "The county has clear jurisdiction over all the area in the potential area of effect for the PMOA because it is all in the county limits," said Marsia Geldert-Murphey of Kaskaskia Engineering Group, which is performing the interchange engineering for Horner and Shifrin. She acknowledged it was unusual for the main signatory of a PMOA to switch from a municipality to a county, but added the county is not overstepping its bounds. “It’s great the county’s willing to work with the engineers and developers on the project," Hutchinson said. "It just goes to show how important this development is to the county and everyone in the region.” Now that the PMOA has been signed, a public hearing for the interchange will be scheduled. Jeanette Gregson celebrated her 80th birthday Sunday with a family dinner. Attending were Gordon and Cindy Gregson, Helen Gregson, Alice Gregson, Scott Steinsieck and Diane and Russell Gregson. Grandson Mitchell Gregson is attending school at Kansas State University and was unable to attend. With no plans to retire, Jeanette keeps busy as an advertisement representative for The Independent. Morris Linnemann turned 50 last Friday. A party was held in his honor that evening at Tiny’s. Kristy Weber was given a surprise 40th birthday party Tuesday night. She gathered with family and friends at Courthouse Café in Waterloo, which is owned by her brother, Jim Baker. Red Bud and Columbia football teams remain undefeated with victories this past weekend. The deadline for submissions to the Monroe County Veterans book has been extended until September 30.  A record number of participants took part in Saturday’s Loving Touch Pregnancy Center of Waterloo’s annual 5K Run / Walk. Medals were presented to the top runners in each age category. Nearly $3,500 was raised from the event.
Soulard Oktoberfest Offers Traditional German
Fest “We hope to capture the feeling of a traditional German festival, reminiscent of the Columbia Strassenfest of the 1960s and 1970s,” said Darlene Hoepfinger, former Monroe County resident who is one of the organizers of the Soulard event. Expanding on the success of the past three Soulard Oktoberfest celebrations, organizers have once again invited the multiple Grammy award winning quintet Brave Combo to entertain the crowd for a two-night engagement. Also returning is top German festival band die Schlauberger. Last year a standing-room-only crowd danced the evening away in the German tent. Rounding out the musical trio of headliners is Wielenbacher Musikanten, direct from the Bavarian region of Germany. There will also be a kids’ carnival and the organizers are developing other family-friendly activities. An authentic German Oktoberfest would not be complete without great German food and beers. The Soulard Oktoberfest will offer plenty of the necessary ingredients throughout the grounds and in large tents patterned after those used in Munich, Germany. The event will begin on Friday, October 5, at 6 p.m., with events closing that evening at midnight. Saturday the festival will run from 11 a.m. through midnight, and Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Recent Obituaries Larry Wayne Robins, 57, of Waterloo, died Sept. 15, 2007, in St. Louis. Survivors include his mother and step-father Movelene (Jim) Wakefield; wife, Rachel Robins nee Williams; children Misty (Chris) Cole, Haley Wayne (Lori) Robins, Nikki Robins, Britney Springfield and Stephanie Posey; grandchildren Colton Cole, Kaitlyn Cole, Somer Robins and Autum Robins; brother Keith Robins; sister Phyllis Watts; and father- and mother-in-law Doris and Earcle Williams. He was an engineer for Union Pacific Railroad and was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. Visitation was at Dashner Funeral Home in Dupo. He is interred at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Double Springs, Ala. Kathryn E. Laurent Clerc, 91, of Prairie du Rocher, died Sept. 17, 2007 in Red Bud. She married Theodore Laurent in 1937; he preceded her in death in 1949. She married William Clerc in 1966; he preceded her in death in 1998. Survivors include her children John “Jackie” (Ava) Laurent of Prairie du Rocher, David (Cheri) Laurent of Belleville, Barbara Zeiger of Red Bud, Marcella (Leo) Deterding of Red Bud, Charlotte (Louis) Henerfauth of Fults, and Janet Fults of Topeka, Kan.; step-son Gene (Arlene) Clerc of Prairie du Rocher; son-in-law Donald “Fuzzy” Nevois of Red Bud; 20 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; siblings Lee (Irene) Aubuchon of Reno, Nev., Max Aubuchon of Granite City, Jacqueline Prange of Prairie du Rocher, and Audrey Kieffer of Red Bud; and sisters-in-law Florence Laurent of Red Bud, and Geraldine Aubuchon of Red Bud. Visitation is Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. A funeral Mass will be Thursday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher, Fr. Tom Stout officiating. She will be buried at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Prairie du Rocher. Margaret H. Stoeckel, 75, of Waterloo, formerly of Millstadt, died Sept. 17, 2007, in St. Louis. She was married to the late Joseph A. Stoeckel. Survivors include her children Joseph (Sue) Stockel of Russellville, Ark., Steven (Ange) Stoeckel of O’Fallon, James (Cheryl) Stoeckel of Villa Ridge, Mo., Lois (Ray) Martinez of Sacramento, Calif., and Marie (Darrell) Scharf of Millstadt; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and siblings Ruth (the late Erwin) Herrmann of Millstadt, Carol (Calvin) Fries of Columbia, and Lawrence (Betty) Becherle of Columbia. Visitation is Friday, Sept. 21, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., at Strauss Funeral Home in Millstadt. A funeral Mass will be Saturday, Sept. 22, at 9 a.m., at St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt, Fr. Marvin Volk officiating. She will be buried at St. James Catholic Cemetery in Millstadt. Ellen C. Stumpf, 60, died Sept. 17, 2007. Survivors include her brother Kenneth (Evelyn) Stumpf of Columbia; sister Erlene Bretzlaff of Columbia; five nephews; and two nieces. Ms. Stumpf was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, where she was a member of the choir and was treasurer of Women’s Evening Fellowship. She volunteered with Sunday School, at Columbia Convalescent Center and Monroe County Relay for Life. Visitation will be Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. A funeral service will be Thursday, Sept. 20, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. She will be buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. |
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