If it happens in Monroe County, it's news to us!

Today's News - November 15, 2007

Drowning Victim Pulled From Millstadt Lake

Columbia firefighters, left to right, John Hanagan, Andrew Callis and Jim Broshears search Wednesday night for a man who drowned in a Millstadt lake.

Gilbert Karika Jr. of Smithton was pronounced dead last night after being pulled from the Angler Club Lake in Millstadt.

When Karika, 66, did not return home from fishing, a family member contacted the Millstadt Police Department. Millstadt firefighters located his 10-foot john boat at 10:30 p.m., partially underwater about eight feet from the shore. Millstadt Fire Chief Kurt Pellmann contacted the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department to bring their two rescue boats. Within minutes, CVFD’s Zodiac boat was in the lake and heading toward Karika’s boat.

“We discovered the body within five minutes,” said Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Jim Broshears.

Karika’s body was found near the boat, about one foot beneath the surface of the water. Broshears and fellow Columbia firefighters Andrew Callis and John Hanagan recovered the body and transported it to shore. A St. Clair County coroner pronounced him dead at approximately 11:30 p.m.

‘Tis The Season

City of Columbia employees Dustin Row, left, and Doug Sparwasser put up Christmas lights and decorate Santa’s hut in front of city hall.

Three Columbia High School athletes have signed letters of intent to attend NCAA Division I schools next fall.
Shelby Stein has accepted a softball scholarship to Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Trent Blank will play baseball next year at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Eagles star volleyball player Anna Eytchison will head to the University of Dayton in Ohio.

Stein, Blank and Eytchison have been classmates and friends since first grade. The two girls have played softball and volleyball together since they were members of Khoury League softball teams that played games at the Columbia American Legion fields. They continued as teammates in junior high, then on select volleyball and softball teams, and through their high school years.

Other high school students accepting scholarships this week include Waterloo High School baseball star Brandon Koenigstein and Gibault High School senior Jeff Harrison, who will play golf next year for Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Ed-itor’s Note:  While it may be Old Newsboy’s Day, if you’re driving through Columbia, don’t mistake someone selling a paper for a police officer handing out tickets. The Columbia Police Department is conducting roadside seatbelt checkpoints along Admiral Parkway this week.

If it happens in Monroe County, it's news to us!

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