E-Newsletter - October 31, 2008

Halloween Festivities In Full Swing

Members of the Monroe County Home and Community Education dressed up Thursday night for their annul Halloween Bunco party.

Brian Lehr dressed up his newborn baby and attended Thursday night’s St. Louis Blues hockey game. During the second period intermission they visited with the Blues promotions announcer who was dressed as a Barbie Doll.

John, Kay, Eva and Mae Descher dressed up for the Christ Community Church Trunk or Treat held Thursday evening.   – photo by Sarah Parker

Columbia City Hall Is Gathering Spot On Halloween Evening

Halloween night, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Columbia City Hall will be a site of creepy décor and glowing pumpkins. Based on last year’s success, the Columbia Scare Square and Pumpkin Glow will return.

“Ghosts, goblins and kids of all ages dressed in costume are invited to stop by for some tricks or treats in a safe and festive Halloween environment,” said Jackie Hausmann, event coordinator for the City of Columbia. 

Members of the Columbia Ambulance Service, Columbia Volunteer Fire Department and Police Department, along with individuals from civic organizations and businesses will hand out treats to those in attendance.

“We’ll have hot chocolate for anyone needing to warm up by the bon fire,” Hausmann added.

As an added treat, students from the Columbia High School art department will provide face painting.

The second annual Pumpkin Glow contest will also take place during Columbia’s Scare Square. There is no charge for entering. Prizes will be awarded in three age categories. Those interested in participating can contact Hausmann at 281-7144 ext. 106, or by email at jackie@columbiaillinois.com.

St. Paul UCC of Waterloo’s third annual Trunk or Treat is Halloween night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Treats will included: chili bellies, hot chocolate, cider, cookies and doughnut holes.

Trick-or-treaters are once-again welcome to drop by the Waterloo Fire Station on South Main Street on Halloween night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Firefighters, ambulance personnel, police officers and city officials will be on hand helping parents check for the safety of the candy. In addition, hot dogs and other treats will be served.

Firefighters in Hecker will hand out treats at the fire house on Halloween eve.

Mike’s Convenience Store will be the main gathering spot in Valmeyer on Halloween night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Activities include a scavenger hunt and costume contest. There will also be free chili, hot dogs and refreshments.

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo’s second annual Trunk or Treat is Friday, Oct. 31, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Popcorn, apple cider and lots of candy will be provided.

Waterloo Scouts will collect food for area food pantries in time to be distributed to families for Thanksgiving. Cub Scouts from Packs 301, 323 and 318, along with Boy Scout Troop 323 will put bags on doors beginning Nov. 15. They will return to pick up the bags filled with donated food items Nov. 22. The items will be given to the food pantries at Western Egyptian and Hope Christian Church.

Valmeyer’s Youth Center will celebrate a grand opening Family Night on Friday, Nov. 7. Festivities will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The facility is located at 300 E. Woodland Ridge, in a structure located behind the First Baptist Church. Hot dogs and chili will be provided, along with refreshments. Initially, the center will welcome high school aged students.

“But once we get this going, we are hoping to also include younger children,” said Darlene Kettler, one of the organizers of the facility.

The regular hours will be Friday nights from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Parents wishing to volunteer at the center are asked to call Kettler at 935-2563.

Locals Helping Out Neglected Horses

A group concerned with the welfare of neglected horses has formed the Mid-America Horse Rescue program. They are operating out of a facility in rural Millstadt. Locals involved in the project include Amanda Fausz of Waterloo, Margo Sutter of Fults and Dr. Allen Mueller of the Waterloo Animal Hospital. MAHR is planning a Boots and Jeans fundraiser at their facility Sat., Nov. 8. For more information, contact Margo Sutter at 314-302-2216 or visit the website: http://www.mahrnfp.org/horse_fundraiser.php.

Amanda Fausz visits with Little Red Ferrari, one of the horses recovering from abuse and neglect at the MAHR facility in Millstadt.   – photo by Carol Floarke

Football Playoffs Begin Saturday: Waterloo and Columbia each qualified for home games on Saturday, Nov. 1, in the first round of the high school football playoffs. Kick off for both games is at 1 p.m. Undefeated CHS (9-0) will take on New Berlin (5-4) in Class 3A action. Class 4A WHS will host Mascoutah. Both teams have 6-3 records. WHS won their prior match-up this season.

Many Columbia alumni will be happy to see New Berlin’s Head Coach Jeff “Harry-O” Harres, a former resident and ex-star of the Valmeyer Lakers. “Harry-O was a great ballplayer for us for 10 years in the 80s and 90s,” said Lakers Manager Dennis Pieper. Also glad to see Harres will be CHS football chain gang volunteers Kenny Matthews and Cris “Alfie” Landgraf, who went to school and played on the Lakers with Harres.

Valmeyer, Columbia And Waterloo Volleyball Advance To Regional Volleyball Championships

The Valmeyer Pirates are headed to the championship of the Class 1A New Athens Regional. Thursday night they beat Evansville and Marissa. The girls played in honor of classmate and big volleyball fan Brandon Williams, who died Thursday. The championship game is Saturday at 1 p.m. They will play the winner of the Sesser versus Valier game.

In the Class 3A Regional at Carbondale, Waterloo defeated Mt. Vernon on Thursday. They will face Marion on Nov. 1 at 6:30 p.m., in the championship game.

Columbia High School defeated Wood River on Thursday to advance to Saturday’s Championship game of the Columbia Class 2A Regional. They will face Metro East Lutheran at 6 p.m.

Red Bud and Gibault lost their first round games in the Class 2A Nashville Volleyball Regional.

A bus carrying the Gibault soccer team to the state championship tourney in Naperville pulled out the school’s parking lot this morning. The Hawks will face Elmhurst Christian today at 5:30 p.m. in a semi-final game. Gibault has won the Class 1A state title three years in a row. An assembly will be held Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Gibault gym in honor of the soccer team. If they finish in first or second place, a parade will be held through town on Sunday beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Three new members will be inducted into the Mon-Clair League Hall of Fame at the annual awards banquet Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Millstadt VFW. The inductees include Twyla Luhr of Waterloo and the late Gary Kleinschmidt of Columbia. The third member to be honored is Mike Dunnigan of Belleville.

ICS Conducts Mock Election

Immaculate Conception Grade School’s fifth through eighth grade students participated in a mock election earlier this week. The number of votes each candidate received were:

President: McCain – 59 votes, Obama – 55 votes.

U.S. Senator: Sauerberg – 49, Durbin – 48, Cummings – 17, Stafford - 2, and Koppie – 2.

U.S. Rep.: Richardson – 46, Costello – 65, Jennings – 8.

State Rep.: Dan Reitz – 100

Circuit Clerk: Aaron Reitz - 111

States Attorney: Kris Reitz – 109

County Coroner: Gummersheimer – 106

County Commissioner:  Haudrich – 44, Kovarik – 74

Appellate Judge 5th District: Wexstein – 114

Retention of Judge Doyle: Yes - 82, No – 32

In school-related issues:

Walk and Talk: Like it – 45, Don’t like it – 72.

Favorite Lunch: Fried chicken – 15, Toasted ravioli – 37, Mexican haystacks – 63, Chef salad – 3.

Mix-It-Up Day: Keep same groups – 34, Scramble groups - 82

There are Veterans Day gatherings in Waterloo and Columbia. In Waterloo, a celebration will take place at the VFW Hall on Saturday, Nov. 8, beginning at 10 a.m.  Special recognition will be given to the veterans of World War II. Columbia’s event will take place at the American Legion Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.

Recent Obituaries

Brandon Williams, 15, of Valmeyer, died Oct. 30, 2008, in St. Louis, Mo. He was born June 14, 1993, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of Charles and Stacey Williams. In addition to his parents, Mr. Williams is survived by a brother, Zachary Williams of Olney, Mo.; maternal grandmother, Barbara Zeiss of Cahokia; paternal grandparents Charles (Christine) Williams of Troy, Mo.; uncles Michael Vick of Troy, Mo., and Patrick Vick of Cahokia; and aunts Sheryl (Rob) Cotton and Tara Williams, both of Cahokia; along with cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by grandparents Claude Vick and Donald Zeiss. Mr. Williams was a student at Valmeyer High School and member of the Valmeyer FFA. Visitation is Monday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer, Father Urban Osuji officiating. Mr. Williams will be buried at Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery in Madonnaville.  Memorials may be made to the Brandon Williams Trust Fund.

Gibault Loses First Round Game: The record will stand at three in a row, as the Gibault Hawks soccer team will not come home this year with another Class 1A first place trophy. In Friday night’s semi-final game in Naperville, the Hawks were shut out by Elmhurst 1-0. They will place for the third place trophy Saturday at 5:30 p.m. An assembly will be held at the gym in honor of the team Sunday at 4 p.m.

A Dodge Dakota driven by a man from Millstadt slammed into four parked vehicles Friday night at 9 p.m. at Moto Mart in Columbia. The Columbia Police Department handled the incident.

One individual received minor injuries Friday afternoon when they lost control of their vehicle along Centerville Road in rural Columbia.

Halloween Enjoyed Throughout The County

Taylor Ziebold, Katie Ziebold and Leroy Jennewein visit the Columbia Scare Square while out and about Halloween night.

Melissa, Mathew and Michael Cuzemo get ready to dig into their hot dogs Halloween night. The siblings enjoyed their treat and looking at the fire trucks while their parents checked their candy.