Row Encourages Alderman To Work Together On Columbia Crossing

During last Monday’s Columbia City Council meeting, Alderman Dan Row, right, reads a statement encouraging the other aldermen to begin moving forward on issues relating to the Columbia Crossing development, while Alderman Brad Oberkfell looks on.

The City of Columbia may again continue to work with developer G.J. Grewe on the proposed Columbia Crossing development.

During Monday’s City Council meeting, Alderman Dan Row proposed the aldermen begin working together on several issues that have stalled negotiations with Grewe, causing the developer to sue the city for breach of contract.

Since the April 2007 election, Row has voted in stride with four other aldermen who have opposed nearly every issue regarding working with Grewe on the Master Development Agreement with Grewe and related issues.

In a statement he read during the meeting, Row said, “In regards to Columbia Crossing, in an interest of showing a good faith effort to move from this impasse, I would like to encourage all aldermen to move forward on the POMA, Horner and Shifrin contract, the mixed-use development zoning district and the levee AR zone certification resolution.”

In exchange for moving forward on these issues, Row said he would like the council to revisit some of the language used in the master development.

“I have some issues associated with language related to project cost and incentives. I do believe the MDA as written can be perceived as a blank check with no checks and balances afforded to the city,” said Row.

Alderman Row then asked Grewe representative Terry Grewe, who was in attendance at the meeting, if his proposal seemed fair, and if he would consider meeting with representatives of Columbia and their attorneys to discuss Row’s proposals.  

Grewe said that he had been willing to meet with the council, but since the election four months ago, no progress has been made.

“The council could show good faith by passing the Programmatic Memorandum Of Agreement,” said Grewe.

As for as responses to Row’s specific questions, Grewe declined to comment.

“You have put me on the spot Mr. Row. We have done all we said we would do,” added Grewe.

Following a lengthy executive session, the council returned to the council chamber and voted to put the issue of the PMOA and contract with Horner and Shifrin on the Jan. 21 city council meeting’s agenda.

“This is great,” said Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson. “I applaud Dan Row for what he is doing.”

Hutchinson added that this is the first good faith effort that has come from the city council city since last April’s election.

Krump Resigns His Position As Waterloo Alderman
Jeremy Krump has stepped down as one of the Ward I aldermen in Waterloo. He made the announcement during the Jan. 7 meeting of the Waterloo city council. His resignation was required after he moved from a home on North Library Street to a residence located on South Library Street, which is in Ward III.

“I bought my brother Jay’s home,” said Krump.

Krump had been living with his father, former Waterloo Mayor Bob Krump, after his mother “Toots” passed away a few years ago. Krump was elected to the office in May 2005, defeating Emmet Rusteberg for the aldermanic seat vacated by Steve Notheisen.

Mayor Tom Smith said he is considering several individuals who have expressed interest in filling the open position.

“I am looking for a candidate who will be beneficial for the citizens of Waterloo,” said Smith.

Smith’s choice will then need to be approved by the city council.

Mike Mohl of Waterloo was charged with criminal trespassing earlier this week after his car ran off a private drive near Miles Cemetery.

Mohl, 50, drove his car up a private driveway at the intersection of HH Road and Bluff Road below the historic cemetery.

“The car slid off the drive and became stuck,” said Monroe County Sheriff Dan Kelley.

When Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, two passengers fled on foot through the woods of the bluff.

“We stayed with the driver and did not pursue the passengers,” Kelley said.

Mohl was taken into custody and charged. His car was towed and remains confiscated pending the upcoming court case.

Brand New Vehicle Rolls Down Hill Following Accident

Megan Farris was involved in an automobile accident last Sunday night. Farris, 16, was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Aveo eastbound on C Road. She was taking a back road from Valmeyer to her home in Maesytown. As she approached a curve in the road, Farris said a deer cut into her path. When she swerved to avoid the deer, the vehicle went off the roadway and slid down an embankment. The Aveo rolled several times before landing on its side at the bottom of the hill, about 30 feet from C Road.

Farris was able to exit the vehicle and contact her father. He then contacted the emergency dispatcher. Valmeyer firefighters, first responders and sheriff’s deputies assisted Monroe County Ambulance personnel in putting Farris on a stretcher and transporter her up the hill and into an ambulance. She was taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital for minor injuries.

Front Yard Fight Leads To Felony Charges
A physical altercation last Saturday night in Columbia led to one arrest. A dispute between Jeffery Woldanski and Dr. Joseph Cangas led to the arrest, according to State’s Attorney Kris Reitz. Woldanski, who lives on South Rapp Street in Columbia, has been charged with a felony count of home invasion and misdemeanor battery. If convicted, the felony charge carries a six-year prison sentence.

The initial report is Woldanski, 32, went to the home of Dr. Cangas at 209 Heritage Heights. He forced himself inside and began to batter the homeowner. The altercation continued onto the front lawn where neighbors reported seeing Woldanski violently kick Cangas several times.

“They rolled around the ground fighting,” said one neighbor.

Officers from the Columbia Police Department arrived on the scene at 10:40 p.m., but Woldanski had left the scene prior to their arrival. Cangas was transported to a hospital for his injuries.

Woldanski was located by Columbia detectives at 5 a.m. the next morning and taken into custody. He was transported to a hospital and treated for a broken bone in his hand. After being treated, Woldanski was taken to the Monroe County Jail and booked. He was released after posting bail of $20,000.

Woldanski is scheduled to make an appearance before Circuit Judge Dennis Doyle on Feb. 7, at 9 a.m., at the Monroe County Courthouse.

Ground Broken For New Church Hall

St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer broke ground Jan. 6, for its new parish center hall. Observing Msgr. Ted Baumann, third from right, sprinkle holy water during a blessing of the site are, left to right: Dan and Mike McCarthy of McCarthy Brothers Construction; Mike Schneider, architect, Quadrant Design; Village Mayor Howard Heavner; server Ethan May; new parish Priest Urban Osuji; and server Avery Lubbes. - photo by Carol Floarke

Elected officials and representatives from Western Egyptian will discuss the current situation of the Waterloo and Columbia senior nutrition centers next week. The meeting will be Jan. 16, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

A representative of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments will discuss at a meeting next week the potential impact of the planned decertification of the Fish Lake Levee. Progress For Columbia is hosting the Jan. 16, meeting, at 7:30 p.m., at Columbia High School. The public is invited to attend.

Waterloo Schnucks is scheduled to open January 29. A ribbon cutting will be held at 9 a.m. to mark the occasion.

A bone marrow match was found for Jessica Poelker of Waterloo through the National Marrow Bank. She is battling cancer and hopes this will aid her recovery. The donor is a 27-year-old male who has consented to be a transplant donor. Poelker was admitted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis earlier this week and will undergo an extensive chemotherapy treatment to prepare her for the transplant next week. If all goes well, she after a month of recovery in the hospital, she will able to come home fully recovered.

Dennis “Boog” Pieper has been released from the hospital following a heart condition he suffered on New Year’s Eve. “Boog” said he will make daily trips back to St. Anthony’s for therapy.

Calendar of Events
Friday
Fish fry and bingo at Waterloo VFW

Saturday
Trivia Night at SPPS for Waterloo Chamber: 7 p.m.
Rock band Father Jack at Valmeyer Corner Pub
Rock band Aftershock at Bobeck’s

Sunday
Celebration of Marcia Braswell at VHS: 2 p.m.

Recent Obituaries
Esther Gummersheimer nee Reichert, 96, of Columbia, died Jan. 9, 2008, at Columbia Convalescent Center. She was born Dec. 25, 1911, in Sugar Loaf Township, the daughter of the late John and Henrietta (Diehl) Reichert. She was married to the late Elmer Gummersheimer, who died in 1990. She is survived by sons Virgil (Darleen) Gummersheimer of Columbia and Earl (Betty) Gummersheimer of East Carondelet; grandchildren Raymond (Kim) Gummersheimer, Dale (Beth) Gummersheimer, Karen (David) Gotsch, Petty (Donald) Kleinschmidt, Susan (Don) Grieshaber and David (Connie) Gummersheimer; 14 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law Irene Gummersheimer and Theresa Collier of Columbia. She was preceded in death by brothers Arthur Reichert, Christ Reichert and Walter Reichert; and sister Elsie Stemler. She was a member of St. Paul UCC in Columbia, Columbia Gymnastic Association Auxiliary, Baltz Cemetery Association, Columbia Senior Citizens and Monroe County Farm Bureau. Visitation is Friday, Jan. 11, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. Funeral is Saturday, Jan. 12, 11 a.m., at St. Paul UCC of Columbia, with Rev. Kristofer Avise-Rouse officiating. Memorials may be made to the church, Baltz Cemetery Association or the Monroe County Farm Bureau Foundation.

Adele Dunkman, 102, of Red Bud, died Jan. 8, at Red Bud Nursing Home. She was born May 17, 1905, in Red Bud, the daughter of the late Henry and Clara (Schrieber) Schuette. She married Chester Dunkman of St. Louis in 1932. After Chester returned from two years of Army service they moved to Columbia. When Chester died in 1982, two months before their 50th wedding anniversary, she moved to Red Bud. She was survived by special friend Pauline Niehaus, and other friends and relatives. In addition to her husband; she was preceded in death by sisters Ruth Guebert and Lou Raffl; and brother, Wally Schuette. Adele was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Red Bud, a member of the church’s Mission Society and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. She was also a member of Camp Wartburg Auxiliary, St. Clement’s Auxiliary, Lutheran Laymen’s League and Red Bud Senior Citizens. She volunteered in the Red Bud Nursing Home Sing-A-Long group. Visitation is Friday, Jan. 11, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at St. John Lutheran Church, where a funeral will follow. Memorials may be made to Lutheran Women’s Missionary League – Southern Illinois District, St. John Lutheran Church or radio station KFUO.

Charles Fisher, 80, of Columbia, died Jan. 5, 2008, at St. Joseph Hospital. He was born June 12, 1927, in St. Louis, the son of the late Henry Fisher and Larean (Drumb) Kraenkel. Survivors include his wife, Joyce (Gruen) Fisher; sons Kenneth (Cynthia) Fisher of Columbia and Kurt (Melanie) Fisher of Columbia; grandchild Craig Fisher; and sister, Louise (Sam) Losh of Piedmont, Mo. He was preceded in death by brothers Henry Fisher and Jennings Fowlkes; and sister, Alberta Fisher. He was a member of Destroyer Escort Sailors Assoc., Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, Crestwood Elks Lodge 2503 and McKinley Goldbugs Reunion Committee. He was retired from Sigma – Aldrich in St. Louis. He was a boxer at South Broadway Athletic Club in St. Louis, where he was Golden Gloves Champion from 1943 – 1944. He served in the Navy during World War II. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Rams fan who was also devoted to his family and friends. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home. He was buried at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights. Memorials may be made to the USS Slater Endowments Fund or the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum in Albany, NY.

Cathren Marie Hall-Friend, 78, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Jan. 4, 2008, at Canterbury Manor Nursing Home in Waterloo. She was born Feb. 22, 1929, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Leo Jesse and Mary Anna (Norman) Raymer. She married Norman Hall in Piggott, Ark., on Sept. 7, 1947. He died in 1981. She then married Harold “Happy” Friend on Dec. 7, 1985, in Ellsinore, Mo. He died in 2000. Survivors include daughter Deborah (Gary) Lavender of Waterloo; sons Howard (Joe Ann) Hall of Qulin, Mo., and Donne (Debbie) Hall of Gatewood, Mo.; brothers Ivan Lee Raymer and Melvin Raymer of Ellsinore; sisters Norma Roark and Jean Powell of Ellsinore, Jeardene Grant of Caruthersville, Mo., and Betty Magnall of High Ridge, Mo.; nine grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by daughter, Evelyn Nance; and brothers Charles Lellan Raymer and Richard Andrew Raymer. She was a homemaker and member of the Ellsinore Community Pentecostal Church. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, embroidery, gardening and her church. A visitation was at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore, Mo. A funeral was at Ellsinore Community Pentecostal Church, with Rev. James Huffman officiating. She was buried at White Mill Cemetery in Ellsinore, Mo.