Braswell Honored For Her Dedication To Music

The Valmeyer community celebrated the career of vocal instructor Marcia Braswell, at front, a 35-year veteran who is retiring at the end of this school year. A celebration was held Jan. 13 at the high school gym. She was honored by several groups, including the Valmeyer Music Boosters, above, an organization Braswell founded in 1982. – photo by Carol Floarke

SUV Rollover Accident In Wartburg

Carol Raby walked away with only a minor injury after her Chevy Blazer rolled over during a Sunday evening accident. Raby, 38, was driving on Maeystown Road in downtown Wartburg when a rear tire went flat. She lost control of the vehicle and it rolled onto its roof after running through a ditch. Several passersby helped her get out. She declined medical treatment.

Teenager Takes Wild Ride Off Levee

Lucy Coats received minor injuries Jan. 12 when she lost control of the vehicle she was driving in on Levee Road in rural Valmeyer. Coats, 16, was driving southbound on Levee Road when she apparently lost control and went down the side of the levee at B Road, near the Riechmann farm. The vehicle made an abrupt stop about 20 feet into a plowed field. She was transported to an area hospital and was released later that day. She is the daughter of Glenn and Linda Coats.

Collision On Route 3 Sends Two To Hospital
Laura Glenn of Fults and Karen Mavers of Waterloo were taken to a hospital last night after their vehicles collided on Route 3 at the Kaskaskia Road intersection.

According to the police report, Glenn, driving a Dodge Caravan, pulled out of Kaskaskia Road and attempted to turn into the north bound lane of Route 3, driving into the path of Mavers’ Oldsmobile Alero. Both were transported by ambulance to Red Bud Regional Hospital.

Glenn, 42, was ticketed for failure to yield at an intersection. Mavers was cited for not having proper registration.

Deputies Track Down Man Trying To Avoid Tickets
Corey Hays tried to evade police attempting to pull him over for speeding, but Monroe County Sheriff’s Department deputies tracked him down and apprehended him at his home.

On Monday evening, Deputy Steve Meister was patrolling in Hecker when a car drove past at a high rate of speed. Meister pursued the Oldsmobile ’98 east on Nike Road. After losing sight of the speeding car, Meister reduced his speed and continued driving. He soon came upon the car abandoned in a farm field.  

Deputies traced the car back to its owner, Hays, of New Athens. While Meister stayed with the car as it was towed and impounded, Deputy Sergeant Jim Lansing drove to Hays’ home in New Athens. Soon after Lansing’s arrival, a family member dropped Hays at the house. He was cited with six tickets, including speeding, running a stop sign, failure to use a traffic signal, driving with a revoked license, no insurance and aggravated fleeing and alluding of a police officer.

Fountain Creek Band is scheduled to play at Valmeyer’s Corner Pub on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Recent Obituaries
Josephine A. Raney, 84, of Effingham, died Jan 12, 2008, in St. Louis. She was born Feb. 16, 1923, in Pittsburgh, Pa., the daughter of the late Frank and Mary Vazzana Scialabba. She married the late Donald Raney in 1953; he preceded her in death in 2001. Mrs. Raney is survived by her D. Raymond (Mary) Raney of Edwardsville, Dr. Stephen (Joan) Raney of Columbia, and Frank (Janet) Raney of Plainfield, and Maria (Pat) Dust of Mattoon; and grandchildren Valerie Raney, John Dust, Mary Jo Raney, Stephanie Raney, Michelle Raney, Mark Raney and Marianne Dust. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Marie, brothers-in-law James Raney and Eugene Raney, and sister-in-law Marilyn Raney. Mrs. Raney was a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with degrees in mathematics and chemistry. She worked at the Mellon Institute before moving to Effingham. She later obtained her teaching degree from Eastern Illinois University and taught mathematics at Central School in Effingham for many years before retiring in 1986. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, a fabulous cook, an excellent teacher, and a dear friend to many. Her visitation was at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham. A funeral Mass was at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. She is buried at St. Anthony Cemetery in Effingham. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or St. Anthony schools.

Clifford Dale Yearian, 63, of Waterloo died Jan. 13. He was the husband of Louise A. Yearian nee Tucker. Mr. Yearian was born Jan. 31, 1944 in East St. Louis, the son of Burnell I. Yearian and the late Clifford F. Yearian. Other survivors include children Todd (Kym) Yearian, Laurie (David) Baum, Brad (Amy) Yearian and Libby (Kirk) Anderson; brothers Doug (Stephanie) Yearian and David (Dena Rudloff) Yearian; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. Mr. Yearian was the owner of Yearian Construction, and a member of Carpenter's Local 1997 and the National Rifle Association.  Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home where a funeral service was conducted by Rev. Matt Friz. Burial was at St. John Cemetery in Maeystown. Memorials may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or the NRA.

Donald C. Woods, 78, of Columbia died Sunday, Jan. 13 at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis. He was born June 6, 1929 in Stillwater, Okla., the son of the late Carl and Alice Woods nee McDonald. He married the late Antoinette M. Woods nee Castelli, who died Mary 18, 2007. Survivors include sons Donald C. (Beth Campbell) Woods, Dennis (Beverly Bolhafner) Woods, David (Denise) Woods and Douglas (Leslie) Woods; daughter, Diana (Ed) Sugden; brother Delbert "Dale" (Doris) Woods; half-sister, Marci Altschuh; 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. He was a retired ironworker and a member of Iron Workers Local 396. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at Immaculate Conception Church with Fr. Steve Gira officiating. Burial was at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Research Center at Washington University.

Harry R. Shreve, 83, of Waterloo died Jan. 13. He was the husband of Novella Shreve, nee Edwards. Mr. Shreve was born Dec. 31, 1924 in St. Louis, the son of the late Harry of and Mary Shreve, nee Zielinski. Besides his wife, he is survived by children Kenny Shreve, Debby (Terry) Hutton and Becky (Bill) Avett; nine grandchildren and other relatives and friends. Besides his parents, Mr. Shreve was preceded in death by a sister, Jewel Lamprich; and a brother-in-law, Roy Himmer. He was a retired paper cutter for Reynolds Metals in St. Louis, a 25-year member of the Graphic Communications International Local 505 and a 50-year member of Immaculate Conception Church in Centreville. He served in WWII as a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Division. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Fr. Elmer Mauer officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery.

Joshua R. Glessner, 22, of Renault died Saturday, Jan. 12, as a result of injuries sustained when his truck crashed on Kaskaskia Road. He was the son of Dianne (Don) Walker and Ronnie Glessner and was born June 18, 1985 at Red Bud. Besides his parents, he is survived by two sisters, Amy Jean Crook and Stacey marie Glessner; two step-brothers, Darrin Walker and Rick (Janet) Walker; an aunt, Jean Richard Baker; an uncle, Bob (Mary) Huch; nieces and nephews, Brittney Crook, Dustin Miller, Ryan Walker, Monica Walker and Luke Walker; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandmother Florence Glessner, grandfather Archie Huch and grandmother Willevra Huch. Mr. Glessner was union welder for Tower Rock Stone Co. in Ste. Genevieve. He was active in the Freeda’s dart and pool leagues and was an avid outdoorsman. Visitation was at the Quernheim Funeral Home where a funeral was conducted Tuesday, Jan. 15, the Rev. Matt Friz officiating. Burial was at Studt Cemetery in Renault.