Winter Storm Blankets County In Snow

City of Waterloo employee Nick Collette clears a pile of snow away from a sidewalk in downtown Waterloo.

Monroe Countians are digging out this morning after a snow storm swept across the Midwest.

“We got between 7 and 8 inches overnight in the county,” said Roger Taake, a road district commissioner who spent many hours scraping the snow from Maeystown area roadways overnight. Taake stopped by Fast Stop Convenience Store in Waterloo this morning to pick up a cup of coffee to help warm up before heading back into his snow plow.

The county road district, along with city employees and IDOT crews got an early start yesterday on clearing the streets, highways and country roads. Most roads, while slippery in parts, were passable by the morning rush hour.

There were several fender benders and numerous vehicles which ran off the road, but only a few involved injuries. The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department was called to pry open the door of a car involved in an accident on I-255 at 9 p.m. last night. The car had spun out of control and was broadsided by a semi-tractor. The female driver was transported to an area hospital with a chest injury.

With Saturday’s temperatures predicted to be nearly 40 degrees, most of the snow is expected to melt.

Much of the talk around town today revolves around the fact that was 26 years ago to the day of the famous Blizzard of ’82. That storm, which hit Jan. 30 – 31, 1982, dumped 14 inches  of snow in a short period of time throughout Monroe County. Most roadways were closed for nearly a week as the citizens worked to dig themselves out of the high snow drifts. (Ed-itor’s Note: Two of the best stories recalling trying to drive home during the storm in 1982 belong to Bob Floerke of Waterloo and Mark Bundy of Maeystown.)

After walking out of Randy’s RR in downtown Waterloo, Ronnie “Gunner” Crook hurls a snow ball towards the Ed-itor. “The coffee at Randy’s really warms you up on a cold morning,” said Crook.

Mike Lawlor clears the sidewalk in front of Lawlor Funeral Home parking lot in Columbia.

Nora Wirth watches her very first snow storm with her dad, Bill, outside of their home in Waterloo.

Brothers Louis and Tom Bourgeois go airborne after launching off a ramp while sledding today at Waterloo’s Lakeview Park.

Goessling New Waterloo Alderman: Larry Goessling, 48, was sworn in as a Ward I alderman during the Jan. 28 meeting of the Waterloo City Council. He replaced Jeremy Krump, who stepped down after moving out of Ward I. Goessling received the unanimous approval of the other aldermen.

Don Schrader was elected president of the Monroe County Fair Association at their annual meeting on Jan. 22. A farmer in Burksville area, Schrader has been a longtime member of the fair board. He succeeds Ron Niebruegge in the position. Niebruegge stepped aside after about 15 years in the job. He will remain a member of the board of directors.

“Ron led the fair through many changes, growth and challenges. He was a great leader and did an outstanding job as president,” commented Secretary George Obernagel.

Other officers elected at the meeting were Vice President Ron Mueller, Secretary George Obernagel and Treasurer Richard Woodcock. This year’s fair is scheduled for July 20 - 27.

The Columbia High School varsity cheerleading squad took home first place in the competition held last week in Highland. They qualified for the IHSA state finals to be held in Bloomington the first week of February.   

The Waterloo German Band provided musical entertainment last week during grand opening festivities at the new Waterloo Schnucks. With the band set up next to the peppers in the vegetable department, band leader Harry Wolf said the boys played a few German standards with a touch of south of the border salsa style in their tempo.     

Gene “Hoagie” Hohnbaum has been transferred from an area hospital to Oak Hill Nursing Home in Waterloo. He sustained a broken hip in a fall a couple weeks ago.

Earl Reitz is making excellent progress as he recoups at Oak Hill. His friend Bill Novack recently stopped by for a visit.

Rev. Mark Babb has joined the staff of St. Paul’s UCC of Waterloo as the director of music ministries. He relocated from Jackson, Mich., where he served as a director of music and was a college instructor. He is a native of Wilmington, Ohio.

Karleigh Sonderman, Samantha Oliver and Alaina Henry perform a number on Jan. 31 during the SS. Peter and Paul Grade School Talent Show as part of Catholic Schools Week.   

– photo by Carol Floarke

Recent Obituaries
Dorothy Amanda Christopher, 99, of Columbia, died Jan. 28, 2008. She was born Oct. 23, 1908, the daughter of the late Fred and Louisa (Loehr) Durrer. She was married to the late Joseph Christopher, who died in 1958. Survivors include daughter Joan (Bill) Young of Chesterfield, Mo., and Mary (Carl) Landgraf of Columbia; grandchildren Jack, Paul, Ann and Jay Young, Dawn Pansing, Jodi Artinger, Abby Ahlers and Cris Landgraf; six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by brothers Oliver Durrer and Erdman Durrer; and sister, Alfrieda Horn. She was a member of the Altar Society of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia and the Columbia Senior Citizens. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral was at Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia, Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. She was buried at the church’s cemetery.

Helen Guttmann nee Unterseh, 86, of Valmeyer, died Jan. 30, 2008, in Waterloo. She was born Nov. 24, 1921 in Valmeyer, the daughter of the late Emil and Ida (nee Mosbacher) Unterseh. Survivors include son, Allan (Catharina) Guttmann of Waterloo; grandchildren Darren (Rachael) Guttmann, Brent (Renee) Guttmann and Collena (Timothy) Ahrens; great-grandchildren Felicity Helen Guttmann, Gavin Dean Guttmann, Connor John Guttmann and Aden Bright Guttmann; and sisters Lucretia Kipping, Evelyn Foster and Ellen Fritz. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Guttmann Sr.; son, John Guttmann Jr., brothers Francis and Eugene Unterseh; and Ted Lerch Sr. She was a member of St. Mary's Church in Valmeyer and the Valmeyer American Legion Auxiliary Post 901. Visitation is Sunday, Feb. 3, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer, Father Urban Osuji officiating. She will be buried at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Church Building Fund.

Ruth Lickenbrock nee Rehmer, 84, of Waterloo, died Jan. 29, 2008, in St. Louis. She was born July, 20, 1923; in Baldwin, the daughter of the late Herman and Ida (nee Fehr) Rehmer. Survivors include husband, Harold Lickenbrock; children Terry Finnerty of Waterloo and Nancy (David) Graper of Red Bud; grandchildren Kevin Graper, Kristi Graper, Kathryn (Harold) Tillman, Karri (Daniel) Haggin and Brad (Elise) Finnerty; great-grandchildren-Chelsea and Miles Tillman; Olivia and Caitlin Haggin; and Michaela, Hannah and Kathryn Finnerty; and sister-in-law Joan Rehmer. She was preceded in death by her first husband; Edward Finnerty; a son, Michael Finnerty; one sister; and nine brothers. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Monroe Council for the Handicapped. She was a retired cook at Waterloo High School. Memorials may be made the Monroe Council for the Handicapped. Visitation is Friday, Feb. 1, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. The funeral is Saturday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, with Pastors Tony Troup and Matt Clark officiating.

Helen Stahlmann nee Eckert, 81, of Waterloo, died Jan. 28, 2008 in St. Louis, Mo. She was born May 16, 1926, in Sugar Loaf Township, the daughter of the late Edward and Irene (nee Masserang) Eckert. Survivors include children Sandra (Michael) Scruggs and Steven (Joanne) Stahlmann; grandchildren Jeffrey (Gretchen) Scruggs and Jonathan Scruggs (friend Emma Wilmot); sister, Doris (Bobby) Reece; brother, Marc (Jean) Eckert; and brother-in-law Robert Stahlmann. She was preceded in death by husband, Leroy Stahlmann; and close friend, Alois Brandt. She was avid bowler, former professional seamstress and a retired Waterloo School District bus driver. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Matt Friz officiating. She was buried at St. John Cemetery in Valmeyer. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Monroe County.

Paul Sondag, 87, of Waterloo, died Jan. 28, 2008, in Red Bud. He was born Jan. 26, 1921, in Valmeyer, the son of the late Frank and Ida (nee Mitweide) Sondag Sr.  Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Clara Sondag nee Bade; children Paulette (Allan) Englerth, Carol Jean (Mark) Pinkerton and Diane (Mark) Gorris; grandchildren Jeffrey Englerth, Jennifer (Brad) Whelan, Jamie (William) Riechmann, Chad Kaestner, Christine (Paul) Hrdlicka, Ryan Kaestner and Austin, Andrea and Alissa Gorris; and great-grandchildren Cole Matzenbacher, Emily Whelan and Alivia Hrdlicka; and brother, Frank Sondag Jr. He was preceded in death by a brother, Gene Sondag. He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, the Monroe County Farm Bureau (past president) and an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus 1334. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. He was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church or the Monroe County Farm Bureau Foundation.

Calendar of Events
Friday
Fish fry and bingo at the Waterloo VFW
Monroe County Soil and Waterloo Conservation Banquet at Turner Hall
Taste of Literature at Morrison-Talbott Library
DJ Big Jim at Valmeyer’s Corner Pub

Saturday
Zahnow Winter Carnival
Columbia Khoury League sign up at CHS
CVFD Dance at Turner Hall with Out of Focus
Mardi Gras party at Bobeck’s with Aftershock

Sunday
Super Bowl party at Bobeck’s

Humane Society of Monroe County’s Pet of the Week:

Diamond is a one-year-old, male, long haired gray tabby. He is a very sweet and affectionate cat who does well with dogs, children and other cats. Visit the Waterloo Feed store on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to adopt Diamond. Website is www.hsofmcil.org. We are in need of temporary foster homes, if you are interested in helping please call 282-PETS.