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E-Newsletter - March 14, 2008
Margaret Taylor of Waterloo was taken to Red Bud Regional Hospital Wednesday with minor injuries following a two-car crash in Waterloo. Taylor, 72, was driving her Buick Skylark on Fourth Street when she collided with a Ford Mustang driven by Kristen Madden of Prairie Du Rocher. Madden, 18, was driving southbound on Market Street and apparently ran through a red light at the intersection, according to the Waterloo Police Department. Madden was not injured, but was ticketed for disobeying a traffic signal. Dave Wheat, owner of Wheat’s Towing, right, secures Madden’s Mustang before it is towed from the accident scene. Future Of Waterloo Pool To Be Discussed At Upcoming Meeting The Waterloo Park District Board of Commissioners is inviting the public to a meeting to discuss the future of the Waterloo pool. It is scheduled for March 26, at 7:30 p.m., at Waterloo City Hall. “Input is needed from the community on the options available as to solutions of the pool,” said Park District Chairman Steve Goessling. According to Goessling, the options the park board is currently considering are: 1.) Do nothing. When the pool can no longer be operated, it will be closed. 2.) Develop a site plan, concept pool and business plan. Then seek voter approval to issue bonds to build a new facility on Rodgers Street. 3.) Develop up-to-date estimates and seek voter approval to issue bonds to do minimum repairs. There would be no expansion of the existing pool. The work on the existing pool would include, at a minimum, new pool gutters, new concrete deck, new electricity under the deck, new underwater pool lights, new fence, new filtration system, new pipes under the deck, upgrades and repairs to the bath house, and removal of the tennis courts to expand the parking lot. “We want to hear from the people before we make a decision,” Goessling said. Those who are unable to attend the meeting but would like to voice their opinions can send their comments to Waterloo Park District, P.O. Box 69, Waterloo, IL 62298, or email Steve Goessling at goesslin@htc.net.
Civic
Progress
Proposes Improvement Plan For Downtown Columbia The Columbia Civic Progress Committee held a public meeting March 10 to collect comments about proposed improvements to downtown Columbia. The committee hopes to renovate downtown Columbia to make it more pedestrian friendly. Improvements will include additional trees, bricked crosswalks and additional lighting. Funding for the project will be provided in part through an Illinois Department of Transportation Streetscape grant. If approved by the city council and IDOT, construction should begin in late 2008 on phase 1 of the project, which includes a two-block area around city hall.
Belleville diocese priests sent a letter to Bishop Edward Braxton asking him to resign his post. The letter was signed by 44 priests, which comprise almost two-thirds of the active priests in the diocese. It cited a lack of trust among priests and laity of Braxton, exemplified by Braxton’s recent admitted misappropriation of $18,000 to pay for new vestments and conference room furniture. In a rare communication with the public, Braxton earlier this year issued an apology and said the money, taken from funds restricted to international mission work and other diocese projects, will be returned and the items will be paid for with money from less restricted funds. The letter was also sent to the archbishop of Chicago, and the papal nuncio in Washington, D.C., who serves as the liaison between the Vatican and Catholics in the U.S. Braxton, who received the letter this morning, was not available for comment. Sarah Patrick of Waterloo was pronounced guilty on Wednesday of charges of theft of government property. Judge Dennis Doyle sentenced Patrick, 31, to 30 months of probation and she must pay the Columbia Public Library restitution of $1,800. Patrick stole the money between July 2007 and October 2007 while she was employed by the Columbia Public Library. The case involving Nancy Forrester, who is charged with stealing $100 from the Columbia Public Library in July 2007, was continued on Wednesday. She will appear before Judge Doyle at the next Monroe County Courthouse docket call. One of the men who died earlier this week in the Millstadt trench collapse had local connections. Ron Yankey, 38, of Ellis Grove, died while working in a trench at the site of the new Millstadt sewage treatment facility. His sisters Christine Mueller and Kathy Barker both live in Prairie du Rocher. Another relative, nephew Eric Caby, is a longtime star player for the Waterloo Buds baseball team. Yankey’s second cousin is Independent writer Judy Krebel. She plans to attend the visitation tonight in Chester. Maeystown and Valmeyer firefighters responded Thursday evening to put out a fire near the bluffs south of Fults. Earlier this week, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources began a controlled burn of grass and overgrowth at the Kidd Lake Nature Preserve. When winds picked up Thursday morning, the fire began to get out of control and several trees caught on fire along Bluff Road.
The 22nd annual Southern Illinois Sheep and Craft Festival will be April 12 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Waterloo. Activities will include sessions by sheep specialists, judging contests, sheep Olympics and sheep pellet bingo. There will be demonstrations on spinning, crafts, shearing and sheep dog herding. There will also be a kid's corner, performances by Thunder and Lightning Cloggers and an antique tractor display. Throughout the day there will be taste samples, cooking demos and vacuum-packaged cuts of lambs available for purchase. A lamb lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring fresh locally-grown lamb chops, burgers, brats and lamb. The program is free and open to the public. For more information call Richard Wooodcock at 939-8536, or go to the website: www.mcsheepproducers.com. Good reports this week about local boys playing college baseball: McKendree University pitcher and Gibault grad Dakota Schutt earned his first college victory. Columbia High School grad and current Eastern Illinois University pitcher Josh Mueller also earned a victory, aided by former CHS star and current EIU teammate Ben Thoma, who belted out three hits. Craig "Saki" Yarbrough was injured in an accident earlier this week in Memphis, Tenn. He lost control of the car his was driving and it rolled over into a ditch. Yarbrough received a broken nose and scrachtes on his face but is expected to make a complete recovery. His wife, Nancy, drove to Memphis to pick him up from the hospital. Custom Cuts has opened up a salon in Waterloo. It is located in Waterloo Commons, next to the new Schnucks. During its grand opening weekend, March 14 – 16, clients can receive a haircut for $10.99. Several staff members are from Monroe County, including Tina Obst, manager; assistant managers Liz Hartrum and Christie Coil; and stylists Emily Hawkins, Lauren Scharf and Katie Stuckmeyer. The Maeystown Sportsman’s Club Easter Egg Hunt will be Sunday, March 16. Registration begins at 1 p.m., with the hunt starting at 2 p.m. The event is open to children ages up to 8. Don Doerr celebrated his 50th birthday March 12 following a Kaskaskia Trail Chorus performance in New Athens. The longtime barbershopper was treated to dinner and cheer at Wolf’s Restaurant. JV’s Downtown Bar and Grill in Waterloo will celebrate its 23rd anniversary on Sunday, March 16. Festivities kick off at 4 p.m. Girl Scouts and their families were unable to make it to all the Waterloo homes on March 8 for their Health Essentials Drive. Girl Scouts will drop by the remaining homes on Saturday, March 15, between 9 a.m. and noon. Donations will be distributed to the Hope Christian Church food pantry and Loving Touch Pregnancy Care Center. The Steve “Stuhaus” Stuart golf tournament is scheduled for June 14.
Humane Society of Monroe
County’s Pet of the Week Mel is a 1 ˝-year-old Shepherd mix who is full of energy. She was rescued from Animal Control on her last day. Mel does well with other dogs and should be fine with kids, but needs a home with no cats. She is also crate-trained and housebroken. The society’s next adoption event is Saturday, March 15, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the shelter at 4172 Route 3. Calendar of Events
Friday Danielle Craft Memorial Walk/Run at Columbia High School at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday Valmeyer Music Boosters Dinner Theater St. Pat’s party at Heckerdome with Turnabouts Rock band Aftershock at Bobeck’s
Sunday Heritage band at Heckerdome Maeystown Easter Egg Hunt at 2 p.m. Recent Obituaries Esther Katherine Illert nee Lepinsky, 93, of Columbia, formerly of Dupo, died March 12, 2008, in Columbia. She was born Jan. 2, 1915, in Columbia, the daughter of John and Bertha Lepinsky nee Toenjes. She was married to the late Phillip J. “Bobby” Illert. Mrs. Illert is survived by her foster sister Helen Mae Shea; foster brother Jim (Joan) Zoeller; foster sister-in-law Rita Zoeller; nieces and nephew Viola Frank, Helen Reichert, Vera Randle, Betty Smith and Roy E. Illert; along with other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, foster brother Sylvester “Pete” Zoeller, and nephew F.W. Vogel. Mrs. Illert was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo. She worked at Dupo High School in the cafeteria and as a secretary for Illert Brothers Distributing, and she operated Esther’s Gift Shop in Dupo. She was a member of VFW Post 6368 Ladies Auxiliary in Dupo. Visitation is Friday, March 14, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. A funeral Mass will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Fr. Paul Wienhoff officiating. She will be buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo. Harry B. Whelan Jr., 84, of Millstadt, died March 12, 2008, in Belleville. He was born Sept. 9, 1923, in Sparta, the son of Harry B. Sr. and Pauline Whelan nee Brenke. He married Linda Whelan nee Crain in 1976. Mr. Whelan is survived by his wife; mother-in-law Margie Crain; brother- and sister-in-law Homer and Betty Duncan; along with many nieces and nephews and their husbands and wives, grand-nieces and –nephews, great-grand-nieces and –nephews, and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother William Whelan; sisters Frieda Klein and Louise Westhoff; father-in-law James E. Crain; and beloved dog Skoal. Mr. Whelan worked for his uncle’s accounting firm in Connersville, Ind., owned and operated a market on Bond Ave. in Centreville, and operated the Maytag Launderette at 40th and Waverly in East St. Louis. He was a trust officer for St. Louis Union Trust Co. – Boatman’s Bank in St. Louis. For many years he served as the accountant for Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Centreville and was the accountant and trustee for St. Catherine Laboure in Cahokia. He earned degrees from Yale University, Washington University and St. Louis University. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II as a second lieutenant. Visitation is Sunday, March 16, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Monday, from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. A funeral Mass will be Monday at 10 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt, Fr. Marvin Volk officiating. He will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made in the form of Masses. Verda Barnett, 82, of Columbia, died March 11, 2008 at Canterbury Manor Nursing Center in Waterloo. She was born Oct. 3, 1925 in Ville Platte, La., the daughter of the late O'Neal and Celeste (Audroin) Fontenot. She was married to the late Nathan “Barney” Barnett. Surviving are son, Gary (Pattie) Heath of Millstadt; daughter-in-law, Sherry Heath of Columbia; grandson, James Heath of Columbia ; brothers, Ement (Aleda) Fontenot of Ville Platte, La. and Allen (Jennie) Fontenot of Houston, Tex., along with other relatives and friends. She was also preceded in death by a son, James Heath; brothers Boco Fontenot and Calvin Fontenot; and a sister, Wovley Andrus. She was a member of Women of the Moose of Cahokia and St. Michael's Catholic Church in Paderborn. Visitation is Friday, March 14, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. A cremation will follow. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Southern Illinois. Clemens “Horn” Schlotmann Jr., 68, of Red Bud, died March 10, 2008, in Evansville. He was born Sept. 4, 1939 in Red Bud, the son of the late Clemens and Helen (Kern) Schlotmann Sr. Survivors include daughter, Kimberly (Jeff) Mueth of Hecker; grandchildren Jacob and Emma Mueth; brothers Joseph (Pamela) Schlotmann of Red Bud, Henry (Barbara Jean) Schlotmann of Maeystown and Alfred Schlotmann of Waterloo; sister, Helen Marie (Jerome) Heusohn of Waterloo; and former wife and Bonnie Schlotmann of Waterloo; along with nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by a brother, John Schlotmann. Mr. Schlottmann was a farmer and avid hunter and fisherman. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Church in Red Bud and Randolph County Farm Bureau. He was a former member of the Waterloo Sportsman’s Club. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral was at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud with Father Tom Stout officiating. He was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to ASC Memorial Fund for the Retirement of Sisters. Magdalene Curtiss nee Granaman, 91, of Waterloo, died March 9, 2008, at Oak Hill in Waterloo. She was born May 9, 1916 in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late William and Dessie (nee Brown) Granaman. Survivors include daughter, Kathy (Bob) Rubemeyer of Waterloo; sisters Hazel Huff and Esther Shelton of St. Louis, Mo.; granddaughter, Karen (Bobby) Schultheis of Renault; and great-granddaughters Kasey and Deanna Schultheis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Curtiss; three brothers and seven sisters. She was a homemaker and member of Concord Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. Visitation and funeral were at DeFabio Funeral Home with Pastor Will Hesterberg officiating. She was buried at the Waterloo City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family. Edith Gerber nee Buettner, 86, of Fults, died March 10, 2008, in Waterloo. She was born Sept. 21, 1921, in Columbia, the daughter of the late George and Adele (nee Schutt) Buettner. Survivors include children Ronald Gerber of Waterloo, Patricia (Ronald) Unterseh of Fults and Judy Ann (Michael) Huebner of Waterloo; grandchildren Melissa (fiancé Jeffrey Schreder) Unterseh, Justin Unterseh, Angela (Steve) Ballhausen, William Huebner and Nicholas Huebner; great-grandchildren Sidney Ballhausen, Joey Ballhausen, Carey Huebner and Baylee Huebner; sisters Eileen Monday and Georgia Frierdich; brothers Franklin (Ruth) Buettner and Richard (Marlene) Buettner; and sister-in-law, Ada Mueller; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by husband, Arnold Gerber; brothers Clemens and Russell Buettner; and great-granddaughter, Taylor Huebner. She was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg's Ladies Aid and LWML. Visitation is Thursday, March 13, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Friday, March 14, 10 a.m., at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wartburg with Pastor Stuart Rethwisch officiating. Memorials may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church's LWML, Altar Guild or Camp Wartburg. PTA to host Silent Auction Dinner Ronny G. Yankey, 38, of Ellis Grove, died March 10, 2008, in Millstadt, of injuries sustained in a construction accident. He was born May 21, 1969, in Chester, the son of the late Shirley Ray “Peck” and June Yankey nee Mehrtens. He married Mendy Yankey nee Van Ausdoll in 1993. Mr. Yankey is survived by his wife; daughter Taylor Yankey of Ellis Grove; brothers and sisters Robert (Cheryl) Yankey of Chapel Hill, Tenn., Joyce (Larry) Surman of Chester, Kathy (Jeff) Baker of Prairie du Rocher, Mike (Shari) Yankey of Ellis Grove, Bonny (Bill) Branson of Fenton, Mo., Tammy (Steve) Renner of Chester, Teri (Jerry) Davitz of Ellis Grove, and Chrissy (Roger) Melliere of Prairie du Rocher; father-in-law David Van Ausdoll of Willisville; brothers- and sisters-in-law Roscoe and Julie Van Ausdoll of Warrensburg, Mo., Christina and Eric Weber of Baldwin City, Kan., Cheryl and Marc Kuhlman of Campbell Hill, Timothy and Crystal Van Ausdoll of Easley , S.C. , and Julie and Greg Rathert of Ava. He was preceded in death by his parents and mother-in-law Marcia Van Ausdoll. Mr. Yankey was employed by Midwest Excavating in Benton. He was a member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 160 in Murphysboro. He was of the Lutheran faith. His greatest love was his family, whom he always put first. Visitation is Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home in Chester. A funeral service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, Rev. Edwin Reuter officiating. He will be buried at Ellis Grove City Cemetery in Ellis Grove. Memorials may be made to a college fund for his daughter, Taylor, in the care of The Taylor Yankey Benefit Fund, The Bank of Carbondale, 900 Walnut St., Murphysboro, IL 62966. Tom “Tom Cat” Eickelman, 48, of Benton, died March 10, 2008, in Millstadt, of injuries sustained in a construction accident. He was born Jan. 31, 1960, in Christopher, the son of Francis “Eick” and JoAnn Eickelman nee Burtoft of Valier. He married Kathy Eickelman nee Kelley in 1983. Mr. Eickelman is survived by his parents; wife; daughter Mandy (Ryan) McKee of Mt. Vernon; grandson Landon McKee of Mt. Vernon; brother Tim (Kindra) Eickelman of Benton; nephew Josh Eickelman of Benton; niece Jordan Eickelman of Benton; and father-in-law Dean Kelley of Benton. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Pete and Fay Burtoft; paternal grandparents Grover and Beulah Eickelman; and mother-in-law Shirley Kelley. Mr. Eickelman was a heave equipment operator for 20 years, and was employed by Midwest Excavating in Benton for the past 12 years. He was a member of the International Operating Engineers Local 318, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Illinois, Sesser-Goode Lodge No. 744, and was of the Methodist faith. He loved the outdoors and loved hunting with his “hunting family.” He was the Franklin County Ducks Unlimited president for five years, and he organized wildlife events and supported local wildlife organizations for many years. He also very much enjoyed his new Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He died trying to help a co-worker and friend. Visitation was and a funeral service were at Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home in Benton, Pastor Mark Minor officiating. He is buried at Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Memorials may be made to the Tom Eickelman Memorial Fund, in the care of First Southern Bank, 301 E. Main St., Carbondale, IL 62812. Ethel M. Offermann nee Braun, 83, of Columbia, died March 13, 2006, in Waterloo. She was born Nov. 16, 1924, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late John and Amanda Braun nee Fischer. She was married to the late Gilbert Offermann. Mrs. Offermann is survived by her children Gwen (Tom) Borsch of O’Fallon, Eric (Linda) Offermann of Fults, Gale (Steve) Dias of Columbia, and Roger (Jennifer) Offermann of Topeka, Kan.; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister Edna (Ed) Guessfeld of St. Charles, Mo.; along with sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Gary Offermann, sisters Norma Roediger and Helen Kremmel, and brother Joseph Braun. Mrs. Offermann was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia. Visitation is Monday, March 17, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home, and Tuesday from noon to the funeral begins at 1 p.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia. Pastor Steven Theiss will officiate. She will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia or Hospice of Southern Illinois. Ruth Virginia Weinel nee Love, 88, of Columbia, died March 11, 2008, at her residence. She was born Sept. 18, 1919, in Dupo, the daughter of the late James Olin Love and the late Rose Ann Love nee Wise. She married Art Weinel in 1941. Mrs. Weinel is survived by her husband; son Jim (Solveig) Weinel of Greensboro, N.C.; daughter Joan Love Gibbs of Columbia; sister-in-law Edna Dell Weinel of Columbia; along with other relatives and friends. Mrs. Weinel was a member of Columbia Women's Club and The Gray Ladies. She was a most outstanding wife and mother, and was “one in a million” to those who knew her, maintaining her sense of humor to the end. Visitation and a memorial service were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Rev. William Groennert officiating. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Opal J. Winchester nee Miller, 66, of Waterloo, died March 13, 2008, in Red Bud. She was born Feb. 8, 1942, in Pinckneyville, the daughter of the late Sylvester and Harline Miller nee Wynn. She was married to Jeffrey Winchester. Mrs. Winchester is survived by her husband; children Gwendolyn (Louis Bollman) Marlow of St. Louis, Kristina Marlow of Waterloo, and Regina (Larry) Wetzler of Waterloo; grandchildren Andrew Wetzler and Brad Wetzler; sister Ginger Marlow of Pinckneyville; brother Doug Marlow of Tamaroa; along with niece, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents Leona and Layman Wynn. Mrs. Winchester was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo and the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. She was a friend of animals and plants and was a member of the Missouri Botanical Society. Visitation is Sunday, March 16, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Monday, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Monday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. She will be buried at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Monroe County.
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