With the National Weather Service’s prediction of continuing rains through the night, the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency advises all motorists to avoid driving through standing water on area roadways.

Driving conditions became extremely hazardous this evening in rural Columbia. Residents living along around the lake at the intersection of Steppig Road and Small Lane were evacuated at 8:50 p.m. Sheriff’s deputies and Columbia firefighters went door to door advising the half-dozen or so residents living between Steppig Road to Bluff Road to leave their homes. The evacuation was prompted by rising water levels on the lake caused by several inches of rain falling today.

A person living near the lake reported at around 8 p.m. that the dam on the lake appeared ready to burst. This would cause a heavy water flow over Steppig Road and into a creek on the other side of the road. The deputies said they would monitor the situation throughout the night, but it appeared the neighboring creeks and ditches were handling the overflow of water.

In addition to Steppig Road, there are several roadways which have a tendency to flood and become impassable during heaving rains, especially Bluff Road and country roads east of Hecker heading toward the Kaskaskia River.

Recent Obituaries
Winnefred D. Fiege, 90, of Columbia, died March 14, 2008, in Waterloo. She was born March 30, 1917, in Columbia, the daughter of the late Ferdinand Fiege and Elizabeth Fiege nee Miller. Ms. Fiege is survived by many relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Delores Fiege. Ms. Fiege was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, where she was active with the Women’s Guild, played the organ and sang with the choir. Visitation is Tuesday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia; the funeral service begins at 11 a.m., Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. She will be buried at St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia or the Columbia Public Library.

Hortense M. “Sis” Roy nee Niermann, 82, of Prairie du Rocher, died March 16, 2008, in Red Bud. She was born Sept. 27, 1925, in Prairie du Rocher, the daughter of the late William and Clara Niermann nee Wiegard. She married the late Ernest “Kok” Roy in 1946; he preceded her in death in 1999. Mrs. Roy is survived by her children Maxine (Robert) Weis of St. Louis, Mariann (Stanley) Wallach of Red Bud, Marvin (Gail) Roy of Prairie du Rocher, Doris (Bob) Heller of Prairie du Rocher, and James (Lisa) Roy of Mason, Ohio; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters Earl (Evola) Niermann of Columbia, John (Connie) Niermann of Red Bud, Robert (Evelyn) Niermann of Waterloo, Kenneth (Barb) Niermann of Red Bud, and Dorothy (Merlin) Boyd of Urbana; sisters-in-law Dorothy Niermann, Marcella Droste, Lucille Roy and Melba (John) Horning; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother Wilfred Niermann. Mrs. Roy was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher. She was a homemaker, and avid quilter and a gardener. She loved to play cards and go to the casino. Visitation is Tuesday, March 18, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. A funeral Mass will be Wednesday, at 10 a.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher, Fr. Albert Kreher and Fr. Rafi officiating. She will be buried at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Prairie du Rocher. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

James Wilson Schardan, 85, of Waterloo, died March 16, 2008, in Waterloo. He was born Oct. 6, 1922, in St. Louis, the son of the late John H. and Rose Schardan nee Schumacher. He was married to the late Stella Schardan nee Hekel. Mr. Schardan is survived by his daughter Pattie (Gary) Heath of Millstadt; step-son Ronald (Ruth) Henkel of Monroe, N.C.; step-daughter Betty (George) Banjak of Ashville, N.C.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; special friend Mary Aulbach of Arnold, Mo.; brothers Ronald (Danielle) Schardan of Hillsboro, Mo., and Henry “Babe” Schardan of Waterloo; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife. Mr. Schardan was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wartburg. He was a retired machinist for Laclede Gas in St. Louis and was a member of Gas Workers Local 11 in St. Louis. He was an avid golfer, with two holes in one to his credit. Visitation is Thursday, March 20, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. A funeral service will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Lawlor, Pastor Joe LoRusso officiating. He will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or Canterbury Manor Nursing Center in Waterloo.

Shirley Mae Capps-Session nee Vincent, 79, of East Carondelet, died March 14, 2008, at her residence. She was born June 28, 1928, in Carbondale, the daughter of the late Shirley Vincent and the late Mae Fellner nee Sanders. She was married to the late Robert Capps. Ms. Capps-Session is survived by her children David Capps of Belgrade, Mo., Jerry (Gloria) Capps of Arcata, Calif., George (Ann) Capps of Paris, France, Patrick (Patty) Capps of Moreno Valley, Calif., and Mariellen (Richard) Wagner of Burke, Va.; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Howard Sutton; along with relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, mother, husband, and sisters Jane Sutton and June Cundiff. Ms. Capps-Session worked at Stofers Hotel in St. Louis as a banquet schedule manager for more than 20 years. Visitation and a funeral service were at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home, Rev. Matt Friz officiating. She is buried at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Cedar Hill, Mo. Memorials may be made to Boy Scouts of America or Shriners of North America.

William C. Doerr, 89, of Columbia, died March 14, 2008, in Belleville. He was born Oct. 29, 1918, in Monroe County, the son of the late William C. Doerr and Lydia Doerr nee Brauch. He married Genevieve Doerr nee Grahlherr in 1943. Mr. Doerr is survived by his wife; daughters Geraldine (Ronald J.) Schilling of Waterloo, Cheryl (Glenn) Grayson of East Carondelet, Sandra Doerr of Columbia, and Susan (tom) Fohne of Columbia; grandchildren Donna (Mike) Olson, Diane Schilling, Daniel (Kelly) Schilling, Darryl (Laura) Schilling, Kevin Grayson, Matthew Grayson, Troy (Larine) Fohne, and Blake Fohne; eight great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters Alma Stechmesser, Dorothy Arras, Helen Pflueger, Kenneth Doerr, George Doerr and Gary Doerr; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Edward Doerr, Raymond Doerr and Arthur Doerr; and sisters Bertha Schuchardt, Lydia Keim and Luella Spinks. Mr. Doerr is a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. He was a former millwright with Cargill Inc. in Cahokia and retired from the Monroe County Nursing Home. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was at Immaculate Conception Church, Fr. Steve Gira officiating. He is buried at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund or in the form of Masses.