Columbia Council Approves Budget Draft, Opposes Levee Tax

During Monday’s Columbia City Council meeting, Columbia resident Gene Bergman, a supporter of the Columbia Crossing development, holds up a sign depicting an 800-pound gorilla sitting with a family at their dinner table. The sign read, “The question no ones dares to ask… What about the $500,000 in legal fees?”

The city of Columbia approved a tentative 2008 fiscal year budget by a vote of 6 to 2 during Monday’s city council meeting. The budget is available at city hall for review through April 21, when the council will make its final vote. While the $17.6 million budget is considered lean on new expenses, according to City Administrator Anthony Traxler, there is a nearly $160,000 revenue shortfall.  

While $200,000 was budgeted in 2007 for legal expenses accumulated from the lawsuit with developer G.J. Grewe over Columbia Crossing, the 2008 budget has earmarked $350,000 for legal fees.

Noteworthy cuts in expense for 2008 include holding off on several road projects, not replacing a Columbia police officer who left last year, cutting $40,000 in expenses from the police budget, not replacing three high-mileage police cars and a reduction in the Columbia Ambulance Service budget.

Alderman Mary Ellen Niemietz, who voted against the budget, said it appears the city of Columbia is reducing needed services because of the growing legal bills. Niemietz has been a supporter of the Columbia Crossing development. Alderman Jay Unnerstall, who voted to approve the budget, said expenses needed to be cut because the city council has a fiscal obligation to its citizens.

The Columbia City Council also voted 5-3 opposing a proposal by State Senator Bill Haines (D-Alton) for a .25 cent sales tax for Monroe, Madison and St. Clair Counties to pay for the estimated $180 million in federally-mandated levee repairs. Alderman Brad Oberkfell said he could not support a tax increase that was not first put to a vote of the citizens.

 

Costello Urges President Bush To Declare Illinois Counties A Federal Disaster Area

U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) has urged President George W. Bush to expedite Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s request that Randolph, Alexander, Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Pulaski, Union, Williamson and seven other Illinois counties be declared a federal disaster area. The counties endured heavy rains and flooding the week of March 16.

“I have been waiting for the Governor’s announcement so we could work to speed this process at the federal level,” said Costello. “Other states have already received federal assistance, and a federal disaster declaration would greatly aid our recovery efforts, as residents and local governments have been dealing with the effects of the storms for weeks.”

 

Reime Jewelers Celebrates Remodeling With Open House

Reime Jewelers and Gifts owner Julie Holtgrewe, left, shows Waterloo Chamber of Commerce ambassador Stacy Graff a jar of body butter from Crabtree & Evelyn’s Naturals line of organic products. Chamber members, customers, elected officials, family and friends gathered yesterday at the shop, at 119 S. Main St. in Waterloo, for a ribbon cutting to celebrate renovations to the store and the addition of new product lines.

The Monroe County YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event is designed to promote healthy kids and families in spirit, mind and body. Healthy Kids Day celebrates making fitness fun and introduces kids to an array of YMCA programs and tools that teach healthy behaviors and healthy ways to play.

The first-ever 5K Green Run / Walk will begin this Saturday at the Monroe County YMCA – HTC Center at 9 a.m. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. It is co-sponsored by Pure Natur and all proceeds benefit conservation partners to protect clean water. Youth rock band Morland Drive will provide musical entertainment following the race.

The Valmeyer Police Department has recovered a bicycle found within the last month. Inquire at Village Hall.

Main Street Tire & Auto in Columbia will soon be close its doors for good. Owner Mark Jackson has accepted a position as a mechanic with a car dealership in St. Louis.

Postmaster Dawn Boma has released the latest mail dispatching schedule for the Columbia Post Office. She advises the earlier in the day mail is entered, the sooner it will be processed in St. Louis. All mail entered in Columbia gets processed in St. Louis and then sent out for delivery. Mail entered by 2:15 p.m. in any Columbia collection boxes or either inside or outside the post office will be on the first trip to St. Louis. Mail entered by 4:15 p.m. will be on the second trip. All mail entered after 4:15 p.m., but before 5 p.m., will leave for St. Louis at 6:45 p.m. Boma advises patrons to mail early in the day for the best service.

The 22nd Annual Southern Illinois Sheep and Craft Festival is tomorrow, Saturday, 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, as well as burgers, brats and lamb. The program is free and open to the public. For more information call Richard Woodcock at 939-8536, or go to the website: www.mcsheepproducers.com.

Columbia’s ‘Celebration 2009’ Committee held a planning session Thursday night at the Columbia City Hall. Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson told the group an initial request of $15,000 in seed money for the year-long 150th anniversary of the city was included in the tentative budget now under consideration.

The Columbia July 4th Committee held its first meeting for the 2008 celebration this morning. The annual picnic and fireworks display will be

Saturday, July 4, with a rain date set for Sunday, July 5, at the American Legion Memorial Park.

Upcoming Red Cross Blood Drives

Monday, April 14, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at St. John UCC in Valmeyer

Tuesday, April 22, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Turner Hall in Columbia.

Waterloo City Hall will be closed on Saturday, April 12. A generator is being repaired.

 

Recent Obituaries

John W. Gossett, 75, of Columbia, died April 9, 2008, in Columbia. He was born Oct. 5, 1932, in Shawneetown, the son of the late John M. Gossett and the late Mildred Gossett Rampenthal nee Frields. He was married to Freda Gossett nee Sims. Mr. Gossett is survived by his wife; children Michael (Kim) Gossett of Fenton, Mo., Steven (Sharon) Gossett of Millstadt, Laurie (Wayne) Gummersheimer of Columbia, and Linda (Keith) Sanders of Waterloo; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brothers-in-law Thomas Hubbard of Belleville, and Ben (Doris) Sims of New Douglas; sister-in-law Wilma Vartanian of Belleville; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Carole Hubbard. Mr. Gossett was a member of Columbia American Legion Post 581. He was retired from Ethyl Petroleum in Sauget. Visitation is Sunday, April 13, at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Monday, April 14, at 10:30 a.m., at Lawlor. He will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Family Hospice of Belleville or the Columbia American Legion Park Endowment Fund.

Darrell Edwin Grohmann, 63, of Waterloo, died April 9, 2008, in St. Louis. He was born Feb. 21, 1945, in Belleville, the son of the late William Arthur and Frieda Magdalena Grohmann nee Matzenbacher. He was married to Nancy Grohmann nee Haudrich. Mr. Grohmann is survived by his wife; children Ryan (Dawn) Grohmann of Waterloo and Renee Grohmann of Belleville; grandchildren Ashley, Aaron (his hunting buddy), Ande and Abby Grohmann; sisters Lucille Georg of Waterloo, and June (Earl) Espenschied of Freeburg; brothers- and sisters-in-law Janice Toenjes of Waterloo, Marilyn Haudrich of Hecker, and Norma Hahne of New Athens; uncle and aunt Edwin and Shannon Matzenbacher of Waterloo; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Arlene Hahne, and brothers-in-law Willard Georg and Fred Hahne. Mr. Grohmann was a member of Hecker Sportsman Club, Hecker Community Center, and Monroe County Longbeards. He was employed at Columbia Quarry. Visitation is Sunday, April 13, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Monday, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Church in Hecker, Fr. Robert Gore officiating. He will be buried at St. Augustine Cemetery in Hecker. Memorials may be made to SS Peter and Paul School or the Violence Prevention Center.

Wanda Faye Buckman nee Bledsoe, 72, of Waterloo, died April 10, 2008, in Waterloo. She was born Oct. 25, 1935, in Thebes, the daughter of the late Amos Franklin and Lucy Bledsoe nee Shaver. She was married to the late Charles Buckman. Mrs. Buckman is survived by her children Charles Buckman Jr., Teresa (Brian) Tucker, Pam (Glenn) Crook, Karl (Candace) Buckman, and Jason (Erica) Buckman; grandchildren Charles III and Katie Buckman, Nicholas and Lauren Tucker, Jesse and Curtis Crook, Zachary and Isaac Buckman, and Jenna and Andrew Buckman; sister Blanche (Winston) Wehmeyer; sisters-and –brothers-in-law J.C. and Geneva Buckman, and Virginia and Norman Elliot; along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brothers Frank, Roy and Lloyd Earl Bledsoe. Mrs. Buckman was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and Mary and Martha Society in Waterloo, and St. Mary’s in Palmdale, Calif. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, Ladies Aide, and the Historical Society in Thebes. Visitation is Friday, April 11, from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Quernheim. Memorials may be made to Duke Hospice in Durham, N.C.

Frieda K. Steinmann nee Koch, 89, of Monroe City, died April 10, 2008, in Columbia. She was born March 3, 1919, in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Gustav and Anna Koch nee Wernicker. She was married to the late Alvin “Guy” Steinmann. Mrs. Steinmann is survived by her children Patricia (LeRoy) Garleb of Valmeyer, Sandra J. (Ken) Hill of St. Louis, and Kenneth (Sandy) Steinmann of Waterloo; grandchildren Kim (Steve0 Chappuis, Kurt (Catie) Steinmann, Kerry (Robin) Steinmann, Karla Bivins (George Obernagel), Keith (Angela) Garleb, Kevin (Carol) Garleb, Brian (Susanne) Garleb, Christine Hill, and Katie (Christopher) McCracken; and sister Dorothy Woodcock of Waterloo. Mrs. Steinmann was a member of the Waterloo Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses and was past secretary of Monroe City Cemetery. Visitation is Saturday, April 12, from 3 to 8 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Quernheim, Aaron Luecking officiating. She will be buried at Monroe City Cemetery in Monroe City. Memorials may be made to Waterloo Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses or Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Calendar of Events

Friday

Fish fry and bingo at Waterloo VFW

Rock band Aftershock at Valmeyer’s Corner Pub

Saturday

Sheep and Craft Festival at Monroe County Fairgrounds

Monroe County YMCA Healthy Kids Day (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Sonnenberg Landscaping How-To Seminars

SPPS Holy Name Trivia Night

Rock / blues band Father Jack at Gallagher’s

Rock band Fountain Creek at Valmeyer’s Corner Pub

 

Humane Society of Monroe County’s Pet of the Week

Tigger is a nine-year-old male Siamese mix. He is de-clawed and very laid back, but he is still ready to play. Tigger loves to chase a string! He would not mind having a small apartment as a home. Tigger is also very content and quiet and very affectionate. Visit Tigger on Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the YMCA Celebration of Family Event.