Mother’s Day Storm Blows Through County

A large tree snapped and fell this morning at the Craig Brauer residence in downtown Waterloo. “It sounded like a freight train roaring through,” said Courtney Hunter, Brauer’s wife.

 A thunderstorm raced through Monroe County today in the early morning hours. Winds peaked at more than 50 mph at the height of the storm. Several trees were uprooted, many of which landed on roadways and power lines. There were isolated power outages and flooded roadways throughout the county.

There were no local reports of injuries because of the storm. This same storm system caused several tornadoes in Oklahoma, Missouri and Georgia. Initial reports are that 22 people died in the overnight thunderstorm.

 

Government Extends Deadline For Levee Improvement Plan

The U.S. Senate passed a bill Thursday which revises the timeline required for the Metro-East to improve their levee system to meet the new FEMA flood zone standards. If they are not improved to the new FEMA specifications, the levees would be decertified forcing landowners and businesses to purchase flood insurance.

Initially, a plan would have been needed to be agreed upon by June for the improvement of the levees from Columbia to Alton. Missouri, which is in a different FEMA district, is not set to have made its flood plain maps completed for about another two years. Illinois officials argued that because Illinois and Missouri are in the same Mississippi River watershed, Illinois should not be penalized with a shorter timetable. With this amendment to a bill, sponsored by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), the timetable has been moved back to match that of Missouri.

Previously, U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello of Illinois successfully sponsored a similar bill in the House that would also delay the decertification of the flood plain until the maps were completed for both sides of the watershed. Costello said there are some differences in the House and Senate bills, but legislators will work to complete a plan both sides can agree on.

“This is really good news for the region. The new timeline will give us more time to work out the best plan,” said Monroe County Commissioner Dale Haudrich.

Haudrich said the commissioners will continue to work with local officials and those from St. Clair and Madison County to find a means in to finance the estimated $180 million in levee improvements.

The city councils of Waterloo and Columbia both recently voted against supporting State Senator Bill Haine’s bill which would allow county commissioners to approve a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for the levee repairs. Monroe County Commissioners said they would also prefer putting the issue a sales tax to the voters.

 

Stuhaus Golf Classic Scholarship applications are available for pick-up at the guidance counselor’s or principal’s offices at Columbia High School and Gibault High School. Deadline is May 30. This year’s golf outing event is June 14 the Ridge in Waterloo. For more information, prize donations or tee box sponsorships, call Steve Stuart at: (303) 881-5916 or e-mail: Stuhaus@aol.com.

Lori Mollet and Shane Matzenbacher were recently engaged. They are planning a wedding in 2009.