Monroe County Independent

Waterloo Crews Work Hard To Restore Power During Outages

Waterloo firefighters Bruce Kohnz, Ryan Osterhage and Bill Fries work to free two people trapped in an elevator at the Southern Illinois Center For Health during Thursday’s power outage.

Much of Waterloo and parts of Columbia and rural Monroe County experienced a power outage yesterday morning due to a problem with an Ameren/IP line, according to Tim Birk, Waterloo’s director of public works. The outage began just before 10 a.m. Waterloo public works crews started the city’s emergency generator and the city’s lights were back on within about an hour. The power in Columbia was only out for a short time.

Public works crews, police officers and emergency personnel worked to keep things running as smoothly as possible. Ambulance crews responded to residents concerned about the effect of an extended outage on life-saving support they receive in their homes, and stop signs were put up at some of the major intersections. Two people were trapped in the elevator at the Southern Illinois Center for Health on Hamacher Street in Waterloo for about a half hour, and were rescued by Waterloo firefighters, who pried open a second story elevator door to allow those trapped to escape.

“My wife and I were in the elevator about 20 minutes,” said Hugh Skinner of Waterloo. “But it was rather cool and it didn’t get hot at all.”

The SS. Peter and Paul Church of Waterloo Summer Picnic is June 13 and 14. Friday’s food offerings include fish plates and hamburgers. Saturday’s specialty is the family-style chicken dinner. There are a quilt bingo and musical entertainment both evenings.

New to the picnic will be the Saturday evening magic shows. Performances are at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Rumors are also circulating that Waterloo Mayor Tom Smith will make an appearance in the dunking booth on Friday, from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Waterloo Automotive will provide free shuttle rides Saturday only to and from their parking lot at 622 N. Market in Waterloo. The bus will run every 30 minutes from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Waterloo Municipal Band kicked off their summer season June 3. The theme of their June 10 performance will be On The Road Again. Concerts are free and begin at 8 p.m. at the Monroe County Courthouse bandstand. Attendees are asked to bring chairs or blankets for seating.

The city of Columbia’s annual recycling day is Saturday, June 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event centers around the City Hall parking lot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free yard sale permits will be available for June 7 and a free recycle bin can be picked up while supplies last.

Nice Twice will accept usable items, including clothing, shoes, furniture, toys and household items. Reliable Sanitation will provide a dumpster for large disposable items, including chairs, end tables and small barbecue grills. A recycle truck for glass, plastic and aluminum will also be on site. Computers, electronics and appliances will be accepted, but some may require a small disposal fee.

Household hazardous waste will not be accepted at the Columbia recycle event, however, the IEPA’s hazardous waste collection day is June 7, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., in old town Valmeyer.

The Columbia Public Library’s annual car show is tonight, June 6, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The Fountain Creek Band will play June 14, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., at the Water Street Bar and Grill in Evansville.

Local rock band Father Jack will play Saturday, June 21, at Gallagher’s. Guitarist Jim Whelan will make his debut with the band.

The 2008 edition of “To Market…To Market” a booklet that lists roadside stands, farmer’s markets and pick-your-own operations in the St. Louis Bi-State area is available at the University of Illinois Extension Office in Waterloo. The book is free and is jointly produced by the University of Illinois Extension and the University of Missouri Extension. The Waterloo office is in the Courthouse Annex Building.

Christ Community Church will celebrate Pastor Groennert’s 40th anniversary of ordination and his retirement Sunday, June 8. There will be a special celebration service at 10:30 a.m., with the Rev. Jim Mory preaching. He is a former seminarian who served under Groennert at St. Paul UCC. Mory is currently pastor at Faith Congregational Church in St. Lucie West, Fla. There will be a reception at Turner Hall from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday featuring the Bob Kuban Band. The public is invited.

Summer time is a great time to sink into a relaxed reading routine. The Best Sellers Book Club has picked some interesting books for their summer reads. They meet at Morrison-Talbott Library in Waterloo at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month. They are open to anyone who wished to attend and share their thoughts on the book picked for that month.

Sue Miller’s “Senator’s Wife” will be the book of discussion for June 24, for July 22 it will be “Bound” by Sally Gunning, and on August 26, “Garden of Last Days” by Andre Dubus III will be the centerpiece of the discussion.

Friends of the Morrison-Talbott Library will host the 15th Annual 4-Person Ladies Golf Scramble on Friday, June 20, at 8 a.m., at Waterloo Country Club. Entry fees for the event are $60 per person, which includes 18 holes of golf, a cart, lunch and attendance prizes. Space is limited so reserve a spot by calling Barb Toennies at 939-5527. Forms to register may be obtained at the library and are due Friday. June 6, along with the fee payment. Registration forms and fees may be turned in at the Library.

Do to an overwhelming response to the Disaster Preparedness Program hosted by the library in April, Kim Strellis has agreed to host another program. It will be Sat., June 7, at 2 p.m., and will focus on what individual citizens should do when a disaster occurs. Attendees will receive some of the items that would go into a 3-day survival kit and will be entered into an attendance drawing to win one of two complete kits. The program will cover what the items in the kit are and how they are useful in an emergency.

Tue., June 17, 10 a.m.: Get in the Game Story Hour ages 3-8. 11 a.m.: Get in the Game Program ages 9-12 Meet Izzy from the Grizzlies.

Tue., June 24, 10 a.m.: Get in the Game Story Hour ages 3-8. 11 a.m. Get in the Game Program ages 9-12 Dance Revolution Contest. 7 p.m.: Best Sellers Book Club “Senator’s Wife” by Sue Miller.

Tue., July 1, 10 a.m., Get in the Game Story Hour ages 3-8. 11 a.m. Get in the Game Program ages 9-12 Balloon Creator.

Tue., July 8, 10 a.m., Get in the Game Story Hour ages 3-8. 11 a.m. Get in the Game Program ages 9-12 Sports Crafts.

Tue., July 15, 10 a.m.: Get in the Game Story Hour ages 3-8. 11 a.m.: Get in the Game Program ages 9-12 Karate Demo.

Tue., July 22, 10 a.m.: Team Accomplished Party for all ages. 7p.m. Best Sellers Book Club “Bound” by Sally Gunning.

Tue., Aug 26, 7p.m.: Best Sellers Book Club Garden of Last Days” by Andre Dubus III

Highland Pitcher Signs With The Brewers

Jake Odorizzi of Highland High School pitches a victory May 5 over Waterloo High School.

Highland High School pitching ace Jake Odorizzi was selected yesterday by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Major League Baseball draft. Odorizzi was the 32nd overall pick, making him one of the highest drafted baseball players ever in Southern Illinois. Gibault High School graduate John Rheinecker was taken 37th overall by Oakland in 2001. Rheinecker is currently on the Texas Rangers disabled list, recovering from surgery.

Odorizzi has a record of 13-0 with two saves this year for the Highland Bulldogs. The team is scheduled to play Saturday for the Class 3A state tournament. He dominated the Waterloo Bulldogs in two games they played against each other this year. He pitched complete game victories April 14 by a score of 11-0 and 7-0 on May 5.

County Garden Tour Is June 14: The fifth annual Monroe County Garden Tour is Saturday, June 14. Participating gardens will be available for viewing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are available for $10 at Stuckmeyer Plants and Produce, Shady Creek Nursery, Diehl Florist, Cowell's Nursery, Shaefer Farm Nursery on Kaskaskia Rd. and at the County Annex Building in Waterloo.

The event is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension, Monroe County Master Gardeners, Waterloo Area Garden Club, Columbia Woman's Club, Stuckmeyer Plants and Produce, Diehl Florist, Shady Creek Nursery, Rich Kinzinger Landscaping Materials and Trucking, and Cowell's Nursery and Landscaping.

Judith K. Stehlick nee Long, 61, of Mascoutah, died June 3, 2008. She was born Nov. 29, 1948, the daughter of the late John W. Long Sr. and Dorothy Long nee Peck. She was married to Arthur Stehlick. Mrs. Stehlick is survived by her husband; children William (Kimberly) Lannom, Angelo, Faith Lannom, and Toni (Paul) Volkert; grandchildren Brandon Lannom, Matthew Lannon, Logan Lannom, Brock Volkert, and Drake Volkert; a brother and a sister. She was preceded in death by her parents, and son John Middendorf. Mrs. Stehlick retired as a custodian from the Mamie O. Stookey P.R.I.M.E./Care School in Belleville. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Visitation is Saturday, June 7, from 9 to 11 a.m., at Lake View Funeral Home in Fairview Heights. A funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, Pastor Wayne Boostrom officiating. She will be buried at Lake View Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the Mamie O. Stookey P.R.I.M.E./Care School in Belleville.

Humane Society of Monroe County’s Pet of the Week

Hugo is a three-year-old, 19-pound male cat. He is sweet and loving but needs time to show it. If you give Hugo time you will win him over. He is neutered and up to date with his shots. The society’s next adoption event is Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Waterloo Feed Store.