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Today's News -
June 25, 2008
Bottoms Farmers
Deal With Wet Conditions During Wheat Harvest Despite the heavy spring rain, area farmers are reporting above average yields on their wheat harvests. “We’re getting very good yields so far,” Delbert Wittenauer said. The farmer and county commissioner added he is keeping a close eye on the rising Mississippi River. “Our bottoms land near Maeystown is very wet with seep water and water is rushing constantly through our culverts, so I know the river is high,” he added. The National Weather Service is predicting the Mississippi River will crest Sunday at 38.7 feet. Flood stage is 30 feet.
Hamilton Pleads Guilty Of Counterfeiting Ryan Patrick Hamilton of Columbia pled guilty to counterfeiting U.S. currency. Hamilton, 32, appeared June 23 before a Federal judge at the U.S. District Court in East St. Louis. He was charged with counterfeiting U.S. currency in April 2007 and passing it with intent to defraud at the Ace Hardware store Columbia. The case was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke prosecuted the case. Hamilton will be sentenced Sept. 29, 2008, 1:30 p.m. at the U.S. District Court in East St. Louis. He faces a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
Nursing Home Lawsuit To Be Heard At County Courthouse The court case involving the ownership of the old Monroe County Nursing Home took another twist last week. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated the judgment on June 18 in favor of Monroe County in the case Gene Taake and Monroe County. The case has been remanded to the District Court in East St. Louis for dismissal so that it can be re-filed in state court. The Court of Appeals determined that Taake’s claims are more properly heard in state court rather than in federal court. After the dismissal, Taake plans to file his case at the Monroe County Courthouse, according to his lawyer, Tim Gutknecht of the law firm Crowder and Scoggins of Columbia. “Mr. Taake is pleased that the judgment in favor of the county was set aside,” said Gutknecht. “He will re-file the case in Monroe County as soon as possible so that the case can move forward.” After the county received the go-ahead in 2005 to replace the county-run nursing home in Waterloo and build a new nursing home and assisted living center on Hamacher St. in Waterloo, they accepted bids for the purchasing the aging facility and the surrounding property. County resident Gene Taake submitted a bid of $5,000, the only bid submitted to the county commissioners. Taake filed a lawsuit when the commissioners dismissed his bid and looked for other options for the property, including selling it to the Waterloo Fire Department.
Recent Obituaries Delores M. Meyer nee Fehr, 78, of Waterloo, died June 24, 2008, in Waterloo. She was born June 24, 1929 in St. Louis, Mo., to the late George and Mary (nee Gombas) Fehrt. Mrs. Meyer is survived by children Carolyn Sue Lively of Affton, Mo., Kathryn (Russell) Griffith of Columbia, James (Carolyn) Meyer of Waterloo, Jonathan Meyer of Columbia, Mary (Earl) Kloos of Florissant and Dorothy (Dave) Marshall of St. Louis, Mo.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Emil Meyer; and son, Christopher Meyer. Visitation is Wednesday, June 25, 12 noon to 1 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow with Father Don Blaes officiating. She will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to the Oak Hill Activity Fund. Glennon C. Reitz, 80, of Waterloo, died June 23, 2008 in Waterloo. He was born Jan. 19, 1928 in Waterloo, the son of the late Frederic and Leora (nee Reinhold) Reitz. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Reitz nee Schriedel; children Frederick Reitz of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Lisa (Clint) Williams of St. Louis, Mo., Glennon (fiancé Kimberly Collier) Reitz of St. Louis, Mo., Paul (David Rosen) of Calif., Joseph Reitz of St. Louis, Mo. and Steven Reitz of Fenton, Mo.; grandchildren Kimberly Lori, Michelle, Monica, Andy, Zachary, Cory, Theresa and Alex; great-grandchild, Kaitlyn; siblings Orlou (Bob) Burkemper of Waterloo, Germain (Frank) Leingang of Calif., Carol Reitz of Calif., Aaron Reitz of Waterloo and Neal (Mary) Reitz of Chicago; sister-in-law, mary Reitz; and brothers-in-law Margie Reitz, Bill (Lorraine) Spreck, Raymond (Alicia) Schriedel and Tim Schriedel; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by brothers Roger, Leroy, Floyd and Frederic Reitz. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Father Don Blaes officiating. He was buried at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the SS. Peter and Paul Church Build For The Future Fund.
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