Today's News - July 3, 2008
 

Preparations Underway For Monroe County Fair

Getting a livestock pen ready Thursday morning for the upcoming Monroe County Fair are, left to right, Willard Kleyer, George Obernagel, William Mueller Jr. and Roy Hergenroeder. This year’s fair runs July 20 – 27. Volunteers are requested to prepare the fairgrounds for the upcoming event. Work days are July 5, 12 and 19 from 8 a.m. to noon. Lunch will be provided. The deadline for livestock entries is Saturday, July 5. The fairgrounds office will be open that day from 8 a.m. to noon for those wishing to drop off entries. Faxed-in entries are not allowed, but forms can be mailed and will be accepted if postmarked by July 5. Entry forms and additional information about the fair are located at the website: www.monroecounty-fair.org.   – photo by Brenda Seboldt

Sharing the wealth of their great watermelon harvest from Linnemann Lawn Care and Landscaping are Adam Linnemann, left, and Chad Mueller. “We’re handing out the melons to our customers,” said Linnemann.

The second annual Waterloo Optimist Truck and Tractor Pull is Friday, July 4. The event begins at 8 a.m. at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Waterloo. The schedule of classes is: 8 a.m., antiques; 1 p.m., garden tractors; 2 p.m., farmer’s class; and 6:30 p.m., pickup trucks. Admission is $5 and free for those 12 and under. The food and beverage stands will be open.

The 2008 Valmeyer Mid-Summer Celebration and Baseball Classic will be July 3 through July 6 at Borsch Park in old Valmeyer. The event will kick off Thursday, July 3, with music by Millennium from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Festivities on Friday, July 4, begin at 9 a.m. with the first baseball game. There will be a washers tournament at 1 p.m. The cost is $10 per two-person team, and interested parties can contact Jim at 935-2736 for more information or to sign up. July 4 will wrap up with a colossal fireworks display at dusk, then music by Aftershock from 8: 30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

There will be more baseball on Saturday, July 5, beginning at 9 a.m. There will also be a volleyball tournament at 10 a.m. The cost is $60 per team, and in those interested can call Kris at 458-7771 for more information or to sign up. The parade will be Saturday at 5 p.m. Floats and other entries are still being accepted, and Alex will provide more information at 458-4546.  Saturday evening will wrap up with music by Fountain Creek from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The baseball classic will conclude Sunday, July 6, with the first game at 10 a.m. and the championship game at approximately 3 p.m.

Local organizations will operate food stands as part of their fundraising efforts. The Lions Club will sell hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries and lemonade. Pork Producers will offer brats and butterfly pork chops. The Optimists will sell chicken strips, funnel cakes, Gatorade and bottled water. The Knights of Columbus will have fish and chips and the Valmeyer Youth Sports Association will offer soda and snow cones.

Final plans and details for the annual July 4 Celebration in Columbia have been set. The event will begin at 11 a.m. Independence Day, Friday, July 4 and culminate with a dusk fireworks display at the American Legion Memorial Park. Columbia's celebration was first held in 1976 to commemorate the nation's bicentennial. This year's celebration will continue the tradition. The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department's fish stand, the American Legion's beer stand and Job's Daughters' soda and water concessions will open at 11 a.m. The Legion will have a bingo in their hall beginning at noon, rain or shine. There will be a washers tournament beginning at 1:30 p.m., and a Kloepper tournament beginning at 4 p.m.

In addition to the firemen's fish stand, food concessions will include the Turner’s bratwursts; Knights of Columbus chicken breast, hamburger and ice cream stands; the Columbia Woman's Club will sell lemonade and nachos; and the Job's Daughters will also serve funnel cakes.

The July 4 Committee relies solely on contributions from the community to fund the event. The annual budget is approximately $12,000. Local organizations staff concession booths and all proceeds remain with that group. Donations to fund the celebration, including the fireworks, are received from local individuals, organizations and businesses. New donors from all segments of the community are encouraged to join the cause. Donations of any amount may be sent to: Columbia July 4 Committee, C/O Grace Volkert, 501 W. Legion Ave., Columbia, IL 62236. The committee receives the cooperation and support of the Columbia City Council and the city's police, fire, ambulance and maintenance departments. American Legion Post 581 provides free use of its park.

Co-chairmen of the July 4 Committee are Louis H. "Hutch" Schlafly and John Conrad, representing the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Other members of the committee and the organizations they represent include: Grace Volkert, secretary, Columbia Woman's Club; Jim Vogt, treasurer, Columbia Volunteer Fire Department; Joe Cocos, Columbia Volunteer Fire Department; Glenn Stechmesser, Turners; and Vic Reichert, Columbia American Legion Post 581.

Visitors are asked to refrain from bringing food and beverages into the park. It is suggested people bring lawn chairs for seating. No pets, bicycles, skateboards or roller blades are allowed in the park during the celebration. In the event of rain July 4, the fireworks will be shot July 5.

If it happens in Monroe County, it's news to us!

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