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E-Newsletter - July
11, 2008
Finances
Improving At Oak Hill
In other County Commissioner’s News…. The county commissioners passed an ordinance creating the Monroe County Flood Protection District. Appointed to the district were board members John Conrad of Columbia (co-owner of The Independent), Valmeyer farmer Bruce Brinkmann and excavating company owner David Baxmeyer of Waterloo. Governor Rod Blagojevich recently granted approval to Monroe, St. Clair and Madison Counties to form special districts to study the FEMA mandated upgrades to the levee systems between Columbia and Alton. While St. Clair and Madison Counties are moving forward with plans to implement a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for the estimated $180 million in levee improvements, the Monroe County commissioners are still studying the issue.
Tort Tax To
Be Discussed By Columbia City Council
In other Columbia City Council news…. Community and Economic Development Director Paul Ellis said the Hampton Inn is scheduled to be open in August. Ellis reported he and his administrative assistant, Jackie Hausmann, receive daily calls regarding individuals and businessmen inquiring about staying at the hotel.
A St. Louis man has been charged with residential burglary after breaking into a home in the early morning hours of July 4. Soon after the homeowner called 9-1-1, Joseph Daniele was taken into custody in the front yard of the home in the 500 block of Old State Route 3 on the north end of Columbia. According to the police report, Daniele broke into the home by climbing through a kitchen window. The noise awoken the homeowner and she called the police. Daniele took the keys of the homeowner’s vehicle and walked out the front door. At that moment, Columbia police officers arrived at the scene and made the arrest.
The north end of Main Street in Columbia was closed for a couple hours last Sunday evening as the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department handled a gas leak in a home. Firefighters worked with Columbia police officers to evacuate nearby residents and secure the scene until an Ameren / IP crew arrived. “The homeowner accidently left their stove’s gas on,” said Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Jim Broshears. The concentration of natural gas reached 17 percent in the home before it was dissipated. Everyone in the home quickly evacuated the residence soon after the leak was detected. There were no injuries.
Husband Also Arrested In Alleged Prostitution Case The husband of the Waterloo woman charged with prostitution has also been arrested. Steven Blossner, 31, was taken into custody July 2 at his home at 323 Hannah Drive by the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois. He was charged with a misdemeanor count of keeping a place of prostitution. Blossner posted bond and was released from custody. He is scheduled to appear before Circuit Judge Dennis Doyle on Aug. 7, at 9 a.m., at the Monroe County Courthouse. His wife, Mandy Blosser, was arrested by MEGSI June 26 at their home. According to the police report, Blosser agreed to perform a sexual act on an undercover police officer in exchange for $150.
MEGSI had been
investigating Mrs. Blosser after she posted information in the personals section
of the Craigslist website. The Waterloo Police Department and Monroe County
Sheriff’s Department assisted in the arrest. She was charged with a felony count
of prostitution. The charge was listed as a felony because the incident occurred
within 1,000 feet of a daycare. Mrs. Blosser’s preliminary hearing has been set
for July 24, at 1 p.m., at the Monroe County Courthouse.
Illinois State Rep. Dan Reitz, right, congratulates former Columbia Alderman Mike Conrad on being on the team winning a skin earlier this week during the annual Rep. Dan Reitz Golf Tournament at the Acorns Golf Links in Waterloo. Conrad’s teammates include Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson, Mike Walton and Bill Wirth. A highlight for the team was Walton driving the green on the 18th hole. “And I put in the 60-foot putt for an eagle,” Conrad added.
Western Egyptian Offering Electric Assistance Certain at-risk households in Monroe and Randolph Counties may benefit from a state program to help with their electric bills during the heat of the summer. The State of Illinois has notified Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council that a limited amount of funding has been made available to income eligible households to pay a portion of their electric costs. The program begins July 7 and concludes July 18 or if the funds run dry. A $150 benefit will be paid directly to each eligible household's electric provider. Reconnect service is not included in the program. The program is targeted to at-risk households in Monroe, Randolph, Jackson and Perry Counties. Benefits will be provided to households that include an elderly person (60 years of age or older), a disabled person (receiving disability benefits), or a child 36 months old or younger (proof of age required). Households with people who have asthma, emphysema, coronary disease or a terminal illness that air conditioning helps ease may also apply. In every case, proof of eligibility will be required. Those applying for assistance will need documented proof for the following: gross income for all household members for the previous 30 days; current copy of electric bill; and proof of Social Security numbers for all members of the household. All documentation must be presented when making an application to Western Egyptian EOC. Winter heating applications will not be accepted at this time. The Summer Cooling Program is a component of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. This program is state and federally funded serving households with incomes of up to 150 per cent of the federal poverty guidelines. Eligibility for the program is based on the household's total gross income for the preceding 30 days. For example; one-person household may have an income of no more than $1,282; two-person household, $1,726; three-person household, $2,170; four-person household, $2,614. For each additional household add $444. All applications for assistance will be by appointment only. Appointments may be made on or after July 7 but not before. Walk-in clients will be given an appointment at a later date or put on a waiting list. All-electric households served by Ameren should ask outreach staff about the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Program. Appointments for Monroe County residents may be made by calling 939-8715. Randolph County residents should call 618-443-5231, Perry County 618- 542-4656, Jackson County 618-684-3341 or 618-351-1021. Information may be obtained by calling these outreach numbers or at the central office 618-965-3458 or at www.keepcoolillinois.gov.
Treeweasels Reuniting For One More Gig: Valmeyer’s Scott Roever and his band from the early 1990s are planning a reunion concert. The Treeweasels will play July 19 at Off Broadway in St. Louis. The band played all original music in the St. Louis music scene about 15 years ago. “Beatle Bob was even a regular at our shows,” said Roever, who added he is hoping for a good turnout of Monroe County folks. Roever’s current band, Fountain Gap, continues to play at venues throughout Monroe County. “We really rocked out last Saturday night at the Valmeyer Mid-Summer Celebration,” he added.
The Gateway Grizzlies will honor the late Keith Fietsam during their game on Aug. 4. The former Valmeyer Lakers baseball player drowned earlier this year while hunting in St. Charles County, Mo. Along with his family from Millstadt, former teammates from his playing days plan on attending. For more information, contact Paul Baillargeon at 618-719-6200.
Congratulations to Stella Linnemann who won a progressive jackpot on a slot machine last week at the Casino Queen.
The Golden Eagles 4-H Club is sponsoring a recycling day Saturday, July 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the parking lot of the large department store in Waterloo. There will be bins to accept recyclables.
Humane
Society of Monroe County’s Pet of the Week
Calendar of Events Friday Fish fry and bingo at Waterloo VFW St. John Catholic Church of Red Bud Summer Picnic Dupo Firemen’s Picnic: Music by Aftershock Millstadt Firemen’s Picnic: Music by Freefall
Saturday Dupo Firemen’s Picnic: Music by Avery Hill Millstadt Firemen’s Picnic: Music by Dixie Express and Salonatics St. John Catholic Church of Red Bud Summer Picnic Rock bands Where’s Charlie and This Must Be The Band at Tiny’s
Sunday Ice Cream Social at Christ Community Church in Columbia: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Recent Obituaries Guyla Reichert, 61, of Columbia, died July 10, 2008 at Barnes Jewish Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. She was born June 8, 1947 in DuQuoin, the daughter of the late Carlie and Virginia (O’Keefe) Hutchings. She married Dean Reichert in 1965. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Steven (Lana) Reichert of Columbia; a daughter, Deanna (James) Hoffman of Columbia; grandchildren Stephanie Hoffman, Nathan Hoffman, Bailey Reichert, Abigail Reichert and Carlie Ann Reichert; brothers Donald (Sherry) Hutchings of Columbia and Retired Col. Robert (Brenda) Hutchings of Algonquin; sister, Carla (John) Munton of Columbia; aunt, Faye Kellerman of Columbia; and father and mother-in-law, Harry (Winona) Reichert Jr. of Columbia. She was a member of Bethany United Methodist Church of Columbia, IL, the Prairie du Rocher Saddle Club and was a volunteer at Fort de Chartres. She was a retired EMT-ER tech at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. Visitation is Sunday, July 13, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. Funeral is Monday, July 14, 10 a.m., at Lawlors. A cremation and private internment will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Foundation or American Heart Association. Elsie Helfrich nee Janson, 96, of Columbia, formerly of Millstadt, died July 4, 2008, at Canterbury Manor Nursing Home in Waterloo. She was born April 15, 1912, the daughter of the late John and Bernadine (Weilbacher) Janson. She married Arthur Helfrich in 1946. He died in 2004. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Joseph Matlock; brothers Clarence Janson, John Janson, Andrian Janson, Lawrence Janson and Oliver Janson in infancy; and a sister, Hilda Heck. She is survived by her children, Elaine Matlock of Columbia, Eilene Helfrich of Phoenix, Ariz., Arlou (Doug) Bartlett of Anchorage, Alaska, and Bernita (Gary) Maurer of Waterloo; a brother, Br. Herbert Janson S.M. of San Antonio, Tex.; sister-in-law, Clara Janson; grandchildren Mark (Leslie) Matlock, Chris and Sarah Matlock, Jim Danielle and John Bartlett, Jamie (Joe) Kulessa, and Jason and Joshua Maurer; and great-grandson, Joseph James Matlock; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Paderborn, St. Ann Sodality and the Floraville Homemakers Visitation and funeral service was at Creason Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral was at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Paderborn with Father Carl Scherrer officiating. He was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Michael’s Building Fund or Hospice of Southern Illinois. Charles Robert Shackelford, 75, of Waterloo, died July 4, 2008, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Oct. 2, 1932 in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Clyde Marcus Shackelford and Eloise Smith. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann Crandall; sons Robert Shackelford of Camdenson, Mo., Eugene (Carol) Shackelford of Stanton, Mo., James Shackelford of St. Louis, Mo., Gary (Michel) Shackelford of Ohio and Michael Shackelford of Granite City; stepchildren David White, Richard (Theresa) White and Robert White, all of Kimberling, Mo.; sister, Norma Mercer of Detroit, Mich.; and 11 grandchildren. Mr. Shackelford was preceded in death by his parents; a step-father; sister, Carol Davidson; and brother-in-law, Clyde Mercer. He was a member of AARP and St. Paul UCC in Waterloo. Visitation and funeral were at DeFabio Funeral Home in Waterloo with Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. He was buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to the family. Raymond Lawrence Mueller, 45, of Belleville, died July 6, 2008, in Belleville. He was born May 16, 1963, in Bitburg, Germany. He is survived by his parents, James and Carol Mueller of Baldwin; daughter, Corie Rae Mueller of Newport News, Va.; and brothers Steven (Christina) Mueller of Columbia, Terry Mueller of Red Bud and Brian (Carlene) Mueller; along with aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Stuart Rethwisch officiating. Mr. Mueller will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo. He was a member of the Belleville American Legion Hall, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and a truck driver for William F. Braun Trucking of Hecker. Memorials may be made to his daughter, Corie Rae Mueller. Robert “Rabbit” Asselmeier, 87, of Glen Carbon, died July 8, 2008, at his home. He was born Jan. 10, 1921 in Maeystown, the son of the late William and Margaret (nee Thuerwatcher) Asselmeier. He married Dewell “Dudie” Hayden in 1951. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by nine brothers and four sisters. Mr. Asselmeier was an Air Force veteran of World War II. He retired as an equipment specialist with the Federal Government in 1978 after 27 years of service. He was a member of Masonic Lodge 99, American Legion Post 199, Moose Lodge 1561, VFW Post 2859, Scottish Rite, St. Paul UCC and The Well Church. Visitation is Friday, July 11, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Irwin Chapel in Glen Carbon. Funeral is Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m., at the funeral home, with Rev. Dr. Manuel R. Tamayo officiating. Mr. Asselmeier will be buried at Woodland Hills in East Alton. Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital. Robin Christine Grant of Waterloo died in infancy on July 9, 2008 in Bridgeton, Mo. She was born July 9, 2008, the daughter of Jerry and Gwen (nee Stine) Grant. She was buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. She is survived by a sister, Nina Grant; brothers Nathan, Jonathan, Joseph and Jay Gran; maternal grandparents Robert Jr and Donna Stine; and paternal grandparent Eunice Grant. She was preceded in death by paternal grandfather, Carl Grant Jr.; and sister, Hope Kathleen Grant. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church of Waterloo. |
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