E-Newsletter - July 25, 2008
 

Track Muddy But Ready For Tonight’s Demo

Final preparations are being made for tonight’s Monroe County Demolition Derby. An overnight rain has left the track a little muddy, but should be in good condition for the 7:30 p.m. start time. The big news from the pits is that last year’s winner Scott Kohler will not be running.

“I’ve decided to retire and help out in the pits,” Kohler said.

Other perennial top finishers John Miller, Vince Allscheid, John Toenjes, Dean Toenjes and Dave Wirth will again be striving for a trophy, along with up-and-comers Jeff Ebeler and Alex Voelker.  

‘Twas The Night Before The Demo

A poem by Judy Brinkmann

‘Twas the night before Demo

And all through the Fairgrounds,

The beer stand was stirrin’

But not the derby grounds.

The mud was just waitin’

And would wait though the night,

Just knowing that tomorrow

Would be Monroe County’s delight.

The fans will all gather,

The cars all will too,

Great anticipation will be in the air,

And that red helicopter, too.

Me and my Canon, Andy and our friends,

Had just moved into the beer stand

And out of the July rain – again.

When out of nowhere there arose such a clatter,

I dropped my beer to see what was the matter!

It was the sound of welding,

Of torches and hammers.

They broke through the night,

Visions of the Demo now blurring our sight.

On Kohler, on Wirth, on Toenjes and Ebeler,

On Miller and Gummersheimer, Allscheid and Reitz.

They’d be pounding out fenders

All through the night.

Last minute paint jobs, brake lines, rotors and stacks,

Solid tonight, those pieces and parts,

Tomorrow they’ll be scattered on the grounds and track.

Who will take the checkers, the trophy and check?

Who will go home with nothing more

Than a pain in the neck?

The Monroe County Fair Demo Derby,

It’s waiting for you…

Come root on your favorites to see them win

And get their photos with Our Fair Queen Carolyn!

Columbia Mayor Hutchinson and Alderman Unnerstall Weigh In On Judge’s Decision

During the July 21 meeting of the Columbia City Council, Alderman Jay Unnerstall listens to residents speak out against big box retailers building in Columbia.

U.S. District Court on Thursday determined the city of Columbia did not have the authority to enter into a development agreement with G.J. Grewe for Columbia Crossing, potentially putting an end to the multi-million dollar lawsuit filed by Grewe against the city for breaching the original contract.

Alderman Jay Unnerstall, who has opposed the Columbia Crossing development and tax incentives that would have likely been offered to the developer, said today the ruling is a great win for the city of Columbia.

“This is a huge step in freeing our city from the noose around our neck that was held by Terry Grewe,” Unnerstall said. “Now the city is free to pursue sensible, controlled development that's driven by what our citizens want and not what Terry Grewe demands.”

Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson, who has been a vocal supporter of the development, said he is now looking forward to working with the council majority to pursue other ideas of much needed commercial economic growth.

“If there is not an appeal, this will free up money to pay for community and safety services that were cut from the budget earlier in the year to pay for the lawsuit,” Hutchinson said. “The city must continue to find non residential revenue to relieve the residential tax burden.”

Columbia Crossing is a proposed 2,000-acre development along the Columbia bottoms spearheaded by St. Louis-based developer G.J. Grewe, who also developed Gravois Bluffs in Fenton, Mo. One of the main arguments of the opponents of the development and the master development agreement between the city and Grewe, was the possibility financial incentives would be offered to Grewe.

“We are disappointed the city, which negotiated with us for years and enacted ordinances while Grewe spent millions on this project, now are not bound by their word,” said Gerard Carmody, the lawyer representing Columbia Crossing LLC and G.J. Grewe.

Judge Phil Gilbert ruled in a summary judgment that Columbia’s status as a non-home rule municipality did not provide the city with the legal authority to enter into the type of an agreement that provides for some future negotiations. In non-home rule cities, local government only has the powers granted to such communities by state statute.

In granting the city's motion for summary judgment, the court held that the ordinance the city passed authorizing the agreement for Columbia Crossing with G.J. Grewe was null and void and of no legal force and effect, according to Columbia City Attorney Tom Adams.

Carmody said Grewe plans to appeal the judge’s decision.

The Monroe County Floodplain Mapping Open House is Tuesday, July 29, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Monroe County Annex in Waterloo. Maps of FEMA’s proposed new floodplain along the bottoms will be available for viewing.

Thursday Night Was Rockin’ Night At The Fair

Harrisonville Telephone Co. sponsored Thursday evening’s performance at the fair of golden oldies band Sh-Boom. Afternoon showers prompted fair organizers to move the stage to behind the grandstands so attendees could watch the performance underneath the cover of the food pavilion.   – photo by Ericha Sondag

The 4-H and FFA Market Animal Auction on Thursday evening at the fair brought in more than $90,000, which will be used to support 4-H programs. “It was another great success,” said University of Illinois Extension Director Pam Jacobs. “There were a lot of new bidders and buyers with tremendous support from local businesses and individuals."

Recent Obituaries

Gale King, 81, of Columbia, died July 24, 2008, in St. Louis. He was born May 21, 1927, in Washington Park, the son of the late Claude G. King and the late Uldine King nee Hood. He married Dorothy L. King nee Williams in 1952. Mr. King is survived by his children Jim (Diana) King, Nancy (Craig) Cunningham, and Dan (Stacy) King; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and sisters Claudean Richardson and Margaret Spray; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mr. King was a member of Central Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II. He worked in sales at King Adhesives for 34 years, and operated King and Sons for 20 years. Visitation is Sunday, July 27, from 3 to 7 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Monday, July 28, at 10 a.m., at the Central Presbyterian Church, 7700 Davis Road at Hanley in St. Louis, Randy Mayfield officiating. He will be buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis.

Dorothy E. Schaefer nee Riebeling, 87, died July 23, 2008, in Columbia. She was born Dec. 15, 1920, in Columbia, the daughter of the late George and Eva Riebeling nee Schneider. She was married to the late Herbert O. Schaefer. Mrs. Schaefer is survived by her children Roger (Eva) Schaefer of Columbia, and Rita (Charles) Backes of Las Vegas, Nev.; grandchildren Andrew Schaefer, Pamela (Lance) Randall, Matthew Backes and dawn Backes; five great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Dorothy Riebeling; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother George Riebeling and sister Mildred Ramsey. Mrs. Schaefer was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia. She was also a member of Eastern Star Rob Morris Chapter 98, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 581 in Columbia, and the Monroe County Farm Bureau. Visitation is Friday, July 25, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home, and Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, with funeral services at 10:30 a.m., Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. She will be buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Monroe County Farm Bureau Foundation or Monroe County Extension 4-H Education Foundation.