E-Newsletter - August 1, 2008

Robert Petraitis of Waterloo took a wild ride Thursday evening and ended up with three tickets. According to the police report, Petraitis, 23, lost control of his 1991 Pontiac while driving on Route 3 in Columbia. The car drove through a median and drove over a sign near the intersection of Route 3 and South Main Street.

With the street sign dangling from the back of the car, Petraitis continued driving and turned onto Gall Road. A witness called 9-1-1 and followed the car until a Columbia police officer took over the pursuit. The Pontiac finally came to rest in a corn field owned by the Mueller family at the intersection of Gall Road and Meyer Lane.

Petraitis was taken into custody and ticketed with driving under the influence, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to report an accident.

A shed in downtown Hecker owned by Frank and Helen Kohler was damaged by fire earlier this week. Firefighters from Hecker and Red Bud responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze. An Illinois State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. The Kohlers were able to save an old car and campaign signs stored in the shed.

“It was the smoke house for the old stage coach stop where Colonel Hecker stayed on his way home from the Civil War,” said Frank Kohler. The stage coach stop was torn down in 1986.

A man living on Stiening Street in Waterloo was severely injured this morning from a knife cut and was transported by Arch helicopter to St. Louis University Hospital. His name has not been released.

Hook-SupeRx has purchased Lot 1 of Admiral Trost Development in Columbia in order to facilitate building a freestanding structure to replace their existing store located in the Market Place Shopping Center.

The Aug. 1 edition of The Independent has been printed and has been dropped in the mail. Additional pictures from the Monroe County Fair will be printed in the Aug. 15 edition.

Charlie’s Carstar opened its doors on Main Street in Columbia Thursday with a ribbon cutting conducted by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Fountain Creek Band will play Aug. 23, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., at Gallagher’s in Waterloo.

Morland Drive and Blues Racket will perform Sunday beginning at 5 p.m., at the Columbia Music at Metter concert series.

Waterloo Park District Pool Schedule August 2008

Monday, Aug. 4: Bring a Parent for Free Day. One parent will receive free admission to the pool when accompanied by at least one child.

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2 to 4 p.m.: Snow Cone Day. Free snow cones with the price of admission.

Friday, Aug. 8, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: HTC’s Family Movie Night at the Pool. This event is sponsored by Harrisonville Telephone Company and attendees can bring floats and watch a movie while swimming. The price of admission is $3 for city residents, $4 for non-residents, and children five and under are free. There will be free popcorn and soda with the price of admission. The event will be cancelled if it rains or if rain is in the forecast.
 

Recent Obituaries:

Perry “Bud” Vogt, 60, of Valmeyer, died July 31, 2008 in Valmeyer, after an extended battle with cancer. He was born Oct. 12, 1947 in Belleville. He is survived by his wife, Judith Vogt nee Galeski; children Angela (Dale) Wiegard, Laura (David) Mortimore, Tom (Tammy) Vogt, Michael P. Vogt and James (Kim) Vogt; grandchildren Claire and Matt Wiegard; Megan Vogt; and Katie and Bryan Mortimore; mother, Dorothy (Vogt) Koch; and sister, Trudi (Allyn) Rohlfing; along with  aunts, uncles, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Vogt; grandson Brandon Vogt; and step-father Steven Koch. Mr. Vogt was a retired captain of Monroe County Sheriff's Department, F.O.P. and Valmeyer American Legion Post 901. He earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star was serving for the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He also was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for Illinois Law Enforcement. Visitation is Saturday, Aug. 2, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Sunday, Aug. 3, 1 p.m., at the funeral home with Father John Patrick Day of the Illinois State Police officiating. Mr. Vogt will be buried at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Madonnaville. Memorials may be made to Family Hospice or The Backstoppers.

Calendar of Events:

Friday

Fish fry and bingo at the Waterloo VFW

Saturday

St. James Catholic Church of Millstadt Summer Picnic

Sunday

St. Patrick’s Church of Tipton Auction and Chicken Dinner

ACE Car Show in old town Valmeyer

Music At Metter with Morland Drive and Blues Racket