Weekend Wrap-Up - August 25, 2008

There is information filtering in that an accident Saturday evening on Route 3 just south of Red Bud involved Monroe County residents. The initial report is a car collided with a group of motorcyclists from the Waterloo area near the gas station between Red Bud and Ruma. Victims were transported by Arch helicopter to Barnes – Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. The names of the victims and their conditions have not yet been released. Those with additional information can contact The Independent by email or phone.

One person was injured Sunday afternoon when their vehicle went off the roadway and rolled several times. The incident occurred on Bluffside Road, just north of Columbia. Other occupants in the vehicle were not injured. The Columbia Ambulance Service and Columbia Volunteer Fire Department assisted the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department at the scene.

The Waterloo Fire Department was called to put out a car on fire Sunday afternoon at a residence on McBride Drive, off of HH Road in rural Waterloo.

The Valmeyer Police Department assisted a farmer Sunday afternoon with getting a goat back into its pen.

Meet Local Emergency Responders: The Monroe County Unified and Ready Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the grounds of the Monroe County Courthouse. The public is invited to meet Monroe County’s Emergency Management Team, Citizens Response Team and other emergency first responders.

“Countries” is the theme Sept. 5 at the annual Monroe County Relay For Life Celebration at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. The public is invited to attend the events, including the luminary ceremony, bicycle relay race and procession of cancer survivors. In addition, there will be food and soft drink stands open throughout the overnight event.

St. Paul UCC of Waterloo will provide a free music concert on Sunday, Aug. 31. The St. Louis Rivermen will perform beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Those coming back home for the Waterloo Homecoming included Jim Stumpf of Panama City, Fla., Jerry Bersche of Bloomington and Lindsay Welsch of Brooklyn, NY. Stumpf visited his cousin Donnie (Carol) Matzenbacher and drove John Meier’s John Deere tractor in the parade. Meier recently hurt his rotator cuff and his dreams of being a Major League pitcher may finally have ended. Bersche, who vows on a Bible that he will never miss a homecoming, caught up with his brother, Waterloo Attorney Lynn Bersche. Welsch brought her friend, New Yorker Ken Wiss and visited her mother, Nancy Ritzel of Waterloo.

Moving Vietnam Wall Coming To Hecker: The Moving Wall, the nation’s first and only traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial, will be on display at the Hecker Community Center in the Village of Hecker from Aug. 28 through Sept. 2. The Wall will leave the Waterloo VFW Hall on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 9 a.m. on its way to Hecker. It will be escorted by a group of motorcycles and other official vehicles.

“We are extremely fortunate and honored to be able to bring The Moving Wall to our community,” said Hecker Village President Tom Hootselle. “This traveling memorial helps to bring healing to veterans and families and friends of those who died or are missing in Vietnam, especially those who may not have the opportunity to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.”

Roger Cortner, co-chairman of the Hecker Moving Wall Committee, emphasizes how important it is to educate the community on the price veterans paid for the country and the respect they deserve from the citizens.

“The experience for those who visit is extremely moving and many are overcome with emotion,” Cortner said. “The Moving Wall allows people to not only see this remarkable memorial, but to reach out and touch the name of someone they lost.”

Cortner added that visiting the wall is a very emotional experience, even for people who don’t personally know someone who died in Vietnam.

“The Vietnam War touched us all in some way, and The Moving Wall gives us a chance to say thank you to those who gave their lives to that war effort,” Cortner said.

The Moving Wall will be open to the public 24 hours a day, during its stay in Hecker. The opening ceremony is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28. A dedication ceremony is Sunday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. A closing ceremony will be conducted Monday, Sept. 1, at 6 p.m. Ceremonies will include patriotic music, full military honors and keynote speakers from Scott Air Force Base and local decorated Vietnam War veteran Paul Braun.

Other distinguished guests will include U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello, Illinois Senator Dave Luechtefeld and Illinois Representative Dan Reitz. Clergy will be available to assist with grief counseling. Trained volunteers will be on the site to help people identify the location of the names they seek.   Additional details about the event can be obtained by e-mail at heckerwall@gmail.com. For general information, contact Roger Cortner at 618-473-2850 or Mary Morales at 618-973-4125.

Gary Vogt of Fults was treated to a surprise 50^th birthday party Saturday evening at Cedar Bluff Park on the south end of downtown Fults. Family and friends gathered for a fun-filled evening of socializing, eating fried chicken from Ahne’s Bakery, plenty of drinks, softball and sand volleyball.