E-Newsletter - September 19, 2008

Daniel Jaco

Two St. Louis teens were arrested Wednesday soon after they attempted to steal a video game machine from a Columbia home. Daniel Jaco, 19, of St. Louis and a 16-year-old juvenile were taken into custody and charged with residential burglary.

At 4:25 p.m., a homeowner in the 100 block of Meadow Lane South in Columbia (in the subdivision near Columbia Market Place) called into the Columbia Police Department to report two individuals had broken into the house. The burglars fled the house carrying a video game machine. Columbia police officers, with the assistance of an Illinois Department of Corrections parole agent soon apprehended two teenagers matching the description of the burglars a few blocks away, at the intersection of Forestview and West Park Drive.

Monroe County K-9 unit Sari and County Sergeant Jim Lansing were also called to the scene. (Columbia’s K-9 and Officer Josh Bayer were out off town on vacation at the time.)  Sari located the video game machine in a wooded area a few blocks away from the burglarized residence. A crime scene technician from the Illinois State Police processed the scene. 

“Once again, this is was a perfect example of how law enforcement agencies working together can quickly apprehend suspects and recover property,” said Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards, “The law enforcements agencies in this area truly work together with a regional approach to reducing crime.”

There were two injuries in a two-car collision Friday afternoon at the intersection of Route 158 and Quarry Road between Columbia and Millstadt. A newborn baby, who was in one of the vehicles, was shaken up but not injured. The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department also responded to a call Friday afternoon of a car leaking gasoline near the intersection of Admiral Parkway (Route 3) and Parkview Drive.

East Carondelet Man Continues To Recuperate With Injuries Sustained In Motorcycle Accident

A 27-year-old man from East Carondelet, whose name has not yet been released, continues to recuperate with a badly damaged leg at St. Louis University Hospital following yesterday’s motorcycle accident at the intersection of Route 3 and Kaskaskia Road, just south of Waterloo. According to the Illinois State Police, the driver of a 2006 Honda VT 750 was driving southbound on Route 3. He apparently did not notice that both lanes of traffic were backed up. In an attempt to avoid rear-ending a vehicle in his lane, he crossed into the northbound lane and hit the side of a Ford truck driven by Faye Mudd of Red Bud. The bike then slammed into the rear end of a minivan operated by Jacqueline Lewis of Chesterfield, Mo. The driver of the bike was not wearing a helmet.
 

The Waterloo Police Department’s DARE patrol car was damaged today when three vehicles collided in the parking lot of Waterloo High School. There were no injuries in the accident.

Valmeyer Churchs’ Fall Picnic is Sunday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Food items include pork steaks, cutlets, bratwursts, hamburgers, hot dogs and a wide selection of pies and cakes. Drinks include soda and beer. There is a country store, games for children and adults, raffles, attendance prizes and a cake walk. Musical entertainment includes singing cowboy Terry Roberson, 11 a.m. – noon; The Hilltoppers, noon – 1 p.m.; Tappers dance troop, 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.; Bud Light Brigade, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.; Thunder and Lightening Cloggers, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.; and gospel singer Joe Powell, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Two Columbia High School students suspected in participating in last month’s explosion at the school may be expelled next week by the school board. Official action is expected to be completed Monday. No criminal charges have yet been filed against those two individuals. The 16-year-old male who was taken into custody Aug. 18 for juvenile felony counts of possession of explosives and arson, had been previously expelled from school. The student was reported to have enrolled in a school in St. Louis. The charges have not yet been turned over to the juvenile court system while the police continue to investigate the case.

In a cross-county match-up earlier this week, Gibault Hawks goalie Brendan Fournie, left, attempts to block the shot of Columbia High School forward Nick Roediger. Gibault won the game 2-1. The Hawks host Vianny this evening at Oerter Park in Columbia. Kick-off is at 6:30 p.m. Following the game, Gibault students will head back to the high school for their annual Spirit Week Bonfire Dance.                         – photo by Debbie Roediger

WHS Freshman Football Team Defeats Wesclin

Waterloo High School kicker Zack Klein, 39, successfully puts up an extra point past the defense in the freshman Bulldogs’ home game Thursday night. WHS jumped ahead of Wesclin 20-0 at halftime. The Bulldogs were able to hold on in the second half for a 27-16 victory.     – photo by Gage Wienhoff

In Thursday evening freshman football action, the Waterloo High School defense drops a Wesclin running back behind the line of scrimmage.   – photo by Gage Wienhoff

John Beelman, left, tees off yesterday at the Waterloo Country Club during the annual Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament. Beelman and teammates, left, to right, Chuck Steppig, Monty Wolfe and Tim Birk finished with a 61 in a four-way tie for first place in the A-flight. Other A-flight first place finishing teams were Alan Wattles, David Stephens, Willie Krebel and Matt Kish; Larry Pierson, Richard Cobb, Charles Rivers and Lou Isringhaus; and Karen Bergman, Craig Hern, Gail Yeager and Shawn Dinkelman. The first-place Championship-flight team with a 54 was Eric Huggins, Scott Porter, Vance Porter and Quent Stenzel. The second place team was John Novack, Joe Benyo, Mike Kovarik and John Koerber.

Friday Night High School Football

Waterloo at Triad

Columbia at Wesclin

Dupo at Red Bud

Calendar of Events

Friday

Fish fry and bingo at Waterloo VFW

Saturday
            Pregnancy Care Center Run / Walk at County Courthouse
            Valmeyer High School Mum Sale: 9 a.m. – 12 noon
            Rock band Jump the Shark at Bobeck’s

Sunday
            Prairie du Rocher Apple Festival and Fire Department BBQ and Car Show
            New Harmony Church of Columbia Open House and Picnic at City Park.
            Immaculate Conception Church of Madonnaville Open House: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
            Columbia Festifall: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
            Valmeyer Churchs’ Picnic: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Recent Obituaries
 

Leora “Pat” Vogt nee Bertram, 89, of Columbia, died Sept. 18, 2008, at Columbia Convalescent Center. She was born Feb. 5, 1919, in Fults, the daughter of the late Walter and Clara (Burkhardt) Bertram. She married Edward Vogt in 1937 in Columbia. He died in 1981. Pat and Edward owned and operated Vogt’s IGA in Columbia. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church’s Altar Sodality, Columbia Gymnastic Association Auxiliary and the Daughters of Isabella.  She is survived by a son, James (Geri) Vogt of Columbia; a daughter, Carol (Glenn) Huebner of Columbia; daughter, Judith (Terry) Bivins of Dupo; grandchildren Nancy (A.J.) Fleming, Donna Hoggard, Tom (Jane) Huebner, Pam (Dale) Moody, Jim (Dorianne) Vogt, Tim (Darlene) Huebner, Michael (Marla) Vogt, Rob (Connie) Huebner, Jenny (Donovan) Melican, Jesse (Lindsey) Bivins, Deanna Vogt and Trent (Tara) Bivins; sister-in-law, Margaret  Bertram of Las Vegas, Nev.; 26 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by brothers Earl and Robert Bertram. Visitation is Sunday, Sept. 21, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia, Monsignor Carl Scherrer officiating. She will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of St. Louis.

Armin Weilbacher Sr., 90, of Waterloo, died Sept. 19, 2008, in Waterloo. He was born July 19, 1918, in Columbia, the son of the late Edward and Dorothea (nee Herrmann) Weilbacher. Mr. Weilbacher is survived by children Armin Weilbacher of Columbia, Ruth (Bobby) Stewart of Waterloo, Dorothy (Eugene) Stadter of Red Bud, Edward (Kathi) Weilbacher of Waterloo; Nancy (Robert) Schaefer of Columbia, Denis Weilbacher of Waterloo, Donald Weilbacher of Waterloo, Monica Weilbacher of Columbia and Andrew (Dede) Weilbacher of Waterloo; and grandchildren Hank Weilbacher, John and Rosie Weilbacher, Tricia Schaefer, Devin Weilbacher, Edward and Andrew Stadter and Haley Weilbacher. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rose Anna Weilbacher nee Larma; brother, Leo Nelson Weilbacher; and daughter-in-law, Nancy Weilbacher nee Grant. Mr. Weilbacher was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, had a passion for farming and enjoyed playing pinochle. Memorials may be made to the SS. Peter and Paul Education Fund or the Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation and Development Council. Visitation is Sunday, Sept. 21, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, Father Don Blaes officiating. She will be buried at the church’s cemetery.