Today's News - March 9, 2009

Bomb Threat At Waterloo High School

Because of a note found written on a desk at Waterloo High School last Friday, there will be a heavy police presence and school attendance will be optional on Tuesday, March 10. At about 2:50 p.m., Friday afternoon as school was about to be released, a teacher discovered written on one of the desks in a classroom, “I’ll Blow Up WHS 3-10-09,” reports Waterloo Police Chief Jim Trantham.

“In response to a vague written threat, an extensive search by district staff, local law enforcement and bomb-sniffing dogs determined Waterloo High School be safe for student attendance on Tuesday, March 10,” said Waterloo School Superintendent James Helton, who added that tomorrow the high school will have an increased police presence in the building, but parents may elect to keep their children at home.

“After determining the legitimacy of the threat, our SchoolReach parent notification system will be utilized tonight (Monday) to inform parents about the status of school tomorrow,” stated Helton in a letter sent home today to all WHS parents.

Several students have been interviewed over the weekend and on Monday and the school has been thoroughly searched. There are no suspects at this time, but the Waterloo Police Department and Waterloo School District officials are continuing their investigation into the matter.

“Students should be prepared for a heavy police presence tomorrow throughout the school day,” said Chief Trantham. “Students may be searched and there will be bomb-sniffing dogs at the school.”

Former Columbia Resident’s Home

Destroyed When Storm Hits Baldwin

While Monroe County was spared of damage from Sunday’s thunderstorm, there were several reports of property destruction in Randolph County.

“The most serious damage from the storm occurred about one-half mile west of Baldwin just off Illinois Route 154,” reports Larry Willis of the Randolph County Emergency Management Agency.

Two mobile homes sitting side by side were destroyed by a possible tornado. Former Columbia resident Danny Craft was inside his mobile home when the tornado struck. He received a cut and was transported by ambulance to Red Bud Regional Hospital. He was treated and released later that day. His dog was trapped inside the trailer and a hole was cut to provide an exit. William Louis Helton was in the other trailer. He was not home at the time of the storm. His dog received a minor cut on one of its legs.

In addition, a Red Bud resident was cut by flying glass when a window in her home was broken by large hail. The victim was transported by ambulance to Red Bud Regional Hospital. The injury was considered minor. There were also reports of damage to roofs, utility lines and trees in and around Red Bud and Baldwin. The roof was completely ripped off the home of Marlin and Jeanne Stamm of Richfield Road in rural Red Bud. The Stamms were attending church during the storm. They returned home to find their roof lying in their neighbor’s yard. (Information provided by the North County News.)

Danny Craft’s mobile home in Baldwin was destroyed when a possible tornado touched down.                 – photo by the North County News

Heavy winds or a tornado tipped over Danny Craft’s home in Baldwin. He was able to exit the structure and only received a minor injury.

William Helton consoles his dog, Brandi, which injured its right front leg during Sunday’s storm.   – photo by the North County News

The roof of the rural Red Bud home of Marlin and Jeanne Stamm was turn off in Sunday’s thunderstorm.     – photo by the North County News

Family and friends of Marlin and Jeanne Stamm put up a pole to help them get back their electric power at their home in rural Red Bud.    – photo by the North County News

Huebner Issued Citations After Driving Over Mail Box

Melissa Huebner, 30, of Waterloo was issued several tickets Friday night after she allegedly was driving a truck that ran over and dragged a brick mailbox along Fairway Drive and Hamacher Street in Waterloo. She was ticketed with DUI, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident and improper lane usage. The mailbox of the Jim and Susan Prader home on Fairway Drive in Waterloo was destroyed in the accident. Huebner resides on Hamacher Street, just up from the scene of the incident.

Record Turn-Out For Backstoppers Trivia

There was a record turnout Saturday for the annual Backstoppers Trivia Night at the Hecker Community Center with more than 60 tables participating. Event organizer Larry Gardner, a deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, said that nearly all of the prize money was donated back to Backstoppers, an organization which helps families of those who died while performing their duties in the line of work as a firefighter, police officer or EMT.

The first place team members at the Backstoppers Trivia Night are, left to right, Diane Young, Brad Young, Rich Scott, Richard Cobb, Joan Scott, Mike Fricke, Joann Fricke and Rick Wisnasky.          – photo by Carol Floarke

Monroe County Farm Bureau Gathers In Valmeyer

Members of the Monroe County Farm Bureau gathered Saturday, March 7, at St. Mary Catholic Church Parish Center in Valmeyer. Board members in attendance are, left to right, first row, Adrian Crook, Roger Schaefer, President Ellery Hawkins and Glen Mueller; and second row, Darren Johanning, Dan Mueller, Tim Wild, Mark Hoffmann, Ken Hartman Jr., George Obernagel and Butch Robert.

WHS’ Duncan And Kaufmann Advance In Three-Point Contest

During the Class 3A Althoff Boys’ Basketball Regional last week, Waterloo High School players Deron Duncan and Dalton Kaufmann qualified for the IHSA Salem Section Three-Point Shooting Contest next week.

WHS Bulldog Dalton Kaufmann drains a three-pointer and starts to shoot another during the three-point contest at the Althoff Regional.   – photo by Paul Baillargeon

JV’s Named Illinois Retailer Of The Year

Denise and Jeff Vogt of JV’s Downtown Bar and Grill in Waterloo were honored last week as the recipients of the 2009 Brown-Forman On Premise Retail of the Year for the State of Illinois. They accepted their award during the American Beverage Licensees Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. Brown-Forman is one of the country’s largest producers of wine and spirits.

Jeff and Denise invite all their patrons to join them in celebrating their 24^th anniversary with a gathering Sunday, March 15. Doors open at 4 p.m. JV’s was featured in the recently-released book, Breakfast, Lunch and Diner by Robert Rubright. The book contains Rubright’s reviews of 85 St. Louis-area restaurants. Rubright is an author and a retired public relations consultant. He is a close friend of local attorney Glennon Rau and during his school years, John Conrad of Conrad Press and The Monroe County Independent, served his college internship under Mr. Rubright.

Denise and Jeff Vogt, center, receive the Brown-Forman On Premise Retailer of the Year award during the American Beverage Licensees Convention in Las Vegas from Ralph Aguera of Brown-Forman, left, and American Beverage Licensees President Kevin O'Laughlin.

The City of Columbia will test their emergency siren warning system on Wednesday, March 11, at 10 a.m. Columbia School District 4 and Immaculate Conception School will conduct tornado drills at this time. March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month and in the State of Illinois, most tornadoes and severe weather events occur between April 1 and June 30.

“March is the ideal time to make citizens aware of potential hazards from increased thunderstorm and tornado activity which produce high winds, lightning, downed power lines and flash flooding,” said Columbia Deputy Police Chief Jerry Paul.

Members of the Columbia Police, Fire and EMS Departments encourage all citizens to review their family’s home preparedness safety plans during this month.

A commemorative postmark observing Columbia's 150th anniversary will be issued at the Columbia Post Office on Tuesday, March 10. The special Founder's Day postmark features the Celebration 2009 logo. Cache envelopes bearing the postmark will also be available. The envelopes are numbered from one to 150 and have a Lincoln Commemorative Stamp. Celebration 2009 memorabilia will also be on display and sold at the  Post Office on March 10. Columbia's town board organized March 10, 1859. The state recognized the settlement as a town on Feb. 19, 1859. The issuance of the commemorative postmark is one in a series of activities and events coordinated by the Celebration 2009 Committee.