E-Newsletter - March 13, 2009

Fish Fries Gearing Up For Another Lenten Friday

Big crowds have been turning out at the local fish fries throughout the county. Business is reported to be very brisk at the Waterloo VFW and Waterloo Sportsman’s Club.  St. John UCC of Valmeyer is having a fish fry today, Friday, March 13. St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Valmeyer will have theirs on March 20, March 27 and April 3.  Easter this year is Sunday, April 12. Special Good Friday fish fries are planned April 10 at the Columbia Fire House and the Valmeyer Fire House.

Nora Feuquay was recently named the new Monroe County Community & Economic Development Educator. A welcome reception in her honor was held March 11 at the Monroe County Annex. The event was hosted by the Monroe County Economic Development Council and the University of Illinois Extension Office.

ICS Has Eventful Friday the 13th

Immaculate Conception Catholic Grade School Principal Mike Kish said he is very relieved everything worked out this morning following the gas leak just up the street.

“It was amazing how quickly all the emergency personnel worked to handle the situation. The school district had buses ready for all of our students in only a few minutes,” Kish said.

Kish jokingly said missed a golden opportunity to promote the kindergarten and new student registration day planned for this Sunday.

“I could have placed a big sign atop the roof of the school promoting the event and all the TV helicopters flying overhead this morning could have broadcasted it,” Kish said.

ICS is having their registration this Sunday, March 15 for kindergarten and new students for the upcoming school year. Parents interested in enrolling their children can stop by ICS in Columbia from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the cafeteria.

Patton Discusses His Mayoral Campaign

Former Columbia High School Principal Dennis Patton, center, discussed his plans for running as a candidate for the mayor of Columbia during a forum he hosted Wednesday at CHS. There were approximately 50 residents of the community in attendance. Patton said he is running because he wants to do his part as a citizen to improve the political situation of the city. “I believe I have the experience to be part of the solution,” Patton said.

In addition to Patton, those running for mayor of Columbia, are Harold McCarty, and the incumbent, Mayor Kevin Hutchinson.

Several of the individuals seeking to be elected on the April 7 ballot are planning to attend a candidate forum March 17, at 7 p.m., at Columbia High School. The event is hosted by the group Progress For Columbia.

Glennon Rau To Be Honored For His Service To Local Democratic Party

Former Monroe County attorney Glennon Rau of Columbia will be presented the 2009 Leroy Reitz Democratic Service Award during the Monroe County Democratic Central Committee’s annual dinner March 26, at Turner Hall. The award is given by the county’s Democratic precinct committee to an individual who has provided exemplary dedication to the Monroe County Democratic Party. The award is named in honor of the late Leroy Reitz, who served the Monroe County Democratic Party along with being a county treasurer and circuit clerk for many years. Rau is a retired attorney who was elected Monroe County State’s Attorney in the 1960s. He has since continued to serve as a Monroe County Democratic precinct committeeman. Rau also served as a Monroe County Democratic Party chairman for several terms while maintaining his private law practice.

“Glennon is an accomplished attorney and a very hard-working and dedicated Democratic Party chairman and he still serves as one of our precinct committeemen. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award than Glennon Rau,” said Monroe County Democratic Party Chairman Alan Pirtle.

In addition to Rau, leading Democrats also scheduled to be in attendance at the March 26 gathering at Turner Hall will include Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, State Rep. Dan Reitz and AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan, along with local Democratic officeholders. For more information, call 618-281-6045 or send an e-mail to info@monroecountydems.org.

Columbia’s Streetscape project will be the topic of a presentation during the Wednesday, March 18 meeting of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Brenda Seboldt from the Monroe County Farm Bureau will also give a brief presentation on National Ag Week. The noon meeting will be at Bully’s Smokehouse. Chamber members are asked to make reservations by contacting Susy Schweigert at htcsks@htc.net.

Mildred Hoffman turned 85 on March 10. She will celebrate the occasion March 15 with a family gathering.
 

Maeystown Art Show Is This Weekend: Several local artists will be featured during the annual Maeystown Spring Art Show. The event is scheduled for March 14 and 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in downtown Maeystown. The original art works of Monroe County artists Suzie Huebner Aycock, Annette DeBourge, Faith Mueller, Carol Roseman and Margaret Tempel will be on display. Admission is free.

Marion Goeddell is the March winner of the Think Monroe County First! Super Consumer drawing. She received a $130 four handset cordless phone donated by Harrisonville Telephone Company.

Patrons of J.V.’s Downtown Bar and Grill are invited to attend their 24th anniversary party on Sunday, March 15. The doors open at 4 p.m., and festivities, including live music and food, will continue throughout the evening.

Recent Obituaries

Joseph Wilson, 34, of rural Waterloo, died March 12, 2009, at his residence. He was born Jan. 26, 1975, in Red Bud. Mr. Wilson is survived by his mother, Patricia (nee Doyle); and siblings J. Clifford (Geri) Wilson Jr. of Washington, Mo., Ben Wilson of Red Bud, Cherie (Steve) Zerwig of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., and Polly (Craig) Muehlberg of Waterloo; along with aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death his father, James Wilson; his grandparents; and aunts and uncles.

Visitation is Sunday, March 15, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, March 16, at 10 a.m., at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tipton with Father Don Blaes officiating. Mr. Wilson will be buried the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

Peter Engbring, 60, of Alto Pass, died March 11, 2009, at his residence. He was born Oct. 3, 1948 in Montgomery, Ala., the son of Jerome and Lucy (nee Martino) Engbring of Valmeyer. He married Gina Barringer on July 28, 1973 in Carbondale. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Engbring is survived by his daughters, Sara Elizabeth Engbring of Carbondale and Mary Katherine “Katie” Engbring of San Diego, Calif.; siblings John (Teri) Engbring of Davis, Calif., Tim Engbring of Maeystown, Jeff (Rita) Engbring of Cobden, Paul (Grace) Engbring of Telluride, Colo., Miguel (Kathi) Engbring of Cave-In-Rock, Mary (Jim) Estep of Sacramento, Calif., Tom (Katherine) Engbring of Camden, NC., Susan Engbring of San Diego, Calif., Jim Engbring of Phoenix, Ariz., and Charlie Engbring of Arlington, Va.; and in-laws Joe and Mary Barringer of Carbondale; along with other relatives and many friends. Mr. Engbring graduated in 1966 from West Bend High School in West Bend, Wisc. He then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1970. He graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1975 with a degree in zoology, where he was a founding member of the Zoology Honor Society. He was also a member of Tau Beta Pi, a national engineering honor society. Mr. Engbring was employed as the chief operator at Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant and Southern Engineering in Carbondale, along with the Anna Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr. Engbring enjoyed fishing, camping and extensively traveling throughout the country. There will no visitation. A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held June 14 in Alto Pass. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Funeral arrangements were handled by Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna.