E-Newsletter - March 27, 2009

States Top Democrats Attend Local Committee’s Annual Dinner
      Glennon Rau Receives The Leroy Reitz Service Award

Leroy Reitz Democratic Service Award recipient Glennon Rau, center, is congratulated Thursday night at Turner Hall by, left to right, Illinois AFL – CIO President Michael Carrigan of Decatur, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Monroe County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Alan Pirtle of Columbia.  

There were more than 500 local Democrats gathered at Turner Hall Thursday evening for the Monroe County Democratic Central Committee’s 2009 Dinner and Auction. State’s Attorney Lisa Madigan and State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias made the trip down from Springfield to attend the event. They both stressed how things are turning around the moving forward on the state level following the ouster of Rod Blagojevich as governor and Pat Quinn stepping in. Madigan said she is considering running for governor in the future, while Giannoulias has formed a committee to look into running for U.S. Senator in the seat once filled by President Barack Obama.

Also during the evening, longtime local attorney Glennon Rau received the Leroy Reitz Democratic Service Award for his lifelong commitment to the party. Rau is a former State’s Attorney and Democratic Party Chairman who continues to serve as a precinct committeeman. The evening was dedicated in memory of Brent Roever of Waterloo who died last summer. He was the son of longtime Democratic precinct committeeman Ron (Kathy) Roever.

Other local Democratic officials in attendance included county commissioners Delbert Wittenauer and Mike Kovarik, Sheriff Dan Kelley, State’s Attorney Kris Reitz, Circuit Clerk Aaron Reitz and Circuit Judge Dennis Doyle.

Mamino Scheduled For May Court Date

Elyse Mamino, the woman accused of attempting to drown her newborn in a toilet at a home in Columbia last November, will next appear at the Monroe County Courthouse on May 27. Her docket call for the charge of attempted murder is scheduled for 1 p.m. Her trial may begin by June of this year. Mamino along with her attorney John O’Gara appeared before Judge Dennis Doyle at the Monroe County Courthouse last week where she waived a preliminary hearing, said Monroe County State’s Attorney Kris Reitz. O’Gara also filed a motion to choose a different judge for the upcoming trial. The motion asked that Circuit Judge Dennis Doyle of Monroe County and Associate Judge Richard Brown not be assigned to this case.

“Judge William Schuwerk of Red Bud will now likely be assigned,” said Reitz, who added that Mamino is currently being held at the Monroe County Jail.

The baby, Victoria, was revived after being pulled from the toilet at the home in Columbia last November. She has been placed in the custody of a foster home.

In addition to these charges, Mamino is also being investigated for the case involving the skeletal remains of a baby found in a cabinet in her home in Belleville. The remains were discovered while police officers were investigating the matter of the attempted drowning. Charges have not yet been filed at the St. Clair County Courthouse for that matter.

Mamino is being represented by Attorney John O’Gara from the law firm of O’Gara and Gomric of Belleville. O’Gara gained local notoriety when he successfully represented James Wiley in 2005. Wiley had been accused in the death of his wife, Twila Wiley, who had been found shot dead at Konarcik Park in Waterloo. James was found innocent in the jury trial.

Anthony Darnell of East Carondelet was sentenced on March 11, at the Monroe County Courthouse to a four-year prison term. Darnell, 19, was found guilty of aggravated discharge of a firearm. On Sept. 27, 2008, Darnell was riding in a car along Main Street in downtown Columbia when he pulled out a gun and fired into the home of an acquaintance. No one was injured.

Judge Rules In Favor Of County Regarding Former Nursing Home Site

Associate Circuit Judge Richard Brown has ruled in favor of Monroe County in regard to its lawsuit with Gene Taake over the ownership of the former Monroe County Nursing Home facility in Waterloo. In his ruling earlier this week, Judge Brown granted the Monroe County Commissioners request for a motion for summary judgment on the matter, thus declining Taake’s previous bid to purchase the facility. Brown ruled that there is nothing in the minutes of the Monroe County Board Commissioners to show the plaintiff’s bid was accepted and the advertisement to bid gave the defendant the right to reject all offers.

Mr. Taake’s attorney, Tim Gutknecht of the law firm Crowder and Scoggins of Columbia, said Friday afternoon that he is reviewing the judge’s order and wanted to discuss the matter with his client before commenting.

 After the county received the go-ahead in 2005 to replace the county-run nursing home in Waterloo and build a new nursing home and assisted living center on Hamacher St. in Waterloo, they accepted bids for the purchasing the aging facility and the surrounding property. County resident Gene Taake submitted a bid of $5,000, the only bid submitted to the county commissioners. Taake filed a lawsuit when the commissioners dismissed his bid and looked for other options for the property, including selling it to the Waterloo Fire Department. The property has remained idle during the course of this lawsuit.

A video clip of last week’s Columbia Candidate Forum has been added to The Independent’s YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/user/MoCoIndependent. The clip is in five parts. The first four are the mayoral candidates, Harold McCarty, Kevin Hutchinson and Dennis Patton. The fifth part is Ward 2 aldermanic candidates Mark Roessler and Jay Unnerstall.

From the Morrison-Talbott Library in Waterloo…

- The Prairie Porcelain Painters China Art Guild is displaying Easter-themed pieces at the Morrison-Talbott Library in Waterloo through April 11. Members of the guild will be at the library April 11, at 10 a.m., to answer questions.

- The library’s book sale runs from Thursday, April 23 to Saturday, April 25.

- The  Bestsellers Book Club will discuss The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher on Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m.

- Those interested in volunteering during the library’s summer reading program can call the library at 939-6232. The program runs from June 17 to July 15.

- Waterloo Junior High School teacher Bill Theobald will discuss on April 15 his teaching excursion to Bangladesh this past February. The program begins at 7 p.m.

MASC Dials Up Suspense Classic For Next Performance

The Monroe Actors Stage Company is busy rehearing for their upcoming performance of “Dial M for Murder." There will be six performances from April 17, 18, 19 and 24, 25 and 26. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m., while the curtain rises Sunday’s at 2:30 p.m.

The cast includes Belleville teacher Jim Meers as Tony Wendice, Ron Spiegelman of Columbia as Captain Lesgate, Obee’s of Waterloo owner Karl Buckman plays Max Halliday, Lynn Pittman of Waterloo plays Margot Wendice, Sam Baker of Waterloo is Inspector Hubbard and Nathan Chilton of Prairie du Rocher rounds out the cast as the police officer. Longtime MASC member John Campbell of Columbia is set to direct yet another performance. Stacy Buescher of St Louis is the assistant director.

“Dial M for Murder” is an adaptation of the 1954 movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It was written in 1952 by Fredrick Knott, who also penned the 1966 thriller, “Wait Until Dark.” Campbell also directed MASC’s 2004 performance of “Wait Until Dark” and is looking forward to tackling another work from Knott.

“We have been faithful to the words and direction of the author in putting this show together,” said Campbell. “Knott knew the very essence of suspense and terror that carefully seduces us down the stairs to the dark basement. Hitchcock recognized his genius, latched on to this story and turned it into a cinematic suspense classic.”

For more information on the play or to purchase tickets, visit the website: www.masctheatre.org. Tickets are also available at the Courthouse Café in Waterloo or Bon Vivant Wines in Colombia.

Eric Allscheid turns 40 today, March 27. He will be spending the day with his wife, Cindie (Meier from home) and their daughters.

The next Columbia Community Blood Drive sponsored by the American Red Cross is Tuesday, April 14, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Turner Hall. All presenting donors will receive an American Red Cross life-saving team baseball hat. To schedule an appointment, call 281-6941
 

Spring Sports Season Underway For High Schools

Waterloo High School tennis player Michael Yarber keeps his eye on the ball as he serves during the boys’ varsity tennis match Wednesday versus Civic Memorial. In addition to tennis, other spring sports underway on the high school level include baseball, softball, track and girls’ soccer.                  – photo by Bob Haentzler - Additional match photos at www.gatewayphoto.net.

Illinois State Superintendent Dr. Chris Koch visited the soon-to-be opened Waterloo High School facility earlier this week. He was joined on the tour by WCUSD Superintendent James Helton and Regional Superintendent Dr. Marc Kiehna. The school is expected to be opened for the Fall 2009 semester.

Audition Date Set For Columbia Sesquicentennial Play

As part of Columbia’s 150th anniversary celebration, the Celebration 2009 committee is producing Hail Columbia II, an original play with music celebrating Columbia’s heritage. Show dates are June 12- 14. Producers seek a large cast made up of people of all ages. Those interested are encouraged to attend the open auditions on Monday, April 6, and Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m., at Immaculate Conception School. Callbacks will be Tuesday, April 14. No previous acting experience is necessary; not all parts require some singing. For more information, email Mary Beth Scherr-Babcock at hailcolumbia@gmail.com.  Those wishing to work on the stage crew can email Laura Whelan at whelan11@aol.com.

Valmeyer FFA Honors Current And Past Members

Andrew Heavner, left, and Vince Siburt were recognized Thursday evening as Honorary Valmeyer FFA Members. They gathered along with current FFA members, their families and alumni to the annual VHS Recognition Banquet. Several awards and scholarships were presented to the students during the evening.      – photo by Carol Floarke

A quilt show will be held Thursday, April 2, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Hecker Community Center. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. Light refreshments will be served. To make a reservation or to include a quilt in the show, call 939-3434 (daytime) or 939-7886 (evenings) or by email at mcfarm@htc.net. The show is being sponsored by Monroe County Home and Community Education Association and Monroe County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. 

Recent Obituaries

Shirley Mary O'Brien, 80, of Columbia; died March 24, 2009, following a 10-year battle with breast cancer. She was born Nov. 5, 1928, in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Edward and Dorothy (Miller) Schaffer. She married Daniel O'Brien in 1952. He died in 1995. Mrs. O’Brien is survived by her children Daniel (Jess) O'Brien of Leslie, Mo., Kevin (Cindy) O'Brien of Columbia, Deborah (Zoran) Perisic of Waterloo, Kathleen (Mark) Range of Columbia and Michelle (Ed) Breeding of Columbia; a brother, Edward (Margaret) Schaffer of Cahokia; a sister, Geri (Jim) Vogt of Columbia; grandchildren, Eric and Elaine O'Brien, Neal and Kirsten O'Brien, Josh, Chris and Nick Bayer, Scott and Megan Range and Eddie, Emily, Spencer and Tessa Breeding; and great-grandchild, Darrell Morak; along with other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a sister, Joan (Pete) Becker. She was a member of the Altar Sodality at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia, the Columbia Senior Citizens and was a volunteer for the American Red Cross. She was a retired bank teller at Monroe National Bank in Columbia. Visitation is Saturday, March 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. A funeral mass will follow at the church with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. O'Brien donated her remains to the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, Mo., or the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Building Fund.

Elmer Schmidt, 79, of Columbia, died March 23, 2009, in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Dec. 8, 1929, in Kidd, the son of the late William and Augusta (nee Hoffmann) Schmidt. Mr. Schmidt is survived by his wife, Maxine (nee Gee) Schmidt; a brother, William (Lorene) Schmidt; sister, Catherine Menke; nieces and nephews Ervin (Donna) Menke, Shirley Menke Williams, Orville (Beverly) Menke, Robert (Mildred) Menke and Larry (Reba) Menke; and a niece-in-law, Shirley Menke; along with godchildren and cousins. He was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Herman Menke; in-laws Thelma and Lonie Gee; and a nephew, Vernon Menke. Mr. Schmidt was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Renault and Carpenters Local 795. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Renault, with Pastor Ralph Laufer officiating. Mr. Schmidt was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church or to the American Kidney Foundation.

Charles Moll, 79, of Red Bud, died March 22, 2009, at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Feb. 4, 1930 in Prairie du Rocher, the son of the late Theodore and Matilda (nee Hunter) Moll. He married Betty Crowley in 1953 in Knobnoster, Mo. In addition to his wife, Mr. Moll is survived by his sons, Randy (Cherie) Moll of Waterloo, Terry (Angie) Moll of Burksville and Dennis (Cindy) Moll of Fairfield, Ohio; daughters Debbie Stuhr of St. Charles, Mo., and Cathy (Robert) Majka of Hammond, Ore.; a brother, Delbert Moll of Red Bud; 13 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by a son, Merle Moll; a grandson, Jared Moll; and brothers T.J., Leo, Lester and Gilbert Moll; along with a brother in infancy. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral service was at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, with Father Tom Stout officiating. Mr. Moll was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo.

Gregory Allen Myers, 51, of Stafford, Va., formerly of Waterloo, died March 26, 2009. Mr. Myers is survived by his wife, Leisa Myers; sons Allen Myers and Daniel Myers; his parents, Hubert and Patricia Myers of Centerville, Ga.; brothers Michael (Dene) Myers of Mexico, Mo., and Eric Myers of Kansas City, Mo; in-laws, Donald and Elizabeth Milligan; brothers-in-law Robert Milligan and Donald (Dianna) Milligan Jr., and their children Kayla and Brooke; along with the family dog, Ripley. He was a graduate of Waterloo High School in Waterloo and the apprentice school at Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Co. He had worked for C.B. Lucas Heating and Air Conditioning in Dumfries, Va. Mr. Myers was a member of St. Peters Lutheran Church. A memorial service will be held Sunday, March 29, at 3 p.m., at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Stafford, Va. Arrangements were handled by Covenant Funeral Home in Stafford, Va. Memorials may be made to the church or Capital Hospice in Manassas, Va. An online guestbook is at the website: www.covenantfuneralservice.com.

Vivian Lee Mueller, nee Scherier, 71, of Ewing, died March 25, 2009, in Mt. Vernon. She was born Feb. 18, 1938, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late Lester and Elsie Scherier. Mrs. Mueller is survived by her children Ann (Steve) Caudle of Ewing and Joseph (Melynda) Mueller of Benton; grandchildren Mariah Mae Hughes, Allisun Mueller, Joseph Alex Mueller and Mike Gosnell; and sisters Mary Tompkins of Yuba City, Calif., and Linda (Roger) Rosenbaugh of Farmington, NM. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald J. Mueller; and a brother, John Scherier. Mrs. Mueller was a member of the Order of Eastern Star. She was an excellent seamstress who loved bowling and working in her flower garden. Vivian and Ronald Mueller built the safari campground on Route 37 north of Benton. Visitation is Tuesday, March 31, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton and on Wednesday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Mrs. Mueller will be buried at St. John UCC Cemetery in Valmeyer.