Today's News - April 7, 2009

Koesterer Is Waterloo’s Mayor For The Day

SPPS Grade School sixth grader Kati Koesterer spent all-day Monday with Tom Smith as part of Waterloo’s Mayor For A Day program. Mayor Tom Smith turned the gavel over to Koesterer yesterday and gave her a behind-the-scenes tour of the city of Waterloo. After breakfast, they toured several Waterloo municipal facilities, including the police department, public works and wastewater treatment facility (where she learned it is not called the sewer plant). The day was capped off with Koesterer sitting next to Smith during the city council meeting at city hall. Kati is the daughter of Maurice and Nancy Koesterer.

Kati Koesterer accepts a certificate from Waterloo Mayor Tom Smith acknowledging she was the Mayor For The Day.

Kati Koesterer, right, watches as Waterloo city workers patch a hole along Hamacher Street.

County Voters Head To Polls Today To Decide Numerous Local Issues

Voters from throughout Monroe County will head to the polls Tuesday, April 7 to elect city, village, school and other tax district officials. The county's 37 polling places will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.   

In addition to electing various public officials, voters in the Waterloo Park District will consider a $385,000 bond issue for the purpose of acquiring approximately 10.82 acres of real estate along Rogers St. The property would be used as a park and possibly in the future for a proposed aquatic center. Voters in the Maeystown Fire Protection District are being asked to approve a proposition to increase the tax extension limitation. Approval would allow the district to generate additional revenue for required equipment and maintenance. The district has been hampered by tax cap restrictions.

Columbia's city election has competition for every position. There are three candidates for mayor including incumbent Kevin Hutchinson, Harold  McCarty Jr. and Dennis Patton. Incumbent City Clerk Wes Hoeffken is being challenged by Ron Colyer for his job. Incumbent City Treasurer Robert Naumann is opposed by John Coats. All four incumbent aldermen up for re-election face opposition. In Ward One, Alderman James Agne is being challenged by Jim Ash. Ward Two Incumbent Jay Unnerstall is opposed by Mark Roessler. Incumbent Ward Three Alderman Eugene Ebersohl is running against Robert Schaefer. Ward Four incumbent Alderman Mary Ellen Niemietz is being opposed by Randy Mathews.

Four seats for alderman are up for election in the City of Waterloo. The only competition is in Ward One, where three candidates are running: Emmett Rusteberg, Debra Augustine and Russell Thomas. Incumbents Rita Trantham in Ward Two, James Nagel in Ward Three and Vicki Koerber in Ward Four are all running unopposed.

There is no competition in the Village of Fults as there are three candidates for three seats on the village board. They are Randy Rippelmeyer, William Sutter and Jeffrey Williams. The Village of Hecker has no candidate for village president on the ballot. Village trustees running unopposed are James Mueth, Arnold Eckart and Charles Kujawski. There are three candidates for two seats as library directors - Martha Heilig, Angel Andrews and Janet Kreher. The Village of Maeystown has two candidates for two seats as village trustees. They are Carla Coats and Michele Doerr. Howard Heavner is running unopposed for re-election as Valmeyer village board president. Running unopposed for village trustees are Roy Unterseh, James. Pflasterer and Eugenia "Jean" Langsdorf.

There is competition in two of the county's 10 road districts for the positions of road district commissioner. Each district will also elect a clerk without competition. Roger Taake and Don Voelker are running in Road District No. 7 and Edward Breeding Sr. and James Eames are running against each other in Road District No. 5. There are four candidates for three four-year terms as Waterloo Park District Commissioners. They are Kenneth Niemann, Kim Holtgrieve, Lorraine Novack and Joann Harlin. Donald Dietz is running unopposed to fill a two-year term on the board. Two are running unopposed for six-year terms as trustees on the Valmeyer Public Library District. They are Bob Klinkhardt and Valerie Nelson. Dana Phillips is running to fill an unexpired four-year term on the board. Two candidates are running unopposed for seats on the New Athens Library District Board. They are Ann Haubrich and Laura Wildermuth.

There are three candidates for three seats on the Regional Board of School Trustees serving Monroe and Randolph Counties. Harold Baum from Monroe County is joined by Loren Prest and Wayne Reinking, both of Randolph County. There are three candidates for two sets on the St. Clair County Board of School Trustees. They are Darryl Elbe, Kenneth Joseph and Nicholas Prsha. Since Joseph and Prsha reside in the same township only one can be elected. Valmeyer Community Unit District No. 3 will elect three school board members in the April 7 voting. Membership on the board is restricted to a maximum of three members from any congressional township. Scott Roever and Debra Ann (Kohnz) Lubbes are running in Township 2S. Dan McCarthy and John Garleb are running in Township 3S and Kimberly Frank is running in Township 4S.

Columbia Community Unit District No. 4 has seven candidates on the ballot for four of the four-year terms on the board of education. Because of the existing board membership, not more than three may be elected from the incorporated areas. There are six candidates that fit that classification on the ballot - Karen Anderson, David Verret, Ronald Langhans, Brad Goacher, Jerald Paul and John Souris. Incumbent Marshal Stout is the only candidate on the ballot from the unincorporated area of the district. Scott Middlekamp, from the incorporated area, is on the Unit 4 ballot for an unexpired two-year term. For members of the board to serve an unexpired term the area of residence of those elected to fill unexpired terms is taken into consideration in determining the winners of the full terms.

Three school board members will be elected to the Waterloo Community Unit District No. 5 board of education. Membership on the board is restricted to a maximum of three members from any congressional township. Cheryl Rayot-Tannous, Lance West and Linda Pickett are candidates from Township 2S, Range 10W. Ronald Mueller, Chuck Pittman and Steve Stoker are candidates from Township 2S, Range 9W. Only two may be elected from any one of these townships. There are two candidates for election to the New Athens Community Unit District No. 60 Board of Education. The candidates are Jennifer Poiror and Marvin Gregson who are running unopposed in their respective district. Jeffrey Wahlig is running unopposed for the position of trustee on the New Athens Fire Protection District Board of Trustees. There are seven candidates for four four-year terms on the Red Bud Community Unit District No. 132 Board of Education. Membership on the board of education is restricted to a maximum of three members from any congressional township. Red Bud candidates include Patricia Bunte, Township 4S, Range 7W; Rick Stenzel, Township 4S, Range 9W; Doug Wiegard and Robert Doty, Township, 3S, Range 8W; Norbert Earl Kassing, Wendy Cathell and Nancy Nail, Township 4S, Range 8W. Only two of the three candidates from Township 4S, 8W can be elected.

County Clerk Dennis Knobloch is available for additional election information and questions by calling 939-8681.

The Monroe County Sheep Producers Association’s 23rd annual Southern Illinois Sheep and Craft Festival is scheduled for April 11 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Waterloo.  Exhibits will display live sheep, equipment trailers, feed and health products. Vendors will offer a variety of sheep and wool craft items on display and for sale in the commercial exhibit area. Planned activities include sessions by sheep specialists, judging contests, spinning, knitting and craft demonstrations, shearing demonstrations and  sheep dog demonstrations. Featured again this year is the Kids Corner, an area with games, contests and prizes for children to have fun and also learn about sheep.

 “This event is not just for those who raise sheep. There are interesting things to see and do  for everyone in the community,” said Rich Woodcock, one of the event’s organizers, who emphasized that children especially love to watch the sheep herding.

Other fun activities for the entire family include sheep Olympics, antique tractors, sheep pellet bingo and performances by the Thunder and Lightning Cloggers. Throughout the day there will be taste samples, cooking demos and pre-packaged cuts of lamb available to purchase. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring various cuts of fresh locally grown lamb, including lamb chops, leg of lamb, burgers and brats.

Maeystown Seeking Tax Increase To Fund Improvements To Fire Department

The Maeystown Rural Fire Protection District Board of Trustees is seeking voter approval to increase the district's tax levy to provide more funding for the Maeystown Volunteer Fire Department. Voter approval is required because the district is subject to tax cap limitations. The district has an authorized tax rate of .30 per cent but due to tax caps, its actual rate is only .257 per cent. Additional funds are needed to properly equip the volunteer firefighters who serve the district's residents and to meet mandated safety standards for protective turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus.                 

Funding to replace aging fire trucks and to make stations repairs is also badly needed, according to Fire Chief Lynden Prange. He added that without additional funding firefighter safety and the ability of the fire department to protect the public will be put in jeopardy. Currently, the district's tax on a house valued at $100,000 is approximately $85 per year. The district is seeking voter approval of an additional tax on a house of the same value of $96 per year. This is an increase of only about 26 cents per day.

 "With the increase, the tax for the district on a $100,000 home would be only 50 cents per day. With this additional funding the district will be able to address the serious financial needs of the fire department for new equipment and to maintain its facilities," explains Prange

Maeystown Volunteer Firefighters canvassed their fire district on March 29 to enlist support for a proposed tax levy increase on the April 7 ballot. An informational meeting on the topic is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, beginning at 7 p.m., at the firehouse.

Morrison-Talbott Library in Waterloo and the Red Bud Public Library have been named recipients of a gift of 17 books from the National Endowment For The Humanities. The “We The People” books consists of classic works with the theme of "Picturing America."

“These books and materials will help bring our nation’s history to life for students and library patrons,” said U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL.) “I will continue to support efforts that support and enhance education in our communities.”

St. Louis Man Arrested Following Incident At Jaycees Field

William Dowers, 49, of St. Louis, Mo., has been identified as the man arrested Saturday at the WSA Jaycees Ball Diamonds in Waterloo. He has been ticketed with disorderly conduct by the Waterloo Police Department. According to the WPD, during a little league ball game, Dowers was warned by an umpire about being using foul language which could be heard by youth in his vicinity. When he declined to heed to the umpires request, police officers were called to the scene. Officers from Waterloo and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene and took Dowers into custody.

Recent Obituaries

Marcellus Rusteberg, 85, of Fults, died April 3, 2009, in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Aug. 8, 1923, in Valmeyer, the son of the late George and Anna Katherine (nee Wetzel) Rusteberg. Mr. Rusteberg is survived by a son, Curtis Rusteberg of Waterloo; grandchildren David Lee Rusteberg and Rebecca Patricia (William) Huddleston; great-grandchildren Arthur Lee (Jennifer) Rusteberg, Caden Huddleston, Madyson Huddleston and Emily Rusteberg; brother, Robert Rusteberg, step-brother John Rusteberg; and sister-in-law Mary Witker; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife Meeky (nee Nichols) Rusteberg. There were no services.

Anthony Albert, 42, of Waterloo, died April 3, 2009, in Red Bud. He was born July 19, 1966 in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Carl and Joyce (nee Ertman) Albert. Mr. Albert is survived by a wife, Karla (nee Ostenforf) Albert; a daughter, Katherine Albert of Waterloo; brothers Robert Gammon of St. Louis, Mo., and Eric (Pat) Gammon of El Paso, Tex.; and sisters Cyndi Albert and Carla Albert, both of St. Louis, Mo.; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Albert attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service was held at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. He was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Charles "Jim" DuClos, 80, of Red Bud, died April 1, 2009, at his residence. He was born Aug. 29, 1928, in Prairie du Rocher, the son of the late Louis DuClos and Pearl (nee McClenahan) DuClos Brown. Mr. DuClos married Alice (nee Leeper) DuClos in 1950 at St. Joseph Catholic Church Rectory in Prairie du Rocher. In addition to his wife, Mr. DuClos is survived by daughters Brenda (Denis) van Buren, Donna Moeller, and Sandra (Marvin) Eckart, all of Red Bud; grandchildren Stacy van Buren, Wendy van Buren, Jamie (Joe) Korando, Carrie (Waylon) Schlesinger, Ryan Moeller, Jeffry Moeller, Matthew (Jennifer) Eckart, Alicia Eckart and Rachel Eckart; great-grandchildren Natalie Korando, Brayden Schlesinger and Lauren Eckart; a sister, Thelma Romay; step-sister, Lois Wingerter; stepsister-in-law, Enid Brown; and sisters-in-law, Veda DuClos and Wanda Steele; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by a step-father, Daniel E. Brown; brother, Lemuel "Pete" DuClos; step-brother, Dwain Brown; son-in-law, Paul W. Moeller Jr.; and brothers-in-law Leo Romay, Charles Steele and Robert Wingerter. Mr. DuClos was a carpenter. After completing apprenticeship school in Belleville, he worked for contractors in the Red Bud area. He was a member of Local 1361 since 1954. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, where he served as a past member of the parish council, finance committee and bingo team. Jim enjoyed playing cards, fishing, boating and camping with his family. Visitation was at Koch-Liefer Funeral Home in Red Bud. A funeral mass was at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud with Father Tom Stout officiating. Mr. DuClos was buried at the church’s cemetery.