Sports Update - May 29, 2009

Playoff Victory Is Just Out Of Reach For The Bulldogs

Waterloo and Mascoutah battled back and forth for the lead this evening in a regional tournament game at Whitey Herzog Field in Belleville. But in the late innings Mascoutah came from behind to pull out a 11-10 victory.

E-Newsletter - May 29, 2009

Shrine Circus Coming To Waterloo On Monday

The circus is coming to Waterloo on Monday, June 1. The Southern Illinois Ainad Circus is making its way to the Monroe County Fairgrounds. The three-ring event begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 adults and $8 children. Tickets available at the gate or Papa Vito’s, Schnucks, Hucks and Moto Mart.

Hard at work distributing tickets to the upcoming Shrine Circus in Waterloo are, left to right, Dave Langsford , Gerry Geoppo, Kurt Grosse and Kyle Grosse. Geoppo is providing some free tickets to the event at his restaurant in Waterloo, Papa Vito’s.                    - photo by Paul Baillargeon  

Columbia Recycling Day Moves To High School

Because of the popularity of the event shown in recent years, Columbia’s annual Recycling Day has been relocated to the high school parking lot. It was previously held at City Hall. This year’s event, provided for residents of the city, will take place Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Spring-cleaning comes to mind for many at this time of the year and the City of Columbia would like to encourage citizens to think green by reducing clutter, recycling and disposing of unwanted items in a responsible fashion,” said event coordinator Jackie Hausmann.

Reliable Sanitation of Waterloo will accept recyclable materials, including glass, plastic and aluminum. Residents are asked to take paper products to the area school’s recycling bins. Dumpers will also be available for non-recyclable items. Those wishing to shred confidential documents can bring items for proper disposal from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. There is an eight-box limit per person. To encourage a city-wide yard sales, permits will not be needed for residents planning a sale on May 29 or May 30.

“This is a perfect time to organize a neighborhood yard sale,” Hausmann said, who added that unsold items from the yard sales will be accepted at the high school before 3 p.m. on the day of the event.

Gently used clothing, shoes, furniture, toys and household items can also be dropped off at the main collection point at the high school to be donated to Nice Twice At The Depot in Waterloo. The Columbia Public Library will be taking donations of books. Used electronics equipment will also be accepted, including VCRs, stereos, audio and video equipment, cell phones, printers, blenders, toasters, irons, old motors and batteries. Certain items may incur at $5 to $10 fee, such as computers, pc monitors, televisions, washers, dryers, dishwashers, furnaces, air conditioners, refrigerators and humidifiers. While supplies last that day, citizens of Columbia may also pick up a free recycling bin. Civic organizations are also encouraged to participate in a city-wide trash removal project. To participate or for further information, contact Hausmann at 281-7144, ext. 106.

Garage Sale Proceeds To Benefit Coleman Family Memorial Fund: During the Columbia Lakes Community Yard Sale this Saturday, proceeds from sales at 618 Pines Way will be donated the Sheri, Gavin and Garett Memorial Fund.

Auditions for the Valmeyer Centennial Musical Drama will be Thursday, June 4. Time and place will be announced closer to the date.

Legendary local rock and rollers Albert and the Einstein’s  will have a reunion party May 29, beginning at 8:30 p.m., at Burgard’s Tavern in Freeburg.

The American Red Cross will sponsor a Columbia Community Blood Drive at Turner Hall on Tuesday, June 9, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. All presenting donors will receive a Red Cross t-shirt.

Legion Street Road Project Completed

The road closed signs were taken down and barricades removed Thursday morning from West Legion Street in Columbia. The road was stripped and resurfaced this spring causing several detours.

“I am very relieved the road is open once again,” said Ron’s Pharmacy owner Paul Khoury, who said customers now have several additional parking spots open along Legion Street.

During Thursday’s rain storm, Paul Khoury rolls up the window of the truck of Ron’s Pharmacy’s customer Ed Wienhoff. “I think the Ed-itor was busy talking to one of my employees a little too long and didn’t notice rain was getting in his truck,” said Khoury.

Rockin’ The Joints At Metter Park This Sunday

Wanting to raise funds for a cause she knows a lot about, Columbia High School sophomore Emily Brutton is busy planning a fundraiser to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. When she was 10 years old, Brutton was diagnosed with Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis. Since then, she and her family have participated in the annual Arthritis Walk in Forest Park. The Brutton team has $15,000 to support the Arthritis Foundation. Walking to raise addition funds and get more people in her hometown involved,  Brutton had the idea of starting her own event.

“Our hope is to take all of our favorite aspects from the Forest Park fundraiser and create a new family event to involve members of our community in Columbia,” said Brutton.

She’s calling her idea, “Rockin' the Joints.” The barbecue and music festival is scheduled for Sunday May 31, at A.C. Metter Park, which is located between the library and Turner Hall. Activities begin at 1 p.m. Local rock bands Morland Drive and Rock City Overpass are slated to provide musical entertainment. Other activities will include face painting by the Columbia High School Art Club. The Columbia Kiwanis Club has agreed to do the grilling and assisting with the set-up.

“We are also accepting donations of any kind, whether raffle sale items or cash donations,” said Brutton, who added all the proceeds will be donated to the Arthritis Foundation.

“Senorita” Linda Merz and her famous “Merz Salsa” were featured Friday morning on Fox 2 News. TV’s Tim Ezzell visited the Merz home in rural Columbia where the two whipped up a batch in honor of May being National Salsa Month.

Hawks Softball Season Comes To An End

The Gibault Hawks fell to Carmi-White yesterday by a score of 4-3 in a semi-final match-up in the Class 2A Pinckneyville Sectional Tournament. Gibault ended the season with a 15-10 record.

Waterloo’s baseball playoff game last night against Mascoutah was postponed. It was rescheduled for Friday evening at 3:30 p.m.

Author Shelly Lerch Planning Local Book Signing

Shelly Lerch will sign copies of her newly released book, “Hey Mom, What Do You Do For You?” on June 3 at the Morrison-Talbott Library in Waterloo. She will be available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The author will also present a program at 7 p.m. to explain how she got the idea for the book and her writing experiences.

“This book is for the caregiver in all of us. Whether you are raising a family, going to school, working full time or caring for elderly parents, chances are you are not taking much time to take care of yourself,” said the author.

Waterloo Optimist Car Show Is Sunday: The streets of downtown Waterloo will be filled with classic cars, trucks and motorcycles on Sunday for the Waterloo Optimist’s annual car show. The event, centered around the county courthouse, runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Highlights include the Richard Petty STP Pontiac Grand Prix Super Speedway car and a NASCAR simulator. Radio station KZQZ Hot 1430 AM will be broadcasting from the event. For further info., call Shelby Mathes at 618-604-1310.

Recent Obituaries

Robert Milton Schmidt, 81, of Waterloo, died May 28, 2009, in Belleville. He was born June 16, 1927, in Waterloo, the son of the late William and Hulda (nee Taake) Schmidt. Mr. Schmidt is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Schmidt, nee Bufka; children Catherine (Alan) Brandt, George (Nancy) Schmidt and Raymond (Pamela) Schmidt; grandchildren Ryan, Matthew and Laura Brandt, Angela, Michael and Eric Schmidt and Alexander, Lucas and Benjiman Schmidt; and a sister, Edna (Roy) Taake. Mr. Schmidt was a veteran of the Korean War, was a former commissioner and clerk for Road District 9 and a member of the Monroe County Farm Bureau and the Knights of Columbus. Visitation is Sunday, May 31, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, June 1, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer with Father Urban Osuji officiating. Mr. Schmidt will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to the St. Mary's Hall Building Fund.