News Follow-Up - June 10, 2009

Sheri Coleman’s Family Shows Appreciation To Repasz Boys

Before heading back to their homes in Chicago, members of Sheri Coleman’s family made a stop in Columbia to express their appreciation to the Repasz family. Robbie and Jeff Repasz earned just over $5, 400 in a yard sale last month. The money will be donated to a memorial fund set up in honor of Sheri, Gavin and Garett Coleman, who were found murdered in their Columbia home on May 5.

Robbie, 11, and Jeff, 9, raised the money May 30 during a yard sale at their home as part of the annual Columbia Recycling Day. Their initial plan was to have a lemonade stand and donate the proceeds to their friends, Gavin and Garett. But as the day grew closer, they decided to put together a yard sale.

“The grand total the boys raised is $5,404.64,” said the boys’ mother, Rhonda Repasz. “They did more for a charity in one day than I have done in my entire life so far,” added the boys’ father, Robert. “We are just so very proud of them.”

As a token of their appreciation, Sheri Coleman’s brother, Mario Weiss; a cousin, Joe Miglio; and Meeghan Turnbeau, one of Sheri’s closest friends; met today with the Repasz family just after 2 p.m., at Columbia City Hall. After expressing their deepest thanks for their donation, Weiss pulled out two authentic St. Louis Cardinals baseball jerseys from a bag. Each was signed by Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols and Manager Tony LaRussa.

“We’ll also get you four tickets to any Cardinals baseball game you want this year,” added Miglio.

Turnbeau said she and Miglio are in the process of establishing the Sheri Ann Her Boys Memorial Fund to handle the donations. The initial plan is to use the proceeds from the fund to build a pavilion at a park in Columbia in honor of Sheri, Gavin and Garett. Weiss had previously stated any funds received through a wrongful death lawsuit recently filed against Christopher Coleman would also be put into the memorial fund.

The boys say they will share the two jerseys and will get them framed as soon as they can. In addition, Robbie and Jeff stopped by the Columbia Fire House last night to thank the Columbia firefighters for giving them a ride in their big ladder truck at the end of the yard sale. The firemen presented them with CVFD shirts and treated them to dessert during the fireman’s Tuesday night meeting.  

Robbie and Jeff Repasz, first row, show off their autographed St. Louis Cardinals jerseys. Also gathered at Columbia City Hall today are, left to right, Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson, Robert and Rhonda Repasz, Marion Weiss, Meeghan Turnbeau and Joe Miglio.

Tiny’s Streetfest Raises $3,000 For Coleman Memorial Fund

Three bands performed last Saturday on the back parking lot of Tiny’s during the bar’s second annual streetfest. The event is organized by members of the band Where’s Charlie?, and they donate all of the proceeds to local charitable causes.

“We decided this year to give the money to the memorial fund established in honor of Sheri, Gavin and Garett Coleman,” said band member Scott Harres.

Other bands participating were Morland Drive and Pirate Satellite. Bands began playing at 5 p.m., and festivities lasted until 11:30 p.m.

Rock band Where’s Charlie? performs during the Tiny’s Streetfest.          – photos by Tina Stumpf

Members of the rock band Morland Drive take a break between performances during Tiny’s Streetfest.

Homeowner Thwarts Possible Early-Morning Bandit

A possible burglary was stopped just before it began early Wednesday morning in the 1000 block of North Metter in Columbia. Just after 4 a.m., a homeowner was awoken by a sound of someone looking into his bedroom window. The man immediately dialed 9-1-1 and several police officers rushed to the scene. The person said he saw someone dressed head to toe in black holding a flashlight looking inside. When the homeowner moved after waking up, the suspected burglar ran away.

Three Columbia police officers were joined by an officer from Dupo in canvassing the neighborhood, but were unable to detain an individual. The Columbia Police Department is continuing their investigation into this matter. The homeowner did not report anything missing from his property.

“We ask anyone with information or who may have seen someone walking through the neighborhood at about that time to contact the police department,” said Deputy Police Chief Jerry Paul.

Gibault Soccer Coach Jim Corsi has been selected to be inducted into the Illinois Coaches Soccer Hall of Fame. Corsi is only the fourth soccer coach south of Springfield to receive this honor.