E-Newsletter - June 19, 2009

Public cooling stations have been set up during this current period of excessive heat. They are located at Oak Hill in Waterloo and Columbia Convalescent Center in Columbia. The Monroe County Office of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is coordinating this effort. Elderly people, those with respiratory problems and infants living in homes without air conditioning are encouraged to seek relief during the day at these locations, reports the IEMA.

The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department was called out Friday night at 9 p.m. for the report of a transformer atop a utility pole on Diane Ln. sparking.

Friday afternoon, the Waterloo Fire Department put out a lawn mower on fire on Betty Drive.

Porta Westfalica Festival Honors Waterloo’s German Heritage

The clouds from a passing thunderstorm parted and the sun came out just in time Tuesday to the delight of the organizers of the Porta Westfalica Festival. The annual event honors the sister cities partnership between Waterloo and Porta Westfalica, Germany.

The Waterloo German Band performs on Main Street in downtown Waterloo during the annual Porta Westfalica Festival.             – photo by Gage Wienhoff

Jeanette Gregson, left, was the grand marshal of the Waterloo Porta Westfalica Festival.

The mother of Columbia Alderman Gene Ebersohl died yesterday following an accident on Admiral Parkway. Ella Josephine Ebersohl of Dupo was pronounced dead at St. Anthony’s Hospital. She was the widow of Albert “Hap” Ebersohl.

The cooks at the Waterloo VFW will be up early Saturday morning preparing to serve a big feast at their all-you-can-eat breakfast in honor of Father’s Day. The buffet is Saturday, June 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at their post hall. Cost is $6.50 for adults and $3.50 for those 12 and under.

Pittman To Run For County Commissioner

Chuck Pittman announced his candidacy for the Monroe County Board of Commissioners during Tuesday’s Porta Westfalica Festival in Waterloo. He is seeking to be on the Republican ballot for the primary election next spring. He would face current county commissioner and fellow Republican, Terry Liefer. The local Democratic party has not announced yet if they will run a candidate for that position. Pittman, 51, owns a State Farm Insurance office in downtown Waterloo and is a member of the Waterloo School Board and the Monroe County Planning Commission.

“After talking to a number of people throughout the county, I have become convinced the public wants greater accountability for their tax dollars, more transparency in county government and stronger leadership to successfully guide the county through these challenging times,” said Pittman.

Pittman said he has concerns over the lack of public input into the decision to initiate a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for levee repairs. In addition, costs such as paying for the underfunded Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, which serves county employees, as well as costs to support the county’s insurance fund are escalating. These problems are occurring during a time when the economy makes tax revenues hard to come by, said Pittman.

During the Porta Westfalica Festival at the courthouse grounds in Waterloo,

Cert Offering Training Session This July

The Monroe County Community Emergency Response Team is planning a training session this July. It will be held on three Saturdays, July, 11, 18 and 24, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo. The course is free and teaches basic first aid, fire suppression, light search and rescue and being prepared for a man made or natural disaster. To registration is required, visit the website www.mococitizencorp@yahoo.com or call Kim Strellis, 307-699-1737, or Glen White, 618-939-8784
 

The Monroe County Community Emergency Response Team

Tepen Earns Nursing Scholarship

Recent Gibault High School graduate Anne Tepen has been awarded four-year Friends of Saint Louis Municipal School of Nursing Scholarship. She will attend St. Louis University beginning this fall. Ann is the daughter of Vern and Joan Tepen of Waterloo.

YMCA Biathlon Is Saturday: Monroe County athletes are invited to ride, run and have fun at the inaugural Monroe County YMCA Biathlon. The event is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., on Saturday, June 20. Registration starts at 7 a.m. The biathlon features a 3.5-mile run and 17-mile bike ride. The event is a Y-Cup Series event and timing is by ChampionChip. Online registration is offered at www.active.com. Entry fee is $45 for YMCA members and $55 for non-members. Team entry is $80 for members and $90 for non-members. Day of race entry, add $10. Registration takes place at the YMCA on Route 3 between Columbia and Waterloo. Entry includes a timing chip, event t-shirt and post-race refreshments. Medals will be awarded to the top overall male and female finishers and the top three finishers in six separate age groups. For more information and to get registered, contact Charlie Rivers at the Monroe County YMCA at 281-9622.

The village of Valmeyer has two upcoming musical performances scheduled in conjunction with the celebration of their centennial. The 2009 Centennial Concert Series programs are free and open to the public. George Portz and his Friends of Bluegrass will play Saturday, June 20, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Borsch Park in old town Valmeyer. Two bands are scheduled to take the stage at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Center on Thursday, June 25. The Kaskaskia Trail Barbershoppers and the Columbia Sangerbund

Oak Hill Senior Care Center in Waterloo is busy planning Western Evening. It is scheduled for June 24, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Music will be provided by Silver Eagles and there will be pony rides and games for children. Food served will include hamburgers and bratwursts.

Don Gergen and Gene Haller have been reappointed as Palmier Hill Cemetery Trustees. The historic cemetery is located on the north end of Columbia.

There were 62 donors at the Columbia Community blood drive on June 9 at Turner Hall. First Baptist Church provided cookies and Martha Wortmann was a first time donor. Reaching milestones were Linda Whelan, 1 gallon; Sandy Lawlor, 9 gallons; Alvira Miller, 11 gallons; Janet Bense, 12 gallons; and Rich Dreher, 22 gallons. The blood drive at Turner Hall will be Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Exchange Students Arrive In Waterloo’s Sister City

Waterloo High School students Adam Gummersheimer and Rosemary Chapple safely arrived earlier this week in Porta Westfalica, Germany. They will be visiting Waterloo’s sister city from June 15 to July 13. In return, Porta Westfalica students Freya vom Bauer and Mareike Mueller will arrive in Waterloo on July 1 and stay through July 29.

Charlie’s Carstar Looking To Break Guinness Record

Charlie's Carstar in Columbia is looking for dirty cars and their drivers to help the company set the Guinness World Record for the largest car wash in history. The company will join in the Soaps It Up Car Wash held across the U.S. and Canada on Saturday, June 20 as a fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis in Canada and the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the U.S., as well as two Boy Scout Troops locally. More than 200 CARSTAR stores, including three in the St. Louis Metropolitan area will participate. In Columbia, event, tickets are being sold for $10 through Columbia Boy Scout Troops 320 and 357. To set the Guinness World Record for "Most Cars Washed - Multiple Venues," Carstar will need to wash more than 4,000 vehicles during an eight-hour period. Carstar employees will be joined by scouts and other volunteers to wash the vehicles. A Guinness Book of World Records official will also be on hand to validate the feat if successful.

"We hope to see a bunch of cars on Saturday so we can raise some money for the Boy Scouts and the Make-A-Wish Foundation," said Charlie Eilers, owner of Charlie's Carstar in Columbia. "It'll be a fun event and a nice way to help the community."

The car wash will be held June 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Charlie's Carstar located at 431 North Main Street in Columbia - the old Kruse Chevrolet building.

The Robert Mathews Foundation For Families in Need is having their annual fundraiser on Sunday, June 28 at the Waterloo Sports-man's Club. Proceeds go toward paying medical expenses for Monroe County families in need. The event will begin at 1 p.m. and last until 8 p.m. Activities  and attractions will include a silent auction, meat wheel, music, a raffle, food and beverages. In the past nine months the foundation helped three families that fit its criteria for assistance. Applications will be accepted until June 30 for the fourth quarter. The not-for-profit organization considers applications for financial assistance from residents of Monroe County  suffering from a serious illness for a minimum of six months. Those with lawsuits pending are not eligible.

"We realize that because of today's economy many budgets have been stretched. It is not the foundation's intent to cause financial burdens, but to assist in eliminating them," said Linda Mathews, president of the board of directors and widow of Robert Mathews.  Her husband died after a lengthy battle with cancer. "Support can be given in many ways, be it by monetary donations, silent auction item or by passing the information on to family, friends, neighbors and co-workers," she added.

For more information, contact Linda Mathews at 618-473-2139. The foundation address is 5805 State Route 159, Red Bud, IL 62278.

The Monroe County Health Department will be officially established July 1, 2009. The county commissioners had decided to break earlier this year with their partnership with Randolph County. Appointments to the department include John Wagner, administrator; and board members Tom Belt, Lyle Hoffmann, Delbert W. Wittenauer, Dr. Kevin Devine, Dr. Michael Kirk, Dr. Sandra Hodel, Ellen Gates and Jay Vogt.

Recent Obituaries

Ella Josephine Ebersohl, nee Brellinger, 91, of Dupo, died June 18, 2009, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. She was born Aug. 20, 1917 in Columbia, the daughter  of the late John and Mary (nee Mosbacher) Brellinger. Mrs. Ebersohl is survived by her son, Eugene (Lucy) Ebersohl of Columbia; a daughter, Janice (Danny) Coffee of Rockvale, Tenn.; sisters Hilda Pfeffer and Florence Martin; grandchildren John Ebersohl, Jeffrey Ebersohl and William Coffee; a great-grandchild, Zane Scott Ebersohl; and good friends Wanda and Larry; along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert “Hap” Ebersohl; a daughter, Jean Marie Ebersohl; a grandson, D.J. Coffee; sisters Stella Reichert, Alida Kern and Amelia Brellinger; and a brother, Clarence Brellinger. Mrs. Ebersohl was a homemaker and member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo. Visitation is Sunday, June 21, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. Funeral is Monday, June 22, at 10 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo with Father Paul Wienhoff officiating. Mrs. Ebersohl will be buried at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo.
 

Helen (Steffenauer) Letorney, 103, of Columbia, died June 18, 2009, at Delmar Gardens West in Chesterfield, Mo. She was born Feb. 25, 1906, in Columbia, the daughter of the late Conrad and Anna (Vogt) Steffenauer. She was married to the late Joseph Letorney. Mrs. Letorney was preceded in death by her sisters Clara Lepp, and Margaret Lepp; along with a brother, Michael Steffenauer. She is survived by nieces and nephews, along with other relatives and friends. She was a retired hair stylist with Dillards in downtown St. Louis, Mo. A memorial mass will be Saturday, June 27, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Letorney will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund.

Ruth Eschmann, nee Korte, 83, of Waterloo, died June 17, 2009 in Waterloo. She was born July 24, 1925 in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Bernard and Frances (nee Cawi) Korte. Mrs. Eschmann is survived by her daughters Jean (Amando) Lopez of Arnold, Mo., and Carol (Daniel) Berkemann of Waterloo; grandchildren Laura and Stephen Lopez; sisters Bernadette Pieper of Waterloo, Loretta (Clint) Morrissett of Waterloo and Adele (Ellery) Hawkins of Waterloo; and a sister-in-law, Bernadine Korte of Warren, Mich.; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Eschmann; and a brother, Lester Korte. She was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Visitation is Friday, June 19, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, June 20, at 10 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Don Blaes officiating. Memorials may be made to the SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery Fund or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
 

Dorothy Schmitt, nee Wild, 80, of Waterloo, died June 13, 2009, in Red Bud. She was born Feb. 3, 1929 in Fults, the daughter of the late Harry and  Meta (nee Boersch) Wild. Mrs. Schmitt is survived by her children, Joel (Cheryl) Schmitt of Waterloo, Thomas (Susan) Schmitt of Waterloo, William (Jane) Schmitt of Waterloo, Christine (Dennis) Lutz of St. Louis, Mo., Judi (Duane) Hergenroeder of Waterloo, Fredric Schmitt of Waterloo and Jeffry (Beth) Schmitt of St. Louis, Mo.; and grandchildren Cadi Russell, Jeff Ries, Brian Schmitt, Sarah Schmitt, Jessica Harris, John Henry Schmitt, Adam Martin and Glee, Jimmy and Roxy Schmitt; along with three great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Hubert "Hugh" Schmitt; a son, John Charles Schmitt; brother, Melvin Wild; and sister, Bernice Pflasterer. Mrs. Schmitt was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Waterloo. Visitation was at  Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. She was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials made be made to the Dora Wild Benefit.