Monroe County Independent

Valmeyer Fireworks Saturday, July 4

Columbia Fireworks Sunday, July 5

Despite this morning’s rain, Valmeyer’s fireworks display is still on for tonight. “It’s definitely a go,” said Margaret Brady of the Valmeyer Jaycees. In addition, rock band Aftershock will provide musical entertainment this evening in old town Valmeyer beginning at 8 p.m. The band will take a break just after 9 p.m. for the beginning of the fireworks.

Columbia’s fireworks display has been rescheduled for Sunday evening at 9:15 p.m.. Although the bingo was held today inside the American Legion Hall, Columbia’s kloepper games and washers tournament have also been rescheduled for Sunday. Washers begins at 1:30 p.m., and kloepper hands will be dealt at 5 p.m. All musical entertainment on Sunday, including the acts scheduled for Metter Park, will be moved to the American Legion Park. Bands on Sunday’s line-up in Columbia include Two Grumpy Old Men, Morland Drive, the Belleville Community Band, Columbia Sängerbund and Michael Lacey and his New Orleans Swing.

Rains gushed and rushed along creeks throughout Monroe County, including underneath the old rock bridge near the historic school house on the south end of Columbia. Rain totals included 2-6/10 inches reported by Dennis Knobloch in new town Valmeyer and 2-4/10 inches reported by Kim Karn of Waterloo.

Where’s Charlie? performed on the main stage Friday at the Columbia American Legion Park.

The Waterloo Fire Department was called out this morning to put out a small fire on the patio of a home just east of town. The initial report is that a fire occurred at 8 Country Lakes Lane, possible started by careless smoking. The fire was quickly put out with limited damage to the structure.

The WFD was also called out early Saturday morning to assist the Waterloo Police Department remove two teenage boys from the roof of Rural King. The boys apparantly climbed up using a drainage pipe. They were apprehended and later released into the custody of the parents.

The Columbia Historical Society will conduct free tours Sunday, July 5 from noon to 4 p.m., of the historic Fiege Home. The site is located on Main Street across from City Hall.

Rain Causes Delay Of July 4^th Activities

More than two inches of rain fell overnight and more is predicted, causing several events scheduled for July 4^th to be canceled. The Waterloo Optimist Tractor Pull, the fireworks and music at the Columbia American Legion Park and the Valmeyer-Mid Summer Classic baseball tournament have been canceled for today. There are no immediate plans to reschedule the Optimist’s Tractor Pull.

Columbia’s fireworks and music will be rescheduled for Sunday. The Columbia July 4 Committee Co-chairmen Louis “Hutch” Schlafly and John Conrad announced the decision to cancel today’s festivities. After inspecting the grounds, it was determined it was too wet to go on as planned.

Valmeyer will try and have their fireworks as planned. “If the weather gets better later on, we’ll try and get the fireworks in tonight in Valmeyer,” said Dennis Knobloch, regarding the Valmeyer Jaycees Colossal Fireworks display. They are also hoping to still have the Aftershock rock concert Saturday night. Folks are drying off the dance floor to have it ready by 8 p.m.

Games for the Mid-Summer Classic baseball tournament in Valmeyer have been moved, with a new timetable for Sunday. The games of the winner’s bracket have been shifted to the front of the line-up for Sunday morning at Borsch Park in old town. At 9 a.m., Waterloo will play Fairview Heights. In game two at 11 a.m., it’s Valmeyer against Belleville. The third place game (loser of the first two games on Sunday morning) will begin at 1 p.m., with the championship game to be held at 3:30 p.m. All of Sunday’s games will be seven-inning affairs.

“We are trying to make arrangements for loser’s bracket games to be played, but nothing has been finalized,” said Valmeyer Manager Dennis Pieper.

Non-baseball activities scheduled for Sunday in Valmeyer are on the same schedule, including the volleyball tournament, the lawnmower tractor pull and the parade.

While the fireworks and music have been canceled today in Columbia, the bingo and kloepper tournaments will continue inside the American Legion Hall. Bingo started at 12 noon and kloepper hands are dealt at 4 p.m. The washers tournament will be played Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Efforts are underway to reschedule music for Sunday afternoon and evening at the Columbia American Legion Park. Two Grumpy Old Men were scheduled for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Belleville Community Band from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the rock band Father Jack beginning at 7:30. The Music at Metter schedule Sunday is unaffected by the weather so far and will include the rock band Morland Drive from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Columbia Sängerbund from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Michael Lacey and his New Orleans Swing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fireworks at the Legion Park are scheduled for Sunday at 9:15 p.m.