Today's News - July 10, 2009

Fireworks Display Lights Up The Columbia Sky

Although there were fired a day later than originally scheduled, the wait proved worth the while in Columbia during the city’s July 4th Celebration this past weekend. Heavy rain Saturday morning caused the fireworks display to be moved to Sunday evening.          – photo by Gage Wienhoff

 

Remaining Mid-Summer Classic Games Canceled
During a Mon-Clair League meeting Monday night, it was decided to scrap the remaining games of the Valmeyer Mid-Summer Classic baseball tournament. Only one day of games of the tournament were able to be played before nearly three inches of rain fell from early Saturday morning through Sunday. A helicopter was even brought in Sunday morning in an attempt to salvage the games of the winner’s bracket.
 

Valmeyer Lakers slugger Matt Stuckmeyer connects on one of his six home runs he blasted during the home-run derby, which was held Sunday in Valmeyer in place of the tournament games. Evan Zalders of the Belleville Rockies finished in first place in the derby.              – photo by Dan Shackleford

Columbia Washers Tournament Chairman Glenn Stechmesser, center, congratulates second place finishers Bobby Randle, left, and Lanie Herbeck, right; and first place finishers Ed and Eddie Arras.             – photo by Jackie Hausmann

Recent Obituaries
Marion Ries, nee Gummersheimer, 78, of rural Columbia, died July 2, 2009 at her residence. She was born Jan. 27, 1931 in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Theodore and Alfrieda (nee Weltig) Gummersheimer. She married Harvey Ries in 1951. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Ries is survived by her children Diana Hamilton, Duane Ries (friend Ellen), Dean (Sharon) Ries, Donald (Debbie K.) Ries and Debbie (Rich) Koch; grandchildren Sondra Hampton, Jeremy (Katie) Ries, Nathaniel Hamilton, Kimberly Ries, Amber Quade, Amanda Koch, Timothy Ries, John Ries, Shawn Koch, Mark Ries and Ben Gates; great-grandchildren Steven Hampton, Emrick Hamilton and Benjamin Kent; and sisters Iona Juengling, Evelyn (Kenneth) Stumpf and Jean (Marcellus) Eckert. Mrs. Ries was a member of the local Home and Community Extension for more than 50 years. She served on various offices on the county and state level, including state board president. She was also a member of St. Paul UCC in Columbia where she served as a past-president of the Women's Fellowship, a longtime 4-H leader; the superintendent of photography for the Monroe County Fair, a member of Monroe County Farm Bureau, was active in Modern Woodman’s Floraville Camp, Sister Cities of Portaloo and organized the local chapter of TOPS. At Marion’s request, her body was donated to the Washington University School of Medicine. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 11, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul UCC in Columbia with Pastors Bob Goddard and Kris Avise-Rouse officiating. Memorials may be made to her church, Monroe County HCE, Monroe County Fair or 4-H Foundation.