Today's News - July 21, 2009

Truck And Tractor Pull Barrels Through Fairgrounds On Monday
Great weather on Monday brought out a big crowd for the second night in a row to the Monroe County Fair. The main arena was roaring last night for the farmer's class tractor pull and ITPA truck pull. Tuesday’s events include the 4x4 truck pull and the 0,000-pound ISPA tractor pull. The fair continues through this Sunday. A complete listing of events is printed at the bottom of this E-newsletter.
 

A real crowd pleaser at Monday night's ITPA Truck and Tractor Pull was Jeremy Walker's 2007 Peterbilt “Double Down.”  Walker, of Gillespie, won first place in his class.                 – photo by Judy Brinkmann

Steven Yearian of Fults drives his tractor to a first-place finish Monday in the farmer’s class tractor pull.        – photo by Judy Brinkmann

Stan Kuehner of Waterloo took first place in the 9,000-pound Monroe County Only class Monday at the fair.         – photo by Judy Brinkmann
 

Little Miss Ashley Osterhage, left, and Queen Amanda Stumpf are keeping busy this week attending all the events at the Monroe County Fair. They were impressed with the high quality of photographed submitted for judging, above.       – photo by Ericha Sondag

Super Sized Prize-Taste of Monroe County Contest Underway
                 The Value Of The Prize Tops $6,500

A prize-package worth more than $6,500 will be awarded to the lucky winner of the Taste Of Monroe County contest to be awarded during the Monroe County Fair. “It will be winner-takes-all, said Jane Kolmer of the Monroe County Economic Development Council.  
 
The prizes have been donated by numerous Monroe County businesses. A complete listing is located at the website: http://www.thinkmonroecountyfirst.com. The contest is promoting the council’s Think Monroe County First” campaign, which reminds consumers to make purchases locally.
 
To be eligible to win, collect $100 worth of sales receipts purchased this July from business located within Monroe County. “It can be one receipt or a combination of many,” Kolmer added. “And you can enter once per day.”
 
You then need to bring the receipts between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to the Think Monroe County First booth at the commercial building of the Monroe County Fair.  “If you can’t make it, you can also have a friend or family member deliver the receipts for you,” Kolmer said.
 
The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the fair.

Rylee Sperduto, right, and her mother, Chrissy, participate Monday in the Super Sized Prize Taste of Monroe County. They hand their receipts to Jackie Hausmann of the City of Columbia, left, and Shannon Zarek of Mokka Kafeehaus of Columbia.
 

SUV Rolls Into Ditch Resulting In One Injury
Kellie Schuchman of Waterloo received a minor injury Monday afternoon in a single vehicle accident in rural Columbia. Schuchman, 16, was driving a 1997 Jeep Cherokee along Gall Road when the vehicle left the roadway just south of Steppig Road. The Cherokee rolled and landed upside down in a ditch. Schuchman and passengers Trevor Stout and Nathan Kinzinger were able to exit before emergency personnel arrived. Schuchman was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with an arm injury.
 

Four-Lanes Through Waterloo Gets State Funding
When Governor Quinn signed off on a $31 state capital bill last Monday, a portion of it is heading to Southern Illinois. This is the first major statewide construction program in a decade. “This program will provide for several needed development projects for local roads and bridges,” said State Rep. Dan Reitz.
 
Among the funding coming to local projects are $27.6 million for widening Route 3 through Waterloo to four-lanes, $19 million for bridge replacement and repairs to the Union Pacific railroad north of Dupo, $10.4 million for road improvements and resurfacing on Route 158 from Millstadt to Route 15, $5 million for Kaskaskia River bridge repair on Route 3 at Evansville and $1.1 million for a left turn lane into the World Shooting Complex in rural Sparta.
 
 “I am pleased that the governor approved this much-needed program, which will not only improve our state’s infrastructure, but also will be a great boost to our local economy,” Reitz said.  “Putting people back to work is fundamentally important to getting this mess turned around and it will help families all across the state who are struggling to keep their heads above water.”

Waterloo Mayor Tom Smith said he plans to meet with Reitz later this week to discuss some of the details of the road-widening. “We’re happy to have gotten the go-ahead on this project,” said Smith.
 
Engineering, surveying and land acquisition work should begin shortly in Waterloo, said Reitz. “The initial projection is that the four-lanes should be completed in about two to three years,” he added.

Outlaws Win Fults Softball Tournament
The Outlaws went undefeated (5-0) this weekend to take home the first place trophy at the Fults Softball Tournament. The beat the Murphysboro Clubbers 12-4 Sunday evening in the championship game. J.C. Hauling of Millstadt won the coveted beer drinking trophy.
 

The Outlaws celebrating their first place finish at the Fults Softball Tournament are, left to right, first row, Alex Voelker, Brad Stirnaman, Logan Stirnaman, Nick Prange, Chase Augustine and “Wild” Bill Steppig; and second row, Tim Lambert, Kevin Juelfs, Bob Dugan, Eric Zucha, Mike Buettner, Jeremy Steibel and Joe Habermehl.                     – photo by Julie Schwarze

Hecker Has New Fire Truck: The new Hecker Fire Department pumper / tanker truck arrived last Saturday. Firefighters Dale Papenberg, Marvin Gregson and Kevin Biffar headed to Brandon, South Dakota to pick up the truck at Crimson Fire Inc. “We’re having the striping and details painted on this week and hope to have it in service real soon,” said Biffar.

Dale Papenberg, Marvin Gregson and Kevin Biffar arrive back at the Hecker Fire Station on Saturday after picking up the new HVFD truck.

Betsy and Jim Stuart of Columbia will celebrate their 50 wedding anniversary with family and friends August 1 at Bolm-Schulkraft Park in Columbia. The park is very meaningful to them as “Big Daddy” Jim used to spend many hours coaching nearby, and Betsy has fond memories of playing with her children in the park. They invite their friends to stop by between 2-4 p.m. to help celebrate. Jim is a retired athletic director, coach and teacher from Columbia High School and Betsy is a retired Century 21 realtor and teacher. Their children are Steve (Tricia) Stuart of Dallas, Tex. and Kelly (Greg) Moss of West Frankfurt. They just welcomed their first grandchild, Wil Stuart, on May 1.

Scheduled For The Monroe County Fair
Tuesday, July 21 ($6 after 3 p.m.)
6 pm - Open Class Sheep Judging
6 pm - Open Class Horse Show
7 pm - 4x4 Street Truck Pull   
7 pm- 10,000 lbs. ISPA Tractor
 
Wednesday, July 22 ($2 after 5 pm)
8 am - Open, Junior & 4H swine judging
9 am - Premier & Market Hog judging
9:30 am - Rooster Crowing Contest (under pavilion)
11am - Superior Young Producer Contest (Rabbits)
12:30 pm - Open, Junior & 4H Dairy judging
5:30 pm - FFA Fun Night
6 pm - 4H, Junior and Open Class Goat judging
6 – 11 pm - Carnival Armband Night ($20)
7 – 11 pm – Rock band Dr. No at the beer stand
7:30 pm - Monroe County Antique Tractor and Garden Tractor Pull
 
Thursday, July 23 (free admission)
8 am - Open, Junior & 4H Beef judging
5 - 8 pm - Bud Light Brigade at beer stand
6 pm - 4H and FFA Market Animal Auction
6 - 11 pm - Carnival Armband Night ($20)
6 pm - Senior Class Horse Show
8 pm - Elvis Show (presented by HTC)
 
Friday, July 24 ($10 after 3 pm)
7:30 pm - Figure 8 Race
 
Saturday, July 25 ($15 after 3 pm)
9:30 am - Open Class Heavy Horse Show
9:30 am - Open Class Mule Show
11 am - Pedal Pull (children 4-12 years old) in poultry barn
11am - Youth Fun Tent
12:30 pm - Heavy Horse and Mule Hitch Classes
7:30 pm – Demo Derby – car and truck

Sunday, July 26 ($12 after 12 noon)
10:30 am - Mini Horse and donkey judging
12 noon - Sandcastle and Animal Sculpture Contest
1-3 pm - Thunder and Lightning Cloggers
4 pm - ITPA Truck and Tractor Pull

 

Recent Obituaries
Wilbert Wheat, 73, of Waterloo, died July 19, 2009, in Waterloo. He was born April 29, 1936 in Valmeyer, the son of the late George and Amelia (nee Rubemeyer) Wheat. Mr. Wheat is survived by his wife, Shirley (nee Plage) Wheat; children Pam (Rick) Mayor and Kevin (Joyce) Wheat; grandchildren Sean Mayo, Allie Snodgrass and Samantha Wheat; brothers Marlin (Janice) Wheat and David (Jean) Wheat; and sister-in-law Louise Gremmels and Kathy (Clarence) Buthman; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by brothers Robert and Leonard Wheat; mother-in-law and stepfather-in-law Ardell and Roy Krebel; father-in-law Edward Plage; and brother-in-law Billy Plage. Visitation is Tuesday, July 21, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday, July 22, at 10 a.m., at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo with Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. Mr. Wheat will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorial may be made to St. Paul UCC of Waterloo or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
 
Emma Sharp, 71, of Red Bud, died July 18, 2009 at her residence. She was born Oct. 31, 1937 in Milltown, Ind., the daughter of the late Alfred Temple and Viola (Oxby) Brewster. She married Hershel Sharp in 1955 in Winslow, Ind. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Sharp is survived by her daughter, Tracy Sharp of Waterloo; a grandson, Alex Schmidt; sisters Betty Snow of Indianapolis, Ind. And Jo Ann Radcliff of Petersburg, Ind.; half-sisters Melinda Early of Ogden, Utah and Leah Droshears of Dale, Ind.; a sister-in-law, Jo Ann Brewster of Orange City, Fla.; and special friends Don and Audrey DuFrenne. She was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Brewster. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud on Monday and at Curtis Funeral Home in Winslow, Ind., at Tuesday, July 21. Funeral is Wednesday, July 22, at 11 a.m., at Curtis with Rev. James Niece officiating. Mrs. Sharp will be buried at the Spurgeon City Cemetery.

Donald Walker, 71, of Fults, died July 20, 2009 in Belleville. He was born March 4, 1938 in Rutland, the son of the late Virgil and Mary (nee Redfairn) Walker. Mr. Walker is survived by his wife, Dianne (nee Huch) Walker; children Rick (Janet) Walker, Darrin Walker, Amy Glessner and Stacey Glessner; grandchildren Ryan Walker, Luke Walker, Monica Walker, Brittney Crook and Dustin Miller; great-grandchildren LeAnn Walker and Zachary Walker; and brothers Charles (Janet) Walker and Alvin (Myrtle) Walker. He was preceded in death by a son, Joshua Glessner; along with sisters and brothers. Mr. Walker was a veteran of the U.S. Army and retired from the Columbia Quarry. Visitation is Thursday, July 23, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Friday, July 24, at 10 a.m., at Quernheim’s, Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Mr. Walker will be buried at the Studt Cemetery in Renault.