E-Newsletter - August 7, 2009

Military Exhibit Unveiled At County History Museum
The History Museum of Monroe County unveiled a new exhibit last Saturday honoring local citizens who served the country. The “Patriotic Salute To Our Military” features items from the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War.  Military weapons, field equipment, uniforms, pictures and letters, war memorabilia and souvenirs, antique and collectible glassware and kitchen ware are on loan from private collections throughout the community.

Waterloo VFW Post Ladies Auxiliary President Sharon Kirksey thanked everyone for attending the dedication, especially the veterans. Kirksey added the young people of the county are encouraged to visit this exhibit in order to gain an appreciation for what the previous generations did to preserve freedom in the United States.

History Museum President Phil Horn said the museum is open every weekend and hopes to get a big turn-out of visitors to see the new exhibit. The History Museum is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sundays 12 noon to 3 p.m. Group tours can also be arranged. The museum is located at 724 Elaine Drive near the Bellefontaine House on the south end of Waterloo.

Waterloo VFW members Gerald Nungesser, Post Commander Stephanie Kirksey and Les Niemann raise a flag during a program last Saturday at the Monroe County History Museum.

Police Continue To Look For Bank Robber
The investigation continues into finding the individual who stole an undisclosed amount of money earlier this week from the Midland States Bank’s branch in Hecker. The alleged culprit was described as a white male, 5’ 9”, with brown curly hair, in his 50s or possibly 60s, wearing blue jeans, a gray sweatshirt and red hat. Police were also looking for a possible escape vehicle, which was described to be a pickup truck with the back window broken out.

Open House And Dedication To Be Held For New WHS
WCUSD Superintendent James Helton and the school board welcomes the public to the dedication ceremony for the new Waterloo High School located off of South Market Street. The event will take place Sunday, Aug. 16, at 2 p.m. An open house and public viewing of the facility will take place immediately following the dedication and last until 5 p.m. “Thank you for all your support in the building of our new high school and for addressing the needs of the children in our community,” said Helton. “The effort put in by so many can never be quantified - only qualified by our children’s futures.”

Dryer Catches Fire At Crown Linen
A dryer caught on fire last Sunday causing some damage to the Crown Linen facility located off of Rueck Road on the east end of Columbia. The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department put out the fire and set up fans to remove the smoke. There were no injuries.  
 

Matt Mehring was the winner of the Matthew Ehret Family Benefit Drawing. Mehring took home a new Yamaha 350 Grizzly four-wheeler. Matthew Ehret’s father, Robert, drew out the winning name at N & B Fuel Mart in Red Bud. The raffle raised $6,000 for the family. Matthew, 9, was killed and Robert was severely burned May 23 in an automobile accident on Route 3, just north of Red Bud. “We appreciate everyone who bought a ticket. It means a lot to the family,” Robert added.
 

There are two memorials planned to honor the late David “Big Bitts” Buettner of Waterloo who died Aug. 2 following a heart attack. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will take place this Sunday, Aug. 9, at 3 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church Hall on Hoener Street in Waterloo. (The time for the church service appeared incorrectly in the obituary in Aug. 7 edition of The Independent. The correct time is 3 p.m.) A memorial service for family and friends has been planned at Main Street Saloon, 220 N. Main St. in Waterloo, on Saturday, Aug. 22 beginning at 1 p.m.

Columbia Police Officer Karla (Ferkel) Heine broke her ankle Thursday while conducting investigative work along the Mississippip River south of the J.B. Bridge. She along with other officiers are continuing to look for evidence along the river regarding the Coleman murder case. Heine will be off duty while she recovers.
 
Columbia City Clerk Ron Colyer broke his ankle earlier this week while playing golf at Acorns in Wartburg. He apparently slipped while taking a stroke on an incline. Groundskeeper Pat Hill came to the rescue to cart Colyer back to the clubhouse where an ambulance was waiting to take him to a hospital. Colyer still plans to keep his hours at city hall.
  
Monroe County Assistant State’s Attorney Myron Hanna suffered a broken shoulder and rib injury while on an annual rock climbing adventure in Colorado with fellow attorneys, including State’s Attorney Kris Reitz, Arlie Traughber, Art Morris and Judge Dennis Doyle.

Tom Hootselle is hard at work organizing the third annual 5K Tiki Trot as part of the St. Augustine of Hecker Kirchenfest on Aug. 15. The nighttime run winds its way through the Village of Hecker. Runners are guided along the way by glowing tiki torches. “We already have 240 runners pre-registered and we are hoping more will continue to sign up,” said Hootselle. To sign up, call Tom at 618-340-2801. Tom and his wife Dawn have an open house this Sunday for their home for sale at 211 Eldondale in Hecker.  
 
Waterloo And Columbia Optimist Clubs Each Planning 5K Runs
The Waterloo Optimist’s annual 5K Homecoming Day Run / Walk is slated for Saturday, Aug. 29. Sign up is at 7 a.m. at Rogers Elementary School. The firing gun sounds at 8 a.m. To sign up, contact race director Brad Karn at 939-3970 or by email: BradKarn@hotmail.com. Mark Vogt (the banker) is heading up the Columbia Optimist Club’s fifth annual Columbia Daze Walk/Run. The event is Aug. 15 with registration starting at 7 a.m. and the race at 8 a.m. For information e-mail Mark at mark_vogt- @fnbstl.com.

Upcoming Summer Picnics
Columbia Daze: Aug. 14 & 15
St. Augustine’s of Hecker Kirchenfest: Aug. 15
Waterloo Homecoming: Aug. 28 & 29
Millstadt Homecoming: Sept. 5 & 6
ICS of Columbia Picnic: Sept. 7
 

The County Commissioners have agreed to conduct four board  meetings in the evening during 2010. Their monthly meetings currently begin at 8 a.m. Dates for the evening meetings next year will be Jan. 20, April 21, July 21 and October 20. The meetings will be from 7 to 8 pm., in room 220 of the County Courthouse in Waterloo. A special topic pertaining to a local issue will be chosen for each meeting.  
  
Oak Hill Financially Sound, Reports Taxpayers: Harry Reichert and Phil Canman, representing the Monroe County Taxpayers Assoc., attended a recent county commissioners meeting to discuss their analysis of the finances of the county-run Oak Hill Care Center. They found Oak Hill to be doing well financially.  
 
Blood Drive In Valmeyer: The Red Cross will conduct a blood drive Monday, Aug. 10, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., at St. John UCC in Valmeyer.

Tickets for the Valmeyer Centennial production of "Peace In the Valley" will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 1. The show highlights the history of the village through 1909. Curtain goes up at Borsch Memorial Park at 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20, Friday, Aug. 21 and Saturday, Aug. 22. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased by calling 935-2326. "Peace In the Valley" is based on the events in Valmeyer's history leading up to its official incorporation as a village in December of 1909 and is based on the centennial book written by Dennis M. Knobloch. Recently retired Valmeyer School Music Director Marcia Braswell teamed up with Knobloch to pen the script. The cast includes more than 35 members of the community who have been rehearsing their parts since mid-June. Braswell will also serve as director, while Knobloch and David Henerfauth will handle the scene designs. Also working behind the scenes are Anna Glaenzer and Sandy Baum (costume coordinators), Scott Roever (sound director) and David Atkinson (lighting director.)

Poker Run And Washer Tournament To Benefit Coleman Fund
Proceeds from a poker run and washer tournament next weekend will be donated to a trust set up in honor of Sheri Coleman and her sons, Gavin and Garett. The event will take place Saturday, Aug. 8. Registration for the poker run begins at 11 a.m., at the Bluejay football field behind Parkview Elementary. The donation is $10 per vehicle. The ride will leave at 12:30 p.m. and make stops at several locations before finishing at Top Shooters on the north end of Columbia at 6 p.m.

Entertainment at Top Shooters will include live music and a washers tournament. Sign up for the washers tournament is at 11 a.m. and play begins at 12 noon. Cost is $20 per two-man team. “We’ll have payouts for first, second and third places,” said Ben Wienhoff, one of the event’s organizers. All skill levels are invited to participate.

Flood District Officials Conduct Forum At Melvin Price Locks
Monroe County officials were among area leaders that met Monday with FEMA  personnel and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at  Alton. The partnering meeting for the Metro East Levees Project was held aboard the corps’ Motor Vessel Mississippi docked at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam 26. The corps organized the meeting as a forum for leaders of the area’s levee districts and flood prevention districts. Local, state and other government officials were also invited to discuss progress on the ongoing, massive levee repair projects that extend from Alton to Columbia. Those attending included Monroe County Flood District Commissioner Bruce Brinkman, County Commissioner Terry Liefer, County Commissioner Mike Kovarik and County Coordinator Linda Lehr, along with Madison and St. Clair County officials.

The three-county Flood Prevention District Council signed a memorandum of understanding with the corps. The memorandum is designed to clarify the relationship between the flood prevention district council and the corps. The goal of the project is to achieve recertification of the flood protection systems that include Madison, St. Clair and Monroe Counties. The memorandum was signed  by Col. Thomas O’Hara, USACE district engineer; Les Sterman, chief supervisor of the flood district council; and Jim Pennekamp, president of the flood district council. The content of the memorandum had  been previously approved at the July 30 meeting of the entire council.

The Monroe County YMCA is coordinating a school supply drive for area students in need. They invite the public to participate in their Backpack Attack program. Needed supplies include backpacks, crayons, rulers, notebooks, erasers, calculators, pens and pencils. Supplies can be dropped off through Aug. 7 at the following locations: (For more information, contact Marge Francois at 281.9622.)
Columbia: Monroe County YMCA, Market Place, Joe Boccardi’s Ristorante, Regions Bank, Walgreens, West Park Bowl and First National Bank of Waterloo.
Waterloo: City Hall, Schnucks, Rural King, First National Bank of Waterloo and Gene’s Barber Shop.
Millstadt: First National Bank of Waterloo and Schmidt Chiropractic Clinic.
Valmeyer: Corner Pub.
 
Mon-Clair Baseball League Standings
Waterloo 11-9
Valmeyer 10-10
Millstadt 6-14
Columbia 5-13
 
Mon-Clair Baseball Games This Sunday  
At Alton
Noon:  Valmeyer at Alton
2 p.m. Valmeyer at Edwardsville
 
At Belleville’s White Herzog Field
Noon: Belleville vs. Waterloo  
2 p.m. Waterloo vs. Columbia
4 p.m. Columbia vs. Belleville
 
At Moody Park in Fairview Heights
Noon: Fairview Heights vs. Millstadt
2 p.m.: St. Louis Spikes vs. Millstadt


Columbia Awarded Pedestrian Safety Grant
The City of Columbia has received a $70,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation to install fixed speed feedback signs on Main St. near Immaculate Conception School and Parkview Elementary School. The award was part of $13.1 million in Safe Routes To School grants announced by Governor Pat Quinn. The federally-funded program is designed to enable and encourage children to walk and bike to school.

“This grant request and the School Safety Plan that led up to it were a true community partnership,” said Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson.

The application process was assembled by a steering committee that included city and school district officials along with representatives from the Monroe County YMCA, Helmets First! and other local civic groups.

The annual Fort de Chartres Polonois Shoot is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 9, at 2 p.m.

Recent Obituaries
Kelly Nobbe, nee Burk, 26, of Waterloo, died Aug. 7, 2009 at her residence. She was born Feb. 24, 1983 in Belleville. She was married to Jared Nobbe. Funeral arrangements are pending at Quernheim Home.

Terry Otten, 44, of Columbia, died Aug. 6, 2009. He was born March 12, 1965 in Red Bud, the son of Marvel and Mary Otten. In addition to his parents, Mr. Otten is survived by a sister, Donna (Keith) Washausen; brother, Gene (Kim) Otten; and nieces and nephews Jessica Otten, Nicolas Otten, Kasey Washausen and Emma Otten; along with aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by a grandfather, Leroy Otten. Mr. Otten was employed at Nestle-Purina in St. Louis, Mo. for 25 years. Visitation is Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral will immediately follow with Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Mr. Otten will be buried at Valhalla in Belleville.
 
Gladys Mroz, nee Morton, 72, of Rockwood, formerly of Waterloo, died Aug. 5, 2009 in Chester. She was born Jan. 28, 1937, in Ellington, Mo., the daughter of the late Herman Morton and the late Alice Willet nee Davis. Mrs. Mroz is survived by her children, Linda Novack of Waterloo, Floyd (Paula) Engel of Chester, Kathy (David “Fritz”) Engel-Edwards of Rockwood; a stepson, Michael Mroz of Alton; grandchildren Scott (Michelle Molinari) Kaestner, Brandi (Rich) Nelson, Blake Novack, Stacy (Tony) Mooney, Zachary (Casey) Engel and Brittany Engel; and nine great-grandchildren; along with sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Mroz Jr.; daughter, Debra (nee Engel) Faverty; grandson, Christopher Faverty; sister, Doris Quirin; and half-brother, Herman Davis. She was the former owner of Gem Dry Cleaners. Visitation is Friday, Aug. 7, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, Aug. 8, at 10 a.m., at the funeral home with Pastor Thomas Klausing Sr. officiating. Mrs. Mroz will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo.
 
David “Big Bitts” Buettner, 51, of Waterloo, died Aug. 2, 2009 in St. Louis, Mo. He was born July 24, 1958 in Red Bud, the son of Victor and Iris (nee Nagel) Buettner of Waterloo. In addition to his parents, Mr. Buettner is survived by a brother, Marc Buettner; a sister, Dawn (Don) Sutter; a nephew, Shane Buettner; nieces Abbey and Amanda Sutter; and a step-grandmother, Audrey Nagel. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, George and Nelda Nagel; and his paternal grandparents, Victor F. and Lena Buettner; along with other relatives and friends. Mr. Buettner was a maintenance machinist at Amsted Steel Industry in Granite City, a member of the Maeystown Sportsman’s Club and an avid Harley rider. At his request, there will be no visitation and his body will be cremated. A memorial service celebrating his life has been planned at Main Street Saloon, 220 N. Main St. in Waterloo, on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 1 p.m. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will take place this Sunday, Aug. 9, at 3 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church Hall on Hoener Street in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wartburg or the American Diabetes Association.
 
Alice Cunio, 83, of Waterloo died Aug. 3, 2009 in Belleville. She was born Dec. 14, 1925 in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Harry and Grace (nee Knowles) Kaufmann. Mrs. Cunio is survived by her husband, Thomas Cunio; daughters Judy (Hugh) Quigley, Catherine Haney, Deborah (Stephen) Karwoski and Lori Goudey; sisters Evelyn Ruff and Nancy Grimshaw; a brother, Harry Kaufmann; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Phoebe Schmitt. Mrs. Cunio was a homemaker and graduated from Waterloo High School in 1943. Visitation is at the DeFabio Funeral Home on Friday, Aug. 7 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A funeral will immediately follow with the Rev. Sandra La Rouche officiating. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.