Today's News - August 8, 2009

600 Bikers Gather For Poker Run Benefiting Coleman Family
Twice the turnout than expected participated today in the fifth annual Bikers Save Lives Benefit Run. “We were expecting 300, but more than 600 showed up,” said Meegan Turnbeaugh, one of the event’s organizers.

Proceeds from this year’s event are being donated to the Sheri, Garett and Gavin Memorial Fund, the family which was murdered May 5 at their home in Columbia. Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson said that although this community has been through a tragedy, he is proud of how the region has come together.

The run departed earlier this afternoon from Bolm-Schukraft Park in Columbia and winded its way to several stops in southern Illinois, including the Gateway Grizzlies stadium in Sauget, and bars in New Athens, Sparta and Red Bud. The last stop was Top Shooters on the north end of Columbia.

“We’re hoping for a great evening tonight,” said Top Shooters owner Tim Wheeler. “We’ve got a washer tournament, plenty of food and a rock band from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.”

Additional information regarding the Coleman Memorial Fund is located at the website: www.sheriannherboys.com.

Motorcycles, cars and trucks line up next to Parkview Elementary prior to the start of the poker run honoring the Coleman Family Memorial Fund.           - photo by Gage Wienhoff

Former classmates and teammates of Garett and Gavin Coleman gather next to the Bluejays Football Field.

Participants bow their heads during a prayer given by Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson.

And they’re off... Bikers start their engines and begin the poker run.

Don “Whipsaw” and Teresa (Polacek from home) Witt ride their chopper Harley Davidson on the Coleman Memorial Poker Run.

Bridge Into Rocher Undergoing Repairs
Monroe Countians heading into Prairie du Rocher this summer are having to take a detour. The bridge on Bluff Road on the south end of the village is undergoing repairs which are expected to take two months. Alternate routes into Rocher include driving through Ruma and taking Route 155 down the hill.

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.

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. 14 at the following locations: (For  more information, contact Marge Francois at 281.9622.)
Columbia:  Monroe County YMCA, Market Place, Joe Boccardi’s Ristorante, Mokka Java, 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.

YMCA Executive Director Jeff, Cernicek, right, drops off a collection container to Ray Boccardi of Boccardi’s Ristorante in Columbia.

Ida Dugan celebrated her 100th birthday today with a gathering of family and friends at the Waterloo VFW. Musical entertainment was provided by Kenny “Banjo Man” Oexner.

Recent Obituaries

Kelly Nicole Nobbe, nee Burk, 26, of Waterloo, died Aug. 7, 2009 at her residence. She was born Feb. 24, 1983, in Belleville, the daughter of Randall and Nancy Burk. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Nobbe is survived by her husband, Jared Nobbe; brothers Todd and Tyler Burk; in-laws, Tom and Jane Nobbe; brother-in-law, Brad Nobbe; maternal grandmother, Joan Geolat; aunts and uncles Cindy (Buster) DelaRoche, Peggy Geolat, Patti Geolat, Ben (Carol) Geolat, Larry (Carol) Burk, Mary Burk and Tammy Ripperda; and grandparents-in-law Edward and Joyce Nobbe and Lawrence and Betty Beckerle; along with other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by grandparents Bernard Geolat, Gladys Burk and Edwin Burk; and an aunt, Betty Mohme. Mrs. Nobbe was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. She earned her Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology from SIU Edwardsville. She was employed as a waitress at Annbriar Golf Course. Visitation is Monday, Aug. 10, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Stan Konieczny and Deacon Ron Karcher officiating. Mrs. Nobbe will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to St. James Catholic Grade School in Millstadt or Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo.
 
Terry Otten, 44, of rural Columbia, died Aug. 6, 2009 at his residence.  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; grandmother Billea 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.
 

      From the pages of The Peephole...
 Search Continues For Hecker Bank Robber
     Police looking for man over 50,
        wearing a hat and glasses.....
 

While dining Saturday morning at Courthouse Café in Waterloo, Harry Wolf denied being the individual who robbed the bank in Hecker last week. “I’ve bombed in Hecker, but that just telling a really bad joke while the Waterloo German Band was playing at the Heckerdome,” quipped Wolf.