Today's News - August 25, 2009

Waterloo Firefighters Use Old Vogt Barn In Training Session

Several motorists pulled over Monday night to watch an old barn burn down between Moore Street and Route 3 in Waterloo. A wood barn at the old Erwin Vogt farm was planned to be taken down and Waterloo firefighters used this opportunity for a training session. Property owner Susan Ward had previously informed the Waterloo Fire Department her plans to demolish the structure.

“We conducted four live burn trainings inside the barn before letting it all go up in flames,” said Fire Chief Mark Yeager. “These opportunities prove to be a very valuable experience for our firefighters, especially the new guys.”

The flames could be seen for miles around and numerous vehicles pulled over onto the Gibault High School parking lot and on Station Crossing Street to get a better view.

Ward operated the Drury House out of the house for several years. The business has since moved to a spot closer to downtown Waterloo. She is a daughter of Erwin Vogt, who farmed the ground until his passing several years ago. Bernie Vogt, Ward’s first cousin, currently farms the land.

Ward is having an estate sale at the farmhouse this weekend, from Thursday, Aug. 27 through Sunday, Aug. 30. “We’ll be selling household items, furniture, antiques, refrigerators, area rugs and whole bunch of other things,” said Ward.

An old barn at the former Erwin Vogt farm goes up in flames Monday night as part of a training session conducted by the Waterloo Fire Department.        - photo by Bob Haentzler / www.gatewayphoto.net

A Columbia man received two tickets following an accident Sunday evening in Columbia. Curt Kopp was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and DUI. According to the police report, Kopp, 73, lost control of his vehicle while driving north in the 300 block of North Metter Street. The car went off the roadway and landed on its side propped against a row of bushes in front of the Bierman residence. Columbia firefighters and police officers assisted Columbia EMS in pulling Kopp from his vehicle. He was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.

Columbia city worker Mike Sander replaces a stop sign along North Metter Street following an accident the night before involving Curt Kopp.

There were 64 donors giving blood Aug. 18 at the Turner Hall in Columbia. St. Paul UCC provided cookies and Dairy Queen gave out coupons for Blizzards. Those reaching gallon milestones were Dan Moss, Karen Mueller and Marvin Smith, 1; Kurt Jahr, 3; Raymond Fischer, 6; and Robert Toenjes, 8. The next Turner Hall blood drive is Oct. 20, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

County Treasurer Kevin Koenigstein has announced he will seek election to the post. He was appointed to the position upon the retirement of fellow Republican Merrill Prange. Koenigstein is now getting ready to run in the Republican Primary this coming February.

Court Proceedings Continue In Case Involving Corbin The Dog

The Kalbfleisch family and representatives of the Columbia School District met earlier this week to continue to work out the details of a training dog accompanying Carter Kalbfleisch, an autistic five-year-old, to classes. The CUSD had previously said they would not be able to accommodate the request, so Chris and Melissa Kalbfleisch took the matter to court. Last week, Judge Dennis Doyle granted the family a temporary injunction to allow Carter to attend classes with Corbin while the case makes its way through the legal system. Doyle said details of the arrangements would have to be worked out prior to Carter starting classes. “It looks like he may be able to start by Sept. 14,” said Chris Kalbfleisch. “But we still have a long way to go before this is finally resolved.”
 

Carter Kalbfleisch and his training dog Corbin.

Recent Obituaries

Elayne Kaye Adele, nee Poston, 50, of Waterloo, died Aug. 21, 2009, in Waterloo. She was born Oc. 29, 1958 in East St. Louis. She married Larry Adele in 1996 in Waterloo. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Adele is survived by her, Larry Adele; father, Ray Poston of Waltonville; son, Jason (Nicole) Wilson of O’Fallon; a sister, Vicky (Jeff) Woodrome of Waterloo; brother, William Ray (Sharon) Poston of Pekin; step-daughters Robin (Brad) Sewell of Collinsville and Teri Arn Adele; step-son, Eric Adele of Peoria; grandchildren Marc, Jason, Octavia and Orion of O’Fallon, Andrew and Mathew of Peoria, Brandon of Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Jacob and Johnathon of Collinsville; and nieces and nephews Jeff (Amy) Woodrome of Chester, Amy (Aaron) Liefer of Fults, Andrew and Heather Woodrome of Waterloo, and Diane (Mike) Thornton, Don (Lisa) Poston, Shelly (Jerry) Jones and Billie Joe Ingres, all of Pekin. She was preceded in death by a son, Mark Wilson; her mother, Frances (nee Smallwood) Poston; maternal grandparents, Ernest and Ester (nee Carmack) Smallwood; and paternal grandparents, Murry and Mary (nee Sparling) Poston. Mrs. Adele was a member of the Road Captors Club and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of Waterloo. Visitation and funeral were at DeFabio Funeral Home in Waterloo with Sister Ruefenacht and Sister Morrill officiating. She was buried at Valhalla Garden of Memories in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Anne Caroline Collie, 82, of Little Rock, Ark., died July 21, 2009. She was born Feb. 12, 1927, the daughter of Clarence and Lena Hoffman. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Collie was preceded in death by her husband, H.E. Collie Jr.; and daughters Donna Lee and Deborah Arnold. She is survived by a sister, Viola Muskopf of Columbia; daughters Jan Scoggins of Dallas, Tex., and Marcia Geyer of Mena, Ark.; grandchildren Ashley Graham, Lindsey Arnold, Julie George, Jackie George and Bobbie Tidwell; and a great-grandson, Gavin Arnold. Mrs. Collie was an executive secretary at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for 27 years. In her early years, she was a member of the Sweet Adeline’s, was a member of the PTA and a bowling league. She was a member of Central Arkansas Ballroom Dance Association and was in the gold level program at Fred Astaire Dance Studio. She was also an accomplished vocalist who enjoyed writing poems for birthdays and special occasions. Mrs. Collie attended the First Baptist Church of Mena, Ark., for several years and was a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church. Funeral Services were held at the Griffin-Leggett Healey and Roth Funeral Home in Little Rock, Ark., with Rev. David Moore officiating.