E-Newsletter - August 28, 2009

One Injured In Rollover Accident On Route 3

One individual was injured Friday afternoon in a one-car accident on Route 3 between Columbia and Waterloo. The incident occurred right after 4:30 p.m. just south of Hope Christian Church. According to the initial report, a Chrysler Sebring was traveling northbound on Route 3 when the car crossed the median, drove over the southbound lanes and rolled several times before coming to rest on its wheels in a ditch. The driver was placed in an ambulance and taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. The name of the driver has not yet been released.

The Columbia Eagles soccer teams picked up wins during the opening games Wednesday against Alton. The JV won 3-1 and the varsity won handily 5-0. The varsity team had a tough time Thursday in the opening round of the Belleville East Invitational. They fell to the host team 6-0. The Eagles played Althoff Friday at 4 p.m. Waterloo kickers also lost their opening game Thursday as Belleville West came up with a 3-0 victory. The Bulldogs are now set to play Mascoutah Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Columbia Eagles’ Tyler Perjak, 3, puts in a goal in the team’s 5-0 victory Wednesday over Alton.

CHS’s Seth Aycock watches his shot get past the Alton goalie. Columbia’s junior varsity team beat Alton 3-1 on Wednesday.         – photo by Don Voelker

A blown transformer caused a two-hour power outage Thursday night on the east end of Waterloo. It affected an isolated area on the east end of town near Osterhage Drive.

The Alzheimer's Association In the Moment support group will meet Thursday, Sept. 24, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the classroom at Oak Hill, 623 Hamacher in Waterloo. Pat Felix, Oak Hill staff development coordinator, and Julia Olszewski, Whispering Pines director, will conduct an interactive presentation on Alzheimer's disease. Family members, friends or caregiver of someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is invited to attend. Additional literature will be distributed and refreshments will be served. For more information, call Julia at 618-939-3488, ext. 1248.
 

The Columbia Sister Cities will welcome more than 40 guests from Gedern, German from Oct. 2 through Oct. 11. A full agenda is planned for the visitors. A highlight will be the welcome party Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Turner Hall. The Oktoberfest is open to the public and will celebrate Columbia’s 150^th anniversary. Special guests have been invited from throughout the region to attend the festivities. The event begins with a 6 p.m. dinner and includes music by Die Spitbuam from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 per person and are available at Conrad Travel, 311 Wedgewood Sq., in Columbia. For additional information, contact Jean Marie Conrad at 281-5555. Columbia’s sister cities relationship with Gedern began in 1991. Visits rotate between the towns every two years. The Columbia delegation will next visit Germany in 2011.

Deacon Doug at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo was hospitalized earlier this week with a heart condition. After some minor surgery, he was released and is recovering at home.

High School Football Season Kicks Off This Friday: The 2009 high school football season begins Friday, Aug. 28, with games starting at 7 p.m. The local match-ups are Sparta at Columbia, Freeburg at Waterloo, Olney at Dupo and Red Bud at Pinckneyville.

Waterloo JV quarterback Brett Wiggers warms up before the annual Waterloo High School Orange and Black pre-season football scrimmage. He is hoping to see some playing time this year on the varsity team as well. As a freshman, Wiggers had a stellar outing against Civic Memorial. In that JV matchup, Wiggers threw for 492 yards with six TD passes, in addition to running one into the end zone.           - photo by Bob Haentzler / Orange & Black game photos online at www.gatewayphoto.net

Waterloo High School Athletic Director Rick Keefe said they have everything ready for tonight’s inaugural football game at the new stadium. There should be plenty of parking available in front of the high school. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for students. Kick-off against Freeburg is at 7 p.m. Pre-game festivities begin at 6:45 p.m. WHS alumni Bill Schmidt, Class of 1948, will participate in the coin toss. He starred on the Bulldogs baseball, basketball and track teams before enlisting in the U.S. Marines.

Waterloo Golfers Off To A Strong Start

Waterloo golfer Wils Hawn, right, tees off as John Wirth watches during a match this week with Southwestern and Jerseyville. Hawn tied with Tim Yeager of Waterloo for medalist honors with a score of 36. Waterloo individual scores were Hawn and Yeager 36, Derek Allen 38, and Clayton Stoker 39. Waterloo won the match with a team score of 149, Southwestern 180, and Jerseyville 183. The next match will be the Monroe County Tournament on Sept. 3, at Annbriar. Waterloo is coming off a victory last week at the Quincy Invitational.             – photo by Bob Haentzler / www.gatewayphoto.net

In other high school golf news….  

Local teams set to hit the links on Friday include Red Bud at Oakville and Valmeyer at Marquette. Columbia defeated Red Bud 158 to 169 Wednesday at Annbriar. Scores of Thursday’s match at Annbriar were Carlyle, 166, Gibault, 189, Wesclin, 196, and Valmeyer, 208.

Suspects Sought In Crop Damage Incident

An estimated $10,000 in damage has been reported in a corn field in rural Valmeyer. The damage occurred sometime in the past couple weeks at property off B Road owned and farmed by Tim and Cindy Cowell. A witness saw a truck with several young adults inside driving away from the scene last Monday. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident, but no arrests have yet made. “It appears that between 5 to 10 acres of corn were damaged,” said Sheriff Dan Kelly.

The Columbia Unit School District has released the following statement regarding their filing of an appeal of Judge Dennis Doyle’s decision last week to allow a temporary injunction to the Kalbfleisch family to allow their son Carter to attend classes with a training dog, Corbin…

On August 20, 2009, the Circuit Court for Monroe County entered a Preliminary Injunction, to take effect on September 14, 2009, requiring Columbia School District to allow an early childhood student to bring his dog to school. The District’s compliance with the Preliminary Injunction will have a direct and negative impact on at least one other student who attends the Early Childhood Program. Specifically, the District is aware of at least one child who will suffer serious physical harm if he is exposed to animal hair. Additionally, the District is aware of multiple other children with medical conditions which may be impacted by the presence of a dog at school.

While the District recognizes the student’s desire to have his dog at school, it must weigh that desire with the rights of other District children to a safe and healthy learning environment. It is not a simple matter of moving students from one room to another, or even one building to another. The District has obligations under both state and federal laws which govern the education of children with disabilities. Those laws contain certain procedural safeguards which must be observed before educational services can be changed.

The Circuit Court’s Preliminary Injunction places the District in a veritable ‘Catch-22’ – violate the Preliminary Injunction or violate the federal and state laws governing the education of students with disabilities. For this reason, among others, on August 24, 2009, the District filed an Interlocutory Appeal with the Fifth District Court of Appeals, requesting that the Court of Appeals overturn the Preliminary Injunction. The District also requested that the Court of Appeals Stay the Preliminary Injunction pending the resolution of its Interlocutory Appeal.

The District acknowledges that The School Code does allow for a ‘service dog’ at school, but exercising this right requires meeting certain legal and educational standards that the District does not believe have been met in this case. The District maintains its commitment to providing all students of Columbia Community Unit School District No. 4 with a Free Appropriate Public Education.

Punk, Pass And Kick: Waterloo High School’s Athletic Booster Club’s 13^th annual NFL/Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12. The competition tests distance, accuracy and skill in punting, passing and kicking a football. Free registration is from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., for boys and girls ages 8 to 15 (birth or baptismal certificate required). It will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the old Waterloo High School football / baseball field. All participants will receive an authentic Punt, Pass and Kick certificate. Students on an Illinois high school football team are not eligible to participate. No football shoes, cleats or turf shoes permitted; only soft-soled sneakers allowed. Four boy and four girl winners will be awarded a trophy and advance to the Waterloo Sectional competition on Saturday, Oct. 24. Sectional winners could advance to the Team Championship competition Nov. 29 before the Seattle Seahawks/St. Louis Rams game. For more information, call Lenny Voelker at 618-939-3570.

The Monroe County Relay For Life is scheduled for Sept. 11 and 12 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Waterloo. The highlight of the evening will be the cancer survivors’ first lap around the course. The public is invited to attend the festivities. “There will be food, games, entertainment and lots of fun,” said Carol Bournstein, one of the organizers. “Bring the family and come join us and help us celebrate.” For more information, contact Bournstein at 939-8374 or by e-mail, gutterbeads@yahoo.com.

Recent Obituaries

Robert Limestall, 92, of Waterloo, died Aug. 28, 2009, in Waterloo. He was born March 3, 1917 in Fults, the son of the late Roy J. Sr. and Eleanor (nee Kemp) Limestall. Mr. Limestall is survived by his daughter, Ellen (Frank) Canova; daughter-in-law, Barbara (Bill) Steele; grandchildren Kathryn Canova, Caroline Canova, Mark (Carol) Limestall and William Limestall; great-grandchildren Nickolas and Nickala Limestall; and brothers Roy J. Limestall Jr. and Wallace (Betty) Limestall; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn (nee Knapp) Limestall; a son, Michael Limestall; and sisters Vivian Faust, and Lois (Herb) Wolf. Mr. Limestall was a retired Senior Chief Petty Officer with the U.S. Navy and was the former owner/operator of Limestall Plumbing. He was a member of St. Paul UCC in Waterloo, the Waterloo Lions Club and was with the Waterloo Oddfellows for more than 50 years. Mr. Limestall was a charter member of Waterloo VFW Post 6504. Visitation is Sunday, Aug. 30, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m., at the funeral home with Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. Mr. Limestall will be buried at the Waterloo City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Waterloo Senior Center Van Fund or Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Sheryl Mounce, nee Barnett, 65, of Waterloo, died Aug. 26, 2009 in St. Louis, Mo. She was born May 2, 1944 in Palmerston North, Levin, New Zealand, the daughter of the late Arthur Pethrun and Avril Maryl Jean (nee MacLeod) Barnett. Mrs. Mounce is survived by her husband, Bill Mounce; children Sherrie Schmidt, Michael (Amanda) Mounce and Laurie Mounce; grandchildren Andrea Jett, Ashley Schmidt, Katelyn Mounce, Skye Mounce, Kristian Mounce, Isaac Kmucha, Autumn McEntire, Summer McEntire and Trinity Mounce; and sisters Veronica (Len) Mitchell and Leigh Barnett. Memorials may be made to the American Stroke Association.

Elzada Seidler, nee Bunch, 83, of Valmeyer, died Aug. 26, 2009 in Waterloo. She was born July 9, 1926 in Calhoun County, the daughter of the late Paul and Gertrude (nee Vetter) Bunch. Mr. Seidler is survived by her children Gary Seidler (friend Diana Blackwell) of Valmeyer and Linda (Eric) Offermann of Fults; grandchildren Michelle (Joseph) Domer, Eric (Jennifer) Seidler, Scott (Jamie) Offermann and Jeremy (Regina) Offermann; great-grandchildren Jessica, Megan and Jason Helf, Spencer Domer, Griffin, Logan and Sophie Seidler, Lacie and Jaden Offermann and Hayley and MacKenzie Offermann; and sisters Elaine Brangenberg, Darlene Hausman and Bonnie (James) Yaeger; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor Seidler. Mrs. Seidler was a member of the Women’s Fellowship at St. John UCC of Valmeyer and the Valmeyer Senior Citizens. Memorials may be made to her church. Visitation is Friday, Aug. 28, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, Aug. 27,l at 1 p.m., at St. John UCC of Valmeyer with Pastor Dana Schindler officiating. Mrs. Seidler will be buried at the church’s cemetery.

George Cradle, 91, died Aug. 24, 2009. He was born Sept. 20, 1918 in East St. Louis. After growing up in Monroe County, Mr. Cradle graduated in 1950 from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., with a Bachelor’s Degree in Geological Engineering. In 1960, he earned a law degree from South Texas College of Law. He was a charter member and treasurer of Delta Theta Phi Fraternity (Townes Chapter). He retired from Exxon and practiced law in Houston, Tex. Mr. Cradle served as an Army officer in the Americal Division of the South Pacific during World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster on the Island of Bougainville. He retired from the Army Reserves in 1978. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Phyllis Archer; a daughter, Nan (Larry) Esker of Sealy, Tex.; and granddaughters Lisa (Charles) Matz of Dallas, Michelle McDorman of Abilene, Christy Johnson and Tracey Rucker; along with his best friend Willie of Sealy, Tex. Visitation is Sunday, Aug. 30, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo. A graveside service will be Monday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m., at St. Paul Evangelical Burial Park (Kolmer) in Waterloo.

Edna Easton, nee Hern, 89 of Belleville, died Aug. 25, 2009, in Goodfield, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Rob Pierce. She was born March 1, 1920, in Monroe County, the daughter of the late Henry and Louisa Hern, nee Rodenberg. In addition to her parents,  Mrs. Easton was preceded in death by her husband of almost fifty years, J. Robert Easton; her son, Ivan R. Easton; sister, Pauline Ludwig; and brothers Harry, Roy, Ervin and Norman Hern. She is survived by her children: Mavis (Bill) Caswell of Belleville, Judith (Floyd) Crowder of Columbia, Allan (Jan) Easton of Alto Pass and Kimberly (Robert) Pierce of Goodfield; and grandchildren Bill and Curt Caswell, Cindy Siddle, Shari Kaemmerer, Joy Scoggins, Andrea Khoury, Michelle Gaither, Jeff and Tim Easton, Gina Wiles, Tammy Schluter and Courtney, Caleb, Noah and Easton Pierce; sister, Erna Geisler of Kansas; brother, Vernon (Jane)Hern of Wyoming; cousin, Mary Fiedler; and sisters-in-law, Marian (Norman) Hern and Norma (Roy) Hern; along great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A memorial service and private family burial will be held Sep. 25, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Fallon Assembly of God Church, 1400 Green Mount Road, in O’Fallon. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Warren Osterhage, 84, of Waterloo, died Aug. 27, 2009, in St. Louis. Funeral arrangements are pending at Quernheim Funeral Home.