Today's News - September 9, 2009

Waterloo JV Beats Columbia On The Gridiron

The Waterloo Bulldogs’ JV football team traveled to Columbia Tuesday evening and defeated the Eagles underclassmen 21-6.

Columbia JV quarterback Alex Schlemmer, center, can’t evade the Waterloo defense and goes down for a sack.              – photo by Gage Wienhoff

Columbia’s varsity and JV soccer teams took home victories at home last night against Breese Central. The varsity won 3-1 while the underclassmen edged out a 2-1 win.

DVD And YouTube Video Asks Folks To “Come Home To Waterloo.” A sneak preview of the newly released DVD promoting the City of Waterloo was shown last night during a meeting of the City Council. The DVD was created to increase tourism in the greater Waterloo area. The funding for the DVD, entitled America’s Favorite Hometown, was funded from proceeds of the hotel /motel tax.

The production touches on many of the reasons the council feels Waterloo is a desirable place to visit and live, including the small town charm of the community. The German heritage is discussed along with historical information regarding Peterstown House, Bellefontaine House and the History Museum of Monroe County. The free summer Waterloo Municipal Band concerts, the Monroe Actors Stage Company productions, ample shopping and the close proximity to St Louis are all pointed out in the DVD. An aerial view of Waterloo highlights the Courthouse square, both Konacik Park and Lakeview Parks, as well as the many area baseball fields, golf courses and recreational activities The numerous local dining venues are also mentioned, including J.V.’s Downtown Bar and Grill and Bobeck’s Sports Bar.

To view the video, visit the link on the YouTube website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcnLkq6-_50.

The Randolph County Health Department confirmed today the county’s first case of the H1N1 swine flu virus. Monroe County has had two reported cases in the past month and a half, said Monroe County Health Department Director John Wagner. He added that the local cases have not required the patients to be hospitalized, but they are monitoring the situation. A first line of defense against the swine flu is having clean hands. “We recommend thoroughly washing your hands several times a day,” Wagner said. To drive home the point, the Monroe County Health Department has distributed 86 gallons of Germ-X hand sanitizer to the local schools. The Randolph County Health Department is advising everyone to follow “The Three Cs” - Clean (wash your hands), Cover (cover your cough) and Contain (stay home if you're sick).

Families In Need Deadline Is Approaching: The Robert Mathews Foundation for Families in Need reminds residents which have fallen on hard times due to a serious illness, that the deadline to request assistance for this quarter is Sept. 30. To be eligible, you must be a Monroe County resident, diagnosed with a serious illness for a minimum of six months, with no lawsuit or settlement pending. The foundation has raised more than $23,000 in the past two years at its fundraising events. “It is because of their generosity that the foundation has been able to assist five Monroe County families in the past year,” said Linda Mathews, one of the foundations coordinators. To request an application or to donate to the fund, contact Linda Mathews at (618) 473-2139.

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.

   
Monroe County’s second annual Unified And Ready Disaster Preparedness Day is Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the grounds around the Monroe County Courthouse. The event promotes public awareness of the steps the county has taken to be prepared in the event of a catastrophe. In addition to the informational booths, children will have the opportunity to get an up close look at fire trucks and ambulances. Adults will also be able to sign up for upcoming courses to be part of the Community Emergency Response Team. For more information, contact Kim Strellis by email at atmococitizencorp@yahoo.com.

The fifth annual Hills and Hollows Half-Marathon and 5K Run / Walk is scheduled for Sept. 26. The starting gun fires at 8 a.m., at the Fire House. Participants make their way along the course, which rabbles through the scenic back roads surrounding Valmeyer. This event is dedicated to the memory of Melvin J. Fisher, a lifelong Valmeyer resident who died of cancer in 2004. Fisher was a member of the Valmeyer Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years and was involved in several other civic organizations in the community. His twin brother, Marvin, coordinates the annual run in his honor. “In the past four years, we’ve been able to raise more than $19,000 for Backstoppers and the Valmeyer Active Firemen’s Association,” said Marvin Fisher. Those wishing to participant are directed to the website: www.hillsandhollows.org. Marvin Fisher can also be contacted directly by calling 402-598-9178.

The Paranormal Society of Illinois will have an open house Sept. 26 at the Morrison – Talbott Library in Waterloo. Paranormal investigators from the Southwestern Illinois / St Louis branch of PSI will be available from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to answer questions related to paranormal research. Admission is free. For more information about the society, visit the website www.psiinvestigations.com or call (618) 767-7650.