Today's News - September 23, 2009

Waterloo High School’s Homecoming Parade is this evening, Wednesday, Sept. 23. It begins at 6 p.m. and will make its way down Main Street. The theme is “Let The Games Begin.”

Bulldogs Smash Their Way To Conference Victory

Waterloo junior Alex Rohlfing, right, prepares to pound the kill shot past Mascoutah’s Mckenzie Sirtak, 6, and Ashley Evans, 11, during a conference game Tuesday at the WHS gym. The Lady Bulldogs beat the Indians 25-18 25-21 to improve their record to 13-2. They sit atop the Mississippi Valley Conference with a record of 3-0.     - photo by Bob Haentzler/game photos on line at www.gatewayphoto.net

Dylan Grace shot a hole in one Sept. 12 at the Waterloo Country Club. He used a seven iron on hole #2. That makes three holes in one at the WCC this summer. The others were Clayton Stoker on hole #9 and Darrell Nave on hole #2.

Flu Shots At Garden Place: The Visiting Nurses Association will administer flu shots to the public at each Garden Place Senior Living community during the first weeks of October. The cost is $25. Cash or checks will be accepted, plus when applicable, the VNA will bill Medicare Part B, Advantra (Medicare HMO/GHP), Mercy Premier (Medicare HMO), Essence (Medicare HMO) and Health Alliance. On Oct. 1, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., they will be at the Columbia Garden Place at 710 S. Main Street. The flu shots will be offered at the Millstadt location, 208 S. Kossuth, on Oct. 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Red Bud facility, 351 Lockwood Drive, will have flu shots on Oct. 8, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday Night Football
Civic Memorial at Waterloo
Freeburg at Red Bud
Columbia at Carlyle
Dupo at Wesclin

Waterloo Marching Band Wins Murphysboro Competition

The Waterloo High School Marching Band was named the grand champion of the Drums at Appletime Invitational last weekend. The event is part of the Murphysboro Appletime Festival. The squad from WHS has brought home the top honors every year since 2004.

WHS Band Director Mike Mullins walks along with the Marching Bulldogs during the Murphysboro Appletime Festival. They won the grand championship banner the night before at the Drums At Appletime Invitational.                    – photo by Dan Poetker

The Waterloo Marching Band’s color guard marches in the Murphysboro Appletime Festival parade.                – photo by Dan Poetker

 
State Rep. Dan Reitz has announced his intentions to seek re-election to the office of the 116th District State Representative. “It’s an honor and a privilege to serve the hard working men and women of this district,” said Reitz. “While much has been accomplished, there is much more work left to be done. Illinois, like all states, is suffering due to the severe national recession. Getting the economy turned around and helping people back to work has to be job one.”

Reitz said the major accomplishment during this year’s legislative session was the passage of the first statewide capital construction program in a decade. Preliminary work has begun on rebuilding many of Illinois’ roads, bridges, passenger rail lines and public facilities. “With the help of the voters of the district, I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to make progress on the issues that are important to all of us in Southwestern Illinois,” said Reitz.

Waterloo High School’s golf team won first place in a match Tuesday at Triad. The team scores were Waterloo, 146, Highland, 161, and Triad, 162. Bulldogs WiIs Hawn was the medalist with a 35. Other WHS scores were Johnny Wirth, 36, Jake Brumfield, 37, Tim Yeager, 38, Clayton Stoker, 39, and Chris Pickett, 40.

Jeremy S. Brummer has been sworn in as a new officer for the Columbia Police Department. The Columbia High School grad will graduate from the SWIC police academy this November.

Jeremy Brummer, right, is sworn in as a new Columbia police officer by Mayor Kevin Hutchinson during Monday night’s Columbia City Council meeting.

Columbia Middle School student Samantha Hoggard has been honored as a “Do The Right Thing” award recipient. She and the nine other monthly winners will attend a ceremony Thursday at the headquarters of the St. Louis Police Department. Hoggard was recommended for the accolade by the staff at CMS. This summer, Samantha spent one hour each weekend cleaning up the parks in Columbia.
 

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.

Art On The Bluff Coming To Columbia: The works of area artists will be featured Saturday, Oct. 3, at the first-ever Columbia Art On The Bluffs. The display will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., along 15 blocks of Main Street in downtown Columbia. There will be 60 artists from Monroe County, the St. Louis Metropolitan area and as far away as Washington State. Works will range from watercolor, photography, jewelry, pottery, glass, drawings, mixed media, oil/acrylic, pine needle baskets, ceramics and printmaking. A variety of musical artists and dance and drama performances will take place at the venues. There will also be food, wine tasting, kids’ activities, a student art show and a classic car show. The Kids Art Walk will feature art activities, entertainment and the YMCA bounce and obstacle course. For more information visit the website www.artonthebluffs.com.

Recent Obituaries

Jean Marie Metter, 72, of Columbia, died Sept. 18, 2009, at her home surrounded by family and friends. She was born Jan. 10, 1937, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Arthur and Louise (Saul) Toenjes. She married Clemence J. Metter in 1956. He died in 1998. Mrs. Metter is survived by her children John (Stephanie) Metter of Monroe, Mich., James (Nancy) Metter of Columbia, Judy (Mark) Sharkey of Columbia, Joe (Teri) Metter of Columbia, Susan (John) Kowlok of LaPorte, Ind., Carl (Kathy) Metter of Westland, Mich., and Ann Thorburg of Waterloo; and brothers James (Carol) Toenjes of Bonne Terre, Mo., and Jay (DeAnna) Toenjes of Flagstaff, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Toenjes. Mrs. Metter had been employed at West Park Bowl in Columbia and was a member of the American Legion Post 581 Auxiliary. A memorial mass will be Saturday, Oct. 3, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Arrangements were handled by Lawlor Funeral Home. Mrs. Metter donated her body to the Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or Immaculate Conception School’s Education Fund.

Father Stout Memorial Mass In Red Bud: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud will have a memorial mass in honor of the late Father Tom Stout on Monday, Sept. 28, at 6:30 p.m. A reception will follow at the parish center.