E-Newsletter - October 9, 2009

Monroe County Republicans Have A Grand Ol’ Time At The Falls

Republicans from Monroe County and throughout Southern Illinois gathered Thursday evening for their annual Fall Dinner with a near-capacity turnout at The Falls. Candidates promoted their upcoming campaigns with speeches following the dinner. Local candidates in attendance were Dennis Knobloch, county clerk; Kevin Koenigstein, treasurer; Kevin Hirsch and Frank Kohler, sheriff; Carl Wuertz, assessor; Terry Liefer and Chuck Pittman, county commissioner; and Marc Kiehna, regional superintendent of schools. State-wide office seekers were Glenn Farley and John Piazza, State Rep.; Dave Luetchefeld, state senator; Brad Cole and Jason Plummer, Lt. Governor; Teri Davis-Newmann and Theresa Kormos, U.S. Rep.; Don Lowery, U.S. Senator; and gubernatorial candidates Adam Andrzejewski, Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft and Bill Brady. This is one of the largest political gatherings south of Springfield, said Myron Neff, chairman of the Monroe County Republican Central Committee.

Monroe County candidates attending the Republican Annual Fall Dinner at The Falls are, left to right, Chuck Pittman, county commissioner; Regional Superintendent of Schools Marc Kiehna; Kevin Hirsch and Frank Kohler, sheriff; County Clerk Dennis Knobloch; Country Treasurer Kevin Koenigstein; and County Commissioner Terry Liefer.

Mamino Sentenced To Six Years For Attempted Murder

Chief Edwards Critical Of How DCFS Handled The Case

The mother who attempted to drown her newborn baby at a friend’s house in Columbia last November pleaded guilty Friday morning. Elyse Mamino, 23, appeared before Associate Judge Richard Aguirre at the Monroe County Courthouse and pleaded guilty to attempted first degree murder, but mentally ill. Aguirre sentenced her to six years in prison, less the 225 days she has served at the Monroe County Jail. Because the charge is a Class X Felony, Mamino must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence.

The conviction stems from an incident Nov. 15, 2008 at a gathering at a home in Columbia. Soon after giving birth to a daughter, Victoria, in the bathroom of the home, she placed the baby in the toilet bowl. Other party goers were able to enter the bathroom and call for an ambulance. Columbia police officers and ambulance personnel soon arrived and pulled the newborn out of the toilet. The baby was rushed to a hospital and has since recuperated.

During the investigation, police officers also located the skeletal remains of a second child inside the mother’s home in Belleville. Court regards show that infant was born in 2007. Charges have not been filed regarding that matter.

Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards said he was very pleased with the conviction. He credited the hard work of CPD’s Sgt. Justin Barlow and Detective Karla Heine in solving the case. Edwards said the officers overcame a number of obstacles.“They worked with the highest amount of integrity and professionalism,” said Edwards. Barlow and Heine were recognized earlier this week by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Parade Magazine for their work in solving this case. They were presented awards at the IACP Convention in Denver, Colo.

Edwards said he was concerned at one point during the case when the mother was allowed to have custody of the baby. “I truly hope that this case is an eye opener to the director and the supervisors at the Department of Children and Family Services. Marking cases unfounded and returning children who are at risk while law enforcement is conducting an ongoing investigation is not a good way to do business,” he said.

Edwards has made arrangements to meet with the Director of DCFS to see they can work together to protect children involved in similar situations in the future. “These children are the most innocent and helpless victims we have in the state. Unfortunately, DCFS Director Erwin McEwen has failed to do this,” Edwards added. “I hope McEwen re-evaluates his department’s investigative role in the cases they handle and work with law enforcement to help protect the children of this state.”

Edwards also said he hopes Ms. Mamino gets the assistance she needs to become a productive citizen when she comes out of prison. He also expressed hope that baby Victoria has no long-term effects from the trauma she went through during her first minutes of life. “This case received national attention, so I hope that something positive is able to come out of it,” Edwards said.

Fire Week Teaches Children Valuable Safety Lessons

Children throughout Monroe County learned valuable lessons this week as part of Fire Safety Week. Firefighters from Valmeyer, Waterloo, Columbia and Hecker visited with grade schools and day cares to educate the children on many topics, including “Stop, Drop and Roll,” when to dial 9-1-1 and how to safely exit a burning home.

As part of Fire Safety Week, the Hecker Fire Department visited the preschool and child development class at Beck Career Center. Chief Ralph Eckart and firefighters Kevin Biffar and Gary Koenigstein taught the children fire safety lessons and gave them an up close look at the new HVFD tanker truck.

The Waterloo Bulldogs boys’ golf team won the Carbondale Regional earlier this week to advance to the sectional tourney which begins this Monday at Annbriar in Waterloo. The team scores were Waterloo, 309; Mount Vernon, 312; and Althoff, 312. The WHS  individual scores were Tim Yeager, 78; Clayton Stoker, 80; Jake Brumfield, 77; Wils Hawn, 77; Chris Pickett, 77; Derek Allen; and Johnny Wirth, 86.        

The Waterloo High School boys’ golf team celebrating their Regional Tournament victory are, left to right, first row, Tim Yeager and Clayton Stoker; and second row, Jake Brumfield, Wils Hawn, Chris Pickett, Derek Allen, Johnny Wirth and Coach Nancy Neal.               – photo by Julie Yeager

Columbia Boys’ Golf Team Wins Regional Tourney

On the heels of winning the conference championship last week, the Columbia High School varsity boys’ golf team won the IHSA Valmeyer Regional on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Prairies Golf Course in Cahokia. The Eagles shot a 312, followed by Red Bud High School, 328; and Carlyle, 333. While battling windy and wet conditions, Columbia’s Drew Weisenborn and Joe Bert each had the lowest tournament scores at 72 each for 18 holes. Weisenborn won the sudden death playoff to win the regional crown. Gibault’s Steve Souchek finished in third place and Red Bud’s Heath Kipping had the fifth best individual score. Besides Weisenborn and Bert, their Eagles teammates are Andrew Kreutzer, William Pirtle, Jordan Hiser and Alex Donovan.

The Columbia and Red Bud teams each advanced to the IHSA Sectional Tournament to be held Monday, Oct. 12, at Rend Lake. Gibault’s Souchek and Valmeyer High School’s Nathan Friz both qualified as individuals for the sectional.

The Columbia boys’ golf team celebrating their Regional Championship are, left to right, Drew Weisenborn, Jordan Hiser, Andrew Kreutzer, Alex Donovan, Joe Bert, Casey Jahr, William Pirtle and Coach Tom Detmer.  – photo by Alan Pirtle

The Columbia girls’ golf team advanced from the Staunton Regional and will play in the sectional event at  Lakeshore Golf Course in Taylorville.             

Friday Night Football

Friday night, Waterloo travels to Highland, Columbia hosts Breese Central and Red Bud travels to Metro East Lutheran. Waterloo’s game against Highland is a must-win for both teams as they clinging onto hopes of making the playoffs. Highland is 2-4 and must win its next three games be considered eligible for the post season. Waterloo has a record of 3-3 and must win two of the next three to have a shot. With the always-tough Triad on tap for next week, Waterloo will need to pull out all the stops to beat Highland.

Columbia is 5-1 and has won four straight to place them in first place in the Cahokia Conference. The Eagles welcome Breese Central (4-2) on Friday evening. Several CHS players were banged up in last Friday night’s victory over Cahokia Conference rival Freeburg. Linebacker Nick Sitzes suffered a season-ending broken leg and leading rusher Clayton Revelle will likely miss tonight’s game because of a concussion. Kyle Breitenstein was banged up also, but he is expected to suit up and be ready to play linebacker and wide receiver. Eagles quarterback Tanner Hall has had a great season, completing more than 70 percent of his passes.

Red Bud (4-2) travels to Metro East Lutheran, who has yet to win a game. The Musketeers have lost their lost their last two matches and are hoping to get back on the winning track tonight.

The Class 1A Columbia Soccer Regionals begin play Tuesday, Oct. 13. Columbia will take on Freeburg while Valmeyer faces Anna Jonesboro. Gibault received a first-round bye and will play their first game on Oct. 16. The class 2A Mascoutah Regional begins next week, with Waterloo playing Althoff on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Waterloo Tops Gibault In Cross-Town Match

The hard hitting Waterloo Bulldogs varsity volleyball team continued its winning ways by beating Gibault on Thursday evening at the new WHS gym. Gibault (12-13) played a tough match, but fell in two sets, 25-16 and 25-21.

Waterloo’s Alex Wood, left, and Alex Rohlfing, center, joust with Gibault's Sara Fox, right, during Thursday’s game at the new WHS gym.    - photo by Bob Haentzler / game photos online at www.gatewayphoto.net

In other volleyball action…

Valmeyer picked up two wins on the road this week with victories over Marissa and New Athens, improving the Pirates’ record to 12-4. Gibault suffered two loses this week, Mater Dei on Tuesday and Waterloo on Thursday. The Hawks are now 12-13. The Columbia squad had a strong week, posting victories over Red Bud and Granite City. They improved their record to 12-7.

Columbia’s Megan Galle spikes the ball past the Red Bud defenders at the CHS gym. The Eagles won the match in two sets. Looking on are Eagles teammates Maddie McDermott, Allie Joyner, Jordan Chamberlain and Tessa Amsden.

The Waterloo High School girls’ tennis team defeated Gibault 6-3 on Tuesday at Bolm-Schukraft Park in Columbia, Gibault’s home court. The score of the singles games, Rachel Webb (W) defeated Maria Lesko (G), 6-0, 6-0; Allie Sullivan (W) defeated Danielle Spezia (G), 6-3, 6-0; Britney Boston (W) defeated Paige Buckheit (G), 6-4, 7-5; Rachael Berenz (W) defeated Katie Lamack (G), 7-6, 6-1; Hanna Lundy (G) defeated Catherine Ward (W), 6-0, 6-1; and Macy Wierschem (G) defeated Shayna Busche (W), 6-3, 6-2. In doubles play, Sullivan/Boston (W) defeated Spezia/Buckheit, 8-3; Lesko/Lundy (G) defeated Berenz/Champ (W), 8-3; and Myers/Brennan (W) defeated Loless/Garner (G), 8-4.

Waterloo junior Allie Sullivan slams the ball over the net in her 6-3, 6-0 victory over Gibault’s Danielle Spezia.

WJHS To Play For State Title Monday: Behind a strong pitching performance by Reid Hoffmann on Wednesday, the Waterloo Junior High School baseball team defeated Carmi 5-4 to win the semi-final game of the Boys Class L State Baseball Tournament.  Hoffmann struck off 12 Carmi batters in seven innings to pick up the victory. In the championship game, the Junior Bulldogs (23-3) will face Harrisburg on Monday, Oct. 12.

WJHS ace pitcher Reid Hoffmann hurls one of his 122 strikeouts in the Junior Bulldogs’ regional victory over Carmi.    - photo by Bob Haentzler / game photos online at www.gatewayphoto.net

The SS. Peter and Paul girls’ softball team is hoping for a victory Monday in their championship of the state tournament in Coulterville. The Falcons defeated Giant City 5-4 earlier this week in the semi-finals. Madison Hutchcraft scored from third on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh inning for the victory. Brice Bement picked up the victory on the mound. The SS. Peter and Paul baseball team lost 7-1 in their state semi-final game. They will try for third place Monday, at 1 p.m., in Coulterville.

The SS. Peter and Paul softball team celebrates their semi-final victory in Coulterville.            – photo by Kim Papenberg

Fashion Designer Kelly Kealy-Maton To Speak In Carbondale

Waterloo High School graduate and acclaimed fashion designer Kelly Kealy-Maton will return to SIU Carbondale on Monday, Oct. 12 as part of the school’s Fine Arts Lecture Series. Her designs were recently featured on the television show, “Dancing With The Stars.” Kealy-Maton will speak at 7 p.m. in Parkinson Room 124 of the Brown Auditorium. The lecture is part of the ongoing fall Fine Arts Lecture Series at the School of Architecture. It is free and open to the public. A new gallery at the SIU C’s Quigley Hall features a temporary exhibit highlighting some of Kealy-Mayton’s work, including four handmade dancing gowns.

Kealy-Maton graduated from Waterloo High School in 1988. She is the daughter of Rich and Carol Kealy of rural Waterloo. Kelly showed an interest in fashion design as a Shamrock 4-H Club member for 10 years. After graduating from Waterloo High School in 1988, she headed to SIU-C to earn a Bachelor Degree in fashion design and merchandising in 1992 from SIUC. She now resides in Allen, Tex., with her husband, Jim and two children. Kelly creates competition dance attire and she owns DanceSport Designs. Her businesses’ website is www.dancesportdesigns.com.

Valmeyer High School FFA students took home the top two spots at the Section 22 Soil Judging contest Oct. 7 in Mascoutah. Eric Brellinger won first, while Kyle Kipping placed second. The VHS finished in second place overall, just behind Central High School. The contest required the students to determine percent slope, topsoil depth, topsoil and subsoil color, texture, structure, water holding capacity and subsoil drainage.

The Valmeyer FFA team competing in the Section 22 Soil Judging contest are, left to right, first row, Taylor Doyle, Sam England, Patrick Mollett, Eric Brellinger, Kyle Kipping and Kyle Koch; and second row, Amy Burns , Kristen Baum, John Wuertz, Dallas Robert and Carrie Rodenberg.

Recent Obituaries

Gilbert E. Birkner, 85, of Hecker, died Oct. 9, 2009 in Hecker. He was born Feb. 28, 1924, the son of the late Oscar and Appolonia (nee Kreher) Birkner. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Hedwig (nee Macke) Birkner; children LuAnn (Frank) Gregson, Gilbert L. (Deanna) Birkner and Jonella (Michael) Donius; son in law, Dane Wittenbrink; grandchildren Jeanne, Kyle (Amanda) Wittenbrink, Angela (Ryan) Szymarek, Dayne Wittenbrink, Scott (Lyndall) Gregson, Dr. Kristi (Jason) Moore, Katie Gregson, Danielle (Kyle) Doerr, Alexandra Birkner, Nicolette Birkner, Gilbert "Zach" Birkner and Andrew and Timothy Donius; and brothers Leo Birkner and Allan (Mary Lou) Birkner; along with six great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Evelyn Wittenbrink; and sisters Irma Lehr and Muriel Langenstein. Mr. Birkner was a retired farmer, a member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Hecker’s Holy Name Society, a charter member of Waterloo’s Sister Cities of Portaloo, the Hecker Community Center, St. Clair County Farm Bureau, a retired Prairie du Long Township trustee and the Citrus Ridge Neighborhood Association. Visitation is Sunday, Oct. 11, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m., at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Hecker with Father James Blazine officiating. Mr. Birkner will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church, Hospice of Southern Illinois or Gibault Catholic High School.

Mildred Laub, nee Hesterberg, 93, of Columbia, died Oct. 6, 2009 in Belleville. She was born Sept. 22, 1916 in Maeystown, the daughter of the late William and Ida (nee Trost) Hesterberg. Mrs. Laub is survived by a son, Ronald (Katherine) Laub; grandchildren Jessica and Zachary Laub; a brother, Wilbert “Whip” (Florence) Hesterberg; and a special cousin, Imogene (Charles) Yarbrough; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Laub; sisters Ardell Andres and Ida Kuergeleis; and brothers Earl, Ralph and Harold Hesterberg. Mrs. Laub was a member of St. John UCC in Valmeyer, the Columbia Senior Citizens and Valmeyer Senior Citizens. She volunteered at the Monroe County Nursing Home. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. John UCC of Valmeyer with Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Mrs. Laub was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.