Today's News - October 20, 2009

Bulldogs Come Up Short Against Freeburg

The Waterloo Bulldogs played a strong game Monday night at home, but Freeburg (26-2) played a better game. The Midgets hitters came away with a victory in three sets, 25-23-23-25 25-21. Waterloo (20-4) travels to Highland on Tuesday (tonight) for a conference match up. A win by the Lady Bulldogs tonight guarantees the conference title outright .
 

 Waterloo hitter Alex Rohlfing, right, prepares to drill the volleyball over the net as teammate Tia Kelly (18) looks on while Freeburg's Lucy Batch gets ready for the block.     - photo by Bob Haentzler / www.gatewayphoto.net

Waterloo varsity volleyball players honored Monday on Senior Night are, left to right, Maddie Dodd, Renae Wiegand and Alex Wood.    - photo by Bob Haentzler / www.gatewayphoto.net

Gibault Defeats Valmeyer In Two Sets

Gibault spikers took control early and cruised to a two-set victory Monday night over the Valmeyer Pirates (15-8). Gibault evened their record to 17-17 and conclude their regular season Oct. 29 with a game against Sparta. Valmeyer is set to take on Kaskaskia Conference rival Steeleville (19-9) tonight at the VHS gym.

Gibault’s Sarah Fox, #2, slams the ball over the next in a home game last week.

Free Storm Spotters Class Tuesday: The Monroe and Randolph County Emergency Management Agencies will host a National Weather Service Storm Spotter class at the County Annex in Waterloo on Oct. 20. The class will begin at 6:30 p.m. The class is free of charge.

Amanda Ahne received minor injuries after rolling her car Monday on Maeystown Road. The incident occurred near a curve at JJ Road near Wartburg. Ahne, 26, was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Louis County.

Clifftop To Teach Proper Means Of Getting Rid Of Honeysuckle

Members of Clifftop demonstrate the wrong way to eliminate the invasive bush honeysuckle plant.

Tracking, spotting and the proper way to kill the invasive bush honeysuckle plant is the topic of the upcoming Honeysuckle Control Days program. Clifftop, the Salt Lick Point Stewardship Committee and the Friends of Stemler Preserves invite the public to one of the two hands-on sessions – Saturday, Oct. 31,at 9 a.m., beginning at the Valmeyer School parking lot (transportation then to Salt Lick Point) and Saturday, Nov. 14, at 9 a.m., at Stemler Cave Woods Nature Preserve off of Stemler Road northeast of Columbia.

“This pretty little shrub is nothing but a thief stealing the water, nutrients and light from our native plants,” said Carl Daubach of Clifftop. Daubach added that bush honeysuckles are problematic due to their rampant and aggressive growth behavior. They form dense thickets that block sunlight, and prevent anything from growing underneath it. Thus native plants are pushed out, while new shoots are able to grow due to the bush’s high shade tolerance.

“In our upcoming sessions, you will get hands-on experience in identifying bush honeysuckle and distinguishing this evil alien invader from our native plants and hands on learning for the best methods to control it,” said Daubach.

Those attending are asked to wear weather-appropriate clothing, boots, gloves and bring drinking water. “You will also get a bit dirty or even a blister, but we will make this very informative and also fun,” he added.

Rick Keefe Honored For His Service To WHS

Waterloo High School Athletic Director Rick Keefe was recognized prior to the start of last Friday’s football game for his many years of service as a coach and athletic director. Keefe is retiring at the end of this school year. During the ceremony, Waterloo Athletic Booster Vice-President Lori Dillenberger presented Keefe with a lettermen’s jacket and folding chair so he can relax in comfort while watching future sporting events.

Prior to the start of last Friday’s WHS football game, soon-to-be-retiring Rick Keefe, center, is honored with gifts from Waterloo Athletics Boosters Vice President Lori Dillenberger and President Steve Frank.

Columbia – Gibault Set For Regional Match-Up

The grandstands at Oerter Park will be packed Tuesday evening as local soccer powerhouses Columbia and Gibault are set to square off championship of the Class 1A Columbia Regional. Kick-off is under the lights at 7 p.m. Overflow parking is available at Christ Community Church. In their previous match on Sept. 15, Gibault won the contest 3-0.

Columbia leading scorer Tyler Payton, left, goes up high for a shot in a game Sept. 15, but Gibault goalkeeper Brenden Fourine holds on tight for the save. Gibault won the match 3-0, the team’s only match-up so far this season.

Gibault’s Garrison Shields, left, dribbles around two Wesclin defenders in the Hawks 4-1 Regional semi-final victory on Friday.

Columbia midfielder Nathan Alonza, right, looks for a pass in the Eagles’ recent game against O’Fallon.       – photo by Don Voelker

Deer Are On The Run This Time Of Year

The Illinois State Police are advising motorists to be on the lookout this time of year for deer crossing your path on area roadways. "In the last three months of 2008, in our district alone, we handled 249 vehicle-versus deer traffic crashes. And this number doesn't include crashes handled by the city and county officers,” said District 11 Commander Captain Jerry Culp. “In Illinois, there are about 20,000 deer involved in accidents with vehicles every year.”

Culp advises those who are heading into the path of a deer to not make a hard turn to swerve in an attempt to avoid the animal. “Swerving can result in head-on crashes with other cars, impacts with trees, guardrails or fixed objects or even rolling your vehicle over,” he said. “Actually striking the deer can severely damage the automobile, but the occupants routinely remain uninjured.” Culp said the best driving response is to avoid the animal by steering or braking while remaining within your traffic lane or the shoulder of the road. Motorist should keep their eyes focused on the roadway because, except for their eyes, deer are not reflective. “With low beams on, you can spot their bodies at about 100 feet, and this rarely leaves time for any evasive maneuver,” Culp said.

He said that deer are likely to be spotted in low lying areas, wooded areas close to roadways and cultivated fields, often near dawn or dusk. Culp reminded drivers that if damage to the vehicle exceeds $1,500, a traffic crash report is required.

County History Museum To Celebrate First Anniversary

The History Museum Of Monroe County will mark its one-year anniversary this coming Sunday, Oct. 25. More than 1,500 visitors from all over the area have stopped by this past year. Besides local folks there have been visitors from numerous states, Europe and Australia. Highlights of the museum in its first year include items from the Edd and Violet Kueker Collection, local historical artifacts, the stone-age rock shelter diorama and the special exhibits – quilts, Christmas, wedding bells of the past and the military salute.

The current exhibit, “A Patriotic Salute To Our Military,” runs through Nov. 9. The items on display are from local citizens who have loaned their military memorabelia from their years in the service. Thanks in part to a recent donation from the William Zimmer Family Foundation, a new addition to the facility will soon break ground. Plans for the upcoming Christmas season at the museum include a photo opportunity Sunday, Dec. 6 with Santa Claus in an old-fashioned sleigh.

The museum is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sundays 12 noon to 3 p.m. Group tours can also be arranged. The museum is located at 724 Elaine Drive near the Bellefontaine House on the south end of Waterloo.

Veteran Dale Schutt looks at his military items currently on display at the History Museum of Monroe County. Schutt served in the seventh Army stationed in Germany from 1957 through 1958.

Next Year’s Fair Schedule Announced: The dates for the 2010 Monroe County will be July 25 through Aug. 1, which is one week later in the year than it had recently been. Fair Board President Don Schrader said they are very pleased with the turn-out for last year’s event and they are looking forward to yet another outstanding county fair.

The American Red Cross will have a blood drive in Columbia on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Turner Hall. To make an appointment, call 281-6941.

Waterloo’s Metzger-Cook VFW Post 6504 is sponsoring a Memories of Elvis show starring Steve Davis and the Midsouth Revival Band on Saturday, Nov. 7. Proceeds will be donated to Operation Uplink and the Fisher House. Operation Uplink provides calling cards for servicemen and women. Fisher House provides housing for the families of injured military personnel while they are undergoing treatment at VA hospitals. More information is available by calling 939-4371.