Today's News - November 23, 2009

Former CHS volleyball players went head-to-head on Sunday, Nov. 22 in the Atlantic-10 Conference Championship. Anna Eytchison, a sophomore, plays for the University of Dayton and Sammi McCloud, a senior, is a star for St. Louis University. After each team had successful 2009 seasons, the Flyers and Billikens found themselves matched up in the championship game of the conference tournament played in front of a national television audience at the Frericks Center at the University of Dayton. St. Louis won the first two games of the best-of-five series, but Dayton turned the momentum around in game three. They were able to win three straight sets to take the title 3-2. The Flyers have won the championship tournament five of the past seven years. The victory earned Dayton an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. In the championship, McCloud had 10 kills and 15 digs. She was named to the 2009 Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team.

Red Bud Rings In Christmas Season With Holiday Happenings

The streets of the Blossom City were lined with revelers this weekend during the annual Red Bud Holiday Happenings. Mother Nature cooperated and brought pleasant weather to the enjoyment of all in attendance.

Saturday featured the chili, soup and salsa cook-off. St. John Lutheran was named the best in two categories – best  soup and best salsa. There was a tie for best chili between Trevor Stellhorn Catering and Red Bud Regional Hospital. The Midwest Express Softball Team garnered the award for best booth.

The weekend of activities capped off Sunday with the Christmas Walk. Santa arrived at noon riding on a four-wheeler provided by Wm. Nobbe and Co. He visited with children the rest of the afternoon at the Ziebold Building at the four-way. Andrea Jenkins was the lucky winning of the $1,000 drawing, followed by William Shaller, $100, and Jerry Caron, $50. The Rau and Cooper Law Office had the winning ticket for the 50/50 drawing.

There were a large number of deer entered in the Deer Fest. The big buck winners are Bill Ziebold, 218 pounds, and Lori Oakley, 191 pounds. The big doe were brought in by Bob Zetilor, 160 pounds, and Abbey Reeves, 103 pounds.

In addition, Jane Lucht signed copies of her newly released book, “The History of Red Bud and Horse Prairie.” She has been working on this project since retiring as the editor of the North County News. The book has been getting rave reviews and it is loaded with pictures and stories of days gone by.

The St. Peter UCC Choir sings Christmas songs Sunday at the Opera House in downtown Red Bud.

St. John Lutheran Church won the first place titles for having both the best soup and best salsa Saturday at the Red Bud Holiday Happenings. The team is, left to right, Paul Mollet, Amber Mollet, Todd Birkner, Meghan Mollet and Terry Harms.    – photo by North County News

Daniel Menke has reported for duty as a probationary trooper with the Illinois State Police District 18 in Litchfield. He graduated Nov. 20 from the Illinois State Police Academy after 25 weeks of training. Menke earned his diploma from Waterloo High School in 2004 and then received his criminal justice degree from McKendree University.

Tickets remain on sale for the Valmeyer Centennial Ball. The gala will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, at St. Mary’s Parish Hall. Cocktails hour begins at 5 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m. The Gateway City Big Band will provide musical entertainment from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and are available at the Village Hall, Mike's Convenience, First Bank and State Bank. Reservations are required by Monday, Nov. 30.

Maeystown’s Old Fashioned German Christmas is Sunday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., between the Old Rock Mill and the Corner George Inn. The festival celebrates German Christmas customs and music. Sankt Nickolaus will be strolling throughout the village greeting girls and boys of all ages. A highlight of the day will be house tour from 12 noon to 4 p.m. featuring three village homes decorated in their Christmas best. Tickets are $3 and available at the Maeystown General Store. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available for tours of the village from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Former Maeystown Church Pastor Ivan Horn (now of Hecker) will present two Christmas monologues in the ballroom of the Corner George Inn – at 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. There will be demonstrations of wrapping the sassafras tree and of paper star folding at the rock mill.

Food items will include the traditional Weihnacht stew, bratwurst and Kinderpunsch, all served by the St John Church Choir. The Maeystown Women’s Club’s annual Taste of Christmas will serve homemade desserts in the basement of the rock mill. In addition, the Village Kaffeehaus serve traditional German Glühwein as well as specialty coffees and wine. The Sweet Shoppe will feature stollen and gingerbread as well as a variety of other sweets.

Musical entertainment for the day will begin with organ music being heard over the tower of St John UCC from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Throughout the day at the rock mill, Carl Seavers, Jim Abbott and Mardy Eisleffel will play Christmas favorites on hammered dulcimer and accordion. The boys of the Band Room Brass will then stroll through the village from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Music will then move inside the Corner George from 2:15 to2:30 p.m., with piano music of the season by Larry Forsting. The Valmeyer High School Ensemble will be caroling from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15p.m. German Christmas carols will be sung from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., in the ballroom of the Corner George Inn. The day will be capped off at 4:30 p.m., in front of the rock mill with the traditional carol sing at the lighting of the village Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas tree). The O’Fallon High School German Club will demonstrate traditional German dances after the German Carol Sing.

The Maeystown General Store will be open all day offering gifts from both past and present and Georgia Mae’s Antiques will bring back memories of Christmas past. For more information, please call the Corner George Inn at 618-458-6660.

The 28th annual Waterloo Christmas Walk is Sunday, Nov. 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Waterloo. The event features shopping, a Christmas concert, free carriage rides and the arrival of Santa Claus at his hut next to the courthouse bandstand. Participating merchants include A World of Difference, Back On The Rack, Clark’s Country Oaks, Drury House, Echoes of the Past Antiques, Mill Street Treasures, Reime Jewelers and Gifts and Vickie’s Hallmark. Stop by those stores for your chance to win one of 17 prizes totaling $800.

The Waterloo Municipal band will present a free Christmas concert beginning at 1 p.m. at the courthouse bandstand. City hall will be open to allow residents to meet their elected officials. The event is hosted by the Waterloo Merchants Group and chaired by Julie Holtgrewe of Reime Jewelers and Nancy Gross of Echo’s of the Past Antiques. For more information, call 939-6517 or visit the website www.thewmginc.com.

Columbia Christmas Cruise Set For Nov. 29: To kick off the Christmas shopping season, the annual Columbia Christmas Cruise will take place Sunday, Nov. 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. “This is a great opportunity to gather your shopping buddies -- see what Columbia businesses have to offer, enjoy a relaxing lunch at one of Columbia’s restaurants and cruise down Main Street on a free horse drawn carriage ride with friends and family,” said Ellen Otten of Curves, one of the event’s organizers.

Participating businesses are Agnes Ross, Chic Junktique, Curtis Jewelers, Dee’s Floral and Gifts, Elements Off Main, The Final Touch, The Flower Company, Harres Furniture and Appliances, Mattingly Jewelry, Mist Spa, Vida Verde, Rooster’s Health Food, Shady Creek Nursery and Sylvia’s Alterations. 

New this year is the Santa Search Scavenger Hunt. Game sheets will be available at all the participating merchants. When you enter a business during that day, you will need to locate the hidden themed Santa in order to have your game card stamped. When all of your Santas are found, the game sheet can be turned in at your last stop, no later than 4 p.m., that day. Shoppers 18 years and older will be entered to win a prize, including a 22-inch flat screen television or a gift certificate from one of the merchants.  For additional information, visit the city of Columbia’s website: www.columbiaillinois.com.

Recent Obituary

Eugene Courtney, 89, of Columbia, died on Nov. 22, 2009. He was born June 8, 1920, in Beulah Ky., the son of the late Eden and Mogale (Anderson) Courtney. Besides his parents, Mr. Courtney was preceded in death by his first wife, F. Estelle Courtney; daughter, LaDonna Courtney; son, Terry Courtney Sr.; two sons in infancy, Randall and Ronald Courtney; and a brother, Howard Courtney. He is survived by daughter, Rhonda (Wayne Scott) Courtney; daughter-in-law, Patricia Courtney; son-in-law, Charles Harrison; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; along with other relatives and friends. Mr. Courtney served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Columbia and had retired from the U.S. Postal Service. Visitation is Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 11 a.m., at First Baptist Church in Columbia with Pastor Jonathan Peters officiating. Mr. Courtney will be buried at Beulah Baptist Cemetery following cremation. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund or the American Cancer Society.