E-Newsletter - December 11, 2009

Baum And Kipping Named Royalty Of Valmeyer Homecoming

Kristin Baum and Kyle Kipping were named the queen and king of the Valmeyer High School Homecoming Dance Saturday night at the VHS gym. Other members of the court were Sarah Goforth, Phillip Erzinger, Maggi Rippelmeyer, Eric Brellinger, Taylor Doyle and Sam England.                   – photo by Vicki Rednour

SS. Peter and Paul edged out Immaculate Conception Friday evening on the Gibault basketball court by a score of 53-35. The game touted as the Funderwear Game, because both schools had been collecting clothing to be donated to the needy. SPPS narrowly won that contest, which brought in nearly 4,700 items. The GHS stands were filled with parents, students and other fans to watch the two grade school teams compete. “I am very proud of all the students from both of the schools for their efforts in helping those less fortunate,” said Gibault Principal Russ Hart.

Area boys’ basketball teams had a tough time on the hard court this weekend. Columbia fell to Wesclin 57-55. Taylor O’Connor led the Eagles in scoring with 16 points. Waterloo fell at home to Triad 74 to 42, with Nick Bretwisch leading the Bulldogs with 11 points. Metro East Lutheran traveled to Gibault on Friday and beat the Hawks 54-44. Kyle Prader led Gibault with 10. New Athens handed Valmeyer a 69-33 loss in the Pirates’ Homecoming game. Scott Andres and Joe Heavner each had seven for VHS. Red Bud also suffered a loss Friday by dropping a home gage 62-35 to Central. Jake Hoffman led the Musketeers with 12. Dupo lost to Lebanon by a score of 78 to 61. The Tigers were led by Kaleb Anderson who put in 22.

Waterloo center Ben Bennett, right, pulls up for a jumper during varsity conference game Friday against Triad. Despite the Bulldogs efforts, Triad was too strong and came away with a 74-42 victory.         

H1N1 Flu Clinic Open To General Public: A health clinic will distribute the H1N1 flu vaccination to the general public, all age groups, on Dec. 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will be located at the Monroe County Health Department inside the County Annex at the intersection of Route 3 and Illinois Avenue in Waterloo. There is no cost for the vaccination. For more information, call 939-3871.

The Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg’s annual chimes and women's choirs will present their annual Christmas concert - "Christ's Birth In A Country Church – IX” on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. Along with the choirs' selections, there will also be instrumentals and various vocals. Following the concert, refreshments will be served in the school basement. 

The final concert in the Valmeyer Centennial Concert Series is this Sunday, Dec. 13. Music will begin at 3 p.m., at St. John UCC. Admission is free and a reception will follow. Community choral group, under the direction of Marcia Braswell, will headline the event, along with performances by the St. Mary Catholic Church Choir, St. John UCC Church Choir and the VHS Mixed Ensemble.

The Waterloo Sports Association’s annual members meeting is on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at the Waterloo VFW beginning at 7 p.m. This is WSA’s first openly publicized annual members’ meeting in more than 10 years. All parents and guardians whose children participated in WSA’s recreational youth programs in 2009 are invited to attend. The meeting will provide a venue to review the 2009 programs, provide feedback and recommendations for improvements. The 2010 board of directors will also be elected. For more information, visit the WSA website at www.waterloosports.ws or call 939-9925.

The American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Columbia American Legion Hall. (Blood drives will resume at Turner Hall in 2010.) All donors will receive a complimentary t-shirt. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments can be made by calling 281-6941.

St. Paul UCC of Columbia Orchestra’s annual Christmas program is Tuesday, Dec. 15. Music begins at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will follow.

Recent Obituaries

Adolph G. Hirsch, 76, of Waterloo, died Dec. 12, 2009 in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Jan. 1, 1933 in Chalfin Bridge, the son of the late Charles and Hilda (nee Trost) Hirsch. Mr. Hirsch is survived by his wife, Pearl (nee Voelker) Hirsch; children Allen (Sara) Hirsch, Dean (Mary) Hirsch, Kevin (Linda) Hirsch, Karen (Leroy) Roider, Kathleen (Philip) Horn and Karla (Ryan) Bulman; grandchildren Sam and Pete Hirsch, Ryan and Nathan Hirsch, Jessie Hirsch and Stephanie (Nathan) Keller, Ashley (Shawn) Hewitt and Kyle Roider, Bradley and Tyler Horn and Charles and Anna Bulman; great-grandchild Jacquelyn Keller; step-great-grandchildren Jessica (Jeremy) Dressel; brothers-in-law Wilbert (Marie) Voelker and Vernon (Esther) Brandt; and beloved dog, Charlie; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by sisters Iona Roever, Elaine Hergenroeder and Marie Brandt. Mr. Hirsch was a lifelong farmer and retired dairy farmer who enjoyed listening to music, especially that of his wife, Pearl. He attended St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo and was a member of the Monroe County Farm Bureau, Monroe County Pork Producers, Dairy Farmers of America and FFA Alumni. Visitation is Thursday, Dec. 17, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Friday, Dec. 18, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul UCC of Waterloo with Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. Mr. Hirsch will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to his church.

John M. Vunetich Sr., 72, of Waterloo, died Dec. 11, 2009 in Red Bud. He was born Dec. 18, 1936 in East St. Louis, the son of the late Joseph and Alice (nee Steiner) Vunetich. Mr. Vunetich is survived by his wife, Barbara (nee Milliniks) Vunetich; children Cindy (Kurt) DePoy, John (Montana) Vunetich Jr. and Debbie (Phillip) Argus; grandchildren . Corey and Brittany Argus, Brendan and Travis DePoy and Bailey Vunetich; sisters Josephine Goodman, Rosie Icide and Judy (Jim) Peters; and sister-in-law Pat Vunetich. He was preceded in death by brothers  Joseph Vunetich, Charlie Vunetich and Raymond S. Vunetich Sr.; and sisters Francis Johnson and Edna Mae Pocuca. Mr. Vunetich was a veteran f the U.S. Navy who served aboard the USS Warrington DD 843 from 1955 to 1959. He returned home and worked at Union Electric Co. from 1959 through 1995. John was a member of the Operating Engineers 148 Union, Operating Engineers 148 Retiree's Club, Compasses Guild Union Electric, Mason's Gothic Lodge 852, American Legion Post 784 of Cahokia, VFW Post 6628 of Panama, the East St. Louis Low Twelve Club, Flying Legionnaires Club of Cahokia, Centerville Men’s Club and a Charter Member of USS Warrington DD 843 Association. Visitation is Monday, Dec. 14, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m., at the Quernheim’s with Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Mr. Vunetich will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.