Today's News - December 31, 2009

In a battle of the unbeatens, Murphysboro outscored Triad 69-62 to win first place in the Columbia – Freeburg Holiday Tournament. Host team Columbia was victorious over Freeburg 55-45 to win third place. Waterloo beat Lebanon 61-56 for fifth place, while Gibault beat Alton-Marquette 46-38 for seventh place. In the remaining game, Civic Memorial was able to get by Valmeyer 54-34 for ninth place.

Columbia’s Wilson Babb, second from left, gets fouled as he goes up for a shot against Freeburg’s Conner Halloran, Robert Brown and Dustin Kimball. The Eagles won the game to take third place in the tournament.                    – photo by Debbie Roediger

For the second year in a row, Columbia High School won first place in the cheerleading competition during the Columbia-Freeburg Holiday Tournament. Picking up the trophy are cheerleaders,  left to right, Kate Montgomery, Jordan Voelker, Mandi Emling, Paige Gruber, Katie Simek, Abby Woltering and Ali Venagoni.      – photo by Debbie Roediger

Waterloo's Nick Bretwisch goes up for two of his 18 points during the Bulldogs’ 61-56 victory over Lebanon in the fifth place game.        - photos by Bob Haentzler / game photos online at www.gatewayphoto.net         

Columbia High School’s girls’ basketball team finished in third place in the Lebanon Christmas Tournament. They beat the host team to win their trophy. Wesclin beat Madison in the championship match. The other local team participating, Gibault Catholic High School, finished in seventh place.

The SPPS boys’ basketball team fell to Albers-Damiansville last night in the championship game of the SS. Peter and Paul Grade School Holiday Tournament. The score was close the entire game, but Albers pulled ahead in the final minutes to win 58-54. SPPS was led by Nick Row (24 points) and Wes Degener (13 points). They both were among those named to the All-Tournament team.

The SS. Peter and Paul boys’ basketball team celebrating their second place finish in the SPPS Holiday Tournament are, left to right, first row, Noah Feldmeier, Jonathan Albers, Tommy Francescon and Chase Dugan; and second row, Coach Vern Tepen, Nick Row, Ty Grant, Tanner Heiken, Josh Brinkmann, Wes Degener, Nick McBride, Kyle Mechler and Coach Ron Hurst.

Local high school bowlers are gearing up for the first-ever Monroe County Bowling Cup Challenge. Waterloo, Columbia and Gibault boys’ and girls’ teams, including the varsity and JV squad, will match up Saturday, Jan. 2, at Westpark Bowl in Columbia. Games will take place beginning at 9 a.m., with the trophies being awarded at about 4 p.m.

Columbia’s Celebration 2009 festivities will conclude Thursday, Dec. 31 with a fireworks display and ringing of church bells that will conclude at midnight. The display will be shot beginning at approximately 11:30 p.m. from the yard of Celebration 2009 Co-chairman Les Schneider’s home just north of Cherry Street overlooking the city (near the Immaculate Conception Cemetery).

The year-long celebration was initiated with a fireworks display and bell-ringing that began at the stroke of midnight Jan. 1, 2009. The Celebration 2009 Committee agreed to conclude the year in similar fashion. The committee decided at its Dec. 10 meeting and Christmas party to continue meeting for at least the next six months until all of its work is completed. A legacy gift to the city, a photojournalism project and compiling a time capsule and a book of remembrances are still in the works.

Area venues are gearing up for New Year’s Eve festivities this evening. Rock band Free Fall will play at the Hecker Community Center from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tickets are $15 and included draft beer and soda. Applebee’s in Waterloo will feature a dinner special and live music from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight. Sal’s Wartburg Inn is gearing up for a big night. Besides their full menu, they will have several dinner specials. Local rock band Father Jack will provide musical entertainment from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Sal’s newly-open Rylee’s Rhythm Room.

Waterloo’s newest eating establishment, Frederico’s Restaurant (next to Dobb’s), will be open New Year’s Eve featuring their wide selection of Italian and Greek specialties. Gianfranco’s Cucina in Waterloo (next to Schnuck’s) has dinner specials and live music by Tony Viviano from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The Lantern Restaurant and Joe Boccardi’s Ristorante in downtown Columbia will both be open New Year’s Eve. Lisa’a Market Street Grille in Prairie du Rocher will be serving several dinner specials from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. then the bar will stay open late tonight featuring music, party hats and snacks.

The Falls will feature dinner and then dancing into the night. Following the three-course dinner and open bar, rock band Where’s Charlie? and Top Cats D.J. will help The Falls revelers ring in the new year. Rock band Aftershock will be playing at the Smithton Turner Hall tonight. Those heading to Millstadt can catch the Saloonatics rocking out at the Millstadt VFW beginning at 8 p.m.

Local pizza places will be ready for a lot of eat-in and delivery business tonight, including Imo’s in Waterloo and Columbia.

Jeff and Denise Vogt have decided to take the night off, so J.V.’s Downtown Bar and Grill will be closed New Year’s Eve. They will reopen Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, to start their 25^th year serving downtown Waterloo.

Recent Obituaries

Caryl Fay E. Sondag, nee Meyer, 77, of Valmeyer, died Dec. 31, 2009 in Waterloo. She was born Aug. 4, 1932 in Valmeyer, the daughter of the late Fred and Bertha (nee Laub) Meyer. Mrs. Sondag is survived by her husband, Glennon H. Sondag; children Doug (Rhonda) Sondag, Zoe Ann (Lyle) Schwarze, Patrick Sondag, Glenda (Steven) Sexauer and Barb (Kathryn Porterfield) Sondag; grandchildren Amber (Craig) Manville, Jennifer (fiancé Jeremy Eckenfels) Sondag, Ashley Sondag, Jonathan and Allison Schwarze, Parker and Patrick Jr. Sondag; and Zeke and August Sexauer; sisters-in-law, Helen Sondag and Margie May; and brothers-in-law Ted and Pauline Sondag and Joe and Evelyn Sondag; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and former students. Mrs. Sondag is remembered by many as the kindergarten teacher in Valmeyer where she taught for 27 years. She was a member of St. Mary's Church - Valmeyer, where she served as director of religious education for many years. She also was involved in the Altar Sodality, a volunteer for American Red Cross blood drives, Monroe County Fair Association superintendent and board member and the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. Visitation is Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral mass is Monday, Jan. 4, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer with Father Urban Osuji officiating. Mrs. Sondag will be buried at the SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the St. Mary's Church - Building Fund or Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Clement “Clem” Schaefer, 84, of Red Bud, died Dec. 30, 2009 at his residence. He was born Nov. 10, 1925 in Smithton, the son of the late Jacob and Bertha (nee Schilling) Schaefer.

He married Rita Pour on Oct. 23, 1946, She died in 1980. He then married Carl Ann Young on Sept. 23, 1989 in Red Bud. In addition to his second wife, Mr. Schaefer is survived by his children Joyce Hicks of Ellis Grove, Nancy (Mark) Rohde of St. Louis, Mo., Debbie Hartmann of Red Bud and Don (Lee)Schaefer of Waterloo; brothers Joseph (Dorothy) Schaefer, Victor Schaefer and Leon Schaefer, all of Belleville; a sister, Verdell (Marc) Fehlker of Belleville; sister-in-law, Norma Schaefer of Lenzburg; brother-in-law, John Vernier of Red Bud; grandchildren Cindy, Ryan, Rita “Erin”, Katelind, Erica, Brady, Alexis (husband Joe) and Donny; and great-grandchildren Jacob, Jenna, Caleb, Cameron, Abagail, Brayden, Aidan and Alexander. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rita Schaefer; a brother, Ollie Schaefer; and sisters Lucille Pauketat and Betty Vernier. Visitation is Friday, Jan. 1, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral is Saturday, Jan. 2, at 10 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud with Msgr Dennis Schaefer officiating. Mr. Schaefer will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church of Hospice of Southern Illinois.