Weekend Wrap-Up - January 17, 2010

Columbia’s Celebration 2009 committee met last week to begin wrapping up the past year’s activities. They are now planning to construct a time capsule which will include many items from the activities relating to the numerous 2009 sesquicentennial  programs. The capsule will be built by Naumann Woodwork and Supplies. A place to locate the capsule has yet to be decided.

Columbia Celebration 2009 Committee Treasurer Jim Vogt, right displays an original drawing by Mary Schellhorn, which will be among items included in the Columbia Celebration 2009 time capsule. In the background are committee members Gig Giffhorn, Mike Kish and Alderman Mary Ellen Niemietz.

Columbia Looks To 2010

City of Columbia employees took down the Celebration 2009 banners, as the city heads into the 2010. The banners were hung throughout 2009 in honor of the anniversary of the founding of the town in 1859.  The Celebration 2009 Committee is currently discussing the future plans for the banners, including the possibility of offering them for sale. An official decision will be announced later this year.

Columbia City employee Mike Sander takes down one of the last of the Celebration 2009 banners which hung on utility poles through all of last year.

Because of the recent inclement weather, construction work has been suspended on Cherry Street and the old town section of Columbia, according to the city’s website: http://www.columbiaillinois.com/index.aspx?NID=93#OldTown#OldTown. Work should soon resume with the expected warmer and drier weather. Upcoming projects include work around inlets, the construction of the retaining wall along the Immaculate Conception Cemetery and crack sealing of joints. Cherry Street will formerly be re-opened to traffic upon the completion of these tasks.

Because of the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday, the City of Columbia has decided to move its city council meeting this week to Tuesday, Jan. 19 beginning at 7 p.m. Waterloo meeting will go on as scheduled, on Monday, Jan. 18 beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Straw Bales Burn: The Waterloo Fire Department was called out on two occasions early Sunday morning to put out burning straw bales along Route 156 near H Road between Waterloo and Hecker at the Weilbacher farm. The cause of the fires have not yet been determined.

Prayer Vigil For Victims Of Haiti’s Earthquake: A candle light prayer vigil is being planned in honor of those affected by the devastating earthquake earlier this week in Haiti. It will be held Monday, Jan. 18, at 6:30 p.m., at the Monroe County Courthouse Bandstand in downtown Waterloo. Rev. Roberts of St. Paul UCC of Waterloo will serve as the prayer leader. “It will be held in support of our sisters and brothers who suffered a devastating loss and the deaths of thousands as a result of the earthquake,” said Roberts. The public is welcome and asked to bring candles and invite family and friends.

FPD Discusses Legal Options Regarding FEMA: Pressure on FEMA officials regarding the proposed flood mapping changes that affect flood insurance rates in Monroe, St. Clair and Madison Counties may be ramped up by the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council. Three members of the council and county board chairmen from the three counties met Friday morning with attorneys and other advisers to discuss legal options in an effort to gain more time to work out an economical solution to problems with the floodplain maps and questions about the actual condition of the levees. Monroe County Board Chairman Delbert Wittenauer and Monroe County FPD Chairman John Conrad attended today’s informal session. The FPD Council will further discuss these topics at its regular meeting Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 a.m., at the Metro East Park and Recreation District Office located at 104 United Drive in Collinsville.

The Sparta Mid-Winter Classic boys’ basketball tournament gets underway on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Joining local teams Columbia, Waterloo and Red Bud are Sparta, Trico, DuQuoin, Lebanon and Steeleville. The schedule for the first four days of the tournament is as follows:

Tuesday, Jan. 19: Columbia vs. Lebanon, 5:30 p.m.; Steelville vs. DuQuoin, 7 p.m.; and Sparta vs. Red Bud, 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan 20: Lebanon vs. Steelville, 5:30; Waterloo vs. Sparta, 7 p.m.; Red Bud vs. Trico, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan 21: Trico vs. Waterloo, 5:30 p.m.; Steeleville vs. Columbia, 7 p.m.; DuQuoin vs. Lebanon, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan.22: Waterloo vs. Red Bud. 5:30 p.m.; Columbia vs. DuQuoin, 7 p.m.; Sparta vs. Trico, 8:30 p.m.

Pool play begins on Saturday.

Weekend Boys’ Basketball Round-Up

The Gibault Hawks boys’ basketball team had an easy time beating the rival Valmeyer Pirates on Friday by a score of 80-41. Gibault then lost to Wesclin (10-9) on Saturday 47-35. The Hawks

will head into the Nashville Invitational Tournament on Wednesday with a record of 7-10. In the first round, they are scheduled to play Central on Jan. 20. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. Valmeyer (1-16) loss for a second time this weekend. On Saturday the Pirates lost to Red Bud (8-9) by a score of 76-30. Waterloo (5-12) fell to Highland (9-5) on Friday 75-70.

Gibault senior Eric Meyer, right, keeps his eyes towards the basket as he takes a shot during the Hawks’ victory Friday over Valmeyer.        - photos by Bob Haentzler of Gateway Photography / www.gatewayphoto.net

Valmeyer's Ben Wuelling, center, goes up for a shot in the paint during Friday’s loss to Gibault.             - photos by Bob Haentzler of Gateway Photography / www.gatewayphoto.net

Freeburg took first place in the Cahokia Conference Junior High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament. They defeated Columbia on Saturday in the championship game. Waterloo was able to defeat SPPS in overtime in the match for third place.

Monroe County Fair Queen Amanda Stumpf Competing In State Pageant In Springfield

Monroe County Fair Queen Amanda Stumpf is competing this weekend in the 2010 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen pageant in Springfield. The event began Thursday with practicing for Sunday’s pageant. Personal interviews with the judges were Friday and the preliminaries were held Saturday, Jan. 16.

“I’m having a great time being the representative for Monroe County and have a good feeling for this weekend,” said Stumpf. “We all have our fingers crossed that it will be a great weekend for Monroe County.”

Stumpf and the other candidates are now getting ready for Sunday’s evening program. The judges will announce the final 12 contestants just after 5 p.m.

Monroe County Fair Queen Amanda Stumpf wears her formal dress in Saturday’s preliminary events for the State Fair Queen Pageant in Springfield.

Monroe County Fair Queen Amanda Stumpf, right, and Yvonne Dehner, Monroe County pageant director, take a break from competing in the State Fair Queen Pageant this weekend to page through the latest edition of The Independent.

Recent Obituary

Hildegarde Schueler, 89, of Columbia, died Jan. 16, 2010 at Columbia Convalescent Center. She was born Nov. 27, 1920, in Columbia, the daughter of the late Edward Sr. and Ida (Mueller) Riebeling. She married Clarence Schueler in 1940. He died in 2001. Mrs. Schueler is survived by her children Robert (Marilee) Schueler, Carolynn (Harold) Steffenauer, David (Patti) Schueler and Cathy (Rodney) Fassel, all of Columbia; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; along with other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by brothers Walter Riebeling and Edward Riebeling Jr.; and a sister, Jane Fritz. Mrs. Schueler worked at Weilbacher's Dry Goods Store in the 1930s through the 1940s. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where she was active in the Altar Sodality. Visitation is Tuesday, Jan. 19, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday Jan. 20, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Steve Gira officiating. Mrs. Schueler will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception School Education Fund or the Immaculate Conception Altar Sodality.

Helen Marlene Lane, nee Heupel, 48, of Waterloo, died Jan. 15, 2010. She was born march 5, 1961 in Auburn. Ind. Mr. Lane is survived by her husband, James Lane; mother, Shirley Heupel; brothers Hank (Delores) Heupel and Chris (Michelle) Heupel; and nieces and nephews Kaet, Sarah, Ben and Nick Heupel, Jessica and Samantha Heupel, Jeremiah and Mallory Hanks, Sarah Lane Bell, Summer Saputo and Daphne, Madee and Abby Lane; along with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Kevin Heupel. Visitation is Sunday, Jan. 17, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home and Monday, Jan. 18, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Rose-Gilbert Funeral Home in Cave In Rock. A memorial service will immediately follow. Mrs. Lane will be buried at Lane Cemetery in Elizabethtown.

An Open Letter to the Citizens of Waterloo

The following letter was submitted by the Waterloo Park District Commissioners in regards to the upcoming Feb. 2 primary election in which they are requesting a bond issue to make repairs to their swimming pool on North Library Street…

The existing swimming pool serving the city of Waterloo is more than 40 years old. There have not been any major updates or extensive repairs to the pool during that time. However, now the pool is in need of extensive repairs, mandated renovation and rehabilitation to the pool, the deck and the pool house. We can no longer operate the pool as it exists in its present condition, in a healthy pool environment that can ensure the safety of the children to the degree that the park district commissioners deem acceptable.

Federal mandates, such as the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, require the Park District to make almost $4,000 worth of renovations to the pool prior to any future use of the pool. This expense is in addition to the required repairs and rehabilitation. Before we incur this expense, an expense that will be wasted money if we cannot keep the pool open after this year because of the deteriorated condition of the pool, we, the members of the Park District have agreed to incur the cost of the mandated renovation only if we can also make the necessary repairs and needed rehabilitation of the pool and surrounding area

Therefore, the Waterloo Park District Board is again appealing to the citizens to consider the beneficial assets, for exercise, enjoyment and community enhancement of the public pool. This pool during its existence has provided a home for our community‘s youth swim team, annual part time jobs for young citizens plus enjoyment, exercise and camaraderie entering now into the third generations of residents of the city of Waterloo. 

Many of the children that saw the pool open more than 40 years ago and enjoyed the environment it provided, also saw their children enjoy the pool, and now with the proper repairs and refurbishment to ensure their safety, can watch their grandchildren enjoy the pool. However, without the required repairs and rehabilitation,  we will not spend the money on the federal mandates and we will be forced to discontinue the operation of the pool.

Although we have received estimates for the repairs and renovations to the pool in amounts that range to more than $1,000,000, the Park District Board has an itemized estimate from Westport Pools which we are quite sure will allow us to incur all costs associated with the repair, rehabilitation and renovation of the pool and its surrounding area for $575,000 and thereby enable us to keep the pool open as an asset to the community of Waterloo.

The Waterloo Park District is therefore asking the citizens of Waterloo to approve a bond referendum of $575,000 on Feb. 2, 2010 to be used for the repair and renovation of our community swimming pool. This bond will result in a property tax increase of approximately $10.50 per $100,000 of house value for a period of 10 years ($105 per $100,000 of house value for a period of only 10 years over the life of the bond), yet it will enable us to retain and maintain the community pool for many years into the future.

We are very much aware of the present economic condition and are sympathetic with the tax stress already present upon the citizens of our community. However, we have no recourse. We cannot operate the swimming pool in its present condition. We need the capitol provided by this bond to make the pool operational.

The bond referendum that will be on the ballot this Feb. will be a referendum of the citizens of Waterloo as to whether or not they want a community swimming pool. With the failure of the passage of this referendum, we will be forced to discontinue operation of the pool. There will no longer be a city pool in Waterloo.

Waterloo Park District Commissioners.