Today's News - January 20, 2010

Sparta Basketball Classic Underway

Columbia's basketball team won the opening game over Lebanon Tuesday evening of the Sparta Mid-Winter Classic tournament. After three quarters, the Eagles (13-4) were up by only one point over the Greyhounds, but pulled away in the fourth quarter to earn a 62-53 victory.  Tanner Hall led the Eagles in scoring with 20 points. In other Tuesday games , DuQuoin beat Steeleville 64-45 and Sparta defeated Red Bud 68-61. In Wednesday night’s games, Lebanon plays Steeleville at 5:30 p.m., Waterloo vs. Sparta, 7 p.m.; and Red Bud vs. Trico, 8:30 p.m.

Columbia's Bryce Bastien, right, drives in for two points during the Eagles’ victory over Lebanon Tuesday evening in the opening game of the Sparta Mid-Winter Tournament.      - photo by Gateway Photography / game photos online at www.gatewayphoto.net

Columbia and Gibault High School’s bowling teams go head to head this afternoon at West Park Bowl.

SS. Peter and Paul boys’ A-team basketball team will play Mt. Carmel of Herrin this Saturday in the first round of the Diocesan Tournament. Tip-off is at 1:15 p.m. in the gym of Immaculate Conception Grade School of Columbia.

Lynn and Lowell Ahrens celebrated their 46^th wedding anniversary on Monday, Jan. 18. They marked the occasion with dinner and a movie.

County Commissioners First Night Meeting This Year Is Wednesday

The Monroe County Commissioners have scheduled quarterly night meetings for 2010 to provide an opportunity for citizens to attend who might otherwise be unable to attend a Monroe County Board meeting during the day. The first night-meeting is set for Wednesday, Jan. 20. It will begin at 7 p.m., in room 213 of the Monroe County Courthouse.  Speakers and topics of the meeting will include County Treasurer Kevin Koenigstein discussing county finances, Health Department Administer John Wagner providing an update of the services provided by the health department, Gene Henckler, director of the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency, discussing interoperable communications for first responders, and Supervisor of Assessments Carl Wuertz discussing the process for determining property assessments.

Additional quarterly night meetings for 2010 are set for Wednesday, April 21, Wednesday, July 21, and Wednesday, October 20. The Monroe County Board of Commissioners will continue to meet on the first and third Mondays of each month at 8 a.m. in Courthouse room 220, with the exception when a legal holiday conflicts. In that case, the meetings are moved to the following Tuesday.

Fountain Creek Band is gearing up for their performance Saturday, Jan. 30 at Bobeck’s Sports Bar in Waterloo from 9 p.m. to 1 p.m. Band member Mark Bundy was recently spotted on Fox 2 News earlier this week playing guitar for the Haiti Earthquake Vigil at the County Courthouse.

St. John UCC of Maeystown has scheduled a talent show for this Saturday, Jan. 23,  as part of its year-long celebration of the church’s 150^th anniversary. Curtain rises at 7 p.m. at the church fellowship hall. “Make sure to catch the big reunion of the Hill Toppers,” added Mark Bundy.

The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department was kept busy today with minor calls. Just before noon, the Edward Jones’ office right across the street from the Police / Fire Departments reported smelling what appeared to be an electrical fire. Investment advisors Cal Neeman and Sarah Arendell assumed it had to be the hot stock picks they were offering which tripped the fire alarm. Firefighters were on the scene for only a few minutes and it was soon back to work as normal for the staff. Moments later the CVFD headed to Columbia Kinder College for a fire alarm sounding. Initial reports is a fire alarm might have been accidently pulled by one of the pupils. Firefighters confirmed it was a false alarm, but the children enjoyed the drill and being able to see the fire trucks up close.

Recent Obituaries

Kaitlyn J. Niermann, 18, of Red Bud, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 in an automobile accident near Coulterville. She was born Dec. 11, 1991 in Red Bud, the daughter of Gerald “Bear” Niermann of Waterloo and Toni (nee Blackmore) Niermann of Red Bud. In addition to her parents, Miss Niemann is survived by a sister, Jessica Niermann (fiancé James) of Tucson, Ariz.; a brother, Travis Niermann of Red Bud; step-sister, Alex Feldker of Waterloo; nephew, Jonathan Workman; paternal grandparents, John and Connie Niermann of Red Bud; maternal grandparents Art Blackmore of Red Bud and Sandy (Bob) Madl of Red Bud; and aunts and uncles Debbie Godier of Prairie du Rocher, Debbie Keil of Arnold, Mo., Wendy Guebert of St. Louis, Mo., Art Blackmore of Georgetown, Tex., and Tammy Blackmore of Red Bud; along with cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her great-grandmother, Vera Rahn; and her uncle, Tim Godier. Miss Niermann was a senior at Red Bud High School and was taking nursing classes at Beck Vocational Center in rural Hecker. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud. Visitation is Thursday, Jan. 21, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral mass is Friday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud with Monsignor Dennis Schaefer officiating. Mrs. Niermann will be buried at the church’s cemetery.

Neil Kuehner, 69, of Columbia, died Jan. 15, 2010 at his residence following a battle with cancer. He was born March 15, 1940, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Clem and Victory (Ploesser) Kuehner. He was married to Kathleen (Neumeyer) Landgraf-Kuehner, who survives him. In addition to his wife, Mr. Kuehner is survived by his son, Tim (Angela) Kuehner of Plano, Tex.; daughter, Carrie (David LaFond) Kuehner of Corinth, Tex.; grandchildren Josh, Jacob, Joseph and Johnathan Kuehner; step-sons Brad (Kelly) Landgraf and John Landgraf, both of Columbia; step-grandchildren, Hayden and Brody Landgraf; and sisters Marie (Dennis) McMullan of Waterloo and Barbara (Charles) White of Katy, Tex.; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by first wife, Karen (Hutchings) Kuehner, who died on Feb. 20, 2005; and a granddaughter, Abigail Kuehner. Mr. Kuehner retired as a regional sales manager for the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads, in St. Louis, Mo., and Dallas, Tex. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Waterloo Country Club, the Columbia Gymnastic Association (Turners) and a former firefighter with the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department. Visitation is Sunday, Jan. 24, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Memorial mass will be Monday, Jan. 25, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. A private interment of ashes will take place in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund or the Columbia Booster Club.

Rhonda E. Zipfel, 57, of Red Bud, died Jan. 19, 2010 at her residence in Red Bud, surrounded by family and friends. She was born Aug. 30, 1952 in Paducah, Ky., the daughter of the late Wesley and Margaret (nee Burkalow) Reynolds. Mrs. Zippel is survived by her husband, Thomas Zipfel; children Nikki Nickens and Zachary (Jana) Zipfel; grandchildren Max Sallman (fiancé Elyse), Alex Nickens, Nicolas Nickens, Allie Zipfel and Kylie Zipfel; and a sister, Diane Meierkort. Rhonda was a member of Hope Christian Church in Columbia, was very artistic and  loved to work on crafts and grow flowers. Visitation is Friday, Jan. 22, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and from Sat. from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. A memorial service will take place Saturday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m., at the funeral home with Pastor Darrell Jones officiating. Interment will be at a later date. Memorials may be made to Hospice or the American Cancer Society.

Margaret (nee Welsch) Kemner, 78, of Grover, Mo., died Jan. 18, 2010. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Donald Kemner; her children Becky (Joe) Bielicke, Jennifer (Kevin) Webber, Paul (Sonya) Kemner and Timothy Kemner; grandchildren Maggie Bielicke, Matthew Monroe, Ethan Webber, William and Kyliee Kemner and Lauren Kemner; and two nieces, Patti (Roscow) Bauer of Waterloo and Jane (Roscow) Smith of St. Louis.  She was preceded in death locally by a sister, Geraldine (nee Welsch) Roscow. Visitation is Friday, Jan. 22, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Schrader Funeral Home on Manchester Road in Ballwin, Mo. Funeral is Saturday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in Ellisville. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Friends may sign the family’s online guestbook at www.Schrader.com.