Election Results - February 2, 2010

The election results are being finalized with all the precincts reporting. Absentee ballots have also not been counted at this point.

The highlights include:

Republican Candidate For Sheriff:

            Kevin Hirsch – 1,673 - 63%

            Frank Kohler – 1,021 - 37%

Republican Candidate For County Commissioner:

            Terry Liefer        -1,437 –  51%

            Chuck Pittman - 1,389  - 49%           

Waterloo Park Pool Referendum:

            No:   868 -  55%

            Yes: 716 – 45%

Hecker Precinct 6 Committeeman

            Myron Neff        – 96 –  64%

            Dale Haudrich –  55 -  36%

Those looking for specifics can go to the website: www.platinumelection.com and click on Monroe County.

News Update - February 2, 2010

Tattoo Issue Sent To Waterloo’s Planning Committee

The Waterloo City Council meeting drew a large crowd last night regarding the possible action to approve the opening of a licensed body art shop at 217 North Main. Hopeful future business owner and tattoo artist Eric Catalano took center stage, addressing not only the city council, but also a room full of citizens. The city council spent approximately 30 minutes questioning Catalano, followed by citizens in attendance stating their opinions both for and against the opening of the body art shop.

Catalano pointed out he plans to operate a respectable business. "I expect 99 percent of the business will come from within Monroe County, and will not attract an undesirable type of clientele,” he said. Several of Catalano’s family and friends, including fellow church-goers at Hope Christian Church, spoke highly of his character.

One of the concerns which was shared by several of the citizens in attendance opposed to the store opening was the fact that the body art shop is not compatible to the historic area of homes in the area.

At the end of the meeting, the council decided to table their vote at this point. The issue will be taken up by the city’s planning committee, chaired by Alderman Jim Nagel. Other committee members are aldermen Vicki Koerber, Steve Notheisen, Charlie Metzger and Clyde Heller. A specific date for that meeting has not yet been set.

Eric Catalano stands at the Waterloo City Hall podium and discusses with the aldermen his desire to open a tattoo parlor on South Main Street.          – photo by Bob Haentlzer

Voter turnout is low so far in today’s primary election. “As of 9:30 a.m., Waterloo precincts were averaging between four to six percent of voters turning out to place a ballot,” said County Clerk Dennis Knobloch. According to Bev Hirstein at Precinct 27, which votes at Immanuel Lutheran Church on the south end of Waterloo, voting was down a bit. “By 8:15 a.m., we usually have about 80 voters, but so far this morning our count is approximately 45,” she said.

Knobloch planned to make a sweep through the county’s rural precincts and those in Columbia later in the morning. “I should have another update before noon,” he added.

Voters cast their ballot in Waterloo’s Precinct 27, located at Immanuel Lutheran Church.           – photo by Bob Haentlzer

Monroe County Republicans will make today’s primary election Tuesday, Feb. 2 interesting. Incumbent County Commissioner Terry Liefer is being challenged in his bid for re-election by fellow Republican Chuck Pittman. Former County Board Chairman Frank Kohler is being challenged in his bid for the Republican nomination for sheriff by Kevin Hirsch. 

In the seldom contested race for precinct committeeman, Republican Party Chairman Myron Neff is squaring off with former County Board Chairman Dale Haudrich in Hecker’s Precinct 6. Monroe County’s 37 polling places will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. In-person and mail absentee ballots are available from the county clerk’s office in the courthouse at Waterloo. For voting hours and deadlines contact the office at 618-939-8681, ext. 302.

Incumbent  Democratic Sheriff Dan Kelley has filed for re-election and will be faced in the November 2010 general election by either former County Board Chairman Frank Kohler or Kevin Hirsch. Kohler, of Hecker, is a retired state trooper and has also served on the local police departments in Hecker and Red Bud. Hirsch, who has run against Kelley in previous elections, is a state corrections officer is from the Maeystown area. Kelley was the only local Democrat who filed for county-wide office.

Republican County Clerk Dennis Knobloch has filed for re-election as has fellow Republican Kevin Koenigstein for county treasurer. Koenigstein was appointed to his post when long-time county treasurer Merrill Prange retired. Fellow Republican Carl D. Wuertz has filed for the office of county assessor.

Other than the competition in Precinct 6, there is no other competition for the jobs of precinct committeeman for the two parties. There are 37 precincts in the county. The Democrats will have 25 slots filled and the Republicans 32.

Waterloo voters will decide on a $575,000 general obligation bond issue for the park district. Proceeds are to be used to rehab and repair the district’s swimming pool. Propositions for the park district have been unsuccessful by narrow margins in recent elections.

County Clerk Dennis Knobloch has pointed out that the polling place for Precincts 13 and 23 have been changed to St. John United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall in Maeystown. Voters for both major parties will also decide on candidates for U.S. Senator, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer, U.S. Congressman , state central committees, state senator, state representative, educational service region superintendents and circuit judge. There is competition scattered throughout the ballots.

State Representative Dan Reitz is running unopposed on the Democratic ballot. There are two candidates on the Republican ballot, John W. Piazza and Glenn C. Farley. State Senator Dave Luechtefeld is running unopposed on the Republican ballot.  Jeremy Randal Walker is running for state senate on the Democratic ballot for the district. Congressman Jerry Costello is running unopposed on the Democratic ballot. Costello will face either Republican Theresa Kormos or Teri Newman in the general election.

Recent Obituaries

Cecil Link, 75, of Marissa, died Jan. 31, 2010 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. He was born Dec. 5, 1934, the son of the late Robert R. Link and Myrtle O’Bryant. Mr. Link is survived by his wife of 54 years, Cecilia (nee Caito) Link (nee Caito); sons Dale (Chris Hudgens) Link and John (Lisa) Link, both of Waterloo; grandchildren Kim (Dave)Bosler and Payton Link; great-grandchild Bailey Bosler; brothers Charles Link of Macneville, Tenn., and James Link of Theodosia, Mo.; and sisters Jewell Knight of Branson, Mo., and Martha Mitchell of Mountain Home, Ark.; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by twin sons in infancy, Ronald and Donald Link; and a brother, Leo Link. Cecil was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He retired as a truck driver from Hartiage Trucking and was a member of Teamsters Local 600 and the American Legion. Visitation and funeral were at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. Mr. Link was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.

Orville E. Osick, 94, of Columbia, died Jan. 30, 2010 at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis. He was born Nov. 16, 1915, the son of the late Louis and Emma (nee Kirschner) Osick. He was married to the late Ida Osick (Foster), and together they celebrated 72 years of wedding anniversaries. Ida passed away on July 19, 2007. Mr. Osick is survived by his daughter, LaVerne (Dale) Ritter of Benton Ky.; a son, Lawrence (Carol) Osick of Millstadt; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; along with other relatives and friends. He was retired from Monsanto Chemical Corporation and had been a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ of Columbia and the Columbia Senior Citizens. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mr. Osick will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Virginia M. Miles, 78, of Prairie Du Rocher, died Jan. 31, 2010 at Canterbury Manor Nursing Home in Waterloo. She was born June 21, 1931 in Wattertown, Tenn., the daughter of the late Andrew and Maurice (nee Tramel) Davenport. Virginia married Robert H. Miles in 1946 in Waukegand. He died in 2003. Mrs. Miles is survived by her children Diana (Joseph) Catterson of Crawfordville, Ind., Ernst (Barbra) Miles of Milton, Fla., Robert (Carolyn) Miles Rockville, Tenn., Shirley (Art) Schirmer of Prairie du Rocher and Linda (Fred) Basher and Summerville, Mo.; 15 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters Mary Heinemann, Mamie Green and Marie Gillogly; and a half-brother, Lester Hayes. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Visitation and funeral were at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud with Reverend Don Lyon officiating. Mrs. Miles will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Canterbury Manor Nursing Home’s Activity Fund.