Joyce Meyer Ministries received a favorable ruling today at the Monroe County Courthouse pertaining to the Coleman civil case. In an attempt to take depositions from current and past Joyce Meyer Ministries employees, Judge Dennis Doyle ruled that the six-month time period for that action has expired. Jack Carey and Enrico Mirabelli (Sheri’s cousin), the attorneys representing Sheri Coleman and her two sons, have the option of appealing this ruling.

Instead of providing the depositions, Carey and Mirabelli may chose to call the JMM employees to appear in court to directly testify. The attorneys also are considering whether or not to attempt to add JMM as a defendant in the case. The next scheduled hearing regarding the civil case is scheduled for Feb. 26 at the Monroe County Courthouse.

 

Bank Files For Foreclosure On Coleman Home

Wells Fargo Bank has filed court documents to claim foreclose on the Columbia home owned by Christopher Coleman, the man who is charged in connection with murder of his wife and two sons.  The document lists that Coleman owes about $229,000 remaining on the mortgage. Months prior to her death, Coleman had removed his wife Sheri’s name from the deed to the house, according to Monroe County Courthouse records. Coleman remains jailed at the Monroe County jail facing both a criminal and civil case regarding the triple homicide deaths which occurred May 5, 2009.

The scene of the Coleman house on May 11, six days following the deaths of Sheri Coleman and her two sons. Investigators remove the security tape and allow a brother of Chris Coleman, left, to enter the home to collect some personal belongings.

 

Crusaders Win Third Place: The Immaculate Conception School of Columbia’s girls’ basketball team captured third place Feb. 6 in the 12-team St. Clare - O'Fallon Sixth Grade Tournament. They defeated St. Mary-St. Augustine of Belleville 19-12 to win the trophy. The Crusaders are coached by Ned Lane.

 

The Columbia varsity girls’ basketball team defeated Gibault 59-37 to advance in Class 2A Central Regional. Next up for Lady Eagles is number one seed, Central. Game time is 6 p.m. this evening. The girls from Valmeyer fell to Trico, 65-35 in the Marissa regional, while Red Bud defeated Chester 55-44. Next up for the Musketeers is a game with Nashville at 6 p.m. this evening. In conference action, the Waterloo Lady Bulldogs lost to Highland, 80-25.

 

The Waterloo Park District’s next regularly scheduled meeting is this Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m., at their office behind the Sondag Memorial Swimming Pool. One topic likely on the agenda will be the future of the swimming pool. On Feb. 2, voters defeated a $575,000 referendum to make necessary repairs to the structure to allow it to be operational for the coming summer. Several people hoping to figure out a way to keep the pool open are expected to attend this week’s meeting.

 

The Monroe County Farm Bureau’s 93^rd annual meeting is Saturday, March 6, at St. Mary’s Parish Center in Valmeyer. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the dinner and silent auction beginning at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the bureau’s scholarship fund. The String Connections will provide musical entertainment. Tickets are $9 each and can be purchased through Feb. 24 at the Farm Bureau office in downtown Waterloo.

 

From the Pages of The Peephole….

Fults Fritz Gets Good Whooping!
- photo by Judy Haentzler

An Independent reporter took out his frustrations regarding today’s snowfall on Fults Fritz, Monroe County’s official Groundhog Day prognosticator. Bob Haentzler had a run-in with Fritz last week and the two scuffled until the fist-fight was broken up. No charges have been filed, but PETA is rumored to be looking into the incident.

On Feb. 2, Fritz failed to see his shadow thus predicting an early spring. But now, just over a week later, nearly three inches of snow fell across the county. The snow caused Haentzler to have to drive through hazardous conditions while covering area basketball games. “After I nearly slid off the road a few times, I just let my temper get the best of me and decided to confront Fritz,” he said.

Fritz continues to claim that he was hung-over on Feb. 2 and wasn’t in his right mind when he made his prediction. Fritz said he took a few sips from a moonshine still he discovered up in Fults Hollow.

 

Snow Means Time To Stock Up On Groceries

Monday evening’s snow fall meant area grocery stores were busy with people stocking up on the necessities. Ed-itor Wienhoff was spotted purchasing bread and milk at Schneider’s Quality Meats in Waterloo.

Before Monday night’s snow storm, the Ed-itor purchases bread and milk at Schneider’s.                – photo by Kayla Marquardt