News Update - February 20, 2010

Valmeyer Falls To Okawville On Home Court

The Valmeyer High School boys’ basketball team recognized their upper classmen Friday during Senior Night. The Pirates (2-23) hosted Okawville and lost 90-54. Valmeyer will get a chance for revenge as the same two teams play next Tuesday in the Trico Regional.

Valmeyer's Aaron Crossin, right, goes up for two points in the lane during varsity basketball action Friday as the Pirates played Okawville.  – photo by Bob Haentzler of Gateway Photography. Game photos online at www.gatewayphoto.net

In other Friday night boys basketball action, Red Bud beat Carlyle, 57-49 and Columbia defeated Freeburg 49-40.

Boys’ basketball 1A and 2A regionals begin next week. Valmeyer (2-22) is in the Trico regional and will begin Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. versus Okawville (14-13). Gibault (8-20) heads to the Wood River regional and will play Roxana (14-14) at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 22. Columbia is also in the Wood River Regional and will play the host team on Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Red Bud (14-13) will participate in the Chester regional where it takes on Sparta (11-8) at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 23. The Bulldogs from Waterloo (9-18) will host a 3A regional with play beginning on March 1. Waterloo will play Mascoutah (11-14) at 7:30 p.m.

Earl and Vi Muskopf of Columbia are recovering from injuries sustained Friday in a car accident in Waterloo at the intersection of Route 3 and North Market. They were transported to St. Louis University Hospital. Vi has been moved out of intensive care and into a regular room, while Earl remains in intensive care. Both are talking and are hoping for a full recovery reports their longtime family friend Ed Rahe.

The talk of Monroe County today was the tragic deaths of Kathy Baxmeyer, her son Kadin, and Kadin’s friend, Steven “Austin” Baum. The incident was the leading story on all the St. Louis television news programs. The three drowned Friday evening in a lake at Kathy and John Baxmeyer’s home on Loehr Road, a rural Waterloo address outside of Paderborn. Kadin and Austin apparently fell through a thin layer of ice on the lake. Kathy is believed to have jumped in attempting to rescue the two. The three were pulled out early Saturday morning by scuba divers.

Austin, 6, who attended Zahnow Elementary School, is the son of Deena and Steve Baum of rural Waterloo. Kathy, 40, was married to John Baxmeyer, who is employed at his family’s business, Baxmeyer Construction. Kathy owned Saddle Creek Stables on property next to their home. She was a 1987 graduate of Gibault High School. Kadin, 7, attended the Smithton Elementary School. He has an older brother, Keegan.
 

Kadin Baxmeyer and his mother, Kathy.

Friday night’s Eaglefest brought a large crowd to The Falls to raise funds for a good cause. Organizers Connor Brennan, Blake Stumpf and Mallory Stumpf will soon present a donation to a fund established for Sheri, Garett and Gavin Coleman. Eaglefest brought together five local bands and drew a packed house to The Falls.

Eaglefest organizers welcoming guests to the fundraiser are, left to right, Connor Brennan, Blake Stumpf and Mallory Stumpf.        – photo by Carol Floarke

Recent Obituary
 

Justin Thomas McDaniel, 27, of East Carondelet, died Feb. 19, 2010 at Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital, East St. Louis, from injuries sustained in a house fire. He was born July 15, 1982, in Belleville. Mr. McDaniel is survived by his father, James McDaniel of Columbia; mother, Julie (Beatty) Kellermann of St. Louis, Mo.; a son, Nolan Taylor McDaniel; fiancé Stephanie Louise Russell of East Carondelet; brothers James McDaniel of Dupo and Trey Breeding of St. Louis, Mo.; grandparents Tom (Norma) Beatty of Waterloo and Joe Taylor of Dupo; and aunts and uncles, Cris (Gene) Stumpf of Columbia, Evy (John) Beard of Falcon, Mo., Cory McDaniel of Falcon, Mo., and Steve Beatty of East St. Louis. He was preceded in death by grandparents James and AnnaMae McDaniel, and Phyllis Taylor; along with a best friend and cousin, Brandon Stumpf. Mr. McDaniel served in the U.S. Army during the Iraq War. He loved spending time with his family, friends and the Thursday Night Washer League and rooting on the St. Louis Cardinals. Visitation is Monday, Feb. 22, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Private family committal services will be held with Pastor Jeffrey Barrett officiating. Mr. McDaniel will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to the family.

Bonnie (Keeven) Herrmann, 67, of Columbia, died Feb. 20, 2010. She was born Dec. 3, 1942, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late Irwin Keeven and Katherine (Chabrian) Keeven, of St. Louis, Mo. She married Donald Herrmann in 1964 in St. Louis, Mo. He died in 2000. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Herrmann is survived by a son, David (Cynthia) Herrmann of Oswego; daughter, Diane (Michael) Myers of Imperial, Mo.; grandchildren Ashlyn Kay and Lucas Michael Myers; a brother, James (Diana) Keeven; and niece, Lisa Keeven of Collierville, Tenn. Mrs. Herrmann was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia, the Red Hat Ladies and a Bunco club. She enjoyed spending time with her high high-school classmates and her grandchildren. Visitation is Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Thursday Feb. 25, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Herrmann will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund, the Gibault Scholarship Fund or Masses.