Today's News - February 23, 2010

The large United States Flag at Baxmeyer Construction east of Waterloo is flying at half-staff this week in honor of the tragic drowning deaths last Friday of Kathy Baxmeyer, her son, Kadin, and family friend Austin Baum. Visitation for Kathy and Kadin is Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Hope Christian Church, and on Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A funeral service will immediately follow with Pastor Darrell Jones officiating. Memorials may be made to Hope Christian Church Children's Ministry, the church’s food pantry or to the Red Bud Muskets football program. A memorial service for Austin is planned for Thursday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m., at St. Louis Family Church in Chesterfield, Mo., with Pastor John Moore officiating. Memorials may be made to the Austin Baum Memorial Fund established at State Bank of Waterloo, PO Box 148, Waterloo, IL, 62298. Donations will be dispersed in Austin’s memory.

The flag flies at half-staff in front of the Baxmeyer Construction office on Floraville Road in Waterloo.         – photo by Dustin Weber

The SS. Peter and Paul Grade School latchkey and PSR program held a prayer service Monday afternoon in honor of the Baxmeyer and Baum families. Father Osang said a special prayer and then the students released balloons in remembrance. Kathy (Kohler) Baxmeyer graduated from SPPS in the early 1980s.

Fire Damages Basement Of Columbia Home

The basement of Terry and Debbie Rose of Columbia received minor smoke and fire damage Monday evening. The fire is believed to have started in the furnace, according to Assistant Fire Chief Jim Broshears. Debbie was home at the time and immediately dialed 911. The fire soon caught some paper products on fire before spreading to the wall and ceiling of the laundry room. Columbia firefighter Mark Schaefer and Police Officer Bill Lowe were the first to arrive at the house on Woodland Terrace Drive, off of Ghent Road on the north end of Columbia. They used fire extinguishers to knocked down the fire. Fire units from both Columbia and Dupo arrived soon afterward on the scene and were able to contain the fire to the laundry room. The firefighters then used fans to clear the house of the smoke.

Columbia and Dupo firefighters pull out a trash receptacle from the basement of Terry and Debbie Rose’s house Monday night. The contents of the trash bin had caught fire from embers believed to have come from the furnace.

The Columbia hockey club dropped the opening game of the Division 1A Championship Series to Bethalto, 5-2. The series is a best  of three match is Thursday at 6:50 p.m. at the US Ice Complex in Fairview Heights.

In boys’ basketball regional action Monday night, Gibault (9-20) advanced in the Wood River Regional with a 46-43 win over Roxana. Next up for the Hawks is a game Tuesday evening against Metro East Lutheran (23-7). Game time is 7:30 p.m. Columbia is also in the Wood River Regional and will play Wood River on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Valmeyer is in the Trico Regional and will be in action Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. versus Okawville . Red Bud takes on Sparta tonight in the Chester Regional.

This evening is Senior Night for Waterloo High School. The Bulldogs boys’ basketball team plays Jerseyville at 7:30 p.m. WHS begins its playoff run next week.