E-Newsletter - March 26, 2010

 

Local Democrats Gather At Turner Hall For Annual Dinner

The recently passed national health care bill, Illinois’ fiscal woes and the upcoming gubernatorial, state and local elections in November were the hot topics Thursday night at Columbia’s Turner Hall for the annual Monroe County Democratic Central Committee’s 2010 Dinner and Silent Auction. Guest speakers included Jeremy Walker of Randolph County who is running for State Senator and Robin Kelly who is hoping to fill her boss Alexi Giannoulias’ seat as state treasurer. Alexi is running as the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. The sole local official running for office on the Democratic ticket is incumbent Sheriff Dan Kelley.

Monroe County Democratic Committee Chairman Alan Pirtle, right, addresses those attending the party’s annual dinner. Also seated at the head table are, left to right, Monroe County Democrat Club President Sandy Sauget, Randolph County Circuit Clerk Barb Brown, and Monroe County elected officials Sheriff Dan Kelley, Circuit Clerk Aaron Reitz, State’s Attorney Kris Reitz and County Commissioner Mike Kovarik.

Monroe County Democratic Party Chairman Alan Pirtle, left, welcomes State Rep. Dan Reitz, center, and Jeremy Walker, candidate for the State Senate, to the Monroe County Democrats Annual Dinner at Turner Hall.

 

The SS. Peter and Paul Grade School volleyball team won the regional championship March 22 over Red Bud. While Red Bud took the first match, the Falcons came back to win the next two to earn the trophy. SPPS now heads to the state championship tournament in Nashville on March 27.

The SPPS Falcons volleyball team celebrate winning the regional championship.

 

Lady Bulldogs Defeat Civic Memorial In Soccer

One might say Waterloo High School’s Cassie Kaiping had a good day on the soccer field Tuesday, March 23. She led the Lady Bulldogs varsity soccer team with four goals in a 9-0 home victory over played Civic Memorial.

Waterloo's Cassie Kaiping puts in one of her four goals Tuesday in a 9-0 victory over Civic Memorial. Waterloo went on to win the conference game 9-0.      - photo by Bob Haentzler/game photos on line at www.gatewayphoto.net

 

Gibault High School’s baseball team lost an early-season heartbreaker of a home game to Sparta on Tuesday, March 23. With the game tied at 2-2 going into the seventh and final inning, Sparta scored a run in the top half of the inning and the Bulldogs held the Hawks scoreless in their frame for the 3-2 victory.

Gibault slugger Corey Lane whacks a ball into the outfield during the Hawks loss earlier this week to Sparta.      - photo by Bob Haentzler/game photos on line at www.gatewayphoto.net

 

Sports Wrap-Up

Gibault’s softball team traveled to Dupo on Wednesday and beat the Tigers 8-1. Emily Morris pitched a complete game for the victory. She also went 3-4 at the plate with a double and an RIB. The Hawks’ Macy Wierschem also went 3-4 to lead the team to victory. Gibault’s girls’ soccer team came away with a loss as they dropped an away game at Collinsville by a score of 7-0.

O’Fallon’s girls’ softball team traveled to Waterloo and defeated the Bulldogs 11-0. Valmeyer’s softball team played at Okawville and lost 11-0. The Waterloo boys’ tennis team showed their strength in a home match Wednesday afternoon at the Henson Courts. The Bulldogs beat Jerseyville 8-1.

In boys’ baseball, Columbia lost to Roxana 4-2, Valmeyer lost to Okawville 4-3, Marquette beat Dupo 15-3 and Red Bud beat Wood River 13-2.

If you’re a high school sports fan, you should have no trouble finding a good game this weekend. Friday and Saturday (field conditions permitting). On tap for Waterloo, on Friday the girls’ softball team plays at Belleville East, while the Bulldog baseball team opens the season at Wesclin. Saturday, the boys’ baseball team hosts a double-header with New Athens at 11 a.m., while the girls’ soccer team travels to play cross-town rival Gibault at noon.

The Columbia Eagles baseball team plays at Triad on Friday, and the softball squad plays in the Panther Invitational. Saturday, the Columbia track team competes in the Southwestern Illinois Invitational. The baseball team travels to Greenville for a double-header playing Teutopolis and Greenville.

The Gibault baseball and softball teams both play double-headers Saturday against Marissa. The girls’ soccer team takes on Waterloo.                        

 

Columbia And Freeburg Split Wins At Columbia Track Meet

Columbia High School opened their track meet by hosting a tournament this past Tuesday, March 23. The CHS boys’ team dominated their competition and took first place. The scores were Columbia, 94; Freeburg, 74; Waterloo, 49; and New Athens, 14. On the girls’ side, Freeburg won first place with 83 points. Rounding out the scoring was Waterloo, 62; Columbia, 34; and New Athens 20.

Columbia Track Coach Ernie Kopp said both the boys’ and girls’ squads have talent, but without any seniors, it will be a development year for the girls’ team. “I believe the boys’ team has the weapons to duplicate last year’s achievement of winning conference, but only time will tell,” Kopp added.

Columbia’s Alex Starek hurls a shot put during Tuesday’s home track meet.

Waterloo’s Ashley Villarreal, left, takes the baton from Renae Wiegand during one of the relay races at Tuesday’s track meet in Columbia.

 

Monroe County residents are doing better than the national average regarding sending in their Census forms. Across the U.S., the average is 20 percent. In Monroe County, 36 percent of Columbia residents and 39 percent of Waterloo, Valmeyer, Fults, Renault and the other small communities lumped together.

Through April 19, a representative from the United States Census Bureau will be available to address questions regarding the census at the Monroe County Courthouse in Waterloo. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the main floor near the mapping and platting office. The representative encourages all residents to fill out and send in their questionnaires promptly to insures your community gets its fair share of the approximately $400 billion distributed annually by the federal government based on population.

For updates on the percentage of Census form response for a community, the website link is: http://2010.census.gov/2010census.

 

Cindy Waldemer of Columbia is the March winner of the Think Monroe County First Super Consumer drawing. She won a $100 gift certificate to J. Fires’ Market Bistro in Waterloo. Her entry was drawn at in Columbia. April’s winner will receive a $150 gift certificate to Harres Home Appliance and Furniture in Columbia.

 

The Waterloo VFW Ladies Auxiliary is gearing up for their annual Cancer Benefit Dance. It is scheduled for Saturday, April 10, at 7 p.m., at the VFW Hall. Butch and the Polka Kings will provide musical entertainment.

 

The Monroe County Relay For Life will kick off its 2010 fundraising drive on Thursday, April 8, at 7 p.m., at Hope Christian Church off of Route 3 between Columbia and Waterloo. Proceeds from this eighth annual event will benefit the American Cancer Society. Teams, survivors and corporations will be able to officially register to participate this year. The relay will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. This year’s theme is Heroes, in honor of all the brave individuals who have battled cancer. For more information, contact event co-chairman Carol Bournstein at 618-939-8374.

 

Good Friday German Language Service At Holy Cross In Wartburg: Continuing a 169-year-old tradition, Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wartburg will host their Friday, April 2 Good Friday service spoken in German. Service will begin at 10 a.m. and be lead by Rev. Darwin Schrader of Lebanon. Visitors of all faiths are invited to attend. The Holy Cross Lutheran Ladies Aid Society will provide a luncheon following the service. For additional information, contact Arlene Baum at 618-939-8275.

 

Valmeyer FFA Gathers For Annual Banquet

Current and former Valmeyer FFA members gathered Thursday night at the school for the chapter’s 64^th annual banquet. Following dinner, officers gave an overview of the past year’s activities and awards were handed out. The special guest for the evening was Robert Althoff, who grew up in rural Monroe County and, following his service in World War II, taught FFA at VHS in the late 1940s through the 1950s. He was joined by many of his students, including Lewis Asselmeier, Curtis Mosbacher, Bob Scheibe, Joe Sondag, Charles Juelfs, Harold Baum, Arlen Harres and Lowell Nabers. Although in his 90s and living in Valley Park, Mo., Althoff gets around to visit his old friends in Monroe County every once in a while.

Current Valmeyer FFA Ag Advisor Howard Heavner, left, welcomes special guests to the chapter’s annual meeting, left to right, former FFA teacher Robert Althoff, former Valmeyer Superintendent Harold Baum and former FFA teacher Bob Heavner.

Valmeyer FFA President Kyle Kipping, left, presents Honorary FFA Degrees to, left to right, Bob Edler, Dawn Ivers and Tim Burns.

 

Red Bud Man Facing Dog Fighting Charge: Michael Williams of Red Bud is among the seven individuals charged with Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Activities of Dog Fighting. The violation allegedly took place in St. Clair County between Nov. 18, 2008 and, at least, April 18, 2009 in St. Clair County. In addition to Williams, 29, those being charged were Judious Kizeart, 41, of Springfield; Brent Cash, 31, of Eldon, Mo.; Darryl Madson, 28, of St. Louis, Mo.; Thadius Page, 33, of Fairview Heights; Terrill Clark, 33, of Lithonia, Ga.; and Gary Payne, 48, of St. Louis, Mo.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release following imprisonment. A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, filed the charged on March 18 and the men are now waiting to appear before federal grand jury in East St. Louis. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Hudson and Mike Thompson.

The investigation was headed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Humane Society of Missouri, the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This dog fighting investigation is the latest in a series of major animal fighting investigations conducted throughout the country since the passage of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, signed into law in May 2007, which makes it a felony to participate in the blood sport.

 

Recent Obituaries

Viola Muskopf, 86, of Columbia, died March 23, 2010 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She was born Aug. 5, 1923, in Dupo, the daughter of the late Clarence and Lena (Osick) Hoffmann. She married Earl Muskopf in 1948 in Columbia. He died March 8, 2010. Mrs. Muskopf is survived by brothers-in-law and sisters-in -law Russell (Minnie) Muskopf of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Bernice (Lester) Allgire of Maryville, Donald Muskopf of Dupo and Sharon (David) Wienhoff of Tucson, Ariz.; along with nieces, nephews and a godson. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Annabelle (Jerry) Collie. Viola was a bookkeeper with Mare and Company in St. Louis, Mo. from 1941 to the present. She attended St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia. Visitation is Saturday, March 27, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Paul UCC of Columbia. Funeral will follow at 12 noon with Pastor Kristofer Avise-Rouse officiating. Mrs. Muskopf will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. The family extends a thank you to Dr. Sodhi and Dr. Dhanak, resident doctors and the many physicians and nurses at St. Louis University Hospital, along with Memorial Hospital's emergency department physicians, nursing staff, 2North and IMCU nursing staff and MCC staff. Memorials may be made to her church.

Leonard S. Gnojewski, 92, of Columbia, formerly of Madison, died March 24, 2010 at St. John's Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur, Mo. He was born Nov. 23, 1917 in Granite City, the son of the late Stanislaus and Anastasia (Rozycke) Gnojewski. He married Mary (Motil) Gnojewski in 1941. In addition to his wife, Mr. Gnokewski is survived by his children Leonard (Carol) Gnojewski of Edwardsville, Joan (Ony) Pashea of Greensville, Ind., Margaret (Steven) Drummond of Syracuse, N.Y. and Mary Ellen (Steven) Trottier of Columbia; 12 grandchildren, Paul Podraza, Jeff Podraza, Carol Lynn Gnojewski, Michael Gnojewski, Steven Gnojewski, Jean Gnojewski Lesicka, Darren Pashea, Stephanie Pashea, Matt Trottier, Nick Trottier, Steven Trottier and Samantha Trottier; and six great-grandchildren, Willow, Skyler, Madelyne, Lily, Samuel and Conrad. He was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Gnojewski; and a sister, Frances Ratkewicz. Mr. Gnojewski served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He retired after 40 years as a carpenter with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was a member of the Venice-Madison American Legion Post 307 and the St. Stanislaus Lodge 1004 in Madison. Visitation is Friday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. A funeral will follow with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mr. Gnojewski will be buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Edwardsville. Memorials may be made to St. Stanislaus Lodge 1004 - Polish Hall.

Floyd Carl “Buck” Range, 84, of Dupo, died March 25, 2010. He was born May 13, 1925, in Cahokia, the son of the late Henry Joseph and Mae Goldie (nee Adkins) Range. Mr. Range is survived by his children, Carole (Rex) Hancock of Columbia and Debbie (Terry) Aldridge of Dupo; grandchildren Heather (Kip) Quevreaux, Courtney Aldridge, Brandon Aldridge and Brett Aldridge; great-grandson, Dane Quevreaux; and a sister, Marcella Rita Reeg. He was preceded in death by wife, Margaret Ann Range. Mr. Range was a retired farmer. He was a member of the St. Clair County Farm Bureau, former board member for the Dupo School District and a former trustee for the Village of East Carondelet. Visitation is Sunday, March 28, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. Funeral is Monday, March 29, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Dupo with Pastor Steven Theiss officiating. Mr. Range will be buried at Valhalla Gardens in Belleville. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Dupo or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Columbia.

 

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News Follow-Up - March 26, 2010

 

Judge Delays Ruling On Coleman Change Of Venue Request

Christopher Coleman, along with his attorney, John O’Gara, appeared today at the Monroe County Courthouse with the hopes of persuading Judge Milton Wharton to agree to change the venue of the upcoming first-degree murder case to another courthouse outside of Monroe County, O’Gara cited an “overwhelming” amount of media coverage and a phone survey have resulted in an inability for his client to have a fair and impartial group of 12 jurors. Coleman was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his wife and two young sons May 5, 2009 at their home in Columbia.

Monroe County State’s Attorney Kris Reitz countered that this act occurred in Monroe County and it is our citizens’ constitutional duty to decide this case. He said the lawyers should be able to find enough local jurors who would not show bias in the case. O’Gara stated another option would be to find jurors from another county and bring them in to Monroe County. O’Gara submitted a stack of paperwork about 10 inches tall of his documentation of the local media coverage concerning this case. Judge Wharton said he would need extra time to review the submitted paperwork from O’Gara. He said he would return to the Monroe County Courthouse on May 7 to declare his ruling regarding the change of venue request.

At the conclusion of today’s court proceeding, Coleman was asked several questions by Judge Wharton. Coleman stated he has been treated well during his stay at the Monroe County Jail and he is happy with the legal work being conducted by his lawyers.

Accused of triple homicide of his family, Christopher Coleman sits in the back seat of a Monroe County Sheriff’s car while leaving today’s pre-trial court proceeding.

 

U.S. Census Bureau Representative Mary Becker will be answering questions through April 19 pertaining to the current U.S. Census being conducted. Her office is located at the Valmeyer Emergency Services Building/ Firehouse Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

 

University of North Iowa alum and current Waterloo Alderman Steve Notheisen has been beaming this week with his alma mater’s victory over the University of Kansas in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.