E-Newsletter - May 14, 2010

Christopher Coleman appeared in the Monroe County Courthouse on Friday, appearing slightly thinner and beginning to grow a beard, accompanied by his attorneys. The purpose of the meeting was to set a date for the upcoming triple-murder trial against Coleman, who is accused in the deaths of his wife and two sons on May 5, 2009. Coleman has maintained his innocence since being arrested May 19, 2009.

Regarding having the trial begin in August, defense attorney John O'Gara maintained that, " An August trial date is not realistic, if not impossible." After discussions between all parties, Circuit Judge Milton Wharton decided that the jury selection process will begin Oct. 25. The actual trial will begin once the selection of jurors is complete. A county from which those jurors will be picked has not yet been decided by Wharton, reported State’s Attorney Kris Reitz.

Also during today’s proceeding, O’Gara brought up a discussion pertaining to the Capital Punishment Litigation Trust Funds currently in the possession of Circuit Clerk Aaron Reitz. O'Gara questioned the relationship of Aaron and his son, Kris and the impartiality of handling of the documents. Wharton examined each sealed envelope and it was determined the files had in no way been tampered with.

Following the proceeding, Coleman was transported back to the Monroe County Jail where he is being held without bond.

Christopher Coleman sits in the back of a Sheriff’s squad car as he is transferred back to the Monroe County Jail following his appearance today in court.     – photo by Bob Haentzler

Waterloo High School’s Renaissance Club provided ghoulish entertainment today during the school’s annual Academic Assembly. Halloween was the theme as students were handed out scholastic awards and there were numerous comedic skits and musical performance to entertain the students and parents in attendance.

Students perform a haunting dance performance during today’s WHS Academic Assembly.       – photos by Bob Haentzler

Josh Bequette and Dana Biffar were named the top senior students during the WHS Academic Assembly.

The Waterloo School Board made some tough decisions during a special board meeting Tuesday. They dealt with budgets cuts needed to account for the continued delayed payments and expected funding shortfalls from the State of Illinois in the 2010-2011 school year.

“We currently anticipate a $2.5 million revenue reduction from the State of Illinois,” said Superintendent Jim Helton. “That is added to the already $1.3 million in unpaid revenues they already owe us for this year.”

The Waterloo School District has defined $1.1 million in reductions, and the board members are currently waiting for the State General Assembly to define the funding level of education for 2010-11. Due to the projected reduction in state funding (assumes an FY 2011 Foundation Level of $5,669 per student, or $450 less than the current FL of $6,119), which will results in the anticipated $2.5 million revenue reduction from state funding.

“We have worked through many scenarios within our budget reduction planning that least affects teaching and learning in the classroom for our students,” Helton added, “But you cannot cover $2.5 million in revenue loss without somewhere impacting the education of our children.”

The board agreed to re-employ several , but not all, of the certified and non-certified staff who had previously been notified they would be laid off at the end of the school year. Those not hired back included two administrators, seven teachers, seven paraprofessionals and one cafeteria employee. The names of those individuals have not yet been released.

Columbia Construction Arts teacher Dan Young received a head injury today while working on a remodeling project at the historic Sandbank School off of Bluff Road on the north end of Columbia. He was transported by Columbia EMS to St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Louis County. Young had been injured several years ago when he fell off a ladder during the construction of the new Columbia Middle School.

Leland Nollau of Smithton is recovering from minor injuries after he rolled his 2006 Hummer H2 Wednesday afternoon on Route 156 between Hecker and Waterloo. Nollau, 81, was transported to Memorial Hospital in Belleville following the accident.  

The Monroe County Ambulance service will recognize National EMS Week from May 16-22. “EMS Week brings together medical personnel to publicize safety and to honor the dedication of the nearly one million EMS personnel nationwide who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services on the medical front line,” said Carla Heise, director of the Monroe County Ambulance Service.

Besides providing their valuable rapid transportation and medical service to those in need, throughout the year the local EMS also offers monthly CPR classes, free car seat installations and bicycle helmet fittings. The Monroe County EMS also provides Vials of Life at no charge to the public. These vials contain forms that can easily be filled out with medical history, medications, dosages, allergies and other pertinent medical information. During National EMS Week, the Monroe County EMS will be stopping by area schools to provide a show and tell to let children know about the service the local ambulance service provides.

“We feel it is very important for everyone in our community to know what it is that we do,” Heise said. Heise and several ambulance personnel will attend the May 17 meetings of the county board at the courthouse in the morning and at the Waterloo City Council meeting later that evening so the local officials can officially recognize National EMS Week.

Those wishing to receive monthly awareness tips from the Monroe County Ambulance Service is directed to their website: www.mocoems.com, calling 618-939-6175 or stopping by the ambulance garage at the Monroe County Annex in Waterloo.

Those wishing to learn more about the county’s EMS service is encouraged to stop by the ambulance garage for an open house on Saturday, May 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a child car seat checkpoint, bicycle helmet fitting and ARCH Air Medical will be there to allow an up close look at one of their at the garage showing one of their helicopters. Tours will also be given of the ambulances, the garage and living quarters. Food and beverages will be provided.

Sports Wrap-Up: On Thursday evening, in a game to decide the conference title, the Columbia High School baseball team (17-14) defeated Red Bud (14-11) by a score of 6-1 to win the Mississippi Division of the Cahokia Conference. The victory brought the conference title to Columbia for the third year in a row. These two teams may not have to wait long for a rematch as they are both in the Class 2A Red Bud Regional which begins play on Monday. In other baseball action, Mascoutah (20-11) traveled to Valmeyer (10-12) and came home with 5-0 victory over the Pirates, while Waterloo (15-11) traveled to Troy and lost 4-3 to Triad (14-14). Red Bud’s baseball squad (14-11) traveled to Trico on Friday for a game. Friday’s softball games include Red Bud at Trico and Gibault at O’Fallon.

There is a lot of high school on tap on Saturday. Waterloo High School’s baseball team travels to Granite City for a double header, while Gibault’s nine will host a double header beginning at 12 noon against Althoff then Wesclin. The Gibault Lady Hawks softball team begins play in the Alton-Marquette Tournament at 10 a.m. The Columbia Lady Eagles softball team will play at Althoff, while the CHS baseball team hosts Abingdon in a double-header.

Regional baseball action begins next week for Class 1A and 2A teams. Valmeyer plays in the Dupo Regional, while Columbia and Gibault will be in the Red Bud Regional. Regional 1A girls soccer action in the Metro-East Lutheran Regional began on Tuesday. Upcoming matches include Gibault playing Columbia on Saturday, May 15 at 5 p.m. The area’s softball regional heats up next Monday with Valmeyer playing Dupo in the Lebanon Regional. The Columbia Regional starts on Monday, May 17. The host team Lady Eagles’ first game is Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Columbia's Brady Luther got the win over Red Bud on Thursday, pitching three shutout innings as the Eagles beat Red Bud 6-1 for the conference title.              - photo by Bob Haentzler - Gateway Photography / game photos at www.gatewayphoto.net

The Columbia High School boys’ track team won first place in the Cahokia Conference Championship Track Meet at home on Wednesday. This is the second year in a row the team won the conference title. The Eagles will next compete in the Sectional Tournament May 21 in Nashville.

Columbia’s Alex Stareck won first place in the Mississippi Conference shot put competition.         - photo by Debbie Roediger - www.roedigerphotos.com

Valmeyer High School senior Kyle Kipping signed a letter of intent to attend Lindenwood College and play both soccer and baseball. Kipping will major in business and economics.

Valmeyer’s Kyle Kipping, right, is joined by fellow Pirate senior baseball players Patrick Mollet, left, and Mike Peek in having a little fun after the rain came down in buckets Thursday evening following their 5-0 loss to Mascoutah. The boys practiced their head first slides on the muddy field.           – photo by Vicki Rednour

Valmeyer Assistant Baseball Coach Steve “Bergy” Bergheger joins in the fun and slides into a muddy second base after Thursday evening’s game.        – photo by Vicki Rednour

Travis Stiening of Waterloo is leaving town Tuesday, May 18 to begin a tour of duty in Iraq. Family and friends are treating him to a going-away party this Saturday, which also happens to be Armed Forces Day.

Waterloo High School held their Spring Concert and Jazz Band performance earlier this week. Several students were recognized for their achievements. Top honors were presented to Rosemary Chapple, John Philip Sousa Concert Band Award; and Andy Kurtz, Louis Armstrong Jazz Band Award. In addition, Kurtz was recognized for being selected to the IMEA All-District Jazz Band and also named the outstanding third-year member of the WHS band. Chapple and Shelby Nugent were honored for being selected for the IMEA All-District Orchestra. Other awards were presented to Emily Maxwell, outstanding first year member; and Shelby Nugent, outstanding second year member.

WHS Band Director Mike Mullins leads the concert band during their spring concert earlier this week.

The Columbia High School Chorus performed their annual Spring Choral Concert this week. Tears were shed at the end of the performance, as longtime chorus teacher Patti French conducted her last concert with the school.

The CHS treble choir sings “Will You Teach Me?”

Newly formed country band Riverside is scheduled to perform at Valmeyer’s Corner Pub on May 22 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Bass player Dennis Schreder invites everyone to stop by and check them out. Other members of the band are Mike Jarvis, Kurt Jarvis, Tim Fisher and Tim Richards.

Hard rock band Embermorn will play this Saturday, May 15 beginning at 8 p.m. at Borsch Memorial Park in old town Valmeyer. Lead guitar player David Mooney expects it to be a fun evening for all who can attend.