Weekend Wrap-Up - May 16, 2010

Hometown Harmony To Debut This Sunday

A new chorus group has formed in Waterloo called the Hometown Harmony. They plan to perform two concerts per year – the first one, titled “Old Time Religion” is this Sunday, May 16. Singing will begin at 7 p.m. at St. Paul UCC in downtown Waterloo. The concert will feature a guest chorus, the Valmeyer Community Choir. The second concert will be a Christmas concert held the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

The Hometown Harmony was organized by Sheri Jones and Jody Worley (Matzenbacher sisters from home), who both have a passion for music and singing. They brought together a talented group of singers, along with musicians Jill Boxdorfer on piano and guitarist Darren Reifschneider. Retired Waterloo choral teacher Barb Boedges was chosen as the chorus’ director. A majority of the singers fondly remember their days singing at WHS with Ms. Boedges as their instructor.

Hometown Harmony started rehearsing this past January and are gearing up for their debut performance Sunday night.

“Hometown Harmony is a great group of singers who have a lot of fun,” said Jones. “We have enjoyed making our dream become a reality.”

The Hometown Harmony singers are, left to right, first row, Alycia Jones, Waleah Lich, Martha Ward, Margarette Schrader, Marilyn Fischer, Vernon Brandt, Jeff Clinebell, Shanna Fredrick and Heidi Notheisen; and second row, Director Barb Boedges, Angie Koch, Ellen West, John Wahlig, Mike Kolweier, Paul Mueller, Max Churchill, Jody Worley, Sheri Jones and Kim Hesterberg. Not pictured are Lori Smothers, Dee Dee Hawkins, Andrea Jones and Jill Boxdorfer, pianist.

Waterloo Rotary Celebrates 75^th Anniversary

The Waterloo Rotary gathered at The Falls in Columbia on Saturday evening to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of its founding in 1935. Club President Dennis Brand thanked all the members for their dedication to this charitable club which raises funds and provides service to worthwhile causes both at the local and international level. Their biggest fundraiser is the Christmas Tree Of Lights. Established in 1991, this campaign has raised more than $457,000 which has directly supported local organization, projects and those in need. Waterloo Mayor Tom Smith presented Brand with a plaque honoring the club for their service to the community. Incoming President John Schrader welcomed several area district governors to the program as well as the wives and others in attendance who have provided so much help to the club. Honored as new Paul Harris Fellows for their contributions to the Waterloo Rotary were Waterloo Superintendent James Helton and Doris Brown.

Longtime Waterloo Rotarian George Ziebold, right, and current Rotary Secretary Nathan Rau hold the numerous Rotary flags they have collected from clubs throughout the world.

A Waterloo Community Blood Drive is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18, from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo. The event is sponsored by First National Bank of Waterloo and Harrisonville Telephone Company. To schedule an appointment, call Luanne Ragland at 939-1860 or Marilynn Schaefer at 939-8360.

CUSD Gets State Grant For Newly Remodeled School: State Rep. Dan Reitz (D-Steeleville) announced last week that the Columbia Community Unit School District will receive a $90,000 grant to pay for the installation of  a geothermal heating, ventilating and air conditioning system which has been placed in the back of the old Unit Building as part of a major building renovation for the new kindergarten and first grade school. 

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation chose the cost-effective project at the new Eagle View Elementary School as part of its energy efficient grant program. These energy efficiency projects are yielding substantial savings each year for cash-strapped schools, libraries, community centers and local governments. The Columbia School District’s Unit Building, currently under renovation, will house the new K-1 school, providing additional space to relieve Parkview Elementary from overcrowding.

“This project not only sets a standard in energy efficiency for our community, but equally as important, it will improve our schools and provide good construction jobs,” Reitz said.  “As I work with other lawmakers in Springfield to address our state’s economic crisis, I will continue to push for solutions that adequately address the needs of our students and bring good jobs to our area.”

Recent Obituary

Donald A. "Bud" Stumpf Jr., 53 years of Waterloo, died May 14, 2010. He was born July 23, 1956, in Red Bud, the son of Donald A. and Deanna (Diel) Stumpf Sr. of Columbia. In addition to his parents, Mr. Stumpf is survived by a sister, Barbara (Grant) Richter of Columbia; brother, Timothy (Sheila) Stumpf of Forestell, Mo.; sister-in-law, Lynn Stumpf of Columbia; aunt, Luann Flota of Alton; and an uncle, David (Bobbette) Stumpf of Godfrey; along with cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Daniel Stumpf; and an uncle, Ernie Flota. Bud was a soldier with the Salvation Army Gateway Citadel in St. Louis, Mo. A gathering of family and friends will be held Saturday, May 22, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Salvation Army Gateway Citadel in St. Louis, Mo. A memorial service will immediately follow with Major Bob Fay officiating. A private burial of ashes will take place at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army Gateway Citadel or Human Support Services of Monroe County.