Weekend Wrap-Up - June 21, 2010

David and Charlotte Lillard of Chester are recovering from serious injuries sustained in an accident Saturday evening, June 19, on Route 3 between Waterloo and Red Bud. According to the initial police report, the Lillards, both 54, were riding on a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle southbound on Route 3. As the bike approached the intersection of KK Road, Cynthia Bloy, 52, of rural Waterloo was on KK Road driving a 2008 Mercury Sable.

The bike and car collided. The Lillards were thrown from their bike, landing several yards away. Passersby stayed with the victims until emergency personnel arrived. David was conscious, but Charlotte was not and her wounds were more severe, reports a witness. Arch was requested to rush the Lillards to the hospital, but high winds from an oncoming storm prevented them from flying at the time. David was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center, while his wife was taken to St. Louis University Hospital, but their injuries were considered very severe. The Lillards’ current condition is not known at this time. Bloy was not injured.

The National Weather Service has extended their excessive heat warning until this heat wave is over. Dangerous levels of heat are forecasted with heat index values of 105 degrees and higher during the afternoon and early evening hours this week. 

Heat relief centers in Monroe County are the YMCA- HTC CENTER in Columbia and Oak Hill, the new Monroe County Nursing Home, in Waterloo. The YMCA HTC Center is located at 4319 EE Road, just off of Route 3 between Columbia and Waterloo. Oak Hill is located at 623 Hamacher Street, next to the Southwestern Illinois Center for Health.

With high temperatures throughout the region, the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency and the Monroe County Health Department are advising the citizens to check on the elderly, the incapacitated or those with breathing difficulties who do not have air conditioning in their residences or who may not have it turned on. If you know of any persons or animals who need assistance and are not getting it, please contact your local police department.  

Those who work outside or spend time in the heat can decrease the effects of heat by:

1.)   Drinking plenty of liquids, but avoiding the consumption of caffeinated drinks and alcohol.

2.)   Wear loose fitting, light color clothing.

3.)   In homes without air conditioning, keep the shades drawn, blinds closed and leave the windows slightly open.

4.)   Spend more time in the basement where it may be cooler. 

5.)   Never ignore the signs of overheating, including nausea and dizziness.

6.)   Take cool baths or showers.

7.)   Use cold compresses on the neck and wrists/

The Humane Society of Monroe County reminds everyone that severe temperature extremes are also unhealthy for pets and animals. Owners should take similar precautions in caring for pets and animals, including providing shade and plenty of water.

The Monroe County Co-Op linemen were kept busy this Sunday, June 20, restoring power to rural Monroe County following three major outages. There were about 1,500 co-op members without service for about two hours because of overloaded substations at Poe and Fults. A storm blew a tree into an electric line on JJ Road (behind Wm. Nobbe John Deere) Saturday afternoon which affected about a dozen members. Then Sunday night, lightning took out a circuit along Route 156 (the Hecker highway), causing 550 members to be without power for about an hour. Co-Op CEO Alan Wattles thanks those members who lost power for their patience and assures everyone that the Co-Op always works hard to get the power restored whenever there is a disruption in service.  

Monroe County Fair Queen Candidates Are Announced

With the 2010 Monroe County Fair just more than one month away, the Fair Queen and Little Miss candidates are getting ready for their big night. The pageant will be held on the fair’s opening night, Sunday, July 25. The fair runs through Sunday, Aug. 1. A complete list of events is located at the website: http://www.monroecounty-fair.org.

2009 Monroe County Fair Queen Amanda Stumpf, fourth from right, welcomes the 2010 Fair Queen candidates, left to right, first row, Kimberli Moore and Katelyn Fuller; and second row, Amber Tinnin, Bethany Ann Klein, Tammy Marie Robert, Melissa Ann Vogt and Keagan Kristoff.         – photo by Dale Hoffmann Photography

The Little Miss candidates visiting with Little Miss 2009 Ashley Osterhage, center, are, left to right, first row, Karley Kinzinger, Bailey Marie Felix, Madison Schroeder and Megan Elizabeth Fix; second row, Haley Mae Elizabeth Bode and Allison Nichole Latner; and third row, Jaycee Cotton, Regan Aycock, Kaitlyn Koenigstein and Alivia Mae Reese.      – photo by Dale Hoffmann Photography

Despite the heat, there were numerous games played this weekend in the Mon-Clair Baseball League. Valmeyer split a double header with Fairview Heights on Saturday and then swept two games from the St. Louis Spikes on Sunday, 2-1 and 8-7. In other Sunday baseball action, Waterloo split with Belleville, winning 9-3 and losing 6-4; and Millstadt defeated Columbia 8-4 and 17-9. The local team are gearing up for the annual Valmeyer Mid-Summer Classic Tournament to be played July 3-5 at Luhr Field in old town Valmeyer.

Valmeyer outfielder Aaron Floarke comes up a little short when diving for a ball in the Lakers 11-0 loss Saturday in a double-header against 11-0 Fairview Heights. Floarke trapped the ball on one hop holding the batter to a single. The Lakers came back to win game two by a score of 9-6.       – photo by Bob Haentzler

Mike Vogt, formerly of Valmeyer, shot a hole-in-one June 17 on the 165-yard, par 3 12th hole at Belk Park in Bethalto.

LaVerne Schutt of Waterloo is the June winner of the Think Monroe County First Super Consumer drawing. Schutt won a $150 gift certificate for an in-home interior design consultation from Final Touch of Columbia.

Benefit Brought Indoors To Air Conditioned Oak Hill: The benefit Mouse Races to be held this Wednesday, June 23, at 5:30 p.m., at Oak Hill will be moved indoors because of the heat. Admission is free and we will be serving barbecue and hot dogs,” said Judy Niemann of Oak Hill “We are looking forward to a fun-filled evening.”

Jim Reeves of Columbia celebrated his 65th birthday this past weekend with a family outing at his place at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. He  was joined by his wife, Penny, his son, John (Becky) Reeves, and his grandchildren. All of Jim’s friends back home at the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department and Columbia American Legion wish him well.

Jim Reeves gets ready to blow out the candles on his birthday cake with the help of his grandchildren, Josie, Ava and Parker.

Recent Obituary

Joan Y. Schneider, 72, of St. Louis, Mo. died June 19, 2010 in St. Louis. She was born July 23, 1937, the daughter of the late Fred and Elenora (nee Mehrtens) Schneider. Mrs. Schneider is survived by her siblings, Marion (Ray) Westholt, Vernell Rippelmeyer, Bob (Gloria) Schneider, Willard (Ann) Schneider, Marlene Cripps, Marvin Schneider and Sharon Schneider; along with nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, a great-great-niece, a great-great nephew and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brothers Glen and Ronald Schneider; a brother-in-law, Melvin Rippelmeyer; sisters-in-law Nadine and Donna Schneider; and a nephew, Sean Schneider. There was no visitation. A private graveside service will be held at St. John Cemetery in Valmeyer with Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Quernheim Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

June L. Degener, nee Werling, 81, of Waterloo, died June 20, 2010 in Waterloo. She was born June 8, 1929, the daughter of the late George P. and Freida K. (nee Hoffmann) Werling Sr. Mrs. Degener is survived by her children, Steve (Carol) Degener and Sandy (Mike) Pinson; grandchildren Andrea, Mark and Brett Degener, and Michael Pinson; sister, Marjorie Bottiaux; brother, Jules Werling; and sister-in-law, Helen Werling. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert “Wib” L. Degener; brothers George Werling Jr. and Nelson Werling; and a sister, Geraldine Werling Krause. Mrs. Degener was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ of Waterloo and was an avid golfer. Visitation is Tuesday, June 22, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday, June 23, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul UCC with Pastor David Gerth officiating. Mrs. Degener will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to St. Paul UCC or the Alzheimer’s Association.