Monroe County Has Full Agenda To Celebration Fourth Of July

From a baseball tournament, a tractor pull, a parade and fireworks in both Valmeyer and Columbia, there was plenty of activities throughout Monroe County in celebration of Independence Day. Both the Columbia American Legion Park and Valmeyer’s Borsch Park were filled with folks on blankets and lawn chairs Sunday night to watch the July 4^th fireworks displays.

The Colossal Fireworks display lights up the night sky in old town Valmeyer on Sunday evening during the village’s Mid-Summer Celebration.

Bruce Soehnlin entertained folks as Uncle Sam during the Columbia July 4^th Celebration at the American Legion Park. The event was capped off by a thrilling fireworks display.

 

Kids bike along the parade route for the MaC T Time float during the Valmeyer Mid-Summer Celebration Parade.

Cub Scout Pack 345’s float was designed to be a large Pinewood Derby car during the Valmeyer Mid-Summer Celebration Parade. This float was named the Crowd Favorite. MAR Graphics’ Up, Up and Away hot-air balloon float won first place by the judges for Best Use Of Theme (Transportation Through The Ages.) Honorable mention was given to Kevin Hirsh For Sheriff’s stagecoach driven by a team of Clydesdales. In the Children’s Division, awards were presented to Johnny Kish, first place; and Quinn Huebner, second place.

The Sunday night bartenders at the Valmeyer Mid-Summer Celebration dressed in a tropical theme to the delight of those in attendance.

 

Waterloo To Play Fairview For Mid-Summer Class Title
   Valmeyer To Play Cape Girardeau For Third Place

Waterloo will play Fairview Heights on Monday afternoon in the championship game of the Valmeyer Mid-Summer Classic Baseball Tournament. The Waterloo Millers won their semi-final game 10-2 Sunday over the Cape Girardeau Capahas. Waterloo pitcher Mark Mueller was in control as he threw a complete game, striking out nine and scattering five hits to pick up the victory.

Last year’s tournament-winner, the Fairview Heights Redbirds, held on to beat the host team Valmeyer Lakers by a score of 12-10. Valmeyer jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first inning, but the Red Bird bats came alive and banged out six runs through six innings off of Lakers’ starter David Briesacher. The Lakers didn’t give up and kept battling back. Trailing 12-10 in the ninth inning, the boys from Valmeyer were able to load the bases and quickly push across one run. With two outs and the bases still loaded, the power-hitting Ben Thoma stepped to the plate. Tensions were high as he worked the count full, but the game ended when Thoma grounded out to the short stop to end the game. The victory sent Fairview Heights onto the championship game to face perennial power, Waterloo. The game should start today at about 4 p.m.

Waterloo's Craig Ohlau, right, slides safely into home for a run in the third inning of the Millers victory over the Cape Girardeau Capahas. Waterloo defeated the Capahas 10-2 Saturday in the semi-final game and will play Fairview Heights today for the championship of the Mid-Summer Classic.              – photo by Bob Haentzler

 

Chelsea Kipping of Valmeyer will attempt to officially break a Guinness World Record today during the Valmeyer Mid-Summer Celebration. The 13-year-old gymnast will attempt to break the record for consecutive back handsprings, which currently is 26. During last year’s event in Valmeyer, Chelsea performed 28 back flips, but the feat was not officially recorded. This year prior to the start of the championship game of the baseball tournament, Kipping will have the event properly documented so it can be turned into the Guinness Book of World Records for their consideration. Chelsea is the daughter of Vicki Rednour and Dennis Kipping, both from Valmeyer.

Chelsea Kipping, left, enjoys the festivities of the Valmeyer Mid-Summer Celebration with her friend, Paige Whipple.

 

Monroe Countians Spotted At Fair St. Louis

While there were numerous festivities this weekend in Monroe County, many locals headed across the river to take in the sights and sounds of Fair St. Louis. A highlight of this year’s event was the return of the air show above the Gateway Arch grounds. Many bottoms-area residents have reported seeing the aircraft taking part in the air show circling over the eastern portion of Monroe County. On several occasions during the Valmeyer Mid-Summer Celebration, baseball fans at the Mid-Summer Classic paused to crane their necks up to see aircraft flying over Borsch Park.

A bi-plane flies only a couple feet above the Mississippi River during Saturday’s Fair St. Louis Air Show.         – photo by Carol Floarke

 

Recent Obituaries

Twila Feldmeier, nee Asselmeier, 82, of Fults, died July 4, 2010 in Waterloo. She was born Jan. 11, 1928 in Valmeyer, the daughter of the late Albert and Lydia (nee Heusohn) Asselmeier. Mrs. Feldmeier is survived by her husband, Clarence Feldmeier; a daughter, Carla Feldmeier; sister, Wilma Johnson; and sisters-in-law Melba Asselmeier and Florence Feldmeier; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Asselmeier. Mrs. Feldmeier was a member of St. John United Church of Christ in Maeystown. Visitation is Tuesday, July 6, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday, July 7, at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. Mrs. Feldmeier will be buried at St. John Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. John’s UCC Cemetery Fund.

Charlotte M. Heise, nee Koopmann, 84, of Waterloo, died July 4, 2010 in Waterloo. She was born Dec. 15, 1925 in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Frank and Eunice (nee McNabb) Koopmann. Mrs. Heise is survived by her husband, George Heise; children Bernie (Fay) Ross and Cheryl (Tim) Williams; grandchildren Julie (Jay) Whitlock and Kristin Williams; step-grandchildren Jason (Jill) Crouch and Ryan (Dawn) Crouch; great-grandson, Logan Whitlock; and a brother-in-law, Nick Pautler; along with step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by a first cousin, Alvin Ross; and a sister, Dorothy E. Pautler. Mrs. Heise was the owner of Heise’s Main Street Tavern in downtown Waterloo, a member of the Belleville Women’s Bowling Association and former member of Monroe County Liquor Association and the Waterloo Sportsman’s Club. Visitation is Tuesday, July 6, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday, July 7, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. Mrs. Heise will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery.

Robert J. Liddy, 62, died July 3, 2010, the son of the late Bertram Liddy of Red Bud and Cecilia (nee Harsey) Liddy of Waterloo. Mr. Liddy is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rita M. (nee Stuesse) Liddy; his children, USAF Lt Col Robert (Jeanette) Liddy (Ret) of Albuquerque, NM., Kathryn (Steve) Grzesik, Therese “Jane” Liddy; USAF Col. Steven Liddy and Suzanne (Dr. Timothy) Gutierrez of Albuquerque, NM; grandchildren Gina (Mike) Prokopeak, Robert Joseph (Emily) Liddy, Kathleen and James Grzesik, Corinne and Michael Liddy; and Michelle and Timothy Gutierrez Jr.; a brother, Daniel (Celeste)Liddy; and a brother in-law, Zachary (Therese, nee Stuesse) Davisson IV; along with cousins in Monroe and Randolph Counties. Mr. Liddy served with the U.S. Army’s 71st Infantry Division during the European campaign of World War II. He graduated from of Saint Louis University High School and Saint Louis University. He was employed as an accountant. Visitation is Wednesday, July 7, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kutis Funeral Home on Gravois Ave. in St. Louis. Funeral is Thursday, July 8, at 10 a.m. at St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church in St. Louis. Mr. Liddy will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Saint Louis University High School’s Scholarship Fund.