Today's News - August 9, 2010

 

Hitting And Defense Key To Lakers Double-Header Sweep

The Valmeyer Lakers ended their Mon-Clair League regular season Sunday with a double-header sweep of the Edwardsville Mavericks. In the first game, Edwardsville pulled out to a 4-1 lead in the top of the third, but the Lakers rebounded with three of their own to tie the game in the bottom half of the frame. Edwardsville scored two in the fifth to go ahead 6-4, but Valmeyer chipped away with single tally's in the sixth and seventh to send the game into extra innings. In the 10th inning, Edwardsville had the bases loaded with nobody out and appeared to be ready to take the lead, until Garrett Rohlfing showed off his defensive abilities. Playing the hot corner, Rohlfing was playing on the grass at third, to try and cut down the go ahead run at home. He caught a line drive for the first out, then dove back to third to tag the base to complete a double-play. The next batter hit a two hopper to Rolfing who again touched third for the force out. Valmeyer then scored in the bottom half of the inning on a clutch hit by shortstop Jeremiah Berehegher to win the game 7-6. The Lakers won the second game in seven innings by a score of 4-3 to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Garrett Rohlfing saves the day for the Valmeyer Lakers. With the bases loaded and no one out in the top of the 10^th inning, he caught a line drive, left, then dove for the bag to double-up Edwardsville runner John Caulk.     - photos by Bob Haentzler of Gateway Photography / www.gatewayphoto.net

 

Mon-Clair League Weekend Wrap-Up

Waterloo and Valmeyer won both games of their double-headers, while Millstadt split their contests with the St. Louis Longhorns. The Waterloo Millers traveled to Fairview Heights and won their games 9-2 and 10-9. Edwardsville headed south to Valmeyer and the home team edged out two victories, 7-6 and 4-3. Millstadt dropped the first game 10-8, but rebounded in game two to win a 10-0 shutout.

The Mon-Clair League playoffs begin this Wednesday, Aug. 11. The Monroe Division starts at the SPPS Ball Diamonds in Waterloo with the Millstadt VFW taking on the Waterloo Millers at 6:30 p.m., followed by Valmeyer against Belleville at 8:30 p.m. The second round of the  playoffs begin Saturday at Borsch Memorial Park in old town Valmeyer.

 

Eric Luckett of Millstadt continues to recover at St. Anthony’s Medical Center from serious injuries sustained Aug. 5 in a two-car accident along Route 158. Luckett’s family thanks everyone for their prayers and help as they deal with this situation.

Luckett, 51, was driving a 2007 Dodge Charger eastbound on Route 158 toward Millstadt when he was struck just after 12:30 a.m. by a 2011 Volkswagen Beetle driven by Adam Gremp, 22, of rural Columbia. According to the police report, Gremp pulled out of Centerville Road and into the path of Luckett. Gremp apparently was heading to his home on Prairie View Estate and failed to stop when he came upon the intersection. Following the collision, both cars came to rest in a ditch alongside Route 158. Columbia firefighters assisted ambulance personnel in extricating Luckett from his vehicle. He was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Hospital with serious injuries. His current condition is not known at this time. Gremp was not injured, but was cited by Illinois State Police for DUI and disobeying a stop sign. He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 16 at 9 a.m.

Eric Luckett’s Dodge Charger, left, and Adam Gremp’s Beetle sit on the side of Route 158 between Columbia and Millstadt following last Thursday morning’s accident.

 

Car Show Benefits Hope Christian Church Ministries

Owen and Dane Gaither check out a '37 Ford hot-rod customized by Quality Collision of Columbia. The car was one of many on display this weekend during the Hope Christian Church Car Show. Proceeds from the event will help pay for the church's scholarship fund for men’s retreats.                                                – photo by Michelle Crowder-Gaither

 

Recent Obituary

Viola A. Haltenhof, 93, of Springfield, formerly of Columbia, died Aug. 8, 2010 at the Regency Care Center in Springfield.  She was born July 24, 1917 in rural Hecker, the daughter of the late Peter and Ida (Schein) Schneider. She married Guy Haltenhof in 1942 in St. Louis, Mo. He died in 2000. Mrs. Haltenhof is survived by a son, Jeffrey (Jody) Haltenhof of Oswego; grandchildren Kenneth Haltenhof of Le Ceiba, Honduras, Kalvin Haltenhof of Chicago and Kimberly Smoot of Springfield; a great-granddaughter, Emily Smoot of Springfield; and step-grandchildren Kristen (John) Alcorta of Arlington, Va., and Jon Alcorta of Arlington, Va. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynn (Haltenhof) Stone; brothers Otto, Emil, Nelson, Valentine and Willis Schneider; and sisters Ida Harres, Louise Witt and Amanda Klohr. Mrs. Haltenhof attended St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, IL, where she had been active with the Women's Fellowship and served as Sunday School Superintendent, was the original Junior Women's League president and served on the Consistory Board. She retired after 29 years as an elementary teacher with the Columbia Unit 4 School District, served as a past-president of the PTA and was a member of the Monroe County Retired Teachers Association. Viola also was a member of the Columbia American Legion Auxiliary. Visitation is Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Thursday, Aug. 12, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Mrs. Haltenhof will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia.  Memorials may be made to her church.