Today's News  - May 10, 2011

Life Returning To Normal In Columbia

With the end of the Coleman trial, things seem to be getting back to normal back at the Columbia Police Department. Earlier this week, the ladies of the Columbia Woman's Club Park Committee planted more than 500 flowers throughout the city, including in front of the Public Safety Complex, which houses the police, ambulance and fire departments. The club has been planting and caring for the flowers of the public grounds of the city for over 30 years.

(Ed-itor’s Note: So we suppose now the Columbia police will be back to their normal rounds, and the from-home folks will be once again complaining about high taxes, the CPD pulling over too many cars, cops checking for speeders on I-255 and Route 3, the CPD keeping a very close eye on the bar regulars, kids speeding along the side streets, bicyclists taking up the middle of the road and teens loitering in the parks.)

The Columbia Woman’s Club “Ladies In Red” are, left to right, Charlotte Hoock, Grace Volkert, Dee Steppig, Norma Raeber and Carol Fries.

 

Red Bud Woman Slams Into Back Of IDOT Vehicle On Columbia’s I-255

Heather Gonius of Red Bud was hospitalized Wednesday, May 10 after the 1991 Ford Mustang she was driving slammed into the rear of an Illinois Department of Transportation truck parked along I-255 on the north end of Columbia. Gonius, 34, was transported to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in what was reported to be non-life-threatening injuries.

According to the police report, Gonius was traveling in the right lane of northbound I-255 near milepost 6. At that stretch of roadway, an IDOT crew was repairing potholes. Just before 9 a.m., Gonius passed an IDOT pickup truck displaying an arrow and  “Right Lane Closed Ahead” sign. Just up the road was a second IDOT truck driven by John Konarcik of Waterloo with the same arrow and sign. Gonius saw this second truck and slammed on her brakes, but she was unable to avoid hitting Konarcik’s truck. Konarcik, 50, did not initially report being injured.

The accident scene along I-255 on the north end of Columbia which involved Heather Gonius’ Mustang and an IDOT truck driven by John Konarcik.

 

Heather Gonius’ Mustang received extensive front end damage in Wednesday’s accident involving an IDOT truck.

 

The IDOT crew, left, checks out the long skid marks left in Wednesday’s accident along I-255 on the north end of Columbia.

 

Monday Sports Wrap-Up

In baseball, Waterloo was at home and defeated Triad 6-3. Columbia traveled to Red Bud and short-gamed the Musketeers 18-6. On the softball diamonds, it was Metro-East Lutheran over Gibault, 8-1; Red Bud upset the visiting Columbia Lady Eagles, 2-1; and Triad beat Waterloo, 9-2.

 

Schlecht’s Arm And Wetzler’s Bat Gives Bulldogs Much-Needed Conference Win

The Waterloo Bulldogs baseball team took down conference rival Triad on Monday evening by using timely hitting and outstanding pitching. The pitching strength came from the left arm of Garrett Schlecht, who stuck out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings. The timely hitting was from the bat of Lucas Wetzler who knocked a go-ahead grand slam.

In the fifth inning, with Triad leading 3-2, Schlecht was intentionally passed to load the bases to pitch to Wetzler. The senior catcher made Triad pay by belting a long home run over the left field fence for a grand slam, giving Waterloo a 6-3 lead. Alex Wittenauer pitched the final inning and a third in relief and the Bulldogs held on for the win.

With Waterloo’s victory over Triad, the Mississippi Valley Conference standings are tightening up. Although Waterloo is 20-3 overall, all three of their losses have come at the hands of conference rivals. Highland leads the conference with a record of 4-1, followed by Triad, 5-2, Waterloo, 3-3, Mascoutah, 2-2, Civic Memorial, 3-4, and Jerseyville, 1-6. WHS has four conference games remaining on their 2011 schedule with a key matchup May 19 at Mascoutah.

Lucas Wetzler is greeted at home plate by his teammates after hitting a grand slam in the fifth inning giving the Bulldogs a 6-3 lead.

Waterloo pitcher Garrett Schlecht hurls a two-seam fastball on his way to striking out 10 batters during the Bulldogs’ victory Monday over Triad. Schlecht has signed to play college ball with Division I school, Middle Tennessee, however there is a possibility he could be selected by a Major League team during their upcoming draft, June 6-8.     -  photo by Bob Haentzler - game photos at www.gatewayphoto.net

 

Columbia UCC To Celebrate The Mill Prior To Its Demolition

To make way for additional parking and possible future expansion, St. Paul UCC of Columbia plans to begin demolition work on the adjacent grain mill on Monday, May 16. The church had purchased the downtown property from Gateway FS in 2005. The elevator and mill were built about 60 years ago, but communities change and businesses change, said Rev. Robert Goddard. When they learned FS was looking for a buyer, the church elders made the decision to purchase the property.

Prior to the demolition, the church invites the public to a remembrance celebration of the mill. The gathering will be Sunday, May 15, at 5 p.m. at the church. “We will look fondly back and yet look forward to what the property may mean for our future ministries here at St. Paul,” said Goddard. Barbecue will be served and historical pictures of the mill and the church will be displayed. “Bring your friends and neighbors to share in this time of good community fellowship,” Goddard added.

 

Columbia Council, ICS In Accord On Plan For New Church

By Joe Leicht

Columbia's new alderman got their first taste of committee work on May 9, and participated in their first 90-minute discussion. The subject: An annexation agreement between the city and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church that will relocate the church to property north of town near Gedern Estates. While there was much discussion, there was little disagreement that the site is appropriate to serve the needs of the community's largest congregation and that the city should do as much as it can to accommodate the church as it prepares to break ground on the $8.3 million project. The parish first presented its plan for the property to the city in January of 2010.

Mayor Kevin Hutchinson and the Committee of the Whole (all eight aldermen) apparently are willing to waive utility tap-in fees and legal and engineering fees, which will save the parish more than $100,000. The 35-acre property will be rezoned A-1 (agricultural,) which City Engineer Ron Williams said is "the best zoning classification you can have for a church." The proposed access to the property and a large parking lot designed for more than 160 cars generated the most debate at the meeting.

"(The parish) is considering this (access) a private drive, but it crosses someone else's property. At some point, I want to make sure we can get right of way in case in the future, this becomes a public road," Mayor Hutchinson said. Williams added he is "not convinced this is strictly a 'private' drive."

The access crosses property owned by Norman and Edward Schaefer. Developer Joe Koppeis, who is a member of the ICS Building Committee, said he did not think it would a problem to get the Schaefers to agree to a 50-foot right of way to allay the city's concerns about future development. Koppeis added, however, there seems little chance of much development in that area, because it abuts a flood plain.

As for the parking lot, the parish wants to pave it with oil and chip, not concrete or asphalt as per city code. Alderman James Agne was the most vocal among aldermen who feared the city would be setting a precedent if it agreed to grant ICS Parish a variance for the parking area. City Attorney Terry Bruckert said the city was free to grant any variance it wished, if it could defend its reasoning. He said it would seem logical that a church parking lot would not see as much vehicle use as a retail business parking lot. "The people who will be using this will mostly be church members. I believe they will police themselves as far as keeping the lot in good condition," Hutchinson said.

The new Immaculate Conception Church will be built to accommodate 995 people. The existing church will remain standing at least until the parish is able to fund relocation of the K-8 school to the new site. Koppeis said the parish is ready to "move dirt" on the site, but it will be two months before the project can obtain its final approval.

 

Post Offices Participating In Upcoming Food Drive

Waterloo and Columbia letter carriers are getting ready to do their part to stock community food pantries for the summer months. “Preventing hunger in America is as easy as going to the mailbox,” said Columbia Postmaster Dawn Boma. As part of the 19^th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, letter carriers will collect the nonperishable food items residents leave at their mailbox the morning of Saturday, May 14. “We usually collect about 400 pounds of food for the local food pantries each year during this food drive,” said Boma. Residents can also drop off their food that day directly at the Waterloo or Columbia Post Office from now until May 14.

 

Waterloo Community Blood Drive: Tuesday, May 17, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Paul UCC at the intersection of First and Main. Sponsored by First National Bank of Waterloo and Harrisonville Telephone Co. To schedule an appointment, call Luanne Ragland at 618-939-1860.  

 

Registration is underway for the annual St. Louis Family Church’s Jump Camp, a vacation Bible camp. Steve and Deena Baum of Waterloo are hoping to send 100 Monroe County youths to the camp to be held June 13-16. The Baums are the parents of Austin Baum, who tragically died in a drowning accident along with Kathy and Kadin Baxmeyer. The Baums raise have raised money for the Austin Baum, Kathy and Kadin Baxmeyer Memorial Fund and hope to used some of the proceeds for scholarships to those wishing to attend Jump Camp.

The camp is for children from kindergarten through eighth grade. Applications are needed by May 20. Parents interested in sending their children should contact Deena Baum by sending her an email at: deenabaum@mac.com. Additional information about the camp is located at the website: http://www.jumpkids.com. Those wishing to donate to the Memorial Fund can send their checks to the State Bank of Waterloo. The cost per child to attend Jump Camp is $99.

 

Recent Obituaries

Evelyn Yvonne (Triplett) Haller, 83, of Waterloo, formerly of Columbia, died May 9, 2011 at Canterbury Manor Nursing Center. She was born Aug. 8, 1927, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late William and Leeta (Blackwell) Triplett. She married Kenneth Gene Haller in 1955 in Clayton, Mo. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Haller is survived by a daughter, Susan (John Syring) Schwarz of O Fallon; son, Mitchell (Kimberly) Haller of Waterloo; grandchildren, Kristin (Jeff) Egbert, Bradley Haller, Allison Haller, Barrett Schwarz and Janelle Schwarz; great-grandchild, Addelyn Egbert; a sister, Jeannine Morgan of Lake Jackson, Tex.; niece, Kristi Sue Davis of Lake Jackson, Tex.; and grand-nephew, Kyle Davis of Lake Jackson, Tex. Evelyn attended St. Paul UCC of Columbia, was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star 98 - Rob Morris Chapter in Fairview Heights and was employed at Ameren U.E., Weilbacher’s Inc. in Columbia and Buettner Construction. Visitation is Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at her church. A memorial service will immediately follow with Rev. Bob Goddard officiating. Her remains were cremated. A private interment of the remains will take place at a later date. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the American Cancer Society.

Robert  J. Cole Sr., 86, of Waterloo, died May 8, 2011 in Waterloo. He was born Dec. 17, 1924, in Beaver Falls, Pa., the son of the late Malcolm and Pearl (McGonagall) Cole. Mr. Cole is survived by his sons Lynn Cole of Grantham, N.H., Robert J. Cole Jr. of Waterloo and Richard Mark Cole of Baldwinsville, N.Y.; a daughter, Carol Carlson of Stafford Va.; and a sister, June; along with numerous grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Priscilla Cole; brothers, David and Bud; and a sister, Lenore. Mr. Cole was a member of St. Paul UCC and the Lions Club. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Pennsylvania. Memorials may be made to his church or to the Humane Society of Monroe County.

Bernadette Loretta McFall, 94, of Columbia, formerly of Crestwood, Mo., died May 10, 2011 at Columbia Convalescent Center. She was born Jan. 25, 1917, in Chicago, the daughter of the late Matthew and Mary Frances (Porter) McFall. Mrs. McFall is survived by a niece, Mary Anne (David) Spruell of Columbia; and great-niece, Megan Spruell of Columbia. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Matthew McFall, Francis McFall, Mary McFall Hederman and Joseph McFall. Bernadette graduated from Visitation Academy of St. Louis in 1935. She was employed for 34 years as an office manager at Michigan Mutual Insurance Co. of St. Louis. She attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Visitation is Thursday, May 12, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. Funeral is Friday, May 13, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. McFall will be buried at Calvary Cemetery in Saint Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to the Visitation Monastery in St. Louis, the Immaculate Conception Church of Columbia Building Fund or Heartland Hospice of Fairview Heights.