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E-Newsletter - January 20, 2012
Still No Permanent Solution On ICS Crossing Guard by Joe Leicht The Columbia Police Department has been advertising since October for applicants to stand safety watch at the Main Street crosswalk that leads to the Immaculate Conception Catholic School's entrance, and they have received zero inquiries about the two-hour-per-day, $10 per hour position. "Not one," Police Chief Joe Edwards told aldermen at their second January meeting. "We still don't have anybody to man (the safety crossing.)" The city has had a huge hole to fill since long-time crossing guard Jim Coles resigned his position of 17 years because of health issues. "I can't believe somebody hasn't gobbled this up. Who doesn't want to make a little money and perform a needed service?" said ICS Principal Mike Kish, who attended the meeting. Kish thanked Mayor Kevin Hutchinson and Aldermen Mark Roessler, Steve Reis and Mary Ellen Niemietz for contributing to a patchwork solution to the safety patrol by pulling a few shifts at the crosswalk themselves. Kish suggested he may approach the Columbia School District and ask if a high school senior could be retained at a crossing guard as part of the co-op education program. Reis said the experience has been interesting and, at the same time, eye-opening. "One thing I noticed right away was that some of the people you wouldn't think would be part of the safety issue are. I would see some parents pulling onto the parking lot talking on their cell phones as they dropped their kids off. I thought, 'Wow!'" Kish said he plans to continue using various staff members - including himself - in addition to the aldermen and other volunteers until a permanent solution presents itself. Chief Edwards reiterated that he doesn't think the cross walk should be handled by the police, though he acknowledged its necessity. The city budgets the police department $3,700 each year to pay for crossing guards. "I'd like to turn those funds over to Mr. Kish and let him do what he needs to do."
Communication Tower Bid Accepted The Columbia council anchored a major component of a federally mandated upgrade of the county's interoperable communication network Jan. 17, accepting a bid from Fenton-based Mercury Communications for a 110-plus-foot communication tower. Mercury Communications' bid of $110,630 was the lowest of three received. The city, Monroe County and the County 9-1-1 Board have a three-way, cost-share agreement for the tower, putting the budgeted cost to the city at about $37,000. Exact location of the Columbia tower is subject to review by the Monroe Count Interoperable Communications Committee.
The Waterloo Community Blood Drive held a successful blood drive Jan. 17 at St. Paul UCC. There were 121 units collected. Those receiving gallon pins were Karen Bouquet (1) Ron Dehn (8), David Dermody (17), Wayne Doerr (7), Robert Hicks (12), Pearl Hirsch (17), Brandon Keim (2), Janis Rau (8), Patricia Rick (1) and Karen Toenjes (17). In addition, there were five first-time donors. The next Waterloo Community Blood Drive will be May 15 at St. Paul UCC.
Red Bud 1-1 At Sparta Tourney Red Bud won their opening round game of the Sparta Mid-Winter Classic 64-53 over the Cairo Pilots. The Musketeers then fell 54-47 to Murphysboro. They face DuQuoin this evening, Friday, Jan. 20, at 8:30 p.m.
Columbia Bowling Gearing Up For Playoffs The Columbia High School varsity girls’ (11-1) and boys’ (6-8) bowling teams defeated Gibault’s squads earlier this week. The CHS star on the boys’ side was Gabe Caldwell, who had the high series (674) and high game (257). Carrie Gilbreth was tops for the Lady Eagles with a high series of 528 and high game, 225. The Lady Eagles are the Cahokia Conference co-champions, tied with Cahokia with 11-1 records. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams qualified for the IHSA Sectional Tournament. The boys’ games take place this Saturday, Jan. 21, at Belleville’s Bel-Air Bowl. The girls’ will play Saturday, Feb. 4 at S.I. Bowl in Carterville.
Trout Is Top WJHS Speller Seventh grader Michael Trout won first place in the Waterloo Junior High School spelling bee. Trout qualified for the conference spelling bee to be held Feb. 2, at Columbia Middle School.
Harrison Wins CMS Spelling Bee Eighth grader Jorie Harrison won first place in the Columbia Middle School spelling bee. Other top finishers were Logan Butler, fifth grade; Sara Stehlik, sixth grade; and Greg Long, seventh grade. Harrison qualified for the conference spelling bee to be held Feb. 2, at Columbia Middle School.
Monroe County Court Report The following cases were adjudicated in Monroe County Circuit Court in Waterloo the week of Jan. 16, Judges Richard Aguirre and Dennis Doyle presiding: William P. Carner, 40, of Waterloo was found not guilty of charges of aggravated battery and resisting arrest. The charges related to a May 16 at 818 Sheridan Lane handled by the Waterloo Police Department. A charge of domestic battery was dismissed at the request of the complainanent. Christopher A. Brigance, 22, of Valmeyer pleaded guilty to stalking. Brigance was sentenced to 30 months probation and ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $170 plus $301.49 restitution to Erin Straub and to have no contact with Straub. The offense occurred Feb. 19; Waterloo Police handled the incident. Christopher M. Bond, 19, of Waterloo pleaded guilty to obstruction of identification. Bond was sentenced to three days in the Monroe County Jail, ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $115 plus $10 restitution to Gas Mart and given a one-year conditional release. The offense occurred June 13; the Monroe County Sheriff's Department handled the incident. John D. Carner II, 33, of Dupo pleaded guilty to debit-card theft. Carner was sentenced to 30 months probation, credited with two days served in the Monroe County Jail and ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $370 plus associated fees in addition to $2,170 restitution to Dennis Doyle. The offense occurred between Jan. 4 and Jan. 14, 2011; the Monroe County Sheriff's Department handled the incident. (The victim of the offense is not Circuit Judge Dennis Doyle.) Joseph A. Gould, 25, of Waterloo pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol - first offense and criminal trespass to a motor vehicle. Gould was ordered to pay total fines and court costs of $1,873 plus restitution to be determined at a Feb. 16 hearing and to obtain a drug/alcohol evaluation and given a one-year conditional release. The DUI occurred Oct. 24 at 300 Columbia Centre and the trespass occurred March 4; the Columbia Police Department handled both incidents. A charge of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle was dismissed. John T. Macklin, 27, of Red Bud was found guilty of disorderly conduct. Macklin was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $252 plus associated fees and to have no contact with Scott Lloyd and given a one year conditional release, with a restitution hearing scheduled for Feb. 23. The violation occurred Feb. 11 at 301 S. Moore Street; Waterloo Police handled the incident. Kaitlin A. Warren, 23, of Waterloo was found guilty of failure to wear a seat belt. Warren was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $60. The violation occurred Nov. 23 on Admiral Parkway; Columbia Police handled the incident. Thomas J. Clark, 34, of Waterloo pleaded guilty to illegal transportation of alcohol. Clark was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $267 and placed on three months court supervision. The violation occurred Oct. 20 in the 100 block of North Main Street; Waterloo Police handled the incident. Lisa L. Livingston, 46, of Waterloo pleaded guilty to expired registration. Livingston was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $120. The violation occurred Dec. 21 on Illinois 3 at Market Place; Waterloo Police handled the incident. A charge of expired registration was dismissed. William J. Dahlen, 61, of Marissa pleaded guilty to failure to wear a seat belt. Dahlen was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $60. The violation occurred Dec. 20 on Admiral Parkway at Bottom Avenue; Columbia Police handled the incident. Jack T. Hermann, 17, of Millstadt pleaded guilty to speeding 92 mph in a 55 mph speed zone. Hermann was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $285 and placed on three months court supervision. The violation occurred Nov. 30 on Illinois 3 at Hanover Road; Illinois State Police handled the incident. Daniel J. Hurley, 23, of Waterloo pleaded guilty to failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and leaving the scene of an accident. Hurley was ordered to pay total fines and court costs of $546 and placed on one year court supervision. The violations occurred Nov. 24 on Morrison Avenue at Sycamore Street; Waterloo Police handled the incident. A charge of improper lane usage was dismissed. Isaac Az Calel, 26, of Columbia pleaded guilty to illegal transportation of alcohol and speeding 71 mph in a 45 mph speed zone. Calel was ordered to pay total fines and court costs of $120. The violations occurred Dec. 20 on Admiral Parkway at Carl Street; Columbia Police handled the incident. Charges of improper lane usage, failure to wear a seat belt, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and no valid license were dismissed. Mark A. Click, 26, of Columbia pleaded guilty to speeding 70 mph in a 55 mph speed zone. Click was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $235 and placed on three months court supervision. The violation occurred Dec. 20 on Illinois 3 at Hill Castle; Columbia Police handled the incident. A charge of failure to notify the Illinois Secretary of State's Office of an address change was dismissed. Dean E. Stratmann, 26, of Waterloo pleaded guilty to driving under a suspended license. Stratmann was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $301 and placed on one year court supervision. The violation occurred Nov. 14 on Illinois 156 at H Road; the Monroe County Sheriff's Department handled the incident. A charge of operating an uninsured motor vehicle was dismissed. James J. Setzer, 36, of Dupo pleaded guilty to no valid license. Setzer was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $252 and placed on three months court supervision. The violation occurred Oct. 28 on Illinois 3 at Country Club Lane; Waterloo Police handled the incident. Charges of operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper lane usage and use of unsafe tires were dismissed.
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