Monroe County Independent

Columbia Nine Beats Valmeyer

Columbia’s baseball team (14-4) traveled to Valmeyer (7-12) on Friday afternoon and took home an 11-2 win. The Eagles were propelled to victory on the backs of an eight-run scoring outing in the second inning. They then held on for the win over the Pirates.

Also on Friday afternoon, Valmeyer’s softball team (5-9) hosted Steeleville (1-5). The Lady Pirates lost a heartbreaker by a score of 6-5. VHS put three runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh but couldn’t get the tying run across the plate. Caitlin Nappier suffered the loss.

Columbia’s baseball and softball teams will head to Dupo on Monday afternoon to take on the Tigers. Dupo’s baseball team comes in with a record of 7-9.

The Lady Eagles will bring their powerful lineup and perfect 15-0 record to face the 9-8 Lady Tigers (9-8).

In other Monday baseball games, Gibault’s baseball team is at Valmeyer, while Breese Central head to Waterloo.

Columbia shortstop Alex Schlemmer, right, slides safely into third base during the second inning of Friday’s game in Valmeyer. - photo by Gateway Photography – www.gatewayphoto.net

The Columbia High School girls' soccer (7-6-1) hosted a very tough Nerinx Hall team (7-1) on Saturday afternoon and the team drew to a scoreless tie. While Nerinx Hall’s offense kept the ball in the CHS most of the game, the Lady Eagles defense played a great game and goalie Diana Mantia made several key saves.

Columbia’s Megan Palmer, right, battles a Nerinx midfielder for possession of the ball during the April 21 soccer match-up.

CHS Diana Mantia makes one of several key saves during Saturday’s tie versus Nerinx Hall.

Millstadt School District 160 has received a $4 million state capital development grant to help offset the bond funding the construction of Millstadt Primary Center. MCUSD Superintendent Brian Mentzer said Millstadt residents will see a decrease in their school portion of their real estate taxes. Mentzer estimated that the owner of a $100,000 home currently pays $138 annually toward the school’s $7.6 million construction bond. With the grant, the portion of your tax bill should be reduced to about $95. The bond is expected to be paid off by 2026.

Millstadt residents voted for the bond issuance in 2006 to pay for the new school building. Students started attended classes in the Primary Center in 2008. The previously building had a maximum student capacity of 844 and was busting at the seams with new students. The Primary Center increased that capacity to 1,400. In addition, school officials designed the building to be “green.” Like Columbia’s remodeled Eagleview Elementary, the Primary Center is heated and cooled with a geothermal unit, which uses the constant temperature of the Earth’s core to power the facility’s HVAC unit.

Doug and Julie (Schmidt) Stinemetz carry a box of old items to one of the drop off containers located at Columbia High School during Columbia Community Recycling Day on Saturday, April 21.

Congratulation to Don Sminchak of Waterloo who sank his first hole-in-one on April 19 at the Mystic Oak Golf Course in Waterloo. Don used a pitching wedge on the 100-yard 16^th hole.