Weekend Wrap-Up - September 21, 2009

Simmons And Emling Named Royalty Of CHS Homecoming

Zach Simmons and Mandi Emling were named the king and queen of the Columbia High School Homecoming Dance on Saturday at the school’s gym. Emling is the daughter of Bill and Laurie Emling. She plans to attend SIU Edwardsville and study elementary education. Simmons is the son of Laura and Chris Homan. He plans to study anthropology in college.

Jordan Floarke Wins Lawn Mower Demo Derby

Jordan Floarke of Columbia, right, puts on a big hit in the final heat of a lawn mower demo derby Saturday at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. Other top finishers were Tyler Wigger, left, second, and John Bicklein, center, third.  

Valmeyer Churches Gather For Annual Picnic: The rain stayed away most of Sunday to the delight of those attending the annual Valmeyer Fall Church Picnic. The event is a joint effort between St. John UCC and St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Lowell Nabers, Clayton Schneider and Ellery Hawkins cook pork cutlets at the Valmeyer Church Picnic.

Maria Rohlfing and Penny Heusohn, right, display the cakes available at the Valmeyer Church Picnic.

Apple Fest Celebrated In Prairie du Rocher

Christopher Korves and Melissa Mansker sample a freshly made apple pie during the Prairie du Rocher Apple Fest. They also picked up a pint of freshly-made apple butter.

Darrell “Johnny Appleseed” Duensing, left, chose the winners of the apple pie baking contest. Taking home ribbons are, left to right, Jamie Koch and her son Levi of Prairie du Rocher, first place; Caitlyn Thompson of  Red Bud, second place; and Karen Wicklein of Prairie du Rocher, third place.                           – photo by North County News

While the Apple Fest was taking place next to the Creole House in Rocher, the PDR Fire Department held their annual barbecue and car show. Baby Carson Stamm gets ready to take a spin in a 1923 Ford T. Bucker owned by Rick Brewer of Valmeyer, left. Looking on are, left to right, Mike Brown, Craig Stamm, and Puddin’ and Mush Head Rippelmeyer.

Bluejays Rededicate Flagpole In Honor Of Coleman Boys

A refurbished flagpole was unveiled Saturday afternoon next to the Columbia Bluejays football field in Bolm-Schuhkraft Park. The flagpole and concrete footing were rededicated in honor of former players Gavin and Garett Coleman, the two young men killed May 5 at their home. Several of the boys’ teammates from last year gathered around the pole to get a look at the newly installed name plates. The flagpole had previously been dedicated to Eric Gummersheimer, who died in 1998.

Bluejays Coach Ralph Stone, left, and some of Gavin and Garett Coleman’s teammates gather around the newly dedicated flagpole.

Columbia Bluejays players wait in line to get a sticker placed on their helmets honoring Gavin and Garett’s jersey numbers, 60 and 18.

Melanie Herbeck of Columbia was named this weekend to the All-Tournament team of the Illinois Valley Community College Invitational. The Lady Lynx setter led her first place team with 70 set assists and 27 points in the tourney. “We have recently switched to a one setter system and our team has enjoyed a lot of success since sophomore Melanie took over the setting duties full-time,” said Coach Mark Tippett. In their IVCC victory on Saturday, Lincoln College defeated Division 1 opponent John A. Logan Community College in a five-set match. The victory improved the Lady Lynx’s record to 12-5.

The Waterloo High School girls’ volleyball team finished second to O’Fallon this weekend at the Granite City Invitational. The Bulldogs defeated Marion, Highland and Granite City in the earlier round match-ups. “Some of the team is still a bit under the weather, the sickness still isn’t completely gone but the girls did well,” said WHS Coach Breezy Murphy.

Tractor Club Makes Annual Excursion Through The County

The Gateway Two-Cylinder Tractor Club enjoyed a pleasant weekend ride through the area. The antique tractor owners began their trip Saturday morning at John Meier’s home in rural Foster Pond and took the back roads to Prairie du Rocher. Then they boarded the ferry at Kemper’s Landing and crossed over to Ste. Genevieve, Mo. for an overnight stay. On their way back the group stopped by the Prairie du Rocher Apple Fest and Firemen’s Barbecue.

Eric “Bubba” Schaefer proposed to his girlfriend Alysia Eschmann on Saturday evening during the lawnmower demolition derby at the Monroe County Fairgrounds.

The Waterloo High School boys’ golf team won the Pekin Invitational Tournament this weekend in against 26 teams. The top team scores were Waterloo, 308; Bloomington, 312; Edwardsville, 315; Galesburg, 315; Metamora, 315; and Springfield, 316. Leading Waterloo individual scorers were Wils Hawn, tied for third with a 74, and Chris Pickett, 16th place with a 78. Other bulldogs contributing to the team score were Jake Brumfield, Tim Yeager and Johnny Wirth. “This was our first year in this tournament and we were very excited to win against some very strong teams,” said WHS Coach Nancy Neal.

Maeystown’s 29th annual Oktoberfest is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 11 on the grounds of the village’s 1859 rock mill and museum. The festival will feature arts, crafts, antiques and food from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Arts and crafts will include woodcarving, blacksmithing, concrete castings, jewelry, rugs, soaps, quilts, pottery and a country store. The food court features ribeye steak sandwiches, ham and bean soup, turtle soup, homemade pies, kettle corn, bratwurst, potato pancakes, apple butter, caramel apples, funnel cakes, baked goods and ice cream. In addition, the village’s specialty shops, bed and  breakfast, coffee shop and museum will be open. Proceeds from the Oktoberfest are used to further develop the Rock Mill Museum and visitors center. Festival visitors are asked to leave pets at home. For more information call 618-458-6660 or visit the website www.Maeystown.com.

Maeystown’s Village Kaffeehaus will celebrate its grand opening this Sunday, Sept. 27. Planned events taking place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. include a coffee tasting by Lil’ Red Roaster Coffee Company and wine tasting by Lau Nae Winery. The Kaffeehaus is owned by Fay Ross and is open Tuesdays through Sunday beginning at 7 a.m.

St. Paul UCC of Columbia will offer a flu vaccine clinic on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in their fellowship hall. The clinic is open to the public.

The Life Network of Southern Illinois held their annual 5K Run / Walk on Sept. 19. The race started and finished at the County Courthouse in downtown Waterloo.

Jon Schlemmer of Valmeyer hit a hole in one Friday at the Fraternal Order of Police 911 Golf Classic at Fairfield Golf Course in Columbia. The feat was accomplished on the par 3, 163-yard eighth hole. The witnesses were Mike Vogt, Jim Vogt, Joe Lenhardt, Ed Ahne, Denise Schreder, Dan Hannon, Susie Nagel and Toni Whipple.

Recent Obituaries

Jean Marie Metter, 72, of Columbia, died Sept. 18, 2009, at her home surrounded by family and friends. She was born Jan. 10, 1937, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Arthur and Louise (Saul) Toenjes. She married Clemence J. Metter in 1956. He died in 1998. Mrs. Metter is survived by her children John (Stephanie) Metter of Monroe, Mich., James (Nancy) Metter of Columbia, Judy (Mark) Sharkey of Columbia, Joe (Teri) Metter of Columbia, Susan (John) Kowlok of LaPorte, Ind., Carl (Kathy) Metter of Westland, Mich., and Ann Thorburg of Waterloo; and brothers James (Carol) Toenjes of Bonne Terre, Mo., and Jay (DeAnna) Toenjes of Flagstaff, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Toenjes. Mrs. Metter had been employed at West Park Bowl in Columbia and was a member of the American Legion Post 581 Auxiliary. Funeral mass was at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Arrangements were handled by Lawlor Funeral Home. Mrs. Metter donated her body to the Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or Immaculate Conception School’s Education Fund.

Father Harry Thomas Stout Jr., 58, of Du Quoin, died Sept. 18, 2009, at his residence of an apparent heart condition. He was born Aug. 9, 1951, in Cairo, the son of the late Harry Thomas and Sarah Ann (nee Baudino) Stout. Father Tom went to St. Joseph's Grade School in Cairo and attended Preparatory Seminary in Belleville. He earned a college degree from Quincy College and received his theology degree from St. Meinrad School of Theology. Father Tom was ordained as a priest on May 28, 1977. He has served parishes in Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Herrin, St. Clare Catholic Church in O'Fallon, SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, St. Joseph Catholic Church at Ridgeway, St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Du Quoin. He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, was a Diocesan CYO moderator, a vocation director and a diocesan spiritual director of Teens Encounter Christ. He was also a member of the Priest Senate and was a former dean of the West Deanery. Father Stout is survived by his siblings Mary Helen (Jeff) Wissinger of Cairo, Nan (Tom) Hall of Centralia, John (Carol) Stout of Mounds, Bill (Sheila) Stout of Olmsted and Peggy Berryhill of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; aunts Elizabeth (Don) Turner of Cairo and Mary Eileen (Dick) Karcher Cairo; and an uncle,, Brother John Stout CSC of Notre Dame, Ind.; along with nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends. The first visitation was at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in DuQuoin. A memorial mass followed with Father Bob Flannery officiating. A second visitation was at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Cairo. A mass followed with Bishop Stanley Schlarmann officiating. Bishop Edward K. Braxton provided Final Commendations. Father Stout was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Villa Ridge. Funeral arrangements were handled by Searby Funeral Home in DuQuoin and Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo. Memorials may be made to one the churches Father Tom served or Teens Encounter Christ.