E-Newsletter - December 11, 2009

H1N1 Flu Clinic Open To General Public: A health clinic will distribute the H1N1 flu vaccination to the general public, all age groups, on Dec. 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will be located at the Monroe County Health Department inside the County Annex at the intersection of Route 3 and Illinois Avenue in Waterloo. There is no cost for the vaccination. For more information, call 939-3871.
 

Local Basketball teams Looking To Make Improvements

The Columbia boys’ basketball team has a record of 2-2, and next up is game at Wesclin on Friday. The Eagles are led by Tanner Hall, averaging 13 points per game. The Eagles girls’ squad is currently 3-7, and plays Windsor next Wednesday in the Gibault Holiday Tournament. Their leading scorer is Hannah Varel, with eight points per game.

Waterloo has a record of 2-5, and plays an always-tough Triad team on Friday. The Bulldogs are lead by Nick Bretwisch, averaging 12 points a game. The Lady Bulldogs have opened the season with 2-5 record, with Rachel Lhamon as their leading scorer. Next up is a game against Red Bud on Tuesday in the Gibault Holiday Tournament.

The Gibault boys are currently 2-3 and play this evening against Metro East Lutheran. The Hawks are led by Senior Kyle Prader, averaging 12 per game. The girl’s team also plays this evening at p.m., versus Metro East Lutheran. They are led by Kristi Decker, scoring 11 per game.

The Valmeyer boys’ team is still searching for a win, and play this evening at home against New Athens. Joe Heavner has been averaging 13 points per game. The girls’ team is currently 1-7.

Red Bud is currently 2-5 and travels to Breese Central for a Friday night game. Red Bud’s leading scorer, averaging 20 points a game, is sharp shooter Adam Kunkel. The Red Bud girls’ team is 2-5 and their top scorer is Tara Hubert. Next up for the Lady Musketeers is a game Tuesday against Waterloo in the Gibault Holiday Tournament.

Waterloo’s Brad Dillenberger, center, puts in a two-pointer in a 54-47 home victory Monday against Freeburg.        – photo by Bob Haentzler - game photos for sale at www.gatewayphoto.net

The Waterloo High School girls’ basketball team had a tough outing Monday. The Indians from Mascoutah got off to a fast start and never looked back, defeating the Lady Bulldogs handily, 56-15. WHS is now 2-5 and are set to play Red Bud in the Gibault Christmas Tournament.

Waterloo guard Katie Kaempfe, right, pulls up for a jumper during the Bulldogs’ loss earlier this week Mascoutah.        – photo by Bob Haentzler - game photos for sale at www.gatewayphoto.net

Kenny Bode continues to recover from injuries sustained Wednesday in an accident on Route 158 between Columbia and Red Bud. He has come out of a coma and is responding to questions. His family is happy to report Kenny recognized family members waiting at his beside at St. Louis University Hospital. Among his injuries, Bode has sustained a wound to his eye and head, but is hoping to make a full recovery – including keeping everyone laughing with the thousands of jokes he has memorized through the years.

Bode was transporting an empty casket in a minivan owned by DeFabio Funeral Home of Waterloo at the time of the accident. According to the Illinois State Police, Bode was traveling westbound on Route 158 when he went off the roadway to the right - heading into a ditch. As he turned the wheel left, he apparently lost control of the minivan and it re-entered the roadway right into the path of a Baxmeyer Construction semi-tractor hauling a trailer filled with rock. The semi-driver, Thomas “T.J.” Peterman of Arnold, Mo., saw the minivan heading his way so he pulled the truck off the road and into Mike Musick’s front yard. Peterman’s actions did prevent a head-on collision, but Bode’s vehicle did slam into the rear of the trailer.

Russel Wolf of Waterloo is celebrating 30 years as a Country Financial representative. During Wolf’s career with Country, he has received the National Quality Award for Life and Health and has been named a Life Underwriters Training Council Fellow. His office is located at 513 West Park Street in Waterloo. His phone is 939-8601. Wolf, a lifelong resident of Waterloo, lives with his wife, Debbie. He has two grown children, Emily and Jonathan.

The Waterloo Sports Association’s annual members meeting is on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at the Waterloo VFW beginning at 7 p.m. This is WSA’s first openly publicized annual members’ meeting in more than 10 years. All parents and guardians whose children participated in WSA’s recreational youth programs in 2009 are invited to attend. The meeting will provide a venue to review the 2009 programs, provide feedback and recommendations for improvements. The 2010 board of directors will also be elected. For more information, visit the WSA website at www.waterloosports.ws or call 939-9925.

The American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Columbia American Legion Hall. (Blood drives will resume at Turner Hall in 2010.) All donors will receive a complimentary t-shirt. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments can be made by calling 281-6941.

St. Paul UCC of Columbia Orchestra’s annual Christmas program is Tuesday, Dec. 15. Music begins at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will follow.

The Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg’s annual chimes and women's choirs will present their annual Christmas concert - "Christ's Birth In A Country Church – IX” on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. Along with the choirs' selections, there will also be instrumentals and various vocals. Following the concert, refreshments will be served in the school basement. 

Maeystown Milestone: The Corner George Inn Bed and Breakfast and the Maeystown General Store will mark celebrate their 20th anniversaries Dec. 20. Anita Muertz opened the General Store in August of 1989 and the Inn opened that December under the ownership of David and Marcia Braswell. An open house will be held Dec. 20 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to mark the occasion.

A World of Difference is welcoming patrons to a Christmas open house on Saturday, Dec. 12. The downtown Waterloo health food store has special events planned from 9 am. To 12 noon, featuring recipes baked with organic and natural ingredients. Free recipes, samples, special sales and attendance prizes will be handed out. Gift baskets will be on display and gift certificates will be available for sale. A World of Difference is located at 127 N. Main Street in downtown Waterloo. For more information, email awodmanager@yahoo.com or call 618-939-4144.

The final concert in the Valmeyer Centennial Concert Series is this Sunday, Dec. 13. Music will begin at 3 p.m., at St. John UCC. Admission is free and a reception will follow. Community choral group, under the direction of Marcia Braswell, will headline the event, along with performances by the St. Mary Catholic Church Choir, St. John UCC Church Choir and the VHS Mixed Ensemble.

Vida Verde Studio Salon in downtown Columbia held an Open House Art Show Thursday evening. Owner Heather Reifschneider showcased the artistic work of Laura (Neal) Oberkfell, Stephanie Gaffney, Katie, Simek and Megan Galle.

Reiniger Jewelers of Waterloo welcomed guests to a customer appreciation event Thursday evening. Several members of the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce stopped by for a visit.

The Columbia High School and Middle School held Christmas Concerts earlier this week. Those performing include d seventh and eighth grade band and chorus, the CHS treble, bass and mixed choirs and the CHS concert and jazz bands. A highlight of the evening was a solo by CHS’ Kate Montgomery on the song “Hallelujah (Light Has Come.”

The Columbia High School bass choir performs this week during their annual Christmas concert.                    – photo by Debbie Roediger

The final concert of a year-long series of performances sponsored by the Valmeyer Centennial Committee will be Christmas concert Dec. 13. Music kicks off at 3 p.m., at St John United Church of Christ. Featured choral groups will include the St Mary Catholic Church choir under the direction of Jane McCarthy, the adult choir of St John UCC under the direction of Gayle McCarthy, the VHS mixed ensemble under the direction of Melissa Tyrcha and the Valmeyer Centennial Community Chorus under the direction of Marcia Braswell. Pre-concert organ music will be provided by Pat Roever. The finale of the song will be “Peace In the Valley,” which was the featured song in this summer’s village centennial musical. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. The concert is free and open to the public. The Christmas Concert caps off a year of activities celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the incorporation of the Village of Valmeyer on Dec. 9^, 1909. 

Recent Obituaries

Arlou Steele, nee Wischmeier, 79, of Columbia, died Dec. 10, 2009, at Canterbury Manor Nursing Center in Waterloo. She was born Sept. 3, 1930 in Waterloo. She married Donald P. Steele in 1954 in Waterloo. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Steele is survived by her children Craig Paul (Tonya) Steele of Columbia, Terri Lea Hargis of Valmeyer and Jan Marie (Gary) Toon of Columbia; grandchildren Kyle P. Steele, Cole A. Hargis, Jill A. Steele, Jenna M. Toon and Jamie M. Toon; and a sister, Merle Wischmeier of Waterloo; along with other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father, Lydia (nee Schewe) and Clarence Stoner. Mrs. Steele was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia. Arlou was a homemaker and was also employed at Weilbacher's Grocery Store in downtown Columbia. She enjoyed bowling and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. Visitation is Sunday, Dec. 13, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. Funeral is Monday, Dec. 14, at 10 a.m., at St. Paul UCC in Columbia with Pastor Bob Goddard, officiating. Mrs. Steele will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to her church.

Evelyn F. Benyo, nee Bringaze, 85, died Dec. 9, 2009 in Waterloo. She was born Nov. 15, 1924 in Quincy, the daughter of the late Walter and Rose Helen (nee Spohr) Bringaze. Mrs. Benyo is survived by her children, Andrew (Peggy) Benyo Jr. of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; Thomas (Linda) Benyo of Willow Springs, Mo., David (Vicki) Benyo of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Rose Ann (Richard) Kloeppinger of Washington, Mo.; Joseph (Sandy) Benyo of Waterloo, John (Rhonda) Benyo of Valmeyer and Christopher Benyo of Naperville; a brother; 19 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren; along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew Benyo; a grandson; a brother’ and a sister-in-law. Mrs. Benyo was a former administrative assistant who was a member of the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Waterloo’s Mary and Martha Sodality, the SPPS Choir and Waterloo Country Club. Visitation is Friday, Dec. 18, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m., at SS Peter and Paul Church in Waterloo. Mrs. Benyo will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Southern Illinois or the SPPS Grade School Endowment Fund.

Edith E. Trost, nee Saucier, 95, of Valmeyer, died Dec. 8, 2009 in Waterloo. She was born July 5, 1014 in Denver, Colo., the daughter of the late Cameron and Orsina (nee Meyers) Saucier. Mrs. Trost is survived by her children, Robert (Jewell) Trost and Dee Ann Trost; grandchildren Mark W. Trost, Paul D. (Meredith) Trost, Melanie A. (Larry) Ellis, Michael D. (Brooke) Miller and William A. (Lisa) Miller; and great-grandchildren Colter and Lily Ellis, Charlotte, Gage and Reid Miller and Evan and Ivy Miller; along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Trost; and three sisters. Mrs. Trost was a member of St. John UCC of Maeystown, a charter member Home and Community Extension and was the first Monroe County Public Health nurse. Visitation is Sunday, Dec. 13, from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at St. John UCC of Maeystown. A service will follow with Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. Mrs. Trost will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church.