Immaculate Conception School of Columbia celebrated Earth Day on April 22 with a variety of activities. They began the day with an all-school liturgy. Father Carl Scherrer talked about  the three letter L’s --- picking up litter, turning off light bulbs and the earth is loaned to us so we need to care for it and pass it on in good shape. First grade students then sang Tom Chapin's song, "Happy Earth Day" and the grade six through eight’s music appreciation class sang "Stewards of the Earth" by Theresa Jennings. ICS fifth graders then headed to the Waterloo Sportsman’s Club for Conservation Days, while the first graders took a field trip to the Butterfly House in St. Louis.

ICS Principal Mike Kish said the school appreciates all the folks of the community who put their recycling items in the bins behind the school. The school accepts paper, aluminum, printer cartridges and cell phones. “Each aluminum can that is recycled saves enough energy to power a computer for three hours,” said Kish.

Father Carl Scherrer gathers with ICS first grade students on Earth Day.

 

The Columbia Woman’s Club marked Earth Day on Thursday by sprucing up several Columbia landmarks and parks, including the City Hall fountain, the grounds at the Miller-Fiege Historic Home, the front of the Columbia Police Station and A.C. Metter and Bolm-Schuhkraft Parks.

Columbia Woman’s Club members sprucing up the Miller-Fiege House in downtown Columbia are, left to right, Charlotte Hoock, Wyona Crosley, Dee Steppig and Joann Odem.

 

Area fifth grade students got a hands on classroom experience this week to learn about preserving nature during the annual Conservation Days at the annual event is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension and the Farm Bureau. Some of the education forums included microscopic aquatic life, the power of wind, and the rain forest.

Dana Lambert, right, a naturalist from the Wild Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Mo., discusses a tropical rain forest, explaining that while Monroe County normally gets 30-35 inches of rain per year, a rain forest gets around 85 inches. Some of the species she displayed were a tarantula, opossum, a snake and a parrot, above.     – photo by Bob Haentzler  

 

Sports Wrap-Up: In baseball action on Wednesday, it was Belleville East over Gibault 16-2, Red Bud over Lebanon 13-12 and Triad defeated Waterloo 2-0. In softball, Red Bud fell to Lebanon 4-3 and Triad defeated Waterloo 2-1. Waterloo’s girls’ soccer team defeated Fort Zumwalt East 2-1 in the Alton Invitational. On Tuesday at the Columbia Girls’ Soccer Tournament, the host team Lady Eagles tied Edwardsville 1-1. Erin Weaver put the goal in for CHS. Columbia will next take on Althoff Thursday evening at 5 p.m.

Upcoming high school games this weekend, includes the Waterloo Bulldogs (11-5) playing at Belleville East on Friday. The Lady Bulldogs (10-2-1) soccer team will continue play in the Alton Tournament on Friday. The Columbia boys’ and girls’ track teams with travel to Sparta on Friday to participate in the Buzz Sawyer Invitational. The Gibault baseball team (5-16) will travel to Freeburg on Saturday at Freeburg , taking on Freeburg and Roxana: Valmeyer-The baseball team (8-7) plays at home versus Madison on Friday and on the road Saturday against Christian High School in O’Fallon MO.

Columbia teammates Lindsay Nanna, left in dark blue, and Shannon Lyerla, right, battle the ball away from Edwardsville players during Tuesday’s Columbia Tournament.     .     - photo by Debbie Roediger - www.roedigerphotos.com

Someone finally hit a ball that Waterloo outfielder Gabe Hopkins could not track down. It just happened to be a two-run dinger off of A.J. Crutchfield as Triad defeated Waterloo 2-0. The blast was hit by Triad's Tyler Doroughty in the top of the fifth.            – photo by Bob Haentzler-game photos at www.gatewayphoto.net

 

Columbia pitcher Drew Bicklein throws a strike past a Carlyle batter during the Eagles 10-0 home victory Thursday evening. The win improved Columbia’s record to 12-10 (5-1 in the conference).

 

Waterloo High School ‘s fishing team will compete Friday, April 23 in the IHSA Sectional Bass Tournament at Coffeen Lake, located between Litchfield and Vandalia. The team is Dakota Riddle, Cannon Holtgrieve, Dustin Lutman, Brett Marsala, Brandon Scharf, Abby Rolland, Zach Wheat, T.J. Doerr, Scott Abernathy and Mark Schaefer. Coaches are Herschel Riddle and Barry Rowland. The Bulldogs have been practicing at local ponds and lakes in the area and have caught a large number of bass. The top three teams at the tournament will qualify for the state championship May 7 - 8 at Carlyle Lake.

 

Columbia Council Narrowly Okays Deficit Budget
by Joe Leicht
Columbia officials sweat the dollars and cents - down to the cost of garbage can lids, new laptops for the council, park pavilions and a classic fire engine - before cementing a 2010-2011 fiscal budget that passed by one vote at their April 19 meeting. Garbage lids and the Studebaker missed the cut, while new computers and a $54,000 Metter Park pavilion were deemed good to go among the $13.6 million the city plans to spend in the coming fiscal year.

Expenditures will exceed the $11.9 million Columbia anticipates receiving from local taxes and fees and state and federal reimbursements, leaving a bottom line that Alderman Candace Hejna denounced as "fiscally irresponsible." Aldermen Fred Stumpf and Brad Oberkfell joined Hejna in voting against the budget; Aldermen Eugene Ebersohl, Mary Ellen Niemietz, Mark Roessler and Jim Agne voted yes. Alderman Dan Row was not present for the vote.

Like other cities, Columbia is being hamstrung by the state's slow reimbursement of income tax revenue. The budget anticipates a rolling deficit largely due to state money that appears likely to lag months and hundreds of thousands of dollars behind. The city's use of its $1.81 million Capital Development Fund - formed in February 2008 by an ordinance that took advantage of the city's exemption from the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law - was a contentious issue for some officials this budget cycle.

The only two residents who voiced their opinions at a hearing prior to the meeting called into question the city's use of the Capital Development Fund to bolster other funds. Former Mayor Lester Schneider said he has "no problem with the principal of using Capital Development to cover shortfalls. But I still think those should be shown in the fund. You just transfer $300,000 to the General Fund because you're $300,000 short, there's no audit trail." Schneider did say if he were grading Columbia's fiscal responsibility "on the curve" alongside the state and federal governments, "Columbia would get an A+."

Levi Ottwell, a member of the Columbia Library Board and web-blogger who follows city government closely, said he would like to see the council "make an attempt at prioritizing the list of capital expenditures for this year and the next few. I feel some of the items funded out of the Capital Development Fund are not truly capital development items. I tend to classify road projects, new buildings or building upgrades along with infrastructure improvements as true capital development."

City Administrator Al Hudzik said the city's staff  "tries to be fairly conservative on the revenue side, and fairly liberal on the expense side, so that you cover all your bases. We don't have as much influence on the revenues as we do the expenses." Hudzik said department heads and staff in the future can anticipate "more intense meetings than the probably ever have experienced as we try to manage the city for the benefit of the residents while at the same time having enough to meet the city's expenses."

Mayor Hutchinson said - referring to his predecessor's "grade curve" - "if we included most municipalities in the area, I think we're doing better than most. Tough as it is."

 

The annual Violence Prevention Center’s sixth annual 5K Kristina’s Race For Peace is this Saturday, April 24 in downtown Waterloo. Registration is at the County Courthouse from 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., with the run / walk starting at 8 a.m. and travels through the streets of downtown Waterloo. The race is named in honor of Kristina Clements, daughter of Kay Clements of Waterloo, who was killed by an abusive boyfriend in 1992.

 

Costello Co-Sponsors New Flood Insurance Reform Bill

U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced earlier this week he is co-sponsoring flood insurance reform legislation to help ease the burden of those living and owning businesses along the bottom land between Alton and Columbia. Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Corps of Engineers has tighten their requirements for the levees along this flood plain which may result in higher insurance bills of the property owners.

The new bill incorporates key provisions of H.R. 3415, which Costello introduced last July to deal with the issue of mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements resulting from changes to area flood maps. FEMA is currently proceeding with a nation-wide effort to redraw flood maps. Under the legislation, mandatory purchase requirements for newly mapped areas that are facing such a requirement for the first time would not take effect for five years. After the initial five year period, flood insurance rates would be phased in over an additional five years. Like the Costello bill, the new legislation would require local jurisdictions to have an evacuation plan and an outreach and communication plan in place, advising residents about local flood risk, the availability of flood insurance and the potential consequences of not purchasing insurance. 

“This new legislation accomplishes the top priorities of H.R. 3415: giving local jurisdictions time to fix levees or otherwise mitigate flood risk while providing relief from the negative economic impacts of mandatory purchase requirements,” said Costello. “At the same time, it ensures that residents are well-informed about flood risk and the availability of insurance. I look forward to the bill advancing through the subcommittee and full committee, and to its consideration on the House floor,” Costello added.

Costello reiterated that despite these bills he is working on, he encourages every landowner along the bottoms to flood insurance.

 

A public meeting to discuss the levee upgrade situation is scheduled for Wednesday, May 12, at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Middle School. Speakers will include Les Sterman, the construction supervisor of the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District, which is working in conjunction with FEMA and the Corps of engineers to improve the Metro East levee system. He previously headed the East-West Gate Council of Governments for more than 25 years. In addition to Sterman, civic leaders from Columbia, Waterloo and Dupo will be in attendance to help answer questions.

 

Don Thompson of Waterloo is the April winner of the Think Monroe County First Super Consumer drawing. He was a $150 gift certificate to Harres Home Furnishings and Appliances at 900 Admiral Weinel Blvd. in Columbia. Thompson’s lucky ticket was drawn at Waterloo Lumber Company. For more information on the contest, visit the website: www.thinkmonroecountyfirst.com.

 

The Monroe County Genealogy Society is welcoming several guest speakers this summer. The group meets at the Morrison-Talbott Library the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. The next speaker will be Candy Buechler on June 17. She will speak on genealogy and U.S. Census records. Another upcoming event at the library will be an art show May 3 – 8 featuring the works of Barb Schrieber’s students.

 

Columbia Public Library Undergoing Renovations

The Columbia Public Library will be closed April 24 through May 3 as the interior undergoes a major remodeling project. “We’re putting in new furniture and realigning the layout to make the library more user friendly,” said Library Director Erica Pyle. While it is closed, those needing library services are encouraged to use the neighboring facilities in surrounding communities, including Waterloo and Dupo. “Just make sure to bring along your Columbia Library card,” added Pyle. Those with books which need to be returned can still use the drop-off box next to the parking lot at Columbia’s facility. A grand re-opening celebration is planned for Monday, May 3, at 6 p.m.

Columbia Public Library Director Erica Pyle gets help moving a book shelf from City of Columbia employee Marty Eschmann.

 

Monroe County’s Republican Central Committee is gearing up for their annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday, April 30, at Columbia’s Turner Hall. The reception begins at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 6:45 p.m. Invited speakers include State Senator and candidate for governor, Bill Brady; Jason Plummer, Lt. Governor candidate; State Senator David Luetchefeld; and Robert Enriquez, Republican candidate for Secretary of State. Dinner tickets are $30, but free for all local students. For more information, contact County Committee Chairman Myron Neff at 618-473-2803 or drop him an email: neffco@wisperhome.com .

 

Myron Neff celebrated a birthday Wednesday with a dinner which included a rib-eye steak and fried morel mushrooms his son picked along the bottoms at an undisclosed location. “The mushrooms were hard for my son to find, but well worth the effort. They tasted great,” said Neff.

 

Ground Broken For New Mississippi River Bridge

A contingent of federal, state and local officials broke ground April 19 on the New Mississippi River Bridge. The event took place on the Illinois side of the Eads Bridge. The New Mississippi River Bridge will cost $667 million and is funded by a combination of state and federal dollars. Once completed, the new four-lane Mississippi River Bridge will carry I-70, which currently travels across the Poplar Street Bridge. The Poplar Street Bridge is one of two bridges in the United States that carry three interstates - I-55, I-64 and I-70.

“This new bridge project is the culmination of many years of hard work on the part of many people,” said U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello. “It will reduce congestion throughout the region’s highway system, create thousands of jobs and improve safety.”

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin praised Congressman Jerry Costello’s efforts on the project. “I have to give credit to Jerry Costello for having the vision to imagine this project. He understood long ago how necessary this bridge would be to the economic vitality of the entire bi-state region,” said Durbin.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, right, gathers with other local officials at the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Mississippi River Bridge.           – photo by Katharina Giers

 

Monroe County Court Report

The following cases were adjudicated the week of April 20 in Monroe County Circuit Court in Waterloo, Judge Dennis Doyle presiding:

Travis S. Adams, 21, of Columbia pleaded guilty to retail theft. Adams was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $272 and placed on one year court supervision. The violation occurred Feb. 26 at 961 N. Market St.; Waterloo Police handled the incident.

Joshua D. Phelps, 35,  of Waterloo pleaded guilty to failure to yield. Phelps was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $163 and placed on three months court supervision. The violation occurred March 19 on Illinois 3 south of HH Road; Waterloo Police handled the incident.

Rodney D. Thomas, 54, of Cahokia pleaded guilty to driving without a valid license. Thomas was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $193 and placed on three months court supervision. The violation occurred March 16 on Admiral Parkway; Columbia Police handled the incident.

Delores J. German, 54, of Cahokia pleaded guilty to driving under a suspended license. German was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $622 and placed on one year court supervision. The violation occurred March 22 on Admiral Parkway at Mark Drive; Columbia Police handled the incident.

Derek A. Dillon, 24, of Columbia pleaded guilty to squealing tires. Dillon was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $173 and placed on three months court supervision. The violation occurred March 20 in the 1500 block of North Main Street; Columbia Police handled the incident. A charge of driving too fast for conditions was dismissed.

Michael J. Whaley, 34, of Cahokia pleaded guilty to violation of vehicle classification. Whaley was fined $75. The violation occurred June 11 on Illinois 3 at North Main Street; Illinois State Police handled the incident. Charges of no valid registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle were dismissed.

Todd Evans, 34, of Red Bud pleaded guilty to operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Evans was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $212 and placed on one year court supervision. The violation occurred March 28 on Back Street at Park Street in Hecker; the Monroe County Sheriff's Department handed the incident.

 

Bea Newton of Columbia came out of her coma after 53 days and appears to be making improvements and is on her gradual road to recovery according to her husband Dale. She was injured in a fall at her home and had been hospitalized since then.

 

Monroe County’s picnic season is just more than a month away. It kicks off with the Maeystown Homecoming the last weekend of May. It is scheduled for Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29 at the Civic Association Park. The event features food and music both evenings.

“Friday features fish and Saturday we’ll have fried chicken plates,” said Civic Association Secretary Mark Bundy, who added that they’ll be serving brats, pork steaks and hamburgers both nights.

“And don’t forget about the cold beer and soda, along with rides and games for both kids and adults,” he added.

Rock N’ Roll musical entertainment will be provided nightly from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday features Aftershock, while Fountain Creek headlines on Saturday.

One of the highlights of the homecoming is the parade on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Featured in the parade will be the fire trucks, Bud Light Brigade, Krazy Klowns and Shriner’s Brass Band.

“Children always get lots of candy, so make sure to bring along a bag or two,” said Bundy.

Those wishing to be in the parade, call Bundy at 458-6930 or Carla (Schepers) Coats 458-5633. “The parade walk is an easy walk or ride – it’s all downhill from the start,” said  Bundy.

The next picnic will be the 30^th annual Waterloo’s Porta Westfalica Festival scheduled for Tuesday, June 15, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. in downtown Waterloo.

 

Recent Obituaries

Edna “Sis” Arras, nee Frank, 87, of Waterloo, died April 20, 2010 in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 5, 1922, in Merrimac, the daughter of the late Ralph Sr. and Louise (nee Naumann) Frank. Mrs. Arras is survived by her sister, Beulah Bohnemeier; sister-in-laws Leona Frank, Viola Frank, Pat Frank, Dorothy Arras and Helen Steinmann; and a brother-in –law, Warren (Lela) Arras; along with nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, George W. Arras; brothers Earl Frank, Roy Frank, Edward “Buddy” Frank, Ralph Frank Jr. and Morris Frank; and a sister, Evelyn Riebeling. Mrs. Arras was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo, a 50-year member of the Eastern Star, Waterloo American Legion Auxiliary and the Waterloo Sportsman Club. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Friday, April 23, 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. Mrs. Arras will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to her church or Hoyleton Children’s Home.

Michael I. Halleran, 85, of Columbia, died April 19, 2010 at Columbia Convalescent Center. He was born March 6, 1925, in Bush, the son of the late Vernon and Lyburtie (Claunch) Halleran. He married Pearl (Mueller) Halleran in 1969 in Columbia. In addition to his wife, Mr. Halleran is survived by his granddaughters, Genea Kay (Michael) Kearns and Stephanie (David) Miller; great-granddaughters Emily and Allison Miller; sister-in-law, Leona Halleran; nephews Randy (Kandie) Halleran and Terry (Rhonda) Halleran; son-in-law, Gene Tilley; a brother-in-law, Ralph (Helen) Mueller; sister-in-law, Twila Hankammer, great-nephew, Jim; and great-nieces Julie, Jenny and Dottie. He was preceded in death by daughters Cynthia Ann Tilley and Mary Lynn Lewis; brothers Vernie and Richard Halleran; and a sister, Margie Halleran. Mr. Halleran served with the US Navy during World War II. He retired from McDonnell – Douglas of St. Louis in 1978 after more than 30 years of service. Michael was a member of St. Paul UCC of Columbia and Columbia American Legion Post 581. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mr. Halleran was buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul UCC Building Fund.

James E. Thompson, 59, of Millstadt, died April 16, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville. He was born Dec. 15, 1950 in Springfield, the son of the late Estale Wayne and Edna (nee Hammonds) Holland. Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife of 36 years, Connie (nee Carron) Thompson; sons James and David Thompson; grandchildren Zachary and Tabbitha Thompson; a brother, Kevin Holland; sisters Mary Joe Guss, Sandra Floyd and Leona Evans; brothers-in-law Ron and Archie Carron; and sisters-in-law Sandra Clossen, Shirley Avellone, Wanda Sins, Geraldine Beelman and Carol Skaer; along with other relatives and friends. He was a United States Marine veteran who enjoyed fishing and mushroom hunting. A memorial service barbeque will be Sunday, April 25 at 11 a.m. at the Moose Lodge in Swansea. At Mr. Thompson’s request, a cremation was held.

Patricia Ruth Knollman, nee Miller, 79 of Valmeyer, died April 22, 2010 at St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis. She was born Dec. 4, 1930 in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Edward and Jessie (nee Franklin) Miller. Mrs. Knollman is survived by her husband of 57 years, Charles “Chuck” Knollman Jr.; children Charles Knollman III of Belle Villa and Monica (Mark) Bauer of Saginaw, Mich., and grandchildren Heidi (Rex) Long, Courtney (Willie) Barlow, Chuck E. Knollman IV and Derek Bauer; along with great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces, great-great-nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her in-laws, Charles and Albetina Knollman Sr.; and sisters Kathryn (Roy) Koch and Liz (Fred) Gill. After attending Sacred Heart Catholic Grade School, Pat graduated from Dupo High School in 1948. She then earned a degree from Missouri Business School in 1950. Mrs. Knollman worked in the Dupo Pharmacy with her husband Chuck. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo and the American Legion Post 485 Ladies Auxiliary in Dupo. Visitation is Sunday, April 25, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. Funeral is Monday, April 26, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo with Father Paul Wienhoff officiating. Mrs. Knollman will be buried at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Columbia.