E-Newsletter - September 10, 2010

 

Waterloo defeated Columbia in varsity volleyball Thursday evening by scores of 25-10 25-17. WHS (6-3) next plays at home Monday when they take on East St. Louis. Columbia (4-3) is scheduled to host Breese Central this coming Tuesday. The Lady Eagles along with the Gibault Lady Hawks will compete Saturday in the Mascoutah Invitational. Gibault also has a home game this evening, Friday, Sept. 10, against O’Fallon. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Waterloo's Tia Kelly kills the ball for a point as Columbia's Lauren Hausmann (1) and Taylor Mytyk (12) attempt a block in Thursday night’s game at the WHS gym.         – photo by Bob Haentzler of Gateway Photography / game photos online at www.gatewayphoto.net

 

Friday night football finds Waterloo (2-0) hosting a tough Carbondale team (2-0), Columbia (1-1) travels to Dupo (0-2) and Red Bud (2-0) plays on the road at Carlyle (0-2).

The Waterloo Marching Bulldogs will be cheering on the football team tonight for the squad’s home opener.

The Red Bud Musketeers football team is running away with a strong season this year.          – photo by North County News

 

Waterloo’s soccer team continues its winning ways Thursday afternoon as the Bulldogs defeated Mascoutah 2-0. Scoring goals for WHS were Lance Kohler and Nathan Vogt. Next up for Waterloo (7-2) is a home match Saturday, Sept. 11, against Jerseyville.

Waterloo’s Tyler Minnaert, right, battles with Jeremy Riddles of Mascoutah to head the ball during Thursday afternoon’s game.             – photo by Bob Haentzler of Gateway Photography / game photos online at www.gatewayphoto.net

 

Weekend High School Soccer Games

The Valmeyer Pirates’ soccer team travels to Metro-East Lutheran this afternoon. Their next home soccer game is this Saturday, Sept. 11, at 12:30 p.m. against Lebanon. Columbia’s soccer team travels Saturday to take on Highland High School. The Gibault Hawks will head to Quincy-Notre Dame on Saturday.

 

Golf Teams Hit The Road This Weekend For Away Matches

Waterloo boys’ golf team competes Saturday up north in the Mattoon Invitational. Columbia’s boys’ will hit the links Saturday in the Carbondale Invitational, while the CHS girls’ compete in the Alton Invitational. The Gibault’s boys’ golf team will participate Saturday in the Marquette Tournament.

 

Columbia Retains Noted Law Firm To Defend Discrimination Complaint
by Joe Leicht
The Columbia City Council voted unanimously to employ Mark W. Weisman to defend against a discrimination complaint filed by Babatunde Owoseni, a Nigerian-born, Metro-East resident who applied unsuccessfully for employment with the Columbia Police Department last year. On Aug. 2, the city learned that Owoseni had filed a complaint under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as well as the Illinois Department of Human Rights. According to the U.S. 7th District Court of Appeals, Owoseni has been a U.S. resident since 1984. He found employment with the Illinois Department of Corrections, working at the Graham Correctional Facility in Hillsboro.

In 1999, he applied for employment with the Belleville Police Department but was rejected. He subsequently sued the Belleville Police and Fire Commission, alleging he was passed over due to his race and national origin. The BP&FC noted in defending its decision not to recommend Owoseni for hire that his work record with the Department of Corrections included documentation suggesting Owoseni had been hostile toward superiors who had attempted to correct him.

Owoseni later was employed by the Alorton Police Department and the Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville campus police. The officer was discharged in 2003 from the university after a hearing by the Illinois Civil Service Commission. The commission cited insubordination issues in ruling on his discharge.

Weisman is an attorney with the St. Louis-based law firm Gallop, Johnson and Neuman.

 

The village of Valmeyer is planning for their annual Party In The Park. This year’s gathering is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1, at Borsch Memorial Park in old town. “All past, present and future residents of Valmeyer are invited come and meet your neighbors,” said Mayor Howard Heavner. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own picnic snacks and beverages. Free music will be provided from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. by local country band Riverside. For additional information, call the Valmeyer Village Hall at 935-2131.

 

Patriot’s Day Ceremony In Millstadt: The Millstadt VFW POST 7980 and the Millstadt American Legion Post 502 welcomes the public to honor the country’s fallen heroes on Saturday, Sept. 11 with a Patriots Day Ceremony. It will begin at 10 a.m. at the Millstadt VFW with a blessing provided by Rev. Darrell Weber. A reception will follow with light snacks and refreshments. 

 

As part of their work at the Route 158 overpass onto Route 3, IDOT crews will close Columbia Quarry Road at the intersection to Route 158 beginning next week. IDOT is expected to have the intersection re-opened by Monday, Sept. 20.

 

The Monroe County Ambulance will hold a Car Safety Seat Checkpoint on Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the County Ambulance Garage at 901 Illinois Ave. in Waterloo. Several certified technicians will be available to inspect seats in addition to offering suggestions and further information. In Illinois, all children seven and younger must be properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat. According to the U.S Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly three out of four child safety seats are not used properly.

“Please stop by and let us check your child’s seat for proper fit and installation,” said Monroe County Ambulance Director Carla Heise. She reminds parents of young children should take a moment and make sure their child’s safety seats are properly installed in the back seat of your vehicles. Heise pointed out this is the most effective thing you can do to protect your children in the event of a crash.

“In fact, in motor vehicle crashes, child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers,” Heise added. She also stated that from 1975 through 2008, restraints (child safety seats or adult seat belts) are credited with saving the lives of 8,959 children.

“Remember, all passengers under the age of 13 should ride securely restrained in the back seat, where they are safest — every trip, every time,” Heise said.

 

Area farmers reports mixed emotions about last night’s rainstorm. “It was good for the soy beans, but it might prevent us from getting into the field over the weekend to harvest the corn,” said Fults farmer Mark Seboldt. His rain gauge reported 2.8 inches overnight. There was 1.8” reported at the Monroe County Farm Bureau office in Waterloo. Don Matzenbacher who lives on the west side of the city of Waterloo reports 1.5”. Gary Leber of Valmeyer’s rain gauge read 2.1”. Monroe County received 3.39 inches of rain in August, reports Harvey Ries of Hanover Road. He said that, despite the heat, that amount is a little above normal.
 

Waterloo Homecoming Parade Is Oct. 6: The Waterloo High School Athletic Booster Club and the WHS Student Council invite all WHS alumni classes, groups, retired teachers, employees and administrators to participate in this year’s WHS Homecoming Parade. It is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 6. This year’s parade theme is “Out Of This World.” Parade line-up is at 5:30 p.m. on Bellefontaine Drive in front of the new Junior High School (Old WHS). Parade kicks off at 6 p.m. and will turn left on Hamacher Street, cross Market Street to Columbia Ave. Then take a left on Main Street and head down to Fourth Street, before taking a left on Fourth to Rogers Ave. Everyone is then invited to the Rogers Elementary parking lot for a bonfire. Please contact WHS’s Kelly Lerch at 939-3455 to register your group for the parade.

 

The Waterloo High School Athletic Booster Club will present their 14th annual NFL/Punt, Pass and Kick competition on Saturday, Sept. 25 at the WHS football field. It tests distance, accuracy and skills in punting, passing and kicking a football. The free registration starts at noon and is open to boys and girls ages six to 15. The competition will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate or religious document (baptismal certificate) to the competition for age verification. Per IHSA rules, students on an Illinois high school football team are not eligible to participate. No football shoes, cleats or turf shoes will be permitted - only soft-soled sneakers will be allowed.

Five boy and five girl winners will be awarded a trophy and advance to the Waterloo Sectional on Saturday, Oct. 16. Sectional winners could advance to the Team Championship competition held Dec. 19 at the Edward Jones Dome prior to the start of the St. Louis Rams football game. For more information, call Lenny Voelker at 939-3570.

 

Recent Obituaries

James P. Meinhardt, 77, of Columbia, died Sept. 4, 2010. He was born March 30, 1933 in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Edgar and Estelle (Yetter) Meinhardt. Mr. Meinhardt is survived by his friends Tom, Marcia, Anthony and Adam Newcom of Columbia; along with nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brothers Edgar, Robert Sr. and Kenneth C. Meinhardt. Mr. Meinhardt served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was the retired owner/operator of St. Louis Carnival Supply. He was a former fire chief for the Columbia Rural Fire Protection District. He spent most of his life raising race horses, was a member of the Columbia Gymnastic Association and the Columbia American Legion Post 581. Visitation is Friday, Sept. 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, Sept. 11, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Father Gary Hogan officiating. Mr. Meinhardt will be buried at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Family Hospice of Belleville.

Angela Dawn Gamblin-Cissell, 39, of Millstadt, died Sept. 5, 2010 at her residence. She was born March 6, 1971 in Red Bud, the daughter of Russ and Carol (nee Case) Gamblin. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gamblin is survived by her husband, Steve Cissell; step-children Stephanie (Tim) Montgomery and Greg (Rebecca) Cissell; grandchildren Hannah, Ellie, Henry and August; siblings Kim Freeman and Terry (Beth) Gamblin; and nieces and nephews, Christi (John), Danny Jr., Nathan, Zach, Jakob and Ryan. She was preceded in death by grandparents, William and Elsie Case, Milton “Whitey” and Laura Bieber; and parents-in-law, Doris and James Cissell. Angela was a microbiologist at Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis, Mo., a member of Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt, the Millstadt Civic Club, the American Society for Quality and the American Society for Brewing Chemists. Visitation and funeral were at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt with Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Johnnie Earl Smith, 63, of Waterloo, died Sept. 8, 2010 in Waterloo. He was born March 19, 1947 in East St. Louis. He was the son of the late Vernon Otto Smith and step-son of Mary Smith. He is survived by his daughters, Aimee (Greg) Keithly, Jenny (Tommy) Shields and Emilee (Vic) Williams; sisters Gloria Fridy, Rose (Shelby) Marlow and Patti (Bruce) Boyer; and granddaughters Sophie, Ava, Alaina and Nola. Mr. Smith served three tours of duty with the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War. He was a retired carpenter and engineer with the GM&O Railroad. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and trapping. A memorial visitation will be Sunday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 9:15 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 20 for a 10 a.m. graveside service at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to the Unity Hospice, the American Lung Association or the American Cancer Society.

Dorothy Adele Huffman, nee Warren, 78, of Dupo, died Sept. 9, 2010 at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. She was born June 8, 1932 in Ware, the daughter of the late Charles and Marie (nee Talley) Warren. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Huffman; son, Charles Brimm; and brothers Jasper “Jack” Warren and Gene Warren. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Deborah Brimm of Dupo; grandchildren Chad Brimm of Dupo and Douglas (Alicia) Brimm of Collinsville; a sister, Georgia Stevens of Bunker, Mo.; aunt, Nellie Johnson of Murphysboro; and sister-in-law, Carol Warren. Dorothy was a homemaker. She was a member of the Dupo VFW Post 6368 Ladies Auxiliary, Dupo American Legion Post 485 Ladies Auxiliary and the Order of Eastern Star. Visitation is Sunday, Sept. 12, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. Funeral is Monday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Matt Friz officiating. Mrs. Huffman will be buried at the Walker Hill Cemetery in Grand Tower. Memorials may be made to the Dupo VFW Post 6368 Ladies Auxiliary.