E-Newsletter  - February 11, 2011

 

A sprinkler system malfunction caused a little excitement Thursday afternoon at Columbia Convalescent Center. The fire suppression system turned on the sprinklers and water sprayed down in two sections of the senior living facility. Several of the hallways and a few of the rooms began collecting water. Residents were quickly and safely transported to other areas of the facility. Employees, assisted by Columbia firefighters and City of Columbia public utility employees worked hard securing the leaks, mopping the water and drying the floors.

“I got a little water in my room but it was no big deal,” said resident Belle Rahe, formerly of the rural Columbia / Warnock area, who added the staff transported her out of her room and into the dining area. “You know, it turned out to be a nice break in the day. I got to talk to some folks here I haven’t seen in a while,” she said. Belle wanted to let her friends know her new grandson Erik, son of Edward and Leanne Rahe of St. Louis, is doing just fine and she always enjoys when Erik and her other grandchildren stop by for a visit. Her husband, Henry, is also getting along just fine in their house in the city of Columbia, although he still makes daily visits to the old farm house.

While residents, guests and arriving family members waited, they were treated to homemade cookies, other treats and refreshments. The facility was soon cleaned up and residents got the all-clear to return to their rooms.

Columbia Convalescent Center employees do their best to quickly remove the water collected on the floors following Thursday’s fire sprinkler malfunction.

 

No Injuries In Rush Hour Collision

There were no injuries reported when a truck collided with a car at 7:10 a.m. this morning, Friday, Feb. 11 at the intersection of Route 3 and GG Road on the north end of Waterloo. According to the police report, Roger McManus of Waterloo was driving his 2007 GMC truck eastbound on GG Road. When McManus proceeded to pull out onto northbound Route 3 he collided with a 2003 Chevy Cavalier in the southbound lanes driven by Margaret Kruse of Belleville.

Both Kruse, 70, and McManus declined medical treatment. Morning rush hour traffic along northbound Route 3 was limited to one lane until Wheat’s Towing could remove the vehicles from the scene. McManus, 52, was ticketed for failure to yield to oncoming traffic.

The accident scene of a two-vehicle pile-up Friday morning at the intersection of GG Road and Route 3 on the north end of Waterloo.        - photo by Gage Wienhoff, who wants to make sure the Waterloo High School staff knows the reason he was just about late getting to school this morning was because his uncle Ed decided to detour from dropping him off on time to instead help him take a picture of an accident in the opposite direction of heading to WHS. And by the way, I had to stand in a snow drift to get the picture, so my shoes and socks got all wet at school. But the WHS ladies did like my new hair style.

 

SPPS Has Talent Show During Catholic School’s Week

SS. Peter and Paul Grade School capped off their celebration of Catholic Schools Week with a talent show in the gym on Thursday. Students got up on the stage and performed songs, dances and other talents.

Dancing to the Black Eyed Peas song "I Gotta Feeling" are SPPS students, left to right, Ashley Osterhage, Heather Stogsdill and Kelly Papenberg.  

 

The Columbia American Legion Post 581 Auxiliary Unit is offering five $500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who reside within the Columbia School District. These scholarships require the applicants be the children or grandchildren of a United States military veteran. Applications are available at the guidance offices at Columbia High School and Gibault High School as well as the American Legion Post 581 office. The deadline turning in applications is April 15, 2011.

 

The Alzheimer’s Association’s In the Moment support group will meet Thursday, Feb. 24, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Oak Hill in Waterloo. Segments of the “Alzheimer’s Project” documentary will be shown, including “The Memory Loss Tapes” and “Caregivers.” Literature and books on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and maintaining brain health will also be available. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Julia at 618-939-3488, ext. 1248.

 

Former Red Bud Resident Laufer Bakes
Official Ronald Reagan Birthday Cake

Former Red Bud resident, David Laufer, center, poses in front of the birthday cake he designed for the official Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration. He is joined by, left to right, Culinary Specialist Petty Officer Second Class Edgar Estrella, Four Seasons Westlake Village Executive Chef Mario Alcocer, Four Seasons Sous Chef John Hudak and Four Season Beverly Hills Executive Pastry Chef Federico Fernandez.

Red Bud High School alumnus David Laufer was in the national spotlight Feb. 6 during the official celebration of the late President Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday. The event was held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., and was attended by Reagan’s widow, Nancy Reagan, along with many Hollywood celebrities and politicians.

Laufer, pastry chef at Four Seasons Westlake Village in Los Angeles, designed the six foot long by six foot tall presidential cake. In addition to the cake, Laufer and his team baked 1,650 cupcakes. The cupcakes and the cake were the late president’s favorite flavor, chocolate topped with Jelly Belly jelly beans. Laufer estimates it took 160 hours to complete the cake. At the appropriate time, Laufer was summoned to roll the cake onto stage where Nancy Reagan accepted it.   

Laufer has been with Four Seasons for seven years and has been at the Four Seasons Westlake Village since 2009. He graduated from Red Bud High School in 1995 and is the son of Linda and Carl Laufer.    (Information provided by the North County News.)

 

Red Bud’s Kevin Crafton Named
Nominee For IHSA’s Spirit Award

Kevin Crafton                - photo by North County News

Red Bud High School junior Kevin Crafton has  been named a nominee for the IHSA’s 2010 National Spirit Award. The honor is presented through the National Federation of State High School Associations and recognizes students who “exemplify the ideals of the positive spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics." The eight sectional finalists and one state winner will be announced this March.

Crafton was nominated because of his strong school spirit and athletic abilities despite his handicap. A childhood accident while grinding meat left Crafton with only one hand. Crafton is a three-sport athlete, starting on the Musketeers football, baseball and basketball teams. He was sidelined this basketball season because of broken bones in his foot and surgery on a torn meniscus. On the football team, Crafton plays running back, wide receiver, linebacker, defensive back and place kicker. He earned All-Cahokia Conference honors as a place kicker, finishing third on the RBHS team in scoring and tackles, catching five passes for 187 yards and snagging three interceptions.

Kevin is the son of Gerald and Melissa Crafton of Red Bud.

(Information provided by the North County News.)

 

Sports Wrap-Up:

In high school basketball this weekend, the Waterloo boys’ (5-18) travel to Highland (14-10) on Friday, while the Lady Bulldogs (8-14 ) hosts Civic Memorial on Saturday at 10 a.m. The Waterloo girls begin play Monday in the Althoff Regional. They are set to take on Cahokia in the first round. The Columbia girls’ basketball team fell to Breese Central Thursday night  57-50 in the championship game of the Wesclin Regional.

In other boys’ action Friday night, Columbia (16-10) is at Carlyle (12-11), Gibault (13-10) hosting Mascoutah (6-15), Valmeyer (6-15) is a home against Dupo (0-21), while Red Bud (7-16) travels to Okawville (14-11). The Musketeers are also set to take on Wesclin (16-7) at home on Saturday.

 

Columbia High School girls’ basketball player Carrie Wellman sank 10 of 15 shots in the IHSA Regional Three-Point Shootout on Thursday evening. Wellman’s score qualifies her to advance to the Sectional Shootout next week in Nashville, Ill.

Carrie Wellman

 

Gibault High School will induct four alumni this evening into the school’s Athletic Hall Of Fame. A ceremony will take place between the J.V. and varsity boys’ basketball games. Those being honored are Allie Pennock, Patty Donley, Lance Stemler and Darryl Schilling. Also during tonight’s game, GHS will recognize the senior players of the basketball team and the cheerleaders.

 

Monroe County Court Report

The following cases were adjudicated in Monroe County Circuit Court in Waterloo the week of Feb. 7, Judge Dennis Doyle presiding:

Dalton J. Hoff, 18, of Waterloo pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Hoff was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $675 and placed on one year court supervision. The violation occurred Jan. 18 at 1105 Driftwood; Waterloo Police handled the incident.

William L. Downey Jr., 38, of Chester pleaded guilty to operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Downey was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $222 and placed on one year court supervision. The violation occurred Oct. 20 on Illinois 3 near Hilltop Road; Columbia Police handled the incident.

Monica Bustamante, 19, of Columbia pleaded guilty to operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Bustamante was ordered to pay total fine and court cost of $217 and placed on one year court supervision. The violation occurred Jan. 14 on Illinois 3 at Illinois 156; Columbia Police handled the incident.

 

The Riverside Country Band will be playing Friday, Feb.. 11, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Fourth Street Bar and at the Ridge Golf Course on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight.

 

Fountain Creek will play a Valentine’s Rock Show on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Lou & Michelle’s.

 

Auditions for this year’s Waterloo High School Band Parents Community Variety Show are Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the WHS auditorium. Talent acts of all ages including instrumentalists, bands, dancers, comedy, duets, solos and all those with unique talent are encouraged to try out for the annual show. This year’s show is scheduled for Saturday, March 12. For more information, contact Tom Schrieber at 939-6555 or email tschrieb@htc.net.