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 TOP NEWS STORY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
TWO MONTHS OF FRUSTRATION COMES TO AN END

By Ronald Hebel
Publisher of the Community Times
Owner of Barnabas Grupo

The last two months have been the most frustrating for me since my teenage years in Algebra class. In 2007 I began pursuing my dream of publishing local news by planning and developing the strategy of operation. As I began to launch in mid-year 2008 the economy plummeted and my dream seemed to be dashed. After much thought and prayer over several months I decided to go ahead and give it a try. I wasn’t going to let what a group of people had done to wreck our economy cause me not to seek my dream. So sink or swim I dove in head first into the lake of uncertainty and began my journey.

 COMMUNITY NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
Knights of Columbus Local Chapter Spelling Bee
Submitted by Ron Dexter

The annual Knights of Columbus local chapter spelling bee was held Saturday morning, February 12th at the Immaculate Conception School in Columbia. After an impressive demonstration of spelling skills, the winner was finally determined in the 15th round.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011
American Red Cross Columbia Blood Drive

Tuesday, February 15, 2011
1:30-6:30pm

Attention guys and gals!  Strap on your blue suede shoes and put on your best poodle skirts.  It’s time to Rock and Roll Up Your Sleeve with the American Red Cross and Elvis Presley Enterprises.

 GOVERNMENT NEWS

 POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS

 FIRE DEPARTMENT NEWS

 SPORTS NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011
Two Columbia Bowlers Qualify for Top 24 Tournament
By Coach Kevin Nowak

Please join me in congratulating Chris Harington & Jared Schmidt for qualifying for the Top 24 tournament sponsored by the Metro East Men’s 700 Club.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011
CHS Varsity Girls Bowling team competed in the
Carbondale Sectional
By Coach Kevin Nowak

The CHS Varsity Girls Bowling team competed in the Carbondale Sectional this past Saturday placing 11^th of 17 teams.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011
Red Bud’s Kevin Crafton Named IHSA Nominee for 2010 NFHS Spirit of Sport Award
Regional Sports Story of Junior standout is “inspiration”€ to teammates after losing hand in accident

By Matt Troha

Bloomington, IL. -- The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to announce that Red Bud High School junior student-athlete Kevin Crafton has been named the IHSA’s nominee for the 2010 National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National Spirit of Sport Award.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011
From the Bleachers
Players, Parents, Fans and the Games they Play

By Jamie Carter

Since fall I’ve spent a lot of time in area gymnasiums.  I have watched big schools and small schools, public and parochial schools.  I’ve seen girls and boys teams, varsity, junior varsity and junior high, basketball and volleyball.  Are there some who have seen more games than I have this year?  Sure, there are a few but I have seen enough to be comfortable with writing this piece, this assessment of the conduct present at these games.  Unfortunately the conduct of parents and fans has been getting worse, not better.  And that is something that has to change.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2011
SUPER BOWLS LEAVE SUPER IMPRESSIONS
By Jamie Carter

The National Football League’s Super Bowl, held each winter to crown the league’s champion, has transcended the game itself.  It has become so much a part of American society that people who don’t even follow the game find themselves caught up in the festivities surrounding it. Cities vie to hold it in their areas, bars and eateries hold huge Super Bowl parties, even churches hold parties to watch the game and socialize.  It is a big deal to say the least.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011
EAGLES SCORE AND SOAR TO VICTORY OVER HAWKS
Columbia Free-throws a Key to 57-40 Win Over Gibault

By Jamie Carter

The Columbia Eagles Varsity boy’s basketball team played host to the Gibault Hawks last Friday night in what was expected to be an intense, closely contested game against a local rival.  That held true for the first quarter but a strong second quarter by the Eagles combined with a 70% team free-throw shooting effort propelled Columbia to victory in front of a standing room only crowd as the Eagles went on to win 57-40 over Gibault.  According to Columbia Coach Mark Sandstrom it was the kind of win the team needed right now. “We have been inconsistent and we have some losses that we shouldn’t have,” Sandstrom said. “We talk about consistency in practice and this week we were consistent. I think it showed tonight.”

 EDUCATION NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
CHS Band and Chorus Members Selected
for All-State

Columbia High School Music Department’s Megan Schmid (Senior/Choir) and Adam Unnerstall (Junior/Band), have been selected as Illinois All-State performers. Each of these students went through a rigorous audition process in October. 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
D.A.R.E. at ICS
Submitted by Mr. Kish

Sgt. Jason Donjon and Patrolman Josh Bayer and Officer Cezar the drug dog of the Columbia Police Department visited the 6^th grade classes at Immaculate Conception School in Columbia this week as D.A.R.E. lessons continue.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
February Dental Health Month
Submitted by Mr. Kish

In recognition of February as Dental Month, Dr. Randy Markarian talked to Third Graders of Immaculate Conception School on Feb.4, 2011, about taking good care of their teeth. He gave each of them a dental goodie bag to take home. Beware of the horse after you brush his teeth!

Thanks, Dr. Markarian!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
Science Fair 2011 at ICS
Submitted by Mr. Kish

Science Fair 2011:     Immaculate Conception School in Columbia helped celebrate Catholic Schools Week with its annual science fair  on January 30 involving 209 students.  The Grade 1 project was “Polar Animals:  Fat or Fiction?”, Grade 2: “M & M’s --- Where to find the green”, Gr. 3 “Does Location Affect Evaporation?”, Gr. 4 “How Water Pollution Affects the Growth of Plants”, Gr. 5 “The Mechanical Advantage of Inclined Planes”. 

 BUSINESS NEWS

 SENIOR NEWS

 CHURCH NEWS

 CHURCH DIRECTORY

 CITY HISTORY

 OBITUARIES

Margaret “Mabel” M. Schroeder - Feb. 15
Mary Eppinger - Feb. 14
Esther Schmidt - Feb. 2

 GUEST COLUMNIST

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011
Wisconsin making the most of Illinois’s fumbles
By Travis Akin
Executive Director
Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch

It’s been a rough few weeks for Illinois in its rivalry with its neighbors to the north in Wisconsin.  The Chicago Bears were just one game away from heading to the Super Bowl until their hated rivals from Green Bay came to town and knocked them out of the playoffs. 

 REGIONAL INFORMATION PAGES

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2011
ILLINOIS SENATE WEEK IN REVIEW: Feb. 7-11
By State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville)

Springfield, Ill. - With Gov. Pat Quinn’s annual budget address scheduled for Feb. 16, Republican lawmakers are looking forward to receiving more detail on the Governor’s fiscal proposal. State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) said GOP legislators are particularly interested to see if the Governor will advance the budget cuts and reforms Illinois needs to reduce the state’s massive deficit.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
By State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville)

State Senator Dave Luechtefeld is trying to locate constituents who may be the owners of lost or abandoned property.

Dave Luechtefeld is working with the Illinois State Treasurer's office in a cooperative effort to find the owners of unclaimed assets under the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.

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