News

Taking home their Patrons’ Choice Awards during the 2019 MASC Gala are, left to right, Seth Acock, Zona Ludlum, Hannah Lyndsay, Karen Lee, Matt Dossett, Doylene Daniels, George Doerr, John Jauss, Marcia Braswell, Jeff Clinebell and Dawn Williamson. Sarah Polizzi is not pictured. – photos by Dave Phillips

Accolades Bestowed On Little Shop Of Horrors At Annual MASC Gala

By Monroe County Independent | August 21, 2019

The local production of Little Shop Of Horrors was the star of the night as the musical took home numerous awards at the 12th annual Monroe Actors Stage Company Patrons Choice Awards Gala. “Little Shop” Director Matt Dossett along with his cast and crew took home all but one of the awards handed out at …

Accolades Bestowed On Little Shop Of Horrors At Annual MASC Gala Read More »

Courtney Mosbacher loads up a truck with freshly-picked sweet corn picked at Glendell Farm in Waterloo. - photo by Curt Sondag

4-H Project Delivers Sweet Corn To Local Nursing Homes

By Monroe County Independent | August 20, 2019

Thanks to the generosity of a farm family and the hard work by a local youth group, Waterloo senior citizens are enjoying freshly-picked corn on the cob. The Hartman family of Glendell Farms donated the acreage to grow sweet corn for a 4-H project. The local 4-H picks the corn and delivers it to local …

4-H Project Delivers Sweet Corn To Local Nursing Homes Read More »

Jonah Matthews Honored At This Year’s Monroe County Fair

By Monroe County Independent | August 6, 2019

The Monroe County community continues to show their support to a family who lost a son in a farming accident earlier this year. The family of the late Johan Matthews was on hand at the Monroe County Fair on Thursday, July 25 for the 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale. They were presented a check for …

Jonah Matthews Honored At This Year’s Monroe County Fair Read More »

Current Headlines

The latest news from Monroe County and beyond.

Deputy Sheriff Jim Lansing, left, and Waterloo Alderman Steve Notheisen, right, make their points regarding what each considers the fair amount Waterloo should pay the county for the use of the emergency dispatch department. The ongoing negotiations continue. - photo by Joe Leicht

County, Waterloo Officials Clash Over Proposed Dispatching Fee Hike

By Monroe County Independent | August 20, 2019

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department’s emergency dispatcher system handles the 911 calls for most of Monroe County. Only the city of Columbia fields its own...

The 2019 Monroe County Fair Queen Pageant Court is, left to right, Julia Mannix, First Runner Up Michaela Runge, Second Runner Up Skyler Barker, 2018 Fair Queen Belle Plew, Little Miss Gabi Stumpf, 2019 Fair Queen Lexi Ruemker, Courtney Mosbacher, Heather Albers and Emily Coleman.

Lexi Ruemker And Gabi Stumpf Are 2019 Fair Royalty

By Monroe County Independent | August 6, 2019

Alexis “Lexi” Ruemker of Waterloo is the 2019 Monroe County Fair Queen. Lexi, 19, is the daughter of Clem Ruemker and Cindy Rehmer Ruemker of...

During an Aug. 20, 2018, county commissioners meeting, developer Joe Koppeis, right, lays out his vision of a wind farm he would build along the bluffs between Valmeyer and Fults. He is joined at the head table by Garth Klimchuk, a principal partner at the North Renew Energy group based in Massachusetts.

County Board To Consider Moratorium On Wind Energy Ordinance At Aug. 19 Meeting

By Monroe County Independent | August 5, 2019

photo - During an Aug. 20, 2018, county commissioners meeting, developer Joe Koppeis, right, lays out his vision of a wind farm he would build...

Construction is underway for the roof repairs at Columbia’s Parkview Elementary School.

Mitchell-Hines Questions Total Cost Of Parkview Roof Replacement

By Monroe County Independent | August 2, 2019

The latest point of contention for the controversy-stricken Columbia school board revolves around a roofing project at the district’s Parkview Elementary. Some members of the...

2019-03-04T180501Z_1_LYNXNPEF2315Z_RTROPTP_3_PURDUEPHARMA-BANKRUPTCY_original

Study Shows Nearly 1 Million Opioid Pain Pills Per Year Distributed In Monroe County

By Monroe County Independent | August 1, 2019

One of a precious few things politicians from both sides of the aisle seem to be able to agree on these days is that the...

The Monroe County Courthouse in downtown Waterloo, Illinois.

Local Officials To Mull Policies On Recreational Cannabis

By Monroe County Independent | July 20, 2019

by Joe LeichtOfficials in Monroe County and its primary municipalities have roughly six months before they'll need to have policies in place to accommodate the...

Attorney Lloyd Cueto, Coleman’s attorney, speaks to reporters following a hearing at the Monroe County Courthouse.

Coleman Continues His Quest For A Retrial Of Murder Conviction

By Monroe County Independent | May 15, 2019

Christopher Coleman, the man serving life in federal prison for killing his family in 2009, took one more step in his latest quest for a...

Columbia School Board candidates Cress Mohr, Lisa Schumacher, Greg Meyer and Tammy Hines gathered election night April 2 at Hines’s downtown Columbia real estate office. They ran on a slate that was critical of recent decisions by the current board and school adminstration. With mail-in ballots being tabulated through April 16, three of these four - Schumacher, Meyer and Hines have received enough votes to earn seats on the CUSD board.

Election Results In Big Shake-up At Columbia School Board

By Monroe County Independent | May 8, 2019

The April 2 Consolidated Election is one for the record books. It will go down as one of the closest elections in the history of...

View All Current Headlines

911 Report

Law enforcement, fire and emergency response news you can use.

Waterloo Man Seriously Injured In Accident Involving A Motorcycle

By Monroe County Independent | August 7, 2019

Donald Willyard of Waterloo was seriously injured in a Saturday night accident on the north...

email RBHS-breakin-e1564666618558-413x381

RBHS Grad Turns Himself Into Police Day After He Breaks In And Walks The Halls

By Monroe County Independent | August 6, 2019

Mason Manning A recent Red Bud High School alum (2018) has...

View All 911 Reports

Around The County

If it's happening in your neighborhood, read about it here.

Sidewalk Beautification Underway At Peterstown House

By Monroe County Independent | August 20, 2019

The walkway in front of Waterloos historic Peterstown House is getting a facelift. The cobblestone bricks will be replaced with a safer, easier to maintain stamped concrete (to look like bricks). The bricks that have been removed are being repurposed to be used at the site’s shed. The Peterstown House Society is working with the... More on Sidewalk Beautification Underway At Peterstown House »

View All Around the County