Breese police and city officials were recognized at the Oct. 1 dedication of a park bench in memory of Vince Wesselmann of Breese. Pictured (from left) are Breese police officers Curt Detmer, Sgt. Mark Berndsen, mayor Charlie Hilmes, Mary Barbara Kurtz of Catholic Holy Family Society, Breese park supervisor Ernie Gebke, and police officers Ryan Isaak and Samuel Lohman. (submitted photo) At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, a number of people gathered at North Side Park in Breese for a short ceremony dedicating a park bench in honor of Vince Wesselmann, who has been missing since April 22, 2011.
The bench was donated by Catholic Holy Family Society (CHFS) and was made by members of the Breese Park District. A plate was made for the bench and reads: Dedicated in Memory of Vince Wesselmann, Missing Since 2011. From the staff & board of directors, Catholic Holy Family Society.
Those in attendance were: Sandra Bouchard, CEO, and Mary Barbara Kurtz, vice president of marketing, and members representing CHFS; Breese Mayor Charlie Hilmes and officers with the Breese Police Department; Ernie Gebke of the Breese Park and Recreation Department; and members of the Wesselmann family.
Kurtz spoke about Vince and his dedication to and attendance at Catholic Holy Family Society’s yearly Habitat for Humanity builds in the area for many years.
Hilmes also spoke to the attendees, followed by Aggie Dumstorff, Vince’s sister, who thanked all those for coming to the ceremony.
Mike Jennings of Camp Ondessonk spoke of the yearly trips Vince made to volunteer at the camp — located in the Shawnee National Forest near Ozark in southern Illinois — to make improvements to buildings there since the 1960s.
The bench will be placed by the baseball diamond as a remembrance of Vince for the entire Breese community to enjoy and reflect on.
Wesselmann was last seen by a neighbor walking near Breese Grain Company, at North First and North Walnut streets, toward downtown Breese. He did not show up at the post office that day to pick up his copy of the Breese Journal newspaper, as was his habit. A number of searches by area and regional law enforcement teams turned up no clues.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Vince Wesselmann are asked to call the Breese Police Department at 618-526-7226.
City officials approved moving forward on a Tax Increment Financing plan for Old U.S. Route 50, targeting the Topmost Development Corp. property — the former Schuette’s Market building — at the Breese City Council meeting on Oct. 1.
The Breese Fire Protection District also requested TIF funds, an item that will be discussed in detail at the next city finance meeting.
Both items were introduced by Ward 3 Alderman Timothy Schleper.
The council approved a pay estimate and final payment to Haier Plumbing of Okawville for $43,951.20 for the city’s east end lift station.
In public safety, Ward 2 Alderman Bill Fischer proposed a special service area increase of 3.25 percent for 2020, which the council approved.
In recreation news, Ward 1 Alderwoman Debbie Koetting reported that city ball fields have been closed for the season and city employees are preparing the parks for winter.
It was also noted that Christmas decorations will soon be erected throughout town, and mayor Charlie Hilmes said that volunteers are welcome to help out.
The Breese Junior Women’s Club’s Halloween parade is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. The event is free and the lineup begins at 12:45 p.m. with the parade starting at the Breese American Legion and ending at North Side Park.
Kids’ activities that day are free after the parade until 3 p.m. There will be costume judging, cookie and pumpkin decorating, prizes, music and much more.
Ward 1 Alderman Jason Davinroy noted that the city’s leaf dump will be open to the public from Oct. 19 through Dec. 22, with hours being noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
The citywide cleanup will take place Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the street shed.
In public works news, Ward 3 Alderman Kevin Timmermann noted that work is being done on drainage areas along Holy Cross Lane.
Timmermann also reminded the city council that a landlords’ rental meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 22 in the Breese Knights of Columbus hall basement regarding property rental inspections.
Police Sgt. Mark Berndsen is the acting police chief in the absence of chief Robert Fix, who is out on medical leave.
Hilmes mentioned the Sept. 23 armed robbery of the Breese Moto Mart and the fact that two individuals have been arrested for the crime.
FBI media representative Brad Ware on Sept. 30 reported that the bureau had two persons of interest in custody but had no additional information.
Hilmes said that also brings up the need for businessmen and residents to realize such things can happen, and that the city needs to think of what they can do in the face of such incidents. He said business owners need to talk to their employees about what they should do if a robbery occurs at their establishment.
Hilmes said the police department is available to discuss options with business owners as well to maintain their safety. He encouraged people to be prepared for such an event.
The council voted to approve the minutes of the council meetings held on Sept. 3 and Sept. 17, and authorized the payment of bills submitted, and the city collector’s and treasurer’s reports from Sept. 17, and bills from Oct. 1.
Top: The players for Clinton County Showcase’s production of “Mama’s Boy” are (from left), Joseph Petermeyer, Candace Schomaker, Ryan Norrenberns, Laurie Klostermann, Alexis Strieker, Ryan Rottman, Angelika Donaldson, Christine Schomaker and AJ Mueth. Bottom: Marguerite Oswald (Laurie Klostermann, right) helps daughter-in-law Marina Oswald (Alexis Strieker) with her pronunciation of English words dealing with foods, as Marina’s husband Lee Harvey Oswald (Ryan Rottman) listens. (Photos by Bryan Hunt) Lori Kuper directs the Clinton County Showcase’s upcoming production of “Mama’s Boy,” the story of Lee Harvey Oswald and his complex relationship with his overbearing mother Marguerite.
The play follows Marguerite’s attempts to reunite her family, from Lee’s return to the United States from Russia, through the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, to her son’s own murder and her defense of his innocence in the following months.
“Mama’s Boy” plays Fridays, Oct. 11 and 18, and Saturdays, Oct. 12 and 19, at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, Oct. 13 and 20 at 2 p.m.
All shows are at the historic Avon Theater, 525 N. Second St. in downtown Breese.
There will be a question-and-answer session with playwright Rob Urbinati following the Oct. 20 performance.
Madeline Kuper is the assistant director.
The cast includes Laurie Klostermann as Marguerite, Ryan Rottman as Lee, Ryan Norrenberns as Robert, Alexis Strieker as Marina, Joseph Petermeyer as the interviewer; AJ Mueth, Christine Schomaker and Angelika Donaldson as the reporters, and Candace Schomaker as June and Rachel.
The production crew includes costuming by Lori Kuper and the cast, and lighting and sound by Madeline Kuper.
The set crew includes Mueth, Petermeyer, Donaldson, Katherine Nee, Sarah Nee; and Candace, Owen and Christine Schomaker.
Set design and construction was done by Greg Kuper, Klostermann, Rottman, Norrenberns, Strieker, Madeline Kuper, Adeja Powell and Lori Kuper.
Auditions for the production were held Aug. 3 at the theater.
| Fri., Oct. 4 |
445.34 |
| Sun., Oct. 6 | 445.27 |
| Tues., Oct. 8 | 445.26 |
| October 2 | .00" |
| October 3 | .00" |
| October 4 | .00" |
| October 5 | .00" |
| October 6 | .04" |
| October 7 | .09" |
| October 8 | .00" |
