The October air in New Baden will again be filled with the aroma of Chili and Soup. The New Baden Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its third annual fall fest and Chili and Soup Cook-Off. As in the last two years the event will be centered on the friendly Cook-Off competition. This year's event will be held on Saturday, October 27th from 3 to 10 p.m. in the village park.

In only its second year of existence, the 2006 event boasted 22 entries. The Chamber of Commerce is upping the ante this year by doubling the purse. This year they will offer a total of $1000 in cash prizes. $500.00 total will go out in both the chili and soup categories and will be awarded to the top three as decided by people's choice.

Chefs both professional and amateur will be stirring up their versions of old time favorites in an attempt to win the coveted ìTasters Choice Awardî and cash in on the top prize of $250.00. The hearty brews will be served as all you can eat samples in small bowls. The tasters will then cast their vote for the best in each category.

The competition is open to any group from any location, and best of all, team entry is free. Themed booths are encouraged by the committee, adding to the festive atmosphere and certainly drawing attention to the entry. The only cost to enter is the cost of the ingredients themselves. A minimum of five gallons of each entry is required. Those wanting to taste and judge for themselves will receive an armband good at every booth along with two voting coupons, one for chili and the other for soup. The team with the most votes will be declared the winner.

In conjunction with the cook-off there are many other activities being planned. A ìtouch a truckî display will return where children of all ages can climb into the driver seat of a dump truck, back hoe, concrete mixer, tractor or a variety of different types of oversized equipment supplied by area businesses. Hay rides will circle the park all afternoon long. Carlyle radio station WDLJ will be doing a live broadcast from the grounds. There will be inflatable party jumpers, face painting and pumpkin decorating for the children. Caramel apples, nachos and hot dogs are only a portion of the items available for the not-so-daring visitors. Drinks will come in the form of soda, hot chocolate, canned beer and margaritas. The evening skies will be aglow with a bonfire.

Entry into the Chili and Soup Cook Off can be made by calling Scott Meinhardt at 588-4861 or 779-7457 or by visiting www.newbadenchamber.com or www.newbadenil.com.

Electrical engineers should be in Trenton within the next week or so, according to mayor Bob Koentz, to survey Trenton's city hall and maintenance facility to determine auxiliary energy needs and solutions.

The city has been pondering the purchase of back-up generators for both buildings to allow emergency operations to continue even in the absence of power.

The city has taken bids and heard proposals from Strieker Electric and Lebanon-Seibert Electric, ultimately deciding to have an engineer assess their needs and provide a list of specifications for the generators.

Koentz said he spoke to the engineer last week and was assured they will arrive shortly for their inspection. "He did tell me that, based on the information we have received and forwarded to him, we could not hae made a proper decision," Koentz said.

Representatives from the Moose fraternal organization visited the council to ask permission to begin soliciting members for a potential Moose Service Center in Trenton.

Council members had no objection to their request.

According to spokesman Mike Jones, there must be at least 25 persons taking part in an initiation ceremony, meaning recruiters must register 35 people before moving forward.Name said more than 20 Trenton members have been secured so far. There are both men's and women's Moose organizations.

Name said the group's primary goals are to raise money for community improvements and support the national Mooseheart program for underprivileged youth and the MooseHaven long-term care program for the elderly.

First-year dues have been reduced for the first members to sign up.

The council discussed several drainage, curbing, and sidewalk issues in town, as well as the status of unkempt properties.

Council members instructed police chief Mike Jones to begin assessing fines to the owners of an East Broadway property the city has judged to be non-compliant with the city's ordinance.

Margaret Conley, chair of the Committee on Aging, said workers at the city's senior meal facility have begun their series of Hepatitis shots, and new identification cards have arrived for the workers. The meal site is also an emergency shelter, and workers have had trouble getting past authorities and into town during past situations.

Conley said that there will be a flu clinic at the senior meal site (on North Main Street, in the Masonic Lodge) on October 3 from 10 a.m. to noon, and a fundraising chicken dinner October 28.

- 1907 -

Do you want a high grade corset for only 9 cents? Attend the 9 cent sale at Ginzel Merc. Co. next week.

Messrs. Ed Harpstrite and Albert Ziegler had a joint birthday celebration Wednesday with a number of friends joining in.

The union barbers of the Belleville jurisdiction will meet for the purpose of raising the price of shaves to 15 cents.

Government detectives have been investigating the dairy products shipped to St. Louis by farmers along the B & O W.S. Railroad to curb the increase in adulterated milk.

- 1917 -

C.E. Pitts, formerly of this city and now of Gillespie has been signed for $1,000 to play for the New York Giants next season.

A.E. Grunz of Breese has knocked a plum off the state patronage tree. He has been appointed to a place in the factory inspection department. The salary is a good one.

The Negroes of East St. Louis were sentenced to 14 years in the penitentiary for their part in the race riots of East St. Louis.

The first oysters of the season will be in next Thursday. Sold in bulk or served in any style. Bring your bucket. No cartons furnished.

- 1927 -

Walter Burtelow, nephew of Mrs. Ph. Fischer, and Helen Walker of St. Louis were married in St. Mary Church, Trenton, on Sept. 22.

A large house in New Baden, owned by the Peters heirs, burned to the ground Thursday.

John Jokisch, 82, of New Memphis, died of injuries received in a runaway of a team of horses who were frightened by a car.

Miss Hubertina Zimmerer has returned from an extended visit in Europe.

- 1937 -

The marriage of Miss Josephine Geiben and Oliver Wiggins took place Saturday morning at St. Maryís Church.

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. DuFour Sunday, Sept. 26. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Horenkamp (Lorraine Cryder) of East St. Louis on Sept. 18.

Cornelius Foppe of Bartelso was killed and his cousin, Alfred Foppe, also of Bartelso, was fatally injured when their car crashed into a freight train near Bartelso Sunday.

Mrs. Elizabeth Sappington died Sept. 24 at the age of 80.

St. Francis Church at Aviston was the scene of the Sept. 22 wedding of Miss Helen Markus and Raymond Huber.

Mrs. Anna Mary Stroot, 82 died Sept. 22 in Aviston.

- 1947 -

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Gualberd Emig and sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. James Davis, Mr. and Mrs. George B. Griggs and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Heap.

Rita Ritzheimer was elected president of the senior class, John Bopp of the juniors, Harold Witt of the sophomores, and Julian Dittmer of the freshmen.

Francelia Wuest was selected as the cutest child in the Trenton childrenís photographic contest. Second prize went to James Cunningham, third to Rosalie Bohn and fourth to Terry Klein.

Robert Friederich, five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Friederich of New Baden, suffered a skull fracture when he fell from a hayloft.

- 1957 -

Herbert Heimann, 25, of Albers was killed when the car in which he was riding crashed into a tree between Lebanon and OíFallon.

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Postel (Martha Ann Reiman) of Grayville on Sept. 25.

Trenton edged Germantown 2-1 to win the Clinton County League playoffs behind the strong pitching of Frank Novak.

The Future Homemakers of America of Wesclin High held their first meeting and elected Henrietta Rakers president.

- 1967 -

Francis X. Kiefer, New Baden tavern operator, died Sept. 28 at the age of 46.

The 1968 Homecoming will be headed by Jim Kuhn who will select his own co-chairman.

A son, Brent Allan, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Roger Boeckmann (Dorothy Quitmeyer) of Caseyville on Sept. 21 and a daughter, Kelly Jean, to Mr. and Mrs. Doug Wolfersberger of Florissant, Mo. on Sept. 26.

Miss Theresa Hammer and Tom Padfield were married Sept. 12 in St. Mary Church.

August Baer of Highland and formerly of Trenton, died Sept. 25 at the age of 83.

Major Daniel Whealen received his second U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service as personnel staff officer at Randolph AFB. His wife is the former Joan DuFour.

- 1977 -

The Noll-Seger family reunion was held Sept. 11 at the Trenton Community Park.

John H. McQuade, 67, of Minooka and formerly of Carlyle, died Sept. 23.

Tom Ritzheimer has signed a letter of intent and will enroll at SIUE, according to Roy Lee, baseball coach.

Marriage license fees go to $15 from $10 on Oct. 1 and there is a three-day waiting period between the time the license is bought and the wedding ceremony.

- 1987 -

Valerie K. Riter and David Harold Kimmle were married July 25 at St. Mary Lutheran Church in St. Louis.

Mater Dei High School English instructor Rick Manwaring was recently recognized for his participation in a special institute. He was selected to attend a seminar on the text of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

Larry C. Wolfe, regional superintendent of schools, reports that overall enrollment in Clinton and Washington Counties, is 5,176, compared to 5,152 a year ago.

Army National Guard private Paul E. Elsing has completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Melinda Deimeke and Donald Deien were married August 29 in St. Augustine of Canterbury Church in Belleville.

- 1997 -

Mike, a resident of Oakview Home in Trenton, practices his reading skills with help from Marcella Ferrorio, a volunteer tutor in Reading Link program available through Kaskaskia College.

Members of Wesclin Autumn Magic Coronation Court have been selected underclass attendants are Sarah Linn, Alicia Renth, Darci Louden, Brad Brefeld, Justin Alemond, and Todd Fischer.

Cassie Trame and Gary Pollmann were united in marriage at a 2 p.m. wedding on July 26 at St. Bernard Church in Albers.

Danielle Nicole Steenbergen, 19, of Pekin, died Thursday, September 20, 2007 in Pekin. She was born November 23, 1987 in Kokomo, Indiana to Daron Wade and Michelle Lee "Shelley", nee Anderson, Steenbergen. Surviving are her father and step-mother, Daron W. and Kelly J. Steenbergen of Trenton; mother, Michelle L. "Shelley" (Chris Tobin) Anderson, of Pekin; four brothers, Dustin S. Anderson and Zachary C. Anderson, both of Pekin, Joshua E. Steenbergen and Jarad W. Steenbergen, both of Trenton; paternal grandparents, W. Edward and Linda K. Steenbergen of Pekin; paternal great-grandmother, Betty Hoyle of Morton; and boyfriend, D.J. Kober of Pekin. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Carl R. Anderson and Carolyn J. Anderson. Danielle was working at Monical's Pizza in Pekin. Previously, she worked for Menard's and Jimmy John's, both in Pekin. A 2006 graduate of Pekin Community High School, she was attending Illinois Central College in East Peoria.

Condolences to preston-hanley.com

Norman Lawrence Monken, 75, of Highland (St. Morgan), died Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at St. Joseph Hospital in Highland. He was born November 23, 1931 in Highland, son of Lawrence J. and Ellen, nee Rieger, Monken, and they both preceded him in death. He married Amanda Marie Wessel September 19, 1959 in Carlyle, and she died June 23, 2004. A brother, Melvin Monken, and a sister, Ethel Monken, also preceded him. Surviving are a son, Ken (Jennifer) Monken of Trenton; two sisters, Opal Manwaring and Joyce Giger, both of Highland; and a brother, Clyde (Jean) Monken of Summerfield. Mr. Monken was a retired building maintenance supervisor with Dow Jones in Highland. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War era. He was also a mandolin player for the Country Ramblers for a number of years. The funeral was Monday from Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland. Interment Highland City Cemetry.

Condolences to spengel-boulanger.com

U.S. Army Ret. Lt. Col. Adolph Frank "Bud" Warnecke, 85, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, died Sunday, September 23, 2007, at the North Carolina State Veterans Nursing Home in Fayetteville. He was born in Breese October 19, 1921, son of Bernard and Olinda, nee Lappe, Warnecke, and they both preceded him in death. Other precedents included his wife, Cee Cee Warnecke, in November of 1996; grandson Joey Zaremski; brothers John and Harold; and a sister, Olinda "Sissy". Surviving are his loving and special daughters Susan Zaremski, and her husband Larry, of Fayetteville and Cathy Ann Chain, and her husband, Bradley, of Columbia, South Carolina; a brother, Alvin Warnecke, and his wife Amy, of Trenton; and a sister "Tillie" Willi, of Breese; five grandchildren, Christopher Warnecke, and his wife Laura Cox, of Prague, Czech Republic; Lisa Zaremski, and Annie Zaremski, both of Fayetteville, and U.S. Marines Lance Corporal David Chain, of Camp Lejeune, and Stephanie Chain, of Columbia, South Carolina; and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Warnecke was a veteran of World War II and Korea and was the recipient of the Purple Heart, Battlefield Commission, and numerous other commendations and medals before retiring with over 26 years of honorable and distinguished service to his country. Bud was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, soldier, friend, and soon to be great-grandfather. Interment Main Post Cemetery, on Fort Bragg, with the rendering of full military honors.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Care Clinic, 239 Robeson Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301.

Thomas Alan Kaiser, infant son of Mark and Samantha Kaiser of Trenton, was born and died September 20, 2007 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. Surviving are two sisters, Charlotte and Libby Kaiser; a brother, Matthew Kaiser; maternal grandparents Gerald and Ruth Darden of Trenton; and paternal grandparents Lamar and Margie Kaiser of Trenton.

Condolences to mossfuneralhome.com