Point News – March 8, 2023

By Editor | March 7, 2023 |

By Carol Sue Carnes
618-883-2333

Everyone in the area enjoyed a beautiful sunny weekend, in the mid-60s and today to reach a high of 70 plus.
Then a cold front moves in tonight and rain on Tuesday and Wednesday and highs in the upper 40s for the rest of the week. March always seems to be an unpredictable month anymore. And don’t forget to spring forward on Saturday night before going to bed. Move those clocks up an hour to Daylight Savings Time.
Last weekend, Feb. 25 and 26, Bob and Bonnie Held and Grandma Marie Held enjoyed the company of family members. Visitors and overnight guests were Phil and Linda Held and Lauren of Hannibal; and Ray and Jean Payne of the Bloomington area. Everyone had a great visit and delicious meals together.
Congratulations to Morgan Klaas and teacher Chad Brodbeck of Brussels High School staff. They attended the IDEA District 14 Regional Finals on Friday, March 3, at Lewis & Clark College in Godfrey.
IDEA stands for Illinois Educators Drafting Association. All four schools in the CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) Division took home medals. Students competed in seven different categories like Introductory Drafting and 3D Design to Architectural Drawing and Assembly Modeling. This was the fifth year in a row that Brussels High School took the first place gold medal, thanks to Morgan Klaas. The IDEA tends to bring out the best in the Lewis & Clark district’s future architects and engineers. So proud of Morgan and her teacher, Chad, on this recent achievement.
Simon and Lea Miller and daughter, Zara, along with Michelle Bell and Dennis Hould, all of Brussels, flew to Tampa, Fla. recently. There they boarded the Carnival Pride cruise ship for an enjoyable week away.
While on board, Zara was the winner of a Dr. Seuss first birthday celebration with everything provided by Carnival Cruise Line. What a lucky little girl and it was enjoyed by all those on board. Among the ports they visited were Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico and Paradise Beach in Cozumel. Sounds like they had a wonderful, relaxing time away.
On Wednesday Barb Hagen was pleasantly surprised when her granddaughter, Emma Hagen, freshman at Lindenwood College in St. Charles arrived that afternoon with a beautifully decorated birthday cake and a bouquet of flowers. I just happened to be there visiting on her natal day so Roy, Emma, Alessa and I also enjoyed cake and coffee with her. Stopping by after work was Dave and Kara Hagen and Ryan and Elaine Mans. Many more “happy and healthy ones,” Barb!
Then, on Saturday evening, Derrick and Jan Bick, Cole and Kaela of O’Fallon, Mo. entertained with a family dinner in honor of Jan and Derrick’s mom, Barb Hagen; and Judy Bick. Present besides the honorees were Kenny and Judy Devening of St. Peters, Dave and Kara Hagen of Meppen, Lee and Elaine Mans and Mark and Jennifer Bick all of Golden Eagle and all their families. Wonderful meal and evening together for both Barb and Judy!
John, Julie and Caleb Carnes of Edwardsville spent Sunday afternoon and evening with Francis Toppmeyer and I. They brought a complete meal of Papa Murphy’s Take-and-Bake Pizza, Caesar salad and dessert for our evening meal. After John completed work around the place we joined them, along with Mark and Mary Toppmeyer and Max. Delicious meal and great visit afterwards. Many thanks to the Carnes family.
Ann Marie Pohlman, Wyatt and Gracie of O’Fallon, Mo. spent the weekend on the farm with parents and grandparents, Paul and Mary Lou Goetze. Nothing better than farm life for the children!
This coming Sunday, March 12, with it being Girl Scout Sunday, the Brussels Girl Scouts will be serving doughnuts, muffins, coffee cake and coffee to St. Matthew’s parishioners from 9 to 9:40 a.m. in the hall before the 10 a.m. church service. This is their thank you to St. Matthew’s Congregation for providing them a place free of charge to hold their meetings and activities. Leaders are Debbie Kamp, Nancy Robeen and Diane Tepen.
The Brussels Girl Scouts, along with the Brussels High School National Honor Society, will be placing Food Drive bags on residents’ doors March 8-12 (Wednesday through Sunday). They will return the following Saturday, March 18, to pick them up. Thanks in advance for your help with this.
I have been informed by the Calhoun Community Foundation that they will again be sponsoring the
“Cash for Trash” this spring. The date to turn in trash at either St. Mary’s parking lot or the Calhoun Road District outside of Hardin will be April 22.. This will give you plenty of time to get out there and clean up the roadsides.
Deepest sympathy to my son-in-law, Dennis (Shelly) Scherer, on the unexpected death of his brother, Dan
Scherer, age 64, on Friday morning. Also Dan’s 95 year old mother, Pat Scherer, who has now lost two sons and a sister, Rosanne (Matt) McCauley. He is being cremated, and there will be a Celebration of Life on his birthday, Sunday afternoon, April 2, in O’Fallon, Mo.
Birthday Blessings this week to my niece and nephew, Tammy Kronable and Joe Carnes; also great nephews, Dylan Kamp and Travis Kamp. Also, Colton Snyders, Hudson Roth, Matt Kuhn, Becky Weigel, Charlie Kuhn, Roland Nolle, Amelia Mulkins, Joan Titus, Pennie Pohlman, Bonnie Stepanek, Tyler Snyders, Tanner Kiel, Grace Note and all others celebrating their natal day at this time.
Happy Anniversary to my daughter and son-in-law, Dennis and Shelly Scherer, and all other couples celebrating a wedding anniversary this week.
Be sure and mark your calendar for Saturday, April 8, for the Brussels Heritage Park Easter Egg Hunt at
10 a.m. sharp. The Easter Bunny will be there at 9:45 a.m. This is for kids from 1 to 10 years old.
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Prayer for the Lenten Season:
Merciful Father, may this season of Lent not merely be a season of forty days but also a lifestyle of continual vigilance to the severity of our sins and to the fullness of Your forgiveness. May we be continually aware that through Jesus’ suffering and death on our behalf, this forgiveness is ours, today and every day. Amen