School
Retiring teacher ‘loved every minute’ of career
A common theme among Columbia School District retirees this year is the departure of a core group of teachers from the youngest grade levels. Another person in that cohort of…
Read MoreCOVID cases rise in Monroe County
The coronavirus continued its recent spread in Monroe County, with 32 new cases reported over the past week. There are 66 cases active in the county, while the death toll…
Read MoreWaterloo bus driver teaches students
A local bus driver for the Waterloo school district has used her sphere of influence to teach a valuable lesson to some students on her route and also provide donations…
Read MoreColumbia School District unveils new logo
After months of anticipation and weeks of buildup on social media, the Columbia School District released its new logo last week. “The design is strong,” Columbia High School Principal Brian…
Read MoreCoronavirus cases continue across the region
Monroe County’s coronavirus case total has risen by 20 since June 23, and it saw potentially its 13th death from the virus last week. With 44 of the county’s 136…
Read MoreSchools plan for fall return
With every region of the state currently in Phase 4 of the state’s reopening plan, one of the most pressing questions on the minds of many is how school will…
Read MoreRegion enters Phase 4
Every region in Illinois is scheduled to move to the fourth phase of the state’s reopening plan Friday, which, barring changes, will bring the state as close to pre-pandemic life…
Read MoreTeacher sues after Facebook fiasco
A Columbia Middle School teacher filed suit in Monroe County court earlier this month after a false Facebook post that attributed racist comments to her circulated online. Elizabeth Kanyuck is…
Read MoreCuller: teaching in Columbia was ‘dream come true’
A Columbia teacher who has affected almost three decades of youngsters is now retired, as Jeanie Culler called it quits at the end of the school year. Culler taught second…
Read MoreSix new coronavirus cases reported in Monroe County
Monroe County reported six new COVID-19 cases between Monday and Tuesday, bringing the overall total to 115. Monroe County Health Department Administrator John Wagner said two of the new cases…
Read MoreRetiring teacher livened up classroom
The self-described “oldest teacher in the building” is now retired from Waterloo High School, as math teacher Stephen Livengood stepped down after 22 years with the district. During his time…
Read MoreSchmersahl ‘grateful and blessed’ for career
When she first joined the Columbia School District, Linda Schmersahl was hired as a substitute teacher for a kindergarten teacher who was on sick leave. When that teacher did not…
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