Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 8-23-23

Vol. 20 No. 16 • August 23, 2023 

midriversnewsmagazine.com 

FOOTBALL 

2023 HIGH SCHOOL 

PREVIEW 

PLUS: Coupon Savers ■ Décor & Lifestyles ■ Serving Our Seniors

with that direct deposit 

up to 2 days early feeling! 

Stop by our St. Peters branch at 4745 Mexico Road 

or open your account online today. 

Federally Insured by NCUA 

Earn more with your Neighbors! Special 15 month CD ... 5.15% APY* 

*APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APY effective 8/18/2023 & subject to change without notice. Certificate of Deposit (CD) subject to a penalty for early withdrawal. Withdrawal(s) will reduce earnings. Membership eligibility required; all 

members required to maintain a minimum $1 deposit in a savings account. Minimum $1,000 required to open CD; funds currently on deposit at Neighbors Credit Union do not qualify for the CD special; additional rate offers do not apply. 

Early access to direct deposit funds depends solely on the timing of payment file sent by the payer; this date is determined by the payer not the Credit Union. There is no guarantee of early direct deposit receipt.

FACEBOOK.COM/MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE 

MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM 

STAR PARKER 

A case for Trump 

to not debate 

With Mike Pence now qualifying for the 

Republican debate in Milwaukee on Aug. 

23, there are now eight candidates qualified 

to participate. 

However, one of those eight is former 

President Donald Trump, who suggests 

that he is not inclined to show up. 

“When you have a big lead, you don’t 

do it,” noted Trump. “Am I going to stand 

up there by guys with zero, one, two, three 

percent – maybe four – and have them ask 

me hostile questions?” 

He now says he’ll poll supporters. 

Fox News, the network carrying the 

event, Republican National Committee 

Chairperson Ronna McDaniel, and some 

of the other candidates are urging Trump 

to debate. 

But I think there is a strong case to be 

made that if what we want this election 

to be about is navigating toward the best 

interests of the country and its citizens, it 

may be best for Donald Trump to not show 

up in Milwaukee. 

Consider, for instance, that within the 

last week, bond rating service Fitch downgraded 

U.S. debt from AAA to AA. 

This is the result of U.S. debt and deficits 

skyrocketing into outer space. 

But this critical development is barely 

getting news oxygen when the really big 

story is Trump’s latest indictment and now 

his deliberations about whether to participate 

in the Republican debate. 

When only 19% of Americans say they 

are satisfied with the direction of the country, 

and considering that that percentage 

has been over 40% only once in the last 

15 years, it is reasonable to assume that 

Americans, justifiably, are not pleased with 

the current state of affairs. 

A major credit rating agency downgrading 

its estimate of the ability of the United 

States to pay its creditors is just the latest 

piece of information blaring that we have 

a problem. 

The country is bogged down by growth 

less than half its historic average, inflation, 

entitlement programs dealing with retirement 

and health care that were designed 60 

to 90 years ago that no longer work, and 

a shrinking and aging population that are 

directly the result of the collapse of the 

American family. 

Only 60% of Americans say they have a 

great deal/quite a lot of confidence in our 

military and the U.S. Army cannot meet its 

recruiting goals. 

We need to fix our nation. The beginning 

of solving any problem is identifying and 

defining it properly and then soberly, step 

by courageous step, coming up with solutions. 

This is what the 2024 election should be 

about. We have two parties with very different 

views of the world. The pathologies 

I described above are readily attributed 

to the party that now controls the White 

House. 

President Joe Biden, whose lifetime has 

been spent in the political swamp, is now 

getting deserved attention for corrupt influence 

peddling, generating wealth for his 

wayward son. 

Biden wants a campaign about personalities, 

not about issues. And no personality 

now attracts more attention, diverting from 

the issues we should be debating, than our 

former president. 

Trump on the stage in Milwaukee means 

the debates will be about him when they 

should be about our national agenda and 

solutions that the other seven candidates 

propose. 

Getting press and attention is not a challenge 

for Trump. So, he doesn’t need the 

stage. 

Although Trump does indeed have a commanding 

lead in the polls, showing he’s got 

support from around half of Republicans, a 

recent New York Times/Siena College poll 

says 46% of those Republicans are open to 

other candidates. 

Our country is not in good shape. The 

answers for sure are not going to come 

from the party of the left. Republicans 

must be the party of getting our nation back 

on track. 

Let’s start the discussion with the 

upcoming Republican debate, giving new 

candidates the opportunity to speak to 

Republicans and all Americans about how 

to fix our nation’s many problems. 

• • • 

Star Parker is president of the Center for 

Urban Renewal and Education and host of 

the weekly television show “Cure America 

with Star Parker.” 

© 2023 Creators.com 

Read more on midriversnewsmagazine.com 

August 23, 2023 

MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE 

I OPINION I 3 

TREE SERVICE 

Tom Hoff 

MW-5578A 

VOTED #1 

20% 

OFF 

CALL NOW 

636.578.2366 

Located in St. Peters • Owner: Greg Jennings 

Welcome to Hampton Manor. 

After years of taking care of others, 

it’s time to let us take care of you. 

At Hampton Manor of Wentzville, 

allow us to treat you the same way 

you’ve treated others for so many 

years – with compassion, comfort, 

and support. Allow us to help with 

the day-to-day chores, medication 

management, and personal care so 

you can keep the freedom you desire. 

We look forward to the opportunity 

of joining our family. 

CALL US TODAY! 

636.538.6770

More than a campus, a community. 

Discover Logan University. 

St. Louis Disc Golf Tournament 

SEPTEMBER 15-17 

Logan is proud to host the 2023 

St. Louis Disc Golf Open, an A-tier 

PDGA-sanctioned event on our 2- 

mile course. Register to play or 

come to watch. 

Visit Logan.edu/Events. 

Future Leopard Weekend 

OCTOBER 6-7 

Wondering if a career in 

chiropractic is right for you? 

Experience Future Leopard 

Weekend! Tour our campus and 

facilities, participate in 

interactive demonstrations and 

hear from faculty and students. 

Register at Logan.edu/FLW. 

Symposium on Women's Health 

OCTOBER 21-22 

For chiropractors and health care 

providers who treat women, this 

Symposium features dynamic speakers 

and hands-on learning opportunities 

designed to provide the best care to the 

female population. Visit Logan.edu/SWH.





I 5 

CD SPECIAL 

ONE-TIME BUMP UP 

15 Month CD 

5.00% APY * 

Serving the 

St. Charles Community 

1700 O’Fallon Road • 636.638.2585 

mrvbanks.com 

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 5/9/2023. $1,000 minimum balance required to open 

an account and obtain the APY. A Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal and the rate may change after account 

opening. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. 

ATTENTION 

READERS: 

Make sure you are signed up for your 

FREE subscription today! 

1. If you got this paper in your mailbox and your first and last name 

are on the front cover label, THANK YOU for subscribing. You are all 

signed up and will continue to get the paper in your mailbox for the 

next three years. 

2. If you got this paper in your mailbox and the label reads “Current 

Resident” then you need to fill out and mail in the form on this ad or 

visit midriversnewsmagazine.com/subscribe to subscribe. Otherwise, 

this could be the last paper you receive in the mail. 

3. If you picked this paper up at a newsstand such as Schnucks 

or Dierbergs, thank you so much for your interest! Please visit 

midriversnewsmagazine.com/subscribe or fill out and mail in the form 

on this ad to subscribe and get the paper delivered right to your home 

FREE of charge. 

CLIP & MAIL 

By providing your signature below, Mid Rivers Newsmagazine will 

qualify as a Requester Periodical helping us save postage expense 

so we can continue to deliver your copy through the post office. 

YES, I want Mid Rivers Newsmagazine, 

Please deliver to: 

Name: 

Address: 

City: State: Zip: 

Phone: 

E-mail: 

Signature 

x 

Date: / / 

Mail to: 

754 Spirit 40 Park Drive • Chesterfield, MO 63005

6 I OPINION I 

EDITORIAL 

‘Country’ music 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

Re: ‘Francis Howell Board votes 

sunset racism resolution’ 

To the Editor: 

In addition to the “parents” described by 

your headline, the July board meeting was 

attended by members of the local NEA as 

well as activists from other districts. 

Director Jane Puszkar asked if there were 

any cases where the 2020 “Resolution on 

Racism” did anything. None were mentioned, 

but Director Janet Stiglich said that 

it offered hope. Director Chad Lange said 

that the resolution has harmed nobody. 

We disagree: There have been cases of 

racism and harm to our students that were 

enabled by the resolution. As one example, 

Superintendent Dr. Nathan Hoven’s January 

2021 letter to the board stated that “middle 

school challenge courses create equity 

issues, and our Academic Team was planning 

to remove them going forward.” 

The justification given was that some 

minorities were underrepresented. As an 

interim step to elimination, they planned to 

“adjust cut scores to reflect the demographic 

and auto-populate schedules for kids to 

meet criteria.” Meaning the criteria for 

placement will be based on race. 

The 2020 resolution enabled this by 

embracing so-called “diversity, equity, and 

inclusion.” 

It also declared the Board’s commitment to 



Have y’all heard that viral country song “Rich Men North of 

Richmond?” 

It’s pretty good. Pretty good does not usually get you millions 

of YouTube views and a top ranking on iTunes and Apple Music, 

though. For that, you need a message, and in the world of country 

music specifically, you need a conservative message. 

“Rich Men North of Richmond” was penned by a self-described 

Virginia factory worker pen-named Oliver Anthony (real name 

Christopher Anthony Lunsford). The song walks some welltrodden 

ground for country music. It’s a plight of the working 

man song about low pay, high taxes and self-serving politicians. 

Then, Anthony drops in a couple of humdinger lines that got 

the internet all whipped up in a frenzy. 

I wish politicians would look out for miners 

And not just minors on an island somewhere. 

Ooo-wee doggy, you cannot get much spicier than a Jeffrey 

Epstein reference. It is just a reference though. Anthony does not 

go anywhere further on the topic of sex trafficking or the trouble 

with the mining industry. Woody Guthrie he is not, as he aptly 

proves with the next set of lyrics. 

Lord, we got folks in the street, ain’t got nothin’ to eat 

And the obese milkin’ welfare. 

Well, God, if you’re 5-foot-3 and you’re 300 pounds 

Taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds 

Well. Now there is a verse that will go viral in 2023. It’s hotbutton, 

hot-blooded, hot-headed, rage-writing. It touches on 

“antiracism.” Antiracism guru Ibram Kendi 

says, in his book “How To Be An Antiracist,” 

“The only remedy to racist discrimination is 

antiracist discrimination. The only remedy to 

past discrimination is present discrimination. 

The only remedy to present discrimination is 

future discrimination.” 

So “antiracism” is never-ending discrimination 

based on race. In Superintendent Roumpos’ 

message of July 21, 2023, he writes: 

“Please know that incidents of discrimination, 

racial or otherwise, will not be tolerated.” 

Francis Howell Families agrees - Discrimination 

has no place in our schools. We 

therefore hope that Dr. Roumpos will join 

us in supporting the board’s action to sunset 

this resolution. 

We urge the administration and staff to 

provide clear and equal enforcement of the 

student code of conduct, which prohibits 

discrimination. Administrators responsible 

for discriminatory “equity” or “antiracism” 

practices should also be held accountable. 

Ken Gontarz, president 

FrancisHowellFamilies.org 

topics of tremendous importance (obesity and the welfare state) 

without offering a single insight other than anger. We need to 

demand more than this from our artists and pundits just like we 

need to demand more from the rich men north of Richmond. 

Look, Oliver Anthony didn’t ask for any of this. He is – or 

rather was – a completely unknown amateur musician from 

Virginia who stumbled beard-first into an ongoing debate. One 

of the songs “Rich Men” supplanted was another viral sensation 

called “Try That in a Small Town” performed by country 

megastar Jason Aldean. This song is basically a listing of big-city 

grievances that ought not to occur in a small town or else – you 

know what we’re saying? 

The song went viral and became Aldean’s first No. 1 hit; however, 

it went viral because the video featured footage of George 

Floyd protesters and was filmed at the historic site of a race riot 

and lynching. 

These songs hit a nerve because they touch on critically important 

topics, but they are sound bites. They are a way to highlight 

the discussion that needs to happen but they are not the discussion 

itself. Too often, we share the headline and ignore the story. 

Now is the time when we need to read the whole story. 

“Rich Men North of Richmond” is a decent little song with a 

catchy title, but it is not the entire conversation that this country 

needs to have about poverty and the working poor. Country 

music can shine a light on issues, but the country needs to take 

it from there. 

Re: Students’ mental health 

To the Editor: 

I have been following your education 

report series, and it has been very good. The 

piece in the July 19 issue was especially 

important, as our world may be more confusing 

now than it has ever been, what with 

the profusion of instant communication and 

vast gobs of information, both good and not 

so good. 

I was a teacher for a long time, and now 

sub in high schools in the area, and each day 

I sub, I see more than one kid who looks 

like they may be in a mental health crisis. 

I know there is little I can do in my short 

window of contact; a smile or kind word is 

what I can offer, and it is usually met with 

a brief return. But that is not going to be 

enough for a young person who is in deep 

pain. 

It is good to see the resources available 

and being promulgated in the schools. It is 

sad to see the number of youth suicides. 

The young senior who volunteered her 

story ... wow, what courage and empathy. I 

am hoping she and others in these situations 

are able to find the assistance and support 

they need to navigate these troubled waters. 

Please continue to follow up on this subject. 

It is not going to go away any time 

soon. 

Tom Anselm 

ON THE COVER: The Francis Howell 

Vikings square off for a new season. 

(2022 championship photo by L6photography.smugmug.com) 

@MIDRIVERS_NEWS 


Founder 

Publisher Emeritus 

Publisher 

Managing Editor 

Associate Editor 

Staff Writer 

Features Editor 

Business Manager 

Graphic Designer 

Graphic Designer 

Graphic Layout 

Admin. Assistant 

Vice President - Direct Sales 

Vicky Czapla 

Advertising Account Executives 

Nancy Anderson 

Ellen Hartbeck 

Linda Joyce 

Jessica Baumgartner 

Bethany Coad 

Suzanne Corbett 

Robin S. Jefferson 

Reporters 

Doug Huber 

Sharon Huber 

Tim Weber 

Kate Uptergrove 

Tracey Bruce 

Laura Saggar 

Lisa Russell 

Erica Myers 

Donna Deck 

Aly Doty 

Emily Rothermich 

Melissa Balcer 

Joe Ritter 

Sheila Roberts 

DeAnne LeBlanc 

John Tremmel 

Sue Zimmerma 

754 Spirit 40 Park Drive 

Chesterfield, MO 63005 

(636) 591-0010 

midriversnewsmagazine.com 

Please send 

Comments, Letters and Press Releases to: 

editor@newsmagazinenetwork.com 

Mid Rivers Newsmagazine is published 24 times per 

year by 21 Publishing LLC. 35,000 distribution (direct 

mailed and newsstands) in St. Charles County. Products 

and services advertised are not necessarily endorsed 

by Mid Rivers Newsmagazine and views expressed in 

editorial copy are not necessarily those of Mid Rivers 

Newsmagazine. No part of Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 

may be reproduced in any form without prior written 

consent from Mid Rivers Newsmagazine. All letters 

addressed to Mid Rivers Newsmagazine or its editor are 

assumed to be intended for publication and are subject to 

editing for content and length. Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 

reserves the right to refuse any advertisement or editorial 

submission. © Copyright 2023.

VA ST. LOUIS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 

ANNOUNCES 

St. Charles County VA Clinic is 

MOVING to a brand-new 

location to better serve our 

Veteran community! 

The public is invited to the Ribbon Cutting! 

Monday, August 28, 2023, 

at 10:00 am 

2845 Veterans Memorial Pkwy 

Saint Charles, MO63303 

Conveniently located in Regency Plaza in the former Office Max building! 

Veterans and caregivers: The current clinic at 844 Waterbury Falls Drive will 

CLOSE at 4:30pm on Thursday, August 24th. New Clinic location will open 

for patient care at 8:00am, August 29th. Contact your care team for more info!

8 I NEWS I 

StudyMetix_May_23.pdf August 1 23, 5/10/23 2023 10:35 AM 




C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

On July 31, the County Council unanimously approved a bill authorizing a 

MoDOT Program Agreement for the St. Charles County Bike-Walk Phase 

1 Project. The $3 million project will receive federal aid of approximately 

60% reimbursement, up to a maximum of $1,840,000 and be overseen by 

MoDOT. Read more on midriversnewsmagazine.com. (Source: Adobe Stock) 

NEWS 

BRIEFS 

O’FALLON 

Rezoning approved for 

Mercy surgery center 

At its July 27 meeting, the O’Fallon City 

Council voted 6-0 to approve Bill No. 7569, 

sponsored by council members Jeff Kuehn 

(Ward 4) and Dr. Jim Ottomeyer (Ward 4), 

authorizing the rezoning of 1.209 acres at 

3343 Hwy. K from newly annexed to C2/ 

general business district. 

Council member Tom “Duke” Herweck 

(Ward 2) had recused himself from the vote, 

and three council members were absent/ 

excused: Deana Smith (Ward 1), Steve 

Koskela (Ward 3) and Dr. Jim Ottomeyer 

(Ward 4). 

Tea Properties of Missouri, LLC, based 

in Springfield, Missouri, had requested the 

rezoning of the 1.209 acres. This small property 

is surrounded by 55 acres of already 

C2-zoned land Mercy owns along the west 

side of Hwy. K, extending from Waterford 

Crossing Drive north to South Outer Road 

364, with the Villages of Dardenne subdivision 

along the western property boundary. 

Rezoning of this parcel now enables the 

construction of a 33,500-square-foot Mercy 

medical building for ambulatory and outpatient 

surgery. Mercy will split the 56-acre 

contiguous property into four lots, with the 

Mercy surgery center on one of them. 

To reduce traffic problems, Mercy will 

construct a connection road between Waterford 

Crossing Drive and South Outer Road 

364. 

Path of Heroes 2023 inductees 

O’Fallon’s Path of Heroes, honoring residents 

who have made the ultimate sacrifice, 

is a 7.8-mile route through the heart of the 

city. It passes several city facilities, including 

the Veterans Memorial Walk, CarShield 

Field and City Hall. 

In 2022, three honoree signs were 

erected paying tribute to Army Spc. Mark 

D. Blakey Jr., Marines Lance Cpl. Jared M. 

Schmitz and Army Cpl. Gunnar W. Zwilling. 

In 2023, Marines Lance Corp. Ben D. 

Bono, Marines Pfc. Robert W. Swafford, 

and Army Pfc. Robert S. Underwood were 

added. All three 2023 inductees were Vietnam 

veterans. 

Each honoree has two identical signs 

placed on the Path, with each one facing 

oncoming traffic on a roadway. 

Bono was born on Dec. 19, 1946, and lived 

in the Forest Park neighborhood of O’Fallon. 

Prior to entering the Marines, he attended 

Assumption High in O’Fallon. He joined the 

Marines in March 1966, and arrived in Vietnam 

in October of the same year. On May 

14, 1967, he was killed in action in South 

Vietnam during fighting as part of Operation 

Union. His signs are located on Woodlawn 

Avenue between Cordes Street and Veterans 

Memorial Parkway. 

Swafford was born on April 6, 1944, to 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Swafford and lived 

along North Main Street in O’Fallon. He 

joined the Marines in January 1965, and 

was deployed to Vietnam. On Sept. 6, 1967, 

he was killed in action during combat in the 

Quang Tin village in South Vietnam. His 

signs are located on Main Street between 

Ton Ginnever Avenue and St. Joseph 

Avenue. 

Underwood was born on Sept. 25, 1949, 

to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Underwood Jr. 

and lived in the Forest Park neighborhood 

of O’Fallon. Prior to joining the Army, he 

attended Fort Zumwalt High. On Aug. 

23, 1968, he was killed in action in South 

Vietnam. He had begun his tour of duty in 

Vietnam only two months prior, on June 15, 

1968. His signs are located on Woodlawn 

Avenue between Veterans Memorial Parkway 

and Mexico Road. 

Families may apply to have one of their 

family members honored along the Path, on 

memorial signs listing the name and rank of 

those who have fallen. There is no cost to 

families to have their loved ones honored; 

however, to participate, families must fill 

out the Path of Heroes application form 

found on the city website. The city’s Veterans 

Commission page also includes a map 

of the Path of Heroes. 

ST. CHARLES COUNTY 

County firing range to 

be expanded for FBI 

At its July 31 meeting, the St. Charles 

County Council approved the expansion of 

the County Police Firing Range. 

The FBI has contracted with St. Charles 

County to use the county’s firing range for 

training. The FBI requested 25 additional 

firing lanes, with those lanes capable of 

operating independently from the county’s 

lanes. 

The county also will provide a public 

address system, range lighting and a target 

turning system for the new lanes. 

The FBI will reimburse the county 

$162,760 for the cost of this project. 

FGM Architects has been chosen to provide 

the project design and engineering 

services. 

The project cost was included in the 

approved 2023 county budget. 

Parks to get new pavement 

As part of the consent agenda at its July 

31 meeting, the St. Charles County Council 

approved moving forward with annual 

asphalt work in 10 county parks. This 

year, asphalt repairs and maintenance were 

delayed due to the prioritization of Oglesby 

Park development. 

Asphalt maintenance will include asphalt 

installation, sealing and coating to improve 

longevity. 

Work will be done in Broemmelsiek 

Park on Hwy. DD in Defiance; Indian 

Camp Creek Park on Dietrich Road in 

Foristell; Klondike Park on Hwy. 94 South 

in Augusta; Lindenwood Park on Hwy. F in 

Defiance; Matson Hills Park on 3572 Stub 

Road in Defiance; Quail Ridge Park on 

Quail Ridge Parkway in Wentzville; The 

Park at New Melle Lakes on Foristell Road 

in New Melle; Towne Park on Towne Park 

Drive in Foristell; Veterans Tribute Park on 

Kisker Road in Weldon Spring; and Missouri 

Bluffs Park on Research Park Circle 

off I-64 in Weldon Spring. 

Parking Lot Maintenance LLC, of Lake 

Saint Louis, will do the work at a cost of 

$1,221,719. 

Funding for this project was part of the 

Parks Capital Plan approved in August 2022 

and as part of the 2023 County Budget in 

December 2022. 

County Police accepts 

e-bike donation 

Pedego of St. Charles has donated a Trail 

Tracker Cass 2 electric bike to the St. Louis 

County Police Department. 

Frisz said the e-bike will greatly enhance





I NEWS I 9 

the department’s ability to patrol some of 

the more remote portions of county parks 

where the department has had difficulty in 

the past due to the terrain and distance. He 

pointed out that many of these remote locations 

have been gathering places for underage 

parties and other unwanted activities. 

Frisz also said the e-bike would be used 

for special events and community outreach 

activities such as Walk and Talks, National 

Night Out, home owners association events 

and Neighborhood Watch, enhancing a 

police officer’s abilities and approachability. 

County joins in honoring 

Purple Heart recipients 

The Purple Heart is the oldest U.S. military 

decoration. It was created as the Badge 

of Military Merit by General George Washington 

in 1782. Since then, it has been 

awarded to honor the service and sacrifice 

of our men and women in uniform wounded 

or killed by the enemy while serving to protect 

the freedoms of all Americans. 

Now St. Charles County Council will 

officially join in that recognition as a Purple 

Heart County. 

At its Aug. 14 meeting, the County Council 

unanimously passed a resolution that 

“designates the County of Saint Charles as 

a Purple Heart County to remember and 

honor those veterans who are the recipients 

of the Purple Heart medal.” 

The county had received a letter from the 

Military Order of the Purple Heart requesting 

that the county designate itself a Purple 

Heart County to recognize all Purple Heart 

recipients from all wars. The organization 

noted that 84 of Missouri’s counties already 

have that designation and they are striving 

to have the remaining 30 establish that designation. 

The request letter was given to Election 

Commissioner Kurt Bahr, who is a veteran 

and who serves as chairperson of the county’s 

Veterans Best Practices Working Group. 

Bahr said he had consulted with the 

working group, then approached council 

members, including veterans Mike Elam 

(District 3) and Dave Hammond (District 

4), asking if the council would pursue the 

designation. 

Bahr said the resolution’s purpose is for 

the county “to take time to fully recognize all 

of our Purple Heart veterans from all wars.” 

He said the county now has the option of 

placing “Purple Heart County” signs on or 

near the “Welcome to St. Charles County” 

signs, or on the County Courthouse, or on 

the Administration Building. 

County Ambulance District 

wins substance abuse grant 

In a continued effort to address the 

nation’s ongoing mental health crisis and 

opiate epidemic, the Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration has 

awarded $1.5 million to the St. Charles 

County Ambulance District’s Mobile Integrated 

Healthcare [MIH] network. 

The funding, which will be awarded over 

a four-year period, will enable the district 

to expand its Substance Use Recovery 

Response Team [SURRT] program. Among 

the most notable enhancements is a dedicated, 

24/7 position available to immediately 

initiate treatment with the provision of 

field administration of buprenorphine – an 

FDA-approved medication used to stabilize 

patients and treat opioid addiction. 

In the event of a suspected opioid overdose 

call, a member of the MIH team will 

be dispatched along with the ambulance. 

Working with the patient, the team member 

may offer to initiate medication-assisted 

treatment, refer to program partners for 

inpatient or outpatient treatment and address 

other critical needs. 

The newly dedicated position will enable 

the district to partner with area hospitals to 

offer SUD MIH services to individuals who 

self-present at the emergency department. 

Residents also may contact the District if 

they find themselves or a family member in 

need of assistance. 

“Our vision for the program is that it 

... they have all 

your care needs at 

LOOK ... 

P 

P 

EXPERTS IN DEMENTIA CARE 

gardenviewcarecenter.com 

O’Fallon | 636-240-2840 

Chesterfield | 636-537-3333 

Dougherty Ferry | 636-861-0500 

SKILLED NURSING 

ASSISTED LIVING PLUS ® 

P 

P 

P 

P 

becomes self-sustaining through our normal 

reimbursement pathways after the four-year 

grant period ends,” SCCAD Assistant Chief 

David Lewis said. 

In addition to SUD services, the District’s 

MIH network will work to address 

health inequities and social determinants of 

health. Program partners include Preferred 

Family Healthcare, Compass Health, the 

St. Charles County Department of Health, 

and the St. Charles City Fire Department, 

among others. The program will focus primarily 

on serving individuals under 200% 

of the federal poverty level, but no patient 

will be turned away. 

DEMENTIA CARE 

RESPITE CARE 

HOSPICE CARE 

REHABILITATION 

SERVICES

10 I NEWS I 





County Council aims at preventing politics from coming to a library near you 

By ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON 

The St. Charles County Council had a 

few things to say to the library district at its 

Aug. 14 meeting, though, by its members’ 

own admission, they have “no authority 

to control or regulate the library system.” 

Even so, they unanimously passed a resolution 

that “strongly” recommended “the 

adoption of a neutral political policy in the 

St. Charles City-County Library system.” 

The council and the library’s board of 

trustees have been fielding comments and 

complaints since May, when a resident, 

Rachel Homolak, made an appeal on social 

media for people to join her in protesting 

about a male library employee that she and 

her 4-year-old son encountered. Homolak 

said the employee working in the children’s 

desk at the Kathryn Linnemann branch had 

a goatee and wore bright pink metallic eyeshadow, 

eyeliner and mascara, as well as 

large black hoop earrings and nail polish. 

She claimed the man was dressed in drag 

and called his appearance “unacceptable 

and inappropriate for children.” 

Some 300 people turned out to the 

library board’s June 20 meeting and more 

than 60 people spoke on the subject that 

evening – and the outcry on both sides 

has been ongoing. Still, local government 

officials say there is little they can do but 

recommend that the library board be more 

sensitive to their patrons and stay out of 

politics. 

“The library district is an independent 

political subdivision,” County Executive 

Steve Ehlmann said after the council’s 

July 31 meeting. “A lot of people think that 

because we appoint these people, we can 

A crowd gathered at the County Council meeting on Aug. 14 to voice support for or 

opposition to a resolution asking for an apolitical library system. 

tell them what to do. That’s not the case. 

There’s not a (state) statute that gives us the 

power to get rid of them until their term is 

over. If the legislature wants to change the 

statute, then that’s a different story. There 

are some things a charter county can’t do. 

We only have the power they give us. They 

give us the power to appoint them. We do 

not have the power to recall them. 

“My feeling is that they have to consider 

the sensibilities of the people of St. 

Charles County. They had drag queens at 

the election’s swearing-in ceremonies in St. 

Louis County. Maybe that’s OK there, but 

out here, it’s not in line with our sensibilities 

about such things.” 

The resolution was drafted by county 

council members Matt Swanson (District 

1), Joe Brazil (District 2), Nancy Schneider 

(District 6) and Tim Baker (District 

7). It referred to “actions that may constitute 

political activism have crept into our 

library system” and stated that the district’s 

CEO, Jason Kuhl, had posted “what could 

be considered as a divisive, inflammatory 

and politically charged post to his LinkedIn 

webpage.” 

Kuhl’s post, which has since been taken 

down, read: “By targeting public libraries, 

Republicans and other far-right groups 

have not only launched an attack on the 

principles of free speech, diversity, inclusion 

and access to knowledge, they’ve 

also taken direct aim at library workers 

themselves. Whether they’re pushing for 

increasingly draconian book bans on queer 

and trans authors and authors of color, violently 

protesting drag queen story hours, or 

directly threatening library workers, farright 

activists are creating a hostile work 

environment for the nation’s librarians, 

administrators and other workers ….” 

Kuhl has not answered calls and emails 

from this reporter. 

Through the resolution, the council also 

took issue with the library district spending 

some $10,000 annually on membership 

fees for the Urban Library Council, which 

the resolution said advocates for, and promotes 

a progressive, left political agenda. 

The council called for the library to 

immediately rescind its subscription to the 

Urban Library Council. It also asked the 

library board to stop spending tax dollars 

supporting any political agenda or ideology, 

either left or right, adhere to and 

enforce its current dress code and open its 

doors on Sundays. 

The resolution also stated that the library 

district “missed the mark in its mission 

to serve the community in several ways, 

including the extended closures during the 

COVID-19 pandemic emergency, and (its) 

failure to consider voluntarily rolling back 

its tax rate so as not to recoup the windfall 

occasioned by abnormally higher personal 

property taxes.” 

Just before the unanimous vote was 

taken, Brazil spoke up. 

“We’ve gotten a lot of static on this issue 

with the library situation. As far as I’m 

concerned it has nothing to do with any 

one individual,” he said. “It has something 

to do with dress codes and being appropriately 

dressed …. If it was the other way 

around, and the library was promoting 

some conservative agenda, the other side 

would be upset as well. So, what we’re 

asking is for it to be apolitical … teach 

kids to read. 

“It’s about reading books and it’s about 

dressing appropriately when you show up 

See LIBRARY, page 47 

County Council approves 

Family Arena renovations 

By JOHN TREMMEL 

The St. Charles County Family Arena 

at 2002 Arena Parkway is showing its age. 

At 24, it has been heavily used and is in 

need of renovations to its seating, roof and 

parking lots. Those improvements will 

total $4.3 million but cost county taxpayers 

nothing. 

Seating in the arena includes a retractable 

system that county officials have said 

“is shot and requires a lot of manual effort 

to get it to work.” 

According to county officials, the lowerlevel 

bowl seats have been the most heavily 

used. Hussey Seating from Burnsville, 

Minnesota, will replace all lower bowl 

permanent and retractable seating and 

all retractable telescopic platform units. 

The $3,247,891 cost will be covered by a 

COVID-era shuttered venue operators grant. 

The arena’s roof is leaking and has 

run its useful life span. The county and a 

third-party contractor conducted an assessment 

and determined that three of the five 

lower sections of roof need replacement. 

The existing dome will be repaired. The 

remaining two lower sections are still 

under partial warranty. 

James Taylor, Inc. of Belleville, Illinois, 

will do the roof replacement work. The 

$703,261 project cost will be covered by 

an American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 

(ARPA) grant. 

Several areas of the parking lots need 

resurfacing; one small area has settled due 

to voids in the fill material beneath the 

asphalt. The repair work includes milling 

perimeter areas of the parking lot surface 

to specific depths, laying a new surface 

in the deteriorating areas, and filling the 

undermined area with pressurized flowable 

grout. Areas of repair include the main 

entrance located to the west, the VIP parking 

lot, the staff parking lot, the parking lot 

behind the VIP parking, and the parking 

area directly east of the staff parking. 

E. Meier Contracting, Inc. of Weldon 

Spring, will do the work. The project cost 

of $368,439 will be funded by an ARPA 

grant. 

While the overall project was part of 

the County Council’s July 31 meeting, the 

seating and roof portion was discussed 

separately prior to a vote. 

Council members discussed whether it 

was wise to spend so much on a building 

that has been associated with sale rumors. 

However, county officials clarified that the 

building is not for sale and no such activities 

are planned. They said the county has 

received a few unsolicited offers to buy 

the building but those were not credible or 

viable and were rejected out-of-hand. 

After others made their comments, council 

member Joe Brazil (District 2) said, 

“We own the building, and are obligated to 

maintain it properly, sale or no sale.” 

The seating renovation project was 

approved by a vote of 5-2. The roof renovation 

project was approved by a vote of 5-1, 

with Brazil abstaining due to his involvement 

in the roofing business. The parking 

lot renovation project was approved 

unanimously as part of the overall consent 

agenda.



Town Hall meeting draws attention to toxic 

waste sites including near Francis Howell High 



I NEWS I 11 

By ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON 

“I want the DOE (Department of Energy) 

to come down here. They owe us a water 

treatment plant.” 

That’s just one of the things Rep. Tricia 

Byrnes (R-District 63) told hundreds of 

attendees of a town hall meeting in New 

Melle on Wednesday, Aug. 2 that she 

wants from the federal government. 

The meeting was sponsored by Byrnes, 

Missouri Rep. Richard West (R-District 

102) and St. Charles County Council 

member Joe Brazil (District 2). Byrnes’ 

comments were in response to the illnesses 

and deaths she says were caused by the 

government’s St. Charles County atomic 

bomb plant for decades. 

“... people who lived around Weldon 

Spring, went to Francis Howell, lived near 

the area, ate fish (from) Busch Wildlife and 

possibly lived near contaminated groundwater,” 

Byrnes said, delineating groups 

of people who could be affected. “For 

decades, groups have demanded answers 

and they were dismissed. I personally 

believe this area caused autoimmune diseases 

and cancers to those that were present 

during plant operations, during the 

decades of negligence and abandonment 

and during cleanup.” 

Byrnes is not alone. St. Charles County 

residents are also questioning what has or 

might happen to them. 

Francis Howell High graduate Cindy 

Freshwater-Rydberg spoke to the elected 

officials and others at the meeting about 

her brother, also a Francis Howell graduate, 

who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon 

Cancer at age 47, even though there was no 

history of the disease in their family. She 

said she also had “countless friends that 

had thyroid cancer and diseases as well as 

multiple other types of cancers.” 

Former teacher, Tom Whelan Jr., who 

taught social studies from 1985 to 1989 

at Francis Howell High, said he and other 

teachers and their students sat “within 

a stone’s throw away from the people in 

moon suits” that were demolishing the 

Weldon Spring site. 

“The DOE needs to look at those who 

taught and went to Francis Howell,” 

Whelan said. “We breathed that dust 

during the demolition of that place … It 

can change your DNA and that DNA can 

be transferred to your kids.” 

The site Whelan referred to 

is known as the Weldon Spring 

Site Interpretive Center. It consists 

of a 75-foot rubble mound 

that sits atop a 45-acre containment 

cell. The cell serves as a 

final resting place for 1.48 million 

cubic yards of waste, which 

resulted from the production of 

explosives during the 1940s and 

by the processing of uranium by 

the Mallinckrodt chemical company 

in the 1950s until about 1966. 

Containment, the Weldon Spring Site 

Remedial Action Project, began taking 

shape in the 1990s and concluded in 2001. 

The Interpretive Center opened in 2002 

and has since attracted hundreds of thousands 

of visitors ranging from those whose 

curiosity is piqued driving by on Hwy. 

94 to astronomy groups to students and 

community groups using its classrooms. 

Byrnes wants to know why area students 

are still taking “field trips” to the Weldon 

Spring Site Interpretive Center. 

“The federal government put an operating 

atomic bomb plant 1,000 feet from an 

Rep. Tricia Byrnes listens to the concerns of residents 

at a town hall meeting regarding radioactive waste 

near Francis Howell High 

operating high school …. It’s ridiculous 

we have to wait this long to get help,” 

Byrnes said. 

However, the Weldon Spring site is not 

the only waste location receiving renewed 

attention. 

Recently released documents are calling 

into question the handling of radioactive 

waste across the St. Louis region and proving 

that the federal government and some 

private companies knew as early as 1949 

about radioactive contamination and other 

dangers but did not warn the public. 

Dawn Chapman, of Just Moms STL, a 

See TOXIC WASTE, page 14 

STAY COOL 

with 

Sudoku brought to you by Faszold Heating & Cooling 

Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3x3 box 

contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively. 

Back to 

School 

HVAC 

Savings! 

WWW.FASZOLD.COM 

Call 636-926-NEWS 

to book a 

free estimate. 

Go to www.faszold.com/sudoku for Sudoku answers! 

NOW AUTHORIZED Follow DEALERS us on: OF Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn ®

First Rate Checking 

A Checking Account That Pays You 

3.51 % 

APY 

Call, stop by any branch, or go online. 

*$1 share deposit required. Must qualify for membership. Federally insured by NCUA. APY=Annual Percentage Yield. APYs accurate as of 8/1/2023. Rates may change after account is opened. To qualify for 

the 3.51% APY, you must perform the following each calendar month (statement cycle): (1) Have a minimum of 25 debit card purchases post to the account; (2) have at least one direct deposit or one ACH 

debit/credit post to the account; and (3) receive your monthly statement electronically. If qualifications are met each calendar month (statement cycle): (1) balances up to $25,000 receive APY of 3.51%; and 

(2) balances over $25,000 earn 0.10% dividend rate on the portion of the balance over $25,000. If qualifications are not met, all balances earn 0.10% APY. Domestic ATM fees incurred using 

debit card during calendar month (statement cycle) will be reimbursed up to $25.00 and credited to account on the last day of monthly statement cycle. See firstcommunity.com for full disclosure.



Dardenne Prairie Board approves Town Square 

Vision Steering Committee membership 



I NEWS I 13 

By JESSICA MARIE BAUMGARTNER 

The new Dardenne Prairie Town Square 

Vision Steering Committee has been 

unanimously approved by the city’s Board 

of Aldermen. The approval came at the 

board’s Aug. 2 meeting but it was not without 

much debate and a few amendments. 

A list of appointees had been handed out 

by Mayor John Gotway at the board’s July 

19 meeting; however, some concerns were 

expressed by board members and residents 

so the vote was postponed. 

During the Aug. 2 work session, Gotway 

defended his choices. He explained that 

he chose alderman Mark Johnson (Ward 

3) over alderman Mike Costlow (Ward 

2) because of Johnson’s “influence” and 

“contacts throughout the city.” 

He described being impressed with the 

relationships Johnson had with other politicians, 

but also noted, “I’m open to changing 

the slate.” 

He did, however, express a desire to 

appoint members quickly and allow the 

committee to start its work. 

“I hope that we can do this with the 

amount of decorum it deserves,” Gotway 

said. 

But there was debate over the mayor’s 

list of appointees. In order to pass the 

resolution to form the committee, it was 

amended to remove three proposed members 

and add four. Johnson was removed in 

favor of Costlow. 

Gotway then addressed Costlow and 

asked, “You gonna have time to do this?” 

Costlow replied, “This has been something 

that’s been very high on my priority 

list since I became alderman. That’s why I 

pushed so hard.” 

Gotway went on to detail concerns about 

the amount of resources spent through previous 

attempts to create a vision for the city. 

He said that, since 2007, the city has spent 

$676,900 in attempting to create plans to 

bring developers into the area. 

City Administrator James W. Knowles 

III said the costs of the new Town Square 

Vision Steering Committee would total 

about $67,000 annually. He said that 

amount “contemplates several public 

meetings, several meetings of the visioning 

committee, artistic renderings” and so 

on. He also noted that it is an “a la 

carte” quote for now. 

“The more public hearings we have, 

the more committee meetings we 

have, the more artist renderings and 

pretty pictures we put up there for 

residents to conceive of what this 

plan could look like, it costs a lot, 

you know that costs more money. If you 

say that we’re not going to do all that stuff 

it would cost significantly less,” Knowles 

said. 

When alderman Dave Wandling (Ward 

1) asked about previous attempts, Gotway 

noted the city’s “one development from 

uptown.” 

“Zero results are still zero results,” 

Wandling replied. 

“This is our third go around on this,” 

alderman Justin Ungerbock (Ward 2) said. 

“(we need to) have some of these conversations 

about cost and what the expectation 

is and what the end result is that we’re 

looking for.” 

Costlow then interjected. 

“I don’t see a need for pretty drawings 

and artist renderings and things like that. I 

Mike Costlow 

think this is more about understanding culture 

and expectations from our residents on 

what that area should look like from that 

standpoint,” he said. 

He described creating a “practical 

vision” and also defended the previous 

plans saying that he believed what was 

spent over the past 16 years was, “less than 

one-half of a percent of our budget.” 

“I don’t think it’s completely outside the 

realm. I do think we need to do better this 

time,” he said. 

The approved amended list of committee 

members includes Costlow representing 

the board along with community members 

Mike Wooldridge, Cliff Branch, Jack Ballantine, 

Wendy Rackovan, Debbie Haley, 

EJ Sansone, John LeDoux, Carl Maus, 

Mark Hunter and David Hosking. 

Here for St. Charles today and in the future. 

At SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital we’re investing in the health and well-being of 

our vibrant St. Charles community. 

For more than a century we’ve focused on providing expert patient care offering 

advanced and convenient services including: 

• Board-certified cardiology and vascular services with the busiest cardiac catheterization 

lab in the region and level 2 (Time Critical Diagnosis) STEMI center 

• Awarded the Patient Safety Excellence Award (2023, 2022) as being one of the top in the 

nation for providing excellence in patient safety 

• Robotic-assisted surgery with innovative da Vinci Xi robot technology to help with decreased 

length of stay, smaller incisions, decreased pain, and increased quality of life 

• Primary Stroke Center certified by The Joint Commission 

• Critical Care Excellence Award (2023, 2022, 2021) 

SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital has 329 beds, almost 2,000 employees, and treated more than 140,000 

St. Charles community members in 2022. We’re proud to serve you and your family for years to come. 

Visit ssmhealth.com/CommunityStrong to learn more, 

view provider profiles, and schedule now. 

©2023 SSM Health. 

All rights reserved. 

SJSC-STL-23-1852168 8/23

14 I NEWS I 





TOXIC WASTE, from page 11 

nonprofit group that promotes awareness 

about leftover nuclear weapons waste in 

the St. Louis area, said the town hall meeting 

was proof that people are waking up 

to the injustices that have been put upon 

them. 

“We’re just so happy to see St. Charles 

residents because we’ve been so worried 

about you. Everybody out there who can 

help you is here in this room tonight. I 

played in those creeks. I know it’s killing 

you,” Chapman said. 

The meeting was attended by residents 

of St. Charles and St. Louis counties as 

well as Missouri Secretary of State Jay 

Ashcroft; Sen. Nick Schroer (R-District 

2); Rep. Mark Matthiesen (R-District 

70); Rep. Doug Clemens (D-District 72); 

representatives for Congressman Blaine 

Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Congresswoman 

Ann Wagner (MO-02) and U.S. Sen. Josh 

Hawley; and St. Charles County Council 

member Timothy Baker (District 7). 

At the meeting, they discussed Hawley’s 

proposed amendment to the National 

Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), 

which passed the U.S. Senate on July 27 

and expands coverage of the Radiation 

Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to 

Missourians. That program compensates 

Americans who suffered illnesses due 

to exposure to radiation from the United 

State’s development and testing of nuclear 

weapons. 

The bill still has to be passed by the U.S. 

House of Representatives. 

Byrnes said Hawley’s amendment, 

which includes parts of St. Charles, 

Dardenne Prairie, Cottleville, Defiance 

and Lake Saint Louis, would expand the 

RECA program to cover anyone who lived 

in the area during a particular window or 

developed certain illnesses associated with 

radiation exposure. 

It’s passage by the Senate followed a 

six-month investigation dubbed “Atomic 

Fallout,” wherein representatives of The 

Missouri Independent, MuckRock and The 

Associated Press poured over thousands of 

pages of government documents obtained 

through the Freedom of Information Act 

from the now-defunct Atomic Energy Commission; 

its successors, the DOE and the 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRO); 

and the Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA). They also interviewed health and 

radiation experts, government officials and 

citizens affected by the radioactive waste. 

That investigation revealed that for more 

than 75 years, the U.S. government and 

some private companies repeatedly downplayed 

or failed to investigate or report the 

extent of radioactive waste contamination 

from the development of the first atomic 

bomb. 

According to the Missouri Independent: 

Concerned residents from across the greater St. Louis area gathered to learn more about 

radioactive waste sites across the region. 

“The St. Louis region was pivotal to the 

development of the bomb during World 

War II. Workers in downtown St. Louis 

processed uranium that was used in the 

first sustained nuclear reaction in Chicago, 

a major breakthrough of the Manhattan 

Project. The development of the 

bomb still casts a shadow over the region 

almost 80 years later. Radioactive waste 

contaminated public lakes and creeks 

where residents fish and swim. It polluted 

groundwater and park land. Several sites in 

St. Louis County still aren’t cleaned up. 

“… the nuclear saga in St. Louis … starts 

in downtown St. Louis, where uranium 

was processed, and at the St. Louis airport, 

where it was stored at the end of the 

war; a months-long move of the waste to 

industrial sites on Latty Avenue in suburban 

Hazelwood and a quarry in Weldon 

Spring, next to the Missouri River; an 

illegal dumping of waste at the West Lake 

Landfill in Bridgeton in the 1970s by a private 

company; and the declaration of the 

landfill as a federal toxic Superfund site in 

1990. 

“Decades later, many St. Louis-area 

residents believe the radioactive waste is 

to blame for their rare cancers and autoimmune 

disorders.” 

Byrnes said she first found out about 

the radioactive contamination in 2016 

when her son developed a radioactive 

cancer known as thymoma. According to 

the National Library of Medicine and the 

National Center for Biotechnology Information 

of the National Institutes of Health, 

less than 50 cases of pediatric thymoma 

have been reported in the history of medical 

literature. 

She said, growing up, she swam in a 

quarry in Weldon Spring and attended 

Francis Howell High. She wondered if 

their could be a connection. 

The Weldon Spring Quarry was mined 

for limestone aggregate used in construction 

of the Weldon Spring Ordnance Works 

– a 17,232-acre site in St. Charles County 

that was used to produce explosives, such 

as trinitrotoluene (TNT) and dinitrotoluene 

(DNT), for the U.S. Armed Services as part 

of the World War II defense effort. The 

quarry was also used to burn and dispose of 

wastes from explosives manufacturing and 

disposal of TNT-contaminated rubble which 

contaminated the soil and groundwater at 

the quarry. The quarry was later transferred 

to the Atomic Energy Commission, which 

used it from 1959 to 1966 as a disposal area 

for uranium, thorium and radium as well 

as chemical residues and building rubble 

containing uranium, radium and soils from 

the demolition of a uranium ore processing 

facility in St. Louis. 

“A lot of people who are here are strong 

voices. They are moms saying don’t mess 

with my kids,” Byrnes referring to the Just 

Moms STL group. “When I found out my 

kid had cancer, they took me in.” 

Byrnes said Just Moms helped her realize 

she wasn’t “crazy” when she thought it 

strange that she and several of her friends 

were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases 

as young adults. 

“I thought it was weird that all of my 

friends were being diagnosed with autoimmune 

diseases, and there were a tremendous 

amount of miscarriages,” Byrnes said. 

During her presentation, she pointed to a 

slide of a T-shirt worn by Francis Howell 

students in the 90s. On it was the internationally 

known radioactive symbol – a 

black trefoil on a yellow background, typically 

displayed where radioactive materials 

are present. 

“This is how much we didn’t take this 

seriously. The cross-country team wore 

this on their shirts,” Byrnes said. Later 

speaking directly to her fellow Francis 

Howell graduates, she said, “No Viking 

fights alone.” 

In a Facebook post leading up to the town 

hall Byrnes wrote that the the groundwater 

around the Weldon Spring site is deteriorating. 

“This is extremely relevant because (the) 

PWSD2 (Public Water Supply District 

2) well field that serves the public drinking 

water to a large portion of St. Charles 

County residents, is in this area,” Byrnes 

wrote. “We need to discuss action, testing 

and additional groundwater monitoring.” 

At the meeting, West said, “Our government 

has pulled the wool over our eyes, and 

we’ve all accepted it. We’re not accepting 

it anymore.” 

Much of St. Charles County was added 

by Hawley to RECA via ZIP code. 

“This unique statute Radiation Exposure 

Compensation Act, RECA was designed to 

serve as an expeditious, low-cost alternative 

to litigation in 1990,” Byrnes wrote on 

Facebook before the Town Hall. “Significantly, 

RECA does not require claimants to 

establish causation.” 

She added, “We have a few weeks to 

justify additional illnesses and zip codes 

and work to get those added before this 

goes to the U.S. House. If your ZIP code 

is not here, show up! If your ZIP code is 

here, show up! If your illness is not listed, 

but was more likely than not caused by 

radiation, you must show up. We need 

those harmed or surviving loved ones to 

be heard. 

“This took 33 years to amend to include 

parts of Missouri,” she said of RECA. 

ZIP codes include in RECA are 63031, 

63033, 63034, 63042, 63045, 63074, 

63114, 63135, 63138, 63044, 63140, 

63145, 63147, 63102, 63304, 63134, 

63043, 63341, 63368, and 63367. 

The specific diseases included are: 

• Any leukemia, other than chronic lymphocytic 

leukemia, provided that the initial 

exposure occurred after the age of 20 and 

the onset of the disease was at least two 

years after first exposure. 

• Any of the following diseases, provided 

that the onset was at least two years after 

the initial exposure: multiple myeloma; 

lymphoma, other than Hodgkin’s disease; 

type 1 or type 2 diabetes; systemic lupus 

erythematosus; multiple sclerosis; Hashimoto’s 

disease; primary cancer of the 

thyroid, male or female breast, esophagus, 

stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, 

bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary 

gland, urinary bladder, brain, colon, ovary, 

liver (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is 

indicated), lung, bone or kidney. 

St. Charles County Circuit Court Judge 

Deborah Alessi said she grew up near St. 

Louis Lambert International Airport and 

Coldwater Creek, which sit within affected 

ZIP codes in North St. Louis County. 

Today, she has stage four lung cancer that 

has spread to her brain. 

“It started in my bones, pelvis, spine, 

liver and lymph nodes. A year later it went 

to my lungs and my brain. Then, I had a 

heart attack and a stroke. I never smoked,” 

Alessi said. “I live my life in two-month 

increments.”





I NEWS I 15 

FOR EVERY GENERATION. 

THIS IS WHY WE WALK. 

At the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, we’re fighting for a different future. 

For families facing the disease today. For more time. For treatments. 

We’re closer than ever to stopping Alzheimer’s. But to get there, we need you. Join us for the 

world’s largest fundraiser to fight the disease. Register today at alz.org/sccwalk. 

2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s 

St. Charles County – St. Charles Community College 

Sept. 23 | 8 a.m. 

2023 National Presenting Sponsor

2 0 2 3 H I G H S C H O O L 

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 

By WARREN MAYES 

Ahead of the high school football season, 

Mid Rivers Newsmagazine reached out to 

area coaches and asked them to share their 

insights about their top players. Here’s a 

look at who each coach chose with the teams 

listed in alphabetical order. 

FRANCIS HOWELL VIKINGS 

Coach: Brent Chojnacki 

2022 record: 14-0. Gateway South: 5-0. 

Won Class 5 championship with a 49-21 victory 

over Fort Osage at Faurot Field. 

Adam Shipley: 5-foot-11, 190-pound 

senior quarterback. Was 112-for-178 passing 

for 1,945 yards with 26 touchdowns 

against eight interceptions last season. His 

quarterback rating was 132.57. He also had 

118 rushes for 872 yards for a 7.4 average per 

carry with 13 touchdowns scored. He is committed 

to St. Louis University for baseball. 

“He’s a really good leader at his position,” 

Chojnacki said. “He not only throws the ball 

really well, he manages the offense. He’s a 

dual threat. He can put the ball where it’s supposed 

to be. He makes the right reads in the 

passing game, or in reading the defender in 

the run game. He’s a great decision-maker.” 

Jude James: 6-foot-3, 215-pound 

receiver/safety. Last season, he hauled in 27 

catches for 584 yards and eight total touchdowns. 

At safety, he tallied 119 tackles and 

four interceptions. Named to first team All- 

State Class 5. Committed to Missouri. 

“We’ve transitioned him from outside 

receiver to tight end,” Chojnacki said. “We 

knew it would be a really good move after 

a practice in June. He knows how to block. 

He can play with his hand in the dirt. He’s 

deserving of his scholarship to Missouri.” 

Logan Schrivner: 6-foot-3, 290-pound 

left tackle. First team all-state. He has an 

offer from Missouri State and other FCCS 

(NCAA Division I Football Championship 

Subdivision), schools. 

“He’s a good senior leader for us,” Chojnacki 

said. “He will be a three-year starter for us.” 

Kendal Gurley: 5-foot-10, 180-pound 

senior cornerback/receiver. Had 16 catches 

for 288 yards and five touchdowns last 

season. He intercepted four passes. 

“Kendal is a four-year starter at corner and 

can play slot receiver,” Chojnacki said. “He’s 

a great athlete. He’s a really guy we try to get 

the ball any way we can. We can trust him 

to play man-to-man at corner. He’s got great 

athletic ability.” 

Mitchell Weisenborn: 6-foot-3, 245- 

pound center/defensive end. 

“He’s dominating up front for us,” Chojnacki 

said. “He’s a really good football 

player. He’s got experience. He’s a good 

long snapper, too.” 

FRANCIS HOWELL CENTRAL 

SPARTANS 

Coach: Malach Radigan 

2022 record: 4-6. Gateway South Conference: 

0-5 

Karson Webster: 6-foot-7, 310-pound 

senior left tackle. A three-year starter. He has 

offers from Lindenwood and Northern Iowa 

and interest from many other mid-major 

schools. 

“Kardon uses his great size to power run 

block and pass protect,” Radigan said. “He 

is no doubt the anchor of our offensive line 

and we are counting on him to lead our group 

up front.” 

Collin Parsons: 6-foot-1, 190-pound 

senior running back/linebacker. A three-year 

varsity player. Had 123 carries for 724 yards 

and eight touchdowns last fall with 42 tackles 

on defense. 

“Very versatile and will not leave the field 

this fall,” Radigan said. “Has good quickness 

and has an aggressive running style, 

On defense, he has a great nose for the ball 

and loves contact. We are very excited to see 

Collin perform this fall.” 

Tristan Graham: 6-foot-4, 190-pound 

senior quarterback. First-year starter. 

“Tristan is very talented and has a strong 

arm with good speed and quickness,” Radigan 

said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him 

have a very good season and we will look to 

him for leadership as our team’s quarterback.” 

FRANCIS HOWELL NORTH 

KNIGHTS 

Coach: Brett Bevill 


Derrick Warren: 6-foot, 180-pound 

senior running back. Eight rushing touchdowns 

and one receiving touchdown last 

year. Gained 740 yards on 111 carries with a 

6.7 average. Named second-team all-district. 

“We are excited to have Derrick back this 

year. He put up some impressive numbers 

last season at running back for us,” Bevill 

said. “He is quick and elusive, but also has 

the ability to run with authority if needed. He 

started turning some heads at the running 

back spot about midway through the season 

last year and when he earned the start, he did 

not disappoint. He has been working hard 

this offseason and we are excited to see what 

he can do this year. “ 

DJ Dillon: 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior 

linebacker and offensive guard. Had 75 tackles 

and 16 assists for 91 total. Had 15 tackles 

for loss and recorded three sacks. He had one 

fumble recovery and one interception for a 

touchdown. 

“I can’t say enough about this young man, 

Bevill said. “He is a tireless worker, a leader 

and he loves to hit. He’s been playing linebacker 

for the last two seasons for us and he 

played our guard as well last season. We are 

excited to have him lead our defense once 

again. We have high expectations for him 

again this year, and we know he will deliver. 

He has a knack for getting to the ball and 

being in the right spot at the right time.” 

Bevill also said to keep an eye on the following: 

Skylar Lashley, Matt Godar, Sam 

Clement, DJ Dillon and Cooper Jett. 

“We have a handful of offensive linemen 

who are all seniors who will see time this 

year. They don’t always get a lot of press,” 

Bevill said, “but they are a great group of 

men who work selflessly to help others.” 

FORT ZUMWALT EAST LIONS 

Coach: Joseph Day 

2022 record: 2-9. Gateway Central: 0-6. 

Day did not name any top picks. Instead, 

he said he is “very proud of the effort and 

buy-in we have had inside the program.” He 

said the Lions’ commitment not only started 

in June but almost immediately after the 

2022 season when the offseason training 

began in November. 

“We have a great group of seniors led by a 

massive group of 11 ninth graders,” Day said. 

“I believe our skill guys will be much more 

explosive this year and allow us to stretch the 

field vertically as well as attack sideline to 

sideline. Our defensive and offensive lines 

both return a great group of kids who played 

a lot of snaps for us a year ago and have 

fully committed to the process this offseason. 

Finally, I believe our secondary has the ability 

to play at a pretty high level and continue 

to raise the standard week to week.” 

FORT ZUMWALT NORTH 

PANTHERS 

Coach: Joe Bacon 


Lost district championship game 41-7 to eventual 

Class 5 state champion Francis Howell. 

Shane Pruitt: 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior 

linebacker/running back. Had 103 tackles 

(including 55 solo), 18 tackles for loss and 12 

sacks. Named a second-team all-conference 

linebacker. 

“Shane is an explosive player who is a 

great blend of strength and speed,” Bacon 

said. “He is an extremely hard worker and 

we expect big contributions from him on 

both sides of the ball this year.” 

Austin Bauer: 6-foot, 210-pound senior 

defensive lineman/offensive lineman. Had 

83 tackles (39 solo), five tackles for loss and 

seven sacks last year. Named first-team allconference 

offensive lineman, second-team 

defensive lineman, second-team all-district 

defensive lineman. 

“Austin rarely came out of our games last 

year on either side of the ball,” Bacon said. 

“He is consistent, strong, physical and disciplined. 

He’s a great young man who leads by 

example.” 

Jacob Sweeten: 5-foot-11, 200-pound 

junior linebacker/offensive lineman. Had 74 

tackles (40 solo), three tackles for loss and 

one sack last year. 

“Jacob is a high-energy guy who pushes 

himself hard,” Bacon said. “He’s very athletic 

and physical, great attributes for the 

positions that he plays. We’re looking for 

him to step up this year and be that leader he 

is capable of being.” 

Chaun Robinson: 5-foot-11, 185-pound 

junior defensive back/running back. Had 

78 tackles (49 solo) and two interceptions. 

Named second-team all-conference defensive 

back. 

“Chaun is a quiet, disciplined player who 

is willing to come up and make the big hit,” 

Bacon said. “He has good instincts at the 

safety position and is solid against both the 

pass and the run.” 

FORT ZUMWALT SOUTH 

BULLDOGS 

Coach: Bill Friedel 


Chase Bensing: 6-foot-4, 205-pound 

senior receiver/safety. Third season as a varsity 

starter playing both ways. He has been 

second-team all-conference the past two seasons. 

He has 12 career touchdowns. Being 

recruited by many Division II schools and 

some Division I schools as a tight end. 

Amir Purdy: 5-foot-9, 160-pound senior 

running back/safety. Plays both slot receiver 

and running back on offense. Hard-hitting 

and active safety on defense. Second-team 

all-conference the past two seasons on both 

sides of the ball. First-team all-district on 

defense last year. Has an offer from MidAmerican 

Nazarene University. 

Carter Cox: 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior 

quarterback. Returning starter. Threw for 

1,099 yards on 97 completions and nine 

touchdowns last season. Committed to 

Northern Illinois as a pitcher for baseball. 

Donn Lewis: 6-foot-4, 311-pound senior 

offensive and defensive lineman. Will be a 

two-way starter again this season. First-team 

all-conference and all-district as an offensive 

lineman last season. He has “great agility for 

his size,” Friedel said. Being recruited by 

numerous Division II and NAIA schools. 

Josh Atherton: 6-foot-2, 210-pound 

senior linebacker. Third season starting at 

linebacker. He led the team with 97 tackles 

(26 solo) last fall. Was a second-team allconference 

selection. 

“We have 25 seniors on this year’s squad,” 

Friedel said. “Most of them have seen substantial 

varsity playing time in their sophomore 

and junior seasons. We are hoping to 

open some eyes this season.” 

See FOOTBALL PREVIEW, page 18

THE POWER OF PURPOSE 

M1 BANK RANKED 8TH BEST PERFORMING 

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION IN THE NATION, 

2022 YEAR END 

- S&P GLOBAL MARKET INTELLIGENCE 

M1 PREFERRED 

SAVINGS *** 

$5,000 AND UP 

% 

4.50APY** 

CERTIFICATE SPECIAL 

LIMITED TIME ONLY 

10 MONTH CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT* 

$1,000 MINIMUM TO OBTAIN APY 

% 

5.40APY** 

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS COMING 2024 

MEMBER FDIC 

DES PERES BRANCH | 11697 Manchester Road | Des Peres, MO 63131 | 314-626-6788 

CLAYTON BRANCH | 112 S. Hanley Road, Ste. 120 | Clayton, MO 63105 | 314-721-2265 

WWW.M1.BANK 

*A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. *Rates subject to change. Rates accurate as of August 23, 2023. 

**APY = Annual Percentage Yield. *** This account is limited to six transfers by check, draft, or similar order per monthly statement cycle. 

***For these accounts, withdrawals made in person are unlimited. 

***Preferred Savings / Minimum Deposit to Open Account & Obtain APY is $5,000. Restricted to non-commercial accounts only.

18 I HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW I 





FOOTBALL PREVIEW, from page 16 

FORT ZUMWALT WEST 

JAGUARS 

Coach: Ben Pike 


DJ Jones: 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior 

wide receiver/defensive back. Had 48 catches 

for 459 yards last year. He had 51 carries for 

418 yards. Scored nine total touchdowns. 

Was second-team all-conference last year as 

a receiver. 

“DJ is a great athlete and has the ability 

to make anyone miss out in space and has 

the top-end speed to take it to the distance 

from anywhere on the field,” Pike said. “He 

returns the most production offensively for 

us and we expect him to have another huge 

year for us in 2023.” 

Eliot Hummer: 6-foot-3, 215-pound 

junior linebacker. Had 9.5 tackles for loss 

and 2.5 sacks last season. 

“Hummer is a long athletic linebacker that 

had a breakout season as a sophomore last 

year,” Pike said. “We will look to him to lead 

our defense heading into the 2023 season.” 

Peyton Rasmussen: 6-foot-2, 190-pound 

junior wide receiver. Last year, had 12 

catches for 194 yards and a touchdown. 

“He started every game as a sophomore, 

and has shown great improvement this offseason,” 

Pike said. “He will be a huge factor 

in our passing attack this year. He has the 

ability to catch any ball that is thrown to him.” 

JyRen Green: 5-foot-10, 165-pound running 

back. Saw limited action as a sophomore 

due to injury but still averaged more 

than seven yards a carry when he did touch 

the ball. 

“He has been a bright spot for us offensively 

this offseason, and with sub-11 100-meter 

speed, we look for him to have a breakout 

junior year,” Pike said. 

HOLT INDIANS 

Coach: John Place 


“We have quite a few guys that can take that 

next step this season and be impact players,” 

Place said. “We return a couple of guys that 

made some noise last season and will look 

to build off that and a hard-nosed offseason. 

We could talk about quite a few guys that we 

are excited to see fill their roles this season. 

These are just three of the many that embrace 

the culture and chase excellence every day.” 

Quinn Brown: Senior left tackle. Enters 

his senior year at left tackle after back-toback 

all-state seasons. Has picked up some 

offers including one from Air Force. 

“Quinn added about 40 pounds this offseason,” 

Place said. “Quinn is also a team 

captain and a three-time all-academic allconference 

player.” 

Mason Burke: Senior running back/linebacker. 

“Mason is another kid who embraced the 

offseason as well as you could ask,” Place 

said. “He, like Quinn, added 40 pounds after 

being an all-conference kid in his first season 

playing defensive line. It has been a busy 

offseason for Mason with visits and working 

out. We are excited to watch this translate to 

the field come this fall.” 

Gabe Cunningham: 6-foot-4, 225-pound 

junior wide receiver/linebacker. 

“He will be looking to add to a successful 

first varsity season at tight end,” Place said. 

“We also see Gabe working his way into the 

defensive line rotation giving his length and 

athletic ability for his size.” 

LIBERTY EAGLES 

Coach: Ryan McMillen 

2022 record: 3-7. Gateway Central: 2-4 

“We have a strong senior class with outstanding 

leadership. We are expecting our 

program to make big strides this year,” said 

McMillen, who declined to highlight any 

individual players. 

LUTHERAN ST. CHARLES 

COUGARS 

Coach: Melvin Bethany 

2022 record: 6-4. Archdiocesan Athletic 

Association Division: 2-2. 

Kaleb Mays: 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior. 

Talented on offense as he plays both in backfield 

or receiver. A corner on defense. He is 

a team captain and has some schools looking 

at him. 

“Kaleb is one of our explosive players,” 

Bethany said. “He’s a great leader. He’s a 

playmaker on both sides of the ball.” 

Jarmar Cross: 6-foot, 215-pound senior. 

He plays offense and middle linebacker and 

is a team captain. 

“Jamar is a difference maker for us for sure 

on the field,” Bethany said. “He works hard. 

He finishes plays and creates players. He’s 

a well-rounded player on the football field.” 

Bethany added that he has six two-way 

starters and several newcomers that should 

help out this season. 

NORTH POINT GRIZZLIES 

Coach: Alexander Zangriles 

2022 record: 2-8 in his first season of varsity 

football.1-5 in GAC Central. 

Trey Trennepohl: 5-foot-10, 165-pound 

senior wide receiver. Was second-team allconference, 

first-team all-district. 

“Trey was a two-way starter for us last 

year and earned all-conference honors while 

missing four games,” Zangriles said. “Trey 

led the conference in receiving yards with 

667 and second in the conference in receiving 

touchdowns with nine. Trey leads our 

team through his dedication to his craft and 

See FOOTBALL PREVIEW, page 20 

THE 13TH ANNUAL WING DING! ST. LOUIS 

PRESENTED BY: 

ALL YOU CAN EAT WINGS 

September 12, 2023 | 6pm to 9pm 

13 RESTAURANTS COMPETE 

AND YOU CHOOSE THE BEST! 

People’s Choice-Style Contest! 

The Factory • Chesterfield 

17105 N Outer 40 Road 

All ages welcome • Ages 8 and Under FREE 

SCAN TO BUY TICKETS!





Vikings’ quarterback looks to 

repeat team’s championship season 

I HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW I 19 

By WARREN MAYES 

Francis Howell senior quarterback Adam 

Shipley believes in paying it forward. 

He remembers taking part in his first 

Junior Vikings camp before beginning 

sixth grade. It was a pivotal experience for 

him, so this summer he went back to camp. 

“It was really good. I like dropping some 

knowledge on future Vikings,” Shipley 

said. “There were a lot of good kids out 

there. I try to lead by example there and 

show what we do at Howell. 

“I dropped advice on steps and footwork. 

They run the same plays we do. I try to 

help them with their reads and let them 

know what they’re looking for. Those guys 

look up to us.” 

Quarterback Adam Shipley 

(Source: L6photography.smugmug.com) 

That’s how Shipley was at their age. 

“It was a full circle moment for me,” Shipley 

said. “I’m the old guy now.” 

Francis Howell coach Brent Chojnacki 

said Shipley was one of several senior 

players at the camp. 

“Adam showed his character on top of his 

athletic abilities,” Chojnacki said. 

Those abilities were showcased last 

season when he went 112-for-178 in passing, 

threw for 1,945 yards with 26 touchdowns 

and eight interceptions – his passer 

rating was 132.57 – rushed 118 times for 

872 yards for a 7.4 average per carry and 

rushed for 13 touchdowns. 

The team achieved a program first – going 

14-0 and claiming the Class 5 state championship. 

That victory came with a 49-21 win 

over Fort Osage at Faurot Field. Shipley 

had 24 carries for 245 yards, a 10.1 average 

per attempt along with touchdown runs of 

33, 59 and four yards in that game. He completed 

9 of 13 passes for 89 yards and two 

touchdowns; and threw one interception. 

“It was a really good season for us,” Shipley 

said. “I had the right guys to help me 

do what I did.” 

Chojancki said Shipley “took it to the 

house multiple times.” 

“He’s a great decision maker and that’s 

what you want at the quarterback position,” 

Chojancki said. 

The expectation was that the team could 

go deep in the postseason. 

Shipley said their biggest goal was to 

win state. Doing so is something Shipley 

will never forget. 

“Personally, it’s the best feeling in my 

life,” Shipley said. “It was also emotional. 

I started crying a little bit as I hugged my 

teammates. All of our hard work paid off. 

The whole Howell community is special. 

We had just 10,000 on our side at the game.” 

Shipley earned postseason honors like 

being named to the all-conference and allstate 

teams. A couple of months later the 

team got their rings. 

“I like to flash it a little bit,” Shipley said. 

Now, the goal is to do it all over and 

repeat as state champions. 

The Vikings have seven players back on 

offense. Six players graduated from the 

defense. 

“We have a lot of sophomores and juniors 

stepping up this season,” Shipley said. “But 

it will be a senior-led team. Some of these 

guys have been waiting in the wings for a 

long time. They’re ready. I’m so ready for 

the season and to go back-to-back.” 

Chojnacki noted Shipley won’t have to 

go it alone. 

“The good thing about him is he’s got a lot 

of weapons surrounding him,” Chojnacki 

said. “There will be three good offensive 

linemen protecting him again. We have a 

one-two punch at running back. We make 

teams honor our run game. 

“Jude James is a Division 1 receiver. Cameron 

Cason, a junior, is a good receiver. He 

started last year at corner. We’ll use him 

on the offensive side of the ball this year. 

So, Adam’s not losing the support he had 

last year.” 

Shipley’s personal goals, include throwing 

for 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. He 

also wants to run for 1,000 yards. 

“I feel like I can get more than I did last 

year,” Shipley said. “I’m pushing myself to 

get those numbers. I can help my team win. 

I want to be a first-team all-state player.” 

The Vikings will get the best from every 

opponent this season. 

“Everyone will be coming for us. Everyone 

is after us in our conference,” Shipley 

said. “After winning state, everyone will 

bring it. Someone will have to come and 

get it. We want to defend what is ours.” 

One day you work up and felt 

"old" for the first time. You're not 

quite sure how, or when, this shift 

happened, when your body 

decided to betray you, but you've 

noticed some changes with how 

you look and feel, and with how 

you're able to perform your daily 

routine. 

You've been to your doctor every 

year for your annual check-up 

and they tell you things are 

looking great, but you're on more 

medication than you were the 

year before, and managing more 

medical issues. 

You've started moving slower 

and struggling to do the things 

that were easy for you just 1-2 

years ago. But you've resigned 

yourself to this path because, 

after all, this was bound to 

happen. But what if there was 

another way? What if you simply 

didn't have all the information to 

make life changing decisions? 

If you want to learn more about 

the changes to expect with aging, 

we've put together this Free 

Guide "10 Things Your Physician 

Never Told You About Your 

Aging Body: And What You Can 

Do About Them". The good news 

is many of the things we have 

come to accept as an inevitable 

10 THINGS YOUR 

DOCTOR NEVER TOLD 

YOU ABOUT YOUR AGING 

BODY 

BY: DR. BETH TEMPLIN, PT, DPT, GCS 

GERIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPIST 

part of the aging process, are in 

reality, within our control. This 

means there are modifications 

you can make in your life to 

avoid these declines. 

In this guide you'll find: 

What happens to your body 

with "normal" aging. 

What are some of the "red 

flags" you should pay 

attention to. 

Tips for early identification & 

prevention. 

The best thing you can do to 

slow down the aging 

process. 

AND much more! 

This guide is available to you 

absolutely free of charge! To 

claim your copy, simply call our 

office at (314) 939-1377 or go 

online to our website at 

www.housefitstl.com to 

download it directly to your 

computer. 

This Free Guide will allow you 

to dispel many myths you may 

have about what's normal to 

expect with aging and give you 

hope that you can manage 

many of the changes of aging 

with exercise! 

3809 Lemay Ferry Rd. 

Saint Louis, MO 63125 

(314) 939-1377 

info@housefitstl.com 

HouseFit www.housefitstl.com

20 I HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW I 





FOOTBALL PREVIEW, from page 18 

consistent hard work. He starts point guard 

for our basketball team and is a track standout 

as well, being a part of a state-qualifying 

4x100-meter relay. Trey has gained some 

attention from Missouri Western and Central 

Missouri.” 

Ben Clercx: 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior 

tight end. 

“Ben made the switch from offensive line 

to our wide receiver/tight end position this 

year and has really thrived,” Zangriles said. 

“As a leader and being a team-first player, 

Ben played offensive line for us at guard and 

tackle out of necessity. He’s a great blocker 

and has also developed as a receiving threat. 

We expect big things from Ben on the outside 

and in the run game.” 

Luke Gertken: 6-foot-1, 200-pound 

senior offensive lineman. Has received an 

offer to play at Fontbonne University. 

“Luke is a leader on the offensive line for 

us at center. He plays with tremendous pad 

level, good technique and with a lot of heart,” 

Zangriles said. “He has joined our 800-pound 

club and has continued to improve himself 

in preparation for the season. He has been a 

captain for us and we expect Luke to have a 

great senior season.” 

Carter Briddell: 6-foot-3, 255-pound 

junior offensive lineman. Second-team allconference 

and all-district. 

“Carter is a leader of our football team and 

does all the right things on and off the field,” 

Zangriles said. “He’s worked extremely hard 

this offseason and became a member of our 

1,000-pound club (500 squat, 270 bench, 

230 clean). He has gained some attention 

from colleges with his great technique, tenacity, 

and agility. We expect to lean on him as 

an anchor of our offensive line.” 

Hoyt Gregory: 6-foot-3, 220-pound 

junior quarterback. First- team all-district. 

Threw for 1,621 yards, 18 touchdowns with 

only four interceptions and a 62% completion 

percentage. He also ran for 880 yards 

and scored five touchdowns. He has received 

a Division 1 offer from Florida International 

“Hoyt has been a two-year starter for us 

and has continued to improve each year,” 

Zangriles said. “He had a very productive 

season. He’s been a leader for us and has 

been a captain the past two seasons. He also 

has improved his strength as he has joined 

the 900-pound club, as well as his speed running 

track on the varsity level.” 

ORCHARD FARM EAGLES 

Coach: Chris Lindhoff 

2022 record: 2-8. Gateway North: 1-3 

Jackson Carruthers: Senior running 

back/wide receiver, outside linebacker. 

Named first-team all-conference and secondteam 

all-district linebacker. Had 75 solo tackles 

and 35 assisted tackles with one fumble 

recovery and one blocked punt. Named 

second-team all-conference and first-team 

all-district as wide receiver. Had 43 receptions 

for 573 yards with two touchdowns. 

Jorden Matlock: Junior wide receiver/ 

defensive back (first-team all-conference). 

Had 28 solo tackles and eight assisted tackles 

and two fumble recoveries. Second-team allconference 

receiver with 32 catches for 387 

yards and two touchdowns. 

Caden Tipton: Senior fullback/linebacker. 

Two-time team captain. Two-time secondteam 

all-conference linebacker. 56 solo tackles, 

32 assisted tackles with one sack, three 

fumble recoveries and one interception. 

Collin Sinclair: Sophomore quarterback/ 

defensive back. Second-team all-conference 

quarterback. Had 113 carries for 589 yards 

and eight touchdowns. Completed 100 of 

175 passes for 1,222 yards and seven touchdowns. 

He had seven interceptions. 

“All four players I’ve chosen are still 

actively seeking recruiting opportunities,” 

Lindhoff said. “There have been no official 

offers. They are welcome for any opportunity 

available to them at the next level.” 

ST. CHARLES PIRATES 

Coach: Dan McMullen 

2022 record: 2-8. Gateway North: 1-3 

Max Jackson: 6-foot-1, 250-pound senior 

offensive guard.nose tackle. Second team allconference. 

“Max is a leader in every sense of the word 

on and off the field,” McMullen said. “He’s 

strong, durable and puts his teammates first.” 

Octavio Zapata: 6-foot-6, 290-pound 

senior left tackle. 

“Ox is a giant who’s dedicated his offseason 

to becoming faster and stronger and his hard 

work is paying off,” McMullen said. “He is a 

great teammate and a great leader. He’s being 

looked at by colleges at all levels. 

Jason Rowe: 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior 

offensive guard/defensive tackle. First-team 

all-conference. 

“Jason is who you dream of having as a 

player on your team,” McMullen said. “He’s 

the standard for everyone around him. His 

effort and his attitude are off the charts and 

his talent is unmatched. With a 3.2 GPA, 

Jason would make any team better.” 

Bobby Hayes: 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior 

tight end/linebacker. First team all-conference. 

“Bobby is as good as it gets,” McMullen 

said. “He’s easily the best linebacker in the 

GAC and a mirror image of the two best tight 

ends in the NFL. Bobby has a team-first attitude 

and has a presence that demands attention 

when he walks into the room. With a 3.5 

GPA, his future is extremely bright.” 

ST. CHARLES WEST 

WARRIORS 

Coach: Gary Strauss 

2022 record: 9-3. GAC North: 4-0. Lost 

24-10 to Sullivan in Class 3 quarterfinals. 

Morgan Regot: 6-foot, 215-pound senior 

linebacker/running back. He has multiple 

colleges looking at him. 

“Morgan led our team in tackles last 

year with 138 tackles, 93 solo,” Stauss 

said. “He also had two interceptions, two 

fumble recoveries and seven passes on 

defense. He was a first-team all-conference 

and all-district selection last season, 

as well as a second-team all-state linebacker 

for Class 3A. He will also play 

running back this year.” 

Jack Anzalone: 5-foot-10, 200-pound 

senior fullback/linebacker. 

“Jack started at fullback last year and ran 

for 548 yards and 11 touchdowns,” Strauss 

said. “He was a second-team all-conference 

running back last year. He will also play linebacker 

for us this year.” 

Dylan Schooler: 5-foot-10, 200-pound 

senior offensive lineman/defensive lineman. 

“Dylan started at left tackle last year and 

was a second-team all-conference selection 

last year,” Strauss said. “He is our only 

returning offensive lineman and will be the 

leader of this year’s offensive line. He will 

also play on the defensive line this season.” 

Kyle Cotton: 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior 

tight end/defensive end. 

“Kyle was our leading receiver last season 

at West,” Strauss said. “He had 40 receptions 

for 529 yards and four touchdowns as 

a sophomore last season. He was a first-team 

all-conference selection last year. He will 

also play defensive end this season.” 

Luke Buehler: 5-foot-11, 200-pound 

junior linebacker/running back. 

“Luke was a second-team all-conference 

selection as a sophomore last season and finished 

with 46 tackles and three sacks. Luke 

will also play running back this season.” 

ST. DOMINIC CRUSADERS 

Coach: Blake Markway 

2022 record: 8-6. Archdiocesan Athletic 

Association: 0-4. Lost Class 4 state championship 

49-0 to St. Mary’s. 

Connor Beeman: 6-foot-1, 190-pound 

senior free safety. Was all-conference, firstteam 

all-distict and second-team all-state. 

Had seven interceptions (a school record) 

including three in one game (also a school 

record). Recorded 67 total tackles with 

nine tackles for loss. He has several offers 

but has not committed. 

Thomas Pulliam: 6-foot, 200-pound 

senior running back/defensive back. 

Will be a three-year starter on defense at 

safety, where he has been all-conference 

and all-district. Last season, offensively 

he had more than 1,000 total yards and 12 

touchdowns. He led the team in receiving 

and showed his versatility to play in the 

slot. 

“Thomas is one of the strongest runners 

we’ve had come through our program with 

the speed to separate when he gets to the 

second level,” Markway said. 

Will Maloney: 6-foot-3, 250-pound 

senior defensive tackle. Was second-team 

all-state player in 2022. He anchored the 

middle of the defense leading the team in 

tackles for loss (19) and sacks (7) on the 

season. 

“Will has a great combination of speed, 

size and motor from this defensive tackle 

position that makes him a match-up problem 

every week,” Markway said. “He will 

also play on the offensive line this season.” 

Owen Reinsch: Senior defensive end. 

Named an all-state season in 2022, with 

68 tackles (second on team), 16 tackles for 

loss, four sacks and three fumble recoveries. 

“Owen plays with great leverage, technique 

and quickness at defensive end,” 

Markway said. “He can be a tone setter on 

defense with his enthusiasm and physicality 

from snap to whistle.” 

TIMBERLAND WOLVES 

Coach: Edward Gilreath 

2022 record: 9-4. Gateway South: 3-2 

Austin Sliger: 6-foot-1, 245-pound 

senior offensive and defensive lineman. 

Will be a three-year starter on the offensive 

line. He was a second-team all-district 

offensive lineman. 

“Austin is a natural leader on our team 

and will be the anchor of our offensive and 

defensive lines,” Gilreath said. 

Jayden Weinhardt: 5-foot-10, 205- 

pound junior linebacker. He was a secondteam 

all-conference and second-team 

all-district linebacker. Last year as a sophomore 

he recorded 102 tackles. 

“Jayden plays aggressive and smart football,” 

Gilreath said. “He has great natural 

instincts and will be the heart and soul of 

our defense.” 

Ty Shelton: 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior 

quarterback/linebacker. Started on defense 

last year and recorded 51 tackles with one 

fumble recovery, and one interception. 

“Ty will be taking over quarterback duties 

this fall for the Wolves,” Gilreath said. “He 

has great natural instincts and competes 

with a chip on his shoulder.” 

Isaiah Hamilton: 6-foot-3, 205-pound 

senior wide receiver/defensive back. 

Started on defense last year and recorded 

54 tackles. He also saw a lot of playing time 

at receiver and had 15 receptions for 139 

yards and one touchdown. 

“Zay will be leaned on heavily as a twoway 

player again this season,” Gilreath said. 

“He has great hands and a natural ability to 

go up and get the ball.” 

Jaden Morrison: 6-foot, 195-pound 

senior running back/linebacker. As a running 

back last year, he had 119 carries for 

606 yards and five touchdowns. He also 

had 10 receptions for 151 yards and one 

touchdown. 

“Jaden will be the feature back and has 

put a lot of work into this senior season,” 

Morrison said. “He looks to be a force running 

downhill or catching the ball out of the 

backfield.”

2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 

DUCHESNE 

FRANCIS HOWELL 

HOWELL CENTRAL 

HOWELL NORTH 

FT. ZUMWALT EAST 

8/25 • Lift for Life Academy • 7 PM 

9/1 • Vianney [A] • 7 PM 

9/8 • Cardinal Ritter • 7 PM 

9/15 • St. Francis Borgia [A] • 7 PM 

9/22 • St. Mary’s • 7 PM 

9/29 • Jennings • 7 PM 

10/6 • St. Dominic [A] • 7 PM 

10/13 • Westminster Christian • 7 PM 

10/20 • MICDS • 7 PM 

08/25 • Fort Zumwalt North • 6 PM 

09/01 • Jackson [A] • 7 PM 

09/08 • Lutheran North • 6:30 PM 

09/15 • Howell North [A] • 7 PM* 

09/22 • Troy Buchanan • 6 PM 

09/29 Fort Zumwalt West • 6 PM 

10/06 • Timberland [A] • 7 PM 

10/13 • Howell Central [A] • 7 PM 

10/20 • Rock Bridge[A] • 7 PM 

8/25 • Fort Zumwalt East • 7 PM 

9/1 • Pacific High [A] • 7 PM 

9/8 • Fort Zumwalt South • 7 PM 

9/15 • Troy-Buchanan [A] • 7 PM 


9/ 29 • Francis Howell North • 7 PM 

10/ 6 • Fort Zumwalt West [A] • 7 PM 

10/13 • Francis Howell • 7 PM 

10/20 • Washington [A] • 7 PM 

8/26 • North Point • 11 AM* 

9/1 • St. Charles West [A] • 7 PM 

9/ 8 • St. Charles [A] • 7 PM 

9/15 • Francis Howell • 7 PM* 

9/22 • Fort Zumwalt West [A] • 7 PM 


10/6 • Troy-Buchanan • 7 PM** 

10/12 • Timberland • 6:30 PM* 

10/19 • Fort Zumwalt South [A] • 7 PM 



9/8 • Fort Zumwalt North [A] • 7 PM 

9/15 • North Point [A] • 7 PM 

9/22 • St. Charles • 7 PM 


10/6 • Holt • 7 PM 

10/13 • Liberty • 7 PM 


FT. ZUMWALT NORTH 

FT. ZUMWALT SOUTH 

FT. ZUMWALT WEST 

HOLT 

LIBERTY 

8/25 • Francis Howell [A] • 6 PM 


9/ 8 • Fort Zumwalt East • 7 PM 


9/22 • Holt • 7 PM 

9/29 • Vashon [A] • 7 PM*** 

10/6 • Liberty • 7 PM 


10/19 • Fort Zumwalt West • 7 PM 

8/25 • Warrenton • 7 PM 

9/1 • Fort Zumwalt East [A] • 7 PM 


9/15 • Holt [A] • 7 PM 

9/22 • North Point • 7 PM 

9/ 29 • Liberty [A] • 7 PM 

10/ 6 • Washington [A] • 7 PM 


10/19 • Howell North • 7 PM 

8/25 • Eureka • 7 PM 

9/1 • Belleville West [A] • 7 PM 

9/8 • Hillsboro [A] • 7 PM 



9/ 29 • Francis Howell [A] • 6 PM 

10/ 6 • Howell Central • 7 PM 

10/13 • Troy-Buchanan • 7 PM 




9/8 • Washington • 7 PM 



9/ 29 • North Point • 7 PM 

10/ 6 • Fort Zumwalt East [A] • 7 PM 

10/13 • Jackson [A] • 7 PM 

10/20 • Timberland • 7 PM 


9/1 • Holt [A] • 7 PM 

9/8 • North Point • 7 PM 

9/15 • Roosevelt/Carnahan • 7 PM 


9/ 29 • Fort Zumwalt South • 7 PM 




LUTHERAN 

NORTH POINT 

ORCHARD FARM 

ST. CHARLES 

ST. CHARLES WEST 

8/25 • Denver Lutheran • 7 PM 

9/1 • Summit Christian [A] • 7 PM 

9/8 • Bowling Green [A] • 7 PM 

9/15 • St. Mary’s [A] • 6 PM 

9/22 • Cardinal Ritter • 7 PM 

9/ 29 • Lift for Life • 7 PM 

10/ 6 • St. Francis Borgia [A] • 7 PM 

10/13 • Lutheran North [A] • 7 PM 

10/19 • Chaminade [A] • 6 PM 

8/26 • Howell North [A] • 11 AM* 


9/8 • Liberty [A] • 7 PM 



9/ 29 • Holt [A] • 7 PM 

10/ 7 • Soldan [A] • Noon 


10/20 • St. Charles • 7 PM 

8/25 • Houston [A] • 7 PM 

9/1 • Wright City • 7 PM 

9/8 • Ste Genevieve [A] • 7 PM 

9/16 • Game not listed 

9/22 • Winfield • 7 PM 

9/ 29 • St. Charles West • 7 PM 

10/ 6 • St. Charles [A] • 7 PM 


10/20 • Desoto • 7 PM 

8/25 • Cape Girardeau [A] • 7 PM 

9/1 • Warrensburg • 7 PM 




9/ 29 • Winfield [A] • 7 PM 

10/ 6 • Orchard Farm • 7 PM 

10/13 • St. Charles West • 7 PM 


8/25 • St. Dominic • 7 PM 


9/9 • University City [A] • 2 PM 

9/15 • Winfield [A] • 7 PM 


9/ 29 • Orchard Farm [A] • 7 PM 

10/ 6 • Potosi R-3 • 7 PM 

10/13 • St. Charles [A] • 7 PM 


ST. DOMINIC 

TIMBERLAND 


9/1 • Priory • 7 PM 

9/8 • Mascoutah [A] • 7 PM 

9/15 • Althoff Catholic [A] • 7 PM 

9/22 • St. Francis Borgia • 7 PM 

9/ 29 • Central High • 6 PM 

10/ 6 • Duchesne • 7 PM 

10/14 • MICDS [A] • 1 PM 

10/20 • Westminster Christian • 7 PM 

(Source: arbiterlive.com) 

Alternate Field Locations 

* Played at Francis Howell Central 

** Played at Lindenwood University 

*** Played at Gateway Institute of 

Technology 

PROUD SPONSOR 

Rough Game? 

From Touchdowns to 

Treatment, St. Luke's Urgent 

Care in O'Fallon is here to 

get you back to winning. 

stlukes-stl.com/urgent-care 

314-695-2500 


9/1 • SLUH [A] • 6 PM 

9/8 • Vianney • 7 PM 

9/15 • Fort Zumwalt West • 7 PM 

9/22 • Howell Central • 7 PM 

9/ 29 • Troy-Buchanan [A] • 7 PM 

10/ 6 • Francis Howell • 7 PM 

10/12 • Howell North [A] • 6:30 PM* 

10/20 • Holt [A] • 7 PM 

St. Luke's Urgent Care - O'Fallon 

5511 Winghaven Blvd. 

Suite 100 

O'Fallon, MO 63368 

LEARN MORE 

7-0124 

08/2023

22 I SCHOOLS I 



More Sunset Fridays Concerts! 

Aug. 25: Wildhorse Creek Band 

Sept. 1: Paul Bonn & The Bluesmen 

Sept. 8: Paul Jarvis & The Old Barn Boys 

See the entire concert schedule at www.stpetersmo.net/Sunset 

Sponsored by: 



Mission trips broaden student’s horizons of service 

By BETHANY COAD 

Incoming and graduating seniors at 

St. Dominic High had the unique opportunity 

this summer to participate in the 

ultimate service project with mission 

trips to the Texas border and Nicaragua. 

The brainchild of Father Patrick Russell, 

vice president for Mission and Identity at 

St. Dominic, these mission trips fulfilled 

one of the four pillars that hold up the 

school’s overall mission: the Pillar of 

Service. 

Proposed by Russell in the fall of 2021, 

the very first mission trip was held in 

May 2022 to McAllen Texas. Students 

returned to McAllen again this year. 

Acting on connections Russell has with 

a group of Jesuit priests who minister at 

the border, 13 students and three chaperones 

from the campus ministry team 

served at the Humanitarian Respite Center 

(HRC) located in the Rio Grande Valley. 

The HRC is a service of the Catholic 

Charities that local churches pour into to 

help migrants coming across the border to 

begin new lives. 

“The first thing we did when migrants 

came through is to give them a meal 

no matter what time of day or night it 

was,” Russell explained. “Most importantly, 

the students would then jump in 

to be with the children of these families, 

maybe giving the parents the first break 

in months, and interacting and playing 

with the kids.” 

Behind the scenes work included manning 

the kitchen to give the full time staff 

a relief and fulfilling clothing and toiletries 

orders. Seeing the lives of people in 

challenging circumstances was eye opening 

to the students. 

“Many of our students come from the 

surrounding O’Fallon area and their life 

looks very different from those people 

they were serving,” Russell said. “This 

was something they had never experienced 

and helped to widen their view as 

they learned to see people and hear their 

stories.” 

The language barrier proved a challenge 

as many of the migrants speak a 

St. Dominic students and locals in San Benito. 

mix of Haitian, Spanish and French- 

Creole, so learning to communicate took 

some creative problem solving. 

“It was awesome to see students overcome 

the barrier by using translation apps 

on their phone, or coming up with other 

ways to communicate,” Russell said. 

Every night the group met to process 

what they had experienced during the 

day and how it had changed their view 

on what it’s really like to serve and love 

others. For Russell, that was the most 

important part. 

“That’s what I love to see; how they 

learned to love,” he said. 

The second group of this summer’s 

travelers, 16 students and two chaperones 

plus Russell, found themselves in the 

northern part of Nicaragua, Chinandega, 

in June. Staying at the Amigos for Christ 

compound, the team were sent each day 

out into the small village of San Benito to 

dig trenches for pipes. The organization 

believes that “clean water changes everything,” 

and has the goal to bring as much 

clean water into as many communities as 

they can. 

“What’s different about Amigos for 

Christ is that you are working alongside 

local people,” Russell said. “They 

don’t just look at us and say, ‘Look, 

the gringos come in and then leave,’ 

instead we help them in what they are 

also doing.” 

This trip was physically demanding 

(Source: St. Dominic) 

and the climate unforgiving, but armed 

with pickaxes and shovels, about 120 

meters (over 393 feet) of pipe was laid 

and installed, ready to bring clean water 

into local homes. 

“While the language barrier was also 

a challenge here, the biggest difference 

between the trip to the border where we 

were directly serving those people, in 

this village we were serving with them,” 

Russell said. “Watching the students 

work alongside the locals in this labor 

intensive test of endurance while making 

a tangible lasting impact was truly inspiring.” 

Mission trips can be flashy and appealing; 

an invitation to travel and open to the 

illusion that a larger difference is being 

made by those who enter temporarily and 

then go back to their normal life. What 

Russell hopes, and has seen, that those 

students who have participated in these 

trips come to realize that the call to service 

is all around them wherever they are. 

The “mission” is not confined to a place, 

but exists in the heart and opportunities 

lie all around. 

“Students come to recognize the needs 

in the local area. Having a mission oriented 

heart means finding what draws 

you in your own life, and challenges us to 

think outside the box. There is so much 

need for help,” Russell said. “What is the 

place in your heart that challenges you to 

see the world outside?” 

It’s scholarship time 

In the spirit of encouraging entrepreneurship 

and opening doors for young people in the St. 

Louis region, YouthBridge Community Foundation 

is now accepting applications for the 

Progress 64 Entrepreneurial Scholarship. Applications 

will be accepted through Oct. 23. 

The Progress 64 Entrepreneurial Scholarship 

aims to support, encourage and foster young 

entrepreneurs who go to school and live in St. 

Louis City, St. Louis County, or St. Charles 

County. One-year scholarships of $5,000 will be 

awarded to winning applicants for use at vocational 

schools or at two- and four-year colleges 

and universities in the upcoming academic year. 

Progress 64 West is a civic organization 

established in 1987 to promote the responsible 

growth of commerce in the greater St. Louis 

region, with a particular emphasis given to the 

I-64 corridor from I-270 westward to I-70. A 

partnership of citizens, business and civic leaders, 

the organization’s mission is to work to 

create and maintain sustainable communities 

and a high-quality standard of life in St. Louis 

and St. Charles counties. 

YouthBridge Community Foundation is a 

St. Louis-based nonprofit that helps charitablyminded 

individuals, families and businesses support 

causes that serve children and their families 

in the greater St. Louis region. Its staff works 

with professional advisors to offer philanthropy 

planning to its clients – and above all, build a 

bridge to a stronger, more vibrant community. 

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, a 

student must be a current high school senior 

who attends a public or private high school in 

St. Louis City, St. Louis County, or St. Charles 

County, or is home-schooled and a resident of 

those areas. 

The applicant must be enrolled as a full-time 

student at a two- or four-year college or vocational 

school upon or immediately following 

high school graduation. 

Interested students can start the application 

process at youthbridge.org/progress64, which 

features an “Apply” button that will take them 

to the application page on Foundant, Youthbridge’s 

online grants portal. 

Student awardees will be recognized at the 

Progress 64 Annual Banquet on Nov. 22. 

For questions, contact Allison McDonald by 

emailing amcdonald@youthbridge.org or calling 

(314) 396-6659.

YOUR PASSION. 

YOUR POTENTIAL. 

YOUR PLACE. 

START WHEN YOU ARE READY 

Fall Term starts Aug. 21 

Fall Accelerated Term #1 starts Aug. 21 

Fall Accelerated Term #2 starts Oct. 16 

September Term starts Sept. 5 

Winter Mini Session starts Dec. 26 

stchas.edu 

636-922-8000

24 I 



— The Education report — 

Staffing shortages continue to challenge local districts 



By LAURA SAGGAR 

Public schools are back in session for 

the 2023-24 school year. While most of 

the signs of the COVID-19 pandemic are 

behind us, staffing shortages for hourly 

employees are not. That means while 

students are busy learning, districts are 

busy coming up with creative ways to 

fill those vacancies. Dr. Henry St. Pierre, 

deputy superintendent and head of human 

resources for the Fort Zumwalt School 

District, said staffing shortages are still an 

issue the district is dealing with. 

Fort Zumwalt is starting the school year 

short by 100 supporting staff members. 

Supporting staff members include, among 

other titles, custodians, bus drivers, secretaries 

and cafeteria workers. The district 

has 3,000 employees total. While the shortages 

are real, St. Pierre said the district is 

still able to provide the services students 

need to succeed at school. 

St. Pierre said the biggest area of need for 

this school year is for custodians, which is 

an ongoing area of need in schools across 

the board. St. Pierre said this shortage was 

exacerbated by the pandemic. Fort Zumwalt 

is short staffed 40 custodial positions. 

“As a taxpayer funded entity, sometimes 

(public schools) struggle with being competitive 

out there in the industry,” St. Pierre 

said. “We are competing with other school 

districts, and other businesses in what 

they can offer in terms of pay. While other 

businesses can do a reduction in services 

to offset staffing shortages, we won’t do 

that. We can’t not clean part of our building. 

We will maintain the high level quality 

education and services that our students 

and community have come to expect. But 

at the end of the day the workforce is what 

the workforce is.” 

Custodians also are hired to service 

the school buildings for outside groups 

that use them outside of school hours. 

St. Pierre said Fort Zumwalt has its own 

maintenance department that is pretty 

well staffed for now. And the district has 

even outsourced some services when necessary. 

St. Pierre said there have also been 

shortages for certified classroom teachers, 

something that might become an issue 

across the state as enrollment in education 

degree programs has gone down in the state 

of Missouri over the past several years. Dr. 

Paul Katnik, the Department of Elementary 

and Secondary Education’s (DESE) assistant 

commissioner in the office of educator 

quality, said teacher shortages would likely 

affect rural districts first. 

“We spent this last year as a district looking 

at what our greatest areas of needs are 

and (now) we are writing a three-year plan, 

working on our areas of growth of the district 

as a whole,” St. Pierre said. “We are 

looking at recruitment, but perhaps more 

importantly, the retention of staff. We want 

to make Fort Zumwalt a destination for 

employees. They help us with our mission 

every day.” 

At the end of July, Fort Zumwalt had 15 

openings for certified teachers, which is a 

little higher than they typically have at that 

time of year St. Pierre said. But they were 

able to start the school year with all teaching 

positions filled except for one. 

Increasing teacher pay is at the top of 

the list of ways to retain and attract more 

(Source: Adobe Stock) 

teachers, St. Pierre said. Next is a mentoring 

program, and not just for teachers. 

“We made it an emphasis to do everything 

we can to make wages as competitive 

as possible,” St. Pierre said. “I think we’ve 

made good strides with that. We want to 

reinvigorate and add to our mentoring program 

for all categories of our employees to 

make sure our newest team members have 

someone they can go to.” 

St. Pierre said Fort Zumwalt has partnered 

with DESE to take advantage of their 

See STAFFING, next page 

Four-day school week attracts teachers to nearby rural district 


In an effort to attract classroom teachers, 

many rural school districts are turning to 

a four-day school week. According to the 

Department of Elementary and Secondary 

Education, 114 public school districts 

had a four-day school week in the 2022-23 

school year. 

While none of the school districts in 

the newsmagazine readership area are 

considering a four-day school week, the 

Independence School District, just outside 

of Kansas City, is the first not-so-rural 

district to make the move beginning this 

school year. 

Closer to home, the Warren County 

R-3 school district in Warrenton, about 

a 15-mile drive west of Wentzville down 

Interstate 70, is about to begin its sixth 

year of a four-day school week. 

Warren County R-3 is made up of 3,000 

students in three elementary schools, one 

middle school and one high school. They 

employ 250 teachers and 500 staff members 

total. School days are Tuesday-Friday, 

from 7:40 a.m.-3:15 p.m., an increase of 

33 minutes a day compared to the five-day 

school week. 

The only Friday students have off is 

Good Friday, and they are off the entire 

week of Thanksgiving, with two weeks off 

for winter holidays. Superintendent Greg 

Klinginsmith said the consistent schedule 

is a plus for families. 

“We don’t have any weird early release 

days or days off,” Klinginsmith said. 

“Everyone knows we’re in school Tuesday 

through Friday. So you can really plan 

around that. High school kids can work on 

Monday if they want. Just having a consistent 

schedule is good for everyone.” 

Klinginsmith said the district made the 

move to a shorter work week to attract and 

retain teachers, not to save money. Teachers 

still get paid as if they were working 

five days a week. Currently in Warren 

County teacher pay starts at $38,000 thanks 

to a state grant program to raise minimum 

teacher pay. The Teacher Baseline Salary 

grant was approved by Gov. Mike Parson 

for fiscal year 2023 and is a voluntary program 

for qualifying schools/districts. 

“We were losing about 20-25% of our 

teaching staff each year,” Klinginsmith 

said. “Our salaries just can’t compete with 

St. Charles County and we are close to 

them. We are about $20,000 behind them 

in pay. So folks would come out to us for a 

year or two and then would leave for more 

money, which is completely understandable. 

So we’re just trying to find ways to 

compete; and the only way we can compete 

is with time, we just can’t compete 

with money. 

“So we’ll give them a four-day work 

week – and that has helped us to retain 

teachers at a much higher level.” 

Jeanitta Dildine has been teaching for 

18 years and moved to the Warren County 

School District last school year for the 

four-day school week. A mother of three, 

she teaches second grade. She said the 

schedule works great for her family. Her 

husband is also a teacher with the district, 

teaching elementary music. Their children 

are 11, 3 and 2 years old. 

Dildine said her students seem more 

rested and focused with a four-day school 

week. 

“Having been on both sides – teaching 

a five-day week for 16 years – I feel like 

students learn more in the four-day week,” 

Dildine said. “Kids come back on Tuesday 

and they are so much more energetic. They 

sit down and they’re ready to learn, like 

See FOUR DAY WEEK, next page





I SCHOOLS I 25 

STAFFING, from previous 

leadership development program. The program 

is free for school districts to use and 

those who complete receive an administrator 

certificate. 

“We want to provide new emphasis and 

resources in helping our leaders lead their 

departments, and even their building,” St. 

Pierre said. “Many of our leaders have 

been promoted from within our organization. 

We know we’ve got a lot of great 

leaders within, so we want to provide 

more opportunities for teachers who are 

interested in becoming a principal one day 

and get them into a program to learn those 

skills.” 

To inspire future teachers, Fort Zumwalt 

has had a successful Grow Your Own 

Teacher program since 2005. DESE offers 

a grant to schools funded through Missouri’s 

Fiscal Year 2024 budget that can go 

towards creating or strengthening a Grow 

Your Own teacher program. 

At Fort Zumwalt, St. Pierre said the program 

is primarily focused on hard to fill 

positions like special education, math and 

science. The program is privately funded 

through their education foundation that 

was formed in 2005. St. Pierre said the 

grant was a one time allocation. 

Money raised is used to provide qualifying 

students with a $4,000 per semester 

forgivable loan while they are in college 

studying to become a teacher. 

“We recruit our own high school seniors 

who are interested in teaching and talk 

about teaching where there are high needs,” 

St. Pierre said. “Applicants go through a 

rigorous selection process. Then they will 

come back and student teach with us when 

they are ready. If they come back to teach 

for us in an area of high need, the loan is 

forgiven.” 

St. Pierre said there are currently seven 

students now in college receiving the forgivable 

loans. The foundation raises funds 

through private fundraisers, and employees 

can opt for a payroll deduction. St. 

Pierre said employees donate anywhere 

from $.50-$5 from each paycheck. 

To recruit teachers from around the 

state, St. Pierre said representatives from 

Fort Zumwalt attend three or four college 

career fairs throughout the year. He said 

they provide assistance to seniors in college 

on their job search, hoping to steer 

good candidates to Fort Zumwalt. 

“Teaching has always been a demanding 

job and as the years go on it’s become more 

demanding,” St. Pierre said. “As educators 

we do get caught in political crossfire and 

probably speaking for most, we want no 

part of it, and it can make the job more difficult.” 

But at the end of the day St. Pierre said 

it’s all worth it. 

“Working in schools, no matter your role, 

continues to be a very rewarding job,” St. 

Pierre said. “Not every job you have, do 

you have the opportunity to change the trajectory 

of a student’s life and that is what 

we have every day. Despite the challenges, 

the rewards are pretty great.” 

FOUR DAY WEEK, from previous 

they had more of a rest.” 

She said she feels like the teachers come 

back to school more energetic too. 

Professional development days are 

scheduled on Mondays when students are 

already off of school. Klinginsmith said 

families like that they don’t have to plan 

around random half days or full days off of 

school. The schedule is consistent. 

For families who need child care on 

Mondays, the district hosts “Care Days.” 

Elementary and middle school students 

have the option to attend on Mondays 

for free. Activities on those days include 

STEM, guest speakers and tutoring. 

Klinginsmith said anywhere from 80 

to 100 students take advantage of the 

Care Days. Hourly staff members, like 

paraprofessionals, work on those days 

to make their full-time pay. Administrators 

are expected to work 40 hours each 

week, which includes supervising events 

like football games, so Klinginsmith said 

they don’t have problems making their 40 

hours in four days. 

Klinginsmith said the four-day school 

week has really helped with their teacher 

retention. He said once teachers experience 

the shorter week, they want to stay. 

Dildine agrees. 

“We don’t really have trouble finding 

applicants for vacant positions,” Dildine 

said. “Our school year goes a week or two 

longer than other area schools, but our 

teachers say they don’t mind because we 

want the Mondays off. Seeing it from this 

side of things, it’s definitely a very positive 

thing. Teachers are very positive about the 

work environment. We don’t want to go 

back to the five-day week.” 

While districts in our readership are not 

considering a four-day school week, Klinginsmith 

said the shorter week is gaining 

more attention now that the Independence 

School District is moving to one. 

“We had to get creative with some things 

and I think as teacher shortages become 

more of a real deal, even for higher paying 

urban or suburban districts, this is probably 

something that they’ll look for because 

we’re all competing for people,” Klinginsmith 

said. “And so we’ve got to try to 

figure out ways to recruit and retain the 

best staff.”

26 I DÉCOR & LIFESTYLES I 



PERMA JACK ® OF ST. LOUIS 

The St. Louis Area’s Most Trusted Foundation Repair and 

Basement Waterproofing Company For Nearly 50 Years! 

Make better use of your 

basement space 



Foundation Repair 

Basement Waterproofing 

Bowed Wall Repair 

Wall Crack Repair 

Yard Drainage Solutions 

Call Today: 636-203-8192 

www.permajackofstlouis.com 

“As I retire from my position as Deputy 

Building Commissioner of the City of 

Kirkwood, I have to recognize and thank 

some of the quality contractors and design 

professionals I have worked with over the 

last 15 years. I have approved and inspected 

many foundation repairs and waterproofing 

systems, and if I ever find I need one, Perma 

Jack ® will be my first choice of contractors.” 

–Jim Wilder C.B.O. 

FREEInspection 

Home 

Call TODAY! 

If the main and upper floors of your 

home are space tight, but you need or want 

more room without moving, look below to 

the basement for useful space that can go 

beyond laundry and storage. 

First things first, of course, and the first 

thing to consider is what kind of room or 

space you are hoping to build – Do you 

need a home office, an extra bedroom, a 

playroom for the kids, or do you want 

something more exciting like your own 

rathskeller for entertaining or a home theater 

for your family. 

Dream on, but don’t forget to do your due 

diligence. The next thing to consider is the 

condition of your basement. Is your basement 

a safe and appropriate space for your 

home project? Is it dry, or can wet weather 

water be addressed with a sump pump or 

foundation drainage system? Also consider 

whether your basement has a walkout door 

or accessible or egress windows which are 

necessary for some projects. 

Make sure to find out from county and 

city building officials in your area about 

the code requirements for rooms in the 

basement and especially those for bedrooms 

if that is your aim. 

Then if the space needs to be redressed, 

call a contractor who can get your basement 

ready for a well-thought out transition 

into a useful space, and remember 

that the cost of bringing the basement up 

to code and healthy standards should be 

included in the budget of your project. 

A home office 

If your goal is working remotely in a 

room that lends itself to productivity, a 

basement office may be the place to be. It 

moves working space away from family 

living areas to your own private, quiet, personal 

place. 

Drywall, flooring and trim can turn 

your concrete storeroom into a finished 

office. Experts say natural light makes a 


difference in productivity and satisfaction, 

so plan your room near a window if possible. 

But if not, think about other kinds of 

lighting such as recessed or track lighting 

to brighten your space. Use light, warm 

colors on the walls to erase any basement 

gloom and layered treatments for floors 

such as wood and rugs that say “comfort.” 

Creative options like shelving under the 

stairs, a bookcase or cubbies and your 

favorite desk gives the workspace a homey 

feel with everything at your fingertips. 

A playroom for kids 

Kids need room to imagine, explore, 

create and be messy. That’s why a playroom 

in the basement is a good place for kids to 

be. They have the space to try new things 

and move from one activity to another 

without making the common family space 

their toy box. Also use some space for cubbies 

that can make cleanup super easy and 

somewhat organized. Choose a theme for 

decorating or ask your child to choose one. 

It could be a jungle, a playhouse, a school 

room, a pirate ship! Consider seating and 

a table for art work, a tent or a small playhouse 

for imaginary play, a kitchen set or 

school desks with a chalkboard for hours 

of playing house or school. And give children 

a floor with a little give in case they 

fall. Concrete floors are hard on them. 

A playroom for adults 

Need some space to entertain? Make your 

basement a designated place for friends 

and family to gather on weekends to watch 

the big game, play pool, play cards or just 

spend time together. Choose your style for 

walls and flooring. Install a sink and a bathroom. 

Purchase a large screen TV or game 

tables. If patio space is nearby, incorporate 

it as part of your party area with seating, 

attractive plantings, lights and perhaps 

See BASEMENTS, page 32





I DÉCOR & LIFESTYLES I 27 

2023 

NATIONAL DOG DAYS 2023 

Visit our showrooms with 

your leashed pet in August 

& enter to win a $250 

flooring gift card! 

Featuring 

Pet Perfect Carpet 

Make a donation to 

Stray Rescue of St. Louis 

in August & we'll match it! 

ambassadorfloor.com | Chesterfield Valley | Glendale 

• OVER 100 YEARS IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY • 

SAVE ON 

THIS FALL 

Tool Sharpening 

Done Here! 

SCHNEIDER 

OFFERS VALID 

THRU 10-31-23 

While supplies last. 

SCREEN 

REPAIR! 

HARDWARE 

9 Main Street | Old Town St. Peters, MO 63376 | www.truevalue.com/schneiders 

636-278-4461 • 636-397-2347 | STORE HOURS: Monday - Friday: 7AM - 5PM • Saturday: 8AM-4PM • Closed Sunday




Two summers of high heat leave homes, trees stressed 



By KATE UPTERGROVE 

Don’t let the rain fool you. Western St. 

Louis County and St. Charles County were 

still showing up as “abnormally dry” on 

the U.S. Drought Monitor as recently as 

last week. 

I know. We’ve had a lot of rain but if 

you look closely at area trees, shrubs and 

bushes you are likely to see signs of heat 

stress. That’s because Missouri has been in 

a state of abnormally dry to drought for the 

last several years. 

According to the Missouri Department 

of Natural Resources (DNR), the drought 

of 2022 caused the entire state to experience 

abnormal to exceptional drought 

conditions. In response, Gov. Mike Parson 

declared a drought alert, an executive order 

set in place primarily to assist farmers, 

from July 21, 2022, to March 1, 2023. 

The drier than normal conditions didn’t 

end there. On May 1, 2023, Parson issued 

another executive order declaring a drought 

alert. And despite localized summer rain 

and thunderstorms, the state – including 

St. Louis and St. Charles counties – has 

remained “abnormally dry.” 

But why should any of this matter to 

you? 

According to experts, abnormally dry 

conditions change the environment in 

ways we don’t always see immediately. 

“The heat also affects infrastructure 

because when it gets this dry, the soil will 

dry up and that’ll cause shifts in the foundation 

of buildings and water systems,” 

explained climate expert Anthony Lupo 

in an “Ask the Expert,” released in mid- 

July by the University of Missouri, entitled 

“What’s causing the severe Midwestern 

drought?” 

“Ecologically, I’ve heard from the foresters 

that during these dry periods, there’ll 

be increased mortality for trees, not just for 

this year, but for the next two years after 

that – which can influence the health of the 

local environment,” Lupo added. 

Amid the how and why of climate science, 

Lupo touched on two of the biggest 

issues for homeowners: the health 

of their home and their trees. Be honest. 

When was the last time you worried about 

whether your mature trees were getting 

enough to drink, or what’s happening to 

the soil beneath your home’s foundation? 

But maybe it’s time to do a little sleuthing, 

especially if you’ve noticed foundation 

cracks or lost some larger tree limbs in the 

last thunderstorm. 

Check for cracks or settling in the corners 

of windows and doors and in areas 

where your foundation and exterior walls 

meet. If your home features concrete 

blocks or brickwork, look for staircase-like 

separations. Look for cracks in patios and 

separations between foundation walls and 

concrete porches or stairs. On the inside of 

your home, check for gaps between floors 

and baseboards, cabinets or trim. Also, pay 

attention to doors and windows that are 

sticking or no longer lining up correctly. 

If you notice these issues, call in the professionals 

to assess the health of your foundation 

and repair or replace your home’s 

infrastructure and hardscape. 

As for your trees, their relationship to the 

earth below is a little shallower. 

Most of a tree’s active roots are within 

the top few inches of soil and can extend 

well beyond the edge of the tree’s canopy, 

according to University of Missouri Extension 

(MU Extension) state forestry specialist 

Hank Stelzer. In a paper released 

in August 2022, Stelzer noted that trees 

are not only competing for precious water 

during a drought, but high air temperatures 

can actually bake the soil and severely 

See TREES, page 32 

Signs of stress in a magnolia tree. 

Back to School Special 

‘Cause You 

Deserve It! 

BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL PRICING 

BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL PRICING 

$ 

5.88/Sq Ft Installed $ 

5.99/Sq Ft Installed 

Carpet • Hardwood • Laminate 

Luxury Vinyl • Tile 

Waterproof Flooring 

Over 35 Years Experience 

We Carry All The Flooring Name Brands 

And Styles You Want At A Price You Can Afford! 

FAST & EASY FINANCING 

subject to credit approval 

3790 Harvester Road • St. Peters 63303 www.hometownfloorsonline.com 

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM: MON-FRI 9AM - 6PM • SAT 10AM - 4PM 

Call for a Free Estimate • 636-244-4951

FALL 

into Savings! 

DECKS • SIDING • WINDOWS • ArtDecko TM 

Let Us Show You Our Latest Designs and Exclusive 

Art DecKo TM Products with a Free, In-Home Estimate! 

We are a locally-owned, 5-Star Remodeler 

offering decks to fit all styles and budgets! 

$ 

2,000 OFF 

Your Next Project 

Must present coupon. Offer expires 9/20/23 

636-317-1977 

5305 5th Street 

Cottleville, MO 63304 WMRN 

636-317-1977 | 5305 5th Street | Cottleville | www.Joneshi.com






Let the Garden be your guide for fall planting, a beautiful spring 

By TRACEY BRUCE 

Summer may be almost over, but in the 

garden it’s time to plan for spring. 

Let your mind move swiftly past the 

winter months to imagine and consider 

the thaw, spring blooms and a new-again, 

better-than-ever garden or landscape. 

Now take some time to walk the 

grounds with an eye for what needs to be 

done before winter and think about what 

you have, what you need or maybe what 

you’ve always wanted. 

It’s time to stop pruning. It’s time to 

stop fertilizing. This is the time to plant, 

said Chelsea Mahaffey, manager, Kemper 

Center Programs and Landscapes at the 

Missouri Botanical Garden. 

“Spring and fall are beautiful times to 

plant,” she said. “The soil is nice and 

warm and we’re still getting some rain.” 

“What new tree do you want to put in 

your neighborhood? What new shrub 

do you want to add to your foundation 

planting? Now is a good time to go to 

the nursery, browse around to see what is 

looking good, and what you really want 

to add to your landscape,” Mahaffey said. 

The time is perfect for planting trees, 

she said. 

Any time after Sept. 15, 

it’s time to start getting 

plants in the ground, she 

said. “The soil is still warm 

and there are cooler temperatures 

which is nice for us.” 

The important thing about 

trees and all plants, really, 

is you want to put “the right 

plant in the right place,” 

Mahaffey said. 

Considering how big a tree 

is going to be at maturity is 

an important part of choosing 

one. Does the space 

you’re looking to fill have 

room, or will a smaller tree 

be a better choice? 

“The question is ‘What 

do I want this plant to do?’ 


The answer might be 

shade; it could be bloom or 

bear fruit. 

“The nursery crew can direct you,” 

Mahaffey said. “They know what’s new 

and trendy and all the great cultivars that 

are coming up.” 

Trees native to Missouri are always a 

good choice, she said, because they are 

easier to grow and provide food and shelter 

for native creatures. 

“It’s good to include our properties in 

the local ecosystem. Native trees and 

plants create habitat for small animals 

and other critters. They are hosts for 

butterflies and moths. And it’s much 


easier to establish native plants 

because they are acclimated to 

the soil, local temperatures and 

typical rainfall,” Mahaffey said. 

She offered some good 

choices for large, medium and 

smaller trees. 

“An oak creates a great opportunity 

to increase species diversity,” 

Mahaffey said. “I would 

suggest a good oak of your 

choice.” 

A sugar maple with its beautiful 

fall color is a good medium 

to large tree. As for a smaller 

tree, an American hornbeam is a 

slow growing tree with beautiful 

bark, she said. “A great understory 

tree is the fringe tree which 

has great smelling flowers that 

make the tree look like it’s covered 

with snow in the summer.” 

As far as shrubs are concerned, 

she suggested a buttonbush, with 

its dark-green leaves and distinctive 

spherical flowers or the possumhaw, a 

type of holly that has beautiful berries. 

Both support wildlife. 

There are however, thousands of trees, 

shrubs and plants that could be a nice fit 

GatorGuard 

Concrete Coatings 

Basements 

SUMMER SPRUCE 

20% OFF 

IT UP SALE 

Paver Sealing 

Call Today! 

314-970-3477 

Easy pay 

programs 

www.mygatorguard.com 

Charlotte - Cincinnati - Columbus - Detroit - Indianapolis - Louisville - St. Louis 

Payments as low as 

$45 a month! 

Garages 

Metallic Finish 

Plan 2521. Subject to credit approval. Rates range from 15.85% - 21.19% APR (interest rates range from 17.99% - 24.99%). Loan amount and rate will vary based on your income and creditworthiness. 12 month promotional period ("Promo Period") during which interest is billed but 

will be waived if the amount financed is paid in full before Promo Period expires. Monthly payments are not required during the Promo Period. Any unpaid balance and amounts owed after Promo Period will be paid over 84 monthly payments. For example, assuming the full credit limit is 

used on loan approval date and no payments are made during Promo Period, for every $1,000 financed at a fixed interest rate of 24.99%,12 monthly payments of $0 followed by 84 monthly payments of $28.29. This example is an estimate only. Actual payment amounts based on 

amount and timing of purchases. Call 866-936-0602 for financing costs and terms. Financing for the GreenSky® consumer loan program is provided by Equal Opportunity Lenders. GreenSky® is a registered trademark of GreenSky, LLC, a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs Bank USA NMLS 

#1416362. Loans originated by Goldman Sachs are issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch. NMLS #208156. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires: 08/31/2023





I DÉCOR & LIFESTYLES I 31 

for your landscape. The Missouri Botanical 

Garden has a plant finder with profiles 

of 7,000 plants for gardeners to peruse. 

From Missouribotanicalgarden.org, 

choose “Gardens & Gardening” from 

the menu and then “Your Garden”. The 

resource is just one of the many informational 

tools for home gardeners available 

at the site that include topics like edible 

gardening, lawn and landscape design, 

gardening advice, tips and resources and 

information on classes to take. 

While you’re there, look up some of 

your favorite spring bulbs. Every spring, 

gardeners look forward to each successive 

wave of flowers from the earliest 

snowdrops and crocus to hyacinth, jonquils 

and tulips. Now is the time to add 

to your collection and get planting. And 

maybe some of those adds can be spring 

bulbs you’ve never tried before. 

Mahaffey had a few favorites that 

could add a new dimension to your 

spring blooms. 

“When I’m thinking of fun bulbs, I 

think of flowering onion alliums because 

they are beautiful, and they are so much 

fun. They look like they were pulled 

directly from a Dr. Suess book. Little 

popsicle globes in white, pink and purple. 

I’ve seen them two feet to two inches 

across. There is something for everyone, 

and because they are in the onion family 

they are pretty pest resistant,” she said. 

Fritillaria is another bulb she suggested. 

The purple bell-shaped flowers sometimes 

called snakehead fritillaria have a pattern 

that resembles snake skin. The bells wave 

in the breeze, and the long leaves add to 

their charm. The plants, like the allium, 

can perennialize and come back year after 

year, Mahaffey said. 

Both bulbs are usually available in the 

seed catalogs, she said. 

In addition, it is time to divide garden 

perennials. Perennials usually need to 

be divided every three to five years, she 

said. Irises, daylilies, ornamental grasses 

among other plants will often show signs 

that it’s time to divide them by dying in 

the center, getting overcrowded or just 

not doing as well where they are, she 

said. 

“Take your time. You don’t have to 

divide the whole garden,” Mahaffey said. 

“Take a section of the garden each year.” 

Perhaps most importantly, take notes 


“Record what you did, so you can 

remember what you dug up and divided 

and where you put them,” she said. 

Planning and planting in the fall, “is 

like planning for the day ahead before 

you go to bed at night. If you plan ahead 

before putting your garden to bed, you’re 

going to have a much better spring.” 

SAVE 50% OFF 

THE COST OF NEW CABINETS 

The Perfect Solution 

for the Outdated Kitchen 

3444 N. Lindbergh • St. Louis, MO 63074 

314-739-1730 

Don’t Replace - Reface! 

Solid Wood Refacing • Custom Countertops • Tile Backsplash 

Free Consultation 

and Estimate 

Visit Our Website & Try Out 

THE KITCHEN VISUALIZER 

20% OFF 

Complete Kitchen 

Cabinet Refacing 

Expires 9/30/23 

www.ClassicKitchenRefacing.com 

DIVE INTO SUMMER SAVINGS 

WINDOWS • SIDING • ROOFS • ENTRY DOORS 

35% OFF WINDOWS, SIDING AND DOORS 

15% OFF 

ROOFING 

WINDOWS DOORS SIDING ROOFS 

Experts In Condominiums And Apartments 

DALCO HOME REMODELING 

314-298-7300 • Showroom | 13795 St. Charles Rock Road 

www.dalcohomeremodeling.com 

All sales off suggested retail pricing. Sale ends August 31, 2023, not valid with other offers.






AT FERGUSON ROOFINCi 

IT'S ALL UNDER ONE R 

GUTTERS 


FERGUSON ROOFING IS HERE FOR 

ALL YOUR EXTERIOR NEEDS! 

You can reach us by calling our office at 314.227.8027 or emailing us at 

connect@fergusonroofing.com. Fall is approaching and now is the time 

to prepare your home for the changing seasons. 

0089 

• We service all brands 

• Friendly Neighborhood Service 

• On Time Arrival 

• Clean Technicians 

• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed 

Call Us Today! 

636-332-4141 

www.johnson-heatingandcooling.com 

223 N. Callahan Road 

Wentzville, MO 63385 

Call for 

a Free 

Estimate! 

Let Our Family 

Take Care of Your 

Family’s Heating 

and Cooling Needs. 

MENTION THIS AD 

$20 OFF 

SERVICE CALL 

*Not Applicable With Trip & Diagnostic 

MENTION THIS AD 

$150 OFF 

REPLACEMENT OF 

FURNACE AND 

AIR CONDITIONER 

Present at time of Estimate. 

License #M5810B 

BASEMENTS, from page 26 

a barbecue or fire pit. Social people will 

make good use of the space, and space for 

family events will be at the ready. 

A home movie theater 

There is something about seeing a movie 

at a theater that makes it an unbeatable 

experience, unless, of course, you have 

your own home movie theater. 

A home movie theater is a dedicated 

space designed specifically for watching 

movies. The seats are comfortable. The 

room is dark. The screen fills the width 

of the room with images and the sound 

system permeates the depth and breadth of 

the room with sound. This isn’t a flick; it’s 

an experience. 

The basement can be the perfect place for 

your home theater because of its distance 

from the coming and goings of family 

TREES, from page 28 

damage or kill fragile, fine roots critical for 

water and nutrient uptake. 

What’s more, those thunderstorms that 

wreak havoc on a tree’s limbs may do little 

to quench its thirst. 

DNR experts note that a single rainstorm 

may provide temporary relief, but its 

impact is short term. Thunderstorms often 

produce large amounts of rain in a very 

short time, causing the rain to run off into 

streams rather than soak into the ground. 

Stelzer advises a slow, deep watering 

every five to seven days during drought for 

mature trees every four to six days when 

temperatures climb above 95º Fahrenheit. 

Be sure to water the entire root zone beneath 

the tree canopy, preferably in the morning. 

members, its potential for soundproofing 

and its limited light sources. For this 

project less light is better and a basement 

works. 

The installation can be rather technical 

for a DIY project, so doing the research is 

important, and there are contractors who 

specialize in home theaters that can make 

your own home theater the best place to see 

a film. 

When thinking about basement space let 

your imagination explore the possibilities 

that meet your passions. Create a yoga 

studio or a workout room. Design your 

own art studio, recording studio, or a place 

for podcast productions. Set up a gardening 

room with grow lights for starting seeds 

and a work table for potting plants. Create 

a comfortable den for reading or small 

group studies. There are countless ways to 

make better use of basement space. Find 

yours. 

In addition to watering, proper tree care 

includes mulching with about two inches 

of organic material, such as wood chips. 

Rocks can add heat to already heat-stressed 

soil. And finally, it’s important to note that 

one of the most life-threatening effects of 

drought on a tree is the invasion of pests. 

According to MU Extension, elms succumb 

more quickly to Dutch elm disease, 

and oaks are more susceptible to oak wilt, 

hypoxylon canker and hardwood borers. 

Pines are more likely to become infested 

by pine bark beetles during drought. 

Some common symptoms of droughtstressed 

trees include wilted foliage, off-color 

leaves, leaf scorch, leaf drop and premature 

fall coloration and poorly formed buds. 

If a tree is severely impacted, call in the 

experts to have it removed.

It’s Not Paint...It’s BETTER! 

25 Year Transferable Warranty! Nothing is Tougher Than 

STUCCO 

COMMERCIAL 

ALUMINUM STEEL 

MASONITE/COLOR LOC 

Never Paint Again 

Permanent Ceramic Coating 

• Won’t Chip, Flake, Crack or Peel 

• Low “E” Rating Reduces Energy Cost 

• Waterproof and Breathable 

• 25 Year Transferable Warranty 

• BASF Tested to Last 

FLAT/METAL SLOPED ROOFS 

BRICK 

FALL SPECIAL 

10% SAVINGS 

up to $750 

Must present at initial home evaluation. Not valid with any other offer, 

previous contracts or the project $7500 minimum. Expires 09-15-23. 

Call TODAY for a FREE Evaluation 

314-239-7947 

or 877-25RHINO 

WWW.87725RHINO.COM

34 I SERVING OUR SENIORS I 





Serving 

Our 

SeniOrS 

A special advertising section 

Deer Creek FootCare 

Warren R. Trampe, DPM 

2917 Hwy. K • O’Fallon • 636.240.1127 • www.deercreekfootcare.com 

Deer Creek Footcare has provided quality service to its patients for over 20 years. Dr. Warren R. Trampe, DPM, can 

help patients with a variety of foot ailments, including ingrown nails, heel pain, fractures, sprains, deep root calluses 

and sports injuries. 

“Our goal is to ensure that all of our patients receive the highest level of quality care and treatment,” Dr. Trampe said. 

Dr. Trampe also can help patients with bunions, warts and hammertoes, as well as spurs and neuromas. In addition, 

he cares for diabetics and can provide outpatient surgery if necessary. “However, I always will try and do non-invasive 

procedures prior to recommending surgery,” Trampe said. 

Patients at Deer Creek Footcare can expect friendly and knowledgeable service directly from the doctor. Dr. Trampe 

always sees patients himself. Patients can feel confident that they will be able to speak with the doctor. 

Dr. Trampe prides himself on providing expert quality care for all of his patients. 

Beaven Insurance 

Kathy Beaven, Independent Broker 

16024 Manchester Road • Ellisville • 636.549.3800 • www.kathybeaven.com 

Kathy Beaven of Beaven Insurance LLC has been helping clients with Medicare Insurance Planning for more than 

17 years on a range of topics that seniors face, such as: Why do I need another plan with Medicare? What is the 

difference between Medicare Supplement and a Medicare Advantage Plan? Why do I need a drug plan if I don’t take 

any drugs? What about Dental and Vision Insurance? 

“Many people are bombarded with information from different carriers about the Medicare products they offer, and 

it can be hard to sort through it all”, Kathy said. “My goal is to get to know my clients and their expectations, and 

advise them on the Medicare Products that will best fit their lifestyle and budget. Insurance is definitely not a one 

size fits all.” 

Do you want to learn more about Medicare? Call today for an appointment.





I SERVING OUR SENIORS I 35 

DaviD L. Brown & associates 

A trusted resource for Medicare and long-term care 

Weldon Spring, MO • 636.219.2508 • www.davidlbrownandassociates.com 

David Brown, founder of David L. Brown & Associates and author of “Protecting your Future with Tax-Free Long- 

Term Care” began his career by serving as representative for multiple long-term care insurance companies in 2000. In 

2004, he became certified and licensed with multiple Medicare companies offering various plans. Since then, David 

has helped over 800 area families choose retirement plans, long-term care and Medicare plans. Today, David L. Brown 

and Associates operates as an independent insurance firm. As an independent broker, David’s client-based approach 

includes meeting with each client to discuss their individual wants or needs for choosing the perfect plan. 

“We strive to understand what your objectives and goals are and consult you along the way,” David said. David and 

his team can also provide insight on asset protection planning, Veteran Aid & Attendance Pension Benefits Plan, life 

insurance, IRA rollovers and can even provide information about the financial side of dementia. Several years ago, 

David attended workshop training with the Dementia Society of America. 

From left: Sue Menius, Administrative Assistant; 

Nancy McClure, CPRS, CSA, Owner; 

Andrea Kincade, COTA, Touring Specialist 

Care Patrol of Greater St. louiS 

Nancy McClure, CPRS Certified Senior Advisor 

314.471.0042 • www.carepatrol.com/advisors/nancy-mcclure 

When the time comes for a change in an aging parent’s living arrangements, navigating the network of senior 

living centers can be overwhelming. Each person’s needs are different. There are so many levels of care and so many 

choices. 

That is where CarePatrol of Greater St. Louis can help. They walk individuals through the plethora of senior 

community options, including plans for independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing. 

To prevent families from feeling overwhelmed, they narrow down the search and accompany you on tours to 

communities to find the one that is best suited for you, all while taking location and budget into consideration. 

The goal is to not only choose the best care option for each unique individual, but to guide families through 

different care plans that not only factor in safety and wellness, but happiness as well. They truly enjoy seeing the 

peace of mind and improved lives as a result of finding the right living community for every senior. 

Call CarePatrol of Greater St. Louis today for a free consultation to discuss options for an upcoming move into a 

community. 

RouRke SenioR SolutionS inc. 

Kim Rourke, Agent, Owner 

10 Strecker Road, Suite 1090 • Ellisville • 314.374.7735 

Over the last nine years Kim Rourke owner of Rourke Senior Solutions Inc. has helped hundreds of clients from 

Missouri and Illinois navigate the world of Medicare coverage. 

He said one of his greatest assets when it comes to meeting the needs of seniors is that he too is a senior. “In the 

Medicare business, the grayer my hair gets, the more I fit in,” he said. “Being old is an advantage.” 

Rourke listens. He understands, and he does business by the golden rule. 

“You treat people as you want to be treated,” he said. “And as you do, you get lots of referrals; your business grows; 

and people stay with you.” 

Rourke’s business has grown. He now has eight agents that can help senior clients get signed up for Medicare 

Advantage and Medicare supplement coverage through UnitedHealthCare, as well as help younger clients find 

affordable health insurance on the open market. 

Work with an agency built on understanding and meeting the insurance needs of its clients. Call Rourke Senior 

Solutions Inc. today.

36 I HEALTH I 





In an anonymous survey, nearly half of parents bottle-feeding their 

babies admitted resorting to potentially unsafe practices during last 

year’s nationwide formula shortage. 


HEALTH 

CAPSULES 

By LISA RUSSELL 

Infant formula shortage led to 

unsafe feeding practices 

During last year’s nationwide infant formula 

shortage, nearly half of parents relying 

on formula to feed their babies used unsafe 

and potentially harmful feeding methods, 

according to a recent anonymous survey of 

American parents conducted online. 

Those practices included watering down 

formula, using homemade or expired formula, 

or using human milk from informal 

sharing with other parents rather than from 

established milk banks. About 8% of parents 

said they were sometimes using one 

or more of those practices before the shortage 

began in February of 2022, when the 

nation’s leading formula supplier, Abbott, 

closed down production at one of its primary 

manufacturing facilities. As the crisis 

worsened and panicked parents searching 

for formula found only empty store shelves, 

just under 50% began resorting to one or 

more of those practices, the survey showed. 

The researchers who conducted it, from 

the University of California-Davis, say 

they are concerned about preventing similar 

crises in the future – and also about the 

long-term health of the children impacted 

by improper feeding practices. 

“These are alarming statistics. The infant 

formula shortage increased food insecurity 

and threatened the nutrition of millions of 

American infants,” said lead author Jennifer 

Smilowitz, of the university’s Department of 

Food Science and Technology. “Our survey 

found that parents were not offered many 

safe alternatives and resorted to unsafe methods 

in an attempt to feed their infants.” 

“We have this generation of children 

affected by the formula shortage and we 

won’t know for maybe a decade if there was 

an impact on brain development,” Smilowitz 

said. The study was published in the journal 

BMC Pediatrics. 

New studies suggest probiotic 

benefits well beyond the gut 

Probiotics have long been used by millions 

to help them achieve better digestive 

health. These living “good” bacteria are 

recommended for conditions ranging from 

bloating and IBS to food intolerances, as 

well as to counteract the negative effects of 

antibiotics taken to battle infections. 

Recently, two new studies presented evidence 

of probiotic benefits in areas seemingly 

unrelated to gut health: as a natural treatment 

for dry eye disease and for major depression. 

In the first study, conducted at Baylor 

College of Medicine in Texas, researchers 

found that a commercially available 

probiotic bacterial strain improved dry eye 

disease in mice. This common condition 

impacts about one in every 20 American 

adults whose normal tear production can’t 

provide enough eye lubrication, causing 

uncomfortable symptoms such as eye 

stinging and burning, blurry vision and 

sensitivity to light. 

Their research involved exposing mice 

to very dry conditions and giving them 

Barnes-Jewish again named among nation’s top hospitals 

Barnes-Jewish Hospital was recently named to the 2023- 

24 national Honor Roll of “Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & 

World Report, a distinction it has now earned a total of 30 

times. Together with its physician partners at Washington University 

School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish also was ranked by 

the publication as the No. 1 hospital both in Missouri and in 

the metro St. Louis area. 

“Our team is grateful to be recognized as a national leader on 

this prestigious list for the 30th time – coinciding with BJC’s 

30th anniversary,” said Dr. John Lynch, president of Barnes- 

Jewish Hospital. “We are grateful for our team’s steadfast 

commitment and compassion and our strong partnership with 

Washington University as we continue to deliver extraordinary 

care to our patients.” 

In its 2023-2024 rankings, U.S. News Best Hospitals also 

daily doses of either probiotic bacteria or a 

saline solution as a control, then examining 

them for dry eye disease. The mice receiving 

the probiotic had healthier, more intact 

corneal surfaces as well as more cells that 

produce mucin, an essential component in 

tears. These results suggest that the right 

oral probiotic could help treat and manage 

dry eye symptoms, the Baylor authors said. 

The second study, recently published in 

JAMA Psychiatry, builds on evidence that 

the gut microbiome – the billions of bacteria 

and other organisms that inhabit every person’s 

digestive tract – can have a significant 

impact on mood. According to the King’s 

College London scientists who conducted it, 

probiotics can help to improve depression 

and anxiety symptoms in people with these 

mental health conditions. 

Their randomized trial included a group 

of adults who had been diagnosed with 

major depressive disorder, but were not 

getting enough improvement from prescription 

antidepressant drugs. They took 

either a commercially available probiotic 

supplement or a placebo for eight weeks. 

While both groups reported improvement 

in their symptoms, those in the probiotic 

group demonstrated greater improvements 

from week four onward, using standard 

rating scales for depression and anxiety. 

“Non- or partial response to antidepressants 

is a huge problem, and this study is an 

important first step in exploring the therapeutic 

potential of probiotics as a treatment 

rated the top hospitals in the U.S. based on their performance 

in 15 adult medical specialties. Of the nearly 5,000 hospitals 

it analyzed, only 164 earned a national ranking in at least one 

of these specialty areas. Barnes-Jewish Hospital did so in 11 

of the 15: cancer; cardiology, heart & vascular surgery; diabetes 

& endocrinology; ear, nose & throat; gastroenterology & 

gastrointestinal surgery; geriatrics; neurology & neurosurgery; 

obstetrics & gynecology; orthopedics; pulmonology & lung 

surgery; and urology. 

Missouri Baptist Medical Center, a BJC HealthCare facility, 

earned No. 2 rankings from U.S. News in both Missouri and 

metro St. Louis. In the pediatric rankings previously announced 

in June, BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital was also recognized 

among the Best Children’s Hospitals in the country and ranked 

as the No. 1 pediatric hospital in St. Louis.





I HEALTH I 37 

for depression,” said Professor James Stone, 

the study’s senior investigator. 

Headaches may indicate more 

serious problems in teens 

There’s nothing unusual about teens telling 

their parents they have a headache. In 

fact, according to pediatric health experts, 

about 23% do so on a weekly basis. 

New research published in Neurology, 

however, may prompt some parents to dig a 

little more deeply when their teenage son or 

daughter complains of frequent headaches. 

It found that teens who have been bullied 

by their peers, or who have either thought 

about or attempted suicide, may be more 

prone to frequent headaches than those who 

have not experienced these problems. 

The study involved more than 2.2 million 

teens who were 14 years old on average. 

They completed questionnaires about their 

headache frequency, and answered questions 

about their mental health including whether 

they had been diagnosed with mood or anxiety 

disorders. They were asked whether and 

how often they had been bullied over the past 

year, as well as about any suicidal thoughts or 

attempts over their lifetimes. 

Within this large group of teens, 11% 

reported having frequent, recurring headaches, 

defined as headaches occurring 

more than once a week. About a quarter 

also reported being victims of frequent 

overt bullying, which includes physical 

and verbal aggression, being called names 

or insulted, or being threatened virtually; 

and 17% reported being victims of frequent 

relational bullying, including having 

rumors spread about them, being excluded, 

or having harmful information posted 

about them on the internet. Disturbingly, 

17% reported having either considered or 

attempted suicide at some point. 

Overall, teens in the group who had frequent 

headaches were nearly three times 

more likely to experience bullying than 

their peers. Those who had been bullied 

or had suicidal thoughts or actions were 

nearly twice as likely to have frequent 

headaches, while those with mood and 

anxiety disorders were 50% and 74% more 

likely, respectively, to have them. 

While the study does not prove that bullying 

or suicidal thoughts cause headaches, 

it does show an association, said study 

author Serena L. Orr, M.D., M.Sc. 

“Headaches are a common problem for 

teenagers, but our study looked beyond 

the biological factors to also consider the 

psychological and social factors that are 

associated with headaches,” Orr said. “Our 

findings suggest that bullying and attempting 

or considering suicide may be linked to 

frequent headaches in teenagers, independent 

of mood and anxiety disorders.” 

Natural pregnancy common 

after first IVF-assisted birth 

For the one in every seven American 

couples who has trouble conceiving a child, 

fertility treatments such as IVF can help 

them achieve their dreams of parenthood. 

But as common as fertility struggles are, it’s 

also very common for these same couples to 

conceive naturally after a first IVF-assisted 

birth, a new analysis has found. 

The first-of-its-kind research pulled 

together more than 40 years of data from 

11 global studies involving 5,000 women, 

with the goal of finding out exactly how 

frequently they got pregnant naturally after 

having a baby conceived through fertility 

treatment. It found that at least one in five 

women conceived naturally after having 

a baby using fertility treatments such as 

IVF, mainly within three years of their 

IVF-assisted pregnancy. This 20% figure 

remained unchanged even when researchers 

took into account the different types 

and outcomes of fertility treatment, as well 

as length of follow-up. 

“Our findings suggest that natural pregnancy 

after having a baby by IVF is far from 

rare. This is in contrast with widely held 

views – by both women and health professionals 

– and those commonly expressed in 

the media, that it is a highly unlikely event,” 

said lead author Dr. Annette Thwaites. 

Thwaites said it is important for couples 

who have had successful IVF to know how 

likely they are to be able to conceive naturally 

afterwards, and that those subsequent 

pregnancies often happen quickly – which 

could potentially be problematic for the 

health of both mother and child. 

The study was published in Human 

Reproduction. 

On the calendar 

Schnucks and St. Luke’s Hospital offer 

an Eatwell Market grocery store tour 

on Wednesday, Aug. 30 from 2-3 p.m. at 

Eatwell Boones Crossing, 220 THF Blvd. 

in Chesterfield. Take a wellness-focused 

tour through Eatwell Market by Schnucks 

with a St. Luke’s dietitian. Participants 

will receive wellness resources, food samples 

and a $10 gift card to use at Eatwell 

Market. The cost is $5; space is limited and 

registration is required. To sign up, visit 

stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

BJC presents a Family and Friends 

CPR virtual course on Thursday, Sept. 7 

from 6:30-8:30 p.m., live via Teams Meeting. 

This class uses the American Heart 

Association curriculum to teach hands-on 

CPR skills (course does not include certification 

upon completion). The cost is $50. 

Registration for a seat in this class is for two 

people; enter the name of the person participating 

with you in the Partner/Other field 

during checkout. Register online by visiting 

bjc.org/cpr-class. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Healthy 

Habits for Cancer Prevention on Thursday, 

Sept. 7 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the St. 

Luke’s Institute for Health Education 

Auditorium, 222 S. Woods Mill Road in 

Chesterfield (second floor, North Medical 

Building). Yes, you can lower your 

risk of getting many common cancers. Dr. 

Jason Edwards of the St. Luke’s Center 

for Cancer Care leads a panel discussion 

on the benefits of eating healthy foods, 

increasing physical activity, and following 

screening and vaccination recommendations 

to minimize your cancer risk 

throughout life. The free event includes 

on-site screenings and resource tables; 

all attendees will also be entered into a 

drawing to win a prize basket donated by 

Eatwell Market by Schnucks. Register by 

visiting stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital presents 

a Staying Home Alone virtual class 

on Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 6:30-8 p.m., 

live via Teams Meeting. Parents and children 

attend the class together to ensure a 

child’s readiness – physically, mentally, 

socially and emotionally – to stay at home 

alone. The registration fee is $25 per 

family. To register, call (314) 454-5437. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Be Still to 

Chill: Basics of Meditation on Wednesday, 

Sept. 13 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the 

St. Luke’s Institute for Health Education, 

222 S. Woods Mill Road in Chesterfield, 

in Rooms 4 and 5. Meditation is a 

research-supported practice that can help 

anyone reduce stress, anxiety, chronic 

pain, improve sleep, and even reduce 

the risk for some diseases. This free, inperson 

program will teach the basics of 

meditation as well as many tips to support 

your practice. Register at stlukes-stl.com; 

call (314) 542-4848 with questions. 

• • • 

BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital sponsors 

a Babysitting 101 virtual class on 

Monday, Sept. 18 from 6-8:30 p.m. An 

in-person class is also offered on Saturday, 

Sept. 23 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the SLCH 

Specialty Care Center West County, 13001 

N. Outer Forty Road in Town & Country, 

in the third floor conference room. This 

interactive class, offered virtually through 

Teams Meeting, is a great introduction to 

the basics of babysitting and is recommended 

for ages 10 and above. The cost 

is $25 per child. Please note that the child 

is the registrant; parents may sit in on the 

class at no additional cost. Register online 

at bjc.org/babysitting-class. 

an ESSENTIAL part of your 

DAILY ROUTINE 

MidRiversNewsmagazine.com 

is updated daily 

with the local news, 

events and information that 

impact your world. 

SHOP SELIGASHOES.COM 

SHOP NEW ARRIVALS! 

$50 OFF Custom Orthotics 

$10 OFF Over-the-Counter 

Inserts 

8/23-9/6. With this ad. In-store only. 

10% OFF 

ONE FULL PRICE ITEM 

AUG. 23 – SEPT. 6, 2023 

With this ad. In-store only. 

Exclusions apply. 

2530 Brentwood Blvd. 

314-961-0110 

Monday-Saturday 9-6 

Closed Sunday 

Family Owned and Operated Since 1920


38 I MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE 

Economic Development Council applauds local businesses, governments, growth 


The Economic Development Council of 

St. Charles County (EDC) hosted its third 

annual awards luncheon on Aug. 2 at the Old 

Hickory Golf Club in St. Peters, recognizing 

seven area businesses and organizations for 

their positive impact and growth in the community. 

Award winners represent some of the past 

year’s most impactful economic development 

efforts, as well as growing companies 

served by the EDC’s core services of 

business attraction, business financing and 

business incubation. The EDC small business 

incubator just celebrated its 30th year 

promoting business development in the St. 

Charles County area. 

County Executive Steve Ehlmann welcomed 

the group to the luncheon. Maggie 

Kost, who was appointed as the chief business 

attraction officer for Greater St. Louis 

Inc. earlier this year, was the featured guest 

speaker. 

Greater St. Louis Inc. collaborates across 

15 area regional counties to create jobs and 

long-term economic growth in the metro area. 

Before her current job, Kost headed up the 

Missouri Department of Economic Development 

in the cabinet of Gov. Mike Parson, and 

oversaw the agency responsible for attracting 

new capital investment and jobs to the state. 

In her new role, she will lead efforts to attract 

national and international businesses to the 

St. Louis region. 

Cottleville Mayor Bob Ronkoski accepts 

award for the city’s Downtown Revitalization. 

(EDC photo) 

In a discussion with EDC’s CEO and President 

Scott Drachnik, the two talked about 

everything from regionalism to international 

investment. 

“Greater St. Louis Inc. has 15 counties in 

our metro. If you travel to each of those different 

counties you know there is incredible 

diversity and assets,” Kost said. “Those are 

different ways to market and sell our metro 

if we recognize that diversity and capitalize 

on that.” 

She said she also came to realize that 

many of the challenges local businesses face 

are the same challenges that businesses are 

having globally, and that working together is 

the way to evolve as a region. 

“Growth doesn’t happen by chance,” Kost 

said. “It happens with people working 

together and having a vision … Economic 

development is a team sport and you have 

to have everybody playing on the team. You 

have to have your CEOs at the table, your 

businesses at the table. Be advocates for 

the community whenever you’re talking to 

folks.” 

Kost said international investment is critically 

important for economic development 

because it brings new wealth into the local 

economy. 

“You want (international businesses) 

to know what you’re doing,” Kost said. 

“People (and businesses) want to do what 

their friends are doing. They want to know if 

this is a good place to invest, and they think, ‘ 

If my friend at Bayer thinks it’s a good place 

to invest, then it might be for me, too.’” 

Kost and Drachnik ended their conversation 

with Kost reminding local business 

leaders to let others know about the business 

development going on in the region. 

“You have to shout it from the rooftops 

when things are happening,” Kost said. 

“Folks are going to follow that investment 

and see that this is a community who knows 

how to get the big, complicated projects done. 

They want to know that you have the sophistication, 

that you’re going to work together 

as a team and that your project, those billions 

of dollars they’re investing, are in safe hands 

when it comes to the community infrastructure 

and the workforce infrastructure for 

these projects.” 

The following awards were then presented 

to St. Charles County area businesses: 

SBA 504 Borrower of the Year | Steward 

Metal Fabricating; presented by Steve Grelle 

- EDC SVP of Business Lending 

Steward Metal Fabricating is a secondgeneration, 

family-owned precision sheet 

metal fabricator located in O’Fallon. The 

company has a range of manufacturing capabilities 

and can design, assemble and deliver 

custom products. The company used an SBA 

504 loan through the EDC to invest $1.1 million 

in a building purchase, allowing them 

to move from their leased space, grow the 

company and add jobs. 

EDC Tenant of the Year | Ninni Co.; presented 

by Stacey Ross - EDC VP of Communications 

and Marketing 

Ninni Co. is a woman-owned company 

manufacturing innovative American-made 

baby products. Its patented pacifier is made 

of medical-grade silicone and reinforces a 

Jane Molina and Joy Williams, Co-Founders of Ninni Co. 

proper breastfeeding latch while helping 

maintain healthy oral motor and tooth development. 

In just three years on the market, 

it has garnered accolades from lactation 

consultants around the world. Co-founders, 

and sisters, Jane Molina and Joy Williams 

relocated their families to St. Charles County 

when their business took off. 

EDC Alumni of the Year | Pineapple Hospitality; 

presented by Craig Frahm - EDC 

CFO/COO 

In 2022 Pineapple Hospitality outgrew 

its space in the EDC’s business incubator 

and moved into an office/warehouse facility 

three times its previous footprint. During 

its years at the EDC, the company grew to 

become one of the nation’s largest distributors 

of hospitality amenities. 

Economic Development Initiative of the 

Year | City of Cottleville Downtown Revitalization; 

presented by Dr. Barbara Kavalier 

- EDC Board of Directors 

Founded in 1798, one of the oldest small 

towns in St. Charles County. Cottleville’s 

commitment to revitalizing its historic downtown 

has resulted in a business district that 

has become a regional destination. Some of 

the new attractions in the growing downtown 

include Frankie Martin’s Garden, a food 

truck and live music venue, and the Public 

School House, an event space housed in a 

restored one-room school. Oak Street Inn 

and Lounge, a boutique hotel with an onsite 

restaurant and speakeasy, is also scheduled 

to open later this year. Cottleville’s Mayor, 

Bob Ronkoski, said the revitalization plan 

was put in motion more than ten years ago. 

“Cottleville has always been a small community,” 

Ronkoski said. “We still are a small 

community. We had to change some zoning. 

It took thinking outside the box. If you don’t 

have some change to keep up with the times, 

the city is going to die and fade away.” 

Ronkoski said city officials want to keep 

the historic feel of the town in the architecture 

of buildings, both new and old. 

“I don’t think we’re done, there’s other 



(EDC photo) 

lots that could be developed,” Ronkiski said. 

“Cottleville has become quite a destination 

for people to eat out. We have Legacy Park 

in Old town with lots of family events. It’s 

fun to see families down at Frankie Martin’s 

Garden. It’s a great community meeting 

place.” 

Talent Pipeline Initiative | Zumwalt 

Apprenticeships; presented by Dan Fitter, 

EDC Board of Directors Chair 

The Fort Zumwalt School District’s 

award-winning trades careers apprenticeship 

program is one of the largest in the country 

and in the top three statewide by number of 

apprentices. The partnership provides local 

manufacturers with highly skilled workers 

and provides students with paid, on-the-job 

training while attending high school, as well 

as 45 college credit hours toward a Skilled 

Trades Associate of Arts degree from St. 

Charles Community College. 

EDC Business Attraction Project of the 

Year | Lear Corporation; presented by Wentzville 

Mayor Nick Guccione 

Lear Corporation made a significant investment 

to transition from a 55,000 square-foot 

facility to a state-of-the-art 210,000 squarefoot 

manufacturing facility in the automotive 

manufacturing cluster around General 

Motors Wentzville Assembly. Lear’s facility, 

which makes seats for GM trucks and vans, 

is home to more than 500 employees. 

Economic Development Project of 

the Year | SSM Health St. Charles County 

Expansions; presented by Luanne Cundiff - 

EDC Board of Directors 

Over the past few years, SSM Health has 

invested $60 million to grow its footprint 

in St. Charles County to accommodate the 

County’s surging population. Recent projects 

include opening a state-of-the-art outpatient 

surgery facility in the St. Peters area and a 

66,000 SF medical facility under construction 

in O’Fallon. Other improvements have 

recently occurred or are planned at SSM 

facilities in Lake Saint Louis, St. Charles and 

Wentzville.


MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE I BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT I 39 

Johnson Heating & Cooling: A legacy company committed to quality 



Heating and cooling is 

not just business as usual for 

Tracy and Shaun Johnson, 

co-owners of Johnson 

Heating & Cooling. It’s a 

family passion passed down 

to Tracy from her parents, 

who owned a heating and 

cooling company for more 

than 30 years. 

Tracy and Shaun have 

owned and operated their 

business since 2013, earning 

a stellar reputation for keeping 

local families comfortable with 

honest and reliable service. 

“I grew up in the industry from a very 

young age. Shaun worked in the industry 

as well, so when my parents closed 

their business we decided to open ours,” 

Tracy explained. 

Shaun has worked in the industry for 

over 20 years and has earned his journeyman 

license in several counties. 

It’s the Johnson family of customers 

that Tracy enjoys most about the 

business. She takes pride in helping 

them find the best system to meet their 

needs and in being the go-to source for 

repairs and maintenance. 

“Our customers really are a part 

(Johnson Heating & Cooling photo) 

of our business family. That’s why our 

motto is, ‘Let our family take care of your 

family’s heating and cooling needs.’ It is 

because we believe in educating our customers 

and being up-front and transparent 

in all aspects of the business,” Tracy said. 

Johnson Heating & Cooling installs 

high-quality furnaces, air handlers, air 

conditioners, heat pumps, and geothermal 

systems in new construction homes and 

existing homes. And provides service and 

maintenance on installed systems. The ultimate 

goal, Tracy said, is always customer 

satisfaction and every member of the company 

gladly stands behind the quality of its 

products and services. 

“We excel in residential service, replacement, 

new home construction 

and finished basements,” Tracy 

said. “Our top employees have 

been with us since the beginning 

and they all have the same values 

and passion that we do. We are 

committed to overseeing that our 

customers receive systems that 

are the best quality.” 

All of Johnson Heating & Cooling’s 

technicians are required to 

participate in training throughout 

the year to keep up-to-date on 

their licenses, what’s new in the 

industry and, of course, safety. One of the 

newest trends in the industry is the use of 

geothermal technology, which works with 

the earth to pump heat into a home or discharge 

it from the home and back into the 

ground. It’s complicated, but not for the 

well-trained experts at Johnson Heating 

& Cooling, who are happy to explain the 

ins and outs of all the options homeowners 

have to meet their needs. 

In addition to heating and cooling units, 

Johnson Heating & Cooling also installs air 

quality products, such as humidifiers and 

electronic air purifiers to keep the air in 

customers’ homes clean and comfortable. 

It’s not just people who benefit from proper 

humidity. Pets and belongings, especially 

wood items and instruments like pianos, 

guitars and violins, also benefit from 

humidity control. 

Coming up with whole home solutions is 

one of the ways Johnson Heating & Cooling 

exceeds expectations. 

For customers with larger homes, Johnson 

Heating & Cooling can design and 

install a zoned plan that helps to increase 

comfort and decrease energy use and costs. 

“Our hearts are in providing the best services 

for our customers,” Tracy said. “We 

strive to provide exactly what we would 

want for our own homes, and to treat 

our customers how we would want to be 

treated.” 

Johnson Heating and Cooling service 

areas include Wentzville, Foristell, Defiance, 

New Melle, Lake Saint Louis, 

O’Fallon, Dardenne Prairie, St. Peters, 

St. Charles City, Cottleville, Harvester, 

Weldon Spring, Lincoln, Troy, Moscow 

Mills, Wright City and the counties of 

Warren, Warrenton and St. Charles. 

Johnson Heating & Cooling 

223 N. Callahan Road • Wentzville 

(636) 332-4141 

johnson-heatingandcooling.com 

6 80 HEALTHCARE 

PROFESSIONALS 

A Special 

Advertorial 

Section 

COMING AGAIN 9.20.23

40 I BUSINESS I 





Cottleville Fire Protection District Chief Skip Stephens and Assistant 

Chief/Fire Marshal Ryan Roberts were joined by communitiy and 

chamber members in officially opening Station #1 and the Administration 

Building. 

BUSINESS 

BRIEFS 

PLACES 

Cottleville Fire Protection District 

Chief Skip Stephens and Assistant Chief/ 

Fire Marshal Ryan Roberts were joined 

by members of the FPD’s Board of Directors, 

staff, local elected officials and 

representatives with the O’Fallon Chamber 

of Commerce, Cottleville - Weldon 

Spring Chamber of Commerce and St. 

Charles Regional Chamber at the official 

reopening of the district’s Station #1 and 

Administration Building, 1385 Motherhead 

Road. This construction/renovation 

was made possible by a no tax increase 

bond renewal supported by voters in 2020. 

• • • 

Lutheran Senior Services is expanding 

access to innovative virtual reality experiences 

for older adults thanks to funding 

awarded by the Consumer Technology 

Association Foundation to Lutheran Services 

in America. The grant will help 

address social isolation amongst homebound 

older adults in underserved communities 

through the adoption of virtual 

reality technology that provides immersive 

shared experiences for older adults and 

their caregivers in home 

and community-based settings 

in the Missouri counties 

of Franklin, Jefferson, 

St. Charles, and St. Louis. 

• • • 

Assumption School in 

O’Fallon has received a 

$2,000 grant to assist with 

Poole 

the purchasing of 3M Scotchshield Safety 

& Security Window Film Ultra S800 and 

the 3M Impact Protection Profile Attachment 

System. The new window coverings 

will be an addition to the existing 

safety measures already in place on school 

campus. 

• • • 

Franchise owner Andrew Stevenson celebrated 

the grand opening of Ellie Mental 

Health of Lake Saint Louis on Tuesday, 

Aug. 8 at 1310 HRC Plaza Drive. The practice 

offers individual, couples and family 

counseling as well as grief and traumainformed 

therapy. Online services are 

available. Learn more at elliementalhealth. 

com/locations/lake-st-louis-mo or by calling 

(636) 339-4475. 

• • • 

Linda Rombach Personalized Cleaning 

is now open at 6022 Weldon Spring 

Parkway. Established in 1999, the company 

is one of the first housecleaning companies 

in the St. Charles area. Learn more 

at lindarombachcleaning.com. 

PEOPLE 

Wiegmann Associates has added Ann 

Price, of Moscow Mills, to its staff as project 

administrator. Price brings 29 years of 

experience in administration, accounting 

and project management. She has served 

as a volunteer at the Old Monroe Lions 

Club. 

• • • 

Progress 64 West has announced the 

addition of new board members, Dala 

Beekman, of Avison 

Young; and John Poole, 

of Alliance Technologies. 

Beekman is an administrative 

coordinator in both 

construction management 

and marketing project 

management with Avison 

Beekman 

Young. Poole is vice president 

of customer strategy and growth for 

Alliance Technologies.



Garden View Care Center has a new 

way to nurture and nourish its residents 

– a Seed to Table garden. 

The project began earlier this year 

at its O’Fallon location with residents 

reaping the benefits even before the 

first seeds were sown. 

The idea was first planted once 

the isolation of COVID was over, 

explained Erica Herman, Director of 

Admissions. This year, she thought it 

was time to move the idea forward. 

Facilities Manager James Reichling 

began by building a wheelchair accessible 

raised bed. He brought in his saw, 

and the wood was purchased. He also 

had help from residents, Erica said. 

“The guys were out there talking to 

James about the raised bed, drinking 

beer and watching him build it,” she 

said. “They were so interested and 

happy. It was a good experience for 

them. 

“When they were finished, they had 

a beautiful U-shaped raised bed. The 

wheelchair could get right in the middle 

and the sides weren’t very wide so you 

could reach everything from there.” 

“The idea behind the Seed to Table 

program is to connect residents with 

the energy and growth of nature and 

help them rejuvenate,” said Kira Somach, 

Director of Marketing. “Gardening is an 

activity that nourishes mind, body and 

soul and enriches the lives of our residents 

inside and out.” 

Residents and staff took an active role in 

planting the vegetables and herbs, transferring 

the seedlings of carrots, cucumbers, 

peppers and tomatoes along with oregano, 

parsley and basil to the planter box. 

“A lot of them have had gardens, and they 

all came out and gave advice about when 

to thin out the tomatoes and other things,” 

Erica said. 

They also had help from members of the 

Jardin du Lac Garden Club who planted 

flowering annuals to compliment the growing 

vegetables. 

Residents used a seed product called 

Growums, which features seed kits for a 

salad garden, taco garden and pizza garden. 

Residents had a great vantage point 

to watch the garden grow because it can 

easily be seen from the dining room. 

“Everyone wants to see how the plants 

are doing, so they are watching it,” said 

Erica. “They feel ownership in that the 

garden is not just at a place where they are 

staying, it’s a place where they are living,” 

said Erica. “We call it the patio or backyard. 

It is, literally, the residents’ backyard.” 



Residents are also taking an active role 

in harvesting the vegetables, and Garden 

View Care Center - O’Fallon’s Executive 

Chef Jim Valle is using the produce. 

“He loves it,” Erica said. 

Valle used the vegetables to make a fresh 

cucumber and tomato salad, and adds the 

fresh herbs in the pots of soup that he 

makes on Sundays, she said. 

“The chef and I are talking about keeping 

the herbs growing through the winter,” 

Erica said. 

As with gardeners everywhere, the project 

was successful with some vegetables 

and herbs and not with others. 

“We’re learning. That’s what gardeners 

are supposed to do,” she said. But overall, 

the garden has been a plus for residents and 

staff. “It’s been a really wonderful experience.” 

Plans are to build another raised bed in 

the Memory Unit’s backyard, so residents 

there can get involved. 

“They have access now, but this would 

I BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT I 41 

From seed to table, Garden View Care Center gets residents growing 

Executive Chef Jim Valle 

Garden View Care Center 

be their very own garden,” Erica said. 

The Seed to Table program has also been 

initiated at Garden View Care Center locations 

in Dougherty Ferry and Chesterfield. 

700 Garden Path • O’Fallon • (636) 240-2840 

13612 Big Bend Road • Dougherty Ferry • (636) 861-0500 

1025 Chesterfield Pointe Pkwy. • Chesterfield • (636) 537-3333 

ATTENTION 

READERS: 

Make sure you are signed up for your 

FREE subscription today! 

1. If you got this paper in your mailbox and your first and last name 

are on the front cover label, THANK YOU for subscribing. You are all 

signed up and will continue to get the paper in your mailbox for the 

next three years. 

2. If you got this paper in your mailbox and the label reads “Current 

Resident” then you need to fill out and mail in the form on this ad or 

visit midriversnewsmagazine.com/subscribe to subscribe. Otherwise, 

this could be the last paper you receive in the mail. 

3. If you picked this paper up at a newsstand such as Schnucks 

or Dierbergs, thank you so much for your interest! Please visit 

midriversnewsmagazine.com/subscribe or fill out and mail in the form 

on this ad to subscribe and get the paper delivered right to your home 

FREE of charge. 

CLIP & MAIL 

By providing your signature below, Mid Rivers Newsmagazine will 

qualify as a Requester Periodical helping us save postage expense 

so we can continue to deliver your copy through the post office. 

YES, I want Mid Rivers Newsmagazine, 

Please deliver to: 

Name: 

Address: 

City: State: Zip: 

Phone: 

E-mail: 

Signature 

x 

Date: / / 

Mail to: 

754 Spirit 40 Park Drive • Chesterfield, MO 63005

42 I 





MID RIVERS SAVER 

POWER WASHING GUTTERS ∙ Cleaning ∙ Repairs ∙ Guards 

• Siding 

• Patios 

• Decks 

• Fences 

636-244-0461 

Serving the area since 2003 

• Driveways 

• Sidewalks 

• Gutters 

• Windows 

Call for a 

FREE Estimate! 

WHOLE HOUSE 

POWER WASHING 

ONE STORY 

SPECIAL 

$175 

TWO STORY 

SPECIAL 

$240 

Walk outs & larger house 

slightly more. Valid only with 

coupon. Not valid with other 

offers. NO hidden costs. 

JetStreamCleaningServices 

Mr. Fence 

We Also 

Do Decks! 

(636) 294-6358 

Call Today For A No Pressure FREE Estimate 

We Offer a 

FULL LINE OF FENCING 

• Vinyl • Wood 

• Ornamental Aluminum 

• Chain Link 

Licensed, Bonded & Insured 

Call Mr. Fence 

636-294-6358 Comprehensive Warranties 

We also do 

Fence Repairs 

on any type of 

Fence or Gate 

50% OFF 

The labor of Your 

New Fence or 

Repair 

No Minimum Required 

With Coupon Expires 9/30/23 

$50 OFF 

Any New Annual 

Service Agreement 

• General Pest Control 

• Mosquito Control 

• Rodent Control 

Offer expires 9/30/23 

Termites • Mosquitoes • Moles & More 

Need An Electrician? 

Ask About Whole 

House Stand-By 

Generators! 

Free Estimates • Fast Service 

Service Upgrades • Replace Outdated Fuse Box With New Circuit 

Breaker Box • Rewiring of New & Old Homes • Room Additions 

Remodeling • Rathskelter Specialists • Motion Detector Lights 

Install Fans, Fixtures, Outlets, A/C, etc. Landscape Lighting 

Over 20 Years Experience • Licensed, Bonded & Insured 

Full Service Electrical Contractor • Radio Dispatched 

Trenching & Bucket Truck Service Available By F.E.S. 

Fielder Electrical Services 

Fully Licensed by St. Louis County & City! WE WORK IN YOUR AREA! 

314-966-3388 • www.fielderelectricalservices.com 

$ 

20 

OFF 

Any electrical job 

of $ 100 or more 

Certified & Insured 

Locally Owned & Operated 

314.502.4607 • AdvancedPestSpecialists.com 

COUPON 

SAVER 

9.20.23 

Save For Future Use! 

COMING AGAIN 

Serving the St. Charles, St. Louis, and Surrounding Counties 

Military 

& Senior 

Discounts 

Available! 

Fully 

Insured! 

All Work 

Guaranteed! 

TREE SERVICE 

• Tree Trimming • Stump Grinding • 

• Storm Damage Clean Up • 

Call Today for a FREE ESTIMATE! 

636-373-1387 

Tree Removal 

$ 

100 

OFF 

OR 

10% OFF 

Any other Service 

Any tree removal estimated value 

of $999 or more. Must Mention ad 

the same time as estimate. Not valid 

with other discounts. Exp: 9/30/23 

Reserve your ad space today 

CALL 636.591.0010





O’Fallon commission breathes new life into ‘boring boxes’ 

I 43 

By JOHN TREMMEL 

Standing on the corner catching up on 

times gone by. If the O’Fallon Historic 

Preservation Commission has its way, 

that’s exactly what you’ll be doing at the 

intersection of Main Street and Elm Street. 

On that corner, stood a boring but necessary 

metal box whose flat, gray finish 

made it rather inconspicuous. No longer. 

With help from the Jim Frain and John 

Goings families, the traffic signal control 

cabinet (a.k.a the boring box) has been 

transformed into a history kiosk. 

Located a few feet from the roadways’ 

intersection, the cabinet previously had 

one job – contain the controls that determine 

traffic signal timing and duration. 

Now it is wrapped with a photo that 

showcases a historic fire house and details 

about the city’s volunteer fire department. 

The fire house was located at the intersection 

in the 1950s. Though it was torn down 

years ago, the city still owns one of the 

two vintage fire trucks pictured. Periodically, 

the truck is used in parades and other 

events. 

This first installation of ‘Picturing Historic 

O’Fallon’ is part of a larger program 

to adorn all 38 city-owned control boxes 

with historic photos, paintings, murals and 

such. Each wrap will be privately sponsored 

and made of high-performance vinyl 

that is expected to have a seven-year lifespan. 

Members of the Historical Preservation 

Commission, or when appropriate the 

Cultural Arts Commission, will review and 

approve submitted applications. 

The city’s engineering division will 

oversee the final design ensuring that 

the control box’s operation will not be 

impeded. For example, vents must not be 

blocked, and the box interior must still be 

accessible. Engineering also will oversee 

the wrap’s installation. 

According to Goings, the program was 

inspired by a former city employee’s trip 

to Tulsa. 

“John Griesenauer, who retired after 

more than 38 years with the city of 

O’Fallon, had visited Tulsa and mentioned 

the possibility of doing something 

similar here,” Goings, a Historic Preservation 

Commission member, explained. 

“The Picturing Historic O’Fallon program 

is our attempt to make the people 

of O’Fallon more aware of the history all 

around us. 

“Hopefully, people on their regular drives 

through town will see these historic photos 

and feel part of a larger community that 

has been here for a very long time.” 

Sponsoring a display costs about $1,800. 

He said the program has four or five sponsorships 

pending, but that still leaves 32 

or 33 more needed. The commission is 

actively looking for more sponsors. 

Though the displays are not ads, sponsors 

can have their name in “courtesy of” 

location on the box. 

Once an application is approved, the 

sponsor’s funds will go directly to the 

O’Fallon Community Foundation, a 501(c) 

(3) non-profit organization. That makes the 

sponsorship tax deductible. 

The city only gives permission to use the 

North-facing panel; the “Traffic Control” label is part of the control box, not part of the 

building shown. 

(John Tremmel photo) 

box for the display, it does not pay for anything, 

accept any funds or approve what 

the display contains. 

Applications for proposed wraps can 

be submitted by citizens, corporations, 

nonprofit organizations, neighborhood 

associations, or casual groups. If a submission 

is selected, the artist, donor, group, or 

business will be responsible for the total 

cost associated with printing the artwork or 

photograph on the approved wrap. 

The artwork or photograph printed on 

the wrap will become the property of the 

city; the artist or donor must therefore 

relinquish all rights relating to the city’s 

use and control of the artwork or photograph. 

A detailed brochure about this program, 

including application information and a 

list of the available intersections, can be 

found by searching “preservation” on the 

city’s website (ofallon.mo.us). 

If a potential sponsor has questions or 

needs specific information, Goings said 

they can contact him via email at goingsjj@gmail.com. 

Statewide residents urged to join Good Neighbor Week 

By JESSICA MARIE BAUMGARTNER 

It’s time to get neighborly. The second 

annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week is 

Sept. 28-Oct. 4. 

Last year, Gov. Mike Parson launched 

the event to inspire Missouri residents 

to “participate in events and activities to 

establish connections with their neighbors.” 

The event is being hosted through the 

Extension of the University of Missouri 

and The Hopeful Neighborhood Project. 

According to the event’s website (missourigoodneighborweek.com), 

“Neighboring 

is the art and skill of building 

relationships with the people who live 

closest to you.” 

“Being a good neighbor offers tremendous 

health benefits, reduces crime, 

reduces loneliness, combats depression 

and improves communities and the quality 

of life,” the website states. 

Last year 17 Missourians received 

awards for Acts of Neighboring and 

being the Most Engaging Neighbor in 

their areas. The 2022 goal was to record 

10,000 acts of kindness. Not only was 

this goal achieved, but 12,594 acts were 

submitted. 

This year, Missouri Good Neighbor 

Week is asking residents to participate in 

its 15,000 Acts of Neighboring Challenge. 

“Good neighbors make great neighbors, 

built one act of neighboring at a time.” 

That’s the event’s philosophy. 

The challenge entails three simple steps: 

• Do something good for a neighbor. 

There are many great ways that community 

members can help each other, from 

doing yard work for the sick or elderly 

to offering free babysitting services or 

engaging in creative ways to spread joy 

and love, no act is considered too small. 

• Register your act of neighborliness at 

missourigoodneighborweek.com; doing 

so will allow each act of kindness to be 

tracked statewide. Participants can include 

an explanation of their act, but only ZIP 

codes are required. Individuals hoping to 

be nominated for an award may qualify for 

prizes if details are included. 

• Nominate others for the “Neighbor 

of the Year” award. Service, events and 

social interaction are the main factors in 

determining the winners. 

State awards will be given in partnered 

cities and counties after the acts 

are recorded. These areas will be listed 

on the event website a week before Missouri 

Good Neighbor Week begins. Select 

local councils are also hosting their own 

awards. 

All Missouri residents are eligible to 

participate in this free event. There is no 

age limit. The website has coloring sheets 

for children in both English and Spanish 

as well as postcards and colorful graphics 

to help spread the word. 

At the Aug. 10 Board of Aldermen 

meeting, St. Peters alderman Dr. Gregg 

Sartorius (Ward 2) encouraged area residents 

to take part in this year’s challenge. 

He praised the Extension of the University 

of Missouri for helping to make Missouri 

Good Neighbor Week a success in 2022 

and expressed hopes for an even better 

response in 2023. 

“I’ve been amazed at how involved they 

are within the community and what they 

do,” he said. 

Missourians with questions, or communities 

seeking to partner with the 

15,000 Acts of Neighboring Challenge 

event can contact David Burton by 

phone at (417) 881-8909 or via email at 

burtond@missouri.edu.

44 I EVENTS I 





FALL WORKSHOPS & CLASSES 

ARE ON-LINE NOW, 

GET CREATIVE WITH US! 

foundryartcentre.org 

LOCAL 

EVENTS 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

St. Charles Flea and Artisan Market is 

from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on the second Saturday 

of the month at the Saint Charles City Hall 

parking garage, 200 N. Second St. in St. 

Charles. Details at stcharlesflea.com. 

• • • 

Charles Houska’s “Joy Ride” is in 

the grand hall through August; “Art of the 

Arcade” with Two Plumbers Brewery + 

Arcade is in the main gallery through Sept. 

23 at The Foundry Art Centre, 520 N. Main 

Center in St. Charles. Visit foundryartcentre. 

org for details. 

• • • 

Macler Gallery Show, “Somewhere 

Down the River” is through Aug. 26 at 

The Creative at Klondike, 4600 Hwy. S. in 

Augusta. Visit thecreativeatklondike.com. 

• • • 

“Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle” Art Exhibition 

is through Aug. 31 at The Crossroads 

Art Center, 310 W. Pearce Blvd. in Wentzville. 

Details at crossroadsartscouncil.org. 

• • • 

Under the Sunshine Art Show is 

through September at the Crossroads Arts 

Council, 310 W. Pearce Blvd. in Wentzville. 

Mosaics Fine 

Art Festival is 

Friday, Sept. 

15 through 

Sunday, Sept. 

17 along several 

blocks of 

N. Main Street 

in historic 

Saint Charles. 

Featuring art, 

food, music 

and children’s 

activities. 

For submission information, email crossroadsartscouncil@gmail.com 

or visit crossroadsartcouncil.org. 

• • • 

Abstract Art Show is now through Sept. 

10 at the St. Peters Cultural Art Centre, 1 St. 

Peters Centre Blvd. in St. Peters. Artwork 

will be non-objective and use forms, colors, 

textures and gesture marks to achieve its 

effect. Artists reception is from 6-8 p.m. on 

Aug. 3. Details at stpetersmo.net. 

• • • 

Twilight Market is from 3-7 p.m. on the 

second Saturday of each month through 

November at 301 Main St. in Old Town St. 

Peters. Artists, vendors, musicians, food/ 

drink and more. Free to attend. Details at 

stpetersmo.net. 

• • • 

St. Charles Riverwalk Market is from 

7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays through Nov. 

25 at the Foundry Art Centre, 500 N. Riverside 

Dr. in St. Charles. Fresh produce and 

crafts from local vendors, live music and 

more. Details at discoverstcharles.com. 

• • • 

St. Charles County Youth Orchestra 

auditions will be held Aug. 25-27 at Grace 

Baptist Church, 3601 Ehlmann Road in 

St. Charles. Students at all levels of string, 

wind, brass and percussion are invited to 

audition. By appointment only. Details at 

sccyo.org/auditions. 

• • • 

Vendor and Craft Fair is from 10 a.m.-3 

p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Chapel of the 

Cross Lutheran Church, 907 Jungermann 

Road in St. Peters, featuring handmade 

crafts, homemade baked goods, bath and 

body items, apparel, kettle corn food truck 

and more. Free admission. For details, call 

(636) 248-6243 or email, selrahc@charter. 

net. 

• • • 

“Nocturne” Art Exhibition is on display 

Sept. 14 through Oct. 29 at the St. Peters 

Cultural Arts Centre, 1 St. Peters Centre 

Blvd., featuring artwork depicting nighttime 

themes. Submissions are currently being 

accepted. Artwork must be original and created 

after 2019. Members may submit up 

to four works for $15. Non-members may 

submit three works for $20. Visit stpetersmo.net/243/Art-Shows-Exhibits. 

• • • 

Fall Into the Arts is from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 

on Sunday, Sept. 17 at O’Day Park, 1000 

O’Day Park Drive in O’Fallon. Artists and 

crafters, craft beer tastings, artisan food 

vendors and live music. Free admission. 

Details at ofallon.mo.us/fall-into-the-arts. 

BENEFITS 

Free Dental Day is from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 

on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Jungermann Dental 

Care, 1325 Queens Court, Suite B in St. 

Peters. Free cleanings and extractions to 

walk-in patients that need it. No questions 

asked. Visit jungermanndentalcare.com. 

• • • 

22 Strong Walk is on Saturday, Sept. 16 

at Wright Construction Services, 11 Lami 

Industrial Drive in St. Peters to honor 

and support U.S. veterans. There will be 

a 22-mile and a 2.2-mile walk. Register 

at wrightconstruct.com/giving-back. For 

questions, email lpaskoff@building-change. 

com. 

• • • 

The “Quest for Camelot - A Night 

of Health, Healing and Hope” Gala is 

from 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the 

Ameristar Casino in St. Charles. Tickets 

start at $200. Visit bjcstcharlescounty.org/ 

gala or email Emily.Riccio@bjc.org. 

• • • 

St. Charles City-County Library Foundation’s 

Imagine Gala and Auction is at 6 

p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Ameristar 

Casino, 1 Ameristar Blvd. in St. Charles. 

Enjoy a night of celebration, food and drink, 

auctions, raffles, and special programs in 

support of the St. Charles City County 

Library and Library Foundation. Early Bird 

Ticket is offered at $125 until Aug. 31 and 

will increase to $150 on Sept. 1. Visit one. 

bidpal.net/imaginegala2023/welcome. 

• • • 

St. Charles Paw Parade is at 10 a.m. on 

Saturday, Oct. 7 in the Frenchtown Historic 

District in St. Charles. $20 per adult, $15 

per child (12 and under.) Vendor fair is from 

11 a.m.-1 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Saint 

Charles Animal Shelter. To register, visit 

stcharlescitymo.gov/1015/PAW-Parade. 

Ryan J. Candice Memorial Golf Tournament 

is at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 

at Gateway National Golf Links, 18 Golf 

Drive in Madison, IL. The tournament is 

to raise suicide awareness and eradicate the 

stigma surrounding mental illness. Earlybird 

is sold out. Regular pricing is $500 per 

foursome and includes lunch, dinner, and 

beer on the course. Prizes awarded for the 

top 3 teams. Sign up at wakeupgolf.eventbrite.com. 

• • • 

The Brad Buechler Memorial Golf 

Tournament is from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on 

Monday, Oct. 16 at the Tapawingo National 

Golf Club, 13001 Gary Player Drive in 

St. Louis, featuring an 18 Hole Modified 

Scramble, raffles, auctions, and more. Tickets 

start at $750. Scholarship opportunities 

are available. Proceeds benefit children with 

autism and special needs. For details, visit 

afastl.org/events or call, (636) 227-2330. 

CONCERTS & FESTIVALS 

St. Charles Municipal Band performs 

at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25 at the 

Jaycee Pavilion in Frontier Park, 500 S. 

Riverside Drive in St. Charles. A Big Jazz 

Band Concert will be on the second Sunday 

of September. Visit stcharlesband.com. 

• • • 

St. Peters’ Sunset Fridays continues 

with Wildhorse Creek Band from 6:30-8:30 

p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25 at 370 Lakeside 

Park in St. Peters. Sept. 1 - Paul Bonn &





I EVENTS I 45 

The Bluesmen. Sept. 8 - A Tribute to Willie 

Nelson featuring Paul Jarvis & The Old 

Barn Boys. For a full concert schedule, visit 

stpetersmo.net/sunset. 

• • • 

New Town Concert Series continues 

with Whiskey Drinkin’ from 6-8 p.m. on 

Sunday, Aug. 27 at the New Town Amphitheater, 

3312 Rue Royale in St. Charles. 

Free event. El Scorcho performs from 7-10 

p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2. For details, visit 

discoverstcharles.com and search “New 

Town Concert Series.” 

• • • 

Sip & Savor St. Charles is from 5-8 p.m. 

on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 370 Lakeside Park, 

1000 Lakeside Park Drive, featuring 50 food 

and beverage vendors sampling their finest 

temptations. There will be live music, entertainment, 

and more. Tickets start at $30 at 

stcharlesregionalchamber.com/sip-savor. 

• • • 

Hot Summer Nights continues with 

Special Consensus and Pickin’ Buds from 

6-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 on Second 

Street between Morgan and Decatur Street 

in Frenchtown. Food truck service begins at 

6 p.m. and live music starts at 7 p.m. For 

details, visit stcharlescitymo.gov. 

• • • 

Twilight Tuesdays Music in the Park 

continues with Facts O’ Life from 6-8:30 

p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at Legacy Park 

Amphitheater, 5490 5th St. in Cottleville. 

Bring blankets or chairs. No golf carts on 

the amphitheater hill or grass. Free event. 

The series continues through October. For 

details, visit cityofcottleville.com or call 

(636) 498-6565. 

• • • 

Beale Street Concert Series continues 

with No Diggity from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, 

Sept. 13 on The Streets of St. Charles, 

1520 S. 5th St. Bring seating. Oct. 11 - 

Superjam. For details, visit facebook.com/ 

StreetsofStCharles. 

• • • 

Mosaics Fine Art Festival is from 4-9 

p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15; from 10 a.m.-8 

p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16 and from 11 

a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17 along several 

blocks of N. Main Street in historic 

Saint Charles, featuring art exhibits of 100 

juried artists from over 15 states. Free event. 

The Children’s Village area (11 a.m.-4 p.m. 

on Sat. and Sun.) will feature hands-on art 

experiences for children to create their own 

make-and-take artworks. For details, call 

(314) 406-2067 or visit stcharlesmosaics. 

org. 

• • • 

Swingin’ in the Vines (part of the Augusta 

Harvest Festival) is at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 

15 at Honey Bee Vineyard, 271 Bluff Lane 

in Augusta, featuring a gourmet picnic with 

a bottle of wine, pumpkin wagon ride, porttasting 

in a historic wine cellar and dancing 

under the stars to a live band. All-inclusive 

cost of the evening is $125 for two people. 

To purchase tickets, call (636) 228-4005 

or visit augusta-chamber.org/event/2023- 

augusta-harvest-festival. 

• • • 

The Augusta Harvest Festival is at 9 

a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 5577 Walnut 

St. in Augusta, featuring a 5K Run, parade, 

pie contest, children’s activities, live 

music and Fruit of the Harvest Dinner - a 

5-course meal with wine pairings and more. 

For details, visit augusta-chamber.org/ 

event/2023-augusta-harvest-festival. 

• • • 

St. Peters’ Sunset Saturday Finale with 

Soul Cracker and Butch Wax & the Hollywoods 

is at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 

370 Lakeside Park in St. Peters. For details, 

visit stpetersmo.net/sunset. 

• • • 

Music on Main continues with Vynal 

Tap from 5-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 

20 on the 100-200 blocks of N. Main Street 

in St. Charles. Food and drink will be available 

for purchase. Free event. Bring lawn 

chairs. For details, visit discoverstcharles. 

com. 

• • • 

St. Charles Oktoberfest is from 4-11 

p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on 

Saturday, Sept. 23 and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

on Sunday, Sept. 24 at Frontier Park, 500 

S. Riverside Drive in St. Charles, featuring 

food and gift vendors, 5 and 10K, antique 

car show, brat eating contest, Dachshund 

races, live music and more. Free event. For 

details, visit saintcharlesoktoberfest.com. 

• • • 

Prairie Day is from Noon-8 p.m. on 

Saturday, Sept. 30 at City Hall Park, 2032 

Hanley Road in Dardenne Prairie, featuring 

local merchant vendor booths, children’s 

inflatables, face painting and more. Butch 

Wax and the Hollywoods performs at 6:30 

p.m. followed by fireworks. Free event. For 

details, visit dardenneprairie.org or call 

(636) 755-5333. 

FALL HAPPENINGS 

Wentzville’s Fall Festival is from 

6-10:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15 and from 

noon-10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 

Historic Downtown Wentzville. Includes 

live music, local food/craft vendors and 

more. To become a vendor, call (636) 639- 

2085 or visit wentzvillemo.gov. 

• • • 

Witches on Main is from 3-10 p.m. on 

Saturday, Oct. 7 on Main Street in Historic 

St. Charles. Enjoy discounts, prizes, raffles, 

costume contests and more. Tickets are 

$50 via Eventbrite or visit stcharlescitymo. 

gov/1159/Witches-on-Main. 

• • • 

Food Truck Fright is from 6-8:30 p.m. 

on Friday, Oct. 13 at Sports Park, 3589 Hwy. 

K in O’Fallon, featuring various popular 

local food trucks in a family-friendly park 

setting. Bring a blanket or chair. Admission 

and parking is free. For details, visit ofallon. 

mo.us. 

• • • 

Legends & Lanterns begins at 11 a.m. 

on Saturday, Oct. 14 and runs through 

noon on Sunday, October 29 in Historic St. 

Charles. From the vintage charm of Halloween 

in the 1910s-1930s, to the historical 

rituals and customs brought by the Druids 

and Victorians, to the ethereal atmosphere 

depicted in American ghost stories and 

Brothers Grimm fairy tales; this event will 

offer treats and tricks for guests of all ages. 

For a complete schedule, visit discoverstcharles.com/events/legends-lanterns. 

• • • 

Halloween Carnival is from 11 a.m.-1 

p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the St. Peters 

Rec-Plex South, 5250 Mexico Road in St. 

Peters. Enjoy games, crafts, a hot dog lunch 

and more. For ages 10 and under. Wear a 

costume and receive a special treat at checkin. 

Family-friendly costumes only. $3 for 

members; $5 for non-members. Registration 

begins on Sept. 1 and is required for 

children and guardians at stpetersmo.net. 

• • • 

Pumpkin Glow is from 5-8 p.m. on 

Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 on 

Main Street in St. Charles. Join the merchants 

of Main Street for an evening of shopping 

by pumpkin glow. Participating shops 

will decorate their sidewalks and windows 

with Jack-O-Lanterns of all shapes and 

sizes and invite you in for a fall open house. 

For details, visit discoverstcharles.com. 

FAMILY & KIDS 

Family Fridays are from 2-4 p.m. on the 

second Friday of every month at the Heritage 

Park Museum, 1630 Heritage Landing 

in St. Peters. Each session has games and 

crafts, storytime, or hands-on displays. Free 

event. Details at stccparks.org. 

• • • 

Art Start is at 10 a.m. every Tuesday 

at The Foundry Art Centre, 520 N. Main 

Center in St. Charles. Children create small 

art projects that pair with a story. Free event. 

For ages 2–5 with a caregiver. For details, 

visit foundryartcentre.org. 

SPECIAL INTEREST 

Hit the Bricks History Tours are every 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 230 S. 

Main Street in St. Charles. Join history tour 

guides as they “Hit the Bricks” for a walking 

tour through St. Charles 250 year history. 

Tours are limited to 15 people. Tours 

are $7 per person or $10 for two people. 

Children (under 10) are free. Tours are not 

held during the Festival of the Little Hills, 

Legends and Lanterns and Christmas Traditions. 

To book a tour, visit discoverstcharles. 

com/things-to-do/main-street/hit-the-bricks. 

• • • 

St. Charles Foodie Tours are every 

weekend in Historic St. Charles, featuring a 

2-hour walking tour (.7 mile) down Historic 

Main Street, sharing nibbles and sips from 

favorite eateries, as well as stories, legends 

and more. For ages 18+. Prices start at $55. 

To purchase tickets, visit rucksackfoodie. 

com/saint-charles-foodie-tours. 

• • • 

The Kiwanis Club of Cottleville- 

Weldon Spring meets at noon on the first 

Monday of the month at Bandanas Bar-B-Q, 

3446 Pheasant Meadow Drive in O’Fallon, 

with a mission focused on helping local 

children. For details, email cwskiwanisclub@gmail.com. 

• • • 

St. Peters Lions Club meets on the first 

and second Tuesday of the month at The 

Lions Club House, 9 Park St. in St. Peters. 

Being a Lion is about leading by example, 

building relationships and improving the 

world through kindness. For details, email 

lionsclubstpetersmo@gmail.com. 

• • • 

The Rough Writers meet from 7-9 p.m. 

on the second Tuesday of the month at the 

Crossroads Arts Center, 310 W. Pearce 

Blvd. in Wentzville. Join this writing group 

to share your writing, encourage others and 

improve writing skills. Any kind of writing 

is welcome—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, 

memoir and more. For details, contact 

Deborah Bowman at deborahbowman12@ 

yahoo.com. 

• • • 

Veterans Coffee is from 9-10:30 a.m. on 

the second and fourth Wednesday of every 

month at the Wentzville Senior Center, 

500 Great Oaks Blvd. Veterans from all 

branches of service are invited. 

• • • 

Cottleville/Weldon Spring Rotary 

Club meets at noon every Wednesday at 

Bemo’s, 5373 Hwy. N. in Cottleville. RSVP 

to Toddrasche01@gmail.com. Details at 

cwsrotary.org. 

• • • 

St. Charles County Pachyderm Club 

meets at noon every Friday at B. Hall’s 

Family Grill, 3782 Monticello Plaza Drive 

in O’Fallon. Guest speaker - Aug. 25: 

Stephanie Kaiser, speaking on the commercial 

sexual exploitation of children. Details 

at sccpachyderms.org. 

• • • 

Sister Cities Meeting is at 6 p.m. on 

Monday, Aug. 28 at Culpepper’s, 3010 

West Clay St. in St. Charles. Authors, Vicki 

Berger Erwin and James Erwin to present. 

For details, email stcharlessistercities@ 

gmail.com. 

• • • 

Corps of Discovery Half Marathon and 

5-Mile Trail Race is on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 

the Weldon Spring Conservation Area off

46 I 





Hwy. 94. The course will cover 13.1 miles 

and begin from the Lewis & Clark trailhead. 

Half marathon participants will run 

the 8-mile Lewis trail and then the 5-mile 

Clark trail. The course will not be closed 

to outside use. Cost for the half marathon 

is $80. Cost for the 5-mile race is $60. To 

register, visit runsignup.com and search 

“Corps of Discovery.” 

• • • 

Dardenne Prairie Bingo is at 10:30 a.m. 

on Friday, Sept. 8 at City Hall, 2032 Hanley 

Road in Dardenne Prairie. Free event with 

lunch included. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.; 

lunch at 11 a.m. and Bingo at noon. To 

register, email nichole@dardenneprairie. 

org. Open to residents first; others will 

be placed on a waitlist. For details, visit 

dardenneprairie.org. 

• • • 

Dash for Donuts is at 8 a.m. on Saturday, 

Sept. 9 at the St. Peters Rec-Plex (South 

Parking Lot) in St. Peters. This 7K/5K 

course will be held on paved trails in shady 

parks. Enjoy donuts halfway through the 

course before heading back to the finish 

line. Pets are not allowed on the race course. 

Tickets start at $35. To register, visit stpetersmo.net/560/Dash-for-Donuts-7k5k. 

• • • 

Pool Paws Dog Swim is from 9:30 

a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 

Alligator’s Creek, 403 Civic Park Drive in 

O’Fallon. All dogs must be accompanied 

by an adult, aged 18 and over. Bring written 

proof of vaccinations. $15 per dog. For 

details and to register, visit ofallon.mo.us. 

• • • 

PETapalooza is from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, 

Sept. 9 at the Olde Towne Park Pavilion, 

1 Park St. in St. Peters, featuring local 

businesses/vendor booths, giveaways and 

prizes, adoptable animals, free nail grinding 

and more. For details, visit stpetersmo.net. 

• • • 

St. Charles Swing Dance Club Monthly 

Dance is at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16 

at Dardenne Prairie Hall, 2199 Post Road. 

Dance to the music of DJ Doug Eskew. Free 

dance lessons with paid admission from 

6:15-7 p.m. Bring snacks and drinks. For 

details, email dinamaria1@outlook.com. 

• • • 

Sky Wars Fireworks Championship is 

from 2-10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 

13604 Hwy. M in Wright City. Gates open 

at 2 p.m. Fireworks begin at 7:30 p.m. The 

Children’s Festival Area is open from 2-7 

p.m. Food and drinks will be available 

for purchase. Tickets are $45 for general 

admission and $160 for an all-inclusive 

VIP ticket. Children 5 and under are free 

but must have a ticket. To purchase tickets, 

call (314) 730-0793 or visit skywarsevent. 

com. 

• • • 

Real Champions Fight Night: Amateur 

Boxing is at 5 p.m. on Saturday, 

Sept. 30 on Second Street Frenchtown 

in St. Charles, featuring amateur boxers 

and matches between the St. Charles Fire 

Department and the St. Charles Police 

Department. Food trucks open at 5 p.m. 

The first fight begins at 6 p.m. Free admission. 

Food and drinks will be available for 

purchase. For details, visit stcharlescitymo. 

gov/1083/Real-Champions-Fight-Night. 

• • • 

Mo’ Cowbell Marathon is at 7:30 

a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 500 S. Riverside 

Drive in St. Charles. For details, visit 

mocowbellmarathon.com or email info@ 

mocowbellmarathon.com. 

MID RIVERS HOME PAGES 

FULLY INSURED 

Proudly Serving St. Charles & St. Louis Counties 

Deck & Fence Installation • Baseboard & Trim Carpentry 

Framing • Window & Door Installation 

Wood & LVT flooring Installation 

HIRE A GUY 

general carpentry 

LLC 

$ 

100 OFF LABOR 

Any job $ 1000 or more 

BOOK your holiday projects NOW! 

WWW.HIREAGUYSTLMO.COM • 636-577-8168 

Offering affordable dumpster rental 

services to both commercial contractors 

and residential homeowners 

30+ YEARS 

EXPERIENCE 

A+ 

RATED 

County House Washing 

& Painting 

Power Washing • Painting • Staining 

INTERIORS • EXTERIORS • CONCRETE 

CEDAR HOMES • DECKS & FENCES 

Mike Lynch 636.394.0013 

WWW.COUNTYHOUSEWASHING.COM 

DECK STAINING 

BRUSH ONLY 

BY BRUSH ONLY 

(Because neatness counts) 

• NO Spraying or Rolling Mess! 

• NO Money Down! 

THE FAN MAN 

INSTAllATIoN ProFESSIoNAlS 

Ceiling Fans • Wholehouse Fans 

Gable Vent Fans • Recessed Lighting 

Specializing in installation for two story homes 

with no wiring on first floor. 

When Handyman Quality Just Won't Do. 

(314) 510-6400 

314-852-5467 

• FULLY INSURED • REFERENCES 

42+ Years! 

www.deckstainingbybrushonly.com 

YOU’VE SEEN THE MESS, TRY THE BEST 

• 1 Room Or Entire Basement 

• FREE Design Service 

• Finish What You Started 

• As Low As $15 sq. ft. 

• Professional Painters, Drywall 

Hangers & Tapers 

Call Rich on cell 314.713.1388 

When you want it done right... 

Check our ads first. 

636.591.0010 

We offer dumpsters for any job! 

10-15-20-30-YARD DUMPSTERS 

7-DAY RENTAL 

Pricing includes drop-off, pick-up and disposal 

Basement & garage clean-out 

Home improvement projects – 

kitchen & bath remodels 

Flood & fire clean-outs 

Yard waste & landscape removal 

NEED A DUMPSTER? CALL US! 

314.740.1738 

INFO@HOOKANDROLLDUMPSTER.COM 

MID RIVERS 

H O M E P A G E S 

ROOFING 

TUCKPOINTING 

PAINTING 

GUTTERS 

314-968-7848 stlroofing.com 

TOP GUNN 

FAMILY CONSTRUCTION 

Now Scheduling For 

Fall Projects! 

Custom Decks • Int/Ext Paint • Powerwashing 

Staining • Sealing • Fences 

Windows • Sun Rooms • Pole Barns 

Kitchens & Baths • Carpentry • Drywall 

“WE DO IT ALL” 

Over 20 Years Experience 

Senior, Military, & 

First Responder Discounts 

Free Estimates 

636.466.3956 

gunnfamilyconstruction@gmail.com





I 47 

LIBRARY, from page 10 

at work. I could not show up at work in a 

Speedo ….” 

During public comments, Amy Robertson 

said the problem isn’t the male librarian 

wearing traditionally female attire, but 

rather an issue of bullying. 

“Our county libraries are the latest targets 

of grown-up bullying. First, someone 

found a librarian who looks different 

from what they deemed worthy of acceptance. 

The bully used big scary words 

to describe the librarian, ensuring that 

people became irate about the existence 

of the librarian. Every time the story of 

the librarian was retold, it was embellished 

more and more and more. Now 

there is a mob of angry villagers armed 

with proverbial pitchforks and flames 

directed at the librarian and library 

administrators.” 

Jarrett Pillsbury told the council they 

should consider whether they had exercised 

good judgment and suggested that 

“perhaps a bit of self-reflection is in order 

going forward.” He said the council had 

failed to gather information and act calmly 

and rationally about the library dispute. 

“Tonight, we saw a rash action and 

attacks on a man’s First Amendment rights 

all because of another person’s rash actions 

based solely on her response to a person’s 

appearance,” Pillsbury said. 

He shared slides of individuals who he 

said had been accused or found guilty of 

sex crimes. Then, referencing the librarian 

whose attire had started the dispute, he 

said, “The person didn’t look like this man 

or this woman or this youth pastor or this 

sports coach or this law enforcement officer. 

They’ve all been arrested, charged, or 

pleaded guilty to crimes including sexual 

assault, child rape, and yes, even child sex 

trafficking … Sadly, we have examples 

of whole organizations … and other unlicensed 

schools where abuses and harm go 

unchecked by our elected officials. I’ve 

heard nothing from this loud voice or her 

supporters about any of these kinds of 

actual problems. Only focus on someone 

who has done no harm but was simply different. 

And now the county council has 

been brought along on this ride. I condemn 

the actions of this council and its focusing 

on the wrong thing when there are actual 

things, real problems, real threats to our 

community that exist …” 

Dianne Romer said the only focus 

should be on the children. 

“The focus should not be 

on one man’s attire, but 

it should be on what’s 

best for children.” 

– Dianne Romer 

“The focus should not be on one man 

dressing provocatively as a woman while 

working in the children’s section of the 

library, but it should be on what’s best for 

children. And I would hope that anyone 

could agree on that,” she said. “This is 

of particular interest to me, because I’ve 

worked as a psychotherapist with children 

and families for 26 years, and I’ve spent a 

lot of that time with children who are very 

impressionable.” 

Romer described a visit to the Wailing 

Wall in Jerusalem years ago when she was 

wearing shorts. 

“They didn’t think my attire was appropriate, 

so they gave me a wrap to put on,” 

she said. “I wasn’t offended. I didn’t think 

my identity was being threatened. I just 

thought this is not the appropriate place to 

wear shorts.” 

Romer asked the elected officials to take 

their power seriously. 

“You guys are in a position like no other 

time in history,” she said. “I want to ask 

you to continue to protect families … This 

is just the beginning. I just want you to continue 

to be ready to fight for these issues 

that are coming.” She referenced “hidden 

agendas” and asked the county executive 

and council “to give special attention 

to anyone who is nominated for a public 

position, to ensure that every person who 

is approved is somebody who is going to 

work to protect innocent children.” 

According to the minutes of the library 

board’s July 18 meeting, President Staci 

Alvarez stated that the library has a boardapproved 

dress code policy that “requires 

a professional appearance and work 

appropriate attire, is neutral and meets 

the requirements of Missouri and federal 

employment law.” 

According to the minutes, Alvarez 

emphatically stated that the library’s dress 

code is enforced. 

“Staff are not permitted to wear inappropriate 

attire to work and management has 

in the past, and will continue to, enforce 

the dress code policy,” she said. 

MID RIVERS CLASSIFIEDS • 636.591.0010 • CLASSIFIEDS@NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM 

AUCTIONS 

Steward Self Storage 

101 N. Service Rd. 

St. Peters, MO 63376 

Notice is hereby given that the 

contents of the following unit 

will be sold in compliance with 

Missouri state law via online 

auction at: 

www.storageauctions.com 

for non-payment of past rent. 

All items in the units below 

will be released for sale. 

Auction date is on or after 

September 7th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. 

10x12 Outside Non-Climate – 

This unit may contain auto parts, 

tools, couches, shelving, lamps, 

chairs, tables, patio furniture, 

misc boxes, clothing, sports gear, 

suitcases, toys 


This unit may contain tvs, tables, 

bags, boxes, clothing, toys 


This unit may contain toolbox, 

landscaping equipment, patio 

furniture, suitcases 


This unit may contain couches, 

shelving, mattresses, bed frames, 

chairs, tables, boxes, cleaning 

supplies, misc items, golf clubs, 

utility dolly, filing cabinet 

CLEANING SERVICES 

SPOTLESS CLEANING 

SERVICES 

for your home or business. 

Specializing in everyday cleaning 

of homes, rentals, move outs & 

home buying, etc. 

Family owned & operated 

Call today (636) 777-9319 

to schedule your cleaning 

or a FREE ESTIMATE. 

Email: spotless.dina@gmail.com 

COLLECTIBLES 

WANTED TO BUY 

• SPORTS MEMORABILIA • 

Baseball Cards, Sports Cards, 

Cardinals Souvenirs and 

Memorabilia. Pre-1975 Only. 

Private Collector: 

314-302-1785 

ELECTRICAL 

ERIC'S ELECTRIC 

Licensed, Bonded and Insured: 

Service upgrades, fans, can lights, 

switches, outlets, basements, 

code violations fixed, we do it 

all. Emergency calls & back-up 

generators. No job too small. 

Competitively priced. 

Free Estimates. 

Just call 636-262-5840 

GARAGE DOORS 

DSI/Door Solutions, Inc. 

Garage Doors, Electric Openers. 

Fast Repairs. All makes & models. 

Same day service. Free Estimates. 

Custom Wood and Steel Doors. 

BBB Member • Angie's List 

Call 314-550-4071 

www.dsi-stl.com 

HAULING 

J & J HAULING 

WE HAUL IT ALL 

Service 7 days. Debris, furniture, 

appliances, household trash, 

yard debris, railroad ties, fencing, 

decks. Garage & Basement Clean-up 

Neat, courteous, affordable rates. 

Call: 636-379-8062 or 

email: jandjhaul@aol.com 

HELP WANTED 

Reliable person for multitasking 

caregiver in private home for 

elderly adult. 

Thursday & Friday 

and every other Sunday 

Job includes 

Caregiving & light housekeeping, 

etc, Starting time in August 

For More Information 

Call Sherlyn 

at 314-349-1457 

Rockwood School District 

Hiring For Position of: 

Food Service 

Our Child Nutrition Assistants 

work school days only 

Part time or Full time, 

No experience needed. 

Starting Pay $14 Hourly. 

Seven Paid Holidays, 

Retirement through PEERS, 

Perfect Attendance Days 

Manager positions available 

with full benefits. 

www.rsdmo.org 

or call 636-733-3253 

HOME IMPROVEMENT 

AFFORDABLE CARPENTRY 

Kitchen Remodeling, Wainscoting, 

Cabinets, Crown Molding, Trim, 

Framing, Basement Finishing, 

Custom Decks, Doors, Windows. 

Free estimates! 

Anything inside & out! 

Call Joe 636-699-8316 

REMODEL & REPAIR 

Rotted wood, Painting, Tile, 

Drywall, Floors, Electrical, 

Carpentry, Plumbing, 

Power Washing. Insured. 

FREE ESTIMATES 

Tom Streckfuss 314-910-7458 

sbacontractingllc@gmail.com 

HOME IMPROVEMENT 

HAPPY HANDYMAN SERVICE 

"Don't Worry Get Happy" 

Complete home remodel/ 

repair kitchen & bath, plumbing, 

electrical, carpentry. 24HR 

Emergency Service. Commercial 

and Residential. Discount for 

Seniors/Veterans. 

636-541-9432 

Littleman’s Contracting 

& Home Repair 

No job is too BIG 

or small! 

FREE ESTIMATES 

Call Kenneth 

636-428-8734 

LANDSCAPING 

HAVING WATER 

& EROSION ISSUES?? 

OR 

NEED GENERAL 

YARDWORK DONE?? 

CALL 

636-366-4007 

or 636-358-8800 

POWERWASHING 

Exterior Soft Wash 

1 Story $199 

2 Story $249 

Up to 2,000 Sq. Ft. 

All Smiles Pressure Washing, LLC 

636-279-0056 

PAINTING 

PEST CONTROL 

FREEDOM 

PEST CONTROL 

Most Jobs $85 

636-233-1374 

PLUMBING 

ANYTHING IN PLUMBING 

Good Prices! Basement 

bathrooms, small repairs & code 

violations repaired. Fast Service. 

Certified, licensed plumber - MBC 

Plumbing - Call or text anytime: 

314-409-5051 

AFFORDABLE 

LICENSED PLUMBER 

FAIR WATER HEATER PRICES! 

Quality Kitchen & Bath Remodel. 

Quick Repairs! 

(636) 288-7002 

Call or Text 

REAL ESTATE 

I BUY HOMES 

ALL CASH - AS-IS 

I have been buying and selling 

for over 30 years. 

No obligation. $ 

No commission. 

No fixing up. 

It doesn’t cost to find out 

how much you can get. 

Must ask for 

Lyndon Anderson 

314-496-5822 

Berkshire Hathaway 

Select Prop. 

Office: 636-394-2424 

TREE SERVICES 

Complete Tree Service for 

Residential & Commercial 

Tree Pruning & Removal 

Plant Health Care Program 

Deadwooding • Stump Grinding 

Deep Root Fertilization 

Cabling & Storm Clean Up 

ISA Certified Arborists 

Doug Beckmann MW-5255A 

Teresa Hessel MW-5754A • Brad Meyer MW-5286A 

Free Estimates • Fully Insured 

314-426-2911 

meyertreecare.com

FLOOR 

AD RE 

EVENT 

LIVE YOUR LIFE AND 

LOVE YOUR FLOORS 

UP TO $1,000 BACK 

OUR LOWEST PRICES 

THROUGH SEPT. 19 

ASK ABOUT SPECIAL FINANCING 

5773 Westwood Drive | St. Charles 

(636) 926-9989 | www.besedaflooring.com 

HOURS: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

Saturday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Free In Home Estimates!

Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 8-23-23

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Delete template?

Save as template ?