West Newsmagazine 11-1-23

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16 I NEWS I November 1, 2023 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE @WESTNEWSMAG WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM Tickets on sale now for 35th Annual Progress 64 West Awards Banquet The Progress 64 West Awards Banquet keynote speaker will be Michael Staenberg (left); Marc Cox will serve as emcee. By KATE UPTERGROVE Progress 64 West will host its 35th Annual Excellence in Community Development Awards Banquet at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road in Chesterfield. For nearly 35 years, the civic organization has participated in and promoted projects aimed at advancing economic development along the I-64 corridor in St. Louis and St. Charles counties. Today, those efforts include advocating for policy impacting the two-county region. “When responsible corporate partners locate within a community, residents realize not only an increase in job opportunities, but lower taxes, a higher quality education system, along with many other amenities that would not be possible without the added tax dollars that are returned to our communities,” Progress 64 West states on its website. “We are all champions – whether we are running a bank, civic leaders, healthcare workers, educating tomorrow’s leaders, building homes and commercial spaces, or even helping our neighbors in need. Every level, every operation, every tiny detail creates a beautiful story of life. When technicians, artisans, intellectuals, and craftsmen work together we all bring our skills to the table. It strengthens the region.” To that end, the annual banquet honors local leaders and corporate partners who live out that vision. This year those “Champions in Action” include: • Chesterfield City Administrator Mike Geisel, who has worked for the city since 1988. Geisel assumed the role of city administrator in August 2016. • Chesterfield Sports Complex, represented by Stuart Duncan, executive director of the Chesterfield Sports Association (CSA). A project of the CSA, the 97,000-square-foot complex features nine basketball courts that convert to 18 volleyball courts to host tournaments of every level and size for a range of sporting types, including gymnastics, martial arts and more. • Boone Center Inc. (BCI), represented by CEO Troy Compardo. BCI has, since 1959, helped people with intellectual and developmental disabilities find meaningful employment. • The Brass Rail Steakhouse. Each Thanksgiving since 2013, the O’Fallon restaurant owned by Scott Ellinger has delivered thousands of free dinners to area residents in need. An army of volunteers steps up to pack and deliver the Thanksgiving feasts. The goodwill began in 2013 when Ellinger was asked to help out with a backpack food program at the local school district. He realized that if those families don’t have food for the weekend, they certainly don’t have Thanksgiving dinner. That first year, he fed a little more than 100 people. Today, it’s thousands of meals. Also being honored at the event will be the winners of the P64 Entrepreneurial Scholarship, which 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. The scholarship program, now administered by the Youth- Bridge Community Foundation, grew out of the Progress 64 West scholarship named for one of West St. Louis County’s original “champions in action” – Louis S. Sachs. Sachs envisioned a downtown for Chesterfield in roughly the area where Michael Staenberg will, in coming years, redevelop Chesterfield Mall and where work continues on the mixed-use Wildhorse Village development. Staenberg will serve as the key note speaker for the awards banquet. Radio personality and journalist Marc Cox will serve as its master of ceremonies. Tickets are $90 per person. Tables seat eight and sponsorship opportunities are still available. To purchase tickets and learn more, visit progress64west.org.
FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM November 1, 2023 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE I NEWS I 17 County Council approves open carry restrictions targeted at teens By LAURA SAGGAR St. Louis County Council members (from left) Ernie Traskas, Rita Heard Days, Kelli Dunaway, Shalonda Webb, Mark Harder, Lisa Clancy, and Dennis Hancock. (Source: St. Louis County) The St. Louis County Council approved amendments to the county’s firearms code on Oct. 24, focusing on teens and open carry gun permits. The day marked the one year anniversary of the mass shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High in St. Louis. One student, Alexandria Bell, 15, and teacher, Jean Kuczka, 61, were killed and seven others were injured. The shooter, a 19-year-old former student, was fatally shot by police. Reports say that the shooter openly carried an AR-15 style rifle and 600 rounds of ammunition into the school. As the open carry law stands now, police are not authorized to approach someone, even a teenager, who is openly carrying a gun, for any reason unless that person points the gun in a threatening way or discharges it. The amendments to the county’s ordinance would make it unlawful for anyone 16 or younger to shoot a gun except while under the immediate supervision of the parent or guardian, or someone 21 years or older who is designated by the parent or guardian to supervise the child while firing the gun. Additionally, those who do carry or display a firearm in unincorporated St. Louis County must be able to show their concealed carry endorsement or permit if asked to by law enforcement. The amendments to the firearms code, Bill 203, were sponsored by Council Chair Shalonda Webb (D-District 4) who said this legislation is needed in her district that serves the northernmost portion of St. Louis County. “We can’t wait in my community,” Webb said. “I’m trying to be proactive. We have youth carrying guns; police can’t even approach them. The police are supportive of this … tool. It gives them the authority to approach and ask to see their conceal and carry license.” Republican council members Mark Harder (R-District 7), Dennis Hancock (R-District 3) and Ernie Trakas (R-District 6) said they did not think the amendments would take any guns off the streets. They said they would like to take the issue to voters. “This will not take one gun off the street,” Harder said. “We already have laws on the books that limit kids under the age of 16 that are not being enforced. People who are predisposed to break that law are going to break the law. I understand we want to make the streets safer. In my district it’s not a problem. Put it in front of the voters so they can decide for themselves what they think the course of action should be.” Harder also brought up concerns about possible inconsistencies in gun laws across the almost 100 municipalities in St. Louis County. County officials said municipalities could use the county’s ordinance as a template to pass their own open carry guidelines. “We can do more than one thing at a time,” council member Lisa Clancy (D-District 5) said. “We can support the police too, and we can (pass these amendments), and we can hold our state legislators accountable. This is a small step we can take against gun violence. It isn’t going to do everything, but it could do something. It’s the same tired excuses we’ve heard year after year. Kansas City has had this law in place since 2016. No one has challenged it. Police support this bill. This is how we can support the police.” Those who voted in favor of the bill were Webb, Clancy, Rita Heard Days (D-District 1) and Kelli Dunaway D-District 2).Those opposed were Trakas and Harder. Hancock abstained from voting because he said he felt the council wasn’t ready to vote on the amendments and that he felt voters should decide. “Thoughts and prayers are not helping anybody get through these storms,” Webb said. “It’s been a year to the date from the school shooting in St. Louis. We can’t sit and do nothing any longer. I have the support of the police and the community for a responsible open carry law.” WARM UP WITH SAVINGS WINDOWS • SIDING • ROOFS • ENTRY DOORS 35% OFF WINDOWS, DOORS & SIDING ROOFS WINDOWS DOORS SIDING 15% OFF 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 November 30, 2023, not valid with other offers.
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Page 11 and 12: PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SIN
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Page 19 and 20: THE POWER OF PURPOSE M1 BANK RANKED
Page 21 and 22: Mari de Villa SENIOR LIVING Serving
Page 23 and 24: Veterans Day Thanks to all members
Page 39 and 40: Live Thankfully At Friendship Villa
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West Newsmagazine 11-1-23

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