Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 2-21-24

Vol. 21 No. 4 • February 21, 2024 

midriversnewsmagazine.com 

Understanding political divides 

in Dardenne Prairie 

PLUS: Summer Camps ■ Dardenne Prairie Town Square Update ■ Technology For Independence

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STAR PARKER 

Winds of change 

in the Black vote 

Data shows that winds of political 

change are blowing among Black voters. 

In volatile times like now, predictions 

can be made with only the greatest caution. 

However, it seems clear that something 

is going on and Black voters are breaking 

with past voting patterns. 

The New York Times reported last 

November that, per its polling with Siena 

College, 22% of Black voters in six key 

battleground states – Arizona, Georgia, 

Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and 

Wisconsin – indicated they would support 

Republican Donald Trump. 

In 2020, Trump gained ground with 

Blacks, picking up 12% of the Black vote, 

up from 8% in 2016. But any suggestion 

that any Republican candidate might pick 

up 20-plus percent of the Black vote is 

revolutionary. 

The last time the Black vote went beyond 

the teens for a Republican was in 1960, 

when Richard Nixon got 32% of the Black 

vote, in a close election he lost to John 

Kennedy. 

The next election in 1964 was, for Blacks, 

about the Civil Rights Movement. The 

Republican candidate, Barry Goldwater, 

opposed passage of the Civil Rights Act 

and got 4% of the Black vote. Republicans 

have not recovered since. 

Nixon returned and won the presidency 

in 1968 and 1972. However, Blacks supported 

him at a fraction of what he received 

in 1960 – Nixon getting 10% of the Black 

vote in 1968 and 13% in 1972. 

In a USA Today/Suffolk University Poll 

reported in January, only 63% of Black 

voters indicated support for President Joe 

Biden, compared to 87% who voted for 

him in 2020. 

The USA Today/Suffolk University poll 

shows a less compelling picture of Blacks 

moving toward Trump. That poll shows 

12% support for Trump, exactly where he 

was in 2020. 

However, the poll shows Black sentiment 

moving away from Democrats with 

almost 20% of Black voters indicating they 

would support a third party candidate. 

Now we have new data from Gallup 

reporting that “The Democratic Party’s 

wide lead over Republicans in Black 

Americans’ party preferences has shrunk 

by nearly 20 points over the past three 

years.” 

Among Black Americans surveyed, 66% 

said they identify as Democrat/lean Democrat 

and 19% Republican/lean Republican, 

for a differential of 47 points. 

A little over three years ago in 2020, in 

the same survey, 77% of Black Americans 

identified as Democrat/lean Democrat, 

compared to 11% identifying as Republican/lean 

Republican, for a differential of 

66 points. In just three years, the differential 

between Black support for Democrats 

and for Republicans has shrunk 19 points. 

Overall, the 47-point differential in this 

latest survey is the smallest since Gallup 

first started doing the survey in 1999, when 

the differential was 72 points. 

With recent elections decided by tiny 

margins in battleground states, a fundamental 

change in voting behavior by one 

key demographic – Blacks – can be a game 

changer. 

The implications over the long haul are 

profound given the demographic changes 

taking place, with the percentage of the 

white vote, which accounts for the majority 

of Republican votes, shrinking in each 

election. In 2020, whites accounted for 

67% of the vote. This compared to 1980 

when the white vote stood at 88%. 

Per the Census Bureau, the percentage 

of the U.S. population that is white will 

be down to 45% by 2060. So, any movement 

of Blacks, and Hispanics, away from 

Democrats means a lot. 

Why is this apparent movement of 

Blacks from Democrats happening? 

Here’s one hypothesis I propose from the 

New York Times/Siena College Poll. 

That poll shows that, relative to whites, 

Blacks care more about economic issues 

than social issues. Sixty-five percent of 

Blacks say economic issues are most 

important compared to 53% of whites. 

Twenty-one percent of Blacks say social 

issues are most important compared to 

33% of whites. 

Perhaps we are entering new times when 

fewer Blacks look to government for social 

justice and more want economic growth 

and opportunity. 

This means Republicans. 

© 2024 Creators.com 

Read more on midriversnewsmagazine.com 

February 21, 2024 

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6 I OPINION I 



@MIDRIVERS_NEWS 


EDITORIAL 

Three stories 

The eyes don’t have it 

A 280-million-year-old fossil had 

baffled scientists for more than a century, 

and with good reason. The fossil is a fake. 

The details are relatively unimportant. 

The fossil appeared to be a largely intact 

8-inch lizard, which is remarkably rare 

for a fossil so old. Turns out, only a portion 

of the fossil was legitimate. The rest, 

namely the part that appeared as intact 

skin fragments, was merely painted rock. 

The fossil was discovered in 1931. The 

forgery was discovered last month. 

In other news, OpenAI, the company 

behind ChatGPT, unveiled its new AI 

video application last week. Called Sora, 

the novel technology can generate hyperrealistic 

video from simple text prompts. 

In other words, you can enter “orange 

cat slaps mustachioed dictator while 

tap dancing on leaves of lettuce” and, 

by golly, that is what you will see just 

moments later. For people who love to 

see cats slap dictators, this is great news. 

For the rest of us, it means that bad actors 

who want to create deep fake videos now 

require only the will – not the skill - to 

deceive. The company does not currently 

plan to release Sora to the public. 

In the history of mankind, “seeing is 

believing” has never been a more meaningless 

phrase. 

Home is where the NAR is 

The National Association of Realtors, 

or NAR, is not some quaint little group 

of real estate agents talking about how 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

best to make an open house smell like 

chocolate chip cookies. It claims to be 

the largest trade association in the country, 

with more than 1.5 million active 

members and some $1 billion in assets. 

Its seemingly most important role is 

to maintain an antiquated commission 

structure that splits a 5.5% average commission 

fee between the buyer’s agent 

and the seller’s agent. Those commission 

levels are largely unchanged over the last 

century, and rank amongst the highest in 

the world. By comparison, the average 

commission in the U.K. is just 1.3%. 

A consequence of such a commission 

structure is that it maintains an artificially 

high number of semi-professional, 

dues-paying Realtors. The average agent 

in the U.S. is involved in just a dozen 

transactions per year, hardly enough to 

claim expert level. 

Most of the controversy with the commission 

structure centers around the 

role of the buyer’s agent. Once a muchneeded 

position to locate potential 

homes for the buyers, that role can now 

be filled by any number of websites. 

The role of the buyer’s agent has been 

greatly diminished, but their commission 

has not. 

Last October, a jury in Kansas City, 

Missouri, awarded a $1.8 billion verdict 

against the NAR saying that the association 

had kept fees artificially inflated. 

That is the beginning of a much-needed 

change in the industry. Truly professional 

Realtors are good people working 

hard to maintain their clients’ slice of the 

American Dream. Their trade association 

should reflect that attitude and that future, 

not work to protect an impossible past. 

Three cheers for Caitlin Clark 

Women need great role models these 

days. Who are we kidding, everyone 

needs great role models these days. 

Last Thursday, Iowa senior guard 

Caitlin Clark became the all-time NCAA 

Division I leader in points scored. There 

is a chance she could also pass Pete 

Maravich’s all-time record of 3,667 

points with five games remaining in the 

season. 

Clark is athletically amazing and 

almost completely non-controversial. 

She has made women’s college basketball 

10 times more financially valuable 

in her years. She is the model of modern 

athletics and deserves at least three 

cheers. 

Here is something else interesting. We 

said Clark became the all-time NCAA 

leader with 3,569 points. That is only 

sort of true. Lynette Woodard starred 

at Kansas from 1978-1981. She scored 

3,649 points in four years. She did that 

prior to the advent of the three-point shot, 

making the feat even more impressive. 

She also did it before women’s sports 

were recognized by the NCAA, so her 

record is largely ignored today. Clark is 

likely to pass Woodard this year, and is 

deserving of every cheer she gets, but 

let’s make sure we save at least one of 

those cheers for Lynette Woodard. 

Gaslighting in Francis Howell 

To the Editor: 

Remember the good ole days when 

conservatives complained of overreach, 

vowed to keep government small, and 

demanded transparency? Not so anymore. 

A new conservative guard has taken St. 

Charles County by storm. In 2021, they 

showed conservative moderates the door, 

called up a PAC from Texas, and created 

an alliance. Pairing deep pockets with the 

farthest right leaders in Missouri, they targeted 

nonpartisan school boards. In 2022, 

the Republican Party donated $3,500 each 

to school board president Adam Bertrand 

and director Randy Cook’s campaigns. 

The Gontarz family has now financed and 

endorsed five sitting school board directors, 

pouring nearly $35,000 into Francis 

Howell School District (FHSD) races. 

The hypocrisy of PAC president Ken 

Gontarz’s recent opinion, railing against 

powerful political action committees when 

he, himself, is president of a PAC formed 

exclusively to advance the latest culture 

war in our district speaks volumes. Ironically, 

this PAC already sued FHSD for 

the right to advertise its PAC in public 

comments. Mr. Gontarz not only attends 

weekly Pachyderm meetings (a club for 

prepping young Republicans), but his PAC 

events host Republican leaders so extreme 

that they have recently drawn the ire of 

their own party leadership. 

It is no surprise Mr. Gontarz’s opinion 

repeated the conspiracy theories of Christopher 

Rufo (a paid operative for private 

school vouchers), implicated our children’s 

teachers, and attacked the Southern 

Poverty Law Center (the first organization 

to successfully sue the Klu Klux Klan). 

If such an author wants to fling the term 

“radical” (the same insult thrown at Susan 

B Anthony, Dr. Martin Luther King and 

Caesar Chavez) at those willing to stand 

up to his FHSD5, I’ll proudly wear the 

label, and you should, too. Because a real 

political agenda bought and paid for by Mr. 

Gontarz is well underway in FHSD, and 

his version of reading, writing, and discipline 

is looking more and more dystopian 

every day. 

Jamie Martin, president 

FrancisHowellForward.org 

Founder 

Publisher Emeritus 

Publisher 

Managing Editor 

Associate Editor 

Staff Writer 

Features Editor 

Business Manager 

Graphic Designer 

Graphic Designer 

Graphic Layout 

Advertising Account Executives 

Nancy Anderson 

Vicky Czapla 

Ellen Hartbeck 

Jessica Baumgartner 

Bethany Coad 

Suzanne Corbett 

Reporters 

Doug Huber 

Sharon Huber 

Tim Weber 

Kate Uptergrove 

Tracey Bruce 

Laura Brown 

Lisa Russell 

Erica Myers 

Donna Deck 

Aly Doty 

Emily Rothermich 

Linda Joyce 

Joe Ritter 

Sheila Roberts 

Robin S. Jefferson 

DeAnne LeBlanc 

John Tremmel 

754 Spirit 40 Park Drive 

Chesterfield, MO 63005 

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Comments, Letters and Press Releases to: 

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8 I NEWS I 





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Congratulations to St. Charles Borromeo School on winning the “judges 

favorite” award in the Saint Charles Mardi Gras Parade. 

NEWS 

BRIEFS 

ST. PETERS 

Park reservation 

system now open 

The city of St. Peters is accepting reservation 

requests for its park pavilions 

and athletic fields, with discount rates for 

residents. Offerings include the recently 

renovated City Centre Gazebo, which is 

surrounded by a picturesque pond, fountains 

and landscaping. The Gazebo is available 

April 1-Oct. 31. Folding chairs also 

can be rented. To rent the Gazebo, visit 

stpetersmo.net/rec-connect or call (636) 

397-6903 ext. 1624. 

Pavilion reservations open March 1, 

with online reservations open at 7 a.m. and 

in-person reservations available at 9 a.m. 

at the Rec-Plex. Pavilions can be rented 

from April 1-Oct. 31. 

Athletic field reservations open March 

18, 2024, with online reservations open at 

7 a.m. and in-person reservations available 

at 9 a.m. at the Rec-Plex. Fields can be 

rented from April 1-Nov. 30. Phone reservations 

will not be taken for athletic fields. 

Reservations for the pavilions at 370 

Lakeside Park are available year-round 

by contacting 370 Lakeside Park at (636) 

387-5283. 

A guaranteed reservation fee is required 

at time of reservation. To qualify for resident 

rates, a current St. Peters Resident 

Privilege Card is required. 

ST. CHARLES COUNTY 

Improvements for Detention 

Center, Family Arena 

At its meeting on Feb. 12, St. Charles 

County Council authorized the issuance of 

$32.75 million in special obligation bonds 

to renovate, improve, equip and furnish 

the County Adult Detention Facility and 

the Family Arena. The separate projects 

would construct a new mental health and 

substance abuse unit and relocate kitchen 

facilities in the detention facility and install 

new seats at the Family Arena. 

The action was approved in a 6-1 vote 

with council member Joe Brazil (District 

2) opposed. 

Prior to the vote, Assistant Director of 

Administration Bob Schnur was asked to 

provide an update about the actual sale of 

bonds that was completed the same day as 

the council meeting. Schnur said it was 

a great day, with 14 parties interested in 

the bonds and 12 of those submitting bids. 

Because of the high number of bidders, the 

county was able to obtain a premium and 

thus reduced the bond sale to $32.75 million 

instead of the originally planned $35 

million, saving the county $2.25 million. 

The council thus voted on substitute Bill 

No. 5265 for $32.75 million. 

Last September the council approved 

Resolution 23-07, that set a $35 million 

bond issue into motion. $32 million is 

designated for completion of the Jail modification 

project along with $3 million that 

represents the part of the total $14 million 

Family Arena renovation project to be paid 

from county resources. ARPA funding 

and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant 

account for the other $11 million. 

The principal of and interest on the 

bonds will be payable solely from the revenues 

derived from annual appropriations 

by the county council. 

County approves new fire/ 

EMS alerting system 

In October 2023, the St. Charles County 

Emergency Services Association Inc. 

decided to use US Digital Designs by 

Honeywell as the sole source vendor for 

all current and future G2 fire station and 

ambulance base alerting system projects 

within St. Charles County. A G2 system 

refers to tone and automated voice alerting, 

an LED light alert, dispatch text information 

and input/output controls. 

The system will include any and all fire 

and ambulance districts and fire departments 

dispatched by the St. Charles 

County Department of Emergency Communications. 

As part of the Consent Agenda at its Feb. 

12 meeting, the St. Charles County Council 

unanimously authorized initial setup, 

use, and one year of warranty and support 

of US Digital hardware and software for 

integrated and automated Fire and EMS 

station alerting of incidents. This will help 

automate a portion of the dispatch process 

and reduce some staff workload. 

In a background memo to the council, 

Jeff Smith, director of emergency communications, 

explained that his department 

had been pursuing this type of solution for 

years and had been waiting for the Fire/ 

EMS agencies to come together and select 

a vendor of choice. Those agencies did 

select US Digital as vendor for this solution, 

and purchasing from US Digital is 

available via the National Purchasing Partners 

government contract. 

St. Louis County recently selected US 

Digital as their Fire and EMS station alerting 

solution and has successfully implemented 

the product. Smith said using the 

same vendor will be ideal once St. Charles 

County computer aided dispatch (CAD) 

systems are integrated and the counties 

are able to share and assign each other’s 

resources on both mutual aid and automatic 

aid fire and EMS related incidents. 

Mosaics Fine Art Festival 

opens application process 

Mosaics Fine Art Festival is seeking 

applicants for 29th annual event to be held 

Friday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 15. 

Only 100 artists will be invited to showcase 

and sell their wares at this exclusive 

juried event. The application deadline is 

March 31, and notification of acceptance 

will take place May 5. 

Media categories include clay, drawing, 

glass, leather, metal, pastel, oil/acrylic, 

photography, printmaking, sculpture, 

watercolor, and wood. A total of $5,000 

will be awarded to the top nine artists. 

The Mosaics Fine Art Festival features 

live musical entertainment, a Children’s 

Village Creation Station for hands-on art 

experiences, the Mary Hediger Memorial 

Art Shop for Kids where children ages 14 

and younger can buy professional artwork, 

and the Joyce Rosen Founder’s Scholarship 

art display where emerging high 

school artists showcase their work. The 

Artists for Adoption Pet Pavilion is open 

to families interested in adopting pets from 

Stray Paws Adoptables. 

Artists can apply at zapplication.org, 

search “Mosaic” in the events listing. For 

more information, call (314) 406-2067 or 

visit stcharlesmosaics.org.





I NEWS I 9 

Multi-use trails coming 

to Missouri Bluffs Park 

A unique multi-use trail system will be 

constructed at Missouri Bluffs Park to 

accommodate a wide range of skills and 

abilities. The trails will incorporate multiple 

features specifically designed for the 

existing terrain and will provide opportunities 

for hikers and bikers of all ages. 

The trail system will include at least 

three miles of flowing, natural single 

track with loops and connections to different 

trails. It also will include two to three 

miles of directional flow trails with reasonable 

climb routes back to the beginning. 



unanimously authorized a $320,535 

contract with Stray Trails, LLC, a St. 

Louis company, to design and construct 

the unique trail system. They were the only 

company to respond to the bid request. 

According to the parks and recreation 

department, these new trails will continue 

to add amenities to Missouri Bluffs Park 

that help make it a unique attraction for St. 

Charles County residents. 

The bid response document indicates 

Stray Trails LLC is a turnkey, mountain 

bike specific, trail building solution 

founded in 2022. Zac Milner, owner/ 

operator, had worked with Progressive 

Trail Designs in Bentonville, Arkansas, for 

seven years prior to starting Stray Trails. 

His mission is to build world class mountain 

bike trails to greater St. Louis and surrounding 

areas. 

Stray Trails already has constructed 

Bluff View Trails in Wildwood, MTB Park 

Trails in Eureka, and Plattin Creek Trails 

in Festus. 

Council approves 

roadwork projects 

At its Feb. 12 meeting, the St. Charles 

County Council approved five bills, each 

by a vote of 7-0, to help with funding for 

bridge replacement and road improvement 

projects. The bills authorize the use of federal/state 

reimbursements totaling $4.176 

million (80%) toward projects totaling 

$5.22 million. The county will need to provide 

$1.044 million (20%). 

The projects include: 

• Replacing the Josephville Road bridge 

over a tributary of the Cuivre River, with a 

project cost of $640,000. 

• Replacing the Dietrich Road bridge 

over a tributary of McCoy Creek, with a 


• Replacing the Howell Road bridge over 

a tributary to Femme Osage Creek, with a 


• Designing and constructing roadway 

improvements along the existing South 

Point Prairie Road corridor from approximately 

0.4 miles north of Jackson Road 

to 0.1 miles north of Hwy. N, as part of 

the continued extension of David Hoekel 

Parkway. The project will include reconstruction 

and widening of shoulders and 

cost approximately $4,410,000. 

• Designing and constructing roadway 

improvements along Josephville Road 

from Kersting Road to approximately one 

mile north of Route A. The project will 

include an overlay, widening to include 

shoulders, and curve improvements to 

improve the condition of the pavement and 

increase public safety and cost approximately 

$3,240,000. 

Historic Courthouse to 

receive interior facelift 

St. Charles County began working 

in 2023 to renovate the interior of its 

119-year-old Historic Courthouse with the 

intent to restore it to its original design as 

much as is feasible. 

The building currently houses the offices 

of the county executive, county counselor, 

county council and the director of administration. 



unanimously approved a new project 

Freezing weather is here! 

for interior plaster and paint repair. Seals 

Enterprises Inc. of Chesterfield, has been 

awarded the $150,090 contract. They have 

extensive restoration experience and will 

be working with Woemmel Plastering of 

St. Louis on these repairs. 

Project cost will be covered by parks 

and recreation department’s budget and 

was included in the approved 2024 County 

Budget. 

Background materials provided by the 

parks and recreation department note that 

over the years the original plaster walls 

See NEWS BRIEFS, page 14 

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10 I NEWS I 





Committee seeks ‘balance’ in developing Dardenne Prairie’s Town Square 

By JESSICA MARIE BAUMGARTNER 

While the Dardenne Prairie Town 

Square Vision Steering Committee was 

envisioned in May of 2023, its first official 

meeting did not take place until Sept. 25. 

Since that time, the committee has conducted 

multiple committee meetings and 

two public meetings – all with the goal 

of bringing residents and city leadership 

closer together in terms of what types of 

residential and commercial development 

should be pursued for the area bound by 

Route 364, Technology Drive and Post 

Road. 

Specifically, the committee is looking 

at three primary development areas: Town 

Square Avenue and Post Road, Merz Farm 

Lane and Town Square, and Technology 

Drive. Last fall, the city hired PGAV Planners 

to assist with the process and create 

potential development plans. 

The committee was given a six-month 

window to complete its task. With the 

March 25 deadline looming, committee 

chair Carl Maus, who also is running for 

the Ward 1 aldermen seat in the April 2 

election, gave a progress update at the Feb. 

7 Board of Aldermen work session. 

Maus went over the timeline of how the 

committee was formed and all of the meetings 

they have held. 

During his remarks, he noted that the 

Dardenne Prairie Town Square public meeting in November 2023 

(Source: Dardenneprairie2024.com) 

committee is diverse with many different 

viewpoints and said it struggled early on. 

So much so that a special meeting was 

called for Jan. 8. Maus described that meeting 

as “highly productive” and said he felt 

“everyone participated and everyone was 

heard.” Alderman Mike Costlow (Ward 2) 

disagreed with that assessment. 

Costlow, who serves as the board of 

aldermen’s representative on the steering 

committee, said he was not heard. Costlow 

was out of town when the meeting 

took place. He had been assured that he 

would be able to remotely participate, but 

although the city has that capability, the 

equipment was not properly set up and he 

was unable to be a part of the conversation. 

That action came up later in the board 

meeting on Feb. 7 when Costlow argued 

against approving an additional fee, not to 

exceed $5,000, as payment to PGAV Planners 

for its role in the Jan. 8 meeting. He 

questioned the PGAV bill, noting that the 

committee and the planner had continued 

issues finding common ground, which is 

what led to a need for the additional meeting. 

Ultimately, a final vote on the payment 

was postponed until the board’s Feb. 21 

meeting. 

As for his part, Maus told the board 

during the work session, that the committee 

is “trying to find a balance” between 

what the city needs and what its residents 

want. To that end, he asked about any 

financial constraints the city has that the 

committee should be looking at. He also 

noted that a website (dardenneprairie2024. 

com) had been launched to help residents 

see the committee’s progress and voice 

their opinions on what types of residential 

and commercial developments should be 

pursued. 

Survey questions include: 

• Where do you feel the “Front Door” of 

Dardenne Prairie is or should be? 

• As the city contemplates future development 

in the planning area, what type of 

residential development would you like to 

see? Options include townhomes, condominiums, 

single-family residences, midrise 

apartments and high-rise apartments. 

• What development characteristics are 

most important for development within 

this focus area (Merz Farm)? 

• What should future commercial development 

look like in the planning area? 

Options include small-scale neighborhood 

See TOWN SQUARE, page 14 

New gun shop, frozen custard shop, coffee shop proposed for OFallon 

By JOHN TREMMEL 

O’Fallon’s Planning and Zoning Commission 

(P&Z) has recommended City 

Council approval of a new gun shop, a new 

frozen custard shop with drive-thru, and 

a new coffee shop with drive-thru. This 

would create the fifth gun shop, the 10th 

frozen custard/ice cream shop, and the 11th 

coffee shop within O’Fallon city limits. 

At its Feb. 8 meeting, the council conducted 

public hearings and first readings 

for bills that would authorize those businesses. 

Except for a concern about congestion 

at an access point and a concern about 

too many gun shops, there was little opposition 

to the three businesses. 

If normal process and timing are followed, 

the bills will receive second readings 

and votes for passage at the Feb. 22 

council meeting. 

Bill No. 7617 would authorize a Conditional 

Use Permit (CUP) to allow a gun 

shop and gunsmith named Vault Armory & 

Supply, LLC, at 9390 Veterans Memorial 

Parkway, on 6.29 acres of property zoned 

I-1 Light Industrial District. 

The property has O’Fallon Christian 

Church immediately adjacent to the east, 

Magnolia Village B subdivision to the 

south, Veterans Memorial Parkway to the 

north, and vacant C-2 and R-3 land to the 

west. 

Another gun shop and indoor range, 

Range USA, is located at 9100 Veterans 

Memorial Parkway, about 700 yards (0.4 

mile) to the east. 

The applicant has proposed a gun store 

in the northernmost of four structures on 

this property, the building closest to Veterans 

Memorial Parkway and the most visible. 

That building currently has signage 

indicating The Auto Gallery by Gregg 

Adam. Hours of operation for the new gun 

shop would be 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday- 

Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. 

The applicant has been in contact with 

the O’Fallon Police Department regarding 

a security plan and all recommendations 

from the department are listed as conditions 

for approval. 

An attorney representing Vault Armory 

told the council that the business would be 

focused on safety and training. All employees 

would have military or police officer 

backgrounds. The shop would sell firearms, 

ammunition, related equipment such as ear 

and eye protection, and clothing. It would 

not include a gun range but would refer 

customers seeking that service to existing 

gun ranges in O’Fallon, keeping the business 

local. 

Only one person, Arnie Dienoff, spoke 

during the public hearing. He said he welcomed 

the business to O’Fallon, along 

with the sales tax it would generate but 

he reiterated the importance of the police 

safety requirements outlined in the P&Z 

conditions, the need for safety bollards to 

prevent smash-and-grab robberies where 

cars could be forcibly driven into the building, 

and the need for Americans with Disabilities 

Act (ADA) compliance in order to 

have adequate access to the shop. 

The attorney assured the council that all 

police, city, ADA and robbery-prevention 

measures will be met, along with everything 

required to obtain federal gun shop 

licensing. He said federal licensing forms 

already are being filled out to be submitted 

immediately after council approval of the 

CUP. 

Asked about the proposed gun shop next 

door, the pastor of the adjacent church said 

he had not been aware of the proposal until 

asked for comment. He said the church 

has a private school with children present 

five days per week. After being given the 

contact information, he said was calling 

his Ward 5 council member to discuss the 

topic. 

Asked for comment, Ward 5 council 

member Linda Ragsdale said, “I did not 

know about the private school but will 

certainly look into that.” She said she 

and Ward 5 council member Debbie Cook 

would research and discuss the shop’s 

location next to the school and determine 

next steps. 

In regard to the custard shop, Bill No. 7618 

would rezone 1.04 acres at 2892 Hwy. K 

from “newly annexed” to C-2 General Business 

District and Bill No. 7619 would authorize 

a CUP to allow Andy’s Frozen Custard 

with a drive-thru at that rezoned location. 

There would not be any indoor seating; how- 

See O’FALLON, page 30





One city, two directions: Understanding the political divides in Dardenne Prairie 

I 11 


The future of Dardenne Prairie has 

become a hot topic for residents and city 

officials. What was once known as a small, 

quiet area is growing, but some residents 

say the city is growing too fast. 

At meetings of the city’s Planning and 

Zoning Commission and its Board of 

Aldermen, residents have expressed opposition 

to the city’s urbanization, with the 

Prairie Encore development at the intersection 

of Bryan and Fiese roads serving as 

a flashpoint and resulting in the formation 

of the Town Square Vision Steering Committee, 

charged with creating a development 

plan for the area bound by Route 364, 

Technology Drive and Post Road. 

Opposing viewpoints also have been 

expressed by the mayor and some of the 

city’s aldermen, including alderman Mike 

Costlow, who represents the board on the 

Town Square steering committee alongside 

citizens Mike Wooldridge, Cliff Branch, 

Jack Ballantine, Wendy Rackovan, Debbie 

Haley, EJ Sansone, John LeDoux, Carl 

Maus, Mark Hunter and David Hosking. 

To better understand their viewpoints, 

Gotway and Costlow sat down with Mid 

Rivers Newsmagazine. 

Gotway, who was an 

alderman for six years, 

said, “I did not want to 

run for mayor.” But run 

he did, with two main 

goals: fix the streets and 

form a friendly partnership 

with officials in 

the neighboring city of 

O’Fallon. 

Gotway explained 

that while he was walking 

the streets talking to 

residents during his campaign, 

he realized just 

how badly they needed 

repairing. This led him 

to propose Proposition T, 

which was a ballot initiative 

voted on by residents 

to instate a half-cent 

sales tax for the purpose 

of road maintenance. Anyone shopping in 

Dardenne Prairie would then be contributing 

to fixing the streets, he said. 

According to Gotway, Proposition T pays 

for about 60% of the city’s road repairs. It’s 

one example of how commercial development 

benefits Dardenne Prairie residents. 

He said if major retailers serving the area 

were to leave, the city would lose money. 

“If we lose Schnucks, or JCPenny, or if 

we lose Target, we’re bankrupt,” he siad. 

“We can’t pay our bills.” 

That hypothetical situation is one of the 

reasons why the mayor embraces developing 

Dardenne Prairie with multi-use projects, 

such as the Prairie Encore project at 

(File photo) 

the corner of Bryan and Fiese roads. 

That project met with considerable 

objections from residents and even 

the Wentzville School District; however, 

in response to those concerns, 

Mia Rose Developments/KaLeCo 

LLC revised its development plan 

and reached an agreement with the 

school district that offset the impact 

of the 12-year tax abatement offered 

by the city. 

Gotway highlighted the developer’s 

actions by pointing out that 

the car wash originally associated 

with the Prairie Encore development 

was removed from the plans after 

residents complained. And he noted, 

“The final plan is still not final.” 

“Your role in any office in city government 

is to do the common good for 

the whole city,” Gotway said. 

He said he believes the common 

good for Dardenne Prairie means building 

more multi-use developments like other 

cities are doing. He referenced a $4 billion 

multi-use development in Cummings, 

Georgia, where businesses line the streets 

with three- and four-story apartments 

See DARDENNE PRAIRIE, page 31 

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St. Peters creates small business award 


A small business committee group was 

formed by St. Peters alderman Judy Bateman 

(Ward 2) last year. Its goal was to 

welcome small businesses to the area and 

provide local owners with the support 

needed to not only keep their businesses 

in St. Peters but also encourage other local 

shops and restaurants to locate there. 

While various small businesses reside 

in Old Town St. Peters and provide local 

flavor, Bateman expressed a desire to bring 

shops from outside that district into the 

conversation. 

St. Peters has a history of ranking as a top 

community to live and work in – achieving 

a Best Places to Live in America ranking 

from “Money Magazine” in 2008, 2010, 

2012, 2017, 2020 and 2021 (No. 22 overall 

and No. 1 in Missouri). Over 2,300 businesses 

operate in the area, serving nearly 

60,000 residents and an additional 60,000 

visitors each year. 

Last June, the committee held its first 

meeting and has continued to meet for 

quarterly roundtable discussions. Now, 

Bateman is seeking to broaden the committee’s 

reach by creating a new St. Peters 

Small Business Award. She explained that 

both the Economic Development Council 

of St. Charles County and the St. Charles 

Regional Chamber present their own small 

business awards, but St. Peters had yet to 

offer an accolade for the businesses that 

operate in the city. 

Thus, the St. Peters Small Business 

Award has been created. 

Nominations are now open and Bateman 

plans to present the first award at the small 

business committee meeting in May. 

“It’s just been a passion of mine,” she 

said. 

Residents and business owners can 

nominate their favorite St. Peters small 

business. Business owners are allowed to 

nominate themselves. 

“It just has to be a small business in the 

city of St. Peters, and hopefully, maybe 

they’ve had a little bit of a background of 

community service,” Bateman said. 

Nominated businesses will be judged on 

their community impact, employee dedication, 

ability to overcome challenges and 

business growth. All nominations are due 

by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10. 

Nomination forms are available now by 

contacting Julie Powers, St. Peters director 

of planning, community and economic 

development, at jpowers@stpetersmo.net 

or by calling (636) 477-6600, ext. 1305. 

The form is also expected to be made available 

on the city’s website (stpetersmo.net) 

in the near future. 

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Three St. Louis-area organizations 

recently received $11,000 from the 

Spectrum Employee Community Grants 

program. The largest of those was a 

$7,500 grant to Reach St. Charles, a 

nonprofit that seeks to connect individuals 

in St. Charles County with resources 

to address their specific needs on a 

case-by-case basis. The organization 

provides food boxes and holiday meal 

boxes, and distributes meals, supplies 

and clothing to individuals experiencing 

homelessness. 

Since its inception in 2019, Spectrum 

Employee Community Grants has provided 

more than $230,000 in funding to 

more than 40 St. Louis area nonprofits, 

where Spectrum employees volunteer their 

time and talent. 

Other Spectrum employee grants include 

a $1,000 grant to DREAMM, a nonprofit 

that supports young mothers and families 

with clothing and personal items and 

a mentoring program; and a $2,500 grant 

to R.E.S.T., which works to combat homelessness, 

illiteracy, under nourishment and 

unemployment. 

Both Reach St. Charles and R.E.S.T. 

have received Spectrum employee grants 

in the past. 

Earlier this year, Charter Communications, 

Inc., which operates the Spectrum 

brand of connectivity products and 

services, announced its commitment to 

award $2.5 million over the next five 

years to local nonprofits through Spectrum 

Employee Community Grants. 

“Spectrum Employee Community 

Grants support local nonprofits that hold 

a meaningful connection to the Spectrum 

employees who nominate them, 

and to the communities they serve,” said 

Rahman Khan, Group Vice President of 

Community Impact at Charter. “Looking 

forward to the next five years, we’re 

increasing our investment in the program, 

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to volunteer work and vital community 

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NEWS BRIEFS, from page 9 

have been deteriorating and are starting to 

spall in the rotunda area. The damage was 

a result of high humidity levels. 

A recent mechanical upgrade was specifically 

designed to resolve the humidity 

problem in this historic site, allowing the 

county to now address the plaster damage. 

The work approved Feb. 12 will repair 

the spalling and damaged plaster in the 

rotunda area and both sides of the front 

staircases from the first floor through to 

the third. This will require extensive scaffolding 

to be erected in these areas for an 

extended period of time. Once the plaster 

is repaired, and cured, the walls will be 

repainted in these areas. 

In October 2023, the St. Charles County 

Council approved a project to reproduce 

elements of the building’s original artwork 

and commission new murals that 

portray historically significant people and 

events in the county’s history. The project 

includes designing and painting three distinct 

areas on the third floor. 

Fiber optic cable 

contract approved 

At its Jan. 8 meeting, the St. Charles 

County Council had removed an item from 

the Consent Agenda and then tabled it until 

the Jan. 29 meeting. The item would have 

approved a Fiber Optic Cable Use Agreement 

with i3 Broadband to interconnect 65 

public facilities at a cost of $3,688,687.50, 

for a term of 20 years with two 5-year 

renewal options. 

At the Jan. 29 County Council meeting, 

TOWN SQUARE, from page 10 

retail, dense, mixed-use development, 

outlot retail and shopping centers. 

• What characteristics are most important 

for development within this focus area 

(Town Square and Post intersection)? 

• Thinking about the city as a whole, what 

are the greatest strengths of Dardenne Prairie 

that you would like to see remain? 

• What do you worry about related to the 

city’s future? 

Those same questions were asked of 

participants at the committee’s first public 

meeting, an open house on Nov. 2. Participants 

were asked to place dots on the 

options of their choosing. 

The majority of those participating indicated 

that the “front door” of Dardenne 

Prairie is the wedge of land heading southeast 

from the intersection of Interstate 64 

and Route 364. 

As for the types of residential development 

preferred, single-family homes came 

in first with mixed-use close behind. Midrise 

apartments and condominiums failed 



the item was kept on the table and was not 

addressed. 

At the Feb. 12 County Council meeting, 

the item was removed from the table, discussed 

at length, and then approved by a 

vote of 5-1 with council member Joe Brazil 

(District 2) voting no, and council member 

Mike Elam (District 3) abstaining. 

Prior to the vote, Brazil vehemently 

stated his opposition to the agreement and 

why he would vote against it. He said the 

council had originally been told this was 

a single-source bid because only i3Broadband 

would allow the county to own the 

fiber optic cable, and none of the other 

bidders allowed that. Then, he said he was 

told the county would not own the cable, 

but it would be leased for 20 years, which 

he described as an “indefeasible right of 

use.” He questioned whether or not the 

other bidders were allowed to rebid with 

ownership of the cable no longer an issue. 

Brazil said city staff should stop writing 

specifications for bids that only one 

company can meet, because that puts 

the council in a bad position. He said the 

county charter sets up checks and balances 

between the executive and the council, and 

the way this agreement came about prevents 

those checks and balances. He also 

questioned who benefits from this agreement 

in this form and said anyone on the 

council who votes to approve the agreement 

would be in violation of their oath of 

office and the law. 

Members of the council and city staff 

responded to and interacted with Brazil 

with various clarifications and explanations 

prior to the vote. 

to garner any support. Participants also 

preferred small-scale neighborhood retail 

and a lifestyle center with living options 

above retail to the options of high-density 

mixed-use, a stand-alone retail or a shopping 

center. No votes were given to the 

concept of a stand-alone big box store. 

During the second open house meeting 

on Feb. 12, residents were once again 

invited to view concept boards, and place 

dots on the images they preferred and 

comment on those concepts. There was 

a majority support for preserving green 

spaces and multiple comments requesting 

connected walking trails and bike paths. 

Concerns about the prospect of adding 

more multi-family apartment complexes 

were also posted, specifically cited was 

increased traffic and a lack of police to 

support additional multi-family structures. 

Small local business settings were 

again mostly preferred with an emphasis 

on engaging outdoor spaces; however, 

interest in rooftop dining options and 

some mixed-use business developments 

was also expressed.





Raising mentally healthy kids begins with adult awareness 

I 15 

By DEANNE LEBLANC 

Recent studies and statistics are showing 

an alarming trend in the mental health of 

youth in America: 

• 26.9% of teens ages 12 to 17 reported 

one or more mental, emotional, developmental, 

or behavioral problems. 

• 36.7% of high school students reported 

feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 

the past year. This percentage is higher 

for females (46.6%), Hispanic students 

(40.0%), and lesbian, gay or bisexual students 

(66.3%). 

In a new analysis of mental health data, 

Missouri ranked 40th, significantly below 

the national average for mental health. 

According to Julia Pickup, director 

of Behavioral Health & Prevention Services 

at Lutheran Family & Children’s 

Services of Missouri (LFCS), “The issue 

of mental health concerns in children has 

been steadily increasing since before the 

COVID pandemic, and the pandemic exacerbated 

these issues.” 

What can parents, caretakers, grandparents 

and educators do to combat this rising 

epidemic? 

According to Pickup, helping kids begins 

with adult awareness. 

“Parents should trust their gut when it 

comes to getting care for their children 

and always advocate for the best interest of 

their child because they know their child 

best when it comes to noticing changes 

in their behaviors, moods or overall emotional 

state,” she said. 

But hidden struggles like anxiety and 

stress can go unnoticed in children and 

teenagers, as mood swings can seem par 

for the course during the often bumpy 

childhood and teen years. One of the main 

reasons parents may miss the signs of 

mental health struggles is that teenagers 

can be good at masking the symptoms. 

Since depression and anxiety can appear 

in a variety of ways in children and teenagers, 

Pickup said parents should be proactive 

if they notice any significant change in 

their child’s behavior or if something feels 

off. 

“Ask questions, listen, get involved, 

and make sure you become their support 

system,” she advised. 

Uncovering the signs of anxiety and 

depression is key. So is figuring out habits 

for building resilience. Parents may need 

to seek professional support to help prioritize 

their children’s mental health. According 

to Pickup, LFCS offers programs that 

(Source: Adobe Stock) 

might help, even with a sliding fee scale. 

A good relationship with the child’s 

school counselors and teachers is imperative 

when it comes to their mental health. 

Having established good lines of communication 

makes it easier to immediately 

communicate and address serious issues 

should they arise. 

“Most schools have some level of mental 

health support in place through counselors, 

social workers, or social-emotional 

learning specialists who can help provide 

families with community resources that 

may help meet the child’s needs, as well 

as offering school-based supports that can 

be very helpful,” Pickup explained. “The 

earlier (parents) seek support for concerning 

moods or behaviors, the more likely 

preventative programs or mental health 

interventions can make a big difference. 

“Left untreated, these mental health 

problems can disrupt functioning at home, 

school, or in the community. It can cause a 

lack of ability to maintain healthy relationships 

or a lack of interest in hobbies and 

activities. Those impacts have long-term 

effects increasing a child’s likelihood of 

suspension and expulsion, making it more 

difficult to graduate, and creating a lack 

of social support through adulthood and 

a lack of skills to handle emotions in a 

healthy and productive way.” 

The good news according to Mental 

Health America is that mental health problems 

in children are highly treatable. 

But Pickup warned, “Because these 

mental health symptoms are treatable, 

early intervention and seeking support is 

important.” 

The most important thing parents can do 

to help their kids is to listen to them and 

meet them where they are, Pickup said. 

“Listen to young people, show a genuine 

interest in them as a person and concern for 

their well-being, and take their concerns 

seriously,” she said. 

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16 I SCHOOLS I 



Local band teacher makes strides toward Olympic goal 

By BETHANY COAD 

Side by side in Jerod Broadbrooks’ life are 

two very different but encompassing passions: 

music and running. 

Broadbrooks, in his second year as band 

director at Francis Howell’s Barnwell 

Middle, recently competed against some of 

the best runners in the nation by participating 

in the Olympic trials held in Orlando on 

Feb. 3. 

Broadbrooks has been running since his 

freshman days at Eureka High where he 

made all-conference both his junior and 

senior years in cross country. He also was 

part of an 800-meter relay team that was 

named All-State and placed fifth in the state 

in 2014. After high school, he continued running 

at Lindenwood University while pursuing 

his music education degree. While there, 

he helped win the Mid-America Intercollegiate 

Athletic Association Championship 

in 2017 and came in eighth in the National 

Collegiate Athletic Association Division 2 

National Championships in the Mile Run in 

2019. 

Broadbrooks started playing guitar in 

middle school. By the end of high school, he 

knew he wanted to become a music teacher. 

“Music and running are similar in that both 

require a lot of hours of dedication and focus,” 

Broadbrooks said. “There are no shortcuts. If 

you put in the time, you will see results in 

both disciplines.” 

And put in the time he does. Training twice 

a day on a typical day and running seven 

days a week. During peak training, Broadbrooks 

runs between 100 and 300 miles in a 

typical week. 

“I am usually up at 5 a.m. most mornings in 

order to train before I go to work. It can be 

tricky to fit it all in, but my wife is very supportive 

and picks up my slack at home when 

I am out training,” he said. 

The decision to compete in the trials came 

with challenges. 

“I had accomplished many of the goals I had 

with running, but I knew that I still needed to 

run a marathon. Given my background with 

running, I knew I had to set some sort of time 

goal to help motivate me,” Broadbrooks said. 

“I decided I’d try to run the Olympic Trials 

Qualifying time of 2:18:00 for my first marathon.” 

After training for eight months, Broadbrooks 

reached his goal by completing the 

California International Marathon in Sacramento 

with a time of 2:14:59 in December 

2023. 

Qualification accomplished, he headed to 

the trials with excitement. 

“It was a very surreal experience because I 

was in a race with guys that I have looked up 

to and followed since I was in high school,” 

Broadbrooks said. 

Coming in 26th out of 200, Broadbrooks 

said he is determined to compete in the race 

again, reach the top three in 2028 and make 

the Olympic Team. 

In true middle school fashion, Broadbrooks’ 

students knew of their band director’s 

passion for running but initially didn’t 

really care. However, once the news of the 

trials leaked out, the entire school got behind 

him. 

“It is cool to see how excited they get about 

it! It definitely is something I want to use to 

inspire my kids. Many kids get labeled as a 

‘band kid’ or an ‘athlete’, et cetera,” he said. 

“You can be both! 

“There are no rules when it comes to what 

you are passionate about. Everyone is complicated 

and has many things they are passionate 

about and should pursue all of their 

passions to the best of their abilities.” 

Broadbrooks said the school’s support 

meant a lot to him. 

“The day I left for the trials, they had a 

send-off for me,” he said. “The whole school 

lined up in the hallways, and I did a ‘victory 



Jared Broadbrooks gets a supportive sendoff 

at Barnwell Middle before the Olympic trials. 

(Source: Francis Howell School District) 

lap’ around the school with all the kids and 

staff cheering.” 

Outside of school, his supporters include 

his wife, Megan, and friends and family, 

including his dad, Dennis, who has been 

at every one of his races since high school. 

Broadbrooks said his faith also keeps him 

motivated and he often prays for the strength 

to keep persevering. 

“I would tell anyone who does any sport 

or activity that you can achieve your goals if 

you work at them for long enough,” Broadbrooks 

said. “There is no substitute for hard 

work, and you would be surprised at what 

you can accomplish with enough dedication.” 

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18 I SCHOOLS I 

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Osteoporosis is one of the most 

common problems we see at 

HouseFit. 

Most people realize that their 

osteoporosis or osteopenia won't 

magically go away on its own, but 

they still don't take action. It 

might be because they don't 

know what steps to take to 

improve their bone density OR 

they don't truly believe they can 

improve their bone health "at their 

age". Fortunately, there are 

several options to help manage 

and even reverse your 

osteoporosis and to keep you 

active as you age. 



us on 

facebook.com/midriversnewsmagazine 

UNLOCK STRONGER 

BONES: YOUR ESSENTIAL 

GUIDE TO 

OSTEOPOROSIS 

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

GERIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPIST 

It's critical to educate yourself 

on osteoporosis, its causes, and 

the best treatments currently 

available. It’s why we’ve created 

our comprehensive guide 

“Osteoporosis: A Guide To 

Building Stronger Bones”. 

In this guide you'll find: 

● What really impacts your 

bone health. 

● What diet best supports 

healthy bones. 

● The top exercises for strong 

bones. 

● Why inactivity increases bone 

loss. 

● AND much more! 

I want to make this guide 

available to you absolutely free 

of charge! To claim your copy, 

simply call (314) 939-1377 or 

visit our website 

housefitstl.com/bone-health to 

download the report directly to 

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If you’re ready to manage your 

bone health and lead an active 

lifestyle, this guide can help you 

get started with confidence! 

HouseFit 

3809 Lemay Ferry Rd. 

Saint Louis, MO 63125 

(314) 939-1377 

info@housefitstl.com 

www.housefitstl.com 

By BETHANY COAD 

What’s better than a break from work? 

A cozy space in which to stop and 

breathe. While a school doesn’t seem 

to be the best candidate to find such a 

place, the Family and Consumer Science 

(FACS) department at Timberland 

High thought differently. Looking for a 

hands-on interior design project, FACS 

teacher Jennifer Caimi was immediately 

drawn to Timberland’s four teacher 

lounges, which were perfectly adequate 

but slightly boring. 

Boring is just what Caimi needed for 

inspiration. Choosing on of the lounges, 

she and her class began analyzing 

the space: how it was 

used and what was missing, 

design and comfort-wise. 

Working with Chief Architect, 

an architectural home 

design software program, 

the students split into groups 

to turn thoughts into reality. 

Once completed, the designs 

were posted in the lounge, 

where the teachers could 

vote on their favorite. 

The winner was “Comfy 

Corner,” primarily designed 

by Karis Blankenship, Izzy 

Cuneo, Addie Ebert and 

Faith Sieffert. The teachers 

also were drawn to a 

mural designed by Alayna 

Keeteman that was added to 

the winning design. 

“On the ballot, teachers 

could make comments on 

what they liked about the 

design and what they didn’t like,” Caimi 

explained. “So we were able to combine a 

few things from other designs into the winning 

design.” 

Senior artist Keeteman loves creating 

and making things with her hands as 

is demonstrated by the various projects 

she has done in class including designing 

a single room, designing a tiny home, 

researching alternative building materials, 

and building a model of a home made out 

of a bomb shelter. Her responsibility in this 

project was being in charge of the painting. 

“We had a small group of about three 

to six students depending on the day, and 

each of us had assigned jobs that we agreed 

upon,” Keeteman said. 

Caimi handled securing funds, negotiations 

with school administrators and 

permission for some heavy lifting by the 

maintenance department to remove a wall 

of unused lockers. The design work was 



Timberland students transform 

school lounge into ‘Comfy Corner’ 

left to the students. 

Giving students the opportunity for an 

interior design project was nothing nee for 

Caimi. 

“The Wentzville School District Foundation 

gives out grants each year, and I 

have applied for this before, but last year I 

finally received … the $500 grant,” Caimi 

explained. 

FACS classes focus on practical life 

skills, such as interpersonal communication, 

goal setting and problem-solving. 

Goal setting was something of a learning 

curve, as Caimi had never done anything 

like this project before. Time management 

became an important factor. 

Timberland FACS students try their hand at interior 

design. 

(Source: Wentzville School District) 

“The most important thing someone 

should know before doing a project like 

this is that it will take time and that’s OK,” 

Keeteman said. “Anyone who is interested 

in completing a project like this should be 

very thorough with their initial design so 

they can get all the right things. They also 

should consider any problems they might 

run into such as needing to remove or 

replace things.” 

Caimi said she never had students work 

so hard to make their designs so perfect. 

“They really wanted to make the teachers 

happy,” she said. “The teachers that use the 

lounge find it so much more inviting and 

relaxing, and the students got so much out 

of it.” 

“You often will use skills you learn in 

these classes in your day-to-day life or 

your career, which is a great jumpstart to 

being able to live on your own,” Keeteman 

said.



Summer Camps 

& Opportunities 



I SUMMER CAMPS I 19 

Big Blue Swim School 

2259 Hwy. K • O’Fallon 

(636) 293-4367 • www.bigblueswimschool.com 

Big Blue Swim School provides year-round swim lessons to kids from 

3 months to 12 years old, with the flexibility to start and stop lessons 

whenever parents choose. Rescheduling lessons is a snap with up to 

15 make-ups per year. The school tracks children’s achievements and 

constantly reports their progress via their app. The instructors are 

exceptional, and each is committed to assisting each child as they 

progress along the Big Moments Journey. Whether you’re looking for 

swim classes for toddlers, babies, or big kids, count on Big Blue for a 

welcoming, supportive, kid-centered environment. They even offer norisk 

trial lessons, so you can try them out for free! 

Cub Creek 

16795 State Hwy. E • Rolla 

(573) 458-2125 • www.cubcreeksciencecamp.com 

With 300 animals in the hands-on zoo, an incredible ropes course and 

a variety of activities including archery, crafts, survival skill, cooking, 

animal care, swimming, fishing and so much more, Cub Creek Science 

and Animal Camp is a unique summer camp experience for boys and 

girls ages 7 to 17! Campers make lasting friendships and memories 

under the encouragement of caring staff members. Cub Creek provides 

spacious, air-conditioned cabins, delicious meals and a safe, loving camp 

environment. Sessions run from June 2nd through August 10th. Spots 

are filling fast! Visit our website for more information and to register. 

Saint Louis Ballet 

218 THF Blvd. • Chesterfield 

(636) 537-1998 • www.stlouisballet.org 

Saint Louis Ballet Storybook Camps are designed for the young dancer 

at heart, introducing children to the basics of ballet and creative 

movement with storybook ballets and Disney favorites! Spark your 

child’s joy of dancing with ballet stories, crafts and more! Saint Louis 

Ballet’s five-week summer intensive program for ages 7-21 offers 

instruction in several dance genres but is based on the principle that 

ballet is the foundation in all areas of dance. The program now offers 

four levels of instruction to guarantee a class that fits you. Finally, for 

those who cannot attend a daytime program, check out July evening 

classes. For dates and times or to learn more, visit www.stlouisballet. 

org/allsummer. 

View Summer Camp Directories 

online at midriversnewsmagazine.com 

SUMMER PROGRAMS 

June 17- July 19 

Now 4 Levels! 

Choose up to 5 Weeks! 

Saint Louis Ballet’s five-week summer intensive 

program for ages 7-21 offers the most complete 

program in the metro area with a variety of dance 

genres while standing on the principle that ballet is 

the foundation for success in all areas of dance. 

Ballet 1/2 (ages 7–8) Ballet 3/4 (ages 9–11) 

Ballet 5/6 (ages 12–13) Ballet 7/8 (ages 14–21) 

Ages are approximate and used only as an initial guide. if unsure 

of level, please call the office to discuss. 

SUMMER PROGRAM CLASSES TAUGHT: 

Y daily ballet Y pre-pointe/pointe Y jazz Y 

Y contemporary Y variations Y 

Y certified pilates Y ballroom Y 

Y musical theater Y hip hop Y 

*classes vary based on level and week 

STORYBOOK CAMPS 

Ages 3-6 

Saint Louis Ballet Storybook Classes are specifically 

designed for the young dancer at heart. These classes 

are age appropriate yet introduce your child to the 

basics of ballet steps and creative movement through 

the world of storybook ballets and Disney favorites! 

SUMMER 

ALSO OFFERING SUMMER EVENING CLASSES! 

stlouisballet.org/allsummer or 636-537-1998 

Located in Chesterfield Valley

20 I SUMMER CAMPS I 





SAIL INTO BIG 

SAVINGS WITH 

60 

FIRST 4 WEEKLY 

SWIM LESSONS 

Hurry, sale ends March 17! 

Enroll today! Scan the QR code or visit 

bit.ly/bigblueofallon 

2259 Highway K, O’Fallon, MO 

*This promo automatically signs you up for perpetual lessons and recurring monthly billing at full lesson price. 

Cancel at any time with 30-day notice. Promotion applies to new customers only. 

STAGES St. Louis 

1023 Chesterfield Parkway East • Chesterfield 

(636) 449-5775 • www.StagesStLouis.org 

STAGES Performing Arts Academy offers an exciting variety of musical 

theatre camps, workshops and productions for students of all ages and 

abilities. Act, dance and sing all summer long while learning new skills 

and techniques. Classes include Musical Minis, Improv, Act It Out, 

Musical Theatre Exploration, Ace Your Audition and more! And don’t 

miss out on the Broadway Performance Workshops of Disney’s “Frozen 

Kids,” “13: The Musical Jr.,” “Madagascar Jr.” and the new musical, 

“Between The Lines.” It’s all at STAGES Performing Arts Academy this 

summer. Register today at www.stagesstlouis.org/summer or call 636- 

449-5775. 

The Saint Louis Science Center’s 

Summer STEM Explorers 

5050 Oakland Ave. • St. Louis 

(314) 289-4400 • www.slsc.org 

What better place to take inquisitive children than to the Saint Louis 

Science Center? And this summer they will find activities that will reward 

their curiosity, amaze their senses and could spark a direction for the 

future.The Saint Louis Science Center’s Summer STEM Explorers is a 

hands-on experience for kids ages five to nine. With an array of interactive 

activities – science demonstrations, experiments and exclusive access 

to exhibits around the Science Center – campers will engage in STEM 

(science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning while 

enjoying hours of fun each week! Camps are scheduled for June 3-July 

26. Registration is open. Learn more at www.slsc.org.





Plan ahead to find the right fit for summer camp 

I SUMMER CAMPS I 21 

By KATE UPTERGROVE 

Daffodils and daylight savings time are 

just around the corner, and that means 

making summer plans for children and 

sign ups for summer camp.This annual 

ritual of researching and selecting the best 

camp can be daunting to say the least, but 

for parents of first-time participants, it can 

be a real challenge. 

To find a camp that best meets the specific 

needs and interests of a child, Dr. 

Rachel Dickerson, a St. Luke’s Hospital 

physician, suggests following the child’s 

lead. 

“It is always a good idea to choose a 

camp that will build upon a child’s interests,” 

Dickerson explained. “It can be general, 

like choosing a sports camp for a child 

interested in athletics, or more focused, 

like soccer camp, for the child that wants a 

more subject matter intensive, competitive 

experience.” 

“Another way to evaluate whether a 

camp is a good fit is to see if it will provide 

supplemental information to topics the 

child enjoyed at school,” Dickerson said. 

“For instance, summer camp is a great way 

to work in something like drama or art, to 

enhance interests and delve deeper into a 

subject matter.” 

In the case of core subjects, like 

math and science, many camps 

are available that teach these subjects 

in fun ways, such as robotics 

or construction-themed camps. 

But interest isn’t the only thing 

to consider when choosing a 

camp. 

Age level, the family’s schedule 

and finances, and transportation 

components are all valid considerations. 

So is the decision to attend 

one camp or many. Accounting 

for all of these conditions, as well 

as making sure to apply before 

the registration is full, takes some 

careful planning. 

While parents have to have the 

big conversations about schedule, finances 

and transportation, it is important that the 

child have some say in choosing from the 

camps of which mom and dad approve. 

Attending camp with a friend or friends, 

especially for younger children, is a plus 

for the child and often the parents as car 

pools can be formed for day camps. 

Beyond convenience, cost and camaraderie, 

experts suggest parents take a close 

look at credentials, safety and staffing. 

(Source: Adobe Stock) 

“From my standpoint a list of all policy 

and protocol measures should be accessible,” 

Dickerson said. 

Examining those measures is a good 

place to start in evaluating the camp-tofamily 

fit. 

Another important consideration is 

safety. Dickerson suggests parents meet 

and ask questions of the staff and counselors 

that will be spending time with the 

children. 

“It is always wise to ask the personnel 

what type of training they have 

received. For instance – do they know 

CPR? is a defibrillator on site? are they 

aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion 

and dehydration?” she asked. 

Parents also should consider how the 

camp is structured. 

If campers are younger and require 

more guidance, camps with a smaller 

counselor to camper ratio often provide 

a better fit. In addition, it is often 

better for younger campers to attend 

camps with structured routines. For 

older campers, children who are used 

to school environments, it is less necessary 

that the camp has rigid structure. 

In either scenario, Dickerson said “it 

is always good to break up the routine 

with free time for children … Summertime 

is a great time for them to explore spontaneity 

and creativity,” she added. 

Careful consideration before signing 

on the dotted line is an important part of 

making plans for children to attend summer 

camp. It not only provides the best fit for 

children’s age, interest and safety, but it 

gives parents peace of mind. 

[Editor’s note: This article first appeared 

in spring 2021.] 

SUMMER CAMPS 

& OPPORTUNITIES 

COMING AGAIN 3.6.24 

To Advertise call 636 591.0010

22 I HEALTH I 





Having a sense of purpose makes online daters more attractive to 

potential partners, according to recent Washington University research. 

(Adobe Stock photo) 

HEALTH 

CAPSULES 

By LISA RUSSELL 

Looking for romance? 

First find your purpose 

Valentine’s Day has come and gone once 

again … and those still looking for that 

special someone may have better luck if 

they’re also seeking a sense of purpose in 

their lives, according to new research from 

Washington University in St. Louis. 

Dating apps now play a central role in 

the world of romance, and have become 

one of the most common ways for couples 

to connect and start relationships. Wash 

U researcher Isabella D’Ottone made up 

a number of dating app profiles based on 

four different “sense of purpose” categories, 

along with control profiles which didn’t 

mention a sense of purpose. Then, she asked 

study participants to rank the attractiveness 

of these fictional potential dates. 

The four “higher purpose” categories the 

study focused on were prosocial orientation, 

or purpose found in helping others; 

relationship orientation; financial orientation; 

and creative orientation, meaning 

purpose found in creative pursuits. 

“In general, we found people with a higher 

purpose were considered to be more romantically 

attractive,” D’Ottone said of the results. 

The exception to that rule were the false 

profiles which mentioned a sense of purpose 

based on achieving financial success –which 

were not so appealing to participants unless 

they also were mainly motivated by money. 

D’Ottone completed the research while 

working in the lab of Patrick Hill, Ph.D., 

associate professor of psychological and 

brain sciences. Hill said the study shows how 

people are picking up on sense of purpose 

and factoring that into how they are attracted 

to others, whether they are aware of it or not. 

“When it comes to attraction, knowing 

someone has a direction matters…We actually 

seek out people with a purpose,” he said. 

The study, published in the International 

Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 

was designed to build on previous research 

conducted in Hill’s lab, focused on how 

having a common sense of purpose is connected 

to better long-term relationships. 

School nurses play key role 

in spotting absenteeism risk 

Students’ chronically missing school is a 

growing problem since most returned to their 

classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Nearly 15 million young Americans – about 

a third of the student population – were 

chronically absent (defined as 15 or more 

days per academic year) during the 2021- 

22 school year, data shows. These absences 

can impact students’ grades and test scores, 

mental well-being, and prospects for future 

success in their lives and careers. 

A recent University of Missouri study 

found that one staff member present at every 

school is uniquely positioned to identify 

students at risk for chronic absenteeism: 

the school nurse. This finding could help 

schools to better support students who are 

likely to miss school frequently, according 

to the new report. 

The research was led by Knoo Lee, an 

assistant professor in the MU Sinclair 

School of Nursing. 

Lee’s new study looked at partial-day 

absences, and found that kids who have 

many of these absences often seek out their 

school nurses as a source of comfort and 

support. 

“Through interviews with school nurses, 

we are learning that some kids who miss 

part of the school day are more likely to go 

see the school nurse first before they come 

to class or before they leave school for the 

day…Therefore, they are in a good position 

to possibly identify personal factors, 

family factors or environmental factors 

that may be at play,” Lee said. 

In some cases, for example, students 

would visit the nurse’s office at the same 

time every day, indicating problems with 

a particular class. In others, nurses found 

out that students’ food insecurity was 

leading them to come to the office hungry 

every morning. This gives school nurses 

School nurses are in a unique position 

to identify students at risk for chronic 

absenteeism. 


an opportunity to get students more help 

before their partial-day absences become 

chronic or turn into more and more full 

days of missed school. 

Lee added that because of school nurses’ 

front-line awareness of students’ issues, 

he hopes they will be given a seat at the 

table during discussions about strategies to 

combat absenteeism among key stakeholders, 

including school administrators, state 

legislators, social workers, school principals 

and teachers. 

In a previous study published last June, 

Lee’s team identified 18 factors commonly 

linked with students who were chronically 

absent from school. These included peer 

pressure and the approval of friends; drug 

or alcohol use; health or behavioral issues; 

family struggles, and other adverse childhood 

experiences. 

Most parent decline antivirals 

for their kids with flu 

Influenza infections can sometimes be 

dangerous or even deadly for children, 

especially those under age 5. For example, 

during the 2023-24 flu season – considered 

to be average so far in terms of severity – 

65 pediatric deaths had been reported to 

the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention as of the end of January. 

Oseltamivir, also available under the 

brand name Tamiflu, is the only antiviral 

medication approved in kids under 5 who 

test positive for flu. Although clinical trials 

have found that early use of oseltamivir 

can shorten the illness and make its symptoms 

less severe in children more than 2 

weeks old, well over half of parents choose 

not to give the medication to their children, 

a large new analysis found. 

Researchers from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s 

Hospital at Vanderbilt University 

collaborated with a University of Illinois 

at Chicago team on a large study looking at 

both outpatient and emergency department 

prescriptions for kids under 18. It found that 

over a nine-year period, just 40% of children 

were treated with an antiviral, with low 

rates of use across all age groups. 

Potential reasons for the drug’s underuse 

include a wide range of perceptions about 

its effectiveness, differences in test interpre-





I HEALTH I 23 

tation, misunderstanding of medical 

guidelines and concerns about 

adverse drug events associated with 

oseltamivir in children, according to 

lead author and principal investigator 

James Antoon, M.D., Ph.D., assistant 

professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt. 

A main concern to parents may 

be a low risk for neuropsychiatric 

effects, such as behavior changes, 

altered mental states, seizures and 

hallucinations. Oseltamivir carries a 

“black box” warning for these neuropsychiatric 

effects, and Antoon 

also led a 2023 study looking into 

their frequency and causes. However, 

it remains unclear whether the 

antiviral medication or the influenza 

infection itself is responsible for most of 

them. 

The conclusion of this new study is that, 

for nearly all kids, oseltamivir is beneficial. 

“Antiviral treatment, when used early, 

improves health outcomes with influenza… 

Treatment of children in the outpatient setting 

has been reported to decrease symptom 

duration, household transmission, antibiotic 

use and influenza-associated complications 

like ear infections,” Antoon said. The new 

study was published in Pediatrics. 

Most people conceal illness 

due to FOMO study finds 

During these winter months, when many 

of us are hit with respiratory illnesses and 

other viruses, we’d like to believe that our 

sick co-workers, friends and others would 

stay home to avoid spreading them. But 

that’s far from the case, say University of 

Michigan researchers. 

In a series of surveys involving both sick 

and healthy adults, about three-fourths of 

Your next social gathering may include someone who is hiding 

symptoms of an illness, a recent study found. 


the more than 4,000 participants said they 

had either hidden an infectious illness or 

might do so in the future. Many reported 

going to work, taking plane trips, going 

on dates, attending parties, and participating 

in other social situations while secretly 

sick. More than 60% of healthcare workers 

who participated in the study also said they 

had concealed an infectious illness. 

One part of the study involved a large 

group of university healthcare employees 

and students, who were interviewed about 

their behavior after the start of the COVID-19 

pandemic. They were asked how many days 

they felt symptoms of a potentially infectious 

illness, and rated how often they left home on 

those days while covering up their symptoms 

and not telling others they were sick. 

More than 70% of these participants 

reported hiding their symptoms (only 

five people said they had hidden a known 

COVID infection, however.) 

Another part included conducting online 

surveys of about 2,000 different participants, 

some who were healthy and some 

who were actively sick. They 

were asked to rate the symptom 

severity and transmissibility of 

their real or imagined illness, as 

well as to rate their likelihood of 

covering up that illness – whether 

real or imagined – in a meeting 

with another person. 

Participants were most likely 

to say they would hide an illness 

when symptom severity was low, 

and least likely to conceal one 

when symptoms were severe and 

highly communicable. Compared 

to healthy participants who only 

imagined being sick, though, the 

results showed those who were 

actually sick were more likely 

to conceal their illness, regardless of how 

communicable it might be. 

“This suggests that sick people and 

healthy people evaluate the consequences 

of concealment in different ways,” said 

Wilson N. Merrell, a Ph.D. candidate and 

the study’s lead author. “Healthy people 

forecasted that they would be unlikely to 

hide harmful illnesses – those that spread 

easily and have severe symptoms – but 

actively sick people reported high levels 

of concealment regardless of how harmful 

their illness was to others.” 

Overall, these findings carry significant 

public health implications, Merrell said. 

“This suggests that solutions to the problem 

of disease concealment may need to 

rely on more than just individual goodwill.” 

On the calendar 

BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital sponsors 

a Babysitting 101 virtual class on 

Tuesday, Feb. 27 from 6-8:30 p.m., live via 

Teams Meeting. This interactive class is a 

great introduction to the basics of babysitting 

and is recommended for ages 10 and 

above. A workbook, first-aid kit, babysitter 

skills assessment and backpack are included 

in the cost of $25 per child. Parents may sit 

in on the class at no additional cost. Register 

online at bjc.org/babysitting-class. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Be Still to 

Chill: Basics of Meditation on Wednesday, 

Feb. 28 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the 

Desloge Outpatient Center, 121 St. Luke’s 

Center Drive in Chesterfield, in Building 

A. Come to this free in-person program to 

learn the basics of meditation as well as 

many tips to support your practice. Register 

at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Let’s Cook! 

Heart Healthy Cooking on Thursday, 

Feb. 29 from 2-3 p.m. at Schnucks Eatwell 

Market, 220 THF Blvd. in Chesterfield. 

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to 

Stop Hypertension) diet is a flexible and 

balanced eating plan for everyone that 

promotes a heart-healthy lifestyle. Join 

a St. Luke’s dietitian to get the scoop on 

DASH, learn now to prepare sodium-free 

seasonings, and taste a delicious cranberry 

grain salad. The course is free. Register at 

stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents a monthly 

Conversations for Women event on 

Monday, March 12 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. 

at the Desloge Outpatient Center, 121 St. 

Luke’s Center Drive, Building A in Chesterfield. 

This month’s free event, Are You 

Hot?, will feature Dr. Kael Murphy, a St. 

Lukes’ OB/GYN physician who will lead 

a conversation about all things menopause, 

including how to thrive after early menopause. 

Register at stlukes-stl.com. 

Dr. Genevieve Otto, Orthodontist 

Otto Orthodontics 

Des Peres • Fenton • St. Peters • Wentzville 

314-900-OTTO (6886) • www.ottoortho.com 

The goal for the professionals at Otto Orthodontics is to treat patients the way they would like to be treated 

– with respect, professionalism and sensitivity. Take Dr. Genevieve Otto who runs the orthodontic office with her 

husband A.J. Orthodontics is her passion, and she calls it a blessing to be able to help others. 

“I love that I can be a positive influence on so many adolescents during a very influential time in their lives,” she 

said. “Orthodontics helps increase self-confidence and provides a smile that everyone is proud to show off.” 

A board certified member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the Greater St. Louis Dental Society, 

Dr. Otto was top of her class at the University of Southern California. Along with Dr. Otto, Otto Orthodontic’s topof-the-line 

team includes orthodontists: Dr. Kirsten Karkow, Dr. Katelyn Roland and Dr. Andrew Larkin. 

Otto Orthodontics provides braces, Invisalign, surgical orthodontics, Zoom 

whitening, Botox and injectable lip fillers. Voted St. Louis’ Top Orthodontist in 

St. Louis Magazine and St. Louis Post-Dispatch, they have the latest technology 

and a caring staff of industry veterans. Free consultations are available.

24 I BUSINESS I 

BUSINESS 

BRIEFS 





PLACES 

Hotworx St. Peters is now open at 

7112 Mexico Road in St. Peters. Members 

of the Cottleville Weldon-Spring Chamber 

of Commerce hosted the ribbon cutting 

on Feb. 2. Jeremy Wolfe is the owner 

of the gym that houses virtually instructed 

exercise programs created for users to 

experience infrared heat absorption while 

working out. For more information visit 

hotworx.net. 

• • • 

Attorneys and staff of Hamilton Weber 

LLC celebrated its 25th anniversary 

with a ribbon cutting on Feb. 2. Partners 

K. Andrew Weber and John A. Young 

led the celebration that included City of 

St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer and 

St. Charles Regional Chamber President 

Scott Tate. Hamilton Weber LLC focuses 

their practice on state and local municipal 

law, land use and zoning, real estate, 

business and commercial law, commercial 

litigation and personal injury defense. 

Hotworx St. Peters is now open at 7112 Mexico Road in St. Peters. 

For more information on Hamilton Weber 

LLC visit hamiltonweber.com or call 636- 

389-8964. 

PEOPLE 

St. Charles County Ambulance District 

welcomes Dr. David K. Tan as the 

district’s Chief Medical Officer Medical 

Director. A double board-certified subject 

matter expert in the field of emergency 

medicine and EMS medicine, Tan 

joins the district after a long career with 

Washington University School of Medicine, 

where he served as professor and 

EMS division chief and was an attending 

emergency physician at Barnes-Jewish 

Hospital. Tan’s appointment as CMO 

makes him the first full-time EMS physician 

in the state. Since 2006, Tan has 

served as associate medical director for 

the district, focusing on the Tactical EMS 

Unit aligned with the St. Charles County 

Regional SWAT Team, and the medical 

specialists serving with St. Louis Metro 

Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1. 

• • • 

Leif Assurance insurance agency 

recently hired Lauren Elizabeth Gulli 

as brand marketing specialist and Connor 

Kay as digital marketing specialist. Gulli’s 

responsibilities include developing 

and executing marketing campaigns to 

drive business growth. As digital marketing 

specialist, Kay will use various digital 

platforms to optimize Leif Assurance’s 

marketing campaigns. Lief Assurance is a 

full-service insurance agency that exclusively 

handles construction insurance. 

The perfect replica of natural wood with 

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I 25 

A Special Advertorial Section 

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% 

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Cornhole players sought to help provide ‘Technology for Independence’ 

I 27 

By LAURA BROWN 

Building self-confidence, selfdetermination 

and increasing 

independence for neurodivergent 

individuals are the main goals of 

the Adam Morgan Foundation’s 

Technology for Independence program. 

Through this program, the 

foundation connects non-speaking 

clients and other individuals with 

disabilities to technology that helps 

them communicate and perform 

tasks and teaches caregivers how to 

help the client adapt to the technology. 

The foundation recently became 

part of Missouri’s Medicaid waiver 

program, which is keeping it busier 

than ever with a long waiting list of 

clients. To help raise money to hire 

more staff members the foundation is holding 

its 4th Annual Cornhole Tournament 

at 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 at CrossFit O’Fallon 

located at 64 North Central Drive. Tickets 

start at $30 a person and can be purchased 

online at adamorgan.org. 

Rachael Morgan is the founder and executive 

director of the foundation, which was 

established in 2008 and is named for her 

Adam Morgan 

son, who is a 22-year-old, non-speaking, 

autistic person. 

Adam is a graduate of Fort Zumwalt 

East. In 2020, he gave the keynote address 

to his graduating class through an iPad 

using a text-to-talk app. Now, he is the first 

non-speaking autistic person to attend the 

University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he 

is majoring in educational studies with a 

minor in counseling. He has plans to 

become a motivational speaker and is 

already an author. 

Rachael said she believes that her 

son’s opportunities with technology 

gave him the ability to achieve so 

much success. She wants every nonspeaking 

person to have those opportunities. 

“Technology has really leveled the 

playing field for (people with autism),” 

Rachael said. “We use technology for 

everything. We do everything online. 

“Pragmatic language is very difficult 

for people on the spectrum. It’s understanding 

tone, sarcasm and facial cues 

all at once. It’s too much for them. Texting 

takes that away. They are able to 

read the message on the screen in black 

and white.” 

She said she wants people to know 

that speaking is not the only way to communicate. 

One major objective of the program is to 

show caregivers that neurodivergent individuals, 

like those who are non-speaking, 

are likely more capable than the caregiver 

may know. 

“We work on the belief values of the 

caregivers and family members of our clients 

with disabilities,” Rachael said. “I’ve 

worked with a guy whose staff didn’t even 

realize he could read. 

“Most of the time (our clients) can read, 

they just haven’t had the ability to communicate 

back out because they haven’t found 

their preferred way to communicate yet. 

We have them try different things and then 

choose what works best for them through 

trial and error.” 

Rachael believes that everyone can learn 

at a high level if they are given the tools 

and training to achieve. 

“(The caregivers) aren’t being mean. 

They’ve just been hired to help someone 

do things they have never done before,” 

she said. 

That’s exactly why the Adam Morgan 

Foundation exists – to help caregivers and 

clients discover new ways to succeed. 

Some individuals in the Technology 

for Independence program are using their 

own email accounts and completing transactions 

online. Rachael said teaching a 

client to shop online for grocery delivery 

can be a major step toward independence. 

Recently, she worked with a client to help 

them use Uber safely. The idea, she said, is 

to increase independence and purpose for 

the individuals. 

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Removes combustion chamber deposits 

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28 I EVENTS I 





LOCAL 

EVENTS 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

Wag: An Exhibition for Dogs is on 

display through March 23 at the Foundry 

Art Centre, 520 N. Main Center in Saint 

Charles. Wag is an interactive art exhibition 

featuring artists Greta Coalier, Justin 

King, Steve Jones and Laura Lloyd. Details 

at foundryartcentre.org. 

• • • 

The “Toys & Joys” art show is on 

display through Sunday, March 24 at the 

Cultural Arts Centre, 1 St. Peters Centre 

Blvd. For details, visit stpetersmo.net/243/ 

Art-Shows-Exhibits. 

BENEFITS 

Youth in Need - “Celebrating 50 Years” 

is at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 2 at Ameristar 

Casino Resort Spa, 1 Ameristar Boulevard 

in St. Charles. Join in celebrating 50 

years of empowering children, youth and 

families. Tickets start at $250. For details, 

visit youthinneed.org. 

• • • 

The Eras Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. 

(doors open at 6 p.m.) on Saturday, March 

2 at Boys and Girls Club, 1211 Lindenwood 

Avenue in St. Charles. Choose your 

decade. $240 for a table of 8. Outside food/ 

drink permitted. All proceeds to benefit the 

Fort Zumwalt West Grad Night. For questions, 

email aweiskopf@fz.k12.mo.us. To 

register, visit whs.fz.k12.mo.us. 

• • • 

A Quilt Show and Sale is from 9 a.m.- 

noon on Saturday, March 9 at All Saints 

Ministry Center, 310 Cardinal Place Drive 

in St. Peters. The All Saints Quilters present 

beautiful hand-stitched large quilts 

and baby quilts for sale. For details, visit 

allsaints-stpeters.org. 

• • • 

Harmony STL Gala is at 7 p.m. (doors 

open at 6 p.m.) on Saturday, March 9 at the 

Saint Charles Convention Center, 1 Convention 

Center Plaza. Entertainment includes 

live a cappella singing performances by 

award-winning youth and adult choruses 

and quartets. Live auction. Cost is $150 per 

person. Proceeds benefit youth through adult 

music education and outreach programs. For 

tickets, visit harmonystlgala.com. 

• • • 

A Blood Drive will be held from 8:30 

a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 10 at 

Sts. Joachim & Ann Care Service, 4116 

McClay Road in St. Peters. To register, call 

ImpactLife at (800) 747-5401. Registered 

donors will be eligible to receive an electronic 

gift card or other featured item. 

EASTER EVENTS FOR ALL 

Fluffy Tails and Pancake Trails is 

from 9-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 16 

at SunRise Church, 7116 Twin Chimneys 

Blvd. in O’Fallon, featuring pancakes and 

sausage with the Easter Bunny, petting zoo 

and more. Free event. To register, visit sunrisefamily.org/events. 

• • • 

A Youth Easter Egg Hunt is from 10-11 

a.m. on Saturday, March 23 at Memorial 

Hall & Rau Garden, 1900 W. Randolph 

Street in St. Charles. Children of all ages 

are welcome to bring a basket and join 

in the hunt. Crafts and visits with the 

Easter Bunny are included in the $15 per 

person cost. Registration is required at 

stcharlesparks.com. 

• • • 

Easter Egg Hunt is from 10 a.m.-noon 

on Saturday, March 23 at Lake Saint Louis 

Founders Park, 7 Freymuth Road in Lake 

St. Louis, featuring bounce houses, face 

painting, a petting zoo and more. Children 

ages 10 and under are invited to participate. 

Free event. For details, visit lakesaintlouis. 

com/1217/Easter-Egg-Hunt. 

• • • 

The Bunny Bolt 5K and 1-Mile Fun 

Run is at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 23 

at Boulevard Park, 2550 Lake Saint Louis 

Boulevard, featuring a 1-mile run through 

the park and a 5K through Lake Saint 

Louis that will precede the Lake Saint 

Louis Easter Egg Hunt. 5K Cost is $45. 

Fun Run Cost is $20. All participants will 

receive a short-sleeve T-shirt. Registration 

ends March 20 or until full. To register, 

visit lakesaintlouis.com/2427/Bunny-Bolt- 

5k-and-1-Mile-Fun-Run. 

• • • 

Easter Egg Dive is from 9-10:30 a.m. 

on Sunday, March 24 at the St. Peters Rec- 

Plex, 5200 Mexico Road. Participants will 

swim or dive to collect eggs floating or 

weighted, when their heat is over, they will 

trade their eggs in for candy. Children will 

also take photos with the Easter Bunny. 

Bags for collecting eggs will be provided 

but bring a basket for carrying candy 

home. Parents are permitted to get in the 

pool with small children. Cost is $10 for 

members and $12 for non-members. For 

ages 6 months-18 years. To register, visit 

st.petersmo.net. 

• • • 

An Adult Easter Egg Hunt is at 7:30 

p.m. on Friday, March 29 at Wapelhorst 

Park, 1875 Muegge Road in St. Charles. 

Hunt for eggs, enjoy adult beverages and 

compete for prizes. Participants should 

bring flashlights and buckets. The $30 per 

person cost includes admission and two 

drink tickets. For ages 21 and over. Register 

at stcharlesparks.com. 

• • • 

Easter Egg Hunt is at 9 a.m. on Saturday, 

March 30 at Dardenne Prairie City 

Hall Park, 2032 Hanley Road. Hunts will 

be divided by age and begin with the 0-2 

age group. Ages 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 will 

follow shortly after the previous hunt ends. 

The Easter Bunny will make an appearance. 

Inclusive hunt requires pre-registration 

by emailing your name, child’s name, 

child age, address, and phone number to 

nichole@dardenneprairie.org. Free event. 

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 

See EVENTS, next page 

Looking for Lenten fish fries in St. Charles County? 

Here is an alphabetical list of Friday 

Fish Fries through March 22. 

All-Saints Church Knights of Columbus, 

7 McMenamy Road in St. Peters 

from 4-7 p.m. Fried cod, catfish and sides. 

Drive-thru and Dine-in. For details, visit 

allsaints-stpeters.org. 

• • • 

Immaculate Conception, 7701 Hwy. 

N in Dardenne Prairie from 4:30-8 p.m. 

Cod, catfish, shrimp, fish tacos, hushpuppies 

and more. Dine-in, carry-out and 

drive-thru are available. For details, visit 

Facebook - “ICD Fish Fry” or email icdfishfryexec@gmail.com. 

• • • 

Knights of Columbus - Post 2269 

at Assumption Catholic Church, 403 N. 

Main St. in O’Fallon, from 5-7 p.m. Cod, 

catfish, potato salad, cole slaw and spaghetti. 

Dine-in or carry-out. For details or 

visit, thecompass2269.com. 

• • • 

Knights of Columbus at St. Joseph 

Catholic Church. Fish fries are held at 

the Pezold Banquet and Meeting Center, 

5701 Hwy. N in St. Charles from 4-8 p.m.; 

4-7 p.m. Good Friday (March 29). Cod, 

catfish and shrimp. For details, email kurt. 

speckhals@sbcglobal.net. 

• • • 

St. Charles Borromeo, 601 N. Fourth 

Street in Saint Charles from 4-7 p.m. Catfish, 

cod, fish tacos and pizza. Dine-in or 

carry-out. For details, call (636) 946-1893. 

• • • 

St. Cletus Church, 2721 Zumbehl 

Road in Saint Charles from 4-7 p.m., 

in the gym. Batter-fried cod or catfish, 

baked cod, fried or boiled shrimp, cheese 

pizza and sides. Dine-in or drive-thru. 

For details, call (636) 946-6327 or visit 

saintcletus.org. 

• • • 

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Knights 

of Columbus, 2 Seton Court in Saint 

Charles from 4-7 p.m. Fried and baked 

cod, catfish, cole slaw, french fries and 

quesadillas. Dine-in or carry-out. For 

details, call (636) 946-6717. 

• • • 

St. Joseph, 1410 Josephville Road in 

Wentzville from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Baked/ 

and fried fish, sides, complimentary dessert. 

Dine-in or carry-out. 

• • • 

St. Patrick Knights of Columbus, 405 

S. Church St. in Wentzville from 4-7 p.m. 

Fried catfish, whitefish, cod, spaghetti, 

sides and drinks. Dine-in or carry-out. For 

details, call (314) 440-5510. 

• • • 

St. Peter’s Church, 201 First Capitol in 

Saint Charles from 4-7 p.m. Cod, catfish, 

shrimp, hushpuppies and more. Dine-in 

or carry-out. For details, call (636) 946- 

6641 or visit stpstc.org. 

• • • 

Sts. Joachim & Ann, 4112 McClay 

Road in Saint Charles from 4-7 p.m. Catfish, 

cod, shrimp, crab cakes, fish tacos, 

sides and more. Dine-in or carry-out. For 

details, visit stsja.org. 

• • • 

St. Theodore Knights of Columbus, 

2061 Grothe Road in Flint Hill from 5-7 

p.m. Fresh catfish with coleslaw, potato 

salad, dessert and more. For details, visit 

uknight.org. 

• • • 

Sunrise Church, 7116 Twin Chimneys 

Blvd. in O’Fallon from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on 

Friday, March 1. View menu and register 

at sunrisefamily.org/events or call (636) 

978-2727. 

• • • 

VFW Post 5077, 8500 Veterans Memorial 

Parkway in O’Fallon from 4:30-7 p.m. 

Every Friday through Lent, including 

Good Friday. For details, call (636) 272- 

1945.





I EVENTS I 29 

EVENTS, from previous 

crafts, storytime and hands-on displays. 

Free event. Details at stccparks.org. 

• • • 

Second Saturdays are from 1-3 p.m. 

monthly at The Foundry Art Centre, 520 

N. Main Center in Saint Charles. Features 

a tour of current exhibitions and hands-on 

art activities. Free event, all ages are welcome. 

Details at foundryartcentre.org. 

• • • 

Art Start is at 10 a.m. every Tuesday 

at The Foundry Art Centre, 520 N. Main 

Center in Saint Charles. Children create 

small art projects that pair with a story. 

Free event. For ages 2-5 with a caregiver. 

Details at foundryartcentre.org. 

• • • 

Kids Clay Workshop - Pi Day is from 

11 a.m.-noon on Saturday, March 2 at The 

Foundry Art Centre, 520 N. Main in St. 

Charles. Sculpt an inedible pie. This class 

will use a pottery wheel and traditional 

clay-building techniques. Supplies are 

included in the registration fee of $40. For 

details, visit foundryartcentre.org/kidsclasses. 

• • • 

Teen workshop from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, 

March 23 at the Foundry Art Centre, 

520 N Main Center in St. Charles. Trash to 

Treasure with Taylor Marrie. Teens (ages 

13-18) will create with their peers while 

working with professional artists in handson 

art-making experiences that will expose 

them to new art processes. All supplies are 

provided and all skill levels are welcome. 

The fee is $50. Anime is on March 30. For 

details, visit foundryartcentre.org/teenworkshops. 

SPECIAL INTEREST 

First Fridays are from 5-8 p.m. monthly 

at the Foundry Art Centre, 520 N. Main 

Center in St. Charles. Features free activities 

in addition to paid workshops hosted 

by local business owners. For details, visit 

foundryartcentre.org/first-fridays. 

• • • 

The O’Fallon Lions Club meets at 6 

p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month 

at JJ’s Restaurant, 200 Fort Zumwalt 

Square in O’Fallon. Everyone is welcome. 

For details, call (636) 344-0065 or email 

weserve@ofallonlions.com. 

• • • 

Cottleville/Weldon Spring Rotary 

Club meets at noon every Wednesday at 

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

Toddrasche01@gmail.com to RSVP. 

Details at cwsrotary.org. 

• • • 

The Cavesprings Toastmasters Club 

offers in-person and online meetings 

from 8 a.m.-9 a.m. Wednesdays at the St. 

Charles Ambulance District, 2000 Salt 

River Road in St. Peters. Improve public 

speaking and communication skills by 

gaining confidence when speaking in front 

of others. RSVP to cavespringstoastmasters@gmail.com. 

• • • 

St. Charles County Pachyderm Club 

meets at noon every Friday at B. Hall’s 

Family Grill, 3782 Monticello Plaza 

Drive in O’Fallon. Be informed and meet 

elected officials. No meetings on holiday 

weekends. For details, visit sccpachyderms.org. 

• • • 

Dog Yoga is from 9-10 a.m. on Saturday, 

March 9 at the Foundry Art Centre, 520 

N. Main Center in St. Charles. Join Kim 

with Fitness for Fido and experience Wag: 

an exhibition for dogs while stretching and 

working on patience with your favorite 

pooch. Bring a yoga mat, water for you 

and your dog, and dog treats/food. 1 dog 

per person; no retractable leashes. Cost 

is $35. For details, visit foundryartcentre. 

regfox.com/dog-yoga. 

• • • 

“Daycation” Bus Tour to the St. Louis 

Aquarium is from 9:15 a.m.-4:15 p.m. on 

Wednesday, March 13. Meet in the west 

parking lot at City Hall, One St. Peters 

Centre Blvd. Enjoy a day at the aquarium 

before having lunch at Chris’ Pancakes, 

then take a driving tour of downtown 

St. Louis, including a drive past the new 

soccer stadium. Spend the afternoon shopping 

at The Hill, visit Urzi’s Italian Market 

and Missouri Bakery and explore The Hill 

Antique Market. The cost is $119. Register 

online at stpetersmo.net/Rec-Connect by 

Feb. 28. 

• • • 

Cottleville’s Irish Fest is at 11 a.m. 

on Saturday, March 16 at Public School 

House, 5546 Chestnut Street, featuring 

live entertainment from Champagne Fixx, 

DJ entertainment, a 5,000-square-foot 

heated tent, indoor and outdoor bars and 

more. Free admission tickets & VIP tickets 

($40 each) are available. For details, visit 

publicschoolhouse.com/event-details-registration/irish-fest-at-public-school-house. 

• • • 

The Ancient Order of Hibernians’ St. 

Patrick’s Day Parade is at 4 p.m. on 

Sunday, March 17 on Main Street in St. 

Charles. Free event. Details at stcharlescitymo.gov. 

• • • 

The Wentzville Veteran’s coffee group 

will resume meeting at the Wentzville 

Senior Center on Wednesdays March 

13, March 27 and every second and forth 

Wednesday thereafter. Come join us for 

some comradery and a cup of coffee. 

Lincoln Day Dinner 

Friday, March 22, 2024 

5:30 pm | Doors open | Check in - pick up name tag 

in the Foyer near Banquet Room Entrance - CASH BAR 

5:30 pm - 6:25 pm | VIP Reception – Additional $100 per Person 

VIP Reception Includes: Open Bar & Hors d’oeuvres in the Hickory Room 

(Lower Level) 

6:30 pm | St. Charles County Republican 

Central Committee Program & Dinner 

OLD HICKORY GOLF CLUB 

1 Dye Club Drive 

St. Charles, MO 63304 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY 

EARLY BIRD PRICING NOW UNTIL MARCH 15, 2024 

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT www.stcharlesgop.com 

No Refunds Will Be Issued 

All Federal, State and County Republican Office Holders Invited to Attend 

Paid for by St. Charles County Republican Central Committee – Mike Sommer, Treasurer 

5 70% 

APR* 

Semi-Annual Interest 

Fixed Rate / Callable in 12 months 

Issued by 

Ford Motor 

Credit Company 

Investment Grade Rated 

Investment Rating: Ba1 / BBB- 

Final Maturity: 2/20/2029 

Call Date: 2/20/2025 @ $1000 per bond 

Estate Feature / Death Put 

The Corporate Bond is callable in twelve months at the issuer’s option and semi-annual thereafter with 15 

calendar days notice. 

* Subject to Availability. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) represents the interest earned through each eligible 

call date based on simple interest calculations, an investment price of $1000 per corporate bond, and is accurate 

as of February 14, 2024. Callable corporate bonds are more likely to be called in a lower interest rate 

environment, and investors may be unable to reinvest funds at the same rate as the original corporate bonds. 

The minimum balance required to purchase the corporate bond and obtain the APR is $10,000. Interest payouts 

are mandatory, and interest cannot remain on deposit. This investment is not FDIC insured. 

Corporate bond prices move opposite to interest rates, increasing when rates decline and falling when rates 

increase. Corporate bonds are intended to be held until maturity, as this assures redemption at par value. 

Investors may sell them before the stated maturity date, if needed, at the prevailing market prices, and proceeds 

may be more or less than the original investment. Market values of longer tern corporate bonds tend to be more 

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investors with a short-term horizon. Other factors that may affect corporate bonds are order size, call features, 

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alternative may help meet investment objectives. 

For Complete Details, Call: 

Jeffrey S. Patterson, Managing Partner 

Patterson Wealth Management LLC 

15415 Clayton Road • Ballwin, MO 63017 

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30 I 





O’FALLON, from page 10 

ever, three covered walk-up windows would 

be available. No outdoor speakers would be 

used for ordering. Instead, customers would 

order directly at the drive-thru window, or if 

the store got busy, staff would walk to each 

car in the queue and use an iPad-type device 

to place orders. 

The property has a Burger King to the 

north, the Crossroads Plaza strip mall to 

the south, unincorporated/Best Box Storage 

to the east, and Hwy. K to the west. 

Entrance and exit for Andy’s would be 

through the existing Burger King access 

ramp from Hwy. K. 

During the public hearing, Dienoff 

called for safety bollards instead of curbing 

to prevent cars from hitting pedestrians 

using Andy’s walk-up windows. He also 

said he had noticed the lights at Andy’s 

locations in St. Peters and Columbia were 

very bright and asked for lighting with less 

candlepower. He said he welcomed Andy’s 

and the sales tax revenue it would generate. 

Stefanie Terry, vice president of Broadway 

Restaurant Group (Burger King), said 

the existing Burger King welcomes Andy’s 

but asked for help regarding congestion 

already experienced with vehicles using 

the entry and exit ramp from and to Hwy. 

K into the Burger King facility. She said 

Site of proposed gun shop at 9390 Veterans Memorial Parkway in O’Fallon. 

adding traffic from Andy’s would make the 

congestion severe. 

Council members and city staff 

exchanged facts about the situation, mainly 

that there currently is no viable alternative 

for another entrance or exit. The site 

is landlocked without direct access to 

any other street except Hwy. K. Planning 

and Development Director David Woods 

pointed out that alternative rights of way 

to nearby Fallon Loop Road fall short of 

getting to that street, and Taco Bell management 

has refused several times to share 

access to their parking lot with its entrance 

and exit off Fallon Loop Road. 

At this time, it appears all anyone can 

do is keep revisiting the situation with surrounding 

property owners and Taco Bell 

to see if some accommodation for another 

exit can be found. 

Bill No. 7620 would authorize a CUP 

to allow a Dutch Bros coffee shop with a 

drive-thru at 982 Bryan Road, within the 

new North Bryan Road Commercial development, 

zoned C3 Highway Commercial 

District. The hours of operation would be 5 

a.m.-11 p.m., daily. 

This property, just south of Veterans 

Memorial Parkway and east across Bryan 

from the O’Fallon Justice Center, has a 

recently approved Dobbs Tire & Auto site 

to the north, a vacant C-3 commercial site 

to the south, Columbia Meadows R3-PUD 

common ground to the east, and Bryan 

Road to the west. An existing Starbucks is 

less than 200 yards to the north. 

Beverages would include hot and cold 

coffees, teas, proprietary Rebel energy 

drinks, blended freezes and kids’ drinks. 

Regarding the total number of these 

MID RIVERS HOME PAGES 

types of businesses brought forth in various 

council sessions during the past five 

years, council members and the city attorney 

noted that the council is obligated to 

approve applications for conditional use 

permits as long as the proposed use of the 

property fits within its zoning guidelines 

and does not otherwise create any public 

safety problems. 

In other words, if a business meets zoning 

guidelines and specific conditional uses, it 

must be allowed to open and compete with 

other similar businesses in the area. At this 

time, the city has not set any guidelines for 

the maximum number of any type of business. 

Property owners and entrepreneurs 

are free to open in O’Fallon as many gas 

stations, car washes, self-storage facilities, 

bakeries, daycares, dry cleaners, banks, 

coffee shops, gun shops, ice cream shops, 

et cetera, as the market will bear. Those 

businesses then compete and succeed or 

fail based on supply, demand and how well 

the business is received by customers. 

The only exception is for state-licensed 

marijuana facilities. Those are subject to 

Missouri state regulations and O’Fallon 

ordinance requirements for minimum distance 

from each other and from schools, 

churches and daycare centers, thus indirectly 

capping the number of marijuana 

facilities based on geography. 

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I 31 

DARDENNE PRAIRIE, from page 11 

above them. He noted how townhomes 

were being developed behind the apartments, 

with single-family homes spread 

behind those. 

“I was so impressed with it,” Gotway 

said. “Everything is multi-story, multiuse. 

It says a lot about how people want to live.” 

He said his vision for Dardenne Prairie 

follows those city trends. Pointing to 

Dardenne Prairie’s aging population, he 

said, “There’s more people 50 and older, 

like The Prairie (a luxury apartment complex 

at the southwest corner of Bryan Road 

and Missouri Route 364), the average age 

is 65.” 

Catering to that demographic is something 

Gotway takes pride in. He said older 

residents want to downsize and not have to 

worry about fixing a home when it breaks, 

instead, they would rather rent. “That’s 

what people want,” he said. 

Gotway disagrees with the need for the 

Town Square Vision Steering Committee. 

“We have spent over $900,000 on these 

types of studies,” he said, noting that 

other vision plans have been developed 

but not all have been successful. “The 

one that we’ve got now, our vision, 

there’s no vision in it. All it does is it’s 

got zoning for different areas of property, 

which can be anything. The one before 

was a complete vision. It was all of this 

mixed-use. Everything had to be at least 

two stories.” 

He admitted that the city was the driving 

force behind the requirement for taller 

developments. 

In regard to residents who do not 

want the city to become urbanized with 

two-, three-, or four-story developments, 

Gotway said, “They need to keep going 

west because Dardenne Prairie is not that 

place anymore.” 

Costlow has a different vision for the 

city – one that embraces suburban life. 

Costlow was a vocal opponent of the 

Prairie Encore development, both in terms 

of its concept (high-density, mixed-use 

residential) and in regard to tax incentives 

offered to KaLeCo by the city. 

“No residents from the city expressed 

their support of the Prairie Encore project,” 

he said. He claimed that the mayor 

brought people before the board to support 

the project but, according to Costlow, they 

merely offered statements that it could’ve 

been worse. He said people who are seeking 

a suburban life do not want to live in 

urbanized areas. 

“That’s the problem, someone who’s 

looking for that, they don’t have anywhere 

to go. When a city tries to be what every 

other city is then there’s nowhere for that 

niche,” Costlow said. “We need to preserve 

the suburban life within St. Charles 

instead of just kicking it out to Foristell or 

somewhere, and I think that’s the beauty of 

Dardenne Prairie.” 

Costlow said the area is his family’s 

refuge. 

“That’s what I’m hearing from every resident,” 

he said. “If they want, you know, the 

fast-paced life, they can move.” 

He said the Town Square Vision Steering 

Committee has struggled to get PGAV 

planners on board with the idea of a suburban 

community. He said the committee 

members have explained a desire for green 

space and suggested hosting a farmers 

market in Town’s Square to provide a local 

flavor that serves the community instead of 

big businesses. 

“The planners that we’ve contracted 

(PGAV) came back, and in that spot where 

we said, ‘We should do this farmers market’ 

they came back and suggested two large 

four-story apartments and a warehouse 

district,” Costlow said. 

He then described how the committee 

was unable to approve PGAV’s work 

because the firm did not offer what they 

were directed to do. 

“We’ve gotten nothing from PGAV that’s 

useful,” he said. 

Costlow has misgivings about how the 

miscommunication with PGAV occurred. 

He questioned whether PGAV is focused 

on urbanization or whether other suggestions 

were made to the consulting firm 

from outside of the steering committee. 

Either way, he said Dardenne Prairie is 

being pulled in two different directions. 

He also expressed concerns that Gotway 

does not want the committee to succeed 

at preserving Dardenne Prairie’s current 

culture. 

“If that happens, after the election, we’re 

going to do what we should’ve done from 

the beginning. We’re going to start a subcommittee 

of the board, and we’re going 

to keep them (the mayor and developers) 

out of it.” 

In the April 2 Municipal Election, the 

seats of Dave Wandling (Ward 1) and 

Justin Ungerboeck (Ward 2) are open. 

Candidates Ryan Wilson and Carl Maus 

are vying for the Ward 1 seat. Joel Ogle 

and Carla Detweiler are vying for the Ward 

2 seat. (Learn more about these candidates 

in the March 6 issue of Mid Rivers Newsmagazine.) 

When asked if he has any aspirations to 

run for mayor in 2025, Costlow said he is 

undecided. 

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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 2-21-24

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