Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 8-21-24

Vol. 21 No. 16 • August 21, 2024 

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STAR PARKER 

Unions and 

Republicans 

The appearance of Sean O’Brien, president 

of the Teamsters Union, in a key 

speaking slot at the Republican National 

Convention, raised a lot of eyebrows 

across the political spectrum about what 

is going on both with unions and with the 

Republican Party. 

The union agenda and the traditional 

Republican agenda – free markets, free 

trade, free labor market competition – is 

not a cocktail that we usually think of as 

going together. 

But we are in a political time of razorthin 

margins. Swing states will be won by 

margins hovering around 1%. Winning 

swing votes depends on the ability to penetrate 

the gray, to win over voters who may 

not be 100% on board with the candidate 

or the party’s whole platform – but who see 

the benefits of one side as exceeding the 

costs of the other side. 

Trump has had success with union voters. 

In 2016, he got 42% of the vote of union 

households. In 2020, 40%. 

According to a recent survey from Pew 

Research, 39% of union members are 

Republicans. 

Furthermore, when we examine the polling 

data, we see a disconnect between what 

voters think about unions and what workers 

are actually doing. 

Regarding the latter, the data is clear 

that fewer and fewer workers are joining 

unions. 

In 1983, 20% of workers belonged to 

unions. Forty years later, in 2023, this was 

down to 10%. 

Yet, per the polling, sentiment across 

the country indicates displeasure with this 

trend. Per Pew, 54% say the decline in 

union membership is bad for the country, 

and 43% say it’s good. 

Even among conservative Republicans, 

per Pew, although 60% say the drop in 

union membership is a good thing, still 

38% think it’s bad. 

The biggest disconnect is really between 

the professional leadership of unions and 

the sentiments of American workers. 

As already noted, despite the rhetoric of 

union leadership, fewer and fewer workers 

are joining unions. And, despite the 

fact that some four in 10 union members 

identify as Republicans, political spending 

of organized labor is one-sided for Democrats. 

Per opensecrets.org, so far in 2024, 

of $165,892,301 political expenditures 

by labor, 86.23% went to Democrats and 

13.27% to Republicans. 

So, regardless of what O’Brien had to 

say at the Republican convention, it was 

a win for Republicans for him to appear. 

O’Brien’s rank and file are far more in or 

leaning toward the Republican camp than 

their leadership, and that relationship is 

strengthened by seeing the president of one 

of the major unions show up to speak to 

Republicans. 

The most unfortunate part of O’Brien’s 

remarks is his deeply distorted portrayal 

of what it is that American workers are up 

against. 

The idea that somehow, per O’Brien, corporations 

control everything (“There are 

no consequences to the company – only the 

worker”) and that unions are about giving 

working Americans organized power to 

push back is ridiculous. 

If corporations controlled everything, 

then their stock prices would do nothing 

but go up. But this is not the case. 

The Dow Jones list of 30 of America’s 

most influential industrial corporations 

has changed 58 times since its inception in 

1896. 

Big companies come and big companies 

go because markets are competitive and 

constantly changing. 

Furthermore, just as the American 

worker is further to the right than we might 

expect, the leadership of corporate America 

is further to the left than we might expect. 

Over recent years, the DEI, ESG and woke 

agendas have rooted in America’s largest 

corporations. 

The struggle in our country today is not 

about business and labor being at each 

other’s throats. 

The struggle today is about keeping our 

marketplace free, open and competitive. 

Free, competitive markets mean that 

what will prevail is not business or labor 

but excellence and merit. 

This is what serves our nation best, at 

home and internationally. 

• • • 

Star Parker is president of the Center for 

Urban Renewal and Education and host of 

the weekly television show “Cure America 

with Star Parker.” 

© 2024 Creators.com 

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August 21, 2024 

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I OPINION I 3 

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4 I OPINION I 



@MIDRIVERS_NEWS 


EDITORIAL 

Whose economy is it, anyway? 

Just for a minute, let us step outside the 

culture wars, leave behind the cults of personality 

and cultivate a different discussion 

around the presidential campaigns. Rather 

than attempting to decipher each party’s 

vision for what being an American looks 

and feels like for the next four years, let’s 

try and simplify the question: How much is 

it going to cost to be an American over the 

next four years? 

It unequivocally costs a lot more today 

to be an average American than it did four 

years ago. Consumer prices have increased 

nearly 21% since 2020, according to 

Bankrate. While the Consumer Price Index 

(CPI) continues to show inflation coming 

under control, it doesn’t feel like it to most 

families. Things like eggs and margarine 

garnered all the high-cost headlines (rightfully 

so, as both have increased around 

50% since 2020). Now, though, it is the 

products that are difficult to comparison 

shop that are making people feel like inflation 

is anything but under control. 

Car insurance costs have skyrocketed 

nearly 40% over the last two years. Over 

the same two years, rent and utilities like 

water and electric are all up 10% or more. 

They say the rise in car insurance is due to 

higher repair costs, which is due to higher 

parts costs and fewer mechanics to make 

the repairs. One article even claimed that 

car insurance is increasing due to climate 

change, because extreme weather events 

are damaging more cars. 

That’s a reach, but what isn’t a reach is 

that regulations from attempts to combat 

climate change have made cars more complex. 

Complexity costs money, and complex 

systems tend to be more fragile. 

Per the CPI, shelter costs (rent, home 

ownership and home insurance) are up 

more than 13% in the last two years. Shelter 

is obviously the biggest chunk of monthly 

cost for us Americans, so let’s say you 

have a $3,000 monthly mortgage. When 

that goes up 13%, it drains an extra $390 

out of your account every single month. 

That’s not nothing, as they say. 

Some, if not most, of that increase can be 

tied to the pandemic, aka the biggest forced 

lifestyle change in our lifetime. People 

improved their homes, were willing to pay 

more rent due to working from home, and 

builders largely stopped making new homes. 

Supply, meet demand. Market, meet policy. 

Some believe that tariffs on imports 

could be beneficial to the economy. That’s 

a reach. 

Make no mistake, a tariff is a tax increase 

in sheep’s clothing. 

If we slap a tariff on a product from 

China, for instance, then a consumer might 

choose to buy an American product. Great, 

but that product will still costs more. Does 

it save or create an American job? Not if 

consumers overall buy fewer goods. History 

tells us that whenever government 

tries to put their thumb on the economic 

scales, the market becomes less efficient. 

As an example, the Biden administration 

is crowing about its ability to rein in drug 

prices through the Inflation Reduction Act. 

It’s true that pharmaceutical companies get 

to charge less for certain drugs now. 

Unsurprisngly, it’s also true that these 

drug companies did not just decide to 

make less money. Instead, according to 

Wall Street Journal reporting, these companies 

have made up for that by slashing 

spending on creating new drugs. 

The consumer saves a little bit of money 

of today, but may not have the life-saving 

medicine needed in the future. 

Adam Smith taught us that there is an 

invisible hand that exists in free markets 

that leads to an optimal public and private 

outcome. In other words, free markets 

self-regulate and benefit the public more 

than government regulations do. We have 

entered an era where both major parties 

are willing to unapologetically take hold 

of that invisible hand, and thus make the 

market less free. Come November, our 

vote will go to whoever is willing to loosen 

their grip. 

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ON THE COVER: Liberty High quarterback Cody McMullen carries the ball down the field in a game against Roosevelt during the 2023 season. 

(Photo by Anna Simms/Liberty Publications) 

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NEWS 

BRIEFS 

DARDENNE PRAIRIE 

Continued traffic 

concerns addressed 

A list of top traffic concerns was 

addressed at the July 17 Dardenne Prarie 

Board of Aldermen meeting. Alderman 

Keith Widaman (Ward 3) compiled the list 

after receiving complaints and concerns 

from residents. 

Last year, Widaman brought these before 

the board and city and was told road projects 

would be looked into and potentially 

added to the next budget. By January, the 

board was discussing traffic calming needs 

on Stump Road and pricing options. At the 

April 3 board meeting, resident Joel King 

questioned if any of the traffic calming 

measures would be put in place in the near 

future, and the board continued discussing 

the subject. 

Then in May, multiple residents came 

before the board to describe a need for stop 

sign placement at the intersection 

of Pierside and Harborside drives. 

A three-way-stop sign was quickly 

considered and approved. 

This led Widaman to address 

other traffic concerns throughout 

the June and July meetings. At the 

most recent, July 17 board meeting, 

multiple residents attended 

and spoke during public comments 

to direct attention to safety 

issues at multiple intersections on 

Barathaven Boulevard. 

George Stachech shared his concerns 

regarding newer crosswalk 

signs on Barathaven Boulevard. 

He pointed out that, although the 

crosswalks and signs were added 

to improve safety, they have 

“impaired the right-of-way” by creating 

new “blind spots.” 

John Flood brought up the issues 

he witnessed at Barathaven Boulevard 

and Riparion Drive as well, pointing 

out how traffic has increased during the 

five years he has lived in the area. 

“I think it’s a good idea to put stop signs 

there,” Flood said. 

Julie Colin expressed concern over the 

area, calling it a “highly dangerous area for 

pedestrians.” She said the crosswalk areas 

have created a new issue. 

“It’s clear that there is a need for threeway-stop 

signs,” Colin said. 

Widaman asked city staff to seek out 

pricing options and noted an intention to 

pass legislation to approve these traffic 

calming measures as soon as possible, as 

was done by the board previously. 

O’FALLON 

Tall Tree Farm requests 

annexation into city 

At its Aug. 8 meeting, the O’Fallon City 

Council gave a first reading to a bill that 

would approve a petition for voluntary 

annexation of 161.6 acres located at 9260 

and 10102 Hwy. DD. Much of this land is 

adjacent to the northwest boundary of the 

6,950.8-acre August A. Busch Memorial 

Conservation Area. 

If approved, the annexed land would 

join at the southwest border of O’Fallon, 

and would be called The Villages at Busch 

Wildlife. 

Prior proposed development of Tall 

Tree Farm property along Hwy. DD in 

unincorporated St. Charles County had 

been controversial. Other area landowners, 

many with large, three-plus-acre lots, have 

expressed a desire to retain a rural vibe and 

were opposed to higher-density residential 

development. 

During citizen comments at the Aug. 8 

meeting, three residents spoke in opposition 

to the bill. Overall, they said they did 

not want to see higher density, “apartments,” 

“another Caledonia,” small lots, 

loss of all the trees or “another Hwy. K.” 

One of the speakers, Patrice Neuwirth, 

said she and her husband moved from 

Chesterfield to the rural part of O’Fallon 

20 years ago because of the rolling hills 

and low density. 

“I don’t understand why you are not 

listening to your constituents,” Neuwirth 

said. “How can you just sit there and look 

through us and railroad one annexation 

after another. How can you keep voting 

with the developers and builders when 

we, the people, keep telling you that is not 

what we want?” 

Attorney Drew Weber, from Hamilton 

St. Charles orchestra performs at statewide conference 

The St. Charles County Youth Symphony 

Orchestra (SCCYO) will perform 

at the Missouri Music Educators Association 

Conference in January, held at 

Tan-Tar-a Osage Beach Resort. The group 

was selected through a lengthy audition 

process, with this being their fourth time 

qualifying. 

SCCYO accepts string, woodwind, 

brass and percussion players of varying 

skill. The young musicians, ranging up 

to 19 years of age, were accepted into the 

Weber LLC, spoke in favor of the annexation. 

He will present the plans for The Villages 

at Busch Wildlife to the O’Fallon 

Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) on 

Sept. 5. 

Weber said he will request rezoning 

from Agricultural District to a R-3 

Medium Density Residential District, to 

build 239 single-family homes on 160 

acres, about 0.68 acres per lot. Weber said 

the developer will be keep 67% of the 

existing trees. 

If typical timing is followed, the annexation 

bill will receive a second reading and 

vote for passage at the next council meeting 

on Aug. 22. 

ON THE ROAD 

New tenant occupies 

former McGurk’s property 

Goodwood Brewing, a company with 

origins in Louisville, Kentucky, has 

opened a new location at 108 S. Main St. 

in O’Fallon. The site is the former home 

of the locally beloved McGurk’s Public 

House, which O’Fallon Planning and 

Development Director Patrick McKeehan 

said closed at the beginning of the pandemic 

and never reopened. McKeehan 

added that, according to the plaque on the 

building, the location originally opened as 

program via an audition. 

The Symphony Orchestra is SCCYO’s 

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I NEWS I 7 

a mercantile store in 1862. 

Goodwood Brewing has other locations 

already in operation in Louisville, Frankfort, 

Owensboro and Lexington, Kentucky; 

Columbus, Ohio; and Indianapolis, Indiana. 

ST. PETERS 

St. Peter approves voluntary 

annexation of Rodgers Tract 

St. Peters officials passed two bills in 

conjunction with approving the voluntary 

annexation of 5.6 acres of land, known as 

Rodgers Tract, into the city at the Aug. 8 

Board of Aldermen meeting. The first bill 

approved the annexation, with a secondary 

bill approving amendments to the city map 

to include the acreage. 

The property is located on the east side 

of Thoele Road, south of Country Acres 

Drive in the Country Creek neighborhood. 

It has been assigned as part of St. Peters 

Ward 4, represented by Alderman Patrick 

Barclay and Alderman Nick Trupiano. 

This annexation was prompted by a 

verified petition and pre-annexation and 

development agreement that was signed 

and filed by all involved real estate 

owners on June 27. McBride Homes was 

included in this agreement as they plan to 

build 43 attached single-family houses in 

the area. 

A public hearing was held at the July 25 

board meeting regarding the annexation 

with no objections being filed. Barclay 

also discussed minor changes coming to 

the area. 

“The north side along Country Acres 

with the houses adjacent to Country Creek, 

they’re going to be putting up a privacy 

fence there to go ahead and separate the 

two developments,” he said. He added that 

residents had been notified and that this 

information was also made available on 

the site plan. 

ST. CHARLES COUNTY 

St. Charles Jewish Festival to 

feature open-air marketplace 

Returning for another summer of culture, 

cuisine and family fun, the fourth annual 

St. Charles Jewish Festival is set to take 

place on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 11 a.m.- 

2:30 p.m. at the Lewis & Clark Boat House 

Parking Lot located at 1050 S. Riverside 

Drive. This event is St. Charles’ only 

annual Jewish festival. It celebrates Jewish 

life and culture with sounds and tastes 

from around the world. 

New this year is an Israeli “shuk,” the 

Hebrew word for a market. The shuk 

experience at the festival is designed to 

replicate the open-air marketplaces found 

in Israel. Attendees can purchase fresh produce, 

baked goods, sweets, jewelry, Judaica 

and specialty spice blends like za’atar 

and sumac. Over the past three years, the 

festival has brought together people from 

all walks of life to enjoy Jewish music, 

kosher cuisine, family entertainment and 

festivities that highlight the richness of 

Jewish culture and traditions. 

“I encourage everyone, of every faith 

and ethnicity, to join me at the St. Charles 

Jewish Festival,” said Mayor Dan Borgmeyer. 

“Together, we can send a powerful 

message of unity and support to our Jewish 

citizens.” 

The festival is organized by the Chabad 

Jewish Center of St. Charles County 

and The Gan St. Charles Preschool. The 

Chabad serves an estimated 6,000 Jews 

living in St. Charles County. Participants 

can look forward to world-class Jewish 

music, with performances by the Rogers 

Park Band, a popular American Chassidic 

rock duo; Jewish musical sensation Tali 

Yess; and the local musical group Caravan 

Quartet. 

“It has been a difficult year for the 

Jewish nation, and people want to be 

together,” said Bassy Landa, co-director of 

the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles 

County with her husband, Rabbi Chaim 

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Landa. “This is a joyful opportunity for 

our county to celebrate our diversity and 

support our growing St. Charles Jewish 

community.” 

A variety of kid-friendly activities will 

be available, including a massive bubble 

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wands, cultural crafts, a petting zoo, inflatables 

and a range of family entertainment 

and activities. Attendees can also expect a 

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Admission is free, but tickets are required 

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8 I NEWS I 

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Prairie Encore construction underway in Dardenne Prairie 

Vertical construction on the Prairie Encore 

multi-use complex has begun in Dardenne 

Prairie. This includes a 190-unit apartment 

building with an accompanying Circle K gas 

station and a host of commercial developments, 

including a Sugarfire Smokehouse 

and one of the first Smalls Sliders restaurants 

in Missouri. 

Mia Rose Holdings is the developer in 

charge of this project. In a press release, 

founder Tom Kaiman said, “We are 

focused on bringing community enhancements, 

amenities and services that the 

residents of the community of Dardenne 

Prairie would like to have.” 

“We are opening a significant amount of 

the retail space early in the development 

timeline, which is a substantial benefit to 

the city and ultimately to the residents,” 

Kaiman said. “The mixed-use vision of 

heavy retail and housing at this location 

will be very dynamic, and we are excited 

to bring it to life.” 

Coming to the development site in 

October is the area’s first Macadoodles 

fine wine and spirits retailer. Former NHL 

player Mike McKenna is a managing 

partner in the Macadoodles development; 

he said the goal is to provide communitybased 

customer service. 

“What we’re looking to bring is not just a 

Renderings of the apartment complex at the Prairie Encore 

development. 

(Courtesy of Hurford Architects) 

transactional liquor store, we want to bring 

a place that people can come in, have fun, 

do some tastings, gather, do events,” McKenna 

said. 

“We want people to have fun,” he added. 

“I want to have fun. I’m going to be the GM 

of this joint and I want to have a good time.” 

McKenna said the Prairie Encore development 

is designed to be walkable, with 

paths connecting from main thoroughfares, 

so that residents of the apartments and 

nearby neighborhoods can easily access 

the commercial properties. A Starbucks is 

also part of the development, serving as an 

endcap to the Macadoodles building. 

“It’ll be nice for, frankly, the residents of 

the multi-family housing that’s going to be 

built right behind Macadoodles because 

they’ve got a place to live, work and play,” 

McKenna said. “People work at home now 

half the time, and they have a place to live, 

and they have a place to play – they’ve 

got a SugarFire, they’ve got Macadoodles, 

there’s a Starbucks there – it’s a concept 

that, without having a true downtown 

identity, it gives you things within walking 

distance. And that even extends out into 

the neighborhoods behind us that have the 

roads flowing through our development.” 

Alderman Ryan Wilson (Ward 1) expressed 

encouragement about the project, adding that 

he plans to collaborate with nearby residents 

to ensure their interests are taken care of. 

“I am optimistic about the start of construction 

for the Prairie Encore development 

and hope everything proceeds 

smoothly,” Wilson said. “Although I wasn’t 

a member of the Board of Aldermen when 

this project was approved, I am committed 

to collaborating with the Inverness subdivision, 

Pinnacle Point subdivision and the 

surrounding subdivisions to address their 

needs. As we prepare to welcome new families 

to Dardenne Prairie, I am dedicated to 

fostering a positive outlook and ensuring 

our community continues to thrive.” 

Sugarfire and Macadoodles are scheduled 

to open late fall 2024, Starbucks is 

scheduled to open in mid-2025. An animal 

hospital and the multifamily development 

will open in the fall of 2025. 

Local officials hold town hall on senior tax freeze 

By JESSICA MARIE BAUMGARTNER 

The senior real estate property tax relief 

program in St. Charles County is still new, 

having launched on March 1 earlier this 

year. 

The program stems from Missouri Senate 

Bill 190, which authorizes a tax credit for 

senior homeowners age 62 or older. 

To clarify questions about the program, 

Rep. Tricia Byrnes (R-District 63) and 

Dardenne Prairie Alderman Mike Costlow 

(Ward 2) hosted a town hall meeting 

at the Village Cafe on Aug. 1 to connect 

local seniors and county officials. St. 

Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, 

Assessor Travis Welge and Collector 

of Revenue Michelle McBride gave 

a presentation and answered questions 

from residents. 

The application process is from March 

1-June 30 of each year, according to the 

program’s guidelines. Applicants have to 

be 62 years or older as of the first day of 

the application year. All seniors must reapply 

annually. 

“This is not an overnight savings. 

This is a long-term program.” 

– Michelle McBride 

The county received approximately 

30,000 applications this year. Of those, 

about 7,500 were rejected for various 

reasons, but Ehlmann and other officials 

assured attendees at the town hall that if 

their application was rejected, they could 

reapply without penalty. They were urged 

to ensure that they had all the proper documentation 

before reapplying to prevent 

further rejections. 

Homeowners who have a standard deed 

only need to provide three documents: a 

fully completed application, their deed and 

proper identification with their birth date, 

such as a driver’s license. Those who have 

their property in a trust must additionally 

have a copy of the updated deed that has 

been put into the trust and their full legal 

trust agreement. 

Questions about missed deadlines and 

how the relief works were also addressed. 

“Obviously, some people missed the 

deadline,” Ehlmann said, adding, “If you 

did miss the deadline it’s no big deal.” 

Ehlmann explained that because this is 

the first year of the program in St. Charles 

County, county officials are prepared to 

hear from seniors who have missed the 

deadline within the coming weeks, but he 

also asked for patience. Since assessments 

are done every two years and the next 

assessment is slated for January 2025, the 

senior tax relief program won’t provide an 

immediate return this year. 

“Everybody is going to have the same tax 

bill this year as they did last year,” Ehlman 

said. 

McBride took the floor to address confusion 

over the tax relief program, noting 

that it is a “tax freeze” on only the portion 

of the taxes that can be frozen. 

Taxes collected for a bond issue (a ballot 

initiative) cannot be bypassed or frozen, 

but other portions can be frozen, which 

will allow seniors to receive a tax credit in 

the long-term. 

McBride stated that the most common 

cause of rejection is an incomplete application. 

She also stressed that, although her 

office has been overwhelmed during this 

first year, county officials are dedicated to 

working out the issues to make next year’s 

process smoother. 

“This is not an overnight savings,” 

McBride said. “This is a long-term program.” 

The St. Charles County website has a 

tool available to look up the status of an 

application for the senior tax credit program; 

learn more here.





I NEWS I 9 

O’Fallon approves transformation of Regal Theater into recreation facility 

By JOHN TREMMEL 

At its Aug. 8 meeting, the O’Fallon City 

Council passed a bill 10-0 that grants a 

conditional use permit (CUP) to Diversified 

Development and Construction LLC 

to allow indoor recreation in a HTCD/High 

Tech Corridor Development District at 900 

Caledonia Drive in the Streets of Caledonia. 

On Aug. 1, Diversified presented a plan to 

the O’Fallon Planning & Zoning Commission 

(P&Z) to redevelop the Regal Theater 

building, which has been vacant since July 

21, 2023. Diversified aims to transform the 

building and become the landlord for two 

youth-based businesses, Lava Island and 

Contender eSports. P&Z had voted 13-0 

to recommend approval of the CUP by the 

council. 

Lava Island will be an indoor adventure 

playground, including slides and trampolines, 

all oriented toward younger children. 

Hours of operation would be 9 a.m.-9 p.m. 

Sunday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday 

and Saturday. 

Contender eSports will enable video game 

players to compete individually or in groups, 

while an audience of friends, parents and 

other players can observe from theater seats 

higher up and on large projection screens. 

Former site of Regal Theater in O’Fallon. 

Contender eSports hours of operation 

would be 3 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 

3 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday 

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

At the P&Z meeting, Doug Small, esports 

coach at St. Dominic High in O’Fallon, 

said there are already 502 Missouri schools 

with esports, the largest participation in the 

U.S. There already is a Missouri Scholastic 

Esports Federation (MOSEF). He said 

esports are currently being played in home 

basements and school gymnasiums, and 

tournaments do not have good venues. 

The Contender eSports facility will 

be available for and used by individuals, 

(John Tremmel photo) 

schools statewide, and MOSEF, including 

for competitive tournaments. The facility 

will bring in new business for local hotels 

and restaurants in O’Fallon. It will provide 

all video game eSports equipment needed, 

but also will accommodate players bringing 

in their own equipment. 

At P&Z, Tim Elli of Diversified had 

explained that he and his partner Kurt Mollett 

had looked to create some type of indoor 

recreation facility in the cinema building to 

complement the soccer fields across the 

street. He said the opportunity is exciting 

because of all the new residences being 

built in the Streets of Caledonia. 

He explained, however, “There’s an 

expense premium with redeveloping a 

movie theater because of the stadium seating 

and all the sloped concrete that has to be 

removed.” 

Elli also said that while the building’s 

roof and inside ceilings look tall, “they are 

not as tall as you might think,” which limited 

some of the indoor recreation options. 

P&Z commissioners had asked about 

parking, with an eye to already-full parking 

lots for soccer tournaments. Elli said they 

would keep an eye on soccer tournament 

schedules when scheduling esports tournaments, 

but parking should not be a problem. 

He said the parking lot around the cinema 

building is “enormous,” including a large 

parking area behind the building. 

The bill was sponsored by Ward 3 council 

members Nathan Bibb and Steve Koskela, 

who had requested suspension of the rules, 

to conduct the first and second reading, 

and vote for passage, at the same meeting. 

Asked by council member Linda Ragsdale 

(Ward 5) about the reason for the doublereading, 

Koskela said the developer had a 

hard contract closing date of Aug. 9, and 

having the CUP approval prior is important. 

The council unanimously agreed to do a 

double reading. 

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10 I NEWS I 



CONGRESSWOMAN 

ANN WAGNER 

HERE TO SERVE 

MISSOURI’S 2ND DISTRICT 

DO YOU NEED… 

H Help with a Federal Agency 

If you are not getting the customer service you deserve 

from a federal agency, contact my office for assistance. 

We can help you: 

• Navigate Social Security, Medicare, and IRS matters 

• Resolve passport issues 

• Get information on VA claims and benefits 

• Acquire military records or replacement military medals 

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H A Ceremonial American Flag 

The American flag is the fabric of our nation. Call 

my D.C. office at (202) 225-1621 if you would like to 

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OFFICE LOCATION 

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Suite 201 

Ballwin, MO 63011 

wagner.house.gov 

Scan QR Code to Take 

My Congressional Issue Survey! 

By RISA CIDONI 

In July, the St. Charles County Prosecuting 

Attorney’s Office welcomed a 

3-year-old employee: courthouse facility 

dog Rosie. The Labrador is filling in for 

retired facility dog Sully as a comforting 

presence for victims and witnesses. 

Both Rosie and Sully were provided 

by CHAMP Assistance Dogs, based 

out of Maryland Heights. The nonprofit 

organization spends $35,000 per dog 

on training and placement, relying on 

donations and volunteers to place these 

animals for free where they’ll be most 

needed. 

Golden retriever Sully, retired after 

eight years in his courthouse position. 

He stood with testifying victims, helped 

witnesses during depositions and comforted 

children before and after trials. 

Sully also provided relief for courthouse 

employees. 

“Employees hear these (court) stories 

all day long, and it can really get to you,” 

CHAMP Executive Director Pam Budke 

said. “They would go in and spend time 

with Sully and feel much better. 

“But he’s 10 years old now. It was time for 

him to retire. It was hard for us to find the 

right replacement, but Rosie is going to do 

a phenomenal job.” 

In taking over Sully’s responsibilities, 

Rosie will work to reach CHAMP’s goal of 

strengthening canine-human bonds under 

the care of dog handler and victim advocate 

Stacy Dotson. 

“The dog is able to hopefully decrease some 

of the trauma that, unfortunately, coming to 

court can provide or cause,” Dotson said. 

“I’m really just excited to see how (Rosie) 

does and the impact that she has.” 

While a service dog’s presence is provided 

for victims and children, members of 

the prosecutor’s office note an additional 

impact on trials. 

“Evidence and research (have) shown that 

testimony is much more accurate, understandable 

and direct when you have service 

dogs to assist individuals with the comfort 

of a courtroom,” Prosecuting Attorney Joe 

McCulloch said. 

A service dog operating in a courtroom 

requires extensive conditioning toward 

professionalism to satisfy the role’s 

responsibilities. 

“A dog that is going to go into a courtroom 

needs to be a very calm dog,” Budke 

said. “The dog needs to be able to go 

behind the witness stand with a kid when 

they’re testifying against their abuser and 

be totally quiet. It takes a different personality.” 

Puppy raisers Mark and Tammy Arado 

trained and housed Rosie for three years 



A canine CHAMP in the courthouse 

From left: Victim Advocate Stacy Dotson, 

Prosecuting Attorney Joe McCulloch, Mark 

Arado and Tammy Arado. Center: Rosie, the 

new courthouse facility dog. 

before her placement, working with CHAMP 

to help her meet facility dog requirements. 

“A facility dog can’t be reactive to other animals, 

people or sounds,” Tammy said. “We 

would take (Rosie) to church with us, where 

they would have loud music and strobe lights, 

or to the bowling alley or grocery store. We 

really desensitized her to sounds.” 

During her training, Rosie’s inclination 

toward children indicated a promising 

future as a courthouse dog. In her new role, 

Rosie utilizes her bond with child victims 

and witnesses to calm their fears during the 

criminal justice process. 

“It’s wonderful to see that our dog can 

calm fears and anxiety to where the kid can 

tell their story without feeling threatened,” 

Tammy said. “It’s rewarding to know that 

Rosie (will) have that impact to make (kids) 

feel safe and secure.” 

Beyond the county courthouse, CHAMP 

has recently placed several other dogs 

across St. Louis. 

The Goldfarb School of Nursing at 

Barnes-Jewish College recently allowed 

facility dog Mr. Barnes to become the 

college’s first full-time mascot for mental 

health. Other future placements include 

home service dogs across the areas of 

West County and Richmond Heights. 

Facility dog requests are a popular 

CHAMP service. 

“We love the (facility) placements 

because of the impact in the number of 

people that these dogs see,” Budke said. 

“We’re hoping to increase the number of 

facility dogs we place. (However), we 

need more people involved, more volunteers 

and puppy-raisers.” 

Volunteer puppy raisers work on skill- 

See CHAMP, next page





St. Charles Ameristar plans expansion of convention center 

I NEWS I 11 

By ARTI JAIN 

On Aug. 7, the Ameristar Casino 

Resort Spa St. Charles announced an 

expansion that would triple the size of its 

20,000-square-foot convention center. The 

expansion will bring additional hotel rooms, 

larger event spaces and upgraded cuisine 

amenities, with construction planned to end 

in fall 2025. 

Charles, holds similar events as Ameristar, 

especially in terms of galas and social gatherings. 

Instead of increasing competition, 

however, General Manager Mark Tenholder 

said he believes the expansion would aid 

both convention centers. 

“We’re turning away a lot of our events 

because we are sold out, and we’re booking 

some groups up to two years out, depending 

on the size of the group,” Tenholder said. 

“So the availability in our building is tough. 

But with that other facility providing additional 

space, it gives more opportunities for 

groups to come into St. Charles.” 

Scott Drachnik, president and CEO of 

the Economic Development Council of St. 

Charles County, said the Ameristar expansion 

would bring significant economic 

growth to the region. 

“Ameristar has just been a great landmark 

business in the community and continues to 

be one of the most frequented areas in the 

region,” Drachnik said. “Anything they can 

do to grow and expand and be more successful 

is welcome in St. Charles County.” 

Drachnik said that the increased space 

would allow for demands to be met and 

allow more events to be held in the area. 

“It is amazing how many events are either 

being held in the local community or wanting 

to come to town, and they’re constantly 

looking for space,” Drachnik said. “So, by 

adding more convention space at the Ameristar, 

it’s just going to be a great opportunity 

to tout the region and bring people to St. 

Charles County.” 

Ameristar Convention Center hallways 

(Photo courtesy of Megan Haney/Boyd Gaming) 

“We have been proud to serve the St. 

Charles and greater St. Louis communities 

for 30 years now, and we want to make 

certain that we continue to offer our guests 

a best-in-class experience,” Ward Shaw, 

Boyd Gaming executive vice president 

of operations, said in a release. “Through 

these investments, our goal is to ensure that 

Ameristar remains a unique and appealing 

destination for existing and new guests 

alike, and continues to draw more visitors 

to the St. Charles community.” 

Just across Interstate 70, the St. Charles 

Convention Center, owned by the city of St. 

CHAMP, from previous 

training with dogs before placement at about 

two years old. Placement options vary from 

prison programs alongside female offenders 

to aiding student mental health at universities 

– positions are chosen with respect to 

each dog’s personality. 

Budke cited connection as an important 

factor in the placement process. 

“Everything we do is based on the magic 

and foundation of the canine-human bond,” 

Budke said. “Our vision is that at the end 

of their time together, both the dogs and 

the humans have a better life because of 

the other.” 

CHAMP’s annual Best Friend Gala fundraiser 

is on Sept. 21. Proceeds go toward 

the training and placement of future service 

dogs. Volunteers interested in puppy-raising 

or volunteering can visit champdogs.org for 

more information. 

SSM Health 

Outpatient Center at 

the Streets of Caledonia 

Bringing the care you need close to home 

in Western St. Charles County. 

SSM Health’s state-of-the-art outpatient center at the Streets of 

Caledonia is opening later this year. Multiple services at one location: 

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online scheduling 

• Pediatric and family medicine 

• SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Specialty Services 

• SSM Health’s SLUCare Physician Group 

• Outpatient lab, retail pharmacy, and more 

Located on Caledonia Parkway, near the Winghaven and 

Hwy DD exit on I-64. 

Visit ssmhealth.com/OfallonCare 

for more information and updates. 

©2024 SSM Health. All rights reserved. GSC-STL-24-2117710 8/24 

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According to the 2024 Houzz & Home 

Study, the most renovated room in any 

home is the kitchen. People renovate for 

varied reasons: They don’t like the way the 

kitchen looks. They don’t like how it functions. 

The kitchen is old and out-of-date. 

They’re planning a move soon and they 

want to get as much money as possible 

from the sale of their home. 

The “why” of the remodel often determines 

its “how” – as in how much should a homeowner 

spend, particularly when it comes to 

cabinets, the most costly item on the list. 

According to industry experts, cabinets 

can account for up to 40% of the total 

kitchen remodel cost. The remainder of the 

cost is broken down in descending costs 

for labor, appliances, fixtures, fittings and 

miscellaneous. 

It’s not surprising that cabinets top the list 

in terms of spend, they carry the greatest load 

and take the most abuse. Multiple times per 

day, kitchen cabinet doors and drawers are 

open and shut. Lower cabinets get bumped 

and banged, spilled and splashed on; upper 

cabinets attract airborne grease and dust. All 

of this is to say that they have to hold up to 

kitchen traffic and cleaning. 

“It’s not all about looks because you can 

get cheaper cabinets that look good, but 

they’re just going to fall apart. They don’t 

(Source: Adobe Stock) 


make cheaper cabinets to last,” explained 

kitchen and bath designer Julie Baum, 

owner of BaumHouse Design. “Some 

people might advise, if you’re planning 

to move in three years, that you install 

cheaper cabinets. But who knows what the 

future will bring.” 

Cabinets are typically made from one of 

three materials: medium density fiberboard 

(MDF), plywood or solid wood. 

MDF is a composite wood product made 

from wood fiber, wax and resin. It can be 

coated in vinyl, covered with a resin-impregnated 

paper layer known as melamine, or 

glued to a thin layer of natural wood veneer. 

Cabinets made from vinyl coated MDF will 

not be able to withstand daily abuse over 

time. The melamine covered MDF fares 

better. It is water-resistant, easy to clean and 

can come in a range of finishes and colors. 

MDF with a veneer mimics wood, resists 

moisture and enhances the cabinets’ durability. 

It’s a common choice in kitchens. 

Plywood cabinets may be an even better 

choice. Plywood is lighter than MDF, which 

can aid in installation. The material also 

offers a better grip for screws, which means 

that door hinges and hardware are less likely 

to become loose over time. Both MDF and 

plywood are susceptible to damage from 

prolonged moisture exposure, but plywood 

does better in humid conditions. 

When buying cabinets it’s important to 

know what you’re paying for. 

“I always tell people it’s like buying 

furniture, and good quality furniture 

is expensive. Regardless of how 

long you plan to live in your house, 

while you are there, you’ll want 

your kitchen to look good and function 

well,” Baum said. “When I had 

a showroom, people would come in 

and say, ‘I really love that backsplash 

but I’m probably going to move in 

five to seven years.’ My question 

See BUDGET, page 18





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when buying windows – and it’s more 

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heating and cooling energy use. 


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and solar heat gain coefficient as well as its 

visible transmission of sunlight, condensation 

resistance and air leakage. Those first 

two are energy performance ratings that 

can give you a good idea of how efficient 

your new windows will be but only if you 

understand what they mean. 

According to the energy department, 

U-factor is the rate at which a window, 

door or skylight conducts non-solar heat 

flow. The lower the U-factor, the 

more energy-efficient the window, 

door, or skylight. 

Solar heat gain coefficient [SHGC] 

is the fraction of solar radiation 

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skylight – either transmitted directly 

or absorbed – and subsequently 

released as heat inside a home. How 

your windows face the world and how 

exposed they are to sun and shade 

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high or low a particular window’s 

rating should be. A product with a 

high SHGC rating is more effective 

at collecting solar heat during the 

winter. Likewise, a product with a low 

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cooling loads during the summer. 

It stands to reason that large windows 

without significant shade from trees, overhangs 

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Bold, saturated colors are making a comeback in 2025 along with color-drenched rooms 

using a single hue. 



“Be faithful to your 

own taste because 

nothing you really like 

is ever out of style.” 

– Billy Baldwin 

Move over beige, color is coming. 

“I was happy to see that even in artwork, 

color is coming back for spring,” said 

Carrie Keipp, owner of The Foyer in Chesterfield. 

“For the last few years, everything 

has been very neutral, which is fine and we 

will always have neutrals, but it’s fun to see 

color making a return.” 

Keipp recently returned from the summer 

markets in Atlanta and Las Vegas, hosted 

by AmericasMart. It’s where local designers 

and home decor stores go to choose the 

merchandise they think their customers 

will love – and it’s where trends emerge in 

earnest. 

“We walk the showrooms and pick out 

every single Christmas ornament, every 

piece of greenery, every floral. Everything 

is picked out individually,” Keipp said. 

“In January, we’re predominantly picking 

out fall and Christmas merchandise. In 

July, we’re shopping for spring. Although 

this year, we’re doing a Christmas pop-up 

store at St. Louis Premium Outlets in 

Chesterfield. So we were still doing a lot 

of shopping for Christmas while we were 

in Atlanta.” 

Designer Chantell Gibson accompanies 

Keipp, and while the women are shopping 

they’re discussing how to bring the newest 

trends home. 

“In the Midwest, people tend to hold onto 

trends a little longer,” Keipp explained. 

“For instance, the farmhouse trend has been 

popular locally for a long time. So what we 

is help people to blend trends. Metal is a 

big trend – silver, gold, black, champagne 

– which can be incorporated into the farmhouse 

look. 

“Just a few trendy pieces placed in the 

right position in your home, or paired with 

something you already have, will make a 

statement.” 

The Las Vegas market features a large 

selection of furniture in addition to home 

decor and giftables. Keipp said what she 

saw there was that even on large items, like 

tufted leather sofas, color was king. 

“There was a lot of green leather, a lot of 

blue leather. I was surprised,” Keipp said. 

“That’s a pretty bold statement. 

“I wouldn’t say they’re bright colors, 

more jewel-toned, but still I think a lot 

of people may prefer to keep their tan or 

cream couches and just add splashes of 

color. We don’t carry couches, but I did 

talk to many of the designers at market and 

colored furniture is big. They’re selling out 

of those items.” 

Another big trend in furnishings is accent 

chairs, particularly those that make a statement 

or swivel. 

“It’s nice in rooms that are connected 

See MARKET, page 18





I DÉCOR & LIFESTYLES I 17 

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MARKET, from page 16 the brand. They are handmade BUDGET, from page 12 

for people to be able to swivel 

and allow the conversation to flow 

easily between the two spaces,” 

Keipp said. “Accent chairs come 

in all shapes and sizes, but often 

they are a little more rounded and 

smaller, so they fit nicely in most 

spaces.” 

Rounded, or ‘relaxed curves,’ is 

another trend that is showing up in 

home decor and furniture design. 

As is a return to more classic lines, 

comfort fabrics like corduroy and 

velvet, more patterns in fabrics and 

tufted upholstery. 

While Pantone has yet to name 

its 2025 Color of the Year, several 

other industry leaders have fully 

embraced a return to color. 

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams 

named Quietude, a light hue 

that reads more sage than blue, as 

from paraffin wax and set 

in glass. They are gorgeous! 

Although they are batteryoperated 

and flameless, they 

look very realistic.” 

Flameless candles also offer 

a safer option than traditional 

candles, especially when used 

in conjunction with silk floral 

arrangements. 

Using candles, florals, art, 

pillows, throws and a few new 

decor or accent pieces, homeowners 

can create what Keipp 

calls “vignettes.” 

“You don’t need to go all 

the way in when it comes to 

trends,” Keipp said. “There are 

plenty of items at market that 

make me say, ‘I wouldn’t want 

that in my home.’ But you can 

dip your toe into something 

new.” 

back to them was always, ‘So, do you want 

to live with a backsplash you don’t love for 

five to seven years, or potentially longer?’ 

“My theory is that you have to do what’s 

right for you, whether that’s more expensive 

cabinets that function better and will last 

longer or colors, flooring and backsplash 

materials that make you happy. It’s hard to 

say if what you do is going to hold up to 

resale or not, but better cabinets – with soft 

close doors and drawers, and pull-out shelves 

– those features are going to be important to 

future buyers. If a buyer comes in and you 

don’t have any of that, if buyers can tell the 

cabinets have half-inch-thick fronts and the 

drawers panels are only a half-inch thick or 

are constructed of cheaper materials, if the 

drawers don’t slide well – all of those things 

can be a deterrent to selling your home.” 

The bottom line – whether selling or 

staying – is for homeowners to look carefully 

at their remodel costs and decide 

its 2025 Color of the Year. Dutch 

American designer Thom where they can budget for better or best 

Radiance brand candles are a popular choice for flameless 

Boy upped the intensity with 

Filicia offers this advice when in terms of durability and functionality. 

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Mapped Blue, a cool tone with 

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aqua vibes. But for maximum intensity, 

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shade that consumer trend forecaster 

WGSN picked as its 2025 winner 

in early 2023. 

One trend that never seems to go out 

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“The ambiance of candlelight and 

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feel good.” His words aren’t far off from 

those of legendary designer Billy Baldwin, 

who in his lifetime, advised, “Be 

faithful to your own taste because nothing 

you really like is ever out of style.” 

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2 0 2 4 H I G H S C H O O L 

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 



I 19 

By WARREN MAYES 

Ahead of the high school football season, 

Mid Rivers Newsmagazine reached out to 

area coaches and asked them to share their 

insights about their top players. Here’s a 

look at who each coach chose with the teams 

listed in alphabetical order. 

DUCHESNE 

Coach: Vince Morris 

2023 record: 2-8. Postseason: Lost in first 

round of Class 3 District 3 to John Burroughs. 

Players to watch: 

Sam Jost: 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior 

quarterback/linebacker. All-conference and 

first team all-district. He holds a few different 

offers from smaller colleges. Led the team in 

tackles last year with 97 in nine games. A 

returning captain, Jost will be taking over 

duties as the starting quarterback. He was 

also the starting catcher and leadoff hitter for 

the state champion baseball team. 

“He should have several options as to 

which sport he would like to play in college,” 

Morris said. 

Logan Kanady: 5-foot-8, 190-pound senior 

center. A captain who will be starting at center 

for the fourth season in a row. A first team allconference 

offensive lineman last year. 

“He has had a really strong summer, and 

we are looking forward to getting him on 

the field on defense more this year with his 

improved conditioning,” Morris said. 

Caleb Schneider: 6-foot-3, 270-pound 

senior offensive lineman. A captain who will 

be making his third season as a starter on 

the line. He was both all-conference and alldistrict 

last year. He holds a Division 3 offer 

in football. 

“He should garner more interest this 

season,” Morris said about Schneider’s college 

choices. “Late last fall, he realized how 

good he had the potential to be and really 

dedicated himself to the weight room and to 

football. He was a playmaker on both lines of 

scrimmage last year and we think he can be a 

dominant player for us this fall.“ 

Jaiden Wurth: A 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior 

lineman. He will be starting for a second year. 

Was second team all-district last year. 

“We are looking forward to a full season 

with Jaiden, who is only playing his third 

season of high school football but took to 

it immediately as a sophomore until he was 

injured,” Morris said. “We expect big things 

from him this fall. Jaiden was one of our 

most consistent attendees of the weight room 

this summer and will look the part this fall.” 

FRANCIS HOWELL VIKINGS 

Coach: Brent Chojnacki 

2023 record: 9-3. Gateway South: 5-0 to 

win the conference. Postseason: Lost 28-27 

to CBC in Class 6 District 2 championship 

game. 


Cameron Cason: 6-foot-1, 180-pound 

senior wide receiver/cornerback. A threeyear 

starter at cornerback. He had 25 tackles 

and one interception last season. Played wide 

receiver last season, catching 15 passes for 

231 yards and five touchdowns. Has offers 

from Wyoming, Indiana State and Ball State. 

“We are expecting big things from Cameron 

this season,” Chojnacki said. “He’s got 

great speed. He’s a good football player.” 

Mitch Weisenborn: 6-foot-3, 240-pound 

senior left tackle/defensive tackle. Will be 

a three-year starter. He played guard on the 

2022 state championship team. He moved to 

left tackle last year. 

“He’s a very physical football player. He 

plays bigger than the size,” Chojnacki said. 

“He’s one of the top long snappers in the area. 

He won’t leave the field. He’ll take the most 

reps on the field. His leadership skills are 

great. He’s a 4.1 GPA kid. He will be a leader 

on both sides of the ball. I expect a big year 

on the field for him.” 

Jaylen Ballard: 5-foot-8, 180-pound junior 

running back. Will be a first-year starter. Ran 

a 4.4 laser-timed 40-yard dash this spring. 

“We expect him to be a guy carrying the 

ball well for us,” Chojnacki said. “The guys 

up front are developing well. We lost a lot of 

linemen last year. His number is being called 

this year. We expect big things from him in 

the backfield.” 

Eli Skidmore: 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior 

quarterback. 

“Eli had a good summer. He’s made a baseball 

commitment to Saint Louis University,” 

Chojnacki said. “He has a really strong arm. 

He’s good at running the offense. He’s a 

smart kid. He can manage the offense and get 

the ball where it needs to be. He’s a program 

guy. He was Adam Shipley’s backup and 

now it’s his time to shine.” 

FRANCIS HOWELL CENTRAL 

SPARTANS 

Coach: Malach Radigan 

2023 record: 4-7. GAC South: 1-4. Postseason: 

Lost in Class 6 District 4 secondround 

game to Rock Bridge. 


Jack Brown: 6-foot-5, 200-pound sophomore 

tight end/linebacker. 

“Jack is a talented, young sophomore who 

already has several offers that include Illinois, 

Miami (of Ohio), Kent State and Houston,” 

Radigan said. “He is gifted on both sides of 

the ball as he is athletic and aggressive. He 

will be young but will be one of the leaders 

of our team this fall. We are looking forward 

to seeing Jack progress in his career as he 

will be one of the most talented players to 

play at Francis Howell Central.” 

Nate Gibson: 5-foot-11, 225-pound junior 

offensive guard. 

“Nate is all that you want in an offensive 

lineman,” Radigan said. “He plays with great 

energy and aggression on each snap. He 

dedicated himself in the offseason to bulk his 

weight up and has had a tremendous summer 

for us. He had a solid sophomore season as a 

varsity starter and that experience will make 

him one of the leaders up front in 2024.” 

Ashton Payton: 6-foot, 175-pound junior 

running back. 

“Ashton played behind All-GAC running 

back Collin Parsons last fall and we are 

excited to see him have a breakout season in 

2024,” Radigan said. “He is a great kid, and 

we really feel his best days are ahead of him. 

Ashton possesses good speed, quickness and 

has great field vision as a running back. His 

character and unselfishness also make him a 

strong leader for our 2024 team.” 

Grayson “Grizz” Graham: 6-foot-1, 186- 

pound senior linebacker/wide receiver. 

“Grizz played alongside some stellar athletes 

for us on offense and defense last year,” 

Radigan said. “He took his offseason seriously 

and has truly earned everything that he 

has right now. He’s a fierce competitor who 

embodies the toughness and resilience we 

want in our team. With his strength, frame 

and fearlessness, he brings a physical presence 

to both sides of the ball. As a linebacker, 

Grizz has a natural instinct for finding the ball 

and making plays. His strength and relentless 

effort allow him to cover ground quickly 

and deliver punishing hits. On offense, he’s 

equally dangerous as a wide receiver, with 

reliable hands and the ability to make clutch 

catches in critical moments. Grizz’s leadership, 

versatility and relentless work ethic will 

be key factors in our success this season, and 

we’re confident he’ll leave a lasting legacy at 

Francis Howell Central.” 

FRANCIS HOWELL NORTH 

KNIGHTS 

Coach: Brett Bevill 

2023 record: 3-7. Gateway South: 1-4. 

Postseason: Lost in first round of Class 5 

District 4 game to Liberty. 


Collin Conley: 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior 

running back. Ran for 650 yards and scored 

three touchdowns as a junior. 

“Collin is one of the hardest working players 

on the team,” Bevill said. “He runs with 

power but can break away for big gains. He’s 

also a multi-sport athlete as he wrestles and 

runs track. He’s a leader on the field, classroom 

and weight room. We are excited for 

his senior year.” 

Samuel Mahurin: 5-foot-9, 170-pound 

senior linebacker/running back. Had 48 total 

tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble 

last season. Rushed for 199 yards on 31 carries 

and one touchdown. 

“Samuel will play a variety of positions for 

us this year, and he does all of them at a high 

level,” Bevill said. “He expects a lot from 

himself and others. The team naturally gravitates 

towards him as he leads with his voice 

and his example. He also runs the ball very 

well and will be expected to make an impact.” 

Champ Pauley: 5-foot-11, 175-pound 

senior safety. 

“Champ broke out early last season, and I 

believe if it wasn’t for a season-ending injury 

he would be on the radar as one of the top 

players in the area,” Bevill said. “We are 

looking for Champ to play safety and running 

back this year. However, we have also 

looked at him in a quarterback role. He is a 

top athlete that can do many things at a high 

level. We have very big expectations for 

Champ this year.” 

David Beger: 6-foot-1, 170-pound senior 

wide receiver/cornerback. 

“David has been turning heads this offseason,” 

Bevill said. “He won position 

MVP at corner at the St. Louis Battlehawks 

camp. He’s a natural athlete with great ball 

skills. We expect him to do a lot for us, both 

at receiver and corner this season. He has 

turned some heads at camps for some area 

colleges, and we are excited to see how this 

plays out.” 

FORT ZUMWALT EAST LIONS 

Coach: Joe Day 

2023 record: 2-8. GAC Central: 0-6. Postseason: 

Lost Class 5 District 4 opener to Fort 

Zumwalt North. 


“We are excited to enter the 2024 season. 

Landon Taylor, Mitt Medin, Payton Oxford, 

Marquis Watson, DJ Rivera, Ethan Wooden 

and Jac Copes have all started since their 

sophomore year and we are ecstatic to see 

them make their senior jump as we get ready 

for week one against Orchard Farm,” Day 

said. “We have some new faces with Carson 

Topping at quarterback and Nehemiah Carter 

at corner. Both of these kids have done an 

amazing job this offseason and have put 

themselves in a position for success. 

“Our kids program-wide have done an 

excellent job this offseason in the weight 

room from all the way back in late November 

and I couldn’t be more proud with how 

the boys have embraced the process.” 

See FOOTBALL PREVIEW, page 21

2024 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 

DUCHESNE 

FRANCIS HOWELL 

HOWELL CENTRAL 

HOWELL NORTH 

FT. ZUMWALT EAST 

8/30 • Lift for Life • 7 p.m. 

9/7 • Veritas Christian [A] • 1 p.m. 

9/20 • St. Francis Borgia • 7 p.m. 

9/27 • TBA • 7 p.m. 

10/5 • Jennings [A] • 1 p.m. 

10/11 • Crystal City • 7 p.m. 

10/19 • Westminster [A] • Noon 

10/25 • Fulton • 7 p.m. 

8/29 • Eureka • 6:30 p.m. 

9/6 • Fort Zumwalt North [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/13 • Cardinal Ritter • 6:30 p.m. 

9/19 • Howell North [A] • 6 p.m. 

9/27 • Fort Zumwalt West • 6:30 p.m. 

10/4 • Troy-Buchanan [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/11 • Timberland • 6:30 p.m. 

10/18 • Howell Central [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/25 • Rock Bridge • 6:30 p.m. 

8/30 • Liberty [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/6 • Festus R-6 • 7 p.m. 

9/13 • Vianney • 7 p.m. 

9/20 • Fort Zumwalt West • 7 p.m. 

9/27 • Troy Buchanan • 7 p.m. 

10/4 • Timberland [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/11 • Howell North • 7 p.m. 

10/18 • Francis Howell • 7 p.m. 

10/24 • Washington [A] • 6 p.m. 

8/29 • North Point [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/6 • St. Charles • 7 p.m. 

9/13 • St. Charles West [A] • 7 p.m. 


9/27 • Timberland • 7 p.m. 

10/4 • Fort Zumwalt West [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/11 • Howell Central [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/18 • Troy-Buchanan • 7 p.m. 

10/25 • Fort Zumwalt East • 7 p.m. 

8/30 • Orchard Farm • 7 p.m. 

9/6 • St. Pius X • 7 p.m. 

9/12 • University City • 7 p.m. 

9/20 • Fort Zumwalt South • 7 p.m. 


10/4 • Fort Zumwalt North • 7 p.m. 

10/11 • Liberty [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/8 • Washington [A] • 7 p.m. 


FT. ZUMWALT NORTH 

FT. ZUMWALT SOUTH 

FT. ZUMWALT WEST 

HOLT 

LIBERTY 

8/30 • Pattonville • 7 p.m. 


9/13 • Fort Zumwalt West [A] • 7 p.m. 


9/27 • Liberty • 7 p.m. 

10/4 • Fort Zumwalt East [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/11 • Fort Zumwalt South • 7 p.m. 


10/24 • Timberland • 7 p.m. 

8/30 • Winfield [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/6 • Riverview Gardens • 7 p.m. 

9/13 • St. Charles • 7 p.m. 



10/4 • North Point • 7 p.m. 


10/17 • Liberty • 7 p.m. 

10/25 • Warrenton • 7 p.m. 

8/29 • Kirkwood [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/5 • Belleville West • 7 p.m. 


9/20 • Howell Central • 7 p.m. 

9/27 • Francis Howell [A] • 6:30 p.m. 


10/11 • Troy-Buchanan • 7 p.m. 


10/25 • Bye 



9/13 • Orchard Farm [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/20 • St. Charles • 7 p.m. 

9/27 • Winfield [A] • 7 p.m. 


10/11 • St. Francis Borgia [A] • 7 p.m. 


10/25 • Liberty • 7 p.m. 


9/6 • Timberland • 7 p.m. 

9/7 • Warrenton [A] • 7 p.m. 



10/4 • Washington • 7 p.m. 


10/17 • Fort Zumwalt South [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/25 • Holt [A] • 7 p.m. 

LUTHERAN 

NORTH POINT 

ORCHARD FARM 

ST. CHARLES 

ST. CHARLES WEST 

8/30 • Cahokia [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/6 • Hannibal • 7 p.m. 

9/13 • Soldan • 7 p.m. 

9/20 • SLUH [A] • 6 p.m. 

9/27 • Cardinal Ritter [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/28 • Clyde C. Miller [A]* • Noon 

10/4 • Gateway STEM • 7 p.m. 

10/11 • St. Mary’s • 7 p.m. 

10/18 • Lutheran North • 7 p.m. 

10/4 • Jefferson City [A] • TBA 


9/6 • Holt [A] • 7 p.m. 


9/20 • Liberty [A] • 7 p.m. 


10/4 • Fort Zumwalt South [A] • p.m. 

10/11 • Washington • 7 p.m. 


10/25 • St. Charles • 7 p.m. 


9/6 • Pacific • 7 p.m. 

9/13 • Holt • 7 p.m. 

9/20 • St. Charles West • 7 p.m. 

9/27 • St. Charles [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/4 • Winfield • 7 p.m. 

10/11 • Principia [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/18 • Warrenton [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/25 • Moberly • 7 p.m. 

8/29 • Westminster Christian • 7 p.m. 


9/13 • Fort Zumwalt South [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/20 • Holt [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/27 • Orchard Farm • 7 p.m. 



10/18 • Winfield • 7 p.m. 


8/30 • St. Dominic [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/6 • Cape Girardeau Central • 7 p.m. 


9/20 • Orchard Farm [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/27 • Warrenton [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/4 • St. Charles • 7 p.m. 

10/11 • Winfield [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/18 • Holt • 7 p.m. 

10/25 • Potosi [A] • 7 p.m. 

ST. DOMINIC 

TIMBERLAND 

8/30 • St. Charles West • 7 p.m. 

9/6 • Normandy • 7 p.m. 

9/13 • St. Francis Borgia [A] • 7 p.m. 

9/20 • Park Hill • 7 p.m. 

9/27 • Cape Girardeau Central [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/4 • Riverview Gardens • 7 p.m. 

10/11 • Rolla [A] • 7 p.m. 

10/18 • MICDS • 7 p.m. 

10/26 • Westminster Christian [A] • 1 p.m. 

*Gateway Institute of Technology, 5101 McRee Ave. 

(Source: arbiterlive.com) 

PROUD SPONSOR 

8/30 • Holt • 7 p.m. 

9/6 • Liberty [A] • 7 p.m. 


9/20 • Troy-Buchanan [A] • 7 p.m. 



10/11 • Francis Howell [A] • 6:30 p.m. 

10/18 • Fort Zumwalt West • 7 p.m. 

10/24 • Fort Zumwalt North [A] • 7 p.m. 

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I FOOTBALL PREVIEW I 21 

FOOTBALL PREVIEW, from page 19 

FORT ZUMWALT NORTH 

PANTHERS 

Coach: Joe Bacon 

2023 record: 8-5. GAC Central: 5-1. Cochampions 

with Holt. Postseason: Lost to 

Cardinal Ritter in Class 5 quarterfinals. 


Jacob Sweeten: Senior. Projected to start 

at middle linebacker and offensive lineman. 

First team All-GAC linebacker, first team alldistrict 

linebacker and second team all-state 

linebacker. Had 90 total tackles, including 47 

solo. Five tackles for loss. 

Chaun Robinson: Senior. Projected to start 

at defensive back and running back. First 

team All-GAC defensive back, first team 

all-district defensive back and second team 

all-state defensive back. Had 65 total tackles, 

including 35 solo. One interception. 

Jackson “JP” Pohlman: Senior. Projected to 

start as offensive lineman and defensive end. 

Second team all-district offensive lineman. 

Xavier Jackson: Junior. Projected to start 

at defensive end and offensive lineman. First 

team all-GAC defensive lineman and first 

team all-district defensive lineman. Had 82 

total tackles, including 51 solo. Eight tackles 

for loss. Seven sacks. 

Cameron Sherman and Jayden Burleson: 

Sophomores. Projected to start at slot. They 

combined for 1,186 yards rushing and 170 

yards receiving and 19 touchdowns last season. 

“The boys have been getting after it this 

summer and they are ready to build upon 

what they and their brothers accomplished 

last season,” Bacon said. “We have a significant 

number of holes to fill on both sides of 

the ball due to a strong senior class that just 

graduated. Our challenge will be to get all 

11 players on the field working together as 

a unit. What we’ve seen so far this summer 

has been promising but there is a significant 

amount of work ahead of us if we’re going to 

be able to compete on opening night. 

“There are some great teams on our schedule 

this year but the stiffest competition we 

will face on a week-to-week basis will be 

ourselves. Playing football at a high level 

requires an extensive amount of dedication 

and selflessness and it’s a very real challenge 

to meet that demand every single week. If 

our boys are willing to rise to that challenge, 

they will be capable of doing some special 

things this year.” 

FORT ZUMWALT SOUTH 

BULLDOGS 

Coach: Prentice Henderson (new this 

season) 


Lost first-round Class 5 District 4 

game to Timberland. 


Grant Lott: 6-foot-4, 255-pound junior 

right tackle. 

“He started for us as a sophomore last year 

and he will anchor the offensive line alongside 

Griffin Hasten, a 6-foot-3, 273-pound 

junior tackle and Quinten Boyd, a 6-foot-4, 

255-pound senior tackle,” Henderson said. 

“These young men will also assist us on the 

defensive line as well.” 

Cooper Owens: 6-foot-2 junior. Will take 

over as quarterback. 

“Cooper has great arm strength and is ready 

to lead his teammates,” Henderson said. 

Caden Cox: 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior 

linebacker. Had over 96 tackles including 50 

solo. Second team all-conference linebacker. 

“He will anchor us on the defensive side of 

the ball,” Henderson said. “With losing 25 

seniors last year, the Dawgs’ young core of 

athletes have some work to do.” 

FORT ZUMWALT WEST 

JAGUARS 

Coach: Ben Pike 


Lost first round Class 6 District 4 

game to Troy Buchanan. 


Eliot Hummer: 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior 

linebacker. Had a productive junior season 

with 75 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four 

sacks. 

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“He is a smart and disciplined football player. 

He is a big athletic kid that we will look to 

lead our defense again this year.” 

Jy’Ren Green: 6-foot, 175-pound senior 

running back. Had more than 1,000 all-purpose 

yards in seven games played last year. 

“He has the ability to break away from 

almost anyone on the football field but also 

is a runner who will lower his shoulder and 

pick up the tough two yards when you need 

him to,” Pike said. “He will be the workhorse 

for us this year on offense.” 

Peyton Rasmussen: 6-foot-1, 200-pound 

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22 I FOOTBALL PREVIEW I 





FOOTBALL PREVIEW, from page 21 

senior wide receiver/defensive back. Averaged 

more than 15 yards per catch last year. 

Led team in interceptions with four. 

“He has had a great offseason and has 

shown himself to be a game-changer on both 

sides of the ball,” Pike said. “He will be a 

vital two-way player for us this year.” 

HOLT INDIANS 

Coach: John Place 

2023 record: 7-4. GAC Central: 5-1. 

Co-champions with Fort Zumwalt North. 

Postseason: Lost in second round of Class 4 

District 4 to Hannibal. 


Gabe Cunningham: 6-foot-4, 248-pound 

senior tight end/defensive end. Will enter his 

third year as a starter and a returning captain. 

Last year, he had 41 receptions and 12 TDs. 

“He put on more than 20 pounds this offseason, 

and we look forward to seeing him 

make an impact on both sides of the ball,” 

Place said. 

Kayone Thompson and Jaden Davis: The 

two seniors will return as starters at both 

wide receiver and defensive back. 

“They will impact each side of the ball and 

play a crucial role in special teams,” Place said. 

Xavier Adams. Senior returning running 

back. 

“He will take on most of the snaps this 

year,” Place said. “He is an exciting player.” 

Caleb Evans and Anthony Washington: 

The two seniors return to the defensive line. 

“They are both strong players on the inside 

and can cause problems on all three downs,” 

Place said. 

Gavin Moore: Senior linebacker. A threeyear 

starter. 

“Gavin will return as a linebacker and carry 

the ball this season,” Place said. “He is a natural 

football player and always finds himself 

around the football.” 

Place will have new athletes join the squad 

this fall. 

“We have several new players who will 

look to make an impact this season. This 

team’s significant strength is its overall 

speed and ability to attack in all three phases,” 

Place said. “We return our coaching staff for 

the fifth straight year, which significantly 

impacts our ability to develop young players 

and put them in a position to be successful. 

I’m excited to see how this team progresses 

through the season.” 

LIBERTY EAGLES 

Coach: Ryan McMillen 

2023 record: 7-4. GAC Central: 4-2. Postseason: 

Lost in Class 5 District 4 second 

round to Fort Zumwalt North. 


Cody McMullen: 6-foot-1, 160-pound 

senior quarterback. He went 174 for 289 

passing for 2,279 yards with 20 touchdowns. 

He has committed to McKendree. 

“Cody is not only a leader on offense, but 

a leader for our whole team,” McMillen said. 

“Cody knows our offense like the back of his 

hand and is like having another coach out 

there playing on game day. He had a great 

season as a junior and we are all very excited 

to coach him and watch him in his senior 

year.” 

Jack Ryan: 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior 

linebacker. Had 50 solo tackles and 64 

assists. Seven tackles for loss, three sacks, 

one fumble recovery. A second team allconference 

selection. 

“Jack is our leader on defense,” McMillen 

said. “Having him at linebacker is like having 

a coach on the field. He is a very smart player 

that knows the job of everyone on defense. 

He makes calls and adjustments depending 

on our game plan and makes sure everyone 

is where they are supposed to be.” 

Kaileb Rhen: 6-foot-1, 280-pound defensive 

lineman. Had 18 solo tackles, 18 assists. 

Four tackles for loss. 

“Kaileb is the anchor on our defensive line,” 

McMillen said. “He has worked extremely 

hard all offseason to improve his strength and 

speed. The combination of his size, strength 

and speed is going to make him a force on 

the defensive line.” 

Carson Nord: Senior offensive lineman. 

Helped block for an offense that threw for 

2,357 yards and rushed for 1,692 yards and 

scored 44 touchdowns. 

“Carson is our only senior on our offensive 

line and one of two returning starters,” 

McMillen said. “He is the heart and soul of 

our ‘Killer Hogs.’ He embodies the type of 

mentality we preach on a daily basis about 

being a ‘Killer Hog.’” 

LUTHERAN ST. CHARLES 

COUGARS 

Coach: Mercé Roach (New this season) 

2023 record: 3-7. Postseason: Lost in 

Class 4 District 4 opener to Warrenton. 


Ayden Hicks: 6-foot, 236-pound senior 

linebacker, offensive lineman, long snapper. 

Has interest from Southwest Baptist 

and Southwest Minnesota State. Has been 

offered by Madonna University. 

“Ayden is a hard and consistent worker,” 

Roach said. “He’s willing to play what is 

needed for the team to win. He has a real 

understanding of both sides of the ball. He 

has a great first step.” 

Jalen Bush: 6-foot, 175-pound senior wide 

receiver/defensive back. He has been offered 

by MidAmerica Nazarene, Milliken, Greenville 

and Madonna University. 

“He’s quick and shifty. Jalen is a strong 

route runner,” Roach said. “He’s a strong 

man defender at defensive back. He’s also an 

excellent punt and kickoff returner.” 

Chris Pirtle: 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior 

wide receiver/defensive back. He has been 

offered by MidAmerica Nazarene, Greenville, 

Madonna University and Lincoln University. 

“He’s a physical receiver, explosive and 

powerful,” Roach said. “He has excellent 

hands. He can play corner, safety or nickel.” 

Jacob Fieberkorn: 6-foot-2, 190-pound 

wide receiver/defensive end. Had 60 tackles. 

Seven tackles for loss. Eight interceptions 

and one fumble recovery. Has been offered 

by Madonna University. An all-conference 

defensive end last year. 

“He has a quick and explosive first step,” 

Roach said. “He ran a 10.66 in the 100 this 

spring.” 

NORTH POINT GRIZZLIES 

Coach: Alexander Zangriles 

2023 record: 6-4. GAC Central 3-4. Postseason: 

Lost District 5 Class 5 opener to 

Washington. 


Tyron Williams: 5-foot-11, 165-pound 

junior wide receiver/defensive back. Was 

first-team all-conference. Had four interceptions. 

Named first-team all-conference 

defensive back. On offense, he scored two 

touchdowns on the ground with 142 yards on 

just 16 carries. Scored a touchdown receiving 

with 12 catches for 162 yards. 

“Tyron was a shutdown cornerback for us 

last year in his first year in our program,” 

Zangriles said. “He loves the challenge of 

going one-on-one with the team’s best wide 

receiver and made some crucial plays in big 

games to help seal some victories. We expect 

Tyron to take a big step forward this year 

and become a leader for us, not only on the 

defensive side, but for the team.” 

Riley Deslatte: 5-foot-10, 190-pound 

senior running back/linebacker. He totaled 

89 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Earned 

first-team all-conference honors. Averaged 

9.2 yards per carry on 25 carries for 230 

yards. Scored five touchdowns. 

“Riley is our starting middle linebacker 

and a leader for our defense,” Zangriles said. 

“Riley is a captain, leader and everything you 

want in a four-year senior program player. 

Riley has received a couple of college offers.” 

Mathias Abunaw: 6-foot-1, 230-pound 

senior defensive lineman. Has garnered 

attention from Missouri-Rolla and Washington 

University in St. Louis. 

“Mathias is newer to football, this only 

being his second season playing,” Zangriles 

said. “However he is a force on the defensive 

line. Mathias moved down to our defensive 

end position this past year and was an anchor 

for us. He quickly learned technique and 

worked tirelessly in the weight room. Mathias 

has a quiet demeanor, but on the field, his 

motor never stops.” 

Carter Briddell: 6-foot-3, 285-pound 

senior offensive lineman. First-team allconference 

and all-district. A Lindenwood 

University commit. 

“Carter is the definition of what hard work 

and dedication can do,” Zangriles said. 

“Carter has continued to develop, each and 

every year and never settled. His work ethic 

and desire to be great is second to none. He’s 

a very physical offensive lineman and has 

taken the reins as the elder statesman on our 

offensive lineman. Carter loves to pass protect 

for his quarterback, but also can’t wait to 

pull and down defensive lineman.” 

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

quarterback. Threw for 1,541 yards on 118 

of 160 passing for 18 touchdowns and four 

interceptions. Ran for 1,068 yards and scored 

eight touchdowns. First team all-district. Lindenwood 

University commit. 

“Hoyt is a four-year starter for us and has 

been our quarterback since we opened as a 

program,” Zangriles said. “He’s continued 

to grow as a passer, runner, and as a leader. 

He works extremely hard at his craft and is 

a high-level competitor. His completion percentage 

has continuously improved and his 

best quality is that he almost always makes 

the right play for his team. Hoyt loves to 

study film and is a coach on the field, knowing 

everyone’s responsibilities. We expect 

him to continue to be a captain and leader 

for us this year and engineer a high-tempo 

offense.” 

ORCHARD FARM EAGLES 

Coach: Chris Lindhoff 

2023 record: 8-3. GAC North: 3-1. Postseason: 

Lost second-round Class 3 District 3 

district championship game to Westminster 

Christian Academy. 


Luca Gentile: 6-foot-1, 230-pound senior 

offensive lineman/defensive lineman. 

“Luca is not only the leader of the offensive 

line, he is the heart and soul of our program,” 

Lindhoff said. “He has set the standard in the 

weight room all offseason and looks to have 

a breakout year at guard and defensive end. 

He is a returning starter on both sides of the 

ball and looks to receive several honors after 

the season. Luca will have several opportunities 

to play football at the college level and 

we look forward to watching him flourish.” 

Jorden Matlock: 6-foot-2, 180-pound 

senior wide receiver/defensive back. Caught 

37 passes for 606 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Had 27 solo tackles, four interceptions, one 

fumble recovery. Two-time all-conference 

and district wide receiver. Two-time allconference 

and district defensive back. Allconference 

punter and kicker. 

“Jorden will be a three-year starter on both 

sides of the ball and we are confident that 

he is amongst the best receivers in the area,” 

Lindhoff said. “He will also have several 

chances to play college football. He reacts to 

the ball like nobody we have seen here and is 

a dominant possession-style receiver. We are 

lucky to have Jorden and are excited to watch 

him thrive again as a senior.” 

Jonathan “Jon” Kennedy: 6-foot-4, 180- 

pound senior wide receiver/defensive 

See FOOTBALL PREVIEW, page 30



Start Strong: Tips for tackling stress 



I FAMILY & KIDS I 23 

By RISA CIDONI 

For high school students, the start of 

the school year can bring more stress and 

uncertainty than excitement. The combination 

of classes and extracurriculars can 

whip into a whirlwind of anxiety. To prevent 

stress, parents and teens must work 

together to prioritize balance from the 

beginning of the year. 

Academics 

For many high school students, academics 

are their greatest source of stress. 

Choosing the right classes for the school 

year is an important step in achieving balance. 

Class choices at high schools differ 

in rigor and course interest. Most notably, 

classes labeled as ‘honors’ provide 

challenging, fast-paced versions of standard 

courses. Advanced Placement (AP) 

courses also handle comprehensive topics 

that tackle college-level curriculum in the 

high school setting. 

High school junior Yein has been 

involved in honors and AP courses since 

her freshman year. 

“For me, (choosing classes) is about 

knowing what I can handle and what I can 

accomplish without listening to others,” 

Yein said. 

However, course rigor must be acknowledged 

and carefully considered. Battling 

too much difficult coursework can easily 

become hectic for students. Prioritizing 

challenging material in topics of interest 

can prevent overwork. 

“When students are looking at taking 

upper-level courses, it’s critical to examine 

their interest in the subject matter,” 

said Nicole Buesse, licensed teen and 

family counselor and former high school 

counselor. “If they’re just taking a course 

because it has an honors or AP designation, 

and there’s no interest there, they need 

to talk with a teacher or a counselor and 

determine if they have the desire to put the 

work in for that course.” 

Homework can also cause anxiety. With 

up to eight courses per semester, constant 

schoolwork can quickly add. 

For students with tightly-packed schedules, 

using studying strategies can be beneficial. 

High school guidance counselor 

Kristy Raymond contends that good homework 

strategies take time and consistency 

to develop. 

“Many guidance counselors and students 

recommend keeping some sort of planner, 

whether paper or electronic,” Raymond 

said. “When choosing a method like that, 

you have to stick with it for at least three 

weeks to build a habit.” 

Time management also can help students 

build study habits. 

“You can set a consistent time outside 

of school in a consistent area to get work 

done,” Raymond said. “I’ve also found 

that many of (my students) are seeking 

places outside of their home to get work 

done. Popular places (include) the library 

and Bread Co., and students get more work 

done in that focused area rather than in 

their own home.” 

Parents can help strengthen their student’s 

studying skills by discussing 

expectations and setting guidelines for the 

academic year. 

“Kids and parents can talk together at the 

start of the school year about what makes 

the most sense given the student’s schedule, 

current workload and expectations of 

the household, and come up with a few 

different drafts of what the evening could 

look like,” Buesse said. “It’s most important 

that both the parent and student be 

realistic about the goals they’ve set.” 

Activities 

Opportunities outside of class are an 

important part of the high school experience. 

While engaging in these extracurriculars 

can have positive effects, students 

may become swept away in over-commitment. 

“Clubs are a great opportunity to be part 

of your school community,” Rockwood 

District Coordinator of Guidance and 

Counseling Matthew Berry said. “It’s a 

way to build connections and friendships, 

and sometimes those interesting activities 

are things that may encourage you to join 

in the future. It’s a great outlet.” 

However, joining an excessive amount 

of clubs at the start of the school year can 

lead students to struggle with participation. 

Prioritizing is essential. 

“In freshman year, I was doing a lot of 

clubs that my friends were doing,” Yein 

said. “I would just go to meetings and 

do little activities all the time. Now, I’m 

actively trying to be a part of clubs that 

I have a role in. It’s not like I’m just a 

member and go to occasional meetings. 

It’s actually a club I put effort into and I 

care about.” 

Part-time work is another opportunity 

explored by many students, but for many 

high school students, the excitement 

of earning money can blur the fine line 

between experience and exhaustion. 

“We have students that come into our 

offices when they’re struggling in school 

... and they’re working almost a full-time 

level job ... I have to remind them that it’s 

really hard to be successful at both,” Raymond 

said. 

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24 I HEALTH I 





Checking in on kids’ mental and emotional well-being is equally as 

important as getting their medical checkups and sports physicals as 

they start the new school year. 

(Adobe Stock photo) 

HEALTH 

CAPSULES 

By LISA RUSSELL 

Physical, mental health equally 

important in new school year 

As students throughout the St. Louis area 

head back to classrooms this week, their 

parents have been rushing to complete the 

medical checkups, sports physicals and vaccination 

updates that are part of the annual 

back-to-school routine. But it’s also a great 

time to make sure kids are prepared for the 

new school year when it comes to their 

mental health and emotional well-being. 

Dr. Ravi Johar, chief medical officer at 

UnitedHealthcare of Missouri, recently 

outlined a few steps parents can take to 

help reduce children’s stress and prioritize 

their mental health as the school year 

begins. He also offered suggestions about 

ways they can support a healthy return to 

school for their families. 

• Create (or re-establish) routines: 

Sticking to schedules and setting 

limits can create consistency at home that 

helps children feel more confident, secure, 

and stable. For example, sitting down 

to dinner as a family at about the same 

time every day, having a set timeframe 

for doing homework, limiting screen time, 

and establishing consistent times for going 

to bed and getting up all are important to 

children’s well-being. 

• Ask hard questions: Checking in 

directly with kids about their mental health 

shows them that it’s okay to have those 

conversations, and that they always have 

an emotional support network they can 

rely on. If they talk about being scared or 

nervous, validate those feelings. These can 

be sensitive topics for kids, so empathy, 

openness, and patience can help them feel 

heard and assure them that they’ll be OK. 

During these conversations, focus on your 

child’s overall disposition – not just what 

they’re saying – and watch for warning 

signs of issues, such as persistent sadness, 

sudden mood changes, or sleep problems. 

• Help kids develop independence at 

home: For those with younger kids entering 

preschool or kindergarten, encourage 

them to be as independent as possible… 

including dressing themselves, using the 

bathroom without assistance, washing 

their hands, putting on their shoes and 

other personal care tasks. However, they 

should also be comfortable asking an adult 

for help when needed. 

• Maximize medical appointments: Pediatricians 

can assess your child’s physical 

and emotional health before school starts, 

setting them up for success for the rest of 

the year … so think of well-child visit as 

an opportunity to understand your child’s 

health needs better. In addition to completing 

their school’s physical forms and updating 

their immunizations, ask the doctor 

about specific ways in which you can support 

their development, such as diet, exercise, 

and sleeping habits. 

Parents can create printable checklists 

for their family’s annual well-child visits, 

which can be customized according to each 

child’s age and gender, by visiting uhc.com/ 

health-and-wellness/preventive-care. 

On the calendar 

BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital offers 

a Family & Friends CPR course on Saturday, 

Aug. 24 from 9-11:30 a.m. at Missouri 

Mercy Internal Medicine Residency marks 70 years 

When Mercy launched its internal medicine 

residency program in 1954, it was the 

first community-based program of its kind 

in Missouri. In late July, Mercy officials 

celebrated the program’s 70th anniversary. 

Since its inception, the Mercy Internal 

Medicine Residency has trained more 

than 400 physicians, who treat patients 

in Missouri and across the U.S. The 

three-year program based at Mercy Hospital 

St. Louis has an enduring legacy of 

training the next generation of compassionate 

and community-minded internists, 

said Dr. Farrin Manian, Mercy St. 

Louis Department of Medicine chairman. 

“One of the ways to gauge the success of 

any residency program is when its faculty 

members freely trust their graduates to care 

for their family members or themselves. 

This is what I have seen and continue to 

see with our residency program, and I am 

proud to be part of it,” Manian said. 

Nine residents join the program annually, 

and each has the option of pursuing 

a variety of specialty areas, including 

primary care, hospital medicine, critical 

care or other medical subspecialties. 

Nearly half of all primary care physicians 

affiliated with Mercy St. Louis 

today are graduates. 

Baptist Medical Center, 3015 N. Ballas 

Road, in Auditorium Rooms 1, 2 and 3. This 

class uses the American Heart Association’s 

curriculum to teach hands-on CPR skills. 

Course does not include certification upon 

completion. The cost is $50. Register at 

classes-events.bjc.org. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital and Schnucks offer a 

nutrition class on Monday, Aug. 26 from 

2-3 p.m. at Schnucks Kehrs Mill, 2511 

Kehrs Mill Road in Ballwin. A St. Luke’s 

dietitian will discuss how to find and make 

healthier choices at the grocery store; how 

to read a food label; and nutrition recommendations 

for optimal health. Participants 

will also receive a $10 Schnucks gift 

card. The cost is $5 per person. Register at 

stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital presents Conversations 

for Women on Thursday, Sept. 5 

from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Desloge Outpatient 

Center, 121 St. Luke’s Center Drive 

in Chesterfield, in Building A. Join us 

for informal presentations with women’s 

health specialists. This month’s topic is 

Look Out Below, discussing pelvic health. 

Register at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

St. Luke’s Hospital offers Make Peace 

with Food: Basics of Mindful Eating 

on Tuesday, Sept. 10 from noon-1 p.m. at 

Desloge Outpatient Center Building A, 121 

St. Luke’s Center Drive in Chesterfield, in 

Conference Room 3. Join us for a free inperson 

class to learn the basics about mindful 

eating and move closer to feeling more 

at peace in your relationship with food. 

Register at stlukes-stl.com. 

• • • 

Pedal the Cause 2024 takes place on 

Saturday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 22 at 

The Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway in 

St. Charles. All funds raised benefit Siteman 

Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. 

Louis Children’s Hospital. Celebrate with 

your family on Saturday, ride on Sunday 

and share the unparalleled Pedal the Cause 

experience. This year’s event will feature 

new course options, a signature Spin Zone, 

a virtual participation option and a Kids 

Challenge. Detailed information and registration 

are available at pedalthecause.org.


MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE I BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT I 25 

Johnson Heating & Cooling: A legacy company committed to quality 



Heating and cooling is 

not just business as usual for 

Tracy and Shaun Johnson, coowners 

of Johnson Heating & 

Cooling. It’s a family passion 

passed down to Tracy from 

her parents, who owned a 

heating and cooling company 

for more than 30 years. 

Tracy and Shaun have 

owned and operated their 

business since 2013, earning 

a stellar reputation for keeping 

local families comfortable 

with honest and reliable service. 

“I grew up in the industry from a very 

young age. Shaun worked in the industry 

as well, so when my parents closed 

their business we decided to open ours,” 

Tracy explained. 

Shaun has worked in the industry for 

over 25 years and has earned his journeyman 

license in several counties. 

It’s the Johnson family of customers 

that Tracy enjoys most about the 

business. She takes pride in helping 

them find the best system to meet their 

needs and in being the go-to source for 

repairs and maintenance. 

“Our customers really are a part of 

our business family. That’s why our 

(Johnson Heating & Cooling photo) 

motto is, ‘Let our family take care of your 

family’s heating and cooling needs.’ It is 

because we believe in educating our customers 

and being up-front and transparent 

in all aspects of the business,” Tracy said. 

Johnson Heating & Cooling installs 

high-quality furnaces, air handlers, air 

conditioners, heat pumps, and geothermal 

systems in new construction homes and 

existing homes. And provides service and 

maintenance on installed systems. The ultimate 

goal, Tracy said, is always customer 

satisfaction and every member of the company 

gladly stands behind the quality of its 

products and services. 

“We excel in residential service, replacement, 

new home construction and finished 

basements,” Tracy said. “Our top 

employees have been with us 

since the beginning and they all 

have the same values and passion 

that we do. We are committed to 

overseeing that our customers 

receive systems that are the best 

quality.” 

All of Johnson Heating & 

Cooling’s technicians are 

required to participate in training 

throughout the year to keep 

up-to-date on their licenses, 

what’s new in the industry and, 

of course, safety. One of the newest 

trends in the industry is the use of geothermal 

technology, which works with 

the earth to pump heat into a home or discharge 

it from the home and back into the 

ground. It’s complicated, but not for the 

well-trained experts at Johnson Heating 

& Cooling, who are happy to explain the 

ins and outs of all the options homeowners 

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In addition to heating and cooling units, 

Johnson Heating & Cooling also installs air 

quality products, such as humidifiers and 

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It’s not just people who benefit from proper 

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For customers with larger homes, Johnson 

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“Our hearts are in providing the best services 

for our customers,” Tracy said. “We 

strive to provide exactly what we would 

want for our own homes, and to treat 

our customers how we would want to be 

treated.” 

Johnson Heating and Cooling service 

areas include Wentzville, Foristell, Defiance, 

New Melle, Lake Saint Louis, 

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I BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT I 27 

MRV Banks: Homegrown expertise to help local businesses grow 

Two of the most important resources 

any successful business can have 

are sound financial management and 

good partners. MRV Banks offers its 

business customers both. 

Locally owned, MRV Banks has 

its roots in Missouri soil and it is 

most definitely growing. In fact, CB 

Resource, Inc. a risk management firm, 

recently ranked MRV Banks as first on 

its CB Top TenTM list of community 

banks with similar assets. The firm 

identifies the top 10% of community 

banks throughout the nation and 

provides industry insights to promote 

and enhance overall performance. 

For local businesses seeking a 

financial business partner, this ranking 

says loud and clear that MRV Banks 

knows how to put down roots and 

grow – that combination makes them 

uniquely qualified to help business 

owners do the same. 

Since its founding in 2007, MRV 

Banks has consistently provided its 

business customers with the financial 

insight, products and services needed 

to accelerate their own growth. 

“We work hard to help some of the 

hardest workers. Local businesses 

bring economic and social benefits 

The St. Charles staff is waiting to meet your needs. 

to our communities. We make financing 

simple and easy to understand for 

business owners so they can focus on 

their companies,” explained MRV Banks 

Market President Garrett Watson. “We take 

pride in our personal approach to banking 

and helping our clients make the best 

financial decisions possible. 

“Our team of knowledgeable employees 

provides industry expertise and 

personalized attention to help each one 

of our customers make the most of their 

money – and we greet every customer with 

a smile.” 

(MRV Banks photo) 

One of the benefits of doing business 

with a local bank is that its lobby is staffed 

with local employees. 

“Our St. Charles branch is staffed with 

knowledgeable, friendly local employees. 

We’re from here. We live here. And we 

love it here,” Watson said. “Our owners 

and investors are all local, too. That’s 

why every decision we make is made with 

our communities in mind. We believe in 

supporting local economies, organizations 

and businesses so we can create a better 

place to live.” 

Running a local business is challenging 

enough without having to deal with a big 

bank that operates on a national level, with 

no real understanding of the community in 

which you are operating and growing your 

business. As a Missouri bank with local 

investors, MRV Banks understands the 

Show-Me State and its residents. 

“We are uniquely positioned to help our 

business partners make the best financial 

decisions possible,” Watson said. “We 

regularly invite our business customers in 

for meetings, luncheons and collaborative 

opportunities so we can work and grow 

together. 

“We are proud to be locally owned by our 

neighbors and businesses in our community. 

Ownership makes a big difference in how a 

bank operates.” 

To learn how MRV Banks can help your 

business grow, stop by its St. Charles 

branch or call (636) 638-2585. 

MRV Banks 

1700 O’Fallon Road • St. Charles 

mrvbanks.com • (636) 638-2585 

Lobby Hours/Drive Up Hours 

Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 

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28 I EVENTS I 

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LOCAL 

EVENTS 

BENEFITS 

Support Our Troops Supply Drive is 

through Sept.11 at the O’Fallon Municipal 

Centre, 100 N. Main St.; the Renaud 

Center, 2650 Tri Sports Circle; and the 

O’Fallon Justice Center, 1019 Bryan Road. 

Drop off personal care items and snacks 

for deployed U.S. troops. Details at ofallon. 

mo.us/volunteer. 

• • • 

Operation Christmas Child is from 

9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Calvary 

Church, 3889 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. 

Peters. Help pack shoeboxes for children 

in need. Details at samaritanspurse.org/occ. 

• • • 

The Un-Forgettable Ride is at 10:30 

a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Flint Hill 

Knights of Columbus Hall, 2061 Grothe 

Road in Wentzville. Registration begins at 

9 a.m. and is $35 per bike, jeep, or car and 

$15 per passenger. The price includes a 

BBQ dinner and after-party with DJ Big T 

from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Details at ufr4alz.com 

or by calling (314) 398-6900. 

• • • 

Patriot Blood Drive is from 11 a.m.-3 

p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13 at the O’Fallon 

Municipal Centre, 100 N. Main St. Details 

at ofallon.mo.us. 

• • • 

Citizens United in Service is from 9-11 

a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the O’Fallon 

City Hall, 100 N. Main St. Create care 

packages for shipment to military troops 

serving overseas and create cards of appreciation 

for local first responders. Details at 

ofallon.mo.us. 

• • • 

Art From the Heart is at 5:30 p.m. on 

Thursday, Sept. 19 at Mungenast Lexus 

of St. Louis, 13700 Manchester Road. Art 

donated by childhood cancer patients and 

their siblings is featured. Tickets are $50 

per person at friendsofkids.org or by calling 

(314) 275-7440. 

• • • 

The Anthony Gamma Memorial Run 

is at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 370 

Lakeside Park in St. Peters. Money raised 

will help give area youth the gift of Scouting. 

Cost is $35 before Aug. 31. Register at 

runsignup.com or visit stlbsa.org. 

CONCERTS, MOVIES 

& FESTIVALS 

St. Peters’ Sunset Concert Series continues 

with the WildHorse Creek Band 

and Jim Keefe on at 6: 30 p.m. on Friday, 



Aug. 23 at 370 Lakeside Park in St. Peters. 

Next up: Mantia & McCready on Aug. 30. 

Admission is free. Full schedule at stpetersmo.net/sunset. 

• • • 

St. Charles Jewish Festival is from 11 

a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25 at the 

Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum, 

1050 S. Riverside Drive in St. Charles. 

• • • 

New Town Concert Series continues 

with “Haulin’ Oats” from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, 

Aug. 31 at the New Town Amphitheater, 

3312 Rue Royale in St. Charles. 

Bring seating. Admission is free. Next 

up: Pink Houses - Tribute to John Cougar 

Mellancamp at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1. 

Details at discoverstcharles.com/events. 

• • • 

Sip & Savor St. Charles is from 5-8 

p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 370 Lakeside 

Park in St. Peters. Must be 21 and over to 

enter. Details and tickets at stcharlesregionalchamber.com. 

SPECIAL INTEREST 

St. Charles County Youth Orchestra 

auditions are Aug. 23-25 at Grace Baptist 

Church Fellowship Hall, 3601 Ehlmann 

Road in St. Charles. All strings, woodwinds, 

brass and percussion levels are invited to 

audition. Visit sccyo.org/auditions to apply 

or contact sccyomusic@gmail.com. 

• • • 

Choral Arts Singers Fall Practice is 

at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9 at Connection 

Christian Church, 1332 Feise Road 

in Dardenne Prairie. Rehearsals are from 

7-9 p.m. on Mondays through December. 

Holiday concerts are in early December. 

No audition is required. Teens and older. 

Details at concertarts.org. 

• • • 

The Fallen Heroes Memorial Exhibit 

featuring a 28-foot American flag made 

from the dog tags of 7,040 fallen heroes is 

on display from 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3 

through 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8 at the 

Mid America Veterans Museum, 410 E. 

Elm Street in O’Fallon. A ceremony with 

guest speakers and color guard is at 7 p.m. 

Sept. 3-7. Details at mavm.org. 

• • • 

Blue Mass and Honor Day for First 

Responders is from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on 

Saturday, Sept. 7 at All Saints Parish, 7 

McMenamy Road in St. Peters. Includes 

mass, blessing, an Honor Guard with 

bagpipes, a barbeque by the Knights of 

Columbus, family games and more. 

• • • 

A Patriot Day Ceremony is at 8:30 a.m. 

on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the O’Fallon 

Municipal Centre, 100 N. Main St.; a onemile 

Remembrance Walk follows. Details 

at ofallon.mo.us.



Erio’s Ristorante: A family affair where tradition meets innovation 



I 29 

By SUZANNE CORBETT 

Successful restaurants often begin with 

a family that has a passion for good food 

and hospitality. Such is the story of brothers 

Joe and Andrew Creach, co-owners of 

Erio’s Ristorante. Their passion for creating 

excellent meals and the restaurant 

business led them to become the second 

family to operate Erio’s Ristorante, the St. 

Peter’s Italian eatery established by the 

Pulizzi family. 

“It’s always been a family affair,” Joe 

said. “Since day one, Erio’s has always 

been about family, which began with Pete 

(Pulizzi) whose wife baked the desserts. 

“After we stepped in, our whole family 

is working here. My brothers, Andrew 

and Matt are in the kitchen. Our dad 

comes in early to start things rolling. My 

mom sets tables with flowers and bakes 

desserts. Our other brother, Michael, is 

the house manager and a server along 

with a sister-in-law who is also a server. 

Everyone else on staff is a family friend.” 

This all-hands-on-deck approach is a 

Erio’s Ristorante 

throwback strategy to running a family 

business, and it’s been successful. It has 

given Erio’s an edge in providing customers 

with a consistent, high-quality dining 

experience that reflects the Creach family’s 

dedication to creating affordable, 

good food that’s plated and served with 

style. 

“It’s important to give people what they 

came for – good food and a great dining 

experience,” Joe said. “We all work hard 

together to meet and exceed our customers’ 

expectations by giving them the best.” 

In Joe’s view, “best” means “quality,” 

and it begins with the ingredients used 

to produce the large variety of Erio’s 

menu options, which includes small-plate 

appetizers, elegant entrees, generouslyportioned 

salads, pastas and pizzas. 

The pizzas are made by Creach’s 

nephew, Hunter, who has become the 

family’s master of hand-tossed dough. 

“We make our pizzas the old-fashion way,” 

said Andrew, who also serves as executive 

chef for Erio’s. “Our pizza dough is made 

from scratch every day from the original 

951 Jungermann Road • Saint Peters • eriosristorante.com • 636-928-0112 

Hours: Monday-Thursday 4-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Closed Sundays 

family recipe. Hunter does the pizzas, hand 

tossing them in the air.” 

The house pizza recipe is a longstanding 

tradition, developed by Erio’s founding 

family and is still prepared the same 

way it was 40 years ago. 

Other recipes have had a few modernized 

tweaks and some are completely new 

additions created by Andrew. Many appear 

as daily specials, such as the Sea Bass, 

sauced with a lemon, garlic caper sauce, or 

a rack of New Zealand Lamb. The latter is 

a carnivore’s delight. Erio’s rack of lamb is 

marinated for three days before it arrives 

tableside, pan-seared with a Sicilian 

tomato, garlic and basil sauce. Both dishes 

will satisfy most discerning gourmet. 

“We kept everything authentic, just the 

way we were taught,” Andrew said. “We 

prepare and cook everything fresh. We 

don’t use anything frozen. We use only 

top-quality meats and seafood and work 

with produce that’s locally-grown and 

sourced. We also take extra steps in creating 

our dishes and add that extra bit of 

love, because we care about what we’re 

doing. We’re just not cooking. 

When you dine here, 

we also want you to have a 

good time.” 

When asked what future 

A selection of Erio’s signature plates. 

(Photo courtesy Erio’s) 

plans the family has for Erio’s, Andrew 

said, “We’re working toward feeding 

more mouths.” 

“That’s my end game and DoorDash is 

helping us do that,” he said. 

Besides dining in, take-out and Door- 

Dash delivery, Erio’s offers off-site catering 

along with on-site catering options 

for private parties on Sundays. With the 

upcoming holidays, it’s never too early to 

book your party. Call and make reservations 

now to secure a date and table. 

Real Estate 

15th Annual Friends of Kids with Cancer 

Art Therapy Showcase & Benefit 

Professionals 

Thursday, September 19, 2024 | 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. 

at Mungenast Lexus of St. Louis — 13700 Manchester Road 

♥ Cocktail Party Atmosphere with Heavy 

Hors D’oeuvres & Open Bar Selections 

♥ 60 Pieces of Patient Artwork 

for Auction & Showcase 

♥ Raffles, Silent Auction, 

& Other Ways to Support 

♥ Artist Appreciation Ceremony 

Get Tickets at friendsofkids.com/art 

A special advertorial section coming 9.4.24 

Call 636.591.0010 for advertising

30 I FOOTBALL PREVIEW I 





FOOTBALL PREVIEW, from page 22 

end. Had 26 catches for 499 yards and six 

touchdowns. Had 19 solo tackles with one 

interception and one fumble recovery. Allconference 

and all-district wide receiver and 

defensive end last season. 

“Jon is one of the most talented receivers in 

our area and looks to have a breakout senior 

season,” Lindhoff said. “He is a standout athlete 

on both sides of the ball and has a great 

record of returning punts as well.” 

Collin Sinclair: 6-foot-2, 185-pound junior 

quarterback. Went 96 for 167 passing for 

1,602 yards with 21 touchdowns and six 

interceptions. Rushed for 423 yards on 69 

carries. Scored six touchdowns. A two-time 

all-conference quarterback. 

“Collin has started at QB since his first 

day of high school and has led us to many 

victories and great memories,” Lindhoff said. 

“He is an incredible student-athlete with a 4.0 

GPA and excels in basketball and baseball 

too. We look forward to watching his success 

and leadership grow this fall.” 

Tyson Bronson: 6-foot-1 185-pound junior 

running back. All conference and district 

linebacker. 

“Tyson has started since his first day of high 

school and is a game changer at the line of 

scrimmage,” Lindhoff said. “Tyson will also 

be rotating at running back this year and 

looks to have success there. We are so incredibly 

proud of all that Tyson has accomplished 

and we are ready to watch him take the next 

step.” 

ST. CHARLES PIRATES 

Coach: Dan McMullen 

2023 record: 1-9. GAC North: 1-3. Postseason: 

Lost first-round Class 4 District 4 

game to Hannibal. 


Jordan Rowe: 6-foot, 170-pound quarterback/athlete. 

Threw for 2,549 yards passing 

and 20 touchdowns. Rush for 1,448 yards 

and scored 13 touchdowns. He also returned 

a punt for a touchdown. Defensively, he had 

38 total tackles. He was first team all-conference 

as an athlete and second team all-conference 

as a quarterback. In lifting weights, 

he’s a member of the 750-pound club. He’s a 

two-year team captain. 

“Jordan is an incredible young man who’s 

a great leader on our team,” McMullen said. 

“He’s always looking to help others improve 

and finds ways to bring guys up to his level. 

He’s one of the best overall athletes I’ve ever 

coached.” 

ST. DOMINIC CRUSADERS 

Coach: Blake Markway 

2023 record: 10-1. Postseason: Lost 

second round in Class 5 District 4 to Fort 

Zumwalt North. 


Ethan Bolinger: 6-foot-1, 265-pound 

senior offensive/defensive lineman. Earned 

all-state Class 5 offensive line last season. 

All-conference and all-district for the past 

two years. 

“Ethan has been part of our starting line 

rotation since his freshman year, helping 

lead a unit that won two district titles, a 

state runner-up and twice set school scoring 

records in those last three years,” Markway 

said. “He is being recruited on both sides of 

the ball as he also had a dominant season 

playing interior defensive line, but has the 

versatility to play defensive end as well. 

Ethan is an outstanding representative of 

our team as a member of National Honor 

Society and Peer Ministry, a top leadership 

position in our school. Not only is he one 

of the best linemen we’ve had here at St. 

Dominic, but he is also a great leader and 

young man that you want to represent your 

program on and off the field.” 

Brennan Czeschin: 6-foot-3, 187-pound 

junior quarterback. Passed for 1,646 yards 

and 21 touchdowns as a first-year starter in 

his sophomore season. Has received a Division 

1 offer from Miami of Ohio. 

“He has tremendous accuracy, completing 

60 percent of his passes last season and has 

the arm strength to really stretch the field vertically 

as well,” Markway said. 

We are expecting great things from him 

this season as he has taken a big leap this offseason 

in his all-around game. Brennan will 

have many opportunities as he continues to 

impress with his very high ceiling.” 

Cole Beerman: 5-foot-11, 160-pound 

senior receiver. Caught 13 passes for two 

touchdowns. 

“Cole has been part of our receiver rotation 

since his sophomore year and can do some 

great things from the slot as a receiver and 

runner,” Markway said. “He makes the tough, 

contested catches and can turn a short pass to a 

big gain with his ability after the catch.” 

Jake Reid: 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior 

offensive lineman/linebacker. 

“While not the biggest lineman, Jake 

plays with attitude, toughness and speed 

where he returns as an all-conference 

offensive lineman,” Markway said. “He 

is the third Reid brother to start on our 

offensive line over the last seven years. 

Jake can play center or guard in our 

offense, and really excels in our outside 

zone and screen game where he can get 

out and run.” 

TIMBERLAND WOLVES 

Coach: Edward Gilreath 


Lost in second round Class 5 District 

4 to St. Dominic. 


Austin Humphrey: 6-foot, 175-pound 

senior quarterback. Went 36 for 50 passing 

for 467 yards and four touchdowns in two 

games as a junior. Second team all-district 

quarterback. 

“Austin missed most of his junior season 

due to an injury,” Gilreath said. “He persevered 

and kept working and was able to help 

us to a playoff win last year. He is one of the 

top leaders in our program and is ready to 

help our team build off of last year.” 

Teryun Reeves: 6-foot-3, 255-pound 

senior defensive end. Last season had 46 

tackles including five for a loss. First team 

all-conference and second team all district 

defensive lineman. 

“Teryun has worked tirelessly this offseason 

to build off of his junior season and 

is ready to be another force on the defensive 

line,” Gilreath said. 

Jayden Weinhardt: 5-foot-10, 220-pound 

senior linebacker. Had 29 tackles in three 

games as a junior. 

“Jayden has been the leader of our 

defense for a few years,” Gilreath said. 

“After suffering a season-ending injury in 

week three, he is ready to get back out on 

that field.” 

Riley Holstein: 6-foot-2, 190-pound 

junior wide receiver/linebacker. Caught 21 

passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. 

Record 50 tackles and three tackles for a 

loss. A second team all-district wide receiver. 

“Riley brings back a lot of experience 

after being a two-way starter last year 

as a sophomore,” Holstein said. “We’re 

looking for big things from him again this 

season.” 

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I BUSINESS I 31 

BUSINESS 

BRIEFS 

PLACES 

The 212 Club at 207 E. Pitman St. in 

O’Fallon recently held a ribbon-cutting 

event to support the club and raise awareness 

about its presence in the community. 

The 212 Club hosts 12-step meetings 

around the clock, providing a space for 

individuals seeking recovery to find help, 

build new friendships and organize activities 

that support others in their recovery 

journey and their families. Interested parties 

can learn more at 212club.net or by 

calling 636-339-2500. 

• • • 

Insomnia Cookies will open a bakery in 

the St. Charles Historic District in coming 

months. The store will mark the brand’s 

fifth location in the St. Louis Metropolitan 

Area and its ninth location in Missouri. 

Open late (until 3 a.m. at some locations), 

Insomnia Cookies offers in-store, pickup 

and delivery options for customers to 

experience the company’s signature cookies. 

The new St. Charles location is hiring 

part-time cookie crew members, delivery 

drivers and shift leaders. Interested applicants 

can apply at careers.insomniacookies. 

com. 

The 212 Club has opened at 207 E. Pitman St. in O’Fallon 

PEOPLE 

F&M Bank and Trust Company has 

announced the opening 

of a new loan production 

office in O’Fallon. 

The new office is 

located at the Shoppes 

at Winghaven Center in 

O’Fallon. F&M Bank 

has also announced the 

addition of Scott Sievers 

as vice-president/ 

loan officer. He will be 

located at the O’Fallon 

Scott Sievers 

location and will be 

originating and managing 

consumer banking relationships. To 

learn more, call (314) 452-4010 or email 

ssievers@bankfm.com. 

(Photo provided) 

AWARDS 

On Aug. 1, the Economic Development 

Council of St. Charles 

County hosted its fourth 

annual Awards Luncheon at 

Old Hickory Golf Club in St. 

Peters. The event celebrated 

seven organizations and 

marked another year of community 

growth and success. 

Organizations/businesses 

recognzied included: CSI 

Leasing, EDC Business 

Attraction Project of the Year; 

Chicken N Pickle, Economic 

Development Project of the 

Year; Aspire Software, EDC Small Business 

Incubator Alumni of the Year; Unlimited 

Play, EDC Small Business Incubator 

Tenant of the Year; Kokomo Joe’s, SBA 

504 Borrower of the Year; St. Charles 

Main Street Foundation, Economic Development 

Initaitive of the Year and Boone 

Center Inc., Talent Pipeline Project of the 

Year. 

“The success of these organizations 

highlights the potential of a strong entrepreneurial 

ecosystem, supportive local 

government and innovative thinking,” 

said EDC President and CEO Scott J. 

Drachnik. “Their achievements underscore 

the importance of collaboration and 

forward-thinking strategies in driving 

regional growth and prosperity.” 

• • • 

St. Charles Sleep Services has 

reached a consecutive 25-year accreditation 

milestone from the American 

Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). It 

is one of 23 programs in the nation to 

achieve the 25-year accreditation milestone 

in 2024. AASM-accredited sleep 

centers provide diagnostic and therapeutic 

care for people who have problems 

related to sleep and alertness. Sleep disorders 

include obstructive sleep apnea, 

chronic insomnia, restless legs syndrome 

and narcolepsy. To receive and maintain 

accreditation for a five-year period, a 

sleep center must meet or exceed all 

standards for professional health care as 

designated by the AASM. SSM Health 

St. Joseph Hospital – St. Charles Sleep 

Services is directed by Thomas M. Siler, 

MD, and is located at 300 First Capitol 

Drive in St. Charles. 

MID RIVERS CLASSIFIEDS • 636.591.0010 • CLASSIFIEDS@NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM 

COLLECTIBLES 

WANTED TO BUY 

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ELECTRICAL 

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switches, outlets, basements, 

code violations fixed, we do it 

all. Emergency calls & back-up 

generators. No job too small. 

Competitively priced. 

Free Estimates. 

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GARAGE DOORS 

DSI/Door Solutions, Inc. 

Garage Doors, Electric Openers. 

Fast Repairs. All makes & models. 

Same day service. Free Estimates. 

Custom Wood and Steel Doors. 

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HAULING 

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Call: 636-515-6611 

Email: jandjhaul@aol.com 

HELP WANTED 

We are looking for qualified 

Sales Executives. 

Interested candidates, 

please email resumes to: 

info@newsmagazinenetwork.com 

HOME IMPROVEMENT 

REMODEL & REPAIR 

Rotted wood, Painting, Tile, 

Drywall, Floors, Electrical, 

Carpentry, Plumbing, 

Power Washing. Insured. 

FREE ESTIMATES 

Tom Streckfuss 314-910-7458 

sbacontractingllc@gmail.com 

HAPPY HANDYMAN SERVICE 

"Don't Worry Get Happy" 

Complete home remodel/ 

repair kitchen & bath, plumbing, 

electrical, carpentry. 24HR 

Emergency Service. Commercial 

and Residential. Discount for 

Seniors/Veterans. 

636-541-9432 

AFFORDABLE CARPENTRY 

Kitchen Remodeling, Wainscoting, 

Cabinets, Crown Molding, Trim, 

Framing, Basement Finishing, 

Custom Decks, Doors, Windows. 

Free estimates! 

Anything inside & out! 

Call Joe 636-699-8316 

PAINTING 

DEFINO’S 

PAINTING SERVICES 

EST. 2006 

Interior & Exterior Painting 

Deck Staining 

- Insured & Free Estimates - 

definospainting.com 

314-707-3094 

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS! 

PAINTER 

DAN VOLLMER 

• I AM INCORPORATED INC. • 

INTERIOR SPECIAL 2024 

$75 Per Avg. Rm Size 

(12’x12’ Walls 3 Room Minimum) 

FREE ESTIMATES: CALL DAN 

(636) 577-8960 

Exterior Painting! 

PET SERVICES 

Yucko’s 

Your Poop Scoop ‘n Service 

FREE Estimates 

314-291-7667 

www.yuckos.com 

PLUMBING 

AFFORDABLE 

LICENSED PLUMBER 

FAIR WATER HEATER PRICES! 

Quality Kitchen & Bath Remodel. 

Quick Repairs! 

(636) 288-7002 

Call or Text 

ANYTHING IN PLUMBING 

Good Prices! Basement 

bathrooms, small repairs & code 

violations repaired. Fast Service. 

Certified, licensed plumber - MBC 

Plumbing - Call or text anytime: 

314-409-5051 

TREE SERVICES 

Complete Tree Service for 

Residential & Commercial 

Tree Pruning & Removal 

Plant Health Care Program 

Deadwooding • Stump Grinding 

Deep Root Fertilization 

Cabling & Storm Clean Up 

ISA Certified Arborists 

Doug Beckmann MW-5255A 

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

Free Estimates • Fully Insured 

314-426-2911 

meyertreecare.com 

GOT IT 

IN THE 

CLASSIFIEDS! 

You never know what you might find. 

From a new car to a new home to a new job, 

the Mid Rivers Newsmagazine Classifieds deliver! 

Call 636-591-0010 

to get your message out LOUD & CLEAR!

*$1 share deposit required. Must quality for membership. Loan subject to credit approval. Offer of $500 savings good when you apply for a first mortgage 5/1/24 through 8/31/24 and will be credited at the time of closing. Rates, terms, 

and conditions subject to change without notice. Not valid with any other offer. Offer does not include refinances on First Community loans. Maximum LTV is 95%. If LTV >80% Private Mortgage Insurance required. Assumptions: 

purchase price of $300,000 with 10% down payment, amount financed of $270,000.00 monthly payment will be $1,847/for 30 years, 7.273% APR. Homeowners insurance, real estate taxes, flood & mortgage 

insurance (if applicable) are not included in these payment examples and your actual monthly payment amount will be higher based on these items. Homeowners insurance, real estate taxes, and interim interest 

must be pre-paid at closing. An escrow account is required. First Community Credit Union NMLS ID # 684198. We offer first mortgage loans in the states of Missouri, Illinois, Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas, 

Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina only Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.

Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 8-21-24

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