March 3, 2021
Honoring essential workers
Around Town
The St. Charles County Bomb Squad donates retired robots to Lutheran High School robotics club. Pg.3 Headliners announced for O’Fallon’s 2021 Heritage & Freedom Fests. Pg. 4
Business Midwest BankCentre donates $20,000 to new SCC Men of Color: Student Success Program. Pg. 7
Features Photo courtesy city of Dardenne Prairie In honor of supermarket employees, officials from Dardenne Prairie visited employees at Schnucks, located in Dardenne Prairie’s Town Square, to thank them for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are more than 100,000 grocery store workers in Missouri.
City of Dardenne Prairie named Feb. 22 as Supermarket Employee Day to honor the dedication shown by grocery store workers during the pandemic By Brett Auten During the darkest of times, they showed up to work. Week after week. Month after month. All, so we could have not only normalcy, but nourishment, on multiple levels. More than 40,000 stores sell food and groceries in the United States, and millions of supermarket employees work daily to keep shelves stocked and provide their communities with essential services. That dedication remained through protocol changes, supply chain disruptions and other challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There are more than 100,000 grocery store workers in Missouri. Governor Mike Parson has said it’s a $10 billion industry. In honor of National Supermarket
Employee Appreciation Day, the city of Dardenne Prairie proclaimed Feb. 22 as Supermarket Employee Day and visited employees at Schnucks, located in Dardenne Prairie’s Town Square, to thank them for their efforts. “Our supermarket heroes have shown tremendous courage and dedication throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Dardenne Prairie Mayor David C. Zucker said. “Their dedication helped ensure that our community had access to safe, healthy, affordable food during these difficult times.” There are nearly six million supermarket employees throughout the United States. In the Dardenne Prairie area, nearly 580 food retail jobs generate approximately $68.6 million in economic activity annually.
“As consumer demand continues to grow, the need for supermarket employees is greater than ever,” Zucker said. “We are grateful for their ongoing commitment to supporting the health and well-being of our community.” With restaurants closing or amending their hours, grocery stores saw an uptick in activity during the pandemic. “They were able to weather the storm and continue to provide an economic impact,” Dardenne Prairie Economic Development Coordinator Doug Potts said. Potts also cheered the industry’s ability to adapt and thrive. “To keep the front end of the operation See ‘ESSENTIAL’ page 2
Serving St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln Counties | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol.23 No. 9 | 636-379-1775
Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Yeggs & Crossword. Pg. F-4
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