CNSTC: May 12, 2021

May 12, 2021

Leaving a legacy

High school classes of 2021 look to graduation as a time to mark achievement following a challenging senior year

By Brett Auten

What is guaranteed to be a new tradition at Fort Zumwalt West High School was officially unveiled this week.

A large, bronze Jaguar, which is the school’s mascot, will now greet visitors outside the school’s auditorium and overlook the football field.

“We really wanted something that could link the past, present, and future,” Fort Zumwalt West principal Neil Berry said.

“Hopefully it will be a traditional location for prom photos or senior pictures, or a place to meet before ball games, like Stan Musial at Busch Stadium.”

Local sculptor Marty Linson did the project at cost. Berry estimated the cost to be around $20,000.

“It’s larger than life size,” Berry said.

Photo provided by Fort Zumwalt School District “The goal was to have it at eye level. It’s Local sculptor Marty Linson created this Jaguar that has taken up residency at Fort Zumwalt West High School. The statue will greet about six feet long and from the ground to visitors outside the school’s auditorium and it overlooks the football field. that top of its head is about seven feet.”

The statue was dedicated to tie-in the ry said. “They wanted to leave something of In other graduation news, after consult20th anniversary of the first graduating a legacy.” ing with staff at the Family Arena and the class at the school. The idea began in 2018 Zumwalt is one of several school districts St. Charles County Health Department, all when students and senior class sponsor who will have 2021 high school graduation three of the Francis Howell School District’s Sharon Duggan decided to pool money left- at the Family Arena, located at 2002 Arena traditional high schools will hold in-person over from several classes after they bought Parkway, in St. Charles. commencement ceremonies at the Family their class gifts and found a way to give one On May 29, Zumwalt West will graduate Arena on July 11. more thing to the school. at 8:30 a.m., Zumwalt East at 12:30 p.m., Francis Howell will start at 10 a.m., fol“They had thought about a crest on the times for Zumwalts North and South are floor, or stained glass on the windows,” Ber- yet to be determined as of press time.

See ’LEGACY’ page 2

Serving St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln Counties | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol.23 No. 19 | 636-379-1775

Around Town CREC announces 2021 Youth Tour winners. Pg. 3 National tour honoring fallen from War on Terror will visit O’Fallon’s Heritage & Freedom Fest. Pg. 4

Healthy Living Healing hard-to-heal wounds. Pg. 5

School

WSD hires new Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning.

Pg. 7

Features

Recipe, Movie & Sudoku.

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May 12, 2021 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com

‘LEGACY’ from cover lowed by Howell Central at 2:30 p.m., and Howell North at 7 p.m. Westwood Trail Academy will hold its graduation on June 4 at 6 p.m. at the school.

The Francis Howell Union High School & ALC/Missouri Options Program will be held on May 27 at the school beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The Wentzville School District’s high school graduations will also be at the Family Arena on June 6. Liberty High will start at 10 a.m. followed by Timberland at 2 p.m. and Holt at 6 p.m.

“Our top priority is to make certain our guests are safe, and that includes heavily sanitizing the facility and making chang-

es that allow for social distancing,” Tom O’Keefe, Manager of Booking and Marketing at The Family Arena, said. “While school districts may have their own set of restrictions for their ceremonies, after consultation with the districts, The Family Arena has procedures that will be followed for all ceremonies.”

O’Keefe said that the current procedures are in effect now but are subject to change by the time the big night rolls around.

Guests are required to wear a face mask. Guests and graduates can enter through Gates 1, 2, 3, or 4. Graduates will proceed directly to the floor of the arena; there will be no

graduate procession. To eliminate the need to touch personal items during the screening procedure, bags, purses and backpacks will not be allowed inside the building. Cameras and video recorders will be allowed in the building but can be the only things in a camera bag and tripods are not allowed.

A professional cleaning service will thoroughly clean and sanitize all areas of the building after each event, including glass, carpets, doors and door handles, etc. The crew will be at each event to continuously sanitize the bathrooms and concourse area.

Arena seating will utilize approximately 50% of its 9,600seat capacity. Seating will be

in the round in order to maximize capacity while maintaining social distancing.

Graduates will be seated sixfeet apart and each ceremony will be live-streamed for the benefit of those who cannot attend on The Family Arena’s YouTube channel and at familyarena.com/graduations.

The St. Charles School District will hold its graduation for both St. Charles High and St. Charles West on June 5 at their respective football stadiums. St Charles High’s graduation will be from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and St. Charles West’s will be from 7 – 9 p.m.

Orchard Farm High School will have its graduation at noon on May 23 at the high school.

St. Charles County Government receives financial reporting recognition The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to St. Charles County Government by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2019. The Certificate of Achievement was presented to Bob Schnur, who has served as St. Charles County Director of Finance since 2008. The award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and

its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

St. Charles County Government has received this honor every fiscal year since 1989. The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR. “The finance department has been achieving this rating of excellence for

more than 30 years,” says St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. “County government is honored to receive this award and I must recognize Mr. Schur and the finance staff, as well as their predecessors, who set the foundation for success.

We take pride in our sound financial planning and controlled spending of taxpayer dollars.”

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving more than 20,000 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, Illinois, and Washington D.C.

St. Charles County reminds building owners, pool operators to use caution when restoring water systems COVID-19 led to reduced use for many buildings and outdoor recreation areas over the past year. As employees return to their offices and outdoor establishments reopen, businesses will restore water systems. The St. Charles County Division of Environmental Health and Protection joins the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in reminding building management about water quality concerns.

“If systems remain stagnant for long periods, there is a chance for contamination of the water quality to occur,” Division of Environmental Health and Protection Director Ryan Tilley reminds. “From bacteria and other waterborne germs to metals and more, these contaminants can threaten public safety and damage plumbing or equipment if operators don’t take necessary precautions before reactivating their water systems.”

Tilley echoes EPA recommendations that building owners, pool operators and others consult with a plumber and take precautions when restoring water systems for public use: • Evaluate the age of the system and inspect areas that may have had past problems.

• Drain and clean pipes, water storage systems, water heaters and machinery connected to water lines according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

• •

Flush the system to remove and replace any additional standing water.

Consult with your public water provider.

Public health concerns Although the U.S. public water system is one of the safest in the world, contamination can occur. If left untreated, these waterborne germs can infect the stomach, lungs, eyes, skin, and brain.

Most who become exposed to these germs suffer minor illness, but certain groups are at higher risk for serious complications.

Legionnaires disease (caused by Legionella bacteria) is one of those serious illnesses spread through contaminated water systems. Legionella grows in unchecked building water systems and is spread when individuals breathe in contaminated water droplets from the air. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include fever, cough, chills, headaches and muscle aches and usually begin 2-10 days after exposure. The disease can be treated with antibiotics, but 1-in-10 who get sick from Legionnaires disease die from complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a toolkit for controlling Legionella.

www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • May 12, 2021

Around Town

Wentzville aquatic facilities to open summer 2021

Travelers Protective Association awards $14,476 in financial aid to deaf and hard of hearing

Like many aquatic facilities in the area, Wentzville Parks and Recreation did not open its aquatic facilities in 2020 due to public health, financial and staffing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the department is pleased to share that it plans to open pools this summer, although the season will look very different from years past.

Wentzville Parks and Recreation currently operates two aquatic facilities: Progress Park Pool and Splash Station Aquatic Center. For 2021, the department plans to start the season by limiting the use of Progress Park Pool for programming only, which includes aquatic fitness classes, swim lessons and Camp Wentzville. Splash Station will be open daily for public swim daily with two, three-hour sessions. Reservations will be required.

This will allow the department to limit attendance at the pool if needed. There is a thirty-minute gap between sessions where guests will be asked to leave and staff will clean the facility.

The city is emphasizing that there is a phased plan to eliminate the need for reservations and open more public swim hours at Progress Park Pool; however, the ability to move into other phases depends heavily on the number of lifeguards the department is able to hire as well as guidelines set by the CDC. The nation has experienced a lifeguard shortage for several years and COVID-19 has not helped matters. It is the hope of the department to offer public swim at both facilities as soon as possible, but staffing will be a major factor in its ability to do so.

For more information including pricing and hours, please visit www.wentzvillemo.gov/aquatics. To apply for the position of lifeguard or any other position with the city of Wentzville, please visit www.wentzvillemo.gov/hr.

Travelers Protective Association (TPA) Hearing Trust issued 24 grants, totaling $14,476, to applicants requesting assistance during the first quarter of 2021. Established by TPA in 1975, the mission of the TPA Hearing Trust is to provide aid to individuals that are deaf or hard of hearing for resources that will allow them to achieve their full potential.

To date, the trust has distributed over $2 million, benefiting more than 6,000 individuals.

For this quarter, recipients plan to utilize their funding to obtain hearing aids, hearing service dogs, ear molds, doctor appointments, batteries, school tuition, specialized college programs, tutoring, summer camp, an iPad, cochlear implant upgrades and other hearing devices. Recipients are also able to use these grants towards interpreters, medical services and much more.

“With roughly twenty percent of Americans being deaf or hard of hearing, we want to con-

CREC announces 2021 Youth Tour winners Cuivre River Electric Cooperative has announced its 2021 Youth Tour winners.

The six top-scoring students, selected as Youth Tour delegates, will each receive a $1,000 college scholarship and laptop. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this summer’s trip to Washington, D.C., has been canceled. The six delegates will be invited to this year’s Youth Tour conference scheduled for June 16-18 with a hybrid in-person and virtual experience due to the pandemic (two of the days will be spent at CREC’s office and the other day will be spent in Jefferson City).

The winners of the 2021 Youth Tour competition are Taylor Shay-Jakul, Jaden Zelidon, Sanjana Anand, Amanda Yoder, all of Liberty High School; Ella Smith, Warrenton High School; and Natalie Benton, Fort Zumwalt East High School.

Twelve finalists were announced in March. Normally, a finals banquet and competition are held each year where finalists present their essays orally. However, due to the coronavirus situation, the banquet has been canceled and we will have our three finals judges read each of the essays remotely. The scores from the preliminary and finals competition will be combined to determine whether you are selected as a Youth Tour delegate or scholarship recipient.

The other six finalists will each receive a $500 scholarship. They are Elizabeth Hamby, Jackson Martin, Sarah Dickson and Kelsey Looney, all of Liberty High School; Mikenna Collins, Warrenton High School; and Rhiannon Meyer, Liberty Christian Academy.

The annual Youth Tour contest is open to students who live and attend school in Cuivre River Electric’s general service area, or who have CREC service in their homes. For more information about the Youth Tour program, contact Tim Schmidt at 800-3923709, ext. 4837 or by email at tschmidt@cuivre.com.

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tinue making sure they receive the support they need and the respect they deserve,” said Albert Shoemaker, TPA’s Chief Administrative Officer.

“The goal of the trust is to aid and assist people. With the help of our generous donors and members of our communities, we know that we will continue increasing the number of individuals we can offer support to.”

Grants this quarter varied in size from $300 through $900, benefiting recipients from 15 states and ranging in age between six and 74 years old.

An independent 501(c)(3) organization, the TPA Hearing Trust accepts tax deductible donations from TPA members, posts and divisions, nonmembers, businesses, foundations and all other legal entities. To learn more, make a contribution to the TPA Hearing Trust or to apply for aid, please visit www.tpahq. org/tpa-hearing-trust/.

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Around Town

May 12, 2021 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com

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National tour honoring fallen from the War on Terror will visit O’Fallon’s Heritage & Freedom Fest A very emotional exhibit, Remembering Our Fallen, will soon be displayed at O’Fallon’s Heritage & Freedom Fest to remind Americans of the ultimate sacrifice made by those who died from wounds suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan while wearing our country’s uniform. The travelling display will be available for viewing during regular festival hours July 2-4 and is presented locally in cooperation with Lowe’s.

The memorial includes 34 “Tribute Towers” with military and personal photos of more than 5,000 of our nation’s military fallen since Sept.

11, 2001. This memorial was unveiled nationally at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., in late 2017, and has continued to be updated as the display moves throughout the country. The “Tribute Towers” recognize our service men and women who died from training accidents or attacks while stationed stateside or on our overseas bases. Those who return from war with the invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress and succumb to suicide also are included to recognize the tragedy of post-traumatic stress.

“We are so grateful to our partners at Lowe’s and our Tourism and Festivals team for bringing this moving and important display to this year’s

Heritage & Freedom Fest,” said O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy. “The festival is a celebration of our nation, our freedom and all who have built this great country. Having a display like this to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve those ideals is an important addition, and I hope all of our residents and visitors take some time to view the photos of these service members and say a prayer for their families and loved ones. We are forever in their debt.”

“We can never forget those who sacrificed everything for our freedom. We must remember these American Heroes and speak their names when we see their family members,” said Bill Williams, Vice President and co-founder of Patriotic Productions, the nonprofit responsible for the memorial.

Organizers are still asking for help in contacting Gold Star families to ensure the display will include every single American who has died in the War on Terror since the attacks of Sept. 11.

There is no fee to families. They are asked to visit the website www.RememberingOurFallen.org and provide basic information and two photos of their fallen loved one.

Portion of Seeburger Road closed through midJuly for bridge replacement The St. Charles County Highway Department closed Seeburger Road south of the railroad tracks/South Shore Drive and north of Missouri Route B starting April 26, through mid-July, to allow for removal and replacement of a deteriorated bridge.

Traffic will be required to use the signed detour route around the closure while the bridge is replaced. Local traffic will be able to access either side of the closure location, but no through traffic will be permitted. The detour route includes Missouri Route B from Seeburger Road to Washeon

Road, and Church Road from Washeon Road to Seeburger Road. Signs notifying motorists of the closure and necessary detours will be posted. All work is weather permitting.

This road project is part of a continuing effort

by St. Charles County Government to improve the County’s road system for the safety of the travelling public. For more information about road projects underway in unincorporated St. Charles County, please call the Highway Department at 636-949-7305 or visit sccmo.org/RoadProjects.

Department of Revenue to open temporary, stateoperated license office in Troy

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The Missouri Department of Revenue has announced it is working diligently to open a temporary, state-operated license office in Troy to serve area customers. The department looks forward to opening the temporary, state-run office within the coming weeks.

Until that time, the department encourages customers to visit one of the following nearby locations to receive assistance with their motor vehicle and driver licensing needs: • Bowling Green – 204 S Business Hwy 61 in Bowling Green • O’Fallon – 2421 Hwy K in O’Fallon • Warrenton – 1000 Warrenton Outlet Center, Ste. 12 in Warrenton • Wentzville – 807 B East Pearce Blvd. in Wentzville

A full list of license office locations and hours of operation can be found at dor.mo.gov/offloc/.

The following online services are also available: • License Plate Renewal — The Online License Plate Renewal System is a convenient way to renew your license plates. If your county participates by sharing personal property tax information with the department, you have an easy registration option.

• Renewal Requirements Inquiry — Online inquiry to obtain information regarding renewal requirements.

• Get answers 24/7 with the help of the Department’s chatbot, DORA, a virtual assistant programmed to respond to common taxation, motor vehicle and driver licensing questions.

www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • May 12, 2021

Healthy Living

Healing hard-to-heal wounds

Vaccinating the vulnerable

By Dr. Stephanie Sandberg

St. Charles County paramedics deliver doses to seniors, homebound and homeless

While many wounds heal on their own, some can be more difficult to heal. Learn more about chronic wounds, when to seek care and the advanced treatment options available to promote optimal healing and improve quality of life.

What is a chronic wound?

A chronic wound is a wound that has been present for at least 30 days. This type of wound doesn’t progress through the normal process from an injury or surgery to full healing. There are a number of causes for chronic wounds, many of which are underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or an autoimmune disorder. Issues with blood flow in the arteries or veins or an infection can also prevent wounds from healing. Identifying why a wound is not healing is critical in determining a proper course of treatment and how to reduce these problems in the future.

When should I seek care?

If you have a wound that isn’t healing as you would expect, you’re encouraged to seek care from a wound specialist. Some patients may present very early on if they have concerns of a recurrent problem or if they have had a similar wound in the past. Other patients may have never had a wound before and may come in for an evaluation for reassurance that it will heal or seek a second opinion if a more invasive surgery was recommended by another provider. Regardless, if you have any concerns or questions, you’re always encouraged to seek help.

What treatments are available?

A wound care clinic offers several treatment options. The first are wound care dressings. Providing patients and their family with an understanding on how to appropriately care for a wound is an important factor in healing. It can even be provided through home health nursing if covered by a patient’s insurance. Other treatment modalities include compression therapy, debridement and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a highly effective treatment for a variety of conditions including chronic wounds that haven’t improved, wounds related to diabetes or radiation injury and infections of the bone or deep tissues. In a glass chamber, patients breathe in 100% pressurized oxygen which forces the oxygen to areas that may be lacking oxygen or are in need of extra oxygen to encourage healing.

Located in O’Fallon, the specialized team at the Advanced Wound Center offers these and other comprehensive treatment options focused on healing chronic and hard-to-heal wounds. Patients can self-refer or receive a referral from their primary care doctor or other provider.

Stephanie Sandberg, DO, is a BJC Medical Group general surgeon at Progress West Hospital and a member of the medical team at the Advanced Wound Center in O’Fallon. To schedule an appointment at the Advanced Wound Center, call 636-928-WELL.

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By Brett Auten Kimberlyn Tihen could get used to this change of pace.

“We don’t see a lot of happy,” the St. Charles County Ambulance District Captain said. “More times than not it is someone’s worst day.”

Tihen also oversees the district’s mobile vaccination effort the past weeks, as you would expect, has had her busy. Beginning last month, and continuing into May, the St. Charles County Ambulance District have fanned out across the community to reach those among us who are most vulnerable.

The swaths targeted in this effort include senior citizens residing in independent living apartment communities, homebound individuals and those who are homeless.

“There is a real energy in the room,” Tiehn said.

“There are so many happy people. They are taking selfies with the medics so they can document the moment and share it with their families.”

While everywhere you turn; schools, concert venues, that random parking lot, there are mass vaccination events for COVID-19. With shirt sleeves rolled, thousands of individuals in St. Charles County have eagerly showed up to receive the protection that they have waited months for.

This month, they will not only be focusing on delivering the second dose but also hitting the more rural locations.

“We are looking to fill in the gaps,” Tihen said.

“We are looking for people who necessarily don’t have transportation. Some of these facilities had to stop their bus service so if they don’t have family members or close friends, they’re stuck.”

To date, paramedics have provided more than 500 doses of the vaccine at apartment complexes and homes. This comes on heels of the district’s successful vaccination clinic for first responders and their eligible family members, which saw more than 1,100 individuals inoculated in January and February.

According to Tihen, the push to target vulnerable populations was a strategic decision made in collaboration with the St. Charles County Department of Public Health. Since the beginning

Submitted photo

of the pandemic they have worked arm and arm to determine how they can allocate resources to meet the needs of residents.

She credited the senior apartment management teams for the smooth operation of the clinics. These managers were charged with coordinating appointment times to ensure a steady, manageable flow of residents that would allow for proper social distancing. At most communities, paramedics vaccinated between 25 and 50 residents.

With vaccination efforts at senior apartments wrapping up, SCCAD will turn its attention to the homebound and homeless individuals in the county. The district is working closely with organizations within the community who serve these populations to effectively reach as many as possible via the program.

“Some are very skeptical, or paranoid, or they are chemically altered,” Tihen said. “It is a clientele that is not really reliable for the second dose.

They move on. We have returned to homeless communities (to administer the second shot) and all of the tents are gone.”

Thanks to newly allocated stimulus funding, SCCAD can receive reimbursement for many of the costs associated with operation of the mobile vaccination effort; the state of Missouri received $5 million earmarked for EMS vaccination efforts.

www.lakestcharlesretirement.com

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Business

May 12, 2021 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com

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Local nurse honored with a DAISY Award for being a voice and advocate Natalie Crawford, RN in the ICU at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Lake Saint Louis, was surprised with a DAISY Award. The DAISY Award was established to honor the exceptional work nurses do every day.

Crawford was called to a conference room and was surprised with an award ceremony to celebrate her. Attendees included her husband, family members on Zoom and Dr. Garza, SSM Health Chief Community Health Officer and Incident Commander of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, as of the writing of her nomination, Crawford had worked 158 shifts and cared for over 300 patients. While she has cared for over 300 patients, her exceptional care and compassion has impacted exponentially more lives.

Crawford has stepped outside her comfort zone to become a voice and advocate for patients, families and hospital staff who have been impacted by the virus. On Dec. 30, 2020, Crawford spoke at the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force press briefing to share her experiences with COVID-19.

She took that as an opportunity to share the story of two of her patients who had lost their battle with COVID-19, to educate the public about the struggles

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Submitted photo Natalie Crawford, RN in the ICU at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Lake Saint Louis, was surprised with a DAISY Award.

frontline workers were facing every day, and to honor the lives lost and the families who will always grieve their loss.

To the patients who survived, Crawford’s care is remembered as compassionate and caring.

The families of the patients who passed have reached out to thank her for being there to hold a hand, for saying a prayer, for facilitating that final con-

versation and for ensuring that their loved one was not alone.

Her nomination says it best, “Thank you, Natalie, for speaking up for your patients, for their families and for your profession! We are all so incredibly proud and blessed to work alongside such an incredible example of how to live out our mission every single day.”

Wentzville updates plan to open aquatic facilities Like many aquatic facilities in the area, Wentzville Parks and Recreation did not open its aquatic facilities in 2020 due to public health, financial and staffing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this summer, both of its aquatic facilities will fully open.

Wentzville Parks and Recreation currently operates two aquatic facilities: Progress Park Pool and Splash Station Aquatic Center. The department originally planned on a phased approach to open aquatic facilities primarily due to a shortage of applicants for aquatic staff positions. When this plan was released to the public, there was a push of support from the community to recruit aquatic staff so that the facilities could open.

Thanks to Wentzville’s help, the department is now able to begin the summer with both facilities fully open. The department will offer

public swim at both pools and will no longer require preregistration or multiple swim sessions during the day.

The city recognizes that there is still a health concern with fully opening both facilities without restrictions and continues to closely monitor guidance from the St. Charles County Health Department and the CDC. Depending on the guidance from health officials in the months ahead, the department is prepared to move back into more restrictive phases for the health and safety of the community.

For more information including pricing and hours, please visit www.wentzvillemo.gov/ aquatics. To apply for the position of lifeguard or any other position with the city of Wentzville, please visit www.wentzvillemo.gov/hr.

www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • May 12, 2021

WSD hires new Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning The WSD Board of Education has approved the hiring of Dr. Keri Skeeters as Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, effective July 1. She is replacing Dr. Megan Stryjewski who has been named the new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment in the Valley Park School District. Skeeters is currently the Director of Instructional Programming in the Teaching and Learning Department and has been with the Wentzville School District since 2002.

“I have had the incredible pleasure of working with teachers, staff, and leaders in the Wentzville School District for nearly 20 years, and I am truly honored to be able to continue serving this great district as the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning,” shared Skeeters. “I look forward to continued collaboration with staff, leaders, students, and the community to achieve the goals identified in our strategic plan as well as to achieve our vision to be a model of excellence that sets the standard and maximizes

School

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Photo courtesy Wentzville School District The WSD Board of Education has approved the hiring of Dr. Keri Skeeters as Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, effective July 1.

the potential of every student.”

Skeeters started her career as an English Language Arts Teacher at Timberland High School from 2002-2007, continued her career as a Curriculum Coordinator from 2007-2016, and broadened her impact in her current position over the past four years. Skeeters has served as Chairperson of the Language Arts Regional Consortium (LARC), chaired the Missouri DESE 6-12 ELA Workgroup for the rewriting of state standards,

and has led Wentzville School District staff in numerous integral programming initiatives including CI3T and the Flexible Learning Cohort.

Skeeters holds a bachelor’s degree in English education from the University of Missouri, Saint Louis, a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix in educational administration, and her doctorate degree in educational leadership from Maryville University in St. Louis.

US News & World Report ranks Zumwalt high schools among America’s Best, Top 30 in Missouri For the fourth consecutive year, each of Fort Zumwalt School District’s four comprehensive high schools ranks among America’s Best High Schools according to US News & World Report.

Of the nearly 18,000 schools ranked, only the top 40 percent earned eligibility to display a U.S. News Best High Schools 2021 badge. U.S. News “Best” badges are widely recognized as symbols of excellence in U.S. education.

The rankings are produced in conjunction with RTI International, a global research firm.

U.S. News doesn’t collect data directly from high schools – all data comes directly from official third-party sources.

The national rankings for the four Fort Zumwalt high schools put them in the top 13 percent of high schools in the country. The Best High Schools list is also broken out by state and region. There are almost 800 public high schools in Missouri, US News ranks Fort Zumwalt West, South, North and East in the Top 30.

Fort Zumwalt musicians recognized with state medals Fort Zumwalt students participating in co-curricular or MSHSAA sanctioned activities have been able to experience as close to a typical school year as possible, despite the pandemic. For FZ high school musicians, that has meant another year with a large collection of state honors and awards.

About 200 instrumental and vocal musicians were recognized at the State Solo and Small Ensemble contest, earning Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. Participation in the competition requires

selection and rehearsal of pieces above and beyond those prepared for participation in school bands, orchestras and choirs.

Typically the in-person competition usually spans several days in Columbia. For this year’s virtual competition, most FZ students recorded with their directors at school, but some recorded from home. All performances had to be recorded within a 10-day window through an app that timestamped the performance. Student performances were then scored by a panel of music educators.

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What’s Happening

May 12, 2021 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com Mondays: Measurement Mondays:

Take Notice . . .

The events listed in this section are the latest updates as of press time, please check with individual sites for the most up to date cancellations and reschedule info.

EVENTS May 22: Social dance

Nonprofit St Charles Swing Dance Club has a dance featuring the Charlie Mann Band from 7-10 p.m. at the VFW Hall in St. Charles at 2201 South Old Highway 94. $10 admission, everyone welcome. For more information visit https://stcharlesswingdanceclub.wordpress.com.

Sept. 25: Craft fair

Tri County Citizens Advisory Board to Probation and Parole, Probation and Parole District 17, Missouri Department of Correction invites you to their eighth annual Christmas in September Craft Fair at Calvary Church at 3998 Mid Rivers Mall Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Crafters are needed for more information please contact Esther Angelos at marlofan@charter.net or 636441-0329 or 314-477-5096.

ONGOING EVENTS Mondays: Optimist Club meetings

The Wentzville/Lake St. Louis Optimist Club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Wentzville IHOP, 10 Layla Lane, Wentzville, MO.. For more information contact Ed Jurotich at 314560-1868.

Mondays: Take off Pounds Sensibly

Take off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meets every Monday from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Weigh-ins begin at 8:30 a.m. We meet at Memorial Hall in Blanchette Park at 1900 Randolph St. in St. Charles. For more information contact Joyce at 636-206-5306.

Mondays: Take off Pounds Sensibly

Mondays: NAMI St. Louis Con nection Recovery Support Group

If you have mental health concerns and need support, please come on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Friedens United Church of Christ at 1703 Old Highway 94 South in St. Charles.

Mondays: mous

Alcoholics

Anony-

If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, we can help.

Call Alcoholics Anonymous at 636970-0013.

Mondays: Seasoned eye carvers meeting

Meetings are held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the St. Charles Senior Citizens Center at 1455 Fairgrounds (near the Bass Pro Shop). Visitors are always welcome.

For more information visit http:// www.stcharlesareawoodcarvers.com/ or contact Charles Sapp at cwsapp@ charter.net.

Mondays: Choral Arts Singers practice

Choral Arts Singers resume practice on Mondays, at 7 p.m. at Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 1860 Lake St. Louis Blvd. in Lake St. Louis. New singers are welcome. Auditions are not required. See www.concertarts.org.

Mondays: St. Charles County Council of the Blind meetings

Business meetings are held on the first Monday of each month unless otherwise specified. Currently, during the COVID pandemic, meetings are held via conference call, starting at 6:45 pm.

For more information, contact Beverly Kaskadden at 636-561-6947.

Mondays: St. Peters Rotary Club

Noon at St. Peters City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Blvd. www.stpetersrotary.org.

TOPS meet every Monday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church at 8945 Veterans Memorial Hwy in O’Fallon.

Meetings at 9:30 a.m. with weigh in beginning at 8:30 a.m. For more information please call Linda Wilcox at 636-447-9056.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Fitness First Exercise Class

Mondays: Parent support group

St. Peters Senior Center plays bridge from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday and Thursdays, and would love to have any player, regardless of skill level, to join in. Call Mary Ann at 636-397-0866 if you are interested in playing on Monday or Thursday morning.

Because I Love You, (BILY), Gateway parent support group meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at 801 First Capitol Dr. in St. Charles. For information and directions, please contact the helpline at 314-993-7550 or email gateway_parent_help@yahoo.com. BILY is a program of self-help for parents of troubled children (all ages). We are not professionals, but parents helping each other. The meetings are free to attend.

9:30-10:30 a.m., American Legion Hall, 504 Luetkenhaus Blvd., Wentzville. 314-369-6521.

Mondays and Thursdays: Bridge

Mondays: American Legion Post 388 Meets

Meets the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 607 Westridge Dr., O’Fallon, 636-2190553.

10 a.m. - 12 noon at the ST. Charles Health Deparment in the Upper Level Conference room. Measurement Mondays is a family-friendly breastfeeding support group. We are open to all moms and moms-to-be who are breastfeeding or interested in breastfeeding. The group is supported by the St Charles County WIC program so there will be information about the program available at each meeting.

Each meeting will be a little different than the last. There will be baby weigh-ins, introductions, games, interactive education, group conversation, and even snacks.

Mondays and Wednesdays: Tai Chi for arthritis class

Every Monday and Wednesday a Tai Chi for arthritis class, sponsored by the city of St. Charles Parks and Recreation, takes place from 9:15 - 10 a.m. at Webster Park across from the Family Arena. This is a class that is taught nationally to manage arthritis and to prevent falls. For more information call 636-949-3372.

Tuesdays: Women’s AA weekly meeting

Candlelighters Women in Recovery meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Dardenne Prairie Presbyterian Church (enter at Adam Lamb pre-School, turn left) at 7400 South Outer 364 at the corner with Bryan Road.

Tuesdays: Cribbage Club

Meets every Tuesday, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. at The Falls Golf Course Clubhouse.

Relaxed, friendly play and is open to all. Call 314-779-6892 for more information.

Tuesdays: Seniors group

Please join us on the third Tuesday of each month from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. for a gathering for senior adults. There will be lunch (no charge), cards and bingo (no charge), community program referrals, occasional health and wellness presentations and clergy available upon request. The event takes place at Church of the Transfiguration at1860 Lake St. Louis Blvd. in Lake Saint Louis. For more information call 636-5618951.

Tuesdays: Optimist Club meeting

The St. Charles Optimist Club meets Tuesdays at noon at Pio’s Restaurant.

For more information contact Jack Ross at 314-287-0569 or jack-ross@ att.net.

Tuesdays: Cribbage

Looking for an evening out? Come and play cribbage Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Rookies at 15358 Veterans Memorial Pkwy in Wentzville. Win prizes and awards with semiannual tournaments.

ACC sanctioned. For more information contact Dee at 636-233-8032.

Tuesdays: Cottleville Spring Kiwanis Club

Weldon

Cottleville Weldon Spring Kiwanis Club meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. and the third Tuesday of the month at 11 a.m. Both

meetings are at Rack House Kitchen Wine Whiskey. New club looking for new members who want to better our community. Contact Christy at 314583-0538.

Tuesdays: group

Diabetes

support

A diabetes support group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month except November and December from 6:30 7:30 p.m. at 400 Medical Plaza, Suite 102 in Lake St. Louis. A new speaker each month. Questions? Call Amanda Meyer at 636-625-5447.

Tuesdays: Kiwanis Club of St. Charles

12:05 p.m. at Ginghams Homestyle Restaurant, 1566 Country Clcub Plaza Drive, in St. Charles. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The group is looking for new members who want to better our community and help its youth. If you are interested in making a positive impact in St. Charles for generations to come, please come for lunch. For more information call 636206-2483. You can also visit http://stcharleskiwanis.com.

Tuesdays: Quilting Guild at the O’Fallon Family YMCA

1-4 p.m. Free. Quilt for local charities.

No sewing experience required.

Tuesdays: Toastmasters Meeting

7 p.m. at the Midwest Bank Centre Board Room at 2299 Technology Blvd., O’Fallon, MO 63368. Info: 636379-2505.

Tuesdays: St. Louis Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association Male Caregiver Experience

The group meets on third Tuesday of every month from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Alzheimer’s Chapter Office at 9370 Olive Blvd. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, support, or the Male Caregiver Experience, please call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 or visit www. alz.org/stl. Registration is requested before the first meeting.

Tuesdays: Social club for widows and widowers

On the first and third Tuesday of each month a social club for widows and widowers meets at 7 p.m. at St. John’s United Church of Christ at Fifth and Jackson Streets in St. Charles. On the first Tuesday there are refreshments and on the third Tuesday there is either a speaker or entertainment. The group also goes to breakfast, lunch and dinner monthly, and has a pot luck dinner each month.

Tuesdays: Monthly veterans coffee

Veterans from all branches of service are invited to the Wentzville Green Lantern Senior Center at 506 S. Linn Ave. in Wentzville on the second Tuesday of each month from 9 – 10:30 a.m. for coffee, pastries and camaraderie.

Come meet with fellow veterans who served our country and share your experience.

Tuesdays: NAMI St. Louis Connection Recovery Support Group

If you have mental health concerns and need support, please come on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Grace United Church of Christ at 8326 Mexico Rd. in St. Peters.

Tuesdays: NAMI St. Louis Family Support Group

If you have a family member or friend who is having mental health concerns there is a support group for you. It meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Grace United Church of Christ at 8326 Mexico Rd. in St. Peters.

Tuesdays: Dardenne Presbyterian Church Basketball 8-9:30 p.m., in the Christian Life Center, 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie. Open to high school and adult men.

Tuesdays: Central Missouri Railroad Association meeting

This unique organization is for railroad modelers, railfans, photographers and railroad retirees with layouts in O, HO, N hoping to add G scales. Meetings are on second Tuesdays of the month from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Warrenton Masonic Lodge. For more info call 636-279-5522 or 636-456-0776 or visit our Facebook page.

Tuesdays: Cancer support group

Cancer Companions Support Group is a support group for any cancer patient in treatment or post treatment, their caregiver and their loved ones that meets on the second Tuesday of each month at Dardenne Presbyterian Church at 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie at 7 p.m. in the parlor. Registration is not required.

Tuesdays: O’Fallon Garden Club

Meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Sunrise Methodist Church, 7116 Twin Chimney Blvd.

Info: Barb at 636.978.5930. Club does not meet in August or November.

Tuesdays: St. Charles American Legion Post 312 spaghetti dinner.

5pm, St. Charles American Legion Post 312, 2500 Raymond Drive in St. Charles on the last Tuesday of the month. $6 per person. For more information call Post 312 at 636-947-7666.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Tai Chi at the St. Charles County Family YMCA 10:15-11:15 a.m. No experience necessary. 636-928-1928.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Get Fit Exercise Classes 9-10 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Hall, New Melle. 314-3696521.

Wednesdays: Food pantry

Food pantry open Wednesdays to the public from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Cornerstone UMC at 1151 Tom Ginnever Ave. in O’Fallon. Bread, canned goods other necessities.

www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • May 12, 2021 Wednesdays: St. Charles Area Wood Carvers

Meetings are held from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Hollenbeck Middle School at 4555 Central School Road in St. Charles. Visitors are always welcome.

For more information visit http://www. stcharlesareawoodcarvers.com/ or contact Charles Sapp at cwsapp@charter. net.

Wednesdays: Marine Corp League meeting

On the first Wednesday of each month the St. Charles County Marine Corps League meets at the American Legion 313 old town St. Peters at 7:30 p.m. All Marines and FMF Corpsmen are welcome. For more information visit www. stcharlesmarine.org.

Wednesdays: club

Women’s

fishing

Gateway Bass ‘n Gals all women’s bass club has monthly meetings the first Wednesday of every month at JJ’s Restaurant at 1215 S. Duchesne Dr. in St. Charles at 7 p.m. Women of any fishing level please come and check out our women-only fishing club.

Wednesdays: Crossroads Cribbage Club

Meets at 1380 Boone St., at 12 p.m. in Troy. 636-528-8379.

Wednesdays: Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS)

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in the United Methodist Church at 725 N. Wall St. in Wentzville. TOPS is a national non-profit weight-loss organization that supports its members in attaining their goal weight. There is no cost for the first meeting. All are welcome.

Wednesdays: Men’s Golf League

Wednesdays, April - October. 5 p.m., tee off at 5:30 p.m. at Heritage of Hawk Ridge. For more information, contact the Lake St. Louis Community Association at 636-625-8276.

Wednesdays: Charity Bingo

6:45pm, Doors open at 5 p.m. VFW Post 5077 sponsors, at VFW Hall, 8500 Veterans Mem. Pkwy., O’Fallon. 636272-1945 or www.vfwpost5077.org.

Wednesdays: Yoga at The St. Charles County Family YMCA

6-6:55pm Any level. Info: 636-9281928.

Wednesdays: Hope & Healing

5-6pm, Dardenne Presbyterian Rock Church, 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie on the first Wednesday of the month. Unique service of music, worship, and prayer for those in need of hope and healing.

Wednesdays: St. Charles Area Wood Carvers

7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Meetings are held at the Hollenbeck Middle School at 4555 Central School Road, St. Charles, Missouri on the first and third Wednesday of the month. Visitors are always welcome! For more information check the club web site: www.stcharlesareawoodcarvers.com/ or contact Charles Sapp.

Wednesdays: Take Off Pounds Sensibly

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the parish hall of Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church at 907 Jungermann Rd. in St. Peters.

TOPS is a national non-profit weightloss organization that supports its members in attaining their goal weight.

There is no cost for the first meeting. All are welcome. Weigh-ins begin at 9 a.m.

Contact Judy Bauer at 636-541-2263 for further information.

Thursdays: meeting

American

Legion

On the first Thursday of each month, American Legion Post 323 meets at 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall at 504 Luetkenhaus Blvd. in Wentzville.

For more information call 636-3276060.

Thursdays: Lions Club meeting

Wentzville Outreach Lions Club meets the second Thursday of the month at Schnucks at 1960 Wentzville Pkwy in Wentzville at 6 p.m. Contact Jimmy Butler at 314-780-5629 or Lisa Alexander at 314-258-1069 for more information.

Thursdays: TOPS meeting

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Club 661 Wentzville holds meetings every Thursday in room 21 at The United Methodist Church of Wentzville, 725 Wall Street. Weigh ins at 9:30, meetings begin at 10 a.m. For more information call 314-650-1014.

Thursdays: O’Fallon Rotary Club meetings

O’Fallon Rotary Club meets from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. at Rendezvous Café & Wine Bar at 217 S. Main St. in O’Fallon every Thursday. Visitors are always welcome.

For more information, call President, Lisa Muncy at 636-240-0912.

Thursdays: Optimist Club meetings

The O’Fallon Optimist Club meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Bank of Old Monroe T.R. Hughes Blvd. in O’Fallon.

For more information, contact CyndySchwab at 636-544-0102.

Thursdays: Lions Club meetings

St. Charles Lions Club meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at 1144 S Benton Street in St. Charles. Contact Art for more info at 636-441-1831. New members are welcome.

3rd Thursday: Fleur de Lis Garden Society

Meets third Thursday of the month, 6:30 pm at the McClay Library in St. Charles. Info: www.fleurdelisgardensociety.org;

3rd Thursdays: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 458 Meeting 7pm, Amvets Post 106, 360 Brown Rd in St. Peters.

Those who served in any branch between 1962 and 1975 are welcome.

Every Thursday: Dardenne Presbyterian Church Quilters 9am-2pm, Dardenne Presbyterian Church, 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie.

Members do hand quilting to quilts of any size for donation that is given to various church supported charities.

No experience is necessary to join the group. For more information, contact Brenda Kenny at 636.240.3753.

1st and 2nd Thursday: Kiwanis Club of O’Fallon Meets at JJ’s Restaurant in O’Fallon at 12 noon Info: www.ofkiwanis.com.

Every Thursday: Rotary Club meeting

7:30am, The Rendezvous Café at 217 South Main St. in O’Fallon. We welcome existing and potential members to visit and have breakfast with us. www.ofallonmo.rotary-clubs.org

Every Thursday: Active Older Adults Game Day at the O’Fallon Family YMCA 10a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Family Hall. Free for members. Bring a favorite snack to share. Anybody welcome.

2nd and 4th Thursdays: Alexander Chapter #242 Order of the Eastern Star Meetings 7:30pm, St. Charles Masonic Lodge, 2051 Collier Corporate Parkway in St. Charles.

3rd Thursday of each month: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 458 meetings 7pm, Amvets Post 106, 360 Brown Rd in St. Peters.

2nd and 4th Thursdays: Lions Club meetings St. Charles County Lions Club meets second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at 1144 S Benton in St. Charles. New members welcome.

Every Friday: Moms Play Group

10am at LSL Community Association, 100 Cognac Ct., Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367. 314.479.0306, andreacrislip@ gmail.com or www.lslmothersclub. com.

Every Friday: VFW Fish Fry

3-8pm VFW Post 2866. 66 VFW Lane.

Call Bill Sams, 636.724.9612.

Fridays: Bingo

The American Legion Post 312, located at 2500 Raymond Dr. in St. Charles hosts bingo, every Friday night. This is a non-smoking hall with games starting at 6:15 p.m. and includes two progressive bingo games per night. See more at www.alpost312mo.org

Every Saturday: Chess

9-12 at Middendor-Kredell Library on Hwy K.

Every Saturday: Veterans Learn guitar for FREE 9:30am in Historic St. Charles. Info: Bill Dennis at 314.479.5750.

What’s Happening

Every Saturday: Peaceful Puppy Mill Protest

11am - 12:30pm at Petland, 6131 Ronald Reagan Drive, Lake St. Louis. banmo.puppymills@yahoo.com.

Second and Fourth Saturday of the month: Charitable bingo

Bingo starts at 6:30 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m. at the Wentzville Community Club located at 500 West Main in Wentzville. For more information visit www.wentzvillecommunityclub.com or www.facebook.com/wentzville-community-club

9

adult, $4/child, under 6 free. www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/moscowmills.

2nd Sunday: The Wheelers and Dealers Square Dance

7-9:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall at Blanchette Park, 1900 W Randolph St. Participants must have taken dance lessons before attending. For more information, visit www.squaredancestcharles. com or call Lucy at (636)391-3822.

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

Saturdays: Fruehschoppen Samstag Verein (FSV)

Last Saturday of every month Fruehschoppen Samstag Verein (FSV) meets at 11 a.m. at Bar Louie in St. Charles.

Wir treffen uns auf ein Bier (und vielleicht Mittagessen), und geniessen ein Gespräch auf deutsch. We’re meeting for a beer (and maybe lunch), and enjoying a conversation in German. April, June and September meetings are held at different locations. See https://www.facebook.com/groups/472022532983525/ CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

1st & 3rd Saturday: St Peters Square Dance Club Dances

Pre ropund dance fom 7 - 7:30 p.m., dancing from 7:30 - 10 p.m. 1st United Methodist Church, 801 First Capital Dr. www.squaredancemissouri.com/ Missouri/St.Louis

3rd Saturdays: Restore St. Charles Work Day. 8am, Dardenne Presbyterian Church, 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie. Volunteer labor needed to provide the needy in our community with adequate living accommodations. Continental breakfast, safety instructions, and job assignments provided before work begins.

Every Sunday: Wentzville Community Club Flea Market

5:30 a.m.-1pm, 500 West Main St. in Wentzville. For more information, call 636.357.4328.

Sundays: group

Alzheimer’s support

The group meets the third Sunday of the month (unless it’s a holiday, then they meet the following Sunday) from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. This is a Church of the Shepherd support group and meets at the McClay Adult Day Center at 3821 McClay Road in St. Peters (upstairs). For more information, please call Nancy Young at 636875-3457.

Sundays: Overeaters Anonymous

Do you eat when you’re not hungry? Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason? Is your weight affecting the way you live your life? Contact Overeaters Anonymous. No dues. No fees. No weigh-ins. No diets. There are meetings every day of the week. Please call 314638-6070 or email bistateoal@prodigy. net.

2nd Sunday: Moscow Mills Lions Breakfast

7am - noon, September - April. Moscow Community Center, Hwy C. $7/

10

Sports

May 12, 2021 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com

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UMSL drops last baseball games of season to Lindenwood The University of Missouri-St. Louis baseball team saw its season come to an end last Saturday playing at No. 13 ranked Lindenwood University.

The Tritons lost a narrow 3-2 decision in the opener before suffering a 15-1 defeat in the finale.

UMSL ends the season with a record of 12-27 while Lindenwood was 29-7.

In game one, the Tritons tied the game in the fifth on an RBI single from Leighton Keller, but the Lions countered in the bottom of the frame for the eventual game-winner.

UMSL got on the board in the second inning with an RBI single from Bryce Burton after Lindenwood crossed home twice in the first inning.

The Lions out-hit UMSL, 8-6. Mitch Green recorded a double for the Tritons.

Blake Jones tossed the complete game. He also struck out three and walked one.

In game 2 the Tritons were plagued by four errors and were out-hit, 14-4.

Matt DiMemmo recorded a double, while Clayton Stephens added an RBI single to score Keller for the UMSL run in the third inning. *Hang up the spikes until next year Collegiate league in O’Fallon add coaches to teams The CarShield Collegiate League (CCL) will enter their second season and announced the managers and assistant coaches for their four teams T-Ravs, Rubber Chickens, Shredded Cheese and Adidas Athletics in 2021.

“We have assembled a high caliber of coaches for our second season of baseball,” General Manager David Schmoll said. “Each is going to help mentor and teach our players this summer as they progress in their baseball careers.”

CJ Bilbrey joins the CCL as Head Coach of the T-Ravs in 2021 and will be joined by assistant coach David Estes.

The Rubber Chickens coaching staff is led by head coach Tyler Huffstickler with assistant coaches Weston Baker and Adam Jahnsen.

The Shredded Cheese will be coached by head coach Jim Foster with Fernando Villegas as assistant coach.

The Adidas Athletics will be led by head coach PJ Roberts and assistant coach Luke Miller.

The CarShield Collegiate League rosters will be announced shortly on the Hoots and CarShield Collegiate League social media channels.

Much thanks to Tyler Merkle (tickets@ofallonhoots.com) who set up the ‘Terri’s Networking Group’ from Cottleville for an August double header party to see a double header. If you want to see a game at the stadium, send him an email!

Go to www.OfallonHoots.com to get more details. *Many talented athletes Hoots have a few players from Lindenwood The O’Fallon Hoots are members of the Prospect League, playing in the West-Prairie Land division and began play in O’Fallon in May 2020 after relocating from Hannibal, Missouri following the 2019 season.

Two players from Lindenwood University are freshmen pitchers Eli Stoops and Bryce Wear who have signed contracts and will take the mound for the Hoots when the home season starts on May 27.

Stoops throws and bats right-handed and stands 5’10” at 175 pounds and is from Willard, Missouri.

Wear also throws and bats right-handed and he stands 6’3” and weighs 180 pounds and is from Arnold, Missouri.

Go to www.OfallonHoots.com to get more details. *Local talent

Gary Baute, a St. Louis native, may be educated in business but he lives and breathes sports.

As a fan or an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season, and co-hosted SportsRadioSTL.com, and is currently hosting a Health show on 97.1 FM, ‘Prime Time Health’ www.PrimeTimeSTL. com It broadcasts Saturday nights at 8 and Sunday mornings at 9.

Get your event or good news published in

Community News: email your information in calendar and article formats to editor@mycnews.com.

www.mycnews.com • Community News • May 12, 2021

Recipe:

A mouthwatering wrap with an avocado addition

T

he possibilities are nearly endless when it comes to midday food choices. If you desire crunch and texture, but also something light, you’re

likely seeking food that is filling and going to give you enough energy to make it until dinner time.

This BLT Wrap with Avocado

Spread is a perfect lunchtime pick-me-up that can leave you feeling full and ready to conquer the rest of the day’s work.

Feature

F-1

– SUDOKU –

Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all the digits 1 through 9.

BLT Wrap with Avocado Spread

Ingredients:

8 slices cooked bacon

Servings: 4

1 avocado, peeled and pitted 1/4 cup sour cream 1 lime, juice only 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1/4 teaspoon salt 4 flour tortillas 4 large red leaf lettuce leaves 2 large tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices Spanish rice (optional) banana peppers (optional) Directions: In large skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Drain on plate lined with paper towels. Set aside.

cream, lime juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and salt with fork until combined and smooth.

In medium bowl, mash avocado, sour

Spread thin layer of avocado mixture over

tortillas. Layer with lettuce leaves, tomatoes and bacon. Fold sides up and roll.

Serve with Spanish rice and banana peppers, if desired.

Find more lunch recipes at Culinary.net

SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9

Frances McDormand hits the road in ‘Nomadland’

Movie:

By Steve Bryan

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

The website workamper. com defines a “workamper” as a “person working as an employee, operating a business, or donating their time as a volunteer while sleeping in an RV or on-site housing.” Author Jessica Bruder’s novel “Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century” examines the lives of individuals who take on seasonal work in Amazon fulfillment centers or restaurants located in tourist spots. Instead of enjoying retirement, many seniors became workampers after the devastating 2008 financial crash.

Director Chloé Zhao adapted Bruder’s work for the screen, skillfully blending Hollywood scriptwriting with harsh reality. Although Frances McDormand and David Strathairn play fictional characters in the film, the supporting cast is filled with real-life workampers who share their lives in front of the camera.

Bob Wells, who maintains the website www. cheaprvliving.com, appears in several scenes teaching such skills as how to change a tire.

The line between fiction and reality is hard to determine at times.

In “Nomadland,” Frances McDormand’s Fern needs all the help she can get. She worked for years at US Gypsum in the company town

Director Chloé Zhao also gives Fern an opportunity for a relationship in the person of David Strathairn’s Dave. He really likes Fern, but she keeps her distance until a health crisis puts him the hospital. Like her other friends, Dave actually could offer her a stable life, but she only seems comfortable inside the panel walls of her van. Life on the road, it seems, has gotten good to her.

“Nomadland” also earned well-deserved Best Director and Best Picture “Nomadland” photo courtesy Cor Cordium Productions Photo courtesy Bigstock honors for Zhao and the cast. Much of Empire, Nevada, but both the city and the credit for that goes to the “non-professional company were shut down in 2011. Her hus- cast” who could teach Hollywood celebrities band’s death prompts Fern to travel in her van a few things. The charming Charlene Swankto various seasonal gigs throughout the year. ie, for instance, serves as friend and mentor to Friends and acquaintances express concern Fern and gets frustrated when Fern shows how about her situation and offer lodging, but Fern ill-prepared she is for life on the road. Another scene shows the importance of using the rightprefers the life she leads.

Eye-opening and thought-provoking, sized bucket for a toilet inside a van.

“Nomadland” may make the audience reex“Nomadland” looks at hard-working people amine their own lives and how quickly things whose home is wherever they can park their vans or campers. McDormand, who won the can change. For others who crave life on the Best Actress Award at the recent 93rd Acad- road, this might be an introduction to new way emy Awards, is solid as Fern, a woman who of living. In either case, it’s a film that will stay makes her home on the road. Her journey with the viewer long after the closing credits.

“Nomadland,” rated R, is making post-Ostakes her to beautiful surrounding one day, but she may be sleeping in freezing conditions car appearances in theaters and also is available for streaming on Hulu. down the road.

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Yeggs

John Hanna

Crossword: Fictional Fathers

‘Yeggs’ is a comic series about Robert and Bill, two rabbits who have opened their own egg franchise in the Midwest (St. Louis area). We follow their day to day lives, watching as they go about the hectic task of preparing for their one big day every year. Along the way they have adventures filled with fun, comic doings and pathos.

Moore On Life It’s Mother’s Month. And no, that’s not a typo. Who says moms only get one measly day out of 365?! That’s the least humanity can do for us after what we’ve been through to bring about civilization.

I well recall the day I became a mother and yes, earned an entire month of recognition.

There I was sitting on the couch hugging one of the cushions tightly and feeling as if my mid-section was as inflated as an over-filled water balloon. I felt certain I was carrying a full grown horse inside and it was at full gallop.

I moaned to my husband, “I’m so fat and bloated. I can barely make room for air in my lungs…I need a bowl of ice cream.”

“If you’re feeling bloated and already can’t breathe I don’t think that’s such a good idea…”

After removing a couch cushion from his mouth he hurried off to the kitchen. He returned with the entire carton and a soup ladle – such a quick learner.

Later that evening we rushed to the hospital. I checked in at the front desk where I was required to leave all belongings along with any personal dignity I had planned on retaining.

Soon I was stripped down and told to squeeze into a tiny little nightgown no bigger than a surgical mask.

“Where’s the rest of it?” I asked a nurse.

“Oh honey, you aren’t going to need that thing for long. I’m surprised you even got one.”

“Huh?” I whimpered. I turned to my husband, “I need ice cream…stat!”

But it was too late. Doctors and nurses and various unknowns entered my room checking my vitals and other assorted body parts non-stop

By Cindy Moore

Fruits of labor without even closing the door. I remember one particular man came in carrying some type of weird apparatus.

“What does that thing do?” I asked.

“It tests the moisture level,” he said.

Just as I was about to unsheathe myself and make ready for a humidity exam he walked past me and began watering the ficus tree.

Thirty-six hours of strong labor and one C-section later, I became a mother.

And for all that I only get a lousy month of appreciation?!

Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

The opinions expressed in this column are Cindy Moore’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

ACROSS 1. Like Annapolis Academy 6. Pine juice 9. One in a manger 13. Like a good athlete 14. Modern address 15. Printer cartridge contents 16. Cate Blanchett’s movie “____ on a Scandal” 17. 2nd largest living bird in world 18. U in UV 19. *Honoré de Balzac’s “Le Père ____” 21. *Nemo’s dad, named after a sport fish 23. “____ of the morning!”

24. Seaside bird 25. Tax accounting specialist, acr.

28. Back of the neck 30. Chew the fat 35. Country dance formation 37. Greek goddess of fertility 39. Waterwheel 40. *Drunk and, incidentally, Huck Finn’s Pap 41. Metallic sounding 43. Quite a stretch 44. Place to dry out 46. Like the White Rabbit 47. Dr. Robert Bruce Banner’s green alter ego 48. Sun-____ 50. Toothy wheel 52. Bad-mouth

53. Made a rug 55. Low-____ image 57. *Simba’s father in “The Lion King” 60. *Luke’s and Leia’s father 63. Golfer’s sun protection 64. Romanian monetary unit 66. Introverted one 68. Follow as a consequence 69. Pooh’s wise friend 70. Territory in China known as Las Vegas of Asia 71. Young woman 72. *”That ‘70s Show” dad 73. One-room school house “notebook” DOWN 1. A Bobbsey twin 2. Awestruck 3. *The Godfather’s given name 4. Heads-up 5. Wound 6. Cooking grease 7. Hammer holder?

8. D’Artagnan’s hat decoration 9. Weevil’s target 10. Not in favor of 11. Capital of Switzerland 12. Chapter in history 15. As opposed to turn-off 20. 1960s abstractionism 22. Rainbow shape 24. Like ones between 13 and 19 years old

25. *Griswold family patriarch 26. Mushroom caps 27. Egyptian symbol of life, pl.

29. *Jay is to Claire as ____ is to Haley 31. Flood survivor 32. Father of psychoanalysis Sigmund 33. Garlicky mayonnaise 34. *Both father in “Mary Poppins” and father in “Father of the Bride” 36. Unfledged hawk 38. Casino chip 42. Pine 45. ____ of dog!

49. “I ____” at the altar 51. Middle Earth and Kingdom of the North, e.g.

54. Courage in the face of danger 56. Smokeless tobacco brand 57. Short skirt 58. It was Brezhnev’s domain 59. Unplayable baseball 60. Old in Scottish 61. Cuzco valley empire 62. Straight pour from the bottle 63. Chill in front of TV, with ‘out’ 65. Ovine mom 67. Beluga yield SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9