CNSTC: May 24, 2023

Summer shift

St. Charles County Police Department School Resource Officers change roles towards community outreach during summer vacation

By Brett Auten

Inside St. Charles County Police Department’s Nicholas Clark’s squad car, it isn’t what you’d expect.

“I just filled my trunk up with gift bags and stickers, and a bunch of bubbles,” he said.

Clark is one of 23 School Resource Officers of the St. Charles County Police Department who are turning their concentration toward heightening safety and public outreach in other parts of the community.

For about a month in the summer, several SROs still will be making the rounds for summer school classes in area schools. Outside that time, SROs will transition into patrols at the St. Charles County Parks Department’s 18 parks, providing a proactive presence during

the busiest season of the year.

“I think it is a great way to utilize us,” Clark said. “When you have a group of officers who have a passion for working with the youth and making a difference, what better thing to do with them in the summer?”

Also, SRO Supervisor Sergeant Chance Mallett said with a significant uptick in visitors and activity in the parks, officers want to discourage people from tampering with unattended vehicles or engaging in other bad behavior.

“If there is a patrol car driving around or an officer visibly at the park, the people who are up to no good will think twice before breaking a car window or anything like that. It’s an important deterrence,” Mallett said.

Summer is also the time when SROs sched-

ule annual training, with one concentrated week of exercises where they renew skills related to firearms, first aid, and specialized equipment. Separately, the officers instruct school staff in active threat training often referred to as “4E” – Educate, Escape, Evade and Engage – which has become an increasingly important part of the SROs’ school safety mission.

During the 2022-2023 school year, St. Charles County expanded its SRO staff, which previously only included nine officers stationed at high schools and middle schools, but not elementary schools. Using funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the police department

See ’SUMMER’ page 2

78/55 SATURDAY Sunny 82/59 SUNDAY Partly Cloudy 84/62 READ

The use of robotic surgery for the spine. Pg. 5

Highway Department projects underway. Pg. 4

Photo provided by FHSD Hollenbeck Middle School’s Brandi Woodby talks with students.

Around Town

added 14 additional officers to include every school in unincorporated St. Charles County, Augusta Elementary School in the Washington School District, and schools in Dardenne Prairie and Weldon Spring which contract with St. Charles County for police services.

Clark is a SRO at Fairmount Elementary. He joined up with SCCPD in late 2022 after 12 years at Warrenton. A graduate of Howell High in 2008 (where he did his training and stumbled upon a former teacher), he was thrilled to return to his former district.

“I love my new role here,” he said. “I love being a part of it. I use a lot of Purell but I enjoy it. I loved coming back to a district that I was a former student at. It’s been really cool.”

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann says the county has agreed to provide these additional officers at no cost to the schools through the end of the 20232024 school year.

“These officers serve an important role in keeping our children safe and being ambassadors for the county police department,” Ehlmann said. “During the summer, when schools aren’t in session, they continue to be engaged with the public and have an active presence in the community.”

In addition to patrolling parks during the hottest times of the year, SROs are looking to build positive connections in the community by visiting neighborhoods to talk with residents and answer any questions or concerns. They also provide a police presence for safety at summer events, and even host small outreach events of their own

“We’re trying to show a different side of law enforcement that a lot of people aren’t

used to in traditional policing,” Birdsong said. “We want to show the community we’re there for them, that we’re invested in our community.”

He recalls one particularly meaningful interaction at a past community outreach event, when officers took the chance to help a family in need.

“We hosted a program at a local QuikTrip, and we identified a family with some financial challenges. We were able to give them a couple fill-ups of gas and donated bicycles and helmets for their young children. That was really great,” he said.

Clark participated recently in walk and talks in Barathaven and Weldon Springs where he not only answered plenty of questions, he even helped cut some grass.

Local Author Spotlight: Jessica Flory

St. Charles author Jessica Flory has received glowing praise for her debut novel, a fantasy/romance called “Oceans of Sand.”

“’Oceans of Sand’ has beautiful prose, immersive world-building, and characters you’ll root for from the first page,” said Janette Rallison, USA Today best-selling author.

Fans of Brandon Sanderson and Sarah J. Maas will love

“Oceans of Sand.”

Clean, sweet, and swoony – “Oceans of Sand” is a breathtaking adventure with a romance that will sweep you off your feet. Readers are immersed in a world where the moon is so close to the surface of the planet that it pulls the sand into waves.

Indies Today gives “Oceans of Sand” five stars. “An exquisite

“It’s nice to work for somewhere that not only has the resources, not to mention the passion and dedication for wanting to do that,” Clark said. “Because even though we’re just going door to door, and talking to people about golf carts and loud music and stuff, it’s nice to be able to do that.”

SRO Jaclyn Gubricky says officers value having different opportunities to interact with community members by meeting them where they are and engaging with any questions and comments they might have.

“It will be nice this summer to get to know a different part of the community,” she said. “But I’m going to miss seeing my school kids every day, so I’ll definitely look forward to getting back to school at the end of summer.”

tale with a gravity all its own, ‘Oceans of Sand’ will lure you in with a powerful plot and hold you hostage with a cast you’ll love.”

Reader’s Favorite gives “Oceans of Sand” five stars. “It’s been quite a while since I found a book that I was unable to put down. From the very first page right to the last, the author cap tured my imagination. Recom mended for young adults and mature readers alike, this book will take you on an incredible journey you won’t want to return from.”

“Oceans of Sand” will be available for purchase on Amazon on June 20. Connect with Jessica Flory at https:// www.jessicaflory.com/.

Submitted photos

(Left) Fairmount Elementary School Resource Officer Nicholas Clark is one of 23 SROs of the St. Charles County Police Department who will spend the summer months lending a hand in one of the many parks in the area. (Right) County School Resource Officers Eric Macalady and Brandy Rocco survey a patrol area at Veterans Tribute Park ahead of summer duties.

‘SUMMER’ from cover

St. Charles County Highway Department projects underway to reduce congestion, improve safety

The St. Charles County Highway Department has road construction projects underway to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and improve safety at two high-volume intersections, with more road improvements planned in the near future.

Central School Road and St. Peters Howell Road: Just north of Route 364 in the St. Peters area, improvements to widen the intersection of Central School Road and St. Peters Howell Road in all directions have begun. Central School Road will have an additional turn lane and an additional drive/merge lane on both sides of the intersection. St. Peters Howell Road will have an additional left turn lane to serve drivers accessing the Route 364 corridor.

A $1.6 million contract has been awarded for this construction, and it is expected to be complete by June 2023.

Route Z and Route N: In the Wentzville area, south of Interstate 70, the intersection of Route Z and Route N is being relocated to the east to improve the alignment of the intersection. Additionally, the new intersection will be expanded in all directions and a traffic light will be installed.

A $5.8 million contract has been awarded for this construction, and the work is anticipated to be completed by late 2023 or early 2024.

Both road improvement projects are funded by the voter-approved St. Charles County ½-cent Transportation Sales Tax, along with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program funding. More information can be found at sccmo.org/ RoadProjects.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

The following road improvements in unincorporated St. Charles County are expected to begin between fall 2023 and summer 2024:

• West Meyer Road – Repaving and adding shoulders to West Meyer Road, from Route W in Foristell to the McCoy Creek Bridge east of Duenke Road.

• Josephville Road – Repaving and widening the shoulders of Josephville Road from Highway P south to Kersting Road.

• Interstate Drive – Reconstruction of Interstate Drive from Quail Ridge Park east to Prospect Road/Duello Road. This project includes widening the existing roadway, additional infrastructure improvements, installation of a multi-use path for pedestrians and bikes, and construction of a roundabout intersection where Interstate Drive, Prospect Road and Duello Road meet.

• Duello Road – Road widening, infrastructure improvements, additional turn lanes, and construction of a multi-use path along Duello Road, from Route N to north of Orf Road.

Maintenance and repair

The St. Charles County Highway Department has asphalt overlays and concrete slab replacements scheduled in 2023 for the following subdivisions and roadways:

Asphalt overlays

Bunker Hill Booneslick Gardens

St. Anthony Hill Whispering Hills Bluffs

Lexington Square Heritage North

Willow Wood Estates Powell Park and Forest Gardens

Fairway Estates Brocknor Estates

Pitman Hill Road McClay Road

Various rural roads

Concrete slab replacements

Stonebridge Manor Crystal Springs Wood

Ivy Meadows Wood Crest

Manors at Glen Brook Twin Fawn Estates

Dove Meadows Countryside

Eagles Ridge Harvest Valley

Merriweather Park Addyston Place

Bluff Meadows Charles Village

Saddlebrook Whitehirst Manor

For more information, email highway@sccmo. org or call 636-949-7305.

Photo courtesy St. Charles County

Construction continues at Central School Road and St. Peters Howell Road.

Spasticity 101

A debilitating yet treatable common condition after a stroke

In the year following a stroke, about one in three stroke survivors will experience spasticity, a common poststroke condition which causes muscle stiffness due to involuntary muscle contractions. Most commonly affecting the elbow, wrist and ankle, the condition may make it difficult to do activities people were able to do before their stroke like dressing, brushing teeth or walking.

More than three million stroke survivors may wrestle with reduced independence and increased reliance on caregivers due to spasticity. The condition is particularly common in younger stroke survivors.

After a stroke, the way your brain communicates with your muscles may change. Muscles may be stiff or resistant to stretching. They may involuntarily contract or have a smaller range of motion.

“While there’s no cure for spasticity, working with your care team to find the best treatment options for you can help provide comfort, relief and independence,” said Richard D. Zorowitz, MD, volunteer past chair of the American Heart Association’s Stroke Council Rehabilitation and Recovery Committee and chief medical informatics officer and outpatient attending physician at MedStar National Rehabilitation Network.

Some common symptoms include painful muscle spasms; difficulty stretching muscles; stiffness in the arm, hand, leg and ankle; an arm folded and pressed against the chest with a curled wrist and fingers; an involuntary tight fist; pointed foot; curled toes; and overactive reflexes.

If left untreated, spasticity can cause painful and debilitating bone and joint deformities. Experts stress seeing a doctor as soon as symptoms develop. Assessment of the condition is critical in developing a treatment plan based on individual needs and goals, the severity of the condition and overall health.

Management plans may include targeted injections of botulinum toxin, oral medications, intrathecal baclofen pump therapy, physical therapy or other methods to improve the muscles’ ability to stretch and regain range of motion.

If you or a loved one is dealing with spasticity after a stroke, talk to your doctor or health care team about options to treat and manage it. Find resources and tools to help at Stroke.org/ Spasticity. Spasticity education made possible through funding by Ipsen.

Knowing the Signs of Stroke Saved One Man’s Life

When Herbert “Hub” Miller worked as a global leader for an international agriculture science company, his boss ended every meeting with a reminder of the “FAST” acronym to recognize the signs of stroke: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time to call 911.

“I’d sit back and think, ‘Here comes the whole FAST speech again; let’s move on,’” Miller said. “I didn’t know I’d ever use it on myself.”

In April 2021, Miller was working from home when he experienced throbbing head pain. As other symptoms began appearing, the 42-yearold remembered those meetings and checked off the symptoms: His face was numb, his left arm drooped and he struggled to form words.

It turned out to be a hemorrhagic stroke, a ruptured blood vessel bleeding into the brain. Miller’s odds of surviving weren’t good, but it wasn’t until he was recovering in intensive care that he understood the full impact of the stroke. It caused abnormal increases in muscle tone causing stiffness, pain and spasms known as spasticity, leaving him with mobility and cognitive challenges.

After the stroke, Miller struggled with once-simple tasks like drawing a clock, completing a word puzzle and playing memory games.

“Spasticity changed my life and added an additional hurdle to my stroke recovery,” Miller said. “Without being able to open and close my left hand, I can’t write, type or drive like I used to. Those are things most of us take for granted until we can’t do them.”

Miller worked on his penmanship at the same time his youngest son learned to write in the first grade. Miller asked the teacher to send home extra worksheets, and father and son did homework together.

“I don’t measure my success day by day, but when I look back to a year ago and where I am today, I am grateful every day how far I have come,” he said.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Pudgy Udder Ice Cream celebrates grand opening with ribbon cutting

Pudgy Udder Ice Cream opened its new location at 7503 Mexico Rd. in St. Peters. To commemorate the opening, the company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 27.

Members of the Cottleville Weldon-Spring Chamber of Commerce, and other community leaders were in attendance.

“We’re taking over the world one taste bud at a time. Pudgy Udder Ice

Cream is ice cream like no udder,” says owner Scott Nyberg.

Pudgy Udder Ice Cream Co. was built for online sales, events and distribution to restaurants. All ice cream is homemade in small batches from original recipes.

For more information on Pudgy Udder Ice Cream follow them at pudgyudder.com

Gateway Fiber expanding fiber internet service to St. Peters

A new high-speed fiber optic internet service is coming to St. Peters. Local internet provider Gateway Fiber has started constructing its network around the Mexico Road and Mid-Rivers Mall Drive area and will begin residential and business installations this summer.

“We are excited to have Gateway Fiber coming to St. Peters, offering our residents and businesses another high-speed internet option,” said St. Peters Mayor Len Pagano. “The internet is essential to everyday life now, so it’s great to see innovation in the marketplace.”

Before construction starts, area residents and businesses will receive a postcard and door hanger notifying them of the process. More information about the construction process can be found at GatewayFiber.com/Construction. Interested residents and businesses can order the service now without commitment and at no cost until activated.

“Adding our high-speed fiber optic network to St. Peters provides the community with a better, fast-

er, and more reliable way to access the internet,” said Heath Sellenriek, CEO and co-founder of Gateway Fiber. “One huge benefit of a highspeed internet connection is more bandwidth for better streaming, so customers can get rid of their cable TV bundle and pick their own programming through their favorite streaming services.”

Gateway offers internet speeds from 250 Megabits per second (Mbps) up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) with symmetrical upload and download speeds on its 100% fiber-optic network. Symmetrical speeds provide faster uploads, better file sharing, smoother gaming, and a more stable online experience.

“The average home has over 20 connected devices,” said Sellenriek. “Today’s current internet infrastructure simply can’t keep up. Fiber-optic internet, on the other hand, has more than enough bandwidth to tackle customers’ online needs today and for decades to come.”

Missouri-based Gateway Fiber

was founded in 2019 with a mission to positively impact the communities they serve by offering customers a better online experience through fiber optic internet’s higher speeds and reliability with flat-rate pricing, no data caps, no contracts, and no installation fees for residential customers.

In addition to the new service in St. Peters, Gateway Fiber currently serves other St. Charles County communities, including Dardenne Prairie, Lake Saint Louis, O’Fallon, and Wentzville. Gateway Fiber’s coverage area also extends to Hawk Point, Moscow Mills, Old Monroe, Troy, Union, Warrenton, Washington, Winfield, and Wright City, the company’s headquarters.

Community members who have questions about Gateway’s plans or want to find out when service will reach their area can contact Gateway at hello@gatewayfiber.com and can sign up for Gateway’s highspeed internet services through GatewayFiber.com.

Submitted photo

Gateway Fiber celebrated construction of its high-speed fiber optic internet service network in St. Peters with a ribbon cutting at St. Peters City Hall.

Submitted photo

What’s Happening

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 17: Senior fair FasterHouse and Guide4SeniorLiving.com have joined together to host a Senior Fair & Wellness Expo At The Waterbury from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Waterbury Meeting Center located at 830 Waterbury Falls Drive in O’Fallon. To reserve a vendor table please contact missy@fasterhouse.com. There will be free food, giveaways, raffles and prizes.

May 24: Theater auditions

Registration is open now for auditions for St. John UCC summer show for Performing Arts Camp, “Matilda the Musical Jr!” for grades sixthrough-12. Call Anna DiVesta at 636-946-0961 or visit stjohnucc.org/PAC-audition.

May 31: Book launch and signing event

Saturday Writers presents a book launch and signing event for “Anthology #16 A World of Writing,” the group’ sixteenth anthology, filled with award-winning prose and poetry, which will take place at Spencer Branch Library Room L (Room 240) from 6 – 8 p.m. There will be free admission, books available for purchase, refreshments, panel discussion by contributors and door prizes.

June 10: Golf tournament

Join the Stella’s Wish Foundation at the 5th Annual Golf Tournament at St. Peters Golf Club. Visit www.stellaswish. org or call Don at 314-9389474 for information and to sign up.

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 314-560-1868.

Mondays: Alcoholics Anonymous

If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, we can help. Call Alcoholics Anonymous at 636970-0013.

Mondays: Take off Pounds Sensibly

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 Leogene Weber. 636-399-3124.

Mondays: NAMI St. Louis Connection 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: Parent support group

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.

Mondays: Kiwanis Club meeting

Cottleville-Weldon Spring Kiwanis Club meets the first Monday of the month at noon at Bandana’s at 3446 Pheasant Meadows Dr. in O’Fallon. Contact Mary Vaughan at 314-581-0497 or Karen Grant at 773-914-4900 for more information.

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: St. Peters Rotary Club

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

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Fitness First Exercise Class 9:30-10:30 a.m., American Legion Hall, 504 Luetkenhaus Blvd., Wentzville. 314-3696521.

Mondays: Choral Arts Singers practice Choral Arts Singers practice on Mondays, from 7-9 p.m. at Connection ChristianChurch, 1332 Feise Road in Dardenne Prairie. New singers (high school and older) are welcome. Auditions are not required. See www.concertarts. org.

Events Around Town Memorial Day Weekend

. .

Dust off your lawn chairs, break out the sunscreen, and get ready for another sensational season of Sunset Fridays concerts at 370 Lakeside Park.

The Sunset Concert Series for 2023 officially begins Friday, May 26, where you can celebrate Mardi Gras in May with the Zydeco Crawdaddys.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Fitness First Exercise Class 9:30-10:30 a.m., American Legion Hall, 504 Luetkenhaus Blvd., Wentzville. 314-3696521.

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: 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, 636219-0553

Mondays: Measurement Mondays: 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.

The Zydeco Crawdaddys combine rock staples like guitars, bass and drums, with traditional Louisiana-style instruments like the accordion and washboard. The music starts at 6:30 p.m. Come out and enjoy a fun night of great music in a winery-style atmosphere under Corporate Pavilion next to the lake.

One Dish Wonders will serve up a delicious Cajun-style menu, which will go along perfect with the festivities. There will also be refreshing treats served by Kona Ice and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee (food trucks subject to change). Plus, be sure to quench your thirst at the Thirsty Gator (formerly Gator Island Grill).

There is limited seating underneath the pavilion that fills up quickly, so bring a lawn chair or blanket to ensure a seat. Outside alcohol must remain outside the pavilion and in the lawn area only, and no glass bottles are allowed. Pets are not allowed at Sunset Fridays events.

St. Peters’ 370 Lakeside Park is located at 1000 Lakeside Park Drive in St. Peters. Go online to www.stpetersmo.net/sunset to learn more about upcoming concerts.

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: Toastmasters Meeting

7 p.m. at the Midwest Bank Centre Board Room at 2299 Technology Blvd., O’Fallon, MO 63368. Info: 636-3792505.

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 314-954-3364 for info.

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: Seniors luncheon

On the third Tuesday every month a luncheon for seniors takes place from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Transfiguration Episcopal Church at 1860 Lake St. Louis Blvd. For more information call 636-561-8951. Free bingo and cards are available.

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 jackross@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 636233-8032.

Tuesdays: Diabetes support group

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 636-6255447.

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 636-206-2483. You can also visit http://stcharleskiwanis. com

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: Quilting Guild at the O’Fallon Family YMCA

1-4 p.m. Free. Quilt for local charities. No sewing experience required.

Tuesdays: Mended Hearts

This heart patient support group provides hospital visitation support for people with any type of heart issues. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Spencer Road St. Charles Library, at the corner of Boone Hills Dr. and Spencer Rd. For additional information please call 636639-0875.

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 800272-3900 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 from 1:00 - 3:30 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: 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 treat-

ment 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

On the fourth Tuesday of the month, the O’Fallon Garden Club meets at 6:30 p.m. at Sunrise United Methodist Church at 2116 Twin Chimney’s Blvd. in O’Fallon. Open to anyone interested in learning more about gardening and beautifying our community. For more information contact Barb at 314-324-3666 or visit www.ofallonmogarden.com.

What’s Happening

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Tai Chi at the St. Charles County Family YMCA

10:15-11:15 a.m. No experience necessary. 636-9281928.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Get Fit Exercise Classes

9-10 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Hall, New Melle. 314-369-6521.

Third Tuesday: Luncheon for seniors

On the third Tuesday of every month there is a luncheon for seniors from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Transfiguration Episcopal Church at 1860 Lake St. Louis Blvd. For more information call 636-561-8951.

Wednesdays: Toastmasters Club

The Cavesprings Toastmas-

ters Club will transform your speaking ability and offers in person and online meetings every Wednesday from 8 – 9 a.m. at the St. Charles Ambulance District at 2000 Salt River Road in St. Peters. RSVP at cavespringstoastmasters@gmail.com as guests are free.

Wednesdays: TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Club

TOPS 502 Wright City meets every Wednesday morning at First Baptist Church at 104 Hedeman Ave. in Wright City. Weigh-in 7 - 8:30 a.m. Meeting starts at 9 a.m. For more information call 314504-5202

answers from page F-4

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

Sports you see with Gary B . . .

Lindenwood excel in track and field event

On Sunday, Lindenwood University was in the final day of competition at the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Outdoor Championships.

The Lindenwood track and field teams placed fifth on the men’s side and seventh on the women’s side. The Lions had multiple winners and several individuals place in their respective events, as well as individuals setting new personal records and school records. The Lions also placed third in women’s 4x400 relay race.

Below are some of the notable performances from the OVC Championships.

Top Women’s Performances:

• Discus –Kimberly Lugg (Freshman), placed first

• Hammer –Ashley Shoemake (Junior), placed third

• 400m –Gabby Russina (Junior), placed second, set new personal record and school record

• 400m Hurdles –Martina Martinez, placed second

Top Men’s Performances:

• Decathlon –Jake Casey (Senior), placed second

• Javelin –William Stemler (Freshman), placed third

• 110m Hurdles –Biel Salas (Sophomore)

* Excellent day for accomplishments

UMSL athletes receive Sportsman of the Year Award

University of Missouri-St. Louis junior Karli Dean of the volleyball team and senior Nick Hedberg of the men’s golf team have been named as the Tritons’ James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2022-23 year. The award is named after the former Bellarmine director of athletics and multi-sport coach who is considered one of the pioneers of the GLVC.

The duo were two of 26 student-athletes, one male and one female from each of the league’s 13 schools, formally recognized after learning of their honors during their respective All-Conference process this past year. Each institution – through the head coach – names one award honoree in each sport sponsored. These individual sport honorees became candidates

for the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Individual Award. Each institution then selects one male and one female student-athlete from its season-long list of honorees to be named as James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Individual Award winners.

Also, during the initial nomination process, each institution’s coach ranks the top-three teams within the sport that best displayed good sportsmanship throughout the season. The team with the highest point total is then named that sport’s James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team Award winner. At the conclusion of the academic year, the institution that accumulated the highest point total across all sports is named the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Overall Award winner. This year’s winner is Southwest Baptist.

The GLVC renamed its annual sportsmanship award in 2016 after Spalding for his longtime service at Bellarmine. Spalding was first a basketball student-athlete at Bellarmine, who later returned to serve his alma mater as a coach and later the AD. During his tenure as AD, Spalding played a prominent role in both the formation of the GLVC and the sponsorship expansion of women’s athletics within the league. He died in 2012 at the age of 79 following a lengthy illness.

* A great accomplishment

Hoots season around the corner

The O’Fallon Hoots play their home games at CarShield Field in O’Fallon and play in the Prospect League.

David Schmoll, General Manager, is excited to get the season started to provide some great talent collected for the 2023 season.

Manager Ryan Bailey, will lead the club this year and is excited on showing off the expert athletes. The season starts at CarShield Field in O’Fallon on Wednesday, May 31 at 6:35 p.m. against Cape Girardeau.

* Baseball in O’Fallon finally back

Gary Baute, aka Gary B, a St. Louis native, maybe educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan and 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 broadcasted for several indoor football teams since 1999.

Recipe: Dish out a new take on dessert

Summertime means plenty of grilling, giving you an opportunity to try this Grilled Banana Pound Cake Kabobs dessert recipe alongside your favorite entrees.

INGREDIENTS:

1 loaf (10 3/4 ounces)

frozen pound cake, thawed and cubed

2 large bananas, cut into 1-inch slices

metal or soaked wooden skewers

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon ice cream

desired toppings

Grilled Banana Pound Cake Kabobs Grilled Banana Pound Cake Kabobs

DIRECTIONS:

Heat grill to medium heat.

Alternately thread cake and bananas on skewers. In small bowl, mix butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Brush mixture over kabobs.

Place kabobs on greased rack and grill for up to 1 minute, turning once.

Serve with ice cream and desired toppings.

FindmoregrillingrecipesatCulinary.net.

Movie:

By Steve Bryan

In1989, Walt Disney Studios released “The Little Mermaid,” an animated film that found its audience amongst both children and adults. Thanks to its success, animated features such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” soon followed and marked the beginning of what was called “The Disney Renaissance.”

On May 26, Melissa McCarthy will play Ursula in the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid.” The late Pat Carroll was the original voice of the sea witch and, in the remake, McCarthy took over the role and will sing “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

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.

In addition to “Little Mermaid,” Melissa McCarthy showed she could tackle comedies and serious roles that highlighted her talents. McCarthy received her first Oscar nomination for 2011’s “Bridesmaids,” a wildly outrageous comedy about an upcoming wedding. “Saturday Night Live” alum Kristin Wiig played Annie Walker, a baker who lost both her shop and her boyfriend. After her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) asked Annie to be her maid of honor, she accepted. Things don’t go as expected after food poisoning affected the bridal party. McCarthy was outrageous in this Oscar-nominated role, especially when she searched for an unoccupied bathroom stall in a bridal shop.

In 2014, Bill Murray and McCarthy starred in Theodore Melfi’s “St. Vincent.” Murray played Vincent MacKenna, a Vietnam War veteran whose car was damaged by new neighbor Maggie Bronstein (McCarthy). She

had a son named Oliver who was a bright, friendly child that Vincent volunteered to watch for a fee while Maggie was at work. Surprisingly, Vincent got along well together with Oliver and taught him to defend himself against bullies. “St. Vincent” was an interesting film enhanced by Murray and McCarthy’s performances.

Directed by Paul Feig, 2016’s “Ghostbusters” attempted to reboot the popular franchise with a core cast of female characters. Melissa McCarthy played Dr. Abigail L. “Abby” Yates, a particle physicist who, with her friend Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig), co-wrote a book called “Ghosts from Our Past.” Leslie Jones came on board as Patty Jenkins, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) staff member who found a ghost in a subway terminal. Patty also knew her way around New York City and obtained a hearse from her mortician uncle. This reboot had some good moments, especially the cameos from Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts.

Ben Falcone directed wife Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Bell in “The Boss,” the story of a wealthy woman who lost her fortune. McCarthy was Michelle Darnell, the CEO of multiple Fortune 500 companies and author of self-help books. Arrested for insider trading, she was released after serving 5 months in prison. To rebuild her fortunes, Michelle, along with her former personal assistant Claire Rawlings (Kristen Bell) and her daughter Rachel (Ella Anderson), created a homemade brownie empire.

Melissa McCarthy is a great actress and I definitely am looking forward to her upcoming performance in the live-action version of “The Little Mermaid.”

“The Little Mermaid,” rated PG, debuts in theaters on May 26.

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.

SEE ANSWERS ON CN PG. 8 & STC PG. 9

Melissa McCarthy will play Ursula in “The Little Mermaid”

‘The Little Mermaid’ photo courtesy Walt Disney Pictures

John Hanna Yeggs

CROSSWORD: THE 1990'S

‘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:

Operator: “911, what is your emergency?”

Me: “Yes, I’m…huff, huff… in serious threat of…huff…my life!”

“Can you be more specific? Is there someone threatening you?”

“Yes! Yes there is. I need help; the police… no, send a SWAT team! Cancel that, send the National Guard…with tanks, lots of tanks… and tell them to pack along some of those super explody missiles too.”

“Okay ma’am. Is the perpetrator there now?”

“Yes, the perp is standing five feet from me.”

“Does the perpetrator have any weapons?”

“Yes. Sharp knives and he’s got ten of them!”

“Ten knives! How can he hold ten knives? This sounds grim. Is there any way you can disarm him?”

“Oh no, if I get any closer he’s going to shred my face into coleslaw.”

“Then can you describe him to me?”

“He’s really fat, long whiskers, big ears, green eyes and he’s got a really snooty condescending attitude and is very entitled. He thinks the world owes him a living, but at the same time he’s soo adorable.”

“Wow, you are a good judge of character, but seem to get sidetracked by a pretty face. This guy is dangerous so can you distract him or do something to throw him off guard?”

“Good idea. Okay, I just threw a jingly ball at him, the kind with a little bell in the middle.”

“Ma’am, I really don’t think that’s going to deter a raging savage. You’ll need something else.”

“You’re right. I’m going for the big guns.”

“Now you’re talking. A gun may be what’s needed.”

“Huh? I’m talking about catnip. I’m going to toss a bag of it over his shoulder. That may divert his attention long enough until you get someone over here, but please hurry.”

By Cindy Moore

Bloodbath

ACROSS

1. Deep cavity

6. Weasel-related onomatopoeia

9. Supernatural life force

13. French treat

14. Snake-like fish

15. Major Italian city

“Hey, wait a minute. Are we talking about… your cat?”

“Of course we are. What were you thinking?”

“I thought you were facing a murderous, psychopathic lunatic bent on your destruction.”

“Correct. And I was attempting to give him a bath.”

“A bath? A cat? Why didn’t you say so? I’ll send the National Guard over ASAP!”

“Don’t forget the tanks.”

“Plenty of tanks…and missiles…the super explody kind!”

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.

16. Ring around the sun, pl.

17. Pitcher's stat

18. Donated part

19. *Russian President

21. *"Nevermind" band

23. *"Walkin' on the ____" by Smash Mouth

24. Google search tool

25. Took the bait

28. Between larva and adult

30. Data input device

35. U in I.C.U.

37. Dems' opponents

39. One of Florida Keys

40. Be furious

41. *Canada/Mexico/U.S. trade agreement acronym

43. Agitate

44. Between free and freest

46. Molokai party

47. *Telephone Tammy or Sky Dancer

48. Unquestioning ones

50. Greek muse's strings

52. Slightly insane

53. Messy substances

55. Santa ____ winds, CA

57. *TV show with Central Perk

61. *Popular Disney movie with a genie

65. Caterpillar precursor

66. Accompanies wisdom?

68. *Pinky or The Brain

69. Architectural projection

70. Crème de cassis plus wine

71. Un-written exams

72. ____pool or ____pit

73. One or some or all

74. Find new tenant

DOWN

1. *"____ Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus

2. Highlands hillside

3. Raise the roof

4. Leopard marks

5. Bungle (2 words)

6. Part of a hammer

7. "____ the land of the free..."

8. Heathrow craft

9. Type of missile, accr.

10. Aquarium organism

11. Indian bread

12. "____ Kerenina" by Tolstoy

15. Breadcrumb, e.g.

20. Contain the ashes

22. Pen juice

24. Amount in one's lap, pl.

25. *The Vampire Slayer

26. Accustom

27. *"A ____ to Kill" and "Nick of ____"

29. Bell sound

31. Front or back one

32. Factual evidence

33. Quick and nimble

34. *First cloned mammal's name

36. Swarm like bees

38. Don't go

42. Pertaining to the ear

45. Pertaining to reign

49. Motion of assent

51. Bewitch

54. Port city in Japan

56. *Christian Dior's "J'____"

57. Mass of particles

58. Of low density

59. Pupil controller

60. December 24 and 31

61. Bald eagle's nest

62. Two-fold

63. Same as island

64. *TV show "Empty ____"

67. *"____ and Juice" by Snoop Dogg