CNSTC: October 16, 2019

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October 16, 2019

Finding purpose after pain

Around Town

St. Charles County Police Department hosts annual open house. Pg. 5

Healthy Living How to evaluate pediatric emergencies. Pg. 3

Business Narwhal’s Crafted celebrates grand opening. Pg. 7

Features

Submitted photo Jocelyn Williams stands in front of a Wings on Wheels van. Wings on Wheels is a mobile expressive therapy and music therapy program for individuals, families and groups affected by illness or loss. Williams has been both a client and a volunteer.

After personal losses, St. Charles County teen founded the Purpose Project to help other kids connect and cope with grief By Brett Auten At 15-years-old, Jocelyn Williams has dealt with the kind of grief few her age have encountered. The Fort Zumwalt West student has channeled the loss of two key figures in her life into something positive. The first blow hit the hardest. Overnight, Jocelyn’s father passed away at the age of 40 from a sudden heart attack. Jocelyn was always treated like a princess, with tiaras, dresses and finding her footing in her mom’s high heels almost as soon as she could walk. But her parents never loved the idea of pageants, with the idea of them being too focused on beauty and not enough on character. But when Jocelyn

came home almost five years ago and found an invitation to open call auditions for National American Miss, she begged to give it a try. “I had to do some research and found that this pageant and many others are as much - or more - about character development than awarding just a pretty face,” Cyndi Williams, Jocelyn’s mother, said. Jocelyn auditioned, got the call back to compete, and has worked hard every year for the past four Missouri National American Miss pageants, improving every year in poise, interview skills, public speaking, writing a resume, volunteering to serve her community and seeking community support. This year, she earned the title of 2019 NAM Missouri Cover Girl in her age group

to recognize the level of financial support she generated from her friends, family and local businesses. The past two years she has worked harder than ever toward this goal, knowing it will help her promote the work of the Purpose Project. The Purpose Project was created after the passing of one of Jocelyn best friends, Jadyn Williams. In the year prior, Jadyn had been in isolation precautions while receiving treatment and was separated from her friends and peers. Jadyn was given the news that she was cancer-free and looked forward to reconnecting with all her friends when suddenly she took a turn for the worst and passed away. See ‘PURPOSE’ page 2

Serving St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln Counties | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol.21 No.42 | 636-379-1775

Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Yeggs & Crossword. Pg. F-4

Weather FRIDAY Sunny; Storms Late 70/54 SATURDAY Sunny; Storms Late 72/56 SUNDAY Mostly Cloudy; Showers & Storms 73/62 FirstWarn Weather

prepared by meteorologist Nick Palisch. For the latest updates visit www.facebook.com/nickswx.


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