Brett Hull to headline annual Cystic Fibrosis Foundation golf tournament in Wentzville

St. Louis Blues hockey legend and hall-offamer Brett Hull will be in hosting the 6th Annual Cystic Fibrosis Foundation St. Louis Golf Tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Wentzville on Aug. 26. This is the third consecutive year that Hull has served as honorary chairman as well as a player in the tournament. This year he will captain a four-person team playing in the tournament as part of a live auction item awarded at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Annual Gala held last November.

Brett Hull’s Junction House in Wentzville is the Title Sponsor of this tournament for the third consecutive year. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available for critical tool and this way the family doesn't have to worry if they have enough.”

Variety’s My Voice program provides communication devices to local children who qualify who do not have consistent access to this critical technology.

“It is frustrating for the parents that this technology exists, the kid thrives with it, but doesn't have it 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year,” Roy said.

By providing these tools for expression and self-advocacy at no cost to families, it empowers children and teens with independence at home, school and in the community.

“Every child deserves to be heard,” Roy said. “Communication connects us all, and Variety is thrilled to launch the My Voice program so kids and teens in our community can express their needs, their thoughts, and their feelings.”

Variety also assists children with physical and developmental disabilities by giving access to critical medical equipment and therapies, along with innovative camp both individuals and local businesses. All proceeds from the event will benefit The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“As always, I am very excited to be playing once again in this year’s tournament. Thanks to the continued support and contributions from all the players, sponsors, donors and volunteers, we were able to raise $87,125 in last year’s sold-out tournament,” Hull said. “I’m just happy to have the opportunity to continue raising awareness of and supporting the services that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation provides for children in need all over the world.”

Registration is now open through Aug. 1 for teams and sponsors. The tournament will feature lunch prior to the 1:30 p.m. shotgun start, plus unlimited beverages, a bucket of range balls, swag bags for each golfer, a ton of raffled prizes, silent auction, and dinner afterwards sponsored by Brett Tourney-STL.com. For other questions, contact Keith Horneker at KHorneker@ Junction-House.com. For more information on Cystic Fibrosis, visit the Gateway Chapter of The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at https://www.CFF.org/Gateway.

And Performing Arts Programs

According to Roy, Variety programs help children gain independence, boost socialization among their friends and family, demonstrate belief in themselves, and increase skills they need to engage their world as fully as possible.

For more information, including how to apply Variety's My Voice program, visit www.varietystl.org/myvoice to begin the process.

Around Town

Ribbon cutting ceremony held for pickleball courts in Wentzville

The city of Wentzville has unveiled four new pickleball courts and a dedicated cornhole playing area at Fireman’s Park. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on June 26 to mark this addition to the park's amenities.

The new pickleball courts provide a much-anticipated outdoor playing venue for pickleball enthusiasts of all ages. These courts offer a dedicated space for the community to engage in this popular and fast-growing sport.

In addition to the pickleball courts, Fireman's Park has also incorporated a dedicated cornhole playing area. This new addition provides a beloved social activity for families and friends to enjoy together. Cornhole continues to gain popularity and the inclusion of this area further enhances the park's recreational offerings.

“We invite everyone to the excitement of friendly competition and the spirit of community at the new pickleball courts at Fireman's Park. The city of Wentzville is thrilled to offer this wonderful new amenity for our residents. This new addition reflects the parks and recreation department's dedication to providing enjoyable and active opportunities within our community. Join us as we celebrate a stronger, healthier Wentzville!" said Mayor Nick Guccione.

Fireman's Park is located at 203 W. Pearce Blvd. in Wentzville, and parking is limited. For information on future phases of the continuing renovation of Fireman’s Park, please visit www.wentzvillemo.gov/ firemansparkproject.

Voting for Cuivre River Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors now open

Voting for candidates to fill four, three-year term seats on Cuivre River Electric Cooperative’s (CREC) Board of Directors opens on July 17. Candidates are as follows (incumbents have an asterisk following their name):

• Lincoln County District 1: Christopher Williams, Mike Cherry*

• Warren County District 3: Phil Dunk*, Mark Konya

• St. Charles County District 4: Karen Berra*, Arthur Madden, Shirley Pecoraro

• St. Charles County District 5: Ted House*, Joseph Frazier

The voting process is being handled by the independent firm of Survey and Ballot Systems (SBS), based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Candidate bios are available when voting via a secure internet site, by paper ballot, or in person. Bios are also being published in the August issue of Current Times/Rural Missouri. Members may vote on- line until 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 21, or by paper ballot which must be received at SBS by the close of business on Aug. 21. Members also have the option to vote in person at the CREC’s Annual Meeting at 4 p.m. on Aug. 24 at the cooperative’s headquarters in Troy.

While members are welcome to attend the annual meeting, the meeting will also be streamed live online to view. To access it, please visit the home page of our website, cuivre.com on Aug. 24.

All members who cast a vote (online, paper, or in person) will be entered into a drawing for free electricity. Attendance at the meeting is not required to be eligible for voting participation prizes; the winners will be announced in the week following the meeting. The complete slate of winners will also be posted in CREC’s monthly newsletter, Current Times, on the CREC website, social media channels, and in CREC Connections, the cooperative’s e-newsletter.

For further information, contact Ryan at 636-695-4831/email cryan@cuivre.com.

Voting for Cuivre River Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors now open

Julie Meritt, a Sophomore at Timberland High School, has recently earned the mark of the truly remarkable – the Girl Scout Gold Award. This young change-maker demonstrated extraordinary leadership through a measurable and sustainable community service project. A limb-length discrepancy is when one leg or arm is shorter than the other. Treatment for this condition often involves lengthening surgery and intensive physical therapy.

Meritt recognized the struggles children face navigating life with this condition and the anxiety of surgery. To increase resources for patients with this condition, Meritt decided to partner with Shriners Children’s St. Louis and create a children’s book on the condition.

Meritt’s book, “Brooke’s Big Surgery,” follows a character with a leglength discrepancy as she goes through her first surgery. Meritt illustrates what fellow patients can expect during their treatment. Meritt’s book also provides a list of other media, including characters with disabilities and advice from fellow patients.

After completing the book, Meritt translated it to Spanish and uploaded both versions as a free ebook. Meritt then provided Shriners Children’s St. Louis with 165 English and 200 Spanish hard copies of the book. Meritt also mailed a hard copy of each to the other 17 Shriners Children’s Hospital locations, including one in Canada and one in Mexico.

Finally, Meritt applied vinyl inspirational messages to 18 clinic room walls at Shriners Children’s St. Louis to encourage patients.

The Gold Award is earned by a high-school-aged Girl Scout who has dedicated, on average, more than 80 hours to address an issue they are passionate about in a way that produces meaningful and permanent change. Whether it is on a local, national or global level, Gold Award Girl Scouts provide innovative solutions to pressing and relevant challenges.

These remarkable young leaders, along with other Gold Award Girl Scouts, were recognized during a special ceremony on June 11.