Mid Rivers April 28

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APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

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APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

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I opinion I 3

Ma n n in o ’ s

THOMAS SOWELL

Mar k et

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When Supreme Court Justices retire, there is usually some pious talk about their “service,” especially when it has been a long “service.” But the careers of all too many of these retiring jurists, including currently retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, have been an enormous disservice to this country.

Justice Stevens was on the High Court for 35 years-- more’s the pity, or the disgrace. Justice Stevens voted to sustain racial quotas, created “rights” out of thin air for terrorists, and took away American citizens’ rights to their own homes in the infamous “Kelo” decision of 2005.

The Constitution of the United States says that the government must pay “just compensation” for seizing a citizen’s private property for “public use.” In other words, if the government has to build a reservoir or bridge, and your property is in the way, they can take that property, provided that they pay you its value.

What has happened over the years, however, is that judges have eroded this protection and expanded the government’s power-- as they have in other issues. This trend reached its logical extreme in the Supreme Court case of Kelo v. City of New London. This case involved local government officials seizing homes and businesses-- not for “public use” as the Constitution specified, but to turn this private property over to other private parties, to build more upscale facilities that would bring in more tax revenues.

Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the Supreme Court opinion that expanded the Constitution’s authorization of seizing private property for “public use” to seizing private property for a “public purpose.”

And who would define what a “public purpose” is? Basically, those who were doing the seizing. As Justice Stevens put it, the government authorities’ assessment of a proper “public purpose” was entitled to “great respect” by the courts.

Let’s go back to square one. Just who was this provision of the Constitution supposed to restrict? Answer: government officials. And to whom would Justice Stevens defer: government officials. Why would those who wrote the Constitution waste good ink putting that protection in there, if not to protect citizens from the very government officials to whom Justice Stevens deferred?

John Paul Stevens is a classic example of what has been wrong with too many Republicans’ appointments to the Supreme Court. The biggest argument in favor of nominating him was that he could be confirmed by the Senate without a fight.

Democratic presidents appoint judges who will push their political agenda from the federal bench, even if that requires stretching and twisting the Constitution to reach their goals.

Republicans too often appoint judges whose confirmation will not require a big fight with the Democrats. You can always avoid a fight by surrendering, and a whole wing of the Republican party has long ago mastered the art of preemptive surrender.

The net result has been a whole string of Republican Justices of the Supreme Court carrying out the Democrats’ agenda, in disregard of the Constitution. John Paul Stevens has been just one.

There may have been some excuse for President Ford’s picking such a man, in order to avoid a fight, at a time when he was an unelected President who came into office in the wake of Richard Nixon’s resignation in disgrace after Watergate, creating lasting damage to the public’s support of the Republicans.

But there was no such excuse for the elder President Bush to appoint David Souter, much less for President Eisenhower, with back-to-back landslide victories at the polls, to inflict William J. Brennan on the country.

In light of these justices’ records, and in view of how long justices remain on the court, nominating such people was close to criminal negligence.

If and when the Republicans return to power in Washington, we can only hope that they remember what got them suddenly and unceremoniously dumped out of power the last time. Basically, it was running as Republicans and then governing as if they were Democrats, running up big deficits, with lots of earmarks and interfering with the market.

But their most lasting damage to the country has been putting people like John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court.

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4 I OPINION I

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

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To the Editor: Once again MRN is one of the bright spots of my week.

On Saturday April 11, 2010, I was awarded my portion of the TARP monies received in the form of some cute little light bulbs. Understanding that the manmade global warming fiasco is fraught with fraud and misconceptions, especially in light of the current revelations about the data sources, I had to ask myself why is tiny St. Peters buying into this? Why is St. Peters, a relatively well off community, getting the TARP monies? Why are they, in turn, spending it on a program that is being debunked almost on a daily basis? My only deduction was, like many things in government, the investment in politics is the only thing that counts for politicians. Forget logic and common sense. Forget scientific data. Scare the citizens into doing the bidding of the politicians.

Simply said, “Follow the money.” The American government and, I’m guessing, a lot of industries have so much invested in the global warming scare they can’t retreat back into sanity. Not wanting to be a party to the man-made global warming hoax or the boondoggle called TARP, I returned my little curly light bulbs to City Hall. Of course, they inquired as to my address so I would not be burdened with more if they became available. Good thing I’m not a conspiratorialist.

When I returned from City Hall, by favorite news media was in the mailbox.

Tom Sowell, as usual in the front of the Newsmagazine, makes some good logical points on race and politics. Unfortunately, common sense and logic no longer have a prominent in our society. I was then greeted with Doug Edelman’s letter about “A New Motto.” Once more logic seems to prevail. Then I was treated to a bland, but entertaining, commentary on being a “dreaded” Cubbie. Last letter on page four was another apparent exercise in logic being applied to a government agency. Our wonderfully hyped census. How can you get the money you deserve without filing your census report. I have heard that to the point of vomiting for weeks.

The census is not about and never has been about allocation of resources. It is about the allocation of representation in

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our Republic form of government. The elected representatives allocate money and the districts are supposed to be relatively equal (one representative for every 100,000 citizens). Once again logic fails in the bombardment of advertising by the census bureau.

Probably the highlight for me in this issue was the editorial, “Good Americans.”

At least some small measure of contradiction that the Tea Party is composed of violent, radical Nazis. Every telecast of a Tea Party that I have seen has been a peaceful protest to a greedy, corpulent government.

House Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi commented on these Tea Parties reminding her of the turbulent ‘60’s. Unfortunately, she seems to forget the turbulent ‘60s were the product of the leftist citizenry who now control Congress and a lot of the Executive Branch. They were the violent ones that now decry truly peaceful protest.

I can only hope that the citizens are not as gullible as Congress believes us to be.

Ken Ferguson St. Peters

Contract From America To the Editor: I endorse all of the Tea Party Patriots’ “The Contract From America” objectives, but I would add at least three more.

As a country inhabited by 80 percent Christian people and founded by Christian people, at the very least this contract should emphatically demand the inclusion of: • The right of the unborn to live • That marriage may occur only between a man and a woman • Immigrants must be legal to live and work in the USA To my fellow Tea Party activists, America is about more than overturning and removing the rotten incompetent’s of the 2008 election. It is not only about fiscal discipline. It is not only about repealing the socialist agenda of the last 15 months. The objectives of the contract are discredited if you can look in the mirror and not totally endorse the three objectives stated above.

Rob Schultz

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Classified Advertising Sales Kathleen Farrow Writers Amy Armour Robert Bergamini, M.D. Mary Ann O’Toole Holley Brian McDowell Diane Plattner Jeannie Seibert 355 Ozark Trails Drive, Suite 1 St. Louis, MO 63011 (636) 591-0010 ■ (636) 591-0022 Fax newsmagazinenetwork.com Please send Comments, Letters and Press Releases to: editor@midriversnewsmagazine.com Mid Rivers Newsmagazine is published 24 times per year by 21 Publishing LLC. It is direct-mailed to more than 61,000 households in St. Charles County. Products and services advertised are not necessarily endorsed by Mid Rivers Newsmagazine and views expressed in editorial copy are not necessarily those of Mid Rivers Newsmagazine. No part of Mid Rivers Newsmagazine may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Mid Rivers Newsmagazine.

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6 I OPINION I

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

EDITORIAL

Our government in action Some of the recent actions of our government leave many of us scratching our heads in wonder. These actions include but are not limited to the following: Surprise, surprise: In the first believable study on the cost of Obamacare, it has been reported the actual cost of health care will be going up dramatically. Experts at Obama’s own Health and Human Services Department report that costs will rise as Medicare cuts in the new health care law may be unrealistic and unsustainable.

Taxing issues: While the President promises to cut the deficit by almost twothirds over the next five years, the actual budget plan could threaten about 30 million people with tax increases in 2012 and after because of the alternative minimum tax – not to mention the talk of the value added tax that has evolved from trial balloon to real discussion.

From soup to nuts: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an effort to reduce the salt consumed each day by Americans, saying that less sodium in everything from soup to nuts would prevent thousands of deaths from hypertension and heart disease. The program eventually would lead to the first legal limits on the amount of salt allowed in food. While we can accept the no-sugar sodas in the schools, leave our soup and nuts alone.

Pray for victory on appeal. Recently, a federal district court in Wisconsin ruled that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. This ruling came in spite of the fact that the United States has a long history of recognizing a national day of prayer. This bad decision may be reversed on appeal and ultimately may wind up being decided by the Supreme Court.

Let them eat pork. Recently, Citizens Against Government Waste released the

“2010 Congressional Pig Book,” the group’s 20th anniversary exposé of pork barrel spending. They reported we’re paying for 9,129 earmarks costing $16.5 billion of our hard-earned dollars. Some things never change.

Titillating job? It’s nice to know that at the height of the financial crisis, some staffers at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) spent hours surfing pornographic Web sites. While we condemn their actions, we wonder if they found their job protecting our financial interests to be very – shall we say – satisfying.

Not getting our financial house in order: In spite of speeches and rhetoric demonizing Wall Street and Goldman Sachs, plus a1,500-page bill, the Democrats’ effort at financial reform remains a joke because two of the biggest culprits – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – are exempted. Further, it has been widely reported that nothing will be done to modify government regulations requiring banks to fund risky home loans. Is it a real fixer-upper or house of cards?

Why was he on trial in the first place? A U.S. military jury cleared a Navy SEAL last week of failing to prevent the beating of an Iraqi prisoner suspected of masterminding an attack that killed four American contractors. The contractors' burned bodies were dragged through the streets and two were hanged.

A jury found Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas not guilty of charges of dereliction of duty and attempting to influence the testimony of another service member. Only in America do we confuse good and evil.

While nothing the government does should really surprise us, it often leaves us scratching our heads.

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Answer the question: editor@midriversnewsmagazine.com

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APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

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News Br iefs Wentzville No is not the answer The city of Wentzville will ask its voters again in August to approve a half-cent sales tax for parks — the park tax has failed two previous times.

City Administrator Dianna Wright said the half-cent sales tax is estimated to generate approximately $2 million per year.

“The purpose of the funding is to develop phases of Perque Valley Park, Heartland Park and build a new outdoor aquatic center,” Wright said.

Heartland Park would include football/ soccer fields, a lake with boardwalk, pavilion, trails, playground, shelters, environmental meadow, concession and restroom buildings and parking.

Perque Valley would include baseball fields, trails, pavilions, two lakes, a playground, environmental meadow and classroom/shelter, adventure experience area, concession and restroom buildings.

Wright said the funds would also be used to operate and maintain the parks.

“The sales tax is specific to parks and cannot be spent on anything but parks and recreation,” Wright said.

Man killed after crash A 20-year-old O’Fallon man was killed

trying to cross the highway after crashing his vehicle on I-70.

Jeffery M. Dominguez lost control of his Chevrolet Trailblazer near Route Z at 3:45 a.m. on April 19. The car hit a concrete median and spun around facing eastbound in the I-70’s westbound lane.

He got out of his vehicle and was trying to cross the highway when he was struck by a Ford Ranger pickup that could not stop.

Dominguez was thrown into the air and then struck by a second vehicle that left the scene. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

St. Peters Buckle up benefits While participating in the statewide “Click It Or Ticket” Campaign on April 15, St. Peters police officers issued 82 traffic citations.

“The officers consisted of patrol officers on all three shifts, our Proactive Policing Team, who work in unmarked vehicles and are not radio responsive…and our traffic unit,” said Officer Melissa Doss.

The citations included four following too close citations, seven stop sign violations, two signal violations, one careless and imprudent driving, 24 speeding citations,

14 seatbelt violations and seven uninsured motorists. Police also made three arrests for driving on a suspended or revoked license.

Sixteen verbal warnings were issued for other violations.

Pass the popcorn Families can experience the outdoors and catch a movie this summer—for free.

In honor of its year-long centennial celebration, the city of St. Peters will provide free outdoor concerts and movies in the City Centre Park Amphitheatre.

“We have an exciting year planned to help us celebrate our Centennial including outdoor movies and concerts,” said Mayor Len Pagano. “Families today don’t know what it’s like to experience a drive-in movie. This is the next best thing. Bring a blanket and watch the movie under the stars.”

The first concert in the park will feature Kelly Band with traditional and contemporary Celtic music at 7 p.m. on May 6.

The first movie will be “Shrek” at 8 p.m. on May 14.

For information on future concerts and movies in the park, visit stpetersmo.net.

Genealogy 102 Research family history more efficiently and effectively after a session with St. Peters’ Community & Arts Center instructor Cindy DuBois’s Genealogy Basics 102 class.

For those who have had Genealogy 101

or with prior experience in genealogical research, DuBois has been researching genealogy for more than 30 years and understands the importance of family history and legacy. Understanding the difficulties in getting started, DuBois will take you step-by-step toward recreating a family tree and a better understanding of ancestral heritage.

The class will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on May 5, at the Community & Arts Center. The $7 cost includes dessert. Register for Genealogy Basics 102 at St. Peters City Hall or at St. Peters’ Community & Arts Center. For more information, contact DuBois at 397-6903, ext. 222.

St. Charles County Women abducted

Two St. Charles County women were abducted from a St. Charles County apartment complex on April 12 and driven to St. Louis where the assailants robbed a checkcashing store.

The 49-year-old mother and her 20-yearold daughter had just pulled into the Ashwood apartment parking lot, located off Hwy. 94 near Central School Road, at about 10 p.m. when three armed men accosted the women.

“They told them to take them to the sister’s house,” said Lt. Craig McGuire.

The 29-year-old sister lived in the same complex with her 5-year-old child. The women took the men to her apartment and the men restrained each of them with duct

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tape. The mother and older daughter were then forced at gunpoint to leave with the men who drove to the Currency Exchange on 5854 Martin Luther King Drive.

Police said the daughter, who was a manager at the check cashing store, was forced to unlock the door and an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen.

McGuire said the women did not know the men and the abduction is currently under investigation.

The younger daughter was able to free herself and contact police. The two women were able to escape the men and report the abduction at the Pine Lawn police department. The suspects are still at large.

Gang grafitti?

The St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department was called to the Ashwood Apartment complex near Central School Road on April 13.

“We were contacted by the maintenance (person) from Ashwood Apartments who reported possible gang-related (property) damage,” said Lt. Craig McGuire. “FU KGK” was spray painted in black on a garage, police said. In addition ‘666’ and two unknown symbols were spray painted in purple. The graffiti was signed “Krauzie Kidd.” The perpetrator(s) have not been caught.

For the dogs The St. Charles County Parks Department will host the seventh annual Paws in the Park celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Sat., May 1 at the Quail Ridge Park OffLeash Dog Area in Wentzville.

The free event will offer pets and their families the opportunity to enjoy St. Charles County’s community dog parks

while participating in raffles, contests and pet-friendly events.

“Paws in the Park has grown to be one of our most popular programs of the year,” said Parks Director Bettie YahnKramer. “It’s wonderful to see hundreds of guests and their dogs enjoying a beautiful afternoon in the park; while learning about their pets from many of the area’s pet-friendly organizations. This event is a fun way to kick off the season for our off-leash dog areas, which rank among our most enjoyed park amenities.”

For more information, call 949-7535.

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The third annual O’Fallon Founders’ Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sat., May 1 at Fort Zumwalt Park.

Kids and adults can learn how to play 19th Century games, quilt, start a fire without matches, wash clothes without a machine and learn social dances of the era.

“Kids really love trying the old-time games and activities such as the pioneer clothes wash,” said Marsha Seymour, O’Fallon’s manager of tourism and festivals. “Adults seem to love the musical entertainment and special exhibits. New this year, we will have a rope-maker and broom squire demonstrating his craft and selling hand-made wares.”

Free just-for-kids activities include pony rides, make-and-take thaumatropes, and shopping at a general store just for kids; kids pay with tokens earned by participating in Founder’s Day activities.

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APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

Kinder to file historic lawsuit against federal government

By Jeannie Seibert Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, the lone Republican in an otherwise Democratic Party dominated executive branch in the state’s Capitol, was in St. Charles County as the keynote speaker April 15 for a Tax Day Tea Party.

Because Democrat counter-protestors interrupted his speech so frequently, it was hard to follow Kinder’s message.

In short, he plans to sue the federal government.

But, most attending the event already knew that as Kinder has drawn national news coverage for being the only lieutenant governor joining some 30 states’ attorneys general and governors in a mounting legal push-back from the states against federal health care reform legislation.

What area residents came out to hear, and couldn’t, were the details of Kinder’s unprecedented move in state history. In fact, all sorts of history are being made these days.

In a separate interview, Kinder spoke to MRN to restate his reasoning for pursuing the lawsuit, to announce the lawyer he has chosen to champion in court the cause du jour of the various states’ efforts to check what is perceived to be a federal government power grab.

While many states are taking the course of demanding rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution under the 10th Amendment – the states’ rights clause – Kinder is on a different track.

“The federal government used the Constitutional pretext of the commerce clause to pass health care,” Kinder said. The Democrat supermajority pushed for and passed a health care reform act by maintaining health insurance was a “matter of interstate commerce.”

An example of true interstate commerce, Kinder said, “is when Anheuser-Busch buys steel from a factory in Pennsylvania. There is no interstate commerce” as regards health insurance.

“Refusing to buy health insurance is not an act of interstate commerce,” he said.

In fact, health insurance companies were historically

regulated by the individual states until now. Missouri’s Division of Insurance regulates health insurance carriers that operate within this state. If a carrier operates in more than one state the company deals separately under each state’s insurance regulatory agency.

“For the first time in 234 years of history the federal government is commanding Missourians – no Americans – to buy a product,” Kinder said. “This is a dangerous overreach. If we surrender that principal there will be no limit to what this administration and a misguided Congress will do.

“This is a real threat to our liberty,” Kinder said.

To reinforce his point, Kinder posited another scenario that doesn’t seem as improbable as it would have just two Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder years ago.

If left unchallenged and unfettered “Congress could pass a law requiring Americans to buy only GM and Chrysler Missouri in the landmark 2000 lawsuit overturning the vehicles,” Kinder said. “Not Fords.” trial court’s order that kept St. Louis County election polls In the past year, the federal government has taken over open past the legal closing time. Then, in 2004, Hearne management of General Motors, Inc. and Chrysler Corp., served as legal counsel to Bush’s national election camfiring and replacing CEOs. paign.

“Fanciful,” he asked. “It could never happen? Just 18 Kinder is calling on a crack shot in the court room months ago we didn’t think trillions upon trillions upon because, he said, “As government gets larger, the citizens trillions of debt would be heaped on us either but it is. This become smaller. I want larger citizens.” is a very dangerous trend.”

Quoting Thomas Jefferson, Kinder said, “We trust no Alarmed by the contempt shown to the U.S. Constitution one in power. We bind them down with the chains of the by the Obama/Reid/Pelosi troika, Kinder said he plans to Constitution.” work with St. Louis attorney Mark ‘Thor’ Hearne II, in And the current regime has shown its contempt for that filing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court by the end of May. document, Kinder said.

“We face a number of challenges,” Kinder said. “But “When (U.S. House of Representatives Speaker of the (Hearne) is an experienced lawyer who has been involved House Nancy) Pelosi was asked what was the Constituin a number of public causes.” tional authority for the House to undertake health care Experienced is one adjective. Hearne is a partner with reform in the first place, she just snorted,” he said. “Their the Arent Fox law firm in Washington, D.C. specializing vision is unlimited power.” in litigation and political law, earning a national reputation Kinder is financially fueling the legal challenge through in federal and appeals matters involving property rights, private donations. constitutional law and election issues.

Information about the lawsuit is available at healthcareHe was President George W. Bush’s lead counsel in inaction.com.

The end of the Tea Party?

Grass roots effort has turned into a Republican party campaign Tax Day event disrupted by hecklers

By Jeannie Seibert country into a model of European-style It looks like the party may be over. socialist democracy, K&N Patriots, like The April 15 Tax Day Tea Party, hosted hundreds of other tea party-type groups by the K&N Patriots at the historic court- all across the U.S., was not affiliated with house in St. Charles, was an illustration a political party – at first. in what happens when the two dominant In fact, both parties’ complicity in fedpolitical parties get involved in what was eral government over-spending is critioriginally a pure, local grassroots move- cized in the signature hand-lettered signs ment of unaffiliated individuals who just and banners now symbolic of these groups. want their country back.

Nationwide, over the past year, the citizen When this local movement first began, movement is gaining momentum going ordinary, everyday people banded together toward the November midterm elections. to demonstrate dissatisfaction with the hard And the K&N Patriots grew for awhile left platform of a newly elected president. too. Since late last summer K&N has been Disputing emerging federal govern- at a plateau. It has now become a plaything ment policies that appear to be driving the for the Republican and the Democrat par-

Some 200 tea partiers assembled on the sloping lawn of the historic courthouse along with a couple of Democratic Party counter-protestors.

ties.

This fact played out during the April 15 Tax Day Tea Party in St. Charles.

First there was the lead-up to the event.

In the days prior to the event, almost daily e-mail alerts announced new locations for

the gathering. But permits had not yet been secured before the event was publicized.

K&N Treasurer Chuck McNabb, who has long been associated with the St. Charles See END OF TEA PARTY, page 40

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

Maxwell’s Bar & Grill put on notice in Weldon Spring

By Amy Armour After shots were fired in the parking lot of Maxwell’s Bar & Grill last month, bar owner Richard Nero will have to come up with a plan to keep his patrons safe.

Weldon Spring Mayor Don Licklider invited Nero and St. Charles County Sheriff Tom Neer to the city board meeting on April 13 to discuss recent activity in the bar’s parking lot.

Neer said that in the last year there have been nine serious incidents involving drugs, guns and shots fired that have occurred on the parking lot outside of Maxwell’s Bar & Grill, at the corner of Wolfrum Road and Hwy. 94..

“While most of the incidents have occurred outside (Maxwell’s) in the parking lot, the fact remains (the suspects) were in Maxwell’s or on their way to Maxwell’s,” Neer said.

The latest serious incident on March 25 involved 24-year-old Kelvin Lionel Sanders, from St. Louis, who police said, fired shots in the air outside of the bar before pointing the gun at Nero. Sanders was arrested and has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon, a class D felony. No one was injured.

Nero said the suspect had been a patron of Maxwell’s that evening, but was allegedly kicked out after repeatedly calling patrons ‘bitch.’

Neer said he’s concerned that if nothing is done, something worse will happen.

“I don’t want to put my officers in danger or the residents…” Neer said. “And I don’t want a situation where I have to put a third of my patrol in the general vicinity of Max-

well’s.”

But even a police presence didn’t stop Sanders from shooting off his gun, police said.

“We had an officer in the lot when the shots were fired,” Neer said.

On the night of the shots fired, police searched every vehicle in the parking lot.

Police found several guns, but all but one had been legally obtained.

“How many civil rights were violated because of one person? Every vehicle was stopped and searched until 4 a.m.,” Nero said.

“We do not, and never will, intentionally violate anybody’s civil rights,” Neer said.

“But I’m not going to have an officer shot in St. Charles County.”

Nero said he regularly patrols his parking lot to ensure that no one drives home drunk. Since the incident on March 25, he has ordered security cameras, changed the dress code and added security.

Nero’s liquor license is up for renewal in July, but the board has the option to request a hearing that could ultimately revoke the liquor license before then.

“The fact remains that we have to do something to eliminate the situation,” Neer said.

It was decided at the meeting that Nero and Neer would meet to discuss precautionary measures.

“Nero and Neer are to meet and discuss and report back what precautions and steps need to be taken in order to address the issues that have been occurring in and around Maxwell’s,” said City Administrator Michael Padella.

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APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

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Weldon SpringS

Board of Aldermen changing The Weldon Spring Board of Aldermen said good-bye to one of its members, as it welcomed another back for a two-year term.

Mayor Don Licklider presented Alderwoman Mickie Ball with a plaque to recognize her two years of service on the board.

“Thank you Mickie, for your efforts,” said Alderman Kenneth Hill at the Weldon

Spring Board of Aldermen meeting on April 13.

Bruce Robb will replace Ball, who did not run for re-election. Robb will be sworn in as the newest alderman at the next meeting on April 22.

Alderman Dick Jelen will return to the board for an additional two-year term as he won his re-election bid.

O’Fallon lifeguards preparing for safe swimming Residents can feel especially safe swimming in O’Fallon pools this summer, as five of its lifeguards recently earned a safety award for exceeding the criteria for aquatic safety certification.

The certification is set by Jeff Ellis and Associates, which specializes in lifeguard certification.

“Safety comes first, when it comes to providing aquatic services for the city of O’Fallon,” said Craig Feldt, superintendent of the Parks and Recreation Department. “The purpose of the safety audit is to make sure our facilities and our lifeguards are upholding the highest standard of customer care, service, professionalism and safety.”

The O’Fallon lifeguards who were evaluated, include: Shannon Smallwood, Maureen Loucks, Stephanie Rowland, Brittany Murphy, and Alex Kapplemann.

“Our lifeguards train in CPR, first aid and life-saving skills for four hours each month, and also train before each shift,” said Shelley Reed, recreation coordinator for the city of O’Fallon. “We are audited for safety four times a year. Our goal, as round and during the summer at Alligastaff, is to exceed every one of our audits tor’s Creek Aquatic Center in Civic Park. this year, and in the years to come.”

For more information about O’Fallon’s The city’s offers indoor swimming at aquatics program, contact Matt Harris at the Renaud Spirit Center natatorium year mharris@ofallon.mo.us or 474-2732.

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I NEWS I 13 I 13

Smoking ban question could be put before voters on Nov. 2 ballot a health issue. State statute allows county governments with health departments to exercise authority over municipalities within that county.

By putting the question to the voters, Thomas said, “For the 17 municipalities and the voters of this county, this is an opportunity for people to choose for themselves.”

Council chair John White (Dist. 7) and Council member Terry Hollander (Dist. 5) both counseled a more cautious approach.

Pushing for a November ballot initiative with a January 2011 implementation date doesn’t give county government enough time to work out administrative and enforcement details should voters approve the ban, they said.

Hibbeler continued to push for the council to set public hearing dates prior to the July meetings, which would be the deadline for finalizing ballot language for the Nov. 2 election.

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By Jeannie Seibert To ban or not to ban, that is the question.

Following a discussion introduced by County Council member Cheryl Hibbeler (Dist. 1) during the April 12 council meeting, smoking ban advocates pulled out the big guns at the regular session open forum.

Girl Scout Troop 4849 Silver Award project to promote smoke-free retail stores included speakers Kirsty Ann Cole, Katie Truber, Alisyn Napoli and Kinsey Fleming, under the direction of Troop Leader Carol Ann Cole.

At question is whether or not to implement a county wide smoking ban in public buildings. Hibbeler has campaigned for a Nov. 2 ballot referendum, which typically draws a higher percentage of voters.

Should the voters approve the ban, Hibbeler has proposed it to go into effect the same time as the St. Louis County ban – Jan. 2, 2011.

But, according to Stacy Reliford of the American Cancer Society, who sat down with the council for the bulk of the work session prior to the regular meeting, all the details have yet to be worked out in St. Louis County and was unable to answer questions regarding enforcement.

St. Louis County voters approved a county wide smoking ban last November.

As to what businesses would be excluded and the details to establish exemption is sketchy. It is assumed AmeriStar Casino would be able to continue its practice of allowing smoking in specific areas separate from non-smoking sections, following current state statute.

Keep St. Louis Free spokesman, Bill Hannegan, said his group plans a court challenge to the St. Louis ban because of the casinos’ exemption.

A more rigid smoking ban, approved by the Lake Saint Louis Board of Aldermen March 15, makes no allowances for businesses to continue current management practices under grandfather provisions or by providing proof of percentage of food sales as in some bans. Ballwin has long had a total ban and reports no ill effects as regards sales tax revenue. Kirkwood’s no smoking ordinance has been more recent.

Anti-ban Council members, Joe Brazil (Dist. 2) and Paul Wynn (Dist. 4) are both non-smokers who see a smoking ban as yet another infringement on property rights that would put restrictions on already stressed business owners.

Wynn said people have a choice already.

“If there’s smoking allowed there and you don’t like that, don’t go there,” Wynn said.

“It’s your choice. This is about freedom.”

St. Peters Alderman Dave Thomas agreed that it is a choice, prevailing on council to exercise its ability to consider the matter

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By BRIAN MCDOWELL Michael T. Devine has the unenviable role of local spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Devine’s employer has not been too popular as of late.

This year’s April 15 federal tax deadline was marked by nationwide Tea Party protests. In this unsettled atmosphere, the Internet is abuzz with rumors and claims that the IRS has hired more agents and is getting more aggressive this year in collecting the money that it is owed. Indeed, even here at the small offices of Mid Rivers Newsmagazine, four employees received notices from the IRS attempting to collect debts that allegedly were past due.

According to Jim Hoft, organizer of the local Tax Day Tea Party and a conservative blogger, such IRS tactics are just the tip of the iceberg.

“Wait until Obama-care starts,” Hoft said, “and the IRS has to hire 60,000 more agents to make sure that everybody has the proper amount of health insurance.”

However, Devine is resolute in his view that IRS tax enforcement is no harsher this year than in years past. In an e-mail to MRN that answered questions about this year’s tax collection efforts, Devine wrote, “Although the IRS is part of the executive branch, IRS employees generally engage in tax administration, which is separate from tax policy.”

According to Devine, “The IRS uses information from the National Research Program and other studies to analyze taxpayer compliance and to assess the effectiveness of compliance programs and treatments in use by the IRS. We use the results to focus our enforcement resources on areas where compliance is a problem, such as high-income taxpayers, non-filers and the cash economy.”

Devine indicated that there are two types of IRS agents: revenue agents and revenue officers. Revenue agents audit and assess taxes, while officers collect outstanding or unpaid taxes. He did acknowledge that the IRS was able to increase its overall staffing this year and encouraged anyone that is interested in applying for that type of work to visit the jobs.irs.gov Web site.

Devine wrote, “The IRS examines (audits) tax returns to verify that the tax reported is correct. Most tax returns are accepted just as they’re filed. Each one goes through a computerized screening and if there are discrepancies, the taxpayer may receive correspondence from the IRS asking them to verify, correct, or explain information on the return.

Selecting a return for examination does

not suggest that the taxpayer has either made an error or been dishonest. It could have been selected for a ‘random’ audit.

We anticipate fiscal year 2010 to be approximately the same as 2009 was.”

In general terms, Devine explained how the IRS goes about collecting money that it is owed, writing, “Generally, if a taxpayer files their tax return, has a balance due and does not pay, the IRS sends the taxpayer a bill. This begins the collection process.

Along with the bill, which is called a notice, the IRS automatically sends Publication 1, ‘Your Rights as a Taxpayer,’ and Publication 594, ‘Understanding the Collection Process’ that explains the various options and rights taxpayers have in dealing with the IRS.” Devine also explained what taxpayers can do if they feel that the IRS has made a mistake.

“If they receive a letter or notice from the IRS, it will explain the reason for the contact and give you instruction on how to handle their problem,” Devine explained.

“If they agree with the changes, there is no need to contact us unless they need to pay or make arrangements to pay a balance due.

If they do not agree, they should respond as directed in the notice.”

If a taxpayer is unsuccessful with attempts to deal with a problem through normal channels, Devine wrote, they can contact the Taxpayer Advocate’s Office.

“The Taxpayer Advocate cannot change the tax law or make a technical tax decision, but they can clear up problems that resulted from previous contacts with the IRS and ensure that your case is given a complete and impartial review,” Devine wrote. “For more information, they can visit irs.gov/advocate or call 1-877-7774778 toll-free.”

Devine warned of scams.

“The IRS does not initiate contact via e-mail and the IRS never asks for personal financial information such as passwords, PIN numbers, etc.,” he wrote. “Taxpayers who receive suspicious e-mails claiming to be from the IRS should not provide any personal information or click on any links in an e-mail message. They should forward the suspicious e-mail to phishing@irs.gov; using instructions posted on IRS.gov.”

For those who cannot afford to pay their taxes, Devine offered this advice.

“The IRS recognizes that many people may be having difficult times financially.

Anyone who thinks they may have trouble paying their tax bill should contact the IRS because there are steps we can take to help ease the burden.”

I 15

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

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I NEWS I 17

St. Peters

Woman pleads guilty to embezzlement The United States Attorney’s Office announced last week that the secretary/ assistant of a St. Peters business has pleaded guilty to the embezzlement of $573,388 from her employer.

Andrea M. Wild, 51, of St. Peters was employed as an administrative assistant/ secretary. Her employer was not specified. Among the duties she performed was to pay personal bills and expenses for her employer. She would receive the personal bills and personal checks signed by her employer, and would fill in the remainder of the checks with the amount of the bill, the payee and the date, and mail the checks to the appropriate vendor.

Between Jan. 1, 2003 and August 2009, in addition to paying the personal expenses of her employer, she wrote some signed checks from her employer to pay her own personal expenses, including utility bills, home mortgage, credit card bills and car loan payments. She also wrote some

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checks directly to herself. Over the course of the scheme Wild embezzled approximately $573,388.

Wild pleaded guilty to one felony count of mail fraud before United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel. Additionally, as part of her plea, she has agreed to the forfeiture of cash and property derived from the illegal activity. Subject to forfeiture: approximately $573,388; property located in St. Peters; one vehicle; and two retirement accounts.

In addition to the forfeiture, mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Restitution is mandatory. Sentencing has been set for July 2.

This case was investigated by Maryland Heights Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service. First Assistant United States Attorney Michael W. Reap is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Rebuilding Weldon Spring building put on fast track

By Amy Armour Weldon Spring will have to re-build its maintenance building after a fire broke out on April 6.

While an official report has not yet been released, City Administrator Michael Padella said April 13 that the building is likely to be considered a complete loss.

The 4,000-square-foot facility located on the upper parking lot across from Weldon Spring City Hall stored large lawn equipment, lumber for basic maintenance, a golf cart and various other city items. The storage facility was also used as an extra space to hold various functions like chamber meetings, senior day and summer barbecues.

The CERT trailer, which was also parked inside, had a hole burned into the roof, but most of its contents were salvageable.

Padella said the lawn mowers were operational, but the large tractor would not start because some pieces of the engine had melted in the fire.

Initially fire investigators thought the fire began in a lean-to attached to the building.

But on further investigation it was determined that a brush fire started and spread to the building. How the brush fire started has not been determined.

“There is no evidence to show that (the fire) was intentional,” Padella said.

Because the building was a storage center for much of the equipment used for outdoor

“There is no evidence to show that (the fire) was intentional.”

MICHAEL Padella maintenance, staff is ready to start the rebuilding process. At this time some of the smaller equipment is being stored in the basement of City Hall, but the larger equipment will need be to be moved from the damaged building to a more secure space in the interim.

“We have to get this building replaced quickly,” said Mayor Don Licklider.

The Board of Aldermen unanimously approved an emergency clause at its April 13 meeting that will allow staff to start clean-up efforts and demolition of the building. The clause will also allow staff to secure temporary storage space and start specs and design for a new building.

The fire also will cause the postponement of Senior Day which had originally been scheduled for May 21. Senior Day celebrates the senior citizens living in Weldon Spring and gives them a chance to socialize and enjoy some entertainment. The event, which has been held in the maintenance building, usually runs for about three hours in the afternoon.

A new date for the annual senior event has not yet been set.

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18 I NEWS I

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Going for the gold O’Fallon officer Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by Special Olympics

By Mary Ann O’Toole Holley O’Fallon Police Officer Jeff Cook’s day job is working with students at Ft. Zumwalt High School, but don’t be surprised if you see him plunging into the winter waters of Lake Saint Louis wearing barely a stitch, ceremoniously running along the highway or even waiting tables at Red Robin restaurant.

Cook, the Special Olympics liaison officer with the O’Fallon Police Department, does whatever it takes to raise funds for the special needs Olympians.

Now, recognizing his devotion to the Special Olympics, Cook has been named as the St. Louis Metropolitan Area Special Olympics-Missouri 2009 Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer.

“We’ve gone from being another agency that participates in helping the Special Olympics to the leading law enforcement agency in the state,” Cook said. “Dollar for dollar, we fund as much, if not more than any department in the area.”

Last week, he and a crew of 15—from fellow O’Fallon officers to Police Explorers—waited tables at Red Robin at Mexico Loop Road and Hwy. K and brought in $1,800 under the Tip-A-Cop program.

Last year, the O’Fallon Police Department raised a little more than $53,000 for Special Olympics. Statewide, law enforcement officials raised $1.6 million. All money raised stays in the state of Missouri. There are currently 350 special Olympians in St. Charles County and more than 15,000 statewide.

Small events like the Tip-A-Cop program are special venues, but a lion’s share of the funds raised is through the Polar Plunge held in Lake Saint Louis. Cook and the O’Fallon Police organize the Polar Plunge, bringing in public officials and other police officers from most area communities.

Cook is modest when he talks about what he’s done for the Special Olympics, but when he starts talking about the special needs Olympians, he gets very excited.

“I really do enjoy it. I guess I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum from those who have a personal attachment to the organization,” Cook said. “I have one son who is completely healthy, and we have no problems whatsoever. But what drew me to the Special Olympics is that I have the time and opportunity to be involved. I feel

O’Fallon Police Officer Jeff Cook

obligated to join because I don’t have the concerns parents of these Special Olympics participants. I’ve been blessed, but I’ve got the time, energy and motivation to be part of something and this has been an easy fit.”

Cook says he likes doing the fundraisers, but much prefers going to the games to see the special athletes play and achieve their goals, and to see them having so much fun.

“The thing with it is I get to meet a lot of parents of the athletes, and what makes it so special is that everything pertaining to the Special Olympics is free of charge because of those who contribute to these fundraisers.”

On Sept. 18, Cook will serve as chairman of the world’s largest truck convoy, another fundraiser for the Special Olympics.

“It’s just like it sounds. It’s held in about 35 different cities all on the same day.

Technically the Guinness Book of World Records recognizes it as all one event. We solicit drivers of the big rigs—over 18,000 pounds—for a 47-mile drive, with a softball game for the participants afterward at TR Hughes Ballpark. One of our drivers in the Truck Convoy fundraiser we do has two special needs children, and here he has this young, spirited little girl, but she doesn’t have the motor skills to ride a bike,” Cook said.

“The family didn’t have the $3,000 to buy a special bike, but at Christmas the Variety Club gifted them a special needs bicycle.

To see his daughter get on this bike and ride around put both her parents in tears. That’s why I do this.”

To buy a T-shirt, contact Officer Jeff Cook at the O’Fallon Police Department.

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

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I 19

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School’s in for the summer

Terry Adams, superintendent of the Wentzville R-IV School District, has been selected as the Missouri School Public Relations Association’s “Administrator of the Year.”

The Administrator of the Year recipient is a school official who does not hold an official P.R. position, but has still made a significant contribution to school public relations.

“It’s an honor to be recognized in this way, I believe school districts should always put students first, and in Wentzville we try hard to do that every day,” Adams said. “I’ll always be out spreading the good word about the good work we do here, because I feel it’s part of my job as superintendent.”

Each year, MOSPRA presents its annual Awards of Distinction, recognizing individuals who make significant contributions in school public relations throughout the state of Missouri. According to MOSPRA, Adams was selected because “He works hard at putting the personal in interpersonal communications. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and other community organizations where he can interact with the public, informing and inspiring. He never misses an opportunity for positive public relations on behalf of

The Wentzville School District will once again be offering a wide variety of summer school classes for students in preschool through grade 12.

The Summer Enrichment Program is available to pre-K through eighth-grade students residing both in and outside the district boundaries for a fee.

Classes will take place at Green Tree Elementary in Lake Saint Louis from July 6 to July 22. Classes include “Amazing Animals,” “Hooked on Books” and “Around the World in Ten Days” for younger students.

Older students can choose from classes that include “Recreational Math,” “CSI Jr.” and “Up, Up and Away” for the aviation enthusiasts.

High school students can take advantage of summer courses offered through the High School Summer School Program for credit recovery or credit advancement.

Session one of the program will be held from June 7 to June 24 and session two will be held from July 12 to July 29. Students who reside within district boundaries may enroll in one course per session.

All high school summer school classes will be held at Timberland High School, located at 559 E. Hwy. N in Wentzville. For more information or to register for classes,

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The Timberland High School newspaper and yearbook publication staffs recently attended a “Scholastic Journalism Day” hosted by the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The students brought home a number of awards from the event for their work on The Wolf’s Howl, Timberland’s newspaper, and Wolf Tracks, the school’s yearbook.

Awards included the 2009 Overall Yearbook Superior Award in the Large School category and the 2009-10 Overall Newspaper Superior Award in the Large School category.

Timberland senior and Wolf’s Howl Editor Nikki McGee was nominated for the Missouri Student Journalist of the Year Award and THS Journalism Advisor Cathy McCandless was nominated for the Missouri Teacher of the Year Award.

Publication staff members received 11 additional individual awards for their work on Timberland’s publications. More than 950 students from the state of Missouri attended the conference.

Teachers earn grants The Wentzville Schools Foundation recently announced its list of educators selected to receive $500 Foundation minigrants for 2010. The program is designed to reward Wentzville teachers for their

resourcefulness, innovative ideas and strategies that benefit the education of students in the Wentzville School District.

“It’s a tribute to the creativity and effort of our wonderful teachers, that the Foundation has chosen to award more grants than ever before,” said Superintendent Terry Adams. “The Foundation does great work in awarding these grants, and our teachers do great work in using this money to help our students in a variety of ways.”

In its seventh year, this program enables teachers to apply for competitive grant monies that have been raised by the Foundation and donated by community groups and individuals. Teachers wishing to implement a new program in their classroom are encouraged to apply annually for the grants.

This year’s grant recipients include: Linda Gilmore Harsy, Donna Clark, Amanda Gift, Jennifer Hennessy, Terri Hammel, Amy Hoffman, Katie Zak, Kate Marren, Tiffany Kuhn, Denise Volansky-Bartlow, Kathy Twellman, Kolleen Schulte, Dani Peters, Becky Ambrosius, Kim Youngberg, Holly Harris, Sonya Hooker, Susan Meneau and Leslie Murphy.

Green Tree Expansion The Lake Saint Louis Board of Alderman voted unanimously on April 5 to approve the Wentzville School District’s request to use modular classrooms at Green Tree Elementary.

The use of modular classrooms will allow all Green Tree students to stay at Green Tree next year, including full-day kinder-

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APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM garten students who otherwise would have been transported to Prairie View Elementary for kindergarten.

The district will move two existing modular units into place over the summer, in time for the start of the 2010-11 school year.

Fort Zumwalt Box top champs The students at Dardenne Elementary School spent the month of March collecting Box Tops for Education to support projects at the school.

When the students met their goal of 2,500 box tops, the principal and faculty members agreed to “go green” and color their hair for the day.

Scholar bound Fort Zumwalt South High School senior Emily Brands has been selected for the 2010 Missouri Scholars 100, a statewide program that honors 100 of Missouri’s top academic students in the graduating class of 2010.

Fort Zumwalt East Senior Shelby Hewerdine was selected as an “Honorable Mention” student.

Missouri Scholars 100 is a program sponsored by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals and in order to be considered, scholars must meet a number of criteria including a GPA of at least 3.75 and an ACT score of 29. Students also compete in an academic decathlon and must be ranked in the upper 10 percent of the class.

To be considered students must have taken upper level courses in mathematics, science, English and foreign language, have excellent attendance and be an exemplary school citizen.

Young politics The Fort Zumwalt East High School Student Council was recently awarded the Missouri Association of Student Councils Honor Council Award.

Honor Council presentations were made at the annual MASC Convention held at Jefferson City High School. Criteria were established to honor those councils that have a comprehensive program in promoting student activities and student leadership.

Activities include school service, spirit, community service, student and teacher recognition and leadership training activities.

The award also recognized Donna Munro and Katie Goodson, teachers and student council sponsors at East High School.

Francis Howell

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I NEWS I 21

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Student scholars Four seniors from the Francis Howell School District have been selected for recognition as part of the Missouri Scholars 100, a statewide program that honors 100 of Missouri’s top academic students in the graduating class of 2010.

Students were recognized at a luncheon at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Mo., on April 25. The seniors include: Kathryn Hedlund, Francis Howell North High School; Yulu “Ashley” Luo, Francis Howell High School; James Phillips, Francis Howell North High School; and George Yu, Francis Howell Central High School.

Nate Hardy, Francis Howell High School and Joe Macke, Francis Howell Central High School were selected as “Honorable Mention” students.

Selection for the program is based primarily on a formula using the student’s grade point average and ACT or SAT score.

Each student nominated had to first meet criteria of an “Academic Decathlon” which included 10 “events” designed to assure the academic strength of the student. The student must also be ranked in the upper 10 percent of the class and have taken upper level courses in mathematics, science, English and foreign language. The student must also have excellent attendance.

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22 I NEWS I

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

FHSD, FZSD look to cut summer school budgets (3/4 mile north of I-70 on Wentzville Parkway)

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By Amy Armour Expected decreases in state funding have local school districts scrambling to determine summer school schedules. Public school districts in Missouri are waiting for a decision from state government on whether or not summer school will be funded in part—or at all next year.

The Missouri Senate passed SB943 on April 20 that states “curriculum must be based on core subject areas of the regular instruction program for relevant grade levels.”

The bill says further that school districts can offer enrichment programs or non-academic activities, but at their own expense.

The bill is currently in the Missouri House.

A decision is expected to be made by May 14.

If passed, the bill would not be in effect until the 2010-11 school year. But as a result of the proposed legislation, and expected decreases in state education funding in the next few years, both Francis Howell and Fort Zumwalt have already pared down summer school programs this year.

The Francis Howell School District decided at the April Board of Education meeting that the free elementary and middle school enrichment programs would be cut this year.

“The board approved the modification to the 2010 Summer School program to eliminate the free elementary enrichment summer school, sixth-grade transition summer school, transportation, except as required by individual education plans (IEP), and allocate the funds to the next school year budget,” said Jennifer Gasper, spokesperson for FHSD. “Due to expected decreases in state funding for FY10, FY11, and FY12, the district needed to reconsider whether we should continue to fund free elementary and middle school enrichment summer school and transportation.”

Gasper said summer school will still be held for students with disabilities that have it written into their IEP and as required by Senate bill 319.

Middle and high school credit advancement and credit recovery will still be offered.

As an alternative to parents, Vacation Station, a tuition-based district program, will be available to provide enrichment opportunities to elementary students during the summer.

The district expects to save about $556,985 which will then be available for next school year’s budget.

Farrah Fite, Senate Majority Caucus Communications director, said schools would receive the same amount of funding as they did the previous year.

But schools have received an increase in funding every year for the last four years, Fite said.

“Many school districts across the state did not receive as much funding as they thought they would,” Farrah said. “This is the first year in four years that schools are not going to see an increase in funding.”

The Francis Howell School Board voted 6-1 to modify the summer school program, with Mark Lafata casting the only vote against the modification.

“The modification will reduce both revenue and expenditure with an estimated net savings of $556,985 which could help the district weather the FY11 state revenue shortfall and be in a better condition for the approaching FY12 funding cliff,” Gasper said.

The Fort Zumwalt School District made several changes to decrease costs.

At the elementary level, students will have to be a full grade behind in reading to participate in a summer school reading program.

“It was offered to everyone before, but now we’ve had to narrow it down to only students who were reading a grade level below,” said Jackie Floyd, assistant superintendent of curriculum development.

Last year the program was offered at 15 elementary schools. This summer it will be held at one.

The credit recovery courses will be limited to algebra I and II and English I and II. Students will also have the chance to take physical education.

“We are still offering PE classes because so many students planned their schedule on taking PE in the summer…it would be difficult for them to re-schedule,” Floyd said.

Whether or not physical education would be offered next summer was not determined.

“If the state does give us any funding, it’s very unlikely that it will cover PE,” Floyd said.

If the state decides to cut all summer school funding, the district would be responsible for covering the cost, Floyd said.

“We’re hoping for some funding for credit recovery programs,” Floyd said.

The cost to run the full summer school program last year at Fort Zumwalt was $550,000. Floyd estimates the cost of summer school this year to be between $125,000 and $150,000.

The Fort Zumwalt Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the summer school schedule at its April 19 meeting.

“We felt like we needed to make a decision for our families,” Floyd said.

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

I NEWS I 23

Francis Howell School District names new chief academic officer Mary HendricksHarris has been named as the new chief academic officer for the Francis Howell School District. HendricksHarris, the director Hendricks-Harris of adult learning and program evaluation in the district, will replace Pam Sloan who was selected as the new superintendent of the FHSD. Both women will start their new positions on July 1.

As chief academic officer, HendricksHarris will provide district-wide leadership, coordination, accountability and management to accomplish the district’s mission of increasing academic achievement and enhancing development for all learners.

Wentzville Schools Foundation awards $5,000 in teacher mini-grants The Wentzville Schools Foundation has announced the list of educators selected to receive $500 Foundation mini-grants for 2010.

The program is designed to reward Wentzville teachers for their resourcefulness, innovative ideas and strategies that benefit the education of students in the Wentzville School District.

In its seventh year, this program enables teachers to apply for competitive grant monies that have been raised by the Foundation and donated by community groups and individuals.

The grant recipients and their schools are as follows: •• Linda Gilmore Harsy, Crossroads Elementary •• Donna Clark and Amanda Gift, Green Tree Elementary •• Jennifer Hennessy, Green Tree Elementary •• Terri Hammel, Heritage Primary •• Amy Hoffman, Katie Zak, Kate Marren, Tiffany Kuhn, Lakeview Elementary •• Denise Volansky-Bartlow, Lakeview Elementary •• Kathy Twellman, Parents as Teachers •• Kolleen Schulte, Dani Peters, Becky Ambrosius, Kim Youngberg, Holly Harris, Peine Ridge Elementary •• Sonya Hooker, Wentzville South Middle •• Susan Meneau ans Leslie Murphy, Wentzville South Middle The Wentzville Schools Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to develop community support for public education and for the students of the Wentzville R-IV School District.

“I am confident that Mary’s proven leadership experiences will give direction for continued growth in student learning,” Sloan said. “Mary has excellent interpersonal skills that will allow her to easily and quickly build deeper relationships with the staff who are doing the work of improving learning. We will be moving through some changes in federal legislation regarding education in the upcoming months and years, and I am confident that Mary will be able to keep FHSD abreast of the changes and keep our practices and work aligned to

the changing expectations.”

Hendricks-Harris is also an adjunct instructor on quality instruction and special education administration with Lindenwood University. Prior to joining FHSD, she served as area coordinator before becoming the director of special education with the Special School District of St. Louis County.

She was also a special education teacher in the Fox School District and Special School District of St. Louis County. HendricksHarris joined the Francis Howell District in 2006.

Hendricks-Harris is currently working toward her doctorate and anticipates completing it in the coming year. She earned an educational specialist degree in educational leadership from Lindenwood University.

She received a master’s degree in education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and bachelor’s degree in education from St. Louis University. She also holds certifications for superintendent; principal K-12; and special education administrator; emotional disturbance, learning disabled, and mentally handicapped.

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Wentzville School District purchases Immanuel Lutheran School The Wentzville School District has completed a purchase agreement with Immanuel Lutheran Church to buy the Immanuel Lutheran School located at 317 W. Pearce Boulevard in Wentzville. The district will pay $1.325 million for school.

“This was a great opportunity for the district to purchase an existing school for a fraction of what it would have cost to build a new one,” said Kari Monsees, the chief financial officer of the district. “Using district reserves to purchase prime facilities when the opportunity presents itself is a good strategic move, and we were able to negotiate a fair and equitable sale price with the church.”

The school site has more than 25,000 square feet of classroom, office and multi-

use space, and sits on 3.5 acres.

“We have been the fastest growing school district in the state for the past decade, so out of necessity we are always looking for cost effective ways to expand our facilities,” Superintendent Terry Adams said.

“The school is in good condition and is centrally located, and this acquisition will give us the opportunity to move more than 200 alternative school students out of the aging Harris building, which we lease, and into a better learning environment that we now own.”

The school property had been on the market since last fall, when the Immanuel Lutheran Church relocated to 632 E. Hwy. N in Wentzville.

State belt-tightening threatens WSD

By Jeannie Seibert Republican or Democrat, the deepening economic recession is everybody’s problem now.

Like every city hall, courthouse and public school district, the state of Missouri has fallen on hard times and the situation recently rippled down to the Wentzville School District.

Facing what appears to be 12-percent to 13-percent short-fall in revenue collection, state government cut more than $500 million out of the budget – including $2.4 million from the Wentzville School District.

District Superintendent Terry Adams said a quick response on the part of Gov. Jay Nixon saved the day.

“The governor issued an executive order basically saying it was an illegal act; unconstitutional for the legislature to do,” Adams said.

That action saved Wentzville schools.

Adams said, “We are so appreciative of the governor’s actions in restoring the $1.8 million difference” in what could have been a painful revenue reduction.

Instead of the flat cut, Adams said the governor directed the Department of Education to make the deductions based on a per pupil basis which resulted in less funding than originally projected but not the

original $2.4 million cut that would have resulted from the Mo. House of Representatives initial budget bill.

Wentzville School District is represented in the House by Mo. Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger (Dist. 13). The rumor had gotten out that Gatschenberger voted for the bill that would have resulted in the cut. Two letters were sent to advertise that and the fact that he is also a member of the Wentzville School District Foundation.

That does appear contradictory.

Explaining, Gatschenberger said, “Yes I did vote for the budget package” containing the $2.4 million cut. “It was part of a package. We sent it over to the Senate and then, when it came back to the House, I voted for it not to be passed.”

Sounds complicated and it is. The Missouri public education system’s foundation formula can be thoroughly explained by only a handful of people.

Gatschenberger admits he is not one of those people.

“But I do focus on funding for higher education and I do serve on the Wentzville Foundation,” he said. “I know that Wentzville got $23 million last year and for next

See WSD, page 25

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

As pools open, be aware of safety issues

By ROBERT BERGAMINI, M.D. As warm weather approaches, public and private pools will be opening. This is a good time to review pool safety and avoid the tragedy of a child drowning.

Gates should be self-closing and selflocking. A gate should never be held open.

If possible, a pool should be outfitted with an entry alarm – an alarm that sounds when someone enters the pool area. These are preferable to alarms that sound only when someone has fallen into the pool.

Chemicals should be stored in a secure area and only opened with good ventilation. This is most important when opening chlorine containers. Children should not be in the immediate area, and no one should stand over a container when it first is opened.

Some controversy has developed over the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, passed in December 2007 to address the dangers of the suction associated with pool drains. Contact between human skin and a pool drain can create suction equivalent to hundreds of pounds of pressure. Individuals can die from drowning or evisceration.

The Pool Safety Act required drains in public pools and hot tubs be covered with a rounded cover that prevents skin from sealing off the drain and also required a backup system in any installation with a single drain. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has removed the latter requirement.

There is a storm of controversy over this decision, but, for the time being, the only requirement in place is for rounded drain

covers. As always, it is parents’ responsibility to keep their children safe.

What does this mean for parents? In any public (municipality, hotel, etc.) pool or hot tub, parents should check to ensure that the drains are properly covered. If a cover is missing, or appears cracked, no one should be allowed in that pool (including adults).

Note that when individuals (children or adults) have been injured or killed by pool drain suction, other adults have been present and unable to rescue the person. The cover should be secured with stainless steel screws. The cover should not be cracked or deformed. Ask if the pool has a single or multiple drains.

Private pools can also be an entrapment hazard. Again, pool drains should be outfitted with rounded covers, secured by stainless steel screws. Know the location of the pump shut-off.

In the event someone becomes entrapped in a pool or hot tub, shut off power to the pump as soon as possible. It is almost impossible to pull someone off of a drain cover. However, one can try wedging fingers under the trapped individual in an attempt to break the suction. Alternatively, one can move the individual sideways – sliding across the surface of the cover again attempting to break the suction.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Bergamini is the director of Pediatric Hematology Oncology at St. John’s Mercy Children’s Hospital. He has been in private practice for 25 years. Bergamini is board certified in both pediatrics and pediatric hematology oncology.

WSD, from page 24 year they will get $25 million. Actually it’s an increase – not as much as they wanted.”

Virtually no state government department or financial recipient will be receiving the full allocation requested, Gatschenberger said. “The state is facing some seriously hard economic times.”

It’s sure to continue to be a hot topic as it has been since February when all school districts were informed by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that June payments would be distributed proportionally among all the districts in accordance with the existing foundation formula.

That formula includes a mix of property tax, income tax, and/or sales tax. The core of Missouri’s formula is the taxable property wealth of a school district. Other factors, such as percentages of low-income students are included to provide more revenue to districts with higher ratios of low-

income students to higher income students.

But Gov. Nixon indicated that besides the constitutional prohibition against legislating by appropriation, the attempted funding change would present school districts with uncertainty and confusion at the very end of the fiscal year on May 31.

On April 13 the governor signed a House supplemental appropriation bill for FY 2010, allotting $86 million in additional general revenue for education to replace shortfalls from gaming and other sources which have an effect on the foundation formula and the amount each individual public school district would receive.

“Wentzville is not hold-harmless,” Adams said.

Had the legislation stood as passed out of the House, “hold-harmless districts would have remained protected and larger cuts would have been made on the not holdharmless districts.”

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26 I cover story I

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

BLISS

BY BRIAN MCDOWELL

A candid conversation with Russell Bliss The man blamed for the Times Beach fiasco Russell Bliss was the waste hauler that Times Beach hired in the 1970s to spray roads with oil. He used a toxic mix that ended up requiring the town to be evacuated, razed and turned into a park. He also sprayed and stored the chemicals at the Ellisville-Bliss site that now is part of Wildwood.

The Newsmagazine Network recently tracked down Bliss to discuss his storied history.

Mid Rivers Newsmagazine and the Newsmagazine Network do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in this piece.

E

ven though he still reads the newspaper everyday, from cover to cover, Russell Bliss hates the media and has no use for most journalists.

“My wife and my kids don’t want me doing any interviews because the papers have always made me out to be the bad guy,” Bliss said. “But I’m talking now, because somebody has got to stick up for Russell.”

His mistrust of the press is understandable. The former waste hauler has spent the last 40 years single-handedly as the official scapegoat of the Times Beach environmental disaster, and other notable chemical controversies.

“After 40 years, don’t you think that they’d leave me alone? If I had killed five people back then, I wouldn’t have been treated this unfairly,” Bliss said as he drove around his 100-acre ranch in a white Cadillac on a rainy March day.

The complex, located outside of St. James, Mo., includes a busy classic car dealership, a herd of wandering longhorns and buffalo and a large brick two-story house with large white columns that is surrounded by many white marble statues. Numerous dogs roam free around the property and a stable full of horses can be seen nearby.

Bliss has lived there for 25 years. This is where Bliss lives with his wife, Rose. He met her in the Philippines, she is 44 years younger than him, and the couple has been married 13 years and has two daughters together, ages 10 and 13. Rose was careful to note that she knew nothing about Bliss’ reputation in his home state before she married him, and, though she loves him and seems devoted to him, she is not comfortable with his peculiar brand of

notoriety.

Bliss also has two adult sons from his first marriage who help him run the car business.

“I’ve been working since I was 17,” Bliss said. “I’ve worked through this whole thing. I’ll work until I can’t work no more.”

Dressed in jeans, a flannel shirt, and with a baseball hat emblazoned with his initials and a horseshoe perched over his white hair, Bliss looked younger than his 76 years. He explained that 25 years ago, this ranch, like many geographic areas to which Bliss has come in contact, was the subject of an intense environmental clean-up by the United States government.

Bliss sprayed the dirt roads around the compound with the same toxic compound that he notoriously used on the streets around Times Beach, before he learned about the dangers that dioxin poses.

“A bunch of old Italians live around here and they grow grapes for their wine,” Bliss said. “So I sprayed to keep dust out of their crops. I also sprayed it by the stables, and in my horse arena, so dust wouldn’t bother my animals.”

When his name became synonymous with environmental wrongdoing, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency showed up on his property, tested it for dioxins and started

“I’m 76, but I don’t look it. I can probably still beat most any journalist or politician at ... arm-wrestling.” a massive clean-up effort.

“Environmentalism is a wonderful thing, but they take it much too far,” Bliss said. “The government uses it to tell businesses what to do, but they don’t tell them how it’s supposed to be done. There are too many regulations.

Companies just leave, that’s why this country is going broke. The EPA won’t let anyone stay in business.”

Bliss went to court to win the right to stay in his house during these efforts, and watched as crews of men in HazMat suits wandered around collecting dirt from his ranch.

“I noticed that whenever their supervisors weren’t around, those suits would come right off,” Bliss said. “I also saw that when they drained my pond out here, those guys took all the dead fish home to eat them for dinner. Those guys all knew that they were wasting their time here.”

On the March visit, Bliss steered the Cadillac over to four large metal storage facilities that are located about a mile from his property.

“The government built these here just to store all of the

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM dirt and dioxin in,” Bliss said. “Funny how those materials are so dangerous if they’re on my land, but just fine if they’re placed over here in the same neighborhood.”

The toxic material sat in these bins for months before a fleet of trucks hauled the debris to Eureka for incineration. When they were gone, Bliss offered to buy the storage space from the government, to help it recoup some of its investment.

His offer was declined, he claimed, because the government did not want him to profit from his misdeeds. Now the buildings sit empty, with a “For Rent” sign hanging from their doors.

“The government spent more than $10 million to clean up out here, and didn’t accomplish a (expletive deleted) thing,” Bliss said.

Inside the house, seated comfortably on his large white wraparound couch, surrounded by family pictures, animal heads and various knick-knacks, Bliss told the story of how he became one of Missouri’s most vilified residents.

He was born in Overland, Mo., and dropped out of high school to follow his father into the waste oil business, a job that involved driving a large truck to various businesses and helping them dispose of various chemicals. Thanks to Bliss’s persistence and good business sense, he eventually had 2,200 clients.

He never quite knew which chemicals he was hauling around. Environmental laws were very lax back then, and, unlike today, companies had no legal obligation to learn which waste byproducts their industrial efforts were producing, much less notify drivers like Bliss what he was hauling.

Bliss’ troubles began with a trip to pick up chemicals from a new client, Northeastern Pharmaceutical in Verona, Mo. “I wasn’t crazy about going all the way out there to get this stuff,” Bliss said.

“From Wildwood, it was a 550-mile round trip, but I was a go-getter, and I was trying to make some money. They gave me 10 cents a gallon for everything I hauled away.

Now, the guy who took over the route from me, he got 50 cents a gallon. They must have told him a lot more about what he was carrying than they ever told me.”

Bliss said he was only informed that the factory produced ladies facial cleanser.

“All of the employees there were walking around in T-shirts and shorts and sandals,” Bliss said, “Does that seem like they were working around anything hazardous to you?”

Bliss said he had no way of knowing the facility also was heavily involved in the production of the dangerous chemical Agent Orange, which the military used in Vietnam. The illnesses of many Vietnamese people and American veterans in that conflict were blamed on the deadly compound.

Bliss initially thought that he was picking up some brand of motor oil.

“It smelled and looked like oil, but it seemed heavier,” Bliss said.

He eventually made six trips to the facility, and hauled and used 18,000 gallons of the hazardous material, which contained high levels of dioxin.

“Before I started picking up this stuff from them, they were dumping it in a pond to get rid of it,” Bliss said. “Some of it ended up in the water supply down there. No one ever mentions that, what this company did before I came around. If they had rules then like they have now, I never would have picked up any of that stuff. Now, everything’s got a paper trail. They would have to notify me about exactly what I was carrying. But I was caught in the middle of this environmental change.”

Upon procuring it, Bliss said he stored the chemical in his tank on Conway Road in West St. Louis County, and learned later that it contaminated his tanks and ruined them. At the time, however, he said he did not have the slightest idea that anything was wrong with the material that he was hauling.

In 1971, upon the invitation of Times Beach Mayor Gary Overton, Bliss started making a little extra money spraying this “oil” on the dusty dirt roads of the small town of Times Beach that bordered the Meramec River. He and Overton remain good friends, mainly because the mayor was the only Times Beach resident who refused to join the subsequent class action lawsuit against Bliss.

“He built this house for me that we’re sitting in,” Bliss said.

Bliss said he also used the chemical to clean the Shenandoah horse stables that Judy Piatt owned. Piatt claimed that a number of her horses and other animals around the town died as a result of exposure to dioxins present in Bliss’ chemicals.

Piatt also alleges that the spraying made her daughters and other children in the community sick.

“You know, Judy Piatt is the only one who ever accused me of killing animals,” Bliss said. “ Piatt, who at Newsmagazine Network press time could not be reached for comment, currently is selling a self-published book, called “Killing Horses,” that she penned about her family’s dioxin exposure.

In it, she writes that she followed Bliss on his rounds one day and observed him dumping the toxic contents of his tanker truck into the drain of his car wash.

Bliss laughed when he was told of this accusation.

“Do you know how long it would take to dump a 3,000-gallon tank full of chemicals

See BLISS, page 28

I cover story I 27

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NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM BLISS, from page 27 ment than their houses actually were worth.

“Everyone made money off the dioxin but me,” Bliss said. “The only thing that saved me from being wrecked financially was an attorney named Charlie Shaw, who believed in my case and never charged me a penny.”

Most people in the town “Now, this was 1971. At the did eventutime, our government was into a car wash drain?” Bliss ally join in on spraying our boys in Vietnam said. “I’d still be sitting there. a class action with Agent Orange.”

That’s impossible. When I suit against both used to take the truck on the Bliss and the highway, I’d have to stop off chemical comat these weigh stations, and if anything was panies that were involved. However, the dripping out of the bottom of the truck, they case was lost when no illnesses could be wouldn’t have let me move another inch.” proven to be directly linked to the presence Piatt first alerted the EPA of the presence of dioxin. of dioxins in 1976, but no actions were “Of course, they were looking for sometaken to protect the public from the town’s one who had deeper pockets than me,” alleged toxicity until six years later. A flood Bliss said. “But I never had to pay out one on the Meramec River covered most of the penny over this. Did you know that when houses with water, and the public started doctors tested the blood of the residents of demanding that the Federal Emergency Times Beach for the lawsuit, their blood Management Agency (FEMA) step in to condition was better than people in most help. That was when the EPA tested again localities?” for dioxins, found abnormally high rates Bliss was never criminally charged or and declared the town was unfit for anyone convicted for his role in the debacle. He to live in. For the first time in history, the has never been to jail. He broke no existgovernment created a “superfund” to buy ing laws. However, he received sole blame the property of all the town’s residents, in the media, something that he considers and eventually, at great cost, destroyed the grossly unfair. He remembered crying the entire town, incinerated all the structures first time he saw himself interviewed on and the soil, and fed the debris into incin- television, with the words “accused polerators and landfills. luter” under his name.

“To me, the whole deal was blown 200 “Why don’t they ever pick on Northpercent out of proportion,” Bliss said. “The eastern Pharmaceutical that sold me those government spent millions and millions on chemicals?” Bliss said. “Why don’t they clean-ups and buying worthless property, ever ask why Syntax donated $200 million and they still haven’t managed to prove to clean up Times Beach? Do you think a that anyone over there actually got sick. It company like that would give that kind of was a typical government fiasco.” money if they weren’t guilty of something?

Route 66 State Park now inhabits the But no one wants to think about that. They land where the town once stood. just want to blame the whole thing on Rus“The problem in Times Beach wasn’t sell Bliss. The fact is, I would never do dioxins,” Bliss said. “It was the water. something like that on purpose. I took stuff The houses were covered in it. The place to one place and moved it to another, but I was always a dump, though. I think most didn’t know. of those people were happy to get out of “Now, this was 1971. At the time, our Times Beach. They were poor, they had no government was spraying our boys in Vietflood insurance, so the fear of dioxin gave nam with Agent Orange. That was the pure them a way out.” stuff, where what I was using was just the Bliss said that the town’s residents got more money from the federal governSee BLISS, page 29

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM BLISS, from page 28 by-product. Compared to what they were doing, Times Beach was just like throwing aspirin in a swimming pool. If Big Brother didn’t know it was harmful, how did they expect a little guy like me to know anything? And if dioxin was so dangerous, why did the government put a lot of it into a landfill and into the air with their incinerators? How come they can spread this stuff around, but I can’t?”

Despite the damage done to his reputation, Bliss managed to keep his waste oil business going until 1985.

“Did you know that only one of the clients dropped us after all that?” Bliss said.

“I kept all but one of my clients. I think that’s a pretty fair census.”

Still, Bliss said he does have some regrets about the incident.

“It bothers me because it was all so drawn out,” Bliss said. “Plus, I feel so bad because I love horses. You know, some of my horses have been on TV and in the movies? I’m good with horses and I never wanted to scare any horse people, or make them not like me. This was a mess, but deep down, it did affect me. Deep down, I have a little guilt.”

In 1985, Bliss sold his waste oil hauling business and moved out to St. James, where he hoped to retire into obscurity.

Still, even though he has not lived in the St. Louis area for the past 25 years, Bliss is still causing controversy in the area.

“I thought this whole dioxin thing would

“The problem with Times Beach wasn’t dioxins. It was the water.”

just blow over,” Bliss said. “But now, with this Wildwood thing, I suspect it will all out-live me.”

The presence of dioxins around the yard of his old residence on Strecker Road in West St. Louis County currently are being cited as the reason for the Wildwood City Council to block the construction of a proposed subdivision nearby. Wesley Byrne, a real estate developer that owns the land, is suing the city.

Bliss said he has never been directly consulted on the matter.

“I don’t understand it,” Bliss said, shaking his head. “Some guy bought this land,

paid for it, got a building permit from the city, and now they won’t let him do anything with it. I don’t know how any government can do that.”

Bliss is adamant that the disputed property was never directly exposed to any of his chemicals.

“There were no chemicals on that land.

None. Never were,” Bliss said. “Now, there were chemicals on my land at one time, where my son still lives and still rides his horses every day. But that’s down a big hill from where this guy wants to build these houses. Are you going to tell me that this crap can travel uphill?”

I cover story I 29

Bliss said that his notoriety has been a thorn in his side, but, through his tribulations, he chooses to reflect on how much the Lord has blessed him.

“Into everyone’s life, a little rain must fall,” Bliss said, as tears formed in his eyes.

“The only thing that has really saved me through all this is two good wives, four good children and my faith in Jesus Christ.

Through them, I’ve had a good life and I’m not a bad person. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I know nothing I did can be changed, but I still want people to think good things about me and my family.”

And at last, Bliss has had his story told.

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Pre-school can provide solid foundation for lifelong skills

By DIANE PLATTNER Recent studies show that children who attend pre-school gain various positive impacts from their early education.

A recent, broad-based analysis of 123 studies conducted over the past few decades has found that pre-school education has positive effects on cognitive, social and emotional development as well as schooling outcomes as children progress through school, area early childhood education experts said.

“There are large effects for cognitive outcomes when the children experience both teacher-directed and child-initiated instruction in both large and small groups,” Parkway School District Director of Early Childhood Education Pat Teich said. “A good pre-school program based on developmentally appropriate experiences and taught by certified teachers in early childhood education yields the best results.”

Teich said Parkway officials have found in their district that children benefit socially and emotionally by learning “how to be” in a school setting.

“They learn pro-social behaviors, such as turn-taking, negotiating and learning rules, considering the perspectives of others, and building relationships of mutual trust and respect with adults and peers,” Teich said.

“These are major accomplishments for young children in today’s world.”

Teich said children can develop autonomy, curiosity, confidence and creativity within the context of a warm, loving relationship with a teacher.

In addition, Teich cited Steve Barnett, co-director of the National Institute of Early Education Research, who said studies showed that the immediate impact of pre-school is to close about 70 percent of the achievement gap. However, after third grade, it is about 30 percent of the gap, Barnett said.

“Our young children come in at all different developmental levels,” Teich said.

“Our job is to meet them where they are developmentally and provide a rich curriculum to move them forward in a positive developmental progression as well as to teach them to become critical thinkers and problem solvers. That will serve them well as they enter elementary school.”

Rockwood School District Director of Early Childhood Education Marie Wohlert agreed.

“Upon reviewing numerous articles and documentation throughout the last 10 years and having firsthand knowledge of the progress children make during their pre-school years, it is quite clear that a pre-school experience for children ages 3 to 5 years old is essential to success in kindergarten and beyond,” Wohlert said. “It is especially important to remember that learning to read and write begins very early in a child’s life. Having classrooms filled with print, language and literacy play, storybook reading and writing allows children to experience the joy of reading and writing while learning basic concepts in these formative years, which will contribute to increased student achievement during the elementary years.”

Wohlert added that a quality pre-school experience can also be credited to a cost saving for the school districts and the state over the years. She said reports indicate that financing and supporting a pre-school program will reduce the need for special education services as well as juvenile corrections programs and will result in less crime and substance abuse. She said reports showed this eventually will affect the unemployment numbers and boost work productivity when these children enter the workforce.

“Pre-school programs are a win-win for everyone,” Wohlert said.

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APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

Parent-teacher partnerships strengthen early childhood learning

By BRIAN MCDOWELL Education works much better when parents and teachers find ways to work together to help steer children toward success. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offers these tips on what parents and educators can do to maximize the effectiveness of young children’s schooling.

As their children’s first teachers, parents can: • Encourage reading.

Read with children and let them see their parents and older siblings reading, too. Take children to the library, get them a library card and help them find books that suit their interests and hobbies.

• Establish a family routine. Include time for doing chores, eating meals together and going to bed at an established time. Such daily events are important to make life predictable for children and satisfying for all family members.

• Use television wisely. Limit the amount of time children spend watching television, and help them choose appropriate programs for viewing.

• Keep in touch with the school. Stay aware of what children are learning, what their assignments are and how they are progressing. Make it a point to visit the school and talk with the teachers at parent/ teacher conferences or on family nights. If a visit is not possible, schedule a phone conference to discuss the child’s progress.

• Offer praise and encouragement. Parents play a big role in influencing children’s confidence and motivation to become successful learners. Encourage young learners by introducing them to experiences that will enhance their self-confidence and broaden their interests.

To strengthen parent-teacher relationships, teachers can: • Involve parents in classroom activities. Teachers can let families know how they can be helpful and can ask for their assistance with specific activities. Ways that parents can participate include helping to prepare classroom materials, serving on a committee to select classroom equipment and materials, or sharing with students information about their careers, hobbies or special interests.

• Give parents a voice in decisions. Parents’

I pre-school/childcare choices I 31

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• Plan ahead for parent/teacher conferences. Communicate school policies, expectations and services to parents at the beginning of the school year. Let them know about classroom goals, and give a few examples of what the children will be learning so they can reinforce that learning at home.

• Utilize parent/teacher conferences to foster good communication. When meeting with family members, create a comfortable environment in which parents feel free to share information, ask questions and make recommendations. Point out the projects that involved their child, and share information in a way that encourages respectful, two-way communication.

The NAEYC reminds parents that recent studies indicate that when families are involved in the education of their children in positive ways, children attain higher grades, have better school attendance, complete more assignments and demonstrate more positive attitudes and behavior. Research indicates also that parents who receive frequent, positive messages from teachers are more likely to become involved in the education of their children than are parents who do not receive such communication.

When selecting a pre-school, parents should consider the degree to which teachers value and encourage regular parentteacher communication.

Additional information for parents on early childhood education can be found at naeyc.org

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Safe at home St. Louis Cardinals third baseman

David Freese and

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Cam Janssen

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese and St. Louis Blues right winger Cam Janssen have a lot in common. Both are scrappy St. Louis area natives who rose through the local amateur ranks and ended up on professional teams that played far away from their home town.

Freese played minor league baseball on the West Coast, and Janssen originally was a member of the New Jersey Devils. However, through remarkable twists of fate, both players were traded to the St. Louis teams that they grew up rooting for.

Freese and Janssen both also have had their fair share of challenges: Freese had a highly publicized legal problem during the off-season, and Janssen spent much of last season in the penalty box and warming the Blues’ bench because of his hot temper and propensity to punch people.

However, both of these young men persevere and continue to entertain and inspire us all.

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Not only is Cam Janssen among a very few St. Louis area natives ever to make it to the National Hockey League (NHL) – the St. Louis Blues right winger is one of the sport’s last true enforcers. In hockey, an enforcer is a player who uses fists and brute force to intimidate the players on other teams and to protect their team’s star players. It is a role that is being quickly diminished by league rules and the way that the game currently is played.

“It’s a hard time to do what I do right now,” Janssen said by phone before one of the team’s final games of the year. “I love to throw down and hit guys and get the crowd going, but I gotta develop the rest of my game. This year was very frustrating for me. I spent too much time on the bench, being tough.” when I needed to be out there developing Janssen’s first taste of youth hockey took my offensive skills. But we were always place in the St. Louis area. chasing leads and needed to put the good “I used to score a lot early on,” he said. shooters out there, or we were protecting “I was very fast and had quick hands. I was small leads, so we needed to load up on always the aggressive guy on the team, but defense. It’s hard to find room for someone I could score. Eventually, I learned how to who does the things I do in that.” run guys, the best angles to use, and how to Janssen was raised in Eureka, and he size a guy up, and I also learned to fight.” indicated that the community played a big Janssen said that while he was “friends role in paving his way to success. with everybody” in high school, he occa“The people in Eureka are competitive sionally had to stand up for himself and about sports like football, hockey, and “got in a few fights.” wrestling,” Janssen said. “I hung out with “I’d usually end up being friends with the some really tough kids, like my brother. We other guy afterwards though,” he said. grew up rugged. We lived out in the woods When asked if he ever got in any serious and just learned to entertain ourselves with trouble for anything he did during a game, stuff like basement hockey. I’ve made a See DOUBLE TROUBLE, page 34 career out of stuff I learned then, from just

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DOUBLE TROUBLE, from page 32 Janssen said, “Not in big trouble. I mean, I was suspended a few times. I used to drive guys into the boards so hard, I’d knock them out and they would get injured. I got suspended for that. I was a big strong kid, and I developed early and started working out, and these other kids that weren’t as developed would be real little, and I guess I’d hit them a little too hard.”

After high school, Janssen’s physical play on the ice did little to stop his trajectory through the hockey world.

“I just got on the right path early, and got scouted at the right time,” Janssen said.

“These scouts would be at games to see a kid from the other teams, and I would be skating fast and scoring goals and hitting guys hard, and they would come up to my dad and just ask ‘Who the hell is that?’”

But the road to professional hockey did not come without sacrifice.

“It was hard,” Janssen said. “My parents had to move out of their dream house and money dried up because it was so expensive to take me out to Canada every week-

David Freese It was a good first home stand of the season for David Freese, the St. Louis Cardinals third baseman and Lafayette High School graduate.

The 6-foot2, 222-pound Freese said that the experience so far has been quite a thrill. There was Opening Day and the big 20-inning game on April 17.

“I’m soaking it all in and it’s great,” the 27-year-old Freese said. “Being a part of this is surreal.”

Freese went to St. Louis Community College at Meramec. From there, he became a ninth-round draft choice, signing with the San Diego Padres in 2006 before they traded him to the Cardinals for Jim Edmonds in December 2007.

So the one-time Cardinal fan is playing for his favorite team.

“I never got to go to a home opener before, because I was always in school at the time,” Freese said. “The games were in the afternoon, so I couldn’t get out of class.

“We have a good club and I’m excited to be part of it, but you don’t want to take anything for granted,” he said. “Personally, I need to keep working hard and stay

end. But we had to do that because we knew that no scouts would come to see me here in St. Louis.”

Eventually, the sacrifice of the Janssen family paid off, as Janssen was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2002 and officially joined the squad in 2005. He quickly led the team in penalty minutes for fighting.

Janssen was traded to his hometown team, the St. Louis Blues, in early 2008.

“I always loved Brett Hull, but the two guys that really caught my attention were Tony Twist and Kelly Chase,” Janssen said.

“I still admire the way that they were on and off the ice.”

The local recognition that Janssen has found has its benefits.

“When I’m in other cities, people really don’t know who I am, but here, it’s ridiculous,” Janssen said. “I do feel like I live in a bubble.”

Janssen is enjoying the chance to cement his athletic legacy in the city that he grew up in and loves.

By WARREN MAYES healthy.”

At MRN press time, Freese was hitting .342 with two doubles and five RBIs. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said Freese is getting accustomed to big-league pitching and finding his comfort zone on the team.

“He’s a solid player,” La Russa said. “He has toughness and ability. He’s going to be fine.

“It’s a tough, grinding game and you have to be ready to play every day. You play to your abilities and use common sense.”

Freese has used common sense since last December, when he was arrested for drunk driving. He was arrested with a blood alcohol content of .232 — nearly three times the legal limit.

“It’s an embarrassing and humiliating experience for me, my family and the organization,” Freese said. “They (the Cardinals) obviously have high demands on you as a person on and off the field. I’ve just got to learn from it, which I have.”

Freese said he had a long discussion with Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak not long after the arrest. Freese entered a treatment program, although he said he is not an alcoholic.

The gravity of the situation hit him after the December arrest.

“A lot of kids would dream to be in the position I’m in,” Freese said.

“I’ve taken full responsibility for my actions, and I’m really pumped and really excited where I’m at.”

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I 35

36 I HEALTH MATTERS I

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

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Since 98 we have provided an invaluable service to individuals with hearing difficulties. Locally owned & operated mother & daughter team that is dedicated to provide comprehensive audiological testing for individuals 3yrs of age through adults. Patients hearing aids are serviced every 3 months free of charge and are treated by staff who have a doctoral degree in audiology.

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Putting your best feet forward People tend to take their feet for granted, rarely giving them much thought unless they hurt. In an average day of walking, a person puts a force equal to several hundred tons on the feet, and while the foot may appear simple, it actually is quite complex, containing 26 bones, 33 joints, more than 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments and in excess of 250,000 sweat glands.

Foot problems may be a sign of a serious medical condition, such as arthritis, diabetes, and nerve or circulatory disorders. For example, arthritis could cause joint stiffness and diabetes could make feet tingle or feel numb. High blood pressure and kidney or heart disease could cause feet to swell.

In recognition of National Foot Health Awareness Month, the experts at Des Peres Hospital offered these tips to help keep feet healthy and increase awareness of foot problems that should be brought to the attention of a podiatrist: • Try to put feet up when sitting down.

This can keep blood circulating in the feet, as can stretching, walking or a gentle massage. Avoid sitting or crossing legs for long periods of time.

• Check feet regularly for thick or discol-

ored nails, cracks or cuts in the skin, and changes in color or temperature. Common foot problems include athlete’s foot, blisters, bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes (when toes bend in a claw-like position), heel spurs, ingrown toenails, foot odor, neuromas (enlarged, benign growths) and warts. Do not ignore foot pain. See a podiatric physician if any of these conditions occur and persist. Infections may be more difficult to cure if not treated immediately.

• Wear shoes that fit properly. Have feet measured before buying shoes, because shoe size can change with age. Try on shoes at the end of the day when feet are largest. Since most people have one foot that is slightly larger than the other, fit shoes to the larger foot. Select shoes appropriate for the activity – such as running shoes for running – and make sure there is about half an inch between the toes and the end of the shoe. Wear shoes that are shaped like the foot, and do not expect new shoes to stretch if they feel too tight. Do not wear the same shoes every day, and try to avoid walking barefoot.

• Wash feet and trim toenails regularly.

Remember to clean in between toes and

Foot problems should not be ignored as they can signal serious health problems.

dry them completely. Trim toenails straight across and not too short; do not cut them in corners, as that may lead to ingrown toenails.

• Women may be more vulnerable to certain foot problems than men due to wearing shoes that are likely to squeeze the toes or cramp the forefoot. These conditions include Morton’s neuroma (thickening of nerve tissue of the ball of the foot), bunions, heel pain and ankle sprain. Men have a greater risk for ankle sprain, hallux rigidus (stiffening of the big toe joint), Achilles tendon problems, and broken toes.

Northland Mid-America Orthopedics Where Patients Always Come First Northland Mid-America Orthopedics is pleased to welcome Dane Glueck, MD to our practice. Dr. Glueck has been practicing in O’Fallon MO for three years, performing various orthopedic procedures at Progress West Health Care Center. After completing undergraduate work at Washington University in St. Louis and Medical School at the University of Arkansas, Dr. Glueck went on to complete post-graduate training at the University of Kentucky. He practiced in the central Kentucky area for two years before returning to the St. Louis area with his family.

An avid community speaker, Dr. Glueck periodically presents educational seminars related to orthopedic problems in the O’Fallon area. Please check our website for more community education opportunities by visiting www.northlandortho.com Dr. Glueck sees patients by appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at our O’Fallon office, located at 113 Church Street, just off Main Street.

Call 636-379-4535 for an appointment.

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

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APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

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It’s Beautiful, It’s Passionate, It’s Italian...

We invite you to experience the world’s fastest-growing cruise line and newest fleet of 11 magnificent ships, MSC Cruises. A privately-owned, family-run company, MSC Cruises is truly a global cruise line who has named the beautiful Sophia Lauren as Godmother of their fleet. Italian heritage radiates throughout each of their meticulously maintained vessels: Melody, Armonia, Sinfonia, Lirica, Opera, Musica, Orchestra, Poesia, Fantasia, Splendida, and Magnifica. In 2012 & 2013, MSC will introduce the Fabulous and Marvelous.

Their outstanding Italian dining and impeccable service is reminiscent of the experience on luxury liners past.

With three ships in Europe year round, winter in the Mediterranean is a great alternative to the Caribbean.

For those who love the striking colors of fall, nothing compares to viewing nature’s bounty from an equally beautiful ship the MSC Poesia. For the very first time, MSC is pleased to bring you fall foliage cruises sailing Canadian waterways and the New England coast. They invite you to explore their exciting 7- and 14-night itineraries departing from Quebec City and New York.

Just Cruises has reserved a block of cabins on the October 2, 2010 sailing of the MSC Poesia. This 7-night itinerary departs from New York and visits Halifax, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Corner Brook, Newfoundland before sailing the St. Lawrence River to Quebec, where you will overnight and disembark. Priced from $699 per person, including port charges, government fees are additional.

Looking for a new cruise experience with something for everyone? Look no further than MSC Cruises. Exceeding expectations in caring for you and the planet, the MSC fleet is eco-friendly. Kids 11 and younger sail FREE, and kids ages 12 through 17 sail for $99 on all MSC Cruises. MSC itineraries sail the Caribbean, Europe, Transatlantic, Canada/New England, South America and more.

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The Fort Zumwalt School District cooking team.

FZ students win top culinary awards

By Amy Armour Given just a list of ingredients, some creativity and hands-on classroom knowledge several students in the Fort Zumwalt District were able to prepare a meal worthy of an award.

Six students from the Fort Zumwalt School District participated in Le Cordon Bleu competition recently, competing against students from McCluer and McCluer North High Schools in St. Louis.

Students were given a list of ingredients that would be available, and then as a team had to put together a recipe on their own to win over the judges.

“They had to work in teams to get it done.

Our students did a really good job,” said Jackie Davis, family and consumer sciences curriculum coordinator.

Chelsea Little and Merissa Wenzara from FZ East High took first place with their salmon recipe.

Tori Batson and Amber Meyer from FZ South High took second place and Austin Hamm and Dan Masterson from FZ East High took third place.

“It was really a wonderful event to watch,” said Jackie Floyd, assistant superintendent of curriculum development.

Taking the oath Newly elected Lake Saint Louis Alderman Karen Vennard (Ward 2) takes the oath of her new office from City Clerk Donna Daniel. Also sworn into office in Lake Saint Louis, April 19, were Alderman John Pellerito (Ward 3) and Alderman Ralph Sidebottom (Ward 1). Both Pellerito and Sidebottom were reelected to second term in office.

The students and teachers — and their trophy - were recognized at the April 19 Board of Education meeting. Floyd said the district made some changes to the family and consumer sciences curriculum (FACS) last year allowing for more careeroriented classes.

“We’re moving away from gourmet food and leaning more towards culinary classes which are more career-centered,” Floyd said.

The family and consumer science classes teach students about presentation, safety and other important aspects in the food industry.

“Students are learning the different skills that you learn in the culinary arts,” Davis said.

“Students have gotten away from it’s my food and I want to eat it to I want to share this food with you,” she said.

The classes have prepared food for the veterans, as well as for FACS staff meetings.

“It’s really taken off this year,” Davis said. “We’re really excited about what we’re doing. We look forward to doing so much more. There’s really so much we can do.”

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

I 39

Falcons Basketball Academy Falcons Basketball Academy is opening a new location at 140 Long Rd. Convenient access to Highway 40. Starting June 1st, Summer Camps, 3 X 3, AAU competitive basketball, and training will be available. We are currently accepting players for team play.

Go to www.falconsbball.com for more information or call Mike Beaver at 636-795-9521

Down Set Hike Football

download free patio plans

Down Set Hike Football camp is in it’s sixth year. This camp is designed for the attention span of the youth football player.

The camp is non-contact. Camp activities include funda-mental football instruction, games, flag foot-ball, and dodge ball. The location will have indoor and outdoor capability to handle heat and weather. Convenient access to Highway 40.

Go to www.downsethike.com for more information or call Mike Beaver at 636-795-9521.

Buchheit Supply, Inc. 388 Weiss Rd, Cottleville | Phone: 636-978-5402 97 Enterprise Way, Troy | Phone: 636-462-5402 www.buchheitsupply.com World Outdoor Emporium, Inc. 4230 Hwy 94 S, St. Charles | Phone: 636-441-9779 1307 Hwy 61 N. Service Rd, Wentzville | Phone: 636-327-6000 For additional locations call or visit us on the web at www.exteriorscapedealer.com

Turn your landscape into a dreamscape with the help of your locally-owned Exteriorscape Dealer. With professional expertise and worldclass materials from Romanstone®, Keystone®, Unilock® , and Versa-Lok®, transforming your outdoor space is easier than you might think.

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For the past 20 years, I have always thought of myself as being about 10-15 pounds overweight. Every summer I would lose 5-6 pounds, and every fall & winter I would gain it back. After turning 50 this year, I was determined to lose my extra 15 pounds and keep it off. I knew if I joined a local gym, I would just walk on the treadmill, use the elliptical machines, and then do some curls -- and go home. Instead I visited Fitness Together and talked with Nate Vogel, owner of Fitness Together. He convinced me that it was in my best interest to make changes in my nutrition plan, and get on a real exercise program. For the past 3-1/2 months

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APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINEE

We are not Corporate Designers Our design team was part of a nationwide furniture company but we were owned by an independent licensee. The West County location set national selling records using the skill and expertise of the design staff. Because of challenging times and the lack of success of the Illinois store, Corporate took over the stores from the licensed owner. And the fun came to a screeching halt. Gone were the selling contests for designer handbags, the parties to celebrate a good month, even the “Win A Room” makeover contests. Instead, along came the “Time is Money Sale,” the “Custom Furniture Sale,” the “Cheetah fast ads,” we never did get that one, “30% off in 30 days sale,” every sale imaginable, selling on the price instead of the value, the ole “mark up the price” to “mark down the price.”

Our design team thought YUCK!!!

What’s a girl to do? Opening our own design company seemed to be the only answer to the Corporate takeover. Lexington owner, Cate Riebold says, “I knew I could find better furniture. I also knew I couldn’t find better people. My design team and I wanted a little company built on integrity and fun. We went to the Pink Sisters at the Chapel of Holy Grace located in North City and asked for a miracle. By synchronicity, I met Mike Pettit of the Sansone group and he found us a wonderful little shop, if we’re feeling pretentious we call it a ‘shoppe’ and if you know us, you know that’s a joke. We’ve partnered with Lexington Home Brands, Simply Amish, Thuka Kids Furniture, Woodcraft and our own private label of fun accent pieces, The Gilded Lily, Paris. We can design order our clients realistically just about anything they want.

Best of all, our design team cares - we’re degreed, we’re experienced, we love creating beautiful spaces. We can help you with furniture, window treatments, accessories - you have a design dilemma, we will solve it for you. We believe good design can also be affordable design - our quality service is complimentary with purchase. We’re opening May 1, 2010 but if you’re in a hurry to start a project, please call Cate at 314.324.1165 and she’ll have a happy, knowledgeable designer come to your home with all her samples and her decorating magic.

Once we’re open, please visit us. We’re having fun again, we’re even having a drawing for a designer handbag AND a beautiful accent chest. We believe we can have it all and so can our clients.

Quality furniture, happy designers and You. TOGETHER WE CREATE BEAUTIFUL HOMES.

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM END OF TEA PARTY, from page 10 County Republican Central Committee, said he just got tired of trying to work with the city of St. Peters and called on County Executive Steve Ehlmann to get him out of the mess.

St. Peters City Hall said it was just following a longstanding city policy bolstered by an ordinance passed May 2009 which eliminated usage of City Hall grounds and facilities at no charge even for not-for-profit organizations.

Steve Belosi, of Lake Saint Louis, left, and John Durajczyk, of McNabb had a convenient St. Peters, made no bones about their political affiliations as friend in fellow Republi- they heckled Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder during the K&N Patriots can Ehlmann, who said the Tax Day Tea Party April 15. county would accommodate the event. But even that shouted down U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill became confused. at a Town Hall event. “I’m just giving them First it was to be held at the Admin- back just what we got,” Durajczyk said. istration Building, on Second Street in But he and Belosi had made their point St. Charles. Less than 24 hours later, yet so they too faded into the background. another e-mail announced it would be held The agenda picked up where it left off at the historic courthouse – a beautiful set- with a carefully hand-selected group of ting – on Third Street.

Republican office-holders.

By the time April 15 came round, rousCounty councilmen Paul Wynn and ing patriotic music led the confused attend- Joe Brazil, Ehlmann and Mo. Sen. Tom ees to the proper location on the riverside Dempsey (Dist. 23) conveyed to the apprelawn of the courthouse. ciative audience conservative messages of lower federal taxes and decentralized Typical politics government to empower smaller, localized Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder was the big draw, government. there to discuss his promised lawsuit However, Mo. Rep. Cynthia Davis (Dist. against the federal government to pro- 19), who is term limited and challengtect Missourians from the vagaries of the ing Mo. Sen. Scott Rupp (Dist. 2) in the recently passed health care reform legisla- August primary, gave a rousing campaign tion. But no one could hear what Kinder speech. Rupp was conspicuously absent to was saying. those aware of such matters. As it turns out, Democratic Party operatives, John Dura- he was never invited. jczyk, of St. Peters, and Steve Belosi, of Grass roots with weeds Lake Saint Louis, loudly heckled Kinder.

“You’re wasting the taxpayers’ money,” The rub that some are now feeling is, called out Durajczyk. what’s happening now is not how K&N Not so, replied the Kinder. “That’s a Patriots started. bogus argument. I will finance it (the lawIt started this time last year when Janet suit) through private donations.”

Allquist sat alone in her lawn chair at the Kinder said he had set up a Web site, corner of highways K and N holding a sign healthcareinaction.com, with information proclaiming that socialism was bad for about the legal challenge and the financial America. She was soon joined by others. contributions mechanism therein.

And, then more came.

Despite hearty applause, Durajczyk and McNabb told the April 15 crowd that he Belosi kept up the banter drawing increas- was attracted to the group joining the execingly impatient responses from the audi- utive committee late last summer. A former ence. officer-holder in the airline pilots asso“Shut up,” became the shout-down chant ciation and retired Navy pilot, McNabb from several rally-goers. brought with him his Internet savvy via his As tempers began to flare, calm was conservative RiteOn.org online newsletter. restored within moments of the arrival of a It looked like a match made in heaven. detachment of sheriff’s deputies.

Then, on April 15, at the start of the Tea Quieted but making no attempt to Party, McNabb declared, “this is absolutely hide his political affiliations, Durajczyk not a partisan event; not a party event.” told MRN that he attended the April 15 But as it turned out, it was.

The party, as originally intended, is over.

Tea Party after a group of protestors had

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

I 41

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Com m mu n it y Event s FUNDRAISER The Austin Maurer Family “Fun”draiser will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat., May 15, at Twin Chimneys Family Center, 7145 Twin Chimney’s Boulevard. Austin Maurer, 13, was diagnosed with leukemia on July 21, 2009. Since his diagnosis the Newsmagazine seventh-grader from West Middle School Salesperson: has been frequently hospitalized, underProof: gone six spinal taps, received countless blood transfusions and continues a threeyear battle of chemo and radiation. The fundraising event will include a barbecue, a clown, inflatables, face painting, a raffle and silent auction. To donate or for more information, contact Anthony James at 345-9612 or at jamesall@nationwide.com.

• • • Three Cheers for Charity will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Mon., May 10 at McGurk’s Public House, 108 S. Main Street in O’Fallon. Three Cheers for Charity provides an opportunity for people in the community to enjoy food, drink and good conversations with friends at a favorite local Irish pub while positively impacting the lives of many. Proceeds benefit the O’Fallon Rotary Club Scholarship Fund and other St. Charles County non-profit organizations. Ticket price is $10 per person and includes entry into McGurk’s, appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks. A

cash bar is available. To purchase tickets prior to the event, contact Sharon Stott at sstott@bjc.org.Tickets can be purchased at the door at the event.

• • • Rhythm and Ribs will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 21 at St. Charles Date of issue: Community College, 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Dr. in Cottleville. TheClient: cost is between $20 and $50, or $10 withSize: a student pass.

For more information, call 922-8278.

Colors: • • • Pictures: An Eyecare Charity Fair to benefit Autism Speaks will be heldLogos: from noon to 4 p.m. on Sat., May 22, at the Iverson-TomaCopy: sino-Goerss Eyecare Associates office, 302 E. Pitman St. in O’Fallon. Dave Glover and Tom Terbrock of 97.1 FM NEWS will be there and visitors can check out live music

by Kaylor and Tomasino.

• • • Community Living is recruiting for its first Putt-Putt Palooza golf tournament to be held on Sat., May 8 at The Falls Recreation Center, 1301 Crooked Stick Drive in O’Fallon. Proceeds will benefit Community Living’s Recreation Services program, which provides recreational activities to people with disabilities in St. Charles County. The cost is $20 per player age 11 and older and $10 per player age 10 and under. Entry fees include 18 holes of puttputt golf and a food ticket. Tee times run every 10 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to noon

and from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be a hole-in-one contest at 12:30 p.m. Advanced registration and payment is required. Hole sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, to register, or to donate, call 970-2800, ext. 3030.

• • • BCI’s 12th annual Wing Ding will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thurs., June 10, at the Bass Pro Shop, 1365 S. Fifth St. in St. Charles. Participants can sample wings from more than 20 local restaurants while enjoying Tim Ezell from Channel 2 News as he emcees the Wing Contest.

Enjoy the entertainment of the Dueling Piano’s from Jive and Wail or enter the wing eating contest held on the main stage.

Ticket sales begin May 3 at BCI, Bass Pro and participating restaurants. The BCI is a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit service organization that provides jobs for adults with disabilities.

SEMINARS “Take Stock in the Market,” a free seminar offered by Karen Schneider, financial advisor with Edward Jones, will be held at 11 a.m. on Thurs., April 29, and at 7:30 a.m. on Fri., April 30, at her office located at 150 St. Peters Centre Boulevard in suite D. For more information or to make a reservation, call 926-2200.

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O'Fallon Rd

42 I

tification solution available to aid in the search for a missing youth. Progress West HealthCare Center is hosting an enrollment event from 9 a.m. to noon on Sat., May 8, at the hospital located at 2 Progress Point Parkway. St. Louis Children’s Hospital will be on hand to help kids make their very own first-aid kit and the O’Fallon Police Department will display its C.E.R.T. trailer for disaster preparedness. Space is limited and appointments are required. To register, call 344-CARE.

ENTERTAINMENT LifeLight Youth Theatre presents Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma” at 7 p.m. on Thurs., May 27, and Fri., May 28; and at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sat., May 29, at the Carl Reininger Theatre at Timberland High School, 559 E Hwy. N in Wentzville.

A pre-show party will begin at 5:30 p.m. on May 27 and May 28, and at 4:30 p.m. on May 29. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for children and seniors. For tickets, call 978-7852 or visit showtix4u.com.

• • • Team registration for the sixth annual St. Louis Home Fires BBQ Bash will be accepted starting at 8 a.m. on Sat., May 1.

The BBQ Bash will take place on Sat., Sept.

26 and Sun., Sept. 26 at the Town Center of Wildwood. Amateurs and professionals compete for the grand prize in several categories, including ribs, brisket, chicken, chili, pork steak, People’s Choices, crawfish eating, best booth decorated and more.

For more information, call Frank Schmer at 256-6564.

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jeffcomputers.com studyx.com

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

I 43

Contest asks: ‘Why do you love Mid Rivers Mall?’

By Amy Armour Shoppers will get a chance to earn some spending money—and see their name in lights.

CBL Properties wants to know: “Why do you love Mid Rivers Mall?”

To submit an entry, simply stop by Customer Service at Mid Rivers Mall and fill out an entry form with why you love Mid Rivers Mall - in 20 words or less. Shoppers can also submit an entry online at ShopMidRiversMall.com and click on “Contact Us.” “These entries will be compiled and posted on the marquis signage visible from I-70,” said Amber Westerson, group marketing director for CBL Properties. “Shoppers will see their entry plus first name, last initial and city of residence on the board. In order to celebrate the new addition to the property, we thought what better way than

to give our shoppers a chance to talk about their mall on the new signage.”

Westerson said CBL Properties, the owner of Mid Rivers Mall, wanted the contest to be something fun for the community to participate in.

“We’d love for families to be creative when formulating their responses to share their favorite things about the mall. Having been in the community since the 1980s I am sure there are some fun facts and stories that could be submitted,” Westerson said.

All of the entries will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to Mid Rivers Mall. The contest officially began on April 20 and a winning entry will be drawn on May 5 during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new marquis sign.

“We’re hoping to get lots of shoppers to tell us why they love Mid Rivers Mall,” Westerson said.

Global Spectrum to host annual Mother’s Day Brunch Global Spectrum, managers of the Saint Charles Convention Center, will host its second annual Mother’s Day Brunch at the facility on Sun., May 9. Available seating times range from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on the half hour. In addition to the buffet being served, Trotter Photo will be on hand providing complimentary family portraits and access to a fun photo booth for candid photo shoots with mom.

The action stations at this year’s brunch will include homemade pastries and desserts, made-to-order omelettes and pancakes, specialty carving stations, fresh salads, and mimosas. Live music will be provided by a string trio, and all mothers attending will receive complementary

flowers.

“What‘s great about our event is we are not only providing families a nice meal to share together, but we are also providing some tangible memories that attendees can take with them,” said Shura Garnett, general manager for Global Spectrum at the facility. “The complimentary family portraits and photo booth help to make Mother’s Day a little bit more special.”

Ticket prices are $26.00 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 4 through 11, and free for children under age 3.

Tickets need to be purchased in advance by phone or online. Go to stcharlesconventioncenter.com/mothersday or call 6693000.

Winearoo The American Cancer Society is hosting its second annual Winearoo from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thurs., May 6 at the new Dave Mungenast Lexus of St. Louis located at 13700 Manchester Road. For a $20 donation to the American Cancer Society guests will enjoy wine tasting from wineries across the bi-state region, and an art show of local artists and jewelry. The event, which will also feature hors d’oeuvres, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment, will raise funds to help the American Cancer Society. Tickets can be purchased online at celebaroo.org, by calling 314-286-8157, or at the door.

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44 I

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINEE

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Mother’s Day Special Free Appetizers & Dessert

ristorante

old World italian Cuisine

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FREE Large Dinner Salad with purchase of a large 2 topping or more pizza

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Carry Out Only. Valid Sunday thru Thursdays only. Limit 1 coupon per person. Limit 1 FREE salad per order. Not valid with other offers or discounts. With coupon. Expires 6-15-10

Monday all you Can eat pasta 4pm-9pm. Select Group of Pastas.

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We now serve beer & wine.

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APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

I 45

Family-owned Fratelli’s serves up made-from-scratch Italian

By SUZANNE CORBETT When Joe and Tom Alagna agreed to start a business together, they decided to follow in their parents’ footsteps, become restaurateurs and open Fratelli’s Ristorante. “‘Fratelli’s’ means ‘brothers’ in Italian,” said Tom Alagna.

“Cooking has always been part of the family. We both grew up in the business. Our parents owned Tommaso’s that was located in Ferguson. That’s where we first learned the business. We washed dishes, cooked and did whatever.”

After their parents closed Tommaso’s, the Alagna brothers in 1983 opened Fratelli’s as a small pizzeria that quickly grew to a full-service, gourmet Italian restaurant featuring family recipes. Today Fratelli’s is a St. Charles dining destination.

“We moved to St. Charles 15 years ago,” Tom said. “We thought St. Charles needed a good Italian restaurant – so we moved, and many of our customers came along with us.”

Customers followed Fratelli’s for their renowned Italian cuisine.

Fratelli’s Ristorante 2061 Zumbehl Road • St. Charles (636) 949-9005 Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday-Friday Dinner: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday fratellisristorante.com

A must-have starter for many Fratelli’s diners is the Calamari Fritti – lightly breaded, flash-fried calamari served with fresh marinara sauce – not to be confused with red sauce, which is thicker and more complex in flavor than the marinara.

“The red sauce cooks to a deep red, just the way our parents use to cook it,” Alagna said, confirming that all red and white sauces are prepared on site. “If you want to have the best, you have to make everything yourself. That’s why we cook from scratch.

We make everything from scratch – from our own seasoned breadcrumbs and sauces to the sausage that tops our pizzas to our dressings.”

The Fratelli’s dressing has become quite famous.

“The dressing was something I created through trial and error until I got the right combination that everyone liked,” Alagna said. “We sell the dressing in the grocery stores, but you can still get it here at the restaurant by the pint or quart.”

Lunch and dinner portions are generous, with most including a side or two, depending on what is Fratelli’s Ristorante owners Tom (left) and Je Alagna. ordered. Pastas are served with a house salad. For an up-charge, guests can substitute the house for a Caesar tossed with Fratelli’s’ signature dressing. and Veal or Chicken Parmigiano or Marsala. Linguini con Besides salads, the Italian hamburger is a favorite Pesce is the standout seafood item. among the lunch crowd and is made with a half pound of “We really pile the seafood on the linguini,” Alagna said, seasoned chopped beef and pork. Served on French bread explaining that the dish is tossed with butter-garlic sauce with a choice of spaghetti, mostaccioli, French fries or before it is studded with clams, shrimp and scallops. onion rings, it is a burger that is perfect for sharing.

Before calling for the check, it is worth asking what is in Specialty entrees that appear on Fratelli’s dinner, ban- the dolce (dessert) case. If any tiramisu or cannoli are left, quet and family to go menu are Pollo (Chicken) Picata, act fast, order, and indulge.

Serving Authentic Chicago Pizza, Italian Beef & Hot Dogs!

Home of the

TWO LOCATIONS!

ORIGINAL DOubLe DeckeR PIzzA

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D I N I N G

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Lunch Specials: Daily 11-4pm

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636-225-9944 carry out The Landings at Dougherty Ferry and Big Bend Rd.

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• 1 Pint VA or NC BBQ • 1 Pint Chicken BBQ or Texas Beef BBQ • 1 Pint Collards or Green Beans • 1 Pint Baked Beans, 1 Pint Slaw • 4 Corn Muffins • 4 Buns Only $26.99 Offer good now thru Mother’s Day May 9th!

Join Us for Cinco De Mayo Specials All Day Long!

OPEN EVERYDAY 11am-10pm

LUNCH BUFFET

6

$ 99 Per Person

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any food order of $20 or more

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46 I

APRIL 28. 2010 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM

M I D R I V E R S h o me p a g es

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Visa • Mastercard • Discover • American Express

Beautify With Epoxy/Stone

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Save 10% Sale Ends 4/30/10

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Sweeping Chimney Covers Tuckpointing Brick Work Camera Evaluation Flue Relining Full Restoration Air Duct Dryer Vent Maintenance

Limited time only with purchase of whole house siding.

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Have the Benefits of a Maintenance Free Home

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Call 636-949-2030 Months Available! www.SidingStl.com

RestoRation specialists l.l.c.

We Don’t simply stain your deck, we refinish it

Specializing in Deck Refinishing House Powerwashing • Concrete Sealing Underdecking • Military & Senior Discounts

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Need a professional for the job?

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THE FAN MAN

GOT UGLY CONCRETE? Entryways Entryways Driveways Driveways Patios Patios Pool Decks Pool Decks Residential Residential Commercial Commercial

CHIMNEY SERVICES

636-734-2451 636-443-9540

• Free 6” Gutters with Screen and 3 x 4 Downspouts

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314-604-1135

Sewer/video Cabling Plumbing Repairs & Replace Code Violation Repairs Backflow Testing & Installs

www.beckmannplumbing.com

Father & Son Owner On Every Job!

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with any completed service

Residential Garage Door Openers Commercial Gate Operators Residential Gate Operators Telephone Entry Systems

MORE LIVING SPACE FOR LESS! We Specialize In Finished Basements

1 Room Or Entire Basement FREE Design Service Finish What You Started As Low As $15 sq. ft.

Professional Painters, Drywall Hangers & Tapers

Call Rich on cell 314.713.1388 Don’t have the right tools for the job?

We’re the place to check out first.

SPRING SAlE SAvE 20% UNTIl 5-31-10 Ceiling • Wholehouse Gable Vent Fans • Recessed Lighting

Specializing in installation for two story homes with no wiring on first floor.

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• Foundation & Crack Repair • Sump Pumps • Drain Systems $50 OFF Repairs of $400

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636-625-3554 Mr. Happy Crack says...

‘A dry crack is a happy crack!’

I NEWS I 47

_______________________, 2008 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE

A Better Way to Sell Your Home!

For $500 Up Front and 1/3 of 1% at Close: Full Service MLS Listing Realtor.com Showcase Listing STLToday.com Listing List on Google, Zillow, Yahoo, AOL, Cyber Homes, Oodle, Trulia & More Staging Consultation

Listing At Your House Guidance on Pricing House Showings Negotiate Contracts Coordinate All Paperwork Order Title & Arrange Closing

We know its tough to sell in today’s market! At Johnson Realty, we help St. Charles and St. Louis County homeowners like you sell their homes faster and for less with our unique plan. Our hybrid approach to selling homes combines the best of Discount Brokerage and Full Commission Agents, with the Freedom of a For Sale By Owner.

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M I D R I V E R S real es t a t e

457 Bluff Meadow Drive $399,000

Light & Airy Home provides total privacy and backs to wooded common ground. 4 BR, 3.5 Bth. 2-sty foyer, huge deck, sun-room, tall ceilings, Finished LL, custom blinds, new appliances, walk to Bluebird Park, AWESOME neighborhood! Call Craig 314541-0135 or 636-227-9147

1277 Shawnee Drive - Pacific This custom built 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath great room ranch has approximately 4,500 sq ft of finished living space. Situated on nearly 2 acres, this home is absolutely STUNNING! For a free 24 hour recorded message regarding this property, please call 1-800-628-1775 ext 1056!

Check outout ourour state-of-the-art at:www.Johnsonstl.com www.Johnsonstl.com Check state-of-the-art website website at: Ranked Top 25 Highest Producing Real Estate agent in Offices in Town & Country and NOW in by Lake St. Louis and St. Charles Counties the St. Louis St. Louis Business Journal for 2 years running.

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1607 Strecker Pines Court - Wildwood This 4 plus bedroom, 3.5 bath 1.5 story home has approximately 4,500 sq ft of finished living space and will impress even the most discerning buyer! For a free 24 hour recorded message regarding this property, please call 1-800-6281775 ext 1136!

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MID RIVERS CLASSIFIEDS Assisted Care Services

Computer Services

Looking For In Home Care?

Providing In Home Care for Seniors and the Disabled * Personalized service plans that are specific to each client’s needs * No long-term contracts * Our ability to deliver services in customized packages–hourly, live-ins, couples care, bath visits, sleepovers, and respite care * Integration of efficient technology– Web-based time & attendance tracking for field staff, Personal Emergency Response Systems, Automated Medication Dispensers, and Auto Alert (Fall Detection) Call Right At Home

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Carpet Services Mill-Direct Pricing on Luxury Name Brand Carpet Laminate & Wood Flooring

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To Advertise In The Classifieds 636-591-3313 x 121 Computer Services

Service at your home or office for: PC problems or set-up PC won't start or connect Spyware, adware, virus removal Hardware and software upgrades

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Call 636-532-0859

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Hauling Services

Help Wanted

Plumbing Services

St. Charles Junk is your local bulk and container service company catering to the St. Charles and surrounding counties. We haul it all...basement and garage cleanouts, appliances, yard waste, construction debris, and NOW OFFERING CONTAINERS! For the best service and pricing call St. Charles Junk at 636-697-7825 www.stcjunk.com

Attention!

Can you see yourself or your child in front of the camera?

Companies hire Images Agency to supply them with people for Ads & Commercials.

We're accepting applications for all ages, sizes & heights.

Major companies like Picture Me, Sears Portrait Studio, BJC Hospital, Build-A-Bear, Honda etc. use our people.

Apply Online at stlcastingcall.com or call 314-372-0500.

Beginners Welcome!

ANYTHING IN PLUMBING. Good Prices!

Basement bathrooms, small repairs & code violations repaired.

Fast Service. Call anytime: 314-409-5051

Help Wanted

Electrical Services ERIC'S ELECTRIC: Service upgrades, fans, can lights, switches, outlets, basements, code violations fixed, we do it all. No job too small. Licensed, bonded, and insured. Competitively priced. Free Estimates.

Ask about our monthly specials. Just call 636 262-5840

For Rent Beautiful 3 year old 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath townhome with double drive in garage and pool. Stunning well maintained community. O'Fallon area, easy highway access.

Call George 314-308-6131

Painting Services CNA's - Caregivers

West St. Louis County Area CNA's with current license Caregivers with Experience Insured vehicle a must Download an application at

Seniorshomecare.com Or call 636-225-2600

Due to business growth, we are seeking experienced caregivers to assist the elderly in a home setting. Top hourly wages and we treat our people right. Contact Visiting Angels of Greater St. Charles at 636-244-3777 or roy@visiting-angels.com. See www.Visiting-Angels.com for a look at our company.

Roofing Services A-ACCURATE ROOFING SIDING & GUTTERS

no job too Large or too Small, Affordable Roofing residential & commercial, all types of roofing, 40 year experience, call for a Free Estimate, 636-939-5109 or 1-800-459-ROOF

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www.painting-pros.com

636-527-2501

Pet Services

These Paws Are Made for Walkin' L.L.C

"In your home" pet-sitting dog walking and more!

Call Steven 636-541-8273

Anytime...

Anywhere...

Marriage Ceremonies Renewal of Vows Commitment & Affirmation of Love

(314) 703-7456

To Advertise In The Classifieds 636-591-3313 x 121