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- ⚡️ Armadillos Abound, New Plant Law & New Taco Spot
⚡️ Armadillos Abound, New Plant Law & New Taco Spot
Jared Michel
May 31, 2024
👋 Good Morning, West County!
In today’s ⚡️ West County Pulse newsletter:
🦔 Armadillo Sightings Increase
🌿 Native Plant Bill
🌮 Tacos 4 Life Opening
Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!
— Jared Michel
📅 Discover Local Happenings with Our New Calendar
We’ve launched WestCounty.Events, a brand new community calendar to keep you in the loop about all the fun events happening in West St. Louis County. Whether you're into runs, festivals, live music, exhibitions, or sports, our calendar will be your one-stop shop. The calendar is just getting started, but we'll be adding tons of upcoming events in the days and weeks ahead. Have an event to share? We'd love for you to contribute! And please send us your feedback as we grow this new resource for our community. You can always respond directly to this email.
THE DIGEST
🦔 Armadillo Sightings on the Rise in St. Louis
Armadillo sightings have increased in the St. Louis area due to milder winter temperatures and an abundance of insects, particularly cicadas. The Missouri Department of Conservation advises giving armadillos space and not attempting to capture them. Armadillos have poor eyesight and often jump when startled, leading to frequent collisions with vehicles on roads.
🌿 St. Louis County Council Passes Native Plant Bill
The St. Louis County Council has unanimously passed a bill that protects ecological landscapes, such as native meadows and rain gardens. The new rule exempts these areas from the county's weed-control ordinance and discourages invasive species.
🎡 Worker Trapped on Ferris Wheel Rescued in Chesterfield
In a heart-stopping incident, a 54-year-old carnival worker found himself trapped 45 feet in the air on a Ferris wheel at the Chesterfield Mall early Tuesday morning. The man was helping dismantle the ride after the Chesterfield Mall Spring Carnival when a section collapsed, leaving him stranded. Monarch Fire Protection District firefighters swiftly responded, harnessing the worker and safely lowering him to the ground in a daring 45-minute rescue operation.
📰 St. Louis NPR Recaps Missouri's Legislative Session
St. Louis Public Radio has published a comprehensive guide to the 48 bills passed by the Missouri legislature this session. The NPR affiliate's summary covers a range of topics, from education and business to property rights and criminal justice. Readers can get a quick overview of the key measures headed to the governor's desk.
BUSINESS
🌮 Tacos 4 Life Opening in Ballwin Midsummer!
Exciting news for taco lovers in west county: Tacos 4 Life is set to open its doors in Ballwin midsummer! The craft taco restaurant, which is also one of the newest members of the West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce, is eager to bring its delicious offerings to the community. Mark your calendars and get ready to enjoy some amazing tacos while also supporting a great cause, as Tacos 4 Life raises meals for children in need around the world with every purchase.
🏈 Battlehawks Bash at McDonald's Today!
Get ready for an exciting Battlehawks Bash at the Creve Coeur McDonald's (11521 Olive Blvd) today from 5-7pm. Fans will have the opportunity to meet St. Louis Battlehawks players during the 5-6pm hour, win exclusive team swag, and even take pictures with the iconic Grimace. Don't miss this fun-filled event!
Source: FB
🏥 Mercy Health Sued for $9M Breach of Contract
Pitt Development Group LLC (PDG) has filed a $9 million lawsuit against Mercy Health, alleging breach of contract. PDG claims Mercy halted construction projects after the company reported a request from Mercy executives to make an improper payment to an architect. Mercy denies wrongdoing and vows to defend its reputation in court.
🍦 Hoffmann Family Wins Bid for Bankrupt Oberweis
Oberweis Dairy, known for its home milk delivery and retail stores, has a new owner after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April. Hoffmann Family of Cos., a private equity firm with ties to St. Louis, placed the winning bid of over $20 million at an auction on Wednesday. The sale is pending approval from the US Bankruptcy Court on June 5. Hoffmann plans to make strategic investments in Oberweis, particularly in its Aurora, Illinois plant, to enhance production and streamline operations.
SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATES
Parkway
🧠 Parkway North Juniors Ace College Exam
Eric and Samuel Lipsutz, twin brothers and juniors at Parkway North High School, both achieved perfect scores of 36 on the April ACT college placement exam. This rare accomplishment places them in the top 1% of test-takers nationwide. The brothers are interested in pursuing computer science and mathematics at top universities like MIT, University of Chicago, and Washington University in St. Louis.
Rockwood
🎉 Rockwood High Schools Earn PLTW Distinction
For the fifth consecutive year, all four Rockwood School District high schools have been named Distinguished Schools by Project Lead the Way (PLTW). This recognition is given to schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in PLTW courses. Rockwood offers a variety of biomedical science and engineering courses aligned with PLTW standards.
🎓 120 Rockwood Students Earn Seal of Biliteracy
Nearly 120 Rockwood School District students from all four high schools have earned the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy or Distinguished Missouri Seal of Biliteracy this year. The students demonstrated achievement in English, a second language, and sociocultural competence. Rockwood students earned the Seal in Spanish, French, Arabic, German, Polish, Russian and Tamil, with seven students earning the Distinguished Seal and two earning the Seal in two different languages.
CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Ballwin
🏞️ Ballwin Invests in Park Improvements
Ballwin's Board of Aldermen approved a series of projects aimed at enhancing the city's parks, facilities, and streets during their May 13 meeting. The improvements, which include upgrades to Vlasis Park, the addition of pickleball courts, and street maintenance, are part of the city's ongoing efforts to provide residents with high-quality amenities and infrastructure. The meeting also saw the approval of a new parks department work van and discussions on the growing popularity of pickleball in the community.
Chesterfield
🚧 Chesterfield's $2.1M plan for I-64 upgrades
Chesterfield is gearing up for major improvements to I-64, with plans to enhance the Long Road interchange and connect bike and pedestrian paths. The city has allocated $2.1 million from its General Fund as a temporary measure to kick-start the multi-phase project, with the intention of being reimbursed by special taxing districts once funds become available. The ambitious project aims to improve traffic flow and accessibility in the area.
Des Peres
🎆 Des Peres Firecrackin' Pool Party on June 21!
The city of Des Peres announced it is hosting a free event for residents and Lodge Members at The Lodge Outdoor Pool on Friday, June 21. Attendees can enjoy swimming, games, Sia's Italian Ice, a live DJ, and giveaways, with a chance to win a free Resident Summer Membership to The Lodge for one lucky non-member.
Source: The Lodge Des Peres
Ellisville
👔 Mayor Roemerman's New Role in Metro STL
Ellisville Mayor Roemerman has been installed as an executive board member of the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis. This new role will allow Mayor Roemerman to contribute to the leadership and decision-making processes that impact the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Eureka
🛑 New All-Way Stop Coming to Eureka Intersection
Starting at 7am today MoDOT crews will install new stop signs at the intersection of N. Central Avenue and E. 4th Street, converting it to an all-way stop. Drivers on N. Central should be prepared for the change in traffic pattern. The new signs aim to improve safety and traffic flow at the intersection.
Manchester
🚲 Tiny Tots Gear Up for Thrilling Triathlon
Tomorrow the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its annual Tiny Tot Triathlon this weekend for kids ages 3 to 9. The event will feature biking, running, and swimming, with three course options available: Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced. Four heats for each course will take place at 9:00, 9:15, 9:30, and 9:45am, followed by an hour of pool access for participants to enjoy after the race. All young athletes will receive a well-deserved medal at the finish line.
🇺🇸 Manchester Honors Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day
Manchester held its annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service at the Veterans Memorial in Stoecker Park. The event featured a speech by David Walker, a Gold Star Father who lost his son in Afghanistan in 2014, along with performances by the Manchester Community Band and Padre and the Pulse. Memorial wreaths were presented, and Liberty, a bald eagle from the World Bird Sanctuary, made a special appearance to honor the fallen heroes.
 Source: City of Manchester  Source: City of Manchester |  Source: City of Manchester |
Town & Country
🚧 I-270 lane closures: Plan ahead June 3-5
Heads up, Town & Country residents! The Police Department and MoDOT have announced road work on I-270 from June 3 to June 5. Expect two southbound lane closures at Conway Road from 9pm to 5am, along with ramp closures on I-270 and I-64 from 11pm to 5am. Plan your routes accordingly to avoid delays.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Today - Sunday: Big Bird Fly-In & RC Air Show in Eureka. Learn more here.
Saturday:
Next Week
Discover more events on our event calendar: westcounty.events. Also….don’t see an event you know of? Let me know by replying to this email!
THANKS!
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