👋 Good Morning, West County!

In today’s ⚡️West County Pulse newsletter:

🍻 Cardinals Opening Day
🔥 Controlled Burns
🌭 Hot Dogs on TV

Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!

— Jared Michel

General News

🍻 Opening Day: What's New at Busch Stadium

It's opening day at Busch Stadium! As the Cardinals face the Minnesota Twins this afternoon, fans will be the first to experience the 2025 season improvements. New additions include $5 draft beers at the Budweiser Terrace, an in-house DJ for weekend games, and expanded food options featuring Freddy's frozen custard, Intentional Wok's custom bowls, and Mayo Ketchup's Latin cuisine.

🔥 Burn Season Underway in County Parks

The first of three scheduled controlled burns took place Tuesday at Creve Coeur Lake Park's Ecological Area. St. Louis County Parks and Recreation will continue with additional burns today (Thursday) at Cliff Cave Park and tomorrow (Friday) at Queeny Park, weather permitting. These prescribed fires are part of the county's ongoing efforts to maintain healthy ecosystems by controlling invasive species and promoting native plant growth.

🗳️ Multiple Early Voting Sites Available

No-excuse early voting for the April municipal election is now underway. Residents can vote at fourteen St. Louis County locations, including the Daniel Boone and Grand Glaize libraries. Locations will be open weekdays through April 4, plus April 5 (9am-1pm) and April 7 (8am-5pm).

👮 Youth Police Academy Has Openings

The West County Youth Police Academy has 18 morning and 9 afternoon spots available for June 16-20. Children will learn about police work, K9 units, fingerprinting, and SWAT operations at 14885 Clayton Road in Chesterfield. Registration fee is $40.

❄️ Zoo Welcomes Arctic Residents

The Saint Louis Zoo has added two polar bears to its animal collection. Twin brothers Kallu and Kallik arrived from the Toledo Zoo and completed their quarantine period before making their public debut.

Business

🌭 Chesterfield Hot Dog Spot On TV Show

Food reviewer Frank Fleming from Barstool Sports recently featured Steve's Hot Dogs on his show "Raw Dogging." During his visit, Fleming tried the plain hot dog and chili cheese dog, rating them using baseball terminology as "a humpback single" and "a bunt single" respectively.

🏋️ Manchester Gym Nears Opening

Equipment has landed at Manchester Highlands' new Crunch Fitness. Workers are assembling machines throughout the facility this week as the gym moves toward its grand opening.

🍀 Pub Donation Helps Local Bowling Alley

Ellisville's Clancy's Irish Pub has donated $3,230 to West County Lanes through a successful fundraiser. This contribution provides important support for the 60-year-old family-owned bowling alley.

🛩️ Boeing Wins F-47 Fighter Contract

Boeing has been selected to build the Air Force's new F-47 fighter jet. The contract will create thousands of jobs throughout our region, providing economic relief after last fall's layoffs. The $1.8 billion contract was awarded last Friday, with local leaders calling it a historic opportunity for the area.

School District Highlights

🚌 Rockwood Bus Fleet Earns Safety Honor

Rockwood's transportation department has continued its tradition of excellence in safety. Their bus fleet achieved a 99.2% first-time pass rate during the Missouri State Highway Patrol's annual inspections, significantly outperforming the state average. Of their 126 buses, only one required a minor tire rod repair before passing on its second inspection.

Ballwin

🏃 Adult Kickball Tournament at Vlasis Park

Ballwin Parks and Recreation is organizing an adult kickball tournament on April 5th at Vlasis Park Field. Running from 2-7pm, the competition will offer a gift card prize for the winning team. Registration is available here.

Ellisville

🥚 Egg Decorating Contest in Ellisville

The Ellisville Parks Department has launched their Easter Egg Garden project for residents. For $5, community members receive a wooden egg to decorate and display at Bluebird Park. Registration is available at ellisville.mo.us or by phone at (636) 227-7508.

Manchester

🎖️ Manchester Veteran Banner Program

Manchester residents have a limited time to participate in the city's Hometown Hero Banner program. Applications are being accepted until March 31st, with banners running $150 and renewals at $50. These displays feature veterans' photos and service information, creating meaningful tributes throughout the community.

🎨 Lyceum Open House This Saturday

Manchester's historic Lyceum is hosting a public open house. On Saturday from noon to 3pm, residents can tour the building as it debuts as a multimedia art center. The event will feature hands-on activities, demonstrations of upcoming creative classes, and free giveaways for attendees exploring the new community arts space.

Upcoming Events

THANKS!

Thanks for reading this edition of the ⚡️ West County Pulse newsletter. If you found something useful, please share it with a friend!

Did I miss something? Let me know at [email protected]

Interested in advertising your business in the West County Pulse? Let’s talk