- West County Pulse
- Posts
- ⚡️ Cicada Watch, Rawlings Fun, Coaster Turns 48
⚡️ Cicada Watch, Rawlings Fun, Coaster Turns 48
👋 Good Morning, West County!
In today’s ⚡️ West County Pulse newsletter:
🌡️ Cicada Emergence
⚾ Rawlings Experience
🎢 Screamin' Eagle Turns 48
Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!
— Jared Michel
THE DIGEST
🌡️ Butterfly House Tracks Cicada Emergence
The Butterfly House is closely monitoring soil temperatures to predict the emergence of billions of 13-year periodical cicada. According to a recent study, these cicadas typically surface when the ground temperature reaches 64°F at 8 inches below the surface. Within the past week, probes placed in the Butterfly House’s Native Butterfly Garden recorded a rise from 48.6°F to 52°F.
With temperatures set to continue being warm, they expect the cicadas to emerge soon. Once that happens, the collective chorus from these bugs could reach the deafening volume of a lawnmower.
⚾ Rawlings Unveils Immersive Baseball Experience
On Friday Rawlings opened The Rawlings Experience, an interactive baseball attraction, at its new headquarters in Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights. Visitors can explore baseball history, see rare artifacts, and even design their own bats and gloves. The 14,000 sq ft space is free and open daily, offering fun for fans of all ages.
🧑⚖️ Creve Coeur's Dillon-Amelung Named County Judge
On Friday, Gov. Mike Parson appointed Chastidy R. Dillon-Amelung of Creve Coeur as associate circuit judge in the St. Louis County Circuit Court. Dillon-Amelung, previously the court's traffic commissioner, fills the vacancy left by Matthew H. Hearne's promotion to circuit judge.
LOCAL BUSINESS
🎉 Exciting Updates at Wildwood Pub & Grill
Last week Wildwood Pub & Grill announced the unveiling of their newly renovated dining room. Customers are invited to check out the new and improved space:
🎢 Screamin' Eagle Celebrates 48 Years of Thrills
Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka is celebrating the 48th anniversary of its iconic wooden roller coaster, the Screamin' Eagle. Designed by John Allen, the coaster first opened in 1976 and instantly set Guinness World Records for its 110-foot height and 62 mph speed. With its stunning layout and 3,800 feet of track, the Screamin' Eagle continues to inspire awe and deliver thrills to park visitors nearly half a century later. Click the Instagram embed below to see old photos of the ride.
🏡 Ribbon Cutting Celebrates The Porch in Wildwood
Last week the West County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony to highlight The Porch, a distinctive home furnishings and decor store in Wildwood. The event celebrated the store's curated selection of timeless furniture, accessories, apparel, and gifts that inspire and delight shoppers.
SCHOOL DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS
Parkway
Here's the latest from last week’s Board of Education meeting:
Dr. Nathan Burch, principal of Claymont Elementary, was named the 2024 Missouri National Distinguished Principal of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes top elementary and middle school principals from across the state.
16 Parkway schools earned the 2023 Energy Star Building certification for their energy efficient performance. The certified schools perform better than at least 75% of similar buildings nationwide.
Parkway West High School senior Andrew Sun won the Region 7 Missouri School Board Association's John T. Belcher Scholarship essay competition. Sun will now compete for an additional $1,500 scholarship at the state level.
The Parkway Fine Arts Department received the 2024 Distinguished School District award from the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education. This award recognizes districts that make the arts an essential part of students' education.
Based on community feedback, the administration presented revised plans for the proposed location of a new Early Childhood Center. Concerns had been raised about traffic safety, loss of green space, and equity between schools. The board agreed to put construction on hold to allow more time to evaluate options and address community concerns.
The steering committee provided input on revisions to the Project Parkway five-year strategic plan. The district is working on developing measurable objectives and refining the plan's language to be more clear, concise, and student-focused.
CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Ballwin
🌳 Vlasis Park Playground Demolished for Upgrade
The process of upgrading the Vlasis Park playground has begun. Public Works crews have demolished the old equipment to make way for the new and improved playground. The new playground is expected to be completed by this fall, and in the meantime, residents are encouraged to visit other parks in the area, such as Holloway Park, New Ballwin Park, Ferris Park, and Greenfield Commons at the Pointe.
Eureka
As a reminder, South Central Avenue will be partially closed today from Chick-N-Ellies to Dreyer Avenue for street repairs. Thresher Drive will not provide access to Central Avenue during this time.
🎉 A Lookback at Times Beach Incorporated 70 Years Ago
On April 14, 1954, the town of Times Beach, a former neighboring city of Eureka, was officially incorporated. Yesterday the Eureka Historical Society commemorated this 70th anniversary by sharing historic photos chronicling the town's journey from a 1920s resort along the Meramec River to a permanent residential area, with Route 66 playing a significant role in its growth and development until the town's disincorporation in 1985 following a flood and chemical disaster.
Source: Eureka Historical Society
Source: Eureka Historical Society
👮♂️ Eureka Sergeants Complete Leadership Program
Last week Eureka Police Sergeants Robert Watson and Bill Knittel graduated from the Missouri Police Chiefs Association Command College. The program, now in its 14th year, provides education on core leadership and management topics for Missouri's law enforcement professionals. Graduates also have the opportunity to complete a Master's degree in Sociology.
Manchester
🌳 Snip Snap! Free Limb Chipping in Ward 2 Today
Today is limb chipping day for Ward 2. The Public Works Department will start their rounds at 7am, and just as a reminder…. it might take more than one day to cover all areas, so no worries if your limbs aren’t handled right away. Learn more about the program here.
🚜 Volunteers Needed for Manchester Homecoming
Manchester's Parks and Recreation Department has put a call out for volunteers for this year’s annual Homecoming. This year's event has a "Down on the Farm" theme. Those interested in contributing to this beloved city tradition should contact Becky Jones at 636-391-6326 or [email protected] for more information.
Twin Oaks
🚧 Crescent Rd Closed for Repairs Today
As a reminder, Crescent Road will be closed for maintenance and repairs today. The affected portion stretches from Crescent Ave to Laws Court. Be sure to plan your routes accordingly to avoid any inconvenience.
Wildwood
🏖️ Pool Time! Wildwood’s Special Pass Offers
Wildwood residents have the special opportunity to purchase family pool passes at resident rates from Ellisville and Ballwin. The Edge Aquatic Center in Ellisville is selling passes at an Early Bird Special price of $192 until May 24, 2024; after that, the price goes up to $212. Over at the North Pointe Aquatic Center in Ballwin, a limited number of passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Both locations offer additional perks like swim team registration and lessons. Get your splash on this summer by securing your family’s pass early! Learn more in Wildwood’s latest city newsletter here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tomorrow: Stargazing Night @ Terri Sue Fussner Field from 7:30pm to 9pm.
Thursday: Stargazing Night @ Bluebird Park from 8pm to 9:30pm.
Friday - Sunday: Just Between Friends Sale @ Queeny Park. Learn more / purchase tickets here.
Saturday:
Next Week
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