👋 Good Morning, West County!

General News

🛑 MoDOT Takes Out Controversial Bump-Outs

MoDOT crews have begun removing the controversial bump-outs along Clarkson and Long Roads this week. The traffic measures, installed last October without public consultation, created safety concerns for cyclists and blocked emergency vehicle access. Mayor McNamara noted MoDOT skipped standard community listening sessions. The removal work is expected to be completed by early summer.

🌧️ Record Rainfall Delays Local Farm Planting

April set rainfall records in St. Louis County, causing significant delays for local farmers. Dave Thies of Thies Farm and Greenhouses reported to Fox 2 that most corn planting, which should be completed by now, has barely started. Greenhouse operations are experiencing fungal problems despite indoor protection.

🐞 County Launches Tick Monitoring Program

St. Louis County's new Tick Watch STL program is working to identify potentially harmful insects in our area. The Vector-Borne Disease Prevention Unit has identified 483 ticks so far, including 6 black-legged ticks that could carry Lyme disease. Officials accept specimens from surrounding counties but focus on local populations. The department plans to add disease testing capabilities to their monitoring efforts soon.

🐕 County Shelter Manages Parvo Outbreak

St. Louis County's animal shelter is dealing with a serious health crisis. The facility experienced its worst-ever outbreak of parvovirus last month, forcing officials to pause operations and euthanize 19 infected dogs. County Executive Sam Page has reported that containment efforts have been successful, with no new positive tests since Friday.

Business

🏨 Private Hotel Planned Near Gateway Studios in Chesterfield

Gateway Studios is expanding its Chesterfield presence with a proposed private hotel north of Outer 40 Road. The four-story, 127-room facility would be exclusively for Gateway guests, joining the planned Contemporary Lodge and Wilderness area. The Chesterfield Planning Commission unanimously approved the plan, which now awaits City Council review.

🛒 Slyman Bros. Adds 2,000 Sq Ft in Ballwin

Slyman Bros. Appliances has expanded its Ballwin location on Manchester Road. The renovation adds 2,000 square feet specifically for displaying Wolf, Sub-Zero and Cove appliances. This is the second recent expansion for the company, which also remodeled its South County location last fall. The family-owned business operates four showrooms across St. Louis.

🔋 Ameren Expands Clean Energy Production

Ameren Missouri is planning to increase its clean energy production as demand grows. The company predicts needing an additional 1.5 gigawatts of energy in the next seven years, enough to power 1.5 million homes. Their Callaway Nuclear Energy Center currently supplies power for 800,000 households, and expansion of nuclear capacity has received support from Governor Mike Kehoe.

🎁 Club Carwash: Mom's Day Gift Card Deal

Club Carwash is currently running a Mother's Day promotion offers buy-one-get-one-free gift cards. Available online here in $25-$100 denominations, this limited-time offer excludes membership purchases.

Ballwin

🎾 Ballwin Tennis Courts Close for Repairs

New Ballwin Park's tennis courts are closed following their May 3rd shutdown for essential maintenance. The ongoing work includes repainting surfaces, filling cracks, and replacing tennis nets and posts. Crews are also adding two pickleball courts to one of the existing tennis courts.

🎨 Ballwin Displays Student Art Banners

Winners from both a citywide contest and Ballwin Elementary School competition now have their banner artwork displayed throughout Ballwin. The Public Works Department installed the banners along New Ballwin Road, Kehrs Mill Road, Holloway Road, Seven Trails Drive, and Park Drive. An interactive map showing all banner locations and creators is available online here.

Creve Coeur

🏏 Creve Coeur Reminds About Summer Guide

Creve Coeur Parks & Recreation Department this week put out a reminder to residents about their 2025 Recreation Guide. The resource outlines numerous summer activities including concerts in the park, fitness classes, youth athletic camps, and tennis lessons. The guide can be viewed online here.

Eureka

🚧 No Way Back for Eureka's Historic Bridge

After standing for decades, Eureka's Allenton Bridge won't be rebuilt. Mayor Sean Flower announced the $20 million replacement cost far exceeds available funding, despite years of planning and $1.5 million already spent on designs. Instead, the city plans to accept Legends Parkway from its association, remove gates, and resurface it to create a second access point for affected neighborhoods.

🛠️ Eureka High Unveils Metal Shop Makeover

Eureka High School's newly renovated Metals Shop is giving students hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment. The $750,000 project took over a year to complete and features cutting-edge technology that mirrors what's used in professional settings. Principal Corey Sink expects enrollment in the Metal Processes program to grow beyond the current 40 students as the upgraded space can now accommodate more learners.

Manchester

🔌 E-Waste Drop-Off Today (5/10) in Manchester

Manchester's Electronics Recycling event is happening today at Schroeder Park from 8am-11am. The event was rescheduled due to the upcoming Scottish Games on May 17. They're also collecting donations for Circle of Concern Food Pantry at the same location. Get more details about the recycling event online here.

Upcoming Events

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