⚡️ Election Results, Free Ice Cream & More!

👋 Good Morning, West County!

In today’s ⚡️ West County Pulse newsletter:

  • 🗳️ Election Results

  • 🍦 Free Ice Cream

  • 🏚️ A Historic Cabin Preserved

Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!

Jared Michel

🗳️ Local Election Results Are In

The ballots have been counted, and we now have the outcomes of Tuesday's election. Below, you'll find the results for every contested ballot measure in the region. For official results, please visit this link.

Ballwin

Eureka

Metropolitan Sewer District

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) had two propositions on the ballot. Proposition W sought to issue $750 million in sewer revenue bonds to fund the design, construction, improvement, and maintenance of MSD's sewer and drainage facilities, with the aim of complying with clean water requirements. Proposition S proposed a property tax on residential properties and a charge on non-residential customers based on impervious area to fund capital improvements for flooding and erosion control.

Parkway

Rockwood

Twin Oaks

Valley Park

Prop B that passed was a zero-tax increase bond proposal. The bond will fund various campus improvement projects across the district's schools, including classroom upgrades, renovations, safety and security enhancements, and improvements to building systems and facilities.

West County EMS and Fire District

The West County EMS and Fire Protection District sought voter approval for three propositions that simplified and streamlined the District's accounting procedures. The propositions proposed abolishing the Ambulance Fund (Proposition 1), Dispatch Fund (Proposition 2), and Pension Fund (Proposition 3) tax levies while simultaneously increasing the General Fund tax levy by an equivalent amount. All three propositions were approved by a majority of voters, resulting in the overall residential tax for tax year 2024 decreasing by fourteen cents (0.14 cents) compared to the residential tax in 2023.

Wildwood

Winchester

Winchester residents passed both Prop V and Prop M. Prop V allows the city to skip elections when the number of candidates equals the number of open positions, saving time and resources. Meanwhile, Prop M authorizes Winchester to impose a local sales tax of up to 3% on adult-use marijuana sales, providing a new source of revenue for the city, with the ability to adjust the rate by voter approval.

THE DIGEST

🏚️ Historic Essen Cabin to Be Preserved in Wildwood

Wildwood is working to preserve the historic Essen Cabin, built by German immigrant Gerhard Rudolph Essen in 1870. The cabin was stolen in 2015 but later recovered, and now the city plans to reconstruct it as the centerpiece of the new Village Green park. With help from the Essen family, experts, and donated logs from another historic cabin, Wildwood aims to create a public space that showcases the area's rich immigrant history. Read more here.

🎓 North & West High students ace the ACT exam

Parkway announced two of its students achieve perfect ACT scores! Ray Rao from Parkway North High and Sasha Tripathi from Parkway West High achieved the perfect scores. Both students have ambitious career plans, with Sasha considering the pharmaceutical industry or software development and Ray planning to attend medical school and become a doctor.

🏗️ Ameren Drops Controversial Tower Proposal

Ameren has withdrawn its application for a controversial 199-foot telecommunications tower in Wildwood. The proposed tower, intended to monitor the utility network and assist with meter reading, faced opposition from residents concerned about its appearance and location. The city and Ameren reached an agreement to restore the site by April 1, and the Planning & Zoning Commission approved the withdrawal request. Read more here.

LOCAL BUSINESS

🏃‍♀️ Schnucks Launches Step Challenge

Schnucks has launched a steps challenge for Rewards members in MO, IL, IN, and WI. Participants can earn $5 in rewards points each week by reaching 50,000 steps. Plus, get 2X points on Dietitian Pick products through April 16th. Read the full press release here.

🍦 Dierbergs' Weekend of Free Halo Top & Blue Bunny

Attention ice cream lovers! Well Enterprise is serving up a sweet deal with 70,000 free Halo Top and Blue Bunny frozen treats across America. Lucky for us, the Dierbergs stores in Ellisville and Manchester are participating in this delicious giveaway. Head to the Ellisville location on Friday or the Manchester store on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to grab your free scoops!

CITY HIGHLIGHTS

Ballwin

🗑️ Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet on April 27

Ballwin Police Department is participating in the DEA's National Drug Take Back Day on April 27th from 10am to 2pm. Residents can safely dispose of expired or unused medications at the station lobby.

Chesterfield

🎇 Get ready to run on Independence Day

Chesterfield's 6th annual Stars and Stripes Run is set for July 4th, offering patriotic fun for the whole family with 5K, 10K, and kids' races. Register here by June 11th for early bird pricing.

Ellisville

🐶 Bring your Furry Friends for a Pawsome Time

The Ellisville invites you and your pup to their Dog Park Open House on Saturday, May 4th from 10am-12pm. Don't forget to bring proof of rabies and bordetella vaccinations if you're not a member yet!

Eureka

🚁 Helicopters, Trucks, & More at Eureka Event

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 27, as Eureka's Big Truck & Safety Day rolls into town from 10am to 1pm. This exciting event, organized by the Eureka Police Department, offers families a chance to get up close and personal with an array of trucks, tractors, and even helicopters.

Manchester

🏫 Wren Ave Residents, City Talk Traffic Woes

On Wednesday evening, residents near Wren Hollow Elementary and Southwest Middle schools met with city officials at the Parks Building to talk about traffic issues on Wren Avenue and nearby streets. The city presented plans to boost pedestrian safety while listening to residents' ideas and feedback. The productive 90-minute meeting yielded helpful insights for addressing the concerns.

🙌 Care Matters: Community Event Tomorrow

Don't miss tomorrow's event focusing on the power of care in fostering trust and connection.

Twin Oaks

🚧 Crescent Rd Closed for Repairs on Apr 15

Crescent Road will be closed for maintenance and repairs on Monday, April 15. The affected portion stretches from Crescent Ave to Laws Court. Plan your routes accordingly to avoid any inconvenience. For more info, contact the City office at 636-225-7873.

Wildwood

🎨 Plein Air Art Event to Return to Wildwood

Wildwood's 10th Annual Plein Air Art Event will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Artists and photographers will capture the city's beauty outdoors, starting at Wildwood City Hall. Pre-registration fees are $40 for adults and $10 for students, with lunch provided for participants. Over $3,000 in prizes will be awarded, including Best of Show and First Runner Up in both traditional media and photography categories. The winning artwork will be displayed at the B&B Theatres.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Today-Sunday: Art Fair at Queeny Park in the Greensfelder Complex. Learn more / view hours here.

  • Tomorrow: Manchester’s Civic Saturday - Care event at the Manchester Park Building at 10am. Learn more here.

  • Sunday: Brookdale Farm’s Spring Bridal Show at Brookdale Farms from 12pm to 3pm. Learn more / RSVP here.

Next Week

  • Wednesday April 10: Wildwood’s Fun with First Responders @ Community Park (Ages 2-5, Sessions @ 10am,1pm). Learn more / register here.

  • Saturday April 13:

    • Eureka’s Legends Neighborhood Garage Sale from 7am to 12pm. Learn more here.

    • Wildlife Rescue Center’s 45th Anniversary Open House from 11am to 4pm. Learn more here.

    • 9th Annual Boy Scout Lawn Mower Tune Up at Oak Brooke Elementary with drop-off from 8am to 1pm. Learn more here.

  • Saturday April 13 - Sunday April 14: Eid Carnival @ Schroeder Park from 11am to 9pm. Learn more here.

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