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⚡️ A Heartwarming Story, Area Drought Ends & A Key BOA Vote

Author

Jared Michel
May 20, 2024

👋 Good Morning, West County!

In today’s ⚡️ West County Pulse newsletter:

  • 🙌 A Heartwarming Story from Ellisville

  • 🌧️ Easy Drought Conditions in Our Area

  • 🗳️ Woods Mill Development Plan Closer to a Final Vote

Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!

— Jared Michel

THE DIGEST

🙌 Ellisville Mom Finds Help for Son's Rare Condition

Annie Earhart, an Ellisville mom, recently shared with KMOV her heartwarming journey of finding support for her son Zach, who was born with a rare cardiac condition causing severe pain. Through the help of The Synapsory, a local organization dedicated to assisting families with children who have disabilities, Annie's family received much-needed respite care and resources. Watch the full story here.

🌧️ May Rains Erase Drought in St. Louis Area

After a year of persistent drought, recent rainfall has significantly improved conditions in the St. Louis area and across Missouri. Measurable rain has been observed on nine out of the first 15 days of May, with more predicted for the coming weekend. The rainy stretch has helped replenish the landscape, raise river levels, and ease concerns about shipping on the Mississippi River. As a result, over 80% of the state is now free from drought or abnormally dry conditions. However, the increased water levels have also led to potentially dangerous conditions on some rivers, with minor flooding reported on the Missouri River at St. Charles last week.

🗳️ BOA to Vote on Woods Mill Plan on May 28

Last week McBride Berra Land Company presented a revised plan for a high-density residential development at the former Woods Mill Center site in Town & Country. The new proposal includes 68 homes starting at $600,000, increased green space, and more guest parking compared to the previous plan. Despite some concerns about density, many residents spoke in favor of the project citing its potential to improve property values and provide a more attractive landscape. The Board of Aldermen is set to vote on the site plan at their next meeting on May 28, where a two-thirds majority will be required for approval.

❓ Top Cicada Questions in STL, Answered by a Pro

As cicada season peaks in our area, many residents have had questions about these noisy insects. FOX 2 interviewed Dr. Kasey Fowler-Finn, an SLU biology professor, who provided answers to the most common cicada queries.

And on a related note… a group of local filmmakers are seeking photos and videos of cicadas for an upcoming documentary about the creatures.

BUSINESS

📮 Ballwin & Valley Park Donate 55,635 LBs of Food!

Last week the Circle of Concern announced the recent National Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive was a massive success in Ballwin and Valley Park. Residents donated an impressive 55,635 pounds of items through their local post offices on May 11th. The event was made possible by 150 dedicated volunteers, numerous community groups, and the leadership of Living Word Church and Scott Reichter.

🌴 Six Flags Preps Hurricane Harbor for 2024

Six Flags shared a behind-the-scenes look at Hurricane Harbor's final preparations for the 2024 season:

🚗 Chesterfield License Office Celebrates 1 Year

The Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Chesterfield License Office in Wildwood Plaza last week. The event celebrated the office's first anniversary of serving the community.

SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATES

Parkway

🌍 YFU Fosters Cultural Exchange in St. Louis County

Parkway students Sadie Coble and Hannah Bolanos-Roth have been awarded full-ride merit scholarships from Youth For Understanding (YFU) to study abroad. Sadie will spend the 2024-25 school year in Germany, while Hannah will live with a YFU family in Japan this summer. YFU, a nonprofit established in 1951, has awarded $426,000 in merit scholarships to St. Louis students over the past decade, with $98,000 going to Parkway School District students.

Youth For Understanding is a 501c3 nonprofit established in 1951 to foster world peace through citizen exchanges. In 2023, a new need based scholarship program was established called USA For You. Fifteen German teens lived with Chesterfield families for two weeks and this program will be repeated again this October. In June 2025, YFU will award need based scholarships to St. Louis teens to live with YFU families in Germany in June 2025.

🎉 Parkway Leaders Win Top MoASBO Awards

Patty Bedborough and Nickie Otten from Parkway have been honored with prestigious awards from the Missouri Association of School Business Officials (MoASBO). Bedborough was named the 2024 Missouri School Business Official of the Year for her outstanding service and dedication to the district and community. Otten received the MoASBO Emerging Leader of the Year Award, recognizing her commitment to learning and growth as a new business professional.

Rockwood

🏆 Rockwood Honors Excellence at Board Awards

Rockwood honored more than 350 students and staff members at the Board of Education Awards Ceremony on May 16. The awards recognized individuals from all four high schools, two elementary schools, and two middle schools for their outstanding achievements and contributions. Eight Marquette High students received Above and Beyond Awards for assisting an injured friend, while outgoing director Jessica Clark was honored for her two years of service on the Board.

🏆 Rockwood Student-Athletes Shine at NFF Banquet

Several talented student-athletes from Rockwood were recently honored at the National Football Foundation St. Louis Awards Banquet. Eureka High's Ryan Thornhill received the Jake Parent – Most Inspirational/Courageous Award, while Quinten Bennett (Eureka) and Elijah Stevens (Rockwood Summit) were named to the Elite Eleven Student-Athlete team. Lafayette's Garrett Jackson and Marquette's Ryan Mitchell were also recognized as part of the Big Red Top 25 team for their outstanding performance on and off the field.

CITY HIGHLIGHTS

Chesterfield

🎈 Chesterfield Offers CFAC Poolside Parties

The Chesterfield Parks, Recreation, and Arts Department recently announced that the Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center is now offering poolside party packages for special occasions. With two-hour party slots and two fantastic package options, residents can celebrate and have tons of fun under the sun at the CFAC. Learn more here.

Creve Coeur

🛡️ Creve Coeur PD Offers Free Self-Defense Class

The Creve Coeur Police Department is providing a free R.A.D. (Rape, Aggression, Defense) training for women on two different dates: June 24-27 from 6pm-9pm or August 3 & 4 from 8am-2pm. The course, held at the Creve Coeur Police Department at 350 N New Ballas Road, teaches proven self-defense tactics to equip women with the knowledge and skills to defend against various types of assault. Interested participants can register for classes here.

🏀 Skyhawks Sports Camps Coming to Creve Coeur

Skyhawks St. Louis, a youth sports organization, will be offering classes and camps for children ages 2-14 in Creve Coeur this summer. The camps will cover a variety of sports and focus on developing individual athletic skills and life skills. Learn more / register here.

Source: FB

Eureka

🏗️ Eureka's New Govt Center on Track Despite Rain

Construction of Eureka's new Michael A. Wiegand Justice Center is progressing as planned, despite recent heavy rains causing slight delays. The $11.5 million project, funded by Prop E sales tax and proceeds from the city's water and sewer system sale, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The Eureka Board of Aldermen has also approved $64,000 for McClure Engineering to inspect the center's systems and train staff. Read more here.

Manchester

🇺🇸 Memorial Day Service to Honor Fallen Heroes

Next week Stoecker Park will host Manchester’s Memorial Day Remembrance Service on May 27 at 10am. David Walker, Gold Star father of Army SPC Matthew H. Walker, will be the featured speaker as the community honors the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.

🔍 Discover Manchester's Latest Projects

The City of Manchester recently announced that residents can stay up-to-date on the latest planning and zoning projects shaping the community's future by visiting their Active Planning and Zoning Projects webpage available here.

Wildwood

🌽 Wildwood Farmers Market Returns This Week!

The Wildwood Farmers Market is set to reopen this Saturday (May 25), offering a diverse selection of locally-sourced products. Visitors can expect to find fresh eggs, artisanal jams, delicious ready-to-eat snacks like hot tamales and smoothies, and much more. The market will be open from 8am to 12pm in Town Center. Find more details about the market here.

🚚 Old State Road Gets New Truck Traffic Rules

The St. Louis County Council has approved restrictions on tractor-trailer through traffic on a portion of Old State Road in Wildwood. The decision comes after concerns were raised by local citizens and the city about the trucks struggling to navigate the road's tight curves safely. A review by the county's transportation department confirmed that the trailers of large trucks tend to cross into the opposing lane when maneuvering through some of the curves.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Next Week

  • Monday May 27: Manchester’s Memorial Day Remembrance Service @ Stoecker Park at 10am.

  • Friday May 31 - Sunday June 2: Big Bird Fly-In & RC Air Show in Eureka. Learn more here.

  • Saturday June 1:

    • Wildwood’s Green Rock Trail Challenge. Learn more here.

    • Manchester’s Tiny Tot Triathlon for kids aged 3-9 @ Schroeder Park from 9am to 11am. More info here.

THANKS!

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

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