👋 Good Morning, West County!

In today’s ⚡️West County Pulse newsletter:

🐱 Inside the Wildwood Cat House
🏡 A New Land Bank Plan
🚗 Local Cars For Sale on Amazon

Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!

— Jared Michel

Top Stories

📺 FOX 2 Gets Inside Look at Wildwood Cat House

FOX 2 gained exclusive access to the interior of a $1.3 million Wildwood home where 180 cats were recently removed. During the tour, family members showed reporters their childhood residence on Country Trails Court, now severely damaged after a relative barred access for two years while living there with elderly parents.

🏘️ New Plan for Vacant Properties

St. Louis County Council is considering a significant change in how it handles abandoned properties. Council members Rita Heard Days and Shalonda Webb have proposed creating a land bank to take control of neglected properties and clear their accumulated taxes and fees. The program aims to return these properties to productive use in local communities.

💰 Creve Coeur Winner Claims Million $ Lottery Prize

A Missouri Lottery player from Creve Coeur has stepped forward to claim her prize. The local woman purchased her winning ticket at Alta Convenience off New Ballas Road in October, matching the numbers 23, 26, 35, 41, and 43 for a $1 million win.

🍃 Pacific Breeze Warmed Region

A weather pattern called Chinook winds brought warmer temperatures to the St. Louis region this week. These warm, dry winds traveled from the Pacific Northwest down the Rocky Mountains before reaching our area. As the winds descended the mountain slopes, they compressed and warmed up, creating a natural heating effect.

📚 Library Expands Mobile Service

The St. Louis County Library's newest bookmobile, sponsored by Emerson, opened its doors for the first time this week. Local students explored the fresh collection of books and resources during the January 29th launch event, which included a special appearance by Splat the Cat.

Business

🚙 Two Local Dealers Join Amazon

Two local Hyundai dealerships are pioneering a new car-buying approach through Amazon. Dean Team Hyundai in Ballwin and St. Charles Hyundai now offer their inventory on the e-commerce platform, with customers able to complete most of the purchase process entirely online in about 20 minutes. Their inventory on Amazon Autos can be found here.

🍺 STL Ranks High Among Beer Cities

St. Louis has earned second place in USA Today's ranking of America's best beer cities. Our region's century-long brewing tradition, featuring over 100 historic breweries and modern craft establishments, stands out nationally.

📸 Museum Photo Contest Now Open

The National Museum of Transportation is accepting entries for their Pistons & Pixels Photo Contest. Visitors can submit photos of museum artifacts or family visits. Learn more here.

🚜 Hidden Valley Shows Off Snow Fleet

Hidden Valley shared a behind-the-scenes look at their snow management equipment earlier this week. The photo series features the resort's specialized fleet of maintenance vehicles, including their distinctive snowcats.

Ballwin

🌞 Ballwin Summer Camp Sign-Ups Begin

Registration for Ballwin's summer camp programs opens today for residents and Pointe members. The camps will feature activities including swimming and outdoor recreation throughout the summer season. Non-resident families can register starting February 15th through the city's parks and recreation department. Learn more / register here.

Creve Coeur

🗞️ Creve Coeur Newsletter Now Available

The City of Creve Coeur has released its February resident newsletter.

Des Peres

🌞 Des Peres Posts Camp Information

The city of Des Peres has published its summer camp program information on the city website.

Manchester

❄️ Don't Forget: Weather Alerts Available

For those who haven't enrolled, Manchester's text-based notification system for winter weather is active and waiting. Through the police department's partnership with Everbridge, you'll receive alerts about weather conditions affecting our area. Registration is open available by texting "manchestermo" to 888777.

🗓️ Parks Registration Starts February 3

The Manchester Parks Department announced registration dates for spring and summer programs. Registration opens Monday, February 3rd at 6am for online sign-ups, with in-person registration available at the Parks Building starting at 8am. Programs include summer camps, Musingo, Lego Night, and Messy Play Dates. Learn more / register here.

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