⚡️ A Renovated Fire Station, Scottish Fest & More

Author

Jared Michel
May 10, 2024

👋 Good Morning, West County!

In today’s ⚡️ West County Pulse newsletter:

  • 🚒 A Fire Station Renovation

  • 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The Scottish Games Arrive

  • 📊 STL County’s Police Morale Survey

Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!

— Jared Michel

Get your garden ready for spring at the Forget-Me-Not Garden Club's annual plant sale tomorrow from 11am to 3pm!

Browse a wide selection of perennials, herbs, houseplants, and garden-related items, all while supporting local and national charities. Choose from full sun, part-sun, and shade-tolerant varieties, as well as deer and rabbit-resistant plants. Don't forget to check out the herb selection, featuring basil, lavender, mint, and more. Plus, houseplant enthusiasts will love the aloe vera, hoya, spider plants, and rubber plants on offer.

The sale will take place at 13515 Ladue Farm Road, and payment options wil include cash, check, or Venmo. Arrive early for the best selection, and don't forget to bring a container for your new plants!

THE DIGEST

🚒 Metro West Fire Station Gets $5.7M Facelift

Metro West Fire Protection District's Station 3, built in 1983, recently completed a $5.7 million renovation funded by Proposition S. The overhaul included updated living quarters, a wellness room, and improved gear storage to reduce firefighters' exposure to carcinogens. Despite the 18-month construction, the station maintained uninterrupted service to the community. Read more here.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Kilts, Cabers, and Clans: Scottish Games Arrive!

Get ready for a day of Celtic fun at the St. Louis Scottish Games & Cultural Festival tomorrow at Schroeder Park in Manchester! Experience traditional Scottish athletics, including the caber toss and hammer throw. Enjoy live music, Highland dancing, sheepherding demos, and a special tug-o-war match between Ballwin and Manchester first responders. Bring the whole family for a day of food, crafts, and Scottish pride! Festivities kick off at 9am. Get your tickets here.

📊 Survey Reveals Morale Challenges for County Police

A recent internal survey of St. Louis County Police employees revealed that about 50% of responding officers have considered leaving the department within the past year. While 63% would still recommend the department as a place to work, respondents rated overall department morale at 4.26 out of 10. The department is currently working on addressing the concerns raised in the survey, which included manpower, pay and benefits, and internal communication.

📚 STL Libraries Launch Summer Reading Adventure

St. Louis City and County public libraries have teamed up to launch the STL Summer Adventure, a summer reading and exploration program for children and teens. The program, which runs from June 1 to August 10, offers activities in STEM, art, outdoors, and reading. Participants can earn badges and prizes by completing activities, with a bonus raffle entry for each additional badge earned.

🌊 Flashback: 2017 Meramec River Flood

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently shared a collection of photos looking back at the historic Meramec River flooding that occurred in late April to early May 2017. The floods, caused by over 10 inches of rain, shut down parts of I-44 and I-55 and damaged hundreds of homes and businesses. One MoDOT official advised residents: "You all are going to have to decide what side of the river you want to be on before you go to bed tonight, because you're not going to be able to go back and forth."

BUSINESS

🖌️ STL Magazine Spotlights Pinspiration Chesterfield

STL Magazine recently published an article about four smash and splatter rooms where kids can get messy near St. Louis, including Pinspiration Chesterfield. The article highlights the unique Splatter Experience offered at the Chesterfield location, where visitors can create their own Jackson Pollock-inspired masterpieces. Pinspiration Chesterfield accommodates up to eight guests at a time in their splatter room.

🏦 First Bank Opens Futuristic New HQ in Creve Coeur

First Bank has opened its new $40 million headquarters in Creve Coeur, designed with employee wellness and collaboration in mind for the post-pandemic world. The 87,000-square-foot building features outdoor courtyards, a fourth-floor deck, and ample meeting spaces to encourage flexibility and comfort. About 420 employees are assigned to the new HQ, with a hybrid approach to in-office work.

SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATES

Parkway

📰 West High Student Named MO Journalist of Year

Elizabeth Franklin, a senior at Parkway West High School, has been named the Missouri Student Journalist of the Year. Franklin, who serves as Editor-in-Chief of the school's student news site, the Pathfinder, is the first journalist from West High to receive this prestigious honor. The award recognizes her outstanding work in various areas of journalism, including reporting, editing, and commitment to diversity.

Rockwood

🗳️ Ten Apply for Rockwood Board Vacancy

Ten Rockwood patrons have submitted applications to fill the open Board of Education seat vacated by Jessica Clark. The remaining Board members will review candidates' responses and conduct interviews before making their decision in the beginning of June.

🌹 Rockwood Staff and Community Honored at ROSE Awards

The Rockwood School District held its 35th Annual ROSE Award Ceremony on May 5, recognizing the outstanding contributions of teachers, staff, and community members. The event, attended by nearly 300 guests, celebrated the dedication and commitment of those who serve the children and families of the district.

CITY HIGHLIGHTS

Ballwin

🦟 Mosquito Fogging Starts Monday

Starting Monday Ballwin will begin its annual Mosquito Fogging Program to control the adult mosquito population. The program will run through September 13th, with fogging occurring weekly at 8:30pm when mosquitoes are most active. Each ward will be fogged on a specific day of the week, but fogging may be postponed due to rain or excessive wind. Learn more about the program here.

Des Peres

🚓 Explore Police Cars & Fire Trucks at Monster Machines Day!

Des Peres is hosting its free Monster Machines Day event at The Lodge outdoor pool parking lot tomorrow from 9am to 12pm. Families can get an up-close look at police cars, fire trucks, and other vehicles. Kids can climb in and let their imaginations run wild at this hands-on event.

Eureka

🥔 Senior Lunch to Honor Eureka Police Dept.

The Eureka Parks and Recreation department is inviting seniors to a special lunch honoring the Eureka Police Department next Thursday. Attendees will enjoy a baked potato bar with BBQ pulled pork, a salad bar, and apple crisp. The cost is $7 for residents and $8 for non-residents, and RSVPs by phone (636-938-6775) are required by Tuesday.

Manchester

📸 Manchester Launches FOCUS Photography Exhibit

The city of Manchester is inviting photographers of all ages and skill levels to participate in its FOCUS Photography Exhibition. With over $1500 in cash prizes and free entry for those under 21, the competition encourages creativity and inclusivity. Submissions are being accepted online through May 31, and selected entries will be displayed at Schroeder Park from June 14 to July 8. Learn more here.

🏊‍♀️ Manchester's Tiny Tot Triathlon for Pint-Sized Athletes

Manchester is hosting its Tiny Tot Triathlon for kids ages 3-9 on June 1st. The event will feature biking, running, and swimming, with three course options: Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced. Parents will assist their little athletes throughout the race, which starts at 9am with heats every 15 minutes. After completing the biking and running portions, participants can enjoy an hour of pool time and will receive a medal at the finish line. Learn more / register here.

Town and Country

❤️ City Hosting Life-Saving Event

Today the American Red Cross is hosting a Blood Drive at the Longview Farm House from 10am to 2pm. Register here.

Wildwood

💬 Wildwood Seeks J-Turn Feedback on May 14

Wildwood will host its next open house session on the proposed Route 100 J-Turn Improvement Project next Tuesday (May 14) from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Wildwood Municipal Building. Residents can drop by to view project plans, discuss the improvements with city staff and engineers, and provide written feedback. The project aims to enhance safety at intersections along Route 100.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Today: Town & Country Blood Drive @ the Longview Farm House from 10am to 2pm. Learn more here.

  • Tomorrow:

    • St. Louis Scottish Games & Cultural Festival @ Schroeder Park starting at 9am. Learn more / buy tickets here.

    • St. Louis County Parks’s Mother’s Day Wine Tasting at Faust Park from 4pm to 7pm. Learn more here.

    • Forget-Me-Not Garden Club’s 2024 Plant Sale from 11am to 3pm. Learn more here.

    • Native Plant Sale at the World Bird Sanctuary from 10am to 2pm. Learn more here.

    • Plant Sale at Bethel Wildwood Church from 9am to 1pm. Learn more here.

    • Des Peres’s Monster Machines Day @ The Lodge from 9am to 12pm. Learn more here.

Next Week

  • Wednesday May 15: Manchester’s Conversations with the Mayor @ the Manchester Justice Center at 7:30am

  • Friday May 17: Town & Country Concert @ Town Square at 6pm. Learn more here.

  • Saturday May 18:

    • Manchester Craft Beer Festival @ Schroeder Park from 3pm to 6pm. Learn more here.

    • West County Home & Garden Expo @ Queeny Park from 9am to 2pm. Learn more here.

    • La Salle Retreat Center Bee Dash 5k at 8:30am. Learn more / register here.

    • Rockwoods Rockin’ Horsefest @ Greensfelder Park from 9am to 6pm. 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!

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