Issuu

May 27, 2020

Fighting back

Around Town NCI awards community leaders for making a difference in North County. Pg. 3 State representative arranges for COVID-19 testing station in North St. Louis. Pg. 5

Business

Home Builders Association donates $20,000 to Rebuilding Together-St. Louis. P.6

Features

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Dr. Martin Schmidt of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital recovered from the coronavirus and is one of the CCP therapy’s plasma donors.

Recovered COVID-19 patients donate their plasma to help others sick with the disease by passing on virus-fighting antibodies

Sports & Yeggs. Pg. 7

By Charlotte Beard

CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pgs. C-9/C-10

Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center (MVRBC) is accepting referrals for plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 patients. It is stated that one plasma donation can help four people undergo COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) therapy. Not to be confused with traditional blood donations, Kirby Winn, Public Relations Manager for MVRBC explains what recovered COVID-19 patients are donating in terms of plasma. “During the time that (a recovered person was) sick their body produced antibodies to that virus. Antibodies are carried

around in our blood but specifically within the plasma component of blood and it is possible to donate only the plasma. Now we have specialized equipment at our collection centers that allow us to separate the plasma from the rest of the blood components and then put that into a collection bag. We return those other components, which are the red cells and the platelets in the white cell, back to the donor’s body through that same tube and needle.” Dr. Martin Schmidt of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital recovered from the coronavirus and is one of the

CCP therapy’s plasma donors. “As soon as I was diagnosed, I knew that I eventually wanted to donate my plasma,” stated Schmidt. MVRBC provides the donations for therapy to 115 hospitals. Some of the St. Louis hospitals included in those donations are Mercy Hospital South, Mercy Hospital St. Louis, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, SSM Health DePaul Hospital, SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital, and St. Luke’s Des Peres Hospital. See ‘FIGHTING’ page 2

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Moore On Life,Movie. Pg. 8

(at the flip)

Weather FRIDAY Scattered Thunderstorms 79/64 SATURDAY Partly Cloudy 77/61 SUNDAY Mostly Sunny 75/60

Around Town

May 27, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

2020 Fiesta in ‘FIGHTING’ from cover Winn shared that the actual donations that area Florissant has hospitals use may come from a different city just been cancelled as the donations made in St. Louis might serve

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After much consideration and consultation, the difficult decision was made to cancel the 2020 Fiesta in Florissant Festival scheduled for June 27-28 in Florissant. Following overwhelming concerns about COVID-19 virus, the event organizers feel this is the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented situation and are extremely disappointed that they are unable to hold this event but know it’s the right decision for the Hispanic, Florissant and entire St. Louis community. Organizers will be exploring options to coordinate a virtual Fiesta in Florissant experience to continue to showcase the arts and culture of the Hispanic community. Updates will be shared soon. The Hispanic Festival, Inc. will bring the Fiesta in Florissant back in 2021. For more information call 314-837-6100 or visit www.hispanicfestivalstl.com.

a different city, yet everyone is benefiting from donors. “People who are sick with this infection – seriously ill in the hospital – they can receive the plasma as a transfusion,” stated Winn, “and then they’re going to have antibodies that were made by the donor when that person was sick. (Initially), their body is trying to produce antibodies to the virus (but) they just might not be making enough. So, this helps support their body’s own ability to fight back against the virus and helps them get ahead in terms of developing their own antibiotics to it. We are hearing that hospitals are using it, but it is not a magic cure. This is one of the tools that doctors have now.” Recovered COVID-19 patients donate at the Admin, Lab and Distribution site located at 3420 Rider Trail S in Earth City. To deter impromptu visits to the site, MVRBC is requesting that referrals or possible donors first complete the Self-Referral and Care Provider Form for Recovered COVID-19 Patients on their website at https:// www.bloodcenter.org. For those without internet access, inquiries may be made by calling 1-833610-1025. There is a process for determining that donors have met the requirement for having gone 28 days since their virus symptoms were discovered before they would be scheduled to donate. “We have a team of staff who are working on (these referrals),” stated Winn. “They (determine whether) the person had a positive test for

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COVID-19, and they need to be able to verify when their symptoms ended. (Also), there are all the other things that we ask (regarding) the eligibility to give blood. There (are) restrictions on places you have traveled, health conditions, and drugs and medications you might be (taking). So, (staff) go through all of that (information) ahead of time. When people come (to the donor site) we do a pre-donation screening. We want to know their blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. It’s all physical (requirements) that you could not do over the phone.” A plasma donation visit takes a slightly different amount of time than one might spend traditionally donating blood. According to Winn, for approximately the first 15 minutes of the visit is the check-in and previously mentioned pre-donation screening, along with the completion of a questionnaire. The next 45 minutes is spent in the donation chair where a donor provides plasma. Winn stated, “Plasma donation takes more time because the machine next to the donor is operating and separating the blood components as it goes; it’s just more time consuming.” “The process is very easy,” Schmidt shared. “I had no problem with it, and you can help a lot of other people. I feel very fortunate that I had a mild case of COVID-19, but there is a lot of people out there suffering with much more severe cases. If I can help some of them, I’m more than happy to do that.” According to Winn, every hospital in the United States is submitting information to the Mayo Clinic that is coordinating a national research project to determine the effectiveness of CCP therapy. “We appreciate people who are stepping forward for a plasma donation,” stated Winn, “because we know that those people have been through a lot; they got sick and then had to get better. Now they are looking for ways that they can help other people. We’re going to really rely on blood donors who give the traditional donations also to make sure that we have enough available this summer.”

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • May 27, 2020

Around Town

NCI awards community leaders for making a difference in North County North County Incorporated (NCI) will recognize local leaders for their contributions to the North County region at its 43rd Annual Leadership Breakfast at the Marriott St. Louis Airport. Please be advised that due to COVID-19 the date for this event will be announced later. The most current information for this event can be found on the NCI website at www.NorthStLouisCounty.com. More than 550 business, civic, and community leaders attend this celebration annually. Sponsorship packages are still available “It is a privilege to be able to honor the many dedicated people, businesses and organizations in North County working to improve our community and advance the local economy,” said NCI President and CEO,

Garden School District

Rebecca Zoll. 2020 NCI Leadership Award Honorees

• Ameren and 24:1 Partnership: Ring Safety Project

Business Development • Christian Hospital: Siteman Cancer Center

• Stephanie Williamson, Helping Hand Me Downs

• Centene Center

Community

Ice

• Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital Expansion

Diversity & Inclusion • Chris Jones and Doyle Washington, St. Louis County Fire Academy

nership: MoDOT, Missouri Transportation Commission and East-West Gateway Public Service • Karen Goodwin, City of Florissant

• Mayor Mary-Louise Carter, City of Pagedale Special Recognition • Gabrielle Cole, The Fit and Food Connection

• Erica Williams, A Red Circle

• COVID 19 Business Assistance Rapid Response Partners: Explore St. Louis, Missouri Department of Economic Development, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, St. Louis Development Corporation, St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce

Elmer Belsha Leadership • Senator Gina Walsh, State of Missouri

Community Development • Little Bit Foundation: Project Graduation at Riverview

• I-270 North Corridor Part-

Excellence in Partnership with NCI • North County Census Initiative: Missouri Foundation for Health’s Alexandra Rankin and St. Louis County’s Ethel Byndom

Council passes resolution urging Missouri Legislation to pass e-commerce use tax The Creve Coeur City Council has adopted a resolution encouraging the Missouri General Assembly to pass the Wayfair internet sales tax legislation. Passed during the city council meeting on April 27, Resolution No. 1484 encourages the Missouri House and Senate to immediately pass the Wayfair Tax Legislation without counterproductive revenue neutral provisions. The proposed legislation, including SB529 and SB648, would update the existing use tax laws in Missouri to ensure that all retailers with an economic nexus in the state will be required to remit use tax, placing these retailers on equal footing with retailers with physical stores in the state. “Our brick and mortar retailers continue to be at an enormous competitive disadvantage compared to online retailers who are not required to pay sales or use tax,” said Mayor Barry Glantz. In addition, local governments in Missouri are estimated to be losing tens of millions of dollars in online sales tax revenue by not having adopted an e-commerce use tax. “In order to begin to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to provide the high quality of service expected from our residents, we are urging the Missouri House and Senate to immediately pass the Wayfair Tax Legislation,” continued Glantz. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Creve Coeur and other Missouri cities were already seeing a decline in revenues due to consumers’ shift away from local retail and instead toward online purchases without sales tax collection. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenge of lost local sales tax revenue collections as consumers are purchasing more online, further shifting buying habits. The 2018 ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court case South Dakota vs. Wayfair has led to 43 of 45 states with statewide sales tax to adopt legislation to begin collecting sales tax revenue for online vendors that do not have a physical presence in their state. Missouri is one of two remaining states that have not passed an e-commerce use tax. If legislation is adopted by the General Assembly, cities seeking to implement a local use tax would require majority approval by voters in a future election.

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Aound Town

May 27, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

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Operation Food Search Receives $1.3 million grant St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced today that Operation Food Search (OFS), a nonprofit hunger relief organization, will receive a $1.3 million grant to assist with its summer meals program. The grant is made possible by the St. Louis County’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. Beginning June 1 through the end of Aug., OFS will offer free meals at St. Louis County partner distribution sites that include 10 public library branches and 10 public school districts. Library branches include

PUBLIC NOTICE

Nonpublic School Participation in Services through the Coronavirus Aide, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT NAME PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ADDRESS DATE ISSUED On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act into law. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion relief package to address the economic fallout related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Section 18003 makes funds available from the Education Stabilization Fund for grants to State Education Agencies for elementary and secondary school emergency relief. Section 18005 of the Act provides that Local Education Agencies (LEAs) receiving funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund must provide equitable services to non-public schools as required under section 1117 of the ESEA. However, control of these funds and title to materials, equipment and property purchased with such funds must remain with the public school district, and be administered by the public LEA. Public school districts will need to consult with non-public school oﬃcials to determine how the services will be providedto the non-public schools. Allowable Uses Applicable to Non-Public Schools 1. Any activity authorized by the ESEA of 1965, including; • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400, et seq.) (“IDEA”), • The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (34 U.S.C. 463, et seq.), • The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301, et seq.) (“the Perkins Act”), or • Subtitle 8 of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431, et seq.). 2. Coordinating the preparedness and response eﬀorts of local educational agencies (LEAs) with state and local public health departments and other relevant agencies to improve coordinated responses among such

8855 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042

4. Developing and implementing activities to address the unique needs of lowincome children or students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth through activities that include how outreach and service delivery will meet the needs of each population. 5. Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response eﬀorts of LEAs. 6. Training and professional development for LEA staﬀ on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases. 7. Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities of the LEA, including buildings operated by such agency. 8. Planning for and coordinating during longterm closures, including how to: • provide meals to eligible students, • provide technology for online learning to all students, • provide guidance for carrying out requirements under the IDEA; and, • ensure other educational services can continue to be provided consistent with all federal, state and local requirements. 9. Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software and connectivity) for students who are served by the LEA that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including low-income students and students with disabilities, which may include assistive technology or

Northwest Views: By Michael P. Brennan

05/15/2020

3. Providing principals and others school leaders with the resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools.

current child meal program by providing meals to adults and full families” at various distribution sites. This year marks OFS’s ninth year as a sponsor of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is funded by the USDA and ensures that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. OFS will expand this meal service capacity based upon the current climate and the CARES Act funding. Partnerships with the rural community, libraries and schools will utilize a drivethrough model with shelf-stable food. OFS also will offer mobile meal vans for food distribution.

Getting by with a little help from our community friends

Ferguson-Florissant School District

entities to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19.

Bridgeton Trails, Florissant Valley, Indian Trails, Jamestown Bluffs, Lewis & Clark, Natural Bridge, Prairie Commons, Rock Road and Weber Road. At a news conference, Page said the grants will help those in need have more access to food because “no child should have to go hungry.” According to OFS’s Executive Director Kristen Wild, who spoke at the news conference, the “rate of food insecurity in the state of Missouri was 14 percent before the pandemic. It currently sits at 41 percent.” Wild added that OFS is “thrilled to receive this funding from the county through the CARES Act and excited to supplement our

adaptive equipment. 10. Providing mental health services and supports. 11. Planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and supplemental afterschool programs, including providing classroom instruction or online learning during the summer months and addressing the needs of low-income students, students with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness and children in foster care. The CARES Act funds are for the 2019-20 school year and will be available to LEAs for use until September 30, 2022. While the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a number of nonpublic schools registered for participation in federal rograms, there may be additional nonpublic schools that wish to receive an equitable share of services funded by the CARES Act.. Nonpublic schools not registered with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) may contact the Federal Programs Section to participate in the CARES Act services. It is important to note that the non-public school will not receive funds, but rather services from the public school district. If you choose to participate in the services the CARES Act funds oﬀer, the Department will need confirmation from the nonpublic school of their wishes to participate as well as enrollment counts and economic deprivation counts BEFORE June 1, 2020. If you have questions or concerns, or to submit enrollment counts please contact Julia Cowell, Director of Federal Programs, at Julia.cowell@dese.mo.gov or Theresa Villmer, Equitable Services Ombudsman for the State of Missouri, at Theresa.villmer@dese.mo.gov.

You find out who your real friends are in times of crisis. And while no one would say this historic moment is a blessing, Every Child’s Hope is fortunate to have seen support pour in from our community over the past month. For the past 162 years, we have provided continuous care to vulnerable children and their families. Our youth care workers have always been our heroes and yet, in this moment, they have truly gone above and beyond the call of duty. The hard truth about the crises our children and their families face is they do not get put on hold during a pandemic. In fact, they can grow. That is why it’s been critical for us to be able to continue helping them during this time – and we have been able to do so with a little help from our friends. Like so many organizations, our initial concern was sourcing an adequate amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) for our staff. Our call went out for support and volunteers, board members and the community responded in ways I could not have imagined. One of our board members partnered with her mother and daughter to sew more than 250 masks for us! It makes my heart swell and demonstrates the difference just one person can make. A large portion of our work is done with therapy and psychiatric clients who don’t live on our campus. This presented its own problem: How do we serve them if we can’t see them? How do we meet the criteria for exceptional care? Again we were fortunate when donors and community support allowed us to acquire a telehealth platform. We never planned to deliver care this way, but the dedication to our mission from both staff and friends made it possible for children and families to quickly receive the help they need. So today, when I look out my window and see staff and children outside enjoying the spring sunshine on the same grounds that have provided shelter for generations, I feel confident that we’ll be here for years to come when we see support like we have. It’s an interesting historical moment for our organization - we were formed to care for the city’s children during the cholera epidemic of 1858. We’re thankful to continue this work. Michael P. Brennan, Chief Executive Officer of Every Child’s Hope. The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • May 27, 2020

Post Holdings makes generous donation to Operation Food Search Post Holdings recently made a significant donation to Operation Food Search (OFS), a nonprofit hunger relief organization, for its COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan that provides free meal distribution to the region’s children and families who need food assistance. The donation will go toward the funding of emergency food packs that OFS creates for community partners including Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) and St. Louis County Library branches. OFS currently distributes approximately 2,385 bags per week to select SLPS locations and other school districts, as well as nearly 1,700 packs per week at various library and community center sites. “Post is committed to making this situation just a bit easier by doing our jobs in helping to feed the country,” said Rob Vitale, President and CEO. “We are proud to do our part through contributing to a great organization like Operation Food Search.” Each emergency food pack has ingredients to make

four meals and contains shelf-stable items such as protein, soups and stews, vegetables, fruit, cereal and snacks. The meals are meant to supplement the food staples of a household where a child age 18 and younger lives. OFS essentially started its Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) at the end of March to accommodate children while schools are out. This is the ninth year that OFS has operated this program, which is funded by the USDA and ensures children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. For community locations and meal hours, visit https://www.operationfoodsearch.org/covid-19-meal-map/. “This very generous donation allows us to continue obtaining and distributing food during this widespread pandemic,” said Kristen Wild, Executive Director of OFS. “The demand for food is greater than ever, and we truly appreciate Post Holdings answering the need for so many in our community.” Wild added that OFS has “adapted our allocation services to incorporate drive-

Around Town

Submitted photo

through and by appointment only in order to limit food partner interactions.” The nonprofit works with state and regional leaders to address the needs related to food access for at-risk populations, low-income communities, first responders and other essential personnel.

State representative arranges for COVID-19 testing station in North St. Louis Rep. Steve Roberts, D-St. Louis, worked in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and Affinia Healthcare to establish a Mobile COVID-19 Test Site at the Victor Roberts Building at1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd. in St. Louis. The first day of the new test site saw a large turnout with over 50 people receiving a COVID-19 test. “This past Sunday, St. Louis posted its highest number of new cases for a single day since the outbreak began,” Roberts said. “Of the seventy residents of the city who have died, 67 percent are African American. We desperately needed more testing sites accessible in the area where the virus has proven most devastating.” Roberts added that the collaboration from the DHSS and Affinia Healthcare has been “outstanding.” “The fact that our family was able to provide a large site in a centralized location will make it easier to provide the social distancing needed while people are waiting to be tested. With no fee and no referral needed, we can get more people tested which is the key to reducing transmission.” “We are here testing in the 63113 zip code,” Dr. Kendra Holmes of Affinia Healthcare said. “This is one of the hot spots in Saint Louis City, so we are very happy to be able to provide these services.”

“I urge people to get tested, even if they are asymptomatic,” Roberts added. “You can unknowingly have the coronavirus and pass it to someone who is vulnerable and cause a life-threatening situation. Testing not only helps those that are ill, but those who want to protect others.”

www.stlukes-stl.com

Business

May 27, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Funeral Homes collecting food and supplies Seeing an increasing need in the communities they serve, the Dignity Memorial network is offering up five of their area funeral homes as drop-off locations for food, personal care items, and cleaning supplies. All items collected will be delivered to the St. Louis Area Foodbank – the bi-state region’s largest non-profit food provider. Since COVID-19 arrived in the area, the Foodbank has seen a significant increase in demand among the 500+ food pantries, shelters, and other community partners. Rising unemployment, furloughs, and children being out of school have forced many local residents to look for assistance. “What has been inspiring throughout this pandemic is seeing communities supporting their neighbors in need,” said St. Louis Area Foodbank President and CEO, Meredith Knopp. “The Foodbank is proud to serve both Missouri and Illinois

and we’re grateful to Dignity Memorial for offering up five of their locations as community dropoff locations for much-needed food and supplies. We encourage anyone looking to help people locally or in need themselves to visit our website for more information – STLFoodbank.org/Covid19.” Collections will continue at all locations during normal business hours until further notice. Suggested items to donate: • • • • • • • •

Unsweetened Applesauce Canned Corn Canned Peas Chili with Beans Spaghetti O’s Canned Peaches Skillet Dinner Peanut Butter

• Canned Tuna or Canned Chicken • Instant Oatmeal packets • Cereal • Cleaning supplies • Hygiene items • No glass or perishable items, please.

PUBLIC NOTICE Nonpublic School Participation in Services through the Coronavirus Aide, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT NAME PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ADDRESS DATE ISSUED On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act into law. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion relief package to address the economic fallout related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Section 18003 makes funds available from the Education Stabilization Fund for grants to State Education Agencies for elementary and secondary school emergency relief. Section 18005 of the Act provides that Local Education Agencies (LEAs) receiving funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund must provide equitable services to non-public schools as required under section 1117 of the ESEA. However, control of these funds and title to materials, equipment and property purchased with such funds must remain with the public school district, and be administered by the public LEA. Public school districts will need to consult with non-public school oﬃcials to determine how the services will be providedto the non-public schools. Allowable Uses Applicable to Non-Public Schools 1. Any activity authorized by the ESEA of 1965, including; • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400, et seq.) (“IDEA”), • The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (34 U.S.C. 463, et seq.), • The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301, et seq.) (“the Perkins Act”), or • Subtitle 8 of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431, et seq.). 2. Coordinating the preparedness and response eﬀorts of local educational agencies (LEAs) with state and local public health departments and other relevant agencies to improve coordinated responses among such

Hazelwood School District 15955 New Halls Ferry Road, Florissant, MO 63031 May 20, 2020

entities to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19. 3. Providing principals and others school leaders with the resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools. 4. Developing and implementing activities to address the unique needs of lowincome children or students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth through activities that include how outreach and service delivery will meet the needs of each population. 5. Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response eﬀorts of LEAs. 6. Training and professional development for LEA staﬀ on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases. 7. Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities of the LEA, including buildings operated by such agency. 8. Planning for and coordinating during longterm closures, including how to: • provide meals to eligible students, • provide technology for online learning to all students, • provide guidance for carrying out requirements under the IDEA; and, • ensure other educational services can continue to be provided consistent with all federal, state and local requirements. 9. Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software and connectivity) for students who are served by the LEA that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including low-income students and students with disabilities, which may include assistive technology or

HBA donates $20,000 to Rebuilding Together-St. Louis

Submitted photo

On behalf of the Home Builders Charitable Foundation (HBCF), 2020 HBA President Bill Wannstedt of Consort Homes (left) presented a $20,000 donation to Elaine Powers, executive director of Rebuilding Together-St. Louis. The donation will be used toward Rebuilding Together-St. Louis’ Rebuilding Day. Rebuilding Together revitalizes neighborhoods in partnership with the community by rehabilitating the houses of low-income home owners, particularly the elderly and the disabled, so that they may continue to live independently in comfort and safety. Rebuilding Day is the organization’s annual one-day blitz where volunteers make home repairs for low-income, elderly and disabled home owners in the St. Louis Metro area. The HBA is a local trade association of more than 600 member firms representing the residential construction industry. The Home Builders Charitable Foundation, the HBA’s charitable arm, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing assistance to people or organizations with special shelter needs.

Wells Fargo Foundation commits over $250,000 to help stabilize the unhoused and unsheltered population Wells Fargo Foundation is partnering with Covenant House Missouri, St. Patrick Center and Almost Home. Wells Fargo’s gift will provide generous support to help our communities most vulnerable populations. The CDC indicates that individuals experiencing homelessness are a particularly vulnerable population during this time, and at increased risk for COIVD-19. Some challenges include access to healthcare, the ability to practice social distancing, and having a safe place to follow the stay order. “Wells Fargo has a strong legacy of serving and supporting those in need in the St. Louis region. We are proud to use our resources for the underserved population during COVID-19 to help ensure residents in our region have adequate residences to shelter in place and access to critical services,” said Jim Hays, President of Wells Fargo Advisors. Covenant House Missouri, St. Patrick Center and Almost Home are well established agencies that have been providing critical services to the homeless population in our community for decades. These three organizations are on the front lines of the pandemic for the unhoused and unsheltered populations in our community. Each organization has a unique sector of the homeless population that they support – Covenant House supports youth ages 16 to 24, St. Patrick Center works with adults and veterans and Almost Home cares for pregnant and parenting young moms ages 16 to 21 and their children. The investment from Wells Fargo will support all three organizations in delivering their missions and safety net services will not be disrupted.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • May 27, 2020

Sports you see with Gary B...

Yeggs

Features

John Hanna

Play ball The O’Fallon Hoots play in the Prospect Wood Bat League with home games at the CarShield field in O’Fallon. July 1 is the prospected date the boys of the summer will hit the diamond with all the safety issues in tack. Stay tune for more updates. For more details go to www.ProspectLeague.com * Smell those hotdogs cooking A few more athletes to receive awards at Lindenwood Each sport at Lindenwood University has a conference member who selects one student-athlete from his or her respective program to be considered for the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award. Individual sport winners will be eligible to become their school’s overall Spalding winner, which will be announced later this month. These representatives were selected because of their sportsmanship and ethical behavior during the season. The honorees must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports competition setting. Regina Huesca-Barrales of the university’s women’s track and field and Bryan Bevelhimer of Lindenwood men’s lacrosse are candidates. Huesca-Barrales is a senior who participates in sprints and hurdles. In 2017, she finished an outdoor meet with a 400m hurdles with a time of 1:02.85, which is good for third all-time in program history. In the 2018-19 season, she was named to both the winter and spring MIAA Academic Honor Rolls. In 2017, she was named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. Bevelhimer is a senior from Zionsville, Indiana who played in all five games for the Lions in a shortened 2020 season. He caused five turnovers over his five games played. In his career, Bevelhimer has amassed four points, scooped 77 ground balls, and caused over 30 turnovers. Last season he caused a career-high 18 turnovers. Other athletes were picked and you can see those by going to www.LindenwoodLions.com * Tough choices for the winner UMSL has a few candidates for the Sportsmanship Award As mentioned in my previous article, the University of Missouri-St. Louis has picked several athletes as well. The university’s senior Derrick Freeman of the baseball team and senior Emma Thorngren of the women’s golf team have been named as candidates. Freeman was named UMSL’s male honoree for the second straight year. He graduates after five seasons with the Tritons program, having played in 146 career games. During his career, Freeman recorded 135 hits, including 25 doubles, 10 triples and 12 home runs, while scoring 112 runs and driving in 86. Thorngren, a three-time All-American, finished the year ranked seventh in NCAA Division II Golfstat Player Rankings. She posted a single-season program record 72.84 scoring average, winning three tournaments and finishing no lower than eighth in seven events with five top-five finishes. She is the program’s career scoring average leader at 75.46. The duo were two of 32 student-athletes, one male and one female from each of the league’s 16 schools, formally recognized after learning of their honors during their respective All-Conference process this past year. As mentioned, winners will be named at the end of the month. * Great accomplishments Happy Birthday today to my son Chase Baute!!! Gary Baute, a St. Louis native, may be educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan or an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season, among many other activities. I am currently hosting a Health show on 97.1 FM, ‘Prime Time Health’ www. PrimeTimeSTL.com. It broadcasts Saturday nights at 8 and Sunday mornings at 9.

‘Yeggs’ is a comic series about Robert and Bill, two rabbits who have opened their own egg franchise in the Midwest (St. Louis area). We follow their day to day lives, watching as they go about the hectic task of preparing for their one big day every year. Along the way they have adventures filled with fun, comic doings and pathos.

www.langinsurance.com

Feature

May 27, 2020 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

By Cindy Moore

Moore On Life

’ve always been a peaceful, law-abiding citizen, but this plague thing has turned me into some kind of felonious deviant criminal. There are so many new rules that if you’re not paying attention you’ll be paying the price. I ventured out to my local grocer to stock up on supplies. A man was stationed at the store’s entrance. He clicked the tally counter in his hand then held up a hand and said, “Halt!” “What’s the problem?” I asked. “You’re number 101. We’re only allowing 100 people in. You’ll have to wait until someone comes out.” The sun was hot; it was stifling under my facemask. I lowered it to grab a whiff of oxygen and clear the spots before I passed out onto the concrete. “Do not remove your mask!” The guard barked. “Listen Bub, if I don’t get some fresh air I will collapse into a heap and unsocial distance all over your rude body.” Just then someone exited. I flashed the guard my worst stink eye before entering. I finished up shopping then headed to the check-out lane. The cashier was vaulted behind Plexiglas and sheathed in a mask. “Odee un ibem!” she mumbled. “Huh?” She jabbed at a sign – Only One Item Per Customer. The same previous guard showed up and took my extra package of TP. He flashed back his worst stink

CRIMINAL MIND

eye before leaving. I then offered my recycle bags thinking the clerk would see that I loved the planet and forgive my prior indiscretion. “Code Corona!” she shouted into the loud-speaker. Mr. Guard rushed up dressed in Hazmat robes, gloves and a clear visor. He grabbed my bags with salad tongs and yanked them from my grasp then stinked up his eye another notch.

“What are you doing?!” I said snatching them back. “These are no longer accepted,” he snarked. “They’re covered with more germs than your nasty cat box.” “How do you know I have a cat?” He pointed to my giant bag of Momma’s Best Kitty kibble in my cart. “Whatever. I’m leaving and won’t return!” I snapped. The guard blocked me then pointed to the taped arrow on the floor aimed in the opposite direction. “I’m going to have to penalize you for wheeling your basket down a one-way aisle. Hand over the kibble or the TP!” So the cats will still get fed and the recycle bags will be put to good use after all. Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder. The opinions expressed in this column are Cindy Moore’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

The wisdom of ‘Forrest Gump’

Movie: By Steve Bryan

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

nstead of showing reruns of their sitcoms and shows, CBS has revived “Sunday Night at the Movies,” a weekly film series featuring such classic films as “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Titanic” and “Mission Impossible.” The series was intended to run for five weeks, but there is a good chance the network may extend it into the summer. “Forrest Gump” received the Sunday night treatment recently. Tom Hanks earned a second Best Actor Oscar playing the title character, a man who many considered to be slow or even stupid. Still, Forrest accomplished a great deal: fighting in the Vietnam War, receiving the Medal of Honor and becoming a successful businessman. He also played collegiate football and became a member of the All-American Football team. In his own words, Mr. Gump is “not a smart man,” but he truly is selling himself short. Anyone who spends years running back and forth across the country has a talent for navigation and logistics. He keeps his running simple: sleeping, eating and taking care of other needs when he wants to do so. Throughout his journey, he never loses sight

become “a household name.” As for his integrity, Forrest’s moral compass is as straight as his back after getting rid of his braces. Before Bubba Gump Shrimp took off, he attends the Foursquare Baptist Church in Alabama for inspiration and later donates a considerable sum to the church. Even though Bubba was gone, Forrest keeps his promise to split the shrimping profits with Bubba (his mother passes out when she sees the large check from Forrest). Forrest has two great loves in his life: his mother and Jenny, a schoolmate who comes in and out of his life several times. Mrs. Gump is a great influence on her boy and, when he learns she is sick, he leaves his boat to be with her. Forrest’s love for Jenny never wavers, even when he is running or fighting in Vietnam. No matter what, he always remains true to the ones he loves even after they are gone. CBS will wrap up the first series of “Sunday Night at the Movies” with “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” on Sunday, May 31. Here’s hoping the network continues showing other classics on Sundays in June. Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures

of the natural beauty around him. He even mentions jogging past a mountain lake so clear that “it looked like two skies, one on top of the other.” As a business owner, Forrest does things his own way. After Bubba, a fellow soldier and his dear friend, dies in combat, Forrest keeps Bubba’s dream of operating a shrimp boat alive. He invests his money in the operation and is later joined by Lt. Dan Taylor, Forrest’s Vietnam platoon leader. After Hurricane Carmen wipes out other boats, Lt. Dan and Forrest have the only seaworthy ship. Their company, Bubba Gump Shrimp, was soon to

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