April 8, 2020
Learning from home
Around Town
St. Charles County WIC continues services during COVID-19. Pg. 5 All city of O’Fallonoperated buildings closed until further notice. Pg.2 St. Peters Municipal Court and Police Records offices closed to public through April 17. Pg.3
Special Section Updates from the St. Charles County Public Health Department. Pg. 4
Features
Photo by Brett Auten Elizabeth Jones goes over some lessons outside on her deck in St. Peters with her sons Carson (far right) and Wyatt. Jones, like many parents across the county, are confronted with the task of incorporating some sort of homeschooling into their life since the COVID-19 outbreak has all schools shut down through April 24.
With schools closed, parents and teachers all over St. Charles County are facing the challenges of remote education By Brett Auten Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, everyone’s new normal looks very different depending on the day. With all schools closed through at least April 24, how to keep some type of education regularity is the question that has been heavy on the hearts of all educators and parents. The Community News checked in on educators in the City of St. Charles, Francis Howell, and Wentzville school districts to glean any tips or suggestions that could benefit you and your children during these wildly out of place times. Christian Baez, who grew up in the Francis Howell School District and graduat-
ed from Francis Howell Central, is a fifth grade teacher at Becky-David Elementary. He stressed that one of the most important things to remember when teaching our children is the importance of being patient and establishing a routine. “Things will be a bit rocky in the beginning, and that’s okay,” Baez said. “Meet with your kids and set the expectations first thing in the morning. A daily morning meeting works well at the elementary level. Give your child a voice and listen to them. This is hard for them too.” Baez encourages families to let their children share some of the work they are completing. For example, if your child writes a story, ask them to share what they wrote with
you. You might ask them, “What are you most proud of about your writing piece?” It should go without saying that if a parent has a question or concern, they should reach out to their child’s teacher. They all want to help in any way that they can. Dr. Megan Sutton has been in the Wentzville School District for 15 years. She taught kindergarten at Heritage Primary for 10 years and was the assistant principal at Crossroads Elementary for three years and is currently in her second year as principal at Heritage Primary. Sutton comes from a family of educators who are excitedly embarking on this new territory. An important factor See ‘HOME’ page 2
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‘HOME’ from cover Sutton says to keep in mind when teaching your child is attention span. “A good rule of thumb for attention spans is one minute per year-old,” Sutton said. “So a seven-year-old will be able to hold maximum attention for about seven minutes at a time. So remember it is absolutely fine to take a quick break. Learning should be fun at home, so play a lot of games.” Any type of card games, such as UNO, is another fun way to practice mathematics. When in doubt, students can always read a book and create a response about their reading, free write, create poetry, science experiment, cook with you or balance a checkbook. Remember, learning can happen in so many different ways. “The main idea is that there is no ‘education normalcy’,” Sutton said. “So feel free to create a new normal that works for you and your kids and stick to a similar daily schedule each day so they know what to expect.” Megan Hallam is a St. Charles County native who teaches English Language Arts at Hardin Middle School. She has been working in the City of St. Charles School District for 12 years. She and her husband have four children from the ages of two-to-12, so they are right in the thick of working from home while helping their two school-age children with distance learning and taking care of two preschoolers. “The most helpful system we’ve put into place is multifaceted, but it works for us,” she said. “Create a schedule that works for your family, and be sure to involve your school-age children in the process so they know your expectations. Set up a designated workspace for those in your family who need to learn and work at home free from distractions. Make learning and working on goals at the beginning of the day. Be consistent and flexible at the same time. Remember, your schedule is a working document, so you get to redesign it until it works for your family.” The students who struggle academically, or who were just building momentum, are certainly a concern. The most effective way to combat the struggle is to keep working through it using all of the available resources; emailing teachers with questions, looking up “how-to” videos to clarify confusing processes or content, attend-
ing online “live” teaching sessions, collaborating with a classmate on common assignments and doing these things consistently. “I am concerned about my students who were already struggling,” Abigail Birhanu, a 14-year veteran at St. Charles High and a St. Charles West grad, said. “No teacher wants to fail a student, but communication is key in helping us understand especially during this time when we are unable to walk by the student’s desk to pose those questions that help us understand if the students have grasped the concept. Without that communication element, it will be difficult to help those students who are struggling.” Parents need to forgive themselves in those moments when it all feels overwhelming. All of the educators we spoke with love talking to the parents of their students whether on the phone or via email. As long as you keep an open line of communication, the teachers are ready to help and are hoping to be contacted. For these students, building confidence is key. “Give a lot of compliments when they are showing success, even if you feel they should ‘already know that,’” Sutton said. “Find out what your child’s needs are and go slow and do not push. If your child seems frustrated, pause and take a break. Just remember to keep the learning fun and light.” Jeremy Jackson, a St. Charles West teacher and graduate, says that it is always best to keep a positive attitude and embrace the new challenge. Perspective is good as well. If this would have happened 30 years ago, the effects would have been much more devastating. He also stressed that, when possible, it is important for parents to keep their students on a somewhat consistent schedule. “Kids should be getting up at a decent time, getting breakfast and getting into their learning,” Jackson said. “Sitting at a computer can be more mentally fatiguing than sitting in a classroom, so frequent breaks may be needed.” One way to manage this is to have students set a goal about what they are going to accomplish before their next break. This is also a great time for students to do some exploratory learning. “YouTube is a rabbit hole of useless information, but also a wealth of amazing opportunities,” Jackson said. “You can do anything from getting extra help on a new math concept to learn how to paint or play the guitar to watch an oral surgeon perform surgery. There are many, many opportunities to explore new avenues of learning.”
Next week: Part II Our series continues as we check in on the teachers and see what type of programs they are incorporating and how they are handling teaching students remotely.
All city of O’Fallon-operated buildings will remain closed until further notice due to COVID-19 In response to continued evaluation of the information presented by the St. Charles County Health Department, the Federal Government and state officials, the city of O’Fallon announced that all city-operated public buildings, including the O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall), the Justice Center’s Records and Courts offices, the Renaud Center, O’Day Lodge, the Krekel Civic Center and Parks offices will remain closed to the public until further notice. Previously, the city announced these facilities would be closed to the public until April 3. City operations will continue as normal during this time, and residents may contact city hall or city departments via telephone or email. Parks and recreation classes and programs
scheduled prior to May 10 are postponed. Every attempt will be made to reschedule as many of these classes and programs as possible. Anyone scheduled for those classes or programs that cannot be made up will be issued a credit towards another program. Recreation staff will reach out to those registered individually and discuss options as decisions are made. Any classes or programs after May 10 will be evaluated at a future date based on the most up-to-date information available at the time. All city meetings except for the O’Fallon City Council meetings have been cancelled through the month of April. Further information on the procedures for the City Council meetings scheduled for April 9 and April
23 will be announced soon. Additionally, the free bulk waste drop-off event scheduled for April 11 has been cancelled. The regularly scheduled electronics and appliance recycling drop-off event scheduled for April 4 from 8 a.m. until noon in the CarShield Field parking lot will take place. Social distancing and other safety precautions will be in place during the drop off. The city reminds residents that the city’s website allows self-service options for bill payments, permit applications, submitting questions and most other city services. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of these services. Municipal bill payments also may be dropped off in the mailbox behind City Hall 24 hours a day / seven days a week.
www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • April 8, 2020
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Message to public regarding Circle K in St. Charles County On March 24, the St. Charles County Department of Public Health learned that a resident who tested positive for COVID-19 is an employee of Circle K at 3700 Elm Street in St. Charles. The store closed voluntarily, and Public Health Department epidemiologists are investigating and screening known contacts. The Department of Public Health knows it is scary to know of exposure, or even possible exposure, to a pandemic virus, but it is extremely important that the public not panic. There are many factors to consider regarding risk, and there are ways to help minimize that risk. First, the more time that someone interacts with a person who has COVID-19, the more likely a transmission. Convenience store interactions are generally brief. In every instance, maintaining a distance of six feet from another is extremely important, especially if those interactions are longer.
There are published reports and other evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can live on surfaces for days and potentially weeks. Surfaces and items touched by people with COVID-19, and even people without COVID-19, do contribute to the spread of the disease when those surfaces are not sanitized and/ or hands are not cleaned. This is why everyone should remain, or immediately become, much more diligent about regularly washing their hands, not touching their face and cleaning or sanitizing frequent touch surfaces such as cell phones, desktops, doorknobs, keyboards, and all the examples that have been given by many sources for many weeks. People with these behaviors will have lessened their risk. While the Department of Public Health does contact tracing about persons who have tested positive, it is not possible for department staff to identify ev-
ery person who may have entered Circle K in the past two or more weeks due to the nature who paid at the pump, paid in cash, etc. If you were in the store in the past two weeks, please monitor your health. If you have COVID-19 symptoms such as dry cough and fever, isolate yourself from others and call a healthcare provider. People who visited the store but do not have symptoms do not need to self-quarantine unless they notice COVID-19 symptoms. If you have questions, call the St. Charles County Public Health Information Hotline at 636-949-1899, or visit sccmo. org/COVID for more information. The St. Charles County Department of Public Health follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/risk-assessment.html) for managing contacts of positive Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
St. Peters Municipal Court and Police Records offices closed to public through April 17 St. Peters Municipal Court offices are now closed to the public through April 17. The St. Peters Police Records Division’s public window also is closed through April 17. The closures are due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Both offices are located at the St. Peters Justice Center, and will remain staffed. You may still contact each office: • Municipal Court is available by phone at 636-279-8280. Several online forms and services are also available online at https://www.stpetersmo.net/st-peters-municipal-court.aspx. • You may request a police record by contacting the Police Records Division at 636-477-6600, ext. 3525. All cases in St. Peters Municipal Court were previously postponed through April 17, as ordered by the Supreme Court of Missouri. April 7 and April 14 dockets will be rescheduled. For city of St. Peters announcements regarding COVID-19, and for ways to do business with the city of St. Peters remotely, visit the city of St. Peters website at www.stpetersmo.net
St. Charles County Pet Adoption Center employee tests positive for COVID-19 A St. Charles County Pet Adoption Center employee has tested positive for COVID-19 and is hospitalized. The County’s Department of Public Health was notified early April 1 by the state lab. The employee last worked at the facility, located at 4850 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters, on March 20. The center closed to the public on March 25 and is taking appointments only for reclaiming lost animals by calling 636-979-7387. No other information is being released about the employee. Per Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocol, Public Health has started contact tracing and investigations on employees at the center and will follow appropriate protocol for cleaning as well. For more information and precautions for COVID-19, as well as updates, when available, visit sccmo.org/COVID. Residents who show symptoms or have questions should call the St. Charles County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Information Hotline at 636-949-1899, which operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily.
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April 8, 2020 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com
Indoors…Outdoors…Young…Elderly Social Distancing Matters EVERYWHERE and for EVERYONE If you follow social media, you’ve likely seen comments from those who are frustrated about groups of adults and children gathering in close quarters in neighborhoods, on playgrounds, and in area stores. These actions continue to occur despite orders for residents to practice social distancing and stay at home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The St. Charles County Department of Public Health has a message for those engaging in these behaviors: STOP. Missouri Governor Mike Parson issued a statewide “Stay Home Missouri” Order effective at 12:01 a.m., Monday, April 6, 2020, until 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 24, 2020, to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Order explicitly states that individuals currently residing within the state of Missouri avoid leaving their places of residence unless necessary. The Order does not prohibit Missourians from accessing essential services, provided that they take necessary precautions to reduce transmission of the disease. To view the full Order, visit governor.mo.gov/priorities/stay-home-order. “These directives are not just for elderly or vulnerable populations,” says Demetrius Cianci-Chapman, Director of the St. Charles County Department of Public Health. “Everyone, including kids and teenagers, needs to stay home as much as possible and practice social distancing to stop the spread of this illness. Also, local police departments are making efforts to help disperse large crowds and commu-
nicate the importance of social distancing with business owners and store managers.” While the elderly and those with chronic health conditions are most at risk for severe illness, this disease can affect anyone. “The other week a young woman in her 30s from St. Louis passed away because of this illness,” adds Cianci-Chapman. “Everyone needs to take it seriously.” To stop the spread of new infections: • Stay home, except for essentials and work. • Practice social distancing – remain at least 6 feet apart from others. • Wear a cloth face covering. • Wash hands for at least 20 seconds. • Disinfect frequently touched surfaces. • Cover coughs and sneezes. “All preventative measures lessen the impact on our already strained healthcare system,” explains Cianci-Chapman. “This is what the phrase ‘flatten the curve’ means. Everyone plays a part.” Social distancing doesn’t mean that individuals can’t go outside, stay connected, or help neighbors and loved ones. Check out the images below for tips. For more information about COVID-19, visit sccmo. org.COVID. If you have questions about COVID-19 or if you have symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing), please call the Department of Public Health’s Information Hotline at 636-949-1899, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily.
Additional St. Charles County Parks facilities and amenities shut down The health, safety and well-being of the community is a top priority to the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department. In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the Parks Department will continue to suspend park programs and will close the following facilities and amenities until further notice: Indoor Meeting Facilities, Playgrounds, Dog Parks, Drinking Fountains, Restrooms, Campsites and Cabin Rentals, Shelters, The gift shop and tours at The Historic Daniel Boone Home, The Youth Activity Park and The Heritage Museum.
Park open spaces; natural, paved and multi-use trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use; fishing lakes and disc golf courses will remain open. Parks are open daily from 7 a.m. until 30 minutes past sunset; guests visiting are encouraged to practice proper social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. The Covid-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving and additional measures may need to be taken as we all go through this together. Please stay informed by visiting our website, stccparks.org; Facebook, facebook.com/StCharlesCounty Parks; or contacting us at 636-949-7535.
www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • April 8, 2020
St. Charles County WIC continues services during COVID-19 The St. Charles County Department of Public Health’s Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) will continue to provide services during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic; the program is only changing the way services are delivered. “During this unprecedented event, many are finding it difficult to provide nutritional foods for their family,” said Eva Obirek, St. Charles County WIC Program Manager. “We’re changing the way we deliver our services to help our current, and newly eligible, clients receive some of the help they may need and offering it in a way that helps to reduce the spread of this disease.” Participating mothers and children can receive nutritional foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding counseling and support, and referral for medical services through this free program. Until further notice, St. Charles County staff will complete appointments remotely — answering questions through phone/email communication, collecting correspondence via digital methods, delivering food instruments through mail, and providing breast pumps or other supplies as needed through drop-off collections. Since mothers and their children have different nutritional requirements, the program tailors food options for the individual and focuses on healthy choices. Foods offered through the program are low in sugar and are good sources of recommended nutrients like vitamins A, C and D; iron; protein; and calcium. Due to product delivery shortages in some Missouri communities, the eligible
Submitted photo The St. Charles County Department of Public Health’s Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) will continue to provide services during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic.
food categories and specific food products has been expanded statewide through May 31, 2020. “Families that may not have been eligible for WIC services previously may now qualify because of a job loss or a cut in hours worked,” Obirek added. “Those who may be in this situation right now are encouraged to reach out to our staff for assistance. Research shows that WIC participation improves the health of mothers and their children.” To qualify, St. Charles County WIC participants must meet income guidelines, be a Missouri resident and be at “nutritional risk” as determined by a health professional. Income eligibility guidelines are based on gross household income. For questions about these service changes in St. Charles County or joining the program, please email wichealth@sccmo.org or call 636-949-7402. For information about the services WIC provide, visit sccmo.org/WIC.
Don’t flush wipes: it clogs pipes in your home, city sewers and water plants Baby wipes and household cleaning wipes, even if labeled as being “flushable,” can clog the pipes in your home and do not break down well in our wastewater system. They should be thrown into the trash. Wipes have a cloth-like consistency and can remain in drain pipes for months, without breaking apart, forming a buildup that could close your plumbing system.
The St. Peters Utilities Department urges residents to put wipes in waste containers. You should consider them a solid waste that is unsafe to flush. Toilet paper dissolves quickly and easily and does not pose a risk to the effectiveness of the sewer system. Only toilet paper should be flushed down your toilet. For more information, please go to www.stpetersmo.net/flushing-wipes-clogs-pipes.aspx.
St. Peters resident injured in overnight house fire At around 3:20 a.m. on March 24, a St. Peters resident was awoken by a neighbor in need. Suffering from severe burns, with the victim’s house on fire, the individual had rushed to their neighbor’s house for help. The neighbor called 911 and Central County Fire & Rescue immediately responded to the home on the 100 block of Timberidge Dr., in St. Peters. Once on the scene, firefighters confirmed everyone was out of the home, and there was a fire in the basement. As firefighters fought the fire, St. Charles City Fire Department paramedics immediately began helping the victim, who suffered severe burns to the front of their body, and was transported to a local hospital for care. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, and
CCFR fire investigators began working to determine the cause. “We determined the fire was set intentionally, and have turned the investigation over to the St. Peters Police,” said CCFR Assistant Chief Steve Brown. CCFR was assisted by the city of St. Charles Fire Department, Cottleville Fire District, St. Charles County Ambulance District and the CCFR Community Assistance Team. “With all of our residents spending more time at home, there is an increased risk for home fires. We are encouraging everyone to test their smoke alarms, be cautious while cooking, properly disposing of smoking materials and avoid using candles unless they are battery operated,” says Brown.
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April 8, 2020 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com
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St. Charles County encourages residents to access services online; use phone and email To better protect our residents and employees from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), all St. Charles County buildings, including the Administration Building at 201 North Second St., have been closed to the public. The Administration Building is where many residents go for services from departments including the Assessor, Collector of Revenue, Community Development and Recorder of Deeds. During these challenging times, these departments and others remain committed to serving their customers. Many services are available online and staff are available to answer calls. Visit sccmo.org/OnlineServices for a full list of online services. Visit sccmo.org/Directory for a list of department and division phone numbers or call the main switchboard from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 636-949-7500. For more information about COVID-19 from the St. Charles County Department of Public Health, visit sccmo.org/COVID or call the Information Hotline at 636-949-1899. Assessor: sccmo.org/Assessor Personal Property: 636-949-7420 Real Estate: 636-949-7428 Email: persprop@sccmo.org Fax: 636-949-7434 Obtaining a Certificate of Non-Assessment: You may request a Certificate of Non-Assessment (i.e., tax waiver) by emailing or faxing one of the following documents to the Assessor’s office: • Title – front and back (seller and purchaser information must be completed) • Title application • Missouri vehicle registration renewal notice • Current out-of-state registration • Bill of sale Once the Assessor’s office has processed the certificate, the Collector of Revenue’s office will mail the document within 1-2 business days.
Collector of Revenue: sccmo.org/Collector Main: 636-949-7470 Fax: 636-949-7471 Email: collector@sccmo.org Renewing License Plates: Please visit the Department of Motor Vehicles Website: http://dor. mo.gov/motorv/plates/renew.php. Citizens can call or email the collector’s office to obtain needed information from their tax receipt. Please note: It can take up to three business days for tax payments to reflect on the Collector’s payment website and up to one week for the local DMV Offices to see it in the State database. Community Development: sccmo.org/CommunityDevelopment Main: 636-949-7346 Fax: 636-949-7336 Email: commdev@sccmo.org • Apply for CDBG-funded home improvement program and transportation vouchers by emailing cdbg@stcharlescitymo.gov. • Submit comments for public hearings on applications being reviewed by Planning and Zoning, the Board of Zoning Adjustment, Flood Plain Vision Board, and the Commission on Environmental Quality by emailing planning@sccmo.org. • Apply to the Domestic Violence Board for County grants by emailing planning@sccmo.org. Recorder of Deeds: sccmo.org/Recorder Main 636-949-7505 Fax: 636-949-7512 Email: recorder@sccmo.org Citizens can call the Copy Center at 636-9497509 to get an emailed copy of a deed or have a certified marriage license mailed.
Central County Fire & Rescue announces changes amidst COVID-19 pandemic In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and recommendations from the St. Charles County Public Health Department and the CDC, Central County Fire & Rescue is temporarily suspending some nonemergency programs, and making changes to its administrative operations. These changes will not impact emergency response, and the district is prepared and ready to provide fire, rescue and emergency medical services to the community. “Our steadfast commitment to the residents of Central County Fire & Rescue remains as strong as ever through the COVID-19 pandemic. As always, our CCFR crews are just a 911 call away if an emergency arises,” said CCFR Assistant Chief Steve Brown. In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community, and to help keep firefighter/ paramedics and firefighter/EMTs safe, starting
on March 24: • Visitors are not allowed at CCFR fire stations or district administrative offices until further notice. For nonemergency situations, district officials can be reached at 636-970-9700. • All nonemergency response programs are suspended until further notice. • The district cannot accept any food donations (including store-bought items). However, the district is asking those who are willing to consider donating to a local food pantry that is in need during this time. “Being active in the community is one of the best parts of our job, but for now, the best thing we can do as a community is be diligent about social distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.” said Brown.
www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • April 8, 2020
The Streets of St. Charles and MSE Racing announce new date for the 2020 Street Party Run In response to the continuing COVID-19 crisis facing the community, Streets of St. Charles and MSE Racing have postponed the annual Street Party Run, originally slated to take place on April 11. The race, now in its sixth year, attracts more than 1,000 runners and spectators from across the United States. To help protect the health and safety of all, the 2020 Street Party Run has been rescheduled to Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. at Streets of St. Charles. “The Street Party Run has traditionally been the kickoff for our annual outdoor season of events each spring,” said Anaise Berry, Director of Marketing for Cullinan Properties. “This is an unprecedented time for all of us, and we at Cullinan Properties have taken a proactive approach to ensure that we are helping to protect our tenants, residents, and the community at large during this unprecedented time. We look forward to hosting the race this fall, and welcoming all to come out and run with us when this crisis is behind us.” The Street Party features 5K and 10K races, as
well as a one-mile fun run for families. Prizes are awarded to the top three overall finishers, and the top three finishers in each age group, for both males and females. The race has also become wellknown for its “beat the pinata” competition in which runners who beat the pinatas’ races times receive special prizes. This year’s community partner is the Disabled Athletes Sports Association (DASA), who will receive a portion of proceeds from the event. “The fall weather will be a wonderful bonus as we run shoulder to shoulder and celebrate together afterwards. Until then, everyone at MSE Racing wishes runners and their families a spring and summer full of good health, ” said Sally Drake, Owner and Race Director of MSE Racing. Additional details and information will follow. Sponsorships opportunities are available. For registration and more information visit www.streetpartyrun.com.
Wentzville Days Festival has been cancelled Since the arrival of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States, the city of Wentzville has been working closely with St. Charles County Health Department and other public health officials to prepare for the impact the virus would have on the community. The health and safety of the public and employees remain the highest priority. In the past few weeks, Wentzville Parks and Recreation has closed indoor recreation facilities, canceled programming and closed city playgrounds to help safeguard the community’s health. Due to the continuing increase of COVID-19 cases in St. Charles County and the current guidance to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people, the department has made the decision to cancel the city’s annual Wentzville Days Festival. Each year, the three-day festival in Downtown Wentzville brings the community together with live bands, carnival rides, food and craft vendors.
In 2019, it is estimated that 30,000 people attended the festival and approximately 100 vendors participated. “It is with a heavy heart that we have made the decision to cancel this important community-building event. The city is committed to following guidance from public health officials and, ultimately, there is no higher priority for us than the health, safety and physical well-being of each of our attendees, vendors and staff members who make this event so special each year,” said Interim City Administrator Douglas Lee. “We look forward to bringing Wentzville Days back to our community in the near future. Thank you for your support as we navigate this situation together.” For more information, please visit www.wentzvillemo.org/wentzvilledays or contact Special Events and Volunteer Supervisor Beth Kelley at (636) 639-2085 or Beth.Kelley@wentzvillemo.org
Scholarship program open for applications Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is once again accepting scholarship applications from graduating high school seniors and current college students. Students are eligible to be considered if they live in the Cuivre River Electric service area and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 while attending undergraduate courses at an accredited college, university or technical school. Applicants are required to provide an official transcript and two letters of recommendation, a complete copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR), write a narrative to highlight their academic achievements and community service, state their career goals and demonstrate a financial need. The scholarship may also be used for adult continuing education courses in an applicant’s career field. The deadline to apply is April 22. Scholarships will be awarded in June.
Applications can be downloaded at cuivre.com. They are also available at CREC offices in Troy, 1112 E. Cherry St., and Lake Saint Louis, 8757 Highway N. In 2019, a total of $74,000 was awarded, with 80 students receiving a scholarship. The Trust Board has awarded 2,239 scholarships totaling $1.2 million since 1997. Scholarship funds are donated by Cuivre River Electric members who participate in Operation Round Up by rounding up their electric bill payments each month to the next highest dollar. The funds, administered by a seven-member volunteer board, are available to help individuals, families and organizations. For more information contact Tim Schmidt, Operation Round Up coordinator, at tschmidt@ cuivre.com or 636-695-4837.
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April 8, 2020 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com
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Take Notice . . . The events listed in this section are the latest updates as of press time, please check with individual sites for the most up to date cancellations and reschedule info. EVENTS April 16: Gala fundraiser
Boone Center, Inc. (BCI) will hold its 13th Annual Behind the Mask Gala at 6 p.m. The event will be held at Bogey Hills Country Club located at 1120 Country Club Rd. in St. Charles. The black tie optional evening includes a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, and live music by Vote for Pedro. Proceeds will benefit the non-profits’ employment facilities and programs for adults with disabilities. Tickets are $150 per person and $1,400 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets, visit https://one. bidpal.net/bcigala2020/welcome.
April 19: Bunco Bonanza Fundraiser
Bunco Bonanza Fundraiser for Rural Parish Workers of Christ the King, sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of The Knights of Columbus, Cottleville
will take place at 5701 Highway N in St. Charles. The doors will open at 2 p.m. and the dice will roll at 3 p.m. $20 per person includes appetizers, snacks, desserts, soda and tea. Plus two complimentary adult drink tickets. There will also be attendance prizes, basket raffles and 50/50. To reserve your seat or for additional information please email ladiesauxbunco@gmail.com.
April 20-22: Used book sale
The St. Charles Community College library will host the 27th Annual SCC Library Book Sale from 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. April 20-22. The sale will be held in the Paul and Helen Schnare Library, located in the Learning Resource Center on the SCC campus, at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville. Both fiction and non-fiction materials will be available for purchase. Books will be sold for $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardbacks. The library is still accepting donations of used books. Proceeds from the sale
9639 Olive Blvd. Olivette, MO 63122
will be used to purchase new materials for the SCC library. For more information, contact Theresa Flett at 636-9228620 or tflett@stchas.edu.
May 19: History program
The St. Charles county Historical Society if offering a free program titled “Preserving Properties in a Historic District” from 7 - 8:30 p.m. This program will include what rules and regulations go along with doing exterior work to your property and what the process is to get that work approved through the Landmarks Board. This free program will be at the Kathryn Linnemann Library at Elm and Duchesne in St. Charles. Reservations are necessary. Phone the library at 636-7230232 or visit www.mylibrary.org.
ONGOING EVENTS Mondays: Optimist Club meetings
The Wentzville/Lake St. Louis Optimist Club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Wentzville IHOP, 10 Layla Lane, Wentzville, MO.. For more information contact Ed Jurotich at 314-560-1868.
Mondays: Take off Pounds Sensibly
Take off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meets every Monday from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Weigh-ins begin at 8:30 a.m. We meet SUDOKU answers from page F-1
at Memorial Hall in Blanchette Park at 1900 Randolph St. in St. Charles. For more information contact Joyce at 636206-5306.
Mondays: Take off Pounds Sensibly
TOPS meet every Monday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church at 8945 Veterans Memorial Hwy in O’Fallon. Meetings at 9:30 a.m. with weigh in beginning at 8:30 a.m. For more information please call Linda Wilcox at 636-4479056.
CROSSWORD answers from page F-4
Sept. 12: Craft fair
Tri County Citizens Advisory Board to Probation and Parole Probation and Parole District 17, Missouri Department of Correction will hold their Seventh Annual Christmas in September Craft Fair at Calvary Church at 3998 Mid Rivers Mall Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Crafters are needed. Please contact Esther Angelos at marlofan@charter.net or 636-441-0329 or 314-477-5096.
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10
Sports
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Sports you see with Gary B...
MLB providing assistance to former Pattonville High player on the Cardinals along with many more Major League Baseball has announced they will provide financial support and medical benefits to minor league players during this time that the season has been delayed. A local resident is proud to be a recipient of the gesture. 22-year old Anthony Green was born in Florissant and graduated from Pattonville High School. His college included studies at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in the 33rd round of the 2019 Major League Baseball June Amateur draft. The 6’4” 210 lb right-handed pitcher has only played one year in the Gulf Coast Rookie League with the Redbirds. He has only pitched in 10 games with four of those as a starter and has won one game while losing two. The 30 innings he has pitched, he registered 28 strikeouts allowing only two homeruns. *Best of luck when things get back to normal
XFL players signed by the NFL The Xtreme Football League (XFL) is a professional American football league owned by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment with one of the eight teams in the league in St. Louis. Its first year of play was 2020 and was abruptly ended with the Gateway’s team the BattleHawks playing pretty good football after only five games. This was noticed by a few of the teams in the National Football League as they signed two of the Battlehawks players. The team’s quarterback Jordan Ta’amu produced some good offensive numbers with a lot of talent at his position. The Super Bowl Champion’s Kansas City Chief agreed to a contract with Ta’amu a few weeks ago. The second player on the BattleHawks’ roster Dewayne Hendrix, signed a one-year contract last week with the Pittsburgh Steelers. 6-foot-4, 269-pound defensive end was a 2014 O’Fallon Township High graduate.
At O’Fallon, he was No. 3 in the Post-Dispatch preseason Super 30 and a first-team All-Metro selection. *Continue success in the Big Show Two women gymnasts from Lindenwood get accolades Lindenwood University gymnasts Gayla Griswold and Courtney Mitchell were named to the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) All-American Team, the organization announced last week. Griswold was a second-team All-American on the vault, and Mitchell was a second-team All-American on the bars. In her first season competing at the collegiate level, Griswold was a constant fixture at the top of the score sheets on the vault. She captured a career-high score of 9.825 on the vault, which she achieved in four different meets, and tallied a score of 9.800 or higher on the vault in five meets on the season. Griswold was also a first-team All-Conference on the vault this season. Mitchell pairs her second-team All-American bars selection, with her Midwest Independent Conference (MIC) first-team All-Conference honors for the same event, as she continues to rack up the career hardware. Mitchell set a season-high score of 9.850 on the bars, which she would achieve in three different meets. For the season, Mitchell scored a 9.800 or higher on the bars, in five total meets. *Great accomplishments
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, and co-hosted SportsRadioSTL.com, and is 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.
www.mycnews.com • Community News • April 8, 2020
Recipe:
Refreshing dishes for dining al fresco Ruby Beet Chicken Salad Skewers
Feature
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– SUDOKU –
Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all the digits 1 through 9.
Prep time: 25 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Servings: 8
Ingredients: 1 jar (16 ounces) baby whole pickled beets 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound) 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus additional, to taste, divided 1/2 teaspoon pepper, plus additional, to taste, divided 4 1/2 tablespoons stone ground mustard, divided 1 1/2 tablespoons, plus 1/3 cup, orange marmalade, divided 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives 1 large lemon, zest and juice (1/3 cup juice) 1/4 cup olive oil 1 bag (9 ounces) leafy romaine lettuce pieces 1/3 cup chopped almonds, toasted 1/3 cup crumbled blue, feta or goat cheese
Directions: Heat oven to 375 F. Drain beets; set aside. Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. In small bowl, combine 1 1/2 tablespoons mustard and 1 1/2 tablespoons marmalade. Brush mixture over chicken until completely coated. Bake chicken on rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil about 20-25 minutes, or until juices run clear; set aside. To make vinaigrette: In medium bowl, combine remaining mustard, remaining marmalade, chives, lemon zest and juice,
1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Slowly pour in oil while whisking vigorously until completely combined. Slice cooled chicken into 1-inch pieces. Onto each skewer, thread one beet, one piece of chicken and 4-5 pieces of lettuce; repeat two times for each skewer, adding one beet at ends. Repeat to make eight skewers. Place skewers on large serving platter. Stir vinaigrette; drizzle lightly over skewers. Sprinkle with almonds and cheese. Serve with remaining vinaigrette.
Find more ideas and recipes for meals to enjoy outside at auntnellies.com and READsalads.com.
SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 8
Finding escape, inspiration in space movies
I
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.
n 2011, I saw the movie “Contagion” while it was still in theaters. Nine years later, I wish I had paid better attention to the lessons and warnings contained within. After viewing it and other movies such as “Outbreak,” I felt very confident that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) could guide us through a bad situation. For a while, that seemed true as the world dealt with outbreaks of H1N1, Ebola and Zika over the last decade. The current coronavirus pandemic prompted “stay-at-home” orders, however, and a rush to stock up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Unable to attend classes at their schools, many children are taking lessons online while medical students in the United Kingdom graduated early and started working in hospitals. Whenever I wanted to escape the real world, I always found solace in going to the movies, but that option is not available for the foreseeable future. While staying at home, I started thinking of movies that always inspired me, especially ones that dealt
until they could get home. Originally shown on TBS in 1994 “Moon Shot,” a four-part documentary miniseries, discussed America’s space program and the men who went to the Moon. The series was based on a book co-written by Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton, two of the original Mercury astronauts. Shepard made it to the lunar surface as commander of Apollo 14 while Slayton joined the crew of the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975. Their inPhoto courtesy Universal Pictures sights and comments are priceless. Fifty years after the Apollo 11 landing, it’s with outer space. “Apollo 13,” the 1995 film fascinating to hear comments from John starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton and Kevin Glenn and other astronauts about the chalBacon was the first one that came to mind. lenges, triumphs and tragedies connected Director Ron Howard skillfully recreated with putting astronauts into space. “Moon the moon mission that was cut short by an Shot” doesn’t gloss over the Apollo 1 fire or oxygen tank explosion. mistakes that were made in the program. At The Apollo 13 astronauts were stuck times like these, it reminds me to keep lookfor days in a damaged craft while NASA ing forward and make the best of my curworked overtime to bring them home. With rent situation. self-quarantines and stay-at-home orders, I While we’re all social distancing, look could empathize with the plight of the as- through your DVD’s and pull out the movtronauts to some degree. Unlike them, I can ies that always inspired and entertained you. still go outside for walks and to get grocer- Please stay healthy and safe and I hope to ies. The Apollo 13 crew had to stay inside see everyone at the movies sometime soon. the command module and the lunar lander
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COLLECTIBLES
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April 8, 2020 • Community News • www.mycnews.com
Yeggs
John Hanna
CROSSWORD: Mysteries & Thrillers
‘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
By Cindy Moore
Moore On Life It’s getting pretty rough out there. There’s nothing left on the shelves at the store. Someone on the radio said we’ll have to go back to the days of bartering. That gave me an idea. I glanced out my window and saw my neighbor in her backyard. I hurried out to catch her. “Hey! Psst, Fiona,” I called over to her. She edged over to the fence and said, “I’m here. Just keep your distance though.” “Oh sweet mother, Fiona!” I said, “It’s almost noon and you’re still in your pajamas. The world may be ending but, girlfriend, have some self-respect.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she sniffed. “I’ve already changed. These are my day pajamas.” “Whatever. I get it. Hey listen, I was wondering if you’ve been to the grocery store lately.” “Why yes I have. Early this morning; lined up for the senior-shopping only.” “Sweet! Did you happen to get anything?” “Not even. By the time I got in, there was nothing on the shelves but a container of chocolate-flavored hummus and a dented can of honey-glazed sardines.” “Darn. Well, I was wondering if we could barter seeing that we’re both in a similar situation.” “You mean like play tradesies? Sure. What have you got?” “To start with, I’ve got a package of chewing gum and a half-empty box of kibble, which isn’t actually too bad. Kind of tastes like saltine crackers if you hold your breath and don’t let your
tongue touch it.” “Pass! I’m not desperate enough to eat cat food yet.” “Okay,” I said, “I can tell you’re going to be a tough customer, but because you’re my friend, I’m going to throw in some”…I stopped to look both ways then continued…”toilet tissue.” Fiona perked up right away. “I’m listening,” she said. Okay, here’s how it’s going down. I’ll need in trade the ingredients for a complete dinner.” “Deal!” She was back in a flash with a brown paper bag which she hoisted over the fence. I traded it for my package. I scurried back into the kitchen and opened the bag to find chocolate hummus and sardines. But she’ll be just as surprised when she opens her bag to find a stack of napkins from Arby’s!
Toilet paper apocalypse
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.
ACROSS 1. Wire danger 6. Part of a circumference 9. Nashville’s Keith 13. In a cold manner 14. Prefix for something revived 15. Paralyzing disease 16. Mulled wine 17. Egg cells 18. A do-nothing 19. *”Alphabet Series” detective novels author 21. *”It’s close to midnight, and something evil’s lurking in ____ ____” 23. Second mo. 24. Fabricca Italiana Automobili Torino 25. Not don’ts 28. Popular Japanese soup 30. *Agatha Christie’s famous sleuth 35. Wood sorrels 37. “Through” in text 39. Give sheep a haircut 40. Raise the roof 41. Wall or pedestal support 43. Cogito, ____ sum 44. Drink like a cat, two words 46. Be inclined 47. Commotions 48. Bewitch or beguile 50. Jack and Jill’s water jug 52. Put to work 53. *James Patterson’s
“____ the Girls” 55. “Jack and the Beanstalk” Giant’s disapproval 57. *Hitchcock classic 61. *Poe’s “Tales of ____ and Imagination” 65. In the know 66. *Subject of Roswell’s mystery 68. Cocoon dwellers 69. King Julien XIII of “Madagascar,” e.g. 70. Bubble source 71. Possible allergic reaction 72. Gaelic tongue 73. Store posting, for short 74. Oceanic trenches DOWN 1. Google alternative 2. Maple genus 3. Capital on the Baltic Sea 4. Blindman’s ____ 5. International ____ of Units 6. In a little while, oldfashioned 7. Once around 8. Raccoon’s South American cousin 9. *The Demon Barber 10. Spanish earthen pot 11. Coffin stand 12. *New ____, setting of “The Alienist” 15. Michelangelo’s famous Vatican statue and others
like it, e.g. 20. Death reports, for short 22. Deli offering 24. Baby extractor 25. *Sherlock Holmes creator 26. Continental divide 27. Planktonic tunicate 29. *”Who ____ J.R.?” 31. Actress Perlman 32. “Lost” in Paris 33. Mar-a-___, pl. 34. Having a toothed margin 36. Undesirable location 38. Forearm bone 42. Enlighten 45. Slower 49. Oil drilling apparatus 51. Spoke with a speech defect 54. Make a murmuring sound 56. Chopin’s composition 57. Wide river valley 58. Water carrier 59. L.A. footballers 60. *HBO’s “____ Detective” 61. *Pamela Voorhees and Norma Bates, e.g. 62. D’Artagnan’s sword 63. Stairway alternative 64. Those not opposed 67. *Remus Lupin’s occasional body cover SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 8