April 29, 2020
Fighting hunger in a pandemic
Around Town Riverfest celebration cancelled. Pg.3 Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service offers free diaper drive through. Pg. 3 Staying home, social distancing key to timely contact tracing for St. Charles County Public Health staff. Pg. 5
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Four WSD yearbooks featured in Herff Jones “Best-of” publication. Pg. 7
Features
Photos provided by Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service Volunteers for St. Charles’ Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service sort through the pantry and load food and goods in their van to be taken to those in need. The food service is the largest comprehensive social support agency in the region serving St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren counties.
Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service deals with many challenges keeping its food bank up and running as demand increases By Brett Auten During these restless and challenging times, the Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service is the little engine that could. When trying to feed the vulnerable during a pandemic, you need all hands on deck. But since the COVID-19 outbreak, and its high susceptibility to older adults, the care service has been short-staffed. According to the Cen-
ter of Disease Control, eight-out-of-10 deaths reported in the United States have been in adults 65-years-old or older. A huge chunk of the care service’s volunteers fit into that age group and thus, it is put to its greatest test in its nearly 40-year history. Normally, 70 volunteers are shuffling in and out throughout the week. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, officials have told the older volunteers to stay home to be safe. So
now, around 25 eager and abled volunteers are shouldering the brunt. “The workload had doubled and we can’t take on any new volunteers because we want as few people in and out of the building as possible,” Pamela Struckhoff, Director of Program Services, said. “What took one hour, now takes two-and-a-half. We have volunteers who have been with us from the start See ‘FIGHTING’ page 2
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April 29, 2020 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com
‘FIGHTING’ from cover who are just aching to come back.” Its COVID-19’s destruction of the employment force that has care service officials concerned for the upcoming months. Between March 14 and April 18, 398,479 Missourians filed new unemployment claims, almost 13-percent of the state’s labor force. That is more than double the 179,831 initial claims Missourians filed in all of 2019. Between March 14 and April 18, over 26 million Americans have filed new unemployment claims, almost 16 percent of the national labor force. The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Division of Employment Security reported more than 100,000 unemployment claims for the week ending on March 28. More than 89,000 of the 104,230 claims were COVID-19 related, according to a press release. “I don’t think (the care service) has seen the full effect yet,” Pamela Struckhoff, Director of Program Services, said. “What happens after they start turning the power off? Or the eviction notices come? Or when the $200 bill is now a $600?” The unemployment spike has resulted in some new, albeit shy and reserved, faces coming into the food
service. Before the pandemic, you had to income qualify to receive services, but that stipulation has been waved since the onset of COVID-19. “There are people who you would think of as ‘middle class’ coming in,” Struckhoff said. “They come in and say, ‘but there are more deserving.’ It’s not about deserving. Do you need help? Here’s help.” The Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service is a nationally accredited nonprofit, faith-based organization and is the largest comprehensive social support agency in the region serving St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren counties. Every day brings a new challenge and the paired-down staff is adapting daily and creatively solving problems so that it will be able to continue to live out its mission to serve those in crisis and not let them fall through the cracks of society. In addition to its day-to-day routine, over the past two weeks the food service has adapted to curbside pick-up so it could continue to meet the nutritional needs of the 125 food families it serves while following social distancing guidelines and a registered nurse is on board to assist with phone check-ins with the homeless placed in shelter. It has collaborated with churches, community agencies and St. Charles County schools to help feed the families of students identified by school counselors as the most vulnerable. The agency contributed 10,000-pounds of food, $3,900 in canned and dry goods from its inventory, and purchased $5,200 of food to contribute to the effort.
Food boxes have been strategically placed – and will be replenished weekly – in all three counties so unsheltered homeless will have access to food when its staff are unable to see them. A diaper/wipes giveaway is planned for late April/May to help families with young children in all three counties it serves. The agency continues to work in close collaboration with the Continuum of Care and the St. Charles County Health Department to locate temporary housing for the homeless during this crisis. If you are wanting to help the cause there are a few options. You can make a cash donation to Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service. All cash donations made to a charity are eligible for a $300 tax credit through the CARES Act. Visit donorbox.org/jacares-donation for more information. You can make a food donation by making drops inside shopping cart located at the front entrance of the Care Service, located at 4116 McClay Road in St. Charles) is available for drop offs. You could also purchase a Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service T-shirt from Shirt Kong’s online fundraiser by clicking here. The shirt will ship for free and $10 from every shirt sold will be donated to the Care Service to help its COVID-19 Relief Effort. “The Care Service was founded to serve those in crisis, and I am determined that we will continue to be there for them over the weeks and months to come, when they may need us more than ever before,” Struckhoff said. “We cannot fail those who rely on us.”
Home Builders Association donates $12,500 to Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County On behalf of the Home Builders Charitable Foundation (HBCF), 2020 HBA President Bill Wannstedt of Consort Homes (left) presented a $12,500 donation to Lauren Muehling (center), fund and friend raiser for Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County, and Michelle Woods, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County. Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles recently purchased a lot on Transit Street in St. Charles City that will be the future home of two new builds for two of the organization’s 2020 partner families. The $12,500 will be allocated toward the Transit Street project. Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County strives to fulfill the mission of providing decent, safe, affordable and sustainable housing to deserving families in St. Charles County. 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.
Submitted photo
www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • April 29, 2020
Around Town
Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service offers free diaper drive through Free diapers and wipes from Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service will be distributed via a drive-through service later this month. More than 100 low-income families in St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren counties signed up to receive free diapers and wipes for the inaugural 2020 Diaper Drive Thru. “Many of our families with young children are struggling to provide the most basic needs for their families. Diapers and wipes are expensive for our families, and we wanted to ease some of their burden,” said Pam Struckhoff, executive director at Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service. “A
drive-through service will allow these families to safely access needed diapers and wipes while practicing social distancing.” The Diaper Drive Thru will start late April in Warren and Lincoln counties, and St. Charles residents will participate in early May. The drive through was open to the first 100 families in each county to sign up. “Thank you to our Lincoln County partners Building Beyond, the Early Childhood Taskforce, Lincoln County Health Department, and the Warren County Health Department, NECAC and WIC for helping make this Diaper Drive Thru a reality in Lincoln and Warren counties. We
could not have done this without the support of these agencies and local businesses like Mercy Lincoln County and the Bank of Old Monroe” said Struckhoff. “We appreciate the support, and hope to continue this important event annually.” Donations of diapers and wipes are always needed to support fragile families in St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren counties. Donations can be dropped off at the Care Service in St. Charles located at 4116 McClay Road, or visit the Care Service Wish List at Amazon. To make a cash donation, visit https://donorbox.org/jacares-donation.
Emergency responders work together to rescue apartment residents from three alarm fire At around 1:45 a.m. on April 17, residents of the Turnberry Place apartments on Ehlmann Rd. in St. Peters called 911 when they awoke to find the deck of a third-floor apartment on fire. When Central County Fire & Rescue crews arrived on the scene, they saw heavy fire coming from the third floor, spreading to the attic and being accelerated by high winds. Due to the size of the fire, and the number of residents involved, three alarms were called bringing 50 firefighters from four departments to the scene. As 911 was dispatching CCFR to the call, a St. Peters Police Department officer noticed the heavy smoke billowing into the sky. The officer requested additional officers to assist in evacuating the building. Working together, the first responders ensured everyone was safely out of the building and extinguished the fire. “Fires in the middle of the night, when everyone is home, can be among the most dangerous since residents are usually asleep. The quick actions of those officers helped us ensure all the residents were able to get out safely before fire and smoke overwhelmed their apartments,” said CCFR Deputy Chief and Public Information Officer Jason Meinershagen. The St. Charles County Ambulance District
treated and released one resident at the scene, and one firefighter was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. The firefighter is expected to fully recover. The Central County Community Assistance Program responded to provide assistance and resources to the 22 families who were directly impacted by the fire, along with hydration and nutrition for the first responders. The Cottleville Fire Protection District, St. Charles Fire Department, O’Fallon Fire Protection District, Lake Saint Louis Fire Protection District, and St. Charles County Ambulance District assisted on the call. “Through our mutual aid agreement we train and respond with these agencies on a regular basis. This ongoing partnership is critically important in keeping our community safe,” said Meinershagen. CCFR investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire that caused extensive fire damage to eight apartments, and water damage to every unit in the building. Donations for those impacted by the fire can be delivered to the Turnberry Apartments office at 100 Turnberry Place in St. Peters or by calling 636-4770440.
Fourth of July parade and Riverfest celebration cancelled This year’s Fourth of July parade, sponsored by the Saint Charles Jaycees, along with the annual Riverfest celebration have been cancelled, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. The Riverfest celebration was scheduled to take place on July 3 and 4 on the riverfront in Saint Charles. The two-day celebration typically includes live music, carnival, food and craft vendors, and fireworks over the river. The Saint Charles Fourth of July parade is sponsored each year by the Saint Charles Jaycees organization and takes place the morning of Fourth of July. “Out of an abundance of caution and uncertainty of where things will stand with the
COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to cancel this year’s events and festivities,” said St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer. “Planning for these events would be happening right now, and it’s just too difficult to make commitments without knowing what this summer will bring. We understand that this is a wonderful time for our community each year to get together to celebrate, but we have to look out for the best interest of everyone in our city. We look forward to the celebration next year.” For further details or questions on the festival and all of the activities, visit www.discoverstcharles.com or call 636-946-7776.
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April 29, 2020 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com
St. Charles County remains under governor’s stay-at-home orders
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St. Charles County remains under restrictions set by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson who, on April 16, announced the extension of the state’s “Stay Home Missouri” order to May 3. On March 23, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann issued an executive order requiring residents to remain within their residence or on the property surrounding their residence, except to engage in activities they deem necessary to their physical, mental or spiritual well-being, or for employment. Additionally, local retail stores and all other places of public accommodation are required to communicate social distancing requirements to customers. St. Charles County’s order is in place until a new order is issued. In that order, Ehlmann did not order nonessential businesses to close, but entrusted citizens to identify essential places of business. While other jurisdictions decided what businesses were nonessential and ordered them to close, the latest Google Analytics Mobility Report based on cell phone usage shows that St. Charles County has had the same success rate as neighboring St.
Louis County in curtailing trips to retail, recreational and workplace destinations. Both show a 50 percent decrease in retail and recreational activity and a 39 percent decrease in workplace activity. The baseline for the data is Feb. 29; the new data, released today, is through April 11. “The state mandates on nonessential businesses, because they are stricter, supersede my order,” Ehlmann said today. “I am pleased the governor announced yesterday that, upon expiration of the extension of his order on May 3, he will consider a loosening of the restrictions based on the infection rates at that time. In the meantime, we must follow his instructions to get those rates down.” Ehlmann says he continues to work closely with the St. Charles County Department of Public Health as staff monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and determine how it is affecting the county daily. Looking at the number of infections per 10,000 people in each jurisdiction, the St. Charles County number is more than twice that of Franklin County, but less than half that of the city of St. Louis.
Library introduces community reading initiative: St. Charles County Reads The St. Charles City-County Library invites all residents to participate in its inaugural community reading event, St. Charles County Reads, through May 17. Through this shared experience, we can all be a part of a movement that brings us together. Library staff members have selected “How to Bake Everything” by Mark Bittman as the first St. Charles County Reads selection. Families are invited to discover over 2,000 recipes that will educate and entertain readers of all ages. Customers can commit to read (and bake) with the community and the library by registering for this free event at mylibrary.org/st-charles-county-reads. Each registrant will be entered into a drawing to win baking supplies or gift cards from local bakeries and community partners. “How to Bake Everything” is available through the eLibrary, where customers can borrow the eBook using a library card. Those without a
card are invited to apply online. The library is encouraging customers to read and bake, then share their thoughts, pictures, and experiences with the book on social media using the St. Charles County Reads hashtag, #SCCReads. Library Director Jason Kuhl says, “This staff-conceived community initiative is tailored specifically for our current environment. It gives people in St. Charles County a way to come together and share a book that teaches new skills while also providing comfort during a difficult time.” In addition to shared reading, the library is planning online baking demonstrations, virtual classes, and partnerships with local businesses. Readers and bakers can find more information about St. Charles County Reads, including food-inspired book recommendations, recipes, baking ideas, and a registration link at mylibrary.org/st-charles-county-reads
Moody’s upgrades city of Dardenne Prairie issuer rating Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the city of Dardenne Prairie issuer rating. The rating was upgraded to an Aa1 from a prior rating of Aa2. The rating was evaluated at the request of the city. The city continues to move forward with its plan to issue certificates of participation for the Dardenne Prairie Athletic Complex project. The proposed project is expected to include three renovated ballfields, new lighting, a paved parking area, new restrooms, an equipment and
storage building, a new maintenance building and two pickleball courts. Having an upgraded issuer rating will allow the city to attract investment interest in the project at more favorable interest rates. As stated by Mayor David C. Zucker, “This upgraded rating shows the lending community that the city of Dardenne Prairie is a good investment with a responsible fiscal policy and quality oversight and management.”
www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • April 29, 2020
Around Town
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Staying home, social distancing key to timely contact tracing for St. Charles County Public Health staff
Missouri Job Center Provides Services by Phone, Online to Meet Needs of Job-Seekers, Employers While all Missouri Job Centers, including the Missouri Job Center of St. Charles County, are closed to in-person services until further notice to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, staff still are available to assist both job-seekers and businesses in the county with employment needs. “Normally, job-seekers come into our office to meet with staff and counselors about our programs and we meet in-person with employers,” explains Jenny Warren, Deputy Director of the St. Charles County Department of Workforce Development, which operates the Missouri Job Center. “With the pandemic, we have shifted our services to be provided by phone, email and online. It’s a difficult time for many people and businesses in our community and the community can continue to turn to the Job Center for training and job search assistance.” For more information about the following programs and services through the Center, visit sccmo.org/Workforce or call 636-2556060. Hours of operation for the Center are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday – Thursday, and 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Friday. • Unemployment Support: While the Department of Labor is not a part of the Job Center, the Center’s staff is able to provide some level of assistance to those seeking unemployment insurance as a result of having lost their jobs due to COVID-19 by calling the number above. Information on temporary layoff virtual workshops, and instructions for how to file unemployment, file a weekly request for payment, and set up a user ID and password for filing unemployment online is available for pickup in front of the Center at 212 Turner Boulevard in St. Peters. •
Job-Seeker Support: Career assessments, as well as information on re-employment and training opportunities, are available through the Center’s counselors. For those who qualify, funding is available for training and online training programs. Staff can assist with resumes and interview preparation. Job-seekers can email resumes to mjcresume@sccmo. org for review. Please note: MoJobs registration through jobs. mo.gov is required to receive this assistance.
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Virtual Job Fair: The Center is hosting an ongoing Virtual Job Fair with listings for full-time, part-time and temporary opportunities in the community. Visit sccmo.org/VirtualJobFair for links to area businesses that are hiring and information on how to submit job postings.
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Youth Program: The Center’s Young Adult Program assists St. Charles County residents between the ages of 16 and 24 in obtaining their High School Equivalency test, as well as finding career training and experience. Other eligibility criteria may apply.
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Employer Services: For businesses that have job openings to fill, the Center’s Business Services Representatives are available to assist with promotion of job postings, labor market information, candidate recruitment and screening, access to training programs, information about meeting and interview space, and connections to other state programs for businesses.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is expanding our vocabulary with terminology rarely or never heard: social distancing, shelter in place, flatten the curve and, recently, contact tracing. Although this term has only recently been in the news, St. Charles County Department of Public Health staff has conducted “contact tracing” on COVID-19 positive individuals since March 18, when public health became aware of the first positive test. That individual and the more than 450 additional residents who have tested positive since have been interviewed by public health epidemiologists and nurses to determine who they had been in close contact with and might therefore be at higher risk of becoming infected themselves. Then the real work begins because, depending on each individual situation, contacts could be from one or two to dozens and all are interviewed. “Stay at home” and other orders/guidance have made it easier to do contact tracing. Public Health staff say heeding county and state orders has cut the average number of contacts in half – from 10 to five in St. Charles County. Presently, the rate of known infections for St. Charles County is less than half the rate for the city of St. Louis. “I hope that stay-at-home orders can be relaxed sooner, rather than later,” says County Executive Steve Ehlmann. “When they are, it will be even more important that we continue contact tracing and that individuals observe their quarantine orders. Contact tracing will actually reassure people it is safe to leave home. Customers will return to restaurants and nonessential businesses only if they feel safe from exposure to the virus.” St. Charles County Government officials want to do everything they can to ensure that the people with whom the public comes in contact are not infected or exhibiting symptoms of the virus, Ehlmann says. To date, public health has monitored 826 individuals who have completed their quarantine and there are 495 residents presently on quarantine. “We cannot get our local economy going by simply relaxing the stay-at-home restrictions,” says Ehlmann. “We need to build confidence in
consumers that they can leave their homes and remain safe. Until we have more testing available, contact tracing is a critical component to reassure our citizens that everything possible is being done to make sure those who are infected continue to stay at home. The virus doesn’t move itself, it is transported from an infected person to other people, so all of us need to continue to minimize our contact with others to minimize its spread.” On a normal day, St. Charles County has two epidemiologists, but COVID-19 has meant the county needs to pull in various resources in order to keep up with the volume. Nurses in the department, school nurses, law enforcement detectives and volunteers – part time and full time – are now part of a 15-person contact tracing team operating twelve hours a day, seven days a week. “If the number of cases increases,” says Demetrius Cianci-Chapman, St. Charles County Director of Public Health, “our team will have to stretch into the need. I anticipate that before the number of positive tests level off and start to decrease, we will need to quickly train more staff and volunteers to conduct case investigations, contact tracing, monitoring and quarantine management.” Cianci-Chapman said that to date his staff have traced about 2,000 individuals. Contact tracing for all communicable diseases in St. Charles County before COVID-19 was something that only required four full-time staff. The contact tracing calls often require answering numerous questions people have about the virus itself, symptoms, quarantining, social distancing, and more. The St. Charles County Department of Public Health’s 75 employees are working on the front lines of COVID-19, staffing the County’s COVID-19 Information Hotline; doing data entry and analysis; conducting investigations; sending letters to those who may have been exposed to the virus; and following up daily with all who have been quarantined or isolated. Just staffing the hotline takes 14 people for each daily 12-hour shift. Contact tracing will continue as long as there are more cases; the Public Health Department urges everyone to avoid contact with others.
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School
April 29, 2020 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com
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Francis Howell selects new deputy superintendent The Francis Howell School District Board of Education has approved the selection of Dr. Kenneth Roumpos as the district’s new Deputy Superintendent, effective July 1. He succeeds current Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Nathan Hoven. Dr. Hoven begins his tenure as Superintendent on July 1, taking over for the retiring Dr. Mary Hendricks-Harris. Roumpos says he is excited and honored to join the FHSD family. “The district is consistently ranked among the best in the state with high levels of achievement by students and staff, and I look forward to doing my part to build upon such high levels of success,” he said. “I am excited to work with Dr. Hoven, district and school leaders, and the board of education in continuing to move the district toward its ‘Future Focused’ mission
and vision. I can’t wait to begin building relationships and collaborating with students, staff, and the community.” “The Deputy Superintendent is going to be immersed in many operations across the sistrict,” said Hoven. “He will work hand in hand with the Superintendent to carry out major district initiatives. He will also oversee many day-to-day operations of the district and step into the lead role whenever the Superintendent is out of the office.” Roumpos currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Leadership Development in the Ritenour School District, a position he has held since 2016. Previously he served as a building administrator, first as the Assistant Principal, and then for seven years as the Principal at Ritenour Middle School. He began his career in education as
Photo courtesy Francis Howell School District Dr. Kenneth Roumpos will serve as the district’s new Deputy Superintendent, effective July 1.
a teacher and spent five years in the classroom in Mehlville and the St. Louis Public School District. Roumpos has a bachelor’s degree in music education from MacMurray College, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Saint Louis University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University.
Holt students earn Martin Luther King Jr. scholarships The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity event took place at Holt High School on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a program to celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As part of the celebration, the WSD offers a scholarship competition and awards a minimum $500 scholarship to high school seniors who keep Dr. King’s legacy alive through their actions. This year’s winners are Holt senior Jamal Rice and early 2020 Holt graduate Aidan McCarthy. “We had several students from across the district submit entries for our annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. scholarship,” Holt Assistant Principal and one of the event’s organizers, Dr. Amanda Shelmire, said. “This year, we were able to award two deserving seniors $500 scholarships based on their resume and explanation of how their school and community leadership activities have supported or promoted the ideas of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. here in Wentzville.” Jahmal Rice was named the winner of the Ceclia Luckett-Crumes Scholarship sponsored by North Star Insurance Advisors. Luckett-Crumes was
Photos courtesy Wentzville School District (Left) Early 2020 Holt graduate Aidan McCarthy and (right) Holt senior Jamal Rice were each winners of a $500 scholarship to high school seniors who keep Dr. King’s legacy alive through their actions.
the mother of Barbara Love, the community member responsible for starting the WSD MLK walk and the Unity Ceremony over 15 years ago. Rice has long been participating in CUSA (Culturally United Student Association), the student-run organization that seeks to educate the school community and community at-large about minority culture, as well as to open a dialogue over what may divide cultures in a community–and how to bridge those divides. Events that Rice has organized or helped organize, such as a well-attended Soul Food Night
at Holt, have sought to spread awareness and helped to form bonds between students of all cultures. Aidan McCarthy, an early graduate of Holt this year, was named the winner of the scholarship sponsored by the Wentzville School District Foundation. McCarthy, who completed the Missouri A+ Mentoring/Tutoring Program, has dedicated more than 150 hours to service in the community at various places, including the Salvation Army, several area churches, and the Wentzville School District.
www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • April 29, 2020
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Four WSD yearbooks featured in Herff Jones “Best-of” publication Four WSD yearbooks were chosen to be highlighted in the 2019 Herff Jones Portfolio, which showcases best-inclass yearbook work from students across North America. All three WSD high schools Holt, Liberty, and Timberland - as well as Wentzville Middle School, were included in the Portfolio that features 477 schools chosen across multiple categories out of the thousands of yearbooks printed last year by the company. “We are former educators and yearbookers ourselves, so we know firsthand the amount of work that goes into each book,” said Kelly Crouch, vice president of yearbook sales for Herff Jones. “Producing a great
yearbook doesn’t just happen overnight, and we are proud to be able to recognize our student and staff achievements.” In its 25th year of publication, Portfolio features more student work than ever before. Judged by industry experts on various design and storytelling elements – from themes to covers to features – the featured staff truly epitomize the student innovation that came from yearbook classrooms in 2019. Wentzville Middle School’s yearbook, “The Power of You” was featured three times in the showcase for its portraits section, closing spread, and cover, and the Portfolio included two interviews with the yearbook’s
advisor, Cathy McCandless. “I am incredibly proud of how hard the middle school staff works each and every week during the entire school year,” said McCandless. “They take thousands of photos and support each other by keeping in constant communication about what needs to be done. We are not a club. We are a family that happens to publish a book for the student body each year.” In addition, the Holt High School yearbook, “Pow Wow” was featured for its sports spread, the Liberty High School “Talon” yearbook was featured for its clubs spread, and the Timberland High School “Wolf Tracks” yearbook
Photo courtesy Wentzville School District The Wentzville Middle School Yearbook Club was chosen to be highlighted in the 2019 Herff Jones Portfolio, which showcases best-in-class yearbook work from students across North America.
was featured for its student life spread and cover. A printed Portfolio was presented to each of the featured
schools and an online showcase of the Portfolio is available at https://yearbookdiscoveries. com/showcase/.
WSD teacher named St. Louis Fed Economic Educator of the Year Michael Kaiman, a social studies teacher at Timberland High School in the Wentzville School District, is the recipient of the 2020 Economic Educator Advisory Board Educator of the Year Award from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The award is given annually to recognize a board member for his or her commitment to economic and financial education. Kaiman, who has taught in the WSD since 2002, has served on the St. Louis Fed’s Educator Advisory Board for six years. The board is composed of local teachers who review curriculum, attend meetings, present at events and contribute in other ways to the success of the St. Louis Fed economic education program, Econ Ed at the Fed. “Mike was selected for this award because he is an advocate for economic education,” said Mary Suiter, an assistant vice president and economic education officer at the St. Louis Fed. “He secured the opportunity for us to provide professional development for Wentzville School District teachers. In addition, he provided valuable feedback on new curriculum materials; he developed lessons for AP U.S. History teachers that incorpo-
Photo courtesy Wentzville School District Michael Kaiman, a social studies teacher at Timberland High School in the Wentzville School District, is the recipient of the 2020 Economic Educator Advisory Board Educator of the Year Award from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
rate FRED data and FRASER primary source documents; and he has helped us with improvements to our Econ Lowdown website.” The St. Louis Fed’s Econ Ed at the Fed offers more than 400 free educational resources about economics, personal finance, money and banking. In addition, the St. Louis Fed’s Econ Lowdown teacher portal allows teachers to create a syllabus of resources and assign the syllabus to students. For more information and educational resources, visit stlouisfed.org.
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April 29, 2020 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com
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Sports
April 29, 2020 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com
Sports you see with Gary B...
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Football players from Lindenwood earn to be on the All-Decade team The D2football.com All-Decade team was announced this week and Lindenwood alums Pierre Desir and Connor Harris were recognized for their decorated careers for the Lions. The 2010-19 All-Decade Team consists of 35 players who had made an active NFL roster. Of the 50-player team, 16 have been drafted into the NFL. Desir checked off both boxes, as he was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. The St. Charles native signed with the New York Jets in early April, and will begin his seventh NFL season in 2020. He was one of the best cover corners in Division II, as he was named 2013 Cliff Harris Award winner which is given to the Small College Defensive Player of the Year. During his collegiate career, Desir was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American. The Francis Howell Central product was selected to the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl after his collegiate career. In just two seasons at Lindenwood, Desir compiled 13 interceptions with 17 pass breakups during his career with the Lions. In 2012, Desir set a new school record with nine interceptions. Harris was an impact player from the moment he stepped on campus at Lindenwood. The Lee’s Summit, Missouri. native was a standout linebacker for the Lions, as he closed out his career as the NCAA All-Division record holder with 633 career tackles. Harris was named 2016 Cliff Harris Award winner, and earned All-American honors for three-straight seasons. A product of Blue Springs South, Harris was a four-time all-MIAA selection, and was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2015. He set multiple school records during his career, as he averaged over 13 tackles per game. Harris posted double-digit tackles in 38 games during his 48-game career, including tallies of 20 or more tackles in five different games. Harris had a brief stint in the NFL, as he inked a contract with the New York Jets in 2017. ~~~Great accomplishment
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Ambush resign major player The St. Louis Ambush play in the South Central division of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) with home games at the Family Arena. Early with the Ambush JT Thomas, a Doncaster, England native, honed his indoor game as a member of the Ambush reserve squad for the 2016-17 season before joining the active roster for 2017-18. In his first two seasons with the team, JT appeared in 28 games and posted 16 goals and six assists. The 2019-20 season was his breakout season as Thomas appeared in all 21 Ambush games while leading the team in points (34), goals (25) and game winning goals (two). Ambush Head Coach Hewerton said, “I am excited to announce that JT signed with the Ambush for the next three years. It makes me proud to watch his development as a player and team leader. Moving his position to second forward helped for his best season in his career so far. He is a great finisher and brings a lot of energy offensively and defensively.” “There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that we see, that the fans don’t,” Thomas said. “Shelly and Jeff (Ambush owners) care about the progress and future of this team. I am excited to be a part of that plan.” ~~~Very good move
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.
SUDOKU answers from page F-1
CROSSWORD answers from page F-4
www.mycnews.com • Community News • April 29, 2020
Recipe:
Serve a protein-packed salad
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– SUDOKU –
High-Protein Chicken, Onion and Quinoa Salad
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.
Recipe courtesy of the National Onion Association Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Servings: 6
Ingredients: Dressing: 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 1/2 cups red quinoa, rinsed 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth 1 teaspoon canola oil 1 white onion, sliced 3 cups baby kale 1 red skinned apple, chopped 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Directions: To make dressing: In bowl, whisk vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, honey and Dijon mustard until well
combined. Set aside. In saucepan, bring quinoa and broth to boil. Simmer, covered, 12-15 minutes, or until broth has been absorbed. Cool completely. In medium skillet, heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Saute onion 3-5 minutes, or until softened and
translucent. Remove from heat; cool completely. In large bowl, toss onion, kale, apple, chicken, salt and pepper with dressing. Stir in cooled quinoa. Nutritional information per serving: 407 calories, 36.5 g protein, 11.6 g fat, 39 g carbohydrates, 297 mg sodium, 4.2 g fiber. SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 10
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Revisiting ‘Pearl Harbor’
A
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.
s of this writing, Georgia is planning to restart their economy, which will impact the movie industry. As Variety recently pointed out, movie and TV productions like going on location in that state thanks, in no small part, to the generous tax credits for filmmakers. The current pandemic made both studios and theater chains cautious about restarting too soon. Even with new films in the pipeline, are moviegoers going to feel comfortable sitting in an auditorium with other viewers? Theaters are still closed where I live, so I have watched more TV recently than I have all year. Last weekend, a repeat showing of “Pearl Harbor” on cable caught my attention. Directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, this 2001 epic adventure focused on the events leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America’s subsequent war efforts after that tragedy. Ben Affleck plays Rafe McCawley, a skilled American pilot who joins the Eagle Squadron, a part of Britain’s Royal Air Force. Rafe is ready to get into battle, but before departing, he meets Lieutenant Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale), a Navy nurse. The two have real chemistry, but Rafe sticks to his plans to go
Sandra, one of the nurses stationed in Hawaii. Alec Baldwin chewed up the scenery as Major Jimmy Doolittle, the commander of a counterattack on Japan. Jon Voight was a standout, though, as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. His portrayal was solid, capturing Roosevelt’s shock at the loss of American life as well as his firm resolve to bolster the military. Arguably, the biggest draw of “Pearl Harbor” has been the extendPhoto courtesy Touchstone Pictures ed attack sequence set in the harbor. Director Michael Bay captured the overseas. His best friend Danny (Josh Hart- horrors of war and recreated the sinking of nett) stays behind and both he and Evelyn are the USS Arizona and other ships. The focus stationed in Pearl Harbor prior to the attack. shifted between the brutal attack and the Navy Rafe, Evelyn and Danny are the principle hospital as Evelyn and the medical staff were characters in “Pearl Harbor,” but they are overwhelmed with casualties. Prior to the fictional. The film does contain memorable sneak attack, the biggest problem she had to real-life heroes such as Doris “Dorie” Miller, deal with was sunburn. a cook on the West Virginia. Portrayed by The review aggregation site “Rotten TomaCuba Gooding, Jr. in the film, Miller stepped toes” shows that “Pearl Harbor” currently has into action as the Japanese pilots bombed the a 24% percent rating among critics. As for battleships. Miller moved the West Virginia’s me, I watched the film until the end, appreinjured captain to cover and then manned one ciating the work of Beckinsale, Affleck and of the anti-aircraft guns. He was later awarded Hartnett and the special effects teams. It rethe Navy Cross for his heroism. mains an engaging, intense film that carries a “Pearl Harbor” also contained some familiar PG-13 rating. faces, including Jennifer Garner, who played
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Yeggs
John Hanna
CROSSWORD: Fairy Tale Creatures
‘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.
By Cindy Moore
Moore On Life
T
he cats are c o n s p i ring against us. That happens when you’ve been in lockdown for 36 days. The cats start talking. So do the plants and the walls – especially the walls! I approached the living room where my furballs usually hang out and heard some murmuring. I eased up and pasted myself against the wall so as not to be detected. Needless to say I was shocked and horrified. Not at my cats’ chatter, but that the walls needed a good cleaning. I’d never been that close to them before. “Psst, Lady!” Sweet mother, my walls were talking. “You’re home all day. How about giving us a nice cleaning? We’re streaked with fingerprints!” “Maybe later,” I said. “Can’t you see I’m trying to break up an evil scheme my cats are discussing?” “What the… cats can’t talk! Man, you’ve been confined wa-ay too long. Take some meds and get it together!” “Mouthy wall! You can wear your greasy fingerprints forever now!” I ignored it and listened in on the plot. The fat one started out. “Insufferable I tell you! These human servants are starting to annoy me greatly. They’re here all day now and taking over the place. Why, just this morning I was ready for my early mid-morningright-before-lunchtime nap and I found one of the surly beasts nestled up on the couch. In my spot!” “Eww, I hope you checked if for skin flakes,” said the skinny one. “They’re always sloughing them
off on everything. It’s really gross and makes me sneeze.” “I was forced to lounge on the ottoman.” “Ugh! Where they put their feet?” “Dreadfully unsanitary. We need to do something or I’ll go bonkers. If I hear that woman call me her chubby bubsy-wubsy one more time I’m going to claw her new throw pillows into coleslaw!” “You think that’s bad. The man caretaker pulled a piece of bacon gristle out from his mouth this morning and forced me to eat it!” “Appalling! It’s time to do something radical. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” “Launch giant hairballs into their shoes?!” “Roger that!” I entered in time to break up the treachery. “Who’s ready for some warm tuna on toast?” I vaguely heard, “Sounds more like milquetoast!” “Zip it, wall!”
Breakdown
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. *Like many mythical creatures 6. Second mo. 9. Spill the beans 13. Convex molding 14. “___ the President’s Men” 15. Ankle support, e.g. 16. Make a logical connection 17. *E.T.’s craft? 18. Des Moines native 19. *Fire-breather 21. *Household spirit 23. Tucker of “Modern Family” 24. Antonym of is 25. *Grimm’s Queen ____ 28. Tailor-made 30. Showing on TV 35. “All’s well that ____ well” 37. Golly! 39. Punctuation mark 40. Seaport in Yemen 41. Hitching post? 43. Additionally 44. Poison ivy or Poison oak 46. One more than The Beatles 47. Hold as a conviction 48. *Mrs. Potts or her son Chip
50. Andrew Sean Greer’s 2017 Pulitzer-winner novel 52. Toast choice 53. Jack and Jill’s water jug 55. “____ Now or Never” 57. *Horse’s cousin 61. *One of the seven dwarfs 64. Ascetic holy Hindu 65. HHS agency 67. Relating to #25 Across 69. Banana treat 70. Go bad 71. Australian canid 72. Lou of “Walk on the Wild Side” fame 73. Card in the hole? 74. “The Forsyte ____,” pl. DOWN 1. Wisecrack 2. Like a zealous fan 3. Regular attendee 4. Hipbone-related 5. Cuban music genre, pl. 6. *Half-man, half-goat 7. *Santa’s helper 8. Splotches 9. Arch on a face 10. Croquet turf 11. Popular smoothie berry 12. Well, to Sofia Loren 15. Relating to living organisms 20. Opposite of alpha
22. Genetic initials 24. Parents hope to do this with values 25. *Beauty’s beau 26. Empower 27. Dropsy 29. *Big Bad One 31. Yellow brick one 32. Feeling worse than before 33. *Like Curious George 34. *Garden dweller 36. Finger move 38. Moneyed one 42. Pine product 45. Choose not to do something, 2 words 49. Toni Morrison’s “____ Baby” 51. 1862 plots, for short 54. Prefix for below 56. Old photo color 57. Stalin’s domain 58. Back of the neck 59. Not active 60. Past tense of chide 61. Fill beyond full 62. Sound of passing bullet 63. *Baba ____ 66. *Who Bugs Bunny talks to? 68. Numbers, abbr.
SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 10