NO TO RED LIGHT CAMERA SYSTEM
Dear Editor,
I’ve been a resident of the city of St. Charles for 23 years and a St. Peters business owner for 23 years.
I’m glad I watched some of the St. Charles City Council meeting last night. I’m totally against red light cameras being installed at any intersections within our city.
I have a month of personal experience with these red light cameras because our business, Aaron’s Birkenstock SuperStore & All Brand Shoe Repair, St. Peters, MO is practically located exactly in the middle of a stretch of Mexico Road where three intersections have had these cameras installed.
As you can imagine I’m up and down this part of Mexico Road several times a day. I’ve gotten to where I dread seeing that the light is green a block or so away. I’m afraid that by the time I get to the light it’s going to turn yellow and then to the ‘fast red’ and click I’ll be getting a ticket in the mail, at $70 per ticket this can become very expensive.
It seems these lights are turning very quickly from yellow to red. I’m slowing down if I see the green light a block or so away, and then if it hasn’t changed by the time I need to go through the intersection I’m speeding up to be sure I’m not in the intersection before the light turns red, this is not a good situation and it is not a good feeling worrying everyday about this.
In my 35 years of driving I have had three tickets, now I feel as though I risk the possibility of getting a ticket a couple of times a day, depending how traffic moves along Mexico Road from the Cave Springs exit to Jungermann.
I read where the City of St. Peters had their cameras up and running on November 15, only issuing warning notices and then after one month the system would start issuing tickets.
They interviewed St. Peters Assistant Police Chief Mike Townsend, so most likely he’d be able to provide the numbers on how many warnings were issued and how many actual tickets have been issued in this short period of time.
I’m all for safe drivers, I consider myself to be a very safe driver, however, now with these cameras it’s causing me to change my driving habits when approaching an intersection with a green light, this is not a good feeling.
Stop and think about our senior citizens who no longer have the quick reflexes they once did, they’ll be getting plenty of these tickets issued to them, there goes their utility tax rebate.
I agree with Mr. Brown and disagree with Mr. Gieseke. Not everyone is wanting to run a red light and become a law breaking citizen, the majority of us are law abiding citizens, we become victims of circumstance sometime when driving, like the day I had an overly anxious driver on my bumper on West Adams.
There was a St. Charles motorcycle police officer that had set up a radar checkpoint and to my luck I was going seven miles over the speed limit. I’ve traveled West Adams for 17 years up to this day; I know the police set up radar on this part of West Adams. The police officer pulled both of us over in the double fine zone. I asked the officer if he saw how the other driver was tailing me, he responded by saying yes and that he was going to get a ticket as well. The police officer was kind enough to tell me, “I was the slowest person he had caught all day.” Life throws you a curve ball every so often, however, we do not need to cause the citizens of our fine community additional challenges when it comes to driving. Please do not approve the Red Light Camera Systems.
Sincerely,
Pat Hamilton
Dear First Capitol News,
Has it been a month since your last publication? What happened with the Federal investigation of the Express Scripts situation? What is going on with Ward 8 candidate Kielty registering to fill John Gieseke’s Council seat? What is the background of the council needing to pass a ruling twice requesting a change in the state bill Tom Dempsey put thru requiring the City to provide sewer service to a County housing development? Would this establish a precedent for other builders outside of city boundaries to expect the same sewer service? If the residents lose your coverage on city affairs their only news source (an oxymoron) would be the Journal.
I am considering moving out of St Charles.
Carol Diller
Editor’s response,
Thank you for reading the First Capitol News. No, it has not been a month, it just seems that way. We always take off between Christmas and New Years as it is a very slow time and people are more interested in the holidays than newspapers. We do provide daily updates with breaking news on our web log on the Internet that can be found at firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com.
The Federal Investigation continues. They provide no information until they make an indictment or an arrest.
Councilmen Koester and Gieseke had to introduce the resolution regarding the unconstitutionality on the City providing sewer service to a County housing development because the Mayor vetoed the first one. She is expected to veto this one also because of her closeness to a developer who has made a demand of $1 million to the City for damages because of the delay he had in hooking his county development up to City sewers. If the bill passed by Representative Dempsey in one day is found unconstitutional, then the Mayor’s friend has no claim against the City for damages and won’t be able to receive $1 million in taxpayer dollars. In future editions you will read about Kielty’s attempt to be elected Councilman in Ward Eight. Councilman John GIeseke is running for the office of Mayor and had to give up the 8th ward seat.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
The View From The Cheap Seats BY Jerry Haferkamp
Although I will defend a council member who is attacked by the mayor’s Pit Yorkies, I don’t usually endorse a particular candidate for office. In the upcoming mayoral election, Grace Nichols and John Gieseke are both excellent candidates for the office. We know what the other candidate brings to the office, and it’s not very pretty.
However, I will mention the good feeling I got when I read that Erv Ermeling filed for the council seat in Ward 10. He is a hardworking volunteer that has given a lot to St. Charles and has shown that he loves our city and its residents. Much of the enjoyment you will find on Main Street this year, as well as in past years, is his handy-work. Take a look at the train station in the park when you get a chance.
Erv is also the local businessman that asked me to mention in a previous column that we don’t need that traffic circus known as a “round-about” built at Third and Tecumseh while we still have children walking in the streets to get to school due to lack of sidewalks. He would like to put that money to use for the greater good, safeguarding our city’s children.
The only hesitation I had in mentioning him in this column is that it puts him on a “hit list” that may bring glossy, untrue mailers from hired guns from outside our city attacking him. The local recall squad will probably read this and start falsifying petitions to get a jump-start on their agenda. Erv, I apologize. I only wanted to let people know your dedication and value to us. Thanks for your past work and good luck in the election.
It’s hard to believe that with all Larry Muench has done to gain the mayor’s favor that it was all for naught. All the council knows of the ties between the mayor and Venetia McIntire who is running against Muench. The message to the rest of the council is that when Patti cries “jump”, don’t stop to ask how high. Just jump as fast and as high as you can. If she would do this to Larry, you could be next.
For those who don’t remember McIntire, she is the South Main businesswoman that repeatedly badgered the council for more welfare for South Main. It wasn’t enough that the former head of the C.V.B. funneled a plurality of the guests of the C.V.B. to her Bed and Breakfast. She wanted more of your tax dollars.
Unless McIntire recently moved, her filing should be in Ward 8. However, go ahead and let her run in Ward 2. I wouldn’t like to see the residents of my ward suffering the type of actions allegedly taken against anyone who opposed her on South Main. Actions, I am told, that caused several prominent businessmen to spin her name to “Vendetta”. Ward 2, you are on your own. Good luck!
I have heard that someone named Kielty may run for a council seat. Unlike Vendetta, I am unsure if he has chosen a ward in which to run. He may have waited to see which seat she wanted before declaring which one he wants. Chivalry may still be alive!
I hope he’s not the individual by that name that allegedly had the phone that mysteriously, all by itself apparently, made a call threatening bodily injury to one of our citizens.
Oops! Gotta go. My phone is ringing.
But that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
However, I will mention the good feeling I got when I read that Erv Ermeling filed for the council seat in Ward 10. He is a hardworking volunteer that has given a lot to St. Charles and has shown that he loves our city and its residents. Much of the enjoyment you will find on Main Street this year, as well as in past years, is his handy-work. Take a look at the train station in the park when you get a chance.
Erv is also the local businessman that asked me to mention in a previous column that we don’t need that traffic circus known as a “round-about” built at Third and Tecumseh while we still have children walking in the streets to get to school due to lack of sidewalks. He would like to put that money to use for the greater good, safeguarding our city’s children.
The only hesitation I had in mentioning him in this column is that it puts him on a “hit list” that may bring glossy, untrue mailers from hired guns from outside our city attacking him. The local recall squad will probably read this and start falsifying petitions to get a jump-start on their agenda. Erv, I apologize. I only wanted to let people know your dedication and value to us. Thanks for your past work and good luck in the election.
It’s hard to believe that with all Larry Muench has done to gain the mayor’s favor that it was all for naught. All the council knows of the ties between the mayor and Venetia McIntire who is running against Muench. The message to the rest of the council is that when Patti cries “jump”, don’t stop to ask how high. Just jump as fast and as high as you can. If she would do this to Larry, you could be next.
For those who don’t remember McIntire, she is the South Main businesswoman that repeatedly badgered the council for more welfare for South Main. It wasn’t enough that the former head of the C.V.B. funneled a plurality of the guests of the C.V.B. to her Bed and Breakfast. She wanted more of your tax dollars.
Unless McIntire recently moved, her filing should be in Ward 8. However, go ahead and let her run in Ward 2. I wouldn’t like to see the residents of my ward suffering the type of actions allegedly taken against anyone who opposed her on South Main. Actions, I am told, that caused several prominent businessmen to spin her name to “Vendetta”. Ward 2, you are on your own. Good luck!
I have heard that someone named Kielty may run for a council seat. Unlike Vendetta, I am unsure if he has chosen a ward in which to run. He may have waited to see which seat she wanted before declaring which one he wants. Chivalry may still be alive!
I hope he’s not the individual by that name that allegedly had the phone that mysteriously, all by itself apparently, made a call threatening bodily injury to one of our citizens.
Oops! Gotta go. My phone is ringing.
But that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
COMMENTS & COMMENTARY by Charles Hill
A City that is destined to repeat its past is one that doesn’t learn from it. St Charles City is rich in history but doesn’t need to continue to bring it’s past to life. St. Charles needs to break out of the past to move this City forward. Take a look at our past and point to the great accomplishments you would like repeated.
I offer you these for consideration:
During the LCA days on South Main many of the leaders thought it would be a good idea to completely close off South Main Street. One day the logs went up and the cars stopped moving up and down the street. This didn’t last long as the merchants felt the pain of lack of traffic and customers. Did the city learn from this? No, the city then closed off North Main and in the not so distant past the previous City’s Tourism Director actually wanted to close off South Main and only allow carriage rides.
In the early 1990’s the City hired a City Administrator to move the city forward. This person might have been thought of highly after the 12 or so years he put in before leaving, but if you look at his tenure he really didn’t do much to make the city better (Allan Williams). To give credit he deserves he did do a good job with the flood of ‘93 but other than that there’s not much to tell. So what did the city do? They hired him again. What did we get? More of the same. He hasn’t done anything to note that would point to the leadership that we should have received for over $150,000 a year in compensation. Just a note, one of those running now for office of Mayor (Nichols) hired him before the other (York) hired him this time. A strike against the two that who want to again be mayor.
The City has a bad history investing in the tourism industry as well. Two that come to mind, the Goldenrod Showboat and the Miniature Museum. Both of these cost the city millions all for the sake of tourism. Who do we have to thank for them? Grace Nichols. On top of these two gems that person also hired the previous tourism director.
I guess what I’m trying to say is be careful of the past. It took over 12 years to clean up the problems caused by those who say they can lead now. If they could have led then they wouldn’t have been defeated in the first place. You also have to look at the present and ask is the city better off now after eight years under the current leadership that is a mix of old and new. Who made the decisions to take the city backwards in time? In closing I appreciate our historical past but we don’t need repeat it again and again. This city needs to move past the need to keep the status quo and look at moving to a new history of progress. Why would you expect something different with the same old cast?
I offer you these for consideration:
During the LCA days on South Main many of the leaders thought it would be a good idea to completely close off South Main Street. One day the logs went up and the cars stopped moving up and down the street. This didn’t last long as the merchants felt the pain of lack of traffic and customers. Did the city learn from this? No, the city then closed off North Main and in the not so distant past the previous City’s Tourism Director actually wanted to close off South Main and only allow carriage rides.
In the early 1990’s the City hired a City Administrator to move the city forward. This person might have been thought of highly after the 12 or so years he put in before leaving, but if you look at his tenure he really didn’t do much to make the city better (Allan Williams). To give credit he deserves he did do a good job with the flood of ‘93 but other than that there’s not much to tell. So what did the city do? They hired him again. What did we get? More of the same. He hasn’t done anything to note that would point to the leadership that we should have received for over $150,000 a year in compensation. Just a note, one of those running now for office of Mayor (Nichols) hired him before the other (York) hired him this time. A strike against the two that who want to again be mayor.
The City has a bad history investing in the tourism industry as well. Two that come to mind, the Goldenrod Showboat and the Miniature Museum. Both of these cost the city millions all for the sake of tourism. Who do we have to thank for them? Grace Nichols. On top of these two gems that person also hired the previous tourism director.
I guess what I’m trying to say is be careful of the past. It took over 12 years to clean up the problems caused by those who say they can lead now. If they could have led then they wouldn’t have been defeated in the first place. You also have to look at the present and ask is the city better off now after eight years under the current leadership that is a mix of old and new. Who made the decisions to take the city backwards in time? In closing I appreciate our historical past but we don’t need repeat it again and again. This city needs to move past the need to keep the status quo and look at moving to a new history of progress. Why would you expect something different with the same old cast?
COMMENTS & COMMENTARY by Charles Hill
A City that is destined to repeat its past is one that doesn’t learn from it. St Charles City is rich in history but doesn’t need to continue to bring it’s past to life. St. Charles needs to break out of the past to move this City forward. Take a look at our past and point to the great accomplishments you would like repeated.
I offer you these for consideration:
During the LCA days on South Main many of the leaders thought it would be a good idea to completely close off South Main Street. One day the logs went up and the cars stopped moving up and down the street. This didn’t last long as the merchants felt the pain of lack of traffic and customers. Did the city learn from this? No, the city then closed off North Main and in the not so distant past the previous City’s Tourism Director actually wanted to close off South Main and only allow carriage rides.
In the early 1990’s the City hired a City Administrator to move the city forward. This person might have been thought of highly after the 12 or so years he put in before leaving, but if you look at his tenure he really didn’t do much to make the city better (Allan Williams). To give credit he deserves he did do a good job with the flood of ‘93 but other than that there’s not much to tell. So what did the city do? They hired him again. What did we get? More of the same. He hasn’t done anything to note that would point to the leadership that we should have received for over $150,000 a year in compensation. Just a note, one of those running now for office of Mayor (Nichols) hired him before the other (York) hired him this time. A strike against the two that who want to again be mayor.
The City has a bad history investing in the tourism industry as well. Two that come to mind, the Goldenrod Showboat and the Miniature Museum. Both of these cost the city millions all for the sake of tourism. Who do we have to thank for them? Grace Nichols. On top of these two gems that person also hired the previous tourism director.
I guess what I’m trying to say is be careful of the past. It took over 12 years to clean up the problems caused by those who say they can lead now. If they could have led then they wouldn’t have been defeated in the first place. You also have to look at the present and ask is the city better off now after eight years under the current leadership that is a mix of old and new. Who made the decisions to take the city backwards in time? In closing I appreciate our historical past but we don’t need repeat it again and again. This city needs to move past the need to keep the status quo and look at moving to a new history of progress. Why would you expect something different with the same old cast?
I offer you these for consideration:
During the LCA days on South Main many of the leaders thought it would be a good idea to completely close off South Main Street. One day the logs went up and the cars stopped moving up and down the street. This didn’t last long as the merchants felt the pain of lack of traffic and customers. Did the city learn from this? No, the city then closed off North Main and in the not so distant past the previous City’s Tourism Director actually wanted to close off South Main and only allow carriage rides.
In the early 1990’s the City hired a City Administrator to move the city forward. This person might have been thought of highly after the 12 or so years he put in before leaving, but if you look at his tenure he really didn’t do much to make the city better (Allan Williams). To give credit he deserves he did do a good job with the flood of ‘93 but other than that there’s not much to tell. So what did the city do? They hired him again. What did we get? More of the same. He hasn’t done anything to note that would point to the leadership that we should have received for over $150,000 a year in compensation. Just a note, one of those running now for office of Mayor (Nichols) hired him before the other (York) hired him this time. A strike against the two that who want to again be mayor.
The City has a bad history investing in the tourism industry as well. Two that come to mind, the Goldenrod Showboat and the Miniature Museum. Both of these cost the city millions all for the sake of tourism. Who do we have to thank for them? Grace Nichols. On top of these two gems that person also hired the previous tourism director.
I guess what I’m trying to say is be careful of the past. It took over 12 years to clean up the problems caused by those who say they can lead now. If they could have led then they wouldn’t have been defeated in the first place. You also have to look at the present and ask is the city better off now after eight years under the current leadership that is a mix of old and new. Who made the decisions to take the city backwards in time? In closing I appreciate our historical past but we don’t need repeat it again and again. This city needs to move past the need to keep the status quo and look at moving to a new history of progress. Why would you expect something different with the same old cast?
WARD 8 REPORT - John Gieseke, Councilman Ward 8
Happy New Year to all In Ward 8! The year 2006 was a progressive one for the area and the City. I am going to take a second to recap some of the bigger things that have occurred in 2006 and talk about some of the plans for 2007.
ROAD PROJECTS
Road Projects throughout the Ward have been ongoing. Many concrete slabs have been replaced on our neighborhood streets. The key is to track and determine if the city is replacing the same slabs and why. The street committee has required that each of the pieces be stamped with the logo of the company replacing the slab. This is done in Milwaukee and works to hold the companies accountable for their work. Concrete and asphalt overlay projects across the ward were completed in 2006. There is still a need to increase the funding of our streets, there are too many that do not meet the standards the City of St. Charles has set. Reconstruction of Elm Street is to begin soon.
PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS
The City of St. Charles was the first to pass meaningful legislation protecting your property rights in the county. I sponsored a bill preventing the transfer of private property to another private entity for development. This use of Eminent Domain was on the front page of newspapers and the lead story on the evening news after the Supreme Court ruled that Eminent Domain could be used to help developers take property from private owners and use it for their developments. Property rights are one of the pillars of our country and needs to be protected. In Frenchtown the property of Jerry Kelly, Frenchtown Transmission, Jac’s Automotive were threatened to be taken just to be handed over to a developer who is looking to grab enough privately owned property to redevelop the area. While I don’t disagree with the redevelopment, I don’t think these established businesses that have served our City residents should be forced to leave their property. These companies helped to stabilize the area for years and should be rewarded not threatened.
The developer of Frenchtown and the City can work together without using Eminent Domain to redevelop and bring the Frenchtown neighborhood up to the standards the residents have been working towards.
KEEPING OUR PROPERTY TAXES LOW
Development in north St. Charles is really beginning to take off. With the $1.5 Billion investment in New Town we have seen a great deal of money being invested in our area. This progressive attitude towards growing our tax base is needed to ensure that all of our property taxes stay low. This year New Town will bring in added revenues to the property taxing entities not including utility and sales taxes collected. The assessed value of New Town for 2006 is around $16 million. New Town has spurred growth along Elm Street as well as in Fountain Lakes. Rookies Restaurant , SSM Health, US Title, Newco, J Hair Gallery, Lion’s Choice, Doozles, Cingular and AutoBahn have all opened over the past year. Glazer Distribution and Mitek ( a Berkshire Hathaway Corporation) are both under construction and will open in 2007 or early 2008. This mix of business is good for a stable tax base.
TAX RELIEF FOR OUR RESIDENTS
In 2006 the Council at the urging of Councilman Bob Hoepfner began giving tax relief to the seniors in our community. The previous council passed a bill I sponsored giving utility tax reductions to all residents. Every year the utility tax is lowered, with the growth in the city we can lower our utility tax and keep the same amount of tax revenue coming into the city. The senior’s receive rebates for their taxes, if you need more information on this program call (636)949-3200. Thanks to the council for passing this relief. We could offer more tax breaks in a same manner but this relief is threatened by the State’s legislation that interferes with local control of our finances.
A YEAR OF GREAT PROGRESS
Yes, 2007 looks to be a year of great progress for the Ward. The New Town at St. Charles will open many new businesses this year. Over 30 businesses owners have committed to open their doors in New Town. This along with Cissel-Mueller, Fountain Lakes, Shockley and the Sansone developments will keep hammers swinging in the Ward.
This investment will continue if the City maintains the infrastructure that supports these developments. Elm Street will see new construction begin in 2007. This road project is a quality of life issue for all of us who travel Elm Street on a daily basis. There is money budgeted for 2007 to take the merge lane on Elm and continue it past McDonald's. Design of both NewTown Blvd and Boschertown road will continue. The much needed stop light at Fox Hill and Highway 94 will be installed this summer.
Upgrades to our waste treatment plants and the replacement of our main sewer line will be completed in 2007 and 2008. The City does need to address the legislation that forces the City to accept any sewer connections that are outside the city. This threatens our ability to annex and to make sure development that abuts the city is up to our standards. If you want to see what can happen to development when city standards are not applied just drive along Elm Point and look at the dump site and quality of buildings that are in the county. Currently we can’t use our sewer treatment to force development outside the city to control quality of development. On top of that anyone outside the city now enjoys more rights than you. They can stop paying for sewer service and the city is prohibited from disconnecting them for two years. If a city resident doesn’t pay you have around 30 days to pay or get disconnected.
I will continue to fight for the residents of Ward 8 in 2007. In the past I have applied simple common sense to issues that we face. This plus a good business sense generally leads the way to good sound decisions for the taxpayers of St. Charles.
John Gieseke
ROAD PROJECTS
Road Projects throughout the Ward have been ongoing. Many concrete slabs have been replaced on our neighborhood streets. The key is to track and determine if the city is replacing the same slabs and why. The street committee has required that each of the pieces be stamped with the logo of the company replacing the slab. This is done in Milwaukee and works to hold the companies accountable for their work. Concrete and asphalt overlay projects across the ward were completed in 2006. There is still a need to increase the funding of our streets, there are too many that do not meet the standards the City of St. Charles has set. Reconstruction of Elm Street is to begin soon.
PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS
The City of St. Charles was the first to pass meaningful legislation protecting your property rights in the county. I sponsored a bill preventing the transfer of private property to another private entity for development. This use of Eminent Domain was on the front page of newspapers and the lead story on the evening news after the Supreme Court ruled that Eminent Domain could be used to help developers take property from private owners and use it for their developments. Property rights are one of the pillars of our country and needs to be protected. In Frenchtown the property of Jerry Kelly, Frenchtown Transmission, Jac’s Automotive were threatened to be taken just to be handed over to a developer who is looking to grab enough privately owned property to redevelop the area. While I don’t disagree with the redevelopment, I don’t think these established businesses that have served our City residents should be forced to leave their property. These companies helped to stabilize the area for years and should be rewarded not threatened.
The developer of Frenchtown and the City can work together without using Eminent Domain to redevelop and bring the Frenchtown neighborhood up to the standards the residents have been working towards.
KEEPING OUR PROPERTY TAXES LOW
Development in north St. Charles is really beginning to take off. With the $1.5 Billion investment in New Town we have seen a great deal of money being invested in our area. This progressive attitude towards growing our tax base is needed to ensure that all of our property taxes stay low. This year New Town will bring in added revenues to the property taxing entities not including utility and sales taxes collected. The assessed value of New Town for 2006 is around $16 million. New Town has spurred growth along Elm Street as well as in Fountain Lakes. Rookies Restaurant , SSM Health, US Title, Newco, J Hair Gallery, Lion’s Choice, Doozles, Cingular and AutoBahn have all opened over the past year. Glazer Distribution and Mitek ( a Berkshire Hathaway Corporation) are both under construction and will open in 2007 or early 2008. This mix of business is good for a stable tax base.
TAX RELIEF FOR OUR RESIDENTS
In 2006 the Council at the urging of Councilman Bob Hoepfner began giving tax relief to the seniors in our community. The previous council passed a bill I sponsored giving utility tax reductions to all residents. Every year the utility tax is lowered, with the growth in the city we can lower our utility tax and keep the same amount of tax revenue coming into the city. The senior’s receive rebates for their taxes, if you need more information on this program call (636)949-3200. Thanks to the council for passing this relief. We could offer more tax breaks in a same manner but this relief is threatened by the State’s legislation that interferes with local control of our finances.
A YEAR OF GREAT PROGRESS
Yes, 2007 looks to be a year of great progress for the Ward. The New Town at St. Charles will open many new businesses this year. Over 30 businesses owners have committed to open their doors in New Town. This along with Cissel-Mueller, Fountain Lakes, Shockley and the Sansone developments will keep hammers swinging in the Ward.
This investment will continue if the City maintains the infrastructure that supports these developments. Elm Street will see new construction begin in 2007. This road project is a quality of life issue for all of us who travel Elm Street on a daily basis. There is money budgeted for 2007 to take the merge lane on Elm and continue it past McDonald's. Design of both NewTown Blvd and Boschertown road will continue. The much needed stop light at Fox Hill and Highway 94 will be installed this summer.
Upgrades to our waste treatment plants and the replacement of our main sewer line will be completed in 2007 and 2008. The City does need to address the legislation that forces the City to accept any sewer connections that are outside the city. This threatens our ability to annex and to make sure development that abuts the city is up to our standards. If you want to see what can happen to development when city standards are not applied just drive along Elm Point and look at the dump site and quality of buildings that are in the county. Currently we can’t use our sewer treatment to force development outside the city to control quality of development. On top of that anyone outside the city now enjoys more rights than you. They can stop paying for sewer service and the city is prohibited from disconnecting them for two years. If a city resident doesn’t pay you have around 30 days to pay or get disconnected.
I will continue to fight for the residents of Ward 8 in 2007. In the past I have applied simple common sense to issues that we face. This plus a good business sense generally leads the way to good sound decisions for the taxpayers of St. Charles.
John Gieseke
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS SPORTS - MIKE McMurran Sports Editor
I hope everyone had a great Christmas vacation; mine was far, far too short. Most of it was centered around youth sports as both my sons played in the Tony Glavin Holiday tournament (3 games each) and my favorite daughter’s basketball team practiced no less the 4 times during the break.
Speaking of basketball, as poor as the recently completed high school football season was, and it was an unbelievably down season for both St. Charles schools as well as Duchesne, the basketball season might just be at its all time best.
Both Saint Charles and Duchesne traveled to Ladue to participate in the Mary Institute Country Day School Holiday Tournament, where the Pirates were defending champions. Duchesne started out with wins over Howell and Jennings before going heads up with the Pirates in semi-final action. The Pirates inside game was too much for the Pioneers as they topped their conference rival 57-47.
St. Charles went on to defeat Miller Career Academy in the championship game successfully defending their title, while the Pioneers dropped a 76-65 decision to Westminster in the 3rd place contest.
Any high school basketball junkie knows the premier holiday tournament is the Meramec Holiday Festival Tournament. Year in and year out it features the best large schools in the region; this year was no exception.
While High was winning the MICDS Tournament, which has been traditionally know for attracting smaller schools, West was taking on the “big boys” at Meramec. Schools such as Zumwalt West, Hazelwood Central, Lindbergh and Lafayette boast student enrollments over twice that of little ‘ole Saint Charles West – David and Goliath if ever there was such a case. The Warriors were undaunted as they defeated Eureka and Hazelwood Central, setting up a semi-final match between two undefeated teams – the Warriors and Webster Groves. The Warriors fell short conceding their first contest of the season 61-56.
In the third place contest the Warriors defeated DeSmet in a real nail-biter, 44-42.
Each of the three schools boast a true all-state caliber player: West has guard Kramer Soderberg, High has power forward Josh Harrelson, and Duchesne has sharp-shooting guard Zack Plackemeier. Yes, for high school basketball junkies, this is certainly a premier season.
While on the subject of basketball, I would like to wish a certain group of fifth grade girls from the Academy of the Sacred Heart good luck in their upcoming basketball season. Kayla Simon, Paige Theby, Sarah Heise, Emily Holloran, Grace Schwendemann, Hillary Padavan, Isabella Tambone, Madison Flynn, Elizabeth Francis, and of course my favorite daughter, Maggie McMurran, will need all the luck they can get. It is my first endeavor in coaching girls basketball – and I’m scared to death. I’ve coached some great high school football and basketball players, some of whom have gone on to play at the next level, but never have I coached girls. All kidding aside, the girls will do just fine, despite their coach. We’ve had four practices now and the girls cannot wait to play a real game.
Finally, a few people have contacted me and asked if I was serious about running for 4th ward councilman – I couldn’t be more serious. I will submit the paper work next week, and start my door-to-door campaign soon after. Anyone wishing to help or wanting a sign in their front yard feel free to contact me. I’ve already collected the 25 signatures and secured a campaign treasurer, Dr. Daniel Coogan – so I’m ready to go! It should prove to be rather interesting.
mcmurran@charter.net/314.280.9189
ttt
Speaking of basketball, as poor as the recently completed high school football season was, and it was an unbelievably down season for both St. Charles schools as well as Duchesne, the basketball season might just be at its all time best.
Both Saint Charles and Duchesne traveled to Ladue to participate in the Mary Institute Country Day School Holiday Tournament, where the Pirates were defending champions. Duchesne started out with wins over Howell and Jennings before going heads up with the Pirates in semi-final action. The Pirates inside game was too much for the Pioneers as they topped their conference rival 57-47.
St. Charles went on to defeat Miller Career Academy in the championship game successfully defending their title, while the Pioneers dropped a 76-65 decision to Westminster in the 3rd place contest.
Any high school basketball junkie knows the premier holiday tournament is the Meramec Holiday Festival Tournament. Year in and year out it features the best large schools in the region; this year was no exception.
While High was winning the MICDS Tournament, which has been traditionally know for attracting smaller schools, West was taking on the “big boys” at Meramec. Schools such as Zumwalt West, Hazelwood Central, Lindbergh and Lafayette boast student enrollments over twice that of little ‘ole Saint Charles West – David and Goliath if ever there was such a case. The Warriors were undaunted as they defeated Eureka and Hazelwood Central, setting up a semi-final match between two undefeated teams – the Warriors and Webster Groves. The Warriors fell short conceding their first contest of the season 61-56.
In the third place contest the Warriors defeated DeSmet in a real nail-biter, 44-42.
Each of the three schools boast a true all-state caliber player: West has guard Kramer Soderberg, High has power forward Josh Harrelson, and Duchesne has sharp-shooting guard Zack Plackemeier. Yes, for high school basketball junkies, this is certainly a premier season.
While on the subject of basketball, I would like to wish a certain group of fifth grade girls from the Academy of the Sacred Heart good luck in their upcoming basketball season. Kayla Simon, Paige Theby, Sarah Heise, Emily Holloran, Grace Schwendemann, Hillary Padavan, Isabella Tambone, Madison Flynn, Elizabeth Francis, and of course my favorite daughter, Maggie McMurran, will need all the luck they can get. It is my first endeavor in coaching girls basketball – and I’m scared to death. I’ve coached some great high school football and basketball players, some of whom have gone on to play at the next level, but never have I coached girls. All kidding aside, the girls will do just fine, despite their coach. We’ve had four practices now and the girls cannot wait to play a real game.
Finally, a few people have contacted me and asked if I was serious about running for 4th ward councilman – I couldn’t be more serious. I will submit the paper work next week, and start my door-to-door campaign soon after. Anyone wishing to help or wanting a sign in their front yard feel free to contact me. I’ve already collected the 25 signatures and secured a campaign treasurer, Dr. Daniel Coogan – so I’m ready to go! It should prove to be rather interesting.
mcmurran@charter.net/314.280.9189
ttt
Sunday, December 17, 2006
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS FRONT PAGE - December 16, 2006
(Click on image to enlarge) SCROLL DOWN TO READ ENTIRE TEXT ISSUE. To read entire issue including ad please go to firstcapitolnews.com. To search our archives please go to firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com. To keep abreast of breaking stories on a daily basis please go to firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com. Thank you for reading the First Capitol News.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Sometimes You Can Fight City Hall And Win
Complaint By Local Merchant Gets Unlicensed business closed by city after approximately three year run
By Tony Brockmeyer
It was about ten years ago that Jasper Noto decided it was time to get out of the concrete and swimming pool business and get into a business that was not as labor intensive or as dependent upon the weather.
Jasper and his mother Florence had visited Main Street in St. Charles and had heard wonderful stories about all the successful businesses. They felt Main Street was for them. They searched and found a location they liked in the 300 block of North Main. There they opened Mother’s Cupboard. They toiled from morning to night every day and although they worked hard and provided wonderful products, the sales just never lived up to their expectations. In an interview with the First Capitol News several years ago Jasper referred to the 300 block of North Main Street as the “bastard block.” “None of the action or activities or festivals on North Main comes onto the 300 block. They all stop a block short,” Jasper said. “More and more businesses are coming and going and it is a struggle each day just to meet our bills.”
Jasper thought they had made a mistake. “It’s South Main where the action is he began to say.” Finally when their lease was due to be renewed, they decided to move to a new building that was going to be constructed on South Main. Jasper and his Mom thought that finally they would achieve their dream. Even though licensing was more expensive and taxes higher they felt the move to South Main would be beneficial and bring them more business.
“I thought we would never get open,” Jasper said. Every day there was a new regulation or order from the City. Change this, change that, move this. over and over. It seemed that some of the people who had been on Main Street for ages thought this was their private domain and no one else belonged here. The city placed roadblock after roadblock in our way. The deck is too big it has to be made smaller, no windows on the side of the building that faces the Mayor’s building. The City even placed a stop work order on the building when they did not like the type of windows that were being installed. Finally after a lot of trial and tribulation caused by the city, J. Noto’s Italian Confections became a reality at 336 South Main Street.
The sales did not increase at the pace they would have liked but finally the business begins to prosper.
The festivals and activities did not bring the crowds into their business they thought would happen on South Main Street. “They line the street with booths and the people cannot even see our business,” Jasper said. Then when you ask to purchase the booth space in front of your store they won’t let you. You can purchase space but it may not even be close to your store.”
If that wasn’t bad enough Jasper was upset that across the street during each festival and during the annual Christmas Traditions program on South Main Street a cookie stand was set up. “Someone would come in and set up a tent and a sign that said Grandma’s Cookies and they would sell cookies and drinks. This went on for at least three years. Located next to the sidewalk, they took a lot of sales from our business. I called the city and complained but I was told the people had a license and owned the property and nothing was done. One year after our complaint, an inspector from the city came to our shop. We had an A frame sign on the sidewalk listing some of our specialties. Customers were in our shop and he barged in and told us the sign was illegal and to remove it immediately. I told him as soon as we finished with our customers. He then went outside and removed it from the sidewalk and placed it on the ground around the side of our building.”
This year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Grandma’s Cookies set up for business in the yard next to 401 South Main Street. They constructed a temporary cedar building with a canvas top. “During the last festival their tent was blown over and that is probably why they constructed a cedar building,” Jasper said. “They are really hurting our business and the city won’t do anything.”
Jasper said, “I talked to Bruce Evans the Community Development Director over a week ago. He finally called me back and told me they have a license to bake their cookies in their home and they should have a conditional use permit to place the temporary structure there. He further said his inspector had talked to them and they were in violation and since they were going to apply for a conditional use permit they would allow them to remain open until the conditional use permit could be voted on in January. I pointed out to him the Christmas Season would be over by then but he told me that was their policy. He told me that it took a while to contact the people from Grandma’s Cookies because their phone number was not on their business license.”
The First Capitol News contacted Bruce Evans at City Hall. He essentially told us the same thing. He further said it was the Christmas Season and they did not want to close the business because they would probably refuse and take the City to court and then there would be the expense of a lawsuit. He felt it would be better to allow them to operate while a conditional use permit was pending.
An investigation by the First Capitol News revealed that Grandma’s Cookies had a health inspection in September at 15 Briarwood Lane in St. Charles. We also contacted the licensing office at City Hall and were told that Grandma’s Cookies do not and did not have a St. Charles Business license and apparently were not paying sales tax or special business district tax nor Convention and Visitors Bureau tax. An additional fee is charged for business licenses for businesses on South Main Street and they evidently had not paid for that license either.
We contacted Community Development Director Bruce Evans and told him the results of our investigation. He told us the business would be issued an order to close and to remove the temporary structure from the property.
After informing Jasper Noto what Bruce Evans had told us he said, “Do you think the City is going to collect the taxes and fees they owe for the past several years?
MURDER - A RESULT OF DRUG DEAL RIP-OFF
Murder
A Result Of Drug Deal Rip-Off
Teenagers Charged
Alisa N. Lukasek, 18, of O’Fallon, Dorsey Carlos Thompson, 18, of St. Charles and Michael Alexander Adams, 19. of Bellefontaine Neighbors have been charged in the December 6, 2006 murder of Keeon Anderson of St. Charles. The murder of Anderson was first reported on the First Capitol News web log,
firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com on December 5th at 11:53p.m.
St. Charles police said they learned Lukasek had observed Anderson with a large amount of cash and convinced Thompson, who is her boyfriend, and Adams, a friend, to rob Anderson. Lukasek then made arrangements to purchase marijuana from Anderson later that evening. When Anderson arrived home at his apartment in the 700 block of Cunningham in the Powell Terrace neighborhood they attempted to rob him. Anderson attempted to drive away and was shot by Thompson who had a .44 caliber magnum pistol in his possession. Anderson attempted to drive away and apparently passed out, lost control of his vehicle, which then crossed First Capitol Drive and ended up in a snow covered field in front of Lindenwood University. A passerby notified police of the vehicle in which Anderson’s body was discovered.
Councilman John Gieseke told the First Capitol News, “I want to compliment the St. Charles PD on their efforts to solve this
crime. In very tough conditions they worked leads and made arrest. St. Charles has grown every year and the City Administration and Mayor have not kept up the manpower. Each year we hear rumors that the PD has asked for more manpower, the Mayor and City Administrator don’t tell us what is requested, we are flying blind on the needs. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know if you increase population, have greater diversity in population and add gaming to the mix we need more police. Over the past
three years speeding complaints have gone through the roof, the number of service calls are exploding, our police are patrolling more streets with the same number of police. We will be in a crisis if public safety continues to be placed on the back burner, it is a question of priorities.”
\All three subjects are being held at the St. Charles County Jail with bonds set at $1 million dollars each.
John Gieseke, Councilman Ward 8 and candidate for St. Charles Mayor told the First Capitol News, “Recently the City of St. Charles has made the news with the recent murder near the campus of Lindenwood University along with some other serious crimes. Those who worked to solve these crimes should be commended for their efforts. It demonstrates the commitment they have for the residents of St. Charles.
These crimes and many others takes manpower to work and solve.The St. Charles Police Department’s manpower numbers have remained the same for the past three years. Some of the crimes in St. Charles have limited chance of being solved because the City Administration and Mayor have not placed public safety as a top priority.
Former Police Chief Paul Corbin and current Chief Tim Swope asked each year for the Mayor to increase manpower in the budget to make our city safer. Sadly each year these requests went unanswered.
Thankfully the dedicated men and women of the St. Charles police department have been doing more with less. The calls for service due to the casino, increased bar activity on Main Street and the explosion of calls for police service require the department to prioritize calls potentially placing your call behind another. You might have to wait for the police to arrive.
This management style can’t continue or we will see an increase in crime. Our police department has a Chief that has earned the trust of the City Council and the residents it is time that those in City Hall allow him to tell the Council what the department needs to make the City of St. Charles safer for our residents.
I intend to make public safety one of my top priorities if elected Mayor.”
Wanted For Armed Robbery of Citgo Station On Houston
The St. Charles Police are requesting assistance in identifying an Armed Robbery suspect. (See above composite)
On Sunday, December 10, 2006 at approx 6:22 pm a white male subject walked into the Citgo Service Station at 300 Houston in St. Charles and announced a robbery. Suspect stated he was armed with a gun during the robbery but the weapon was never displayed.
The robbery subject left the store with a small amount of cash. The suspect left on foot down Houston toward Adams St.
The robbery suspect is described as: a white, male, 27 to 30 years of age, 5’ 6” to 5’ 8”, slender build, blond mustache, large ears, wearing a stud ear ring with a single stone
Anyone with information is requested to call the Crimestoppers tip hotline at 636-949-3333 or the Detective Bureau at 636-949-3320.
Home Invasion On North Fifth St. Elderly Residents Assaulted
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
A home invasion occurred sometime during the night of Thursday, December 11, 2006 in the 2300 block of North Fifth St. in St. Charles. Two elderly adults in their 70’s were victims of an assault.
According to the St. Charles Police, unknown suspects entered the victim’s home and physically assaulted the couple with a blunt instrument.
The victims are being treated at a local hospital for unknown injuries. The police report that the victims are conscious and alert and talking with officers.
Earlier reports in other media listed the suspects leaving in a gold van belonging to the victims however the police say that information was in error.
As of December 13th the police told the First Capitol News that they have a suspect but no arrest has been made yet as the investigation continues.
This story first appeared on our web log, firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com on December 12th at 12:32 p.m.
A home invasion occurred sometime during the night of Thursday, December 11, 2006 in the 2300 block of North Fifth St. in St. Charles. Two elderly adults in their 70’s were victims of an assault.
According to the St. Charles Police, unknown suspects entered the victim’s home and physically assaulted the couple with a blunt instrument.
The victims are being treated at a local hospital for unknown injuries. The police report that the victims are conscious and alert and talking with officers.
Earlier reports in other media listed the suspects leaving in a gold van belonging to the victims however the police say that information was in error.
As of December 13th the police told the First Capitol News that they have a suspect but no arrest has been made yet as the investigation continues.
This story first appeared on our web log, firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com on December 12th at 12:32 p.m.
GRACE NICHOLS TO RUN FOR MAYOR
Former St. Charles Mayor Grace Nichols announced her candidacy for Mayor stating: “The City of St. Charles has been fortunate to be in the path of progress for the last twenty years. Both population increases and economic development have allowed the City to benefit in many ways from westward expansion. Careful planning and citizen efforts to increase revenues through passage of the half-cent capital improvement sales tax in 1993 and the vote to allow casino gaming in 1994, finally allowed the City to have sufficient revenues to keep up with the needs of the citizens. The budget appropriation for the operating budget, capital budget and debt service has grown from @39 million in 1995 to $94 million in 2007. But the City is again saying that it out of money. What happened?”
“We must again address this problem of the budget but it will take leadership, it will take a Mayor who will face the hard issues, who will listen to and work with a City Council committed to address the problem of the city. I have not only had six years on the City Council and eight years as Mayor, but have been an attorney with 17 years in private practice and nine years as a circuit judge and senior judge. I have been trained in mediation and have worked to solve problems. I can make the City work.
One of the challenges of the next Mayor is that the position is changing in April 2007. The people voted to make the Mayor the Administrator of the City as well as performing the current functions. i had the pleasure of serving on the City Council when both Frank Brockgreitens and Doug Boschert served in that capacity and worked very closely with two administrators while I was Mayor. I believe that my background will help me perform the job successfully.
My vision for the City of St. Charles is a continuation of the one I had for the City before: solid economic development providing high-end jobs (not more and more fast food stores and strip malls), support for small businesses and start-ups; continuation of planned riverfront development, respect for our historic areas while taking a look at new ideas; support housing for all economic levels; maintaining our streets, roads and stormwater projects; high quality police and fire departments, and keeping an open door for all citizens. Most important we need a return to a city that we are proud of, that doesn’t make people snicker and make jokes when the name is mentioned. There must be an ed to silly lawsuits, name calling and personal attacks between Councilmembers, the Mayor and City officials. I pledge to put a stop to that and make you proud again.”
Nichols served as a City Council member from 1975-1981. She was elected Mayor of St. Charles in April of 1987 and wes reelected in April of 1992.
She is a Senior Circuit Judge. She was born in Alexandria, Virginia in October of 1937. She has a B.A. from College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA and a J.D. from St. Louis University in 1981.
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
We would like to thank our readers and our advertisers for their support and wish them and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It has been a tradition that we do not publish between Christmas and New Years. The next edition of the First Capitol News will be available on Saturday, January 6, 2006. In the meantime, if there are any breaking stories that we believe our readers will be interested in, we will place them on our web log, firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com.
If you are not checking our web log, firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com on a daily basis you might be missing out on some breaking stories. When we get a story we believe our readers will be interested in we place it on our daily web log. The entire edition of the First Capitol News, including all the ads, can be found each week on our web site; firstcapitolnews.com. When we experienced the recent ice and snowstorm our readers were able to read that week’s edition at firstcapitolnews.com.
Shortly after the first of the year there will be some exciting changes coming to the First Capitol News. Watch for them. Reading habits are changing. People are going to the Internet to get their news. We are very excited about the number of people who are using our web site to read the First Capitol News. Some time after the first of the New Year we are going to charge a nominal fee for home delivery. The First Capitol News will be available free at many business locations throughout the area. We will also be increasing the number of red curbside paper boxes where you will be able to obtain a copy of the First Capitol News for free. You can read it free on the internet at firstcapitolnews.com. We will still have our daily web log with breaking stories at firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com. Our archives dating back to November of 2004 are available free at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com. If you would like to have home delivery and would like to subscribe the cost for six months will be $20 and the cost for one year will be $35. You can mail your check to First Capitol News, 336 A South Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301. Any questions you can call us at 636 724-1955 or e-mail us at firstcapitolnews@aol.com or editor@firstcapitolnews.com.
The Mayoral primary election will be held in February. The two candidates receiving the largest number of votes will face each other in the April municipal elections. All ten City Council seats will also be up for election. It looks like Mike Weller might be planning on running for reelection. Now that the salary will be $10,000 plus expenses he seems to be interested. I wonder if he will be interested enough to start attending the meetings. He has the worst attendance record of any of the council members. Councilmen Larry Muench, Rory Riddler, Joe Koester, Mark Brown and Bob Hoepfner have indicated they will be running for reelection. Councilman John Gieseke has entered the race for Mayor.
And would you believe, Ken Kielty has indicated his desire to run for Councilman in Ward 8. John Gieseke is the current councilman but he has filed to run for Mayor so the field is open. Kielty is a former Councilman who got involved in politics and was able to secure the state license office when the Democrats were in power. He lost it when the Republicans took over. Then he tried to get the County Convention and Sports Authority to hire him to design a golf course. He was also active in the campaigns that attempted to recall Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Both campaigns were fraught with fraud, forgeries and lies. People were arrested and charged and more arrests may be forthcoming. A threat made against St. Charles resident Bob Breidensteiner was found to have been made from Kielty’s cell phone. No charges were brought and Kielty refused to cooperate with the police investigation. If you want to read more about Ken Kielty you can go to our archives at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com and in the search area type in Kielty.
St. Charles businessman Erv Emerling has taken out petitions to run against Councilman Bob Hoepfner. Emerling is the president of the Festival of the Little Hills and serves on the Arts and Culture Committee and the Fourth of July Committee.
Word on the street is that the Mayor does not like the new Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and plans on replacing him if she is reelected. We were told she is still working hard to get rid of Chief of Police Tim Swope. Do you think she may be planning on bringing Steve Powell back as director of the CVB? Since he was asked to leave Peoria he may be available.
Venetia McEntire has taken out petitions to run against Larry Muench for City Council. She upset a great number of people during the Los Pasadas procession on South Main. Actors portraying Mary and Joseph travel the street asking for a room at the Inn. As they neared First Capitol a young lady had the microphone and when Joseph asked if there was room at the Inn she was to reply that there was none. Her family was very proud and had come for the ceremony. They were planning on video taping her performance. As Mary and Joseph approached with about 1000 people following them, McEntire grabbed the microphone from the hands of the young woman and launched into a commercial for a new business she is planning on opening. The young man who was in charge of the ceremony later approached McEntire to voice his displeasure and was told that the Mayor was attending a party with McEntire and told her she could do what she wanted because, “They are only hired help.”
We were also told that a residency challenge may be filed against McEntire. She was also in charge of the Lewis & Clark fiasco held in 2004. You can read more about McEntire and Steve Powell in our archives.
If you are not checking our web log, firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com on a daily basis you might be missing out on some breaking stories. When we get a story we believe our readers will be interested in we place it on our daily web log. The entire edition of the First Capitol News, including all the ads, can be found each week on our web site; firstcapitolnews.com. When we experienced the recent ice and snowstorm our readers were able to read that week’s edition at firstcapitolnews.com.
Shortly after the first of the year there will be some exciting changes coming to the First Capitol News. Watch for them. Reading habits are changing. People are going to the Internet to get their news. We are very excited about the number of people who are using our web site to read the First Capitol News. Some time after the first of the New Year we are going to charge a nominal fee for home delivery. The First Capitol News will be available free at many business locations throughout the area. We will also be increasing the number of red curbside paper boxes where you will be able to obtain a copy of the First Capitol News for free. You can read it free on the internet at firstcapitolnews.com. We will still have our daily web log with breaking stories at firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com. Our archives dating back to November of 2004 are available free at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com. If you would like to have home delivery and would like to subscribe the cost for six months will be $20 and the cost for one year will be $35. You can mail your check to First Capitol News, 336 A South Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301. Any questions you can call us at 636 724-1955 or e-mail us at firstcapitolnews@aol.com or editor@firstcapitolnews.com.
The Mayoral primary election will be held in February. The two candidates receiving the largest number of votes will face each other in the April municipal elections. All ten City Council seats will also be up for election. It looks like Mike Weller might be planning on running for reelection. Now that the salary will be $10,000 plus expenses he seems to be interested. I wonder if he will be interested enough to start attending the meetings. He has the worst attendance record of any of the council members. Councilmen Larry Muench, Rory Riddler, Joe Koester, Mark Brown and Bob Hoepfner have indicated they will be running for reelection. Councilman John Gieseke has entered the race for Mayor.
And would you believe, Ken Kielty has indicated his desire to run for Councilman in Ward 8. John Gieseke is the current councilman but he has filed to run for Mayor so the field is open. Kielty is a former Councilman who got involved in politics and was able to secure the state license office when the Democrats were in power. He lost it when the Republicans took over. Then he tried to get the County Convention and Sports Authority to hire him to design a golf course. He was also active in the campaigns that attempted to recall Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Both campaigns were fraught with fraud, forgeries and lies. People were arrested and charged and more arrests may be forthcoming. A threat made against St. Charles resident Bob Breidensteiner was found to have been made from Kielty’s cell phone. No charges were brought and Kielty refused to cooperate with the police investigation. If you want to read more about Ken Kielty you can go to our archives at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com and in the search area type in Kielty.
St. Charles businessman Erv Emerling has taken out petitions to run against Councilman Bob Hoepfner. Emerling is the president of the Festival of the Little Hills and serves on the Arts and Culture Committee and the Fourth of July Committee.
Word on the street is that the Mayor does not like the new Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and plans on replacing him if she is reelected. We were told she is still working hard to get rid of Chief of Police Tim Swope. Do you think she may be planning on bringing Steve Powell back as director of the CVB? Since he was asked to leave Peoria he may be available.
Venetia McEntire has taken out petitions to run against Larry Muench for City Council. She upset a great number of people during the Los Pasadas procession on South Main. Actors portraying Mary and Joseph travel the street asking for a room at the Inn. As they neared First Capitol a young lady had the microphone and when Joseph asked if there was room at the Inn she was to reply that there was none. Her family was very proud and had come for the ceremony. They were planning on video taping her performance. As Mary and Joseph approached with about 1000 people following them, McEntire grabbed the microphone from the hands of the young woman and launched into a commercial for a new business she is planning on opening. The young man who was in charge of the ceremony later approached McEntire to voice his displeasure and was told that the Mayor was attending a party with McEntire and told her she could do what she wanted because, “They are only hired help.”
We were also told that a residency challenge may be filed against McEntire. She was also in charge of the Lewis & Clark fiasco held in 2004. You can read more about McEntire and Steve Powell in our archives.
“We have bigger houses but smaller families:
We have more degrees but less sense;
more knowledge but less judgment;
more experts but more problems;
more medicines, but less healthiness.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
but we have trouble crossing the street
to meet the new neighbor.
We build more computers
to hold more information,
to produce more copies than ever,
but we have less communication.
We have become long on quantity
but short on quality.
These are times of fast foods,
but slow digestion;
tall man, but short character;
steep profits, but shallow relationships.
It is time when there is much in the window
but nothing in the room.”
Dalai Lama
It’s Christmastime. It’s a joyful time for the most part, but it can be a melancholy time too when we reflect on how some happy memories were rooted in loved ones now departed. As the saying goes, “Everyone is trying to find their way back home.” Christmastime is the zenith of this sentiment – we wish hardest around this season to find our way back home with mom preparing a family meal and dad chopping wood in the back yard.
Each season brings its own special note to our life’s sheet music and sometimes the Christmas season delivers a flat note when we anticipate a crisp trumpet blast. There must be a reason that many of us tolerate “Jingle Bells” but have a spot in our hearts for “Silent Night” and “It Came upon the Midnight Clear.” The latter is sometimes especially appealing with its poignant sound though the message be of good cheer.
How many of you stop and pause and ask how you can make Christmas something more like what your grandma and grandpa would recognize? I bet most of us do. We all want the season to be more about family and friends and less about plastic trinkets from China brought to you via Wal-Mart for $6.98.
The quote from the Dalai Lama rings truer today than ever. Sadly, I think it will continue to grow in meaning before an about-face. We are truly, “long on quantity and short on quality.”
I think for me, one of the things that I yearn for more than anything is a return to an industrial America, where quality jobs produced quality goods. Surely, I’m looking for home too as an individual; however, more than that, I’m looking for a country that has common goals for common good; Towns rebuilding themselves with identities that aren’t decided by an advertisement agency but by local traditions and flavors.
Having grown up in St. Charles, it always struck me how curious it was that people moving to St. Charles County had no downtown to identify with. St. Peters, O’Fallon, and Wentzville all had a little speck of a downtown that was quickly rendered meaningless in their great seas of cul-de-sac subdivisions. Malls and strip malls became ersatz downtowns for these communities. There is it seems, “much in the window but nothing in the room.”
Of course, St. Charles City can certainly be criticized for its faults. Sometimes I think our City as a collective is searching for home to an extent that we sometimes have trouble shaking off the slumber of our past to an extent that we just want things to stay the same. I’m as guilty as my fellow townsfolk – I’ll admit it! When expatriated St. Louis County folk crossed the Big Muddy, we circled the wagons and preferred they moved on west lest they disturb our hometown too much. It seems we allowed the desire for no change to prevent us from taking more risks and embracing some things that would have helped our town in the long run.
Still, it is our community among all of our neighbors that is a real town. It is our community that has history, heritage, shops, walking neighborhoods with churches and parks. Our challenge is to embrace a balance of history and change that will keep our town a viable community.
There is no better time of the year to reflect on our past. There is no better time of the year to remember the importance of spring!
I want to close with the first portion of one of the nicest Christmas songs in German and the English translation, “Es ist Ein Ros’ Entsprungen.”
Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen, aus einer Wurzel zart,
Wie uns die Alten sungen, von Jesse kam die Art,
Und hat ein Blümlein bracht mitten im kalten Winter
Wohl zu der halben Nacht.
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Merry Christmas – may you find your way home this winter!
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
DEAR EDITOR
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS
I would like to thank all the residents that came out and voted. It was great to see the people speak about how this country is being run and want a change. The issues about the war in Iraq, the health care problems, education, jobs, energy prices, etc. They were tired of the “stay the course”, “my way or the highway” approach. They did a good job of changing elective members to congress. I only wished it would have been done @ the state & local levels. I guess enough people were ok with the “best Gov’t that money can buy” and thought it was ok for state elected officials to get laws changed that only affected St. Charles and sub-divisions to hook up to our sewer lines, etc.
The city officials had people to vote on a “strong” mayor at last election without telling them what that would have meant, that the mayor then would run everything and could hire and fire anyone they wanted for any reason known only to them.
Now they let the people vote on the mayor’s salary but they don’t like what the people voted, so they made statements like “they didn’t know what they were voting on because there were (3) different versions. So I guess they think people were stupid so they would set the salary. I would like to know if the ones like Mr. Weller and Dottie who stated they think it should be over the $100,000 to $120,000 range. What they don’t tell you that they would also get many benefits, like health-care, expense accounts, car or gas mileage, trips which would probably be paid for by the taxpayers, etc. I can only wonder if they are running for mayor, also. It would also be nice to know if the ones who wanted $100,000 or more also voted for raising the minimum wage? The really sad part is what they think of the city residents. The same as calling them as dumb or stupid because they didn’t vote like they wanted them to.
Walter Dietz
EDITOR’S NOTE
WE RECENTLY RECEIVED AN E-MAIL THAT BECAME CORRUPTED. WE THINK IT WAS REGARDING JUDGE ELECT THORNHILL. WE WOULD LIKE THE AUTHOR TO RESEND IT SO WE CAN PRINT IT.
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS
I would like to thank all the residents that came out and voted. It was great to see the people speak about how this country is being run and want a change. The issues about the war in Iraq, the health care problems, education, jobs, energy prices, etc. They were tired of the “stay the course”, “my way or the highway” approach. They did a good job of changing elective members to congress. I only wished it would have been done @ the state & local levels. I guess enough people were ok with the “best Gov’t that money can buy” and thought it was ok for state elected officials to get laws changed that only affected St. Charles and sub-divisions to hook up to our sewer lines, etc.
The city officials had people to vote on a “strong” mayor at last election without telling them what that would have meant, that the mayor then would run everything and could hire and fire anyone they wanted for any reason known only to them.
Now they let the people vote on the mayor’s salary but they don’t like what the people voted, so they made statements like “they didn’t know what they were voting on because there were (3) different versions. So I guess they think people were stupid so they would set the salary. I would like to know if the ones like Mr. Weller and Dottie who stated they think it should be over the $100,000 to $120,000 range. What they don’t tell you that they would also get many benefits, like health-care, expense accounts, car or gas mileage, trips which would probably be paid for by the taxpayers, etc. I can only wonder if they are running for mayor, also. It would also be nice to know if the ones who wanted $100,000 or more also voted for raising the minimum wage? The really sad part is what they think of the city residents. The same as calling them as dumb or stupid because they didn’t vote like they wanted them to.
Walter Dietz
EDITOR’S NOTE
WE RECENTLY RECEIVED AN E-MAIL THAT BECAME CORRUPTED. WE THINK IT WAS REGARDING JUDGE ELECT THORNHILL. WE WOULD LIKE THE AUTHOR TO RESEND IT SO WE CAN PRINT IT.
THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1
Buying Our First Robot: A 21st Century Christmas
It took me a while to get use to living in the 21st Century. Born in 1955, for most of my life the 21st Century was the far future of science fiction, comic books and Saturday morning cartoons. While I enjoy reading what the future may hold, I’ve always felt a closer kinship for the past. Perhaps I was just born a little out of my time. It is probably why my favorite Christmas traditions seem more firmly rooted in the 19th Century than whatever year we happen to be living in at the moment.
Which brings me to how this Christmas brought me back to the future.
I come from a family where making a Christmas list was the exclusive domain of children…a contract, if you will, between Santa Claus and every good little girl and boy. Parents were always there to help Santa execute the terms of the contract and to remind you to keep up your end of the bargain. The adults in our family were left with dropping broad hints as Christmas approached. A magazine would be opened strategically to a certain ad or a family member would pause looking at an item in a department store window (when department stores dressed their windows) for what seemed an inordinate length of time, but there were no lists.
With every marriage comes compromise. It turned out that in my wife’s family the adults all made wish lists for Christmas. It took a while for the culture shock to wear off, but I love my wife and was willing to do most anything to fit in with her side of the family as well. My first attempts were awkward. “Dear Santa”…scratch that. “Dear Mother-In-Law, Father-In-Law, Brother-In-Law, Sister-In-Law”…too legal sounding. Eventually I got the hang of it.
Within our own household, the product of a mixed marriage of wish list writers and Christmas gift hinters, we’ve found a comfortable balance between surprise gifts that come from the heart and those gifts we know with more certainty to be greatly appreciated. This balance works except when it comes to practical requests. I find it hard to get excited about requests like, “I could use a new vacuum cleaner.”
My wife, Sue, also enjoys home remodeling and she’s good at it. Perhaps it comes from being the daughter of an engineer. But going into Sears and buying a new drill or table saw at Christmas can be embarrassing under the usual barrage of questions commissioned sales people feel compelled to ask:
“Buying this for yourself?” “Nope.” “Your father?” “Nope.” “A brother?”
Looking down at my shuffling feet, “No, it’s a Christmas present for my wife.” “Ha. Ha. Very funny sir.”
So when Sue asked for a Roomba, and after ascertaining that a Roomba was for cleaning floors, I decided that it was something we were just going to treat ourselves to right then and there and avoid trying to wrap what I assumed would be a bulky boring vacuum cleaner. What I didn’t suspect is we were about to buy our first robot.
When my brother and I were kids, we got a Mr. Machine for Christmas one year. It was a clear plastic mechanical man filled with gears that marched around the living room floor when you wound him up. Then there were the stamped metal robots that ran on batteries and trundled across the floor, eyes glowing and shooting death rays to a deafening whirring sound. Who needs a robot around the house that shoots death rays?
The advent of so-called artificial intelligence brought our kids the likes of Furbie when they were young. I could never figure out how useful robots would be that were this needy or starved for affection. Why not just buy a dog?
The Japanese are hard at work trying to produce an array of robots to mimic human speech, facial expressions and hold conversations with humans. Yawn. Why would I pay thousands of dollars for someone to talk to when there are so many people in the world I can communicate with in person, by cell phone, blackberry or e-mail?
I was starting to despair that there would ever be a practical robot in our homes. That is until I watched the Roomba at work. This flat, saucer shaped, device, guides itself around the room. It has special brushes for corners and to sweep around table legs, it goes under couches without moving them, it plots a pattern to make sure it covers the entire floor. When it’s dust bin is full it beeps at you so you know to empty it. The more expensive models come with a docking station that it returns to automatically. Instead of lugging a vacuum cleaner up the steps anymore and pushing it around a room, my daughter bounds up to her room with the Roomba under one arm and it does the rest.
I wish I had bought stock in the company that makes the Roomba, which is called appropriately IRobot. It seems the Jetsons got it wrong. We didn’t need a Rosie the robot to push around other mechanical devices. Like Star Wars array of practical “droids” designed to do specific tasks, it seems the future belongs to smarter appliances.
Merry Christmas R2-D2 and welcome to the 21st Century.
The View From The Cheap Seats BY Jerry Haferkamp
The View From The Cheap Seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
Here we go again. I’m talking about the bell ringing for the Salvation Army at area businesses. Along with other volunteers, the Realtors in the St. Charles County Association of Realtors will man (or woman, if you’re into political correctness) the red kettles for this worthwhile cause.
The Salvation Army provides food and shelter for many that need it, but they have needs, too. They need to build to provide shelter for homeless men in St. Charles. They need funds to provide meals for those who come to their shelter. Their present facility also provides volunteer medical care on a limited basis.
We could discuss for months the cause of homelessness or need. Whether from lack of education, illness, alcoholism, or just a run of bad luck, people need our help. We care about stray animals. Can we do no less for our fellow human beings?
While attending to the kettles, many of us have inspiring stories of donations. There are the kids who delight in dropping in loose change. A popular developer who dropped bills into my kettle even though I know he writes a generous check every year. I most remember a woman who came to the grocery store where I rang. She pulled up in an old car with bad tires, a missing wheel cover and side trim hanging loose. As she went into the store, she slipped a twenty-dollar bill into the kettle with the words, “Not long ago I needed help and the Salvation Army helped me. Now I can give something back.”
This is what keeps us volunteering to assist the “Army” in its fund drive. Your gas bills are high, but consider for a moment those with no heat. Your HMO doesn’t give you a choice of doctors, but at least you have a doctor. Your coat may be out of style, but you have one.
Last, but not least, smile at the bell ringer and say “Hi” or “Merry Christmas” even if you don’t deposit anything in the kettle. We know we don’t have the only kettle in town and you may have given elsewhere, but we do appreciate the greetings. They make the cold more bearable.
And to the Salvation Army for giving us the opportunity to help, we thank you!
Merry Christmas!
I hope that’s not just the view from the cheap seats.
By Jerry Haferkamp
Here we go again. I’m talking about the bell ringing for the Salvation Army at area businesses. Along with other volunteers, the Realtors in the St. Charles County Association of Realtors will man (or woman, if you’re into political correctness) the red kettles for this worthwhile cause.
The Salvation Army provides food and shelter for many that need it, but they have needs, too. They need to build to provide shelter for homeless men in St. Charles. They need funds to provide meals for those who come to their shelter. Their present facility also provides volunteer medical care on a limited basis.
We could discuss for months the cause of homelessness or need. Whether from lack of education, illness, alcoholism, or just a run of bad luck, people need our help. We care about stray animals. Can we do no less for our fellow human beings?
While attending to the kettles, many of us have inspiring stories of donations. There are the kids who delight in dropping in loose change. A popular developer who dropped bills into my kettle even though I know he writes a generous check every year. I most remember a woman who came to the grocery store where I rang. She pulled up in an old car with bad tires, a missing wheel cover and side trim hanging loose. As she went into the store, she slipped a twenty-dollar bill into the kettle with the words, “Not long ago I needed help and the Salvation Army helped me. Now I can give something back.”
This is what keeps us volunteering to assist the “Army” in its fund drive. Your gas bills are high, but consider for a moment those with no heat. Your HMO doesn’t give you a choice of doctors, but at least you have a doctor. Your coat may be out of style, but you have one.
Last, but not least, smile at the bell ringer and say “Hi” or “Merry Christmas” even if you don’t deposit anything in the kettle. We know we don’t have the only kettle in town and you may have given elsewhere, but we do appreciate the greetings. They make the cold more bearable.
And to the Salvation Army for giving us the opportunity to help, we thank you!
Merry Christmas!
I hope that’s not just the view from the cheap seats.
t. Charles Resident Helps Native American Children Have A Merry Christmas
By Tony Brockmeyer
Hundreds of Native American in South Dakota children will have a very Merry Christmas due to efforts of Joyce Smith and others in St. Charles.
For the past 10 years Joyce Smith along with friends, neighbors and others have been collecting toys and gifts for the Lakota Sioux Children at the Cheyenne River Youth Project in Eagle Bluff, South Dakota. Last week a 53-foot trailer loaded with Christmas presents left St. Charles enroute to the children so they can have a very merry Christmas.
“We were able to fill all but 54 requests out of the 593 we received this year,” Smith told the First Capitol News. Smith along with a group of volunteers, school children, teachers, church groups and others work to answer requests the children have written in letters to Santa. The presents are then packed and stored, usually in building or houses owned by Erv Emerling a St. Charles businessman. On the day the toys and presents are to be shipped members of the St. Charles County Metro West SWAT team load the trailer.
While camping in South Dakota with her late husband, a former superintendent of the Fort Zumwalt School District who passed away in 1997, Smith met Julie Garreau. Garreau started the youth camp for the Indian children in 1988. After learning about the plight of the Indian children Joyce Smith started her annual Christmas project and has been working hard to fill as many requests as possible each year.
Hundreds of Native American in South Dakota children will have a very Merry Christmas due to efforts of Joyce Smith and others in St. Charles.
For the past 10 years Joyce Smith along with friends, neighbors and others have been collecting toys and gifts for the Lakota Sioux Children at the Cheyenne River Youth Project in Eagle Bluff, South Dakota. Last week a 53-foot trailer loaded with Christmas presents left St. Charles enroute to the children so they can have a very merry Christmas.
“We were able to fill all but 54 requests out of the 593 we received this year,” Smith told the First Capitol News. Smith along with a group of volunteers, school children, teachers, church groups and others work to answer requests the children have written in letters to Santa. The presents are then packed and stored, usually in building or houses owned by Erv Emerling a St. Charles businessman. On the day the toys and presents are to be shipped members of the St. Charles County Metro West SWAT team load the trailer.
While camping in South Dakota with her late husband, a former superintendent of the Fort Zumwalt School District who passed away in 1997, Smith met Julie Garreau. Garreau started the youth camp for the Indian children in 1988. After learning about the plight of the Indian children Joyce Smith started her annual Christmas project and has been working hard to fill as many requests as possible each year.
SPORTS - First Capitol News - Mike McMurran Sports Editor
MY COLUMN - MIKE MCMURRAN SPORTS EDITOR
This is our Christmas edition so I would like to share a seasonal story or two with you. I don’t know if it just happens to me or if others have the same experience, but the other evening I woke at 2 or so in the morning and began thinking about Christmas. As the thoughts were going through my head I realized that this Christmas would mark the 22nd that Lynn and I would spend together. Without giving out Lynn’s age, twenty-two Christmas Eves are more than half than she has celebrated in her entire life; meaning, she has spent more Christmas Eves with me than without me. That, I thought, was profound enough a revelation to wake Lynn and share with her. She mumbled something about my being “crazy” and rolled over and went back to sleep. So much for the female gender being so romantic!
How I remember that first Christmas Lynn and I spent together. Christmas Eve is the major event in Lynn’s family – and has been for decades. It is a tradition that has been passed down from her mom’s side of the family. After dinner has been served and everything is cleaned up, the oldest boy of the family, which is Lynn’s brother Dave, begins passing out gifts – one at a time. There is a protocol to this madness, the youngest in attendance receives the first gift, then the second youngest and so on, until all the children have received at least one present to open. Imagine if you can, my first time experiencing this controlled mayhem in Lynn’s parent’s basement, no more than 500 square feet, if that, crammed with over 20 people and a pile of gifts the likes I had never seen. One by one the kid’s names were called and they were given their gifts. It was nuts! Wrapping paper was flying every which way. Hugs were given out like there was no tomorrow. It was so crowded that once you found your place to sit you dare not move out of fear of loosing a good vantage point. I remember the children that evening, Lynn’s nieces and nephews, and how wide eyed they all were. This wasn’t Santa’s visit, it was bigger and more exciting! I remember thinking to my self, “if I ever get married and have kids, this is how I would want them to spend Christmas – this is it!”
Well, I did, and I have, and they do! Most everyone that was at that Christmas celebration in 1985 will be at Lynn’s mom’s house this Christmas Eve. Some have grown and moved to far away places like Texas and Memphis; sometimes they make it back, sometimes not. Those smiling little children, Lynn’s nieces and nephews are now all in their 20’s; except for Brad and Meghan who were not born yet. They have been replaced by the second generation of Ruthie’s grandchildren – of which my kids are part of. There are two notable absences: Grandpa Bud Kurtz and his brother Uncle Roy, both of whom watch the celebration from heaven. Not that they can be replaced, because they cannot, but someone new has joined the annual celebration, Santa Claus! Yep, every year he stops by and drops off some candy canes, M&M’s, and tells the children to make sure to hurry and go to sleep once they get home. He stays around long enough to have his picture taken with Aunt Elaine, Grandmas Ruthie and Barbie, and pretty much anybody who wished to pose with Santa. For some reason Santa always coaxes Lynn’s nieces Tasha and Meghan, both of whom are in their 20’s, both of whom stand about 5’8” and both of whom would be described as “knock-out blondes,” to sit on Santa’s lap at the same time. At this particular point of the Christmas celebration, Santa has this strange resemblance to Don Oelklaus, especially when Don is assessing the Rams’ cheerleaders. Then again it could just be my imagination. Anyway, my wish from 22 years ago has come true!
Much like the tradition passed down from Ruthie’s family, Family McMurran has started their own Christmas tradition – securing the family Christmas tree. Many of my friends tell stories of how they pack their family into the family vehicle and travel to places like Troy or Warrenton, and cut down their Christmas tree. They explain to me how special it is, and I have no reason to doubt them.
About 20 years or so, when I was a starving university student, I landed a part-time, seasonal job unloading tens of thousands of Christmas trees of off flat-bed trucks. My dear friend John Kozlowski hooked me up with the gig; it was hard work, but we came home smelling like Christmas trees every night, which was a good thing. The nursery we worked for distributed literally tens of thousands of Christmas trees around the entire region. They also kept a few hundred, the very best few hundred, to sell right off their lot, located at the intersection of Broadway and St. Louis Avenue. If you do not know where Broadway and St. Louis Avenue is, don’t worry, It would best be described as “in the ‘hood,” or “in the ghetto.” Yes, those ladies who seem to be walking up and down the street are what you think they are. It is a rough neighborhood – but while on the lot of St. Charles City resident Mike Tremmel’s Glueck’s Nursery, you feel, and are, as safe as if you were walking on Main Street in beautiful downtown Saint Charles, maybe safer!
Anyway, we load up the minivan and travel to the “’hood,” pick out our tree, take a few pictures, and come home. While on the lot Mike always invites me inside for an ice cold drink (or two, or three). There are always snacks for the kids – and here’s the best part: we have the most beautiful Christmas tree you can possibly imagine! Oh sure, much of it has to do with the trimming Lynn and the kids do, but the tree is always so very, very full and beautiful. Seldom do people comment how nice my yard looks, or how nicely pruned the trees in the front yard look, but most everyone who walks into our home comments on how beautiful, how strikingly beautiful our Christmas tree looks. When they ask where I got it, I tell them “the ghetto,” and they think I’m joking. I’m not!
Our next edition will not be until January 6, so I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the regular readers of this column Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! Don’t think it doesn’t make me feel special when out of the blue someone walks up to me and tells me how much they enjoy, and look forward to reading my columns. It almost always ends with, “can’t you please write a little more about sports?” I can’t imagine why they would say such a thing.
May all your dreams for the New Year be realized.
High School Basketball
‘Just Like Last Time’
St. Charles West/St. Charles High Rivalry Bigger Than Ever
By Louis J. Launer
It is a rivalry that goes back thirty years in any sport—at least since St. Charles West was built and opened in 1976. This year, the students from both St. Charles High School and St. Charles West are really getting into the cross-town division that highlights the St. Charles city sports scene every fall, winter and spring. This academic year, basketball seems to be the marquee sport for the two schools.
There was only one meeting this year for SCW and SCHS in girls’ volleyball and football. St. Charles West won both matches. In the first boys’ basketball game of the season, the day before Thanksgiving, The St. Charles West Warriors, led by star Kramer Soderberg, defeated the St. Charles Pirates, 74-71 in an overtime thriller that even caught the attention of the St. Louis television stations.
St. Charles West has a lot of talent. Soderberg is only a 5’11” junior, but has become team leader. Many have labeled Soderberg as this decade’s Ryan Robertson, who led the 1994-95 Warriors to its first and only state basketball title. St. Charles West this past week was involved in their annual Warrior Classic tournament. The night before they were to play in the championship game of the tournament, they played one game in the annual Shoot-Out that took place at the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis. The Warriors defeated a talented San Diego Hoover basketball team, which was supposed to include All-American JayDee Luster, 66-55. Unfortunately, Luster sat on the bench due to illness. Soderberg did score thirty points in the victory and opened some eyes that this was no typical Warrior team.
The next night in a packed St. Charles West gymnasium, St. Charles High played St. Charles West for the championship of the St. Charles West Warrior Classic Tournament. It was a rematch from 2 ½ weeks before. Did anyone expect lightning to strike twice?
The students this year for both schools could not be more emotional about this rivalry. It became a fever pitch.
The St. Charles Pirates have a mammoth star of their own. His name is Josh Harrellson. In November, the 6’9”, 265-pound center/forward signed a letter of intent to play basketball next year in Macomb, Illinois at Western Illinois University.
In the first quarter, the St. Charles Pirates began to dominate. The game still remained close with the Pirates holding on to a 12-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. The momentum shifted to St. Charles West in the second quarter. But Harrellson continued to be the Warriors number-one problem as they tried to keep the ball away from the Pirates’ leader. Soderberg scored his only three-point field goal early in the second quarter. The Warriors’ Brian Maurer and Alex Bazzell stepped up and scored two 3-point buckets each in the game. The game remained close at halftime, 23-20.
The third quarter was where the Warriors began to dominate. They kept defensive pressure on the Pirates, taking the ball away at any chance they could. But in the game overall, the free-throw percentage for St. Charles West was 88.9%, compared to the Pirates’ 46.2%. Harrellson missed several free throws. But Harrellson did get his time to show as Dean Dillen stole the ball from the Warriors on a fast break, passed it to a running Harrellson for a “peanut butter and jam” slam-dunk. But that didn’t take the thrust away from the Warriors, who won the game 56-46, and winning first place in the Warrior Classic Tournament.
“Just like last time,” shouted the West fans from the bleachers before time ran out. The referral was from the 74-71 Thanksgiving eve overtime game also held at St. Charles West.
Kramer Soderberg scored a total of 102 points throughout the entire week. That included all of the Warrior Classic games he played and the Shoot-Out game in St. Louis. Soderberg scored 22 against the Pirates. Harrellson scored 25 for the Pirates, but had no field goals and was 5 for 11 in free throws.
There will be another rematch, across town at St. Charles High School on the Gene Bartow Court. But it won’t be for another eight weeks and there are several games these two teams have to play, including a number of them against Duchesne. The battle for St. Charles and who goes to the state tournament in February is far from over.
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