■ Jefferson County’s new animal control facility will have “the Cadillac version of pet housing” thanks to a donation from a group that has been working for a new animal shelter for almost a decade. The Jefferson County Council voted unanimously at its July 24 meeting to accept a $214,795 donation from Animals Deserving of Proper Treatment (A.D.O.P.T.). See Steve Taylor’s Page 1 story.
■ A Festus man has filed suit in U.S. Eastern District Court of Missouri in St. Louis accusing three Pevely Police officers of beating him in a November 2016 incident, according to court documents. Robert Golden Jr. filed a civil lawsuit Jan. 24 claiming that Pevely Police Department employees Tony Moutray, Kyle Weiss and Brian Benjamin violated his civil rights and inflicted injuries on Nov. 12, 2016. The suit names them as defendants as well as the city of Pevely. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ More than 900 people from all across Jefferson County and from places as far away as Sullivan, O’Fallon and Chester, Ill., came out to pick out new clothes, shoes, backpacks full of school supplies and so much more at the annual Grace Day back-to-school event held Saturday at Hillsboro Zion Lutheran Church. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ The Fox C-6 School District has a new director of safety, security and student services, as well as a raft of new initiatives designed to improve safety and security for students throughout the district. Those initiatives include more social workers, a suicide prevention program, a cyber bully hotline and a new camera system. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ When Jefferson County schools begin the new year next week, things will be typically hectic as staff, students and parents work to get everyone settled in. But this year, matters are complicated by the total solar eclipse that will take place across Jefferson County on Monday, Aug. 21. Nine of the 11 districts in the county will not hold classes that day, mostly due to safety and security concerns stemming from the anticipated crowds coming to the area to watch the once-in-a-lifetime event. See Laura Marlow’s Page 1 story.
■ A race has already developed for the Republican Party’s primary election in August 2018 for Jefferson County circuit clerk. Laurie Laiben, 59, of Crystal City, who worked for the office from 2006 to 2012 and again in 2014, has announced she will run, as has incumbent Mike Reuter, 50, of Imperial, who said he has started campaigning for a second four-year term. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ Editor Peggy Bess’ column provides commentary on several controversial county planning and zoning issues that have recently come down the pike. You can’t just count the crowd to decide which way to vote.
■ The Sports section this week kicks off the Leader’s football coverage, with previews of the teams that will take the field in the I-55 Conference. That’s Crystal City, Grandview, St. Pius X, Jefferson R-7 and Herculaneum high schools.
*** Sorry, kids, time for school.