■ A citizens group has started a campaign to put a 35-cent property tax increase for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office on a future ballot. Rhea Arculeer of House Springs and Darlene Herrell of Imperial, the leaders of Friends of Law Enforcement, gave a presentation on the idea at the Aug. 7 meeting of the Jefferson County Council. Sheriff Dave Marshak said he supports the group’s efforts. See Steve Taylor’s Page 1 story.
■ It is 3 p.m. on a Thursday, and four staffers at Rock Community Fire Protection District House No. 2 in Imperial are getting ready to sweat. Captains Chuck Hill and Tom Siebert along with firefighters Jon Giesler and Mike Douglas are heading to a room inside the house’s garage that has weights and exercise equipment. The four men were already known to be dedicated fitness enthusiasts, but they started working out together recently because Rock Fire now offers incentives for employees to get in shape and to do it as a group activity. See Tony Krausz’s Page 1 feature story.
■ Herculaneum Masonic Lodge 338 will sell its 81-year-old building to the Doe Run Co. for $289,000 and look for a new meeting place. A Doe Run representative would not comment about the company’s plans to buy the lodge, but the company already has bought and torn down most of the buildings on the old Assumption Catholic Church property in Herculaneum, along with numerous homes in the city as part of Doe Run’s plans to close and sell or develop the land it owns in the city. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ The city of Byrnes Mill is giving back to two subdivisions 11 roads that the city formerly had adopted to provide maintenance. Two other roads are also being dropped. Aldermen voted unanimously to rescind the acceptance of the roads at Byrnes Mill’s July 19 Board of Aldermen meeting. The vote came after two 1/2-cent sales tax issues that were earmarked for road maintenance and improvements failed in the April 4 election. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ A wrongful death lawsuit filed May 10 in Jefferson County Circuit Court names three Pevely police officers among seven defendants in connection with a 2014 police chase that ended in a fatal crash. According to court papers, the lawsuit over the May 11, 2014, death of the late Leon Haywood Jr., 19, was filed on behalf of his parents, Anita Rodgers and Leon Haywood Sr. by attorney Tommie Harsley of St. Louis. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Editor Peggy Bess suggests in her column this week that President Donald Trump could really use a Parent in Chief.
■ This week in Sports, football teams in the Mississippi Area Football Conference, Red Division, and the Suburban West Conference are profiled. Get ready for Friday night coverage of football games on the Leader website.
*** It’s time to sign up your team to participate in the Leader’s Twin City Days Trivia Night on Sept. 7. Call the Leader at 636-931-7560.