■ The Leader Teen Advisory Board presents a special report on teen vaping in the Aug. 8 newspaper. Their work includes news, opinion and the results of a countywide online survey of local teens on the subject. It starts on Page 1 and goes inside to a five-page section, with added commentary in the Editorial section. Read all about the new vice in town.
■ Municipal courts are on the move across Missouri – and now in two cities in Jefferson County.
Last month the De Soto City Council voted 5-0 to transfer its municipal court to the Associate Circuit Court in Hillsboro, in Missouri’s 23rd judicial circuit. Festus made the same move back in June, following a trend that has seen 91 towns decide to offload their municipal courts to state responsibility, according to the Office of State Courts Administrator. Both cities’ transfers are expected to be completed by Jan. 1, 2020. See Gordon Bess’ Page 1 story.
■ De Soto Rural Fire Chief Paul Mayer says a vivid image comes to mind when he reflects on his 43 years in firefighting. “There are a lot of things I remember, but the fire at Home Service Oil (in Barnhart) on Christmas Day stands out,” said Mayer, 61, who is retiring at the end of the month. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ A candlelight vigil was held last month in Ste. Genevieve marking the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of 52-year-old Lynn Messer from her Bloomsdale home. Messer, who was a member of the First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City, went missing on July 8, 2014, and her remains were found in November 2016 at the southern edge of the family’s 260-acre farm. No charges have been filed in the case, but an investigation is ongoing, officials say. See Laura Marlow’s story.
■ Residents in Arnold are encouraged to keep an eye out for strange-acting raccoons. The city received unconfirmed reports of raccoons exhibiting signs consistent with canine distemper, Community Development director David Bookless said. “It is not unusual, not just regionally but nationally,” Bookless said Aug. 2. “It tends to come in waves.” See Tony Krausz’s story.
■ Visitors to Mastodon State Historic Site museum in Imperial are feeling more welcome, and those using the Limestone Hill Trail are safer, thanks to some recent renovations and additions. The historic site, 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive, in Imperial, spent about $23,500 on the improvements, which were completed in June, said Ken Smith, the facility’s natural resource manager. See Tony Krausz’s story.
■ Dr. Mark Spurrier, who has practiced ophthalmology in the Twin City area since 1986, no longer works at the Premiere Eye Associates office, 1400 Hwy. 61, in Crystal City on July 31.
However, Spurrier, 66, will continue to practice medicine at Premiere Eye Associate offices in Kirkwood and Ste. Genevieve until he retires at the end of the year. He said ending his practice in Crystal City is part of a plan to slow down his schedule after years of working on the eyes of those living in Jefferson County and the surrounding area. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Sports editor Russell Korando gets to the point with his column this week about local archery training. Also see a recap of American Legion Post 253’s path to the regional playoffs in Omaha.
*** Get ready, kids. Back to school!