■ The De Soto School District has plans to make $352,800 in improvements to the playgrounds at its two elementary schools, creating an all-inclusive playground and nearly doubling the amount of play equipment at both Vineland and Athena elementary schools, Superintendent Josh Isaacson said. Half the improvements will be funded with a $176,400 federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant administered through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks. The school district, which is required to match the grant, will cover the other half of the cost, Isaacson said. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Kelly Rebal of Arnold spends her mornings bantering with the radio hosts of the Bud and Broadway show on 92.3 WIL-FM. Known on the show only as Kelly from Arnold, she said it’s not hard to love her job. “It’s just a bunch of friends having fun,” she said. “We like to laugh. It’s like a party. It doesn’t feel like a real job. Who doesn’t like to hang out with friends and have fun and get to go to concerts?” Rebal, who originally is from Florissant but has lived in Arnold since 2008, is an on-air personality and producer at the radio station, which bills itself as New Country 92.3. The Bud and Broadway program airs from 5-9 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. See Kevin Carbery’s Page 1 feature story.
■ Stumped for ideas on what to get that special person on your Christmas gift list who supposedly has everything? The Missouri Department of Transportation has a solution to your problem, and the price is right. For the low, low cost of nothing, you can give that special someone the Hwy. 61-67 (Commercial Boulevard) bridge over the Joachim Creek in Herculaneum. The bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2020 and the state needs to get rid of it as soon as possible, so it is giving it away. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ A Hillsboro woman is hoping to open a treatment center for teens and adults with autism on Buckeye Road east of Hillsboro. The Jefferson County Council gave preliminary approval of a conditional-use permit to allow Kathy Petefish to operate Forming Friendships on 10.3 acres at 10719 Buckeye Road, just east of Lake Wauwanoka. The property formerly served as a residence that had fallen into disrepair and includes a two-story home and a pavilion. The Jefferson County Council, which has jurisdiction over land-use issues in unincorporated areas, will likely take a final vote at its Dec. 26 meeting. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ Sports editor Russell Korando’s Dec. 13 column updates us on 2015 De Soto High graduate Kelsey Kingsland, now a senior at the U.S. Naval Academy. Also, catch extensive coverage of girls and boys high school basketball.
■ The Editorial section features a climate change column and an array of thought-provoking letters.
■ Check out heartwarming family photos in the Leader Family Christmas Album.
*** The Christmas parades are all done. Now, let’s get down to some serious shopping.