■ The Grandview R-2 School District is conducting a special financial audit of the district, and Angela Huskey, business manager for the district, has been put on paid administrative leave. Superintendent Matt Zoph said concerns about the district’s financial practices prompted the audit, but he would not comment on what sparked the concerns. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ Superintendent Paul Ziegler will leave the Northwest R-1 School District at the end of the school year to take a position as executive director of EducationPlus. Ziegler, 47, of St. Charles submitted his resignation to the Northwest Board of Education on Dec. 6. The board accepted it in a 5-0 vote. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ After 17 years of standing on the front lines in the war against drugs and alcohol abuse, Linda Hardgrave, founder of Windsor PRIDE and Jefferson County PRIDE (now the Jefferson County Drug Prevention Coalition), retired Nov. 30. Hardgrave, 67, began her efforts as a concerned parent who had two children in the Windsor C-1 School District, and in the years since then built an organization that is countywide and federally funded, providing information, training and public service campaigns to address the dangers of alcohol and drugs. See Tracey Bruce’s feature story.
■ Festus City Administrator Happy Welch apparently will be leaving his post to take a similar job in Harrisonville, south of Kansas City, he announced Dec. 7. He said his negotiations with Harrison officials had been completed, and he was awaiting final confirmation by the Harrisonville Board of Aldermen on Dec. 19. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ A request from LaChance Vineyards, a winery at 5401 Freedom Point Lane in rural De Soto, for permission to build a wine-making facility next door did not find favor with the Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission. After hearing from a disgruntled neighbor of the winery, the commission voted 5-3 on Dec. 8 to recommend denial of a conditional-use permit, requested by Harold Hamby and Double H Farms LLC. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ Shopping for your significant other at Christmas can be perilous. There are rules, Patrick Martin says in this week’s column.
■ This week’s Sports section will feature the Hillsboro boys basketball team’s championship in the Gene Steighorst Tournament, along with a story about the I-55 football conference first-team players.
■ Check out the appealing photos in the Leader Family Christmas Album and Gift Guide. You’ll love them!
*** Brrrr! ’Nuff said.