■ The Delta Queen riverboat hasn’t started its journey up the Mississippi River from Louisiana to its eventual home port in Kimmswick, but, pending a signature by President Donald Trump, that trip looks like it’s going to happen in 2020. On Nov. 14, the U.S. Senate voted 94-6 to pass a bill that deals with water rights for the White Mountain Apache tribe. The relevance of that action to the Delta Queen comes in the details. See Steve Taylor’s Page 1 story.
■ Those who tear open their Christmas gifts this year and find they have a new radio-controlled device – a plane, boat, car or drone – will be able to try them out in their nearest Jefferson County park. The Jefferson County Council voted unanimously Nov. 26 to revise the county’s parks regulations, and the final version of the legislation took out language that would have prohibited using such devices (other than boats) in county parks. That was after the county’s Parks and Recreation Department staff and parks board suggested banning the use of those devices in county parks as a safety issue. See Steve Taylor’s Page 1 story.
■ Jefferson Countian David Keeley has been shot at, nearly blown up and crushed under a crane. He also narrowly escaped a kidnap attempt. “Man, it sounds pretty dramatic when you say it like that,” said Keeley, a retired engineer who spent 24 years with the Air Force as a water systems specialist, working all over the world to repair, maintain and install water and sewer systems damaged in battle or by disasters. During his military career, Keeley, 49, of Festus worked on water plants in California, Italy and Florida, and he completed military tours in Bosnia, Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as humanitarian operations around the globe. See Laura Marlow’s Page 1 feature story.
■ For the first time in its 18-year history, the Mapaville Fire Protection District has a full-time paid chief at the helm. The district’s board voted 5-0 on Nov. 19 to appoint Assistant Chief Dave Brown to the post. A pinning ceremony was held Dec. 1 during the district’s annual Christmas party. “The fact that it was a unanimous vote is significant,” board president Ron Beckett said. “I’ve been on the board since the district was created, and I watched him grow up. I have faith in him, his skills and abilities, his maturity. “He’s the right fit at the right time for us.”
■ Apparently, there will be a race for the position of Festus mayor in the April 2 election. Sam Richards, a former Festus Ward 4 city councilman, has announced he will run, and so has Bobby Venz, a Festus Ward 3 councilman. Mayor Mike Cage, who has held the office since April 2010, recently announced he will not seek another term. Filings open Dec. 11. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ The Windsor C-1 School District is on time or ahead of schedule on most of the capital-improvement projects being funded by a $14.75 million bond issue district voters approved in April 2017. Work to upgrade entrances at four of the five schools for better security was completed by the start of the school year, and office staff members from each school are currently learning how to use new software to screen visitors in a holding area at each entrance before buzzing them into the school. Security upgrades also will be made to the entrance at Windsor High School and school’s fine arts auditorium is being expanded from 360 seats to 750. See Gordon Bess’ story.
■ Gordon Bess tackles the Editorial Page column this week with a fact-filled analysis of what changes are needed to reform health insurance. As usual, the liberals and conservatives pound each other in the letters, but some writers took a moment to say thanks for their blessings.
■ Three former members of state championship volleyball teams at St. Pius X competed last week in the NCAA Division I championships. Sports editor Russell Korando’s column tells about their post-high school success, and see coverage of wrestling and basketball.
*** It’s beginning to feel a lot like – winter!