■ An Amvets Career Center, the first of its kind in Missouri, soon will open in Festus and its free-of-charge services will be available to all honorably discharged veterans. Joe Grohs of Festus, who is serving a one-year term as commander of the Amvets Department of Missouri, is spearheading the effort. He said the Amvets organization provides career centers in other states, but not yet in Missouri. See Kevin Carbery’s Page 1 story.
■ A total of 10 emergency response public entities and one tiny Jefferson County town will ask their voters to retain a “use tax” in separate measures on the April 4 ballot. By Election Day’s end, some Jefferson County voters will have been asked five times in eight months whether an entity should be allowed to keep charging sales taxes on out-of-state purchases, and purchases from individuals, of vehicles, boats, motors and trailers. Government entities that charge sales tax must have voter approval by November 2018 to keep collecting taxes on those specific transactions. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ The Jefferson County Council heard more information concerning a regional prescription drug registry last week, but members don’t appear ready to take any action on joining it. After the Feb. 6 work session at which three people gave information about possible county participation in a database established by St. Louis County that tracks prescriptions of controlled substances, council chairwoman Renee Reuter (District 2, Imperial) said still more information is necessary before the council should take the matter up. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ The Festus-Crystal City Wastewater Treatment Plant has too much sludge – WAY too much – a situation officials hope to address by the end of the month. The plant faces potential fines from the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) because of the sludge build-up and other issues. The Festus-Crystal City Sewage Commission held a special meeting Jan. 27 to discuss problems and solutions and voted 8-0 to move forward with sludge removal. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ The Cedar Hill Fire Protection District has put its new 2016 Pierce Enforcer pumper truck into service and two other district vehicles will arrive shortly. All three vehicles are red – a change from the district’s “lime yellow” color scheme. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ The Arnold Chamber of Commerce and Arnold Rotary Club have partnered to set up a scholarship fund in memory of the late Wes Griffith, an Arnold businessman and community volunteer who had been a member of both organizations. The Wes Griffith Memorial Scholarship is for northern Jefferson County high school seniors or those out of high school for no more than one year who want to attend Jefferson College full time. Preference will be given to students who want to enroll in the college’s Culinary Arts program. See Kim Robertson’s story.
■ Editorial Page editor Patrick Martin thinks a proposal to shorten extra-inning Major League Baseball games is a travesty. He makes the case.
■ Sports editor Russell Korando revisits some memories of past state wrestling meets before he heads to Columbia this Saturday as 40 Jefferson County wrestlers hit the mats.
*** Happy Valentine’s Day, dear Leader readers!