■ The Hillsboro Board of Aldermen has decided to place a 1/2-cent sales tax measure to raise money for the city’s police department on the April 3 ballot. “The purpose is for emergency services – for the police,” City Administrator Jesse Wallis said. “It’s for personnel and equipment, paying the staff more.” See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Nancy Henson is headed back to the jungle. The 63-year-old Crystal City native is preparing to leave next week for another 10 1/2-month tour serving as a volunteer missionary in Guatemala. Many of her peers are looking to pull up the nearest recliner and start taking it easy in retirement. But she’s going back for her 11th year healing the sick, feeding the hungry and sharing the gospel in the remote villages of the northern Peten region, where the country is squeezed between Mexico to the west and Belize to the east. See Gordon Bess’ Page 1 feature story.
■ The possible firing of Pevely Police Capt. Tony Moutray will be the subject of a public hearing the Pevely Board of Aldermen has scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, at City Hall, 401 Main St. Moutray has run the department since former Police Chief Ron Weeks retired on Oct. 3, 2016. While some board members have hinted that they aren’t satisfied with Moutray’s performance in the job, the nature of their complaints against him have not been discussed in an open session. However, a letter from city attorney Sean Westhoff to Moutray concerning the hearing and a complaint against him recently was posted on social media. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ The Rock Community Fire Protection District will now offer residential inspections later in the day to better accommodate people’s work schedules, but those later inspections will cost more. In addition, Rock Fire now requires homes with attached garages to have carbon monoxide detectors. However, that requirement only applies to homes Rock Fire is inspecting for new occupancy or a change in occupancy. The Rock Fire Board of Directors voted 2-0 on Jan. 8 to make those changes to the district’s code, and those changes took effect immediately. See Tony Krausz’s story.
■ The Feb. 6 special election for the vacant Missouri House seat in the 97th District will give voters a choice between two political newcomers – Democrat Mike Revis, 26, and Republican David Linton, 59, both of the Jefferson County portion of Fenton. District 97 covers parts of north and northwest Jefferson County, as well as portion of south St. Louis County between Hwy. 21 and I-55. The special election was called after Republican John McCaherty resigned his seat in the state House of Representatives on Sept. 15 to focus on his campaign for Jefferson County executive. Since then, McCaherty said he changed his mind and will not run for executive, focusing instead on private life. See Tracey Bruce’s profile of the two candidates.
■ Peggy Bess writes about the flu season that is brewing in Jefferson County and contrasts it to the devastating epidemic that tore across the world a century ago. The Editorial section offers a cross-section of letters from the left, the right and the middle.
■ Sports editor Russell Korando writes about the St. Pius X basketball team and their coach Eric Lawrence, who recently served a suspension for a state rules infraction he was not involved with. See also coverage of countywide basketball and wrestling competition.
*** Warmer and warmer and warmer. Whoo-hoo!